elrhiarhodan | Entries tagged with my life

At 10:23 this morning, I experienced my third earthquake (Albany in '83, the DC quake in 2011). At first, I thought it was just a really strong gust of wind, but then everything started to rattle and shake. It lasted about 10 seconds. Thankfully, nothing broke or fell and there seems to be no damage.

This one was a 4.8 on the Richter Scale, centered in New Lebanon, New Jersey, about 90 miles away.

Did anyone else feel it?

They tracked me to the ladies' room. Where I was in the middle of something, and then they (female) proceeded to tell me how URGENT their requirement was.

Sorry - your needs do not take precedence over my bowels.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/473736.html

Left the house at 6 am. Arrived at the meeting at 12:30. Left DC at 2:30. Got home at 9pm.

'nuff said.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/460950.html

Okay, I've been fighting off a cold for a few days. Stuffed and runny nose, sore throat, stomach issues. Typical winter bullshit.

Went to be on the early side last night - too tired from doing nothing all day. No problems at all falling asleep around 9ish. I usually keep the temp in my bedroom set at 65 or below. Prefer the warmth of the down blanket and the light comforter than the feel of hot air blowing across my face. And I actually keep a floor fan going too, all year round, because I like the white noise and the circulating air.

Only last night, around 11 pm, I woke up freezing. Shivering so hard my teeth were chattering. I checked the thermostat and even though it was set to 66, the room was 69 - certainly not cold. I put on socks and a loose pullover sweater, turned the heat up to 72 and took my temperature.

102.2

Not a good thing.

Took some tylenol, got back into bed and finally warmed up enough to go back to sleep. Another two hours and I was sweating like I was in a sauna. Fever was up to 104.

Made it through the night, woke up cold and shaky. Temp down to 99.9. No appetite (which means I'm really sick!) and splitting headache.

I would have called in sick except that I was already scheduled to be out of the office. Long overdue repairs to House Wonderful. Workers were here by 8:30.

I'll retreat to the bedroom until they finish up downstairs and then move back to the couch while they are upstairs.

As for the terrified part.

1 - A year ago, I was horribly feverish from the skin infection that sent me to the hospital for a week. Now, I don't have any massive, weeping edemas on my body (thank goodness), but I still can't help but flashback to that.

And worse:

2 - Almost 20 years ago, I had Hodgkin's Disease. One of the symptoms was night sweats and fever. I was diagnosed just as those symptoms appeared and it's still one of the most horrifying feelings I remember from that time. Waking up drenched in sweat.

Now I know that I don't have Hodgkin's lymphoma - one episode does not a re-occurrence of the disease make.

But still...

I have a touch of the flu at worst. I need to keep remembering that.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/429100.html

It's snowing again. Just flurries. MORE FUCKING GODDAMNED FLURRIES.

Was driving home last night and passed a church with a sense of humor.

It was too dark to stop and get a good picture, so I used a church sign generator. It was too funny (especially if you live in the northeastern United States) not to pass along.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/427842.html

I survived my vacation.

More to the point, I survived the trip home from my vacation. Got a call from the airline that my connecting flight from Dallas to New York was cancelled but was automatically rebooked on the next flight out. Two and a half hours later. And with the terrible storm predicted for tomorrow, it was possible that that flight could be cancelled, too (something about not having planes were they are actually needed). Thankfully, it wasn't.

But the weather gods were kind for once and provided a brisk tail wind that put us on the ground almost an hour earlier than scheduled.

House Wonderful was wonderful to see (need to do something about all the snow piled up around the mailbox, though). Bed was even better, and my pillows were the best of all!

Work this morning is crazy - but that's no surprise. TBH - it feels good to just sit still instead of being on my feet and walking and walking and walking for so many hours.

It's good to go away, even better to come home.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/425734.html

Have been feeling a little under the weather for a few days - more than just the winter blahs I wrote about on Friday. But my sister was coming to visit and I hadn't seen her since May, so I didn't want to succumb. Mind over matter and whatnot.

Except that I did. We met friends for dinner at my favorite Asian fusion place (where I take everyone and where everyone wants to go), Food was fine, but a few hours later, I wasn't.

Thankfully, the bathroom issues are done. Spent the day in bed and on the couch, too wiped out to do anything else. Folding laundry left me sweating and shaking. Also, running a low grade fever, which I rarely do.

Unless I make a miraculous recovery, I'm calling in sick tomorrow.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/422822.html

A recent dialogue with a dear friend reminded me of the importance of being grateful for all the small joys and great ones in life.

( Cut for heartfelt sappiness )

A recent dialogue with a dear friend reminded me of the importance of being grateful for all the small joys and great ones in life.

( Cut for sappiness and many beautiful Bomers )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/375143.html

I'm not one to (wo)man the barricades and I probably wouldn't have burned my bra, and try as I might, I can't seem to stop using the epithet, "bitch" (even when not referring to a female dog). But I do have my breaking point.

For those of you who don't regularly read the New York Times, Gail Collins is a regular columnist on the Op-Ed pages, both with the newspaper's resident conservative, David Brooks, and on her own. Her viewpoint coverage of the presidental campaign and election was intelligent and refreshing. And it didn't hurt that she never let an opportunity pass to talk about the infamous Romney Family Trip with the Dog Strapped to the Roof of the Car.

She's been following the attempted rehabilitation of former SC Governor Mark Sanford (who has given new meaning to the phrase, "Walking the Appalacian Trail"), and wrote a mostly amusing and informative Op-Ed piece about his recent win in the Republican primary vote for an open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. (For those who don't know/don't remember, four years ago, then-Governor Sanford disappeared from the State House. His aides were instructed to say that he was walking the Appalacian Trail. In fact, he was out of the country, involved in an extra-marital affair with an Argentian woman. His subsequent tear-filled confession and resignation was both pathetic and infinitely humorous).

There was something, however, that bothered me about the piece. It was the way she referred to Sanford's former mistress and now fiancee. She never referred to her by her name (Maria Belen Chapur), and at one point called her "the Argentinian squeeze."

I took the opportunity to comment on-line that I found this surprisingly declasse.

Before comments were closed, someone replied that I should "not be too critical of Gail, methinks you poke too quickly." After all, "For the Argentine lady to carry on such an extended affair with a married man, did she not lower herself to derision?"

My answer to that is, regardless of Senora Chapur's life choices (and having a relationship with a married man without his wife's knowledge or consent is a pretty poor life choice), she still shouldn't be reduced to a misogynistic slur.

Or maybe I am over-reacting.

You can read the whole editorial here: Remembering the Affair to Remember

( Screen cap of my letter and the reply under the cut. I've whited out my name and replaced it with )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/342231.html

A post you may want to avoid. ( And for that reason, no bonus Bomer )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/334393.html

Almost the middle of March, and ARG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where is time going? It's been over a month since I've really rambled here.

( Of course, if you make it all the way through, you've got the inevitable bonus Bomer. And maybe something else, too. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/333867.html

Hi, folks. Just Elr saying hello from the Great White North.

( Usual rambles about not a whole lot of stuff that matters. And the inevitable Bonus Bomer )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/326851.html

Hiya, folks! I'm back.

( Rambles and the inevitable bonus Bomer under the cut. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/324530.html

But I am home. In my own bed.

More tomorrow.

Love to you all.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/323665.html

And an update.

( Read more... )

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPad.

Hi folks.

Once again my deepest thanks to everyone, to flist friends who've kept up with my posts and given me much needed love and support, particularly with the terror from Tuesday.

Special thanks to coffeethyme4me, who has been an unending well of strength and compassion. I know a few of you have written get-well fic, which, sadly, I've not had the mental space to read. YET. I promise I will get to it all. And think you as well, to those who have sent private messages.

So, what's the deal?

The infection on my back is either staph or a MSRA, And its being treated with surgery tomorrow. The procedure won't take more than an hour.
The overriding issue is getting my blood sugar under control. And keeping it there. Which means a serious overhaul in my lifestyle.

Right now, I'm hot and uncomfortable, but no fever. At least I'm in a rosy Percocet haze.

When this is over and done, i will tell you about the crazy mother of the patient in the bed next to me.

Now for sleep.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPad.

Thank you, EVERYONE, for your kind thoughts and advice.

( More medical stuff )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/322667.html

Seriously not well. And I wish it was the flu

( Cut for medical ickiness )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/322322.html

I've been feeling a bit under the weather - nothing specific, just ended up totally vegging out yesterday. Woke this morning to a sore throat and a mild fever, so I called in sick. Ended up seriously sleeping for most of the day, and when not sleeping, watching Anthony Bourdain (and now everything I'm reading sounds like him - fun and not fun).

There are a few people I owe responses to (comment replies, beta reads, PMs). I'm not ignoring you, I'm just not coherent (it's taken a while to type this post). I'd like to blame the meds, but not on anything.

I will be back on line and more alive tomorrow.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/312816.html

And I'm not talking about the forty-minute meeting on how to use Sharepoint.

My office spaceheater, the thing that contributes to my health and well-being during the colder months of the year, just caught on fire.

It was only a small conflagration, but enough scare the shit out of me. Nothing else burned and the damn thing's already in the Dumpster.

It smells like burning chemicals and it's cold in here already.

Oh, pooh.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/312017.html

It was a good weekend. I did a huge grocery run at Costco, bought some stuff I really didn't need (but thought I deserved anyway). Plans were to make chili on Friday night, but I was just too tired when I got home. Also thought about going to the movies, but too tired for that too.

( Weekend rambles left Elr at home )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/308569.html

I've said many times over the last two weeks that things could have been so much worse for me. My home was undamaged, ALL my friends have been unstintingly supportive, and I always had a place to go when I needed light and shelter and (gross) bathing facilities.

( Hopefully, this will be the very last time I use my 'Fuck You, Sandy' tag. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/308131.html

BUT I HAVE MY POWER BACK!!!!

And with this freak storm, I may lose it again. I flinch every time the wind hits the house.

My bedroom is warm, I have clean sheets on my bed, I will have a hot shower soon.

I have survived.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/307563.html

( It's not fun. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/306850.html

We wait On The FUCKING Line.

And after gas, a shower. Because there is a miasma about me that rivals Pepe Le Pew.

And something that certainly DOESN'T stink.

Just because.

ETA: Well, that's three hours and twenty-seven minutes of my life that I won't EVER get back. My car is fueled, and better than that, I am clean. I have to say, the shower at the office is truly disgusting, but beggers can't be choosers, can they?

ETA2: I know I've been whining and complaining a lot since Monday, but just so you know, I am not unmindful of my good fortune. My problems are inconveniences, not tragedies. I can and should count my blessings:

My home is undamaged, and I can remain there in relative comfort.
When necessary, I have a place to go with light and heat and (gross) bathing facilities.
And best of all, I have friends who care about me very much.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPad.

Still no power, though everyone around me has it.

Running low on gas.

Haven't washed my hair since Monday morning.

But none of that matters because Matt Bomer has a very fine ass:

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/305739.html

Sadly, still no power.

( Much whining under the cut )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/305625.html

Well, I survived. It was terrifying at points, and I'm just not the type of person who gets scared by the wind and the weather.

Still no power, and given the amount of downed wires in my general area and the lack of power company crews working, I suspect it might be ~~weeks~~ ~~days~~ weeks before power comes back on. There's half a utility pole and a huge transformer just laying in the middle of a major road a few miles from my house.

At least there are two small orange cones around it, so people don't drive into it.

Right now, the scariest thing is the lack of power to the traffic control signals at major intersections. Roads that require four signals are half-blocked, so it's difficult to make turns. I guess the sheriff's department and the police department are doing their best work gathered at the one Dunkin' Donuts that has power (trufax - there were upwards of two dozen police and sheriff's dept cruisers parked there). No need to do intersection control when there's hot 'n fresh and tasty in the rack.

I'm at work (a normally 30 minute trip took over an hour) - apparently the office never lost power. So I'm warm, and will soon be caffinated. Not looking forward to getting home tonight, in the darkness.

Things that worry me when the power comes back on:

1 - I'll need to call a plumber to get my gas-fired hot water heater restarted. Why the pilot light went out, I don't know. I should have hot water because I have gas. This is troubling.

2 - The garage door locking mechanism doesn't work and I had to McGuyver the thing after disengaging the electric garage door opener. Also, can't reengage the thing - which should have kept the garage door locked anyway.

3 - The power will come back when I'm in work, the fridge will restart and the ice maker will freeze solid (I forgot to empty it).

I had no damage to the House, which is a wonderful thing. And hopefully, by Saturday, I'll be able to put my chair back on the front porch and enjoy a hot cup of coffee and the Saturday portion of the Sunday NYT.

And because I haven't been able to shower since Monday morning, I am a little stinky and disheveled.

Thank you all of your best and kind wishes - here's to hoping life gets back to normal really soon.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/304933.html

It went out for a few minutes, then came back.

That lasted for about a quarter hour, then BANG! The transformer went, and the whole neighborhood is dark.

Gonna take a nap, try to ignore the shaking house, the howling wind.

Wish me well, and to all my dearest friends caught in the mix, stay safe and dry and sane.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPad.

Been a while since I rambled...I think the last such post was when I was sitting in Penn Station and whining about my injured toe.

Believe it or not, the damn thing STILL hurts. It's most healed, but I banged it hard and there is just no way to keep off of it. And since it's no longer at all feasible to wear sandals in the office, my shoes don't help. Sometimes, the best part of the day is when I come home and slip into the fuzzy slippers.

( Let's see - what's going on? (plus the bonus Bomer) )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/304310.html

Office closed,and had big plans for today. V and I were to meet in the city and spend the day shopping and do the big girl lunch thing. I was looking forward to a day not centered around House Wonderful (not her forever name). Went to sleep early, got up for the usual 2am call of nature and WHAM!!!!

I walked right into my bed frame, jamming my big toe on the wheel and slicing it open. All in all, it shouldn't have been so bad, but right now, it's the definition of THROB.

Generally, nothing stops me from the shop, but it's kind of hard to walk when your whole leg is screaming in agony. I made it as far as 38th Street before calling it quits. Surrendering. Waving the white flag.

I've got another forty minutes until my train leaves.

It's funny, lived on Long Island nearly all of my life, but today was the first time I took a different branch of the LIRR. It is the pretty one, reminds me of the ride through Main Line Philadelphia.

Some housekeeping. I had promised to open Promptfest last week, but I failed. I've been trying to fill prompts from the icon meme and put more words on my Poly Big Bang. Accomplished some of both, so I think when I get home, I'll open Promptfest and figure out how to fill the remaining icon prompts in that context.

How does that sound?

And just for listening to me whine ...

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPad.

I find it very hard to believe, but it's October first. I'm wearing socks and shoes, a sweater and a shawl. I was COLD this morning.

Sadly, the leaves haven't started to change color here. I need to check with my New England-based sibling to see if she's got any fall color this year - last year was a complete dud.

( And still more about the House, and Writing. And a bonus LOL or two under the cut )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/301552.html

Somehow, that soliloquy from my favorite Shakespeare historical play seems oddly appropriate.

( Usual house and WC related rambles, plus a bonus Peter/Neal under the cut. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/300552.html

Well, the Verizon guy was here at 8 am SHARP! (Good thing I set my alarm). He worked for almost seven hours installing everything, and I have to say that I am totally pleased.

Didn't think I would be - I've been with that OTHER company for more years than I want to count.

Anyway, I digress.

New house is still wonderful and lovely and I've got my office computer set up almost the way I like it (I've got about a third less desk because the return wouldn't fit into the room - oh, well. Now it's going to be a matter of finding the important stuff that got packed, despite the explicit instructions, the stuff that ended up in the basement, the stuff that was put into the wrong room and now behind very heavy boxes.

But all in all, I am so damn happy I keep pinching myself.

And I know I've settled in because I had really good dreams last night. Tim DeKay dreams.

Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, ladies. It wasn't THAT type of good dream.

For some reason, I'm with a whole bunch of strangers (but Dream-Me seem to know them) AND Tim. And we're watching this imaginary episode where Neal is agonizing over his breakup with Peter, and he's ruminating about how beautiful Peter is, and how he looks so beautiful in blue. Matt's emoting like there's a Daytime Emmy at stake (there were tears and sobs and much tearing of the precious hair) and I'm enthralled.

I sort up spontaneously utter how Eastin's really playing up the slash, and Tim overhears me and says, "Yeah, you might see it that way." Of course, Dream-Me is highly embarrassed. But then Tim says, "And I do, too. See it that way."

Then I woke up.

Also have done a little writing - some domestic schmoop. Maybe I'll finish it tonight, but it won't be posted until after my Big Bang goes up, since it's a timestamp for that story.

I want to thank everyone again for all of your good wishes and kind thoughts. I will try to reply to your comments this week. I don't head back to work until Wednesday.

Love ya!

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/298232.html

I expect to be happy for a very, very long time.

First off, thank you to everyone who sent me their kind thoughts. The last two days have been difficult - long days without much sleep. Lots more physical exertion than I'm used to (which isn't a bad thing).

As I posted this morning, the move went well, but the days leading up to it were unnecessarily difficult. Someday I'll write fic about it. Because honestly, some of the problems were so unbelievable that they could only be fiction.

I'm actually sitting in Starbucks because I don't have internet service yet (one of the problems on Tuesday) and won't have until Sunday (ARGH!). So thank Jobs for my iPhone and iPad, and the powers that be that provide a strong 4G signal, so I have connectivity, but it's not the same as working on my laptop.

Anyway - I wanted to share a picture of my new home - this is my dining room:

The original color of the room was a dark teal, which is not a color I particularly liked. I had the dining room painted a cayenne red, which seems more fitting for a dining room, and it goes much better with my furniture.

My goal is to have everything unpacked and the house ready for company for Thanksgiving. That should be doable, right?

Again, my love and thanks to everyone.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/297810.html

Moving day is (purportedly) this Wednesday. In preparation of said moving day...

( A rambling list of shit I've done or need to do. Plus a bonus Bomer. )( A rambling list of shit I've done or need to do. Plus a bonus Bomer. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/297007.html

Hi there!

(I've been listening to too much Peter Gabriel these days - and "Big Time" is in heavy rotation).

Anyway - remember this post? The one where I whined about not having time to write my rough draft for the WC Big Bang?

Well, as some of you know, I had written a story that I realized I couldn't give to my WCP recipient (I misread the want/don't want list), but since I loved the story, and I still had a window of opportunity with the WCBB, I've submitted my draft. I won't have art for it (unless I do it myself), but while having art is nice, it's not essential.

That's not the reason for this post. I've been working on another story - tentatively titled "The Next Six Days" - it's the "Comfort" to the "Hurt" in Six Hours to Freedom. That story has officially reached Big Bang status.

What IS it with me? I whine that I can't write and THIS???? And it's not like I've had a lot of time on my hands these days.

I am not submitting this as a big bang, though - I hope to finish it tonight and get it posted by Monday.

::shakes head, WTF::

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/292550.html

( This post almost entirely consists of whining. And a bonus DeKay. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/287659.html

No, that is not lyrics to a song.

There are actually butterflies having sex in the sapling oak tree right outside my office window.

( Seriously NSFW )

I know nothing about butterflies - about what type of butterflies these are. But they are huge. The body is as about the size of my thumb and the folded wings are about the size of my palm.

Over the years, I've written some pretty freaky things, but I don't think I could write any fanfiction for this. I'll leave it up to my bestie,

rabidchild67to come up with something appropriately Peter/Neal-ish for this. After all, she's written A Crisis in the Life of an Echinoideic Spermatocyte.

Honestly, I much prefer these butterflies:

That bush is also right outside my office window. Come to think of it, it seems I have a lot of wildlife just outside my office. Remember my post about Shelob?

I'm okay with this. As long as they stay outside my office.

And I've shut my shades, got to give those creatures a little privacy.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/283265.html

Honestly, I don't know which picture makes me more excited:

( Pretty pictures under the cut )( Pretty pictures under the cut )( Pretty pictures under the cut )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/282401.html

1 - I saw The Avengers yesterday. I actually cut out of the office early (and fuck it, I'm not charging those three hours to vacation when I've already worked on average 10.5 hours a day for the month). I like it. A lot. But I have one HUGE question.

( Major spoiler )

And I feel no need to write Avengers fic. Whew. I had a mild impulse after seeing XMFC last summer, but that passed quickly.

2 - I am strangely blocked in all my writing endeavors. I can't even get a MMOM ficlet out today. Not a comfortable feeling, not at all. Been sitting in Starbucks, writing a sentence, deleting a sentence and repeating a sentence over and over.

3 - I looked at some houses, found something I liked. Now I need to call my broker and actually get inside the place.

4 - The regional manager of my local and favorite Starbucks (where I am right now) was in this morning. I told him that his staff was wonderful, the coffee was excellent and the furniture was falling apart. He said the place was due for a refresh. But he didn't say when. I'll bring a screwdriver and some wood glue tomorrow - because it's really uncomfortable to work at a table that rocks every time I type a letter.

5 - My word count is way down for the year. Only 140k since January.

6 - On an extremely positive note, I could be in Orlando right now, dealing with awful people, Mickey Mouse, and swamp ass.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/275465.html

And I couldn't be happier!

( Rambling rambles and a bonus Bomer under the cut )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/274253.html

Because never let it said I have an original thought in my brain, I'm following in the footsteps of my dearest

rabidchild67.

What am I working on?

1 - There are still 23 days left for the Merry Month of Masturbation, so that means 23 more ficlets. I may double up during the week and do a few for other fandoms (gasp!), but the first call on my stroke!fic will always be White Collar.

2 - Running Hot II - There's a prompt for Lewis, where Robbie gets the flu and James takes care of him. The prompter wanted a lot of UST. I am on that like white on rice, babe!

3 - WCpairing - I still have to pick my prompt. There are so many wonderful ones to chose from.

4 - White Collar H/C's Whumpapalooza - I'm going to expand on the Neal in Solitary thing I wrote last January, where he loses his mind. It'll be an A/U where he doesn't run and Kramer takes him to D.C. But Kramer needs to break him, first. Dun dun dun...

5 - White Collar Big Bang - It's a crossover with Lewis. Let's just say that Neal finds a long stolen manuscript that belongs to the University. For various reasons, he and Peter get to go to Oxford. They meet Robbie and James. Hijinks and UST ensue.

6 - The rest of The Cold, Empty Pulse of Night. It's mostly written, in neat 300 words bites.

I've also got a bunch of stories in progress:

1 - The coming out story for The Wonder(ful) Years 'verse.

2 - My own continuation of

dmk0064's Empathia 'verse.

3 - More Danger'verse

4 - A bunch of promised ficlets from my last two memes.

5 - Vet!Neal, my story for the AU Big Bang that I dropped out of. It's already 12k, but I just can seem to get back into it. Some of my friends, sadly, were skeptical about the idea and weren't too interested in reading it as a WIP, so that sort of makes me feel like no one's going to want to read it and why waste the energy. But my bestie, Coffeethyme, won't let it die. Maybe it will be done by Christmas?

6 - And the long-aborning Stripper!Neal fic. It's still sitting in my WIPs folder. Maybe I'll use Magic Mike as research.

Add in there Vampire World and all the timestamps I want to write for We Shall Come Home, the rest of Cat!Peter, and I may as well just give up any idea of having a life!

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/269230.html

It was a very brief trip. Left yesterday, caught the 9am ferry, was at my sister's office by noon.

Got the bad news at 12:10.

I cracked my left lower rear molar so badly, that I'm going to need (1) a root canal, (2) gum surgery, and (3) a crown.

Yeah, I'm 47 years old and these things should be expected, but the last new filling I needed was when I was 23. My teeth, my gums and my bone mass are better than your average 16 year old (my sister showed me comparative x-rays, it's true, it's true).

The problem is that I grind - it's not a stress thing (though I am stressed), but night time bruxism is caused by a misalignment of the upper and lower jaws. I should wear my nightguard, but I have small and low palate and a larger than average tongue.

Which is geographic.

Okay, way too much information.

So, anyway, teeth are cleaned. 37 year old filling replaced, dinner and dessert accomplished.

And we watched the most awful movie ever made - The Immortals. It wasn't that it just felt like an extended cut scene from a video game, it was pointlessly violent, totally ahistoric, badly acted, and just plain STUPID.

Took sister and b-i-l out for breakfast, gathered up my stuff, and headed home. Caught an earlier ferry, made the expensive mistake of stopping at the Cole Haan store at the outlet center (I had a major coupon) and got home about an hour ago.

Need to sort dinner and make it an early night.

Love to you all!

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/265342.html

I was going to whine a bit here, but decided not to. Is there anything less productive than complaining about a situation that's your own damn fault?

So - on to the more determinably positive stuff.

( 1 - I have found a supplemental fandom )

( 2 - I finally broke down and bought a new mattress. Yes, this is important news. )

( 3 - And speaking of sister, I will be away this weekend. )

( 4 - Have been working on a new project. )

( 5 - Other news. )

( 7 - Real life is kicking my ass. )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/265156.html

Ganked from many on my flist.

I am not going to include the more mundane things like computer/monitor/keyboard, telephone, desk lamp, printer, scanner, etc. because that stuff is BORING.

1 - Labordorite Bead. It's cracked on one side, thus unsuitable for use. But the unblemished side looks like a butterfly wing, blue/green/gold shimmer in the right light.

2 - Fat Man and Little Boy. Two rather phallic pieces of highly polished picture jasper. More accurately, one should be called Long Dong and the other, the Chode. I like to fiddle with them, practicing my handjob technique. TMI?

3 - Several storage boxes filled with Swarovski crystal beads. I've gone 180 degrees from my preferred materials (natural stone and pearls) in this most recent weaving craze. I used to be such a size queen, now it's all seed beads and 2.5mm bicones.

4 - My father's prayer book. Not surprising it's falling apart, and equally not surprising, it's never been read. This prayer book was issued by the National Union of Jewish Service Men for soldiers and sailors during WWII, and I found it amongst his papers shortly after his death. It's made out of tissue thin paper and the glue holding cover to the spine has dried out. The only page that is dog eared is The Mourner's Kaddish.

5 - A holiday card from a dear friend. It reminds me that I am never alone and I am loved.

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/262261.html

So, I cleaned out my Gmail inbox, and it's empty now. No new mail. No old mail.

Zero Inbox is actually depressing.

I'm running the DVD commentary meme today (here - at this entry). Would love some email from you asking me about my fic.

Or you could just say hello here, that would be nice. I love you all and would be happy to engage in conversation.

Here's a bonus Bomer...

And a bonus DeKay...

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/254237.html

Not been feeling too hot. Actually took off from work yesterday - I needed the sleep. It helped, but not with everything. I think I need to start the prilosec again. My stomach and esophogus are not happy.

Here are a few highlights from the rest of my life, recently.

Masterlist

Went to update my Masterlist on LJ and was left with a WTF? I've known that I've been close to the upper limit on post size for a while, but apparently when they put in the new code, they took away the resource that tells you how long your post is and how much needs to be trimmed. Thank you again LJ, you soul-sucking SOB.

Which justifies my next announcement/decision. I am not going to maintain two masterlists - one with links to LJ and one with links to DW. It'a all going to be the posting links on DW from now forward. And I will slowly replace the LJ links with the DW links when I have time.

I am tempted to simply delete the contents in the LJ post and just put a pointer to the DW post. Or maybe simply replace the cut tags in the LJ post with links to the DW post. Does anyone have any suggestions?

The Bracelet

I didn't feel up to writing yesterday, so when I finally got out of bed, I watched a few episodes of Granada Sherlock Holmes on Netflix (The Empty Room, The Dancing Men and The Blue Carbuncle). And I worked on the bracelet.

( Click for new picture )

I've made significant progress since I took the scan - it's about double the size. I'm now on yellow and soon to start green (the highlight colors in the center of each flower bead).

Fic

I have a bit of a problem, I don't know what I want to write!

There are two WIPs, both are A/Us.

The first one is for my A/U bingo square - Veterinarians. I've got about 10k in on this one - all from before I left for vacation. I love the story, know where it's going, but I can't seem to settle back into writing any of it.

The second is a de-aged Neal fic that is so angsty, even the thought of it makes me depressed. If I were to write it, I'd need to write it with two endings. There's only about 2500 words written, and I wouldn't feel to bad abandoning it. But since I'm committed to writing a de-aged and/or kid fic by the end of March, I'll need a new prompt or two (hint hint).

Long Weekend Ahead

I'm off on Monday, and don't have anything to do this weekend. Do you know how good that feels? No open house - so I can sleep late, get some laundry done and COOK! I may haul back in my crockpot (it's been in storage since the summer) and make some chile or short ribs or something. Or maybe the thing I used to do with chicken, whole grain mustard and 16 other spices served on top of polenta. Hmmm, yummmm.

And then there is THIS: Private Romeo, a retelling of Shakespeare's tragedy set in a military academy. The trailer - OMG - the trailer. DIES FROM THE TRAGEDY - DIES FROM THE HOTNESS.

( Clicky for trailer )

I am planning on going into NYC on Monday, so I may just see it, except that it's only playing on 12th Street at really, really awkward hours. GRUMBLE.

Not much else going on...looking forward to next week's White Collar. Enjoying the longer days (it's so damn nice to drive home when there's still a little daylight) and wishing I was feeling a bit more peppy.

Oh, well. Can't have everything.

And just because you're so wonderful to wade through this, a bonus Tatt DeBomer:

( Our boys, having a cup of coffee )

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/248967.html

I had (and still have) this long (very teal deer-ish) post on my holiday weekends. But those are now the distant past, so I'll sum up:

Christmas Weekend: Quiet, finally got to sleep in. Didn't get a lot of writing done, but got a lot of relaxing in. Was half a good Jew, had Chinese food but no movie on Christmas Day.

New Year's Weekend: A lovely, lovely time was had with mah peeps,

jrosemary,

rabidchild67 and

lauracollared. We were having so much fun, the year changed and we didn't even realize it. I am still missing them.

This weekend: Well, the first half of it. Had to get up early, open house at noon but someone wanted to see it early (10 am), which meant I had to be up and dressed and the place presentable by 9:30. Which scuttled the sleep-late plans. I was up and out by 9. And the freakin' Boy Scouts had taken over my Starbucks. Not the boys themselves, but all the scoutmasters. They took EVERY DAMN TABLE AND CHAIR in the place. For the record, I don't like the BSA - they are government-supported bigots.

And freakin' douchbags. This isn't a convention center, it's a Starbucks (and I'm fully aware that staying at the same table for 5 hours is probably just as obnoxious).

But they left and I got to work. And finished my polyamory big bang story.

::twirls with happiness::

It's 51k. That's only topped by We Shall Come Home, and it didn't take me a year to write. The story is in beta now, and it will have lovely, wonderful artwork by

weaselett. Because it's a big bang, I can't string out the posting, so it will go up, complete, on January 23. Nothing like starting the year off with a nice, long, angsty story.

I have to say I was a little sad when I posted the final chapter of We Shall Come Home (the link above is to the AO3 version, which can be downloaded and read at your leisure), it was like my baby had grown up and left me without waving goodbye. I've gotten lots of lovely feedback, and will be responding to all of it - even for the past chapters. There are a few timestamps in the works (and over 5k of story that I had cut), so you'll be seeing what happens to Peter, Neal and Elizabeth, as well as a few of the OCs I created, over the next few months.

My next projects are to finish the 2011 State of The Fic monstrosity, the fic-can-ukah extras that I promised, and then sink my teeth into a few ideas I have percolating.

I do have to say, it will be nice to have new canon. January 17th can't come soon enough!