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August 26th, 2008
 | 09:35 pm - my life as dust in the wind
Random Thought #1
The movie Constantine just started on cable. No matter how often I see it or remind myself that Keeanu plays Constantine, I persist in seeing, in my mind's eye, My Perfect Casting. Which is Callum Keith Rennie. I mean, how awesome would Constantine have been if they'd just had CKR as the lead. Pretty damn awesome, that's how. Also, I'm gonna miss the end of the movie (this viewing) so's I can see the repeat of Eureka. Eureka is definitely one of my happy places.
Random Thought #2
And speaking of happy places. I find myself desperately wanting to spit in the face of every executive at MGM and SciFi. And stomp on their insteps. And ... and other things. My show!!!!! Oh, my show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *weeps*
Not-So-Random Thought #3
If the cancellation of My Happiest Happy Place, aka My Show, aka Stargate Atlantis, were not enough to induce spitin'n'stompin' RAGE in me, then the whole demographics trope would. Because SciFI (and SF) is obviously guy stuff. And the only way women will watch is if the show is a soap opera. And the only way teenagers will watch is if it's a young'n'sexy cast doing 90210-style soap opera. And there must be a focus on characters. So let's cancel the show with the characters that viewers (whatever their age and/or gender ID) love and toss together a new show with characters we don't know and...
*R*E*T*U*R*N* *o*f* *R*A*G*E*
Life really is pain. And then the bastards cancel you. *pouts* Of course, I could end being shown up by TPTB producing another SGA-level fannish love for me. Just, I'm thinkin', it's not really all that likely, is it.
Um, yeah. More later....
~cross-posted per usual~
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-shiver.gif) wibbly
Current Music: Constantine on FX
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August 11th, 2008
| 10:53 am - my life as a solitary estivating critter :: four, five - still alive!!!
Yes, I really am still around. Well, not so much with the flist lately, more main-lining fic. Part of the post-kitty grief process.
Still trying to do the grand housecleaning / organizing / sorting / filing / weeding-out project. It's going slowly because of my current lack of stamina - and also my post-graduate work in applied procrastination, in which I'm pretty much ABD.
No new kitties yet. I am lonely. House is lonely. Kitties will come after grand housecleaning-etc project. Sometimes I think that'll never happen.
Gotta go now. Physical therapy this morning. Yay?
ps ... I seem to have screwed up and will not be attending VividCon this year. Or getting the DVD. ::major frown-y face:: I actually can't afford the full VividCon experience anyway (this year, due to misc sudden/unexpected expenses), but I'd enjoy coming out for some visiting and maybe lunch/dinner. Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?
Repeat - anybody interested in getting together for a visit, dinner, whatever at VividCon this weekend? I'm fairly close to the hotel via expressway (wouldn't want to try to walk it even in excellent health), so it's not a big deal getting there.
For that matter, any of Chicago area fandom want to get together with me sometime? I have no kitties and no face-to-face fandom activities, aka I've gone a bit stir-crazy. Lonely ... loooonely ... looooooonely....
pps ... x-posted in the usual places
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Current Music: weather report
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June 20th, 2008
| 11:34 am - Festival!
And best wishes to all those dealing with the recent flooding in Iowa and
other parts of the Midwest. We were very lucky this time in Chicago proper.
FYI, the links lead to a summary of areas affected and some discussion of a fannish fund raiser.
x-posted, et cetera, et cetera
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May 27th, 2008
| 03:44 am - my life as an empty nester :: I don't like living alone
Many thanks and much gratitude to those who commented on my last two entries, those dealing with the death of my beloved Max. The sympathy and kind words were much needed and much appreciated. I do want to reply to each of you individually, but now that I'm finally ready to deal, I'm in a minor time crunch, aka I need to get back to bed now and tomorrow (later this morning?) is my regularly scheduled head shrinkage plus assorted errands. So anyway, soon.
This is the first time since (counts on fingers) 1980 that I haven't shared space with cats. It's - weird.
I'm doing pretty well in general, except for those random moments when I think I see Max out of the corner of my eye - or expect to see him in some particular situation, And occasionally I'll be distracted and momentarily forget he's gone, then get a little gut punch when I remember. Like, earlier this evening, I had a "need kitty cuddles, gonna go find Max now" moment almost simultaneously with remembering. It's given me a new ... appreciation? for the term cognitive dissonance. Wow.
Current plans are to do a thorough housecleaning and make a stab at decluttering as well, then start checking the shelters for adoptables. I'm hoping for a pair of youngish males, maybe brothers, to come live with me. Of course, I'll probably melt for every cat in the place and try to take them all home with me. And if it's a mixed shelter, all the dogs and bunnies and ferrets and guinea pigs and etc etc etc. I've never had a snake or a lizard, and it's been ages since I've had fish or birds....
Er, yeah. Animal lover here. Missing the fur (and feathers and scales and-) rather badly right now. And at the pace I'm setting for my housecleaning so far, I'll be lucky to be done by this time next year. *sigh* No, my pace will pick up once the initial forays start to show (inspirational) results.
Okay, bed time. Until later...
cross-posted etc etc
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-though.gif) pensive
Current Music: fan motors
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May 14th, 2008
| 10:56 pm - He was such a good cat.
Came home from the vet alone. (Well, LSO was with me.) I held him through the end, petting him and being there with him.
I'm still not ready to go into details. Just ... progression of what I've talked about the past few months.
Several of the vet techs came in to say good-bye to him - he'd charmed them all with his cooperativeness, friendliness, and gorgeous pet-able coat. The vet called him a great cat and noted how hard he'd fought against succumbing to his illness. And he really did fight, he held onto life so hard and was such a bright spirit.
He was sweet-tempered and strong-willed. So much not a lap-cat, he preferred to lay beside me - or on the ottoman between my feet if he wanted some cat-belly worship.
When my girl cats were still around, he took good care of them. He would jump in to play peace-maker when Piet would go after Gozzer. And he always made sure that I put out fresh food at the correct time (necessary since I'm kinda absent-minded), which he'd then taste before heading off to let them eat in peace before he'd come back for his portion.
He loved corn-on-the-cob and would demand his share when we had it. I once looked over a cob I was taking a bite out of to find a big pink kitty mouth diving in for a bite from the other side! I used to leave bits of corn on my cob, then put it in a big plate and set it on the floor for him to gnaw on. He would go after those corn cobs the way a dog goes after a big meaty bone. Often, he'd end up with one paw planted on the cob to hold it in place while he chewed and pulled corn from it.
He liked company when he ate, though we didn't really realize that until he became the only cat in the house since the company of another cat was enough. As he became ill and his appetite became a bit iffy, and because my kitchen isn't really set up as a place to hang out, he was thrilled that I started taking his bowl into the living room so he'd have company while he was eating.
He had a voracious/compulsive appetite for PLANTS. Not just actual living plants, but plants made from plastic, silk, paper, whatever! I remember LSO taking some flower arranging courses at the local community college many years ago. She'd stop down in my apartment (before heading upstairs to hers) to show me her latest classroom creation. She'd be standing in front of me talking about class while holding the arrangement, waving it around as she gestured to illustrate or emphasize her words. And Max would be poised at her feet, stretching up or crouching down, occasionally making a jump for it as the arrangement moved - and she'd be totally oblivious until I couldn't hold in the laughter anymore.
I also remember one Christmas soon after I'd moved back from Florida. I generally don't decorate for the holiday and LSO decided to hang a big (fake) poinsettia wreath on the inside of my big front picture window. And how we then both watched, with that horrified train-wreck-in-progress feeling, as Max climbed to one back corner of a living room chair and launched himself up towards the wreathe. And the middle of the picture window. And the sharp-edged metal radiator cover, with a six-inch gap between it and the windowsill, below. Oh. My. Gods!!! He (and the window and the wreathe) escaped unscathed, though he tried two more times before we could get the damned thing down. Once it was relocated to the outside of the window, though, he lost interest in it.
Then there was the abiding allure of the six foot tall bookcases in the dining room. Especially the one off by itself on the far side of the door from the other two. And the gut-wrenching sight of Max launching himself across the gap and, because of his size and the "snowshoe" fur sticking out between his paw pads, sliding across the top of the bookshelf until he crashed into the wall behind it (just before sliding off the other end). He liked to sleep up there for hours. He also liked to stretch out and twist onto his back in his sleep. Before he got the hang of it, there were several disturbing thump-crashes as he fell off.
He also owned me when I was in the bathroom. Especially when I was, er, specifically occupied. He would demand petting and lap time (the only time he demanded lap time) and brushing and spent a lot of time winding around my ankles/calves purring hysterically before falling asleep between my feet. When the girls were still around, he would chase them away if they showed any inclination to join us. And he wouldn't take a closed door for a do not enter/disturb. One time, my mom was trying to do something in my kitchen and he was writhing around on the floor in there trying to get some belly worship, so I walked into the bathroom and said "oh, hello Piet" (even though Piet was innocently sleeping on the other end of the house) and there was an audible *thump* as each end of him went a different way trying to get to his feet before he came running (suspiciously! possessively!) into the bathroom to protect his territory.
It hasn't even been 12 hours yet and I miss him fiercely. The apartment is packed full of bittersweet moments that, though they'll mellow with time to cherished memories, right now make me ache. He was such a good cat.
I want my kitty.
[cross-posted etc]
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-weepy.gif) sad
Current Music: Criminal Minds
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| 12:27 am - life as an onion : bracing for a good cry
I've been ... very absent from posting and comments. I have a really hard time being around people and/or communicating when I'm upset. That includes being around people online. I've done only a very little reading of the flist and a teeny-tiny bit of the commenting thing. I've been pretty darn upset lately.
Because Max is not doing well. There's been slow decline, small rallies, more slow decline, recent bursts of energy, and a good blood test result just yesterday. Then things just....
I'm hoping the vet can squeeze us in sometime tomorrow. I'm not sure if Max'll be coming home with us though. I don't know if this thing (skipping details cause I just can't get into it right now) is a minor thing, or if Max is giving me The Sign that it's his time.
He's such a good cat.
[cross-posted and all that]
Current Mood: unhappy
Current Music: my laptop's fan base ... that came out just wrong
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April 19th, 2008
| 07:27 am - my life as a wombat :: seriously, people!
If there is one piece of fannish wisdom that the fanfic-writing corner of fandom needs to forever take to heart, it's that your beta reader actually needs to know something about spelling, punctuation, and grammar. For instance, I can justify using the Oxford comma in the previous sentence but does your beta even know what an Oxford comma is?
This brief moment of snarkiness brought to you by my recent encounter with the following: This chapter has now been ebta'd by [name withheld]. For a moment, I found myself wondering, "what's an 'ebta'?!" before reason reasserted itself.
Seriously, people!
cross-posted and all that...
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-nasty.gif) bitchy
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April 16th, 2008
| 11:44 pm - my life as a closet monster: sometimes ya just gotta
crossposted, et cetera
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Current Music: L&O:CI syndicated
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April 2nd, 2008
| 01:54 pm - my life as a couch potato :: new episodes coming
( Now that the writers' strike is over, new episodes are upcoming. (Continental US only; times shown in Central.) )
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-asleep.gif) sleepy
Current Music: ...mid-day news...
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March 7th, 2008
| 06:22 am - my life as a sloth: pretties & messes
Today was a Bad Day in that I was grouchy and irritable and restless and depressed and Just Plain Blah. Therefore, I think I need a happy thought.
( Rodney. Rodney Rodney Rodney Rodney. Xander Xander Xander. Krrrrrrrrychek. Methos. Pony!!! )
Ah yes. *happy sigh* Yes, that did it nicely.
So, I gather there was an LJ outage of some sort today (aka Thursday)? I was reading fanfic, some of it on LJ, and never noticed. Hmm. So what happened?
I figured out what the problem was displaying those pictures (the previous background images thing) in my last post. I somehow had changed the settings to "private" over in my LJ Scrapbook, so they wouldn't display - except when *I* looked at my journal, which made me think it was working okay. While digging around to figure out the problem, though, I realized that I'd forgotten there was another background image that I'd used for a while, ( Reveries by Maxfield Parrish ).
Currently, I'm still using the really crude Windows Paint for all my image manipulation needs (backgrounds, icons, happy thoughts, etc). Someday, I'm going to have to break down and learn how to properly install and use The Gimp. It's been highly recommended by the flist, it's free, and I've downloaded it. It's just *sigh* sometimes I hit this invisible mental wall in my computer-puttering where I just can't "get" something. Eventually, something or someone gives me the boost I need and I'm over that (invisible mental) wall (and on to the next), but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe I just need to devote an afternoon to just slogging away at the FAQs and Help manuals (all online) and such.
Max, LSO and I are hanging in there. We're all involved in the Kat Torchure of giving Max his meds/fluids and it's kinda hard on all of us. LSO hasn't so much as gotten a scratch yet and she's not the one who has to shove a ginormous 2 inch needle into her dearly beloved baby boy, so she's just being a wuss. Max really doesn't like that needle, though, and I just can't blame him. He's due for another doctor visit soon, though, and maybe I can get some hints on improving my technique or using a different spot to stick him. I somehow doubt that he's gonna get taken off the sub-Q fluids, though. Also, I worry.
I've kinda decided to not bring a new kitty into the house yet. The place is a mess and needs a cleaning from top to bottom. I can mostly trust Max not to do stupid things with my piles of stuff, but a new cat is an unknown quantity. Spring Cleaning will be starting now-ish, though how long it will last is unknown. It depends on my health (currently okay but could be better) and fitness level (currently not so great, especially with the latest weather-related delay in starting PT) (which, okay, has been further delayed by a combination of procrastination, depression, and inertia). I'm tempted to say "if" Spring Cleaning is ever over, just from past experience with me, but I'm gonna hold onto hope instead and say *when* it's over. So, when Spring Cleaning is over, there will be new thoughts about new kitties. ::knock on (clean!) cat litter::
Current Mood: slightly improved
Current Music: Max purring next to m--; never mind, he moved *sigh*
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February 28th, 2008
| 04:43 pm - my life as a spinster: Happy Leap Day & Goddess bless Sadie Hawkins!
Tomorrow is February 29th, Leap Year Day, the day created to adjust the calendar so it kinda matches reality. One of the traditions that's grown up around Leap Year Day is that today is the day that it's "okay" for single girls to ask single guys out - or even propose. How shocking! Those forward hussies!!! [/sarcasm]
Sadie Hawkins Day, on the other hand, is a yearly event, but in my mind the two are inextricably entangled. Sadie Hawkins, fictitious icon (not the LJ kind) that she is, is kinda the matron saint/demi-goddess of spinsters. Since I identify as a spinster, rather proudly, in a "reclaiming of the term" kinda way (like how I also identify as a Witch), that means tomorrow is a once-every-four-years extra holy day (in addition to the Quarter & Cross-Quarter Days of the Neo-Pagan calendar) for me. Whee!!!
Anyway, I'm taking advantage of all this Adjustment/Leap Year/Spinsters-Run-Wild Day to actually make myself post something, thereby finishing out the month with more than one post (aka two posts). I may even post more before the month ends tomorrow! OMG the shock! How will our systems survive?! Though, wherever LJ's time is set from (Greenwich? elsewhere?) usually means that the new day (month) starts *hours* early.
I'm doing okay - not great, but okay. LSO has been feeling her age recently, but some of that is weather-related, too. And Max is hanging in there with style. The vet tells us that his latest blood test shows that his various test values are still of the scary (though there has been some very minor improvement), but you wouldn't know it to look at him. He sleeps a lot, yeah, and he doesn't play as much as he once did, but he is 14. He does still play and he still has those moments of Insane Cat Attack where he races around the house chasing Quantum Mice. And his appetite is fine. He's also particularly happy because his diet is still including lots of meat-style baby food, which is The Best Thing Ever according to every cat I've ever seen with it. He's still eating some dry and canned cat food, so the vet feels he's getting plenty of taurine (in case anyone besides me was worried).
He's now getting two liquid medicines and one-fourth of a Pepcid AC everyday, and the subcutaneous fluids approximately 2 out of 3 days. He REALLY!!! doesn't like any of this, it's still definitely Kitty Hell Time - and also hell for His Highness's human servants. For all his age and his dicey blood values, Max is a BIG, STRONG cat, with big, strong back claws. After he caught me one day on the forearm with those big strong back claws, leaving two deep furrows of 8-9 inches each (which are still healing), I've started referring to him as Feline Krueger. I - he - it's been rough on all three of us and there's no end in sight. At least he doesn't hold a grudge - as soon as he's let loose after a medicine/fluids session, he's fine and as affectionate as ever. Which is only slightly more openly affectionate than Lt Col John Sheppard; neither one does big emotional displays or excessive touching. *g*
OMG I am so ready for winter to be over!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fifty-plus inches of snow here in the Chicago area. I've actually spent weeks semi-trapped in the house because we haven't been able to get through the ice blocking the garage door. Public transportation is a no-go because of my mobility issues (details of which I'll spare you unless there are requests for more info); cabs are a no-go because of cost. I haven't even been able to start my physical therapy because the mounds of snow and ice have given parking lots and walkways treacherous footing. I have long since passed Cabin Fever and am headed straight into gibbering wall-climbing (except not literally because of those mobility issues) insanity. I haven't even seen my shrink once during the entire month of February! ::curls into whimpery little ball of undifferentiated angst::
So I'm watching the Ellen DeGeneres Show and a few minutes ago she showed a video of Stacy Westfall demonstrating her technique in reining (think dressage for cowboys) - except she rides bareback, except her horse is completely naked without tack, not just no saddle, but no bridle either. What an amazing sight! By the end of the video, I was torn between soul-wrenching envy and deeply-moved tears. Ellen hopes to have her as a guest on the show; she also commented that Stacy Westfall is the only woman who rides this way. Before you comment that you do/did as a kid, I think she meant "in competition" and the whole reining stuff.
I redecorated the LJ last week, from Alphonse Mucha to Arthur Rackham. Rackham's art is generally kinda wistful (even the Valkyries and Storm Giants look a teensy bit wistful in his Ring Cycle illustrations), but the illustration I chose for my coordinated background/default icon is more wistful than most - and fits my recent mood surprisingly well. Not that I'm so much wistful as I am ... thinky and contemplative, vaguely depressed (existentially depressed?), and occasionally zen-ish. With intermittent periods of Rodney McKay-esque irritation at the stupidity of my species.
The following cut-tags are (1) a test for seeing if the cut-tag thingee will work during a cross-post to other journal sites, and (2) a tour through previous background images I've used in my LJ. I keep thinking that there was another one, but I can't remember what it might've been. The last one is my new look; I've used the matching icon for this post.
La Dauce Vie by Francois Fressinier:
The Fairies and the Furry by Patricia Pierce-Phillips:
Mucha collage:
Feeling Very Undancey by Arthur Rackham:
So ... more later? Maybe even more today?
Current Location: in the valley of sunshine and snow
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-mellow.gif) zen-ish
Current Music: syndication: CSI, Crossing Jordan; also Ellen DeGeneres
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February 7th, 2008
| 05:19 pm - snowbound by proxy
We're not "really" snowbound, but all those mobility issues combine to make it just as good as. I'm definitely a bit cabin fever-ish right now. And overcome by irony as the physical therapy that's supposed to help those mobility issues has had to be postponed due to, well, mobility issues. *argh*
Max seems to be doing really well. He's bouncy and happy and busy and demanding and adorable. He's intermittently playful and even occasionally cuddly. Of course, he hates getting the subcutaneous fluids (every day), he hates his icky-tasting liquid vitamin supplement, and he hates getting a pill. Otherwise, things are good for him, lots of tasty meat-based baby food and other yummy things practically on demand. As to how he's doing medically, we'll find out sometime next week (as weather permits) after he gets a bloodwork recheck. If the weather is too obstructive, we'll have another vet home-visit, but we're hoping to avoid the expense if possible.
Tonight's new Supernatural. Yay. Hopefully they've moved on from their "let's be as offensive as possible to the pagans in the audience" kick and are back to simple misogyny. I ... still love this show, I just wish the writers et al would get some sensitivity training.
New Stargate Atlantis tomorrow night. YAY! If only the fandom could clear out the multiple strands of below-the-surface tension/wank that have been making my flist so tense lately. *sigh*
Ben's home from the hospital, yay, after a scary little cardiac moment. I haven't talked to him since he got home, so all I know at this point is what's in his journal. Oh - and that's he's an incredibly "cheap date" on a couple Ambien. I bet he doesn't even remember that phone call from the hospital....
That's all for now, I think. Got stuff to do before Cat Torture Time (aka the giving of subcutaneous fluids and meds).
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-migrai.gif) cranky
Current Music: local news and WEATHER
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January 30th, 2008
| 11:06 am - recs - the continuing adventures of Xander Harris, AUs, crossovers
I was *gasp* reading my flist and saw ![[info]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) amireal request some BtVS and/or AtS recs; these are the ones I pulled together and left in comments for her. Anyway, I've found these to be a lot of fun, especially some of the more offbeat crossovers. Some grammar-type glitches, especially at TtH. Some slight OOC (of the super-competent Xander variety), again especially at TtH, but mostly maturity and self-confidence that's been gained over time.
- Same the Nothing by orchidluv - BtVS AU starting with episode 1/Welcome to the Hellmouth: Xander has a much stronger reaction to the vamping & dusting of Jesse and is estranged from Willow. Then he meets Spike. No crossover. Slash: Spike/Xander. Extraordinary AU that explores many of the "arrgh! I can't believe they went there/didn't follow that up?!" issues that I and others have with canon. Quite possibly the best BtVS//Spike/Xander fic that you're not reading (going on the relatively low number of comments per installment). WHY aren't you reading this? Go Read This NOW!!! Did I mention that, even though Xander comes into conflict with the other Scoobies, and they screw up in all the ways you'd expect of Xander-less Scoobies, the story remains sympathetic to all and, while characters make mistakes and act out and there are consequences, it all evolves from circumstances and characters - there is no bashing.
- Nothing the Same II by occhidluv *WIP* - Sequel to Nothing the Same, continuing into 2nd (and 3rd?) season.
- Bridges 'verse by Tassos - Xander as a Watcher in charge of Cleveland. Xander's Real Family story. Crossover with Stargate SG1. BtVS/post-Chosen; SG1/sometime? Gen. Author's Summary: "After the collapse of Sunnydale, Jack gets a call about a woman he knew over twenty years ago...and the son he didn't know he had." One of the most popular stories on TtH for a reason. From first tentative contact through holiday visits to the inevitable crisis, the fragile relationship growing between Xander and Jack O'Neill is fraught with trust issues and enormous secrets the sharing of which could (and will) have far-reaching consequences. Putting Xander and Jack together is always a treat.
- Oh, The Places He Goes! by phouka - Xander as a roving Watcher. BtVS/post-Chosen. Multiple crossovers </a>Highlander; Big Trouble in Little China; Charmed; Dead Last; Disney's The Love Bug; CSI:Las Vegas; Tremors; Arrested Development; Evil Dead; Stargate SG1; Kevin Smith film'verse; House; Amityville Horror; Sliders; Dead Zone; Cheers; Due South; Cupid; Wonderfalls; The 4400; DrWho/Torchwood; Dead Like Me; Time Bandits; Fraggle Rock; others). Humor. Mostly gen; Xander/Dawn in later stories. Instead of going to Africa, Xander resumes his cross-country post-graduation road trip while searching out new Slayers (and Watchers and support staff). Lots of wonderful, insane, humorous, poignant encounters with crossover characters, lots of cameos by BtVS characters, both series regulars and the obscure.
- Shoveling by PaBurke - Xander as a Watcher in charge of Cleveland. Crossover with M*A*S*H. BtVS/post-Chosen. M*A*S*H/post-series. In this wonderful story, a retired Hawkeye Pierce finds himself living next to a very unusual school that seriously needs a doctor. There are cameos by various M*A*S*H characters and a growing friendship between Xander and Hawkeye in which each learns from the other.
- Father Goose 'Verse by litmouse - Xander as a roving Watcher teamed up with Faith. Multiple crossovers </a>Law & Order: SVU; Gilmore Girls; CSI: Las Vegas; Alias; Stargate SG1; other? Mostly gen, with het & slash pairings; Xander/Faith in later stories. Latest story is WIP. This is enormous fun and even if you don't know the crossover series (as I was totally ignorant of Alias beyond "Jennifer Garner plays a spy with family issues"), it's easy to follow. A large, sweeping, robust rollercoaster of an AU 'verse, with some wonderful original characters in supporting parts. While the series centers on Xander (and Faith), the POV is usually one or more crossover characters. And what could be more fun than watching Xander (in a minor subplot) try to recruit new Watchers and support staff from the casts of the various crossovers. (Irina Derevko as a Watcher?!) Or Lt Col Dr Samantha Carter, USAF, trying to explain vampires and magic to her own rigorous scientific standards. There's comedy gold here if you love any of these canons - and also wild adventure and more than a bit of angst.
- Trick Or Treat by Kei - Xander as a Watcher in Cleveland. Crossover with Stargate SG1. BtVS/post-Chosen. SG1/sometime? Gen. Author's Summary: "An escaped Goa'uld, and rather sadistic Powers to Be, bring Xander out of the dubious security of his quaint little demon filled world, and into a not so quaint alien filled star system." As mentioned above, Xander and Jack together is always a treat. This is a very long story and there's a brief bit (couple chapters) near the end where I felt the author briefly lost the plot (got carried away), but gets back on track for the ending. Another extremely popular story at TtH.
Now, I have a request. If you go and read these recs, please let me know? It will encourage me to do this again. And I'm also curious about what other people think of these stories, so consider including a note about your reaction to the story(ies) you read.
::crosses fingers that I finally caught all the typos::
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-nerdy.gif) productive
Current Music: nada
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January 29th, 2008
| 10:07 am - my life as a pet rock: quick Max update
He's active and sassy and happily eating his new mixture of canned cat food and baby food with the attitude of "what took you so long to figure this out".
On the other hand, medications are still happening. He's still getting subcutaneous fluids, daily now, and a couple liquid meds, and the 1/4th of a Pepcid AC pill. Some of this will end when the bottles are empty - some may be from now on.
The big problem is that, even as his routine and activities are back to normal, his blood work isn't showing improvement. There's concern about the indications of progressive kidney disease, something that's to be expected with older cats yet not inevitable. It's still possible to improve things, though, so keep those prayers and healing vibes and spells and whatever coming if you can and are inclined.
Yeah, more later. Gotta go get ready to see my shrink and wibble about my baby.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-optimi.gif) plucky
Current Music: The View
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January 25th, 2008
| 11:07 am - ~brief wave~
Just realized I haven't said anything (or answered comments) since the beginning of the week.
So, in brief: baby, it's cold out! Also, it may snow. But! There's a warming trend coming this weekend.
I have aches and creaks and moans and groans. So does LSO.
Max is doing really well - I think. Behavior-wise, he's almost back to normal, but he's still got meds to take and that's Nightmare Time for all of us. In 5 minutes, I'll be off getting ready (bundling up) to take him for his recheck at the vet. Blood test and advising on meds - and possibility of continuing (or being finished with) subcutaneous fluids.
Tonight, new Stargate Atlantis. Whee! I love me my geeky scifi show!!!
Political thot for the day - the Republicans are a sorry lot; just no - BIG NO! - Do Not Want! The Dems - Obama and Clinton are starting to go the politics-of-personality business-as-usual route. I'm ... disappointed. I'm liking Edwards more and more, both for himself and because the shiny on Obama and Clinton is starting to look a bit tarnished. I'm just less than hopeful about his chances. But! I continue to keep my fingers crossed.
Oh yeah - I support the OTW (otw_news). Before you decide you're anti-OTW, why not actually read what the fans involved are saying? Because just about everything I've read that's anti-OTW makes me wonder about peoples' reading comprehension and/or their ability to jump to the most negative conclusions possible.
I miss my flist. And it's my own fault. I started to read y'all today, but time time time is rushing towards appointment time. More later? Maybe.
Current Mood: chilled straight thru
Current Music: The View - it's all about weight issues
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January 20th, 2008
| 11:48 am - my life as a pet rock, part three
Max is home. He's feeling icky and miserable and is sleeping hard and doesn't have much appetite yet. He's still kinda messy as a result of vet office indignities, even after I tried to clean him up last night, and so he's scheduled for another cleanup later tonight, this time with LSO lending a helping hand.
Besides the *ick* enema, Max got IV fluids at the vet and had an x-ray to make sure the constipation was all cleared out. He's currently dealing with the aftermath of the e-thing and ... I'm just trying to avoid squicking anybody with the words and mental images. It's really not that bad in general, but basically long-haired cats and diarrhea do not mix well.
His follow-up homecare includes 2 liquid medicines (a multi-vitamin 1xday and a stool softener 2xday), 1/4th of a Pepcid pill per day, and subcutaneous fluids every other day.
I now know how to give a cat subcutaneous fluids. Yay? Actually, after one time I'm not very good at it
Oh! Max just wandered into the living room for the first time since The Medication Session From Hell last night. He's now settled down in a big patch of sunshine. Good, he'll be warm there. And it means he's forgiven me for The Medication Session From Hell last night.
I don't think LSO will ever recover from it. Let alone her having to assist again tomorrow night when he's due his next sub-q liquids. Oh ... dear.
He goes back to the vet on Friday to check on his progress. Hopefully it won't snow.
Oh, he just crept a little further into the patch of sunlight. He hasn't quite reached his snuggly security shoe (which used to be one of my sandals) yet, but he's within a few inches of it now.
I will be much happier when his appetite returns. In the meantime, we're trying to figure out what might be here at home and healthy to tempt him with. Unfortunately, there's not so much for cats.
In other news, my foot and ankle continue to be swollen beyond the beyond. Tomorrow I have a regularly scheduled doctor appointment with Dr Rheumatologist, so he might be able help me with it. *knocks firmly on any surrounding wood*
And my love for SGA continues to continue. Just total ♥love♥.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-eyecol.gif) indescribable
Current Music: nothing
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January 19th, 2008
| 11:52 am - my life as a pet rock, part two
So LSO called the vet early this morning to find out their Saturday hours. Since they were already open (they open at, like, 6am, I think she said), she talked to the vet then. She gets up much earlier than me, practically O-dark-thirty (or however it's spelled/constructed) territory, as you might've guessed from that.
So anyway ... Max did okay overnight. The enema did its thing and they did (or will? unclear about that and LSO is off doing other things elsewhere at the moment) an x-ray to make sure everything that needed to come out was out. (Note: that is as graphic as I will get, I promise.)
There were some other things, including needing to teach me to give him injections of some kind *eep* hopefully not forever, and we're to come pick him up this afternoon, probably around 2pm. We'll take advantage of being out and do a quick store run as well. I'm already mentally constructing my warmwarmwarm clothing for the journey.
Currently, the temperature is 1.4°F (again? still?) but the Sun is shining like a mad thing. Sunglasses will be needed when we go out. *shakes head* That's just weird. I understand if there was still snow, but the Sun got rid of the snow even as cold as it is, so it's just brightly reflecting off the sidewalk - enough that glancing out the window just now has left spots in my vision....
So anyway, Max is doing okay. He'll need a recheck of his bloodwork in the next week to make sure things are going well, at which point a long term prognosis can be offered. In the meantime, I miss him ::I want my kitty!!!!!:: and can't wait till this afternoon when we go get him.
Thanks for well-wishes. *hugs* to all!
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-wideye.gif) anxious
Current Music: scifi channel monster movie i'm not paying any attention to
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| 03:37 am - my life as a pet rock, let me show you it
Today was not a good day. Actually, this week was not a good week.
On the medical TMI front, my troublesome (aka left) foot and ankle are swollen to epic proportions. I am minded of the Grinch and his incipient heart condition at the end of his Christmas special. In his case, it was probably all the rich trimmings served with his roast beast. In my case, I tend to blame the weather. (Aside: this is a whole different thing from the thing that needed the boot/brace last month.)
And oh yes, the weather. A week or so ago, we had a mini-heatwave. No kidding, on January 7th, I noted on my Twitter account that the temperature was 63°F. Right now (2:38am Central), according to my Firefox Weatherbug extension, the local temperature is 2.4°F. It snowed a little, just a powder-sugar coating on my car, while I waited in the vet's office.
Oh Bast, the vet's office. My lovely house-calling vet was pinch-hitting at my vet-with-an-office. (Aside: at one point, one of the vets at vet-with-an-office did house calls, but she is now the director of a local animal shelter and so they switched over to recommending house-calling vet, whose entire practice is usually house calls. He's the vet who came to the house when *incoherent gesture* the thing with Gozzer *more incoherent gesture* you know....) Anyway, super-cold wave, dangerous cold alerts on the news per local government agencies, snow forecast and all that, me hobbling around on a cane with my swollen foot, and my lovely house-calling vet can't do house calls. And...
And Max is sick. Earlier this week, he'd been showing some symptoms, but they seemed gone. Then last night (aka Thursday night), things were back and worse. So, a vet appointment was made, the cat carrier was dragged into the house, and I said silent prayers to any available beneficent gods that I'd be able to lever my (really veryvery swollen) foot into a shoe.
Oh, I forgot to mention ... this morning we had a scheduled grocery delivery with Peapod, and also, just like last year when the weather got coldcoldcold, there were some old-plumbing problems happening necessitating a visit from our plumber-in-law. More excitement than ... well, actually my house has kinda turned into a mini-Grand Central Station of home deliveries and things the past week or so. It's getting a bit ridiculous. Anyway, the point of this is that LSO (aka my aged and neurotic mother) had to stay home and await plumber-in-law while I carried Max off to his vet appointment.
Vet appointment ... I left the house at 3pm. Appointment was 3:30, vet office is less than 5 minutes away. We arrived, shivering but safe, in plenty of time. After a suitable interval, vet techs swarmed us (complimenting Max on his gorgeousness, as is only right and proper, as well as his very friendly, albeit politely uncooperative, personality) and checked weight and temperature and stuff. Eventually the vet came in. We discussed things, there was a laying on of hands examination, there was the confirmation that Max was, as I expected, extremely constipated. Well, I thought "constipated" but it turned out "extremely constipated" was more correct, almost an understatment even.
Max was carried off to the treatment area while I waited. There were blood tests and urine tests and enemas and other such things. Eventually (2 hours later and oh my swollen foot!!!), there was vet with report....
Max is dehydrated ... anemic ... still constipated (first enema only partially successful) ... liver enzymes showing a marked increase in his kidney problems (Aside: one of the top causes of death for pampered otherwise-healthy older house-only cats is eventually kidney failure) ... to make a long story slightly less long, there is every hope that he will respond to treatment and improve, but short-term he's spending the night at the vet, getting IV fluids and scheduled (poor baby!) for another enema tomorrow. Then there will be medication and probably some change in diet and ... we'll see how he responds. At least his weight has remained steady and at a good level (the one positive note).
Yes, my bank account is whimpering (thank the gods for LSO, who refers to Max as her grandcat). I'm whimpering a bit too as I'm without my big fluffy boy tonight and am both having withdrawal and pretty worried about him short- and long-term. I keep expecting to see him when I look around. He's got a huge presence, does my boy, and oh, I'm missing him. And worried. Very worried, made so much worse by having recently lost both girls.
::chews fingernails::
I'm not much of one for reaching out to others when I'm upset or unwell. I have much more of a tendency to withdraw into myself at such times and avoid the world. I will probably be doing some of that tomorrow while waiting to hear from the vet/fetch Max home, but I will post an update once he is home.
Did I mention the forecast of record-breaking cold for overnight and tomorrow? Since I started writing this post, the temperature has dropped another whole degree to 1.4°F, and the forecast for tomorrow is: Low -15°F; High 9°F; Sunny. Very cold. Highs 5°F to 9°F above. Wind chills as low as 10°F below to 20°F below zero (aka -10 to -20°F). West winds 10 to 15 mph. *brrrrrr* Hmmm... I wonder how feasible it would be to wrap the cat carrier in several blankets....
Okay, it's now way past my bedtime. Gotta go.
ps ... I love my show! SGA managed to brighten an otherwise bleak evening for me. Oh John. Oh Rodney! And Teyla is so gorgeous. The thing with the thing that had some people freaked wasn't as bad as expected, now was it? Also, it's a long fall from the ceiling. *ouch* (Aside: in my opinion, there is nothing spoilery in this paragraph, nothing that couldn't be said about 99% of the episodes in general.) Also, I have got to remember that Psych and Monk are showing new episodes. And remember to watch Numb3rs on OnDemand, last week's episode and this week's episode. And I'm very sad that The Dead Zone was canceled.)
pps ... good thoughts and prayers for Max humbly requested and gratefully accepted with many thanks
Current Mood: UNHAPPY!!!!
Current Music: silence large and deep
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January 15th, 2008
| 10:23 am - my life as a sasquatch: somewhat reclusive but recently bathed, er, showered
Hey. I'm still around. Have been somewhat distracted by Life and Other Distractions. The quick news...
Finally have a printer again, YAY! I'm all "what should I print first?!?!?!?" about it.
Am contemplating and reviewing My Life (Ambitions/Dream/etc to be) as a Writer.
Am gearing up for some physical therapy as part of this year's Project Better Fitness & Build Some Stamina. Hope to have appointments by end of month.
Wish I had funds to hire a household organizer & staff of workers to do the organizing ... and while I'm at it, funds for shelving and living room furniture. And a desk - I want a ginormous old rolltop desk. And an old-fashioned upright piano. And a kitchen-and-bathroom remodel. And an elevator to the basement. And ... heck, a new house while I'm at it. With a housekeeper. And horses and dogs and llamas. And a groundskeeper/stableperson. And a new car. And....
And maybe I can scrap together enough for a couple file folders? There might be some change in the bottom of my purse.... (Who me, materialistic? Nah!)
In other news ... I want the impossible, I live in a fantasy world, because I reallyreally want the Presidential candidates to behave like civilized adults whose behavior would be approved of by Miss Manners. Which, probably not.
I also want fandom and the Internet to behave like civilized adults whose behavior would be approved of by Ms CyberManners.
I do not hold my breath waiting for the things I want to manifest, btw. Thus, I am (per icon) still alive.
In yes other (FANNISH) news ... Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles looks to be made of serious win. And I am so in-love with s4 of Stargate Atlantis, my show is so smart and sassy and just plain good-good-grrrrrrreat!
Best luck to the striking writers. Fie on corporate greed.
Hopefully more later. Eventually? Later.
Have a good-good-grrrrrrreat day!
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://www.commiejournal.com/img/moods/hexmasks/h-comica.gif) amused
Current Music: Hot Topics on The View (I like the chatter)
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January 8th, 2008
| 10:14 am - # mini-psa: note to self (and curious bystanders) #
Coding is screwed up on some, but not all, of the journal sites that I cross-posted my previous post to. I will fix it when I get home this afternoon. Yes. Yes, I will.
Who, me neurotic? Nah. *g*
Current Mood: rushed
Current Music: computer whimpering
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| 09:46 am - my life as a dingo: babies eaten on demand
Note: don't panic! The subject line references Buffy canon. It's All About Me
This is my first post on 2008, a week after the new year started. I did post on New Year's Eve, but still haven't managed to answer comments to that post. Obviously, my goal to be a better blogger continues to be unfulfilled.
We're not feeling so great now
GreatestJournal becomes part of cyber-history: GJ news announcement ... I find myself torn between continuing to cross-post there or just dropping it now. It's not like I really spend much time there, maybe once a week or so I check something out, but mostly I'm still at LJ and just cross-posting elsewhere (and occasionally browsing through the flist; those flists are shorter, so I probably spend more time there proportionally).
Someone called it grave-robbing for the 21st century
up-and-coming new fanfic writer boyan_fraser at LJ was found to be plagiarizing thamiris; stories, meta posts, comments - and even the title of her journal ... at first LJ declined to intervene (citing the need for the OP or, in Thamiris's case, a member of her family, to submit a complaint), but something changed their minds and boyan_faser has been suspended; discussion here ... In memorium: Thamiris
When news came down that Thamiris had died, I was shocked. Her voice was unique and fandom is poorer for its loss, poorer for loss of her. Back when I first joined LJ, she was one of my role models of what an LJ blogger should be. Her posts were fun, flirtatious, thoughtful, sensual, and always - always! - articulate. She made a point to answer every comment made to her, and discussions in her LJ were lively, entertaining, and enlightening. Regardless of our actual RL ages or my never really getting to know her (I was on her flist only briefly which is a story best left untold), she was the blogger I wanted to grow up to be. I wish I'd known how to say all this when it mattered, when I could've said it to her.
Here is thamiris's Thamiris' memorial LJ; also, </a></b></a>tham_preserved, a memorial community maintained by </a></b></a>acampbell and </a></b></a>
Note: I really hope she didn't hate the Oxford comma as I went a bit overboard using it above. Also, thanks to seperis for the links/credits.
Medically speaking
The evil Boot is gone and my foot/heel/achilles tendon is definitely feeling better. My knee isn't so happy; between the ancient damage to it and the weight of the Boot, it's feeling a little stressed. My back is also giving me problems; between one health crisis and another, I've once again allowed my musculature (especially in my back) to "decondition". As soon as I get the go-ahead from the doctors, I'm off to see the physical therapist with a goal of being able to stand/walk for more than 15 minutes before my back rebels. It kinda frightens me that I'm looking forward to this so much, by the way. Otherwise, doing okay.
Familial-ly speaking
LSO, aka the mother unit, is doing well. A little more forgetful, a little creakier in the joints, the usual amount of neurotic paranoid WORRY. But doing better than me. We are having a bit of mutual stir-craziness from being semi-snowbound as we both have mobility issues/problems and the garage doors freeze shut when there's any snow accumulation.
Running wild without sane supervision
I see the awesome Jungian Judith on Tuesday mornings. Considering the timing of the holidays just past, that means two appointments canceled on account of holidays. Which, if you do the calendar counting, means 3 weeks ... and add another week because heavy snow caused me to cancel the appointment before the holidays. Which means I have been without therapist for four weeks. I'm amazed to not be gibbering in a corner.
Holidays
Things were very quiet during the holidays. The crazy neo-con Republican side of the family stayed home for various reasons that don't need to be gone into at this juncture, which meant the crowd was actually tiny, and things were very quiet. I kinda missed celebrating Yule this year. Take your pick of my reasons/excuses: procrastination, depression, tiredness, lack of ambition, ditto motivation. I'm just very glad 2007 is over now.
Cat-like substances
Max, my much adored and totally spoiled Feline American Gigolo continues to be an Only Cat. Between health problems and blizzards and The Mess That Ate My Apartment, there just hasn't been an opportunity to visit the local shelter. Since I got my first cats (they arrived in a flurry), I've never had only one. It's a strange strange strange strange feeling.
Writing & me
I didn't even consider Nanowrimo this year. I haven't written any fiction in longer than I can remember, probably more than a year. I'm noticeably disillusioned about me actually becoming a professional writer/novelist. I'm pretty disheartened about writing as a hobby as well - my blogging has been minimal, my original fiction non-existent, and my fanfiction naught but a dream. I'm probably gonna ramble on about this in a future post.
Plans for the new year
Still getting those straight in my head. If I can break this non-posting streak, you'll be among the first to know. Hmmm, actually? breaking my non-posting streak is one of my plans. Another is getting back to reading my flist. Which is now scattered between multiple blogging servicesl, more about which in a future post. No, really. I've already got it more than half-written. Mostly, though, I'm intending to Finally Get My Shit Self Together before it falls apart forever.
I guess that's about it for now. I've gotta go get ready to go out - out of the house! again! two days in a row! and it's WARM(-ish) outside, too! Woot! ( And now for something completely different - a quizzel! )
ps ... Yeah, okay, today I'm gonna cross-post to GJ, but that's probably gonna change really soon.
Current Mood: kinda jittery
Current Music: Regis & Kelly ::don't judge me::
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December 11th, 2007
| 08:15 pm - test post
'Twas brillig and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogroves
And the momerathes outgrabe...
Current Location: Ankh-Morpork
Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Hogfather
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