Probably not exactly matching your meaning, but in a round about way, Dune, post Machine Crusade –

It’s maybe not as evident without reading the series–which definitely isn’t a negative comment! I’ve enjoyed (almost) every bit of the truly shocking amount of Dune I’ve put myself through since the very early '90s, haha.

I’m, uh, mildly obsessive as well as critical of the SF I stand by, (just for myself personally!–everyone should like whatever they like!) but Frank Herbert, entirely, still remains in my top 2 favorite authors. You may enjoy all the books as a whole, if you’re looking for something less about ‘the machine’ itself, but how humans diverge from it and without it, but it’s…a lot, lol. And…well, I won’t spoil things. I just remembered it might negate my entire point. Oh, no. (ʘ‿ʘ)

Anyway! Regardless!

If you do ever get into full-ass Dune–and I’d recommend this “tip” to literally anyone–I’d definitely suggest audio books for the early works of Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson. They took a bit to get into their groove from informational to actually entertaining. The lore is honestly fantastic, beautifully done, but physically reading their earlier Dune stuff can be textbook without diagram tedious. Love 'em both for the work, but shiiiiiiiiite.

Damn, too bad it’s not their Cranberry vodka!

Grapefruit is one of my favorite flavors, next to cranberry, and if you want to do a pitcher type drink, an easy thing might be a grapefruit Screwdriver (a nice OJ, or even with blood orange juice and the grapefruit vodka).

Jumping off the Screwdriver base, it would definitely support a hefty amount or even just a splash of cranberry juice (if you want intensity without dilution of added sweetness, I recommend Knudsen Just Cranberry for highly concentrated flavor), and plain or burnished fresh rosemary sprigs, a squeeze of lime and a wedge of lime, or orange, ahh, it’s endless! You could give it a fizz with soda water or flavored Italian soda, anything that slides into the profile, make it more holiday with a cinnamon stick, or stronger and more complex with botanicals of some gin, yadda yadda, I’m not helping! Too many options, I’m getting envious of your quandary.

A Grayhound, just also use the grapefruit vodka, similarly with Salty Dogs. I’d go so far to recommended Tanqueray Rangpur Lime Gin, for that added citrus with the botanicals, but I’m big on flavor, and that’ll get expensive pretty quickly in quantity. Fresh lime juice goes a long way.

You could also just get a bunch of cheap regular and diet tonic, (for options) and make up pitchers or pretty carafes of V & Ts. It’s nice enough flavor wise on it’s own, but great with all the above flavor options, too!

Regardless, you probably can’t go wrong with Deep Eddy, and a singular something tasty to mix.

Hooray! I think! Cause that is correct.

When my focal seizures weren’t as well managed, one of the closest descriptions I could give is it often feels like experiencing various Windows error noises. Like, all varieties of them, from '93-XP, fit the bill. Occasionally, it’s dragging the multiplying, cascading window that won’t respond, across a teeny screen of barely available conciousness. Meds make me feel pretty dumb, and some errors still get through, but I don’t dunk, donk, dink, or bonk so much!

Super cute and fuzzy wuzzy until it’s jumping spider season, and they’re in the house, and jesus goddammit jumping spiders, I just cleaned up this shit, can you not web up the entire kitchen every fucking morning? Tiny ass Cirque du Soleil across the light fixtures, every damned day! Cute little shits.

Whoa! I don’t actually know what I expected, but this is so much more awesome information than I thought I’d see!

Thanks, everyone – I think I’m leaning towards a Baratza model, as that should fit a lot of categories that weren’t absolutely necessary, but preferred (electric, mid-range price, upgradeable).

Eventually, I may go for something fancier, some of those recommended are very slick, or gift myself a hand-grind; I do enjoy the ritual for certain things, but I’m not there yet, for coffee – props to those who put so much care into your brew!

Illness wrecked my enjoyment of many things until recently, coffee included, so it’s exciting–if not a little daunting–seeing numerous home options available. It seemed like pour-over was just getting going in the US last time I had the will and energy to look into a better brew, so I’ll be thrilled to have something nicer than my little Y2K era Krupps grinder (though the tiny beast is still kickin’, haha), and slowly move into a variety of quality home brewing options, especially as winter approaches.

Plus this part

Please, I can only get so turned on…

Shit, dude. My iron was at 2 after my last blood test. They keep pumping me full of star stuff–pow, straight in the veins–and I just keep burning through it. Why, stars, why! Why does thou forsake me! I am very tired, stars.

Only Honk.

Or

“There are no genders. Only Honk.”

Make a new website, and/or make a new HonkBusters.

Alternatively: “Where we’re going, we won’t need genders to honk…”

Oh, holy hell, I just uncontrollably giggled at that for so long, my chest hurts. I sent it to my only group of friends, and it looks even better in smaller thumbnail form. Good gracious.

After growing up mostly in the Colorado mountains, and even later in the more suburban areas, but still near enough to the mountains, lynx and cougar calls are strange and loud as shit. They scared the jeebs out of child-me in the dark nothing. Cool as hell, though, once you know what they are. Loud ass kitties, echoing for miles.

Everytime I see this, I can’t help but giggle a little at that magnificent lump, just florpin’ on by, awkward as hell. I love our moon, so much.

Flirtinis, all around!

Yes. I suggest Asimov’s recommended reading order, from I, Robot through Foundation and Earth, including the Empire trilogy. Keep in mind some were written decades apart, regardless of series chronology, so the tone may shift due to the era written and Asimov’s growth as a writer, which can be jarring for a couple pages (primarily getting to the Empire novels, but still great little stories, and I enjoyed the continued lore).

As an avid reader, particularly sci-fi, it’s my very favorite series, from start to finish, and I’d recommend it to anyone - personally, Foundation itself might be my least liked of the group, though that may be for it being a collection of stories put together from the magazines, I found it mildly disjointed, (and I have a tendency to confuse certain character names in that one, haha), but I appreciated it more when my spouse listened to them all on audiobook (PS. Scott Brick is a wonderful Asimov narrator).

Regardless of which, and how you may read them, I hope you enjoy them!

It’s even better than I thought it would be.

I’m transported to younger years, and new discoveries. I’m reminded of yonder goth college days, on the way to school in midwest winters, with a cheeky cig, loud music, so much eyeliner, too much caffeine, and too many classes, pretending I could handle it all with carrot juice and various earthen derived, uh, experiments. Actually miss those days, in comparison, except the partner. Much better co-goblin, now.

I really, really appreciate this find, thanks for sharing! ☺️