'I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness, too, so I stayed in the darkness with you...'
I had a fantastic week over the past week, riding on a wave of euphoria and giddiness. Then I got knocked off and dragged under by the usual unpleasant vagaries of life. Because my joy never lasts long before it gets tainted with some misery. But I use my journal to complain about trivial things too often- now I shall celebrate some of the small but happymaking things:
> Isn't Twitter a grand device?
I SHIP IT. *gigglefit*
> And OMG! Someone finally posted a Castle/Mentalist crossover fic! So excited! Double the Cops, Double the Consultants.
-
Robin Tunney makes me happy. ^_^ How stunning and elegant is this woman?
@carolune04- LEGS! :D
-
> A week of beta work
I don’t think I’m the best beta around but I have a good time. The thing is, I’m not really sure what the rules are…yes, I know ignorance of the law is no excuse, but with all the people I’ve beta’d for, it’s always been flying by the seat of my pants, y’know? I had no idea what I was doing, still don’t! But it’s fun all the same.
First up was lone_pyramid’s Fringe fic. This was out of my comfort zone since I only just finished watching the end of season 1 and I wasn’t really in the fandom. In fact, that fic [untitled!] was the first I’d ever read! But it was easy to relax and enjoy the hypnotizing flow of the story, the bits and pieces being skillfully woven together to form this delightful, quirky view into their life and the subtle romance being developed along the way.
Then came Kathryn’s new chapter for The Professor’s Discretion, an amazing HG/SS fic that does not get enough love. *sads* It’s such a stunning piece of work- not really romantic [it’s tagged as ‘general’], but their interaction occurs in a believable and engrossing manner and the focus is on creating a rapport and bond based on their joint efforts to safeguard Harry and defeat Voldemorte rather than just looking at each other as love interests. There’s so much to squee over that I really don’t care that there isn’t any kissing or sexing happening! In fact, I applaud her for taking the time to properly develop their relationship and not taking the easy way out by…IDK, putting Hermione in detention and all of a sudden, two paragraphs in, they’re playing out ‘kinky Professor disciplining naughty student’ scenarios. Not hating on people who do that, but I’ve seen it done a million times, more often than not completely OOC, and this fic is just so refreshing and original the way she blazes her own path. I just wish more people would review and tell her that she’s awesome!
After I returned the edited chapter, an email from Liz popped into my inbox with her new chapter for Hermione Granger, the Slytherin! It was so cool how everything worked out- as soon as I finished beta’ing one fic and sent it off, the next arrived! [I wish every week was like this!] And oh god, how amazing this update was. *twirls* I really enjoy the fair hand it deals to the Slytherins- it doesn’t make them misunderstood darlings who really are saints underneath, but recognizes that being assigned to that House doesn’t make one ugly, stupid and/or evil. The Hermione/Draco friendship is carefully and believably balanced with the Hermione/Harry friendship [and Ron is just a git, lol] while Snape is deliciously tall, dark and intimidating. I lose my breath at how vividly he comes to life in this fic, it’s just incredible.
HGTS is another fic where the focus isn't on a sexual plot. [Which is fortunate since Liz’s story starts in First Year and I’m sorry, I adore my flist but anyone who asks me to beta pedophilic stories…no, most definitely not happening] I love that the focus of both these fics is on developing a mentor-student bond first and foremost, allowing Hermione to grow and mature before even remotely entertaining the idea of a romantic relationship.
-
> The best things in life are free. ^_^
Behold my shiny new bookmark!
I was just saying I needed a pretty bookmark for all the intelligent fantasy books I've been reading lately [romance novels just get the crappy generic old bookmarks, lol] and then I saw this Graceling one in town. Now, I don't own the book [this one is my cousin Lisa's...I borrowed it, hoping she'll forget I have it, lol- oh, crap, are you reading this, Netty? *smiles guiltily*] and I didn't want to buy it either, but I desperately wanted the bookmark.
So I went up to the counter, smiled and asked, 'This might be a stupid question, but can I get the bookmark without buying the book?'
And the lady looks a little bemused, goes, 'If that's what you want, you can have it.'
And I bounced giddily out of the store, determined to make my escape before the manager or someone could correct her and yank it back from me. ^_^ YAY!
-
> My mother...
...is such mass of contradictions.
She’ll piss me off so much, she’ll completely disregard my feelings and brush me off when I’m all giddy about anything that doesn’t involve uni.
But then she’ll put on her uber-cutesy act, smile adorably, give me puppydog eyes, make the most hilarious and snarky remarks and send me into helpless giggling fits [even when I don’t want to]…
And she knows me a little too well, methinks. For Christmas, after I told her that it had lost a little of its magic- that when we were kids, we got wrapped up presents and there was all this mystery and anticipation and excitement ['Not,' I added hastily, 'that I'm saying money is unwelcome. I like money, it's the best present imaginable!']- she gave me two colorfully wrapped presents. I felt like a kid again, squeezing each, shaking it, trying to work out what was inside...and I burst out laughing at the two packets of coffee lollies in one present. My favorite coffee lollies that are near impossibly to find anywhere!
The second present...I unwrapped to find a jewelry case inside and immediately groaned and began whingeing.
'Why, mother, why? You KNOW I always tell people not to buy me jewelry I'm never going to wear, damn it!'
The blasted woman smirks at me and asks what I think is inside.
'A bracelet?' I guess, and open it- to find three hundred bucks tucked inside! I got fooled but good! :D That was the most fun I'd had at Christmas in years!
Even when it's not Christmas, mother spoils me- she buys me pretty things for no reason at all! We went shopping for my aunt Vanessa- and she ended up getting me a new pair of jeans: the most amazing pair of jeans ever! They could be from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, they are MAGICAL.
These jeans slide over my legs and hips easily without any extra wriggling or sucking-in-the-tummy required. It's form-fitting without revealing too many flaws and I can walk without feeling like my hips are gonna break! And it’s flattering while hiding my chubby areas. I can actually sit or bend down without unseemly butt crack exposure! I don’t have to constantly hold my tummy in or else risk getting a stomach ache from the constriction. ^_^ I’m in HEAVEN! Also, it has cute pocket details.
I’m a sucker for little designs like that! The perfect pair of jeans, my god. *sighs blissfully*
---
> Watched CM ep 11. I’m seeing this season out of order, so I don’t understand a lot of what’s going on, but Emily!whump FTW! Considering it was Minimal Loss that hooked me into the fandom, it’s a safe bet any ep where she gets to be center of attention and the whumpage will attract my interest, lol. [No woobie!Reid for a change!]
‘
Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure…’
Love that quote! I don't know if it's my Emily bias at work, but I tend to love the ones she says more! I wish CM would publish a book of all these wise, witty quotes they come up with, that'd be a wonderful coffee table book. :D
One thing though- she gets an elbow to the face, is that what causes her black eye? ‘coz…the dude elbowed her on the left, but her bruise make-up is on the right… O.o
[Btw, was anyone else weirded out by the way they shot that car crash escape scene? It was staged almost like a sexual assault, or that's the way it came across to me. I think the blurry focus was to show her concussion but when he was groping her for the keys, I shivered- so glad it didn't go any further, ugh]
-
Lol, you know how doctors make the worst patients? I thought it was hilarious the way she was impatient with Morgan during the hypnosis session or whatever the technical term is for vividly reliving a particular event with uncanny recall. Oh, cognitive interview!
Fail on the writers’ part for making her so weak she couldn’t fend off the distraught undercover dude- I mean, she has a gun and she can’t even make him back off, then he grabs her and nearly throws her to the ground except for Morgan butting in? Why is she the damsel in distress again? This is a disturbing trend. >:[ Remember the first ep of season 3, where she doesn’t clear the scene and gets distracted by the hostage, thereby letting the UNSUB whack her over the head and then get menaced by a little kid with a gun? That was embarrassing. And now this, ye gods. Why do you do this to me?
Hmm. Reading back over this- there is a lot of Morgan interaction, this must be the ep for their ship. *pouts* I wish Hotch had defended her honor or done the pseudo!hypnosis session with her. :-[
-
By the by. Has anyone noticed how touchy-feely Em is with complete strangers? I don’t usually noticing her initiating physical contact all that often, but here, lookit:
[still touching him in the background!]
-
‘k, you know what’s stupid? Why is it that they never keep the perp and the victim apart? The show has the worst track record in this area. If they’re escorting the UNSUB somewhere, they will inevitably run across a victim or someone relevant to the case on their way out. Here, it’s worse ‘coz he sees his daughter- the one he kidnapped!- and wants to talk to her. Emily and Morgan: DENIED. But then they stand around and let him hang out in PLAIN VIEW OF HER and he SHOUTS OUT TO HER, terrifying the poor kid but still they don’t move! WTF?
‘Don’t make me stay here, I’m fine, honestly- pull this thing over’ LOL, like a car? Em's so cute when she's all pleading and coaxing, aww. Poor thing really hates hospitals, huh? *huggles*
Jeez, they can’t bandage her head for her, she’s gotta staunch the bleeding herself? What kinda health insurance does she have? So like, if she was unconscious, they’d just let her bleed everywhere or would someone actually take decisive action then?
-
Oh, Rossi. Why are you on this show? You’re a cuddly teddy bear but honestly, ‘So he hid the family where no one hears them call for help’- no, really? Maybe the UNSUB felt like holding them hostage in the middle of a quiet residential area in a good neighborhood with a dedicated Crime Watch program and all. *snorts*
-
Y’know, it’s supposed to be a touching moment but when she picked up that kid? All I could think- his mother’s dazed and near unconscious, the toddler’s been left to his own devices for the past few days…how filthy and revolting must his diaper be right now?! *scrunches face up in disgust*
---
Vidspam:
One of speckleberry's many awesome LotS vids!
> Isn't Twitter a grand device?
I SHIP IT. *gigglefit*
> And OMG! Someone finally posted a Castle/Mentalist crossover fic! So excited! Double the Cops, Double the Consultants.
-
Robin Tunney makes me happy. ^_^ How stunning and elegant is this woman?
@carolune04- LEGS! :D
-
> A week of beta work
I don’t think I’m the best beta around but I have a good time. The thing is, I’m not really sure what the rules are…yes, I know ignorance of the law is no excuse, but with all the people I’ve beta’d for, it’s always been flying by the seat of my pants, y’know? I had no idea what I was doing, still don’t! But it’s fun all the same.
First up was lone_pyramid’s Fringe fic. This was out of my comfort zone since I only just finished watching the end of season 1 and I wasn’t really in the fandom. In fact, that fic [untitled!] was the first I’d ever read! But it was easy to relax and enjoy the hypnotizing flow of the story, the bits and pieces being skillfully woven together to form this delightful, quirky view into their life and the subtle romance being developed along the way.
Then came Kathryn’s new chapter for The Professor’s Discretion, an amazing HG/SS fic that does not get enough love. *sads* It’s such a stunning piece of work- not really romantic [it’s tagged as ‘general’], but their interaction occurs in a believable and engrossing manner and the focus is on creating a rapport and bond based on their joint efforts to safeguard Harry and defeat Voldemorte rather than just looking at each other as love interests. There’s so much to squee over that I really don’t care that there isn’t any kissing or sexing happening! In fact, I applaud her for taking the time to properly develop their relationship and not taking the easy way out by…IDK, putting Hermione in detention and all of a sudden, two paragraphs in, they’re playing out ‘kinky Professor disciplining naughty student’ scenarios. Not hating on people who do that, but I’ve seen it done a million times, more often than not completely OOC, and this fic is just so refreshing and original the way she blazes her own path. I just wish more people would review and tell her that she’s awesome!
After I returned the edited chapter, an email from Liz popped into my inbox with her new chapter for Hermione Granger, the Slytherin! It was so cool how everything worked out- as soon as I finished beta’ing one fic and sent it off, the next arrived! [I wish every week was like this!] And oh god, how amazing this update was. *twirls* I really enjoy the fair hand it deals to the Slytherins- it doesn’t make them misunderstood darlings who really are saints underneath, but recognizes that being assigned to that House doesn’t make one ugly, stupid and/or evil. The Hermione/Draco friendship is carefully and believably balanced with the Hermione/Harry friendship [and Ron is just a git, lol] while Snape is deliciously tall, dark and intimidating. I lose my breath at how vividly he comes to life in this fic, it’s just incredible.
HGTS is another fic where the focus isn't on a sexual plot. [Which is fortunate since Liz’s story starts in First Year and I’m sorry, I adore my flist but anyone who asks me to beta pedophilic stories…no, most definitely not happening] I love that the focus of both these fics is on developing a mentor-student bond first and foremost, allowing Hermione to grow and mature before even remotely entertaining the idea of a romantic relationship.
-
> The best things in life are free. ^_^
Behold my shiny new bookmark!
I was just saying I needed a pretty bookmark for all the intelligent fantasy books I've been reading lately [romance novels just get the crappy generic old bookmarks, lol] and then I saw this Graceling one in town. Now, I don't own the book [this one is my cousin Lisa's...I borrowed it, hoping she'll forget I have it, lol- oh, crap, are you reading this, Netty? *smiles guiltily*] and I didn't want to buy it either, but I desperately wanted the bookmark.
So I went up to the counter, smiled and asked, 'This might be a stupid question, but can I get the bookmark without buying the book?'
And the lady looks a little bemused, goes, 'If that's what you want, you can have it.'
And I bounced giddily out of the store, determined to make my escape before the manager or someone could correct her and yank it back from me. ^_^ YAY!
-
> My mother...
...is such mass of contradictions.
She’ll piss me off so much, she’ll completely disregard my feelings and brush me off when I’m all giddy about anything that doesn’t involve uni.
But then she’ll put on her uber-cutesy act, smile adorably, give me puppydog eyes, make the most hilarious and snarky remarks and send me into helpless giggling fits [even when I don’t want to]…
And she knows me a little too well, methinks. For Christmas, after I told her that it had lost a little of its magic- that when we were kids, we got wrapped up presents and there was all this mystery and anticipation and excitement ['Not,' I added hastily, 'that I'm saying money is unwelcome. I like money, it's the best present imaginable!']- she gave me two colorfully wrapped presents. I felt like a kid again, squeezing each, shaking it, trying to work out what was inside...and I burst out laughing at the two packets of coffee lollies in one present. My favorite coffee lollies that are near impossibly to find anywhere!
The second present...I unwrapped to find a jewelry case inside and immediately groaned and began whingeing.
'Why, mother, why? You KNOW I always tell people not to buy me jewelry I'm never going to wear, damn it!'
The blasted woman smirks at me and asks what I think is inside.
'A bracelet?' I guess, and open it- to find three hundred bucks tucked inside! I got fooled but good! :D That was the most fun I'd had at Christmas in years!
Even when it's not Christmas, mother spoils me- she buys me pretty things for no reason at all! We went shopping for my aunt Vanessa- and she ended up getting me a new pair of jeans: the most amazing pair of jeans ever! They could be from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, they are MAGICAL.
These jeans slide over my legs and hips easily without any extra wriggling or sucking-in-the-tummy required. It's form-fitting without revealing too many flaws and I can walk without feeling like my hips are gonna break! And it’s flattering while hiding my chubby areas. I can actually sit or bend down without unseemly butt crack exposure! I don’t have to constantly hold my tummy in or else risk getting a stomach ache from the constriction. ^_^ I’m in HEAVEN! Also, it has cute pocket details.
I’m a sucker for little designs like that! The perfect pair of jeans, my god. *sighs blissfully*
---
> Watched CM ep 11. I’m seeing this season out of order, so I don’t understand a lot of what’s going on, but Emily!whump FTW! Considering it was Minimal Loss that hooked me into the fandom, it’s a safe bet any ep where she gets to be center of attention and the whumpage will attract my interest, lol. [No woobie!Reid for a change!]
‘
Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure…’
Love that quote! I don't know if it's my Emily bias at work, but I tend to love the ones she says more! I wish CM would publish a book of all these wise, witty quotes they come up with, that'd be a wonderful coffee table book. :D
One thing though- she gets an elbow to the face, is that what causes her black eye? ‘coz…the dude elbowed her on the left, but her bruise make-up is on the right… O.o
[Btw, was anyone else weirded out by the way they shot that car crash escape scene? It was staged almost like a sexual assault, or that's the way it came across to me. I think the blurry focus was to show her concussion but when he was groping her for the keys, I shivered- so glad it didn't go any further, ugh]
-
Lol, you know how doctors make the worst patients? I thought it was hilarious the way she was impatient with Morgan during the hypnosis session or whatever the technical term is for vividly reliving a particular event with uncanny recall. Oh, cognitive interview!
Fail on the writers’ part for making her so weak she couldn’t fend off the distraught undercover dude- I mean, she has a gun and she can’t even make him back off, then he grabs her and nearly throws her to the ground except for Morgan butting in? Why is she the damsel in distress again? This is a disturbing trend. >:[ Remember the first ep of season 3, where she doesn’t clear the scene and gets distracted by the hostage, thereby letting the UNSUB whack her over the head and then get menaced by a little kid with a gun? That was embarrassing. And now this, ye gods. Why do you do this to me?
Hmm. Reading back over this- there is a lot of Morgan interaction, this must be the ep for their ship. *pouts* I wish Hotch had defended her honor or done the pseudo!hypnosis session with her. :-[
-
By the by. Has anyone noticed how touchy-feely Em is with complete strangers? I don’t usually noticing her initiating physical contact all that often, but here, lookit:
[still touching him in the background!]
-
‘k, you know what’s stupid? Why is it that they never keep the perp and the victim apart? The show has the worst track record in this area. If they’re escorting the UNSUB somewhere, they will inevitably run across a victim or someone relevant to the case on their way out. Here, it’s worse ‘coz he sees his daughter- the one he kidnapped!- and wants to talk to her. Emily and Morgan: DENIED. But then they stand around and let him hang out in PLAIN VIEW OF HER and he SHOUTS OUT TO HER, terrifying the poor kid but still they don’t move! WTF?
‘Don’t make me stay here, I’m fine, honestly- pull this thing over’ LOL, like a car? Em's so cute when she's all pleading and coaxing, aww. Poor thing really hates hospitals, huh? *huggles*
Jeez, they can’t bandage her head for her, she’s gotta staunch the bleeding herself? What kinda health insurance does she have? So like, if she was unconscious, they’d just let her bleed everywhere or would someone actually take decisive action then?
-
Oh, Rossi. Why are you on this show? You’re a cuddly teddy bear but honestly, ‘So he hid the family where no one hears them call for help’- no, really? Maybe the UNSUB felt like holding them hostage in the middle of a quiet residential area in a good neighborhood with a dedicated Crime Watch program and all. *snorts*
-
Y’know, it’s supposed to be a touching moment but when she picked up that kid? All I could think- his mother’s dazed and near unconscious, the toddler’s been left to his own devices for the past few days…how filthy and revolting must his diaper be right now?! *scrunches face up in disgust*
---
Vidspam:
One of speckleberry's many awesome LotS vids!
Click to view