Category Archives: NERRRRRRRRD

All things geeky

Roll for initiative

I miss gaming. Board games, sure, but especially D&D. Our gaming group has gotten together maybe once this entire calendar year, and we weren’t playing D&D. We got together for board games, and that’s fun and all, but there’s just something about burying myself in another psyche that brings me out of my real-world funk.

This lovely dude is my fairy warlock, Jaikhiri (or Jake for short). As he is all of 14″ tall, he rides a battle chicken (sure, he’s got wings, but they get tired after a while). My DM (my super supportive husband Leon) made me ask the rest of the group if I could have her, and it had to be unanimous. The resounding, ever-suffering siiiiiiiiiigh that my husband released, when it took less than ten minutes for full unanimity, was resounding. Don’t mess with absurdity with this group. Weirdness will always win, as you well remember, love of my life.

We have a ridiculous amount of games that we’ve collected since 2020 that have not been played. Most of them require a minimum of three people to play, so here they sit.

The biggest challenge to getting together, however, is the disorganization and general clutter of the house. If we could get a handle on that, we would be unstoppable. But my ADHD makes my brain shut down when I think about dealing with any of it. And I know it drives Leon bonkers, but he’s also understanding about my brain weasels. He knows this is a bad weekend for me.

All of that to get to this part.

Today, especially, is hitting hard for me. Today would have been my father’s 69th birthday. It would have been one of the guaranteed times of the year that we would have spoken on the phone. He died in April, and today is difficult. I have the feeling that his birthday will be more of a difficult day than his death day or any other holiday. As you can tell by the date, it’s not one I can ever forget. It’s ingrained into our national culture. It will always be there.

So today I honor my father, James Russell Bredeson on what would have been his birthday. I am incredibly sad that I won’t ever hear you laugh again. I will listen to the voicemail messages that I have saved, and that will help some. I miss you, Dad.

…I’m sorry, what was that?

Still having focus issues. About half an hour of Diablo IV and about 10 minutes of Mass Effect tonight. Four or five bouts of knitting for about 10 minutes each throughout the day.

Had a medical appointment today, my quarterly checkup. Got blood drawn for labs. Got my second shingles vaccine, and my arm hurts like a mother. They offered the new COVID booster, but I have things going on tomorrow, and every other injection has kicked my ass for 24 hours. I’ll find a Friday afternoon when I don’t have anything on Saturday and get it then.

And then…. the butt camera. My nurse practitioner is sending me for a colonoscopy. Yuck. Evidently, there is a prep treatment other than Golytely (the biggest lie in the world, according to everyone who has dealt with it). I’m so not looking forward to it. Yuck.

Finished Sex Education today. Decent ending, I think. I’m sad that it’s done. I didn’t have nearly enough time with Adam’s storyline or Maeve’s new storyline or Aimee’s success or even Dave’s reaction. Still, overall very satisfying.

I have 8 minutes left of A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis by Robyn Peterman, read by Jessica Almasy. It’s such a great series, and I’m super happy that October turned our little book club onto it. We’ve been sharing audiobook recommendations for a while, and it’s always so much fun to talk about these. Thankfully, some of these series are many books and while we’re all getting caught up, it gives us something to listen to while we’re waiting for the next books in our favorites. The next one in the Burning Witch series by Delemhach is due out on January 30, but Aftermath (the next book in the Expeditionary Force series) by Craig Alanson (read by the incomparable RC Bray) is due out on December 12! Needless to say, they’ve both been pre-ordered, and I need them NOW. I’ve got the latest Jim Butcher novella in the Cinder Spires series ready, too, but I’ve also got 6 more books in the Good to the Last Death series ready to go, too.

Started thinking about next year’s garden. I’m going to do all herbs, and I’m starting to decide which ones I want. I’ll probably start a few of them in my Aerogardens in February or March and transplant them into the buckets for the garden. I’m going to try for 12 herbs next year, with nothing else. We don’t eat enough veggies and we don’t have the space for anything else. Plus herbs can be used for cooking, for the apothecary, for incenses, and for spellwork. I need to start incorporating more in my world. Hedgewitch doesn’t just happen.

I’m exhausted for no real reason. Time to take my pills and go to bed like the old man I am.

I [Ohio] Voting

Today is an election day in the US. It’s always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (because that’s not arcane or anything). Here in Ohio, we had two very important state-wide ballot initiatives, Issue 1 and Issue 2. There are a couple of other things, such as the race for Columbus mayor and Issue 16, a tiny tax levy to help support the Columbus Metropolitan Library. I look forward to getting that little round sticker every time I vote.

Issue 1 is about reproductive rights and a woman’s right to choose. Most of my friends know my thoughts on this. I don’t have female reproductive parts, so I don’t get a say in a woman’s rights. That said, I’ll be damned if I let any old mediocre white men decide that for anyone else. They’re all about freedom, but only their freedom. So, you know, screw that noise right in the goat-hole.

Issue 2 is also a personal freedom initiative: legalization of recreational marijuana. I’ve been pro-legalization for decades. It is stupid that it’s not legal. Alcohol is legal, and it is absolutely deadly. You can die from too much alcohol. Do you know what happens if/when you smoke too much pot? You devour a bag of Doritos and fall asleep. It’s ridiculous that we’re fighting this. Let people find a tiny glimmer of hope and joy or escape from this pre-dystopian capitalist hellscape in which we’re currently residing. Plus, those same old mediocre white men don’t want to let out the legions of brown and black people in prison for minor marijuana charges.

On the positive side of today, I got a new book about rituals and coven practices for smaller magical groups (2 or more). It’s called The Everyday Witch’s Coven by Deborah Blake. I’m unfamiliar with the author, and while I’m searching for another magical group, I’m getting together with friends and sometimes a more formalized ritual is nice. I’m sure I’ll have opinions on it, so stay tuned! I know you’re all waiting on the edges of your seats.

Starting the new sleepy pill tonight. I hope it works like I need it to. Wish me luck.

Currently reading: Death’s Rival by Faith Hunter
Currently listening to: A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis: The Good to the Last Death Series, Book 3 by Robyn Peterman, read by Jessica Almasy
Currently playing: Diablo IV
Currently playing: Mass Effect Legendary Edition

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