rose ▪ bud ▪ thorn - july 2026
rose
- The break from everything went well. I'm enjoying the mindset shift it brought, and am appreciating that I'm currently putting my focus elsewhere; on my comfort, my rest, my play, my relationships, instead of being highly ambitious in so much else. I've also gotten rid of some unnecessary people-pleasing behavior that had emerged especially around this blog. I feel more protective and selective over who or what I give my attention and efforts to.
- I read a nice amount of books, and I have some blog posts scheduled about them.
- I started playing FFXIV. I'm now a Level 55 Black Mage; I'm otherwise a big fan of Miner, Botanist, and Fisher. Still trying to figure out the Red Mage stuff. Please add me if you want: I'm on EU Light Data Center on Raiden, character is called Ava Nehalennia.
- Went to a faerie convention with lots of artists, board and card games.
- My MtG proxy decks arrived. I made a bug deck with Fumulus as commander, and a poison deck with Vishgraz. Got to play them at the event, and I am very very happy with them!
- I made more art. A self portrait, and a longer project with a night sky and clouds I'm still working on.
- I finally reached a new personal best on the treadmill: I jogged 5km straight without pause. Took 48 minutes because I'm a bit slow for now.
- I got an AeroPress and am experimenting with it.
- I tried out a new matcha cafe! Review coming soon on my matcha blog.
- I got lucky and was able to get the Stardew Valley MtG Secret Lair drop! I bought the "Welcome to Stardew Valley" Non-Foil bundle.
bud
- The aforementioned art project.
- I'm working on one day running 5km in 30 minutes (a reduction of 18 minutes).
- I wanna build up my stamina to be able to ride my bike to work (27km one way, roughly 1.5h). I also wanna get it repaired, finally.
thorn
- My body had a weird flare up of my Bechterew's disease. Weirdness around my sacroiliac joints, neck inflammation and extremely fatigued days. It caused some regression in my strength training, because I had to essentially lie around and wait until it's over for a couple days. Then I promptly angered my neck again and couldn't go to the gym anymore.
- I struggled with deep disillusionment about my goals and ambitions, about anything outside my home really... and the effort I put into things. I just don't feel like anything (broadly) gives back the kind of effort I put in; no matter if in the area of work, volunteering, people, the systems I pay into or donate to, my hobbies or my studies. It all feels sort of pointless, and right now I am not in the mindset to appreciate these things anyway or just enjoy the path with nothing expected in return. Maybe I'll get my spark back the next few weeks.
- I've had to cry a lot because of some unexpected interpersonal issues and tough conversations, and accidentally took too much of a medicine to calm me down.
☁️☁️☁️
pics
The stickers I bought at the convention, and a card I got for free with it.
Me playing MtG in a stuffy gym hall at 33 degrees Celsius. Oof.
Got my nails done.
New matcha order arrived.
Sushi my wife made.
Self portrait. But with alien eyes.
My FFXIV character.
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