stonepicnicking_okapi

1. It's very foggy here, even at 1 pm in the afternoon. Not cold, really, but the fog isn't going away.

2. Yesterday I took Minisculus to the pediatric dermatologist to see about this DEAD TOENAIL. So the doctor clipped it with regular clippers (I could've done that!) and told me to rub it with Vaseline every night to get the rest of it to soften and come off (the dead part) but that it might be 18 months before a toenail grows back. I did not know it took that long. No infection. End of story.

3. We went down to Charlotte, North Carolia (about 400 miles south). I drove about 10 of the 14 hours. Minor placed #142 out of 203 in his age group. He ran a 4k in 15:53. His club won overall for his age group, however, so he got a big medal for that. Weather was cold but good. First time participating in a national cross country meet.

4. I have just finished making my last Christmas card. I haven't put them in envelopes yet, but the last batch is made. The boys' father went into the office today so I am enjoying the peace and quiet.

5. I have finally started working on my Xmas jigsaw puzzle.

5 DEC: International Ninja Day: If you could be a ninja for a day, what would you do?
I quite like the katanas and the swords so I'd probably spend a lot of time hacking watermelons and things.

6 DEC: Pawnbrokers Day: Have you ever pawned anything?
No.

7 DEC: Cotton Candy Day: What’s your favorite fair or carnival food?
Funnel cakes!

8 DEC: Pretend to be a Time Traveler day: What time period in the past would you like to visit?
Victorian/Edwardian London would be nice.

9 DEC: International Anti-Corruption Day: What size of a bribe would persuade you to do something illegal?
I'm cheap. Gimme $20.

10 DEC: Nobel Prize Day: Who in your life deserves a Nobel Prize and for what?
Posthumously, my mother. She put up with a hell of a lot of shit.

1. I am not feeling my best these days mentally. I don't know if it is seasonal affective disorder or post-election blah or vacation drop but it is a great effort to push through the day. I am thinking that when I start in earnest on the Xmas cards maybe I will start playing carols and get in the spirit of things and that will pump me up.

2. I finished my sister's Xmas gift. I will post about it on Friday. It is a flip book. I don't know if she will appreciate it but that's life. I am also going to collage with the ephemera I got in Aruba. I may try an altered book with the travel guide. I've done 2 xmas cards already.

I saw this theory on the internets that creating and consuming are a spectrum and that if you keep yourself more in the creating end of things than the consuming end of things, your mental health will be better. So, I am looking at crafting as therapy and a healthy alternative to Youtube scrolling.

3. Regular season soccer of Minisculus is over. One less thing to worry about. Next week the boys have 2 half days and the rest of the week off for Thanksgiving. I have parent teacher conferences on Monday and I am going to see about getting Minisculus a doctor's appointment. I think he has some kind of fungus under his toenail. He is squawking continuously because he thinks they are going to amputate his toe, but it's been many months and it isn't healing by itself. I thought it was a bruise at first but I don't think it is.

4. Still training for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. It is a 5k and I did it in 45:20 today.

5. The mice are back.

6. I ordered some regular 5 hour energy. I still maintain it is superior to the Extra Strength variety though I know not why. And I can't find the regular one in bulk in the store anymore.

13 NOV: Sandwich Day: What’s your favorite sandwich?

BLT with avocado. Tuna. Tomato & mayo on toast (with or without a fried egg)

14 NOV: Spicy Guacamole Day: Do you like spicy foods?

No.

15 NOV: Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day: Do you forget about food in your fridge for long periods of time?

No, I am vigilant about that stuff. Once in a while, something will slip by me (a can of whipped cream which went moldy) but it's rare.

16 NOV: International Day for Tolerance: What (or who) should you have more patience with?

The boys. Myself.

17 NOV: Homemade Bread Day: When’s the last time you made bread or ate homemade bread?

I have never made bread. I ate homemade bread as a child because a friend of my grandmother's made it, so maybe 35 years ago.

18 NOV: Apple Cider Day: Apple Cider. Yay or nay?

Nay. It's not bad but I won't go out of my way for it.

19 NOV: Have a Bad Day Day: What do you do when you have a bad day?

Jigsaw puzzles are remarkably therapeutic. Unfortunately the one I am working on now is REALLY hard.

1. The family is leaving for Aruba in less than 12 hours!! I need to finish packing.

2. I did another long run today. This one in 1:37:11 so I am still under the 2-hour limit. They call it the SAG wagon that picks you up if you are too slow. My only goal is to cross the finish line alive and ahead of the sag wagon.

3. I got my race packet. I was worried it would arrive while I was gone or be lost but, no, it arrived (parking pass, shirt, and bib). I am #90172. So the race is 9 am on 10 Nov. It is a 10 km race across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. I hope I don't fly off.

I have to do a State of the Ficcery today, too, so I will leave the rest for that. I will not be back until Tuesday 5 Nov.

25 OCT: Global Champagne Day: Champagne. Yay or nay?

I love champagne and the cheaper sparkling wine derivatives and the mixed drinks with it. Bring on the brunch Mimosas!

26 OCT: Howl at the Moon Night: Do you like werewolves?

Yes. Watson is a werewolf in one of my Sherlock Holmes AUs and given the adjacent werewolf-ness of Omegaverse, I spend a lot of time in that kind of world.

27 OCT: Visit a Cemetery: When’s the last time you visited a cemetery? I went to see the one my great aunt was buried in a long time ago. I was in my 20's. It was in Mobile, Alabama. I haven't been to the one my mother is buried in since the funeral which was 31 years ago. There isn't a reason for me to go back there.

28 OCT: Saint Jude’s Day: What do you consider a lost cause? People who like and vote for Trump. He is a hateful idiot. And you think it's a good idea to give him control of nuclear weapons.

29 OCT: Hermit Day: Does the hermit lifestyle appeal to you, why or why not? Yes. With independent wealth and lots of art and crafting supplies, sign me up!

30 OCT: Candy Corn Day: Candy Corn. Yay or nay? Yay! I bought my 3rd bag today. Nom, nom.

0. Look at my snazzy new Halloween icon. It's from the talented casey28 here: https://casey28.dreamwidth.org/40668.html

1. Gosh, it's been a chaotic few days. First, drama because Minisculus got invited to an arcade on Friday but his father made him go to his soccer game (part of a weekend tournament). But Minisculus scored and the team ended up winning for the FIRST TIME in the whole season. And it was 3-2 so his point made the difference. Yay. He did end up going to the sleepover after the game (same boy as arcade-birthday party).

But the mom called me in the morning saying Minsiculus vomited his breakfast. So Minisculus ended up skipping game #2 and slept SEVEN hours in the middle of the day. And was breathing very hard.

Meanwhile, the boys' father said he was leaving for Africa at 2:30 pm and he didn't leave until 5 pm. *rolls eyes*

Minsiculus was well enough to go to game #3 on Sunday and he played goalie second half and they scored twice on him and so he basically lost the team the game (and the tournament) AND some of the parents of OUR TEAM were talking bad about Minisculus on the sidelines where Minor could hear! I really, really hate soccer. It highlights the absolute worst in human beings. Shit talk a 9 year old who isn't your kid in front of the kid's brother. Yay.

Then I drove an hour into the country to take Minor to his track meet. He was #16 out of 50 in his age group but of course they only gave out ribbons for 1-15. :( But he wasn't the runner who got airlifted out by the State Troopers (!!!) in helicopter (!!!) so I guess it could have been worse.

2. Yesterday was a calm day. The boys went to school and I calmed down. I crafted and did Yoga with Adriene and it was okay.

3. Super Secret Craft Project #2 is about 70% done and SSCP #3 is about 55% done. I am making steady progress.

4. I haven't even started my Spook Me ficlets but I have told myself I just have to do 1k on each so lowering expectations to ficlet-length. I did do a Jimin update on the soap opera. I finished it two days after his birthday but still, it got done.

5. I've got Gremlins for the boys to watch and I thought we'd watch Hocus Pocus too. I've not seen the latter. But they have Friday off of school so we have time to watch stuff.

6. I'm up to 9.5 km in my training! I have lowered expectations as far as these two weeks. If I can get ONE long run in the next 12 days, I'm okay. Life just seems to intervene. New sneakers are good!

7. The upstairs neighbors still flood the bathroom and send water down through our vents at random times (like 10:15 this morning).

8. The bag of candy corn was opened and contents were consumed. I may have to get one more bag tomorrow. :)

9. Minor wants to do the travel cross country team which would mean traveling 7 hours south for a national meet the first weekend in December. His dad gave the okay so that's happening.

10. I still haven't gotten my pumpkin spice latte. Maybe tomorrow on shopping day.

11. I have less than 3 hours left on my audiobook version of Stephen King's IT which is 45 (!!!) hours.

1. It was raining all day. I did a short run in the rain at the lake. Running in the rain has become my preferred method because there are so few people. I saw two interesting grey birds. I don't even know what they were. Like egrets but miniature. I got new sneakers on Saturday, and I am breaking them in (they are almost exactly like my old sneakers). I have 2 pair of shoes: Errand-running shoes and Run-running shoes (and never the twain shall meet) and so I gave my old Errand running shoes to the shop because they had so many holes in them.

2. I was crafting today so it was a good day.

3. I am starting to use a Water Pik to clean my teeth and the first session was hysterical. I think most of the bathroom was doused.

25 SEPT: World Pharmacists Day: Do you know your pharmacist?

There's a Rastafarian-looking gentleman at the supermarket pharmacy who I recognize but I'm not chummy with him.

26 SEPT: Johnny Appleseed Day: What’s your favorite type of apple? The only type I buy are Honey Crisp because they stay crunchy long enough for the boys' lunches (I pack their lunches for school every day).

27 SEPT: Bakery Day: Do you have a favorite local bakery? No. It's probably for the best.

28 SEPT: Good Neighbor Day: Are you a good neighbor? I try to be. The mother of the boy who lives downstairs is in the hospital so I invited him (the son, who is 12) to stay in our apartment when someone isn't home.

29 SEPT: Coffee Day: What’s your favorite coffee drink?

I like all kinds. Mochas are nice. Lattes are nice. Nothing 'salted.' And sometimes There's Too Much Going On, like I got some Dunkin Donuts S'mores flavored coffee and it was too much. Too many flavors I got confused. Right now I am drinking Starbucks Fall Blend and it's fine. Truth is I could drink Folger's Instant every day and be happy.

30 SEPT: Orange Shirt Day: Do you own an orange shirt? Peach, yes. Not orange-orange.

1 OCT: World Vegetarian Day: What’s your favorite vegetarian meal? Beans & rice!

1. Crafting! A lot of my energy is going towards crafting. SSCP #1 is on its way to its final destination. SSCP #2 & #3 are underway. I have taken to using my bed as my workspace which is not ideal but it is convenient (and there's a big fan to keep me cool). I have only made one accidental slash to the comforter. I will post about the projects later in the year as they are gifts.

2. Too many fics spoil the okapi. I want to get my Bun Koo fic done so I can think about my Spook Me prompts. I have learned a lot about caring for rabbits. I just need to sit down and THINK. (and then, of course, sit down and WRITE).

3. The boys' father is having Buyer's Remorse about the Aruba trip which is manifesting in an unprecedented interest in saving money and household finances. To be fair, he has NEVER done anything like booking that trip in our 20 years of knowing each other so it's not surprising that he's second guessing himself. But it is annoying the way his anxiety is showing itself.

4. I enjoyed Conclave by Robert Harris (a novel about picking the next Pope) so I got another by him about the Dreyfus Affair (an event that sounds like would've been on my high school history test at some point). I like it. It's historical fiction based in real events. I am also reading the BTS book.

5. I had planned to do my long run today but bailed and did a half run. Maybe Friday.

11 SEPT: Libraries Remember Day: Do you have a favorite library?

I like our local library. The boys prefer the one in the system that is in the rural area because it is larger and has a different selection of graphic novels.

12 SEPT: School Picture Day: Do you have a favorite school picture (yours or someone else’s)?

Once in a while, the boys take a really nice school picture and I buy it. It's happened once or twice with each of them. Minor took an excellent track photo. It was so much better than his soccer ones. He really looks cool.

13 SEPT: Bald is Beautiful Day: Is bald beautiful?

Some people can pull it off!

14 SEPT: Fall Astronomy Day: Do you have a favorite planet or constellation?

No. I can rarely see them in the suburbs.

15 SEPT: Cheese Toast Day: Have you ever had cheese toast?

No, cheese toast for me.

16 SEPT: Guacamole Day: Do you have a favorite way to eat guacamole or a favorite recipe?

No cilantro! With chips, with nachos, on any kind of taco or quesadilla or Mexican food derivative.

17 SEPT: Voter Registration Day: Do you vote?

Absolutely. By mail these days.

1. The boys' father decided we should go on a family vacation. *picture a sort of interracial Griswolds* so he has decided we are going to Aruba next month (he's doing the bookings). We've never been on a family vacation. If you have been to Aruba and can recommend anything, let me know. Should be interesting.

2. I made a donation to Harris for President.

3. I am going to try a Hobonichi planner next year instead of making my own bullet journal. I ordered a Cousin A5 with a Scrabble type cover. It will be an experiment.

4. My AO3 account is nearing 3 million words. I'll cross that mark later this week with the soap opera.

5. bitsizedcleaning is running a kind of 'chore a day' September Stampede with daily check-in.

1 SEPT: World Letter Writing Day: When’s the last time you wrote a letter?

If postcards count as letters, I do them often. Growing up, I wrote letters to my grandmother and great aunts a lot.

2 SEPT: World Coconut Day. Coconut. Yay or nay?

I like Almond Joys (candy bar). I like the smell of coconut oil. I don't know about coconut water. I can take or leave it. In general, yay.

3 SEPT: Cinema Day: What are the benefits and drawbacks of watching movies in a movie theatre?

There are some films and things (like concerts) which are better seen on a big screen. Some 3D movies are cool. I like movie theater popcorn. :) Drawbacks are other people yapping.

1. School starts on Monday. I can't wait!

2. Minor has decided he is going to use the public library recording booth to record a song (at the rural branch). He laid the drum track and saxophones today.

3. I finished (most of) part 1 of Super Secret Craft Project. I need to buy one thing and make some very small fun embellishments but the bulk of it (the hard work) is done. On to part 2, which will (have to) be smaller.

4. Minisculus scored a goal in one of the 3 pre-season games on Saturday. Very proud of him. Maybe this is a good harbinger for the season. Minor starts cross country tomorrow.

5. I've decided to put a chapter of my soap opera in Hong Kong so I have been watching parts of Cantonese films, travel videos, and Rush Hour 2 (which is REALLY not my kind of film). I have also claimed a prompt for the Bun Koo fest and have checked out some books on rabbit care.

Edited to add: Let me know in the comments if you have favorite stories about rabbits? I know Watership Down, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Bunnicula but maybe there are others?

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14 AUG: World Calligraphy Day: What kind of calligraphy do you admire?

All of it. English, Islamic, Asian languages. The only kind I don't like is the kind I'm supposed to be able to read and can't because it's too ornate.

15 AUG: Leathercraft Day: Do you own an item of leather you especially like?

No.

16 AUG: Men’s Grooming Day: Beards, moustaches, and sideburns. Yay or nay?

I'm not particularly fond but some men can make them work.

17 AUG: Black Cat Appreciation Day: Do you like black cats? Do you see any animal as inherently ‘bad luck’? I love black cats. So pretty. The mice that are currently infesting my apartment are the manifestation of bad luck--for me! :(

18 AUG: World Helicopter Day: Have you ever ridden in a helicopter?

No. But I would love to! It's on the bucket list of smallhobbit if I make it across the pond to visit her.

19 AUG: International Orangutan Day: What animal is most likely to commit a murder?

Man! [That was an easy one.] Also fire ants don't play.

20 AUG: World Mosquito Day: What’s the best way to deter mosquitos?

Garlic in the blood. Also good for vampires!

1. The boys and their father are going to a professional soccer game. European clubs are doing exhibition matches in the US, so I will have approximately 5 whole hours tonight completely to myself. Huzzah. I may craft or I may read or I may fic or I may work on a jigsaw puzzle. Or watch 2 different versions of 4:50 from Paddington. Or who knows! I am excited. I am definitely having ice cream with caramel sauce.

2. SSCP (Super Secret Craft Project) update I went to Joann's Fabric Store for the first time and got overwhelmed. It's 4 times bigger than the small Michael's craft store I normally go to. But I got some supplies. I thought of it after a comment by malindaldarose and I thought it was very far but there is one much closer than I thought. It is junky. So you have to hunt. Lots of clearance shelves and racks and a few weary-looking employees. BUT they sell the Tim Holtz stuff I love and once I know what I need and have an even more precise list, I think I will go back. I was planning on going tomorrow but the boys' father announced he is going into the office so I'd have to take the boys with me and I was overwhelmed enough on my own, no thank you.

For SSCP, I tea-dyed paper for the first time. I also learned how to fold my own envelopes. My project box is filling up. I won't do a reveal until late in the autumn, though.

3. I showed the boys the film Edward Scissorhands (it is almost 35 years old!) which they liked. I have reserved The Karate Kid (the original) and Back to the Future to round out the Mom summer movie series. The boys (and I) have both finished their Mom book clubs.

4. I took the boys to the pool. We are supposed to get some rain from Hurricane Debby on Saturday. We went to the county fair. I signed Minor up for cross country (autumn is cross country, spring is track with the same running group) for the autumn. I am going to try to get Minisculus in some swimming lessons too.

5. School starts on the 26 Aug.

6. I finished a manga! BUNGO Stray Dogs #1, story by Kafka Asagiri and art by Sango Harukawa. It takes me a LONG time to read comic books (and comically long time) and this one is in Japanese order. But I liked it. The main character becomes a tiger by the light of the moon.


Questions

31 JULY: Avocado Day: Do you like avocados?

I love avocados but I am not good at picking out good ones and they're expensive. I rarely get them.

AUGUST

1 AUG: Girlfriend’s Day: What are the ideal qualities in a girlfriend?

I have imaginary girlfriends. I suppose that's the ideal quality given my stage of life right now. Ha, ha. I am still having a daydream series about a kind of Golden Girls friend/girlfriend group. In the last episode, I donated a kidney to one of them.

2 AUG: Coloring Book Day: Do you color as an adult?

No. Adult coloring books are so small (meaning the lines are very thin or shapes are tiny), they don't make any sense to me. I like big blocks of color. Like for crayons.

3 AUG: Friendship Day: What’s the key to a lasting friendship?

Having something (still) in common and investing time and self in the relationship.

4 AUG: Coast Guard Day: Ever had to be rescued?

I have already mentioned getting stuck in the mud alone in a remote part of Chile and a farmer's helper pulling me out. In my 20's I was often rescued by random strangers.

5 AUG: Underwear Day: What color(s) are your underwear?

Today it's a light blue/grey.

6 AUG: Fresh Breath Day: How uncomfortable is having bad breath or being near someone with bad breath?

I really don't like it. For some reason eating bananas makes my mouth feel gross so I always brush my teeth after. Yeah, really heavy cigarette or coffee breath or just bad breath is very unpleasant to me.

1. Minor has Songwriting for Film & TV camp this week, but I was thrown off yesterday because he woke up vomiting and thus didn't go yesterday and I had to deal with him. So, I am a day late on the personal update. Soccer camp ended well last week for Minsiculus and Minor.

2. I got all of Minisculus' school supplies today. Early but it was like a scavenger hunt for him and me at the store with The List, trying to find all the items. And it was much cheaper than I remember last year's haul was. So yay.

3. I watched the 1971 "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" film with the boys. They liked it, and now they sing the Oompa Loompa song all the time. I have just checked out "The Matrix." We'll see if they like that, too.

17 JULY: World Emoji Day: What emoji do you use most?
This one: 🤣

18 JULY: Nelson Mandela Day: Who is your hero?

The artist Alma Thomas. She didn't begin her painting career until she was in her late 60's.

19 JULY: Celebration of the Horse Day: Have you ridden any animal other than a horse?

I don't think so.

20 JULY: World Chess Day: Do you know how to play chess?

I know the rules, but I don't play. It's the thinking ahead and strategy which always stump me.

21 JULY: Legal Drinking Age: When did you take your first sip of liquor?

I was in the Peace Corps! It was a shot of cranberry vodka bought for me by another volunteer.

22 JULY: Mango Day. Mangos. Yay or nay?

I like mangos and mango-flavoured things. The boys father loves them so I buy them when he's in town.

23 JULY: Math Week: Do you like math?

There's a beauty to it. But the boys' father has a certain stare which means he's thinking about statistics. I don't get to that stage.