(no subject)
Apr. 11th, 2026 05:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
melaganSeen at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
justcreate. I thought these were cool questions so I'm repeating them here.
What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count?
(I'm tossing my own answers in a comment to this)
justcreate. I thought these were cool questions so I'm repeating them here. What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count?
(I'm tossing my own answers in a comment to this)
I just have ambient sound on right now and it's a good life choice
Apr. 11th, 2026 04:27 pmashelterofpagesHaven't worked on any icons yet, but I'm still intending to. I think the plan for that is going to be to do it when I'm not house-sitting so I have the better screen to do it with. Right now I'm on a 17in screen, which is fine, but it's a portable one that isn't the best for playing with something like graphics.
I will say that since I had that mindset shift about what I want to try to do every day, I'm seeing some interesting results.
1. I get a lot of stuff done on certain days, but then the next day I do less. This doesn't bother me, though, because I'm still getting a lot of life stuff done. I don't feel so guilty and awful on those second days, and that's the kind of thing I was hoping to accomplish.
2. I'm able to catch up on things like beta reading with less difficulty. Reading any fiction has been kind of hard lately, but I'm having an easier time getting to things I need to give feedback of some kind on, so that's nice.
3. My writing is...not really happening right now. Not drafting, and also not editing. I'm not sure what to make of that, but we'll see. This whole thing is still barely started, so maybe I just need to give it more time before I can start integrating words back into my life.
4. However, I did post on Bluesky asking for prompts to write microfiction off. I love doing these things every couple of months, so I'm looking forward to playing with those prompts soon.
So, I've been house-sitting for S again, which I can't recall if I've said or not on here yet, but I'm going back to my house tomorrow, then coming back here again on Monday. This is because I need to pick up some clothes, meds, and maybe a few other things while also swapping some stuff out too. Which is fine. Right now this is my life, switching between the two houses until S finally moves upstate.
I will say that since I had that mindset shift about what I want to try to do every day, I'm seeing some interesting results.
1. I get a lot of stuff done on certain days, but then the next day I do less. This doesn't bother me, though, because I'm still getting a lot of life stuff done. I don't feel so guilty and awful on those second days, and that's the kind of thing I was hoping to accomplish.
2. I'm able to catch up on things like beta reading with less difficulty. Reading any fiction has been kind of hard lately, but I'm having an easier time getting to things I need to give feedback of some kind on, so that's nice.
3. My writing is...not really happening right now. Not drafting, and also not editing. I'm not sure what to make of that, but we'll see. This whole thing is still barely started, so maybe I just need to give it more time before I can start integrating words back into my life.
4. However, I did post on Bluesky asking for prompts to write microfiction off. I love doing these things every couple of months, so I'm looking forward to playing with those prompts soon.
So, I've been house-sitting for S again, which I can't recall if I've said or not on here yet, but I'm going back to my house tomorrow, then coming back here again on Monday. This is because I need to pick up some clothes, meds, and maybe a few other things while also swapping some stuff out too. Which is fine. Right now this is my life, switching between the two houses until S finally moves upstate.
updating credit
Apr. 11th, 2026 11:23 amcalimacMy new credit card came yesterday. This was slightly unexpected because the old one doesn't expire for two months. It was also noteworthy, because this is the card I use for all my online transactions, including recurring charges. That meant I had to go online and update them all, with the new expiration date and (where they stored it) the 3-digit thingie that supplements the card number for verification. (While the card number stays the same, the 3-digit thingie - I forget what it's called - changes with each reissue, but fortunately my new one is memorizable.)
And that proved a bit of a challenge. I don't keep a list of the recurring charges, but since they are recurring I can find them on my bill. First stop was my web and e-mail hosting service; that was pretty easy. The next one was unrelated to it, but I found it had somehow picked the change up from the web service.
After that, however, came a bunch where I was dashed if I could find the page to make a credit card change on. If I did eventually stumble on the page of links that included it, it was easily identifiable, but stumbling upon that page was a doozy. At one site I typed in a help search box "how do I update my credit card" and it instructed me to find the link on a particular page, but it didn't say how to find that page. Typing a query on how to find that page produced no useful results.
Then there was my gym membership, which I don't use any more. I was just going to let it run out with the credit card, but I decided to try to contact them online or by phone. Ha-ha, you can't do that, though the online instructions say you can. The phone number, which the online system assures you can reach membership services, asks for your member number, confirms this, and then says goodbye and hangs up. It says elsewhere you can visit your local club. Well, ha-ha, my local club has been closed - news to me, but I told you I didn't use it any more. My membership was only good there, so I doubt I can get anything done at some other outlet. Maybe I'll just let it run out with the credit card - assuming it hasn't picked up the update, but I don't have an online account there, so I can't check.
And that proved a bit of a challenge. I don't keep a list of the recurring charges, but since they are recurring I can find them on my bill. First stop was my web and e-mail hosting service; that was pretty easy. The next one was unrelated to it, but I found it had somehow picked the change up from the web service.
After that, however, came a bunch where I was dashed if I could find the page to make a credit card change on. If I did eventually stumble on the page of links that included it, it was easily identifiable, but stumbling upon that page was a doozy. At one site I typed in a help search box "how do I update my credit card" and it instructed me to find the link on a particular page, but it didn't say how to find that page. Typing a query on how to find that page produced no useful results.
Then there was my gym membership, which I don't use any more. I was just going to let it run out with the credit card, but I decided to try to contact them online or by phone. Ha-ha, you can't do that, though the online instructions say you can. The phone number, which the online system assures you can reach membership services, asks for your member number, confirms this, and then says goodbye and hangs up. It says elsewhere you can visit your local club. Well, ha-ha, my local club has been closed - news to me, but I told you I didn't use it any more. My membership was only good there, so I doubt I can get anything done at some other outlet. Maybe I'll just let it run out with the credit card - assuming it hasn't picked up the update, but I don't have an online account there, so I can't check.
multifandom icons.
Apr. 11th, 2026 09:12 pmwickedgame posting in iconsFandoms: Addicted, Bridgerton, Cobra Kai, Elite, Guardian, I'll Turn Back This Time, Mako Mermaids, One Piece, Shadowhunters, Superman & Lois, Zorro
the rest are HERE @mundodefieras
the rest are HERE @
mundodefieras 
Antique clocks are a problem because you have to wind them
Apr. 11th, 2026 01:54 pmcimoreneI think a clock that chimed every hour would be really helpful to me. It would be like having an alarm that goes off once an hour, but totally benign, instead of making me jump like an alarm. It would be nicer if the church belltower did - belltower chimes are the best ones, I think. Meanwhile lots of clocks don't even tick now, which I find very annoying, because I like to listen for the ticks and count them.
Saturday 11/04/2026
Apr. 11th, 2026 11:26 amlhune posting in 3_good_things_a_day1) Planting out my new flowers from yesterday
2) Yummy lunch (the fennel salad)
3) Clean bedlinen for tonight
2) Yummy lunch (the fennel salad)
3) Clean bedlinen for tonight
Spring Drabble 11/30: SGA, Medovina
Apr. 11th, 2026 09:41 amkat_lair***
Title: Medovina
Author:kat_lair
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Radek/Rodney
Tags: Drabble, Alcohol
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: Radek cradles the bottle with care and reverence.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one forverdande_mi who wanted something for SGA and remembered that I was fond of Zelenka.
Medovina on AO3
( Medovina )
***
Title: Medovina
Author:
kat_lair Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Radek/Rodney
Tags: Drabble, Alcohol
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: Radek cradles the bottle with care and reverence.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one for
verdande_mi who wanted something for SGA and remembered that I was fond of Zelenka.Medovina on AO3
( Medovina )
***
[Challenge #489: Curse] The Legend of Zelda: 'Accursed'
Apr. 10th, 2026 08:01 pmbut_can_i_be_trusted posting in 100wordsTitle: 'Accursed'
Fandom: The Legend of Zelda (Spoilers for 'Tears of the Kingdom')
Rating: G
Notes: Crossposted toanythingdrabble
( Accursed )
Fandom: The Legend of Zelda (Spoilers for 'Tears of the Kingdom')
Rating: G
Notes: Crossposted to
anythingdrabble( Accursed )
Sighs Queen
Apr. 10th, 2026 10:58 pmmarginalianaVarious Opinions:
--The hour-long Dimension 20: On A Bus was a delight but probably would have been more of a delight at half the length. I think the concept couldn't quite carry that much time and the humor of 'everyone is losing their shit' got repetitive after a while. That said, Brennan's "I'm sad because of capitalism" made me choke on my own spit.
--I've been re-watching my favorite playthrough of Hollow Knight and we just got to the episode that makes me choke up as we learn that ( spoilers )
--This is the absolute smallest of the horrible things JKR has done, but remember when it used to be a fun little fan game to chat about your blorbos and assign them Hogwarts houses? It's not fun anymore. I hate that.
--I'm writing a smut fic and I might actually have to go watch some porn to work out the logistics of how the bodies fit together for this particular situation. Not something I've done before!
--Iceland was magnificent, by the way. We went inside a tunnel in a glacier!
--The hour-long Dimension 20: On A Bus was a delight but probably would have been more of a delight at half the length. I think the concept couldn't quite carry that much time and the humor of 'everyone is losing their shit' got repetitive after a while. That said, Brennan's "I'm sad because of capitalism" made me choke on my own spit.
--I've been re-watching my favorite playthrough of Hollow Knight and we just got to the episode that makes me choke up as we learn that ( spoilers )
--This is the absolute smallest of the horrible things JKR has done, but remember when it used to be a fun little fan game to chat about your blorbos and assign them Hogwarts houses? It's not fun anymore. I hate that.
--I'm writing a smut fic and I might actually have to go watch some porn to work out the logistics of how the bodies fit together for this particular situation. Not something I've done before!
--Iceland was magnificent, by the way. We went inside a tunnel in a glacier!
VICTORY
Apr. 10th, 2026 10:53 pmkaberettBehold my works: today I went to the leisure centre, and went into the leisure centre, and went into the gym, and poked around a bit, and retreated to the stairwell to hyperventilate... and then WENT TO A CHANGING SPACE and CHANGED MY CLOTHING and went back into the gym. And picked! things! up!!! and put them down again!!!!!
I have now Touched Barbell, appear to have accidentally skipped most of Phase 2 of Liftoff in favour of Barbells, Apparently, but honestly the biggest and most exciting bit of this is that I did go back into The Gym and I did push through the social anxiety of What If I'm Doing It Wrong.
It is an excellent time of year to be doing this; the cherries on the way from the gym to the bus stop are in full and exuberant flower.
life
Apr. 10th, 2026 05:32 pmmelaganFinally, I'm on the upswing of a wicked head cold. Naps helped. Lots of naps.
I'm digging into my Fandom Trumps Hate fic. I hope my bidder likes it. In any event it's keeping my brain occupied and keeping me out of trouble.
I came across this article 7 tiny hacks that can improve your to do list and it reminded me that years ago I made a to do list every morning.
It's been awhile since I did that. Life's a little simpler now that I'm retired and my kids are grown with families of their own. I gotta say, it did help.
How 'bout you? Are To do lists a part of your day?
I'm going to admit right now, my list were far too ambitious and I did well if I could finish one half of the tasks.
I'm digging into my Fandom Trumps Hate fic. I hope my bidder likes it. In any event it's keeping my brain occupied and keeping me out of trouble.
I came across this article 7 tiny hacks that can improve your to do list and it reminded me that years ago I made a to do list every morning.
It's been awhile since I did that. Life's a little simpler now that I'm retired and my kids are grown with families of their own. I gotta say, it did help.
How 'bout you? Are To do lists a part of your day?
I'm going to admit right now, my list were far too ambitious and I did well if I could finish one half of the tasks.
Spring Drabble 10/30: Shetland, Manual Labour
Apr. 10th, 2026 07:59 pmkat_lair***
Title: Manual Labour
Author:kat_lair
Fandom: Shetland
Pairing: Jimmy/Duncan
Tags: Drabble, Gardens/Gardening
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: “What are you doing?”
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one forverdande_mi who wanted something for Shetland.
Manual Labour on AO3
( Manual Labour )
***
Title: Manual Labour
Author:
kat_lair Fandom: Shetland
Pairing: Jimmy/Duncan
Tags: Drabble, Gardens/Gardening
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: “What are you doing?”
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one for
verdande_mi who wanted something for Shetland.Manual Labour on AO3
( Manual Labour )
***
Friday open thread: board game background
Apr. 10th, 2026 05:19 pmdolorosa_12This week's prompt was sparked by an interesting conversation with hamsterwoman in the comments to a previous post, in which we were discussing the extent to which we felt our childhood environments influenced our interest (or lack thereof) in playing board games as adults. And so:
Did you grow up regularly playing board games (either with your family, or in other contexts)? Do you feel that this affected the prominence (or lack of prominence) of board games in your later life?
( My answer )
What about all of you?
hamsterwoman in the comments to a previous post, in which we were discussing the extent to which we felt our childhood environments influenced our interest (or lack thereof) in playing board games as adults. And so:Did you grow up regularly playing board games (either with your family, or in other contexts)? Do you feel that this affected the prominence (or lack of prominence) of board games in your later life?
( My answer )
What about all of you?
The Great Panjandrum Himself
Apr. 10th, 2026 11:57 ammarycatelli posting in booksThe Great Panjandrum Himself by Samuel Foote
In nonsense perhaps matched only by Lewis Carroll's The Mad Gardener's Song. An actor said he could memorize anything in one reading, and this was the attempt to defeat him.
In nonsense perhaps matched only by Lewis Carroll's The Mad Gardener's Song. An actor said he could memorize anything in one reading, and this was the attempt to defeat him.
[Prompt #489] BtVS / Spuffy — Into the Void
Apr. 10th, 2026 04:43 pmveronyxk84 posting in 100wordsTitle: Into the Void
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Characters/Pairing: Buffy/Spike
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Word count: 100 (Ellipsus)
Setting/Spoilers: Set post-S7.
Summary: After the collapse of Sunnydale, Buffy is dead-set on finding Spike.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created for fun and no profit has been made. All rights belong to the respective owners.
Prompt: #489 - Curse
Crossposted:drabble_zone, anythingdrabble, My journal
—
( READ: Into the Void )
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Characters/Pairing: Buffy/Spike
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Word count: 100 (Ellipsus)
Setting/Spoilers: Set post-S7.
Summary: After the collapse of Sunnydale, Buffy is dead-set on finding Spike.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created for fun and no profit has been made. All rights belong to the respective owners.
Prompt: #489 - Curse
Crossposted:
drabble_zone, anythingdrabble, My journal—
( READ: Into the Void )
(no subject)
Apr. 10th, 2026 01:10 pmturpsBodhi and Kayleigh dropped in for a little while yesterday. While here Bodhi went and stood in front of the shelves in the living room and asked why I had all of that stuff, meaning my display of Funkos. So, I explained, like her, I liked superheroes, at which point she said, if I liked superheroes where was Spider-Man? Sorry various Hawkeyes, Ronin, Winter Soldier etc, you're just not superheroes enough it seems. But sigh, judged by a four-year-old and found lacking again.
The craft fair on Monday was a weird one. Despite being there from before nine to four, the time seemed to fly, and yet we only made one sale, so didn't even get the table price back. Mainly it was due to location, when we'd first been offered a spot it was mentioned there were tables outside and inside, and while that was true, there was actually only one table inside, the rest being in the pub garden, so it wasn't very often people actually saw the one in the foyer at the back. Which of course, was the one we'd been assigned. I mean, it was good to be warm with some decent music to listen to, but you need people for sales.
One bonus was the pub was just over the car park from a Morrisons, so I went there for two meal deals for dinner, because nearly £5 for one drink of Pepsi Max from the pub was only going to happen once.
The organiser did ask if James wanted a table at the next event, but thankfully, it's the same date as the monthly maker's market in our town we always attend, so we didn't have to make up an excuse to turn down the invite.
A couple of people have been reading and commenting on many of my bandom stories lately, and getting those comments has been delightful. I especially liked the one on Painted Ponies where they commented, and when i replied, replied to that comment with even more detailed feedback, saying they'd thought I'd have been long gone from the fandom. And nope, despite the lack of actual writing, still love that ridiculous band, still hanging onto to the edges of the fandom with a few other fandom bandom olds.
Funnily enough, the last comment was on Caged where the band is saved by Spider-Man, adding to the Spidey mentions this week.
I was in Lush the other day buying a bunny bath bomb for Bodes, and they had these ( sparkly ET bath bombs )
The craft fair on Monday was a weird one. Despite being there from before nine to four, the time seemed to fly, and yet we only made one sale, so didn't even get the table price back. Mainly it was due to location, when we'd first been offered a spot it was mentioned there were tables outside and inside, and while that was true, there was actually only one table inside, the rest being in the pub garden, so it wasn't very often people actually saw the one in the foyer at the back. Which of course, was the one we'd been assigned. I mean, it was good to be warm with some decent music to listen to, but you need people for sales.
One bonus was the pub was just over the car park from a Morrisons, so I went there for two meal deals for dinner, because nearly £5 for one drink of Pepsi Max from the pub was only going to happen once.
The organiser did ask if James wanted a table at the next event, but thankfully, it's the same date as the monthly maker's market in our town we always attend, so we didn't have to make up an excuse to turn down the invite.
A couple of people have been reading and commenting on many of my bandom stories lately, and getting those comments has been delightful. I especially liked the one on Painted Ponies where they commented, and when i replied, replied to that comment with even more detailed feedback, saying they'd thought I'd have been long gone from the fandom. And nope, despite the lack of actual writing, still love that ridiculous band, still hanging onto to the edges of the fandom with a few other fandom bandom olds.
Funnily enough, the last comment was on Caged where the band is saved by Spider-Man, adding to the Spidey mentions this week.
I was in Lush the other day buying a bunny bath bomb for Bodes, and they had these ( sparkly ET bath bombs )
Friday 10/04/2026
Apr. 10th, 2026 01:58 pmdark_kana posting in 3_good_things_a_day1) a day with my daughter :-)
2) we had a fun time birthday-party-shopping
3) going to work on my crochet project and another photo album this evening ^^