Release the minature crazed teleporting vampire whales!

Happy pre-Thursday, for those of you with me in the last remaining time zones. And happy actual Thursday for the rest of you!

Poll #33884

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 2

What's your favorite of the 5Ws+H to write?

View Answers

Who
1 (50.0%)

What
0 (0.0%)

When
0 (0.0%)

Where
1 (50.0%)

Why
1 (50.0%)

How
0 (0.0%)

Other, or mysteriously none of the above~~
0 (0.0%)

I won't lie, this evening got away from me once I got home from work. But, as foreseen, I did actually write today! One more point for Routine being helpful.

Today's word:

Potation: (noun)

A usually alcoholic drink or brew
The act or instance of drinking or inhaling; the portion taken in one such act

Per our frenemies at Merriam-Webster, the first known use was in the 15th century.

And for some etymology fun: Potation came to English from Middle English potacioun, from Anglo-French potation, from Latin potation-->potatio "act of drinking" from potare "to drink"

After that long of a trip, I could do with a potation, too!

xkcd_feed

https://xkcd.com/3173/

Every weekend I take an ATV out into the desert and spend a day tracing a faint "(C) GOOGLE 2009" watermark across the landscape.

https://xkcd.com/3173/

tarlanx

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

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/takes-direction-well-2025

Posted by Jen

Ever feel like you've lost your direction in life?

Do you find yourself wandering aimlessly through bakery aisles and back alley icing parlors*?

* I don't actually know if back alley icing parlors exist, but a girl can dream.

Are you stuck in the hangar bay of life, waiting for the pod bay doors of opportunity to open up and spit you out into the sucking black void of PURPOSE?

If the answer is yes, maybe, or "huh?", then have I got the job for you!

That's right, my friends, the time has never been riper to be a Wreckerator! Or a person who likes to mix metaphors badly, like a withered, overripe tree in space.

But let's focus on the wrecking thing for now, shall we?

We're looking for a few good pairs of hands (preferably attached to still-functioning torsos) that can follow directions TO THE LETTER.

And by "we" I mean "me."

And if you see something grammatically wrong with that statement, then I'm afraid you're already disqualified. Kindly collect your complimentary "Prefessional Baker" buttons at the door and show yourselves out.

Now, for the rest of you, just LOOK at all the exciting things your future could have in store!

The glamor! The excitement! The satisfaction of giving a customer EXACTLY what they ask for!

But the REAL cherry on top? Someday you, too, could write, "cherry on top" on one of your orders!

Consider this something to work toward.

Now, who here failed Biology?

Ah, excellent!

Because next up: baby shower cakes.

Thanks to Inge D., Stephanie S., Emily S., Stephanie H., & Sargam M. for being the wind beneath my leaves. Except there's no wind...IN SPACE.

*****

P.S. I found a book right up our wrecky alley:

A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking

I don't even need a synopsis. I'm sold.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/takes-direction-well-2025

fleetsparrow posting in

I was going to make a "What a week, huh?" joke here, and then realized it's not even Wednesday yet. x__x

Poll #33880

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

What was today's Prime Task?

View Answers

Writing!
1 (20.0%)

Editing!
1 (20.0%)

Researching!
0 (0.0%)

Crying into my preferred beverage!
2 (40.0%)

Adult Business!
1 (20.0%)

Recovery!
1 (20.0%)

Pre-covery!
0 (0.0%)

Other...
1 (20.0%)

Today's word is brought to you by the shipping and transporting industry! Because nothing says, "Happy Holidays" like the memory of dozens of shipping containers tipping into the harbor.

Stevedore:

(noun) One who works at or is responsible for loading and unloading ships in port
(verb) To handle (to load or unload) cargo as a stevedore

Per our friends at Merriam-Webster, "stevedore" came to English from the Spanish "estibador" which came from "estibar" meaning "to pack". The first known use of "stevedore" in English was in 1788.

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/pan-demonium-2025

Posted by Jen

Today's post is a little different, and doesn't quite fit my standard definition of a wreck - but it's just too darn funny not to share.

Today's post is also probably NSFW, and unless you want some really uncomfortable discussions with your children, NSFK, either.

So, assuming you're at home and have no kids around, YOU MAY PROCEED.

*****

In the spirit of Pan-Tastic, we here at CW want you to get the most mileage out of your shaped cake pans. To that end, allow us to present....er, this:

IT'S A LIGHTHOUSE.

Juuuuust a lighthouse.

("Be a beacon?!")

(If you get that reference, I will personally award you one million geek points.)

And also this:

Old Macdonald had a farm.

Which was clearly compensating for something.

Of course, your pan may be a slightly different model, so there's also this option:

Those pesky UFOs - always taking off to the right.

Or this:

I'm coocoo for COCONUTS!

(Coconuts. Seriously. THESE JOKES WRITE THEMSELVES.)

By now I'm sure you're wondering where all these brilliant designs came from. Well, would you believe there was a whole website dedicated to finding alternative uses for that most distinctive of shaped cake pans? 'Cuz there was, and I think you'll agree that blogger/baker Holly was a veritable WIZARD at making me bust a gut laughing:

You'll never hear a reference to Mr. Wizard the same way again.

And here's one final option, spotted at an actual baby shower:

There's something ironic about using this particular pan for a baby shower cake. Or is it appropriate? Ironically appropriate? Whatever. IT'S FUNNY.

My thanks to Thomas S., whoever it was that originally sent me the link to Holly's site, and the rest of you for not yelling at me in the comments about how these aren't professional or at ALL appropriate. I KNOW.

But to be fair, neither am I. ;)

*****

P.S. It is possible our obsession with gnomes has gone too far?

Gnome Refrigerator Handle Covers, Set of 8

... or not far enough?

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/pan-demonium-2025

fleetsparrow posting in

Here's to a new week of writing!

Poll #33876

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

What are you working on today?

View Answers

Fanfic
3 (60.0%)

Original
0 (0.0%)

Poetry
0 (0.0%)

Lyrics
1 (20.0%)

Nothing! It's a rest day
1 (20.0%)

Other
0 (0.0%)

Instead of a discussion topic this week, I thought I'd share some fun words and definitions I've saved. Today's word, per Merriam-Webster:

Wilder: (pronounced as in its remaining form "bewilder")

(transitive verb) 1. To lead astray; 2. Bewilder, perplex
(intransitive verb) 1. To move at random, to wander

xkcd_feed

https://xkcd.com/3172/

https://xkcd.com/3172/

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/er-mah-gourd-2025

Posted by Jen

Eek! I think I’ve forgotten to mention this year what is possibly the most popular indicator of Fall - you know, the one you see in every coffee shop, restaurant, and bakery across the nation.

Yep, I'm talking about that ubiquitous Fall flavor:

...Poop brûlée

Kidding, kidding. We all know the actual flavor of Fall is pumpkin:

...with poop on top.

Or on the side!

Or just washed down the edges.

Or whatever is happening here.

And when bakers aren't grossing us out with log-a-riffic "stem" action on their pumpkin cakes, they're busy gleefully spitting in the eye of Mother Nature:

I can just imagine them dramatically twirling their mustachios now:

"Take THAT, nature, with your natural shapes, and your natural colors, and your sickening lack of spikes and crappy silly string. HA. Haha! AHAHAHAHAHAA!!"

"Oh, and I always wanted my pumpkins to have a sphincter, so there."

Now, you might be questioning whether that is actually supposed to be a pumpkin.

First of all, NEVER QUESTION THE JEN.

Lest she speak of herself in the third person.

And second of all, of COURSE it's a pumpkin.

Can't you see that it's orange? And green? And brown?

WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT, YOU UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE PUMPKIN EATERS?

Ah.

Well, don't you worry; the turkey cakes are coming.

Thanks to Carol W., Rheanne K., Dawn R., Brady, Julie P., Holley R., Jessica S., & Lisa S. for the excuse to type the following: Ermahgourd! Permpkins!

*****

P.S. Here's a great book for those of you with kids around the house this Thanksgiving:

How To Catch A Turkey

The illustrations are fantastic and it's especially fun to real aloud:

****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/er-mah-gourd-2025

fleetsparrow posting in

Hello, all! I hope your day has been full of writing or resting or at least something fun!

Poll #33872

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 6

What *kind* of day, Denny?

View Answers

Writing!
1 (16.7%)

Reading!
2 (33.3%)

Resting!
2 (33.3%)

Recovering!
0 (0.0%)

Staring contest with the Abyss and losing....
4 (66.7%)

Staring contest with the Abyss and WINNING!
0 (0.0%)

An infinitely more accurate answer than the above foolishness
0 (0.0%)

Discussion: Oh boy. Here we are at another week, huh. How'd that even happen? But enough mourning the inexorable passage of time!

This week sees--for those of us in the States--a major holiday which often correlates to major stress; it's not the most conducive to writing! But there's still a bit of time on either side of the holiday for the possibility of writing. (And for y'all not in an American Thanksgiving world, it will just be Thursday.)

So, what are your writing plans for the coming week?

chestnut_pod posting in

poetry

The Old Usher
Oliver Reynolds
2010, from Hodge

--

for Farès Moussa

I have
shouted Lights! in the foyer as the show begins

I have
opened and closed a million doors
Push and Pull stamping my palms

I have
woken with Good Evening on my lips

I have
ROH in moles over my left nipple

I have
Tchaikovsky as a heart-beat

I have
told ten thousand bladders
It’s down the slope and on the right

I have
stood at the bottom of Floral Hall stairs
with Peter Bramley at the top
tapping the metal hand-rail with his ring
to annoy me

I have
bent my head to complaints about the row in front
the big hair-do, the change-jingler, those who snore or smell

I have
turned a blind eye, a deaf ear, and a stopped nostril

I have
opened and closed a million doors
Push and Pull stamping my palms

I have
waited in the wings to present flowers
cygnets wafting past me in a crush of tutus
each back tight with the cordage of muscle

I have
sold ices with Susie Boyle

I have
passed the black-and-white monitor at Stage Door
and felt proud to see Haitink in the pit
a bottled homunculus preserved in music

I have
opened my locker on a vista of dirty shirts

I have
killed a moth for Monica Mason
It wants to settle on me!
she who once danced her death in the Rite
now frightened of millimetres of flutter

I have
Tchaikovsky as a heart-beat

I have
bassoons and strings planned for my last-act death
the weightless pas-de-chat
lifting me out of this ninth life
into the proscenium’s eternal gold

I have
perfected my farewell
a final turning-out of the pockets
as I rise and vanish into air
swirling with the confetti of ticket-stubs

I have
shouted Lights! as the show begins

I have

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-im-your-matre-d-2025

Posted by Sharyn

(Extra points if you "hear" this in the Genie's voice!)

Well, Ali Baba had them 40 thieves
Scheherezad-ie had a thousand tales
But, reader, you're in luck 'cuz Sunday Sweets
Has gorgeous cakes that make all others pale

By House of the Rising Cake

You've got some flowers in your corner now

By Wild Orchid Baking Company

Every single cake here is a champ

By The Fondant Flinger

They've got punch, pizazz! Yahoo and wow

By Take the Cake in Chicago

Hey, this cake looks like a Tiffany lamp!

By Maggie Austin Cake

Now I say...

Sunday Sweets reader, please
What will your pleasure be?

By Jacques Fine European Pastries

Let me take your order
Something brown?

By Cakework

You ain't never seen cakes like these

By Cotton and Crumbs

These aren't in restaurants
They're here on Sunday Sweets!

By Mike's Amazing Cakes

C'mon, whisper what it is you want
You ain't never seen cakes like these!

By Sweet Thing Black Orchid

[blinking 'Applause' sign]

Happy Sunday!

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-im-your-matre-d-2025

tarlanx

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

mific posting in

fanart_recs

Fandom: Tolkien: Lord of the Rings
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Legolas, and Gimli
Content Notes/Warnings: none
Medium: traditional art, pencil drawing
Artist on DW/LJ: n/a
Artist Website/Gallery: Turner Mohan on DA
Why this piece is awesome: This is a companion to my last, more upbeat post of the friends sailing to the Grey Havens, done in a quirky, somewhat medieval style. In contrast, this is beautiful traditional art, and heartrending. Gimli is very old, and even Legolas shows his years as he helps Gimli aboard. An extraordinary piece.
Link: An attributed repost on tumblr: Legolas and Gimli Depart. Read the note on the tumblr post - it's wonderful. And here on the artist's DA.

mific posting in

fancake

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters/Pairings: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, Evan Lorne, Radek Zelenka, Laura Cadman
Rating: Teen
Length: 7984
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply
Creator Links: Brumeier on AO3
Themes: Mystery and suspense, Psychic powers, Friends to lovers, Complete AU: law enforcement

Summary: Rodney had thought the worst part of his day was coming home from the office and finding a dead man in his living room. He was wrong. But the investigation brought him and John together, and that's when things really got interesting.

Reccer's Notes: This is an engaging story in which Rodney's the head of his own tech company and John's a psychic with clairvoyance and precognitition who works with Lorne, a detective. They get called in when Rodney finds a dead stranger in his apartment, leading to an investigation. The story revolves around Rodney's reactions to John's abilities (mistrust gradually changing to fascination), all while being attracted to him. John is troubled, mostly seeing death and being able to locate killers, after being traumatised by his mother's death. Until he meets Rodney! :D It's romantic, with an interesting plot - an excellent read.

Fanwork Links: Born Under a Bad Sign

igenlode posting in