Done Since 2025-12-07 with bonus s4s
Dec. 14th, 2025 11:58 am Not a great week. Started out well, with cat cuddles and walks Sunday and
Monday mornings. Then came my GP appointment.
Of course, I was supposed to be fasting, so that was a bust. And I picked
up my re-filled prescriptions (the pharmacy is across the street), but
there was one missing. So I went in again for labs on Thursday, and they
couldn't find a vein. WTF? They advised me to try at the hospital. Labs
at HagaZiekenhuis require an appointment, but fortunately I already
had an appointment, following up on my anemia. So that was
Friday. Skipped breakfast, went in, handed them both lab forms,
one stick and done. And their website works, so I got to see the
results ahead of the appointment next week.
Oh yeah, I also had a psych appointment Thursday afternoon, to discuss
antidepressants, which actually went well. I really don't have any idea
how to make use of therapy, but I like talking about myself, my problems,
and my family. Follow-up in two weeks.
CW: medical, whingeing.
Since April or therabouts,
my "GP" is a clinic with a handful of doctors and a bunch of assistants.
It took me a while (months) to finally figure this out. Anyway, Carmen --
the assistant I saw on Monday -- couldn't find my lab results from 20
November. Fortunately I'd asked for a printout at my previous
appointment, so I scanned that and sent it by email. I got my BP meds
changed somewhat. Then labs on Wednesday.
Then yesterday I tried attending Festival of the Living Rooms, the quarterly online filk con that started almost by accident during Covid. But instead of using the Zoom app, which just works, they insisted on going through the web app embedded on their shiny new website. Calling it beta quality is being generous. FotLR may have jumped the shark this time.
Naturally I didn't get much done otherwise, although I did go back and look at the scratch tracks I'd recorded for my next album, Amethyst Rose. Um... They were recorded between 2004 and 2010! WTF? I'll have to see whether anything can be rescued from that debacle.
Enough griping. Links! How about Grooming a Giant Rescue Maine Coon Cat? And Monday's APOD, Flying Over the Earth at Night, a time-lapse from the ISS. Particularly noteworthy for the footage of the Aurora Australis starting at 1:20
If you have lots of free time, take a look at WikiFlix. CONTENT WARNING: very deep rabbit hole full of old movies.
And finally, because of the season and because it's incredibly cool, here's The Ukrainian Origin of “Carol of the Bells” | The Story of Shchedryk (Щедрик). Turns out the tune was taken from an old New Year's Day chant, from back when New Years Day was celebrated on Beltane. Better, here's the Original Ukrainian Version, sung first in a pretty littleral English translation (with Ukranian subtitles!), then in Ukranian. And best of all, here's a Remix by the B&B project for bandura and button accordion.
Bush vs. Gore vid
Dec. 14th, 2025 05:59 amThis is the December 14th Weekly Megapost & Chat!
Dec. 14th, 2025 04:28 amThings you can do in the comments-
- trade friend codes
- ask about games
- post about in-game events
- anything you don't want to make an individual post about
- share how the RNG is treating you
Twin Cities history: 1980s, ARA (Anti-Racist Action), Baldies, punk, music, Uptown
Dec. 14th, 2025 01:32 amI tried to write an intro for this, but all I can do is gesture incoherently. No, I wasn't a Baldy, I wasn't a skinhead, but the milieu affected my life for Reasons. If you watch this documentary it may give you a better understanding of (some of) what made Minneapolis in the 80s what it was. Or maybe you were there too, and this will be an interesting tour of byegone days.
I really want to get together and share stories of those times. For now, here, have a pretty good documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=8BSDZ1DIEIQ
Cataract surgery writeup
Dec. 13th, 2025 09:18 pmIt makes sense to be worried about any surgery, but this one is well-understood, superficial in the body, and the surgeons are well-practiced.
( Barely more fuss than going to the dentist )
I hope your surgeries go well and that you're happy with the correction you choose.
Various Links 12/7 - 12/13
Dec. 13th, 2025 11:01 pm~ Cate Blanchett in a suit - photo
~ Halle Bailey looking like a real life barbie doll - photos
~ James Stewart and Hedy Lamarr in COME LIVE WITH ME (1941) - gif set
~ Narnia: The Magician's Nephew in production - wiki link
~ let's talk about Emperor Palpatine's last week leading up to the conclusion of Episode IV - text post
~ Modern day chatelaine with tutorial - pictures and text
~ Better late than never (Saiyuki [Manga]) - fic link
~ A doctor starts seeing patients as people and taking notes - text post, poignant
~ Hellboy cosplay - video
~ Art by Science - video
Just one thing: 14 December 2025
Dec. 13th, 2025 09:44 pmComment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Boots I have bought in the quest for warm and dry feet
Dec. 13th, 2025 08:33 pm2. Xtratuf rainboots. Fell apart within a few months catastrophically - cracks from ordinary walking that ran completely through the material which made them not waterproof. Threw them away. So sad because they were very easy to get on, very comfortable, and a fun rubber-ducky yellow.
3. Rubber boots from Hunter. Pretty OK condition but about 20% they're fine, 80% they make my feet hurt so much I cannot walk. Can't really break them in because rubber doesn't, and it's been more than a year of wearing them on and off. Almost got frostbite in them once despite wearing heavy socks and those toe warmer pads. The outside is flawless though and they are a gorgeous red colour, and being rubber they are waterproof.
4. Bean boots (unlined) in the classic rubber lower, leather upper. I just bought these. So far breaking in nicely. Kind of tough to get them on but it's improving/I'm getting better at it. The tongue is fully sewn to the upper (for waterproofing), so it can't swing fully out, and it doubles over where it's sewn, but I'm not actually getting any pain when walking around in them. I think I trust them enough to go on a few hours' hiking now.
And now since it's winter I really want another pair of lined/fleece boots. I've managed to get by, good lord, the past decade or more without snow boots, because I feel like it just doesn't snow much since I moved east. I almost never have to step over snow drifts or break trails, and I just wear sneakers. But I spend a lot of time outside and every year or so I do have an occasional outdoor day that IS very cold on the feet, and I have to flee when I feel frostbite setting in...
How you know you're middle aged and going to gigs:
Dec. 13th, 2025 11:02 pmAfter the (amazing!) support act Karkasaurus, we went back to the bar and the first thing D said was "I have got to improve my cardiovascular fitness." (I wasn't expecting this at all, so I burst out laughing.)
His ear plug came apart when he tried to take it out, and it's still stuck in his ear. I got to put a teaspoon of olive oil in his ear now that he's in bed, which might help it find its way out. Protecting your hearing is important, but what a nuisance this is!
After some digging
Dec. 13th, 2025 07:12 pmDaily Check In.
Dec. 13th, 2025 06:00 pmHow are you doing?
I am okay
9 (69.2%)
I am not okay, but don't need help right now
4 (30.8%)
I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans are you living with?
I am living single
6 (46.2%)
One other person
5 (38.5%)
More than one other person
2 (15.4%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
(no subject)
Dec. 13th, 2025 05:57 pmHi, there's an active shooter situation on my campus; I'm safe and a couple of miles away. ♥
Boost!
marina's well-informed meta on Heated Rivalry
Dec. 13th, 2025 04:18 pmI've observed hockey RPF fandom from an immeasurable distance, and I still got a kick out of this post:
https://marina.dreamwidth.org/1576715.html
marina was in hockey fandom, spent her childhood in Ukraine, knows much about filing serial numbers, and has definite opinions about vodka.
I'm reading reading reading.
Hi!
Posting; Pinch Hit; Betas
Dec. 14th, 2025 11:09 amAt deadline time - 9pm UTC on 17 December - your Yuletide assignment must be posted (published, not a draft!) to the Yuletide collection as a complete work.
Before then, we need your help, Yuletide! We have an outstanding pinch hit (#121) for the fandoms:
SMPLive
Roughhouse SMP
Mirai SMP - XYouly
Highcraft (Web Series)
See details here. Please email us at yuletideadmin@gmail.com if you can help, and spread the word if you have friends who might be interested. This pinch hit is due at 9pm UTC on 19 December.
More pinch hits will be advertised at
Additionally, we love beta reader volunteers! You can connect with writers at this post by filling out a Google form, or you can join the Discord and keep an eye out for beta requests advertised by members with the Hippo role.
Good luck to everyone facing down the deadline!
Please either comment logged-in or sign a name. Unsigned anonymous comments will be left screened.
Life with two children: Renting realms
Dec. 13th, 2025 08:46 pmYesterday I mentioned Minecraft to Sophia, and she showed interest, so I set her up on my desktop and she got stuck in. She's asked for more help than Gideon has, but has been happily building herself an underground house. And just now I wanderd into my office to see her on the desktop and Gideon sitting on the floor with his tablet, with the two of them intermittently showing each other cool things that they'd found.
So tonight, after they're asleep, I'm going to set them both up for online play, and rent a realm*, so that they can be in the same world with each other.
*I am totally willing to pay £3.99 per month to not have to maintain my own server.
[ SECRET POST #6917 ]
Dec. 13th, 2025 02:51 pm⌈ Secret Post #6917 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.

( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 70 secrets from Secret Submission Post #988.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.