Tuesday Has No Phones

Months ago stakebait was kind enough to gift me with Knit: A Personal Handbook.

Since then I have often thought to myself how annoying it is to have various projects on needles where I either have to remember the needle size I used (I have a set of Denises so the needles don't always stay with the project) and what tweaks to the pattern I made, or having to write that information down on a slip of paper and find a way to keep it with the project.

Only last night did I pass by the handbook on my bookshelf, and say unto myself "...oh."

Ahem.

So, yes, a knitting handbook, which currently holds the information about the scarf I'm working on. Sadly I did not think of this when I was working on my zil holder, but OTOH the motifications on that weren't too involved the first time so I'm sure I can recreate it. (Famous last words.)

Offering you still more proof that I am blonde, I started a new round of medicine last week and only today did it occur to me that perhaps this is why I've been feeling sick to my stomach as of one day after starting the new meds.

Under our current system of government I can vote, people. Be scared.

In news of all things hooking, I have successfully completed a swatch of single crochet rows and by George I do think I'm starting to get it. It definitely helps to use lighter yarn so you can actually see the parts of the stitches. I'm also starting to get the hang of how to relax and let the hook create the gauge for me. It's interesting how the instinct is to always try to tighten up the stitch yourself.

And now I must scamper off to work.

Happy birthday wesleysgirl!

It is what one might term agressively Spring here in the land of Siam. Sun in shining. Birds are singing. Flowers are sending out silent messages to their alien overlords - you know, the usual.

Like many of you, I totally forgot about moving my clocks forward. Whether this is the reason I am so exhausted right now or not I have no idea.

But on the upside it's a good day for opening all the windows, snuggling with kitties, watching DVDs and knitting.

Also napping, which is coming up soon.

So I'm guessing you're curious about me and the salsa club.

( If'n you are, this'd be the cut tag to click )

Erm, was anyone who was with me this Thursday and Friday remember me saying "OW!" in a really loud - or frankly any - tone of voice at any point during our time together? Because late Fri/early Sat my thumb started bothering me, and by the end of Saturday I realized (I'm slow) that there was a huge bruise along the heel of my hand, from the bottom of the thumb down to the wrist. There's also a small bump. All I can figure is I whapped my hand against something and then promptly forgot that I did it. My hope is that you all take detailed notes on everything that I do.

[pokes at thumb some more] Ow.

Sleep! Glorious sleep! Thanks to the wonders of cough syrup I was able to fall asleep and stay that way for hours and hours and hours. Ahh, bliss. Though bliss filled with at least 2 nightmares that I can remember. Sign of stress or inadvertant side effect of the medicine? Perhaps some from column A and some from column B.

The snow last night was very pretty and looks to be mostly melted now. I bet if I waited long enough I wouldn't even have to clean off my car. However I'm actually possessed of some energy and desire to get out of the house, so I think I'm going to go out for a bit and do some book shopping. triskellian has pimped the wonders of CSS to me and now my geeky heart wants to play. I've looked through some online lessons and have been quite happy to discover that it's not as complicated to pick up as I thought.

I'm always fascinated by the process of learning things. It amazes me how something can seem incomprehensible and impossible when you first look at it, but once it's broken down into parts it all clicks and makes sense. This is part of why I've made it a goal for myself to learn at least two new things a year. I may not end up liking said things and wanting to make a habit or hobby out of them, but it's good to learn and find out how stuff works. Or at least I think so.

Speaking of learning new things, I'd like to share my experiences in the publishing world by giving a word of wisdom to the rest of you: when sending things out for publication, particularly via online submission, something you're going to want to avoid doing is titling the piece something like - oh let's just make up an example - "Rejection". Because what's going to happen is that you'll hear back from said publishers and said publishers will be kind enough to include your story title in the subject heading of their email, and you will see said email and leap to a very understandable though fortunately incorrect conclusion about what the contents of said email are about.

Not that this has happened to me, of course. [makes mental note to never use another story title that does not contain the words "Accepted" or, perhaps "Allow us to give you large sums of money, you goddess, you."]

So how's your day going?

You know the song "Happy Holidays"?

I only just realized this weekend that one of the lines in it is "Let the merry bells keep ringing".

For years now I thought the line was "Let the maribels keep ringing."

I figured maribels were some kind of flower, or maybe some part of a quaint 1950s Christmas custom that we don't do anymore so nobody my age knows what a maribel is.

I suppose "merry bells" makes sense too, but now I'll never know what a maribel looks like.

So far being 30 has involved eating cake, and being behind on my email. I'm not sure if this is indicative of what the entire year will be like, but I can't say I object to the first part of it at least.

Though I did not get a tattoo this weekend, as had been my wish for a while, I did at least contact an artist that I'd like to do it. I emailed him what I had in mind. Haven't heard back yet. Don't know if that's due to him being busy or him trying to figure out how to tell me I'm nuts if I think the design I want can work in the space I've given him, but I suppose we can only wait and see in order to find out.

Saw a documentary on the Hoover Dam last night which was more interesting than you'd give it credit for. I must admit, however, that at no time did I ever make the connection between President Hoover and the dam. I don't know why I thought all this time that the dam maybe had something to do with vacuum cleaners but nothing to do with the guy who was in charge when the dam was comissioned, but there we are.

In no segue whatsoever, I don't suppose any of my Jewish friends can give me a Hannukkah related vocabulary word that begins with the letter P? I asked my boss but he's such a lapsed Jew that his first guess was "Purim" and even I knew how wrong that was. So, any help? =)

ETA: Thanks romanyg for the extra userpics! =)

So last night I went to the Wednesday evening services at the Episcopal church that I've been trying out to see if it might be a new home for me. The service was very good, and imagine my surprise at a Bible quote being used which made me giggle, because apparently even the good book is involved in all the fandom wars going around lately (1 John 3:13-16, for thems who are curious enough to google it).

Afterwards I sat down with the priest and had a good long chat about religion and what I was looking for and what he felt his church could offer. But the highlight for me was finding out that yes, he and the choir master are in a relationship (Rio Suave me immediately cried out "I knew it!" and then quickly amended it with "Erm, I mean it looked like you would be a very cute couple.") and have been for 29 years. Moreover, the kid who I knew was the priest's son is actually their son, as they were able to legally adopt him together about 10 years ago or so.

So how frikkin cute is that?

Plus the two of them are just so adorable together. Like it's obvious that they're very vibey. If they weren't going out I would have totally told the priest that the choir master was into him. You could tell by the way they look at each other. So, again, too damned blessed cute.

Further adventures in my dorkitude of last night:

Priest: Are you interested in history?
Me: Yeah!
Priest: Well here are my diplomas and certificates from my religious education.
Me: Oh. You didn't have to show me those. I mean you've got the uniform, I was willing to trust that you knew what you were doing.
Priest: I meant I was showing them to you so you could see the archaic wording on them, for the historical perspective.
Me: Ohhhhh. Ahem. That's, uh, also interesting. Ahem.

Lucky for me God is forgiving and patient, that's all I can say ;)

So I have this cast iron rabbit on my porch? And I got it yesterday? And without fail, the two times I've come home (lunch and then at the end of the day) I've climbed up my steps and said to myself "Neat! A little animal has sat down on... oh, yeah. Duh."

I'd defend myself, but really how could I even try?

In other news, I'm jonesing for my camera to get here. It's a new toy and it's shiny and it's not here yet so I can push all the pretty buttons! Wah!

Also? Fellow fangirl lunamorgan is up for a $5,000 MTV Choose or Lose scholarship for her essay about Equal Marriage Rights Month. Check out her essay and vote for her, if you are so inclined. She's Jessica from Mableton, GA and if you like her essay then you vote #8 on the little poll on the bottom of the screen.

True story - I'm driving home for lunch, I see a sign, the sign says: "Giant plant sale"

My first thought: "What do you do if you don't want giant plants?"

THIS is what I'm working with, people! You see what I'm saying about the insanity?

That being said... ahem.

Basically my feelings re: virtual seasons are this. I'm all for them. I want tons. I want the virtual season equivilant of the Heathen Gods challenge, and anybody who wants to make a virtual Angel s6 should definitely feel free to pounce on me and ask me to join if they want to.

WRT what I can do for a virtual season, I have discovered based on past efforts that I cannot organize one. I suck at organizing writers, I'm horrible at it, any project that involves me and writer organization will die a horrible flamiing death. So I can't do that. If someone else wants to organize writers for a virtual season, well see my above comment about being happy to be one of the organise-ees. =)

Now I've already chatted with a couple of people about doing smaller versions of virtual seaons, like co-writing projects, and I'm definitely on board with doing those. That hasn't changed.

Then I got my new plot bunny. And I thought to myself "Self, why not try to see if you could do one on your own to boot? See if you've got the writing stones to put your money where your fannish mouth is."

And then we were back to giant plant insanity.

I don't know that I could pull it off, but at this particular point in time I'm at least open to brainstorming ideas to try. For those of you who've heard me natter on about the writing process before this would be the stage where I've got the idea and I'm writing and rewriting and rewriting it in my head, and we'll see if it sticks long enough and forms into something good enough for me to actually start hitting the keyboard. I don't wanna do this as a hyppogryff fic, I'd like this to be a bit more "real".

That being said - I wouldn't mind some brainstorming help. Though sadly this might involve spoilers for s5, 'cause if I'm doing it as an actual virtual season obviously the events of the final two (SHUT UP!) eps will need to be taken into account. OTOH I'm already fairly certain as to how I'll handle those, so mostly what I need is random suggestions for throwaway plotlines. (Can you tell I'm thinking this out as I type it, btw? Giant plants, I'm telling you.)

Okay, so let's try this - totally ignoring spoilers for the last two eps (meaning don't give away any spoilers in the comments, please), toss some ideas at me. What are one-shot eps you'd love to see? Mini-arcs you'd like? Plot points that'd be great to hit if possible? I'm not swearing I could do it all, but the brainstorming could be fun. And any ideas I steal use I'd definitely give credit for should I end up going ahead with this.

Also, who out there would like to contribute artwork? B/c I'd love for pictures to help with the visuals, and if somebody out there can imitate the WB's ad style (I'm talking about the black and white ads they put in TV Guide for specific eps) and wants to offer those mad photoshop skillz I might love you forever.

And... gotta go back to work. But will check in, promise. (Er - in my off time, of course. Not while on the company clock. Ahem.)

ETA: I've unfortunately realized that some things I can't help brainstorm with because I know how the final two eps go. So don't mind me if I keep mum on suggested plot points. Don't want to give the real season away after all =)