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  <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696</id>
  <title>Premeditated Misconduct</title>
  <subtitle>I Am an Untrivial Character</subtitle>
  <author>
    <name>lykomancer</name>
  </author>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/"/>
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  <updated>2017-05-09T07:16:59Z</updated>
  <dw:journal username="lykomancer" type="personal"/>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:579355</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/579355.html"/>
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    <title>Fandom Flashback II</title>
    <published>2017-05-09T07:16:59Z</published>
    <updated>2017-05-09T07:16:59Z</updated>
    <category term="naruto"/>
    <dw:mood>happy</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">I've also been reading some of the post-&lt;i&gt;Naruto&lt;/i&gt; Narutoverse manga/one-shots, since I'm having a run of nostalgia for all my old fandoms.  I am legit not sure if I ever actually read the end of &lt;i&gt;Naruto&lt;/i&gt; proper, but I was close enough to the end that nothing's confused me all that much, so...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some things are weirdly irritating.  I hate how hetero everything ended up.  I mean, yes, that was to be expected but it's also kind of just...  I don't know.  Too neat and tidy and pat and tied up with a little freaking ribbon?  (Although, I gotta say: I don't see Sasuke actually being in love with Sakura STILL.  STILL  They're married and have a kid and I'm like, &lt;i&gt;Sasuke, you ice cold bastard, you had sex ONCE and only then to ensure an Uchiha heir.  Mission accomplished, you moved on to never touching your wife again.&lt;/i&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thank god for Orochimaru and his general beautiful weirdness, even in his approach to parenthood.  &lt;br /&gt;Mitsuki: "Are you my mother or father?"  &lt;br /&gt;Orochimaru: *shrug*  "Who cares?"&lt;br /&gt;Me:  ROOOOOOOFFFFLE&lt;br /&gt;(Bitch, I don't know how you Karma-Houdini-no-jutsu'd out of receiving ANY punishment for your entire life of assholery, but I DON'T CARE.  I fucking love you.  *happy sobbing*)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also, HE FINALLY PUT HIS HAIR UP!  And it's so PRETTY!  *spins with heart eyes*  It's exactly as I always pictured it~!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=579355" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:579262</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/579262.html"/>
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    <title>Not Actually Dead</title>
    <published>2017-04-17T02:11:55Z</published>
    <updated>2017-04-17T02:11:55Z</updated>
    <category term="fma"/>
    <dw:mood>contemplative</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Not as dead as might be assumed.  Just...fell out for a while.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And, I gotta say, this is stupid, but you know what brings me back?  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fullmetal Alchemist.  Of course.  Of course.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Everytime I rewatch it, my heart breaks over and over.  My heart breaks for the Elrics and their stupid, wonderful lives.  My heart breaks with nostalgia for college and my friends and my amazing, amazing fandom.  Every part of the story is tangled into a specific block of three years, and I love, love, love the memories and the characters and the morals and the [i]everything[/i].&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=579262" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:578821</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/578821.html"/>
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    <title>Don't be That Person.</title>
    <published>2015-05-22T03:43:07Z</published>
    <updated>2015-05-22T03:43:07Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>1</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">We've all known one: That Person who is so passionately, fervently into something-- idea, diet, worldview-- that their aggressive proselytism actually makes you want to go out and spite them (even, or even [i]especially[i], if you agree with their general point) just to distinguish yourself from them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You know, the health nut that's so annoyingly, over-the-top insane with their diet and exercise that you want to eat an entire box of doughnuts in front of them while moaning ecstatically about how delicious they are.  You hit the gym once a week; you go for runs in the morning; you eat organic kale and wild-caught salmon...but That Person is so goddamn aggravating that you just want to put your middle-finger through one of those doughnuts and slowly eat it off while making hostile eye contact.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or the Christian that you go to church with who's holier-than-thou, always preaching to you about their spiritual journey with Christ and ignoring that whole "pray in a closet where no one can see you" thing.  You are Christian yourself, but everything about That Person's sanctimoniously pious life rubs you wrong like a crown of thorns in your junk, and so there's that wicked little part of you that likes doing "unChristian" like things just to spit in their eye.  It's a terrible impulse, but it feels SO. GOOD.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been trying to start to change my perspective.  Typically, what I'm attempting to do is called "positive thinking", but that phrase makes me want to hurl, so I'm just calling it "changing my perspective".  Just the name change makes it more palatable to me, and if I want to actually do this, it needs to be a palatable as possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because this is not easy for me.  &lt;br /&gt;This is not a little shift in thinking.&lt;br /&gt;[b]This is a massive, concentrated effort to manually rewrite my entire inner processing system from the ground up.[b]&lt;br /&gt;As a result, this is staggeringly difficult.&lt;br /&gt;Also, this completely inverts everything I thought I was, and everything I've been told I am, which makes it doubly challenging.  &lt;br /&gt;[b]Thus, this is also a massive overhaul of my own identity.[/b]&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm trying.  I'm trying.  I wouldn't do it if I didn't come to the conclusion that it had benefits that I could understand.  But it's difficult.  I have to basically stop and reprocess every thought and emotion like I'm awkwardly translating everything between my ears into a foreign language in which I'm not particularly skilled.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was doing better than I thought.&lt;br /&gt;And then I met That Person.&lt;br /&gt;That Person who, in this case, managed to spin me into a depressive fit out of sheer malignant &lt;i&gt;spite&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, I have to go back to my struggle to change my perspective, with all of the challenges I already faced, even when all I want to do right now is wallow in my own angry, pessimistic glory.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=578821" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:578809</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/578809.html"/>
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    <title>Nostalgia, regret, and lonliness</title>
    <published>2015-04-11T01:59:55Z</published>
    <updated>2015-04-11T01:59:55Z</updated>
    <dw:mood>blank</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>1</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">It's been a while.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stuff's happened.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm still single.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jinya's on her fourth boyfriend within a six month period.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I occasionally think about Randy.  I miss him.  I have to think of him as dead.  He's not literally dead, but the man that I knew is.  That man doesn't exist anymore.  That man is dead.  I have to think like that, or it might drive me insane.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I miss that man.  I mourn his loss.  Time's soothed over all the rough edges, and all I remember is sweetness.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm so lonely.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I haven't even had a real crush on anyone in ages.  I haven't felt anything.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Oh wait.  That's not right.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I felt quite a bit toward Jinya's last boyfriend, a mutual friend of ours.  First time in years and years I felt anything like that toward anyone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But they broke up and he found a new girlfriend and I didn't merit another look.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Of course not.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Of course not.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm not what anyone wants.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've given up on online dating.  All I get are misspelled, illiterate replies from unattractive men.  I feel like they think that because I'm not thin or conventionally pretty, I must be desperate for male attention from any source.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm not.  Their advances disgust me.  &lt;br /&gt;Then, after a while, I'm just plain disgusted with the whole idea.&lt;br /&gt;Bored.  &lt;br /&gt;Frustrated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Delete.&lt;br /&gt;Delete.&lt;br /&gt;Delete.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Can't say anything to anyone.  &lt;br /&gt;"Oh, you just haven't found the right person yet!"&lt;br /&gt;Can't say anything aloud.&lt;br /&gt;"Have you tried online dating?"&lt;br /&gt;Can't ever seem lonely.&lt;br /&gt;"Maybe you need to be a little more open-minded."&lt;br /&gt;Can't seem jealous.&lt;br /&gt;"Why not go to the bar?"&lt;br /&gt;Can't be sad.&lt;br /&gt;"Are you remembering to take your antidepressants?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=578809" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:578436</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/578436.html"/>
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    <title>Holiday Mail Bag</title>
    <published>2013-11-15T23:24:35Z</published>
    <updated>2013-11-15T23:24:35Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Anyone who wants holiday mail, please email me your address!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lykomancer &lt;br /&gt;@&lt;br /&gt;gmail.com&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=578436" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:578239</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/578239.html"/>
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    <title>Taffy Kitty</title>
    <published>2013-10-21T15:37:26Z</published>
    <updated>2013-10-21T15:37:26Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>1</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">So, we stole a cat back in July.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At first, we thought the skinny little orange tabby was a stray.  After all, she was all skin and bones-- hopelessly emaciated-- and filthy.  She had been declawed at some point, which likely contributed to her starvation, and she was hellaciously friendly.  (Or desperate.)  From the first moment we saw her, she let us pick her up and hold her and pet her.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We put food and water out on the porch, and after a few weeks, she'd come running every time she heard the front door or saw the porch light on.  Not for food-- that was constantly available for her; we kept the bowl full-- but to cuddle.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Near the end of July, some of the &lt;strike&gt;fucking annoying&lt;/strike&gt; neighborhood kids finally told us that she was their cat, and named Toby.  When we asked about Toby being outdoors, the kids cheerfully told us that they didn't care if she got hit by a car.  By that point, we'd already made up our minds, though.  Clearly, this kitty was in need of better care.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So we brought her into the house and renamed her Taffy.  She did not like the other cats, and spent a week hiding in corners, but she absolutely did &lt;i&gt;not&lt;/i&gt; want to go back outdoors.  The few times we "let" her back out, we had to physically take her outside; despite being afraid of strange cats and strange environment indoors, she preferred it to being outside again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the end of August, she'd put on noticeable weight, her coat had thickened and gotten softer, her ears were clean, and she'd begun playing with the cat toys around the house.  She's a real cuddle-bug.  She likes sleeping under the blankets and she's got a purr like a Harley engine.  :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She never wants to go outside at all.  We put her on a leash yesterday and took her out, but she did a 180 and immediately clawed at the door.  I can't count her ribs or vertebrae anymore.  She's the sweetest kitty ever, all snuggles and purrs, and we're clicker training her to sit up and beg, which is adorable.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have no regrets.  Taffy is all happy, all the time.  She's ALWAYS purring and being affectionate.  I feel like I saved a life, and that feels good.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=578239" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:577957</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/577957.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/data/atom/?itemid=577957"/>
    <title>My coworkers think I'm a weirdo and a pervert</title>
    <published>2013-10-12T00:18:38Z</published>
    <updated>2013-10-12T00:18:38Z</updated>
    <category term="coworkers"/>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">So a few weeks ago, my scary-awesome manager Toni and I got into a discussion about books.  Then, because I read a lot, she asked me about Cassie Claire's &lt;i&gt;City of Bones&lt;/i&gt; series.  I laughed and explained why I won't read them, which didn't help her.  She was more concerned by the implied incest at the end of the first book, and wanted to know if it was real/continued as a incestuous romance.  (It isn't really incest.)  We got to talking about this, and I mentioned that incest is a fairly common kink and that the internet is chock-full of incestuous fanfic and people who dig that.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Her mind = blown.&lt;br /&gt;Also, I think she assumed that I only knew this because it was a kink of mine.  LOL.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fast forward to today, and I helped out a guy who needed a new printer-- primarily for printing and copying stuff for his Pathfinder campaign.  So when Toni asked about the sale, I mentioned this.  She had no idea what tabletop gaming was, so I found myself explaining D&amp;D/tabletop gaming.  And then LARPing.  And then the differences between LARPing and cosplay.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So when I come in from a smoke break, I find all three managers-- Toni, Eric, and Megan-- staring at me as I walk through the doors.  Turns out, they were discussing all the odd things I talk about...which went downhill, since I mentioned MLP fandom, clopfic, furries, 'looners, and crush videos.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm pretty sure they all think I'm entertaining, but epically fucked up now.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Really, isn't some of this stuff now considered common knowledge among those younger than say, 30 or so with an internet connection?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=577957" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:577556</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/577556.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/data/atom/?itemid=577556"/>
    <title>Injury Report</title>
    <published>2013-09-28T14:06:38Z</published>
    <updated>2013-09-28T14:06:38Z</updated>
    <category term="stupid body"/>
    <dw:mood>awake</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>1</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Two Mondays ago, I gave myself a second degree burn on a blisteringly hot coffee mug handle.  On the inside of my ring finger.  :(  It's still healing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That Wednesday, I went on a date.  (Yes, yes I did.  His name is Pete and he's "half-girl"-- his words.)  I got drunk and consequently spent part of Thursday moderately hungover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friday, I fell off a stepladder at work and smashed my head on the end of an aisle.  Mild concussion, hell of a gooseegg.  Still bruised/tender.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Was doing good until Thursday/yesterday, when I went out with Pete again.  &lt;br /&gt;First I cracked my head (again) on the doorframe of his Jeep.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then I got food poisoning and spent all of yesterday miserable and vomiting.  (Why food poisoning?  It might have been a hangover, right?  ...Except I have NEVER in my life-- and I have drunk much, much more than six beers at various points-- had a hangover that vicious that long.  My hangovers don't last longer than a few hours, tops, and I can manage them with strategic ingestion of water, coffee, drugs, and food.  This was wretched and totally out of my control.  I didn't stop puking until 9pm.  UGH.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lyko kindly requests a respite from physical pain for a little while.  This shit sucks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=577556" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:577482</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/577482.html"/>
    <link rel="self" type="text/xml" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/data/atom/?itemid=577482"/>
    <title>Adulthood</title>
    <published>2013-09-07T15:26:30Z</published>
    <updated>2013-09-07T15:26:30Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Being a responsible adult is hard*.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Make and maintain your budget.  Pay your bills.  Manage your money.  Balance your checkbook.  Save.  Invest.  File household paperwork.  File receipts.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Try to be healthy.  Cook.  Plan meals.  Do dishes.  Keep kitchen clean.  Exercise.  Keep bike maintained.  Go to the gym when possible.  Count calories in and out.  Sleep well.  Get up on time.  Eat regular meals and snacks-- not junk food.  Keep up headache journal and mood journal and period tracker.  Take medication and multivitamin.  Drink water.  Clip coupons.  Make grocery list.  Shop.  Plan around food stamp date.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be neat, clean, and well-maintained.  Brush skin.  Put on oil.  Apply cuticle cream.  Shave neckbeard.  Clean face.  Condition hair.  Clip nails.  Apply make-up.  Remove make-up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Go to work.  Pack lunch.  Plan for transit.  Have cash on hand for taxi.  Purchase bus tickets.  Keep work clothes clean.  Keep bag organized.  Remember all relevant information to correctly perform job.  Be good-humored and patient at job.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do laundry.  Sweep floors.  Clean bathroom.  Water plants.  Feed cats.  Feed fish.  Feed turtles.  Feed rats.  Feed gerbils.  Feed hermit crabs.  Also, water all of them, too.  Feed cats again.  Brush cats.  Clean rodent bedding.  Clean litterboxes.  Dust.  Wash towels.  Change water in aquariums regularly.  Put stuff away.  Remember where stuff is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;...and that's all without mentioning hobbies like collecting and drying herbs, foraging for plants, making herbal projects; borrowing and returning library books, reading, paying late fees; repairing clothing or needlepoint crafting; internet time; gaming; watching anime or television with Jinya; painting, drawing, and writing; or going out for any reason.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't know if I have enough RAM for this.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* &lt;small&gt;See also: No Shit, Sherlock.&lt;br /&gt;And no, I don't have kids and I only have one job.  WTF.&lt;/small&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=577482" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:577210</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/577210.html"/>
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    <title>I want to ride my bicycle; I want to ride my bike.</title>
    <published>2013-09-07T00:15:22Z</published>
    <updated>2013-09-07T00:17:28Z</updated>
    <category term="bike"/>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Only, I sort of fail at it.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At least now I have a bike that is the proper size, thanks to Angela and a good deal of patience.  (Mostly Angela, though.)  And I &lt;i&gt;like&lt;/i&gt; my bike.  It's not ugly and it gives of an aura of good personality-- that of a stolid, yet slightly mischievous horse*.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have now learned several things in quick succession:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1)  My inner thigh muscles only get exercised when I do two things: sex and bike riding.  Those muscles are weak and tremulous like a baby's middle finger.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2)  Stretching and drinking water helps &lt;i&gt;immensely&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Duh.&lt;br /&gt;Still, I'm amazed at &lt;i&gt;how much&lt;/i&gt; it helps.  It's not a little bit.  It's the difference between biking four miles with some stiffness or around the block with screaming cramps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3)  Somehow, I misunderstood my shifter and was constantly riding in super-low gears.  &lt;br /&gt;*facepalm*&lt;br /&gt;I'm no longer trying to bike in the bottom tier of gears, which also helps.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That said, I don't think I'm shifting correctly.  I'm a bit confused as to which shifter changes the chain to which sprocket, and it's a little hard to look while simultaneously biking.  I'm pretty sure part of my problem is trying to jump the chain too far between chainwheels; I'm not shifting efficiently and as a result am causing some wear on the chain and derailer (and me).  Sometimes I twist my shifter and nothing happens...and sometimes a whole lot happens and I go from working the pedals hard to simply spinning them.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One side has 6 labeled gears, and the other has...um.  A whole bunch.  The numbers are worn off, so I'm unsure.  A lot.  Am I supposed to downshift through the bunch before downshifting from 2 to 3?  HOW DOES THIS WORK.  BICYCLES ARE CONFUSING.  THIS SHIT WAS REALLY EASY WHEN I WAS ELEVEN.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strike&gt;Things I need:&lt;br /&gt;Head/tail light, rearview mirror, foot pump and tire gauge, helmet, water bottle holder, rack and pannier, speedometer, chain degreaser/lubricant/whatever the fuck you're supposed to put on there.&lt;/strike&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What I really need:&lt;br /&gt;Bicycling 101 for Dummies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*  &lt;small&gt;Her name is Horse.  She's definitely a mare.  If customizing her paint job wasn't a pain in the ass, I'd redo her as a palomino paint or a bay Morgan&lt;/small&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=577210" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:576781</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/576781.html"/>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-08-30T20:05:00</title>
    <published>2013-08-31T01:50:17Z</published>
    <updated>2013-08-31T01:50:17Z</updated>
    <category term="cats"/>
    <category term="jinya"/>
    <category term="job"/>
    <category term="work"/>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Ugh.  I'm now working full-time, and my new regular shift is 6 am to 2 pm.  I hate it less than doing a mid-shift, though, so I'm not bitching too hard.  (Jinya is.  She really dislikes my new schedule, because I have to go to bed so early that it's hard for us to do anything together.)  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;God, I love sleep.  I think I love sleep more than sex.  Of course, it's been so long since I've had sex I'm not sure if I even remember what I'm missing.  *le sigh*&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Speaking of, Jinya is once more dealing with receiving too many offers of dates/too much interest.  Considering that no one's flirted with me, shown any interest in me at all, asked me out, or tried to set me up in something like five solid years, I'm having trouble empathizing.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sweet Jesus, this last week was stupid-hot.  Heat indexes over 100.  Nasty muggy wet heat.  Most of the summer was a gorgeous, breezy 70 to mild 80, and then suddenly this gross shit.  Ugh.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rescued stray orange tabby Taffy has adjusted well.  She's put on a lot of weight; her coat's filled in and gotten glossy; her ears are clean and her breath smells a lot better.  She no longer hisses at the other cats much, and even when she does, it's just rote habit; she's not actually bothered by them anymore.  She finally became healthy/energetic enough to start playing, too, and she's still a total cuddle-bug.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our two enormous oscars seem to be done trying to out-dominate each other for the moment.  They've gotten into few fights-- epic, water-sloshing boxing matches-- which resulted in a few missing scales and a few rips in fins-- nothing major.  Most of their confrontations have been the fish equivalent of, "COME AT ME, BRO!"  Interestingly, Rudy now goes belly-up everytime the Admiral approaches.  She looks like a submissive dog, and I wonder if that's how oscars indicate submission, too.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We tried getting feeder fish at PetSmart in Faribault the other day.  The service was so bad I thought Jinya's head was going to turn 365 degrees and pop off in a shower of magma.  We got in there just behind a woman and her litter of seven kids (?!).  There were only two employees in the store: one was tied up with that woman, and the other couldn't leave the register.  Now, I understand, "I'm sorry, but I have to stay by the registers"-- I do.  But the registers are only twenty feet from the fish tanks, and there's a clear view that whole way.  She could have easily helped us quickly while keeping an eye on things.  NO ONE CAME IN ANYWAY.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So we told her that we'd do a few other errands and come back, and asked if it was possible to have twenty feeder fish bagged up by the time we got back.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When we came back, we found the one employee had freed herself from the woman and her kids, and was dipping our fish.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;ONE.&lt;br /&gt;BY.&lt;br /&gt;ONE.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Like, not scooping out a bunch at a time, but dipping single fish.  Why?  She was trying to get a particular &lt;i&gt;color&lt;/i&gt;.  What the ever loving fuck.  It took FOREVER.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And meanwhile, the children are &lt;i&gt;everywhere&lt;/i&gt;, asking nonstop questions.  Rather than watch the employee get distracted AND give out incorrect information, Jinya was fielding all of their inquiries while the employee carefully caught individual fish and bagged them up.  (Twice.  The first bag leaked.)  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the time we left, Jinya was apoplectic.  Kept screaming, "THEY'RE GONNA GET TWO THOUSAND MORE IN TWO DAYS!  I DON'T CARE IF THE KIDS LIKE 'THE PRETTY ONES'!  &lt;i&gt;THEY'RE FEEDER FISH!&lt;/i&gt;"  It was pretty funny.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My boss's boss's boss was in the other day.  What a douche.  He wasn't directly douchey to me-- unless you count the number of time he asked me about finishing a planogram I started before he came (aka: when I was NOT the only person on the floor) while simultaneously depriving me of everyone else that could help me do customer service.  Seriously.  He took Adam, which left me and Toni...and then he took Toni, too.  So I was the only person helping customers and ringing people up.  And he has the balls to ask me why my plano wasn't getting done?  *smh*  F'r fuck's sake.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mostly though, it was listening to him high-handedly explain everything that's wrong, everything that needs fixing, and everything we should be doing, and then &lt;i&gt;watching him leave&lt;/i&gt;.  Oh yes, he knows what's best alright.  *eyeroll*  Oh, and of course we're cutting hours, so he wants ten times the amount of work done with a smaller crew, while providing excellent customer service.  Dude.  Saved payroll, good customer service, all tasks around the store being completed several times a day:  pick one and a half.  You can't have all three.  It doesn't work that way.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I haven't been keeping up well with folks online.  My apologies.  I've been working and sleeping and trying to lose myself in fictional worlds again.  It's been so damn hot I'm unmotivated to do anything other than shower and sleep and stare blankly at the screen.  I'm not depressed; just lazy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=576781" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:576704</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/576704.html"/>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-08-05T14:31:00</title>
    <published>2013-08-05T19:39:00Z</published>
    <updated>2013-08-05T19:39:00Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>3</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Feeling a touch melancholy.*  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Kind of wish I was dating someone.  Not in the practical sense.  I don't actually want to deal with someone else and their issues.  I would, however, like to feel desirable again.  Not physically desirable, but mentally/spiritually.  Most days I don't feel like I've ever known anyone who's really loved me (romantically), but even if I assume that's not true, it's still been over a decade since someone was interested in me as a whole person.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am unwanted.  And that feels harsh.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;small&gt;*I can't complain much though, since this is the first down day I've had since I started my meds.&lt;/small&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=576704" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:576317</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/576317.html"/>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-07-21T11:34:00</title>
    <published>2013-07-21T17:06:41Z</published>
    <updated>2013-07-21T17:06:41Z</updated>
    <category term="work"/>
    <category term="job"/>
    <category term="bitching"/>
    <dw:mood>cheerful</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>3</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">I seriously want to kill one of my coworkers.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He's not a bad guy.  He's friendly.  He's agreeable.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's just that Dana's got the brains of a Labrador retriever.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So he's just annoying as all high fuck.  He has absolutely no sense of urgency whatsoever.  Give him a task-- any task, regardless of how simple-- and he will take three hours or more to get it done...if he gets it done at all.  He stands around chatting all the time.  If you start talking to him about something and the phone rings, he needs you to not just stop talking to him and ask him to answer it, but you need to practically scream at him to answer before he even looks at it.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I flat-out told Toni that if I had to set ad with him again soon, I'd flip my fucking shit.  Setting ad takes about three and a half hours every Saturday night.  We start at 5; we close at 7; and it's all supposed to be done by 8:30.  If we get done sooner, we go home sooner, but it's rare to get done earlier than quarter to 8.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unless fucking Dana's there.  The last three times I set ad with him, we didn't get done any earlier than &lt;b&gt;9&lt;/b&gt;.  Last Saturday-- not yesterday, but last week-- was &lt;b&gt;9:26&lt;/b&gt;.  NINE FUCKING TWENTY-SIX.  HE WAS STILL DOING FUCKING NINE-UPS AT 9:10!  JESUS H FLYING CHRIST-CRISPIES.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We're supposed to report every instance where we talk to a customer in electronics or furniture and report whether we made a sale or not.  There's not really any pressure, but corporate is trying to estimate how many sales we close vs. how many opportunities we have.  To get an accurate number, we're supposed to report every conversation, no matter how short or if the customer is "just looking".  I'm fairly good about this, so my opportunity to close rate is something like 5:1 or so.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dana's opportunity to close rate is something like 7:6, which makes me strongly suspect that he's not reporting every opportunity.  Yeah, he's apparently good at sales-- it's the only thing he's good at-- and maybe he got a wave of good luck yesterday, but those numbers seem unusually good.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just...  Just &lt;i&gt;everything&lt;/i&gt;.  &lt;i&gt;Everything&lt;/i&gt; he does makes me want to slap the shit out of him.  I want to cut his face up with pieces of glass.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ugh.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In other news, I haven't expressed my love for Toni here.  &lt;br /&gt;Toni's management.  &lt;br /&gt;She just turned 24, which I managed to guess simply because I already knew she was 25 or younger.  However, she &lt;i&gt;acts&lt;/i&gt; like...  I don't know how to phrase this.  She acts like a Real Adult.  Like a &lt;i&gt;really&lt;/i&gt; Real Adult, more so that just about every other person I've EVER met, regardless of age or station.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She's also terrifying.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm not frightened of many people.  I think I can count the list of people who scare me on two fingers.  And Toni's one of those two.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It took me months to figure out her sense of humor, but once I did, I wasn't scared witless of her like I was at the beginning.  Now I'm just intimidated-awed-obedient.  However, we do get along decently.  Before both Tim and Bethany left (*sadface*), they both separately reported that Toni liked me.  I'm Cool with that.  I Do Not Want to Piss Toni Off, because I have an active survival instinct which informs me that doing so would be a Critical Error.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I gotta admit, it's weird.  I'm so unused to being scared or intimidated of anyone, of feeling like someone's really &lt;i&gt;earned&lt;/i&gt; my respect and obedience, that there's a weird, erotic undertone to my response.  &lt;i&gt;That&lt;/i&gt; is what a Dominant is supposed to be like.  Right there.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anywho. &lt;br /&gt;Back off to work.  With luck, Dana's not there today.  I don't want to spend my shift murderous.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=576317" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:576014</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/576014.html"/>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-07-03T10:06:00</title>
    <published>2013-07-03T15:29:13Z</published>
    <updated>2013-07-03T15:29:13Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">So we've blitzed through &lt;i&gt;Sherlock&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;The Walking Dead&lt;/i&gt;, and now we're in season three of &lt;i&gt;True Blood&lt;/i&gt;.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I didn't really expect to like &lt;i&gt;True Blood&lt;/i&gt;, but the characters make it, even when the storyline is stupid.  I'm really kind of feelin' it for Eric.  Almost everything he does is kind of hilarious.  The scene with him with the kids-- "teacup humans"-- &lt;i&gt;floored&lt;/i&gt; me.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Researching aromanticism, which is an interesting thing.  Obviously I am not asexual, but I believe I do fall somewhere on the aromantic spectrum in the darker side of the gray-romantic area, though it's a little difficult to suss out since the movement/definition of the condition is so new.  I haven't really felt romantic attraction to anyone in...God.  What?  6 or 7 years, minimum?  Even when I do feel romantically inclined, it's less, I don't know, cutesy? and more about possession.  Perhaps that's typical though.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Heh.  It's not that I need a label, per say, but I like exploring terminology and seeing what sort of puzzle piece I am.  Technically speaking, this would make Jinya my &lt;a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squish"&gt;"squish"&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On a related note, I am a bit more inclined to be openly affectionate or comfortable expressing affection nowadays.  Drugs, man.  Strange-ass shit.  This is something that sits a little oddly on me; I'm not really sure how I feel about this change in myself.  It's one of a few things that's different about myself now that I'm medicated by which I'm actually weirded out. Most of the changes I liked, but a few...  Well, it takes some getting used to.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=576014" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:575789</id>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-06-18T09:04:00</title>
    <published>2013-06-18T14:13:51Z</published>
    <updated>2013-06-18T14:13:51Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>1</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">I feel a rather inappropriate amount of attraction to my 20 year old, not-single coworker.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't get me wrong.  I like Trent.  He's ridiculously funny, intelligent, self-deprecating, topically aware and into obscure cultural stuff like cult films.  He's a great guy.  We're friends. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But I'm not talking about a crush.  I'm talking about lust.  I'd bang that kid like a screendoor in a hurricane if given half a chance.  OM NOM NOM MOTHERFUCKER.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=575789" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:575720</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/575720.html"/>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-06-11T10:03:00</title>
    <published>2013-06-11T15:14:53Z</published>
    <updated>2013-06-11T15:17:39Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Sure, I drink coffee a lot.  &lt;br /&gt;But apparently I've been brewing kind of weak-ish coffee lately.  (One K-cup + a large size = watered down coffee.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So when Jinya bought me a large Starbucks brew last night she then had to spend an hour trapped in a car with me whilst I was both happily medicated* and &lt;i&gt;manically over-caffeinated.&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I almost feel bad for her.  &lt;br /&gt;Almost.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mostly, I'm resolved to brew stronger cups of coffee from here on out.  I guess all it was doing for me before was counteracting the depression since it never made me hyper before, regardless of how much I drank or how strong it was.  Now a strong cup causes my brain to start overclocking.  Jesus H.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* &lt;small&gt;My anti-depressants.  I'm still inordinately cheerful and it's still weird as hell.&lt;/small&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=575720" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:575444</id>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/575444.html"/>
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    <title>Oh, goodness, that VOICE...</title>
    <published>2013-06-07T00:44:50Z</published>
    <updated>2013-06-07T00:44:50Z</updated>
    <category term="squee"/>
    <category term="sherlock"/>
    <category term="fandom"/>
    <dw:mood>cheerful</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">The move went well.  We're still unpacking and shuffling things, and there are still a few boxes in storage (books, primarily), but overall, the hardest stuff's mostly done.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But that's not what I'm here to talk about.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm here to talk about &lt;i&gt;Sherlock&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a break from moving heavy shit, we went and saw the new &lt;i&gt;Star Trek&lt;/i&gt; movie, which is full of beautiful, beautiful men.  Pine, Quinto, and...well, hello, who's &lt;i&gt;that?&lt;/i&gt;  Yeah, that one there, the one with that sexy, make-me-quiver baritone and those pretty clear blue-gray eyes playing the villain?  I LOVE ME SOME PSYCHOPATHIC VILLAINS.  ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE PRETTY.  His mouth moves kinda oddly when he talks, sure, but &lt;i&gt;who cares&lt;/i&gt;?  I could listen to him all freakin' day.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That night, I was perusing the internet, as I tend to do, and suddenly noticed that a Fandom Secret post with that pretty man-- Benedict Cumberbatch, playing the titular Sherlock Holmes.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;OH.&lt;/i&gt;  Well.  In that case, it's really awesome that we have our tv set up in the living room and Netflix available on it.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So we've been watching &lt;i&gt;Sherlock&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Right now I'm in that irritating phase of media consumption.  I've seen enough to been squirrelly about the series and characters and want to hunt fanfic and fanart...but I haven't seen the &lt;i&gt;whole&lt;/i&gt; series and I am trying to stay relatively unspoiled, which means no peeping online at ANYTHING.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;ARGH.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;lkdsfalkdsafjlsdkfjaslkfjsldakfjsadlfkjasdlkfjGODDAMMIT.  I want to just sit down and mainline the next episodes, but I'm BEING NICE AND WAITING FOR JINYA.  WTF; I ALWAYS END UP CRUSHING ON HOLMES IN JUST ABOUT ANY REBOOT/INCARNATION-- GOD WHY IS THERE SOMETHING &lt;i&gt;SO&lt;/i&gt; HOT ABOUT A AUTISTIC CELIBATE GENIUS!?-- AND I KIND OF HATE BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH FOR BEING SO GODDAMN PRETTY AND SUCH A GOOD ACTOR.  FUCKITY FUCK.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'LL BE IN MY BUNK.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=575444" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:575066</id>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-05-27T20:43:00</title>
    <published>2013-05-28T02:00:42Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-28T02:00:42Z</updated>
    <category term="depression"/>
    <category term="housing issues"/>
    <dw:mood>contemplative</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">I have entered some quietly beatific Zen calm.  I am the eye of the storm, perfect stillness in the middle of chaos.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We're moving.  Packing things up and living in huge piles of boxes and unsorted stuff and donate heaps.  We're calling the landlord, the utility company, the internet company, family, the landlord, friends.  We're cramming vans full of boxes and doing three loads from one address to the other after work.  We're juggling finances.  Trying to remember what we need and what we already have.  We're working.  I'm still studying algebra; Jinya's jogging.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I recognize that I should feel stressed.  In fact, I should feel frustrated and short-tempered and emotionally exhausted.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't though.  I don't really feel anything but calm and mildly pleasant.  Easy-going.  Unfazed.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I think that living with depression for so long-- struggling against the burden of it-- strengthened my emotional "muscles", as it were.  (Hahahaha, my metaphor just makes me think of Rock Lee and his weights, but that's exactly what I'm talking about.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=575066" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:574887</id>
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    <title>Mental health</title>
    <published>2013-05-25T00:12:49Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-25T00:12:49Z</updated>
    <category term="drugs"/>
    <category term="depression"/>
    <dw:mood>calm</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">So the drugs work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And I mean, they really, &lt;i&gt;really&lt;/i&gt; work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's strange.  There's a small part of me that's actually unsure of how I feel about this change.  It's unfamiliar enough that I almost feel like a different me-- I still live in the same place (not for long!) and eat the same food and like the same things...but emotionally, I'm not the same.  If I say, "I feel settled, like the storm passed and now I'm in smooth, beautiful tropical waters", that gives the wrong impression because it implies that "I" am actually still the same "I".  But that's not right.  I feel like that was another life, or another character, or another story.  I don't know.  It's difficult to explain.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm full of restless energy much of the day, chatty and cheerful, humming and giggling.  I'm not quite &lt;i&gt;giddy&lt;/i&gt;, but damn close.  I feel a need to &lt;i&gt;do&lt;/i&gt; things-- not in the sense of obligation or the "this HAS to happen" sense, but just because I need something to do.  And so I do things.  And I don't feel bitchy or grumpy about it; doing stuff doesn't wear me out, or quickly siphon that shallow, murky pool of energy, motivation, and patience dry.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Maybe this is temporary.  I don't know.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's all very strange.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=574887" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:574702</id>
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    <title>I think the Celexa is working...</title>
    <published>2013-05-22T04:06:21Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-22T04:06:21Z</updated>
    <category term="craftiness"/>
    <category term="i'm awesome"/>
    <category term="me"/>
    <category term="herbs"/>
    <category term="stupid body"/>
    <dw:music>Minnesota Public Radio</dw:music>
    <dw:mood>accomplished</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">For two weeks, my boss scheduled me for opens.  I'm 99% diurnal now.  Let's see how long this lasts.  (Although, to be honest?  I do actually feel more energetic now.  I'm usually up by 8:30 and bored enough to go for epic, hours-long walks by 10:30.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Today I:&lt;br /&gt;-- walked to the utility company (2.5 mile round trip) and scheduled power for our new apartment&lt;br /&gt;-- got alcohol for tinctures&lt;br /&gt;-- returned my library books&lt;br /&gt;-- did the dishes&lt;br /&gt;-- did my laundry&lt;br /&gt;-- took the trash out&lt;br /&gt;-- finished &lt;i&gt;The Twelve&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-- did my pre-algebra "homework"&lt;br /&gt;-- got transportation money &lt;br /&gt;-- planned out moving with Jinya&lt;br /&gt;-- made tinctures&lt;br /&gt;-- wrote a few paragraphs on my &lt;i&gt;Dragonlance&lt;/i&gt; novel&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As for my doctor's visit the other week, my bloodwork came back normal.  I have to schedule a new appointment, but I need to refile for MinnesotaCare first...especially since I got my &lt;i&gt;$1,700&lt;/i&gt; bill today.  Jesus H.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Currently steeping:&lt;br /&gt;Dandelion tincture&lt;br /&gt;Cleavers tincture&lt;br /&gt;Wild violet infused oil.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="cut-wrapper"&gt;&lt;span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b class="cut-open"&gt;(&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b class="cut-text"&gt;&lt;a href="https://lykomancer.dreamwidth.org/574702.html#cutid1"&gt;Pic!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b class="cut-close"&gt;&amp;nbsp;)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=574702" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:574448</id>
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    <title>Health</title>
    <published>2013-05-15T02:14:09Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-15T02:14:09Z</updated>
    <category term="stupid body"/>
    <dw:music>Minnesota Public Radio</dw:music>
    <dw:mood>tired</dw:mood>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">My brain is mush from today's crazy heat; I feel drowsy and warm and nonfunctional.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Went to the doctor's.&lt;br /&gt;Doctor listened to me.&lt;br /&gt;Wrote me a prescription for Celexa for my depression.  (It's a new drug for me, so it may or may not work, but it's worth trying.)&lt;br /&gt;Ordered a mess of bloodwork done.&lt;br /&gt;No, seriously, they took like seven vials of the stuff.  &lt;br /&gt;Scheduling an ultrasound in the next month to scout for cysts.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yay.&lt;br /&gt;*flag wave*&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=574448" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
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  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:573979</id>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-05-13T14:35:00</title>
    <published>2013-05-13T19:51:44Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-13T19:51:44Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Fuck it; I'm going to the doctor's tomorrow anyway.*  I am tired of fucking bleeding, and I am tired of Jinya assuming I'm perpetually anemic (even though I'm almost certainly not).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I got a copy of &lt;i&gt;Kiss My Math&lt;/i&gt; from the library and am starting to work my way through it.  You may make fun of my for using a pre-teenager's book to teach myself math I should have learned in middle school, but at least I am trying to fix the problem.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been tracking my nutrition and exercise online.  Jinya wants to get a Fitbit, and I think that's a nifty idea and would like to, too, so while I contemplate spending the money on tech I don't need, I'm establishing myself on a website that can link with Fitbit in the future. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;I'm a bit weirded out by the fact that it keeps insisting I eat &lt;i&gt;more&lt;/i&gt;.  Even now that I've corrected my eating habits from coffee and a bowl of instant ramen noodles to three actual meals with grains and veggies and fruit and shit, the website insists that I'm supposed to be ingesting another 500 calories or so. &lt;br /&gt;ಠ_ಠ&lt;br /&gt;What the fuck.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We're signing the lease on the apartment tonight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I really need a bottle of vodka to start my tinctures soon.  I could get dandelion, cleavers, nettles, mullein, and probably motherwort started anytime now.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*  &lt;small&gt;I can always file for MNCare to cover previous visits up to three months afterward if they accept me, and I think they almost certainly will once I reapply with my lease included.&lt;/small&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=573979" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:573930</id>
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    <title>:(</title>
    <published>2013-05-11T18:52:11Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-11T18:52:11Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Nope, no doctor for me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I apparently make too much money for MinnesotaCare.  &lt;br /&gt;You know, working part-time and earning less than a dollar over minimum wage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=573930" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:573361</id>
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    <title>Feeling slightly better...</title>
    <published>2013-05-07T01:15:45Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-07T01:15:45Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>2</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Of course, I actually ate today, which probably helped.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(Fun cycle:  depression = low appetite = low blood sugar = lousy mood and lack of energy...if I didn't have that already simply from being depressed.  If it can't get you one way, it gets you another.)  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sent in my application for Minnesota Care.  Have the name of a doctor who sounds decent.  Will make appointment as soon as possible.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been looking into PCOS pre-emptively-- maybe I don't have it, sure, but I'd rather be well-informed just in case-- and one of the suggestions a few books recommend is a low GI diet to help off-set weight gain and hypoglycemia.  Overall, that seems like something I could do once I have my own kitchen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=573361" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <id>tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-02-08:1962696:573125</id>
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    <title>lykomancer @ 2013-05-04T01:01:00</title>
    <published>2013-05-04T06:30:03Z</published>
    <updated>2013-05-04T06:30:03Z</updated>
    <dw:security>public</dw:security>
    <dw:reply-count>0</dw:reply-count>
    <content type="html">Have now spent over a week being strangled by depression.  Mornings start okay-ish, but by eight pm I'm a ball of emotional agony-- touchy and snappish and constantly sobbing.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I filed for Minnesota Care.  Jinya thinks she's found me a decent doctor and at this point I'm ready to claw at someone's face to get their attention anyway.  I want medication...but just as much, I want the &lt;i&gt;validation&lt;/i&gt; of a medical professional saying, "Yes, there's a reason you are this way."  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The only thing I'm really proud of right now is my savings-- that is, I have some.  I've been doing the 52 week savings plan since the 1st of the year and throwing in my SPIFF bonuses from every check on top of it.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the most money I've ever managed to save, and it's a little depressing to realize that, in the course of five months, I've only managed to save up &lt;i&gt;half&lt;/i&gt; as much as I'd need to buy a nice new bike.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've gotten really weird about it, though.  I guess it's a form of control, like dieting for my finances.  Originally, I was going to let myself take my SPIFF back out if I wanted some extra cash, but now I'm really resistant to the idea.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On top of this, I'm also pulling out $150 every paycheck for upcoming rent and moving costs.  Right now, it's not unusual for me to pull out 60-75% of each paycheck just for savings.  All of the rest-- every drop-- goes for food and transportation to work.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I haven't invested any money in stuff I need to do my herbal projects.  I have a hard time rationalizing the expenditure.  (Especially with snow still on the ground.)  Will I actually be able to sell anything I make and re-coop ANY of the money?  Just the containers alone-- the tins and bottles-- can add up to quite a bit, and that's not including the base oils and alcohols, the jars and cheesecloth, the labels, etc.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lykomancer&amp;ditemid=573125" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/&gt; comments</content>
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