Crafting, mostly

Is too much, let me sum up.

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:15:59 GMT

I haven't posted since January?

Oof.

So I got fired in February. But then I got a great job that is actually within my experience (estate planning and probate), and it pays better. Net win, even if that was a very stressful time.

I passed the one year mark with the cats over Memorial Day weekend. They really are the best.

I live in Texas and I'm scared of what the future holds. So scared.

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2022 Goals

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 15:48:53 GMT

I would like to finish:
* the half-square triangle quilt that already has all of the pieces cut and several strips sewn
* the trivet/bowl warmer/small cat mat thing I'm hand-sewing

I would like to put work into:
* Gay Space Quilt
* handknit sweater (it is very nearly to sleeve island and i could probably knock this out relatively quickly were i to actually pull it out)

Ongoing Writing Projects:
* D&D Campaign
* "Bisexual Hallmark Movie" story
* Werewolves

My non-project goals are kinda vague again this year. I'm in a better place mentally and physically than I was at the beginning of 2021, but it's still hard to see where I might want to go from here. I'd like to make time for family; make use of the apartment complex's treadmill a bit more consistently; write some; craft some. I dunno. It's still really weird having my basic needs relatively secured. (as secure as things can be)

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@inkingitout Attempt!

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 20:32:04 GMT

Okay. more semi- than regular, but hey.

I've been planning for a new D&D campaign that I am running. And that seems to have kicked off inspiration for other stories. Which is great!

But it also means that I've more than once opened a document to find that I'd written far more of the story in my head than I'd managed to get on the page. :( I need to spend time brain dumping, I suppose. Napkin math has me at ~75000 words at the end of a year if I write ~200 words per day. 200 words per day seems like a much more reasonable goal than the larger ones I've seen more regularly. And by not committing to a particular project, that allows me to balance D&D writing with other stories. I'll give inkingitout a shot.

Some friends have a group where they share things they're working on, but they meet during my workday. So maybe the encouragement of a community might help?

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coughs, apologetically

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 02:41:18 GMT

The last year and a bit definitely happened.

I am moved back to Texas, I have a job back in the field I know very well, I have an apartment and a truck and two cats of my own. It's been a lot.

I'm really happy to have been on Prozac for a year now. Getting the brain chemicals somewhat evened out has had a massive impact on my life in a positive way. I was able to move back across the country, live with my folks for several months while gaining traction to get an apartment. (Jobhunt only took 6 weeks. Back in the legal field and loving it.)

TTRPGs have remained a delightful constant. I made time and space to keep playing while I was living with my parents; they were really great about accepting it's important to me, even if they don't really "get" it. I don't need them to get it. Having my hobby be respected is enough.

Texas is home. I am doing things so much more than I was in PA and I don't mean because more places are opened. I spend time with my family because they're within driving distance. I have been on several trips to various parks. Yes, I've also been to a museum (masked, vaccinated, and using sanitizer all the time), but even that is something I hadn't done in years. I am so much happier than I was two years ago at this time; I'm happier than I was at this time last year.

I'm hoping to start posting semi-regularly. I've missed being places other than Twitter.

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Chop Wood, Carry Water

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 19:38:09 GMT

3 months later, and I have been at my job almost 2 months (7 weeks). I'm at the point where I understand the things I am expected to do, I can identify the people I work with, and I feel like I have a handle on things. So it's all gonna break soon, yeah? :P

Still loving the short hair, and I've been able to get it cut at a salon! Masks on, one person in each of three separate areas at a time (four empty chairs up front, two empty in the back, and one empty at the coloring station), and a basic verbal "do you feel unwell or have you recently?" CYA convo before entering.

Gotta say, TTRPGs have been sanity-saving touchstones. Continuity and a chance for escape through playing pretend with friends.

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i aten't ded

Wed, 27 May 2020 14:52:47 GMT

*gestures pandemically* sorry for falling off the internet? or at least, this corner of the internet?

It's been rough. There have been bright spots, though.

+ I have made it to the second round of interviews, which will kick off Monday.

+ Nibling T called me up out of the blue on ~~Friday~~ Saturday (time has no meaning) and we had a nice chat about finishing fifth grade, turning eleven, and playing games. What a good kiddo.

+ I am playtesting a TTRPG! I have rolled up the setting's version of a paladin, naturally, and I'm super stoked to see how they play.

+ Hair has been trimmed by J a few times. I love everything about having short hair.

+ Hair has been dyed purple by J as well. It's pretty cool, ngl.

+ Cats. Just, cats. They're buttheads and sweet and terrible and hilarious. Cats are pretty great.

Still.
When stable, chop wood carry water.
When mentally unwell chop wood carry water but also recognize that the difficulty rating has gone up so it means more.

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At least we have cats

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:52:09 GMT

Lots of big emotions all over right now. Lots of uncertainty.

But there are four cats in this household, three voids and one brown tabby potato. The boy voids are generally happy to be lap cats, the potato is learning to be one, and the girl void has important cat business and cannot be contained. (but she does love pets) Of course, the cat who demands the most cuddle time is also the one with the worst breath. He's a good buddy and made of love but his breath will knock you over. A good stinky man, I call him. He doesn't seem to mind.

Partner is meant to be returning to work on Monday. *fingers crossed* T is jobseeking like a machine. I am feeling inadequate but still jobseeking. He was the "breadwinner" so the loss of his income is really hard. J and me getting income would certainly help some, though.

Dragon Age is so good. I've picked up the video game again with a Qunari warrior and I'm excited for Josephine to have a tol gf. The TTRPG I'm in is also doing fun things (even if my character is frantic with worry for loved ones). We hit the end of "chapter 1" and the GM has commissioned art of the party! We're going to have some one-shots for a few sessions before we pick up Chapter 2, so hopefully our valiant GM will get to play some.

My D&D game is weekly now. Since everyone is quarantined, there are far fewer impediments to regular games. :)? :/. So we're running around, talking to gods, looking for our blacksmith bud, and generally having a good time as D&D hooligans.

The household has been watching The Witcher and we've got the last episode of the first season left. It's an enjoyable show. I don't have a lot of thinky thoughts about it at this time. The ladies are really pretty and Henry Cavill looks like he gives good hugs.

So, yeah. It's stressful but there are bright spots in the gloom.

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Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:30:13 GMT

I got The Lurgy over the weekend, alas. I took a 2 hour nap Saturday, woke up and called off for D&D, and then flopped around until going to bed early. And was betterish yesterday, but still took another 2 hour nap. But I'm feeling really good today, so I'm hoping to get in some crafting time.

Now that I understand how to make half square triangles, I'm dashing ahead into planning All The Quilts. *wry grin* I won't make 'em all, but it's nice to know I can do stripes and waves and pinwheels all from some very simple pieces. But! That is not going to get this quilt finished, and I wants it, precious. So, blocks to sew and pieces to cut. Then we're on to The Ironing and The Trimming. (not stoked to see how inaccurately I have been cutting/sewing)

In this time of Social Distancing, it's been interesting to see what online services are able to withstand the heavy traffic. Roll20 was stable for my Sunday early afternoon game, but was apparently down/slow most of Saturday and again Sunday evening. (small benefits of playing 12-3 Eastern US time) Discord has been solid for me, which means I've been able to stay in touch with pocket friends as normal, and we were able to use it for voice chat during our game. I have never been one for online multiplayer games, so I cannot speak to those. Shared console co-op, on the other hand, is working just fine and the household put in some time together over the weekend.

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uh, whoops?

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 13:22:54 GMT

I did not mean to fall off of the internet for a month. But here we are, I guess?

Jobseeking is stressful and ongoing. Living with people is stressful and wonderful as we all adjust to my unmedicated ass being here. Cats remain delightful, adorable shitheads.

I have started a new quilt top. I pulled out Queers in Space and realized I was missing some key skills, so I paged through quilt magazines to find something I liked and could use to build those skills. So far, so good. Much practice on the 1/4in seams I need as well as more accurate methods of cutting. Also, I keep reminding myself that I'm making something I would like to be able to use for a very long time and that taking time in the creation will (hopefully) make it last longer. Hopefully.

US politics are terrifying garbage, the COVID-19 pandemic is terrifying, and I just qualified for Medicare. Which is a whole bundle of feels I do not want to unpack.

That said, I've been watching both the partner and the metamour play video games on the downstairs TV and it's great to watch games happen that I could not play for myself. The Last of Us, which J is playing, is too scary and intense for me, which is why I stopped playing it. And Persona 5 has long stretches of tedium as well as specific weirdnesses I associate with Japanese visual novels (pervy characters, gross romance options, etc). But both games are really fun to watch! Except when I have to look away from TLOU because horrifying zombie things happen or when The Cat in P5 gets all pervy over a high school girl again.

I am myself running around in Skyrim again. Playing the real estate market while the Empire fights Stormcloaks. Also going to join and take over the mage's college soon. I have children to look after, you know.

So it's not been great, but it has been solidly okay. Onward to more okay days than not-okay ones.

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Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:56:00 GMT

Settling in is nice. The intense nesting is different but also nice.

Having furniture again is so great. I definitely wallowed all over my bed as soon as it was made because I was just so happy to have it. :P

I haven't made any time for crafting, though. Because the stress of having so many boxes in my room and the job hunt was just draining me of all motivation. woe.

But the job search is going, with at least one application in every day except Sunday for a whole week. Just toss a bunch out there and see what happens, yeah?

I need to do more research into getting my PA driver's license though. Pretty sure that's gonna be both written and driving tests as well as the "RealID" nonsense. Again.

Welp. Got the app in for this morning, time for chores and then video games.

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pakidge

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 16:09:24 GMT

I am waiting on my bed frame and mattress to be delivered from IKEA and I am the embodiment of the packidge comic. IKEA's delivery folks are meant to call ahead but what if they don't? Or what if they call J instead of me? There are four cats to wrangle before large items can be moved in.

pls to have bed?

And of course I'm also trying to figure out how the furniture I packed will fit and where the new dresser will go and which dresser I should get and do I need another bookshelf or should I try to reserve space for a new sewing table. :/

This end of the moving journey is hard because waiting is hard.

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I live!

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 15:27:16 GMT

Moving is terrible and awful and I am not quite done yet.

I'm moved, but my stuff arrives next week. Which means we get to figure out how to tetris my shit into the household that is already pretty full. eek.

I did some adulting yesterday regarding my banking, and some this morning about online billing address nonsense for subscriptions and Amazon. I even checked the city's website for recycling days as that seems to be a thing that is missed frequently. Which, as it is every other week, makes perfect sense. I'm thinking of floating the idea of printing the calendar and putting it on the fridge so none of us have to keep that info in our heads.

Packing the PS4 and Dragon Age Inquisition was a very good choice past me made. Being able to fall into Thedas for some chill time has been so helpful.

Also this household runs on tea both caffeinated and not, which is a heckin delight after being surrounded by my family, which runs on coffee. And the kitties like me! :) 3/4 have sat in my lap so far, and the 4th bab has deigned to play with me a bit via the feather wand. She's also let me pet her a bit, but not where her people can see, the little goof.

As expected, none words happened while I was finishing Awful Job and packing and moving. I might be feeling up to some words soon, though. I still have a lot of feelings about Josephine Montilyet after all.

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Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:12:11 GMT

And sometimes you come across a Bad Take and you have to just... walk away. Because that person's opinion on a video game is really just an opinion on a video game.

Yeah, still head down in Dragon Age Inquisition. I took BFF Iron Bull to fight a dragon last night. Also had Cassandra in the party and I had to stop and think. Because her backstory about her brother the dragon hunter is super tragic, and also now that she's a dragon hunter of the Pentaghast line she should therefore be highly sought after for marriage. Is she? Does Josephine have to deal with those alongside the proposals for Cullen? Inquiring minds want to know.

I'm enjoying playing as a dude elf, but I miss the bit where Cullen joins a girl gang comprised of the Right Hand of the Divine (Seeker), the Left Hand of the Divine (assassin), the Ambassador to Orlais from Antiva, and some loser they found in a ditch outside the exploded temple with a glowy mark on her hand.

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An Update of the Non-Snowflake Variety

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 21:49:04 GMT

Moving plans are aaaaaaaaa

So of course I started another playthrough of Dragon Age Inquisition. This time with a boy elf Inquisitor mage and I'm intending to romance Cassandra but it's really hard to not romance Josephine because I love her so. But I am making friends with the Egg, which is nice. Sort of. Not really looking forward to the racism I'll have to hear when we go save Empress Celene. Much like real life, fantasy racism is gross.

Work is a slog, but the end is in sight.

I have an appointment this Saturday to assess Mal for rehoming.

Partner arrives Saturday as well. And I'm meant to be playing D&D that night. I perhaps should have scheduled the appointment for a different day, but here we are.

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Challenge 9

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 15:42:54 GMT

Today's challenge is to promote at least one canon (or cannon :P). I know very little about cannons, so canon it is!

But which do I choose? Decisions are hard.

( Flashpoint )

( Dune )

( The Old Kingdom )

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Challenge 8

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:59:06 GMT

Challenge 8! Rec at least three fanworks I did not create? Oh, I got this. Let's check out my AO3 bookmarks and also history....

( Text From Cephalopods (podfic) )

( The Pangalactic Interstellar Starship Musain )

( i have named you queen (listen) )

( Empress of Sand and Water )

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Challenge 7

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 18:26:01 GMT

Dang, snowflake_challenge hitting us with the hard stuff this time. Promote myself? What do I say that isn't in my introduction?

I mostly lurk in fannish spaces. I'll comment on posts but don't typically make my own, which makes interaction difficult. I realize this and I'm trying to be more active, hence the participation in this challenge. :)

I like listening to people be excited about a thing! Even when I don't share their enthusiasm for a subject. You wanna talk about [new hotness] but don't have anyone to smile and nod? I'll do it. I might even ask questions about it and (no promises) might even develop an interest in the new thing myself.

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Challenge 6

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 18:13:01 GMT

snowflake_challenge Challenges 6 asks me to make a list of things I want. oof.

1. More plotty femslash. By preference in a fandom I know, but I'll take fandoms I don't know and read 'em like origfic. I am not saying I'll read it all, I just really want it to exist in the world.

2. Someone to nod and smile and make approving noises at me while I flail about Dragon Age Inquisition. I've just last night finished the main storyline and started Trespasser and I have all the feels but no one to share them with.

3. Icons of women with swords or axes but not in 'that kind' of armor. (armor does not need a boob window)

4. More people to have contact info on the AO3. (email? twitter? any way to contact other than a comment?) And possibly a transformative works statement.

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Challenge 4: Goalsetting

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 15:26:18 GMT

Goalsetting! I can do that. I usually do about this time of year anyway. And check on how much I did not do of last year's goals. :P

Soft goals:
serious progress on Queers in Space quilt
finish the sweater-on-needles
frog the pink sock
words on the page (i have a 75,000 word goal for the year after all)

Firm Goals:
Move to PA (end of Jan)
Get job
Play TTRPGs in person

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Challenge 3

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 17:30:02 GMT

Today's (yesterday's) snowflake_challenge is to rec communities, fests, or challenges.

knitting is a fairly quiet community, but it seems like lots of us still interact when there is a new post. If you want some folks to cheer you on with a new project, motivate you to finally frog that old thing you're never going to finish, or squee with you about completed stuff, we're it!

I joined getyourwordsout last year with a habit goal and it really helped me stay on track, even in the Bad Times. I know there is more community than I interacted with, but I am a bit of a lurker. They do word wars and sprints, they post various topics to either promote discussion or spark interest. I believe sign ups are ongoing until Jan 15, if you want to join for a habit or word count pledge and whine with other writers about how the characters just won't heckin cooperate.

And one I do not participate in but dive into the archive like it's Yuletide all over again is pod_together where writers and podficcers collaborate to tell some amazing stories. I have discovered new fandoms and new creators through the years and I just adore it.

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Challenge 2

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 16:20:59 GMT

Today's snowflake_challenge task is to talk about my fannish history.

I was given basically unrestricted access to the internet around age 14. This, in hindsight, was not great. But I did find communities that were welcoming to the tiny bean I was then. I read so much fic I was not ready for and really truly appreciate content notes. After all something that is a major turn off for me is a major turn on for someone else. They can appreciate it while I keep scrolling. I discovered my love of total-AU fic in the X-Files fandom. I fell into team-as-family in Stargate. I got possibly the best redemption arc I've ever found in Legend of the Seeker. I mostly lurk, I read, I occasionally rec things. I am always ready to squee or cheer.

In no particular order, I've been involved in:
Sailor Moon
X-Files
Legend of the Seeker
Stargate (and Atlantis)
Glee
Once Upon a Time
Critical Role

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Challenge 1

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 19:39:09 GMT

I'll give this a shot, but no promises on keep up with it.

I'm kendiefox and have been for about 20 years. I respond to it like my wallet name. I'm 35, queer, nonbinary, and live in Texas.

I've been mostly lurking in fandom since high school. I write a bit and I read a ton of fic. My fandoms are Critical Role, the Campbellverse rpg shows, and Dragon Age, but I've been around and have seen many things. You want to talk Stargate or X-Files or Xena or Legend of the Seeker? I am here for it. You have a great Persuasion fic to rec? Slide that down the bar, new friend.

Offline I knit, I sew a bit, and I'm working on a quilt I call "queers in space," and I play video games. I mostly replay older ones, but I just got a Switch Lite and some new games in old franchises that I'm excited to play. (pokemon sword/shield, legend of zelda: breath of the wild, and fire emblem: three houses)

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Mon, 30 Dec 2019 15:56:00 GMT

I signed up for GYWO again. For a word count this time. Let's see how that goes, yeah?

I got to play in a Dragon Age TTRPG session yesterday, and I have to say it was really fun! A little more combat-heavy than I would have preferred, but that also gave me a better feel for how the system works. And I have the opportunity to drop in on the campaign some time. Did I spend time at work getting my character's bio in a form to share with the GM? yes, yes, I did. Je ne regrette rien.

Today is my last workday in 2019. Two whole days off with no plans other than gaming. So good.

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Fri, 27 Dec 2019 16:32:17 GMT

I survived the end of the year! Yes, the calendar swaps over next week, but my year turns on the solstice. And then I survived family Christmas events. I told my family a more in-depth reason behind my big move (extreme depression), and it seems like they're all supportive of my move. Now that it doesn't seem quite so random and ill-thought. Saying "I can't live alone and horrifically depressed anymore and this is my best opportunity to make positive changes in my life" seems to have the effect of my sibs throwing their support behind me. Nice!

I did manage to complete all three nibling blankets by the 22nd. I was just happy to not be working on them the morning of Family Christmas Eve, honestly. I hope they see some use, but even if they live in a closet, I did make warm things for my niblings.

And I pulled out the quilting book I picked up at Half Price last year and found the patterns I'd been scouring the internet for. All the sites looked like holdouts from the 90s and I was afraid of downloading pdfs from them, so I am very happy to have physical copies of the patterns. And many more besides. I was considering Tumbling Blocks, but perhaps something simpler, with fewer y-seams. I would like to make three quilts for the littles next year. Maybe the same pattern, maybe different, but I think I want to try. Might end up punting and knitting hats, though. That's always an option.

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Tue, 10 Dec 2019 20:21:01 GMT

I had a random thought I needed to share with y'all.

So. You know Telepathy? Listening in on minds 'n shit?

What if.
You know there's a telepath around so you start telling yourself some delightful self-insert fanfiction about your current book/show/story. And you're just, y'know, hanging out with the main cast and being best friends and fighting monsters with them and generally having a great time with your OC falling in love and being a violet-eyed badass, and the telepath is stuck listening to this wonderful story you're telling yourself.
And they can't say a single word about it because that telepath is rude as hell for listening to your private thoughts in the first dang place.

Things I think about when I should be working.

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