Thoughts on the Journey

My break is off to a nice start. On my drive down, I had a wonderful stop with muji where we had lunch and ice cream and a great time talking. The timing for getting off the road was perfect and hope its not too long before we can talk again. Then the rest of the drive went well and I ended up watching Thor with my parents. They ended up liking it, my mother more than my father, which make sense. He doesn't like movies with fast cuts, but my mom wants to see all the other films in that verse.

Yesterday was very full as there was a progressive Easter dinner, appetizers at a house a block over then the main meal at my parents' house and dessert. It was delicious food, good company and I kept getting all sorts of interesting advice on how to deal with my work stuff. A real range from speak your truth and get out of there to you just have to put up with this kind of stuff at times. Its given me a lot to think about.

After I finish this post, I'm going to walk into town for some lunch and tonight, there might be an EP of someone. I'm just enjoying feeling relaxed and that I don't have to do anything.

Since I was on the road on Friday, I spent the night in my hotel writing a lot of Friday Fic.
( FicFriday )

Tonight I'm going to have Demeter bartend at milliways_bar in honor of Felix Gaeta and the fact that I don't have to wake up terribly early tomorrow. I'm taking my car in for maintenance at 9:30 and then conferences don't even start until 2 pm, then at noon on Thursday.

I actually will have time to sleep and eat and read since I started My Life in France by Julia Child yesterday and love it. I want to be more like her, she was brave and daring with such a joy in how she lived her life.

I've decided to really embrace my latest horoscope from Uncle Rob:

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The coming week will be an excellent time to
wash dishes, clean bathrooms, scrub floors, vacuum carpets, wash
windows, do laundry, and clean the refrigerator. The more drudge work
you do, the better you'll feel. APRIL FOOL! I lied. The truth is, you now
have astrological license to minimize your participation in boring tasks like
the ones I named. It's high time for you to seek out the most interesting
work and play possible.

I adore that phrase play possible and plan on trying to connect with people and write just be me for the break. My body's been feeling worn out and unhealthy of late, so there are going to be walks, because Spring is here, no matter the temperature.

Also since dodger_sister was curious about it and I'm proud of what I have, here's a snippet of my queer_fest story.

( A good moment )

Title: Down the path
Characters: William Evans, Bill Pardy, Ben Wade, Kate Warner
Fandom: 3:10 to Yuma, Slither, 24, Milliways Bar
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: No one belongs to me, I'm just borrowing them.
Summary: A gift fic for thebattycakes who requested: Bill-Will-laws and lawlessness and I just realized that you might have wanted my other Will. I hope you like it.

This was the idea I got when I read the prompt, a moment in the Bar when Bill sees how easy it can be to go from being lawful to lawless. Bill talks to William about getting pulled away from the law when he suspects William's working for Ben Wade.

( The Policemen and Firemen’s Dinner and Dance was never one of his favorite occasions, but he knew it wasn’t for him. He was there to represent the department, to talk to everyone and to be the Chief of Police. )

Today has been a quiet and lovely day for me and its not over yet. This morning I woke up to find an incredibly effusive comment from the person I wrote my Yuletide story for telling me how they loved it. Then I went and read my story which made me so happy. Its the Magid universe with Nick, Roddy, fairy tales, Romanov being grumpy and Maxwell Hyde taking charge, it has what I love of the world and makes me beam.

A Fairy Tale Romance (With Two Kisses). (5084 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Magids Series - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nick Mallory, Roddy Hyde, Romanov (Magids Series)
Summary:

The problem with Sixteenth Birthdays, as Nick Mallory finds out, is that they are often the heralds for Great Adventure.

Unfortunately, the adventure wasn't for him, but to find him.

I haven't had time yet to dig into other fics as we had friends over for brunch and didn't open presents until a little later. My presents made me happy; two beautiful sweaters, iridescent earrings, bourbon, New Zealand wine, a bowl my father made, a piece of family china, an antique book of Voltaire from my grandfather's collection and some mad money to spend however I wish.

At the moment the house is quiet as my parents and sister are out taking a walk while I catch up on the world. One of the ways we do the holidays is lots of cooking so at a certain point there are enough leftovers to last days. The night I arrived we had duck, last night my father butterflied a turkey which was good and tonight leg of lamb.

I'm going to put up a holiday EP from Tumnus at some point this week, since my father's reading the Narnia books and Christmas and Narnia just fit. My sister heads off tomorrow and on Friday, there will be family celebration with my brother and his family, which means I have a few days to plunge into Yuletide fics, write gift fics and just be.

Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! I hope that you're surrounded by those you love!

I've been running ever so slightly late for work this week and the last as all the stress of what I have to get done has been catching up with me. Today I took that as a sign and didn't go into work, which was what I needed. I've slept in and been able to knock a couple of things off my to do list. I now have more contacts, have ordered a really lovely pair of glasses though glasses are my back ups but still, these are cute and an investment.

Hello to everyone from the friending meme, I figure I should tell you something about myself now I'm not in as bad a place as I was yesterday.

-In September I started a job as a middle/high school librarian in a small independent school in the Michigan suburbs after spending a year looking for a job and living in Ann Arbor. I got my MSI degree at UoM and stayed there in the hopes of finding something. I write a lot about this job as the school hasn't had a full time librarian for a couple of years so I'm helping to define the position while I work. This is exciting and stressful and takes up a good bit of space here. If you'd like more context on my work, I have a librarian blog and my work tag is cowboy school.

-The other thing that takes up a good part of my time is milliways_bar, a panfandom roleplaying game that I've been at since February 2006 or 2007, I'd have to check my dates. Milliways is one of my happiest places on the web and I'll often write about it on here as well as Milliways' specific fic. Over there I roleplay Will Scarlett from Robin Hood legends, Charles Xavier from X-Men: First Class, Sameth from the Abhorsen Chronicles, William Evans from 3:10 to Yuma, Moist von Lipwig from Discworld, Demeter from Greek Mythology, Jane Austen from Becoming Jane, Tumnus from Narnia, mainly book with some movie influences and The Pirate King from The Pirates of Penzance, 1983 Kevin Kline flavor.

-In terms of writing, I love finding ficathons to write for but often will be working on various pieces. The current fandom I'm writing the most for is X-Men: First Class because Charles Xavier creates far too many plot bunnies for me. I also roleplay him in Milliways and his point of view fits me. I've been lately getting into fic exchanges as I love them. This is my fourth year doing Yuletide, my second doing ineedmyfics and my first year doing the Narniaficexchange and I plan on doing more as writing for someone else makes me happy. Whenever I see a prompt meme that I like, it ends up on my journal and I try to fill all of them though sometimes they get lost.

-I grew up outside Philadelphia and consider myself an East Coaster though I've spent the last three years in Ann Arbor and have started a new job in Michigan. I love to travel and have lived abroad in New Zealand.

I think that's all for now. Two quick holiday reminders. If you would like a card and your address has changed or I've never sent you one before comment here and if you would like a gift fic comment here. I can't promise that either of them will get done by Christmas but they will happen.

It looks like Sandy might cause some trouble with getting my stuff out of Delaware and that might mean some more nights in the hotel.

I'm feeling kind of silly because I keep missing Slenderplot stuff, DW, you need to give me notifs when I track a thread. I do love how the plot is going and I need to remember to write a William OOM covering him getting a door and heading home since he's not involved in the endgame at all.

At the moment, I'm feeling tired but excited. Even if I don't move into my apartment this week, I will sign the lease and get the key and soon it will be mine. Then I can get out of this weird limbo.

In other good news, I'm just about finished with a big librarian blog post about this new job and it feels wonderful to write up all that I've done. I need to keep reminding myself that its only the end of the second month and that I'm still sorting out getting my own place to live. I've made a lot of progress.

Yesterday I didn't head into school and messed up telling who I needed to, there are still many things I need to organize for work, but I have some great allies there. That makes me hopeful, I have connected.

Another fun part of yesterday was that FicFriday was busy and I wrote a lot.

( Many Twitterfics )

My body is being unhelpful this week, I didn't go to work on Thursday because I woke up feeling wobbly. Yesterday went okay but today I'm back to feeling out of it as my head hurts and I can't seem to find where my energy's gone off to. I apologize if I'm too quiet or snap a little bit, I haven't been feeling my best, but I'm trying to take care of myself.

I'm also worrying about lots of things even though I think I'm doing okay at work, there's just a lot to do. I have an idea for a librarian blog post of what I've done and what's in the works for this first month, but need to check with my supervisors if I should write it. As I'd like to use that blog to record some of the changes and things I notice at the school and my journey as I figure out how to do this. Writing is what helps me get through things and this is such a big job that I need to take time to stop and look at what I've done.

In good news, the roleplaying club is coming together and another student asked me to the supervisor for a video game club. I love that the kids get that I want to support them in their gaming and make it more a part of what happens at school. I just hope that I can get the teachers to see how gaming connects to the bigger conversation about living online and everything like that. It's just a lot and next week are parent-teacher conferences and I have no idea what I'll be doing during them, which is also stressful.

At Milliways, I'm loving the Slenderplot and so glad that people are willing to let Charles slip into their dreams as its a part of the way he works I find interesting. Will's not being as loud, but I'm hoping to get him more involved in the endgame as I love his connected with Jack of the Green. William's involved in a quiet way, which I like since the different levels to approach the plot are nice. Thank you misslucyjane for putting this together.

Yesterday was Friday, which means there was FicFriday and I wrote a nice variety.
( FicFriday )

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "It was the best of times, it was the worst of
times." That's the opening sentence of Charles Dickens' bestselling novel
*A Tale of Two Cities.* The author was describing the period of the
French Revolution in the late 18th century, but he could just as well have
been talking about our time -- or any other time, for that matter. Of
course many modern cynics reject the idea that our era is the best of
times. They obsess on the idea that ours is the worst of all the worst
times that have ever been. When your worried mind is in control of you,
you may even think that thought yourself, Gemini. But in accordance with
the current astrological omens, I challenge you to be a fiery rebel: Come
up with at least five reasons why this is the best of times for you
personally.

This is far too apt for me today, Uncle Rob. I woke up late today, didn't have breakfast or tea and felt out of it for a good chunk of the day. Things did get done, I took care of the Fire Drill packets, which is a big things off my list.

In terms of living situation, I just emailed the extended stay place that's near the school as from what my parents have said getting my stuff will take some time and I think finding a place will as well. Even if I do find the perfect spot, it will require time to settle in as well as to move it all, but if I'm staying in a furnished apartment, it will be better for me. I miss having a kitchen to cook in and fill with my stuff so much and if I had a kitchen then I could make myself lunch and dinner. It would save me money in the long run even though I might end up spending a good bit on the rent at first. Today I went and saw an apartment complex that I really liked but they have a long waiting list for places. That just means I keep looking, but its tiring me out.

As per Uncle Rob, here are five reasons that this is the best of times:
1-I'm working as a librarian and changing the culture of the school.
2-I can afford to rent someplace with space and where in time I can have a pet. I don't have that space yet, but its possible.
3-Slenderman plot started in Milliways and I'm going to give Charles an EP to get him into it tonight.
4-Liquor is sold in grocery stores in Michigan, so after work tomorrow I can buy myself a bottle of Maker's Mark.
5-I have delicious cupcakes that I won at the All School Picnic.

A few more as this is making me feel good.
6-I've got a few fic ideas that I want to expand on. It feels like its been too long since I wrote something and I want to do some creating.
7-I've helped to create a roleplaying club and the students are very into it.
8-I just finished reading Team Human which is a wonderful satire of Twilightish books as well as being a wonderful book on its own.
9-I have a great Team Me in everyone reading this and my family to remind me to take care of myself and that I will get settled.
10-On Thursday, I'm going to go into a classroom and teach about researching to middle school kids.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Let's turn our attention to the word "mortar." I
propose that we use it to point out three influences you could benefit
from calling on. Here are the definitions of "mortar": 1. a kind of cannon;
2. the plaster employed for binding bricks together; 3. a bowl where
healing herbs are ground into powder. Now please meditate, Gemini, on
anything you could do that might: 1. deflect your adversaries; 2. cement
new unions; 3. make a container -- in other words, create a specific time
and place -- where you will work on a cure for your suffering.

This feels apt for me at the moment as I'm trying to make sense of where I go from where I came and where I'm going. Mortar and building are strong ways of moving ahead, while keeping myself solid and sure. I don't know what the shape of that will be, but I'll figure it out.

The moving stuff yesterday worked out. I plan on doing a longer picture post of my boxes at the stages of their journey. One thing I did yesterday was upload many pictures from my camera, the earliest were from this spring. Those will be shared in posts as I have the energy for them. Also my car needs to get its oil changed, not a big deal but something to be done.

My list has changed in good ways as I discovered that I don't have to pay comcast any money, I know where my stuff is and I can start being more serious in my volunteer stuff at the local library. Yet other things are there, my ineedmyfics story is going slowly and I need to find a time to just write it for a couple of hours.

Also while roleplaying is full of wonderful stuff, there are also various things that just aren't as fun. I've been doing so many things for moving that have left me tired that I think now stuff is more settled, I'll find my groove again, at the moment though I'm around just quiet. There are some great OOMs and threads and ideas happening, but I've also learned for myself that I need to play to have fun. That's the entire idea. So that's why I'm not in chat as much or doing as many EPs, I'm trying to do what fills my days happily. This is rather rambly but I want everyone to know that I'm reading and hope to do more in games, but if I seem quiet or tired or jumpy, its not you, just lots of life for me. Another edit as listening and talking has made this issue seem less of an issue. Milliways has good people in it and I'm lucky to have them all in my life. Thank you all for being so generous to me.

One other good thing I forgot is connected to RP and creativity. Yesterday after all the stuff shifting, and a nice lunch with my parents, I wandered into a wonderful newish used bookstore in Lewes. There I found for 10 dollars, a 1958 edition of The Once and Future King, this is one of my favorite books, I love his incredibly human take on Arthur and his story.

Also this edition looks quite a lot like the one used in X2 and is according to Marvel, one of Charles' favorite books. I've been wanting to reread it and my paperback copy is in a box somewhere. I love those odd moments when fandom and normal life intersect.

Tomorrow afternoon, evening and part of Wednesday, I'm going to be spending at dodger_sister's. The plan is watching movies, talking mainly about writing, dinner and taking full advantage of the delicious AC in her place. I was feeling better today but my rather nice dinner ended up not staying where it should, I'm not happy. My sleep schedule's off again, last night I didn't get to sleep until six and the night before my coughing woke me up at six. Tonight I hope for a fairly solid night's sleep, though the fact the weather's gotten hotter again probably will make it trickier.

Good things have been happening, I figured out what I need to do for canceling various services before moving, I had a fantastic conversation with my family. My parents are babysitting my nieces and my sister is down there as well, that meant the phone conversation was full of everything. The nieces talked about Wonderstruck, my sister raved about her Mac, she's finally getting actually digitally connected, books with my father and just general health and planning with both parents. It's weird to think that they'll be here in about a week and by August I'll be out of Michigan. For context, my sister is in her older 40s and she's had email and access to computers but it never really stuck for her. This has worried me and my family as she's wanted to change jobs and it seemed like things were passing her by, but she sounded excited and asked for my help. I look forward to what I can do for her. A lot of things in her life have been moving forward and it makes me so happy to see it. Oh and I've been acquiring some good music of late, a Wallflowers' cd, Tori Amos' To Venus and Back, The Dark Knight soundtrack, that one's fully adiva_calandia and lienne's fault <33s and then one called Songs of the Civil War with a lot of good artists I know. I'm going to be enjoying a few of these on my drive tomorrow and at other points.

This coming week is going to be quite chaotic with Art Fair and many shifts, which is why I'm going for a break. I'll have my laptop and phone, so will definitely be doing some tagging, I just won't be on as much as I normally am.

If you'd like five topics just comment with five or something like that for me.

Now for the last round of five topics, this time from innerbrat:

1. Children's literature.
I love children's literature from picture books to young adult stuff. It's amazing how much the concept of children's literature has changed since I was a girl in the 80s, 90s to now in terms of adding depth and quality. There are fantastic authors who are reaching out to connect with their readers, publishers doing the same and kids going YES back at them. I love seeing how my nieces have reading as a part of their life and I hope in my professional life to become someone kids know they can trust about books they like and want to read. When I was young, I read children's books and grown up books, everything I could find and I had librarians who helped me figure out my way. That's why I want to be a librarian, I also love getting to explore books as part of my life and the constantly growing world of children's literature.

2. Friendship
I consider myself a loyal friend and feel blessed for all my friends from those I've met to those I haven't. To me being a friend means doing what I can to support someone however I can, sometimes that means not doing anything. My oldest friend is someone who our mother's met while pregnant and our birthdays are both in June. Mine at the start, hers at the end and we've been close since elementary school. When we were younger, we always seemed like almost mirror images to me. She was the oldest in her family with two younger brothers and the house full of all the toys, cable and sweet snacks, I was the youngest with two older brothers and an older sister and parents who watched my television watching and had healthy food. Though I did get sneaky with the TV and they finally gave up trying to cut me off after I learned how to plug it in and they realized I read as much as I watched.

Now this friend and I have stayed in touch all over the world, she moved when we were both in high school but we're constantly visiting each other and calling and texting. I know that no matter what she's there. Then there's all the Milliways' friends and friends of friends who form my other network that I love and hope to get to see when I'm back on the East Coast. Life is short and friends make it sweet and rich.

3. Textures
Textures aren't something I'm constantly thinking about, but I'm always aware of. I play with my jewelery, touching my earrings, twisting my ring and bracelets, thinking about what's there. At the moment, I'm wearing a long silk skirt that feels light and cool and sandals that I can feel supporting my tired feet. My lips are cracked as I fiddle with them and my hair is feeling light and not heavy as I washed it yesterday.

4. Changeling
I don't recall which came first reading Charles de Lint or playing Changeling: the Dreaming, but both of them hold my idea of magic in the world. Magic where it's just out of the corner of your eyes, complicated and itself, you will be changed by it and it by you. The roleplaying games I've been proudest of running were Changeling ones. The LARP and tabletop that I ran at college, my players had their dramas but we had some great adventures. That was where I learned the great lesson of don't plan too much and trust the creativity of those around you, it's served me quite well so far.

Tiwa, piwakawaka my glorious fantail pooka is one of my favorite characters to play as she's a part of me. She's my creativity, my love of New Zealand and the teacher part of me all out there in the world and going, I want to know and explore and fly. The kind of stories I want to tell and write are those of magic just at the corner of your eye that gives you wings and shows you your possibility.

5. Faith
My faith is fairly simple. I was raised in the Swarthmore Monthly Meeting, which meets every Sunday in a lovely building with odd green cushions and paint on the edge of the Swarthmore campus. I spent my childhood going to First Day School, Quaker Sunday School, got marigolds on Easter, played in the pageant and after every meeting, spent time with wonderful people. One of the traditions of this meeting is after the Sunday meeting, there's brunch and everyone talks and laughs and you feel the community. That's the root of my faith, the joy of being with people, walking through lilacs and knowing that God is everywhere. I've addressed God with many names in my travels and felt his touch from Pennsylvania to jewel box churches in Greece to by the water in Wellington or with family. Faith to me means that we're all connected and have something rather strange inside us that says, yes, there is more.

I hope these answers make sense, I ended up being rather philosophical.