Status of the WIPs
Mar. 14th, 2026 01:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vriddyI... think I'm caught up with Dreamwidth? If you were expecting a reply from me, let me know because I missed it! The exception is the replies to my latest K-9 translation post because I'm saving them for the next time I'm bursting with the need to talk about K-9 with someone and can't find any victim gentleperson to satisfy the hunger.
( Whoops ended up talking about K-9 anyway. How does this keep happening??? )
Anyway, writing! WIPs! Status!! I met my GYWO goal in January and February, but sacrificed March to the editing gods. So I've written... 288 words so far 😤😤 Unless I get possessed I am NOT meeting my monthly goal, but that's okay. I've got more stuff to edit!! And some fics ready to post, too.
Edited and ready to go (except for maybe a grammar check and/or... a title orz):
- Wind Breaker OT4, Chapter 4
- Chapter 1 for the K-9 LeopardTree fic (it got LONG!)
- K-9 triple drabble about Ren, because in canon she always seems to wait for injured teenage girls to wake up at the hospital, even at great personal cost (that is, nicotine withdrawal), and I find that interesting
- Spring Thunder rescue fic about Kagaribi & Co going to Mozu's rescue, together with Mozu's super smart cat :D
- A BNHA NagantMiruko fic I wrote nearly 3 years ago for an event that turned out not to happen, and I think it might be time to move on
Written, needs editing:
- Wind Breaker OT5, final chapter
- K-9 LeopardTree, chapters 2-5
Half-written:
- Blaaah a bunch but this is a month of editing and I'm not particularly thinking about them
Weekly Chat
Mar. 14th, 2026 01:57 pmdancing_serpent posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
c_entThe weekly chat posts are intended for just that, chatting among each other. What are you currently watching? Reading? What actor/idol are you currently following? What are you looking forward to? Are you busy writing, creating art? Or did you have no time at all for anything, and are bemoaning that fact?
Whatever it is, talk to us about it here. Tell us what you liked or didn't like, and if you want to talk about spoilery things, please hide them under either of these codes:
or
Whatever it is, talk to us about it here. Tell us what you liked or didn't like, and if you want to talk about spoilery things, please hide them under either of these codes:
or
Round #37 - 20muses - challenge 07 "Random [Art] Prompts"
Mar. 14th, 2026 12:44 pmtinny posting in retro_icontestThis challenge was originally posted to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
20muses in July 2016 here .
07. random [art] prompt: for this round I wanted to do something a little different; maybe you'll like, maybe not! I'm giving you 20 prompts and you have to interpret them as you like. I want you to push your creativity and imagination with this challenge! Focus on every single prompt and create the first thing that came in your mind! Keep in mind that these are not technical prompts, so everyone can play it differently!
( Read more... )
ORIGINAL RULES - for reference only
None of the original posts contained any specific rules, but a set of 20 icons per round was assumed.
Special rule for this round: Focus on every single prompt and create the first thing that came in your mind!
NEW RETRO_ICONTEST RULES - mandatory
Consider the original challenge rules and try to stick to them in spirit.
-> every icon you make must be based on one of the 20 prompts given in the grey checkered table at the top. 1 icon per prompt. everything else in this post is for inspiration and not required to be used.
-> you may enter as many icons as you like. minimum 1 icon.
-> if you don't want to make all 20 icons, you can pick and choose which random prompts you want to use, you don't have to start with the first one.
-> submit your icons as a new entry into the community. if there are more than five, put the rest under a cut or a link to your unlocked journal post. tag your post with round number and your username (or ask me to tag it for you).
-> please submit five URLs along with your icons. I'll only put the first five per person into the roundup post. either you only list five, or I'll take the first five.
-> make an effort to leave positive feedback on other participants' posts. <3
-> read the full rules here in our userinfo.
-> If you have questions, I'll do my best to answer them!
This comm generally runs from mid-month to mid-month every month, always ending on Fridays. There is no voting. I will make a roundup post containing up to 5 icons per person after every challenge.
Deadline for round #37: Friday, April 17 2026 your end-of-day
If you'd like to promote the comm, please do! Here's a promo code:
20muses in July 2016 here .![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
07. random [art] prompt: for this round I wanted to do something a little different; maybe you'll like, maybe not! I'm giving you 20 prompts and you have to interpret them as you like. I want you to push your creativity and imagination with this challenge! Focus on every single prompt and create the first thing that came in your mind! Keep in mind that these are not technical prompts, so everyone can play it differently!
( Read more... )
ORIGINAL RULES - for reference only
None of the original posts contained any specific rules, but a set of 20 icons per round was assumed.
Special rule for this round: Focus on every single prompt and create the first thing that came in your mind!
NEW RETRO_ICONTEST RULES - mandatory
Consider the original challenge rules and try to stick to them in spirit.
-> every icon you make must be based on one of the 20 prompts given in the grey checkered table at the top. 1 icon per prompt. everything else in this post is for inspiration and not required to be used.
-> you may enter as many icons as you like. minimum 1 icon.
-> if you don't want to make all 20 icons, you can pick and choose which random prompts you want to use, you don't have to start with the first one.
-> submit your icons as a new entry into the community. if there are more than five, put the rest under a cut or a link to your unlocked journal post. tag your post with round number and your username (or ask me to tag it for you).
-> please submit five URLs along with your icons. I'll only put the first five per person into the roundup post. either you only list five, or I'll take the first five.
-> make an effort to leave positive feedback on other participants' posts. <3
-> read the full rules here in our userinfo.
-> If you have questions, I'll do my best to answer them!
This comm generally runs from mid-month to mid-month every month, always ending on Fridays. There is no voting. I will make a roundup post containing up to 5 icons per person after every challenge.
Deadline for round #37: Friday, April 17 2026 your end-of-day
If you'd like to promote the comm, please do! Here's a promo code:
Round 36 Roundup
Mar. 14th, 2026 11:38 amtinny posting in retro_icontest36
Thank you all for participating! We had four participants this round, and all of them made some icons for the No Eyes theme. :D
( 16 (of the 21) icons our 4 makers made )
The next challenge post is coming up as soon as I have wrangled it into shape!
Spring and Autumn, by Himring
Mar. 14th, 2026 10:23 amhhimring posting in tolkienshortfanworksAuthor: Himring
Title: Spring and Autumn
Text type / Format: Poem (free verse)
Source / Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Rating: G
Word Count: 122
Summary: A poem in honour of the B2MeM anniversary, for the March challenge.
( Read more... )
Title: Spring and Autumn
Text type / Format: Poem (free verse)
Source / Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Rating: G
Word Count: 122
Summary: A poem in honour of the B2MeM anniversary, for the March challenge.
( Read more... )
3 things today
Mar. 14th, 2026 10:01 amtozka1. I found a tiny snail on the wall INSIDE the house. How did it get there? Where is it going?
2. What I thought was a weird-looking vase revealed itself to be a crystal singing bowl. I can see why enthusiasts are SO enthusiastic about it. The sound sort of vibrates upwards and it's almost a physical feeling once it hits.
3. One week until I leave Chichester and head to Cardiff! If you have any recommendations for charity shops, used bookstores, small museums or other interesting places to while away time, let me know.
2. What I thought was a weird-looking vase revealed itself to be a crystal singing bowl. I can see why enthusiasts are SO enthusiastic about it. The sound sort of vibrates upwards and it's almost a physical feeling once it hits.
3. One week until I leave Chichester and head to Cardiff! If you have any recommendations for charity shops, used bookstores, small museums or other interesting places to while away time, let me know.
Updated Wind Breaker fic: Acting on instinct (Sakura/Nirei/Suou/Kiryuu/Tsugeura)
Mar. 14th, 2026 08:28 amvriddyI did a first round of editing to the end, and while in my head the last chapter was clunky (probably because I've changed direction on it about 3 times now), actually I was giggling and hiding my mouth behind my hand through most of it so I think it's okay :D The final sentence/paragraph however is clunky and doesn't work super well, but I have a bit of time to figure out something else.
Each chapter has a different PoV as each character figure some things out, and I like the story and how they all gravitate toward each other. However, the tone and narration are a bit distant, maybe a bit flat. It's the same mistake? flaw? that I saw in my OT3/multi-polyship Kn8 fic, where I was also spending a lot of brain power on "How would these characters fit together?". Maybe this is expected for the first few fics with a new ship. When I compare with DabiHawks for which I've written well over 100 fics (and over 200 with Hawks!), obviously I can't nail every nuance and subtlety of their emotions as easily. Yet. Anyway I still think there's good in there and I'm happy I wrote this :D I enjoy these characters so much.
Acting on instinct | Wind Breaker | Sakura/Nirei/Suou/Kiryuu/Tsugeura | 2.8k words (WIP, 3/5) | rated T
Summary: Something shifted for them all in that moment at Kiryuu's house. They all felt it. But Kiryuu was missing for it, so they can't do anything about it.
Not yet.
Read it on Dreamwidth or on AO3.
Each chapter has a different PoV as each character figure some things out, and I like the story and how they all gravitate toward each other. However, the tone and narration are a bit distant, maybe a bit flat. It's the same mistake? flaw? that I saw in my OT3/multi-polyship Kn8 fic, where I was also spending a lot of brain power on "How would these characters fit together?". Maybe this is expected for the first few fics with a new ship. When I compare with DabiHawks for which I've written well over 100 fics (and over 200 with Hawks!), obviously I can't nail every nuance and subtlety of their emotions as easily. Yet. Anyway I still think there's good in there and I'm happy I wrote this :D I enjoy these characters so much.
Acting on instinct | Wind Breaker | Sakura/Nirei/Suou/Kiryuu/Tsugeura | 2.8k words (WIP, 3/5) | rated T
Summary: Something shifted for them all in that moment at Kiryuu's house. They all felt it. But Kiryuu was missing for it, so they can't do anything about it.
Not yet.
Read it on Dreamwidth or on AO3.
Gig list - March 2026
Mar. 13th, 2026 11:32 pmgentlyepigramsVery belated. I did nothing last month because I was either sick or dealing with kitchen tragedies and I'm not sure we bought any tickets. Basically nothing is happening until the end of this month because I'm hoping by then we'll be on the last bit of the kitchen tragedy so I can have my brain back.
( Under the cut to protect your flist )
Next month is busy between the family wedding in NOLA and the memorial for one of our karaoke friends in Austin. I really need to sit down and buy tickets for the things we want even though we're kind of broke from the kitchen stuff. We will be less broke when I submit receipts for our food so I need to get on that if I want ticket money.
( Under the cut to protect your flist )
Next month is busy between the family wedding in NOLA and the memorial for one of our karaoke friends in Austin. I really need to sit down and buy tickets for the things we want even though we're kind of broke from the kitchen stuff. We will be less broke when I submit receipts for our food so I need to get on that if I want ticket money.
friday five
Mar. 13th, 2026 08:54 pmthistleingreyVia a friend---
1. Have you ever watched illusion magic? Close-up, or in a stage show, or on television? Did it work for you?
I've seen Penn and Teller on YouTube a few times, not recently, and a few illusionists live, because two people I've dated previously were fascinated by the whole thing and somehow unable to understand why I wasn't similarly compelled. To me, it's small-space athletic feats plus emotional manipulation, and I can pretty much always do without the latter.
2. Have you ever wished on a star, or a lucky cat, or a coin in a wishing well? Did it work in some way?
No.
3. Have you ever cast a spell, made a love charm, or tried a curse? Did it work in some way?
Not in terms of rituals. In high school I read a few books on Wicca, went "Huh, okay," and decided it's not for me, a conclusion only strengthened by meeting pagans of assorted types during my few SCA years.
4. Are there any other traditional superstitions you pay attention to? Do they work in some way?
My Oma had a ton of these, and I heed a few of hers. Don't put luggage on the bed; that's gross. Picking up random bits of cash in one's path, if it doesn't belong to someone nearby, is fair game. I guess the person I dated who gave me a set of knives may've felt that it led to bad luck, since we broke up a few months later, but we really weren't well suited. The wooden knife block is still around; I've since swapped out most of the knives, which were cheap serrated ones.
5. Would you want major magical powers like in a fantasy story? Which powers, and how would you use them?
Nope!
1. Have you ever watched illusion magic? Close-up, or in a stage show, or on television? Did it work for you?
I've seen Penn and Teller on YouTube a few times, not recently, and a few illusionists live, because two people I've dated previously were fascinated by the whole thing and somehow unable to understand why I wasn't similarly compelled. To me, it's small-space athletic feats plus emotional manipulation, and I can pretty much always do without the latter.
2. Have you ever wished on a star, or a lucky cat, or a coin in a wishing well? Did it work in some way?
No.
3. Have you ever cast a spell, made a love charm, or tried a curse? Did it work in some way?
Not in terms of rituals. In high school I read a few books on Wicca, went "Huh, okay," and decided it's not for me, a conclusion only strengthened by meeting pagans of assorted types during my few SCA years.
4. Are there any other traditional superstitions you pay attention to? Do they work in some way?
My Oma had a ton of these, and I heed a few of hers. Don't put luggage on the bed; that's gross. Picking up random bits of cash in one's path, if it doesn't belong to someone nearby, is fair game. I guess the person I dated who gave me a set of knives may've felt that it led to bad luck, since we broke up a few months later, but we really weren't well suited. The wooden knife block is still around; I've since swapped out most of the knives, which were cheap serrated ones.
5. Would you want major magical powers like in a fantasy story? Which powers, and how would you use them?
Nope!
Wind can be Dangerous
Mar. 13th, 2026 10:05 pmcornerofmadnessSo the winds are over 60 mph and my parents' shingles are in the yard. Needless to say Dad is pissed. This is a 50 year roof (about 20 years in) but the tar proved to be dried out and this wind took the whole of the roof from what we can tell.
Naturally my 83 y.o. father decides he must go on the roof to try to stop this. He doesn't want help. I'm like fine. And when you blow off....
He didn't. Blow off the roof nor stop the zipper effect. You can still hear the nails pulling free even after 5 hours every time the wind picks back up. At first it was just 5 shingles. By dark it was 3 dozen. Better hope it doesn't begin to rain before an insurance adjuster gets out here. Two hours on hold with the insurance company waiting for someone pick up ended with the call disconnecting at their end.
Before that we had spent the afternoon with my favorite cousin my dad's age in her senior living center. That was very nice. We barely made it home before the wind.
I tried to figure out if my insurance pays for jardiance and dexcom but now it's decided my password isn't my password and any attempt to get it to email me a password reset has failed.
And I called my endocrinologist this morning to see if I could come 30 minutes late (because she's always an h our late anyhow) they were going to call me back. Never did. the problem? They put the appoint on the only day I can't be there without canceling work. And I could have sworn it was monday. It was SUPPOSED to be monday.
I was researching something for a Hazbin Hotel story (not the one below) and I needed to see who was the first woman newscaster in America. The answer was Dorothy Fuldheim in 1947 which is way before I imagined. (Mostly I was double checking to see if Vox could have had a female co anchor in the time period S2 depicted)
I thought she was interesting so have DOrothy's history for Women's History month. You can read about her
here.
So for the fannish 50 part of this, here's my story and my recs
Title: Not Licensed For This
Summary: Angel finds himself caught between a feuding Vox and Val and tries to help them be better partners. What else could he do? An annoyed Val was a dangerous Val and Angel wasn’t putting up with it today.
Rating: teen
Notes:Written for Sarajaye in the three sentence ficathon for the prompt Hazbin Hotel, Angel+Vox/Valentino, he unwittingly ends up playing couples therapist for them.
This was also written for theallbingo prompt of tension and for spikesgirl58’s 6 word prompt challenge. The six words were Spirit, Jump, Bracket, Detector, Baby, & Pudding
For some reason I set this pre-season. Just seemed like an interesting time to explore a little.
( Story at the above link or under here )
Box Of Treasures Torchwood
Into The Light Stargate SG-1
House Call Teen Wolf
for tradition, of course 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
While He Sleeps Torchwood
dust cleared (on a hell changed forever) Hazbin Hotel
Carving Out Space The Owl House
but turn it does The Murderbot Diaries
Sexy Sunday The Professionals
flowers and gems Star Trek: Voyager/Star Trek: Prodigy
Sharing Secrets Stargate SG-1
Sterling Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses
resting my eyes Star Trek: Voyager
gifts and greetings 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī
Conspiracy Lasagna Hazbin Hotel
Finding Happiness Torchwood/Doctor Who
Dead Girl Walking The Sentinel
Tumbleweed Oz - L. Frank Baum
take me home, it's getting hard to breathe out there Hoppers (Pixar Movie 2026)
ladies in pastels and black 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Controlled by the Darach Teen Wolf
ladies, you know what i mean, and you know what you need, and so does he Hazbin Hotel
Naturally my 83 y.o. father decides he must go on the roof to try to stop this. He doesn't want help. I'm like fine. And when you blow off....
He didn't. Blow off the roof nor stop the zipper effect. You can still hear the nails pulling free even after 5 hours every time the wind picks back up. At first it was just 5 shingles. By dark it was 3 dozen. Better hope it doesn't begin to rain before an insurance adjuster gets out here. Two hours on hold with the insurance company waiting for someone pick up ended with the call disconnecting at their end.
Before that we had spent the afternoon with my favorite cousin my dad's age in her senior living center. That was very nice. We barely made it home before the wind.
I tried to figure out if my insurance pays for jardiance and dexcom but now it's decided my password isn't my password and any attempt to get it to email me a password reset has failed.
And I called my endocrinologist this morning to see if I could come 30 minutes late (because she's always an h our late anyhow) they were going to call me back. Never did. the problem? They put the appoint on the only day I can't be there without canceling work. And I could have sworn it was monday. It was SUPPOSED to be monday.
I was researching something for a Hazbin Hotel story (not the one below) and I needed to see who was the first woman newscaster in America. The answer was Dorothy Fuldheim in 1947 which is way before I imagined. (Mostly I was double checking to see if Vox could have had a female co anchor in the time period S2 depicted)
I thought she was interesting so have DOrothy's history for Women's History month. You can read about her
here.
So for the fannish 50 part of this, here's my story and my recs
Title: Not Licensed For This
Summary: Angel finds himself caught between a feuding Vox and Val and tries to help them be better partners. What else could he do? An annoyed Val was a dangerous Val and Angel wasn’t putting up with it today.
Rating: teen
Notes:Written for Sarajaye in the three sentence ficathon for the prompt Hazbin Hotel, Angel+Vox/Valentino, he unwittingly ends up playing couples therapist for them.
This was also written for the
allbingo prompt of tension and for spikesgirl58’s 6 word prompt challenge. The six words were Spirit, Jump, Bracket, Detector, Baby, & PuddingFor some reason I set this pre-season. Just seemed like an interesting time to explore a little.
( Story at the above link or under here )
Box Of Treasures Torchwood
Into The Light Stargate SG-1
House Call Teen Wolf
for tradition, of course 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
While He Sleeps Torchwood
dust cleared (on a hell changed forever) Hazbin Hotel
Carving Out Space The Owl House
but turn it does The Murderbot Diaries
Sexy Sunday The Professionals
flowers and gems Star Trek: Voyager/Star Trek: Prodigy
Sharing Secrets Stargate SG-1
Sterling Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses
resting my eyes Star Trek: Voyager
gifts and greetings 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī
Conspiracy Lasagna Hazbin Hotel
Finding Happiness Torchwood/Doctor Who
Dead Girl Walking The Sentinel
Tumbleweed Oz - L. Frank Baum
take me home, it's getting hard to breathe out there Hoppers (Pixar Movie 2026)
ladies in pastels and black 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Controlled by the Darach Teen Wolf
ladies, you know what i mean, and you know what you need, and so does he Hazbin Hotel
Daily Happiness
Mar. 13th, 2026 07:51 pmtorachan1. The store still had McConnell's peppermint stick ice cream in stock somehow, so we bought more. This is definitely the longest I've seen it in stock past Christmas, but I'm not going to complain.
2. In three weeks from today we'll be in Japan! Hopefully!
3. I'm playing another matching game, this one where you have to make 50 groups of 50. It's fun, but I shouldn't be doing this much clicking, it's not good for my wrist!
4. Gemma!
2. In three weeks from today we'll be in Japan! Hopefully!
3. I'm playing another matching game, this one where you have to make 50 groups of 50. It's fun, but I shouldn't be doing this much clicking, it's not good for my wrist!
4. Gemma!
Prompt: Nightless City
Mar. 13th, 2026 08:36 pmranalore posting in chenqing_100Happy Friday the 13th! This week's prompt is: Nightless City.
You have until midnight your time on Friday, March 20, to answer this prompt. Please post your fills of the prompt as separate entries to the community (i.e. not replies to this entry), tagged with the prompt tag. You may post multiple standalone drabbles per entry in addition to drabble sequences and series.
As a reminder, this community has no official presence elsewhere. You are encouraged to share the prompt on social media, if you so desire. It may take me a bit to create the AO3 collection, so please be patient.
Also, I'm going to go ahead and drop a link to the prompt suggestions post here. New suggestions are always, always welcome.
You have until midnight your time on Friday, March 20, to answer this prompt. Please post your fills of the prompt as separate entries to the community (i.e. not replies to this entry), tagged with the prompt tag. You may post multiple standalone drabbles per entry in addition to drabble sequences and series.
As a reminder, this community has no official presence elsewhere. You are encouraged to share the prompt on social media, if you so desire. It may take me a bit to create the AO3 collection, so please be patient.
Also, I'm going to go ahead and drop a link to the prompt suggestions post here. New suggestions are always, always welcome.
The Edge Of Sleep
Mar. 13th, 2026 03:49 pmrogueslayer452I recently watched The Edge Of Sleep, a television series from Mark Fischbach (a.k.a. Markiplier on YouTube) which was adapted from a fictional podcast series he did of the same name. It's only one season since that's all what the podcast has, although I read that a second season of the podcast is written and ready to go, but it hasn't been recorded yet. For the show, it premiered on Amazon Prime in 2024 and then was later made available to watch on Tubi, you can also watch it for free on YouTube which is where I ended up viewing it.
( You'd better stay awake. Because if you fall asleep...you're fucked. )
I haven't listened to the podcast, though I read a bit of what the show leaves out so I'm interested to see what the differences are and how the narrative works between the two mediums the story is told in. There's also a novel based on the podcast too, so that'll be on the list as well. In addition to all of this, Mark recently had a movie come out in theaters, Iron Lung, based off of a video game of the same name, which is something I'm also curious in checking out. Needless to say, his career trajectory is going incredibly well and I'm really proud of him.
( You'd better stay awake. Because if you fall asleep...you're fucked. )
I haven't listened to the podcast, though I read a bit of what the show leaves out so I'm interested to see what the differences are and how the narrative works between the two mediums the story is told in. There's also a novel based on the podcast too, so that'll be on the list as well. In addition to all of this, Mark recently had a movie come out in theaters, Iron Lung, based off of a video game of the same name, which is something I'm also curious in checking out. Needless to say, his career trajectory is going incredibly well and I'm really proud of him.
Weekly Reading
Mar. 13th, 2026 05:27 pmtorachanRecently Finished
Fog
Classic middle grade novel about a girl who lives on an island and when she starts junior high, she starts boarding on the mainland with some other island kids. She's been told it's difficult to adjust, but that doesn't prepare her for the mind games and possibily supernatural powers of the principal and his wife. I didn't read this as a kid, but I must have seen someone talking about it online and decided to check it out (it's been on my to-read list for a while so I don't remember where I heard about it). However, I don't feel like it really holds up to a first-time read as an adult, and I won't be continuing the series.
The School for Good Mothers
Oof. This is a tough book to rate, because it's very well-written and interesting, but I did not enjoy it at all. Not only does it become pretty obvious early on that there's no hope of any sort of happy ending, but there are many excruciating moments when you just want to scream at the MC for making bad decisions, even while having sympathy and seeing how she's been driven to that point.
The story takes place in the near future, where her state has just introduced a new program for people who've had their kids taken away by CPS. They are sent to a "school" (basically a prison) for a full year to supposedly learn to become good parents, but they are set up at every turn for failure and constantly subjected to psychological torture in the name of training them. It's a hard read, and I don't know that I'd actually recommend it, but it's good.
The Price of Honey
Short story about a group of women, the current wife and ex-wives of a tech billionaire, meeting up at his funeral. This was a freebie through Amazon First Reads, which is why I grabbed it. I liked the twist.
Idyll Threats
First in a murder mystery series about a closeted gay cop (though he's not closeted by the end of the first book) in a small town in the late '90s. I liked it all right but I'm not sure I'll read the rest.
This Is Not the Jess Show
The Truman Show for the YA crowd. I did watch The Truman Show back in the day but remember nothing about it except the premise. I really liked this take on it, and the ending was great.
Mapmakers and the Enchanted Mountain and Mapmakers and the Flickering Fortress
Books two and three in the Mapmakers trilogy of YA graphic novels. I read the first one a while back and didn't remember too much of it, but was able to catch up without having to reread it. This is a cute series.
Huda F Are You?
YA graphic memoir about the author's high school years after moving from a city where there were very few Muslims, to Dearborn, Michigan, where many of her classmates were both Muslim and hijabi. I've read a couple of the author's non-YA graphic novels about being Muslim and liked this one a lot more. There are others in the series and I'll probably read them as well.
Fog
Classic middle grade novel about a girl who lives on an island and when she starts junior high, she starts boarding on the mainland with some other island kids. She's been told it's difficult to adjust, but that doesn't prepare her for the mind games and possibily supernatural powers of the principal and his wife. I didn't read this as a kid, but I must have seen someone talking about it online and decided to check it out (it's been on my to-read list for a while so I don't remember where I heard about it). However, I don't feel like it really holds up to a first-time read as an adult, and I won't be continuing the series.
The School for Good Mothers
Oof. This is a tough book to rate, because it's very well-written and interesting, but I did not enjoy it at all. Not only does it become pretty obvious early on that there's no hope of any sort of happy ending, but there are many excruciating moments when you just want to scream at the MC for making bad decisions, even while having sympathy and seeing how she's been driven to that point.
The story takes place in the near future, where her state has just introduced a new program for people who've had their kids taken away by CPS. They are sent to a "school" (basically a prison) for a full year to supposedly learn to become good parents, but they are set up at every turn for failure and constantly subjected to psychological torture in the name of training them. It's a hard read, and I don't know that I'd actually recommend it, but it's good.
The Price of Honey
Short story about a group of women, the current wife and ex-wives of a tech billionaire, meeting up at his funeral. This was a freebie through Amazon First Reads, which is why I grabbed it. I liked the twist.
Idyll Threats
First in a murder mystery series about a closeted gay cop (though he's not closeted by the end of the first book) in a small town in the late '90s. I liked it all right but I'm not sure I'll read the rest.
This Is Not the Jess Show
The Truman Show for the YA crowd. I did watch The Truman Show back in the day but remember nothing about it except the premise. I really liked this take on it, and the ending was great.
Mapmakers and the Enchanted Mountain and Mapmakers and the Flickering Fortress
Books two and three in the Mapmakers trilogy of YA graphic novels. I read the first one a while back and didn't remember too much of it, but was able to catch up without having to reread it. This is a cute series.
Huda F Are You?
YA graphic memoir about the author's high school years after moving from a city where there were very few Muslims, to Dearborn, Michigan, where many of her classmates were both Muslim and hijabi. I've read a couple of the author's non-YA graphic novels about being Muslim and liked this one a lot more. There are others in the series and I'll probably read them as well.
Bad Bunny
Mar. 13th, 2026 07:21 pmmomijizukamoriBecause it came up when I was talking to my dad yesterday, and I remembered I meant to post it here and then forgot - if you haven't seen the Super Bowl halftime show this year, you should watch it. Even if you don't know who Bad Bunny is, or aren't into his style of music. The level of sheer technical skill involved in the staging is next-level, and he very much had a point he wanted to make and most certainly made it.
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show
And if you are interested, someone one Bluesky shared their Bad Bunny 101 write-up, which has links to a bunch of other articles and listening suggestions. Reggaeton is probably not gonna be one of my top genres personally, but I feel like it's good to get out of my listening confort zone and try new things, particularly when it's like, a global phenomenon right now.
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show
And if you are interested, someone one Bluesky shared their Bad Bunny 101 write-up, which has links to a bunch of other articles and listening suggestions. Reggaeton is probably not gonna be one of my top genres personally, but I feel like it's good to get out of my listening confort zone and try new things, particularly when it's like, a global phenomenon right now.
trying to run the gauntlet
Mar. 13th, 2026 07:21 pmmusesfoolI finally got some Minute Maid frozen orange juice concentrate and Orange Julius take 2 is way better than the watery version I made last month. Woo!
Tomorrow, I have to get up early and bake Irish soda bread to take to the family - we are going out for St. Patrick's Day dinner (and also the NINTH[!!!!!] anniversary of my father's death - it is his recipe I use; I miss him a lot).
TV quick takes:
Shrinking: ( spoilers ) Anyway, the first few episodes of this show are a little tough to take but it has morphed into a funny, endearing, poignant hangout comedy and I recommend it! Harrison Ford is SO GOOD in it too.
The Pitt: ( spoilers )
I am very interested to see where the rest of this season is going.
*
Tomorrow, I have to get up early and bake Irish soda bread to take to the family - we are going out for St. Patrick's Day dinner (and also the NINTH[!!!!!] anniversary of my father's death - it is his recipe I use; I miss him a lot).
TV quick takes:
Shrinking: ( spoilers ) Anyway, the first few episodes of this show are a little tough to take but it has morphed into a funny, endearing, poignant hangout comedy and I recommend it! Harrison Ford is SO GOOD in it too.
The Pitt: ( spoilers )
I am very interested to see where the rest of this season is going.
*
