another social casualty

Hey dudes. If interested, there's a fanfic prompt-a-thon going on over at the LiveJournal of crickets . Head on over and prompt like crazy, y'all. Good times!

Damn it. He didn't get to usher through health care reform or even see it passed . . . damn it. He was an incredible public servant and a critical voice for our party and our country. RIP.

Hey there, LiveJournalLand.

Drive-by post to pimp the Support Stacie Author Auction. A lot of y'all have probably heard of it before, but for those uninitiated - Stacie/"Pooh" is a member of the fandom community (mostly "Gilmore Girls," I think) and about three years ago, she was diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, she is uninsured and her husband's salary isn't enough for all the medical bills and supporting their kids. So, some fandom folks got together and decided to do something. One of the somethings is the author auction.

The way it works - there's a bunch of different authors (~100?) from a number of fandoms. You bid on them. If you win, they write the story you want written but were too lazy/untalented(ME)/whatever to write yourself. There are some amazing authors offered in the auction and it goes until tomorrow (April 6) at 6PM CST. I think.

Anyways, all the profits go to help pay Stacie's medical bills. So it's a good cause and you get fic out of it if you win! And sometimes, the authors are awesome and have special offers just for bidding.

So, go bid! (NOT FOR slybrunette THOUGH - I ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH COMPETITION, BITCHES)

New name for new Derek Shepherd: Cereal Killer.

Y/N?

Alright, in an attempt to push myself out of my funk of yesterday, I decided to compile my list of the best YouTube videos of the past year. These are not necessarily videos that came out last year, but I happened to discover them then. Here we go:

( YOUTUBE TIEMZ )

Alright, that's all folks. I reserve the right to update this at will. And now I ask . . . your favorites?

YES WE CAN.

I am so beyond excited and exhausted and exhilirated and about a bazillion other verbs that I can't even begin to iterate. This is incredible. It's a victory for the Democrats and a victory for African Americans and, most of all, a victory for the country. We are on the brink of having the first black president. This doesn't erase the very real racially based issues that our country still faces, but it says to every child out there that Martin Luther King's dream is possible. I'm beyond moved. I'm a little drunk. And I can't wait for tomorrow.

Anniversary of the death of Wade Edwards is today.

Not much more I wanted to say. Just thoughts and prayers to his family.

"The modern hero is a person who does something everyone thinks they could do if they were a little stronger, a little faster, a little smarter, or a little more generous. Heroes in ancient time were a link between man and perfect gods. Heroes in modern times are the link between man as he is and man as he could be." - Wade Edwards

Meme time, as I'm putting off creating actual substantive Namibia related posts for now . . .

Mraz is The Man.

I hate Ralph Nader.

That is all.

( Survey )

*Stephanie*

Happy New Year, all!

[Warning: This post is slightly unorganized ramblings that are just flowing out of me. Continue at your own risk.]

I've just been thinking way too much in the last couple days. About everything and anything. It's big stuff. About why we exist and down to smaller, "less important" things, like why I don't have a guy. And what will happen in the future - if I will be forever alone. And why that would be. Also, am I just continuing down this path of trying to be like various celebrities. And why that is. Plus - my obsession with TV shows.

Anyway, the rest of this post I'll discuss these things. And to spare those of you who don't want to hear my introverted whining anymore, I will put it behind a cut.

( Importance of Our Lives Ramblings. )

( Non-Boyfriend Status. )

( Wannabe? )

( TV Obsessions, and Other Neuroses. )

Wow. I didn't think I'd get that analytical. Maybe I shouldn't post all this, but I think I will, because I've been thinking about it, and I think you guys should know this stuff I'm thinking about.

A side note, that might explain some of the stuff in my "celebrity wannabe" section - I'm completely obsessing over the Macy Gray song, "Sexual Revolution". Download it, if you haven't heard it. It's awesome and quite empowering. ::nods::

Anyway. I must be off to obsess over "Sexual Revolution" and my TV shows some more. ;)

*Stephanie*

Lalala. I should be doing my homework. But Brian [or someone at his house] is on the phone. And I can't remember what Chemistry I'm supposed to be doing. SO you can't say I didn't make a valiant effort to actually start my homework. I tried, guys. ;)

( Stuff. )

*Stephanie*

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Packers 31, Broncos 3.

Arizona 18, Minnesota 17.

We're going to the playoffs, baby.

::glows::

I love my team. I love the Cardinals. They're amazing. And so is Brett Favre. And Ahman Green.

You have no idea how happy that makes me. Most of my friends aren't much into football. So they don't really get it. But this was absolutely amazing. So, if any of you out there are closet NFL fans, show yourselves and do a happy dance with me. Unless you're a Vikings fan. ;)

::starts conga line to the 'Packerena'::

*Stephanie*

Finally watched LotR tonight. I'd never seen it before. ::wooks:: Now, before you guys start giving me the incredulous look, you must listen to the plan I had. ;)

See, I knew if I went off to see the first one in theaters, I'd become obsessed and get really pissed that the next part hadn't come out yet. So, my plan was that I'd watch the first two the weekend before the third one came out, and then I'd have no problems. Well, that didn't exactly happen because I got rather busy. So, I watched the first one in its entirety tonight. And here are my thoughts.

- Hobbits, as a people, are really stupid. I mean, come onnnnnn. ;)
- Orlando Bloom is hot. Legolas is awesome. As I expected. But, unexpectedly, I don't like him the best as far as characters go. Which leads me to my next point . . .
- Holy frick, Aragorn is awesome. Viggo's hot as hell, too. I love that character.
- I already know Gandalf's not really dead. So no biggie. LOL

Anyway, it's a very cool movie. I can see how it would have been better to see it on the big screen, though. ::shrugs:: Eh, whatever.

*Stephanie*

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Went to two concerts in a weeks' time.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I will come out as strongly against New Year's resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so . . .
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
USA, baby. ;)

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
A boyfriend. ;)
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 1 - Went to John Mayer/Counting Crows concert w/Brian, Ellen, and Allison.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
No clue.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably lots.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Got pneumonia.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Alias DVDs. I don't know.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I don't know.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Uhhh, the Bush administration and spineless Democratic Party leaders?

14.Where did most of your money go?
CDs

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing John Mayer, David Gray.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
"Senorita", "Rock Your Body", "Hey Ya".

17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
For better or worse, more contemplative.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Put myself out there more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Internet. Getting caught up in stupid high school drama.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Family time.
22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Not really.

23. How many one-night stands?
So many. ::coughs:: Yeah right.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Scrubs and Alias.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yeah.

26. What was the best book you read?
This year? Did I even read any books this year? ;) I read Fahrenheit 451 at some point last school year. Which I enjoyed very much.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Josh Groban. He's amazing.
28. What did you want and get?
"Closer" by Josh Groban, Packers stuff.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo and Love Actually.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My sixteenth birthday. I went out to dinner and to a David Gray concert with my mom.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having a boyfriend
34. What kept you sane?
My friends. Who were always freaking there for me. Even when I had my frequent mental breakdowns.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
John Mayer.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Iraq. The Bush administration's lovely "WMD" ordeal.

37. Who did you miss?
My best friend from childhood, Molly. Lisa, too.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Well, I became better friends with Sarah.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
I don't know. To value the friends that you can depend on.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Something's missing, and I don't know what it is . . ."

*Stephanie*

Merry Christmas, all. Hope everyone had a looooverly holiday.

I haven't updated in forever and a day. Been busy with pressing things like mailing out all my cards, and ::coughs:: watching "Alias". ;)

What's new? Hmm . . .

- My Mayermobile needed a new muffler. Got that on Monday, courtesy of my dad. $250. Ridiculous. My stepmom was like, "Do think it's worth it to invest that much money into that car?" I was like, "Hell yes." ;)

- Christmas movie marathon on Tuesday at my house. Was much fun. Brian came early and we got the movies and Chinese food. We watched "Home For the Holidays" [Robert Downey, Jr! Robert Downey, Jr!], "It's a Wonderful Life", "A Christmas Story", and "Muppet Christmas Carol". Andrew, Ellen, Alex, Sarah, Allison, Chad, and Brian were all there. It was Chad's first movie night. Surprisingly enough, I don't think we scared him off. Go us. ::wooks:: We ended up wrestling [per usual]. Somehow, it ended up being me against four people [Sarah, Allison, Andrew, and Brian]. Sarah was holding my head/neck, Andrew and Brian had one hand/arm each, and Allison had my legs. Needless to say, I managed to break free on several occasions. Mwahahaha. And believe I inflicted injury on most of them. ;) Sadly enough, when they had me pinned to the ground and I attempted to spin out of their grasp, I had my hips slammed into the wooden floor and now sport a lovely yellow-purple bruise on where my pelvic bone hit the ground. ;)

- Brian came to church service with me and the family on Christmas Eve. It was cool. I think he liked it. I loooove the Christmas service. It was about angels this year. At the end, a bunch of feathers dropped from the ceiling and we could all pick one out. And the end was my favorite - every year we all hold hands and sing "Rainbow Connection". ::wooks:: So I go to sort of a hippie church. ;) Anyway, it was great. My favorite line from the sermon was:

One of the first steps to becoming and angel is - you have to believe in your wings.

A full Christmas gift inventory. 'Cause I'm a freak.

- "ER" Season 1 DVDs [Dad/Stepmom]
- Progressive Scan DVD/CD player system ["Santa"]
- Book on Ireland with lots of pictures [Dad]
- Headphones [Dad]
- Hulk Hands [Stepbrother ;)]
- "Chicago" DVD [Little Half-Sis]
- "Closer" by Josh Groban [Stepsister]
- Foot Spa Kit thingy [Gail and Lee, my old babysitters]
- Car fresheners ["Santa"]
- Car Emergency Kit, addressed to the Mayermobile ["Santa"]
- Lotion ["Santa"]
- Packers license plate holder [aunt and uncle]
- Favre bobble head doll [aunt and uncle]
- White button up sweater [Mom]
- "Let It Be . . . Naked" by the Beatles [Mom]
- "Pirates of the Caribbean" DVD [Mom]
- "Hotel Paper" by Michelle Branch [aunt and uncle]
- Sun/Stars candle in a really cool holder [cousins]
- Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles book set [uncle]

And random money/gift certificates.

I made out pretty damn well.

Actually, I got repeat presents from one aunt and uncle, because I gave them the same list as others ["PotC", "Hotel Paper", and "Closer"]. They bought it from Amazon.com, so I don't know if I'll be able to return 'em, but we'll see. I've learned my lesson. And my aunt made sure I knew not to do it again. ;) I actually would have gotten another repeat next week [the ER DVDs] from my stepmom's sister, but she intercepted her. So, maybe I'll get some other DVD set. Hee.

Oh, and my dad got the West Wing DVD set from my stepmom, so woooohoooo. Plus, my dad also got the book by Al Franken, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them", so I'll be able to read that.

I sent out most of my stuff on Monday to all you guys, a couple extras on Wednesday. So they should arrive within a week or so. ::nods::

Oooooooh, everyone worship the icon. ::oohs and aahs:: Favre is unbelieveable. I love him so much. He's amazing. For those of you who don't follow football, his father, whom he was very close to, died the night before a Monday night game. He made the decision to play the game. He wound up passing for 311 yards in the first half alone. The highest passer rating you can get is 158.3. He ended the game with 399 yards and a 154 passer rating. He was absolutely brilliant. We'll probably get to the playoffs, but who knows. Tomorrow's game between the Seahawks and the 49ers will help determine it - if the Seahawks lose, we're almost definitely in. If not, it'll be up to several other factors. Go, team, go.

*Stephanie*

Lalala. Oh so glad it's Friday. One week of school left. Then Christmas break. Woooo.

Speaking of, I really need to figure out -

A) What I'm getting for people.
B) When I'm getting it [this weekend? maybe?].

And if I have enough money/how much money I need to mooch off the folks.

So far I've gotten two gifts - for my stepsister, I got the Beyonce cd. I felt so dirty buying it. Ickkk. And I got my dad a book on what would have happened if so and so had/hadn't happened in major wars. ::shrugs::

On another issue, screw you, period. ::pouts:: My back hurts.

I think I'm gonna do my cards this weekend.

I had tests up the wazoo this week. I had an IB Bio test on Tuesday, an IB Chem test on Wednesday [that one nearly caused a mental breakdown - but I did alright on it ---> should not have freaked out.] and an IB History test today. Next week, I have an IB Chem test and a Pre-Calc test. They won't be that bad, though.

"ER" was weird. Kem and Carter sucked the big one. I looooooved Neela/Gallant to death. ::giggles:: Gallant shook his ass, too. ;)

"Alias" rocked. I can't remember much. I did not enjoy Syd/Will. But Syd said she hated Lauren, and Sloane had Lindsey killed, so that made things better. Plus, Spy!Daddy gave Vaughn a talking-to. LOL

"Scrubs" is my favoritest show EVER. I love it so much -

JD: Dr. Cox, you've got to tell her about it. Tell her everything you feel.
Cox: Should I give her every reason to accept that I'm for real?

::snorts::

I love that damn show. :D

Alright. I'm off to bed. Sleepy time.

*Stephanie*

Alrighty. Christmas/Holiday card time. So far, I'm sending cards/things to:

Raine
Chanie
Robbie
Rachy
Kels

Anyone else who wants one, IM me. Or email your address to me. And Robbie and Kels - could you email me your addys again? I had them . . . and now I have not. ;)

*Stephanie*