Fame at last, and other things

[jadesfire]

Before I forget! in_the_bottle, thank you so much for the card! It arrived a while back but I keep forgetting to say thank you. I've brought it to work so I can have it on my desk. Also, bironic, your card arrived last night (I think the international post is quicker than the UK's) and well, it's entirely possible that I welled up. Just a little bit. *cough*. Thank you, so much. Plus, I love your handwriting :)

I think the list form is working for everyone, so I intend to continue with it...

1. Our choir was on the Radio 4 news last night! We sounded more than a little out of tune at first, and there wasn't much of it, given it was the 'on a lighter note' piece right at the end, but the last bit was fine. Apart from when they called us the Bodleian library choir. *sigh* I have an MP3 of it, so if someone explains to me (preferably in words of one syllable) how to upload it, I'm happy to do that.

2. I got brave enough last night to go back to my Slimming World group. Or rather, my husband said 'are you going?' I said 'can you take me?' (expecting him to say no) and he said 'of course - when do you want to leave?' So I went and the news was not good. I have a rather...complicated...relationship with food (me? Complicated? I can hear you all gasping in surprise) and I keep going to group not only to keep the weight off, but to keep myself in control of it. But the other half and I talked it through, figured out what was going on and have put some strategies in place to cope. I need to get the pounds off again so that I fit back into my clothes! When I lost the weight before, I bought new ones, and I can't afford to do that again. Fortunately, on Slimming World, Christmas is pretty easy, as long as I avoid the cakes and biscuits, or at least don't go mad on them. We're going to go somewhere that I can wear my new (and uncomfortably tight) dress once I get back to Target, so there's definitely an added incentive!

3. The writing is stalled, mostly because I've scared myself. I'm immensely proud of what I've written in my Sic Transit Tempus series, but it means I feel I have to live up to them. Which is where the fear sets in. What if I can't? What if I'm not up to it? I've taken some tentative stabs at it, but need to get writing if I'm going to have it done for when I want it done. A drabble-fest may be the way forwards...

4. I haz nominations! I was vaguely aware of tw_fandom_award, but Chrys told me about it last night so I went to check it out. I was chuffed to see so many of my flist there - you earned it guys! I'm going to work my way through the nominated stories as I attempt to switch my head back to Torchwood-mode. Congrats to everyone nominated :D

And a meme! Last scene at travels_in_time's:

I know very little about some of the people on my friends list. Some people I know relatively well. I read your journals, or we have something else in common and we chat occasionally. Some of you I hardly know at all. Perhaps you lurk, for whatever reason. But you friended me and I thank you for your interest in my words.

But here's a thought: why not take this opportunity to tell me a little something about yourself. Any old thing at all. Just so the next time I see your name I can say: "Ah, there's so and so...they listen in rapture to the love-music of she-turnips." I might feel compelled to mock your musical taste, but I'll certainly remember you.

It would be great if every single person who friended me would do this. Yes, even you people who I know really well. Then post this in your own journal and see what gems of knowledge appear.
I know there are some people who lurk shyly around there or who've friended me recently - I'm always surprised when people do that (sometimes I bore myself so how the rest of you put up with me I have no idea), so I'd love to meet you properly!

Comments

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

If SW isn't working I'd recommend www.weightlossresources.co.uk who saw me through a 6 stone loss in 2006 (and keeping most of that off this year too)...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

SW works perfectly when I stick to it! I go for the support network, and because I enjoy helping out in the group - with my SAD lately, I haven't much felt like going or sticking to it. But I joined in Jan. 2005, so it'll be my 3 year anniversary in January, and it's helping me get back into the right mindset.

And wow! Congratulations! that's a huge achievement - I shall toddle over to the website and have a look :)

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

The key is to have the mindset... I think it doesn't matter where you get it from, although WLR does seem to collect a lot of SW refugees who find that being allowed to eat as much as they want of certain foods means they're bound to fail because they simply don't have the "stop eating" now mechanism they need...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*nods* It's not a plan for everyone, despite what they say (although you didn't hear that from me ;)) I'm hungry pretty much all the time, whether I stick to it or not, but I eat my own body weight in fruit and pasta, so it seems to be working :) I can see though for some people that it would be a problem. I shall definitely come and check out the site :D

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

1. I wants to hear it! When you figure out the mp3 thing, let me know...

2. Good luck with Slimming World - Christmas is (despite what everyone says) a good time to diet, as it's easier to say no when you can see what you're saying no to, if you see what I mean... Um...

3. *sends encouraging vibes* And a drabble prompt for you - 'Jack', 'etch-a-sketch' :D

4. *bounceflailwrigglebounce*

And I have no idea what I can tell you that you don't already know. Um... I used to want to be a make-up artist, and got as far as applying for a course in Cardiff about eight years ago.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

1. This (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=C6W7DG8H) should be a link to the MP3 *crosses fingers*

2. Worryingly, I usually know what you mean :) You're right - I'm much more in control when we're at home all the time. Being at work is trickier. It's just a case of hoping relatives don't do the "oh just have one" thing, because the problem is I can't just have one...

3. I love the prompt, and know exactly what I'm going to write for it. The encouragement is much appreciated and I'll let you know the minute I have something ;)

4. *grin* You know you've got 4 fics nominated, right? Like you, I had no idea, but am also incredibly excited - it's quite the list and really flattering to be on it!

*giggle* I'm not sure I know everything, despite sharing the brain and all that ;) That's...quite cool! I can't really wear make-up as it makes my skin itch, so I am in constant wonder of people who do.

Drabble (or possibly ficlet, since Jack's getting chatty) to follow!

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Ooh ficlet! Yay :D We did secret santa at work today, and I got a mini-etch-a-sketch, which I've been playing with all day waiting to play with until I finished work... *innocent face*

The nominations thing really cheered me up - like you, I've been having a bit of a downer on my writing lately (although obviously for different reasons), and it's heartening to see that at least four people don't think I suck...

I love make-up far more than is healthy. Every so often I do a rough guesstimate of how much I've spent on the current contents of my make-up case, and invariably end up giving up when I reach triple figures... When I was a teenager I used to do all my friends' make-up for them, and for a while I had a nice line in fake bruises... ;) Now I'm limited to making up myself, and S when she's feeling generous, or the occasional friend of a friend who bemoans the fact they don't know how to apply the stuff...

Oh and as for the sic tempus series - I agree with Terry - don't force it. If inspiration strikes in time to get it done before the new series starts, then that's great, but if not, don't worry about it. No point in torturing yourself.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

I'm making up a list of stuff to read when I have a few days off at year's end, and I'm adding your fabulous Torchwood series.

Stuff about me: I grew up in the country and had a pet rooster I trained to fly up and ride on my shoulder.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Thanks - there's more drabbles over at heretoutopia than I care to admit to, but there's plenty of other stuff too. Hope you enjoy - and I'd love to hear any recs that you have from holiday reading. I don't read nearly enough at the moment.

*blinks* Wow. That's so cool! All these hidden talents on my flist... ;D

[(Anonymous)]

1. A site like www.megaupload.com or www.sendspace.com makes it really easy. They have instructions, but basically it's like attaching a document to e-mail. Browse to your mp3 file and click, and the site does the rest. When it's uploaded, it will give you a link. Then you post the link to the rest of us!

2. Good for you for going back! I need to go back to Weight Watchers, I guess, because unless somebody's holding me accountable, I have a hard time.

3. I'm not sure what to tell you. If I say that I have confidence in you, then you may feel like you have to live up to that, too. I'll just say that you should be proud of what you've done, and you should have fun with what you do next. If it's not fun, wait until it is.

I still kind of like the serial-killer thing in Discworld, although with donutsweeper and hellenebright doing all those Jack/Fraser fics and Jack crossing into Discworld, I kind of wish somebody would explore exactly WHY Carrot and Angua=Fraser and Diefenbaker so perfectly.

Also, I will NEVER argue with drabbles.

4. Congratulations you! I didn't know anything about this, so I saw it posted last night and was really surprised. I was happy to see so many familiar names on it.

I was thinking last night it was funny--there's blood, sweat, and tears in some of my stories, but the ones that got nominated are the cracky ones that I tossed off in thirty minutes with no forethought whatsoever. :) Oh, well, somebody liked them enough to nominate them, and that really is the point of writing--not the nomination, of course, but the enjoyment.

Meme: I love to sing, but I'm really, really horrible at it. I have a range of about five notes, all at the very low end of the scale, all flat. This does not prevent me from singing loudly at every opportunity. :D

--Terry

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

1. THANK YOU! I have conquered my fear and will post the link in a minute...

2. It's the accountability and the support that I need. If I could do it on my own, I would have done it. But the groups, the laughing and the giving support to other people really helps me. I don't have much to lose, but the last few pounds are always the slowest...

3. If it's not fun, wait until it is. I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're exactly right. It's become a burden rather than a joy, and I need to find the fun again. Drabbles should help.

And oh good grief...a 3 way crossover is going to be waaay too much, but I might be able to work in a reference...it'll be an Easter Egg, but since it's you, I'll see what I can do :)

4. I know exactly what you mean - my fluffy Jack/Ianto or crack-fics get much more squeeing than my carefully crafted stuff. It just seems to be the way of things. But yes, the nominations are hugely flattering :)

I'm glad to hear you still sing - it's doing it and loving it that counts.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

*hug*

That was quick -- I just took it to the post office on Saturday. Huh.

Congrats on your nominations! One day when I inevitably watch some Torchwood -- or perhaps before then -- I will come back and check out your stuff in that fandom.

Hm, a little something about myself... I play the piano a little bit? But I'm awful about sitting down to learn new stuff, so I play the same, like, five pieces over and over. Some of my favorites are a couple of pieces from Amelie and one from The Piano because not only are they in minor key and really pretty but all your fingers are constantly moving.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* The stories I'm most proud of only tangentially relate to canon - they're backstory, so have the lead-up, rather than requiring knowledge. But just as you guys sucked me into SGA, I'm slowly sucking other people into Torchwood *mwahahahaah*cough*

That sounds like my approach to paino playing - I can play enough to enjoy myself, and that does me. I know the kinds of pieces you mean - they're my favourite sort :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

#1. If you've saved it to your computer go to www.sendspace.com. where it says 'select file' click the browse button and find where you saved it and click on it. If you want type up something for the description (not neccessary), check the box saying you read the terms of service (which basically say you're not trying to make money off something that's copyrighted)and click upload file. wait 20 seconds and it'll give you a link to give to others to download the file.

#2. Congrats for trying to lose weight and sticking to a plan!

#3. drabbles are wonderful. There's probably a reason more than half of what I wrote are drabbles. And the instant feedback off something you wrote is always nice. Maybe do one of the meme's (timestamp or dialogue or something) that dont require betas or anything, and don't even necessarily get posted to the comms, but you've done something and gotten the juices flowing?

#4 YAY! and Of course you got nominated! A lot of people on our flist did, which was wonderful to see!

umm.. random fact about me...

I grew up just outside of New York City and went into to see the museums and shows on Broadway and all the big sites there frequently. I had no idea what a big deal that was at the time. Now, more than 1000 miles away, I can't believe how blithely I treated those trips

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I *think* I've managed a megaupload thingummy - I'll post the link in a minute and we'll see if I have :)

I think drabbles are definitely the way forward for Sic Transit Tempus. I've lost the fun and the confidence, so I need to find it again.

The nominations were a bit of a who's who from my flist, which was quite fun - I always maintain that I have the best TW writers on my flist, and now I have the evidence.

I think I used to have a similar attitude to things in London. Oxford's not bad, but there are times when I get withdrawal symptoms from having everything just *there* instead of a couple of hours away.

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

I have a higher tolerance than usual people when it comes to salt and sugar. I can eat about any concentration of both and have been known to lick the pure thing when I've been bored.

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the nominations - you deserve them. *hugs*

A little something about myself, eh? Uh . . . Blood Brothers was the first stage musical I ever saw. How's that?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

You too! It's an odd mix - I think a lot of people knew nothing about it, so there are some stories I would have wanted to see up there that aren't. Still, it's a nice idea and maybe will gather momentum for next year.

Blood Brothers is one I still haven't seen - I think the first thing I saw was "She Loves Me" which is a very Christmassy musical and very much fun :)

[jack-magic.livejournal.com]

I had a dream last night where there was this telepathic king who looked just like John Simm and also That Sherrif Bloke from Robin Hood, and he was chasing me around a banquet hall filled with hookers for misspelling "Courcel" in my head.

I love Jaqueline Carey books and Sudoku, I'm getting on a plane in three hours, and since I friended you I have learned where to find H/W fic besides your friends list.

I am officially sick of the Writer's Strike.

How's that for random?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Exceedingly random :D I'm glad I could help feed your fic reading!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

1.
Apart from when they called us the Bodleian library choir.

I was just excited that I recognized the name Bodleian. *g*

4. Congratulations! This is the first I'd heard of those awards - well deserved nominations, I'd say.

Random thing about me: I prefer to eat all my food out of mugs, with chopsticks (or if it's soup, I just drink it). If I must use a plate, I use a dessert size plates. I have a feeling this is a carryover from living in China for a year and eating out of those little hand-held bowls. I've just never had to retrain myself since I live alone.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* It's a continual source of annoyance for those of us who don't work for the Bodleian, but I understand why they do it - Oxford University Library Services sounds much less impressive.

That's...unusual, to say the least. But I guess that makes sense, in a roundabout kind of way ;) I'm more of a 'largest plate I can find' kind of girl, although I do always eat things separately and save my favourite for last...

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

OULS is kind of a cool acronym, though. Almost like the nocturnal predator. :)

I was thinking more about the bowl/mug thing after I posted that, and I think it also might have to do with not eating at a table. I mostly eat standing in the kitchen or curled up on the couch, and it's hard to do that while holding a plate. Though maybe I should force myself to sit at a table, because I hear food is much better for you when you treat it like it's important!

I used to save my favorites for last, too! (Back when they were separate, on a plate, heh.) I would have trouble with them getting cold sometimes.

[gallifaerie.livejournal.com]

Hi. I admit, I am a lurker **hangs head** Thought I'd do the meme and actually comment this time, instead of lurking around on my flist.

Congratulations on your nominations! You deserve them! Can't wait for the Watching Years. =}

Anyway, the meme: I used to be part of an African drumming club and on two occasions I had dreams that became reality...spooky.