Bird
Counselor 
Posts: 350
Custom Title: World Creator and Destroyer
Preferred Pronouns: they/them/their
HARD: 1700
MEDIUM: 400
EASY: 110
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Post by Bird on Jun 10, 2023 0:08:20 GMT -6
I'm ill with LongCovid and have been for... around two years maybe? Time passes by in a blur sometimes.
So I struggle with having energy to do anything thanks to the yucky symptoms. So I figured, I'd start a thread where we share random updates on random things we do that is fun.
My random update is that I've written over 200,000 words on a Legend of Korra fanfiction, because why not? I even drew some drawings for it. (If you wanna read it, it's here.) It's keeping me going, otherwise, I'd be in a worst spot health-wise. (Isolation due to being ill with a yucky disease that ruins my immune system isn't fun and is very taxing on one's ability to stay sane. But brain fog makes writing original fiction very hard. Legend of Korra comes with prepackaged characters, setting, world-building, and plots, that I can twist about into my own version. So I practice writing AND exercise creativity without wiping myself out energy wise for days. I still write original fiction, but I have to measure the energy expenditure required more carefully since it requires a LOT more brain energy.) So what about all of you?
*What random thing have you've been doing that you enjoyed?*
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Post by Alatariel on Jun 10, 2023 16:01:38 GMT -6
We finally got a lease for a house in Austin, so I'm having fun imagining ways to set up each room and decorate. It's mostly just playing around with things I can't afford but still...it's a good break from the other stressful aspects of coordinating such a HUGE move. Playing with color and pattern combos, furniture options, pinterest boards, etc.
Another thing is playing around with Artbreeder for various characters from my stories. I can spend hours on the site tweaking face shape, eye color, and hair. The saving the pictures and adding them to my character's profiles. Fun.
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Post by Mazulla on Jun 12, 2023 0:34:56 GMT -6
Is it weird that I got enjoyment out of organizing last week? I rode a burst of energy and organized, rearranged, and declutterred a bedroom and a few closets. It's so satisfying to have things tidy. Even hung some wall art that had gone ignored for 1-2 years.
I also spent last Sunday literally doodling symbols on my phone, almost all day, for a D&D character. I'm no artist, but it was a lot of fun and I think the doodles will come in use!
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Post by RAVENEYE on Jun 12, 2023 10:38:52 GMT -6
Hmm... I've discovered these:  And I'm addicted. It's incredibly meditative/restful/satisfying to trace a white line and uncover some random color to make an image. It was actually my 18-yr-old nephew who introduced me to this random thing a few weeks ago at a family dinner (never expected him to give a crap about something like this). I sorta stole the book from him and traced traced traced while people all around me chatted about their lives, and I was amazed by how restful I was (when usually family suppers ramp me up while at the same time feel oppressive). Bought three books as soon as I got home and, damn, the activity is so useful in helping me get my spoons back. So I collect adult coloring books too and will spend weeks with colored pencils on finishing a single page, and I realized how stressful this is -- coloring a white page and making it look good is one mini-decision after another and not much different than writing a rough draft (what word goes here, what color goes here), so it's not restful when I need rest. But with these trace things, there are ZERO decisions to be made. My brain gets to rest while I get the satisfying tactile experience of scraping off the coating that hides the color underneath. Makes me wonder if dental hygienists get the same satisfaction from scraping plaque off teeth, but without the germ transfer.  Anyhoo, that's my new random thing I've been enjoying. |
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Bird
Counselor
Posts: 350
Custom Title: World Creator and Destroyer
Preferred Pronouns: they/them/their
HARD: 1700
MEDIUM: 400
EASY: 110
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Post by Bird on Jun 14, 2023 7:56:35 GMT -6
Hmm... I've discovered these: And I'm addicted. It's incredibly meditative/restful/satisfying to trace a white line and uncover some random color to make an image. It was actually my 18-yr-old nephew who introduced me to this random thing a few weeks ago at a family dinner (never expected him to give a crap about something like this). I sorta stole the book from him and traced traced traced while people all around me chatted about their lives, and I was amazed by how restful I was (when usually family suppers ramp me up while at the same time feel oppressive). Bought three books as soon as I got home and, damn, the activity is so useful in helping me get my spoons back. WHAT
I want this now.
________
It's really fun reading about the random things y'all are doing!  Please keep sharing! I love it! |
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Post by Alatariel on Jun 14, 2023 17:11:27 GMT -6
Hmm... I've discovered these: And I'm addicted. It's incredibly meditative/restful/satisfying to trace a white line and uncover some random color to make an image. It was actually my 18-yr-old nephew who introduced me to this random thing a few weeks ago at a family dinner (never expected him to give a crap about something like this). I sorta stole the book from him and traced traced traced while people all around me chatted about their lives, and I was amazed by how restful I was (when usually family suppers ramp me up while at the same time feel oppressive). Bought three books as soon as I got home and, damn, the activity is so useful in helping me get my spoons back. So I collect adult coloring books too and will spend weeks with colored pencils on finishing a single page, and I realized how stressful this is -- coloring a white page and making it look good is one mini-decision after another and not much different than writing a rough draft (what word goes here, what color goes here), so it's not restful when I need rest. But with these trace things, there are ZERO decisions to be made. My brain gets to rest while I get the satisfying tactile experience of scraping off the coating that hides the color underneath. Makes me wonder if dental hygienists get the same satisfaction from scraping plaque off teeth, but without the germ transfer. Anyhoo, that's my new random thing I've been enjoying. I'VE NEVER ADDED TO CART FASTER IN MY LIFE. What other random things...I've been spending all my extra money (which isn't much) on special editions of my favorite books. Ones from book boxes like Fairyloot, Bookish Box, Illumicrate, Faecrate, Owlcrate. I've been excited to see a lot of my recent favorites being part of their monthly subscriptions. I joined facebook groups of people selling the ones they don't want and I've been scooping them up like little jewels. I want a special book shelf of my favorite books in the new house. AND GUESS WHAT?? The new house has a READING NOOK that has a window and just enough space for a chair + bookshelf. I'm so excited. |
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Bird
Counselor
Posts: 350
Custom Title: World Creator and Destroyer
Preferred Pronouns: they/them/their
HARD: 1700
MEDIUM: 400
EASY: 110
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Post by Bird on Jun 14, 2023 17:42:03 GMT -6
What other random things...I've been spending all my extra money (which isn't much) on special editions of my favorite books. Ones from book boxes like Fairyloot, Bookish Box, Illumicrate, Faecrate, Owlcrate. I've been excited to see a lot of my recent favorites being part of their monthly subscriptions. I joined facebook groups of people selling the ones they don't want and I've been scooping them up like little jewels. I want a special book shelf of my favorite books in the new house. AND GUESS WHAT?? The new house has a READING NOOK that has a window and just enough space for a chair + bookshelf. I'm so excited. A reading nook???? Oh that is SO cool.
Also if you get books in those boxes that you already have and want to sell or give away, I'll gladly take a look!! I love getting new books, and you have good tastes.
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Post by Alatariel on Jun 14, 2023 20:55:25 GMT -6
What other random things...I've been spending all my extra money (which isn't much) on special editions of my favorite books. Ones from book boxes like Fairyloot, Bookish Box, Illumicrate, Faecrate, Owlcrate. I've been excited to see a lot of my recent favorites being part of their monthly subscriptions. I joined facebook groups of people selling the ones they don't want and I've been scooping them up like little jewels. I want a special book shelf of my favorite books in the new house. AND GUESS WHAT?? The new house has a READING NOOK that has a window and just enough space for a chair + bookshelf. I'm so excited. A reading nook???? Oh that is SO cool.
Also if you get books in those boxes that you already have and want to sell or give away, I'll gladly take a look!! I love getting new books, and you have good tastes.
Will do!! Would you want regular books, too? Because I have a feeling many of them won't be coming with us. |
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Post by RAVENEYE on Jun 15, 2023 7:32:59 GMT -6
What other random things...I've been spending all my extra money (which isn't much) on special editions of my favorite books. Ones from book boxes like Fairyloot, Bookish Box, Illumicrate, Faecrate, Owlcrate. I've been excited to see a lot of my recent favorites being part of their monthly subscriptions. I joined facebook groups of people selling the ones they don't want and I've been scooping them up like little jewels. I want a special book shelf of my favorite books in the new house. AND GUESS WHAT?? The new house has a READING NOOK that has a window and just enough space for a chair + bookshelf. I'm so excited. What magical places are these???? Checking them out. I LOVE the B&N special editions of the classics b/c they're beautiful AND cheap. But I'm gonna look into these sites and see what magical things I can find. |
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Post by RAVENEYE on Jun 15, 2023 7:45:13 GMT -6
Is it weird that I got enjoyment out of organizing last week? I rode a burst of energy and organized, rearranged, and declutterred a bedroom and a few closets. It's so satisfying to have things tidy. Even hung some wall art that had gone ignored for 1-2 years. I also spent last Sunday literally doodling symbols on my phone, almost all day, for a D&D character. I'm no artist, but it was a lot of fun and I think the doodles will come in use! Share the energy, please. I need to do this soooo badly. My shoes alone are about to spill out of my closet. It's ... embarrassing. |
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Post by Alatariel on Jun 15, 2023 19:37:10 GMT -6
What other random things...I've been spending all my extra money (which isn't much) on special editions of my favorite books. Ones from book boxes like Fairyloot, Bookish Box, Illumicrate, Faecrate, Owlcrate. I've been excited to see a lot of my recent favorites being part of their monthly subscriptions. I joined facebook groups of people selling the ones they don't want and I've been scooping them up like little jewels. I want a special book shelf of my favorite books in the new house. AND GUESS WHAT?? The new house has a READING NOOK that has a window and just enough space for a chair + bookshelf. I'm so excited. What magical places are these???? Checking them out. I LOVE the B&N special editions of the classics b/c they're beautiful AND cheap. But I'm gonna look into these sites and see what magical things I can find. is the Special Edition Books BST (buy/sell/trade) facebook group. Though I've joined like 5 groups, they all have the same people it seems because I see all the same posts. The other ones are: The Official Fairyloot B/S/T , Owlcrate Official B/S/T , and the Bookish ISO Group which only allows ISO posts. It's been the best place when I want something specific and hard to find. I post and ISO and usually someone comments they have it for X price. They all have strict rules, like only using paypal goods and services and you have to be able to prove YOU own the book by posting a written note with your books. I am subscribed to Fairyloot YA and Adult book only book boxes. They have the most gorgeous special edition books. I went on the waitlist and got the email to subscribe a couple months later. They will also send out special early access emails for the books that aren't monthly subscription books. I'M OBSESSED. My favorite is A Taste of Gold and Iron from Goldsboro. It's GORGEOUS. I highly recommend reading that book. It's the best ever. |
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Post by RAVENEYE on Jun 16, 2023 11:09:50 GMT -6
What magical places are these???? Checking them out. I LOVE the B&N special editions of the classics b/c they're beautiful AND cheap. But I'm gonna look into these sites and see what magical things I can find. is the Special Edition Books BST (buy/sell/trade) facebook group. Though I've joined like 5 groups, they all have the same people it seems because I see all the same posts. The other ones are: The Official Fairyloot B/S/T , Owlcrate Official B/S/T , and the Bookish ISO Group which only allows ISO posts. It's been the best place when I want something specific and hard to find. I post and ISO and usually someone comments they have it for X price. They all have strict rules, like only using paypal goods and services and you have to be able to prove YOU own the book by posting a written note with your books. I am subscribed to Fairyloot YA and Adult book only book boxes. They have the most gorgeous special edition books. I went on the waitlist and got the email to subscribe a couple months later. They will also send out special early access emails for the books that aren't monthly subscription books. I'M OBSESSED. My favorite is A Taste of Gold and Iron from Goldsboro. It's GORGEOUS. I highly recommend reading that book. It's the best ever. OOO, thanks for the links! So I looked up Illumicrate last night and started drooling. SUCH GORGEOUS BOOKS! I follow several bookstagrams on Instagram and I was wondering where/how the heck these readers were finding these gorgeous special editions. Now I know. And now I'm doomed. I shall be longing for these things until I can afford the sub. Until then, I'll be stalking the FB groups. |
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Bird
Counselor
Posts: 350
Custom Title: World Creator and Destroyer
Preferred Pronouns: they/them/their
HARD: 1700
MEDIUM: 400
EASY: 110
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Post by Bird on Jun 27, 2023 1:13:14 GMT -6
A reading nook???? Oh that is SO cool.
Also if you get books in those boxes that you already have and want to sell or give away, I'll gladly take a look!! I love getting new books, and you have good tastes.
Will do!! Would you want regular books, too? Because I have a feeling many of them won't be coming with us. depends on the book. if it's SF or fantasy, then sure - as long as I don't already have it. lol |
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Post by RAVENEYE on Jul 18, 2023 12:07:38 GMT -6
Gasp! I got another one! If y'all like the sketch and etch thing, you might like this one too: My sister introduced me to Diamond Art this weekend. Know what that is? I had NO idea when she mentioned it to me in a text. I even thought it was some pesky autocorrect-typo thing. Could NOT figure out what she was talking about until I googled it. My jaw dropped. How did I miss this bit of magic? It's even less stressful than the etch-sketch thing I mentioned above. It's literally paint by number but with blingy little jewel beads. Zero thinking, zero decisions. The design tells you where to put the things, so you do and you end up with shimmery pretty stuff. Cheap too! A 16x20 picture, with all the beads and tools you need, is $12. Amazon's images about what this is are not great, but here's a site devoted just to this addiction (but the kits are way more expensive there): www.diamondartclub.com/This is what my sister requested for her birthday present. So I loaded her up. She said, "Get yourself some too, and we'll do them together." So this is what I ordered for moi: MAGIC TREE SPRINGING OUT OF BOOK DESIGNBOOKMARKSCOASTERS FOR MY LIVING ROOMSo while my family was hanging out in lake water in 95 degree heat (no thanks), I was in the air conditioned house doing these. I finished the coasters today. They are so shiny and eye-catchy and unique. And I admit it, I'm totally addicted to these too. |
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Post by Alatariel on Jul 23, 2023 10:40:00 GMT -6
Gasp! I got another one! If y'all like the sketch and etch thing, you might like this one too: My sister introduced me to Diamond Art this weekend. Know what that is? I had NO idea when she mentioned it to me in a text. I even thought it was some pesky autocorrect-typo thing. Could NOT figure out what she was talking about until I googled it. My jaw dropped. How did I miss this bit of magic? It's even less stressful than the etch-sketch thing I mentioned above. It's literally paint by number but with blingy little jewel beads. Zero thinking, zero decisions. The design tells you where to put the things, so you do and you end up with shimmery pretty stuff. Cheap too! A 16x20 picture, with all the beads and tools you need, is $12. Amazon's images about what this is are not great, but here's a site devoted just to this addiction (but the kits are way more expensive there): www.diamondartclub.com/This is what my sister requested for her birthday present. So I loaded her up. She said, "Get yourself some too, and we'll do them together." So this is what I ordered for moi: MAGIC TREE SPRINGING OUT OF BOOK DESIGNBOOKMARKSCOASTERS FOR MY LIVING ROOMSo while my family was hanging out in lake water in 95 degree heat (no thanks), I was in the air conditioned house doing these. I finished the coasters today. They are so shiny and eye-catchy and unique. And I admit it, I'm totally addicted to these too. I've totally seen those advertised and thought they looked really fun. Nova has done a kids version and it's lovely. I haven't tried it though but it seems like a craft I could actually do with minimal frustration. Unlike crocheting...not for me. Well my random thing is...moving to another state? I cannot emphasize the amount of mental and physical labor involved in moving a family of 5. Holy. Crap. Never again. We're stuck here forever because I hated every second of it. The only good part was the drive because we stopped at Arches National Park, the Grand Canyon, Roswell, and Carlsbad Caverns. Carlsbad is SO COOL. I highly recommend it. And it's accessible! My mother in law can't walk very much or for long periods. There's an elevator down to The Big Room and part of the path around the room is wheelchair accessible. And there's a cafe down there, too. The Big Room was the best part anyways so you're not missing out by skipping the hike into the caverns. Actually, the hike was kind of not worth the work. I wish I did the elevator and saved myself A LOT of exhaustion and stressed. Flynn was strapped to my chest the WHOLE TIME. My legs and butt hurt soooo bad for like three days afterward. Cleo was in a backpack on Mike the whole time. We were DEAD afterwards. And Nova and I went back at night to see the bats leave the cave. So cool. Dream come true. The new house is fantastic. Much bigger. The Texas heat isn't as bad as folks kept telling me it was, especially since I can just stay inside during the hottest part of the day. Unpacking is endless but we aren't rushed like we were while packing so that's nice. We got the kitchen in order first so I can cook and feel a bit at home. Right now we are building our new couches. They're a beautiful dark green velvety texture and I'm in love! They come in pieces because the couches are modular and can be detached and moved around and changed. Anyways...my world is consumed with boxes and trash and more boxes and living out of suitcases until our closet can get in order, and mess...but WE DID IT. |
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Please keep sharing! I love it!
You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
