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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 04:09 pm
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 08:30 pm
Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page
Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!
I think my actual last page was APOD, which my feed reader seems to be showing a few days behind the times. And that's a pleasing thing to recommend, on the slim chance that someone hasn't encountered it before: it's interesting and beautiful.
For something that's probably more obscure, though I hadn't visited for a while, Hidden Europe is equally fascinating. The magazines got me through lockdown - deckchair travel in my back garden - and now the articles are going online one by one. People, places, train travel.
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 12:26 pm
So yesterday I was checking my calendar to make sure I was keep track of things and had a "wait...what?" moment when I realized that I fly off to the east coast for a couple weeks...um...next Monday. And that means I"m popping down to Monterey for a family ting on Saturday. And that means...
So I spent a large chunk of yesterday evening drawing up my compulsively -detailed itinerary/schedule and making some additional reservations. I got the plane tickets months ago, but my plans also include some Amtrak travel, a rental car, and a motel room. I didn't want to leave any of that to chance (despite it being off season) but I hadn't previously nailed down exactly when I was doing the non-NYC parts of the trip.
The conjunction that inspired this trip is a friends large-number birthday (hi Lauri!), the Emma Stebbins exhibit at the Heckscher Museum (which I did a podcast interview for), it having been too long since I've seen my brother and family in Maine, and the chance to meet my grand-niece (also in Maine). Alas, the grand-niece contingent had since decided to do the snowbird thing for several months and won't be in scope on this trip.
So I'll be in NYC for 7 days (including two planned-but-not-yet-calendared events) then Augusta ME for 4 days. Currently it's looking like no blizzard, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed as that would make the driving parts annoying.
Unlike most NYC trips, I have plenty of unscheduled time this trip, and I'd love to meet up with folks if it works out.
So I spent a large chunk of yesterday evening drawing up my compulsively -detailed itinerary/schedule and making some additional reservations. I got the plane tickets months ago, but my plans also include some Amtrak travel, a rental car, and a motel room. I didn't want to leave any of that to chance (despite it being off season) but I hadn't previously nailed down exactly when I was doing the non-NYC parts of the trip.
The conjunction that inspired this trip is a friends large-number birthday (hi Lauri!), the Emma Stebbins exhibit at the Heckscher Museum (which I did a podcast interview for), it having been too long since I've seen my brother and family in Maine, and the chance to meet my grand-niece (also in Maine). Alas, the grand-niece contingent had since decided to do the snowbird thing for several months and won't be in scope on this trip.
So I'll be in NYC for 7 days (including two planned-but-not-yet-calendared events) then Augusta ME for 4 days. Currently it's looking like no blizzard, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed as that would make the driving parts annoying.
Unlike most NYC trips, I have plenty of unscheduled time this trip, and I'd love to meet up with folks if it works out.
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 03:04 pm
+ Challenge #4: Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page
Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!
Our lovely![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
renay has been doing Intergalactic Mixtape, and there's so much goodness linked, and so many great books talked about. Big Recommend. The 2025 Reading Recap is also up at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ladybusiness.
+ Once again, it's not Friday, but it is More Joy Day, so fanart recs it is! This time, for K-Pop demon Hunters. ( Read more... )
+ And another thing for More Joy Day:fandomtrees reveals is in two days, on the 10th 17th. I'm on my way now to snoop around for stockings!
+ Haute & Freddy released a new music video. First song of the year for me :D We've been getting so many joyful queer multi-fandom vids to Pink Pony Club, and deservedly so; I really feel this tune's more than capable of being a stand in.
+ Mwhaha this totally qualifies as a Community Thursday, that's one down for 2026 *fistpump*
Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!
Our lovely
renay has been doing Intergalactic Mixtape, and there's so much goodness linked, and so many great books talked about. Big Recommend. The 2025 Reading Recap is also up at ladybusiness.+ Once again, it's not Friday, but it is More Joy Day, so fanart recs it is! This time, for K-Pop demon Hunters. ( Read more... )
+ And another thing for More Joy Day:
fandomtrees reveals is in two days, on the + Haute & Freddy released a new music video. First song of the year for me :D We've been getting so many joyful queer multi-fandom vids to Pink Pony Club, and deservedly so; I really feel this tune's more than capable of being a stand in.
+ Mwhaha this totally qualifies as a Community Thursday, that's one down for 2026 *fistpump*
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 01:55 pm
I started this entry a couple of times. It's really hard to be articulate right now, but I'm going to do my best.
I was at the vigil for Renee Good, the legal observer who was murderer by ICE yesterday. The speakers were all very good and there was a lot of calls to "get organized." I agree? But, saying that sort of misses the point. Renee was only at the scene because Minneapolis/St. Paul *is* incredibly organized. ICE is afraid of us because we're actually very good at this.
On the flipside, one of the other speakers last night suggested that tragedy happens for a reason and only to people who can handle it. He was, I think, trying to encourage the crowd to keep fighting and that we should continue despite this tragedy, but there is a six year old child who can not handle their parent's death. Nobody in that family is okay today. They might never be okay again.
But here's something hopeful.naomikritzer and I went out when another call came out and drove over to Minneapolis from Saint Paul. On our way, I saw a random guy, by himself, marching with a sign that said "Fuck ICE" on it. (On our way back, I noticed that he'd picked up another random protester.) When people in other parts of the world wonder, "When things like this happen, why don't Americans just flood the streets?" From what I could tell? Those of us who could, did. Spontaneously, all around the city, I saw signs taped to lamp posts with the same message to ICE. And, while Naomi and I never spotted any "federal activity" we did see a whole stream of human beings just marching and blowing whistles, headed into downtown MInneaoplis. We stopped and got out of the car and marched with them for a while. Every car that passed us shouted in solidarity. When we were parking, even, the person who parked across the street from us was also joining the spontaneous march (having also been out on patrol for ICE) and I gave them a whistle.
Then the vigil. Like, I say above, there were, for me, some low spots, but that was nothing compared to the feeling of solidarity. Of being shoulder to shoulder with people who were as angry and heartbroken and motivated as me.
Rest in power, Renee Good. We'll keep up your work until the last of those gestapo thugs are gone.
I was at the vigil for Renee Good, the legal observer who was murderer by ICE yesterday. The speakers were all very good and there was a lot of calls to "get organized." I agree? But, saying that sort of misses the point. Renee was only at the scene because Minneapolis/St. Paul *is* incredibly organized. ICE is afraid of us because we're actually very good at this.
On the flipside, one of the other speakers last night suggested that tragedy happens for a reason and only to people who can handle it. He was, I think, trying to encourage the crowd to keep fighting and that we should continue despite this tragedy, but there is a six year old child who can not handle their parent's death. Nobody in that family is okay today. They might never be okay again.
But here's something hopeful.
naomikritzer and I went out when another call came out and drove over to Minneapolis from Saint Paul. On our way, I saw a random guy, by himself, marching with a sign that said "Fuck ICE" on it. (On our way back, I noticed that he'd picked up another random protester.) When people in other parts of the world wonder, "When things like this happen, why don't Americans just flood the streets?" From what I could tell? Those of us who could, did. Spontaneously, all around the city, I saw signs taped to lamp posts with the same message to ICE. And, while Naomi and I never spotted any "federal activity" we did see a whole stream of human beings just marching and blowing whistles, headed into downtown MInneaoplis. We stopped and got out of the car and marched with them for a while. Every car that passed us shouted in solidarity. When we were parking, even, the person who parked across the street from us was also joining the spontaneous march (having also been out on patrol for ICE) and I gave them a whistle. Then the vigil. Like, I say above, there were, for me, some low spots, but that was nothing compared to the feeling of solidarity. Of being shoulder to shoulder with people who were as angry and heartbroken and motivated as me.
Rest in power, Renee Good. We'll keep up your work until the last of those gestapo thugs are gone.
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 07:41 pm
Many people wish they could return to a specific age in their life and live it all over again. But what if that person didn’t know they were reliving the same year over and over again? New York Times best-selling author Lance Rubin explores the idea of being a teenager seemingly indefinitely in his new novel 16 Forever. Follow along in his Big Idea to see a fresh take on the beloved time-loop trope.
LANCE RUBIN:
It’s no secret that we live in a culture that’s afraid of aging. Thousands of products exist to keep us looking as if we’re frozen in time. “Forever Young” is the name of not one, but two, classic songs. Forever 21 was a popular clothing store for decades.
But it occurred to me at some point that, if you could find a way to stay eternally young, it would actually be a complete nightmare. (Cue creepy, echo-saturated horror movie trailer version of Alphaville’s “Forever Young.”)
I said it occurred to me at some point, but I know exactly when it was.
I was five years old, watching a VHS tape of the 1960 televised Peter Pan musical starring Mary Martin. At the end, Peter comes back to the Darling home, and Wendy…has become an adult. They can’t hang out anymore. So instead, Peter flies off with Wendy’s daughter, Jane. Um, I thought, is this supposed to be a HAPPY ending? Seeing the playful bond between Peter and Wendy SHATTERED because of time? With Jane easily replacing Wendy simply because she’s YOUNG?
Around the same age, I saw the 1986 Disney film Flight of the Navigator, in which 12-year-old David falls in the woods and wakes up eight years in the future. His younger brother Jeff has become his older brother. Good god, it chilled me to the bone. The jarring role reversal. The visceral terror of time moving on without you.
And so, I decided to explore these ideas in a novel, with poor Carter Cohen stuck forever at age 16, literally unable to grow up. I’ve always loved a time-loop story, but the idea of a year-long loop, where every character knows the loop is happening except the person it’s happening to, rather than vice versa, seemed unique and intriguing.
I quickly realized that Carter’s perspective was an inherently disoriented one, seeing as his memory wipes clean every time he leaps back to the beginning of sixteen. It felt like the story wanted to be grounded in another POV too, to better understand the way Carter’s looping—which feels almost like a mysterious medical disorder—affects the people around him.
So the story is also told by Maggie Spear, the 17-year-old girl who Carter dated and fell in love with during his most recent loop. Once Maggie sees that the boy she loves now has no idea who she is, she decides it’s too painful to start over.
The experience of writing the first draft started pleasantly enough, as the premise gave me a lot to explore. It was fun to work through what a mess it would be to wake up thinking you were sixteen and then seeing your family had all aged six years without you. It was similarly compelling to think about the devastation of having your boyfriend walk right past you in the high school hallway because he has no idea who you are.
But when it came to cleaning up the mess these characters were in, I was pretty clueless.
As my editor David Linker said after reading my first draft, it “really falls apart in the second half.” The worst part about that note was that I knew he was completely correct.
I had two main struggles with this book. One was accounting for the six years of looping that happens before the novel even begins. Kind of an unwieldy amount of time to work with. I decided to write several chapters from the POV of Carter’s younger-now-older brother, Lincoln, since as a sibling he would have been there for every previous loop. That said, it was still hard to determine what had happened during that time and what was worth sharing with the reader.
The other struggle involved, well, THE LOOPING. Like, um, why was it happening? And would Carter get out of it? If so, how would he get out of it? How would that connect to the theme of growing up? Would a solution, if there was one, be clear or ambiguous? Literal or figurative?
Unlike a Groundhog Day loop of twenty-four hours, Carter had to make it through at least an entire year for the reader to see if he was going to make it out of the loop or not. Again, I’d boxed myself into a cumbersome duration of time. Which led to other questions too, like if Carter and Maggie were going to get back together, when in the year should that happen? How could I maintain the necessary tension when the ticking clock was A YEAR LONG?
So, yeah, imagine the above two paragraphs looping through my brain for months and months, as I paced around my apartment, as I walked to get groceries, as I talked through ideas with my wife Katie. I was, of course, as stuck as my protagonist—draft after draft after draft, unsure if I’d ever be able to write a version of this book I felt good about.
Ultimately, there were no quick solutions. No lightning bolt moment that solved everything. Instead, there were a series of tiny discoveries and changes that slowly made the book into something better. When my editor read the second draft, he felt it had improved, but it still fell apart in the last third. When he read the third draft, he felt like it was almost there, but not quite.
And so on and so on. There’s probably a reason writers are so attracted to the time-loop trope—in many ways, it so aptly represents the creative process: living something over and over and over again, trying to make it a little better each time.
Until finally: you stop looping. And it feels amazing, like you’ve done something impossible. I’m so happy with where the book finally landed and proud of the journey it took to get there. And, just as importantly: I have a deeper understanding of why Peter Pan and Flight of the Navigator made me feel so damn sad when I was five.
16 Forever: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Bookshop|Powell’s|Libro.fm|Community Bookstore
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 01:55 pm
My day so far.
Early this morning from my front window. I wanted to show how foggy it was. I liked seeing the snow residue. I waited and waited to get a pic of any bird that might visit the feeder but finally got tired of waiting. Just imagine it with a bird. Soon after I took this picture I left to drive to Berdella's for group. The drive was beautiful. Lots of nice scenery on back country roads. I love fog in the morning especially when you can see sun shining through it.
I had Berdella and Jan try the "closed eyes self portrait" (blind drawing) with me today. I wish I had remembered to get a pic of theirs too. I think this is the best I have done yet with getting features in nearly the right spots. This was on a bigger piece of paper. Next I want to try one where I look at a scenery photo. Then maybe I'll color it in afterwards with watercolor. That should look pretty neat. But now I must get busy with some cleaning - Johnny and Alison are spending the weekend and the house needs spiffed up. Plus I want to take Rainy for a walk. It's a fully blue sky sunny day now. 47F.
Early this morning from my front window. I wanted to show how foggy it was. I liked seeing the snow residue. I waited and waited to get a pic of any bird that might visit the feeder but finally got tired of waiting. Just imagine it with a bird. Soon after I took this picture I left to drive to Berdella's for group. The drive was beautiful. Lots of nice scenery on back country roads. I love fog in the morning especially when you can see sun shining through it.
I had Berdella and Jan try the "closed eyes self portrait" (blind drawing) with me today. I wish I had remembered to get a pic of theirs too. I think this is the best I have done yet with getting features in nearly the right spots. This was on a bigger piece of paper. Next I want to try one where I look at a scenery photo. Then maybe I'll color it in afterwards with watercolor. That should look pretty neat. But now I must get busy with some cleaning - Johnny and Alison are spending the weekend and the house needs spiffed up. Plus I want to take Rainy for a walk. It's a fully blue sky sunny day now. 47F.
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 02:00 pm
Many temples in Thailand are in their fullest glory with the help of the fierce Thai sun — golden spires seemingly glowing in the afternoon sun, or the twinkle of a sunset casting a temple in cotton candy hues. However, there's one temple in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province where the real showstopper happens once the sun has set.
What distinguishes Wat Sirindhorn from other temples is the amazing show of glowing art that comes alive once the night arrives. Surrounding all sides of the main temple hall are countless flourishing glow-in-the-dark designs. Many of the motifs reference the sacred Bodhi tree in Buddhism. In other places, swirls arc and lead visitors on winding paths around the grounds of the temple. The outer walls of the temple are also adorned with luminescent Buddha figures.
Inside the prayer hall, an imposing gilded Buddha statue provides a visually luminous crescendo as it is backlit by an illuminated tree design. The entire display mirrors off the reflective tile flooring, inviting you to take a moment to take in the glowing scenes inside and out.
Wat Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Phrao, named after beloved Thai princess Sirindhorn (herself an avid traveler and photographer) spreads across a green hilltop in a natural setting. The "phu" in the name tells you this temple is on a hilltop. The waters of lake Sirindhorn lap against one side of the hill, while the Laotian border is tucked a mere half mile away on the other side.
Leave the sunscreen at your hotel and time your visit for sunset. This will allow you to watch the last rays of the day set the nearby lake ablaze in colors and then, once the sky is dark, the real show at the temple silently begins. And if you've spent any time in Southeast Asia, you'll appreciate the chance to go temple hopping after dark. The temple is some distance from the nearest town, but like most popular temples in Thailand, there will usually be a tuk-tuk driver waiting for farangs (foreigners) to shuttle back to town. If you come with your own wheels, there is parking available directly at the temple.
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 02:02 pm
Navigation: Rules and Info Post | 2025 Collection | Mod Contact: TavinaFanfiction@gmail.com
Pinch hits are assignments in search of a creator! We currently have 8 pinch hits due on February 15th, 2026 at 10pm EST.
Pinch hits must meet the assignment minimums (see minimums under “assignments” on the Rules and Info Post.)
In order to pick up a pinch hit either email the modmail or comment on this post (all comments on this post are screened) with:
- The number and or username of the pinch hit you would like to pick up
- Your ao3 username
- An email where I can reach you
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 01:53 pm
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 10:25 am
Time to reflect a little on the media I read and watched in 2025. My reading goal for 2025 was “Reading Joyfully”. I think this worked out ok – I started out putting a lot of pressure on myself about it and stressing out, but then I backed off and used it as an excuse to think about how reading fits into my life these days.
I was somewhat hoping I could get back to really engaging with new to me SFF, and for the most part that didn’t happen. There were a couple of weeks in there where I was sleeping way better than I generally manage these days and I read several new to me books! It was great! So I think part of my problem is that I’m just not well rested enough to engage with new to me stuff very much. Which is sad, but pushing isn’t going to make me happy either.
Then after the thing with the flood damage, when the whole house was a mess, I was struggling to focus on much of anything. I ended up just reading a ton of fic, so much fic.* Which has been delightful. The comfort of the same thing again but different this time is really not appreciated enough by critics. This reading phase has been very joyful!
In 2025 I read even fewer books than I read the last several years (57) but unlike the last couple of years I don’t feel bad about it. Which was the real point of my reading joyfully goal. I’m more at peace with who I am as a reader these days and that’s really nice, even if I might never be the same kind of reader I was before the pandemic happened.
Another trend that defined my 2025 media was crossdressing girls. I love, love, love the trope of girls who disguise themselves and boys to go out into the world and do things that they wouldn’t be allowed to do. This is a trope that English language media hasn’t really been doing much with recently, but luckily for me it's popular in Asian dramas. It’s such a comfort trope for me, and I decided to really dive into this trope and watched many dramas featuring it. (And read a couple of books too)
I also continue to watch many silly Chinese reality shows, another thing that I find relaxing. Media has really was a source of comfort for me in 2025.
In terms of goals for 2026, I’m going to continue to not have a numerical goal for total books. I find those more stressful than fun. Having a theme for my media last year worked out really well though so for the first quarter of 2026 my media theme is going to be “comfort” . Then I can see I want to keep that theme or change at the end of the quarter. I also want to push myself a bit harder on reading Mandarin so I’m going to make it a goal to read six graded readers this year, which feels very doable.
*Me, very stressed out: I’ll just read this cute sounding fic in a fandom I’m not in. It will be relaxing. Me, several days, and I don’t know how many fics in that fandom latter: I guess I have a new fandom now, opps?
I was somewhat hoping I could get back to really engaging with new to me SFF, and for the most part that didn’t happen. There were a couple of weeks in there where I was sleeping way better than I generally manage these days and I read several new to me books! It was great! So I think part of my problem is that I’m just not well rested enough to engage with new to me stuff very much. Which is sad, but pushing isn’t going to make me happy either.
Then after the thing with the flood damage, when the whole house was a mess, I was struggling to focus on much of anything. I ended up just reading a ton of fic, so much fic.* Which has been delightful. The comfort of the same thing again but different this time is really not appreciated enough by critics. This reading phase has been very joyful!
In 2025 I read even fewer books than I read the last several years (57) but unlike the last couple of years I don’t feel bad about it. Which was the real point of my reading joyfully goal. I’m more at peace with who I am as a reader these days and that’s really nice, even if I might never be the same kind of reader I was before the pandemic happened.
Another trend that defined my 2025 media was crossdressing girls. I love, love, love the trope of girls who disguise themselves and boys to go out into the world and do things that they wouldn’t be allowed to do. This is a trope that English language media hasn’t really been doing much with recently, but luckily for me it's popular in Asian dramas. It’s such a comfort trope for me, and I decided to really dive into this trope and watched many dramas featuring it. (And read a couple of books too)
I also continue to watch many silly Chinese reality shows, another thing that I find relaxing. Media has really was a source of comfort for me in 2025.
In terms of goals for 2026, I’m going to continue to not have a numerical goal for total books. I find those more stressful than fun. Having a theme for my media last year worked out really well though so for the first quarter of 2026 my media theme is going to be “comfort” . Then I can see I want to keep that theme or change at the end of the quarter. I also want to push myself a bit harder on reading Mandarin so I’m going to make it a goal to read six graded readers this year, which feels very doable.
*Me, very stressed out: I’ll just read this cute sounding fic in a fandom I’m not in. It will be relaxing. Me, several days, and I don’t know how many fics in that fandom latter: I guess I have a new fandom now, opps?
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 12:54 pm
Title: Looking Forward To Most
Rating: R
Warnings: No Warnings Apply
Fandom: S.W.A.T.
Relationships: Donovan Rocker/Molly Hicks
Tags: Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Donny gets poisoned.
Word Count: 2,873
( Looking Forward To Most )
Rating: R
Warnings: No Warnings Apply
Fandom: S.W.A.T.
Relationships: Donovan Rocker/Molly Hicks
Tags: Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Donny gets poisoned.
Word Count: 2,873
( Looking Forward To Most )
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 12:53 pm
It's that time again (Seven Seas monthly survey).
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScp3j1csWSOu0DJuKZ3Kq0vsJaHY4fo70lV1fhvO8TUQEtLRg/viewform
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScp3j1csWSOu0DJuKZ3Kq0vsJaHY4fo70lV1fhvO8TUQEtLRg/viewform
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 12:00 pm
The Jojo manga franchise is infamous for it's strangely dressed characters and wacky plotlines that somehow are well written. It has fans all over the world, but only one of them opened a bar themed around the franchise and crested dozens of unique drinks around the characters and their 'stands'.
The bar itself is a small hole-in-the-wall type establishment, just large enough to seat about 10 people. It is covered from head to toe with prints and miniatures of the Jojo franchise, as well as original drawings and hand made replicas of the faces of various stands. Behind the bar the show is constantly playing, and the owner has watched it so often that he talks primarily in Jojo quotes (in Japanese). For those who want to read instead of watch, there is a library with all the Jojo books in one corner.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the bar is his long menu, which has about 50 drinks for each of the five Jojo seasons, each containing several unique cocktails named after the characters, their stands, and the moves of the stands.
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 12:11 pm
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 04:18 pm
snowflake_challenge prompt 4 asks the following: Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page
Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!
Given that the last non-work website that I looked at was a somewhat grim political podcast, I'm going to reinterpret this as an opportunity to link a weird and wonderful piece of longform journalism that I've had bookmarked for a while: The snail farm don: is this the most brazen tax avoidance scheme of all time?
The title doesn't do it justice, and neither does my summary: a septugenarian who made his money in his family's shoe-selling business empire in the north of England, and has decades-long associations with the mafia in Naples (including hiding mafia members on the run in his properties in the UK) has for the past several years invested most of his time and energy in exploiting an elaborate UK tax loophole by which — if you claim to be running a snail farm on your property (including in residential blocks of flats or office buildings) — you pay no tax. In his telling, he's doing this purely to pass the time and keep his mind active in his later years. It's a wild ride.
This kind of written long-form journalism, essay or interview — with left-field subject matter and larger-than-life personalities — is my absolutely favourite type of nonfiction.
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 03:46 pm
After a delay when the route from the manufacturer to us was literally closed by winter weather, all the components for Krissy’s new garage have arrived and the final construction has begun. One of the advantages of this type of construction is that it’s relatively quick to set up; the should have the whole thing up and insulated in a couple of days, after which time this garage will be the new home of our ride-on lawn mower and Krissy’s dad’s old pick up, which she has kept in meticulous shape and which still runs great.
Obviously I will post when the thing is completed, but I thought this early morning, snapped-when-I-took-the-dog-out shot was a pretty cool in-progress moment. I know Krissy will be happy when her new garage is done, and also, when all the construction mess is gone.
— JS
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 10:00 am
Started by a passionate bonsai enthusiast in the mid-1990s, the garden combines landscape design, art, and quiet reflection. Visitors follow winding paths lined with glowing azaleas, cherry blossoms, and fiery maples. Bonsai trees, some over 180 years old, are displayed among stone arrangements, mossy hills, and a pond filled with colorful koi. Stepping stones and small bridges lead to a wooden pavilion that frames the miniature landscape like a painting.
The tea house, overlooking the Zen garden, offers a peaceful stop for visitors to enjoy Japanese teas and sweet treats like Dora Yaki. A small shop nearby sells tea, traditional snacks, pottery, and bonsai supplies, allowing guests to take a piece of the garden home.
At the end of October, the garden hosts a Lantern Festival, when dozens of bamboo and stone lanterns illuminate the paths and trees in a soft glow. Visitors should check the garden’s website for current dates and event details.
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 08:14 am
This was going to be a cheerful post, but then Minneapolis got invaded and a member of my community was murdered and a bunch of others were kidnapped, including local high school students. "Rage" is such a little word, it doesn't begin to cover it. And yes, as with 2020, I'm living blocks away from the epicenter.
But for those worried about me personally, I am living alone, unemployed and taking care of a sick cat who requires regular medical attention. Add into that a bum leg and ice-covered streets and I'm not out much at night except for planned activities where I am meeting with or being driven by friends. Am I going into areas where folks have been targeted? Yes. I was at the Mercado Central yesterday for lunch after a post office run. It was largely deserted because people are justifiably terrified, but I got lunch from the lady making pupusas (one of the very few places that was open) and toiling away to feed the 10 or so people who were there. The front door was locked and building security was much in evidence. This is a reminder to support local immigrant-owned businesses.They need all the help they can get right now. I am also planning on going to the rally this Saturday, but will skip the march. Other than that, I am supporting my good electeds and local organizations, writing emails and will be doing some volunteering on related things (online, etc.) as time permits.
What else is going on? Well, today I'm "auditioning" for a part-time gig at a nearby local bookstore. A long time staffer is leaving and they're hoping I'll be a good fill in option. Not the week I would pick to start a retail gig in Minneapolis, but that fault lies neither with the bookstore or me. It's close enough, I think I can work out the med and event schedule with the store's needs, but we'll see how it goes. Shu is still hanging on, albeit with a few more periodic bad days (no more seizures so far, at least) - he still wants loves and cuddles and food and brushing so I'll try and keep him going until he wants to go. A friend just sent me a Reedsy invite so I need to get my editing info together and post out there as the bookstore gig will not cover all of my expenses. I did get some good financial news recently so not desperate, just want to make sure I don't become so and I need to avoid going on Social Security for a while longer or life will get even more problematic.
Other news:
EDITED: Looks like the bookstore gig will work out once we get schedules and stuff sorted. Which means you'll be able to see me at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis more often!
But for those worried about me personally, I am living alone, unemployed and taking care of a sick cat who requires regular medical attention. Add into that a bum leg and ice-covered streets and I'm not out much at night except for planned activities where I am meeting with or being driven by friends. Am I going into areas where folks have been targeted? Yes. I was at the Mercado Central yesterday for lunch after a post office run. It was largely deserted because people are justifiably terrified, but I got lunch from the lady making pupusas (one of the very few places that was open) and toiling away to feed the 10 or so people who were there. The front door was locked and building security was much in evidence. This is a reminder to support local immigrant-owned businesses.They need all the help they can get right now. I am also planning on going to the rally this Saturday, but will skip the march. Other than that, I am supporting my good electeds and local organizations, writing emails and will be doing some volunteering on related things (online, etc.) as time permits.
What else is going on? Well, today I'm "auditioning" for a part-time gig at a nearby local bookstore. A long time staffer is leaving and they're hoping I'll be a good fill in option. Not the week I would pick to start a retail gig in Minneapolis, but that fault lies neither with the bookstore or me. It's close enough, I think I can work out the med and event schedule with the store's needs, but we'll see how it goes. Shu is still hanging on, albeit with a few more periodic bad days (no more seizures so far, at least) - he still wants loves and cuddles and food and brushing so I'll try and keep him going until he wants to go. A friend just sent me a Reedsy invite so I need to get my editing info together and post out there as the bookstore gig will not cover all of my expenses. I did get some good financial news recently so not desperate, just want to make sure I don't become so and I need to avoid going on Social Security for a while longer or life will get even more problematic.
Other news:
- Queen of Swords Press is celebrating its 9th birthday this month! Also known as "Holy Shit! We Made it!" Huge thank you shoutout to everyone who's helped along the way! We are having a birthday sale this week - use code BIRTHDAY at check out to get a discount when buying direct from us through 1/11 and you'll get entered in our prize drawing!
- Jennie Goloboy and I are co-teaching "To Market, To Market" at The Loft Literary Center on 2/28. Get help from a prominent literary agent and an award-winning small press publisher on getting your book submitted and potentially published and all that good stuff.
- I just added some things to my Ko-fi store, including a couple of signed copies of an out of print award-winning collection.
- I have a Patreon where I post fiction, nonfiction, Queen of Swords Press news and more. This supports me in the sense of paying me for my publishing work.
- You can hire me to edit, teach, write and all that good stuff! Check out my Professional Editor's Network page here.
- Blue Moon (the next werewolf book) has cleared 18k words, I'm working on a queer Arthurian story for an anthology invite, I'm starting on a nonfiction piece for a successful pitch and I have a novella and a short story in progress. Working on building my nonfiction portfolio and helping people remember that I used to be a pretty well known fiction author so definitely open to more projects!
EDITED: Looks like the bookstore gig will work out once we get schedules and stuff sorted. Which means you'll be able to see me at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis more often!
Thursday, January 8th, 2026 10:00 am
(belated) January 6th - 'what are your three favorite F/F pairings from live-action media?' For maggie33
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(there are still slots open for the January Talking Meme here)
maggie33 ( Read more... )
(there are still slots open for the January Talking Meme here)
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