This Blog has no Title

So, I'm a clothes horse compulsive shopper fashion guru person who likes clothes.  A lot.  So, since I work 14 hour days and don't have time to wander around stores, I signed up for lots of online shopping sites and mailing lists. 

A while back I bought some pants for work from Ralph Lauren, and now I get all kinds of random e-mails from them. Yesterday's random e-mail was to notify the universe at large that Ralph Lauren had been selected to design the US Olympic Team uniforms for 2010.

Now, as far as I'm concerned, this is the opposite of an exciting announcement.  I mean, he's done those silly outfits for the opening ceremonies for as long as I can remember.  Also, how many designers come to mind when you think about who would be selected to create clothes that scream 'USA' to the rest of the world?  There was competition?  This was a piece of intel worth filling my inbox with?

They're just not in any format I can post here coherently.  I don't think.  But I'm going to try, because I feel damn guilty about bitching that there is nothing good to read online and then not posting anything.

As some or all of you may have noticed, I did jack on fanfic this weekend.  I didn't even take down the incorrect chapter that needs to be fixed because I did not even get THAT far.  The only good excuse (kinda) I have is that I have 10 pages of the next chapter completed.  Also, that I went with my sister-in-law to get registered to vote and then take pictures while she got her nose pierced.  Which was a great big rush and we were all giddy and excited...And then we were in and out of there in like, ten minutes.  It was kind of a let down.  It looks awesome, though.

I dog-sat this weekend; I believe I mentioned that here at some point.  I got invited out for game night, so I took the dog along with me.  That was pretty funny. He does this thing where he gets very territorial and over-protective, and forgets that he weighs about 18 pounds.  He decided to be territorial at game night; and not only at the wrong house, but a house with about 10 people and three other dogs in it.  Poor guy got ignored.

My father's last surviving aunt, and my mom's former boss of 18 years both passed away this week.  I think Mom was more upset about her former-bossman; or she was really weirded out by talking to his daughter.  Mom & Dad skipped his aunt's funeral, which was a surprise.  My Dad is one of those people who whether if he liked the person or not means more than what anyone else will say about his reactions, so I guess the funeral-skipping shouldn't have weirded me as much as it did.

Merae evidently discovered a few days ago that she had a chalkboard.  I think she's had it about 8 months, but she's just now really interested in it.  And, I learned something about 2 3/4 years old kids from this when I saw her Saturday.  She is incapable of drawing a circle smaller than her head.  I don't know if this is fairly typical for this stage of motor-skill-development, or if it's indicative of the lack of artistic talent in our family, but there you go.

Most of the things in this entry were not the ones I intended to write about when I started, so I'm going to quit while I'm ahead.  If I get mentally organized, I'll post again later.

Not a lot went on this weekend.  I slept, medicated, drank lots of fluids, etc.  Caught up on my TV, watched football, did laundry.  Read a little bit of fic, including some oldies I hadn't seen in a while.  Managed to post a couple of comments today.  That's about it.

The swelling has gone down in my neck, for which I am grateful.  I now have a phlegm issue, but I can swallow, so that's better.  I even had some coffee today.  For those of you who know me, that was 4 days without coffee, and 5 without a cigarette including today.  I may just not go back to smoking, we'll see how it goes.  If I do quit, it'll be weird because as several friends have been trying and trying to quit, I was just like, 'eh, I'll do that at some point, whatever'.  Who knows, maybe this is 'some point'.  Anyway, 5 days without my glorious stimulants, and although I did have a couple of mild fits of temper, I have yet to have any serious anxiety or to kill anyone in a fit of rage.  This is good.  

Once I'm not sick, and my stamina and concentration are back up, we'll have the true test: can I write like this?

Cell reception is very bad here. I worry.

Edit: Yeah, so once we were in our seats, and I tried to post and realized I had no reception, I panicked a little. Meaning, we walked a quarter of the way around the outside of the building, looking for better reception, so I could post, and then I was a bit late posting because of that.

So, then I sent this, just in case.

Other than writing, and on-again off-again hunt for white shoes, nothing much is going on.  Will be heading to Georgetown after work tonight; I forgot my Debit card at a bar last night, and I can look for shoes along the way.

I'm supposed to be going out with one of the roomies Saturday; we'll see how that goes.  It's always interesting to take people to new places.  I think I need to find a new place to dance on Saturdays, though.  The old favorite place is losing its glow.

Speaking of clubs: (You can skip this rant, if you like) We have Summer dress down Fridays.  Our dress code is very conservative, and there are specific jeans-day rules.  Several people are in violation of the dress code today, including the office manager.  I so want to take pictures and report their asses to the managing partner on his vacation.  Because, you know if I did it I'd be on the mat by now. I have no problems with girls dressing a little slutty to go out to clubs; that's perfectly normal and acceptable, if not always in the best taste.  But WHAT made you think it was a good idea to wear the jeans that show your ass crack and your tramp stamp to the office, especially with a sparkly top that's at least 1 size too small?  If you're trying to sleep with one of the lawyers, that's NOT the way to go about it.  Save the club clothes for the club. (/rant)

I'm so glad the week is over.  I thought about creating a new Friday song, but I just don't think i have it in me today.  I haven't been sleeping very well, so my brain is pretty much fried; I can write, and that's really about it.

Speaking of, I thought Chapter 13 of FAA was finished; come to find out it's not.  I went to work on it, and next thing I knew I was writing again.  Stupid characters.  Oh well, better a chapter that ends in the right place, I guess.

Okay, I posted once before about this, a few months ago, but it was buried in a much longer post.  So, I'm gonna try again; because other than Kate (thanks!), I've heard no other thoughts.

Now, with the notable exception of Amy in rat form, no one on Buffy had a pet.  But, after Chosen, when they are spread to far corners of the world without their friends and family, I picture them getting animals.  I am not taking into account the comics, FYI.  Here are my thoughts in that direction; let me know what you think.

Buffy & Dawn:  They never had pets, but I picture Joyce as one of those moms who fed stray cats, and let you go up to random dogs at the park.  I'd say they're ambivalent.  They'd be happy to play with or take care of an animal if a boyfriend or roommate brought one around, but would not actively acquire their own pet.  Although, Dawn seems more cat person, and Buffy more into dogs.

Xander:  I think without his friends, and after the loss of Anya, Xander wants something to take care of, that needs him.  It might not be a traditionally affectionate pet, like a dog or cat, but I do see him seeking an animal companion.  My thought right now is a snake, or a bird of some kind.  He'd probably get a parrot, because he'd think that was funny.

Willow:  Without her parents and roommates there to say no, Willow would likely have animals.  She liked having Amy around, and Miss Kitty Fantastico.  They might be strays, or her own, but I think Willow will find some type of furry creatures to care for.  And, possibly a lizard.

Giles:  Faced with being the new head of the Watcher's Council, or even a high-ranking member of the surviving Watchers, I don't think Giles would seek out a pet.  Of course, if the 'Council House', or wherever they are now that the old place blew up, had a cat wandering around, I think he would pet it.  And possibly give it milk.

Spike:  You just know he's a closet animal lover. Spike's personality seems so feline to me, that I can't picture him with a cat.  That might not makes sense to anyone but me; but it would almost be like having another him hanging about.  Spike, to me, is a dog guy.  And not a 'toy dog' guy, or a guy who would get a really cute dog like a golden retriever to attract women.  I picture him with a bulldog or mastiff mutt mix.

Angel: Now, here's a cat guy. Short hair, though. He wants a pet, so he'll feel needed, but nothing too pressuring; dogs need to be walked, after all.  A cat would do it's own thing, then curl up in his lap while he read Kierkegaard, or Niche, or whatever.  And he'd never have to admit it was his; he could say he got it for the group.  The cat wouldn't cling.  And, if it caught a mouse, you know he'd be proud.

Faith:  Yeah, I can't picture Faith with a pet.  Maybe a dog?  But, not right now.  She needs to mature more.  I'd put her in the Buffy and Dawn ambivalent category.  If Robin got a dog (you know he's a Labrador guy), she'd probably ignore it.

So, thoughts?

Just when I was starting to get really depressed that no one other than me would care if I ever finished FAA...Hits at fanfiction.net jumped from around 900 the last time I checked in, to almost 2500!  Thanks so much to everyone who is reading/recing this story, it means a lot to me that people are showing interest in it.  That said, a few more reviews would not be amiss.  You know who you are, people who never review (jk).   Also, squishes to Death Phoenix at ff.net, for adding my buffyverse fic to her C2 community.

Also, much love at the moment to the wonderful people who make Ben & Jerry's possible, and the nice cooks at the buffet on the corner for making the greasy-but-yummy spinach lasagna today.  Yeah, I've lost all hope for my diet this week.  Better luck Monday.  

And, who knew 10 pounds would be so friggin' hard to lose?  The last time I actually focused, and dieted, I lost 60, and it wasn't all that hard.  The 10 I gained back just don't seem to want to leave.  And, to be fair, I actually gained back a little over 15, but I'm older now, so I figure I only need to lose 10.  I'll stop talking about this now, because you either don't care, or you've heard this rant 20 times in the last month.

Oh, and I finished an entire book yesterday.  It wasn't long, or very challenging, but it made me happy to read something that I just ripped right through, that I couldn't put down, that I really enjoyed.  Other than fanfic.  It was another cheesy romance novel, but it surprised by being well written, having character development, keeping things at a realistic pace for the way a RL relationship develops, and having characters who were strong without being stereotypes.  The plot was a bit contrived; but it's a romance novel, there are only so many miracles you can expect. 

I really meant to buy the Buffy comics.  I got all excited about them existing.  And then, RL got in the way.

I saw a posting in one of the forums I visit that refered to it as 'canon-fanfic', which is exactly how I feel about it.  It's not true canon, because it's not on TV.  Period.  Although, I do confess to using the original movie as canon sometimes.  But, we were talking about the comics.  Joss is writing them, so they're canon.  Yet, they're not.  It's like Joss writing fanfic.  Which I'm okay with.  That's also exciting; now that he doesn't need to worry about production values, actors and their salaries, etc., he can do a lot of things with the characters that he might not have been able to do before.

All of that said...I missed the publication date of the first comic, by enough that the second is already out.  And I have to say, that as far as the spoilers go, I'm dissapointed.  We'll have to re-evaluate this next week, when I have a chance to read the first two comics.

When I write these entries, I like to have a point.  Or, at least a begining and end point.  I feel like this is just a little blurb floating in space, no relation to anything else, of no true value to the LJ community...

* Existential Crisis *

Okay, I think I'm better now.  What I've been thinking about, is cross-promotion; books that spawn movies, movies that spawn TV series, or vice versa.  I've never read any books based on movies or TV shows, I tend to see a lot of movies based on books I enjoyed, though.  And I'm not a huge comic person, although I've seen a good 2/3 of the comics-based movies that came out in the last 5 years.  

Why did I get so excited over the Buffy Comics?  Because Joss is working on them.  And, even if I never fully consider them canon, and even if they suck and I stop buying them at some point, that makes them worth noticing.  That the creator of the Buffy-verse still has ideas and input for those characters after all this time, says a lot for the verse, the fandom, and its creators.  I think it's impressive, which is why I'm gonna actually go out and buy comic books.

My ten year old self is mocking me with much glee.