Riding the rails again
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
loganberrybunnyPublic
330/365: Hagley Hall, Bewdley
Click for a larger, sharper image
It was off to the Severn Valley Railway today for a few hours on the trains. The rain just about held off, although it became very murky and gloomy by mid-afternoon. The trains were pretty busy, and I had to stand for half my first journey. Bridgnorth town centre was also packed, but fortunately the station refreshment room had space for me to have a coffee and a beef and veg pasty. Quite a relaxed day overall, certainly compared to the big gala events I'm more used to attending, but that was part of its appeal. Here's my first train of the day, 4930 Hagley Hall (which turns 97 in May) arriving at Bewdley station.
330/365: Hagley Hall, Bewdley
Click for a larger, sharper image
It was off to the Severn Valley Railway today for a few hours on the trains. The rain just about held off, although it became very murky and gloomy by mid-afternoon. The trains were pretty busy, and I had to stand for half my first journey. Bridgnorth town centre was also packed, but fortunately the station refreshment room had space for me to have a coffee and a beef and veg pasty. Quite a relaxed day overall, certainly compared to the big gala events I'm more used to attending, but that was part of its appeal. Here's my first train of the day, 4930 Hagley Hall (which turns 97 in May) arriving at Bewdley station.
(no subject)
Dec. 27th, 2025 04:41 pmsouthernmedicineTomorrow, we have to go to sleep at around 7-7:30pm, because we have to leave for Minneapolis at like 2:30-3:00am Monday morning to make sure we reach the airport, park, get through security and make it to our gate for a 6:30am boarding.
However, I keep getting winter storm warning alerts. Apparently beginning tomorrow evening and lasting until noon or so on Monday, there's supposed to be tons of snow, a blizzard, really, and white-out conditions on the highways.
Blair is at her grandma's house for Second Christmas (I couldn't go because I worked until 3pm today and the party began at noon) so when she gets back, I will ask what her opinion is. Strongly leaning toward the idea of setting out for Minneapolis tomorrow afternoon and staying in a hotel near the airport. I don't think she wants to, because we'd discussed that originally just for the convenience, weather aside. But I'm already concerned about making it with enough time to feel comfortable, and we'll have to drive even slower if the weather is as bad as it sounds like it's going to be.
Bleh.
However, I keep getting winter storm warning alerts. Apparently beginning tomorrow evening and lasting until noon or so on Monday, there's supposed to be tons of snow, a blizzard, really, and white-out conditions on the highways.
Blair is at her grandma's house for Second Christmas (I couldn't go because I worked until 3pm today and the party began at noon) so when she gets back, I will ask what her opinion is. Strongly leaning toward the idea of setting out for Minneapolis tomorrow afternoon and staying in a hotel near the airport. I don't think she wants to, because we'd discussed that originally just for the convenience, weather aside. But I'm already concerned about making it with enough time to feel comfortable, and we'll have to drive even slower if the weather is as bad as it sounds like it's going to be.
Bleh.
Finally saw Zootopia 2!
Dec. 27th, 2025 04:00 pmconulyBefore I say anything, A would like you to know how extremely annoying it is that they played those "Arabian Nights" riffs every time the snake (Barry) appeared, and it would be annoying even if the plot ( Read more... )
They wouldn't shut up about it, so there we go. They're not wrong.
( Read more... )
They wouldn't shut up about it, so there we go. They're not wrong.
( Read more... )
WWTHYWC! the Column #4: Girl's Box (2005)
Dec. 27th, 2025 08:35 amsonofgodzillaIn 2005, I was terribly invested in pop music, it was the thing that was keeping me afloat. I had first encountered Morning Musume few years earlier, and Toei's hero shows followed shortly after, first Gaoranger, then Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger featuring Nagasawa Nao in the role of Nono Nanami. Being so far away from Japan, we had no real understanding of idol culture save for how we approximated what we came to know from magazines and websites. Anyway, long story short, I became an idol fan, and I started following both Nagasawa Nao and Yamamoto Azusa from Hurricanger. By the time 2005 had rolled around, we were five singles into Nagasawa's solo career, two on King Records, the rest on avex trax, whom she signed with in early 2004. I can't recommend her music to you, but at the same time, I have a cabinet full of records, and I was sad when, after 2007, the well dried up and the most we got was a "best of" record the year later, something that led to me feeling somewhat shortchanged by avex. Having said that though, it was also a relief as the material the label was giving her was pretty awful. Despite my resentment, avex were very proactive in the mid '00s, having launched the career of Hamasaki Ayumi and having a clear vision of the kind of idols they believed sold best—Hi-NRG songs and gravure photoshoots were the order of the day, and a lot of avex's acts did really well within the parameters of that milieu, dream were especially popular, if I remember rightly, as were PARADISE GO!! GO!!. To use an analogy that might be a little too niche, avex's idols felt like they were all from Ginza, and I think that was an approach that dominated the idol industry until AKB48's "idols you can meet" really blew the lid off everything.
In amidst all those pounding Eurobeat drums, the scent of excessive baby oil used in every gravure shoot, as you were beginning to feel a little lightheaded from all the hairspray used, there was always one thing that avex was good at doing, however, and that was promotion. If you were on avex, you were on billboards.
( ~Yujo ni Ribbon~ )
In amidst all those pounding Eurobeat drums, the scent of excessive baby oil used in every gravure shoot, as you were beginning to feel a little lightheaded from all the hairspray used, there was always one thing that avex was good at doing, however, and that was promotion. If you were on avex, you were on billboards.
( ~Yujo ni Ribbon~ )
Guardian Meme
Dec. 28th, 2025 09:46 amchina_shop posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sid_guardianHi! I made a Guardian meme and posted it to my journal. Feel free to snag!
It includes questions such as "A fanwork you've read/looked at more than three times", "Ye Zun ships - yay or nay?", and "Did you make any Guardian fanworks in 2025? How many? What was your favourite?"
It includes questions such as "A fanwork you've read/looked at more than three times", "Ye Zun ships - yay or nay?", and "Did you make any Guardian fanworks in 2025? How many? What was your favourite?"
Amnesty Bingo - remix of multiple cards
Dec. 27th, 2025 03:26 pmcornerofmadness posting in allbingoName: cornerofmadness
Card Theme: Amnesty remix (I like to mix and match unused prompts from the year)
Prompts: Love letters, "(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue", You have three choices. You can give up - give in or give it your all, Consent is sexy, Serpents in Eden
Fandoms: Hazbin Hotel
My Card: My Card
( my fills under here )
cornerofmadnessCard Theme: Amnesty remix (I like to mix and match unused prompts from the year)
Prompts: Love letters, "(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue", You have three choices. You can give up - give in or give it your all, Consent is sexy, Serpents in Eden
Fandoms: Hazbin Hotel
My Card: My Card
( my fills under here )
Brush Week 2025 Art Roundup
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:27 amdoodlemancy
earlier this month i stumbled across this cool drawing challenge.
here are the results, plus a couple of bonus ones i did for sillies:
Yuletide Recs!
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:51 amrachelmanijaHere are some Yuletide recs, sorted for your reading pleasure by whether or not you need to know the canon.
Do Not Need to Know Canon
Chalion/World of the Five Gods - Lois McMaster Bujold
a knock at your front door. I think all you need to know to read this story is that there are five Gods - the Mother, the Father, the Son, the Daughter, and the Bastard - who are definitely real but rarely interfere in human affairs. They can, however, make people saints - able to do limited miracles - if they need to. This story deals with the Father, the God least-explored in canon, and is set in modern-day Chalion. It's got a clever look at what modern Chalion might be like, a very likable main character, and some beautiful writing.
FAQ: The "Snake Fight" Portion of Your Thesis Defense - Luke Burns
If you've never read the canon, I've linked it above. It's extremely short and you will be glad you did. There are other "Snake Fight" stories and they're all fun.
Snake Logistics for Spring Defenses. Some students are just begging for a black mamba.
Need to Know Canon
Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
find the true. Mirrim and F'lar have a chat at a Gather. I enjoyed this conversation between two characters who I don't think ever exchange words in canon. Good characterization, good atmosphere.
Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
to be useful, if not free. My gift! A backstory/canon diverge AU for Serret, the enchantress in A Wizard of Earthsea. Beautifully written, beautifully structured.
The Long Walk - Stephen King
There's No Discharge in the War. Stebbins in a time loop. Long, intense, often horrifying, sometimes very moving, and cleverly constructed story about Stebbins and the other Walkers.
"The Lottery" - Shirley Jackson; New Yorker RPF
Why one small American town won’t stop stoning its residents to death. Isaac Chotiner interviews the guy who runs the lottery in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." If you've never heard of him, he's a journalist who's very good at letting people hang themselves with their own words. The story is dead-on, hilarious, and chilling.
Lyra series/Caught in Crystal - Patricia Wrede
Three Things That Might Have Happened to Kayl Larrinar. My treat! A very satisfyingly bittersweet canon divergence AU for Kayl's Star Cluster, full of camaraderie and atmosphere.
Mushishi
I want to taste the shadows, too. A lovely little casefic/character study about Adashino, the guy who collects mushi-related stuff. It really feels like an episode of the anime, especially the final portion.
Some Like It Hot
Anchors Away. A short and very sweet post-movie coda.
Watership Down - Richard Adams
There is no bargain. Five encounters with The Black Rabbit of Inlé. An exploration of how the Black Rabbit is different things to different rabbits in different circumstances, very well-done, sometimes moving, sometimes chilling. The Black Rabbit is Death, so warning for rabbit death.
What have you enjoyed in the collection?
Do Not Need to Know Canon
Chalion/World of the Five Gods - Lois McMaster Bujold
a knock at your front door. I think all you need to know to read this story is that there are five Gods - the Mother, the Father, the Son, the Daughter, and the Bastard - who are definitely real but rarely interfere in human affairs. They can, however, make people saints - able to do limited miracles - if they need to. This story deals with the Father, the God least-explored in canon, and is set in modern-day Chalion. It's got a clever look at what modern Chalion might be like, a very likable main character, and some beautiful writing.
FAQ: The "Snake Fight" Portion of Your Thesis Defense - Luke Burns
If you've never read the canon, I've linked it above. It's extremely short and you will be glad you did. There are other "Snake Fight" stories and they're all fun.
Snake Logistics for Spring Defenses. Some students are just begging for a black mamba.
Need to Know Canon
Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
find the true. Mirrim and F'lar have a chat at a Gather. I enjoyed this conversation between two characters who I don't think ever exchange words in canon. Good characterization, good atmosphere.
Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
to be useful, if not free. My gift! A backstory/canon diverge AU for Serret, the enchantress in A Wizard of Earthsea. Beautifully written, beautifully structured.
The Long Walk - Stephen King
There's No Discharge in the War. Stebbins in a time loop. Long, intense, often horrifying, sometimes very moving, and cleverly constructed story about Stebbins and the other Walkers.
"The Lottery" - Shirley Jackson; New Yorker RPF
Why one small American town won’t stop stoning its residents to death. Isaac Chotiner interviews the guy who runs the lottery in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." If you've never heard of him, he's a journalist who's very good at letting people hang themselves with their own words. The story is dead-on, hilarious, and chilling.
Lyra series/Caught in Crystal - Patricia Wrede
Three Things That Might Have Happened to Kayl Larrinar. My treat! A very satisfyingly bittersweet canon divergence AU for Kayl's Star Cluster, full of camaraderie and atmosphere.
Mushishi
I want to taste the shadows, too. A lovely little casefic/character study about Adashino, the guy who collects mushi-related stuff. It really feels like an episode of the anime, especially the final portion.
Some Like It Hot
Anchors Away. A short and very sweet post-movie coda.
Watership Down - Richard Adams
There is no bargain. Five encounters with The Black Rabbit of Inlé. An exploration of how the Black Rabbit is different things to different rabbits in different circumstances, very well-done, sometimes moving, sometimes chilling. The Black Rabbit is Death, so warning for rabbit death.
What have you enjoyed in the collection?
Fanfic in 2025
Dec. 27th, 2025 06:44 ammerricatbY'all I published 100,000 words this year!!! It's really hard to believe it. I only started writing fics in March and posted my first one at the end of April. This year has been absolutely shitty in a bunch of different ways, but I'm grateful that I'm writing again and for all the people in fandom and beyond that I've connected with. Hopefully 2026 will bring an end to some of the terrible crap happening in the world right now but if not at least there's still communities like this one.
I still have unrevealed work for the Sense8 Holiday Exchange that I can't talk about quite yet, but for the fic that officially put me over the 100,000 word mark, may I present Nai-robbery.
Nai-robbery
While visiting Capheus on an especially costly trip to Nairobi, Wolfgang reflects on the similarities between their childhood friends.
Teen, 3504 words
This was submitted forsmallfandomfest. The prompt was: Wolfgang & Capheus - Bonding over having loyal (and loud) childhood besties
I hope to eventually write OT3 (Rajalagang) + Felix visiting everyone in the cluster, and I'm now one step closer with Capheus. One of the things I think we really missed out on with the cancellation was seeing more moments between members of the cluster that didn't have a lot of interactions. Wolfgang is one of the worst for that, which is definitely due in part to his character since he basically didn't talk to anyone but Kala until episode 10!!! But I think there was seriously a missed opportunity for him and Capheus to bond over the two of them having basically the same BFF. Felix and Jela would get on like a house on fire and god help anyone's peace and quiet within a hundred feet of them. And since we never got the background story for how Capheus and Jela met, here's a bit of that too.
I still have unrevealed work for the Sense8 Holiday Exchange that I can't talk about quite yet, but for the fic that officially put me over the 100,000 word mark, may I present Nai-robbery.
Nai-robbery
While visiting Capheus on an especially costly trip to Nairobi, Wolfgang reflects on the similarities between their childhood friends.
Teen, 3504 words
This was submitted for
smallfandomfest. The prompt was: Wolfgang & Capheus - Bonding over having loyal (and loud) childhood bestiesI hope to eventually write OT3 (Rajalagang) + Felix visiting everyone in the cluster, and I'm now one step closer with Capheus. One of the things I think we really missed out on with the cancellation was seeing more moments between members of the cluster that didn't have a lot of interactions. Wolfgang is one of the worst for that, which is definitely due in part to his character since he basically didn't talk to anyone but Kala until episode 10!!! But I think there was seriously a missed opportunity for him and Capheus to bond over the two of them having basically the same BFF. Felix and Jela would get on like a house on fire and god help anyone's peace and quiet within a hundred feet of them. And since we never got the background story for how Capheus and Jela met, here's a bit of that too.
The Day in Spikedluv (Friday, Dec 26)
Dec. 27th, 2025 09:11 amspikedluvI hit Walmart while I was downtown and the bank-drive thru on the way home.
I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher, used the leftover chicken to make chicken noodle soup, went for a walk with the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, paid a bill online, and scooped kitty litter. There were some phone calls I should have made (that will now have to wait until Monday), but I forgot it was a Friday (presuming they were open). Pip being home throws me off.
I read some fanfic and more in Boyfriend Material. I watched some HGTV programs.
Pip felt crappier today. He took cold meds before bed last night and went to bed early. Today I picked up some cold & flu for him. He slept (or tried to, there was a lot of distraction) most of the morning, felt a bit better in the afternoon, and was in bed by 6pm.
Temps started out at 7.5(F) and reached 19.1. TWC app is calling for 1-3 inches of snow this evening (it’s supposed to start at 5pm) and 5-8 overnight. DNW!!
Mom Update:
Mom sounded good when I talked to her on the phone. I had planned to visit, but given that Pip was sicker today, I decided it would be better if I didn’t. Even with a mask. Her BFF had just left when I called, so she did have a visitor today. I probably won’t visit her again until I can be sure that Pip is getting better and I didn’t catch anything from him. I hate letting too many days build up between visits because I know she likes the company and I like to see for myself how she’s doing.
I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher, used the leftover chicken to make chicken noodle soup, went for a walk with the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, paid a bill online, and scooped kitty litter. There were some phone calls I should have made (that will now have to wait until Monday), but I forgot it was a Friday (presuming they were open). Pip being home throws me off.
I read some fanfic and more in Boyfriend Material. I watched some HGTV programs.
Pip felt crappier today. He took cold meds before bed last night and went to bed early. Today I picked up some cold & flu for him. He slept (or tried to, there was a lot of distraction) most of the morning, felt a bit better in the afternoon, and was in bed by 6pm.
Temps started out at 7.5(F) and reached 19.1. TWC app is calling for 1-3 inches of snow this evening (it’s supposed to start at 5pm) and 5-8 overnight. DNW!!
Mom Update:
Mom sounded good when I talked to her on the phone. I had planned to visit, but given that Pip was sicker today, I decided it would be better if I didn’t. Even with a mask. Her BFF had just left when I called, so she did have a visitor today. I probably won’t visit her again until I can be sure that Pip is getting better and I didn’t catch anything from him. I hate letting too many days build up between visits because I know she likes the company and I like to see for myself how she’s doing.
Just One Thing (27 December 2025)
Dec. 27th, 2025 12:21 pmnanila posting in awesomeersIt's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Game Changers (Heated Rivalry): Love Takes Miles by corsi
Dec. 27th, 2025 08:06 pmmific posting in fancakeFandom: Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry
Characters/Pairings: OFCs, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Scott Hunter/Kip Grady, Hayden Pike, Troy Barrett, mentions of many HR characters
Rating: Teen
Length: 6937
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply. Some mentions of homophobia and slurs.
Creator Links: corsi on AO3
Themes: Outsider POV, Unconventional format & style, Epistolary, Worldbuilding, Fans and fandom
Summary:
yaratroycabaret
Reccer's Notes: This is courtesy of a rec incathexys' journal. It's another fic told through snippets from invented social media posts across about ten years, following the development, within the universe of Heated Rivalry, of hockey rpf fandom, mainly focusing on Hollanov (Ilya/Shane). It's extraordinarily well done, and although the story of Shane and Ilya's decade-long love affair is the core thread, the real tale is of the rpf fandom, specifically a few devoted fans. The poignancy and brilliance of this fic is the portraits it paints of fanwriters and young fans, immersed in the fandom while they grow and develop, moving through their own life stages and dramas while posting about the hockey players they love, especially Hollanov. And in the end, of course, the Hollanov truthers are resoundingly vindicated. The formatting makes it clear that we're seeing posts on tumblr, livejournal, AO3, Reddit, Twitter, etc., with different types of fandom on each platform. Hilarious and touching, this is a wonderful read, and the details are meticulous and very funny.
PS: It may help to know in advance (as these may be hockey rpf terms with which I was unfamiliar) that 2481 is code for Hollander/Rozanov (their jersey numbers), and 2435 is Hollander/Pike. MHL is the Major Hockey League, HR's version of the NHL. Some details in the fic will probably only make sense if you've read the books.
PPS: Also, there's a fictional recs list by "ice knives" partway through, and I want to read ALL OF THEM!
Fanwork Links: Love Takes Miles (read it in creator's style if you can, for the formatting)
Characters/Pairings: OFCs, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Scott Hunter/Kip Grady, Hayden Pike, Troy Barrett, mentions of many HR characters
Rating: Teen
Length: 6937
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply. Some mentions of homophobia and slurs.
Creator Links: corsi on AO3
Themes: Outsider POV, Unconventional format & style, Epistolary, Worldbuilding, Fans and fandom
Summary:
yara
troycabarettried to get oomf into hockey and now she's obsessed with FUCKING HOLLANOV? THEY'RE 50 YEARS OLD
Or: Ten years, as seen through fandom.
Reccer's Notes: This is courtesy of a rec in
cathexys' journal. It's another fic told through snippets from invented social media posts across about ten years, following the development, within the universe of Heated Rivalry, of hockey rpf fandom, mainly focusing on Hollanov (Ilya/Shane). It's extraordinarily well done, and although the story of Shane and Ilya's decade-long love affair is the core thread, the real tale is of the rpf fandom, specifically a few devoted fans. The poignancy and brilliance of this fic is the portraits it paints of fanwriters and young fans, immersed in the fandom while they grow and develop, moving through their own life stages and dramas while posting about the hockey players they love, especially Hollanov. And in the end, of course, the Hollanov truthers are resoundingly vindicated. The formatting makes it clear that we're seeing posts on tumblr, livejournal, AO3, Reddit, Twitter, etc., with different types of fandom on each platform. Hilarious and touching, this is a wonderful read, and the details are meticulous and very funny. PS: It may help to know in advance (as these may be hockey rpf terms with which I was unfamiliar) that 2481 is code for Hollander/Rozanov (their jersey numbers), and 2435 is Hollander/Pike. MHL is the Major Hockey League, HR's version of the NHL. Some details in the fic will probably only make sense if you've read the books.
PPS: Also, there's a fictional recs list by "ice knives" partway through, and I want to read ALL OF THEM!
Fanwork Links: Love Takes Miles (read it in creator's style if you can, for the formatting)