Patron Saint of Falling Over Things

1. Today started off with staggering, and I really wondered how I was going to get through work, but my pain levels went down and down as the day progressed. I don't know it if was the healing process, or if it was the little short bursts of walking that I do at work (desk to dispensary, dispensary to retail floor, retail floor to desk, rinse and repeat) or that my period finally started and all the inflammatory hormone stuff is easing back, but my knee has ended up okay. I know I'll be sore again tomorrow morning, but I have a bit more hope that I will heal, and I will get back to my former level of activity. (Every time I injure myself, I go through this mental process, but I think this time it's a bit less awful?)

2. I downloaded some episodes of Most Haunted to watch while I crochet - it's a British show like Ghost Hunters International, but I like this one better because they scream and run around more. It's like every stupid seance or haunted house dare you did as a teenager, only with night vision cameras. And their psychic tells a good story, and it's generally good spooky fun. I love it.

3. We watched the Hannibal finale last night. lilacsigil's face! Very DDDD: And now she wants to do a rewatch, so that's awesome. I saw so many things the second time around.

4. This video rolled around my tumblr dash: Radioactive - Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix, I think via cleolinda? Anyway, beat-boxing cellist. Something awesome I never knew was missing in my life.

5. Speaking of which, A selection of incredible portraits from photographer Charles Fréger’s collection and book Wilder Mann, documenting the ancient pagan rites still being practiced throughout Europe today.

Reminds me of this urban legend (Does it count as an urban legend if there's photographic evidence? Really fucking scary photographic evidence): The Horned Man & The Luna Park Ghost Train Fire. (Trigger warning for IRL accidental death of a child on an amusement park ride.)

Erhmagerd, see you in my dreams.

I'm thinking of starting to use my tumblr again a bit - since instead of turning my screen to show things to lilacsigil, I could just reblog them so they show up on her dash, right? So if I pop up there, that's what's going on.

- As predicted, I did wake up cranky and weepy and stressed after the past few days. I am proud to have seen it coming, and for not beating up on myself for things like leaving my bed unmade and not really doing much today. Must remember to tell my therapist. I like to tell her when coping strategies are working.

- I left my bed unmade until I felt like making it just before lunch, so it was in full sunlight when I pulled all the blankets off. Baggins leapt up and was ridiculously adorable in the sunbeams, so I lolled around with him and had epic, epic cuddles. I have been fully kneaded by giant paws.

- my mum is being super weird and making oblique references to the dinner with lilacsigil's family without actually saying anything outright. My auntie was visiting them today, so she must have said something. Mum's the one that had freakouts whenever I tentatively mentioned lilacsigil's family. I wonder where she thinks lilacsigil came from? Under a cabbage? Anyway, I'm listing this as a good thing because I'm not feeling in any danger from it, I guess. She can't do anything or have any effect on me without directly saying what she wants to know. So she can play her weird mind games and chase her tail around and around, but the basic fact is that I had a good time and I was glad my auntie did, too.

- I baked ANZAC slice for the third time, and got the baking time just right for my oven. If you're trying it yourself, you'll want to underpitch the baking time - take it out just before you think it's done. If it's solid but very squishy, it will set with a lovely chewy texture. And I remembered to put some sea salt in the recipe this time - it really makes a difference. Or at least, it does in my mind!

- I am making this hat - Waving to Granny Hat - only in wild rainbow colours like my tea cosy. I'm up to the even rounds now, and it's turning up at the edges just like in the picture. I love it when that happens!

- Back to work tomorrow. I must be a grown-up, since I'm listing that as a positive thing.

- We're watching the new season of Project Runway, after skipping the show for a couple of seasons. It's a lot less wracking to me for some reason, maybe because I'm less emotionally invested in it, or maybe because the little tweaks they've done have reinvigorated the show a little. I really like that the runway show is anonymised, that the judges are asking for Tim Gunn's input, and that they get to see the fashion up close and discuss it. I adore/hate/adore Timothy the unicorn boy's utter wankitude. I love that Justin, the D/deaf guy just switches off his cochlear implant when the bitching gets to him.

tl;dr, it's really good crochet telly.



- This link from beatrice_otter:
“The Borgias” vs. “Borgia: Faith and Fear” (accuracy in historical fiction)

I love the way they discuss the concept of historicity, comparing the two Borgia shows. Also, this:

In fact, Cardinal Shocked-all-the-time, according to the writers you are supposed to be none other than Giuliano della Rovere. Giuliano “Battle-Pope” della Rovere! You have a mistress! And a daughter! And a brothel! And an elephant! And take your elephant to your brothel! And you’re stalking Michelangelo!

Lol, elephant.


- Apparently today is the last day of Moth Week! At least, over there in the summerlands. Our moths are... wherever moths go in winter. Still, I love this list of enticing activities for your mothing party. Nothing more Victorian sounding than a mothing party, right? Even if you have to paint your house with mashed banana and rum.


- We're going to Melbourne tomorrow to see my grandparents, and while that's going to be stressful and hard to get through, I feel as prepared as possible for it. I know it's going to have emotional impact, so I'm planning to be gentle with myself, and I'm going to let myself be upset afterwards. Poppy is very rambling at the moment, but from what my sister says, he's not violent or angry. For various reasons, it will be good to see him.

Because I've been reading torachan's for ever, and every day I say "I really should do that."

- all the virtual hugs from my last post. You guys. *big smooshy virtual group hug*

- I had a great workout this morning. I have an awesome, awesome personal trainer right now, and I'm doing things that I never would have thought my bad knee could handle. We meet at the netball courts at 7:30, and I bring my purple fitball, and we do stuff with weights and boxing gloves and stuff. Man, I get seriously high on exercise. I am really, really good at endorphins, as it turns out.

- We got the car serviced, and it only needed two new tyres. (Country roads are really hard on tyres and we usually need to replace a full set every year.) Also, now when we head to Melbourne to visit my grandparents, I'll know the car is in tip-top shape.

- ANZAC slice is seriously delicious. It looks very plain, but it's all golden oaty buttery deliciousness. NOM.

- I just found out, via Welcome to Night Vale, how you guys in the US say 'nutella'. You guys. I love you guys. ('Noo-tella', for those who haven't made this amazing discovery.)