Reading

Entry tags:

REC: Untitled Daisuke and Monty by Julia Stark (Cloudward Ho!, Daisuke Bucklesby/Monty LaMontgomery)

Fandom 50 #23

Untitled Daisuke and Monty by Julia Stark
Fandom: Dimension 20: Cloudward, Ho!
Relationship: Daisuke Bucklesby/Monty LaMontgomery
Medium: Art
Length: 1 piece
Rating: SFW
My Bookmark Tags: slice of life, happy ending, established relationship, then and now, clothing, nostalgia

Description:

Two full-colour images of Daisuke and Monty, one in the present and one in flashback to their younger days. The first is fully saturated and features the two walking close together with Monty in the lead. Daisuke's hat is tipped forward over his eyes as he looks down with a faint smile and puts away his flask. Monty is watching him over his shoulder, likewise smiling and seemingly mid-conversation with him. Above them, larger and more faded out, is a memory of them sitting together decades ago, Daisuke speaking while Monty watches him with soft-eyed attention.

( Very Minor Spoilers for Episode 6 )
This piece is just so sweet. The whole "getting the band back together" element of Cloudward, Ho! has been right up my alley, and I like that their separation was more about losing something that was holding them together rather than a big falling-out that created any ill will. It's made for a great story so far about some highly competent older characters reuniting warmly with old friends and working well together because of their shared history.

I love how the artist has captured this. The flashback looms large over the two men, creating a sense of those past conversations fuelling their present ease with each other and shared direction. It spot-on conveys Monty's wonderful attentiveness to people and suggests a lot in imagining the usually laconic Daisuke so engaged in talking to him. As someone who loves the aesthetics of this season, I'm also very much here for the details in their outfits and the little ways they've changed over the years.

Entry tags:

personal

(no subject)

1) I finally cut the cord and got rid of cable. Kept the internet and the phone. Verizon had some streaming bundles: Netflix/HBO Max and Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ for $10/month. I went with the Netflix bundle. I was also able to add my Trac phone to my account as Verizon bought them for a $15/month discount. My bill's going down about $100. 🎉🎉🎉

2) I've already binged The Pitt. Loved it! I'm working on Sense8 (I know like 10 years late) and enjoying it. I've also watched Murderbot. A bit different from the book but still liking it a lot.

2a) The Old Guard 2 came out last week. ( spoilers for tog2 )

3) My container garden is growing. I've already harvested 3 little zucchini and a bunch of peppers. There are lots more peppers on the plants. The tomato plants are loaded with tomatoes. I noticed today that a couple are just starting to ripen.🍅🍅🍅

4) My flowers on the other hand are suffering from the curse of bunnies. They have destroyed the pansies by first eating all the flowers and then eating the plants practically to the dirt. They're eating the lilies. Even digging up some of the bulbs. There's lots of clover for them to eat but no, they have to eat my flowers. 🌷🌼🌺

5) I bought two new recliners to replace the ones I have. They'll be delivered Tuesday.

6) I had a carpenter ant scare and had to call an exterminator. Turned out it was carpenter bees and they treated for those and I haven't seen any further evidence of activity. Now I have a service contract with them and they'll come and spray twice a year and I can call any time for any problems that arise.🐜🐝

7) Still going to two exercise classes a week offered by the Senior Center (it's so weird to say that. I became old enough to join last year.😕🤔)

8) In the unexpected expenses department, I bought a new refrigerator this morning. The old one had been making concerning noises for a while. But last evening, I opened the freezer to get some ice cream and it was soft. I fiddled around with it a bit and got it going again. I decided it was time to replace it before cheetohlini's tariffs and shortages happen. I ended up buying from a local appliance store rather than a big box store. I need a smaller sized one and I prefer the freezer on the bottom. It was actually a little cheaper and it'll be delivered on Saturday.

Entry tags:

fandom things

- As of July 6th, I'd written more words this year than I had in all of 2024. Mostly this tells you how much 2024 sucked creatively, but also damn, that's a pretty good pace! I'm currently working on something for Summer of Horror and daydreaming about that Liam/Liam/Noel time travel fic that I may finally go back to working on.

- H/C Exchange finally went live! I got Re-Animator mpreg, which was DELIGHTFUL, and I wrote... something completely unexpected, literally on the day of the deadline after I finally gave up on all previous plans.

- I did end up signing up for Battleship. I'll participate for the eight days of it that happen before I leave for vacation. I also prompted a variety of forever OTPs (Liam/Noel) and rarepairs I haven't thought about in ages (Dawn/Illyria). Hopefully someone will be inspired.

- I picked up a couple of things in the summer Steam sale, and thus have done basically nothing the last 2-3 days but play Cult of the Lamb, the cutest little cosmic horror game you ever did see.

Wreck-A-Bye Baby

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/wreck-a-bye-baby-2025

Sometimes I like to think this blog might have a positive influence on current baking trends. (Oh, stop laughing. A girl can dream.) So, what do you say we mosey on over to a few of our nation's baby showers and see how things are going?

Wonderful!

I mean, sure, "beby" is misspelled, and there's a giant funky headboard thing happening, and the doll is staring at me all creepy-like, but the baby itself is not edible. That's progress, people!

Hey, a lot of those letters are right.

In fact - and feel free to correct me here if I'm wrong - I think "cohgrautions" may be the Canadian spelling.

You might be wondering how many tracts of land they had to search to find these two peas in a pod, or why the baker didn't make the "peas" green. That said, it's not a pregnant torso cake.

Plus it makes me want to start singing "Keep Walking" by the French Peas, so that's a "win" all 'round.

This next one may cause a bit of a flap, but I'll have no truck with such negativity:

After all, nothing drives home the beauty of motherhood quite like a pregnant mudflap girl. Eh? Eh? Am I right?

Well, my friends, I think I've made my point: baby shower cakes are getting better! And all because of me! ME, I SAY!! BWAHAHAHAAA!!

AHAHAHAAAHAA!!

BAHAHAHAA...

...huh?

AAAAAUUUGGHH!!

[blink blink]

Well.

Back to business as usual, then?

Thanks to Sose K., Krista M., Susan M., Bob S., & Carly A. for dashing my dreams. You cruel, cruel wreckporters, you.

******

P.S. Watch me un-creepify this post by going from creepy baby cakes to baby beef cakes:

The Buff Baby Rattle

This is hilarious. And a real thing! Amazon helpfully suggested I pair it with the "Do You Even Lift?" baby onesie and now I wish I had a weightlifting friend with a baby to give this to.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/wreck-a-bye-baby-2025

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: Crazy for You - Madonna

Entry tags:

you're so close but still a world away

It's no meeting week at work, which is the best week! And then I'm on PTO next week. I carefully portioned out my to-do list so that I have one main thing to do every day (on top of whatever comes up each day) and it's so satisfying to mostly just cross things off it and not have to go to any meetings (which always add things to my list).

Yesterday, it was so quiet that I was able to read a whole book! Just sitting at my desk and answering email occasionally! So, Wednesday reading!

What I've just finished
Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch, the very latest Rivers of London book. And when I say, "very latest" I mean it was released yesterday. I enjoyed it! ( spoilers )

What I'm reading next
Idk, I'll keep opening books in my library until I find one that holds my interest, I guess.

*

Fix This Sign

https://xkcd.com/3113/

We're building on our earlier success getting web developers to pay to change the backslashes in our displayed payment URL to forward slashes.

https://xkcd.com/3113/

Meanwhile, at the Unintentionally Erotic Bakery... (Part 2)

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/meanwhile-at-the-unintentionally-erotic-bakery-part-2-2025

"Deb, everyone keeps laughing at our new spiral donuts. Any idea why?"

"Really? Still? Drat. I even added a sign - I thought that would help."

"Yeah, about that....I'm not sure we should be telling customers to not get their "panties" in a twist. Could you change that?"

"Oh, sure."

"And make sure the new sign mentions we can heat the donuts up, too."

"You got it!"

_____________________________________________________

Attention, customers: THEY'RE JUST DONUTS.

Don't get your p***s in a twist.

P.S. Available Hot...

or Cold!

Thanks for the dough nuts, Sophie F.!

*****

Good news, there's a Volume 2!

Exceptionally Bad Dad Jokes, Vol II

This one has the word "spiffing" in the title AND comes with a lovely green-and-gold cover, so folks will recognize your sophisticated taste while begging you to stop telling these terrible, TERRIBLE jokes.

*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/meanwhile-at-the-unintentionally-erotic-bakery-part-2-2025

how to be utterly unique

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4352


archive - contact - sexy exciting merchandise - search - about

SCIENCE CORNER: technically rocks can't yearn for anything, up to and including the gentle touch of meat

← previous

July 9th, 2025

July 9th, 2025: TONIGHT at The Beguiling: it's a FANTASTIC FOUR #1 signing! I'll be there from 4-6 and hopefully I will see YOU there too!

– Ryan

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4352

The Future's So Brite...

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/the-futures-so-brite-2025

With graduation season over, you might be tempted to revel in the heady hopes of a brighter tomorrow, what with all these freshly educated, newly degreed youngins descending upon our workforce and all.

I'm here to fix all that.

This cake was supposed to say - I kid you not - "It's a girl."

That apostrophe placement will be haunting my dreams tonight.

Of course, it's also possible to get the spelling and punctuation perfect, while still completely missing the point:

Granted, this could be a "he said, she said" issue.

Hey, remember when preschoolers were taught to put the square blocks in the square holes, and the round blocks in the round holes?

Do they not do that anymore?

For some reason I'm getting the feeling this is supposed to be a base"ball." Odd.

And remember that toy with the pull string that told you what the dog says?

Do they not have those anymore, either?

Wait. Is that a cat?

Ok, now I'm really confused.

Still, I guess we can take comfort in knowing that these wreckerators won't always be wreckerators:

Eventually they'll get promoted to management.

Thanks to Becky A., Jane R., Stacey S., Jennifer V., & Alissa P., who want to ask that employee in the background, "Hey, why the long face?"

******

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/the-futures-so-brite-2025

Geology Murder

https://xkcd.com/3112/

After determining that his body was full of pipes carrying iron-rich fluid, our current theory is that the dagger-shaped object precipitated within the wound.

https://xkcd.com/3112/

Is the Computer a "Bicycle for the Mind?"

Posted by James Gurney

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2025/07/is-computer-bicycle-for-mind.html

Steve Jobs wanted the personal computer to be like a “bicycle for the mind.” Has it worked out that way for you?

Meanwhile, at the Unintentionally Erotic Bakery... (Part 1)

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/meanwhile-at-the-unintentionally-erotic-bakery-part-1-2025

"Deb, you've outdone yourself!"

"Aww, thanks, Pat!"

"So, what do you call it?"

"Well, with all the candied cherries on there, I'm thinking...'THE CHERRY POPPIN' CANDY CASTLE!' What do you think?"

"I like it."

"AND, we can throw in a half dozen 'Tunnel of Love' cookies with each order!"

"Oooh, good idea! Especially since no one but those college guys will buy any."

"Yeah...I guess the extra icing must be turning people off - too many calories. Remember how that lady said they weren't family-friendly?"

"That was kind of weird. Must be one of those health nuts."

"Aw, you know how it is. People are so paranoid about what they put in their mouths these days."

Thanks to Anony M. & Christina P. for the great spread.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/meanwhile-at-the-unintentionally-erotic-bakery-part-1-2025

you might think that orange juice cereal thing is not that bad, but alas: you have never been more w

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4351


archive - contact - sexy exciting merchandise - search - about

You have made one (1) mistake. Turn to page 154 to learn from it, or turn to page 302 to instantly start fantasizing about aliens ending it all.

← previous

July 7th, 2025

July 7th, 2025: FUN FACT: you can tell a gun from a spacegun by carefully observing their "bang bang" / "pew pew" dichotomy.

TONIGHT at The Beguiling: it's a FANTASTIC FOUR #1 signing! I'll be there from 4-6 and hopefully I will see YOU there too! And then on Saturday it's a FANTASTIC FOUR #1 signing in Clearwater Florida when I come to Emerald City Comics!

– Ryan

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4351

Entry tags:

Six Sentence Sunday

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

Current Mood: hungry
Current Music: Magpie to the Morning - Neko Case

Entry tags:

don't let this fading summer pass you by

I know I had some stuff I wanted to post about but now I can't remember what it was. Oh well.

I finally watched Captain America: Brave New World and it was fine. ( spoilers )

*

RIP Julian McMahon and Mark Snow.

*

Sunday Sweets Goes To The Beach

Posted by Lindsey

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-goes-to-the-beach-2025

There's 104 days of summer vacation
And school comes along just to end it
So the annual problem for our generation
Is finding a good way to spennnnd it...

By The Uncommon Cakery

And what better place to spend your summer vacation than at the beach? Phineas and Ferb obviously agree, and who can argue with those guys?

So snap open your lounge chairs and get ready to enjoy today's beachy-keen sweets. Starting with this lovely:

By The Cake Zone

Ahhh. I actually feel more relaxed just looking at this. How people can bring themselves to eat these exquisite creations, I'll never undersand.

And you're going to love this collection of underwater friends...

By amateur baker Kristina H.

and anemones.

Let's all wave hello to this next one...

Submitted by Pearl H.and made by *JNFerrigno

'cuz I hear it brings good tidings!

(Ok, ok, I'm sorry about all the beach puns. No matter what I do they just keep rolling in. But seriously, isn't this cake swell?)

Now here's a tasteful take on a beach-themed wedding cake:

By Sheryl Brou

I love that they didn't go overboard.
(Sea what I did there?)

(Ugh, I'm sorry! I'm even annoying myself now. I'll try to reel it in.)

Here's a sweet little seahorse. I think it's totally cute:

By Courtney's Cakes

Water you thinking a boat it?

Sorry! I can't help it. I'll just go with the flow.

By Cakery Creation

Like the tiny pearl bubbles floating along the gentle waves of this cake. Simply buoy-tiful.

And I love the graduating colors of fondant here, and the dusting of "sand:"

By Diane's Sweet Treats

Tangent time: I once had a good friend who enjoyed eating actual sand. Turns out she was deficient in some essential mineral. Which was a relief, since we were about to take her to the lagoony bin.

It's a shore bet she would have loved this sand castle cake though:

By Creative Mom-2-Five

The "sand" is crushed Nilla wafers, should you care to recreate this look for yourself or a loved one who does not enjoy eating actual sand.

There's so much goodness in this next sandy scene, how shell I ever pick a favorite?

I love the pinwheels and the tiny picnic in the corner.

By Cakes by Samantha

Oh, and the embossed pattern on the mini tablecloth! Great little detail.

This final cake is so incredible and realistic you'll swear it's alive. I squid you not.

By Avalon Cakes

Wow, that sucker is beautiful!
(Specifically, the third one from the bottom.)

Whale, I hope you got your fill of beach-themed sweets (and puns) today. I'm sure you're clamoring for more, but that should tide you over for a while!

Happy Sunday!

*****

P.S. If you actually go to the beach, then clearly you need a mesh tote bag that's in such high demand they couldn't even get one for the photoshoot, and had to photoshop it in (badly) later:

Oversized Mesh Beach Bag

Oh yeah, bad Photoshop is how you know it's good. Well, that, and the 2,000+ 5-star ratings. Turns out this thing is actually pretty awesome, and also comes in blue, gray, or white. Grab yours before the manufacturer tries to snatch it up for another photoshoot.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-goes-to-the-beach-2025

Entry tags:

What I'm Reading: Ew, It's Beautiful: A False Knees Comic Collection by Joshua Barkman

✓

kingstoken's 2025 Book Bingo: Non-Human POV

(I checked this square off my bingo card last time, but this new release arrived with perfect timing, so I'm doubling up.)

Ew, It's Beautiful is the newest collection of cartoonist Joshua Barkman's webcomic False Knees. It contains around 120 short comics, the majority of which were new to me, separated into sections for winter, spring, summer, and fall based on their setting.

The stars of False Knees are usually birds, but there are some cats, insects, and at least a couple of beavers in the mix here. Barkman's art is legitimately beautiful, with a naturalist's specificity and a knack for combining human expressions with realistic animal features, and his writing captures the universal experience of being a small creature in an unfathomably big world. It's full of absurd humour, occasional moments of awe, and recurring bits about the creative process, self-image, and the way friends or family can be on entirely different wavelengths. The comic is where I got my current default icon from, and it almost never fails to bring me a little joy or give me something to appreciate.

( 3 Comics )

Artificial Gravity

https://xkcd.com/3111/

Low gravity can cause bone loss, so we're pleased to report that, since we initiated capsule motion, the number of bones in each crew member has been steadily increasing.

https://xkcd.com/3111/

Play It Again, Donkey!

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/play-it-again-donkey-2025

Today's Wreck is so unrecognizable I figured I better give you as many clues as possible before showing it to you.

Clue #1: He's big, green, and lives in a swamp.

Clue #2: He's a cartoon ogre.

Clue #3: His name is Shrek.

Clue #4: He looks like this:

Ok, have you guessed who it is yet?

'Cuz here comes the Wreck!

(Choo choo!)

AAAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!

Ahem.

Ok, so it's shiny, toothy, and has a homicidal glint in its dead, dead eyes.

On the other hand, now we know what would happen if the Incredible Hulk and Sloth from the Goonies ever had a love child. Right, Michelle Y.?

*****

P.S. What do you get when you combine a twenty year old movie with a ten year old saying?
Pure punny gold, that's what:

Check Yourself Before You Shrek Yourself Shirt

That'll do, Donkey. That'll do.

(Also comes in purple and gray!)

******

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/play-it-again-donkey-2025

can you truly call yourself a fan of a genre if you haven't read every single instance of it across

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4350


archive - contact - sexy exciting merchandise - search - about

fortunately there's just so many different ways that two enemy dudes can go back in time and fall in love with each other while knocking around Pangaea

← previous

July 4th, 2025

July 4th, 2025: For Canada Day I ate hot dogs and one (1) hamburger at a pool party and, at one point, even went into the basement to sit on a reclining chair and watch baseball with the dads! Dads love to watch baseball in the basement during social gatherings and I was invited into their circle!!

– Ryan

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=4350