Steph

ADHD astronomer, baffled PhD-haver, and beginner astro software dev. Doing postdoc things at Queen's University Belfast working with exoplanet atmospheres and distant solar system bodies. Good at Python for an astronomer (bad at Python).

Outside of work: part-time k-pop stan, full-time queer nuisance. Also reading good novels, writing bad novels, gaming, cross-stitching, and accumulating new hobbies.

Opinions mine, not my employer's. I'm much cooler.

Public Key

npub1gdjct8s6pmhw27a7frxsrqm09eqjawcqsuz7re7aefl7f4zrt0vsqj8l0s

NIP-05 Address

astronomerritt_at_hachyderm.io@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsyxev9ncdqamh90wly3ngpsdhjusfwhvqgwp0pulwu5lly63p4hkgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsem77r9

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1gdjct8s6pmhw27a7frxsrqm09eqjawcqsuz7re7aefl7f4zrt0vsqj8l0s

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Last Notes

2024-08-06 10:24:38

My dad is retired now, which means I apparently have access to a free taxi service.
This sounds exploitative, but I almost never ask my parents for anything. My dad is the one constantly offering to run me places or pick me up from the airport. He took me to work today because he was bored.
I've been the "independent and responsible" one for years. I am finding this very hard to get used to.
Nice to see more of my dad though. We talked about the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in the car.

2024-08-05 11:11:58

Had a long* weekend. Here is a sleeping cat. #CatsOfMastodon
*by which I mean it was tiring, I did not get any extra days off :(
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/909/106/517/323/138/original/d3c64da81d9f4ed6.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/909/106/552/989/101/original/2af4700bf10f53e7.jpeg

2024-07-17 17:15:06

idk if anyone's noticed I've not been around but I'm taking a social media break.
things are... not good right now. and I don't know when they'll be better.
(also I have killer hayfever right now which isn't helping)
anyway I'm probably going to be fine at some point. always am. always have to be. but right now everything sucks, so.
back when things are better, I hope.

2024-06-29 10:30:53

- reply

update on Freddie: he's long and weird
#Caturday #CatsOfMastodon
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/699/438/360/592/606/original/e98afffcf51ca883.jpeg

2024-06-28 23:14:03

early entry for #Caturday as its gone midnight here.
this is Freddie. he has zero self-respect and filthy toe beans and I love him
#CatsOfMastodon
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/696/767/704/759/909/original/6b9afa8573db9b5c.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/696/769/160/929/500/original/f535b036c2a8bd09.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/696/775/664/780/894/original/d9ad2ffa7b0d525e.jpeg

2024-06-28 12:05:13

partner: you're much better at making coffee in the French press, what's your technique?
me: well, I put four level scoops in there, then I fill it with hot water, pop the lid on, and then I forget about it. then you usually say "Steph weren't you making coffee?" and I go "Oh fuck" and then I give it a stir and push the plunger halfway down. then I forget about it for a bit again...

2024-06-22 10:36:16

this cat came indoors, saw me sitting at the dining table on my laptop, and meowed at me very loudly and insistently until I stopped what I was doing, sat in the recliner, AND fully reclined it so she could sit on my legs. she is now purring very noisily and with a definite air of smugness.
happy #Caturday from me and Millie.
#CatsOfMastodon
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/659/815/144/973/668/original/ef81869137f2c13d.jpeg

2024-06-19 14:44:52

the face of a cat who did not show up for her breakfast but instead rolled up at twenty to four in the afternoon and STILL EXPECTED HER BREAKFAST
...of course I gave it to her.
...and I also gave her a treat.
#CatsOfMastodon
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/643/813/269/640/825/original/8ea299a78780b52e.jpeg

2024-06-18 12:28:21

My younger brother and his mates are doing excellent work in the lead-up to the general election by going into the comments on right-wing news sites and refuting the lies and conspiracy theories.
They consider themselves to have won when the personal attacks start.
Maybe they won't convince the people they argue with, but someone might read what they say and think twice.

2024-06-10 18:19:23

Folk can get lost with the "cishet people don't belong at Pride" nonsense.
My partner and I are often mistaken for a cishet couple. What are you going to do, ask us for our queer cards? Tell us to leave because we don't look queer enough? Invalidate our trauma and our lived experience?
I'd rather hang out with a cishet ally than a self-appointed Pride cop, thanks.

2024-05-24 19:43:23

Found out today that in the UK, cat owners are not liable if their cat bites someone the way they might be if it were their dog. Because, to paraphrase, "it's a CAT, good luck expecting anyone to control its behaviour".
Love that for cats.

2024-05-14 10:47:45

- reply

@npub150l…r96e Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you exploring alternatives?

2024-05-14 09:54:01

First day back on my #ADHD meds.
I chose to work from home today just in case. Probably a good idea. It's hard to work right now because I'm too astonished at how QUIET my head is.
I'm tearing up. For six months my head has been so horrifically noisy. I've felt like I'm in a crowded room even when I'm sitting in silence.
Now everything is quiet and slow, and it's such a relief. Like coming home after a long, busy, stressful day.

2024-05-12 19:41:12

- reply

@npub1pka…5vqr That would make sense - I think the main benefit of lard is that it was cheap and reusable, but if you come from somewhere butter is plentiful it's probably going to be a much better choice!

2024-05-12 19:05:36

Does anyone cook with lard any more? Lard was sort of ever-present when I was a kid, but I was raised by my grandparents so I don't know what aspects were really out-of-date, which were normal, and which were just, well, poverty.
I can tell you that my grandmother's idea of a curry would have most folk recoiling...

2024-05-11 22:48:58

I burst into tears.
I full on ugly-cried into my partner's chest. I'm still crying now.
I can't believe I've just seen a non-binary performer win the #Eurovision Song Contest. I can't believe it.
This means so fucking much to me.

2024-05-11 21:02:03

RIM TIM TAGI DIGI DIM TIM TIM
#Eurovision

2024-05-11 20:47:48

I love Nemo but I spend the whole performance DESPERATELY anxious that they're gonna fall 😨 #Eurovision

2024-05-11 20:34:03

As hilarious as Finland's denim egg and Sacred Jorts and near-nudity are... I do also really like the song. I LOVE terrible cheesy dance songs. It is a character flaw I do not plan to work on at all ever. #Eurovision

2024-05-11 20:06:39

I adore Bambie Thug and they are a HELL of a performer and the song is MAGNIFICENT and I loved every second of that. It's grown on me from the semis and I loved it then too.
I've seen people literally say that "nobody must actually like that song, they just like it for political/identity politics reasons" and... you're wrong? People like different music from you and that's fine? Good lord.
#eurovision

2024-05-11 20:00:26

CROWN THE WITCH
CROWN THE WITCH
CROWN THE WITCH
#Eurovision

2024-05-09 14:45:32

I don't think I'm live-posting #Eurovision tonight. Mental health reasons.
I respect those boycotting the contest. I've been actively pro-Palestine for years. But being repeatedly informed that I'm awful for enjoying one of the few events in this shitty world that brings me joy is hitting me in a very sensitive place, mentally, and it's not worth it.
I beat myself up enough for not being morally perfect. I'm not letting other people do it too.

2024-05-07 20:31:14

Ah. I see Portugal have sent "real music" again, bless them. They stick to their guns, and I respect that, and I'm off to put the kettle on. #eurovision

2024-05-07 19:30:20

hey Mastodon Bambie Thug's pronouns are they/them and fae/faer, please note #Eurovision

2024-05-07 19:06:21

I'm coming in blind, how long will it be before they trot Måns out? #eurovision

2024-05-02 11:08:48

We watched Event Horizon last night. I'm very fond of that film. It's flawed in an endearing way where you KNOW it's being a bit silly but you don't mind because it's also being interesting.
I probably quote "where we're going, we won't need eyes to see" more than I should. What does that line even mean?

2024-04-23 19:20:40

I just had a very confusing conversation with my partner where it became clear that they had no idea what vegans eat. They thought they couldn't eat ANYTHING that was once living. Including plants.
"Then what did you think they could eat??"
"I don't know! I don't judge them, I just respect their choices and don't think about it!"

2024-04-19 09:58:48

It's very interesting that when I posted for weight loss tips, I made it clear in the post that I exercise... and yet people still suggested I try exercise.
Is this just poor reading comprehension, people rushing to be Helpful On Social Media without fully reading the post? Or is there an assumption that of course someone trying to lose weight can't be physically pretty fit already?

2024-03-27 08:35:39

ANYWAY. Today I am going for my Mystery Hair Appointment. My hairdresser (a man I believe to be a genius) has been given free rein to dye my hair whatever colours he wants. I have no idea what he's going to do! 😊
He HAS told my mum what he's planning to do, but he then swore her to secrecy, so she has been smugly holding that over my head.
If anyone would like to guess what colour(s) it's going to be, feel free 😆

2024-03-26 11:07:13

#ADHD meds may be back in stock soon. But my old prescription has expired! So I call to leave a message on the repeat prescription answering machine (the only way I can get repeats) and explicitly say "Yes, it's been a few months since I've ordered this, but the meds have been out of stock."
Prescription denied because it's been more than three months since I requested it last.
So um. Guess I'll just. Suffer.
(I need to try and call them but I can't do that today. I'm done.)

2023-12-14 15:08:33

- reply

@npub16uc…k62q I appreciate your response. I hope that my post did not come across as critical or negative, merely tongue-in-cheek, and I did try to deliberately word it in such a way that it was clear I wasn't making assumptions about the author, just stating my own feelings. I also still stand by my statement: from my perspective, the question felt like an odd one to answer.

2023-12-14 12:45:52

I feel a little like today's #WordWeavers prompt (Do you write characters with different sexual orientations & gender identities from your own? What guides your writing?) comes from a very cishet perspective.
Obviously I write characters with different sexual orientations and gender identities than my own. If *all* my characters were bi and non-binary that would probably be a little much.
Having said that, I don't tend to write cishet main characters. Can't relate 😜