Stream-of-consciousness about Home for the Holidays. 

( Cut to spare your (questionable) sanity... )

Not bad, not bad.  Normally I loathe American comedy, but this was rather palatable. 

I know most of you have probably read and loved these for many years, but just in case, Robin McKinley's classic The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword.  Sterling adventure for young adults and anybody else, a beautifully crafted world, wonderfully real characters...it's all here.  I like the second one best, for some reason.  There are Damar short stories to be had, in Water and A Knot in the Grain, also marvelous. 

Here are heroines who are real and strong without being cliched or overconfident, people I'd like to know.  Harry in particular.  These books are one reason why fantasy succeeds as a genre. 

...Or, July 4th in the early hours of the 6th.  Sorry, I was too tired to post that night, and I'll get to today tomorrow.  I think.  :P

P.S.  You'll have to scroll down.  I have no idea why LJ does that.   ( Pictures etc. below... )

I'm off to Chicago with ligaras, laura27md, and csipal!  Many bunny photos beneath the cut.  Hey, it's a 12-hour drive, we had to make a few stops.  ( Photos below... )

Watching Tuff Turf. 

*howl* 

I'm too old for this movie.  I was always too old for this movie.  XD

ETA: They do have a bass sax, though.  Points for that.

Good heavens, and Beer brand beer.  Who remembers that? 

Today I am grateful for the wisdom of friends.  Thank you. 

I have no love for either Buffy or Twilight, and I still found this hilarious (it's a video).  But if you're a die-hard Twilight fan, don't watch.  Snabbled from amonitrate. 

Thoughts on watching Game 6, in my usual scattershot style:

( Cut for prudence )

If you like octopi, you have to watch this; it won't take you long.  Snabbled from coffeeem.

Okay, the haiku are mine--she challenged me yesterday--but she illustrated them. Aren't they marvelous? :D Thank you, dearest! 














Plus the whole haiku idea is fun. Try some of your own.

I hate Photoshop.  Hate hate hate. 

*sigh*  Is anyone out there willing to make me an icon from a large .jpg file?  I just want the background sort of faded back.  I'll give you...well, I don't know.  What do you want? 

ETA: Got it!  Thank you, phdelicious!

Meme, snabbled from trialia:

We all love looking at people's icons, but don't always *get* them-- wondering stuff like, "Who's that guy?" or "Where's that quote from?" but tend not to ask, for various reasons.

Mine are here.  I think I can explain them all...

This appears to be a new author, but goodness knows if they were writing somewhere else previously.  The skill certainly implies it.  Step One by Aaron Cronin is a quick Iron Man story that manages to be both funny and touching at the same time--and that addresses an issue that often goes ignored.  Very clever, and a read that leaves me wanting more.  

Snabbled from phdelicious: If there is one person or more on your friends list who makes your world a better place just because they exist and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.

This is my little virus-bunny from April, finished and tidied up.  Lost and Found is rated NC-17 for smut-lite, and is Iron Man and Tony/Pepper.  It's also more angsty than I usually get, but this is an idea I've wanted to explore for some time. Many, many thanks to cincoflex for betawork, enthusiasm, major reassurance, patiently rereading, and of course the banners. And a special thanks to mingsmommy for another POV and expert advice on Charleston! 

Going on just about five years ago now, I started swapping PMs on YTDAW with a writer I deeply admired.  She wrote marvelous stories with original ideas, beautifully realized characters, and sometimes extremely hot smut as well.  It took a bit of courage the first time, to ask her if she was a fan of Blake’s 7 too, but she sent back a friendly cheerful note, and we were off. 

I can’t say the rest is history, because it’s still present!  :P  We discovered we were both fans of Jim Brass, and I was totally flattered and floored when she asked me to look over her WIP.  I sent her mine as well, and then she completely blew my circuits by asking me if I wanted to collaborate with her.  I’d say it was karma, but that was the sequel.  *grin* 

Now we are several collaborations down the road, along with innumerable plot bunnies, many finished fics, and still a few in process.  We’ve exchanged PMs and IMs and e-mails and Tweets and phone calls.  We’ve chatted, complained, betaed, commiserated, teased, and most of all laughed.  And dreamed, and dreamed, and dreamed...

She’s one of the best writers I know, and one of the kindest, most generous people.  She’s introduced me to several excellent books, at least one TV series, and is the reason I get lovely cards from many of my favorite characters at Christmas and my birthday.  She’s a born teacher and a forgiving soul; she puts up with my whining, my spaceiness, my occasional freakouts, my dry spells, and my recurring need to rewrite something to death.  She’s given me plot ideas, titles, lines, and banners; told me gently, and repeatedly, where I was going wrong; and cheered me on when a persistent bunny stole our time and my attention. 

She lets me share her stories, read ahead and find out what happens before anyone else.  She listens when I go on about a fandom she doesn’t share.  She cheers me up when I’m feeling depressed, and never lets me lose faith in my own writing.  She sends me beautiful gifts and leaves me lavish feedback.  She’s the sister of my heart and my very best friend, and we do get along so well for people who’ve never actually met... 

cincoflex, I’m utterly glad that you’ve reached your 49th birthday, and I am anticipating many, many more.  You make the world a much better place, for me and for others, and not just with your stories.  The happiest of birthdays to you, dearest--at least until next year!  ♥

Grace Livingston Hill's Crimson Roses.  One of many, many romances by Ms. Hill, most of them with Christian themes; they are almost all set either during the Depression or the Great War, and vary in quality, but this one is my favorite.  It has the sort of delicate romance that is hardly thought of any longer, and while the heroine presents as meek, she has a strong will.  Also, there's not too much of the Prohibition sensibilities that feel so odd to the modern reader.  Not for everyone--one must have a taste for early-twentieth-century literature--but not heavy going and simply a tender, sweet story. 

tres_mechante's Book Lovers.  Not graphic but definitely adult.  Marvelous! 

I just (finally) watched the 200th episode. 

...Wha? 


Also.  Mr. Robert Downey Jr., I admire your acting talent and your determination, but please stay out of my dreams.  Especially if you're going to bring along a Sheltie.  *sniffle*  I miss my Fuzzy-butt.