Saturday, February 08, 2014

*sigh*

he’s one damn fine human being…

In case you can’t read that:
Amberly: I need this retweeted by you to show my family that being gay isn’t always something you choose. They think I’m broken. Please. @Markgatiss

Mark Gatiss: Not a choice @Amberly29519238 - a gift. Be happy and strong. x

(For those not in the know, although I have no idea how you can not know this if you’re a regular reader, Mark Gatiss (pronounced GAY-tiss, BTW) is a co-creator and writer on my beloved Sherlock (BBC). He’s also written for Doctor Who. And… he’s married. To a dude.)

This isn’t the first time he’s done something like this, and I totally adore him because of it.

It almost offsets the Moffat factor. But not by too much, since he still lets Moffat write episodes of Sherlock. *sigh*

——

In a more serious note, my divorcing friend pissed me off the other day.

I’d finally had enough and snapped at them via text.

Told them that they seriously needed to figure out how to rewire themselves. This default position of wanting to give up and/or threatening suicide (it’s really one and the same, isn’t it?), is old, is tired, and is not fair to those of us that love them.

I mean, seriously, I’m starting to feel that it’s a cry for attention. At any rate, it’s fucking obnoxious.

And I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but it felt good to call them out on it.

I mean, me, of all people, saying something like that… to someone I feel is shattered beyond repair.

I’m an arsehole… I know that.

I haven’t heard from them since, and I’m (frighteningly) OK with that.

There has been too much drama, and despite my promises to tolerate it, and not walk away, I just can’t deal with it.

They wonder why they’re getting divorced…

If they could only read the texts they sent me from my point of view - or even their spouse’s - they’d see just what sort of damage they’re capable of inflicting and why we’re not willing to put up with it.

I offered to let them live with us because I felt like I was backed into a corner - suicide or a homeless shelter - and neither one is acceptable.

I shouldn’t have made the offer. Once things calmed down, it hit me hard what an amazingly terrible idea that is.

I can’t handle them from a distance… living with them has the potential to absolutely destroy me.

So now, I’m back where I started from - wanting to run as far as them as I possibly can, and needing to stay and support them as long as they make the right decision, of course.

Can’t stand by and support a dead person, can I?

——

In happier news, my boss absolutely loves me. He said as much yesterday.

I got my business cards. If that’s not a sign of permanence, I don’t know what is.

I got an official invite from the Department of Athletics to go to their monthly finance meeting. The other staff accountant didn’t, and he’s the one who is supposed to be working for them full time. I’m supposed to be working for the other building we manage, which is not affiliated with the University in any way, shape, or form.

It makes me wonder - especially since everything’s been so confused and fucked up because of the mess we were thrown into on day one - what my role actually is is. What I’m being groomed for. I have my ideas, of course, and they thrill me beyond belief.

I tell everyone who asks how much I love this job, and it’s the truth. I could not be happier. The universe certainly made up for fucking me over the past year.

I love it to the point that when BU played my employer last night. I was tempted to cheer for both teams. (I love both sets of boys - the school I was supposed to go to and the one that funds my paychecks.) Hockey East is getting more complicated…UConn, my employer, BU. Our neighbours in 114 are going to end up hating me next season. *grin*

And on that note, it’s time to look for a hack to my never ending external drive issue and get the power button on my MBP fixed.

Woo!!!! I am living it up today! Jealous?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

How to decorate your flat. A tutorial by BBC Sherlock

idea one: pin a cluedo board to the wall with a knife

A few years ago, we went to see BU play BC at Fenway Park. Great idea for a one-off.

And then they decided to repeat it and repeat it and repeat it, until it lost the specialness.

That year it was 7 degrees.

Today, BU plays Maine and it is almost 50 degrees outside.

50 degrees is not hockey weather. Especially if you’re playing at a baseball park that is uncovered. They had to crank the refrigeration in an effort to get the rain to freeze on the surface. It didn’t look like they were succeeding.

They’re currently experiencing a rain delay because it’s absolutely POURING (including thunder and lightening) in Boston.

Currently, the rink has so much water on it that I made the lame joke about them really playing ‘pond hockey’.

I’ve never been so happy to skip a hockey game in my life.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Fan fic love

I needed another pick me up:

Stats as of 11/10/2013:
PARIS: 10 subscribers, 504 hits, 23 kudos, 2 comment threads, 3 bookmarks

HARTFORD: 10 subscribers, 433 hits, 23 kudos, 8 comment threads, 3 bookmarks

IT WAS ALWAYS THERE: 1 subscriber, 1018 hits, 11 kudos, 0 comment threads, 3 bookmarks

Stats as of today:
PARIS: 12 subscribers, 773 hits, 32 kudos, 5 comment threads, 1 bookmarks

HARTFORD: 10 subscribers, 476 hits, 28 kudos, 8 comment threads, 3 bookmarks

IT WAS ALWAYS THERE: 2 subscriber, 1056 hits, 11 kudos, 0 comment threads, 3 bookmarks

I’m a little surprised that PARIS lost bookmarks, but I now have 3 author subscriptions which is pretty cool…

I also received a comment today that they want ANOTHER sequel (which they will get). After that, it’s a 30 Day OTP Challenge and who knows after that… I don’t see myself NOT writing more Cabin Pressure fic, but right now, I can’t see myself writing more after the Challenge, either. I’m so deep in Johnlock that editing ZURICH! feels weird. I guess we’ll have to see.

——

Tonight is UConn vs BU at BU, which will definitely be weird. Next season, UConn joins Hockey East so this will be a regular occurrence, which will be even weirder. I never thought I’d see the day when the UConn hockey program would play in such an elite league…

My friend, and fellow UCMB band geek, Bill is coming with me, so that will be cool. We’ll both be in full UConn regalia and I can’t wait to see the looks on our friends down there in Section 114, Rows A and B. We’ve known these people for YEARS and I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned being a UConn grad. They’ll know now. *grin*

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose

tower bridge on a rainy london night, 2008

I missed a good part of a 7-3 drubbing of the Wisconsin Badgers last night because I was too deep in my head to notice what was going on.

(Wow. Drubbing’s a weird word choice. Where did that come from?)

Anyhoo… three is a magic number, and right now I have three options:
1) Get a Tier 2 visa (employment sponsorship)
2) Become a German citizen
3) Go to grad school and get an MBA

I think German citizenship is the easiest since I can prove a “right” to citizenship through my mother. Grad school may be the second easiest, and of course, finding a damn job might just be downright impossible. Not that I’m going to stop looking for work, but I do worry that the fact that I don’t have a work visa / sponsorship yet is hurting me. I’m just going to stay positive and throw my CV at every position I fit the requirements for no matter where it is in the UK.

To quote Wayne Gretzky, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”

To quote myself, “This the year of flinging stuff and seeing what sticks.”

——

I discovered last night that I REALLY miss my versions Douglas and Martin. That’s probably why I couldn’t stop the trilogy at three episodes and kept pushing it out to four and almost five. I still can’t decide what I’m going to do for NaNo. There’s definitely the (getting more attractive) option of doing a 30 day OTP Challenge with those two. I could probably knock out 30 days of 2,000 word vignettes… they wouldn’t have to be related, so that’s nice. I wouldn’t use the leftover bits from the trilogy, but I do like some of the ideas I introduced and maybe I can expand on them or make them better.

Now I see why AtlinMerrick writes so many stories focused on her versions of Sherlock and John.

——

Speaking of Sherlock and John:

I’ve spent the past two days charting out/researching the Zodiac and trying to figure out how to move his copycat to London.

You know it’s bad when you spend an hour looking at a map of the city and wondering which lake or pond could best replicate Lake Berryessa. (I think I’m ultimately going to cheat and use the Thames or even the Tower Bridge tube station since that has always struck me as a good place to leave a body.)

You know it’s a bit not good when you start asking, out loud, which college is the best one to dump a body at.

You know it’s probably as bad as it’s going to get when you entertain the possibility of asking British friends where the best make out/parking points were when they were growing up. Even if they’re not in London proper.

The Zodiac bounced around three police jurisdictions which meant it was harder to find him. (I don’t know about law enforcement in England, but it’s well documented that our cops don’t like to work together. In their defence, half the time they didn’t know that an unsolved murder in their jurisdiction may match one in another unless they saw it in the news or something. Now, of course, technology has made it easier for them to all play nice through national fingerprint databases and all that shit…)

I’m pretty sure I’m going to break from the real Zodiac’s path towards the end of the case, too. John always seems to get kidnapped because he’s Sherlock’s weak point, and since there’s a lot of (circumstantial) evidence pointing at a (now dead) man, it seems right that Sherlock solves the unsolvable and delivers a living suspect to the Met.

Besides, if I’m going to fictionalize it, I might as well use the term “based on a true story” and take it from there.

There’s DEFINITELY 50K words there and I’m positive that I can get it done in the 30 days. Maybe sooner if I can get all the research and outline done before November 1st.

*sigh*

——

I have a meeting with a recruiter on Wednesday and then there’s one I used to work with that has a position that I might be a good fit for. I’m resending my resume to him and telling him that he needs to submit it…

——

Monday’s a new day and I’m starting to feel human again. I’m even going to fit in a much needed haircut and get my Cumberbatch on this week.

It’s going to be a good week… I can feel it.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

One week, five days

with that face, he either discovered some crack, some slash or red pants monday

I love the fact that the TiVo will record anything with a certain actor in it. Can you say Cumberbatch marathon? I’d forgotten he was in “The Other Boleyn Girl”... he plays Mary’s husband, before she becomes the King’s play toy. He’s also in “Atonement”. Interesting movie, but kind of boring at the same time. Plus, he’s got a mustache. Stachebatch is definitely not one of my favorites. 

So, Jack Parker announced his retirement yesterday. Not really a surprise, but wow. The man has spent 40 years as the head coach of the Terriers. FORTY YEARS. AT ONE UNIVERSITY. COACHING. Such an amazing career, even if some shithead players put a tarnish on it over the past two seasons.

Marshall left UCONN this year, too.

It’s been a bad year for my hockey programs… although UCONN managed to turn around their season and have made it to the Atlantic Hockey tourney. Hopefully, they don’t screw up… I’d love to see them do well, especially since they’re on their way to Hockey East, season after next. It’s time UCONN’s hockey program was taken seriously.

As for everything else…

The one position I didn’t want, I didn’t get. I knew I was done with the interview when he kept asking me about the year I spent at the CPA firm as opposed to my current experience. I was also done when I found out it was a three person accounting department with absolutely no chance for growth… I’m better than an A/P Clerk. I wouldn’t take a position like that unless it was the absolute last interview I’d ever have.

So. Not a big surprise that I got the ‘thanks, but no thanks’ email this morning.

The second company. God, I loved the job description and after the interview(s), I want that job more. They were originally going to make the decision yesterday/today. Then it became today/tomorrow. I haven’t heard a peep yet. Kind of freaking out about it. A lot. It’s frightening to have the perfect job plopped in your lap only one week after being shown the door… and to know that everything hangs on whether or not you were able to charm four different people, one at a time.

Here’s hoping there’s happy news tomorrow…