OMG, I'm too tired to think of a subject line. Pretend there's something clever here.

[bironic]

From a fic I read this morning:

[Character A] suppressed a groan of frustration but took the offered hand, letting [Character B] pull them both to their feet and refused the offered hand, glowering as he climbed to his feet.

*blink* I know I've been awake since Oh You've Got To Be Kidding o'clock this morning, but... Huh?

For good fic, try 400% (McKay/Cadman, McKay/Sheppard) or Ophthalmology (McKay/Sheppard, glasses and metaphors!) by kormantic, or The Pegasus Society by iamsab (John/Rodney/Atlantis/math OT4!).



L'shana tova, those of you who celebrated the new year this week. May your next twelve months be sweet, peaceful and productive.

I went to services Wednesday night for the first time in several years, which was... interesting, as communal worship often is to a liberal atheist who appreciates God as a metaphor and doesn't know or like most of the people in the congregation. I spent most of the time watching everyone and thinking, seeing if I could keep pace with the recitations while reading the Hebrew rather than the transliterations, comparing the voices of different soloists in the choir, appreciating the weight of history and tradition behind the rituals, identifying various assumptions in the rabbi's sermon, studying the phrasing of the prayer book passages, etc., and then noticing that I was treating the whole thing as an intellectual exercise, surprise. What works best about a service for me these days is not the comfort of tradition or being swept up in the proceedings (which has yet to happen) but instead the chance to wind down, regain some perspective and ruminate a bit, even if not all of the things I was thinking about were appropriate for a place of worship (you can guess). The songs were the best part, as always; aside from the soloist's haircut, "Avenu Malkeinu" sounded exactly like it did ten years ago, and this time, finally, I managed to remember part of the song that always haunts me the rest of the day, so I can write to our cantor and ask if there's a recording. And by the end, I did feel a little more at peace with the world and had decided on a few ways to treat people, and myself, better in the coming year. Even though it has already mostly worn off.

Then I took the day off yesterday and worked on a story, assembled some cabinets, and watched SGA ("Home") and the second episode of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style (not as good as the premiere). Back at work today, joy.



So, okay. If I manage to finish a story ever again, it could be fun to do one for karaokegal's Come As You're Not Halloween party, where, if you don't already know, we're encouraged to write plots, pairings, genres, fandoms, etc., that aren't "us" (or that we haven't tried before). I don't suppose anyone has suggestions? I'm sort of at a loss as to what might be a fun un-me thing to try. There's that Ali/everyone WIP, but it might not count, since I was going to post it of my own volition before last year's party was announced. I'd love to do a vid (and have two ideas, alas), but just don't have the time.

Comments

[bell]

:( Maybe that fic just needed to be reread by the author/helped by a betaer? I've been known commit similar atrocities to the English language.

I say you go ahead and cheat and use the Alie/everyone WIP Maybe you could take your dumbest idea ever and just have a ball writing it?

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I suspect lack of beta for that sentence -- it's as if the author had two outcomes there and forgot to delete one.

The Ali fic will be written, Halloween party or no Halloween party. I declare it shall be so. (It's at ~1,800 words as of yesterday.) Or at least it's got just as good a chance of being written without the party as it does with.

Hm. What was my dumbest idea ever?

[theninth.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to come up with something for the Come As you Aren't too. I think my best bet is to write something really sappy and completely OOC. Dancing House with Bunnies, maybe. Child-adoring McKay eating oranges.

[bell]

*nods* That's my impression as well. You rewrite it and then forget to take out the original version.

AHAHAHAH YAY. ♥ If you still want the beta *points to self*

Hm. What was my dumbest idea ever?

I don't know! But whatever it is, it might be unlike you because you normally wouldn't write it.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking about attempting a Cameron/Cuddy for Come as You Aren't. I had a Cameron fan tell me that my characterization is bad, so if I could write something that would please her, that would be awesome.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Do you think you could write sappy fluffy goodness without turning it into crack? A true challenge!

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I had a Cameron fan tell me that my characterization is bad

Oh, that's nice. Was it phrased more politely, at least? (Was it for the one that takes place in the future where she's a colleague of House's?)

Cameron/Cuddy would be interesting. I can't remember, have you done f/f before?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

It was a general comment, in the context of something else, in which she said my writing itself was good but "I don't like your characterization [...] We just see differently." I'm actually not sure if she just means Cameron, or she means other characters too. Will have to follow up.

I wrote Julie Wilson/OFC ("Shiksa" and a short sequel). Also wrote an MST that had Cameron/Cuddy but that was not terribly serious. : )

[theninth.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I could write sappy, fluffy goodness without it turning into angst.

(although I might be able to do it with Doctor Who. Though that might be cheating a little.)

[catilinarian.livejournal.com]

The way you describe approaching the service - an intellectual exercise, but also space to think and wind down a bit - reminds me of the way I am in museums (which is not at all a bad thing; museums are sort of like ritual spaces for me, and can go a long way towards making me feel more peaceful and connected).

Do you find that any religious service/setting produces a similar effect, or is there something about the tradition you grew up with that's particularly helpful in giving you room to breathe?

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think any environment that deprives me of distraction is a good space for reflection. Put me in a room with no books, TV, internet connection or pen and paper and it might achieve the same result -- although in temple, there's also the "being surrounded by people" aspect which further keeps me from, say, closing my eyes and taking a nap. I do think the singing and communal reciting can have a lulling effect (though I'm listening rather than participating), too, if I'm in the right frame of mind, but I'm not sure how much of that comfort comes from the service itself and how much is simple familiarity, if that makes sense.

As for other religious services, I'm not sure. I think I'd be too interested in paying attention to all the goings-on at first to sink down into reverie. Probably the more familiar I became with the service, the easier it would be to let it wash over me while I thought.