If you want to read what I'm writing, you're not going to read it here. I do this shit professional-like now. You can read all of my blog posts in one place at my fancy professional blog, The Monster Mash. I also still keep my political/civics/educational/whatever blog, Civics for Slackers.

This does not, I repeat, DOES NOT, mean I have left livejournal. I still check regularly to read my friends list, post to communities, and perhaps do a fannish thing or two. I'm still here, just not posting. But I'm watching. (I'm always watching! Always!) And if you're looking for fannish writing, it's at tongueincheeky.

And don't worry, me leaving doesn't mean I don't love you guys. I still love you very, very much.

I interrupt this festival of good feelings to give you my uncensored and very, very true feelings on matzah so you may perhaps remember why I feel the need to have this orgy of optimism and glass-half-full-ness.



Carry on.

So, has something been going on the last couple of days? Because I... didn't notice.

( No, really, what was all that screaming? OH RIGHT, IT WAS ME. )

So, picspammy is currently running a "Favorite Characters" challenge and when I saw that, you know i can only mean one person. That's right. The lady in my life. The light of my existence. She who I aspire to be on a daily basis. Elizabeth Lemon.

( ...and I'm lying. I had five donuts today. )

So I saw this meme from adinfinitum that went something like this:

Think of your favorite celebrity, the one who makes music sound better, movies and television brighter, the one you'd dash to the ends of the earth for if it meant you could save yourself from ever having to go a second without their magic. Then post your favorite 15ish photos of him/her! Your favorites of your favorite!

And god, if you didn't know where this would lead me, I'm ashamed to know you.

( JKRAS JKRAS JKRAS JKRAS JKRAS JKRAS. LOTS OF HIM. )

( My election day in ridiculous, pictoral depth. )

Edit: So obviously, Not everything went well this election. I mean, I'm cool with everything, really, except the gay marriage bans (and gay adoption ban, what the fuck Arkansas? Incest is legal in your state but HEAVEN FORBID gay people adopt a child? Fuck you.) The only reasons I'm not totally livid is because a) I don't live in those states and can't do anything about it, b) I am trying to be understanding, here (and if you are having issues, I suggest you read this) and c) at least in California, it's legality is already being challenged. Plus, Ah-nuld was really against it and said if it came across his desk he'd veto it. So yeah, for once, I'm glad that the government is ignoring the people. When it comes to granting civil rights, I'd like them to please ignore the crazy people more often. Thanks.

So, how was everybody's weekend? Because mine was pretty cool. Went to Rochester, saw Evan, saw and talked to Stephen Colbert. You know, the usual.

( WHATEVER. IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS AMAZING OR ANYTHING. )

So for those of you who don't know or live under rocks or what-the-fuck-ever, I'm really amazingly picky about soundtracks to things. Like, really, really, really picky. Not only does it have to sound right, the lyrics have to be right. And not just one verse, all the lyrics. Or almost all of them. Because yeah, I'm really that big of a snob over soundtracks and yes, I do judge people negatively when they do not live up to my soundtrack standards. I have no idea why I'm so hardcore about soundtracks as opposed to say, morals, but I am. I think I judge people more negatively for making bad soundtracks than I do for them running over kittens, which is a pretty sad statement on my value system. It makes me mildly ashamed of myself.

Anyways, so back when I watched Juno and I, of course, loved it, I was really disappointed to not love the soundtrack. I mean, I loved about a quarter of the songs, but it wasn't right in a way I couldn't name. The lyrics were wrong and the sound was slightly off and it just wasn't right and it ticked me the hell off. So naturally, I decided, fuck the fact that there are not one but two Juno soundtracks (officially). I am going to make a third one. And furthermore, my third one will be awesome. Potentially the awesomest of all three soundtracks.

Also, it gave me an excuse to create a mix that was really super indie just for the hell of it, which, hello, I love to do.

Massive, huge, amazingly heartfelt thanks go to jlowe64, for giving me the Juno soundtrack in the first place, always listening to my bitching, and pointing me in the direction of whatever font or song I came whining to him about missing, whisperwords for being my wifey and listening to my pretentious ranting and pretending thinking it was hilarious, evergleam83 for giving me XOXO, Panda, paintmarks for beta-listening to the soundtrack back in the day when it was totally different and assuring me it was awesome, even though I ended up changing it completely, and to lunapluvia, for being my sibling-in-arms of twee indie asshattery, for introducing me to and subsequently sending me the entire Math & Physics Club CD, and, yet again, for listening to my ridiculous ranting.

Also, I would like to state for the record (record, hah! I'm hilarious), that I'm immensely pleased with how the cover art turned out and how I ended up not using brown and various derivatives of the color of really attractive poo. Go me! I feel I've grown as a human being.

( The Year In Review - An(other) Alternative Juno Soundtrack )

I don't even know, you guys. I was just listening to my iPod while shopping for Melly's Christmas present and all of a sudden my brain went "FANMIX! FANMIX! MAKE A HEROES FANMIX!" and I was like "What?!" and my brain WOULD NOT LET IT GO. So I went home and made this fanmix in under 24 hours. When it usually takes me MONTHS or YEARS to make one. And it's for a character I'm not even that obsessed with! I mean, yeah, I like Elle, but it's not like the same as when I see Hiro or Nathan or Noah and I start flailing even if they don't DO anything because I LOVE THEM SO HARD. Pretty much the only thing that differentiates Elle from everyone else on the show is how ridiculously pretty Kristen Bell is. And that doesn't even have anything to do with her character! But nevertheless I found myself all of yesterday churning this puppy out. I was going for a sort of creepy-grungy-rock-electronica-sexy sort of thing. I have no idea if I achieved it. But I do know it's fun to listen to and the lyrics fit, which is what matters.

But in conclusion, I repeat - I just don't know. The less I try to understand my creative process, the happier I end up being.

( I'd Rather Misbehave - An Elle Bishop Fanmix )

Before We Get Started; Compiler's Notes (aka, you may scroll past these, I will not hold it against you)

(ALSO, BEWARE OF VERY VAGUE SPOILERS, IF YOU ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO GO ON THE INTERNET AND READ THIS WITHOUT READING DEATHLY HALLOWS):
So a caveat on this mix - I have never compiled a soundtrack so fast in my entire life. If you've never met me during the process of making a mix, I agonize over it. I literally have a Brokeback Mountain mix sitting on my computer that hasn't changed in years, but I cannot post it because, in my gut, it is not right. And I can't explain it. I am extremely meticulous and compulsive with my mixes. It usually shows. I also, usually, am extremely snobby when it comes to music as far as a mix goes. For me it's not enough for some of the lyrics to make sense, most of the lyrics must make sense. And on top of that, it must be the right sound. You would, not, for instance, make a Rainbow Brite soundtrack with Metallica. Even if the lyrics were perfect. It just doesn't work like that. Normally my test is "Would the characters listen to this? If yes, good, if not, delete it."

This mix has, against all odds, birthed itself whole and wailing to be posted. Remus Lupin would probably listen to two of these songs, if he listened to muggle music at all. It follows almost none of the golden rules I have made for myself in regards to a finished fanmix, and yet, fanmix was having a theme contest and I just couldn't resist. Though I did wait until the very last minute to post it. Duh. Instead of my usual method, I chose songs based on creating a mood, not based on the character. I wanted a mix that made perfect lyrical sense but had a very old, nostalgic, bittersweet, sort of faded yellow-and-scarlet feel to them. I wanted them to sound dusty and heartbroken and woodsy and sad, which naturally translated into "sensitive indie people on guitars". Which, yeah, okay, wasn't that much of a stretch for me. Anyways, while this is labeled a Remus mix, it very much has an implied "...and Sirius" bent to it. It is not by accident that a lot of these songs give a sense of "I'm with someone else and you're gone but that doesn't mean I don't still love you mostest." Because that's how I read the books. It just is. And don't ask me to explain the last song - the lyrics, to me, are like "omg yay happy puppies in the afterlife!", except I realize that it's totally just me. WHATEVER.

In conclusion, this mix is dedicated entirely to missmary for cajoling, encouraging, beating, suggesting music, and mostly being awesome me while I was agonizing. Everything remotely good about this mix is her doing. Everything bad about this mix is entirely my fault. True story.

Also, I know the moon kind of goes the other direction. Call it artistic lisence. Or come up with some deep meaning like about the backwardness of Lupin's life in relation to the moon. It'll earn you bonus points in life.


( And The Dead Are All Living - A Mix For Remus Lupin During the Second War )

Happy Halloween, y'all! I personally hold no deep love for this holiday, but I'm aware a lot of my friends do. The thing is, I don't really like cheap candy that much and never particularly enjoyed eating a rushed dinner to go traipsing about in the cold only to get candy I wouldn't really eat and then going to school where everyone would brag that they got more candy than I did. I mean, don't get me wrong, the traipsing was fun, but not fun enough to really make it all worthwhile. I do miss, though, the great candy swap my brother and I would do. It was like the stock exchange, only cooler. But I don't really mourn the loss of trick-or-treating, I just see myself now as part of the very essential group of people who give out candy instead of get it. Also, I live next to an elementary, school, so I get lots of little kiddies. And gosh, they're cute.

Mostly, though, I wanted an excuse to draw me holding a really cute jack o'lantern. I'm not going to lie.

Edit! ( I went trick-or-treating on LJ and all I got was this stupid meme. )

So, if any of you guys have been living under a hole, I'm leaving you for a week to go on vacation. Unacceptable, I know. I never go on vacation. This is my only vacation all year. It's almost blasphemous, for me to, like, have to pack to go somewhere. But I am leaving you for a week, and I have the numbers so I promise to call and phone post at least once. The monthly music round-up will be, of course, delayed a couple of days, but I will return bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to fulfill my lot in life as a musical bucaneer. Until then, behave yourselves, my children. I will read about your various sundry escapades when I return.

Edit: So I have made a very bad decision. I watched What Not to Wear: Baby on Board while on my period and extremely hormonal. And now, with every fiber in my being, I DESPERATELY want to be pregnant. Without having sex, because I'm so not ready for that. But those women looked so beautiful and their bellies were so pretty and they had the mommy glow. Sigh. I also made the mistake of telling this to my mom, who I freaked out completely with how insistant I was with my hormonalness. It's just, sometimes when I have my period I hold my belly at night and it feels lonely.

Tonight is probably one of those nights.

Edit 2: Okay, I know I'm supposed to be asleep, but this was just too amazing to not save for posterity. So I'm sitting downstairs settling down for bed (I like to sleep on the couch during the summer so I can stay up and not disturb people with my odd hours), and Evan comes down to get a Claratin. Now both he and my sister have pretty bad sniffly allergies to things and always have, and I've never been allergic to anything in my entire life. Anyways, Evan gives me a sort of odd look and goes "Did you take your Claritin?"

And I'm sitting here listening to Luther and I pause and look up at him and go "Um, why would I do that? I'm not allergic to anything." And he cocks his head to the side and goes "...really?"

I would like to remind you that this is Evan. Who I, you know, shared the womb with. Just to clear that one up.

So, I decided to take a break from college searching (the master list has been updated) and my Euro summer reading on the wives of Henry VIII and his wives, which can be boiled down from a 600 page book much more amusingly here. But I didn't know what to do with myself. "Self," I said, "what has there been a distinct lack of in our life?" And the answer was total and utter shallowness.

So I decided, since I have so many celebrity boyfriend each for totally different reasons, shouldn't I give you all pictoral references so you can keep track of them all? Wouldn't that be an awesome excuse for shallowness? I thought so.

( My harem. )

Well, I feel sufficently shallow.

Happy (BELATED) Birthday to doublefourtime, who in addition to having the privilege of turning some double-digit number, has given me three more months of paid account time.

I actually had this all drawn out about two weeks ago, but this is the first time I had a chance to scan and color. This isn't the first time I've colored something, but it is the first time I've ever not deleted it in utter shame. This makes you a special person, Sam.

Edit: Courtesy of Sam my AMERICAN twin, I bring you, (ironically from England), Braniacs, a show that clearly needs to cross the pond, as it makes even me interested in science. First up we have a segment on Alkali metals, and how badly they blow up bathtubs when you stick them in one full of water. Anyone who has a spare bathtub should join me in doing this experiment. I'm so serious. Next, if you happen to have an old microwave, there's the pretty cool experiment of putting a balloon filled with pure oxygen in it and watching it blow up, though it's not quite as awesome as a burning toothpaste turning into plasma.

And finally, maybe my favorite Britain's most dangerous and flamable products, because in this version of England, people go around setting fire to you in your panties all the time. And the flamethrower is pretty sick.

1. Grab the nearest book (no textbooks or journals)
2. Open the book to page 123.
4. Find the 5th sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal...along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around for the "coolest" book you can find. Do what's actually next to you

"A few seconds later, so close to the boat I could have leaned down and grabed it, a large sea turtle appeared, a hawksbill, flippers lazily turning, head sticking out of the water."

- From The Life of Pi, Which I think my mom is reading. There were actually a bunch in a pile, but the only one I knew was The Life of Pi, and it's one of my favorite books too. It's so gosh-darn cute. It's the kind of adult book I like, complex without sex or violence or really upsetting things, and deep enough to be gripping. I'm extremely non-discriminate when it comes to children's books, but in general I dislike "serious" books. I read books to escape, not to be put in worlds and worlds of pain.

Anyways! I am finally posting my thoughts on Veronica Mars, and while I'm at it, I feel I should seduce all of you to the dark side to catch up when it is renewed for Season 3. Not if. There are no ifs in my world. So. Pretty!

( Veronica Mars is prettier than me. )

And for my next trick, thoughts on Happy Go Lucky, now with bonus pictures because I was late in doing this.

( Happy Go Lucky. Now with 100% More Images from concentrate! )

Oh, and I also took the SATs today, but clearly that was not important.

Well, it took me eight hours, but I finally finished the (un)Official Veronica Mars soundtrack for season 1. What took me eight hours was not making the track list, that's been sitting around as a labor of love for a rather long time - it was making the cover art. I hate cover art. It seems so simple, but in fact it is the devil incarnate. Anyways, the art is very simple, and totally did not take me eight hours, but my creative process needs some help. Or speed. I tried to make the music as true to the kind of music used in the actual show, and I may or may not have failed.

And no matter how much you ask, I will never, ever, ever make a .zip file. I hate .zip files. If someone else wants to make a .zip file, they can. Though if that person is you, you need a life. Just saying.

( Veronica Mars Season One - The (un)Official Soundtrack )

Quote of the Day:
"We went to lunch and were talking about procrastination and the waitress overheard us and she said, 'I have a problem with procrastination, too!' I said 'Really?... Get my sandwich.'"
- Ellen DeGeneres