Yuletide and the year-end meme
Again, Happy New Year! to all! <3 Hope 2019 is off to a good start for you.
I was lucky enough to receive TWO fics for Yuletide this year! Both of them were fantastic - I was super excited and delighted by them.
The Next Clan Gathering (Clan of the Cave Bear) by Merfilly. Set during the Clan gathering which took place after Ayla left, told mostly from Durc's POV.
The Never-Puts-Down-The-Phone Cure (Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books) by scioscribe. This was nearly a "Someday my ship will come" fic - I'd been asking for a modern Mrs. Piggle Wiggle story for four years, ever since I joined Yuletide, and this was the first time someone actually wrote something. In case you don't know, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a series of children's chapter books, where the titular character solves children's bad habits through magic or non-magic means, and there's loads of whimsy. But those books were set in the 1960s, I think, so I wanted the solution to a modern issue. This fic was perfect.
Unfortunately, I haven't had time to read any other Yuletide stories. Have any good recs?
Meanwhile, I wrote Simon Says Be My Friend from the Love, Simon movie (based on the Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda book). The recipient asked for a story exploring Abby and Simon's friendship. Rated PG/PG-13 for swearing, but nothing else controversial.
While watching the Tournament of Roses parade (I do love that!), I finally completed the annual year-end meme.
1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
Eaten Whiskey Cake at the restaurant of the same name. (OMG, SO GOOD) Had an Entyvio infusion. Ridden "Test Track" and "Frozen" at EPCOT (Disney World).
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope, did not keep up with resolutions. I need to get back to weight training/kettle bell exercises - I definitely want to make a resolution for that. I'd like to make better use of my free time and not just wander aimlessly around the Internet. I need to make a better commitment to sleep.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
WAYYYYY too many people. Although, in terms of "close to me" personally, I think that would just be my Dutch uncle, a friend from PA, and our dog, Nala.
5. What countries did you visit?
None except my own, although MiniPlu did visit Ireland and the UK.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
More sleep. More productivity.
7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I can't think of a specific date. I can remember events, but not the dates they went with. The only one I can think of is Nov 4: the date of the half marathon.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing a half marathon after injuring myself within the first couple of miles.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sleeping enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Crohn's flareup, early-mid September, still in progress. (Although slightly improved since first infusion, so yay?)
11. What were the best things you bought?
MiniPlu's passage for the Ireland/UK trip. A gold rose pendant for Karen, from Zales' Disney collection. She wears it all the time.
12. Where did most of your money go?
Travel and home repairs.
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nothing. I wasn't even that excited about going to Disney.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Eh.
ii. thinner or fatter? Couple pounds lighter from Crohn's, not due to my own healthy efforts.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, because of travel, home repairs/updates and the stock market. :-P
15. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sleeping, knitting, reading, sewing, baking, gardening, cleaning. The usual.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Same as last year: Wasting time aimlessly looking for something random online when I could have read fic, read books, knitted, slept, drawn, etc. Fighting with Two.
17. How will you be spending the holidays?
In California, with my family.
18. Did you fall in love in 2018?
Fell more in love. ♥
19. How many one-night stands?
Still none.
20. What was your favorite TV program?
I hardly watch any TV these days. Saw a lot of NCIS on Netflix because that's what other people were watching. At least that's a show I like.
21. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Trump, no, wait, I hated him last year, too.
22. What was the best book you read?
Autoboyography, Becoming, In Other Lands, Leah on the Offbeat, The Philosopher's Flight.
23. What did you want and get?
A replacement for my Fitbit Alta HR, rather than the giant Fitbit Blaze I've been wearing since my Alta fell off my wrist at the Philadelphia Zoo. Karen gave me the replacement for Christmas.
24. What did you want and not get?
A trip to Europe. I would have gone just about anywhere. Two to take school more seriously. To go back to my old dojong.
25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I enjoyed a lazy day and then we went out to dinner at a favorite restaurant. I turned 47.
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Fewer arguments with Two, fewer annoying people in my house, to go back to my old dojong, to have had a positive half marathon experience, to travel somewhere I wanted to go.
27. What kept you sane?
Time with Will, time to myself.
28. What political issue stirred you the most?
LGBTQ and immigration issues.
29. Whom did you miss?
S&S
30. Who was the best new person you met?
Becca (my dad's neighbor).
31. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.
Our country has devolved into a giant shouting match, with no respect for anyone.
Looking ahead, I'm looking forward to the penguin weekend in TN with Two, the trip to Chicago on Broadway with MiniPlu, new books, MiniPlu getting her license this summer.
I was lucky enough to receive TWO fics for Yuletide this year! Both of them were fantastic - I was super excited and delighted by them.
The Next Clan Gathering (Clan of the Cave Bear) by Merfilly. Set during the Clan gathering which took place after Ayla left, told mostly from Durc's POV.
The Never-Puts-Down-The-Phone Cure (Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books) by scioscribe. This was nearly a "Someday my ship will come" fic - I'd been asking for a modern Mrs. Piggle Wiggle story for four years, ever since I joined Yuletide, and this was the first time someone actually wrote something. In case you don't know, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a series of children's chapter books, where the titular character solves children's bad habits through magic or non-magic means, and there's loads of whimsy. But those books were set in the 1960s, I think, so I wanted the solution to a modern issue. This fic was perfect.
Unfortunately, I haven't had time to read any other Yuletide stories. Have any good recs?
Meanwhile, I wrote Simon Says Be My Friend from the Love, Simon movie (based on the Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda book). The recipient asked for a story exploring Abby and Simon's friendship. Rated PG/PG-13 for swearing, but nothing else controversial.
While watching the Tournament of Roses parade (I do love that!), I finally completed the annual year-end meme.
1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
Eaten Whiskey Cake at the restaurant of the same name. (OMG, SO GOOD) Had an Entyvio infusion. Ridden "Test Track" and "Frozen" at EPCOT (Disney World).
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope, did not keep up with resolutions. I need to get back to weight training/kettle bell exercises - I definitely want to make a resolution for that. I'd like to make better use of my free time and not just wander aimlessly around the Internet. I need to make a better commitment to sleep.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
WAYYYYY too many people. Although, in terms of "close to me" personally, I think that would just be my Dutch uncle, a friend from PA, and our dog, Nala.
5. What countries did you visit?
None except my own, although MiniPlu did visit Ireland and the UK.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
More sleep. More productivity.
7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I can't think of a specific date. I can remember events, but not the dates they went with. The only one I can think of is Nov 4: the date of the half marathon.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing a half marathon after injuring myself within the first couple of miles.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sleeping enough.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Crohn's flareup, early-mid September, still in progress. (Although slightly improved since first infusion, so yay?)
11. What were the best things you bought?
MiniPlu's passage for the Ireland/UK trip. A gold rose pendant for Karen, from Zales' Disney collection. She wears it all the time.
12. Where did most of your money go?
Travel and home repairs.
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nothing. I wasn't even that excited about going to Disney.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Eh.
ii. thinner or fatter? Couple pounds lighter from Crohn's, not due to my own healthy efforts.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, because of travel, home repairs/updates and the stock market. :-P
15. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sleeping, knitting, reading, sewing, baking, gardening, cleaning. The usual.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Same as last year: Wasting time aimlessly looking for something random online when I could have read fic, read books, knitted, slept, drawn, etc. Fighting with Two.
17. How will you be spending the holidays?
In California, with my family.
18. Did you fall in love in 2018?
Fell more in love. ♥
19. How many one-night stands?
Still none.
20. What was your favorite TV program?
I hardly watch any TV these days. Saw a lot of NCIS on Netflix because that's what other people were watching. At least that's a show I like.
21. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Trump, no, wait, I hated him last year, too.
22. What was the best book you read?
Autoboyography, Becoming, In Other Lands, Leah on the Offbeat, The Philosopher's Flight.
23. What did you want and get?
A replacement for my Fitbit Alta HR, rather than the giant Fitbit Blaze I've been wearing since my Alta fell off my wrist at the Philadelphia Zoo. Karen gave me the replacement for Christmas.
24. What did you want and not get?
A trip to Europe. I would have gone just about anywhere. Two to take school more seriously. To go back to my old dojong.
25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I enjoyed a lazy day and then we went out to dinner at a favorite restaurant. I turned 47.
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Fewer arguments with Two, fewer annoying people in my house, to go back to my old dojong, to have had a positive half marathon experience, to travel somewhere I wanted to go.
27. What kept you sane?
Time with Will, time to myself.
28. What political issue stirred you the most?
LGBTQ and immigration issues.
29. Whom did you miss?
S&S
30. Who was the best new person you met?
Becca (my dad's neighbor).
31. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.
Our country has devolved into a giant shouting match, with no respect for anyone.
Looking ahead, I'm looking forward to the penguin weekend in TN with Two, the trip to Chicago on Broadway with MiniPlu, new books, MiniPlu getting her license this summer.