Unconventional Courtship

And then back to 1992!

So I went to the Gallipolis Steampunk event at the train museum put on by the Bossard Library. If it wasn't for people like me dressing up there wouldn't be much steampunky about it. It's about a dozen vendors on the street and half of which I just saw at Final Boss Con last week. That said I found someone with steampunk themed badge holders (cheap) and I got one...one I could have easily made but eh it was 10 bucks. I also found a gift for someone for Christmas. And I got a cool D20 pendant that dangles a sizeable plague doctor from it. It might be my new favorite thing.

I ran into L there, doing a puppet show. She saw me first. I actually hadn't noticed her because if I'm honest, I hate puppets and was actively not looking at her booth. They freak me out. Also I'm over worrying about doing voices for my stories. I can at least do this good and L is out there doing shows all the time. I need to channel that confidence.

It wasn't much and I was done in an hour and only because I'm slow. I went to Remo's for a hot dog and changed in the library and then it was off to Free comic book day in Huntington. I had debated Remo's or Hillbilly Hot Dogs, buy gas in Gallipolis (50 cents cheaper than Jackson) or in Huntington.

Remo over Hillbilly good choice (there wasn't a place to park when I drove by and they were literally on the side of the street for a quarter mile). Got gas in Gallipolis, bad call, was another 50 cents cheaper in WV (a dollar less than here)

Free comic book day turns out to be the same day as a Renn fest in Huntington. Next year maybe I'll do that. Inner Geek must be so big they let you take as many free comics as you want. I took most.

Afterward I went back to 1992...which is what this mall always feels like. I skipped Macy's because they got rid of their plus sizes but then the TJ Maxx/Homegoods ALSO ditched their selection. I can't stress this enough. We are on average bigger now than ever and this is two stores in the last six months decided to ditch ALL plus clothing.

So I decide to go into the mall itself which I haven't done in years. I know there were three plus sized shops there. Torrid was there with a bra I loved but again the sizes were pretty small on the band sizes (but I shall check online) and they had a belt that I would love for my cosplay but it was way more than it needed to be.

They had a branch of Superhero Creamery (the comic book store/ice cream shop from Ashland KY) and I got a graphic novel (they only allowed you one free comic book)

There is a Dave and Busters in there. And I found the theater which I needed to because I've never seen it (have I never been behind the mall in 20 years?!?) and I have tickets for it for the finale of The Amazing Digital Circus

Even the Books a Million had a crowd. And publishers are trying hard to get us to buy books with those gorgeous sprayed edges and end pages. Love it.

Hit chili's. It was packed at 430. They had a popping bobba watermelon margarita (talk about mashing up cultures) but it was good.

Here have some science Saturday all from one source because I'm exhausted (so tired that if I didn't have a test to make for monday I swear I would have gone to a hotel in Huntington and gone to sleep at 5 pm. I walked around BAM for nearly an hour trying to work up


Heartbeats physically stop cardiac cancer from growing — and that could be key to thwarting other cancers, too

'Eventually, it becomes you': Inventors of new 'living' knee replacement describe why this tech is desperately needed and how it works Wonders if it'll be ready by the time I need mine

Early data links Wegovy to risk of 'eye stroke' — here's what to know

Poop-encrusted chamber pots from the Roman Empire reveal oldest known human cases of Crypto parasite

Why do cats and dogs shake their heads?

Mount Etna is like no other volcano on Earth, representing 'a new type of volcanism,' new research reveals

'We can no longer ignore diseases in the deep human past': Malaria influenced early humans' migrations across Africa, study suggests

'It cuts both ways': Positive tipping points can restore wrecked ecosystems — we just need to trigger them, Earth system scientist Tim Lenton says

1. The classes are over (the bad is yet another student told me the organ with baby kittens falling out of it was the brain)

2. My heart is fine.

The bad? This doctor has seen the last of me. He's an ass. Yeah I made another appointment (mostly because I didn't want them calling). It's not for 6 months so I have plenty of time to find another cardiologist. You could see it in his eyes. I wasn't sick enough to be interesting. I'm not really that sick at all.

Me, being an absent minded idiot, even though i finished inputting info into my blood pressure log, I forgot to print it. I DID have it on my flashdrive in my purse. When I offered it his reply was 'I don't need to see it.'

Then why the fuck did you make me DO three blood pressures a day for a fucking month?!?

My echo hadn't changed in 9 years (which I knew) and he was ready to let it go with that but I was NOT (he was running behind because he'd been called into the ER)

Me: so I have mild tricuspid regurgitation
Him: not unusual in women (I know this but I plan to go over my results point by point and fuck him trying to race off)

Me: but also mild diastolic dysfunction. Is that from sleep apnea (I know it is and my psychiatrist was concerned by this)
Him: yes, see someone to get a sleep study (i.e. not me)

Me: what would cause my diasstolic pressure to be so low (it's been 50-65 most of the time. Normal is 80)? this I didn't know but has gone to mayo clinic to look up. Often it's dehydration which makes sense being diabetic.

Him: could be aortic regurgitation but you didn't have that on echo, could be some athersclerosis but I doubt it (could be though I am diabetic) but we can't do anything about that (okay fair)

Me: did you get my month long (I'm still itching my chest wounds) holter monitor?
Him: yes.

Me: And? It didn't tell me because most patients wouldn't understand it, I know but I want to see what it said.

Him: You're tachycardic
Me: no duh, that's why I've had two echos now, and?

Him: and nothing really. No afib (thank god), no real issues, just tachycardia and a few pauses.

Me: Pauses? From sleep apnea (most likely)

HIm: nothing to worry about. You really need to talk to your endocrinologist, a lot of this is metabolic.

Me: will do (and get that sleep apnea)

Eye roll. Yeah this is the last I'll see of him. Life's too short to deal with uninterested docs.

One month of blood pressures and he didn't care. It's Beltane and a full moon. You're lucky I'm not hexing you.


Came home and the cheap Victorian gown from Amazon was here. And it's actually not bad quality. Certainly something I can build on for my Rosie cosplay. Alas it does button down the front. I have boobs and it gaps open. I can pin it shut. Also doesn't button at the neck just under the chin but that's fair. I can not bear things around my neck. I can put a brooch on that part.


Have some fannish 50 friday recs


Watch Your Step! Teen Wolf

Sect Leader Jiang's 31 step program to happiness
陈情令 | The Untamed

Can’t Go Home Again Torchwood

The Last Dance Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Losing John Inspector George Gently

Worn Hazbin Hotel

Team Work Stargate Atlantis

Anniversary Problems Torchwood

Thursday Afternoons with You The Owl House

Incredible Hazbin Hotel

The Long Road Home The Amazing Digital Circus

listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness Helluva Boss

To Ease The Pain Torchwood

Secrets in the Shadows Hazbin Hotel

Held Hazbin Hotel

no one can dream for you 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)