Few things to say here.

1. It's. Fucking. Cold.

2. I don't know why I tried to make a snowball with my bare hands. Ow.

3. The elevation at which I live MIGHT not even be in the double digits. I could walk to the beach. Winter Park, Colorado, is about 9200 feet above sea level. That's 2.8 kilometers for my metric buddies.

3 adden. I'm having issues breathing.

4. There's a freaking mountain outside my window!

5. Also, it's snowing. And it's sticking. It's sticking snow. It's snow that sticks. Amazing.

6. When they say "cold water faucet," they mean "cold water faucet."

7. Dear little girl that sat in front of me on the shuttle during hour and a half drive from Denver to Winter Park. If I see you again while I am here, I am throwing you off this goddamn mountain.

8. Dear little girl that sat behind me on the plane two and a half hour flight from Houston to Denver. See above, edit for altitude.

9. Ice =|= snow. Must make sure not to jump on either carelessly.

10 . Did I mention it's cold?


Not doing it tonight, but I might post a little Spiral while I'm up here, since it gets dark fairly early.

All the best.

...Wally just dropped an F-Bomb.

No clue what this is? Read the first post in the series.

"Mysteriously and in ways that are totally remote from normal experience, the gray drizzle of horror induced by depression takes on the quality of physical pain ... it is entirely natural that the victim begins to think ceaselessly of oblivion."

- William Styron

"I saw the days of the year stretching ahead like a series of bright, white boxes, and separating one box from another was sleep, like a black shade. Only for me, the long perspective of shades that set off one box from the next day had suddenly snapped up, and I could see day after day after day glaring ahead of me like a white, broad, infinitely desolate avenue."

- Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

We now turn to what's probably the weakest point of the season. Wrecked, Gone, and Doublemeat Palace. But don't write off these episodes just because they're not up to Dead Things-level or anything. There's plenty going on that we need to pay attention to in order to get what's going on with Buffy.

Just to get things straight from the get-go, this is meta about Buffy's depression. How it affects her, how it's presented in the show, the metaphors at work behind it, why Buffy does bitchy things, etc. Very narrow focus. Obviously, there's a lot of discussion about Spike and Buffy/Spike, but this meta is not about Spike or Spuffy. I'm only looking out how Buffy's depression arc interacts with her relationships, and I'm not giving Spike's side of the story at all.

So buckle in because these next three episodes are important for Buffy's depression arc, even if they're not the most stellar episodes of the season.

( Three episodes of angst and sneaky death metaphors! )

This time tomorrow, I'll be all settled in at the hotel and ready for a little snowboarding.

I say "little," 'cause there's always the chance that I'll be at it for about five minutes before breaking something.

All the best.

You're really better at skiing, anyway.

Emily sent me this image of the Noble County Courthouse in Albion, which I took with her camera when we went out for a walk during the snowfall Saturday. You know, I must really love her, to allow myself to be dragged out into that stuff ... ;-) Kind of a gloomy day, and unfortunately you can't see the fine snow that was still falling at the time, but I kinda like it; she's got a nice camera. (I believe you can click on the image to make it bigger)

( Noble County Courthouse in winter )

I mentioned to someone earlier that it seems like, no matter how bad the weather might seem in northeast Indiana, someone else is getting it worse. That was certainly the case this weekend, when we had a little six inch snowfall while just about everyone east of us was getting clobbered by a full out blizzard, complete with nearly two feet of snow. It just wasn't all that bad here (not that I liked it much). In fact, most of the problems here in Noble County wouldn't have happened if people would just slow down and remember what it's like to drive on the white stuff. Just the same, I've got copy to write, so:


( Snowfall Blamed for Numerous Accidents )

Happy birthday, Emily! May you have a fun and happy one, and lots more with plenty of love and laughter to come. Love you!

So I posted a poll on Empty Places without really spelling out my thoughts on it. Now that I've finished rewatching Touched, I'm gonna just blurt out my random thinky-thoughts on the two episodes.

( I rambled for way too long. Putting it all behind a cut for ya. )

As some might have noticed, I didn't do the links last week. That's cause studying for finals kept me from preparing them. But I have links this week! Yay!

On an odd, random note, my grandmother (who I'm not particularly close to) gave me sexy panties for Christmas. I honestly don't know what to make of it.

Anyway, disclaimers!

1. Trigger warning! Links deal with rape, often from a feminist perspective. Click with care.

2. I don't always agree 100% with everything in the links. I'm just the messenger.

3. If there are comments, give them a read-through. They're often interesting.

( Below the cut, as always... )

He's No Jack Sparrow has been finished for a grand total of two days, and I'm already thinking about where I want to go with the sequel that, given a couple of days to think about it, is most definitely going to happen.

What I think I'm gonna end up doing is, after finishing Spiral, focusing all my attention on one series at a time, so that the Sparrow sequel won't be drawn out in broken up fragments like the original was.



Still. There's a point in taking a break from writing, but I'm note entirely sure that brainstorming what you're going to do next with your writing is the best way of doing that. I'm planning on taking the lappy with me on the vacation, so there's a good chance that, when it's dark and too cold to fall down a mountain, I'll be posting snippets of commentary on He's No Jack Sparrow and the hitherto untitled sequel.

Oh, Empty Places. Have a poll, guys.

Poll #1500662
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 92

Was the gang right to give Buffy the boot in Empty Places?

Title: This Part Was for Her
Series: He's No Jack Sparrow
Pairing: N/A
Rating: PG-13 for references to sex
Setting: post-Chosen and post-Retrospect : Xander, Home
Word Count: 4,845 words

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. All characters, places, and events are the property of the aforementioned and Twentieth Century Fox.

Summary: He used to carry shields and hearts. Now he has to carry himself. These trees may not be in the desert, but they're no less precious.


( He's no Jack Sparrow, but then again, he never had to be. )

This will be the most scattered, random post ever.

1. Folks, buffyversetop5 will be open in two weeks. If you haven't already, friend the comm and enjoy the awesome recs that will come from it. If you've found yourself some uber-cool Buffy stuff from 2009, share your own Top 5 rec lists. Fanfic, meta, fanart, whatever. Anything about Buffy made in 2009 is free game. Do it!

2. I'm so freaking excited because Sinister Attraction is devirused and back online! Guys, this was the first site I ever went to for Buffy fanfic. In fact this is the first Buffy fic I ever read. And now I feel an urge to reread. It's all Spuffy fanfics, so my fellow Spuffies, go read!

3. I was updating my own meta master list. Doing so always reminds me that I talk far too much. Anyway, I was reminded of my own favoritest meta I've ever ever done. Just a Girl. I ♥ Buffy.

4. On the rewatch front, I'm warming up to Caleb this time round. Yeah, he's over-the-top and subtle as an anvil filled with gunpowder, but he's supposed to be Patriarchy/Misogynist Concentrate. So it kinda makes sense that he's over-the-top. Plus, we get such great exchanges!

The First/Buffy: All these girls...they followed you willingly. You tricked them.

Caleb: I only told them the truth. As for following, well, that seems to be what they do best.

Cause, see, under the patriarchy women are socialized into behaviors and beliefs that ultimately keep them under the thumb of the patriarchy. Self perpetuating system and all.

5. Also, Faith's part in S7 makes a lot more sense once you've seen her episodes on AtS.

Thanks to my Livejournal friends kazzy_cee, winsomeone, deborahw37, ciphre, jaded_jamie, oldgreymare, frickangel ("CoooOOoookie!"), and kittyzams for the wonderful virtual gifts they sent me on LJ! On a related note, thanks for all the Christmasy stuff everyone's been giving me on Facebook, and for all the snailmail Christmas cards I've been getting! It's been a rough year, and you're all really shedding some much needed light onto the darkest part of winter.

A guy can write only so many Christmas columns, so for the past few years I’ve looked back to see if any of my old ones were worth a reprint. In other words, I got lazy. Here’s one of my favorites, from 2006:


SLIGHTLY OFF THE MARK

( “You’re striking out on the stealth thing, Santa,” I told him, while wondering how soon my alarm clock would go off. )

Lies My Parents Told Me! Lies My Parents Told Me!!!

Please let me have a moment of pure fangirlish squee.

Gah! I love it so much! I love Spike. I love Buffy. I love William. I love William's mom. I love Robin. I love Nikki. I love Giles. I love Drusilla. I love the big fight between Robin and Spike. I love Buffy closing the door on Giles. I love it all. There is no part of this episode that I do not love wholeheartedly. If I could frame it, I would hang it on the ceiling above my bed so I could wake up to it every morning. I. Love. It.

And I'm done.

Moving on, I know some people complain that the showrunners got lazy in S7. Personally, I think the acting's still spot on. But I have caught a couple...um...goofs. Anybody else see these?

( Below a cut as I provide sceencaps for ya )

Title: Someone Else's Hands
Series: He's No Jack Sparrow
Pairing: N/A
Rating: PG-13 for references to sex
Setting: post-Chosen and post-Retrospect : Xander, Sudan
Word Count: 4,520 words

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. All characters, places, and events are the property of the aforementioned and Twentieth Century Fox.

Summary: He used to carry shields and hearts. Now he has to carry himself. In a quiet moment, he's hit with a hard truth. If he were smarter, he wouldn't be so confused.


( He's no Jack Sparrow, and it's never been more obvious. )

The doctor thinks I only have a sprain to my knee, so no extra testing for now. He gave me a knee brace, a 9 day supply of Celebrex for the swelling, and instructions to take it easy for a week or so. He also confirmed what I'd already discovered about my prostate readings, which is that my PSA test of 5.6 is just barely over the normal range and nothing to be all that concerned about; I'm officially putting any worries on that subject off until my urologist appointment on January 14.

Oddly, my knee hurts a little more now -- I suspect the swelling was actually padding the injury and masking the pain, a bit. I didn't stop to think that Celebrex isn't a pain reliever, so I need to go looking for my ibuprofen.

Better news: Emily got all A's in her most recent college semester -- 4.0 grade point average! Yay her! Smart girls are hot. ;-)

So I've taken advantage of my schoollessness right now and have gotten through the first season of Dollhouse, including Epitaph One - which I honestly have no clue what to make of except to say it reminded me of every zombie movie I've ever seen.

So, folks, I now need to read meta about the first season, particularly Epitaph One. Link me!

Spoiler note! Assume spoilers through Epitaph One in the comments. No, I haven't watched any of S2. And while I'm not horribly allergic to spoilers, I'd still rather not have them thrown at me, so please avoid any lame hint-dropping and such.

Now go on. I know you all have some links.

Title: Paid and Repaid
Series: He's No Jack Sparrow
Pairing: N/A
Rating: PG-13 for violence and language
Setting: post-Chosen and post-Retrospect : Xander, Sudan
Word Count: 4,746 words

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. All characters, places and events are the property of the aforementioned and Twentieth Century Fox.

Summary: He used to carry shields and hearts. Now he has to carry himself. All the world comes to a point, and it's going to run someone through.


( He's no Jack Sparrow, but it's past time to face Davy Jones. )

Title: One Last Wise Word
Series: He's No Jack Sparrow
Pairing: N/A
Rating: PG-13 for violence
Setting: post-Chosen and post-Retrospect : Xander, Sudan
Word Count: 4,449 words

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. All characters, places, and events are the property of the aforementioned and Twentieth Century Fox.

Summary: He used to carry shields and hearts. Now he has to carry himself. Sometimes, the things you start out with turn out to be the things you need the most.


( He's no Jack Sparrow, but Calypso has his back. )