| DO NOT WANT. |
[07 Oct 2008|05:02pm] |
I really want to read at least 50 books this year, and since I'm at number 39 right now, I decided a few small, easy reads in between better and larger books would be all right. Anyway, I was in one of those moods yesterday, so I started reading a romance novel.
MISTAKE.
Oh God, it was SO BAD. SO HORRIBLY WRITTEN. SO CLICHED. So fucking ANNOYING, too, and the sex wasn't even hot, all those euphemisms just made it sound between a mix of ridiculous and godawful - there was even the phrase: 'from inside her flowed the sweetest cream'. Seriously? The sweetest CREAM? OMG EW EW SO HORRIBLE.
(It's called Wicked Pleasure, if you're curious, and it's about some silly girl that likes to walk around in her hotel only wearing a thong, thigh-high stockings and a silk, loose robe while she's all by herself (come on) and who is in love with this asshole that can only have sex if his twin brother is also there. Which should be hot, but actually isn't because the book is so bad. BAH.)
My first and last foray into romance 'literature' since I stopped reading Corin Tellado's novellas on Vanidades magazine when I was like, fourteen (when, you know, I could ignore the godawfulness as long as the sex scenes were tantilizing enough). This stuff is just NOT for me. *shudder*
This is sort of why I read fanfic, really. Where else could I find romantic stories that don't completely suck?
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[07 Oct 2008|06:06pm] |
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WARNING 4 POLITICS
ESTAMOS JUGANDO EL JUEGO DE POLĂTICA AMERICANA
(that was your warning
another warning: I think this is going to get unpleasant, and I am not going to cut it because this is not me getting overly emotional, this is a state of the union address and the union is not looking so unified
belatedly--this is actually very partisan, sorry)
GOP has officially gone a bit bananas, I think. Yes.
I have told one or two people before that I personally know people here in Fulton who are not very bright, who have outright said to me that if they saw Barack Obama walking down the street they would run up and knife him. For these people I hold nothing but disgust and contempt, not just because that is my candidate of choice but because there ARE people here in this country who will not think long before passing such weighted judgment on another human being who has done little more than run for president on a supposedly unfavorable ticket. This trend is especially prominent in states whose citizens still fly a Confederate flag now and then, whose kids believe on occasion that the south won the Civil War. There are people who do not trust Barack Obama because of his middle name and, yes, the color of his skin.
FUN FACT: These people are more likely than you think.
Take a look at this. Palin at a rally in Clearwater, FL accuses Obama of launching his career "in the living room of a domestic terrorist" (read: Bill Ayers). You can read up on that yourselves, but to me the alarming part happens around here: Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy." Also, please take a look at this: people in northern Virginia bearing pro-Obama signs have received a friendly letter suggesting that they are supporting Barack Obama in order to hide or compensate for their racism. You should be absolutely certain that you are not being carried over to the voting booth upon a guilt trip. You should take this opportunity to look deeply within yourself and ask, "Why did I fall for Obama? Why am I, after all that we have accomplished on racial issues, still feeling guilty? Am I an unconscious racist? Am I any better than those who pretend not to stare at an inter-racial couple?" what
what, motherfucker, what
As I've said before, some of the staunchest Republicans are those who identify the term Republican with American. Which...well, alright, I suppose, except that brings into play a few questions. How do you make that distinction? What aspect of Republican/conservative philosophy goes hand-in-hand with the American dream?
If you pressed me on the definition of the American dream, for me it's quite simple: something about individualism, inner strength, the ability to protect and preserve your own identity while still being part of a larger community. Vague, feel-good things like that. I suppose the biggest part of staunch Republican philosophy that adheres to this idea is laissez-faire capitalism--making your own way and whatnot and, you know, I get that. I really do.
But this animosity towards the press for stumping your candidate. These outlandish and downright spiteful tactics. The goddamn racism. These are the people who think themselves the most American of all. These are the people who think they are protecting the American dream, these are people who believe they are doing what is best for the country. These are the people who supposedly love this country the most.
I know at this point it will be nigh-on impossible to change partisan minds, and I do reluctantly believe some people hold beliefs that refuse to be challenged. But Christ, GOP, America is not what you think it is; it is not the best and most perfect place in the world just because you say it is, just because you hiss and snipe at people who dare to say otherwise. Voting Republican isn't voting American; voting American, if you're such a nationalist, is making an educated decision on what is best for your beloved America. If that means stagnation, so be it. If that means progress--well, I'm a big advocate of progress.
This is not progress. This isn't even stagnation. You are actually going back in time, because I cannot recall a time in this century and the very latter half of the last when this would be considered acceptable. Demonization and victimization are low-brow tactics for choosing the next leader of your beloved country, and ignorance is inexcusable. You are acting like monkeys or six-year-olds, and you need to sit the fuck down.
I don't know if I want to watch tonight's debate. I am just so disheartened.
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| *dies* |
[07 Oct 2008|03:31pm] |
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mood |
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 ded from cute |
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OMG BABY ANTEATER.
Direct link.
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| Well. |
[07 Oct 2008|02:48pm] |
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mood |
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 predatory |
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There's my 250 words, plus a few.
Two of them are f-bombs. I swear, I've dropped more of those in this one story than I have in all my previous fiction ever. But not!Harry is ex-Army, he's not going to censor himself, especially when the poor guy has been kidnapped (again!) and is under quite a bit of stress.
This is sooooooooo not going to end well. I was going to wait until later to actually tie him down to the table, but maybe now...now would be good. Save them a lot of trouble.
Cue freak-out of massive proportions. Only this time, he can't get away because, look, ma, no leverage. Physics trumps strength.
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| Weird Dream |
[07 Oct 2008|11:55am] |
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I thought I'd share the bizarre dream I had last night. The military was rounding up all of the kids so the government could hold them for ransom. Their asking price was that all children in Foster Homes/Orphanages be permanently adopted before we could get our kids back. They had all the foster kids in these pens like livestock for everyone to look at. It was bizarre. People were trying to hide from the government so their kids wouldn't be taken.
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| Okay... |
[07 Oct 2008|10:35am] |
So, some of you have noticed I've been more active lately. And what is this? I'm posting in the middle of the day?
The thing is, I lost my job AGAIN. And I'm currently looking for work AGAIN.
I've got a temporary gig lined up with Happy Day Catering, answering phones 2-3 days a week. This will help bring in a little extra money, which is definitely better than nothing. My friend, Rod, is the head caterer and the owner, Tobe, goes to my church. They happened to need someone to fill in a bit and I happened to need work so it was a win/win situation for all involved.
As they say, "When God closes a door he opens a window".
In other, more positive news, I'm doing the dinner theatre this year. We are doing "Happy Anniversary, Angel! Love, Gino". It's great fun. I play a character named Muffin (Muffy) Astor, who is Angel's older sister. She is a TOTAL bitch and has absolutely no redeeming qualities. The only person in the show that she likes is her grandfather. I'm having WAY too much fun with it.
Oh... and she's a biker chick.
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| True Blood! SUCH A SHORT AFFAIR |
[07 Oct 2008|09:48am] |
Okay, I love Sookie. And I love Anna Paquin, and Anna Paquin as Sookie. But this is really getting on my nerves.
This show is determined to fuck over what made the books so interesting. They're screwing with her character--what the hell was with making her so giddy and 'ooh, getting carded' in the bar? Sookie was as tough and practical as she was sweet.
And I don't like that they're making Bill a reactionary, over-possessive ass--unless, was that Andy Bellefleur? did he know? that might make sense--and I don't like that they're making vampires out to be above the law, and I don't like that they're making Jason a bigger character, and I don't like that Sookie and Bill are on very clear levels, as opposed to the book where she was trying to save his ass and clearly had his respect, and they completely cut out her shrewd comment in the bar, which I loved.
And I don't like the way they changed her decision against dating Bill. In the book it was a rational consideration, not a sudden spurt of prejudice once she'd seen who he really was. I don't like the way it robs her of that sweet, tough and sensible core, where she's compassionate but knows how to look after herself, and instead makes her seem immature. And what the hell is with making her suddenly afraid of things she doesn't know about?
And I don't like that instead of Sookie gently telling him that she'd like him to indicate interest before they took a step forward and that unless it was a two-way street she wouldn't impose herself upon him again, Bill was the one announcing (angstily wtf is up with this extra angst VAMPIRES DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANGST DAMNIT at least Blood Ties got that) that he wouldn't call on her again.
And I hate that a) they made every single human person in the goddamn show prejudiced against vampires except for the ones that lick their boots and b) you can't just dislike vampires, you have to be nasty and irrational and rude about it. It irritates me.
And I despise Sam's flagrant character rape and shredding. I never realized how much I liked his character until I watched this series, where the only resemblance was the name.
I still love her Gran, though. And I still love Sookie. And I like Bill okay, even character-raped Bill. Dilemma!
I want book!Arlene back--at least the woman from the first book--the sassy and confident mother of two, unattached to a man, who had reservations about vampires but was willing to put them aside over Sookie's relationship because she loved her so much.
SCREW YOU, HBO. SCREW YOU.
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) umadoshi was right: it is trying way too hard to be gritty and adult and managing only stupid.
B-but Sookie! Though it hasn't yet produced anything that flat out made me stop watching, I can definitely tell you this is going to be a show where I skip through many bits.
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| Twisted thoughts |
[07 Oct 2008|11:25am] |
Whenever Tuesday rolls around, I get this dread-like, "I don't wanna go" feeling about Japanese. I come up with excuses not to go. I fight with myself all day. My whole body resists going. "I should go," I tell myself, my face screwed up in a grimace. "I don't want to, but I should."
How screwed up is my thinking here?
No one is forcing me to go. No one has anything riding on me going. Even I don't have anything tangible riding on it -- I'm not getting graded or paid for it. I'm doing it for fun and to enrich myself. The consequences for not going are pretty minor: I don't spend time with people, I don't improve my Japanese skills, and I waste the money I spent on it. This is about as low stress as it gets, so why do I stress about it?
Because it's a change in my schedule. Because it requires doing something other than sitting on my rear at home. Because it involves people. Because it involves putting myself out there and risking screwing up and/or sounding like an idiot. Because it takes me out of my comfort zone, and my comfort zone is very comfortable.
My comfort zone is a gilded cage I built for myself.
I'll go tonight, because I do enjoy it and because it's the last class of the session. Knowing that, I am considering taking the next session off entirely. I could really use to have those two hours of class and travel time for other things for the next two months -- specifically, studying for the FE and then writing for NaNo. Wouldn't mind saving the money to use for Christmas presents, too. In the new year, I can make a decision about whether to return to Japanese or to set it aside and join the city community band (which rehearses on Tuesday nights).
I won't go completely nonsocial, with nothing on my calendar for seeing people. Well, possibly for this month, but I really do need to buckle down and study! Next month I'll be going to some NaNo write-ins. Next year, as I said, I'll do Japanese or band and/or finally join a fitness class. (I still want to take kickboxing!) Whatever I do, hopefully I will be able to frame it properly in my head such that I don't dread going.
    
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| Tess of the D'Urbervilles |
[07 Oct 2008|11:55am] |
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mood |
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 FREAKED OUT |
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music |
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Tess of the D'Urbervilles |
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FRELL. I DIDN'T KNOW BLOOD COULD DO THAT.
...more later when I'm more coherent.
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| True Blood |
[07 Oct 2008|12:33am] |
I have no excuse to be madly in love with True Blood, and I have an awful lot of reason not to be.
For starters: what the heck is up with making Tara a) in love with Jason Stackhouse and b) no longer a confident, independant businesswoman who ran her own successful dress shop? The hell? Coupled with the removal of Portia, who was a high-powered lawyer, I'm seeing a distressing trend in female portrayals and I DON'T LIKE IT.
Also, they made Andy a tub of lard.
Also also, I don't give a shit if you wanted to put Tara in the most-prominent-friend cast--there was no fucking need to vilify Arlene while you were at it.
And why the hell is everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, except Sooke prejudiced against vampires? I liked Sam a lot in the original books and they're shredding his character now and it's pissing me off. The original book's portrayal of the population rang very true, and didn't need to go overboard on the fanghate. This just feels really stupid and unnecessary. Frankly, I like a good supporting cast so this is the part most likely to make me ditch the series. We'll see as it goes on.
But Anna Paquin is awesome, so awesome, and Bill is pretty neat, and Eric is quite spiffy and as long as I skip over all the bits with Jason in it I'm fine. I'm actually having a lot of fun. I love Sookie--they kept her quite consistent with the books, and her character was why I loved the books.
And I love Anna Paquin. SO MUCH.
I am scary-easy to please. Who cares! Keep bringing it!
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| Gaaaaaaaaaaah. |
[07 Oct 2008|12:01am] |
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predatory |
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So.
I just cracked 32,000 words.
Oh, not!Harry.
And this is just the beginning. The bad stuff hasn't even started yet.
So, on the one hand, the bad guys have a useless laptop and a set of notes that are gibberish.
On the other hand, they have not!Harry. Who is a living biofactory of exactly what they need.
How many of you think this is actually going to end well?
Before you raise your hand, remember that this is me we're talking about here. And I just killed off a character I think everyone probably liked just to prove how serious all this is, because I learned from the master, thank you, Joss. Not one of the Five Major Characters, but a relatively important secondary character. Ah, not!Happy, we hardly knew ye.
And, yeah. I just figured out how they're going to hold not!Harry very very still. sunnyd_lite helped with that, but I've taken the germ of the idea and made it diabolical.
I hate my brain.
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| Fannish tweeting |
[07 Oct 2008|01:07am] |
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Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
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| quick update for the FILLIONAIRE club :] |
[06 Oct 2008|11:29pm] |
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[06 Oct 2008|11:26pm] |
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mood |
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 distressed |
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Dear Sarah Jane Adventures,
Thank you for forever cementing the image of the clown as the ultimate evil in my mind. It's not like they weren't creepy before. You had to go and give them a reason to be creepy.
Sincerely,
Me (who is going to have nightmares about clowns tonight)
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| icon appropriate! |
[06 Oct 2008|07:39pm] |
from rosehiptea
Grab the nearest book.
* Open the book to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your journal along with these instructions.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.
Another shrug. "Mortal years don't mean that much," he said, effectively stopping the conversation. I squashed a flare of irritation. Served me right, for getting personal with a demon.
What do you know, Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow is closest to me. Nearest and dearest to my heart, too.
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| Approaching normal |
[06 Oct 2008|03:47pm] |
Back at work today. Little by little, things return to normal. :) It's nice to be back, even if things are still a little strange -- the atrium is still closed off, for example, and so are the top two floors of the building. But it's not bad. Mostly it's nice to be back at my cube and working in a real desk chair, as opposed to my not-comfortable-for-eight-hours dining room chair. Having people around is nice, too.
Working the wedding this weekend was definitely a different experience. ( Read more... )
Abby was thrilled to see me when I showed up at my parents' house Friday night. Hee! She was less thrilled yesterday afternoon when I scooped her up to put her in the carrier. She laid eyes on that thing and started squirming and writhing with all of her might. Poor girl. She took the drive better than she often does, though, just chilling and watching the world go by. That's my girl. I missed her! It's nice to have her home again, even when she's being a pill. ;) Life isn't dull with her around.
1.5 hours 'til I head home, three days 'til the CSI premiere, four days 'til a three day weekend (woo!), 19 days 'til the FE, 22 days 'til my birthday, and 26 days 'til NaNo begins. Yay, October!
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