Gardening
Oct. 1st, 2026 04:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithWild tomatoes reveal hidden genetic secrets of better flavor
Wild tomatoes reveal gene switches that shape fruit color, sugar, bitterness, and aroma - offering clues for better breeding.
This is true. Commercial tomatoes are bred for convenience and lose most of their appeal in the process.
You have better options. Heirloom, open-pollinated, and landrace tomatoes have higher genetic diversity, more different traits, and often better flavor. Some nurseries sell those, and others actually specialize in tomatoes where you can find hundreds of obscure varieties. You can also develop your own landraces.
( Read more... )
Wild tomatoes reveal gene switches that shape fruit color, sugar, bitterness, and aroma - offering clues for better breeding.
This is true. Commercial tomatoes are bred for convenience and lose most of their appeal in the process.
You have better options. Heirloom, open-pollinated, and landrace tomatoes have higher genetic diversity, more different traits, and often better flavor. Some nurseries sell those, and others actually specialize in tomatoes where you can find hundreds of obscure varieties. You can also develop your own landraces.
( Read more... )
If the weather's going to continue nice I think I'll wear my shorts to work
Oct. 4th, 2026 12:28 pmconulyinstead of my long jeans. I need another pair of jeans, though, for real.
*******************************
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
The Friday Five for September 2026
Sep. 30th, 2026 02:19 pmdandylover1Hello, Dear Readers. Today is the 30th of September, and you know what that means. It's time for the monthly Friday Five! As usual, the following questions can be found at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thefridayfive.
The Friday Five for 4 September 2026
1. What arts or crafts do you spend time on these days?
Wow! This is a very appropriate question, considering that I have recommensed my search for instructions and guidance in crafts! Here is my revised entry on Mastodon for those who may be interested and/or able to help me.
https://someplace.social/@dandylover1/116847481266978420
But put simply, I am interested in learning traditional handicrafts, with the eventual hope of earning a living from them. My interests include basketry, mat-making, chair caning, textile weaving, broom-making, soap-making, rug-hooking, pottery, and related work.
2. What arts or crafts have you stopped doing, and why?
Chair caning, soap-making, and pottery, but not by choice. I found a wonderful place that taught it, but I had to stop attending because of timing difficulties with Access Link. I stopped the other two because I am no longer going to VLANJ, and in any case, they don't offer them anymore. The closest they come is air dry clay, which is very different. I do have some of that, though, so I may play with it a bit for fun and practise. I also love weaving, but I don't have a loom available.
3. What new art or craft are you interested in trying?
See 2 above.
4. Are you more of an experimental craftsperson, or do you tend more toward the traditional?
I wish to be a traditional craftswoman. But I am not against experimenting for pleasure and perhaps even for sales.
5. Choose your favorite, and explain why: line shape form light color texture.
I am totally blind, so it has to be texture.
The Friday Five for 11 September 2026
1. What is your favorite soup?
I love all sorts. But I would say either chicken noodle or minastrone.
2. Have you made your favorite soup yourself?
I made a chicken and vegetable soup. I make ramen a lot, but that's not really cooking, since it's pre-packaged.
3. What is your favorite dessert?
Hmmm. Pudding (American sense), or doughnuts.
4. Have you made your favorite dessert yourself?
Yes. I have made real pudding before.
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream or other frozen treat?
Vanilla.
The Friday Five for 18 September 2026
1. Do you decorate your home for different seasons and holidays?
No. While some other blind people may be interested in decorating, I'm not one of them.
2. Do you switch out your wardrobe for each new season?
Yes, but only because the weather demands it. I don't buy new clothing and discard the old, though.
3. Are you buying any new clothes for this new season?
Perhaps. But if I'm really lucky, they won't be new at all.
4. What vacation plans do you have for the future?
I might go to Atlantic City with Mom, just the two of us. But we're not sure yet.
5. Have you started planning for the upcoming holiday season?
No. I don't really do anything special for holidays.
The Friday Five for 25 September 2026
1. If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Crafts, singing, guitar, and DOS.
2. If you could do anything in the world as your career, what would you do?
I would be a craftswoman.
3. If you could be immortal, what age would you choose to stop aging at and why?
I have no idea.
4. If you could be any supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
See above.
5. If you had to teach a class on one thing, what would you teach?
That's a very good question! I'm honestly not sure. I could teach braille or use of Windows with a screen reader. I would love to say grammar, but I would still use a book for that, just to be sure I got everything right It wouldn't be modern rubbish either, but a good, prescriptivist text with proper examples to follow and improper examples to avoid and/or to correct.
thefridayfive.The Friday Five for 4 September 2026
1. What arts or crafts do you spend time on these days?
Wow! This is a very appropriate question, considering that I have recommensed my search for instructions and guidance in crafts! Here is my revised entry on Mastodon for those who may be interested and/or able to help me.
https://someplace.social/@dandylover1/116847481266978420
But put simply, I am interested in learning traditional handicrafts, with the eventual hope of earning a living from them. My interests include basketry, mat-making, chair caning, textile weaving, broom-making, soap-making, rug-hooking, pottery, and related work.
2. What arts or crafts have you stopped doing, and why?
Chair caning, soap-making, and pottery, but not by choice. I found a wonderful place that taught it, but I had to stop attending because of timing difficulties with Access Link. I stopped the other two because I am no longer going to VLANJ, and in any case, they don't offer them anymore. The closest they come is air dry clay, which is very different. I do have some of that, though, so I may play with it a bit for fun and practise. I also love weaving, but I don't have a loom available.
3. What new art or craft are you interested in trying?
See 2 above.
4. Are you more of an experimental craftsperson, or do you tend more toward the traditional?
I wish to be a traditional craftswoman. But I am not against experimenting for pleasure and perhaps even for sales.
5. Choose your favorite, and explain why: line shape form light color texture.
I am totally blind, so it has to be texture.
The Friday Five for 11 September 2026
1. What is your favorite soup?
I love all sorts. But I would say either chicken noodle or minastrone.
2. Have you made your favorite soup yourself?
I made a chicken and vegetable soup. I make ramen a lot, but that's not really cooking, since it's pre-packaged.
3. What is your favorite dessert?
Hmmm. Pudding (American sense), or doughnuts.
4. Have you made your favorite dessert yourself?
Yes. I have made real pudding before.
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream or other frozen treat?
Vanilla.
The Friday Five for 18 September 2026
1. Do you decorate your home for different seasons and holidays?
No. While some other blind people may be interested in decorating, I'm not one of them.
2. Do you switch out your wardrobe for each new season?
Yes, but only because the weather demands it. I don't buy new clothing and discard the old, though.
3. Are you buying any new clothes for this new season?
Perhaps. But if I'm really lucky, they won't be new at all.
4. What vacation plans do you have for the future?
I might go to Atlantic City with Mom, just the two of us. But we're not sure yet.
5. Have you started planning for the upcoming holiday season?
No. I don't really do anything special for holidays.
The Friday Five for 25 September 2026
1. If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Crafts, singing, guitar, and DOS.
2. If you could do anything in the world as your career, what would you do?
I would be a craftswoman.
3. If you could be immortal, what age would you choose to stop aging at and why?
I have no idea.
4. If you could be any supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
See above.
5. If you had to teach a class on one thing, what would you teach?
That's a very good question! I'm honestly not sure. I could teach braille or use of Windows with a screen reader. I would love to say grammar, but I would still use a book for that, just to be sure I got everything right It wouldn't be modern rubbish either, but a good, prescriptivist text with proper examples to follow and improper examples to avoid and/or to correct.
The Fantastic Journey Fic: Ghosts Of What Might Have Been
Oct. 1st, 2026 06:40 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Ghosts Of What Might Have Been
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Varian, Gwenith, Willaway, Travellers.
Rating: PG
Setting: After the series.
Summary: With his friends having returned to their own times, Varian is haunted by memories of love found and lost, and of love that might have been.
Word Count: 1860
Written For: Challenge 519: Amnesty 86 at
fan_flashworks, using Challenge 98: Haunted.Disclaimer: I don’t own The Fantastic Journey, or the characters. They belong to their creators.
Birdfeeding
Oct. 1st, 2026 12:34 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and quite warm.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 1/1/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 1/1/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 1/1/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 1/1/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
.
Ficlet: In The Afterlife
Oct. 1st, 2026 05:44 pmbadly_knittedTitle: In The Afterlife
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Jack, Tosh.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 805
Spoilers: Set post-Children of Earth. Fix-it.
Summary: Jack dies and finds himself somewhere he shouldn’t be, where a friend is waiting with an important message for him…
Written For: The prompt: any, any, in the wrong afterlife, at
threesentenceficathon.Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
So much to do...
Oct. 1st, 2026 10:00 pmzavodilaterrariumToday my hands have been hating on me a bit, tomorrow I may go thrifting. But right now, I suddenly have the urge to fix patches in my clothes (a pile for fixing/tailoring/up-cycling is building) (I also wanna dance but I'm also kinda tired). Better do it before I lose interest lol
2 hours later...: A mix of FFXIV and hand-stitching (specifically darning) was not good for my hands, unsurprisingly lol
2 hours later...: A mix of FFXIV and hand-stitching (specifically darning) was not good for my hands, unsurprisingly lol
Community Thursdays
Oct. 1st, 2026 03:00 amysabetwordsmithThis year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...
* Commented on Lasercut soap trays ineverykindofcraft.
* Commented on TV Tuesday: Why Them? intv_talk.
* Posted Birdfeeding inbirdfeeding.
* Posted Gothic Bingo Fest and Gothic Meet and Greet onallbingo.
* Commented on Lasercut soap trays in
everykindofcraft.* Commented on TV Tuesday: Why Them? in
tv_talk.* Posted Birdfeeding in
birdfeeding.* Posted Gothic Bingo Fest and Gothic Meet and Greet on
allbingo.Raptor Month
Oct. 1st, 2026 01:47 amysabetwordsmithOctober is Raptor Month.
October celebrates birds of prey during Raptor Month. Whether you love birds of prey or are terrified of them, they all play an important role in the animal ecosystem.
( Read more... )
October celebrates birds of prey during Raptor Month. Whether you love birds of prey or are terrified of them, they all play an important role in the animal ecosystem.
( Read more... )
Bingo
Sep. 30th, 2026 11:57 pmysabetwordsmithI have made bingo down the B, I, and O columns of my 9-1-26 card for the Life Events Bingo fest. I also made 5 extra fills.
B1 (sincerity) -- "Our Wisest Pursuit" (Coracle Shores)
B2 (confusion) -- "Beyond the Reach of Exact Prediction" (Coracle Shores)
B3 (trying new things) -- "No Wrong Way to Make Pretty Things" (Arts and Crafts America)
B4 (excitement) -- "Throughout Sky, Sea, and Soil" (Coracle Shores)
B5 (personal growth) -- "Because There Are Endings" (Coracle Shores)
I1 (getting a license / certification) -- "A Thousand Rows Ahead" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
I2 (gaining / losing a job) -- "A Determined Soul" (Polychrome Heroics: Rutledge)
I3 (optimism) -- "The Basics of Social Life" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
I4 (touched) -- "Cutting Butternut" (standalone)
I5 (leaving the country) -- "Turn Right at the Grouse Butt" (Coracle Shores)
O1 (learning to do X) -- "The Single Biggest Boost" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
O2 (gratitude) -- "Not for Looks But for Books" (Polychrome Heroics: Kraken)
O3 (adolescence) -- "Like Floating Down a Broadening River" (Fiorenza the Wisewoman)
O4 (overcome) -- "Food That Grows Itself" (A Conflagration of Dragons)
O5 (making friends) -- "Put Your Power on the Table" (Polychrome Heroics: Aquariana)
"Turn Right at the Grouse Butt" (Coracle Shores) (two prompts)
N2 (mid-life crisis) -- "A Thread of It Each Day" (Coracle Shores)
N5 (recovering from something) -- "Avengers DIY Day" (LIFC)
G1 (moving house) -- "All That Matters Is What You Do" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
G3 (relief) -- "An Essential Part of Life" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
G5 (compassion) -- "All About Removing the Barriers" (Polychrome Heroics: Frank the Crank)
B1 (sincerity) -- "Our Wisest Pursuit" (Coracle Shores)
B2 (confusion) -- "Beyond the Reach of Exact Prediction" (Coracle Shores)
B3 (trying new things) -- "No Wrong Way to Make Pretty Things" (Arts and Crafts America)
B4 (excitement) -- "Throughout Sky, Sea, and Soil" (Coracle Shores)
B5 (personal growth) -- "Because There Are Endings" (Coracle Shores)
I1 (getting a license / certification) -- "A Thousand Rows Ahead" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
I2 (gaining / losing a job) -- "A Determined Soul" (Polychrome Heroics: Rutledge)
I3 (optimism) -- "The Basics of Social Life" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
I4 (touched) -- "Cutting Butternut" (standalone)
I5 (leaving the country) -- "Turn Right at the Grouse Butt" (Coracle Shores)
O1 (learning to do X) -- "The Single Biggest Boost" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
O2 (gratitude) -- "Not for Looks But for Books" (Polychrome Heroics: Kraken)
O3 (adolescence) -- "Like Floating Down a Broadening River" (Fiorenza the Wisewoman)
O4 (overcome) -- "Food That Grows Itself" (A Conflagration of Dragons)
O5 (making friends) -- "Put Your Power on the Table" (Polychrome Heroics: Aquariana)
"Turn Right at the Grouse Butt" (Coracle Shores) (two prompts)
N2 (mid-life crisis) -- "A Thread of It Each Day" (Coracle Shores)
N5 (recovering from something) -- "Avengers DIY Day" (LIFC)
G1 (moving house) -- "All That Matters Is What You Do" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
G3 (relief) -- "An Essential Part of Life" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
G5 (compassion) -- "All About Removing the Barriers" (Polychrome Heroics: Frank the Crank)
September and October questions
Sep. 30th, 2026 09:09 pmpattroseI'm having tests done on Friday and Monday, so I'm answering these early.
September 30th: Do you often listen to podcasts? Do you have a favorite? I have never listened to a podcast. I'm not even sure what exactly they are. I'd like to hear what people listen to.
OCTOBER:
1. Do you often get actual phone calls these days, or do you rely on texts and emails to keep in touch?
Mostly texts every day. I prefer phone calls because of my tremors; it's hard to type sometimes.
2. We are now heading towards winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and summer in the Southern Hemisphere – what are the plants doing where you live?
I have two huge orange trees with about 100 oranges on each. Hubby is going to pick them for the Group home that we donate all our fruit to. Then we have a pomegranate tree with about 25-30 pieces of fruit. Two trees down, we have a grapefruit tree with about 8 grapefruits. We used to have grapes, but the birds ate them all. LOL, but that's all we have in our yard. That you can eat anyhow. All our plants are doing well. We have some gorgeous Bird of Paradise shrubs, and they're gold and red. Everything in the yard has flowers, Arizona doesn't know that it's Fall. LOL
September 30th: Do you often listen to podcasts? Do you have a favorite? I have never listened to a podcast. I'm not even sure what exactly they are. I'd like to hear what people listen to.
OCTOBER:
1. Do you often get actual phone calls these days, or do you rely on texts and emails to keep in touch?
Mostly texts every day. I prefer phone calls because of my tremors; it's hard to type sometimes.
2. We are now heading towards winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and summer in the Southern Hemisphere – what are the plants doing where you live?
I have two huge orange trees with about 100 oranges on each. Hubby is going to pick them for the Group home that we donate all our fruit to. Then we have a pomegranate tree with about 25-30 pieces of fruit. Two trees down, we have a grapefruit tree with about 8 grapefruits. We used to have grapes, but the birds ate them all. LOL, but that's all we have in our yard. That you can eat anyhow. All our plants are doing well. We have some gorgeous Bird of Paradise shrubs, and they're gold and red. Everything in the yard has flowers, Arizona doesn't know that it's Fall. LOL
Conversation Starters
Sep. 30th, 2026 08:56 pmpattroseWhat was the last funny video you saw? I love the two guys from HGTV named Keith and Evan. There show used to be called Bargain Block in Detroit. It was so good, and so fun. HGTV canceled the series after 5 years. Everyone is so man. Well, I've been watching videos on You Tube with the two of them on it. They're very funny. They've been together for 13 years, and you can tell. LMBO Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas. Check them out.
What is something you are obsessed with? The Sentinel series, stories and vids. I enjoy these guys so much.
What three words best describe you?
Kind, dorky, sweet. I can be all three.
What would be your perfect weekend? Writing without interruption, trying a new recipe, and having everyone like it, and just spending time with my hubby.
What’s your favorite number? Why? I would guess 5. I have three children and two adopted grandchildren that we raised. So five has always been lucky for me.
What’s the most useful thing you own? My computer. I would be lost without it. And I swear it keeps my brain working very well.
What is something you are obsessed with? The Sentinel series, stories and vids. I enjoy these guys so much.
What three words best describe you?
Kind, dorky, sweet. I can be all three.
What would be your perfect weekend? Writing without interruption, trying a new recipe, and having everyone like it, and just spending time with my hubby.
What’s your favorite number? Why? I would guess 5. I have three children and two adopted grandchildren that we raised. So five has always been lucky for me.
What’s the most useful thing you own? My computer. I would be lost without it. And I swear it keeps my brain working very well.
Jokes
Sep. 30th, 2026 08:50 pmpattroseWhere does a scientist wizard work?
In a labracadabratory
What’s a pirate’s favorite letter?
Nope, not arrrrr. X marks the spot of treasure. You think pirates like R’s more than treasure?
What did Benjamin Franklin say when he discovered electricity?
Nothing. He was too shocked to speak.
Why was the Roomba late for class?
It overswept
What did the picture do to end up in jail?
Nothing. He was framed!
What did the husband pen say to the wife pen?
You’re always write.
What is a calendar’s favorite food?
Dates
How do crazy people go through the forest?
They take the psychopaths.
In a labracadabratory
What’s a pirate’s favorite letter?
Nope, not arrrrr. X marks the spot of treasure. You think pirates like R’s more than treasure?
What did Benjamin Franklin say when he discovered electricity?
Nothing. He was too shocked to speak.
Why was the Roomba late for class?
It overswept
What did the picture do to end up in jail?
Nothing. He was framed!
What did the husband pen say to the wife pen?
You’re always write.
What is a calendar’s favorite food?
Dates
How do crazy people go through the forest?
They take the psychopaths.
Time for some Good News/Bad News!
Sep. 30th, 2026 07:41 pmmistressofmusesFor the first one, we'll start with the bad news:
Our loaner car got towed again. This time by the apartment instead of the church. Despite having a note about "hey, this is our space, the car that would usually be here is [xyz] with permit number [efg], this is a loaner while it's in the shop, here is our contact info if you need us to move it." Of course they don't do anything about the cars that park in the garage and block the doors all weekend or the cars that don't even belong to residents but to visitors that they let in...
This tow yard was not nearby the way the other one was, either.
My mom did not have a car today at all, as the one that was towed was her spare car, and Taylor had taken the primary car to work for the day.
So I called out for at least a half day to work (not ideal, as my manager had to be off-site for a monthly manager meeting today, but it is what it is.)
So we were weighing the various options on uber or lyft to get us all up to the tow yard, when my mom asked us to check with the body shop to see if they had an ETA on the truck repairs. The last we'd heard was "sometime this week," (after they found more work that wasn't included on the estimate...) but if it would be done today, then maybe we could avoid having to deal with a rideshare.
So while I was calling in to work, Alex called the auto shop. They did say they could have it done today, but couldn't give us a narrower time than "this afternoon." Which is good news, but only cautiously so.
Then the body shop guy called my mom, since he knows that she's the one paying, to let her know that there was an ETA today.
She gave him more detail: that we'd really like it as soon as possible, that we're hoping to have this vehicle fixed so we can go spring her vehicle from lock-up. His response (but apparently said a million miles an hour, as seems to be this guy's only speed), "well that's just not fair! Yeah, I can expedite this... I'll go help the guy finishing it up, and we'll get it done by lunch."
She said "great! I'll start walking over there."
And he flounders with "NO. Don't walk. We will get you a ride when it's done."
So that was nice. Thank you, Steve the auto shop guy.
They did finish the truck. He did give my mom a ride. She inspected it, and paid for it, and then drove it over to pick us up.
We then all had to pile in to the very tiny truck. (It's a bench seat. That third seat is very much a technicality, but I squashed my ass in there.) We went up to the not anywhere nearby tow yard, and got my mom's car freed. Because yes, hundreds more dollars is absolutely what we fucking needed to be paying. This is very firmly bad news, and was all extraordinarily frustrating to deal with.
But the GOOD NEWS is that... we have our truck back! It looks great! It seems to be running fine! This one we can legally park!
So then I headed in to work and managed to get a half day in.
(I owe my mom so very much in terms of money but also just... more generally. I feel terrible that she's had to do so much to just keep us from utterly drowning with this whole thing. I hope it's over now, but I owe her so very, very much.)
Good news first, this time:
I got a call from my dermatologist, and there were clean margins for my excision! So no more arm needs to get chopped out. I didn't realize I was as worried about it as I was, I guess, because I was extremely relieved at the news.
(The site does seem to be healing well. Very occasional spotting, but doing well. The site itself is still swollen, which is expected for the full eight to twelve weeks, and especially for at least another one or two; the incision includes the internal dissolving sutures, so that adds volume to the whole thing and makes it look uglier. It's also really bruised around it, which is very expected, but it's all the nasty yellow-brown bruising, so it should be disappearing soon.)
Bad news:
I woke up with a sore throat this morning (along with/because of lots of nasal drainage). :( So THAT was also a thing on top of all the car-towing.
And it's just gotten worse all through the day. This does maybe help explain my serious struggle with lethargy over the last couple of days (which I just chalked up to being tired post-concert.) I do not want to be getting sick, but I very clearly am. :((
And a very petty and small one:
Good news: I read more books this month!
Bad news: That means there are more reviews to write up for this month, and while I enjoy writing up those reviews and having them for posterity and my own reference to look back at, it takes time and energy. I'm trying to be lazy about them this month, but still! I am severely lacking in that energy!
I have lots that I intended to do tonight, but it was a stressful day and I also really am feeling like garbage. I don't want to be sick, sobcry.
While I do have a lot more that I want to do (the reviews! catching up comments! some household chore stuff! more reading! art things!) I think that I'm going to have to give it up for the night and just aim for some extra sleep.
Our loaner car got towed again. This time by the apartment instead of the church. Despite having a note about "hey, this is our space, the car that would usually be here is [xyz] with permit number [efg], this is a loaner while it's in the shop, here is our contact info if you need us to move it." Of course they don't do anything about the cars that park in the garage and block the doors all weekend or the cars that don't even belong to residents but to visitors that they let in...
This tow yard was not nearby the way the other one was, either.
My mom did not have a car today at all, as the one that was towed was her spare car, and Taylor had taken the primary car to work for the day.
So I called out for at least a half day to work (not ideal, as my manager had to be off-site for a monthly manager meeting today, but it is what it is.)
So we were weighing the various options on uber or lyft to get us all up to the tow yard, when my mom asked us to check with the body shop to see if they had an ETA on the truck repairs. The last we'd heard was "sometime this week," (after they found more work that wasn't included on the estimate...) but if it would be done today, then maybe we could avoid having to deal with a rideshare.
So while I was calling in to work, Alex called the auto shop. They did say they could have it done today, but couldn't give us a narrower time than "this afternoon." Which is good news, but only cautiously so.
Then the body shop guy called my mom, since he knows that she's the one paying, to let her know that there was an ETA today.
She gave him more detail: that we'd really like it as soon as possible, that we're hoping to have this vehicle fixed so we can go spring her vehicle from lock-up. His response (but apparently said a million miles an hour, as seems to be this guy's only speed), "well that's just not fair! Yeah, I can expedite this... I'll go help the guy finishing it up, and we'll get it done by lunch."
She said "great! I'll start walking over there."
And he flounders with "NO. Don't walk. We will get you a ride when it's done."
So that was nice. Thank you, Steve the auto shop guy.
They did finish the truck. He did give my mom a ride. She inspected it, and paid for it, and then drove it over to pick us up.
We then all had to pile in to the very tiny truck. (It's a bench seat. That third seat is very much a technicality, but I squashed my ass in there.) We went up to the not anywhere nearby tow yard, and got my mom's car freed. Because yes, hundreds more dollars is absolutely what we fucking needed to be paying. This is very firmly bad news, and was all extraordinarily frustrating to deal with.
But the GOOD NEWS is that... we have our truck back! It looks great! It seems to be running fine! This one we can legally park!
So then I headed in to work and managed to get a half day in.
(I owe my mom so very much in terms of money but also just... more generally. I feel terrible that she's had to do so much to just keep us from utterly drowning with this whole thing. I hope it's over now, but I owe her so very, very much.)
Good news first, this time:
I got a call from my dermatologist, and there were clean margins for my excision! So no more arm needs to get chopped out. I didn't realize I was as worried about it as I was, I guess, because I was extremely relieved at the news.
(The site does seem to be healing well. Very occasional spotting, but doing well. The site itself is still swollen, which is expected for the full eight to twelve weeks, and especially for at least another one or two; the incision includes the internal dissolving sutures, so that adds volume to the whole thing and makes it look uglier. It's also really bruised around it, which is very expected, but it's all the nasty yellow-brown bruising, so it should be disappearing soon.)
Bad news:
I woke up with a sore throat this morning (along with/because of lots of nasal drainage). :( So THAT was also a thing on top of all the car-towing.
And it's just gotten worse all through the day. This does maybe help explain my serious struggle with lethargy over the last couple of days (which I just chalked up to being tired post-concert.) I do not want to be getting sick, but I very clearly am. :((
And a very petty and small one:
Good news: I read more books this month!
Bad news: That means there are more reviews to write up for this month, and while I enjoy writing up those reviews and having them for posterity and my own reference to look back at, it takes time and energy. I'm trying to be lazy about them this month, but still! I am severely lacking in that energy!
I have lots that I intended to do tonight, but it was a stressful day and I also really am feeling like garbage. I don't want to be sick, sobcry.
While I do have a lot more that I want to do (the reviews! catching up comments! some household chore stuff! more reading! art things!) I think that I'm going to have to give it up for the night and just aim for some extra sleep.
History
Sep. 30th, 2026 05:44 pmysabetwordsmithResearchers Unearth a Clay Tablet Inscribed With the World’s Oldest Peace Treaty
Look, the order fixed for eternity which the Sun God and the God of the Tempest have created for the country of Egypt and the country of Hatti, (that is) peace and fraternity without leaving place among them to any enmity.
These words, translated from Akkadian into Turkish, and from Turkish to English, are found in article 14 of the Peace of Kadesh—and on a clay tablet uncovered last year from an ancient archeological site in Turkiye. The Peace of Kadesh is the world’s oldest peace treaty, and the tablet fragment contains articles 12-20, detailing how peace between two ancient civilizations would be determined.
Hmm, good spell potential for anyone casting peacework, even just using a copy of it.
Look, the order fixed for eternity which the Sun God and the God of the Tempest have created for the country of Egypt and the country of Hatti, (that is) peace and fraternity without leaving place among them to any enmity.
These words, translated from Akkadian into Turkish, and from Turkish to English, are found in article 14 of the Peace of Kadesh—and on a clay tablet uncovered last year from an ancient archeological site in Turkiye. The Peace of Kadesh is the world’s oldest peace treaty, and the tablet fragment contains articles 12-20, detailing how peace between two ancient civilizations would be determined.
Hmm, good spell potential for anyone casting peacework, even just using a copy of it.