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impulsereaderI was intending to catch up on my friends page, but I have absolutely nothing intelligent to offer anyone. I do, however, have all sorts of thinky thoughts that I've been spewing into a Word document for a few days and now must post because once I post it I'll be 'done with that' and will have no further excuse to continue stalling on writing other stuff. So below the cut I type about reading in public, writing in public, tea, Singin' in the Rain, and struggling with 'the fic' which is hopefully nearing completion - this last is particularly incoherent as I'm having a difficult time with a scene.
Oh! Leverage is back and it is awesome! Any other fans reading this? Did you watch the premiere yet?
Apparently the only thing you (or at least I) can do in public which excites more attention than reading, is writing. I guess this makes some sort of sense. When I’m reading in public the extent of the conversation seems to be someone interrupting me by asking, “What are you reading?” at which point I show them the book, offering it to them if they’d like a closer look and they say something along the lines of, “Oh.”. Occasionally someone will follow up with, “What’s it about?” in which case I usually just genre it – “It’s a thriller”. I’ve never, ever had anyone follow up with, “Oh, I’ve read that, it’s good, isn’t it?” or “Oh, that was awful, I didn’t even finish it,” or anything even vaguely similar. Usually at this point they let me go back to reading.
But when I was writing in a bar this weekend – waiting for the band to go on – I attracted no end of attention. “What are you writing?” “Are you a writer?” – the person who asked this would have demanded to see a bound copy of something I’d written if I’d answered yes, so I answered no. “Are you writing poetry?” “Is it creative writing?” From the same obnoxious one as before during the band’s break, “…everyone with a notebook will have to do a solo.” On and on, honestly. What is the fascination? I was just scribbling into a little notebook trying to work out Sherlock’s parents, and later doing some world building for Pirate!Sherlock.
And –what the hell is the problem with reading or writing in public rather than sitting around waiting for someone to come over and entertain me? Because I’ll tell you, most the above conversations I’ve had have been strongly implying that I shouldn’t be reading or writing when I’m doing so. Why is this? I’m there to listen to the band. Before they start I might as well be on a train on my way to where the band is playing – a situation in which it is completely acceptable for me to occupy my time listening to music, reading, or writing. Why is it that sitting in the bar waiting is different from sitting on the train waiting? Also, how is this any different or more rude than if I were attached to my phone rather than socializing with those around me? I know I sound completely anti-social now, and to some extent I am, but in this situation the members of the band have more important things to do than talk to me and anyone else is probably trying to chat me up (well, hopefully, I guess – sort of) which I’m not terribly interested in, and if they absolutely must, can’t it wait until the music starts? Most conversations which take place in a bar are much more interesting when you can only make out every other word over the music, this allows you to imagine the person you’re conversing with is a lot more interesting than he or she actually is.
Guh! My tea experiences are going well except for the strainer. I bought one in the shop but because I’m an idiot I took the shop girl’s implication that the pot and the strainer she was selling me in the same transaction would fit together. Yeah, and then when I discovered the problem I checked all the wrong places - in the words of Pargoletta - but what I really did was check all the places within reach of my lunch break. No luck. So then I ordered (while I awaited its arrival I pulled open teabags, emptied them and refilled with my own blends) one with a cute little charm quoting Jane Austen about tea. But this one is a little mesh ball that you have to close up after you’ve put the tea in. Well, I don’t have time to be faffing about all day refilling this thing every hour (this is all probably very much bad tea etiquette, but it’s been working for me as I’m hardly a connoisseur and it’s bad enough that I have to keep walking into the kitchen for hot water four or more times a day) so I fill both sides (a shorter brewing time per cup = more cups per fill) and then want to flip it closed. This works reasonably well for The Lemon is in Play as well as Earl Grey Green, but Mycroft is not only being a right little bitch about what he’s building, but he’s also causing this process to shower little bits of himself all over my desk! I don’t want to waste all my Mycroft! I just want a nice little strainer into which I can carelessly shovel some tea and then plop it into my pot; is this too much to ask?
Some good news is that we saw most of Singin’ in the Rain on the big screen on Thursday. Yes, the bad news would be the fact that I had to modify the previous statement. Everything was going well until Don and Lina took to the stage after the premiere of their new film; Don’s dancing circles around her to keep her from actually talking, and we start seeing some pixelization – uh oh – sure enough, about a minute later we see the little pop up box – we’re entirely familiar with it as we sometimes get it at home – Part of the recording has been lost – something about signal loss – I don’t know – whatever – ranting here, people. And the film jumps to R.F. telling everyone to shut down for a week because the Jazz Singer is a huge hit and The Duelling Cavalier just isn’t going to cut it without sound. Yes, that’s right, we missed both Cosmo’s solo AND Kathy’s arrival on the scene, which means we also missed her dressing down Don for not being as totally keen as he thinks he is. Boo!
After a bit they stopped it and made an attempt to do something, but it was pretty clear they weren’t going to be able to retrieve missing digital data. So afterwards I got a refund – but then after I’d gotten home I panicked – who was actually at fault? I was initially thinking the theatre should have checked the print or the file or whatever before they showed it, but the fact that it looked like my tv error and the fact that it was TCM finally sank in and I wondered if this was actually a national crisis and TCM would now not be welcome in theaters anymore because all these places had to give everyone back their money – if I’d at least taken the passes offered instead of actual cash I might have seemed a little more supportive. A couple of google searches later I’m satisfied this was not in fact a national problem – phew!
There has been a distinct lack of snippets, and I’m sorry. This is indicative of a few things. One, the only redeeming point of last week was the birth of Pirate!Sherlock; other than that it was a total loss and should be written off as such. Two, all the fun magical typing is apparently mostly over for this section and it’s now a slog to the end filling in bits which I need in order to connect all the bits I’ve already written – bleck. Three, I’m currently having to go back and expand the bit where I introduce Sherlock’s weaponized parents and actually use them; this is proving exceedingly difficult for numerous reasons – I don’t think Sherlock’s parents are actually like this, so my brain doesn’t want to commit to it; these are OCs and I’m apparently not good at developing characters of my own when my brain is kicking and screaming, ‘these people don’t actually exist, stop typing them into existence!’ Plus I’m basing all of this on television logic which seems to be telling me that even if Sherlock’s father beat the stuffing out of him and Mycroft both, they should still be able to be in a room together as adults. Personally, this mystifies me, but tv assures me it is so. Plus, I need him to have some actual dimension since he’s presumably not still physically abusive but has switched to messing with their minds at this point. I’m having a difficult time wrestling all of these bits into a scene which fits the characters and is entertaining to read.
See? Incoherent - but - Done with that! On with the writing of Other Stuff!
Oh! Leverage is back and it is awesome! Any other fans reading this? Did you watch the premiere yet?
Apparently the only thing you (or at least I) can do in public which excites more attention than reading, is writing. I guess this makes some sort of sense. When I’m reading in public the extent of the conversation seems to be someone interrupting me by asking, “What are you reading?” at which point I show them the book, offering it to them if they’d like a closer look and they say something along the lines of, “Oh.”. Occasionally someone will follow up with, “What’s it about?” in which case I usually just genre it – “It’s a thriller”. I’ve never, ever had anyone follow up with, “Oh, I’ve read that, it’s good, isn’t it?” or “Oh, that was awful, I didn’t even finish it,” or anything even vaguely similar. Usually at this point they let me go back to reading.
But when I was writing in a bar this weekend – waiting for the band to go on – I attracted no end of attention. “What are you writing?” “Are you a writer?” – the person who asked this would have demanded to see a bound copy of something I’d written if I’d answered yes, so I answered no. “Are you writing poetry?” “Is it creative writing?” From the same obnoxious one as before during the band’s break, “…everyone with a notebook will have to do a solo.” On and on, honestly. What is the fascination? I was just scribbling into a little notebook trying to work out Sherlock’s parents, and later doing some world building for Pirate!Sherlock.
And –what the hell is the problem with reading or writing in public rather than sitting around waiting for someone to come over and entertain me? Because I’ll tell you, most the above conversations I’ve had have been strongly implying that I shouldn’t be reading or writing when I’m doing so. Why is this? I’m there to listen to the band. Before they start I might as well be on a train on my way to where the band is playing – a situation in which it is completely acceptable for me to occupy my time listening to music, reading, or writing. Why is it that sitting in the bar waiting is different from sitting on the train waiting? Also, how is this any different or more rude than if I were attached to my phone rather than socializing with those around me? I know I sound completely anti-social now, and to some extent I am, but in this situation the members of the band have more important things to do than talk to me and anyone else is probably trying to chat me up (well, hopefully, I guess – sort of) which I’m not terribly interested in, and if they absolutely must, can’t it wait until the music starts? Most conversations which take place in a bar are much more interesting when you can only make out every other word over the music, this allows you to imagine the person you’re conversing with is a lot more interesting than he or she actually is.
Guh! My tea experiences are going well except for the strainer. I bought one in the shop but because I’m an idiot I took the shop girl’s implication that the pot and the strainer she was selling me in the same transaction would fit together. Yeah, and then when I discovered the problem I checked all the wrong places - in the words of Pargoletta - but what I really did was check all the places within reach of my lunch break. No luck. So then I ordered (while I awaited its arrival I pulled open teabags, emptied them and refilled with my own blends) one with a cute little charm quoting Jane Austen about tea. But this one is a little mesh ball that you have to close up after you’ve put the tea in. Well, I don’t have time to be faffing about all day refilling this thing every hour (this is all probably very much bad tea etiquette, but it’s been working for me as I’m hardly a connoisseur and it’s bad enough that I have to keep walking into the kitchen for hot water four or more times a day) so I fill both sides (a shorter brewing time per cup = more cups per fill) and then want to flip it closed. This works reasonably well for The Lemon is in Play as well as Earl Grey Green, but Mycroft is not only being a right little bitch about what he’s building, but he’s also causing this process to shower little bits of himself all over my desk! I don’t want to waste all my Mycroft! I just want a nice little strainer into which I can carelessly shovel some tea and then plop it into my pot; is this too much to ask?
Some good news is that we saw most of Singin’ in the Rain on the big screen on Thursday. Yes, the bad news would be the fact that I had to modify the previous statement. Everything was going well until Don and Lina took to the stage after the premiere of their new film; Don’s dancing circles around her to keep her from actually talking, and we start seeing some pixelization – uh oh – sure enough, about a minute later we see the little pop up box – we’re entirely familiar with it as we sometimes get it at home – Part of the recording has been lost – something about signal loss – I don’t know – whatever – ranting here, people. And the film jumps to R.F. telling everyone to shut down for a week because the Jazz Singer is a huge hit and The Duelling Cavalier just isn’t going to cut it without sound. Yes, that’s right, we missed both Cosmo’s solo AND Kathy’s arrival on the scene, which means we also missed her dressing down Don for not being as totally keen as he thinks he is. Boo!
After a bit they stopped it and made an attempt to do something, but it was pretty clear they weren’t going to be able to retrieve missing digital data. So afterwards I got a refund – but then after I’d gotten home I panicked – who was actually at fault? I was initially thinking the theatre should have checked the print or the file or whatever before they showed it, but the fact that it looked like my tv error and the fact that it was TCM finally sank in and I wondered if this was actually a national crisis and TCM would now not be welcome in theaters anymore because all these places had to give everyone back their money – if I’d at least taken the passes offered instead of actual cash I might have seemed a little more supportive. A couple of google searches later I’m satisfied this was not in fact a national problem – phew!
There has been a distinct lack of snippets, and I’m sorry. This is indicative of a few things. One, the only redeeming point of last week was the birth of Pirate!Sherlock; other than that it was a total loss and should be written off as such. Two, all the fun magical typing is apparently mostly over for this section and it’s now a slog to the end filling in bits which I need in order to connect all the bits I’ve already written – bleck. Three, I’m currently having to go back and expand the bit where I introduce Sherlock’s weaponized parents and actually use them; this is proving exceedingly difficult for numerous reasons – I don’t think Sherlock’s parents are actually like this, so my brain doesn’t want to commit to it; these are OCs and I’m apparently not good at developing characters of my own when my brain is kicking and screaming, ‘these people don’t actually exist, stop typing them into existence!’ Plus I’m basing all of this on television logic which seems to be telling me that even if Sherlock’s father beat the stuffing out of him and Mycroft both, they should still be able to be in a room together as adults. Personally, this mystifies me, but tv assures me it is so. Plus, I need him to have some actual dimension since he’s presumably not still physically abusive but has switched to messing with their minds at this point. I’m having a difficult time wrestling all of these bits into a scene which fits the characters and is entertaining to read.
See? Incoherent - but - Done with that! On with the writing of Other Stuff!
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no subject
Date: 2012-07-17 06:36 pm (UTC)I'm sorry about your Singin' in the Rain experience. That's so disappointing! I've never been to a TCM offering, but the last bad mess-up I saw was opening day for RotK. Glitch right during Theoden's death scene. Thankfully it cleared up fast so we saw Eowyn and the Witch-King, but yikes, what a spot to glitch!
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 01:57 am (UTC)I was sad. KR took the view of - well, that worked out well, we saw almost all of the movie for free - but I was a little sad. I would gladly have paid - in fact did - and would have enjoyed the uninterrupted experience. Still, I suspect it wouldn't have saved the week in and of itself, so I should try to just be happy I saw most of it.
I will definitely check out Upton - if not for the filter issue now, for future tea purchases. Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2012-07-17 07:21 pm (UTC)ETA: like this one.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 01:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 02:36 am (UTC)As far as the fic woes, I'd be happy to discuss Sherlock's weaponized parents with you. I have some expertise and will try to refrain from overloading you. Plus, snippets! All good.
People are weird. It's the one constant besides change, death, and taxes.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 03:22 am (UTC)I'm honestly all at sea regarding Sherlock in this fic right now. My main goal is to not just woobie him - he's a strong character and I don't want to take that away from him. But at the same time my fic is mainly meant to be happy, and I'm not looking to make readers uncomfortable.
I'm at the point where I'm acknowledging that mental abuse is just as bad as physical and feeling a bit paralyzed. Having introduced his parents can I get away with not using them? I was thinking I couldn't - the old rule, you know, once you've introduced the gun you have to fire it. Perhaps I can make it a stun gun? I have no idea at this point - there can't possibly be nothing but pleasant Holmeses, can there? I mean, Simon is annoying, but if he's the worst of the lot...
I could take his parents out completely, of course, but then I'm still left with a manor full of happy, arty, obliging characters - which seems so completely unlikely...
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 03:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-17 11:14 pm (UTC)I have read - and written and *drawn* - in parks, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, Burger King (the only burger chain whose veggie burgers are Vegetarian Society approved), on trains, on platforms waiting for trains, in lauderettes... :D Never once been hassled.
It can have downsides, though, like when all the morning commuters ignore the fact that there's a disabled person collapsed on the floor, but I have never had a single soul ask me about my books or notepads or even sketch pads. That would be Rude. :D
London commuters can ignore *anything*. I've been in a Tube carriage where all the commuters ignored a group of young men stripping another stark bollock naked. (Then throwing him onto a platform.) I was in another where a gang of teenagers stole someone's garment bag. (As a 5'2" disabled woman, I'm not going to be the only person in a full carriage to interfere. That's how you end up stabbed.)
We just stare at our books or laps and let other people get on with their lives.
I will second the call for the over-cup strainers. They're cheap and old-fashioned, but they *work*. Also tea brews better when it has room to move around. (Also, try just a *pinch* of sugar in the pot, with black tea, even if you don't take sugar. It helps the tannins.) I also second the call for warming the pot. And using freshly boiled water. (Can you have an electric kettle on your desk or wherever you are that isn't the kitchen?)
Good luck with the writing, BB. *HUGS*
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 02:07 am (UTC)Sadly, my best option for hot water is to take it directly from the coffee brewer. This is probably strictly american and therefore going to be hard to explain. The office has a coffee machine which is hooked up to the building's water supply. It sits in the kitchen and its only job is to heat water and then release it into the filter full of coffee grounds on demand - this means that to make a pot of coffee all one has to do is dump the used filter and coffee, put in a new filter full of new coffee (dumped out of a bag, not freshly ground [disgusting, yes?]) and press the button for hot water. For us tea drinkers, you can get at the hot water through a faucety-type appendage. It's not quite boiling, but it's too hot to drink straight away and really the best I can hope for unless I boil water in the microwave - which I suppose I could do, that's only 3-4 minutes, so that would be doable - and also may add to the precious time spent away from my desk...although people are already looking at me a bit oddly as I am now walking to and from the kitchen with a tiny tea pot multiple times a day. :-)
Well at least I'm not drinking tea from a proper tea pot and scribbling in my notebook at the same time - can't you just see the heads exploding? ;_0
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 12:51 am (UTC)Consider New Year's Eve in Time Square—how many people would be willing to stand around risking frostbite and waiting for the ball to drop if everyone were just staring into space, checking their watches, maybe playing Angry Birds to pass the time until the ball dropped? It's the crowd enthusiasm that makes the experience, and it's all part of the buildup.
I wish you luck with your snippets and characters. I quite look forward to reading them.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 02:15 am (UTC)Perhaps I can get an ereader which I can pretend is a phone...
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 01:56 pm (UTC)They're in Forest Park and it's an adorable shop- or at least it was in grad school, lo these many years ago. I got my first teapot and cup with strainer there.
I think modernSherlock's parents are a lot like the Dursleys- Mycroft is within the paramaters of weirdness they could handle, if still odd, but they had no idea how to cope with Sherlock. It was the chickens pecking the odd one to death kind of scenario.
I rarely get pestered when reading in public- I guess either I have good "go away or I will batter you to death with A Severed Wasp" body language or, more likely, being in DC, lots of people are reading on their commutes/lunch hour/happy hour.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-18 04:17 pm (UTC)I have a little mesh ball for tea also but it's too annoying to use often so I have one of these strainers both steeps and strains the tea into your cup. Though I can't say I'm much of a tea expert either - I'm often happy with bagged tea and save the loose stuff for more occasional use. (Which makes my pocketbook happy.)