(The new laptop, for those who are interested in the technical specs, is a 14.1" wide-aspect Dell Latitude D630 core 2 2.0 GHz with 160 gig hard drive--something like double the capacity of the previous machine at half the weight and energy costs. It has a nice big keyboard and it runs XP cheerfully. I had originally fallen in love with the XPS, which brings the shiny and has a bigger hard drive, but that one only allows for Vista and no.
Also, it's
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netcurmudgeon's experience--and mine--that the business laptops, though they have less chrome, are more durable. So I am now the proud owner of Daphne the Laptop, at about two hundred dollars more than I paid for Ethel the HP in 2003. God, I love Moore's Law as it applies to my personal electronics. (Yes, you do deduce correctly from these data that the desktop is named Phred and the Zune is named Ginger. Because dancy! Ahem.)Item the second: my climbing is getting better. My strength/weight ratio still sucks, but it sucks less (not because I've lost any weight: rather, I continue to gain slowly, though perhaps I have topped out around 245, and maybe now that my body has built a completely unreasonable amount of muscle (I've gained twenty pounds in the last ten months while dropping a shirt size and half a jeans size) it will consent to giving up some of the dead weight. Anyway, it's on cereal, sandwiches, soup, and salads until further notice... and maybe the occasional cookie. Because dammit, I want to climb better still. (The good news is, I have been doing all this work in the equivalent of a sixty pound pack, so if that weight does come off and I get down to a nice sensible 170 or so, I will be flying up those overhangs.)
Anyway, as I was saying, strength, balance, and recovery time are all improving, and I think I'm actually back to what I consider a reasonable level of fitness for the first time since 2001. Yay! I've climbed three days this week--Sunday, Monday, and last night, and still managed to go out for a three mile run this morning, in the driving rain, getting soaked to the skin in my new ugly Prana stretchy shorts. I swear, I am 50% more physically competent in the rain. What's up with that?
I started a 5.8 on Monday--couldn't stick the transition over the lip, but I got up on it, which is more than I have ever done on a 5.8 before, and I'm getting to the point where there are a couple of 5.7s that I can send reliably, though I have to dog on the rope a bit on both of them. (There's another one I'm going to try on Monday--or Saturday, if it's still rainy/wet and we don't get to climb out doors.) Yesterday, I did six routes, if you count the bouldering route I made four tries at before I just said "fuckit" and cheated on the last pusbucketing move, which I cannot quite swing.
...Okay, I also rainbowed a bit on #6, but it has a big mantle move and I was le tired by then. Sewing machine legs and the whole deal. (Rainbowing is when you cheat on a route by using hand/footholds intended for other routes. Mantling is when you have to press down on something at chest level to get your feet up higher: it's hard. Sewing machine legs is.... well, self-explanatory if you have ever seen a sewing machine. *g*)
But that last route I'm still proud of, because I used to thrash terribly on the bottom part, and now I'm sailing up that bit. I think any other gym would call it a 5.8, but Prime Climb is special. Their 5.5s are like 5.6s or easy 5.7s I've climbed in other gyms...
Anyway, visible progress. Which makes me think I may someday attain my goal of being able to do 5.10s. And I have to remember to ice my left elbow and take the NSAIDs today, because I do not want the tendinitis getting worse, thanks.
It's nice having a sport again. It's been a long time. And my last sport did not have couches.
Item the third: Tomorrow I have to revise "The Red in the Sky is Our Blood." And do laundry. Saturday is climbing and maybe late lunch at Tapas with The Jeff and Alisa and Tanya. Sunday, to Fall River for an AD&D game. Monday, nose to the grindstone again, as my post-Readercon recovery is pretty much over by then and I have Deadlines To Hit.
Today I am having a goof-off and play with computers day, and then I am going to archery. It has occurred to me that in other jobs, you get, you know, days off. And that maybe I should look into that idea.
Item the fourth: Lone Star Stories, the 'zine with the fastest turnaround time on the block, will be publishing my maudlin Tam Lin poem "Seven Steeds," which some of you may remember from when I posted the very rough draft to this blog last year.
Item the fifth: Dora Goss is smrt.
...I really love this little computer.
64 miles to Lothlorien.
- Mood:
chipper - Music:David Byrne - Like Humans Do (Radio Edit)
I'm on a high that will last for weeks, Mulder and Scully are back baby!!!
I had to wait until 6:45pm to see it because of uni and spent most of the day totally hyped and barely able to concentrate, thankfully the first week of classes is mostly admin stuff. I decided to go the the Palace Dendy Brighton to see it as the cinema has a low "bogan treating the cinema as their personal living room complete with talking on the mobile phone" factor, it is also easier to get home from.
It was screened in a small but very well appointed cinema that was mostly full, someone shrieked when the theme started and there was a few moments when people laughed out loud, it was a really good crowd to see it with, mainly people my age and above who were mostly obvious fans.
After 15 years the theme music still raises the hairs on the back of my neck I spent most of the movie going OMGITSMULDERANDSCULLY over and over in my head. I think I'll need to see it again before I can get my head around it.
I was disappointed when the credits started to roll, I need more damnit!
Ok, I have to go to bed now, I'll post about the movie itself ASAP.
- Location:My couch
- Mood:
ecstatic - Music:Bury Me Deep In Love - The Triffids
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Dun wanna go to skool. Othur kittehs is mean
and i nawt wantz 2 play wif dem anymoars.
picture: dunno source, via our lolcat builder. lol caption: teh bandito
Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Gene/Sam/Missus
Length: 15,500 across 4 chapters
Author on LJ:
mikes_grrlAuthor Website. Archived at her website or at
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lifein1973 Why this must be read:
Well, it's a Gene/Sam/Missus threesome written by Mikey. Is there anything more that needs to be said? Not really, although, in what is basically a smutfest, Mikey still manages to instill such warmth and depth into her characters that you just fall in love with them all over again.
Beautifully and powerfully written and more than just a little bit PHWOAR!
Author:
wihlutaPairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Rating: PG
Length: 658 words
Summary: Ray doesn't like babysitting.
Notes: Episode tag to "Bounty Hunter", which I was rewatching last night. I always miss the scene between Fraser and Janet walking out of the 27 and Ray babysitting the kids. This is what could have happened.
Unbetaed - any concrit and feedback is welcome! :-)
( Read more )
Pairing: none (slashiness implied)
Length: 3000 words approx over 3 chapters
Author on LJ: </a></b></a>
nepthys_ukAuthor Website: Why this must be read:
A truly original viewpoint on the LoM characters. Edna and Edith are the cleaning ladies at the Police Station - think (in nepthys_uk's own words) Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough or the Two Ronnies in drag.
They have a refreshingly down to earth view of our dear boys and of life in general.
Enjoy!!!!
And that just makes it cooler.
Author:
hazelthewitchRating: NC-17
Pairing: Rodney/Ronon
Words: 2,300
Summary: Rodney takes Carson's skepticism as a challenge.
Notes: Takes place immediately post-"Sateda"
* * *
McKAY: You are just jealous of our relationship.
BECKETT: *Am* I?! In the year or so he's been with us, have you *ever* had a conversation with the man?
- 3.04 “Sateda”
* * *
See this post for additional information.
Right!
( History of this circus and how it functions. )
For the game to work at its opening, here is the list of cast members most immediately desirable and playable.
( Cast list again. )
Interested people means it's time to decide on a format. Here is what I have so far:
( Format of the game!!! )
If you still want in and want to brainstorm, here is your official (for now) application to reserve a spot. Just comment here with it. As I don't even know what to call the game yet, you're not in any rush to figure things out. If you want a spot reserved and have no ideas for the character yet, just let me know which spot you want and you can apply later.
If you want some inspiration, remember that some of these characters may have been second or more generation in the Brooks circus, or came from other circuses. Some might not know their birthdates ("freaks" especially). Some might not be able to read. Some might not yet speak a lot of English (Isabella included). Some might be nasty pieces of work. Some might not. Some might have a stage name. Some might not know their real name. You can play someone as young as four or as old as, well, old. If you want to put a character, such as members of a family or a best friend or an assistant, up for adoption, simply specify who they are and I'll stick them in the cast list and add who to contact for more information. There is no fantasy in the circus other than Isabella (for canonical reasons).
Again, anyone applying a character already in DL need not actually apply. We'll have NPC journals for audience members and non-circus people, so the only thing you need to worry about now are the one or two characters you wish to play.
It would behoove you to make a LiveJournal for your character(s) now so I know who they are when they join later.
When there is something to actually join.
Specifics will be organized later. These are basic applications. We'll establish how they came to the circus as well as relationships and acts and where they live and whatnot down the road. Not too far down the road, but down the road.
If a character needs an assistant or apprentice role filled (we need one of each for the illusionist), please don't hesitate to tell me what you'd like so I can post more information and get someone to play. Or con someone you know into applying for the role.
Gameplay will not begin for a while, so there's no need to rush. I'm not looking to create a really intense game. Just something creative that builds upon itself.
It would also be snazzy to pimp this around so we get plenty of people. Bring in your friends!
(Circus history: here, here, here (1920s circus photos), here, here, and here.)
- Music:The Andrews Sisters - Rum and Coca-Cola
I stole a computer to write this Batman AU. For reasons which should be obvious, it is movieverse only. There are spoilers for The Dark Knight, but more in the sense that it will be hard to understand if you haven't seen The Dark Knight than in the sense that it gives a lot away, I think.
Thanks to
fryadvocate, who quickbeta-ed. Any remaining gross stupidities are mine.( The Chances )
jacquez, Laura Hale/Partly Bouncy/etc. does a video pitch on her business.It is really, really painful, both for the bullshit level and for the poor pitching skills.
Closing comments because I don't really want to discuss her or this debacle further, but I think the video should be seen more widely.
- Location:home
- Mood:
uncomfortable - Music:Mst3K- Merlin's Mystical Shoppe of Wonders
Spoilers: Journey's End
Onto the MaDNesS!
- Location:home
- Mood:
amused - Music:mst3k - Merlin's Mystical Shoppe of wonder
- 10:02 10am and we already hate each other - only 13 hours left #
- 12:32 PA why must it rain here now?! #
- 16:08 Umm i love roadtrips and i am awesome at sitting hahaha #
- 18:10 It has rained in all 3 states ive been in today - btw made it to Ohio #
- 20:18 Motel 6 in ohio w/a cute little diner - so nice #
Someone force me to do fun things in August! Cedar Point! Bonfires! Drinking late at the bar! Something!
---
ETA: My husband just called me. Evidentially he and his work buddies are at a parade. Why there is a parade through Minneapolis in the middle of the night on Wednesday is beyond me.
Him: ...yeah it's for like Oktoberfest or something!
Me: Honey, it's July.
Him: Oh, yeah.
Me: Are you drunk??
Him: ...a little bit.
This is after they dropped lord knows how much money down stripper g-strings. LOL. I love him :)
- Mood:
cheerful
- Music:the Monkeeys - I'm a Believer
Any readers of this blog who haven’t looked it up for themselves by now, muttering about the total hopelessness of some writers of books that receive starred reviews in Publishers’ Weekly, the (ahem) starred review in PW of CHALICE is here:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/C
This should take you to the top of the ‘Fiction’ section of children’s books* where CHALICE is the lead title, but as I mistrustfully try it on more than one computer** I am finding that it seems to open fine on a big screen but tends to open halfway through the review on a small screen, so the title that catches your eye is the one following, SOVAY. (Which looks good too, just by the way, and also got a star. I’ve always loved the song.) So you want to scroll up a little. Unless it’s doing something else entirely on your screen, in which case you’re on your own.
If you want something nice and uncontroversial, this takes you to the top of the ‘Children’s’ section, and you have to scroll down through the little kids’ books to ‘fiction’.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/C
I guess I didn’t make a mess of turning it into a novel after all. Or not in one reviewer’s eyes anyway. One thing that interests me, they choose BEAUTY and HERO to compare it favourably to.*** They must like short: those are my two shortest novels. And this interests me because I thought everybody is supposed to like long† this era. HARRY POTTER AND THE ENDLESS STORY MACHINE. JONATHAN STRANGE, MR NORRELL AND NINETY MILLION PAGES. I am comforted that at least you aren’t automatically penalised for short.†† There is a place for short, like in your knapsack, so it doesn’t make a hole in your sore shoulder.
And thanks to all of you who sent me these links. It is extremely ridiculous that (apparently) neither my agent nor either of my editors knew that you can just look PW reviews up on the web . . . or, as one of the friends who sent me the links by email said, Google is your friend. Um. I thought I even knew that Google was my friend. But in moments of stress I still revert. Very, very slightly in my defense, PW didn’t always hang its reviews on the web.†††. And I merely haven’t checked in . . . um . . . years. Oops. But I guess a lot of other professional publishing people haven’t either.
Furthermore . . . I did sleep last night, despite some really remarkable nettle burns. And the hellhounds ate their dinner tonight . . . not only ate it but ate it without needing to be driven out of their bed and then chased around with it first. And I rang Grandsire, if not exactly to the tower born, still, I rang the sucker as opposed to pulling frantically on my rope and waiting to be yelled at instructively. Last week I found myself on the five for Grandsire, and I’m used to ringing the three or the four or maybe the two. Not the five. But if you really know a method you can ring it on any bell. So I don’t really know Grandsire, so what else is new. It was still pretty discouraging that I could not seem to see what I was doing. This week when Wild Robert called for Grandsire again I made a dash for the five, and this week the five and I were friends.‡ I was even one of the people holding the line while others went astray, which is always great for morale. Next week–or this Friday at my home tower–it’ll be open season again with me and Grandsire however. Some day I’ll just ring it. It’ll be one of the methods that when I go to a strange tower and the ringing master asks me what I ring, I can say nonchalantly, oh, plain bob, Stedman, Grandsire. Hold that thought.
* * *
* Sigh. It’s not a children’s book. Never mind.
** And Computer Man was here for several hours today and all my computers are having competitive nervous breakdowns as a result. There’s a lot of admonishing ding!-ing going on while they querulously insist that they don’ wanna do what he has instructed them to do. I may be on the phone to Computer Man Central really early tomorrow.
*** A brief pause here while I do a little head-clutching about being shackled to early successes for the rest of one’s life. What your or anyone’s favourite book is is strictly up to you and that’s absolutely fine. Different things appeal to different people and different things appeal to different people at different times. Telling an author that thus and such is their best book, however, is a value judgement, and problematic. Telling an author that her first book is her best book is . . . at best unkind. Getting old is sucky enough.^ Being told repeatedly that it’s all been downhill since you were 25 is grisly. I don’t think BEAUTY is my best book, fortunately, but I wasted a lot of time over a lot of years worrying that it might be.
^ Mind you I wouldn’t be young again even if the devil showed up with a great offer plus a letter of recommendation from Faust. Getting old is sucky, but it beats being young. The thing about young, however, is that you have more time left to figure stuff out, and you still believe you’re going to figure it out faster than, forty years later, you have.
† I was once fretting over some novel looking like it was going to turn out short.^ Merrilee said, short is good. Same money, less work. Very good point. Unfortunately PEGASUS looks like running long.
^I think this was DRAGONHAVEN, which, as many of you know, did not end up short.
†† Hey! This is just a dumb short story! Where’s my other eight hundred pages! I want my money back!
††† Since there was a web, I mean.
‡ In a doubles method like Grandsire, with five working bells and the sixth bell always ringing last, the five should be a good bell to ring, because every bell you have to worry about is to your right and you don’t have to keep looking frantically back and forth. When you’re on the four, say, you tend to forget about the five, which is dangerous, since you’re going to be ringing over it just as often as over the others, and on the three you could get dizzy whipping your eyes back and forth.
complex vending machine fud takez too long
dis vendin macheen nawt sew complex.
picture: dunno source, via our lolcat builder. lol caption: jokabu
Author:
elenarielRating: PG
Words:699
A/N: Possibly straying into crack!fic territory here. For those who don't know, the fourth crossover is with a book series called Temeraire, which basically re-imagines history with dragons.
( Five People... )