Or "Meredith Has Been Indulging in a Few of the Seven Deadlies, Lately".

Mostly Sloth, Wrath and Avarice, to be honest. *sighs heavily* Things are just crazy around here. Partly due to the fact Little Cousin will be shipping out in late October, and now we have the fun waiting period during which his mother can throw periodic temper tantrums at yours truly, relatives can offer unsolicited advice, and LC can alternate between being bizarrely affectionate or confrontational because he knows he's leaving soon. Plus, it's summer, so the nieces are home, my brother is only working part time, and... there's just not a lot of time to myself. And-- bonus-- July was birthday month! Five out of nine close family members celebrated all in a cluster. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time, but it's a lot to take in.

So. Time to own up. Time was, I could do all seven before breakfast-- I must be getting old. ^_~

( AVARICE is a long rant about workCollapse )

SLOTH:: My medication makes me extremely sleepy, still. In addition, my mother came down to visit for the week of her birthday. Now, I love my mother dearly-- I'd lay down across traintracks for her if she asked me to. However, she's been 'micromanaging' since before they invented that buzz word. Sleeping is the ultimate opt-out defense. So I stayed in bed a little more than strictly nessecary in the beginning of July.

WRATH: More like plain, unadulterated frustration. "In Amnion" is driving me up the wall. I keep writing a page or two, only to discover I'm working on Chapter 14 before finishing Chapter 13. Finally, I started sitting down late at night and writing by hand-- it breaks the block, but it's slower than molasses rolling down a Yheti's behind. I am still working on it, I promise! My goal is to post more before my birthday... which gives me exactly a week from tomorrow. Heh.


In fandom news, I thoroughly enjoyed the fifth season of Doctor Who. I know some people 'ship Eleven/Amy, but I really saw their relationship as an adorable Older Brother/ Little Sister dynamic. They fed off each others enthusiasm, and took poor unsuspecting Rory along for the ride. For the record, I think River Song is a big ol' Mary Sue, but I'm gonna have to live with that. I tried to like her, really I did! That was more than I even did for Gwen, lemme tell you. All and all, though, the series really reawakened my delight in the Who'verse. Those cracks in time birthed quite a few bunnies, too.

The amazing badly_knitted, who's been such a help and encouragement to me in regards to "In Amnion", posted a really darling fic called Capturing the Beast that I really enjoyed. It was wonderful to see Jack and Ianto flirting, having fun, and just being the Torchwood boys. If you're in the mood to smile, have a wander over her way.

Finally, I'm reading a book called The Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku. He's an American-born Japanese physicist with a wonderful imagination, and a great ability to bring quantum physics down to an unstandable level. I love Quantum Theory, but I'm horrible at math, so it needs to be accessible and engaging for me. Kaku is brilliantly engaging, and obviously an old Star Trek fan from all the references. It's great. There are separate chapters on Invisibility, Parallel Universes, Anti-Universes, Phasers and Time Travel. Needless to say, the Torchwood bunnies are having a field day. ^_^

Anyway, I promise I haven't run off to Okinawa to become a pearl diver, or anything like that. ^_~ I hope to have more "In Amnion" soon, for anyone who remembers the woeful thing. O_o

Thanks for listening,
Meredith

I'm so glad I took advantage of time off they were offering at work. I only took half a day-- I really can't afford to lose a whole ten hours-- but it still made a huge difference. Especially being able to lay down when the storms starting pounding a migraine into my skull around five pm. Not to mention an empty house for three hours, which was extremely refreshing. I love my brother and my nieces, but sometimes it's nice to have a little piece. Cousin was out most of the day canvasing for signatures, something he's at least getting paid for. I really, really wish he'd start looking more aggressively for a job before the college population starts putting in applications. ^^;;

I wanted to thank you guys for being so patient and understanding with me. Just being able to talk things out helps. I'm better able to articulate myself when I face various relatives because of your kind words and generous empathy. Thank you.

I also feel terrible that I haven't posted more of In Amnion lately. I'm still working on it, I promise. It's just that Chapter 12 is looking me in the face with one lonely page to its name, and it's getting a bit daunting. I want it to be good. Getting a little preformance anxiety, perhaps, in addition to the lack of peace around here. ^_~

( Cut for Fanart, Star Trek, Torchwood, and Fic RecsCollapse )

I'm gonna stop yammering now. I have a full ten hours tomorrow, and we're having a sale. Joy. ^_~
-Meredith

I didn't go into work Thursday or Friday-- I lost my voice on Wednesday night and, though I showed up for work on Thursday, the director hear one croak out of me and sent me home. Good thing, too, as I soon discovered I had the chills and, as an added bonus, a low-grade fever. The fever cleared out Friday afternoon, and my voice is better (not great, but better), but I now have a cough that makes me sound like an escapee from the TB ward. Taking my asthma meds, sucking on lots of cough drops, and cursing the nurse practitioner because she won't call a perscription in without having seen me first. Her stance is thoroughly understandable, but not really helpful, as I can't get an appointment until Tuesday.

While I've been feeling crappy, the past two days have actually been kind of good for me. It's given me time to get my head together and breathe, instead of being on the constantly unnerving rollercoaster that is my workplace. The constant gossip, backstabbing, politics, and ass-kissing are enough to make a person like me (someone who is, at her best, in a constant state of low-grade paranoia) afraid to turn her back on the copy machine. (Okay, so not really, but you know what I mean. The copy machine is actually one of the most trustworthy people there. ^_~;;; I so wish I was joking.)

So, in between taking distressingly drowsy medicine and having oddly soupy dreams about sea-serpents, I've been watching DVDs, reading fic, and counting down the days until Torchwood season two. January 26th, BBC America. TORCHWOOD, people!

Random related observations, in no particular order:

• I re-watched The X-Men Movie last night. There are no words for how much I adore the Wolverine/Rogue dynamic-- though I'm not really into the idea of them as a romatic pair. First of all, Logan does not strike me as the settling-down type. He'll always come back to Marie, because she's one of the few people he's really allowed himself to care about, but I don't see him as ever giving up wandering. Also, he's got Rogue on a bit of a pedastool (she does the same for him, big time), and I don't think he puts her remotely near the category of The Type of Women Logan Would Have Sex With. But god help the poor sap that wants to date Marie-- it's that protective older-brother-thing. ^_^ Speaking of which, I have a fic rec. It is does take L/M down something of a sexual path, but the characterization, and the balance of their relationship is so perfect that it doesn't bother me. It's called Scrap Metal, by MollyTM. Set in an ambiguous else-world after X2, it has great character voices, and cameos by X-Men from the comics. (Why Jubilee was not in the movies is a mystery I cannot fathom.) Best line: "Bobby saw Marie without clothes. Now Bobby has to die. Part of him feels kind of regretful, because he really does kind of like the boy, but that’s just the way it has to be. "
  
• Speaking of recs, and of Torchwood: I recently discovered something incredibly awesome. LazuliKat, the same brilliant writer who gave us "Repossession"-- the Spander epic to end all Spander epics-- has written Torchwood fic. Not just any TW fic, mind... it's Jack/Ianto Torchwood fic! It's called Attrition, and it is so mind bogglingly awesome that there are not words. No matter what happens to Jack/Ianto in series two, this fic will always have a piece of canon in my heart. It's that good. Go. Now. Read.
  
• Also on the subject of Torchwood (it's addictive! take warning): James Marsters (aka Spike) is gonna be in the first episode of series two! I've seen previews, both on BBCA and on Youtube, and I have to tell you that he is on fire. And he's on screen with John Barrowman (Jack) and Gareth-whose-last-name-I-can't-spell (Ianto). Your screen will explode from the pretty.


In short: watch Torchwood. It pwns you, and your stopwatch. ^_^
-Meredith

For being appreciably sane, especially when compared to Team Jordan and Team NTAC. *shakes head* Tsk, tsk.

Not much to say on the personal front, save that I've been enjoying my long weekend, and that Sam and I plan to go see Halloween on Monday. (Yeah, I know, I know-- but it's kind of fun.) In that vein, I have to rec a sort of out-of-the-way fic that I really enjoyed, called There's Someone For Everyone. It's Friday The 13th fanfic, if you can but dig it-- and Scribe takes the bold step of making Crystal Lake and its environs seem very real, populated by small-town people who would rather let secrets fester in the dark. Moreover, she creates a very lovely OC who is not a Mary Sue, but rather a remote outsider capable of perhaps understanding Jason in some way. It's not finished, but there are twelve nice chapters, and I very much enjoyed it. It's rather like Beauty and the Beast, though you'll have difficulty deciding exactly which is which.

And now, back to the subject line of the entry! One of the things I have been doing this weekend is working on, scanning, and fixing up my 4400 character portraits. ^__^ So, I give you the third row: Jordan Collier, Kyle Baldwin, and Shawn Farrell. *grins* I hope this is at least a little cheering, Amber-dear. ^_^

*ambles off*
-Meredith

My brother and I went to see Ghost Rider yesterday (which was, by the way, completely awesome: fighting skeletons! Motorcycles! On FIRE!) and, aside from a cool movie, we also caught the trailer for the third installment of Resident Evil. You can find the trailer online here-- you need quicktime to watch it, though.

Amber-- it's gunslinger!Alice! Is that not unbelievably cool? Alice in leather pants! With six-shooters! And cowboyboots! Way too many exclaimation points, but I'm looking forward to my zombies.

In the meantime, if anyone is looking for something to hold off the zombie hunger until next fall, I strongly 'rec World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. Which, incidentally, my eldest niece recently used for her book report. The teacher sent an interesting note home, that's for sure. ^_^;;;;

-Meredith
_{Who now actually has a tag for 'zombies'. What does that say about me?}

I thought that might get your attention. ^_~

Now, then. Meredith has three take-home exams to do. One is a three-prompt piece, due on Wednesday at 4:00 pm. The other two are one page and five pages respectively, both due on Thursday at noon. She's got pressing plans on Monday, which won't leave room for homework. So that's one day out the window.
Obviously, she needs to get to work. So, what has she been doing?

Reading Doctor Who fanfiction. Specifically, Nine/Rose and Ten/Rose. (Though I have a surprisingly big soft spot for the 9th Doctor. The tenth is a cute puckish schoolboy, but there's something very... magnetic about Nine.) It's been ages since I've had a real het 'ship, but I just love their relationship. I've only seen the first two episodes, plus "Fear Her" (I think? The Telly Ep, anyway) and "The Satan Pit" from season two. It was the tail end of "Fear Her" that reeled me in-- thank god for BBC America, is all I have to say. Though waiting a week for a new ep when I know there's more is driving me crazy. Have already put Doctor Who, Season One on my Christmas list.

BBC America also carries the original series, which is kind of painful to watch at times, but also kind of fun. I want Four's scarf. And Nine's coat.

I adore Rose, really I do. Doctors Nine and Ten are squishable. Four... needs a haircut.

Tsk, tsk, Mere. Not another fandom.

But, in the interest of encouraging others to be as not-productive as I am, I have some recs:

First: Disheveled by Rabid1st. Read it and tell me that's not absolutely the most appropriate title ever. It's Ten/Rose, with some Nine/Rose, and it's still inprogress. Before you back away from the WiP, I should tell you that there's thirteen chapters to keep you busy while you wait. Delicious. Great plot, spot-on characters, and alien!sex. The best alien!sex I've read in a while. I don't even like het, and I thought it was fun. That should tell you something. Rabid1st is brilliant. Rose and her Doctor may love each other more than anything, but there's more than an age difference between them-- there's a war, alien cultures, human hang-ups, and other unexpected things to get in the way.

Also: moonspinner's Through A Mirror Darkly and the sequel, Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope is unfinished, but she's working on it, and you've got plenty to enjoy while you wait for the next part. Leia_N takes the Jedi Order, not to mention our beloved Anakin and Padme, into a very convincing alternate reality. The situations are different, but the characters are very much themselves. Her ideas about the Jedi are interesting and innovative. Scary un-suited Vader, Padme (sort of) in the Jedi Order, and the Emperor mucking about with the Sith. An fascinating and gothic recipe for adventure. Go read it, now.

And just so I don't get slash withdrawal, I'll also rec:

Identical by Lanning Cook. Clex, wandering off into AU somewhere in the second season, and thus saving us from soul-crushing character-rape and Lexana. (*kills Lexana with a fork*) In fact, Lana is barely in the fic at all, which is refreshing, considering the current flavor of the show. But enough about how much I hate Lana. The Clex is dedicated, loving, and wonderfully illustrated. It's the strong friendship (and more!) we all know they're capable of. Plus, you will totally believe Lionel's antics in this. Not OOC in the least. I also like the background she develops for Lex's mom. Beautiful story about making your own destiny.

and

From Mars, With Love by Victoria Wayne. J'onn/Wally (Martian Manhunter/The Flash) But wait, it works! It really, truly does. Everyone is so very in-character, most especially Batman, who seems to be Victoria's forte. But her Wally is delightful, and I can just hear Michael Rosenbaum's voice; her J'onn is convincing and well, alien. 'Cause today's theme seems to be alien!sex. X_x;; J'onn has gone for eons without connection as Martian's understand it-- how will he and Wally cope when they find themselves stumbling into a bond?

then there's

A Beautiful, Untitled Post-Serenity Fic written for me by my beloved and insanely talented Nebula. It's Kaylee/Inara, such a wonderful tapesty of a single moment, it makes you want to sit still and savor it. There really aren't words. Just read it. Now, damnit. ^_~

Yeah, Carol is a total fandom 'ho. Beautiful dark-haired cylons, pretty grease monkeys, redheaded farmer's wives, Nubian queens, vigilante acrobats, Time Lords and their captivating companions-- she's not picky. Oish.
-Meredith

I am inappropriately fixated with the animated Justice League ep(s), "A Better World". I say inappropriately because the jist of the two-parter is that Superman actually kills Lex Luthor, has a psychotic break, and drags the rest of the JL along for the ride. He basically decides to take over the world, and the League is disturbingly okay with that. Except for Flash, who vanishes-- there's a time-jump forward two years, and we're never told *exactly* what happens to him. Bu Evil!Flash is difficult to imagine (would he take over burger joints? demand cappuccino sacrifices?), so that's fine. Then the evil Justice League, now calling themselves the Justice Lords (kinky) decides to come to the cannon DCU and show our super heroes the error of their ways. They're decidedly put out.

The episode is a little jumpy in places, but it asks so many questions and is so tantalizing that I can't resist. Also, Evil!Batman? Dudes. And things like this just beg for fic. What happened to Nightwing? To Batgirl? To Timmy!Robin? Where's Alfred, and why doesn't he give Bruce the swift kicking he needs?

Because, you know, Dick would let Evil!Bruce rationalize him all the way down the path to darkness. He'd follow Bruce because, after requisite kicking and screaming, he almost always does, and I don't think he could bear to fight against Batman.* He'd go along with things, and it would kill him to watch Bruce destroy himself inch by inch, but he wouldn't be able to do anything to stop it. *wibbles* Oh, Dick.

And what, exactly, made Evil!Batman wake up one day and say, "Gee, I think I'll betray my family and friends and everything we believe in and just go all evil"? Actually, in the Lord'verse, Batman has sequestered himself away in the Cave for God only knows how long, so-- of all the Lords-- you can tell he's the one who's probably the least comfortable with what's going on. But he's doing it anyway. Why? What happened?

Incidentally, Te has some great fic speculating on just that**. But I want some Bruce/Dick from the Lord'verse. And I have this evil little bunny telling me what might have made Batman go... well, bat-shit.

Told you. Inappropriately fixated.

Probably gonna write dark fic about this eventually.

On that note, I leave you with not one but *two* Batmans. Look, they brood in stereo! *giggles*
-Meredith

_{*(There may be an AU comic out there that contradicts this, but whatever. Canon can bite me. ^_~)
**(There's a fair amount of Batman/Flash undertones floating around in these eps... not really my style, but it's kind of cute all the same.)
***(Oh, yeah, and the quote is from BtVS, season seven. Kennedy and Willow discussing Willow's own little crazy spell.)}

_{WARNING:: This is a rant. Meredith is being a bitch-- she's way, _way_ past the respectful discourse stage and about ten miles into Extremely Pissed. You've been warned.}

While I am intensely relieved that the Constitutional ban on gay marriage didn't pass, I find the political landscape these days like looking out on a barren, charred wasteland.

Good ol' Dubyah weighed in saying that marriage was a fundamental right that should be restricted to only a man and a woman. So... let me follow this, Georgie. It's a fundamental right (which means *everyone* should have it), so you want to take it away from certain individuals just because you don't like what they might get up to in the sack? Nice one, Logic-Boy! X_x;;

Also, according to this, forty-five of the fifty states have some sort of ban on gay marriage, be it constiutional or simple statute. Gee, it's nice to know I'm only free in ten percent of the country. I already live in one of the nineteen knuckle-headed states that have banned it on their constitutions. Thank you, Ohio, for making sure I know I'm a second class citizen.

Add all this to the recent swell in Ex-Gay ministries? I want to scream. I want to throw things. Hello, I am not a disease that needs to be cured. But it's like trying to have a meaningful conversation with a freak'n wall.

To Anti-Gay Conservatives and Ex-Gay "Outreach" People: Have a pocket full of bite me. Talking doesn't seem to work with you, so I'm just gonna wave a single universally recognized finger and hope you get the message.

Sorry for bitching at you guys, but this stuff makes me crazy. _CRAZY_. I want to go live on another fucking planet at this point.

So as not to end on a completely desolate note: If you like the idea of moving to another planet, try Katherine V. Forrest's Daughters of a Coral Dawn and Daughters of an Amber Afternoon. Good lesbian romance is hard to find. Intellectually stimulating "light" sci-fi/fantasy is even harder. Both? Highly squee-worthy. So the science is on crack sometimes. It's damn good crack, and that's all that matters.

^_~
-Meredith

Well, I sort of dropped out of sight there for a while didn't I? *sweatdrop* The first week of classes always makes me sort of withdrawl into myself as I get used to my schedule and everything. ^^; Not much to report, save that classes are pretty good-- Astronomy is interesting, Physical Anthropology is workable, and Japanese History seems like it's going to be a lot of fun. I walked in on Tuesday to find Stacey was taking the class too, which is really cool. One half of our infamous Chinese History Gang of Four has been reunited!
... or something. ^__^

Still haven't managed to really get ahold of my advising professor about my thesis, but it's only the first week of school.

I'm switched my tutoring days to Tuesday, that way I can have Thursday all to myself. It makes for kind of a long day, but it's managable. I'm probably going to end up taking summer classes this year, since I'm just to the point where I want them to hand me my degree and be done with the whole business. ^^

In the meantime, I've been watching lots of MST3K ("If my deepest, darkest despair had choreography, this would be it!"), and then I rewatched Dreamcatcher, because I want to take Beaver home and give him cookies. With BSG off until October (October!!) and The 4400 still at the end of June, I'm not watching much in the way of non-DVD television.

So, in that spirit, here's some (mostly asian) film recs:

( Vampires, Robots, Freaky Newspapers, and Killer Video GamesCollapse )

That's all for now. Take care, dolls. *smooch* ^_~
-Meredith

I hate it when I'm sad for no concrete reason.

*kicks hormones* Stupid body.

Anyone have any good SV recs? I like my Lex evil ruthless, but very much in love with Clark. ^^;;;
-Meredith
and her kink