Poetry of Chiyo-ni: The Life and Art of Japan's Most Celebrated Woman Haiku Master
Mar. 10th, 2026 11:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
runpunkrunPoetry of Chiyo-ni: The Life and Art of Japan's Most Celebrated Woman Haiku Master, edited and translated by Patricia Donegan & Yoshie Ishibashi:
An important book as it was the first—and perhaps still the only—of its kind in English, a translation dedicated to a female haiku master. The introductory material provides valuable context for the time in which Chiyo-ni lived, the forms she worked in, and the influence of Zen Buddhism on her art, but it can be repetitive, covering the same ground multiple times, and I wish the biography had stuck closer to things that could be verified and wasn't so gossipy. We know very little about Chiyo-ni's personal life, not even if she was married, and Donegan apparently felt the need to pad her bio with unnecessary—and often melodramatic—speculation.
Chiyo-ni's haiku has, you'll never guess it, a more feminine approach than those of the old male masters, and for this her poetry has been criticized—by men—as not being "as good." But here's yet another example of men needing to shut up and let women work. Chiyo-ni's poetry is different because it's hers, just as Issa's work is different from Bashō's. Chiyo-ni's haiku is often more personal than that of the old male masters, with more people, particularly women, present in them:
woman's desire
deeply rooted–
the wild violets
Bashō would never. Issa might, but he'd add fleas. (Not in a gross way, he just loved bugs!)
Chiyo-ni's haiku is perhaps also more deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism—she was a nun after all—and as a result I found many of them inaccessible to me, as they're mainly interested in expressing Zen principles and feel kind of canned as she repeatedly returns to the same images and phrases. "Cool clear water" is nice once or twice. It is not as nice the fortieth time. It didn't help that the editors were constantly in the footnotes explaining how this was a poem about impermanence or non-duality and praising the deepness of her understanding of such things. It started to make the poetry feel performative, like Chiyo-ni was trying to win some kind of contest, and it didn't offer much to this non-enlightened reader. Like they didn't even bother to explain what non-duality was. But I still found several pieces that were meaningful even without Being The Best At Zen, like this, one of her best-known poems:
a hundred gourds
from the heart
of one vine
And her most famous haiku:
morning glory–
the well-bucket entangled
I ask for water
And this, one of her best known Buddhist haiku, which is supposedly expressing the peace of detachment, but I just love how dismissively breezy it is:
anyway
leave it to the wind—
dry pampas grass
I, too, wish I could leave it all to the wind.
Recommended because it's important to keep Chiyo-ni's name out there, mentioned in the same breath as Bashō, Buson, and Issa, but there's also good poetry in here. Like this haiku, which I absolutely love because the structure suggests that the horsetails were there first and the ruins came later.
つくつくしここらに寺の跡もあり
tsukutsukushi / kokora ni tera no / ato mo ari
among a field
of horsetail weeds–
temple ruins
Or this classic:
falling down laughing
at others falling down—
snow viewing
The poems are presented one per page, with the transliteration first, which is a weird choice, then the English translation, and the Japanese (with furigana) in three staggered vertical columns, read right to left. (Personally, I think either the translation or the actual Japanese should have been offered first, as the transliteration is the least attractive on the page and not particularly meaningful if you don't know Japanese. If you do know Japanese, it's still of limited use.) Footnotes identify the kigo (seasonal word), and many include translation notes, further background, or another poem on a similar subject.
Now for the bad news: I read this in ebook because that was the only way my library had it, and it was not a pleasurable experience. It's listed as an epub in the catalogue, but it sure did act like a PDF. It was an image of the book rather than a text that would flow to fit your screen, and you could only zoom in, not increase the font wholesale. You couldn't highlight text (or search) with any accuracy, and you couldn't highlight at all if you were zoomed in. None of the many end notes were linked. I was pretty mad at this book, not going to lie, and it made my time with Chiyo-ni's poetry kind of frustrating. Definitely get it in print if you're able.
An important book as it was the first—and perhaps still the only—of its kind in English, a translation dedicated to a female haiku master. The introductory material provides valuable context for the time in which Chiyo-ni lived, the forms she worked in, and the influence of Zen Buddhism on her art, but it can be repetitive, covering the same ground multiple times, and I wish the biography had stuck closer to things that could be verified and wasn't so gossipy. We know very little about Chiyo-ni's personal life, not even if she was married, and Donegan apparently felt the need to pad her bio with unnecessary—and often melodramatic—speculation.
Chiyo-ni's haiku has, you'll never guess it, a more feminine approach than those of the old male masters, and for this her poetry has been criticized—by men—as not being "as good." But here's yet another example of men needing to shut up and let women work. Chiyo-ni's poetry is different because it's hers, just as Issa's work is different from Bashō's. Chiyo-ni's haiku is often more personal than that of the old male masters, with more people, particularly women, present in them:
woman's desire
deeply rooted–
the wild violets
Bashō would never. Issa might, but he'd add fleas. (Not in a gross way, he just loved bugs!)
Chiyo-ni's haiku is perhaps also more deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism—she was a nun after all—and as a result I found many of them inaccessible to me, as they're mainly interested in expressing Zen principles and feel kind of canned as she repeatedly returns to the same images and phrases. "Cool clear water" is nice once or twice. It is not as nice the fortieth time. It didn't help that the editors were constantly in the footnotes explaining how this was a poem about impermanence or non-duality and praising the deepness of her understanding of such things. It started to make the poetry feel performative, like Chiyo-ni was trying to win some kind of contest, and it didn't offer much to this non-enlightened reader. Like they didn't even bother to explain what non-duality was. But I still found several pieces that were meaningful even without Being The Best At Zen, like this, one of her best-known poems:
a hundred gourds
from the heart
of one vine
And her most famous haiku:
morning glory–
the well-bucket entangled
I ask for water
And this, one of her best known Buddhist haiku, which is supposedly expressing the peace of detachment, but I just love how dismissively breezy it is:
anyway
leave it to the wind—
dry pampas grass
I, too, wish I could leave it all to the wind.
Recommended because it's important to keep Chiyo-ni's name out there, mentioned in the same breath as Bashō, Buson, and Issa, but there's also good poetry in here. Like this haiku, which I absolutely love because the structure suggests that the horsetails were there first and the ruins came later.
つくつくしここらに寺の跡もあり
tsukutsukushi / kokora ni tera no / ato mo ari
among a field
of horsetail weeds–
temple ruins
Or this classic:
falling down laughing
at others falling down—
snow viewing
The poems are presented one per page, with the transliteration first, which is a weird choice, then the English translation, and the Japanese (with furigana) in three staggered vertical columns, read right to left. (Personally, I think either the translation or the actual Japanese should have been offered first, as the transliteration is the least attractive on the page and not particularly meaningful if you don't know Japanese. If you do know Japanese, it's still of limited use.) Footnotes identify the kigo (seasonal word), and many include translation notes, further background, or another poem on a similar subject.
Now for the bad news: I read this in ebook because that was the only way my library had it, and it was not a pleasurable experience. It's listed as an epub in the catalogue, but it sure did act like a PDF. It was an image of the book rather than a text that would flow to fit your screen, and you could only zoom in, not increase the font wholesale. You couldn't highlight text (or search) with any accuracy, and you couldn't highlight at all if you were zoomed in. None of the many end notes were linked. I was pretty mad at this book, not going to lie, and it made my time with Chiyo-ni's poetry kind of frustrating. Definitely get it in print if you're able.
Book rec
Mar. 10th, 2026 01:36 pmmelaganI've recced this series before, but I think it's appropriate to rec it again for International Women's Day.
Hell's Library Trilogy
I borrowed this series from my local library and liked it so much that I bought the series. I think it's time for a reread. :)
Hell's Library Trilogy
I borrowed this series from my local library and liked it so much that I bought the series. I think it's time for a reread. :)
The Hero's Journey in the Heated Rivalry series (spoilers for The Long Game)
Mar. 10th, 2026 03:51 pmmificprincessofgeeks posted about Rachel Reid having said that Shane has "the Hero's Journey", in the Heated Rivalry books. And
raven commented, agreeing and saying that Shane grows and changes more, internally.I've been thinking about this, and I started to write a comment but it got so long I decided to post here about it.
I re-read the start of Heated Rivalry—it's a flash-forward prologue to the hookups era and focuses on an after-game hookup, with the overall theme being Shane's dilemma where he's desperate for the hookups (with hints at his feelings for Ilya that he's massively suppressing), his denial about being gay (seeing it as an aberration he's too "weak" not to give into), and his rationalizations about just not having found the right woman yet. He's conflicted and miserable despite the scene being hot.
Then by the end of the book, Shane and Ilya are opening the Irina Foundation, and Shane has fully accepted being gay and loving Ilya. So the external barriers (the NHL's and hockey culture's homophobia, being closeted, not living together) are still there for them both, but Shane has made the internal Hero's Journey of battling against being gay (his internalized homophobia) then overcoming that and accepting it, and accepting his love for Ilya. Ilya battles against acknowledging that he's falling in love (a lost cause from early on), but he's clear about his sexuality from the start, and he's accepted his feelings for Shane by the tuna melts scene, whereas Shane's not there yet.
The Long Game might be seen as a bit more Ilya's Hero's Journey as he starts with many problems—loneliness as he's just moved to Ottawa, having to be on a poorly-playing losing team, still not seeing enough of Shane—and he gets depressed, which he has to battle against. Like (eventually), therapy, medication, being honest with Shane about how much he's struggling, finding friends in the Centaurs and a family in the Hollanders. But the terrible "wait until we retire to come out" plan is still hanging over him (over both of them), largely due to Shane's fear of exposure and change, and as Ilya is still afraid to be honest with Shane about how much the terrible plan makes him suffer.
So then there are two external deus ex machina events that force the "wait until we retire" plan to collapse—the Tampa plane near-tragedy, and the fanmail outing. Both of them energize Ilya to fight back (the near crash makes him rally his team and win games, and to move things along with Shane as he'd finally been honest about his pain in the cathartic row beforehand), and then the fanmail outing is actually what Ilya needs to move their relationship into the light. All this doesn't solve Ilya's tendency to depression, but he gets a lot better at handling it. He learns to manage the dragon, rather than killing it.
There's still a Hero's Journey for Shane in The Long Game though, which I missed initially as the book seems so Ilya-focused. This time it's Shane's fear of coming out of the closet and being exposed, which he's way more afraid of than Ilya is—again, Ilya has real issues to battle with (even his depression can be seen as an external antagonist as it's partly biologically driven and recurs despite psychotherapy and meds), but Shane's big challenge is once more internal. He's terrified of being outed and of losing hockey and being shamed and reviled by the world. It's his intense need for privacy and his internalized homophobia that he has to combat—and in initially not doing so he hurts Ilya (but Ilya conceals that hurt from him until their big fight). The fight and the Tampa plane near-crash wake Shane up and move him along a bit, but he's still delaying their coming out as he's so afraid of it.
Then the fanmail outing is the final blow that means he can't hide anymore (to Shane's horror, but to Ilya's secret relief). So that's his big hero's test in this book (where realizing he was gay and choosing Ilya over 'performing straightness' was his big battle in HR). And the scene where Shane stands up to Roger Crowell is his "battling the dragon" moment, where he fights for Ilya and for himself, defies Crowell who represents homophobia and the potential loss of hockey, and finally, finally, Shane fully chooses Ilya rather than prioritizing hockey and maintaining his straight public persona.
He's afraid that being exposed will mean his reputation will be destroyed, that he won't be seen as "good"—and that happens to some degree, but he finds it's survivable. It's shown in the way he doesn't arrange any extra chairs at his wedding to Ilya at the end of TLG after they've been outed. He doesn't think many guests will come now that he's not "good" anymore in a black & white, all or nothing public image sense. But his friends do come, and Shane finds there's a place he can exist in between being perfect and being reviled. It's a more adult, integrated sense of self.
I suspect Shane will once again have a Hero's Journey in the pending 3rd book in the HR trilogy (Unrivaled). What will that be? I wonder if it might be Shane's retirement from playing hockey in the NHL and what comes after? He was terrified of coming out because he thought it would mean losing NHL-level hockey, but he survived that in TLG after battling Crowell, emerging still playing NHL hockey with Ilya on the Centaurs. Inevitably, he and Ilya will age out of playing NHL hockey and it will definitely be more of a challenge for Shane than for Ilya. Ilya already prioritized Shane over hockey when he moved to the Centaurs—I wouldn't be surprised if he retired first, in Unrivaled, with both of them having to deal with that as a precursor. There's an excellent fanfic about that (can't recall the title!) which I imagine Rachel hasn't read, as most authors don't read fanfic of their books especially with an a ongoing series, to avoid accusations of copying.
But for Shane, hockey is still a huge part of his sense of self. He's going to have to figure out who he is when he's not an NHL player anymore. I suspect Rachel might bring in external factors again to move him along in his battle against retiring (as otherwise I suspect he'd put it off for way too long)—like a major injury or an accumulation of smaller injuries. There might also need to be another big goal for him to switch focus to as well, something to give his life meaning after retirement, to answer the question: "who am I if I'm not playing pro hockey?" A dad? A coach? It'll be interesting to see.
Couple of quick HR recs
Mar. 10th, 2026 12:51 pmmificI'm so impressed by friends who post long rec lists - I can barely keep up with reading a few WIPs and some random other recs here and there!
Partly as I'm trying to finish editing a podfic for the Podfic Big Bang (not HR, sorry, I'm still daunted by Ilya's accent but I'll get there eventually), and am also writing a HR AU and outlining another largely epistolary HR fic. And doing some art. Agh!
Anyway, before I forget - this one is great! Partly a social media fic and with a great premise, clever and funny - some explicit texts between Ilya and "Jane" go viral as the internet can't believe how bad at sexting Jane is. I'll Be Jane by gurlsrool.
Also this HR vid is great! Fine Not Fine
Partly as I'm trying to finish editing a podfic for the Podfic Big Bang (not HR, sorry, I'm still daunted by Ilya's accent but I'll get there eventually), and am also writing a HR AU and outlining another largely epistolary HR fic. And doing some art. Agh!
Anyway, before I forget - this one is great! Partly a social media fic and with a great premise, clever and funny - some explicit texts between Ilya and "Jane" go viral as the internet can't believe how bad at sexting Jane is. I'll Be Jane by gurlsrool.
Also this HR vid is great! Fine Not Fine
(no subject)
Mar. 8th, 2026 05:10 pmblueswanI can't go on keeping up a pleasant front when I have learned the American government had a plan on how to dismantle my country and turn it into a vassal state. I'm heart broken over this. Thankfully we have Carney and an American whistle blower who stopped this plan before it got off the ground. Before learning this I thought it was the American president and wondered how he got that kind of power. Now I know it was some members of the American government and I JUST CAN'T.
There are family members and friends living in that country. I don't hold ill feelings for any of them. But I am now wondering how deep into the population of the US does the feeling the neighbour to the north would be a good place to see end.
I don't know how to explain why I care so deeply, but it's like finding out a friendly neighbour has been killing the pets in the neighbourhood. Betrayed, stupid for thinking that we were in a simpatico relationship.
We are not neighbours or allies or friends, we are a target!
This is not directed at anyone personally. It's not about you - unless it is. Thanks for all the good times, the fun, the travel, the adventures, the fic.
There are family members and friends living in that country. I don't hold ill feelings for any of them. But I am now wondering how deep into the population of the US does the feeling the neighbour to the north would be a good place to see end.
I don't know how to explain why I care so deeply, but it's like finding out a friendly neighbour has been killing the pets in the neighbourhood. Betrayed, stupid for thinking that we were in a simpatico relationship.
We are not neighbours or allies or friends, we are a target!
This is not directed at anyone personally. It's not about you - unless it is. Thanks for all the good times, the fun, the travel, the adventures, the fic.
Daylight Saving Time
Mar. 8th, 2026 12:53 pmmelagan
I can usually shake off the Spring time change without any trouble, but today all I want to do is nappppp.
My second option is drinking a LOT of coffee. Thank god, I'm an expert at it.
(no subject)
Mar. 8th, 2026 12:29 pmblueswanIn recognition of International Women's Day, and blatantly stolen from Dine.
"International Women’s Day – can you name any famous female artists, musicians, scientists or authors?
Here is one Canadian woman for each category:
artists - Emily Carr
musicians - Joni Mitchell
scientists - Roberta Bondar
authors - Lucy Maude Montgomery
"International Women’s Day – can you name any famous female artists, musicians, scientists or authors?
Here is one Canadian woman for each category:
artists - Emily Carr
musicians - Joni Mitchell
scientists - Roberta Bondar
authors - Lucy Maude Montgomery
Blah March Day 4
Mar. 7th, 2026 06:44 pmsgatazmy Ooooo I'm feeling so sick today! Fairly certain I have a fever. My throat is on fire. My head hurts. I'm so tired.
But it's been a good day! I took the time to rest, look over the FTH auctions, ate homemade chicken soup, watched SGA with the discord group, took a nap, thought of fanfic and fanvids I want to create, played Catan with my kids, and talked on the phone with the rescue about a cat I want to adopt. I would have adopted them today, but I'm sick, so I can get the cat until Friday night!
Meanwhile my kids are now playing their own new version of Catan where they have turned it into a coop game but with lots of infighting and stealing... Intriguing?
I feel like I'm on fire. Blah.
But it's been a good day! I took the time to rest, look over the FTH auctions, ate homemade chicken soup, watched SGA with the discord group, took a nap, thought of fanfic and fanvids I want to create, played Catan with my kids, and talked on the phone with the rescue about a cat I want to adopt. I would have adopted them today, but I'm sick, so I can get the cat until Friday night!
Meanwhile my kids are now playing their own new version of Catan where they have turned it into a coop game but with lots of infighting and stealing... Intriguing?
I feel like I'm on fire. Blah.
sooner or later somebody was bound to say it
Mar. 7th, 2026 07:00 pmsmilebackwardsSolaris by Stanislaw Lem. Space explorers are tortured with hallucinations by a semi-sentient alien ocean. This was pretty fucked up and I enjoyed it. Watched the George Clooney film after reading the book and I think the film tried to match the vibe but somehow it was too idk sleek(?) to be appropriately unsettling to me.
[DNF] Dubliners by James Joyce. Series of kind of vaguely dark, disconcerting slice of life short stories set in Dublin. Not enjoying it so I'm DNFing it halfway through.
[DNF] House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. I'm letting myself DNF this one too unfortunately. This is my second read attempt and I got farther this time but despite magical realism being interesting to me, I just don't care for it. It reminds me of One Hundred Years of Solitude which I was forcing myself through a bit toward the end.
-
In TV, I finished Bridgerton (season 4). The first half felt kind of wooden to me but I liked the second half a lot better. Except that they hid a scene at the end of the credits which is annoying to me! (I was trying to remember which other shows I've watched did this and one of them was X-Men '97.) Why do this? Anyway, Francesca has become one of my favorites and I'm excited for the expected continuation of her storyline.
[DNF] Dubliners by James Joyce. Series of kind of vaguely dark, disconcerting slice of life short stories set in Dublin. Not enjoying it so I'm DNFing it halfway through.
[DNF] House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. I'm letting myself DNF this one too unfortunately. This is my second read attempt and I got farther this time but despite magical realism being interesting to me, I just don't care for it. It reminds me of One Hundred Years of Solitude which I was forcing myself through a bit toward the end.
-
In TV, I finished Bridgerton (season 4). The first half felt kind of wooden to me but I liked the second half a lot better. Except that they hid a scene at the end of the credits which is annoying to me! (I was trying to remember which other shows I've watched did this and one of them was X-Men '97.) Why do this? Anyway, Francesca has become one of my favorites and I'm excited for the expected continuation of her storyline.
Ficlet: An Awful Indroduction
Mar. 7th, 2026 06:14 pmrivulet027Title: An Awful Introduction
Fandom: Star Wars
Pairing: Stordan/Bodhi
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Star Wars. It's not my toy box and I'm merely playing.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Stordan thinks dying should be less of a surprise.
A/N: Written for the![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomweekly prompt near-death experience with the bonus prompt "Please, stay with me".
( An Awful Indroduction )
Fandom: Star Wars
Pairing: Stordan/Bodhi
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Star Wars. It's not my toy box and I'm merely playing.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Stordan thinks dying should be less of a surprise.
A/N: Written for the
fandomweekly prompt near-death experience with the bonus prompt "Please, stay with me".( An Awful Indroduction )
Busy days
Mar. 7th, 2026 11:34 ammelaganI've been busy over at romancingmcshep and getting a last-minute story finished and posted for it.
You can check out this year's entries Here
I've also been working on my5soulmate prompts. I finished the ones for touching your soulmate feels good and touching your soulmate lets them feel what you're feeling.
In both cases, I thought I was working on you can only touch your soulmate and by the time I was finished, realized they fit the other prompts better. Oh well. Progress at least.
Thefandomtrumpshate auction caught my attention this year, too.
And just a few minutes ago,sga_saturday posted the prompts for this month. History and/or Reading.
I'm waiting to see the story where Rodney is reading Atlantis slash fanfic aloud to John. Oh, I know there are stories out there like that, but whose to say we can't have more?
(and if anyone has the links to those stories, please share.)
I almost forgot to add Shore Leave! A big thanks tosgatazmy for posting about it on her journal. I've made plans to go with goddess47 as my partner in crime. I am so EXCITED!
romancingmcshep and getting a last-minute story finished and posted for it. You can check out this year's entries Here
I've also been working on my
5soulmate prompts. I finished the ones for touching your soulmate feels good and touching your soulmate lets them feel what you're feeling. In both cases, I thought I was working on you can only touch your soulmate and by the time I was finished, realized they fit the other prompts better. Oh well. Progress at least.
The
fandomtrumpshate auction caught my attention this year, too. And just a few minutes ago,
sga_saturday posted the prompts for this month. History and/or Reading. I'm waiting to see the story where Rodney is reading Atlantis slash fanfic aloud to John. Oh, I know there are stories out there like that, but whose to say we can't have more?
(and if anyone has the links to those stories, please share.)
I almost forgot to add Shore Leave! A big thanks to
sgatazmy for posting about it on her journal. I've made plans to go with goddess47 as my partner in crime. I am so EXCITED!Heated Rivalry
Mar. 7th, 2026 12:04 amruricArriving suitably late to the Heated Rivalry party.
I did try to get into it last year- my brain was not braining in the right direction to make that feasible. I suspect a lot of that might have been due to the uncertainty of whether a second season would be happening and I didn't want to get invested in something only to have it brutally yanked away. (I'm still furious that My Lady Jane didn't get a S2).
I had a day off on Tuesday, spent the afternoon noodling around online as I figured if I couldn't get into the show I would at least enjoy the unhinged glory of watching soundbites of the cast interviews and reading and bunch of articles. (Yes I'm aware of Ember and Ice, and yes I will be listening to that too).
One thing led to another and I started watching Heated Rivalry at 7pm thinking I'd do an episode a day.
UM.
By 1am Wednesday I'd watched all the eps, bought the books and was whatsapping (ravurian and gingerpig) tragic messages along the lines of "yes I'm 4 months late, talk to me about HR".
I was also patting myself on the back for having the foresight to 'add to memory' a lot of the DW posts that had been on my circle over the last 4 months clarifying the timeline (thank youmific) and making videos and fic recs.
First rewatch completed today and fully expect to complete another by the end of the weekend or I might dive in to the EmptyNetters reactions which I gather are highly recommended.
All of which is a longwinded way of saying I am down for talking about the show, the delightfully unhinged cast interviews (a gift that keeps on giving), the soundtrack, the books (I'll be finishing Game Changers this weekend), and anything related to the upcoming S2 which I am led to believe starts shooting this summer.
I did try to get into it last year- my brain was not braining in the right direction to make that feasible. I suspect a lot of that might have been due to the uncertainty of whether a second season would be happening and I didn't want to get invested in something only to have it brutally yanked away. (I'm still furious that My Lady Jane didn't get a S2).
I had a day off on Tuesday, spent the afternoon noodling around online as I figured if I couldn't get into the show I would at least enjoy the unhinged glory of watching soundbites of the cast interviews and reading and bunch of articles. (Yes I'm aware of Ember and Ice, and yes I will be listening to that too).
One thing led to another and I started watching Heated Rivalry at 7pm thinking I'd do an episode a day.
UM.
By 1am Wednesday I'd watched all the eps, bought the books and was whatsapping (
ravurian and gingerpig) tragic messages along the lines of "yes I'm 4 months late, talk to me about HR".I was also patting myself on the back for having the foresight to 'add to memory' a lot of the DW posts that had been on my circle over the last 4 months clarifying the timeline (thank you
mific) and making videos and fic recs. First rewatch completed today and fully expect to complete another by the end of the weekend or I might dive in to the EmptyNetters reactions which I gather are highly recommended.
All of which is a longwinded way of saying I am down for talking about the show, the delightfully unhinged cast interviews (a gift that keeps on giving), the soundtrack, the books (I'll be finishing Game Changers this weekend), and anything related to the upcoming S2 which I am led to believe starts shooting this summer.
March day 3
Mar. 5th, 2026 07:10 pmsgatazmy I missed out on my chance to be at David Hewlett or Rachel Luttrell’s table at the con, but I see the person who played Na’Toth on B5 will be there and I am very tempted to sit at that table…
Currently/Last February 2026
Mar. 5th, 2026 10:15 amspiraliciousCurrently/Last lists are the last and/or current answer to the categories for a given time period, in this case a month.
In the text box, I've a blank html coded version of the list, including categories I didn't use this month.
February 2026
Making: Lists, so many lists
Watching: Stargate Atlantis s1
Reading: My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Listening: The Click reacting to r/LookAtMyHalo & "When You Where Young" by The Killers
Eating: ravioli bake
Drinking: Thaiwala Brown Sugar Tea Latte
Loving: how supportive fiber group is & we didn't miss cookie day at the bank (and they were cookies I like) & Jack & Daniel banter & the duck and sushi videos Vexed keeps sending me & Bat-Robin art
Hating: how much extra my anxiety is getting poked
Wanting: a coherent game plan
Thinking: in my physical journal, my last February entry is just "FUCK" repeatedly, in all caps for three lines of the paper. So, that.
Planning: dementia friendly/cognitive exercise crafts, book club talking points, making time for things I'd like to learn from Mom, cleaning out my phone, treats for chicken care (the treats are for me, not the chickens), talking points for the discussion panel in May
Wishing: for a (at home) spa day
Puzzle Books: Beetlejuice Word Search & Coloring (I am down to just coloring pages now), Penny Press Variety Puzzles & Games Feb 2026 issue, Bendon Word Search Puzzle Book Volume 1
Wearing: grey cargo sweatpants, dark blue "Sorry I can't. I have plans with my couch." T-shirt, red Bobby Singer as Hello Kitty "hello idjits" hoodie, the usual jewelry (right post earring, left second lobe hole large ring, left first lobe hole skeleton hand dangle, tight as I can get nose hoop)
Needing: sleep and a meal plan
Enjoying: making more time to spend with Jelly Bean
Wondering: if I overshared after last book club
Playing: Subeta (Survival- annual event)
Trying: to take things one dumpster fire at a time
Cooking: Ramen
Calling: Vexed Wench
Texting: one of the Niblets
Crafting: still knitting the cable blanket & group collage event
Going: Zombie escape room & housesitting
Hoping (For): the new housesitting gig to have a smart TV with the YouTube app and a big shower
Celebrating: Jelly Bean & my spectacular escape room solve
Smelling: Old Spice Dark Knight shampoo I've been using as hand soap (description is black cherry & nightfall)
Thanking: still trying to do all the post holiday thank yous
Considering: how to schedule some "get shit done" days. One at home alone, one for errands around town, and possibly one for errands further afield.
Finishing: The Snowflake challenge, though slowly
Starting: packing
In the text box, I've a blank html coded version of the list, including categories I didn't use this month.
February 2026
Making: Lists, so many lists
Watching: Stargate Atlantis s1
Reading: My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Listening: The Click reacting to r/LookAtMyHalo & "When You Where Young" by The Killers
Eating: ravioli bake
Drinking: Thaiwala Brown Sugar Tea Latte
Loving: how supportive fiber group is & we didn't miss cookie day at the bank (and they were cookies I like) & Jack & Daniel banter & the duck and sushi videos Vexed keeps sending me & Bat-Robin art
Hating: how much extra my anxiety is getting poked
Wanting: a coherent game plan
Thinking: in my physical journal, my last February entry is just "FUCK" repeatedly, in all caps for three lines of the paper. So, that.
Planning: dementia friendly/cognitive exercise crafts, book club talking points, making time for things I'd like to learn from Mom, cleaning out my phone, treats for chicken care (the treats are for me, not the chickens), talking points for the discussion panel in May
Wishing: for a (at home) spa day
Puzzle Books: Beetlejuice Word Search & Coloring (I am down to just coloring pages now), Penny Press Variety Puzzles & Games Feb 2026 issue, Bendon Word Search Puzzle Book Volume 1
Wearing: grey cargo sweatpants, dark blue "Sorry I can't. I have plans with my couch." T-shirt, red Bobby Singer as Hello Kitty "hello idjits" hoodie, the usual jewelry (right post earring, left second lobe hole large ring, left first lobe hole skeleton hand dangle, tight as I can get nose hoop)
Needing: sleep and a meal plan
Enjoying: making more time to spend with Jelly Bean
Wondering: if I overshared after last book club
Playing: Subeta (Survival- annual event)
Trying: to take things one dumpster fire at a time
Cooking: Ramen
Calling: Vexed Wench
Texting: one of the Niblets
Crafting: still knitting the cable blanket & group collage event
Going: Zombie escape room & housesitting
Hoping (For): the new housesitting gig to have a smart TV with the YouTube app and a big shower
Celebrating: Jelly Bean & my spectacular escape room solve
Smelling: Old Spice Dark Knight shampoo I've been using as hand soap (description is black cherry & nightfall)
Thanking: still trying to do all the post holiday thank yous
Considering: how to schedule some "get shit done" days. One at home alone, one for errands around town, and possibly one for errands further afield.
Finishing: The Snowflake challenge, though slowly
Starting: packing
Fancake's Theme for March: Siblings
Mar. 5th, 2026 09:21 amrunpunkrun
fancake's theme for March is Siblings! Assigned, chosen, other, it doesn't matter what kind of siblings they are as long as they're wearing matching dinosaur sweaters. jkIf you have any questions about this theme, or the comm, come talk to me!
Currently/Last January 2026
Mar. 5th, 2026 08:53 amspiraliciousCurrently/Last lists are the last and/or current answer to the categories for a given time period, in this case a month.
In the text box, I've a blank html coded version of the list, including categories I didn't use this month.
January 2026
Making: cable Knit blanket/book themed miniature reading nook diorama
Watching: Brokenwood Mysteries s11
Reading: Moominpappa's Memoirs by Tove Jansson
Listening: Oz_ (of Oz Media & Oz's Vault) react to r/BestOf & "Meet Me in the Woods" by Lord Huron
Eating: Gordon Ramsey's shepard's pie frozen meal
Drinking: leftover Rockstar energy drink
Loving: Friday Fiber Group
Hating: It's a long list. Have you seen the news?
Wanting: a new mattress
Planning: a zombie escape room outing
Wishing: that the backordered tax forms would show up
Puzzle Books: Brain Fun Picture Puzzles, Beetlejuice Word Search & Coloring (Thunder Bay Press), Penny Press Variety Puzzles and Games February 2026 issue, Word Search Puzzle Book Volume 1 (Bendon)
Weathering: more grief than usual
Wearing: fitted grey sweatpants, black Dirty Space Groove t-shirt, brown & white plaid over-shirt
Needing: a hug & uninterrupted time to catch up
Enjoying: discount Arizona teas
Playing: Subeta (Snowtapult)
Trying: to fight the anxiety demons
Cooking: a fried egg
Calling: Vexed Wench
Texting: Jelly Bean
Going: a new book club
Feeling: anxious
Celebrating: I might get a break from my normal Monday schedule.
Smelling: Batiste Dry Shampoo (Blush)
Thanking: Everyone for their holiday gifts & wishes
Considering: What to do about Mom's birthday
In the text box, I've a blank html coded version of the list, including categories I didn't use this month.
January 2026
Making: cable Knit blanket/book themed miniature reading nook diorama
Watching: Brokenwood Mysteries s11
Reading: Moominpappa's Memoirs by Tove Jansson
Listening: Oz_ (of Oz Media & Oz's Vault) react to r/BestOf & "Meet Me in the Woods" by Lord Huron
Eating: Gordon Ramsey's shepard's pie frozen meal
Drinking: leftover Rockstar energy drink
Loving: Friday Fiber Group
Hating: It's a long list. Have you seen the news?
Wanting: a new mattress
Planning: a zombie escape room outing
Wishing: that the backordered tax forms would show up
Puzzle Books: Brain Fun Picture Puzzles, Beetlejuice Word Search & Coloring (Thunder Bay Press), Penny Press Variety Puzzles and Games February 2026 issue, Word Search Puzzle Book Volume 1 (Bendon)
Weathering: more grief than usual
Wearing: fitted grey sweatpants, black Dirty Space Groove t-shirt, brown & white plaid over-shirt
Needing: a hug & uninterrupted time to catch up
Enjoying: discount Arizona teas
Playing: Subeta (Snowtapult)
Trying: to fight the anxiety demons
Cooking: a fried egg
Calling: Vexed Wench
Texting: Jelly Bean
Going: a new book club
Feeling: anxious
Celebrating: I might get a break from my normal Monday schedule.
Smelling: Batiste Dry Shampoo (Blush)
Thanking: Everyone for their holiday gifts & wishes
Considering: What to do about Mom's birthday