cornerofmadness

I made it to Louisville

2026-05-08T03:52:34Z

Uneventful drive luckily but got a late start thanks to the exam (which I have yet to finish posting for them) Just like that, the semester is over and graduation is in two days.

I will miss it so naturally we have a speaker I'd like to hear for once, the no-armed archer who won paraolympic gold. Our archery coach is also the coach for teh paraolypmpic team

I dragged so many bags into this old hotel it looks like I'm moving in. Cosplay takes up so much space.

Old style tv in here but I have Indiana Jones keeping me company. Can't complain.

Wish me luck on my reading tomorrow.

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I have found a new level of tired

2026-05-07T03:58:30Z

I woke up from a bizarre dream and immediately ended up with a phone call from the dentist saying they're sending me to collection if I don't pay now. I call them up and said whoa, you sent this bill back to my insurance and that was the last I heard of it (until yesterday. I did see a bill from them) I thought it was taken care of. It wasn't so I paid that.

I argue with the hotel people in Louisville to add a day to my reservation. Yes I know you can't give me the block price. That's fine. Stop apologizing and just add a day at full price. It's fine. I'll live.

I ran to Jackson to get meds and money and to relax a little before coming home.

I get home, finish my test for tomorrow and then realize I forgot I had a meeting today to learn this new syllabus software in Ohio's latest political overreach push (everything about my class has to be online, every topic, every room I'm in, every school I've ever attended)

By the time that was over it was time to start on my wacky wild Victorian/Edwardian medicine power point. I finished it at 11 pm. It's 40 slides. That should be plenty. I wanted more than I need better too long than too short. (I've been in these before twice when it was too short and it's awkward and annoying)

Finally start to pack. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. I still can't find my belt purse. NO clue where it is and I don't have time for this so suck it up and carry my tote bag with my little wallet and phone.

Tomorrow is going to be a nightmare between tests, finishing packing and driving nearly 4 hours at night.

Neighbors are watching Rocket.

So that dream. I was in some fancy all inclusive resort. It was very crowded. I had the vague feeling my family was with me. Also with me was my tenor sax and it's evening. I crack it out near the pool, shocked that the pads haven't dried out and fallen off. Suddenly I'm in the pool, wailing on this sax and people are into it. Water is splashing everywhere and people are telling me how great I am at this while I'm thinking I can't breathe, I havent' done this in years, I don't remember my fingering. Can I even still read music?

Someone claiming to be Frank Sinatra's kid (but didn't look older than me) wanted me to play for some party. I trot off and tell my brother about this. He is suitably impressed but then I get separated from everyone and I'm trying to find my room (in this high rise hotel). I'm in the elevator with escapees from a werewolf/vampire/goth movie and once I get to my floor it's chaos.

I don't know where to go ( cut because it gets gross )

What I Just Finished Reading:

Keeper of Lonely spirits - LGBT paranormal with older mains. - I liked this one

Death al Dente - crap

What I am Currently Reading:

The Death Card - is uncomfortably close to another series I've read with Afrocentric magic users (and the racist white ones getting in their way in New Orleans)

Dungeons and Danger - a paranormal mystery Vikings didn't have horned helmets for the love of god stop with the horns

What I Plan to Read Next:

Hooked on Murder - lousy so far

I'm too tired to share April's books. You'll get them next week.

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This day was 1 year long

2026-05-06T03:54:29Z

The test took forever, gave it at 11 AM finished grading it at 11 pm

Had to pop into the dean/president farewell for summer party.

Had a 2 hour biology dept meeting that sucked my will to live and accomplished...I have no damn idea

Half assed the draft of my last test

graded and graded and cried and realized I still have no powerpoint for Saturday and tomorrow is my only day off where I still have one test to make, grade more shit and pack everything. I still don't know how I'm pulling this all off.

I got this 30 day meme for our favorite fandoms from [Bad username or unknown identity: kitarella_imagines> Honestly I figure I can do it every Tuesday and pick an older fandom based on some of the questions. <lj-cut text=]
Day 1: Favourite season

Day 2: Favourite episode

Day 3: Favourite female character

Day 4: Least favourite female character

Day 5: Favourite male character

Day 6: Least favourite male character

Day 7: Favourite friendship

Day 8: Favourite romance

Day 9: Least favourite season

Day 10: Least favourite episode

Day 11: Best SFX / most woeful use of SFX

Day 12: Favourite villain

Day 13: Favourite guest character

Day 14: Character you relate to the most

Day 15: Character who didn’t get enough screen time

Day 16: Best use of a hoary old trope

Day 17: Two characters you wanted to get together that never did

Day 18: Favourite Liberator moment (change for other shows-how about Favourite unlikely friendship?)

Day 19: Favourite Scorpio moment (change for other shows- how about Favourite rivalry?)

Day 20: Favourite outfits

Day 21: Favourite fanon/headcanon

Day 22: Favourite audioplay

Day 23: Favourite cliffhanger

Day 24: Funniest moment

Day 25: Moment when you knew you were caught

Day 26: Favourite fanfiction

Day 27: Favourite scene

Day 28: Favourite quote

Day 29: Your song/fan mix for the show

Day 30: Would you like to see a modern remake?

I'm going with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer. My newer fandoms, Prodigal Son, Hazbin and The Owl House are all too short really to count

So for fannish 50 here we go

Day 1: Favourite season - Season two and three are tied. they had the best stories. Spike hadn't become annoying yet. We didn't have Andrew stinking up the joint. The villains were engaging. Giles was still involved. We didn't have the eyerolling Dark Willow magic as addiction crap and the less said about how Buffy was treated in S7-8 the better. The Mayor, Spike/Dru/Angelus were amazing. The introduction of Faith (and the anger at how badly she was treated or at least how indifferent) really kept me watching.

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One down

2026-05-05T03:30:18Z

and three to go for the finals. I did get them both done but I can't count. thankfully I had time to do the answer key before I printed the test (I don't always) and I numbered it question 35 and the next one was 51. Well then. I swore I checked that last night but I didn't apparently. At least the micro test was numbered right (but found a repeated question I had to fix) and it was easy enough to fix the other.

I bought the current#1 of Star Trek Lower Decks comics and let me say this, the art is amazing. It looks just like an episode of the animated show AND it did call backs to the 1977 Star Trek animated series and the art was spot on. Kudos. Read the free comics for the Lego Batman (not nearly as funny as it wanted to be) and Stitch (just weird).

I got a lot of writing done during the test but forgot the names of the minor characters and just put XXXs in as place holders. Was thinking tonight I should have a list of these names I could just pull up instead of searching the document for it. And just realized I DID make one and forgot it.

I still haven't called the hotel to extend my stay. Still haven't made the powerpoint but if I'm honest I'm struggling to do that one my lap top. I need time on the big screens because (if I haven't mentioned it) when my right eye got all inflamed...it never got better. It no longer hurts but I also can't see well out of it.

It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is # 24 A song with a one word title. Share my friends, share

( There are so many from the 1980s )

here's the whole prompt list

( All under here )

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The Good news

2026-05-02T02:59:17Z

1. The classes are over (the bad is yet another student told me the organ with baby kittens falling out of it was the brain)

2. My heart is fine.

The bad? This doctor has seen the last of me. He's an ass. Yeah I made another appointment (mostly because I didn't want them calling). It's not for 6 months so I have plenty of time to find another cardiologist. You could see it in his eyes. I wasn't sick enough to be interesting. I'm not really that sick at all.

Me, being an absent minded idiot, even though i finished inputting info into my blood pressure log, I forgot to print it. I DID have it on my flashdrive in my purse. When I offered it his reply was 'I don't need to see it.'

Then why the fuck did you make me DO three blood pressures a day for a fucking month?!?

My echo hadn't changed in 9 years (which I knew) and he was ready to let it go with that but I was NOT (he was running behind because he'd been called into the ER)

Me: so I have mild tricuspid regurgitation
Him: not unusual in women (I know this but I plan to go over my results point by point and fuck him trying to race off)

Me: but also mild diastolic dysfunction. Is that from sleep apnea (I know it is and my psychiatrist was concerned by this)
Him: yes, see someone to get a sleep study (i.e. not me)

Me: what would cause my diasstolic pressure to be so low (it's been 50-65 most of the time. Normal is 80)? this I didn't know but has gone to mayo clinic to look up. Often it's dehydration which makes sense being diabetic.

Him: could be aortic regurgitation but you didn't have that on echo, could be some athersclerosis but I doubt it (could be though I am diabetic) but we can't do anything about that (okay fair)

Me: did you get my month long (I'm still itching my chest wounds) holter monitor?
Him: yes.

Me: And? It didn't tell me because most patients wouldn't understand it, I know but I want to see what it said.

Him: You're tachycardic
Me: no duh, that's why I've had two echos now, and?

Him: and nothing really. No afib (thank god), no real issues, just tachycardia and a few pauses.

Me: Pauses? From sleep apnea (most likely)

HIm: nothing to worry about. You really need to talk to your endocrinologist, a lot of this is metabolic.

Me: will do (and get that sleep apnea)

Eye roll. Yeah this is the last I'll see of him. Life's too short to deal with uninterested docs.

One month of blood pressures and he didn't care. It's Beltane and a full moon. You're lucky I'm not hexing you.

Came home and the cheap Victorian gown from Amazon was here. And it's actually not bad quality. Certainly something I can build on for my Rosie cosplay. Alas it does button down the front. I have boobs and it gaps open. I can pin it shut. Also doesn't button at the neck just under the chin but that's fair. I can not bear things around my neck. I can put a brooch on that part.

Have some fannish 50 friday recs

Watch Your Step! Teen Wolf

Sect Leader Jiang's 31 step program to happiness
陈情令 | The Untamed

Can’t Go Home Again Torchwood

The Last Dance Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Losing John Inspector George Gently

Worn Hazbin Hotel

Team Work Stargate Atlantis

Anniversary Problems Torchwood

Thursday Afternoons with You The Owl House

Incredible Hazbin Hotel

The Long Road Home The Amazing Digital Circus

listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness Helluva Boss

To Ease The Pain Torchwood

Secrets in the Shadows Hazbin Hotel

Held Hazbin Hotel

no one can dream for you 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)

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I feel like the worst at my job

2026-04-30T03:44:28Z

I know I'm not. But with every passing year it's getting harder and harder to teach these kids anything. I never used to give words banks for the organ test because I figured you fucking had to know how to spell lung, heart, liver etc. They don't. Not any more.

( discussion of my dissecting lab test )

Watching S6 of Inspector Gently. Mom too. She called me to tell me unfortunately John lived. You know you could almost be sympathetic to him if they didn't write him like they do. Instead, you want to slap him.

What I Just Finished Reading:

Deadly Fates - Chinese mythology inspired, I really liked it

What I am Currently Reading:

Keeper of Lonely spirits - LGBT paranormal with older mains. It was slow starting but I like it.

Dungeons and Danger - a paranormal mystery arc

What I Plan to Read Next:

Hooked on Murder - lousy so far

Death al Dente - so far terrible

The Death Card

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Last night took it out of me

2026-04-29T03:25:34Z

Just as I was getting ready to go to bed at 130 AM the storm did something that scared me. You know how your lights flicker off and on because the power lines are galloping? It did it for about three minutes before failing. I was afraid something might have overloaded and caught fire (it didn't). Now it's too hot to sleep but raining too hard to open a window and my blood sugar is being stupid so I have to pee 4 times between bed time and 6 AM when the power finally turns on.

I said today can you believe it was the last week of class and several said 'thank god.' I know the feeling but on the other hand it stings.

my Indian cowoker brought in a curried egg dish and coconut rice filled with cardamon and cinnamon and so I had to have elevensies. I don't make the rules.

I came home to one story rejection but also one story accepted so I'm taking that as a win.

I'm too exhausted to think of anything for Tuesday's fannish 50. I am looking for thoughts, thinking of doing yet another con panel at a pop culture. I was thinking about the history of women writing horror. Would that be interesting? Maybe link it up with women mangaka/animators because surely there have to be some.

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The good news is

2026-04-28T03:39:20Z

My hair is no longer washed out color and grey. The bad news I'm 98% sure someone put black cherry dye in my violet box. Because this sure as shit ain't purple (and this is a brand and color I use often) but it IS definitely cherry red. Eye rolls. Still better than it was.

I'm 100% over everything.

At least the majors did well on the label the organs exam.

And I did get my holter monitor UPSed off.

We decided as a group we're going to do water aerobics next monday by ourselves. That feels good. I need this pool time

I'm thinking of not doing intoabar this time but I keep reminding myself it DOES NOT have to be a freaking epic.

I got a disappointing email today. They canceled the writing contest/anthology for the Bourbon City Steampunk fest. I was the only applicant. Awww. They said I could do a reading if I want. I'll put that back on them. If they want me to fill that slotted time with a reading I sure can. If not, that's fine too. I won't be disappointed not to have to read. I am sorry there won't be a paying anthology though. But who knows this could be a networking opportunity for me.

It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is # A song that reminds you of your favorite season. Boy I read that wrong. I thought it said all seasons. Ah well. Share my friends, share

( There is one that easily comes to mind )

here's the whole prompt list

( All under here )

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Another Day, another embalming

2026-04-25T03:56:39Z

So today's embalming fluid accident was my fault. I caught the bag on the packing staple and that fluid shot out of the bag like a fire hose. Everywhere. But most especially all over me. Whee. No fresh shirt this time. At least it was only a half day.

And the other exciting thing that happened was late tonight. I'm on the phone with evil_little_dog who might join me for 1 night during the Bourbon City steampunk thing. So I was looking at the schedule to be sure the writing thing wasn't at night because they have NOT gotten back to me at all about my story. I didn't want to say we can go on this or that ghost tour or bar or whatever shenanigans we'll get up to so I check the schedule.

At first all I can find is the guests and found out two friends I didn't even know were going to be there are there. Yea! Nothing about the writing thing. Boo. So I click around and find the daily schedule and there is nothing about the writing contest. There IS however MY DAMN NAME up there as a presenter Saturday and Sunday. NO ONE told me this!!!!

No wonder my friend PQ gave me that look and asked me if I were sure I wasn't presenting. What the actual hell? My only thought is maybe, somehow it went to the other gmail that my phone uses (and I don't have access too) but there should be no reason for that. I know what email I gave them.

I am presenting in two weeks. I DO NOT HAVE ONE OF THE TALKS. When I never heard back I didn't make it up since I wouldn't need it til Gettysburg in August. Now I have to come up with this talk on Victorian/Edwardian wacky medicine that's 1 hour long from out my ass during finals. Kill me.

That said it should be fun.

( cut for dissection details )

Have your Friday Fannish 50 fandom recs

the break Prodigal Son

God Of Coffee Torchwood

Acceptance Stargate SG-1

Consent is key Hazbin Hotel

Angel Enchanted Hazbin Hotel

Moonless Night Torchwood

Worlds Apart The Fantastic Journey

The Long Road Home The Amazing Digital Circus

Family Tree Merlin

Learn To Piece My Parts Together The Amazing Digital Circus

Gentle Hazbin Hotel

Perfect Inspector George Gently

Whoopsies Hazbin Hotel

Blood And Death Torchwood

be yourself along the way 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜

Blood Ties Hazbin Hotel

Afterlife of the party Hazbin Hotel

Paternity Testing Stargate Atlantis

First Hazbin Hotel

Close the Distance, Lock Us In 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)

Spice of Life 9-1-1

Before Breakfast Inspector George Gently

Birthright The Amazing Digital Circus

Building Alliances Teen Wolf

Secondhand Knowledge Merlin

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I can't seem to write dates down right

2026-04-24T03:52:17Z

So I was one week early for my hair appointment...at a new place...fantastic.

Cleveland Clinic called me twice (because someone didn't make a note of calling me in the morning) It seems that my local hospital hasn't sent my records. No surprise in 20 years they never have. Screams.

Talked to the insurance. Yep I can NOT get the Dex com at a pharmacy. I have to get it from a durable goods place. I asked who lied to me you or the other guy. Oh no I help you. Sure you did.

Gave a test today. One student drew a picture of herself dying in the exam. It was accurate. I gave her a point for it. Would have been more helpful if she had answered the last 3 pages but okay.

Even my brisket was disappointing today. I get brisket a couple times a month from the same place. They see me and order my sandwich immediately. I'm predictable as the tides (but I don't eat a lot of meat period) and every so often instead of the yummy well seasoned smoked goodness I get something bland and dry as stew meat. It was a stew meat kinda day, thank god I made a spicy au jus.

I took off the holter monitor pad as one part was falling off. It ripped off a hunk of my skin so I got to bleed from my chest. That was fun. My shirt stuck to the boo boo. Now I get to put a fresh pad back on. Yay.

I did a thing today. My work con emailed and asked if we would be willing to mentor first time faculty at the con which can be big and overwhelming. Someone unofficially grabbed me up day 1 of my first con. Now they're trying to codify it and I did say yes to helping a newcomer.

Little piss ants are all over my place. Ugh. I hate spring for this very reason. They're getting into everything. Why are they in the computer room and bathroom?!?

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Happy Earth Day

2026-04-23T03:48:02Z

I celebrated by splashing embalming fluid all over me because one of the student groups hadn't sealed the bag right. Thank god I had a t-shirt for yoga to change into...my The Owl House Bad Girl Coven shirt that I had to go to class in AND the all-faculty meeting today. Whee.

And then someone called in a bomb threat to the local Wal-Mart and I have to wonder if it's related to all the bomb threats being called into the local schools.

I ended up not going to yoga. When i got there my sugar hit 70 and I had to nope out. Went to taco bell for a sugary drink to make driving home safer. It was more money for the drink than food. Noped out of that too.

Getting the run around so in spite of insurance company telling me I don't need anything to get my dex coms at CVS, CVS said yes I need a prior authorization from my doctor and they asked for. Fast forward a week and I ask CVS again. Oh your doctor didn't send the PA We'll ask again. Knowing CVS has lied about this in the past I call myself. Sure enough CVS has never bothered to ask for it. So I do and like an hour later I have it for some online drug company I've never heard of and have no account with. Head desk. I hate our health care system.

What I Just Finished Reading:

What Feasts in the Night - not quite as good as the first novella but still a fun read.

Hazelthorn - ya horror, really enjoyed this

What I am Currently Reading:

Deadly Fates

Keeper of Lonely spirits - this one is astrange

What I Plan to Read Next:

Hooked on Murder - lousy so far

Death al Dente - so far terrible

The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail)

Back into the last Inspector George Gently. Mom is about to bail on this for the same reason I'm thinking of it, John Bacchus. This guy creeps me out more every episode for five damn seasons now.

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Words of the World

2026-04-22T04:04:00Z

Today has been a day of words.

Our international students were putting on a poetry/short story festival in our library as a way of showcasing their native poems and getting them to express themselves. I was one of the few faculty who volunteered to read as well but since it was only 5 minutes or less per reader I had to choose one of Jana's flash fic, nothing like reading a wee lesbian monster hunter story but they liked it (and hey it's lesbian visibility week).

We have students from Spain, Italy, Wales, Ireland, England, Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Israel, Canada, Samoa and more. Mostly the poems were read in Spanish or Portuguese, whispered into the mic. Even the Italian was quiet but it went well.

It went better than me telling off my class this afternoon (they're probably on some rate my professor website going Dr. Evans is a bitch) because on Thursday they have a test on the brain and endocrine but we're currently in the kidney (which is on the final) and I ask about aldosterone and anti diuretic hormone which both effect kidneys and water balance. NONE of them could tell me this. They looked at me like these aren't on their test in two days and their final in two weeks. I nearly made a few of them cry when I mentioned there is no reason for them to not know this since we've been talking about it for three weeks now and that test is 48 hours from now. You can't let me cut your legs out from under you know. If you fall down at this point there isn't time to get back up. If you go down, you're staying there. It's harsh but it has to be because next week's lab test won't save them and the final is rarely anyone's friend.

The writers' virtual chat today was unusual, more conversation about the business end than us writing but it was productive and Liliana and Asha (not to mention Ezio)'s story is over 20K. I feel like I've accomplished something.

But I'm a bit brain dead for a fannish 50 today so let me end this with a poem since it's poetry month and that's the theme of the day. I love Christina Rosetti This is Remember

( Remember )

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So you begged me for....this?!?

2026-04-21T03:30:09Z

So as I mentioned my majors (the pre professional crew, not my nurses) BEGGED me to move the exam today because they weren't ready. Well the two who would have had an A last week got them. The other five scored so badly they should explain to me how they could do this badly on cardiovascular, literally the easiest thing we do this semester. This is a year where I could easily pass just two students. There really isn't an excuse for this but this is also what happens when several of them are part time students at best between choices they make and the sports they play. My empathy is running dry here.

At least there was water aerobics and I love that. I've decided even if we don't pay for this in fall I will do this on my own. Hell I will lead our little group if need be. We can trade off. This is good for us.

Today my hard copy of the last anthology I'm in arrived unexpectedly today. I'm thrilled Myths Reborn: Modern Tales of Cryptids & Dark Folklore check it out. I love the cover

Called the Cleveland Clinic because they're blowing up my phone to get my gastric paresis appointment. I get them and they go oh...you're still in the entrance process. We're not ready to give you an appointment. So why the fuck won't you stop texting me?!? They'll call me when it's time to make an appointment.

It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is # 22 a song that describes you, Share my friends, share

( this is hard )

here's the whole prompt list

( All under here )

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Book club

2026-04-18T03:51:00Z

I think I'm going to keep going to book club because every other month we're having free themed reads vs us all reading one book. Next up summer beach read. I already have the perfect book, a choose your own adventure summer slasher book. Can't wait.

Today was a day where our department might have been too honest with the outside reviewer but maybe having an outsider repeat what we're saying are problems will sink in.

Spoke to my shit insurance about my dex com. Oh yes just send it to the pharmacy. we use them. 3 hours later CVS texts me to say they require authorization. So much for that. Your rep literally LIED to me on the phone. I hate this insurance.

Have the Friday 50 Fan rec (I did not write this week. I've been only working on the novel which is a good thing)

Stay With Me Torchwood

Safety In Numbers The Fantastic Journey

You're Insecure (Pushing Allure) Hazbin Hotel

Lemons Hazbin Hotel

The River Wild FAKE

Hope in the Future The Professionals

‘Three And Murderbot 2.0’s Most Recent Sexual Encounter (No Survivors)’ Murderbot

Enamoured Hazbin Hotel

So Much to Fix... Miraculous Ladybug

Warmup Fire Emblem Engage

Not A Dream Torchwood

dream, dream, dream, next to me, me, me Arcane: League of Legends

shining on the inside, maybe From

Killing Us Hazbin Hotel

The Horchata Compromise The Owl House

Bee-Lieve in the Me That Believes in You The Amazing Digital Circus

The Greater the Diversity The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Breaching The Defences Inspector George Gently

cover up the crooked lines 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

Perseverance Elementary (TV)/ Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century (Cartoon)

Second Best Inspector George Gently

Dreamy Hazbin Hotel

Lots to Do Teen Wolf

Space Pirates and Cozy Couch DatesFire Emblem Engage

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Condoms everywhere

2026-04-17T03:45:27Z

So today was me talking about urogenital infections in microbiology class going wear. your. condoms!!

And I also told them for extra credit they can go to the health fair on campus and tell me one vendor they interacted with. So I go over there and there are just condoms all over, no less than three groups giving them out. One of them puts free condoms in the dorms but when I asked about it the students looked at me like I had grown another head.

I thought it was because they didn't have them there. Apparently they were shocked I knew about bowls of condoms like their little Gen Z butts invented the things. Ha. Actually I loved the key chains that contained condoms. If I had any need I'd have snatched one of them up.

Talked to health care providers of all types especially mental health ones. They had a trans rights group that I spoke to just to be sure they were okay because this is NOT a LGBT of any kind friendly place. They gave me tons of stickers.

The doctor's nurse called me again this time to find out if I had read the echocardiogram. Yes. No I have no questions because I can see it's the same as it was 10 years ago. Oh that's what the doctor said too. Yes I DO have questions but they can wait until I see him and ask directly

I had to take a book back to the gallipolis library (not my usual one) and FINALLY saw the Lego exhibit before they take it down next week. 120 exhibits all on travel. There were space ships and chariots and stage coaches and a bugati and a silver ghost rolls royce (all the history on plaques I couldn't squat down to see, made for kids of course).

The showstopper was the Titanic, 200,000 pieces built by 3 Lego masters over four months. Only 10 of the exhibits have actual instructions. They almost all were built by artistic talent. I have tons of photos on my camera.

I was going to share them but the night went sideways. had a hypoglycemic attack in the exhibit, went to dinner to stabilize, came home, went to unwind with some June's Journey. Apparently fell asleep sitting up only waking up when my limbs went numb and painful.

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Today was a lot

2026-04-16T03:57:30Z

My one class begged me to move the test from today to monday. I did.

The other class should have begged me. Holy shit. I do not what to say. Based on their spelling I would swear they're fifth graders. They aren't borderline illiterate. We're over the border. I do know that when I took this job they asked me could I teach illiterate students and those ones were head and shoulders over this. They literally frighten me to let them loose in a hospital.

I saw my doctor. I love her. So. Much. She listens to me. Anything I want I get. She thinks my cardiologist needs to be doing more than writing pills but agreed with me that the echo looked good (i fucking forgot to bring my lab reports with me). She is as worried as me because I've gained 20 pounds in 9 months. This is in spite of me actively cutting down on calories and exercising more. I'm worried. I'm concerned. Why in the last nine months is my blood pressure skyrocketing along with my weight? She thinks the insulin I think it's that plus the stress. I have no other explanations but it has made me very sad.

The doc said 'the nurse said you're having knee pain which on....oh never mind.' Yeah because the right one was such a balloon of swelling you could see the difference thru my jeans.

Speaking of sad I hope to hell my poker face was working today. One of my students, a nice young person I've had two semesters now. They wanted my advice because they have two pick between two surgeries...for pancreatic cancer. They're worried about falling behind in their course work and the big life changes they have planned for the summer and as I'm helping them navigate medical holds on the classes thinking you'll be lucky to be alive on graduation day next year. It has a terrible survival rate and I know this. I couldn't help them other than to arrange for them to talk to my work friend DM who is a 5 year pancreatic cancer survivor(the one I mentioned on monday whose cancer is back and spreading)

I don't like this day much.

And during the test I was rereading a chapter trying to find the steam for the one I'm writing and whining about. And realized I had FORGOTTEN a major detail. It would make things much more interesting even without me changing anything. Ezio is swearing Phoenix didn't have a lover but I forgot the coroner found out she's pregnant. It's gonna hit Ezio hard.

What I Just Finished Reading:

Stay for a Spell - cozy fantasy, loved this

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - ouch

What I am Currently Reading:

Deadly Fates

What Feasts in the Night

Keeper of Lonely spirits (or something like that)

Hazelthorn - ya horror, really good so far

What I Plan to Read Next: Hooked on Murder - lousy so far

The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail)

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Make my Italian Heart sing

2026-04-15T03:39:08Z

Today was the faculty awards. When I first started at this school, each award had its own dinner with family and friends and story telling. To be honest it was a bit much. Money got tight. It became 1 party for everyone with less talking.

By the time I won one, it was here's your award, we'll take 1 picture and there are some cookie on a tray. No one cared. Then covid hit. Now we've decided to try and reclaim these awards. Still hardly anyone came but two people in my school won so I went and OMG the food was foccia with make your own toppings (hummus, pesto etc, I went pesto and chunks of feta) then there were grilled veggies, salami picante (pepperoni) dry salami with black pepper crust, mozzarella pearls, and rolls of proscuitto which I assumed were wrapped around cheese and then a huge fruit platter. Turns out the proscuitto was just a giant jellyroll of meat. I was shocked given how expensive this is.

I ate two platters and then a third and then they said, everyone take it home. Watch me through a pound of proscuitto into a take out container. Yum. Salami and more damn bread. I am happy.

I am also embarrassed because a student came in to find out why she did so badly on her exam. Turns out she hadn't. I transposed the numbers. SO SORRY!

Last night's stress dream, I was brushing Rocket and he had flea eggs in him...but at first they were the size of cavier. And the more I brushed, the slimier and bigger they got until there were dozens of them the size of marbles. I didn't know what kind of bug eggs these were but I couldn't get up without getting the eggs everywhere. Thanks brain. You're the best.

For fannish 50 I wanted to talk a little indie animation. So the fandom has lost their shit about The Amazing Digital Circus releasing in the theaters early. I mean being fucking rude, cruel etc because damn fandom is entitled any more.

And yes, I get it. It went terribly for Hazbin which did the same. People scalped tickets, scalped the collectors items and worse SPOILED it. I didn't heard any but it was bad.

Of course the fandom is worried but put it in the light of Glitch's response right here. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw Indie animation in a theater? We get Disney/Pixar and Dreamworks. If we're lucky we get something Miyazaki did.

We are getting a true indie animation in a theater. It sold out in minutes. It earned FIVE million dollars in pre sales. Imagine that.

Imagine what could come next. Yes some fans will spoil it and it's shitty that they will. But this is something big.

Meanwhile on Kickstarter I've tossed a coin to another indie animation in Clara and the Below. Check it out, really cool stuff and Matt Braly did Gravity Falls and Amphibia so I figure the animation will be really cool.

In an era where Disney is turning to AI animators we need this.

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How are we halfway thru April

2026-04-14T03:16:33Z

I'm running out of time for so many things. I have less than 3 weeks of class left.

I have never been this stressed out wishing I didn't have to work. Don't get me wrong. I do have stress nightmares every november and april as the semesters run down but I am hating to go to work. That's how burned out they're making us with making us all do the work of two. Our open letter to admin has (so far) been ignored. If I were younger I'd probably look for a different career. I think this has a LOT to do with my blood pressure issues after a lifetime of being low BP.

I live in hope of getting my shit together because I have to. Those trips are less than a month away and I've prepared jack shit.

It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is # 21 An 80s song, Share my friends, share

Also I wish book 2 of the 80s monster hunter series would keep writing itself. It's like it gave up and I don't know why. Also I miss the 80s (or at least my 1980s body)

( I have no restraint )

here's the whole prompt list

( All under here )

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That was nice

2026-04-11T03:49:55Z

SF, one of our wildlife profs stops me on the way to lab to tell me our mutual friend PQ was here to do a guest lecture. He was partially the inspiration for Josh in These Haunted Hills PQ was a naturalist in the Hocking Hills (which is how SF knows him) and is part of my steampunk group and also loves ghost hunting and beer making (how I know him) I didn't get to hear the lecture because I had lab but I did get to talk to him about our upcoming Steampunk con in Lousiville.

The cheater finally came to lab pretending like it's all alright. It is not and I do feel a little bad that she doesn't seem to know how much trouble she's in. Ah well.

Any of my British mystery fans know Whistable Pearl? I'm starting it tonight.

My coffee shop has this month a new latter Almond Joy. This one is very good. I'll need to make it myself.

So The Amazing Digital Circus dropped a teaser trailer today for the 9th episode which is the last one and it will also be released in the theater early. this worked out horribly for Hazbin, just saying. I didn't know where to get tickets because I'll be traveling at that time. I dicked around and by the time 3 hours went by Pittsburgh was sold out. However, Huntington barely sold ANY tickets. So yeah I have tickets now.

I did a little writing. This was for spikesgirl58's 6 words challenge. It's a potential chapter in my new novel. It may or may not happen. I'm thinking about it. It has seen zero editing so be warned.

Speaking of warnings, there is a minor mention of drug addiction, also mentioned (in no detail) child sexual abuse and PTSD. Also minor blood, mentions of sex work

( Brush with death )

And the Friday Fannish rec for Fannish 50

Coming Back Inspector George Gently

Making A Splash Torchwood

Safe And Sound Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Miss Mabel Make Plans Teen Wolf

On His Level Hazbin Hotel

Eggsplanations Torchwood

Mysterious Messenger The Fantastic Journey

Curious Hazbin Hotel

Munch Ado about Cookies The Owl House

A Narrow Escape Inspector George Gently

I May Have Hurt Your Head, But You Hurt My Heart Hazbin Hotel

Multiple Signals Hazbin Hotel

no exit (huis clos) The Amazing Digital Circus

Belief Torchwood

Head Over Heels Starsky & Hutch

Gently Going Undercover Inspector George Gently

The Perils of Paperwork Teen Wolf

The Past Reconfigured Stargate Atlantis

Who Needs Sleeping Nettles The Owl House

Lost Souls MCU

Black/Blue Hazbin Hotel

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Rough day

2026-04-10T03:59:00Z

DM's cancer is back. Family member also diagnosed with cancer. Family fights. I'm very done.

On better news I did catch two more cheaters with the phone ban (either that or they forgot there was a test today because that is the only other explanation from going from 98 % to 50%)

I have a confession. I love Chef Boyardee pizza sauce. I know I know but it's true but I can't find it in the stores any more. I got a flat of it online so I can use my own dough. I thought it was half cans. Let's leave it at I can make a couple dozen pizzas. I am not complaining.

I know that I've put this here before. I could not decide on my story for wipbigbang because the AU I REALLY wanted to do...just isn't gelling so maybe this one. I know it's somewhere in my blog but let's make this easy on me and repost it here

( Read more... )

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A packed day

2026-04-08T03:51:15Z

Tuesday/Thursday are my long days and today was very long. It's only a few weeks until classes are over and my research students are spinning around. Turns out the new incubators we have on loan for micro suck it. They have SUCH a strong fan it's trying out the agar to the point of uselessness. Had to spend time googling can we turn the fan down (no) what else we can do (put distilled water in there to help humidify it) these seems like a design flaw.

One my special agars went missing. Argh. Found a different special agar that we can use thankfully.

I never get a moment to work on my exam for Thursday.

Students showed up. 'Dr. Evans there is a BAT in the study room.' (Funny part this is the same student who found the bat in the sink last time) So I get a wild life prof we suit up in mammal handling gloves but I don't do much. My climbing on chairs days are over. We get this adorable eastern brown bat safely back outside. Meanwhile these students were in this room for 2 hours with this bat just chilling asleep on the wall and they never noticed. (we need observational skills in health care, just saying).

After work, I race home, change, go out to eat because I'm going to an art thing at the library at 6. I slide in and there we have black canvases. We're making 'galaxies.' the pro art is faint swirls of purple/blue/pinks with white stars.

Well there wasn't much instruction other than go dark to light on the colors purple to blue to teal to pink and daub them on the canvas with the sponge with no instruction on how to get the swirls I kept waiting for it. Next thing I knew here's the white, splatter on your stars. Um....HOW do I make it look like a night sky? By now it's too late to swirl, it's dry. So I didn't get a galaxy but it looks like a 1980s era party pattern. I do rather like it. I think it's rather pretty but it did fail the assignment

Also I painted it all left handed.

I race home (since this was SHORT) I got the exam mostly done before the writer's virtual meet up happened. I blasted out about 800 words on a halloween short story and about 1500 words on the novel. I really need to get this moving because I don't want it to be overly long. It's weird suspense/mystery they want you to stick near 80K. Fantasy is longer which is good because the 80s novel is over 100K and now it's like add description. Where? What do I lose of the plot for this? That's hard. Writing's hard.

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How to become the most hated prof on campus in one simple move

2026-04-01T03:30:12Z

Today was round 1 against the cheaters. I took our dept admin assistant with me and I said 'we're following the syllabus' and ALL items but a pen/pencil will be up here in the front with me and I want to see those phone before you put them in the book bag. (that's why I needed help watching them).

The looks of panic and fury were flying fast. They were pissed and scared because you knew some of them didn't study. They planned to cheat. The one I knew had been cheating tried to sneak her phone back. I made her put it down. She didn't even score 50% but of course not, I haven't seen her in a month since the last test.

Rolling my eyes hard at Amazon. I bought some socks which were vacuum packed so they could be put in a padded envelope to save on packing and environmental costs (which are high in online shopping) and what did Amazon do? Shove it in a big ass box with tons of paper waste.

Here's a few things for fannish 50

Masters of the Universe This looks kind of amazing even though I don't like live action versions of animation and let's face it, He-Man wasn't long on plot. that said this guy looks like he was born to play He-Man

as for the rest of fannish 50 have the remaining four meta pieces I did for marchmetamatterschallenge That way they're here if somehow they're taken down at AO3. I've never had issues with meta there but others have apparently?

( The Morningstars' Fatal Flaw )

( Vox Out of history )

( Lyrics that make you go huh? )

( Glow Up )

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All the pain today

2026-03-27T03:22:56Z

My knee is warming up for its replacement. I'm not sure if it's the new shoes, the constantly changing weather, the yoga or the water aerobics but the knee hurts like a broken tooth.

More sad news at work for a work friend almost 5 years cancer free who can no longer say that.

The more I thought about last night's question the more I realize you can't possibly answer without seeing the story in the first place. I'll have to hold that until I get an alpha reader.

I think it was spurred on by the arc I was given for book 8 in the series (note to self next time publishers contact you, look over the author's list. No one wants to come in on book 8) This book so far is 10 pages of info dump of every fact the author learned about the Underground Railroad. Way too much info too quick.

I am conflicted about tonight's community rec wipbigbang I love this group. My conflict is I have no idea what to share. I don't want my only 2 actual wips to wait until sept/oct to fully share them. Do I find another ancient Buffy story I might be able to finish? I just don't know. I guess I'm a bit burned out and I have so much work to do this summer. I still want to do this and I DO rec it to all of you.

And for women's history month how about this one? The Church of England gets its first woman leader, happening right now. That is cool

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Burn out

2026-03-26T03:02:56Z

That's what we're being driven to. Nursing is probably pissed at me because I refuse to do one of my classes online. It's for the freshman. No, we're not. So far these online classes are a nightmare of failing software.

We had a pointless all-school meeting (we do every month) and I'm like why are we voting on this? It's mandated by the state. We have to do it.

Sigh. And again no one but me cares.

Maybe others might have thoughts/suggestions. I'm thinking I'm revealing one character's backstory too much too soon. I think I would like it to remain hidden a little longer but the problem is Asha (a detective) knows his secrets. Lilian (her new partner) would ask about this guy. His employee is the sex worker/dancer who is killed in chapter 1. She would ask. So I'm like great now everyone knows his secret and we're only in chapter 4.

I'm not sure I see a good way around it other than maybe his history isn't as well known as I thought but really that makes no sense either. He was taken by a m ajor sex trafficker as a child. Asha knows what Goren did to children. He was one of those they couldn't make things stick to (rich buddies buying him out of trouble) so not sure how to write my way out of this hole. Maybe it's not as disappointing as I think it is.

Yoga went really well tonight. She modified it so I could do 90% of it but one thing I did (and easily) was one that it was easy to move past my natural joint movement into bad zones (which I often can't tell because of my condition) and I think that elevated butterfly move pulled my groin. Rolls eyes.

What I Just Finished Reading:

With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee

What I am Currently Reading:

Violet Thistlewaite is not a villain any more so far, I really like this one

Back to Zombie Day Care just to get it over with and tick off a few challenge boxes

What I Plan to Read Next: The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail) and The Book woman of troublesome creek for the book club

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Falling behind

2026-03-18T03:53:22Z

On commentary again. I see you. I appreciate you. Mid term grades are due tomorrow so I am overwhelmed. And annoyed. And I will be busier and busier as we go. At least 5 of the 7 students who missed the midterm before break showed up today and took their exam (we had like three sports teams out that week) one had a good excuse for coming tomorrow and the other (who happens to be the one who's been cheating) didn't bother to let me know what they're doing so someone is gonna be surprised tomorrow when grades go in

I did want to say a lot of you did respond to my question about those scenes that won't leave you alone. Most do what I do as well, write them out and even if you don't use them, it's out of your head. While I do this I don't do it enough and I think that is because I'm afraid if I do, the whole thing will go quiet. I've had that happen. That's a whole different set of problems.

I'm not feeling St Patrick's day so it is also St Gertrude of Nivelles day, the patroness of cats among other things so let's combine the day with Women's History and here's more about her.
Gertrude of Nivelles

for Fannish 50 let's have a talk.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Reveals The Real Cause Of The 'Buffy' Reboot Cancellation—And Fans Are Livid

I wasn't sure I was thrilled about the reboot but it grew on me the more I learned about it but can we as fans say how fucking tired we are of some exec making foolish choices based on their arrogance and feelings. Bragging how much you hated Buffy and didn't bother with it originally is not a good reason to make this choice.

Three seconds of research would show that 25 years later still has fans churning out a few dozen stories/art/articles practically daily. You're talking a rabid fan base ready for th is, not to mention a whole new generation of fans to woo. So Hulu is losing a ton of profit because of one man's ego. And this is not for the first time. We've seen this time and again, especially with these 25 y.o. male execs who seem to not understand their audiences at all.

The last time I was this infuriated was with Prodigal Son which Fox touted as it's number one show and then 1 episode from the end, cancels it taking everyone including the cast by surprise.

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