Third batch of recs here (Back to the Future, Being Human, Big Bang Theory, Calvin and Hobbes, Chuck, Dollhouse, Jonathan Coulton, Leverage, Marvel Adventures: Avengers, Modern Family, Muppet Show, Nextwave, Polly and the Pirates, Pushing Daisies, Slumdog Millionaire and Up)

And I'm happy to report there's been ONE correct guess in this game... c'mon, guys, you can do it!

Day 6 hints (new hint after the / )

Story 1: movie, never written, not in interests, no pairing, G, female POV / present tense
Story 2: comics, written before, in interests, f/m pairing, explicit, male POV / present tense
Story 3: TV, never written, in interests, f/m pairing, G, male POV / present tense
Story 4: TV, never written, in interests, f/m pairing, explicit, female POV / present tense
Story 5: comics, never written, in interests, f/f subtext, teen, female POV / present tense
Story 6: TV, never written (same as one above), in interests, no pairing, G, omniscient POV / present tense
Story 7: TV, written before, in interests, no pairing, G, male POV / mix of past and present tense

GUESS HERE!

books I read this year that weren't necessarily published this year:

ANATHEM, Neal Stephenson -- this is a really long book and at first it's very slow, dense, full of made-up lingo and alien concepts, and then it becomes a rollicking adventure story and tackles all these fascinating ideas in such a way that they seem new. It's about a lot of stuff I'd been reading about in non-fiction over the last 4-5 years, but he presents it from an alien perspective, with different names for things, and somehow that makes all our real-world science and philosophy easier to understand.

MAGIC FOR BEGINNERS, Kelly Link -- it took me way too long to actually read anything by her, but oh my GOD, the story itself, "Magic For Beginners", is like the best, seriously the best short story in the history of the universe. I don't think I even read the entire collection, but when I got to the end of that story (it's like 60 pages long) I went back to the beginning and read it again. Seriously, you owe it to yourself to track down the book and read that story. It's everything good and right, magic and teenagers and love and rooftops and libraries and being obsessed with a TV show and stuff, all told in a brilliant way that I could never begin to explain. It's the best.

LIGHT, M John Harrison -- this on first read was like my favourite book EVER, but I need to read it again to doublecheck. It's one of those really mind-bendy far-flung-future books, crossed with a current-day (actually 1999/2000) story about a physicist/serial-killer, but not as stupid as I just made it sound. Really mind-expanding, heart-rending, etc. Deeply human.

DOOMSDAY BOOK, Connie Willis -- my dad gave it to me. Science fiction about a college student traveling back in time (for school!) to the middle ages and accidentally winding up in the middle of the Bubonic Plague. A bit rocky at first and then it becomes gripping and somewhat moving.

DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, Erik Larson -- Hope told me to read this, it was great. The story of the Chicago World's Fair in the late 1800s, interwoven with the story of a really fascinating serial killer. Non-fiction. Erik Larson is not related to Hope Larson or Erik Larsen, btw.

SPIN, Robert Charles Wilson -- I bought this for my dad and then I had to read it to make sure he'd like it. I think he'll like it! It's friggin' awesome! These kids are out in the backyard one night and the STARS DISAPPEAR! then over the next 30-odd years they grow up in this strange new cosmic world order. If you like speculative fictiony stuff or the big sprawling Stephen King-type sagas, this is a great book. I believe he already wrote a followup to this book (it came out around 2005 and won the Hugo) but forget that shit, this one book is good. I hate how all the sci-fi/fantasy books are all "FIRST BOOK IN THE ____ TRILOGY" or "SEQUEL TO THE AWARD-WINNING ______". I just want to pick up a book entirely based on its cover art and enjoy it or not, I don't want to become a member of your secret club.

WHEN YOU REACH ME, Rebecca Stead -- Hope got this for me for christmas. It's a YA book set in New York in the late 70s and it's about time travel and it's really quite nice. Like a classy Donnie Darko-type story for a slightly younger set. It gets into the philosophy and science stuff in a nice way, not dumbing things down. It's strongly reminiscent of the kinds of books I was always getting from the library as a child (maybe partly because it's set in the 70s). I can't talk about it too much because Hope hasn't read it yet.



I didn't read a lot of comics, feels like. I haven't even cracked open a volume of PLUTO (I was reading scanlations a few years ago, so, I mean, I've read a bunch of it, just not in these editions). So I won't do a list of comics. (i really liked DETROIT METAL CITY though)

I am considering a list of some of the (extremely sad & dorky) music i've been listening to this year. If anyone knows how to embed a little mp3 player in a livejournal post, please pass that information on in my comments.

Okay, so I'm going to make my hints a little easier, since only one person has guessed (and they had inside info)! Here are the hints I've already given / with one new one / placed with the actual story:

Story 1: movie, never written, not in interests, no pairing, G / female POV
Story 2: comics, written before, in interests, f/m pairing, explicit / male POV
Story 3: TV, never written, in interests, f/m pairing, G / male POV
Story 4: TV, never written, in interests, f/m pairing, explicit / female POV
Story 5: comics, never written, in interests, f/f subtext, teen / female POV
Story 6: TV, never written (same as one above), in interests, no pairing, G / omniscient POV
Story 7: TV, written before, in interests, no pairing, G / male POV

GUESS HERE!

Didn't read as much today, so the next recs will be tomorrow. And in case you aren't following the EPIC THOMAS YULETIDE BATTLE on Twitter, foxtwin is KICKING MY ASS in comments. *rubs behind*

I just realized I hadn't posted anything since September. *sigh*

The half marathon went well, I finished which was my goal. Sadly, I am becomming accustomed to the concept that perhaps my half marathon running and perhaps running much at all, isn't in my future. What may be tendonitis actually could be a meniscus tear my left knee. I've stayed away from running no more than 2 to 3 miles a few times a week and decided to push my tempo a bit, last night my knee was NOT HAPPY.

As far as writing goes; Proximity is still in the works, I've had some significant writer's block in addition to a VERY busy October and November. December my beta is on vacation in the US until early January. I'm still tweaking quite a bit of it and working on the meat of the chapter...when Lois accepts her Pulitzer award and Clark has to sit and watch Lois win for the article that publictly blasted Superman. It's definitely shaping to be my favorite chapter. Not to mention that Milton Fine has an interesting confrontation with Lois and Clark...after all he's Braniac and knows darn well Clark is Jason's father.

Alright; a brief summary of the past few hollidays....

Thanksgiving: Had my in-laws come to visit from California where they stayed for two weeks. We also took a week off an went to Charleston South Carolina. I love Charleston! If I ever hit the lottery, I'm moving there. Then again, my odds would increase significantly if I purchased a ticket.

Christmas: My husband and I put our foot down and made the choice to stay where we live for the first time in six years. I enjoyed not traveling hours on airplanes hauling presents and dealing with travelers who have clearly never flown on an airplane before. Especially considering the last Christmas we went to California it was spent at a Sheraton in LA because our connecting flight and all others for the evening were cancelled to our final destination. It was nice that I have some cousins as well as an aunt that live in the Atlanta area and spent Christmas with them. After all, they're the ones who I feel are probably the most sane out of either side of my family.

I've been working quite a bit but things have been slow at the hospital. Fortunately I seem to work with therapists who are a bit older, have a few more years experience and seem to be more than happy to take unexpected time off and shift their patient caseload onto me so I can get my work hours. I personally would rather work a full day if I had to get there early in the morning and work. I'd prefer not to use vacation time on a few hours here and there of days that weren't full. (Most therapists seem to be paid hourly instead of salary and I prefer it that way.)

Other Things:

My husband and I have decided that we are going to take the plunge and try to have a child. It was terrifying to go to the OBGYN to have my IUD removed...won't go into any further detail but it ended up being far more complicated than it should have been. Thankfully I do NOT need to have a surgical procedure to get it out, my OBGYN is a genious. I'm now taking prenatal vitamins which are the largest pills I've ever seen. That says a lot considering I work in a hospital and see a multitude of pills my patients get to take. Supposedly women say prenatal vitamins make your hair and nails grow a lot faster; we shall see. Just to clarify...I AM NOT PREGNANT. I'm sure I'll post when I am.

To be honest, it's a bit terrifying. But I'm sure it will be interesting. On Christmas, when my cousin's four year old daughter (who had heart surgery today)curled up on my lap and nestled into my chest for a half hour, I swear my heart just melted into a giant puddle of mush... especially when she looked at me with her big brown eyes and said "I know what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be a nurse and work in a hospital with sick kids." (she's had countless heart surgeries and needs a heart transplant to have a good chance of survival to adulthood...tugs at your heart doesn't it?)

I know I'm rambling, but if you've read this far then I guess it doesn't entirely bother you or perhaps you, the reader, find my mindless dribble entertaining. Who knows? I'm nervous as hell about the concept of having a child, to be responsible completely for another life other than your own. And one that if I screw up royally, the child will be paying small fortunes for in psychological counseling sessions.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year.

It is, however, a meme:

Ask me about my unpopular fandom opinion, and I shall spew forth some vitriol for you. Or, you know, express an opinion. Depends how I'm feeling, really. Feel free to be specific.

Pick a fandom, any fandom. I'll even offer an opinion on fandoms I know nothing about! (that last bit stolen from damalur)

Ohnoes! I neglected to tell you about the Madness Gift I received! Two Weeks on Skullcrusher Mountain - The Mad Scientist slowly copes with his new guest. :)

In other news, today one of you recced one of my fics on your recs list... *grins* Thanks! The story is not getting many comments, but that made me happy. ♥

Hints Day 4:

2 explicit
1 teen
4 general audiences

---

3 f/m pairing
1 f/f subtext
3 gen

Previous hints: 1 / 2 / 3
GUESS HERE!

Second batch of recs is here! (Polly and the Pirates, Cable and Deadpool, HIMYM, Dexter, Flight of the Conchords, LOLcats, Marvel Adventures: Avengers, Glee)

Game Day 3 hints:

Of the 6 fandoms:
2 fandoms written before
4 new to Yuletide

1 not in my interests list
5 in my interests list

1 in my request fandoms

Previous hints: 1 / 2
GUESS HERE!

First batch of recs (Big Bang Theory, Chuck, Community):

Game Day 2

**Out of the seven fics I wrote there were 6 fandoms:
2 fandoms written before
4 new to Yuletide

Fandom hints
GUESS HERE (also Day 1 hints)

I've reviewed 15 stories so far, but there's SO much I still need to do. And because things are different this year, I thought I'd list out all the fandoms I'll read first. Maybe some of them are fandoms we share? New hint for the game: maybe I wrote a few stories in these as well? ;)

Alias (comic)
Animaniacs
Big Bang Theory
Blackadder
Burn Notice
Chuck
Community
Creepy Doll by Jonathan Coulton
DCU (incl. Blue Beetle, Flash and Wonder Woman)
Dexter
Dr. Horrible
Flight of the Conchords
Glee
How I Met Your Mother
Legend of the Seeker
Leverage
Monk
Moonlight
New Avengers (comic)
Nextwave
Polly and the Pirates
Pushing Daisies
Runaways
Scott Pilgrim
Strangers in Paradise
True Blood
Up
xkcd

Did I forget any that you know we share? Let me know!
Recs will be forthcoming once I read enough to give you a decent list. :)

After much waiting for the page to mostly load, I was able to read my Yuletide fic! But I'm not sure that my comment went through, so until such time, may I say... GREAT JOB, YULEGOAT!

I got a fantastically psychedelic and silly Skullcrusher Mountain fic, Drugstore Sushi, wherein we learn the REAL way Jonathan Coulton was able to write a song every single week during Thing A Week. :D

Assuredly, Yulegoat, I will leave the fullness of my comment in the morning/whenever the servers can handle it.

NOW FOR A LITTLE GAME!

I wrote 7 stories for Yuletide this year. If you can guess them, you may choose one of these two prizes!

1) an animated icon
2) a drabble

Rules: You may guess once per day until authors are revealed on Jan. 1st. No fair guessing stories you beta'd or discussed with me, of course. All comments screened.

Correct guesses:
Story 1:
Story 2:
Story 3:
Story 4: ishie
Story 5: candyflosskillr
Story 6:
Story 7:

DAY 1 HINTS:

1 main assignment
2 pinch hits
2 treats over 1000 words (in main archive)
2 treats under 1000 words (in yuletide madness)

The 7 stories are in 6 different fandoms (yes, two in the same fandom):
1 movie
3 TV
2 comics

Good luck and happy reading!

ALL PROMPTS OPEN! ANYONE (even non-participants with AO3's) CAN WRITE THEM! ANY LENGTH!

See my "yuletide" tag for more info. :)

How many of you are thinking about staying up late for the archive opening? *crazy eyes*

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Btw, 12days_of_clois fic, The Bestest Present Ever is now posted. I hear reviews make great presents :P

Title: To All A Good Night
Author: repmetsyrrah
Prompt: #05 Bonus
Category: Movieverse
Rating: G
Word Count: 2, 313
Summary: Gemma Out is the only sober person in the bullpen on Christmas Eve so naturally she's the one that has to drive halfway across town to report on the latest Superman news. But it doesn't turn out as boring as she expected.
Spoilers: None
Author's Notes: Set in my Outsiders universe about a year after Place Your Bets. Written via request for d_scarlet6 who wanted another fic in this verse. The prompt was used to inspire this but it kinda got away from me a bit. If you squint it still fits though.

( Simply, having, a wonderful christmastime... )

I never posted a Christmas wishlist, but Yuletide Treats are coming up, and ANYONE (even people not signed up for the challenge this year, but you do have to sign-up to get an AO3 account) can write them. So, if you might feel inclined to write me a drabble or ficlet in Chuck, Community or Jonathan Coulton, you can! :)

Details:

**My Yuletide Letter
**More Info on Yuletide Madness
**Want to Pinch Hit? - 100s going out this afternoon! - see how here

I've had a great Yuletide season so far, I'm working on Fic #5 today. And I plan to write a few treats, too. :) Some of the BBT peeps on Twitter have dubbed me "Queen of Yuletide," lol, but I'm sure there will be people who write more!

• 23:04 I fail at the bar scene.:-o #

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• 11:06 Did you miss Christiane on Good Morning America? No worries Here it is! bit.ly/8xARSM #
• 11:07 Performance Event! Christiane will be gracing the stage with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra this January 9th... bit.ly/8xj1y3 #
• 11:09 bit.ly/59j9xl #
• 14:43 Does anyone else smile abck at Christopher Reeve at the end of Superman: The Movie? #

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• 02:48 Caller on my phone: My last name is branch, like tree branch...without the E. *blink* #
• 07:06 So much to do before my flight Ahhhh!! #
• 08:32 Note to self. Wear a ring when publically doing laundry! #
• 14:46 Airport nice and quiet. Happy surprise! #
• 15:25 Nicest flight buddies EVER! #
• 19:40 Goodbye Detroit! Here I come Wisconsin! #

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• 03:53 Flying to Wisconsin on Friday. How thrilled am I there is blizzard scheduled? #
• 10:02 @winddancer55945 - Oh my! How is everyone doing? #
• 10:51 NY1 Video Review of Ragtime! bit.ly/5zE8Zo #
• 23:03 TIVO ALERT!!!!!!!!! FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 Quentin Earl Darrington, Christiane Noll, Robert Petkoff and Stephanie... bit.ly/5NoYlQ #
• 23:04 TIVO ALLERT!!! SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 Quentin Earl Darrington, Christiane Noll and Robert Petkoff visit NY-1's "On... bit.ly/6fgyVg #
• 23:05 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 Quentin Earl Darrington and Stephanie Umoh sit down with WCBS-TV anchor Dana Tyler for an in... bit.ly/7bPLs4 #
• 23:06 *** HUGE TIVO ALERT*** MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 Christiane Noll will perform "Back to Before" on ABC's "The View" live... bit.ly/6XW9g1 #

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