solarcat

Recs for KJ Charles' England series, Utopia Avenue, Soulmate Goose AU, LEGO Botanical Garden and LEGO Natural History Museum, The Long Walk, Oxford Time Travel Universe, Dredge, and Miss Marple, here at my dreamwidth.

regshoe in

yuletide

Seven Yuletide recs (plus one non-Yuletide rec) at my journal. Fandoms are Blackadder, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (TV), Flower Fairies - Cicely Mary Barker, LEGO Botanical Garden and LEGO Natural History Museum, Moby Dick - Herman Melville, Piranesi - Susanna Clarke and (unofficially) Raffles - E. W. Hornung.

nentari

This is the list of books I am planning to read this year. As with the previous lists, I'll add books to it whenever I manage to get my hands on something new, and I'll strike a book once I finish it.

( The list. )

nentari

As always, I check my to-read list for the year and take a careful look at all the books I've read during the year.

( The list. )

astronomypicofday_feed

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251231.html

What created the Waterfall Nebula?

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251231.html

conuly in

agonyaunt

1. Dear Eric: In 2020, my now-wife and I were engaged. My mother is a nurse and has asthma and was deeply hit with mental and emotional stress from the pandemic. She would not attend most wedding planning events and would always be concerned with germs, wearing an N95 mask and keeping her distance.

My wife had a completely opposite reaction to the pandemic. It was more of a nuisance to her. In her eyes, there was no threat. My wife began to develop a feeling of abandonment from someone who was supposed to be her mother-in-law. She opened up to me about how much she was hurt, and I told her it wasn't my mother's fault and that she was just petrified by the pandemic and it was the only thing she could do.

My wife told me I was taking my mother’s side. Hurtful messages were sent by my wife and my mother just shut down the relationship and blocked her.mMy wedding was in October 2021. My mother braved the crowd of 155 people and attended without a mask. I was so proud of her. But my wife was angry about her presence.

My wife and I are still fighting occasionally about this issue, and the spats are becoming increasingly more intense. She still says extremely hurtful things about my mother often. My mother’s mindset was extreme but considering her working at a nursing home and having asthma, it’s totally understandable. That isn’t believable, according to my wife.

I am writing for guidance to understand how to solve this mess. Was I in the wrong for how I initially reacted toward my wife? I just don’t want this to destroy my marriage.

– Hurting Husband and Son

( Read more... )

*******

2. Dear Eric: Our son and his girlfriend of 24 years got married by a judge. It was a civil ceremony necessary to get him on her health insurance.

He approached my wife and me and said, "we're not into social media.” I did not glean from this that he meant we should post nothing at all. To share the good news with my friends, I did post one photo. Late the next night he texted us to take it down, saying "we asked you directly not to do this." I replied, I'm sorry, I didn't understand that I was not to post anything at all.

I feel bad because my son seems to feel he can forbid me from sharing this news with my friends. Many are longtime friends from church who have known my son for decades. It seems to me a little pushy for him to forbid me to share with my friends what I feel is good news. He seems to want to downplay it.

Should I not have made the post and leaned more toward caution? Should I have interpreted "we're not into social media" differently? I welcome your advice about how to perceive this situation and where to go from here.

– Deleted Post

( Read more... )

*************

3. Dear Eric: My children are grown. Two live locally and one super local (our home!). One is married with young children, and we see them often, spending most holidays with them. (In-laws are unpleasant, to say the least.)

Our middle child is in a relatively new relationship that has become pretty serious. We planned a beach vacation with my in-laws (our kids’ cousins, aunt and uncles) for Thanksgiving, which everyone seemed excited about when we booked the house.

Now the middle child will come with his girlfriend for just a few days and then fly to her family for the actual holiday. He has been noncommittal about Christmas because they may again travel to her family. When we got married, we alternated holidays with our families or stayed home. We were careful not to favor one side over the other. I really like his girlfriend but am sad that he seems OK with spending all holidays with her family.

Any suggestions on how to broach this subject without sounding whiny or critical? If it matters, she only recently moved to our area.

– Sharing Holidays

( Read more... )

sholio

I enjoyed it! Haters to the left!

( Spoilers )

dewline

Here we go.

Good luck to us all.

Current Mood: groggy

snickfic in

yuletide

One last batch in before reveals! Nine recs, all on my journal. Fandoms include:

The Long Walk (2025)
Carrie
The Odyssey
Philadelphia Flyers RPF
Crash (1996)
19th Century Poets RPF
True Detective
Jaws
The Blue Castle

sovay

That was the year that was no good. I kept up with my website and my presence on AO3 and slept terribly and spent six days in hospital.

I published one new piece of fiction, although a meaningful one to me:

"Hyperboloids of Wondrous Light" in Not One of Us #81, January 2025.

Very little new poetry:

"The Ghost Summer" in Weird Fiction Quarterly Winter 2025: Ghosts, April 2025.
"The Burnt Layer" in Not One of Us #84, September 2025.
"Below Surface" in Not One of Us #83, June 2025.

One reprint:

"Twice Every Day Returning" in Afterlives: The Year's Best Death Stories 2024 (ed. Sheree Renée Thomas), Psychopomp, December 2025.

Nearly as much fanfiction as all of the above, counting the fills I transferred to AO3 and the one I left in place:

"Fall from the Sky" (Repeat Performance), January 2025.
"Floriography" (M*A*S*H), January 2025.
"A Good Accountant, All Right" (I Walk Alone), January 2025.

Very much less than I had wanted for Patreon:

Cover Up (1949), January 2025.
Decoy (1946), January 2025.
Grand Jury Secrets (1939), February 2025.
Lost Boundaries (1949), February 2025.
A Bomb Was Stolen (S-a furat o bombă, 1962), February 2025.
Black Kitten Micro-Thon 2025 [Final Offer (2018), "Come Back Mrs Noah" (1977), "Contact" (1981), Other Other (2024), Once in a New Moon (1934)], February 2025.
"Poison" (Alfred Hitchcock Presents, 1958), March 2025.
No Publicity (1927), April 2025.
A Bell for Adano (1945), May 2025.
City of Fear (1959), June 2025.
Ladies (2024), June 2025.
The Sea Wolf (1941), July 2025.
None Shall Escape (1944), July 2025.
I Won't Play (1944), August 2025.
The Gaunt Stranger (1939), August 2025.
The Perfect Murder (1988), August 2025.
The Hot Rock (1972), September 2025.
The Innocents (1961), September 2025.
Heat and Dust (1983), September 2025.
The Immortal Story (1968), October 2025.
Marooned (1994), October 2025.
Girl Stroke Boy (1971), October 2025.
Fear in the Night (1972), November 2025.
Enys Men (2022), November 2025.
Blind Spot (1947), November 2025.
Defence of the Realm (1985), December 2025.
A View from a Hill (2005), December 2025.

My major achievement of the last twelve months looks like not dying. More than one member of my family could say the same. Happy New Year. A healthy year, a more than endured one. Mir zaynen af tselokhes.

Current Music: The Mountain Goats, "Through This Fire"

chestnut_pod

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

Current Mood: happy

cephy

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

jadelennox

The Clockwork Alarm (3058 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Old Kingdom - Garth Nix
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Lirael (Old Kingdom), Imshi (Old Kingdom), The Disreputable Dog | Kibeth
Additional Tags: Yuletide 2025, The Great Library of the Clayr, and its many fun and exiting rooms
Summary:

An alarm sounds in the library while most of the staff have been called to the Watch. Typically a Third Assistant Librarian wouldn't be brought along to respond to an alarm, but when only Lirael and Imshi are left in the Reading Room....

Goalposts (7607 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Scholomance - Naomi Novik
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Galadriel "El" Higgins/Orion Lake, Orion Lake & Guo Yi Liu
Characters: Orion Lake, Scholomance (Scholomance - Novik), Guo Yi Liu
Additional Tags: POV Orion Lake, Post-The Golden Enclaves: Lesson Three of The Scholomance, The Golden Enclaves: Lesson Three of The Scholomance Spoilers, Orion gets a hobby, Back-To-School Night at the Scholomance, Poetry, (sort of), creative writing, Post-Canon, El is mentioned a whole lot but not actually present, Angst, the mortifying ordeal of becoming your own person
Summary:

At first Orion started with love poems.

whatever souls are made of (15800 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Star Trek: Lower Decks (Cartoon)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Brad Boimler/Beckett Mariner
Characters: Beckett Mariner, Brad Boimler, Crew of the Starship Cerritos (Star Trek)
Additional Tags: Episode: s05e01 Dos Cerritos (Star Trek: Lower Decks), Alternate Season/Series 05, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine References, Post-Dominion War (Star Trek), Friendship/Love, Identity Issues, discussion of the mirror universe, Angst, Pining, Comedy, Romance, Parallel Universes
Summary:

After the alternate-universe Becky Freeman tries to swap lives with Mariner in 5x01 "Dos Cerritos," Rutherford and T'Lyn decide to work out how to detect any further potential impostors from alternate universes.

This ends up being a not so great idea that stresses everybody out.

(Especially Boimler.)

conuly in

agonyaunt

1. DEAR ABBY: My son has completely given up on dating. Whether it's blind dates, casual meetings with members from our church or dating events I pay for and make him go to, he still hasn't found a wife. At 36, he should already have children and a partner, but despite the best efforts of my wife and me, he remains unmarried.

Our son is 6 feet tall, athletic and godly, and he has his own apartment and clears $100k a year. Despite all this, he still doesn't have a wife. It's even reached the point that he gets angry at my wife and me for pressuring him. During a few of the blind dates we set up for him, I watched from afar, and each time he was stood up! How can I ensure my son gets a wife before I grow too old? -- DAD LOSING HOPE IN NEW YORK

( Read more... )

****

2. Dear Care and Feeding,

I have a wonderful son in his early 20s. He is intelligent, articulate, has a great sense of humor and taste in music, is very responsible (he’s even managed to save a sizable chunk of cash at a young age), and is very handsome. I realize I have a biased view here, but I get comments all the time about what a wonderful young man he is. In school and employment, his teachers, co-workers, and supervisors have always raved about him. I couldn’t possibly be prouder. There’s just one problem…

He is struggling socially, and more specifically on the romantic front. He’s not a drinker or partier, so he doesn’t engage in a lot of the typical activities that others in his age group do, and that leaves him going to work, then coming home. He’s lonely, unhappy, and has no confidence in himself. The one time he attempted to date in high school, he was met with some rejection, and he just hasn’t put himself out there again. I see how much it’s hurting him to see others his age dating, getting engaged, and even married, and I’ve heard him make comments about how he’d like those things for himself as well. I know that there would be lots of women who would love to date a young man like my son. I encouraged him to set up a profile on a dating site, and he did, but nothing has come of that either. I don’t want to meddle or interfere, but I hate to see how hurt he is.

We have talked over and over about how he will need to push outside of his comfort zone (our house) if he wants to meet someone. He has had professional counseling for social anxiety, which I’ve encouraged and helped facilitate. He’s so miserable being alone, and I want so badly to help him, that I’ve considered trying to set up a date for him myself, but I don’t want to be THAT mom. I love my son, and I want to help him find his happiness. What should I do here? How can I help him? I can’t help thinking that getting him out on one date to break the ice would maybe be just what he needs. Or maybe this is all none of my business? It’s hard to ignore when he lives in my home and shares with me how much this is hurting him. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

—Maybe Meddling Mama

( Read more... )

conuly in

agonyaunt

1. DEAR ABBY: My 13-year-old son was getting off the school bus. His friend was in front of him. My son thought it would be funny to take his friend's water bottle out of his backpack and drop it on the pavement. A few days later, my son got sent to the principal's office, not because he was in trouble but because the parents had called the school to complain about their son's scuffed water bottle and wanted it replaced. They asked for $23.

I wrote a check and was tempted to add a snarky comment, but I didn't. Yes, my son should keep his hands to himself, but the water bottle is still functional. My son apologized. Am I living my life wrong, or is it OK that they just invoiced me like that? -- UNSURE IN ILLINOIS

( Read more... )

***

2. We own a cabin across the street from our rural home. We rent it out occasionally. Our latest renter was the son of a neighbor who was in town for the holidays. We welcomed him and gave him our “friends and family” discount. On his first day there, we noticed that he had plugged his car into the charging station in the cabin’s garage. I understand his need to charge his car — but not at someone else’s expense. His behavior struck me as rude and presumptuous. Your thoughts?

( Read more... )

****

3. My husband’s relatives are visiting from another country over Christmas. The two adults speak English fluently, but they haven’t taught their children — ages 3 and 5 — a word of it. This means that I will not be able to communicate with the children at all and they will be frightened by everyone they meet at holiday events since they won’t understand anything. The parents claim they haven’t taught their children English because they will learn it in school. But they planned this visit a year ago! So, because of their laziness, I will be excluded from many conversations in my own home. I see no point in learning their language since there is no language barrier among the adults. This is not the children’s fault, but their parents’ behavior is annoying and deliberate. How should I handle it?

HOSTESS

( Read more... )

***

4. A friend invited me to her New Year’s Eve party again this year, and again, she asked me to bring a dish to serve. A potluck! The food she offers herself is undistinguished. Granted, being a hostess is demanding, but my feeling is that if you can’t manage to feed your guests, you shouldn’t invite them. I would never ask mine to supply the repast. I am offended at the thought of buying and cooking food for her party. How can I decline her request to bring food but nevertheless attend the party?

GUEST

( Read more... )

****

5. Dear Eric: I own a few cars that I park on the street in front of my house. Some new toddlers and preschool kids are learning how to ride a bike. They circle constantly in front of my house instead of the house they rent next door to my house.

The neighbors park all over the street, and do not use the driveway. They have several cars and live in a cul-de-sac. They are not watching or teaching the kids how to ride or even stay out of the road as cars come through. But that's another issue. My question is, do I have any rights as a homeowner and county resident to ask the renters to stay away from the area in front of my house and the cars parked in front? My concern being the kids might hit my cars, and it's actually annoying to see them in front of my house for hours. People think these are my kids and think I'm not watching them.

What can I do?

– Neighborhood Watch

( Read more... )

conuly

And hopefully, let's all have a happy 2026!

aurumcalendula

February

Can't Help Falling In Love | 双兔 (Soul Sisters)

To Hell & Back | 双镜 (Couple of Mirrors)

July

Just To Ask A Dance | The Old Guard films

Total vids: 3 (not counting stuff for this year's Festivids or vids I'm planning to premiere at vidshows next year).

( Questions and Answers )

independence1776

My list of all the books I read and stuff I watched this year.

( Read more... )

musesfool

December 2025 recs update:

unfitforsociety has been updated for December 2025 with 12 story recs and 1 vid rec in 7 fandoms:

* 5 Batfamily
* 2 Dungeon Crawler Carl
* 2 The Pitt
* 2 Star Wars
* 1 Slow Horses/Rivers of London crossover and 1 Ted Lasso vid

I haven't read much of anything from

yuletide, but the two I did rec I will update with author names tomorrow.

I didn't do much fannishly this year - the recs continue, and I still reblog a metric fuckton of stuff on tumblr, but my brain hasn't sparked to write again, though I think it might be inching closer, thanks to, of all things, Dungeon Crawler Carl. I also loved loved loved The Pitt and am so excited season 2 is coming so soon!

Now, I've got a new episode of Percy Jackson and the series finale of Stranger Things to watch, and then I have to wash my hair.

I hope everyone is celebrating New Year's Eve in their chosen fashion. <333

*

Current Mood: productive
Current Music: Skeleton Key - Dessa

starwatcher in

fandom_checkin

This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Wednesday, December 31, to midnight on Thursday, January 01. (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #34024 Daily Check-in

Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 15

How are you doing?

I am OK.
12 (80.0%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now.
3 (20.0%)

I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single.
6 (40.0%)

One other person.
6 (40.0%)

More than one other person.
3 (20.0%)

Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

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solarcat

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Network

A handful of recs

A few recs

2026 To-Read List

Books read in 2025

(no subject)

Inlaws and not inlaws

Stranger Things finale

2026

Yuletide recs (part III)

The ocean is faithful and the Devil's a liar

Reading roll-up 2025: 278

(no subject)

couple-few more recs

Please - stay the hell out of your grown children's dating lives!

These people have no class

Happy NYE!

End of Year Vidding Meme: 2025

2025 Media

i haven't met a locked door yet that i couldn't beat

Daily Check-In

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January 2020

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