This is an archive of entries from livejournal user emmypenny that were posted during or before December 2011. All new entries from her will be located at emmypenny (dreamwidth). Please follow her there.


 

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If you know me, I want to know you. Let me know how we met and I will most likely friend you back. Let me know how you found me, and I will most likely friend you back. I don't get e-mail or LJ notifs when someone friends me, so if you don't comment anywhere I have no way of knowing who you are.


 

(Or, My Week with _samalander/Lauren) (spoiler alert: she's totally awesome)


Once upon a time, Emmy received an email from a friend saying she wanted to visit. Well this was simply unacceptable but Emmy wasn't sure how to turn her down without breaking her heart. So last Wednesday I sadly put my pajamas away and drove to the airport to pick up this bitch:


(The bitch on the right. That bitch on the left is Emmy herself.)

( At least my cats liked her. )

In all seriousness, Lauren is complete sweetheart and she makes everything fun--even sitting in terrible parking lot traffic for over a half hour. I was really sad when she had to go and even now I still miss her because even when we were just sitting in the same room not talking because we were on tumblr, her very presence made everything 20% cooler.

I really hope that some time in the near future, we can manage to hang out again. We just need to drag Molly along with us in body (because she was with us in spirit the whole time).

We also made matching Fennec Foxes at BaBW. (Hilariously, she said she wanted a Fennec fox and then the very next day we went to BaBW.)

When she left, she said that her impression of Texas was that there are churches everywhere and that it takes 30 minutes to get anywhere. Which is...basically right. Also, she was under the impression that I didn't know what a coat is ("It's like a really heavy shirt."). But that's okay, she didn't know how big a megachurch was.


...and now I really need to go to bed.

Cross-posted from my dreamwidth. Comment here or there.

1. Use your own style
There are two methods for doing this:

A) If you are using the s2 system and you have custom comment pages for your layout on your journal, you can tack ?style=mine onto the end of a url (after the .html part but before anything else that may or may not follow it) to view the comment page in your style.

B) You can go to Profile > Settings > Display and check "View all journals and communities in my own style" and "View comment pages from my Friends page in my own style." (Note: This will mean that you won't see anyone else's style, even if they have their own custom comment pages. But hey--I'm sure you like your layout and don't mind looking at it. And if you don't, go change that.)


2. Pick another theme that supports custom comment pages
If you run a community that relies on subject comment titles you probably want to do this, otherwise you will need to rethink your whole way of running your comm.

Make sure you have a Plus or Paid account--basic accounts don't have this ability. There are a number of layout communities/makers whose layouts include custom comment pages.

Or, if you like the look of the old comment pages, there's an app for that (although it still has a few kinks).


ETA: More workarounds here.


Want to tell LJ how much you DNW the new comment page design? Click this.


Fed up with LJ? Dreamwidth has open account creation all month.

A post is coming with a summary of _samalander's visit (spoiler alert: she's awesome) as soon as I finish my h_e secret santa gift. This is the third pattern I've tried out, since I haven't liked the others (okay, that's a lie. I loved the first one buy mom said it looked like a bear and not a cat so I ragequit it). I have to finish tonight because it needs to mail out tomorrow or else it will be late (sobs).

I did finish the final batch of cards though so those should be sent out. I think I may have accidentally doubled up on a few people, because I couldn't remember who had been in the first two batches. So if you get multiple cards from me....congratulations. You win an extra card.

*goes back to crocheting like a busy badger*

This year I decided to put a Christmas tree in my bedroom. I wasn't sure how to decorate it though, so I asked Lauren to help me.

I never should have done that. I really should have known better. I asked her for three colors and three themes. This is what happened:

_samalander: green
_samalander: blue
_samalander: mauve
_samalander: "i must scream but I have no mouth"
_samalander: "the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire"
_samalander: and uh
emmy: I should specify--one word themes
_samalander: "the best part of waking up is folgers
_samalander: oh
emmy: but I like the first one and the last one :)
_samalander: how about
_samalander: Peri
_samalander: noodles
_samalander: barndoor

For everybody's information, they do not sell ornaments or any kind of decorations with Sam's cat on them. JSYK.

So I took the colors and interpreted "barndoor" as "rustic" and/or "nature-y" and ended up with this:

( More pictures under here )

Earlier today Mom and I put up all of our outside decorations. I am...always kind of shocked by how many lights we have. Somehow it keeps multiplying each year even though we always solemnly swear to not buy anymore.


Uncle Barry is coming over tomorrow evening and he's going to teach me to cook...something. Apparently I'm not allowed to know what. And then Sunday is Mom's birthday. I got her some fancy jam, an elephant coffee mug, and some candy. For Christmas I'm giving her my old laptop; a stocking full of socks, candy, and more jam(!!!); and some handmade potholders (a set of three: one large, two small). I...may have gone way overboard with her gifts. But I just kept seeing things and going, "Ooooh! Mom would love this! And this! And that! And she ~deserves it~ for being so awesome all the time." And really, she does, because she never gets herself anything that she doesn't need so it's always very easy for me to buy things for her that are special little "just becauses."


Lately it's been hard for me to go to bed at night because all the cats have decided that it is now their bed. And it's a little bed so it's hard to squeeze in there with them. I wish I had a king size bed so that there would be ample room for my wriggly ass and all of them too.

My mom just stole all my ideas for Christmas gifts for Chaney.

I don't want to give him money because he'd spend it on something stupid.

adklsjdslkfjaslf I worked so hard to think up awesome things that he would love and now I need to start all over.

1. Woke up feeling refreshed.
2. Made coffee and waffles.
3. Cuddled with cat.
4. Played with cat.
5. Got dressed and went to work.
6. Watched Classic Who.
7. Started feeling sick.
8. Ate lunch.
9. Felt better.
10. Made a spreadsheet to keep track of my Neopets gallery.
11. DANCE PARTY at my desk.

Fandom: Star Trek AOS au
Subject: erynwen's startrekbigbang fic, Messages in Green
Title: It's All Just Alchemy

Notes: This fic is an exciting, urban fantasy cop au (trust me, it totally works) with an absolutely perfect re-imagining of the characters to fit into the setting. There are so many things about the actual plot that I just love, but I sadly can't tell you what they are without spoiling the story. What I can tell you, is that the world-building is aaaah-mazing and the imagery is spectacular. Plus, there is amazing art from nix_this. This is our second year in a row of creating art/mix for a story, so I knew from the moment match up emails went out that I would love what she did.

For this mix, I tried to capture the mix of magic/modern and wizard/cop, as well as the natural mix of characters offered up by the cast and the setting, by using a variety of genres. The mix focuses most strongly on the relationship between McCoy and Nero, with some McCoy/Kirk thrown in on the side. I can only hope I did this story some justice. Big thanks go to heeroluva who helped me out when I was stumped for tracks. She suggested a few, and then suddenly the whole mix came together even though I only used one of her suggestions. Because of this, the mix literally wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for her.

As before, clicking on the song title will allow you to download individual songs, and a download link for the whole schebang is down below at the end of this post.

Fandom: DC Comics
Title: Step One
Characters: Stephanie Brown/Spoiler

Notes: Just a quick piece I wrote about Stephanie Brown in her early days, when she was still Spoiler, while at work. Title is from Superchick's "One More": I might get used to giving up / So I am showing up tonight / I am my own enemy / The battle fought within my mind / If I can overcome step one / I can face the 99

Summary: Practice makes perfect, and birds learn to fly by falling out of their parent's nest. Blue birds, robins...and now, Stephanie Brown. First the fall, and then the flight.

Stephanie hits the pavement and only grunts a little.

Fandom: DC Comics
Subject: Batgirls (Babs, Cass, and Steph)
Title: We Were Real

Notes: For this mix I wanted to use only upbeat songs sung by female vocalists. It proved to be a lot harder than I would have thought, which says a lot about my music collection (depressing, downbeat songs sung by men or instrumentals). I also wanted songs with a focus on something other than love. This mix fluctuated from anywhere between 20 to 6 songs, and at one point has "Little Seal Girl" from As Told By Ginger on it. I kid you not.

I wanted to do this mix because I really love all of the Batgirls. All three of them are such wonderful, inspirational figures for me. Each of these three women have their own individual strengths, and they've all helped each other and worked together. And as each of them has moved on from her cowl, they've only continued to grow and become even stronger. These are the sort of women I aspire to be.

Total Icon Count: 41
Categories:
Better Off Ted - 4
Harry Potter - 4
Make It Or Break It - 10
Once Upon A Time - 12
Pan Am - 11

Teasers:


all icons over here @ galacticmoxy

So this first story that I made a mix for was a really fun read. It's a Kirk/McCoy story, based on a fairytale. More information on the fic, as well as the track list and a download link, is over here @ galacticmoxy. (Or you could just click the cover art above.)

I've started posting my fandom stuff to galacticmoxy because my friend thegreatulysses wanted some place to post her stuff and I'd been thinking of getting a separate journal for my stuff, so we decided to get one place together. We...don't really have any fandoms in common and she's quite busy with school so mostly it will be me posting there, but whatever. We do what we want. So that is why all of the links for things will be heading over there instead of my lj.

Also, _samalander is bringing her pretty little butt down here next month. I am beyond excited to show her around and I cannot wait.

If I don't have your address, I want it. NOW. I am notoriously bad about remembering to mail stuff out, but just like I said last year, my fingers are crossed that this will be the year that I actually get ALL of my holiday cards out. (Don't believe me? I've got a postcard I meant to send Molly in June still sitting on my desk. Sorry Molly!) Depending on how lazy I get, the cards will either be hand-made glittersplosion cards, or generic Christmas cards.

Comments are screened, but if you'd rather you can e-mail your address to me at megan[dot]c[dot]lim[at]gmail[dot]com.

I feel like there is something else I should be telling y'all but I can't remember what it is, so here is a story (or two) about my wacky mom:

I have been whining for the last few months about wanting a pork loin to cook. I've never done a pork loin before, but I want to try. Unfortunately, I am also cheap and pork loin is just pricey enough that I do not want to spend that much money to experiment. As a joke, I asked for one for Christmas. Now she is threatening to buy one and leave it under the tree all season. That would be a) gross, b) pointless because then it will go bad and I will never get to cook it. Also, this is exactly the kind of crap she teases me with every day.

Still, it's not as bad as when she watched "Blink" and dug out all of the angel statues grandmother has foistered upon us over the years in an attempt to give us God or whatever and arranged them around the house. This continued for THREE MONTHS after she saw the episode. She would move them around every time I left the room.

I'm just glad she hasn't gotten to season six yet.

SIX NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Megan
2. Meg
3. Megan-mama
4. Emmy
5. Emmies
6. The Queen of Sheba

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Giant white sweatshirt with a faded iron-on picture of kitties
2. White bunny slippers
3. Navy blue tank top with a rainbow butterfly on the chest

THREE THINGS YOU WANT VERY BADLY AT THE MOMENT:
1. Bacon (I bought stuff to make sweet potato burritos but forgot the bacon)
2. My knockturn_elite entries to do themselves
3. French fries

THREE PEOPLE WHOM YOU HOPE WILL DO THE MEME:
1. All
2. of
3. you.

THREE THINGS YOU DID LAST NIGHT:
1. Went grocery shopping
2. Foiled a robbery
3. Watched tv

THREE PEOPLE YOU LAST TALKED TO ON THE PHONE:
1. Mom
2. My boss, Anita
3. 911

THREE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO DO TOMORROW:
1. Watch the new episode of Merlin
2. Sort all the things in sorting_elite
3. Buy bacon

FOUR OF YOUR FAVOURITE DRINKS:
1. FUCKING WATER IT IS AWESOME
2. Hot chocolate
3. Warm apple cider
4. Flavored lemonade (like strawberry lemonade, raspberry lemonade, etc.)

THREE THINGS THAT MADE YOU SMILE TODAY:
1. My cat only screamed for one hour (yesterday he screamed for almost four, not consecutively thank god)
2. Started planning Christmas stuff
3. Wore my garter belt to work and it made me feel pretty

Obviously I've left making my costume off until the last minute. Will I finish it? Will I still be sewing it when Becca gets here for pizza on Monday? Will I have to get Becca to sew me into it? WHO KNOWS? THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME.

Oh geez, I started this because I was going to talk about how awesome my life is but then Meeko came over and sat on me and I can't think when I have a cat in my lap. And now I have lost my entire train of thought. There was something in there about being a fucking rockstar and how I'm thrilled I've gained weight.

I really think this cat has brain sucking powers or something.

Originally posted by _samalander at Native Headdresses

Additionally, I'd like to point you guys to this awesome post that I just read today about Native American headdresses. The post, which explains the difference between war bonnets, roach headdresses, and other common Native American head wear.

I would also like to draw your attention to the following quote (added emphasis is mine):

On our Native American regalia page, you can find links to tribal members who make dance roaches and other ceremonial Indian clothing. A good place to buy kits for making your own porky roaches or other dance accessories is the well-known pow-wow vendor Crazy Crow.

If you are not Native American but are just trying to make a headdress for an art project, we recommend making a beaded headband, since headbands do not have the same sacred meaning of many other Indian headdresses and do not require you to understand complex cultural traditions to create one properly. The book North American Indian Beadwork Patterns includes a nice pattern for beading a Native American headband.

Even if you can't spare a few moments to write out an e-mail, please to your own journal.

Fandom: Halloween
Subject: Music for Fighting the Undead
Title: Smells Like ZOMBIE Spirit: A Halloween Mix for Screaming, Running, Fighting, & Everything in Between
Warnings: I used this mix as an excuse to use a terrible font. Apologies. Excessive use of Queen music.

I really should go to bed, but it is raining and I am so happy we are finally getting rain that I'm trying to stay up to listen to it. Too bad the rain's too late to save the camellia. Damn thing officially kicked it a few days ago.

We stuck a scarecrow right outside my window, and now I get scared every time I open my curtains because I keep forgetting it's there.

And there goes the last of the rain. I think it's done for the night. It was so nice to have a good downpour.

So I never realized until about two years ago how lucky I am.

I've always been inclined toward "girl" things. My favorite color has been pink for as long as I can remember. I love stuffed animals. I wanted to be a ballerina once upon a time. I played dress up, wearing princess outfits and ballerina tutus.

I also had a younger brother, and we were really super close growing up. Because of this, we shared a lot of interests. We took karate together, we swapped action figures. I remember one day when I was about eleven or twelve that we spent literally climbing through a giant mud pile behind our house for fun.

And my mom and dad were always cool with that.

They supported me when I wanted to take ballet. They supported me when I wanted to take karate. They bought me stuffed animals and cars. As long as I wanted to, my mom would doll me up in frilly dresses and with fancy hair. But if I didn't, then she would go let me wade through a mud pile. I've had more skinned knees than I can count. And I totally kicked ass in my karate class.

No matter what I've wanted to do, I've had my parents' support. They never cared when I wanted to play with action figures instead of dolls. They never told me I was being stupid or predictable for wanting a fluffy pink room. If it was within their means, I wanted it, then I got it. Not just the girl things. Not just the boy things. All the things. A costume chest full of sparkly dresses, but also containing a Batman cape. A room full of stuffed animals and My Little Pony, but also with action figures and cars and K'nex and Legos.

And the thought of it honestly makes me cry because I thought all parents were like this. And over the last few years, I've realized they aren't. They tell their kids they can't do this or that. Because you're a girl. Because you're a boy. Because that isn't constructive. Because you won't learn from it. Because it's pointless. But my parents always let me explore my interests and desires no matter what direction that took me. Even when it meant I spent a year studying serial killers. Even when it meant I practiced my screechy violin for two hours a day and had to have no sound in the house during that time.

And I saw a post on tumblr earlier today that reminded me that not all parents are like that. That some parents won't let their kids do and feel and explore. But my parents did and I am so fucking lucky for that.

I don't really know what the point of this post is, but it's just my feelings. And I wanted to share.