iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 19m

Here's a picture of Wyatt sitting on my lap as we watch baseball. She's a beautiful cat.

A fluffy calico cat with black, orange, and white fur lounges comfortably on someone’s lap, looking directly at the camera with large, curious eyes. Her distinctive face features a white blaze down her forehead and a small black heart-shaped marking on her nose. In the background, a cozy living room has couches, hardwood floors, and a coffee table piled high with books.

Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Blockees are filling that old LEGO building itch. Here is Soundwave with Ravage, Laserbeak, Ratbat and Rumble, all in G1 Transformers style.

A display of **Blockees Transformers Decepticon figures** against a plain white background. A large blue-and-silver **Soundwave** stands at the center with his cassette-deck chest and arm cannon. Around him are **Ravage** at left, **Laserbeak** near the front left, **Ratbat** in purple and black at the front right, and **Rumble** at the right with large blue piledriver arms. The figures are arranged together on a black display base.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

My splashing Psyduck got left out of yesterday's tchotchkes photo. I had to make it up to him before his headache got worse.

A colorful collection of desk toys and memorabilia arranged on a white tabletop. On the left is an Oaxaca Guerreros baseball, beside a small red fish figure and a green frog prince sitting in a pink chair and eating a slice of cake. In the center are a Chicago White Sox Tokidoki figure, a large block-built Psyduck, and a smaller Psyduck. Two more Psyduck figures sit to the right, one surrounded by translucent blue water effects. A black speaker, pen cup, and orange mug are visible in the background.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Is Psyduck the best Pokémon? My desk tchotchkes say yes!

A close-up of a desk display filled with playful collectibles. In the center is a block-built yellow Psyduck, flanked by a small Psyduck in front and a larger Psyduck standing on a pond-themed base to the right. On the left are a green frog sitting in a pink chair holding a slice of cake, a small black-and-white figure, a red fish figure, and a baseball marked “Guerreros.” A sparkly orange animal-face craft lies in the foreground, with a speaker, pen holder, cables, and a mug in the background.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Transformers won the robot wars of the 80s, obviously, but that doesn't mean that GoBots and Super GoBots weren't also awesome. I picked up Super GoBot Spay-C this weekend and he's just nifty.

A vintage Tonka Super GoBots “Spay-C” Friendly Robot Space Shuttle toy stands in robot mode beside its original box. The gray-and-black robot has shuttle wings, red and blue leg decals, and a helmeted head. The worn box features colorful artwork of Spay-C transforming between a space shuttle and robot, with the slogan “Go from Robot to Vehicle!”

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Didn't want to post anything until I was sure he'd be OK, and since he is, I would like to introduce you to Burt. He's a juvenile lutino Oscar fish. I especially like his orange question mark at the base of his tail. Love you, Burt.

Burt, a five-inch lutino Oscar with creamy white coloring, vivid orange markings, and dark-edged fins, swims across his aquarium in front of a stream of bubbles. Black gravel, driftwood, and a reddish rock fill the foreground.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Finished reading my morning book with Turlough, so I now switched to an evening book with Zoë. She's a bit sleepy.

Alt text: Side-by-side collage. On the left, a black-and-white tuxedo cat sleeps curled up on a gray cushion, with one white paw tucked near its face. On the right is the cover of Sarah Pinborough’s novel *They Say a Girl Died Here*, featuring large yellow lettering over a dramatic cloud-filled sky and reddish field, with a jagged vertical crack running down the center.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I'm having a quiet Sunday morning reading a book with Turlough. At this point, the reader, the book, and the cat are all vintage.

Alt text: Side-by-side collage. On the left, a brown tabby cat with green eyes reclines on a blue cushion, looking directly at the camera with one front paw stretched forward. On the right, a well-worn vintage paperback copy of *Before the Golden Age, Book 3*, collected with commentary by Isaac Asimov, shows a retro science-fiction cover with an astronaut, dark city buildings, orange-red background, and floating spheres.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Back when I was very little, my Mom "read" this picture book to me at the Mt. Greenwood Branch Library. For about the last 40 years, I've tried to remember what that book was since it is a cherished early childhood memory about my Mom. Today I found that book!

Cover of Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola. A smiling woman leans on a table between towering stacks of pancakes, with a dog on one side and a white cat on the other. Pats of butter sit atop the pancakes.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

We would stay in Sawyer right by Cherry Beach!

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

It was nice having the kids back in town for the long weekend. They're both headed back to college tomorrow.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

When I am feeling very emotional, there is one man's music I can always turn to. Thanks, PG.

Alt text: Close-up of an Amazon Music screen playing Peter Gabriel’s live song “Burn You Up, Burn You Down” from *In the Big Room*. The red album artwork appears beside the song information and playback controls, with 3:34 of 4:23 elapsed.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Leaving home for the first time and leaving her on her own for the first time. She will get to experience something her mother and I never did, as we were college commuters, and we are happy she has this opportunity.

Alt text: Side-by-side collage celebrating move-in day at Augustana College. On the left, a young woman holds an “Augustana Bound” sign in front of an SUV packed with her belongings. On the right, she stands between her smiling parents inside her new dorm room.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

My favorite flights are the flights home. Kentucky is down below.

Alt text: Aerial view from an airplane window showing a vast blue sky above scattered white, puffy clouds. Far below, green fields, roads, neighborhoods, and patches of woodland stretch toward the horizon on a clear, sunny day.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I picked up this little Pop Mart brick-bult set of a crazy orange fish in memory of my crazy orange fish, Diego. It will guard his ashes when they come home.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

My final drive with Diego. Pet Cremation by Water up in Arlington Heights does aqua cremation for small / exotic animals, not just dogs and cats. I brought Diego there this morning, so we'll have his ashes back with our other beloved pets who I hope are waiting for us in whatever is beyond.

Alt text: A small blue insulated bag is carefully secured with the passenger-side seat belt for my last drive with Diego. Inside is my beloved Oscar fish, kept chilled in a sealed container after he passed away. I took this photo in the parking lot just before carrying him inside for aquamation. ❤️

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Our well loved Oscar fish, Diego passed away this morning. I loved him very much and I am very sad.

Memorial image for Diego, a large orange-and-gray Oscar fish swimming in his aquarium beside driftwood and smooth stones. Text reads, “In loving memory of Diego. Our well loved Oscar fish, Diego passed away this morning. I loved him very much and I am very sad.” Gold hearts and lettering frame his photograph, with a message thanking him for the joy and companionship he brought.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Came downstairs to see my beloved fish friend doing a bit of swimming, he tires and does a controlled swim back to his favorite resting stone, but as long as Diego keeps fighting, we're giving him a fighting chance. He is in a tank he loves surrounded by people who love him. #fish #diego

Alt text: Diego, a large orange-and-black Oscar fish, is swimming upright in the middle of his aquarium above the gravel and rocks. He appears weak but alert, with green plants and aquarium equipment around him.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Diego has been through a rough week with a hospital tank, crashing, emergency move home, vet visit, tube feeding, injected antibiotics, and now salt treatment for his gills. He’s still very sick, but he’s still swimming, breathing, and fighting. I love my silly fish. #fish

Alt text: Diego, a large orange-and-black Oscar fish, rests upright on the dark gravel at the bottom of his aquarium near a smooth gray rock and live green plants. He appears tired but alert, facing the camera with his left fin braced against the substrate for support. Air stones and aquarium equipment are visible around him.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Wyatt was confused why I am only lighting the home office with a table lamp. I told her dim lights help Diego rest and he needs it after his trip to the vet yesterday. #caturday

A calico cat Wyatt sits upright on the edge of a desk in a dim, blue-walled collector’s room, surrounded by bottles, a keyboard, remote, and shelves full of action figures. A yellow chair is beside her with a receipt hanging over the back.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I love Cosmos. Cosmos was my favorite minibot. I've liked his all too-infrequent reimaginings, especially the Velocitron release. This version, however, is a pinheaded abomination.

Alt text: Promotional image for a green Transformers figure, Cosmos, shown in both robot mode and UFO vehicle mode against a dark background. The round-bodied robot has green armor, yellow legs, red details, and Autobot symbols, while the UFO mode looks like a squat green flying saucer with small cannons and red accents.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

My much loved Oscar fish, Diego is in a hospital tank getting antibiotics for issues with his swim bladder and gill inflammation. We're doing the best we can to nurse him back to health.

Alt text: Diego, a large Oscar fish, rests near the bottom of a cloudy hospital tank with air stones bubbling beside him. The aquarium sits on a white table with fish-care supplies nearby, and the glass reflects the room, including a computer monitor and surrounding shelves.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Ram Man likes hanging out with his Pantasy's brick-bult Snoopy and Woodstock friends.

Alt text: Ram Man stands beside a LEGO-style Snoopy doghouse snow globe display on a white tabletop. The red doghouse is decorated with flowers and a “Snoopy” sign, Woodstock stands at the entrance, and Snoopy sits inside the clear globe surrounded by sunflowers and small colorful details.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

This is honestly me and my three closest workmates in Masters of the Universe form on my desk. I'm second from the left.

Four Masters of the Universe action figures stand in a row on a cluttered desk among cables and office items. From left to right are Grizzlor with shaggy brown fur and red armor, Man-E-Faces in green-faced monster mode with blue and red armor, the 2026 movie version of Man-At-Arms in green and gold armor, and Stratos in gray, blue, and red with a red wing-like accessory.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

My sleepy cats of #caturday. Here is Turlough.

Alt text: A brown tabby cat curls up tightly on a blue couch beside a beige pillow, with its front paws tucked around its tail. The cat looks sleepy and relaxed, nestled into the corner of the couch.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Ram Man has been buried under work and hasn't had time to listen to any music, but is happy with today's mail call, the James Bond score, "The Man With the Golden Gun". One can never have enough John Barry on vinyl.

A Ram Man action figure stands on a tabletop beside a vinyl soundtrack album for The Man with the Golden Gun. The album cover shows Christopher Lee as Scaramanga holding the golden gun and Roger Moore as James Bond holding a black pistol, standing back-to-back by the water. A sticker on the cover notes it is a La-La Land Records exclusive limited edition, with a turntable, speaker, and small mushroom-shaped figure nearby.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Today's a day where I really miss Ian. I loved our Boo-Boo.

Alt text: A black cat stares into the camera with a small crumpled ball of aluminum foil balanced on top of its head. The cozy living room background is softly blurred, with a couch, chair, fan, shelves, and someone’s legs visible behind the cat.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

This 17 year old had an uneventful checkup at the vet. Doing well and got her nails trimmed, which makes my lap happy. Wyatt is a sweetheart.

Alt text: A calico cat rests on a cream-colored Snoopy blanket on a blue couch, looking directly at the camera with a sleepy expression. The blanket is covered in black-and-white Peanuts character illustrations, with a soft gray-blue couch back in the background.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I may be 50 years old, but when Paris Paloma has a Lolla aftershow starting at 10pm on a Tuesday night at the Metro, I go.

Alt text: Paris Paloma performs onstage in a flowing white dress with sheer sleeves and a large white floral headpiece. She sings into a microphone while gesturing outward, with a drummer and Ludwig drum kit behind her and the crowd silhouetted in the foreground.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Sweet Zeus, I've just had enough of the "discourse".

Alt text: Screenshot of a “Your muted words” settings page showing one muted term: “odyssey,” muted in “text & tags” and set to expire in about one month, with an X button to remove it.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Our old hot water heater broke so now we have a new hot water heater.

Alt text: A newly installed Rheem Professional Classic Series gas water heater stands in a basement utility area against dark blue walls. Copper water lines and a metal exhaust vent run from the top, with gas piping connected near the bottom and several warning and energy labels on the front of the tank.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Joe and I have been friends for 43 years. We went to see "The Odyssey" today and both enjoyed it.

Alt text: Two smiling men pose for a selfie indoors against a gray wall. The man on the left wears glasses, a black baseball cap with a red-and-yellow “D,” and a black-and-yellow sports jersey, while the man on the right wears glasses and a dark T-shirt. A fire alarm and window blinds are visible in the background.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I have never fallen out of love with a brand more than I have LEGO. The only joy it gives me now is in taking it apart. This was the Corvette.

Alt text: LEGO pieces are sorted into color piles on a dark wood floor. Large red, light gray, dark gray, black, and white piles sit across the center, with smaller yellow, blue, tan, transparent, and red accent pieces grouped nearby, as if organized before starting a build.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Wyatt's new favorite place to eat dinner is our ottoman. #cats

Alt text: A calico cat crouches on a blue patterned ottoman while eating wet food from a shallow white dish. The cat’s orange, black, and white fur fills most of the frame, with a blue couch and a small stack of books in the background.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

I'm quite fond of my new Timex Charlie Brown watch.

Alt text: A Timex Charlie Brown wristwatch lies flat on a dark gray surface. The round white watch face shows Charlie Brown standing in the center, with black numbers around the dial, and the bright yellow strap features his signature black zigzag stripe.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

"I would have liked to have seen Montana.”

A dark, reddish screenshot from *The Hunt for Red October* shows Sam Neill sitting in dim light, looking downward while speaking. Subtitles at the bottom read, “I would have liked to have seen Montana.”

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Ram Man thought his brick built adventures with Pokémon ended when Lego picked up the rights to it, but they didn't get the Asian exclusive rights, so he is happy to be with his new Keeppley brick friend, Psyduck, his favorite Pokémon.

Alt text: A Keeppley brick-built Pokémon Psyduck figure stands beside Ram Man on a glossy black surface. Psyduck is bright yellow with a blocky beak and wide eyes, while Ram Man wears his red tunic, silver armor, green segmented legs, and black boots. A Castle Grayskull playset and other toy figures are softly blurred in the background.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

When you meet someone who crochets a king sized Lego blanket and a giant amigurumi Omega Supreme for you, you marry them.

Alt text: A neatly made bed is covered with a crocheted LEGO-inspired blanket made of red, yellow, blue, and gray square “brick” blocks outlined in white. At the head of the bed, a crocheted Omega Supreme figure sits on a pink pillow between stacked pillows, with nightstands, lamps, blinds, and small bedside items on either side.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I read the 406 pages of Joanne Tompkins's *What Comes After* in two days, so I would say that I really enjoyed this novel of loss, faith, and found families. #books

Alt text: A hardcover copy of *What Comes After* by Joanne Tompkins rests on someone’s lap. The red book cover features large white title text above a forested hillside with houses tucked among the trees.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Kira spent all morning meowing all around the house and has finally settled onto her throne. #caturday

Alt text: A fluffy tortoiseshell cat lounges on a gray chair, looking toward the camera with green eyes. A cat-print blanket is draped behind her, and shelves with boxed collectibles and toys fill the background.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Zoë looks like she already ate too many Fourth of July hotdogs. Love this silly cat. #caturday

Alt text: A black-and-white tuxedo cat lounges on a blue couch cushion, lying partly on its side with one back leg stretched out and its belly exposed. The cat looks toward the camera with wide eyes, framed by a pale wall and blue trim behind the couch.

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

I rewatch "Gettysburg" this time each year. Whenever one of us leaves our home, we say to them to be careful, and their reply is "I'm the soul of caution" which I picked up from this movie 33 years ago.

A scene from the movie *Gettysburg*, showing Sam Elliott as Gen. Buford on the left and Buck Taylor as Col. Gamble on the right, both on horseback in Civil War-era uniforms near a flag. Subtitles on the screen read, “Don’t worry about me, sir. I’m the soul of caution.”

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Mike Nelson @mrmrnelson.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

No matter where I sit at night, Wyatt finds my lap. #caturday

Alt text: A calico cat curls up tightly on someone’s lap while they sit on a blue couch. The view looks down over the cat’s mottled black, tan, and white fur, with a TV remote resting nearby on the couch cushion.

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