#coming march 2023

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Lone Women is unusual, unsettling, and haunting. It's a genre-bending story about a Black woman named Adelaide Henry who leaves her home in California in the 1800's to settle on a claim in the desolate landscape of Montana, carrying with her a past full of secrets and a steamer trunk that cannot be left unattended for suspicious reasons unknown.

This is an atmospheric novel above all else, and I've never read anything quite like it. It's hushed. Suspenseful. Eerie. Vacant. There's a lingering sense of disquiet that permeates from the first page, ushering readers into Adelaide's world at a time when homesteading was starting to take off and women could set out west to make new independent lives for themselves.

I liked the historicism this provided, with me being bestowed with the opportunity to journey along with Adelaide as she braved the harsh conditions of the midwest alone and as she collided with some strange folks along the way. I also liked the women supporting women camaraderie that was both founded and championed, because it proved to be a satisfying foil to the secluded, dangerous-feeling atmosphere the characters abided in.

For me, though, I will say the most propulsive thing about the whole book was waiting to learn what was hidden inside the trunk. That's what gave the story its pulse. That's what gave it a creepy and windswept little heartbeat.

Definitely one you should pick up if you're looking for something different!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my review.

3/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

[acesnyc]

Here are a few more photos (and some video!) of Aces NYC during the 2023 NYC Pride March.

[one-time-i-dreamt]

Princess Diana and the orange Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle were getting married, while the blue one came out as trans. 

[karokawwo]

guys we're getting an updated demo. isn't that crazy. at long last the demo update. I feel crazy. do you think we're getting it for touchstarved's announcement anniversary?? that's crazy..... like woah......... woagh

[rkgkyouu]

Caelus found a wonderful song that reminded him of Welt 👴 YT Algorithm recommended me this Spongebob song and thought it would be funny if Caelus gives it to Mr. Yang as a gift (or at least it was funnier in my head lol)

[royalarchivist]

Phil: Do you need anything? Are you ok?

Wilbur: Cabron! (Bastard)

Luzu: [Laughs] Cabron...

Wilbur: Cabron- mi cabron! Si!

Luzu: Mi- [Laughs] So, that's like saying- that's like telling someone "You're my bastard."

Wilbur: Si!

Luzu: "My" like in... like in possessive, you know? Like, "My bastard." Not other one.

Wilbur: WAIT. QUE?! (What?!) Quackity told me to say it to everyone!

Phil: Wha- "You're my bastard"? [Laughs]

Luzu: Well, I mean... I don't know if I would like, trust Quackity, honestly.

[ Transcript continued ↓ ]

-

Luzu: Oh no- espera- (wait-)

Wilbur: Por que? [Why?]

Luzu: No... Quackity le gusta mucho trolling. [Quackity really likes trolling]

[Phil and Wilbur laugh]

Luzu: Like, before you know it, he's gonna have you going around saying somewhat equivalent to "penis" you know, like-

Wilbur: Ah, pene! Si! Mi gusta pene! (I like penis)

Luzu: Pene pito pollo verga! (Variations of "penis")

Quackity: [In chat] WE ARE HAVING PARTY 2800 1800

Wilbur: Si. Oh! Fiesta! (Party!)

Phil: Oh, ok.

Luzu: Fiesta- what?

Wilbur: En- en- en el chat! En el chat! (In the chat!) [Laughs]

Phil: "En el chat" [Laughs]

Luzu: It's funny because I- I said "dick" and Wilbur automatically said "Oh, party!"

Wilbur: Pene fiesta! (Penis party!)

Luzu: Like, that was the first thing that he had, and I was like, "What? What..."

Wilbur: Philza, lead the way!

[compacflt]

YOU'RE ALIVE??? - my reaction upon seeing your most recent reblog

Anyway, your fic and blog single-handedly kickstarted my U.S. military history obsession <3

im alive!!!! yeah I've been away for a while. it, ah... has not been a grrrreat time to be a military historian or a Big Fan of military propaganda pieces like Top Gun for the last year or so...

lmfao I just saw that the second trump admin plans to haul up all the commanders in charge of the Afghanistan withdrawal (which HE negotiated btw) in front of congress with the plan to charge them all with TREASON per the UCMJ (good fucking luck dude)

but um in my timeline... that includes navy secretary 2021-2022 tom iceman kazansky, bro... so in case you're wondering what these characters are up to in the present day apparently the answer is "getting investigated for treason." sorry to bring down the mood. my happy ending's a little sour now.

mostly I've been insanely busy. I graduate university in may & have to have a journalism capstone, an English research thesis (my paper on military commanding officers in fiction inspired by my top gun fics tbh) and a creative writing capstone (novel) done by march. plus job applications, work for the place where im currently freelancing, apartment hunting... so im a wee bit crunched lately.

some minor updates for anyone who still cares: I am, extremely slowly, still editing WWGATTAI & the other stories. I've finished a complete overhaul of the Carole-dies chapter, chapter 7, but have yet to post it because I'd like to sync a logistical change in the story across the other pieces. and I'm mostly done with a COMPLETE overhaul of chapter 6 (aka "the nineties" chapter where ice & mav move in together & build their family) which goes into much more detail about how... emotionally and logistically... they could pull that off. + a lot more baseball stuff + the Clinton sex scandal. which leaves just chapter 10 left to do. ugh, my least favorite, which is why im putting it off... and then debriefing etc. which won't take as long because I don't honestly care about debriefing at all and I just have very minor changes to make to it. slider doesn't need editing and idgaf about the other pieces.

once I finish with the edits, which will happen eventually I swear because more than anything I just want to hold the updated edited final thing in my hands the way I did with the first draft, I'll upload my pdf (with meta analysis and notes that go back to mid-2022) for u guys to do with as you wish

also for the m:i doubleheaders I am planning on editing my m:i fic pre-m:i8 next year and pending ilsa life status will write much much more

[omaano]

Art Summary of 2023

I kind of wish I had taken this thing to the next level and used a picture with a clone in it for March and November as well (I looked it up now, I very much could have added my Fives portrait or that first pinup-y illustration of Rex for March, and a very cute drawing of a clone OC and his dog (of whom I am promised to get partial custody, and how cool is that really?? and I am so very excited to show him off next year!!)) but it was also the year of Din in big hats as well, so I let those pieces stay :) You'll just have to take my word that there is a Rex in the July picture too.

I feel ike I have learned so much, and also have grown a lot more confident in my skills as an artist; I've learned that I love drawing backgrounds to make a "full" illustration, that intricate little details fascinate me to no end, that I can do fun things with lineart and my version of cell shading but I also miss dedicating the time to a full painting; and that harsh/stronger light reflecting off of darker skin is still something I'll have to study further next year.

Thank you everyone for your continued support in 2023! I have so many kind and enthusiastic tags screenshotted and saved for the days when I inevitably doubt what I do, it means so so much to me! I'm very grateful for the old and new friends I'd made or reconnected with this year ❤️❤️❤️ - and hello to new followers too, I hope you'll keep enjoying what I do here ❤️

✨Template source✨

[linabirb]

going to finally try to write the LAST linagram vd PLEASE wish me luck i am fighting. something.

[jamscandraw]

🔪HAPPY (IDES OF) MARCH🔪 Part 3/12 of my 2023 Calendar Project and honestly my favourite Tumblr holiday. Let's all go ✨stab Caesar✨

Get process breakdown/bonus content by supporting me on Kofi ☕💖

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: Your Brain On Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

If you are one of those people who doubts the transformative power of the arts, then read this. If you already have an idea of the link that exists between the arts and your own personal well-being, then read this.

This book talks extensively about the physiological, psychological, and biological changes that experiencing art can have on the human body and psyche and it's fascinating! It will make you re-think how you interact with or implement it into your own life.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my review.

3/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

[why-the-heck-not]

20.03.23, monday

love spending a whole day on one (1) thing that u thought would be like a quick small little task before breakfast, and the only thing u managed to do for it was to make urself way more confused (tho I did spend couple hours for cleaning (the best procrastination activity)). Tomorrow’s me is getting a somewhat clean apartment and a big ol’ bag of stress

[acquiescest]

irt the lrb what would you say if i said liam & noel spent new years 2023 together in paris

what would you say if i said liam bought the house in france (the one with noel's name carved into the walls) in march 2023 and that month noel talked about wanting to spend several months in paris

which could mean nothing

[deus-ex-mona]

chizuchan was right. childhood friend romances are the b e s t

[angeltannis]

Hm. Disconcerting

[snowangeldotmp3]

maybe i will elaborate later maybe i won’t but something that i did not catch until rewatching little women (2019) is how greta gerwig has this common thread tying her movies together and that is change. like, yeah okay all movies have change they have to have change in order for the narrative to progress. but lady bird, little women, and barbie are all connected by their themes of change and growing up and not wanting to grow up and having to anyway. it’s why beth has to die in little women—beth represents innocence and childhood and therefore has to die; it’s why lady bird calls herself christine in the final moments of lady bird—her mother was right; it’s the entire thesis of barbie (2023) etc etc.