So, another graphic for my Fic-Related Gallery:



That's it for the eureka_tag fics this year, for those of you who aren't fans. Now, back to the regular diet of crossovers (and Back Again Harry)....
~

PG; Eureka missing scene; 500 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.08.

Vincent approached the despondent scientist seated in the back corner of his café with a fresh pot of coffee and a sympathetic smile.

( Coffee For Your Thoughts? )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

OK. So far, I've written exactly two of my birthday-a-thon winning requests. *sigh* I'd better get a move on; I want them done before yuletide requests go out this year.

On the other hand, four fabulous birthday stories were written for me this year:

• A New Player in Town by butterflyflame (BtVS/Anita Blake, Oz-fic, 1000 words)
• Stonewalling by kayleyangel (SG-1/Bones, ensemble, 1000 words)
• Favorite Things by avamclean (BtVS/SG-1, Buffy/Daniel, 1000 words)
• Brewing by kerravonsen (BtVS/HP, Snape/Anya, 1070 words)

If you haven't read them yet, please do; they deserve all praise. *grin*
~

Seven books in the last month; I'm about four weeks behind last year's pace. Four fantasy, one future-scifi, one current-scifi, and one historical novel in the bunch.

( Books # 50-56 )

Next book: I've pretty much abandoned The Lies of Locke Lamora, as you may have noticed. Just couldn't get into it. On the other hand, OMG I found Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls!!!!!! I read it at the library in 1994, the year it came out, and haven't been able to find it since. My crazy-Mal fic, "Picture of Health", was kind of vaguely based on the heroine's abilities; it's a very weird book, but I loved it as a teenager. (I hope revisiting it doesn't prove as disappointing as my recent trip through the Elenium).
~

PG-13, 1900 words; B:tVS, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Connor-- always Connor even to her, never John-- has a well-known thing for strong women, and a hint of desperate hunger in the depths of his eyes.

(Reward-fic for az_anneliese from the tthdrabbles competition.)

( Hang In There, Slayer )
-~-

PG-13; Eureka missing scene; 400 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.07.

Something about this town sunk its claws deep under Zane's skin when he wasn't looking.

( Favoring Fire )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

PG; Eureka missing scene; 700 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.06.

Allison bit her lip, trying not to let herself hope too soon.

( Woman, Wondering )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

PG; Eureka missing scene; 800 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.05.

Fargo lifted a hand to wave as Carter walked out, then shook his head, feeling strangely comforted.

( Stages of Recovery )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

Current headline on CNN.com: "Bush lands in Texas; residents urged to leave". The article itself is referring to those who are still staying in powerless, sewerless Galveston while authorities are trying to clean up Hurricane Ike damage, but... *facepalm*

I detest, with a nuclear intensity, the political season and what it does to normally sane people. I don't normally friend or defriend for personal opinions, but I will do so for candidate-bashing on either side of the aisle (though this being the liberal-skewed world of LJ, most of what I've seen so far has been McCain and Palin hatred). I'm registered Independent (see icon, heh) and do not plan to air my own voting intentions here, and I don't want to see yours, either, if the only way you can express them is to vindictively denounce the other ticket and its supporters.
~

Meme lifted from joonscribble:

( Post the first line from your 25 most recent fanfics... )

( ... and try to find a pattern. )
~

PG; Eureka missing scene; 300 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.04.

Jack sat with Allison, heart aching for her as her shoulders shook with sobs.

( Not Like This )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

I am so tired. There was moving of furniture this weekend, and dinner and TV at my aunt's last night, and now maevebran visiting today (with two SGA episodes to watch!) and Mom going on vacation until next Tuesday; that means I'll be spending the next several evenings with my Dad, who's determined to watch every Harry Potter movie plus the entire extended trilogy of Lord of the Rings while she's gone, because she won't watch them with him.

And I just finished 16 days of Olympics, of which I actually sat down and viewed about 72 hours of footage, mostly after work. My brain is full. What am I supposed to be writing, again? =)

Regarding dinner at my aunt's: the new season of TV is starting to air, and one of the shows is that "America's Toughest Jobs" on NBC. I saw the first episode last night, and I can't help but wonder the premiums on their insurance are-- a couple of people nearly got clotheslined into the freezing ocean working the crabbing boat, which would have been an instant death sentence. Brrr. And ow. They really do work those people hard. And they don't appreciate whiners; they canned the "ugh, I can't!" and "can I get some help here?" gal even over the spaz who kept repeatedly screwing up the instructions.

( Speaking of TV, here's how my fall schedule is shaping up... )

Anyone else picking up a new show they'd like to recommend? (And I stress new; I know all about the benefits of Numb3rs and Supernatural, of which I've only seen halfway through season 1 of each; more will have to wait on time and $$ for DVDs).
~

PG-13; B:tVS, SG-1. Nothing against Rosenberg, but Jack had never figured her for Teal'c's type. 1800 words.

(Reward-fic for kumagorou1983 from the tthdrabbles competition.)

( A Study in Contrasts )

(x-posted to twistedshorts)
-~-

PG; B:tVS, Ice Princess. Dawn certainly hogged the bathroom mirror enough to recognize her own face when she saw it. 600 words.

(AKA, self-indulgent Olympic-referencing fic. Sequel to Model Girl).

( Totally Her Turn )

(x-posted to twistedshorts)
-~-

PG; Eureka missing scene; 1000 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.03.

Henry questions Zoe over a cup of coffee in Café Diem.

( Ulterior Motives )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

Surfing the Internet today at lunch, I came upon the following quote in an interview with Brendan Fraser, regarding his upcoming milestone birthday:

> I had some absurd notion that I might get an "iBrendan 4.0" tattoo

*snort* You know, he's done some bonehead movies in his time, but I'm rather fond of him regardless. Of course, that's probably at least half down to the fact that I'm a sucker for anyone who's starred on the Indiana Jones scale of digging up dead things-- from sci-fi Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks: yum) to dinosaur hunter Alan Grant (Sam Neill: awesome) all the way down to Fraser's extra-cheese, mummy-killing Rick O'Connell. ♥♥♥

But of course, you knew that about me already. So, some newer news:

Saturday was the six-month mark since DS' death. Sunday was his mother's birthday. So a bunch of us family and friends gathered for the day for a picnic and boating outing at Hagg Lake. DS' dad's new boat can go upwards of 35mph and has a tow rope (and plenty of lifejackets), so we spent a good chunk of the day trading off being towed in an innertube, or wakeboarding, or waterskiing, or whatever. Since the hot spell had finally broken in a spectacular series of thunderstorms the night before, the weather was actually decent-- and I had enough fun that I am walking around like an old woman today. Half my muscles ache, but especially my triceps and lower back; they kept punching the speed up and curving the wake around to see if I could hang on, and ow, damn, I did. *grinning*

Of course, between that and the Olympics... *sighs over to-write list*
~

So: the finishathon voting opened yesterday.

I'm... actually surprised by the way the voting is going at present. I plan to write at least one chapter for each of those stories by the end of the year, regardless; in some cases, it's been awhile. But the one I thought would win, of those? Is currently third, at nine total votes to the current winner's twenty. Not that I mind; I adore all my major universes. But it's quite unexpected, given recent commentary traffic, and given last year's voting.

Anyway. If you, my faithful readers, also want to have an influence on which story I will commit 10,000 words to by the end of October? Click on the link above, and vote before August 23rd. (And consider voting in the other polls as well).
~

I usually don't comment publicly about negative reviews I receive on my fanfic, but I'm going to make an exception in this case.

Have any of the rest of you heard from Samael3 of fanfiction dot net? I hope you haven't; and hopefully he (or she) will choke on what I just sent back and rethink his (or her) approach before spewing any more poison. Though I wouldn't hold my breath. Anyway, as follows:

( A Review Left by Samael3 on my fic, Annual Report: )

( And My Reply, Privately Sent, aka Thank You: )

... So, what do you think? Too much? Too little to penetrate such a thick skull? Click through to the replyer's own FFN page if you want an entertaining read through a prejudiced, small-minded person's profile. I don't care what a person's politics are, Samael3's efforts are not a reasonable approach to reach and change minds; it is, instead, an obvious attempt to attract attention and wank. I cry false advertising, and smile back through bared teeth: Have a nice day.
~

Only six books in the last month; I'm definitely behind pace if I want to hit 100 again. One Napoleonic War-era fantasy, three romantic fantasy, and two sci-fi this time.

( Books # 44-49 )

Next book: Well, I sort of picked up The Lies of Locke Lamora. It's-- a very interesting setting, fun main characters, excellent and vivid writing; but for some reason I just can't get into it. I'm 130 pages in, and really wondering whether it's worth continuing, so anyone who's finished it: I'd love to hear from you.
~

PG; Eureka missing scene; 450 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.02.

Perhaps she had been hasty in identifying Sheriff Carter as the town's weak point.

( Changing Tactics )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

R; B:tVS, Mummy 3. Buffy clung to Rick as the ripples of his revelation shook through the comfortable relationship she'd built around him. 2700 words.

(I have no idea where the hell this came from. R rated? Me?)

( Love, After )

(x-posted to twistedshorts)
-~-

PG-13; B:tVS, Firefly. Faith had a perfect right to grieve there, too. 1000 words.

(Part of the "Ancient Slayers" verse, including Knocked Down, Skin, Annual Report and Begetting Violence).

( Paying Respects )

(x-posted to twistedshorts)
-~-

PG; Eureka non-cross; 900 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.01.

The last time Zoe's Dad had gotten depressed, there had been beer on breakfast cereal, S.A.R.A.H. on extreme lockdown, and all kinds of other associated badness.

( Mission: Cheer Up My Dad )

(x-posted to eureka_tag)
-~-

So: I saw "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" last night. Funny. Extremely cheesy in places, even more than the other two, but an enjoyable fantasy/action film if you liked TM and TMR.

My main concern when watching it (which seriously amused maevebran) was whether I could fit it into my Mummy crossoverfic continuity-- and, you know what, with one major change I really think I can. Alex's storyline in the movie will have to shift over to Jonathan, since my Alex is otherwise occupied; but everything else can fit into my mythology with very little shoehorning required.

( Speaking of fic; I'm sure you've noticed... )

I hope my Muses hold out, because if I manage all of my current committments, you'll be seeing 80,000 words' worth of fic from me by the end of the year.
~

PG-13; B:tVS, Eureka; 1400 words. SPOILERS FOR EUReKA 3.01.

As long as his job in Eureka never crossed the line into outright horror movie territory, Jack could tell himself it wasn't really all that bad.

( At Least It Wasn't Zombies )

(x-posted to twistedshorts)
-~-