cornerofmadness

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

Nothing but storms, high winds and tornado warnings (nothing spinny here in PA but who knows about back home).

So I did nothing but taxes (smaller refund and less pay in general, shocker) and grading ALL the things. I worked from 11-7. My brain is tired now.

So you'll get my books and one thing I've been forgetting for forever.

What I Just Finished Reading:

At Death's Dough - a so-so mystery. It took forever to get started and the ending was dumb

The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s talk about dumb endings

I Want to be a Wall - a lavender marriage with an aro-ace BL loving girl and a gay man in love with his childhood friend. It was decent but not even for me to read more.


What I am Currently Reading:

The Snow Child - so far depressing. It's for my ugly prompt of dealing with infertility. It's a retelling of the

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



What I Plan to Read Next: With Friends Like These, La Grand Familia, and Luna Park history


I keep forgetting to post about kingstoken's reading challenge which you can see here. It's a prompt bingo. I'm going for a black out.

This is what I have so far (too tired to link them up, sorry, also I need to get up soon. Been sitting too long)

I'm just sharing the ones I've done

Main character over 30 The Final Problem by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

Graphic novel/comic book Heavy Vinyl Complete Collection by Carly Usdin

Set at a school/university - Murder Made Her Wicked by Elizabeth Hobbs

No sex/romance - Murder in the Ranks by Kristi Jones

Figures without facial features on the cover - Murder Made Her Wicked by Elizabeth Hobbs

Crime/mystery - Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder

Book Older than you are - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Female author - Tell-Tale Treats: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel by Jennifer J. Chow

A favorite author blurbed it - This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar

Banned book - Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler & Damian Duffy

YA/Children’s - A Curious Kind of Magic by Mara Rutherford

My building at work is collapsing on one side not only are we working to fix that we hope to have money to renno some of the labs. It was a 2 hour meeting with the architect today and that was hopeful plus they teased the idea of other money for equipment and brought up the virtual cadaver table. I have the paperwork for those but they're 100K so let's fix the building first.

I thought my writer's zoom was today but no one was there. Wondering why. Sad I didn't get that. Did I just do it by myself? you know I didn't.

I forgot to share my books yesterday so here are Feb's reads


Cooking with Monsters fantasy LGBT graphic novel

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires Urban Fantasy

Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation dystopic near future SF

When the Moon Hits Your Eye near future SF

Heavy Vinyl Complete Collection LGBT graphic novel

Rebecca Gothic classic

Dark Life YA near future SF

But first HAPPY BIRTHDAY seta_suzume



Hope it was a great one.


Had my virtual psychiatrist visit. She lit up when she saw me. Your office is so cool! Look at your plants! And quizzes me on the jungle behind me.

You look so much better in just a month (which is ironic since apparently both me and my brother woke up exhausted. We're both surrounded by flu so I think I have been exposed but my vaccine is kicking in) You look like you're doing better OFF your anti depressants than you were on. She let me choose what I wanted to do. See you no drugs in 2 months because in the year I've been on the meds my blood pressure has shot up. She knew that but hearing other symptoms she said you're getting an EKG and taking it to your pcp. Yep, fair, good idea. I'm a little worried honestly that the coughing stuff isn't a hiatal hernia but rather cardiac. I want to chase this shit down.

It's Ash Wednesday. It's been since forever since it mattered much. Years ago I gave up the idea of suffering to be more like Jesus. I have in the past did charity work and/or donation. And then I saw this. I see how much HATE this Pope gets not for some of the shit the church has pulled. No, because he keeps reminding Maga what Jesus actually said and he is pissing them off. I like this and while I can't promise to keep my mouth off some of the shit stuff MAGA does I CAN give up negative self talk and see if I can see my own self in a better light. If we can love ourselves, we do better in the world I think.



What I Just Finished Reading:

Heavy Vinyl Complete Collection by Carly Usdin - really fun sapphic comic full of girl power and 90s vibes and lovely art



What I am Currently Reading:


The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s (no progress because I couldn't get the netgalley app to download. FINALLY did and so far it's not freezing up_

Dark Life - YA book (so far so good)



Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - She's a fucking passive twit and yet I don't hate this


Check Please sticks and scones - had to find one for my favorite winter olympic sport. Okay that is NOT hockey but that's what the library had and the first book was cute.



What I Plan to Read Next: This Is How You Lose the Time War, La Grand Familia, Zombie Day Care and This Is How You Lose the Time Lord

Luna Park history

Which is better title than Rocket is a shit (but he is) So I called my bank. They called both phones...to sell me INSURANCE!?! I was too stunned to say anything other than what? Oh all kind but health. WHY would you not have just said that in the message? I hardly slept last night thinking I was hacked and cleaned out because you left me two messages on two phones to call you.



It's a beautiful snow on my road. It was really pretty, at least to me. And then I got to the top of my hill (in the opposite direction of the hill I'm looking up for this picture) and the accident is still there. An 18 wheeler jackknifed and went over the guard rails. That metal plow on asphalt noise I heard must have been the guard rails failing. It was still there 14 hours later when I went to work. Luckily the cab seems to be whole so hopefully the driver wasn't too badly hurt.




It's not a great pic but there was a whole crew up there and I didn't want to seem ghoulish.

And Rocket IS a shit. He wanted out this morning. I tried to put him back in when I left. He refused and ran. Fine you'll be in the snow for hours buddy. I come racing in because I needed to do something in Jackson and then had a faculty meeting. I'm sitting here on Teams after Rocket races inside He immediately jumps in the litter, throwing it everywhere and poops. Well then. I guess he's decided that he likes to poop in a box and make me clean it (after 4 years of hating that box) or more likely he can scratch thru the ice to poop.


What I Just Finished Reading:

Cooking with Monsters - a graphic novel about monster hunting chefs.. ha. It wasn't bad.

What I am Currently Reading:

When the Moon Hits Your Eye - weird and I'm not sure I like it

The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s

Dark Life - YA book (so far so good)

The Parable of the Sower graphic novel (this is not the right time for this dystopia but if fulfills a reading prompt)

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - liking t his better than I expected.

What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia Zombie Day Care and something by Alison Bechdel about being superhuman. Oh joy an exercise memoir. Nearly done.

Luna Park history - it was an amusement park in Pittsburgh around 1910. Mostly interested because it feels like a place to set a story. I mean a lion escaped from it and ate a woman.


And have I mentioned that I'm doing the American Cancer Society February readathon. You can see more about it here on facebook.

because no one, not even me, cares that the heat is almost out again at work. Dad's like you've been saying this for a decade. Because it's true every winter. Let's never fix a thing at my school.

Though yesterday was strange. I was walking in the hall of my building when a young lady says 'I love your hair.' I thank her, pleased. 3 seconds later....was she on the phone with someone else? she's not one of MY students. Why did she say that? My hair is awful. Literally my entire life I was bullied for what my hair was like. I find it hard to accept praise for it.


Also I'm on a fanfic reading hiatus until I clear off the half dozen library holds.

What I Just Finished Reading:

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Vampire Hunting - hated this

Queen in Comics! By Emmanuel Marie - not a bad prose/graphic novel mix little bio. How, I don't know, but I had no idea Freddie was raised in the Zoasterian faith

Werewolf at Dusk and other Stories - David Small - three short stories, illustrated by Small.

What I am Currently Reading:

A Curious Kind of Magic - so far an interesting not-quite-cozy mystery

Sugar and Vice - oh look another baker cozy mystery, this one set in Florida. Even with the eye rollingly stereotypical amateur sleuth this is sort of fun.


What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia and Zombie Day Care and the library books including one on Sally Ride and one Alison Bechdel who did Fun House. I hope this is better than that thing. (I needed a book about a character who does pilates. This graphic novel has that)

I had two things shipping to my parents house. One that was supposed to be shipped back on the 30th but was telling me it should have arrived monday and one that should have shipped by the 3rd that wasn't supposed to arrive until tomorrow. Both arrived today. Woot. I bought my coveted raven dress from Svaha when they had everything 40% off and I had preordered the husk and angel figures in Loser Baby blue in the summer. Wow, Bandai really hit it out of the park with these two (especially compared to the stuff I got from Youtooz). Now to find a place to put them.

Made it back to Ohio (nearly forgot my apartment key!) half the crap is in the house, half is still in the car. It was a good drive. Rocket is between my feet on the recliner, happy as hell I'm back (mad as hell that I forgot to leave behind 1 can of food for him and only have kibble, he's mad as hell and I hear about it every time I move)

Given how iced over my freezer is, my power must have been out for a long time. Probably throwing all of that stuff out. sigh.

What I Just Finished Reading:

Keeping the Secret - Mostly the tales of the WAVS in Dayton OH in the ladies' own words

Murder Made Her Wicked - loved this historical mystery set in Wellesley


What I am Currently Reading:



The Witching Hour - by Heather Graham. how is this series so successful? This is not my first in the series (which I forgot when I requested this arc) this is not good.

Murder in the Ranks - Set in WWII with the WAACs in North Africa. Really different. I've read other WWII mysteries but never one with the lady in the war zone. I'm very much enjoying this one


What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia and Zombie Day Care

I had to go to Chillicothe to get my oil changed and on the way back, in the dark and in a construction zone an 18 wheeler realized he was going off the wrong ramp (it's an easy mistake to make in this area, if you're in the right lane you're on your way to Portsmouth like it or not) and he rolls right down the embankment back onto 35 right in front of me without slowing down. I can't move because there's a wall of construction traffic to my left. Thankfully my brakes are fine but Jesus dude... (of course you can't exactly stop an 18 wheeler on a dime.

Speaking of which on the way up there was a massive accident as well on the other side, took out much of the guard rail, was probably down in the creek. I couldn't see it through the lines of traffic and half dozen cop cars but it was no doubt a bad one.

Got another fandomtrees story done at the garage waiting on the oil change and then went to my coffee shop to work on another one but...my coffee shop is gone WTF? I don't go to Chillicothe for 2 months and this happens? It's a new store with a big menu (lots to look at. Sweetie, I want fucking coffee not overpriced sandwiches) They only had two lattes. I went with the candy lane...and it was tasteless. If you can't make chocolate peppermint right, I won't trust you again (I'm looking at you too Tim Horton's. Yours tasted like burnt coffee and cleaning chemicals). Sigh. Now the new place wants you to do conferences there and murder mystery dinners....You can't make coffee. I'm not trusting you with food.

TJ Maxx was so packed there weren't even carts 0_0 (did find some Pistachio cream)

The shoe store about damn near made me cry. I can't find shoes. why is everything WIDE? And then I put on a pair of new balances that should have worked but were wide and they were...NOT wide. How the fuck cheap are we making them these days? I usually take a narrow and this so called wide wasn't too wide (the arch was wrong for me though)

I finally got to sit down to write cards. If you want a holiday card from me and you haven't asked for one yet head here.

And since I forgot the books yesterday here we go
What I Just Finished Reading:

Wytches - a graphic novel horror I got from the library


Ripped Tide - short mystery I got at the WV book festival. It is...bad.

What I am Currently Reading:


Death at the Door - a meh paranormal mystery

To Die Once - a Maisie Dobbs mystery which I haven't read one of these in a while and this is...slow



What I Plan to Read Next: Poorly Made and Other Things


I forgot my tea advent again

Day 9 - Blueberry limeade green tea - Green tea, organic lemon peel, butterfly pea flowers, and natural blueberry limeade flavor. It was good

Day 10 Winter Wonderland Rooibos Herbal Tisane - Organic green rooibos, organic cacao nibs, organic cinnamon pieces, winter wonderland flavoring, and blue cornflower petals. not as good as the peppermint one...what is wonderland flavoring anyhow

Day 11 Organic Turmeric Ginger Citrus Herbal Tisane - Organic turmeric, organic ginger, organic hibiscus, organic lemon peel, organic orange peel and organic lemon myrtle. this balance the dirt flavor of turmeric well so not bad but why the hell are so many of these freaking herbals?!?

Just everywhere but the laundromat. Did I mention the assholes broke both washing machines here and I had to go to my old one in Jackson. Well...I won't bitch about the time i had to go to the one in Gallipolis last month. Holy shit, 10$ to do two loads of wash and one full dryer (I hang a lot of my good clothes).

This put me in mind of something evil_little_dog posted the other day about how expensive it is to be poor. Which is 100% accurate. Like now that I'm not sure I can buy a new car (or newer I should say) but mine has 111K on it. If I don't, something is going to blow and it'll be expensive to fix. I CAN afford a laundry suit for home (but the hook up is fucked up) but imagine doing a WHOLE family's laundry at those prices because you can't afford a washer/dryer. Jesus. (it's much cheaper here at the apt)


The coffee shop was packed. I did get a spot, talked to former students, thought about exploding the heads of the adult son/mom combo who was letting their 3 year old daughter/granddaughter run everywhere for the full hour I was there (and they were there before me) She was nearly hit by the door multiple times and nearly took out the waitresses more than that. eye rolls.

Kroger was predictably packed. I have to make cookies for a giveaway but found out my baking powder smelled like ass so I had to go get more. Like the Hunger Games in there. How many people wait to the last second to buy things (asks the idiot who also forget eggs and milk for her baked goods. I had...the lemon. Whee)



They were also beginning to pull down one of the historic buildings today. I got pictures (It was beyond saving which is sad)

I managed to finish a second fandomtrees don't get too excited. This was a rec one. Easy peasy.

I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. The temperature fell like a rock today but could be worse. I see what's coming to places I used to live (Lake Erie beach side, Wisconsin). But my issue is a tickle in my chest that says let's get sick. Shut up lungs. Go be weak on your own time, not mine. And my lower left wisdom must be lonely missing its upper wisdom buddy because the entire gum is swollen and painful. Exactly what you want the day before a big meal.


What I Just Finished Reading:


The Tea Dragon Society - very sweet


Revenge Serve Royal - historical mystery, it was pretty good. Found out I read book one and this is book three. Guess who didn't read book 2


What I am Currently Reading:


A Twist of Murder - Charles Dickens is the detective, yes another real person fanfic mystery. So far I am unimpressed.

Death at the Door

Wyches - a graphic novel horror I got from the library today


What I Plan to Read Next: Haunted Cemeteries of Ohio

This is my second to last yoga session and this is the first one where I am hurting afterward. Like a lot. Yay. head desk. I am encourage to know our instructor is looking for her own studio and is thinking of adding chair yoga. I would sign up for that. My days of doing floor yoga is coming to an end.

And I'm THIS close to getting water fitness on the books at work for next semester. yay.


What I Just Finished Reading:

nothing. sigh, not even fanfic

What I am Currently Reading:

Blacksad - a anthropomorphic noir graphic novel

Haunted Cemeteries of Ohio - you know why

Anne of Green Gables - I am shocked at how much I like this


Revenge Serve Royal - historical mystery

What I Plan to Read Next: Elfquest for popsugar