fourohfour's blog?

A bit late on my roundup, better late than never!


Here's the stats:

• Read 51 books
• Watched 88 movies
• Completed 9 TV shows
• Completed 1 podcast
• Wrote 93,034 words across 101 hours and 39 minutes-- That's an average of 15 wpm!
• Completed 43 hours and 40 minutes of crochet. 
• Completed 13 hours and 45 minutes of Tunisian crochet
• Completed 27 hours and 51 minutes of tatting.
• Baked (at least) 38 items (that I counted)

Breakdown of my goals:

1. Write the 50 chapter keith/lance/hunk vld college au
Yeah... that was too lofty a goal LMFAO. I did get 23 of the chapters done! 80,084 words long so far, across 78 hours (~86% words, ~70% time) of my writing. 

2. Crochet a new temperature blanket for my first full year in this new state
Obviously there was no way that this one was going to get fully done, since I'd still have to join stuff together after finishing the last day. But I did fall a couple months behind on this along the way, so I've got some finishing to do in 2026.

3. Draft 4 poems
I'm not sure I fully got 4 to a 'drafted' state, since I meant to imply a full first draft. I completed two that I shared with my IRL writing group. I have two more that are missing a couple pieces before I'd consider them 'drafted', that I worked on at the tail end of the year. Still a lot of progress!

4. Outline a specific original story I've had in the back of my mind 
I made decent progress on this, considering everything! There's still a lot of bits in the middle that need to be filled in before I can start writing it, but I'm happy to take my time with this to get it right.

5. Make at least 3 projects I'm proud of, outside of the things mentioned earlier in this list ✅
I think I definitely achieved this, between my quote/art canvases, the slippers I Tunisian Crocheted for a friend, and a tatted split ring bookmark!

6. Finish / catch up on a podcast (probably welcome to nightvale, but it might be this tumblr podcast I lost track of a while ago) ✅
I listened to all of Once Upon a Time at Bennington College, which was a fascinating look into Donna Tartt, an author I've come to appreciate in recent years.

7. Get as many geochaches as I can ✅
Apparently this number is 2.5! As in, I officially found 2 and I know where a third one is, but last time I went and was able to reach it I didn't have a pen for a log. 

Some Reflection on 2025

Last year was rough for me. My ongoing health issues continued to see little improvement, as I struggled to jump through the hoops to get a doctor to take me seriously, know what I was talking about, and agree to treat me. 

In therapy, I've been struggling a lot with the feelings of disappointment, shame, and grief that have come along with having fatigue-causing chronic health issues continually get in the way of my goals-- or even anything that I wanted to do for myself. It's been work and exercise and chores and a looooooot of sadness. Part of the reason it's taken me so long to getting around to doing this wrap-up was the fear of seeing just how little I completed of my goals-- even though, realistically, I did a lot.

I've got some ideas for how to alleviate this pressure while still having aspirations I can work towards in 2026, but that's for another post. It's going to take me a bit more time to get it set up. I'll be back when it's ready to talk about. 

If you're here reading this, thanks for following along with my journey over the past year. I know I'm not super active on here-- you can see why-- but I'll be back for more monthly check-ins in the year ahead. I can hope for that much, at least. 
 

Oops! December's been hectic from the get-go, so my November wrap-up is a bit late. Better late than never I suppose! I'll be back soon with December and year-end wrap-ups, as well as my 2026 goals.

Goal Updates

Still hacking away at that outline!


November Stats

• 3 books read 
• I finished 15 movies and 1 TV show (my rec of the month: Meet Joe Black)
• Writing picked up a little!
  • I spent a total of 3 hours and 57 minutes drafting 2,919 words (~12 wpm)
• I've started working on the handmade Christmas gifts I'm doing this year
  • I spent 5 hours 49 mins on Tunisian crochet slippers 
• Baked 3 things, including a great pumpkin cake

Somehow September went by even faster than August. This year is running out on me, fast! 

 

Goal Updates

I completed a goal! I listened to a podcast, "Once Upon A Time at Bennington College." Not the podcast I thought I was going to listen to, but it was short and a fun listen. 
I did another geocache and picked up my big fic again. I'm not sure I'll complete all of my goals but I'm going to try to make progress towards all of them.


September Stats

• 4 books read (and I finished MurderBot at the start of this month! Loved it!)
• I finished 9 movies (including working through all of the Studio Ghibli films that my library has on offer), and 1 podcast
• For writing, I'm starting to lock back in to my big goal fic for the year. Got a looong way to go on it, I'm hoping I can get more momentum soon
  • I spent a total of 2 hours 41 minutes drafting 2,496 words (~15.5 wpm)
• I've started working on the handmade Christmas gifts I'm doing this year
  • I spent 2h 53m on my 2025 crochet temperature blanket
  • I spent 1 hour on Tunisian crochet slippers 
  • I spent 29 minutes tatting ornaments
• Baked 4 things, including some fantastic scones

It's been such a long month that I couldn't even remember if I did this for June. August is also going to be chaotic. But what can you do? Just trying to go with the flow

 

Goal Updates

I'm prepping to start back up on that fic that I want to write this year. Still more than half to go, we'll see if I make it.

I'm almost done with the second poem for my goal to write four this year. 

 

July Stats

• 8 books read-- I've been really enjoying MurderBot
• I finished 5 movies 
• For writing, I'm nearing the end of my take-a-break oneshot. 
  • I spent a total of 9 hours 59 minutes drafting 11,279 words (~19 wpm)! 
• I completed no crafts during July but made a lot of progress on a few things
  • I spent 5h 28m on my 2025 crochet temperature blanket
  • I spent 1h 4m on Tunisian crochet slippers for a friend's Christmas gift
  • I spent 3 hours on tatting a bookmark
• I forgot to record how many things I baked but I did manage to turn brownie mix into half-decent lava cakes, and I'm proud of that. 

Cursing my health for how it limits me, because the last month felt like a wash. I spent almost a whole month recovering from a cold that threw off my whole schedule, so a lot less got done. But I'm back to normal now, and I've got a promise of treatment for one of my health issues on the horizon, so things are looking up.

 

Goal Updates

I didn't make a ton of progress on my large fic, but I'm taking a break for now to take my mind off of it and rejuvenate with a oneshot. 

I'm mostly up to date with my temperature blanket, only a week or so behind.

I drafted a poem! And I think it turned out pretty good.

I found one geocache nearby, which is a start!

 

May Stats

• 4 books read
• I finished 3 TV shows (Kevin Can F*ck Himself was fantastic) and 18 movies (Yeah I don't know what got into me, I was on a roll)
• For writing, I finished the second "season" of my 50 chapter fic and drafted a new fic. 
  • I spent a total of 6 hours 24 minutes drafting 5,870 words (~15 wpm)!
• I completed one craft-- a wall art project for myself. I should probably post that sometime. I want to make a tutorial on how to do those
  • I spent 8h 23m on my 2025 crochet temperature blanket
  • I spent 1h 11 min on tatting
• I made 4 baked goods, a fantastic buttermilk chocolate cake recipe I found

January has been rough, with ice storms hitting me hard at the end of this month. Hope the weather is better for all of you.

Goal Updates

My goals are off to a good start, as I've kicked off the long fanfic I plan on drafting by summer and my temperature blanket. I'm hoping my health situation will be a little more sorted by the end of February so I can work on more.

January Stats

• 7 books read
• I watched 3 movies
• For writing, I've been focusing on the 50 chapter fic
  • I spent a total of 14 hours 48 minutes drafting 14,887 words (~17 wpm)!
• 0 crafts completed, but I've been starting a new temp blanket and some tatted bookmarks
  • I spent 4 hours 23 minutes on crochet
  • I spent 3h 23 min on tatting
• I made 4 baked goods, including my first attempt at ermine buttercream (I cheated and used pudding mix to help, but it was delicious!)

2024 is officially dead and gone, so let's take a moment to celebrate everything I accomplished (and mourn everything I didn't).

2024 Goals - Results

1. Explore [City I’m living in for the next 4 months] ✅

This was a lot of fun to do! I dragged my roommate and my friends out with me a few times and I really made the most of it. It was a little sad to discover things that I don't have where I am now (Vietnamese coffee, god DAMN) but I will cherish those memories that marked the end of my senior year of college.
2. Write + post “damn, baby, you’ve got me good” (series of klance 5+1 fics I’ve been working on) ✅

I did it! It went well! This took a lot out of me but I'm really glad I did it. If you're interested, you can read it on my AO3.
3. Tat (lacemaking tecnique) a necklace ✅

I did! I forgot to post pictures of it and I'm try not to derail my workflow (it is RAPIDLY approaching 3am for me) but maybe I'll try to at some point. I turned out okay, a simple white lace strip with rainbow beads.
4. Do more sourdough (pancakes, bagels, pretzels) ✅

I didn't do the pretzels, but I did the rest! The pancakes became a staple for my breakfasts, there was a mediocre attempt at pizza dough, and I made some edible bagels and (after 2 failed attempts) learned how to slice bagels without cutting my own hand!
5. Finish my temperature blanket ✅

I finished the whole blanket, and have been using it as a throw blanket for naps in my new apartment! I also made a whole separate blanket! You can see them on my dw blog
6. Bind more of “The Blonde Collection” (my project to bind my favorite works by leblonde) ❌

I failed to do this, between not having access to a printer yet after moving and my health issues getting in the way. But I hope to pick this project back up in 2025!
7. Write (at least part of) “it takes three to play catan” (working title for my giant Keith/Lance/Hunk fic) ✅

I did this.... barely! I just finished the outline a couple days ago (after working on it for over a year and a half!!) and filled a FFF prompt that fit the first chapter on a whim! You can read more about my plans for this project on my tumblr
8. Organize something ✅

Considering I moved states and had to organize my entire apartment, we're counting this done.
9. Read 75 books ✅

I smashed this one out of the water! I completed 83 books this year!
10. Curate a more positive internet experience) ❌

Considering how 2024 has been, I think I'm allowed to fail this one and get in fights with a couple redditors, okay?

 

2024 Hobbies "Wrapped"

According to my dreamwidth updates, here's everything I accomplished towards my hobbies this year:

• 15h 24m Tunisian crochet
• 104h 46m crochet
• 25h 38m tatting
• 92h 40m writing 94,653 words (17wpm average)
• 83 books read
• 29 movies, 3 musicals, and 13 shows watched
• 19 Flash Fiction Friday prompts completed
• 14 fics posted to my AO3
• 17 crafts completed
• 31 baked goods made

I'll be honest my year did not get better in November. But the end is in sight and 2025 is offering me a dubious fresh start.

Goal Updates
I've officially surpassed my 75 books goal. The other goals aren't looking as great.


November Stats

• 7 books read
• I'm not sure if comedy specials by youtubers count for my movies/tv/musicals bullet point but I did get to see the Terrible Influence Tour live, and I watched the recordings of their 3 other specials in preparation.
• I did not complete any writing things but I made decent progress on a fic I hope to finish and put out near the end of December.
  
  • I spent a total of 8 hours 24 minutes drafting 9,266 words (~18 wpm)!
• 0 crafts completed (you see how much crochet is below this? that's the same scarf. i keep frogging it and remaking it. i need to mail it a week from now. save me.)
  
  • I spent 8 hours 57 minutes on crochet
  • I spent 38 min on tatting and got nowhere
• I made 4 baked goods, including my first attempt at bagels where I didn't slice my hand! (The universe did right itself just this week, when the day before my birthday I stubbed my pinky toe on my bedframe, tripped, fell, tried to catch myself, and somehow sliced my hand open on a rug. The hand of the same arm that had allergy testing the day prior. My life is a slapstick comedy right now.)

I know I just put these out into the void with no real plan for people to see them but I'm just gonna talk into the void a little more right now. Life fricking sucks. I thought that doing this would be a nice way to show me how much I actually accomplished in a year. But to see that now-- when I'm working a 9-to-5 and should theoretically have plenty of free time-- I'm doing only as much as I was in school full time with a part time job and managing several campus political circuses kind of sucks. My health really sucks right now and I feel like it's holding me back from doing the things I really want to do. It's driving me nuts to feel like I have no access to my creative outlets AND not as much to show for the rest of my life.

 

IDK. UGH. I'm just so tired.

 

I'm trying to stay optimistic that 2025 will be a good fresh start. That I'll be able to figure out my health issues and take charge of my life and do so much more. But I'm scared that I'll set new goals for myself and completely fail because they're too high for what I can do. I feel like I'm living an icarian fate . . . even if there's some parts of that fate I wanted. Ugh,

September went by so fast that it actually surprised me. My health's been not great, so I haven't been able to do as much as I wanted.

Goal Updates
I'm not sure some of my goals will be made this year, because of my health issues getting in the way. But I'm gonna do the best I can to make the most of each day while trying to strike a balance that lets me rest. I guess we'll see where that gets me.


September Stats

• 12 books read (I have been stuck in best resting A LOT, plus 4 of them were poetry collections or comic collections that were shorter/faster)
• 1 movie, and 1 TV show watched (and that last season of Umbrella Academy REALLY sucked, didn't it?)
• 1 flashfictionfridayofficial  prompts filled (you can read them on fourohfourrealitynotfound )
  • I spent a total of 10 hours 12 minutes drafting 12,186 words (~20 wpm)!
  • I think this is the second most words I've written in a month since January, when I was on my last Christmas vacation and able to spend much more time and energy on writing. Much of this has been a "summer fling" style fic that has captured my writing and taken me straight through to fall. When will it be done? Who knows.
• 0 crafts completed
  
  • I spent 1 hours 43 minutes on crochet
• I made 4 baked goods! (including a couple of fantastic chocolate cakes)