tag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318so_out_of_ideasso_out_of_ideasso_out_of_ideas2013-05-20T21:16:35Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:288217Is Walking Better Really Better?2013-05-20T21:16:35Z2013-05-20T21:16:35Zpublic0I posted this on my writing journal. I thought it was important enough to re-post here too. It's about as "personal" as I get on the internet. Deals with cultural expectations and body image, so if those issues bother you, just skip it.<br /><br /><a href="http://rosebfischer.dreamwidth.org/35719.html#cutid1">http://rosebfischer.dreamwidth.org/35719.html#cutid1</a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=288217" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:285191so_out_of_ideas @ 2013-02-07T02:02:002013-02-07T07:11:02Z2013-02-07T07:11:02Zpublic0<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4z7XRHfYc74/URNJ-sNUs2I/AAAAAAAAAT0/F848Z74J4dc/s1600/RBF_GP1_prevsm.jpg" /><br /><br />Hello everyone. As I mentioned in a <a href="http://encompass--rose.blogspot.com/2013/01/ouch.html">recent post</a> I hurt my arm really badly. It's worse than I initially thought. I don't know when I'll be able to go back to work, since my job is to type for my boss. I had a <i>lot</i> of unexpected big expenses in 2012, including emergency medical bills, medical equipment, and doctor visits that I needed to pay for out of pocket. Those bills are taken care of and I have enough to get by on, but things are going to be very tight. <br /><br />I need a new computer. I'm not sure I can afford that, and I know I can't afford to do that <i>and</i> continue pay for the hosting costs related to this blog. (It's a blogspot page, so yes, it's free, but all of the content is hosted privately--and there is a lot of high res content, so I can't just switch to free plans. Once my paid accounts on PB, Flickr and Mediafire go, so will all the freebies. That includes not only the resources but ALL of the livejournal/dreamwidth icons, all of the free graphics, and anything else that I have posted there over the years.)<br /><br />I really love doing the blog, and it's important to me to keep as much of my content as possible free for everyone to use.<br /><br />So, this is what I am going to do. I am looking to raise about $500 toward a new computer and/or $100 toward hosting costs.<br /><br />In the next few days, I will be adding several more gift packs.<br /><br /><br />Anybody who donates any amount of money--even a dime--can choose to download ALL the gift packs I offer. Just post a comment or leave your email address in the comment box on paypal and I will send you whatever ones you ask for.<br /><br />Anybody who donates $5.00 or more can request a custom pack.<br /><br />If you are on Livejournal or Dreamwidth, you can also request custom icons.<br />Anyone can request a custom site header or a wallpaper or other large graphic.<br /><br />$1 gets you 10 icons or 1 large graphic.<br />$5 will get you 50 icons or 5 large graphics.<br />The more you donate, the more I will do for you, up to 250 icons.<br /><br />I would prefer not to do slash pairings--<b>NO, I am not a homophobe,</b> I just think the vast majority of slash pairings in my fandoms are weird/gross and I can't type enough to provide a list of what I will and won't do--but at this point, if someone wants to donate for that, I'll consider it.<br /><br />You can click <a href="http://encompass--rose.blogspot.com/"> here</a> to visit my blog and use the donate button in the sidebar. You do not need a paypal account.<br /><br />Thank you in advance; I really appreciate any help you can give.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=285191" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:279019Photobucket2012-11-10T16:35:15Z2012-11-10T16:35:15Zpublic4I went to sign in to my photobucket account this morning and the site had been totally revamped (again.) Except this time--unless I'm just blind and can't find it--it looks like they're getting rid of the "select all>generate link code" feature that I rely on for posting my icons. The new site's in beta right now, so they may fix this later, but if that feature goes, my iconning days are over. Sorry to all those who've enjoyed my icons over the years and I appreciate your support. It's just very much not worth to make the size batches I make and have to copy-paste the links by hand.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=279019" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:276430Awesomeness (And Thank yous)_2012-09-01T23:33:34Z2012-09-01T23:33:34Zpublic0I don't know why I never posted this before. I was going to do so, but it looks like I never did. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aelinquan/4525455593/"> This</a> lovely piece of artwork was made by <a href="http://encompass--rose.deviantart.com/art/Corazon4-142285137"> AelinQuan</a> on DeviantArt. One of my large textures is used in the composition. I think it's terrific, and I'm so happy that the artist chose to comment and let me know where it was used. <br /><br />It's rare that resource makers are thanked for their efforts, and it's even more rare that we get to see how our art resources are put to use by the people who download them. Now, I don't upload and post stuff to be thanked. I don't care. I post because I like to share and I firmly believe in the concept of the internet as platform for free exchange of culture (which includes art, fiction, information, music, etc.) I have learned so much from my friends like <span style='white-space: nowrap; text-decoration: line-through;'><a href='https://aruna7.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://aruna7.dreamwidth.org/'><b>aruna7</b></a></span> and others whom I never could have met in person. (There's an ocean between Aruna and I for example.) I have been exposed to wonderful new music, new modes of expression, movies that I adore and never would have heard of if not for the internet. I've also learned and improved great deal as a digital artist over 10 or so years that the name Lionchilde has been my internet nick, largely due to help and resources provided to me freely by other folks on the 'net. (<span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://intothisshadow.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://intothisshadow.dreamwidth.org/'><b>intothisshadow</b></a></span> and <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='http://megalion.livejournal.com/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif' alt='[livejournal.com profile] ' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' width='17' height='17'/></a><a href='http://megalion.livejournal.com/'><b>megalion</b></a></span> and all of their wonderful screencaps, to name a few.)<br /><br />I admit that I do sometimes forget to comment with a link when I use someone's resources, but I <i>try</i>, to let them know and to credit them in my posts, because I know that I always wonder what gets <i>done</i> with all the stuff I put up. There are few things more exciting to me than to see that someone used a resource of mine for their work. So. If I've used something of yours lately and haven't said a proper thanks, know that you are appreciated, and please go check out the amazing artwork.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=276430" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:275040An Appeal for Peace2012-08-05T01:37:44Z2012-08-05T01:37:44Zpublic0Okay, I do talk about my faith here sometimes, but try hard to keep that experiential and to keep my political and social views off of so-out-of-ideas. It's a fandom journal, it's meant for fun, and I don't like conflict. (Who does, right?) But I've decided to make an exception this time.<br /><br /><a href="http://rosebfischer.dreamwidth.org/35311.html"> This</a> is an appeal for peace to both sides of the Chick-Fil-A debacle that is occupying so much media attention right now. It's longer than I planned it to be but (much) shorter than it could have been. Link goes to my semi-private writing journal on Dreamwidth.<br /><br />As I say in the text, you are welcome to disagree with me, but I ask you to do so respectfully. Thanks.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=275040" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:274258Update-The state of my fanfic and other projects2012-07-22T13:54:08Z2012-08-02T16:44:51Zpublic0I'm going to try to make this short. That doesn't usually work for me, but I'll try anyway.<br /><br />I've had an ongoing cycle of headaches for the past 4 weeks with only a 2 day break in between. I hurt my arm very badly the other day, and my typing time/accuracy has gone way down.<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/274258.html#cutid1">More under here</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br />In <a href="http://so-out-of-ideas.livejournal.com/307145.html"> This post on LJ</a> and mirrored in <a href="http://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/271380.html"> This post</a> on DW, I mentioned an idea for a prompt/challenge community that is entirely self-directed (meaning you can pick whatever project you want, whatever prompts you want--or no prompts--and the idea is to just get some motivation to finish something by having a stated goal and the promise of a shiny award when you're done.<br /><br />I went ahead and set that up <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://open-art-dw.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png' alt='[community profile] ' width='16' height='16' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://open-art-dw.dreamwidth.org/'><b>open_art_dw</b></a></span> and <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='http://open-art-lj.livejournal.com/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif' alt='[livejournal.com profile] ' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' width='16' height='16'/></a><a href='http://open-art-lj.livejournal.com/'><b>open_art_lj</b></a></span>. Check it out if you want. You don't need posting access or approval to join, so it SHOULD keep running by itself while I have headache episodes. Once I let me flist guinea pigs work out all the kinks, I'll start advertising the comms. Would anyone like to co-mod on LJ since I'm more often on DW these days?<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=274258" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:272798Dear LJ, Please stop sucking.2012-05-11T12:55:32Z2012-05-11T12:59:53Zpublic0Dear LJ,<br /><br />You used to be simple. You used to make my life easier. It seems like the longer our relationship goes on, the more of a complicated, annoying, pain in the ass you are. You are taking this relationship for granted, LJ, and if it doesn't stop, I'm going to file for divorce.<br /><br />This morning, I went to crosspost some icons. I've done this on LJ for six years. It used to be relatively easy. You coded the post up once, put a subject line in, and clicked submit. Then you clicked the back button in your browser. All of your nice code was still there. Your subject was still neatly in the subject line where it belonged. Now, I click the back button, and everything is empty. <br /><br />Catastrophic meltdown ensues.<br /><br />"WHAT THE #!@$$!!#! is this? I have to code it all AGAIN?!"<br /><br />So I did. Then I copied it, so I could paste it back into the window the next time I hit the back button.<br /><br />And the next.<br />And the next. <br />And the next.<br />And the next.<br /><br />And I had to re-type the subject line every. single. time. <br /><br />You might think it's not a big deal, LJ, but it is for someone like me who has 400 comms, visual problems, migraines that get triggered by long periods looking at white spaces and repetitive motion issues in her wrists. Every extra step, and every time I have to re-type something makes it that much harder, and that much less likely that I'm going to want to do it again.<br /><br />It's not just about inconvenience. It's not just about having a lot of work and a lot of comms. I come to you so that I can share my content with other people easily and without headaches. Literal or figurative. I'm still here because some of my friends are hanging on to you, and I don't want to lose touch with them. But it's getting old. Really old. <br /><br />You might think it doesn't matter. Just post your content to one or two communities. Fandom has a lot of overlap anyway, doesn't it? Well, yes it does. Sometimes the same people have multiple comms. But the smaller, more specific communities fill a function too. They're more intimate, and the people who post on them tend to be the same people. We notice posts there that we might miss on the larger comms that have an overwhelming number of posters. Those smaller communities are the ones who lose out when people have to choose between making 20 posts or making 2. Slowly but surely, your users are going to trickle away.<br /><br />Is that really what you want to see, LJ?<br /><br />I guess it must be, because you seem determined to push us out. That makes me sad. I'm sorry LJ, I don't love you anymore.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=272798" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:272307Update-The state of my fanfic and other projects2012-05-05T19:07:54Z2012-05-05T19:09:11Zpublic0It's time for traditional May "Update Lionchilde's personal profiles and state of the projects" stuff. Not sure how exactly such a tradition developed, but it's been going on for several years now, so I figured...what the heck.<br /><br />I'm still having a lot of migraines and bizarre stomach/internal problems. There's only a partial diagnosis on that, and I'm not entirely satisfied with it. So at this point, I don't think it's fair to promise anyone that I will get back to posting on the epics any time soon. I have been posting occasional shorter pieces lately, but most of my attention is being devoted to my original work.<br /><br />My meta blog on fandom <a href="http://fandombouquet.blogspot.com"> fandombouquet</a> is in a sad state because, frankly, everything on TV right now is a load of garbage, (except for CASTLE)...so...um...I've kind of lost interest in that for the moment. I'm keeping it because there's got to be a direction I can take it in, but I haven't been able to think of a good one yet. I'm doing occasional posts there when I have something interesting to say, but nothing weekly for the moment because nothing bears talking about. (And if you take offense at that statement, feel free to not read my blog anymore.)<br /><br />I am considering starting a prompt comm, but I want at least 3 more people who I know will be participating before I do that. Info is here: <a href="http://so-out-of-ideas.livejournal.com/307145.html">http://so-out-of-ideas.livejournal.com/307145.html</a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=272307" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:271987I miss the old LJ2012-05-03T17:54:51Z2012-05-03T17:54:51Zpublic0I really do. I miss my icon slots from when I had a paid account. I miss <i>reliable</i> servers and a site that holds a blog I can POST to when I feel like it. Every time I think things are starting to get stable around here, I go to edit or post something for one of my challenges and I get error messages. I know I said recently that I was going to migrate fully over to DW, but I've hung around because I've got active writing comms and claims on LJ that I work on from time to time. (Not for the epics, sorry everybody, they're still on hold.) I keep thinking maybe the site's more stable...maybe the comment pages aren't as awful as they've been made out to be...maybe...<br /><br />And then I have to spend 20 fricking minutes trying to get a page to load so I can edit a table with links to a bunch of flashfics and drabbles. Um. Hello, LJ. Do you ever wonder why you're losing customers who've had paid accounts for 6+ years? Well, this would be why.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=271987" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:271380Question/Idea2012-03-23T16:19:30Z2012-03-23T16:19:30Zpublic0To my fellow creative minds,<br /><br />I've had an idea. (Start running.)<br /><br />In the past month or so, I've been talking to a lot of writers and artists that I know from various places around the internet. The common theme of these conversations has been that <br /><br />(1) we need things that motivate us to keep going when we get stuck and <br />(2) it helps to commit to artistic challenges because they provide us with that much needed motivation but <br />(3) most challenge communities that are still running right now are either too time intensive or not flexible enough in what they allow. <br /><br />I'm having a problem finding an active community that allows what I'm working on right now. There have been times in the past when I thought it would be cool to be able to commit to a theme-set without having to commit to a specific fandom or character (or even commit to a single art medium). I'm relatively certain that most of you have had similar experiences.<br /><br />So, while not-sleeping last night, it occurred to me:<br /><br />What if there was a challenge group that let people pick their own goal? Any goal they wanted to set, in any medium or combination of mediums they could come up with, as long as it fit under ONE goal?<br /><br />What if some nice person (who would most likely be me) was willing to make people pretty banners and put their names on a big shiny list whenever they made their goals?<br /><br />Would this be something that you're interested in?<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=271380" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:268852What Do You Do When Life Bites You in the Ass?2011-11-23T17:43:03Z2011-11-23T17:43:03Zpublic0Still biting back. It doesn't taste real good, but it's better than the alternatives. Here's another link that always makes me smile.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nohw_v3Ap3M">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nohw_v3Ap3M</a><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/268852.html#cutid1">Read more...</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=268852" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:268650What Do You Do When Life Bites You in the Ass?2011-11-22T23:35:23Z2011-11-22T23:35:23Zpublic0I am pretty frustrated and fed up with life today. This whole month has been the cap of progressively more rotten two years. I won't rant long. The highlights include two migraines (which always last between 72-96 hours and feature "residual headaches" for the rest of the week) Four days spent with no heat or electricity, and an invasion of bugs in my apartment. This is all over and above a bunch of ongoing problems that I've posted about (infrequently) here before. <br /><br />Usually, I come at this stuff with humor and/or sarcasm, but I'm out of those right now. I think it's time to start biting back. Here's a link to a song that brings a smile to my face. Maybe it will bring a smile to yours. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68HbSvl_eA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68HbSvl_eA</a><br /><br />Embed under the cut<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/268650.html#cutid1">Read more...</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=268650" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:267850Personal-ish update2011-10-01T08:07:38Z2011-10-01T08:07:38Zpublic0First off, Happy Birthday to me. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!<br /><br />Secondly, in honor of my birthday, I am opening graphic requests for the weekend. Graphic requests only. No tutorials, vids, or fics, please. I'm not up to those, they take longer. Check <a href="http://so-out-of-ideas.livejournal.com/44620.html?mode=reply#add_comment"> here</a> for guidelines on requesting.<br /><br />Thirdly, I have sadly decided that I won't be participating in Nanowrimo this November. I feel the time could be better spent dealing with the ongoing problems in my existing original work. What I'm thinking about doing instead is to create a series of goals for myself throughout November and spend the time trying to accomplish those instead of trying to produce 50k. If there's anyone else who won't be doing Nano but would maybe like to engage in some kind of mutual egging-on/monthly cheerleading, feel free to comment or PM/email me.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=267850" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:266284Personal-ish update2011-06-29T18:15:40Z2011-06-29T18:31:20Zpublic1Wow, two updates in the same year. *proud of self* *headdesk*<br /><br />I don't have a lot of news to tell on the personal front. Things are still the same. I take it day by day and have kind of stopped trying to plan too far in advance. <br /><br />In regard to my writing and fandom activities, there are hints of a light-like thing at the end of a very long, bumpy, dark tunnel. A little over a year ago, a series of events started to unfold involving some of the closest friends I had left, and it ultimately led to the dissolution of one original project that I had invested a great deal of myself and my time into. It also made Bloodkin--the project that is nearest and dearest to me of everything I have, even more so than the One Path AU verse--a tangled, nearly-unworkable disaster by the time things were all said and done. How and why that's possible is a long story. It doesn't really need to be told here.<br /><br />To those of you who have been reading Bloodkin on and off for the past several years, thank you again. Don't worry. The characters are all right, and most of what you've read so far is still the same. I usually stop posting when I realize there is a major problem so that I don't end up confusing people by telling them that what they've read so far didn't happen. The parts I post are the parts that, generally speaking, are not going to change. I make sure of that before my readers see them. I have too much respect for you guys to do it another way. I appreciate all of you and your patience. (Liam is fine too, even though I haven't <i>posted</i> his story, so <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='http://polgarawolf.livejournal.com/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif' alt='[livejournal.com profile] ' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' width='17' height='17'/></a><a href='http://polgarawolf.livejournal.com/'><b>polgarawolf</b></a></span> can relax. He's actually more than fine, he's the lynch-pin that's kept the whole rest of the mess from falling completely to ruin.) There's more under the cut for anyone who wants to read it.<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/266284.html#cutid1">Bloodkin</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br />Gemini Tide is gone. I'm pretty devastated about that, but this month I've hit the limit. I don't have anything left to try. There aren't many people here familiar with that story. I never posted what I had because it was in pieces, but I know that <span style='white-space: nowrap; text-decoration: line-through;'><a href='https://aruna7.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://aruna7.dreamwidth.org/'><b>aruna7</b></a></span> remembers it. ;) It started as a crossover fanfic and then just gained a life of its own and worked better as an original piece.<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___2" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/266284.html#cutid2">GT</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___2" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br />I've got some other original stories that I keep working on in the downtime when I'm not trying to fix those verses, but that's what I've been spending the majority of my time with since I stopped posting here regularly.<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___3" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/266284.html#cutid3">Fanfiction</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___3" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___4" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://so-out-of-ideas.dreamwidth.org/266284.html#cutid4">Fanvids and Graphics</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___4" aria-live="assertive"></div>.<br /><br />In general fandom-related news, I'm going to be around more often over the next month or two and would like to start my Fandombouquet blog back up again, but that won't be until the work on Bloodkin and my other stories is more together. I'm not going to go through a year of f-list posts, so if there's something you'd like me to see that I haven't, send me a link. <br /><br />Oh, last thing. I don't have a paid account on LJ anymore. I realized for the first time that the ads have been messing up the layout on my graphics comm. I'm sorry about that. (Apparently most of the watchers/members have paid accounts or something?) I'm working on getting it fixed without having to change that layout because it feels sort of iconic to me now, no pun intended.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=266284" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:264887*STUNNED AND AMAZED!*2010-08-12T12:29:23Z2010-08-12T12:29:23Zpublic0Someone actually read and reviewed my <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4567878/1/Of_Earth_And_Stars"> Solarbabies</a> fic on ff.net! I wrote this for <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='http://mercscilla.livejournal.com/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif' alt='[livejournal.com profile] ' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' width='17' height='17'/></a><a href='http://mercscilla.livejournal.com/'><b>mercscilla</b></a></span> a couple of years ago, and I never really expected another person to read it. Of course, the review is anonymous, so I have no way to thank this person and tell him/her that the review was important to me. Well, Childofthe80s, if you ever stumble across this post, I'm talking to you.<br /><br />To all you idiots who don't leave reviews: isn't it amazing what one little comment can do to make someone's day? Not that you care, since you don't have the common courtesy to leave reviews anyway...<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=264887" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:258898Research Question-Iconic Songs2010-06-23T17:23:17Z2010-06-23T17:25:52Zpublic0Speaking to a friend recently, I made reference to a couple of songs that I consider to be culturally iconic. (as in, whether you <i>like</i> them or not, you have <i>heard</i> them and would recognize them if they played on the radio-or iTunes, whatever.)<br /><br />The songs in question were Layla, by Eric Clapton and Your Song by Elton John. The person I was talking to had never heard of either of them and didn't recognize the guitar riff from Layla when I found it on Youtube. Yes, the person is from the US.<br /><br />It got me thinking. What songs do <i>you</i> think of as culturally iconic?<br /><br />I'm interested in answers from as many people as possible, but especially from people outside my age group (you didn't grow up in the 80s or attend high school during the late 80s-early 90s.) or from anyone who has spent a significant amount of time living somewhere other than North America.<br /><br />If you feel like it, I'd also appreciate knowing what some of your favorite songs are, why you like them, and when you first heard them.<br /><br />Be aware that your answers may end up as future blog fodder.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=258898" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:258459Leverage: The Awesomeness of Us2010-06-20T21:25:28Z2010-06-20T21:46:58Zpublic0I started a fandom blog over on blogspot this week. It's still not entirely set up the way I want, but in honor of the return of Leverage, I decided to share this post anyway. My goal is currently to update it weekly, and it will be more oriented toward commentary and analysis than my DW/LJ, which is mostly about my own fan activities, so if you like what you see, please check back in the future.<br /><br /><a href="http://fandombouquet.blogspot.com/2010/06/leverage-awesomeness-of-us.html">Leverage: The Awesomeness of Us</a> on <a href="http://fandombouquet.blogspot.com/"> Fandom Bouquet</a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=258459" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:257881Things I Love About Dreamwidth2010-06-18T16:30:00Z2010-06-18T16:30:00Zpublic0I've been messing around with Dreamwidth today, and I have to say, I don't know what I ever did without the crossposter. It makes my life a gazillion times easier. I've also discovered inline cut tag expansion and tag merging. So. much. less. annoying than LJ!<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=257881" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:256950Vader Needs A Shrink2010-06-09T02:52:30Z2010-06-09T02:52:30Zpublic0And apparently this is news. Check it out <a href="http://screenrant.com/darth-vaders-professional-diagnosis-mikee-63555/"> here</a>, SW fans. Ironically, I've been saying all this for years. I do think they missed part of the diagnosis though. Histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder should also be included. <br /><br />What I want to know is, what took them so long to figure all this out?<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=256950" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:256165Nightmares: The New Normal.2010-06-04T11:53:36Z2010-06-04T11:53:36Zpublic0Okay, actually <i>nightmares</i> in general just <b>are</b> the norm around here. Usually, though, they are the same kind that I've had for years. They revolve around the same set of recurring themes, and I know exactly where they come from. Most of the time, I can even tell what triggers them.<br /><br />Now, though, there seems to be a new pattern emerging: creepy, surreal, violent dreams that revolve around death, with me being thrown into completely alien (therefore disorienting) environments.<br /><br />Is there a place I can lodge a complaint? I mean, really. Aren't the recurring themes I've had for the last--what? Fifteen or twenty years enough?<br /><br />I know there are people on my lists who have violent abuse triggers, so I will spare everyone the details, but I'd really like it if I could, you know, go back to having dreams about my ex-husband or something. >.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=256165" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:255384Oh, I Am So Happy...!2010-05-06T19:29:56Z2010-05-06T19:33:48Zpublic0I know I've posted more than one rant on this subject. It's so nice to see someone else do so. And, if I may say, much more brilliantly than I've ever managed.<br /><br /><b>A lot</b>- Very many, a large number; also, very much. For example: "A lot of people think the economy is declining," or "Sad movies always made her cry a lot." It is sometimes put as <b>a whole lot</b> for greater emphasis, as in "I learned a whole lot in his class." It may also emphasize a comparative indication of amount, as in "We need a whole lot more pizza to feed everyone," or "Mary had a lot less nerve than I expected." [Colloquial; early 1800s]. <i>The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Houghton Mifflin Company. 06 May. 2010. </i><br /><br /><b>Alot</b>-A big, adorable shaggy monster which looks like a cross between a bear, a yak, and a pug. Alots exist to act as comforters and companions--sometimes therapists--for individuals who have a compulsive need to correct other people's grammar.<br /><br />If you need an alot as much as I do, go here:<br /><br /><a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html">http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html</a><br /><br /><small>Now, if only I had an <i>Alright</i> life would be perfect!</small><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=255384" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:254754*Headdesk!* And Other Not So Nice Words Associated With Computers2010-05-04T17:09:29Z2010-05-04T17:09:29Zpublic0Well, it would seem that my luck with data surviving the death of my computer does not extend to my graphics. A lot of my coloring scripts don't want to work with my new computer due to some odd difference in directory paths between XP and Win7. It also looks like I lost the folder that had most of my SG-1 season 4 icons (about 100 icons per episode) waiting to be converted to image files and uploaded. Somehow, I managed to either delete the back-up folder or I never had a back-up of the PSP files in the first place. <br /><br />All in all, I still have to say that my paranoia about data back-ups has paid off. If I have to lose something, I would much rather have it be icons/graphics than anything writing related. However, I'm sorry to say that it will probably be a while before I make another attempt at an SG-1 season. (Unless of course my mere <i>mention</i> of SG-1 sparks some kind of revival.) I haven't given up my goal to icon through the series, but I'm pretty discouraged at the loss of that set, and currently my inspiration for visual art runs toward other shows. Gosh, I feel like such a disloyal little 'Gater these days...<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=254754" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2010-04-15:500318:252523Well, I went and did it...2010-04-15T20:49:36Z2010-04-15T20:50:23ZEvanescencepublic0What is this, the third post this month? Man, I feel like I'm getting back to the swing of things. I can't tell if that's good or bad. *snerk*<br /><br />It's been a busy month so far. I have some news. First, I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my father/daughter question. I can't promise I'll use everything, but it's all been really helpful to me. Second, in my last post, I mentioned I was thinking about getting a dreamwidth account. I actually did so without deliberating about it for another year. Why? Well, my paid time on LJ is about to run out, so my options were either to renew the paid account or buy a dreamwidth account, so I went with dreamwidth. I'm not jumping ship, but I like it so far. I need an easy way to update/maintain a mirror blog in case of disaster, and the journal import feature is a major plus! I only wish I could import the posts from my icon comm, but oh well. My username is the same there if anyone wants to friend, but either way, I'll continue to crosspost entries on LJ (and on my poor neglected IJ, maybe?).<br /><br />There are a couple of people on my LJ-flist whose icons I imported. Some people don't like their work being used off LJ--if that's you, please let me know. The userpics I imported are <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/allpics.bml?user=so_out_of_ideas"> here</a>.<br /><br />In other news, my brother called me this week and informed me that just about my whole family is on facebook and my mother wanted to know why I didn't have one. So, I'm now also on facebook. Link on the sidebar.<br /><br />Oh yeah--and speaking of the sidebar, I've done some renovation around here. It took me a long time to make myself do it, but I finally removed the links to all of my old RPG forums. I think the last time I was active in an RP was around 2007, but it was still hard to do. I met so many friends on those boards, and the characters still mean the world to me, but really is time to admit that it's a closed chapter in my life. I just can't post regularly anymore. Maybe that will change again in the future, but for now there's nothing else for it.<br /><br />In fiction related news, I started posting that <i>Land and Sky</i> story I promised. Thus far, the reaction has been positively underwhelming! *snicker* I've also been working on the outlines for <i>Gemini Tide</i> and <i>Getting It Together</i> this week. I think now have two separate stories that actually are NOT depressing! o_O Something must be wrong with me.<br /><br />Oh! Oh! I started a <i>Bloodkin</i> vid that I have wanted to do forever but I was missing clips of several characters Took me about two hours to finish the first 28 seconds. >.< Yes, I'm off to a great start. I just love AU vidding. (NOT!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494864/"> Tenderness</a> is due from Netflix this afternoon. Stand by for squeeage!<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=so_out_of_ideas&ditemid=252523" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments