Reading

Current Mood: covetous

Zomg I want one

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Current Mood: accomplished

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Puzzling Out the Problem (part 1 of 1, complete)

Puzzling Out the Problem
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1584
[End of March 179-]

:: With Raisa in Igor’s arms, slowly filling her tummy, the adults’ conversation turns to her permanent placement. Many problems are discussed, but the goal is gentleness and a long-term, good fit for the baby. Part of the “Lost Son” story arc in the Frankenstein’s Family universe. ::

Murmurs seemed to chase the last bite of stew that Laszlo sopped up with his bread, using a spoon instead of his hand to push the morsel around. “And that’s another problem to take care of,” Igor laughed. “The diapers are near the hearth, to warm them,” he told Victor.

“She’s almost asleep, and a warm cloth to wipe up the mess will help her along,” Victor answered.

A moment later, Raisa lay swaddled in the same blanket, but any trace of the plaid rag was gone. Victor approached Laszlo slowly. “She’s in good health. There was no reasonable…” He pursed his lips. “Did anyone tell you if she was found washed, or if the people who called for Kálmán cleaned her up?”
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Things we don't talk about

Humanitarian groups say that Sudan is a worse civilian crisis than Ukraine or Gaza.

Current Mood: busy

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Conservation

Scientists confirm two new species of pika in the Himalayas after 20 years of research

Using data collected from 2003, 2023, and 2024, researchers Pan Xuan and Wang Xuming were able to delineate previously unidentified species as Ochotona galunglaensis and O. legbona.

“Our findings highlight the previously underestimated diversity within Conothoa and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of pika diversity in the Himalayan region,” Xuan and Xuming observed in their study, which was published in Ecology and Evolution.

Pint-sized pikas, which resemble hamsters in appearance, are not rodents but lagomorphs, meaning that they are closely related to rabbits and hares.

Good news, but hardly a surprise. Pikas are currently alpine species. That means they are easily isolated and thus prone to speciation. Think of mountaintops as islands, in the sense that creatures dwelling there find it difficult or impossible to move from one to another.

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is mostly sunny, humid, and hot.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I potted up 4 asparagus berries from the Charleston Food Forest.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

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Poem: "To Allow in More Light"

This poem came out of the August 5, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by

janetmiles. It also fills the "As If By Magic" square in my 8-1-25 card for the Crime Classics Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Monster House. It falls between "Secondhand Sight" and "Paper, Scissors, Stone" so reading in that order will make more sense.

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recurring posts

Hard Things

Life is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.

What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?

(no subject)

Well, the air quality is now up into "unhealthy" at the airport. And air temperature 88 F. Glad I got my walking done already . . .

Hand-basket city

Air temperature 68 F, wind south about 3 mph, sunny. Heat advisory continues. Air quality "moderate" with AQI 90. Watered the new salvia plants out front, in an attempt to shake rain out of the chance of thunderstorms tonight and into tomorrow. Walk early or not at all.

Current Mood: needed a breather after prev

Chocolate Frosting

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This is not a political plan

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Sufficiency and Wellbeing Magazine

This is an online magazine that is anti-capitalist and degrowth. It's something you can read when you get disgusted with enshittification and planned obsolescence and all that crap.

Current Mood: grateful

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Anticipation (part 3 of 3, complete)

Anticipation
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 3 of 3, complete
Word count (story only, in total): 4140
[Early November of 2016]

:: Written for the July of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt by

fuzzyred, the story has been sponsored by

mama_kestrel with my deepest thanks.

Back to part two
:: Thanks for reading! ::

= = Halley= =

Halley accepted the oval platter with careful hands beneath the extra-long dishtowel. “Nonna,” thon began carefully, “I need a good idea for a baby gift.”

The elderly Italian woman’s eyebrows climbed higher than the frames of her oversized, yellow-tinted bifocals. “Whose baby, little one?”
( Read more... )

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Anticipation (part 2 of 3, complete)

Anticipation
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 2 of 3, complete
Word count (story only, in total): 4140
[Early November of 2016]

:: Written for the July of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt by

fuzzyred, the story has been sponsored by

mama_kestrel with my deepest thanks.

Back to part one
On to part three

= = Aida= =

The teaching assistant stepped slightly into Aida’s path as the other students filed out of the lecture hall. “A moment, Miss,” he began. One hand dipped into his sand-colored suit jacket, worn over a white polo shirt. “You’re making arrangements to miss class from the end of November until nearly the first of January, but only listed ‘family reasons’ on the form,” he began carefully. “Is everything all right? I know that the United States is far away, but… It seems like a long gap.”

Aida glanced around at the nearly empty lecture hall, and wet her lips. “Mukhtar… It really is complicated, and personal, but not a secret. I can explain but it’ll take quite a few minutes.” She waved a hand toward the stacks of papers and the rolling file box that he habitually strapped his backpack to when hustling across campus. “I can help clear up, or walk you to the next lecture?”

“You don’t have class now?” he confirmed.
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Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is partly sunny and sweltering.

I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I potted up 12 sweet cherry seeds.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did some work around the patio.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/12/25 -- I watered some plants on the old and new picnic tables that were wilting, then did the telephone pole garden and a few of the savanna seedlings. I'm annoyed that some plants are wilting so soon after copious watering, because I can't haul that hose around every day, or even every few days. >_<

I've seen a skunk on the patio.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: grateful

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Anticipation (part 1 of 3, complete)

Anticipation
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 3, complete
Word count (story only, in total): 4140
[Early November of 2016]

:: Written for the July of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt by

fuzzyred, the story has been sponsored by

mama_kestrel with my deepest thanks.

On to part two

= = Molly = =

Folding the clean laundry from the line now secured in the garage instead of outside on the metal posts set in concrete footings along one edge of the back yard, Molly traced a fingertip along the neckline of a peach tee shirt that folded over the baby’s tiny shoulders. “It’s going to be weird, if I think about it in detail. Our baby is older than her new aunt or uncle will be.”

Dave looked up, then flicked the power off the iron. He set it back on the base and walked away from Bethan’s navy blue uniform top. “What’s on your mind?”
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Recommendations

I came across this post on Dreamwidth discussing a rant from John Scalzi. I'd like to say a few things about reading and writing. To establish my credentials for the below remarks:

* I have a degree in Rhetoric, that is, writing.

* I'm a professional writer across multiple fields and types of writing.

* I'm a professional editor.

* I have read many tens of thousands of books over the decades. I have inhaled whole libraries. Our house is lined with books; we counted once, it was well over 10,000 then and that was many years ago.

* I am an activist.

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Beyond Unexpected (part 1 of 1, complete)

Beyond Unexpected
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1940
[The date is a month after Elisabeth gives birth, just before the end of December on her timeline, but undetermined on Victor’s. So far.]

:: A strange accident dumps Elisabeth Finn into a completely unfamiliar area. With a storm brewing above steeply mountainous terrain, she accepts help offered by a stranger speaking broken English, and discovers many unexpected things. Consider this AU for both timelines. . Written for the August of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt given by

siliconshaman, with my thanks. ::

:: Author’s note: the change in tone from the first section to the second is deliberate. I’d like to know which readers prefer. ::

The trip, quite literally, began on the stairs down the den, and ended in a strange forest with air that smelled like pine and impending rain. The dull gray clouds overhead threatened a downpour. Elisabeth Finn winced as her foot missed the next-to-the-last step to land in a layer of rich leaf mold, but her ankle did not twist.

Deep breath.

Assess.

No injuries. No one injured near her. No obvious danger, no natural hazard.

Deep breath.

Assess.
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Inflated bandshell

We're leading up to a concert by the city band in the park this evening. Wonder if they'll have a supply of iced water for the band members and audience. Digital thermometer on that side of the house reads 94 F at the moment.

Dying of the light

Air temperature 66 F, wind near calm, sunny. We languish under a heat advisory again, with forecast of mid 90s F. Air quality "moderate" and AQI 57. Foraging morning, from air-conditioned house to air-conditioned car to air-conditioned store and back. May not get a walk in.