Melissa Treglia's LJ

I got a new some-assembly-required bookshelf for $20 at the Family Dollar. My old one was literally falling apart (the backing was coming off, and the shelves themselves were getting rickety from age and heavy use). The new bookshelf is shorter and wider than the old one and kinda looks like three tables stacked on top of each other.

It was a "no tools required" thing, but I still worked up a sweat with all the twisting pieces together. And I had to use the grip end of a hairbrush to hammer in the "insert caps." (No tools, my ass!)

But it's complete and together. Finally.

I managed to have room on the shelves for about half of my book collection. I would've had more room if the bookends weren't so wide but, given that they were on clearance for $1.50 each (and I had gone to three other stores before finding them at the K-Mart), I can't really afford to be picky. So, still a yay for getting rid of the crappy old shelving, and having fewer boxes of books clogging up the middle of my room.

I still have two big tubs of books to go through. Maybe I can convince my mom to get me another bookshelf just like the new one, so I can move the shelves to flank my TV cart. Hmmm...

Anyway, on the fannish front, I received my fkficfest prompts. brightknightie, you know my fangirly heart so well. :) I'm excited about the possibilities within these prompts (and the gen prompt particularly piqued my interest), so I'm mulling over some ideas as to how they all might work. Nothing's solid yet, but I'm sure I'll have the germinations of a plot by the end of the month. *rubs hands together with a mad scientist's glee*

I am so looking forward to this 'Fest! I just know it's gonna rock!

If I'm quiet, it's because I'm writing. I have loads of fics (original and fannish) on the pallet.

But you all probably knew that.

I re-read Sins of the Father, as I now have ideas on how to retool it (as opposed to doing away with it completely, as I had originally intended). It isn't as awful a fic as I've imagined, (especially as it is one of my oldest surviving fics), but it's not fantastic either. I honestly don't have any idea why I had hated this fic for so long. Yeah, it's not great... but it shows some real promise. I just need to FIX it, then finish it, so it can live up to that promise. It can also give me a chance to play with the old NNPack/fandom tropes, which is always fun.

I admit it: I'm insanely critical of my own writing, but only because I want to do the best possible job I can. And if it's something I'm not ready for yet, I table it. For weeks, months, sometimes even years.

My perfectionistic streak slows me down. It's a serious flaw of mine, especially in regards to my writing. I'm working on that. (But I no longer get so emotional or defensive when people critique my work. That's a plus!)

I'm ready to revisit SotF now, to give the story the care it deserves, especially as I now remember where it was supposed to be headed... and I know how much better I can do, now that I have a 10+ more years of writing experience under my belt than I did when I first noodled around with it.

( SotF spoiler ahead. )

And, in case you're wondering what finally lit the fire under my ass, I have two words for you: Breaking Dawn.( Anti-Twilight rantage & SotF spoiler. )

I also need to figure out where to place SotF against the canonical timeline. Does post-LK sound good to everyone, or does that sound too obvious? If anybody has more cogent opinions, I'll consider them.

In general, though:

I can't promise when anything I'm writing will be finished. All I can say is "wait and see." (Sucks, I know. I don't like waiting either.) Just know that there's lots of fannish stuff I'm working on, and each piece will be out and up on AO3 when it feels right and complete... and not a moment before time.

Also: WaltD was the only person to write a birthday ficlet for me. The check is in the mail, dude, I swear. (It'll pop up on AO3, eventually.)

me: Edward Elkin?

javajunkie724: EDWARD
Ha
Sure
XD
No sparkles
Edwards Gregory Elkin the III

me: ...But just as much a self-righteous prick?

javajunkie724: YES
Basically
XD
Might even drive a Volvo

me: AND WE CAN KILL HIM! XD

javajunkie724: YESS!!!!!!!!!!
RAWR
*stabby motions*
But you can't kill me...I'm so mopey
And creepy

me: KILL HIM A LOT

javajunkie724: HAHAHAAAA
I'll blind you with my chest of sparkle
*shiny*
*distract*
O.O
<.<
>.>

me: LMAO

javajunkie724: :D

me: Seriously, Volvo-driving Edward Gregory Elkin III. And he dies painfully. That will make all anti-Twilighters happy.

javajunkie724: >:)
I LOVE IT
Take THAT Twihards

me: :D

javajunkie724: Barkers name shouls be Bella.
Wow we're so....when the names start with the same letter?
Ugh.
I hate it when I'm at a loss for a word.
Bella Barker and Edward Elkin.
Alliteration?

me: Anastacia Barker?

javajunkie724: Ooooh. Cold.
I lik eit.
*like it

me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Shades_of_Grey
More to the point: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Shades_of_Grey#Origin_as_fan_fiction

javajunkie724: Oh is that HER name? :P
I've heard that before!
I've never rea those though

me: It's not as obvious a reference, which is good.

javajunkie724: Those books are so lame. All about the polka.
I agree.
People willl still get it though'

me: Unless you like the alliteration. I kinda do.
I like both.

javajunkie724: I like alliteration.
Makes it easier to remember

me: Or... Anabella Barker? :P

javajunkie724: Oooooo
That's even bvetter!

me: Yes!

javajunkie724: XD

oxoniensis  will be holding the latest Porn Battle in the second half of January (prompt accepted from January 13-17, and the Battle takes place from January 20-30). She's now holding it as a yearly thing, instead of twice yearly.

In the meantime, the Porn Battle General Amnesty atpbam  will continue till New Year's Day. For those of you Forever Knight fans who want to participate, here's all the FK-related prompts from all the previous Porn Battles in one handy-dandy little list:
( Click for promptage! )

Go make porn!

Saw it. It be fugly, yo. And gouge-my-eyes-out blinding.

I'm so glad I crosspost from DW nowadays.

I was in the car with Mom coming back from doing our grocery shopping. Several times, the radio went on by itself. I thought that it might've had to do with crossed wires between the steering column and the radio or something (it happened while Mom was making turns), until it went on a third time... and then turned off BY ITSELF. Then Mom made another turn, and nothing happened.

I think my icon sums it up.

Started your NaNo late? No worries! The NaNoWriMo Goal Calculator can help you determine how many words you must write to reach your goal, no matter when you started in November!

Did you like my Nick vs. Edward debate fic? If so, I've got a new one for you, hot off the presses!

I give you Debate Fic 2: Natalie Lambert vs. Bella Swan. It continues where the first debate fic left off, as Natalie forces Bella to confront the unpleasant reality of Bella's relationship with Edward.

I've been staying at my mom's friend's place for the past week due to Hurricane Sandy. The friend is, unfortunately, suffering from dementia. So her live-in nurse was kind enough to give us the okay to stay until the power in our own home comes back on.

And Mom told me that, when she went to feed the cats this morning, the power finally came back on.

I'm relieved. Don't get me wrong; the friend has a very nice house and we've stayed warm and dry. We're very lucky compared to some other families who lost everything. But I'm used to quiet and my mom's friend, unfortunately, tends to yell at the top of her lungs, like the most badly behaved toddler. A LOT.

I understand the nature of the poor woman's condition, but I don't have the emotional capacity to handle it. So, I've mostly withdrew, staying in the upstairs bedroom we've been bunking in and on my computer to avoid frazzling my nerves. Of course, I do come out for meals and I chat with the nurse. And when the friend speaks to me, I respond. But I can't stay in her presence for too long; her tendency to carry on is sometimes more than I can take.

I've been up and down the stairs quite a bit. And I've accompanied my mom to her office at least twice. And Mom, in complete seriousness, has begged me to never let her deteriorate like her friend has. (Mom's perfectly fine; she's just wrestling with the fear that she could end up that way too. And she has way too many reminders of the downsides of old age with the nursing home she works at.)

I'm very glad we'll be going back to our apartment tonight. I miss Moonie and the rest of our furbabies. I miss my bed and my piles of books, and the ability to go anywhere in the house whenever I want.