jadesfire

I was going to be awesome this morning, since we had an awesome weekend (wait til you see what I bought!) and I cycled in and the sun is shining and I'm going to buy buttons later on (shush, I'm excited) and all kinds of stuff like that.

Sadly, my brain has decided it is not awesome, it is badbadbad and it doesn't want to play. I'm okay, or rather I will be, this too shall pass etc etc and I'm just trying not to eat my body-weight in cake while I wait it out.

*twiddles thumbs*

Anyone care to tell me how they're awesome? Come on, guys, cheer me up here! [/demanding]

I am not feeling particularly awesome today. Mostly, I am cold, tired and hungry (I just ate, so am waiting for it to kick in). And a little grumpy, but that's just randomised stress that I can't seem to get rid of.

Despite this, today I am awesome because I cycled all the way to work in 21 minutes. And that included two nose-blowing stops, because damn, it's cold out there. Also, I am awesome because I got coffee from the staff room without getting cake as well. That's been one of my big blind-spots lately, I think. I'll help myself to a piece at morning break, then another at lunch, then completely forget about them and have another with afternoon break. I think. It's hard to tell, since I tend to forget! So the plan down to Easter is not to have the cake at all, which will be horribly hard, but then I can go back to having it after Easter once I know I'm in charge, not it! I will be master of my own cake consumptions! Mwahahahaha *cough*

Thanks for all the recipes yesterday, guys. Between you and the BBC Good Food magazine, I fully intend to eat well over the coming months :)

So tell me, how are you awesome today?

Mornin' all. It's grey and a little miserable out there this morning, but not raining at least (yet). Because of this, I have decided it is about time we started being awesome again. Not that we ever stopped being awesome, you understand, but I feel our awesomeness went into hibernation with the winter.

To get us going:

Today I am awesome because I worked out how to create a .CSV file. It probably saved me an hour of tedious copying and pasting into gmail and was almost ridiculously easy to do. (I feel like I should be wearing a badge marked 'ask me how!')

I am also awesome because I got a coffee on my way in to work but didn't buy any baked goods. My weight has been slowly creeping up over the last few months, which isn't a problem in abstract, but is when my clothes were bought for someone 14 pounds lighter! It won't be a major wrench to cut out the junk, but it is going to require concentration. I feel like I'm off to a good start :D

For anyone who's wandered in and is wondering why all the egotism, from my original post:

The British are normally terrible about being proud of what they achieved. We get all embarrassed and blushy and 'ah, well, you know'y about it. But for the next month, I'm going to try and post the things I am achieving, the things that I am proud of, the things that make me awesome. Because I want to be awesome. Come join me.

This is not a space for embarrassment or modesty. I *know* you all rock, whether it's because you aced that exam or took that picture that you're proud of or left someone a comment that made them smile or took a walk in the sunshine and felt good or remembered to take your tablets this morning. There are days when keeping breathing for the next minute is a stunning achievement. I want to know about that. Please, tell me.

So tell me, flist, how are you awesome today?

I actually slept last night, deeply and properly for the first time in I-don't-know-how-long. It makes a staggering difference, and I am therefore obnoxiously cheerful. Seriously, it's horrible, but I don't care XD

On the other hand, I opened up my flist to find that just as I'm having a good day, everyone else seems to be being hit by life, and hit hard. Apparently 2009 didn't get the memo that it's supposed to be better than 2008, not worse. I am currently looking for someone to write to to complain.

Because of this, I don't think my usual "HOW ARE YOU AWESOME??" meme is quite going to cut the mustard* this morning. So I propose this meme instead, nicked from

apiphile (er...hope that's okay *smiles winningly*) from a while back:

ORGY OF EGO-BOOSTING!

Here's your side of the deal, you comment and tell me:

1x AWESOME thing about me.
2x AWESOME things about you. (That's right. TWO)
3x AWESOME things about a friend of yours, on or offline. I don't have to know who they are, just tell me.

Here's my side of the deal! I will reply with two AWESOME things about you. If I don't know you very well, I will make something up, post a picture of a baby animal, or write you a ~~poem.~~ drabble (seriously, no one wants me to attempt poetry, it's painful for all concerned)

Come and play! And if you know someone in comments, or even if you don't, remind them how awesome they are too. It's always a free-for-all around here, but this time, I'm making it an official free-for-all.

See, I told you. Utterly, obnoxiously cheerful and with no intention of stopping :P

*I'm British, I can get away with phrases like that and keep a straight face. Mostly

Current Mood: cheerful

Today, I am not awesome. Today I am full of fail, there's no getting away from it.

On the other hand, I have done awesome things, mostly on the cleaning front. Vinegar is my new favourite cleaning item, especially in the bathroom. It got the cloudy marks off the shower glass, it cleaned the taps but most exciting was the shower. Seriously, it was NASTY and black and horrible and I hadn't got a clue what to do with it. So I balanced a bowl on my over-bath rack (the one I use for computing in the bath, shush), put the shower head in it and filled it with vinear until the entire face was covered. This morning? It just rinsed off! It was like getting a whole new shower \o/

...yes, okay, this is maybe only exciting to me, but it's VERY exciting to me. I cleaned something! Successfully! And while I do promise this journal won't just fill with cleaning tips, I am going to keep talking about it because it's something I'm actually ACHIEVING at the moment, which is something I'm conspicuously failing at in other areas of my life.

I'm going to be out of touch most of the weekend, so I'll drop in to see how you're awesome when I can.

Come on, folks. How are you awesome today?

Current Mood: restless

Today I am awesome because I only had one piece of chocolate brownie not two, because I walked all the way to work and because I cleared a large heap of books before lunch. Oh, and last night I hoovered the flat and wiped down most of the skirting boards. I'm on a bit of a cleaning kick right now, that I'm hoping will turn into habit. Reading The Cleaning Bible is definitely inspirational, and the one piece of advice that I've decided to adopt is "if it takes longer than 5 minutes, you're not doing it often enough." Now, it takes longer than 5 minutes to hoover the whole flat, but it does only take 15 if I do it twice a week. Ditto wiping down the skirting boards, dusting things and cleaning the bath round. I'm not a naturally tidy person, but I'm finding keeping the place clean and tidy enormously good for my peace of mind and hugely satisfying. It's going to be interesting to see how long this lasts - usually my 'new habits' fizzle out after 6 weeks, so I shall keep reporting back.

( Good grief, I think about these things too much... )

I also had a lovely coffee/lunch with knitting friends, and my little stained-glass window cross-stitch is coming on nicely. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy making things, and while I can't knit or crochet, just doing something with my hands is good for my brain.

Anyway, that's me today. What about you, flist? How are you awesome today?

Current Mood: okay

Today I am awesome because I only bought what I was supposed to in Tescos. Trust me, that was hard.

It's going to be a long, hard day, so have some kitty to get it off to a good start.

becky_h, why do I imagine that you have scenes like this in your house every day? ;)

ETA: I have just been emailed by someone called 'Knut' and all I can think is that I've been emailed by a polar bear. Geez, the poor guy must have sick of the news coverage at the time...

...y'all are sure I don't owe you stuff, right? Because I've got no clue right now, so you could tell me pretty much anything and I'd believe you.

Things are definitely picking up here, in good ways, although I could do with more of the picking up and less of the tired. Since that's always the way, I'm not worrying too much and aiming for earlier nights.

But (are you ready for this?) today I am awesome because I cycled to work through the rain, which I didn't want to do. Yesterday I was awesome because I didn't eat the chocolate cake in the library even through I wanted to. On Monday I was awesome because I went to my Slimming World group after a month away. I am also awesome because I've made the hospital appointment I need (beating off the phone system with a stick), I'm working on getting some other help and I'm still sticking to my eating plan, despite the chocolate cookies in the staff room. They're my 'working late' treat, and I'm not going to have one til the end of the day. *stays strong*

Yup, that's three days of awesome, folks. *buffs nails* So come on and tell me - how are you awesome today? And getting out of bed totally counts.

I had a very cool idea for a Macguffin last night, and I think it's going in the story I'm brewing for

azure_chaos, which will also be my first NCIS story. Apparently mainlining S1 and S2 for a few days has given me the bug.

There's still lots to do and a long, long way to go before I feel close to better again, but I figure I'm making a good start :) Also, my list-table is getting bigger, although that's not necessarily a good thing...

( eh, I'll get there. )

Today, I am certifying myself as aweseome once again.

Just as one night's sleep can make the world of difference, so can one night's insomnia, and I've been the walking dead today. On the other hand, I've still managed to get a good lot of work done, as well as finishing my first 'proper' Supernatural story and taking tentative steps to starting one for

tardis_bigbang. I've also done all the admin needed for

bau_bigbang and am loving my co-mods right now *loves*. For the first time ever, I feel geniunely multi-fannish, and I'm really enjoying it. There's less chance for me to get bored, and less pressure somehow. I'm happily paddling and it's all good :)

There's still a shedload of stuff that I didn't get done, including clearing out the gazillion library links that I've gathered as well as the ones I thought you guys might like. Maybe I'll just have to dish them out in small doses. Here's a few to get me going:

Nine words you might think came from science but which are really from science fiction [with thanks to

aoibhe for the link]
Stargate Sunday at Cakewrecks. SGA: Good enough to eat.
How much would I love my Google page to look like this?
The Library of Congress puts the nation's treasures on YouTube

I'm going to have a go at some more of the 'Five Things...' prompts that you all thought I'd forgotten just to get my brain shifted back into Harkness-mode.

If anyone else is trying to get back into writing-mode at the moment, do have a look at

writercon100. I'm still gutted beyond the telling that I won't be able to go this year, but at least I can help someone else. No donation required on the part of the writers, just some time and words, but it could make a huge difference to the scholarship fund. This week's prompt is "con" but you're not constrained by that in any way. Check out the 'matching pledges' here to see how to raise even more money!

Oh, and I'm thinking of updating a meta I wrote a while ago about structure and tone in stories. Something I was listening to today completely threw me by taking what felt like a left-turn halfway through. It wasn't a problem exactly, just that I felt that the two halves weren't connected in any meaningful way, except by the plot. I'm not sure that makes sense to anyone but me, so I might try to put it into sensible language at some point, along with the meta about Gen that I've been meaning to write. Oh, and the one about writing action. At this rate, I'm going to need a list of lists...

Everyone okay? It's all going quiet for Passover and Easter, but I'm sure some of you are still out there in LJ-land.

I missed the awesome post yesterday, so just take my word for it. We had a lovely day with a friend, I did some stuff and I made

major_jim some Norwegian Cinnamon Buns*, which are yummy. I'm actually starting to worry that he's getting addicted, but I make one batch and they last all week, so at least I know he's eating breakfast.
ETA: With thanks to

blottedcopybook, from whom I nicked the above link - apparently this recipe works a little better, as it's not just me who has sticky dough issues!

I'm waaaaay behind on writing at the moment, which I'm mostly blaming on taking on new shows. Numb3rs and Supernatural aren't the most natural fandoms to pair together (although there's probably a meta about brothers in there somewhere), but I'm finding them a good balance. Still, all this new material seems to be killing other fannish braincells. I've got 2 outstanding SGA commitments to meet (sadly, I didn't get anything done in time for the Critias deadline), but then I think I'm...well. Not done with the show, exactly, but there are other aspects of it I want to dig out, some AUs I want to write and some characters I want to explore. But John, Rodney? Sorry guys, it was fun while it lasted.

Maybe in the midst of all this new stuff I needed some nostalgia, or maybe because they're the kind of fics that stick to your brain and won't let go, when I was looking for something short-ish to podfic last night, these were the only two stories I could wrap my tongue around. So I'm totally counting these in my awesome-stakes.

Title: Duck Duck Goose
Author:

nightdog_writes
Reader:

jadesfire2808
Fandom: House
Pairing: Gen
Length: 8:43 mins/3.49 MB
Link: Megaupload

Title: Ugly Duckling
Author:

nightdog_writes
Reader:

jadesfire2808
Fandom: House
Pairing: Gen
Length: 4:10 mins/1.67 MB
Link: Megaupload

These were such a joy to read, I can't begin to tell you. Podficcing's a strange beast. I only record stories I love, but some of them just will not work with the cadences of my voice. Others read like they were written just for me, and there's something about the understatement and smooth tone of Nightdog's work that works for me, somehow. So huge thanks to her for permission and for writing the stories in the first place! Crossposted to

amplificathon.

*As with most of Nigella Lawson's recipes, this one is extremely flexible and forgiving. Also, the 600g of flour for the pastry doesn't seem to be enough - I just kept adding more until the dough felt right, which at a guestimate was about 800g.

There are days when I swear that living with me must be like having a toddler in the house. I've been fragile and fractious for days without any definite cause. The tantrum thrown when my other half suggested going out this afternoon was truly impressive, but fortunately he is always right (except when he isn't) so when he told me to go to bed and sleep, I did.

Oh. Good. Grief.

I only slept for 3 hours, but it's like inhabiting my own brain for the first time in a long time. Best feeling ever. So today I am awesome for sleeping, as well as for giving the flat a really thorough clean, doing washing, making dinner and posting fic. Oh yeah, I'm on a roll.

Everyone having an awesome weekend?

Nearly forgot the awesomeness post! I got distracted by the numbers and bright green bars on my podfic downloads.

...yeah, okay, it's been a long day...

Today I am awesome because I spoke up at the meeting when I was supposed to and even made sense. Also, someone told me that they'd "heard you're really good" and I remembered not to deny it. Woot.

I now have more SPN podfic than you can shake an iPod at, because I've found it a good, painless way to find new authors. If I don't like the story, I have my skip button ;) But I need to flag up some tagging at the audiofic archive, because while my definition of 'Gen' is actually pretty loose, it doesn't not include *ahem* Dean/Dean fic. And yes, there's only one of him in the story. *facepalm*

Am debating the DVD commentary meme and the 'which character do you think I am meme', but frankly the 'dammit, I'm tired and going to bed' meme is winning right now. If there are any takers, let me know in the morning ;)

I expect to see lots of awesomeness here when I wake up, people. It's the weekend! That has to be awesome, right?

I've kept up daily 'posts of awesome' for nearly a month now, and I'd love to say it was doing me the world of good. The truth is that sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't, but hearing how everyone else is awesome? That's very, very good for me. I like to talk (just in case you hadn't worked that out) and everyone encouraging each other, nattering away in comments and generally being chatty around me does me more good than I can properly say.

Today I am awesome because I got out of bed and came to work. Right now, that feels pretty damn huge.

Anyone else out there being awesome? Come tell me about it.

( Also, is it possible to be an entrepreneurial librarian? )

Did you miss me?

It's been a manic couple of days, so I'm just taking it easy and pottering today. Work's going to be beyond nuts when I go back, so it's going to stay quiet for a while, I would think. Everything's ticking over nicely, thanks, I'm just busy :) There's writing to be done, comms to run, deadlines to meet, money to earn and forms to fill out. And somewhere in there, I probably need to eat and sleep, little things like that.

O.O See you in a few months...

How is everybody? Still awesome? Actually, that's a silly question. I know you're awesome. Come tell me how. I could use the lift right now.

NB: Some of you know what I've been up to in the last couple of days. And in case you haven't figured it out or don't follow me on Twitter, no, it didn't go so well :( This probably doesn't need saying, but the full details were posted under f-lock so I'd appreciate keeping it vague on this post. Full update to follow. Ta muchly

I have been WRITING! WRITING! This is my awesome for today, because that's been so hard lately that I'm all excited. I've got 2 'Five...' fics finished and a third well under way. It's going to take me a while to get through all 27, but I'm going to plug away at them as I work on other things. Originally I was going to take them in fandom batches, but they're not coming to me like that, so brace yourself for random fic over the next few months.

Additionally, huge thanks to everyone who voted in the Children of Time awards. Movie Night came joint first in the Torchwood Episode Tag category, which is lovely :) It even got a decent review from

cot_tossed, which was entirely unexpected! I wasn't actually sure it would work for anyone who didn't know Sic Transit Tempus, and am chuffed people liked it.

I also had an awesome time with my mother today, and made cinnamon buns for my husband which look and smell *amazing*. All in all, an awesome Sunday :)

I'm not going to be around for a few days, but will be twittering (this username) and online when I can manage it. Take care, everyone, and remember to stay awesome!

Thank you so much for last night guys. Recently, I've been getting the prods I need to get myself sorted out, so I'm going to try to get on that really soon.

Today I have been awesome because I have done the ironing. I HATE ironing.

And because I always do what my flist tells me to, allow me to promote:

International Fannish Feel Yourself Up Day

Gals, if you're not checking for lumps on a regular basis, get right on that. Quickly, please. Too many folks I know are being hit by cancer right now. This one's for

fan_eunice, who's just starting to fight this sucker. And Guys, keep an eye (or, you know, hand) on the relevant parts of your anatomy too, okay? (that means armpits too - lymphoma's actually more common in men) You find anything, you go right to the doctor's, you hear me? I don't care if you think it's nothing. I don't care if you think you're being stupid. That's a helluva lot better than the alternatives. Go.

Other things roll on apace, including my growing love for Supernatural. You guys who promised me recs, I think I'm ready for them now (I'm up to 2.08 "Crossroad Blues" so no major spoily fics, tx). I'd particularly like podfic recs if you have them, since I'm about to spend a while on trains and away from home, and could use good fic to listen to. I know the stuff on my Zen practically off by heart by now.

ETA: Okay, please could more people with microphones start recording in the Gen category? Please? Because it's getting embarrassing to click on the Torchwood:Gen category and have to scroll past all the fics I recorded. I mean, I recorded them because I love them, but it's weird listening to your own voice...

So that's two ways you can be awesome for me today. How else have you been awesome?

I might have been awesome at some point today. Mostly I feel I have been sad and generally failed at being a human. And now I'm just tired and in need of a hug,

Except I'm current home alone, so I'll have to settle for hugging a stuffed penguin.

*pulls blanket over head*

Today I am awesome because I got back on my bike! I'm still knackered at the moment, but I rode to and from work, which is a major, major win. I'm also tentatively starting to write again - something seems to have knocked me for six on that front lately, so I'm approaching with caution, but the words are just about there, I think.

What about you guys? Still out there? Still awesome?

Since it's now been over a fortnight since I really sat down and wrote something, I'm thinking that I need to kickstart my brain a little. The lack of writing is probably precipitated by taking on new material, but I also feel the need to get some words in some kind of pleasing order, so. A meme picked up from

seperis's journal (adapted to suit my flist):

You post a topic, list, category, whatever, in my comments section. (examples: "Five Things James Wilson Remembers About His Childhood", or "Five colours the Torchwood Hub was painted" or "Five Things Teyla Will Never, Ever Tell Kanaan"). Then, in a separate post, I'll post the answers to your Top 5 ideas, according to me. Serious or fun!

I'll tackle this for: SGA, New Who, Torchwood, Criminal Minds, Discworld, Sapphire and Steel, Numb3rs and (oh, go on then) Supernatural. Please bear in mind that for the last one, I'm only 15 episodes in and keep it nice and general. Ta muchly

ETA: Er...guys...I know you love me and all, but 1 or 2 requests each, kaithanx? My brain can only take so much :D

Today, not only am I awesome for trying to get my writing brain going again *points upwards* but...er...

...

D'you know, for the first time, I can't think of anything. Um. Well, this is awkward. Seriously, I got nothing here.

*whistles*

Come on then, folks. Give me prompts so I can demonstrate my awesome writing-fu and tell me why you're awesome, so I can bask in vicarious awesomosity (yes, it's a word, I just made it up :P)

It's 9.50 and I'm turning in nice and early in an attempt to stave off incipient exhaustion. But I *know* that you guys are awesome today and there was no way I was missing this. Do y'all realise that we've been awesome for over 2 weeks now? 2 weeks! I didn't know I could concentrate on anything for that long. You guys are definitely keeping me going here, so don't be too shy to say how awesome you are.

Today I am awesome for many little reasons that add up to a whole heap of awesome :)
- I stuck it out at work despite feeling like I wanted to crawl under the table and curl up.
- I got the results of last week's awesomeness and yup, I was awesome then!
- I had a fantastic coffee with a friend I hadn't seen in months
- I wrote 20 words on a fic I haven't touched for months (yes, Z, I started the bridging scene \o/)
- I cycled home through the wind and the rain
- I had dinner ready for my poor hubby when he got in from work, wet and cold, at 9pm
- I chatted with the awesome new

bau_bigbang mods and think we're going to work really well together. Comms exist, as do emails and cunning plans - watch out, Quantico, here we come!
- I am having an early night to stop this cycle before it really starts
- I stuck to my Slimming World plan 100% despite HUGE temptation.

Oh yeah. Despite appearances to the contrary, I rocked today. What about you guys? Tell me how awesome you are!

Some days, the bear gets you

Is there more coffee?

Happy Humpday

stamps foot

Eh, about half and half.

Spick and span and ready to go.

"I want to wear tights!"

"The Three Muskateers, Part Three! You wouldn't have liked Part Two, it was all plot."

Tentatively awesome

Monday? Huh.

What else can you do with 400 tonnes of cold porridge?

Oops

More awesome than I thought

I Ate'nt Ded

Awesome Sunday

loves

Awesome?

Actually awesome

An Awesome Meme

Awesomely sleepy

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