nonelvis | Network

It's challenge time!

Comment 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!

house_wren

For two days a bald eagle was hanging around, flying over the house and then sitting in the big trees by the gravel road. This is unusual. When the temperatures rose I saw it on the ground, by a dead raccoon which must have thawed enough that the eagle could eat it. The next day the raccoon was in the middle of the road, dragged there by coyotes. It's gone now.

I'm happy to have completed my Physical Therapy visits and to have a break from going to the clinic. PT was effective. I was lucky to get a therapist who listened well and understood how to help me.

I am still reading the book of the letters of George Sand and Gustave Flaubert.

The winter thaw is happening this week, with temperatures predicted to be in the high 40s. The snow will melt and then the scenery will be mostly greys and browns.

I feel overwhelmed with what's happening in the world. I have done some positive things for others and I have taken care of myself. But I feel frozen. I'll dance a bit and that will help.

Current Music: Bhangra

cornerofmadness

It started out well. Students showed up, did what they're meant to and meeting a prospective student went well.

and then the day fell off a cliff. I was insanely busy.

then I can't find the agars I need to my research students. And when I finally did I don't have the budget for this. sigh.

Then the roof started leaking. Everywhere. I mean everywhere. every lab. every classroom. people who building flat roofs in a snowy area should have their balls kicked repeatedly

My building has issues before this. Got an email. We need a list of what needs fixed in your lab. by tomorrow. well thanksI

Then the online stuff stopped working again just like last year

Then I was reminded my first thought today was I wish I was retired or at least I never did my sabbatical because it was a taste of retirement

Came home. everything is now ice because it was 60 and all the snow is gone but the ice was too thick for that. Looking forward to my death tomorrow

I haven't been wearing my contacts lately because I can't see to read any more and since I read a lot all day it's not worth the reading glasses headaches. Had them in today. Was doing great. Took them out around 7 without a half hour my eye was beet red and I haven't been able to keep it open for nearly 4 hours. I have NO idea what happened. The contact came out easily. it feels more like it rolled up under my eyelid. Flushed it with both my steroid drops and saline but nope. Going to bed early and hope this heals up overnight. Do not want pink eye. Do not want to go to urgent care tomorrow.

Was going to do a cool writing meme but since it feels like someone is removing my eyeball with sandpaper

Current Mood: uncomfortable
Current Music: Graham Norton Show

days_unfolding

I forgot to mention that I used my Holland America bag for my music yesterday, and it was perfect.

Got up around 7:30 AM. Gracie doesn’t want to come in from outside. A typical morning. I want to go back to sleep, but I can’t until lunchtime. I didn't get a shower because Gracie took her time coming in.

Made an appointment for Monday with my psychiatrist. I kept on forgetting to call.

Bella started barking, and Gracie ran from window to window barking. So much for peace and quiet :)

Overslept my nap. Holy cow, it's 56F/13C out.

Bought ferns for the shade garden. I bought ones that are purple, gold, and red. it will add some color along with the astilbe. I also bought some Chinese and Japanese cookbooks. The meals would be healthy for the most part. I think that I have an electric wok. (I had some frozen shrimp chow mein for lunch, and was wondering if I could make it fresh.)

I'm mulling over dental tourism to Mexico to get the rest of my implants. They are for old missing teeth (not in front), so my insurance won't pay for it. I'd like to go to Puerto Vallarta and make a trip of it. I found a hotel off of the Malecon in PV that I like.

Watched more ice skating (Maxim Naumov and Ilya Malinin). I'm looking forward to the ice dancing tomorrow.

Maybe I affected Oliver’s personality by his name. It’s a good name to say when exasperated: “Ol-li-verrrrr”.

Fed us all. I was watching curling while I ate dinner, and it is fascinating. But I need to gather the garbage and put it by the curb now (done). Now I'm not sure whether to scan my music, open packages, or just go to bed. Oh, I need to submit a grocery order for tomorrow.

vysila

January felt like a holding pattern month for me, as I waited for the various house purchasing processes to work their way through the system. I had hoped, indeed expected to close in January, but it ended up being a couple of days later. Oh well, the deed is done now and I am so happy.

In looking at my list, there weren’t very many accomplishments. In fact, there were only three goals that got any action, but it still feels good to make progress.

7. Purchase tools/gadgets to make cooking/life easier as needed
I bought a few smallish gadgets – a different type of vegetable peeler that is easier for me to use, a long handled shoe horn and am looking at one of those long handled grabber thingies, because it feels like the bottom of my new washing machine is halfway to China.

10. Perform annual reallocations on retirement funds
Yep, did this. Takes about 5 minutes to do, once I actually remind myself it needs to be done, lol!

21. Review/change homeowner and auto insurance policies annually
Had to do this, of course, due to moving, but it was a rewarding experience that saved me a chunk of money.

Current Mood: pleased

susandennis

Usually, the tech who does all the eye tests is a young female who speaks to you with the animation of a toy on repeat. She could care less and I'm just another annoying breathing customer.

Today, however, I got Neal who was fresh and alert and interesting and even explained why the yellow drops are yellow and their dual purpose. They numb the eye so the blue light can touch the eyeball comfortably and when he sees green (blue and yellow, get it?) he knows he's scored. I never knew all that.

But, then I got the doctor who was one of those women who wants to know what I'm going to do with the rest of my day and other chit chat that just drives me up the wall. She spit out a word salad of shit about my eyes but I was able to pick out the meat - they are fine. No change from last time. BUT she wants one of those annoying clicker texts in 6 months.

And my eyes are dilated. But, it's done and August is down the road.

And MLB.TV woke up so I ordered a year of Mariners. Not Phillies. Mariners plus Phillies and everyone else would have been twice as much and I just wasn't feelin' it.

So, Dr. Eye, that's the rest of my day.

maju

I spent way more time today than I wanted to, trying to revive my small Dell computer when it kept crashing. I encountered a lot of behind-the-scenes screens which were not helpful, and I've now declared that computer officially dead. It's exactly the same model of computer which S had; S's died last year so I've been kind of expecting mine to follow suit. We only bought these computers in mid-2023, so I can't say I'm very impressed with them. I've ordered a small Google Chromebook as a replacement. I was looking at a small Acer Chromebook, since I've had good luck with Acers before, both Chromebooks and Windows, but the Google Pixel weighs less so I went with that although it was about $100 more expensive.

This afternoon my new card table arrived (I ordered it last week to do puzzles on) so it's now set up in the one remaining spare corner of my basement, next to the small wooden table which is now my dedicated sewing table. I was using the one table for both sewing and puzzles, but it's a pain having to move the sewing machine somewhere else to make room for a puzzle so I decided to get a second table for everything that's not sewing.

Living in this basement is showing me that I can live reasonably comfortably in a small space, although it would be better with more storage for clothes. The few things that I wear all the time are either in drawers in the small chest of drawers beside the bed or hanging on a clothes rack under one of the windows, while everything else is stashed away in suitcases. Everything else that's not in storage that is. If the room next door was a kitchen rather than the girls' art room, this could be a completely self-contained apartment. (Not that I would want to live here for the rest of my life.)

jazzyjj in

awesomeers

It's challenge time!

Comment 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!

susandennis

It's house cleaning day. It's eye doctor day. It's send the agenda to the front desk for copying day (for food and beverage committee meeting tomorrow). It's buy MLB.TV Mariners subscription day - except it is not yet available - it just says 'available for purchase on Feb 10.' Guess they didn't mean 2026.

I have things to return from Amazon BUT I have a purchase arriving today that I know I will be returning so I may save it all until this last bit comes in. I feel like I need a grocery store run but there's nothing on my list and I can't think of anything I need so maybe the grocery store can wait, too.

Quite by accident, my eye appointment is the same time as my house cleaning. Nice.

I finally found the perfect sit for my closet/dressing room. It's one of those folding fabric boxes but study enough to sit and and high enough and narrow enough not to eat up real estate. I used it this morning for putting on my pants and my socks. My closet is now officially done and perfect. It's my new happy place.

My investment total has sky rocketed in the last couple of weeks. Which means, of course, that fairly soon, I'll lose a bundle. Easy come... easy go... I'm glad I'm old.

cornerofmadness

I decided to buy the professor price tickets to the Bourbon City Steampunk in Louisville KY in May. It's the same weekend as graduation. I also put in to do 2 lectures (one I have done since it was my sabbatical and one I shall have to pull forth from my ass) Wish me luck

Today I did find a phone number for recollection clothing and I shall be calling about my dress I've never seen (probably friday as it's the next time I have time) I didn't call United Health Care today because my phone was being a dick.

I did call this collection company knowing it almost couldn't possibly be for me. I haven't been in that kind of mess in years but Penny Williams (the other pain in my ass) who had my telephone number in the early 00s STILL gives it out to avoid collection agencies. This time it was for some man I never heard of.

Today was 20 degrees colder than anticipated.

it's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is 13 has a really good music video. Share your faves too.

( It's going to be the 1980s all the way and you know I can't pick just one )

here's the whole prompt list

( it's under here )

Current Mood: nauseated
Current Music: The Olympics

days_unfolding

Overslept until 6:20 AM. Sigh. Too late to get my car jump-started, so I set my alarm for 7 and slept until 7:20. Plan B is to have my car jump-started over lunch. No, I'm feeling too tired to get it done over lunch, plus I have meetings right afterward. I'll Uber to choir. Sigh. Oliver burst into Zara’s room. I was trying to get him out when Bella swooped in and ate Zara’s food. I told Bella that she was a Bad Dog. Bella: I regret nothing.

Overslept my nap. Oliver and Lily have been using my legs as a pin cushion. A claw cushion. Ouch.

Took an Uber to choir rehearsal. The Uber took over 20 minutes to get there, so I was about a minute late. Rehearsal went well though, and I know the song that I'm going to send to my singing teacher to practice. The Uber going home took only 7 minutes to pick me up, which is more normal.

Read some Slate articles about the Olympics and watched some videos of the US women skaters.

Ordered some dahlias for spring. I need to look for additional plants for my garden. Ordered some more astilbe. I think that I want different-colored varieties of ferns also for my shade garden. I'm wondering if I should put in a dry river bed.

merrileemakes in

everykindofcraft

**Cross posted from my journal, some weaving and knitting patter.**

So it's been over a month since I posted any thing crafty. I've certainly been crafting, I just haven't had any big finishes. I often think of my crafting approach as "kicking the can down the road." Lots of little steps, sometimes without significant progress.
( So here's the cans I've been kicking. )

maju

After a weekend during which I spent a lot of time with the girls either one on one or in various combinations, I was quite looking forward to a quiet day today while they were at school. They left early (around 7 am) to go to run club*, but about 8:30, as I was settling down in the basement, they came back: school had been cancelled because the school buses wouldn't start, I assume because of the cold.

*Run club is one of several extracurricular activities running this term for, I think, 5 weeks. It's held before school, while all the others are after school. Violet is also in drama club, but I don't think either Eden or Aria is doing anything except run club. Last term in run club they just ran laps around the school, but because it's so cold this term they do running-related activities in the gym, which Violet is much happier about.

susandennis

Last night was the night. The night when I was most grateful of all to be out of that condo. Even though the game wasn't played at the stadium across the street, the neighborhood was ground zero for all the drunk idiots who leave their lovely neighborhoods to disseminate ours. Last time, they literally ruined historic architecture. Not to mention leaving a sea of puke and pee and shit on every sidewalk. Yep. Do not miss it. One single bit.

Get off my lawn does not even begin to cover it.

And they will do it all again Wednesday when they have the victory parade. This time I can blissfully ignore the whole thing.

Just saw the most fun dog scene. There's this bent over little old man who lives here and has two small dogs. He's not at all friendly but his dogs are adorable. Just now he's bringing them in from their very wet morning walk and as they make the turn to go across the terrace to the door, one of the dogs just sits. The other one moves forward but dog #1 just sits and stares at the guy. It's hilarious. Finally after a really long time, the dog jumps forward, up and down with tail wagging clearly saying in doggie speak "hahahahaha just kidding!! I love you, do you love me? Will there be treats?" That crabby man can be as crabby as he wants, his dogs are still adorable (and his wife is very nice).

I got to the pool early this morning and had a lovely swim. No other plans for today. The rest of the week is relatively busy so it's fine that today is not.

I took a break from bunnies yesterday to replenish my monster supply.

jazzyjj in

awesomeers

It's challenge time!

Comment 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!

cornerofmadness

I was listening to this the other day about endings

Watch on YouTube

And had several thoughts: 1. I suck at ending things. I never want to say goodbye to the characters. If I don't finish it I have to say goodbye. But that's not the problem mentioned above. That's for people who finish things

2. Have I been guilty of any of them?

3. I might be guilty. My 1980s monster hunter toes the line for the unearned happy ending. Maybe. Sort of.

It's hard to talk about it without spoiling the ending and it probably IS something that would be better if a beta reader looked at I could discuss it with them.

So why am I worried? there are multiple monster in this (maybe too many, that's a problem for another time). One monster is there at the end but it also did the work for the heroes and I'm wondering is that a good pay off? Dan and Howell (the two characters with issues that need to be resolved) get to their ending so there's that. It's probably not as bad an ending as I worry it is.

How about you? Have you worried about your endings?

Open Calls

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What Elegant Stars: Queer Tales of Impossible Style Space opera stories involving style, fashion, and society with a queer theme.

Astrolabe Stories about how we seek out, discover, and grasp onto connection in all genres with a particular fondness for anything that moves beyond realism in form or content or spirit

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Tea or Coffee, Stars, and Gravity Stories must include the 3 title elements: 1. Tea or Coffee, 2. Stars, 3. Gravity.

Nine Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions in February 2026

40 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for February 2026

From Around the Web

Does Your Novel Just…Stop? What Makes a Good Ending (I swear I didn't plan this but the article is here...)

How to Write a Book Pitch That Gets Replies (With Examples).

Metaphor Fatigue: When Imagery Stops Working

From Betty

Words pull us through to the future

Five Ways Gods and the Afterlife Change a Fantasy Setting

How to Craft a Satisfying Reveal

Should You Cut Your Novel Into a Series?

Six Ways to Keep Characters in the Danger Zone

The Dos and Don’ts of Blogging for Writers

Think Music As You Write Words

Seven Decisions That Can Crash Your Story Onto The Rocks.

Five Things I’d Go Back and Tell New Writer Me

Is Single or Multiple Viewpoints Best for Your Story?

Bookshop.org Teams with Draft2Digital

When Should You Stop Querying a Book?

How Writers Should Take Advice: Knowing When to Play It Safe and When to Take Risks.

Finding Inspiration to Write: How Body, Mind, and Soul Work Together

Publishing Paths for Writers: Understanding Vanity Presses Before You Sign

Why Writers Should Take a Daily Walk to Boost Creativity and Writing Output

Story as Cosmology: Understanding Story as a Framework for Meaning

The Greengrocer Writes a Fantasy Novel

So Random

Current Mood: discontent
Current Music: Hudson & Rex

days_unfolding

Gracie woke me up at 7:30 AM. Actually, she started waking me up earlier, but I pulled the covers over my head. Fed the dogs and ordered dog food. Fed us all.

Lindsay Vonn crashed. That’s sad. The US won the team ice skating competition.

Crap. The dogs pinned Oliver and were play-biting him, and he understandably freaked out. I eventually got him loose, and he ran into the bathroom. I closed the door to keep the dogs out and brought his food in there. He seems to be okay.

Nap time. It also gives the cats some time without the dogs, who are in the bedroom with me. Peace is reigning throughout the land (okay, house).

I’m feeling a twinge of grief because I don’t get email from my mom.

Napped. I’m very dehydrated, so I’m trying to chug water with some Mio lemonade mixed in. Had lunch. Now I want a post-lunch nap. The dogs are tired too. (Why?) Gracie and Bella are play-fighting, and Gracie emitted a growl that turned into a yawn. Funny.

Napped. Gracie stole my glasses, which I had put down on the kitchen table. Cheeky pup. I did get them back. Oh jeez. Oliver pulled one of the magnetic dry erase markers off of the refrigerator and dropped it, and Bella grabbed it. Great teamwork, guys.

Fed us all. I'm going to go to sleep soon to get up early and have my car jump-started.

yourlibrarian in

everykindofcraft

These pendants were designed for an earring set, but I liked the way the colors looked different depending on how they were turned.

( Read more... )

susandennis

I was in a text convo with Bonny about what we could/should do, if anything when there was another knock at the door. It was Jim. 'can you come see?'. This is how he always starts. So I said sure. And I opened the door to his apartment and his TV was on and there was a football game on it!!! His care giver had come and just hit the power button.

In retrospect, it kind of makes sense. I assumed this TV was on and had just blipped off which is what it had done in the past and, in the past, a simple unplug/replug fixed it. This time it did not fix it. Because, apparently, it was not turned on.

Holy fuck and thankyoujesus for care givers!

Also, I'm kind of impressed (and grateful) that he came to tell me. Now I am going to go enjoy the day!

maju

I didn't have a very good night last night; when I went to bed I couldn't get to sleep, for no apparent reason. I might have had too much excitement right before going to bed; I went upstairs to use the bathroom there because someone was in the one down here, and when I went in I startled the cat, who was in the bath playing with a mouse. I wish someone would call an exterminator. Anyway, I didn't get much more than four hours sleep.

Something is finally happening with my Kaiser health insurance. On Friday when I checked my bank accounts I discovered that the cheques I had mailed off a month ago to cover what I hope will be my final three months of coverage had been presented to the bank. I can't believe it took them a month to do that. The same day, I received an email saying my request to cancel my insurance had been received but before they could cancel I needed to pay for the final three months. A case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. I sent a quick reply saying the payment had been made and now I'm waiting for whatever happens next. I would really like this saga to be over.

The heating system in this house is weird. Apparently it's very cold upstairs in Eden and Aria's bedroom in spite of the heat being set to 72°F/22°C. Meanwhile it's warmer than I would like down here. I do think houses with more than one floor should have separate temperature controls on each floor.

It turns out Aria is quite an actor. She and Eden have been playing a game where you draw a card and act out whatever is on it. There have been quite a lot of animals, a camera, baking, etc, but the funniest was Aria being a banana. She insisted that she couldn't act out eating a banana, she had to *be* the banana.

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nonelvis

December 2025

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monkeys and ponies

you like monkeys - you like ponies - maybe you don't like monsters so much

Network

Just One Thing (11 February 2026)

winter

Days that make you want to cry

“Ol-li-verrrrr”

Mission 116 Update for January 2026 (Month 21)

Eyes checked and house clean

(no subject)

Just one thing: 10 February 2026

Tuesday

that is hopefully not money lost

Choir and Gardens

Bits and bobs

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I do not miss Seahawkians at all

Just one thing: 9 February 2026

Writerly Ways

Dogs and Cats and a Smidge of the Olympics

Helix Pendants

Fixed!

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December 2025

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