User:	scribbulus_ink
	Date:	2009-11-28 21:12
	Subject:	November Blogging: day 28
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	tired

The holiday fest season is almost upon us, and along with it is the eternal question: "How do I give feedback on fest gifts?"

The answer is, there is no right or wrong way. The exception to that statement is when the fest in question has specific rules about feedback. The standard rule most fests have is "no flaming", which I think is a rule we can all get behind for obvious reasons.

"No con crit" is another rule I've seen popping up in fest rules lately, but I know that issue isn't as clear-cut as the flaming issue. Some people say gifts shouldn't be criticized while others say just because it's a gift doesn't mean it's exempt from critique. I don't really want to get into the pro/anti concrit argument, so we'll leave it at that.

So, yeah, as long as you're following the rules of the fest, there's not really a right or wrong way to give feedback. Now, that isn't to say that people won't complain or react negatively in other ways. For example, there are a few authors/artists who disdain squeeful comments and lament the lack of lengthy, "meaty" commentary, but they are in the distinct minority. The vast majority of authors/artists love feedback in any form they can get it, and "OMG that was awesome!!!" is just as welcomed as a 2 page treatise.

I think that more than any other time, fests - especially holiday fests - are a time to celebrate the joy of giving and to share in the pleasure of receiving. It's a time to be happy for the gifts being shared, not just with the recipient, but with everyone. Yes, that story/art was created for someone specific, but the rest of us are getting to enjoy it too, and I think that's part of the collaborative fun that fests generate. They give all of us more of what we want most, and I think we ought to express our thanks for that with a simple, "I enjoyed that. Thanks!" comment. It'll make that author/artist's holidays a little brighter.

With that in mind, I hope people will take the time to leave a comment on the gifts they enjoy in whichever fests they follow, especially people who are inclined to lurk the rest of the year. Fest authors/artists have been waiting for weeks, perhaps even months for their work to debut, so any feedback is a gift to them in return. As long as your response expresses your enjoyment, then there's no wrong way of expressing it. There's no such thing as too short or too simple, and you don't need a degree in English to leave good feedback. All you really need is enthusiasm!

For myself, I intend to do more reccing and commenting in December once things calm down at work and in RL, and I intend to continue into the new year, especially since I'm going to rec at crack-broom again in January!

This entry was originally posted at http://scribbulus-ink.dreamwidth.org/518269.html. It's cross-posted to LJ and IJ, and comments are enabled at all three journals.

	User:	poisontaster
	Date:	2009-11-28 22:35
	Subject:
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	sad

My mother passed early yesterday morning. If I am absent from LJ for a little while, this is why.

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-28 20:04
	Subject:	she has fancy clothes and diamond rings
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	melancholy
	Music:	baby, if you wanna be wild, you got a lot to learn

The uploading continues apace. I am almost ready to stop for the evening and maybe try to write. Or something. I miss writing. It's been days since I did any. Sigh.

I was uploading a lot of the codas I wrote in season 2, when I was still in the first flush of fandom love, and wow, season 2 was good for codas. I think I wrote at least one (sometimes more than one) for almost every episode. I miss that, too.

*

Tonight for dinner I made a roast loin of pork. It was very tasty. I combined garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and basil in about a tablespoon of olive oil (for easy spreading), along with a couple of teaspoons of brown sugar and a large splash of vanilla (for years, I wouldn't tell my mother about the brown sugar and vanilla, and she couldn't replicate the taste. Heh.). Rub that on, top with a few pats of butter, and then cook until the internal temperature is 160°F. It was very tasty and juicy and good.

*

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/100853.html. people have commented there.

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-27 23:40
	Subject:	backpage news down in the neighborhood
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	lazy
	Music:	Boom Boom Boom - the Iguanas

I don't really care about so much about the plots on White Collar. They just keep giving me tasty OT3 stuff and I'm content.

I've spent most of the day uploading stuff to the AO3. It allows me to feel productive when I can't write. I have too many goddamn stories, though. angelgazing pointed out that I will never be done uploading because I write faster than I upload. Though possibly this is no longer the case. I don't know. I have been having my usual late autumn/early winter problems getting motivated. Since the archive takes so long to upload, I am also rereading some favorite stories (I don't have to pay as close attention to rereads - I can skim and skip and be interrupted without losing anything, 'cause I've already read them before). I keep getting errors, unfortunately, which is slowing things down even more.

Technology is not my friend.

I know lots of people are excited by tagging their stories in all sorts of ways, but I am doing what I find useful and that's it. As long as I get the characters/pairing on there, and maybe if it's a casefile or an episode tag, that's about the extent of my interest. Maybe if I upload my HP stuff, I'll split the Remus/Sirius out by era, like I have it in my tags on LJ, but mostly I don't care about the tags. *hides*

Also, I wish there were a place in the profile to link to a warnings policy, and that that link could just automatically be included on every story. Because I am just using the "No Primary Warnings Apply" which isn't the same as "no warnings needed" but 99% of my stuff is "no warnings needed" and I'd like to be able to say that somewhere, since it isn't a choice on the warnings field. I guess I could make it a tag, but I never think of it. I wish it were automatic.

Hmm...

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/100505.html. people have commented there.

	User:	scribbulus_ink
	Date:	2009-11-27 20:23
	Subject:	November Blogging: day 27
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	exhausted

Here's a piece of advice for anyone who is participating in any kind of LJ/IJ/DW based fest at any time of the year: when you email the mods, include your journal user ID, especially if your user ID isn't the same as your email address.

If your email address is the same as your journal ID, it makes things a little easier, but it would still be nice to include your ID nonetheless.

Here's the thing. Unless you communicate via email with the mods outside of the fest enough that it's reasonable to assume they know to associate that email address with you, chances are the mods will have no clue who's emailing them and will have to take the extra step of consulting a spreadsheet in order to figure it out.

When a fest mod is juggling 30+, 40+, 50+, or more fest participants, they are not going to remember who everyone is. They might not know you, they might not interact with you outside of the fest, or they might not remember. There are people who have participated in Snupin Santa just about every year, and I still wouldn't know them from an email address alone, much less know all the new people who rotate in and out each year.

So if a fest mod asks you to include your user ID and/or the name of your recipient in your emails, please try to remember to do it. It's not just a busy-work request; it can save the mod a little extra time (and let's be honest: a little extra irritation) if they know who they're dealing with straight-away instead of having to look it up. Trust me, trawling through a spreadsheet and looking for one person's email address out of 50-60 (or more) names is a pain in the ass.

This entry was originally posted at http://scribbulus-ink.dreamwidth.org/518068.html. It's cross-posted to LJ and IJ, and comments are enabled at all three journals.

	User:	florahart
	Date:	2009-11-26 22:56
	Subject:	Ficlet: "The Needs of the Revolted" (Sarek/OFC, NC17)
	Security:	Public

Title: The Needs of the Revolted
Pairing: Sarek/OFC
Rating: NC17
Words: ~800
Warning: dubious consent
Summary: The kink meme prompt was for Sarek to get tired of his people talking smack about Amanda and Vulcanishly telling them to stick it. However, as it was on the kink meme, there is sex.
A/N: I have fooled with this a bit more (largely for clarity) since posting it over there last night while I was taking a break from the more substantial fic that is currently taunting me.

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-26 22:24
	Subject:	he's done it with just one hand most of the time
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	sleepy
	Music:	Giants v. Broncos on tv

Happy Thanksgiving to those who are celebrating! Happy Thursday to those who are not. I hope everyone had a lovely day, regardless.

My day began with BACON and PIE and ended with FOOTBALL and PIE, and in between there was stuffing and homemade cheese macaroni and turkey that was actually moist and tasty (!!), and more family shenanigans than you could shake a stick at. My brother was in rare form tonight, and basically had the whole table in stitches for most of the meal. Mostly at my expense, but eh, that's not new. and unfortunately, the Giants are capping off the day by sucking like unto a hoover, but I am too full and sleepy to care too much.

I am thankful for my family, my friends - including you guys - my health, and my job. Man, a year ago at this time, I was a week away from being laid off. I'm still a little freaked out by how that went, still anxious and lacking in confidence sometimes, but I'm so glad I found a new job quickly, and one that I mostly like, for people and an organization that I like. (I'm also grateful that I have tomorrow off and I don't have to use a day - it's one of our holidays. Mmm...sleeping in...) I'm grateful I have health insurance and can pay my rent and that I have an apartment I love.

I'm thankful for fandom, not just because of all the great stories to read and the feeling of having people who get my excitement about various shows and characters, but because of all the great people I've met and become friends with, who've made my life richer and better and more fun all around.

*hugs*

And also, I am thankful for PIE, and I would share some with you all if I could.

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/100175.html. people have commented there.

	User:	florahart
	Date:	2009-11-26 19:10
	Subject:	Dear My Fingers:
	Security:	Public

I appreciate your industrious hacking away at the (somewhat-past-)due fic, but some of these errors of logic and departures from expectation as you go along are a bit ridiculous.

For instance, "building" and "bukkake" (of which there is none expected in this fic) are really quite not at all the same thing, and are not interchangeable.

Pls to type what (and only what) the brain says now.

Thx,
Me.

I originally posted this at http://florahart.dreamwidth.org/1005362.html. Comments may be left here or there; you can comment there with OpenID even if you don't have an account.

	User:	scribbulus_ink
	Date:	2009-11-26 21:50
	Subject:	Further Thanksgiving Festivities
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	full

It's the Pilgrim's Bounty holiday in Azeroth, with food-related daily quests and themed garments offered as a reward for fulfilling the quests.

Why, yes, as a matter of fact I do bring my penchant for cross-dressing to Warcraft.

( My Blood Elf Death Knight in a dress: )

I did get a turkey caller as a quest reward, which I assume lets you summon a turkey to kill in order to help you make the required turkey meals for one of the quests. However, when you summon the turkey, it arrives with a great big heart over its head, which promptly shatters when it realizes you aren't a prospect turkey paramour, and it's labeled "lonely turkey". I couldn't kill a lonely turkey! I just let it wander free and haven't used the turkey caller again because I felt so guilty.

This entry was originally posted at http://scribbulus-ink.dreamwidth.org/517717.html. It's cross-posted to LJ and IJ, and comments are enabled at all three journals.

	User:	scribbulus_ink
	Date:	2009-11-26 07:31
	Subject:	November Blogging: day 26
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	rushed

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate it! Happy almost-the-weekend to those who don't!

Real post later, if time and family allow. Count one fly-by, lore. ;)

This entry was originally posted at http://scribbulus-ink.dreamwidth.org/517550.html. It's cross-posted to LJ and IJ, and comments are enabled at all three journals.

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-25 22:41
	Subject:	mama, put my guns in the ground
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	lethargic
	Music:	Knockin' On Heaven's Door - G'n'R

Criminal Minds

( spoilers )

***

Maybe I will try to write. I would like to post one more story this month, if possible, before I buckle down on yuletide and broken toys.

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/100016.html. people have commented there.

	User:	scribbulus_ink
	Date:	2009-11-25 18:26
	Subject:	November Blogging: day 25
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	hot

I feel pervy for finding Adam Lambert, who is young enough to be my son, sexy and hot, but when he releases music videos like this one... Well, I'm only human!

This entry was originally posted at http://scribbulus-ink.dreamwidth.org/517343.html. It's cross-posted to LJ and IJ, and comments are enabled at all three journals.

	User:	snegurochka_lee
	Date:	2009-11-25 17:00
	Subject:	Random things, and art recs
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	productive
	Music:	Heart - Alone

FACT: When you are used to writing antagonistic pairings, writing friendship pairings is hard. And features way too many OOC fights before the sex. :/

FACT: I heard some old Heart song on... IDK, a bathroom cleaner commercial or something the other day, and now I can't get it out of my head. Also, it has now become the soundtrack for my smutty_claus story. I... don't know if this is a good thing or not.

... but man, those chicks could rock, riiiight? *air guitar*

FACT: The S.O. and I just heroically got out, by exploiting a technicality, of a horrible Thanksgiving dinner we were supposed to go to tomorrow, hosted by the distant relations of a pseudo-acquaintance. Yes! *fist pump* Pyjamas and bacon sandwiches on the couch by ourselves, here we come. Thank God. Americans, I love you and appreciate that you love Thanksgiving so much, but honestly, I usually have better things to do on my birthday or close to than hang out with other people's families who invite the foreigners out of pity. I appreciate the gesture, but, no. Just, no. :)

FACT: Fabulous art recs are fabulous! Before I head back into writing lockdown, here, have some art!

Till Death Do Us Part by Anon at hp_darkfest (Harry/Ginny, Harry/Draco, R: blood, character death [Ginny])
Mind the warnings, please: this is a very dark piece, thematically. It stunned the breath right out of me with its implications. It made me super uncomfortable and want to weep for humanity, in a way, but it's also an astonishing piece, both artistically and conceptually. Very highly recommended, but not easy to take in.

Pensive by stellamoon (Draco, G)
Utterly stunning. a;lskdjf. I cannot even put into words how gorgeous and erotic this portrait is.

As You Witch by Anon at radish_love (Harry/Luna, PG)
Yeah, ANON. *coughcough* Just about as anon as the first piece up there. :D There is no reason in the universe for this piece not having about 8 times as many comments as it currently does. It's fabulous.

Teddy and Victoire by ericahpfa (both PG)
Erica is drawing next-gen portraits!!! *runs around flailing*

"Looking for these, Potter?" by tbranch (Harry/Pansy, R)
Because I never, ever get tired of tbranch's Pansy, or Harry/Pansy. *purr*

Lily/Lorcan/Lysander by _aurora_sky_ (NWS LIKE WHOA OKAY. Also, incest)
Because this post did not have nearly enough porn in it. :D Well, this isn't just porn. It's actually really gorgeous, with the positioning and the lighting and things like that. *nod* It's also hot like burning, okay, and I don't even care what you think of the next-gen characters or who Lorcan and Lysander are or whatever. HOT LIKE BURNING.

See something you like? Leave a bit of feedback for a talented artist today!

*runs back to writing*

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-25 11:55
	Subject:	some days, there's nothing left to learn
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	busy
	Music:	i saved the world today - eurythmics

So I have this thing where I reverse numbers all the time, e.g., I usually have to redial new to me phone numbers two or three times because I switch the order of the numbers, etc.

NOTE TO SELF: NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE DYSLEXIC WITH ROMAN NUMERALS!


***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/99809.html. people have commented there.

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-24 23:44
	Subject:	with a red guitar on fire
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	sleepy
	Music:	desire - u2

For tonight's bout of stress baking, I made blueberry boy bait (as recommended by devildoll), which came out well, I think (I am taking half to work and half to the parents), but I also think it needs more blueberries. Clearly I need to double the amount next time. And possibly make it in cupcake tins or my mini-loaf pan. Hmm...

Maybe one day I'll be like a real food blogger and remember to take pictures of stuff before I slice into it and wrap it up. Today was not that day.

On my ride home tonight (I was at work late again), I listened to Adam Raised a Cain a few times and vidded it in my head. I would be the most literal vidder ever. Anyway. I know I say this all the time, but where is the Sam Winchester vid to this song? WHERE IS IT? I think this season has provided more awesome footage for someone to do this.

( the lyrics, in case you missed them the first 100 times I mentioned this idea )

Seriously, if I had minions, I would make one of them vid this for me.

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/99442.html. people have commented there.

	User:	scribbulus_ink
	Date:	2009-11-24 20:37
	Subject:	November Blogging: day 24
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	calm

I thought it might be helpful for my fellow Snape/Lupin shippers who are in the mood for some new holiday RL/SS icons if I did a comprehensive round-up of where to find them.

Fan Art Based:
Happy holidays - bluecage

art by aleoninc, colored by innerslytherin

art by aleoninc, colored by almost-clara

art by aleoninc, colored by isildurs-babe

Animated art by karasu-hime, icon by whitestar


Photo Manips:
Animated with Rickman and Thewlis, by beaded-thistle

Animated with Rickman and Thewlis, by isildurs-babe. Some of these are racy.

Animated, by captain-tulip


And I asked about the icon that matches the following icon on lupin-snape, but no one responded, so I'll try my flist:

- made by kaleidoskope in 2006. There's a matching icon with Paul McGann as Remus in a Santa hat. Does anyone have it? If I snagged it at the time, I've lost it, and I'd love to have it.

This entry was originally posted at http://scribbulus-ink.dreamwidth.org/516668.html. It's cross-posted to LJ and IJ, and comments are enabled at all three journals.

	User:	snegurochka_lee
	Date:	2009-11-24 17:13
	Subject:	Fic: Light as Iron, Singed as Pearl (Harry/Draco, NC-17)
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	pleased

Title: Light as Iron, Singed as Pearl
Author: snegurochka_lee
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~13,800
Warnings: Dom/sub. Bondage. EWE.
Summary: The owner of the elite BDSM club M. had not gained his reputation as the most coveted Dominant on the scene by taking on just any riff-raff submissive who asked. It would take an unexpected letter to convince him to accept a new client, but it might turn out to be the biggest mistake he ever made.
Notes: Written for hd_career_fair last month for this prompt. "Thank you" does not begin to cover my gratitude to the divine marguerite_26, whose handholding, beta work and modly prodding went well beyond the call of duty. When I was tempted to make Harry Minister for Magic, she also gets the credit for very wisely suggesting the position he has here instead. Thank you also to everyone who read, commented on, and recc'ed it at the fest. ♥ ! Originally posted anonymously here, where you can still read it in one file, if you prefer.

( Light as Iron, Singed as Pearl ) - over at LJ

Feedback is always appreciated, either here or at LJ. :)

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-24 14:07
	Subject:	big fish, little fish
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	stressed
	Music:	down by the water - pj harvey

some days, the bear definitely eats you.

favorite repeated typos of today:

RPF for RFP
partners hips for partnerships

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/99128.html. people have commented there.

	User:	tommygirl
	Date:	2009-11-24 13:07
	Subject:	My 2009 Wishlist
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	cheerful

So it's that time of year for wish lists and such. I'm trying to save them as I go, but feel free to link me to your wishlist as I would like to do something small for any of you if I can. As usual, because I'm poor, I tend to keep my list fannish/creative because that's all I really can return. And it's the small things that always make me happy anyway.

so onto it...

( wishlist rules... )

( And my ten wishes - know that world peace is always an understood wish... )

Again, I wish I could do things like buy y'all books and such, but I'm broke as broke could be, so I try to stick to the small things and don't ask more of that than anyone else.

	User:	musesfool
	Date:	2009-11-23 23:01
	Subject:	please tell me we'll stop for popcorn on the way
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	sleepy

Big Bang Theory

( spoilers )

***

Castle

I don't think I like Beckett's hair. It's too...helmety. Or something.

( spoilers )

*happy sigh*

Castle is my happy place.

Now I need to sleep because I have to be in early tomorrow for meetings. Ugh.

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/99055.html. people have commented there.