The Black Phoenix Inn

For everyone who read my fanfiction back in the day:

ellid — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:29:02 GMT

Now available on Amazon.com, my first actual genuine for-real original novel!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK9G7VN6?ref_=pe_3052080_397670860

ellid — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:30:38 GMT

testing.

ellid — Fri, 24 May 2019 11:39:25 GMT

Title: My Heart Will Throw Up, V
Prompt: Titanic
Word Count: 100

Minerva sat back, thoughtfully tapping at her upper lip. Severus had always been private about his personal life to a ridiculous degree, but then again he’d been an active spy until the fall of Voldemort. The idea of him finally, finally bonding with a woman was heartwarming, even if over mutual dislike of a film. “I would have no objection to you bringing your friend to the school for a visit or a meal. I’m sure she would appreciate seeing the library.”

Severus released a breath. “I’m sure she would appreciate that. Thank you, Minerva.”

“My pleasure, Severus,” Minerva said.

ellid — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 11:40:17 GMT

Title: Substitution, V
Prompt: Quidditch World Cup
Word Count: 100
Note: It’s also yet another Motherless Child ficlet, because I can’t seem to quit those two no matter how much I try. This one mainly concerns Severus’ Muggle relatives.

“She’ll need to know regardless! It’s not as if John – “

“Dad? Papa?”

Both men whipped about to see their son, their smaller owl perched on his shoulder, standing hesitantly in the doorway. “Yes, son?” Remus said at last. “Is something wrong?”

“Is this about Cousin Ali?”

“Well. Yes and - “

“She already knows about quidditch,” said the boy, and promptly stared at the floor.

“She.” Severus tried to think of a response that did not begin with “How?” “She knows?”

“I told her after the cricket match, before we got back to the house. Am I in trouble?”

ellid — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 11:36:59 GMT

Title: The Resistance, I

Challenge: Dumbledore's Army

Word Count: 100

They were plotting.

Severus could not prove it, not without using charms and devices that would reveal his true mission to the Dark Lord, but he knew it. Longbottom's sudden confidence, Lovegood's sudden focus, Granger's pallor and Potter's barely concealed anger – all signs indicated that the children were working behind the faculty's back.

And not just Potter and his friends, oh no. Edgecombe was using spells she had no business knowing, while the occasional new patronus ghosted about the Great Hall at odd times. Umbridge was furious enough to order yet more diktats, but nothing changed

Severus wondered why.

ellid — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 12:21:30 GMT

Title: Deluxe Edition, XXXXI

Challenge: The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, I

Word Count: 100

Dear Mr. Scamander:

Unfortunately, Professor Snape will not be able to grant interviews or participate in any significant way in your updating project due to medical issues. He wishes you well -

“I most certainly do not. That book doesn't need to be updated, it needs to be replaced, and - “

“Darling, let me handle this. It's why I'm here.”

“I thought you were looking up baby names.”

“I'm taking a break, nothing more.”

“Carry on, then.”

- and looks forward to the finished project.

Best wishes for your success -

Remus J. Lupin

Jeopardy yesterday

ellid — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 09:19:18 GMT

Yes, I did compete - and yes, I won! :)

Thanks for everyone's good wishes, and be sure to tune tonight to see me defend my championship! California definitely rocks!

ellid — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 10:42:01 GMT

My Jeopardy appearance is tonight. Here's more information - hope some of you can tune in to your local station!

ellid — Tue, 16 May 2017 11:56:26 GMT

Title: Biological Sample, I

Challenge: Longbottom House

Word Count: 100

Excerpt from Guide to British Wizarding Plants, by Major Wyncoop Thropwright III, late of the Greens:

The Mimbulus Mimbletonia Africans is among the most valuable of magical plants. Its leaves are used in several crucial medical potions used to treat skin diseases, its stems produce an excellent ink amenable to use in production of Unbreakable Codes, and its blossoms are most pleasant if one casts a Non-Squirting Charm to prevent the expulsion of Stinksap.

Few have been successfully grown outside of Africa, with the exception of the fine population at Longbottom House. This cultivar is maintained by the Longbottom family....

Politics and Diversity in Re-construction, Re-enactment, and Re-creation

ellid — Mon, 15 May 2017 21:56:10 GMT

My part begins at 28:30.

ellid — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:58:20 GMT

Title: Quidditch Holiday, I

Challenge: Holyhead

Word Count: 100

Note: this is yet another snippet from the Motherless Child series, where Snape and Lupin marry and adopt a young werewolf. Their son, John, is about ten.

“Did you know Holyhead has three Roman walls?” John looked up from the tourist pamphlet, eyes shining. “Three!”

“Really?” Remus managed not to sound annoyed even though John had been bombarding them with information on Holyhead ever since Potter had given them tickets to his wife's team's playoff series. “I had no idea.”

“Yeah, and it's built around the church - “

“More likely the church was built inside the fort,” Severus commented.

“It's still brilliant. Three walls!” said John, and Severus shuddered at the thought of another week of this before the first game.

LJ update

ellid — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 11:00:18 GMT

I'm also at Insanejournal and Dreamwidth as Ellid, Tumblr as Ellidfics, and Facebook under my own name. Email me for the last if you want to friend. I'm much more active at all of the above, and very political, so if you like Trump, you might wish to avoid Tumblr and Facebook in particular.

Back from California`

ellid — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 14:46:08 GMT

Things of note:

- Had no idea there were so many aplm trees.

- Alex Trebeck is a very nice man with a good handshake.

- The clicker thing on Jeopardy is not easy to master at first.

- The people you think are going to kick ass can and do fall apart once the show actually starts.

- Soundstages are *cold*.

- The Sony/Columbia lot, where they film Jeopardy, was originally the MGM lot back in the 30's, so there's a ton of dreamy Art Deco architectural details.

- The LA Fabric District is ENORMOUS and a lot of fun.

- The FIDM costume museum is great, and now I know that Charlize Theron, Benedict Cumberbatch and Chris Hemsworth are indeed very tall, while Henry Cavill is more tall-ish.

- I had a GREAT time.

As for how I did...you'll have to watch me on Jeopardy on June 21st to find out! :D

Off to California this morning

ellid — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 10:24:10 GMT

To be a contestant on Jeopardy. We'll see how it goes....

Unexpected news

ellid — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 11:57:10 GMT

I'm going to be a contestant on Jeopardy!

*squeals with delight*

I marched in Boston on Saturday

ellid — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 11:23:42 GMT

Sore, weary, and I nearly had a panic attack during a bottleneck trying to get from the Common to Charles Street, but it was so worth it.

Now the work begins. We CANNOT fail.

donations

ellid — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 11:43:04 GMT

I just sent small donations to the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Trump's appointment of a white supremacist as his senior "strategist" (whatever the hell that means, since I've never heard that term used for a presidential adviser before) speaks volumes about what the next few years will be like. Those are my charities now, and God keep them safe because the Republicans will finally be able to do what they're been set on for years: repeal the 20th century.

Also? If there's actually a Muslim registry? I'm signing up.

I feel absolutely sick to my stomach

ellid — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 11:13:26 GMT

It's as if the pain of me and every other victim of sexual assault means nothing.

Meme to prove I am not dead

ellid — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:47:27 GMT

Oh Oh Oh! A meme! It's been SO LONG yay a meme! And it came from about a half-dozen people, so apparently we're all starved for memes.

A- Age: 55
B- Biggest Fear: death
C- Current Time: 6:42 am Eastern time
D- Drink you last had: water
E- Easiest Person to Talk to: my BFF or my roommate
F- Favorite Song: probably "The Way Is It," by Bruce Hornsby
G- Ghosts, are they real: I doubt it but it's possible
H- Hometown: Pittsburgh
I- In love with: books
J- Jealous of: no one
K- Killed Someone? no
L- Last time you cried? not sure, I rarely cry
M- Middle Name: Jane
N- Number of Siblings: 0
O- One Wish: that we'd find a way to reverse environmental damage
P- Person who you last called: a co-worker
Q- Question you're always asked: "What do you mean, quilting didn't start in America?"
R- Reason to smile: a beautiful fall day
S- Song last sang: "Happy Anniversary," to my cat (I've had her exactly ten years)
T- Time you woke up: 6:15
U- Underwear Color: blue
V- Vacation Destination: New York for a couple of days
W- Worst Habit: procrastination
X- X-Rays you've had: chest and knee. I've also had a cat scan on my kidney (I was born with only one) and several skull MRI's.
Y- Your favorite food: bagels or a good stir-fry
Z- Zodiac Sign: Leo

Absolutely heartsick over Ferguson

ellid — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 03:24:26 GMT

Since when is shoplifting a pack of cigarillos a capitol offense?

Don't blame me, Massachusetts

ellid — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 11:53:30 GMT

I voted for Capuano in the 2010 Senate primary.

ellid — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:57:51 GMT

Title: A Suitable Commemoration, II
Challenge: Chocolate Frogs
Word Count: 100

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am in receipt of your proposed text for my Chocolate Frog card. I have read and reviewed it, and enclose my proposed changes. These are minor, although I have advised my solicitors that the lines about my “unrequited pining” for Lily ~~Evans~~ Potter are not acceptable in any way, shape, or form. I trust these will be replaced with something more tasteful, and accurate.

I do have one question: where is the artwork? I seem to recall that several photographs of me, none particularly flattering, were published during the climax of the late unpleasantness....</i>

It's been a while, but, no, I am not dead :)

ellid — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 02:21:17 GMT

So...a lot has happened, as you might expect:

- Got an actual editing job, that is paying me actual cash money, for an upcoming supplement for a game. So far it's going well, and the author is pleased. I'm pretty psyched, since this is the first time I've made serious money writing.

- Sold a short story to Circlet Press over the summer, and one from a previous anthology appeared on their Erotica Advent Calendar in early December.

- Roomie had some health issues and ended up in the hospital for over a week. Her treatment was, to say the least, not nearly as good as what I got at a different hospital, and I'm urging her to write a letter of complaint.

- Got a very nice profit sharing bonus, which allowed me to pay off a couple of my medical bills from last summer.

- Had a bat get into the house in late September. Fortunately the cops came and got it out, but because Gil went after it I had to quarantine the little !#!$@!#$! for six weeks. Not fun AT ALL, but fortunately no harm done.

- Speaking of Gil the Wonder Cat, he's grown a *mane* (really) and is developing some truly magnificent fluff on his hindquarters, throat, and underside. He's incredibly silky, incredibly silly, and I adore him.

- Lost a ring with huge sentimental value while pumping gas...and showing that God (or St. Anthony, patron of lost causes) actually does keep an eye on fools like me, some kind and generous soul found it and turned it in at the cash register. Thank you, whatever power brought this gift from my mother home where it belongs.

- And just tonight, someone at a local laundromat either stole or accidentally walked off with an entire load of my laundry, including my bathrobe ( :( ), several old pairs of underwear (meh), a sweater I'd recently found and resurrected for wear ( :( ), most of my towels, and my favorite t-shirt (*wails*). I called the cops and am filing a police report so I can notify my insurance agent to see if I can get any compensation, then headed over to Target to replace my underwear (which needed it anyway), socks (ditto), and towels (ditto ditto). And much to my shock, I found a t-shirt identical to the lost one at the local Salvation Army!

Of course this means I'm still out a bathrobe, which is upsetting because I loved it, and it was a gift from a dear friend. If St. Anthony (or whomever) is listening, I would be humbly grateful if my possessions found their way home somehow...but I will take what I can get.

So - that's the last few months. What about you, my friends? Bueller? Bueller?

Hunter Moon aka Malfoy-the-cat, August 6, 2000-September 9, 2013

ellid — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 01:22:03 GMT

I adopted him thirteen years ago, when my marriage had just broken up. Barbara Gardner found him for me and said "he needs a home, you need something to make you laugh." And he did, through that lonely winter, and then through the rough times that happened. He slept beside me, purred when I petted him, and was as good a friend as anyone could wish.

His real name was Hunter Moon, sometimes called Baby Boo or Baby Blue Eyes. On-line, I called him Malfoy-the-cat. Today he lost his fight with kidney failure, thirteen years, one month, and three days after he came into this world.

I still have Gil and Diamond, and I'm going to hug them extra hard tonight. But I will be thinking of my little flamepoint friend.

Good night, Hunter, and sleep well. May you and Arrow and Siren meet over the Rainbow Bridge, and may your time there be full of sunshine, slow fat mice, and play for all eternity.

I love you.

The last two weeks, or, The Back Spasm That Wasn't

ellid — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:01:14 GMT

It's been a very interesting couple of weeks, to say the least.

Let me preface this by saying that I have been prone to back spasms for years. They started when I was in my twenties, usually happened during or just before my period, and could be handled by having my back cracked, a hot bath, and plenty of ibuprofren. Most were in my lower back, but sometimes it would be my shoulders. I didn't like them, but they were part of life.

A couple of months ago I started getting different back spasms. These weren't the usual hot, tight, cramping pain of a period-related back spasm. These usually centered just my right shoulder blade, where my bra hits, and were hideous, solid bands of agony. Painkillers didn't touch them, they seemed to have no relation to what was left of my monthly cycle, and a hot bath only helped to a certain extent. The first one, which started just after midnight, was so bad it woke me up, and left me literally sobbing in the bathtub, half-convinced I was having a heart attack.

It passed, I felt fine, and like an ass I figured it was just a muscle spasm and went on my merry way.

Well. Two Fridays ago I had lunch (an Amy's Southwestern burrito), and within minutes of finishing the pain started. I immediately removed my bra, took four ibuprofen, and tried lying down in the supply room at the office. Nothing much helped, and by the time I was ready to leave I was in a serious amount of pain. I was due at a friend's house to watch movies, and since she's an EMT and her mother's a retired nurse, I told them about the pain. They gave me a wonderful liniment that helped, Tracy noticed a knotted muscle just under my right shoulder blade, and between that and a massaging chair, I felt a lot better by the time I left.

The next day the pain was back, only worse. And worse. And worse. By Saturday afternoon I was writhing on the kitchen floor, howling in agony and praying for relief. I finally called my doctor, who told me to head to the ER because it sounded like kidney stones. I went to the local hospital, was given a shot of morphine and a CT scan, and told there was no kidney stone, it was probably just a muscle spasm, and sent on my way.

I slept most of Sunday.

Monday I went to work, still a bit achy and tired, and was fine...until I went to the bathroom and saw that my eyes had turned yellow.

Jaundice.

I immediately went to my doctor's urgent care. They saw me immediately, took blood and urine samples, and told me a) I had been having a gallstone attack, and b) I was off work for the next two days, no arguments. They also scheduled an ultrasound for the next day and told me to come back on Wednesday for more bloodwork. The ultrasound showed that yes, I'd had a gallstone pass, and yes, there were still stones in my gallbladder, and when the Wednesday bloodwork showed that my pancreas was now involved, I was ordered to the ER at our regional medical center and told that I was to stay until admitted, no arguments.

I griped, but didn't argue. This is why I'm sitting here writing this, not in the ICU or possibly dead.

Friends, I had a condition called gallbladder pancreatitis. This condition results when a gallstone blocks the duct emptying from the liver, stomach, and pancreas, and the pancreas reacts by going into overdrive and producing about 1000x as many enzymes as it needs to. This is a serious, serious condition, and the only treatment is immediate removal of the gallbladder after the pancreatic enzymes are back in the normal range. In my case it took a day in the ER on an IV line, no food or drink by mouth at all, before this happened.

So. I had my gallbladder out on Friday, spent Friday night and all of Saturday in the hospital, and was discharged after more tests and a clean set of labs on Sunday morning. I'm now on a no-fat diet, low fat foods to be reintroduced gradually over the next couple of weeks, with my current diet based primarily on lean meats, fish, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Red meat will become a rare treat, ditto pizza. I *may* be allowed to go back to whole milk cheeses in small quantities, but not immediately. Junk food is out, permanently, unless there is absolutely no alternative (at a convention or on the road and there's nothing but a McDonald's for the next ten miles...and then, have the salad). My life and my eating have been forcibly changed, and it will probably add years to my life because I'll no longer have the luxury of eating processed, fatty crap.

I ducked a bullet here, boys and girls. I really did. Still trying to decide if I should take action against the local hospital that didn't notice the gallstones on the CT scan (or inform me that I was born with one kidney, which I was completely unaware of), but that's something to be discussed with my surgeon when I speak to him on the 17th. For right now I'm home, recovering, and grateful beyond words that my urgent care doctor refused to accept my insistence that I felt fine and trusted the blood tests to tell her what was going on.

I'm alive. I'm not going to waste that.

Thanks for listening.