Spent an hour finally putting up outside decorations today. Not doing the inflatables this year; three straight days of severe wind advisories has made me overly cautious.

Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and holy shit does it hit hard this year.

And the 2025 Claire Obscure Award for Clairest Obscure goes to... ...critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV with expanded free trial which you can play through the entirety of A Realm Reborn and the award-winning Heavensward expansion up to level 60 for free with no restrictions on playtime.

I really hate that my dreams have continuity between episodes.

I've convinced myself to include the basics in the packets of the Commander Jumpstart Cube, but that means mathematically I have to make it so that everyone gets four additional cards instead of three: Command Tower, Arcane Signet, Sol Ring, and a land to be determined.

Fun fact I learned today: I own a Confusion in the Ranks.

I already regret this decision.

Remember, folks: Just because it grosses you out is not proof it causes harm.

Related, I totally fucked up my blood sugar on discount marzipan and y'all, it was absolutely worth feeling like pure shit.

I bought this scented candle that I thought was called Run Run Reindeer. It's actually called Rum Rum Reindeer. It smells exactly like the inside of a Buc-ees. I can't decide if this is a good thing.

Jfc we can't even enjoy lorwyn for 24 hours

Today's project? Shaving. I kind of haven't shaved since last Wednesday and, uh, it's bad. I'm one of those people who starts getting a 5 o'clock shadow at 3:15.

I hate the phrase "touch grass". I was on allergy shots until I was in my 20s just to get to the point I could be near grass. Actually touching it causes an immediate painful rash. The smell of freshly mown lawn? Instant migraine, do not pass go, do not turn on the lights or I will cry.

My other "project" for the day is another lego contest design since the tavern doesn't meet the submission criteria. The concept is a cliffside waterfall that conceals a (pirate?) smuggling operation. (Ignore the red bricks, they're placeholder supports while I design out the front elevation.)

I spent the morning working on my Commander Jumpstart Cube. I figured out all the legendaries before Thanksgiving, and today I got first drafts done for the three mono-W packs.

Tomorrow's plan for the day is to do fucking nothing. No errands, no house projects, just soup and blankets and puppy and maybe watch Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas on the big TV.

>recipe calls for neutral oil Fuck, I only have chaotic oil.

Joseph Smith and the Golden Constitution

You just know Lucy from Peanuts grew up to work in RFK's DHHS.

Soup is happening today!

Someday.

Main tree is done. Back is killing me.

I'm 1/3 of the way through getting the main Christmas tree assembled, and doggo is NOT happy with any of this.

The Star Wars Tree is officially done!

I bought groceries yesterday knowing it was supposed to snow today, so I'm trying a new recipe for creamy chicken noodle soup this afternoon. By new recipe I mean "I had an idea in the car when I was driving back to Massachusetts and will make something up as I go".

I'm trying to get everything indoor Christmas except the trees done today. I did the living room, dining room, kitchen, entry landing, office, both bathrooms, and my bedroom earlier today, and I've got a couple more Stars Wars things for the basement to get situated.

I've been putting up Christmas decorations all day, and years of Lego Star Wars Advent Calendars means I have a TON of Christmas Star Wars Legos to add to the basement display(s). Han and Greedo traded blasters for cookies for the Tatooine Life Day Ugly Sweater Party.

Many years ago, shortly after my grandfather died, my grandmother went to a rummage sale at her church and picked up this vintage Christmas tree for $0.50. For almost 15 years now we've wondered what it's supposed to be. Our leading theory was measuring cups but they're weirdly shallow.

Among other things, when we divided up my grandmother's Christmas decorations, I got this kitschy Santa that my grandmother bought when she was working at a department store in the 1950s or 60s.

Hotel neighbor has music going so loud I've been awake since 3 AM

Anyway I'm over halfway home from my parents, stopping for the night in a skeezier than advertised hotel. I split the trip so that today was 60% of the total distance and tomorrow will be a shorter day. I only regret this decision a little.

With the whole OU trans instructor situation, it's pretty wild how you don't even have to dig beyond surface-deep to see how this whole thing is just a clearly well-orchestrated vehicle for the Far-Right rage machine to switch targets from athletics to now exclude trans folk from academia itself.

We went through my grandmother's Christmas decorations yesterday to see if anyone wanted anything and y'all, I scored so much Kaburi Branded Bullshit. Most importantly, I got The Outhouse.

My Magic Set Rankings for 2025: EOE DFT TDM

So there's a nor'easter hitting Boston on Tuesday. Maybe. Depending on whether you check NBC, CBS, ABC, the Boston Globe, the Weather Channel, or the Google Weather App, my house is in the zone for between 0 and 11 inches of snow. Fuck that shit. I'm staying in SC until Thursday now.

@profanity.accountant I'm fucking curious.

CW: blood, genitals In a fun event I'm sure will become a regular feature of my future nightmares, my right testicle started bleeding heavily in the shower. Not sure if it's a scratch or like a cyst popping or something, but I had to get my dad to bring me his BleedPowder to make it stop.

I have finished the first draft of my Lego Medieval Tavern. Total set size is 4019 pieces, which is 19 over the max allowable submission, but this is just the first pass. These are all renders from Studio, I did not actually build it.

So I made two different salmon dips with the salmon Dad and I smoked yesterday. The one on the left is my pick for best but opinions are split.

me, sowing: it'll be nice being with my family so I can talk to someone besides the dog me, reaping: WHY DO YOU PEOPLE NEVER SHUT UP I NEED TEN MINUTES OF QUIET

OMG my COBRA finally kicked in!

So I dug back into the submission guidelines for the Bricklink Lego design competition to check how many minifigures you're allowed and found a different clause that I'm like 60% sure disqualifies my model because I used the separating floors, which makes it too similar to the Lego Icons series.

En route to my parents' for Thanksgiving. Crashing for the night in Virginia. Very tired.

No you're crying about the gay sheep. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/21/l...

[ralph wiggam voice] im a human rights violation!

The streaming transition wiped out local news operations at almost the worst possible point, with print dead and local cable in decline. We stopped seeking out real news and thus journalism is shrinking. And what's left has to pull your eyeballs to your product.

Mechanic: I'm with a customer now, can I call you right back? Me: Sure, my number is [number]. Mechanic: Great, I'll call you in ten minutes. Y'all, that was at 11:45 AM. It's now 1:55 PM.

The Lego Medieval Tavern and Inn design is really coming together! I've got the base, ground floor (kitchen, bar, seating), and second floor (additional seating, fireplace, bard) almost finished. I haven't finalized the roof details over the back door and I'm going to do more ivy on the blank side.

Officially caught up on bills... Only to realize my car's due for inspection and I'm leaving town next week for Thanksgiving. 😑

I was going to treat myself to a pizza to celebrate getting my damn severance check but it was gonna be over $30 for delivery so I said fuck that. I drove to the grocery store and for $30 got a frozen pizza, a bag of spinach for a salad, some garlic toast, and four pints of Haagen Das.