Musings, Passions and Temptations

A quickie before I dash off.

I don't know what made me think of this, but it occurs to me that Lumione is woefully under-represented when it comes to ficcage communities. I'm not sure if that's because we're such a small niche in the fandom or just because everyone assumes that to be the case, but ... it's dull and it needs to change.

So I was thinking of starting small -- something like lumione100 or lumione_ldws (got this idea from Floo's cross-posting). Would we be interested in something like this? It would be nice to know if people wanted to play before I dove head-first.

I meant to do this yesterday when I came back from hospital, but I was feeling a bit off so I went to have a lie-down and I blinked for a moment -- and next thing I knew it was four thirty in the morning. Bit of an unorthodox way to get in nine hours of sleep, but it was out of my hands. :D

So in the end the only thing I got yesterday was an explanation of how acute pain turns into chronic pain, which became lots of fun when the doc found out I was slightly more knowledgeable than the average patient on the subject of nerve endings and synapses and transmitters, as not only did he explain things on a whole different level but I actually got to ask questions and stuff. I'm such a geek.

Anyway, after the powerpoint was done, we went ahead and discussed a small 'battle plan' for the weeks to come -- he goes on hols right after I come back from Romania, so I won't see him again until late August. That means he's going to go and talk to my physical therapists face to face while I'm away, and they'll coordinate what needs to be done specifically in each area of interest (btw, if the doc smilingly said to you, 'If they're too busy to treat you themselves, I'll gladly take you off their hands,' would you take that as laid-back joking or as flirting? I say the former, but I'm curious because I'm me as to what everyone else thinks ;)

He also reiterated his desire to start working on my fitness level and getting that back into the high range that my body had got used to. Obviously we're taking things slowly because there's a constant need to work under the shoulder's pain threshold (otherwise we feed into the high transmission rates of the neuroreceptors, which means the pain would remain chronic). So for now my 'homework' from him is to get at least sixty minutes of walking done per day, at least four days a week. He also asked me to try and keep a diary of each walking day, which I need to email him a few days before our next appointment.

So here's my thought: to turn this whole diary thing fun, and because I will be doing quite a bit of travelling over the next three weeks, I'm contemplating making it into a picture diary of sorts. That way I have the picture-taking to keep me even more motivated to get out there and walk, and I can also offer picspam check-ins to the flist if you lot felt like helping along.

Am double-checking lists and packing like mad, as I'm off to France again tomorrow and then leaving for Romania from there -- so if I forget anything over here, I'm utterly fucked.

...I hate feeling rushed.

Will post the Blue Balls meme to portus_envy after I arrive tomorrow. Wish I could do ficcage as well, as I'm itching to write (and Lucius keeps whispering naughty things in my ear, in addition to which there was a whole plot bunny being hatched around 'you can't save everyone' esp as most people aren't martyrs by any stretch, though I'm not sure I could actually pull off a scenario that dark), but I'm still stuck in the fucking wrist brace. If I don't take it off when typing, I've no use of my left hand; if I do take it off, things get sketchy (read, painful as fuck) after fifteen minutes tops. Boo!

currently coughing my lungs out; bought the new chocolate variety from Newtree, which is made with toasted flax seeds and chilli pepper extract -- lovely and smooth, and leaves a hell of a spicy aftertaste! My throat does get a bit sensitive for about a minute after I swallow, though (yeah, I know exactly how that sounds, so shush).

Almost had a bad fight with Mum a couple of days ago; I left my bed unmade (which I always do if I wake up so early that I think I'll eventually go back to sleep ... won't go into why she felt the need to check; privacy is a word only found on tv where she's concerned), which is apparently 'unacceptable for a girl my age'. She said a few other Suzy Homemaker-type things, and it's ridiculous how close I came to just exploding (as in, literally telling her where she could shove it). Didn't, of course, but it left me a bit antsy for the day. It also brought into perspective how accustomed I've become to living and being on my own (very duck to water situation) and how much I dislike being told what to do in / with my personal space. Or something.

I've made an excessive amount of purchases on ebay this month, mainly make-up and such that I could snag for a sizeable enough 'discount' (usually in excess of 50%). What I'm happiest with is a pot of Nuxe Crème Suractivée, which I mainly bought before I knew I was going to France -- as there can't be more than €5 difference from the pharmacy price after delivery (though on the happy scale, I will say, the Dior Shine Addict lipsticks -- very sheer and awesomely shiny). I do have enough stuff now that I shouldn't even look at sephora for a couple of years; but then again, how likely is that? All the more so since I seem to be becoming an OPI addict of late (is it my fault they have amazing colours? I thought not).

On that note, when did I become a designer!whore? I found this ebay shop in Germany carrying gorgeous designer sunglasses at a third or a quarter of their normal price, and have consequently had to put in quite a bit of effort to stay my hand. On the one hand, frivolous spending. On the other hand, superb, gradient-tinted Dior aviator shades for something like €50 final, post desperate-bidding selling price.

Despite my best efforts (and weeks of trying), I am again tied to my family for this year's summer holiday plans. In July because my stupid passport is going to expire and I have to haul back to the home country and get it renewed (blech). Suddenly, though, my August plans have shifted as well. Initially, I had the idea to go to Prague with one of the best friends, and we were going to tag along with my Dad, who's going to be there for the Chemical Engineering congress -- meaning a chance for small but useful special privileges (hell, even the all-access common transit pass they gave out four years ago would be handy!), plus the fact of being there with someone who knows the city ridiculously well (Dad has an un-fucking-believable sense of orientation) for when he's off congress duties -- mainly at night I think, but the city is gorgeous beyond words at night. Only now Mum decided she'll take less free days in July and come along to Prague instead, so ... Obviously I can't and won't back out of the trip or anything, but I do have to figure out how my friend will fit in with the new configuration. It's mainly the language barrier that really has to be taken into account on my end, only now I have to consider whether Mum would enjoy having someone along who she hasn't ever met (all the more so since she gets uncomfortable and shy around people she hasn't known for a while already), and also whether my friend wants to be around my parents for five days. So yeah.

Am determined to find a part-time job after the hols are over, though -- so, come September. Luckily, I've found a number of demands for students to fill in administrative positions (data input, scanning and filing mainly, though I did find a couple of phone-answering and one translation offer), and I'll apply to all and see what comes of it. I'm v fluently trilingual, so hopefully that'll be a good leg-up over other applicants, and I am keeping my fingers crossed for a position in an English-speaking environment -- an offer I stumbled onto last night. Will start sending out emails tomorrow morning. I'll post updates accordingly, but keep a little something extra crossed for me, everyone!

Ooh, right, nearly forgot: there was a bonfire night-like thing organised in a park off the royal forest domain (where, btw, saw an adorable, fluffy squirrel last time we took a walk) close by Mum's a couple of nights ago, and we went, and I gave the 'fireworks' setting on my camera quite a workout. I'm very happy with how the pictures turned out, though I did experience a bit of serious camera envy when a chick came next to me (I had a great angle from where I stood) and started snapping away with her (D?)SLR; so there will be spammage soon (and I'll also make them available as stock for making light textures).

Crack lovers have to go check out the



in which you take prompts or ideas that you'd expect to lead to a PWP and turn them into innocuous crack instead. With a premise like that, what's not to love?

As a bonus, I designed the banner for the meme, and I'll be making participation banners for everyone involved. *g*

here gives a fuck, Waterstones published their author notecards, including JKR's prequel; the excerpts are posted here, via 'read our authors' stories'.

A kind soul at ontd transcribed JK's scribbled mess handwriting, which you can find under the cut by the magic of copy-pasta.

( Come ride Sirius' motorbike )

Thoughts/impressions/opinions?

Nearly forgot to x-post. :)

Not a lot going on lately; I've been horribly exhausted for the past few days, getting the urge to sleep at the oddest moments. I'm also in more pain than usual, and because of that I've actually been taking advantage of the above urge and slept, slept, slept (except at night, damn it, again).

I had a very cartoon moment Sunday night; my right foot slid out (really out; imagine the banana peel gag) as I was heading downstairs (the stairs are covered in old, slippery linoleum, and the slippers I was wearing apparently took more issue than usual with that), so I ended up with my bum against the stairs. It's a violently indigo shade at the moment and everything (sitting, standing, walking, lying down) hurts.

Have started watching Moonlight (finally) and will start watching Firefly soon. I've also been thinking up the logistics of The Great Rewatch(es), but there'll be a separate post on that soon.

---

Drabble meme! snagged from Floo:

I will write a drabble for the first ten commenters to request one (100 words exactly). In return, they have to post this in their journal. You may request the character and/or the pair (yes slash, but depends on the pairing) for the following fandoms:

• Harry Potter


• Veronica Mars


• Heroes


• Buffy / Angel

I'll extend the limit to first fifteen or twenty if there's enough interest. :)

Back in, um, waaay early December, I went to get some highlights done -- a mix of coppery red and a golden sort of blond. As the health issues kicked in not long after, I left the hair to its own devices: no touch-ups, no special colour conditioning treatments, nothing. Being that the blonde highlights were peroxided in, they started going quite brassy a few months ago, and to be frank I got quite sick of them. Now, between that and my constant need for change, it didn't take me long to decide the highlights had to go.

So I went and bought a semi-permanent hair colour yesterday in a shade my hair stylist recommended when I said I wanted the Change. I wasn't sure how happy I was with the result yesterday, but after seeing it nicely styled today (well I just pulled it back into a pony and flat-ironed the bangs, but still), I've decided: it's fucking gorgeous! It's less black-tinted than my natural colour -- rather, it's more chocolatey -- but it's dark and intense and boy does it bring out my eyes!

Yes, it's fucking ridiculous to get this excited over hair colour; no, I really don't fucking care. Ever since Wednesday's Mammoth Project (which, speaking of, has made me avoid even glancing at photoshop for the past two days), I've been feeling energised and confident and just plain perky. And hey, I kind of like it; I haven't felt all vixen-y in ages!

On a note of random unrelatedness, I can't get enough of Duran Duran's Red Carpet Massacre these days. Also, no matter what kind of playing loop I start, my iPod manages to sneak in 'I wanna be sedated' at least twice daily; think it's trying to tell me something?

I did it, I did it, I did it... Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Cordy is one of my favourite Buffy-verse characters, even more so now I've watched so much of AtS as well. So when still_grrr issued the Cordelia/Anya/River challenge this week, I thought I'd set an extra challenge to myself to do something special for it (on that note, it's awesome to see how much love Cordy's been getting from the comm).

And so, after ~mumblemumble~ insanely labour-intensive hours on PS, I managed to put together pretty much what I had in mind at the start (I actually made a rough sketch of my idea, with lists and annotations and everything!). Everything but the polaroid frames was made from scratch, so needless to say I'm über-bouncy about having pulled this off.

Champion!Cordy banner (I call it a banner, but it's sodding huuuge) here at still_grrr. Click the preview or you'll miss, oh, everything. ;D ~bounce~

The extra-good news is that working so single-mindedly on it made me less prone to the lethargic sort of fatigue I've had to deal with for the past few weeks. Consequently I feel lots more energised today, which yay!

Oh, right! And there were also a few Cordy icons earlier this week.

Pretty much in crippling pain for the rest, but we have a deal: I ignore it as best I can and it lets me function somewhat. Plus, I think I had a great idea for a Spuffy ficlet the other day, and I completely forgot what it was. Hmph.

I finally got round to downloading a batch of the pictures I took in France and I uploaded a few of them onto my scrapbook (I took quite a few pictures for texture and / or stock image purposes, and so I didn't upload those).

So, ( pictures from the garden and the forest behind the house: )

There's a 'Diamond Divas' exhibit at the diamond museum in Antwerp, and I've just found out that I can get from here to Antwerp for the price of a cocktail by way of the weekend pass. Plus, visit to the fashion museum is apparently on offer for a visit to the exhibit. All that shiny...

~happy sigh~



I keep on not being able to access a number of websites on a random basis, and I'm fucked if I can figure out why so I can get to bypassing it. Unfortunately LJ seems affected pretty often; took about, oh, seven hours of automated reloading yesterday before I got a response other than 'page cannot load' or 'connection timed out', and it all started up again the first time I tried to reply to a post. Grrr. Charming.

Wow; over a week without any kind of internet access at home ... I feel like there should be a t-shirt boasting my survival. Said time was put to excellent use, however, as I binged on AtS and watched the entire first four seasons in a matter of days. Nummy, nummy show. I'm now pondering whether I should wait it out and watch season five after I finish watching Buffy altogether or screw continuity and just ... not.

In any case, Angel did wonderfully in its exploration of the morally grey areas that the story lines imposed, which is something I like seeing far better than the self-congratulatory moral superiority that the Buffy characters tend to get caught up in. There's always so much more excitement when you don't try and stick to the rigidity of black and white constraints. I've got loads more thinky thoughts on Angel as a whole, but I'll share those later. As for the pure enjoyment aspect, Doyle was fun, arse-kicking Wesley and Lilah/Wesley were terrific, I've developed a craving for Lindsey/Cordelia ever since 'Dead End', and Connor at the end of season four (the whole spell not working thing) was actually kind of awesome. Plus -- Angelus!!!


I had my turn at the fangirl_tour last week Monday, and of course I forgot to cross-post any sort of notification or anything before I went offline. So, however late it is now, my thirteen recs are here, for all interested.


Got a haircut! Bangs, swishy layers, and dude -- when did my hair get so fucking shiny?! Self-confidence boost very much appreciated; ta!


Saw the second physical therapist (the first if we look at them chronologically) for a new clinical evaluation yesterday. Still not well enough for him to start me on revalidation therapy yet, apparently; but I have been green-lighted for Pilates from the torso down (especially since I've been having serious, can-barely-walk issues with my knees -- what they call 'cinema syndrome' -- and need the consolidation). That would be the silver lining to the news that I'm to go in for an MRI, because current treatment isn't working as well as it should.


And since I managed to go back enough while skimming the flist to get caugt up with the eye candy via Shiv, inspiration struck (whee!l):

click for full size

It's nothing terribly artsy, as the ouchies protest if I try to man the tablet too vigorously, but I've got it propped up on my desktop at the moment and I think it works...

It's snowing again - big, fluffy snowflakes ... And I have PICSPAM!

( Huge snowiness under the cut )

I know the excitement may seem a bit much, but this is the first snow we've had since ... November I think, if that. Plus, I don't have to be outside right now ... So whee!

I was hyperactive enough this afternoon to make some screencaps and run one of my new favourite colouring scripts on them - just to see how versatile it really was.

The result: iconage!

Preview:

( Small multifandom post )

I have a number of very definite favourites out of this batch. Drop me a line to let me know what you think!

Posting here as well, for archiving purposes (and cos I forgot to x-post yesterday).

Fic based on the prompt:

Epilogue? What epilogue? Ten years after the war, Hermione has made quite the name for herself in the wizarding world and is elected Minister of Magic. Her first order of business, awarding Severus Snape the Order of First Class, posthumously. What happens when an irate … and very much alive … Severus Snape shows up in her office? Why is he so angry, and why has he been hiding?

As things stand, the first chapter is heavily Lumione-oriented, the prompt wants an HG/SS, and the plot may lend itself to something else entirely. I guess we'll see where things go, though I am starting to wibble at the thought that a threesome might mean taking the easy way out.

( Chapter One )

We gorged on crisps and Häagen Dasz and then went out for pints and guy talk. Had dark Leffe (I forget, but I think it's 9% alcohol-y; not bad for a beer); the girls had fruity beers -- mango beer smells like a scented candle and tastes kind of like effervescent sorbet ... cherry beer smelled like a Bloody Mary and tasted like fizzy sour-cherry tomato (v weird really).

Talked about men loads; were nostalgic about running into fit bloke two weeks ago who looked like Michael from Prison Break. Have managed to convince the girls I don't give a fuck about twu wuv as long as there's attraction and sparkage and Intelligent Things to talk about. For some reason they were appalled at my expressed desire not to have children; not like it was the first time I expressed it.

Am in the mood to open up Illustrator and draw swirly things. On that note, random post is random. =D

I'm nowhere near sloshed enough for this, but it bears saying anyway, cos tradition works like that -- I luuurve my flist!

[7] Fine Arts
[2] Snape + cake

( insomnia => iconage )

Off to France now. Whee!

Dipping my toe in that corner of the fandom, reading your standard, five years post-Hogwarts, Hermione-divorces-Ron Dramione story, when suddenly,

"Children were another sore spot for Hermione. She'd wanted to start a family a few years ago, but Ron said he wasn't ready."

... And then my brain started a nice drip-and-dribble out of my ears.

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who's left their music recs; I can't wait to track those down and sink my teeth, so to speak. I'm sorry I haven't replied to the individual comments yet, but I've been unbelievably exhausted these past couple of days.

On to a completely unrelated matter: there was a post on ONTD earlier with scans and a transcript from one of Alan Rickman's recent (post Sweeney Todd) interviews.

I've uploaded the photos to share here, because, well ...

( ... it's a barefoot photo shoot! )

In celebration of said awesome photoshoot, I've made two (v silly) icons:

1. Rickmaniacs	2. Afloat

(And let's not dwell on how long this process took me because of the numerous breaks required - so in conclusion I've definitely not got better, and I certainly won't be doing any handwriting any time soon.)

As usual, the icons are fully shareable (hee! - this just strikes me as such an empty line when there are only two of them). :)

Lastly, a question for those of you in the BtVS/AtS fandom: you wouldn't happen to have any recs for some good Willow/Angelus stories, would you? I've been craving this pairing like mad lately...

I'm finally rid of the damn cold that plagued me for the past twenty days. I can't recall a time I felt more miserable and poorly. If I never have migraines, a runny nose (let's not get into how many packets of tissues I went through!) or a sore throat again, it'll be too soon! It's lucky I was even able to focus on my beta reading, because I sure as hell didn't do any writing. I did manage to come up with a title for my exchange fic, though, so at least that's something. I did get some writing done yesterday, though, and have a big confrontation coming up at last ... It's been fun and games so far, so it's about time.

I received my gift exchange prezzie from ayerf on Friday. Opened it during girls' night, between the brownies, red wine and Dirty Dancing. Everyone ooh and aah-ed over it, and for good reason. It's very, very pretty ... And as soon as I charge up the batteries for my digital cam, I'll gladly picspam.

I ended up cooking aubergine caviar for everyone late last week. One of the girls I'm living with has spent a few summers in Romania as part of her job, and she mentioned loving the dish, so I made two batches - one with mayo and one with oil. Explanations that it's an appetizer seemed to go in one ear and out the other, so maybe I should have called it a dip instead. There's a Russian version with tomato and vinegar that I think I might try next time.

One of the supermarkets close by has started carrying a number of meat substitutes that I've been trying out; some are soy-based, some are dairy-based, and most of them are rather yummy, too. I think I'll have to give the mince meat substitute a try at one point, if only out of curiosity whether I can use it for sarmale. Hee.

My blonde highlights are starting to fade, and I'm wondering whether I should have them done again or lighten my hair altogether instead. With the winter coming, I think I'm feeling in the mood for something lighter all over. Will ponder and am taking counsel if any of you lot has any opinions to share. *insert endearing eyelash flutter*

I've been indulging in choc-covered McVities this afternoon, both kinds; I've no idea whether there is such a thing as McVities with white chocolate, actually, but I don't consider white chocolate as real choccie anyway, so...

Bwee!

Haven't even got round to checking the f-list yet.

I swear, time flies whether you want it to or not, and that's especially true of my stay in France this past week. It was bloody hectic and beyond. Did a nice bit of shopping, though, aided by spirit-of-adventure-induced discoveries when I just decided to traipse my way around parts more than semi-unknown without the benefit of any sort of map. Worked out all right in the end, too, so no complaints.

Also, in a fit of pique, I've tossed out all make-up that was over eighteen months old. Consequently I've splurged on a couple of pretties, one of which - new Guerlain Kiss Kiss Shine in Peach - has quickly become my favourite. Most flattering colour ever.

Got back late Saturday, then spent yesterday reconnecting with friends I hadn't seen in forever. Had loads of fun; was introduced to charming pub in the city; promised self to return for v yummy food and the temptation of a mudslide ... or even a plain Kahlua, which isn't as readily available round here as one might wish.

I've only written a very pitiful amount this past week ... Gritting my teeth and hoping to correct that slight now that I'm home and in the swing of things. Not like I expected to do much writing while I was away, though. I hadn't seen my mum in near four months; wasn't going to ignore her in favour of porny pursuits - which is to say writing, I translate with an innocent bat of an eyelash.

Have been reading a good deal of Spuffy lately, though (As an aside, watching the seasons back to back as I have been, I couldn't help but notice the storylines losing momentum and characterisation from season four on - and that isn't just the Riley abhorrence talking. Such a pity.) ... I've decided I really like episode stealers. Might be something to contemplate in the future...

Once again I'll do the asking thing and wonder what I've missed, though I'll endeavour to wade my way back through the f-list after class tomorrow.

Smoochies to all.