No, seriously, it's still June, yeah?
Dec. 31st, 2007 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blamebramptonPeering back through the mists of time I remember a pure maths lecture I once had that seemed to take about a year each week. Funnily enough, this year seems to have taken less time to pass than those lectures used to.
Which either means that I am getting old, or that I am moving really, really quickly.
So, despite not being quite through May with my To Do lists, I am going to face the inevitable and sum up my 2007.
Good things
Discovered fandom!
Met the loveliest people in the HP fic community. Seriously, I cannot believe what a talented and caring bunch you all are. Sure, I suspect that the joys of chatting withanthimaeria, jadzialove and snottygrrl may be to blame for me being so far behind with what needed to be done this year, (I'm being kind to you spark_of_chaos, because we only rave over F1) and I am definitely laying my fic tardiness at the feet of sansa1970, calanthe_fics, bryoneybrynn, furiosity and fourth_rose, because I spent too much time reading their fics and having fun exchanging comments, (I'd add in lovely leochi, but I am SO behind on my art comments!) and now I have frayach and mirabellawotr and so many other amazing writers to read through ... I may never tidy the house again ...
Wrote over 100,000 words of fic. Goodness!
Actually made it further through my RL novel, double goodness!
Survived the election.
Drastically improved my throwing arm.
Learned to make lace.
Continued to be perceived as an excellent role model for all friends' children, all the better to subvert them and win them to my midget army that will sweep into positions of power over the next 30 years.
Dear old friend who dumped my like a hot stone when I gave her husband a ball-tearing over his repeated cheating on her a few years ago (he told her that I had just attacked him for no good reason, and I didn't have it in me to break her heart (at least, not without photographic evidence)) apologised and said "can we go back?" when he walked out on her for a bimbo. (I cannot hold her loyalty to her husband against her, though I do wish she'd been smarter in selecting said husband.)
England did SO WELL in the Rugby World Cup.
KIMI WON THE F1 DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!! FERRARI WON CONSTRUCTORS'!!!
Stupid things
My beloved and I have a gift for the ridiculous. Some of our better ones:
Me, while watching Gordon Ramsey attempt to bond a team of feuding cooks over a game of football: "Wow, he's actually quite good with a ball ... Oh ..."
In a similar note, me watching Escape to Victory, a film in which the Allied prisoners of war play the Germans at football: "Good grief! Look at that actor, he's amazing! That footwork is beautiful! Oh god, look at that pass … oh … it's Pele, isn't it?"
Me, camping at Easter: "It's so lucky there's a full moon."
Beloved, on discussing the DVD-recorder I will buy him as soon as he chooses one: "I just don't know where we're going to put it, there's not a lot of space in our tiny room."
Me: "Surely we'll just put it where the DVD player is?"
Beloved: "Oh yeah, because it plays, too ..."
Me, todumbys_baby: "Harry Potter porn? Oh my darling girl that is the most appalling thing I've ever heard, what a ridiculous idea! I mean, who would you slash in that universe? Harry and Draco? No! No … well, actually …"
To do in 2008
Finish all WIPs.
Read more fic.
Thankdumbys_baby more often.
Catch up on the 50 or so recs I have in my file to do.
Be a better reviewer!
Regain fast running skills.
Relearn horsey skills.
Hire housecleaner.
Get the hang of lj and archives, at last.
Which either means that I am getting old, or that I am moving really, really quickly.
So, despite not being quite through May with my To Do lists, I am going to face the inevitable and sum up my 2007.
Good things
Discovered fandom!
Met the loveliest people in the HP fic community. Seriously, I cannot believe what a talented and caring bunch you all are. Sure, I suspect that the joys of chatting with
anthimaeria, jadzialove and snottygrrl may be to blame for me being so far behind with what needed to be done this year, (I'm being kind to you spark_of_chaos, because we only rave over F1) and I am definitely laying my fic tardiness at the feet of sansa1970, calanthe_fics, bryoneybrynn, furiosity and fourth_rose, because I spent too much time reading their fics and having fun exchanging comments, (I'd add in lovely leochi, but I am SO behind on my art comments!) and now I have frayach and mirabellawotr and so many other amazing writers to read through ... I may never tidy the house again ...Wrote over 100,000 words of fic. Goodness!
Actually made it further through my RL novel, double goodness!
Survived the election.
Drastically improved my throwing arm.
Learned to make lace.
Continued to be perceived as an excellent role model for all friends' children, all the better to subvert them and win them to my midget army that will sweep into positions of power over the next 30 years.
Dear old friend who dumped my like a hot stone when I gave her husband a ball-tearing over his repeated cheating on her a few years ago (he told her that I had just attacked him for no good reason, and I didn't have it in me to break her heart (at least, not without photographic evidence)) apologised and said "can we go back?" when he walked out on her for a bimbo. (I cannot hold her loyalty to her husband against her, though I do wish she'd been smarter in selecting said husband.)
England did SO WELL in the Rugby World Cup.
KIMI WON THE F1 DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!! FERRARI WON CONSTRUCTORS'!!!
Bad things
Was driven 2000km in two days of holiday traffic (often moving at 5kph) on a ridiculous mission only to have the petrol tank break 50km from home (at least we were nearly out of petrol, so it was annoying and a two hour wait for a tow, rather than fiery terror!)
Still only up to May in to-do list.
Oh the finances, they are dire ...
I still can't run fast. Stupid foot and unfitness.
I cut a slash in my favourite skirt while dressmaking the other day and now I will have to patch it with bias and ribbon and try to make it look like a design feature, while all the time knowing it is a mark of my STUPIDITY!!
My evil grandmother died ... no, hang on, this may be the wrong list ... (she was significantly evil).
Booked jumping lessons to brush-up on my very rusty equestrian skills just as equine flu hit Sydney and all stables shut down. D'oh.
Multiple divorces in the peer group, but at least no deaths this year.
Bloody Springboks actually won Rugby World Cup.
Let us not speak of the Ashes.
Was driven 2000km in two days of holiday traffic (often moving at 5kph) on a ridiculous mission only to have the petrol tank break 50km from home (at least we were nearly out of petrol, so it was annoying and a two hour wait for a tow, rather than fiery terror!)
Still only up to May in to-do list.
Oh the finances, they are dire ...
I still can't run fast. Stupid foot and unfitness.
I cut a slash in my favourite skirt while dressmaking the other day and now I will have to patch it with bias and ribbon and try to make it look like a design feature, while all the time knowing it is a mark of my STUPIDITY!!
My evil grandmother died ... no, hang on, this may be the wrong list ... (she was significantly evil).
Booked jumping lessons to brush-up on my very rusty equestrian skills just as equine flu hit Sydney and all stables shut down. D'oh.
Multiple divorces in the peer group, but at least no deaths this year.
Bloody Springboks actually won Rugby World Cup.
Let us not speak of the Ashes.
Stupid things
My beloved and I have a gift for the ridiculous. Some of our better ones:
Me, while watching Gordon Ramsey attempt to bond a team of feuding cooks over a game of football: "Wow, he's actually quite good with a ball ... Oh ..."
In a similar note, me watching Escape to Victory, a film in which the Allied prisoners of war play the Germans at football: "Good grief! Look at that actor, he's amazing! That footwork is beautiful! Oh god, look at that pass … oh … it's Pele, isn't it?"
Me, camping at Easter: "It's so lucky there's a full moon."
Beloved, on discussing the DVD-recorder I will buy him as soon as he chooses one: "I just don't know where we're going to put it, there's not a lot of space in our tiny room."
Me: "Surely we'll just put it where the DVD player is?"
Beloved: "Oh yeah, because it plays, too ..."
Me, to
dumbys_baby: "Harry Potter porn? Oh my darling girl that is the most appalling thing I've ever heard, what a ridiculous idea! I mean, who would you slash in that universe? Harry and Draco? No! No … well, actually …"To do in 2008
Finish all WIPs.
Read more fic.
Thank
dumbys_baby more often. Catch up on the 50 or so recs I have in my file to do.
Be a better reviewer!
Regain fast running skills.
Relearn horsey skills.
Hire housecleaner.
Get the hang of lj and archives, at last.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 10:55 am (UTC)and, er, actually, it's an empty tank that causes fiery terror, cause it's the fumes that cause the real problems. i have a really funny story about cars and fire and petrol and briefcases, and if we are ever in the same room (or on the phone, which we really should do sometime) i'll relay it. [*nods*]
in any case, am glad you were not blown up or even singed.
yays for 2008
no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 11:01 am (UTC)That's a good point, actually ... but what had happened was that one of the fuel hoses had disconnected, so if we'd had lots of petrol then the car would be standing in a big puddle of it and the likelihood of FWOOOOOM! with the road temp and careless smokers (and this is New South Wales, so let us not discount passing bushfires) would have been more pressing.
The funny thing was that I called what was wrong with the car when the trouble started a few miles before the sudden death (and we were SO lucky it was just before we made it onto the bridge, where there is no shoulder), but my beloved ignored me because I can't even drive. Can't drive, but can smell petrol.
I SO want to hear your story now. Ooh, and I have to email you, too. May do that tonight if the boy does not arise from the dead. I have only 100 minutes left to get to this party ...
PS
Date: 2007-12-31 11:02 am (UTC)Re: PS
Date: 2008-01-01 05:36 am (UTC)Re: PS
Date: 2008-01-01 01:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 01:17 pm (UTC)And thus a brand-new slasher emerges to greet the world. :) I have attempted to introduce a few open-minded friends to the glories of slash and H/D in particular. Alas, no one has bitten, so I've pretty much given up. People tend to think it's creepy (as they see HP as a children's series and the characters as eternal kids) or they're simply afraid of the inherent nerdiness of fanfiction and fandom. Ah well, their loss.
Meeting you (virtually) was a highlight of my year too - perhaps we can hook up in Europe next year. Or if you decide to dash over to NY for Equus...
no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 01:35 pm (UTC)Dumbys_baby was very good about not teasing me mercilessly. She is a very, very nice woman. She is probably at the party I was meant to be at. Grrrrrr. Stupid migraining partner. She has pointed out that I have been pants at all the other writing I was meant to do lately, which is true, but I can lay the blame squarely on her shoulders. And she is a little amused about wearing it.
Anyone who is still reading HP as a children's series after DH needs to seek professional help. Also, anyone who doesn't think children are into slash never really listened closely to what the little ones were doing with their Sindy dolls.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 03:23 pm (UTC)I'm working on a list for 2007 too, but mine is a 'success' list. 2007 has been a difficult year for me, particularly healthwise, and I've spent a lot of the year being really rather depressed and forgetting all the wonderful things I've experienced, so I plan to write it down to put a better focus on it all.
Happy new year to you and yours.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 01:52 pm (UTC)I think that is by far the healthiest way to deal with a bad year, here's to a far better 2008!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 03:21 pm (UTC)Every time I see your name I think of James May now, and his particular usage of the phrase 'oh cock!' when trying not to swear.
Beautiful.
:D
no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 07:59 pm (UTC)*is totally impressed* I've wanted to do that for ages. The bobbin kind or tatted???
uh...yeah...have to admit to watching Gordon Ramsey obsessively over the holidays on BBC America. How does he put up with those completely incompetent restaurateurs and chefs?
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 01:55 pm (UTC)Hee. Gordon Ramsey holidays would be the rudest holidays of all! I think he feels as though he is doing some good in the long run, and having free rein to swear like a sailor in the short term!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 01:30 pm (UTC)And another brilliant HP slasher is made. ;) Loved meeting you this past year, and I hope for many more fun-filled-months in the year to come. I bow at your talented feet. ♥
And also -- if we meld our midget armies, we could take over the world so much faster. Have your people call my people. ;-p
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 02:08 pm (UTC)As soon as I can afford to charter a jet, I will kidnap my sundry midgets and bring them on a mission to meet yours. I'll even bring the parents so they don't notice we are machinating in a Machiavellian fashion ...
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 01:33 pm (UTC)Your good things outweigh the bad, at any rate, so it must have been a good year! :g: (:lol: To doubt the slashability of the HP characters! Girl, where do you come from! When I entered fandom, I was amazed by the time-wasting potential of the hobbie but I swear I never had difficulty imagining... whom to slash. Have you tried HP/SS?)
Happy New 2008!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 02:20 pm (UTC)Did Christmas dinner turn out well in the end? And yes, good things definitely outweighed the bad; it's the one big advantage of getting older, things need to be REALLY bad to make an impact.
And yes, you are quite right. I am an idiot for doubting slash. It had honestly just never occurred to me! In fact, when I mentioned that two of my more obnoxious male acquaintances were making a string of women miserable because they were too afraid to shag each other, I was horrified when one of my friends went off and wrote slash about them! But then, if you'd met them, you would be, too ... the visuals, owwwwwww ...
In fact, I just wrote my first bit of HP/SS in my pre-Christmas story. A dear friend is a big fan and it was her birthday, and I am starting to see the reasons for her keenness!
Happy 2008, may everything come together in a perfect way for you!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 02:36 pm (UTC)Yes, it did - it was a small miracle, actually, and I was more surprised than everyone else... I may turn womanly some day far into the future. But that's not very probable.
It's amazing how you manage to see even the more ridiculous of fandom's cliche scenarios into RL, isn't it? For example, we had those two girls who went through high school in the throes of a bitter war, only to realise in uni (they live in the dorm building across the road from mine) that they ... wanted to war in a more horizontal fashion and preferably in Egyptian cotton uniforms. It's quite amusing.
HP/SS is my secret love. Okay, not so secret. The majority of my fics are H/D, but my longest is a HP/SS. My H/D flist were quite astounded when I came out of the closet to post it...
May it be a happy year for you too!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 05:08 pm (UTC)*panics*
Haha, your resolutions sound achievable (I especially like the first one, srsly *g*), so Happy New Year to you! *hugs*
Your willingness to forgive your friend made me feel all happy inside, you sound like a delightful person. :D
no subject
Date: 2008-01-02 12:36 pm (UTC)As to my friend, it was a matter of pragmatism. By my reckoning, if me yelling at her husband (who she had been in a relationship with for 14 years) had any positive effect, then it was worth sacrificing my 10-year friendship with her, since I provided neither sex nor financial security.
As it turned out, he cleaned up his act for a couple of years, then went rapidly back down the path of evil. I'd never taken her anger with me personally; I knew that she was still the woman I was so fond of, just wanting to believe in the man she loved, and you can't blame anyone for that! It's nice having her back, though I'd have been happy to stay on the outer if it meant he stopped being such a cock.