Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!

So, internets, one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone requires me to do something regardless of what special circumstances I might have to deal with (i.e. how my university seems to assume ALL students who go there live in the area and not, say, 250 miles away like I do, and then schedule accordingly). Recently, one of my classes touched that particular nerve.

( RANT THE FIRST: In which emerald_skies rants about a class project )

Aaand another rant ( about how fucking obsessed Americans are with their cars (aka RANT THE SECOND) )

Yeah yeah, whine whine whine, my life is so hard, etc., I just had to get that off my chest.

On a much less whinge-tastic (and much more random note), I was told today that it's possible for a person to be allergic to caffeine. Seriously. As someone who basically can't function without enough caffeine in her system to start a Starbucks franchise, my reaction was (understandably) something like this:



Sheesh, I think I just figured out what my own personal tenth circle of hell would look like *shudder*

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"Don't find a fault, find a remedy..." -- Henry Ford

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Cheers.

P.S. - I just remembered I still need to beta fics for two people....*sobs quietly against computer screen*

BREAKING NEWS: I GOT THE TUTORING JOB!! I'll be working as a university writing tutor on Tuesdays and Thursdays!


This is supposed to be gleeful flailing instead of angry/seizure-tastic flailing

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Dear maintenance guys working right outside my window,

I wish I could find words to describe how fucking much I hate you right now. I didn't think it was physically possible for ladders to make that much noise (much less the hammering y'all have been doing all goddamn day) but by God, you guys managed it. FUCK OFF ALREADY.

No love,
emerald_skies


ANYWAY, just in case any of y'all ever feel like you're a giant loser who needs to get a life, console yourselves with the fact that you'd have to try pretty hard to out-nerd me. Why, you ask?

I put fandom into my jewelry.

( *facepalm* )

Finally, I got around to watching Lilo & Stitch today, and have decided that Stitch is officially my favorite Disney character of all time (OF ALL TIME). Does it seem weirdly fitting somehow to anyone else that my favorite Disney character is a psychotic little alien? I feel like that says something about me as a person psychologically...


Cheers.

Dear La Famille,

I understand your desire for me to handle the nuts and bolts of terminating my current flat lease and setting up my new one (which, among other things, involves a LOT of talking on the phone), but I'm really tired of y'all waiting until I get off the phone to tell me that I said something wrong (or didn't say something I needed to, etc). The whole "Here, I'll do it *snatches phone away*" is pretty fucking irritating too. I'm aware that I suck at being a responsible adult, but I'm probably not going to learn unless people tell me how to fix what I'm doing wrong instead of just saying that I did something wrong in general. Consider working on that?

Yours in frustration,
emerald_skies (who, at the moment, is almost kind of missing being 17 and responsibility-free by this point)


On top of all this moving out shit, I still have to pack to head back up to university-land on Sunday, to pick up my vicious trained attack kitten from the vet tomorrow, and I still have to order my fucking textbooks.



I would write to make myself feel better, but my muse has fucked off too. My life, SO FUCKING HARD.

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"History is a vast early warning system..." -- Norman Cousins

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Cheers.

P.S. - Not to mention the fact that I'm trying to re-route some of my budget to get new headphones since my current ones broke (due to possible cat predations). AUGH.

Dear certain people on Twitter (and probably elsewhere as well),

Can you drop the hipster elitist attitude about how Amy Winehouse wasn't cool enough to count as a member of the 27 club? Because seriously, she's just as dead as the others, and any attempt to discredit her just sounds like you're glamorizing a life of self-destruction. I love Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix (and so on) as much as the next girl, but at least I don't kid myself.

Grumpily yours,
emerald_skies


Feelings, I has them. Anyway, since my attempt at normal sleep patterns failed again, have my last bit of writing meme!

Day Thirty(!!!): Do you have a favorite fic you've written? What makes it your favorite? And don't forget to give us a link!

Le Batfic of course, hands down. Because I like the idea of ASkars/Brad as Batman better than Christian Bale (although I think CBale makes a good Bruce Wayne, if that makes any sense) and Nate wound up making the most fucking badass Commissioner ever written. Not to mention that mcl4r3n didn't laugh me off the internet for drawing comparisons between Walt and Dick Grayson!Robin. Plus pretty much every word out of Ray's mouth was so fun to write, I can't even come up with words to describe it.


Also, have another music ( that's even topically relevant to the post for once )


Finally, I leave y'all with a Life's Little Victories moment:

Life's Little Victory #47 - Going shopping for clothes and discovering (quite by happy accident) that you've dropped a jeans size.

I seriously think I actually did this in the fitting room:


Agree? Disagree? Got other little victories to share? I'm all ears (er...eyes?)

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"Illusion is the first of all pleasures..." -- Oscar Wilde

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Cheers.

I had four straight hours of chemistry lab this morning. Four. Straight. Hours. It was mostly spent tediously rinsing and re-rinsing test tubes to mix 36 different combinations of the same six chemicals (and their various ionized forms). SO TEDIOUS GOOD GOD WHY. Also, while I'm on the subject, ( a letter... )

And then, after that, I only got about 45 minutes to lie on the couch and let my brain re-solidify before I had to run a bunch of time-consuming errands (like a motherfucking adult). So, as a result, I came home with a whopping tension headache and an utter lack of will to do anything that didn't involve as little movement or brain wave activity as possible. I wound up passing out for three and a half hours without even meaning to -_-

MOVING ON FROM THE WHINING, here's some more of my thirty day writing meme:

Day Eight: Do you write OCs? And if so, what do you do to make certain they're not Mary Sues, and if not, explain your thoughts on OCs.

Oh boy, um...not really? Seven-ish years of being in fandom has somehow unconsciously drummed it into my head that it's pretty much impossible to write an OC without them turning into a Mary Sue/Gary Stu. The funny thing is, I detest that mentality on a conscious level, but I guess hearing about it enough combined just perfectly with my tiny, fragile creative ego such that I virtually never attempt OCs. On the other hand, I do have one other conscious reason why I don't do it; I feel like it takes my focus away from other characters. So, basically, I usually feel like I'm too A.D.D. to handle it :P

As for other people writing OCs, I say "why not?" If you can sell me on the OC without removing tons of focus from the canon characters or turning the character into an utter Mary Sue/Gary Stu, I'll cheerfully read it and salute you for it!


Finally, I have a question/idea of a sort; how are y'all's muses doing? Anyone bored and looking for something small to write? I ask because I was thinking of hosting something of a mini writing meme on here where interested parties could comment with a fandom they want to write in, and I would respond with a few lines of song lyrics and a pairing from that fandom, then you guys could answer back with comment fic of whatever length you want (at whatever pace you like).

Then again, this might not be the best idea, the last prompt I gave turned into roughly six thousand words of porn (in essence, my prompts seem to take on a mind of their own). Idk, let me know what y'all think.

Just because I'm feeling nostalgic, have an Idiot gif of Stark being molested by a horde of girls in sparkly negligees:



Now, for those who are unfamiliar with American Idiot, these are girls that came out of the T.V. when his character was channelsurfing and settled on an Army recruitment commercial. Yeah. Amazingly, this wasn't even the weirdest part of the show.

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"It is easier to believe than to doubt..." -- Gene Fowler

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Cheers.

P.S. - looleebelle wrote me ~6,000 words of GK/Sons of Anarchy crossover fic that includes Juice being adorable and eventual Nate/Half-Sack action. NATE/HALF-SACK. So basically, looleebelle pretty much rules.

Oof, I know the way my chemistry class is designed is meant to be convenient (all online except for the labs and final exam, which are in person), but I still think that anything requiring me to do science before ten o'clock in the morning constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. If I were a more proactive individual, I would consider putting the ACLU on this.

That being said, have a random odds and ends list (because the fandom part of my brain is still more or less in a coma):

1) ( A busty woman rant (cut for potential TMI) )

I know, I know, life is hard, cry moar, etc. etc. Just had to get that off my chest (ha!)

2) A web comic for those of us who frequently find life falling short of our movie-esque mental pictures

3) As someone who's been reading Dilbert comics (and buying books of them) for years, this disappoints me a great deal (potential trigger warning for talk of rape). It's sad that someone with a (mostly) pretty clever sense of humor has such a streak of internet neckbeard-ness. I s'pose I won't be buying Dilbert comic books/anthologies anymore.

And now back to lying around feeling crummy and waiting for the nausea to go away. Random bouts of unidentified disease/general malaise fucking suck, homes.

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"All serious daring starts from within..." -- Eudora Welty

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Cheers.

P.S. - Does anyone 'round these parts watch Sons of Anarchy? I've had it on my Netflix queue forever because Charlie Hunnam's character is a DEAD FUCKING RINGER for Le Boyfriend, but still have yet to watch it for some reason. Should I check it out?

So, internets, I recently found out something interesting and rather mind-boggling through the wonders of Facebook. For a bit of background, one of my cousins recently joined the Army and made it through basic training. Sounds pretty normal, right?

Well, when last I saw him a few years ago, said cousin had vividly pink hair, a pierced lip, a pierced eyebrow, and a certain fondness for "borrowing" his little sister's skinny jeans and eyeliner. He was pretty much a Hot Topic poster child (complete with the phase where he told people he was bi just to be shocking). Also, he's almost six inches shorter than me (I'm 5'9") and scrawny as hell.

Surprised yet? Just wait, it gets better.

Now he's going to Ranger school. Seriously. My itty bitty punk/goth cousin wants to be a Ranger.


My reaction was pretty much identical to the look on Stark's face

I'm so sorely tempted to give him all kinds of shit (being a Marine fangirl as I am), but this is apparently really giving his life direction and stuff so I'm being good. *sigh* Life is hard.


Now for a short letter:

( In which I mope about one of my friends )

Yeah yeah, baww more, self, etc.

Aside from plans to spend the weekend reading Dresden Files books and trying to coax more crossover!fic out of my poor brain, that's all I've got for now. Are y'all alive out there? I know LiveJournal's been fucking up lately but it's still quiet even though things appear to have stabilized. Was there an alien abduction I missed?

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"Time passes irrevocably..." -- Virgil

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Cheers.

P.S. - In "yet another sign I'm a giant loser" news, Le Boyfriend and I were watching some Robin Williams standup through Netflix and I started laughing and generally fangirling when I realized this act was taking place in the St. James theater ("Oh my God! Oh my God! We sat right over there!"). Oh, ~memories~...

Howdy doo internets! I come bearing loads of fic-y goodness, but first I needed to get something off my chest:

Dear sexist jackass in my Sports Psych. class,

The question on our quiz was whether or not it's true that exercise works at improving mood and/or reducing anxiety and depression just as well in women as it does in men. I fail to see what arguing that it doesn't because (according to you) women only exercise because they're more concerned about how they look had to do with that question. Also, you obviously have never noticed the astounding degree of vanity I've observed in a number of male athletes in my years as an athletic trainer. So not only do you fail at gender equality, but you fail spectacularly at situational awareness. Kudos!

Sincerely,
emerald_skies (aka the redhead two seats behind you who rolled her eyes hard enough to possibly reverse the Earth's rotation when you spouted that line of bullshit)


Moving on to a less rage-inducing topic, more fic!

Title: Clean Cut All-American (Really Ain't So Clean) (Part 4/6)
Authors: emerald_skies and mcl4r3n
Summary: In which we hear the comedy of errors that was Stark's first days as a vampire, and Alex gets a clue -- or, rather, gets hit over the head with it, courtesy of an old friend.
Author's note: I would have posted this part sooner, but I a) forgot about it for the longest time and b) was dithering over whether this part (which is rather short) could stand on its own. I ultimately decided that it can, but included a preview to make up for it. Plus the next part is long and it's going to be worth the wait, I guarantee it ;)

( Cleaning up to Stark's unusually meticulous standards winds up taking much longer than Alex thought it would... )

Also, because Part II of my GK/AI crossover is going to be a while and I only just recently found the inspiration (and the confidence in my research) to get started, I thought I would give y'all something of a preview of what I have so far to make up for the delay:

( The first few days of the receiving phase pass in a haze of yelling... )


So, thoughts on either one? Like? Dislike? Think I need to get off the internet and find a more productive use of my free time?

That's all I've got for the moment. Stay tuned for more vamp!fic (mcl4r3n and I are almost done with Part 5), and whatever else happens to tickle my fancy in terms of posting material. In the mean time, Sokka and Momo thank y'all for your time:



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"A good beginning makes a good end..." -- Louis L'Amour

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Cheers.

P.S. - I cleaned up the HTML for Clean Cut All-American as well, so it too now links all the parts to each other for ease of re-reading.

1) Sign #527 that I'm a raging medicine nerd: I actually yelled at 3rd Rock From The Sun for mixing up supine (lying on your back) and prone (lying on your stomach). I'm willing to concede the difference between an embolism and an edema (I'm looking at you, House M.D.) as me splitting hairs, but supine vs. prone isn't THAT hard to fact check.

...or I'm still just a major nerd. MOVING ON.


2) Dear upstairs neighbors,

When your shitty techno is loud enough that I can still hear the bass even with my (incredibly loud) headphones on, it might be time to consider toning it down a notch. I'm all for loud music, don't get me wrong, but good God show some sense, or at least basic survival instincts.

Just sayin',
emerald_skies


3) A little ASkars action ( because it's been forever since he graced a post with his presence )

Ooooh-wee....


God, he cleans up so nicely.

4) And, in the spirit of saving the best for last, I come bearing a magic trick. Have any of you ever seen a fic rise from the dead? Well, first a little flick of the "magical" gasoline...



And presto! You have now :D Anyone remember this?

Title: Picking Up The Pieces (Part 9)
Author: emerald_skies
Summary: In which the boys argue, and Alex sees an entirely unexpected side of Stark. Some things just have to be said, but don't worry, it's not for nothing.
Author's Note: Special thanks to pjvilar for helping to give this part some direction, and to all those who patiently listened to me whine and let me bounce ideas off them. Thanks, y'all <3

( When Stark gets back, he finds Alex nursing a cup of coffee in the kitchen... )

Side note: I went back and cleaned up the HTML in the previous chapters (linked them to each other, put in summaries, etc. etc.), so it should be easier to go back and reread now for anyone who wishes to do so.

Five months has to be some kind of record in terms of fic comas, but hey, at least I fixed it! Stay tuned for more vampire AU at some point soon, plus some other goodies I have in mind. In the mean time, adorkable dancing!Theo thanks you for your time:



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"He that hopes no good fears no ill..." -- Thomas Fuller

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Cheers.

P.S. - Also, have one of the most adorable Stark interviews I've ever read. It's really old, but good God, it's worth it *_______*

P.P.S. - Oh Yellowcard, I don't care if liking you serves as conclusive proof that I'm stuck in 2004, this is just beautiful. My inner fifteen year old is pleased to see y'all back on the music scene again <3

Internets, have I mentioned recently how much I loathe group work? I've been beating my head against the proverbial wall with one of my two groups over this semester for the last THREE HOURS (plus another two earlier this morning).


Appropriate gif is appropriate

And so, in order to stave off the boredom (and the tension headache that is rapidly turning into a migraine), a couple of things:

1) ( Two letters pertaining to my Abnormal Psych. class... )

2) Another meme (this one courtesy of lunatics_word)

Pick 15 of your favorite movies.
Go to IMDb (or Wikiquote) and find a quote from each movie.
Post them here for everyone to guess.
Strike out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
NO GOOGLING.

( Because it's me, one or two of these should be immediately obvious... )

(Or, if movies aren't your cup of tea, there are still a few unidentified songs over on my lyrics challenge)

It's been a very long time since I was last this cranky. Please send help.

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"Fortune and love favor the brave..." -- Ovid

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Cheers.

ETA: Five and a half hours after I showed up to the group meeting (so, 2.5 hours after I originally submitted this post), I return to Le Flat a broken, bitter shell of a girl. Fuck you very much too, college.