kengr | Network

Today was actually nice and warm and summery! I mean it's only the third of December it's not like that's late, it's just been so cold for this time of year that it's really! Really! Really nice. :3 I've been in short sleeves and three-quarter pants all day and haven't even needed my blanket!

Today I attempted to sort through my old stamp collection so I can get rid of it, since I haven't looked at it for at least twenty five years, but Mama did some research and it looks like some of them might actually be worth something - not a lot, but enough that selling them wouldn't be a waste of time. Soooo gonna have to go through them again and actually do research this time nooooo it's gonna take FOREVER. Still, at least I did part of it, and most of the international ones (maybe all of them but I'm not gonna bet I didn't miss any) are separate, and... bleh. I'm gonna end up hyperfixating if I work on it too much I know myself it was already a struggle to not go through things and try and fill out the stamp album. SIGH.

I did get rid of some other stuff, too, so at least my tidying up project got somewhere today. A very slow process, but it's something.

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Location: Birthplace

cakewrecks_feed

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/are-you-smarter-than-a-wreckerator-2025

Friends, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to take a moment and wax poetical about the world's somewhere-between-17th-and-52nd best education system.

You see, here in the States we learn everything we need in life, from the very basics:

(The difference between an apple and a bell pepper is more advanced.)

...to spelling and punctuation:

...to those oh-so-vital math skills.

We also have more advanced studies of the human, um... whatever this is:

I'm pretty sure that's butt stuff.

Here we're encouraged to keep writting(s?):

...to keep our stars shinning:

...and to always enhance that one student's mind's 2013:

That one's a little confusing, I'll grant you.

Because here in the US we honor our honor stundels:

...encouraging them to Imagin a world where they can Acheive their dreams:

A world where, say, all you have to do is copy little plastic signs for a living.

...from the very beginning of the school year:

...to the bitter(sweet?) end.

Yay.

Thanks to Janel J., Anony M., Kate B., Brittany J., Juli K., Anony M., Linda R.., Rae L., Tanya, Janica C. & Laura B. for the education.

*****

P.S. Because I bet we could all use a drink after that:

"Santa's Flask" Stocking Booze Dispenser

This stocking can hold an entire bottle of wine! Better get two.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/are-you-smarter-than-a-wreckerator-2025

bbc_sci_nature_feed

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgm79djr9yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgm79djr9yo#4

The advertising watchdog said the retailers misled shoppers with their 'sustainability' claims.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgm79djr9yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgm79djr9yo#4

james_davis_nicoll

A study of the carefree life of an animal at the bottom of the food chain.

Bambi (Bambi, volume 1) by Felix Salten (Translated by Jack Zipes)

fox

fuck you, Tolstoy, you fucking fucker.

spikedluv

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Dogged Pursuit (Andy Carpenter Series) by David Rosenfelt and The Black Wolf (A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel) by Louise Penny.

What I am Currently Reading: And to All a Good Bite (Andy Carpenter Series) by David Rosenfelt.

What I Plan to Read Next: I have a library book out, so hopefully that.

Book 106 of 2025: Dogged Pursuit (Andy Carpenter Series) (David Rosenfelt)

I really enjoyed this book! I was afraid I wouldn't ( spoilers )

This book was wonderful! I'm giving it five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

Book 107 of 2025: The Black Wolf (A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel) (Louise Penny)

I enjoyed this book. ( spoilers )

I really liked this book and am giving it five hearts. I hope that Penny continues this series!

♥♥♥♥♥

ljgeoff

There is damn little to update. We didn't do much at all this year. And all of that has to do with money. We got the backhoe, so there's that. Actually, that was a pre' big deal. And now the road is fixed, so we can get the backhoe out to the property.

With the backhoe, we can dig a significant hole to start the shallow well. And with next year's taxes, we'll be able to put up the pole barn. Then we'll be done, money-wise. I'm saving up to take a two-week period off, to camp in the early autumn. We'll use that time to build the hugelkulture and lasagna beds, if we haven't got to them yet. And start on the Hobbit House.

This spring, I'll be buying our first apple trees, as well as the Italian plums and paw-paws. We'll nursery them at Geriann's place. I'm going to start with eight trees: Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Daybreak Fuji, William's Pride, Calville Blanc d Hiver, Brown Crofton, Liberty, and Stayman winesap. This week I'm ordering the Williams Pride; no real reason, just what picked.

While they're in nursery, I'll chart when they bloom. I really should get two of each, to better hedge against some of them not making it. When I bought the sugar maples, white oaks, and hazelnuts, about 1/4 of them didn't make it. And we'll see how those do after this winter.

bbc_sci_nature_feed

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp39q5n5037o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp39q5n5037o#0

More than 30,000 people with respiratory illnesses had to be hospitalised in Delhi between 2022 and 2024.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp39q5n5037o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp39q5n5037o#0

beanside

It's Wednesday! I've made to to half way through the week! Today I have a full day, then tomorrow and Friday will be half days, so that's not too bad. Yesterday was busy, yet not too bad, which was nice. I took a good hour trying to move patients, since we had some cancellations. Most of them weren't interested in moving, sadly.

The evening wasn't that great. First of all, we were having shitty weather, and I was achy. Second, my backup glasses were delivered...but not to me. Then, I had ordered chicken and a salad, and I was very excited about the salad. Ruby Tuesday's has the best Ranch dressing of anywhere. And then the salad came, but no dressing, and the chicken was underseasoned and sparse. I was just generally annoyed and unhappy. I felt like a whiny baby, but I was actually sad about this, because I really wanted the ranch dressing.

Still, I felt really silly that it was affecting me, so I eventually snapped out of it. I watched some videos about the hotels we're staying at for the Alaska trip. The first one is the Pan Pacific in Vancouver. It was actually built above the cruise terminal, so boarding is a quick trip to a special elevator and down we go. TBF, I've stayed in 4 star hotels, but never a 5 star, so this seemed inordinately swank.

And it seemed swank in an understated way, like a more modern class. Everything is very sleek and pretty and the rooms are very well furnished. We're in the basic room, so it's not like bells and whistles, but it's still very nice. I think I'll enjoy my two nights there.

After that, I watched about the CedarBrook Lodge in Seattle. It looks lovely as well, though with a more rustic feel. This one is only for one night. It has a lounge for each building with a fridge with free ice cream. It looked very cute, and they have a shuttle to the airport so I'm good with it.

That made me feel better and got me excited about our trip. We got two rooms for that, so that my sister and brother in law could have their own room. Plus, I figured we're going to be in close proximity for most of the cruise. It would be good to have a little privacy at the beginning and end of the vacation.

Today, I need to go get my pills, and also stop at the Student Support Network with our extra coats. We ordred the wrong sizes, and didn't get around to sending them back, so we have some very nice, fairly expensive winter coats that people can use. This helps students and their families with basics and winter gear. They're open til 6 tonight, so I will run up and give them some coats, and maybe a bit of a donation as well. I'll have my check by then, so I can stop at the bank and help their mission out.

Tomorrow, we have Jess post op appt, which is first thing in the morning. Because of traffic around Washington DC, we'll have to leave at ass-o-clock, probably about 5:30. We'll be there super early, but it's the only way to be sure to miss traffic. If we leave at 6, the commute time jumps from 1hr 15minutes to at least 1.5 hours, if not longer. If we leave at 6:30, it's going to take 2 hours. Jess' appt is at 8:30, so if I don't want to do my ADHD stressing about time, we're going to leave 3 hours early and get there 1.5 hours early. There's a coffee shop we can hit to kill time.

Then, work for 4 hours, then tattoo for 3 hours. It's a busy day!

Then, up to Comic Con to meet both Beauty and the Beast. I know the picture is going to be one I hate, but that's okay. I'll have the memories. I've never done a con like this, so I'm sure I'm going to be confused, but we'll figure it out.

I will post the picture once we get home an I can scan it, so you can all see how it looks.

Oh, I got a new dress from Midnight Hour. It's seriously hot, and I'm looking forward to wearing it somewhere. Gotta find someplace fancy to wear it with my military jacket from Torrid.

Okay, time to got forth and get myself together for work. Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday!

spikedluv

I did not go downtown today. I did put a pork roast in the crock pot so I could make pulled pork for supper, though. *g*

I shoveled snow, whee!! I was smart enough to do it over three times, instead of all at once. Much easier to do an inch or two at a time. It helped that the snow was dry and light. I not only did the sidewalk, I did the deck! (When the snow is heavy, I can barely get the sidewalk finished without killing my back, there’s no way I could do the deck.)

I did a load of laundry, hand-washed dishes, went for a walk with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter.

I lit a scented candle! I made myself an actual breakfast (ham and cheese scramble with toast). AND I read through, edited, and posted two fic!! (One won’t be revealed until Jan 8, though.) I also read the newest Andy Carpenter book. Zoo Tampa was my evening background tv.

Temps started out at 22.6(F) (which was a surprise, because it was 12 when we went to bed last night!) and reached 29.2. The forecast had changed from 3-5 to 3-8 but my estimate from the shoveling is that we only got about 3 1/2. Not upset about that.

Mom Update:

Mom did not feel great today. ( more back here )

ysabetwordsmith posting in

goals_on_dw

I checked for a Wednesday-after-Thanksgiving holiday and didn't find any. So I'm declaring this Self-Care Wednesday. You've done all the things. You've done Thanksgiving, Buy Nothing Day, Small Business Saturday, Shop for Good Sunday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. And now you're tired. You deserve a break! Take care of yourself today. This holiday may suit people with goals regarding relaxation, mindfulness, health, or similar goals.

Self-Care Wednesday text with reading nook.

Self-Care Wednesday text with reading nook.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

sonia

Mother of GPS, Gladys West, Finally Gets Proper Recognition by Judith Fogel. Did you know GPS was made possible by a Black woman (who is still alive)? I sure didn't!

Gladys West and her husband Ira were both mathematicians at Dahlgren Naval Base, then called Dahlgren Naval Proving Ground. West was hired in 1956. Her extraordinary contributions to the geodetic modeling of the earth became the foundation for the Global Positioning System (GPS). But few knew how much this Black woman changed the way we navigate.

90stvfangirl posting in

holiday_wishes

Hiya, this is my first wishlist. Wishing everyone a happy holiday season from Australia!

1. I collect comic books and really enjoy comics from the 80's and 90's. I prefer DC (Superman or Superman adjacent). If you happen to have any old comics laying around just collecting dust I would love to take them off your hands. They don't have to be in mint condition. Even if they are falling apart as long as they are readable I would love them.

2. As mentioned above , I am a Superman and fan and love the Lois/Clark pairing. I would enjoy any fanfic recs, specifically if it's fluffy. My favourite Superman fandoms are My Adventures with Superman, Lois & Clark & the James Gunn Superman movie. I am not a Smallville fan (I really tried, promise).

3. I'm looking to make more connections and friends around the world and would love some penpals/email/discord friends. I am neurodivergent and physically disabled. Some of my interests are Superman (duh), Taylor Swift, my dog & animals in general. I enjoy writing fanfic. I would love to write/chat to anyone. You can email me at 90stvfangirl @ gmail . com for my address or other details. Or DM me!

4. TV show recommendations. I like most genres, but favour horror/sci-fi. Some of my favourite shows ever are Buffy, Lois & Clark, Bones, X Files (I love to ship...), Evil. So anything with those vibes. I'm currently watching Pluribus and loving it! I also don't mind current shows like Grey's, 9-1-1, SVU.

5. Comic book recommendations. I bought myself a Kindle Color and I'm loving reading comics on it. I have a Kindle Unlimited account (free for 3 months), so any Kindle Unlimited comic recommendations would be amazing. Some comics I enjoy besides Superman are Fables, Saga, The Walking Dead. I wouldn't mind trying Batman, but where to start?

6. My very random amazon wishlist.

7. Read and comment on my fanfic! 90sfangirl79

8. Donate to the www.heartfoundation.org.au/ or your country’s equivalent!

Thank you everyone! <3

Current Location: Straya

merriamwebster_feed

https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/alchemy-2025-12-03

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 3, 2025 is:

alchemy • \AL-kuh-mee\ • noun

Alchemy refers to a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.

// They practiced their alchemy in the kitchen, turning a pile of vegetables and legumes into an extravagant meal.

// The shopkeepers hoped for some sort of economic alchemy that would improve business.

See the entry >

Examples:

“Forty years ago, the Nintendo Entertainment System hit North American shores, singlehandedly resurrecting the video-game market after its infamous post-Atari crash in 1983. To do so, it needed a heavy hitter, a killer must-have title that could put butts in seats and lock audiences into the tube TV until their eyes bleed. That game was Super Mario Bros.—a product so potent, its exact alchemy has never been re-created.” — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2025

Did you know?

Alchemy—the medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy that focused on the attempt to change less valuable metals into gold, to find a universal cure for disease, and to discover a means of prolonging life indefinitely—was practiced in much of the ancient world, from China and India to Greece. Alchemy as practiced in ancient Egypt was later revived in 12th-century Europe through translations of Arabic texts into Latin, which led to the development of pharmacology and to the rise of modern chemistry. The word alchemy was first used in English in the 1400s, and by the mid-1500s it had developed figurative senses relating to powers and processes that can change or transform things in mysterious or impressive ways.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/alchemy-2025-12-03

wordsmithdaily_feed

https://wordsmith.org/words/galoot.html

noun: A clumsy, eccentric, or foolish person.

https://wordsmith.org/words/galoot.html

lassarina

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

chez_jae

Eggnog & Murder: A Christmas Paranormal Cozy Mystery with a Magical Holiday Whodunit with Recipes, a Lie-Detecting Rabbit, and a Small-Town Sleuth by Mila Alderwood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

I finished reading my first holiday book of the season last night: Eggnog & Murder by Mila Alderwood. It’s a paranormal cozy, and the main character is Juniper Moss.

Juniper’s life revolves around her beloved bakery and her rabbit familiar, Pip. She is honored to provide the eggnog for Winterberry Falls’ annual winter fest, but when the choir director collapses after taking on sip of her nog, Juniper finds herself under the suspicion of the villagers. To clear her name and salvage her reputation, she begins following clues and leads, with Pip’s help. Sheriff Rowan Hale has faith in her ability to track down the culprit. Juniper’s magic is steady and warm, but she can feel another magic, cold and bitter, overlaying her own. The town and the festival depend on her getting to the bottom of things.

Let me get this out of the way first. There was no murder; the choir director recovered from his malaise. For that reason, the title of the book was at least confusing if not misleading. Beyond that, the story was charming. Juniper is a calm and steady presence in the midst of upheaval in town. I admired her determination to see things through, even when she made some missteps along the way.

Favorite lines:
♦ “They’d panic more over missing pastries.”

Lovely, four stars

Current Mood: cold
Current Music: "The Christmas Song" ~ Kenny G

flemmings

My house was so warm last night I slept without my hoodie and figured I must have accidentally bumped the thermostat up to over 20C, ie nearly 70F, which is when the house becomes tropical. Wasn't going to limp back downstairs to adjust it again so just enjoyed the luxury of heat. But when I checked this morning, no, it was at its usual 18, which is the famous 'warm when it's on and freezing when it's off' setting. Evidently that only applies if there's wind. None last night though we were below freezing and it snowed as well. My house. Also do not be confused by the fact that the downstairs is cold unless the thermostat is at Tropical. My living room is the coldest place in the house, for no good reason at all.

Have been earwormed by The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The disaster happened when I was living in France and I have a memory of talking about it with K. But I couldn't have because the song wasn't released until the following August, long after I came home. Can't think why it connects in my mind with our apartment in Pau-- we wouldn't even have had news about the sinking then. And can't believe now what an isolated time that was. We communicated by letter, and if I wanted to talk to my mother (I didn't, but she wanted to talk to me) I went to the post office and secured a booth there and paid at the caisse.

disney_dark posting in

holiday_wishes

I am in the United States (NJ) and live with my finicky cat. I appreciate anything you might do/get for me! If my address is needed, please message me!

My wishes:

1) a cat toy for an 8 year old finicky cat who hates balls, springs, wands, and bird toys that chirp and "fly"

2) an extra long pink fitted sheet with deep pockets

3) large statement earrings or Christmas earrings

4) cards for Christmas or my Birthday (12/21)

5) some love for my fics at https://archiveofourown.org/users/Disney_Dark if you like any

6) anything Disney Princess, tangible or not

7) book recs for recipe books that focus on fruitarian diets

8) Disney songs played on a piano or other instrument that I can use in Youtube videos (with credit)

9) warm socks

10) any from my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3BQYW1LIXKIK8

Current Mood: thankful

senmut

Housewife / Househusband	Tragedy	Freestyle crossover	Vignette	Women Being Awesome
Five Things	Contemporary AU	A Moment of Understanding / Clarity	A Strange Friend	First person narration
Steampunk AU	Horror	Wild Card	Second person narration	Drama
Crossover: TV shows and movies	There is No Escape	A Test of Worthiness	Reality is Illusion	Taxes
High School / College AU	Humour	Teenagers	A Blessing is Bestowed	Furnishing the Home