Getting this in just in time!


Murderbot: Good ep. ( spoilers )


Resident Alien: Good ep. ( spoilers )

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. It was my annual exam in addition to an adjustment. I don’t recall if I mentioned it, but my lower back, left side, has been hurting me for a couple of weeks. I figured it was spending more time in the car driving to the hospital, sitting in those uncomfortable chairs in mom’s room, etc. Today when he did one of the scans, bright red lines appeared indicating trouble on the left side low back region. I was like, I knew something not-good was happening there! One of the comments the chiropractor has made in the past is that he needs to adjust something different on me every time; I never come in with quite the same issue. One week, sacrum, another week, mid-back. I keep him hopping.

I hit Walmart, Price Chopper and the Pharmacy while I was downtown and got in a longer walk around the park. Before I left the house I heated up a ham steak on the stove and frozen peas in the microwave for Pip to heat up for supper tonight. I also did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes and scooped kitty litter.

I read some fanfic and more Amelia Peabody.

Temps started out at 75.6(F) and reached at least 88.0. That was the temp when I left the house for mom’s just before 11am, but Pip said it got to 92. Less stifling than yesterday and there was a breeze that had a coolness to it. I still wouldn’t have wanted to be out there all day. Just walking to the mailbox was uncomfortable.


Mom Update:

Mom is doing okay; no major ups or downs today. ( more back here )

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Water Like a Stone (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) by Deborah Crombie and To Darkness and to Death (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) by Julia Spencer-Fleming.


What I am Currently Reading: The Ape Who Guards the Balance (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) by Elizabeth Peters.


What I Plan to Read Next: Still a variety of library books out, so one of those.

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Book 46 of 2025: Water Like a Stone (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) (Deborah Crombie)

Good book! ( spoilers )

I enjoyed this book and have already requested the next. I'm giving this one five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

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Book 47 of 2025: To Darkness and to Death (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Julia Spencer-Fleming)

I enjoyed this book, but even as I was reading it I was thinking it was a very weird mystery. With so many bad choices. It felt like a comedy of errors. ( spoilers )

Still enjoy the main characters and plan on reading more, but only giving this book three hearts.

♥♥♥

I didn’t have to be to mom’s until 10am, so I got some chores done before I left the house. I did two loads of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, emptied the dishwasher, baked chicken for the dogs’ meals, and changed kitty litter.

I read fanfic and more Amelia Peabody, and finally watched the current ep of Resident Alien. Pip suggested I stop at Dairyland on the way home from mom’s so I picked up soft vanilla ice cream in a dish for him and a milkshake for myself.

Temps started out at 77.9(F) and reached 94.7 (that I’m aware of). I made a couple trips outside (to check mom’s mail and other errands) and it was stifling. There was a breeze, but it was a hot breeze and didn’t help much. The temps are supposed to drop a tiny bit today and be 69 on Thursday, which made both mom and me go o_O.


Mom Update:

Mom is showing more improvement physically; she stayed awake almost all morning and we chit chatted a bit. ( more back here )

I did a load of laundry, paid some bills online, placed an order online, did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher, and scooped kitty litter. I also hit a different Price Chopper than usual (closer to Mom’s) when her friend visited her to give me a couple hours to run errands in the afternoon.

I read fanfic and re-watched the current ep of Murderbot.

Temps started out at 79.9(F) (and already humid) and reached 99.1. It was SOOO hot.


Mom Update:

Mom slept most of the morning. ( more back here )

I did a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, emptied the dishwasher, scooped kitty litter, and stopped at Stewart’s on the way home for milk. I dropped off a book at the library, started the next Amelia Peabody book, and finally got to see the current Murderbot. My brother and his GF were visiting mom when I arrived, so I got to see them.

Temps started out at 67.8(F) and reached high 80s. (Again, I wasn’t home to check.) Thunderstorms rolled in around 4am, which woke everyone up, and dropped quite a bit of rain between then and 8am. It didn’t rain again, and remained overcast, but it was hot and humid.


Mom Update:

Mom continues to do well. ( more back here )

I hit the Bakery while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. (I got in two additional walks later for a total of 1 mile!) I hit the library to pick up more books, did two loads of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I finished the book I started yesterday and spent most of the day with mom.

Temps started out at 61.3(F) and reached 87 (according to Pip, since I didn’t get home until after the temps hit the high). It was hot, but I luckily spent most of the day inside an air conditioned house.


Mom Update:

She is doing well. ( more back here )

I got a lot done before I left to go visit mom. I did a load of laundry, baked chicken for the dogs, boiled eggs for egg salad, put a chuck roast in the crock pot for supper, did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. For fun stuff I started a new book.

Temps started out at 59.4(F) (and windy) and reached 74 (that I saw at 6pm, though Pip said it got to 78). The day started off windy and cool, but the sun came out so it was really nice, if still windy.


Mom Update:

Mom is home! ( more back here )

Today's questions should help springboard you into the creation period, allowing you to start proposing ideas and thinking about how you want to shape your project.

1. What are some ideas you have for how this collaboration could be specifically created for voice?


2. What are some ideas you have for how to practice antiracism* while making this collaboration? (if you're stuck on this question, you can check out some of the resources linked at our content moderation policy post for a starting place, or ask the Discord community for ideas.)


3. How do you feel about the idea of bringing additional people on board to create your project? If it’s something you’re interested in, would you want to bring them in at this early creation stage, or just bring them on during the podficcing process to add additional voices? (Please feel free to contact the mods for assistance if you do decide you’d like to add more creators to your project—or feel free to reach out to friends on your own!)

*According to author/professor/activist/historian Ibram X Kendi, all actions are either racist or antiracist, and cannot be neutral. We're drawing from that framework with the question. In this case, practicing antiracism would mean (in the words of participant bluedreaming) "creation with an active consideration and recognition of conscious and subconscious racism in writing and other portrayals, with a concerted effort to learn and do better, and an openness to critique and suggestion."

This is our last icebreaker, we hope that groups have found them informative and helpful! Quick reminder, the first check in is on July 6th but, as always, you're welcome to contact the mods at any time for whatever reason.

I hit Price Chopper while I was downtown and got in a longer walk around the park. I did a load of laundry, visited my aunt, filled my gas tank, mowed the lawn, did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter.

I finished reading a book, watched an HGTV program, talked to mom on the phone twice, and took a nap. (The heat and humidity did me in, I think,)

Temps started out at 70.0(F) (and was already humid) and reached 91.4. The only saving grace was that there was a breeze. We had on/off rain later in the evening, which netted us a double rainbow! And lowered the temps.


Mom Update:

Mom did not come home today. ( more back here )

Having visiting hours not start until 11am has really helped with being able to get stuff done before I go out.

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. I didn’t do any shopping, but I did get in a longer walk around the park. I did a load of laundry, a load in the dishwasher, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I read more (currently one of the Duncan Kincaid books).

Temps started out at 66.7(F) and reached 83.8. It was overcast with some sprinkles in the morning, then the sun came out in the afternoon. It was so humid! For the first time since it was hot back in May we had to use the AC in the bedroom.


Mom Update:

Mom was still doing well, but she was more tired today. She’d had some issues, one of which may have contributed to her being so tired. ( more back here )

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells, The Body in the Garden (A Lily Adler Mystery) by Katharine Schellman, and Martinis and Mayhem (A Murder, She Wrote Mystery) by Donald Bain.


What I am Currently Reading: Water Like a Stone (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) by Deborah Crombie.


What I Plan to Read Next: Still a variety of library books out and even more on request, so a library book.

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Book 43 of 2025: System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)

This book was so good! ( spoilers )

So good! I still have one book left because I was forewarned that this one immediately followed Network Effect. I’m obviously giving this one five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

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Book 44 of 2025: The Body in the Garden (A Lily Adler Mystery) (Katharine Schellman)

I liked this book a lot. ( spoilers )

I enjoyed this book and have already requested the second in the series from the library. I'm giving this one five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

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Book 45 of 2025: Martinis & Mayhem (A Murder, She Wrote Mystery) (Donald Bain)

I enjoyed this book (though you know I'll have something to say about it in a future M[F]M post). ( spoilers )

I'm happy to see that these books are getting better, even though there are still some inconsistencies (within the book and with the show). I'm giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

We're at the halfway point of icebreaker week!

If you're finding that you're not able to answer the whole set of questions within a day but think they'd be valuable to go through, please feel free to spread the five days of icebreaker questions out across more than 5 days to fit your schedule.

This next set of questions is geared towards helping partners get more familiar with each other's work and creative process.

1. Why do you create fanworks? What does it mean to you?


2. Share a piece of a fanwork you're particularly proud of (a page or so of a written work, a few minutes of an audio work) and explain why you're proud of it.


3. Read/listen to your partner's shared fanwork, and give feedback about what works for you about it.

My sister A wanted to go out to see mom at 11am; I’m relieving her around 3pm (timing at her request), so I had time to get some shopping and other chores done. I went downtown so I could go to Walmart.

Mom stuff: While at Walmart I picked up some items that mom had requested I get for her eventual convalescence at home; dropped by her house to get her mail; and stopped in at the bank to make sure they had a copy of her POA on file (since she has me signing checks to pay bills while she’s in the hospital). They did not. The process took way longer than I expected; it’s such a rigamarole now. (On the plus side, I got a call after just an hour and a half saying it had been approved, so I’m good to go.)

I passed Sunnycrest, so I stopped in to see if they had those beef sticks for Pip. They did! Just one package, but it’s something.

I did a load of laundry, hit Stewart’s on the way home, baked chicken for the dogs, did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and changed kitty litter. (Dear lord, that was a stinky job. My fault because I let it go longer than usual. Lesson learned. Hopefully.)

I started reading a new book and obviously got to visit mom.

Time is warping and I thought today was Wednesday so I took my Trulicity injection a day early. o_O

Temps started out at 59.0(F) and reached 74. At a guess. I hate not being home in the afternoon to check the temp.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing much better today! MUCH better. ( more )

Round 7 of comment_bingo is open for sign-ups!!





( my table back here )

I had plans to get a lot of stuff (including stuff for mom) done in the afternoon after visiting mom, but my sister got out of work later than she thought and I stayed later because the surgeon had come in and so I got none of that stuff done.

I did do a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I read and watched an HGTV program.

I was hungry by the time I left the hospital as I hadn’t had lunch yet, and I didn’t want to wait until I got home to eat. So I went to a place called the Hawkeye Bar & Grill in the Otesaga Hotel and had some very good fish and chips. This was the view from my seat on the patio:



Temps started out at 57.4(F) and reached 81. (According to Pip. I’m not sure whether to believe him, but he actually had a number instead of yesterday when he just said ‘it got hot’.) The whole day was overcast/hazy, for which we should be thankful, I guess, if it really did reach 81.


Mom Update:

Mom was feeling better today, which was a relief. A lot of stuff happened, so I expect this to get long. ( it did get long )

Day 2's icebreaker questions are related to group work!

1. What strengths will you bring to the group?


2. What things do you struggle with when it comes to group work? (And, if you want, how can your partner help you with these things?)


3. What are you hoping for from this collaboration experience? What would your dream version of pod_together collaboration look like?


4. What's one thing your partner(s) could say or do that would feel really good to you? (For example, compliment your fanwork, offer to help with organization/beta/cheerleading, reach out to you to say hi every few days, etc.)

I did a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I finished one book and started another. I talked with mom on the telephone and visited her, as well as sent messages to her.

I forgot to mention that Pip’s buddy dropped off more BBQ chicken quarters yesterday, lol! At least I didn’t have to worry about what he was going to have for supper.

ETA: I forgot to mention the sad news that the four killdeer eggs are missing completely. No sign that they hatched. Pip caught sight of a red fox eating the sunflower seed he puts out, so we think that's what got them. I can't believe that just a day or two after I decide to tell you all about them, they're toast. *sniffle*

Temps started out at 57.9(F) and reached 69.2. (Pip said it had gotten higher, but that’s the high I saw when I got home.) It was mostly hazy all day.


Mom Update:

I called mom in the morning (now that she’s in SCU she has a phone). ( cutting for those who don’t want to read )

Hello lovely participants,

The start of a partnership is always so exciting as you and your partner(s) figure out how you'd like to work together! Icebreaker week is designed to support that process, with a combination of fun and helpful getting-to-know-you questions. They've started some incredibly useful and productive conversations in the past, and we hope they'll do the same for you now!

These exercises are optional, but we hope they'll help both those groups that were assigned and the ones that formed on their own. We encourage group members to stay in contact with each other this week, answering as many questions as they are comfortable with.

Today's questions are geared towards helping group members learn a bit more about each other, personally and fannishly.

1. Name as many books, movies, TV shows, animes, comics, celebrities, etc. that you can think of that you have felt or feel fannish about.


2. List three to five things you enjoy in stories (e.g. a kind of trope, story line, etc.). List three to five things that you do not enjoy in stories.


3. What communication methods and interaction level did you put in your sign-up, and why did you choose them? (If you did group sign-ups, you may want to look at those questions on our matchmaker sign-up form and then answer them for your partner). It could also help to describe the communication level you don't want——what sort of communication patterns would feel uncomfortably high/uncomfortably low for you, and why?


4. What are three facts about yourself (fannish or otherwise) that you haven’t already mentioned?