Dear World,
The word that you want is not less when you are talking about people, websites, airplanes, countries, cars, or animals. It is the word you want when you're talking about time, water, patience, or love.
Here is a handy dandy cheat sheet:
-- If you have so much of something, you can have less of it.
-- If you have so many of something, you would have fewer of them.
Because nobody says there are much people or many water, thank goodness, but I hear "less people" out of just about everyone. C'mon, world. I know English is super duper ridiculous, but let's work with it, here. Given that most objects are countable, the word fewer should actually outnumber less by a considerable margin.
Fewer words, fewer turns, fewer mistakes, fewer oceans, fewer beds, fewer flowers, fewer hats, fewer jackets, fewer relatives, fewer books, fewer phones, fewer instruments, fewer lights (versus less light), fewer clothes, fewer buildings, fewer bowls, fewer fruits, etc. etc. to infinity.
Yours in Frustration,
Aes
The word that you want is not less when you are talking about people, websites, airplanes, countries, cars, or animals. It is the word you want when you're talking about time, water, patience, or love.
Here is a handy dandy cheat sheet:
-- If you have so much of something, you can have less of it.
-- If you have so many of something, you would have fewer of them.
Because nobody says there are much people or many water, thank goodness, but I hear "less people" out of just about everyone. C'mon, world. I know English is super duper ridiculous, but let's work with it, here. Given that most objects are countable, the word fewer should actually outnumber less by a considerable margin.
Fewer words, fewer turns, fewer mistakes, fewer oceans, fewer beds, fewer flowers, fewer hats, fewer jackets, fewer relatives, fewer books, fewer phones, fewer instruments, fewer lights (versus less light), fewer clothes, fewer buildings, fewer bowls, fewer fruits, etc. etc. to infinity.
Yours in Frustration,
Aes
I am posting mostly because I want to keep up with frequent posting, although I'm a little braindead and just. Well, sleep will be soon.
I braved wind and weather today to go take photographs at our nearby nature preserve. (My city owns its own. It's a little elitist about it.) I don't know if I got any good ones, but perhaps, perhaps.
Did the requisite ten minutes today, and brooded over my fic that I've been writing. I'm switching back and forth between a Nazodi fic (porn) and an Arashi kinkfic (whoa there porn). I really just want to finish something, guys. I'm having lots of fun with these but then I get stuck and perhaps overthink and honestly there are about a million things that get me into a corner with my writer's block. Things I continually must remind myself of:
1) I'm writing this for fun, so stressing out about it isn't allowed. Write what you like, self.
2) It's okay to make my characters characters. If I get too concerned with making them true to life, I will totally frustrate myself because I'm writing them in a situation that is NOT true to life, kthx.
3) Stop being your own worst critic and just go for it.
Honestly when I read someone else's work, I get inspired, and I need to just go for iiiit.
( Project Runway All-Stars 2/3 )
I braved wind and weather today to go take photographs at our nearby nature preserve. (My city owns its own. It's a little elitist about it.) I don't know if I got any good ones, but perhaps, perhaps.
Did the requisite ten minutes today, and brooded over my fic that I've been writing. I'm switching back and forth between a Nazodi fic (porn) and an Arashi kinkfic (whoa there porn). I really just want to finish something, guys. I'm having lots of fun with these but then I get stuck and perhaps overthink and honestly there are about a million things that get me into a corner with my writer's block. Things I continually must remind myself of:
1) I'm writing this for fun, so stressing out about it isn't allowed. Write what you like, self.
2) It's okay to make my characters characters. If I get too concerned with making them true to life, I will totally frustrate myself because I'm writing them in a situation that is NOT true to life, kthx.
3) Stop being your own worst critic and just go for it.
Honestly when I read someone else's work, I get inspired, and I need to just go for iiiit.
( Project Runway All-Stars 2/3 )
Today I got cabin fever, so I decided to take the dog out for a walk. The weather's been bizarre, as in, last night it was storming down rain and today it was sunny and warm but kind of windy. This whole weekend was supposed to be rainy. Whatever. It made for a nice walk, anyway.
Icons have been in the making! I brought my icon community over from LJ, so it's now at![[community profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
magicalsong. (I don't remember if I've said this. Forgive me.) I've got some Kuroki Meisa up and an icon battle with ![[livejournal.com profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hakka_candy, and I just went and iconned a bunch of Koda Kumi which please me GREATLY, so that should be up soon.
On the topic of Kuroki Meisa... I love her, ( but there's a 'but' involved. )
I've been meaning to put together a music recommendations post, speaking of music. In my quest to discover something for convenient streaming,![[profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thenjw pointed me at grooveshark, where I can make playlists, so I think I'll try that.
...Just not right now.
Still speaking of music, Koda Kumi's album Japonesque might just be my favorite of hers so far. ♥
Icons have been in the making! I brought my icon community over from LJ, so it's now at
magicalsong. (I don't remember if I've said this. Forgive me.) I've got some Kuroki Meisa up and an icon battle with hakka_candy, and I just went and iconned a bunch of Koda Kumi which please me GREATLY, so that should be up soon.On the topic of Kuroki Meisa... I love her, ( but there's a 'but' involved. )
I've been meaning to put together a music recommendations post, speaking of music. In my quest to discover something for convenient streaming,
thenjw pointed me at grooveshark, where I can make playlists, so I think I'll try that....Just not right now.
Still speaking of music, Koda Kumi's album Japonesque might just be my favorite of hers so far. ♥
A meme from natsudive.
Comment to this post, and I will list seven things I want you to talk about. They might make sense or they might be totally random. Then post that list, with your commentary, to your journal. Other people can get lists from you, and the meme merrily perpetuates itself.
Here are Natsudive's questions for me:
favorite book as a child
My favorite series of books was the Serendipity series, definitely. I collected those things anytime I could find a new one. I loved the art, and the fantasy quality of them, and the cute fluffy creatures. I traced them all the time! They had some important morals for children, too--there was even a book that addressed domestic violence.
the letter M
magic, mystery, mayhem, madonna, marvelous.
music!
if you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Probably a muddy purple color.
beach or mountains?
Ugh, um, to look at? To be at? I might choose the mountains, actually. I'm not a big fan of sand, although the beach near where I am is far more scenic than popular, which is nice. But mountains give you views that span over wild landscapes, and there are more animals (and fewer gulls), so I'll probably pick mountains.
talk about your best birthday
My best birthday is undoubtedly the one spent two or three years ago, in Japan, when I went on the yukata cuise with Bernice, Yuba,maiaide, and Jeanne. We drank and were silly for two hours, strange (but not creepy) guys tried to pick us up, and then we went to all-night karaoke where I fell asleep for a few hours but had a blast.
favorite type of pie
Olallieberry, by a landslide. For those that don't know what olallieberries are, they're 2/4 blackberry, 1/4 dewberry, and 1/4 raspberry. DELICIOUS THINGS. Primarily a California-grown berry, though.
the last song you listened to
Something Arashi. Let me check my iPod... aha, Aiba's Janakute. :D
natsudive.Comment to this post, and I will list seven things I want you to talk about. They might make sense or they might be totally random. Then post that list, with your commentary, to your journal. Other people can get lists from you, and the meme merrily perpetuates itself.
Here are Natsudive's questions for me:
favorite book as a child
My favorite series of books was the Serendipity series, definitely. I collected those things anytime I could find a new one. I loved the art, and the fantasy quality of them, and the cute fluffy creatures. I traced them all the time! They had some important morals for children, too--there was even a book that addressed domestic violence.
the letter M
magic, mystery, mayhem, madonna, marvelous.
music!
if you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Probably a muddy purple color.
beach or mountains?
Ugh, um, to look at? To be at? I might choose the mountains, actually. I'm not a big fan of sand, although the beach near where I am is far more scenic than popular, which is nice. But mountains give you views that span over wild landscapes, and there are more animals (and fewer gulls), so I'll probably pick mountains.
talk about your best birthday
My best birthday is undoubtedly the one spent two or three years ago, in Japan, when I went on the yukata cuise with Bernice, Yuba,
maiaide, and Jeanne. We drank and were silly for two hours, strange (but not creepy) guys tried to pick us up, and then we went to all-night karaoke where I fell asleep for a few hours but had a blast. favorite type of pie
Olallieberry, by a landslide. For those that don't know what olallieberries are, they're 2/4 blackberry, 1/4 dewberry, and 1/4 raspberry. DELICIOUS THINGS. Primarily a California-grown berry, though.
the last song you listened to
Something Arashi. Let me check my iPod... aha, Aiba's Janakute. :D
Self: I offer you a new deal.
From now on, you will write ten minutes per day. It doesn't matter how many words you crank out or what you work on or how tangled up your thoughts get: ten minutes a day devoted to writing.
Because yanno, it's so easy to get intimidated by how much work is left in a story. Intimidated by trying to get the mood right, the words right, the characters right. But ten minutes? That's not so hard. Ten minutes and you're done. And hey, if it gets you in the groove, go for more! Sexy! I'm not complaining! But if, at the end of ten minutes, you want to throw your computer across the room, well, you were still successful because you met your ten minute goal. Go you! Tomorrow is another day.
From now on, you will write ten minutes per day. It doesn't matter how many words you crank out or what you work on or how tangled up your thoughts get: ten minutes a day devoted to writing.
Because yanno, it's so easy to get intimidated by how much work is left in a story. Intimidated by trying to get the mood right, the words right, the characters right. But ten minutes? That's not so hard. Ten minutes and you're done. And hey, if it gets you in the groove, go for more! Sexy! I'm not complaining! But if, at the end of ten minutes, you want to throw your computer across the room, well, you were still successful because you met your ten minute goal. Go you! Tomorrow is another day.
Last night saw me babysitting two little girls whom I've babysat before, and playing Just Dance on the Wii. The younger wanted, under no uncertain terms, to dance to Barbie Girl.
Older sister: I don't get that part. "Undress me everywhere."
Me: ...
Me: ...
Me: ... Yes, it's confusing.
-
Also, it's clearly evidence that I've been reading too much gay erotica when I read a sentence that says "He stood at her entrance" and I have to do a double-take. Apparently, the author meant her door.
The book I was reading was Graceling, which I started last night after the girls went to bed and finished this afternoon. Well, that was certainly a wonderful book, wasn't it?
Although I'm distressed by some of the reviews on GoodReads that seem to think that it's man-hating and problematic in its feminism. ( Spoilers, kind of. )
ANYWAY I enjoyed the book immensely and will certainly look out for its sequel!
-
Last night I finally found myself The Perfect Boots that I've been searching for forever. In Japan I owned a pair of engineer boots that I loved to death--to their deaths, actually, because the zippers fell apart and the toes rubbed down and when I moved home, I very sadly threw them away. They were huge and heavy and I couldn't figure out how to justify bringing them when they were so banged up.
Of course I regretted it immensely when I realized 1) I could have gotten them repaired, and 2) finding the perfect engineer boot is an almost impossible search.
BUT: GORGEOUS. And now miiiiine.
Older sister: I don't get that part. "Undress me everywhere."
Me: ...
Me: ...
Me: ... Yes, it's confusing.
-
Also, it's clearly evidence that I've been reading too much gay erotica when I read a sentence that says "He stood at her entrance" and I have to do a double-take. Apparently, the author meant her door.
The book I was reading was Graceling, which I started last night after the girls went to bed and finished this afternoon. Well, that was certainly a wonderful book, wasn't it?
Although I'm distressed by some of the reviews on GoodReads that seem to think that it's man-hating and problematic in its feminism. ( Spoilers, kind of. )
ANYWAY I enjoyed the book immensely and will certainly look out for its sequel!
-
Last night I finally found myself The Perfect Boots that I've been searching for forever. In Japan I owned a pair of engineer boots that I loved to death--to their deaths, actually, because the zippers fell apart and the toes rubbed down and when I moved home, I very sadly threw them away. They were huge and heavy and I couldn't figure out how to justify bringing them when they were so banged up.
Of course I regretted it immensely when I realized 1) I could have gotten them repaired, and 2) finding the perfect engineer boot is an almost impossible search.
BUT: GORGEOUS. And now miiiiine.
Technically I didn't write yesterday. Oops. Well, so long as I keep up the momentum, it'll all be okay.
I DID write for my creative writing class tonight, and I liked what I wrote a great deal. But when I went back to try to copy it (it's an online course) the text field was empty. What! What is that! No! I'm hoping this is some weird thing where the original submitted entry was saved and a new, fresh, clean text field was offered in case I wanted to make another attempt. (Tries: 2 seems to indicate so.)
Today in acting class I told the story of experiencing the Tohoku earthquake. I didn't practice beforehand and that was to my detriment, because I got nervous and I'm not sure how well strung together my thoughts were. Afterwards our teacher (Tom) pointed out that I started out in a closed-off position, where I cross my legs as I stand, and then I progressively got more tense. Though I think that was less because I was talking about the earthquake (his theory) and more because I automatically stand like that when I'm not sure of myself and about to present something. I did it last quarter in voice, too. Guess it's time to try to unlearn that.
Fandom Snowflake Challenge Day 11: Asking for Recs
(Note: All non-AU, please please.)
1. I want One Piece recs for Luffy/Nami, or... well, probably any-strawhat/Luffy, or any-strawhat/Nami, honestly, and genderbending is okay in my book. Please note: I have read nothing in this fandom!
2. Does anybody have any good Ranma to share? Ranma/Akane, yes please. Anything about Ryoga. I love Shampoo, too. I have of course read Hearts of Ice and The Shadow Chronicles and probably some other major ones I don't remember.
3. Ruroken! Kenshin/Kaoru and Sano/Saitou are my ships, but if some other het pairing is amazingly good I'll look into that, too. I read most everything at the Akabeko back in the day, but when I went back recently to find Ruroken fics all I could find were AUs and quite frankly I don't think Kenshin is Kenshin without being a hitokiri swordsman.
4. Ouran High School Host Club: It seems the predominant pairing is Tamaki/Kyouya which I don't go for in the slightest. Twins/Haruhi is great, as is Tamaki/Haruhi, and I might be convinced into other pairings if they're strongly realized? I might actually be okay with AUs in this fandom too, haha.
5. Final Fantasy 6: Locke/Celes, or any general story. SOMETHING WITH MOG WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE HE'S THE BEST. Or Shadow!
6. The Belgariad: I know that David and Leigh Eddings wrapped up pretty much every damn thread in a perfect storybook finale, but I do like the world and would love to enjoy it more. Stories about Beldin would be lovely if they existed. Or Polgara, who is my queen and rocks my world.
7. Oh man, if there was good Van/Hitomi Escaflowne fic out there, I would be so happy.
8. Yami no Matsuei? Tsuzuki/Hisoka makes me super happy and I'd like to avoid Muraki/anyone, though I realize there'd have to be past Muraki/Hisoka. Tsuzuki/anybody, really, haha.
9. Gundam Wiiiiing: I read a lot in this fandom back in the day but I remember very few of the fics I really loved that weren't Katsu's or MadamHydra's. I'd really like to see those finished one day, but what can you do. Anyway, 1x2x1 is what I like, though 5x2x5 can also work!
~not on the fanfic front:
10. Rec me some Arashi fanvids, guys! I've seen a few but there are amaaaaaazing ones out there and I don't really go searching, so I'd like to see any that people consider worthwhile!
11. Rec me some books that you love. I'm big into fantasy and my favorites include the Abhorsen trilogy, The Lioness Rampant series, Temeraire, Redwall (though those got too formulaic for me after a point), and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. I definitely like romance, but even more than that I love incredible, unforgettable characters that are dimensional, witty, and continually growing. I like thieves, I like magic, I like an unusual blend of plot and unpredictability. I like books where there are women in the spotlight and not just because they want to be loved.
12. Rec me a drama you liked! I've seen a lot, but my favorites are: Yasashii Jikan, Ryusei no Kizuna, Liar Game 1&2, Nagareboshi, Nobuta, Sapuri (there's my older woman/younger man thing again), SPEC, and Yamataro. I'm happy to try things without Arashi, or without a Johnny at all. If the acting is super ridic or it's super low-budget, I might avoid, though. Not even Matsuken made me want to watch Zenigeba.
lastly,
13. Rec me anime or manga that fulfills my love of strong ladies, optional romance, and lots of fun! Here are my favorites, for reference: Vision of Escaflowne, Mawaru Penguindrum, Boku no Hatsukoi wa Kimi ni Sasagu (but not the movie, ugh), Strobe Edge, Rurouni Kenshin, the Soul Society arc of Bleach, One Piece (manga version), Koukou Debut, I liked Nana until Nana and Hachi split ways, Akatsuki no Youna (OMG BEST), Grand Sun (also fab. A lady bodyguard!), Ouran Koukou, Ooku, Kimi ni Todoke, Fullmetal Alchemist (manga/brotherhood versions). I am probably missing something.
\:D/
I DID write for my creative writing class tonight, and I liked what I wrote a great deal. But when I went back to try to copy it (it's an online course) the text field was empty. What! What is that! No! I'm hoping this is some weird thing where the original submitted entry was saved and a new, fresh, clean text field was offered in case I wanted to make another attempt. (Tries: 2 seems to indicate so.)
Today in acting class I told the story of experiencing the Tohoku earthquake. I didn't practice beforehand and that was to my detriment, because I got nervous and I'm not sure how well strung together my thoughts were. Afterwards our teacher (Tom) pointed out that I started out in a closed-off position, where I cross my legs as I stand, and then I progressively got more tense. Though I think that was less because I was talking about the earthquake (his theory) and more because I automatically stand like that when I'm not sure of myself and about to present something. I did it last quarter in voice, too. Guess it's time to try to unlearn that.
Fandom Snowflake Challenge Day 11: Asking for Recs
(Note: All non-AU, please please.)
1. I want One Piece recs for Luffy/Nami, or... well, probably any-strawhat/Luffy, or any-strawhat/Nami, honestly, and genderbending is okay in my book. Please note: I have read nothing in this fandom!
2. Does anybody have any good Ranma to share? Ranma/Akane, yes please. Anything about Ryoga. I love Shampoo, too. I have of course read Hearts of Ice and The Shadow Chronicles and probably some other major ones I don't remember.
3. Ruroken! Kenshin/Kaoru and Sano/Saitou are my ships, but if some other het pairing is amazingly good I'll look into that, too. I read most everything at the Akabeko back in the day, but when I went back recently to find Ruroken fics all I could find were AUs and quite frankly I don't think Kenshin is Kenshin without being a hitokiri swordsman.
4. Ouran High School Host Club: It seems the predominant pairing is Tamaki/Kyouya which I don't go for in the slightest. Twins/Haruhi is great, as is Tamaki/Haruhi, and I might be convinced into other pairings if they're strongly realized? I might actually be okay with AUs in this fandom too, haha.
5. Final Fantasy 6: Locke/Celes, or any general story. SOMETHING WITH MOG WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE HE'S THE BEST. Or Shadow!
6. The Belgariad: I know that David and Leigh Eddings wrapped up pretty much every damn thread in a perfect storybook finale, but I do like the world and would love to enjoy it more. Stories about Beldin would be lovely if they existed. Or Polgara, who is my queen and rocks my world.
7. Oh man, if there was good Van/Hitomi Escaflowne fic out there, I would be so happy.
8. Yami no Matsuei? Tsuzuki/Hisoka makes me super happy and I'd like to avoid Muraki/anyone, though I realize there'd have to be past Muraki/Hisoka. Tsuzuki/anybody, really, haha.
9. Gundam Wiiiiing: I read a lot in this fandom back in the day but I remember very few of the fics I really loved that weren't Katsu's or MadamHydra's. I'd really like to see those finished one day, but what can you do. Anyway, 1x2x1 is what I like, though 5x2x5 can also work!
~not on the fanfic front:
10. Rec me some Arashi fanvids, guys! I've seen a few but there are amaaaaaazing ones out there and I don't really go searching, so I'd like to see any that people consider worthwhile!
11. Rec me some books that you love. I'm big into fantasy and my favorites include the Abhorsen trilogy, The Lioness Rampant series, Temeraire, Redwall (though those got too formulaic for me after a point), and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. I definitely like romance, but even more than that I love incredible, unforgettable characters that are dimensional, witty, and continually growing. I like thieves, I like magic, I like an unusual blend of plot and unpredictability. I like books where there are women in the spotlight and not just because they want to be loved.
12. Rec me a drama you liked! I've seen a lot, but my favorites are: Yasashii Jikan, Ryusei no Kizuna, Liar Game 1&2, Nagareboshi, Nobuta, Sapuri (there's my older woman/younger man thing again), SPEC, and Yamataro. I'm happy to try things without Arashi, or without a Johnny at all. If the acting is super ridic or it's super low-budget, I might avoid, though. Not even Matsuken made me want to watch Zenigeba.
lastly,
13. Rec me anime or manga that fulfills my love of strong ladies, optional romance, and lots of fun! Here are my favorites, for reference: Vision of Escaflowne, Mawaru Penguindrum, Boku no Hatsukoi wa Kimi ni Sasagu (but not the movie, ugh), Strobe Edge, Rurouni Kenshin, the Soul Society arc of Bleach, One Piece (manga version), Koukou Debut, I liked Nana until Nana and Hachi split ways, Akatsuki no Youna (OMG BEST), Grand Sun (also fab. A lady bodyguard!), Ouran Koukou, Ooku, Kimi ni Todoke, Fullmetal Alchemist (manga/brotherhood versions). I am probably missing something.
\:D/
Today started off like crap. Isn't that a great intro?
Basically I stayed up reading fic last night (not smart) and then had an angry breakdown when I tried to go to sleep (couldn't help that one) and then was woken up before my alarm (urrrgh) but did have another hour and a half to sleep, anyway. Still, getting out of bed was a chore, and I was already grumpy when I left the house.
Then, of course, I couldn't find any parking whatsoever because first day of the term means SUPER PARKING SPACE WARS and I eventually gave up on the lot I was in and went to the larger one all the way across campus. When I finally, finally found someone leaving that didn't have another car hovering, someone else came along and tried to steal the damn spot. Nuh-uh. Get the fuck away. 8|
This being followed by a power walk across campus (granted, my campus is smaller than any university) and an inability to find my classroom. For those who are thinking, "But Aes, didn't you say you have great spacial awareness?" Yes, well, I found the right building immediately but every single door said 8001 instead of 8002, and they were all locked. Talk about confusing and infuriating. I ended up marching up one of the hills and descending, wind-blown and also winded, into the Fine Arts office to make someone unlock it for me.
Turns out the 8002~05 doors are all on the inside of the 8000 building, and all the outer doors are 8001. What sense does this make? None.
Thankfully class cheered me up. We played improv games, and even though they were simple getting-to-know-you types, all that laughter can really cheer a person up. We did mini-interviews and introduced each other and my partner told everyone I write "romance novels" following a string of confusing questioning where I tried to avoid saying "I write gay porn." Anyway, I'm quite looking forward to the rest of this class, and hopefully I'll even be on time on Wednesday.
Basically I stayed up reading fic last night (not smart) and then had an angry breakdown when I tried to go to sleep (couldn't help that one) and then was woken up before my alarm (urrrgh) but did have another hour and a half to sleep, anyway. Still, getting out of bed was a chore, and I was already grumpy when I left the house.
Then, of course, I couldn't find any parking whatsoever because first day of the term means SUPER PARKING SPACE WARS and I eventually gave up on the lot I was in and went to the larger one all the way across campus. When I finally, finally found someone leaving that didn't have another car hovering, someone else came along and tried to steal the damn spot. Nuh-uh. Get the fuck away. 8|
This being followed by a power walk across campus (granted, my campus is smaller than any university) and an inability to find my classroom. For those who are thinking, "But Aes, didn't you say you have great spacial awareness?" Yes, well, I found the right building immediately but every single door said 8001 instead of 8002, and they were all locked. Talk about confusing and infuriating. I ended up marching up one of the hills and descending, wind-blown and also winded, into the Fine Arts office to make someone unlock it for me.
Turns out the 8002~05 doors are all on the inside of the 8000 building, and all the outer doors are 8001. What sense does this make? None.
Thankfully class cheered me up. We played improv games, and even though they were simple getting-to-know-you types, all that laughter can really cheer a person up. We did mini-interviews and introduced each other and my partner told everyone I write "romance novels" following a string of confusing questioning where I tried to avoid saying "I write gay porn." Anyway, I'm quite looking forward to the rest of this class, and hopefully I'll even be on time on Wednesday.
I am bad at resolutions so I suppose mine is more of a guideline towards my ideal situation, haha. But: I want to try to write in my journal every day, about something. Instead of the way I posted once a month last year, yanno. I think it'll help me feel productive because mostly I'm just sitting around consuming media and chatting with people, and it's awful but it's an addiction. I am already one of those people in Wall-E: there is always a screen somewhere.
That's what free time does to me, anyway, so I'm looking forward to school starting on Monday. That'll get me doing other things! Hopefully, anyway.
Mom says we're taking down the Christmas tree tomorrow. It's a beautiful, beautiful tree, and I want it up forever, but I guess there comes a time, and all that.
That's what free time does to me, anyway, so I'm looking forward to school starting on Monday. That'll get me doing other things! Hopefully, anyway.
Mom says we're taking down the Christmas tree tomorrow. It's a beautiful, beautiful tree, and I want it up forever, but I guess there comes a time, and all that.
Soooooooo the whole Arama post about how Arashi is ~so short in comparison to ... I don't remember which Korean band it was, but they're probably all taller anyway. I skimmed through the comments one a couple of pages and...
You know, I like that Arashi are short. I like height differences like that. I find tiny, sparkly men attractive.
That's all.
You know, I like that Arashi are short. I like height differences like that. I find tiny, sparkly men attractive.
That's all.
A few days ago I mentioned I was reading Beneath a Marble Sky. I've finished it.
I wish I hadn't, because it was so fabulous I didn't want it to end. (If you've already heard me gush about this book, my apologies, because I'm about to do it again.)
There were any number of things about this book that I could point at and say I love this, but without a doubt one of the primary ones is the strong female roles. Not only are they strong, but the men in their lives recognize them as strong and sharp-minded and praise them for it. And not only that, but the bad guys, the men we're supposed to hate, are the ones that don't.
Let me back up a little bit. Beneath a Marble Sky is the story of Jahanara, princess of the Peacock Throne in India. She is the daughter of Mumtaz Mahal, who was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal, and this book is the story of its building and the lives of those who brought it into being. I am willing to bet there are some historical inaccuracies--in fact, I know there are--but I was completely unbothered by this. (Not everyone will be, I know.)
I was blown away by having so many characters to love. Jahanara is a brilliant star with a mind for tactics and intrigue, but she is also compassionate and noble. I loved her father, a strong role model that believes in true love, and her mother, who despises gender roles and often steps outside of them. I loved her best friend Ladli with her sharp tongue and unwavering loyalty and her retainer Nizam, who has only respect and love for the women he serves. I loved Isa, the architect that designed the Taj Mahal, who loves Jahanara without reservation. They are all vibrant and nuanced, sometimes scared and sometimes brave, and none of them ever betray the reader's trust.
I must warn for the non-consensual sex (Jahanara is married to a man who values her little), beatings, and attempts by the villains to degrade Jahanara at every opportunity. There are some difficult things to get through, but Jahanara is not a character that lets them keep her down. She is never owned by these men that seek to ruin her, often finding clever plans to outwit them in the end.
I wish I hadn't, because it was so fabulous I didn't want it to end. (If you've already heard me gush about this book, my apologies, because I'm about to do it again.)
There were any number of things about this book that I could point at and say I love this, but without a doubt one of the primary ones is the strong female roles. Not only are they strong, but the men in their lives recognize them as strong and sharp-minded and praise them for it. And not only that, but the bad guys, the men we're supposed to hate, are the ones that don't.
Let me back up a little bit. Beneath a Marble Sky is the story of Jahanara, princess of the Peacock Throne in India. She is the daughter of Mumtaz Mahal, who was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal, and this book is the story of its building and the lives of those who brought it into being. I am willing to bet there are some historical inaccuracies--in fact, I know there are--but I was completely unbothered by this. (Not everyone will be, I know.)
I was blown away by having so many characters to love. Jahanara is a brilliant star with a mind for tactics and intrigue, but she is also compassionate and noble. I loved her father, a strong role model that believes in true love, and her mother, who despises gender roles and often steps outside of them. I loved her best friend Ladli with her sharp tongue and unwavering loyalty and her retainer Nizam, who has only respect and love for the women he serves. I loved Isa, the architect that designed the Taj Mahal, who loves Jahanara without reservation. They are all vibrant and nuanced, sometimes scared and sometimes brave, and none of them ever betray the reader's trust.
I must warn for the non-consensual sex (Jahanara is married to a man who values her little), beatings, and attempts by the villains to degrade Jahanara at every opportunity. There are some difficult things to get through, but Jahanara is not a character that lets them keep her down. She is never owned by these men that seek to ruin her, often finding clever plans to outwit them in the end.
Day 2
In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you did not create. Drop a link to your post in the comments. See if you can rec fanworks that are less likely to be praised: tiny fandoms, rare pairings, fanworks other than stories, lesser known kinks or tropes. Find fanworks that have few to no comments, or creators new to a particular fandom and maybe aren't well known or appreciated. Appreciate them.
This was harder for me... I don't dabble in many other fandoms so I don't know what's "popular" or "known." However, I'll try!
Mulan: Writing With Chopsticks was one of the few fics I've read so far for Yuletide. (Okay, I know Yuletide is 'big' but it deals with small fandoms sooooo.) It's Mulan! And Mulan is awesome. And this fic in particular isn't just the romantic afterwards, it's also a new challenge for Mulan to face. The style feels true to the original series, and well. I love it.
Arashi: Phrenk's fic list is an incredible resource. It's not necessarily a list of recs, but it is a list of fics that had something to them that Phrenk liked and so would want to read again. And guys, this is a big list, and it's not complete, because there are lots of fics she loves that haven't been added (though some made it to her additions post).
Mawaru Penguindrum: Penguindrum is definitely a small fandom, but one thing that's easy to share from it is the amazing Utena opening parody that someone put together. From what I understand, parts that they didn't have the animation for to edit they actually hand-rendered. ... This probably means most of it. If you knew Utena, this is definitely worth watching.
Various girl groups/Arashi: Made for Heels is a fanvideo thatnicefinalbeam put together using Arashi's Circus and many fabulous clips of ladies of pop. As she pointed out, Circus sounds like it ought to have been a Girls Aloud song. So she made it one! The password, by the way, is verydanger.
In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you did not create. Drop a link to your post in the comments. See if you can rec fanworks that are less likely to be praised: tiny fandoms, rare pairings, fanworks other than stories, lesser known kinks or tropes. Find fanworks that have few to no comments, or creators new to a particular fandom and maybe aren't well known or appreciated. Appreciate them.
This was harder for me... I don't dabble in many other fandoms so I don't know what's "popular" or "known." However, I'll try!
Mulan: Writing With Chopsticks was one of the few fics I've read so far for Yuletide. (Okay, I know Yuletide is 'big' but it deals with small fandoms sooooo.) It's Mulan! And Mulan is awesome. And this fic in particular isn't just the romantic afterwards, it's also a new challenge for Mulan to face. The style feels true to the original series, and well. I love it.
Arashi: Phrenk's fic list is an incredible resource. It's not necessarily a list of recs, but it is a list of fics that had something to them that Phrenk liked and so would want to read again. And guys, this is a big list, and it's not complete, because there are lots of fics she loves that haven't been added (though some made it to her additions post).
Mawaru Penguindrum: Penguindrum is definitely a small fandom, but one thing that's easy to share from it is the amazing Utena opening parody that someone put together. From what I understand, parts that they didn't have the animation for to edit they actually hand-rendered. ... This probably means most of it. If you knew Utena, this is definitely worth watching.
Various girl groups/Arashi: Made for Heels is a fanvideo that
nicefinalbeam put together using Arashi's Circus and many fabulous clips of ladies of pop. As she pointed out, Circus sounds like it ought to have been a Girls Aloud song. So she made it one! The password, by the way, is verydanger.My dear friends: I feel like I'm getting behind on reading my list! Which is nice and also sad because you guys are all awesome and I want to know what you're all up to.
But in the meantime, here is the first day of the Fandom Challenge!
Day 1
In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you have created. It can be your favorite fanworks that you've created, or fanworks you feel no one ever saw, or fanworks you say would define you as a creator. Drop a link to your post in the comments.
My first rec for myself (my gosh, who recs themselves) is The Best Laid Plans which is my longest fic yet at ~18K words focused on Sakurai Sho and Ninomiya Kazunari as a teacher/student combination, and also Aiba Masaki/Becky as high school sweethearts and Nino's best friends. It is quite pornographic with a number of sex scenes (five, to be precise) including a lot of public sex, because it was written for the JE FQFest exchange two years ago. Considering the fact that I was writing three fics all at once, I don't think I did half badly on it.
Rec #2: Contradictions, which is the first translation I ever did of Nino's MORE columns, and I think one of his most interesting. It introduces him as a complex thinker and caused me to reassess the way I view relationships myself. It's also the translation that made me want to translate more of MORE (hahaha).
Third we go with icons that I've made: my most recent batch is probably my favorite. I was working my way through Arashi's concert DVD and this was the third (fourth?) set, and at this point I'd really figured out how to get the colors right with a few super awesome textures. I did originally create these icons with my computer at full brightness so they glowed with life, but these days I've been keeping my computer at half brightness, so they feel a little dimmer. But anyway, I just moved all my icons to a DW account, and there are some lovely ladies and many more Arashi icons atmagicalsong (mwahahah the name is mine).
I will also throw in a rec for Girlish, which is a genderswitch fic where Nino purposely becomes a girl to woo Ohno (and have sex). While there are a lot of genderswitch fics in this world, I was particularly proud of the fact that even though I gave Nino a girl body, he was still a boy in the brain. IE, his personality didn't suddenly change like so many genderswaps in this fandom tend to. Girlish was also the start of one of my best periods of writing--it ushered in a golden age, if you will.
But in the meantime, here is the first day of the Fandom Challenge!
Day 1
In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you have created. It can be your favorite fanworks that you've created, or fanworks you feel no one ever saw, or fanworks you say would define you as a creator. Drop a link to your post in the comments.
My first rec for myself (my gosh, who recs themselves) is The Best Laid Plans which is my longest fic yet at ~18K words focused on Sakurai Sho and Ninomiya Kazunari as a teacher/student combination, and also Aiba Masaki/Becky as high school sweethearts and Nino's best friends. It is quite pornographic with a number of sex scenes (five, to be precise) including a lot of public sex, because it was written for the JE FQFest exchange two years ago. Considering the fact that I was writing three fics all at once, I don't think I did half badly on it.
Rec #2: Contradictions, which is the first translation I ever did of Nino's MORE columns, and I think one of his most interesting. It introduces him as a complex thinker and caused me to reassess the way I view relationships myself. It's also the translation that made me want to translate more of MORE (hahaha).
Third we go with icons that I've made: my most recent batch is probably my favorite. I was working my way through Arashi's concert DVD and this was the third (fourth?) set, and at this point I'd really figured out how to get the colors right with a few super awesome textures. I did originally create these icons with my computer at full brightness so they glowed with life, but these days I've been keeping my computer at half brightness, so they feel a little dimmer. But anyway, I just moved all my icons to a DW account, and there are some lovely ladies and many more Arashi icons at
magicalsong (mwahahah the name is mine).I will also throw in a rec for Girlish, which is a genderswitch fic where Nino purposely becomes a girl to woo Ohno (and have sex). While there are a lot of genderswitch fics in this world, I was particularly proud of the fact that even though I gave Nino a girl body, he was still a boy in the brain. IE, his personality didn't suddenly change like so many genderswaps in this fandom tend to. Girlish was also the start of one of my best periods of writing--it ushered in a golden age, if you will.
To remind me, and to invite people! I like their mission statement; it's all-inclusive and encourages people from smaller, lesser known fandoms to be loud and proud and share their favorite bits and pieces of fandom and canon. I'm interested to see what the challenges will be.
Can I also say: I am so very happy, still, to come check DW and see so much going on? So many lovely people, so much to read, so many reasons to interact! I have super enjoyed so many of the conversations that I've had in the last few days, and it's given me energy to do more.
Which brings me to a point I've been considering: I've seen people ask as to whether they can friend me (or others they've friended through DW) on LJ. And I'm going to say... honestly, I'd rather not, for various reasons. I came to DW to try to cut ties as much as possible from LJ, and I feel that if people friended me here, I would like to continue communication with them here. Friending me on LJ will do very little good as all my posts will point you here anyway, and it'll end up being kind of counterproductive to everyone's move in the first place. That said, I won't stop anyone from friending me there, but please don't be surprised or offended if I don't add you back.
Moving right along...
I went downtown with my mother to wander around a little bit, and we went into the Apple store because she wants a new iPod. Can I just say it's a little ridiculous that you can't get any decent iPods that house ~60/80GB of material? It's either an iPod touch with 8GB for $200 or it's an iPod classic with 160GB (!!!) for $250. What? C'mon now. What about us users that have no interest in putting movies and media on our devices? What about us folks that just want music, not internet and Skype and games and who on earth knows what else?
But I have to say it was pretty fun to sit there and play Angry Birds with my mother. Never played it before, and I can certainly see how everyone gets addicted to it.
And in another little bit, I will have turkey soup for dinner. ♥ We only have it during very particular times of the year, that being after Thanksgiving and Christmas. I mean, we don't cook turkey very often. But it is delicious and one of my faaaavorites.
In not-as-fun news, I seem to be getting eye strain recently, and looking at the screen has been bothering me. I have my laptop set at half brightness and try to keep my room lit, but given that my phone is also a screen and now my ereader is too, that's... a lot of screens. So I've been reading a proper book instead, and I truly love it. It's called Beneath a Marble Sky and is set in India during the building of the Taj Mahal, and the lead character is the sharp-minded daughter of the Emperor. You see her mother die, her father order the Taj Mahal built, and her romance with the architect that creates the mausoleum. Of course, it's a forbidden romance because she was married previously to an atrocious man and women are not allowed infidelity. The characters though--oh, the characters, so richly vibrant, I love all of them (aside from those we are supposed to detest, and of course I detest them.)
Swiping this from lassarina!
Your main fandom of the year?
Arashi, Arashi, for dream. I've been lodged here for five years and I don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon. There is constantly new content, there is always love, and they will always make me happy. Though I haven't been as participatory in fandom for the last couple of years, but with the DW move I feel a lot more excited about things again and want to do more.
Your favorite film watched this year?
Don't Laugh at My Romance, or, in Japanese, 人のセックスを笑うな。Man, this movie snuck up on me, but it's probably not just my favorite film of the year but vying for favorite ever. It's an independent movie and I originally watched it because Matsuyama Kenichi is in it (my god, a beautiful, beautiful man), but fell in love with ALL OF IT. and Matsuken. All over again.
There aren't a lot of scene cuts--the scenes are long and the camera remains stationary, so it feels far more voyeuristic in some ways. It's not dramatic. It's like you're sitting in the right place at the right time to watch real people meet and interact. And the plot features an older lady seducing a younger man, and they are SO CUTE, okay. (Here's a review that speaks about it better than I do, even though they say things like "what it lacks in visual style" which is silly because the director clearly found the visuals important.)
Your favorite book read this year?
The Broken Kingdoms immediately jumps to mind. I blazed through that and loved it even more than its prequel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Romance in an unusual fantasy setting, with unusual gods and lots of lovely strong ladies.
Honourable mention goes to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, a lovely chapter book for children that's influenced by Chinese fairy tales. The lady protagonist goes on a quest to meet the Old Man of the Moon and bring her family fortune.
( Cutting the rest to save your lists! )
lassarina!Your main fandom of the year?
Arashi, Arashi, for dream. I've been lodged here for five years and I don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon. There is constantly new content, there is always love, and they will always make me happy. Though I haven't been as participatory in fandom for the last couple of years, but with the DW move I feel a lot more excited about things again and want to do more.
Your favorite film watched this year?
Don't Laugh at My Romance, or, in Japanese, 人のセックスを笑うな。Man, this movie snuck up on me, but it's probably not just my favorite film of the year but vying for favorite ever. It's an independent movie and I originally watched it because Matsuyama Kenichi is in it (my god, a beautiful, beautiful man), but fell in love with ALL OF IT. and Matsuken. All over again.
There aren't a lot of scene cuts--the scenes are long and the camera remains stationary, so it feels far more voyeuristic in some ways. It's not dramatic. It's like you're sitting in the right place at the right time to watch real people meet and interact. And the plot features an older lady seducing a younger man, and they are SO CUTE, okay. (Here's a review that speaks about it better than I do, even though they say things like "what it lacks in visual style" which is silly because the director clearly found the visuals important.)
Your favorite book read this year?
The Broken Kingdoms immediately jumps to mind. I blazed through that and loved it even more than its prequel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Romance in an unusual fantasy setting, with unusual gods and lots of lovely strong ladies.
Honourable mention goes to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, a lovely chapter book for children that's influenced by Chinese fairy tales. The lady protagonist goes on a quest to meet the Old Man of the Moon and bring her family fortune.
( Cutting the rest to save your lists! )
I had the most lovely day with my mother in Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, which are two towns nearby that have unique, small stores with high quality, beautiful treasures. And a GAP or two. But mostly we went for the stores. We detoured into an old-fashioned candy shop that my mother said reminded her of the 50s, both in decor and in the candy they offered, though to me it somewhat resembled a saloon. I walked out with five different kinds of sour belts, which are my favorite ever ever.
But what's most exciting is the book I found in a random shop in Santa Cruz. It's not a bookstore. It sold delicate ceramics and funky keychains, portraits of horses and skeleton keys. When I was wandering I found some old hardbound books that seemed to be there for decoration, and the first one that I picked up interested me immediately. I read the first line, and realized it was something of a fairy tale. So I looked it up on GoodReads. It's called The 13 Clocks.
The reviews got me even more excited, especially when I found out that it was a work Neil Gaiman favored. I probably would have bought it anyway, because while reviews might nudge me in one direction or another, when I feel like a book is right, I don't care whether the reviews like them or not. But this one is spoken glowingly of.
Plus, ( it's beautiful. )
There are illustrations on nearly every page! I fell in love with it immediately. And since there was a sign up in the store that said nearly everything is for sale I went to ask, because I couldn't find a price tag anywhere.
She sold it to me for six bucks.
It's my treasure now, and I will keep it and love it forever.
But what's most exciting is the book I found in a random shop in Santa Cruz. It's not a bookstore. It sold delicate ceramics and funky keychains, portraits of horses and skeleton keys. When I was wandering I found some old hardbound books that seemed to be there for decoration, and the first one that I picked up interested me immediately. I read the first line, and realized it was something of a fairy tale. So I looked it up on GoodReads. It's called The 13 Clocks.
The reviews got me even more excited, especially when I found out that it was a work Neil Gaiman favored. I probably would have bought it anyway, because while reviews might nudge me in one direction or another, when I feel like a book is right, I don't care whether the reviews like them or not. But this one is spoken glowingly of.
Plus, ( it's beautiful. )
There are illustrations on nearly every page! I fell in love with it immediately. And since there was a sign up in the store that said nearly everything is for sale I went to ask, because I couldn't find a price tag anywhere.
She sold it to me for six bucks.
It's my treasure now, and I will keep it and love it forever.
.
