ZiGraves - Network

Someone on my street has rolled themselves a fat lunchtime joint, shortly after I made the fool mistake of opening the windows to air the...

Someone on my street has rolled themselves a fat lunchtime joint, shortly after I made the fool mistake of opening the windows to air the place out. Good for them, hope they have a nice time, I do not wish my work shirts to smell Like That.

So, now:
- close windows, hope lack of additional weed smell allows current smell to dissipate relatively quickly
- leave windows open, hope air flow dissipates weed smell relatively quickly.

I have a bunch of emails to get stuck into.Naturally, my brain is sliding off them almost aggressively, and trying to redirect me to...

I have a bunch of emails to get stuck into.

Naturally, my brain is sliding off them almost aggressively, and trying to redirect me to anything else. Cleaning? Cat litter? Cancelling subscriptions? Writing another few thousand words of that thing in hell? Finish the bees story? Play cards? Play videogames? Laundry? Anything, anything, anything that is not the emails that actually need doing?

Do I buy myself a repinnable cutaway brass practice lock as a little post-holidays present?Or should I just get, for the same price, a pack...

Do I buy myself a repinnable cutaway brass practice lock as a little post-holidays present?

Or should I just get, for the same price, a pack of random barrel & padlocks and try to learn the hard way?

Apologies to anyone who's emailed programme at Eastercon and not a had a response - I've been down with a murderous probably-cold,...

Apologies to anyone who's emailed programme at Eastercon and not a had a response - I've been down with a murderous probably-cold, and decided that it would be wiser not to send replies while under the influence of every cold remedy I could consume.

But I will get to you!

Especially you, debut authors who deserve a good platform and support in starting your careers!

Guess who finally got a lap sized inkle loom so they can stop losing track of their weaving cards?hint: it is the same person who cannot...

Guess who finally got a lap sized inkle loom so they can stop losing track of their weaving cards?

hint: it is the same person who cannot actually warp the damn loom because there is a cat sleeping on top of *both* of their arms right this second as they type

Decided to try playing a videogame type other than my usual two options of "high fantasy single player RPG" or "easy little...

Decided to try playing a videogame type other than my usual two options of "high fantasy single player RPG" or "easy little puzzle toy that will not tax my poor brain".

Picked up Yakuza 0.

Turns out that I am incredibly bad at karaoke in every possible setting, whether IRL or in-game. (thank goodness I can resort to violence instead)

Someone please remind me tomorrow to finish writing the thing with the bees and the unquiet dead, I keep putting it off and it only needs a...

Someone please remind me tomorrow to finish writing the thing with the bees and the unquiet dead, I keep putting it off and it only needs a couple thousand more words...

He looks very handsome (and is), and very soft (and is), but he's an absolute fiend for pizza and makes trying to eat food with friends...

He looks very handsome (and is), and very soft (and is), but he's an absolute fiend for pizza and makes trying to eat food with friends into a sort of highly aerobic, gymnastic challenge where we try to eat while evading a cat who wants BBQ pepperoni more than he wants his own kibbles. A cat is faster and more agile than you, and there is no guarantee you are smarter than the cat.

and, in the interest of not *just* posting about the convention and sounding like an advertiser or something equally horrible... here, also,...

and, in the interest of not *just* posting about the convention and sounding like an advertiser or something equally horrible... here, also, is an catte. His name is Jimmy, and he's a rescue I took in back in July, and he purrs like an outboard motor with an oil problem.

More about #Eastercon!I think I mentioned before, but we are 100% hybrid. EVERYTHING that's on regular programme is streaming, and if it...

More about #Eastercon!

I think I mentioned before, but we are 100% hybrid. EVERYTHING that's on regular programme is streaming, and if it can't stream well (eg, some live workshops) we'll try to find something else to take up that online space.

This is not a "we'll run maybe two of six streams online" thing. You get everything, live, and we expect to offer catch-up.

So, not in the UK or can't make it in person? You can still be fully part of the convention!

Some programme participant types that #Eastercon could do with more of:- Filkers! Eastercon used to have loads and now we have fewer, and we...

Some programme participant types that #Eastercon could do with more of:

- Filkers! Eastercon used to have loads and now we have fewer, and we would love to have you back and give you programme items

- People of Colour! Geekdom can trend white, and we would like to try and reduce that echo chamber effect a bit. Please come & have a platform at our convention

- Younger fans! Fandom is an intergenerational culture, and it's important we hear from younger people as well as long-established fans.

On a programme note, we have a higher than usual number of guests of honour - because two are special online guests, while the other four...

On a programme note, we have a higher than usual number of guests of honour - because two are special online guests, while the other four are in person. But in person or online, they'll all be part of panels, workshops, ceremonies and table talks.

We're also creating space to help new authors flourish with our Debut Spotlight - every day, three curated Sci Fi/ Fantasy/ Horror debut authors read from their new or upcoming work, plus reading skills workshops, publishing discussions, and more.

Anyway, since I remembered my password and came back here... I'm still doing programme for #Eastercon (Conversation, the 2023 edition),...

Anyway, since I remembered my password and came back here... I'm still doing programme for #Eastercon (Conversation, the 2023 edition), and we're still taking #accessibility seriously.

There's an open Bursary scheme, we're full hybrid so you can attend online rather than in person, and we're trying to get feedback on BSL translators. The whole programme area is on the flat for wheelchair users, too!

I keep falling off mastodon... I think my natural place on the internet is tumblr, and masto's very different culture combined with...

I keep falling off mastodon... I think my natural place on the internet is tumblr, and masto's very different culture combined with tag-only discovery tend to form a stumbling block.

Anyone who's seen a folksonomy develop knows that community tags are useful, but not wholly reliable!

alcohol (fancy cocktails)So, for Eurovision I decided to be fancy and make colour changing cocktails!Pictured right: shaved blue ice, made...

alcohol (fancy cocktails)

So, for Eurovision I decided to be fancy and make colour changing cocktails!

Pictured right: shaved blue ice, made by freezing filtered water infused with clitoria ternatea flowers

Pictured left: a small teapot of margarita, which when added to the shaved blue ice causes the intensely purple result in the foreground - the acidity of the lime causes the pH reactive ice to change colour as it melts!

There's nothing quite like the patient trial-and-error of communicating with one's cat.He wants something.He's refusing to hop...

There's nothing quite like the patient trial-and-error of communicating with one's cat.

He wants something.
He's refusing to hop up and cuddle, so he wants me to go with him.
He wants something that is not chasing a toy or string.
He took a polite lap of his topped up water, and resumed staring expectantly.
He batted at his kibble, but only ate one.

... the blinds. He was refusing to go up on the window seat until the blinds were open so he could watch the street below.

I am apparently going to be back in office on Thursday/ Friday this week, now that I am no longer infectious with covid and only coughing a...

I am apparently going to be back in office on Thursday/ Friday this week, now that I am no longer infectious with covid and only coughing a bit

... *still* don't get why my employer, a literal actual union, insists on 50% in-office work when my team can do everything from home. This does not seem worker-friendly! This does not seem worker-safe! This does not seem like a good work-life balance!

I have gone Outside and partaken of Vaguely Underwhelming Democracy in the local elections today. Ran into this bunch of #sporespondence...

I have gone Outside and partaken of Vaguely Underwhelming Democracy in the local elections today. Ran into this bunch of #sporespondence canvassers for the green party on the way back:

I would post a cat photo in these trying times, but the cat has gotten very comfortable ona) my arm, which now cannot moveb) my phone, which...

I would post a cat photo in these trying times, but the cat has gotten very comfortable on
a) my arm, which now cannot move
b) my phone, which is still near my elbow and thoroughly under the cat

So I am trapped, my phone is trapped, and my free hand is having to type one-handed on the laptop. The cat, of course, is very contented and purring gleefully away.

Might be running a wee one-shot D&D game in a few weeks, if anyone would be free of a Saturday evening (BST) and fancies playing a...

Might be running a wee one-shot D&D game in a few weeks, if anyone would be free of a Saturday evening (BST) and fancies playing a slightly silly level 3 adventure featuring a talent show?

Would be bare bones via discord with voice chat & dice roll bot, no virtual tabletop sites or software needed. I've two players so far and could do with a third/fourth. Newbie friendly.

(unlisted because I'm not after inviting the whole fediverse - just y'all in social proximity)