In which I will be alone in the office for two days

[itsallovernow]

Therefore, mixed within the work I'm so unlikely to do, will hopefully be large blocks of writing and reading.

So here's your chance. Have a story in another fandom that just kicks ass beyond belief? Recc it to me. I'll even send feedback if I read it:) Otherwise, I'm probably gonna read In the Company of Ghosts or Arizona Highways again. Neither of these things are a hardship:)

There will also watching of vids and the downloading of the Return of the King trailer.

I've clearly been watching too much West Wing. I just wrote a message for a publication that had Sam Seaborn/Aaron Sorking all over it. I'm waiting for a call from my editor filled with giggling and the suggestion that I'm not writing for the president. I have clearly been watching far too much WW on Bravo, because I set the frelling tape for Bravo instead of NBC. I was beyond not pleased. But I did get to watch Shibolleth.

One of the things The West Wing does for me is to stir up my odd patriotism. I got positively teary when President Bartlett handed Charlie his carving knife, the Paul Revere touch justs reminds me of the romanticized view of the founding of this country. I teach American History frequently, and I just love it. The newness of this world, and the risks that people took to come here, to fight for their freedom. I'm not discounting any of the cruelty, prejudice, genocide or ignorance. That is part of who we, as a nation were. It is not something to be proud of, but overlooking it makes it worse. Acknowledging it at least gives credence to the people who suffered at the conquerers hands. But the romance of ideas is hard to escape. The Declaration of Independence, the preamble to the constitution, all these beautiful, beautiful words and ideas and ideals, and the shaping of a government around them, you have to admit, it pokes at the hardest of hearts.

The questions of faith and asylum, and living within the gaps in the law where often morality must slip in to be the compass.

And I loved the turkeys. I knew CJ would want to save them both:)

But M. and I watched Angel, and had a mighty fine time. The first half of the ep - kind of meandering, kind of dull (possibly because I kept waiting for Spike, and DB's new hair is unfortunate. Of course, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with Gunn's hair until M. reminded me that it was the presence of hair.

M. remembered right as Fred was hanging up her poster that she had been hitting on Willow, and then giggled muchly when the Dixie Chicks rolled down the wall. He also called the helicopter.

And, again, very rarely seeing the slash, but Angel is so rooting for that team now. Which is clearly going to be a good thing:) I don't have a problem spanking men? The preview scene where Spike says he's his date? Swoon. They'll be oh so pretty together.

Eve - annoying. I hope she grows on me. But Harmony. I'm really quite fond of Harmony. I suppose I'm still tickled by her evil minions.


I'm in a much better mood today, although I'd still advise all motorized vehicles to stay out of my way.

Comments

[cofax7]

Yay, with the HoYay! Much with the gay on AtS last night.

As for stories you must read, I have one or two. Maybe three.

First, The Talking Stick stories. Voyager. No, seriously. Spins off canon early in season 2, before the show went totally awful. Kes is still there, the Janeway/Chakotay subtext is in full play, there's no Borg or Seven to be seen, and -- most importantly -- the Maquis still have their teeth. It's hugely long, bogs down in a few parts (particularly the beginning), but it's truly epic, and it made me CRY. Seriously. My one complaint is that I could have lived without the cat, as YMMV once said.

Second, Cicatrix by Te, Debchan, and The Spike. Buffy. It's another epic AU spinning off from Prophecy Girl and never going back. Dark, darker, darkest: grim and wrenching and bloody. Much with the slash too.

Third, for something lighter, I highly recommend Speranza's Chicago's Most Wanted. dueSouth. Hysterically funny, well plotted, slashy. Brilliant story, and great fun even if you have only the vaguest familiarity with the show.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, Angel so found his gay:) And there was much clapping on my end of the couch:) M. just looked at me and said, "You'd probably like watching the two of them go at it," and I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face. He just has no idea what's out there:)

Yeah for the reccs. I haven't read any of these - although I've heard them all bandied about, so I will check them out! Thanks so much.

[haphazardmethod.livejournal.com]

Shibboleth is a wonderful episode. It never ceases to amaze me that right-wingers hate WW for being too liberal; I can't think of another show which puts religion front and center so often, as more than a joke. I liked the Chinese refugee citing the apostles, Leo praising the kids for their willingness to be arrested for their beliefs, Toby for sticking up for the religious minorities among us.

[leelee-cakes.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for reccs, I have to come by and mention Phoenix Burning (http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=321561) by Yahtzee. It's a huge, brilliant AU epic. Yahtzee makes original characters that you care about as much as the show's cast. The whole story, while borrowing some of the Buffy series mythology, creates it's own detailed universe. Love it.

Leelee

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks!! This is one of the few fics I have actually both heard about and read:) But it is a fantastic story!!

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

I agree. Religion is treated with respect and consideration, not dismissed as something to be rallied around or made fun of. And I often find the Bartlett administration far less liberal than I am, but I like their back and forth, their dilemnas and ideals. I frequently want to hug all of them:) Sometimes even Sam!