dizzydrea | Reading

Today is mostly sunny and hot.

I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 8/9/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/9/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

.

Current Mood: busy

spikedluv

I hit Price Chopper while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I visited my aunt (who woke up enough for me to show her some recent photos) and stopped in to see mom on the way home.

On the way home from mom's I picked up chicken quarters for supper o_O, stopped at the library to return a book (and got a surprise book that had just arrived!), hit the bank drive-thru, and filled my gas tank. I also did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded!), hand-washed dishes and did a load in the dishwasher, baked chicken for the dogs’ meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered.

I started the next Duncan Kincaid book. I forgot to mention that I recently purchased the Thunderbolts DVD, so I hope to watch that again at some point.

Temps started out at 61.7(F) and reached 88.0. We’re hitting hotter temps again. Today started off hazy (again, I’m sure it’s smoke) and then cleared so that we had blue sky and full on sun.

Mom Update:

Mom was doing better today than yesterday! ( more back here )

ysabetwordsmith

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

If everyone said what they were actually thinking, what would happen to society?

KERPLOWIE

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Helsinki just went a full year without traffic fatalities — here's their secret

In the United States, traffic incidents are a leading cause of death, with an average of 120 people dying every day due to motor vehicle collisions.

On a global scale, a person dies from a road-related accident every 24 seconds.

But Finland’s capital city of Helsinki has pulled off something astonishing — the last recorded traffic-related death was over a year ago, in July 2024.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Astronaut Jim Lovell has passed away. He flew four missions, including the famous Apollo 13 in which the crew narrowly averted disaster.

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson

( Read more... )

Current Mood: pensive

prisca in

sweetandshort

Welcome to our challenge This and That. Every month, I will offer you a main theme you should base your works on.

For August, the theme is Dialogue only for written works / Text only for graphic works.

Allowed are fics up to 500 words, small poems such as haiku or tanka, icons (100 x 100px), and graphics (maximum 500 x 500px).

All fandoms, genres, and ratings are welcome. Original works and real-person works are fine, too.

Please tag your work with all relevant tags.

This challenge runs until August 31, midnight in your timezone.

:::

Challenge Reminder:
10 out of 20

ysabetwordsmith

Today is sunny, humid, and hot.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I watered the patio plants and the new picnic table garden.

I picked a red cherry tomato.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I watered the savanna seedlings.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and the septic garden.

I found a baby preying mantis on the burn barrel and moved it to the barrel garden.

Cicadas and crickets are singing. I've seen a few fireflies.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

donutsweeper

I threw together some Battleship recs for the last two weeks'

recthething community rec posts (mostly art but a little fic) and just remembered I should share it here too (creators will still be anon until Wednesday):

Art recs:
Carmilla
- Art: Your Sleep Demon (delightfully creepy)

DCU
- Art: Just a little more, Superman... A young Jason helps Clark to safety.(gorgeous, particularly the lighting)

Dracula
- Art: Midnight The scene after Dracula leaves Jonathan and Mina's room. (the emotions in this!)

Dredge (Video Game)
- [Art] Sunset Scene Summary: A small atmospheric piece.(absolutely beautiful, no canon knowledge needed digital art piece)

Moby Dick - Herman Melville
- [Art] The Ghost Hunter AU Summary: No-dialogue comic imagining if the events of the book were loosely adapted into a found footage horror piece centered on Ahab's quest to prove the existence of the spirit Moby-Dick. (so many details in this comic and so well done!)

Original Works
- [Art] She was a fairy This art was inspired by samiabenchaou_ on Instagram. She’s a hijabi fashion influencer. (beautiful)
- A Regency grape angel enjoying some tea with her pets (so sweet)
- Art: Madame Poire A woman wearing a pear-themed historical dress. (wonderfully detailed)
- The Fruit Heist Glorbo, Barry, and Pearry stealing fruits. (All of the teams' mascots and friends, so cute!)
- [art] Glorby Be (Manuscript art! Amazing)
- Battleship 2025: Paper Dolls (A series of paper dolls of Glorbo and others that can be cut out with clothing and whatnot to add, so neat!)
- [Art] The Tower Sumary: A mermaid is... happy to see the lighthouse keeper she's been watching. (beautiful, if slightly creepy charcoal/chalk/pastels on paper piece)
- [Art] Monster in 8B Summary: The shadows aren't cruel. (amazingly creepy)

fic recs:
Eureka/Stargate SG1 crossover
- Bugs in the System Summary: SG-1's visit to Eureka has some unexpected results. (Jack Carter and Sam Carter are cousins and amazing in this)

Leverage/DCU crossover
- https://archiveofourown.org/works/68406316" target="_blank">They Meet Again Summary: At a charity gala, Bruce Wayne meets a beautiful woman he's run into many, many times before. (great Bruce voice and so many neat little details)

Star Trek Lower Decks
- Battlesheep Potemkin Summary: First officer's log, stardate, uh, computer, add the stardate in. The Cerritos is responding to a distress call from the USS Potemkin, an Excelsior-class starship that was exploring the Gra'pe-2025 system. Upon arrival, we found Potemkin adrift in orbit of the third planet, which is currently surrounded by an ion storm. There is no sign of the crew. However, the ship is filled with hundreds of strange mammalian life-forms. (hilarious)

The last team, Lemon, cleared their final board today and those works will go live tomorrow. I will be very interested in hearing from their team (and everyone else) when the feedback post is put up. I don't usually comment on those posts but I might this year, depending on what the mods say in the first place about how the game might change for next year (there was already mention in the discord that the tag count will drop back down to 400 from the 574 of this year which is such a relief). Without some mod changes (or at least issue acknowledgements) I'll have to think very hard about signing up again next year, which is a shame since I'm one of the very few who've done it every year but the things I love about it are starting to be outweighed but what I find stressful or outright dislike. Sigh.

Now that battleship's winding down hopefully I'll have time to tackle a few things on my to-watch and to-read lists. I would really like to get through the official Guardian translation before the Guardian-read-along finishes up but I am just not sure I'll manage it. (And then there's my poor MDL to-watch list. So long despite efforts earlier this year to work my way through it. Somehow, I keep adding to it. Too many good shows/movies out there I guess.) I also have to start thinking about Yuletide and what I'll want to nominate for it.

Crafting-wise I've been working on a blanket my daughter 'commissioned' from me (aka she bought the yarn). I'm about 3 skeins into the 7 I think it'll need for the length she wants. It's turning out nice, but will still take a while to finish. After that (or maybe during a break from that) I need to do another bread/bagel bag rug because my stack of bags is starting to get unwieldly. Not sure what I'll do with it/where I'll put it once I make it, but that's a future me problem. I also have a string bag I was designing that I ran out of crochet thread for that I need to get back to now that I've bought more. (Here's hoping my notes still make sense)

Anyway, hope all of you are doing well and August is being nice to you! :)

spikedluv

I hit Walmart while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded!!), hand-washed dishes, placed an on-line order, scooped kitty litter, and shaved.

I stopped at the library to talk to the librarian about a series we’re both reading and picked up a book. (It’s one I requested on a whim and I hope my interest lasts long enough for me to actually read it.) I also finished the Amelia Peabody book.

Imgur was not loading properly for me today, which is annoying because I have so many pics I want to share!!

Temps started out at 63.5(F) and reached 84.0. I realized this morning that the haze and overcast skies of the past few days have probably actually been smoke coming in from the fires in Canada. I really frelling hate climate change and the fact that so many people are still denying that it’s a problem.

Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay today. Better than I expected after last night’s phone call, but not as good as she could be. ( more back here )

ysabetwordsmith

Today's theme is Icons, a very popular topic on Dreamwidth with several high-traffic communities.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

We went out thrift shopping today.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This student's life-changing injury made him realize how 'outdated' traditional casts are. So he 3D-printed a better one
AUG 7, 2025 12:34 PMPT

It’s an injection-molded lattice forearm cast, made with durable Nylon material that is lightweight, fully breathable, and a lot more comfortable than traditional fiberglass casts.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Illinois is home to one of the ‘world's best fossil sites': Field Museum

"These fossils tell the story of an ancient inland sea, home to alien-looking plants and animals such as squid-like cephalopods, sea scorpions, and the bizarre-looking state fossil of Illinois, the Tully monster," said the release.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is mostly sunny and hot.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/7/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 8/7/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/7/25 -- I watered the new picnic table and septic gardens.

EDIT 8/7/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden.

Cicadas and crickets are singing.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

the_paradigm in

sweetandshort

Title: Girl
Fandom: Final Fantasy XII
Characters: Penelo & Basch
Rating: T/PG-13
Warning: (mention of age gap in sexually significant way)
Prompt: Age
Word Count: 282
Summary: No one questions her whenever she asks him to sing.
A/N: Also written for a lonely prompt over at

fic_promptly.

( Girl )

spikedluv

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning and got in a walk around the park. Later it was off to the fair! I was conflicted about going, but I had a good time. (Pictures to come, hopefully.) Thankfully it was overcast all day because even without the sun shining right on us it was hot.

I brought home BBQ from the fair so didn’t have to make supper. I was so tired when I got home I barely had the energy to hand-wash dishes, scoop kitty litter, and shower.

I got a free hot tea at McD’s! I also read a little more in Amelia Peabody and had time before the fair to type in another 1,600 words on my fic! (That’s over 5,000 typed in now, so about half done.)

Temps started out at 62.2(F) and reached 80. I’m sure it was hotter than that, but maybe it’s because I wasn’t sitting on a shaded porch enjoying a breeze, lol!

Mom Update:

I did not see mom today, but we messaged (I sent her pics of the events) and I called her in the evening to check in.( more back here )

veronyxk84 in

sweetandshort

Title: Gamblers and Kittens
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Characters/Pairing: Spuffy
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Word count: 100 (Google Docs)
Setting/Spoilers: Set in S6, during ep. 6x05 “Life Serial”
Summary: Buffy is getting fed up with the kitten poker game.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created for fun and no profit has been made. All rights belong to the respective owners.

Prompt [#3]: Water

Crossposted:

anythingdrabble,

100words,

drabble_zone, My journal, Sunnydale After Dark

—
( READ: Gamblers and Kittens )

ysabetwordsmith

Islamophobia Research Hub at York U releases report on Canada's anti-Palestine bias

Documenting the “Palestine Exception": An Overview of Trends in Islamophobia, Anti-Palestinian and Anti-Arab Racism in Canada in the aftermath of October 7, 2023.
In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, Canada saw a rise in anti-Palestinian racism (APR), Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism (AAR) and antisemitism that affects many areas of life and work for Canadians.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is partly cloudy and warm.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

The day has gotten sunnier and much hotter.

I've seen a house wren screaming its head off at anything that moves.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I potted up 3 white peach seeds and 4 local yellow peach seeds.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I did a bit more work around the patio.

I picked 3 red cherry tomatoes and a ball carrot from the septic garden.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries from the second-crop bush.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I pulled a few weeds around the septic garden.

Cicadas and crickets are singing.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Good news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.

What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?

Current Mood: busy

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dizzydrea

January 2025

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Adventures in Writing

To imagine is everything... ~Anatole France

Reading

Birdfeeding

The Day in Spikedluv (Friday, Aug 7)

Philosophical Questions: Thinking

Safety

Moment of Silence: Jim Lovell

August: This and That

Birdfeeding

How is it August already?

The Day in Spikedluv (Thursday, Aug 7)

Follow Friday 8-8-25: Icons

Today's Adventures

Inventions

Fossils

Birdfeeding

[August 10 out of 20] FFXII - Girl

The Day in Spikedluv (Wednesday, Aug 6)

[August 10 out of 20] BtVS: Fic: Gamblers and Kittens

Bigotry

Birdfeeding

Good News

Profile

January 2025

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