(no subject)

[cleolinda]

Horoscope of Deadly Accuracy: You need some private time alone with yourself. You need it, and you're going to have it. Be prepared to explain it to your loved ones, and rest assured that even if they're not happy, they'll get over it.

The Lovely Emily and I went to see Goblet of Fire again on a nerdtastic, last-minute whim last night, and if you're asking yourself, "What's wrong with that?," this is because you are unaware that tornado warnings had swept the area only a couple of hours before. We were in danger of very little death by the time we went, though, and for a while it looked like we would actually have the theater entirely to ourselves, but then three girls, a mixed group, two guys, and one loner in the whiplash section rolled in. It was my third time seeing it, and I have to say, my funny started to wake up this time. It's still going to be a hard slog through a parody, though, and it still won't be put online (I don't think).

I only have two more classes, a paper, and an exam, though. The class on Monday will be a party, and we are required to bring only foods that appeared in the books we read (Typee, Venus in Boston/City Crimes, The House of the Seven Gables, The Morgesons, The Lamplighter, Pierre), which is going to be interesting. Almost everything in Typee, being set on Polynesian islands (I think? They're islands, I know that), is right out, and I really don't have time to manage Essence de Valet by Monday. I already brought soft gingerbread cookies for Seven Gables, but I think there's at least one tea party in The Morgesons that involves waffles and pound cake, so surely we can pull something out of that.

Anyway, speaking of writing up there, I have realized something, and it is probably something I realize over again every few months and then forget and have to realize again, which is this: I can't write unless I'm writing like no one is looking. It's what the Amazing McRachel would call the curse of "Look at me! Don't look at me!!" I want people to read my stuff, and I want them to enjoy it. But at the same time, I can't be thinking about that when I'm actually in the course of writing, because I sit there with my fingers poised over the keys and a sentence hovering in my brain, all the while thinking, "That's not good. They're not going to like that. It's okay, but it's meh. They're not going to laugh at that. They're going to say it's 'nice!,' but they mean that it's not as good as what I've written before. I have to live up to all that now. I can't think of anything as good as that. Oh God, I'm going to go lie down now."

And it's not even like that's all that terrible a mindset--it's just that it has a certain time and place, and that time is after you've already got a working draft in front of you. That is the moment when you circle things that aren't up to par, you mentally note that this joke is too obvious or that joke is too obscure, that you spent too much time here and not enough there. And if you write fiction, switch out "joke" for "plot twist," or "character development," or whatever element you're looking at. It's all the same process. It's just that you have to switch your internal editor off when the page is blank, and I know this, I've been preaching this for years, and somehow I've fallen into this trap all over again. Hell, I used to write diagonally across printer paper in red ink if that's what it took to convince myself that what I was writing "didn't count," and that no one was looking or keeping score, as it were. And it's particularly stupid of me to have fallen into this again, considering that this is exactly what paralyzed me while I was writing the book (with an extra dash of "Oh, shit, they're paying for it this time, too!"), but there you are.

(I would ramble on about it some more, but I've exhausted the day's ration of italics.)

In other news, it is hot and stuffy in my house and I cannot funny or paper, but it's too cold outside to justify turning on the AC. So apparently I'm going to be outside writing on the front step if it doesn't cool down soon.

(By the way... turns out my bibliography isn't due until tomorrow. The bad news is that a five-page mini-version of the paper is also due tomorrow. Sigh.)


corkdorkdan: "Target Stands by Contraceptive Policy: Target allows pharmacists to choose not to fill requests for emergency contraception, also known as Plan B, if it is against their religious beliefs. I've posted something about it on my own journal, along with other Target issues (no "Christmas" in their ads, no Salvation Army at their doors) here." See, I understand the Christmas thing--as a business, you're trying not to offend customers of other faiths, particularly since there's a shitload of winter holidays. Why not be inclusive and use the word holiday or season instead of Christmas? What I don't get is the seemingly contradictory policy to allow pharmacists to bring their religious beliefs into the marketplace. I mean, I don't agree with it anyway, but I particularly don't understand the juxtaposition here.

Texas Woman Mauled to Death by Six Dogs.

Teen With Peanut Allergy Dies After Kiss.

Some New Orleans Students Happy Elsewhere.

RIP Papa Berenstain.

mouseykins1: "May I reccommend something v. funny for HP fans? It's the official disgruntled-against-a-character form and you can....do something with it. I dunno, I just thought it was pretty funny."

"Man, I wish they would stop calling me Harry." "Hey, Frodo!"

'Lost' world created by diverse writing staff. There may be spoilers; I haven't read it yet.

There is only one Narnia collectible I want, and it is this.

The Church of Apathetic Agnosticism: "We don't know and we don't care." 

Courtesy telesilla: Victorian pr0n!

Earring of the Month Club! 

saadiira: "I know that you like to post goodies from the news. Have you done the FORBES top 200 charities yet?  It gives all kinds of interesting breakdowns on how and where they are spending."

torificus: "I keep meaning to mention to you, every time I see the links on your posts: an extension for Firefox (possibly other Mozilla things, I don't know. I'm fun and illiterate that way ;)) that pops up a reminder to click to The Hunger Site, The Breast Cancer Site, the Literacy Site, and a few others every day. :)"

Comments

[scornedsaint.livejournal.com]

That character complaint form is perfect for Hermione in HBP. Shame I'm not dorky enough to print it out and hang it on my wall out of spite.

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

Oh, the Berenstain Bears! Man, I loved those when I was little. Played the computer games, read the books...aw. And that's one of the few series that didn't go down the tubes when the kids took over. My little brothers read the recent ones, and while they're not quite as general as the old ones were, they're still good kid reads.

[mouseykins1.livejournal.com]

Yays! *does the 'mentioned' dance*
*ahem* I died laughing at the Dan=Elijah thing! I'm in a community filled with people who believe they are the EXACT SAME PERSON. I also love that Dan calls Elijah "a pretty good-looking guy".

[corkdorkdan.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what the *mentioned dance* is exactly, but I think I did it earlier today too :-)

[ambiguousreason.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about the writing; I don't like thinking about the fact that people will read my stuff. =\

[velvet4269.livejournal.com]

First Silver Jewelry Club (http://www.silverjewelryclub.com) and now this? You've seriously weakened my resolve to not buy jewelry. I've even started wearing more jewelry thanks to links I've found here.

Whoops! I need to cut this short - my pocket book is yelling at me.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hell, *I've* started wearing more jewelry.

[sophia-helix.livejournal.com]

That article about NOLA students is really interesting. The three Tulane students who came to my law school all got put into my 1L section, and I know that at least one of them isn't too keen to go back -- our school is better, for one thing, and he's already been uprooted and moved all over (he stayed in three different states after the hurricane). But what are they gonna do? Tulane Law School apparently desperately needs its students to come back because they're going to lose funding otherwise. But of course, all the freshman and 1Ls everywhere don't even have a familiar association to want to come back to. 'Tis difficult.

[lillytine.livejournal.com]

Every time I read that headline about the woman mauled by dogs, I laugh. It's so awful.

[squee1123.livejournal.com]

it leaves me to wonder how on earth it happened...and the first paragraphs don't help...she's in her yard...on a lawn mower...and six random dogs came up?

and wtf? only ONE GUY tried to help her? huh..

[sea-of-tethys.livejournal.com]

That Christmas/Emergency contraception thing is...it just makes no sense. At all.

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Hi, hope you don't mind me adding you :)

You came up on my last.fm neighbours thingie and I looked at your lj and suddenly realised it was rather familiar due to lj spotlight or whatever it was etc...

Anyway I seem destined to keep arriving back here one way or another so putting you on my friends list seems like a sensible plan :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

No problem. : )

[andromeda-77.livejournal.com]

and it still won't be put online (I don't think).
Saweeet! *smiles mischievously*

I think I like it more each time I watch it. 3 and counting...

but it's high time I download the torrent whilst I sleep.

[tifaria.livejournal.com]

Grr, the whole "right to refuse birth control" thing gets me so worked up every time I think about it. In this case, it makes even less sense than usual.

I'm sad about Papa Berenstain. :(

On a lighter note, that jewelry is really, really pretty, but I'd have to do the $15 thing, 'cause my ears, they don't like the surgical steel. But some of her other stuff for sale is really lovely, and would make cool Christmas gifts. So tempted to get a membership anyway, though. So tempted.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

"How I should love to see your lovely calf at this moment, especially after the glimpses I have already had of a divine ankle."

Heeee! Have you got round to reading Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure yet?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Nah--I'm really behind on my Victorian porn at the moment.

[timba.livejournal.com]

I HATED House of Seven Gables.
Have fun at the party tho...

[mycenae.livejournal.com]

Re: Victorian pr0n

The "Christmas Annual" has a character named Fuckatilla. ZOMG.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

And they say people didn't use dirty words back then. ; )

[theendofallthat.livejournal.com]

What's hilarious about the EC thing to me is that when I was at planned parenthood they practically forced it on me. "Want the morning after pill? Just in case? C'mon! We've just got oodles sitting around." So now I have the morning after pill in my medicine cabinet, just waiting for me to have unprotected sex. Which...no. I mean, it's not like I thought PP and Target were remotely similar, but it's still amusing that some are so willing to give it out while others aren't.

Anyway, the whole thing is dumb, and they should make it over the counter, and yadda yadda.

[corkdorkdan.livejournal.com]

Hehe, Planned Parenthood is the source of Target's policy being in the news. They raised a stink about it, which prompted Target to make the press release.

That reminds me of a scene in Mean Girls. The sex-ed instructor has just finished an abstinence only lesson, and pulls out a box of condoms saying "OK! Who wants rubbers? Anybody? Take a few"

[punkiejeannien.livejournal.com]

that wand is sweet

[barrelgoddess.livejournal.com]

Essence de Valet. Hee.

[squee1123.livejournal.com]

wow - for once i had heard about something offline BEFORE seeing it here...my friend randomly asked if I'd heard about the girl --my reflections were "That sucks...and MAN that boyfriend has to be feeling GUILTY"...though really...he shouldve know better.

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

I emailed Target about the EC thing, and I got a response. It's the same other people have gotten, but I'll post a bit here.
"In our ongoing effort to provide great service to our guests, Target consistently ensures that prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B are filled. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also requires us to accommodate our team members’ sincerely held religious beliefs.

In the rare event that a pharmacist’s beliefs conflict with filling a guest’s prescription for the emergency contraceptive Plan B, our policy requires our pharmacists to take responsibility for ensuring that the guest’s prescription is filled in a timely and respectful manner, either by another Target pharmacist or a different pharmacy.

The emergency contraceptive Plan B is the only medication for which this policy applies.
Under no circumstances can the pharmacist prevent the prescription from being filled, make discourteous or judgmental remarks, or discuss his or her religious beliefs with the guest.

Target abides by all state and local laws and, in the event that other laws conflict with our policy, we follow the law.
[...]

We’re committed to meeting the needs of our female guests and will continue to deliver upon that commitment."

[corkdorkdan.livejournal.com]

It's important to note (as I did in my own entry that's linked) that Target is one of many pharmacies that have this policy, or one similar. I don't agree with it, but I do think Target is being unfairly singled out.

[firefly-ca.livejournal.com]

Stan Berenstain's dead?! God, I'm depressed now. Although before I even began to be depressed, there was a small part of me that immediately thought, "Hey, does this mean the original books that DIDN'T talk about important growing up and/or getting along issues will be re-released? OMGWILLTHEYRE-RELEASETHEBERENSTAINMYSTERIES?" I lurved the Berenstain mystery books (remember the spooky tree and dinosaur bone ones?)

THIS (http://www.narniaweb.com/gallery.asp?img=1263&n=12&p=3) is the Narnia collectible I want. Soooo pretty.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

The witch sculpture prototypes looked like crap, but they were... prototypes. If the busts and such look as good as that bookend, I might be in trouble.

[samiamagirl.livejournal.com]

Braving death to see Harry Potter. A true fan you are indeed. I don't know why I just spoke like Yoda.

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

The White Witch's wand is absolutely fantastic. Too bad it's also expensive.

Random spam: Gregory Peck's star stolen from Hollywood Walk of Fame (http://netscape.compuserve.com/news/story.jsp?floc=MM-ent&sc=1402&idq=/ff/story/0001/20051129/2339798672.htm) My question is - what the heck would you do with it? This forcibly reminds me of an old I Love Lucy episode where they steal John Wayne's footprints.

Also, since you have good charity links, this is AIDS awareness week, and Thursday is AIDS awareness day (aka red ribbon day) - there's info and such all over the place, but I collected these in my journal and thought I'd share them, just in case, because your voice is heard much more loudly (and I mean this in a very positive way!) than mine is:

http://www.worldaidsday.org/support.asp

http://www.aidsfund.org

(http://www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp)

There is also Light to Unite, where you light a virtual candle in honor of love, friendship, strength, etc. For every candle lit, the website (run by Bristol-Myers Squibb) will donate $1 to AIDS research.
http://www.lighttounite.org

And lastly there's http://www.until.org where they sell some really gorgeous bracelets and such, the funds going to research. I didn't really have the cash to spare, but I took money my dad gave me for the holidays and bought myself the the silver plated cuff bracelet (http://until.org/cuffs.shtml).

It doesn't hurt just to make a small remembrance of what's going on, because although it's not the death sentence it once was, the problem of the virus isn't going away any time soon.

All right, that ends my spamming of you for tonight. <3 Thank you, Cleo! :)

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

I see the Gregory Peck link won't work if you're not logged into Compuserve. Annoying. :P Sorry about that! Maybe it's on E! somewhere?

[edda.livejournal.com]

Mmmmwaffles.

(Sorry, I had to.)

[bacardibreezer7.livejournal.com]

I can understand not forcing people to do stuff because of their religious beliefs. I mean, no employer can force someone to do something that goes against their beliefs. But I would think that if you chose to go into the profession of pharmacy you would have to come to terms beforehand with the fact that you are probably gonna get requests like the Pill.

[corkdorkdan.livejournal.com]

I agree, but even if you've only recently made it through college and pharmacy school (do they have those?), you probably chose pharamacist as a career before Plan B was conceived (ha!) of.

[fiveforsilver]

Don't know if you already know this, but apparently author Diane Duane reads your blog, or at least knows about you ("the noble Cleolinda" :). She mentions you here, in her latest post, in which she quotes an article you linked to recently.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I know. : ) I've run into her a few times--actually, I just got an email notification of a comment she left on an entry from the other day. The one with the Neal Stephenson link, I think. : )