2026 Disneyland Trip #25 (6/5/26)
Jun. 5th, 2026 09:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
torachanWe decided to go down to Disneyland tonight for dinner rather than tomorrow. It was a bit more crowded than usual due to grad nite, but not too bad.
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torachan
Daily Happiness
Jun. 5th, 2026 08:42 pmtorachan1. Today is National Donut Day. My work schedule just happened to be such that I had time to ride my bike to Sidecar this morning and get us some donuts. I recently signed up for their app and got a voucher for a free donut and drink for doing so, so I used that today, plus if you made a purchase today with their rewards program, you got some sort of free offer, and mine turned out to be another one for a free drink, so I have that to use in the future.
2. We went to Disneyland for dinner today. It was a bit on the crowded side; they've got grad nite going for another week or so and today is a grad nite day so there were more teenagers than usual (grad nite used to be an after-hours event only but in recent years they've added higher tiers that also include daytime tickets plus the after-hours event, so there are large groups of teens throughout the day), but we still had a nice dinner.
3. This morning there was the beginnings of an ant invasion, but I seem to have stopped it in time and we did not come home to more ants this evening, which I had been worried about.
4. You wouldn't think this was the most comfortable bag to lie on, but apparently for a kitty, it's great!
2. We went to Disneyland for dinner today. It was a bit on the crowded side; they've got grad nite going for another week or so and today is a grad nite day so there were more teenagers than usual (grad nite used to be an after-hours event only but in recent years they've added higher tiers that also include daytime tickets plus the after-hours event, so there are large groups of teens throughout the day), but we still had a nice dinner.
3. This morning there was the beginnings of an ant invasion, but I seem to have stopped it in time and we did not come home to more ants this evening, which I had been worried about.
4. You wouldn't think this was the most comfortable bag to lie on, but apparently for a kitty, it's great!
Spot-on essay
Jun. 5th, 2026 11:09 pmsathari posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
thisfinecrewThis is an amazingly important piece, IMO, on the role of child development in democracy by Dr. Stacey Patton: "You Can't Raise Children To Obey and Expect Them To Defend Democracy"
(Notes: I edited this post a couple of times because parts of it appear to have gone missing; also, I used "trans rights" as a tag because it's discussed in the piece though not the whole focus, and "strategy" because it's laying the foundations for a very long-term strategy indeed for raising citizens of a democracy.)
(Notes: I edited this post a couple of times because parts of it appear to have gone missing; also, I used "trans rights" as a tag because it's discussed in the piece though not the whole focus, and "strategy" because it's laying the foundations for a very long-term strategy indeed for raising citizens of a democracy.)
fannishly
Jun. 5th, 2026 09:43 pmsenmutHmm, still not feeling the pull to create much in new fandoms. Still dabbling in Drizzt and Star Wars fics as the mood strikes.
Have fallen for House of the Dragon, and read the story collection. Yes, I know I will have my heart murdered this coming season. I just hope the creative team sticks the landing.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/84429766/chapters/222714561 - Have a rec for a fic that is Rhaenyra/Alicent and a delight to me. 5/7 chapters posted, trust in the author when she says the other chapters are being edited.
Was never solidly a Buffy fan, but Giles was dear to me, and many other roles ASH had touched me in some way. His memory is a blessing. (And in checking if his brother was still alive, I learned that ASH's daughter was Sofina the Red in DND: Honor Among Thieves.) (Yes, Murray is still alive.)
Hmm, not much else. HotD is too big a fandom for me to dive in on tumblr or AO3 (bad takes, not my cuppa in so many fics), so if you have writers/artists YOU trust in those fandoms, please enlighten me. (I learned my lesson in GoT of being VERY careful how I touched fandom.)
Have fallen for House of the Dragon, and read the story collection. Yes, I know I will have my heart murdered this coming season. I just hope the creative team sticks the landing.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/84429766/chapters/222714561 - Have a rec for a fic that is Rhaenyra/Alicent and a delight to me. 5/7 chapters posted, trust in the author when she says the other chapters are being edited.
Was never solidly a Buffy fan, but Giles was dear to me, and many other roles ASH had touched me in some way. His memory is a blessing. (And in checking if his brother was still alive, I learned that ASH's daughter was Sofina the Red in DND: Honor Among Thieves.) (Yes, Murray is still alive.)
Hmm, not much else. HotD is too big a fandom for me to dive in on tumblr or AO3 (bad takes, not my cuppa in so many fics), so if you have writers/artists YOU trust in those fandoms, please enlighten me. (I learned my lesson in GoT of being VERY careful how I touched fandom.)
Northern Cardinal parents and baby
Jun. 5th, 2026 09:24 pmpauraque posting in common_natureWe have a pair of Northern Cardinals nesting in our yard, and today I saw dad with a fledgling!
The fledgling was begging for food by fluttering its wings, a common signal in many baby birds. Dad was attentively finding seeds and stuffing them in Junior's mouth. The baby already has a little bit of a crest and some red on the wings, but it's too early to tell the sex. Mom wasn't with them but I saw her on the feeder later in the day.
( Mom cardinal )
The fledgling was begging for food by fluttering its wings, a common signal in many baby birds. Dad was attentively finding seeds and stuffing them in Junior's mouth. The baby already has a little bit of a crest and some red on the wings, but it's too early to tell the sex. Mom wasn't with them but I saw her on the feeder later in the day.
( Mom cardinal )
June 5 - Tell me something you like about your work
Jun. 5th, 2026 08:06 pmsenmutJust what it says. I see (and feel) so much negativity about working. And I know many of us have a resentment of being trapped in full time work.
What do I like about my job? A sense of aiding in the treatment of patients. Everything I do is to help lab results get done and reported in a timely fashion. At my last lab, I was far more hands-on: I worked primarily in Client Services, the people who talk to doctors and staff, but I covered:
Processing (get requisitions entered, matching samples for testing, spinning them down as needed)
Logistics (picking up specimens or checking them in from flights/drivers)
Microbiology (mostly setting up blood cultures in the incubator)
Chemistry (moral support for third shift, handling beepy machines, finding new pipette stashes...)
I learned a LOT of technical knowledge that my current lab does not impart to the Client Services (where I work) and this leads to me being able to handle more calls from beginning to end without needing to escalate it.
What do I like about my job? A sense of aiding in the treatment of patients. Everything I do is to help lab results get done and reported in a timely fashion. At my last lab, I was far more hands-on: I worked primarily in Client Services, the people who talk to doctors and staff, but I covered:
Processing (get requisitions entered, matching samples for testing, spinning them down as needed)
Logistics (picking up specimens or checking them in from flights/drivers)
Microbiology (mostly setting up blood cultures in the incubator)
Chemistry (moral support for third shift, handling beepy machines, finding new pipette stashes...)
I learned a LOT of technical knowledge that my current lab does not impart to the Client Services (where I work) and this leads to me being able to handle more calls from beginning to end without needing to escalate it.
Up to date on The Harbingers
Jun. 3rd, 2026 12:01 pmconulyWhich I can sum up for you as "They went on one date a decade and a half ago and have been obsessed with each other ever since. Also, something terrible happened to Boston and everybody therein."
(It got sent to the moon. I'm just going to assume everybody died almost before they had time to realize.)
*************************
( Read more... )
(It got sent to the moon. I'm just going to assume everybody died almost before they had time to realize.)
( Read more... )
Finally!
Jun. 5th, 2026 12:55 pmstarwatcherI had a "tadpole rain" Wednesday night -- enough rain in a short enough time (at least 2 inches within an hour) to trigger mating in the frogs/toads. (I'm not sure which.) Thursday morning, they were croaking when I woke up, and the neighbor's pasture (flat, packed dirt with no vegetation because goats) was a shimmering sheet of silver. I had lots of big puddles, but I have much more vegetation since the horses died, so no giant areas of water except the pond.
It's been over 3 years since conditions lined up. It means I'll spend several hours Saturday and Sunday scooping tadpoles out of evaporating puddles and moving them to the pond, where they'll have enough water to complete their development. But I'm enchanted by them, and so pleased we'll get a new batch. The croaking wasn't as loud or pervasive as I've heard in other years; I wonder if some didn't survive our extended drought conditions. Still, another generation on the horizon, so that's cool.
RIP Anthony Head
Jun. 5th, 2026 12:40 pmsettiaiIt looks like Anthony Head passed away due to complications from pneumonia.
I've got to admit, this one hurts.
I've got to admit, this one hurts.
Arlathan eXchange
Jun. 5th, 2026 12:38 pmsettiaiI previously made a post about the gifts that I received for the Arlathan eXchange, a Dragon Age exchange that focuses on elves. Since golive on Sunday, though, I've received another gift!
some pain relief, a Fenris/Solas fic. 1,133 words.
Teen And Up Audiences for the rating.
some pain relief, a Fenris/Solas fic. 1,133 words.
Teen And Up Audiences for the rating.
Weekly Reading
Jun. 5th, 2026 09:37 amtorachanRecently Finished
The Maid's Secret and The Inventor
Next two in the Penny Green mystery series. Enjoying these a lot.
Scarlet Morning
Middle grade novel by ND Stevenson of Nimona and She-Ra fame. I had assumed this was going to be a graphic novel, but it is prose with a lot of illustrations (by the author himself, of course). I really loved it. It has that typical Stevenson whimsy and some really interesting world-building. I'm looking forward to the next book.
White Is for Witching
Ugh. I hated this. I have read several other books by Oyeyemi and they ranged from liked it a lot to okay I guess but not really for me. The Icarus Girl is the only one I really liked. This was all over the place in every possible way. Characters feature heavily in the story then randomly disappear, multiple POVs all with the exact same voice and no way to tell them apart until the names of other characters are mentioned so you know it's not that one, and a wandering plot that never really comes together. And it's not a long book, but it felt never-ending. If I were the sort to drop a book midway, I would have done so, but I powered through because I find it difficult to give up once started. I think at this point I'm just going to acknolwedge that she's not my style and avoid reading more by her, even if the plot sounds interesting.
My Time Machine
Graphic novel about a woman whose ancestor was the guy from HG Well's The Time Machine, and her ex-husband builds a time machine according to the guy's plans and then she follows the dates in his account to see if she encounters the same things. It was pretty depressing in a lot of ways (she leaves right as the pandemic is about to start, and covid and Trump and other current events feature heavily in the near future stops she makes), but not without hope. Also how often do you have a middle aged woman as a time traveller?
Nodame Cantabile vol. 9-10
The Maid's Secret and The Inventor
Next two in the Penny Green mystery series. Enjoying these a lot.
Scarlet Morning
Middle grade novel by ND Stevenson of Nimona and She-Ra fame. I had assumed this was going to be a graphic novel, but it is prose with a lot of illustrations (by the author himself, of course). I really loved it. It has that typical Stevenson whimsy and some really interesting world-building. I'm looking forward to the next book.
White Is for Witching
Ugh. I hated this. I have read several other books by Oyeyemi and they ranged from liked it a lot to okay I guess but not really for me. The Icarus Girl is the only one I really liked. This was all over the place in every possible way. Characters feature heavily in the story then randomly disappear, multiple POVs all with the exact same voice and no way to tell them apart until the names of other characters are mentioned so you know it's not that one, and a wandering plot that never really comes together. And it's not a long book, but it felt never-ending. If I were the sort to drop a book midway, I would have done so, but I powered through because I find it difficult to give up once started. I think at this point I'm just going to acknolwedge that she's not my style and avoid reading more by her, even if the plot sounds interesting.
My Time Machine
Graphic novel about a woman whose ancestor was the guy from HG Well's The Time Machine, and her ex-husband builds a time machine according to the guy's plans and then she follows the dates in his account to see if she encounters the same things. It was pretty depressing in a lot of ways (she leaves right as the pandemic is about to start, and covid and Trump and other current events feature heavily in the near future stops she makes), but not without hope. Also how often do you have a middle aged woman as a time traveller?
Nodame Cantabile vol. 9-10
AI is not coming for my job
Jun. 5th, 2026 09:05 amelfA friend asked me if I worked in an office (yes) and warned me that AI is probably coming from my job.
I told him no, I am very not worried:
1) I have a union, and
2) My company works with a lot of confidential personal info that needs careful handling, and
3) AI cannot do my job.
AI cannot even attempt to do my job.
I do document formatting & processing, and while I'm sure there are AI advocates who think they can have AI do that, it's because they've never done those.
( Read more... )
I told him no, I am very not worried:
1) I have a union, and
2) My company works with a lot of confidential personal info that needs careful handling, and
3) AI cannot do my job.
AI cannot even attempt to do my job.
I do document formatting & processing, and while I'm sure there are AI advocates who think they can have AI do that, it's because they've never done those.
( Read more... )
A while since I've done one of these
Jun. 5th, 2026 04:07 pmoursinNostalgic pop music post....
I've been thinking for some time about pop songs featuring places in London - in the title, which lets out 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion' poncing around various parts to be admired, or 'Lola' down in Old Soho - and having a bit of a struggle (maybe one would do better with Ye Olde Music Hall numbers?) but anyway, came up with these:
This one is perhaps pushing it a bit, as it was actually spoofing 'Rock Island Line', a cover of which was a UK mega-hit for Lonnie Donegan:
Take it away Jim Dale, on the Piccadilly Line!
and to continue the London Underground motif, suburban pastoral from the New Vaudeville Band:
further Tube mentions, this time more urban pastoral, with the Kinks:
Getting down and dirty in Soho with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich:
And finally, rocking down to Electric Avenue with Eddy Grant:
Daily Happiness
Jun. 4th, 2026 07:17 pmtorachan1. I had a meeting this morning that felt very productive. I think we've finally gotten things hashed out in terms of procedures and how things will actually function versus the IT department's theoretical (but utterly impractical and impossible in reality) ideas that we had been told is how we would have to use the new system.
2. We had Trader Joe's frozen kung pao chicken tonight for dinner and it's been quite a while (maybe even like six months or so) since we've had it and I forgot how good it is. We were making it a lot for a while and while I never got tired of it, I do feel like having it again after such a long time made me appreciate it more.
3. Saw this baby crow while out on our walk tonight. He was just stopped there and didn't fly or hop away when we walked by. Seemed like maybe he was waiting for his parents, so I hope they came back soon!
4. Jasper!
2. We had Trader Joe's frozen kung pao chicken tonight for dinner and it's been quite a while (maybe even like six months or so) since we've had it and I forgot how good it is. We were making it a lot for a while and while I never got tired of it, I do feel like having it again after such a long time made me appreciate it more.
3. Saw this baby crow while out on our walk tonight. He was just stopped there and didn't fly or hop away when we walked by. Seemed like maybe he was waiting for his parents, so I hope they came back soon!
4. Jasper!
June 4 - Pride Question: Queer Musician of your heart
Jun. 4th, 2026 02:23 pmsenmutFirst: I am asking about musicians who either are queer, or are predominantly considered to be singing about queer motifs. (do NOT start flame wars about Gaga or Swift, please)
What musician rocks your queer little heart?
My most influential is NOT Freddie Mercury, Elton John, George Michael, or any of the others that dominated my early childhood because... I didn't yet have the questions they were asking fully formed in my heart.
No. Melissa Etheridge, who I found very solidly in the summer of '88 after I'd had my first realizations of being attracted to my best friend more than just the visual crush I'd had on lady celebs. She's my heart's queer anthem leader. The ambiguity of her early songs really just... wrapped around me so tight.
What musician rocks your queer little heart?
My most influential is NOT Freddie Mercury, Elton John, George Michael, or any of the others that dominated my early childhood because... I didn't yet have the questions they were asking fully formed in my heart.
No. Melissa Etheridge, who I found very solidly in the summer of '88 after I'd had my first realizations of being attracted to my best friend more than just the visual crush I'd had on lady celebs. She's my heart's queer anthem leader. The ambiguity of her early songs really just... wrapped around me so tight.
