Update

Fandom Related:

1. I am really glad fandomsecrets is still a thing that's alive and kicking.

2. There is an author on A03 that is relatively prolific in one of the fandoms/pairings I'm currently reading who is guilty of completely misusing and/or overusing italics in their fic. Like, there is an italicized word or phrase in nearly every sentence. Their work would be good but I can't get past that to actually enjoy reading it. *sigh*

3. Yes, I know I am not in a place to offer that type of criticism. At least that author is putting things out there, which is always admirable. I haven't posted anything in years, I think, even though I have plenty of partially written stuff floating around. I'm just not sharing it, because of whatever reasons. Mainly because it doesn't feel like any of it is finished enough to post on AO3 and posting on dreamwidth doesn't have an audience and I still don't actually get tumblr.

4. I've always been picky about fic. Like, kudos for everyone who writes and feels confident enough to post and whatever, but I know I'm picky. It makes it difficult sometimes, lol.

Real Life Related:

1. Hopefully we're down to the end of the rain. Shifting climates, etc etc. We weathered Hurricane Florence well - in the past couple of weeks, we've taken on water three times, but never more than 3 inches or so. There is a major thunderstorm forecast for this afternoon and another night of rain, but I think that should be the end of the rain for a while. Which would be fantastic, because I'm currently without a bedroom again. And our house is a disaster because everything from my bedroom is once again shoved whereever we can find a place upstairs, and I'm not usually the most organized or whatever but the clutter and mess stress me out.

2. Friend!Amy bought a house, since she accepted a new position at work and that means they have to stay in Virginia Beach for another three years even though Cliff gets out of the Navy (for real this time) next June. I'm trying to find a weekend to squeeze in a visit before wrestling season starts but idk if I'll be able to manage it.

3. Apparently my name is getting thrown around the district for our denomination. Since I officially accepted the Youth Group Leader position again (only for senior highs; I talked my Aunt Lori into taking my junior highs, because even though we've combined them in the past, we've got enough youth now to separate them), I've been approached about several different other committees or planning groups. Luckily, I learned the power of no after I started dealing with migraines, so even though my first instinct is to say yes to everything because I like to be helpful and it's all important, I've only agreed to a few of them. But expect more Church of the Brethren related content here, especially in the next few months.

4. I feel like a Bad Parent for skipping Back to School Night this week. Both boys were are at work, Ronnie only has two classes this year, and I just couldn't bring myself to go. I'm on the high school PTSA so I'm getting called to help with sending in stuff, and I'm running the facebook page for the wrestling team, and I'm actively involved as a Choral Department parent, but it still feels wrong. I meant to email the teachers, especially Davey's, but I haven't yet. I need to get on that. (I'm also signed up as a PTA volunteer for Illy's class, which is more involved, and I'm chaperoning Luna's preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch next week.)

(no subject)

I've missed a couple of posts from thefridayfive, so doing them in one post.

The Friday Five for September 14

This Friday Five is brought to you by Hurricane Florence and yours truly.

1. Have you ever experienced a hurricane firsthand? I have not been IN a hurricane, but we have felt the effects from them several times. The worst that I remember was Hurricane Andrew, in 1992. We did not get the impact from Florence that was predicted, which was good for us, I guess.

2. Have you ever experienced outside heat over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celcius)? Yes, several times over the past couple of months. I wouldn't mind it so much but the humidity is horrid.

3. When and where was the coldest temperature you have ever experienced? Idk. This past winter, the temperature got down below zero a couple of times. I remember on NYE, I had 14 teenagers over and those dumbasses were outside around the fire pit until 3am even though the thermometer on the porch was at 0.

4. Is your household prepared for a possible power outage of two to seven days? Yes. Because of our location, if we do lose power, we're one of the last areas on the grid to be restored. With as much rain as we've had and as soggy as the ground is, I've been extra worried about the trees near us. A lot of them are old and lose limbs in a regular windstorm, but a good strong wind could pull the whole tree from the ground.

5. Do you have a go bag? I do, but I wasn't planning on using it. I do make sure that both boys have a bag in their cars in case they can't get home (our road has flooded to impassable several times this summer), but my dogs are bratty brats and I wouldn't want to take them anywhere. Plus we'd be okay here, it would just suck, lol.

The Friday Five for September 21

With the start of Autumn just a few days away in this hemisphere and Spring about to start in the other –

1. Do you have the urge to do a Fall/Spring cleaning as soon as the weather turns? Kinda? I think it's more related to the way my bipolar changes with the seasons and I get more manic.

2.What tells you that the season (a certain smell, a certain taste, that sort of thing) has changed? The smell of woodsmoke and fall leaves is a good indicator of fall. When we change to winter, it'll be the way the cold feels and smells in the air. (But the end of minor league baseball and the start of the school year is the beginning of fall here, lol.)

3.What do you look forward to the most with the change of seasons? The changing leaves, because I live in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it's gorgeous. Also, the decreased humidity, because it means less migraines.

4. What is something that you probably should accomplish but won’t this season? Lol, lots of things. Getting my house back in order is a big one. And getting the garden plots prepared so they'll be easier to work with in the spring!

5. What is the most enjoyable part of the oncoming season for you? Family & friends time! We have Heritage Day, pumpkin patch visits, and Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday and we celebrate multiple times.