Date: 2009-07-19 10:59 Subject: Okay, I want to meet this person. Security: Public Mood: impressed

There's a part of me that still wants to work in publicity, where I started out as a wee thing.

That part of me? Wants to follow around the author of this press release and serve their every whim.

Company Denies Its Robots Feed on the Dead.

Most brilliant (and cost-effective) piece of viral publicity I have ever seen. So I'm doing my part to pass it around.

Date: 2009-07-10 12:50 Subject: ... I want to ride it where I like Security: Public Mood: curious

Okay, so. Looking at my new apartment (for which I have been approved, and now we are only haggling over bits on the lease), it seems to me that I have a little less than 3-mile commute between my apartment and my classes.

There's a bus that goes there, which is great, because the parking is (a) mega-expensive and (b) hellacious.

But I've also been pondering, Pinky, and remembering seeing somewhere that Burlington is considered one of the top 5 cities in America for bicyclists. They do have bike paths on every single major thoroughfare, and it's a great climate to bike in about 8-9 months of the year, and even the hills are mostly tolerable.

3 miles, if I remember correctly, is a reasonable biking length. Back when I used to bike, there was a seven-mile circuit I did with some regularity, and I thought nothing at all of a 3-mile round trip.

But that was 20 years, 120 pounds, and about half a knee ago. So.

People what ride bicycles: do you like it? How's the workout on the knees? Do you ride while being a person of size, or a person with asthma, or both? Was it a long time in between biking as a kid and biking as a grown-up? Or did you overcome something even more daunting?

What I don't want to do is blow money on a bike and a helmet and, dear god, they have specialized padded bike pants now, and then hang the thing up on hooks in my brother's basement.

So, as my girl Rachel Maddow would say: talk me down. Or up.

Date: 2009-07-09 20:49 Subject: They did what now? Security: Public Mood: confused

( Torchwood, COE ep. 4, spoilers )

Date: 2009-07-01 12:40 Subject: Ayup. That'll do it. Security: Public Mood: contemplative

Despite the fact that we are not particularly known for our interior decorating or housekeeping, I learned the William Morris dictum "have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful" from my esteemed roommate, and it gets quoted fairly often 'round these parts.

When I related to her yesterday's conundrum about eating too much junk food, ellen_fremedon came up with a riff on this that sums up the whole ideal eating plan:

"Eat nothing you do not know to be healthy or believe to be delicious."

That sound you heard just now was a hundred thousand Chicken McNuggets hitting the garbage can, their siren song suddenly silenced. They're joined by Hershey's chocolate bars, the snack cakes in the office vending machine, and pretty much everything sold at the Pound o'Food next door.

... I think that motto will be easier to follow than the original, honestly.

Date: 2009-06-30 15:35 Subject: Foods. Security: Public Mood: curious Music: "Solitary Man" by Neil Diamond is in my head, but I have no idea why.

OK, so, without getting all doctrinaire about it, I've been working through my chocolate stores much, much too quickly lately, and in general just eating more sugar than I need to be eating, or even want to be. And I'm kinda feeling it with a sort of bleary lurgy that I know perfectly well is almost 100% down to diet.

Also, wow. I've been analyzing my expenditures, and dear god, I spend too much on junk food, of all types. That's cash money and I don't even like the food I'm buying with it. I'm just eating because I'm bored, mostly -- though I do get peckish around 3 or 3:30 in the afternoon.

I know most of the guidelines -- more vegetables, fewer carbs, get some protein in each snack -- but I want to be inspired by tales of yumminess, because right now all that sounds appetizing to me is refined sugar -- and then once I eat it, I know it was (usually) a bad idea.

So! What's for breakfast? What are peoples' favorite snacks? What do you pack in your purse? I'm gonna go buy some cheese sticks and peanuts and dried fruit, sure, but what else gets you through?

[NB: I can eat anything except corn (a sensitivity -- I also try to avoid corn derivatives like corn syrup or cornstarch, but that's not life-or-death). I don't much care for olives or capers. I eat damn near anything else.]

With all the produce coming out right now (in this part of the world, anyway), there are so many tasty things. Share!

Date: 2009-06-30 00:33 Subject: Fanfic! I still read it! Security: Public Mood: satisfied

I know there hasn't been a rec out of me for a while. But this one. Wow, I just - that was gorgeous.

The Accompanist, by gretazreta
http://gretazreta.livejournal.com/37542.html

This is a really gorgeous AU in which, among other things, Dean is a pianist (which she sells you on, somehow). It's Dean/OMC, and it's fucking fantastic. It's a good case story, but you don't need to know SPN any more than "before the series started, John Winchester, a demon hunter, drifted from town to town with his two sons, Dean and Sam." Bring your Kleenex - it's a two-hanky job. 40K and worth the time.

Date: 2009-06-24 15:54 Subject: Plus side: I'm alive. That's a big plus. Security: Public Mood: scared

So hi. I made it home in one piece, a day later than planned and four hours later than expected.

Briefly: worst drive of my LIFE, and that's a life that includes some mighty impressive roadtrips.

The problem? I kept falling asleep at the wheel. Seriously. ASLEEP. Car swerving and everything. I pulled over at least a dozen times*, I have put Diet Coke out of business**, and now I am home and going to bed.

I am never driving alone on a long car trip again. This will put a crimp in my lifestyle, but I think that will be worth it for the benefit of still having a life. (AirTRan flies very cheaply between Burlington and Baltimore, FYI.)

ADD and ADHD folks -- I know you're out there. Has this ever happened to you? It was like I went numb and then I was suddenly correcting my swerve. I might be just (VERY) tired; it might be some kind of stealth panic attack; but it definitely felt like I didn't have control over my own head. I mean, ABBA couldn't keep me awake, or Journey, even.

So now I'm scared and shaking and HOME, for which you may all thank your large and small deities, if you so choose. I am curling up in bed and don't propose to leave it until I try to go in to work in the morning (and doubtless get yelled at for missing today, but seriously, I don't care.

It was a nice trip, though, except for this part. I'll tell you about it when I've slept.

* not hyperbole
** hyperbole

Date: 2009-06-15 09:47 Subject: Happy birthday Security: Public Mood: grateful

It's twistedchick's birthday today -- send her your hugs.

Here's one. :)

ETA: Oh, and also sen_no_ongaku! Lookit that.

This entry was originally posted at http://sanj.dreamwidth.org/392340.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Date: 2009-06-11 10:09 Subject: Also, they could turn on the SUN. Security: Public Mood: sleepy

Okay, y'all know what I need? A virtually indestructible, solid-state, loud-as-all-freakout alarm clock with the kind of ring that shakes walls and annoys hibernating bears.

I'm pretty sure such a thing is going to turn out to be necessary to my graduate school success.

What works for you? The only thing that's ever reliably got me out of bed before 9AM is the gentle poking of my girlfriend during my senior year of college.

::hugs coffee::

Date: 2009-06-10 23:30 Subject: Books, part one Security: Public Mood: content Music: Indigo Girls, "Hey Kind Friend"

I just went through one shelf of books and got rid of about half of it - two big shopping bags' worth. Wiktory!

I am saving out religion and women's studies books and will list those for the few of you who said you might be interested.

I love you all, but I'm not listing the SF paperbacks. Chances are you have them anyway; it's not an extraordinary collection. People coming to Skiffy Night are welcome to paw through them and then I'm gonna schlep everything off to a used bookstore.

I seem to be keeping the lion's share of the general non-fiction and the SF/YA comfort reads, and not a heck of a lot else. Some of the literature, most of the poetry. Most of the to-be-read list, although I let a few that I haven't read yet go.

Feels good, except for the (sneeze) dust.

Date: 2009-06-09 14:36 Subject: DC peeps and bibliophiles Security: Public Mood: busy

Anyone have any boxes suitable for moving things? Especially those nifty book-sized ones?

Also, there will shortly be a wide range of free books available (quite deep in feminist theology) along with many pairs of size 8 or 8.5 shoes. Probably some other stuff as we go.

Freakin' fire sale on 90% of my worldly goods, honestly. Make me an offer. :P

Date: 2009-06-07 22:21 Subject: Go check this out. Security: Public Mood: weird

For those of you who move in slightly different circles, go read cereta's post on rape and the systemic culture of rape.

On LJ: http://cereta.livejournal.com/652008.html
On DW: http://cereta.dreamwidth.org/639712.html

Most of the discussion is on LJ; the comments are not mirrored. The post and both threads are smart, disturbing, thought-provoking reading.

This is just a directional post: comment in the thread if you want to take part in the discussion.

Date: 2009-06-07 01:24 Subject: I has a role model. Security: Public Mood: cheerful Music: got some of that off of Cinco, too.

Someday, if I am very good, and work hard, I can have a lovely house and lovely friends and have them over for a lovely day of lovely food and handicrafts and classic sci-fi television.

... actually, I/we already get to do that, but not in the kind of style that meri_oddities does. I aspire to her grace and her chutzpah and her magically overflowing refrigerator.

In the meantime, she also graciously let me make off with some beads from her collection, so that means MOAR JEWELRY. Those of you who are already getting freebies - they should go out this week. I will put five more projects up on Etsy for a quarter, as a pay-it-forward. I'll post again when that happens.

*hugs world*

Date: 2009-06-03 20:08 Subject: So it's looking pretty official!! Security: Public Mood: excited Music: Kris Delmhorst, "Water Water"

Or, if I were anyone but me, I would say it's a done deal. SO. Pending unforeseen disaster*, I am going to UVM!!!

That's Universitas Viridis Montis, by the way, for you folks who were asking on Friday: the accepted abbreviation for the AWESOME UNIVERSITY OF AWESOME VERMONT.

I'm moving to Burlington! I'm gonna be a therapist! I'm very excited! I'm very nervous! I need to airlift all of my DC people 500 miles northward! I get to be in the my first-choice grad program! I have to move! I get to live in Vermont! I can't take my roommate! I'll be closer to my family! I'm slightly ambivalent about this! I get to quit my fucking job! I have to find work-study! I seem to be talking in exclamations!!

Yeah. :)

*The loan sitch: I called my lender and they said, 'well, we've approved you for this amount, so we just need the university to confirm that's the right amount.' So I called the university, and they said they were doing confirmations later in the month, but if I hadn't asked for anything over what they allotted me, I should be fine. So I should be fine. But you know me; I want it in triplicate. Possibly bronzed.

Date: 2009-06-01 22:20 Subject: HEY CANADIANS! Security: Public Mood: curious Music: Great Big Sea

I mean, excuse me, o northern neighbors....

As an American, in order to prove my identity, I need a Social Security card and a driver's license. A passport wouldn't hurt, nor would a credit or debit card or the other sorts of things that accumulate in wallets, but the SSN and the state-issued driver's license/picture ID are the biggies.

What similar documents would a Canadian carry on his or her person, when crossing over the border?

OH HAI I AM WRITING NAO. IT IS FUN. *beam*

almost forgot: Thank you kindly!!

Date: 2009-06-01 19:01 Subject: So help me out here Security: Public Mood: content

Got me a poll about what I should be writing over on my DW account, which I can't replicate here because I let my membership lapse.

Have at it?

http://sanj.dreamwidth.org/389215.html

Date: 2009-05-25 19:50 Subject: Home again Security: Public Mood: contemplative

Went away for the weekend with fox to the Berkshires, thence to hang with kassrachel and yaoobruni. Saw many of the wonderful people what live there. Extra bonus hugs from ban_sidhe, who made the trip up from the wilds of Connecticut.

I needed a break, and to not be here, and I needed a good long talk in the car with fox, and once again: best friends in the world.

And now I am v. tired and am going to lie down until it's time to go fetch Ms. ellen_fremedon from the airport.

Date: 2009-05-22 09:26 Subject: ZOMG, guys Security: Public Mood: chipper Music: "Don't Stop Believing" - McKinley High School New Directions

Okay, so GLEE, on Fox, probably only appeals to people who liked High School Musical. People like, say, ellen_fremedon or yaoobruni should stay away from it. Possibly in another state.

Um. Confession time. I kind of love HSM. I cried when I saw HSM. Both times.

So, apparently the goth-emo FauxArthurian soap opera that is Merlin was not enough of an attack on my permanently-sixteen hindbrain. They had to make a heartwarming little dramedy about a misfit glee club, and give it production numbers.

You guys. YOU GUYS. Who got into my drawerfic and started making TV shows for me??

Date: 2009-05-20 18:21 Subject: WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP: No Skiffy Night This Week! Security: Public Mood: chipper

Please note that - alas! - there will NOT be Skiffy Night this week, as I am also heading out of town.

In lieu of Skiffy, I point you to hulu.com, where you can catch:

Star Trek: TOS - http://www.hulu.com/videos/search?query=star+trek
The Middleman: http://www.hulu.com/videos/search?query=middleman

or, if wordplay is to be believed about its awesomeness, you can even catch:

How I Met Your Mother: http://www.hulu.com/videos/search?query=how+I+met+your+mother

We'll catch you next week with the further adventures of the Fifth Doctor and the TARDIS Puppy Pile.

Date: 2009-05-18 18:09 Subject: A little coda on representation Security: Public Mood: determined Music: the Tetris theme

More important things than this going on in the discussion about race and SF, but here's something striking that I've noticed lately in a slightly different quadrant.

So there's this fantasy universe that's been in my head for, oh, eight thousand years or something, and at this point I acknowledge it's the kind of shallow teenage drawer-fic crap that (a) makes Merlin look like Nietzsche and (b) would probably make me a bejillion dollars if I could ever come up with a coherent plot.

But every now and then I take it out and look at it, and rejoice that I am a much, much better writer than I was at 25, and try to decide if there's anything salvageable at all with it.

And this time through, I'm doing what I often do with RPG characters, and went looking for fantasy character portraits online, at places like Elfwood and Epilogue and DeviantArt.

I do this partially because the pictures make me think about the character -- where she's come from in life, what his outlook is, etc. -- and because I can't draw for beans, but I can damn well shop.* :)

I also do it for a lot of the reason I surf Etsy -- the stuff people can make, or think about making, continually amazes me. People have tons of talent and they just shed it like fur. People amaze me.

But here's the thing. The characters in this story, who come from a pretty bog-standard fantasy high-fantasy world, are and have pretty much always been racially mixed. They come in different colors and sizes. And yes, there IS a pretty redheaded telepath, because, hey, I started this when I was hip-deep in Marion Zimmer Bradley and now that's just what she looks like. But the people who look like hereditary Europeans only make up part of the cast, and mostly not the most important parts -- there's people who look like different kinds of hereditary Asian and African and American, and mostly there's people who are admixtures of one or more of these.

I'm finding the portraits of the white people just fine. And the Asian-looking women, mostly, and one of the black guys. But that is about it.

And on these search engines, race apparently means "Human, Elven, or Dwarf"? Because it seems like you can get blonde versions of any of these. And I'm not surprised. I'm just -- disappointed, and annoyed, and frustrated.

"But if you know what the characters look like," one of my logical friends asked, "why do you need to look for portraits of them?"

Well, I don't, honestly. Except that now IT'S ON.

Fantasy artists: I'm coming for your characters of color. This is a challenge!!

RPGers and other commissioners of portrait work: think about your characters. Do they have to be pale-pink moon elves? Do they have to look like a blond Viggo Mortensen? Just think about it, okay? Because the demand for commissions drives the artists' markets.


*NB: Right now I am just browsing and using free images as downloads on my own hard drive. Someday I'd love to commission and buy fantasy art, but that day is not today. However, my first chunk of commission cash is going to a picture of a big cushy Samoan-looking dyke in her thirties, with fabulous Italian-Ren-style garb in Japanese-print brocade, with huge frizzy beaded braids. Maybe a lorgnette. So you can work on that, if you want.

This entry was originally posted at http://sanj.dreamwidth.org/387593.html. Please comment there using OpenID.