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January 25th, 2019

07:43 pm Image by ravenclawbest While there are some public entries, the majority of content in this journal is friends only. I decided to put this up since I have had more strange friend requests lately than in the past. ( I also write fic, and I wanted to publish a handy index. )

(Cast a spell)

July 4th, 2009

(Cast a spell)

June 27th, 2009

03:08 pm The last I have to say about this particular subject: Here is something I find exceedingly ironic. In the same week as the heated debate over protecting sexual assault victims from accidental triggers within fanfic with better labeling, I find myself wondering how many victims of sexual assault, who were discredited or disbelieved in court or out, are living through their nightmares again because a celebrity died who "was troubled, sure, but wow, so talented and so important!" Power and money shape our culture, and when you add celebrity into that, the shaping gets even more extreme. I will always care more about quiet victims than I will powerful, wealthy celebrities. I don't care if that is perceived as speaking ill of the dead. Sometimes you must speak. (ETA The previous statement is not meant to vilify folks who remembered Michael Jackson of their childhood fondly in recent posts. I am reacting more against those who have relegated the improprieties in his life (alleged and documented) to "details of his personal life" in favor of celebrating his talent only and "not speaking ill". This blogpost from Tiger Beatdown linked to me by a friend makes some really incredible points about this in much better ways than I can.) On a closely related note, a friend, capn_ahab, wrote an excellent essay on Death of the Famous and Collective Grief that captures a lot what I was thinking about this topic. Go check it out. And now I'm done. Tags: reflections

(10 Spells | Cast a spell)

June 21st, 2009

(2 Spells | Cast a spell)

June 13th, 2009

(8 Spells | Cast a spell)

June 10th, 2009

03:45 pm So I am in Washington, D.C. on "Viv's Big Damn Selfish Vacation" in which I had two priorities: visiting miraielle while her husband is out of town and geeking out at museums. Lots of museums. I didn't make many other plans with anyone in the area (I hope you will forgive my laxness in arranging get togethers, D.C. area folks), but I wanted to devote my time here to my main priorities, and I have! See, I've been to D.C. three times, and I have only gotten to see a fraction of the cultural attractions, so this is the Time I Am Getting It Right. It's been a lovely visit with my Lynette, too, and I am so glad I came. Today I was on the 4th of floor of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum when the fatal shooting of a guard occurred. I'd just gotten through viewing most of the exhibits in the hall when the docents began trying to usher us out. They'd said twice "Ladies and gentlemen, we need to clear the floor please" but most everyone ignored them, since they probably thought - like I did - that we needed to move on to make room for the next group. And I didn't wanna! I'd just got started reading! Finally one of them said "We have an emergency and we need to clear the building." That finally got people moving (including me, since I'd hurried along and sucked in as much more of the exhibit as I could). We weren't told anything; in fact, an older guard ushering us to the stairs affably responded to questions with, "Oh, they like to keep us on our toes with drills, so things are fine, keep moving along." I was able to break out my teacher voice by speaking up for a man in a wheelchair with a young son who was trying to get him to the elevator. I got the people in front of us who were sheeping obliviously along to move the hell out of the way so he could get where he needed. He was very appreciative, so I felt good about being a bossy pants. By the time we got down the stairs, I was grumbling that if this was the result of some middle school brat pulling the fire alarm, I was going to be highly annoyed. But once we were out, I heard the sirens, and I heard two of the guards talking to each other as they waved us on. One said angrily, "Did we kill the motherfucker?" and I knew that something bad had happened. I still didn't know what exactly. We were waved on and on by the panicked little docents. I felt sorry for them; they were all college-aged girls or just out of college, it looked like, and they didn't know what was going on either. They were just trying to get the herd of tourists where they needed to be, which was not an easy task. Finally we ended up by the Washington Monument, and that's where I stayed a few minutes. I sat down by a group of folks who'd called relatives with access to newa, and they said that a guard had been shot at and the shooter had been shot. Sadly it was much worse than that, as word has come that the guard has died from his wounds. My evacuation was calm, the staff acted professionally, and I was, at no time, in any fear. In fact, I strolled on over to the Metro to go down to the Museum of the Native American, which I had wanted to visit, too. I am very thankful I am okay, and that more people were not hurt. I am also very thankful that I bought the books I wanted to commemorate my visit before I went into the exhibit. I am terribly disappointed I couldn't see the whole exhibit, because I was extremely impressed by the quality of what I saw, but hey. Crimes happen. One of the museum officials told me that I can keep my ticket and whenever I come back, whether it's a couple of years or whatever, I can come in without waiting. I am saddened by the act of hatred and violence today, and I find the choice of locations to be particularly despicable. But I am okay, and I am safe, if on the righteous fury side of things. I'm heading back to Denver tomorrow, and despite this evil man's actions, he has not ruined my vacation. I just feel so sorry for the guard and his family and co-workers. It is truly a shame that people can't do their job to keep people safe in a freaking museum without risking their lives. ETA: Thanks those of you who texted, called, or relayed hugs in my direction. All are greatly appreciated. Tags: reflections

(21 Spells | Cast a spell)

June 4th, 2009

(Spells | Cast a spell)

June 2nd, 2009

(10 Spells | Cast a spell)

(26 Spells | Cast a spell)

May 30th, 2009

09:09 pm Happy birthday, flouritephoenix!!!! I hope you had a sparkling, delightful birthday!!!

(Cast a spell)

May 28th, 2009

07:35 pm May 28th is a pretty incredible day. Why, you may ask? I will tell you! Today is the birthday of genarti, adjudicated, and mctabby! Happy birthday, you fabulous ladies!

(4 Spells | Cast a spell)

May 25th, 2009

12:01 pm I participated in hp_beholder this year, and I forgot to link my story! It was terminally sweet, but I kinda like how it turned out. FIC: "Secret Admirer" for hayseed Recipient: hayseed Author: Vivien Title: Secret Admirer Rating: G Pairings: Irma Pince/Filius Flitwick Word Count: 2,218 Warnings: Cuteness ahoy! Summary: Irma Pince wishes to be a different person - older, prettier, more confident. Her secret admirer likes her just the way she is. Author's Notes: I hope you enjoy! (...Thanks to L, my patient beta for her help) Link to story on IJ Tags: writing

(Cast a spell)

May 20th, 2009

(2 Spells | Cast a spell)

May 18th, 2009

07:31 pm Happy Birthday, miraielle !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span> I hope you had a wonderful one. We will have to get cake and celebrate again when I am there!!!!

(Cast a spell)

May 17th, 2009

(4 Spells | Cast a spell)

May 3rd, 2009

10:02 am I made you an LJ post, but I ated it. I have meant to update more this week and failed miserably, so here is a catch all post. Happy birthday a little late, wanderlustlover! Or... is it early? I am not sure with time zones. I hope it is/was wonderful. I cannot believe it's May already. This year is flying by. I am watching cute squirrels sproing around my now-green yard. Our flowers and plants are coming back, which is always a magical thing for me every single spring. I finished Hatful of Sky, the second in Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series, and I am here to tell you that I love his witch characters with a love that is vast and deep. It's rare in fantasy (as we all know) that you see female relationships written about in such ways. I mean, female protagonist, antagonists, mentors of different stripes - and some supporting male characters, who are nice but not the reason for the story. I'd love to read more about Granny Aching, but more Tiffany and Granny Weatherwax would be juuust fine. I'll snag the third book from the library tomorrow, I think. I meant to write a more complete review on my Unwigged and Unplugged concert experience, but I fail in that, too. Here is the website, though! I am, I realize, not unhappy that SPN only has one more season to go. I still enjoy watching it, but yeah. Sometimes endings are a good thing. I caved and now have a DW account. I am vivien there, with no 529. I don't know how to do the code, or I would. I don't really plan to do much with it. I might post fic and/or back up my journal there. I am keeping my LJ as my main journal, though. Work is good! I taught a class for teachers for the first time, and despite being worried I'd screw things up totally, I was not as nervous as I thought I'd be and it was also easier than I thought it would be. I got very good reviews, too. So that was a huge weight off my shoulders. This time next week I will be in OK. This trip happened a bit on the fast side, but I am glad I am making it. Hokay. I quit talking now. Tags: books, job stuff, life and yay, supernatural

(2 Spells | Cast a spell)

April 29th, 2009

(Spells | Cast a spell)

April 18th, 2009

(Spells | Cast a spell)

April 10th, 2009

(3 Spells | Cast a spell)

April 8th, 2009

08:17 pm HAPPY BIRTHDAY, agonistes !!!!!

(Spells | Cast a spell)