Thoughts on the Journey

I had one of the best ups this weekend when I was able to play in a Star Wars' LARP. I've missed LARPing so much, its one of my favorite types of RP as there's improv, playing dress up and this time I got to say kriff. The setting was really interesting, a variation on the end of Republic and the scenario was very much the mods going we hate the prequels and are doing our own take. I need to make sure to get on this groups mailing lists as it made me so happy and was very well run.

In other happy news, I've been posting a lot of fics as I've had more time then I expected due to slow job stuff. So that's up and down all at once, I love finishing and posting things which are all Rogue One connected other than having my Narnia Exchange fic revealed.

In Transit is a missing moments' fic inspired by two Milliways' DE prompts from sardonicynic

Echoes is my archive and what ripples did Cassian leave behind fic.

Warmth in the Black is a bit of Jyn and Cassian fluff with a little backstory, its hard to write pure fluff for them, that I wrote for dodger_sister.

An unexpected door was the fic I wrote for the Narnia exchange which is about a Narnian bird ending up in England.

The big downs are that I didn't get the job I interviewed for at the start of the month but I have a new fact-checking job. Also that things are looking a lot tougher for my sister but she has a lot of good doctors helping her.

I've been having a wonderfully lazy Saturday in my new place after a week of various errands and getting familiar with Boston. Yesterday, I got an email from the library temp agency and there's a possible job for me. If it works out, the schedule would be weird but doable as a reference librarian. Friday night, I went to the Public Market for a wonderful meet up with genarti, Jothra and Sandry. I loved how quickly it all came together and to talk, as much as possible with the live music but it was great. The Public Market happened to be having an open house that night and I'll definitely be going back there.

My apartment's really coming together and in my unpacking I've discovered that I have so many notecards. I realized this is a great way to share my new address and send people mail, if you'd like a card, comment.

There have been a few bumps, I think I need a stool for my new bed which I bought at a thrift store before I moved. Its a beautiful antique bed and I love it, but its very high up. Another issue is that my hall light went out and as always in a new place, there's figuring out changing it. So I'm renting in a place that also has condos so condo association and landlord who both went, not our job. So I need to take care of that, I was going to do it today but somehow I did something and my ankle's been hurting, so today I've been resting. Also I had a true headache dealing with a bank as I had to set something up for rent and its mind boggling how difficult it can be to move money from one place to another.

At the moment, I'm trying to do some writing for the Porn Battle. As often happens, the fic I'm writing so far has no sign of any kind of ship but I'm pretty happy with it.

Later I'm hoping to do some catching up on my book reviews on Goodreads which stopped around the holidays and then with the moving haven't picked up. I like having them done as its a good way to keep up with what I'm reading and be part of the book world.

My day today went from getting going on a good schedule to annoyed at the hotel and then curled up in a snow day. I'm not too far from Boston and have done some arranging for my job thing tomorrow, not everything was moved but I sent messages.

This hotel is one I won't be coming back because even though its a chain I like and near the highway, the way they acted this morning was awful. So I wasn't the only one trying to leave this morning and I said I was checking out. Then I went to my car, got my stuff inside, cleared it off, everything started and I was able to back out and then got stuck. That all took me half an hour, I know they were busy but I feel like if you have a hotel with snow expected, check in a lot with people. Weirdly, there were two guys in a pick up truck just sitting there. I still don't know if they were watching me or what.

So I went in, cold, wet and annoyed because the side door locked and I'd turned in my key. I get in and try to get the front desk attention, they finally try and help me because I'd pulled my car out enough to block the snow plow. After a lot of yelling and some more interactions where they really didn't seem to trust that I knew my car, we got it back into its parking spot. Another woman who's car was out near mine watched it and was wonderful for sympathizing with me and saying, no, I heard what they were saying, you were right. I really needed that. I know what it sounds like when wheels are spinning, but it did get back into its parking space.

At that point, the snow was still coming down and the news kept saying roads were closing due to accidents. I decided to stay the night so had to go back out to get my bag and then upstairs for tea. Thankfully a local restaurant did deliver, I had a disappointing dinner from them last night and a good pizza today. That will be dinner too. Tomorrow I'll head out early and probably drive straight to the interview hotel then go collapse where I'm staying. And at this job conference, a lot of places want to talk to me, if I miss some, I'll know I've tried and they will too.

In good news, as the cable in the hotel wasn't working, I finally watched Finding Dory, which is a complicated movie. It has some good and not so much messages about disability but overall lovely. I've also finally started reading Goldenhand and I'm liking it a lot better than Clariel. It has the faster movement to it that I liked in the other books. The Old Kingdom is a world that I'm happy to revisit. And In the Heart of the Sea is on TV too, so far its beautifully made.

Life is a lot but from my experience of heading up to Boston last time for apartment searching, I know that New England states do know how to deal with snow. Tomorrow's drive won't be fun, but I think it will be manageable.

There's also all the mess of politics that I'm working on finding how to best create change and not be overwhelmed. Its hard but all of this is making me more certain than ever that I'm in the right profession where librarians and teachers work to protect and educate.

I recently started a new part-time job that's going well and taking up more of my time than I expected and I'm preparing for a trip. That's why I'm a little late but I do enjoy snowflake challenge and how it stretches me.

Day 2: In your own space, share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life. Something that impacted on your consciousness in a way that left its mark on your soul.

The October Daye series and all of Seanan McGuire's works. She captures figuring yourself out at many ages and what it feels like to be broken and heal. I discovered her when I was in graduate school and Toby's conflicts and troubles felt familiar and provided a connection for me. Her CD Wicked Girls is one of my most listened to because every song touches me. I've met her twice and the way she's found a way to live the life she wants inspires me. The song My Story is Not Done helped me get through one of my hardest endings.

Day 3: In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

This year, I'm going to move to Boston which is becoming more and more possible every day. I want to live in a place with friends and opportunities.

In terms of fandom, I want to finish up to 3 works in progress that are sitting in my drafts.

Day 4: Comment to someone you haven't ever interacted with before or introduce yourself to someone you've interacted with and friend/follow them.

I will do this as I love connecting to new people through this challenge.

Day 5: In your own space, post recs for at least three fanworks that you did not create.

This fic created a new headcanon for me with Miss Marple who's probably one of my favorite characters ever.

The Spirit of St Mary Mead (4005 words) by lost_spook
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Miss Marple - Agatha Christie
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jane Marple, Griselda Clement, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Historical, Multi-Era, Roman Britain, English Civil War, 18th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century, Misses Clause Challenge, Miss Marple is a Goddess
Summary:

St Mary Mead has had an unusual guardian down through all these centuries.

This fic was the perfect coda that I needed after Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, I love seeing this complicated little family come together. This Yuletide was a really good year for Ivan fics and its been inspiring me to write more of him.

Tied up with Strings (1531 words) by thetrickisnotminding
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ivan Vorpatril/Tej Arqua Vorpatril, Alys Vorpatril & Ivan Vorpatril
Characters: Alys Vorpatril, Tej Arqua Vorpatril, Ivan Vorpatril
Summary:

Conversation while shopping, just before the end of Captain Vorpatril's Alliance.
Yuletide Fluff for jedishampoo

This fic as well feels like an amazing coda to the Derkholm series and it reminds me of some of my favorite romances with figuring everyone out.

a place to hang your hat (3034 words) by hollimichele
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Derkholm Series - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Blade/Claudia (Derkholm), Elda/Flury (Derkholm)
Characters: Blade (Derkholm), Claudia (Derkholm), Titus (Derkholm), Flury (Derkholm), Shona (Derkholm), Querida (Derkholm), Derk (Derkholm), Mara (Derkholm), Kit (Derkholm)
Additional Tags: everything but the curtains
Summary:

“Mm-hm,” said Titus, ignoring the eye-roll with perfect dignity. “And if I recall correctly--” which he did “--your father owns quite an impressive estate these days. You, on the other hand--”

Today, marginaliana asked for What's your favorite or most important symbol and why is it meaningful for you?

For this answer, I really wish I had all my icons as I actually have an icon of the symbol that means a lot to me.



In Maori art, koru connects the past and the present. When I was in New Zealand, this symbol made sense to me in terms of beginnings and endings and how you can't always tell when you're starting and when you're ending and that every ending is a beginning. I had a chance to walk through a New Zealand rainforest and seen tree ferns with korus bigger than me and its stuck with me. I wish New Zealand wasn't so far away because I would love to live there again.

As I'm getting ready for another beginning and working on grasping every start I can find, this curling symbol of life waiting and ready resonates. Its hard to find just one other image to capture the glorious koru but I finally chose one.



From my trip, I have a greenstone koru necklace that I love wearing. Whenever I wear it, I feel stronger as I remember that I went to New Zealand with a visa, one connection through my mother and the company that helped me get the visa. From there I spent a year supporting myself and then went back for grad school, as I get ready for another move, I remind myself of that. My toxic job left some scars but I made my way in New Zealand and that is within me.

December meme is over here

I really like Boston. I keep walking around and thinking of other cities that I've lived and worked in and loved. Its wonderful to be able to see friends and wander into amazing bookstores and places like the aquarium. Tomorrow I'm going to talk to my job agency and see what ideas they have for getting me closer to moving here. I know its not going to be easy but I can do this and there's an opening at the Boston Public library that I'm going to apply for.

Being here, I'm having this weird mixture of emotion. The main one is I could fit here and the other is my self doubt. I know what I can do and that I'll be able to do more in a place with all these options. Also I know that I'll do better when I have friends who are nearby to talk to and be around.

The last time I was in Boston was as part of a marching band trip and its been fascinating to go back to places that I remember. I like how easy Boston is to walk and the T has even been fairly nice to me. My 7 day pass decided to stop working and there's only one store, so I'll deal with that tomorrow but its easy to get around. Today I picked up Seanan McGuire's newest book which I'll probably read in one or two sittings, I tend to do that with her books. Life is good and I think I can see where my road is heading next.

Two of the horoscopes I read gave me two phrases that keep going through my head as I walk around and plan-'not empty but open' and 'your instincts are glittering and sharp, use them'.

There's something about Porn Battle that always gets me writing. The deadline and prompts that make me willing to take on fandoms that I love but have never written clicks for me. Its going on this week and I've already written my fic, which is also my first one in the Vorkosigan fandom. This is a heads up that as I write these fics, I'll be posting here and on my Tumblr. And there's some job stuff that's making me feel hopeful as I'm planning a trip to Boston in the middle of April.

Living in Now (382 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Simon Illyan/Alys Vorpatril
Characters: Simon Illyan, Alys Vorpatril
Additional Tags: New Relationship, Memory Loss, Politics, Breasts
Summary:

Written for Porn Battle Prompt Stack and the prompt: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold, Alys/Simon, discovery, new, power, remembered.

After Ivan discovers Alys and Simon during Memory, Simon realizes how being with her has him living more in the present as he still struggles with what he doesn't know.

Day 09

In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I like the phrasing of this, goals not resolutions as there are certain things I'm reaching for and writing them down helps.

1-Write and publish more-fics, on my librarian blog and keep looking into ways to write in other places.

2-Move to a city either Boston or DC-this one is something I've been thinking about and I think will make a big difference in many of parts of my life. Its going to involve finding the equivalent of the subbing I've been doing here, a bridge job as my mom calls them, but being closer to friends, people my age and more of what's happening in the profession will be good for me in a lot of ways.

3-Comment more, get involved in discussions all over the web in fannish and librarian places. I have a voice to add to the conversation.

4-Read books outside my comfort zone, read more diverse authors and stories.

5-Keep reconnecting more with the theater world.

I'm slowly getting things accomplished as I think about all that happened at Chessiecon and where I want to be next. I'm working on getting myself out of where I am now and to a place where I'm living near friends. There are jobs out there, its a matter of getting in the door and being the right fit.

In the meantime, I've written up a new blog post about the films I saw at the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival and I'm going to do an in depth one for Chessiecon.

I also wanted to remind everyone that I love sending out cards and if you'd like one or your address has changed, let me know here. All comments on there are screened and if you don't want a card but instead want a fic or also want a fic, let me know.

My Yuletide and Treat fic are both going along, the ideas are there its just getting the words to work.

At the moment, I feel sick but there are some hopeful job things happening in the near future. I'm trying to put myself out there in terms of ALA and I'm happy with my Yuletide. I think this year I might write a Treat for the first time.

What I finished reading

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. I love Rowell's books and Carry On was fantastic as she really understands what it is about the Chosen One stories and fantasy that draw people in and how to turn it all on its head. This is a book about two boys who take control of their story even though the story isn't encouraging them to and their friends who are along with them. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, but wishes for more.

What I'm currently reading

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. I always enjoy Riordan's books and this one isn't disappointing, he's got a great ear for dialogue, action and how kids behave. I appreciate that he's gotten much better about putting diversity into his casts and understanding that diversity covers a wide range from being homeless to being Deaf.

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo. At this point, I'm not terribly far into this book and I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. I enjoy the setting and the main character has a good voice but so far, she seems fairly passive. I'm hoping more will happen as so far, there's not much of a conflict or romance, but I like the author's style.

What I'm reading next

One of the books I'm reading next is for Yuletide so I'm not going to list it but I'm looking forward to it. I love writing for other people and how Yuletide always ends up stretching my sense of what I think I can write. I also have the newest Jonathan Stroud Lockwood and Company book to read, which should be fun and creepy. The Rehoboth Film Festival is coming up next week, so far this year I'm not seeing a huge amount of films, I know there will be one or two that really stick with me. Now I think its time for more tea.