I’ve been banned from my local MCAS Facebook group back home for being pro-vaccine, lmao.
“VaCiNeS rAiSe HiStAmInE LeVeLs”
So does the normal menstrual cycle you keep pushing health teas for. So do the essential oils you’re shilling. So does cold plunges and sunlight exposure and fucking exercise.
So do viral and bacterial infections.
Pick your poison, worstie. Preferably the one that won’t spread fucking measles through the general populace.
Achievement Unlocked: Banned from the Hometown “Health” Group
@thebibliosphere just FYI, deep tissue massage also raises histamine levels.
It sure fucking does!
Wanna guess what the people in this group were promoting as part of a full body detox?
Go on. Guess 🫠
Is premedication not a thing anymore? Like whenever I have to get a new high-risk medication (mostly biologics) or procedure (like CT with contrast) I need to bomb my system with steroids and antihistamines — about 2-3x my baseline dose. It’s the only time I pull out Benadryl. I fully intend to mainline said drugs when I get my seasonal shots later this month.
Is this not standard practice in MCAS circles? Like haven’t we established that excessive amounts of modern medicine are the only thing keeping our mast cells from killing us?
Maybe I’m in a weird niche, because I walk away as soon as I hear even a whisper of pseudoscience. If it weren’t for modern medicine, I would absolutely be dead right now — and I don’t like that outcome.
It’s the norm for those of us who are going to live, let’s put it that way.
Theme Prompt: 275 - One More Try Title: running out of time Fandom: The Scum Villain's Self Saving System Rating/Warnings: T - violence mention Bonus: Yes Word Count: 916 Summary: Yue Qi keeps trying to escape the mountain to rescue his Xiao Jiu.
I’ve been banned from my local MCAS Facebook group back home for being pro-vaccine, lmao.
“VaCiNeS rAiSe HiStAmInE LeVeLs”
So does the normal menstrual cycle you keep pushing health teas for. So do the essential oils you’re shilling. So does cold plunges and sunlight exposure and fucking exercise.
So do viral and bacterial infections.
Pick your poison, worstie. Preferably the one that won’t spread fucking measles through the general populace.
Achievement Unlocked: Banned from the Hometown “Health” Group
@thebibliosphere just FYI, deep tissue massage also raises histamine levels.
It sure fucking does!
Wanna guess what the people in this group were promoting as part of a full body detox?
I’ve been banned from my local MCAS Facebook group back home for being pro-vaccine, lmao.
“VaCiNeS rAiSe HiStAmInE LeVeLs”
So does the normal menstrual cycle you keep pushing health teas for. So do the essential oils you’re shilling. So does cold plunges and sunlight exposure and fucking exercise.
So do viral and bacterial infections.
Pick your poison, worstie. Preferably the one that won’t spread fucking measles through the general populace.
Tara: Overall, I really enjoyed this one! Dahlia and London were such wonderful characters, and I’m a big fan of cooking shows, so I know I’ll be reading Love and Other Disasters again. I’ll just be sure to stock snacks next time, because reading about so much amazing food made me hungry.
Carrie: I was delighted with this book overall. The supporting characters were fun (or loathsome, as the plot demanded). The character development was realistic and powerful. The romance was sexy and I can totally picture Dahlia and London as an old couple on a porch somewhere — I was invested in them for the long haul. This will be one of my comfort re-reads for sure!
The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut that USA Today hailed as “an essential read.”
Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she’s focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.
After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan.
As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma is $1.99! It’s the second in the If Shakespeare Were an Auntie series. We recently recommend this one in a Rec League on Shakespearean Retellings. Did any of you pick this one up?
In the hilarious follow-up to the breakout rom-com Dating Dr. Dil, Nisha Sharma adds shakkar and mirch to Shakespeare’s iconic comedy Much Ado About Nothing for one sweet and spicy love story.
Bobbi Kaur is determined to plan a celebration to remember for her best friend’s wedding. But she has two problems that are getting in her way:
1. The egotistical, and irritatingly sexy, chef Benjamin “Bunty” Padda is supposed to help her with the menu since he’s the groom’s best friend, and
2. Someone is trying to sabotage the wedding.
With aspirations of taking over her family’s event planning business, Bobbi knows that one misstep in managing the Kareena Mann and Prem Verma (#Vermann) party, along with the other weddings on her plate, will only give her uncle another reason not to promote her. That means Kareena’s big day and Bobbi’s future career are on the line.
Bunty will do anything for his best friend, even though he has his hands full in finding a new location for his next restaurant while also playing mediator between his brother and father, the celebrated Naan King. When Prem asks Bunty to help with the wedding menu, he agrees, especially since it puts him in close proximity to the delicious Bobbi Kaur. When a mystery shaadi saboteur starts leaving threatening notes, and cancelling cake orders, Bunty and Bobbi have no choice but to call a truce and face the volatile attraction they have for each other.
Through masquerade fundraisers and a joint bachelor-bachelorette trip to Vegas, this chef and wedding planner explore their growing connection all while trying to plan a wedding at Messina Vineyards in a time crunch. But once the shaadi saboteur is caught and the wedding is over, will their love story have a happily ever after?
With the return of the meddling aunties (who are scary good at finding information) and a lot of hilarity and hijinks, Bobbi and Bunty’s romance is an event you don’t want to miss.
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt is $2.99! Readers who love it especially like that the hero and heroine are both a bit unconventional: neither of them is superbly good-looking, a fact that has influenced their lives in several ways, and both are over thirty.
There comes a time in a woman’s life when she must do the unthinkable – and find employment. For the widowed Anna Wren, that means taking a job as female secretary for the Earl of Swartingham.
Secretaries are always male – never female – as Anna well knows but the real downfall of her career is the realization that she is falling in love with Edward de Raaf – the Earl. But when she realizes that he is going to visit a brothel in London to take care of his ‘manly’ desires, Anna sees red – and decides to take advantage of the opportunity to also take care of her ‘womanly’ desires – with the Earl as her unknowing lover.
But the Earl has another reason for going to London. He is formalising his betrothal and trying (with little success) to forget about a secretary that has no right being female. Unhandsome, he knows that no woman wants him.
Except for the mysterious lady with whom he spent two unforgettable nights at Aphrodite’s Grotto, the most scandalous brothel in London. But when Anna’s plan is revealed, a bit of blackmail is thrown into the mix, a proposal is rejected and even the Earl himself will be unprepared for the intrigues that ensnare them.
Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez is $2.99! How cute and vibrant is this cover?! Dahlia mentioned this one on her monthly Queer Romance Roundup posts. Have any of you read this one?
When a late bloomer goes viral for coming out, she decides to use her newfound fame to get her first kiss—with the help of a sexy bartender.
Librarian Angela Gutierrez has never been kissed. But after posting a video about her late bloomer status and ace identity, she’s finally ready to get some firsts out of the way. Using her new influencer status to come up with a scavenger hunt idea in which the winner earns her first kiss, Angela realizes she may need some help to pull off the event. Enter Krystal Ramirez, hot bartender and Angela’s unrequited crush of five years. Despite vowing that romantic love isn’t for her, Krystal seems awfully determined to help Angela pull off the scavenger hunt and find true love.
There’s just one the connection between Angela and Krystal is getting stronger and stronger the more they hang out, until Angela isn’t sure she wants to go through with the scavenger hunt after all. But Krystal is convinced that she isn’t capable of love and before long, Angela realizes she’s falling head over heels for a woman who may never love her back.
🎬 Black Barbie: A Documentary: Directed by Lagueria Davis. With Lagueria Davis, Beulah Mae Mitchell, Maxine Waters, Shonda Rhimes. Tracing the origin of the first Black Barbie doll to the filmmaker’s aunt, who asked why Barbie couldn’t look like her, this documentary explores her quest for representation and diversity. 🔗
I really enjoyed this! It’s a combo of Barbie history and social history, with a focus on Black American history and culture (obviously).
Has interesting interviews with people directly involved in the creation of the original “Black Barbie,” people working on the then-current Barbie line, and kids who do or do not play with Barbies. I also liked that they talked about other Black dolls available before/after Barbie came out.
It’s a very personal documentary, too, as the director’s aunt was one of the creators. And there’s personal thoughts/statements about Barbie from the director threaded throughout the doc, which I also liked.
I’m feeling curmudgeonly currently, so not many of these movies sound good to me. Even the descriptions of the movies I plan to watch with actors I like don’t wow me. Here are the movies I plan to check out (they’re listed in the order they’ll air):
“Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!” with Kimberley Sustad and Robert Buckley (iZombie). Premieres: Saturday, October 25 Summary: After a rough year, a weatherman returns to his hometown for Christmas, but things start to look up for him once he crosses paths with a former mentor and a former crush. Reason for watching: Kimberley Sustad
I got a lot done this morning before I left to see mom. For the entire day, I did two loads of laundry (washed, dried, AND folded/hung up), hand-washed dishes (so many dishes!), went for several walks with Pip and the dogs, changed kitty litter, washed out the dogs’ bowls and cleaned the mat they sit on, swept the kitchen and dining room, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and showered. At Pip’s suggestion we had hot dogs and beans for supper.
I also placed an online order, which included another Christmas gift for Pip. (The reason it ‘included’ a gift for Pip is because, while getting him a Buffalo Bills sweatshirt was the main reason I placed the order, I decided to get two t-shirts (one short- and one long-sleeved) for myself. *g*) So far I've got three items for him, which is amazing, because while I often have some ideas, I procrastinate getting stuff for him until I'm like o_O and must rush.
I started the next Duncan Kincaid book today.
Temps started out at 61.2(F) and reached 85. That Pip saw. It was already 79 degrees by the time I left a little before 11am, so I would not be surprised if it got even hotter than that. Since the temps weren’t too bad when I got up, I started the day in shorts and a t-shirt so I didn’t even have to change.
This After Dark post is open to everyone so folks can see what ridiculous tasks I am assigning myself. Any reviews and book shrieking will be part of the upcoming year in After Dark.
I’m going to miss the Twilight trivia night, but shopping will most definitely happen. Which is part one of my quest! What shall I shop for while I’m there? I welcome suggestions!
Maybe I’ll attempt another IG Live while I’m there. I’m so tremendously bad at Instagram (they keep changing it! WHY. WHY?!) my efforts are always comical.
But second, and my second quest: Books & More. (I’m going to be doing so much book shopping and jazz listening, it’s going to be incredible.)
Look at this incredible Ken, about whom the back of the box says, “Ken is swashbuckling in a sheer white cotton shirt paired with black pants.”
Spelunking in old skool romance collections is among my favorite activities, and I would love to have your suggestions.
I’m planning on reading and recapping/reviewing/shrieking at some of these. SO! WHICH ONES should I seek out?
For example: there’s not going to be anything problematic in this book, right?
White Dreams? The heroine’s name is Star Dreamer, and she’s hiding from the Sight “in the white man’s world with Grady O’Brien.” Surely nothing uncomfortable for the modern reader will happen, like when “the rescue a free Black woman from slavers, [and] incur the wrath of a dangerous man known only as the Dragon.”
I’m sure the Erect Cactus is not symbolic, no.
And I’m certain this is fine, right?
Wait until you see the stepback:
That’s a bum.
I could and probably will spend hours in this room. So in the interest of making me read and recap some truly absurd books, and sharing the glorious old skool covers, I humbly ask that you help me develop my shopping list.
I’ll be reading and recapping some of them, so this is your chance to send me down a truly bonkers rabbit hole.
Which old skool romances should I hunt for at Books & More, and what should I pick up at The Plot Twist?
From Alea: On the one hand, the colors are lovely. On the other, wtf?
Sarah: Is this My Little Pony fanfic?
Also, why do shifters not have universal child care and must be finding daycare for their offspring?
Amanda: Dr Nips, Unicorn Woman
He just needs a big hat.
Sneezy: That’s a qilin, it’s not even a unicorn.
From Mabry: What’s with his ribs? What’s with his neck? Does he have an enormous goiter? Should he see his ENT doc? Why is his chin in such a weird place? Has he ever washed his hair?
This makes me want a cover that is blatantly nothing but random body parts from as many guys as needed to match all of the character descriptions. They wouldn’t even need to be attached. Just spread them out on a velvet cloth or maybe a big mountain boulder for this particular book.
Sarah: I am concerned about his lymph nodes. Like, very concerned.
Amanda: I thought the title was “Going Guacamole.”
Sneezy: This is giving me body horror adjacent ick.
From Pam G: This is primarily a font fail. Is that first word Moontit? Could be Wloontit, but there’s def some titty in there. Just incidentally, I hate all variations of this thumb sucking/finger licking pose and I seem to see them everywhere.
Sarah: Definitely Moontit. Although for a moment my brain said, “Moonut?”
Amanda: My vote is for Moontit!
Sneezy: Moontit for sure.
Another PamG suggestion! She says, “Horny Snark!”
From Pam: Is this, like, the ultimate brony romance? That coy, come-and-and-get-me-baby look. That sultry, heavy-lidded response.
Sarah: That unicorn looks SO annoyed. Did the Blue Man Group Alien leave blue paint smears all over the flank area?
Also, I can state with some authority that his skull looks like he was recently born vaginally. And that’s all I shall say about that.
Alia shared this same cover with me – clearly Blue Man Group and the Unicorn are making an impression!
Sneezy: …At least this looks like a unicorn. Even if it has the same energy as three squirrels in a trench coat.
“Bruce Wayne, everybody! What a fantastic guy. All right, don’t go anywhere, folks, we’ll be right back after the commercial break when we’ll be joined by the legendary Kermit the Frog and the effervescent Miss Piggy as they promote their latest movie, ‘The Muppets Take Metropolis!’”
The applause rose to a deafening swell again as the band behind the podium struck up a lively tune, ushering them into a commercial break. Bruce looked up from his slouch as he felt someone move into his personal space again.
“Really, thank you, Bruce,” Murray said over the noise, angling his mouth away from the microphone as he leaned over his desk. “You couldn’t have got me to hold that fucking thing for all the money in the world.”
Bruce chuckled, affixing a benign smile to his face as he righted his posture again and tugged his suit back into order. “Oh, you know me, Murray. I’m game for anything if it’s for a good cause.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said a shrill, familiar voice behind them. Bruce twisted in his seat to find a team of stagehands working in rapid time to erect a staging area behind the couch, and two humans holding two very distinct puppets aloft: Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
I’m going to lay all my cards on the table right now: Things are not going well here with my family, and I’m struggling. I’m posting this chapter mostly to feel something. But also, if anyone feels inclined to draw Bruce sitting on that couch with Miss Piggy shooting her shot, I would not object. It would, in fact, make me smile quite a bit. Regardless, I hope you’re all still having as much fun reading as I am writing this. It’s such a stupid fic, lol. I love it.
Also, tw for this chapter: Bruce handles a snake on live TV and acts afraid for the bit. Just in case anyone is bothered by snakes. It’s a very short bit, but it’s in there.
If art requests are happening, I very much need the blog article “Kermit confirmed bi on late-show”
Lines that had me crying tears of laughter while writing them tbh 😂
“Bruce Wayne, everybody! What a fantastic guy. All right, don’t go anywhere, folks, we’ll be right back after the commercial break when we’ll be joined by the legendary Kermit the Frog and the effervescent Miss Piggy as they promote their latest movie, ‘The Muppets Take Metropolis!’”
The applause rose to a deafening swell again as the band behind the podium struck up a lively tune, ushering them into a commercial break. Bruce looked up from his slouch as he felt someone move into his personal space again.
“Really, thank you, Bruce,” Murray said over the noise, angling his mouth away from the microphone as he leaned over his desk. “You couldn’t have got me to hold that fucking thing for all the money in the world.”
Bruce chuckled, affixing a benign smile to his face as he righted his posture again and tugged his suit back into order. “Oh, you know me, Murray. I’m game for anything if it’s for a good cause.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said a shrill, familiar voice behind them. Bruce twisted in his seat to find a team of stagehands working in rapid time to erect a staging area behind the couch, and two humans holding two very distinct puppets aloft: Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
I’m going to lay all my cards on the table right now: Things are not going well here with my family, and I’m struggling. I’m posting this chapter mostly to feel something. But also, if anyone feels inclined to draw Bruce sitting on that couch with Miss Piggy shooting her shot, I would not object. It would, in fact, make me smile quite a bit. Regardless, I hope you’re all still having as much fun reading as I am writing this. It’s such a stupid fic, lol. I love it.
Also, tw for this chapter: Bruce handles a snake on live TV and acts afraid for the bit. Just in case anyone is bothered by snakes. It’s a very short bit, but it’s in there.
where is muppet joker what did you people do with him who are you people in his house
Hate to break it to you, but my Batmuppet universe existed before him, so he’s in my house and it’s Bruce Wayne being unicorn hunted by Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog or bust 😂😂
“Bruce Wayne, everybody! What a fantastic guy. All right, don’t go anywhere, folks, we’ll be right back after the commercial break when we’ll be joined by the legendary Kermit the Frog and the effervescent Miss Piggy as they promote their latest movie, ‘The Muppets Take Metropolis!’”
The applause rose to a deafening swell again as the band behind the podium struck up a lively tune, ushering them into a commercial break. Bruce looked up from his slouch as he felt someone move into his personal space again.
“Really, thank you, Bruce,” Murray said over the noise, angling his mouth away from the microphone as he leaned over his desk. “You couldn’t have got me to hold that fucking thing for all the money in the world.”
Bruce chuckled, affixing a benign smile to his face as he righted his posture again and tugged his suit back into order. “Oh, you know me, Murray. I’m game for anything if it’s for a good cause.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said a shrill, familiar voice behind them. Bruce twisted in his seat to find a team of stagehands working in rapid time to erect a staging area behind the couch, and two humans holding two very distinct puppets aloft: Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
I’m going to lay all my cards on the table right now: Things are not going well here with my family, and I’m struggling. I’m posting this chapter mostly to feel something. But also, if anyone feels inclined to draw Bruce sitting on that couch with Miss Piggy shooting her shot, I would not object. It would, in fact, make me smile quite a bit. Regardless, I hope you’re all still having as much fun reading as I am writing this. It’s such a stupid fic, lol. I love it.
Also, tw for this chapter: Bruce handles a snake on live TV and acts afraid for the bit. Just in case anyone is bothered by snakes. It’s a very short bit, but it’s in there.
My dad’s best friend from childhood has been ignoring him since my dad got his terminal diagnosis and the charitable part of me wants to believe he just can’t handle the thought of losing my dad but also seeing my dad so devastated when the phone goes and it’s his friend’s wife “just checking in” is devastating.
Friends for 60+ years. And you can’t even say hello to someone going through one of the loneliest, most terrifying experiences a person can endure.
His face was so happy when the phone went and the way it fell when he realized his friend wasn’t going to say hello is going to haunt me forever. I can’t stop crying.
Buffy: Those are pretty flowers.
Debbie: Thanks. Pete brought them for me.
Pete: Yeah. Well, I-I'm sure Scott does that kind of stuff for you, too, Buffy.
Scott: Oh, well, we're not up to flowers. (to Buffy) Are we? Up to flowers? Did I miss flowers?
Buffy: (reassuringly) No. We're pre-posy. Definitely.
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thebibliosphere_feed) wrote2025-09-29 02:39 pm
This After Dark post is open to everyone so folks can see what ridiculous tasks I am assigning myself. Any reviews and book shrieking will be part of the upcoming year in After Dark.
set inspired by this book. 
ALT
