it's only castles burning

discoveries

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:52:44 GMT

I finally watched the first episode of AtS after years of resisting. I didn't hate it.

According to the birthday list at the new job, there is a Dr. Who on staff.

That's all.

LJ raison d'etre??

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:26:28 GMT

Um, hi guys! In this whole experiment of posting in my journal I have failed miserably. I just regressed to lurking for OVER A YEAR. I haven't posted since 2007 people!! The problem is that I love LJ and fandom to pieces but I have nothing to add to it! Zilch! Maybe if I haven't been completely defriended y'all could offer some advice? What the hell does one post about if one does not:
- write fic
- write meta
- make any art
- watch any current shows
- want to bore anyone with their RL

For now I'm making the resolution to at least comment more on fics I follow, all ye incredibly talented writers deserve that. And also gold doubloons, but that's a little out of my budget.

because otherwise i have to pack

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:42:10 GMT

1) I can't remember the last time I saw a good movie in theaters. I only end up going for social reasons or because it's free. But, good god, I've seen some bad movies. I mean, September Dawn? This must end now.

2) Our "staff appreciation" party was last night, aka the "we are poor indie booksellers, maybe if we give you free beer you won't notice how crappy your pay is, and by the way please don't quit during the christmas rush" party. My boss kept making lots of references to the office, which just reminds me how much I need to start watching that show already. Maybe the writer's strike will at least give me a chance to catch up on some viewing... heh...

3) I never post anything worthwhile. Would that I could whip up some fabulous fic or an indulgent picspam or something. But, hey, at least I can cook. For various festivities today I made some kick ass muffins. Corn muffins with molasses and sage and a homemade cranberry sauce in the middle. Click the pretty picture for the recipe.

That's all, Happy Thanksgiving folks! I'm off to Chicago. My dad definitely called me... to remind me to bring warm clothes. Because apparently the memory of decades of subzero winters is no match for one year in california? Seriously, bring on the snow. Flight delays, sidewalk shoveling, frostbite... I want the whole package.

it's midnight. How shall i spend my free daylight savings hour this year?

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 08:06:36 GMT

Enough time for another episode in my OC marathon? oh yes, I think so. Pointless season 2 drama coming up. Totally guilt free. How bout I wash it down with some pumpkin beer and leftover halloween candy while I'm at it. Don't mind if I do.

what i lack in substance i make up for in shiny postcards

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:06:10 GMT

Whyyy did I never even finish the first season of the Heroes (I have like, 3 episodes left) before the premiere. I'm jealous of all my flisters and their current love affairs with new seasons and series. I'm even traveling, which = tv reception and/or cable! So theoretically I could be joining in. You'd think if I can't even be productive with my life I could at least watch some damn TV. Apparently not.

BUT, I will wholeheartedly embrace the postcard exchange that's been going around. I admit to a postcard fetish. In my younger years I may or may not have made several attempts to catalog my postcard collection in spreadsheet form. And I seem to recall that back in the days of dial up and BBSing I was all over the postcard exchange thing. Hence:

The Big Postcard Exchange! It goes like this: The first five people to comment will get a postcard from me. And then you offer to send postcards in your own journal.

Though like everyone else, I won't cap it at 5, nor should you feel pressured to offer your own cards.

So go on, leave your address (comments screened) and take your pick of a card from home in santa cruz (surfer statue!) or from my current trip to texas (my choices seem limited to bluebonnets, the alamo, or an armadillo). Or be daring and go for the WILDCARD option... something from the depths of my box o cards.

Look how loud I have to yell

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:04:29 GMT

From unbridled_b, just because I NEVER POST. Seriously, I was all for branching out in my fandoms and actually following current shows, even though i don't have cable or tv reception. but i've had RL obligations, and then my computer threatened to implode, and until it gets expensive transplants downloading is out. So.... I'm back to my old ways of spuffy lurking. Sigh.

Really, I don't know how I haven't been defriended en masse.

However, I am just itching to do a serious rewatch of BtVS when I get back from traveling in October. So I'm sure to be full of ~~insightful~~ pointless commentary, and then you will yearn for my days of silence. Ha!

Back to the meme...

List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.

1) If I ever could be bothered to finish my 4 outstanding homework assignments, I would be a certified Natural Chef.

2) Of the 36 transactions on my credit card last month, 20 were for groceries. Yeah.

3) I've made 3 kinds of jam this week. (strawberry, fig, and blackberry/peach.)

4) I'm pretty low-key. But somehow my best friends tend to be overachievers / partiers / social butterflies / type Aers, with lives of Drama. So I have a well-worn shoulder to cry on. And more often than I might prefer, I get dragged away from a good book to, say, climb a mountain, or get arrested.

5) I have obsessive nostalgia. I tend to spend hours reading through old emails and blog posts. and somehow never have time to write new ones.

6) If I don't sing regularly, I get CRANKY. I've always been a big choir nerd, and I got to learn some amazing Ecuadorian music last year, but mostly my love affair is with crazy loud hymns... cut for video.

7) I'll be 25 tomorrow.

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:48:35 GMT

You know, I can't really get fangirly about actors the same way I can about fictional characters. Plus I think Without a Trace sucks. But I do enjoy when my flist is all asquee and aflail over JM news. And especially how 90% of the commentary is about his hair. I'm convinced JM/his hair is the #1 OTP, with Hair Meta gaining in popularity every day.

retro

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:14:07 GMT

I keep getting the urge to rewatch BtVS at the worst times. Like when I have excessive amounts of overdue homework, and a final presentation due in several days. Not to mention a backload of other shows I want to catch up on/discover (the last 3 eps of Heroes, BSG, SPN, Dr Who, just to start...), and stacks of books and magazines (sigh... I used to be a literate person before fanfic ate my life.) In the most productive use of my time possible, I was just reading through someone's reactions as they worked their way through the seasons, which is always strangely addicting in the same way as those VH1 best of shows. Or this blog. Or reading through my archived email. I think I suffer from obsessive nostalgia.

Hmm, perhaps in between finishing school, traveling, and going back to being a Real Person with a Real Job, I can find time for a massive Buffy retrospective... this is the year to do it, is it not? God knows seasonal_spuffy and the assorted anniversary ficathons are going to make me even more squishy for watching the show anyway. Now you might take me for a productive member of fandom, in which case these urges would translate into picspams or vids or meta or something else full of entertainment value for you, my flist. Well, you would be sorely mistaken. This hypothetical project is sure to provide me with hours of delight, and NONE FOR YOU. mwah ha ha!

Also... putting aside the technological rant of woe that ends in my poor laptop powering down repeatedly - Firefox and Word win my undying love and affection for happily restoring their full sessions each and every time. Seriously, where have you been all my life???

Long. Day.

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 08:30:18 GMT

1. So beyond tired of charging people $30.30.

2. Despite being up to my ears in HP7 all day, no one spoiled it for me. The customers who came in and flipped immediately to the end were given the evil eye / shamed publicly depending on our mood.

3. Due to free tickets, I ran from work to what turned out to be the most kick ass version of Much Ado About Nothing. Sure didn't see that one coming. Just so funny and sexy and spot on. And in a redwood grove on a warm summer evening. Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival for the win.

4. Ooh, I'm vaguely crushing on this cute little undergrad boy who shares my shift now... probably for lack of anyone else to crush on. And he liked my music! Seriously, most everyone there is content with our vast selection of soft jazz... blech.

5. Maybe someday I'll notice when we have an earthquake?

and so it begins

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 07:21:55 GMT

Judging from my flist, I lose at fandom if I don't post about the magical day at hand, whether it's to declare "death to spoilers" or just to ironically comment on everyone else declaring "death to spoilers". Um, consider this both?
I'm always a day late and a dollar short as far as harry potter fangirling. I put off reading the first book for years, in keeping with my general policy towards all things overhyped. I've actually been meaning to finish my copy of Harry Potter y el misterio del principe, which I picked up the day it was released in Ecuador, on my way to the beach for carnaval last year. I promptly devoured the first half while drinking my weight in fresh pineapple and rum, and then forgot about it until a few weeks ago. When I discovered I couldn't remember a blessed thing, except the ending. So I had to start anew and now I've regressed to only 1/3 of the way through, and am distracted by reading cookbooks and fic updates. And the midnight hour is almost upon us, at least in this timezone. 9.5 hours until I'm completely surrounded by all Harry, all the time. Ah yes, my regular Saturday shift at the bookstore. Why is this not a federal holiday? I deserve overtime. At least I work for an independent, and not Borders, which is doing the midnight thing and had crazy people camped out since this morning. *shudders* Remains to be seen if tomorrow will give me my fill of harry for the decade, or leave me excited enough to actually finish my reread, or just make me impatient enough to borrow a copy from the store and devour it tomorrow night.
/obligatory hp reflection

A happy canada day if you swing that way

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 09:40:11 GMT

LOL, I just wanted to use my icon. Which apparently is a Canadian thing? Who knew. I just thought it was a Midwestern thing, growing up in Chicago.

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 01:47:04 GMT

Ahh, saw the cutest. picture. ever. flipping through EW at work, where of course everyone else was all "heroes? who now?" bah.

The cuteness, in form of George Takei & Masi Oka

Resolution: Read actual books.

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:19:06 GMT

Man, when you work at an independent bookstore people expect you to, well, know shit about books. The other day this lady made me choose between books on sailboat construction. wtf? I'm not exactly losing sleep over my lack of expertise on that one, but tonight I got all these customers asking me for scifi recs. Sweet, I thought, remind me to cover sat nite shifts more often, that's when the nerds come out. None of these tourists buying beach novels or locals stocking up on guidebooks to Costa Rica. But I actually came up surprisingly blank... If you're looking for fanfic, or cookbooks, or young adult audiobooks, or the random magazines I browse over my break, I'm your woman. Lately when it comes to real books that educated adults read, I'm all, ooh... shiny.... *pets the pretty rectangular objects and backs away slowly*

Any recommendations to kick off my foray into literacy?
So far tonight I got suggestions for Dan Simmons, and Tales of the City.

"You can wake up now, the universe has ended."

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:46:29 GMT

I just watched Rebel Without a Cause for the first time. Whoa. With the ripped-from-the-headlines juvenile delinquents and chicky races and the cheesy "headshrinker" talk. and the terrible dialogue and B-movie plot. And still LMAO that James Dean is supposed to be some kind of teenage icon at 24. But then with the existential angst and the daddy issues and poor puppy-killing gay Sal Mineo. And the everyone sleeping with everyone else especially the bisexual director and the underage stars backstage drama. God bless 1955.

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:40:46 GMT

So I finally remembered to start watch Heroes, after downloading the whole season a million years ago. I definitely approve, even if it ripped off half its premise from X-Men and half its style from LOST. And I totally appreciate that every time I dismiss a characterization or plot point as poor writing, they usually pay it off later in some intriguing way. BUT even after 13 episodes, I just cannot take DL seriously. Every time he comes on I'm all heee it's FORREST!!!! So very distracting.

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:18:54 GMT

I have a sudden urge for Mac/Dick. *Pets poor mistreated ship* Yet am woefully ignorant of VM ficdom in general. Recs, anyone? Pretty please?

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:59:22 GMT

Aww, VM finale, why you bringin up old shit?!

“I'm back in high school" indeed. It’s bad enough when high school is the best time of your life. It’s even worse when everyone hated you and you had a chip on your shoulder, and you look up 2 years later and you’re that same person with no excuse for it anymore. Hello, character growth? Where did you go? One of my favorite Veronica moments was all the applause she got at graduation, even if it was just a lamer version of Buffy’s umbrella. Not just because she got some recognition, but because there was some fucking closure to all that she went through, and she came out a better person. Or, um, not I guess. Thanks for that Rob.

And as much as I’ve hated how the show has ignored all the fallout from S2, this token trip down memory lane was even worse. Just so contrived and not resolving ANYTHING. Good god that was some embarrassingly lazy writing. I mean even with that lame excuse for a plot there was SOOO much going on with everyone’s daddy issues and instead of taking 2 seconds to make that theme resonate, they gave us barfworthy pizness and secret society bullshit. And the ending? what? Poor martyr veronica walking in the rain? Are we supposed to be feeling SORRY for her? Moved at her dramatic gesture of filling in a fucking bubble? I just. don’t. get it.

Well all that’s been said far more timely and eloquently. I’m just relieved it’s over. Now I can get my fic on and get the sour taste of canon out of my mouth.

Oh, also, out of all the suck somehow the thing that pissed me off the most was Veronica waving her PI license around. UGH it made me vomit on so many levels. It just makes her look like an insecure pretentious amateur. I guess this illustrated for me why FBI!Veronica is the worst idea in the history of ideas. Veronica’s crimefighting was sexy because it was her badass secret weapon. Taking her “legit” is a totally noir-shattering move, and just a painfully transparent manifestation of RT’s own self-importance and ambition.

why do i have so many buster icons

Sat, 26 May 2007 09:23:25 GMT

Ah, the driving and the windy roads and the fog. why oh why did i think it would be a good idea to drive up to san francisco and back tonight, when I have to fly to chicago tomorrow. oh yeah, cuz i can't say no to the bff. got to see her new lady, the hot rap superstar, in action though. showed up to a soldout show and was immediately backstage drinking beer with the bff, lady, and posse, so not the worst night ever. but did i mention the 3 hours of driving? and the flight tomorrow? and I'm going to be separated from my ~~security blanket~~ trusty laptop for the next few days so I am EXTRA CRANKY. Hence the pointless RL bitching my flist is usually spared.

AND i still haven't watched the VM finale. what's with this school/work/life business all of a sudden. I'm TRYING to watch tv here.

Also, just a passing WTF to this latest from my dad. The senior citizen.

Last time rebecca said -- hmmm, cut those ugly things into one-inch cubes, then call me when you are done, and I will wreak (exercise/conjure/do) my magic on your poor examples of produce. the result will be etheril(sp?) and you will eat my elvish potion and believe that the taste is incomparable. And I did. and it was.

grr

Wed, 23 May 2007 07:10:37 GMT

Bah, all you people with cable / tv reception who don't have to wait hours to download the VM finale. *glares at flist* Come on, I just want to share in the hate! *pouts unbecomingly* OK, I'm done now. I'll just be over here, drowning my sorrows in spuffyness and late night snacking.

Priorities, priorities

Wed, 16 May 2007 04:12:59 GMT

Good lord, I just noticed today is Tuesday and there was ANOTHER new VM episode tonight, and I haven't even watched the one from last week yet.

What HAVE I been watching? Well I've been reading jdkitchen's awesome WIP Clocks of the Long Now, and it totally has shades of Sliders to it. Which reminded me that I never finished watching the 3rd season of Sliders that I picked up in Ecuador. GOD that show is cheesy and terribly written. But somehow also so very very awesome. BTW, looking for sliders icons I found lots of Wade shippy ones - am I the only one who just didn't give a shit if she had 4ever love with Quinn? Or Remy for that matter?

Confession

Sat, 05 May 2007 08:19:01 GMT

I finally watched VM 3x16. If I avert my eyes from certain crimes against nature, I kind of enjoyed it.

For real, it had its moments. How can I hate on Dick’s myspace adventures? Wallace and Piz getting busted by Sheriff Mars? The hooker with a heart of gold’s boyfriend asking Mac if his friends paid her?

And yet, all of those were just examples of the show going through the motions...
Look, Dick’s being silly again! (Poor Ryan Hansen. What, you want to act? Forget that moment we teased you with actual character development. No no, you’re just the drunken frat boy. Dance frat boy dance!)
Look, Keith is sheriff again! (Pay off Lamb’s tragic death, you say? Lamb who? Let’s just have a pointless sideplot about your silly police adventures. Maybe if we make it just as moraltastic as the main plot, people will think they’re related.)
Look, mac’s pimpin it again! (Wait, what?? Something’s wrong here. How can we undermine it... What if we try to manipulate the audience into going all “omg what about lover boy bronson??!!” when really they should be wondering, “after ignoring mac forever and dropping the season arc aspect, why the hell are they trying to cram in some romantic drama with 2 motw guys. Just to parallel the veronica/logan romantic drama? LAME.”)

Um, do I even need to mention the train wreck of the motw? or the vomit inducing party scene? (the cake... GirlfriendBarbie!Parker!... the world’s most awkward kiss... the embarrassingly contrived elevator ending... )

So yes. There’s all that. But mostly? It’s going to take me a long time to stop choking after the “desert fever” jokes. Earth to queen veronica, your generous work for the anti-hate crime league today does not spike lee you make.

Uh, did I say I enjoyed this episode? Oh well, que viva my negativity. And now off to catch up on everyone else’s thought.

Goodbye cruel world indeed

Wed, 02 May 2007 04:55:55 GMT

I got home from work to find my f list all abuzz about the new veronica mars. Ah yes, the countdown begins. For some reason I'm resisting reading the snark until I see the ep for myself. I'm sort of working up to giving a shit about the show again. Canon VM is totally dead to me at this point, but instead of going "la la la" I have this morbid desire to see the last 5 crash and burn beyond any point of credibility. Bring it on RT!

behold, the mediocrity

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:59:22 GMT

I couldn't help it, I watched the first scene of the new VM. It felt awfully anticlimactic after the long wait and the general fandom implosion. Mostly, I was bored.

Logan hearts Parker, but since the new watchword is "very very veronica", he may only express this by having a friendly chat with V. Yawn. As much as I've complained about the back and forth logan/veronica shippiness this season, I'll take pointlessly angsty LoVe over the pointless small talk variety, thanks. But wait, there's even more KB! Righteous!Veronica is back helping the helpless, in a mystery of the week that might have been sharp social commentary in 2002. On 7th Heaven. Sigh.

I sort of hope the writers have just stopped trying, and this isn't a ploy to make FBI!Veronica look brilliant by comparison.

Avert your eyes

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:29:20 GMT

Dear Mr. Ausiello. If you're gunning for "The spoiler column I USED to read", please continue to post such Gray's Anatomy "scoop" as:

Chris Lowell's receptionist/surfer dude will be shirtless in a scene.

Observe how even Piz/surfboard is way steamier than Piz/Veronica.

Hey, it beats staring at the creepy VM spoiler

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 05:32:37 GMT

I stole this from elizalavelle. Since I haven’t posted in awhile, have nothing meaningful to say about today’s tragic news, and clearly have nothing better to do. ::Desperately avoids looking at mess of unpacked boxes, job applications waiting to be filled out, and menus to be planned::

1. Introduce yourself:
Rebecca here.

2. It's Wednesday at noon, where are you usually?
In my chef getup cooking kickass food, at culinary school.

3. What kind of laundry detergent do you use?
Trader Joes.

4. What brand of shampoo is in your shower right now?
Uh, some super old Nature’s Gate. I think it’s chamomile.

5. Did you ever get into a bar and drink before you were 21?
In Europe a bit.

6. What countries have you been to?
I’ve traveled a lot... europe, south america, australia. oh, and once to thailand. I’m going to be staying put for awhile though, as i am once again a poor student.

7. Do you watch MTV anymore?
Never had cable back in the day, and don’t have it now. Oh, but in January when I was staying with a friend I watched an unhealthy amount of my super sweet 16.

8. What do you think about Oprah?
over. rated.

9. What color are your bedsheets?
ooh, i just bought new light blue ones, for my new room.

10. You need a new pair of jeans..what store do you go first?
Village discount in chicago... here i have to make do with salvation army :)

11. Did you ever watch The O.C.?
Oh how I mocked the oc. until last year I got addicted to the first season on my friend’s dvds.

12. What kind of car do you drive?
honda accord. when it behaves.

13. Honestly, is that car insured?
Just one of the many fun expenses i’ve incurred in my new life as a responsible US Citizen adult type.

14. Do you like sushi?
mmm....

15. Have you ever been to Tiffany & Co. or Saks 5th Ave?
maybe saks?

16. Did your parents spoil you growing up?
Not at all, but now that my dad is old and retired and divorced, he seems to want to, which is very confusing.

17. Do you like roller coasters?
kindof love/hate. they make me swear a blue streak.

18. What magazine(s) do you buy regularly or subscribed to?
Yesterday I was browsing through vegetarian times and “Rethinking Schools”

19. Do you remember the WB show "Popular"?
nope.

20. When you go out do you prefer to go to a dance club or to a bar where you can chill with friends?
Definitely a chill place.

21. Who do you think will be the next president?
As damaging as it is to my reputation as a cynic, I saw Barack Obama speak and he really is that awesome. I don’t know if he’ll win, but he’s got my vote.

23. Are you registered to vote?
Oh yeah. (Though I didn’t vote in the last election...ssshhh...)

24. Do you own an iPod?
Just a really cheap 512 mb non-ipod.

25. Is your bathroom filled with beauty stuff?
No way. I just moved and i share with a boy who is all awkward about it. lol.

26. What kind of cologne/perfume do you wear?
i’m allergic.

27. Do you like Carrie Underwood?
Uh... will i be held up to ridicule if i say “who?”

28. Been to "Vegas"?
Ha ha, on my drive out here I stopped outside of vegas, at this cheezy cheap place called “Whiskey Pete’s.” It was pretty ridiculous.

29. How far away do you live from your parents?
A flight away, but that doesn’t seem to stop them.

30. Are you happy with your job?
I’ll let you know when I get one.

31. Where do you work and what do you do there?
see above.

32. What did you get in the mail today?
Nothin today.

33. How do you like your steak cooked?
i’ve actually never had steak!

34. Britney Spears...
no comment.

35. What do you usually order at Taco Bell?
hmm, i think maybe i ate there once circa 1994...

36. Have you ever sat all the way thru Gone With the Wind?
yep, my grandma’s favorite :)

37. Have you ever been to Mt Rushmore?
no

38. Is it just me, or was The Marine(w/John Cena) a really horrible movie?
never heard of it

39. Are surveys like the cocaine of myspace?
clearly

40. Where is your favorite place(that u have actually been to)?
ooh... i’m really obsessed with bolivia now and want to move there next.