{"@attributes":{"version":"2.0"},"channel":{"title":"It's All About Me!","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/","description":"It's All About Me! - LiveJournal.com","lastBuildDate":"Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:39:46 GMT","generator":"LiveJournal \/ LiveJournal.com","copyright":"NOINDEX","image":{"url":"https:\/\/l-userpic.livejournal.com\/973408\/191788","title":"It's All About Me!","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/","width":"97","height":"98"},"item":[{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126567.html","pubDate":"Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:39:46 GMT","title":"Hmm...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126567.html","description":"I'd LIKE to write the story of Remy and Jean's first night in Moscow... but I'm not sure if I've got the porn in me anymore. I kind of burnt out on it during my time in soapfic.

Still... there's not enough Remy\/Jean sexy-fic out there (unless it's threesomes involving Logan -- BLEAH) and if I want to read it, apparently, I'm going to have to write it.

Sigh o' frustration.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126567.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126297.html","pubDate":"Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:51:35 GMT","title":"Scenes that will never appear in a story 1","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126297.html","description":"Just because they aren't plausible or they're just snippets of something or if they're just me being petty about things. I think my favorite part of the Alchemy-verse has always been the way I can see into it... it's very real to me in a way. I don't always see stories, I see moments in time.

Maybe I have too active an imagination. Anyway...

Setting: Dinner at the X-Mansion - X-Men are present, students are not (which, let's face it, is going to be the way of things for most stuff that happens at the X-mansion. It's probably why Marvel editors killed off so many of the mutants in the first place. Too much shit to deal with there and they wanted to focus on the X-characters. Whatev.) I always hear this with Emma and Jean engaging in some of the most sickly sweet voicing in the history of man.

Emma:<\/b> Relationships are always fascinating, aren't they. The way people interact, the differences from how they are in public to how they are in private, and even the ridiculous little petnames they come up with for each other. As a telepath and a therapist I would be remiss if I were NOT interested in such things.
Jean:<\/b> Your point?
Emma:<\/b> I admit to a certain amount of morbid curiosity in regards to your relationship with Remy. He really doesn't seem to be your type.
Jean:<\/b> You don't know him, Emma, so you really couldn't say.
Emma:<\/b> I know enough about him.
Jean:<\/b> You don't, Emma.
Remy:<\/b> I do so love being talked about as though I weren't here.
Emma:<\/b> Humor me, then, won't you, Jean?
Jean:<\/b> I'm really not inclined to, Emma. Either get to your point or move on.
Emma:<\/b> Have you pet names for one another? They do say quite a lot about one's relationship and how one sees their partner.
Jean:<\/b> You want to know my pet name for Remy?
Emma:<\/b> Indulge me.
Jean:<\/b> Big McLargehuge.
Bobby:<\/b> [spews mouthful of water across table, drenching Logan]
Logan:<\/b> [wipes face off and glances at Kurt, next to him] Yeah. That was worth it.

I often wonder if I'm unfair to Emma but, the way I see it, she got Mary Sued out the wazoo during Morrison's run and that trend has continued. Plus, in light of figuring shit out for this round of Alchemy stories I see Emma's great weakness is Jean. Jean is stronger, Jean is more powerful, Jean is more loved... all the things Emma wants to be, Jean is. In all honesty, I admit that I give way too much power in her dealings with Emma. My own petty responses to what I felt was petty storytelling. There are plenty of scenarios in my head where Jean is petty and catty right back. Jean will never be happy with Scott\/Emma or the way it went down. Ever.

And there's enough bitchery in her to turn the screws the best way she knows how... against Scott. For the most part, Jean has Emma's number... although Flashpoint picked at a scab that I hope to explore further.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126297.html?view=comments#comments","category":"alchemy"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126176.html","pubDate":"Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:38:07 GMT","title":"Flashpoint","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126176.html","description":" I sat up bolt upright and reached for her as she thrashed under the covers of our bed. My ears were ringing and my vision was fuzzy but I had to try to reach her to see if she could tell me what had attacked us.

\u201cEmma\u2026 EMMA!\u201d I grabbed her wrists and shook her.

Her form turned to diamond, then back to flesh and to diamond again.

\u201cEmma, what happened? What happened<\/i>?!\u201d

\u201cAttacked me\u2026 he attacked me\u2026 He blew me apart\u2026\u201d

\u201cWho?!\u201d

She shook herself and scrambled out of bed, stumbling against the wall as she pressed a hand to her head.

\u201cEmma, who did this to you?!\u201d

Her eyes finally lifted to meet mine. \u201cGambit.\u201d

Grabbing her hand, I dragged her behind me towards the wing where our \u2018guests\u2019 were staying. Various other members of the team and school were stumbling out of their rooms or milling about looking confused and uncertain. Emma\u2019s telepathic shockwave clearly did more than just hit me.

I flung the door of the room where Remy and Jean were staying open to confront what had happened. They were awake, standing together and both turned towards me when I came in. Remy\u2019s face immediately hardened when he caught sight of Emma. The expression on his face was pure loathing\u2026 one I hadn\u2019t actually seen on him before and it took me aback.

Jean\u2019s expression was neutral. She folded her arms across her chest as Remy rested his hands on her shoulders as he stood behind her. \u201cYes?\u201d

\u201cWhat in the hell is going on?\u201d I demanded, focusing on Remy. \u201cYou attack Emma in the middle of the night? Care you explain yourself, Gambit?\u201d

\u201cIs that what she told you?\u201d Remy\u2019s voice was low.

\u201cDo you deny it?\u201d

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t call it an attack,\u201d Remy replied. \u201cMore like self-defense.\u201d

\u201cThe question, Scott,\u201d Jean said quietly. \u201cIs just what was Emma doing in Remy\u2019s head in the first place?\u201d

I looked back at Emma who still swayed on her feet wearing a stunned expression. My eyes went further back to see the various senior members of the team standing and observing the confrontation with interest. \u201cWhere are the kids?\u201d I wondered idly.

\u201cI sent them back to bed,\u201d Jean replied. \u201cThey don\u2019t need to be a part of this. The X-Men\u2026\u201d she mulled that one over a bit, \u201cshould be.\u201d

\u201cEmma says that you attacked her,\u201d I repeated, targeting Remy again.

\u201cRemy can\u2019t initiate a psionic attack, Scott,\u201d Jean pointed out. \u201cHe\u2019s never been able to do that. Isn\u2019t that right, Hank?\u201d

Hank, suddenly finding himself to be the center of attention, cleared his throat and nodded. \u201cThis is true. And he tested all of his capabilities after his undercover operations with Apocalypse and Sinister to see if anything new had been opened. His kinetic abilities are stronger than ever but he hasn\u2019t added offensive psionics to his repertoire. \u201c

\u201cRemy can react<\/i> to a psionic attack,\u201d Jean clarified. \u201cBut he can\u2019t make one himself.\u201d

The anger that was roiling around in the pit of my stomach seemed to harden. As Remy and Jean\u2019s visit to the mansion had progressed I had felt the powder keg within myself getting increasingly more volatile. I was letting my simmering resentment and my own unresolved issues get the better of me.

The problem was that I didn\u2019t care.

\u201cAnyway, Emma\u2019s fine,\u201d Jean continued. \u201cShe just got thrown for a loop.\u201d

\u201cShe is not<\/i> fine and don\u2019t dismiss this!\u201d I took a step towards Jean. Her sudden blas\u00e9 attitude enraged me for some reason. \u201cYou don\u2019t even know what he did to her!\u201d

\u201cI know exactly<\/i> what happened, Scott,\u201d Jean replied. \u201cRemy already filled me in on the whole encounter. What did Emma tell you?\u201d

\u201cThat Gambit attacked her!\u201d

\u201cI can tell you what happened, Scott,\u201d Remy hissed. I focused on him again. He was practically quivering with rage and it was all directed at Emma. \u201cBut maybe you better ask your lady exactly what she was doing in my head in the first place.\u201d

\u201cWhat\u2019s the problem anyway?\u201d Jean followed up with a malicious purr. \u201cWhatever happened\u2026 it\u2019s just thoughts.\u201d

And the powder keg blew. \u201cGod dammit, Jean!! It\u2019s not just thoughts when there\u2019s a telepath<\/i> involved!! You should know that.\u201d

A long silence stretched out between all of us. My words seemed to echo throughout the entire mansion. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead and my mouth felt suddenly and inexplicably dry. My great lie had just been exposed. I walked into it\u2026 I know that. But, again, I didn\u2019t care.

\u201cI do<\/i> know that, Scott,\u201d Jean replied serenely. \u201cIt\u2019s good to know that you do, too.\u201d

\u201cWhat the hell sort of game are you two playing?\u201d I asked. \u201cIs all of this some sort of set up to make me admit to something? What do you want to hear, Jean? That I cheated on you with Emma? Fine! I cheated on you with Emma! Happy now?\u201d

Jean rolled her eyes in disgust. \u201cOh yes. I\u2019m happy. I\u2019m so<\/i> happy, Scott. You\u2019re right. This has all been one big scam to get you to cop to something. I came back from the dead and went running to Remy so we could hatch this brilliant scheme of coming here and calling you out on your evasive bullshit. Oh happy day! It worked like a charm! At 2:47 in the morning! Just like we planned it<\/i>!!\u201d

I scowled. This vicious sarcasm was not particularly in keeping with the Jean I knew.

\u201cThe sad thing is we probably should have predicted some sort of telepathic meddling from that bitch,\u201d Jean continued, incensed, nodding at Emma behind me. \u201cAnd that\u2019s where this whole thing really starts, you know. It\u2019s the part you insist on glossing over with your demands to know what Remy did. And Emma is still uncharacteristically silent about what she was doing in the first place!\u201d

\u201cWhat did<\/i> happen?\u201d Kitty finally spoke up. Her suspicious glare at Emma suggested she had a pretty good notion. For that matter, Logan and Rachel were eyeing Emma as well. The others looked distinctly more uncomfortable by the minute. \u201cBefore Gambit attacked.\u201d

\u201cKitty\u2026\u201d

\u201cIt\u2019s a fair question,\u201d she said firmly. \u201cRemy says it was \u2018more like self-defense.\u2019 That suggests that it wasn\u2019t exactly self-defense and I\u2019d like to get clarification on that as well. But the bigger question is what led to the \u2018attack.\u2019\u201d She used air-quotes on that one. \u201cEmma hasn\u2019t said much at all to give us her side of the story but Jean and Hank are correct in that Remy isn\u2019t capable of initiating a psionic attack. The shockwave that woke us all up was psionic. I would wager that we\u2019d be able to monitor exactly who it came from if it comes down to that as well. But first things first\u2026\u201d Kitty tilted her head and appraised Emma. \u201cDid<\/i> you go into Remy\u2019s mind?\u201d

\u201cHe blew my psionic being apart,\u201d Emma said shakily, pointing an accusing finger at Remy. \u201cI can barely put my thoughts together right now and I\u2019m being asked, no, demanded<\/i>, to account for everything?\u201d

\u201cWant some help?\u201d Jean offered blandly.

\u201cYou stay out of my head!!\u201d Emma cried fiercely.

\u201cOh, is that rule for everyone or just me?\u201d Jean shot back. \u201cYou seem to think it\u2019s your<\/i> right to go mucking about in everyone else\u2019s head. As that\u2019s exactly what you did to Remy. Why aren\u2019t you just coming out and admitting? Upset that you got caught? Embarrassed, perhaps? Angry, are you?\u201d

\u201cAll right, all right,\u201d I held up my hands to try to settle things down. \u201cPerhaps I may have over-reacted and for that I\u2019m sorry but\u2026\u201d

\u201cIs that supposed to be an apology?!\u201d Remy spat out. \u201cAre you kidding<\/i> me? Your immediate accusations don\u2019t hold up but you sure as fuck don\u2019t call your girlfriend out for her part in this do you?\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t give a damn<\/i> about your apologies, Scott. I want an apology from her<\/i>.\u201d He pointed at Emmy so ferociously it almost seemed like an attack.

\u201cDon\u2019t hold your breath,\u201d Emma hissed.

\u201cEveryone calm down!\u201d I shouted. \u201cJust calm down! Clearly there\u2019s more to this and we will get to the bottom of it. We just need to take a step back and in the morning\u2026\u201d

\u201cWe ain\u2019t staying,\u201d Remy growled.

Jean turned slightly to look at Remy\u2019s face when he said that. She studied him for a moment and then nodded. Instantly, their items began flying about the room and packing themselves into their suitcases. \u201cRachel,\u201d she said softly. \u201cWould you call us a cab please?\u201d

Rachel looked inordinately sad but nodded and excused herself.

\u201cThere\u2019s no reason for this,\u201d I told Remy.

\u201cThere sure as hell is,\u201d he glared at me, his red eyes hard. \u201cI ain\u2019t sleeping under this roof while your girlfriend feels it's her right to come into my head and start playing her mind games. She ain\u2019t going to tell you, Scott, but I will. She did it to mess with me and Jean. Bank on that<\/i>. All these years I\u2019ve been here and it comes to this? We\u2019ve had scores of telepaths and none<\/i> of them took the liberties that your girlfriend does. This is how you treat guests? Go fuck yourself. We\u2019re leaving. Now get the hell out of our room so we can change.\u201d

The others moved swiftly away, distancing themselves from me and Emma as much as from Remy and Jean\u2019s room. Kurt, Kitty and Logan huddled together in hushed discourse. Hank and Bobby stood together silently. Hank was watching me. Bobby had his eyes trained on Emma.

I put my arm around Emma\u2019s shoulders and escorted her back into our room. She sat down on the bed wearily, raising a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose delicately. I sat down in an armchair and watched her for a moment. \u201cDid you go into Remy\u2019s mind?\u201d

She snapped her head up and glared at me. \u201cEt tu?\u201d

\u201cIt\u2019s just you and me, Em,\u201d I sighed. \u201cLet\u2019s not go through the long drawn out process of pretending again, okay?\u201d

\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d

\u201cIt\u2019s just thoughts,\u201d I said. \u201cThat\u2019s what you told me when we started our affair. I clung to that. I pretended that as long as it was just thoughts it wasn\u2019t real. I was lying to myself and I knew it. I lied to everyone else. You gave me the lie and I ran with it. I got outted tonight and I really don\u2019t feel like going through another mess like that. I don\u2019t want to have a scene in the hallway two years from now where I have to admit that you instigated something ugly with Remy just because you could. So answer the question, will you?\u201d

She stared at me in grim silence for a while. Then lifted her chin. \u201cYes.\u201d

\u201cYes what?\u201d

\u201cYes, I went into his head. Yes, I toyed with him about Jean,\u201d she ticked the items off on her fingers. \u201cYes, I did it because I could.\u201d

I shook my head. This was bad. \u201cI defended you, Em.\u201d

\u201cAnd I appreciate that, darling.\u201d

\u201cDo you?\u201d I leaned my head on my hand. \u201cWhat was the point of it? To show Jean you could get to her man again?\u201d

Her cool fa\u00e7ade faltered a bit.

\u201cI know you have your issues with Jean. Believe me, I know. I suppose it was easier to deal with them when she was dead,\u201d I really didn\u2019t know what I was supposed to do about all of this. Everyone has their issues but Emma\u2019s issues had just weakened our team in a big way. How were any of them supposed to trust her? The faith within the team was shaky enough as it was. \u201cI love you, Emma. I really do but you\u2019re going to have to ask yourself a hard question.\u201d

\u201cAnd that is?\u201d

\u201cDo you love me more than you hate Jean?\u201d

She looked away and I knew I wasn\u2019t going to get an answer from her tonight. I stood up. \u201cGet some rest.\u201d

\u201cAre you going to her<\/i>?\u201d

\u201cShe\u2019s leaving. I should at least say goodbye.\u201d

The rest of the team was milling about in the foyer saying their goodbyes already. Remy was leaning against the wall in the foyer by the suitcases while Jean hugged Rachel tightly. \u201cYou are welcome any time,\u201d she was saying. \u201cPlease come visit soon.\u201d

\u201cI will,\u201d Rachel promised. \u201cWhat are you guys going to do? You weren\u2019t supposed to leave for a few more days.\u201d

\u201cWe\u2019ll just extend our stay in New York,\u201d Jean replied with a shrug, spotting me as I came down the stairs. \u201cWe were meeting up with some design groups to talk about some extended work in New Orleans. We\u2019ll just have an extra day or so to enjoy the city. It\u2019ll be fun.\u201d

Rachel hugged her again. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re back, Mom.\u201d She turned to Remy and gave him a wave. \u201cTake care of her.\u201d

\u201cShe does fine on her own, Rach,\u201d he smiled though his smile was still strained. \u201cBut I\u2019ll keep an eye out.\u201d

I approached Jean slowly as Remy pushed himself off the wall to stand next to her. \u201cI really wish you guys were staying.\u201d

\u201cWhy?\u201d Jean asked.

\u201cI just don\u2019t like you leaving like this.\u201d

\u201cHow would you like us to leave,\u201d Remy asked curtly.

\u201cThere\u2019s no reason to be\u2026\u201d I trailed off. Actually there every reason to be any thing they wanted to be. I shrugged. \u201cI would have preferred to straighten it all out.\u201d

\u201cI don\u2019t think there is anything to straighten out,\u201d Jean said. \u201cWe don\u2019t belong here and that\u2019s fine. All we really wanted to do was let you all know I was back and I was fine, tie up a few loose ends, the rest was just\u2026 whatever. Remy and I have our lives to get back to and now you can get back to yours.\u201d

A honk out front signaled the arrival of the taxi. Remy gathered up some suitcases and opened the door.

\u201cDon\u2019t forget those papers, Scott,\u201d Jean reminded me. \u201cI\u2019ll be expecting them.\u201d She turned, grabbed the rest of the bags and left. Remy met my gaze coldly for several moments and then he was gone, slamming the door behind him.

\u201cWhat papers is she talking about, Scott?\u201d Hank asked as he came up next to me.

\u201cDivorce papers,\u201d I said quietly. \u201cShe gave them to me shortly after she arrived. Well,\u201d I turned, attempting to shake it all off, \u201ckind of an early start to the day, huh?\u201d

\u201cAnd I thought oblivious was my<\/i> specialty,\u201d Bobby spoke up. He shook his head with a snort. \u201cI\u2019m going back to bed. I won\u2019t be getting up for any training exercises or the like, Fearless Leader<\/i>. Don\u2019t bother trying.\u201d He took the steps two at a time and disappeared down the hall.

I looked at Hank questioningly. He just sighed. \u201cThe proverbial elephant in the room has been exposed to all, Scott. Think on that.\u201d He, too, retired for the rest of the night. What little there was of it.

I went to my study instead of the bedroom. I took out the divorce papers that Jean had given me and slid the papers around on my desk. I always knew that if Jean came back things would change.

I just hadn\u2019t expected it to be like this.
<\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/126176.html?view=comments#comments","category":"alchemy"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125731.html","pubDate":"Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:26:17 GMT","title":"Remy and Jean have a fight.","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125731.html","description":"This sure as hell isn't very long but it did pop into my head and I wanted to write it down.

\"For fuck's sake, Jeanne... we're trying to do a sleek, clean modern look. Not some overblown boudoir out of some French dime novel!\"

\"I was GOING for LUXURY.\"

\"With THIS? Jesus, woman, where is your taste? I know you have it.\"

\"Do I? I'm with YOU, aren't I?\"

\"... Well, that was fucking cheap.\"

\"Yes... and apparently SO AM I!!\"
*

\"Just look at this,\" he clicked a few buttons to change the parameters of the room we were trying to decide how to decorate. \"Tell me that doesn't look better. You had the basics...\"

\"Don't pander to me, Remy. It's demeaning.\"

\"Yeah, well, standing there being angry doesn't make your idea look any better.\"

\"Since when are you an expert on decorating anyway?\"

\"It ain't decorating, Jeanne, it's called STYLE. And if breaking into countless houses for who knows how many years to get the finer fenceable objects doesn't give me an idea of what works and what doesn't then I'm not very observant, am I? You lived in the mansion too long, that's your problem.\"

\"The mansion is beautiful.\"

\"For what it is... and then what, you lived with Scott? Does he even know the difference between leather and vinyl? Overstuffed, old-fashioned at the mansion and Scott just picks the first thing he sees at IKEA. Come on.\"

\"Scott just wasn't interested in that sort of thing.\"

\"Exactly! He's got no STYLE and you don't have to look very far to prove that. That slice and diced girlfriend of his with her designer nose whose idea of fashion is 'anything white with a label.' That tells you everything you need to know about her sense of style. Fuckin' inbred Bostonians who think money equals taste.\"

\"And here I always thought Emma came from blueblood stock...\"

\"Inbred is inbred. There's a reason she's spent so much on plastic surgery. You think the rednecks in the bayou would look the way they look if they could afford otherwise?\"

Well, he had a point. I looked at Remy's changes on the monitor again. \"Do you know how infuriating it is to be in love with a straight man who thinks he knows more about style and fashion than me?\"

\"Would my being gay make things better, Jeanne? The decorating would be less infuriating but then who would give you the sweet, sweet lovin' every night?\" He gave me a wet kiss on the cheek. \"The details might have been off but you did pick out a hell of a bed.\" Knowing the fight was over... and that he'd won... Remy walked out of the room.

I glowered at his handiwork on the monitor some more. \"You know,\" I yelled after him. \"Rogue's sense of style isn't anything write home about either!\" Trying to save face with former lovers crappy taste? Yes, this fight was OVER.

\"I didn't let her pick out shit, either!\"

I snorted a laugh. \"God dammit.\"","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125731.html?view=comments#comments","category":"alchemy"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125509.html","pubDate":"Fri, 08 May 2009 16:17:50 GMT","title":"Uh... let's see...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125509.html","description":"Going to Sac tonight for La Boheme.
Working on four paintings. One for mid June, three (very small ones) for mid July.
Working on another for my own pleasure.
Saw 'Wolverine' - liked it.
Just got my hair done.
Trying to figure out how Twitter works.

And other stuff, too.

But that's just a basic right now stream of consciousness.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125509.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125189.html","pubDate":"Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:54:28 GMT","title":"Just to let people know...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125189.html","description":"My art blog Pale Sun Goddess<\/a> has finally been updated.

If you're inclined to see the paintings or crafts I've done, go take a gander at them. :)","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125189.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125013.html","pubDate":"Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:14:43 GMT","title":"So, when it comes to Rock Band...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125013.html","description":"Here are the songs that my two year old niece gets excited to hear:

Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Dirty Little Secret by the All American Rejects
Bad Reputation by Joan Jett
Roxanne by the Police

She actually started singing Roxanne the other day when I was there. She was really getting tired and the other songs that generally make her take notice weren't doing it. Matt settled on Roxanne and she turned around and started singing it. \"Rooooxanne...\"

Matt and Deanna were completely blown away. Their matching expressions of astonishment cracked me the hell up.

'Twas awesome.

Now if we can just get her excited about Reptilia we'll really be cooking with gas.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/125013.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124843.html","pubDate":"Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:48:03 GMT","title":"Fanon becomes Canon?","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124843.html","description":"Got this info from <\/a>kirabutler<\/b><\/a><\/span>:

Weapon X: First Class #3 focuses on Gambit. And his introductory monologue has him referring to himself as Remy Etienne LeBeau.

Awesome.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124843.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124530.html","pubDate":"Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:43:13 GMT","title":"Flirty Girl? Really?","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124530.html","description":"I bought Core Rhythms went it first came out... and I really do like it, though I haven't done it in too long for various reasons. (Speaking of which, I really do need to bust out with the Samba workout 'cause that's just fun.)

Here's why I like it: Ballroom Dancing!! Jaana Kunitz and Julia Powers! I got hooked on them when I started watching the ballroom dancing on PBS in the late 90's. (Crack, people CRACK.) They have their fabulous Finnish and Russian accents coming at you along with their ferocious abs! They are actual ballroom dancers is my point and are actually successful dancers to boot.

So I was watching tv on Sunday morning and some Flirty Girl Fitness comes on... and I just rolled my eyes and groaned in a fashion that was not flattering. Chairs and pole dancing... lap dance your way to fitness! Spin on this pole, empowered woman!

Now, I don't begrudge anyone this is this is their thing. I understand that pole dancing classes became quite the rage for awhile.

I blame this all on Bret Michaels and his Rock of Love bullshit which I foolishly had on while cleaning and then I get \"Flirty Girl Fitness\" and about threw up in my mouth.

I'll take the ballroom dancing chicks over the lap dancing chicks, thank you very much.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124530.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124172.html","pubDate":"Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:24:28 GMT","title":"The Long Christmas Weekend","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124172.html","description":"So Meeces came and spent Christmas with my family.

It started off swimmingly as we both got to church at exactly the same time (15 minutes late) from different directions. Here I am, waiting for this car coming down the hill to pass so I can turn into the parking lot and the car goes slower and slower before finally turning into the parking lot I was waiting for.

Without a turn signal.

And there I am glowering and saying aloud. \"Nice turn signal. Asshole<\/i>. ... Oh, that's Meeces!\"

A perfect start.

So we go to church because that's what my family does on Christmas Eve. My youngest sister was with her boyfriend's family in Sacramento. My younger sister was at the hospital with her friend who had gone into labor (she was the birth coach) and my brother and his family were in Sonora with his in-laws. Other brother (not actually a brother but close enough to the family to be considered such) was there with his family so after church we went to the memorial garden and we all shared a Coor's Light with Dad.

So then we went home and had chili and opened our presents. This was the Christmas of gift shifts because every time another family member came home we did another round of gifts. As the weekend went on the house got more crowded. There was lots of Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band to be played. Meeces worked hard at becoming Mick Fleetwood and earned the wrath of my brother for putting her own spin on 'Hot for Teacher.'

We played games, drank mimosas, drank my Special Christmas Cocoa, watched movies, ate turkey and pie and cookies. And Meeces and I came up with a brilliant animated series starring Duran Duran as agents of New W.A.V.E. It's a cross between Johnny Quest\/Where in the World is Carmen San Diego\/Dungeons & Dragons\/G.I. Joe and possibly Thundercats.

John has a mystical raven friend. Bob Geldof is the spiritual advisor. There will be a benefit undersea concert Merm-Aid. Bono is constantly being kidnapped. Adam Ant is the awesome fun villain while Human League are the insidious villains. And wherever Sting goes woodland creatures follow and flowers bloom.

It's just a license to print money!!

So Meeces got a hefty dose of the Schultze Family Christmas which KJ once likened to a celebration on a TV show and apparently Meeces agrees with this because she facebooked that she was having a Waltons Christmas.

We WERE on a hillside\/mounting. But there was no 'Good night John Boy' anywhere. We do not live outside of Charlottesville, VA. Nor do we whittle our presents to each other. (I painted Jess a present but there was no further whittling involved.)

I scored a hefty dose of leopard print clothing and lots of wonderful things I asked for and was pleasantly surprised by.

Good times... good times...","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124172.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124031.html","pubDate":"Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:18:19 GMT","title":"In WTF news...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124031.html","description":"The church that most of my family belongs to wanted my brother, his wife and Danny Boy to be the Holy Family for the Christmas Eve service.

They won't be able to because they're going up to Dee's family's for the holidays.

But... holy crap!

Now, Danny Boy is an adorable baby and very well behaved. Not inclined to squall (although knowing our family he'd pick Christmas Eve to start that one up.) So the idea of him being the Baby Jesus is cute.

It's my brother playing Joseph or Deanna being Mary that kind of... makes me laugh hysterically.

Ah me...","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/124031.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123792.html","pubDate":"Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:49:35 GMT","title":"The things you get...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123792.html","description":"...years down the line.

Someone actually sent me a review for Companion Picture today. Color me shocked. And stunned.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123792.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123525.html","pubDate":"Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:23:12 GMT","title":"A totally geeky question:","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123525.html","description":"Why is Squall Lionheart so douchey in Final Fantasy VIII but Leon is dreamy\/awesome in Kingdom Hearts?","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123525.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123304.html","pubDate":"Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:52:43 GMT","title":"Random crap update","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123304.html","description":"This gets long so bear with me.

So my sister was in the chorus of the Sacramento Opera's production of Pirates of Penzance<\/i> along with her boyfriend towards the end of November so we went up to see it. It was a lot of fun, as that opera is meant to be, and it's been fun to watch her and Patrick develop this love of opera that they have.

I particularly like it because I've kind of been into opera for several years now and enjoy having other people to talk about it with. They far outstrip my knowledge of it but they are entrenched in the actual business now so it's cool.

In the earlier part of November I went on my yearly pilgramage to DisneyWorld with my friends. Mom came along for part of the trip this time which was great. VA-Steve said, practically the second she was gone, that he missed her because she at least got the rest of us moving. Although I think the rest of us were kind of looking forward to taking it a bit easier the rest of the trip. There were more and more Christmas decorations throughout the trip which... irritates me on the one hand because it was EARLY NOVEMBER. I'm a believer in Christmas decorations not being up until AFTER Thanksgiving.

I am losing that battle in a big way but it's still what I want. On the other hand, we got to go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and see Cinderella Castle all done up in the icicle lights and it's just... so beautiful.

We also got our picture taken with Mickey. Specifically for Allie who loves Mickey (due mostly to Mickey's Clubhouse on Playhouse Disney) to kind of let her see that Mickey in Person is ginormous and hopefully get her used to the idea of it. Because we were planning a Disneyland trip.

Thanksgiving rolled around and everyone was at Mom's. Jessi and Patrick will be spending Christmas with his family, Matt, Deanna and the kids will be at her family's this Christmas so our big family gathering was for Thanksgiving. I decided to make a bread pudding for dessert. I got Paula Dean's chocolate bread pudding recipe (with generous amounts of kahlua in it) and, though I sliced my finger open cutting up the bread, it still was an enormous success.

And it smelled sooooo good.

Friday morning we all headed down to Disneyland. The whole fam damily. Mom, Me, Bear, Jessi, Patrick, Matt, Deanna, Allie and Danny Boy. Granted, Danny Boy isn't even two months yet so he basically slept the whole time. Allie had been with Matt and Dee in April but it was a world of difference between those two trips. Kids that age... their development is astounding and she's started watching Playhouse Disney and knowing the characters and becoming far more interactive. She didn't like any of the rides last time. This time was a different story.

The Buzz Lightyear ride which involves shooting a laser gun to score points is a huge favorite with my family. We're always trying to outscore each other. Bear came from out of nowhere to blow us all away. The first time, Allie hid her face for most of the ride until Daddy started pointing things out for her to look at. The second time she rode with Mommy and held a gun and rode around. The third time she was with me, sitting in my lap with her own gun as I shot hither and yon and she realized there was a trigger to pull and that made the gun light up and make noise.

The kid scored 700 points on her own. Now, granted, Bear was scoring 200,000 each time. My best is in the upper 100,000... but the point is that our two year old managed to hit targets on her own to score 700 points. Granted, at one point she was shooting behind her head and wasn't aiming but still... it was kind of hilarious.

The first thing we did in the parks was take Allie over to meet Mickey, who was with Pluto in the opening square. This was the moment of truth. We got in line, we wondered how she'd react to Big Mickey. She doesn't like the guy in the bear suit at Farmer's Market (screamed bloody murder when he got too close) and we really did wonder how she'd react to a Mickey who is larger than life right in front of her.

Dee had her as we waited in line and Allie was all over it. Waving to Mickey, saying hi... which is fine when you're still far away. But when we got up there... she was still totally cool with him. She said \"Hi Mickey!\" when they got up there, happily took her picture with him, kept smiling at him. Pluto... not so much. He got close and she leaned waaaaaaay back in Mama's arms but when you're that size Pluto really does look like he's going to eat you.

The kid behind us in line had a full on meltdown when she got close. Oh well... it worked for us.

Allie also LOVED the carosels. There's one in Disneyland and one in California Adventure and she loved them both. So that worked well, too. She loved the Winnie the Pooh ride and Toy Story Mania over in California Adventure. She was transfixed by Turtle Talk with Crush and was beyond happy sitting in the main room at the Animation center watching the big screens play clips of movies. And the Playhouse Disney show may have been the highlight for her. It is so perfectly geared towards pre-schooler. She was waving at the puppet characters saying \"hi\" to all of them and then grabbing me and telling me to say \"hi\" too. She jumped and danced and waved her arms at all the right places.

We stayed way longer on Saturday than we intended but it was a good time. An exhausting time... but a good time.

And in sadder news, my grandfather passed away yesterday. He's been sick for a long time and we've called him Rasputin on more than one occasion but he finally slipped away and though it's sad in it's way there's also a relief that he's no longer in any pain. And pain is something he's been living with for the past ten years or so.

I am certain that Dad was there to greet him.

I've been playing WoW a lot and my warrior, Yarah, is 72 closing in on 73. Northrend is pretty darn cool. I also have a Death Knight and my priest is in Northrend as well. Lots to do, lots to see... it remains a fun game and I'm part of a great guild that's casual and friendly and I wouldn't trade them for anything. We're certainly not hardcore but that's the fun of it. We have a good time together and that's what's important.

My artwork is about to take off again. I've been inspired by the Penny Arcade artist Gabe and the way he's taken on projects. It's so cool to see things with a fresh eye... looking foward to that developing as well.

And that's pretty much it right now, I think.
<\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123304.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123132.html","pubDate":"Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:28:56 GMT","title":"Wrath of the Lich King","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123132.html","description":"Well, it comes out while I'm on vacation.

Such is life. It's okay. When it comes down to it, given the choice, I'll take my vacation over WoW any day of the week. Not even a question.

But the game is pre ordered so it will be here when I return.

I've been trying to get my night elf warrior leveled to 68 before I leave so she'll be Northrend ready. I do have a level 70 ready to go but I'm so close with Yarah that it's frustrating to not actually be quite there yet.

I'll definitely have Yarah at 67 before I go. She's only 10% away from that level and if I can get a good stretch of quests in I might get her a good chunk of the way in before it's time to head out. Hard to tell. We'll see. One of these nights is going to be laundry and packing so maybe in the midst of that...

Who knows?

Monerdin, however, will be ready to go to Northrend immediately upon my return. He's even been respecced Shadow in preparation.

I know some of you out there are WoW players... ready for the expansion?","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/123132.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122868.html","pubDate":"Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:21:17 GMT","title":"In Memoriam: Dad","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122868.html","description":"God. Four years.

This was one of his favorites.

","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122868.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122387.html","pubDate":"Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:31:22 GMT","title":"I don't think it's possible...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122387.html","description":"...for anything to be cuter than Ali refering to her brother as 'Baby Dan.' The way she pronounces it, it's like 'Bee-bee Dahn.'

The rest of us call him Danny Boy.

Danny Boy is, for those who don't know, named after my father who passed away four years ago this Sunday. It was pretty much a given that whoever had the first boy in the family was going to name him Daniel. Just... no question on that. If Matt and Dee have another boy, I believe that one will be named Adrian, after Matt's best friend who also died in 2004.

What's funny to me is how we all immediately went with Danny Boy and that's all there was to it. Because Dad was always Dan. Mom called him Dan, all of the adult friends called him Dan... and then we'd come home and he'd be 'Danny.' At Dad's memorial, which was full of old friends from SoCal it was always 'And then Danny did this...' or 'And that's when Danny said...' All the stories were about Danny.

Danny Boy will grow up and be called Dan. But I imagine that he'll always be Danny Boy to the rest of us. His big sister, no doubt, will call him 'Baby Dan' all of his life. Especially when they're teenagers and she wants to really piss him off.

You can just tell.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122387.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122183.html","pubDate":"Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:45:30 GMT","title":"Oh Danny Boy...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122183.html","description":"...was born 10\/10\/08 at 8:50pm.

He weighed 7.11 lbs. He was 19 3\/4 in. long (same as his sister when she was born.)

He's got all of his parts and he actually does look like Dad.

Everyone is doing fine.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/122183.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121895.html","pubDate":"Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:09:54 GMT","title":"It's back!","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121895.html","description":"It is to squeee.

By the by, I am a 36 year old woman. Why did I dream that I was on a date with a Jonas Brother the other night and giving hairstyling advice to Britney Spears?

I think my dream must have gotten crossed with some teenager somewhere and she found herself inexplicably dreaming about the ever luscious Trevor St. John or perhaps on a pirate ship with Orlando Bloom (as Pirates was on USA all weekend.)

I don't even know the Jonas Brothers. Do they each have names? Or are they just one entity? All I remember was that he had significant hair. He had hair like Dave Keuning (guitarist for The Killers) and the party we went to was astounding in its inexplicability (that is not a word, I do not care.)

And my make up was so intricate that it may have been done by Acid Betty.

But... a Jonas Brother? Really? Britney Spears? Really?! The only remotely cool thing about it was that Maxie Jones from GH was picking out my clothes. But still... WHO STOLE MY DREAMS AND REPLACED THEM WITH SOME 12 YEAR OLD'S?!","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121895.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121717.html","pubDate":"Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:38:53 GMT","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121717.html","description":"Dreamt last night... like you do. Don't remember much of it save that at some point I called Dad to say 'Daddy, when are you coming home?'

And I heard his voice. Clear as day. \"Hi hon.\"

His voice woke me up. I mean, my brain completely shifted. The images I was dreaming morphed and there I was in my bed in my room.

Strange... but, damn, hearing his voice was beautiful.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121717.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121396.html","pubDate":"Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:06:05 GMT","title":"Obligatory","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121396.html","description":"COMMENT HERE AND I WILL:

a) Tell you why I friended you.

b) Associate you with something -- a fandom, song, color, photo, etc.

c) Tell you something I like about you.

d) Tell you a memory I have of you.

e) Ask you something I've wanted to know about you.

f) Tell you my favorite userpic from your list.

g) In return, you need to post this on your own journal.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121396.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121343.html","pubDate":"Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:28:20 GMT","title":"I would like bionic knees","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121343.html","description":"I played softball today for the first time in 10 years.

Humility. It is something we all must learn.

Last time I played softball I dislocated my shoulder but my bigger fear is my knees which are made of Epic Fail.

We lost. To a much younger team. Much. Younger. But, you know, whatever... our team is old people. I'm probably one of the younger ones and I'm older than most of you lot on my friends list so that says something.

Still... it was kind of cool to play again. Despite my barely contained fear of... fucking up. Or hurting myself.

And then after we lost we all went and had some beer.

Because that's what softball is for.

I didn't experience that back in the day... I was too busy winning trophies and being underage to drink beer after the game.

Not sure which is better, to be honest.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121343.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121084.html","pubDate":"Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:30:42 GMT","title":"My family wuvs me","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121084.html","description":"For my birthday well over a week ago my family got me the following stuff:

Matt, Dee and Allie: Bikram Yoga classes
Bear: Gift certificate for tattoo parlor
Jess and Patrick: Built me a huge cat tree for my kitties

Mom hasn't gotten me anything yet. She says she knows what she's getting she just hasn't gotten around to picking it up. A LIKELY STORY!! In all seriousness, yes, that is true. The way things are going at the office these days the poor woman is just run ragged every day. It was all I could do to get her out fifteen minutes early yesterday so we could go see Wall-E.

Anyway, my birthday take is pretty awesome. I had wanted a cat tree but Jess and Pat built something that was infinitely cooler than anything I could have gotten at the store. Bear's certificate will help me decide on my Dad-Tat. And the Bikram yoga thing is exactly what I wanted without my actually saying that I wanted it. I had just wanted Dee to pick me up a schedule... I was thrilled to get three free classes out of the deal too.

Yay mi familia!","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/121084.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/120582.html","pubDate":"Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:53:19 GMT","title":"Conversation between two sick people:","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/120582.html","description":"Myself and my mother, last night, on the phone during the Olympics - and, by the way, my Mom lives 20 minutes away from me:

Mom: Are you watching our girls?
Me: Beach volleyball?
Mom: Yes!
Me: Yes! They were slipping a bit, they're making a comeback.
Mom: This is for the gold right?
Me: No, it's the semis.
Mom: It is?
Me: Yes.
Mom: I think it's the gold medal match.
Me: It's the semis.
Mom: You're usually right about these things.
Me: Well, let me hit Info here... ah yes, beach volleyball, women's semifinals.
Mom: Oh.
Me: It's still important.
Mom: (shrieks in excitement)
Me: (a commercial is on my television) What are you watching?
Mom: Did you see that?!
Me: It's a commercial! Are you watching live?
Mom: (shrieks again)
Me: I'm watching live. What are you watching?
Mom: I'm watching what's being recorded right now!
Me: But it's a commercial!
Mom: No it isn't!
Me: How are you watching something different?
Mom: (excited squak)
Me: Are you in a time warp? What time is it there?
Mom: 9:05
Me: That's what my clock says... I just took some NyQuil... are we actually having this conversation?
Mom: No. We aren't.","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/120582.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/120542.html","pubDate":"Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:12:31 GMT","title":"All right, Aussies... I need to know...","author":"dandesun","link":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/120542.html","description":"Why are your sporting colors green and gold when there's no such color in your flag?

I know why the Dutch play in Orange (William of Oranje - I know my footie lore) but I don't know why the Aussies are different colors.

I'm just curious about this. Can anyone help me out on this one?","comments":"https:\/\/dandesun.livejournal.com\/120542.html?view=comments#comments"}]}}