Here's where I've continued this discussion: labels and sex and gen versus shipper part two.


( round one, 1:47 p.m. February 20 )

( round two 3:10 p.m., February 20 )

I. Bones

Why do I love Bones so much? I'm not a big David B. fan (I can't even spell his last name without looking, and tonight I am too lazy to look) and I know Bones is pretty poorly written and presented most of the time, but--I love it.

And now it's up against Lost, which I also love, so I will never be able to watch it (except tonight, when Lost was a repeat of an episode I own so I didn't have to watch it [though I was tempted--I love Hurley]). What's worse is I really want to watch next week's, based on the promo, but I think Lost is new, too, and it will trump.

Times like these I wish I could either tivo it (really, this is the first time I've ever honestly wanted a tivo), or download it. I am already sure I will buy the DVD set (if they make one). I just wish I knew why I like it so much.

II. Bass

In less insane (and slightly embarrassing) love notes, tonight I learned to walk the bass. No, this is what my book calls it, and Mom and Dad both call it, so it is what I will call it, whether it's actually walking or not. I have had it less than a week and I know a bunch of rhythms and notes and can walk it a little. Woo.

Of course, I also feel like an idiot much of the time. I know some of you (at least one of you) plays the bass, yes? (data_warrior, you do, don't you?) What was it like when you started to play? How did you learn? Any suggestions or stories?

I remain in love with it. Plus I am not reading the notes and playing them. I've not talked about it here, but my whole life Dad has been trying to get me to learn to play by ear. I'm tone deaf, so this has been a futile activity, helped in no small part because everything else I play I learned to play note by note, not memorizing rhythms and patterns and fingerings. (I mean, eventually I did memorize fingerings on the piano and the clarinet, but I did that by playing off of the written music.) I am not doing that with the bass, I am learning to listen and feel (and watch, I'll admit I spend a lot of time looking at my left hand--but not all the time), and I am very, very proud of the progress I've made in this completely new style of playing and instrument.

My fingers continue to not hurt, just be numb at the tips. The first few days my left wrist hurt a lot, because it wasn't used to being held at that angle, but it's feeling a lot better now. I am having trouble playing standing up, not because I can't play standing up, but because of the way I don't trust the (gorgeous) strap, and I try to hold it up with my hands (mostly my right hand) and play at the same time, which puts a lot of pressure on my wrists. I think maybe the strap is adjusted too long for me, and I might be able to solve some of the problem by shortening it.

I'll also admit I spent a little bit of time pretending to be a rock hard bass player tonight, I was so proud of what I accomplished, but I swear there was no fake-stage performances and certainly not in front of the big picture window. *ahem*

I need a bass icon.

III. Bending-your-ear

Yeah, okay, I'm stretching with that section header.

I have two XMM stories to finish and post and then I can sign up for this year's remixredux. One just needs a final edit, and one needs to be finished tonight, edited tomorrow, and posted Friday morning. Or something like that.

Must go edit now. And then write. And then sleep. I'm so tired.

No time before bed, because am shattered!

But. I had a bad day at work (which hey, I suddenly realize was like fandom discussions coming alive for me, literally, because it was all "I am not smart enough because I am a woman and do not have a penis and obviously know nothing about construction or automobiles" bad stuff, which I have already ranted about elsewhere and will not rant about here any more than I just did and don't hate me because I don't have a dick, okay?) and I want to make a list of good things. So. Good things.

Good Things on Tuesday:

+ Supernatural Squee. Saw all the twists coming like a mile off, but still I squee. And I am in love with Dean. Oh yeah.

+ Received the CD from crimson_keys. We are doing our own personal fic exchange for Christmas (because she is the best adopted fannish sister in the whole world, she is writing me a The Lost Boys/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory crossover and I didn't even have to ASK she just started writing it [which means I'd better rent the new version, so I am all up to date, yay netflix]) and she sent me music to inspire me. (Her request of me was to write a Sprite/Marko story; Sprite is an original character from my "The Protector Series" a long set of stories about The Lost Boys.) I think I have found the base song for the story, though I am waiting to make a decision until I a) listen to the rest of the CD (because I am on #5 of 19) and b) get the actual track listing so I can look up lyrics. However it has a specific line which caught my attention: "scorching the blood in my vampire heart"

+ Interesting, intelligent, thought-provoking conversation even in the middle of fights and anger and unnessary accusations. This is the part of fandom I like, when people say things which make me both want to respond and feel completely out of my league when it comes to saying something equally intelligent, etc. back.

+ I'm reading The Ice Limit by Preston and Child. It is one of the few books of theirs I haven't read, and I picked up a first edition at a local used bookstore awhile back. So far it's interesting. I prefer the Pendergast books, but I think this will be good too.

+ While I didn't do NaNo exactly, because I'm the middle of rewriting some original fiction, I did set myself a goal of 50,000 words this month, mostly because I have to do what thestalkycop does. It's important. As of last night, I've reached my goal, and actually as of today I'm at 53,000+ so I am both pleased and excited. Also a little intimidated, because now I have to keep doing this, since I know I can.

+ I'm about to go crawl into my toasty bed and watch Family Guy before I sleep. Nice.

I'm not certain which is crazier, writing 4,000 plus words of fanfic (so far) for a novel which not only hasn't been published yet, it isn't even complete yet (I can do this because a) I'm a mind reader and b) it's au fic anyway) or friending random people I find through the rec-a-friend memes. Well, that second part isn't so crazy, except I never know what to say either in the memes or to introduce myself to new people (really I'm shy, I swear), so that's kind of weird.

Also, for the first time in like, ever, I'm writing romantic comedy. For a book which hasn't been published or even finished. I frighten myself today.

Plus I cannot stop listening to the following songs:

Vienna Teng "Harbor"
Des'Ree "I'm Kissing You"
Bif Naked "Lucky Ones"
Steve Harwell "You'll Never Catch Me"
Cake "Short Skirt, Long Jacket"
Robots In Disguise "Turn It Up"
Collective Soul "Better Now (Cursed Mix)"
Bowling for Soup "Little Red Riding Hood"

That would be the working soundtrack for the rom-com fanfic for the novel which hasn't--well, surely you know how the story goes.

I should be writing original fiction (and I have, about 3000 words on it) or some of the fanfiction things I'm signed up to do for real, working fandoms, not my little fandom of one, but. This was fun and relaxing. I take what I can get, I've needed fluff for days now, I'm ill and my nose is almost rubbed raw.

I think I need dinner and more sleep.

A) There is just not enough Gambit/Bill Weasley in the world. Why? I have SO MUCH LOVE for those who have written it (for me or not for me), and especially for kphoebe who took a little visual lust thing from me (red-hair porn, oh my lord) and turned it into a fabulous series of intelligent, creative writing.

(Also for argentine_fic who teases me with mentions of her Gambit/Bill. Mmmmm.)

B) Why is it when I have so much to write already, I am driven with the need to write Jayne/Kaylee, before, after, and during the movie? Why? Well, maybe not after, but definitely before, and maybe even before the series, and there's one scene during which won't get out of my head.

C) Weekends are for fanfic, I've decided. I'll write original fic during the week, and then I can write as much as I want on the weekends. (Well, original fic, too, because I can't stop, but.)

D) I used to hate candy corn. The guys at work mix them with peanuts. I hate peanuts. However, the salt on the candy corn makes them so good. Mmmmmm. I want some right now. I don't like salt and I don't like too sweet and why do I love it so much?

E) Family Guy cracks me up.

F) Oh fuck, the Cards lost. It's going to be dark in the office tomorrow.

G) I've got to get to bed. I'm exhausted. Last night I couldn't sleep and ended up getting up to write a fabulous scene for "Queertet Revisited". Now if only I could get other things written. It's almost the weekend, I'll get there soon.

La Scala Choir singing "I Touch Myself" is--well, I'd say the best music in the world, but it's not. However, it is absolutely fabulous and it is the best version I've heard of the song. Choral performance of a masturbation song? Brilliant.

I have not slept. I am only a little tired now. Instead I have cleaned, watched a disgusting number of fanvids, read Baby-sitters Club fanfic, and am currently writing my parts of the Homecoming storyline in "Queertet Revisited" which I love.

Over holiday, thestalkycop and I came up with how the story is going to end. We practically crowed, like good Pans, we were so thrilled with our decisions. It's a delicious storyline (well, storylines, really) and we will tie them all up nicely. Go us.

We've also been talking about songs for various characters. This was way more fun in person, in front of the pool (or in the pool), while smoking flavored cigarettes. Damn it, why can't we be on holiday always? Oh right, because then it would be real life.

Much better real life if we lived together all the time. I am so going to go be an illegal alien someday and crash on their couch.

Somehow, in all my (lack of) organization, I though the Down and Dirty Buffy Femmeslash stories were due Saturday. Oh no, they're due Friday. I've finally completed mine and sent it to the beta, (thank you so much darling!), but oh, I'm nervous about it. Would anyone else like to take a look?

Lost tonight thrilled me to no end, for one reason. Well, all right, many reasons, but mostly:

( spoilers ahoy, slight as they may be )

All in all, I really just loved the whole episode and I cannot wait for next week. Should be a good week, too. Only three and a half days of work before a four and a half day weekend, Lost finale on Wednesday (two hours!), Serenity on Thursday, T.'s graduation on Friday, bbq on Saturday, and then sleep, providing I don't decide to run up to Wiscon at the last minute. You never know.

I'll probably stay home, sleep, and write though. I need it.

Ghosting has become over 5,000 words.

I should remind myself to post about feedback, because I'm in an interesting position right now. Also, feedback thoughts led to writing style thoughts, and I should post about that, too. However, I need to be in bed asleep as of two and a half hours ago. Tomorrow is going to suck.

Sleep now.

I'm looking for someone to beta my comica obscura fic. Unfortunately, I had to scrap my first idea, because it just would not come together, and the stories are due on the 23rd by midnight eastern time (which is technically the 24th I suppose). It shouldn't be much more than 1000 words and I should have it done by early tomorrow afternoon. If anyone not involved in comica obscura would have the time to look it over that night and do a quick turn around (technically, I wouldn't need it back until noon central time on the 23rd because I'll be at work), I would really appreciate it. I'm not looking for an in-depth beta, just someone to make sure it makes sense and that I haven't ruined the character completely. I've never written this particular character before.

I can't give any more details here, but if you're interested, drop me a comment with your email address and I'll email you more information, so you can decide if it's something you'd like to read.

cabellicious and kphoebe, I think it's a story each of you would like, but I know you're both very busy. (And, in Cabell's case, on vacation, so I'm pretty sure that one's shot.)

I can't believe I wasted so much time trying to make the first idea work. Damn it.

I'll owe anyone who can do this a big favor.

Anyone know what raw pork tastes like?