Corner of Bourbon & Division

I'm feeling a bit more energetic these days. ( Light and energy. )

( Gardening, fencing and asphalt. )

( Paperwork. Blech. And also the prospect of selling books. )

So that's about it for now. I have other thoughts about time and procrastination and time management, but they're all still pretty rough, and not ready to be written down.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic about summer. Maybe it's the extra sunlight, maybe not, but I'm not complaining. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather and to getting outside more.

Does anyone local know someone in need of a cat?

Poor Smudge is not adjusting well to the dog.

Worse, the dog is not adjusting to Smudge either. The dog got into the spare room tonight where Smudge has been camping out, lunged up onto the furniture after him and tried to bite him. Or eat him, I honestly can't tell. He literally had his jaws around poor Smudge by the time I managed to intervene, and I nearly broke my finger getting them apart.

Since Sergent is here to stay and is fine with the other two cats, I think I need to re-home Smudge in a nice, calm place where there are no other cats or pets of any kind. He's a sweet, affectionate cat with people—it's just other animals he doesn't get along with. He hasn't had any behavioural issues in years: he always uses the litter box (even the whole time the dog was stressing him out, no less!), and cuddles with me and purrs whenever I go into the room.

As much as it breaks my heart, I think he would do better in a single cat household. Right now I feel like he's being punished for something that's not his fault or his doing.

Anyone in the area looking for a cat? Or do you know someone looking for a cat? If you do, point them my way, please. Smudge deserves a better life than the one he has now.

Between all my moves, I've lost my copies of the Incarnate world/rules/notes, and in a fit of nostalgia (and Other Secret Reasons™ ;)) I wanted to go look through all of it again. I know it was online for a while, but I'm pretty sure forthright must have taken it down by now.

Does anyone still have a copy somewhere? Pretty please? I am perfectly willing to offer bribes. ;)

So I'm thinking of getting a space heater. This place doesn't heat all that efficiently, and the thermostat in the kitchen appears to have permanently given up the ghost.

Any recommendations from local folks? Horror stories of what to avoid?

Thanks! :)

Okay, so if you're anything like me, there is at least ONE song out there that, if it doesn't make you cry, it at least makes you a little misty-eyed.

Mine is Leonard Cohen's beautiful adaptation of Garcia Lorca's poem, "Litte Viennese Waltz." It makes me think of rainy days in Paris, of hiding in dusty attics, of losing myself in my father's old books, and the nostalgia just about breaks my heart.

(Okay, there are others, because I am a SAPPY WUSS, but this is the one that never fails.)

"Take This Waltz"




Okay, flist. Your turn. Spill. What song tugs at your heartstrings?

'Cause I'm at work and bored.

Fanfiction. Discuss. Every angle welcome.

As usual, no flaming, no ad hominem arguments, etc. Basic courtesy applies, and don't be a jackass. Arguing in bad faith is discouraged, but not forbidden.


Aaaaaand... GO!

:::ETA:::

I was asked for clarification. So:

Why write fanfiction at all?

What makes fanfiction a valid form of expression (or not)?

What role do you think fanfiction plays in fandom?

Should an author have a say in what happens to their work once it's released to the public?

Okay, inquiring minds want to know. Inspired by a post by bodhifox, I have been thinking about what my role is in life, what my "title" would be. I can't think of one for myself. I am not Writer or Artist or Engineer or Mother or anything like that. I've never asked anyone else who or what they think I am (I think I'm a little afraid of what they might answer).

What about y'all?

[Poll #1474904]

So a couple of years ago (I think) someone posted a really really funny review of CSI in their LJ. I think it may have been the_xtina, but I may be remembering wrong. These things have been known to happen.

Mostly what I remember is the phrase: "Whoosh! Science happens!"

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I was telling someone about this and would like to be able to quote the thing more accurately. :)

Dear flist,

As part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days project, I am trying to broaden my cooking horizons. So for the next three months, the plan is to cook a "new" and "exotic" dish every week.

I could always go hunt down recipes on the internet, but I find that my experience is always best when I get recommendations from my friends.

So, dear flist, do you have any fun/new/exciting recipes that I could try? My regular culinary experience is North American/French Canadian, with occasional forays into cooking with curry and various stir-fries. What can you suggest that will make me break out of my culinary rut? (Dish names are good, and bonus points if you can provide the actual recipe)

:::cross-posted to recipe_trade:::

Okay, this has never actually happened to me before, but I've been stuck on what to call my zombie novel for nearly three years now. The inestimable toughlovemuse came up with two brilliant titles ("Afternoon Snack of the Living Dead" and "Crisse, des zombies! (Zombie Crisis!)") which are sadly too tongue-in-cheek for the tone the book eventually developed.

So, those of you who've read it, any suggestions? If you haven't read it, you can read the majority of the first draft here, although it has changed a fair bit since I first published it.

(I will not be offended if you don't read it, no worries.)

Help?

:::ETA:::

Okay, people. Maybe I wasn't explicit enough. THE TITLE MUST NOT BE FLIPPANT. That is precisely what I am trying to avoid.

Let's try again.

[Poll #1415809]