Forward

This is the final post previously hosted here.

Prior to my moving to Ghost as a backend, I used a static site generator for my blog because it's generally more secure than a dynamic website^[1], but the fact that I didn't have a CMS bothered me so.

All the time, it felt like I was constantly having to fix or modify something to get the damn thing to fit my needs, and whilst I feel the same way about different parts of Ghost, I would also just like the ability to fucking write and save the devwork for my ongoing site facelift and actual dev projects. There's a part of me that is morbidly debating creating my own CMS or just going neck-deep in some other form but for now this is okay.

When I initially created the blog, I had abandoned Substack in favor of static site generation because I'm not really interested in Substack's shitty leadership positions and I was fucking broke and insanely depressed. This does not lead to sane decisions nor thoughtful planning. Despite not feeling my best at the moment, I have at least some rational thoughts as to how I want to handle writing vs code work, and at the moment I'm trying to prevent burnout on devwork again.

To be clear about where I stand on this, I don't think Nikola is a bad project. I think my major issue with it is that I'm lacking in the time necessary to create the things I need to make it work properly for myself, and I want to give it a fairer shake when I have more time to play with it. As of right now, this is simply not a possibility without undoing a lot of the healing I've been trying to cultivate.

Without further delay...

Shatter the Apophenion

What are your dreams made of? Originally posted on August 7th, 2024.

I stand before you, five months after my last post.

In a sense, not much has changed. Things have kept moving. I've obtained my motorcycle license, I've started talking to someone (an angel of the moon, no less :3), and I've broken free of a false maze.

I remember when I initially built this blog almost a year and a half ago now(!). There hasn't been much posting on it, and it's mostly because as it turns out, I have a life.... and probably ADHD, too.

For updates, I've gone to girlmoding permanently now. My voice betrays me at a moment's notice, my form a work-in-progress, but I will neither crumple nor submit to sleepers' beliefs of whether or not I even exist.

It's not for them to decide.

For better or worse, I've cut down some of my social media presence due to culture clashes. In one of them, I'm out of the age bracket that culture is formulated by, so I'm pushed away by the diaspora therein. It's not that I'm not wanted, it's that I can't provide them much interest, and I'm also not really interested in pure outrage all of the time anyways. However, I also quite dislike getting tone-policed for showing a degree of bitterness around subjects like blatant human rights violations, things affecting trans care, the rising tide of anti-trans rhetoric, et cetera. Talk only works if you can back it up with action and participation; There are precious few who do so, and I've reached a certain limit with those who cannot. If you're on that site, you're still welcome to contact me, but until I can regain my energy and become confident in building a community over there, I'm on hiatus.

I'm still writing my VtM campaign. It's going well, but I've pivoted to writing a one-shot and developing an 'ephemeral codex' for the lore noobs in the group. I intend to introduce the group to Mage down the line, but revealing much more would be spoiler territory for those in it (hi nerds!!! :3). It also makes for fun banter between pulls when we're raiding ("roll me Dex + Martial Arts, nerd!").

The heavy stuff still weighs so. One thing I realize (and friends corroborate) about the burnout, the breakups, the bitterness, is that things don't 'heal' so much as they become easier to navigate. The burnout is mostly gone, now, but I still get the occasional backlash from time-to-time. The bleeding has stopped, but now I have faded scars and emotional soft spots. An example presents itself after I told them my upcoming class schedule, where my parents mentioned how little pride I give myself in doing the hard things, and leading through example, and how proud of me they were that I was pushing through everything. I am trying to be my best self; and that self requires that I push back against the tide of people and structures unable, or outright refusing to see me for the woman I am. It made me realize, after some tears and introspection, that despite my flaws, my neuroses, my mistakes, I can still build something worthwhile.

So I will continue to push back against the six million gallons of ignorance, build the life I want to live, seek the knowledge I hunger for, and advocate for our rights and futures as trans folks. I seek more of our art to hear, see, experience, and feel. I want more of our knowledgebase in my brainspace. I want our ability to live as ourselves to be secured. I will not yield.

Stand Your ground, Hold Your Color ❤️

[1]: Citation not needed, not even close. SSGs lack JS. End of discussion.