@lizardsquid
Hi! How have you been?

@DialMforMara I've been well! Nervous for a job interview tomorrow, but otherwise fine.

How's the bus ride so far?

@lizardsquid
It's been fine. We're just after summer solstice here, so it's been nice and bright most of the way.

We just crossed the border and I can't wait to see my partner

@DialMforMara that's exciting!!!! I hope you two have a lovely time together

@lizardsquid
Thanks! We're going to spend Canada Day with his family

which means ⛴️

and possibly 🐳

@DialMforMara that sounds great!

@lizardsquid
Hoping for a nice relaxing week.

Break a leg on that interview btw

@DialMforMara ty!

@Ricardus
I'm not there yet, but I'll let you know when I find out

@DialMforMara So this is a pleasure trip?

@Ricardus
Yeah, I'm visiting my partner

@DialMforMara Cool. What part of canada?

@Ricardus
As far south and west as you can get without being in the US

@DialMforMara Vancouver Island?

@Ricardus
By way of Vancouver City, yes

@DialMforMara Been out there. It's really nice.

@DialMforMara Or possibly fleeing the law?

@DialMforMara 🙂

@Mainebot
Good to know! That's where I'm going.

@DialMforMara I made the safe assumption :) there's a little breeze and it's clear but not too warm, and it should be nice tomorrow too.

I love riding the bus. I can stare out the window for days.

@sonicbooming
Interesting. It always seemed a bit violent for a self-care thing to me. Then again, I'm in the process of discovering just how cathartic Wolfenstein 3D can be, so ¯\_(ツ)_/ ¯

@DialMforMara The theme of the game can be problematic in its tone, so I get that, not everyone is cool with the fecal and fetal jokes, but I think it's more of a self-care game for me because I'm so familiar with its ins and outs. I figured out the meta and it's an easy turn off my brain type of game.

@sonicbooming
That makes sense. I think Tetris is the equivalent for me. Specifically Windows 3.1 Tetris, which I've managed to find on dosbox.

@DialMforMara This is probably the first game that I've ever sunk hundreds of hours and familiarity into. It feels nice to be this at ease with a game.

@DialMforMara How did you like the 2nd Murderbot book? I have the first one sitting in an epub somewhere but haven't started it yet.

@hummingrain
I liked the second half more than the first. First half is Murderbot and a science AI sniping at each other; second is cliché but compelling noirness, with a sequel hook about the tragedy in Murderbot's past. I do want to know what happened to it, but I'm bothered that it keeps leaving behind people who can help it because it doesn't want to get them hurt

@DialMforMara Oof, that trope always super bugs me, too.

@hummingrain
I kind of want to keep resting in hopes it learns better. But it also seems to be part of the point that it's trying to keep itself apart from humans and thereby *not* learn it.

Also this is the author who did Magic story for the last set and I have some issues with how she handled continuity. Which is probably more Wizards of the Coast's fault, but.

@DialMforMara Slight tangent: are the Magic novels fun if you don't also regularly play the card game? The lore for that game always seemed fun but I'm gun shy about trying to keep up with the game itself, as it seems like playing standard would get $$ pretty quick.

@hummingrain
I enjoy the lore, on the whole; that's most of what for me into the game, was wanting to feel like I was a part of the story. The canonical storytelling varies wildly in quality. But I can nearly unreservedly recommend The Gathering Dark, a 10+ year old novelization of a 20+ year old set. It's both a nice fantasy coming of age story and the best primer on the magic system that you're going to find anywhere.

@DialMforMara Very neat! I'll need to check it out. Thanks for the rec. :)

@hummingrain
You're welcome! 😊

@OldBrushNewPaper
Hi!

@DialMforMara LOL So, can I natter about anything that won't make you jealous that I'm at home in all my comforts, while you're on a bus?

@OldBrushNewPaper
Are you reading or watching anything interesting?

@DialMforMara *chuckle* I'm still kind of half asleep, considering refreshing my glass of iced tea.

I have Japanese Satellite TV on in the background, but right now it's got a health program (lots of talking heads, and not easy for me to follow in my current state.) Later on, I'll watch a period drama with loving husband, about a boy born into a samurai family, who joins a merchant family.

Most of my brain is trying to manoeuvre between craft projects, not always successfully.

@DialMforMara That said, I'm still focussed on my silk painting tests, and realising I may have to rethink some of my ambitions for a project.

@OldBrushNewPaper
Silk painting sounds lovely.

@DialMforMara At the moment, it's less lovely and more patchy - literally! Test strips of first untreated silk (whoa!! Lookit that paint run!!) and then a couple different ones with diverse primers. One commercial, the other self-made starch-sizing.

I really hate to have to give up the idea of making something at home for the primer, but it's looking like the commercial one comes closer to doing the needed job. I want a clean line, so I can calligraph recognisable signs.

@OldBrushNewPaper
What projects are you between? I'm kind of doing cleanup on a bunch of knitting projects, but I also just cast on a sock.

@DialMforMara Aside from the silk painting (which I'm trying to modify for doing #shodō calligraphy), there's #spinning to #weave. At some point, I want to boil that yarn, to set the twist before starting to weave. (Over-twisted as a way to create a more sturdy yarn.) But that, again, involves techniques I've only read about.

What kinds of other knitting projects are you having to clean up, while casting on a sock. (You sounds like me with my projects!)

@OldBrushNewPaper
In addition to that sock, I've got a sweater I'm adding a hood to, and a triangular scarf I've kind of lost interest in but would rather finish than frog.

Those are just the ones I brought with me. At home I've got something that should eventually become a tank top, if I don't frog tithe inch or so I've done so far, and some yarn I've set aside for a sweater but not quite started yet.

@DialMforMara *nod* *nod* Oh, so recognised.

I like how you are adding a hood to a garment.

What's your bus trip for?

@OldBrushNewPaper
Going to spend a week with my partner in Canada. & we're going to visit his parents for Canada Day weekend.

@DialMforMara Yay! for together with partners! :D