get me off this crazy thing

Hullo good friends, I am alive, and things are good, mostly even better than good, and some things doing the best that they can.

It was rather an agonizingly impossible feat, but my parents have officially moved and are now ensconced in their new home in Ensenada, Mexico, mostly intact, although as of last night the truck with their stuff hadn't arrived yet. So, hopefully that resolves today....

My week helping my parents pack can be summed up thusly: they don't throw anything away, and if you say, 'hey, you know, this [whatever] has been in the back of a [cupboard/closet] for years and you have [never used it/forgotten it existed/have done without it for YEARS] maybe you can [throw it away/give it away]?' you are met with either shock at the thought or an aggrieved sort of complaint about how it might be needed or it's still good or it'll keep or what have you.

The amount of expired food I threw away... let us not speak of it.

But, what I had to remind myself (constantly) is that of course this was rather a difficult thing for my parents, change always is, and at this stage in their lives, having to uproot and go somewhere unfamiliar, even with all the advantages that might or might not be there, was quite traumatic in its way, and they are not young, and not entirely well.

And now they're just far enough away that I will not really be able to help them much, which in some ways is a relief, and in other ways is a little frightening. I really do hope this is over all a positive change for them.

So, that's done, then.

~~~

In other news, I'm busy as a bee. I placed 3rd in my class (training test 2) in the Dressage schooling show that my riding school had about a week ago, which is cool. And me and two other girls did a very silly Western riding exhibition, and that was fun, even if my pony spooks at loud music... haha.

Also, I may have ridden bareback on my friend's horse with another girl, tandem like (the two of us both on his back). There is a picture somewhere that I hope to get. At least I wore a helmet?

Also, somehow I've been designated as the go to girl/crash test dummy for kid horses that are acting out. How this happen?

~~~

My roommate is leaving me AGAIN. And hopefully (really) for good this time because she's on the verge of getting engaged and I wish her all my love and all the best, etc.

I'm dreaming of affording my apt. by myself, but if that were the case I need more income. So, I need to get on that...

Or I could a) get another roommate, b) move to a one bedroom, which I can more or less afford on my current salary. CHOICES. OPTIONS.

~~~

I finished the audio book for Emma and then went on to Mansfield Park (LOVE. Although Edmund remains a boob. I love Mary Crawford!) And now I have Pride & Prejudice (read by Lindsey Duncan!!! I luff her! I totally have a girl crush on her big time), although I haven't really listened to it yet. There was a problem with the disks playing in my car so I'm ripping them for my iPod. I would rather have saved P&P for last, actually, and may do so anyway. Can't wait to listen to Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

I have to admit that S&S is my least favorite of the JA books, although it's one of my favorite movies. hm.

~~~

I finished the first 3 seasons of Burn Notice. The 4th is not out on DVD yet. So, meanwhile, I've moved on to The Wire, because everyone says it's the best TV show ever, and so naturally I must investigate.

~~~

It's time for hlh_shortcuts!!

I truly debated whether to participate (with this and yuletide) or not this year, mostly because I am MIA from practically everything and not at all fannish, and easily distracted with Real Life, such as it is. But the truth of the matter is I love to write, and I have fun every year. So, there you have it.

~~~

In the immortal words of Flight of the Conchords, "Come on sucker, lick my battery!"

Yay! Authors have been revealed for the hlh_shortcuts and so now I can jump up and down and point people to my story.

This was a first for me, for many reasons -- first crossover, first non-D/M (except for the wee little Duncan/May-Ling I wrote years ago)(although I kind of cheated because it's heavy on the Duncan & Methos friendship), first time writing Amanda for longer than a cameo. It was a lot of fun, and also difficult. *g*

The Manuscript
Highlander/Dresden Files
Methos, Amanda, Harry Dresden, Bob, Duncan MacLeod, OCs
Genish Pre-slash or Slashy Gen (Methos/Harry)
13200+ words

The Manuscript (link goes to community, posted in 2 parts, all parts linked). Or you can read it on the HL Archive here.

Anyone know of good Dresden Files communities for posting?

( Quick notes for anyone interested: )

Last night my mum and I went to see Mary Poppins: The Musical. Which, well, I'm not gonna lie, the movie is a gazillion times better imnsho, but the stage production had its charms (terrible child actors aside). They changed the story quite a bit. There was some new songs and music. The two actors playing Bert and Mary Poppins were very good. And importantly Julian Fellows wrote the book (jeez, is there nothing that man can't do?) which was a nice surprise and pretty cool since he is one of my writing idols.

I realized, while watching Mary and Bert dance on the rooftops of London, that I am a pretty hardcore Mary/Bert shipper. Yes. Step in time!

Never need a reason, never need a rhyme.

~~~

The story written for me was posted to hlh_shortcuts yesterday! Compassing. Check it out. Catch me if you can, Immortal style. heh.

hlh_shortcuts is live and all is right with the world. Over the next several days, amand_r will be posting Highlander holiday stories. Be sure to check often. GUESS WHICH ONE IS MINE. YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.

for the snowflakes! *wiggle with joy*

~~~

In other news, I'm here. I'm not dead. I'm trying to not disgrace myself with my hlh_shortcut story. Will make a proper post soon.

smooches,
tifah

ETA: Happy Birthday, taselby!! *mwah*

Look at me, posting. whoowhee.

Rock'em, Sock'em

~ Go ahead, call me dumb. I restarted my Starsky & Hutch viewing for two reasons: 1) I decided I wanted to pay attention now that most of my brain was free again, and 2) there were actually tons of episodes I missed entirely because I failed to notice the little arrow menu option that revealed more episodes per DVD. d'oh?

~ Never mind the crazy levels of love and inappropriate touching that go on between Starsky & Hutch, I'm FASCINATED by the clothing and style and the language and the cars in this show (at least in season 1; I'm kind of scared of season 4, tbh lol). I love all the characters, even the (very long) line of random, beautiful, usually-end-up-dead women (aw, 70s, you wacky decade) but especially Huggy Bear and Dobey. Also, watching S&H is like taking a tour of Los Angeles's telephone booths. I'm just saying. Speaking of LA, I love the LA (Bay City?) in this show. It's like an alternative universe.

~ ( Sarah Jane Adventures )

~ In other news, I'm exhausted but okay. Trying to maintain balance between work, friends, family, writing, horses, and me!time, and mostly succeeding? Kind of? Okay not really, but I do all right. Today, my arm hurts for some reason. I must have strained it a little on Sunday. I rode western on Saturday and english on Sunday. Western is less exhausting but not necessarily easier. Sunday I rode Freon, who has the honor of being the first horse I ever fell off of -- big ol' puppy dog. He can be a handful, but a pleasure to ride. We did pretty good together.

~ YULETIDE

~ I started my dw_femslash story, and I have an idea for my hlh_shortcut story. Whee?

~ I love how fandom exploded with White Collar love. You are all so predictable, but I love you anyway. ;) I haven't watched it yet myself but that's mostly because I don't do live TV anymore. I fail spectacularly at it (and I mean the appointment television aspect of it, but I also prefer mature shows with at least a season already). I'll catch up on the flipside.

Unfortunately, the video quality isn't better. But it is still impressive. Although, I'm not sure why a mounted police officer would need to remove their saddle mid-canter, still I like it. :D :D Honestly, I've watched this video a dozan times so far.

( Metropolitan Mounted Police at Olympia )

~~~

In other news, it was beta appreciation day yesterday! And I sort of missed it. Crazy day, wasn't really at my desk for very long. Anyway, there is no way I can comprehensively give proper thanks to all the betas I've had since I started in fandom, and do it justice, but THANK YOU. I'd write a fic for you all, but then I would have to ask someone to beta. lol.

~~~

I haven't decided what to nominate for Yuletide yet. THIS IS HARD.

Many of my usual choices have been nominated already, so I can take a chance on them. hm. And of course I didn't take notes throughout the year on things I would like.

What I have so far:

Leverage (yay its eligible)
Ashes to Ashes
Lost in Austen
Oz Books
Northanger Abbey
Wiseguy
Starsky & Hutch
Ocean's 11
Roman Holiday
Nate & Hayes
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
24 (!!!!!)

(I'm curious about the Eddie Izzard - Stand up Routines nomination. Maybe I don't think out-of-the-box enough, but huh? I mean, is it that you write fanfic having some of his characters interact?? I like Darth Vader/Marie Antoinette...)

~~~

Dear hlh_shortcut writer,

:D I'm pretty easy to please and an easy sell. Although I am primarily a Duncan/Methos girl (or Duncan & Methos), I'm totally open to other pairings and certainly happy with Gen, if that pairing is not your thing. I only ask that, if you're going to write Duncan MacLeod, that you please do not make him an asshole. And also, no one dies. :D Thank you, thank you! Have fun!

~~~

Dear dw_femslash writer,

OMG go crazy. Write whatever you like, I guarantee I'll like it. I pretty much love all of the female characters on DW and so am happy to receive anything. I wrote some stuff in my request, but you know, that's just there in case you really want direction. Have fun!! whee!

The best time of the year is upon us! hlh_shortcuts is open for signups. whee! Probably there is no one left on my flist who isn't already aware, so this post is more of a happy happy joy joy sort of thing than a signal boost. heh.

Only 500 words minimum. Everyone who loves Highlander should do it. :D :D :D

hlh_shortcuts is live, people! Highlander fans should check the comm every day for new stories. amand_r will be posting all of the stories anonymously from today through Dec. 20th, a few a day (depending on word length, I think) with author names being revealed on the 23rd. Once the guessing post is up, try and guess which one's mine! :D :D

Methos says you must.

There should be a Highlander/Flight of the Conchords crossover. I'm just saying.

~~~

Finished my hlh_shortcuts story! \o/ That was a whole lotta fun. It's been a year since I wrote Highlander and it was a bit like discovering an old box of toys and trying to remember how the pieces fit. Which is to say they fit very well. Oh boys, trying to be all coy and stuff. I got their number, oh yeah.

hee.

~~~

Speaking of Highlander, I started my mother watching season 1 of Highlander because she was complaining of not having anything to watch and it's the only show I own everything of on DVD. Anywhoo, I spent the first few episodes going, "It gets better. No really, believe me, it gets a lot better..." while dodging bad hair extensions and extremely clunky acting on all fronts. lol.

The season 1 Seacouver episodes are, in particular, completely, hilariously, bad. But you know, bad in a way I love. Well mostly love. Okay, I could really do without "Road Not Taken." Richie is ten times funnier than I remember him being. Duncan does a lot of intense glowering. :D Some of these episodes I have no memory of at all. "Revenge is Sweet" for one. No memory, nada. Mom ended up watching that one on her own, so I still don't know anything about it.

Things pick up in Paris. I was greatly amused to see them use the same horse in three consecutive episodes in three completely different flashbacks. :D Not that anyone would really notice unless you're a horsie freak like me. Last night Mom and I watched "The Lady and The Tiger". (Duncan does that fun equestrian knife throwing bit. :D :D) Mom did not take to Amanda, and I was like, "Mom, you have to like Amanda!" But I recalled being made uncomfortable by the whole Tessa and Amanda interactions, too, the first time I watched that episode. 'Fraid the ep doesn't introduce Amanda in a sympathetic way. heh.

Mom's most insightful (and thus, amusing) comment: "I don't think I want to be Duncan's girlfriend like I thought I did. He's too much work!"

bwahahachoke.