learnteach

Long day at work, as always on a Tuesday, with our weekly meeting not starting rill 15:00, which is my otherwise normal end time for the day.

I was too tired to work on the bus home, so I only worked 9.5 hours, instead of 11.

After work:

Copied from wat I posted today to FB:

I bought a computer last week. Wound up bringing home a touch screen, which is lovely when I have the computer in my lap. However, I just tried plugging it in to my nice large, and fairly new second monitor, and the Wacom tablet so I can interact with programs on the larger screen, and the tablet drivers refused to install, saying "platform not supported". Now I wonder if I should return the computer? I am NOT willing to learn to use a mouse after 30 years of using a pen and tablet to interact with a computer.

Is the problem that the computer is Windows? Does Linux support touch screen computers, and permit one to also use the Wacom pen and tablet?

An hour or three later, I added:

Edited to say, thanks David Granberg, you were able to help when Wacom's tech support couldn't. The problem turns out the wrong sort of processor to be able to use with a driver for a wacom pen tablet as old as the one I have been using for years. However, the wacom driver that does works with the processor on this computer drives the much newer wacom tablet from my work computer, so perhaps I will kerp the computer. The jury is still out as to weather I will keep Windows on it...

kareina

Saturday:

Woke early, thinking about my particiloured silk tunic in progress, whic I had set asside days ago because of an issue with it. I realised that there is really only one problem with the inside-out cut pieces, the angle of the cut of the waist seam. So if I take the pannel intended to be the back purple skirt and make it the front I can simply trim the waist down to the matching slope. Likewise, if i use the one that was cut to be a front purple as a back, I can just piece in a triangle to be the waist, and, if I use a wrap belt, that seam won't even show

We spent the day at the smithy, making stuff. Keldor took photos. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GVMFCXaLx/

Then Games night. Me, Keldor, Clara, Þórólfr, Gilbert, Odal, and Caspian.

Albion Protects Royalty. Clara won, which given that she only just met most of the group today, is pretty impressive.

Carcassonne, first game I tried claiming a field, and it got cut off from all cities, and I lost. I learned from this mistake. Second game I claimed a field that already had two completed cities, and I won.

We slept at Keldor’s dad's last night, arriving after he had gone to sleep, so we just went straight upstairs, showed Clara to her room, I did my yoga while Keldor found sheets for her bed and for ours. Then I slept more than eight hours, which doesn’t happen often.

When we got up Keldor helped his dad with computer stuff and window cleaning while Clara and I walked to the store to get breakfast, and then cut the sleves for her new tunic (we had cut the body and neck the other day).

Then it was time to head to Reengarda's craft afternoon, where I made progress on my silk tunic I cut out a couple of weeks ago, she sewed down the neck facing and started attaching the sleeves, and Keldor talked to people. Petronilla, Virya, Odal, and Jonas were all there today. A lovely time.

Then home, stopping on the way i Vallen to pick up the now cooled metal.

We baked a pound cake, beause pound cake. Played some Qwirkle, which Clara won, which pleased her mightily, given how much she had lost by the previous two games.

Then we looked at a youtube smithing video, and noticed that a message had come on from the Boar Hunt event team asking for folk to fill in a google form about our archery experience, so they know how to split us into groups at the event.

This triggered Keldor to check the bows he is bringing for he, Holmfrid and I, which made me think that it would be smart to have a bag to transport them in. So I tiok some of the fabric the couch was shipped in, and used Keldor’s sewing machine to sew it into a tube, and started to sew channels in it to make individual pockets for each bow. But then the machine started doing that thing with tons of extra thread on the underside. So I gave up and cleaned ot all away.

I went to do my yoga, and we noticed that there may be Northern Lights out, so we went for a look. Yes, very faint but there. Lots of stars, too. A beautiful night, with a very cold breeze.

Then I took time to type this, and now I really sgould do that yoga and get to sleep, it is getting late.

cvirtue

Wear a costume on the 18th.
Re-enactors are well placed to dress like royalty for No Kings #2.

An Interview With the Portland Chicken

"There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing.
What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying Noem is up on the balcony staring over the "Antifa Army" and it’s eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit."

https://www.wweek.com/culture/2025/10/09/an-interview-with-the-portland-chicken/

kareina

Today's home improvement progress: everything from the left half of the attic to the right, save for some things left from the previous owner, which we took to the local dump/recycling station.

Keldor cut some of the lumber to go between the existing uprights that we will staple the vindpapp to before we add the insulation.

kareina

Today after work was a shopping day. Keldor's dad asked him to buy him a new computer, as the old one was giving warning notes from Microsoft about being too old to upgrade anymore. Keldor and I had the same problem, and we felt like it was time to throw money at it. They only use the computer to browse the web, watch stuff, and do zoom calls. So Keldor bought them both chrome books. I need a computer for a bit more than than that, so I knew that I would wind up spending a bit more than they did. Then I made the mistake of looking at the models with a touch screen. I had never used one before. Oops. Now I have a computer with a touch screen. I can even fold the monitor completely around and use it like a piece of paper to draw. Yes, I tested this, even before installing Obsidian, which I can't live without anymore.

However, it came with Windows 11, and I am not convinced I like it, and wonder if I should just have Þórólfr replace that with a better operating system before I copy over all of my files?

After we picked up the computers we went to the hardware store and bought some *vindpapp* (no idea what the English word might be), which will be used for step one in insulating one end of the attic to make us a new, upstairs, bedroom. Apparently we first will first put up some boards with 60 cm spacing (so that insulation will fit nicely later), then staple the *vindpapp* to enclose the potential room on one side of the beams between the central portion of the attic (which is tall enough to stand up in), and the lower side bits to the side. Once that is done we can go back and buy insulation, then cover that with more *vindpapp*, then we can add the walls.

kareina

Today I managed to re-gather all of the documents needed to get access to the shire bank account as kassör (treasurer/exchequer). The same information we sent them in August which they never got. Now I just need to get signatures from all the other relavant shire members and we can try sending it in again.

Work was very productive, getting lots done, including finally finishing SEAD's Data Management Plan. It was also a long day, so I have enough hours ahead for the week I can work a short day on Friday.

Keldor took another training day today, wearing his chainmail to work all day, and then keeping it on for mushroom picking on the way home. Ironically, wearing armour didn't protect him from the small snake he never saw. At least we assume that the bruise on the end of his little finger (left hand), with two tiny prick marks in it are a snake bite. He didn't notice it till he got home. How do you not notice getting bitten by a snake?

learnteach

Haven't posted much. Some notes:

1. Tori passed away. I found out from a friend, who sent me a note while I was watching a show. Not a shock, but not much chance of closure. He was a big influence on me--chickens, motorcycle, handicap--he walked the path first.

2. Still missing Kristin.

3. Wendy is cancer free but crippled now. Difficult, complicated situation in her family. I am persona non grata.

4. Got a new room mate--Andrew--working out nicely so far.

5. Leg is finally improving. Finally got a referal to a cardiologist (I really need to be more pushy) who explained aspects of the Afib then told me that I didn't have to avoid caffiene, but I need to cut NaCl out of my diet. Then he perscribed diuretic medicine which dropped 20 pounds of water weight, fixed my hypertension, and dropped my pain level. In 3 days. Let's see what a week will do.

6. Birthday party for Mom went well. yay!

7 Van died on way to dance. No taking money meeting friends. On the hunt for a new (used) car that I find comfortable, can be maintained, and reliable!

More later.

cvirtue

I found out that my hometown newspaper has archives going back 200 years, and spent a lot of today searching out articles about my older relatives, which was entertaining. I discovered that my grandfather, who ended his life as a respected general manager of a very large paper mill, was a dastardly youth who had more than a few traffic tickets, such as passing a streetcar when it was unloading, for which he was fined $5 in 1933 (that's $125 in today's dollars.) Here's a pic of my grandmother.

kareina

Despite being up till 01:30 last night, I still got up with Keldor at 05:15 and kept him company on the phone as he drove to work. I love having a friend/partner I can talk with for hours every day, and still want to do it again tomorrow.

I worked, productively, till lunchtime, and then quit for the day, still +3 hours for the month. Keldor was also done early, so we had lunch together, playing a game of Qwirkle as we ate.

Then we headed out, first to Robertsfors, about a half an hour south where a package he had ordered was delivered. Then in to Umeå, where we dropped off those boxes of books I had packed up almost two week ago at my office, running into Anne, the new postdoc I met this week. I told her about the SCA, and she wants to learn to sew so I need to remember to send her info.

Then we drove over to Torunn, who had set aside a set of reindeer antlers for us, arriving just as she was about to go take a load of stuff to donate to a second had store. As we drove I saw a car about to leave a school parking lot, and wondered "is that Drake?"

It was, and he drove to the same second hand store as we did, so while Torunn dripped off stuff we three walked through the store. Drake bought a knee board to convert into a shield, Keldor and I bought a long strip of lightning to brighten the attic, a soft sided cat carrier that is larger than the ones we have now, so they will both fit more comfortably, a couple more blue glass bowls (really, I can quit buying blue glass bowls any time I want), and a vlack long sleeved shirt for me. Torrun bought nothing, she is still trying to get rid of her late partner's stuff.

We also ran into another SCA person, whose name escapes me at the moment, who was buying Christmas decorations to fix up and make even more festive. At this news Torunn offered her a plastic Christmas tree, and got a Yes! So we said goodbye to Drake and went to one of Ingemar's storage places (there are several, there is a reason he's been gone nearly 2 years, and she's still working att reducing the amout of his stuff), and then another. She took the Christmas tree, and I wound up with a good umbrella, a bag of hangers, a fur coat (had been his mother's, and much too small across the shoulders for Torunn), and a picknick basket.

We gung our chatting till 20:00, and then went home, put everything away, washed the lining of the new cat carrier, played another game of Qwirkle (I lost this time), and cleaned the guest room and made the bed in prep for Clara's arrival from Pennsylvania tomorrow.

Now I have done my yoga, and it is once again 01:30, so I had better go get some sleep.

kareina

- dancing!

- singing!
- A&S display, theme "local to you"

- market! (Poor Keldor sold a favourite knife he would have liked to keep)

- i picked up blue socks and blue slippers from free table

- some daytime progress on sewing my tunic

- finished a nålbinded bag for Ragnhild's water jug from yarn Ranghild brought, as it wss too dark in the room to sew my tunic in the evenings

- A. had a small heart attack and fainted, so left in ambulance

Morning dance workshop:

- Scharizula marzulla x 2

- Charlotte x 2

- Peas bransle x 2

- Hole in the Wall x 2

- The Geud Man of Ballangigh (cloverleaf pattern)

- La Bonne Amité (right hand, left hand, around, again. Back, towards, 1 around)

- Lord Byron's Maggot (lokar dammen)

- The Geud Man of Ballangigh

- Scharizula (again)

Afternoon dance workshop:

- Gathering Peascods x 2

- Jenny pluck pears x 2

- Piette Virens

- Juggling partners (dosido, eye contact, right hand round, left had around, undo it all, the start again with person to right)

- Giddy promenad (in fours dosido, right star, men cast off and kneel, ladies around, left star, ladies cast off, promanade med partner to new pair)

- And one other complicated dance I failed to write down

Evening ball included:

- scharizula marzulla

- bransle l'officalle

- hole in the wall

- lots more, but I didn't take notes

kareina

packed up

- loaded car

- helped clean

- got lots of hugs

- took away food I can eat this week

- took the thawed blueberries and redcurrants

- visited local hällristningar, which also has a cool history timeline, run into L & C there

- visited A at the hospital

- grocery shopping

- dropped of Ingemar's old party pavilion, parts sorted by us this summer, to Torrun

- unloaded the car

- put food in fridge and berries on stove to make *sylt* (jam)

- Qwirkle! I won by 40 points!

- paused jam cooking to drive car to the shop for Tuesday's service/repair

- too tired to finish jam, pop it in fridge

- yoga

- sleep

Photos from the Hällristningar in an album on fb:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Aj9eDG9Qj/

kareina

I tried to visit A in the hospital on my way to work, but she was sleeping.

It was the first day of Academic Swedish course I had signed up for, and I didn't really feel I got much out of it. It seems that the 100 most frequently used words in Swedish academic writing are ones I am already familiar with.

I was super tired in the evening, and felt like I could go to bed at 19:00, but stayed up to see the Northern Lights. Even so, I finished yoga before 21:00, and went straight to bed after.

]

kareina

My morning meeting in "the bunker", where I got to see cool artefacts a retired archaeologist couple left in storage here without telling anyone. They need to go to a museum

- picked up car from service

- cooked food for tomorrow

- there were northern lights, so yoga got postponed enough to go have a look

kareina

Today I dropped the Academic terms Swedish class, mostly because I felt I have too much work to do to spare the time, and partly because it didn't feel like it was giving me much info I didn't already have.

My housekeeper came today, I still love having the house cleaned while I am working!

I made a first camping bed extender:

- Cut up old couch cushions

- Covered them with fabric from shipping bags of the new couch, tubes sewed a 64 cm wide rectangle into a 2 meter long tube, stuffed with couch cushion bits.

Once the second is done we will put one on each side of the single matress to make it double wide for events. This extender is about as thick as the gap to the wall in the van when the single mattress is added to the bed frame there, so it dhould work to bring them standing against the wall

kareina

My first meeting of the day was at the hospital for my regular eye checkup as part of the Swedish Glaucoma Nicotinamide Trial (SGNT). That was scheduled for 08:00. As I arrived at the busstop the app let me know that my bus had been cancelled. Next bus in an hour. Since it is a 15 minute walk home, I decided to just sit down inside the station and work there, as getting an hour of work done while I wait sounded better than not working for half an hour, and having only 30 minutes to do something.

After I was on the bus it was late enough for them to be there, I called and let them know that I would be late, but was on my way. They were sympathetic and understanding. I arrived at 08:30, and we finished up the exam at 09:25. Alas, that is also the time that the bus departs from the hospital. Next one not till 10:15. Sigh.

So I sat down in the bus waiting room and tried to accomplish something as I waited. I hadn't brought a full day of food with me, as I had planned to return home on that early bus.

When it was time to head out to the bus I realised that my poor eyes, which had had drops to dilate the pupils, were too light sensitive to cope with the day, and I gave up trying to work on the bus.

As soon as I got home I went back to bed, as a good place to have my eyes closed, and slept for an hour and a half.

Got up, took lunch to the computer, and discovered that I was supposed to be in a zoom meeting I had forgotten about oops!

Sent a note to the organiser with an apology and explanation, and got back an immediate "we are just wrapping up" note.

Then I faffed around for a while doing small useful organising tasks that will make life easier, but don't actually progress my work projects. Then Keldor got home from work, and I chatted briefly with him till he went to relax in a bath (after a day of wearing chainmail at work for extra training), and I finally found the right mindset to actually start working.

By the time I put the computer down I had put in an 11 hour work day, despite having missed 4 hours out of my normal working hours. I hope I don't make a habit of this but it felt good to finally be making real progress on this first data mapping project, after months of learning things I need to know to do this part of the job.

cvirtue

It's difficult to keep up with the firehose of crazy - get on the free email lists from organizations that monitor and respond to civil rights violations.
It will help you not get overwhelmed.

For example, last week, Trump told his people that any of these opinions mean someone is a potential terrorist:

anti-capitalism,
anti-Christianity,
extremism on migration, race, or gender
hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.

Note that there is no definition of "extremism."

Some articles:
Trump's NSPM-7 memo casts critics of Christianity as enemies of the state
https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/trumps-nspm-7-memo-casts-critics

ACLU Statement on the Trump Administration's Memorandum Targeting Political Opponents
https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-statement-on-the-trump-administrations-memorandum-targeting-political-opponents

Trump Called for a Crackdown on the ‘Radical Left.’ But Right-Wing Extremists Are Responsible for More Political Violence
https://time.com/7317383/political-violence-america-trump-crackdown-right/

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Page generated Oct. 15th, 2025 04:02 am

Reading

Perhaps I will keep it

Saturday, smithy and games, Sunday crafts day

Consider costumes for the No Kings on the 18th

And so it begins

new computer

A long, but productive day

The Empty Fortress

Newspaper archives

Errands and socialising

Höstdansen highlights

Hällristningar!

Northern Lights!

car fixed

still love having a house cleaner

A slow start to the day

Apparantly a great many people are enemies of the State

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October 2025

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