semper eadem

2017 GALENTINE'S DAY LOVE MEME

2017-02-10T00:37:34Z

So, the world has gone to shit: America is quickly heading toward a fascist dictatorship, Australia is a fresh hellscape of heat and brimstone probably, and I poked myself with a cactus earlier today.

But in spite of all of this, there have been some remarkable things happening, and I would be remiss if I didn't make sure that we all celebrate each other properly.

For another year (26 and counting!), I am alone in love, and that's okay, because I am rich in friendship.

Y'all know what to do, it's a fandom love meme!

GILMORE GIRLS REVIVAL SPOILERS BELOW

2016-11-25T14:42:08Z

I know that a lot of people are REALLY unhappy with the ending, with fall, and really? My only complaint is that Scott Patterson can't deal with the fact that he's balding and we had to deal with that awful hairpiece.

Was GG: AYITL fanservice? YES. That was literally the point of them doing the thing.

Emily's story was perfect -- from her maritial home, dark, intimidating, serious to the place in Nantucket, it's exactly the ending I wanted for her. Lorelai's was similar. She ended up falling into old patterns, after reflection upon it.

Rory isn't perfect. She's a person who is flawed, and recongizes that she's flawed. Her life with logan wouldn't have been the one she envisioned for herself at 22. But she LOVED him, which is why she kept up doing the shit she was doing.

I like this ending for her. I really, really do. Because you don't break patterns. Rory falls in love with guys she can't have. Or shouldn't be having -- it's what she's done since she was 16 and Jess showed up. It's weird and it's different and Rory isn't where she thought she would be in her life, and this wandering thing? I think thatgetting pregnant with Logan's baby when he's getting ready to marry someone else, whether she chooses to keep it or tell him or not,

is the exact thing to break her of this pattern.

And in retrospect, that scene with Christopher may have not been about her own childhood, but rather, the childhood of a child she may choose to keep -- which is something that I really think she will do. Rory's someone who looks for signs from the universe, and she's looking for something to stop her from destructive patterns. But I could be wrong, I often am.
That's about it. I have a lot of feelings but I can't articulate them right now.

PARKS FANDOM HOLIDAY LOVE MEME

2015-12-08T19:05:30Z

in text i clearly stole from the a-z lyrics website:

Happy Holiday
Happy Holiday
While the merry bells keep ringing
May your every wish come true

Happy Holiday
Happy Holiday
May the calendar keep bringing
Happy Holidays to you

It's the holiday season

IT'S THE PARKS FANDOM HOLIDAY LOVE MEME, AS SUGGESTED BY clubgetright

Y'ALL KNOW WHAT TO DO.

ALSO, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LINK TO YOUR HOLIDAY CARD SIGN-UP SHEETS, AS SUGGESTED BY last_empress

fuck it, today has been awful, this week has been awful, let's have a love meme

2015-08-26T19:53:02Z

baby pandas dying, national tragedies, stock market drops, cranky bosses, being overworked, we all need a break.

y'all know the drill. comment with your name, we all say why we love ya.

love meme: WITH A LEMON TWIST.

2014-08-06T23:14:47Z

because you're a rockstar, too

I've had a really bad series of days (literally the only thing that's making me happy right now is the influx of Texas Tech-themed things that keep arriving at my apartment.) So naturally, I decided YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S TIME FOR, AMBER? A FREAKIN' LOVE MEME.

but this one has a twist. before anyone can say anything nice about you, you first have to say three things you love about yourself.

ALL KINDS OF KINDS POST-OLYMPIC WHERE THE HELL IS SPRING YOU CAN PUSH THROUGH HARD TIMES LOVE MEME

2014-03-05T02:08:12Z

A PLACE FOR YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR LOVE OF FELLOW HUMANS.

(all fandoms/friendships welcome! also characters welcome because TNT has catchy slogans, guys.)

post below with your lj/tumblr/twitter/whatever you want to

and then comment on everyone else's, because TIMES BE HARD Y'ALL. Nothing like knowing someone loves you or supports you to make it through.

Because you are a strong, non-poisonous glitter arachnid. And you CAN and you WILL make it through.

Alternatively, just love everyone here, because what's the point of loving something if you can't express it LOUDLY and TO THAT PERSON?!?!

YAY!

halloween at cm

2013-11-09T00:49:48Z

i thought i looked great as the crying girl whose friends are all dead

but my coworkers looked FUCKING AMAZING

Because of Courtney, Liz, and Mindy, I present

2013-10-24T00:45:54Z

THE AMERICAN GIRL DOLL POLL

View Poll: #1940188

Apparently there are more dolls/books now? But Kit was BRAND NEW when I was 9 and I thought it was super cool that she had freckles like me.

Please rant about how great your favorite character is below.

PEARL JAM IS IN TOWN AND I GET TO WORK FOR 10-12 HOURS TONIGHT!!!! WOO!!!

2013-07-19T16:26:46Z

the scenario:

i am exhausted from a long day of being hit on by gross men at work. how do you console me?

my super awesome 4th of america day trip downtown because i could

2013-07-04T21:34:29Z

posted at LJ because tumblr is being a terrible waste of space

to start, my AMAZING outfit. I had about seven people compliment me on my outfit. It was pretty spectacular, ngl, but as the resident America Lover of the World, I feel like my outfit has to kick everyone else's outfit's ass.

i took the L downtown, not knowing what my plan was. Some guy said, "ma'am, you can sit down if you would like," which I was like, hMM THAT GUY SEEMS LIKE HE'S FROM TEXAS because he called me ma'am. Anyway, it was him, his wife, and his three daughters. One of the daughters was wearing really adorable chacos, and i told her so.

After about five minutes, I noticed that one of the girls was wearing flip-flops that said "Bushland" on them. Bushland, as in Bushland, Texas, as in, right outside of Amarillo. So I asked them, and sure enough, the oldest daughter is friends with the daughter of the family my parents are having dinner with tonight. (Some of my parents' best friends who are also not co-traegers)

first i took a trip to grant park, then i went to the millenium park part of grant park and watched children run through the creepy faces fountain.

then i started to get bored of watching children run through the creepy faces fountain and it was too crowded to people-watch by the bean in the sun, so I headed north...where I was promptly ENAMORED with the giant flag on the Wrigley Building, which you see above.

Like seriously, guys, it was THE BEST.

I started wandering around trying to take the best possible picture of me and this damn flag.

At some point, I decided to take one of the architectural tours of the lake. I know courtknees1 wanted to go, but MAN SHE SHOULD HAVE. It was great. A little pricey, but seeing as I'm not drinking my body weight in beer tonight, I figured i could swing this instead.

new meets old

(trump tower/wrigley building)

patrick kane lives in trump tower, on a floor so high i don't think i could go in for fear of heights.

I had a woman take this picture of me. It was awful. I'm sticking to selfies for the rest of this adventure.

Turns out it was a tour of the lake and the river. Also note my finger, which is fabulous.

It was SUCH a beautiful day. The sky was deep--the clouds were big and fluffy and the sky was bright, without being TOO hot.

As I was walking downtown, and as I saw the skyline from the lake...I don't know, it gave me feelings. Like. I *chose* this city. I choose to live here over any other place in the world, and as I watched the people and as I saw the buildings climb to the sky, and as I heard the stories of the people who created this city, I realized WHY this is my place and why I chose it. I can't tell you why...I can't even describe the feeling, but it was like nostalgia and euphoria and pride all at once, swelling in my heart.

me and a giant row of flags at navy pier. (from the boat, obvs)

I can't explain how it makes me feel, but you may have had that feeling before. I had it all of today.

I swear I'm supposed to be smiling here but it doesn't look like it. Whatevs.

NBC Tower. Designed to look like 30 Rock, but...not 30 Rock. Because I had to.

Then I wandered around River North for about an hour, saw lots of nuns?, and back down into the loop, then home. I stopped and grabbed a hamburger from Clark St. Dog which is a little out of the way, but I wanted a hamburger on July 4th, so I was going to have one.

today was EXHAUSTING.

2013-06-08T01:42:25Z

i'm usually okay with customers who are high-maintenance and shitty tippers, but today I JUST WAS NOT HAVING IT.

i don't know why, either. but I'm crabby and I just want to relax and MY FEET HURT. I made 18% in tips today, but my tables RAN ME TO THE GROUND. They were SO high maintenance. It is almost impossible for me to get water to all of the tables. I know that seems crazy, but when we're packed, we are PACKED. and I'm just one very small person--I can't do a whole lot in one group of drink-running. Maybe six bottles of beer, two pint glasses (either water or draft beer) and then a mixed drink at once. That's all I can carry, guys. That's it. And when multiple tables want water...it's just irritating. I totally understand it, but once one person orders water eVERYONE wants water.

Also there is nothing that drives me CRAZIER than when I ask everyone, "can I get another round for anyone?" and I get two drinks and everyone else is fine and then when I bring the new drinks, someone else wants a drink all of the sudden. And the cycle repeats because not everyone is on the same drink cycle now and it's SO ANNOYING.

Actually. There is something that drives me crazier: When people ORDER FROM THE BAR and then SIT AT MY TABLE. And then they don't close their tab out with the bar and continue to sit at my table, even when I've told them that this is my table and if they are sitting at it, I'm the waitress. Like. BITCH I'M NOT GETTING YOUR DRINKS FROM THE BAR IF YOU HAVE A TAB WITH THEM NOW PLEASE GTFO OF MY TABLE BEFORE I FUCKING LOSE MY SHIT. This happend FOUR TIMES today. FOUR. I only had six tables. FOR HOURS.

Like it was just overall not a great day. The girls I work with seemingly love the haircut, but the customers are just BLECH

Tomorrow has to be better, people-wise. Right?

I'm going to soak my feet and fix my nail polish. It's going to be a better day tomorrow. Right?

TUMBLR IS DOWN AND THIS IS UNTOWARD

2013-03-20T00:11:58Z

WHO ALLOWED HIM TO GET HIS FACIAL HAIR LIKE THIS

WHOEVER YOU ARE

YOU ARE MY FAVORITE PERSON

WE'RE A RED VINES FAMILY

2013-03-07T23:32:33Z

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

View Poll: WE'RE A RED VINES FAMILY.

Last Night I saw Paul McCartney. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe it.

2012-11-16T02:22:54Z

I've only been a Beatles fan for eight or nine years. In the grand scheme of things that I've been a fan of, the Beatles are not nearly one of my most prolific loves. But they do have an important role in my life.

Without me really realizing it, Paul was clearly my favorite. John was a little too angsty for me, George was too quiet, and ringo reminded me of my little brother. This isn't just in personalities. I loved most of the primarily-by-Paul songs before I even knew who wrote them.

I've been to maybe a dozen concerts in my life, but most of them have been small community or radio-type concerts (I saw Taylor swift in a $5 concert series 2006 to coincide with her debut album, Josh Abbott's annual 4th of July show in Lubbock, that sort of thing.) the only other big show I've seen was Elton John in April 2010...Elton had an AWESOME show. Two and a half hours long, all amazing songs, it was great. I would say of living songwriters, Elton and Paul are my favorites. After seeing Elton, seeing Paul was an item on my bucket list: see Macca in concert before he dies.

At some point, I guess I signed up for Paul McCartney email alerts. This last September and October, I was working a temp job, and after every 20th page of data entry, I let myself check my email or browse the Internet for five minutes.

One day in the middle of September I got an email saying he was playing four dates in north America: St. Louis, Houston, Edmonton, and Vancouver. I said, "that would be so great!" but it was on a Wednesday so I didn't buy them.

With the prodding of k8_26_2, I decided to buy them. Cheap seats because McCartney needs to make up for divorcing heather mills, but I bought them and got excited.

I had mentioned it to Jack, who you may know as my not-so-secret unrequited love/best friend of ever. He mentioned in passing that he might be interested in going, but whenever I mentioned it again, he got all weird. (Note: Jack loves McCartney. He's more of a strictly-Beatles guy whereas I love Wings and solo stuff, but I figured he would like to go with me.) It was a Wednesday, and he works driving busses at his college, which is not far away from Houston. Houston is 10 hours away from our house, though, so it was going to be a long drive. And then he started complaining about how he was lucky to get thanksgiving off of work, so I didn't push it. (Things have been weird between us since he moved into his new house. I think one of the roommates kind of makes fun of him about our relationship--the phone calls have gotten shorter and more furtive and the texts are sporadic...when his new roommate is out of town, it's more normal to what we always have been.)

Anyway, Jack couldn't go, so I asked my best female friend/partner in crime, but her birthday was on Monday and she has stuff to do so she couldn't go. So I thought about just selling my tickets but THEY NEVER CAME BECAUSE OF SNOREASTERCANE SANDY. I had to pick them up at will call. Meaning I had to go. So I asked my mom. My mom works from home and basically sets her own hours, so it's pretty easy for her to get up and go wherever she wants. She agreed to come with me, and we left. Long ride, introduced her to John Mulaney's stand up, never heard her laugh so hard at stand-up.

Anyway, here's the set list with some of my comments:

Magical Mystery Tour

Juniors Farm

Jet (awesome Suffragette stuff on the screen behind him!)

Got to get you into my life

Sing The Changes (The background on this was like lighted butterflies that morphed into Obama's head? I don't know, it was weird.)

The Night Before

Let me Roll it (wow SO GOOD holy shit anyone who says he doesn't have it is SO WRONG. This song was AMAAAAZING.)

After this, he told a story about Hendrix and Clapton and tuning guitars and it was adorable.

Paperback Writer

Long and winding road (This was the first time he was at the piano, and in his reflection in the piano, he looked 40 years younger. It was the first time I got super emotional. I didn't cry, but it was coming up.)

My valentine (He said he wrote this song for his wife, Nancy, and the drunk belligerent ladies next to me were screaming about the "one legged bitch." But more on them later.)

Maybe I'm Amazed (The screen was a video of wolfman Paul and his daughters is the first time I cried tonight--the photo from the reverse side of the McCartney album with him and his baby Mary in his coat and turns out Heather was standing right next to him. It was so gorgeous, and I just started crying at some point, I don't know when.)

I'm looking through you

And I love her

Blackbird-He told a story about the Civil Rights movement encouraging him to write it, and all the acoustic loveliness was gorgeous.

Here today- This song was for John and he said it was about saying I love you before its too late GODDAMNIT Paul--makes me want to DO SOMETHING in my life with the people I love.

Mrs Vanderbilt- the Oh! eh oh! echoed SO COOL in the stadium.

Band on the Run was FUCKING AWESOME. The third part was just...so good. Ugh, so many crying.

Then had us do vocal warm ups and it was cute.

Then there was a great sing-along with Ob-la-di.

Day in the life went into Give Peace a Chance.--the security guards were dancing.

Let it be was gorgeous, again, more crying.

Live and Let Die was the whole reason the roof was open all night and everyone was freezing and confused as to why the roof was open except me: BECAUSE FIREWORKS. and then after Paul was all deaf and it was really smokey for Hey Jude.

Hey Jude--singalong, awesome as always.

Then the band left and Paul came out for the first Encore with a Texas flag, and just ran all over the stage.
Encore:

Lady Madonna--the first beatles song I actually ever loved, this one held a special place in my heart.

Day Tripper

Get Back--saw the Hofner Bass and knew he was going to play it, he grabbed it and I said to my mom, "it's going to be Get Back" and then he said "Anybody want to Get Back?!" and everyone started screaming

Second encore

Yesterday (After the first encore, someone threw a bunny on stage and he played the second encore with a stuffed bunny in his back pocket)

Helter Skelter was ROCKING and I called that too--because it's just an epic song and it had to play.

I had no idea what was coming up, but I knew it was going to be last.
And then it was the Abbey Road Medley. And I just fucking bawled my eyeballs out screaming and crying and singing along.

When we moved to Texas, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't sleep and I couldn't breathe when I was supposed to be sleeping. When I did manage to fall asleep, I had nightmares. The only way that I could bring myself to fall asleep was to listen to the end of the Abbey Road Medley (Golden Slumbers-Carry That Weight-The End) on repeat. I would cry and cry and cry but it would calm me down and I could sleep. It wasn't great sleep, but it allowed me to deal with the shittiness of my life.

Somewhere in that line-up, Eleanor Rigby and 1985 played, but I had no idea where they fit.

We had drunk belligerent ladies sitting next to me. They were terrible. Every 30 seconds they would scream about how they were so happy and how Paul looked good and he still had it.

It was just so good, you guys. Life-changing experience.

My mom was born in 1967 and so knew some songs (Wings especially) inherently, but really, only three or four of the 30-odd songs he played. The whole time I was there, I was thinking, fuck, i wish he was here with me. And then All the Songs Make Sense and that really didn't help with the emotion that I was feeling.

This is really disjointed, but I was also having an emotional day because my mom insisted on shopping (I hate shopping) and she made me try on pants because none of my pants fit (i've gone up two sizes from the last time I bought pants). And when I looked at them, they were HUGE. I looked at them and they were SO BIG and then they fit perfectly and I just...I couldn't contain myself. Like, I feel terrible about the way I look, but there is nothing that makes me want to try and lose weight. My eating habits haven't changed in the last four years or so, and neither has my exercise level. I have an idea as to why I've gained the weight (hormone imbalance) but really don't want to go to the doctor--I'm not working so I feel pretty damn useless and I hate people spending money on me or on myself when I am not doing anything productive with my time.

AMBER GAMES

2012-06-22T01:53:48Z

BOOM! AMBER GAMES!

Hello, people of Panem. Or Parks Fandom. Pandom, if you will.

This post will be the (virtual!) home of the Amber Games.

What are the Amber Games, you might ask?

Well. Basically, saucydiva & stillscape are fighting to the death in Hawaii. And I'm the gamemaker, and yeah, that's about it.

Pull up a seat, and watch them duke it out. (craponaspatula and I are gong to have a good time watching. Amirite?)

To start, we abandon you on a ship with nothing but a case of white wine, a couch, and history channel documentaries.
Aaaand:

Go.
(tell me how you get off the ship and onto the islands. Andie, it's your choice as to which island we are on.)

Ships I ship.

2010-10-10T20:07:24Z

A rundown of Amber’s fandom geekiness.

The years listed are the years I shipped them. In the case of the final ship, it is the date of no return. I still support the ‘ship, but it is no longer a possibility.

Ron/Hermione-Harry Potter series
2000-present

“There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
“Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. “Oi! There’s a war going on here!”
Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.
“I know, mate,” said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit on the back of the head with a Bludger, “so it’s now or never, isn’t it?” --HPDH p. 625

Ron and Hermione were the first ‘ship I ever shipped. I shipped them before I knew what ‘shipping was. They fight, but it doesn’t really matter. Their loyalty to the other will always come first. I mean...it was always Ron and Hermione. He puked up slugs for her. She wanted him to ask her to the ball first, and not as a last resort. Then there was the Krum incident, 5th year where they almost had it together, and then Lav-Lav. (blech.) It was awful. And then Deathly Hallows came up, and Harry summed it up nicely for Krum:

"Ah, they are together now?" asked Krum, momentarily distracted. "Er-Sort of," said Harry.

And, God. The scene at Malfoy Manor? I cried so hard for Ron, and for Hermione. Because he would have given anything to be in her place. JKR wrote those scenes so incredibly perfect.

Of course they got together during a war. Nothing else would be more Ron/Hermione than...what happened. I grew up with these two. I started fandom because of these two.

Han/Leia-Star Wars
2004-present

"Afraid I was gonna leave before giving you a good-bye kiss!?"
"I'd sooner kiss a wookie!"
"I can arange that! He could use a good kiss!"--Empire Strikes Back, 1980

Han and Leia are my star-crossed lovers. I absolutely adore their relationship. “What do you think? A princess and a guy like me?” They hate each other, seemingly. They are always arguing. They call each other horrible nicknames. They fight. She happens to like nice men. He is a nice man. He hates the way Lando looks at her. She loves him. He knows. She unfreezes him from Carbonite. They kick some Imperial you-know-what. He loves her. She knows. They’re just...perfect. And on a completely shallow note, I love the way they look together.

Luke/Lorelai-Gilmore Girls
2004-present

Luke: I thought we were on track, and now you're standing there looking at me like I'm crazy.
Lorelai: I'm not looking at you like you're crazy!
Luke: You know the last time I bought flowers for someone? Never! That's when! Very easy stat to remember!
Lorelai: I loved the flowers!
Luke: And then when I walked you home after the wedding, there was a moment. I thought there was a moment.
Lorelai: There was! There was a moment. [Luke gazes at Lorelai, then moves closer.]
Lorelai: What are you doing?
Luke: Will you just stand still?
[He gathers her in his arms and they kiss. Lorelai pulls away then moves back closer to Luke.]
Luke: What are you doing?
Lorelai: Will you just stand still?

L&L were the first adults I ever shipped together. Like, real, true, grown adults. They had lives, they had jobs. They weren’t on the run. They were the first people that were adults that I wanted, needed to be together. They fit so well. He was a father to her daughter. He let her in to his secret world. She gave him love that he hadn’t had for so long. Their dynamic...I just love it. They push, they pull. She went to him when she needed help with anything. He learned to depend on her when he needed emotional help. Sure, the writers screwed them over in Season 6 and up until LG became a producer in Season 7. But I like to think they got their happy ending.

Jim/Pam-The Office
2005-present

Jim: I was just...I’m in love with you.
Pam: What?
Jim: I’m really sorry if that’s weird for you to hear. But I needed you to hear it. Probably not good timing, I know that. I just...
Pam: What are you doing? What do you expect me to say to that?
Jim: I just needed you to know. Once.
and then, happier, because they got a happy ending:
Jim: The boat was actually Plan C, the church was Plan B. Plan A was marrying her a long, long time ago. Like, the day I met her.

Jim and Pam are the only ‘ship I have that don’t argue; they don’t bicker. There’s not tension there. It’s just a classic, “I’m just a boy, standing in front of a girl,” love story.
Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl is engaged to another man. Boy and girl are best friends. Boy tells girl he’s in love with her. Girl tells boy “I can’t.” Boy kisses girl. Boy is transferred to Stamford. Girl breaks it off with her fiance. Boy comes back to Scranton/Girl with a new girlfriend. Audience is angry. Girl asks boy on a date. Boy says no. Boy interviews for a new job far away. Girl leaves boy a friendly note with his paperwork. Boy drops interview. Boy breaks up with girlfriend. Boy drives home, speeding. Girl is ready to give up on boy and let him be happy. Boy bursts into interview room and asks her out. Girl says yes. Girl cries. Boy buys an engagement ring a week after they started dating. Boy and girl date in secret for a few months. Boy and girl date in public. Boy false-proposes to her. Twice. Girl gets excited and knows it’s coming. Boy’s proposal upstaged by co-worker. Girl is disappointed. Boy and girl discuss it; they will wait until she gets back to be engaged. Girl goes away for an internship. Boy and girl meet at rest stop. Boy can’t wait. She says yes. They are engaged. Boy buys girl a house. Boy and girl go to elope, but decide they want their families and friends there. Girl finds out she is pregnant. Boy and girl are estatic. Boy and girl get married. Boy and girl have a little girl. They still work together. All is well.

Even if they make you crazy and do everything ass-backwards, I love Jim and Pam.

Josh/Donna-The West Wing
2005-present

Josh: I'm just saying--if you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for a beer.
Donna: If you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for red lights.
-17 People

Josh: Good morning!
Donna: My man!
Josh: Yes.
Donna: You came back to me.
Josh: Just like I promised.
Donna: I missed you.
Josh: When did you find you missed me the most?
Donna: The nights.
Josh: Of course.
-The Black Vera Wang

The Josh-Donna dynamic is something that is incredibly hard to capture. It’s not even in what they’re saying. It’s in how they walk together, how they look at each other, and they talk to the other. They make fun of each other. He’s her boss. It can’t work out, but it had to. Seven freaking seasons. There were literally a handful of episodes when they were finally together. She got blown up by a car bomb--and he flew right to Germany with just his backpack. He didn’t stop for red lights. I don’t know. I like that they’re both broken, and that they have the other to fix them. I also like the idea of matching scars, which they have.

Chandler/Monica-Friends
2003-present

“I’m still on London time. Does that count?”
“That counts!”

Chandler and Monica are not the “It Ship” on friends. But to me, it felt much more authentic than Ross and Rachel. They were friends first. It was completely natural. I also adored that even in the show’s alternate universe, Mondler was still together. I don’t really have much to say about them. They were so sweet, and I was so glad they got their babies.

Barney/Robin-How I Met Your Mother
2009-present

“I don't know. I just want to be with her. All the time. I want to hear about her day and tell her about mine. I want to hold her hand and smell her hair. But I don't want to be her stupid boyfriend.”

Barney and Robin. They are so much alike. They don’t want the traditional Marshall/Lily, Ted/The Mother type relationship. They want to have lots of fun. They play lazer tag, drink scotch, and smoke cigars. They are extremely complementary. Barney and Robin are a fun couple. They’re not traditional. I think that’s what makes them different from any of the other couples on my OTP list. They don’t want that life--even Josh and Donna will end up with the traditional life. I don’t think that Barney and Robin will. However, I do think they’ll end up together by the time the show ends.

Booth/Brennan-Bones
2009-present

“When you talk to older couples who, you know, have been in love for 30 or 40 or 50 years, alright, it's always the guy who says, I knew. I knew. Right from the beginning. I'm that guy. Bones, I'm that guy. I know.
“I'm the gambler. I believe in giving this a chance. Look, I want to give this a shot.”
“You - you thought you were protecting me. But you're the one who needs protecting...From me. I don’t have your open heart.”

Booth and Brennan. They are a couple from about halfway through season one until the very end of season five. (Of course, they're not actually a couple, which makes us all very sad.) The only reason they’re not at the beginning of season six is because Booth’s living with his war-reporter girlfriend. She won’t be around much longer, I hope. I don’t think she will be. There’s so many things about these two that I adore. Maybe it’s the way he brings her out of her shell, or that he has to be a little patient. They mean everything to each other. Brennan let her father in because of Booth. He wants her to "be his village" and help raise his son. There are a massive number of things that they do for each other, without thinking. She noticed that he was leading with a different leg after his coma. Obviously their affection and knowledge of each other is deep. There are so many things. But whatever it is, they bring out the absolute best in each other, and that’s something that I have always loved in their relationship. I think it’s something that is 100% necessary in a relationship, be it romantic or otherwise. They’ll get together. They will be so incredibly happy. And they’ll solve a crapton of murders and will be AWESOME.

Castle/Beckett-Castle
2010-present

“And if you tell anyone what I'm about to say there's gonna be another shooting, but... I've gotten used to you pulling my pigtails.”
“To the extrordinary KB and all my friends at the 12th.”
Castle and Beckett are my newest ship, but they are just phenomenal. I’ve read many times that the showrunners wanted these two to emulate Booth and Brennan. I think they do in many ways, except it’s a lady cop and a guy ride-along. They are so fabulous together. Stana and Nathan give these two depth that the writers can try to bring, but they don’t quite make it there. They match clothes sometimes. He wants her to be there for his daughter in case something happens. He helped catch her mother’s killer. There’s surely lots to come for these two.

Jack/Liz-30 Rock
2007-2010

“I’m going to Benjamin Button myself.”
“We’re not meeting in the middle!”

Jack and Liz are almost surely not going to happen after Season 4 of 30 Rock. Liz is with Matt Damon, Jack’s having a baby with the Elizabeth Banks. But man, it was fun while it lasted. He’s always challenged her way of living her life. But they always look out for each other. He moves candles so she doesn’t burn herself. She is his date and “live-in girlfriend, Lemon.” “Elizabeth.” His ex-wife and his mother think they should get together. He’s already a part of the Lemon family. She’s met his whole family and they didn’t really scare her off...except for the one sister that she told him to punch in the mouth. Tina Fey says it’s never happening, but up until the season finale, I thought it was a huge possibility. I loved them while they were around. And you can still tell how strong their friendship is. A relationship just isn’t going to happen. Seasons 1-4 of this show, however, I will always ship Jack/Liz.