UNDER THLAYLI'S THRALL

I do have a life outside X-Files fanfic. Seriously, I do! I'm just too lazy to blog about it ;P

So in reply to Kerianne's post: It's one thing to say you prefer happy fic. It's another to go up to a writer who writes not-so-happy fic and say you prefer happy fics. You writing on your blog that you prefer fluff and WAFF is fine. I prefer gritty fics with a nasty edge to it, though I adore WAFF, humour, fluff, and cute fics too. Everytime I mention H-chan's fic "High Winds," I always point out that one reason why I love it so much is because it has that urban grittiness to it that I so love. There's nothing wrong with having preferences, and nothing wrong with writing feedback that says, "You know, I normally stay away from fluff, but this was really good."

It's when feedback starts making the writer feel guilty for writing a particular genre that it gets obnoxious. Alison had that happen with her fics when one S/Ser came up to her and asked why she wrote S/K when S/S were destined to belong together *snort* I got people telling me why their favorite couple HAD to work out after I wrote my last fic. Now being the feedback whore that I am (I'll accept flames I'm that bad >_<), it didn't bug me that much, but it doesn't mean I'm still not annoyed with the fact that people are trying to make me feel bad for writing one rare sadfic in what is practically an ocean of happyfics. I mean come on, we hadn't had a they're-bad-for-each-other fic for months and there probably won't be one for another year. I don't see why one it-didn't-work-out fic could provoke anyone so much. I don't know why the fact that Alison writes S/K fics, when 80% of CLAMP fics out there are S/S - hell, they're the only couple in the fandom to get their own section in the fanfic archives! - could pique the annoyance of the readers so much that they have to demand of her to re-write one of her fics to give a S/S ending.

Unless that person afraid of more such fics coming along and therefore to had safeguard the list against them. That is what I find alarming, not the fact that people prefer happy fics or fics featuring a certain couple.

As for the point about realism, sadfics are no more realistic than happyfics. Like I said, I wasn't talking about plot. You can write a deathfic that's angsty and sad, but still ends up shallow and insipid and still "sounds the same". Look at the majority of S/S deathfics. That's one reason why I prefer happy A/K fics over A/K deathfics because the deathfics are usually cliche without any characterization whatsoever but the happy ones tend more to look at them as a couple between them. As for DRR, if Doggett is comtemplating what an angel Reyes has been to him, I don't care if they're married with kids, simply being fuckbuddies, or he's crying at her funeral, to me, it's still sounds the same because they're not looking at Doggett differently. As Kristen said, this isn't about happy vs. sad fics. This is about taking the risk of looking at the character in a different light or letting other authors do so in peace. It doesn't always have to be negative. Why everyone thinks an "in-depth" and "realistic" and "different" always has to end up negatively is beyond me. One can address Karen and Seiichirou's problems, get to the nitty-gritty of their relationship, and still have them walking out into the sunset at the end. That makes for some pretty powerful reading.

Even light fluff is aweome. I've read and i>revere tons of fluff where only happy things happen. If they put a smile on my face, I'll buy the author some Junior Cheesecake. I know humour and fluff are hard to, particularly good humour and fluff, which is I love reading them. You know I do. I love all your humourfics in particular, and your latest Two Minute Fanfic on X Couple Cliches cracked me up and really quite brilliant, Kerianne dear. Don't worry, I'm not going to go all "AU is Bad! Fluff is bad! Happy fic is bad! Humour is Bad!" on you *wry grin* I love variety, but I do want my share of gritty, nasty, grim fics. If I don't get it, my life is poorer for it and only my life. It shouldn't bother anyone else. Unless I go up to someone who wrote a WAFF fic and berate them for not writing something nasty. Then, and only then, am I overstepping my boundaries.

Anyways, to personal matters, I hope your mother calms down A LOT, and that university is going well for you *hugs* Maybe this week be a much better one than last week.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Thursday, September 12, 2002, 09:24 a.m.

I had a rant up for today, but I'll post it tomorrow, as it is September 11 today. My respects. And much hugs goes to Kerianne. And Ammie, Alison, Satsuki-chan, ali, Lanie, Jeannie, and Linh, and everyone else.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Wednesday, September 11, 2002, 09:57 a.m.

Note: Links for fics will be put up lately. I've got to run home and babysit >_<

THUD Kristen K2 mentioned my latest fic in her LiveJournal. KristenK2!!! That's quite an honor. She writes the best Kim Cook fics out there. Okay, fine, she writes one of the very few Kim Cooks fic out there. I bet most of you who watch the X-Files doesn't even know who Kim Cook is *grin* Of all the characters to latch onto, Skinner's secretary has to be the most outrageous I ever hear. But what a secretary she is! And what great fics KistenK2 writes about her. Excellent characterization, very well-written, always thoughtful and warm and unique. As a variety-whore, I eat her stuff up. "Elevator Shoes" and "Christmas Traditions" are favorites of mine. I'm just hoping she gets that Kim/Doggett fic out soon.

About the fic she mentioned, I told people on XFMU that the DRR fics were starting to sound the same and I wanted more variety, but as many of you know, things got out of control. So I ended up writing the fic myself. That was not a good thing as I still have a LONG way to go in my writing and besides, there are much better writers out there who can do great justice to the idea if they took the risk, instead of bitching that I was discouraging people from writing *rolls eyes *. Luckily. the fic didn't turn out so bad. There's some awkward phrasing and pacing, places where the writing is weak, I may have dramatized Reyes too much, but it there's some great ideas, a few nicely written paragraphs, and potential for some good stuff later on.

Considering the replies I got for saying that DRR was sounding the same, I wasn't surprised with the response to my fic, but it doesn't make Kristen's rant less legitimate. Click on the link above and read it, by the way. It's a great rant, and one I obviously wholehearted agree with. I was going to write one like that before, but she does a much better job of it. She's not against happy fics, and neither am I. We just want a little bit of variety.

Now to clear something up: After I wrote my complaint that DRR was sounding the same, people flared up and said they were not, that the plots and writing style was different. But I wasn't talking plot or style. I was talking about a different perspective on them. You can have vastly different plots, even sad ones where one of them dies but it still sounds the same, just because way of looking at the characters stays the same. There are more than one way of looking at DRR than just "if Doggett opens up to Reyes, he will discover that she is his angel of comfort and will find peace and comfort and everything will be all right" or in the case of a deathfic, he realized too late how perfect she was for him, but maybe they'll meet each other in the afterlife and be 2gether4R, or some quick surface look at them.

DSR gives me more variety. In Coolbyrne's "Tenderness", Doggett and Scully have a chance of working out. In Sophia Jirafe's "Deliberation", it doesn't. Jintian's "Suttee" is nastier, but still a great look at the two of them. With MSR, sometimes it works out between Scully and Mulder, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes they stay together but it destroys them in the end. Mulder/Fowley, my personal favorite couple of the series, were pretty much doomed, but the writers still explore their relationship with a lot of thoughtfulness and honesty. MRR had "Last One Standing" that did not bode well for Mulder and Reyes. Hell, even Meridy gave me a fantastic Doggett/Other fic that did not line the lovers' path with roses.

DRR seems to be the couple that got stuck with the "But of course they can't be anything except good for each other!" group. I'm not denying that are some fics that does take a different look at that, like Karen's "And the Other", "Indian Summer" by Sylvia Tremblay, Sophia Jirafe's "The Truer Lie" (which isn't a DRR, but does deal with their relationship), and LR's "Tight Enough", which did give a happy ending, but not without looking at the insecurities and the possible ways they could have damaged each other. However, the vast majority, and boy do I mean VAST, seems to churning out one cookie-cutter happy fic after another where you can't distinguish one author's Doggett from another's, and most of the time, the Doggett comes across more of a role than the actual character.

The readers don't help either, as those are the fics that get all the feedback. Even now we have people complaining that there hasn't been any fics posted lately. Be honest, and say what you want is more happy romance fics lately, or at least fics that even if one of the character dies, down deep inside, you know they will be together in the afterlife because they're so perfect for each other. Now I realize that not everyone has my five-minute attention span, but goodness, don't they get sick of reading the same thing over and over again? And if they don't, I don't see why they have to write comments discouraging fics that are different, not just in content, but in pairing too. New flash, you can be a loyal DRRist and read DSR, MRR, FRR, or whatever flip your switch. If you don't want to, fine, but please refrain from saying stuff like, "Okay, I'm a big dripper, so no more DSR or MRR for me." Just don't read it. No need to make a public declaration that you won't read the fic by the next person who decides to write non-DRR.

Anyhow, I have nothing against Happy DRR. Or Smutty DRR. Or Doggett's-Pining-after-Monica DRR (well, maybe). All that I ask for is that the writer be honest with the couple, not to gloss over their faults or ways they could be harmful to each other, or at least take a really good look at the characters in the relationship and make sure you are letting the characters determine the relationship, not the relationship determine the characters. Whether you're writing a sad, happy, dark, or fluffy fic, it'll be more worthwhile in the end.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Tuesday, September 10, 2002, 05:47 p.m.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE! I hope it was a good one, filled with lots of adorable half-naked pretty boys doing very messy stuff, Lex and Kent amoung them (whispers apologies to Jeannie). I also wish you lots of Anikin's nipples and deep-throated rendition of Britney Spears' "Baby one more time." And yes, I'm going to watch Moulin Rouge, as soon as I can find some time to sit down with Lanie and watch it, in which I will do with MR what I did with the "Once more with Feelings": start memorizing songs and singing them at school. Carleton will be scarred for life. Revenge is sweet :D

So, life without internet: I was scratching my computer monitor for half an hour on Saturday, but considering that I thought I would take up swallowing kitchen knives as form of withdrawal, I think I'm doing pretty well. But pain, yes, PAIN. Not to mention, back-to-school depression. And getting new bus-pass depression. And trying to find-tenants-because-I-can't-afford-rent depression. Man, where did all the money I make this summer go? I emptied out my Montreal fund and I'm still broke. I hope they give OSAP this late in the year, because I need some cash fast. Or tenants! Tenants are good. Tenants are walking handbags and walking haircuts. The twat (and what a lovely twat she is!) knows what I'm talking about.

But depressions aside, life is a merry-go-round of sound and fury. It's been one of the best summers I had a long time, thanks to camping trips and BBQs and shopping and eating out at an expensive-but-oh-so-metropolitan restaurant last night with Lanie, Lanie's sister, Young Mikey Boy, Dot, and 50 other people. And talk about gossip! I stayed up all night my sister giving her all the scoop. I'm all for reviving the sewing circle. Nothing connects a community like old fashion gossip, though I'm beginning to think Ottawa is getting to be too small a city if everything keeps coming back to Woodroffe. Gah! I do not want to go back to high school! But I wish all happiness and good luck to Young Mikey Boy and Dot as they begin their couplehood, but oh, you two better hope that Minnie isn't reading this before she gets the news from you two! ;D

Social blogging will follow later, as I have too many things to sort out. On the bright side, I have left the other fandom, so between a crushing school overload because goofing off for three years does not pay off, and trying to find either tenants or a job >_<, I'm spending all my time on the lovely new Sakura board. The new home is lovely, Alison-darling! I look forward to spewing my entrails all over the place there ;D

Lika frolicked in the snow at Monday, September 2, 2002, 04:03 p.m.

Imagining my keychain without the green tiger is like imagining X without Karen: how on earth did it exist beforehand? I didn't realize how incomplete my keychain was without the green tiger. I can't believe I went five years without the little guy. I just love him to death. I play with him while waiting for my bus to come and I pass him around to my friends at church and the folks at the BBQ and I bite on his snout when I walk from one house to the other. My life just seems fuller since he came into it.

GLOMPS! I'm so glad the package made it to you! *hugs* Are you serious about the glow-in-dark stickers!? That is too weird! But cool! *lol* I wanted to get you something Doctor Who-ish, but I couldn't find anything so I hoped the stickers would do instead ^^ And I'm so glad you like the 155 word Birthday fic *blushes* I loved the 100 word fic you wrote for me in return, so it's all good ^___^

Kerianne, first of all, I want you to know I wholeheartedly agree with you on your rant about opinions. If you're going to say something in public, even on your blog, you're going to have to learn that people may strike back at you and they have a righ to do so. If you can't take it, don't say it in public. Secondly, I know how you feel about the writing slump. I'm going through that myself. It's not as much as I hate my writing, but I despise the fact that my writing is mediocre at best. I'd love to write something like what Sophia Jirafe writes, or Rivka T and a bunch of other authors who just floor me with their ability to manipulate the English language they way they do. And it doesn't help that my writing went downhill from when I was a teenager >_< Except for my Karen fics. Thank goodness for my Karen fics, the only indication that I am improving. It's okay if I never write anything great, just as long as I keep on improving. That's my advice for you Kerianne, just keep writing, work hard at it, get beta readers, be thoughtful with your plots and characterization, listen to what constructive criticism you get, never take the easy route, and dig as deep as you can into what you want to say :) You'll do fine!

Lanie, regarding the title of that Russian book, remember that I work for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans ;) And who would have guessed it was Russian? The person who asked for it had the last name of McGladdery O.o

Oi! Good news! I got my own computer! *BEAMS* It's mine, MINE, ALL MINE, and cost $780. I had to buy it because my brother took the family computer with him when he moved out yesterday, so I'm rather excited to have my very own computer where I can store things without having to worry about people deleting it or discovering my more, uh, questionable hobbies ;) The problem is after paying it off, plus tuition, plus my buspass and my sister's (because I promised the Miss Lifestyle that I would ;P) and $300 a month for rent, I have nothing left. So no internet for my computer, which kind of defeats the purpose of getting one. Grrr... I'm back to answering emails at work. If I owe you one, I'll get to it ASAP, emphasis on the "P" part of the equation.

I know, I haven't been keeping up with the X-Files quotes here's one for you all. It's one of the most beautiful quote from a series that's full of some of the most amazing lines ever penned in TV history:

"There is truth here, old friend, if that's all you seek, but there's no justice or judgment, without which truth is a vast, dead hollow. Go back. Do not look into the abyss or let the abyss look into you. Awaken the sleep of reason and fight the monsters within and without."
-Deep Throat, "The Blessing Way"

Lanie

Lika frolicked in the snow at Tuesday, August 27, 2002, 02:17 p.m.

I just spent half an hour trying to locate the request form of an interlibrary loan book with the book itself. Normally, it would take me about five seconds, provided that both form and book have the same title and are in English. This one was neither. Not only were the titles not in English and not the same, I don't think the titles were written in the same language. How on earth was I suppose to conntect Voprosy Morskoi Parazitologii to Bonpocbl Mopckon napaEntojiotNN with E and N written backwards!? It wasn't until I saw Voprosy Morskoi Parazitologii written in faint ink under the interlibrary slip that I finally connected the two. Oi.

In other news of my exciting life as a library clerk, the date dues for all books borrowed today is Sept. 11, so yes, there's been an abundance of looks, raised eyebrows, and comments of "one year already". Yeah, one year already.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Wednesday, August 21, 2002, 10:04 a.m.

The subject of this post: It's about Time

After being back in the fandom for three months, I am finally in a situation where I'm apologizing for flaming :D I know what all everyone on the Sakura Board is thinking: what took you so long, Lika?

Man, X-Files is one screw-up fandom. On one hand, they flame you silly and people congratulate said flamers for doing so and give them fuel to do so. The the other, wars are started when one person says a fic featuring a certain couple are getting repetitive. I was bitching because I said I was sick of DRR and they're all sounding the same and why don't people explore other avenues with them. Basically, the same complint everyone has been giving about S/S here on the X fandom. Not a good thing to say on a list that's mostly gone DRR now *wry grin*

So yes, I apologized, because I've got to remember all fandom don't have the same sensibilities. You people here rock. You really do. Person A can say, "I like this character" and Person B can say, "That person!? I hate that person!" and Person B wouldn't be accused of hurting Person A's feeling. Which is nice ^_______^ You're all so tolerant and reasonable, CLAMP fans. You're all the best.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Saturday, August 17, 2002, 09:14 p.m.

Okay, now to give links to the fics that will make mine look like shit ^_~

First off, what's up with 20-year-olds writing like freaking Shakespeare himself? I just discovered Sophia Jiafe, who writes some of THE BEST X-Files fanfics I ever read. Truer Lie is my favorite of hers. It's mean, vulgar, ugly, and I love her for it. After reading so many fluffy-happy-whee-isn't-it-sweet DRR, my noromo side was about to bludgeon someone. Thank goodness I stumble upon this fic. Scully's willing to hurt both Doggett and Reyes, Reyes willing to fuck both of them to prove a point yeah, me lousy dripper, because I got a kick out of the fact that Doggett puts Scully above Reyes to a point that he'll use Reyes like that. That makes up for all the schmoopy, shippery crap I've been reading for the last couple of months :D Deliberation is the polar opposite. A beautiful fanfic about Doggett and Scully, won a Spooky award and with good reasons. It's just a stunning look at Scully, has the nobility of Doggett we all love him for, and despite that fact that isn't a sweet and lovey-dovey fic, it's still has a fragility and beauty that shines. And it was written in year 2000 too!

Tight Enough by Little Red, wow, you heard me rant about it before and I have to do it again. It's just the loveliest DRR I ever read. I think it's probably the best DRR out there, concise and invocatively written, with an incredible in-depth look at the characters, their insecurities, their desires, and an ending that's goes somewhere, but is not schmoopy or sweet. Amazing stuff. It's writers like her that makes me happy to be a dripper.

Last one for the night because my wrists are killing me again *groan* Cliffs of Fall is by far my favorite story with Doggett and Reyes in it. They're both smart, mature, sharp, and good investigators in it. I love what the author did for my Reyes, and Doggett you just want to hug the guy here. It's one of the best fics to come out of X-Files period, and without a doubt the best look at what happened to Luke Doggett all those years ago. It's long, but it's well worth the read. If you're going to write Doggett and Reyes (and my apologies to the folks at X-Files Most Unwanted, I do), you have to read this.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Friday, August 16, 2002, 09:52 p.m.

SWORDSMAN KICKS INCREDIBLE MAD BOOTY AS A MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!

Lika frolicked in the snow at Wednesday, August 14, 2002, 12:22 a.m.

Will someone explain to me why people tape the flaps of interdepartmental envelopes after they sealed it with the string-and-ring? If they didn't want people to see what was inside, two strips of tape wouldn't have stop anybody, and the string-and-ring is secure enough on its own. It just means more work for me to open the stupid envelopes. Idiots!

Heh :) I knew Satsuki-chan and Lanie would get along. Lanie, get Yahoo!Messenger. You two would have a lot to say to each other. And Lanie, it's a blog. You're suppose to complain and bitch about the suckiness of your life and life in general here. A lot of people do it, and no, they don't come off as losers or whiny brats. But I understand if you don't want to go into the nitty-gritty of your life. So complain about the protrayal of the Middle East by the American media instead :)

Alison, every time I get a story for an S/K, I find you already have written it out and done a much better job of it :) Okay, so maybe that doesn't qualify as "stealing", but it is half the reason why I have so few S/K fics (only three, but they do play a minor role "Cupid's Arrow" and "Ghosts" as well.) I'll just let the Queen of S/K write them and I'll sit back and enjoy reading them.

In other news, Ming's BBQ on Sunday was lotsa fun, mainly due to an adorable girl who thought Venice was in Russia ^^ It was good to see Dot and Young Mikey Boy again. Lanie, Ming asked where you were and sends his regards. You were missed! And oh, did you all know Will Smith was offered the lead role in the Matrix? He turned it to star in Wild Wild West. His backside must have ached for weeks from the ass-kicking he must have been giving himself after that :D

Lika frolicked in the snow at Tuesday, August 13, 2002, 09:53 a.m.

I was looking at my old X fics so I could send Lanie the links and I was surprised at how well-written they were. Much better written than my X-Files ones. I guess I just wasn't meant for aliens and spaceships and whale singers *sheds tears* Drat, I guess I'll have to link Little Red's "Tight Enough" for another day. I still think it's one of the best D/R fics I read, but no way am I going to link it with my fics. My fics will look crude beside her.

Okay, Lanie, probably best to start with The first and the last. It's S/S, but you don't need to know TB to understand, though you'll understand the parallels more. I'm fond of this fic, like the fairytale style it was written, and I think I made a very credible mythology for how the Sakurazukamori was created. Then read Blessing for an S/K fix. I don't write many S/K fics because Alison steals my ideas and she does a much better job with them anyhow *winks*, but that's a fairly good S/K fic about Subaru letting go.

My most popular fic without a doubt Mystic Eyes/2/3/4/5/6. Gui/lty was my best one, Cold Trippin' and "Marital Bliss" are my favorite, but I swear, I would have won the TB/X fanfic contest had I kept "Mystic Eyes" in the running. I took the idea of Subaru/Seishirou/Hitomi off Louis/Lestat/Claudio in Interview with the Vampire and ran with it. I have to admit, the results are good, if just for the last line.

Gui/lty, I nearly trashed if it weren't for Satsuki-chan, and boy do I owe her. It's definitely my best fic, my most creative, and I love now how everything unfolded to its conclusion. If you haven't read the manga and don't know Kusa/Yuzu, it'll make no sense, unfortunately. Ditto for Died on a SUnny White Afternoon. If you don't know X, this story will make no sense whatsoever. I have a special place in my heart for "Died" though. Never had I sworn so much as I did in this Sorashi fic :) My best Sorashi fic is Garbage Talk. It was an hourfic, done for the hourfic challenge, so there's some unfinished sentences and the flowers were changed from asters to peonies. I just didn't have time to change everything, but hey, at least my fic actually did take an hour. I did not cheat, like it as obvious with other hourfics.

I really don't know which is the more confusing of my fics: Doppelganger or Cold Trippin'. The first is style-over-substance. There is some substance, but mostly, I was waxing poetry and playing around with pretty girls. Cold Tripping... Whoo hoo, now we're into Karenfics!

My favorites are definitely Karenfics. She's just a pure joy to write about and there's so much you can do with her character. Clearance Sale was the very first CLAMP fic I ever wrote and I still love it. It was so much fun writing Karen and Arashi shopping, exploring their insecurities, and then having them deciding to work together. In Faith is my shortest fic and my meanest Karenfic. A soapland, because this is important if you're going to read any Karenfics, is where she works. It's semi-prostitution, where woman give men baths and sexual favors. It's kind of important to the fic. Cold Trippin' is probably my favorite fic along with "Marital Bliss." Man, do I ever love a Cold Trippin'. A little background on Karen, she was abused by her mother as a child for being a pyrokinetic. I wanted her to find some maternal redemption, so I wrote this fic and I think it's my nicest Karen fic. It's kind of confusing, but I really do like how it came out, and I like the "what-if" aspect, if Karen wasn't a pyrokinetic. Rivals "Guilty" for my best work.

"Marital Bliss", being the idiot that I am, I didn't get it archive. It's a WIP, and I only got one chapter done. I had big plans for it, but my muse died T_T I really do like what I have though. It's fun and intriguing, I think, and I love how Karen, Yuuto, Shimako, and Aoki all play off each other. I need to revive my muse. That fic has so much promise and potential and out all the fics I wrote, it has my favorite writing style ever.

Okay, that's enough self-indulgent for the day. I've got more, mostly my humourfics but I'll save them for another time :)

Lika frolicked in the snow at Monday, August 12, 2002, 10:35 p.m.

So I'm back at work after an awesome week-off vacation where I managed to have more fun than I ever had since grad night. I'm wearing a white blouse and a jean skirt Lanie helped me picked out on Friday and I got so many compliments it's making my head spin. Ditto for yesterday at church where people admired my jeans and polo shirt. Hey, Lanie, I owe you big for taking me out and helping find decent clothes for a change. People are going to put up with the eyesore that was my old wardrobe a lot less now. How happy they are!

As for the camping trip Jeannie took me to... okay, so maybe it wasn't exactly camping since we did have flushing toilets, running water, electricity, and a CD player, but no TV and internet must count for something. Not to mention I did more exercise in those four days than I did in the four years previous. Yay to getting lost in the woods, I think we got our walking exercise for the year. Swimming is always a treat in a lake, and AWESOME with life jackets (I am so getting a life jacket for when I go to the university pool, I swear), but no so hot at night o.O Freaky black waters that looks like someone will jump out and grab you, but Jeannie and I were brave and we jumped in. Then promptly beelined back to the deck. I guess we needed more of Sue's Sour Puss to actually stay in the waters. And midnight fires far from campsites after a spooky walk into the woods at night ... FREAKY! but tasty. Popcorn is the word folks. And I so need to get back at Sue for scaring me like that. TWICE, the wrench!!

Some advice for all future campers: Marshmellow a fire starter is not. Eggs in cup noodle soup is divine. Moulin Rouge soundtrack is better on the ears than grade one camping songs ("Gee, Mom, I want to go, back to Ontario...") Pancakes can kill fish. Not that we actually tested the last one, but I'm sure they can :D

Lika frolicked in the snow at Monday, August 12, 2002, 10:27 a.m.

To: Amelia's parents
Re: Thank-you

I just want to thank two you for bringing Ammie-love into the world on August 6th many years ago. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's grateful. She's been a blessing to everyone who has met her, one of those rare people who never puts you down, or makes you feel down, but never fails to cheer you up and make you feel loved, special, and happy. You did wonders not only bringing her into the world and making it a happier (and more insane) place to live in, but also for raising her to be the kind, considerate, enthusiastic, loving and lovable gal she is. She puts all her heart into everything she does, and makes an effort to make all those who have the privilege to knowing her feel loved. Thank-you for giving me two years of mud-wrestling talks, sakura trees argument, tentacle jokes, and just all around fun and insanity (in a good way :D) I've never met you two, but I want you to know how grateful I am anyhows.

Yours truly,
Lika

As for you, babe, I've got a few things to say to you, plus a fic, but I just got home after a most excellent camping weekend (hugs Jeannie!) and I'm exhausted. More tomorrow on my weekend and some well-deserved wishes for a most awesome birthday!!

Lika frolicked in the snow at Monday, August 5, 2002, 10:42 p.m.

I've got a little green tiger hanging from my keychain thanks to the apple of my eyes *GLOMPS* Darling, you know I love you. And you should have heard the sighs, squeals, and "Awwwwwhh!" when I read that lovely letter of yours!!! I've got so much to say to you! I'm so glad you finally saw Quinn. He sounds like such a sweet, adorable, sunny-natured baby. Sounds a lot like you, actually ;) Your family knows how to make great people, don't they? *HUGS* You know you ROCK, too, sweetie and I'm so going to make you feel like SPAM on your birthday. Everyone should. You'd be the most welcome SPAM ever to be passed around on the internet *lol*

And *SQUEALS* You saw the Buffy musical! Wasn't it AMAZING? I know, doesn't Amber Benson have an amazing voice? It's so incredibly strong. I love her duet with Giles *swoon* I need to listen to that CD again. I totally love that episode. It was a riot! And that heaven ending punched me too. What a great way to bring it in. Do you want a copy of the CD? I'll send you one so you can learn the words and we can see them together with Linh and Jeannie should you ever visit Ottawa *wink*

AND YOU HEARD THE REYES WHALE SONG! *lol* I know she's a nut. I just love her. Especially in "Empedocles" and "This is Not Happening" (both my favorite episode of S8, go figure.) She's an awesome character. I'm so sad we only got Reyes for one season. I'm not going to deny she was poorly written in S9, and inconsistent and the writers had no idea what to do with her, and Annabeth Gish, as much as I adore her, isn't all that great of an actress, but wow, something worked. She's still my favorite character of the show and I still have the worst crush on her.

Alison, I rather be locked up in the basement with you and have you punish me for being naughty ;) Seishirou would just be in the way and you know it. But the eye can stay. Just because I love you that much (and oh, I must love you TONS if I'm willing to make that concession! *Glomps*) And Alison-honey, I adore your new layout. I know it's way late, but the blue is a lovely colour, and works so well with the picture and the white lines. It's definitely a favorite of mine of your layouts.

Lanie, literary prodigy girl says "spasibo" back to you and thank-you for her the enlightning comments about St. Petersbourg and Moscow. Her major is Russian Studies (ask her anything about Soviet nationalism) and she's thinking of going aboard for a semester.

And I'm off to bed. Hopefully, I'll blog more regularly. I want to talk about shoes. Strappy shoes that are high at the heel. And why long fingernails are a pain to type with ^^

Lika frolicked in the snow at Thursday, August 1, 2002, 12:11 a.m.

I swear, being in two fandom is like sleeping with two women >_< Hopefully, I'll be out of the X-Files/Drip thing soon so I can concentrate on the fandom of my true love, Alison, Sats, Ammie et al. My brain is just too much in an X-Files trip to discuss anything else coherently, though I'm glad to say it's starting to fade. I miss you guys. The people on the other fandom are way cool (Nicole and Vanessa in particular, man, I love them), but you guys are the chocolate covered sundaes of my soul, the ones who I really click with. Plus you're sane, which is a bonus. Goodness, the amount of schmoopy insanity I had to put up with in the last few weeks! Awful, I'm telling ya.

I'm a noromo at heart, and all the schmoopy romantic thing about the two of them, as much as I love them, is starting to get to me. I feel like I'm in shipperland and you know how I feel abut the ship :P Though I will always love and support the Mulder/Fowley coupling. They are the real love of X-Files, I don't care what anyone says. You got your adult love there. Of course, it's impossible to get schmoopy with that one. Shippers hates Fowley :D Anyone who could ruse the fury of so many shippers has to be cool. Go Fowley!

Lanie, Girl Literary Prodigy says "priviet" to you, btw, and wants to know if she should go to St. Petersbourg or Moscow. I'm putting my bets you're going to say Moscow ;) Put up your pictures for all to see, Lanie. I'm sure you'll get a bunch of people telling you how wrong you are about your work sucking

Lika frolicked in the snow at Monday, July 29, 2002, 10:18 a.m.

Latest chapter in the Lika's life of Utter and Heartfelt Stupidity: So yes, I'm suffering from CTS, as many of you know, and I decided to do my wrists a flavor and take a few hours offline and do some sports. What sport do I play for a good five hours to give my wrists a break?

That's right, volleyball.

OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWwww!!!!

Lika frolicked in the snow at Saturday, July 27, 2002, 06:35 p.m.

Social Blogging later! What a catch-up I have to do >_< And my inbox is still overflowing, but I did send out about six belated feedback this week. That leaves 3786 more to go. My goodness, The X-Files fanfickers are amazing!! I have this love-hate relationship with them. On one hand I'm in heaven reading such incredibly well-written, complex, mature fics that are just a pleasure to read. On the other, I'm depressed that I will never, ever write that well. My fics are mediocre at best, though I think my X ones are good. Actually, I think some of my X fics, such as "Guilty", "Cold Trippin'", "Clearance Sale", "Garbage Talk", and "Mystic Eyes" are very good.

X-Files on the other hand, I can spend hours sweating over it and it just doesn't turn out. I think it's because X-Files is a much more difficult fandom to write for. The characters are insanely complex, the plot convoluted, and it's so easy to fall in cliches with them. But when it's done well, it's freaking amazing. I read "Tight Enough" yesterday and I'm still bawled over by it. What an incredible fanfic. I hope XFMU updates their archives because I have to link that fic. It's the best I've read in months in any genre of any couple. I'm just happy she chose to write about my particular favorite pair. She got Reyes and Doggett dead on, and showed through some of the most beautiful writing and imagery, their fears and insecurities about pursuing a relationship together, and why it does work between the two of them. It's mature, it's adult, it's insightful, it gets past surfaces that most authors just skims, . Of course I'm insanely jealous of her abilities, but wow, I'm thrilled she wrote it. I just hope I can link it soon.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Wednesday, July 24, 2002, 10:08 a.m.

*SNIP EARLIER STUPID RANT* Okay, me and said girl kissed and made up *lol* Well, more like I asked her if she was sick of my fangirlism and she said she was joking about an earlier remark and we're singing Kumbuya together now. So everything is good in the world.

Plus there's a long fanfic discussions going on in X-Files Most Unwanted. Good stuff, if anyone wants to read it. I put in my two cent more than I usually do, but they're nice about it. One person even told me I'm not shallow, despite my defense for lazy writers. Strange, The X-Files ficcers made the same argument that made furious that the CLAMP ficcers made about good characterization and keeping within the show. The difference I guess is that the CLAMP ficcers who complained were lousy writers so I couldn't take them seriously, while the X-Files ficcers are A-fucking-mazing, so it doesn't feel that much like an insult.

Lika frolicked in the snow at Friday, July 19, 2002, 12:26 p.m.

THUD THUDDITY THUD THUD!!!! ALISON ASKED ME TO MARRY HER! She proposed to me! *weeping tears of joy* I will remember this wonderful day until I die. Remember it, folks, Wednesday, July 17th, Alison Koh asked Lika to marry her. I'm declaring it a national holiday #^___^# You're all invited to the wedding of course. I must go out and pick out china patterns now.

Ammie-love, you might want to change your side comments about your family having a nephew-in-progress *lol* That adorable bundle of baby fat in the picture looked like one fine finished product to me. And such adorable feet! You just want to bite them, they're so cute! Have you seen him, yet?

LOL. Get a playpen indeed. I love your comments, Sats-darling, I really do. Ever tried putting a soon-to-be-six-year-old in a playpen? As for signs thing, I was told by a person who related a story of a woman who wondered from her path from God and her son drowned and she believed it was an act of discipline from God to turn back to Him. It made me wonder, is all. Religion aside, this cracked me up! The "On Strike" was particularly grin-inducing *ROTFL* He really does look like Kamui! Have you ever gotten around to drawing that shinken parody? Tell your dad that descriptive smut has existed since Ovid. The guy did say you start at the feet and not at the mouth because it was the fastest way to the destination. Plus the fabliaux I've read in my Chaucer class, trust me, they were crass and raunchy and detailed by then too. Speaking of smut, how are you liking "Sex and the City"?

Kerianne, I owe you a (very short)PWP, don't I? (Hey, it was the only way I could keep her from voting off Shimako! Nadeshiko owes me!) I swear, I'm going to work on it this weekend. Expect it in your inbox soon *HUGS* And thanks for your kind words. I guess I see homosexuality as a package deal because it seems stupid to say I'm for homosexuality but I'm against premarital sex and threesomes x.x btw, I like Little Lies :D But Sorata is wrong, A/K make such a better couple than him and Arashi *lol* I love how honest the fic was, and it very well-written too.

Quote of the day: "You spelled Federal Bureau of Investigation wrong." - Walter Skinner, "Small Potatoes"

Lika frolicked in the snow at Wednesday, July 17, 2002, 07:47 p.m.

Man, when your niece goes missing, you think of all sorts of horrible punishment to inflict on her, but the moment you find her, it's all kisses and hugs and let's take her out for ice cream. But we lock the door to the backyard and she can't get out now *grin*

You know, when I was living with my mother, the idea of being away from her when I moved out broke my heart. I kept thinking, I'd be missing her and crying about her for days. Now that I live with my brother, seeing her twice a week is too much for my sanity. Metamia was right. You don't realize how much your family nags you until you move out and come back. My mother is driving me bonkers. He's driving my brother up a wall. My sister can't stand her. She's pushy, controlling, narrow-minded, and the worse nag in the world. She even takes pride in her nagging. She tells people proudly that she nags her son-in-law all the time. She blows the roof when I ask her to phone before she calls. I can see myself married and her showing up unannounced at all hours to stamp into our apartment and pick apart every stain and misplaced object there and then screaming at me because I didn't take her advice from her last visit.

I went to a wedding on Sunday to a 21-year-old boy in our connection who knocked up his bride. His father owns an enourmous house and my mom made a comment how she wants a big house like that so all her kids and their spouses and their children can live with her. The very thought of that freaks me out. Does she really think I'm going to put my husband through living with her!? For that matter, I don't want to have to put up with a mother-in-law. One mother is hell, two would be suicide. If only there was a way one could get married without having to bring mothers in. Ugh.

On the bright side, X-Files S8 has been amazing. "Roadrunners" has one of my all time favorite Scully and my VERY favorite Doggett (expect a long rant on the amazing manliness and sexiness of of John Jay Doggett soon), "Redrum" was a good solid standalone that thoroughly intrigued and entertainmed me, and "Via Negativa" was just A-FREAKING-MAZING! Very Sandmanish

And I've got a Reyes quote down there finally! I really like that one too. I love my darlings!! *ties Reyes and Doggett together, throws them in a bedroom, bolts and lock doors and stand guard to make sure no one disturb them* :D

Lika frolicked in the snow at Wednesday, July 17, 2002, 12:12 a.m.

What a scare! My five-year-old niece left the house while my parents and sister were watching TV and rode her bike to her friend's place without letting us know. I don't know how much later it was when they discovered she was missing and her bike gone and we all ran around the neighbourhood yelling her name and showing her picture to passerbyers asking if they saw her. I kept thinking of poor Luke Doggett (yeah, I know, too much X-Files), and I was so relieved when my sister found her at that friend's house.

That was frightening. Now I wonder if that was God talking to me telling me it's time to drop reading slash and smut and get back on the right road to salvation. If only I had the will power. Besides, I can't shake the thought that homosexuality isn't all that bad. I know it's wrong, because if I'm going to embrace homosexuality, I've got to embrace premarital sex, threesomes, and adultery as well, and of course the problem with that is I don't think the first two are all that bad either >_< I'm a horrible human being!!! Ack! I just hope my liberalism doesn't end in something much worse than what just happened.

Quote of the day: "As in 'stealing-into-the-bathroom-to-cry-my-eyes-out' kind of hard." -Monica Reyes, "Empedocles"

Lika frolicked in the snow at Tuesday, July 16, 2002, 06:07 p.m.

ROTFL!!! Jeannie, are you serious!? I mean, I hate the idea going without electricity and TV and internet and flushing toilets for three or four days, but bring some smores to toast and I'm there. I haven't taken a hike for nearly ten years and I miss them.

But Lanie camping!? LANIE?

Then again, she does lives in the Carleton Architect Building, so I know she can go without real food for a long time and sleep in strange places :D

Quote of the day: " I told her it was going to be a nice trip to the forest." - Fox Mulder, "Darkness Falls"

Lika frolicked in the snow at Thursday, July 11, 2002, 06:42 p.m.

To the folks who hates X-Files Season Eight, Please explain why you think it sucked. Because I just saw "Within/Without" and they were the best mytharc duo, hey, the best episodes, in years. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!?

Anyhow, here's my thoughts on the episode "Without", cut and pasted from my shriekage on an X-Files egroup I'm on.
Spoilers for a most incredible episode:

Now THAT is an X-Files episode! Oh baby, deserts and helicopters and bounty hunters and lead characters in danger and trust issues and superiors making life miserable and guns being waved around and motherships :D The only thing that was missing was my lovely black oil, but that's all right. Gibson Praise made up for it. And Doggett! And Scully. And Skinner. I could kiss all four of them! I can't remember the last time I loved everyone so much before. Probably "Paperclip."

MOTHERSHIPS!!!! :D Wasn't that a monster of a ship? Size does matter. It made my eyes water in gratitude *sniffling happily*

Okay, other good stuff:

1. Scully and Skinner pointing their gun at each other. Whoo hoo! Paperclip throw-back or what? I love Scully and Skinner so much in this episode. Skinner finally got his balls back, and Scully was amazing, proactive, caring, alert, smart, tough, just wonderful. And the two of them together was great. The trust, the way they covered for each other, and the conflict from not being sure who was who, very well done.

2. Bounty Hunters! If I can't get my black oil, they're the next best thing. Shove the stupid Super Soldiers. You can have so much more fun with bounty hunters. The confusion due to having a person who could shift shapes, done so much better than it was in Redux II (though I adore Redux II) had me on the edge of my seat.

3. Freaking amazing dialogue! I haven't heard such great dialogue since "Paperclip". Every single line was perfect. The sniping between Scully and Doggett was excellent, between Skinner and Doggett had me holding my breath, and Kersh, I love that man. Anyone who can make so many people miserable have my respect. I love how he launched onto Doggett over the phone. There's so many quotable lines. I'm going to have a make a list of them and memorize them, they were all so incredibly good.

4. The Plot was fantastic. Right from Within, with Doggett being brought in, and getting the picture of Gibson Praise, and Kersh's involvement, everyone going out for Praise, the bounty hunter, the use of distractions and impediments, duality and misplaced intentions, the game that was played where unless you figured it out, you were merely a pawn, everything twist and revelation was so perfectly planned and executed.

5. DOGGETT! DOGGETT! DOGGETT! Didn't the man look good? That white shirt with the rolled-up sleeves, to DIE For. Never has there been so much droolage and shrieking in the house *sigh* That was a great introduction of a character. Having him mix up the dynamics with Scully and Skinner, snipe with Scully and Skinner, but also do his job well, with such a manliness and directness it was beyond sexy. I just loved everything he did, every word he said. Add on his scene with Kersh, and that last scene with Scully, when he puts the card in her hand... he's so sweet :D Man, oh man, I'm so in love with the guy. He was really awesome in this episode, and I'm just floored.

That episode was better than any of the episodes I saw in S5, S6, and S7. But then, I like Season nine better than S5, S6, and S7 *grin*

Quote of the Day: "Hey, don't turn your back on me. I'm asking you a legitimate question." - John Doggett "Without"

Lika frolicked in the snow at Wednesday, July 10, 2002, 12:31 a.m.

For those of you wondering, I got half the stuff on the list done. I did phone Ammie (GLOMPS her:D), got caught up on the Sakura Board, and went out to "tea" with Lanie. Well, actually, it was a BBQ at Ming's and much love sent to the guy indeed, for it was a lot of fun and I got see not only Lanie and Young Mikey Boy, but Dot as well, who I miss muchly. I'll even forgive Ming for calling "Paperclip" Papercut. But oh, Young Mikey Boy, don't try fitting four girls in the back of the car EVER again, not when Dima drives a good 160 km/h. You're lucky we didn't bring out the chains.

And today, I swung by the Comic Book and didn't catch just one, but three of my babes along with a sister ^_^ Wished I could have stayed longer, I wanted to pick out Hallowe'en outfits for Lanie! And Jeannie, the Padme outfit would be great again. I really must see about getting a camera. You really did look gorgeous in it.

Alison, I hope your throat is better so there will be no discomfort when you kidnap Fuuma (simultaneously breaking many hearts while you're at it :P), and I said it once and I'll say it again: Bondage pants, girl, bondage pants. With lacey black ribbons. As for your haiku, it wasn't in bad taste at all. It was brilliant. Can I post it on my blog? *kitty eyes* And THANK-YOU on the S/S comparison with R/J. R/J's family held two people who wanted each other apart, Seishirou broke the relationship (though I know some S/Sers will blame Lady Sumeragi and Hokuto-chan *rolls eyes*) I don't see the connection either.

As for yours and Kerianne's comments regarding Karen (here I insert my love to Linh for saying it in person that Karen was the most useful dragon in the series!), I don't think Karen wanted to die for her sins. She was willing to sacrifice herself, which is an entirely different thing. I do believe she has serious self-worth issue, so I can see her getting into a relationship for shallow reasons, which makes me think if she ever got involved with Yuuto, it would be a very Reyes/Follmer relationship, Touch me, Teach me relationship though, not Office Romance relationship. They'll be crazy about each other, they may even love each other, but it's a shallow relationship at best. Yeah, I know I've been laying on the Karen/Reyes comparison really thick lately, but seriously, Reyes is the 3D version of Karen, except she has far more self-confidence than Karen ever will.

Maria, I stopped reading S/S fics long ago. There really isn't much more you can do with them that hasn't been done before. As for your comment that Seishirou fondling an unconscious Subaru is creepy, I agree, but I figured if people find that romantic, that's their taste, provided they keep in fiction. Personally, I prefer both parties to be awake, and eager, and experienced. I despise devirginization fics. It's no fun seeing one person do all the work. Why after so many Seishirou-deflowers-Subaru fic, reading drippersmut was such a relief.

Meta-darling, the scans are gorgeous! Thanks for putting them up. But National Post as a favorite newspaper, come on, Conrad Black. Need I say more? You need to come to Ottawa and check out the Ottawa Citizen :) I hope it doesn't stink too much in Toronto with the garbage strikes.

Strange, I would have expected Sarah to mention something about the garbage strike. Must go check the entries. I really enjoy Sarah's entries, btw. She has such a no-BS, to the point way way of saying things. I particularly like this entry: ""If this guy was a terrorist, he was one of the most spectacularly incompetent terrorists I've ever seen." Hehehe :)

Sniff, your handwriting brings back memories of asking my mom if I got any mail. And did YOU draw that!? Freak, girl, I can't believe you think you have no have talent. Your blog layout is amazing, your MB posts are a riot to read, you come up with fantastic stories, and okay, fine, you have questionable taste in Harry Potter pairings, but no one is perfect.

Oh, and Lanie, Sats is not a S/Ker. Not even close. She's into Kusa/Yuzu when it comes to X, and Snape/Remus *cough* when it comes to HP, but she's still my darling. And I'd love to join you in the quest for Victorian goth. I personally want to curl my hair :D And what's this about a Gryffindor scarf? *SQUEALS!*

Rachel, what happened to your blog?

Quote of the Day: "Well, hey, I didn't spend all those years playing Dungeons and Dragons and not learn a little something about courage." - Blaine Faulkner "Jose Chung's from Outer Space"

Lika frolicked in the snow at Monday, July 8, 2002, 9:13 p.m