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Thursday, September 1st, 2033
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6:45 pm - Dear people, please respect my privacy...
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... and in order to do so, PLEASE DO NOT EVER CROSSPOST COMMENTS FROM MY LJ ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER.
OR EVEN HERE, ON LJ, FOR THAT MATTER!!!
I know nobody on my friendslist would do that, and I really don't want to turn my LJ friends only entirely, but I will do, if there's no other solution.
I'll also consider friends-locking a great deal more entries than before, and disabling comments on more entries than before. It kinda kills part of the interaction, but I don't wish my entries to be linked somewhere where they aren't supposed to be.
I really find it irresponsible how LJ disregards the privacy of its members. If this tendency continues, I might consider moving away entirely.
Speaking of which, I've got a mirror journal on DW, with the same username.
Additionally: Some words of encouragement that we all need right now, I think (from Dune, obviously)
Litany Against Fear
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
current mood:  angry
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| Tuesday, February 24th, 2026
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7:56 pm - Achievements
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Part one - the smaller part - of the scheduled cleaning frenzy is done. I've cleaned the balcony (which included first emptying it, then putting everything back in as soon as the floor was dry) and wiped the floor in the bathroom and the loo. I also emptied the kitchen for tomorrow. Mum spent almost two hours dusting her gazillion of knick-knacks that are displayed on every available surface of the living room and piling them high on the sideboard, so that the rest of the furniture could be moved around for vacuum cleaning purposes tomorrow. So, we are more or less ready for the big action. I just hope the new cleaning lady turns up. *fingers crossed*
For lunch, Mum ate the third portion of the horrible soup. I refused to touch it. We had these little frozen spinach and feta parcels in puff pastry that I only had to push into the oven, so cooking was easy. Tomorrow we'll have the other half of the package. No way I'll be in any shape to cook!
In the afternoon I recovered enough to finish one of my little Bolshies (= red bunnies), which is more than I had hope for in the morning. So who knows, perhaps I'll be stubborn enough to at least start the other one tomorrow. *g*
current mood:  tired
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| Monday, February 23rd, 2026
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7:38 pm - Miracles happen
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After three or four months (I don't really remember how long it has been), one of Mum's medicines that was in short supply finally resurfaced in the pharmacy. Phew! She was down to half a bottle already, so it's a relief that the thing is available again.
Lidl was fairly bearable today. They had caster sugar for a reduced price, which is great as I'll need lots of it for making experimental jams for the next Christmas fair. I bought four kilos. Fortunately, sugar will keep (unless it gets wet, but I'll see to it that that doesn't happen).
We had leftovers and I also bought Pogatschen and a Babka for afters. The Babka is very economical; you can slice it paper thing, so it will last us three days. It isn't cheap, as only the corner café sells it (they have their own recipe for almost everything), but worth every cent.
In the afternoon I worked a bit on my red rabbits. Both little Bolshies have now a face, and I started sewing together the front and back panels. If we didn't have two days of deep cleaning waiting for us I could finish them in that time. As things are, they'll have to wait. But at least I'll have help with the cleaning now. Or so I hope. I only believe it when said help actually turns up. *fingers crossed*
I tried to call two of my friends but neither of them answered the phone. Grandmother duties, most likely. I'll try again tomorrow.
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| Sunday, February 22nd, 2026
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8:30 pm - Sundays can be busy, too
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... and I'm not speaking about the usual routine, like giving Mum her weekly shower, washing my hair, taking down the dried washing and the likes.
Today I had kitchen duty. The cauliflower I had bought yesterday needed to be pre-cooked, cooled down, put into freezer bags and frozen for future use. For lunch, I made a mushroom-and-ham omelet with grated cheese and history's worst soup. For some reason trying to make gebundene Gemüsesuppe always ends in failure. I don't know why. It isn't such a complicated thing; and yet I fail every single time with it. Of course, I made a large pot. Enough for at least three days. Mum, being the soup junkie that she is, will eat it willingly enough. I might kip my portion into the loo...
Aside from the cooking disaster, I did some writing and crafting. The red felt bunnies are almost done. All that's left is the stitching of their faces, plus sewing the front and back panels together and stuffing them. I hope to finish them tomorrow or the day after. *fingers crossed*
Writing was considerably less abundant, but I did write a little bit, after I've googled for info on infected leg wounds. This is an alternate version of the TOS episode "Plato's Stepchildren", after all.
current mood:  busy
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| Saturday, February 21st, 2026
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9:08 pm - Saturdays are crazy busy
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... especially if one has to do the grocery shopping to begin with. Our local Lidl is very well-stocked, one a good location and therefore extremely popular. Going there on a Saturday is nothing short suicidal but sometimes there's no way around it. Today was such a day. 'Nuff said.
At least I didn't have to cook today. We had soup and Apfelstrudel left over from yesterday and decided that they will do for lunch. Which was a relief as we also had laundry day, so... a midday nap seemed necessary.
In the afternoon I did what the Germans call den inneren Schweinehund besiegen and cut out the smaller parts for the two felt bunnies-to-be. No sewing just yet, but at least they're taped on and actually look like, well, bunnies. Blind ones as one can't tape the black buttons on that will serve as eyes. But they'll come.
Today is also the birthday of my goddaughter (H's daughter, the mother of Theo and not-so-little-anymore Emma), so I called her to deliver our good wishes. Then I typed up the roughly two sentences I had managed to write today and am now ready to call it a day.
current mood: accomplished
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| Friday, February 20th, 2026
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8:01 pm - A day just for me?
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Well... not really, no. Being a full-time caregiver doesn't really come with days out. But it was an easier day than most, and all the things I did were done voluntarily.
One of those things was an Apfelstrudel. It wasn't necessary to make one as we had leftovers from yesterday, but I subscribe to the opinion that every decent house simply has to have baked goods available, preferably on all days. Well, we don't have them every day, but after three days without I start getting restless and won't calm down until I've baked something. And ready-made puff pastry makes things soooo easy, which is why I try to have a package of it in the fridge at all times.
Of course, self-respecting Hungarian housewives would tell you that any kind of Strudel absolutely has to be made with filo pastry. Preferably the home-made kind. My self-respect doesn't go down the suicidal route, though. Why trying to make such things from the scratch when the ones bought in the supermarket are much better and always go up beautifully? Besides, I hate things made with filo paste. They always swim in fat. For me, puff pastry is the way to go.
The other voluntary thing was of crafty nature: I cut out the main panels for two more felt bunnies. I might or might not make more in the six weeks remaining to Easter, but two should be doable. Teddy bears and elephants will be postponed, but I'll try to fill the rabbit hole with, well, rabbits. Bright red ones at that because the fabric I need to use up is of that colour. Believe me or not, red bunnies actually look very cute!
current mood:  amused
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| Thursday, February 19th, 2026
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7:36 pm - Congratulations and felicitations!
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Happy Birthday, dear  badly_knitted!
I hope you had a lovely day. Here, have some virtual calories:
In local news, we had the balcony door fixed. That's one item ticked off a long list of things-that-need-fixing.
I also gave my friend Evie's chicken-and-broccoli gratin recipe a try. It is easy to make and very yummy. Plus I used the boiling water of the broccoli to make Tütensuppe. The result: I won't need to cook tomorrow. Hurrah!
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| Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
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7:23 pm - Ash Wednesday
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... was a tad hectic. At 8:15 in the morning the locksmiths called and made their offer. Mum was still sleeping, of course, so I told them I'll call them back. Mum decided to accept the offer, despite the hefty price. So, the guys will come tomorrow around 9 in the morning and - hopefully - repair the balcony door. *fingers crossed*
I made the Apfelküchle for lunch. They turned out excellent; we ate most of them for lunch and saved a few for supper.
The PT lady had asked for a switch because she wasn't in town yesterday. So she came today, two hours later than usual, but that was okay. At least we could have lunch comfortably before.
What else? I had a nice, long phone chat with my friend Evie. It turns out she loved the TEDI Kitty very much, which pleases me to no end. We watched some telly, and that was basically it.
Tonight I'll have to rearrange the living room, move some furniture out of the way and lay down large pieces of old bedlinens, so that the guys won't ruin the wall-to-wall carpet (which has, unfortunately, a light beige colour) beyond repair tomorrow.
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| Tuesday, February 17th, 2026
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9:22 pm - Going out (for a change)
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Not that I'd gotten far. But I did the grocery shopping in the morning and went to choir practice in the late afternoon. So, there was action, even though choir practice wasn't very satisfying today. And the weather was really nice: crisp, sunny, just the way I like it.
The TEDI Teddy and the TEDI Kitten have left for their new homes. I hope they'll be appreciated. I brought home some free apples from school, so there'll be Apfelküchle tomorrow. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday anyway, which means a feast day - no meat and a limited amount of futtering. We're beyond the age when it would be mandatory, but Mum insist; and I don't mind. Apfelküchle are yummy.
But seriously, how is it possible that Lent already starts tomorrow? I'm glad I bought some Krapfen today (one for each); that's Faschingstradition and we hadn't had any during the carnival season before.
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| Monday, February 16th, 2026
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8:18 pm - Small renewals in the smial
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Our janitor showed up today and repaired the light switch in the living room that had a contact problem (the light switch, not the living room) and the sparkling wall socket in my bedroom. He also brought the locksmiths with him, so the balcony door will hopefully be fixed in the not too distant future. We forgot to ask the locksmiths to take a look at the toilet door, which we haven't been able to close properly for years - but perhaps we can do so when they return to repair the lock on the balcony door. That would leave us with only the disfunctional door of the kitchen cupboard, but that would need a carpenter, not a locksmith. Perhaps our versatile janitor will be able to do something about it eventually.
All these repairs cost money, of course, and while we can afford them, thankfully, the prices are a bit staggering. We'll have to start saving for Spring, when the repairs of the water damage in the kitchen, loo, bathroom and floor are due - that means having all these rooms repainted. Joy, joy, joy. And that is without mentioning all the emptying the rooms, and moving furniture and cleaning up afterwards. *headdesk*
In the rest of the day I did a bit of writing, made a horrible soup for lunch (it turns out you can't make a decent potato cream soup out of three rather small potatoes and a teaspoon of creme freche, after all), had a nice, long phone chat with my friend Elise, who's down with a bad cold she'd caught from her three-year-old grandson and watched some telly. Time flies when you're having fun, eh?
current mood: baffled
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| Sunday, February 15th, 2026
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8:47 pm - Floored
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So, I didn't go for the price-reduced bananas after all. When I got up I felt so flattened that I knew I wouldn't leave the house today. Instead, I took down the dried washing, gave Mum her weekly shower, washed my hair and - drumroll! - made a quick and easy peanut butter traybake. It was an interesting recipe, using mineral water in the dough, but turned out very tasty, even though the consistency was a bit odd. Too thick perhaps; I could barely smooth it in the baking tin. But the end result was very soft and crumbly, which is the best thing for Mum, so it's okay.
I'm afraid I was useless for the rest of the day, though. I took two hour-long naps, one in the late morning, one in the early afternoon (we had leftovers, so no cooking was required), solved half a crossword puzzle, wrote about two lines, and that was basically it.
We allowed us our daily dosis of "Richterin Barbara Salesch" via YouTube and I talked to my friend and former colleague Erna (our art teacher) on the phone to see how they had survived the school's annual Faschingsball, which used to be the lowest point of the year for me while I still worked. Thanks to retirement, I'm now spared that ordeal, but I feel for the colleagues who still have to go through it.
current mood:  blah
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| Saturday, February 14th, 2026
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8:29 pm - Well, thanks for nothing!
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We got up an hour earlier today, just in case the Vodafone One tech would come in the morning. Well, he did not. In fact, he didn't come at all! Neither did he call that he wouldn't come, and while he does have our number, we don't have his, so there was nothing I could do about it.
I'm seriously pissed off. I didn't go to Aldi for the price-reduced bananas (we eat lots of bananas, since they are soft and Mum can deal with them even raw), we didn't go for a walk (today was 15°C, ideal for taking Mum out; tomorrow there will be 6°C - not so good for her), I didn't start baking, all because we didn't know when to count on someone we obviously couldn't count at all.
I so hate unreliable people! I mean, I didn't ask him to come back and try to update the mini; he offered. And why, for God's sake, is it so hard to give a call and tell us that he won't come, after all? Unless he completely forgot about the whole thing, that is. :(
In any case, at least I took the earli(er) morning hour to finish the teaser to my new story, so there was at least one hour that wasn't completely wasted. Which is small comfort but comfort nonetheless.
current mood: royally pissed
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| Friday, February 13th, 2026
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8:51 pm - The Reawakening of the Muse
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I wrote almost 5 full pages today. Granted, for a brand new story, instead of one of my never-ending WIPs, but still. That was the most progress I've made in... well, I think in years. I don't expect it to last, but it was a wonderful surprise.
Other than that, I cooked a cauliflower-heavy lunch (sorry, noadvertising), and we had the usual quarterly visit from the exterminator. A really good day indeed.
current mood: accomplished
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| Thursday, February 12th, 2026
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6:26 pm - Still deflated
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... from yesterday's nerves, but I promised a picture of Jumbo, the politically incorrect, garish elephant, didn't I? So here he is, with his tiny ancestor, the 60+year-old plastic toy elephant:
https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/341640321754701892
Other than that, I did the grocery shopping today, took out the selctive rubbish... and not much else, TBH. Mum had a visit from the PT lady, we watched some crap telly, ate leftover soup and the sandwiches I had grilled for lunch, and that was basically it. I'm about to try some writing next, but if it will actually happen remains to be seen.
current mood: unmotivated
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| Wednesday, February 11th, 2026
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7:21 pm - Eventful day
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I was nervous like a monkey all morning, waiting for the Vodafone One tech guy to bring our new modem. To keep at least my hands occupied, I actually finished the politically incorrect, garish elephant. Mum actually liked it, but Mum basically likes all the little things I make out of paper or felt, so that doesn't really say anything. By the time I was done it was already too dark to take a decent photo, so I'll be doing that tomorrow.
Tech guy was young, friendly and competent. It wasn't his fault that the iPad mini is too old to deal with the new modem. He promised to come back on Saturday and try to do some system update on the mini; I hope he'll be more successful than my young cousin, since he actually has a service laptop. We'll see. I'd be happy to read on the mini again, as its screen is better lit and the background neutral, unlike the new iPad's with its psychedelic colours. The person who designed it should be shot. Or forced to stare at their own creations for the rest of their life.
After tech guy left, I deflated like a punctured balloon. A good thing that I had cooked for two days in advance yesterday. Potato casserole, baked in the oven, is every bit as yummy warmed up as it is when fresh. Tomorrow I'll pay our corner coffee a visit and buy some celebratory croissans and perhaps even a babka, if they have it. My nerves need sugar to recover - lots of it!
current mood: relieved
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| Tuesday, February 10th, 2026
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7:57 pm - The TEDI Kitty
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... has been finished as well. Take a look here. Again, I added the original photo on the package, so that noadvertising can find the right one, should her local Tedi have them.
I'm more or less content with the kitty, especially with her expression due to the added eyebrows, and the pink heart on her chest. The only problem with these Tedi toys-to-make-yourself is that they are made from such a stiff felt. It not only wrinkles badly, there's also no way to stuff them without giving them a rather prominent goiter, but that can't be helped. My friend Evie declared that her granddaughter would love the kitty, so I'm content with the outcome.
Not much else happened. I had to cook for two days, as tomorrow the One technician is due to come and replace our old internet modem (apparently, it can no longer deal with the improved speed), which makes me nervous in advance. I hate changes. I prefer things to remain the way I was used to them. Clearly, I'm getting old.
current mood:  anxious
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| Monday, February 9th, 2026
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7:18 pm - Wins and losses
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So, I paid the Vodafone One customer service a visit. The friendly young man listened to me compassionately, but there was nothing he could do. Apparently, even if I had kept my outdated package, RTL would have been taken out eventually from there, too. Ah, well. Annoying, but at least we can watch old episodes on YouTube. I still wish we had the channel, but clearly, this is another small thing that has been taken from us permanently.
On the win side, I visited the craft shop, too, which is next door to the customer service. I bought two packages of tiny little golden bells, so the garish, politically incorrect elephant plushie might get its even more garish decoration, after all. The nervous breakdown of any parents isn't my problem, now is it? *insert evil grin*
In the back of the craft shop there is another, smaller shop (independent from them, just sharing space), where I got me some very pretty grey embroidery thread, in three different shades of grey (fifty would have been the overkill, right?), plus a spool of beautiful silver one. Which I absolutely didn't need but simply couldn't resist. Even though sewing with metallic thread is a real pain. Clearly, I'm a glutton for punishment.
After that, I took the tram to the Savoy Park (mini) shopping centre, where I went to the post office to send the support money for the charities we are affiliated with (well, seven of them, the eighth hasn't sent their cheque yet) and to do the grocery shopping. Needless to say that I couldn't resist visiting the local TEDI, either, and got away with another candle to decorate and another sewing kit, this time a cat. So, the TEDI Teddy is about to get a little kitty sister. Why do I keep buying these things when I have enough unfinished projects to last the rest of my life is beyond me.
current mood:  disappointed
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| Sunday, February 8th, 2026
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8:39 pm - Another week is over
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Isn't it insane how fast time goes by? I'm trying, really trying not to feel old, but when I consider how little I get done on each passing day I must admit that either time has sped up or I have slowed down considerably. Most likely the latter. :(
In any case, this Sunday was the same as many, many others. I've taken down the dried washing, gave Mum her weekly shower, washed my hair... same old same old. At least I didn't have to cook; ain't leftovers a wonderful thing?
This way I actually had a little time for myself: working on the layout of the AU "Plato's Stepchildren" episode/story/whatever and doing a bit of crafting. My politically incorrect, horribly garish elephant plushie has reached the stage when all I have to do is to finish sewing it together and stuffing it. I could have finished, hadn't I had to fight the vicious thread I managed to get at TEDI. Note to myself: never buy cheap thread again. The struggle with the useless stuff isn't worth the money I saved.
Other than that, not much happened. We watched some telly - partly YouTube on the big screen, thanks to my young cousin, so we weren't completely devoid of Judge Barbara Salesch - partly "The Incredible Dr. Pol" and the Great Australian Bake-Off, I took a nap in the afternoon and had a phone chat with H. And that was it. Sunday as usual.
current mood: lazy
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| Friday, February 6th, 2026
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8:05 pm - Frigging Vodafone!!!
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Or One, as they call themselves since they swallowed DigiTV, aka the competition. Anyway, they contacted me today as it was time to renew my contract (of course it will be somewhat more expensive from now on, like everything else). I specifically asked if the new package will contain my German-speaking channels, which are important for me to keep my vocabulary alive. They assured me that it will. And what happened? Barely had I hung up on them, German RTL simply vanished mid-sentence. All other foreign-language channels (like the oh-so-important Chinese one) where still there. Just not the channel we used to watch on a daily basis (Richterin Barbara Salesch anyone?).
I called Customer Service, and a helpful young man (at least his voice sounded young) tried his best to help me - to no end. That particular channel simply wasn't in the new package. I wouldn't be this angry if I hadn't specifically asked, but here we are. *is really mad*
That was enough to ruin my whole day. I can watch old episodes on YouTube, but Mum preferred the new ones with the Irish wolfhound - well, no Piri for her anymore. I really don't understand why can't we simply choose which channels we want to have - I'd certainly throw out all the stupid sports channels and MTV and the likes - since we pay a batch of money for our telly!
Anyway, other than that I did some writing, starting to flesh out a fairly alternate version of the ST:TOS episode "Plato's Stepchildren" and took out the elephant plushie again. It has now both ears and both eyes and I'm working on its accessoires in the hope to finish it during the weekend. Or not. We'll see.
current mood: pissed off
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| Thursday, February 5th, 2026
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7:16 pm - Invigorated
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That's what a successful shopping trip does to me: it invigorates me like very few other things do. To be precise, after three fruitless tries today I finally found that leather watch strap I had been looking for... for months, actually. Now I can proudly wear my 80+years-old wrist watch that Mum had gotten from her uncle as a very young girl. It's a reliable Swiss model - not one of the big brands, but I find it pretty, and it has emotional value.
Inspired by this success I also paid the craft shop on my way home a visit and bought some extra thin wax plates and wax borders. I used to decorate Easter candles with my pupils as you can se here. My own creations were a bit more detailed (see this one), but thin wax plates are hard to find, especially as I no longer have the chance to visit Vienna. I have two plain candles, one pale pink, the other one pale turquoise, so I might do some candle decorating again. I used to do that a great deal after I had come back from Germany; unfortunately, there are no pictures of those. I didn't even have a computer back then, not to mention the internet.
Anyway, I also did the grocery shopping, including some baking and preserving ingredients that were in offer and spent an indecent amount of money, which always gives me a heady feeling of freedom. We used to be so poor for so long, it's liberating to splurge a bit from time to time. *g*
Naturally, the shopping excess took the entire morning. We ate instant soup with some leftovers and peanut butter cookies, watched some telly (during which I fell asleep several times), then I called my friend Evie (she got down from her steep hill okay yesterday), after which I wasn't sleepy anymore, so I decided to do some research for a fanfic idea that came to me unexpectedly. So that is what I'm going to do now.
current mood:  bouncy
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