#sunday week in review

[trulybetty]

Sunday Week In Review XVI & 2023 Wrapped

I feel like 2023 just started five minutes ago, am I the only one who feels like this year as passed by quickly but at the same time dragged its heels?

I've seen so many lovely end of year close out posts and years in review. I toyed with how I wanted to close out the year and what I could say that could sum it up sufficiently.

Betty rambles under the cut with this weeks reads if you're interested...

2023 has been a weird year if I'm entirely honest and somewhat isolating. I returned from mat leave, back to working from home, and having to scramble to make adjustments when things fell through. Which resulted in Mr. Truly and I working opposite shifts to ensure the S.S. Truly stayed afloat.

But during the last six months somehow I made it back to Tumblr, to an old account from way back when - pre-dating when the Canucks made it to game seven kinda old - I blew off the dust, cleaned house and made myself a little space. I still don't know 100% how it all happened, though I think it started with the Reddit forum.

You don't need to know the whole spiel about Pedro, because while we're here because of him, it's the community that holds us here. After floating and not really knowing what I was doing, I started to make connections within this community and finding a seat at the table (we'll come back to that) and I found joy again. I'd kinda lost myself in the fog that is half a dozen other titles/roles others looked to me as that had replaced just Betty.

I started writing, hadn't done that in years. I rekindled by love for graphic design, what I went to school for. I was reading books again, as well as so many great fanfics here. I even bought poetry books, something I hadn't done since I don't know when.

I've been really fortunate in my experience that I've encountered so many wonderful people. I may not get to be as social as I'd like to be, and I still have a fear of dropping into DM's & Asks unannounced. I have the shittest memory, if I don't keep a tab open or reply straight away it's sometimes days or weeks before I remember again. But I really hope that I've returned in kind what others have given me because I'd hate for anyone to feel like they don't belong here, because you do.

This community is a table (told you I'd come back) and it's size is immeasurable. It has no bounds and there's always room for whatever kind of chair you pull up and if you don't have one? We'll find one. Need to leave for a while? We'll save your seat. This my friends is a community, and if you're met with those who tell you the table is full, I'm telling you now, they're not a part of it.

Are there going to be those with more notes? Yes. Are there going to be people you're going to compare your writing to? Yes. Are you going to maybe want to pack it all in and delete your masterlist now and then? Yes.

But none of that takes away anything that makes you, you and what you bring to the table.

Life is hard enough without the added pressure of thinking you need to score imaginary internet points with stats and metrics that carry no value. I wish I knew the magic formula, because I'm still trying to figure it out myself, but let's try and be kinder to ourselves eh?

But I'm really going into 2024 with the goal of curating my own joy - whether it be indulging in the fanfics I want to write and read, more obnoxious coffees, a new fountain pen, giving myself permission to buy the fancy notebook, get back to baking or binging both seasons of Julia and pretending I can make one of her recipes.

So to sum it up, before this goes into a further incoherent ramble, this year has been about reaching out, starting connections and building something meaningful. I've met some amazing people that I am lucky to call friends and without their kindness and extending a seat at the table I'm not sure I'd still be around these parts.

Here's to more of that in 2024 - while I'm not always the best at replying to messages, my DM's and Ask's are always open, feel free to drop in at any time 💕

Pedro Tax™️ for your time...

T R U L Y  U P D A T E S . . .

December x 500 is complete-ish? Thanks to being sick towards the end of the month there's three entries missing, but I'm hoping to sneak them in during the new year! I'm looking forward to a quieter writing schedule that's for sure!

W H A T  I  R E A D . . . Didn't read as much as I wanted to this week - but I'm off this next week, so hoping to do a little more and get through some of my TBR list!

All I Want for Christmas (Frankie) by @morallyinept This was a delightful festive meet-cute that had me on the edge of my seat and also explores the character of Frankie and the ramifications of his actions on his friendships and his ex. 

All I Want (Will Miller) by @laurfilijames This was a bittersweet one-shot that touched on the idea that the festive season isn’t always for everyone and that you never know what’s going on with someone. 

I Put My Book Down to Be Here (Dieter) by @frenchiereading My first New Year’s Eve fic I’ve read this season and it’s so sweet and has a soft Dieter (my fave), who is still his chaotic self! I loved this from start to finish and such a great meet-cute!

Had Me Fooled (Dave) by @wildemaven Heidi has done such an amazing job with this mini series that can be read as a standalone or as a series. I love a soft Dave and Heidi does it so well. This last one had my toes curling in all their romantic glory and I will be revisiting this series again I'm sure!

Reunions (The Thief) by @ladamedusoif I'm behind on Rose's December prompts, but this was the steamy follow up to My Kiss, Only For You (go read that first, no seriously, go read it) and it was so delectable and my greedy self hopes we see these two again in the future.

Cookies (Tim) by @ladamedusoif Speaking of delicious things, this was as indulgent and sweet as the cookies made in this fic. Tim was one of the characters I didn't see becoming such a favourite this year - but I love seeing everyone's interpretation of him. This one here? In my top ranked versions 🫠

So here's to 2024!

Thank you for every interaction, reblog, or tag - every single one is held clutched to my heart in appreciation every time!

Stay safe, and whatever you're doing or wherever you are sending you much love!

[alackofghosts]

huddled

[mono-blogs-art]

it's not anilpin sunday...

[sp00kymulderr]

15th Oct.

This week has been difficult for me. Recovering from a medical procedure took longer than I had hoped and with my not so great mental health I’ve been feeling pretty down.

But there have been things to bring me back up, and I’m forever grateful for that. I haven’t been involving myself in fandom much recently for personal reasons but I’ve been in the background enjoying peoples posts and creations. And of course, the man himself always brings joy - I wasn’t able to join the bloodsucking bastards watch on the space sisters server but I had a Prospect rewatch which always lifts my spirits. Thank goodness for Ezra & Pedro 💚

I’ve read less than I’d hoped to this week, but I’ve loved the things I have! Some recs from me:

A forgotten scene by @fromthedeskoftheraven

Cockwarming w Marcus M by @flightlessangelwings

Kiss me quick by @secretelephanttattoo

I’ve also made a start to some longer fics & series which I’m loving and so excited to keep reading! (I’m so so slow, I’m sorry)

The Pit by @morallyinept

Muddy Waters by @bonezone44

Recovery Road by @chronically-ghosted

A ghost of you by @wannab-urs

Compulsion by @iamskyereads

Of my own work, this week I’ve posted a few little things - to be honest I’ve been filled with dread about posting fic recently but I’m pushing through and trying to appreciate my own creativity more:

-Dulia (Ezra x gn!reader)

-Ascending Stars (Ezra x f!reader)

-take the long way home pt 2 (marcus pike x afab!reader)

-A selection of Dieter & one Ezra phone wallpapers here and here

For the week ahead, I’m kind of nervous about some work things but I do have plans (a date!!) and I’m super excited to hopefully have Our House of Flames pt 3 (Joel x reader) out. I also have a good old list of fic to read (95 and counting on my tbr - god bless the talented and prolific writers in this fandom).

Thank you all for brightening my dash & my days - always sending my appreciation. And love to anyone who reads this random Sunday ramble!

🩷✨🩷✨🩷

[upontherisers]

can’t wait to get to fic reading this weekend! please tag me if you’ve posted something this week and i haven’t liked it yet to bookmark

[phagodyke]

I slept rly deeply last night even tho it took me a while to get to sleep but I think that was bc I had acid reflux and I'd been playing videogames too late not anything else.... still only got 6 hrs but doing pretty okay all things considered 😚

[v-tired-queer]

I think my first week of school went really, really well!! 😃💕✨️

It's so weird for me, being a student again, but I have to say, I'm already doing better with this in the last week than I have with the past seven years of high school (I graduated late). Mentally, I'm in a much better place than I was back than (thank you therapy, medication and healthy coping mechanisms 🩷), and it really shows in my class work, my focus in class, my participation in class, my homework, and my studying. I'm even making friends! Which is even wilder!!

I haven't made friends since I was in high school. We're getting to know each other pretty well already, but it's hard for me to open up and fully let people know who I am as a person. I want to learn how to do that, though. I don't want to live my life in a bubble because I'm afraid of letting people know me and then reject me. If I do that, and never let anyone in, I'm never going to find the people that will genuinely like me for me.

It's all really exciting! My life is finally moving forward!! 😁🩷✨️

[knickynoo]

You mentioned wanting Marlene to have a different name in your "Solar Sailors" review. Did you have anything specific in mind?

(In a fic I wrote c. 2009, she was Amber Nicole. Not sure how I feel about changing it from Marlene now though.)

I've never given much thought to it, so I don't have anything specific that I can say I'd want to change it to.

It's perhaps one of my silliest nitpicks of the trilogy, especially because I know the whole point was to do a funny "Haha, Marty's kids look EXACTLY like him and are both named after him" thing, but Marlene's name just bugs me from an in-universe perspective. Why would Marty and Jen do that? Very silly of them. It's like they didn't even try, lol. "I dunno, they're twins. Name one Marty Jr and the other...Marlene. Done."

Unless! Marlene is like an old family name or something, maybe on Jen's side, and she really wanted to name her kid that, and the similarity to Marty's name is a wacky coincidence. This is a headcanon I literally just came up with this very second but is one I could get behind. I could also see Marlene as being the middle name. There are a lot of people who go by their middle names because they simply like them better, and that would also leave me room to imagine a different first name.

Thanks for the ask!

[basiltonpitch]

2024 music challenge week one review:

songs from week one:

Emotional by The Front Bottoms

Sober by FIDLAR

Ghost Of You by 5 Seconds of Summer

Bad Omens by 5 Seconds of Summer

Mr. Big Shot by Anarbor

Candlelight by Relient K

Can't Stop Yourself by LukeTrepp

Hey Man by Rain on Fridays

Dumb by Nirvana

Duck Eat Duck World by Destroy Boys

Northern Attitude (with Hozier) by Noah Kahan

i also listened to all the way thru both Unreal Unearth & Wasteland, Baby! by Hozier and loved both of them top to bottom!!

top 3 songs of the week: Can't Stop Yourself by LukeTrepp, Emotional by The Front Bottoms, and Eat Your Young by Hozier. runner up goes to Northern Attitude (with Hozier) by Noah Kahan

new songs for week one: 41

total new songs: 41

here's a link to my new (to me) in 2024 playlist in case you want to follow my progress !!

[seniouesbabes]

Lily Maymac 🌸💋🍒🌸 @PRADA FW24 RESEE

thank you @shaylcshay-lo, being the best host Statement hats @PRADA #PRADAFW24

HERE FOR IT @prada

[bookwyrminspiration]

getting your projects out of the way early is a great idea until that means all your projects. are now due at the same time. early

[trulybetty]

Sunday Week In Review XV

What a couple of weeks! Took a little break from my weekly updates as Sundays started to become a little crazy around the Truly household - so I may have to switch up the format for the new year, but we'll see!

But anyone else have have no clue where time has gone? How is it Christmas Eve already? With things a little busy I've had limited time to read. So this is a mishmash from the last three weeks of what I managed to track.

T R U L Y  U P D A T E S . . .

December x 500 is underway and we're in the home stretch now. Sickness has thrown the Maplewood AU's for Marcus and Joel out of sync - but I will be working on getting them out as soon as possible!

December x 500 Masterlist

W H A T  I  R E A D . . .

Bakers Dozen (Various) by @avastrasposts This is such a delicious series and just keeps getting better and better! On the edge of my seat waiting for each new update!

Caught Kissing Santa (Dave) by @wildemaven This was so incredibly sweet and oh so festive! The idea of Dave dressing up as Santa for his kids just makes me swoon! 

Paranoid Heart (Javi) by @goodwithcheese This series just keeps getting better chapter after chapter and this weeks update has me counting down the days until it’s Tuesday again!

Holiday Prompts (Joel) by @jomiddlemarch Jo manages to capture so much in all her little drabbles as she follows along a month of prompts! Definitely recommend getting in on following them!

Working Title (Dieter) by @rhoorl Have I mentioned in the last five minutes that I love a soft Dieter? That's what Jess delivers with this series and this latest installment in Dieter and Belle's relationship has me on edge for what's to come for them next.

Here | Catalyst 'Verse (Joel x Frankie x Reader) by @ezrasbirdie The latest installment to this series certainly doesn't disappoint and explores the dynamic that's been growing since the first installment and the complexities of that come with any relationship, but the added addition of another person. If you've not read this series, I very much recommend it!

Are You Alone & Are You Going To Be Quiet? (Benny) by @rhoorl With this series Jess has created around Benny it's impossible not to drop everything to read it once it's released. These two additions this month were deliciously spicy and festive, just what the season calls for!

Holiday Prompts (Various) by @ladamedusoif Rose has been knocking it out of the part using the same prompt list I've been working through and they're all just so good! I'm slowly getting caught up with them and will be bringing them to a re-blog real soon - but I highly suggest diving into these for some festivities!

A New Tradition with Frankie (Frankie) by @nerdieforpedro Frankie, check. Baking, check. Mishaps, check. Frankie being incredibly sweet and Frankie? Check, check and check! This is incredibly sweet despite the baking issues in the story - but Frankie more than enough makes up for it.

Footprints (Joel) by @sin-djarin Ohmigod, I get a lump in my throat when I think about this fic Becca so beautifully wrote exploring Joel creating Christmas magic for Sarah with the help of Tommy pre-outbreak. Dare you to read it and not have a tear in your eye!

Don’t Drink the Punch (Dave) by @wildemaven Heidi's Holi-Dave series is just the soft Dave I didn't know I needed, but can't live without now! Christmas Office parties would be a whole lot better with Mr. York around, that's for sure!

Undercover (Tim) by @secretelephanttattoo I've been wading in the Rockpool for a while now, and El just further confirms I won't be leaving anytime soon with this series! The slow burn and the forced close proximity makes for a fantastic read that builds the anticipation for the next installment.

Nourish (Joel) by @goodwithcheese This is the second of Megan’s one-shots featuring Joel and she’s managed to build this cozy little world in Jackson between Joel and our reader. Really enjoyed the dynamic here and the inclusion of Ellie.

Smutsgiving 2023: Sweet Potato Casserole (Wing Pit Pedro) by @something-tofightfor This is another instalment in the Daniel Harper Wing Pit character that I have totally fallen for. Like seriously, if you’ve not read the previous fic’s by Rachael you should get over there and check them out!

12 Days of XXX-Mas (Various) by @morallyinept Jett’s 12 Days Of XXX-MAS has been delivering banger after banger (literally 😏) with this festive series and there's something for everyone here.

Delta Landscaping (Various) by @rhoorl This is my favourite soap opera and live for updates on the residents of Mule Fall Court! Even if you're not a fan of Triple Frontier (is there such thing? lol) - stick around for the PPCU (Pedro Pascal Character Universe) cameos!

You Me & John McClane (Dave) by @wildemaven It's by no exaggeration when I say this is the festive rom-com of my dreams 😍 - I have a hard time sometimes with Dave fics, but this Holi-Dave series has a permanent residence on my re-read list and every time this has popped up I've read it again!

Sunny & the Grinch (Jack) by @gnpwdrnwhiskey I love Sunny and Jack and this festive instalment is such a treat! I’m still giddy over it and still not okay - not giving anything away, but it still has me kicking my feet in excitement when I think about it!

Symphony (Joel) by @maggiemayhemnj The opening chapter to Jeanne’s first series set in Jackson dropped this week. A great introduction to our characters and I’m already excited for the next instalment to see where things go! I love a good OFC and I know Jersey isn’t going to disappoint! 

Give (Joel) by @goodwithcheese Another jump into post TLOU word in Jackson with these two. It’s such a cozy bubble that makes me feel warm and fuzzy every time we visit them. I love this little festive addition!

Common Thread (Frankie) by @wildemaven Such a dreamy series of vignettes between our reader and Frankie. The whole thing was a great balance of spice and domesticity of an established relationship. 

Gift Wrapped (Dieter) by @sp00kymulderr This is the chaotic festive Dieter of my dreams! This was such a fun read and if you are a fan of Dieter this needs to be on your reading list!

In Reality (Dieter) by @sin-djarin Becca’s coming home series is beautiful and this addition of Dieter, in follow up to ‘In Fiction’ is in part a great character study and a festive slice of warmth. Highly recommend!

T H I S  W E E K ' S  J A M . . .

It's not Christmas until this album has been played and this is my favourite from it...

Hope everyone, no matter how you celebrate the season, is doing well and staying safe ❤️

Sending lots of love and hugs to you all!

[pallases]

🙈

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

[sp00kymulderr]

5th Nov.

This week has been fucking weird. I don't want to go in to detail but the mental health was not it. But then the last couple days have been ??? oddly good. Thanks a lot to this place, this community. Idk. I'm not much of a good at talking to people person but there's just something about people in this fandom that makes life feel alright. I'm obsessed w you guys honestly 💕

I didn't do much this week. I got ghosted. I went to a Rammstein tribute. I ran around the park with my nephew. I had a shit few days at work but what's that but normal right now?

I've read some good good stuff this week.

Who would I be without mentioning into the beat of the night chapter one - transmission by @perotovar - one chapter in and this fic is already everything to me ❤️

Every Colour Illuminates by @the-blind-assassin-12 was a beautiful way to start my week off, a gorgeous read.

Not a fic, but this Self Care with Dieter & Jett post really put me on a good track after some bad days. Thank you @morallyinept

And because I didn't post my recs last week I have have to mention two fics by @covetyou which changed me fundamentally: Send in the Clown

open hand or closed fist would be fine (I'm reading the rest of swat now and um wow 😮)

Lo, how can i convince you to write a bravo the clown fisting fic?!?!

I actually posted quite a lot this week??? somehow??? The notes are shockingly low and tbh I nearly deleted one of these the day after posting but I am resisting and trying to remain proud that I even wrote anything.

I finally posted Our House of Flames pt 3 - Afterburn which I my ongoing 4 part Joel series. Great if you like grief and misery and guilt lmao.

Put up chapter one of Lucida Sidera, my Ezra series featuring my first original character! This fic is an update of something I first plotted and posted in 2019 and has a special place in my heart.

And I also posted these Pedro boy gender and sexuality headcanons!

Tomorrow I have a job interview…I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but I do need a new job and this one helps me stay in a similar position to what I'm in now. The rest of the week is lacking in any plans bc I’m boring, but I'll definitely be back at the gym and I'm starting a new program so maybe I'll get back into heavy deadlifts since I haven't done any in a few weeks!

Also writing, with hopes to publish a dirty Joel oneshot and possibly a Dieter thing if I can get my act together!

Love you guys. Thanks for the things you do. You're incredible 🩷✨🩷✨

[lorelune]

good morning gamers happy sunday :'^)