Falling.
Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hannahThe travel ban's up. Schools are going back to remote learning. Nobody's going anywhere if they can help it. I'd figured this was coming, and it's nice that it's settling in. The snow's coming down steadily and I can faintly hear human voices - going from where the light's coming from, the people in the next building over are either hosting some friends or having a very loud party by themselves. Either way, it's warm human voices on a cold night.
Not a dark night, though. The clouds aren't letting that happen. It's one of the nicer parts of nighttime snow.
Not a dark night, though. The clouds aren't letting that happen. It's one of the nicer parts of nighttime snow.
Anticipatory.
Feb. 21st, 2026 09:42 pmhannahTrying to clear my calendar and hunker down for the next few days in light of the storm had me allowing myself a little bit of panic buying in the form of another bottle of olive oil. It's not on the same level as rescheduling an appointment because I know there's no point trying to get anywhere farther than two blocks, maximum, come Monday, but it helped a bit.
I'm also charging up my devices as something of an insurance policy and made sure to return all my outstanding library checkouts. Again, something that only helped a bit, and still helped. Mostly I'm now waiting for it to arrive so I can finally enjoy the snow. The build-up to it isn't nearly as enjoyable.
I'm also charging up my devices as something of an insurance policy and made sure to return all my outstanding library checkouts. Again, something that only helped a bit, and still helped. Mostly I'm now waiting for it to arrive so I can finally enjoy the snow. The build-up to it isn't nearly as enjoyable.
Sense8 s2 ep 6 and ep 7
Feb. 21st, 2026 01:30 pmimpala_chickEpisde 6: This one was so sexy! The pride parade! The pool sex! ( Elaboration under here )
Episode 7: AKA not my fav. ( Elaboration under here )
P.S. If anyone knows a place to get Sense8 screencaps, please share :) I'd love to make icons.
Episode 7: AKA not my fav. ( Elaboration under here )
P.S. If anyone knows a place to get Sense8 screencaps, please share :) I'd love to make icons.
Out and back.
Feb. 20th, 2026 10:42 pmhannahFriday night dinner this week was still with family: out in Brooklyn. My parents weren't in town but my brothers were, so I went out to them since that was easiest for everyone. There and back was easy, thanks to not waiting long for a train to arrive and for finding one of the trains was running express that afternoon. The dinner itself went okay, and when my brother J., his wife E., and their daughter A. were around, I spent most of the time in the kitchen with my brother R. so his wife G. could spend time with J.'s family - I peeked out into the living room a couple times and they were all chatting and looking at something on someone's phone, and I thought it better not to intrude.
An amusing moment came partway through dinner. Weather came up, and I was the only one who expressed any pleasure at the idea of snow. I pointed out that this was the kind of weather we used to have, getting snow at the end of February. B., one of G.'s friends who'd come as well, said she'd grown up in the Midwest and was aware of that. At the time, I didn't think to point out I was talking pre-Industrial Revolution. It's probably just as well; later in the meal, she said she didn't want to feel like life was full of construction zones, that she'd had times of at least a couple things going smoothly, and I struggled to relate. A good person to talk to, and someone with a life fairly removed from mine.
An amusing moment came partway through dinner. Weather came up, and I was the only one who expressed any pleasure at the idea of snow. I pointed out that this was the kind of weather we used to have, getting snow at the end of February. B., one of G.'s friends who'd come as well, said she'd grown up in the Midwest and was aware of that. At the time, I didn't think to point out I was talking pre-Industrial Revolution. It's probably just as well; later in the meal, she said she didn't want to feel like life was full of construction zones, that she'd had times of at least a couple things going smoothly, and I struggled to relate. A good person to talk to, and someone with a life fairly removed from mine.
Stores with rancid vibes
Feb. 20th, 2026 03:01 pmcimoreneWhen we lived on the outskirts of Turku, going into downtown to run errands was already a bit of an Expedition, because it entailed a pleasant or idyllic walk to and from the bus stop of about 6-8 minutes, plus about 20-25 minutes on the bus, and then walking around the city center - possibly overcrowded, but full of beautiful buildings and trees.
Now that we live in the country, I'm still closer to the Turku city center than many people are who live in a North American metro area. I can walk to the bus stop (5 minutes, unpleasant scenery) and take a bus that puts me down near the center in about 50 minutes. But that trip feels excessive for a shopping expedition.
There's a big shopping center called Skanssi between us and Turku that is more convenient, about 35 minutes by bus, but the bus doesn't actually stop that close to it so you have to walk like ten minutes (it is very much designed to be visited by car, unlike the city center). And the mall itself just has RANCID VIBES. I hate being there! It's something about the interior architecture and the lighting maybe? The actual finishes are nice, the decor is fine, the lighting isn't UGLY. It is pretty dim inside, which has to be on purpose, but it's more like they were trying for a cozy or intimate or restful light instead of glaring? But instead it's oppressive in there. I always just want to get out. The K-Citymarket hypermarket attached to it is our closest Citymarket*, and it's much more brightly lit but still feels looming, oppressive, suffocating, sullen, and unwell. And I honestly do not know why! Maybe it's not actually the light, maybe it's sounds outside the regular hearing range or something?
So I've been thinking for a week whether it's preferable to go to this rancid-vibed mall, 35m by bus + 10-15m walk, or all the way to Turku, 50m by bus + 5-10m walk. The former SHOULD make me feel better because of the walking and fresh air, and I usually prefer less time on the bus because it's less chance to get trapped near someone's perfume; but would the rancid vibes counteract that?
*The other stores vary in vibes, but none of the ones near us are even close to this bad. Citymarkets Kupittaa and Länsikeskus are both reasonably Ok, and Prisma (Citymarket's competitor, the other Finnish grocery chain) Tampereentie is a little worse, while our closest Prisma at Itäharju is mostly nice, with some bad vibes in one end of the supermarket side. The nicest hypermarket near us is Citymarket Ravattula, Littoinen. I like this one so much more that I ALMOST would go to it instead (it's nearly 40 minutes by car, instead of 15 or so to Itäharju).
Now that we live in the country, I'm still closer to the Turku city center than many people are who live in a North American metro area. I can walk to the bus stop (5 minutes, unpleasant scenery) and take a bus that puts me down near the center in about 50 minutes. But that trip feels excessive for a shopping expedition.
There's a big shopping center called Skanssi between us and Turku that is more convenient, about 35 minutes by bus, but the bus doesn't actually stop that close to it so you have to walk like ten minutes (it is very much designed to be visited by car, unlike the city center). And the mall itself just has RANCID VIBES. I hate being there! It's something about the interior architecture and the lighting maybe? The actual finishes are nice, the decor is fine, the lighting isn't UGLY. It is pretty dim inside, which has to be on purpose, but it's more like they were trying for a cozy or intimate or restful light instead of glaring? But instead it's oppressive in there. I always just want to get out. The K-Citymarket hypermarket attached to it is our closest Citymarket*, and it's much more brightly lit but still feels looming, oppressive, suffocating, sullen, and unwell. And I honestly do not know why! Maybe it's not actually the light, maybe it's sounds outside the regular hearing range or something?
So I've been thinking for a week whether it's preferable to go to this rancid-vibed mall, 35m by bus + 10-15m walk, or all the way to Turku, 50m by bus + 5-10m walk. The former SHOULD make me feel better because of the walking and fresh air, and I usually prefer less time on the bus because it's less chance to get trapped near someone's perfume; but would the rancid vibes counteract that?
*The other stores vary in vibes, but none of the ones near us are even close to this bad. Citymarkets Kupittaa and Länsikeskus are both reasonably Ok, and Prisma (Citymarket's competitor, the other Finnish grocery chain) Tampereentie is a little worse, while our closest Prisma at Itäharju is mostly nice, with some bad vibes in one end of the supermarket side. The nicest hypermarket near us is Citymarket Ravattula, Littoinen. I like this one so much more that I ALMOST would go to it instead (it's nearly 40 minutes by car, instead of 15 or so to Itäharju).
(no subject)
Feb. 19th, 2026 11:33 pmaurumcalendulaThe good news is The Unseen definitely has enough shippy footage for me to make a femslashy fanvid! The bad news is now I need a song (and nothing's quite clicking at the moment).
All that's left.
Feb. 19th, 2026 10:10 pmhannahI took advantage of the day and took in a small William Eggleston exhibition. I started reading Clockers on the way there and a book that commanding of my attention put me in the right frame of mind to take in the colors. And the colors were why it was there - it's called The Last Dyes because these prints, the ones I saw today, were made with the world's last materials for this kind of printmaking. Kodak decided to stop making the necessary materials for the process some decades ago. I don't know if it was for cost, environmental concerns, lack of a market, another reason, or a mix of several. What I can say is that all the critics were right: knowing that going in gave it an autumnal feeling. Something fading out.
They were also right that it's astonishing to see the colors up close. More than once I got as close as I could to take in the depth of blue or red or green, thinking that it was like seeing paint made from crushed-up gemstones. The intensity of color, the intentions of the lines and shapes. I'm happy to watch his fascinations with what makes America tick, and I was very happy to stop and look close and then step back and look far and take in all the different parts and pieces in the compositions. More than once I looked at something off in the distance and then farther in the distance and saw how it was a reflection of something in the foreground. Walls and fences at a parking lot. The swirl of a sign matching the clouds behind it. The flowers, the fence, the truck, the houses peeking out.
What really struck me was how the outdoor photographs had such good distance to them. There wasn't a horizon but there was clarity to a long ways away, and more than once I'd think that this was human influence as far as the eye could see. The tilled fields. The cars off in the far distance. The car right up in front of you that you couldn't look away from even if you wanted to see the stream just beyond it. Forcing you to pay attention to what's really there.
They were also right that it's astonishing to see the colors up close. More than once I got as close as I could to take in the depth of blue or red or green, thinking that it was like seeing paint made from crushed-up gemstones. The intensity of color, the intentions of the lines and shapes. I'm happy to watch his fascinations with what makes America tick, and I was very happy to stop and look close and then step back and look far and take in all the different parts and pieces in the compositions. More than once I looked at something off in the distance and then farther in the distance and saw how it was a reflection of something in the foreground. Walls and fences at a parking lot. The swirl of a sign matching the clouds behind it. The flowers, the fence, the truck, the houses peeking out.
What really struck me was how the outdoor photographs had such good distance to them. There wasn't a horizon but there was clarity to a long ways away, and more than once I'd think that this was human influence as far as the eye could see. The tilled fields. The cars off in the far distance. The car right up in front of you that you couldn't look away from even if you wanted to see the stream just beyond it. Forcing you to pay attention to what's really there.
Or as much dignity as you can with a walrus mustache
Feb. 19th, 2026 06:37 pmcimorene‘Sir,’ intoned Dr. Fell, drawing the napkin from his collar and sitting up in dignity, ‘let me assure you I have been listening with far closer attention than my admittedly cross-eyed and half-witted appearance would seem to indicate.'
—John Dickson Carr, The Dead Man's Knock (1958)
(I rate this book 2/5, however.)
Solar outage update - it is fixed!
Feb. 18th, 2026 11:12 pmelizillaOur local installer is really good. Since SolarEdge was unresponsive, they ordered an inverter from a local wholesaler for us, and installed it Monday. Despite it being the correct part number, it did not talk to our battery, only the power generating and grid tie stuff worked. The service rep came back Tuesday and worked on it some more, and got SolarEdge on the phone, and eventually discovered that it was mislabeled and not the right part. Then he learned that without telling any of us, SolarEdge had shipped the warranty inverter and it had just arrived at his office. So he went back to base, got it, brought it out and put it in, and it worked.
We are back up and running.
The warranty inverter must have already been shipped, even while SolarEdge was refusing to say when they might ship it. Our installer had their time and money wasted, getting the mislabeled new inverter from their wholesaler and installing it here only to swap it again the next day. I hope they can get some compensation from SolarEdge for their trouble, but I have been enough of a squeaky wheel already; I will let them duke it out without my input.
We are back up and running.
The warranty inverter must have already been shipped, even while SolarEdge was refusing to say when they might ship it. Our installer had their time and money wasted, getting the mislabeled new inverter from their wholesaler and installing it here only to swap it again the next day. I hope they can get some compensation from SolarEdge for their trouble, but I have been enough of a squeaky wheel already; I will let them duke it out without my input.
Resource management.
Feb. 18th, 2026 09:09 pmhannahLooking around the kitchen cabinets and what passes for a pantry, wanting to supplement a half-meal's worth of pasta, thinking about what's readily available. Some cherry tomatoes came my way, a couple onions didn't get used in last week's rice dish. There's sardines. There's an impulse buy can of kidney beans.
With one thing and another, there's tomato-sardine-bean soup that manages to do the trick and then some. Sardines and beans - affordable luxury.
With one thing and another, there's tomato-sardine-bean soup that manages to do the trick and then some. Sardines and beans - affordable luxury.
Freebie bag charm, take two
Feb. 18th, 2026 02:08 pmcodyneMy new jewelry-making supplies arrived yesterday, so today I put together another attempt at a BTS bag charm for movie freebies:
I'm still not totally happy with it. The main problem is that the head and eye pins I ordered on Amazon were shorter than advertised (supposed to be 3 inches, but actually only 2-3/4 inches) and also very flimsy, so I couldn't make the strings as long as I'd intended. There was no room for the purple heart bead at the end of the member bead string, which wasn't too bad, but the string that was supposed to be the letters "ARIRANG" with a red bead and spacer at each end was too long no matter how small the end beads I used were, so I ended up just using alternating red and white beads instead, with small silver spacers, and a whale charm at the end. I think I prefer that anyway but I'll probably have to get more red and white beads. I dug these out of a tube of mixed beads and I doubt there will be enough to make 100 charms.
The other problem is that the orchid beads I ordered weren't the same color as they looked online, so I can't use them. I did have some lavender beads in another set that I can use, but I only have maybe 30 of those so I will need more. I found some other light purple beads online and ordered those, along with an assorted set of stainless steel jewelry wire spools in different gauges. Should be better quality than the flimsy aluminum pins I ordered and I can cut lengths to size.
I do like the whale charms, but I only bought one pack of 24, so will need to order more. I also have some music note/microphone charms.I'm thinking I'll do one set of freebies with the whales and one with the music charms, so the freebies for each showing will be a little bit different.
Can't do any more until I get the new wire, so I will think about this one for a while and see if any other ideas occur to me.
I'm still not totally happy with it. The main problem is that the head and eye pins I ordered on Amazon were shorter than advertised (supposed to be 3 inches, but actually only 2-3/4 inches) and also very flimsy, so I couldn't make the strings as long as I'd intended. There was no room for the purple heart bead at the end of the member bead string, which wasn't too bad, but the string that was supposed to be the letters "ARIRANG" with a red bead and spacer at each end was too long no matter how small the end beads I used were, so I ended up just using alternating red and white beads instead, with small silver spacers, and a whale charm at the end. I think I prefer that anyway but I'll probably have to get more red and white beads. I dug these out of a tube of mixed beads and I doubt there will be enough to make 100 charms.
The other problem is that the orchid beads I ordered weren't the same color as they looked online, so I can't use them. I did have some lavender beads in another set that I can use, but I only have maybe 30 of those so I will need more. I found some other light purple beads online and ordered those, along with an assorted set of stainless steel jewelry wire spools in different gauges. Should be better quality than the flimsy aluminum pins I ordered and I can cut lengths to size.
I do like the whale charms, but I only bought one pack of 24, so will need to order more. I also have some music note/microphone charms.I'm thinking I'll do one set of freebies with the whales and one with the music charms, so the freebies for each showing will be a little bit different.
Can't do any more until I get the new wire, so I will think about this one for a while and see if any other ideas occur to me.
Clearly I should only do Stuff to the fire while wearing leather gloves with long gauntlet cuffs
Feb. 18th, 2026 01:58 pmcimoreneI need to hand wash a bunch of wool things. Three sweaters with soot on the cuffs can be washed in the bathroom sink, but there are two big wool blankets which won't fit in that sink. And we don't have a laundry tub! I remember when I was four or five we were living in an apartment that only had a shower, not a tub, and I was afraid of the shower, so my mom had a laundry tub for me to bathe in and at that age I fit in it comfortably. It was one of those round zinc ones. I've never even seen those for sale as an adult, and I love hardware stores.
I have seen sturdy black plastic tubs that are about that size and larger at hardware stores - they're used in construction, to mix concrete and thinset and mud and stuff in. Not sure that would be a sensible purchase though (it's so big!). My current idea is that I could wash blankets in one of our biggest size of plastic storage bins. The problem is all of them are full of stuff being stored and I'm not sure which one would make the most sense to temporarily borrow.
Another consideration: drying. Drying takes AGES when it's cold. Wool absorbs a lot of water and therefore takes a long time to dry, and sweaters have to dry flat. I suppose we can put the things in front of the stove and light a fire, but we can't keep it going until they're dry. I suppose I have to do this one wool object at a time.
ETA: I should just wait until it's spring and I can dry the blankets outside. The sweaters are more urgent than that, but they are also smaller. I'll just have to try to dry them by the fire.
I have seen sturdy black plastic tubs that are about that size and larger at hardware stores - they're used in construction, to mix concrete and thinset and mud and stuff in. Not sure that would be a sensible purchase though (it's so big!). My current idea is that I could wash blankets in one of our biggest size of plastic storage bins. The problem is all of them are full of stuff being stored and I'm not sure which one would make the most sense to temporarily borrow.
Another consideration: drying. Drying takes AGES when it's cold. Wool absorbs a lot of water and therefore takes a long time to dry, and sweaters have to dry flat. I suppose we can put the things in front of the stove and light a fire, but we can't keep it going until they're dry. I suppose I have to do this one wool object at a time.
ETA: I should just wait until it's spring and I can dry the blankets outside. The sweaters are more urgent than that, but they are also smaller. I'll just have to try to dry them by the fire.
