thetimebeing

auburnnothenna @ 10:21pm: Holiday Happiness to All
And I do mean all, I know Christmas isn't everyone's holiday, it's hardly my holiday since I self-identify as an atheist, but there can't be any harm to wishing good things and happiness to everyone, right?

Birthday happiness to my bestest wifey, eretria, too, since I may not get back online until after her natal day.

My AO3 dashboard says I have a Mystery Story/Gift for Yuletide! Yays! To my dearest writer, I will do my best to read it the day after Christmas. It will be extra special on Boxing Day.

Now, normally, this sort of sappiness gags me, but just for once.

Joy to the World.

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astolat @ 1:50pm: Yuletide pinch hitting!

http://astolat.livejournal.com/215730.html

Hey guys, urgent! With the huge increase in membership this year, we have a corresponding increase in last-minute pinch hits left to go out, and thanks to a new exciting Yahoogroups snafu, the original list has been silenced at the worst possible time. D:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you are by any chance up for doing any pinch hitting, join the new pinch hitters list:

Send a blank email to yuletidepinchhitters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. To activate your subscription, just reply to the confirmation message you receive from the group.

Or if you have a Yahoo! account, you can join at the group website!

There are some pinch hits sent there already but we are holding off on more until we get more people on board.

Please pass this along on journals, twitter, etc! ♥

*flails, runs back to code*

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auburnnothenna @ 11:48pm: randomly twitching
Holidays are engineered to make me feel inadequate, angry, and anxious. It's an awful sort of amorphous anxiety that you can't do anything about, because it's not based on anything real. I do not like this one bit.

Oh, yes, and I don't want to go to dinner at my stepsister's on Christmas Eve. I really, really, really do not want to. She's a lovely person and her husband can actually out-do me on the silence front, I like her kids, I have no problem with dogs and cats, and I just don't want to goooooooooooo. I want someone to pay me to be a hermit.

Plus, sleep would be nice. Really nice. Then my brain would work again and I would, say, remember that the car won't shift out of park without my foot on the brake. Ten minutes I spent thinking the tranny had quit out of the blue.

Good notes in an otherwise crummy week: I got a nice story for SGA Santa and got mine turned in before deadline and I uploaded my Yuletide effort (after fighting with AO3's interface). So I'm caught up except for the Apocabigbang fic I haven't even outlined. Which may be the first thing I ever default on; I don't know. I've got enough GT&T written to post if I can scrounge a beta up. I'll do that after Christmas. It's not really as much as I'd meant to finish for this part, but it's a decent spot to break it and I want to get something up before the end of the year.

God, I really want this stupid holiday to be over this year.

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elmyraemilie @ 8:15pm: Home stretch
Happy Solstice to all of you! It happened actually at 4:44 today. Tomorrow, we get probably about the same amount of light as today, but the next day, a little more time between dawn and dusk, and the next day, more. I'm up for that. Seems like the only daylight I've seen for the past month has been through my office window. ( Holidays, snow, blahblahblah. ) Hope the Christmas process is going well for those who take part in it, and that Chanukah has been good to those who celebrate. Everyone, be kind to each other this Solstice; bring light into your life and the lives of those you know by the generosity of your heart.

azurehart @ 8:21pm: There really are nice people out there...
out there.


My Mother went Christmas shopping today.  The lines were very long, and her back and leg were really bothering her.  She got into a conversation with the woman standing behind her in line, and Mom mentioned that one of the reasons she was so tired was that she was working two jobs like most people have to now-a-days to make ends meet.

Apparently the woman in front of my Mother heard this conversation.  When Mom got up to the cashier the cashier told Mom her purchases had already been paid in full.  The woman ahead of her had paid for Mom's purchases ($50 worth) and told the cashier to tell Mom "Merry Christmas and God Bless". 

Mom was so surprised by the unexpected generosity from a total stranger that she broke down in tears in the store, and cried all the way home. 

No idea who her unexpected benefactor was, so no way to thank her.  Mom said she plans on paying it forward, since she knows of two people who could use extra money this Christmas, and plans on anonymously sending each $25.

azurehart @ 9:30am: Good news...
Crazy news...



Good: Went to the endocrinologist today, found out I've lost 11 pounds in the last 3 months (go me).



Crazy: Mom has totally snapped and is wondering around the house calling Dad & I f*&#ing morons and ungrateful wretches. I have no idea why, but even if I did know why, I'm sure it wouldn't make any sense.


While I'm glad to hear my exercise and diet regimen is working well I am rather pissed with the doctor.  My appointment was for 3:30 p.m.  I was right on time, but it was 4:15 p.m. before the nurse took me back to the exam room, and 5:10 p.m. before I saw the doctor.  If there was another endocrinologist within 100 miles I'd probably switch doctors, but unfortunately I'm rather stuck.

auburnnothenna @ 3:25pm: Mystery Christmas present or Letter bomb?
All right, who sent me something priority mail from Galaxy Media in, um, Georgia? It feels about the right size and weight to be a hardcover book.

Whatever it is, curiosity is killing me, but in a good way, so many thanks!

Oh, yes, murron, I got your gorgeous postcard. So pretty. I've stuck it up over the desk. Blessed be.

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auburnnothenna @ 6:19pm: Yip yip yippee! with added rec
sga_santa is posting!

::stares::

There's a 33,000 word McKay/Keller story.

::whimpers::

Even though I know it will make me unhappy, you know I'm going to read it.

ETA: I did read it and liked it. There's nice science fiction/horror movie premise, enough plot and action to satisfy me, and very well-done treatment of Rodney and Jennifer's canon relationship, Rodney's canon friendship with John, and the consequences of how the team changed over five years. This is probably the first Jennifer Keller with Rodney McKay that I've liked. Can't put my finger on how she's different than other versions, except that -- okay, this Jennifer isn't trying the manage and reshape Rodney. Maybe that isn't so canon-like -- it's better. As for John, well, you're left feeling rather as I imagine Teyla often does: torn between cuddling him and giving him a good thwap to the back of the head. Then going and finding whoever screwed him up so wonderfully and beating them with sticks for a while.

I recommend this fic to anyone, even McKay/Sheppard 'shippers, who doesn't have an automatic allergic reaction to the het pairing. I think gen readers would enjoy it as well. Rated for sex, it would be completely PG.

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Also, this: Wordtwist is really, really bad for productivity. And very frustrating because it accepts the weirdest non-words ever and then won't recognize blivet!

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elmyraemilie @ 7:00pm: Good bread, easy to make
From allrecipes.com:

Kneadlessly Simple Easy Oat Bread:

5 1/2 cups unbleached all-pourpose white flour or bread flour, plus more as needed
1 1/4 cups old fashioned or quick oats (not instant oatmeal)
3 tablesppons granulated sugar
2 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon Fleischmann's RapidRise or Bread Machine yeast (I used regular Active Dry and it seemed fine)
1/4 cup honey or mild molasses
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups ice-cold water, plus more as needed

1. FIRST RISE: In a very large bowl, thoroughly mix flour, 1 cup oats, suga, salt and yeast. Stir together honey, oil and ice water in a separate bowl; add to dry ingredients and stir vigorously. If too dry, stir in just enough additional water to mix together; dough should be slightly stiff. If dough is very soft, stir in more flour to stiffen. Brush top of dough with oil (I used spray vegetable oil--works like a charm). Cover bowl with plastic wrap. For best flavor or convenience, refrigerate dough 3 to 10 hours; this is optional. Then let rise in a cool room 12 to 18 hours.

2. SECOND RISE: vigorously stir dough. If necessary, stir in enough additional flour to yield a hard-to-stir (elastic) consistency. Generously grease two 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 inch bread pans, making sure sides are greased the whole way to the top. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of oats in the bottom of each pan, shaking pan to distribute them evenly. Using oiled kitchen shears or a serrated knife, divide dough in half. Put half in each bread pan; with oiled fingers, smooth top of dough. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of oats over the top of each loaf, pressing it lightly to imbed it in the dough. Cover pans with greased plastic wrap.

3. LET RISE USING ANY OF THESE METHODS: For a 2 to 3 hour REGULAR RISE, let stand at wram room temperature; for a 45-minute to 2 hour FASTER RISE, put in a turned-off microwave with 1 cup boiling water; for SLOW RISE, refrigerate up to 24 hours, then put in a warm room. As dough nears plastic wrap, remove it; continue until dough is 1/2 inch above pan rim.

4. BAKING: Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 50-60 minutes, until tops are well browned. Cover with foil, bake 10-15 minutes more, until skewer inserted in center comes out with only a few particles on tip, or until center registers between 208 and 210 degrees. Bake five more minutes to be sure it's done. Cool 15 minutes in pan. Turn loaves onto rack to finish cooling.

5. SERVING/STORING: Best served at room temperature or toasted. Store airtight at room temperature three days; may be frozen, airtight, for up to two months.

The only faintly tricky thing with this recipe is figuring out when you want to eat the bread, then choosing the timing/rise methods to get you to that place. Very good--dense, moist brown loaf with a faint molasses flavor. I anticipate that it's going to make some kick-ass PB & J.

auburnnothenna @ 5:31pm: The calendar says
Blessings and happiness to all who are celebrating Hanukkah!

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elmyraemilie @ 6:02pm: 'Tis the season!
I will make Santa-hat icons for the first six folks who request one--two each from LJ, IJ and DW. All you have to do is comment to this post and provide me with a photo of your desired "hat-ee" to use as a base for the icon--a head and shoulders shot is about the best, but I'm open to others if you have a real favorite. Doesn't have to be a person--I've hatted birds and teddy bears in past seasons. You'll have your Santa-hat icon in time to use it this holiday season.

Merry whatever you're celebrating!

elmyraemilie @ 7:17am: Quirky, New York Times style
It's a droll little article from the NYT about Hannukah in Montana, among other things. sara_merry99, you know for sure that this made me think of you.

elmyraemilie @ 12:00am: This is a test
Daggone AVG--won't let me post to Facebook. I think. Unless Facebook is having the hiccups simultaneously with me activating the new web security thingy.

astolat @ 10:40pm: Idol RPF: Drive-By Devotion (Adam/Tommy)

http://astolat.livejournal.com/215342.html

haha, okay, so here is the full version of the ludicrous porn story I started on aianonlovefest the other day. I had it finished a bit earlier today but merryish said it was too much porn for noon, but good for 2am, and I had to agree, so I waited a bit to post. :>

Seriously, this is even more x-rated and also even more COMPLETE CRACK than before, you are warned.

Drive-By Devotion (6,970 words)
Adam/Tommy, so very very adult & explicit

It seemed like a good idea after five martinis in the Wynn high-rollers bar.

(Read the story!)

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auburnnothenna @ 3:04pm: Oooooh Shiny
Judas Doesn't Answer won a McShe p award for Dark fic. Which it is. I always think that story suffers from many people not liking that John is ambiguous in it. Maybe he's really a bad guy, maybe he's the guy we think we know with a few more secrets, stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wanted readers to be free to make up their own minds, but most of them took the end message to mean the former. I still love it though, for the whiptails and finding a reason for War and Peace.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who read and voted for it. I'm a happy writer right now, with my sga santa story completed and submitted, my Yuletide off to a beta reader (that I've never worked with before!) after dossier said it was okay.  The plot, that is.

I'm trying to find the entry into the next scene on Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. I know what the scene has to have, but I've run into a problem: Jehan and Vala are far to paranoid not to be expecting an attack, and too good to be overpowered, so how the hell does Kel take over the bridge? Arggh.  Also wondering if atmosphere will vent from a hull breach while the ship is hyperspace. The ship must be in some kind of field that allows it to exist in four dimensions while travelling through the higher ones, so maybe that would also hold in atmosphere? Would atmosphere be drawn out into hyperspace the way it is into vacuum anyway?

Not getting more than an hour's unbroken sleep in the last two days is making me cranky and slow-minded. My inner snark monster is rattling the bars of its cage.


I got the the PO, though! Packages are off, freaking customs labels and all. Am now broke for Christmas.


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