So, dira was telling me earlier about a meme that she had seen, in which you have to list fifteen books that will "stay with you" or somesuch, and you can't spend more than fifteen minutes or so pondering it. Here's my list, in roughly chronological order, with brief explanations for each.

( Here be books )

So, I finished reading Sense and Sensibility yesterday, and I have to say, I greatly prefer the movie. I had first seen the movie years ago and loved it, and always meant to read the book, but never quite got around to it. Same thing with Pride and Prejudice. When I first read Pride and Prejudice a while back, I absolutely loved it, since it seemed to be as wonderful as the mini-series, only there was more of it. I was expecting more or less the same experience with Sense and Sensibility, only I hadn't quite realized how much tweaking Emma Thompson had done to the story. I spent much of the book wanting to hit various characters in the face with a brick, and wanting to shake Marianne until candy came out.

Completely unrelated to the above, I went to the doctor today for my yearly physical, and was explaining the phenomenon I've been experiencing the last several months in which I experience weakness, lightheadedness, and sweating when I raise my arms above my head for extended periods of time (I hadn't ever noticed it much before until I started, um, having to blow-dry and style my hair every morning). The doctor thinks it may be a condition called "subclavian steal," and is going to refer me to a vascular surgeon to get it checked out further. What will likely happen is that the vascular surgeon will inject me with some sort of contrasting medium and see what my arteries look like. I feel sort of vaguely worried about this, and yet fascinated at the same time (can I watch, I wonder?). My mother-in-law has this and is evidently fine, so it's not like it's the end of the world or anything, but the information available on the internets seems rather...dry. And not even remotely aimed at patients. Anyone else out there have this condition/know something about it/etc.?

In a feat of pratfall worthy of fairmer, I have just punched myself in the nose while stripping sheets off the bed. It's really a shame no one was present to witness the pathetic hilarity.

/o\

Also, ow.

From the most recent Entertainment Weekly:

Sunday, January 11

Miniseries Debut, 8-10 PM, Ovation (wtf channel is Ovation?)

Lost in Austen

Most genius marriage ever of sci-fi and chick flick: A woman finds a gateway into Pride and Prejudice from her apartment and swaps lives with Elizabeth Bennett

I'm sort of scarily intrigued, I must say...

Whee! I will be attending my very first Muskrat Jamboree (which is also going to be my first slash con)!

*makes mental note to order this xkcd shirt in advance*

Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list ten things you LOVE that begin with that letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own.


'K' as given by missmollyetc

1. Klechas (obviously)
2. Kara Thrace (Mmm, Starbuck)
3. Kate Winslet (Classically gorgeous and a fantastic actress--what's not to love?)
4. Kill Bill, volumes 1 and 2 (swordfighting FTW!)
5. Kuru (what can I say, I find spongiform encephalopathy fascinating! If you don't believe me, read Deadly Feasts by Richard Rhodes.)
6. Keith Olbermann (Do I even have to explain or justify this one?)
7. Ken Holland (General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings and architect of awesomeness)
8. Kronwall, Nicklas (baby defenseman with the Detroit Red Wings, finally healthy after several years of freak injuries)
9. Kong, Donkey (Okay, this one is cheating a bit, but seriously, Donkey Kong Country for the SNES is one of the best platformers ever made.)
10. Kissing (who doesn't?)

(special thanks to vidensadastra for knowing my brain better than I do, and suggesting several of these *g)

So, for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, I am in a horribly sad, dejected mood today, and even the beautifully gloomy weather isn't helping. So I ask you, o fascinating and awesome flist, for happy-making things. Happy news? pictures? anything else you can think of? Post away, and save me from my fraughtness!

I <3 Olympics announcers. Some choice quotes from the women's gymnastics team final:

"Sometimes four inches make all the difference."

"She'll promptly mount the beam."

*SNERK*

Sometimes it's fun having the maturity of a twelve-year-old. \o/

ETA: "You know, she's waited a long time to mount this beam."

Wall-E.

A movie about an adorable little robot.

Who ventures out into space.

With music by Thomas Newman.

PIXAR LOVES ME AND WANTS ME TO BE HAPPY.

*draws hearts around movie*

Oh awesome and knowledgeable flist, I need to pick your collective brain.

So, Thursday night, at approximately 4 AM, I shifted position in my sleep, and was jolted awake by this horrific charlie horse that kept me up for the remainder of the night. I've only had a few such leg cramps, and this one was agonizing. Having been on oral contraceptives for a number of years now, my brain of course went to the hypochondriac place and thought OMG DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS. *koff*

So, Friday I wasn't able to put my full weight on my leg, and sported a lovely limp. I didn't do much in the way of walking over the weekend, and now today my leg hurts yet again, albeit not as intensely. It hurts to walk, and it also hurts if I try to palpate my left calf.

In summary, I am mildly concerned, but also don't have enough experience with muscle problems to know if it's rational to be concerned. Any thoughts?

So, last night I had quite possibly the weirdest crossover dream I have ever experienced. I wish I could remember the surrounding circumstances, but somehow, Margaret (Leo's assistant from The West Wing) was reassigned...to Aral Vorkosigan. If only the dream had continued longer, I am sure that hilarity would have ensued.

(I bet that Margaret and Alys Vorpatril would get along famously...)

So, I was just reading the Superficial, and as it turns out, the judge in charge of Britney Spears' custody case? Commissioner [Scott] Gordon.

Sometimes, reality just wins.

Today is the birthday of my dear dsudis! *throws confetti*

Since meeting way back in the mists of time (or, y'know, fall 1995) as dorktastic high school freshmen, we've:

Lived an hour apart. Lived in the same room. Lived nine hours apart.

Weathered high school. College (and the various and sundry craaaazy roommates). Law school. Grad school.

Somehow, through all of these experiences that are designed to change people, make them different, we have managed to not only remain on speaking terms, but remain the best of friends. It's a rare thing to share a personal evolutionary path with someone, and I am damn lucky to have shared mine with you.

I hope you have a fantastic birthday, dude, and many more. I fully expect to be shuffling around the nursing home with you when we're old and wrinkly, rocking out to FOB on the oldies channel and baffling fellow residents with our shared-brain powers during games of Trivial Pursuit.

Love you.

OMFG I PASSED THE MOTHERFRAKKING BAR EXAM

*passes out in relief*

So, in the last 12 hours, the following has happened:

helaaspindakaas' grandfather has passed away, necessitating a four-hour drive to Michigan tomorrow

My brother-in-law's mother-in-law has been diagnosed with cancer

My in-laws' beloved dog has been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening liver disease

Our air conditioning has decided to stop working on what is likely to be the hottest day this week

I think we need a do-over. Or something

[News & Spoilers]

=Couple of S4 "spoilers" posted by admiralandrea

[Fic]

Gen

=They Shot Horses Don't They? (Larry, G) by philleegirl

Het

=Used Books (Larry/Megan, G) by jelsemium

Slash

=Happiness is a Warm Pair of Handcuffs (Don/Billy, PG-13) by emmademarais
=Second Chance, 3/? (Don/OMC, NC-17) by irena_adler

[Recs]

=Fic Rec: Make a Memory by unicorn_catcher recced by jestana

[Graphics]

=Picspam (Colby's forearms) by kukalaka
=Picspam (Colby, 2.13) by mustangcandi
=Picspam (Colby, miscellaneous episodes and photo shoots) by miz_em

[Episode Reviews & Discussion]

=2.01 "Judgment Call" comments by used_songs
=2.01 "Judgment Call" comments by admiralandrea

[Challenges]

=Round Two: Rare Het Pairings at numb3rswriteoff
=An urgent note to fans posted by neur0vanity at numb3rswriteoff
=15 minute - 1 word challenges at numb3rs_gen_het

[Misc.]

=Poll result at savecolby
=Chat tonight! announcement posted at n3_slashchat