the girly who shall end all girls

picked this up on Tumblr, where I think you're supposed to have people pick the questions but meh. I like this list better than the classic questionnaire I've used before

End of the year Asks

1. Song of the year? I Don’t Wanna Dance with Nobody by Sub-Radio
2. Album of the year? I don’t think I listened to a full album that was new-to-me this year. I feel like singles are bigger than ever, and between that and my not being particularly connected to drivers of new music (other than Spotify) I just don’t discover or listen to albums end-to-end.
3. Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year? I think I technically discovered Sub-Radio last year, so it would have to be Kishi Bashi. I went to his film Omoiyari at SIFF Docs Fest, kind of on a whim, and it was quite good.
4. Movie of the year? Recency bias, but god damn Godzilla Minus One is amazing. Crying at a monster movie over a dude with PTSD was definitely not on my bingo card for 2023.
5. TV show of the year? Oof. There were all the queer love stories - Our Flag Means Death, Good Omens, Interview with the Vampire. The one-two punch of Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks (and the crossover!). There was my indoctrination into dropout.tv. I think, in spite of being uneven overall (no, the musical episode wasn’t good) it would have to be Strange New Worlds.
6. Episode of tv or webisode that defined the year for you? Probably the one that’s been quoted constantly in my house since it first aired: Lower Decks “I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee”. Moopsy!
7. Favorite actor of the year? While not technically a 2023 joint, I watched it in 2023 - Eric Bogosian in Interview with the Vampire was a favorite performance.
8. Game of the year? Jedi Survivor. It’s always good to be a Jedi, and the storytelling in this one was top-notch.
9. Best month for you this year? This year was complicated. It might have been January, when I went to Disneyland with mimerki.
10. Something that made you cry this year? Well, my best friend died and that generated a lot of tears both before and after. My runner-up for “movie of the year” is Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. I encourage folks to watch it, it’s sweet and funny. But if you have seen it: I saw it after mimerki had started palliative care, and the end absolutely wrecked me. (I do not recommend ugly crying in an n95 mask, it gets hard to breathe.) And she died the next day, so yeah
11. Something you want to do again next year? If I can find the time and money, I’d love to do a quick trip to Disneyland and get C to Galaxy’s Edge. It’s really not hard to do from here and I love how walkable it is inside and out.
12. Talk about a new friend you made this year Not something I managed: first I was being very covid-cautious, then I was very sad (and busy), then I was just busy.
13. How was your birthday this year? Dismal. I had covid and lost my sense of taste for a couple weeks.
14. Favorite book you read this year? The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard. On the one hand, it’s a fantasy novel about implementing UBI, and burnout, and friendship. It’s also about someone who leaves home and is successful in ways that aren’t meaningful to their family of origin. (While I think it could have used a ruthless edit, I also think that might have stripped out most of what is good about it. It’s just a long warm bath of a book.)
15. What’s a bad habit you picked up this year? Buying coffee and a pastry way too often (because neither of us could manage to consistently plan for breakfast).
16. Post a picture from the beginning of the year [the Millennium Falcon in a spaceport setting with rock spires in the background]
17. Post a picture from the end of the year
    [the view from Kerry Park in Seattle, featuring the Space Needle and Mt Rainier]
18. A memorable meal this year? Our anniversary was a significant one and we kind of forgot about it, then managed to snag a last-minute reservation at The Herbfarm a few days after. They were absolutely brilliant with C’s dietary needs. It’s totally worth the money.
19. What’re you excited about for next year? I remembered our anniversary earlier this time, and we finally snagged a reservation for a cabin at a resort on the Pacific Coast that’s well-known for being dog friendly. Looking forward to walking the beach and/or watching the waves roll in by the fire.
20. What’s something you learned this year? When you die in the US, you become a business for tax purposes. The SSN is retired, and the estate gets an EIN just like a business.
21. What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year? My whole place of residence is new! I am sitting in front of my fireplace right now, looking at the lights of the cityscape out my window. It’s awesome
22. Favorite place you visited this year? Galaxy’s Edge. If you love Star Wars, it's a delight. (yes, I really liked Disneyland)
23. If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be? You always feel better after you get some exercise, don’t skip it.
24. Did you keep any New Year’s Resolutions? I don’t think I made any
25. Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one Currently playing Worlds Without Number with the Friday group. Our party is all from a somewhat isolated coastal island and we’re slowly exploring the wider world. I rolled randomly for pretty much everything and then crafted a character based on the stats. So he’s Buck, the butcher’s apprentice; he’s strong and kind but not very bright. I found a picture of a rugby player that I really like for him - square-headed and plain with a great smile.

five questions returns! request five from me in comments and you shall receive!

from sara:

1. Is there anything you've done to your living space in the last while that you found particularly pleasing?
in the late 90s our favorite local bookstore was a dealer for Windstone Editions, and we are a certain kind of nerds so we own several dragon and gargoyle functional pieces - bookends, candle holders, a pair of sconces. the sconces have been gathering dustsitting on a bookshelf since we moved into this apartment. as part of welcoming in-person gamers back into our home we moved some bookcases around and finally mounted the sconces on either side of the door into our bedroom and put little LED candles into them. i think we waited to put them up because we thought they were too heavy for command strips (rental rules) but they are not. i love them.

2. Do you have any morning (or waking-up-time) routines, and if so, what are they?
weekdays: stumble to kitchen, pull overnight oats from fridge. eat oats and take pills while getting dressed. due to time zone fuckery i've had to stop going in to the office, so go to desk, throw down padded mat, lift to standing height, move the keyboard plug and throw the monitor switches to move from personal to work computer. around the time i finish reading my emails and switch to catching up on Slack messages C has placed a hot caffienated beverage by my right hand.

weekends: wake up when i wake up. if early enough, walk dog with C and get breakfast along the way. (otherwise C walks dog on his own and causes breakfast to appear.) since restaurants first reopened and we wanted to intentionally support local businesses, we've gotten takeout from neighborhood bar Hattie's Hat every Saturday. on Sundays it depends - if i'm meeting varina8 at the pool i wake up, eat some cheese, throw my pool stuff together and go. if i'm home it's pastries and what-have-you from the Sunday Farmer's Market.

3. What is the best dessert?
my Mom's apple dumplings - her flaky pastry with butter and cinnamon and Northern Spy apples, preferably with some whipped cream and a cup of tea. setting aside the love and associations it's hard to say; i'm a sucker for citrus and so far i've never met a lemon bar or key lime pie that i didn't like.

4. What are you reading this weekend?
a popular history of Victorian home life by Ruth Goodman. i have the new Freya Marske but i've been dithering about starting it because i suspect i should reread the first one.

5. If you were going to buy a new pair of shoes, what kind would they be?
comfortable shoes that have a sense of style or something unique about them.

i just bought a pair of waterproof breathable pull-on chelsea boots to replace the role of my waterproof hikers with the worn-out (therefore leaky) soles. of course it has not rained since i got them so i have no idea if they are actually fit for purpose, but they are certainly comfy and look like part of a near-future SF costume.

the shoes i want to buy are the John Fluevog Starfleet boots, which are part of the uniforms for Strange New Worlds. delta on the ankle! i've been waiting to go to the store downtown to try a pair on - historically my calves have been too chonky for their tall boots but there's a stretch panel in the back and reviews on the calf sizing are inconclusive enough that i have hope.

for the Carpe Diem challenge:

Squee: Tell us about a cause you’re passionate about, or perhaps a cause that fandom introduced you to. Feel free to link to informational videos or articles where people can learn more about that or be inspired. Tell us how we can get involved and make a difference, whether through donating, volunteering, learning, changing our behaviours or thinking etc.

i can't really squee about this, but after the 2016 election i committed to donating to organizations that were working to counter immoral US policy. right now, the one to highlight is International Rescue Committee. i first learned about their resettlement services assistance when i saw This is Home at SIFF and IRC hosted a post-film reception with some of their local clients.

the US is pulling out of Afghanistan. a lot of Afghan people are trying to get out, and time is almost up.

help refugees here (links to donate, volunteer, and pressure politicians)

for the Carpe Diem challenge:

Squee: Share something beautiful, compelling, unique, impressive that everyone should see/experience. It could be a picspam of that drop dead gorgeous person, it could be your favourite painting, or a place you think everyone should have on their bucket list to visit before they die or something else entirely.

Last Stand:
(click to embiggen)

Julie Dillon was artist GoH at Norwescon a few years ago. i don't know if it's my favorite painting ever but it's the only time i've walked into an art show and said that one is mine.*

i love the color palette and the composition, and there are so many stories that spring to mind when i see the scene. the king's skin is a bit gray - is he still alive? love, yes: eros, philia, or agape? is she about to do some epic smiting, or is this the last light shining on them before every one of those weapons strike home?

i think we can all agree that she's going down fighting, motherfuckers.


*i own signed/numbered canvas print #1, which is as close as i could get to buying the original since the medium is digital.

a local shop is doing a BOGO sale, so what started as a "new pants for C" trip turned into new pants for C, two dresses and a skirt for me. one dress has bookshelves, and the other has an allover print of scientific equipment. then i was going to order tights but instead ended up with a garter belt and extra long thigh-high socks.* i've worn dresses a lot more in the last year, so i might as well have warm legs. i'm not sure why i got out of the garter habit, as someone who is both heavy and tall "one size" in tights never fits (and the color choices for things that do fit are bland). more like i got out of the skirt/dress habit and the underpinnings dwindled away as they wore out or my weight fluctuated.

i have also finally committed to preordering a pair of Bernadettes. they claim to be walkable due to the heel construction. (if it's really true American Duchess may take a lot of my money.)

Several folks in my circle are doing the Snowflake Challenge, and #12 "resurrect an old meme" amused me. so here's a real blast from the past:

you are yellow #FFFF00

Your dominant hues are red and green, so you're definately not afraid to get in and stir things up. You have no time for most people's concerns, you'd rather analyze with your head than be held back by some random "gut feeling". Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

*the fabulous Sock Dreams is out of stock on A LOT of things, even ones that are made in the US. pretty sure supply chains are fucked.

Meme time! rosefox gave me three things that I may or may not know or care about:

1. Cabbage, or cabbages.

my parents don't like cooked cabbage and so we never ate it at home when i was growing up therefore i am still learning to eat it.
my favorite use of cabbage is in Lion dance (according to the internet some places use lettuce instead and wow that is so much easier than cabbage) where the lion "eats" the greens that are tied up high with the red envelope that contains an honorarium for the dancers. the person in the head has to tear up the cabbage and spread it around like the lion is a messy eater.
cabbage is closely related to kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and turnips in addition to the perhaps more obvious brussels sprouts.


2. The Mona Lisa.

is very small and dark. it was kind of a disappointment to see it in person. i'd rather look at the Prado copy which has been restored and gives a better idea of the color and detail of the painting.
i dearly love the Mona Lisa cards (Excellent Forgery, Real Thing, Obvious Forgery) in Chrononauts and the Mona Lisa plot in City of Death.


3. Natural gas.

it's not common in western WA, which continues to make me sad. i don't really want the responsibilities of homeownership (and it's not financially possible right now anyway) but i definitely want to have a gas range again and that's probably the only way. yes, it's a fossil fuel and our electricity here is cheap and from sustainable sources and electric stoves suck.
natural gas is cheap and common back east; much more now than when i lived there because of fracking. Pennsylvania still doesn't have a severance tax on gas... a billion dollars of missing revenue that should be getting spent on the truly shitty and impoverished areas where the wells are. meanwhile the well water is poisoned and the roads are destroyed by heavy machinery.

Anyone want three things?

(is this my new five questions? mmmmmmaybe.)

via musyc:

1. Comment to this entry saying 'Ooo Shiney!' and I will pick 3 of your icons/userpics.
2. Make an entry in your own journal (or just reply if you prefer) and talk about the icons I picked!

musyc chose:

image of Rachel Bloom in a cactus dress, looking pensive.
keywords: arty, cactus, CxG kernels

this one is relatively new, i made it after abandoning my LJ to the Russian TOS. i use it for artiness and surrealism, sometimes for being a fashion victim or being prickly or awkward.
it's a still from the big song in the Craxy Ex-Girlfriend season 2 opener, Love Kernels.( video clip )


image of a US "Don't Walk" sign that has been vandalized to resemble ASL for "I love you"
keywords: don't walk/i love you
this was an actual Don't Walk sign in Seattle. it was across from the old Capitol Hill Bauhaus Coffee (for folks who know where that was). that sort of charming vandalism is something that used to be Very Seattle. IIRC solcita took the original picture. most often used when i want to say "I love you" or "I love this" or otherwise express support.


image of a Japanese condom label featuring koalas wearing little condom hats
keywords: bears
back in the day, someone linked to an article with a gallery of charming Japanese condom label art. i loved how sweet and wholesome this image was. this is an icon that is sadly underused, but when i remember it comes out for discussions of birth control, STIs, and sex education (and sometimes bears).

Tell me an interesting fact about yourself and I will reply with an interesting fact about myself that I think of when I read yours. It may be entirely related, or only related in the weirdest, broadest definitions.

Meme provided by journalmemes.

stolen from promethia_tenk:

1) My college roommate once memorably said of Bono: "I don't know if I want to do him, or be him." This struck me immediately as the most perfect cross-axis metric of fannish devotion. Who hits you square in the middle of the do them/be them scale?

2) What's your favorite U2 song?

3) I consider driving on the right road to the right piece of music one of life's supreme pleasures. What's a phenomenal music + transportation experience you have had?

4) When you fantasize about running away, where do you want to go?

5) What's a new food you've tried recently? Was it good?

( my answers under the cut )

how about you?

Reply to this post with "Oh, sod it, go on then" "hold my beer" and I will pick three of your icons for you to talk about in your own journal; please then keep the meme going by making this offer on your post.

miss_s_b asked me about:
(turns out all three of these are ones that i formatted into icons myself. the art isn't mine.)


this was one of my three original icons on livejournal (three was the number of icons available to a free user at the time). the image is my favorite cover art for The Left Hand of Darkness. it's one of my favorite science fiction covers, period. it's striking and evocative without spoiling the content of the book; i like the image on its own, but i like it better in association with the book.* it's my icon for being of two minds, and for bisexuality, and sometimes for being ice cold.


this is my "friendly computer" icon - for trying to be helpful with tech and (mostly) benign computer-related things. it's the Banana Jr 6000 from Bloom County - the friendly cartoon computer of my childhood.


hate/lust comes from Belkar's internal monologue in this Order of the Stick comic. i am most likely to use it when i both love and hate something/feel guilty pleasure, but also if we're talking about something in the list (especially "That Bilbo Tool").**



* in writing this i realized that i have no idea who the artist is, and a cursory google isn't telling me :/

**i am the only woman at the table in my weekly tabletop RPG game, but Belkar the murderous halfling ranger is closer to my usual play style than Haley the token woman in the party thief.