poetry_fiction | Member Posts

11. How organised are you with household paperwork (or is everything just in one big pile)?

I'm so unorganized, it's not even funny. Hubby is very organized. One of us had to be. However, he has boxes and boxes of things from his job before retiring. He worked for the same company for 44 years. So, it's 44 years of his job memories. I have to start cleaning out my closet. It's a huge walk-in-closet. I'm going to ask him if we can clean it all out this weekend. I hope he says yes. It's too much to tackle on my own. We’ll see who is organized this weekend.

pattrose

Hi Pattrose

mxcatmoon sent you a message on Dreamwidth.

The message is: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I hope you have a great birthday tomorrow!

🧡🎈🎁🧁🎂

Cat

I'm having trouble getting to Dreamwidth. . So, I'm answering here. Is anyone else having a hard time with Dreamwidth? Thank you so much, Cat. If you want to read a kick butt story from Katef. It's on AO3. It's the sentinel. It's so good. https://archiveofourown.org/works/80965876

pattrose

Topics for talk

Ways I Can Be a Better Friend

One word and one word alone. Listen. Don’t give your opinion, listen while he or she vents. Sometimes it’s the best thing you can do. It’s hard to do this, but do it anyhow. They will thank you later.

pattrose

90 questions

1. What is something that makes you unique?

I have no idea. This one stumped me. Hopefully it’ll spark some interest for someone else. I was thinking, I’m friendly, but that doesn’t make you unique.

pattrose

( ”recipe” )

senmut

kalloway - the Valentine card that is post-marked Feb 9 showed up today for Mario Day.

Thank you, and the heart is adorable.

pattrose

Topics for discussion

Ways I Can Control My Anger.

I have little control over my anger. I prefer to get it out of me. I'm not a violent person, but I do get angry. I usually use my voice to speak about what has made me angry. And believe me, everyone would hear. But once I let my anger out, I am able to go back to my sweet self in no time. You just never know with me.

How about you?

pattrose

90 questions

What are the best things in your life right now?

Gosh, I have so many, I might have to come back to this one.

I'm back!

1. My family
2. My friends
3. My fandoms
4. My life
5. My upcoming cruise

pattrose

Not quite 365 days

10. It’s International Wig Day – have you ever worn a wig or a hairpiece?

Nope, I never have. This was sure easy. 😁. How about anyone else?

pattrose

30 recipes
Simple lemon herb chicken
( ”recipe” )

senmut

AO3 Link | Divining Destiny (11814 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden, Ensemble
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Typical Violence, Fratricide, Murder, flashfic, Cross-Posted from Archive Of Our Own (AO3), Time Travel
Summary:

Thwarted in escaping with the two males she cares for at Graduation, Vierna sets her goals differently.

Only, Drizzt sets things in motion the wrong way.

Chapter 4: Drizzt's Chosen Path

Eilistraee rested in the meadow, laying on Her back, listening to the night and Her sparring partner as he got his own breathing back under control. She almost wished to keep him here, to have his company where it was safer for Her to exist, but he was mortal, and deserved a chance to truly live free.

"Father manipulated time in setting you back to save the Lore Keeper," She admitted, once She was cooler and he seemed calm.

"I decided that had to have happened given His surety in the circumstances. I know it is one avenue of magic, considered among the riskiest."

"It's only a few decades, but time has to resettle… and I mean to offer you a chance to be part of that resettling, Drizzt." Eilistraee let Her fingertips touch his. "Like it or not, when She touched your life string at birth, with My Brother touching your sister's so young, it has put you closer to Destiny than many mortals can bear.

"Would you like to use that to protect other drow like you, to be there for My Chosen as a protector?"

Drizzt considered, letting the night sounds take over around them, and then turned his head to look at Her. "I would be with ones like me, to keep learning, and helping them survive in a world that fears and hates us?

"I can do this, as it will let me continue forming as who I wish to be in something closer to safety rather than wandering with only Guen."

"And possibly Szann from time to time," She said, eyes dancing with the mirth of how besotted the cath sidhe was with Her young friend. He did not pray to her; he prayed to none, so far. But She continued to hope that in time he would be willing to ask boons of Her, to further his ability to help others.

"I think I can handle having visits from a fey cat," he agreed to that, smiling brightly. "Yes, Eilistraee. Choose the point for me, and let me go be of aid to others. I have seen enough here to believe that You do truly mean nothing but aid to those like me."

Despite that most of Her fellow deities would be stung by the continued doubting and measuring against a mortal's — a child at best! — ideas of right and wrong, Eilistraee was touched by being allowed that much belief from him.

"I have those calling to Me," She said as She reluctantly stood. "But I will see to it soon, Drizzt. Enjoy the night."

"I shall."

The small group of drow that traveled at present with Qilué Veladorn were some of her most adept, fiercest priestesses and fighters. An impression of being watched ghosted over their senses for several nights, but in a world that would rather see them dead, that was not so unusual.

What was, just after the sun had cleared the horizon and they were considering rest, was the appearance of a lone drow male.

Inside their sentry line.

That he was not close enough to harm a single person was the only saving grace in their eyes, as a full alert went through all of them.

"Peace," the lone male said, using the variant of that word they had made for themselves in their language that knew it not at all. "I seek the First Sister, to offer my arms and service for a time."

"What makes you think you have the right?"

"I claim no right," he said back to the one who had spoken, one of the priestesses. "But I have skills I am willing to offer… and showed by evading your sentries. I have a willingness to learn more, as I have only learned the elven language, and I am told there is one called 'Common' I should know.

"Most of all, I wish to learn the surface as it calls to me in my heart, as the Dark Maiden calls to you."

"Is he touched by madness?" one of the fighters asked then, before the First Sister rose from her pallet, towering over all of those with her, and came forward.

"No. He is touched by our Lady Herself… and another?" As she spoke, she approached the male with no fear.

He inclined his head slightly to her. "A deal was made to remove me from the Underdark, between She and Her Twin. In divining why neither of Them could truly perceive me, She invited Her Father to look into matters.

"So I no doubt bear at least some of His touch, given my armor, pack, and weapons were gifts from Him to perform a task with."

"Truth," the first cleric said, both grudgingly and with some trepidation. Even though the First Sister regularly dealt with Eilistraee, and some human goddess, none of them knew of one who had been touched by an elven god not their Lady.

"So I know," the First Sister said, smiling as she came close enough to offer her hands in greeting. "You have given my Lady joy; welcome, cousin."

"Drizzt Do'Urden." He gave her his hands, squeezing hers without fear.

"Qilué Veladorn. I look forward to seeing your dance, and my hunters will aid you in learning the surface as it is here in the Material Plane."

"I am glad to be able to give aid for a good cause," he assured her, before walking with her into the camp to meet those present in this band.

Elkantar cheered young Rylla on from where he was sprawled on the ground. The half-human was possibly the only one of the fighters that would, someday, match their new fighter in any way. He rolled to his butt, keeping eyes on this grand melee… and the one that had become the center of it all.

Drizzt Do'Urden was an enigma. He'd spent an unknown amount of time in the Dark Maiden's realm, personally handled a quest for Corellon, been shrouded by Lolth Herself at his birth, and been raised by a priestess of Vhaeraun.

None of those deities held the fighter's heart, and Elkantar had been surprised to learn his escape from the Underdark had come before he even turned thirty-one years of age, making his skill simply impossible. That he embraced these free-for-all skill contests, or the one-on-one spars with a true smile of joy never stopped pulling Elkantar's heart strings.

Every other fighter in their band had already lost their weapons or been tripped out of the designated area. Elkantar slowly recognized that Drizzt had worked to insure Rylla was the last fighter, handling the few fighters — like Elkantar himself — that had the experience and skill needed to put her out of it.

"Too much anger," he heard Drizzt say, when the double scimitars trapped the short sword, pulling it out of Rylla's grasp. She refocused her stance a moment, then took the step back, and saluted with her dagger across her chest to surrender.

"How can I not be angry?" she retorted.

"By remembering that holding your anger at the people behind you? Still gives them power."

Those calm, quiet words held empathy and knowing alike… and were just what Rylla needed to hear, to help move one more step forward on her own path of healing.

"Make me better," Rylla said, half a demand, half a plea.

"I will give you every bit of training my father gave me… though maybe with fewer unexpected naps."

Corellon considered the actions of His Daughter, and ultimately decided He was amused. He had, after all, opened the door with His own manipulation. Giving the Chosen a man who had the technique, if not the experience, to increase her people's ability to carve out a space for themselves even earlier could only be a good foil against the drow of both Lolth and Vhaeraun.

He tried to see ahead, to make out the possibilities more clearly… and found the mists of time past the point when Drizzt had originally been taken from the Underdark still opaque.

"At least none of Us should be bored for a time," He mused, going back to listen to His own followers for a time. His Lore Keeper was being a force of nature in his own way, keeping new ideas fresh alongside the ancient ways. It might prove interesting, when the drow struck out on his own, to see about a meeting for them…

Chapter 5: Family Reunion

Dinin had proven to have a good hand for how to keep their outpost incognito, on top of the politics of the moment, and out of strife with either Vhaeraunite faction. It helped that both of those groups wanted to end each other's influence, but were constrained by some strange religious tenet from just killing one another.

At least openly, as Dinin learned when a priest was murdered in the night market, supposedly by ruffians.

What he did not appreciate was having to be schooled by Jarlaxle's people on a third drow vector, a bunch of idiots that thought peace and living in harmony was the better way of life. He decided they could be ignored as they only came once a quarter to trade —

— until he heard that a band of six drow from the mercantile company faction had been sent running with minor injuries… and none of their weapons.

"I thought they weren't a threat," Dinin muttered.

Karolz shook his head, a much older fighter, one that had been recruited in this city long before. He hated leading, didn't have a head for it, but had accepted Dinin in that role.

"Those Dancers usually avoid a fight. But once every hand of years or so, some braggart decides to test either their Sword Mistress, or Purple Eyes. And this time, it's Purple Eyes with the caravan."

Purple Eyes. Dinin made a gesture against ill-luck, still remembering the one time he'd seen his younger brother in a true temper. He had no idea what had happened to Drizzt, only that whatever it had been had not broken the peace between Zaknafein and Vierna. Dinin knew that meant Drizzt had not been killed; he wasn't as stupid as some people thought he was, and Zak had been odd about the boy.

"Make sure none of ours pick a fight, or cross paths with the mercantiles, hmm? They're going to be more apt to rise to the bait for this."

That got a chuckle and nod… before Karolz watched Dinin secure his cloak over his armor and head out to see for himself.

Dinin found the Dancers easily enough, and decided they looked very tame. He didn't see anyone that really looked like they could give him trouble in a fight, but he also didn't see anyone with purple eyes. Maybe Karolz was wrong and one of the women wearing a sword was this so-called Sword Mistress.

He decided it had been a waste of time to come down and see, turned down a different path to begin his way back —

— and then he did see purple, a moment before he saw all of his brother. The small signs of maturity were settled in around the eyes and ears, while Drizzt stood straight with those curved swords of his still in their scabbards. Fine mithral chain glinted under the over tunic, and a metal face-guard held the mane of hair back, in the same fashion Zaknafein wore his.

"Hello, brother," Drizzt said, actually quirking a half-smile on his lips. "I never expected to see you this far from the city."

"Umm, you… Abyss, I never thought to see you again at all!" Dinin said. "I don't want a fight; I came to see if the rumor of Purple Eyes had anything to do with you, yes, but… I really am just evaluating the threats to my own situation."

Drizzt laughed. "You must be the new one watching Bregan D'Aerthe, then. I'd heard there were several new people since my last visit here." He must have read the confusion in Dinin's face, because he shrugged. "I got caught up in time magic. I've lived in the area above for a few decades now.

"Will you tell me of our sister, and the Weapon Master?"

Dinin nodded. "Trust me enough to come back to the warehouse we keep? Or should we take a meal at the Dimmed Lantern?"

"I won't go so far as to say trust," Drizzt said slyly, "but I prefer to be out of the public eye to discuss this, and I am well known at the Dimmed Lantern."

"Does everyone call you Purple Eyes?"

"Mostly," Drizzt agreed. He fell in step with Dinin, and Dinin noted his brother already knew the path. What had his experiences been that Drizzt actually seemed cognizant of power structures? Did he really want to know?

Ultimately, Dinin decided he did not.

Drizzt relaxed in the deep tub across from the one Laeral Silverhand was in. As the Silverhand that most paid attention to the treacheries in Skullport, Drizzt had come to her to talk about what he had learned this time. Their friendship went back almost to the beginning of his time above with Qilué, as the sisters were very close.

"So my elder brother manages the in-theory Lolthite faction over there. Honestly, the mercenary company he belongs to worships chaos, money, and power, I believe, from what I have seen of them in the past. Through him, I know that our House in Menzoberranzan fell within the last few years.

"But, through his own sources, he knows that my father and sister have established themselves in a a place called Rilauven."

"As best I can remember, that is a minor city somewhere under the Neverwinter," Laeral offered, lounging as nonchalantly as her friend. Dual tubs were almost as good as a large bathing pool.

"I planned to see what the Marauders could tell me of it," Drizzt said, his voice having that note of seeking adventure.

"Planning to go see for yourself? I remind you that your nature is antithetical in all ways to what you would find."

Drizzt chuckled. "I can charm a lizard or a bat to carry a note inside, if I choose to go that way. And your amulet very nicely masks me, when I choose to wear it."

Laeral looked over. "You miss your father, even your sister, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then I will just say, 'be careful', and I will definitely reach out and knock on your skull in half a year, to be sure you are breathing. If not, the Marauders will be hired to find your body so Qi can bring you back to us."

He shook his head at her, but he had no intention of dying. He just needed to know if his sister was as aware as he was, of the threads of destiny they had unknowingly wrapped themselves in.

Vierna was not unaccustomed to bats bringing her messages. What she was unaccustomed to, was not feeling the touch of her Lord's spellwork on them, instead brushing something unknown when she tried to determine who the sender had been. She also did not see any message to take from it. When she focused fully on it, the bat fluttered just out of reach and roosted.

"If you or father would come, I am awaiting outside the gate your people use to go Above for trade."

The bat, having spoken with her brother's voice, did a small shake of itself and fluttered back out of Vierna's very surprised presence.

Needing to have time to wrap her head around that, the ability to blank her emotions, she sent her messenger spider to her father. The pirate spiders she had brought with her were thriving, especially as they killed any other spiders that dared cross the wards, protecting them from Lolthite spies.

Several minutes later, Zak strode in, an eyebrow raised. "Sometimes I worry your spiders fetching me could be omens, daughter."

She laughed, a little bit more brittle than she meant to. "Something odd, but not… bad? Maybe?

"A bat came and delivered a spoken message in Drizzt's voice, saying he was outside the trade gate to the Surface, asking if one of us would come meet with him. The magic on the bat was unlike any I have felt, and the accent was correct."

Zak frowned, then considered a long moment. "Are you still unable — yes, you are. Of course you already tried to reach him that way." He hitched a shoulder. "I suppose I am taking a walk. Put the undead into defensive positions, just in case."

"Of course, Father. If it is… and he will come… please bring him in. I can explain it as an intelligence seeking."

That got a laugh, but Zak nodded. "If that boy knows anything of use, I will be shocked."

Zak moved out of the gate uncontested, as he was known to sometimes forage for his daughter's wild needs. In the years since arriving here, they had made a solid reputation as fair but powerful. The only true trouble they'd had was from Lolthites seeking to undo the Masked Traitor's prominence, but Vierna remained high in the favor of her Lord.

Once he cleared the perimeter of the city's awareness, he knew he was not alone, and had to look sharply… before his son melted out of a shadow.

"Hello, Father," Drizzt called, breaking into a genuine smile. Even as jaded as Zak was, everything matched… except the age. This man was too mature to his eyes, and he remained poised, ready to engage the trap so his daughter stayed safe.

"Hmm, not so certain of that."

Drizzt threw his head back and laughed, before spreading his hands wide from his body. "Blame your daughter, then, as she put me in the hands of a goddess and set me on a strange path that had time magic in it."

Zak let an eyebrow rise at those words.

"Would a fetch know you nearly killed me rather than let me go become a drow in all truth? Or that you broke my jaw to keep me from exposing both of us to the Matron? Or that I almost caused your death the very night Vierna became Matron?"

"It might… but I think I might believe you." Zak beckoned. "Your sister wishes to see you as well, peacefully. The city is not a closed one, and if you're still so strange, she'll shove it off as getting what you know of other places."

"Oh, I am strange, even to those that agree with my views on life," Drizzt said, still smiling so openly, and Zak reached out as he came close, gripping his shoulders.

"I am glad you stayed strange, and alive!"

Drizzt leaned in, resting his forehead on his father's. "Vierna saved me by doing as she did, and now I wish to repay that, with a warning and words of my life."

"Then let us go into the city, my son, and hear what you have to say."

Vierna hugged her little brother fiercely, taking in all the changes as Zak had done. He was dressed sensibly in a piwafwi of fair construction, had adamantine blades in plain scabbards, and everything had the right feel of the Underdark.

"You cannot possibly have been in the Underdark since I set you in safety!" she pointed out.

"No, but we keep such things for movement below the faerzress," Drizzt said. "As I do aid sometimes, I had everything I needed in one of our caches.

"When Dinin told me where you two had gone, I retrieved them for my journey. One that is formerly of House Vaer here aided me in swift travel," he added.

"Dinin's in Skullport, last I knew," Zak said.

"He is, and thriving," Drizzt agreed. "We have an understanding, as I have no wish to be involved heavily in drow things."

"You mentioned a warning," Zak prodded, once they were all comfortable.

Drizzt sobered up and looked at Vierna. "Do you have any idea how tangled in divine events we now are, sister? The choice you made, to save me, prodded the Twins toward aid for one another, when He was attacked. I have been given quests by Her and by others of the pantheon in my time-tossed decades."

She slowly frowned, but his words rang true against some of the dreams that had come since she settled here.

"I can see the shape of that now that you say it," she admitted. "Your thoughts?"

"Something lies ahead. Neither of my patron deities know what, but more and more, I am drawn to larger threats, sharpening all of my skills and the magic I touch as a kind of divine-touched fighter."

Vierna had to rake her eyes over him at that claim, but… she did not know all things of the surface yet.

"Both of my children using divine magic now. There's a strangeness," Zak said in a slow drawl.

That made them all laugh.

"I suppose, little brother, I am going to ask you to stay long enough to get sending stones for you and father to carry, and work out a timing for us to keep in touch," Vierna said. "So we can at least warn one another of things that come to pass."

"I am already looking forward to the spars," Drizzt said, agreeing easily. "Just tell me how to not make trouble here, and I will be a good guest.

"I've kept an open mind toward your god, even if I question some of His idiot followers' ways."

"Well, some of them are idiots, but I think that is true of all religions," Vierna agreed, pleased.

Vhaeraun smiled in His own realm. Allies, when the coming storm arrived, were not to be dismissed out of hand. And, if the siblings forged a bond across alignment, then perhaps…

… well, He knew He was still deeply fond of His own Twin. Perhaps in time, He might yet convince Her to see His way of thinking.

He would keep His defenses up, and all of His craft tuned to the danger ahead for all of the gods.

pattrose

30 days recipes
( ”Recipes” )

pattrose

Not quite 365 days questions March.

9. As it’s ‘Check Your Batteries Day’, when was the last time you checked your stock of batteries? Or, do you buy them when you need them?

Hubby checks all of ours every three months. We stock our batteries every ten months. We don't want to find out something doesn't work the hard way.

pattrose

90 questions

When and where was the most memorable sunrise or sunset you have ever seen?

My favorite sunsets are here in Tucson. They are absolutely breathtaking. Hubby and I watch them as often as we can. I'm never up in time for sunrise. 😂 We also saw some gorgeous ones on different cruises we went on. Sunsets are so gorgeous. I'm grateful for all of them.

pattrose

Topics for talk

Things I'm Disappointed About

Sometimes I find a new recipe to try and it flops. At first I'm angry that I used money to make something that was so awful. After about ten minutes, I then blame myself for choosing something so gross.

I get disappointed in people that show no compassion for anyone who has to use hearing aids. They lose their temper because they don't want to repeat themselves. I've even seen them yell at the person who has no control over their hearing.

But, the biggest disappointment in people who don't have empathy for the person with dementia, or worse. They have no control over what is happening to them And their family. They need all the Love and caring they can get. Please be thoughtful. A lot of people are.

senmut

AO3 Link | Chairwoman's Invite (300 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Justice League of America
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Dinah Lance, Diana of Themyscira
Additional Tags: +Modern Age (1986-Present), Post-Crisis, [Justice League of America Vol. 2 - 2006]
Summary:

Diana is amazed and worried by the way their Chairwoman handles herself.

Oh look, I accidentally wrote something for International Woman's Day.

Chairwoman's Invite

Diana came into the locker room behind their Chairwoman, glad none of the other women had stayed to change and clean up here. She frowned as she saw the living bruising revealed as the smaller woman peeled out of her costume. In her mind's eye, she saw again as Black Canary dove to cover a child that had been too close to destruction and flinched in memory at how much force her teammate had taken.

And then gotten back up to finish the fight with a Canary Cry that sent the villain reeling back through the portal that had brought him.

"No super strength. No special endurance or nigh-invulnerability. Do you know how worried you make me, even as you take my breath away with your utter willingness to protect others?" she asked.

Dinah chuckled, shaking her head. "It's too much in my blood not to. And I do have many martial arts under my belt, so to speak. Not as good as Richard Dragon or Shiva, but I can protect myself a little from the damage.

"However, I already have plans on a hot bubble bath and wine to help soak this one away."

Dinah met Diana's eyes, having caught that little shift and parting of Wonder Woman's lips on the images that brought to mind.

"My new tub is big enough for two," she invited, as bold in this as she was in her fighting style.

"As it will let me add a massage to soothe the blood rising," and Diana smiled wickedly on her choice of words, "I think I will take you up on that offer."

"Get changed, Princess; you turn too many heads in that for where my place is." Dinah answered the smile with her own, before she — and Diana — got street clothes on.

kalloway

It has been awhile since I've sorted my swords... February ended up pretty busy and I got behind on a lot of things.

But I've done updates on the Lemonade Cafe, both website and at

lemonadecafe. Going to try to do a few more before it's time to sleep. There's a very real chance I can finish off January's very full calendar pages and debate how to tackle both February and March's.

I'm still working through my inbox and found a comment from 2022 talking about The Mangar and getting back to it and I did! I finally got back to The Mangar! I went to mention this and ah, the entry is gone. ^^;; This will probably be the case more and more often as I get back to the truly ancient messages. Alas. (After a point I will also find the people and entire sites gone, which will be far more complicated.)

I suppose at some point I will claim true comment amnesty. ^^;;

kalloway

Ooof, I got incredibly off-course with these and it'll probably take a little while to catch up. ^^;; But here's a start!

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers 1-5 (Katsuyuki Sumizawa, Tomofumi Ogasawara) - I have had all of Glory sitting around for ages and have tried to read it more than once only to repeatedly have Stuff happen. This time, I will grab my swords if Stuff gets in my way. While normally I'm fine with the Sunrise stance of "only animated is canon", this is a firmed up version of the story featuring a lot of amazing redesigns, extra info, etc. Looking forward to reading the rest.

My Love Story!! - anime, since I'd just watched the live action. Honestly, I liked the live action more. I thought the anime was only 12-13 episodes but it's 24 and it really drags in places. It's nice to have the setting and characters filled out, but it really drags in places. Can probably let it go since I can't imagine wanting to watch it again.

Tsukipro The Animation - S1, like with any idol anime, I'm here to listen to the songs as much as anything. One of the guys looks a bit like RS2's Noel so he's automatically my fave. I have S2 waiting in the queue.

Cyborg 009 vs Devilman - this is a lot of fun and a complete mess. Should you watch this if you don't know either franchise? No. Should you watch this if you do? Probably not. But you'll do it anyway, just like I have multiple times now.

The Omen 1-4 - ah, boycritter brought these over because I'd made a comment about never having seen the first one (or being aware of there being more than one, I guess). The first one was pretty good, 2 had me laughing uproariously at the bad special effects, 3 was decent, and 4 was atrocious. Good fun, but more ridiculous than scary and I also feel like 4 forgot half the plot of 3.

Yoroiden Samurai Troopers/Ronin Warriors - technically the latter since I watched the dub. Absolute fun except for the middle part which I want to edit down with a knife. This is one of those "I have watched good chunks of this in the past but never made it all the way through" shows, and yay, now I have. (Except the OVAs which... I can continue skipping, lol.)

And now, I can't believe I'm watching these before even the halfway point of the viewing period - JFF Theater!

The Lines That Define Me - culture drama about a young man finding healing through sumi-e. Absolutely gorgeous and takes the time to explain sumi-e and demonstrate beautifully without feeling like it's taking away from the plot. Also very tropey, as far as culture dramas seem to go. Definitely recommended if you can watch JFF stuff.

Bonsai Warrior - a documentary about a guy traveling the world teaching and demonstrating bonsai. Interesting watch, worth it also for the information about bonsai practitioners around the world.

Thermae Romae - if you can watch any JFF film this quarter, watch this one. It's fucking hysterical in every way. The gist is that a Roman bathhouse architect is in a slump and ends up magically transported to a modern Japanese bathhouse. This happens again and again, and he experiences all sorts of interesting things (like a bidet, lol) but not really understanding what's happening. At one point, a group of old Japanese men end up in Rome.
(Roman slavery is a fairly prominent concept, however, if you would rather not.)

pattrose

Ooey gooey snack bars
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the crust:
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 large eggs
* 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
* ½ teaspoon baking powder
* ¼ teaspoon salt
For the gooey layer:
* 8 oz cream cheese, softened
* ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
* 2 cups powdered sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 large eggs
Step-by-Step Method
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper for easier removal later. This ensures your bars come out cleanly and hold their shape.
Step 2: Make the Crust
1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugaruntil light and fluffy.
2. Beat in vanilla extract and eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. The result should be a slightly sticky, soft dough.
5. Press about two-thirds of this dough evenly into the prepared pan. This will form the base of your ooey gooey bars. Set aside the remaining third for the topping.
Step 3: Prepare the Gooey Layer
3. In another bowl, combine cream cheese and butteruntil smooth and creamy.
5. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well to eliminate lumps.
7. Beat in vanilla extract and eggs until the mixture is glossy and smooth.

pattrose

And we might go to see this on Saturday. I love the Botanical Gardens. It’ll be fun.

Time:
7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Tucson Botanical Gardens 2150 N Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 326-9686
marketing@tucsonbotanical.org
Presented By:
Tucson Botanical Gardens
Price:
Included in Garden Admission
Recurrence:
Recurring daily
OVERVIEW
A new outdoor exhibit, Frida’s Garden is inspired by the iconic painter Frida Kahlo’s Garden in Mexico City, La Casa Azul. The garden is created within the famous “Frida-Blue” walls. It features a scaled-down version of the Aztec-inspired pyramid and Toad Pond. Plantings in the new garden will honor the original, but with a Southwestern twist.

Opening hours at the Gardens are seasonal. Please check website.

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