I realised this morning that I hadn't read any LOTR fanfiction in ages, nearly as long as it had been since I wrote any. My last foray into such was last AUGUST, if it can be believed, and is in fact the last time I posted anything to my LJ, if I'm correct. Hardly an excuse, that it's been a horrid winter filled with much illness on my part [although luckily nothing like the bleeding I was subject to in the past.] or that I've started working again, as an office manager in a building that is ironically right around the corner from where we had ELFmoot 2007.
I fell into an odd bout of memory re-surfacing when I got to work today, no doubt in part because Passover is mere days away now, and was thinking about all the strange and wonderful turns I've taken since diving into LOTR fandom via the films, and I found myself scribbling [very well, typing] a quick double drabble, which I posted over on my LJ archive, fics_by_tel . I'd really love to participate in more LOTR gatherings, especially with writing, if only RL scheduling will permit it.
There's far too much to go into regarding said RL; Not sure when I'll get a chance to update, but most likely not in the next week or so. All's well, as they say, and yes, I am still alive and occasionally kicking. More later!
2 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2007-08-13 20:29 |
| Subject: | *blink* |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  shocked |
Every once and a while I've gotten so fed-up with life as I'm living it that I wander through Craigslist just to see if there's anything out there. Found an ad for a job that I thought would fit, and almost for laughs sent in my resume. I haven't had a job in so long and been turned down so many times, I wasn't thinking of letting it get my hopes up. But.....I got a call, went on interviews, contemplated that this might actually be real and my life will take a radical change very, very soon...
...and I got the job.
*blinkblink*
Like, a REAL job.
A full time job.
With a real salary.
GUH!
*boggled*
[Wanna hear something even more weird? elvish_rose got a full-time job today, too. In essence, the income in my house nearly doubled...]
*am still in shock*
6 comments | post a comment
We all know you're really 21 [with several years experience... ;) ] but as an honorary elf, you get to be immortal.
Much love to you, sweetling. Here's to many more!
post a comment
| Date: | 2007-08-10 18:13 |
| Subject: | Just for Froday |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  accomplished | | Music: | 'Into the West' |
I put my ELFMoot 2007 fic challenge up at fics_by_tel : Hope Unquenchable. Enjoy!
post a comment
| Date: | 2007-03-28 22:35 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  busy |
Wow, I've missed a lot of birthdays on my f-list recently...Happy Birthday to you all; you know who you are. and if it wasn't your birthday, well, happy UN-birthday!
The pre-holiday clean-out is in full swing, of course. I took a pause on Sunday for a quick bout of stomach upset that flattened me for about two days. Not the way I wanted to spend Ring Day [with the most profound apologies to Rakshi, since I had at least wanted to call you, Rak, and was completely incoherent at the time.]
Not enough time for more than that at the moment. Things won't really settle down until mid-April, after Passover.
*waves*
post a comment
okay, since a bunch of folks have been wondering...
I'm way deep into cleaning the house out for Passover, which is like OCD on crack and makes Spring cleaning look like a 30-second Mr. Clean commercial. It's major stuff and occupies nearly every waking moment now [and even gets into my dreams, like when I quasi-woke up this morning at around 4 a.m. to a kitty's plaintive mewing for cuddles and was listing what part of each room I'd tackle today. Manic upswing, anyone? yeah...] My life is set by my Jewish calendar, that's it, simple.
But I have had some fairly fun days, lately. On the one day this week it hit over 70 degrees I finally took Jen to Brookfield Zoo to see the wolves, etc. and got in more fresh air, sunshine and walking than I have for 2 months. All quite enjoyable. I've been a Weight Watcher for about 10 months now and have gotten rid of nearly 35 lbs. Every day's a challenge, but I'm going strong and working it.
I'm still reading JRR's works and the occasional fic. My writing has gone down to, er, nothing recently. To be fair, my computer died and I was cyber-bereft for weeks, so I'm a bit behind in everything online. The tax return supplied me with a new laptop, so I'm getting back into the swing of things, albeit slowly.
Other interests have been rp's based on the 'Anita Blake' vampire series by Laurell K. Hamilton. It's been fun, but it's nowhere near as fast-paced or involved as the LotR rp's I had done. I read her books over and over, too. Light stuff, but fun. And Jen has gotten me deeply into Phantom of the Opera fandom, although Lon Chaney Jr. will always be Erik to me. [Sorry, Gerry!]
I've been working on making a huge amount of sock dolls [I call 'em Wellbys] to sell at Anime Central, the massive anime con coming here in May. I also have a bunch of new beads, so I want to make some things for profit out of those, too. Of course, I'll happen to keep some for myself, heh.
Hubbit's new job at the bakery is still at the muck-out stage, and he's pleased that Passover approaches, as he doesn't want to think of baked goods, crumbs, anything that has to do with flour and yeast and creatures that consume them for some time. I think it's ironic that I'm a Weight Watcher and my hubby is manager of a bakery!
The kids are doing well. Up, downs and all arounds, esp. with children 2 & 3 and medications, but things are getting better overall. In fact, it's time for me to go pick them up from school, so I'm off and back to Real life.
Not a very long post, but it's a quick wave to my LJ f-list, at least.
2 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2007-02-18 08:02 |
| Subject: | Falling down memory lane |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  contemplative | | Music: | hub's snoring and the passing of time |
Ever read your past LJ posts? I read my entire LJ this morning [not difficult, considering I post once every three months or so.] Rather interesting to see all that stuff going back to the beginning of my current LotR fandom, ie the movies. Went time traveling back to 2002...remember when it was all new, fresh and wonderful?
I can't help but wonder what happened to so many people I was close to then. Uluithiel? Peebs? So many others seemed to have vanished. Maybe they simply don't want to know of me anymore. But I think about them. And then there's the fading of the local fandom. Trudy's keeping the fandom alive here, so it seems, but I feel distant from it; locked out and even dumped. Selfish, maybe, that I wonder: does anyone miss me, Chicago Fellowship, all that? Did it mean anything? Was it me and my stuff that disappointed them in some way? I have an odd sense of commitment and loyalty to my interests, and I guess it colors my feelings when my fellow fans seem to slip away without farewell and good luck. I suppose I'd rather have someone tell me point-blank, "I think you're a total wanker, loser, general fuck-up and I can't stand you or how you live your life" than to have silence and apathy, and wonder if there's even is a reason for going separate ways. [Anyway, pass on the message, if there's any friend-of-a-friend people out there; I doubt my former associates will see this on their own.]
We've all moved on to some extent, I know that. I've had a lot more focus on my health, family, just living outside cyberspace. New interests added to the old ones, of course. I noticed I often expressed bafflement as to why I even blog, but in reading over my LJ, I think it's because I want to connect to others, even if they're far away or living their own lives in all their silly details. Yes, the information is trivial, but the connection isn't. You know, I don't think I've ever had more than 10 replies to a single post. But I value those replies and the friends who made them. So, I suppose this is just a thanks to the few who have read and replied and still keep me on your friends lists. I cherish you all.
13 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2006-09-11 10:50 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
[It's been three monthes since I've posted to LJ, but somethings just have to be written here.]
I remember:
being surprised at finding my boss trying to load CNN online at the office computer, instead of being in class
hearing the fear and shock in the reporters voices on the radio
the stillness of everyone around me
hearing those horrible sounds of destruction
thinking of my children, my babies, where I had dropped them off at school a few blocks down...and feeling that was too far away
the knowledge that the world had just become more darker, frightening and sad
the helplessness and wondering what we each could do
others wishing a medic well as he rushed to catch the last flight to NYC, to help in recovery efforts
that there were heroes being made out there, too
and I remember the empty skies, so clear and blue and quiet. It seemed there were other unseen and holy things there now, and we dared not enter there.
I still think of that day when the skies were empty, and the part inside me, inside us all, that was emptied that day, too. Every time I see destruction, suffering, pain, the things that divide and isolate us, I can only touch that shared emptiness and remember that in the dust we were all the same, and that it was our actions that made the difference that day.
I hope. Now I hope.
post a comment
hiya, everyone, and yes, I actually managed to sit at the computer for more than 30 seconds. Which today is an amazing feat, considering I was flat on my back for most of it. More on that later~
Being at Rakshi's last week [wow, it's already a WEEK] was wonderful and just what I needed to gather my wits, do a little reading & writing, and just have some great R&R. Talk about eclectic movie watching! I managed to get in seeing Everything Is Illuminated, Walk the Line, A Perfect Murder, And the Band Played On, and a great gay film called Love! Valour! Compassion!, not to mention part of Return of the King, Copycat, and several hi-def nature programs. Yes, I am a certified couch potato, and proud of it!
I also managed to tackle some of the huge backlog of fics I had to read, and remembered why I so love fanfic, esp. when it's written by someone as talented as Beiz. And Rak...you better tell me what happens in that latest SA/EW--don't keep a girl waitin' here! I even tapped out a fic of my own, which will be posted soon on my fics LJ, fics_by_tel. Friend it, I'll friend you, and more fun reading will ensue.
Passover is just days away and I was hit full force with the typical round of kids being ill before I even got back from the train station. Today it was my turn with the vicious return of my bleeding and other misery. Before I get any scolding, I did go to the doctor and she's ordered the next round of tests, so we'll see if I can actually get to the bottom of all this circus and start aggressively treating things. But today it was lay down, feet up, painkillers and wet compresses. Thanks to all the other members of the house who pitched in, followed the house rules and helped out; it's good to see the progress and made all of our lives easier in the end.
There's a zillion more things to write about of course, but I really do have to go rest again, if only so I can deal with the daily grind and pre-Passover cleanup tomorrow. I never really have gotten into the habit of blogging the boring little details of my mostly uneventful existance with any consistancy, anyway, but you knew that, didn't you? Hopefully it means that when I do manage a post, it doesn't get lost in the shuffle and will be read.
'Til next time~
1 comment | post a comment
Why is it that I try my damnest to do things right, get myself together, and be a responsible, mature adult...and everything still gets completely fucked up around me?
And why do I seem to be the only one still functioning and/or the only one who cares? I don't remember signing up to be the Reality Trooper.
sorry, Angry Woman Rant.
Never mind and go back to your regular emo lives.
oh, wait, no one really reads this.
...right...
And how's your day?
10 comments | post a comment
since I was doing calendar stuff anyway, I figured I should scribble some utterly useless info here for my own benefit.
LIST of CONS 2006:
February 9-12 CapriCon XXVI
May 5-7 ACEN
May 26-29 MediaWest*Con {Michigan}
June 9-11 DucKon 15
July ??? ELF {NYC?}
July 1-4 GotF Toronto
July 20-23 Comic-Con {San Diego}
August 3-6 WizardWorld Chicago
August 10-13 GenCon Indy
September 1-4 Dragon*Con {Atlanta}
November 10-12 WindyCon 33
November 24-26 Chicago Tardis
This are just local and/or 'of interest to me' cons. If anyone knows of ones I missed & should add, let me know. Is there any more info on ELF? I should also say that of course I'm not going to all of these; I'll be lucky if I attend even 2 or 3 of them. Mostly I was trying to find a good date for having this LOTR event over the summer. So far June is sounding pretty good. [I can't believe I'm even seriously considering it...I must be mad!]
8 comments | post a comment
Happy 25th to our blue-eyed boy! Live, love, laugh and be happy.
~Belateds to Alan [my fave blue-skinned boy] and, last but not least, happy 350th to Wolfy.~
post a comment
Previous post can be explained away by the fact that it seemed I was coming down with the stomach flu on top of missing ORC. *sigh* Much better now.
The costume party was fun, but in terms of attendence, it was an utter wash. I'm feeling a rise of being on the tightrope again. I haven't offically retaken my leadership of Chicago Fellowship, and at the moment, I feel it can go one of two ways: either just give the damn thing up already and stop fighting fan apathy to keep Tolkien fandom going with CF, or throw myself into yet another event [and there is a potential good one--a movie marathon.] I just don't know if anyone cares.
On the bright side, though, the pics from ORC have cheered me up enough that I was truly happy for those attending. I hope there will be many more such events [and I hope I get a chance to be part of them] but unlike last year, I'm enjoying hearing about my friends' experiences with the lads and all. Rakshi, I'm already packing my bags to visit you, I mean it!
Love you all.
2 comments | post a comment
I suddenly realised why I've been so mopey the past few days: I'll be missing ORC again this year. I was crazed about getting there last year, and when I heard that Sean & Elijah were going to be there this year I damn near went mad. Last year I was so upset, I couldn't even enjoy reading others' reports. But there just isn't enough cash, esp. with ulilities inching toward 4 digits...
But, hey, I guess we all can't go. So all of you going, have fun, take pics, and someone prop Rakshi up when she swoons. {and don't let her hide in the back of the room, either! ;) }
post a comment
Not able to make it to ORC this year? Well, pull out your LOTR garb and join
LOTR Chicago Fellowship for a party filled with costumes, food, and a viewing of 'Return of the King' [extended version] on a 12-foot screen with Dolby surround sound system. Whether you're dressed as a Hobbit, Elf, Dwarf, Wizard, Orc or Ent--or just as a fan!--please show your love of Middle Earth and LOTR fandom and come watch the show!
When: January 21, 2006 7:00 pm
Where: Congregation Agudas Achim Northshore, 5029 N. Kenmore, Chicago, IL
60640
[2 blocks from Argyle station, CTA red line]
FREE REFRESHMENTS!
~suggested donation: $5.00 [proceeds go directly to their building
restoration fund]~
Please contact Tel at az_tel@sbcglobal.net for more information and
directions. Let us know you'll be coming [and what you'll be wearing :) ]!
www.chicagofellowship.org
post a comment
| Date: | 2005-12-26 16:44 |
| Subject: | one year ago... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  pensive |
...the world changed under a wave of devastation.
This is in memory of that day.
One year ago today, I was frantically finalizing details for a DVD viewing party for local LOTR fans. I was rather sick and didn't know it. I was just missing my favorite movies on the big screen, missing being connected to all those other fans in a dark theater. Planned for January 3rd, it was going to be quite a night: a toast to JRR Tolkien, costume contest, and most importantly a food drive, book drive and charity raffle. Through our charity arm, Pippin's Apples, my fan club LOTR Chicago Fellowship donates canned goods to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and books for Reading is Fundamental. On December 30th we announced that the charity selected for the viewing's raffle donations was Direct Relief International. They were one of the charities that responded within 72 hours of the tsunami hitting Asia on the 26th, and one we felt would be best for us.
In the days that followed we heard what had happened on the other side of the globe. We felt very small and powerless, somehow, and the world became a much scarier place. As I started watching Return of the King up on that screen, I began to feel it again: the feeling of taking it to Mordor but not knowing the way: Duty beyond Hope. Frodo's struggle and Aragorn's leadership, Gandalf's trust and Sam's hope, and the heroism of all the characters resonated in me in a way I hadn't felt before.
It was an exhausting night. Most people didn't realize how much pain I was in that night, or the toll it was taking on me. I didn't want them to; this was my birthday present, and following my hobbity way, I was giving my present to my fellow fans. But typical of being a hostess, I didn't have much time to party myself. I didn't even get to watch the whole film; I was packing up the canned goods and counting the raffle money. There were no profits from the viewing. We barely covered the cost of renting the theater and the DVD rights. But the raffle?
Chicago Fellowship made $213 that night, in not much more than a couple of hours. It was a small part of the over $14 million in cash donated to Direct Relief Fund. But a year later, to know a small group of fans helped by being part of being part of this world, by helping rebuild...that's the greatest gift I ever received.
Read more about it here: http://www.directrelief.org/sections/our_work/tsunami_grants_india.html
1 comment | post a comment
...wind up on LOST.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOMINIC!
( special cake for a fave castaway )
post a comment
| Date: | 2005-12-01 11:34 |
| Subject: | Get Educated |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | serious |
A lot has been said about how to prevent rape.
Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. Fuck, they shouldn't dare to get drunk at all.
Instead of that bullshit, how about:
if a woman is drunk, don't rape her.
if a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.
if a women is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.
if a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.
if a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.
if a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.
if a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.
if a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.
if a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.
and most importantly, as obvious as it is -
if a woman says "NO", don't rape her.
if a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.
if your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.
if your step-daughter is watching tv, don't rape her.
if you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.
if your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.
if your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
if your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an unconscious woman upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape her, call the police and tell the guy he's a rapist.
tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.
don't tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.
don't imply that it's in any way her fault.
don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.
don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.
If you agree, re-post it.
A lot of you will probably see this on LJ today. Maybe posting it around will have an effect in some way, we can hope. For all my male friends, too, I'd like to add this, though:
if a man is drunk, don't rape him.
if a man is walking alone at night, don't rape him.
if a man is drugged and unconscious, don't rape him.
if a man is wearing a short skirt [or any kind of clothes!], don't rape him.
if a man is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape him.
if a man looks like your ex-boyfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape him.
if a man is asleep in her bed, don't rape him.
if a man is asleep in your bed, don't rape him.
if a woman is doing his laundry, don't rape him.
if a man is in a coma, don't rape him.
if a man changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape him.
if a man has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape him.
and most importantly, as obvious as it is -
if a man says "NO", don't rape him.
if a man is not yet a man, but a child, don't rape him.
if your boyfriend or husband or partner is not in the mood, don't rape him.
if your step-son is watching tv, don't rape him.
if you break into a house and find a man there, don't rape him.
if your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.
if your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
if your frat-brother or another man at the party or rave or club tells you there's an unconscious guy upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape him, call the police and tell the man he's a rapist.
tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.
don't tell your homosexual friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
don't imply that they could have avoided it if they'd only done/not done x.
don't imply that it's in any way their fault.
don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you s/he "got some" with the drunk one.
don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.
***********
Rape happens to men, too, especially in gay communities; it happens to lesbians and their partners, also. Rape is a crime of violence that undermines a person's sexuality regardless of whether that person is male or female, straight or gay. We need to stop sexual abuse, period.
Today is AIDS awareness day. Please, let's get educated, get protected, and get compassionate. Not one more human being should suffer from AIDS from today onward. And one way to help is to prevent rape in all its forms.
{{A ps to my Slash-writing friends: how about in tribute to the day, we write some sexually-responsible scenes? Put on the condoms, learn some anatomy and let the inspiration soar...}}
post a comment
Elvish Rose talked me into it.
Click here.
Take the quiz.
Post your results.
( See tel's results. )
5 comments | post a comment
{With eternal thanks to Lillith for allowing me to be her guest}
Now, most of you folks know I like my films very deep in the fantasy/nowhere-resembling-reality setting, but I gotta tell ya, Hooligans...was mind-blowing.
Yes, Elijah was great in it. Charlie was even more so. But somewhere in the middle of it all it became not the actors involved, but the film itself. And with me, that's damn hard to do. I'm a film geek; I want the behind-the-scenes; I'm the one going, oooo, interesting camera shot, interesting use of shadow, or whatever..and while that was all there, I don't remember when I last got into the 'reality' what I was seeing up on the screen.
It is brutal, I will say that; it is unrelentingly honest in its violence. The intensity pounded into me with each moment. But this isn't 'Fight Club'. It was much more complex. It really does draw you in, and it is a thought-provoking film.
Will it appeal to the mass public? Probably not. Is it something that every fan should see? No. But it is a mature, astonishing work of cinema, and I really urge those who can deal with the intensity [and you will be crying and laughing and groaning and raging and wincing all through it, I assure you] to go see it. Support this film; it's worthy of it.
3 comments | post a comment
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
tel's journal
awake
happy
cheerful
drained
content
moody
hyper