iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Friday mid-morning. Housework chores done, work email checked, and doggos taken care of. Ducked out to a local brick-and-mortar coffee shop for a bit of hot caffeination and a few hours of reading while listening to Lithium Deep Cuts.

Photo of a coffee shop table with a book, horror-monster themed travel mug, sunglasses, earbud holder, and faux flowers on it. Brick wall and other chairs shown in the background.

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

My bud and I, driving back from camping.

Photo of a terrier-mix dog sitting next to a man who’s driving

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Camping Day 3 - Walked this ravine-adjacent trail this morning. My dachshund seemed to enjoy it the most, since — due to his being 17 years old — I just carried him for the hike. 😆 Here are a pair of photos I took from the same point and vantage along the path.

Horizontal photo of a section of state park nature trail, heavily wooded

Vertical photo of the same section of state park nature trail

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

With temps in the mid-90s and way lofty humidity, today’s camping focus is reading, reading, and more reading. (With some walking the dogs around the state park and maybe a drink or three tonight.)

Photo of an open book with a campsite in the background

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Camping sitrep, Day 1: Temps: low 90s High humidity Tents set up. Doggos content. Getting ready to eat a pre-prepped charcuterie-board dinner. Tonight: Expecting severe t-storms with damaging winds and possible hail 👍🏼 Tomorrow: Temps in the upper 90s, higher humidity, scattered t-storm or two

Photo of a 4-person tent inside a screen tent, with forest background

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I’m watching a werewolf film, and this is my dog sleeping next to me.

Dog sleeping on his back with legs in the air and teeth bared.

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Visited my favorite brewery today, the dedicated gluten-free Alt Brew in Madison, Wis. They had a pair of new additions to their lineup: Tripel Sunset and Cinco Lagos Mexican lager. Both are damn tasty, but I especially love the Tripel and am helping myself to one (a 22-ounce bomber) right now.

Photo of a 22-ounce beer bomber of Tripel Sunset from Alt Brew

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Stan and Rock are keeping each other, and me, company.

Photo of 2 dogs, a terrier mix and a mini-dachshund, snuggling together on a couch

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Time to reread one of these, in particular. 😢

Photo of several graphic novels including Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, as well as Mouse Guard Fall and Winter 1152 by David Petersen; Mythology by Alex Ross with Chip Kidd; Palestine by Joe Sacco; and Awkward, Definition, Potential, and Likewise by Ariel Schrag

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Today, I learned what the Swedish word for “speed” is. With that, as I am both eminently charming and socially conscientious, I also learned that the Swedish word for “ball” is “boll.” Just in case I should ever want to inquire about where to obtain a fartboll.

A Swedish poster for the movie Speed, showing the Swedish word for “speed” is “fart”

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Went hiking today. Felt sooo good.

Photo showing a daytime shot of a hiking trail in the woods

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

What it’s like hanging out with me.

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Today’s spring break classwork, housework, errands-running, reading, and dog-snuggling accompaniment is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Playback box set (1995).

Photo of the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Playback CD box set (1995)

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Weekend plans. A buddy’s coming over and crashing for a couple nights so we can catch up, enjoy some microbrews, a pizza or five, and test our stamina with the gauntlet that is the 12 Friday the 13th movies. (Now read this post in the voice of Nick Offerman. Including this parenthetical.)

Photo of the Friday the 13th 8-Movie Collection Blu-ray set, Jason Goes to Hell DVD, Jason X DVD, Freddy vs. Jason DVD, and Friday the 13th (2009) Blu-ray

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

I did the Jeff Daniels’ Favorite Sandwich Challenge - Gluten-Free Edition (with slight mods). Ingredients: MyBread flatbread pita Jif creamy peanut butter Ruffle’s Cheddar & Sour Cream chips Kettle Brand Kringle Cut Dill Pickle chips Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce Post-grindage thoughts … 1/2

Photo of the Jeff Daniel’s ’ Favorite Sandwich that I made

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

When I have to grocery shop, I love doing it around midnight-1 am. Requires a lot less peopling.

Grocery store aisle filled with boxes along the sides for stocking shelves

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Like most days, I’m drinking coffee today and am befitted accordingly. HBU?

Black T-shirt with white text reading “Assholes drink coffee”

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Today’s reading accompaniment is All the Young Droids: Junkshop Synth Pop 1978-1985 (2025). If you (like totally) like ‘80s synth pop, then this compilation is a must. Just got my copy of this 2-disc set and couldn’t start spinning it quickly enough. #alltheyoungdroids #junkshopsynthpop

Cover of the 2-disc compilation album All the Young Droids: Junkshop Synth Pop 1978-1985

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

This is my buddy Rock watching The Evil Dead with me tonight. Like me, he much prefers the full-screen version.

Photo of a yawning dog lying on a couch wrapped in a blanket

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Tonight’s reading accompaniment is the compilation album Generation X: An Alternative Point of View (1994).

Cover of the compilation CD Generation X: An Alternative Point of View

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

For Friday movie night, a friend and I are watching this triple-feature. Should be a very educational clinic on how to do hand-to-hand combat when you’re naked and have boobs.

Cover of the DVD set Roger Corman’s Cult Classics Triple Feature - Lethal Ladies Collection: Firecracker, TNT Jackson, Too Hot to Handle

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Horror friends, if you haven’t yet done so, check out Marshmallow! (And the autographed poster proudly hanging in the Raycave.)

Poster for the 2025 movie Marshmallow, autographed and framed

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

No cheating, reskeet with the most recent photo of your pet

Photo of my mixed/unknown-breed dog Stan sleeping

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Amidst the furor and chaos that is 2026 thus far, I hope you’re all able to take time to yourselves, to find some modicum of calm. My gameplan for today is reading Usagi Yojimbo while listening to Japanese Breakfast and sipping hot coffee. 💙

Photo of the Japanese Breakfast CD “For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)”, the book “Usagi Yojimbo - The Special Edition Volume 1” by Stan Sakai, and a large Yeti travel mug with a slasher-horror-movie theme

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Today’s thrifting finds. At $3 each, the first is a damn cool score, and the second is because I hate myself.

DVD covers for Piranha (1978) and the 7-film Leprechaun collection

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I thought these were a super-cool holiday ornament idea till my wife told me you’re supposed to decorate them.

Blank all-black holiday ornaments for crafts decorating

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

A few times a year, I listen to an album that I’ve not heard one note of, end to end, sans interruption or distractions. (No. Phone.) I read only liner notes/lyrics and do nothing else except sit and listen. Tonight, it’s the new album, Raspberry Moon, from a band I’m not familiar with, Hotline TNT.

Cover of the album Raspberry Moon by The band Hotline TNT

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Post your favorite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

I call this photo “Class Is in Session the Week of Thanksgiving.”

Photo showing an empty classroom with the instructor’s (my) legs propped up on the instructor desk

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

A few times a year, I get to do what I call an “album listen.” I sit down and play an album that I’ve never heard before, beginning to end, without pausing, and with my undivided attention. No looking at my phone or other distractions. Tonight, the album is The Magnolia Electric Co. by Songs: Ohia.

Album cover of The Magnolia Electric Co. by Songs: Ohia

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Hello, Sawdust City Fright Fest!

Photo of me in front of the theater for the Sawdust City Fright Fest

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Today’s work commute (and more) cuz-damn-skippy-I-have-a-CD-player-in-my-car playlist.

Cover of the 50th anniversary edition CD of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars - The Motion Picture Soundtrack

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

A bit earlier than usual this year, spent a good amount of this afternoon partaking of the annual Halloween and fall harvest decorating around our place. One of my favorite traditions.

Photo of hand-drawn Jack-o-lantern hanging on a door

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Thanks, man. We met once. At Cinepocalypse 2018. I was there for a showing of a film I was key PA on, Gags the Clown. Picked up 2 copies of your book, We Are Where the Nightmares Go, one for me, one for my best friend. You and I had a nice chat about whiskey.

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Tonight’s reading accompaniment is Shuggie Otis - Freedom Flight (1971)

Cover of the album Freedom Flight by Shuggie Otis

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Tonight’s reading accompaniment is Tori Amos - From the Choirgirl Hotel (1998).

CD cover of the Tori Amos album From The Choirgirl Hotel

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Ray Sidman 🎃 @raysidman.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Aw, yeah. Came home from work to find this bit of lovely waiting for me, from the BackerKit I supported for the Welcome to Night Vale TTRPG.

Delivery box containing the Welcome to Night Vale TTRPG

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