Nootybloops

Some notes, in case anyone is interested:

Took me about an hour to get to the simmering stage, but I'm a) not in my own kitchen and b) needed to unload/load the dishwasher to make enough bench space to cook, so it'll probably take less time in most circumstances

Did a double batch since it made proportions easier

Added garlic to the onion because there are very very few savory dishes that aren't improved by garlic. I cannot taste any garlic so clearly I did not add enough.

I was using stock cubes so I just added them to less water so it didn't take so long to cook off (for the first part. The second clearly needed that much liquid so I left it!)

The cabbage step is very OMFG SO MUCH CABBAGE but it's fine. It's fine. It really does wilt down to a manageable amount.

Did not add parmesan as the stuff in the fridge turned out to be moldy :( :( :( Maybe next time!

IT IS AS DELICIOUS AS ADVERTISED!!!

Why is it that everyone that's so loud about being 'a GREAT communicator' is also so very very quick to lecture people about 'not communicating well' and 'needing to develop communication skills', rather than using their superior communication skills to... actually communicate what they're finding difficult to parse and/or why something came across as rude to the person they're interacting with?

Like. I guarantee you that at least in a professional setting the so-called bad communicators are trying to get their point across to you in the clearest way they know how. Because then you will go away and stop trying to talk to them.

Also in my experience if you're having trouble understanding someone, try taking their words as literal. You would be absolutely amazed at the amount of times I've had to explain to people that 'when I said x required y, I meant x required y' and similar.

"But what did you MEAN by that?" they ask. I meant x requires y! If you want x, y is needed! There is no x without y! HOW ELSE CAN I EXPLAIN IT TO YOU - NO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT Z AT ALL what are you on about.

It's exhausting.

Every now and then a difficult period like this comes along: so it's time to request some assistance.

I've kind of been neglecting my vision for the past year or so, aware that I needed new glasses (and to go have a consult for possible eye-related surgery), but putting it off... and now the situation has, as it were, come home to roost.

The other day, when I was typing something and then (to check it before posting) had to pick up the Mac and hold it up to my nose to see what I'd typed... I realized that if this went on much longer, even with dictation (because after you dictate, you still have to edit...), I wouldn't be able to write.

That would be bad.

I need to go see my Eye Lady, get examined, and get both sets of glasses re-fitted with new prescriptions. This—as usual, each time it needs to be done every year and a half or two years, due to Weird Eyes—is going to run into a low-four-figure-ish kind of money. And due to other recent unexpected medical expenses, right now there's not enough dosh around (or spondoolicks or whatever term you prefer...) to get things sorted.

Therefore: can I get people interested in keeping a writer, you know, writing (as I've got three novels working at once at the moment...), to consider doing one of these things?

(a) Go over to Ebooks Direct and buy a book. (Or a bundle. Or a gift card for somebody else who might like my work.) And if you do: thanks so much!

(b) Stop by my Ko-Fi and drop a little something in the pot. It'll be most appreciated.

And if you can't do either of the above:

(c) Reblog this and let other people see it?

Let’s play the biggest game of kick the can on the internet.

That also reminds me that at some point, I'll need to side-eye the current thread stash, as all but two spools are from my mother's stash, so they are a minimum of six years old, probably much older. Here, therefore, is a link on how to test if your thread is too old. (It's one thing I don't buy at estate sales!)

The full saga of Margie and the Nuns (so far). Realised I never compiled these in one place.! Also, bonus Margies!

Who wants to help me make Fish Decisions?

I have a good handle on what can and cannot have a good quality of life in my tank, what's available in my area, what I can afford etc.

I just need to decide on a stocking plan :) EDIT: The tank is fully planted, cycled and already has two fish and many shrimp in it. Not all of these fish go together and they're not meant to. They've been gathered for #TheVibes.

Your ideal environment is:

Hot/Cold

Wet/Dry

Bright/Dark

The reason that this comparison is inaccurate is because humans have the ability to use reason and make logical choices, but cats don’t. Humans see a car coming and wait until the street is clear to cross. Cats don’t. Humans know not to eat strange food on the ground. Cats don’t. Humans can look up which plants are toxic and avoid them. Cats can’t. Humans don’t eat raw rabbits and rodents that may carry disease. Cats do. Humans who hunt follow laws that prevent them from killing endangered species (besides shitty poachers). Cats don’t.

A far more accurate comparison would be a cat and a toddler. They lack the ability to recognize danger and don’t have the ability to reason that an adult does. I’m sure a toddler would have a great time roaming around the neighborhood, but no one is going to argue in favor of that. People can understand that doing that is irresponsible and dangerous. But no sane person is going to lock their toddler inside and provide them with nothing to do; no one is saying we should do that for cats either. Play with them. Provide cat trees. Rotate their toys. Give them puzzle feeders. And if you want them to go outside you can leash train them. Or build a catio. The options aren’t let them roam vs. never provide them with entertainment. If it is unbearable to entertain and care for a cat that is kept indoors, you probably shouldn’t own a cat.

Would you let your dog roam? Or your bird? How about your rabbit? I’m sure all of these animals would have a great time running (or flying) around the neighborhood, but we generally recognize that this is a bad idea. It’s no different for cats. We are caretakers for our animals, so it is up to us to use our big brains to make logical choices about what they should or shouldn’t do. We have the ability to understand the risks associated with free roaming. Cats don’t. We can weigh risks and benefits before making a decision. Cats can’t.

I’ve seen two cats who were roadkill, multiple poisoned rats that make easy prey, gardens full of poisonous (to cats) plants, and a cat at the vet who survived his arm being mauled by a fox through a catio. Yet people still do it. I’m in a small village, no idea how much worse in a bigger place it would be.

It is entirely cultural. Sadly, it also means people don’t tend to play with their pets and let them free roam as their only enrichment. So they baulk at how “bored” a cat would be indoors. Forgetting it’s not just kittens who need playtime. You are seen as a “weirdo” for harness/lead training a cat here, which I don’t agree with obviously.

Most rescues will not let you adopt a cat if you do not let it be indoor-outdoor. They will even check up on your garden to see it’s safety (like a cat can’t jump a fence lol). Charities do this, too.

I still keep my cat indoors only. My step mum thought I was being cruel until I explained to her the dangers of a cat outside.

Across the pond in New Zealand ONE SINGLE CAT drove an entire species to extinction. There are still arseholes over there but they’re generally even stricter than we are here in Oz.