ceitfianna: (Jane thoughts consume me)
I woke up extra early today after my long weekend to clear off my car and get to work to open the Ref desk. After using a broom to sweep off a lot of snow, my car fob didn't unlock. I looked up various things and sent an email to work that I'd be late or not in. Tried in the warm, no luck and I changed the fob battery earlier this weekend without a problem. But its also been stupidly cold here though oddly the snow isn't too bad.

Its nice snow, fluffy and pretty and not a lot of ice. So I've had a day off of work but not a restful one, tomorrow I work later so up again to try the car and see if I can find my spare car fob and try again. This seems to be a thing that happens to me at least once every winter, something goes weird with my car after a storm.

I did watch a video related to work and picked up a weekend later this year, just need to go this happens, this is why there's time off. I can't help but wonder if some of this is also cold and reaction to *gestures* what happened yesterday. Car stuff happens, and its too cold.

Good things

Jul. 7th, 2024 11:14 pm
ceitfianna: (dreams)
The weather is at the moment far too hot and humid but life is going pretty well. I had a new mattress delivered yesterday and had my first sleep on it last night, which was nice. Its going to take a little getting used to after my very old mattress that dipped so much.

At work, I set up my first display in the Reference area and what's cool is I can see people looking at the books. Also once I explained the idea, one of the pages brought me books and dvds that work for it. I just love the feel of this library and love being more involved. I also chose a book for a romance book club I'll be reading in August, A Marvellous Light, which I loved and have already reread the entire series at least once.

Also something I love about being in Reference which is in the older part of the library is that all the tourists ask me questions. My library is a famous historical town outside of Boston. So I get to explain about the Wyeth paintings and the manuscripts downstairs and our 150th and it feels nice. It reminds me of the area I grew up in outside Philly and the year after college when I interned at a Philly museum. I'm also aware of how the signage is our library isn't great, one of the drawbacks of basically numerous renovations added onto an older building is honestly its confusing and we just don't have good signs. This is one of those things that I'm going to keep gently poking at.

Yesterday, I finally found the local Farmer's Market which was also not signed well at all. Not far from me is a gigantic high school and the market was on the complete other side of it in a covered parking area. I picked up delicious fresh veg, which I've been eating with dinner. Some berries that I think I'm going to make into granita before I head off for a bit. Apparently the bigger market happens on Tuesdays at a park not far from a busy intersection. Not sure when I'll be able to get to it. Sadly the weather was awful just so humid and I'd worn the wrong pants, but part of the day was spent reading in a nicely ACed cafe.

Another quality of life thing that I'm going to try and do before heading off to see family is switch out my old purse for the new Critical Role bag I bought. Technically I don't think its that much smaller but time for a change and I like it

First snow

Dec. 11th, 2022 07:59 pm
ceitfianna: (running towards a happy ending)
First snow of the season and I spun out on my way home, hitting a curb and doing something to my steering. I was able to drive a bit more than pulled over. After a while on hold, got to AAA, who sent a tow, dropped by car off and got a Lyft home.

I’ve been driving in a lot of places and storms but this is the first time I was one of the ones by the side of the road. I’m glad that I don’t have to work tomorrow.

Still here

Aug. 28th, 2020 07:14 pm
ceitfianna: (Jane thoughts consume me)
I seem to have gotten into the habit of posting about once a month. I mean to do it more often but words haven't been coming that quickly. Also I'm nearing the end of a bad shark week which has sapped a lot of my energy. But the weather lately has been feeling more fall like which has helped. So I'll go with various things that are going on.

For my shark week, I bought myself a heatable pillow with lavender in it shaped like a uterus and it makes such a difference in my pain levels.

I've been sending out a good bit of my mail and my two nephews in France sent me drawings they did which are now on my fridge. One of the first big trips I'll be planning when its possible is to see them.

My cooking's going fairly well, my local Asian supermarket has had a deal on pork belly and the other time I got it, I think was smaller. This second batch is giving me lots of leftovers, which is good but a lot. So I keep trying to find ways to change it up, I also ended up with a lot more guacamole than I normally have but I think I can make a good dent in both of those tonight.

I finally was able to go back to the dentist and have this major gum cleaning thing, which feels like useful maintenance. Now I need to take that same kind of idea to my poor car that's waiting for me.

Job stuff is a lot of waiting and throwing things out into the void hoping someone answers back.

I did reconnect with the alum group from my NZ university, we actually had a video call that went pretty well. A little disconcerting to realize how many of the men on the call had MBAs and all but I like this alum group.

At the moment, I'm reading this amazing book Sharks in the Time of Saviors which is really good. I have a couple of books due on Monday so I'm planning on doing lots of reading this weekend.
ceitfianna: (fox kits)
I had a good Thanksgiving with my family and today had a long train ride and went from rain to snow. I didn't actually end up online that much this holiday and had a fun moment of my computer thinking it didn't have enough battery and shutting itself off.

Otherwise it seems fine, but I'm going to check in with Apple to see if maybe I need a new battery. The big stuff with my family is that my Dad had a fall and hurt his knee but thankfully nothing's broken and he's doing PT and trying to take care of it. Also my oldest niece is in her junior year of high school and thinking about colleges, this is so surreal but also cool. She also drove down to my parents' place since she got her license earlier in November.

Before the holidays, I have a lot of errands to get done; dentist, oil changed in my car, stuff like that along with fun things like writing for exchanges, presents and volunteering. At the moment, I'm glad to be home in my warm apartment as its snowy and cold outside.
ceitfianna: (riding into the sun)
My last two weeks have been full of a strange mixture of what comes next, the sense of the end of my time at work and looking forward to my birthday. To begin with, the Monday before last I changed offices to where the woman I originally replaced sat. What makes this change so surreal is that suddenly by sitting where she was sitting, I can keep a much better eye on the student workers and the desk. One of the parts of this job that I've had trouble with and honestly messed up a bit is helping the students work enough and keep track of when they're missing shifts. Until I sat in this desk, I didn't realize just how much of that was because I couldn't easily see them. My other office did technically have a window that looks out but the blinds are always down so I had to get up to see. People always searched me out with questions but now all I do is look up as my open door leads to the desk.

Its also odd to not be sharing an office anymore, the library has been having a lot of office musical chairs going on. So the woman who originally shared the office with the person I replaced moved offices before I went into that office. Then someone else has moved into my old office which has space for three people. Another temp who left at the beginning of May called our office the office of misfit toys, because all the stuff lives there and there were two temps plus my other co-worker, a recent alum who's working on a two year contract.

The timing ended up being just right for another reason as the week before last, other than one day, I had phone interviews either at lunch or one after work for school librarian jobs. The first lunch time one was the last day of finals and all the library study rooms where I'd normally go were rooms for finals. So I walked all over the library searching for a quiet space before realizing wait, I have an office with a door I can close. So I closed the door and had privacy to talk. It was kind of weird and nice. All the phone interviews were pretty hopeful, next Tuesday I have a video interview as a follow up to one of them. Its a nice reminder that my skills are seen and people want to learn more about me.

Sunday I was finally able to hang out with some friends in person which I'd really been needing. We bought food at the Public Market and then ate out on the Greenway. The day was beautiful and there were lots of dogs and kids playing around us. I'm trying to get myself out more this spring and summer as I've been realizing how much my commute has cut down on my desire to go too far when I have time off. I'm so grateful to live in a city where there are friends, schedule wrangling is required but we make it work. My plan for birthday is to try and maybe get to the Dragon Boat festival on Sunday or try to get out to the zoo one day. There's also free entry to the MFA with a BPL library card which I want to take advantage of too.

After the last day of Finals even before that the library and campus have been getting quieter and quieter which has meant my boss has done a little more hovering. There hasn't been too much to see was the students who are working are good at getting done what needs to be done. And I'm at the point of feeling like she can be disapproving all she wants at me that I wasn't standing directly at the desk and immediately there to help someone, but I know things are getting taken care of. Also that she was annoyed I forwarded an email to a student with some dates in it, it feels like an odd sort of reaching. But I also knew that my shark week started so I'm a little more grumbly. My contract ends at the end of June and I'm going to end having some time to not be working.

Friday was commencement and I was at the front desk all day except for when I did lunch and dropping some gifts to graduates and I loved watching the ebb and flow of people. The weather which has been grey was beautifully sunny and not too warm, just the right temperature. I ended being a tiny bit late due to traffic so had to deal with my boss being a little disapproving at me but then she left. And then it was the fun of taking these little snack bags to our student workers who are graduating as they were lining up. It was wonderful, I even got a hug and so many smiles. Then I came back and did a lot of directing people to the bathrooms and watching the ceremony where it was streaming. Anita Hill was the speaker and she seemed like she did a great job. I didn't see all of it due to my timing.

An odd note to the day was that Bill, this older man who's the main facilities guy in the library kept hanging out and talking with me. At some points it was interesting to hear his views on how things are run, we shared some complaints on how communication isn't great on campus. Other times, he talked more at me which was kind of annoying and now I look back, I wonder how often he's done that to student and other workers. He's an odd presence, tall older guy that's not very neat. Some of the things he'd said, I wish he'd actually brought up before as he sees when some jobs weren't getting done. Normally I'll see him briefly at the end of the day but I guess he also likes the energy of commencement since he spent a lot of the day near the front.

My birthday's next Saturday, which is also reunion and I've got enough students to cover it. As a kind of early birthday present to myself, I did a big order from Torrid, who was having a really nice Memorial day sale. The first thing arrived today, a dress which I put on and felt comfortable and beautiful. Its been a while since I wore dresses even though I like them, but part of this order is trying clothing styles that will make me feel summery and pretty. Another fun early birthday thing is that my parents bought me the thinkgeek death star glasses. I need to figure out where in my small kitchen to put them but they look very cool.

In terms of books, I've been reading Little, Big by John Crowley which is one of those books that's always coming up on book lists alongside other books I really like. I'm finding it slow and strange going, the language can be lovely and lyrical with an intriguing setting, but the thread of the story is odd. It keeps turning away from what seems to me to be the interesting plotline for a more almost normal one and that choice always seem to be from something happening to a woman to a man's life. Also there's an odd sexual undercurrent to it that keeps pulling me out of it. I wouldn't say its a slog as when I sit down to read it, I tend to move fairly quickly through it but it feels longer. Reading it has me wanting to reread some of my favorite authors who write magical realism or fantasy.

Off weekend

Apr. 7th, 2019 03:09 pm
ceitfianna: (breaking each other)
I had high hopes for this weekend but its ended up being a little off. Yesterday I volunteered at the Boston Public Library book sale which was quieter than other times. The part that was hard was before I went to the sale, I had this moment of realizing that I can't look for books for my sister anymore. She's not around to read them and I think that pang is echoing through me. I had plans for sending things and the other volunteers even invited me out to dinner but I'd run out of social juice by the end of my volunteering. Though there was one very cool moment, in the back room where all the sale stuff lives, they have books that are sold online. One of them was a hardcover, first edition, autographed by Pratchett copy of Good Omens, it cost 250 dollars but I was able to hold it and look at it.

Today has been quiet which I've needed as I'm sore and tired. I'm hoping to write some cards to my nephews in France and maybe try and send them from the college mailbox. Today's the youngest birthday and they're both into Spiderman so I found cute Spiderman cards, because each boy needs to get something. Last week was okay, work has gone into a pretty good space other than the whole someone else will be hired hanging over me, while also doing prep work for the summer and next semester. I'm ready to have my week off at the end of the month as I think I'm much more aware of all the ways my boss and I don't work. Good news is that I'll be getting a nice refund from my taxes and it actually feels like Spring.

All my writing feels like its kind of mirroring the weather in this mix of thaw and frost again. I've written the start of something that I really like, an everyone lives AU but focused on Jyn and Cassian's daughter on Fest fighting the First Order. I want to write more for it when I can find more words for it.

Oh and I finally finished watching the Umbrella Academy, which was okay. It looked cool but I never really cared for the characters like I was expecting to. I kept thinking about Preacher which has a similar vibe in terms of stylized violence and outsized personalities, but the characters felt realer to me.
ceitfianna: (stormy ship)
There was a post going around Tumblr at one point about how if someone's being bothered by something that seems small, its probably because there's more going on. Today I had one of those days when the fact that I had to dig my car out since the plow that does the parking lot completely hemmed it in and I couldn't get it out, that was my point of too much. Well, no that's not true, emailing my boss and trying to explain that first I would be late and then not sure if I could get my car out and could I work from home. And her sort of sympathetic reply that basically always seems to have behind it, I think you're not doing enough hurt more. So this negative feeling plus being cold and feeling awful after being outside either in my car trying to warm up or digging it out in below 10 degree weather sat with me.

Its not until I really started to think about it that I saw just how much of this is other stuff; how sick my sister is and that I'm far away, the certainty that I'm not getting this job long term, but my boss hasn't told me yet, as well as this sense of all these other things I want to do that I haven't done. I'm so behind on my book reviews and all these things I wanted to write. Then I find myself going, well but none of this matters that much compared to other things out in the world, which I also know. Usually I can have a good long vent, do some baking or writing then I feel a little better, but so much of the hard stuff, I can't do much about.

Last night I made delicious banana bread and my kitchen is well stocked with a number of good things. I think I have to be more open with my boss about how sick my sister is, our relationship hasn't been one where I felt comfortable saying that, but I think its time. With how things are, I might end up having to go away quickly and this way she'll know. I'm going to keep doing a good job and create and do what I can, but today was a hard day.
ceitfianna: (riding into the sun)
I've been meaning to do an update but work and the weather plus allergies have been draining me of a lot of energy. In good news, thanks to the Rogue One fandom on Tumblr, I'm now in a chat with other rebelcaptain writers and its wonderful to have people to connect with on writing. And also its a nice reminder that oh yes, I can meet new people and it works. Its lovely to have people who send prompts and go I like your work, also for times of let's all write together.

Job stuff has been a mix of good and tiring where it seems like lately all my substituting jobs have left me feeling worn out and slightly doubting. There are good moments mixed in but its the end of the year and I'm usually in on odd days like half days or this week when some of the teachers are away. So kids are more likely to push and some of them, I feel like I have the same conversation every time I sub and they never listen. I know that the teachers do appreciate what I do and I'm probably doing better than I think.

Also last month one of my fact checking checks was late which was annoying but they fixed it as quickly as they could. I'm now in the midst of a big fact checking job that required negotiating more time. Its a length of book that I've done before but I really feel like when I started out, I had longer for these books. And its been a while since I did one this long, so I'm readjusting. I think it will be okay, the start is always hard until I really get going. Now I'm at that point of finding the best resources and feeling like the deadline is too close. Once I get into my day-to-day schedule for it instead of the past few days where I taught two days, had an interview with a staffing agency alongside starting out, it should go better.

One thing I really wanted to write up was how I've been getting into watching The Expanse and The Terror which has sent me to reading books. I read the first book that The Expanse is based on and then watched the first season which I missed. I liked the way the Roci crew worked better in the book as in the show, a choice was made that adds an element of harshness and cruelty to the world that doesn't fully make sense. A major part of the first book is a whole Noir story that has a mystery that connects a lot of threads but I didn't like the PoV character. He was such a stock character who gets unhealthily obsessed with the character who actually is in the prologue and one of the best pieces of writing. In the show, there's an entire episode that tells her story from her point of view but that also kind of showed up how weak the other side of the story actually was. I know that its useful for setting some things up but there was an entire point of view character that was ignored. I'd say that the first season and first book aren't the strongest of the series, I started watching in the second season and didn't feel lost. Though an odd benefit of that was it had me craving good playing with Noir tropes so I'm rereading the Vimes' books.

For The Terror, I've been reading nonfiction books, one that's very much a brief survey of the searches and then an in depth relating of an investigation of remains from the ships. That's called Frozen in Time and kind of interesting about what does it take to search out there. The other which I'm really liking is called Ice Ghosts and goes much more in depth in terms of how the searches were sent out and also deeply into the First Nations in the area, who have a personal history. At some point, I might go read the book as I do like Simmons' books but at times he can go on too long.
ceitfianna: (Dean time rambles on)
Today I ventured into the cold and my new purple jacket kept me nice and warm. My fact-checking is done so this weekend I'm going to try and do some writing, maybe catch up on all my book reviews that I didn't get to in the last few months.

I've also been watching the US Figure Skating Championships, I've always loved figure skating and the commentators are wonderful.

Day 5

Recommend a fannish or creative resource.


Since I'm currently writing Star Wars, my favorite resource is Wookieepedia. I don't think I've ever not found something or sometimes not finding is the answer. Since I'm also a librarian, I have been slowly collecting all the various books with behind-the-scenes and background info about Rogue One. Also Star Wars' puts out great books like the visual encyclopedias and wonderful in-universe background like the Rebel Dossier. I have this plan to make a Star Wars' shelf for the books and various toys.

In my work as a fact-checker, where my focus is often based in a place like a state or country, I have learned to rely on historical societies. Also when looking into Native American history, tribal websites are so helpful. The closer you can get to the source the better.
ceitfianna: (Dean time rambles on)
My snow day has mainly been spent working on fact-checking, drinking tea and trying not to get sick. I'm so glad that I traveled yesterday and was able to hermit today. Tomorrow I should be finished with my work and then can enjoy the snow day with reading and writing. I'm so happy for another chance to do the Snowflake Challenge.

Day 1

In your own space, talk about why you're participating in Snowflake and, if you’ve participated in the past, how the challenge has affected you. What drew you to it? What did you take away from it? What do you hope to accomplish this year?


I was first drawn to Snowflake Challenge because I kept seeing it on my flist/circle and liked the idea. Now its become part of how I start my year, connecting with new people and interacting with fandom in ways I don't normally.

Day 2

In your own space, share a favorite memory about fandom: the first time you got into fandom, the last time a fanwork touched your heart, crazy times with fellow fans (whether on-line or off-line), a lovely comment you’ve received or have left for someone.


I have so many great memories so I think I'll share ones of meeting people. One is how I connected with [personal profile] dodger_sister. We kept talking in a mutual friends' comment section and it came up that we were in the same state and she was selling a shredder. I drove out and we had this wonderful conversation that sadly didn't last long enough. It was pouring rain outside, but it was the start of many talks.

Another was when I came back from New Zealand and had a six hour layover in LA and a Milliways' friend met me at the airport, fed me and took care of me. We talked in the car and just clicked.

Since moving to Boston, I keep having more of these. Though I think a favorite was with Bing, who didn't realize who I was since Becca thought we'd met already.

Day 3

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


I always love this challenge and going to look at what I've been enjoying reading. Its hard to pick just three.

Thin Ice by guineapiggie, a lovely rebelcaptain fic in Cassian's head that feels like him and ends with snuggles.

no sweeter sorrow by forochel, a gorgeous Yuletide fic about Sameth, right after canon. He's one of my favorite characters and this fic captures what I love about him and wanted more of from canon; realizing his life has changed, how much he cares and how complex his family is.

Of Cost by quantumvelvet, a powerful October Daye fic about Quentin, the Luidaeg and what it means to take care of Toby.

Day 4

In your own space, create a fannish wishlist. No limits on size or type of fanwork; just tell us what you’d like to see.


This one of is always tricky for me. Some of these are fics I'm trying to write myself and ideas from around fandom. Star Wars is my current big one.

-Someone to actually write the fic where adolescent Cassian reprograms K-2s0 and their journey together. Actually just more fic about the two of them learning to trust and take care of each other. More of why Cassian who has such a complicated history with trust finds an anchor in this droid.

-Fic of Rex and Organa, their thoughts on the Rebellion after living through the Clone Wars. Do they see familiar faces and experiences in the young people around them? How strange is it to deal with Separatists who are now allies?

-Cassian and the Star Wars Rebels' crew and Leia, all of it.

-Moodboard or something to capture Cassian the pilot, I'm actually thinking of asking for this from someone on Tumblr.
ceitfianna: (Allpocalypse)
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.
ceitfianna: (Tumnus)
When I think of snow, its usually connected with cold and wet. I grew up outside Philly where snow is beautiful but rarely soft. Soft snow makes me think of New Zealand and when it snowed in Dunedin. The snow was wetter and lighter, it kind of snuck up throughout the day in a way that felt differently than the snow I was used to at home. It still ended up cold but felt safe.

The meme is up here and after I finish writing my Yuletide, it will be wonderful to write other things.

More fic

Mar. 27th, 2016 12:35 am
ceitfianna: (Charles/Erik-remake the world)
This has been a good week. I finished my fact checking, had an absolutely wonderful day of substituting where I was able to do some teaching. I spent over an hour helping a student read which made me feel great. It was also in a place I've subbed before and they're always friendly and nice. Spring is starting to make itself known here, the wind can be a little chilly but the sun's out and flowers are blooming. The birds are being busy and everywhere.

Today I finished a fic that I've been working on and I'm happy with it. Its my first Newsies fic that's actually out in the world. I have lots of fics that never left my head but I wrote this one. This round of Porn Battle seems to be, old fandoms and first published fics for them.

Glimpses (409 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Newsies (1992)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: David Jacobs/Jack Kelly
Characters: David Jacobs, Jack Kelly
Additional Tags: Surprise Kissing, Prompt Fic, Missing Scene
Summary:

Written for Porn Battle Prompt Stack and the prompt: Newsies, Jack/David, union, night, city.


Before Once and For All, David and Jack have an honest and surprising conversation in an alley.

ceitfianna: (Tumnus)
At the moment, life is pretty good. I wandered around some favorite shops today and yesterday arranged my New York trip. The weather is cold and I love it, this is how winter should feel. Also I'm enjoying the Snowflake Challenge a lot, its a good way to get me doing as the year begins.

Day 5

Leave feedback for a fanwork. Or multiple fanworks. It can be as simple as I liked this to a detailed list of all the things you loved about the fanwork. The key is to leave some sort of feedback.

If you've already left feedback in the course of a previous challenge, it totally counts. But you're free to leave more feedback.

Afterwards, leave a comment in this post with the equivalent of "I did it!" If you feel so inclined, leave a link to the fanwork you left feedback for so others can check it out.


This one is easy for me as if I enjoy a fic, I leave a comment and kudos but it gave me a push to go back into the Yuletide archives and read fics I hadn't before.
ceitfianna: (paper butterfly)
At the middle of this week, I'm feeling pretty good. I have an interview for the beginning of July and I'm finding some other job openings. Also there was a gorgeous thunderstorm last night which I was able to get pictures of, the clouds were unreal.

What I've finished reading:
For Your Arms Only by Caroline Linden which is my favorite type of historical romance. The characters feel real, there's a discussion of the Napoleonic War and no one's perfect. This book cemented for me that a well written wounded hero realizing that they do bring good into the world and the partner who helps them heal and grow is one of my romance catnips.

The Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie, which was one I hadn't read before and a mixed bag. It had a wonderful young woman sleuth who was solving the mystery to save her fiancee and she worked with an interesting journalist. The mystery was complicated but the characters were intriguing, the end kind of annoyed me as the romance story went a weird way. I hate the trope of the strong woman staying with a weak man because she'll keep him out of trouble.

What I'm currently reading:
Huck Finn's America: Mark Twain and the Era That Shaped His Masterpiece by Andrew Levy. I picked this book up at the library since I'm always interested in Huck Finn and was in a nonfiction mood. So far I'm liking how the author is pulling in a lot of aspect of the time that Twain grew up in and wrote in about how that changed his writing.

What I'm going to read next:
I think The Baron Next Door by Erin Knightley as I picked it up as a hold. Other than that I don't know, picking the next book is always tricky and depends on my mood.
ceitfianna: (paper butterfly)
I don't want to get sick as there are a lot of chores I have to do for various job stuff, cover letters to write and a test to take for a part-time job.

The weather here is windy and cold but not snowing and I just helped my parents to clean the big freezer. They're getting ready for another trip and now it will be set for my use.

In a good accomplishment, I finished up a little fic that I've had in mind for a while with The Flash and I think I'm going to end up with a few fics for the Golden Oldies Porn Battle. I have a whole bunch of prompts that I didn't use in other years and I feel like I'm starting to get my writing groove back.

Always a cop (670 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Flash (TV 2014)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Barry Allen, Iris West, Joe West
Additional Tags: Families of Choice, Police, Adopted Sibling Relationship
Summary:

After Joe told Iris she couldn't apply for the police academy, Barry tried to help and mainly succeeded. A glimpse into an earlier time in the West household.

She bit her lip before going up to her room, she wouldn’t slam the door or cry, not where he could see her, she was an adult. There was a creak as Barry’s door opened a few inches while he peered out, “Iris?”

“Why are you even here? You have a dorm room.”

ceitfianna: (Dean time rambles on)
Its cold and snowy here, a perfect day for this [community profile] snowflake_challenge and more fic.

Day 14

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


I could easily rec far more than three but I think I'm going to rec a few recent fics that surprised me with how much I liked them. One from a new fandom, one a take on a familiar fandom but different angle and another one that I like. Its going to be hard to pick only three since I've been reading some great fics lately.

I Sing Anyway (7506 words) by Aelin
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Old Kingdom - Garth Nix
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Prince Sameth/Nicholas Sayre
Characters: Prince Sameth, Nicholas Sayre, Lirael (Old Kingdom)
Additional Tags: Pining, Angst, Large holes in the ground, Lirael is awesome, magic is confusing
Summary:

“Let’s go on an adventure,” Nick said.
“What are you doing,” Sam asked, “with my breakfast tray?”



The Old Kingdom is a favorite fandom and Sameth and Nick are two of my favorite characters but I'd never really seen them as a pairing. This fic convinces me along with being a wonderful post-canon look at the world.

Eyewitness Account (4574 words) by failsafe
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Flash (TV 2014)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Barry Allen/Iris West
Characters: Iris West, Barry Allen, Joe West, Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon
Additional Tags: Fluff, Slice of Life, Banter, First Kiss, Hypoglycemia, Unresolved Romantic Tension
Summary:

A formless and featureless future is full of potential, and in this particular case it's pretty and frictionless. At some point in time, Iris knows the identity of the Flash, and in the middle of an awards ceremony there is a small surprise. A day (more accurately, a few hours) in the life, but not an insignificant day for Barry and Iris.



The Flash is my newest fandom and I love this fic because it captures all of the characters being a found family and brings together the couple I want to see while feeling like an episode.

Carousel (1505 words) by jessikast
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: October Daye Series - Seanan McGuire
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Raj/Chelsea Ames
Characters: Chelsea Ames, Quentin (Toby Daye), Raj (Toby Daye), The Luidaeg (Toby Daye), Etienne (Toby Daye), Toby Daye
Additional Tags: Age Regression/De-Aging
Summary:

I’ve always thought of myself as someone who can deal well with weird stuff. It’s just a case of accepting what’s in front of you, and making a plan about how you’re going to figure it out. A childhood hiding the fact that you’re only half-human and an academic for a mother will do that for you.


This, however, was going to take a few minutes to get my head around.



This is an October Daye fic that has three main characters deaged. Its not a trope that I normally like or even think about but it works. Also its from the point of view of Chelsea Ames who's a character I find fascinating. I find Chelsea, Raj and Quentin's take on all the stuff going on around them intriguing and want more, this fic answers some of that more for me.
ceitfianna: (Charles+Raven-here to hold you)
Today's [community profile] snowflake_challenge isn't an easy one for me especially as its been a grey, rainy day and I've felt worn out and tired. I really don't want to get the awful sick that's been going around my family. That makes it hard to think about the good but I like the idea behind it.

Day 12

In your own space, talk about what you bring to fandom. It can be something tangible, or not.


I bring my eagerness to read and listen from betaing to fic and my love of writing for friends and strangers to Fandom.
ceitfianna: (Charles+Raven-here to hold you)
Its windy and cold today and the world is being scary once more. Keep warm and safe everyone.

Today's [community profile] snowflake_challenge is one that I hadn't really thought about before though I know my character type for RP.

Day 7

In your own space, share your love for a trope, cliché, kink, motif, or theme. (More than one is okay, too.) Tell us about it, tell us why you love it, give us some examples and recs.


Families and friendship, the kinds that are difficult and that are chosen by the characters. In stories, the ones I love are where you can see people coming together and going, oh, you get it. I also love seeing the domestic contentment that happens when you've found your people and aren't off saving the world. This is one reason that the new Flash television show hooked me so quickly as its all about who do you trust, who do you love and who helps you become a better person. I love it when these relationships are poked at too such as Charles and Raven's relationship throughout the two newest X-Men movies. That being a found family is a complicated and never easy place and when writers go into that, it makes me happy. The bumps and troubles make when it works so much sweeter.

A few of my fandoms that hit this are October Daye, Incryptid, Hexwood, Magid Series, Chrestomanci, Leverage, the Raven Cycle, Robin Hood, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, MCU, X-Men.

This Yuletide was full of a lot of fics that were all about these created families.

Impulse Control about the after of Hexwood.

Eyewitness Account that hits all that I love about The Flash as we see everyone understanding and watching out for each other.

It Takes a Village, a wonderful Vorkosigan fic about planning the wedding and seeing all the people around Ekaterin and Miles.

Ready or Not, a Fangirl fic that's all about finding your own tribe.

A Quiet Night, domestic fluff of October Daye from the point of view of May.

The Eighth Bell, a post-canon Old Kingdom fic where everyone redefines themselves and learns to go forward.

Honestly, I could link my entire reading history on Ao3 to answer this but these are my recent favorites. I'm going to end by linking a wonderful Leverage fanvid that also captures found family so well.

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