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State of the blahs
May. 5th, 2026 08:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oursinHave not been sleeping terribly well lately, thus the blahs.
Not sure why this is, because it is not lower back kicking up etc (yay physio) but more that annoying thing of Morpheus seeming very skittish.
Possibly the whole life-admin stuff that going on at the moment? (2nd appt with our Person of Law next week, also appt to Register Our Intentions.)
Perchance the Even Tenor of Our Ways is just a leeetle disturbed.
Still, am doing my best to pull together Something Entertaining and Instructive on Condoms and related matters, which is largely remixing stuff which I do already have, but not entirely.
Am a bit annoyed that I was informed that I could anticipate proofs of a review today but so far no can haz, would have liked to get that out of the way.
this notebook is like if you poured the contents of my brain into a bucket and then stirred
May. 5th, 2026 11:26 amrunpunkrunI was flipping through an old notebook looking for notes on the Pinto fic I'm revising, and found, on the front of a page with Pinto notes on the back, the following:
Had a dream I was stuck in a burning elevator with Zachary Quinto and I had to save us all by myself because he had just come out of therapy and was useless.
hashtag relatable
but jesus zachary help a girl out
those mob guys who blew up the elevator
probably weren't after me
I'm guessing that last part was due to reading too many Pinto fics where Zach's in the mob.
Then there's some css. This notebook is truly an adventure.
Had a dream I was stuck in a burning elevator with Zachary Quinto and I had to save us all by myself because he had just come out of therapy and was useless.
hashtag relatable
but jesus zachary help a girl out
those mob guys who blew up the elevator
probably weren't after me
I'm guessing that last part was due to reading too many Pinto fics where Zach's in the mob.
Then there's some css. This notebook is truly an adventure.
Fancake's Theme for May: Journey & Travel
May. 5th, 2026 07:34 amrunpunkrun
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fancake's theme for May is Journey & Travel! This theme is for fanworks that focus on the journey/travel of it all. That could mean a work that focuses more on the journey than the destination, one where the travel destination is a big part of the work, or, as always, a secret third thing!If you have any questions about this theme, or the comm, come talk to me!
In which the 1920s lesbians live happily ever after
May. 5th, 2026 02:04 pmspiralsheep- Books read to end of April 2026, part half of two: 45
39. Paying Guests, by EF Benson, 1929, novel, 4/5
Not as good as Mapp and Lucia, obv, but a similar comedy of manners on a smaller scale and featuring the residents of a superior guesthouse in a 1920s spa town, including far too much detail about the game of bridge, a pop at the cult of Christian Science, a grumpy retired colonel, and happy lesbians ever after. This is a 3.5/5 read for me but I've awarded Benson 4/5 for effort in successfully publishing a lesbian romance with a happy ending in 1929.
I borrowed what appears to be an entirely unauthorised reprint, which contains no copyright information, and fails to credit the cover image, and has a blurb on the back that sounds as if it was written by an international English speaker:
"The story is set around the Wentworth mention" [sic - mansion / pension?] "and its owners and lodgers, usual and recognizable [sp.] Benson's characters [sic]. They are quite unlikable, mainly upper-middle-class English people who came to the Spa to cure their body illnesses [sic], but also to fill the time and escape boredom despite having no passions, interests and work." [/don't hold back, just tell it like it is, lmao]
41. Secret Lives, by EF Benson, 1932, novel, 5/5
If Paying Guests is actually The Lesbian One then this is almost The Gender-Swapping One. A working class spinster is moving up the social ladder through her own hard work and with the assistance of her profit-focussed German publisher, her unWodehousian butler, and a newspaper gossip columnist who isn't what s/he seems. Raises Benson's very versatile flag in territory somewhere between his own Mapp and Lucia, the Jeeves stories, and popular "women's" fiction. This is subtler, more humane, and less viciously satirical than Benson's in/famous earlier novels about social climbing. The author amuses himself, and us, by repeatedly showing that lowbrow populist romantic adventure novels are beloved of socially useful types such as tradesmen and servants, while being mocked by those of a more exclusive social class who aspire to a higher culture despite failing to put in the work necessary for intellectual achievement. There is a perhaps surprising depth in this exploration of the value and ethics of literature, but Benson's novels are often more complex than I remember them and sometimes deeper too. I continue to admire his intricate plotting.
The fictional novel title Julian Beltravers is, of course, a parody of Ernest Maltravers (earnest bad-traverse) by Edward Bulwer Lytton.
Heart's Queen is possibly Queen of Hearts by Wilkie Collins, but there are other contenders, although: "I’m sick to death of novels with an earnest purpose. I’m sick to death of outbursts of eloquence, and large-minded philanthropy, and graphic descriptions, and unsparing anatomy of the human heart, and all that sort of thing."
Couldn't identify Amor Vincit, unless it's Robert Benchley's Love Conquers All which I don't know enough to judge, but love of various kinds does conquer in Secret Lives. And Benchley's humour could have appealed to Benson, "After an author has been dead for some time, it becomes increasingly difficult for his publishers to get out a new book by him each year."
( Three quotes )
39. Paying Guests, by EF Benson, 1929, novel, 4/5
Not as good as Mapp and Lucia, obv, but a similar comedy of manners on a smaller scale and featuring the residents of a superior guesthouse in a 1920s spa town, including far too much detail about the game of bridge, a pop at the cult of Christian Science, a grumpy retired colonel, and happy lesbians ever after. This is a 3.5/5 read for me but I've awarded Benson 4/5 for effort in successfully publishing a lesbian romance with a happy ending in 1929.
I borrowed what appears to be an entirely unauthorised reprint, which contains no copyright information, and fails to credit the cover image, and has a blurb on the back that sounds as if it was written by an international English speaker:
"The story is set around the Wentworth mention" [sic - mansion / pension?] "and its owners and lodgers, usual and recognizable [sp.] Benson's characters [sic]. They are quite unlikable, mainly upper-middle-class English people who came to the Spa to cure their body illnesses [sic], but also to fill the time and escape boredom despite having no passions, interests and work." [/don't hold back, just tell it like it is, lmao]
41. Secret Lives, by EF Benson, 1932, novel, 5/5
If Paying Guests is actually The Lesbian One then this is almost The Gender-Swapping One. A working class spinster is moving up the social ladder through her own hard work and with the assistance of her profit-focussed German publisher, her unWodehousian butler, and a newspaper gossip columnist who isn't what s/he seems. Raises Benson's very versatile flag in territory somewhere between his own Mapp and Lucia, the Jeeves stories, and popular "women's" fiction. This is subtler, more humane, and less viciously satirical than Benson's in/famous earlier novels about social climbing. The author amuses himself, and us, by repeatedly showing that lowbrow populist romantic adventure novels are beloved of socially useful types such as tradesmen and servants, while being mocked by those of a more exclusive social class who aspire to a higher culture despite failing to put in the work necessary for intellectual achievement. There is a perhaps surprising depth in this exploration of the value and ethics of literature, but Benson's novels are often more complex than I remember them and sometimes deeper too. I continue to admire his intricate plotting.
The fictional novel title Julian Beltravers is, of course, a parody of Ernest Maltravers (earnest bad-traverse) by Edward Bulwer Lytton.
Heart's Queen is possibly Queen of Hearts by Wilkie Collins, but there are other contenders, although: "I’m sick to death of novels with an earnest purpose. I’m sick to death of outbursts of eloquence, and large-minded philanthropy, and graphic descriptions, and unsparing anatomy of the human heart, and all that sort of thing."
Couldn't identify Amor Vincit, unless it's Robert Benchley's Love Conquers All which I don't know enough to judge, but love of various kinds does conquer in Secret Lives. And Benchley's humour could have appealed to Benson, "After an author has been dead for some time, it becomes increasingly difficult for his publishers to get out a new book by him each year."
( Three quotes )
Eating cereal, remembering the sky
May. 5th, 2026 12:03 amsovayWith great disgruntlement, Hestia submitted to the invasion of her sovereign space as I cleaned and restocked the pantry, disposing in the process of many of the shredded paper bags in which she had been pleased to nest and very unfairly folding the unshredded ones into the indispensable bag of bags, out of reach of the mighty paw of kitten. I have been so ill for so long that I have been barely cooking for myself and tired of it: nothing is superabundant, but groceries were included among the errands I spent my day running. The shelves tidily contain cornmeal and jam and tinned fish and soup. spatch organized his ramen. When I have finished cleaning the counters, I will be able to bake something. I just heard a train whistle blowing in the night, which always makes me think of Tom Waits' "Gun Street Girl" (1985). Someday I will eat a seaweed cheese.
spatch organized his ramen. When I have finished cleaning the counters, I will be able to bake something. I just heard a train whistle blowing in the night, which always makes me think of Tom Waits' "Gun Street Girl" (1985). Someday I will eat a seaweed cheese.perpetually backlogged
May. 4th, 2026 05:19 pmkareilaI'm increasingly bogged down in a mindset where if I didn't do a thing yesterday, or the day before that, or the day before that... it doesn't matter if I don't do it today either. There's always tomorrow.
The only areas where I've been consistently making progress and meeting deadlines are with yarn crafting and book reading. For the latter, I set a goal of getting my number of checked-out library books under 5, which I did last week, and rereading the most recent Murderbot story, which I just now finished. The new one comes out tomorrow. Then I'm going to reread at least the end of the most recent Dungeon Crawler Carl book, because the next installment in that series comes out on the 12th, and that's a big reason why I haven't been in a rush yet to cancel my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
I had been making good progress on working through my backlog of podcast episodes when I was driving Connor an hour each way to school twice a week, but now that he's home until August, I have to remember to find time for them while I'm sitting around the house. Otherwise I'll end up eight months behind again.
Will had gotten me started playing the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door that came out nearly two years ago, but a couple of days ago he disappeared into the new Tomodachi Life game, so it'll probably be a while before he relinquishes the Switch. Meanwhile, Connor has taken more-or-less permanent custody of the Steam Deck. I saw that there was a new LEGO Batman game coming out soon, but it appears to require upgrading either the Switch or the PS4, and that doesn't seem worth the expense and hassle as long as there are lots of other games in the house I haven't finished.
My local friends are excited about the new Mandalorian movie coming out later this month, but I never found time to watch any episodes of the show, so I would be going in blind if I went to see it with them, and I hate doing that. I don't suppose anyone has created a condensed recap?
I'm really glad that I opted out of this year's Carmina Burana performance; apparently it's been a total shitshow behind the scenes. I did get a free ticket from H&P to attend one of the concerts this week, so hopefully it will come together at the last minute.
The only areas where I've been consistently making progress and meeting deadlines are with yarn crafting and book reading. For the latter, I set a goal of getting my number of checked-out library books under 5, which I did last week, and rereading the most recent Murderbot story, which I just now finished. The new one comes out tomorrow. Then I'm going to reread at least the end of the most recent Dungeon Crawler Carl book, because the next installment in that series comes out on the 12th, and that's a big reason why I haven't been in a rush yet to cancel my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
I had been making good progress on working through my backlog of podcast episodes when I was driving Connor an hour each way to school twice a week, but now that he's home until August, I have to remember to find time for them while I'm sitting around the house. Otherwise I'll end up eight months behind again.
Will had gotten me started playing the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door that came out nearly two years ago, but a couple of days ago he disappeared into the new Tomodachi Life game, so it'll probably be a while before he relinquishes the Switch. Meanwhile, Connor has taken more-or-less permanent custody of the Steam Deck. I saw that there was a new LEGO Batman game coming out soon, but it appears to require upgrading either the Switch or the PS4, and that doesn't seem worth the expense and hassle as long as there are lots of other games in the house I haven't finished.
My local friends are excited about the new Mandalorian movie coming out later this month, but I never found time to watch any episodes of the show, so I would be going in blind if I went to see it with them, and I hate doing that. I don't suppose anyone has created a condensed recap?
I'm really glad that I opted out of this year's Carmina Burana performance; apparently it's been a total shitshow behind the scenes. I did get a free ticket from H&P to attend one of the concerts this week, so hopefully it will come together at the last minute.
These are all fairly depressing, sorry
May. 4th, 2026 05:44 pmoursinSyphilis cases in expectant mothers have dramatically risen since the pandemic (in the USA) and there is consequently a rise in congenital syphilis:
can result in a range of negative outcomes, the most serious of which is miscarriage or stillbirth. If the fetus survives, long-term developmental delays, blindness, hearing loss, permanent teeth and bone malformation, heart defects and rashes can occur. Symptoms of congenital syphilis can happen immediately at birth, or they may not be recognized until the child is over 2 years old, when molars erupt, or as bones grow and the changes become more pronounced.
Congenital syphilis is treatable with antibiotics, which will stop progression of the disease but cannot reverse any negative outcomes that have already occurred.
***
And will this once more become a common tale? Telling abortion stories: The life of Florence P. Evans (1913–1935)
***
This is well creepy: ‘It ruined my night’: photographers accused of targeting women at St Andrews May Dip: 'Students taking part in university’s annual ritual say images of them in swimwear are being published without consent in national newspapers':
In recent years this quirky ritual has become a target for agency and freelance photographers looking to cash in on images of students in bikinis, including some who camp out overnight on the East Sands dunes near the Fife coastal path.
april booklog
May. 4th, 2026 02:53 pmwychwood( 61. The Water Outlaws - S L Huang ) a fun adventure, and I did enjoy all the warrior ladies.
( Four late Chalet School books - Elinor M Brent-Dyer ) My beloved Chalet School, always a pleasure.
( 63. The Song of the Cell - Siddhartha Mukherjee ) More than I ever knew there was to know about cells; this was a really interesting overview.
( 64. Bang Bang Bodhisattva - Aubrey Wood ) I think this was well done, but I didn't enjoy it very much? I do want more cyberpunk, though, so I'm not sorry I tried it.
( 65. Death of the Author - Nnedi Okorafor ) I had a lot of thoughts about this book but I'm not sure how much I liked it.
And that was the last of my batch of books! I picked a whole new set and started all over again.
( 67. Valor's Choice - Tanya Huff ) Huff is a good writer, and I feel like she could have done something much more interesting. This is competent but... a bit dull?
( 68. The Science of Racism - Keon West ) This is brilliant and I wish there were more books taking this approach of just absolutely drowning the reader in facts until it becomes impossible to overlook them.
( 69. Tempests and Slaughter - Tamora Pierce ) Not her top work, but very enjoyable; I'm sorry the sequels haven't come out.
( 70. Reflections - Diana Wynne Jones ) DWJ was an interesting person who thought in interesting ways about her work, and I really enjoyed all of that; the rest was at the very least entertaining.
( 71. Grave Secrets - Alice James ) On one level this was quite fun, but on another I just had... far too many unanswered questions. Don't think I'll be reading further.
( 73. The Complete English Poems - John Donne ) I like Donne much less than I did before I started reading the entire collection instead of just some of the good bits!
( 74. Smokescreen - Dick Francis ) I didn't find this nearly as propulsive as usual, but it was still definitely enjoyable.
( 75. The Apex Book of World SF - ed. Lavie Tidhar ) Overall a disappointing collection; I'm hoping the later volumes will be better.
( 76. Hons and Rebels - Jessica Mitford ) Mitford seems like an interesting person, but really I think we should abolish aristocracy.
( 78. Starcruiser Shenandoah: Division of the Spoils - Roland J Green ) I'm feeling a bit ambivalent about this series, but also determined to find out how it ends!
( 79. Where We Left Off - Roan Parrish ) I kind of feel like this happy ending is a disaster waiting to happen, but also neither of them is going to let go for long enough to really end the relationship, so... I guess this is the best result available?
( 80. The Husbands - Holly Gramazio ) This was an interesting book, but it had a lot of different things going on, and I wasn't entirely convinced that it fully cohered. I did enjoy it, though!
( 81. Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin ) Really well-done but miserable! Rosemary deserved better.
( 82. Fairy Cat - Hisa Takano ) The tiny cat is super cute, but I kept waiting for something to actually happen, and nothing ever does, really!
( 83. The Legends of the Jews volume 1 - Louis Ginzberg ) An interesting exploration of some of the folklore that accreted around the Torah, but mostly rather depressing on human nature.
( 84. This Rough Magic - Mary Stewart ) Solidly enjoyable.
( 85. Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey ) Surprisingly enjoyable, despite the... everything! I can see why I liked these books so much as a teenager.
( 86. The Children of Ash and Elm - Neil Price ) Really outstanding overview of Viking history, deliciously crunchy but also very approachable.
( 87. Quentin Durward - Walter Scott ) I used to enjoy Scott; this one didn't feel as much fun as I remembered, though.
( 88. Choices - LA Hall ) I'll keep reading these as long as she cares to keep writing them, honestly.
( Four late Chalet School books - Elinor M Brent-Dyer ) My beloved Chalet School, always a pleasure.
( 63. The Song of the Cell - Siddhartha Mukherjee ) More than I ever knew there was to know about cells; this was a really interesting overview.
( 64. Bang Bang Bodhisattva - Aubrey Wood ) I think this was well done, but I didn't enjoy it very much? I do want more cyberpunk, though, so I'm not sorry I tried it.
( 65. Death of the Author - Nnedi Okorafor ) I had a lot of thoughts about this book but I'm not sure how much I liked it.
And that was the last of my batch of books! I picked a whole new set and started all over again.
( 67. Valor's Choice - Tanya Huff ) Huff is a good writer, and I feel like she could have done something much more interesting. This is competent but... a bit dull?
( 68. The Science of Racism - Keon West ) This is brilliant and I wish there were more books taking this approach of just absolutely drowning the reader in facts until it becomes impossible to overlook them.
( 69. Tempests and Slaughter - Tamora Pierce ) Not her top work, but very enjoyable; I'm sorry the sequels haven't come out.
( 70. Reflections - Diana Wynne Jones ) DWJ was an interesting person who thought in interesting ways about her work, and I really enjoyed all of that; the rest was at the very least entertaining.
( 71. Grave Secrets - Alice James ) On one level this was quite fun, but on another I just had... far too many unanswered questions. Don't think I'll be reading further.
( 73. The Complete English Poems - John Donne ) I like Donne much less than I did before I started reading the entire collection instead of just some of the good bits!
( 74. Smokescreen - Dick Francis ) I didn't find this nearly as propulsive as usual, but it was still definitely enjoyable.
( 75. The Apex Book of World SF - ed. Lavie Tidhar ) Overall a disappointing collection; I'm hoping the later volumes will be better.
( 76. Hons and Rebels - Jessica Mitford ) Mitford seems like an interesting person, but really I think we should abolish aristocracy.
( 78. Starcruiser Shenandoah: Division of the Spoils - Roland J Green ) I'm feeling a bit ambivalent about this series, but also determined to find out how it ends!
( 79. Where We Left Off - Roan Parrish ) I kind of feel like this happy ending is a disaster waiting to happen, but also neither of them is going to let go for long enough to really end the relationship, so... I guess this is the best result available?
( 80. The Husbands - Holly Gramazio ) This was an interesting book, but it had a lot of different things going on, and I wasn't entirely convinced that it fully cohered. I did enjoy it, though!
( 81. Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin ) Really well-done but miserable! Rosemary deserved better.
( 82. Fairy Cat - Hisa Takano ) The tiny cat is super cute, but I kept waiting for something to actually happen, and nothing ever does, really!
( 83. The Legends of the Jews volume 1 - Louis Ginzberg ) An interesting exploration of some of the folklore that accreted around the Torah, but mostly rather depressing on human nature.
( 84. This Rough Magic - Mary Stewart ) Solidly enjoyable.
( 85. Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey ) Surprisingly enjoyable, despite the... everything! I can see why I liked these books so much as a teenager.
( 86. The Children of Ash and Elm - Neil Price ) Really outstanding overview of Viking history, deliciously crunchy but also very approachable.
( 87. Quentin Durward - Walter Scott ) I used to enjoy Scott; this one didn't feel as much fun as I remembered, though.
( 88. Choices - LA Hall ) I'll keep reading these as long as she cares to keep writing them, honestly.
Characters we have met in real life: Mansfield Park
May. 4th, 2026 12:44 pmnineveh_ukTom Bertram on being upbraided by his father for getting into debt to such an extent that his extremely wealthy father can't get him it out of it without selling the living promised to his younger son.
“I blush for you, Tom,” said [Sir Thomas], in his most dignified manner; “I blush for the expedient which I am driven on, and I trust I may pity your feelings as a brother on the occasion. You have robbed Edmund for ten, twenty, thirty years, perhaps for life, of more than half the income which ought to be his. It may hereafter be in my power, or in yours (I hope it will), to procure him better preferment; but it must not be forgotten that no benefit of that sort would have been beyond his natural claims on us, and that nothing can, in fact, be an equivalent for the certain advantage which he is now obliged to forego through the urgency of your debts.”
Tom listened with some shame and some sorrow; but escaping as quickly as possible, could soon with cheerful selfishness reflect, 1st, that he had not been half so much in debt as some of his friends; 2dly, that his father had made a most tiresome piece of work of it; and, 3dly, that the future incumbent, whoever he might be, would, in all probability, die very soon.
We've all met Tom. We've probably all been Tom to some extent, but usually aged more about 5 than 25. Unfortunately, one can think of people who retain this characteristic many decades later in life.
It's also interesting to see the ordinal adverbs not spelt out as "firstly" etc, which one would expect from a modern novel.
Anyway, I have just restarted reading Mansfield Park. It's been well over a decade since I last did, and Austen seemed a good option for my current project of making an effort to read more for relaxation.
“I blush for you, Tom,” said [Sir Thomas], in his most dignified manner; “I blush for the expedient which I am driven on, and I trust I may pity your feelings as a brother on the occasion. You have robbed Edmund for ten, twenty, thirty years, perhaps for life, of more than half the income which ought to be his. It may hereafter be in my power, or in yours (I hope it will), to procure him better preferment; but it must not be forgotten that no benefit of that sort would have been beyond his natural claims on us, and that nothing can, in fact, be an equivalent for the certain advantage which he is now obliged to forego through the urgency of your debts.”
Tom listened with some shame and some sorrow; but escaping as quickly as possible, could soon with cheerful selfishness reflect, 1st, that he had not been half so much in debt as some of his friends; 2dly, that his father had made a most tiresome piece of work of it; and, 3dly, that the future incumbent, whoever he might be, would, in all probability, die very soon.
We've all met Tom. We've probably all been Tom to some extent, but usually aged more about 5 than 25. Unfortunately, one can think of people who retain this characteristic many decades later in life.
It's also interesting to see the ordinal adverbs not spelt out as "firstly" etc, which one would expect from a modern novel.
Anyway, I have just restarted reading Mansfield Park. It's been well over a decade since I last did, and Austen seemed a good option for my current project of making an effort to read more for relaxation.
Like a sprig of yarrow caught in the dark
May. 3rd, 2026 09:18 pmsovayMy poem "Gramarye" has been accepted by Not One of Us. As indicated by the title, it bears some influence from Susan Cooper. The rest was influenced by anger and the sea. I am coming up on twenty-five years as a published author and it started with this pocket-sized black-and-white 'zine. I always encourage writer-type persons of my acquaintaince to send them fiction and poetry.
I regretfully conclude that I am not the target audience for Elizabeth Myers' Mrs. Christopher (1946) when its its banger of a premise—whether the three witnesses to the shooting of a blackmailer will turn in their benefactor of a little old lady who pulled the trigger when the reward is £500—plays out as a Christian thought experiment of forgiveness and love in which there is no suspense after all except for the punch line of the verdict. Its tempted witnesses are not psychologically unbelievable and their different circumstances are drawn in well-written detail, but taken all together they feel like a rigged deck. I am not sure whether I should try the film it was adapted into, Marc Allégret's Blackmailed (1951). On a shallower note, the author had an incredible face in her short life. I was glad to read that she bonded with Eleanor Farjeon.
Well, actually, there are quite a few noir thrillers told from the perspective of a woman, but Elisabeth Sanxay Holding's The Blank Wall (1947) may have been my first, too, through its screen translation of Max Ophüls' The Reckless Moment (1949), and I like the cover choice of Jo Cain's New York Harbor (c. 1940) a lot.
I regretfully conclude that I am not the target audience for Elizabeth Myers' Mrs. Christopher (1946) when its its banger of a premise—whether the three witnesses to the shooting of a blackmailer will turn in their benefactor of a little old lady who pulled the trigger when the reward is £500—plays out as a Christian thought experiment of forgiveness and love in which there is no suspense after all except for the punch line of the verdict. Its tempted witnesses are not psychologically unbelievable and their different circumstances are drawn in well-written detail, but taken all together they feel like a rigged deck. I am not sure whether I should try the film it was adapted into, Marc Allégret's Blackmailed (1951). On a shallower note, the author had an incredible face in her short life. I was glad to read that she bonded with Eleanor Farjeon.
Well, actually, there are quite a few noir thrillers told from the perspective of a woman, but Elisabeth Sanxay Holding's The Blank Wall (1947) may have been my first, too, through its screen translation of Max Ophüls' The Reckless Moment (1949), and I like the cover choice of Jo Cain's New York Harbor (c. 1940) a lot.
Culinary
May. 3rd, 2026 07:06 pmoursinLast week's bread held out remarkably.
Friday night supper: penne with Peppadew roasted red peppers in brine whooshed in the blender and heated.
Saturday breakfast rolls: eclectic vanilla.
Today's lunch: diced lamb shoulder casseroled in white wine with baby carrots, chopped leeks, bay leaf, thyme, white peppercorns and salt, with a sliced potato topping (blanched in boiling water for 5 mins, brushed with melted butter, and seasoned with salt and pepper, put on for the final 45 mins or so), served with white-braised fine green beans and baby courgettes.
Am I lost inside my mind?
May. 2nd, 2026 11:20 pmsovayIn the afternoon when the overcast cleared, spatch and I went walking down to the Mystic and I photographed a whole lot of flowers, of which I was happiest with the ones that came out like abstracts.
( I hear the river say your name. )
Physically I am just pretty miserable, but the lilac is breaking out in real bloom and Rob has been showing me potato-quality Deep Space Nine (1993–99). I had tarragon-sautéed mushrooms and zucchini for dinner.
spatch and I went walking down to the Mystic and I photographed a whole lot of flowers, of which I was happiest with the ones that came out like abstracts.( I hear the river say your name. )
Physically I am just pretty miserable, but the lilac is breaking out in real bloom and Rob has been showing me potato-quality Deep Space Nine (1993–99). I had tarragon-sautéed mushrooms and zucchini for dinner.
Daredevil: Close to the Mark (Jessica/Matt, Jim/Blair, R)
May. 2nd, 2026 08:01 pmesteefee Close to the Mark (24037 words) by esteefee
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: daredevil - Fandom, The Sentinel (TV), The Defenders (Marvel TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jessica Jones/Matt Murdock, Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Characters: Matt Murdock, Jim Ellison, Jessica Jones, Blair Sandburg, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Luke Cage, Danny Rand, Jack Kelso (The Sentinel), Lee Brackett (The Sentinel), Stick (Daredevil), Claire Temple, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Sentinels & Guides, Goes AU from Midland Circle, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Little bit of Foggy Bashing, Hating on daredevilling is a crime in this household, Medical Torture, Kidnapping, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, (Stick), Canon-Typical Violence, No beta we die like Elektra (repeatedly and under mysterious circumstances)
Summary:
Paranoia is in Matt’s blood, but lately he’s been feeling something new, a constant, creeping awareness at the edge of his senses. Someone or something is hounding him without rest, and whoever it is seems to know Matt is Daredevil. Foggy and Karen are pretty much sick of the trouble Daredevil brings, and Matt has no one to turn to. Or does he?
This story goes AU after Midland Circle.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: daredevil - Fandom, The Sentinel (TV), The Defenders (Marvel TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jessica Jones/Matt Murdock, Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Characters: Matt Murdock, Jim Ellison, Jessica Jones, Blair Sandburg, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Luke Cage, Danny Rand, Jack Kelso (The Sentinel), Lee Brackett (The Sentinel), Stick (Daredevil), Claire Temple, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Sentinels & Guides, Goes AU from Midland Circle, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Little bit of Foggy Bashing, Hating on daredevilling is a crime in this household, Medical Torture, Kidnapping, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, (Stick), Canon-Typical Violence, No beta we die like Elektra (repeatedly and under mysterious circumstances)
Summary:
Paranoia is in Matt’s blood, but lately he’s been feeling something new, a constant, creeping awareness at the edge of his senses. Someone or something is hounding him without rest, and whoever it is seems to know Matt is Daredevil. Foggy and Karen are pretty much sick of the trouble Daredevil brings, and Matt has no one to turn to. Or does he?
This story goes AU after Midland Circle.
one two three collapse
May. 2nd, 2026 10:02 pmwychwoodYesterday was exhausting. Errands are so tiring! I did a day in the office, then bought two birthday cards for my niblings on the way to the station; once I got off the train, I collected the prescriptions I'd forgotten I'd ordered ten days earlier, then took the bus three stops down the road to collect the furniture oil I'd reserved at Wickes. Then I waited 35 minutes with my heavy tins for the every-seven-minute bus back, changed over and waited for a second bus home, and finally made it to my flat only one hour after collecting them.
That left me 45 minutes before I needed to go out again for choir practice at St N for next week's Matins, and I decided that I needed to lie very still rather than e.g. unpacking my bag, making dinner, taking my jacket and boots off, etc. I did eventually drag myself up and out, went to the choir practice, bought some chips for tea, finally picked up my new prescription swimming goggles from my neighbour the optician, and came home, before finally collapsing for the weekend at about 21:00. I was in bed falling asleep over my book before 22:00.
However! That was lots of items ticked off the list. Now I just need to take approx one million follow-up actions and also do all the non-errand items. But next time I go swimming I will be able to see things, and I'm very excited about it - my current pair have completely lost their anti-fog and it's a toss-up whether I can see more with them on or off...
That left me 45 minutes before I needed to go out again for choir practice at St N for next week's Matins, and I decided that I needed to lie very still rather than e.g. unpacking my bag, making dinner, taking my jacket and boots off, etc. I did eventually drag myself up and out, went to the choir practice, bought some chips for tea, finally picked up my new prescription swimming goggles from my neighbour the optician, and came home, before finally collapsing for the weekend at about 21:00. I was in bed falling asleep over my book before 22:00.
However! That was lots of items ticked off the list. Now I just need to take approx one million follow-up actions and also do all the non-errand items. But next time I go swimming I will be able to see things, and I'm very excited about it - my current pair have completely lost their anti-fog and it's a toss-up whether I can see more with them on or off...
nadine v.2 for tabula rasa
May. 3rd, 2026 03:12 ammanual posting in dreamwidthlayoutsTitle: Nadine v.2
Credit to:pagans
Base style: Tabula Rasa
Type: CSS
Best resolution: 1024x768 and higher
Tested in: firefox, chrome
Features: minimalist, single column, DIY background if desired
( installation )
Credit to:
pagansBase style: Tabula Rasa
Type: CSS
Best resolution: 1024x768 and higher
Tested in: firefox, chrome
Features: minimalist, single column, DIY background if desired
( installation )