always been crazy

My belly button is SO ITCHY!

I had my surgery on the 11th (total abdominal hysterectomy) and am mostly all healed up from that - it still hurts if I sit or stand for too long, and I get pains if I move too quick in certain ways - but the incision is at that itchy stage of healing and the surgeon had to make my incision bigger than he anticipated (because my uterus was about three times the size it was supposed to be!) so it goes all the way through my belly button and ughhhhhh. But honestly, I already feel so much better, and I just have to work on building up my blood again. My hemoglobin was at 8.2 after surgery and it supposed to be like a 12.

Things otherwise have been crazy. Mom had a seizure, fell, and hit her head, so we called the ambulance and she ended up hospitalized for a couple nights, which of course caused a bunch of paperwork with insurance/hospice. Basically, her tumor is obstructing her kidney which is somehow affecting the way her body processes blood sugar. So it's interesting. And then there's all the stuff with Tim & Jamie & the kids, and RT & Kristina got a house and had to move, and Harley is getting married on New Year's Day. Planning for Ronnie & Miranda's wedding is progressing. And Davey has officially taken over all the house bills, which is weird but makes me proud of him. It is a bit hilarious to listen to him lecture at us to turn off lights and stuff, though. Like, kid, I've been telling you that your entire life!

I'm still seeing basically all the movies, and I'm at 88 books for the year. I did rewatch the first season of The Expanse after reading the book, and it made more sense but I still don't really care for the show. I'm starting the second book now. I do have one more book in the Witcher series to read, which I'm trying to get done before the second season of the netflix series comes out.

Have a few links while I'm here:

24 Quotes on Giving Thanks, Justice, and Radical Gratitude

Devour the Soul, Reaper of Men by MK_Yujji
Star Trek, Doom || Reaper!Bones, Jim Kirk || 26k
A distress call sends the crew of the USS Enterprise to a dark research station where Bones’ past will come to haunt them all. Olduvai may be gone, but its secrets got out first.
This isn't a new read; it's actually one of my all time favorites. So good!

The Dah-Ling Store-It-Yourself by nixajane
Psych || Carlton Lassiter/Shawn Spencer || 43k
The bad news is that one of Lassiter's highest profile arrests has just escaped from prison. The worse news is that his best hope of tracking him down is a sleep-deprived Shawn Spencer.
Never a pairing I thought I would read, but this is super well done. The author has a great way with the tone of the show and the characters.

Something Dumb to Do by poisonivy
Daredevil || Matt Murdock/Franklin "Foggy" Nelson || 33k
If Matt and Foggy get married, Foggy will never be forced to testify against Daredevil. It doesn't mean anything has to change, right?

All Over Again by fmo
Marvel || James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers || 2246
Steve wakes up in 1944, where everyone is still alive. Where Bucky is still alive. It's not as simple as it seems.
short and poignant

haven't left your bed since by heroics
Hockey RPF || Travis Konecny/Nolan Patrick || 6002
"So, is it a rule that all bassists have to be really stoic and hot?" Travis asks. College AU
hot and snarky

it's hard to do these things alone by electrumqueen
Fast & Furious || Brian O'Conner/Dominic Toretto || 11k
Brian doesn't lie to cars. He doesn't lie to Dom either, but that's a newer development.
a reread, but intriguing and evokes so many feelings

jim kirk's guide to starship management: how to work with people you don't like by espressohno
Star Trek || James T. Kirk/Leonard "Bones" McCoy || 23k
step one: don't hook up with them! [edit: author has failed step one]
Excellent!

Fly by update that is really just sharing links:

How Bayard Rustin’s Quaker, AME Faith Shaped the Civil Rights Era

Batman's Sidekick Robin Comes Out


Hospitals Face A Shortage Of Nurses As COVID Cases Soar


'The Lorax' Warned Us 50 Years Ago, But We Didn't Listen

Everything is still crazy, AND there's a pandemic.

Love you all! <3

So there's been a lot going on, and it's got me in my head and a bit messed up, so I keep putting off writing about it. Spent the weekend of my birthday in the hospital. Had gone for routine bloodwork, and the next morning while I was preparing to leave for Pittsburgh, my dr office called first thing and told me to go straight to the ER. My hemoglobin level was at 6.5, when it's supposed to be at or above an 11 or 12. I've been anemic for a while, but never that low. So, lots of blood work and waiting around and whatnot, got a blood transfusion and an iron transfusion. My hemoglobin was up to 7.4 when I left the hospital. (It was 8.7 when I was at hematology two weeks ago and 9.1 yesterday.) No visible bleeding, so I got a referral to hematology, gastro, and ob/gyn. But it's got me in a bad headspace, between missing my Pittsburgh weekend, thinking about the bills I'm already racking up, and knowing the number of phone calls this is going to entail. Plus, everyone asking me how I am, which is emotionally exhausting.

Someone hit Davey's car yesterday. Apparently this old guy missed his turn so he stopped and backed up in the middle of the road and ran right into the front of the challenger. Davey is so upset, obviously, even though the damage is minor.

This morning, Miranda passed out in the hallway at home and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. This happens sometimes, and the drs have yet to figure out why.

Mom is not doing well. I keep trying to convince my siblings that they need to get over here and spend time with her. She wants to keep working until January (when she'll be eligible for retirement) but I'm trying to convince her that she can stop now, or at the end of the summer at the latest.

The boys and I (and their girlfriends) went to see F9 the other night. It was so ridiculous, not that I expected anything else, but seeing the F&F movies at the theater is a tradition for us. (Leah and Miranda have never seen any of the others, but they didn't want to be left out.) I've missed the movies.

Recs:

I recently finished The Line That Held Us by David Joy and American Dirt by Jeannine Cummins, and thoroughly recommend both.

Epiphany by Minxie
Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1 || Cameron Mitchell/John Sheppard || 20k
It takes months, but John finally has an epiphany.
I have this marked to rec so apparently I really liked it. BDSM

Links:

Alabama Coal Miners Are Striking for Their Lives

The Cocaine Kings of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Grandmother of Juneteenth celebrates federal holiday -- but there is still more work to do

Her Kind of Blue: Joni Mitchell's Masterpiece at 50

Jaccob Slavin Recognized for Elite and Gentlemanly Play ♥

A Lobster Diver in Cape Cod Says a Humpback Whale Scooped Him Up and Spat Him Out

T.J. Osborne Talks Brothers Osborne, Coming Out, and 'Younger Me'

I recently finished David Arnold's The Electric Kingdom, which was very weird in a good way, and Helene Wecker's The Golem and the Jinni, which took ages because it was a slow and heavy read but I really enjoyed it. And I watched the second season of The Boys!  I think it's kinda funny that three of the actors from Timeless - Claudia Doumit, Goran Visnjic, and Malcolm Barrett - were all in it.

I told Bebout he has to find somewhere else to stay. I feel bad, but he's an adult (technically) and has to do something to help himself. Lying to us, blowing money on weed, skipping his doctor appts, quitting his job - I'm not dealing with it.

Our current fosters are a mom and three babies, and I'm pretty sure the mom was a feral. The shelter told me she's "spicy." They're currently in one of our big kennels, trying to get them kinda used to things for a couple days and then we'll turn them loose in one of our spare bedrooms, but she paces back and forth and takes the babies by turn and tries to find a way to escape with them. The kittens are fine with being taken out and played with, and we've been letting them out to run around with Duke (he loves kittens; Duchess goes and hides when the kittens come out), but momma is not having it. She got out earlier when Miranda was trying to clean the kennel, and Ronnie and Leah had to chase her all over the house and she tore Ronnie up. Good thing she has her shots. We've only had them a couple of days, so I'm hoping she'll at least settle enough to be socialized enough to be adoptable.

We're adjusting my migraine meds and I swear I've done little more than sleep for the past two weeks and it's a mess. And oh hey, my Hurricanes just won their game, so I guess it's bedtime for me now too!

Links & recs:

Palestine Emergency Response - link to Humanity First who are working on the ground in Palestine and could use donations

you do not have to be good. by coffeesuperhero
Leverage || Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer || 20k
Come hell or high water, Eliot is going to figure this out.
Super good, going on my all time favorites list: It's basically a damn advertisement. Wanted: one hitter. Must love: martial arts, culinary arts, cars, guitars, a tall genius hacker, and a small mischievous thief.

Forty Years and Eight Pounds (The Skin Hunger Variations) by bironic
Stargate Atlantis || John Sheppard || 2419
John finds what he's looking for when Teyla places it on his chest, warm and heavy and smelling of milk. Or: Six people John never told, and four he didn't need to tell.
Beautifully done

Four Blatant Lies About Atlantis (And One Thing That's Totally True) by sabinelagrande
Stargate Atlantis || Rodney McKay/John Sheppard || 4196
Wherein aliens don't make them do it, John loves ASCII, Carson hates everyone, Weir is highly amused, and Lorne's just tyring to be a pal.

The Legend of Smedley Duckler, the Fighting Quacker by Domenkia Marzione (domarzione)
Stargate Atlantis || 3383
How the marines got their mascot. Or, Sheppard and Lorne Are In Charge Of Crazy People.very fun read

Today's links are all personal:

Online fundraiser supporting the First Church of the Brethren Youth! Every purchase you make through Rada Cutlery using our unique shopping link earns money for our youth group. This will help me and the girls get to Colorado in summer 2022 for National Youth Conference (depending on the state of the world, of course).

2021 Ration Challenge

2021 Relay for Life - Virginia's Blue Ridge

2021 Roanoke Valley CROP Hunger Walk

Fic Recs:

Sweet Buns by skoosiepants
Teen Wolf || Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski || 17k
Stiles hasn’t seen Derek Hale this close up for over a decade. He looks almost exactly the same, except somehow he seems even bigger and broodier—criminally handsome, with soft-looking dark scruff, heavy brows, light hazel eyes. His gaze zeros in on Stiles almost immediately, and his scowl lightens minutely in what looks like surprise.
Stiles is acutely aware that he has melted butter and cinnamon all over his face, and tries to surreptitiously wipe it with the ends of his sweater-sleeve.
I'm not usually a fan of a/b/o fic, but I am a fan of skoosiepants' writing, so I liked this and I especially like the way Isaac and Jackson are in it.

Rhapsody in Blue (with grace notes of gold) by mobius_stripper
Marvel || Nebula, Tony Stark || 2814
A Nebula character study, making up stuff about the five years in Endgame.
Nebula and Stark friendship.

When Push Comes to Chevre by copperbadge
Marvel || James "Bucky" Barnes || 16k
Bucky Barnes acquires a plot of land in Wakanda, buys some goats, grows peanuts and sweet potatoes, and fosters a wayward rhinoceros.

People are building beehives out of legos

This cute stray kept sneaking into a store to steal a stuffed unicorn so the animal control officer bought it for him

These french rabbits prefer handstands to bunny hops

we have a chance to redeem voting rights

A man finds a baby in the subway. 20 years later, they're still a happy family.

More Than a Team by Mercury Gray
Band of Brothers || Lewis Nixon/Richard Winters || 3172
As an older brother, moving your sister into college is just one of those things you do, even if it's the hottest day of the year and your help isn't being very helpful. But ice cream afterwards helps, a little, with the moving, and dealing with the heat - and with having the conversations you just can't have at home.

Abbey Cats, Alley Cats by Fuuma_san
Good Omens || Aziraphale/Crowley || 29k
Aziraphale has encounters with several cats over the ages who help care for his books and keep him company. At first he ignores and takes their presence for granted, but he learns to appreciate them and gradually, they bring him closer and closer to his demon, until Aziraphale realizes what he really wants. So Aziraphale hatches plans to get it.

Believer and a Homecoming by lsdme
Teen Wolf || Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski || 11k
“I’m serious, Derek,” Stiles whispers. “Come home.”
sweet and heartwarming future!fic

the wisdom of a cat by shestepsintotheriver
The Witcher || Aiden/Lambert || 13k
Lambert falls in love the way he does everything else: long-sufferingly and to his own great annoyance.
snarky!Lambert, well written, fun

You Are the Only Safe Haven that I Know by whisperedstory
The Witcher || Geralt/Jaskier || 17k
Geralt comes across Jaskier in a small town by accident and asks him to travel with him again, hoping things will go back to the way they were before the fight. But Jaskier is different—he's more subdued and cautious, and entirely too agreeable. Geralt doesn't know what's wrong with him, but he's determined to fix it.

My dad's surgery went well, but now everything is complicated with everything. I'm so over it. Hiding from the world right now.

Have some links:

COMIC: How One COVID-19 Nurse Navigates Anti-mask Sentiment

Poor Teeth in a Rich World

Grief and Cheap Grace in 'Wandavision'

How To Romance An Astrophysicist by halestrom
Stargate Atlantis || Rodney McKay/John Sheppard || 13k
This wasn't the first time John was hit over the head by something he hadn't seen coming. He just hoped this one worked out better for both parties involved.
Sheppard's Pie by auburn
Stargate Atlantis || Rodney McKay/John Sheppard || 20k
Cooking is just chemistry, so pie should be easy, if Rodney could just figure out what Sheppard wants.

Today started out crazy and now we have a weekend full of rain to look forward to, which always makes me anxious. BUT!

- got plans to meet with Miranda and her mom tomorrow to do some early wedding planning
- mom's been at her job for 25 years, so she got flowers and a bonus equal to a month's pay and a gift card for $150 to outback. Her boss is the absolute best; I don't know what we would do without him. He and his wife have been so generous and helpful during the past couple years, and he has always been overly generous with all of his employees but mom was the first person they hired at the firm and Mark's always treated her special.
- Bebout started his first official job this week! He's only two days in, but I'm so proud of him.
- Davey got his tax refund and the first thing he did was pay his tuition deposit for next semester, even though he tells me about every day that he's dropping out of school.
- Catching up on DVR tonight and was excited to see Jorge Garcia as Jerry on MacGyver. Love him and miss H50! Then there was Aaron Stanford, who I adore, on FBI Most Wanted, which made my night.

So, focusing on the good. :)

Random links:

Why Are We Still Standardized Testing During a Pandemic?

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry, animated

The Unmistakable Black Roots of 'Sesame Street'

S.S. Katherine Johnson Launches From Virginia

Finished making sure my fic list is up to date!*

Masterlist

I have written 131 pieces and numerous drabbles/snapshots in the following fandoms:
Bandom
Chicago 'Verse (Chicago PD, but they're all tied together)
Chronicles of Narnia
Criminal Minds
CWRPS
The Dresden Files
Generation Kill
Goon
Harry Potter
Hockey RPF
Jericho
Latter Days
Lord of the Rings
Lost
The Night Shift
Original
Popslash
Queer as Folk
Roswell New Mexico
Shameless
Shelter
Skating!RPS
Suits
Supernatural
Thremedon
Tin Man

*There are two big things missing - my two big HP fics (Picking Up the Pieces and Garden of Sun and Tears), which are being reworked and consolidated.

Also, The Epic Love Story of Brendon and Frank - as well as a handful of other bandom and GK fics that I wrote with H are linked at this post but they link over to LJ and I'd eventually like to have them archived here as well.

States Bound! The SHS Wrestling team has 8 kids headed to states, and 5 alternates! Despite everything, I can't help but be super proud and super excited! I miss the chaos of wrestling seasons and tournaments, but it was nice to be able to watch the regional matches via youtube while I was in bed in my jammies today. No pre-dawn drives, no large crowds, no running back and forth from one mat to another, no utter exhaustion afterward. States is in two weeks, no spectators allowed. It's weird, but everything is now. And one of this year's seniors already signed to Roanoke College with a wrestling scholarship, so that's awesome.

I realized today one of the things that's been bothering me about the school arguments. The pandemic is highlighting issues with schools in general, and disparities in school districts, and underfunding, and all kinds of stuff. I am 100% behind teachers and parents not wanting to return to school without feeling safe. Most districts cannot do this. But what was throwing me is that I support my school district being in-person and at the same time think being back to in-person school is Not A Good Thing for most places. I think I sorted it out in my head now though.

Salem (where my kids went, where several of my littles go now) has always been extra. They have always put priority on their school system, which is one of the reasons I paid for my kids to stay there after we moved out of district. Even before the pandemic, they had generally smaller class sizes - elementary school classes tried to stay under 15 kids per classroom, middle/high schools no more than 20 or 22 for classes other than specials (band, choir, ece, the auto classes, etc, all had more than that, I think). So when they needed to make smaller classes to meet guidelines for social distancing, etc, it was easier. Salem teachers are also better paid than others in this area, and even though the teachers obviously pay out of pocket for stuff (like all teachers) they get supplied more than others. For example, most teachers I know in other districts have limited numbers of copies available to them per month or whatever. One of the community businesses in Salem covers all copy costs for the schools - supply the copiers, provide the upkeep, donate paper and toner, etc) so the teachers, admin, ptsa all have unlimited copies. The community had several organizations donate cleaning supplies and stuff to the schools (apparently there are school districts where the teachers had to supply their own supplies to keep their rooms clean and sanitized? that baffles me), one donated masks for all the students and staff, the ptsa organized for all the students to get reusable water bottles and provided a stockpile of bottled water for each school since the water fountains are off limits. Salem is small, like 15 square miles, so there is internet/wifi everywhere. Students who are partial or completely distance learning have school provided chrome books. Salem opened schools in September. All families were given the option of full online learning. For in-person, preK-2 go 5 days per week until 1:15. Some kids have IEPs so they have a special schedule, like Illy, who goes Mon-Thurs until 1:15. Grades 3-12 go two days a week (either Mon/Thurs or Tues/Fri - until 2:15 at the elementary school, to stagger the buses) and have online assignments the other days. There have been a few instances of COVID (contracted from an outside source), but for the most part, it's worked well. But I KNOW this model doesn't work for everyone, and Salem is so so lucky it works for them.

Anyway.

Have a link to read I found interesting this morning: The Strange Blissfulness of Storms

( and a handful of small fic recs )