Alchemy Alice

When he informed his friend and weekend host that there was a squirrel angrily chittering in a live trap cage in the backyard, he had not entirely expected the smug "serves Mrs. Wilmott right" he heard in response. "Just imagine the persistence of a bird feeder-raiding squirrel and the nosiness of a little old biddy next door, then make her a witch," she explained as she looked out the kitchen window, which had heavy privacy curtains like everywhere else in the house. "She's safe in the shade, so I think I'll let her stew for a bit, and maybe she’ll think better of snooping while I have a 'gentleman caller' staying over," she announced loudly, which set off a new wave of furious squeaking.

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LL#1345

The trouble--one of the troubles, anyway--with locking up one’s monstrous offspring in the attic is that one must then tell less-monstrous offspring, “Your brother is a monster and we keep him in there so he can’t hurt anyone,” and they decide they quite like monsters. Then you tell them, “So you must never, ever open this door,” and they decide to whisper through the keyhole and pass notes under the door. Then you tell them, “Family secrets have to stay in the family,” and they decide they and their monstrous sibling will simply have to find a new family in that case.

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LL#1344

With the weather taking a sharp turn to colder daytime temperatures, we are happy to announce that Old Man Anatole has been able to emerge from his yearly hibernation in the cryostasis lab at the community college. Trapped on a mountain unknown centuries ago, Anatole was found frozen by local archaeologists and was revived somewhat successfully, apart from his inability to survive in warmer temperatures. When you see him wandering coatless about town, stop to say hello and tell him about something pleasant for you from the past year, as he always enjoys catching up on what he misses during his seasonal sleep.

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LL#1343

Ugh. Multiple appointments this week, all of which got rescheduled, sometimes more than once. My dental cleaning revealed a cavity, so I had to go back to get that dealt with. My regular follow-up for my HRT was a bit of a fiasco. They were obviously too busy and didn’t actually have time to provide me with competent care. Normally, I don’t need anything in particular; I’m just showing up so they can renew my prescriptions. But I had actual questions this time. No one was really listening to me, as they kept misunderstanding what I was talking about, and they didn’t have time to do anything for me anyway.

So I have another appointment, which I needed anyway to get the last round of HPV vax. Maybe that will go better… Perhaps they will also have the injection supply kits I use (since my pharmacy can’t manage to fill them in a timely or accurate manner), which they were out of. And apparently now I have to have at least a telehealth appointment to get the results of my blood test for my T levels, which is a new policy. Considering it takes me over an hour to get to them, I wish they would be a bit less cavalier about making me come back multiple times.

No one’s head is really in the game at work right now, least of all mine. There are various holiday activities happening, and I think we’re all just skating from one to the next until we get to our days off. Which doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy, because nonsense is constantly afoot. I’m just not sure I’m especially competent right now. ≧ ﹏ ≦

Lewisia: 3 new pieces written

Day job: 42.5 hours, not counting the 1.5hr of consultation via text

Crafting: converted 1 more sticker into a magnet, repaired more socks

Gardening: harvested pumpkins, garden club post

Reading: The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions by Larry Mitchell (a sort of fairy tale [pun intended] of the ebb and flow of the fortunes of the collective queer community, interesting reading in these strange times), The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (I only saw the movie for the first time as an adult and it did not have the magic it might have if I saw it at a younger age, but the book was perfectly lovely, he does truly gorgeous things with language)

Watching: Jurassic World: Rebirth (huh...well, it was a better movie than the last one [low bar] but it still feels like they’ve lost the thread--I like the series because dinosaurs, which seem to take a backseat to other concerns in the modern movies)

Listening: Napichideh by B-Band (“Kavire Del” was one of the all-time best finds from KEXP for me years ago, and I finally managed to obtain the full album)

Aftermarket Parts: six month follow-up

Clock Mouse: 1208 words

Other: dentist...twice...