Lariope

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted to LJ, and I am quite ashamed of myself. I have been trying hard to at least skim the flist every day, but I know I've missed about 100 birthdays and assorted other things, for which I am very sorry.

(Happy Birthday, somigliana!!! Prompt me if you like--I'm awful with them, but I'll give it a shot :))

Things here have been crazy. The day after I got home from Chicago (which, btw, was all kinds of awesome), I started my new job teaching preschool. I really like it, but it brings a whole new set of challenges that I'm still trying to get a handle on. Financially, I'm not any better off, and the hours are difficult. Most of all, I'm trying to cope with the amount of energy I'm expending on a daily basis, and the fact that I have no more "alone time." It used to be that I got home from work at 3, and had 3 hours to unwind, check LJ, email and write before my husband got home. Now we're arriving home simultaneously, and so, though I no longer have to grade and plan at night, I've lost a lot of the time that I could devote to fandom without feeling like a terrible wife.

But I do love my new kids--they are exuberant and bright and loads of fun. I do get hurt at work a lot--in my first week, I was bitten twice and lost part of a toenail. Subsequently, I've lost a fistful of hair, been bitten innumerable times, and am basically a kaleidoscope of bruises. But it really is ok. I love them very much, and it seems the feeling is mutual, which never fails to make a long day easier.

Fandom wise, as the icon indicates, I've been rapidly becoming obsessed with Harry/Draco, as some of you may have noticed on OWL, as the only work I'm turning out right now is of the Drarry variety. I've always been a closet Drarry shipper, but I read Bond by Anna Fugazzi on chibitoaster's Fangirl Tour recommendation, and suddenly I was obsessed by all things Drarry. I imagine that it's not going to go away anytime soon. This doesn't make me any less an SS/HG shipper--I'll always ship SS/HG, and I intend to continue to write it. I think it's just the joy of being someplace where all the classics have yet to be read, where everything is so new and fresh and exciting again. In Chicago, serpentsortiam recommended saras_girl's Reparations and Foundations which were so awesome that I went through one of those periods where I decided that I should never write again because I'll never be that good in a thousand years of trying... and that's good. It's inspiring and challenging and good for my heart. <3

I will try to be a more regular poster, as time allows, but I do want to tell you all that I'm always thinking of you. xoxoxoxo

Ok, first, I recognize that I am WAY, WAY, WAY behind in birthday wishes and LJ posts in general, and I promise to remedy that shortly...

but right now, I need to wish a very happy birthday to my dear friend lulabelle72. Lula, you are an inspiration to fandom, and to me personally, and I love you very, very much.

In honor of your birthday, opaljade and I completed our story A Message from Leaky for you. You'll find it behind the cut.

( follow the yellowbrick road... )

Also, as you know, opaljade and I have been working on a project for me... of a somewhat slashier nature. :) And so, also from us, from OpalJade's prompt, my first Drarry.

( all around the mulberry bush... )

Happy Birthday, my friend. I hope it's a great one.

Happy Birthday, Dickie!! I hope it's a wonderful one!

*many hugs*

Forgive the CAPSLOCK but OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm moving from elementary education into preschool, which is a major change, but I've been hired by the same center that hired my coteacher months ago when my current school fired her and left me alone to teach K-8. She likes it very much and put in a good word for me. My old friend and coteacher will train me for a couple of weeks, and then I will likely lead a room of 2 year olds by myself.

The pay is very slightly better than comparable, but the job itself is far more reasonable, what with the paying for all the hours I work, and the sick days, and the vacation time.

I start the day after I get back from Chicago, and I'm so excited!!

I had to give my notice to my current school today, which was not the best, but I survived it. 2 weeks to freedom!!!

Happy Birthday, dynonugget

And Happy Birthday from Chloe's twin, Gertie!

to machshefa and ihkelele, two of the most lovely women in fandom.

Many hugs, and I hope you are both having a wonderful day.

xoxoxo

Happy Birthday juniperus!! I hope you have a great one! xoxo

X-posted from fangirl_tour


Hello, and welcome to your Fangirl Tour Stop for July 2, 2009! I am Lariope, your host for today, and I bring you recs from the Potterverse. No, not all SS/HG! In fact, not even mostly SSHG! I tried (and sometimes failed) to keep these short, sweet, and off the beaten path.

( In no particular order )

Most everyone knows that lulabelle72  is talented. She's an amazing writer, and a talented craftswoman. Check her LJ for examples of her remixed My Little Ponies and other works of sculpey awesomeness.

But LOOK what she made me for my birthday--straight out of Snape's office--THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





I wish I could get better pictures of it. You can see his crazy tentacles, but I can't get a good picture of the tiny, delicate, not-quite-formed WINGS on the other side!!!

I am the luckiest girl alive.

Happy Birthday Graphic Comments

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Irish. I hope you have a wonderful day. I am lucky to have you in my life, and thankful you were born. xoxox

*slides in just before midnight*

I hope you've had a wonderful day!

*hugs*

The storm itself is very cool, but I love their rendition of Africa, complete with human percussion.

Well, that was awesome.

I'm home from Leaky, having had the best time that any person could possibly have in two days. The flimsiness of the con, and the distinct lack of A/C in the upper rooms, in no way marred the fabulous time I had.

Highlights:
--Sharing my fear of purple teeth with firefly_124,annietalbot and ordinary_magic and having my first glass of red wine. :)


--A wonderful chat with ordinary_magic and opaljade in the hotel cafe. Jen is fabulous, and she has the most engaging, expressive manner. I wish I were still sitting there with those two ladies.

--Fangirl pictures. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


--Getting to hang out with juniperous, averygoodun, snapeophile, amydmartin, droxy, ordinary_magic, annietalbot, firefly_124, blackeyedlily and opaljade. If I just left you off that list, blame brain damage. I enjoyed every single moment with every one of you that I met or re-met during this con!! I was also lucky enough to see both alabastard and alabastardragon who were both as gracious and wonderful in real life as they are on LJ.

--Being with Sandie, the best roommate and writing partner ever. See the results of our joint efforts here.


--Achieved the life goal of smoking with the Professor (Don't worry; I was docked house points)


--Having averygoodun's son in our room. What a hoot he is!! I asked him if he wanted to stand on my bed to see out the window and he very politely took off his shoes first and then gleefully informed us all that he could see the Chocolate Factory (Willy Wonka style).

In fact, throughout all this awesome, only two bad things happened. First was that I had a dreadful misunderstanding over travel arrangements with amydmartin . I'm terribly sorry, Amy. Second was that (as if in punishment) I lost my favorite gray hoodie in the LaGuardia airport.

And I guess the additional bad thing that happened was that I had to come home. And while I missed my husband and my dogs, seeing you guys was the best vacation that anyone could ever have, and I wish I were back there right this minute. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you again at Azkatraz, or next year at Infinitus. You are truly the most wonderful, giving, welcoming women ever.  Thanks for once again, making my con experience awesome.

So, today, in the time-honored tradition of cons, OpalJade gave me a prompt and we wrote to it together. Here is our much-giggled-over result. Much love to you from us at Leaky!

A Message from Leaky

by Lariope and OpalJade

Professor Snape,

I believe I have made clear on numerous occasions that I require cauldrons in my classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays for afternoon lessons.

( Read more... )

Giddy with glee that I leave in the morning for Leaky. ONLY THREE HOURS OF WORK LEFT. Yes. Oh, yes.

Also: I have two Dreamwidth invite codes, if anyone is wanting...

Just finished putting the buttons on my dress robes... Leaky, here I come!!! Whoot!

However, I have discovered that all my various costumes take up more than one suitcase. Due to my horrifying work situation, I'm only going to be in Boston from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning, and it just seems ridiculous to pay to fly two suitcases to Boston for a day and a half.

However, I will do what is necessary in the name of Fandom.

I know not many of you read at Restricted Section, but it was my first fanfic home, and I was very sad to see that they will be no longer taking new submissions and will be shutting down the message board system.

I will miss it very much. I found ss/hg there, met my beta and friend shellsnapeluver there... and it was the only place I've found with a large number of male authors writing and participating in discussions.

If you did read there, or archived there, fear not: they aren't dismantling the archives, just not taking anything new.

Goodbye, RS!

Almost a year ago, shellsnapeluver came to visit me. One late night, just before bed, I read her a bit of an unfinished story that I started right before I started writing Second Life. It was a James and Lily fic that I was prompted for back in the days when I only read at Restricted Section. She ordered me to finish it, like the excellent and commanding Death Eater that she is.

It took me nearly an entire year to comply, but I did it. I wrote James/Lily. Dude, you would too if Shell told you to!

So, for Shelly, my dear friend, beta, and inspiration:

On OWL: http://owl.tauri.org/stories.php?psid=9094

On TPP: http://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewstory.php?sid=13658

Happy Birthday to two of my most favorite fandom women: siriuslysnogged  and harmony_bites !

I hope you are both having a wonderful day. xoxox

Happy Birthday, subvers !!!

I hope you have a wonderful day! *smooches*