Okay, so first I have a few questions that I want to get out of the way.

1) Is there any way a basic account user can put up an original header, or am I stuck with what I've got? I like this layout, I just don't want to have a header that I didn't create. I'm weird like that.

2) Is there any way a basic account user can change the layout of the friend's page and not the recent posts page?

... or am I screwed on both counts?

And, I said I'd update on RL here, too, so for those who aren't interested, look away now.

Earlier this year I was experiencing a terrible slump - one of the worst I've ever had. I was very uninterested in everything, very anti-social, and very lazy. I suspected depression, but seeing as how I've been feeling much better lately, I'm just chalking it up to a case of 'feeling blue.' Hopefully I'll never feel that down again. It could have had something to do with the last remaining of my cats passing away, but I was feeling down before that, anyway, so who can really say?

That was months ago, though. I've been getting much better. Made more friends, re-bonded with older ones, got closer to my family. I've even had some ideas for writing - fic *and* original. I just haven't quite gotten to the writing yet. Also, I still maintain the 'no writing until SR is finished' rule.

I'm also starting a project in which I'm going to read more literature. I was in Barnes & Noble today and realized how few books I've actually read. So I'm compiling a list. I'm going for well-known classics, so if anyone has any must-reads to recommend, please do!

I believe that's all that's up with me. So, how have you all been? I've been reading posts, but I'm still interested, if anyone has any new news.

Also, please help me with my layout questions! I'm rubbish at these sorts of things!

I have officially tagged my whole LJ. This means that you guys can subscribe to my Sour Revenge tag and this (through some process that I am to understand is not dissimilar to sorcery) lets you keep track of it without having to check my journal or friend me. I have many tags, so if you are more interested in icons, other fandom fics, or my rl-related posts, there are tags for all of those, and more.

Unfortunately, the Boxer layout doesn't let me display my tags, so I'm going to have to customize my journal. So, if you'll bare with me while I do that, I'll let you all know when the tags are see-able. I just wish LJ hadn't changed the way of customizing your journal; my choices are so limited now!

While tagging, I re-discovered what I had once called my "Howard" 'verse, for want of a better name. I have found that 'better name' and now it's called "A New Kind of Family." If you don't remember, that's the one where Spike and Drusilla had stolen a baby!Xander from the Sunnydale hospital and raised him as their own. I have many fics that I've started/outlined that I plan on continuing after I've finished SR, but I think ANKOF is going to be first on that list. Since it's not a real WIP, I can write single fics in that and post them with no responsibility.

Having learned from SR, I am very keen on the 'no responsibility' aspect of one-shot fics. No more WiPs for me. If I ever post anything multi-chapter, it will be fully completed by that point.

That's all for now. I have some vague RL news, but I'll put that in when I post the all-clear for the tags.

ETA: Uh... is it possible that free account users can't display their tags? Because I'm not seeing any option for it.

ETA part deux: Never mind. I see it depends on the layout you're using.

My f-list seems to be shining up with happy reactions re: LJ's wonderful new ideas which completely keep users' happiness in mind and definitely don't slap us all in the faces.

So, yeah. Am I taking part in the strike?* Yes. Yes, I am.

Because, oddly, I don't really like getting slapped in the face. Weird, innit?

Also, I'm probably going to become more active in my InsaneJournal. That is, I'm going to start moving my fics and icons over. And I'll be double posting. (If you're reading this in IJ, then I guess you don't really need to be told that. :-P)

My biggest issue with completely abandoning LJ right now is that I know that LJ is more active in the fandoms, and I don't want to miss anything. Until the tables have completely turned, you can find me at either site.

( Sour Revenge News )

BTW... I'm pretty psyched about getting 100 userpics at IJ. Now I get to show off the pretties I've been working on for the past few months. :-D :-D

*I know, I know. As if I'd have posted that day, anyway, right?

First off, HUGE thank you to authoressnebula for the virtual roses on my user info. So pretty! Thank you, sweetie. *hugs*

Also, thank you to all who wished me a happy birthday. I had a very good day, so that was nice.

Now for a quick update on me, for those interested:

In the writing department, I've been a busy little bee, I'm happy to say. I have, as of right now, written the next chapter to Sour Revenge, written a little Jeeves/Wooster for skyblue_reverie's super-late birthday gift, and I surprised myself by writing a Life on Mars fic. It's Sam/Gene, but really pretty gen. All of these will be posted soon enough.

I've also been a pretty busy icon-making bee. Life on Mars, specifically. I've decided that when I finally get around to making that icon journal, I'm going to do single-fandom icon posts, and the first will be Life on Mars. After that? Well, I'll figure that out later.

I'm really glad that I'm almost finished with Sour Revenge. I went about that fic all wrong, and that definitely had its consequences. I've written myself into corners too often and had to keep putting off writing more due to my disappointment with myself and it. I've worked out most of the problems with it, but my love is no longer with this fic.

Like I said, though, I did write the next chapter, and I am going to finish it. I'm just also going to be very happy when it's done. No more WIPs for me.

I hope all of you are enjoying your summers and that you're not all dying from the incredible heat.

Hey everyone! I figured it was about time to do a post on the current state that is me.

A few people have been asking after Sour Revenge. I'm really flattered that people are into my story enough to make inquiries on their own and I feel more than guilty that I always take so long to get the latest installments out. I have the rest outlined and, if chapters stay basically the same length as they have been, the story is going to end in somewhere around six chapters. I have almost all of the next chapter written, so I can't imagine it taking much longer to get out. I am also working on skyblue_reverie's very, very late birthday pressie, though, which I'd love to get written for her before her next birthday rolls around.

Also, I'm thinking about creating an icon journal, which got me reconsidering my LJ priorities. Here's my plan for my LJ-life future:

The journal flufshepherd will be used for personal posts and for writing. I will not post any WIPs in the same way that I've done SR. From now on, anything I post will be 100% complete when I post it. That will hopefully ward off all frustration and guilty feelings. The free time I will then have once SR is all finished might go to icon making, which I find a very relaxing and productive way to spend time when I don't have any decent plot bunnies hopping around my brain.

Also, I hope to be able to start commenting more on my friends' posts. I know that I don't do it very often, but I do read all of your posts. I've never been the greatest at things of a social nature, so I never really know what to say and often feel like whatever I am saying is pretty stupid. It's a problem I've had for as long as I can remember.

I do read every single one of your posts, though, down to the last word. For those of you who have been going through a hard time right now, as I know a few of you are, I'm really, really sorry and I hope things start looking up for you. I'm here to talk to, if anyone wants.

And, lastly, Doctor Who? So intense. I am loving this show. I want it to be Saturday right now! Or, well, more accurately, Sunday, as that's when it's normally uploaded onto the 'net.

So, uh, does anyone have any suggestions for a name for my new icon journal?

You may or may not have noticed that I've been a bit quiet as of late. I'd put my money on 'not', because I'm usually pretty quiet, anyway. But, I have been more so lately. I owe e-mails and comments and I have no free time at all. In fact, I was going to make this post earlier this week but I didn't have the time to until now. I haven't even checked my friends' page in days. *weeps*

I did get a chance to watch House on Tuesday, though. I'd post my thoughts if I had the time. Maybe later. I am curious as to other people's opinions, though. So, please do pop by to discuss.

And, finally, some news on Sour Revenge for those interested. I know many of you have probably given up on me (I know I did, for a while there), but I may finally have a new chapter for you guys when I get back to my state of sanity. I also may have an icon post, but for that, I make no promises.

Now, before I go, I want to apologize if I've missed anything important by not checking my friends' page this week. For anyone having a bad time, I offer you *huge hugs*, but I do hope nobody needs them. Instead, I hope all of you are perfectly happy, healthy, and any other adjective that could describe the state of 'goodness' that I hope this post finds you in.

That's all for me. You may now return to your normal broadcasting and I'll return to my... very hectic life. *growls*

Hello all! Remember that prompt-call thingy I did a while back? Well, I finished writing them all and my wonderful, fantastic beta, kitty_poker1 has done her wonderful, fantastic beta-thingy, so I'll be posting them all shortly. I'll be posting one a day in the order they were requested so that it can last longer and be easier for me mentally.

Now, I've been really busy lately, so I haven't been on the computer much. I've been trying to keep up with commenting and reading everybody's posts, but if I've missed anything important, I'm very sorry. Please feel free to kick me as hard as you'd like. And for those of you who are waiting for an e-mail from me: I'm working on it. Again with the busy. You guys can kick me, too.

Keeping in mind how busy I've been (and still am), I might not be able to start posting the fics tonight. I am going to try, though.

Hm... Last order of business, I think I might share a few thoughts on last night's House. ( Cut for spoilers )

So those are my thoughts. Anyone's welcome to share their own. I'm going to go grab a bite to eat.

*hugs all*

If this keeps up, I'm seriously considering leaving the House fandom. I don't know if it's because the general audience for House is younger or because the main character is a jerk and the fans are modeling themselves after him, but this is getting too far out of hand. In the short time I've been involved in this fandom, I've encountered more kerfuffles, trolls, and just general bitchiness than I've ever even seen in Jossverse. I don't think I've ever even come across a single troll in Jossverse, come to think of it.

Trolls are... so bad. They do what they do only to make other people unhappy. They really crush my spirits because they remind me that there are bad people in this world. It's probably stupid to let small things like that get me down but I can't help it.

And, no, I didn't just write this post to complain. Unfortunately, there are things to be complained about. And doesn't that suck all by itself?

Oh, and don't think I'm saying that all of the House fandom is like this. There are many very nice people in it. Brilliant writers, artists, and mods who clean up the trolly mess and make my friends page pretty again. For them I am glad.

Anyway, let's talk writing. The next chapter of SR is finished. Well, that is, I finished writing it. It still has to be sent off to my lovely beta, kitty_poker1 before it can be officially labeled 'done'. But, see, the thing is, I wanted to finish at least one more chapter before sending off/posting this one, so it wouldn't be such a long wait for you guys next time.

And that's where the problem lies. Everything I write? Complete crap. I don't know why. Maybe it's 'cause I haven't written in an embarrassingly long period of time.

So, to test that theory, I need your help. All of you. Give me a fandom (one you know I'm interested in, I don't care which), character(s), and a prompt. I'll force myself to write something for whatever I get and maybe I'll be inspired to get chapter 29 written. Sound good? Good. Now hit me with your best!

Two years ago, on this date, a livejournal account was made with the intent of reading and attempting to write fanfiction. Since this account was created, the user of it has indeed read and written a lot of fanfiction. She has also made many irreplacable friends and had many great experiences.

So, happy two-year LJ anniversary, me! *eats two-day old cupcake*

And, in other not-as-happy news, I completely lost the outline to a fic that I have been writing. The outline itself was about 6 pages, front and back and I can barely remember what was on it. I remember that there were 9 parts in total, though. And all I have completely written and saved on the computer are the first two. I'm going to try to write on wordpad everything I can remember about it. Hopefully, re-reading the first two chapters will help refresh my memory. Wish me luck!

I kinda haven't been online in the past 6 days. I went on vacation, expecting to have access to the 'net, but it turns out there wasn't any internet or even phone service. Phooey.

I missed a *lot* when I was gone, so I'm trying to get caught up on everything. Sorry to anyone who posted something that I should have commented on but didn't. I know I'm not a big commenter normally, but I still feel really bad about not being available for anybody.

But, one thing that I know I missed is a very special someone's birthday. Someone who was one of my very first friends on LJ and has helped me grow as a writer. Happy (belated) Birthday, kitty_poker1! Hope you had a great day!

A while later: So, I think I'm done catching up to everybody's personal posts. Now, I'm gonna go to the comm's I'm in and try to catch up with those. This... might take a while.

Hm... My 2-year-LJ anniversary is in three days. I might bake cupcakes. :-)

I know everybody's getting swarmed with these heat-complaint posts, but, seriously, I'm going to pass out. It's 99 ^oF here, but, according to Yahoo!, it feels like 107^o. That's 42 for you ^oC folk.

(I don't know how to enter ^o's so I cheated by using <*sup>. Can somebody tell me the real way to do it?)

No real important fic announcements. I'm writing, but I don't have anything even close to ready for posting.

*big wave* to everybody who went to Writercon! Sounds like it was lots of fun, and it's great having you all back.

That's about it. I really just wanted to post so's I could complain about the weather. And show off my Swing Kids icon. *g* Little!Wilson! Little!dancing!Wilson! *iz even more ded*

Been meaning to post for a while. Just to say, "Hey, I'm not dead. What's up?" That sort of thing.

Something happened a few days ago. Something stupid. It's been taken care of, but still. Never should have happened. People can be real dumb sometimes.

In other, mostly unrelated news, I've been really getting into House MD. I started watching it when Bones was on Tuesdays at 8 and have been watching since. It's a really great show. So, uh, why didn't anybody tell me about it? You guys can't just leave me unaware of these things, y'know! So, this is me spreading the love to the rest of you who are unaware. Watch House. Tuesdays at 9. Except this coming up week, because heaven forbid I might be able to actually watch a show once I get into it. *growls at American Idol*

Also? What's with the 108 icons, LJ? I know about the whole new thing that's going on with the more userpics for more paid account time, but still! I have, what? 38 icons? Where am I going to get 70 more?!

Grr.

And I'm sick. Poo poo. It's nothing too bad, though. Just a small cold. I didn't have a voice over this weekend, but now that I've gotten through the worst it's just a stuffy nose and headaches.

Hope everything's going well for you guys.
*hugs f-list*

So, I've been meaning to do a status post for a while. I'm really sorry for my lack of participation on LJ. It's been a pretty stressful past two weeks. Usual story: too much work and not enough sleep. I'm going to aim to go to bed at a decent time tonight so I don't start coming down with something, but I think it might be too late. Oh well.

I haven't had a lot of time lately to be checking my friend's page, but I am working on getting all caught up. Please forgive me for my extreme lack of comments. To those of you who need (or have been needing) hugs: *hugs*. I'm so sorry for not commenting where I should. I just want you guys to know that I *am* reading your entries (even if a few days late) and that I do love and care about you all. I'm just a bad, busy girl. Deepest apologies.

And to those of you who were wondering when the bleep I was going to post more fic, I'm sorry about that, too. I have the next chapter of SR all planned out and started, but again with the busy. And it's not even like SR is my only project at the moment. I'm sure if it were, though, I'd be at least a few more chapters ahead. But, sadly, it's not and I have other, sooper sekrit projects that I'm working on.

But don't tell anybody 'cause they're a secret. =-D

Good news! I'm not so lazy any more! Well, on LJ, anyway. I'm reading more fic. And I'm even commenting on some of them!

I got some writing done. If we're lucky, there'll be some SR out sometime soon-ish. And now I'm on page 6 of the first part of one other thing I'm working on and chapter 3 on something else. So, whee! Productivity! Oh, how I've missed you.

And last night? I went to bed at 4:30 in the morning and woke up at 8. It was entirely my fault, though. I had friends over *very* late and we were having too much fun for me to tell them to skedaddle. And this leads to a math equation:

me + lack of sleep = headache and sore throat.

Fun.

I just remembered that I have 100 userpic spaces, so for the past few days I've been trying to fill 'em up. I've been snagging from ats_icons, btvs_icons and buffy_icons, but I kind of want some not-fandom icons. Something cute or pretty or something that expresses a mood. I'd do them myself, but a) there are probably a lot of icons that are way better than what I can make and b) I'm still a little lazy. So. Any suggestions?

Hope you all haven't forgotten completely about me. I've been really busy lately what with the holidays coming up. And this past week I haven't really had any internet at all. But I got it fixed! So yay! I'm back!

I wasn't really able to completely catch up with everything going on on my f-list. I managed to skim, but most stories I didn't get to read at all. So, my friends, I ask you to please fill me in. What's the what? Any of you write anything you want me to read? Don't be modest, point me to it! Every one, even if I don't have you friended back, what's going on in your life? I want to be back in the loop!

Also, I've been looking through the things I've written and I realized something: I'm not nearly as good a writer as I want to be. I have some excellent writer friends (all of you) that I'll never even come close to in quality. But I want to know, anyway. What are your secrets? I'm eager to learn. Gimme all you got. I really want to become a better writer and I'm surprised that I haven't thought of asking you all sooner.

Oh, and does anybody know if there's a way I can change my e-mail address on my user info, but keep my comment notifications going to the same place they are now? See, I want everybody to be able to tell that they can contact me at flufshepherd @ yahoo dot com, but I want the comments to be sent to my more personal addy. Anybody know if it can be done?

Hm... I think that should be it. I hope you all have wonderful holidays! I'll be thinking of you guys!

Okay, so flufshepherd@yahoo.com won the poll, four to one. I guess I'm not really happy or sad that it won since I had reasons for and against each one. But, anyway, that's my new e-mail address in case anybody wants to get in touch with me (or just chat). And for those of you who send e-mails to my other, more personal, e-mail, I'll still be checking that one if you want to continue sending them there.

And, in completely unrelated news, The Fire of Thine Eyes by lostgirlslair (NC-17). Read it. Love it. You all know how extremely rarely I rec fics on this journal -- you know, since I never do -- but I'm recc'ing this. It's Giles/Wesley and it's nothing short of amazing. G/W isn't even a pairing I tend to like, but this fic is just... my words can't do it justice. Go read it and see for yourself. It's seventeen parts and if any of you loved me, you'd read it.

Ah, I should go to bed now. I'm feeling really sick and I've really been wanting to sleep since nine. It's eleven now... *sigh* All right, all right. I'll go to sleep. G'night all!

*smooches f-list*

I've finally decided to get a new e-mail address to seperate my RL from my NL. This way, I'll be much more willing to give out my e-mail without having to worry. But, of course, with me being one of the worst decision-makers of all time, I can't choose what my new addy should be. So, with help of piksa I learned how to make a poll so you guys can help me choose.

Please vote. Otherwise, I'll never be able to decide.

Poll #591721
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

What should my new e-mail address be?

If other, what?

In other news, I am finally back in the writing mood. I'm going to try to write and finish SR 25 today. Maybe I'll even work on a few other projects I've been doing on the side. I hope not too many people have lost interest.

Can anybody teach me how to make a poll on my LJ?

Pretty please?

Happy Birthday,



kitty_poker1!!!

Kitty,

You're an amazing person, friend, and beta and I'm so glad to know you. You're wonderful, funny and smart and I wish you a *very* happy birthday.

Have an amazing day, sweetie!

Hey all! As some of you may already know, I'm back on the 'net. I've caught up with all of your posts, too. I'm sorry for not commenting on much. In my defense, I had around 700 posts to read so I hope you all don't mind.

For those of you interested, I don't know when the next part of SR will be done. To be honest, I haven't really started writing it yet. I've been working on something new from the unnamed 'verse that I have decided to continue. I don't have much of that written yet, but it's been bothering me for this whole week, so it should come pretty easily and I hope to have it done some time soon.

I want to give that 'verse a name so I can put "Xander's Big Day" in my memories, but I can't think of one. If anybody has any ideas, I'd love to hear them. Just know that the entire fic isn't going to be written with Xander as a little boy. It's also not really going to be written in any chronological order. Come to think, I don't know much about this 'verse yet, so it'd probably have to be pretty vague. So, uh, any ideas? *puppy eyes*

Oh, and can somebody teach me how to make a poll? I want to take the titles you all suggest and have a voting thing at the end of the story so I can see the best-liked ones and make a decision.

And in absolutely no relevance, I've been making some icons. I really hope that I'm getting better at it. I already have a bunch done, but I'm going to wait until I have a few more until I post them so it may be a while.

And.... that's all the new news about me. *hugs* to you all and it's really good to be back!