Let’s all die happily in a natural way

First of all, the writing part can be summed up thusly:

lol

I haven't done ANY writing like I said I was going to. I wanted to finish up a couple of loose series but it's really hard for me to write for Tom now that he is engaged and maybe married to Zendaya (how reliable a source is Law Roach, anyhow?). I had a couple of ideas but I haven't gotten them out of the pipeline yet. They're just sort of stuck in there. Clogging up the works.

Last week your internet dad and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. We celebrated by making reservations for a fancy dinner, getting to the restaurant, and immediately leaving because my body chose that moment to decide it had food poisoning from poorly cooked whatever I had at lunch. Sigh. We've gotten the thing rescheduled, but man.

Oh, and I had to have a tooth pulled two weeks ago. the short version is, did you know that if you bite something weirdly enough you can fracture the root of your tooth?! I didn't either! But now I am down a tooth and get to get a replacement very soon.

The big thing is: You guys remember Allyson, right? My daughter? Little, cute, sweet? Yeah, she got her license three months ago and graduates from high school next week. WHAT

After HS plans include going to the local community college for two years to get her associates degree and then transferring to a four-year school after. She'll be majoring in Early Childhood Education and hopes to teach preschool someday. She's currently working at a McDonald's but is trying to get on at a daycare someplace.

Barbara and Rosie are still dogs.

I haven't posted much at ALL lately. I've got some stuff in the works, 2026 is going to be my comeback year I think.

Anyway, I am going to be completely serious for just a few minutes here.

On November 9 of this year, the house my niece lived in with her mom and stepdad burned down. (My niece was staying with her dad - my brother - at the time). Her mom and stepdad weren't home. But her grandmother and four-year-old half-brother sadly didn't make it out. Neither did their four indoor cats.

The fire inspector said the fire was most likely caused by a faulty surge protector. I did not know this until the fire, but: surge protectors break down after 3-5 years. So now Marcy (my niece's mom) has made it her life's mission to educate people on this. I am going to do my best to help.

You should replace your surge protectors if:

You know for a fact that you've had them longer than five years

You actually don't know how long you've had it ("A while" is not going to cut it, i'm afraid)

It feels warm to the touch

If it's dusty, loose, cracked, or discolored

If you have it plugged into one (or more) other surge protectors

If you have a high-draw appliance (space heater, refrigerator, etc.) plugged into it

My advice:

Replace any surge protector you've had longer than 3 years. You can replace them all to be safe, but if you aren't in a position to do that just replace the oldest one and go from there.

Use only surge protectors that are UL-listed

Don't plug a bunch of high-draw appliances into them. I try to play it safe and plug big appliances directly into a wall outlet, but if that's not an option try to do so as safely as you can.

Margie and Sawyer were my niece's entire world. Please, please, please do me a favor and check your surge protectors.

I'm not super-great at sugarcoating (it's a blessing and a curse, really). So I will just get right to it:

I've kind of quit writing.

I honestly thought I would have more time to write when I quit my job four years ago. The opposite is true. I've had a major case of writer's block that I have just decided to lean into. Plus you know. Family life and other responsibilities.

(Quick family update: Ben is thriving at his job, Allyson got her learner's permit last week and will be learning how to drive soon, and the dogs are insane as usual.)

Plus I know I said I didn't do it for the likes and the reblogs, but the last couple of things I've posted haven't gotten many notes. So, there's that part of it. But mostly I kind of churned out a lot and burned myself out.

Also, my personal rule is that I don't write fics about people who have known significant others, and once Tom and Z started dating, there went my inspiration. I'm happy for them, I am! They're adorable together. But I just don't feel right writing about him anymore.

Is this blog going anywhere? No. I will leave it as is, so you guys can still read everything.

Am I going to finish those series I'm in the middle of? We'll see about that lol

What about your inbox? I'm not taking requests but I always appreciate a nice message or theory or whatever you want.

Will I write again? Who knows, really.

Still into Stray Kids? ROCKSTAR IS OUT ON STREAMING GO STREAM IT YOUR INTERNET MOTHER SAID SO. Also, Cover Me is absolutely gorgeous so if you only listen to one song from Rockstar make it that one.

Bias? Seo Changbin. He's so beefy. I love him.

Bias wrecker? Kim Seungmin seems to be intent on gunning for that spot lately

Anyway, this has gone on long enough, so I'll let you get back to the enjoyment of your lives.

Also, tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the States, so happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate.

This is turning into less of a fic blog and more of a PLEASE READ THESE COMPUTER HARDWARE ARTICLES YOUR E-DAD WROTE

And naturally, it’s all because of JYP.

He’s the worst!! But the Stays keep forgiving him.

The thing with Woojin. Does not matter what side of that you’re on, it never should have happened. (Me, I’m glad he left.)

The bullying allegations re: Hyunjin, and how he disappeared for months on a “hiatus”. For allegations that turned out to be false!!

The constant threats to the Kids’ safety. Being mobbed at airports, online threats, the anti that tried to blind Felix with a laser pointer. What.

And yet we forgave all that, and more.

Then, when we had nothing left to give…he came for Chan’s Room.

HE TOOK AWAY CHAN’S ROOM.

THAT’S A ONCE A WEEK TREAT!

I love my Kids, and I’m proud to be a Stay, but good lord JYP is working my last good nerve.

I’m sorry, I just needed to rant. I’m mad!!

This, and going to Orlando and coming home with sunburn and tennis elbow, is what I've been doing instead of writing. (Also there's a new Stray Kids album out. So.)

Anyway, we love handsome and goofy British dudes here, as if my DOZENS of Tom Holland fics didn't prove that. I love Ted Lasso and I love Phil Dunster. And I LOVE how worked up he gets over grammar.

I also was thrown by his real accent, not the super-thick Mancunian accent he uses for Jamie Tartt.

...no?

This wisdom I’m imparting comes to you at the amazing price of free so enjoy it!

- Don’t speed. if you do, try not to speed in front of a school that has been shut down. Because the cops will tell you it is still a school zone even though it’s no longer operating. Then you get to wait three weeks to go to traffic court, where you’ll sit for an hour to talk to the traffic court lawyer for five minutes before they determine you have to pay the stupid thing anyway.

- Make sure your chicken wings are thoroughly cooked. Do not believe Benjamin when he says, “they LOOKED done so I took them out.” Put them back in for another minute. Or seventeen, just to be on the safe side. In related news I am pretty much over my bout with food poisoning. 

- Girl Scout cookies are out!! Get yourself a box of Thin Mints, put them in the freezer for a couple of hours, and then eat. Trust me.

- If you haven’t written any fic in a long time, do not apologize. Life happens, it’s understandable. 

- If a fic author you like hasn’t written any fic in a long time, don’t bother them! They’re either dealing with life happening, or writers’ block, or an uneven combination of the two.

- Parts of How I Met Your Mother do not hold up, but Young Jason Segel can still get it. This is not a life tip as much as an observation.

- Movies are expensive. Pirate that shit. I normally don’t condone crime but do we really want to help pay for some sleazeball Hollywood producer’s new jet? No.

Anyway. Have a great day. 

EDIT: PICTURES LIKE THIS MEAN YOUR INTERNET MOM IS NOT OKAY. PLEASE CHECK ON HER.