half an hour earlier tomorrow
Jun. 26th, 2025 10:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
musesfoolTodd Zeile: Pete's been chasing breaking balls
My brain: don't go chasing breaking balls, stick to the sliders and the fastballs you're used to
*facepalm*
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My brain: don't go chasing breaking balls, stick to the sliders and the fastballs you're used to
*facepalm*
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25 Things in 2025 - Thing #10
Jun. 26th, 2025 12:04 pmsmallhobbitObtain refund on our Oyster cards
Not yet completed, but I have done what I can to this point. Transport for London issue Oyster cards, so, I followed the instructions on their website, since our cards are too old to apply that way, and phoned the number quoted. A very pleasant told me to email and gave me the email address. I emailed and got an acknowledgement, followed by a response requesting further details so they could identify me. I replied with the details two weeks ago, and have heard nothing since. I've now sent a further email asking for details and offering to send the cards to them.
I'm counting this as completion of 'Apply for refund on our Oyster cards'!
Not yet completed, but I have done what I can to this point. Transport for London issue Oyster cards, so, I followed the instructions on their website, since our cards are too old to apply that way, and phoned the number quoted. A very pleasant told me to email and gave me the email address. I emailed and got an acknowledgement, followed by a response requesting further details so they could identify me. I replied with the details two weeks ago, and have heard nothing since. I've now sent a further email asking for details and offering to send the cards to them.
I'm counting this as completion of 'Apply for refund on our Oyster cards'!
what the mama saw, it was against the law
Jun. 25th, 2025 05:15 pmmusesfoolIn addition to various Spider-Man and Captain America-themed items, I ordered a Batman shirt and a Robin shirt for Baby Miss L and then I was like, but does she know who Batman and Robin even are??? So I went looking for toddler-friendly Bat-stuff, and lo and behold, there is a show called Batwheels on Cartoon Network (and HBO Max) about the Batmobile and other Bat vehicles (the Redbird, Batgirl's bike) coming to life like the toys in Toy Story! With DUKE as ROBIN and CASS as BATGIRL!!! I love this!!! (mainly because I was afraid it was going to be Damian as Robin and Babs as Batgirl and that's just weird.) I don't know if any of the other kids exist, but there is a Batplane they call Wing, so maybe Nightwing is around? I didn't watch it, just read the wiki, but I mentioned it to my niece, so maybe Baby Miss L can get started early on loving Robin, and she can enjoy Tiny Titans when she's a little bit older. (I am still sad and bitter that Tiny Titans was cancelled so unceremoniously because it was the best.)
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too many large crooked numbers
Jun. 24th, 2025 09:10 pmmusesfoolSo this morning I updated the board chair on expected attendance at today's board meeting, and she replied, should we just switch the meeting to zoom entirely, due to the weather? So that is what we did! And as much as I would have liked to have had dinner with Friend L this evening, I was much happier not having to schlep into the city in 101°F heat. The meeting went well, and now I can relax for a few weeks.
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i will lay me down
Jun. 23rd, 2025 05:37 pmmusesfoolMets just signed a guy named Dicky Lovelady! I am not making this up! Apparently he asked to be called Dicky instead of Richard. I am here for it! (Unless he's a truly terrible pitcher.)
In work news, after a while where I thought I might have to spend tonight baking cupcakes to bring to my board meeting tomorrow, I do not. Whew. I would have done it! But luckily someone else was like, "lol no, I'm buying a cake!" so whew. 😅 But this is the kind of last minute, half-assed nonsense our C suite does. If they had told me last week, I could have added a cake to our catering order, but nope! (Meanwhile, my boss: "Now I'm disappointed we don't get your cupcakes!" Me: "maybe next time I come to the office...")
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In work news, after a while where I thought I might have to spend tonight baking cupcakes to bring to my board meeting tomorrow, I do not. Whew. I would have done it! But luckily someone else was like, "lol no, I'm buying a cake!" so whew. 😅 But this is the kind of last minute, half-assed nonsense our C suite does. If they had told me last week, I could have added a cake to our catering order, but nope! (Meanwhile, my boss: "Now I'm disappointed we don't get your cupcakes!" Me: "maybe next time I come to the office...")
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25 Things in 2025 - Thing #13
Jun. 23rd, 2025 04:12 pmsmallhobbitFrame Cross Stitch
I finally got around to buying some picture frames. And since it wasn't just my cross stitch projects that needed framing, but my two latest production posters from New Adventures dance performances, I did those two:
And here are Klimt's Sunflowers and Klimt's The Kiss
I finally got around to buying some picture frames. And since it wasn't just my cross stitch projects that needed framing, but my two latest production posters from New Adventures dance performances, I did those two:
And here are Klimt's Sunflowers and Klimt's The Kiss
i kicked and screamed, said, "please, don't go"
Jun. 22nd, 2025 08:50 pmmusesfoolI maybe should have rethought making chicken cutlets today, which was one of the hottest days we've had so far and it only looks like it's going to get hotter this week before it cools down, but I did not - they were on sale and I bought them, so I had to cook them as there is no room in my freezer to freeze them!
I did nope out of the extra steps of making chicken parm, though. No need to put the oven on again - I did enough of that yesterday when I baked chocolate banana bread and then made bacon for lunch for several days during the week. I just need to get through Tuesday - our only in-person board meeting this year and gosh, I wish we had talked the CEO out of it since it's supposed to be 97°F on Tuesday, but we did not. Hopefully people show up! (if they don't, that can be the argument against doing it again, at least until we get a new CEO. Their poor showing last September let us convince everyone that we only needed to do it once this year.) And I am meeting Friend L for dinner afterwards, so that should be fun! Next week I have a 3-day work week and then 2 weeks after that, I'm off for a whole week for my birthday week, so really, it's just getting through Tuesday. *deep breaths*
I did not watch the Mets last night and they mashed, so I decided not to watch them again tonight (also ESPN is the worst), which seems like the right decision, since they are being soundly beaten, at least so far. Sigh. I know it's a long season, but couldn't they have saved some of those runs for tonight?
Sigh.
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I did nope out of the extra steps of making chicken parm, though. No need to put the oven on again - I did enough of that yesterday when I baked chocolate banana bread and then made bacon for lunch for several days during the week. I just need to get through Tuesday - our only in-person board meeting this year and gosh, I wish we had talked the CEO out of it since it's supposed to be 97°F on Tuesday, but we did not. Hopefully people show up! (if they don't, that can be the argument against doing it again, at least until we get a new CEO. Their poor showing last September let us convince everyone that we only needed to do it once this year.) And I am meeting Friend L for dinner afterwards, so that should be fun! Next week I have a 3-day work week and then 2 weeks after that, I'm off for a whole week for my birthday week, so really, it's just getting through Tuesday. *deep breaths*
I did not watch the Mets last night and they mashed, so I decided not to watch them again tonight (also ESPN is the worst), which seems like the right decision, since they are being soundly beaten, at least so far. Sigh. I know it's a long season, but couldn't they have saved some of those runs for tonight?
Sigh.
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30 Days Wild - Week Three
Jun. 22nd, 2025 03:05 pmsmallhobbitWeek Three had Learning About Wildlife as its theme. I wasn't attracted to any of the possibilities, but the BTO website has lots of information I've been dipping into. I did get out and about a bit - less than I'd hoped, but it was HOT so not ideal for anyone.
However, I spotted a blackbird on two separate occasions (one male, one female), so I was able to submit my observations.
And yesterday, although not actually in the garden, I saw the house martins flying around, catching flies. And also the house roofs at one point had a whole row of starlings, shouting about something - probably the threat of rain. This is the tree they flew off to.
And my Week 3 badge:
However, I spotted a blackbird on two separate occasions (one male, one female), so I was able to submit my observations.
And yesterday, although not actually in the garden, I saw the house martins flying around, catching flies. And also the house roofs at one point had a whole row of starlings, shouting about something - probably the threat of rain. This is the tree they flew off to.
And my Week 3 badge:
View from the Window - June
Jun. 21st, 2025 11:14 amsmallhobbitHere are this month's views. As can be seen the hot weather is taking a toll on the grass.
( June views )
( June views )
25 Things in 2025 - Thing #11
Jun. 20th, 2025 03:45 pmsmallhobbitChange phone provider
I had used the same phone provider since I was working in a company which, amongst other things, provided mobile phones, which meant I got staff rate. However, since I left in 2018 the price has been slowly rising, so it's no longer a good deal and my data allowance was very limited.
Which was why I finally made the move to change provider - prompted in part by listing this as something to do this year and therefore committing myself to do it! Having looked at price comparison websites I decided to just go to Tesco, where the staff are helpful, which meant they could do the set up for me. I'd got a PAC code so within just over 24 hours of buying a new SIM (I'm on SIM only having bought a new phone in January) I have my old number (it's the only number I've ever managed to remember!) it was all set up. Hooray!
I had used the same phone provider since I was working in a company which, amongst other things, provided mobile phones, which meant I got staff rate. However, since I left in 2018 the price has been slowly rising, so it's no longer a good deal and my data allowance was very limited.
Which was why I finally made the move to change provider - prompted in part by listing this as something to do this year and therefore committing myself to do it! Having looked at price comparison websites I decided to just go to Tesco, where the staff are helpful, which meant they could do the set up for me. I'd got a PAC code so within just over 24 hours of buying a new SIM (I'm on SIM only having bought a new phone in January) I have my old number (it's the only number I've ever managed to remember!) it was all set up. Hooray!
of a runaway American dream
Jun. 18th, 2025 10:56 pmmusesfool*
25 Things in 2025 - Thing #9
Jun. 18th, 2025 10:22 amsmallhobbitListen to Delius
There are still Delius' pieces I want to listen to, but for the purpose of this challenge I have listened to several works.
North Country Sketches
La Calinda
On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
Twilight Fancies (song)
Marche Caprice
Sleigh Ride
The Song of the High Hills
The Florida Suite (my favourite so far)
Appalachia
Hiawatha
Brig Fair
Cello Concerto
Spring Morning
Dance Rhapsody No 1 & No 2
Sonata for Strings (both original and Eric Fenby arrangement)
Violin Concerto
Evening Songs
There are still Delius' pieces I want to listen to, but for the purpose of this challenge I have listened to several works.
North Country Sketches
La Calinda
On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
Twilight Fancies (song)
Marche Caprice
Sleigh Ride
The Song of the High Hills
The Florida Suite (my favourite so far)
Appalachia
Hiawatha
Brig Fair
Cello Concerto
Spring Morning
Dance Rhapsody No 1 & No 2
Sonata for Strings (both original and Eric Fenby arrangement)
Violin Concerto
Evening Songs
FIC: Can You Hear My Heart Through the Prison Bars (The Walking Dead)
Jun. 18th, 2025 03:07 pmanrCan You Hear My Heart Through the Prison Bars (1074 words) by anr
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Walking Dead (TV), The Walking Dead - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Daryl Dixon/Carol Peletier
Characters: Daryl Dixon, Carol Peletier
Additional Tags: 5 Times, Season 3, prison era, Hurt/Comfort, Touch, Grief
Summary: It's the warmest sleep he can remember.
(aka, Five times Daryl and Carol touch.)
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Walking Dead (TV), The Walking Dead - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Daryl Dixon/Carol Peletier
Characters: Daryl Dixon, Carol Peletier
Additional Tags: 5 Times, Season 3, prison era, Hurt/Comfort, Touch, Grief
Summary: It's the warmest sleep he can remember.
(aka, Five times Daryl and Carol touch.)
Tags:
25 Things in 2025 - Thing #8
Jun. 17th, 2025 11:34 amsmallhobbitReduce pile of greetings cards
A definite success - after my initial count of 28, plus a further 8 I discovered (carefully saved somewhere else!), the pile has been reduced to 12 cards. Not all have been sent, as some will be 'thank you' cards for people who've helped at our church after-school club, but they are written, and therefore allocated.
Twelve cards is a reasonable number to keep, since there are occasions when we need one, so I'm happy with that. And if anyone does want another card sent over the summer - and in particular I do have three from the small Gloucestershire village we used to live in - I will be happy to send them.
A definite success - after my initial count of 28, plus a further 8 I discovered (carefully saved somewhere else!), the pile has been reduced to 12 cards. Not all have been sent, as some will be 'thank you' cards for people who've helped at our church after-school club, but they are written, and therefore allocated.
Twelve cards is a reasonable number to keep, since there are occasions when we need one, so I'm happy with that. And if anyone does want another card sent over the summer - and in particular I do have three from the small Gloucestershire village we used to live in - I will be happy to send them.
i hear you went up to Saratoga, and your horse naturally won
Jun. 16th, 2025 07:50 pmmusesfoolI swear, sometimes I think my oven is some kind of black hole or something, because sometimes the laws of physics seem to weirdly not apply. Yesterday, as planned, I made teriyaki meatballs. Because I don't understand how the recipe author got 28 meatballs out of 16 oz of ground meat, I had 32 oz of ground chicken, from which I made 28 ping pong ball sized meatballs. I baked 16 meatballs on one tray at 400°F for 20 minutes. It was the only tray in the oven. FOURTEEN out of the 16 were at least at 170°F when I took them out of the oven (generally I aim for 165° for fully cooked ground chicken) and checked with my instant read thermometer. TWO were at 143°F. They weren't even next to each other! Just 2 random meatballs that somehow didn't cook to the same temperature as EVERY OTHER meatball on the same tray in the same oven. I mean, I know ovens can have hot spots, so does my oven somehow have cool spots? Less hot spots? I mean, what the actual fuck???
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25 Things in 2025 - Thing #17
Jun. 16th, 2025 04:31 pmsmallhobbitBook Leger holiday for 2026
Daughter and I had been trying to decide on which Battlefields Tour we would do next year. There was one destination we were looking at, but neither tour quite fitted the bill properly, so I suggested instead of making that one work, she might like to look at something different. Normally she's been really clear on what she's selected, so the fact that we weren't certain had made me wonder.
Anyway, yesterday she messaged me, and we had a chat, with the result that this morning I booked our tour for next April. For anyone who knows their classic WWII films, this fits perfectly, as we're off to Germany, scene of The Dambusters, Colditz and the Great Escape. It should be very interesting, not because we're relishing triumphant films, but in looking at the history and what made people behave as they did, something which doesn't change. Among other places, we shall be visiting Dresden, Berlin and Hannover, which will be really interesting.
Daughter and I had been trying to decide on which Battlefields Tour we would do next year. There was one destination we were looking at, but neither tour quite fitted the bill properly, so I suggested instead of making that one work, she might like to look at something different. Normally she's been really clear on what she's selected, so the fact that we weren't certain had made me wonder.
Anyway, yesterday she messaged me, and we had a chat, with the result that this morning I booked our tour for next April. For anyone who knows their classic WWII films, this fits perfectly, as we're off to Germany, scene of The Dambusters, Colditz and the Great Escape. It should be very interesting, not because we're relishing triumphant films, but in looking at the history and what made people behave as they did, something which doesn't change. Among other places, we shall be visiting Dresden, Berlin and Hannover, which will be really interesting.
FIC: Aim Your Arrow at the Sky (Aliens)
Jun. 16th, 2025 05:19 pmanrAim Your Arrow at the Sky (1036 words) by anr
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Aliens (1986)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dwayne Hicks/Ellen Ripley
Characters: Ellen Ripley, Dwayne Hicks
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ellen Ripley Lives, Dwayne Hicks Lives, Rebecca "Newt" Jorden Lives, Fix-It
Summary: She gets a job flying local between the original colony and the one on the far side of the continent that's still trying to get itself self-sufficient. She doesn't get to break atmo, but she likes it better than the docks work she was doing back on Gateway, he knows.
"One of the other pilots mentioned a quarantine today," she tells him. "On Fiorina 161."
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Aliens (1986)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dwayne Hicks/Ellen Ripley
Characters: Ellen Ripley, Dwayne Hicks
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ellen Ripley Lives, Dwayne Hicks Lives, Rebecca "Newt" Jorden Lives, Fix-It
Summary: She gets a job flying local between the original colony and the one on the far side of the continent that's still trying to get itself self-sufficient. She doesn't get to break atmo, but she likes it better than the docks work she was doing back on Gateway, he knows.
"One of the other pilots mentioned a quarantine today," she tells him. "On Fiorina 161."
