Submitting my comprehensive exams this week for defense in early march, meaning if all goes well I get to be a PhD candidate soon! Does it feel any different? Time will tell. It does mean I have to get on my dissertation proposal though…

Does everyone have a novel manuscript they wrote once and thought, is this something? But then it really isn’t, so it just sits in a folder somewhere.

Was given a copy of Endling by Maria Reva for Christmas and can’t help but wonder if she’s a fan of @ologies.bsky.social (based on the little snail ologies digression near the beginning)

Weird to be not taking a course this coming term, but it’s because I’m going to be defending my comprehensives! And then hopefully my dissertation proposal! (thank goodness for a holiday break with coffee and time to write)

Is it because Christmas starts in the media/stores/etc. before Halloween that by actual Christmas, I am completely over Christmas?

Totally normal that I’m cheering and doing little claps at the tv because the thirsty hockey show also became the super sincere and heartwarming hockey show

The last 6 years of trying to get both cats to look at the camera simultaneously, plus Winnie’s first Christmas

I’m doing reading and synthesizing of books and articles in advance of my comprehensive exams in a couple months, and all that reading and thinking and citing and writing is the whole point. I can’t imagine wanting an AI to do this poorly for me… why would I be doing a PhD in the first place if so?

Think I might be allergic to my own progesterone, so that’s fun.

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Today while drinking a honey lemon tea and donating plasma, I found out that Gwen Aube has a book coming out with @littlepuss.net. Since there was a needle in my arm, I couldn’t do a little dance of celebration for her, but I did an imperceptible one. Yay Gwen!

The most I ever made on a book was a couple grand. I work in higher ed, used to work four jobs, and have never made close to a living writing creatively.

After calling out a first aid instructor mid-class for enthusiastically spreading fentanyl misinformation, I feel very validated by @inbedwiththeright.bsky.social’s live episode

When you research trauma, and it taps you on the shoulder in your day-to-day cos you tried to watch Frankenstein without checking time stamps for your triggers

Got my flu shot and my Covid shot tonight and then promptly went for a run, and so far I’m not feeling too bad! (Fingers crossed)

I haven’t been on here in a minute, but I ran a 3:31 marathon in ridiculous windy rainy conditions on the weekend, and I’m pretty proud of myself

Was not expecting a UWindsor reference on this week’s @ologies.bsky.social !

Sometimes I remember that I used to work 3-11:30 on the line at a factory and then go out to see live bands (or occasionally play in a band) until 4am and drive a half hour home (didn’t drink)… and now I work 8 hours in an office and come home and take a nap

Mutual aid req: I've hit a plateau with my GFM, and my currently dying wheelchair is acting up more and more. If anyone can share or dough-nate, I'd greatly appreciate it. #mutualaid #disability #wheelchair #crip #cripplepunk #mobilityaid gofund.me/b6103ccc

@ologies.bsky.social thank you for the lived experience OCD episode. The message to folks living with OCD at the end was powerful and much much appreciated

@socialistdogmom.bsky.social listening to today’s episode is like playing bingo, knowing exactly that type of weird little guy… 😬

I see that I am in good company in live watching the CBC election results despite the fact that they have to find something to say for hours on end about ridings with 2 polls reporting.

Have reached the methodology component of my proposal research, which means I get to put on my poetry hat and do some playful poetic inquiry stuff, and after reading about trauma for the last six months, that’s pretty refreshing

Drafted a paper that is part of a project that I cannot submit/defend until January 2026 at the earliest because apparently this is just the person I am.

Got invited to a book club reading Parable of the Sower, and wow, damn.

Started contextualising my theoretical framework this evening, and I somehow got 22 pages out?!?

Opening the podcast app to see @youaregood.bsky.social covering Velvet Goldmine today made little sparks go off in my brain

My person wanted to watch fellowship of the ring for his birthday, and I haven’t seen it since it came out. Am I wrong to assume Legolas was the bisexual awakening of a generation?

PLR day is the best. I love libraries

Canadian writers, if you haven't already, sign up for the Public Lending Right. Check here to see if you're eligible. publiclendingright.ca

I spent several hours today painstakingly following directions and doing detailed little things without breaking the whole project and crying. Please clap.

Spent yesterday afternoon waiting for a bus that didn’t come and then getting on a bus absolutely packed with people (because the prior bus didn’t come), but sure let’s just cut transit further because the mayor doesn’t like workers getting paid sick days.

Got legitimately emotional listening to @socialistdogmom.bsky.social’s Weird Little Guys episode today because my brain can’t compute the lack of human empathy that appears to be the norm in certain circles, so that’s how my morning is going I guess.

Please do share.

Graduating our latest group of derby 101 skaters up to contact and joining in vets practice (at a scaled rate) has been truly the bright spot in a lot of not great stuff going on. Same thing with our prior group becoming mentors to the new skaters!

February means I officially have to start actually writing this literature review instead of just digging deeper and bibliography mining every source I read. But what can we do these days besides read everything out there on structural trauma?

Bought a used and very grimy commercial grade treadmill for very cheap and spent yesterday cleaning it up while my partner disassembled it down to the motor. Good conversations were had about right to repair and planned obsolescence. This machine was designed for repair unlike most home models

You never needed government approval to be trans. This won't stop us either.

I take no pride in witnessing the "fuck around and find out" fallout of people who regret voting for Trump because this sort of karma isn't vindicating when it’s at the expense of innocent people hurting who had nothing to do with the votes of their oppressors.

I think I’m ALMOST ready to start writing my lit review instead of just reading and annotating, so maybe soon when people ask “what are you reading about?” The answer won’t always be “trauma”

Is going for a run and then pulling a muscle in your neck stretching afterwards just what being in your mid 30s is?

Today’s read is Crip Spacetime by @margaretprice.bsky.social, and I have found myself getting emotional a couple times already because so much is so resonant

Sunday body horror moment: last week I managed to accomplish the fear of every clerical worker and sliced my finger open on the paper guillotine in the copy room at work. It has yet to close.

Because I saw other folks posting pollinator gardens for a little joy in the timeline…here’s some more

Yesterday, I was staying with friends at a cottage on the frozen lake, and we watched a coyote running along the ice in the sunshine. That’s all.

Forgot I had posted this and as an update, I put myself out there, I met the requirements, and i am doing it well!

This matters. Not because I think Trump is capable of mercy or empathy towards these vulnerable groups. But because it is a public act of defiance. Contrast that with all these other powerful people in this country signaling nothing but appeasement and obedience.

Ok 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1 like = 1 thing I love

If your Christianity causes you to be offended by someone asking the most powerful person in the country to be merciful towards the powerless, then you have profoundly misunderstood the teachings of Jesus Christ.