It occurred to me yesterday that I probably need to do an explanation of the nicknames I use, so here goes.
Wookie - My hubby, who is big, furry and lovable even when he growls. <3 Big Gay Boss - My former boss at the university, who I'm still close to. He was SUCH an instigator. "Jai! Jai! Let's go out and get a drink!" which would turn into multiple shots at the bar and me flying home with a massive hangover the next day. Let's just say this happened more than once. I'm lucky I didn't puke on a TSA worker one particular flight. Golden Boy - My current boss who was the Golden Boy at one time and could do no wrong. That was five Big Bosses ago. Boyband Hair/Big Boss - The current superintendent. I nicknamed him Boyband Hair when he was in his previous role, never dreaming he'd end up being the Big Boss. Deputy Big Boss - I should probably come up with something more original for him. Cajun Big Boss? IDK. He's Golden Boy's boss and is between GB and Big Boss. Sorority Sue - Works in the office next to me and is DRAMATIC, but very sharp. Loves to talk about her university days as a Kappa Delta. Goldilocks/Bff - My best work friend, who has long blond ringlets. The Salesman/Wookie's Bff - A charmer of a guy who never meets a stranger and invited himself on our vacation last year. Also invited all his friends to a party he hosted at OUR HOUSE last weekend. It's impossible to stay mad at him, though. He's married to the Occupational Therapist/OT. Occupational Therapist/OT - Is a professor at a local university. Has an opinion about everything, but is lots of fun. Will be queen of her ball group next year, so that's sure to be lots of drama.
Those are my most used nicknames, though others come up. I try to put a description with them when I use them, but feel free to poke me if I forget.
Today has been interesting. Sorority Sue were out walking during our break when my cell rang. Internal number that I didn't recognize, so I let it go to voice mail. I called back whiplash fast because...
I HAVE AN INTERVIEW FOR A COORDINATOR POSITION.
The job is among the most difficult in the department, dealing with federal regulations and a huge budget and a large staff. While I do have some experience in that area, I don't have experience managing a large staff, and there are some personnel issues in that section. Honestly, I'm not a good fit for the job and I'm shocked they even want to interview me, so I won't be disappointed or surprised when they choose someone else. The money would be nice, but I'm not sure it would be worth the headaches that come with that job. My goal was to get my resume in front of Deputy BB, so getting an interview is a bonus. WIN.
I also got the rest of the story about Big Boss' epic overreaction. As it turns out, he and the reporter in question have loathed each other for years, so it was less about Sorority Sue giving an interview and more about who interviewed her. Either way, she's still fuming because he hasn't apologized...and he won't. That's not how he operates. He'll flip his boyband hair and move on to the next thing.
I had a nice surprise in my inbox. Someone wants to translate one of my stories into Chinese. I've had a few translated before, but it seems like I never actually see the translations, so I have to assume they were actually translated and linked back to my original story. I've asked this person to post a link in the comment box on Ao3 this time. Maybe that will spur me to get off my ass and write my reverse swap story.
Speaking of fandom stuff, Marvel has posted some Endgame posters, which gutted me, of course. I hate seeing any of the OG move on, especially Chris Evans/Cap. And then there's Bucky...
If that doesn't kickstart my writing, nothing will.
In work related news, Sorority Sue (one of my co-workers) gave an interview to the local paper and was misquoted, despite the fact that she was in the room with the Department's communication director. Some reporters are just hacks. Anyway, Big Boss read the interview and lost his shit via email and cc'd everyone and their brother. It was absolutely not SS's fault, and both our boss and the communications guy took up for her, but Big Boss was still snippy. She spent an hour careening between rage and tears. It has been a mess. She wants an apology, bu that ain't gonna happen. I hate it for her.
Come and join the fun and share it in your journal as well!
I promised a few friends I'd give DW the old college try, but I just prefer LJ. So...go forth and friend in an effort to keep this place humming.
Last week was my birthday. Not a big one that ended in a 0 or a 5, but a birthday nonetheless. How'd I celebrate? The Wookie's BFF decided to have a bonfire party at our house and invite a bunch of his friends. His friends. To our house. *sigh* This is the same guy who invited himself on our vacation last year. He's a good friend and I like him, but damn, he needs to back off sometimes. Anyway, I countered by inviting some of OUR friends and it was a fun time. The storm last year uprooted a giant tree and it's taken the better part of six months to get it hacked up into burnable pieces. It turned out to be a HUGE bonfire, and half of the tree is still left. Only one glass was sacrificed to the party gods and nobody got too tipsy, so I'll deem it a success.
A high-level job opened up at work, so there is rampant speculation and wild rumors about who has applied. I took one look at the salary and brushed up my resume. So far, only my boss (Golden Boy) and my work BFF know that I've applied. It's not a good fit, but GB suggested it would be good to get my resume in front of the Big Boss in case something else opens up. We'll see. I think I could do this job, but I probably wouldn't enjoy it.
Things are shaping up for the Paso Robles trip in May. Rooms are booked, but there is a possibility that a winery out there will put us up for free. Fingers crossed. I can always cancel the ones we have.
I stupidly signed up for a reverse fiction swap, where the artists post pictures and the writers claim them. I claimed an AMAZING drawing of Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. How much have I written? NADA. I've been sitting here for a hour and could have been writing, but instead I'm surfing gossip sites (Kanye has started a church!) and posting here.
It's been a minute since my last post, and this one will probably be short.
Work is slowing down just a bit. The consolidated state plan was submitted last week, YAY, so that's one thing off my plate. The rollout and training of eFail is a complete disaster. On top of that, Big Boss wants to pilot a new teacher/leader evaluation system this fall, and it's nowhere near ready. All I can do is all I can do. I repeat that to myself often.
Socially...I'm very busy. The girls' trip to the beach was cancelled due to bad weather, and I'm not sure when or if we'll reschedule. The big trashburning/bonfire for tonight was postponed due to...you guessed it, bad weather. Tis the season for tornadoes. We still have plans for dinner with friends tonight and Captain Marvel tomorrow. Next weekend is the joint birthday party for my Daddy and me. Should be fun.
The trip to LA was a whirlwind of late flights and missed tours and hour long Uber rides to tourist traps that I didn't really want to see. I did get to have dinner with my nephew, though, so that's a plus.
TV: I'm watching the Magicians, which I love, and they just took the series in a completely unexpected but delightful direction. I've never been a fan of Quentin and Alice on the show, as she's treated him like crap and he's adored her. That all changed with S4, episode 5. I'd always thought he'd still end up with Alice in the end, but it looks like now it will be Eliot, and I'm squeeing with joy. If you haven't watched up to this point, consider below a spoiler.
I'm trying to keep up with all of you, even though my posting is spotty. Hope you're all doing well!
First, happy birthday to talullahred! I'm sorry I missed it, and I know you aren't around here much, but I hope it was a good one.
We went to church today for the first time in a month. I enjoy attending and I especially like the formal rituals of this particular Anglican church. Smells and bells, as the priest calls it. It seems like many times we attend, the Crucifer is a blond boy of around 15-16 who I like to call the Sullen Teen. If he's ever cracked a smile, I've never seen it. Before the service, he was standing in the Narthex glaring at the floor and flipping a shock of blond hair out of his eyes. He looked SO familiar. When we sat down, I looked up his name in the back of the service program, and did a double-take. I dated his dad in high school. Has to be him, because that last name is very unusual. I'd told a friend several months ago that if I were in high school, Sullen Teen is the sort I would have crushed on. As it turns out, I did! He looks a lot like his dad, with the exception that his dad would have been struck by lightening if he'd tried to be an altar boy. I had a taste for the bad ones back in the day. LOL
Mom and I went shopping yesterday. She's doing well, but is becoming more forgetful. She told me the same story twice, which is something she never would have done when she was younger. Nothing serious, but I've been noticing it. :/
We had a quiet weekend for a change. I think we'll build a fire again tonight and watch a movie on Netflix.
TV - We finished up Midnight, TX and Homecoming and are looking for a new show. Good Omens doesn't start for a while. I think we're going to try The Umbrella Academy and see how it goes. I'll let you know what we think.
Busy weekend. There was a masked ball that we attend every year. The Physical Therapist (the Wookie's best friend's wife) is in it, as well as a few other women I know, so we make a point to go. It was fun. The band, Fly By Radio, is pretty good. Mostly 80's and 90's rock, with a few classic and current hits smattered in there. Perfect for a crowd of mid-thirties to late-forties couples. As her husband likes to say, the PT "took drunk" and had a fine time. The Wookie was tired from the estate sale at his parent's house and my feet hurt from being in heels for hours, so we left after the first set.
Speaking of the estate sale, we made about $9000, $2000 of which will be going to the ladies in the MiL's mission group who helped us price everything and set it all up. So, there's $7000 to go toward foundation and roof issues on the house before we try to sell it. There are some high-end art pieces that we're going to try and sell via Facebook. If they don't sell, we'll look at a local gallery and try to do consignment. That should be another couple of thousand. The house is on the market, but really needs more work before I expect it to get any attention.
Winter weather mischief is afoot. Unlike last year when we got 3+ inches of snow, I expect less than an inch and an entire afternoon of traffic headaches. I have a meeting at 9am that I must attend, but if the weather looks bad, I may slide out early. Mom already called and told me not to go in...and got upset when I said I needed to go to a meeting. I really don't think it will be a big deal. The most we'll get is an inch, and I doubt we get that.
On a side note, I've been reading on DW about a rise in fandom wank, and not the fun kind. Yes, I was once a card-carrying member of Fandom Wank back in the glorious days of Cassie Claire and her plagiarism, but I'm too old for that shit now. I just want to do what I do and enjoy what I enjoy in peace. Haters to the left.
I've also decided to do a better job of locking down my LJ and DW if/when there are sensitive topics.
I'm taking a break from the snowflake stuff, simply because there are several of the challenges that I simply don't want to do. We'll see.
Downtown streets were closed for the inauguration, so many of us state workers had the day off. I celebrated by going shopping and picking up some leggings for $4.99 each to wear around the house, and maybe out grocery shopping or hanging out with friends who don't care that my legs look like a carnival. I also did a bit of tidying up, though nowhere near what I need to do.
My boss, aka Golden Boy for those of you who are new, confirmed to me last week that I'm keeping all of the work that was recently dumped on me. He'd told me at one point that some of the teacher/leader effectiveness work would be going to Dr. Hello!Hello!'s section, but no such luck. The Deputy told GB that he wanted the work "done right" so that means I have to do it. That begs the following questions: 1) If I'm doing Hello!Hello!'s work, shouldn't I have part of his paycheck and 2) if I'm assuming Pear Shaped's work (the previous coordinator) then shouldn't I have his parking spot? Sorority Sue (my female co-worker) will blame it on me being female, and she's probably not wrong. There's only one woman in a leadership position, and only one minority. It's mostly a bunch of older white men. All I know to do is to keep doing my best work and suggest that I deserve a pay raise and a parking spot when I have a chance to work it into conversation.
Dad is doing much better. Mom, though, is running herself ragged. I've offered to help, but neither of us can figure out what I can actually do to help. I'll go and visit them on Sunday.
Speaking of Sunday, that's when winter arrives. the weather here has been warm for winter, but that will change this weekend. Cold and more cold. I'm fine with that. Winter should be cold.
The teaser for GoT is out. OMG. I can't wait.
We saw Aquaman in the IMAX theater yesterday. Beautiful movie. Visually stunning, especially in IMAX. Jason Mamoa is hot like the sun, and had pretty good comic timing. Overall, the movie wasn't bad. A fun way to spend an afternoon.
Music: Superposition - Young the Giant. I had a hard time choosing one, because there are several songs out that I like right now.
Stretch yourself a little and try something new. Go play in a new fandom or with a new pairing. Try working in a new medium. Or check out some fanworks that are new to you. (The recs from Day 2 might be a good place to start.) Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
I'm actually looking for a new TV show and fandom at the moment. The ones I'm currently in either are on hiatus at the moment, with no new episodes to get into, or I'm just not into the fandom aspect. I'm very tempted to dip my toe into Shadowhunters in a more meaningful way, but the show has been cancelled. I started a fic in the Raven Cycle fandom, but then dropped it for...reasons that I can't remember. Anyway, I'm saying all of this to say that I'm probably not going to do much with this challenge at the moment, but quite possibly will pick it back up later on.
Day 8 In your own space, post self-recs for at least three fanworks that you created. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
Single and Looking - https://archiveofourown.org/works/… This fic has the most hits, the most kudos and the most recs of any of the ones I've written. "Bucky held his place with his index finger and turned the magazine over to check the date on the cover. It was brand new, just out this month. An unexpected cord of anxiety tightened in Bucky’s chest. Single and looking? Frantically, he flipped back to the article. What exactly was Steve looking for? According to the article, Steve’s dream girl should be intelligent, altruistic, well-versed in current events and have a wicked sense of humor. Oh, and he had a thing for high heels and red lipstick. Bucky’s stomach churned as he re-read the article. Was that really what Steve wanted? Make-up and stilettos?" A slightly sappy tale of two utterly besotted super-soldiers who excel at miscommunication.
You're Doing it Wrong - https://archiveofourown.org/works/… this is in the same universe as the fic above and takes place before it. Moving in with Steve seemed like a good idea to Bucky at first, but everything Steve did drove him crazy. He drove recklessly, couldn’t cook and constantly invaded Bucky’s personal space. Everything Steve did was wrong. Sometimes, though, wrong feels pretty damned right.
Somewhere I Belong - https://archiveofourown.org/works/… LOTR/Silm fandom. It's one that I'm really proud of, and I think I did a nice job of writing. Beleg doesn’t like clingy children, sullen adolescents or presumptuous young men with minds of their own. In fact, he dislikes most everyone until a young apprentice worms his way into the crusty old Elf’s heart.
content
bored
tired
okay
talullahred! I'm sorry I missed it, and I know you aren't around here much, but I hope it was a good one.
relaxed
accomplished