Today I'm finally remembering to finish and post an introduction post. Most important thing first:

I am constantly reminded of how far I have yet to come as an ally and as a person, but I just want to put this out there: If ever I do or say anything that makes you feel hurt, unwelcome, or uncomfortable, I promise that I will do my best to listen as calmly and patiently as possible, and if necessary will remove myself from the keyboard for time to calm down so my response will not be reactive or defensive. For any times that I have said anything that has hurt you in the past, I apologize. I'm always trying to do better, and I know that sometimes that's not enough.

--

( Ten things you might want to know about me )

If ever you have any questions or comments, consider this a free post to nudge me.

This is sort of the "fandom works in progress" post I keep meaning to make and sort of a post trying to figure out what priorities I should have for the fic I'm currently writing and sort of a post trying to talk myself into signing up for both thelittlebang and the Merlin Big Bang (and also a floating reminder post). (As in, this is mostly for my benefit.)

(Written while the repair people are replacing the boiler. \o/ Warm showers shall soon be once more available to me! \o/)

Not-quite-complete list of what is either in my wip folders/on my agenda to add to them:

( Chuck )
( Dresden Files )
( Hikaru no Go )
( Harry Potter )
( Psych )
( RPF (Kanye, Politics, News, The Daily Show, & The Colbert Report) )
( The Devil Wears Prada )


Uh, and wow. I didn't realize quite how many stories I want to tell (this . . . isn't even including the five major original projects and assorted minor ones) until I wrote all of those out. (And this also doesn't include any of the ones put in the "probably abandoned" folder. D:) But this way I can now keep track of them all!

Current top priorities include Bones and Askewniverse fic, finishing at least one Shawn/Gus fic, one Chuck/Bryce fic, and one of the DWP fic, plus assorted flash fic for betaing.

This entry will be edited over time to reflect new fic added to my wip folders and the fic that claw their way out of the wip folders and into my fic journal.

(Updated 9/19/09)

This weekend's been a grab bag. FNFF's SeSa has started, though by the time I'd wandered by, half the prompts were claimed. I'm sure I'll figure out something with the prompt I snagged.

--

Yesterday, after (over) six months, the Pretty Monster was finally returned to me. They were supposed to have backed up my music and my writing files, but something got fucked at some point in loading things back on, such that the backup file they put on my desktop was over 250 gigs. All of the "copies" of my music and writing files were endless repeats of empty files (e.g. "ghosthunting.txt 0 kbs" "ghostinghunting(32).txt 0kbs"). Then there were tons of things copied over that were not mine, copied for no discernible reason (like all of the files for IE copied a second time), or just copied over 400 times.

They were supposed to call back today after checking to see if they have deleted the original backup or not, but that did not happen. I'll be calling again in the morning and making the drive over to copy what I need over myself if it still exists. If not, well. I'd already braced myself for much worse when turning on the computer. Said bracing did not stop me from boggling at the sheer ineptitude of the so-called experts. At this point, I am just glad to have my laptop back.

--

I finished out my last round of antibiotics, and I cannot tell you how much better I feel. I still have a slight cough, but this is apparently because the bronchitis and sinusitis are viral. The antibiotics were just in case and to also prevent my becoming infected with anything else in the meantime, I have been informed. If I had known this earlier--well, I probably would have still taken them, but with a better understanding that my side effects misery was possibly unnecessary. But whatever, I feel much better!

Earlier today I raided the pantry and fridge to throw together some makeshift vegetarian stroganoff, that is how much better I feel.

--

My mother's television has lately been making attempts to communicate with us its displeasure while off, and now will turn itself off and then beep angrily some more if you try to turn it on. I fear at any moment it could transform and try to eat the household. It is unplugged in an attempt to keep this from happening. One plus about this happening is that it is very close to Black Friday, so I may get my very first near death by shopping experience this Friday. I have generally tend to avoid the mall around the holiday season, so this will be an Adventure.

(Hold me. I am very afraid.)

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/27518.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

I've had a terrible morning (after three weeks of bronchitis and sinusitis, one should not have to deal with insomnia + a raging headache/possible migraine & all the migraine medication misplaced somewhere after traveling + all the Doxycycline side effects shit + the worst asthma attack one has had in months, yes, even including everything the past three weeks while deep in the throes of bronchitis; also, I am looking into getting my rescue inhaler stapled to my arm so there will be none of these not finding my purse where it is located for five minutes during which I desperately need to breathe and cannot shenanigans).

POINT BEING.

After three weeks of being sick, I am in no need of sympathy comments. I know, y'all love me (or at least are good at pretending), and I appreciate and adore you all. I would like to focus on that adoration of y'all part.

For some reason, two of the most recent ten posts on my read list are flash fic offers (or at least, they were as I started typing this), and that is generally something that has been a surefire way to cheer me up even at my most stressed or depressed. I know the last was only two months ago and I have a bunch of fest obligations, but all I am offering here is comment fic. (And all things considered, the only writing I am up to working on at the moment is comment fic.)

No guarantees I will get to every prompt, so feel free to leave as many as you like to entice me to write for you. Pairings and fandoms I've written in the past can be found on my Delicious fic account. Feel free to run other fandoms you know I know (or any you're even curious if I know) by me. Last extravaganza resulted in me writing my first due South fic, for instance. I'll let you know if I have no clue for any of your prompts.

I'm in a mood that isn't likely to last, but for now feel free to request without regard for any of my usual squicks/categories of disinterest. (Excepting dub-/non-con, because that is pretty much never going to happen.) Also, last time I said I wasn't doing much RPF past my fandom fests, but see aforementioned mood. This is your change to poke me about fakenews outside of FNFF's Secret Santa or Third Monday, or to ask for that Hemingway/Fitzgerald fic you always wanted since reading the incredible wtfery of A Moveable Feast.

In sum: Flash fic! Prompt while the prompting is good. Open on both LJ and DW this time around.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/27275.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

Less Traveled By
Fandoms/Characters: Psych (/Criminal Minds). Gus, Shawn.
Summary: Gus went to college, and Shawn went away.
Notes: 1,700 words, PG-13. AU, gen, written for Death Bingo. Minor crossover with Criminal Minds. Warnings for character death, references to violence, and brief references to cannibalism.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/27065.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

Going through my Fakenews works in progress folder to finally share all the abandoned ones with bessemerprocess (I promise I am working on that, Henry), I discovered a fic which is . . . finished. But which I don't remember having ever posted. I've looked pretty much everywhere and can't find it on the internets. So this is a two part request.

One: Anyone familiar with my Fakenews fic who believes they would recognize this if they'd seen it before, mind taking a look and confirming this with me?

Two: If this is a (sort of) new fic, anyone willing to do a quick beta? It's a very small (1,000 words) J/S fic.

Apparently this was posted in an OT on fnff, I never linked it anywhere, never posted it in my fic journal, and forgot to even move it into the finished folder. *facepalm* Posting it soon.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/26736.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

Anyone interested in betaing a Criminal Minds/Psych AU fic for Death Bingo's amnesty period? It has an emphasis on Psych and Gus and is 1,700 words.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/26441.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

I want to simultaneously buy whomever discovered Doxycycline a drink and punch zir in the mouth. Okay, maybe not that far, but agh. I only have three more days of ginger ale and crackers (and trying something else and subsequently regretting it) and I will be done, at least. Plus! My breathing is no longer wheezy and kind of bubbly and incredibly fucking disturbing to listen to. So there is that. Being able to breathe without eyeing my rescue inhaler is amazing.

In the past several days, I've reread all of the Sookie Stackhouse books. (You do not spend much time sleeping when you are curled up on the floor of your bathroom, but hot damn do you have lots of time to read while waiting for the latest bout of nausea to pass.) Like my first experience reading only a few, I am wondering why no one stopped me. I suppose I can only blame myself and my weakness for Eric Northman, Pam, and bad things happening to Bill. The books could be vastly improved by an increase in the first two, and a removal of Bill entirely.

Surely there must be a fandom out there revolving around the adventures of the vamps from Fangtasia? Delicious is a trap of Eric/Sookie fic, and I fear it--not so much the Eric/Sookie part as what the fic itself might actually be past its deceptively enticing summary. Anyone who knows my luck with plunging cold into a fandom knows that I will probably stumble upon either fic that twists Eric's character so far as to be unrecognizable or torture porn.

Anyone in this small fandom and have recs?

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/26298.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

First, let me start with an apology to my sailor for 3_ships that it's taken me so long to put anything up for this. Feel free to ignore this letter entirely. Actually, that goes for both of you. I would much rather you follow an idea you love and write the story you want than try to force something for me.

Thank you both so much for participating! My biggest hope is that you write something you can get some joy out of writing. Let me please re-emphasize, this letter is all suggestion.

Right now, I'm rather ill, so while I'm really incredibly excited about both fests, I just don't have a lot of energy at the moment. ( So let me talk generalities. )

Most of my fic can be found at tuesdayfic on Delicious or at tuesdayfic if you're curious about some of the sort of fic I enjoy writing (and thus would enjoy reading). I would recommend checking my tags on LJ for more on particular fandoms. Everything should be under "fandom: [name of fandom in question]" though Harry Potter has several older entries under hp as well. And this is my Yuletide letter from last year.

I hope that helps, and if not, feel free to try poking me through an intermediary. Whatever you write, I am sure I will love it. ♥


eta: And in case it is helpful!

( The original Yuletide request )

( The original Three Ships request )

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/26050.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

( Health update with possible TMI. )

In sum, I think this is going to be a fairly miserable week, but at least I will finally, finally (I really hope) be better at the end of it. A month is entirely too long to be sick, even for me.

--

My Yuletide assignment came by e-mail. I know two of the requested fandoms, and both look appealing.

--

Before the terrible side effects of my new antibiotics kicked in, I rented the first season of True Blood on a whim and then watched the second season, too. Then I decided that despite the TV series and the books being quite different, and despite the books having a bare handful of characters I remember enjoying, I needed to reread them all. I'm currently working on that. I find myself missing characters that existed in the show that don't exist in the books at all. At least I love Eric Northman in both his book and TV incarnations.

--

lizfu, my area is going to have an IHOP soon. It is supposed to open sometime this month. When I am finally better and you visit for movie watching, would you like to go?

--

It's taken me entirely too long to type up this short entry. Time to curl up in the other room with blankets, my cat, crackers, and some ginger ale. If anyone feels they aren't using enough sick days and would like to trade immune systems, I am all for working out some sort of deal.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/25791.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

My entire respiratory system hurts, either the bronchitis or the sinusitis (or both) I was diagnosed with is viral and thus not responding to the antibiotics, and I am feeling generally irritated with life and my inability to draw breath without discomfort.

Some things that are pleasantly distracting:

Fuck You, Penguin
I Can Has Cheezburger?
Daily Squee

I didn't make a bingo for death_bingo, but there are lots of excellent fic there, and eventually I will post some of the fic I was working on for it during the amnesty period. I finished a Psych fic, but a) it is somewhat depressing despite being a crossover with Criminal Minds and b) it was written on cough syrup and is currently unbetaed (though sirdrakesheir was kind enough to audience).

I just kind of want to crawl into bed and sleep forever, but the coughing manages to somehow become even worse when lying down. I did not think that was possible. Yet somehow it is.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/25523.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

I mentioned on DW (locked in a post that is mostly cough syrup ramblings and safely sequestered away from most of the world) that I was going to attempt to re-add most of the people I'd removed because either a) I already had them subscribed on DW (though apparently a lot of them have stopped crossposting? and then there is the LJ side of the discussion I am missing) or b) I'd taken a huge number off my LJ list as a temporary, I-have-little-to-no-time sort of deal. I'm thinking the slow and steady adding back I was doing before worked better, because I managed about a quarter of the list with some thought, then went rather haphazardly, then gave up entirely. Maybe in the future I will try again.

Anyway, if I am suddenly popping back up on your subscribe list, that is why. If not, it's not you, it's me, diverging fandoms, and a lack of time. If you're interested in reading anything locked, it's mostly all over on DW anyway, where I drop access like Bryce would drop trou for Chuck.

(For those of you not watching Chuck, that is quickly and with charm and glee. For those of you disagreeing with that assessment, shut up, it is true because I say it is.)

I am in love and hate with modern medicine. I may never have a proper Dear Sailor letter at this rate. Maybe tomorrow I will not be so out of it and maybe even feel better. Yay antibiotics and other things.

It occurs to me that you can only vote in the DW poll if you have a DW account.

( LJ poll on Three Ships beta search )

Also, if you'd like a DW account and don't have a code, I have extras.

Why isn't it three o'clock yet?

Apparently there are two posts I need to make today, so I guess I am terrible at this sort of hiatus thing when I am up and moving about, for a generous definition of both.

First, a rec! loz wrote me Gus/Shawn fic. It is a little angsty, a lot adorable, and, as always, contains an excellent Shawn voice and a fantastic Gus. (Is Gus ever not fantastic?) It's like a warm, fuzzy blanket on a cold night.

Second will go on a second post, as I'm still poking at my "Dear Sailor" letter.

Third, I finally have a doctor's appointment. This is comforting to me, because ( cut for health TMI )

Fourth, relating to the second, I have my Three Ships assignment! \o/ I will start poking at that when I am feeling better, but I want to get this done early and am taking a page from settiai's book. In order to keep my assignment secret, I'm going to post a long list of fandoms requested for 3_ships. If you would be willing to beta threesome fic in any of these fandoms, please click the ticky box of what applies.

( Poll of awesome fandoms )

If you have specifics pairings you will and will not beta in these fandoms, let me know in the comments? Thanks. ♥

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/24730.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

I went on an unofficial hiatus for the past few days, down to being sick and also we've been experiencing intermittent power failure. Still not sure what the power failures were about, but it affected not just my small neighborhood, but also the nearby traffic lights and gas station.

( As for my health issues )

Either way, this is everyone's notice that I am kind of down for the count for the next few days.

lizfu, one of the movies we were going to see together has arrived (A Dog's Breakfast), and the other should be here in a couple days (The Haunted Airman). Considering the whole being possibly contagious thing, I figure we can work out details for getting together sometime after I finally manage to see my doctor.

Now to go fall over again and hope that the lack of movement will not further antagonize my whole respiratory system.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/24495.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

I possibly have an ear infection, or my ear just continues to refuse to pop. Either way, I may be in for a doctor's appointment soon. lizfu, when did you want to go to the zoo? If you could e-mail or call me at the house (my phone is lost in luggage at the moment), that would be awesome.

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story. "Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding."

The fourth Asian Women Blog Carnival is still open for submissions. This round's optional theme is "Storytelling, or reclaiming our selves through our words."

PAX East is open for registration. It's going to be in Boston and over my birthday, and basically I am going WANT because I could totally visit the Hemingway Reading Room at the JFK Library at the same time. Currently it's only $45 for the full weekend, for those of you in that area who might be interested. I won't be going, but maybe I can live vicariously through one of you.

Bones and Invisible Disability. This is Bones the show, and I'm sure a few of you will be interested in this article.

Maine: the way life should be, on LD 1020: An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom (i.e. the fight for marriage equality in Maine).

Yuletide 2009 is going with a Default/Ban amnesty, so if you've been banned or defaulted in past Yuletides, this is your chance to participate again.

The Karate Kid is being remade with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. BRB, dying of AWESOME. (If you want to complain about the movie being updated with a Black person as the Karate Kid in my comments, I will end you. This is your only warning.)

Yuletide's rejected fandoms list has expanded to include Psych, but other people are possibly organizing a Gus/Shawn ficathon for those interested.

Jukebox Bard, Verb Noire, and the Future. Jukebox Bard was pulled from the virtual shelves, but Verb Noire is going to continue steady on with other projects. I'm really hoping for some sort of resurrected remix of Jukebox Bard in the future once the problems have been sorted.

Diversity and Yuletide, related directly to last post's Yuletide link.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/24073.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

Home safe. Behind on comments. Still exhausted.

Have links:

Verb Noire is going through some tough times at the moment.

How to add subtitles and translations to your vids. I'm sure everyone else has seen this, but I know I hadn't.

Sign-ups for Three Ships closes Friday. I would especially love to see plenty Chuck and Criminal Minds in there.

How to write a novel using the snowflake method. This intrigues me, and may be timely for those of you about to start National Novel Writing Month.

Non-English, Non-Western, or Non-youknowwhadimean fandoms for yuletide. Netflix and I are going to be buddies in Yuletide prep.

Disability Blog Carnival #59: Disability and Work.

This Is Going to Hit You, that awesome Criminal Minds fic bessemerprocess wrote to break me. (I haven't had time to read the finished version yet, but it is going to be my happy/sad place tonight.)

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/24056.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

chilayse's tiny netbook is adorable, though the tiny keyboard is a bit difficult to use.

besssemerprocess was fab and an amazing host. Her husband fed me amazing foodstuffs, and she showed me lots of excellent Criminal Minds, though some of it broke my heart into tiny, tiny pieces. Her cats were adorable (Tucker has the biggest eyes I've ever seen!) and all of them took advantage of my willingness to pet them, though the dog was quite adamant that I pet her, too. hb's house in general was full of awesome, and y'all should envy her her Fall office view. It was all trees and hills and gorgeousness.

--

During the first night of my stay, we watched the series premiere of White Collar! To put it succinctly: I loved it.To put it succinctly: I loved it.

( In more, very spoilery detail )

My reaction can also be summed up in emoticons as :D :D :D :D :D

Yes, FIVE SMILIES. That is what this episode gets. If it keeps this level of awesome and I get lots more of Caffrey and the show ups the probie agent content, I will be happy as a clam. Happier, really, as I am not much for the ocean or sand.

Anyone else watching White Collar?

--

In other things, I still hurt. I suppose I will try to catch up on my lists until that goes away a little more.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/23653.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

Tomorrow morning I'm leaving to see bessemerprocess, then going from her place to see a really good friend from college. This weekend is going to involve lots and lots of travel each day, but it will totally be worth it. This weekend is also White Collar! So basically I am a bundle of excitement for all of that.

I told a couple of people I would write up a review of the movie Coraline, which I recently saw with lizfu. Non-spoilery version is that overall, I enjoyed the movie more than I thought I would, really liked the animation style, and was both happy at the inclusion of Wyborne (and his grandmother and great-aunt) and also horrified by a few faily things I don't think the creators thought through.

( Herein lies the actual review with spoilers )

If I watched this film again, I would watch it for the animation and for Wyborne. It being Yuletide season, I actually am considering checking if it's nominated, because there really needs to be fic of Wyborne and his grandmother out there in the world, being awesome.

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/23370.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )

John Mayer Threatens to Sodomize Us, an article in which John Mayer tells the woman interviewing him, "I love you, you're beautiful, but shut your fucking mouth," because she gently disagreed with him (so of course his response should be that she is there to look pretty, not talk) and ends the interview with the only natural conclusion an asshole a classy rock star can go with--by threatening to sodomize her editor. Stay classy, John Mayer!

lizfu, check out this Watson picture phoq drew for nextian! It is so shiny.

This is from a while back, but no less awesome:
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!

--

bessemerprocess just made an entry in which she asked for the three fic you've written that you love most. While I know there's a little crossover between our lists, I'm still curious about everyone on my own, and this is the kind of meme I can really get behind.

So:

Tell me the three fics of your own that you love the most. The ones that you look at and feel proud. The ones where the words just worked. The ones the you reread and still giggle at or are moved by. Not the one other people liked the most, the ones you like the most. (You should post a link, because I bet other people will be interested.)

If you have some time, tell me why you like them so much. I want to hear people being passionate about their writing. Share your love for your creations!

This entry was originally posted at http://everysecondtuesday.dreamwidth.org/23247.html. If you'd prefer, please comment there with OpenID. (DW comment count: )