• On Life and Love

    Where am I?

    So… I’m writing again, and partaking in a little summer writing project (coined “Hot Blog Summer”) with my partner Dr. Lucy. Good gravy, folks, the amount of plugin clean-up I had to do to get this and my next post out is wild. 😅 While I’m editing my first meaty post, here’s how you can find me these days: Mastodon I’m over at irrsinn.life/@melissa, posting about Beat Saber, other games I’m playing, a bit of social justice stuff, and tech. Come chat with me there. I really don’t spend much time on Twitter these days aside from Future Proof Games work and folks I get push notifications for.

  • On Life and Love

    Beach, With (Body) Mods

    We took our second trip to Pawleys Island on our anniversary weekend. Notice the lack of links to that first trip? That’s because 1) I didn’t take my camera, and 2) I was hiding from the world after my wedding. I forgot the good camera again this time, although given the way sand managed to insinuate itself everywhere, I’d’ve been afraid to unseal the carrying bag. After roasting wonderfully on the beach, we spent time wandering around Brookgreen Gardens–again, our second visit. Last year, I was much more acutely into gardening (living in my last apartment wasn’t encouraging, but my garlic and my green onion lived on until this summer).…

  • On Life and Love

    New Witches Story: “Esteemed Relations”

    “Esteemed Relations” is the fifth piece of the Witches of Ming Ung tale: “Did you really need to wear that?” Hardi whispered to Robert. “You look like a clown.” Robert straightened his lavender shirt. “I, my dear, am a peacock in a field of pigeons.” One of the soldiers behind him snorted a laugh. Robert shot him a look, but continued, “I know how station ladies are. I have to stand out from these military types, or I’ll never get… noticed.” Hardi rolled her eyes and eyed his luggage dubiously as they moved forward in line. She refused to ask what was in the five bags, since the answer might…

  • On Life and Love

    Congratulate me, suckas!

    You know how when some people announce their engagement, it’s like everyone around them is thrown into this weird twilight zone? The entrance is lined by the glitter of diamond/moissanite, and the maze is of the Myst: Uru-level of complexity — it could take weeks to get out. There’s lots of jumping and squealing and the equivalent of: OH MY GAWD! FINALLY! Oh, my gawd! Four-and-a-half years and my snuggle-bunny honey bun finally popped the question!!! I was beginning to think he didn’t love me, but this $5000 Tiffany’s ring shows me — and everyone else in any building I’m in — that he truly loves me! Note that there…