Nerdwithabrush

shower. not a bath, a shower. use water as hot or cold as u like. u dont even need to wash. just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. sit on the floor if you gotta.

moisturize everything. use whatever lotion u like. unscented? dollar store lotion? fancy ass 48 hour lotion that makes u smell like a field of wildflowers? use whatever you want, and use it all over. 

put on clean, comfortable clothes. 

put on ur favorite underwear. cute black lacy panties? those ridiculous boxers u bought last christmas with candy cane hearts on the butt? put em on.

drink cold water. use ice. if u want, add some mint or lemon for an extra boost.

clean something. doesn’t have to be anything big. organize one drawer of ur desk. wash five dirty dishes. do a load of laundry. scrub the bathroom sink. 

blast music. listen to something upbeat and dancey and loud, something that’s got lots of energy. sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both.

make food. don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. take the time and make food. even if it’s ramen. add something special to it, like a hard boiled egg or some veggies. prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something. 

make something. write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. even if you don’t think you’re good at it.

go outside. take a walk. sit in the grass. look at the clouds. smell flowers. put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin.

call someone. call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. talk to a stranger on the street. have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. if you can’t, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. even if you don’t say much, listen to them.

So…. The Nenn programming’s been a little broken since Mother’s Day or before.

A little background -or- ‘I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried.’:

Since March 2022, I’ve lost: my best friend (my doggo), a pseudo mom then my gram 5 days later, my uncle 2 months later, my cousin this July and then my mom a week later.

She was my best friend and I’d been taking care of her since her autoimmune disorder ramped up 8 years ago. For as long as I remember, we did everything together and up until the last 4~ years we shared a house. I was a single mom and she helped with everything.

Anyway. Last week I did a routine mammo, and a biopsy yesterday.

I woke up this morning to the news that I have breast cancer.

I’m reeling.

Most of my JJ stuff was real heavy and emotional. I just can’t right now. I need happy, caring positive, etc.

AnywY. I love you all. So damn much. I’ve been on here for over 10 years and I’ve made some wonderful friends. My disco is Nerdwithabrush if you need it.

REPORTER: "...gonna go... This is gonna go right over... Uh, right over my house. So, very close to my house, uh, which again is in the Chevy Chase area, Bethesda area, uh, this is along Wisconsin Avenue as well, so heads up if you live along Massachusetts or Wisconsin Avenue."

REPORTER (into phone): "Ken, you there, buddy?"

KEN: "Yeah?"

REPORTER: "Uh, hey man, I want you to, uh, get down in the– in the basement. We got a tornado warning. Alright, so I wanna make sure you and– you and Kyle get downstairs as soon as you can, okay?"

(he pauses as his son responds)

REPORTER: "Yeah, get down there now, get in the, get in the, in that bath– in that bed– uh, in the bedroom down there. And just kinda wait for, like, 10 to 15 minutes, okay? Do it now. Alright, thanks buddy."

REPORTER (to camera): "Alright, so, that was, uh, just, y'know, gotta warn my kids, because I know what my kids are doing right now, they're probably online gaming and they're not seeing this, so we have a tornado warning, hopefully they saw it on their phones. Many of us got it on our phones, in the news room, I heard the phones go off–"

A Whispering through the Branches

I have a few, but I have no group to play it with, so I’ll list them here:

Someone has stolen Santa Claus’ suit, which enables them to enter any house through chimneys and or doorcracks, control over Christmas elves (who are all DnD elves) and the ultimate bag of holding. They plan to use this to assassinate a public figure. You have been requested by Santa Claus himself to take back his suit for him. Also the antagonist must roll a will save every time they walk past a plate of milk and cookies.

You are but a band of thieves breaking into a simple manor that is supposed to be empty, except one child has been left behind and yes, this is Fantasy Home Alone. Can you survive?

Basically replicate the plot of Die Hard as long as you can and see how long it takes folks to figure out what you’re doing.

Well.

I feel like I’m bothering everyone.

“Oh, I already have.“

“Go ahead, I won’t judge.“

“It is not nice to throw people!“

“I’m sorry about this violence.“

“I don’t have a skull. Or bones.“

“Please, I know you’re in there.“

“You’ll never get away with this!“

“You sacrificed yourself for me?“

“No, I’m just trying to protect you!“

“Do you want to build a snowman?“

“Oh, look at that. I’ve been impaled.“

“Some people are worth melting for.“

“I never knew what I was capable of.“

“All you know is how to shut people out!“

“Don’t be the monster they fear you are.”

“I’m right out here for you. Just let me in.”

“Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know.”

“If you swoon, let me know! I’ll catch you.”

“They say ‘Have courage’, and I’m trying to.“

“The only frozen heart around here is yours!“

“Please, just stay away from me! Stay away!“

“You don’t have to protect me! I’m not afraid!“

“Let it go, let it go, can’t hold it back anymore!”

“Couldn’t keep it in… Heaven knows I’ve tried.”

“Getting upset only makes it worse. Calm down.“

“Only an act of true love will thaw a frozen heart.“

“Can I say something crazy? Will you marry me?“

“Nobody wants to be alone… Except maybe you!“

“Didn’t your parents ever warn you about strangers?“

“This is so nice! I wish it could be like this all the time.“

“No! Don’t touch me! Please… I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Only one crazy enough to be out in this storm is you, dear.“

“You don’t have to apologize, but you should probably go. Please.”

“Oh, ______… if only there was someone out there who loved you.“

“Hey, we were just talking about you! All good things, all good things!”

“In fact, this whole thing has ruined me for helping anyone ever again!“

“Hands down, this is the best day of my life. And, quite possibly, the last.”

“You know, most people who disappear into the mountains want to be alone.“

“Knock. Just knock. Why isn’t she knocking? Do you think she knows how to knock?“

“Why do you shut me out? Why do you shut the world out? What are you so afraid of?”