Tuesday

[clevermanka]

This Bai Yu is a few years old, now, but it's the first image I saw of him clean-shaven and went hmm, okay, maybe. Well, my first thought was "good lord, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan actually managed to birth a son" but my second thought was definitely hmm, okay, maybe.

Fanart: Jealousy. Various happy/kissy Weilans. Possessive Shen Wei. LGK with strawberry.

Speaking of, I bought strawberries at the store yesterday and despite limiting myself to only, like, ten of them, my guts are Not Happy At All today. 😩 I wonder if raw fruit is a permanent no-go for me, now. The four ounces of blackberries I ate a few months ago wreaked a week-long havoc on my innards. I'm gonna attempt peaches at some point this summer (because peaches) but if those produce a similar result, it's bye-bye fresh fruit. So far I'm fine with dried fruit that's baked in stuff. Crossing fingers that doesn't change.

In happier news, have a new setup for writing! I don't know that it's what helped get me over the hurdle toward WORDS, but it certainly didn't hurt.

The adjustment was motivated by the fact that I've spent so much time on my couch the cushions are starting to deteriorate. There's no other place to sit in my living area besides the floor, though, and while I do spend a lot of time on the floor (I really like sitting on the floor, but my body's not thrilled with it), it's not great for typing. I have a fantastic couch--it's a super old piece that I found for $25 at a yard sale then spent $1,600 to reupholster so I want to extend its life as much as possible.


(Ignore the horrible stain on the wall--the landlord didn't have time to paint before I moved in.)

I needed to figure something out that didn't involve buying new furniture.

Enter The Family Credenza:

(I include the chairs and door to give an idea of scale. This is not a small piece of furniture.)

This beast first belonged to my great grandfather (The Spaniard), purchased when he lived in 1930s Chicago. When my parents moved from Colorado back to Indiana my mom said she was going to get rid of it if nobody wanted it and I pounced before either of her sisters found out. I can't tell you how much it weighs, but every time I've moved, the three grown adults (so far all men) who've tackled it have made grievous noises of complaint. Because it's not just a sideboard, it's a fucking banquet table.


(Telescoping furniture that also serves as storage! This thing is basically a TARDIS.)

So here's where I'm writing now!

(The folding chairs are also antique and were acquired through slightly shady means but their former owners are too dead to come claiming them, so...)

Isn't that cozy? Not real comfortable, but the aesthetic is *chef's kiss*. It's also much closer to my tea station so I think I'm staying better hydrated. Also, because it's not as comfy as the couch, I'm getting up a lot more often.

So that's where I've written the last three thousand words of The Price of Redemption. If anyone ever comes to dinner, we'll pull out the table far enough to use some of the leaves.

Comments

[shipperslist]

The Family Credenza is gorgeous!

And yeah, I feel you on the writing station thing. When the pandemic started, I used to move my work laptop on the kitchen table and work there. Like...yeah, it worked because our kitchen table is actually a giant work desk I put together myself ages ago. But I didn't really feel like writing, though, because each time I wanted to write, I had to move my laptop to the kitchen table and when we wanted to eat, I had to move it out of the way. Inconvenient. So, last autumn, I finally bought myself a desk. I'd sworn like 15 years ago that NEVER AGAIN will I have a desk in my bedroom ever again but now I do. And you know, writing is WAY easier when there's a dedicated space for it.

[clevermanka]

It's truly magnificent. God, I love it.

I call it The Family Credenza because I heard this song from The Cat in the Hat when I was little. I thought he was saying "credenza" (it was a frequently-used piece of furniture when I was growing up). I was highly disappointed to find out, years later, he was saying "Gradunza" which isn't even a word.

One of the perks of living alone--I just scoot my laptop to the side or I go back to sitting on the floor to eat at the coffee table (which is what I've been doing since November). Hurray for a dedicated writing space, though! Definitely preferred when in a shared living area.

[shipperslist]

Oh, I'd like this even if I lived alone because order. :D :D

[clevermanka]

Everything! In! Its! Place!

[moodsong]

Is the couch actually curved or is that lens distortion?

[clevermanka]

It's curved! The coffee table was custom-made so it matches the angle perfectly.

[trobadora]

Enter The Family Credenza:

What a lovely piece of furniture! I'd have snapped that up too. :D

[clevermanka]

Isn't it amazing? So great.

[writedragon]

Sounds like you might be FODMAP sensitive (I am). The good news is that it's dose dependent, meaning that you might be able to enjoy a fresh strawberry or two, once or twice a day, spread out (four hours apart). The people at Monash University in Australia are the experts on FODMAPs -- if you're intrigued, I suggest checking them out (online -- they have blogs, research studies, and even an app). Also -- pesticides might be the culprit (something to think about) rather than the fruit itself. Yay for new writing setups!!

[clevermanka]

I did a FODMAP diet for about nine months a few years ago and results weren't conclusive. My body has a tendency to decide certain foods are okay and then they're not and then they're okay, rinse and repeat. The pesticide issue is one I hadn't considered, though! The blackberries were organic, but I don't think the strawberries were. Hmmmm.

[naye]

I LOVE the family credenza! Yay for writing words, and so glad you have more writing spaces - and they're all your own! ♥

BTW have you seen the Bai Yu news today? :D

[clevermanka]

Another 1k words today, naye! eeeeeeeeeeeee!

I did see the news! I'm happy to see him in something other than a modern day production again (since I'm thinking we're never gonna get Fated General).

[naye]

OMG YOU ROCK!!!! ♥♥♥

I got 100 words today and I am counting it a win. (Drabbles are good for the write-shy brain.)

I am so excited for long-haired Bai Yu. Yes. The bts shots...!!

[clevermanka]

EVERY WORD A VICTORY! 🍾🥂🎉

[write_out]

The Family Credenza is A M A Z I N G. OMG I love it. I'm so glad you were able to snag it and those chairs as well! And now you have a fantastic writing space!

That couch and table are pretty damn awesome too.

[clevermanka]

I would weep bitter tears if I ever had to give up that couch (or my bed!), but seriously if I could take only one piece with me somewhere, it would be The Family Credenza. I have definite opinions about furniture that can mostly be summed up as "should always be awesome" and that thing is the epitome of awesome, for real. I'm so glad everyone else here agrees with me!

[msmitti]

That credenza is definitely stellar. I'd love to see it fully extended sometime. I can't even imagine.

I'm sorry about the strawberries. I hope your tummy was just grumpy and it isn't permanent. I spent some time today digging up wild strawberry plants from the back field and knocking off the extra dirt and other plants. I don't have anywhere to plant them yet, so I put some soil in a tote as a temporary home. I hope it works! I've been told the berries are small but very tasty, so I want to build some sort of enclosure to keep birds away from them once I get them planted. The rest of the day I spent covering plants. Because snow.

[clevermanka]

I don't think you've known me when I lived somewhere I could pull it all the way out. I maybe could've done it at the apartment on Michigan St. (that was an awesome place) but it would've been tight.

I'd love to have you visit me sometime when we're both vaccinated! Come spend a weekend in Larryville with me!

Oh my GOD that fucking SNOW. At least ours melted fast. Did yours?

[msmitti]

Fortunately, it did. It actually got up to 55 today and the snowfall didn't last long. I left everything covered because we have another frost advisory tonight.

I would love, love, love to come stay with you!! Once I finish this YTT and have my weekends back, I will put that on the calendar. *happy chair dance*

[nnozomi]

"credenza" is one of those words I've heard/read a million times and never been able to picture, so now I know! That's gorgeous. I wonder what kind of wood it's made of? And I'm glad it's inspiring lots of words!

[clevermanka]

It's basically just a fancy name for a sideboard.

And I think it might be mahogany? The finish is worn and chipped in several places and it still has a reddish tint under, so...

[galaxysoup]

What a cool piece of furniture!!!

I'm sorry your guts are still giving you grief. :/

[clevermanka]

If I piece of furniture could be described as badass, I think this thing qualifies. I love how many people besides me find it so nifty!

And thank you... it's kinda the story of my life, but that doesn't make it any less tedious.

[dontfall]

The Family Credenza is gorgeous!!!

The older I get the weirder my body's reactions to some foods, I swear. Ugghh. I hope you can enjoy thr peaches!! *hugs*

[clevermanka]

The older I get the weirder my body's reactions to some foods
I'm sorry to inform you this trend does not improve.

I want everyone to come have a dinner party at my Family Credenza!!!

[brandywine28]

God, fresh fruit is a hell of a sacrifice to have to make in exchange for basic comfort, but I guess if you've gotta, you've gotta.

That is a freaking fantastic couch! You're right to want to preserve it!

"The Spaniard" -- haha. I, too, descend from a line of strange, strange Spaniards. :)

[clevermanka]

*embarrassed colonizer descendant high-five* If I ever make it to NYC again, we should swap stories over a couple drinks.

[brandywine28]

YES.

[khellekson]

That is the most gorgeous piece of furniture! Maybe get a lumbar pillow and toss a throw over the chair for comfort?

[clevermanka]

I have a pillow I sit on (the purple embroidered one that's sitting on the left side of the couch in the photo), but a lumbar support is a good idea...

[wrote_and_writ]

That’s a clever piece of furniture! One of the great things about old, well-made pieces: clever and interesting and useful. Very often heavy though. My granny and gramps had the most massive desk I have ever seen. It was almost the size of a twin bed. Not sure what happened to it after we cleared out their house. 🤔

[clevermanka]

Old furniture is so great, yes! And also usually heavy, yes. 😄

I hope the desk went to a good home!

[umadoshi]

The Family Credenza is magnificent. So cunning! So shiny!

The possible fruit situation is the polar opposite of magnificent. Bodies, why???

[clevermanka]

I love all the love for The Family Credenza.

BTW, I cooked down the strawberries with a bit of sugar and water, ate them over a few almond-flour muffins, and everything was fine, so... *emoji shrug*

[umadoshi]

BTW, I cooked down the strawberries with a bit of sugar and water, ate them over a few almond-flour muffins, and everything was fine, so... *emoji shrug*

I'm glad that worked! My Ginny has a bunch of fruits that she can't eat raw, only cooked, and strawberries are on the list, so this is a sort of bodily quirk I'm familiar with.

[clevermanka]

Interesting! What are the fruits she *can* eat raw?

[umadoshi]

I'm expecting to see her tonight, so I'll try to remember to ask! Feel free to nudge me if I forget, though!

[clevermanka]

Thanks!

[the_lucky_nun]

That is a good solution and a great story!

[clevermanka]

Thank you! I'd love for you to come over and eat on it sometime!

[tinny]

That tardis thing is amazing. <3

I did *not know* there were antique folding chairs. *stares some more*

[clevermanka]

I love this weird piece of furniture so much. And yes! They're mid-sixties! Incredible, the way things used to last.