Nerd Church - The Devil Wears Double Standards

Warning: this post briefly discusses sexual assault and slut-shaming/victim blaming.

 

I recently read The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger.

And while I largely enjoyed it, and it's really well written, I have Some Thoughts™ about the way it treats women - especially women with any type of ambition or aspirations.

The Devil Wears Prada is a book about Andy, who becomes an assistant to Miranda Priestly - boss b**ch in chief at fashion magazine 'Runway.'

Miranda is a living nightmare who seems to delight in making her assistants' lives hell.

Friday Fics Fix - A Hero Descended From Villains

 

'...they’d known that something was wrong, just as much as they’d known that they couldn’t let Brainy out of their sight.'

Supergirl is one of the CW Arrowverse shows.

Like most of these shows, Supergirl is a cancelled series.

Which makes me sad. But we have fanfiction! Woo! (Lol.)

Comics Wrap-Up - Weirdly Similar Taste In Jewellery

 

It's Thursday, climate change is real and here, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Poetry: Forge

Poetry time dearest nerdlets!

This poem was first published in the Medium publication The Brain Is A Noodle (TBIAN), for the prompt 'Slow Consumption' set by Lucy Dan (editor of TBIAN)

Forge

I'm ready now...

Let the fire come
I’m gonna let it burn

Nerd Church - The Global House Is Burning

The UK has declared a national emergency because of the weather.

...And it's because of heat, not snow or floods.

This is climate change in action. 

I don't work well in the heat.

I'm a Welsh girl, through and through - the summers of my milennial childhood were predominantly rain, with enough nice days interspersed to make up for it.

And by 'nice days,' I mean temperatures of around 15C-20C, occasionally stretching to 21C, with sunshine.

Friday Fics Fix - In My Defence, It's A Shared Universe

 

'“Hey, settle a debate for me,” he says to the poor twenty-something that probably doesn’t get paid enough to deal with Clint.

Sam gives her a sympathetic look. “Clint, man, give it a rest—” he tries, but Clint will not be deterred.'

I was looking for Hawkeye fanfics, and this one popped up instead.

And it's not technically a Hawkeye fic, and it may have Sam and Bucky from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS)/MCU (Marvel movies) - but it's a shared universe, y'know?

OK, you got me. It's SamBucky.

...but the Hawkeye squad are here too!

Kate! Yelena! Clint!

All the sass!

Comics Wrap-Up - In Case Anyone Was In Doubt

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, the UK is Too Hot (I feel like I'm melting,) let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The Writer Diaries: Building A Craft

When I tell people about my various craft projects - weaving, embroidery, cross-stitch - they're always like: 'You must have so much patience!' 

But here's the thing - I don't.

I am so impatient. I want things done yesterday, preferrably in triplicate and wrapped with a bow.

No, I don't have any patience...

What I have is the ability to see the progress of the piece - however slow that progress may be.

Seeing it creeping into a mode of 'becoming' lets you know you're on the right track.

Friday Fics Fix - This Version of Captain America is Unnerving

 

'...superheroes are great for preventing the destruction of the earth, but they don’t seem to give a damn about high rise apartments or coffee shops or the disastrous economic catastrophes they leave in their wake.'

Honestly, what is this fic?

I have no idea what I just read.

It might be some great literary piece, doomed to languish on the Internet because it was published on a fanfiction website and not in The New Yorker (or wherever high-fallutin' things get published - I dunno,)

 - or it may be trash.

It may be complete and utter pulp trash, comparable with the crackiest of crack fics. (It's even tagged 'Crack Treated Seriously' by the author.)

(Fandom notes:

Crack is fanfiction that is so bizarre that you wonder what substances the author may or may not have been imbibing in (#Don'tDoDrugsKids))

Comics Wrap-Up - Chillaxed Vibes

 

It's July, it's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Month In Review(s) - June 2022

 

(Warning: this post discusses Covid 19, grief, mental health problems, and panic attacks)

June was horrible.

I'm not going to sugar-coat it - June sucked.

For those who don't know, at the very end of May I caught Covid after going to a My Chemical Romance concert (they do rock, though #JustSaying) - and it took me most of June to feel even half-way to human again.

I had ten full days of feeling like absolute hell - and the time since has been spent recovering.

Do NOT listen to people who call this mild.

The only way I'd refer to it as 'mild' is if you mean 'I didn't end up in hospital' - which, thank God that I'm triple-vaxxed because honestly, I'm not sure I would've stayed out of hospital otherwise.

If by 'mild' you mean 'like a cold,' or 'feeling a bit off,' or 'not feeling good but being semi-able to function,' then NO.

No, it is NOT mild.

Wear your masks. 

Wash your hands. 

Keep up social distancing where possible.

Micropoetry - April + May 2022

 

Micropoetry time! (Yay!)

So, I only wrote one piece of micropoetry in April, and one in May. 

The April one is haiku... because sometimes my brain provides me with haikus *shrugs*

As always, if you're using a screen-reader, the poetry itself is in the alt-text of the graphics, and line-breaks are marked by / marks.

Month in Review(s) - May 2022

(Warning: this post discusses Covid, migraines, and mental health problems)

 

I know it's late-ish June. I got Covid.

...And I didn't want to just not do a post for May, because it was bugging me 😅

May 2022... *hysterical laughter*

OK, May 2022 was a bit of a rollercoaster for me.

Like, there was some really good stuff, some really bad stuff, and some stuff I point-blank don't know how to categorise.

Life/Blogging Update - Covid Recovery

(Yes, this post discusses Covid)

No, this is not my cat - it's a stock photo from Pixabay. Yes, I wish I could pet this kitty 😅

Covid really sucks, by the way.

Like, it really sucks.

So, I obviously want to get back to blogging straight away. But even walking up the stairs is still an exhausting activity, so I'm going to have to try easing myself into things.

(...which, is not easy for me. I really want to spend circa 25 hours a day, 8 days a week, being productive right now, and I can't. Argh!)

My regular posts won't be back in June - it's just not practical *sigh* - but I do have dates in July when you can expect my series-posts back on your screens:

Life/Blogging Update - Covid

(Warning: this post obviously discusses Coronavirus/Covid 19)

Hi everyone,

I tested positive.

I went to an outside concert for the first time in 2 years, was really careful, am triple vaxxed, and still got Covid.

So, my brain is currently smoosh, and I really hope this missive contains a modicum of sense (...I turn into a Victorian dictionary when I'm tired - sorry.)

My usual posts will be suspended for the time being, until I can think clearly enough to figure out a strategum for said missives.

(...I honestly have no clue where that came from, sorry again.)

Once I know what in the name of your great-aunt Doris (...seriously, I have no clue,) I'm doing, I will let everyone know - I promise.

See you soon.

Friday Fics Fix - This Is Legends

 

'An alarm was blaring, and once Nate came to his senses he realized he was standing outside a bank, holding a sack full of money.'

 

I'm still mourning for my beloved Legends of Tomorrow (LoT) after it's beautiful batsh**tery was cancelled a mere few weeks ago 

*Swoons on ye olde timey fainting couch*

(...I have no idea where that came from - let's just keep moving... 😅)

Comics Wrap-Up - Going Off-Book

 

It's Thursday, it's May, this is Dora Reads, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Poetry: So. Easy.

Some more poetry for you my dearest nerdlets!

This poem was first published in the Medium publication The Brain Is A Noodle (TBIAN), for the prompt 'The Cost of Rest' set by Lucy Dan (editor of TBIAN)

But, of course, my Dora Reads nerdlets must not be allowed to miss out on my poetry-ness! Lol.

Nerd Church - The Assimilation of Self-Care

Warning: this post discusses mental health problems and stigma

Disclaimer time!: I am not any kind of medical, mental health, or psychological professional; I'm a chick with a blog.

The system sees something and seeks to assimilate it.

Capitalism is a Borg Queen.

(I may've been watching too much Star Trek: Picard, but the statement still stands. 😅)

'Stunning 8K-resolution meditation app
In honor of the revolution, it's half-off at the Gap'

- Bo Burnham, That Funny Feeling 

Self-Care does NOT mean candles or baths or face masks.

Don't get me wrong: There's nothing WRONG with using candles or baths or face masks as a type of self-care - nothing AT ALL. 

Don't let anyone tell you any different. 

Friday Fics Fix - For Stucky Purposes

 

'He promised more details when they weren’t running for their lives, and Bucky was damn well going to hold him to that. Because this kind of stuff didn’t just happen to people.'

One of the many, many, things I love about fanfiction is the breadth of the writing.

Fanfic writers are as varied and diverse a group as you're likely to find - which means the range of the stuff they write is incredible.

...which, while all 100% true, is something I'm bringing up here because I'm rationalising bringing you a fic from the same fandom two weeks in a row 😅

But - BUT! - this fic is so different to last week's that it feels like they're from different fandoms entirely!

(...and if that still didn't convince you, then I'll remind you that it's my blog, so I get pick the fanfiction 😅)

Comics Wrap-Up - Jennifer Walters Rocks!

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Self-Care Wins From A Weird Week

 

I'm settling down to write this with some caution...

Because if the last few days have been anything to go by, the moment I really get into things, really get some momentum going... drama happens.

Friday Fics Fix - Dealing With The Stabby Teenager In Your Kitchen

'“Who is he?” Clint asks.

Sam shrugs his shoulders. “I don't know. He broke in, only thing he's really said is Steve's name.”'

 

I love fanfiction AUs.

AUs can be an incredible way for fic authors to play around with the characters and situations involved in the canon.

...and the best AUs are often the least fantastical.

Comics Wrap-Up - ...We Need Another Series To Deal With This, Marvel

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness! 😊

Month in Review(s) - April 2022

 

April was rough, mental health-wise.

I'm OK - just having to adapt and take care.

...It's kind of worse when there's no real reason or trigger because there's nothing you can blame, y'know?

...and it really doesn't help that the pollen this year is exceptionally, brutally, high, so my hayfever is extra-present this year.

Kind of hard to focus on your mental health when the pollen is making you feel like a zombie, lol.

(Oh, and hayfever is linked to climate change. #TrueStory.)

Nerd Church - Rich Vamps: Dracula and The Blood of the Poor

 Warning: this is probably obvious, but we're gonna talk blood, death, and murder

You ever notice that vampires are filthy stinking rich?

I was talking about this topic with Em @ The Paperback Princess a while back (...I can't find the conversation, but it exists, I'm sure! 😅):

You rarely see fiction or media with vampires who struggle to pay the bills

 - which does mean that they're in line to combine with a dozen or so other tropes to make romance novels titled 'The Alpha Bad-Boy Motorbike CEO Billionaire Daddy Vampire's Baby Surprise.' 

Apologies if that's the title of your novel - because I feel like this thing exists somewhere.

And if it didn't before, it does now 😅

But moving away from romance novels and things that would even make fanfiction writers wonder if you may have overdone the tropes...

Friday Fics Fix - 100% A Thing That John Constantine Would Do

'B-Eazy: do we tell her

is it like an invasion of privacy

Ava Sharpe: This entire team is an invasion of privacy.'

I had a lot of Legends of Tomorrow (LoT) feelings this week...

...because it was CANCELLED! Argh!

I love this show. I'ma miss it so much - it's one of my faves dammit!!!! 😭

Comics Wrap-Up - In Awe of Her Blue Nail Polish

 

It's Thursday, we reached May, this week's post is huge, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The Need To Read

 

'I feel the need... the need to read!'

- Anonymous bookish meme, based on a Top Gun reference

I'm a mood-reader.

I read every single day.

...I need to.

Friday Fics Fix - FrostIron Schmoop (Don't Judge Me!)

'“You mortals are truly horrendous at naming constellations.”'

This week's fanfiction is short and sweet.

I fully admit it - this be schmoopy af.

No angst as far as the eye can see. (...Which is highly unusual with me involved, obviously 😅)

Comics Wrap-Up - Very Much A Mood

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The Writer Diaries: Write Your Obvious

You're the only one of you.

( *Starts mentally singing ME! by Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie: 'I'm the only one of me! Baby, that's the fun of me!...'* Lol.)

Hooman-bean-brains are one of the most complex things in the known universe (I know, right? We're special!) and yours is just that: yours.

No-one else's brain will ever work in exactly the same way as yours does.

We may come to the same conclusions or think along the same lines as someone else - but at the end of the day our brains are ours alone: entirely unique.

Friday Fics Fix - Who We Meet In The Shadows

 

'Nandor blinked at his question, almost owlish. “You want to see your human mother?” As if he had another kind.'

 

A little over a month ago, I explained to all of you that What We Do In The Shadows (WWDITS) is an amazing vampire-mockumentary work of genius that occupies space in my head, rent-free.

It continues to squat and not pay me a penny for its living quarters.

Comics Wrap-Up - This Precious Ball of Nerdyness

 

It's Thursday, it's still April, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Micropoetry - March 2022

 

All my Micropoetry from March!

...I have literally no clue where either of these came from. 

Should I blame the universe again? Yeah, why not let's blame the universe again.

The universe made me write these! Including the haiku! (Lol.)

Friday Fics Fix - Another SamBucky Rec List!

 

It's been a little while since my first SamBucky rec list - so I thought I'd bring you some more of the shippy goodness!

(Fandom notes:

SamBucky is a romantic and/or sexual relationship between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes from the MCU (Marvel) movies etc., especially the Captain America movies, and the The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) TV series.

Shippy = related to ships.

Ships are relationships between two or more characters.)

As always with this kind of list, the Content Warnings will be in the original rec'ing post, which I'll link to.

Also pay attention to the fic author's tags on the fics themselves, and generally take care, dearest nerdlets!

(You can also check the rec'ing posts for whether the fics have SPOILERS or not.)

Comics Wrap-Up - Leave the Precious Cinnamon Roll Alone!

 

It's Thursday, I'm not entirely sure where the week went, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Even Franz-Freaking-Kafka...

 

Ever heard of a writer called Kafka?

If it was up to him, you probably wouldn't have. 

But millions of people know his name - and have heard the term 'Kafkaesque,' which is a fancy and more succinct way of saying 'reminds me of the stuff that that Kafka feller wrote.'

Friday Fics Fix - Hijinks Ensue To A Soundtrack of Queen Music

 

'He had slept every night since they’d defied Heaven and Hell and it was becoming a bit of a habit.'

A lot of Good Omens (GO) fanfiction tends to revolve around the ship 'Ineffable Husbands' 

- and this week's fic rec is no different.

Comics Wrap-Up - Poor Fishy!

 

It's Thursday, I am very tired, let's get some superhero-y comics-y goodness!

Month In Review(s) - March 2022

Warning: this post briefly discusses various aspects of the world's clusterf**k, including but not limited to: Ukraine, systemic Transphobia, and Covid 19. 

It also breifly discusses poor mental health, and chronic illness (migraines.)

March was... turbulent.

Which I know isn't exactly unusual atm, but still...

Nerd Church - Brain Fog Days

Warning: this post discusses brain fog as a symptom of Depression/Anxiety

Disclaimer time: I am not any kind of medical, psychological, or neurological professional. I'm a chick with a blog and some personal experiences - nothing more, nothing less.

Some days, my brain does not work.

Call it brain fog, call it fuzziness, call it extreme mental fatigue.

It's common with migraines (which I get,) and Depression and Anxiety (which I have,) as well as a whole bunch of other conditions - including Long Covid, for which it's gotten a lot of media attention.

Friday Fics Fix - Loki Gets His A** Kidnapped

 

'“So that’s why I’m here?” Loki asked. “You think that I’ve become soft?”'

I love this MCU fic - it's so much fun.

So this is FrostIron - kinda - and verging on crack - but not all the way there. 

It's really comic-booky - the action is something I could imagine in a graphic novel, and the whole *waves hands* ...vibe feels like it belongs in the panels of a comic book.

Not least because we're dealing with Dr Doom and MODOK - stock comics villains, after all, and pretty common go-tos for fic authors who need villains that aren't embroiled in the main MCU continuity.

Comics Wrap-Up - So I'll Just Have To Admit This Is The Hand That I've Been Dealt

 

It's Thursday, the world is still wacky, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Ensnared In An ARG

 

Sometimes, when you're watching a series of nerdy video essays, you realise (about 6 videos in,) that you've become ensnared in an ARG 😅

...and there's no hope after that 😈

ARG stands for 'Alternate Reality Game.'

(Not to be confused with Augmented Reality (AR) games like Pokemon Go.)

They're not what everyone would automatically think of as a 'game' 

- they're less like a video game or a sport, and more like a choose your adventure book, especially those Goosebumps ones they used to do. (Shout out to my fellow 90s/00s kids!)

And even that doesn't cover the half of it.

Oh boy does it not cover the half of it...

Friday Fics Fix - Magical-Shenanigans-Related Food Poisoning

 

'John’s gotten sick in plenty of bars, but he’s almost sure that this is the first time alcohol hasn’t been involved.'

 

Ah, John Constantine.

A moody, broody, British Bisexual warlock and master of the occult, who's a character in my beloved Arrowverse show Legends of Tomorrow? And is played by a Welsh actor (Matt Ryan)?

Yeah, if you know me at all, you know that I had zero chance to resist.

Comics Wrap-Up - I Conduct Fear Like Electricity

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, let's get some superhero-y comics-y goodness!

Poetry: Courage

 

I originally wrote this poem and published it on Medium -

- because Iris B. Stehn over there was doing a writing prompt, so I wrote it for that.

I figured I'd share it here so that you could all see it too, 'cos I'm nice like that. 😊

Nerd Church - Just. Pause.

Warning: this post discusses mental health problems and symptoms

Disclaimer time: I am not any kind of medical, mental health, scientific, etc., professional - I'm a chick with a blog and some personal experience, m'k? M'k.

Are you ever watching a TV show or a movie, or reading a book, and just...

...have to...

...pause...?

Friday Fics Fix - Friends We Have In The Shadows

 

'He was hurt alright. That look wasn't a new color on him; Nandor seemed to be hurt quite a lot lately. Laszlo didn't want him to be alone.'

Vampire. Mockumentary.

Do I have your attention?

Good.