Mistress Tien

I'm back

2008-04-01T13:14:07Z

46 days on the road with my kids--we've survived!

I'm home and delving into RL; work starts on Sunday and the kids all go back to school on Monday.

I'm reading a lot of stuff I missed while on the road and need to watch Torchwood so I'm up to date when the finale airs this week.

Honestly, I'm not that happy to be home, but I am happy to be back on LJ and reading the wonderful fic I find here.

On the road (and, thankfully, not squashed in the middle)

2008-03-18T05:06:55Z

Over a month on the road. I'm tired, cranky, and not handling curve-balls well.

Jan made me the lovely new icon and that made me smile. It's cheaper and better for me than the massive amounts of alcohol I want to be swilling right now. Thanks much, Jan!

I still have over two weeks left on the road and I don't know how I'm going to make it. DH joined us this weekend and brought with him . . . the FLU. He's feverish, achy, coughing and miserable. Do you know how bad men are at being sick? My DH is worse than that. I still have eight stops and over 3300 miles left to drive.

Please send good thoughts and prayers so I don't kill anyone or go hide in the woods.

My color today:

you are saddlebrown
#8B4513

Your dominant hues are red and yellow... most of what you do is motivated by your need to change things and have a good time, but you've been known to settle down and think out a situation, too. You tend to surprise people just when they're starting to feel like they've got you down.

Your saturation level is high - you get into life and have a strong personality. Everyone you meet will either love you or hate you - either way, your goal is to get them to change the world with you. You are very hard working and don't have much patience for people without your initiative.

Your outlook on life can be bright or dark, depending on the situation. You are flexible and see things objectively.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Because I'm putting off the things I must do

2008-02-14T20:01:34Z

you are darkgreen
#006400

Your dominant hue is green. You're logical and steadfast, focused on figuring life out and doing what makes sense. You value being trusted because you know you're taking the time to figure things out and everyone should just follow you.

Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right.

Your outlook on life is slightly darker than most people's. You try to see things for what they are and face situations honestly. You'd rather get to the point than look for what's good.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Found at jans_fiction; it suits me today as I prepare for the road. Thanks, Jan!

Road Trip

2008-02-11T12:36:29Z

For the next eight weeks I'm going to be on a cross country road trip with my kids. I doubt if I'll have any time to read LJ :-(

But, it should be a great trip.

I know I'm going to miss a lot of spectacular writing while I'm gone, but I look forward to catching up when I get back.

(I'm also missing Torchwood and QaF rewind :-(. That's how I know I'm totally out of time this week--I still haven't watched last week's QaF (S02E01!). Bah!)

Late Anniversary

2008-01-22T17:44:35Z

I'm "celebrating" late. I joined LJ Dec 2007 so that I could comment on the moving, thoughtful, well written fics I was reading here. Since then I've made some friends, read a whole lot of great fic (and a bit of not so great fic), found fic award sites, discovered more 'verses I've grown to love, betad for some wonderful writers, and generally had a great time.

Special thanks to those I seem to "talk to" the most:

jans_intentions who was sexymermaid when I joined; who introduced me to Justin and Brian
i_luv_trees and jasonsnene who both let me read their fics before they post them
lit_gal who introduced me to The Sentinel by doing a Buffy X-over
pixel2817 who (among other things) pointed me at the fun that was Xander's Bar-room Tales; featuring every x-over 'verse you can think of (and 25 more)
stillrose who writes long, tasty Spike/Xander AUs

In honor of my first anniversary I re-read the very first piece of fan fic I read (and the reason why I was completely taken by it from the start): Repossession by lazuli_cat. It was even better the second time around!

Thanks to my whole flist. You guys are the greatest. You are supportive, share your fic, and bring a smile to my face on a daily basis!

For the first time in ages . . .

2008-01-18T20:11:47Z

I think I've gotten enough of James Marsters this week. Honestly, I didn't think it would ever happen.

First, Torchwood S02E01 as Captain John. Yum. Triple yum with chocolate sprinkles on top. And, shanmara tells me he'll be back twice more this season. My only request is that I'd love to see a bit more skin. ;-)

Second, Without a Trace as Grant Mars. I watched the first two eps he was in, then I forgot to check. He was in S06E09 and S06E12 (which aired this week). From his last scene this week I'm a bit confused over whether or not he'll be back. The character he's been in all his scenes with, Vivian Johnson, and he are not really getting along. I got the vibe during E09--that they really weren't doing anything with the character and were going to go fishing for someone "more interesting". In E12 there were some interviews and they made out two new characters that would fit the bill. I'd be sad to see James lose out on a long-term gig, but they've really given him nothing.

Which gave me three hours of James anticipation. I wish I'd watched Torchwood last. It was the most . . . satisfying.

If there's anyone out there who's seen both shows: I noticed in Torchwood that his eyes look hazel/brown. Not blue at all. In WaT they look blue, not quite a bright as on Buffy and Angel, but very blue. Someone said it is because of his hair, but his hair is the same color in both shows. I wonder if they light him to bring out the blue.

Torchwood S02E01

2008-01-17T21:44:51Z

I really enjoyed it!

Sigh. I think it was lovely. Capt. Jack and Capt. John. It was a bit like good fan fic. A little of the old, a little new; omnisexual captains meeting in the night. It didn't hurt that Jack asked Ianto out on a date and (for some strange reason) told Gwen that he came back for her.

I'm not a big Gwen fan, but I'm sure she really whipped the gang into shape while Jack was gone.

I love the way the group works together (around) Jack. He sort of seems like he's out of his element.

The overall feel for of the show was lighter. Even though John is a Bad Guy, the overall tone was more witty and lighter than the first season. That's one of the reasons why I've always like Jack on Doctor Who more than Jack on Torchwood. On Torchwood he's morose; unhappy at his very core. Now that he's had the chance to decide to go back to Torchwood, maybe he'll actually be happy there.

The YouTube videos I saw before the show aired really do cover many of the best scenes. That was a bummer.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. It should be fun with Martha Jones and, perhaps, another visit from Capt. John?

I stole this so I wouldn't have to write a real post

2008-01-16T17:20:46Z

I stole this from arlad
Thanks, dear!

total number of tracks: 1964
total length of music: 14.03 days

sort by song title:
- first song: Absolutely Not by Deborah Cox
- last song: 80's - The Clash - London Calling

sort by time:
- shortest song: Prelude to the End of the Game - Sting (0:21)
- longest song: Pink Floyd - Live 8 (24.18)

sort by album:
- first song: Until the End of the World - U2
- last song: Walk on By - Seal

sort by artist:
- first song: Dream On - Aerosmith
- last song: Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

sort by genre:
- first song: Full Acoustic Set - Staind (acoustic)
- last song: Mo Ghile Mear (Our Hero) - Sting and the Chieftains (World)

top 10 most played songs:
- Tequila Sunrise (Live) - Eagles
- Hotel California (Live) - Eagles
- Proud - Heather Small
- Take it Easy (Live) - Eagles
- Miami 2017 - Billy Joel
- I've Got A Theory/Bunnies/If We're Together - Cast of Buffy
- Marrakesh Express - Crosby Stills & Nash
- Galileo - Indigo Girls
- Do you remember? - Phil Collins
- Under your spell - Cast of Buffy

first five songs that comes up on shuffle:
- Like it or not - Genesis
- Don't Give Up - Peter Gabriel
- The Town - James Marsters
- Your Song - Rod Stewart
- Come Again - Sting

number of songs that come up when you search for:
- "sex": 0
- "love": 57
- "you": 152
- "death": 2
- "hate": 0
- "wish": 4
- "monkey": 5

Quirks meme

2008-01-08T23:30:35Z

Tagged by we_dreamerz
List five habits/quirks/facts about yourself
Tag five people to do the same

1. I love college football. I rearrange my fall schedule so that I have Saturdays off so I can watch it on TV. I'm thrilled to get West Coast games up here in the snowy NorthEast. Go Trojans!

2. I'm unhappy if don't get my afternoon "puppycorn". Which is what we call popcorn at our house. Said popcorn must be freshly popped in canola oil and slathered in real butter. It is named in honor of my dear little dog who LOVED the stuff.

3. I watch *way* too much tv. I have since I was about 10 years old (which was about 35 years ago). From Starsky and Hutch to The Brady Bunch to The Six Million Dollar Man to Hill Street Blues to LA Law to Third Rock From the Sun to Buffy to Dexter to Queer as Folk to The Big Bang Theory and all the dreck in between. I watched it.

4. I read too much. Fan fic, novels, magazines, trade papers, my kids' essays. I read all the time (when I'm not watching tv ;-) I take my laptop or a book into the bathroom even if I'm just going to pee. It's not possible for me to sit still and not read . . . unless

5. I'm knitting, spinning, dyeing. All of which I can do while watching tv; sometimes while watching college football on tv. I've also been known to read way too much about those three topics (and all the adjoining ones like raising fiber animals).

I'm tagging:
i_luv_trees, daedream_fanbot, jasonsnene, orchidluv, jans_intentions
But ONLY if it doesn't interfere with your fic writing! I don't want to take time away from that ;-)

Where would they go from here?

2007-12-20T00:36:49Z

I haven't been posting, though I try my best to comment on every fic I read. Since it's the time of year for me to procrastinate and pretend I don't have 20 things I should be doing, I had some deep thoughts. In the fandoms I've acquired this past year, where do I see each one of them 5 years post end-of-series?

Buffy. Since I really need Xander and Spike together, I want a confident, post-Africa Xander. Maybe he works for the Watchers, or maybe he's struck out on his own, but he's his own man. Maybe he's made some mistakes, but he's found his way. And, he's finally found his vampire. I don't care if they get together in pain or laugher, but Spike is still a vamp and Xander's still a white knight. And, they have much, much kinky sex. Hey, Spike's a vampire; I expect some bloodplay and demony reactions!

The Sentinel. Post-TSbyBS I expect to find the boys both working and sleeping together. They don't have to be cops, but they do still need to be protecting their People. I would love to see Blair still teaching. As to sex: they could be into a loving BDSM relationship, or something vanilla.

Queer as Folk. I need Brian and Justin to grow up. They need to be together because they want to be together. They need to learn to talk to each other and Brian needs ask for what he wants (he was getting close in season five). I don't care where they live or how much money or success they have, but I would like them to see Gus often and still have Em, Ted and Mikey in their world. Justin and Brian don't need any kinks. They are one big kink.

'Just my thoughts fellow LJers. I'm not quite sure why my brain went here, but, whatever.

Anyone else have thoughts about these 'verses?

Oh, I have an Insane Journal-- http://mistress_tien.insanejournal.com. When/if a migration occurs I'll meet you there.

Anyone in So Cal?

2007-12-06T13:04:25Z

Joss and company will be picketing at Fox tomorrow from 10-2 in support of the WGA strike.

Press Release here

Actors expected to join the march include Eliza Dushku ("Buffy," "Angel," Tru Calling"), Alexis Denisof ("Buffy," "Angel," "How I Met Your Mother"), Nathan Fillion ("Buffy," "Firefly," Serenity, Waitress, "Desperate Housewives"), Summer Glau ("Angel," "Firefly," Serenity, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles"), Amy Acker ("Angel," "Alias," "Ghost Whisperer"), Felicia Day ("Buffy," "The Guild"), and Juliet Landau ("Buffy," "Angel," BioShock).

Many of the writers will be there, too. It's a "Feed the mind, feed the body" event, so bring books and food to donate.

I'm on the other side of the country under about a foot of snow, so I won't be there. But, if I was still in So Cal I'd join the line. I'd really like Dollhouse to become a reality.

Queer as Folk thoughts

2007-09-01T16:36:07Z

I'm still not around much and it look like I'll be working six days a week when school starts. So, there's no time or energy for thoughtful posts; just random thoughts.

I'm watching QaF. I d/led it ages ago and never got the urge to watch. But jans_intentions (formerly sexymermaid)'s been writing QaF in Noir and Forbidden Fruit/No Other Way and I decided I wanted to get to know Brain, Justin, and Michael. Over the last week I've watched the first season. Here are my (scattered) thoughts:

--I've been Michael in another life. You just gotta love him. He just gives and gives and gives (not just to Brian). I was in therapy for years to break myself of that habit.

--Justin really is more mature than Brian (I loved it when Justin actually told Brian that).

--I'm still totally torn about Michael and David. I like David. And, I loved when David told Brian "I want him more than you don't want me to have him". I also loved that he danced for King of Babylon. I am fascinated by the "kept man/woman" air of Michael/David. As a woman I've dealt with some of the same issues and always felt like Michael did--like a pampered pet. I'm happy they worked things out (although I'm sure season two will change that).

--I've known Brian many times in my life. And, loved him every single time. I wish my Brians had been as bottom-line caring as this one is though.

--Brian trying to off himself in the last ep was too predictable for me. I guess it's because I'm old. My life started at 30 and although it's sometimes mundane, it's never boring.

--I was totally shocked at how the season ended. Although, in my heart I knew it couldn't end with the perfect "Last Dance" scene.

--I am *so* into buddy shows. Buddies that always come through. Hence: My Boys and Entourage.

--I was happily surprised at the amount of sex and nudity in the show. It was nice to see people get of bed "the morning after" and not have any clothing on. (Honestly, are there women who sleep in their bras?) Beautiful bodies. Very beautiful bodies. And, I've never seen so many penises (peni?) before. I also found the sex to be a lot more sexy than most p*rn. Most p*rn is tab A into slot B, but truly sexy stuff has a healthy dose of thought and premeditation.

--If one of my sons grows up to be gay, I want to channel Debbie. She rocks!

Thoughts are all done. Keep up the good writing everyone! I read when I can and try to remember to save the stuff I don't have time for at the moment.

Not dead

2007-08-18T21:33:39Z

Although I know why you're wondering.

Summer got up and bit me in the *ss. Too much work, too much time needed to take care of the kids, and too many cranky days with my DH.

Soooooooo.....I've been reading. Occasionally commenting. I haven't been a Good Reader. Most of my comments are just "Thanks" and I feel a bit bad about that. But, my take is that some positive comment is better than none. My apologies to my author friends who haven't gotten much out of me in ages.

I've got recs, but am too tired to give a d*mn. I'll post them someday.

RL is continuing to be a b*tch. I don't have a job lined up for fall, so money will be tight soon. The kids will be back in school though. That will be nice and we'll be able to get into a decent schedule again.

Love to you all. I'll get my act together someday.

Anyone watching Torchwood?

2007-07-03T22:35:55Z

I've watched the first few eps of the first season and I'm really enjoying it. The plots are interesting, the characters well-thought-out, and, hey, it's British tv--very little real violence and lots of sex ;-)

Other interesting/cool things:

The producer is Russell T. Davies, who also writes and produces Queer as Folk and the new Doctor Who.
According to Wikipedia: "Davies connected the name of Torchwood to an idea for a modern British telefantasy programme in the style of American dramas like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel that he had been developing before he began work on Doctor Who". Wiki article.
The central character is a strong, smart, non-stunningly-beautiful woman (I'd call her cute). Inoticed that she doesn't run "like a girl". In the chase scenes she runs like she's really going to catch the bad guy (in the day, I also noticed this about Buffy).
Captain Harkness is omnisexual, though we haven't seen any of that yet (there has been talk of it and I know at least two of the eps in season one have themes that explore this further).
I was happily shocked at the amount of sex shown in the second ep. Not on do they show it once, but when we find out that a critical event happens during it, they show it again on video (probably twice!).
There is a show called "Torchwood DeClassified" that runs 10 minutes and gives behind the scenes info on each ep. The one for the ep with all the sex, doesn't even talk about the sex scene and definitely doesn't go all "Entertainment Tonight" about it.
The Captain reminds me of Mark Harmon for some reason.
One of the supporting characters is Asian (there aren't many on tv--Gray's Anatomy, Lost, Heroes, The Closer--though there are probably more, though not on shows I watch).

Recs and thoughts

2007-06-27T21:20:50Z

So, things are settling in for the summer. The kids are home and we're gearing up for camps and summer jobs (for me). I've been doing some reading and keep surprising myself with the new stuff I've tried . . . and liked.

Like with many other things in life, I've learned to trust authors I like. So, there's little doubt that I'll enjoy anything lit_gal or jans_intentions or stillrose writes. I've also learned to follow up on their recs as I often find something new or different to read. Lately I've been surfing through the awards sites: old Light My Fire Awards for The Sentinel; The Forbidden Awards are just starting a round. I go through old nominees and winners and find a variety of fun stuff. To stay "up to date" I love the communities that bring us together: bloodclaim, darker_spike, sentinel_thurs, slavefics, and spring_with_xan.

There's always a Sneer in Vegas by stillrose
S/X, NC-17, WIP (it's going to be a long one and we're just getting started--chapter 14 so far). This is a future fic with vamps and human slaves. There's h/c (actually a lot of h for our dear Xander), but I've been told there's c coming up. This one is well worth following.

Forbidden Fruit by jans_intentions writing in jans_fiction
Queer as Folk B/J, AU. I haven't even watched QAF yet, but I love the way Jan writes and how she's putting these two boys together. Five chapters so far (and there's no sex yet, but sex isn't the only reason why I read fic!).

A Call to Darkness by jans_intentions posting in jans_fiction
Original fiction about a shaman and a werewolf. This one is set up well and I look forward to seeing how it works out.

Little Risk Involved
S/X. A six part round robin posted in spring_with_xan. Xander leaves Sunnydale before Buffy arrives, then comes back after graduation. Six authors, six chapters. Very well done. I can't seem to figure out how to link to all the parts, but for the moment it's simple to find them; they were all posted the week of 6/20/07 or so).

Puppy Love by perverted_pages
S/X, NC-17, prompt table, 3 chapters so far. Non-con, Xander is Spike's puppy. And not in the warm, fuzzy way. This one is dark and rich.

The Things We Never Talk About by margarks
S/X, NC-17 complete. Very, very dark. Xander's past is even worse than we imagined.

Pivotal by toobusy2write
All human AU, S/A someday, WIP. Spike is a rock star, Angel is his bodyguard. I'm enjoying the take on the other characters as well (Xander as Spike's step brother and manager, Oz, Lindsey and Faith as band members, etc.)

To Touch the Past by c_woodhaven
S/future!Wes, NC-17, Complete. Post-NFA by 150 years, Angelus is loose and Spike is running. Based on a beautiful manip, this is well done. Very well done and very worth reading.

Re-discovery of the week!
Most Favored by mithril_56
S/A (plus Illyria, Wes, and Gunn), very long WIP (part 84 posted 6/25), new to lj. BDSM, vampire lore, and a ton of other kinks. I've been watching this at another site for a long time, but it was difficult to find the updates and there was no way to get them automatically. Go to the lj and comment so this continues to be posted on lj! This is an Angel AU with the characters listed above. Angel must embrace the vampire way to survive and everyone else backs him up.

Whew. That's what's worth reading this week. Enjoy!

The waiting is over

2007-06-19T20:54:27Z

I haven't been around for the last few weeks. I've had some medical issues and have been awaiting results. Unlike other people, when I'm ok I talk constantly; when I'm really worried I get really quiet. So, I've been reading a ton, but not even commenting in many cases. I just didn't have the wherewithall to even say "thanks". My apologies to the many wonderful authors I've not thanked. I will do my best to comment on further chapters.

The results? So far, all negative. We're down to dealing with the less scary issues. Cancer was ruled out today (all the biopsies came back negative!), but there might be a chronic issues to deal with.

Driving home from the doctor I got to thinking about why I get so quiet when I'm scared. I think it's because 1) I worry that no one really cares, 2) I don't want anyone to worry about me, and 3) no one can really do anything anyway. I don't know where in my background I came up with this group of emotional/mental issues, but there you go.

orchidluv is completing Nothing the Same this week. It's a lovely S/X story told from the beginning of season one. Xander doesn't just let Jesse's death fade away, he actively questions the whole "vamps are bad" theory the Watcher is spouting.

Pivotal by toobusy2write is an an all human AU with Spike as a rock star, Angel as his bodyguard, Xander as his step brother and a whole cast of Buffyverse characters to fill in the rest of the band and entourage. The story is just getting going, but I my interest is piqued. It's A/S.

First Evil by 50ftqueenie. S/X. WIP. Season 4 of AtS is cut off at the knees when Xander arrives and can see right through Cordy's possession. This story has a lot of dark badness from Xander's childhood.

There's Always a Sneer in Vegas by stillrose. S/X WIP. It's an alternate vampire universe and both Xander (as a slave) and Spike (as part of Angelus' evil vampire universe) have histories here. So far we've found out a lot about the horrors Xander has survived, but I hope we find out more about Spike as well. I've settled in for a long, interesting ride for this story.

Control Issues by lit_gal continues to be totally gripping. Jim and Blair in an alternate Sentinel universe. There's little to no sex in this one, but lit_gal is such an amazing writer. I don't need porn because I find her characters so gripping. Hot Sentinel/Guide sex will be nice at some point though ;-)

Now for something really different (and I mean really different!).

Leather Bound by elyxer is my first foray into the world of Queer as Folk. Yummy BDSM, but not an all-porn fic. I find the characters very interesting and the way they work their lives and the Scene into their lives is fascinating to me. This fic is very recently completed.

Bound to the Law by Dawnwind is a Starsky and Hutch BDSM fic. It's very, very long, and extremely hot. She has a bunch of stories on this page. There are five parts so far and she's got a sixth in mind; each part is complete, so you won't be caught in a WIP. Again, it's the way the author works the characters' lives in and around their Scenes that I like. I especially like the limits these two put on themselves as they play.

I also found Entourage and started watching it while I was ignoring the world. I just started season three. I love these boys and assume someone is slashing them. I'll go hunting for Vince/E later this week.

Busy, busy, busy (and it ain't gettin' better)

2007-06-07T21:52:03Z

Hey, ho! I'm still alive and reading!

RL has been a bitch--a death in the family, houseguests (expected and unexpected), end of year stuff for the kids, and at least one new job for me for the summer. I've also got some health concerns that I hope to have straighted out soon (or at least identified).

What am I reading?

I'm thrilled to be on both lit_gal and jans_intentions 's personal journals and am reading much juicy stuff there. It's all flocked and ranges from original fic to The Sentinel to AU Joss-verse. If you know either one of these fine writers I encourage you to stay in touch with them and friend their "other" journals. Their writing never fails to impress.

My personal kink is BDSM and D/s. Not necessarily whips and chains (although that's hot in the right setting), but specifically loving d/s relationships. If this makes your panties wet as it does me, don't miss:

Leather Bound by elyxer. She just posted the last chapter on her lj, but up to there chapters can be found here. The characters are Brian and Justin from Queer as Folk, which I know zero about. I am d/l season one right now, but her warnings say that she's not a slave to cannon. It's hot, wonderful, real-feeling writing and explores different kinds of gay d/s relationships. There will be a sequel, so now's the time to friend her journal!

If you're a fan of QaF and BDSM, don't miss this page of stories at BJfic.net (where I originally found Leather Bound).

I was at a loss last week; too tired and ticked off to write or do anything constructive. I went back to The Titanium Whip Awards and read fandoms (and original fic) that I'd skipped before. I went through every story on the Extreme BDSM page and was very happy. Sometimes I think it's best to NOT know the characters. Then you can enjoy the pleasure, pain, and submission without worrying about cannon. Heck I read an X-files story that really pushed my buttons (and I didn't know which one was Mulder and which one was Scully--Scullly only makes a cameo appearance in the fic ;-) Geez, I can't even figure out what the name of it is. What good am I?

Sorry. I'll keep better track for next time.

But, brain death is definitely a possibility

2007-05-23T20:02:50Z

I think I said I was going to discuss some tv stuff on my last post. Ha. My short-term memory didn't stick around long enough for me to write the post. To hell with feeding my kids. I'll do that later. ;-)

I haven't yet watched the season/series finales of Ugly Betty or Veronica Mars, so, please no spoilers.

I watched Grey's Anatomy and believe that Marti Noxon is evil and should not be allowed to work on any tv show I care about ever again. And, that Christina Oh is a goddess and should win many awards.

I stopped watching Dresden Files because it was just stupid. I am re-listening to James Marsters reading the books though. Yum.

Blood Ties is still on my list, but my expectations are very low.

Hustle is not as good last last year (Mickey left :-(, but it's still a fun ride and well worth watching.

I wasn't impressed with the Bones finale. Not bad, but not good either.

The Tudors is barely worth the time. I was hoping for another Rome, which I adored, but I'm sadly disappointed. Henry is lovely to look at, but the story just isn't compelling.

I'm rewatching Scrubs (starting with the first season), which is fabulous; and Kitchen Confidential, which makes me laugh constantly.

Old shows I'm just now watching:

Oz is strangely compelling and wrong. If it wasn't so well done I don't think I could stomach it. I'm finishing the first season.

Eureka is getting ready to start season two (I think). I watched the premier and loved it enough that I'm going to try to get my DH to watch it with me.

Freaks and Geeks. I feel like such a fool to have missed this the first time around. I think we're on the fifth disc. What fun! My DH likes this one, too.

What am I missing? I try to add new/interesting shows to my list all the time. Sometimes it takes me ages to get around to them, but I always seem to.

FYI: I'm already a Friday Night Lights fan, though I don't know if I'll watch season two, season one was just too perfect. I'm set to watch the last five eps of Studio 60. I think it was canceled right as it hit its stride.

Discuss away . . .

Not dead yet

2007-05-23T19:39:44Z

Apologies to anyone who missed me. I've been out with strep and now I've got the cough from hades that won't go away. I haven't gotten anything useful done in weeks. Top that off with company coming in from out of town this weekend, 25 chicks coming in the mail sometime next week, and my summer job kicking off in two weeks. NO TIME.

I have been doing a bit of reading in the wee hours of the night, when the coughing keeps me from sleeping.

I've got a ton of recs, most in The Sentinel fandom. This is greatly because of lit-gal who is an incredible writer and has put her amazing skills towards not just one WIP TS fic, but two:

Control Issues, J/B. True AU. Jim's trying to escape, Blair's trying to catch him, how are these two going to end up together? This one is edgy and full of angst. WIP

The Observer, J/B, AU. This is a sequel to The Witness. Blair and Jim are working together (as observer and cop). Blair used to work as a professional submissive, but now he's got Jim as his dom. Witty banter, smart guys. WIP

If you like The Sentinel and good writing, don't miss these two stories.

And, in case you wondered, I pretty much only read slash and I don't tend to add warnings. I like kinky, dark writing, so you take your chances when you read my recs. The thing you will find in common is good to great writing and storytelling.

Heart's Consent by Romslinger, J/B, angst. Post TSbyBS, Blair leaves and Jim gets into an abusive relationship. Complete.

BS Factor by Jen Riddler, J/B, AU. My notes are: Earthshatteringly painful. Stunning. Completely unexpected. Complete.

The Nature Series by francesca. J/B. This long story in multiple parts over three arcs explains the Sentinel/Guide bond as much more than cannon.

And, some S/X and Buffy!verse recs:

There's Always a Sneer in Vegas by

perverted_pages . S/X post-NFA. Spike Shan-shus and both Spike and Xander end up at a strip join in LA. WIP

I know I've got more on my list, but I need to make dinner. Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks, and what we didn't do together.

2007-05-03T21:31:35Z

First of all: Thanks to jans_intentions, who's not only an amazing writer and friend, but who made me this lovely icon. Thanks again, Jan. I'm very honored.

Second: From shanmara:

If you read this, please post a comment with a completely made up and fictional memory of you and me.

It can be anything you want - good or bad - but it has to be fake.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people don't actually remember about you.

(I posted on hers already . . .)

Jump on in. It'll give me time to write up a rec post I've been mulling over for a few days (I'm just too lazy to actually write the post).

Reading, reading, reading

2007-04-22T14:32:02Z

It's a busy week around here: spring break for the kids, a horrible storm with high winds, and now, spectacular sunny days. During the rainy season I was able to get some reading done. Here are some recs and thoughts:

A Promise to a Lady by sablepanther. No pairing. This is a thought-provoking little fic that just hit me the right way. I found it fascinating despite the plot hole.

More of The Woods and Hired Man by jans_intentions  . Both are A/S, human AU. Each has a distinct plot. The Woods is really hot (even without a lot of nasty touching); Hired Man is more angsty. As always with sexymermaid, both are well worth reading. WIPs.

Leaves of Memory by quinntzadok  . S/X. I've rec'ced this one before, but there's a lot more of it now. Weaving cannon with a 30 yo Xander, thrown back in time, the plot has painful twists to season two (and into three right now). Xander knows everything he did as a 30 yo, but the changes he attempts in the past do not necessarily come out the better. I'm really enjoying this WIP.

The More Things Change by slashtheboyz  . S/X, vamp!Xan. Lots of p*rn here lately, but the plot never disappears. I really like this "merged" vamp!Xander. WIP.

Collateral Damage by versaphile and psychoadept. Giles/Wesley. Forever WIP. This huge story (over 90 chapters), has almost every s/d and bdsm kink you can imagine (and a few you probably can't). Because of a falling out, this story will never be completed, but versaphile says she'll post all the completed chapters and a summary of how the story was to be finished. It's too bad the end won't get written by these two wonderful writers, but I can't complain about all the wonderful p*rn they've produced.

The Sentinel riches and other recs

2007-04-17T23:58:34Z

I've read a lot this week (or so) and I'm finally getting better about making lists of what I read. The two best things this week:

Every Purpose Under Heaven by snycock is now complete. J/B The Sentinel. I know I've rec'ed this one before, but if you like J/B at all, you'll love this long, well-told story. Set many years after Jim's death, Blair tells the story of their life together. It's lyrical, NC-17, painful enough to rip your heart out, and ultimately satisfying.

Slash Virtual Season (SVS) of The Sentinel. This is an embarassment of riches. Many authors, MANY stories, ranging from G to NC-17, and set up like a tv season. They boys are "together" by the end of the second ep. I think I'm up to ep 12. The writing is very good, the stories are very interesting, and you'd be missing out if you don't go check these stories out. Read them in order! They fit together like a tv season does.

I read a lot of TS this week. I was bored by many, many, many stories of J/B's first time. I can only take so much angst before I just give up. I think that's why the Slash Virtual Season made me so happy. I knew I was going to get J/B together (even if without a lot of sex). No more "oh, can I handle being gay", no more "oh, what will people think?" Just good TS stories with the boys being together. Here are some recs that pass the "already together" test:

Revelation by Rushlight (rushlight75)
J/B d/s. My notes are "A loving dom is just so D*MN hot!" Nuf said.

Also by Rushlight: The Demons Within Us and Eye of the Storm. Of all the authors I found this week, I was thrilled to find Rushlight.

In the Jossverse:

Two Hearts Lost. Human AU S/X. Major weeping here (character death).

Leaves of Memory by quinntzadok
S/X A 30 y.o. Xander gets put back into his body and life at 16 with all the knowledge of his older self. He tries to "fix" things, but this new verse takes some interesting turns. I like the way this one is developing. WIP.

A Vampire's Embrace shows good promise. X/OC, S/OC, S/X/OC. Set in season 5 (I think), a magical vamp comes to town and seems to be on the side of Good. WIP.

Forever by raselghethi
S/X So far four "one offs". Spike sees Xander dance at the Fab Ladies Night Club. They don't get together, but they can't seem to forget each other. WIP.

In the BoreanazVerse:

Bones of an Angel by riani1. Bones/Angel x-over. Two parts so far. The voices of the Bones gang are PERFECT. And, the premise is humorous. Go read. You'll enjoy.

What fun! I'll write about tv in my next post . . .

Happy Birthday, sexymermaid!

2007-04-16T23:14:44Z

I don't have any gifts to share,
I have no great gift of gab or articles of art.

I do have great thanks to the person who welcomed me into the LJ community,
The person who friended me back when I was brand new.
The person who responding to my posts, who told me how to get involved.
The person who can capture a voice, turn a phrase, and capture a moment--
Heck, the writer who got me to read Riley and wrote a four-way (now *that* is something new for me!)

I'm here on LJ, I'm participating as a beta and judge for awards, and reading and loving the gifts of the fan fic community, because of Jan.

Thanks so very much.

I hope you've had a fantastic birthday. May you have many, many more!

Friday Night Lights

2007-04-12T20:27:16Z

Ok, I'd avoided this show because I just don't have the time to watch it. Yes, my siblings and friends recced it, yes, I love football, yes, I loved the bomb squad guy on Gray's Anatomy. But, I insisted I didn't have time to watch.

[spoilers ahead. Stop now if you haven't seen the whole season]

But that's changed. All 22 eps are available at NBC.com. I was up to ep 6 last weekend. During the week I watched 12 eps. I watched four eps today. I knitted a whole baby sweater while watching this show.

I'm totally addicted. FNL crack. There are too many beautiful boys to even list. For some reason the sappy, loving, everything-turns-out-ok Taylor family doesn't make me barf. The scene in ep 19 (I think) when the four guys are on the field drinking beer, talking about girls, and playing ball? Crack. Incredible stuff. I cried. Tyra almost getting raped--fighting back. D*mn that was powerful. Coach taking the job? Geez, what would you do? Tim boffing everything in sight? Doesn't it make you want to be within sight of him??? Jason as a coach was just right (although I would think he'd need at least a HS diploma if not a college degree, but, hey). Tami is ******** (I can't do it, if you don't know what's up, I just can't spoil that one). Matt telling Coach: "I got confused. What's right for the team. And, what's right."

Anyone slashing these boys yet?

Recs part II -- some complete stories here

2007-04-10T03:16:06Z

Whew, the list from yesterday was quite long! I don't think I've ever been following so many WIPs before. There are a lot of good writers producing a lot of good fics right now! Yeah! It makes me happy because there are so many that almost every day something lovely pops up on my flist.

Final Exam Series by Legion (scroll down, there are some other great Sentinel recs on this page). The first three are PWP, then there's a bit of a story. It's very sexy and intimate.

Picture This by janedavitt. Hands-off the hottest sex without touching you'll find anywhere. Jim and Blair get really close. Really, really close.

The More Things Change by slashtheboyz is a X/S WIP. It's been a show start to the sex, but the story hits the ground running with a whirlwind of events. Warning: this one is dark, painful and there is character death (also non-con and torture). The boys don't get together until around chapter 15, but you have to read it all to understand what's going on.

For those of you who enjoyed lit_gal's Trickster, she's written some new backstory. Trickster is one of my all-time favorite vamp!Xander stories.

Breaking Free by stillrose is one epilogue away from being complete. It's a long AU/not AU S/X story. It's "not vampires, in space" with a yummy dom Spike and a sub Xander who learns to love him. This one is long and involved. Most of the major characters from BtVS and AtS appear here. I originally didn't expect to like this one, but I really grew to love it. I'm going to miss it when it's complete.

Every Wed and Sat I check my flist as often as possible for the latest chapter of Collateral Damage by versaphile. This is a wild romp through d/s and bdsm with Giles and Wesley. It's loving d/s and both characters are introspective about their activities. The kinks are wild and varied. I know I'm not very experienced, but I'm continually surprised by the events (and she's on chapter 80!). Coming up next: d/s in public as Giles takes his pet, Wesley, to LA to show him off.

Could that be it? Heck I've been writing for two nights instead of reading, so that may indeed be the end of my current rec list.