Courtesy of 15lbpurebunny, who inspires me enough to put in my first entry in weeks. I'm either tired, lazy, sick, sore, or all of the above. Occasionally I'm all of the above at the same time...

1. What was the most surprising thing that happened to you in 2008?
When my 7 year old daughter went from having a mild fever on Wednesday afternoon to being hospitalized with a fever of 105 and a complete inability to eat or drink without vomiting less than 24 hours later. Not only was this surprising, it was also pretty damn scary.

2. What is one thing you'd do over in 2008?
I'd second guess my Wii purchases.

3. What was the strangest thing you saw in 2008?
It's funny, but I also have a coyote story... the one I saw trotted nonchalantly across 4 lanes of traffic I-85 (without causing a single car to swerve or even slow down, talk about perfect timing) on it's way to the golf course when I was on my way home from work. I've decided the coyote had a 5pm tee-time that it couldn't miss.

4. What's the one materialistic thing you'd love to get for the holidays?
I'd LOVE to get one of those fancy Casio electric keyboards, with a full 88 keys. And lots of doo-dads and extra sounds and bells and whistles.

5. What's the one intanginble thing you'd love to give?
Comfort, so that people feel more secure in the realization that this, too, shall pass.

6. If money were no object, pick three people on your LJ f-list. Without identifying them, what would you give each person?
Person One: Gerard Butler
Person Two: A date with Christian Bale
Person Three: Chesthair.

7. If you could go anywhere in the world for New Years, where would it be and why?
Australia. I want to see the Southern Cross, and hear different the night sounds in summer, and climb on Ayer's Rock

8. What's the most rotten, devilish thing you got up to in 2008?
I inadvertantly started 'dirty dancing' with a friend in a computer game called Second Life. I mean, like.. crawling around on the floor between his legs, sliding my body up and down his, etc. All with my husband standing there watching, going, "WHat the hell kind of dance is THAT??!!!" I'm not sure who was more shocked, me, or Niown, the poor guy I was pouring myself all over. I swear it was an accident, though. How was I to know that clicking on that little black ball on the dance floor would cause such a result?

9. What's the biggest shock you had in 2008?
See question 1 for the serious answer, and 8 for the lighter answer.

10. What's the funniest thing you've seen on LJ in 2008? The whole 9 yards of the 'Job Opportunity' posts on the damienchesthair LJ community. Holy cow, I died laughing. Twice.


11. What was the most disturbing thing you saw on LJ in 2008. When 'The Damien' spoke. Cause, that was just weird.


12. Of those on your F-list, whose sanity did you fear the most for in 2008?
Firth. Sorry... I calls em like's I sees em. 15lbpurebunny was a close second though.

And travelers now within that valley
Through red-litten windows see
Vast forms that move fantastically
To a discordant melody,
While, like a rapid ghastly river
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever
And laugh, but smile no more.

from "The Haunted Palace" Edgar Allen Poe


I'm having one of those weeks where it seems like the hurrieder I go, the furthers behinds I gets. I don't know why, it's just a vague sense of lag. Internet lag, life lag, I'm not really sure which, but it's there, dragging me down. No I'm not depressed, more like, introspective.
( Lag ahead: Wait patiently, loading )

Another massive update to my story. How massive? Oh, like 14,000 words in a single chapter worth of massive. I would claim that this chapter got away from me but really, it was more that I had set in my mind that I wanted to end the story with a particular scene in Bisbee, Arizona, and I was determined to write until I reached it. That apparently took me 14,000+ words. Cause I can't shut up.

Beyond Contention Chapter 11: Justice

If you saw me sitting in the back of a police car, what would you think I was being arrested for? Shamelessly lifted from Strangevictory's journal, and she got it from mischiefmydear's journal. Answer, then post in your own journal, to see how many different crimes you get accused of.

The subject really says it all, doesn't it?

The whompingly long latest chapter in my 3:10 to Yuma fanfiction.

Beyond Contention Chapter 10: Prudence

Well last night was the visitation for my husband's grandma, and it was surprisingly pleasant. As I said in another post, things had gotten almost nasty regarding life support and such during those last few days while she was in the hospital, but thank goodness, none of that emnity was showing either at the visitation last night, or at the funeral this morning. ( Very few tears were shed )

I'm sure all of you in the US are aware that it's Election day. Let me relay to you my election day adventure, shall I?

( Adventures in Voting )

Where have I been, you ask? Well... where to start? First, my husband talked me into buying a new computer game. So I've been playing that... in between that, I've also been trying to write this 3:10 to Yuma story, and finishing up my daughters and my halloween costumes. Hubby's grandmother is literally on her death bed, so we've had to make a few trips to the hospital (which is about 50 miles away). And there's been a lot of ... to-do going on there that's not been very nice.

( More on my life, the post apocalyptic Fallout universe, and everything )

I know it's been a while since I updated, not just the story but in general. Let me get this posted first.

My latest chapter in my 3:10 to Yuma story, Beyond Contention.

Beyond Contention Chapter 9: Fortitude

And it's yet another chapter in the ongoing saga, "Beyond Contention", which, in case you've been marooned on a desert island, kidnapped by aliens, or held hostage by Damian's Chesthair, is the 3:10 to Yuma fanfic I've been working my career off trying to get done. My husband has resorted to threats. I can't write again until Monday at least (unless he's gone this weekend on call with the Hospital).

Beyond Contention - Chaper 8: Faith
Anyway, as usual, read, review, comment, slip me oreos...

Oh!! My lab results came back negative, so I get to treat my hypoglycemia by eating more protein for now. Either way it was a relief to find out I dont have diabetes. Thanks to everyone for their kind thoughts.

Lookit! It's barely a week gone by and I've already got the next chapter of Beyond Contention up! Go me!! I'd pat myself on the back but last time I tried that, I dislocated my shoulder, so I dont do that anymore. This chapter wasn't nearly as hard to write as the last, obviously.

Beyond Contention: Chapter 7 A 3:10 to Yuma fanfiction

Reviews, comments and doublestuf oreos gladly accepted.

Wanna hear about my day? Sure you do, that's why you're reading this, isn't it?

( But O heart! Heart! Heart, O the bleeding drops of red )

To a certain 15lb bunny, if that doesn't prove I'm not Marvin, what will?

Well, ( tonight is the night!!!! WOOT!! )

I've had this chapter planned almost from the very beginning, when I was first conceptualizing the story, and I knew it was going to be hell to write. I was right, and if you read it, you will see why. But it's done and now I can look forward to bigger and brighter things. So without further ado...

Beyond Contention, Chapter 6 - A 3:10 to Yuma fanfiction

By the way, it can take about 30 minutes for the chapters to show up, I've linked directly to the chapter itself but if it doesn't work, or if you haven't read my story yet, you can start at the beginning of the tale by going here
Beyond Contention

If I thought my answer were given
to anyone who would ever return to the world,
this flame would stand still without moving any further.
But since never from this abyss
has anyone ever returned alive, if what I hear is true,
without fear of infamy I answer you.
--From Dante's Inferno, as used in the T S Eliot poem, "The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock"

( Inanities ahead )

It's funny that I title the subject that because I had just seen one of my favorite commercials - This gem that never fails to make me laugh.


Anyway, so I've posted my new chapter, and ... now what? Ok first, I've got 2 chapters to beta read for other people, that I had to put off because my brain was melting trying to get my own chapter out. I also have like four stories that I have on 'story alert' that updated, and I've got to get caught up with reading those. So yeah. That's my goal. And now, back to your usual program.

It's finally here, the moment all of you (well, ok some of you) have been waiting for! It's an update to 3:10 to Yuma fanfiction, fresh off the press. In all honesty this would have been posted on like.. Saturday, were it not for one incredibly distracting husband, one overly talkative child, and a 24 hour internet outtage courtesy of Charter.

The good news! It's a fairly long chapter, and I hope it doesn't bore you. The bad news! There's at least 2 more chapters forthcoming before I end the story, and I may stretch it to 10. If you read this, please please comment on it, I don't usually beg for comments/reviews but in this case, I really need them. This story is truly a labor of love. I can't give up on it, because I'm just as interested in seeing what happens next as the rest of you guys are!
Beyond Contention, Chapter 5

The bad news!

My husband was home most of the weekend and my kid was home the rest of it. I was so darned distracted by them that I didn't get my chapter done. You try writing with a demanding husband and a chatty 7 year old and tell me how you do!

Good news!

I did get a lot of work done on it, and I hope to have it finished and posted later this evening!

Keeping in line with my usual luck, I finally am sitting down and actually writing my next chapter for "Beyond Contention", my 3:10 to Yuma fanfic, and naturally neither of the people I usually bounce thoughts and ideas off is available at the moment. So I'm floundering a lot with a couple of story aspects. Found some good research tidbits to add to the end of the chapter though, for what it's worth.

And at least I'm working on it.

Remember that Batman story I told you about my last entry? The author asked me to Beta read the chapters, so now I get a total preview of everything :) I know, you're jealous... as well you should be!

Well this weekend I'd fully intended to write a new chapter on my 3:10 to Yuma fanfic. However, remmeber how I said football was this weekend? I've been a total couch potato, I've watched football for the past two days. And! A friend found this simply freaking AMAZING Nolan-verse (read Christian Bale) Batman post The Dark Knight story that I have got to show you guys. The story is incomplete but it's one of the best Batman stories I've ever read, and that there's some high praise.
So check out Homefront, by Anonymous2004. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Now that I've finished it though I'm really going to try to get started on Chapter 5.