astral_mohawk | Reading

Got up at a little before 6 AM to roll the recycling bin out. Went back to sleep. Overslept and woke up at 8:30.

Bella is having diarrhea, but I don't know when I can get her to the vet. Tomorrow is problematic. Well, I have an appointment for her at 11 tomorrow. I'll have to drop her back and then go to my doctor's appointment. I feel like I’m living in a nightmare.

Had a case of the shakes after my shower. Food helped.

I'm trying Chronometer that bill_schubert mentioned. But I know why I've gained weight; eating lots of dessert. I need to get myself to eat fruit for dessert. Okay, I saved some recipes for low-cal desserts. Maybe I should focus on that first, and then the meals.

Man, I'm tired. My sleep consultation isn't until December too. I guess that I'll keep dragging myself along.

Picked up my groceries. Ran in to pick up some of my “cheap” makeup (I wear the cheap stuff for running errands and the expensive stuff when I go out of town, but you could argue that it should be the other way around) and some desserts.

Bought some books about determination because I could use a jump-start.

Brought groceries in. Damn, my back hurts. Ate and fed the critters. Started laundry.

I’m mulling over joining Planet Fitness because it’s nearby. I’m trying to decide on my membership. Do I want access to massage chairs and red-light booth? Yes, I joined, including the massage chair. It would be better to have meetings with a personal trainer, but I don't want the perfect to be the enemy of the good. I'm more likely to drag my butt five minutes away. And it's 24 hours.

My back still hurts. It's kind of pathetic that bringing the groceries in messes me up (see above), but there it is. I need to get the rest of my (non-perishable) groceries off of the back stairs, but I want to lie down and stretch out my back. I'll get up early to clear the stairs.

shadowkat

And should just go to bed.

But I had keto cookie dough ice cream with chocolate and whipped cream (which kind of renders the keto portion of it null and void?) and it's keeping me awake for a bit.

From another post - I'm struggling to define "stealth anthology series" - this is going to bug me. My mind loves to torture itself with semantics debates - it's the downside of being a professional wordsmith, who has to be precise with phrasing for a living. My work bleeds into my personal life, no matter what I do to separate it.

Found a definition via AI:

"A "stealth anthology" is a series that functions as an anthology but presents itself to the audience as a traditional serial drama with continuing characters and story arcs

The anthology format is hidden, or "in stealth mode," for a portion of the show's run.

The term gained prominence in pop culture criticism to describe shows that subvert audience expectations by featuring a new story or set of characters in each episode or season, despite having a continuous element that keeps viewers engaged.

A prominent example is the television show Quantum Leap, where a time-traveler jumps into a different person's life each episode. While the time-traveler and his holographic guide are continuous characters, the central story of each episode (the person's life they inhabit) and the supporting cast are always new.

How a stealth anthology works

The framing device: A consistent character or small cast provides continuity from one story to the next.

The new cast: Each new installment features a fresh set of characters and a self-contained plot that resolves by the end of the episode or season.

The audience hook: The continuous framing device pulls the audience along, even if they aren't invested in a particular week's story, allowing the show to explore many different genres and premises.

The genre shift: By essentially doing a different show each week, a stealth anthology can seamlessly move between genres like hard-boiled detective fiction, domestic comedy, musical theater, and science fiction.

Critics Pick Their Favorite Anthology Series of All Time
Aug 20, 2019 — How are we defining “anthology,” exactly? A show that tells a new story with new characters each season? In that case, it's probably “Fargo,” even though I had ...

Hmmm.

I'd say a stealth anthology series that is by episode is most like Pokerface or Quantum Leap or maybe Murder She Wrote. I don't know about Doctor Who - it has a serial through line, as does most procedurals. The characters build new relationships. Also Doctor Who has recurring characters. Actually it may be the very definition of "stealth anthology" - since it is a serial whose characters often change entirely with each new Doctor. Fargo, True Detective, American Horror Story, and American Crime are all stealth anthologies.

Okay, my brain has figured it out now and will let it go, so I can sleep.

days_unfolding

Oh great. Oliver is attacking Lily. Probably displaced aggression from Gracie biting him. I think that I need to talk to a behaviorist. Bella is very patient with Gracie. Gracie chews on her, and she tolerates it.

Woke up at 7 AM. I’m tired. I'm working now and Gracie is asleep on the futon upstairs. She's getting big! I think that I need to nap during lunch and pick up Gracie's meds in the afternoon. No, I have a meeting at 1 that I don't want to oversleep. But I don't want to be late for the meeting, so I think that I'll go in the afternoon (done). Decisive, I'm not!

I'm explaining to Gracie that when the cats hiss at her, it does NOT mean that they like her! She is not convinced.

I think that I found a cruise that I want to take. It's on Norwegian, and it goes to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, US Virgin Islands, and British Virgin Islands. It leaves from Miami. It has a sailing date of November 9th, so I would have my birthday on the ship. Hmm, if I want a "solo studio," I should book it.

I'm wearing my "My dog thinks I'm cool" t-shirt and new jeans. My shopping is paying off.

Damn, the people at Carle (new health provider) are really on the ball. I was contacted about my scan and my sleep study already. (I’ll call back after my last meeting. Done.)

I canceled BistroMD, though one order slipped through and is coming this weekend. I need to get the kitchen in order to cook.

Crud. Rain alert (though the plants could use it). I won’t be able to get the boxes to recycle out. I'm going to gather stuff and get up early to put it by the curb.

I found the cruise on Vacations to Go's Web site. (They offer discount cruises.) Booked the cruise. Booked my flights. Changed my bus times. Booked a hotel for overnight in Miami.

Now I'm going to gather the recycling and get to sleep.

shadowkat

I think it's Wednesday? Checks. Yes, Wednesday. That's the difficulty with short weeks, I get confused. And everything work wise has confused me today. I was confused when I got up. So was my Smart Watch - who asked me if I wanted to turn off the alarm since I was awake at 5:30, and I was like no, I'm going to attempt to go back to sleep thank you very much, I just had to go to the bathroom.

Some odd links that I stumbled upon:

1. Being Poor by John Scalzi - which is interesting, considering he's a multi-millionaire who has a collection of insane guitars, but whatever. He seems to get most of it right, and most likely experienced poverty at some point in his lifetime? Apparently, I'm right - he did experience poverty (most professional writers have - it's not a money-making profession and those who make it eventually, often suffered years and years of "starving artist syndrome"). Here, he explains why he wrote it and how it was received. Make of it what you will.

2. Meanwhile people asking for money to do weird things?

Romance Novelist wants funds to sell jigsaw puzzles of her book covers

This individual wants money to sell a board game based on Jane Austen Novels entitled Endearment (I don't know, it reminded me more of Bridgerton).

At least they are creative?

3. the Who Farewell Tour in Toronto

4. Yes, it's official. Paramount Skydance Merger Has Finally Closed

It's hard to say what if anything this means for future projects? But Paramount had to do a deal with the devil in the blue suit and orange puffy hair to seal the deal, so....

Note Paramount is the owner of the Star Trek franchise, actually now, Skydance Media is the owner of the Star Trek franchise. Skydance didn't own any film or television outlets prior - it produced films and television shows such as Foundation, Mission Impossible...and does Animation and video games.

Not to be confused with the UK company Sky Group Media, Skydance Media is an American Media Company. The names are similar so it is understandably confusing.

"Skydance Media, LLC (formerly known as Skydance Productions from 2006 to 2016) was an American media production and finance company based in Santa Monica, California. Founded by David Ellison in 2006, the company specialized in films, animation, television, video games, and sports.

In 2009, the company entered a five-year partnership to co-produce and co-finance films with Paramount Pictures. This agreement was renewed twice, extending to 2021. On July 7, 2024, Skydance announced its intent to merge with Paramount Global in an $8 billion transaction, under an agreement in which Skydance would acquire Paramount's controlling shareholder National Amusements, and then perform an all-stock merger with the company. On July 24, 2025, the merger was approved by the FCC, and the merger was closed on August 7, 2025, forming Paramount Skydance Corporation."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skydance_Media

5. IRS is asking taxpayer's to take a Tax Preparation Survey

"WASHINGTON – The IRS invites the public to participate in an anonymous feedback survey on tax preparation and filing options, which will run through Sept. 5, 2025.

The survey is being conducted as part of the Department of Treasury and the IRS’s efforts to fulfill a reporting requirement to Congress under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. The law directs Treasury to deliver a report to Congress by Oct. 2, 2025, on several key issues related to free tax filing options for the public.

Treasury and the IRS encourage taxpayers to share their perspectives and help inform this important congressional report.

To participate, visit the Free Online Tax Preparation Feedback Survey or the IRS.gov landing page. Participation is anonymous."

***

Off to bed.

days_unfolding

The doggos finally settled down. Sleep time. Bella is resting her head against Gracie’s leg.

Woke up at 4 AM to use the washroom. I hope that isn’t a harbinger of things to come. Woke up with my alarm at 7 AM. Got a sample from Gracie.

Can't stop yawning.

Hmm. There's a Southern Caribbean cruise on Holland America out of Fort Lauderdale in November. Do I want to see Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao? Do I want to see the US Virgin Islands? Do I want to go on a transatlantic repositioning cruise? If I did that, though, I'd want to spend some time in Portugal. Does anyone have a strong feeling whether I should go to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, or The Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) and the US Virgin Islands? (My dad said that I have a lot going on and maybe I should stay home. But I'd like some beach time.) Or I could go to St. Lucia. Hmm, Virgin Cruises has a cruise over Thanksgiving that stops at a lot of the places that I’d like to see, but it’s kind of a party boat.

Dropped Gracie's sample at the vet. Fingers crossed....

My work laptop is steadily biting the dust. I can't see my second monitor.

Had a doctor's appointment with my doctor's Physician Assistant. She was very sharp and helpful. She wants me to get a lung cancer screening because of my smoking history and my mom's history of lung cancer. She did a referral to a sleep clinic. Otherwise, I'll see them again in April.

Gracie still has Giardia but it’s “much improved“. The vet wants to do another round of meds to knock it out. Meanwhile, I need to figure out when to take vacation this fall.

Hell. I was bringing some boxes in and Oliver got outside. Gracie got out and was biting him, and he ran back into the house. I got Gracie in and shut the door. I’m shaking. And Oliver scratched me.

I'm gathering the garbage, but I need a break. It's hot upstairs. At least I don't need to get up early tomorrow.

shadowkat

So, the building inspector testing the walls for lead, didn't show up. As a result, he's coming tomorrow, and the super is going to take responsibility for giving him access and protecting the apartment.

He apparently skipped over my apartment and another one - which he was supposed to do in the morning.

See? I knew that was going to happen. Hence the reason, I was aggravated.
If people did their jobs, life would be lovely.

ETA: The medication that the doctor requested from the pharmacy is out of stock - they have to order it, it should be in sometime on Thursday or next week. Sigh.

ETA2: Finished Iron Heart, and the ending doesn't quite work? Or make sense? And felt rushed? I'm not sure it's a cliff-hanger? Since it more or less tells us what happened.

( spoilers ) I didn't like the ending, nor do I think it works, and the writers didn't build up to it well. The series like most of Marvel's recent efforts is busy - with a lot of bits that aren't needed or are there to look cool but add little to the story. I don't think they know how to pull in the younger demographic so keep throwing things at a wall to see what sticks?

ETA3: And got into a frustrating and kind of pointless argument with an online fanboard about a dumb show I watch. It's always dumb television series that I get into pointless debates about. The smart, clever and critically acclaimed shows don't tend to have this problem. (Buffy kind of fell between the two, so yes, I got into dumb debates about it too. As did Game of Thrones for that matter. But usually it's the subpar cult series that run forever. This one has been running since 1963 with no end in sight. It's on its 63rd season. It's officially the longest running scripted television show in the US, I think it beats Doctor Who - since it has more episodes and no long gaps between seasons. That's not necessarily a good thing? Although similar to Doctor Who - it also brings people back from the dead and recasts characters, except without a scientific or logical explanation. Doctor Who at least tries to provide one, this one doesn't bother.)

( never debate/discuss with online soap fans on a spoiler board about a whodunnit in a soap opera - it rarely ends well )

Now that I've mocked myself and them ruthlessly for attempting this tomfoolery, I feel much better, thank you very much.

All in all a fruitful day. Tomorrow I get to go back to work and be aggravated in an even more fruitful manner, plus get paid for it.

September Question a Day Meme

1. It’s National Tofu Day – do you like Tofu?

No. Soy tends to make me ill in large quantities.

2. Festa do Vinho, the Wine Festival, this festival transforms the Island of Madeira into a vibrant showcase of its cultural heritage. Have you ever used Madeira wine in a recipe?

Yes. Not recently, but yes. Also had it.

I think in spaghetti sauce. Also in cake.

Sigh, now I want spaghetti and meatballs with Madeira sauce and I can't have it. Oh well, at least I don't have any in the house.

***

I think I'm going to have the shrimp I bought yesterday with salad. That might take the blood sugar down?

***

On Friday, I stopped by this darling little floral shop called Zuzu's Petals - which called out to me from across the street. (Only people of a certain age will get the reference, because we all saw the movie a million times by the time we reached the age of 30, but they rarely show it now - you kind of have to hunt for it? And it has competition from remake's and rip-offs. Let's face it some types of films they made better in the 20th Century, and leave it at that?)

And wandered around for a bit looking at things, including their backyard garden and floral arrangements. They had dried flowers and fresh ones, wanting to be arranged or bought individually.

( flower arrangements )
And a little backyard garden:

( backyard garden )

I bought a little paint brush holder at the shop (it's actually for air plants, but I'm using it for paint brushes):

( paint brush holder )

That was on Friday. I didn't do much today outside of a doctor's appointment, vacuuming, shower, and dropping off some meds that I can no longer take at the pharmacy.

shadowkat

So, I had the doctor's virtual appointment - took fifteen minutes, most of which was the doctor trying to get the tech to work. We argued over medication - he talked me into trying a certain type of meds again - which I felt was giving me joint pain, but he said no one gets that side effect and maybe it was something else? And it's the mildest I can use. So, I'm trying it again. Just going to try taking it - away from the rest of my meds. If you take certain meds together - they can result in side-effects.
And it is more than possible that it was water retention causing the joint pain - and the use of the diuretic is helping? God knows. Menopause is not for wimps.

Now waiting for someone to show up and test my apartment for lead. No one has shown up yet.

Saw another flick yesterday, Thursday Murder Club based on Roger Osman's best-selling mystery of the same name. It was directed by Christopher Columbus, and starred quite a few stellar British Actors of a certain age? Became spot the famous British Actor. Helen Mirren, Pierce Bronsan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie were the leads, with Tom Ellis, David Tennant, Jonathan Price, Paul Freeman and Richard E. Grant in supporting roles.

It's okay? I haven't read the book, so I don't know how close it is, or how good the book was? I'm guessing it follows it closely enough, since the author is one of the producers and consulted. Two female screen-writers wrote the movie. It's what I'd describe as a British Cozy Mystery or Parlor Room Mystery?

The detectives are a bunch of retirees at an independent retirement community, who hold a Thursday Murder Club each week, to solve old cold cases. As the film unravels we learn more about each - although the focus is solidly on Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie's characters, with Bronsan and Kingsley in the supporting roles. Bronsan has a bit more of a role than Kinsley does. There's some nice character bits. And the mystery plot has some nice twists and turns. It also ends in a satisfying manner.

Overall, a solid B effort. Not quite memorable, but worth the time all in all.

**

I also started watching Iron HeartM on Disney +- which is by Chinaka Hodge, with Ryan Coogler executive producing. Previously known for The Midnight Club. It's okay? I'm having troubles getting into it? And in this day and age - it kind of has to hook you in the first episode, or at the very least the second? And I find it more grating than entertaining? It may be that it is a bit too young for me? It's focus is a 19 year old college student who has been expelled from MIT for attempting to do more than the college was equipped for, and what it felt was plagiarism. Riri Williams wanted to create a group of Iron Man suites to protect fire fighters and police offices, but they felt she needed to do it on her own without utilizing Stark's design.

( Read more... )

Anyhow, I've an excuse to be insanely lazy today, because I've promised to be home all day for the test guy. So off to be suitably lazy.

$radiantfracture: Beadwork bunny head (Default)$

radiantfracture

Autumn Day
Rainer Maria Rilke
Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Lord, it is time. The huge summer has gone by.
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows
and on the meadows let the wind go free.

Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine:
grant them a few more warm transparent days,
urge them on to fulfillment then, and press
the final sweetness into the heavy wine.

Whoever has no house now, will never have one
whoever is alone will stay alone,
will sit, read, write long letters through the evening
and wander on the boulevards up and down,
restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing.

* * * * * *

What is it that brings me back to this poem every year, other than the wish to offer some sort of honour to the world in its cycles? (And to poetry.)

Rilke was intolerably self-indulgent in a number of ways, but nobody ever wrote the pure grief of existence so well. I suppose I mean that he was probably depressed and so am I.

Here's what I like: that the opening address is to the creator, and is either an acknowledgement and submission, or a gentle reminder, or both.

I like -- and I don't know where or with whom this device originates, but it is beloved of many modern poets, including me (the psalms? does it come from the psalms?) -- the way the speaker exhorts everything to do what it would do anyway. His will is irrelevant to the vine and the wind, but that makes his instructions a kind of radical acceptance -- I enter so completely into the wish for things to be exactly as they are, as they are intended to be, even as they wound me with their beauty and their ephemerality, that my will becomes identical with their actions.

And the turn of course, between the radiant second stanza and the stark third; from the fruit as almost heroes of the journey into wine, to the "whoever" who seems to have no place in harvest or celebration, but is already among the dry leaves.

It is, as they say, me: "whoever" is me. I wish I wrote long letters. Rilke's journals and letters are extraordinary. I wish I had some consolation for you now other than the world, but so far as I can see there never was any consolation other than the world.

§rf§

shadowkat

I finally got around to seeing Thunderbolts - the Marvel flick that was released earlier this summer. I waited until it streamed on Disney + this weekend. So, depending on one's point of view? I saw it for free.

I've mixed feelings about the movie. I liked it a great deal, but like most Marvel films and television series post Endgame, it has its issues.

Thunderbolts unfortunately works better if you've already seen (and remember) Ant Man & the Wasp (I vaguely remember it), The Falcon and the Winter Solider, and Black Widow. I'm not sure if you'd be hopelessly lost if you haven't seen them? But you might be a tad confused? It took me a moment or two to remember who the heck Ghost was, and one character (who dies early on) - I had no idea about. And I've seen those films, along with nearly everything else except Captain America: Brave New World - which might have been required as well? (Not certain - haven't seen it yet. But it might explain what the Winter Solider is up to in this film.)

( the problems with superhero flicks since roughly Endgame )

Thunderbolts is among the more interesting Marvel and Superhero films in part because it is in many ways the antithesis of a superhero film. It's not like DC's Suicide Squad films which are basically a bad ass CIA director putting together a who's who of the worst and most insane villains to fix a problem that no one can fix. I thought it was going to be that? It's most definitely not. Thank god. Let's not go copying each other thank you very much. Whew.

Instead, it's about a bunch of antiheroes banding together because it's either that or die? And they kind of help people partly by chance and it seems like a good idea at the time, albeit clumsily - because you know, they are opportunistic anti-heroes. They aren't nearly as bad as DC's rogues line up. This is more of a group of misunderstood anti-heroes who fell in with the wrong crowd, not insane sociopaths. Marvel does a decent job via an intriguing flashback device of giving some of them complicated back stories and mental health issues.

The movie shines a light on mental illness as it applies to highly skilled and dangerous individuals. That's the focal point. Not a heist, not some external threat - the threat is more an internal one. And their powers, especially one of the characters, are metaphors for the dangers of untreated mental illness in our society at large - and how left untreated, it could threaten to devour us all, if the wrong folks get into positions of power or obtain power.

These seven-eight characters have to learn how to trust each other and themselves long enough to save the city and themselves and each other. And they don't trust themselves let alone anyone else.

( vague spoilers )

Overall a solid B effort from Marvel, better than the last few flicks I've seen, but that's not a high bar to navigate.

days_unfolding

I saw a patio set on Wayfair for $200. Now is the time to shop for patio furniture.

Gracie woke me up at 6 AM. That’s the problem with the dog alarm; it’s not consistent. Fed us all. And it’s still early! Nap time. Gracie is bugging Bella, and Bella’s not amused.

I did my favorite way to shop for clothes. I saw a neat navy outfit on Facebook. I went on eBay to get a similar top (navy with white stripes), bought some nice navy pants that I wanted anyway, and I already have a white jacket. And it's probably much cheaper than the actual outfit would have been.

The dogs are barking. Package?

The Walmart driver left the gate open, and Bella got out. At least, she doesn’t go far, unlike Gracie, who takes off to parts unknown. And I got more garbage bags.

We have a winner on the kitchen cart front, so I ordered it.

I’m trying to convince myself to take a shower (done).

I’m wondering if Bella would like a crate. She sleeps under the bed. When we’re in the bathroom, she climbs into the litter box. I’d have to rearrange my bedroom to fit it in. Hmm, I also saw a dog playpen. That might give Gracie a chance to run around.

I found a resort in St. Lucia that I like. Prices on St. Lucia are very reasonable.

Started cleaning the kitchen, listening to Jeff Buckley. Gracie is getting in the way. Hmm, I don’t know if I’d call the album the best ever, but he was a great singer. Nice cover of “Hallelujah”.

Dog wrestling on the bed. I’m rooting for Bella to pin Gracie down, but she hasn’t done so yet.

I was thinking of my mom’s phone number, but couldn’t remember the area code. I looked it up.

Started laundry. I want to wash my pajamas before I go to sleep.

shadowkat

I'm debating, do I want to take another walk? Eh, probably not. Depends on blood sugar - right now, it appears to be going down. My life is now being determined by blood sugar. Ah well, tomorrow, I'll see the doctor. [ETA: Took a walk with the intent of getting a gluten free freshly baked chocolate chip cookie - but the store closed at 3pm on Mondays, and I got there at 4pm. The Universe clearly didn't want me to get a chocolate chip cookie.]

I've done a lot of walking the last three days, and I'm tired. I think I'll be fine with the excuse of not leaving my apartment tomorrow - so that they can test for lead whenever they get around to it? I did laundry this morning, so got that out of the way at least, along with a shower just a moment ago, and several hours prior to that grocery shopping. Also took the new shoes I got from Allbirds for a walk yesterday - broke them in. I think they can handle maybe a mile, but the length of yesterday's walk might require shoes with socks in the future, or sandals? The new sandals can handle it. They were cheaper than the Allbirds. I keep getting Allbirds, and no matter the pair? It has a quirk.

Catching up on the End of August Memage:

27. Are you a fan of bananas? Do you like to bake with them, or eat them raw?

No. I do not like bananas. The appeal is completely lost on me.

28. When was the last time you spent a night (or more than one night) away from home?

May - when I visited my mother for mother's day.

29. How many times have you moved home so far in your life? Do you plan to move again in the future?

17 times. And yes, most likely. I rent - so I tend to move whenever the rent gets too high for the what I'm actually getting in regards to the apartment.

30. Has the area where you live changed much over the last decade?

Not really? I mean sections have - it's Brooklyn and NYC and this city is in a constant state of flux and construction, but overall no.

31. Do you have any plans for the next month?

Hmm. I have doctor's appointments at the beginning of the month. Nothing else that is definite at any rate

mark posting in

dw_maintenance

Per the dw_news post regarding the MS/TN blocks, we are doing a small code push shortly in order to get the code live. As per usual, please let us know if you see anything wonky.

There is some code cleanup we've been doing that is going out with this push but I don't think there is any new/reworked functionality, so it should be pretty invisible if all goes well.

days_unfolding

Okay, my camera is at the local FedEx store. I need to go pick it up tomorrow.

I bought a pair of Coldwater Creek black shorts on eBay. I need to look at the clothes that I have this weekend and figure out what I need. Probably not much.

I roughed out a trip to St. Lucia in November (the cheapest month) in case Gracie's Giardia is stubborn. I found a hotel that I like. I would really want a driver though (they drive on the left) and I'm not sure how I would arrange that.

I need to read “Go the Fuck to Sleep” to Gracie and Bella.

Gracie woke me up at 7 AM. There was a dog on a leash outside when I let the dogs out, and Gracie went nuts. I told her that the dog had a perfect right to walk by, but she didn’t think so.

Lily is fussing over me because she’s hungry. Fed the cats. The doggos are waiting for food (done). Oliver is trying to convince me to give him more food. Not happening, guy. Okay, fed myself and now it’s nap time.

Gracie and Bella are wrestling. Gracie thinks that she’s a big tough dog rather than a small and young one.

I ran into my neighbor, who really likes the dogs. We talked about fences.

I really want to stay home but should pick up the camera. FedEx is open until 6 PM. Had lunch. I’m thinking of lying back down for a little while.

Hmm. Someone is selling on Facebook Marketplace a four-piece patio set that I like, but I’m not sure how I’d get it home.

Napped. Showered.

Hum. My back yard is still slightly shaded. I wonder if I should get a Japanese Maple tree. There’s a sale on, but I want to wait until the damn garage is built. (The guy called me back on Friday, but I didn’t pick up the message until Saturday.)

Picked up my camera. It seems nice but didn’t come with a battery charger. So I ordered one to get here tomorrow. I need to find a safe place to stash the camera in the meantime.

While was driving, I was mulling over getting a condo in downtown Champaign when the house gets too much for me. Some of them are too expensive, but I saw a couple of possibilities.

Fed us all and took the dogs out. Ordered more garbage bags. Opened some packages. Crud, I forgot to call my dad this weekend. (I want to make him my beneficiary on my retirement account, but I need his Social Security Number.)

I'm going to bed early.

shadowkat

On Friday, instead of going into the city to see the Jane Austen exhibit, I decided to go tour the The Old Stone House Museum. I was in the general vicinity so it seemed like a good timing. It's not easy to get to from where I live, since it is located in the middle of Gowanus, and just a touch west of Park Slope, in the middle of the R line in Brooklyn.

Turns out that the Old Stone House had an art exhibit on the second floor. They do revolving contemporary art exhibitions. The House isn't refurbished to look like it did back in the day - instead, it has an interactive Revolutionary and Colonial Historical exhibit on the first floor, and on the second revolving art exhibitions, while outside various gardens, and space for theatrical performances, playing fields, and musical performances, also hearth cooking.

The Old Stone House dates back to 1699 and was commissioned by Dutch settlers who took the land from the Marechkawick and Lenape.

( history of the Old Stone House )

And was the site of one of the biggest battles of the American Revolutionary War - known as the Battle of Brooklyn. The Americans lost a pivotal battle at the Old Stone House, and proceeded to occupy Manhattan and Brooklyn for the next 7 years. Also, during this time, it should be noted that there were more slaves working and living at the Old Stone House than free people. The Dutch settlers, from the Netherlands, owned and brought slaves.

Little markup of the Old Stone House during the Battle of Brooklyn:

Gardens:

Farm Garden:

( farm garden )
South Dutch Garden and Potting Shed:

( south dutch garden and potting shed )

And on the second floor of the house was an intriguing little art exhibit, which for once, I took pictures of. I normally don't - but there was no one up there and no one seemed to mind.

The Exhibition is a collective series of works around a general theme "Nothing is Fixed".

"Nothing is Fixed reflects the tumultuous Trump presidency and the destabilization of societal norms, echoing James Baldwin’s words:

“Nothing is fixed, forever, and forever, and forever. It is not fixed. The earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. What you have, you hold. What you don’t have, you can’t hold.”(Nothing Personal, 1964)

Just as the natural world constantly shifts, so too can our political and social systems evolve—sometimes for the worse, but also for the better. This exhibition examines the tension between a moment of deep division and uncertainty, and with an underlying optimism that change is inevitable and can lead to growth, healing, and progress. By confronting the instability of our current moment, the work suggests that while nothing is static, the direction of change remains in our collective hands."

( art from Nothing is Fixed Exhibition )

So, I've managed to see one museum that I've never visited before, just have about 159 to go? I know I've seen at least 7 others.

shadowkat

It's a beautiful day - with a clear blue sky, and in the low seventies. I'm thinking maybe Greenwood Cemetery today. Which I actually managed to do - took an hour and a half walk to, through, and from the cemetery - entering from another entrance. (I wanted to see what the houses across from the cemetery looked like - on the Windsor Terrace side of the fence, and well, not that great? Note to self - do not try to go the cemetery at night to do the night activities - unless you can get a chauffeur to take you to and from the cemetery. They have an electrical substation across the street from the Windsor Terrace entrance.) This resulted in nicely lowering my blood sugar (after the ploughman's lunch and the donut). It had gone high, now it's within range. If I'm doing carbs, try to exercise immediately afterwards. I didn't like the donut - it reminded me of a miniature bundt cake with chocolate frosting filling, except with the texture of a cake donut, and the donut taste. It was too thick and too much like cake. So far Sixteen Mills is really good at Belgian waffles and bread, not so much at muffins and donuts. Which is okay - other places can do those. Best muffins I've had - were at a place that appears to have disappeared or gone out of business? This happens a lot in the city. One never quite gets used to it.

***

Entertainment Bits

1. Watched this youtube podcast with Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck BSG, and was in Longmire, and Bo-Kataan in Mandalorian) and Tahmoh Penkikett (Helo BSG, and Ballard Dollhouse, among others). They discuss losing your confidence during your craft - that resonated with me. And how it can throw you off your game. Also how folks think your talent comes easily and you don't have to work at it - which couldn't be any more untrue.

Here's the Podcast

It's about halfway through the podcast. And then they talk about BSG filming and the audition process.

Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck from BSG) is doing podcasts with various castmates from BSG, and other science fiction serials, television shows, etc. She's done 69 in one year - which is kind of amazing actually. Most people barely get out 20. It's the new trend - former television stars doing podcasts on youtube and patreon. Everyone has one. Pick your television star. I personally like Michael Rosenbloom's the best, but we also have Will Wheaton, Katee Sackhoff (who I actually find kind of charming), Charisma Carpenter (whose voice sets my teeth on edge for some reason that I can't put my finger on - no fault of the actress, is rewatching Buffy as both Cordelia and Charisma Carpenter), Juliet Landau (is rewatching Buffy as both Juliet Landau and Drusilla)....

They've also discovered that conventions is the way to go - you can do theater, network with folks in the craft, meet up with old friends, and get paid for it. And since they can't get residuals any longer - this is the only money they get. So if you are into going to fan conventions? More power to you.

2. Finished a few television shows:

High Country - an Australian detective limited series. It only has one season. I think it probably was set up for more than one, but didn't get picked up for a second season? The detective is half-aboriginal and half-white. She is selected by the current, retiring sheriff to come up to the High Country from the City Police department in Melbourne, and take over his position. So, Addy brings up her wife and the wife's daughter to the High Country, and ends up investigating a bunch of missing persons cases.

It's good, a bit choppy in places, but I really enjoyed it. The lead played by Leah Purcell was quite good. But her wife, kind of got on my nerves, and I wanted more of her relationship with the retired sheriff, Sam and the father of her kid's boyfriend.

Wednesday S2 - Part I - which is actually better than S1, partly because they wisely bring in and focus more on Wednesday, Wednesday's family and less on her fellow students and the school. We see less of Enid, and there is less of the romantic triangle bit. Wednesday doesn't have a romance at all - the wrote out Xiaver completely. And this actually works better, because Wednesday doesn't work with a romance.

It gets better as it goes. And while Thandie Newton is underused? Her grandmother is a lovely addition. And once again Burton's style is often better than the writing, but overall - it was an entertaining binge.

*****

On the way home yesterday, I passed a sign in the subway that stated, black print on a white backing in huge letters:

friend (noun)

a person who listens to you, and often responds, and supports you.

I've been meditating on it off and on ever since.

days_unfolding

Gracie woke me up a little before 8 AM. So much for sleeping in. She got out through a hole in the bottom of the fence. I had to tie her leash to the fence and go out and get her. I don’t think that I can patch this fence enough to let her off leash. I want a new fence!

Fed us all and gave Gracie her med. Nap time. Bella and Gracie are play fighting. Napped.

Took the dogs out. Gracie was refusing to come in, so I took her in the back door, and then she came in. Ate lunch with a lot of attention from the dogs.

My new singing teacher is challenging me a lot. We’re working on intervals and sight reading. She played a chord, and I was able to pick out the top and bottom notes, but not the middle note.

Had my massage. Parts of it were quite painful. Apparently, I needed it.

There was a guy busking with a violin in front of the grocery store. That was novel, so I gave him some money. Anyone who can play the melody from “Alleluia” is okay in my book. That made me look up.

Cats: We want food, etc. Fed us all and took the dogs out. I need to give Gracie her last med, and then I'm thinking of going to sleep. Gracie will no doubt get me up earlish.

shadowkat

Had the required dental visit - which I do, infrequently. I get the same lecture every time: you should come every six months, if not sooner, you should wear mouth guard or you can do botox injections -

( Read more... )

Because I slept badly the night before - due to various factors, inclusive of being aggravated by the building management's incompetence in scheduling building inspectors and high blood sugar - I didn't walk as far as planned today. Also Transit was doing track work - so the trains were screwed up again. Lots of construction work everywhere - I live in a city that is perpetually under construction.

On the way to Lofty Pigeons books, the only book store that doesn't appear to carry a lot of Stephen King or Neil Gaiman books, I found a twenty dollar bill and a ten dollar bill on the sidewalk. I looked down, saw what I expected to be a one dollar or five dollar bill, and it was a twenty. Then looked around to see who dropped it - there was no one nearby. So I decided the Universe wanted me to buy a book today. It was also in the exact amount as the book I wanted to buy - $30.00.

So I did manage to buy the book I'd been hunting everywhere - since I read about it on coll's journal - "The Antidote by Karen Russell". I kept talking myself out of it - telling myself to buy it on Kindle (except I tend to lose track of the things I get on the Kindle, also I don't really own them outright? If I stop using the Kindle - they go bye-bye.)

***

The Sourdough Foccacia Bread that I bought yesterday is amazing. That has got to be the best sourdough foccacia gluten free bread that I've ever had. It doesn't require anything - not even really butter. You know it's good bread - when you can eat it plain. I decided to do a ploughman's lunch, with the bread, some hard swiss cheese, brie, some hard salami, English Mustard (Frackles), dill pickles, celery, carrots, olives, and some lettuce. It was lovely. And for desert - another piece of bread with butter, plus the unsweetened matcha latte (unfortunately only the ones in the city have unsweetened almond milk, the ones in Brooklyn - I had to get whole milk or skim, because their nut and oat milks have agave.)

I've decided I may order the bread, and pick it up on the way home from work sometimes. You can do that. Or get Doordash to deliver it.

All in all a productive day. I even got my allbirds shoes, which I can wear without socks. Although I'm wrestling with getting orthoshoes - with inserts. You can get them with FSA, but I don't think I have enough left on the card - with the dental appointments, and soon, contacts, plus other meds that I put on it.

Here's another wall mural or Brooklyn Street Art - that I saw on the way home from the dental appointment.

( close ups of the mural )

days_unfolding

Okay. Fed us all (except for Bella, who’s on a diet). Gracie swallowed her med on the first try.

Woke up at around 7:30 AM. Fed us all. I have dogs wrestling at my feet. I called the vet to replace the missing pills for Gracie, and they think that they’ll be ready in the afternoon. Nap time. I’m a mean Mommy and shut the bedroom door in Gracie’s face. Bella alone will nap with me. Bella and Gracie together will wrestle and play fight. Not restful.

I’m trying to see if my camera is at the FedEx store yet, but the tracking number isn’t copying from my email. I’ll have to go online. It says that it's "at their facility" but does that mean the transit hub or the store? It doesn't say "available for pickup".

susandennis mentioned David Tate shoes. I went looking for them and found them on Zappos. They have my weird size (6.5 wide). So I went a little crazy and bought two sets of flats and a pair of ankle boots. I’m trying to talk myself out of buying tall boots.

I need to buy some food. I’ll stop at Meijer on the way back from the vet. Had some way spicy food for lunch.

Showered with Oliver attending. He was pretty good except for going into the shower stall when I opened the door. (He’s fascinated by showers.)

I had a moment of panic that I had missed my singing lesson. Nope. Friday. Today is Friday. I don’t know how retired people keep track of the time if one day off throws me off :)

I’m going to try to clip Bella’s nails. I *think* that she’ll cooperate with me. Gracie would be tough because she wiggles.

Went and got Gracie’s meds. Went grocery shopping, and wound up with a pot of mums as well as food. Oh crap, mums are toxic to dogs. Maybe I need to put them up on the porch.

The baguette that I bought was consumed by the dogs. Sigh. Maybe I’ll get another one tomorrow.

Had a nice nap. The dogs were out cold too. I need to feed the cats and Gracie and give Gracie her pill. Then I’ll go back to sleep.

shadowkat

Lovely day, almost spoiled by annoying request by super. I have to stay home all day on Tuesday, in order for the building inspector to do a 10-15 lead paint test in my apartment.

This is the aggravating text thread from super, who is Polish, and fluent in Russian but not really English. (Honestly, I feel at times that I'm living in a foreign country when I'm in NYC.)

( it may be humorous...in an absurdist theater sort of way. )

I basically gave up. I don't know why I'm annoyed that I have to stay home on Tuesday - when I do that on a lot of weekends? Although I could use the time to clean out my fridge or closet?

***

I took a lovely long walk after I got my hair done, with lots of photos to share. But too many for one post? Maybe I'll split them up among various posts.

And accomplished a lot - usually when I intend on going shopping, I can't find a thing? This round, I didn't really intend on finding all that much - and scored.

Sixteen Mills Bakery had been highly recommended to me by various folks, but alas, it's on Union and 3rd Avenue, which is a ways and not convenient to get to from my home.

( Read more... )

Afterwards, I headed up to 4th Avenue and walked towards The Old Stone House Museum and Washington Park - I'd never been, and saw that it was on the way back to the subway on 4th Avenue. But, you have to walk halfway up to fifth avenue to get to it, since Washington playing fields and park is in front of it. (This is a fake grass field for kids to play soccer and various sports on - it leads up to the Old Stone House Museum, with its gardens.) This is another post - because I went inside, took photos, and outside and took photos. And there's no room for it in this one. Also I have to go to bed - because I got a Dental appointment tomorrow morning. (I also went to a flower store - got a container for paint brushes, and a shoe store - got shoes, and home.) Show those in another post as well. It was a total of 2-3 miles altogether.

So, to be continued?

Here's a photo from my walk.

days_unfolding

Holy cow. A post on Facebook was about how they used ChatGPT to create their itinerary in Italy, so I asked ChatGPT to create a five-day NYC itinerary that included a list of places that I wanted to see. It delivered, including subway stops and walking directions. Wow. Some of them were what I figured (the Lower Manhattan day was what I had already figured), but there were some surprises. And they told me the best nights to see a play! I need to think about the play nights because I want to stick close to the hotel on the day that I get off the cruise ship so that I can check in, but I won't want to see a play that night because it'll be an early day, unless I can grab a nap. Do I want to take pictures with a GoPro of the cruise departure from Manhattan? Or maybe just use my phone with a tripod? Hey actually, I'd like to do the cruise around Manhattan on my first day. ChatGPT said that it would be better on the Greenwich Village/Chelsea day though.

Hmm, maybe I should do the WTC and lower Manhattan on the first day and make it an early night.

Overslept and woke up a little before 8 AM. I thought about napping at lunchtime and taking my shower after work, but I have a therapy session this afternoon (online). So I need to make myself presentable.

I got everything done at work that I wanted to get done before the long weekend. (I'm taking tomorrow off.)

I'm going around in circles with FedEx about the camera. I think that they delivered it to the pickup facility, but I'm not sure.

My stomach is doing flip-flops.

Crud, AAA had my old address in Lincoln, don't ask me why. The card said that it expired on August 15th. I logged on and changed my address, and it said that it actually expires in December. I asked for a new card. I'll have to wait to jump-start the Kia until I get it. Though I think that I can use my phone app as a card?

Okay, good, my retirement contribution went through.

I checked the weather in Bermuda, and it's raining every day, so I ordered a rain poncho. (I have a raincoat, but it's heavier.) I hope that I can have my beach day though.

Had my therapy session. Nothing much to report; I'm doing everything that I need to do. I just need to wait and see what happens with Gracie.

Yay. CVS has the COVID vaccine, and I made an appointment on the 5th. (I'm getting a flu shot as well.)

Fed us all. Opened up some packages. More used clothes. Some photography books. A tripod for my iPhone. My back hurts.

I'm thinking of going to bed soon and getting up early to do stuff. I don't feel like I have the energy to clean now.