asimplechord

~ Student's MS defense was Thursday at 10am, and he told precisely NO ONE other than his committee about it. (He passed.) If I didn't ask the boss, I wouldn't've known. It's like he's already completely dissociated. Which would be great if only he had finished his fucking project, instead of leaving a bunch of stuff for me and the boss to complete. I should just tell myself that at least it's one more paper on my CV, right? RIGHT?

+ Picked up Hero again. Interesting read so far (I'm about halfway through it). All I can say is that TE Lawrence had some serious mommy issues.

~ I am so behind on Supernatural, Castle, and pretty much everything media-related right now, it's not even funny. Last night A suggested that we watch Iron Man and Iron Man 2 so I'd be prepared for The Avengers (b/c shutyourface is awesome, and I get to be her +1 for a fangirl meet-up at an early showing) but Netflix Instant Queue only had the second movie. Need to see them in order for my brain to appreciate.

+ Having said that, I am noting for immediate viewing: Patrick Stump will be on House MD on the 16th. And NYC-22 premieres on the 15th.

- Pretty much everyone at work EXCEPT researchers have this afternoon (Good Friday) off. Even A has holiday today. IDGAF about today as a religious holiday, but WTF, UT?

~ In last few days, three separate people have called me "young lady". Two of them were at least a decade younger than me, while the other was probably about my age. I'm sort of confused as to why I would merit this address.

+ As a longtime fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Henry Jenkins' post about it interests me.

1. Rough draft of my we_pimpin fic is pretty much done. It needs a day before I go back and edit, then ship it off to beta.

2. Lesa & Katie (you can see her photos here) both wrote up the PStump shenanigans, and I don't have much to add. Except that I'm really excited for his next tour. And I am still ridiculously amused by the height difference here (HE IS SO TINY!), but at the time it felt weird to be so gigantic in comparison, so I slumped a bit the next time.

3. I want to read or write something to go with this photo. Yes? I don't even care what fandom, or if it's original fic. Just. The hands, and the pose.

4. I sort of want to take a bite out of Sam Stosur's biceps. They just look so firm and delicious.

And with that random comment, I believe I shall go watch the Ivanovic/Williams match, and then get ready to go up to the CWMP for Seether and A7X.


I hope everybody in the States is having a good Labor Day!

...but I have no holiday icons. So. You get Spencer Smith sticking out his tongue instead. That's just as smile-inducing as an approaching holiday/vacation, right? Esp. if you were there when that photo was taken. :D

+ today's socks are dark blue, with snowmen and red-nosed reindeer (OMG, I just typed reigndeer first. WTAF?)

+ Aaron informed me last night that today's half-day is the last day he works until 3January; I believe this means that he should finish addressing holiday cards, house-cleaning and gift-wrapping next week, since I do NOT have the week off

+ delivered pumpkin bread, home-brew and such to colleagues this afternoon \o/

+ we (the lab, obvsly) have spent an appalling amount of money on antibodies in the last four months. APPALLING. Thank goodness for the CPRIT M&O budget, which dwarfs the NIH R01 M&O budget (and how tragic is that, since the NIH is the premiere public funding agency for life-science-related research?)

+ I remain fascinated by word/phrase usage in spin, and the way even supposedly neutral media outlets like Yahoo slant political news: Bipartisan bill preventing big tax hikes heads to Obama today. As if these would be *new* taxes, not the end of the Shrub-sponsored crap that took the US from a budget surplus to a budget deficit, and also as if it weren't *increasing* taxes for the very lowest incomes while maintaining significant benefits for the wealthiest 1% of Americans

+ feeling an overpowering urge to have risotto for supper. Decision: make it myself, or head to happy hour at Mia Bella?



FANDOM RELATED:

+ I need inspiration - give me a fandom, character or pairing, and word/phrase/other prompt, and you'll get... something in response, no promises what

My sleep schedule is totally messed up. Sleeping 5 am to 9am is not going to be very useful for work purposes this week.

A list of all gift suggestions, holiday card requirements, and baking has been achieved. Now I just have to work on crossing items off said list.

In the meantime, the drabble/ficlet prompt post will remain open, because I excel at justifying procrastination as inspiration and stimulation.

Thus far:

untitled bandom drabble, empires, 100 words, for junebug_waltz
deadly drunken tree fairy, SPN, 115 words, for koshweasley
flip flop smiles, GK, Walt/Brad in the college AU, 189 words, for pjvilar
touch/sight/speech, GK, Brad/Nate, 333 words, for idrilka
paying it forward, American Idiot, vaguely Will/Tunny, 497 words, for pjvilar
it follows, GK, Brad/Nate, 126 words, for lickingbeads

♥

ETA b/c I'm pretty much sitting at my laptop with heart-eyes:

:D Discos' livestream from Germany. I have missed their stupid faces and bad stage banter.

:D A Dean/Castiel fanvid to Matchbox 20's Push.

♥ For ppl in the US, happy Independence Day! Go forth, re-read Master Jefferson's opus, and then commemorate!

Me, I started the day watching tennis. ( Last Rafa picture post here for a while, since he's taking time off before the US Open )

♥ In other news... I saw this sentence in a SPN/J2 Big Bang fic.

"I spent a lot of time in terrorist countries."

What exactly does that mean?

The character speaking is an ex-Navy SEAL who had spent time deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, so I understand that the author probably means he's spent time in areas where terrorists/insurgents were operating or taking shelter. But "terrorist countries"? Does that mean "countries where terrorists operate"? Because the way it's phrased makes it sound like "countries that ARE terrorist". Which, unless you're talking about being in a country where terrorism (against other countries) is state-sponsored, sort of bothers me.

And yes, it's dialogue, and people SAY things in ambiguous ways, but. Slightly more precise phrasing would be awesome.

/being a picky bitch



♥ Almost done with S3 of The Wire. Benjamin Bush is really good at leaning or standing in a way that seems menacing. Or lazy. Well done, David Simon, for using that skill. Did he learn that at Marine Corps OCS?

There's so much I enjoy about this series. First, Idris Elba. Stringer Bell might be my favorite villain ever. Drug dealer, economics student, glasses-wearing enforcer of Robert's Rules of Order. McNulty continues to be an asshole, with no apologies. I love the Carcetti storyline, with its not-so-subtle pokes at the Schmoke/O'Malley rivalry. And the fact that whoever is playing Lt Mello is CLEARLY actually from or is a long-time resident of Balmer, given his accent. (I'd guess east side if pressed, but that's just speculation on my part.) OMAR.



♥ M'kay. Gonna go figure out what to throw on the grill this afternoon, since the skies might remain clear long enough to do so. :)

1. My boss is gone, and the labs in my part of the building are empty. I was hoping the University would give us the afternoon off, but sadly that does not appear to be on the agenda. *sigh*

2. We exchanged gifts last night. :D Aaron liked his Led Zeppelin collector's edition thingamabob and UW sweatshirt, and appreciated the socks and boxers (boxers with yetis on them; he has no idea how close he came to NOT receiving them!) and fancy almond-chocolates. I really really like my leather jacket, even if I'll only need to wear it twice a year in Houston and when we travel elsewhere. (Like tomorrow, YAAAAAAY!)

3. I would really really like it if the big storm hitting the West and Midwest didn't delay us in our travels to Charm City tomorrow. *crosses fingers*

4. My heart eyes at re-watching (and seeing the deleted scenes from) It Might Get Loud, let me show you them: ♥_♥

5. Julian Casablancas also deserves heart eyes, but I'm refraining.

6. I want all the domestic holiday fic about Brendon and Spencer and Bogart in the WORLD. Why isn't bandom cooperating and giving it to me? *pokes the internets*

7. I'm getting more and more excited about new MCR. It seemed so far off, before. Now, Spring 2010 is RIGHT THERE.

*waves*

I hope you all had awesome holiday funtimes! My in-laws are here for a few more days, so my online time is sketchy at best.

BUT.

I was happy to see the link for Spencer Smith's interview with AP in my inbox when I checked.


Also? MrIris's Christmas gift to me is WAAAAY better than the Bose iPod dock I was hoping for.


And, what else? Um, why_me_why_not posted drabbles in various fandoms (bandom, Criminal Minds, Harry Potter, Jericho, Supernatural). You should check them out.

Hello, December, my least favorite month.

*sigh*

I am not prepared for the holidays; I'm never prepared for them. Mostly because I hate the consumerism, but also because we're always in a rush to get things donedoneDONE at work before the university hibernates for a week, while there are also more work-related social activities in which we're expected to participate.

Today's bonus headache-maker? Monday Night Football is in Houston tonight. The satellite parking lot for the med center switches over to parking for the stadium in the afternoon. And there is essentially no way for me to go home that doesn't involve the traffic snarls caused by stadium traffic. I... believe I might stay downtown for the night.

Anyway. On a more positive note: November's musicshare

( you'll find your way back )

Also? I am ridiculously excited that Blue October are supposed to debut songs off the album they just finished recording on Wednesday at the HOB/BuzzFestivus show.

Great minds think alike. Or something.

This year I got J a wheel of manchego cheese from La Tienda - it's her favorite. All things Spanish, yes?

Two days after I ordered it, MrIris greeted me with, "Your package from Tienda arrived." And I was totally pissed, because I was sure I'd specified that it was a gift to be delivered to Bal'mer.

Heh. It was. This package was J's gift to us. Mmm, tetilla.



And twindowlicker? Your card arrived today. Thanks muchly, babe. :) *hugs*



*freaks out a little*

Xmas is only a week away!