serafaery | Reading

It was hot and sunny yesterday so we went down for dinner instead of breakfast/lunch. Unfortunately it was still pretty warm and sunny when we got there, though at least the sun was going down. But even once the sun was no longer blazing, it was still super muggy. Bleh.

( But we did have a nice dinner! )

oglaf_comic_feed

https://www.oglaf.com/ruin/

torachan

1. The other day I noticed a new Vietnamese coffee shop had opened nearby and this morning I rode my bike over there to try it out. They are famous for their banana coffee, which was sort of a frappuccino style drink, so I got that. It was super delicious, but they had only drinks, no food, and I wanted some sort of pastry or something. There's a bakery a couple doors down that is suuuuuuper trendy and has a line down the block all the time so although I would love to try them, I didn't want to wait in a line so long my drink would be gone by the time I got my food.

So I decided to leave my bike parked there and walk a few blocks down to Randy's Donuts, which is a famous LA donut shop that started opening new locations in recent years after having just been a single location for ages. I've never actually been to the one in Santa Monica. As I was walking, I saw there was a Dunkin Donuts across the street just one block down and was briefly tempted to just go there, but I knew Randy's would be better so I continued on and I'm so glad I did because they had a Pride donut and also a mango tajin one and both were so good. Their donuts are big and I really only should have gotten one, but I wanted both lol. The mango one had mango tajin frosting and a delicious mango filling. The Pride one was just a frosted glazed donut with rainbow stripes, but even for a basic donut it was really tasty. I was very full afterwards but it was such good breakfast.

2. It was still hot today so we went to Disneyland for dinner instead of going earlier in the day. Sadly it was warmer than I would prefer even at 6pm when we got there, and super muggy. But we did have a delicious dinner.

3. Tuxie's fur has been growing back on his forehead. I don't think you can really even see where the wound was anymore. So handsome!

torachan

Sunday we had non-Disney plans, so no need to get started super early in the morning, but of course I did wake up early. The laundry had piled up again, so I walked over to the other hotel to get a load started and then walked to the station to get McDonald's. Unfortunately, I'd misremembered the opening time and thought they opened at seven, but it's not until eight. All that was open was a Starbucks, another little sandwich/coffee shop whose name I don't remember and the New Days convenience store. I got pastries and coffee for myself and onigiri for Carla and took everything back to the hotel to eat.

( Togoshi Ginza, Gotanda, and Shibuya )

torachan

1. It's been hot this week, but the evenings have been fairly cool and overcast, which is nice! (I'll be glad when the temps go back down a little next week, though.)

2. Last Friday I met a new guy at work who is taking over my supervisor's duties as my supervisor is transitioning to be more like the company vice president and will have less time for other stuff (though apparently he's still going to be my direct supervisor) and the new guy was wearing a Dodgers Pride shirt. Then today I noticed another new person, who works in my office but a different division, has an inclusive Pride flag on her desk.

3. It's the weekend! And the next three weeks are short work weeks.

4. Curling up on Carla's chair while it's pushed under the desk is just about Gemma's favorite place in the whole house. It's so secret!

lovelyangel

Kanade Gujō
Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk, Episode 10

There is no week so long as the seven days one waits for the next episode of a loved anime series. Episode 10 of Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk finally arrived – and it was wonderful. I watched it twice already.

IzanaSolos at MyAnimeList had said that episode 10 was going to be an anime original, so I braced for that. However, it turned out that only one segment was anime original. The other two stories were the next chapters of the manga.

IzanaSolos did provide an astute and detailed Commentary for Episode 10, as is their norm.

This is the first time I’d watched an episode of Botan while knowing the manga story in advance. Consequently, I knew what was going to happen – and the production was very faithful to dialog and setting. However, the anime was so advanced beyond the manga illustrations that it didn’t matter what I knew in advance. The direction and artwork were simply marvelous. The manga served as a rough storyboard, and the director made that into beautiful art.

The first story focused on Kanade Gujō, still pining for Ibuki and jealous of Botan. She is suffering a lot, and Chin-Lan is doing her best to ease the pain. And these are the first steps for a Kanade x Chin-Lan relationship.

The second story is the anime original piece, and it spotlights Akane and Yaeka – who don’t get enough attention. Botan is there as well – and provides kind help, as always. This was a sweet vignette.

The third story, which followed the credits, was the amusing manga piece that showed the housemates’ casual conversations while also dealing with a bottle of shōchū gifted to the house by Yaeka (not present). It’s all shown from Ibuki’s perspective – for a fun reason.

Simply an excellent episode. I’m going to watch the episode again.

Botan Kamiina
Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk, Episode 10

torachan

Recently Finished
Everyone In the Group Chat Dies
Picked this up at the library on a whim after seeing it on the new release shelf. Told in split timelines between the present and events that happened a year ago. In the present, the MC gets a text from someone who should be dead, and as she tries to figure out what's going on, other people in the group chat get picked off one by one. The past timeline follows the events that lead up to the death of the person supposedly sending the texts in the present. Pretty standard thriller. I liked it all right, but don't feel the need to rush out and read more by the author.

Curse of the Poppy
Fifth in the Penny Green mystery series.

The Man Everybody Was Afraid Of
Fourth in the Dave Brandstetter mystery series. This was probably my least favorite so far, not for any particular reason, just felt a little boring until it got near the end.

Murder and the Missing Treasure
New Cleopatra Fox release! I'm always excited to see a new book in the series.

The Harlem Hellfighters
Graphic novel about Black soldiers in World War I. There's a mix of real and fictional characters, but overall apparently follows historical accounts fairly faithfully. Interesting reading, though I wasn't a fan of the art style.

Nodame Cantabile vol. 11-12

xkcd_feed

https://xkcd.com/3258/

It's great for exfoliating your skin, bones, houses, cities, landscape, etc.

https://xkcd.com/3258/

citrakayah posting in

common_nature

To start with, here's some photos of the local landscape:

( Read more... )

prixmium

So, Olivia Rodrigo's album finally dropped, and I feel like I like it a loooot more than the last music album I was aware of waiting for. I feel sort of vindicated or consoled after being so disappointed with Taylor Swift's last album.

One thing that I notice about both Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter is that they seem to be more accurately aware of the things they're nostalgic for and inspired by than some of Taylor's misaimed references and allusions that people fawn over so much. (I still think some of Taylor's lyrics are great, but sometimes her literary or pop culture references are badly aimed or actively wrong.)

This album feels like it's got pretty standard pop, more indie or rock-inspired stuff, and some stuff that honestly sounds... almost pre-pop. Like you might hear it in the 40s or 50s.

It feels very sparkly and vibrant in a way that gives me some strange mix of melancholia and hope that the Fandom Energy will flow again.

Today, it stormed hard and fast around 2 PM but cleared before I got out of work. The sky was lovely and clear for the last couple hours I was outside.

I'm really excited for Ellipsus Plus!

Exhausted but not a bad day.

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: Stupid Song - Olivia Rodrigo

dinosaur_comics_feed

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4483


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meet a thousand babies and only four of them will be suckers! this is good news for anyone whose life has - perhaps through no fault of their own - brought them to circumstances in which they must now absolutely meet one thousand babies

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June 12th, 2026

June 12th, 2026: TCAF was great! I was just walking around most of the time, but I did have a panel and a signing and I'm sorry to the people who I didn't get to chat with as much but they were had to rush me out to get the next person in line! But it was a DELIGHT and I hope we get to do it again soon - perhaps... ONE YEAR FROM NOW??

– Ryan

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4483

torachan

1. I decided to work from home today because of getting the car charger installed. They were supposed to come between eight and nine and it was nearly nine when they arrived, but then it only took about an hour to install, so I could have gone in and not even been that much later than I often go it, but I still opted to stay home. We've already charged up the car now, so it's ready to go!

2. Last night we watched a video on youtube about some sort of Chicago chips that were Italian beef flavored and they are apparently selling them at Cost Plus, so we went over there after the guys finished installing the charger. It's probably been over ten years since I've been to Cost Plus as I just never think about it, but they had so much stuff that looked good. They didn't have the Italian beef chips, but they did have a couple others from the same brand, Chicago style hot dog and giardinera, so we got those, and a bunch of other chips and some drinks lol.

3. I rode my bike to the store this evening and on my way home got complimented on my tattoo by a middle aged woman, which is the second time a middle aged woman has complimented me on my tattoo while I was riding home from that store. I think maybe because it's down by my ankle most people don't really notice it otherwise, and I haven't gotten any comments on it, but when I'm stopped at a light on my bike, my leg is up higher so it's more visible, idk. But I'm amused that the compliments were both from the same demographic.

4. I've been using a journaling app to keep track of what I eat every day (I'd tried apps specifically for that purpose before, but they were focused on counting calories or being really detailed about ingredients, neither of which are what I'm looking to do and just made it too complicated; I just want to note what I ate so I can look back if I'm feeling off or whatever) and it's been really great, but I don't use it as a journal because that's what I have DW for. I did use it in Japan to keep track of what we did each day so I could more easily write up the posts when we got home rather than just relying on the photos, and it's been very helpful for that, but I also recently started using it to keep bullet points of stuff for my daily happiness posts because sometimes I get to the end of the day and can't think of anything in particular, or I forget about things that I meant to include.

5. Chloe's like, why are you disturbing my sunny time!?

michaelboy

Someday, I should be so lucky in the frailty of my own body and mind, to have someone’s hand that I might hold to provide them some form of comfort. I suppose until we breathe our last, we all have something important, lasting and nourishing to give. It may not shovel the snow, mine the coal or make the bed, but it will always be so much more and certainly will never unwind into nothingness as all the bodies of our lives.

galadhir

I was doing my usual routine at the gym on Wednesday when something went crunch and I suddenly could not hinge at my hips without agony. However, because I'm used to having pain in the sacroiliac when I do the workout I didn't think much of it. I finished the routine and then cycled home.

It continued to be painful however. Whenever I moved from sitting down and standing up I was in agony for about five minutes, and I could not bear weight on my right leg.

Obviously, by the time I decided it wasn't getting any better, it was the weekend. And we were going on holiday on Monday. So I self-referred myself to physiotherapy, and got an immediate appointment with an AI on the NHS.

This was/is a bit skin-crawling because it tries very hard to be a human, but it isn't a human, and it's infuriating because I can only explain what's happening via multiple choice statements that often have nothing to do with what I would actually like to say.

It guided me to talking about the ongoing back problem I have had for years, and made it impossible for me to talk about the painful hip. Then it gave me some exercises for the back.

Deciding that I would at least get physiotherapy for the ongoing back problem, I figured I would do the back exercises, and after a week of exercises to restore flexibility to my lower back I have had three days of much more walking than I've been able to manage for years.

It hasn't really helped the hip, but I'll take it.

Much more walking is happening because I am on holiday in the Lake District, where all there is to do is go walking (pretty much.)

We (me, DH, Son and Daughter) are renting out a historic National Trust farmhouse for the week. Or at least, some other people are renting out the big farmhouse, and we are renting the small workers' cottage attached. It's on the grounds of the Sizergh Estate and there's pretty much nothing but nature around us.

The distant speck of a white house is where we are staying, viewed from the front door of the Big House of Sizergh Manor.

white house

And here's the view from the kitchen window:

kitchen view

So far we've gone into Kendal in search of Kendal Mint Cake, taken a steam train to Windermere aquarium, and taken a 19th century steam yacht gondola on a trip around Coniston Water.

Tomorrow we're going to a nature reserve so Son - who is a keen birder - can try to see an Osprey. It has poured down today, but I'm told it will go back to patchy showers and sunshine again tomorrow. I certainly hope so!

matsushima posting in

thankfulthursday

What are you thankful for this week?
· Photos are optional but encouraged.
· Check-ins remain open until the following week's post is up.
· Do feel free to comment on others' check-ins but don't harsh anyone else's squee.

Current Mood: frazzled

torachan

1. The car charger arrived today so I confirmed with the electrician and he'll be out tomorrow morning to install!

2. When Carla was out running errands today she happened to be near Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake and there was a board outside with some new seasonal items, including black sesame tarts, so she got a couple of those for us to have for dessert tonight. We haven't had them yet, but I cannot imagine them not being delicious. I love pretty much any black sesame desert!

3. She also got some yummy rolls for us to have with the last of our tuna salad tonight for dinner. They made such good little mini sandwiches.

4. Jasper!

xkcd_feed

https://xkcd.com/3257/

'If you keep trying to spray your collaborators with the beam when they're not looking, I'm turning off the ion source and NO one will get to play with the beam!' --Physics's mom

https://xkcd.com/3257/

dinosaur_comics_feed

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4482


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June 10th, 2026

June 10th, 2026: TCAF was great! I was just walking around most of the time, but I did have a panel and a signing and I'm sorry to the people who I didn't get to chat with as much but they were had to rush me out to get the next person in line! But it was a DELIGHT and I hope we get to do it again soon - perhaps... ONE YEAR FROM NOW??

– Ryan

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4482

deanlearnstolive

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has marked as possibly inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. )

Current Mood: melancholy
Current Music: The Hating - Korn

torachan

1. I drove the new car to work today. There's some stuff to get used to (I don't like that climate control is touch panel only!) but overall was a very smooth ride and only used about 5-10% of the battery (I can't remember exactly where it was this morning or where it was when I got home but it was definitely in that range of usage).

2. We're having some warm days this week but it's supposed to start going back down over the weekend and be cooler next week.

3. Ollie looks like such an angel here!

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serafaery

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June 2026

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Page Summary

torachan - 2026 Disneyland Trip #26 (6/13/26)
oglaf_comic_feed - ruin
torachan - Daily Happiness
torachan - 2026 Japan Trip Part 6 (4/12-13)
torachan - Daily Happiness
lovelyangel - Botan 10
torachan - Weekly Reading
xkcd_feed - Plate Flip
citrakayah in common_nature - Recent Hiking Trip Photos
prixmium - you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
dinosaur_comics_feed - doctors have tests they can do, so if you're the sucker that was born in that minute they'll know an
torachan - Daily Happiness
michaelboy - Adoration
galadhir - (no subject)
matsushima in thankfulthursday - אַ דאַנק (11 June 2026)
torachan - Daily Happiness
xkcd_feed - Beam Pipe
dinosaur_comics_feed - finger-quotes disease can be treated with a short length of rope, sturdy and true, to tie your hands
deanlearnstolive - Will a psych ward stay fix me or ruin my shit? Entry sponsored by my recurring hospital dreams
torachan - Daily Happiness

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Beloved

earthlings

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2026 Disneyland Trip #26 (6/13/26)

ruin

Daily Happiness

2026 Japan Trip Part 6 (4/12-13)

Daily Happiness

Botan 10

Weekly Reading

Plate Flip

Recent Hiking Trip Photos

you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love

doctors have tests they can do, so if you're the sucker that was born in that minute they'll know an

Daily Happiness

Adoration

(no subject)

אַ דאַנק (11 June 2026)

Daily Happiness

Beam Pipe

finger-quotes disease can be treated with a short length of rope, sturdy and true, to tie your hands

Will a psych ward stay fix me or ruin my shit? Entry sponsored by my recurring hospital dreams

Daily Happiness

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June 2026

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