That was the one that came to mind for me, too.

Braved the beginning of the snowstorm to visit our local branch library and to get physical library cards (I have had an online one since the pandemic). Can’t believe it took this long. Libraries are magic. And this one has a promising makerspace.

Mood.

I’m not sleeping great. I am having to shut off looking at the news and socials by 9 pm.

It’s like the early days of the pandemic, but wearing a mask won’t help.

I have just made the decision to not go to NYC in May for a concert at Carnegie Hall. Instead, I will go to another concert in Montreal.

The farewell in December will have to do.

I had clung to hope through the past few weeks, but hope must lie elsewhere.

As Das Lied von der Erde concludes: Ewig

Is she the one who lives about half an hour from me?

Just watched an update video from AOC.

She was knitting.

And Rostropovich rolls in his grave.

He wants a colony. E.g., Puerto Rico.

Mood. A little bit of self-care and gazing into the abyss tonight, with dancing, existential angst, and a lil’ dash of silent film humour. This concert sort of covers it all. (110a? That was the one after he was coerced into joining the Party, orchestrated for chamber orchestra.)

Those guys are suddenly going to find they’re very unpopular. There were some of that ilk driving around on US election day with Trump banners. We saw them. They have been proud and brazen. It’s FAFO time.

Any of us who live in Newfoundland or have been Screeched in on a visit will.

You and me both. I am not pretending it does not exist. I am choosing sanity and knowledge over being so paralyzed by every little thing that I forsake humanity.

If you thought I listened to a lot of Shostakovich now, buckle in, kiddies.

Guy saw some shit and put it all into music that is simultaneously 50 different emotions yet gorgeous and terrifying and I’m going to need that for the next 4 years or forever.

I have been building book books. Very addictive.

Seems to be a universal reaction, although for some it’s the first dose that’s worse. Was for me, but maybe it was a case of knowing what to expect.

I’m Canadian. This works for us as well, giving we are the apartment over the meth lab, it’s on fire, and its soon-to-be leader thinks spreading that fire upstairs is an amusing joke.

As much as I try, I can’t not be happy that Ohio State is going to play for the national championship in football. I mean, college football is essentially a junior pro league now. But I’m still an OSU alumna.

The new playoff system certainly had some interesting and unexpected results.

The latest project. Finished last week, but won’t be able to wear it for a few weeks. Feels odd not to have a sewing or stitching project in the go, but I have an online conference to help run in two weeks, so priorities.

I think his sexual orientation is horny creeper. Does not preclude any gender (or any species, for that matter).

A calico cat sleeping on crossed legs.

I am cat furniture.

Embroidered portrait of composer Dmitri Shostakovich, likely in his late teens or early 20s, with painted background.

Finished. For those playing the home game of my lil’ obsession, this is the 22nd Shostakovich embroidery I have completed. I’ve been doing this for coming up on five years now.

Embroidered portrait of composer Dmitri Shostakovich awaiting stretching and background painting.

The work is now substantially complete. I always let my my work sit for a day before making final tweaks, stretching, and painting the background.

A calico cat and a torbie cat lay on a pillow with their back ends touching.

Abutting cat butts.

Have I mentioned that if there is one thing I hate in the world, it's being late? Even if it's not my fault? So why should I pour $40 I could spend on something important, such as cheese, to send late cards? (Friends I'm seeing over the holidays will get hand-delivered cards, of course).

It's sad. I love sending and getting cards. It was a lovely way to stay in touch during the worst of the pandemic, but I merely expanded what I'd always done. But the mail stoppage this year sapped the joy out of going to the mailbox in December and getting excited to get a card.

I buy my Christmas/Yule/winter/holiday cards on Boxing Day every year and usually send them out at the beginning of December. Canada Post mail is (sorta?) starting to move again. They won't get there in time. Nothing international going out until the 23rd. Do I arse myself to send them this year?

Progress photo of embroidery of Dmitri Shostakovich. Face and hair now complete, as is shirt collar.

Progress update du jour. Hardest part done now. On to clothing.

Embroidered portrait of composer Dmitri Shostakovich in progress using greys and black thread.

Tonight’s progress. I crashed this evening after an early morning and not enough sleep, followed by work holiday party gorf-o-rama, so just a little hair stitching.

Alberta is kissing the ring, though.