unclutter | Member Posts

Upper walls are pretty much done! I want to check them again in the daylight, but I think I got everything! :D :D :D Gave the lower walls some paint on the worst of the scraped back patches, too, though I'mma need to give them at least another full coat. Tomorrow, though! >:

Other than that, not a whole lot really. I slept way more than I meant to, due to the fact that when I woke up from my nap Sushi was sleeping on me, and then somehow it was like three hours later. >>;;;; Whoops??

I did finally remember to shower during the day, though! It's been way too fucking cold to do it at night the past few days, but being clean IS important, even if it's annoying, so. ...aww crap no wonder it gets so goddamn cold I forgot to close all the windows that're open a couple of centimetres for anti-humidity purposes. Ugh. I'll do it during the day tomorrow, I guess, unless it gets humid again? Weather, be more predictable plz....

Current Mood: cold
Current Location: Birthplace

mekare

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

stonepicnicking_okapi

cyberneticdryad

From

thefridayfive

Answering early as I have a long work day tomorrow (though maybe not if it snows).

Have you ever watched illusion magic? Close-up, or in a stage show, or on television? Did it work for you?

I think most of what I have seen are street performers and performers at the renaissance faire. I'm not super knowledgeable about slight of hand, so I don't see through most of it, but I love explainations of how the tricks are done!

Have you ever wished on a star, or a lucky cat, or a coin in a wishing well? Did it work in some way?

I have made many a wish, and I don't really know if they came true (so probably not). If any did, they were in unexpected ways or long after the fact when I had forgotten my wish!

Have you ever cast a spell, made a love charm, or tried a curse? Did it work in some way?

Yes and yes. =)

Are there any other traditional superstitions you pay attention to? Do they work in some way?

I think I have more personal superstitions than traditional superstitions. I always say thank you when I don't have to stop at the intersections on my commute. I like to think they let me through a little more freely. And I still keep a penny in my car always (per a long disappeared internet friend) so that I'll never run out of money. Do they work? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I have no proof, but they make me smile which counts for something.

Would you want major magical powers like in a fantasy story? Which powers, and how would you use them?

If I had magic, I would probably use it in the most mundane ways. Extra cooking help. Extra crafting help. Give a little extra luster to a craft or some makeup. Extra light for late night reading! If I had to pick something major and specific though, I would love some kind of polymorph/shapechanging/illusion magic.

Current Mood: restless
Current Music: AtLA Book 1 OST

kaberett

I currently have a bit of a special interest happening, right. So I spent a bit of today's therapy session talking about it, as one does, and then meandered around to one of my current Big Topics[1], and made it all the way through to the wrapping-up stage of proceedings!

... when My Favourite Metaphor About Therapy abruptly suggested itself to me and I had. A Moment.

Which is how I found myself explaining that, in a thematically appropriate coincidence, said favourite metaphor is "emotional heavy lifting, with trained spotter".

To which came the response: "... can I. borrow that."

And thus: A Good Grade In Therapy.

[1] social anxiety. it's the social anxiety.

stonepicnicking_okapi

The Blue Dress by Saeed Jones

Her blue dress is a silk train is a river
is water seeps into the cobblestone streets of my sleep, is still raining
is monsoon brocade, is winter stars stitched into puddles
is good-bye in a flooded, antique room, is good-bye in a room of crystal bowls
and crystal cups, is the ring-ting-ring of water dripping from the mouths
of crystal bowls
and crystal cups, is the Mississippi River is a hallway, is leaks
like tears from windowsills of a drowned house, is windows open to waterfalls
is a bed is a small boat is a ship, is a current come to carry me in its arms
through the streets, is me floating in her dress through the streets
is only the moon sees me floating through the streets, is me in a blue dress
out to sea, is my mother is a moon out to sea.

tyger

So this morning I went down the shops! Went to the hardware store and got a new roller cover and a replacement brush for the one that's already fucking falling apart, as planned. Also got some more sanding sheets for the hand sander - fucking HOW do I keep running through them, ugh, I know I'm sanding but isn't sandpaper supposed to last a while?? - and! New blades for my stanley knife, which I only figured out how to fucking change yesterday, and IDEK when I got it. Pretty sure I inherited it, too, and it's uh not made any more in this particular form sooo it's probably at least 30 years old at this point orz. And most importantly, blades for the one paint scraper with replaceable blades!

( This is possibly too much power for a me to have... )

Also swung by the supermarket and picked up yogurt (for zucchini bread) and ice cream (for when it gets hot next), though it wasn't really a proper shop as such. Just a might as well since I have to walk past anyway.

My life is verra boring at the moment, I know, hahaha. But we'll see how the upper walls are tomorrow! Hopefully they'll be done, and I can move onto the lower walls, which will definitely be faster because I won't have to keep moving the FUCKING LADDER around every five seconds. Also no cornices!!!

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Location: Birthplace

tozka

A knitted cover which goes over the top of a round red mailbox common in the UK. The cover has a dark green base with a riot of 3D flowers of different types and colors on top.

I love finding post box toppers!

📍 Chichester, United Kingdom - March 2026

kalloway

Apparently last week was just a week of Doing Things, because along with setting up Saint All-fi (works most of the time well enough, thus far), I also made my first Suruga-ya order for the year. It arrived yesterday, and didn't get dinged for tariffs because it was all books. (One gunpla server is waiting to see how the tariffs are now and where the break-even point is for sales/fees, dollar-wise.) Two Gundam books, two Fire Emblem books. One replaces a weirdly damaged book from some years back, one I've never actually seen in stock before, two others just very good prices.

Premium Bandai did varying price points of Gundam Kit Fukubukuro this year, and just put up a few more sets. I snagged one earlier in the year and thought it okay and after some dithering, picked up another. They've all been very good deals, as far as MSRP goes. Since the one I just ordered is still a mystery to everyone, I'm going to try to keep it a surprise til I open it. This is difficult because plenty of people will receive theirs first and post to discords/reddit.

I am still mired in various projects, so my poll is still open for just a smidge longer.

Also,

taichara and I had talked about Final Fantasy for weeks (months? years?) and what to play and I finally said 'roll for it' and we're playing Final Fantasy VII. I'm playing the Switch version, and trying out the various cheats for lulz. I am about to go into the Shinra building.

I also started playing Arknights again, kinda. I downloaded it onto a tablet so I could uninstall it from my phone (still there despite not playing in a year) and whoops, no guilt and a bunch of goodies, along with some nice QoL. Doubt I'll stick with it for more than a few weeks, but I did kinda miss everyone.

stonepicnicking_okapi

mcbrat

Hair parted as curtains to a quiet inside
A sleeping animals quiet
Feeling the presence of a sleeping fawn
Not knowing where it is curled in wet grass
Wet and dense like a slow sleep
Heavy legs striking knees striking ankles
Muscle holding tendons holding bones
“Ill grow my hair long just to cut it short again”
Rifling aimlessly
Large copper rod windchimes
Bumping eachother in the day-night pre-dawn
Your teeth scrape every utensil on the way out of your mouth
Somehow your mouth is kinder
And more open to me

Current Location: colchester
Current Music: people babble

mcbrat

It's not feeling at all grave or heavy or consequential. Yes there very well may come a gravity and a weight and a consequence- but as of now i have a sane impish smile in mirror of yours. A filigree of something fleeting flashing sleeping, laying standing waiting in white. Wet grass waits to dry for no one. Wet air hangs to dry for no one. The wet air says- see your breath, look at your breath, feel your breath but breathe me first. Breathe me first. It is an untethering, a skinning, a dissapparation into that same air. I have no doubt that the breaths we hushed into each other's mouths will articulate in the wind forever. Forever is a long time but like water it is in infinite circulation- never to be created or destroyed– boy i am home. The blades of my shoulders are cold like my toes, my heart lays bobbing in a pot on the stove, please keep it there still beating and old. And an optical nerve so I can see how you've grown. Its complexity must be imposed– it is not implied– sentiment cannot hide. Soft skinned musky grapes drink me down as you burst. Hold me up as you burst. It murmurs it murmurs it murmurs– my headache is gone. Replaced by a fullness of a child's pre dawn. Ousted the drums– wiped onto the floor. We don't have to live like this anymore. Love me love me want me want me look at me look at me yes its me. Smoke pools and rushes ice over windowpanes– the same ones that fog and protect us from rain. Your arms fold in protector of the insides, i feel lucky to see and be seen in them.

Current Location: colchester
Current Music: pavement

stonepicnicking_okapi

For Wednesday's word, I am copying and pasting my post from 1word1day on Monday. More Sister Minnie shorts.

Iblis [ib-lis]

noun

an evil spirit or devil, the chief of the wicked jinn (Isalmic).

examples

1. But Satan, or Iblis in his Muslim incarnation, a redheaded wisecracker who claims to be Jacob’s dearest friend, argues for a radical intervention that can open Jacob’s “strictured heart”, allowing him to feel and heal. "Rabih Alameddine’s new novel explores the ordeal of remembering." The Economist. 29 Nov 2016.

2. Al-Hijr also repeats the story of Iblis, the devil, who refuses to bow to human beings, and since they are made of mud, tempts them with the material distractions of a muddy world. "American Quran is an Old/New Masterpiece." The Washington Post. 21 Jan 2016.

origin
Arabic, إِبْلِيس

---

I discovered this recently when I happened upon this funny Islamic cat Youtube channel.

Watch on YouTube

kaberett

Via divers alarums and excursions we have established that the oven seems to trip All The Electrics... when it hits A Certain Temperature. ( Read more... )

But. BUT. Today I SAW THE BAT for the first time this year (having been doing a questionable job of actually managing to watch for it at bat o'clock over the last several weeks); and my Special Interest In Moving My Body went surprisingly well; and A curled up on the sofa and did some more Reading About Special Interest with me; and I am actually doing alright.

another_sky

My Lunabug is gone and my heart is completely broken. She died right in front of me. We were alone in an exam room and I was telling her goodbye before leaving her there for treatment overnight. B and I wanted to at least give her a chance to fight it. I was talking to her and sobbing and telling her I'm so so sorry, when she let out a few squeaks, turned around in her carrier, opened her wings a little bit, and took her last breaths. A vet tech came into the room only 10 seconds later. I told her I think she just died, and the tech whisked her away to check. I was telling her what I thought would be goodbye for just the night, I didn't get any time to tell her goodbye forever. Even though I knew deep down since our first vet visit the day prior that this was likely the end.
It's been 23 hours and 28 minutes since she passed. I'm going to be devastated for a long, long time. Her and I had a bond that I had never before experienced with an animal. She was my baby, and I was her Kiki.

Current Mood: heartbroken

tyger

Ahhhh I'm so happy, A finally got home today! \o/ She was supposed to be back on the third, but they were having a stopover in Abu Dhabi on the way and uh. Yeaaaaaaah. :|

But she's finally back!!! So great!

Other than that... I did another sand of the walls, because there were some things bothering me. SIGH. Found three more spots I needed to fill, too, though they were at least pretty small ones. But I sanded back enough that the walls are gonna need a full coat over them again anyway, so there was no reason to not fill them.

I did also do some painting! It goes slowly, but it does go! The upper walls didn't have as much that needed sanding, thankfully, so I'm gonna try and get them finished-finished before I start on the lower walls again. We'll see how well it works... I DID finally put two and two together and got out a lamp I can clip onto the ladder; it's not as white a light as the torch, which makes it harder due to orange, but it's a lot easier to use since I don't have to hold it, plus no batteries!

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Location: Birthplace

stonepicnicking_okapi

rmc28

This is an 800 year old play based on events 2,500 years ago in China, the first Chinese play to be translated into any European language (about 300 years ago). The Royal Shakespeare Company commissioned James Fenton to adapt it for a production about 13 years ago, and a student theatre group are putting that adaptation on at the ADC in Cambridge this week.

I went to see it last night with Charles, and also Olivia, one of my friends from Womens Blues. (We then found two of my Huskies teammates in the audience so it became an accidental hockey social.) We saw a little first-night talk beforehand from the director and some of the actors, about why they chose this play and some of their favourite lines and aspects of the characters they play. The play itself was very good, very gripping, a revenge tragedy with a very high body count and an ending I didn't quite expect.

The kind of evening that makes me remember how much I like living in this weird little city in the fens.

(and, in further "wow I love living in walking distance of the ADC" news, here's what I'm hoping to get to between now and early May:

Into The Woods (famous musical)
Olympus Unscripted (improv show on greek myths theme)
Chekov's Four Farces (what it says on the tin)
Next to Normal (musical about mental illness)
The Ferryman (play about the Irish Troubles)
Medea (musical adaptation of Euripedes play)

)

kaberett

Back at the beginning of January beadsbuttonslace wrote up some reflections on this book, which interested me enough that I put in a hold on my library's only digital copy, which was an audiobook, and then I managed to listen to it in under a week, and now I am subscribed to Johnston's newsletter (and reading its archives) and also trying to work out whether I want to buy a physical copy or a digital copy for my own library.

Which is to say: I liked it. A lot.

( Read more... )

And some final notes:

it was only earlier today that I realised that an article that did the rounds a little while ago, The new MacBook keyboard is ruining my life... is BY THIS SAME PERSON
at least two of you will be delighted to know that in the Epilogue, she ( spoilers... )

stonepicnicking_okapi

1. Survived my dentist appointment today. I also did a good bit of spring cleaning and went to the lake to run. The boys' father went into the office so I had the house to myself for a few hours which was nice.

2. Only one client today as Air force guy had chemo today. And they took my Alzheimer's lady off for scheduling reasons and this is my last week with Air Force guy before he moves out of my radius so next week, I will be down to 10 hours (instead of 26-30). For a few days it will be nice to catch up on things. Then I will start wanting more.

3. Saturday morning Minor and I are going to volunteer at the Music Boosters Flea Market. Few things I'd rather do less on a Saturday morning.

4. I am going to get the Netflix sometime this weekend (though I do not like subscriptions) because BTS is having their comeback concert next Saturday (21) on it at 7 am my time.

5. Minisculus turns 11 on the 26th so I am getting his birthday gifts and cake prep stuff together.

6. I did update my soap opera for SUGA's birthday and it turns out that putting off stuff and getting that done did lift my spirits and make me feel good so that was the right choice. Sometimes I have trouble telling what is actually going to be the right sacrifice to make.

My new favorite Youtube channel is Sister Minnie, the Islamic cat.

Watch on YouTube

Profile

uncluttering one day and one thing at a time

Navigation

March 2026

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Page Summary

tyger - Cold...
mekare - Art: Hiroshige 8
stonepicnicking_okapi - Seven Days, Seven Covers 2026: Day Six
cyberneticdryad - Friday Five: Magic
kaberett - A good grade in therapy, something that--
stonepicnicking_okapi - Poet's Corner: The Blue Dress by Saeed Jones
tyger - I should probably not be allowed to have access to razor blades...
tozka - photo: ready for spring
kalloway - (no subject)
stonepicnicking_okapi - Seven Days, Seven Covers 2026: Day Five
mcbrat - Alley 08.03.2026
mcbrat - dew poem
stonepicnicking_okapi - Word: Iblis
kaberett - apparently we also need a new oven
another_sky - (no subject)
tyger - A IS HOME!!!!
stonepicnicking_okapi - Seven Days, Seven Covers: Day Four: 2026
rmc28 - The Orphan of Zhao
kaberett - [books, movement] A Physical Education, Casey Johnston
stonepicnicking_okapi - Views & News: Pearly whites edition

Style Credit

Base style: Fluid Measure by branchandroot
Theme: Rose Garden I by dancing_serpent

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags

Page generated Mar. 23rd, 2026 09:09 pm