On NPR I heard a great interview with the author of the book "How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up." They talked about using your imagination and ignoring that society says you must be serious and never silly, among other things. So, you know - be a furry 😀 www.npr.org/2026/08/05/n...

Because I didn't beat the heck out of myself at the county fair enough last weekend, it appears that I'll be at the Bristol Renaissance Faire on Saturday. This should be an interesting challenge on crutches, but why not? Alas, it's been 25+ years since I needed my SCA garb, so that's all long gone.

There will come a day when I read the word Spiderman and don't hear a little voice saying "Piderman" in my head, but I hope that day doesn't come soon.

“It was the dawn of the third age of mankind….” www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/ba...

Babylon 5 Is Streaming For Free On YouTube And That's Only The Start Of The Good News

Babylon 5 now has an official YouTube channel with full episodes available, so there's no excuse to miss out on the best sci-fi show of all time.

giantfreakinrobot.com

Since I'm on about it, I suppose I should mention my upcoming itinerary again. If anyone is along the way and would like to say hi, I'd welcome the company! Half the fun of these trips is meeting new people, after all 🙂

Over the years I've driven solo over 30,000 miles (48,200km) across the US and Canada. There's something so freeing about being on the road, unbeholden to anyone and on my own schedule. I've seen incredible things and met wonderful people along the way. I'm looking forward to the next adventure!

I have done pretty much zero travel this summer and I am going stir crazy. I've done road trips every summer since 2021, and I'm really missing getting out on the road again, even though it'll be without my dear boy Charlie. I kick off my circumnavigation of Lake Michigan on Sept 4 and I can't wait!

There is no version of yourself you could become that would satisfy the people who hate you. So you might as well be who you are.

The other entertaining thing: As I was paying for my ticket , I gave the gentleman a $20 bill for my $15 Adult ticket. He took in my crutches (and maybe the gray hair peeking out of my hat) and handed me $15 back, giving me a $5 Senior ticket. Um, thanks? I guess? I was too amused to be offended.

Side note to today: the teenager who scanned my ticket into the fair complimented me on my rainbow shirt and pointed to the progress flag patch on their shorts. I smiled and said, "That's awesome!" That's who I wear queer symbols for: others who need to know there's other people out there like them.

The big purchase called for a beer at my local taproom to celebrate, and I met some new husky frens!

Also, I just pulled the trigger on a long-overdue purchase: a new sectional sofa! The one I have is 17 years old and has had a good run. I was happy to buy from the same local store where we bought the last one because they've always provided great service. (My Family Furniture, Grayslake, IL)

And of course one of the main reasons I went to the fair was to see The Canine Stars Stunt Show! Here’s Shazam the border collie clearing an 8-foot (2.4m) jump!

Scenes from a county fair. I’ve earned this Anti-Hero IPA!

It's a grey, wet morning. I'm enjoying a nice cup of coffee on the sofa, listening to the steady rain falling outside punctuated by the occasional cries of a nearby blue jay. This is a lovely way to start the day.

It’s Seattle’s own Jimothy! I have a small stack of them cut out from 16 gauge steel. Would anyone be interested for $30 plus shipping? North America only for now, sadly. DM me an email address if you want one! I’ll update this post if I run out.

Friday music randomness: Laszlo Bane did the song "Superman", the theme song to Scrubs. A song that made it big after being featured on Scrubs was Colin Hay's "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You". I never realized LB and Hay did a cover of "Overkill" though! www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVBk...

Overkill - Lazlo Bane (featuring Colin Hay) Remastered

YouTube video by Lazlo Bane

youtube.com

Part of my PT exercises is "front and side hurdles": 4 "hurdles" (quart deli containers). Step between them one way, then back. Repeat 5 times. Then do it sideways, out and back 5 times. Now repeat those sets 3 times. Holy shit, those kick my ass, which kind of tells you where I am these days.

you activated his one border collie brain cell #art #furryart #wip stream sketch for @mellowmink.bsky.social

Me, this morning: "I found this in the bottom of my shirt drawer, so I guess I haven't work it in a long while." Huh. I guess I haven't worn it in a *very* long while!

Two months ago I asked my doctor to prescribe PrEP, specifically Yeztugo (one shot every 6 months). Since then it's been a comedy of errors. Multiple blood tests. Botched prescription so the pharmacy needed clarification. Oh wait, my doc can prescribe it but no one there is trained to administer it.

I was looking at the National Weather Service's survey of storm damage from the Monday, 27 July storms around Chicago and saw this. It's a great reminder that tornadoes don't always move in straight lines, and the best thing to do when you see one is to take shelter immediately!

Every time I feel like I'm overly-relying on crutches and I try to walk any distance without them, I'm reminded that oh yeah, that fucking hurts. Trying to unpack exactly why I feel bad about this is weird and complicated, and probably a great conversation with a future therapist.

As if Malört wasn't bad enough by itself, they are offering "Sport Malört", with sport peppers infused in Malört.

I came over to the local farmers market to maybe pick up some produce and…um, oops?

I'm also hopeful that people will make use of the business directory. I'm adding an "open for collabs" flag for accounts too, for social things.

This is pretty darned nifty, and a great fandom-based alternative to Linktree or Carrd. The skeevy must-monetize crap from Linktree is especially nice to leave in the dust.

BowieBarks - the pup of pawfee ☕@bowie.barks.cafe · last wk.

The link-in-bio app for the furry fandom that I've been working on, #PawPals, is now public! The goal is to replace things like linktree and carrd for furries, as you can search for profiles and make new connections. Please give it a try! pawpals.place

Gym wolf who is taking a break from doing gym wolf things.

My physical therapist called out this morning, so no PT today. My PT exercises are going OK for the most part, but balancing on the bad ankle while standing on a foam mat for 30 seconds? Yeah, that kicks my ass. I'll get there, but that one starts to hurt pretty fast (at which point I stop!).