A Happy Place

Dear Yuletide Writer

2009-11-06T11:04:18Z

Yay! It's Yuletide time! I'm totally gonna do it again this year after last year's whole marriage-moving-no time thing.

So, dear Yuletide Writer, here's what I like:

Things Wot I Like In a Story:

amnesia, kidnapping and the victim being smart about it, escaping, planning, mysteries, crimes (in a Ocean's 11 sort of way), cooking or eating, one person tying another person's tie, snarky/witty banter, the buddy cop dynamic, ensemble casts working as a team, tattoos, deviousness, tricky plots, HUMOR, people gaining magical powers, telepathy and/or other mind powers, cliches, crack fic, collars, someone being pushed/held against a wall, balances of power, disguises, pretending to be in a relationship turns into the real thing, languages, alternate universes, fairy tales, guys in suits, regency romances, slash, math, PEOPLE BEING SMART

Special Note on Crossovers:

I quite like crossovers (even of the “Oooh, is the limping grouchy guy who sits next to them on the bus House?” variety), but don't feel you have to write one. If you do decide to go that route, though, I'd prefer it be a crossover with a canon I know. Obviously that means any of the fandoms I listed as Yuletide choices. You can also check my del.icio.us and LJ tags for more ideas or leave an anonymous comment.

Special Note on Crack and Cliches:

You may have noticed that I have a lot of cliches listed in my Things Wot I Like. This is because I like most of them. Relatedly, I also really like crazy cracked out stories. This is not to say that I expect you to have to write either cliche or crack. BUT! If the mood hits you and an idea strikes, don't worry that I'll be turned off by craziness. Trust me, if I were, I would never have married.

Shinesman:

You can use either the OAV or manga story and characters. I like to see some friendship (or more) between Matsumoto and Sasaki. I like all of the characters (but my special crush is Seki). I have a crazy theory that Shinesman Sepia is actually Seiichiro Aoki of X/1999, but that doesn't need to be mentioned in the story. I'd really like you to play up the humor, the crazy over-the-top dialogue, and the cracked scenarios they find themselves in.

Being Human:

I'd really like something that has all three of them (George, Annie, Mitchell) being together--whether romantically, sexually, or just friendship. I'd prefer quiet, domestic sorts of scenes for the story instead of adrenaline fueled action. A little bit of horror, pain, sadness or action is fine and probably even necessary, but I would like a happy ending.

Here is Greenwood:

You can use events from the anime or the manga, I've seen both. I like the mix of kooky scenarios and caring people. Mitsuru and Shinobu are my favorites, so I'd prefer if you focus more on them, but if that's not working then a group dynamic would also work. It can be as slashy (or not slashy) as you wish, but I'd love to see Shinobu being devious and a master planner--whether that's to get Hasukawa in trouble or Mitsuru to fall in love with him or anything else. A Shinobu-Nagisa showdown would be even better (see the kidnapping/mysteries/escapes/planning bits of Things Wot I Love above).

Steven Brust - Dragaeran Universe:

I really, really like Vlad and Loiosh and their snarky banter. I would prefer a gen story, preferably either a very small caper, a prequel or coda to one of the books, or just Vlad and his friends hanging out and exchanging sarcastic quips. I've read all of the books except for Athyra and Jhegaala and all I remember from Orca is the big secret, so I'd prefer if you don't use events from those three books. As Vlad is really big on food, you could also make this a story about cooking/food/eating. I would definitely not prefer a story about Vlad and Cawti's breakup--that almost made me quit reading the books.

Halloween

2009-10-10T23:05:29Z

So, since all of our friends over here will be busy with stuff for Halloween (like entertaining visiting relatives and taking care of brand new babies) and Frankenstein's castle is a three hour drive each way, we decided to stay in and have a scary movie marathon. Well, I decided and Mik agreed. I haven't watched a lot of scary movies--the spooky music used to freak me right out when I was a kid. I couldn't even watch the part at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. But I've gotten better, and it's more fun when there's someone there to hold your hand and snark at the characters with you.

So here's our list:
Alien
Let The Right One In
28 Days Later
Audition

I haven't seen any of them. Yes, I know you may all point and laugh. So, I'm thinking, should I work up to the scariest one or have something less spooky for right before bed? I mean, I'm optioning the right to pop in Young Frankenstein or Rocky Horror if I get too freaked out, but should I peak the horror earlier and then have a more calming resolution? And what order should they go in? I mean, from what I've heard Audition is the scariest, but are angry zombies scarier than a creepy alien? And what about kiddy vampires? Any advice?

Secrets of the Corporate World, REVEALED!

2009-08-20T16:10:18Z

Okay, here's that thing I wrote up that I was talking about in the last post.

How Not to Get Hired

I work for a corporate recruiting firm. No, I'm not the fancy pants corporate recruiter; I'm just a mere lowly internet researcher. But! I *am* the first line of defense that all candidates must pass through before even being considered on the list for a job. I'm the one who weeds through the emails and resumes before passing them along to my bosses for further winnowing. And that's waaaay before the company ever even knows you're alive, much less calls you in for an interview.

First, you have to get past me.

[Insert horrible scary dragon pic]

I have, over the past couple of months, learned how to skim through the dozens of emails we get every day to figure out which ones are worth passing on and which are not. And, believe me, the vast majority are not.

Here's why you may not ever get that dream job:

1.The company already has a candidate (or two) whom they love, and now they no longer care about looking for more, no matter how wonderful your resume is. Or the company decided to go with another recruiting firm. Or they promoted internally. Or they decided the SVP's cousin's roommate's boyfriend was perfect for the job.

2.The company decided they can't really afford the position. Or that they want to wait before creating it. Or that they want to change the parameters of it. For some reason, the job does not technically exist anymore.

3.The company has some sort of weird restrictions on the position that we didn't/couldn't put in the ad. Maybe they don't want someone from the automotive industry. Maybe they only want people from Companies X,Y, and Z because they make similar products. Maybe they're willing to relocate if necessary but prefer someone local.

4.Your resume was unreadable due to formatting issues. Or, at least, difficult to read. If there are no spaces or it has three words on each line I'm not going to struggle through it. Whether you're attaching a file, including it in the body of the email, or uploading it to a website, double-check that people can read it easily. Otherwise it'll be deleted straight off the bat.

5.Similarly a plethora of typos in your resume and/or cover letter will cause me to chuck it. It makes you look unprofessional and can also come across as uneducated.

6.Your salary range is not in the range we're looking for. Not by a mile. If you're making $60K and it's a $120K job, I'm going to toss you aside. You probably either work at a much lower level or at a much smaller firm, and that means you don't have the experience we need. Conversely, if you're an EVP making $175K, you're not likely to accept a manager position at $85K.

7.Your salary range is huge: over a $100,000 spread. If you say that you want a salary between $75,000 and $200,000, I'm going to assume that the low end is what you're expecting—and possibly more than you're worth. You should know how much people with your job (or desired job) are making. Unrealistic estimates of your own worth make me think that you're exaggerating on the rest of your resume.

8.Unprofessional cover letters. Yes, it's email. No, that does not mean that you should include emoticons, multiple exclamation points, chatspeak, or most sigs. Please, type something in your cover letter, but make it brief and professional.

9.Filling your cover letter and resume up with significant quotations, business mantras, buzzwords, and multiple paragraphs about your corporate philosophy. I just need to know the basics about your experience and education here. The harder you make it for me, the less likely I'll persevere. Also, it comes across as pretentious filler to make up for a weak resume.

10.Similarly, I don't need to know all about your personal life. Languages spoken, time spent living and working in foreign countries, and professional organizations joined are informative to me. Knowing that you are blonde, have a golden retriever named Bruce, and enjoy watching foreign films are not. While they may tell me more about you as a person, these details are more suited for phone interviews with the recruiter.

11.Excessive job movement. Most companies prefer at least two years at each company; some prefer longer than that. Obviously, that's not always possible due to moves, company reorganizations, bankruptcies, etc. If so, a line in the resume telling why you left the job is helpful. Of course, if you haven't lasted longer than a year with any company for the past ten years, then no excuse will probably be good enough for them to hire you.

12.Similarly, long stretches of time unemployed. This again depends on the circumstances: economic conditions, pregnancy, relocation, family illnesses, etc. should all be noted on the resume. But if you've been out of work for several years, don't be surprised if a company is leery. You won't know all the new technology, processes, or companies, and you might be tempted to take a long-term hiatus again.

13.Your cover letter says that you're a perfect fit for the job! But your resume doesn't really show how. Maybe what you say is true and you do have experience purchasing motors or setting up company blogs. But if you're using StandardCindySmithResume.doc for every position you apply to, it may simply say that you worked at Jones Company for three years and reduced the budget by $50,000. Somewhere (in the cover letter or resume or both) you need to highlight the specific parts of your previous jobs that apply to the position you're seeking. Mentioning “While at Jones Company I purchased refrigerator motors for 100,000 units each year” or “I started and maintained the company blog for Jones Company, which can be seen here” makes my job much easier—and your chances much higher.

14.You obviously didn't even glance at the job posting before you sent in your application. If we're looking for a National Account Manager for a tool company, and you send in a resume with your most senior position being assistant store manager at McDonald's, I will trash your resume. These aren't entry-level jobs. Stop wasting my time.

15.You don't match the requirements for the job. Period. I don't think we've ever had more than ten requirements for a job (usually more like five), and they are all very straightforward. There is generally some leniency for education if you don't have the level of degree stated or one in a different field, but only if you have the experience necessary. If we say you need five years experience, don't come at me with three. And again, if it's not immediately clear on your resume how you qualify for each requirement, PUT IT IN THE COVER LETTER. I get a ton of emails from people who don't meet the requirements. Unless you want me to lump you in with them, make sure I know why you do you meet them. You can even put them in a list. I will love you for it and forward your email to my boss immediately.

The bottom line here is that the company is spending quite a bit of money hiring us to make sure they get the best possible person they can hire. Sure, you might be able to handle the job even if you don't meet all of the requirements, but if they have to spend extra money and time to train you in all of the aspects of the position and industry, they're wasting money and we look bad.

So the next time you send in an application and never hear anything back, you can grumble about the economy, but don't forget that it's not all the politicians' fault. Some of it's me. ;)

ResumeFAIL

2009-08-06T14:48:18Z

So I work for a corporate recruiting firm now as an internet researcher and sometimes it has its perks. Like unintentionally humorous resumes and cover letters. Ah, my pedantic side exults in its feeling of POWER as I hit the 'Delete' key.

In response to the job you have posted on Monster.com ______ I have taken the liberty of submitting my resume for your consideration. I am confident my experience centers on all aspects of pertaining to projects (whaaaat? is this English?), interacting with individuals of all capacities (i.e. I know how to talk to people), and ability to produce high-quality materials on a timely basis which could provide much value and benefit to your company. I would like to meet with you, face-to-face, and further substantiate my claims. <--I live in Germany now. If you want to fly here to talk with me about this job opening though, feel free to go ahead.

As Marketing Coordinator, I was consistently energized with the opportunities to advance my skills in overcoming promotional boundaries. What are "promotional boundaries"? Are they like country boundaries? Do they have border patrol cops and electric fences? Is that why he's "energized"? I personally designed all print media flyers, banners, brochures etc. I provided vendor literature support to the sales staff, ordered a variety of promotional products, assisted with monthly sales meetings and year end award programs and reconfigured and maintained the company’s web site amongst many other skills.

If you would please take a look at my attached resume, you'll see listed some of my many strengths, (Bad comma! No cookie!) and qualifications I have for the desired position in which you are offering. My extensive experience with print media, (Arrrrgh! Too many useless commas!) and magazine ad designs began to sharpen my eye, by proofreading countless materials prior to going on press. MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS. HE SAYS HE HAS "SHARPENED HIS EYE" FOR PROOFREADING. HA HA HA. NO.

My background has afforded me many "intangible" qualifications one can't learn from a book. (What "tangible" qualifications do you learn from a book? Other than that you now presumably own the book.) I ask for a few minutes of your time, so we can further explore the contribution I could bring to your company. Please contact me at _______ to arrange a time. I look forward to hearing from you and appreciate the opportunity to apply and be considered for this position.

Sincerely,

XXXXXX

Ahhh....it's good to be a grammar nerd.

Uh,...

2009-04-21T00:37:02Z

I may be working on a Merlin-as-a-girl manip. Rough draft below.

In other news, I finally found two books today that I've been searching for for years. I couldn't remember their names, just a few details about how creepy I found them as a kid. And then at B&N today I found the author I thought might be right and flipped through the omnibus edition and found them! John Bellairs, "The Mummy, The Will, and The Crypt" and "The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull". I now have some awesome childhood memories to resurrect.

I CAN HAZ GAMEZ?

2009-04-16T14:15:05Z

So we finally now own a PS2 (yes, I know). Which means that as soon as I get some homework done, I get to play Kingdom Hearts II. Go me! I'm also looking at getting Okami, Katamari Damancy and Persona 4. Plus Mik already has Prince of Persia, Spiderman, God of War, and uh, some other stuff. What are other good (or just plain fun) games we should get?

Also, just wanted to post this here: I'm over on LibraryThing (username ninjapenguin), which is a book cataloging and social site for book lovers. The Science Fiction boards on there are a good way to kill about twenty hours just reading a couple of threads because those posters are opinionated out the wazoo and couldn't shut up if you duct taped their mouths shut. (Meanwhile, the Fantasy group is a great place to go for recs, but has little discussion.) Anyway, a thread was up for trying to compile a list of 100 books to recommend to newbies in the genre, and there was rather a battle going on between one in particular poster and several others who disagreed about the worthiness of Golden Age scifi. Someone told said person that judging the quality of a book is a subjective exercise, therefore it's not surprising there was disagreement, whereupon he replied that it was totally objective. In the midst of all the ranting and snide comments and hand waving justifiedsinner gave me my laugh-out-loud moment of the day:

If judging a book is objective what units are we using to measure it? Is this unit fundamental or derived? For example: if the unit of fictional worth is 1 nabokov is this coulombs per hertz per metre squared or perhaps Fieldings per Tolstoy?

Okay, carry on.

Vaguely Thinky Thoughts

2009-04-08T05:21:38Z

So I was thinking about Naruto recently (found a link to reread_no_jutsu

So...Dreamwidth?

2009-04-03T03:02:08Z

Apparently Dreamwidth is all the rage now. And I've been pondering going back to posting on LJ (now that I have cable internet and my own house). Or now, apparently, Dreamwidth. The question is, who all will be going over there? (And who has an invite code I could use?) Also, what should I post about? RL, fandom, school, fic? All of the above?

Also, also I didn't do Yuletide last year due to GETTING MARRIED and MOVING and stuff. (Yeah, btw, I got married. Ha! It's awesome.) But I'd like to do it this year, which I think means I have to post a NYR story (must check rules). But it's been so long since I wrote fic! I'm all nervous.

Son of also, so I've fallen hard for Merlin fandom recently. There are insults, and magic, and secrets, and theywoulddieforeachother. Plus, it is so much crack. Merlin is Arthur's hot manservant! Giles is Uther! There's a slashdragon under the castle! Guinevere is Morgana's maid. It's like the best fandom for modern-day AUs ever! I caught myself imagining a hockey AU the other day at a game with friends (shut up! It was 0-0 for three periods and no fights; I had to do something to entertain myself.) where Arthur was the captain of the team and Merlin was their assistant manager and a klutz who they all teased, but then both their goalies were injured and they had to find someone to fill in so they padded up Merlin where he was a wizard at stopping pucks, and Arthur was amazed and said "There's something about you, Merlin." There could be double entendres about scoring! There could be fights! There could be other hockey stuff that I know nothing about!

Dear Yuletide Santa...

2007-10-19T04:38:16Z

It's that most wonderful time of year again--time for Yuletide to begin (the least wonderful is the last few days before the deadline when you're moaning in agony about your story). Therefore it's also time to post my Dear Yuletide Santa letter.

Dear Yuletide Santa,

First of all, thank you in advance! You're writing me a story I don't feel like I can write, so whatever it is, I know I'll enjoy it. Secondly, I have anonymous commenting turned on and no IP tracking, so feel free to leave a comment here if you have any questions.

Now on to the fandom requests~

Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers: Feel free to use either the American or Japanese names, I'm familiar with both. I'm most familiar with Season One and Two but if something from the OAV inspires you, go for it. I'd prefer something kind of thoughtful or action-related instead of just silly fun. I don't have any particular pairings that I favor (although I'd prefer not to have Rowan/Mia) and I'm open to both slash and het, although you don't need to have *any* romance in the story at all to please me.

Ocean's 11: If it's set during a movie, I'd prefer the first or the third. Feel free to mention Rusty's oral fixation however often and to whatever extent you like, but if possible, can you also work in the tattoo? I prefer a happy ending to a sad or depressing one in this fandom. I also really like the con slang they toss around in the movies, if you can work that in.

Antique Bakery: I like all the guys, particualrly the unresolved sexual tension thrumming between Ono, Chikage, and Tachibana that you get sometimes. I also like cooking and baking, so feel free to throw in recipes or any technical terms--I'll understand them. While the story can have it's serious moments, I'd also like some of the lighthearted fun of the series. OCs (as customers or flirtations for Tachibana and Ono) are welcome, as are crossovers.

D. Gray-man: I love Lavi--his red hair, his eyepatch, the mysterious Bookman thing, the giant Hammer O'Doom, the loudness, the caring... I'd really like a character piece on him. Backstory, previous adventures with Bookman, his thoughts and feelings about Allan and Rinali. My knowledge of canon ends soon after the currently published volumes, so please no major spoilers.

Again, thank you! I'm sure it will be awesome. You can check on here for some of my previously written fics or check my del.icio.us account (also under sexybee) to find out what I like. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm really very easy to please, and all of the above are just suggestions. Feel free to shove them out the door if a good story idea comes along.

Sincerely,

~sexybee

Still Kickin'

2007-06-21T05:49:52Z

It's summer! That means summer movies! That means summer movie fic recs!

The Phoenix Alternative by xenokattz
Superman/X-Men Movieverse. Lois Lane/Richard White, Lois Lane/Superman, Scott Summers/Jean Gray.

Summary:Richard White had hallucinations of a bald man in a wheelchair, a white-haired African-American, and a mansion full of extraordinary children.

This is the fic that fixed X3 for me. Because Lord knows the writers weren't going to pay any attention to canon or keeping people in character or explaining their attemts at plot. And when I saw that James Marsden was playing both Cyclops and Lois Lane's new squeeze, of course my brain jumped to a place like this. But Katt fleshes out my fixation, gives it origin and consequences, and consequently, breaks my heart. If you like Cyclops, you should read this.

Parrot by penknife
POTC/HP. Jack/OFC, OMC/OFC.

Summary: Jack's always been an odd bird.

This fic should not work. Boy!Jack as a wizard at Hogwarts? With some ancestors of the HP characters we know? Totally should not work. And yet Penknife makes it work and makes it wonderful. Jack's voice is spot on and the others' voices are fun and individualistic. All the little details tie everything together perfectly with both of the canons. Much like a good summer movie, this fic is light and fun and incredibly charming.

Road to Reno by Grey Bard
Ocean's Eleven. Danny/Tess. Danny/Rusty.

Summary: Danny Ocean is not repentant, not reformed, not a bookie and not in the state of New Jersey. But that doesn't mean he wants his wife to know that.

Great opening. Great voices. A nice, clever story structure. Plus, you know, Danny/Rusty. I really wish I could find some new fic for the new movie, but in the meantime, re-read this classic. You won't regret it.

BONUS! X3 REDEMPTION FICLET!
(Because God knows it needs all the help it can get...)
Magneto's First Step Towards Conquering the World and Exterminating All Humans, in the Aftermath of San Francisco by eleveninches

Hi-larious. Go. Read. Now.

Christmas Comes But Twice a Year

2007-01-10T04:25:46Z

Okay, due to various RL stuff, I did not get to post Yuletide info at the appropriate time (i.e. before January). This, I rectify now.

I received Bigby's Sense of Snow from KevBot. It's Fables, which has fast become my new most favorite comics series, and it's Bigby Wolf/Snow White--which, if you've been following the canon you'll know why they hit my Couple Who Must Not Be Broken Up button big time. This is Bigby and Snow in Paris--just a quiet moment together that's quite lovely. I take my hat off to KevBot!

I wrote What's to Be Said for Ji. It's Clover, Kazuhiko/Oruha--sorta. Mainly, it's Sue (Suu) and fairy tale that isn't a fairy tale. Thankfully, Ji seems to like it well enough.

There *will* be real recs at some point in time, once I get settled back down. In the meantime, rejoice!

Real Life Intrudes

2007-01-01T07:03:03Z

OMG.

Mik (my boyfriend since February) just proposed! And I said yes!!

Why do I not have any icons of shock*glee*nervousness???!!?? Instead have some dorks. For we are dorks.

sexybee @ 2006-12-18T23:58:00

2006-12-19T05:59:08Z

Yuletide is DONE.

I go to bed now.

Monster Mash

2006-10-30T06:16:53Z

Yes, yes, I know. It's been a while. But! I was working backstage for our fall musical (with the directors from HELL) which finally wrapped up this weekend. So I can now finally get around to doing Halloween recs! Yay for procrastination and squeaking in under the wire!

Residency Evil by akire
House. Gen.

Summary: Zombie hordes have invaded PPTH. Paging Doctor House!

Let me start off this rec by stating that I am not too familiar with the canon for House. I have seen one episode and lots of commercials. However, I still found this an excellent fic because if you know anything about House, you know that Zombies + House = hysterical laughter. “You want us to do a differential diagnosis of zombiism? Now?” And zombie!Cameron! And Cuddy with a gun! And bedpans! If I beg hard, do you think they will turn this into an episode?

Bloodstone by K. Stonham
Hikaru no Go. Hikaru/Touya.

Summary: Hikaru becomes a vampire. Unsurprisingly, this changes his life very little.

Okay, so again, a fandom I am not exactly highly conversant in, although much moreso than House. But! If you know who these characters are at all, you should totally read this. There is a bit of a spoiler for the end of the series, but, well, let's just say that after you've read the first volume of manga it's not exactly a huge surprise. This story shouldn't really work--Hikago is not a traditional vampire setting. But because the characters remain true to their motivations (Go, The Hand of God, Go, Each Other, Go), it actually serves to highlight the bond between these friends. After all, if the series has shown us one thing, it's that death is nothing compared to the desire to play a really good game of Go.

Owl Eyes by salieri
SGA. McKay/Sheppard.

Summary: John's trapped in his room with what is possibly a Wraith, and Rodney's trying to figure out how to get him out alive.

SGA is great because it allows so many different types of stories--and this one is a classic horror/sci-fi story in the vein of Alien. The premise behind this strikes me with a sort of gut-level horror similar to John's. And the descriptions she uses! Salieri writes magnificently, excruciatingly of John's pain, of his screams: "a three-step tone rising from gut-deep bellow to scream to shriek and then cutting off as though the pain or the terror had gone off the scale and into the silence of absolute excess." I wince in sympathy. This story has been around a while, but even if you've read it before, give it another try. It certainly loses nothing with re-reading.

Toys by harukami
Saiyuki. Nii/Bunny. Nii/Kami-sama. Kami-sama/Kougaiji. Nii/Kougaiji.

Summary: Series of connected drabbles revolving around Nii, KAmi-sama, Kougaiji, and Nii's Bunny. Yes, you heard me right: this is plushy fic. Scary, sick, disturbing, wrong, non-con plushy fic. And if you think this is all just some totally random, messed up shit, please look here. That is official Minekura artwork, people. This is possibly canonical (at least in part) messed up shit. (Also, if you know about the Bunny theories that have been tossed around in the fandom, you know why this might be even more disturbing.) Basically, I don't know why I'm bothering to continue with warnings. It's Nii, people. I.e. it is, by definition, creepy and disturbing and wrong and perverted (and possibly just a little squirmy hot in that bad, bad, wrong way). And Harukami does Nii proud.

Gay/Civil Rights

2006-10-05T04:46:37Z

++++++++++++++++++++++
"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" - Ernest Gaines

We would like to know who really believes in gay rights on livejournal. There is no bribe of a miracle or anything like that. If you truly believe in gay rights, then repost this and title the post as "Gay Rights". If you don't believe in gay rights, then just ignore this. Thanks.
++++++++++++++++++++++

Ganked from pyro_rebel and perkyshai. Spread the message, yo.

And to keep this on topic and add to my recs, try these two lovely SGA Don't Ask, Don't Tell stories:

DADT, Damyata, Dayadhvam by trinityofone
SGA. McKay/Sheppard.
Summary: He was aware of the controversy surrounding the application of DADT policy to an international expedition—and an international expedition to another galaxy at that—but in the end, it didn’t matter. Everyone got the chip, or they didn’t go.

So, this basically reads like some of your truly great, classic sci-fi, whereby a natural extension of current policy, when set in another universe, makes us re-examine the current situation. In this AU, everyone in the military (and thus, by extension, the Atlantis expedition) is given a behavioural modification chip to prevent them from acting on any homosexual impulses. And while the implications (that this could happen here, now) will (and should) scare you, the lovely ways she shows McKay and Sheppard managing to fall in love around the sytem will leave you aching. It makes me feel very lucky that I can love the person I want, how I want; it makes me awed again by the determination of gay rights activists throughout history, and it makes me want to fight to do everything I can to ensure that everyone has the ability to love, and live, freely.

Scenes from a Lesser War by amireal
SGA. McKay/Sheppard.
Summary: This. This was something that needed taking care of. In a non-traditional sense.

Okay, so this is a three-parter (link goes to first part), which means that this fic is not just hot and well-written and intelligent but also long. And that's a great thing. DADT is revoked. John and Rodney have to figure out how this will affect them (and their relationship) personally while also dealing with the fallout on Atlantis. This is realistic and complex and the interspersed flashbacks of John and Rodney's relationship really add to the depth of the fic. (Well, and they also add to the hot sex portion of the fic. Which is good too.) I just really love how they spend days after finding out about the revocation merely kissing and cuddling. As Rodney puts it, "it's everything we never got to do." It's a throw-away line that never fails to make me hurt for them and for everyone in that situation.

Who Are You

2006-09-25T04:44:47Z

Hey, it's time for another fun round of recs, and this time I went with a classic: amnesia fics! (Hey! I freely admit I am a cheesy dork. Be prepared for upcoming rounds of kidnapping/hostage fic, genderswitch fic, body switch fic, and telepathy fic. God, I love my fandoms.) But I love amnesia fic (and so do all of these incredibly talented authors) so much that I am going to give you a bonus: one very well-known fic and one less publicized fic in each fandom.

Needs More Love!Fic

It Comes in Waves by eliade aka Anna S.
SGA. Sheppard/McKay-ish.

Summary: Rodney has amnesia. John is trying to fix it.

This is comment fic, so it is very short, but it doesn't distract from it being very beautiful as well. This is a Rodney stripped of all of his defenses, a Rodney vulnerable in ways that canon Rodney really isn't--no ego, no sarcasm, not even the sheer bludgeoning power of his brain. And you can feel John hurting that anyone has to see this, and just being so beautifully protective without any force, any frustration, but just--putting himself between Rodney and the outer world, and hanging on to his conviction that Rodney, his Rodney, will return one day.

Hey, Don't I Know You!Fic

Out of the Blue by Leah
SGA. McKay/Sheppard.

Summary: "We're friends, and I missed you. Why can't I hold your hand?"

So. A de-Ascended John (and why yes, that does make me think of fallen angels) returns to Atlantis, minus his memories that he and Rodney don't hug. Or hold hands. Or confess their love to each other. This John is... radiantly innocent in some ways, and the sheer joy he takes in being able to touch everyone around him makes me shiver a little bit about Ascension. But as usual, Rodney is there to make things better.

Needs more Love!Fic

Amnesia! Spike by mahaliem
BtVS. Spike/Xander, Spike/Buffy, Spike/Angel.

Summary: “I’m sorry, Riley,” Buffy said, “But Spike’s one of us now. He’s a good fighter, and he cares about Dawn and me. He can be kind and funny. He’s a good listener...." “And a damn good kisser,” added Xander.

Pay no attention to the plot holes, and repeat to yourself, "Damn, this fic is funny." Spike has no memories, of, like, anything at all. So Buffy and Co. take him in and re-educate him to things like Gilligan's Island, vampire hunting, and ironing. Also, Spike tries to figure out which of the Scoobies may be his mystery lover, Jonathan's a voyeur who's read too much Anne Rice, and Angel visits.

Hey, Don't I Know You!Fic

Throwing Shapes by eliade aka Anna S.
BtVS. Spike/Xander.

Summary: Spike + Xander + magic amnesia powder = hot, hot sexx0r

I swear I did not intend to rec two fics by Anna in this batch--I didn't even know she'd written both this one and the SGA one. But, well, the woman obviously knows her way around amnesia, and this is as different from her previous fic as possible. Xander and Spike both have amnesia, so obviously they decide they are a vampire and his escaped insane boyfriend and head to LA to have fun. And hot sex. Did I mention the hot sex?

Needs More Love!Fic

You Can't Take That Away From Me by joandarck
Due South. Fraser/Ray K.

Summary: "I first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of my father, but that's simply not important right now compared to the fact that you have been held prisoner in this hospital for several days and kept subdued through the use of, among other things, mind-altering medication."

Of course Ray and Fraser are going to get into these kinds of scenarios (well, I mean more the kidnapped by smuggling rings at the hospital or possibly the amnesia thing, but the blowjob in a locked room during a hostage situation with the chief right outside the door thing might not be too uncommon either.) There is a lot of funny in this fic, hints of what would have been the really cool episode we would have seen on tv, and oh yeah, Fraser and Ray, discovering a few extra secrets about each other.

Hey, Don't I Know You!Fic

Chicago's most Wanted by cesperanza
Due South Fraser/Ray K.

Summary: When Good Mounties Go Bad

I first discovered this through thefourthvine a while back. It is an awesome, awesome fic. Fraser, undercover in jail to try to track down a fugitive, develops amnesia, is told by the prison doctor he's a con artist and thief, and buys his own press. Fraser would make the BEST THIEF EVER, which is something Ray realizes, and watching the two of them play cat and mouse (and the ensuing hot bondage sex when Fraser misinterprets Ray's usage of the term "partners") is like the best Due South miniseries ever not made.

SUPER SECRET BONUS!Fic

Because I love amnesia fic so much (and couldn't handily find another Good Omens amnesia fic), I give you a present:

Like New by penknife
Good Omens. Crowley/Aziraphale-ish.

Summary: It's just a new way for Crowley to annoy Aziraphale. Probably.

If you haven't read Good Omens yet, go out and do that now. Then read this fic. Because, well, I'm sure some of us have thought that it was a shame Crowley was a demon and thus had to do evil; wouldn't it be awesome if he could just be nice? And this fic will persuade you that no, that would not be nice. This fic, much like the book, reminds you that the world needs balance, duty is important, forgetting things don't necessarily make them any easier to deal with, and Adam Young is kind of creepy.

Threesomes!

2006-09-14T05:09:48Z

Yes, I said to myself, "Self, what should I go with for my first non-haphazard set of recs?" and my self replied, "Threesomes." Because threesomes make everyone just a little bit happier.

Bargaining by nekokoban aka whitecat
Ouran HS Host Club. Kyouya/Haruhi/Tamaki.

Summary: Kyouya negotiates the future for him and Tamaki with Haruhi.

Welcome to the most worksafe threesome fic ever. And yet, it's still awesome, because who other than Kyouya would bargain about a threesome with someone who interrupted him while making out, who other than Tamaki would *totally not get it*, and who other than Haruhi would accept it all so calmly? And of course, who other than whitecat would write it so well? I admit this is my OT3 of choice for Ouran, and whitecat manages to nail Haruhi's bluntness, Tamaki's theatrics, and Kyouya's calculating kindness to a tee. Plus, as per the usual for any Ouran fic, it's funny as hell any time Tamaki opens his mouth.

Untitled Secret Perversion Challenge by louiselux
Antique Bakery. Ono/Chikage/Tachibana.

Summary: Chikage can't do anything on his own...

I'll just quote directly from the fic: "This must be the strangest threesome ever." Of course, to those of us reading Antique Bakery, this is also the fic we always dreamed one day would come. This is the threesome of demonic charm. If there is such a thing as a white chocolate lava cake, this fic is it: sweet, light, and really hot. Louise is a marvelous writer, and this fic proves it.

Patines of Gold by harriet_spy
SGA. McKay/Sheppard/Atlantis.

Summary: Atlantis loves John a lot. Rodney finds this very hot.

I freely admit to loving the whole John/Atlantis or Rodney/John/Atlantis genre. I think sentient cities are cool. And this story? Has control chair sex. It's quite possibly the best sex toy on Atlantis, and yet so sadly under-utilized. But don't worry, Rodney McKay isn't Chief Science Officer for nothing.

First pair of recs: Saiyuki, Tactics

2006-09-04T06:20:33Z

Written on the Skin by louiselux and emungere

Saiyuki. Gojyo/Hakkai.

Summary: Gojyo gets a tattoo of Hakkai's vines. Hakkai likes this idea very much.

Tattoo smut. Tattoo smut on the kitchen floor. Hot hot hot. Both these ladies write very hot Gojyo/Hakkai stories, so naturally putting them together creates even hotter smut. Some very funny bits in here (Gojyo washing the windows in an effort to keep Hakkai from finding out about the tattoo, Hakkai spilling coffee on Gojyo as an excuse to make him strip) and some rather nice romantic moments--or at least as romantic as things can get when we're talking about Hakkai. Good characterization and scorchingly hot sex, plus it firmly hits my 2-D tattoo kink button without going overboard.

Precious Person by nekokoban aka whitecat

Tactics. Haruka/OFC. Haruka/Kantarou.

Summary: Years after Kantarou's death, Haruka thinks he may have found him again, as a woman.

Reincarnation fic. Yes, Kantarou dies before the fic begins, but see the warning: he comes back, sort of. Thankfully, this is as far from Mary Sue as you can get. Whitecat does a great job of making Kagura more than just "Kantarou with boobs" while still keeping her believable as a reincarnation. And the author makes sure to give the two of them something to do other than angst over whether or not Haruka should fall in love with her, so there is an actual, enjoyable plot. Plus there are a couple of super hot sex scenes (wall sex, yay!) that make me wish my boyfriend were around. All in all, a sweet, sad, hot, awesome fic for any Tactics fan.

Ch..ch..ch..changes

2006-09-04T05:14:12Z

Update time, people!

1. I am not dead.

2. Mik and I are still together. We are nauseatingly cute together according to the expert testimonies of various friends, co-workers, and restaurant employees. But I say when a guy loves theater, animation in any form, books, and sushi; you keep him.

3. This journal has a new look and a new purpose. Yes, since I suck at bloggin on RL stuff, and I haven't been writing lately, I will now be presenting fic recs. Mainly Saiyuki, SGA, Ouran HS Host Club, and Antique Bakery since those are my current reading interests, but I wouldn't rule out some Naruto or Batman or Fables if I felt like it.

And that's that!

Closing night blushes

2006-03-19T08:26:50Z

So. Tonight was closing night for the play--it went off pretty well. We enjoyed ourselves and so did the audience. I'd had the sneaking suspicion that Mik might give me flowers so I found Newsies today, which he's been looking for and surprised him with it. But when curtain came and no flowers, I forgot about it--after all he did have to work today.

And then our first cast member started to leave and she asked me to go look at something backstage--Mik too. Well, I thought it was a director's gift, so I didn't think anything about it. When we got backstage she led me outside.

And there, spread across the hood of my car were about three bouquets of mixed flowers and a dozen red roses.

#^_______________^#

(On a completely unrelated note, apparently Gewurtztraminer is the wine of choice for discerning actors. Yay me, and yay Market Basket!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2006-03-17T21:46:32Z

EDIT: Double-post fixed.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day have a story I wrote mostly last year, but
never got around to editing and posting until now. It's very appropriate
for the season, and, oddly enough given my history, not Good Omens,
but Pirates of the Caribbean.

"...a pirate's life for me, yo ho!" Elizabeth sank, breathless, down onto the
damp sand. Across from her Jack Sparrow ambled to a stop, swaying slightly,
and for a moment, the only sounds were their panting breaths, the lapping of
the tide, and the occasional far-off squawk of a bird.

Elizabeth opened her eyes and stared into the multicolored flames of the
driftwood fire. "I still don't understand how you can have an island that
can only be found by someone who has been there before. I mean, how would
anyone ever find it in the first place? And then how would you find
it?"

Jack leered at her as he walked closer. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. I know
these kinds of things. I'm legendary for it. The Sea talks to me, and she
tells me things, and one night, when I'd been sweet talking her, she told me
the secret of the island."

"Hmph. Not likely," she snorted. "You probably stole a map off some other
pirate one night. An island that can't be found except by those who have
been there before, ha!" A triumphant finger pointed his way.

"Oh yes, I have to admit, it certainly isn't a logical sounding
thing, is it?" Captain Jack stood almost behind her, the beads and bones
and feathers braided into his hair swaying slightly in the sea wind. "Of
course, I could tell you the real story of how I discovered the
island, but I doubt you'd be believing me, you being the sort of
logical person who doesn't believe in ghosts and curses and assorted
illogical things like that."

Elizabeth glared at him as best she could, given the way he was starting to
fuzz out around the edges in her vision. Perhaps she might have had just a
bit too much rum? No, she decided, it was merely the result of the
flickering firelight and Jack's inability to keep still--constantly flinging
an arm out or cocking his head at her or fluttering his fingers wildly like
the birds of his namesake. "Tell me then," she said.

Jack paused for another swallow of rum. "Well, I would tell you," he
smiled, "but then I'd have to kill you."

Elizabeth snorted. "You said yourself that we'll most likely die on this
island within a fortnight. I hardly think now is the time for secrets."

"There's always time for secrets," Jack reprimanded her. "But I
suppose it couldn't hurt to while away the time with this one. You see, it
all began in a bar."

"A bar," Elizabeth repeated, for clarity, struggling to sit upright.

"A bar," Jack agreed. He gazed off into the blue and yellow flames of the
fire. "It was called...

"It was called the Mucky Duck or the Greasy Goose or some such filthy fowl.
I can hardly be expected to remember the name of every pub or tavern I have
frequented over the course of my life, now can I? I was sitting there,
several years ago, drinking..."

"Rum," Elizabeth interjected.

"Yes, rum. As I said, I was sitting there, drinking rum, when I noticed a
very short man sitting in the corner. Now, when I say very short, you are
probably thinking of the eunuch-- sorry, sorry--Will, and that is not at all
what I am trying to get across. I mean short. Very short. Very
very very very very short. 'Bout...this big." He gestured unsteadily towards
the ground.

"I can't tell how big that is, your arms keep moving," Elizabeth complained,
trying hard to focus her eyes.

Jack peered down at his arms as they stuck out the salt stiffened sleeves of
his shirt. "Do they? Ah, good, thought per'aps it was just me. Anyway,
there, in the corner sat this very very very... very short man. And I
thought, hello, Jack, you should go over there and see what he's
doing here. 'Cause I recognized him, savvy?"

"What...what was his name? Because then, if I meet him, I can ask him how
short he is."

He scowled. "I don't know his name. Why would I know his name? Or wait...
maybe I do know his name...maybe he told me...I don't remember. Anyway, 's
not important." He waved the question aside impatiently. "I mean, I
recognized what he was. One of the sidhe."

Elizabeth blinked owlishly. "What?"

"Sidhe. The Fay. The Old Folk. Piskies and goblins and brownies and
boggarts and such."

She snorted. "Are you trying to tell me you believe in fairy tales?"

"Are you trying to tell me you don't believe in ghosts?"

"Fair enough." She raised the bottle in acquiescence. "So tell me about
your sidhe."

"My sidhe, as you so picturesquely put it, and I wouldn't ever
mention that phrase in front of one of them if you'd like for your pretty
little head to remain attached to your body, was, as I said, very very
short, and very very wrinkled and very very ugly. Uglier even than your
honorable Commander Norrington, and that's saying something."

"I happen to think Commodore Norrington is a very attractive man."

Jack smiled, flashing white teeth against sun-darkened skin as he sank onto
a log next to the bonfire. "No, your father thinks that, which ought
to prove my point to you. But. I digress. The sidhe was dressed in grimy,
ragged clothes that looked as though they might have been a dark green at
one point early in their life, and that, combined with the line of emptied
glasses in front of him, told me what I had here. I was looking, you
realize, at a real, live leprechaun."

"Wasn't he rather far from home?"

"That was what I asked. You would be surprised, he said, about the
number of places in the world leprechauns may be found. They have to move
about, you see, with their treasures."

"Treasure," she breathed, eyes wide and lips parted in anticipation.

Jack's answering grin was sharp as a dirk. "You are a pirate! I
knew it in me bones." He took another swig. "But, aye, treasure. It's the
leprechaun's job to guard hidden treasure, you know. They're tricky sods,
alright, but you can get around 'em if you know how to handle them." He
leant back against the driftwood.

"And how do you handle them?" Elizabeth asked, curious despite
herself.

"I'll tell you then, Elizabeth, me lass, in case you ever meet up with a
leprechaun of your own. First, you join him for a drink or two. Or three.
Or four. Now, mind you, this is not strictly necessary, but it does tend to
make the ensuing procedure a bit more amusing for all concerned. Then, you
wait until you can catch his eye, and you lock your stare on him so he can't
look away. That's when you tell him to lead you to his treasure. Oh, he'll
try to wiggle out of doing it, but you just keep your eyes fixed on his and
he'll give in and lead the way. Now, this is the tricky part--you can't take
your eyes off him for a second while's he leading you, or he'll vanish,
poof, just like that."

"Poof. Poof, poof, poof," she repeated like an echo, trailing off into the
night and the lapping of the waves.

"Yes, yes. Poof. Here one minute, gone the next."

"I know what that feels like."

"Are you crying?" Jack sat up and crawled over to where Elizabeth sprawled
on the sand. "Look, here, have some more rum, it'll make you feel better.
And let me finish my story; it's bad luck to leave a story unfinished."

She brushed her eyes and took the bottle he offered her. "It is?"

"Well, of course. Don't be daft; even you must know that. So where was I?
Oh, yes. I'd found me a leprechaun. And I was making him lead me to his
treasure. It was a big treasure, he promised. More gold than beyond my
wildest imaginations. You haven't seen the size of my imagination, I
assured him. But it was on a island, he explained, and he had no boat.
What luck, I cried, clapping him on the shoulder, that you should have
happened to stumble across Jack Sparrow, the finest sailor and pirate in the
whole East Indies, and owner of my very own sloop.

"I'm sure he thought that sometime during that sail I would have to take my
eyes off him, to tend the boat or sleep or rest my eyes, but I knew he was
counting on that, and I outsmarted him. We sailed, in that little sloop,
for seven days and seven nights, and that whole time I never slept, nor
rested, nor even blinked. When my eyes would get tired I would close first
one eye, then the other, always making sure I kept him in sight.

"And so, that way, we came to the island. Isla de Muerta, he said it was.
The Island of Death. Well, I'd heard the stories. You couldn't be a pirate
and not hear the stories. The island that nobody can find except
those who've been there before. And here I was standing foot on it, and
knowing it was chock-full of treasure and knowing I could come back
to it, but not how.

"See, the leprechaun had steered us there in the first place, and me with no
sort of compass or map to track his wild course couldn't find my way back.
And I saw his plan then--if I left, I wouldn't be able to come back, and if I
didn't leave, I'd starve to death.

"But they don't call me Captain Jack Sparrow for nothing, so I thought up a
plan even cleverer than his. I crept out a good silver pin from the hem of
my coat, and when he wasn't looking, I pricked him with it, hard, so that
the blood flowed out like cheap ale. And then I let that blood dry on the
pin, and put it in my hat for safekeeping, because I knew his blood would
always point the way back to his treasure. And when I got back to Port
Ascencion, I got a tinker fix my silver pin into a compass for me, and set
off to look for a crew to go back and fill up all that gold that hadn't fit
into me sloop."

"So you got off the island then," she murmured rubbing a hand over her face.

He slung an arm round her shoulders. "'Course, luv, or I wouldn't be here
spending this fine night with you, now would I?"

"But if you were there, on the island, I mean, why didn't you take the
cursed gold then? I mean, well, were you just lucky?"

He leaned back and gave her a roguish grin. "Oh, well, I've always been a
lucky sort. Except with women. And mutinies. And money. And the British
Navy. And that one time in Singapore..."

"Ha!" Elizabeth pointed a wavering finger at him. "You"re not lucky at
all."

Jack's smile grew grimmer. "Considering that our lives are depending upon
us being lucky enough to spot a ship passing through, I wouldn't cast such
aspersions upon me luck, now would I?" He took a long pull from the bottle.

"And I was lucky enough to find a leprechaun, and to find Isla de Muerta and
to not get turned into the undead, so I'd say I'm pretty bloody lucky," he
pointed out. "Besides, it wasn't luck that got me onto my sloop with
nothing more cursed than a hangover. It was skill. After all," Jack closed
his eyes and puffed out his chest, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

A growling snore broke the quietness, and Jack opened his eyes to find
Elizabeth tilted against him, her mouth gaping open as she slept. "Aye,
well, lass, I'll find us someway out of this one too." He patted her
shoulder and settled down more comfortably. "You can bet on it." He yawned
and closed his eyes. "First thing in the morning... or possibly the late
afternoon."

Against the crackle of the fire and the lapping of the waves, two loud
snores competed for attention.

smells, books, fannish stuff

2006-03-15T21:54:13Z

I bought one of those scented oil warmers a couple weeks ago, and it's
really nice. For one thing--pretty. Red marbled-y glass folded into
a loose cup supporting a fluted pebbled glass dish on a mirrored base with a
light in the middle. For another, the bank now smells wonderful. You only
need a little bit of oil, and there are so many for me to choose
from--cucumber melon, orange blossom, spearmint, apple, rain, gingerbread,
passion fruit, strawberries and champagne... I finally get the whole BPAL
thing now (although at $4 per .5 oz, these are decidedly cheaper).

I'm planning to go get my copy of the special edition Good Omens this
weekend. Crowley cover if at all possible. I'll just say the devil made me
do it. ^__^

I just read Sisters of the Raven by Barbara Hambly. I've read some
of her stuff before, and I like her writing style, so after the
disappointment of The Secrets of the Jin-She Sisterhood I was hoping
for a good women-oriented fantasy adventure. For the most part, I wasn't
disappointed. Magic has always been the domain of men only, but suddenly
the magic is disappearing from men, and a new magic is appearing in women.
The world is primarily Middle Eastern flavored, and it might be interesting
to read it as an allegory for the current socio-political Middle Eastern
situation, but it's also satisfying on its own. Many men are resentful of
the increase in women's power, but some are just confused or frightened, and
a few are accepting, even welcoming. The women are just as varied in their
acceptance and use of the magic--some eagerly learning more, some hiding
their powers, some trying to meddle. There's also a drought going on
because the mages cannot call the rains; a new religion is calling for a
backlash against magic, women's rights, and the monarchy; and someone is
killing the female mages. At times it does seem a bit like she's piling too
much on, and the ending felt rather like a letdown, although I did enjoy the
inistence, carried throughout the book, that magic cannot solve everything.

Last night I finally read Grey's Anatomy fic. George fic! Yay! Although I'm
not sure if I should weep or laugh because I read George/Bailey. And liked
it. Curse you talented fic writers! George/anyone is pretty much just
great, I've decided. George/Izzy. George/Addison. George/Alex.
George/Cadman (yes, Cadman from SGA, and no, I don't really know SGA canon
that well, but still George bandaging Barbie dolls and belonging to a two
person D&D club! OMG love!) And svmadelyn (I think, it was one of my crazy
flist people) then offered up the idea that George needs to join the
Atlantis program, and yes. George on Atlantis. George and the Air
Force General with the head wound and the necklace that glowed when he
touched it and Christina wanting to know why it won't glow when she holds
it, and the careful not-quite-an-interview from the hospital bed, and there
could be a new security officer joining hospital staff and she asks George
out and feels him out about a lot of stuff, and he just thinks it's another
didn't-really-go-anywhere relationship, and then being called into the
Chief's office, and she's there, and "It wasn't sexual harassment! We didn't
even have sex!" and the disclosure, the information about the Go'a'uld and
the Wraith and the Ancients, and the offer to be on board the Daedalus on
its next run, and George in the chair, and George and Rodney and it
would be wonderful. And I totally cannot write this--I have next to
no canon and am in the middle of a ficathon and SGA is filled with writerly
goodness who can do this better, but alas, I lack a sharp stick to poke them
with to make them write this. So just read this garbled summary and make up
your own story. I'm sure it will be better than what I could write.

Let me explain...

2006-03-15T05:12:16Z

No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

So. Birthday, good. Becca's birthday, also good. Sister-in-law is pregnant, due end of May with a another girl, name as of yet unknown.

Work=busy busy busy.

Play of DOOM opened last weekend. This one is cursed. We lost one actress to her unwillingness to show up for rehearsals, our original director had to back out because her husband needed emergency surgery, and then another actor fell off a ladder, broke his ribs and tailbone, punctured his lung, and got a skull fracture. Eight days before the show opened. So we switched people around, got our pseudo-understudy to take on an actual role, and managed pretty much okay.

Ah, yes, pseudo-understudy boy. Otherwise known as Mik. Also possibly known as my boyfriend. Dragged to the theater by his financial adviser (she's in the play and has been trying to fix me up for a while), and hasn't left, other than when forced to, since. He's a first lieutenant in the army, graduated West Point with a major in history and a minor in Russian, is from Pennsylvania, likes anime, comic books, dogs, Thai food, old movies, and the Rat Pack. And we've been going out pretty much every chance we get, and ther have been flowers and dancing, and I am trying *really* hard not to let my issues screw this one up. Even if he is three and half years younger than me.

Also, should anyone be looking at my journal for the Hughes fictahon, please remember I'm not always that crazy but it was late and I was tired when I made those requests, okay? I love Hughes to itty bitty pieces and think he he is super cool, and if you want to do an alternate future where Episode 25 never happened, GO FOR IT. But so long as there is much Hughes I will love you, so don't worry. ♥

sexybee @ 2006-01-30T00:10:00

2006-01-30T06:52:53Z

Okay, so Thursday was my birthday (27, pretty good--the auditors left, books, movies, and socks) so Becca came down this weekend for girly fun bonding time. There were bookstores! And food! And this really, really bizarre dvd we got for three bucks at Suncoast called "Meet the Fuccons" which is this collection of really wrong sketches done with creepy looking manniquins. It's Japanese, which explains some of the bizarreness, but OMG so wrong it's almost right. It begs for vids. And it's the first in a series! The world is ending.

Also today we had smoothies and Mexican and watched Underworld Evolution which was a highly pleasant surprise. Pretty people! Guns! Fighting! Brother Cadfael as Alexander, making me want to write cracked out crossover fic! And then tonight since Desperate Housewives was a re-run I started reading the first two books of Diana Wynne Jones's Dalemark Quartet--"Cart and Cwidder" and "Drowned Ammett." And now I want to know what the fastest way is for me to get my hands on the last two books because oh my God, wow. I wanna be like her when I grow up. Holy crap does she write books that suck you in and work for everything from kids to grownups. Must have more now!

The email post that didn't

2006-01-19T04:12:58Z

So, if my email post thing was working properly (which it's not; it says it can't find my PIN), this is what you would have seen...about a week ago.

So, apparently, all these last couple of posts I've done through email
haven't been posting. I'm trying this one more time, and if this doesn't
post...well, I don't know what I'll do other than not email post anymore
obviously, but I'll also complain very strenuously to the management.
Probably.

Anyway, to re-iterate what I've said in my last few (missing) posts:

* Thank you very much jcolanthe, my LJ Secret Santa, for the
book and all the goodies! There's a funny story behind The Book of
Jhereg. I got hooked onto Stephen Brust in HS, read all the Vlad books
I could find (which wasn't many), and then, somehow, forgot about them when
no new ones appeared. Then a couple years ago I re-discovered Brust and the
fun of Vlad and Loiosh and Morrolan and Aliera and Sethra. I ordered
The Book of Jhereg from Amazon, read it, loved it, and left it in the
car so I could keep re-reading it at lunch. Now, I live in Louisiana where
we have *very* hot summers. And hot car + paperback binding glue =
problems. I picked up the book one day to read it and had it fall apart in
my hands. I even tried to keep it for a while after that, but the pages
would get scattered and mixed up, so I finally, regretfully (and man, was
that hard to do) trashed it. So now I have a new copy, yay! And sparkly
things and chocolate and girly stuff, woo! I shall have to see if I can
think up some fic as thanks. (P.S., jcolanthe, if you're reading this and
have any particular ideas for fic, please let me know. I work well with
prompts.)

* The Yuletide story I wrote is called "Muder Among Friends." It's a Nero
Wolfe story for Rhiannon featuring a hard to solve case, poker night with
the guys, lots of Archie being Archie and Saul being cool, and even a dash
of Fritz. I want to thank everyone who's commented for the very nice things
they've said. I really appreciate the support! Also, I still think that
everyone should go read the Tactics story I received, stat. It is casefic
with snuggling and tie-tying, and it is by Harukami who writes
awesome stuff.

*I wrote a tiny XXXholic drabble the other day:

He is fuming to Himawari-chan about Doumeki’s latest bout of irritating
behaviour, “—and then he ignores me and announces he wants yakitori for
lunch. Yakitori!” He hurls the word like an accusation.

"I think it's cute," Himawari-chan supplies, looking at Watanuki like she
expects him to sprout pigtails for Doumeki to pull. He has a sudden
horrific vision of himself with Himawari-chan's long, beribboned pigtails
curling down his chest as Doumeki tugs at them curiously. He quickly
replaces himself with Himawari-chan, and, funny, he didn't think he was
supposed to be jealous of both of them in this scenario.

*I've been trying to get back my Desperate Housewives love, I
really have. But maybe it's that Bree hasn't been quite as kickass as usual
lately? Maybe it's that I don't feel any 'OMG WTH?' over the last death. I
mean, I am glad that Gabi finally got a bit of a reality check as to how her
affair affects other people. And I'm glad Lynette didn't go all jealous as
hell with some lameass plan to test Tom's fidelity that would backfire in
her face as usual. I'm glad Susan wasn't horribly insecure and clingy for
once. And I'm saddened that Bree has her views on homosexuality, although
it is perfectly in keeping with her character. I just wish she was a little
more...kickass with her son.

*Lost love is back! *flails happily* Hi, Mr. Eko! (or is it Ecko?
Eco? Echo?) I love you! And your priestly brother! Okay. So. Eko's
confederates (plus brother) were on the drug smuggling plane that crashed on
the island that Locke saw in his vision that led Boone to his death. Now
I'm just wondering if it's feasible for a little plane flying from Nigeria
to have enough fuel to make it to the island. (Surely if they'd landed
somewhere to refuel they'd have gotten rid of the brother? Actually, why
they didn't just dump him the moment they got over the ocean is a mystery to
me.) Charlie is a great big git for lying about the statue and the plane.
Now we all have to wonder if he's using again, or is he just stashing the
icons "just in case." What was computer!Walt's message?? "I need you to
come--" Come where? When? How? Aaaaaaaack! Stay good, Michael, stay good!
Plus, OMGWTFBLACKSMOKE! With the explosions and the staredown, and I second
Charlie's look of 'You Are a Complete Whackjob' at Eko for not running and
somehow making the smoke go away. Plus, you know, "scripture stick" and
"Just what kind of priest are you?"