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.

Published 31 Jul, 2026