I've been offline for two and a half days (so I'm pretty terrified of the flist volume at the moment). However, many things to discuss.

Doctor Who:
Obtained. Seen. Amused. Thought the ending was meh, but I enjoyed the cheese thoroughly for the first 35 minutes, so it's in the "like" column. Mostly.

Knitting and Fandom:
The BBC is discussing licensing the Mazzmataz knitting patterns. Good. That's the best outcome all around. According to this article, the BBC had been planning to create a line of stuffed adipose, so Mazz's knitting pattern was a direct threat to that particular marketing line, making the C&D suddenly make a great deal of sense.

I find the last paragraph of the article particularly interesting, because it points out the problems of 20th century copyright/trademark law in the 21st century: What makes the episode more significant is that changing technology is making it easier for fans to create and distribute content based on their favourite programmes, causing a dilemma for copyright holders who have to decide whether to risk bad publicity and threaten legal action, or let them run. The current law is blunt: not reacting fiercely and protectively towards anything that might dent the trademark is required, lest the trademark slide into public domain. However, it's a PR nightmare when that is aimed at fans, be it knitters or high schoolers with Harry Potter info sites. So, perhaps it is time that some wriggle room be written into the law.

Knitting, personal:
The Roma project is overrun by barbarians dead. Too ambitious. Too half baked. However, it has been replaced by a series of test-knit patterns for a book currently titled $600 of Therapy (And a Free Afghan). More discussion later as that one bakes past the halfway point, and I may in future call for some test knitters. The general gist is that all of the afghans are based on the same block size, require the same tools, are stress-free for even a novice knitter to understand, and every single project is portable.

New York, New York (it's a helluvatown):
Went up to NYC with fandance yesterday and met up with suricattus and hhertzof. (And y'know that pattern I promised you HH? I had it *with me* the entire time, and do I remember it until I come home? *facepalm* Be aggressive, and ask oblivious me next time; I *do* have it for you!

We rushed around a bit too fast, but it was worth it, because in the end, we got to do everything we wanted to do - see the Superhero costume exhibit (Online gallery here), walk in the park on a lovely day, buy shoes, look at yarn (I saw something perfect for a project, leading to the $600 comment that turned into a title), take a look at one of the many street fairs, see the Patrick Stewart Macbeth, and eat at my favorite restaurant.

( The Superhero Costume Exhibit )

( Macbeth )

Cover me - I'm checking the flist for the first time in too long.

OMG OMG. YOU GUYS. There's a Marion Ravenwood action figure, of the four-inch variety. And. OMG. SHE comes with a frying pan. !!!!

♥♥♥♥

And now I am showing svmadelyn The Princess Bride for the first time ever.

Best weekend EVER, no?

havent had any real problems since last night, but i've got this weird sort of shakiness going. am I think rehydrated, and have had a bit of food, and it's stayed down, so yay. headache still there but better than it was. still no idea if this is a food reaction, some sort of bug, or a migraine type thing.

the university orchestra has a concert tonight that I have a ticket for and I'm trying to decide whether or not to go. berlioz' symphonie fantastique, mussorgsky's night on bald mountainm and excerpts from wagner's meistersinger. good stuff ... but it doesn't start until 8, and I should probably get sleep tonight, and there's no guarantee I'm not infectious and no guarantee I won't have a relapse. blah.

i'm sure you guys all really want updates on this stuff. it's exciting! \o/

Here is a video my boyfriend took yesterday of some baby bunnies at the petting zoo. Video is two minutes long. You can ignore the voices in the background. The sort of screeching noises are from the resident peacocks trying to impress the females (peahens.)
( Video )

People, we need more entries in Challenge 58, the Smile Challenge. There isn't much time left.

Don't just sit there, grinning. Make an icon!

ok, first the bad news from my walk by the river today - I didn't see the ducklings!

now the good news - ( baby moorhen! )

Don't forget he's on the new Desperate Housewives tonight! I suspect his will be a small part (ahem), but Gale is still Gale! And if audience reaction is positive, he may be recurring next season :)

Love,

Suz

Seriously. It's the goddamn Wild West. Stop talking about your feelings and go fight some fucking crime.

The lemon pudding I made yesterday was so yummy! But I was good and saved some to eat today [g]

In the 'what should I write next' poll, there's a tie between another Queen of Swords fic, and a follow up to 'He's a Pirate'. May have to write both at once. Nin works till midnight, so I'll probably watch some QoS eps to get the voices going again, and see if I can get a start. Though I'm really inclined to take a stab at writing that Methos meets Tony Stark ficlet.

And now, a random thought on last night's Doctor Who...( The places my brain goes... )

16 icons from The Unicorn and the Wasp. (Well really 9, but I added text to some of them.)

Samples:

( Read more... )

 Part 15 already up thanks to my beta reader.
Summary: Sometimes how we feel is all we have...

Click for chapter!

OMG, what a day! Started out with an early breakfast (today's new food was cassava patties). There were only 6 of us for the 2 hour drive up to Mayfield Falls: 4 from the Grand Lido and then the 2 of us. The driver was great, pointing out things, showing us the sights. The only heart stopper was the winding, bumpy CLIFF road to the trail head. We walked down, across a bamboo bridge and got to the main site.

From there, we headed to the river. What a blast! Even if I am a big chicken (no goggles, I didn't want to lose my contacts!). Roo's goggles saved the day, though. Two Fifty, our slightly insane guide, borrowed them and found one of the others' prescription sunglasses. The things he had holding them on weren't nearly as strong as the waterfall that he lost them in in the very first jump. We pretty much all agreed that Two Fifty was just insane, with some of the dives he did into pools only 6 - 7 ft deep.

Lunch with the puppies melted me, too. One of them jumped on my foot while the others wandered around. Roo laughed and had to shoo away the puppy that was following me, hiding under my towel.

The drive back was very funny. The driver stopped when one of the other women said she'd never had a Jamaican patty. So we stopped at Juici's and one of the men and I got out to buy some. Then a quick pit stop since the other woman had had two Red Stripes at lunch, which was apparently one Red Stripe too many! After that, they asked for a stop at Jenny's Bakery, where Roo and I got a slice of the French vanilla cake (rather dry and tasteless). The other 4, however, got a much more interesting special cake, that apparently was made with a lot of love. One of the others said it was a lot moister than the vanilla cake, but we were VERY happy to stick with the vanilla!

Back to Beaches for a swim, where Roo watched tiny fish around a reef and where we all watched jet skiers being rescued. Looked like they ran out of fuel. Oops!

All showered and relaxed now, taking a little break before dinner. Steel drums on the beach tonight, then some quick online time so we can check into our flights. We start tomorrow far too early. Our bags are going to be picked up by staff at 7:15 am and our shuttle leaves at 8:15 am. Just enough time to grab a bite to eat. It's only an hour or so to the airport, so we'll have some time to do some duty free shopping. I think some Appleton Rum and some Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee will have to find their way home with us!

jarien -- the snow cone maker was a solid hit. Although of course, it's not warm out, and yet, the kids had to have it, so now everyone is freezing. *laughs*

And now we continue on a nice afternoon (since the rain has decided that we can't plant more) and watch The Golden Compass. Whee!

I realized that I could type this on my computer, but I'd rather sit out here on the balcony and listen to the surf.

I went to breakfast alone this morning while Roo slept in. Me, a book and some ackee and saltfish with fried plantains and fruit. Came back, got ready and the two of us meandered down to the beach to rent a jet ski. While waiting, I was asked out for a drink. I'd be more flattered if the guy doing the inviting hadn't just tried to sell me pot! I doan tink so, mon!

This was the first time I'd ever driven a jet ski. Speed. Wind. Water. Yeah! Jumping waves, learning how to navigate without spilling us both into the ocean. Afterwards, we dried off, bought some jewelry for Roo and headed out to swim for a bit before lunch. Then more swimming and now resting in our room until we get dressed for dinner.

This is nice here. I'm reading a lot and just relaxing. Every now and then I find myself wanting to show JT something or share something with him or reach for his hand, walking on the beach in the light reflected by a sliver of moon. On the whole, though, I think I am getting better. Roo and I talked a bit about things and I'm careful not to let any bitterness creep into the conversation. I want them to have a good relationship. That is something I am determined to help happen. The rest, though? That's up to him. At least I can do my best to not be an embittered wife.

The quiet was just broken by the little boy on the balcony next to us. Earlier today, his father showed us where to find a school of yellow and black striped fish.

Maybe someday, when Roo is off at school, I'll come back here for a month. Just to relax and not think about life in general ;) Until then, I want to come back again soon. Next year. But for a nice, adults only trip.

Roo wants to come back on her next spring break, when one of her closest friends is home for spring break from college.

Time to kick back for a while now and read before getting ready for the evening. We were going to go to Beaches Negril for dinner, but are rather happy being sluggish and just walking down to the restaurants here.

Yesterday I met a number of new foals.  This little one was the most mischievous of the bunch (and also had the most relaxed mother, so I could stand close enough to film without worrying either of them).

( A foal which oddly enough looks rather seahorse-like... )

After yesterday's episode aired in the UK, there was a trailer for the next few episodes, not just the next one. Does anyone know where I can find it?

I am so glad I didn't listen to my brother! The ride on the beach he and his wife went on was nothing at all compared to what we did. Instead of a short walk along the beach, we took a long trail ride before switching horses and heading into the ocean.

The area is gorgeous. We went around a polo field, up the hill and through two small villages. I can't imagine how it must be, living in a place where you only have electric now and then and running water for a couple hours a day.

The guides were great. We separated into smaller groups of 4 - 5 riders, each with their own guide. Our guide was very personable and took pictures for us with our own cameras, so we could have shots that we wouldn't normally be able to get.

The ride was nice, but going into the ocean? That was just something else. The feel of the horse under me with the wind and the water (I had to hold onto my hat, I'm surprised I didn't lose it!), is something I want to do again. Soon. Nothing at all like riding in the ring!

Roo is napping now, then we'll head for dinner and a walk on the beach. We've been walking every night, between the guards posted at either end of the resort. If we keep this up, they'll get to know our silhouettes, at least!

You realise that the Torchwood Hub probably extends under the Millennium Centre. You then find yourself wondering if the Phantom is thus down in the vault (possibly providing mood music and/or accompaniment), or, is in fact, someone in Torchwood's employ.

*head in hands*

My brain hurts...