Fifteen Minutes of Scrawl

I knew I was going to have a tough day over the past weekend, so I indulged and booked myself a massage for the following day. However, as you'll see from reading, it was not the best experience. I am fully aware that complaining about a massage is a whiny thing to do, but I wanted to get the thoughts that were swirling through my head onto a (digital) page. I am too in my head My inner legs are more sensitive than I thought I might be a tad touch-starved (touch-hungry?) My body kind of recoils from touch though I did not know that muscle could flinch like that (or even that that was a muscle) While I do mostly want quiet during a massage, I was a little perturbed that she worked on my chest (over the blanket) without giving me a heads up (I have never had a masseuse touch there before) I thought the masseuse said this oil was "lemon grass," but I did have my headphones in when she was listing the possible scents and I think it was just "lemon" Does the masseuse...

Okay, I've finally started writing the novel that I did some stream of consciousness posts about ( "Stream of consciousness about a novel idea I have, part 1" ,  "Stream of consciousness about a novel idea I have, part 2" , and "Stream of consciousness about a novel idea I have, part 3" ). Now, I want to keep it unpublished, but I also want credit for working on it (lol). So, with that in mind, I'll do a post like this when I've worked on it for a bit, and you can shoot me a message if you'd like access to the Google doc. NB: While there will be multiple posts in this vein, I will not link them to each other because the text will remain the same, so linking to part 1 from part 2 won't yield any new information.  (Prompt by me) Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash

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Not sure what's happening this episode as we only got a season preview at the end of the last episode.  God, Pedro is so hot (I maintain that Pedro and Chantel were one of the hottest couples combined within the franchise) I love Julia being supportive Oof it's so sad that Pedro is the first guy to buy Sophie flowers Oof, I do feel bad for Jamal finding all of this out so late and so quickly (Wait, Jamal found out about his sister when he was 12? It is confusing that he found out about her as a kid, but not about Larry until he was much older) Yikes, I was expecting the daughter to have been placed for adoption BEFORE Larry and to be with a different father Ah yeah, Jamal makes a good point that Kim has put Jamal in a tough spot as he tries to build a bond with Larry Yeah, Cortney, your parents are good roommates for you because they probably pay for everything and you do not have the ability to read people well Cortney's deflecting laugh was hilariously tiny horse-like Col...

The panel list is still being added to, but here are some initial thoughts! You can read my "15 C2E2 2026 panels I'm interested in"  post and my "15 more C2E2 2026 panels I'm interested in" post. Voice Acting: Where Do I Start?! Cosplay Game Show Staff Q&A Cool People Talking About Comics Burlesque Fitness For Any Body (BFAB) It's Actually Really Hard, and You'd Probably Freeze to Death: Living in Space Cosplay Showcase BAD IDEA: The C2E2 Panel Tavern Brawl Tyler Hoechlin autograph or photo If  Steve Burns  does a panel/if I missed his panel's listing If Jodi Benson does a panel/if I missed her panel's listing If Michael Cudlitz does a panel/if I missed his panel's listing If Clark Gregg does a panel/if I missed his panel's listing One of the many bingo sessions listed (Prompt by me) C2E2 by ReedPop,  logo source

Time to talk about other women? Also, I hated waiting a week for this episode because of the "Big Game". Are the producers going to reveal to Ziad that Emma outed that they had sex? Emma, I don't agree with Ziad on much, but I am willing to bet that you picked the wrong shoes for the desert Emma, how do you not know that a camel spitting or knocking you off is a much more likely scenario? Forrest, I hate agreeing with your mother, but how did you think that meeting of families went well? Sheena, I want to believe you, but things seem off Oof, Laura, I can see why you have trust issues Daniel...pretty sure you've confessed to AT LEAST knowing this other woman I think I know what Jovon meant, but he did say that Anna was using closest for clothes she isn't wearing and like...yeah...you wear the clothes you're wearing and store the rest (often in a closet) Jovon, Anna wants you to do other things to be romantic Did Sheena say cow bath? Okay, like, Aviva, Stig is ...

I cannot stress enough how dangerous the SAVE Act (H.R.22) is. Much of this information is taken from the Center for American Progress's "The SAVE Act: Overview and Facts," which, at the time of me typing this, was last updated on Feb 3, 2026 as well as the Center for American Progress's "The SAVE Act Could Keep Millions of Transgender Americans From Voting," which was published in February of 2025. Want to call your senators? Find their phone numbers by selecting your state on the "Contacting U.S. Senators" page . Want to email your senators? When you select your state on the  "Contacting U.S. Senators" page , a clickable "Contact" link should pop up under each senator and that, in turn, should lead you to the senators' online contact forms. Want to fax your senators? Yes, this does sound silly to most, but faxes are difficult to ignore and the inbox is never full. You can find your senators' fax numbers and send u...

Political ad challenge (for midterm elections are in November)! It remains wild that Myki was in the bottom Yeah, Athena, the plan benefited you I feel so bad for Myki Of course we start with good news with the Rate-A-Queen results Oop Nini realizes she doesn't have the allies she thought she did Discord has some delusions, but, hey, go for it Oop Ru is pressed that Alan Cumming won that Emmy Random pairing time! Kenya and Jane is probably my top pair at the moment Oop! Darlene! Oof, some of these queens are STRUGGLING This is fun choreo Oof, I am sorry Discord Yeah I was wondering how the Florida queens were doing Vita...that's so scary Dear god, Mia is such a good dancer Jane's look is quirky and fun (though I did think Ru was going to say "Hoe-dini") Kenya is adorable and I love it Juicy's outfit is so delicate and pretty Mia's outfit made me laugh and you gotta love that Darlene's outfit is clever and whimsical Vita looks stunning (as always!) Athe...

These are a range of prices, but are just some things that I thought would be fun for either a platonic or romantic gift and can be last minute (yes, most will be gift cards). You can read my first 15 ideas in my  "15 ideas for Valentine's Day gifts in 2026"  post and my second 15 ideas in my "15 more ideas for Valentine's Day gifts in 2026" post (neither of these were made with last minute ideas in mind). Gift Card for Groupon (yes, this is pretty open, but I like to think of it as, "Hey, let's set money aside to do something together"), "The Groupon Gift Card isn’t just a present; it’s a gateway to countless memories waiting to be made" (price varies, could be platonic or romantic) Same Day Pickup Item from Walgreens Photo , "Turn everyday moments into lasting keepsakes" (price varies especially as things are 50%+ off through 2/14, could be platonic or romantic) The Last Chapter Book Shop ONLINE ONLY Giftcard , "The...

Season premiere!  Sophie does look happier sans Rob Liz looks INFINITELY happier sans the terrible one Wait, why is Julia here? (ah, it's a girls' trip) Sophie, I'm glad you and Julia are close, but is she really one of your closest friends in such a short time? Omg, Sophie, this is so messy I'm glad Kim is finding herself again Javier is a cutie Ho boy, Javier is throwing up some red flags Kim...what did you do? Love that Gino's first adjective in describing a new partner is "young" I mean like, good for Gino getting out there, but he really needs therapy before meeting a new partner Ladies, do a quick Google about Gino Kim's friends are great for thinking of this idea, but they're pitching skills are rough This poor deli lady--retail etc. workers are not your therapists, Gino Gino, you shouldn't have to "curate" your image Gino, do you know the people who are messaging you are women? Omg, Natalie is back? I'm so glad Liz caught ...

The panel list is still being added to, but here are some initial thoughts! You can read my first "15 C2E2 2026 panels I'm interested in" here. Bonus Stage: The Drag Show The Haunting of Daily Life: How the Real World Shapes Horror Fiction Cosplay Karaoke Hear Me Out: Smash or Pass Edition (18 and over) I Was So Much Older Then, I’m Younger Than That Now: From Indie Darlings to Bestsellers Women Supporting Women: A Cross-Generational Cosplay Conversation Improv D&D Teaching Comedy Superhero Improv Cosplay Crown Championship Regional Qualifier and US Finals Femmes Reading Filth: The Romance and Fanfiction Podcast (18 and over) Hentai Voiceover Competition (18 and over) Shanty & Folk Song Sing-a-Long! MOSH UDON: The Ultimate After-Party Experience Sh*t Cosplayers Say Presents AITA (18 and over) (Prompt by me) C2E2 by ReedPop,  logo source

Rate-A-Queen Talent Show, part 2! I do like Ciara, but her act wasn't the best (though I don't think it was the worst) Is "squabble" gonna be the thing this year? Athena, I love the "Evil Eye" top, but you are 100% lying about your group not conspiring about rankings Why is Michelle here? (Oh, she's not judging this week? Did I miss this announcement?) So...is this "check-in" just to poke at the queens? Wait, when did Kenya not know her words? (Ah, I guess they showed some examples, but I think it should say something that I didn't notice til now) Myki is adorable (Also, those are zip ties?!) I really love the movement of Athena's outfit, it's very soothing Kenya is so pretty (and I gaped at the Asia O'Hara reference) Jane looks good, but it's not my favorite tbh Discord's look is sparkly, poignant, and interesting, but I think the weight is getting to her and it's a bit too busy for me Mia is gorgeous, but this isn...

The panel list is still being added to, but here are some initial thoughts!  Tarot Readings with DREAM ENDLESS Reality Defying Cosplays! Wild Science Encounters: Beyond the Pokeball The Road to the Reader: Publisher to Distributor to Comic Shop Fight Like a Paladin Cults of Personality, The Parasocial, and Psychology In Contemporary Graphic Novels Fight Like a Rogue The Learning Dead: What Zombie Stories Teach Us About Education The Thrill of the Chill: Turning Fear as a Catalyst for Creativity DEATH, DICE & DREAD: High Stakes Improvised Suspense Learning from the Past: Using Historical Design to Elevate Cosplay Movies Everyone Disagrees with You On A Deep Dive into the Elements of Avatar: The Last Airbender The C2E2 Talent Show Fandoms Unleashed: The Nerdlesque Show (18 and over) (Prompt by me) C2E2 by ReedPop, logo source

Ring. "I'm glad you called. Though I'm not sure how you did." "Does it matter?" "I suppose not, if it's really you." "What proof would you have beyond that of your own senses?" "Are you really quoting A Christmas Carol ?" "You used to love that book when you were a kid." "Ghosts aren't my favorite topic these days." "And yet..." "And yet." "So, why do you suppose I've called?" "I figured that was for you to tell me." "You have no questions for me?" "I have plenty, but how much time do we have?" "Enough." "Great." "So, ask." "Are you okay?" "That's a kind question." "Am I mean to be unkind to you?" "I was to you." "At times, yes." "At times." "Are you going to answer?" "I am all right." "What's something I don't kn...

It's in a month! Crazy! Take a class at Chicago Aerial Arts (could be fun to try, and while this studio is far from me, it doesn't have a weight limit) Dye my hair something fun Have my hair professionally styled Engage a professional makeup artist to do my makeup Buy a Walter Payton jersey Purchase a nice new blue dress Bake my own/have a friend bake my cake (so I can be sure it has 0 soy in it) Hire a professional cleaner so my apartment is spotless Get a mani/pedi Pay for a massage Organize trivia for my party Come up with other activities for my party Create a playlist of just songs I like for my party Treat myself to a full spa day List some hopes for this next year of life (Prompt by me) "My birthday cake" by Wez . Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic .

Here are some short pieces based on things that have happened in my life recently.  New Dog Bed So Hoban (my dog) kinda messed up his old dog bed. After he and I stayed in the living room while we had a house guest, he began to hump his dog bed. He had never done this before, but it continued even after we moved back into staying in my bedroom. Mostly, this humping was just a bit annoying, but sometimes it made me laugh. So, ultimately, I didn't care too much that he was doing it. But, recently, his nails got sharp enough or he got persistent enough (or both) that he started to rip the cover until part of the pillow inside it came out. I did what anyone would do, I ordered him a new bed. It arrived a few days ago, but somehow still took me a minute to take it out of its packaging. Not sure why. Maybe I liked the idea that he'd perhaps be incentivized to cuddle with me more (but, when he wanted space, he still went on the couch, so not sure this did anything). I think it was mor...

I watched  Heated Rivalry recently and chatted about it with great friends--some of the thoughts may be borrowed from them! SPOILERS ABOUND! I MUST read the books written Rachel Reid (at least some of them as I think they're like 7?) One of the reasons I want to read some of the books is I want to know more about what was happening during the chunks of time the show skips over The lead actors have amazing chemistry (and I love that they're also close off-screen) It is too funny to me that the Canada Media Fund contributed $3.1 million to the series and that, in addition to the federal funding, the series received tax credits ( "Not to make a joke, but we got a lot of bang for our buck," - Canada's Culture Minister Marc Miller ) This show portrays yearning so convincingly Even though this is fully fictional, I still felt sad at the time Ilya and Shane lost by hiding from their feelings Also, even though it's fictional, it has been so heartwarming to see the re...

Time for part 2 of the tell-all!  Of course Manon came back Hell yeah, I love Pattiya giving an erotic dance lesson I love that Shawn asked about Madelein's dogs Yes, I love that there are "poopies" on the way Aha Madelein got a K-1 Dylan, go away I honestly don't care about Luke's friend's opinions Chloe, yes, Madelein throwing cake isn't a solution, but Luke treats her quite poorly I do not appreciate Luke's bud referring to the stripper as "it" Oof, Luke's pal owes him $100k and the two were robbed and lost $2.1 million (and the friend was kidnapped?!) I mean Madelein and Luke should not be together, but it does seem like Chloe and Greta are flirting with Luke and that's just wild OMG Pattiya, leave this man I am confused about whose perception of Dylan and his mom's relationship is more accurate (I am, however, 100% certain that no one's perception is 100% accurate) Yes, Sumit, I do believe Jenny is making a threat Yeah I ...

These are a range of prices, but are just some things that I thought would be fun for either a platonic or romantic gift. You can read my first 15 ideas in my "15 ideas for Valentine's Day gifts in 2026" post. Underground Donut Tour , "Delve into some of the best donut shops, bakeries, and restaurants in the city! With a dedicated guide, you'll uncover hidden gems and sample new flavors most people miss." (in Chicago, at least, it's on the more expensive side, could angle platonic or romantic) The Orchid Show , "Rewind to the ‘60s and ‘70s at the Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy where 10,000 vibrant orchids are the hottest thing since bell bottoms" (on the cheaper end, more romantic, but could be platonic) Gwen's Winter Curl & Chill , "Challenge your friends to curling, then warm up fireside with indulgent à la carte drinks and seasonal bites" (mid, could angle platonic or romantic) Improv I Class , "Through group exercises a...

Time for some more attempted romance thwarted by drama?  Emma, dump this man Lisa! Why haven't you changed your wig??? Lisa, also, if you wanna do wigs, you gotta invest in better ones Rick, you still suck Trish, I'm with ya on it not being sexy But like, fair, there are wilder fantasies than this Rick, it's not forgivable Aha so Birkan does reveal he gambles "a lot" Jovon, I'm on Anna's side. 100% Rick, like, thank god you finally came clean, but I hope Trish dumps you Emma, why do you want this man? Loveday is a great name Laura, do not trust this man Rick, you suck Wow, I did not take enough notes (my bad) Next time Emma and Ziad go on camels Next time, I'll be telling Jovon to fuck off Next time Birkan is annoying Next time Molly confronts Forrest about finances between him and Sheena Next time Sprig meets Spring Next time that meeting does not go well Next time Lisa is (maybe) insane Next time Lisa hears from another woman? Next time looks dramati...

Just gonna do some brainstorming! You can read the first 15 ideas I brainstormed in my post "15 brainstorming ideas for the bookstores I'm on the board of" . Craft more libro.fm audiobook playlists Post more on social media platforms and enhance social media descriptions Partner with UChicago's Center for Digital Accesibility to improve our website, social media platforms, and any other communications (e.g. emails) Ask customers if they'll pay the credit card fees Leave X, join Bluesky Introduce summer reading challenges for both adults and children Advocate for our community's rights Host pop-up markets Display local art for sale (like some cafés do) Throw skill shares Schedule adult show and tells Invite Nadia Odunayo and Rob Frelow (founders of The Story Graph) for a talk/interview Advertise The Story Graph Open up a survey to customers to ask for their ideas, thoughts, concerns, etc. Start more charity drives for community organizations (Prompt by me)