Idea filched from everyone but copied and pasted from cassie_black12's lj (as are some of the requests, because we're really one entity with a few extra limbs and a lot of tits).

Step One

* Make a post to your LJ with a list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, big or small, expensive or free, fandom-related or not. The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

* If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.

* Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ, so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two

* Surf around your friends list to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use—or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free—do it.

* You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf—to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not — it's your call.

* There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.


( Dear Santa Clausovitch )

I'm off to have an early night - had very full day at work with boss sick, but I did manage to finish the longest part of my microbiology/immunology coursework today (when the cat's away, the mouse does homework and reads pr0n on her iPhone) - but I couldn't sleep easy knowing I hadn't told the world about two wonderful women.

One is the amazingly talented vix_spes who wrote LONGHAND without error an amazing porny Harry/Bill/Charlie story then bound it all in green paper and tied it together with beautifully plaited ribbon. It's as gorgeous to look at as it is steamy to read. *fans self with it* THANK YOU SO MUCH, my darling violinist/writer!

The other I must thank is the amazingly talented dirty_darella who drew me an illustration of this drabble-y poem I wrote some time ago. And it's effing wonderful - the art, I mean - (click to enlarge and see the mmm...detail). I've also just discovered she's the author of a fic I've had bookmarked for ages and read regularly. Yes, I almost hate her for being so talented. THANK YOU SO MUCH, my darling artist/writer!

I'll post more over the weekend as I'm desperate to steal one of the presents cassie_black12 has asked for in her holiday wish list (no prizes for guessing which one). Have a splendid evening everyone, and don't forget to support CHILDREN IN NEED tonight.

Oh, LOL to your latest email, kilter. Now I'm going to have to find that film on iTunes.

Title: In The Beginning, Part 2
Pairing: H/D
Rating: NC-17
Everything else you might want to know is in Part 1


( In the Beginning, Part 2 )

Yup, guilty - this one is mine. I'm astounded and just plain chuffed with all of the wonderful comments this fic has received. As well as being a huge ego boost, it's propelled me into thinking I can do this again! Which hopefully is a good, thing. And now up as a prompt for hp_art_tales! Wo0T!

Title: In The Beginning, Part 1
Pairing: H/D
Rating: NC-17
Summary: With this you get a lion who speaks Parseltongue, Voldesnake in a twisted Tree of Knowledge and if you squint, you might recall "The Blue Lagoon".
Disclaimer: The characters, such as they are, sadly are not mine. They are based upon characters created by JK Rowling, the rights to which are hers and WB's. No money, no harm, no foul.
Warnings: Complete and utter finger-down-your-throat AU fluff.
Word Count: 11,355 (It reads fast, though. Honestly, you don't have to think:)
Author's Notes: Written for the bottom_draco fest. The prompt was Inspired By: Genesis (Garden of Eden scene), AU, Harry and Draco find themselves naked in a garden with a talking snake. She specifically asked for Parseltongue. Who was I to refuse? I had SO much fun writing this! I've never used my Torah as a reference when writing fanfic before:) I could not have done this without the unfailing love and support from delphipsmith and cassie_black12.


( In the Beginning, Part 1 )

Hello, all! I know I've been quiet lately (not like me at all, is it?), but have been tres busy with RL things that I won't bore you with here, as I've bored most of you already about them on Twitter. The only non-boring thing that's happended in the last few weeks was a brilliant visit from softly_sweetly over Halloween weekend. Spectacular!

Anyhoo, I also come bearing fic as the hp_cross_fest reveals are now up:

Title: Bring Me to Life
Pairing: Harry Potter (aged 20)/Tom Riddle (aged 16), RW/HG (implied)
Rating: R
Word Count: 8,751
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction which means the characters ain't mine. No profit is made from this work.
Summary: Tom Riddle has suddenly reappeared at Hogwarts. But what are his intentions? And what are Harry's? AU. I PROMISE THIS WON'T SQICK YOU! Romance (ish), hurt/comfort, emo (ish)
Warning: Very ambiguous ending
Notes: The prompt was Three years after the war, Harry's scar begins to bother him once more. As you know, I usually write fluffybunnyhumour!fic but wanted to try my hand at something with a darker theme. This fic really needed to be closer to 20K for it to be more believable, but I think the fest mods might have come after me with the business end of a Dementor if I'd attempted that. Please just suspend your disbelief and pretend that decision-making in the wizarding world is a faster process than is truly canon :) As always, huge props to my three –yes, count 'em — three betas for their wonderful help and kind words ("WTF do you think you're doing?"). Title taken from Evanescence's eponymous song.

On the Cross_Fest site

( On this site )

I'm not writing for this but I think everyone else should!


artwork by _aurora_sky_



Sign ups for hp_nextgen_fest: October 20-31, 2009!

And, in a bow to peer pressure, and because I think it's way cool, (although I put down Mercury not Saturn, and I'm not sure I want to be likened to a cervix, but still...)

You are the World

Completion, Good Reward.

The World is the final card of the Major Arcana, and as such represents saturnian energies, time, and completion.

The World card pictures a dancer in a Yoni (sometimes made of laurel leaves). The Yoni symbolizes the great Mother, the cervix through which everything is born, and also the doorway to the next life after death. It is indicative of a complete circle. Everything is finally coming together, successfully and at last. You will get that Ph.D. you've been working for years to complete, graduate at long last, marry after a long engagement, or finish that huge project. This card is not for little ends, but for big ones, important ones, ones that come with well earned cheers and acknowledgements. Your hard work, knowledge, wisdom, patience, etc, will absolutely pay-off; you've done everything right.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Back to Hols - busy, busy, busy: beta had a field day - no time for chit-chat!

I'm talking to YOU kilter, delphipsmith, moirarogers, ladyoneill, dandelow, dorotea, ccamargofans, any writers of HSU that isn't already archived on our super secret lj comm, and any SW, Xani, Glad, and P&M fic that isn't already archived on the Lists.

If you want this fic, just save the webpage, as it's a pain to go into the editor and save it as a doc. Also, I'm not giving you the password- ha!

Delphi, can I leave HSU in your hands? I can't believe I just said that. Luna, have you already got everything off the CC site you need? I'll archive Xani & Diva Vexa and my SW stuff on my own site (including Anchors Away ROTFLMFAO and the Jedi Clinic *snicker*). kilter, I'd taken yours off ages ago, so if you want it and don't have it saved, let me know.

Now I'm going to go re-read This Old House for the first time in years get back to archiving.

And I see my Holiday Exchange idea is going over well-I've already got the list of EAs who're buying your presents. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

(And kilter, I know you're lying about at least one of your EA's taste in chocolate-remember, his godson lives in the Clinic.) *cough* Turkish Delight *cough*

Great, now I'm in a Farmboy mood.... sigh.

Okay, this is Dramione. Get up off the floor - you read that right. I took this on for the hp_uk_meetup for the lovely robs55.

Personally, I can see them getting along because they're in so many classes together and they're both smart (and get past that little incident in 3rd year), but I can't see the romance angle. Of course, I can't see any of the canon romances either, so what do I know?

At any rate, I thought I would take my "I-just-don't-see-what-they'd-have-in-common" doubts and run with them. (I kinda stumbled along with them, but it's at least moving in the right direction.)

( Enjoy...if you like that kind of thing. )

I'm not sick...yet. It wasn't our intention for you all to leave the hp_uk_meetup with a cold, but it sounds as though many of you have. My prescription for recovery is a couple more days off school/work and a healthy helping of pr0n.

Drabblers and artists - I am talking to YOU now.

THANK YOU

You are the awesomest people on the planet! Your gifts were the biggest talking point of the meet-up! Everyone loved that they had personalised drabbles and to show our appreciation, we have a litle something for you. I'll need your snail mail addys to get them to you, so if you've a mind, please comment with it (screened, of course). I promise to Obliviate myself after sending these things out :)

I also have another couple of heart-felt messages to the meet-up team:

Huge thanks to alovelycupoftea for all of her hard work personalising the goodie bags with each of the attendees names. She also did an awesome job as an emcee to "Win, Lose or Draw", which we will play again (but the dirty version) at the next meet-up.

Ginormous thanks to my roomie softly_sweetly, who picked up on my subtle and slightly tipsy hint: "Ohbythewayguysmypaidaccountisabouttoexpireifanyofyouwantstoknow." You're already booked into Chez Phillips for a visit this winter and I'll put your name down as my roomie at the next event.

cleo_jay's huge box of chocolates is now almost gone, courtesy of my children and husband. Oh, okay, and me.

I'd also like to thank multiclassgeek for his help with the setting-up and sorting-out for us. We were lucky to have you with us.

And I couldn't finish this post without mentioning the unfailing patience, help, humour, generosity and all around exceptional organisational skills of my partner in crime, cassie_black12. Funnily enough, the process was nearly as fun as the final product! I hope I can bribe talk you into doing the same with the next one.

And speaking of that, we've had a few suggestions already for a May Bank Holiday (28-31/5) get-together, so if you're interested, join the comm if you aren't already on it. From the looks of it, the hotel is cheaper and so is the breakfast! Wo0T!

And to everyone I met last weekend - I feel very lucky to have met so many wonderful people. That was THE most fun I've had in a very long time. I look forward to seeing you all again!

Finally, I'd like to thank my husband who thought to save me the trouble of doing the laundry and very nicely did it for me in my absence. Yup, the kids' white school shirts went in with my red blouses. I think you know how this story ends...ah well. ♥

Sorry for the CAPSLOCK moment, but it's getting close and I'm excited! Thanks to everyone for the drabbles/stories/drawbels/art - I'm still waiting a couple from my last post, but for the most part, we're done! All drabblers/drawblers will get a thank-you post card! If this is you - please leave your address details (comments are screened).

Edit: Oh, and yes, please feel free to post anything after Sunday!

But even if you didn't drabble/drawbled and would like a postcard from the hp_uk_meetup, please leave your address details in this post and cassie_black12 and I will write them out with our sparkly pens and get them sent to you! First 15, only, please, as I need the rest of my dosh to buy shoes presents for my kids.

And I'd also like to wish dorotea, the esteemed HSU Librarian, a wonderful and happy birthday! You have my permission to burn down your place, utter any incantation you want, and generally have a great time with your EAs! *backs goat lorry into Admin Building*

Knock yourself out.

ATTENTION UK MEET-UP DRABBLERS! Once again, we'd like to thank everyone who has contributed their wonderful (and often hawt) little fics.

The UK meet-up is now one week away - please to be doing one of the following:

*Write a drabble (see below) and email it to either myself or cassie_black12 by Wednesday, 30 September so we can print it out on pretty parchment and tie it up with a nice ribbon for a meet-up attendee. jweiss@tulanealumni.net/cassie_black@hotmail.co.uk

*Tell us you're not able to write the drabble and we'll bribe some other poor sucker have a go ourselves (which will be highly amusing since we don't ship these folks - case in point - my Dramione drabble is an amusing pile of poo).

Please don't worry if you don't have the time. We appreciate you're all busy and this is a huge favour. Please do tell us you're not able to write these if you can't because we don't want to have to cram them into the last-minute stuff we have to do.

Here's what we're waiting on:

ladyoneill - LM/HP
delphipsmith - LL gen
noeon - AS/S Meesa wants!
femmequixotic - HP/DM/SS
ANYONE - H/D, please! Lots of it!

Remember, these don't have to be long or involved. A PWP will do nicely (except you, delphipsmith :). Need more inspiration? Here's a few more prompts which I've just thought up for no good reason: trying to work a video-recorder/mobile phone, cheating on an exam, arguing over house-work, breaking & entering.

Need more info? Comment or email! We love you all and thank you so much for your help. There will be remuneration.

Of a sort.

Honest.

Er...

Huge thanks to ladyoneill for the (albeit) late birthday presents! I got a fab musical card with my favourite boy on it and another lovely SW Christmas ornament with my favourite ebil galactic emperor on it. And godson Iain got a nifty KU shirt which he's worn to bed.

Ginormous thanks to the talented and wonderful stellamoon, whose contribution to the hp_uk_meetup arrived today. *takes it out and stares at it some more* And PROPS a-plenty to everyone who has donated some amazing drabbles so far. We want to keep them all- muhahahahaaaaaa! But we won't... And we can always use more - ladyoneill, I'm talking to you!

Now, I don't usually rec individual fics or art unless they're gifts for me - mostly because I'm selfish and lazy. Although, I am making an exception for crack_broom next month, but that's a little different. Isn't it? Yes, I insist it is. So without further ado, I'm recc'ing this whole frakking-fantastic fest:



artwork by heathen_arcade

That is all.

ATTENTION DRABBLE WRITERS! You asked for a reminder, and here's one for you! The deadline for the hp_uk_meetup drabbles/drawbles is 10 days away. HUGE thanks to those of you who have already submitted/sent these to us.

We really appreciate this, as we're struggling to keep up with writing them (I've already done a BL/NM (!) and Dramione drabble- so I'm well outside my comfort zone, here). We can always use H/D but if you're wanting something a little less vanilla, let us know, as we have other OTPs to cater for:)

Please to be sending me any drabbles (and they can be as short as 100 words, honest!) or drawbles to jweiss at tulanealumni dot net. You can sign your name to them or leave them anonymous, but do let us know which you'd prefer. Regardless, we will be singing your praises at the meet-up, cause you be fab-o-rino!

I'd also like to wish ladyoneill a wonderful belated 25 birthday (!) and to warn her that she's in danger of losing the rum again (watches as squid steals it). Not helping.

And now back to listening to the White Sox preparing to crucify the Royals *le sigh*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY lijahlover!!!

Here is a little something for you that Claire made for you. Harry's upside down why? I asked. "Because he just is." And that's Hermione next to him, of course.



I hope your day is full of your favourite wizards and hobbits! And check your in-tray...

And yes, that pillow in the picture has a snitch on it! Made by the wonderful alovelycupoftea, whom I'm going to see in two weeks at the hp_uk_meetup so I can glomp all over her!!! Thank you also, to everyone who has been sending us fantabulous drabbles for the meet-up!

And in other thank-you newz, I gotta beautiful card in the post this week from the fabulous lotus_lizzy!

Finally,HAPPY NEW YEAR to those on my flist who are celebrating. Apples and honey for pudding in this house tonight! L'chaim!

TGIF everyone :)

Hello!

First, happy birthday to the multitude of people on my flist who seemed to have birthdays in the last few weeks and also to the many whose birthdays are coming up. Keep an eye on your "in-tray" :)

Now, *holds hat in hand* as many of you know that the hp_uk_meetup is 3 weeks away and we had approached the lot of you to ask if you'd like to contribute a drabble.

We mostly need h/d now as I've managed to talk a bunch of my unsuspecting non-fandom friends into give a try to writing the other ships.

These drabbles are to be given out to the participants. They can be anonymous or you're more than welcome to put your name to them. And obviously, after the meet-up (2-4 Oct), please feel free to post them on LJ.

All you need to do is write the thing if you will. That means SHORT (I'm talking to you bryoneybrynn)! And anything goes. If you want/need a prompt, there's a bunch at the end of this post.

If you're happy to help us (pleasssssse), just email it to me jweiss at tulanealumni dot net by 30 Sep and we'll print it on posh parchment and tie it up with a ribbon for the goody bags.

Many, many thanks for all of your help in this should you choose to write!

Prompts:

Big Ben
sight-seeing
pizza
quiz
King's Cross
shopping
double-decker (or Knight) bus
wine/alcohol
House colours
London Underground
guide book
Muggle money
familiar strangers
travel

[Edit]: Under 500 words (we have some that are 150 and some that 500) and any rating!

And just for dysonrules, in case those prompts were too tame, here's another list:
cherry stem, pierced glans, fingerless Quidditch gloves, chocolate pudding, salad dressing. Happy now???

( Gushes, Thank-Yous, and News under here! )

Now I gotta go buy shoes for the twins. Again. Sheesh.

Am actually having a rather productive weekend, both virtually and in RL. Nice for a change...

First, thank you SO much for all the nice birthday comments for the kids:) I didn't have time to reply individually but I have passed all of your birthday wishes to the twins.

Second, the hp_uk_meetup continues to gain force. We're now up to 28 people and organising like mad. A bazillionty thanks to my co-organiser cassie_black12 who's still (I hope) not sick of spending hours on the telephone with me most every night. I can't wait to meet everyone, not least of all my room-mate, who's promised me chocolate. (Course, I've promised her beer...)

Third *does happy dance* to celebrate getting a spot on hd_holidays this year. It may not happen again, but I'm delighted to be writing for this fest for the first time and I love my prompt.

And speaking of fests, I've got bottom_draco in the bag (so AU you'll think you're on the wrong comm), I'm about 1K short of finishing my hp_cross_fest, and am very happy to say that my FIRST fest has now nearly come to a rip-roaring end with the posting of the hp_sas Anonymous Masterlist.

In HSU news, I'd like to welcome my neighbour (the Librarian)'s new EA to campus and am warning him to stay away from my doctor - he didn't do anything to you in any time, so please, for my sanity and the Pub's stock of Wild Turkey, be nice to him. Can I also remind the Dean and the IT Girl that school starts tomorrow and I'd now better have all the supplies for the boys by tonight or Laure's EA is gonna jump up and down all over me (in a figurative sense) and I'll never bloody hear the end of it.

And could someone please explain to me why I have to go back to work tomorrow?

*waves at everyone*

Five years ago, in the middle of the night, after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, someone put these amazing creatures into my arms. (They weren't dressed as Spiderman or Snow White at the time, though.)




I love you, my noisome, infuriating, devious, persuasive, tiring, demanding, creative, devoted, silly, curious, messy most wonderous things in my life!

Firstly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to MY FATHER!!! My dad is 94 years young today! He attributes his longevity to 10% clean living and 90% dumb genetic luck. Here's hoping I've inherited that luck...

In other squee-worthy news, my gift from hp_sas posted a couple of days ago and I've been uber remiss about squeeing all over it, but fret no further- here it is- The Apprentice. It's full of sex, and snakes, and drugs and my favourite sport of all time. I have huge ♥ for this fic and can't wait to shower my supreme appreciation and fangirlzy lulz upon the mystery author.



And, just in case you didn't know (no, Darry, we had NO IDEA), hd_holidays is now open for sign-ups. Since I haven't participated before (hell, hp_sas was my first fest), I'll be crossing my fingers during the lottery just like a lot of people, but I'm chuffed just to have gotten to this point! Watch this space, people, cause it's gotta be a steamin' hawt winter.

Finally, I'd also like to thank everyone who I've heard back from about their involvement in the hp_uk_meetup. Whether you're attending or drawing/writing for us, I really appreciate your help and kindness. It's starting to come together; we have just under 30 attendees so far, we have rooms, a conference room, and meals booked now and a variety of ridiculous and cliched activities planned. cassie_black and I are having just too much fun thinking up thing to include in the party bags...

Enjoy the rec and sign yo'self up, and happy, happy birthday, Arnold! I love you!

Six years ago, on this very day, in a less-than-classy hotel on Seattle's classy East Side, I said something rather silly to my boyfriend and then went to a great party with my family, my friends, the crazy Hos & Wos of HSU and various other drunks and hangers-on.

I thank all of them again for the best day of my life and to my husband I say "Happy Anniversary".

( sappy not-so-good wedding photos )