That was nice
Apr. 10th, 2026 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessSF, one of our wildlife profs stops me on the way to lab to tell me our mutual friend PQ was here to do a guest lecture. He was partially the inspiration for Josh in These Haunted Hills PQ was a naturalist in the Hocking Hills (which is how SF knows him) and is part of my steampunk group and also loves ghost hunting and beer making (how I know him) I didn't get to hear the lecture because I had lab but I did get to talk to him about our upcoming Steampunk con in Lousiville.
The cheater finally came to lab pretending like it's all alright. It is not and I do feel a little bad that she doesn't seem to know how much trouble she's in. Ah well.
Any of my British mystery fans know Whistable Pearl? I'm starting it tonight.
My coffee shop has this month a new latter Almond Joy. This one is very good. I'll need to make it myself.
So The Amazing Digital Circus dropped a teaser trailer today for the 9th episode which is the last one and it will also be released in the theater early. this worked out horribly for Hazbin, just saying. I didn't know where to get tickets because I'll be traveling at that time. I dicked around and by the time 3 hours went by Pittsburgh was sold out. However, Huntington barely sold ANY tickets. So yeah I have tickets now.
I did a little writing. This was forspikesgirl58's 6 words challenge. It's a potential chapter in my new novel. It may or may not happen. I'm thinking about it. It has seen zero editing so be warned.
Speaking of warnings, there is a minor mention of drug addiction, also mentioned (in no detail) child sexual abuse and PTSD. Also minor blood, mentions of sex work
( Brush with death )
And the Friday Fannish rec for Fannish 50
Coming Back Inspector George Gently
Making A Splash Torchwood
Safe And Sound Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Miss Mabel Make Plans Teen Wolf
On His Level Hazbin Hotel
Eggsplanations Torchwood
Mysterious Messenger The Fantastic Journey
Curious Hazbin Hotel
Munch Ado about Cookies The Owl House
A Narrow Escape Inspector George Gently
I May Have Hurt Your Head, But You Hurt My Heart Hazbin Hotel
Multiple Signals Hazbin Hotel
no exit (huis clos) The Amazing Digital Circus
Belief Torchwood
Head Over Heels Starsky & Hutch
Gently Going Undercover Inspector George Gently
The Perils of Paperwork Teen Wolf
The Past Reconfigured Stargate Atlantis
Who Needs Sleeping Nettles The Owl House
Lost Souls MCU
Black/Blue Hazbin Hotel
The cheater finally came to lab pretending like it's all alright. It is not and I do feel a little bad that she doesn't seem to know how much trouble she's in. Ah well.
Any of my British mystery fans know Whistable Pearl? I'm starting it tonight.
My coffee shop has this month a new latter Almond Joy. This one is very good. I'll need to make it myself.
So The Amazing Digital Circus dropped a teaser trailer today for the 9th episode which is the last one and it will also be released in the theater early. this worked out horribly for Hazbin, just saying. I didn't know where to get tickets because I'll be traveling at that time. I dicked around and by the time 3 hours went by Pittsburgh was sold out. However, Huntington barely sold ANY tickets. So yeah I have tickets now.
I did a little writing. This was for
spikesgirl58's 6 words challenge. It's a potential chapter in my new novel. It may or may not happen. I'm thinking about it. It has seen zero editing so be warned.Speaking of warnings, there is a minor mention of drug addiction, also mentioned (in no detail) child sexual abuse and PTSD. Also minor blood, mentions of sex work
( Brush with death )
And the Friday Fannish rec for Fannish 50
Coming Back Inspector George Gently
Making A Splash Torchwood
Safe And Sound Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Miss Mabel Make Plans Teen Wolf
On His Level Hazbin Hotel
Eggsplanations Torchwood
Mysterious Messenger The Fantastic Journey
Curious Hazbin Hotel
Munch Ado about Cookies The Owl House
A Narrow Escape Inspector George Gently
I May Have Hurt Your Head, But You Hurt My Heart Hazbin Hotel
Multiple Signals Hazbin Hotel
no exit (huis clos) The Amazing Digital Circus
Belief Torchwood
Head Over Heels Starsky & Hutch
Gently Going Undercover Inspector George Gently
The Perils of Paperwork Teen Wolf
The Past Reconfigured Stargate Atlantis
Who Needs Sleeping Nettles The Owl House
Lost Souls MCU
Black/Blue Hazbin Hotel
Rough day
Apr. 9th, 2026 11:48 pmcornerofmadnessDM's cancer is back. Family member also diagnosed with cancer. Family fights. I'm very done.
On better news I did catch two more cheaters with the phone ban (either that or they forgot there was a test today because that is the only other explanation from going from 98 % to 50%)
I have a confession. I love Chef Boyardee pizza sauce. I know I know but it's true but I can't find it in the stores any more. I got a flat of it online so I can use my own dough. I thought it was half cans. Let's leave it at I can make a couple dozen pizzas. I am not complaining.
I know that I've put this here before. I could not decide on my story for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
wipbigbang because the AU I REALLY wanted to do...just isn't gelling so maybe this one. I know it's somewhere in my blog but let's make this easy on me and repost it here
( Read more... )
On better news I did catch two more cheaters with the phone ban (either that or they forgot there was a test today because that is the only other explanation from going from 98 % to 50%)
I have a confession. I love Chef Boyardee pizza sauce. I know I know but it's true but I can't find it in the stores any more. I got a flat of it online so I can use my own dough. I thought it was half cans. Let's leave it at I can make a couple dozen pizzas. I am not complaining.
I know that I've put this here before. I could not decide on my story for
wipbigbang because the AU I REALLY wanted to do...just isn't gelling so maybe this one. I know it's somewhere in my blog but let's make this easy on me and repost it here( Read more... )
the stress is piling on
Apr. 8th, 2026 11:01 pmcornerofmadnessSo I did go to yoga but...the whole right side of me was asking wtf you doing? Here have some nerve pain. Wanna die in a pretzel I'm a gonna make that happen. In Shavasana (the corpse pose, my best pose) my brain says 'eyes closed? here's some little inner mind's eyes pics for you to enjoy. Oh btw it looks like a tick crawling up your arm or maybe a spider from the ceiling. I opened my eyes trying to find it.
Work is grinding us under. That's all I have to say there.
What I Just Finished Reading:
Edinburgh Twilight - historic mystery, chonkier than I like mysteries to be but I'm enjoying it
The Tale of the Hidden Village - some cozy fantasy/mystery indie I got a couple years back already.
What I am Currently Reading:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - this is painful
Hooked on Murder - I'm going to push only because it fits the terrible Popsugar prompt of granny hobby (god I hate that term with unreasonable hatred) but it seems the detective isn't going to do her job because she wants the cop the amateur sleuth is dating and I hope that isn't what this will be. Then again every woman in the crochet ring suck
Stay for a Spell - cozy fantasy, love this
The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail)
What I Plan to Read Next: Something that came at the library I don't even remember requesting.
Work is grinding us under. That's all I have to say there.
What I Just Finished Reading:
Edinburgh Twilight - historic mystery, chonkier than I like mysteries to be but I'm enjoying it
The Tale of the Hidden Village - some cozy fantasy/mystery indie I got a couple years back already.
What I am Currently Reading:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - this is painful
Hooked on Murder - I'm going to push only because it fits the terrible Popsugar prompt of granny hobby (god I hate that term with unreasonable hatred) but it seems the detective isn't going to do her job because she wants the cop the amateur sleuth is dating and I hope that isn't what this will be. Then again every woman in the crochet ring suck
Stay for a Spell - cozy fantasy, love this
The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail)
What I Plan to Read Next: Something that came at the library I don't even remember requesting.
Fannish options & enthusiasms | April 2026
Apr. 8th, 2026 07:36 ambrightknightieHere are some recent fannish things I've happened to see and would like to share!
Spotlight: I went to see Stand By Me on the big screen during its fortieth-anniversary return to theaters in March. I'd actually never seen it before, though I knew almost everything about it through cultural osmosis and felt, watching, almost as if I had seen it before. It's an excellent movie, of course. Well-crafted, well-acted, challenging, and satisfying. At this end of history, it was sometimes difficult to see the characters through their famous actors, like when the character played by River Phoenix vanishes as the narrative switches from past to present and the moment packs a doubled punch. It would not be made the same way today, and I think it would be the less for that. (Everyone knows the Pokémon Stand by Me trivia, right?) ( Read more... )
Ficathons, fests & communities
- Create & engage
- fkficfest, the annual Forever Knight event, has prompting 5/03-16, with stories due 7/18.
- 3weeks4dreamwidth, an annual celebration of DW, runs 4/25-5/15.
- allbutromance, a gen exchange, has nominations through 4/16, signups 4/20-5/03, and works due 8/14.
- bitesizedfandomsex, an exchange for canons that can be consumed in 8 or fewer hours, has sign-ups through 4/12 and works due 5/30.
- whumpex, an exchange for stories in which characters hurt, has nominations through 4/18, sign-ups 4/21-5/04, with works due 6/02.
- seasonalremix, a match-by-trope remix event, has sign-ups through 4/11, with the original story due 4/18, and a matched remix due 6/20.
- whatif_au is hosting its annual AU bingo through 7/31.
- seasonsofdrabbles, a quarterly drabble exchange, has nominations and sign-ups through 4/12.
- spring_renewal, an open promptfest (panfandom + original works), has fills 4/10-30.
- bookclub_dw is a monthly reading club (one month to read the elected book, one to discuss it).
- allbingo's April theme is "flower fest."
- trope_of_the_month's April theme is "fake dating."
- pinchhits is a community for posting needed fills for exchanges. For example, goreswap is currently seeking pinch hitters.
- whenisitdue tracks many more events than I note here!
- fancake (themed fanfic recs); April theme: "arranged marriage"
- gensplosion (gen fanfic recs)
- het_reccers (m/f fanfic recs)
- fanart_recs (fanart recs)
- recthething (fanwork recs)
Sidelight: Last year was my year of re-reading Lois McMaster Bujold. This year, I think, will be Rex Stout.
A packed day
Apr. 7th, 2026 11:31 pmcornerofmadnessTuesday/Thursday are my long days and today was very long. It's only a few weeks until classes are over and my research students are spinning around. Turns out the new incubators we have on loan for micro suck it. They have SUCH a strong fan it's trying out the agar to the point of uselessness. Had to spend time googling can we turn the fan down (no) what else we can do (put distilled water in there to help humidify it) these seems like a design flaw.
One my special agars went missing. Argh. Found a different special agar that we can use thankfully.
I never get a moment to work on my exam for Thursday.
Students showed up. 'Dr. Evans there is a BAT in the study room.' (Funny part this is the same student who found the bat in the sink last time) So I get a wild life prof we suit up in mammal handling gloves but I don't do much. My climbing on chairs days are over. We get this adorable eastern brown bat safely back outside. Meanwhile these students were in this room for 2 hours with this bat just chilling asleep on the wall and they never noticed. (we need observational skills in health care, just saying).
After work, I race home, change, go out to eat because I'm going to an art thing at the library at 6. I slide in and there we have black canvases. We're making 'galaxies.' the pro art is faint swirls of purple/blue/pinks with white stars.
Well there wasn't much instruction other than go dark to light on the colors purple to blue to teal to pink and daub them on the canvas with the sponge with no instruction on how to get the swirls I kept waiting for it. Next thing I knew here's the white, splatter on your stars. Um....HOW do I make it look like a night sky? By now it's too late to swirl, it's dry. So I didn't get a galaxy but it looks like a 1980s era party pattern. I do rather like it. I think it's rather pretty but it did fail the assignment
Also I painted it all left handed.
I race home (since this was SHORT) I got the exam mostly done before the writer's virtual meet up happened. I blasted out about 800 words on a halloween short story and about 1500 words on the novel. I really need to get this moving because I don't want it to be overly long. It's weird suspense/mystery they want you to stick near 80K. Fantasy is longer which is good because the 80s novel is over 100K and now it's like add description. Where? What do I lose of the plot for this? That's hard. Writing's hard.
One my special agars went missing. Argh. Found a different special agar that we can use thankfully.
I never get a moment to work on my exam for Thursday.
Students showed up. 'Dr. Evans there is a BAT in the study room.' (Funny part this is the same student who found the bat in the sink last time) So I get a wild life prof we suit up in mammal handling gloves but I don't do much. My climbing on chairs days are over. We get this adorable eastern brown bat safely back outside. Meanwhile these students were in this room for 2 hours with this bat just chilling asleep on the wall and they never noticed. (we need observational skills in health care, just saying).
After work, I race home, change, go out to eat because I'm going to an art thing at the library at 6. I slide in and there we have black canvases. We're making 'galaxies.' the pro art is faint swirls of purple/blue/pinks with white stars.
Well there wasn't much instruction other than go dark to light on the colors purple to blue to teal to pink and daub them on the canvas with the sponge with no instruction on how to get the swirls I kept waiting for it. Next thing I knew here's the white, splatter on your stars. Um....HOW do I make it look like a night sky? By now it's too late to swirl, it's dry. So I didn't get a galaxy but it looks like a 1980s era party pattern. I do rather like it. I think it's rather pretty but it did fail the assignment
Also I painted it all left handed.
I race home (since this was SHORT) I got the exam mostly done before the writer's virtual meet up happened. I blasted out about 800 words on a halloween short story and about 1500 words on the novel. I really need to get this moving because I don't want it to be overly long. It's weird suspense/mystery they want you to stick near 80K. Fantasy is longer which is good because the 80s novel is over 100K and now it's like add description. Where? What do I lose of the plot for this? That's hard. Writing's hard.
Do I know what day it is?
Apr. 6th, 2026 11:11 pmcornerofmadnessTurns out no. I really thought it was the 7th. Was waiting for a half hour for my writers' meet up. Yeah it's tomorrow. I hope to hell that the galaxy paint thing at the library is tomorrow and wasn't tonight. sigh.
Water aerobics was good.
What wasn't good, trying to change my vascular surgeon/vascular testing appointments. He is now only coming down twice a month. It's probably time to switch back to Epstein (who saved my leg) and suck up the trip to Columbus once a year. But why can't I just go to Berger in Circleville if Chillicothe can't take me. It's BOTH Ohio Health (oh, he doesn't allow that) Well guess what we're waiting until August then. Oh No! You need to come. Well if you can't make this happen when I can be there too bad. I'm gone for three months.
By mere coincidence I sat down to see Hallmark Mystery rerunning Remmington Steele. HOW much did 15 year old me love this show?!? Called Mom to tell her because we both crushed on Pierce (dad is rolling his eyes at me for telling her) But MAN how much did I hate (now) the premise. I had forgotten she needed Remmington because a woman wasn't taken serious and couldn't get work in her field....
I had a weird dream. I was outside (my parent's place but it didn't look like their home) picking blackberries. I went inside to get my family and friends to help. I went to put my flip flop back on and I saw a huge red spot on the top of my foot which was swollen. I asked 'does it look like my foot has cellulitis?' expecting to be told it was my imagination again.
I didn't want for an answer. I lifted my left foot and there was a grade one ulcer and degloving of my one toe. I was thinking yeah that's got going to heal. to my surprise my calf jiggled like it was filled with fluid and it was so swollen I said I need to go to the ER
The dream shifted and I was in the ER and they were trying to work on my foot but I kept kicking at them because the surgical rake was tickling me and I kept telling them to numb it better. The doc was saying there are bubbles coming out of the wound and they needed to get me to a specialist. Right about then I started waking up. I could see the light behind my curtains but couldn't get up going in and out of the dream. So weird.
It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is # 20 A song from the year you were born. Share my friends, share
( 1967 was a good year apparently )
here's the whole prompt list
( It's under here )
Water aerobics was good.
What wasn't good, trying to change my vascular surgeon/vascular testing appointments. He is now only coming down twice a month. It's probably time to switch back to Epstein (who saved my leg) and suck up the trip to Columbus once a year. But why can't I just go to Berger in Circleville if Chillicothe can't take me. It's BOTH Ohio Health (oh, he doesn't allow that) Well guess what we're waiting until August then. Oh No! You need to come. Well if you can't make this happen when I can be there too bad. I'm gone for three months.
By mere coincidence I sat down to see Hallmark Mystery rerunning Remmington Steele. HOW much did 15 year old me love this show?!? Called Mom to tell her because we both crushed on Pierce (dad is rolling his eyes at me for telling her) But MAN how much did I hate (now) the premise. I had forgotten she needed Remmington because a woman wasn't taken serious and couldn't get work in her field....
I had a weird dream. I was outside (my parent's place but it didn't look like their home) picking blackberries. I went inside to get my family and friends to help. I went to put my flip flop back on and I saw a huge red spot on the top of my foot which was swollen. I asked 'does it look like my foot has cellulitis?' expecting to be told it was my imagination again.
I didn't want for an answer. I lifted my left foot and there was a grade one ulcer and degloving of my one toe. I was thinking yeah that's got going to heal. to my surprise my calf jiggled like it was filled with fluid and it was so swollen I said I need to go to the ER
The dream shifted and I was in the ER and they were trying to work on my foot but I kept kicking at them because the surgical rake was tickling me and I kept telling them to numb it better. The doc was saying there are bubbles coming out of the wound and they needed to get me to a specialist. Right about then I started waking up. I could see the light behind my curtains but couldn't get up going in and out of the dream. So weird.
It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is # 20 A song from the year you were born. Share my friends, share
( 1967 was a good year apparently )
here's the whole prompt list
( It's under here )
Writerly Ways
Apr. 5th, 2026 11:13 pmcornerofmadness
If you celebrate, I hope you had a good day. Mine was....here I did make up some delicious lemon-rosemary lamb chops though (I know, I know but I do like that protein) Had a sugar crash out and then was dizzy. I'm supposed to do a blood pressure when that happens. I did. It gave me an error message twice. Now I'm thinking OMG it's off the chart high (vs these digital cuffs fuck up half the time) third time and it was a normal BP (thanks for the heart attack my cuff)
And I wasted a lot of time preparing for a book swap at my book store. Even got the goodreads ratings and the more books you bring the m ore tickets for $$$off at the store. Then I realize I would be double booked for this. I look to see if I can do both...and realized YES my bookstore put this event up. NO it's NOT my book store. It's in fucking Buffalo NY. Well that's a help. Fuuuuck.
So now both a book ad and a BP cuff have made me feel stupid.
Sigh. My Easter gift didn't make it. Mom got an email to tell her they ran out of stuff to fill the order. Story of my life.
Let's get on with the writerly ways. I DID write another full chapter of the new novel. I'm up to 12K. I will give another taste of the novel last (probably the last one too and as always your input is so appreciated)
I had things to say and ask but it's late, I'm feeling dumb so let me ask for help. Some authors do charity drives for this "honor" b ut I'm just going to ask. Ezio had a clowder of kittens. The only one I have named is Honeybunny. (for now) Yes, they have cats instead of something fantasy else because lazy right now.
Anyhow toss me some names. They might make the book (it's not an earth setting so pop culture stuff won't work). Thanks. How do you feel about naming characters and stuff? I struggle with it if I'm honest
Open Calls
I SHOULD have more here but I didn't think to save any from my new source and I have work to do yet tonight so you'll be seeing the usual sources
Open Calls
NonBinary Review Films (interpreted through a speculative lens)
The Dancing Griffin Press Halloween Special Horror stories set during the month of October with at least one character death (Started something for this)
Sinister Soiree: A Celebration Horror Anthology Celebrations that turn dark or horrific (I submitted to this)
Three-Lobed Burning Eye. Open speculative fiction
Emberwick Press Is Open To Novel Submissions Theme: Open themes with a focus on character driven storytelling
Genre: Contemporary, fantasy, romance, romantasy, mystery, historical fiction, horror, and thriller across MG, YA, and adult audiences
Ten Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions in April 2026
27 Literary Fiction Publishers that Accept Direct Submissions – No Agent Required
From Around the Web
Alternative Ways to Describe Character Reactions
What Bookstores Want From Traditional Publishers—and How the Bookstore Market Has Changed
Children in Horror
Creating Chemistry Between Your Characters
Using Origin Stories to Sell More Books
From Betty (who also sent me a bunch of stuff from Pintrest that I don't have time to showcase this week)
Seven Ways Jokes Can Sabotage Your Story
How Do I Write for Niche Readers?
Fights Between Protagonists
Why Writers Need to Learn How the Publishing Business Works
Descriptive Words of Wisdom
Why Criminals Believe They Are Heroes
Managing Backstory
How Does Fear Play Into Character Arc? Part One
What Your Story Problems Reveal About Your Writing Brain
Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Suppression
Why Worldbuilding Fails Without Strong Characters (and How to Fix It as a Writer)
How Writers Can Stay Consistent on Social Media Without Burnout: 9 Simple Strategies That Work
What Noir Can Teach Any Writer
Failing the Perception Check
Overlooked Tools
This is chapter three of the novel. Content Warning: set within a morgue, autopsy, mentions of sex work
( Chapter three )
The coffee shop writing time
Apr. 4th, 2026 11:07 pmcornerofmadnesswent well. What didn't is I went to Jackson twice in two days and neither time I managed to remember to go to the bank for quarters for the laundry (I'm out, guess who ain't washing clothes this weekend) and the fact that I wanted to stop at the Glazed Apple for the ceramic egg painting thing. Yay me.
Still mulling the vacation and I looked Eureka Springs AK is like 4 hours from Kansas City. If I can get a room at the Crescent hotel (haunted) I might just make THAT my vacation. Go to work conference. Do stuff at KC for a few days drive to Eureka Springs do stuff for a few days, call it a vacation. Because I'm also doing Gettysburg and Louisville too And if I have to go to Cleveland Clinic I'll make that a few days trip too because there are so many things there now that weren't when I lived there like the Rock n Roll hall of fame.
But I got a few things started short story wise. I did sign up for some open call sites on FB (did I mention that yesterday) there are a lot. I might regret this. I do wish some of my existing stories would fit other calls better but alas.
Science Saturday
3 Simple Daily Changes Could Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack And Stroke Where am I getting an extra hour for exercise I have no idea
US Cardiologists Have Just Published New Guidelines For Managing Cholesterol I really want to tackle the sleep apnea before I hit up a ton more pills
It's Official: NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Has Launched – Latest Pics, Details I wish this brought me more joy, it feels like a distraction
Native Americans invented dice and games of chance more than 12,000 years ago, archaeological study reveals
Scientists cured type 1 diabetes in mice by creating a blended immune system
Chemists make hydrogen from breadcrumbs in groundbreaking reaction that could replace some fossil fuels
Scientists discover why cancer drugs don’t work for everyone
This dangerous combo in your body could raise death risk by 83% (as I tell my students I am overweight and I am not negative about it but I have to admit it does cause some health issues)
Still mulling the vacation and I looked Eureka Springs AK is like 4 hours from Kansas City. If I can get a room at the Crescent hotel (haunted) I might just make THAT my vacation. Go to work conference. Do stuff at KC for a few days drive to Eureka Springs do stuff for a few days, call it a vacation. Because I'm also doing Gettysburg and Louisville too And if I have to go to Cleveland Clinic I'll make that a few days trip too because there are so many things there now that weren't when I lived there like the Rock n Roll hall of fame.
But I got a few things started short story wise. I did sign up for some open call sites on FB (did I mention that yesterday) there are a lot. I might regret this. I do wish some of my existing stories would fit other calls better but alas.
Science Saturday
3 Simple Daily Changes Could Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack And Stroke Where am I getting an extra hour for exercise I have no idea
US Cardiologists Have Just Published New Guidelines For Managing Cholesterol I really want to tackle the sleep apnea before I hit up a ton more pills
It's Official: NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Has Launched – Latest Pics, Details I wish this brought me more joy, it feels like a distraction
Native Americans invented dice and games of chance more than 12,000 years ago, archaeological study reveals
Scientists cured type 1 diabetes in mice by creating a blended immune system
Chemists make hydrogen from breadcrumbs in groundbreaking reaction that could replace some fossil fuels
Scientists discover why cancer drugs don’t work for everyone
This dangerous combo in your body could raise death risk by 83% (as I tell my students I am overweight and I am not negative about it but I have to admit it does cause some health issues)