Shakesville: community

Showing posts with label community. Show all posts

Showing posts with label community. Show all posts

World of Shakescraft

image of colorful yarn

[Via Shirsty Cat Designs. You can buy their beautiful yarn here.]
As you know, I am not a crafty person. I am terrible at crafts! And I'm only slightly better with DIY home projects, with the occasional modest success.

But lots of Shakers are very talented crafters and DIY-ers, and I am happy to read about all of your terrific projects! So here is a thread to talk about your current crafting and/or DIY project(s), completed projects, or future projects; to share ideas; to brag about your successes or lament your setbacks; and to solicit advice from fellow creators!

(As always, make sure you don't offer advice unless it's solicited.)

Have at it in comments!

The Self-Care Thread

image of the interior of an airplane cabin, to which I've added text reading: 'Self-Care Is Survival'

Every time we fly somewhere on a commercial plane, the flight attendants give us a safety instruction that includes some variation on this note: "In case of emergency, oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you. Please make sure to secure your own mask before assisting others."

We are living in a state of emergency on a broad scale, from electoral politics to climate change, and it can get overwhelming — especially when we've all got our own emergencies with which to contend.

It's easy to forget that we need to take care of ourselves, in whatever ways we can, because we need it for our own damn selves, and because we can't help anyone else if we're totally tapped out.

It's also not always easy to figure out ways to practice self-care, so here's a thread for discussion.

What are you doing to do to take care of yourself today, or in the near future, as soon as you can?

If you are someone who has a hard time engaging in self-care, or figuring out easy, fast, and/or inexpensive ways to treat yourself, and you would like to solicit suggestions, please feel welcome. And, as always, no one should offer advice unless it is solicited.

The Fun and Games Thread

image of a Qwixx game card, filled out after a completed game, pictured on my dining room table along with a pen and colorful dice

Qwixx: One of the favorite games played at Shakes Manor!
Here is a thread for discussion of all things gaming: Board games, card games, video games, dice games, role-playing games, strategy games, party games, whether you play in groups or on your own. Tell us all about the games you're playing these days and/or games you love that are perennial favorites!

* * *

As I have mentioned once or twice or many times, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is my favorite video game of all time, so I am REALLY EXCITED about Oddworld: Soulstorm, which is a direct sequel two decades later and will reportedly be released early next year. I CAN'T EVEN WAIT!!!

image of Abe, the main character from Oddworld, standing in front of a tsunami, accompanied by text reading: ODDWORLD SOULSTORM

I'm comin' for ya, Abe!

#365feministselfie: Week 25

I am participating once again in the #365feministselfie project, now in its sixth year. Here is a thread for others to share selfies and/or talk about the project, visibility generally, self-appreciation, and related topics. And also because I always just love seeing your splendid faces!

A few of my selfies over the last week and a half:

image of me from the shoulders up, standing my garden, wearing grey-framed glasses and a black tank-top, smiling slightly

I was in A Mood.

image of me with my BFF Deeky from the shoulders up inside a dark theater

In Brooklyn with Deeks for the taping of Gary Gulman's
special The Great Depresh. Eeeeee!!!

image of me in a bar, taken from my midsection looking upward; I am smiling with my hair down and wearing grey-framed glasses and a t-shirt that says 'Vulgar Lush'

I was super prepared to see Gar. ("Vulgar Lush" is from one of his bits.)

image of my foot resting on the back of the sofa; Iain is sitting on the sofa with his back to me, reaching over his head to grab my toes

"What are you doing?" "I'm trying to start a friction fire with your toes!"

image of me standing in a full-length mirror in my guest room, with my hair down, wearing grey-framed glasses, a light turquoise blouse, dark grey trousers, and grey shoes

A going-out-for-BBQ with Iain and Deeks look.

image of me standing in my driveway smiling, pictured from the shoulders up, wearing grey-framed glasses, red lip gloss, a white cami, and a loose black cover-up with a floral print

On my way out for a date with Iain.

image of me in a full-length mirror in my guest room, with my hair down, wearing a black necklace, a lavender long-sleeved top, and a black skort with white polka dots

A going to therapy look.

close-up of me showing off the black necklace I am wearing in the previous photo: it reads 'protagonist'

Be the star of your own story.
Please feel welcome and encouraged to share your own selfies in comments, or share your thoughts on the project, or solicit encouragement or advice, or do whatever else feels best for you to participate, if you are inclined to do so!

World of Shakescraft

image of colorful yarn

[Via Shirsty Cat Designs. You can buy their beautiful yarn here.]
As you know, I am not a crafty person. I am terrible at crafts! And I'm only slightly better with DIY home projects, with the occasional modest success.

But lots of Shakers are very talented crafters and DIY-ers, and I am happy to read about all of your terrific projects! So here is a thread to talk about your current crafting and/or DIY project(s), completed projects, or future projects; to share ideas; to brag about your successes or lament your setbacks; and to solicit advice from fellow creators!

(As always, make sure you don't offer advice unless it's solicited.)

Have at it in comments!

The Self-Care Thread

image of the interior of an airplane cabin, to which I've added text reading: 'Self-Care Is Survival'

Every time we fly somewhere on a commercial plane, the flight attendants give us a safety instruction that includes some variation on this note: "In case of emergency, oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you. Please make sure to secure your own mask before assisting others."

We are living in a state of emergency on a broad scale, from electoral politics to climate change, and it can get overwhelming — especially when we've all got our own emergencies with which to contend.

It's easy to forget that we need to take care of ourselves, in whatever ways we can, because we need it for our own damn selves, and because we can't help anyone else if we're totally tapped out.

It's also not always easy to figure out ways to practice self-care, so here's a thread for discussion.

What are you doing to do to take care of yourself today, or in the near future, as soon as you can?

If you are someone who has a hard time engaging in self-care, or figuring out easy, fast, and/or inexpensive ways to treat yourself, and you would like to solicit suggestions, please feel welcome. And, as always, no one should offer advice unless it is solicited.

#365feministselfie: Week 25

Happy National Selfie Day!

I am participating once again in the #365feministselfie project, now in its sixth year. Here is a thread for others to share selfies and/or talk about the project, visibility generally, self-appreciation, and related topics. And also because I always just love seeing your splendid faces!

A few of my selfies over the last two weeks:

image of me in a grocery store, pictured from the shoulders up, smiling broadly, with my hair pulled back in a bun and wearing grey-framed glasses and a grey t-shirt

I took the above photo right after I accidentally put kaiser rolls in a stranger's cart at the grocery store. "That's my cart," she said. "Oh, I just thought you might want some kaiser rolls," I said. And we both totally cracked up.

image of my legs stretched out across the sofa; Dudley the Greyhound is lying beside them with his legs tangled with mine

Rainy day nap. Tangle of legs.

image of my grinning face peeking out from behind a large bouquet of flowers

On our 17th anniversary, Iain brought me a giant, colorful,
fragrant bouquet, and I was really excited about it!

image of me standing in a full-length mirror, with my hair down, wearing grey-framed glasses, a purple floral blouse, blue jeans, and purple and burgundy pumps

Out to lunch with a friend look.

image of my face in close-up, with my hair down and wearing grey-framed glasses, standing in my garden with a lens flare creating the look of my having rainbow-streaked hair

Not a filter. A real-ass lens flare!

image of me from the shoulders up at a restaurant; I am smiling slightly with my hair down and wearing large black glasses and a slate grey top

Anniversary dinner at Morimoto. Omg. So amazing.

image of me from the chest up, with my hair pulled back and wearing grey-framed glasses and a Dirty Dancing t-shirt, lying on the couch with Zelda the Black and Tan Mutt beside me

Cuddle buddy.

image of me from the chest up, sitting at my desk resting my cheek on my hand, with my hair in a topknot and wearing grey-framed glasses and a green-patterned tank top

Working.
Please feel welcome and encouraged to share your own selfies in comments, or share your thoughts on the project, or solicit encouragement or advice, or do whatever else feels best for you to participate, if you are inclined to do so!

You Are Not Alone

image of a group of people in silhouette on a beach at dusk, to which I've added text reading 'You are not alone.'

[Background image via Pixabay.]
If you are overwhelmed by the ruthless onslaught of the Trump Regime's malice that permeates the news every day—

If you are seized by sadness or rage at the ferocious sadism of their cruel agenda—

If you are feeling utterly impotent in trying to effectively counter any of the heinous attacks on vulnerable people that are coming ever more swiftly—

If you are disappointed in the people with power who are meant to take action they are refusing to take—

If you are stuck in a place with few like-minded allies, inundated instead with the hateful disgorgements of Republican cultists—

If you ache with heartbreak and indignation at the public celebrations of harm perpetrated on a mass scale—

If you wonder how the people designing and facilitating and defending that harm can live with themselves, and wonder equally how you can live with their actions being done in your name—

If you are drowning in a whirlpool of emotions so impenetrably oppressive that you can hardly tell where one ends and the next begins, as your anguish bleeds into your fury bleeds into your desperation bleeds into your fear—

If you are more frightened than you have ever been—

If you don't know from where your next bit of energy to stay engaged will come—

If you are battling intrusive thoughts that in turn battle each other for your focus, and your mind skips from election integrity to concentration camps to climate change to police violence to the erosion of abortion access to healthcare to this to that like a record spinning ceaselessly on a turntable you can't reach to quiet—

If you need to cry, or if you're already crying a lot—

If you need help—

If you don't know how you're supposed to keep doing the things that life obliges us to do every day when your country, our world, the entire planet seems to be falling into fascism—

If you are feeling hopeless—

If you are hanging on by your fingernails—

— know this: You are not alone.

We live in an era of official and pervasive gaslighting. There are people who want to tell you that you aren't seeing what you're seeing; that you don't have a legitimate reason to feel what you are feeling.

There are people who will insult you, harass you, threaten you for expressing the pain of the wounds being caused by this relentless trauma, in order to silence you. They will tell you that you are hysterical and weak.

There are people who insist, if you express the reverberating grief and anger bouncing around your insides like an unstoppable pinball, that you are overreacting; that you are oversensitive; that you are crazy.

You are none of these things.

You are empathetic and compassionate and willing to keep looking when others look away, because you care about other humans; because their lives matter to you.

You are strong and you are resisting and you are surviving.

And you are not alone.

[Related Reading: Malice Is His Agenda. Compassion Is Mine.]

It's Delightful, It's Delicious, It's De-Lovely...

...it's De-lurk Day! We haven't had one of these in quite a while, so all you Shaker lurkers who rarely or never pipe up, don't be shy; say hi!

image of me concealing half my face

Cheeky devils!
And, as always, no one should feel obliged to stop lurking. These threads are a meant as a safe and easy space for people who do lurk to pop in if they want to, and some people have used them as a springboard to regular commenting, but that doesn't have to be the case at all.

Lurking is one of many ways to be part of this community, and if lurking feels best to you — lurk away! lurk away! :)

Awesome Things About Aging

image of a forest floor covered in fallen leaves, with sunlight streaming through trees in the background, to which I've added text reading 'The Aging Thread'

[Photo credit: Pixabay.]
A thread to share your positive takes on getting older, because there is so much cultural incentive to complain about aging and very little incentive to enthuse about it.

Aging is scary for lots of people, probably all the more so due to the dearth of positive messages about aging. Celebrating what's good about it can demystify and deterrorize it for younger folks.

It also visibilizes those of us who don't have nostalgia for any "glory years" past and wouldn't go back to our younger days for love nor money. I am very contentedly aging, and I love to talk about its benefits (far beyond that old chestnut about its being better than the alternative) and to listen to others talk about what they enjoy, appreciate, and value about aging.

So here is a thread to share and discuss all the things that you've found are awesome about getting older!

The Self-Care Thread

image of the interior of an airplane cabin, to which I've added text reading: 'Self-Care Is Survival'

[Note: This is the thread formerly known as "Discussion Thread: Self-Care." I've just retitled it and added an image, the background of which comes via Pixabay.]

Every time we fly somewhere on a commercial plane, the flight attendants give us a safety instruction that includes some variation on this note: "In case of emergency, oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you. Please make sure to secure your own mask before assisting others."

We are living in a state of emergency on a broad scale, from electoral politics to climate change, and it can get overwhelming — especially when we've all got our own emergencies with which to contend.

It's easy to forget that we need to take care of ourselves, in whatever ways we can, because we need it for our own damn selves, and because we can't help anyone else if we're totally tapped out.

It's also not always easy to figure out ways to practice self-care, so here's a thread for discussion.

What are you doing to do to take care of yourself today, or in the near future, as soon as you can?

If you are someone who has a hard time engaging in self-care, or figuring out easy, fast, and/or inexpensive ways to treat yourself, and you would like to solicit suggestions, please feel welcome. And, as always, no one should offer advice unless it is solicited.

#365feministselfie: Week 23

I am participating once again in the #365feministselfie project, now in its sixth year. Here is a thread for others to share selfies and/or talk about the project, visibility generally, self-appreciation, and related topics. And also because I always just love seeing your splendid faces!

A few of my selfies over the last two weeks:

image of me from the shoulders up standing in my garden in front of a rose bush with large pink blooms, with my hair down and blowing in the breeze, wearing grey-framed glasses and a grey tank top

Stopping to smell the roses. (They smell amazing, btw.)

image of me from the shoulders up sitting in a restaurant smiling, with my hair pulled up into a bun, wearing sunglasses and a ringer tee with a white torso and grey arms

At lunch with Iain. As is evident, care of my specs!

image of me standing in a full-length mirror, wearing a purple flowered dress and a lilac cardigan with brown and navy oxford shoes, with my contacts in and hair pulled back in a ponytail

One of my favorite dinner-with-friends ensembles.

image of the top of the back of my head, as I sit in my living room

I was trying to take a picture of my fancy hair twist,
but I missed. I like this picture, though!

image of me from the shoulders up, standing in a parking lot at dusk, smiling, my hair pulled back into a bun, wearing grey-framed glasses, a ringer tee, and denim overalls

Date night!

image of me standing in my bathroom mirror, seen from the waist up, with my hair down, wearing grey-framed glasses and a tie-waist burgundy blouse with a floral pattern

Oh hello.

image of me from the neck up, sitting in my living room with a slightly scheming look on my face, wearing grey-framed glasses and a grey tank top, with my hair pulled up into a top knot on the top of my head

A ruthless reality show competition called Top Knot.

image of me standing in a full-length mirror, wearing a light aquamarine top with a red and white floral pattern on the bottom and back, blue jeans, and red loafers

A take-the-dogs-to-the-vet look.
Please feel welcome and encouraged to share your own selfies in comments, or share your thoughts on the project, or solicit encouragement or advice, or do whatever else feels best for you to participate, if you are inclined to do so!

Keep Shakesville Gallopin' Along

image of a mini horse galloping in a field, to which I've added large text reading LOOK AT THIS MINI HORSE!

[Image via Pixabay.]
Now that I have your attention: This is, for those who have requested it, your bi-monthly reminder to donate to Shakesville and an important fundraiser to keep Shakesville gallopin' along.

(I know. Galloping along. I AM SORRY! But I wanted to post a picture of a mini horse BECAUSE THEY ARE FUCKING ADORABLE and "pony up!" felt a little aggressive, lol.)

Anyway! Y'all know all the reasons I have to request donations on the regular, all of which essentially come down to this: If you don't donate, I don't make money, and I can't do a full-time job for less than a liveable wage.

So, if you value the content and/or community in this space, please consider setting up a subscription or making a single end-of-year contribution.

Please click the button below to make a one-time donation:

Or use the below dropdown menu to choose set up a recurring monthly donation:

As I mentioned on Wednesday, I have also set up a Venmo account, and you can make a donation via their mobile app. There's also a link in the sidebar. My transactions are set to private, so no one will ever be able to see any information about any donations you make.

As always: Please note that I don't want anyone to feel obliged to contribute financially, especially if money is tight. There is a big enough readership that no one needs to donate if it would be a hardship.

One of the things I hate most about fundraising is knowing that it might make some people feel bad, if they want to donate but aren't able. I would never presume to tell you how to feel, but please know that I don't want you to feel bad.

Your kind words and gestures sustain me, too — and your encouragement makes doing this easier. Y'all support me in many ways, and I am immensely thankful for them all. ♥

World of Shakescraft

image of colorful yarn

[Via Shirsty Cat Designs. You can buy their beautiful yarn here.]
As you know, I am not a crafty person. I am terrible at crafts! And I'm only slightly better with DIY home projects, with the occasional modest success.

But lots of Shakers are very talented crafters and DIY-ers, and I am happy to read about all of your terrific projects! So here is a thread to talk about your current crafting and/or DIY project(s), completed projects, or future projects; to share ideas; to brag about your successes or lament your setbacks; and to solicit advice from fellow creators!

(As always, make sure you don't offer advice unless it's solicited.)

Have at it in comments!

The Fun and Games Thread

image of a Qwixx game card, filled out after a completed game, pictured on my dining room table along with a pen and colorful dice

Qwixx: One of the favorite games played at Shakes Manor!
Here is a thread for discussion of all things gaming: Board games, card games, video games, dice games, role-playing games, strategy games, party games, whether you play in groups or on your own. Tell us all about the games you're playing these days and/or games you love that are perennial favorites!

Discussion Thread: Self-Care

What are you doing to do to take care of yourself today, or in the near future, as soon as you can?

If you are someone who has a hard time engaging in self-care, or figuring out easy, fast, and/or inexpensive ways to treat yourself, and you would like to solicit suggestions, please feel welcome. And, as always, no one should offer advice unless it is solicited.

* * *

A few days ago, I booked myself an appointment for a facial soon. The last time I had a facial was about four years ago, so I decided I'm due for a little pampering.

In the meantime, I'm going to make a simple but tasty and nutritious dinner, and then I'm going to try to relax this evening.

World of Shakescraft

image of colorful yarn

[Via Shirsty Cat Designs. You can buy their beautiful yarn here.]
As you know, I am not a crafty person. I am terrible at crafts! And I'm only slightly better with DIY home projects, with the occasional modest success.

But lots of Shakers are very talented crafters and DIY-ers, and I am happy to read about all of your terrific projects! So here is a thread to talk about your current crafting and/or DIY project(s), completed projects, or future projects; to share ideas; to brag about your successes or lament your setbacks; and to solicit advice from fellow creators!

(As always, make sure you don't offer advice unless it's solicited.)

Have at it in comments!

#365feministselfie: Week 21

I am participating once again in the #365feministselfie project, now in its sixth year. Here is a thread for others to share selfies and/or talk about the project, visibility generally, self-appreciation, and related topics. And also because I always just love seeing your splendid faces!

A few of my selfies over the last two weeks:

image of me in a full-length mirror, wearing grey-framed glasses, dark blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a grey cardigan, with my hair pulled up into a bun on the top of my head

Probably the last chance I'll have to wear this sweater this year!

image of me from the shoulders up, wearing grey-framed glasses and a grey tank top, smiling

A thank-fuck-it's-Friday grin.

image of me standing in a full-length mirror, with my hair down, wearing black-framed glasses, a long black tunic, a pink skirt with a pattern of black insects on it, and black loafers

A honey bee in an insect skirt for her 45th birthday.

image of me from the shoulders up, with my hair down, wearing light makeup, black-framed glasses, and a black top

This is 45.

image of me standing in my garden from the shoulders up, wearing grey-framed glasses, a black and grey t-shirt, and a bright yellow and pinky-orange straw hat, the brim of which I'm lifting with my hand clad in a yellow gardening glove

Weeding and planting.
(And wearing a too-big hat that I carried in my hand all the way back from Puerto Rico, because I wore it all over and didn't want to leave it behind or smash it in my bag, and I'm glad I didn't, because it is a perfect gardening hat.)

image of me from mid-chest up, standing in front of an evergreen, wearing grey-framed glasses and my Mr. Celery t-shirt, pointing to a sticker on my chest reading 'I Voted'

I voted!

image of me standing in a full-length mirror, with my hair down, wearing grey-framed glasses, a blue blouse with a floral pattern, pink jeans, and white sneakers

'Twas a pink jeans day.
Please feel welcome and encouraged to share your own selfies in comments, or share your thoughts on the project, or solicit encouragement or advice, or do whatever else feels best for you to participate, if you are inclined to do so!

Awesome Things About Aging

image of a forest floor covered in fallen leaves, with sunlight streaming through trees in the background, to which I've added text reading 'The Aging Thread'

[Photo credit: Pixabay.]
A thread to share your positive takes on getting older, because there is so much cultural incentive to complain about aging and very little incentive to enthuse about it.

Aging is scary for lots of people, probably all the more so due to the dearth of positive messages about aging. Celebrating what's good about it can demystify and deterrorize it for younger folks.

It also visibilizes those of us who don't have nostalgia for any "glory years" past and wouldn't go back to our younger days for love nor money. I am very contentedly aging, and I love to talk about its benefits (far beyond that old chestnut about its being better than the alternative) and to listen to others talk about what they enjoy, appreciate, and value about aging.

So here is a thread to share and discuss all the things that you've found are awesome about getting older!

Discussion Thread: Self-Care

What are you doing to do to take care of yourself today, or in the near future, as soon as you can?

If you are someone who has a hard time engaging in self-care, or figuring out easy, fast, and/or inexpensive ways to treat yourself, and you would like to solicit suggestions, please feel welcome. And, as always, no one should offer advice unless it is solicited.

* * *

A few days ago, I decided to treat myself (and, by extension, Iain — lucky bloke!) by ordering a pair of Stilton pork pies, which are one of my favorite things. They just arrived yesterday, and I'm really looking forward to making them for dinner. I haven't had one in years, so it'll be a nice treat.

And I'm hoping to get in a little more garden time this weekend, if the weather cooperates. Making time to be outdoors lately has been good for me.