I want to be its meaning

A collection of things!

ifreet — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 17:47:36 GMT

I saw Welcome to Night Vale live on stage, and it was an amazing performance capping a wonderful day with friends. I assume that eventually the spring show will be available for download, so no spoilers, I guess? But it was completely excellent. The area around the theatre was filled with people wearing purple and themed shirts. And there was a surprise!izzybeth, so EXTRA excellence occurred. NIGHT VALE, guys. FANPEEPS, GUYS.

I missed BP like crazy. I hope everyone had a blast.

I went to the local comic convention on my ownsome. I got to meet one of the creators of Watson & Holmes and was so effusive (both to him and to the girls who happened by the table while I was there) that when I bought a physical copy of issue six, he gave me a t-shirt, too. I also bought some prints from a guy whose recent official work was for DC, but whose convention table featured several of my favorite Marvel characters drawn beautifully. Miss America! Wiccan! Captain Marvel! So pretty!

And I bought Lumberjanes 1, which is pretty much the best thing ever and everyone should read it. Also, the Lumberjanes pledge is wonderful and better than any pledge I ever took as a kid. I want to be brave and kind! I want to question the world!

I was asked out on a date. I accepted. The date went well, but the guy immediately moved me into the "girlfriend" slot in his mind because there were daily good morning texts. And I'd been clear that I was dating casually. And that I don't really text. And yet. Second date was postponed due to illness, but it needs rescheduling so that I can ... tell him I'm not interested in person. I know, that's not strictly necessary this early on - except I met him through a new group of friends and I don't want more awkwardness than I can avoid.

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Meanwhile, outside Seattle...

ifreet — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 22:48:55 GMT

My last post was in February? Really? Ok, then. Expect an Actual Post soon. Perhaps even later this weekend!

HOWEVER. In the meantime, it is bitchinparty weekend. And I am distinctly not in Seattle, because distance. If you've found me on twitter, you've already seen me using #bpenvy on that site to try and have some con-less fun - and if you haven't, I'm injiver there. So far, the main conversations in the tag are "what we are doing while not at BP" and "a single song that always reminds you of a particular character/pairing" Please join in there if you tweet or here if you don't (where 'here' means whichever journal you're seeing this on). I'll be around off and on tonight and after I get out of work tomorrow, but hopefully any conversations started will be self-sustaining in my absence. Also, new topics welcome! I'll add them to this post if you start something new in comments.

And maybe someone else has started/wants to start some con-envy activities on their own journals? Links please!

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writing is easy and other lies

ifreet — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:32:42 GMT

When I have no time, I want to write. When I have time... I give myself writer's block.

Awesome.

It's sunny here today and the mounds of snow have turned to weighted slush. I'm considering whether I should stop by the parents and offer to lift things higher in the basement, because the snow at the end of their drive was higher than my head last weekend, and I have no idea where all that water's going to go. My back hurts still from last week's bulldozer adventures, so I'm avoiding further shoveling.

I scored tickets to the closest Welcome to Night Vale live show, which was slightly more difficult than it needed to be, thanks ever so, venue. I am looking forward to it, though! And I officially have that entire day off, so I can go play in the city ahead of the show.

Did I tell y'all about the anime con? Yes, no, maybe? Ok, I just checked. No, I did not! So. I went to an anime con, briefly met a hieronymousmosh who was in the city for Unrelated Reasons (probably she's a spy), and got to hang out with the much missed watchersprout for an entire weekend.

Also, I hung out with watchersprout's boyfriend (aka a con guest and therefore the reason she was at this particular con), another of her friends from up here, and occasional assorted others who were mostly accompanying the other guests. I dressed as a comic book character and went mostly to the 18 years + panels and learned some dirty ASL. (Also, props to the convention for providing ASL interpreters, even if the poor boy-type one was completely embarrassed by the language at the roast and repeatedly had to tag out with the others.) And I bought a cool-seeming card game, if I can ever get friends into the same physical space to play it.

This weekend, I'm going to an itty-bitty new local comic con, followed by a Meet Up event. I signed up for Meet Up awhile back but have yet to actually... meet with anyone. Partly because my schedule is terrible for planning things, but also because new people are terrifying. But I'm going to this one. *strong face*

I read Ancillary Justice, and it's as good as you've heard. If you like spaceships, unique characters, betrayal and quests for vengeance, and/or interesting social construction of gender, you should check it out.

I'm now reading Aurorarama, and it's not so great. I don't like the main POV characters and there's too much going on with the steampunk-ish setting. Which, actually, is my complaint with most of the steampunk I've read - too many concepts stacked on top of each other until plot and character vanish below the waves. Although at least this one doesn't seem likely to introduce aliens two thirds of the way through. Still not sure if there's time travel going on or not. Which you would think would be obvious, but sadly not.

Also, I have little to no interest in fictional drug use/abuse. And there's a lot of it in this book. Blargh.

Anyway. Back to writing. What's new with you?

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It is time for my FAVORITE INTERNET (and RL) HOLIDAY!

ifreet — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 18:50:24 GMT

Happy More Joy Day, everyone! I am much less than prepared this year! And yet, I would like to do something that will make you smile. So, ask me for something - a story (true) or a fic (truthy), a short recording (bearing in mind my lack of 'real' equipment) or a photo of something at this end of the modem. Tomorrow is my day off, and I will spend it making these things happen...

...as well as making January cards happen. So if you want a RANDOM postcard from my grandpa's neverending box o' postcards, make sure I have your address (and preferred mode of address if you'd rather not get something to your fannish name) which you can DM or email me. djinnjer AT gmail DOT com (This email address will self-destruct in two days, so that I'm comfortable leaving this not locked.)

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the weather outside is frightful

ifreet — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 23:27:46 GMT

And despite a brief trip to work to confirm that we should not open in this weather (I fought the snow drift that ate my car AND WON), I am now in my apartment. Again. And bored despite A MILLION THINGS I COULD DO WITH THIS TIME. Again.

So I'm going to write? And I'm going to warm-up with my favorite ficlet-producing exercise - hitting shuffle on my music library and writing for the length of a song. If anyone would like to see a particular pairing/character come out of that, leave the name(s) in comments!

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resolved face

ifreet — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 02:27:52 GMT

Hi, all! So.... my past year of posts fits on a single screen? Wow. A year in review summary is not exactly necessary!

I did, however, write all of ~~two~~ three fic and a mini-fic. First off, I have a dSSS reveal! I picked up a pinch hit for sam_gamgee's Fraser/Vecchio request and produced mornings most of all, a relationship told in the moments after waking up. I like it!

I wrote an Iron Man mirror universe fic, because apparently zeenell couldn't find any that fit the characters as the two of us read them. sideways (further from our origin). Pepper/Tony. No specific warnings beyond MIRROR UNIVERSE.

And there was an Eames/Arthur Inception fic (which I have apparently not uploaded to AO3) Hide and Seek, written for the de-aged/characters as children square of cottoncandy bingo. As you can tell, I did SO WELL at that card. I thought it would be motivating, but it turns out bingo cards are guilt-inducing rather than fic-inducing for me. The more you know!

And the tiniest of Star Trek (2009) gen fic. This isn't going to work.

In nonfic, I actually had a good year. Everyone AROUND me had scary/sad/bad years, but my personal year was pretty okay. I went to MJ and had a fabulous time! I visited my Carolina cousin and my other cousins! I got a promotion and a new old apartment! I ran my first 5k! I started going to knit night regularly and am beginning to cultivate a few new friendships as well as this whole "knitting" skill.

In the new year, I'm going to write more (whether that's fanfic, original stories, LJ/DW entries, or just allll the letters I owe). I'm going to connect more with friends, existing, and with friends, to be. Possibly with boy-or-girl-friend to be. I'm going to travel so much, my wallet is already wincing. I'm going to keep being me and, hopefully, keep being a better version of me than I was the day before.

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for the curious

ifreet — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 03:49:19 GMT

A twitter-sized post, though I didn't post the poll to twitter. Yes, I am going to North Carolina! (Part of the) last full week of the month! Both cousin and I are excited, though I feel I am abusing more exclamation points! And I will see other cousin and cousin-in-law and toddler cousin once removed. Yay!

In unrelated news, I was handed an envelope by a coworker. Inside was a rather wordy invitation from a customer to have coffee or lunch - with a phone number that connects to a "recording device" so I can call anytime. And his address. With clarification so I'd know he comes from the good part of the nearby 'bad' town. (If he actually knew me, he'd have known I don't really care.)

Sadly, the card is from a regular whom I am friendly with because it is my job, and not yesterday's cute guy with the mysterious accent (to me, for I am terrible at accents) who asked for sci-fi and fantasy recs and name-checked Bujold as his favorite sci-fi author. And now I'm in the position of... calling someone to let them down gently? (Clearly, this is something to do from a store phone, not mine. Perhaps I should simply pass him a note back.)

Oh, look, this is practically tumblr length! Someday, I shall tumbl, and it will be glorious.

Ok. To bed, to read more Fangirl, which is good so far.

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help me, obi wan internet

ifreet — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 17:19:46 GMT

I need your advice!

I took off the week of September 22, because I am at use-it-or-lose-it time when it comes to vacation days. I had been planning on a staycation and more making the apartment habitable. (There are STILL things to clean. Because it is old, and the last tenants not particularly thorough. Also, I am possibly picky.)

BUT. I received a letter in the mail from my favorite cousin, making clear the standard 'you should visit sometime' was actually, 'no, seriously, anytime!' So maybe I should go to North Carolina? Airfare is high-ish and the drive is long.

View poll: Carolina dreaming

Also, I need to pick out a book to make my '100 Club' handsell. Because district manager says I am good at handselling, so why am I not in the 100 club already? Ifreet should Get On That. Only, I am good at handselling books related to the books someone already likes. I have a harder time coming up with "everyone should read this!" titles.

My goodreads account is here and these are some of my particular favorites. But several of them are not currently in print in this country (including my first choice to handsell! *shakes fist at Fred Vargas's U.S. publisher*) and most of them are genre, which can be a hard sale to a nongenre reader. I am leaning towards Among Others by Jo Walton or possibly The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. Or maybe Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie? Argh.

Suggestions? Or just things I need to read?

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works not in progress, continued

ifreet — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 21:34:35 GMT

Untitled ficlet
Fandom: Star Trek (2009)
Characters: Kirk, McCoy
Notes: A salvageable piece from an example of why I don't do plot.

"This isn't going to work," said McCoy.

"Of course it is," Jim replied, as he always did, because Bones always thought something would go wrong. Then he slouched back in his chair, letting his hands drop from table to lap. "Yeah, you're right."

Bones gave an interrogative hum.

"It won't work. Unless I can convince a teleporter to accidentally produce a second me."

Bones turned away from the datapad to give him a sharp look. "One, you're the one who promised me that was in no way possible, that teleporters were, and I quote, 'safer than crosswalks.' And two, no. One of you is plenty."

"I suppose housing and upkeep would be an issue."

"Yeah, that's the concern," McCoy muttered.

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fic that is perhaps not done, but I am done with it

ifreet — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 21:30:04 GMT

Or as the kids call it, amnesty day.

Title: Hide and Seek
Fandom: Inception
Pairing/Characters: pre-Eames/Arthur
Warnings: none
Notes: I'd call this done-done, but my first readers seemed to want me to actually attain Eames/Arthur by extending the story. Months later, I declare that that's not going to happen. Originally for cottoncandy_bingo, for the square "Characters as children."

Eames could have (and had done, in point of fact) told his fellow dreamers that it wasn't the people who were dangerous on the surface that you had to watch out for, rather, it was the people with imagination. Not a characteristic that gun runners or corporate raiders were exactly known for as a group. Ambition and anger issues, yes. Imagination, no.

Ariadne went tearing past him, shrieking. He paused in lighting his cigarette to assess the situation. She was decidedly loud, but apparently happy as she barreled straight into Cobb, knocking him into his sandstructure. (Eames had called the previous version a sandcastle. That had not gone over well with mini-Cobb.) Eames winced and waited for the screaming, but even at age five, Ariadne had unprecedented Cobb-wrangling powers and pulled him straight into her game of chase, Yusuf hard on their heels.

He flicked the lighter, dragged on the cigarette until it caught, and released the first cloud of smoke on a sigh. He knew a dream cigarette contained no nicotine, but the soothing psychological effect was not to be discounted.

He also could have told Cobb that getting involved with a man who could make a murder investigation 'go away' with a single phone call was not and would never be a one time job. And yet, Arthur had told him that Cobb had seemed surprised to be called back into the field.

Arthur had been matter of fact about it, but his eyes had been laughing. An optimistic man would have taken that as an invitation to share the joke; however, Eames considered himself a pragmatist and thus was never quite sure whether he fell on the inside or the outside of Arthur's jokes, particularly if the joke was on Cobb.

Honestly, though, Eames hadn't put up any argument. He wasn't under Saito's thumb the way Cobb was -- and he owed Cobb exactly nothing after the stunts he pulled around the Fischer job -- but he had no real objection to working with Arthur again. And Arthur evidentally still followed where Cobb led.

Actually. He stilled and looked around the playground. Yusuf, Ariadne, and Cobb were easy to spot, tearing around shrieking as they were. Saito was explaining up at Miss Sumisu, the subject of the dream, that he could get her fired if she didn't let him go play on the swings right now. She didn't seem at all impressed which actually boded rather well. But Eames didn't see Arthur. He frowned. The schoolyard was a small dreamscape, well bounded and looped back in on itself at the gates.

He'd started to step away from the cinderblock wall, when something small but with some speed behind it thwacked his shoulder. He turned. Ah. There he was. "Did you just kick me?"

"Maybe." Arthur smiled from his perch on top of the wall, the very limit of the dream. "Where're you going?"

"I was just looking for you."

Arthur gave him a rather skeptical look. For a kindergartener. "I'm right here," he pointed out in an unimpressed voice that was certainly familiar, albeit in a different pitch than usual. Then he thrust his hands out and down towards Eames. "I want down."

"How did you get up in the first place?" Eames muttered around his cigarette, but reached up and lifted Arthur to the ground. Arthur shrugged once his feet hit the pavement. Contrary to every expectation Eames had, Arthur didn't immediately wander off. "Aren't you going to go play with Cobb-- er, Dom?"

Arthur peered at the trio who were now scaling a metal structure at the other end of the yard. He shook his head and stepped closer to Eames, wrapping his small hand around a couple fingers. "Want to go treasure hunting?"

Not an inaccurate description of their work, Eames supposed, though it was an interesting intuitive leap, given that the others seemed to have forgotten their purpose with the unplanned change in ages. But there was no real reason Eames couldn't poke about on his own until the timer ran down, and if he were sufficiently persuasive about how thoroughly he'd dug for Sumisu's probably non-existent dark secrets, perhaps they could skip a second trip. He doubted Sumisu had anything more interesting going on underneath; Saito's niece's sweet, imaginative teacher seemed to be sweet and (far too) imaginative all the way down.

Apparently, he'd spent too long considering the proposal. Arthur made another (hilariously adorable) unimpressed face and tugged at his hand. "Come on, Mr. Eames. I've found all the best hiding places!"

Eames stubbed out the cigarette and allowed himself to be pulled.

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the traditional not dead post. also, a comic book release party

ifreet — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:13:12 GMT

Hello, dreamwidth and livejournal! Despite having come down with plague (or the common cold) again, I yet live!

Last week, my local comic book shop decided to throw a release party for Superman... Unchained #1. Yeah. That's right - it was not a movie release party, it was a first issue release party (at which someone would win tickets to the movie). Superman is the owner's hands-down favorite character, and when I picked up the previous week's pulls, one of the guys specifically asked if I'd be coming to the event. So I roped akarui_rynka into staying out way too late on a Tuesday night with me to buy a comic at midnight that neither of us had any particular interest in. Me, because I'm a Marvel girl. She, because she doesn't follow Superman - other Supers, yes; Superman, no. But come on, midnight release at the comic shop - we had to check it out.

The owner brought in a DJ. (About song five, akarui_rynka asked whether it was sad that she knew all the words to all the songs, to which I responded, no, it just means the DJ is clearly our age.) He'd also set up a table of cookies and chips and Superman paper plates. It was adorable. There were a number of raffles throughout the evening, which usually went to someone who'd left. I failed to find anything I NEEDED to buy*... but I went ahead and picked up a Powergirl trade and a copy of Superman Unchained. The Unchained because it was, theoretically, the reason we were there, so the purchase secured us an extra discount on any other items. The Powergirl trade because if we bought a DC trade, we could get a free sketch. Apparently, an artist with credits from the big two to his name lives locally which weirds me out because - well. We're not exactly urban, and I still associate comic creators with urban centers, if not NYC itself. So I now have a cute (ok, scowly) Hawkeye sketch, and akarui_rynka is the proud owner of a Robin. I could not believe how quickly he sketched them, while keeping the characters distinctively themselves.

* They do have a bundle of The Authority 0-12 in the discount bins, and I'm sure people have talked about that series around me - does someone want to tell me if I should head back and buy it?

In other news, I am reading all the Avengers fanfiction and wallowing in some WiPs that I can't honestly recommend, except apparently they are hitting on my bulletproof tropes pretty damn hard. Emotional h/c that is at least in part self-inflicted/exacerbated by the hurt character's inability/unwillingness to articulate that the problem even exists? Yes, please.

I am betaing a due South fic for someone who doesn't know me by this pseud. But I am all for more due South fic existing, so, sure I will beta for you, person I met in RL first.

And I'm maybe possibly writing sometimes. A little. So far, it's mostly short scenes rather than actual fic with storylines. But maybe I will have something worth posting eventually. *shrug* Maybe I should just post the not-exactly fics.

So! How are things?

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con rapport

ifreet — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:47:14 GMT

Seriously, at some point I need to fix my icons. "Whee" it is!

Hi, all! Hi, new people! I went to a convention, had fun, and returned straight to work. Which naturally means I came down sick the following week with the cough that struck half the convention. I have done a lot of sleeping. Yesterday, I celebrated an entire day of wakefulness by watching The Unusuals. All 10 episodes. (I had seen some of them before, but my memories were foggy at best. Also, at the time they aired I had no reason to be squeeful over one of the leads' other roles.)

So! I had fun! I was just as bad with names as I always am, even with nametags (I kept thinkin, ifreet, look at this name and remember it! and ...nope). I caught up with a few people I know, and spent less time than I'd have liked with other friends (*waves*), and met new and interesting people.

I sort of wrote a con report in a notebook on the plane, but it's boring? So these are the off-the top of my head (and using the Panel Schedule) highlights. I had airport adventures (Logan is WEIRD) and met up with people I knew early on which was good for my generalized anxiety about this whole convention (I have not felt as much like a imposter going to a con since MJ the first - and once again, people were awesome and I shouldn't have been worried).

I did the prereg thing and felt not quite as awkward as I could have. Mixing: never really my thing. (I often have trouble following conversations in that kind of situation. It's a trait my sister shares and doesn't seem to actually be about our ability to hear.)

Friday, I went to slash pictionary (way towards the end), Avenge ALL the Things!, When >2 is <3 - Poly/threesomes/moresomes in fic, Drlense Rants about British History, and I am obsessed with knotting :(. The Avengers panel was just hearts. So much love for the canon, the fandom, and the wide-ranging conversation (and serious praise to the mods for running a good conversation in a room that full). The Poly panel was brilliant, especially the way people brought up the value of seeing reflections of real poly relationships turning up in fic. (Also, for the new verb "partsing," to distinguish sexy times from sex-and-emotions times. Best.) Drlense's rant was as informative and hilarious as promised by the panel description. And I am still hoping for follow-up recs from the knotting panel (where I voiced my growing dislike for Omegaverse stories and accidentally set myself as a wolf/zoological expert. Look, I just want AUs that are internally consistent, and a lot of ABO/Omegaverse just ISN'T, and can't I have my prurient interest in improbable sex fulfilled without EXTRA gender/sexuality issues?).

Also, I grabbed lunch with jadelennox and ... argh, someone else? who I didn't already know but who was interesting? I will have to find you on the attendee list!... and it was both delicious and fun. (PS - Watson and Holmes.)

The vid show was delightful - there was something really great about the energy at this vidshow in particular, the way it was clearly joyful and leading up to dancing. Also, the way it tricked me into needing to see some of the source shows/movies.

The dance party was great. I love dancing. I pretty much did not leave the dance floor once the dancing started. And once it ended, I ended up staying up way later than intended with burnshdvictory.

Saturday, I was given an impromptu "how to tumblr" over coffee and pastries, and therefore was able to attend COME HERE, WATSON, I NEED YOU as the first panel of the day. Followed by The Good/Entertaining Venn Diagram of WTF Why Do I Like This?!, Simply Marvel-lous!, Fandom Osmosis: All the stuff you know about fandoms you aren't even in, and finally For Reasons That DO Need Exploring At This Juncture: (Nearly) 20 Years of due South. I broke out the Iron Man dress for the Marvel panel - and just the Marvel panel. It turns out I know more about buying comics than I would have thought I do, and I am very grateful for a local store that is girl-and-woman friendly and has been for years. Also, my thanks to Fandom Osmosis - due to clarifications on the actual!canon, I am still not getting into Teen Wolf.

I won one of the charity raffles and am now the proud owner of much sparkly nailpolish from visionshadows - extra awesome, because I'm pretty sure my first meeting with her this convention was 'ohmygod, hi, it's been forever, let me see your nails' because she is always posting cool paint jobs.

There was a coffee quest with etcetera_cat, which she used to talk up some non superhero comics and I waxed rhapsodic about the kid!Loki arc of Journey into Mystery, and a large lunch group of awesome people that totally latched on to the awesome person already in the restaurant. (Hello!) There was a massive dinner group of almost entirely different awesome people. And I watched some hockey and The Losers.

And now, since I started this right before I have to work, I guess that's as much as I'm writing!

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Things I meant to do before MJ, number x in a list

ifreet — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:53:53 GMT

So, I almost posted about a month ago, and I saved a draft and... yeah, so I just changed the access level to flock from private. Oops? Failing at social media - I make it an art!

Hi, everyone! I'm not dead! I'm working tonight and going to the airport in the ugh-morning, and I shall be in Boston by tomorrow afternoon. BUT I will be staying at a hostel tomorrow night, not the main hotel because without a roommate that extra night felt expensive. So if anyone else is around during the day, let me know Comment, email the djinnjer address, or tweet @injiver. Or if you have a cell number, text/call me maybe. I don't know when I last gave out my number to fannish people, it may have been before I changed numbers. I am excited to see some of you soon!

And if I'm not going to be seeing you soon, enjoy equinox anyway!

Ok, eep, off to pack. What do I need? What do I want? What bizarro hoops will I have to be prepared for at security?

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More Joy Day

ifreet — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:16:12 GMT

Hi, Happy More Joy Day! (Or day after more joy day, depending on where you are in relation to my timezone).

So! I have spread a little offline joy today, I hope. And now I turn to you, my further-flung friends, bearing a box full of odd, old postcards. If you would like something beautiful, mysterious, or simply inexplicable to turn up in your mailbox, then hit me with an address in comments (screened), through LJ or DW's message system, or in my email if you have it (or want to obtain it from the locked entry linked from my profile page).

(Just in case, let me know if you'd rather the postcard not reference fannish names/things - or if fannish things are okay, provided they then be hidden within an envelope.)

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help me help myself

ifreet — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:15:12 GMT

It is Sunday, and I have the day off! Yesterday, I also had the day off and DID NOTHING due to fall weather - until a friend's birthday party anyway. Then I dolled up and went out and actually had a fairly awesome time despite talking to (mostly) strangers! My friends are awesome and know interesting people.

But this means I have fifteen billion things I should do/have done by tomorrow, and only until five to do them (due to plans to go see a Derby movie/fundraiser for the local Roller Derby team).

View poll: Help choose my 'adventure' (again)

eta: Man, I did not even remember to include "Bake cupcakes" option. I am the worst at polls.

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good, I am still capable of writing

ifreet — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:56:59 GMT

Yes, that has been in question. Again.

Title: Here's the story
Fandom: Avengers (2012)
Pairing: Steve/Tony
Notes: no warnings, but contains spoilers for the movie (which I then proceed to handwave, but still. Spoilers). For sisterofdream, because she is older than she was a year ago and somehow more awesome as well. And for cottoncandy_bingo, my parenthood square.

The kitchen on Coulson's floor -- and yes, there were several concepts in that phrase that Clint was still adjusting to -- had no fewer than two coffee pots, at least one of which was guaranteed to be filled with coffee at any given time. Which meant, of course, that people were always coming and going. (Tony had been weirded out by that - Tony acted weirded out by half of everything Coulson did, actually, but particularly by Coulson not only allowing anyone with clearance to any of the Avenger levels access to his floor, but actively encouraging it. Coulson had made a motion that would have been a shrug if he'd had better range of motion, and pointed out that he'd hardly be bringing anything into the tower that he expected to keep confidential given the occupants, so why not?)

When Steve wandered in, Coulson was eating a medical-approved, and therefore disgusting-looking breakfast while reading a paper, and Clint was sitting on the narrow back of a nearby chair, bugging him for the crossword. Honestly, it wasn't the most comfortable seat in the room -- he was sitting there because he could, and because it was annoying Coulson, and because Coulson wasn't saying a damn word about it, so he was going to keep doing it until things were normal. Steve filled up a mug, sweetened it way more than coffee that good deserved, and took a sip. His eyes closed, briefly. There followed a deep breath, almost a sigh, before he asked, "JARVIS, where's Tony?"

"Mr. Stark is rather fond of the library."

"The library," Steve repeated. He sounded understandably dubious.

"Yes, sir."

Clint frowned -- and grabbed the triangle of toast Coulson winged at him, giving him a sharp look. Steve caught the motion, and Clint bit into the toast, raising his eyebrows over it like yes, sometimes, Agent Coulson throws toast, nothing to see here. Steve just shook his head. "Thanks for the coffee, Phil."

"Anytime," Coulson replied, turning the page. Clint hid a tiny smile behind another bite.

Steve headed back to the stairs and presumably the library that Tony was perhaps fond of, but definitely not in. Clint poked at Coulson with his foot. Unsurprisingly, the poke failed to connect. "Look at you, so cool about being on a first name basis with Captain America."

"Shut up," he replied, utterly failing to keep a straight face.

"It's almost as weird as you letting Stark's computer lie to Captain America. I didn't know JARVIS could lie." And I don't like it went unsaid.

Coulson folded the paper back up and turned to face him. "JARVIS can omit information and does regularly. And one assumes he picked up misdirection from his programmer."

"And you don't think that's a problem?"

He made that abortive, wanted-to-shrug motion. Clint made a note to break into Coulson's PT records, see if that pull through the shoulder was something he could help Coulson work through, or if it was always going to be something to work around. "Stark omits more and redirects better. I'm aware, and I never rely on a single, unverified source for information."

Clint poked at him harder, because that was just uncalled for. Coulson neither avoided nor blocked it this time, so he knew it, too.

"JARVIS has essentially been Stark's main support system for years, allowed access when even Ms. Potts was being kept in the dark about certain subjects. Now, Stark has people around who aren't part of Stark Industries or its customers; people beyond Pepper whom he spends time with because he wants to, not just because he has to, and Steve is a central part of that. JARVIS is testing his limits. I expect he did the same with Ms. Potts and Dr. Banner at some point. Blending families can be hard on the kids."

"... Did you just compare the computer that runs the building we live in to a sulky teen?"

"Yes."

"The computer that can hear us," Clint clarified.

"Yes. Either he'll act up and prove me right in the process, or he will take the high road and ignore this entire conversation. Regardless, it's only a matter of time before Stark realizes that his own A.I. is effectively cock-blocking him." Clint choked, and Coulson's straight face failed again. He covered -- or tried to, though even with his face turned away, Clint could see the laugh lines showing at the corner of his eye -- by gathering up utensils and plate, and he'd pushed away from the table, before adding, "I expect the fall-out will be spectacular. Unless, of course, JARVIS and Steve were to come to some sort of understanding before Stark finds out."

There followed a rather expectant pause.

"I will take that under advisement, sir."

Clint snorted and hopped down from the chair. "Good idea; he's usually right."

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floored!

ifreet — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:00:41 GMT

I have been minimally online (read: I have checked email/updated facebook on my phone) while attending a one-year vow renewal on a beach for a college friend and her husband, with college friends. And I am still not-really-here, because I am still on vacation even if I have left the beach, so I should be out doing things! But I needed to hop online from a scenic starbucks* to share something awesome.

Something awesome enough that I'm glad I was sitting down when I received the email notification, because there was honestly physical flailing.

ponderosa drew fanart of my Ford/Sterling Leverage story "Man with a Plan." If you haven't seen her art before, her work is amazing - and in this particular case, near/at the NSFW end of the scale. (Given the content of the story, that really shouldn't be a surprise, but just in case.) This particular piece is gorgeous. The technical aspects - the color, the light - are amazing. The expressions on the characters' faces are complex and perfect - I love that Ford's eyes are closed or lowered enough that their eyes don't meet, that Sterling looks a little stunned.

Anyway, since this is a fandom of, like, three (possibly four now?), if you've read the story and/or find the pairing interesting, please go take a look and leave her feedback!

*Starbucks! I am disappointed in my inability to find a more interesting local spot. ETA: My local guide has instructed me to abandon this town for another, where I will have better luck.

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when we last saw our heroine

ifreet — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 05:47:57 GMT

I am on the upward swing of a monstrous summer cold. It struck just in time to bench me from the Derby fundraiser, but akarui_rynka volunteered to drive to the Marian Call concert, thank goodness, because I was going to that no matter what, and that drive home would have been a mistake if I'd been attempting it myself. But I was not! And the concert was SO FUN.

First of all, the location was ADORABLE. I wish I lived in that neighborhood, because I would go to that bar all the time -- and I am not a bar person. Also, it was a neat neighborhood. The bar are all sorts of cool details, like wooden pinball boards repurposed into light fixtures over the booths, and old chemistry sets used as art behind the bar in 'the lab,' the area where Marian Call was to perform. The space was interestingly subdivided, and the food good (we ate dinner before the show), and the drafts were both craft and cheap.

When we wandered back into the performance space, Rynka and I paused to try to figure out where to sit. We were leaned up against a wall, considering the options and admiring the space, when Marian herself walked up, thanked us for coming, and pointed out available seats - telling us we could sit by those guys, who were friendly, or up front in those chairs, which were comfy. Since that answered our question of whether the front table was open because it was reserved, we thanked her and nabbed the table front and center. (Once she seemed out of earshot, Rynka had to ask, "So wait, do you know her?" Which, no, I had not previously met her. Apparently she is friendly and welcoming!)

<

I did say front and center. The typewriter is named Madeleine, for Madeleine L'Engle.

Further endearing herself to me, she opened her concert with "Love and Harmony."

For anyone disinclined to play the stream of that song, it is a song about karaoke, large portions of which she renders in true karaoke style. There's something awesome (and brave) about opening a performance with a song that is intentionally sung badly. Afterward, she claimed that she wrote it because it was a song that didn't exist, but needed to. I definitely needed to buy a copy when I got home, so maybe it did need to exist?

She was utterly charming throughout the performance. Although she did hold off on her fannish songs until the second half of the concert, she didn't appear to have a set list, apparently deciding which song to do next as the moment took her (her guitarist, whose name I knew until I started typing this, had a music stand and a giant book of music and would just nod and page to whatever song she hinted at). Her stories, asides and explanations were interesting - sometimes illuminating about a song's origins, very often funny. "Dear Mister Darcy" tells what happens "when a really sweet, shy, nerdy boy and girl like each other very very much -- which is absolutely nothing." Also, if anyone didn't know who Mister Darcy was, they were instructed to ask some girls.

Apparently, her most requested song, "It's Good to Have Jayne on Your Side," was originally written by another Alaskan songwriter about a guy named Shane, and "every word is true." Honestly, I think that makes it even better.

She encouraged audience participation -- joining in on do-do-do-doos and whistling of "Good Morning Moon" (which included her laughing at the muppet head nodding that naturally happens while singing those sounds [which in turn led to her singing in an impressive Beeker voice] and the faces the audience makes while attempting to whistle), echoing back lines for "Avocado Baby," making chomp-chomp gestures for "Shark Week" (tossed into the mix when a little kid walking by the windows was waved inside along with his parents), and lofting beers for "It's Good to Have Jayne on Your Side." The best might have been when she kept encouraging us to let out more aggression in singing "We're Out For Blood (Zombie Cheerleaders)," because she'd joked about appalling passersby -- and then there really was a double take from people walking on the sidewalk.

Seriously, there were so many great moments. I wish I'd felt better; I'm glad I went anyway. I had such a great time - and getting FB messages from Rynka about her favorite songs from the new album in the days following the concert made me grin so hard. And I'm excited that Marian Call is passing back through my area in a couple weeks. Hopefully, I will be off work and over the last of this cold. If you get a chance to see her, go!

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c'est ne pas un post

ifreet — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:58:22 GMT

It's a braindump.

MARIAN CALL. COMING TO [CITY]. I AM TOO EXCITED. But I will attempt to stop capslocking now, for the sake of those whose eyes/readers it bothers. Still! Marian Call! One single Midwest concert, and it is somewhere I can reasonably get to. Within 24 hours of finding out about it, I managed to cash in some social capital at work and swap shifts to go. I am going to see Marian Call, y'all!

Here, read her recent(ish) Facebook entry, listen to the song, and get excited for me:

This song is a response to someone who asked me, "What's the point of fiction? What's the point of art? They're optional." I bristled. And I wrote this sort of slam poetry/jazz/funk response.

Also, this song is about Lieutenant Kara Thrace. Heck yeah.

http://mariancall.bandcamp.com/track/got-to-fly</site-embed>
Edit: The embed has defeated me. Follow the above link, I promise you won't be disappointed.

In other music news, thank you, Avengers fandom, I had not even heard of Dessa two months ago, and now I am completely in love with her (and hell, she's from near Dad's extended, I may push for family reunions if they can be timed to coincide with performances).

This song hit me in an unexpected weak spot -- which was a problem since I was driving when I listened to it the first time -- but it's gorgeous. (The chorus is just -- that's how my family is, that's what/how we offer to help, and it's a situation my sister was in and didn't say anything about at the time and I still feel helpless and guilty even ten years down the line for not knowing it. We're close now, but we weren't then.) So I guess, warnings for strongly implied domestic violence and animal harm -- there's a beta fish out of water.

Also, she can pull off the torch singer look, which is patently unfair. (And another warning for domestic violence -- this time the visuals are much more starkly obvious, for all that the video is surreal.)

The Delaware wedding is coming up, and I still haven't set up my hotel because oh my god hotels are ridiculously expensive at destination beaches. Ugh. I wish there were a hostel near there. I may actually do the Priceline blind bid thing -- has anyone had luck with that? Techniques or recommendations?

I've been trying to convince myself that I'll find a dress locally, but I really want something structured/slightly retro like many of the ones on Mod Cloth, and apparently, local stores are not into structure at the moment.

Next weekend, before the Marian Call concert, I have two days off back-to-back. I'm attempting to swing a trip down to [capital] to see sis, but she's doing science or something, so that may not happen. What WILL happen though is a fundraiser Saturday night (after I get back, if the visit happens) for the area's new Roller Derby team! One of my friends is training as a ref with them -- it all seems terribly exciting. (But I am a physical coward, and also, I don't want to buy sport goggles, I don't care if they have gotten moderately better looking/fitting since I was in middle school.)

Speaking of physical cowardice, I had to scan the overstock on top of the shelving units in back yesterday for clearance. Which means standing on the twelve foot ladder for sustained periods and awkward twisting and lifting, with dad's quote about vertigo being the fear of jumping running through my head. (This from a guy who used to jump out of perfectly good airplanes, but I think he was onto something. I mean, I don't really think I was likely to fall, but try telling my heartrate that nothing was going on.)

Speaking of the opposite, I am still in love with the gym. And while the whole personal training thing was expensive enough that I'm not going to reinvest unless/until there's another really good deal on small packages, it made a big difference. I can do push-ups! Ok, knee push-ups, but several of them back to back with good form, and that is NEW and exciting to me. Even when I was fencing, I couldn't do push-ups. And my foot isn't bothering me anymore, so I'm back to running 2 ten minute intervals per treadmill session, though I missed the closest zombie run. Maybe run for your life will become an annual event?

There's just something awesome about asking my body to do something and accomplishing it. I went through adolescence thinking I was out of shape and put in a school year of five-times-a-week fencing practice before deciding "out of shape" didn't explain it -- only to discover I'd been dealing with undiagnosed (mild!) exercise-induced asthma. Asthma that seems to have gone away over the past ten years. (I didn't know you could grow out of that? But apparently, I did.)

And now, I ask my body to do things, and it responds. And sometimes I get breathless -- but I don't get that squeezed-lung feeling, and sometimes my muscles tell me that I cannot possibly lift/pull/shove that much weight twelve times, I am being ridiculous by asking -- but I can almost do the full set, and it feels like a miracle. And yeah, I still have the stupid not-a-tumor, and it's still causing me mood problems and writer's block and lethargy, but this much of me I can control.

I should probably f-lock this because of the family stuff? But I don't feel like it right now. Could be a disappearing-reappearing entry.

And now, back to failing at writing fanfic.

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Fans of White Collar, Hustle, and Leverage (and she's still not around!)

ifreet — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:17:25 GMT

I have been reliably informed that I have not been around. Sorry, sorry, I am distracted lately! On top of changes-at-work-stress, it is time for the endocrinologist and the usual attendant bout of sulks. I have seen Avengers twice, though?

But I come bearing bribes! I have picked up multiple copies of The Big Con which I already own, as does my sister the would-be Mrs. Caffery. The Big Con is a guide to confidence games written in the Forties, the kind still run by Neal Caffery, Nathan Ford and Mickey Bricks. Mozzie sleeps with it under his pillow, and Albie was probably interviewed during the writing of it -- and no, the timeline doesn't work for that at all, but it makes a good story which is what he'd care about. Basically, this book should be in wider circulation in Hustle, Leverage, and White Collar fandoms (not to mention Supernatural and Burn Notice and does White Cat/Red Gloves/Black Heart have a fandom? Because the series should and the author is the person who turned me onto this book). I want other people to squeal "Dog in a Bar? Dog in a Bar!" at the TV the moment they see the set up. So here's the deal -- the first three people to comment with an interest, I will mail you a copy. In exchange, promise me a con-artist-inspired fanwork sometime after you've received the book. Fic, art, meta, rec list, whatever it is you do -- and while I'd love to see something inspired by the book, that's not actually a requirement. Con artist(s) plus your creativity, go.

Yes, I will happily ship internationally, though depending on what the Post is asking to get a book to you, I may ship international requests via slow-pokey media mail. Please don't put your address in comments, just stake your claim, and we'll email/PM details. And if somehow there's enough interest that three people claim on each journal site, I'll pick up more copies. (I feel STRONGLY about this book, you guys, and it is currently inexpensive. \employee appreciation/) Any other questions? Concerns? Hit me!

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good-bye, hello

ifreet — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:54:03 GMT

I am going to see Avengers tonight after work (and tomorrow evening with other friends). I am excited! But on the other hand, I almost wish the opening were still further into the future, because I love the trailer-based fandom. For another twelve hours, all things are equally possible. Everyone gets a puppy! Loki is just misunderstood! Steve and Tony will resolve their differences with sex! Thor is everyone's favorite! Banner hulks out when people insult his science!

So before everything goes AU...

Know Your Meme by MorteLise. I DO WHAT I WANT, THOR. No pairings.

Bro-hood and Other Drugs by Lunik. Natasha wakes up having sworn blood brotherhood with Loki while drunk. They are surprisingly the best brothers ever. No pairings.

Ready, Fire, Aim by gyzym In which Tony and Steve do not get along until they do, Thor is Tony's favorite, and Tony's issues are myriad. Steve/Tony

"What was he like?" Steve's still looking down at the photo, but his voice carries. "I mean…later. After I knew him. As a…well, as a father, I guess."

Tony stands very, very still, swallows against the sudden constriction is his throat. It shouldn't sideswipe him, that question; he's answered it in interviews enough times, has practiced his smooth delivery in the mirror, never stumbles over it in public. Steve looks up at him, though, eyes still wet despite his efforts, piercing blue even at this distance, and honesty wells up in Tony like a floodgate is breaking.

"Disappointed," he says finally, and runs.

Tomorrow Belongs to Me by valtyr From their first meeting, Steve impresses the Asgardians and charms/amuses Natasha; Clint and Tony are slower to warm up.

Rhodey opened his eyes, and spoke in weary tones.

"Do you know how much paperwork a night out in Vegas with a Norse God generates?"

"No?"

"If you did, you might think twice before doing it."

"There were no problems." Tony waved a hand dismissively. Rhodey bit down on the end of his pen and closed his eyes briefly.

"Was it really necessary to get him married?"

"It was very touching; I was a flower girl. I had a wreath and everything."

Some Things Shouldn't Be a Chore by scifigrl47 Avengers family meetings, a chore wheel (ok, fine, a chore list), a sentient toaster, and an army of Roombas. Tony's issues: still legion.

“Thank you,” he said to Dummy. “See, Tony, Dummy knows that we need to take pride in our living quarters.”

“Dummy was created by a seventeen year old on half a hours sleep, about six gallons of rum and a cup of coffee filled with various biological contaminants because I kept forgetting it was moldy and drinking from it anyway,” Tony pointed out. “No wonder he's a little special.” Dummy chirped and whirred at him and missed the edge of the counter and nearly tipped himself over. “Yeah, Dummy, it's fine, I'm pretty spatially challenged myself, wanna meet the new toaster?” He picked up the objecting toaster and set it down on the edge of the workbench. “Say hi.”

Semaphore by DevilDoll. Tony isn't actually trying to buy anyone's friendship, Steve's neighbor is awesome, and Thor unsurprisingly loves Chumbawumba. Tony/Pepper, Tony/Steve

Halo by paxlux Tony thinks, Shit, I’m vulnerable. Tony/Loki (I love this pairing. I especially love the lyricism of the opening of this piece.)

The timeline starts in a fall of glass. The world slows when Loki appears in front of him, teeth bared, and all Tony can think is, Shit, I’m vulnerable, because he isn’t in his suit, just a shirt and jeans and then Loki’s hands are on him, bruises for tomorrow, he thinks as the world speeds up like whiplash and there’s a staggering loss of gravity, the pain of a window smashing against his spine and Loki laughs as Tony stares up at the suddenly blue sky, shit, I’m vulnerable.

Definite bruises for tomorrow because Tony doesn’t hit the ground, scooped roughly out of the air by Cap in the transport like some sort of awful militarized fairy tale, and how is this his life.

The Courting of Tony Stark by boombangbing. PEPPER. Backstory of awesome! (That makes Tony seem like he could almost maybe deserve her if he works really hard at it. Seriously, I always think she could do soooo much better.) Tony/Pepper, the related stories are Tony/Pepper/Steve

Hope is Not a Course of Action by thatdamneddame About characters that I barely even know, as a movie!verse fan. Past Natasha/Clint, Clint/Coulson

Clint loved Natasha like he loved a lot of stupid ideas. She was hard and fast and dangerous and looked at Clint like he was a weapon not a carnie. She had hair the color of blood and only smiled when she didn’t mean it and lived like a house on fire and Clint felt alive just being in her orbit. Natasha taught him how to knife fight, how to find a man’s weaknesses, how to swear in Russian, French, Italian. She taught him that who you were and how the world saw you were two different things. That it was better that way.

The Only John Wayne Left in This Town by gyzym In which Clint becomes an Internet Sensation. Clint/Darcy.

"If you're getting laid, Nat, you don't have to rub it in my face."

"I'm not getting laid," Natasha says, but the smugness has ramped up a few notches. "I'm…laying some groundwork, is all."

"Well, you do that. I'm going to resist the urge to seduce college students, Jesus, I feel creepy just saying that out loud."

"She's flirting back," Natasha points out. "And she's only a few years younger, and Barton, honestly, the fact that you think you're in charge--of, like, anything--is really kind of sad."

"I regret letting your filthy, obnoxious fingers anywhere near my guitar," Clint tells her, and Natasha snorts.

"Right, dating a college student would be creepy, but your relationship with your instruments? Totally not creepy. Obviously. My bad."

"Ugh, go harass someone else," Clint mutters, and Natasha's still laughing at him when he hangs up on her.

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i miss your face

ifreet — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:35:20 GMT

So there was a concert, and it was a good time with a good friend. I knew more songs than I thought -- I knew that I'd know the one from this vid -- which the singer introduced by announcing the next song would be a couple skate -- plus one other. I'd actually heard a few more on the radio and just not made the connection back to the same band.

And then this past friday, I made plans to drive up to the Japanese marketplace, since this was the friday I'd incorrectly finagled off. And after I dragged myself up there, I saw signs for an anime convention for that very weekend -- the one I'd stopped going to due to the EIGHT HOUR LINE. And I thought to myself, "Self, you are maybe ten minutes away. Perhaps the line is not that bad this year?" And lo, the line was in fact short.

Can I just say, I've missed fans in real life? Even though I am not in anime fandom by any stretch anymore, being surrounded by people embracing and expressing their fannish sides was absolutely joyous. (Also, I found the only Iron Man shirt in the entire con. Also also, I've become the kind of person who will spend $30 on a shirt that she doesn't like the fit of, because "I can fix that.")

Music comment ficlets! I'm too lazy to repost today, but here are links in case you missed one that might be of interest to you because it was posted on the wrong journaling site:

Everybody's Changing due South, FKV, possibly a prequel to the Bottle it Up series.

From a Million Miles Inception, Arthur/Eames

My Mistakes White Collar, Neal/Clinton

Ojos Asi White Collar (Inception universe AU), Peter/El/Neal

Uknowhatiwant Avengers, Steve/Tony -- ok, so none of the other fics even need a teen warning, and this one is PWP. Congrats/I'm sorry, sis?

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place your bets

ifreet — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:06:18 GMT

My workplace is playing the short Avengers advert due to an Avengers tie-in promotion. Anytime I am in the right part of the store when it airs, I become hypnotized. My starry eyes are already a cause for laughter/teasing. WHATEVER. I want this movie now!

In segues are unimportant news, I am going to a concert Friday evening! I never go to concerts. I really should fix that. And I have company for the concert now which I did not have when I bought my ticket. So that will be even more fun. The concert is my consolation for misremembering the weekend of a convention -- I ended up working through it, because I asked for the wrong Friday off. /o\ Still: live music!

Insert segue. I have a couple outstanding fics and outstanding prompts, including two series of stories that are semi-WiPs and need some amount of continuation/wrapping up, and a couple hey-why-hasn't-anyone-written story ideas in the back of my mind. Unfortunately, I also seem to have the creative attention span of a gnat while my meds are kicking back in. Clearly, this means I should start more things! Only small things, that I can finish.

I'm off tomorrow, and I'm going to try writing. So I'm going to use the music shuffle meme to get going. Hit me with a character or pairing tonight, I'll hit shuffle tomorrow, and approximately 3 to 5 minutes later I will post you a comment ficlet. Leave more than one, if you like, though I may save up extras for the next time I need a writing warm-up. And yes, even lurkers are encouraged to leave prompts - there's a reason this post is open!

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I am a typo today!

ifreet — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:51:19 GMT

Today's local paper is confusing. There's a picture of kids attending a local Purim event on the front page, which, wrong holiday? Ah, okay, upon further investigation, the article and photo are part of a series of articles on Judaism in the region. It's still a bit weird to feature a photo from Purim on Passover.

I dropped something (a large, metal shelf) on my foot a couple weeks back. It still hurts, and now I think I have a bone bruise. Odds of participating in the zombie run have therefore decreased significantly. Woe.

We had a theme week at work. I dressed like a pirate on Wednesday and like elementary school me, complete with a side ponytail, on Thursday (theme: retro). The customer double-takes on the sales floor were fantastic. Today is a carry-in, and I was going to bring baked goods, but I don't wanna bake. Hmph.

Questions about books:
Why are Nicholas Sparks' books in Fiction instead of Romance?
Has anyone read Fifty Shades of Grey, and if so, is it worth reading?
Since I liked Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I should read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, yes/no?
I am caught between two hand-sell titles - The Secrets of Jin-Shei (which I have previously established I can sell the heck out of) and Ex Libris. Do I pick one, or go for the "100 club" on two titles simultaneously?

In conclusion, decisions are hard today.

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