charts, facts, figures

If you've written enough fics in the qualifying fandoms--the big ones, like Harry Potter, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, Supernatural, or the rest at the sign-up here--and if reimagining someone else's fic is up your alley, you should totally sign up for Remix VII, where you get to write a different take (though keeping plot and pairings) on someone's story. It's tons of fun, this will be my fourth year doing it (woah). Because of it, I've received/written the following:

Remix IV
* I wrote Life & Other Equations (a Case of Closets Remix), which was a RENT story and totally gave me a new perspective on Mark and how his most likely a-typtical need for order fits it with Roger's messiness.

* I got Best Left Unsaid (Starving Artists Overdub) by gildedmuse, and it was great to see a fleshing out of the little touches of a Mark/Roger relationship that I'd sketched in my story. Aww, I miss RENT!fandom.

Remix V
* I got to write Sam and Dean and awesome Supernatural brotherly bonding in In Nomine Patris (Latin Dance Mix), which always reminds me of how much fun the boys are to write (even though I am woefully behind on the current season... by which I mean I haven't seen it. Oops?)

* In return, verstehen wrote Alma Mater Studiorum (Ol' 55 Mix), which is a great take on how John must feel in trying to be a good dad and a good hunter, and how Sam's already feeling conflicted and out of sorts about their whole nomadic lifestyle.


Remix VI
* The sixth year was when they started having more stringent qualifying fandoms, I think, so I wasn't too suprised when I got matched with someone who wrote lots of Stargate: Atlantis (which is the only Big Fandom that I have written lots in). I love side characters and my remixee had written lots about Atlantis's awesome C1, Evan Lorne. So I got to write Determind (Soldier Boy Remix), which as a added benefit let me indulge my quasi-pretensious love of writing in the second person ;o) I should go back and pick at that story, though, as I am now noticing way too many grammar issues on rereading. This is why the world needs beta readers, my children.

* I received Acceptable Risk (the Slow Build Remix) from darsynia, which took a one-shot of John and Rodney being adorable (well, John has a freak-out, but he retains his adorableness throughout it) and remakes it into one bit of a hot progression of their relationship that is scorchingly sexy and lovely.

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Can't wait to see what I get to write for this next year. Good times! In other random news, I took mom to the airport this morning after her weekend of visiting which was lots of fun and so now am awake at a time that I am so infrequently on a non-teaching day. Hopefully it will go productively, fingers crossed.

In final news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY kumquat_queen!!!

* Happy birhday alemara! Yay! I didn't forget!

* I sort of meant to go out and get Valentine's for my third graders, but my teacher went and bought candy and made little slips of paper, so I'm okay. I might go out tomorrow and get some for my old first graders, though. 'Cause they're way cute. :o)

* It's SNOWING! Wheee.

* I'm almost done with To Kill a Mockingbird. Which is way more fun than any homework I could be doing. Though I suppose I should be doing SOMETHING productive. Apparently... not. XD

Might try to get to bed at a decent hour tonight (ie before 11) *crosses fingers*

Happy early Valentine's Day, everyone!

I've been having a great time reading all the amazing fics on yuletide. I'd rec them, but then I'd be here for years. Suffice it to say that they are all astounding and gorgeous and painful by turns. So if you are a fan of a fandom that doesn't have much fic, it's probably there. I pinch hit twice (hitted?) and both fics seem to have been well recieved. Not what I usually write, but a great time anyways. In another post, I will have to pontificate about fic writing and how it is easier to actually seal the deal on fanfic than original for me, most of the time. I meant, I've finished several fics lately, but really made no headway on my Original fic of DOOM, as it were. Huh.

Happy birthday today to the lovely and talented indy_go, whee! You are so strong-willed and... grownup; I am frequently in awe of your ability to just keep swimming, as it were. XD Coherent much, me, clearly.

And a general hurray for Capricorns, 'cause we're awesome. Holy goodness, I'm gonna be 24 in like a week. I'm an Epiphany! How did I get that old?!? Wow.

Older Brother leaving for his actual home tomorrow, which is sad, but hopefully by moving West at the end of the year I'll see him more. And should try to actually email him. More than.... never, which is what I've been doing previous. *makes note*

Lots of you are getting cards and sundries, but I fail at being timely, so they will be New Years/Twelfth Night cards, or at least get to you by that point. Yay?

There was probably a point to this post, but I've forgotten it. Oh, that's right, I was gonna make a meme, 'cause I was feeling very strong and independent earlier today.

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I am Woman, Hear Me Roar (a meme)

The following is a list of awesome, independent things that women can/should be able to do. Can you? Bold the ones you can, and italicize the ones you are now motivated to try. Feel free to add if you like.

Change a car tire.
Change a light bulb.
Hang curtains/towel racks/etc.
Use power tools (drills, screwdriver, etc.)
Build furniture (desk, shelves, whatever)
Pump gas.
Understand paying taxes. (My mom does it, I should figure it out)
Throw a ball "like a boy"
Skip a stone
Be able to defend yourself (i.e. "kick ass" XD) (I wanna excercise more/get stronger. Booyah)
Move a box/couch/something heavy without help
Cook a meal
Sew something
Make a bed
Do your laundry
Fix a leaky faucet

Well, The Nutcracker last night was gorgeous and tons of fun. I hadn't ever heard or seen most of the music and dancing since I was way little, so that was a lot of fun.

I got my first Christmas card! poisoninjest, you win! Hopefully everyone who's wanting one of my cards will be okay if they aren't exactly... on time. As it were. I hope to get the bulk of them done this Friday/Saturday (otherwise known as after classes are done and work is due) and mailed out before I fly to California. So, be on your toes (or have your mailboxes on their toes. Or something).

If you want one and haven't let me know, there is still time! Email me your address at KatStarling9@yahoo.com. winkingstar, I had your address last year, but I've lost it. You want a card? XD Also, capedcrusader92 and kumquat_queen, do you have an address for LimeKid? Please and thank you?

In other belated news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO villainny!!! I totally meant to wish you some good cheer and lovely things yesterday. Oops? You rock, Nny.

My goal for the night is to write a minilesson and finish my essay. Ew. Oh, and take a shower. And probably renew my journal. Sometime.

AND SET MY ALARM DEAR GOD. Why do I never remember to do that on Sunday night and am therefore always late to class on Monday? Ick.


In happier procrastinatory news, some kind soul has uploaded the 1978 Muppet Chrismas special (where they all go spend the holiday with Fozzy's mom). It's the best thing EVER! Yay YouTube!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Courtesey of sadcypress, I bring you.... interesting news.

Depp, Burton team up for "Sweeney Todd" film

In "Sweeney Todd," to be released in late 2007, Depp will play the murderous barber of the same name who seeks his own brand of razor-slashing revenge against a judge who wrongfully imprisoned him. [... It] will be adapted from the modern musical thriller "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," with songs originally composed by Sondheim. That version became a Broadway hit in 1979 and won 8 Tony Awards.

The sad thing is, I kind of wish they were basing it off of the new revival adaptation with Michael Cerveris. Some songs are missing yes, but really, what better structure for Depp to be than one set ultimately in a mental institution!?! That would be all kinds of awesome.

While Johnny Depp can sing (at least, I know he had a band a long time ago), I'll be curious to see if he can sing Sondheim, which is a whole other issue. I like him a lot, but I don't know if he has the gravity (and gravitas) to pull off a deep-throated Demon barber.

But we can attend the tale of Sweeney Todd! Over and over! This makes me want to track down the Angela Landsbury film version. When I get back to NYC, definitely...

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On another topic, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! Yaaaaaaay! Also, happy yesterday-birthday to Biologist!Twin and Playwright!Twin! I hope you had a good one!

Also, I found out that one of my friends from college just got engaged. Woah. And a friend's twin sister. And Amy is getting married on Saturday!?!?! I feel..... single. But sort of okay with it, for the moment.

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Mission for the day: bust through a good porton of Teaching and Learning in a Diverse World. Or whatever it's called... Also, work on some fic. Any one. Not particular. Write something down, dammit!

*scampers*

Wheeeeeee in California am I! The house in Newport Beach which is not new except to me, so it's like those NBC commericals for Friends, is great though lacking in lots of furniture. But there is a bed! For me! Which got here only hours ago, but I can sleep somewhere that is not the floor or a folding chair. Ooooooh, and this room has a little cutesy loft-thing that I would have spent all my time in as a small child. Honestly, if I could get a bed up there, I would stay there forever. Yet, it's a little small for that. Boo.

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday, which is exciting. All I know of our plans involve going to Balboa Island and getting a famed Balboa bar. And, y'know, getting me a matress pad and sheets that fit. Yay.

Oh, saw Lady in the Water and cheered for the glimpse of kumquat_queen's name in the credits. It was a little over wrought with mood and mythology, but I like a great deal of the pieces. I wish we could have gotten more about the silent dude in his apartment and Mrs. Bell, 'cause they were cool. And ( possible spoiler, sorta )

I wonder if the bedtime story in the movie exists somewhere to read. It'd be really interesting looking as it as less of a visual medium. Anyone know where that might be found?

On that same subject, there were some AWESOME trailers in front of it, and fortunately several to balance out the heart-rending World Trade Center (if you cry at the drop of a hat, be warned before clicking. It looks inspirational and uplifting and all that, but if the TRAILER makes me cry, don't even think about getting me to see the movie) and some new Will Smith movie that would ALSO make me cry. Go see the trailers for Children of Men and The Fountain, and, if I could find it, One Good Year (which looks like it might be bad, but perhaps also uplifting, see previous category). Also, go see stuff about The Prestige, which wasn't in front of Lady but doesn't it look cool? OMG Christian Bale+Hugh Jackman+magic+tension+HOTNESS = !!!!!! God, there are so many lush and vivid new movies coming out. *bounces with excitement*

If I get my act in order, I'll put up a post for postcards (either California or Hawaii, which is the next station stop) if people want. My ability to have internet will be pretty consistent but off a couple hours until Wednesday, when The Reunion commences. Oh lord, how much family will there be? And yet, I was thinking about how hard it is that some key members.... aren't there anymore. Honestly, if someone sings "Scotch and Soda" at the party, I'll lose it. And I know I won't be the only one.

Hope everyone's end of July is shaping up nicely!

Haaaaappy Birthday, alemara. May it be a day of laughter and tea and frolics in the snow (like the nightime snowball fight we had outside the main school building once upon a time). *huuuuuugs and snuggles*

Clearly, the marathon of Firefly today was totally in my honor. *nods decisively* Mommy made stew! I LOVE stew. And I have new pants and a sweater and some underwear. And I haven't opened my "official" presents yet. Booyah.


Happy Birthday Me :o)

OMG, my birthday is on Friday. wow. I don't know how that happened. This is what happens when you have a birthday too near Christmas. It all... happens... so... fast. And... sleep now. Good god. Cheers?