Yuletide signups are closed and I am slightly afeared of what I will get assigned. But it's not Yuletide without a little panic.

But just a little, so Yuletide Writer, let me try to make you worry a little less.

( Yuletide Letter )

Let's talk TV, a subject near and dear to all of our hearts.

I watched USA's White Collar last night. I'd seen the previews, heard the fandom hype, wasn't overly impressed. I only had it on because I'd watched Jack Wagner on Monk and not changed the channel. I loved it! Matt Bomer (Neal the art thief) is adorable, Tim DeKay (Peter the FBI agent) reminds me of Colin Firth, the writing was good and funny and the actors' chemistry was spot on. I actually laughed out loud a few times. I love the premise, the acting, the writing and I can't wait for next week. I'm not surprised that it was nominated for Yuletide before it even aired - I bet it's right up there with Glee as most written fandom. The slash potential is almost unlimited - even Peter and his wife have compared their relationship to Peter and Neal's, and Peter said so to Neal himself. Can't wait to see where this all goes.

General Hospital. Jonathan Jackson is back as Lucky on Tuesday!!!! My mother and I are still over the moon. I posted the promo on my Facebook and she completely geeked out. "How many times have I watched this video?? I swear, three!" (me: How many times did I watch it? WAY MORE THAN THREE.) I know, I know - he still has to say the crap lines they give him. But if they're bringing him back, then they're changing the direction they've been writing Lucky. That's what makes me so excited. I've disliked this Lucky since Greg Vaughan joined - he woke up from the coma, hated Luke immediately, and became a cop within a week. I loathed that arc and I still hate how Lucky just isn't a real Spencer anymore. JJ's Lucky was pure Spencer, with a lot of Laura, and that's what I'm excited to see. Not to mention Becky Herbst+Tyler Chistopher+Jonathan Jackson together again! (JJ + Tony Geary goes without saying.)

That does make me care more about the current storyline with them. Before, let Liz cheat, who can blame her? But now it's going to mean something. Mom thinks that they'll break up L&L, but I say that they simply can't break them up with JJ back. We tried to think of who could comfort Lucky when he finds out, but came up blank. Does anyone have ideas?

It can't be Rebecca - she's already torn between his two brothers. A third would be stupider than usual. Maxie is happy with Spinelli, and they won't make JJ's Lucky a drug addict again. Sam is with Jason. Lulu is his sister. Are there any other age appropriate women on the show? I'd kind of love to see Lucky and Robin because of their shared history and similar family stories, but I love how happy Robin and Patrick are already. There isn't anyone for him but Liz, really.

I've spent the last hour or so watching clips of JJ's Lucky from the 90s....the Nurses' Ball performances, Liz and Lucky meeting for the first time when she was such a bitch, their Valentine's Day vows, and, of course 1998: Lucky asks Liz to be his girl. AWWWW! Remember how they used to dance so much? And he'd write her songs? It was sweet. No domestic abuse, drug additions, mob involvement, etc in this romance. Could a story like that even play these days? :/

Has anyone heard if they're bringing back Laura for sweeps or Christmas? They've mentioned her a few times last week, and I would love to see her with JJ's Lucky again.

Glee still fills me with glee and I'm interested to see where things go. Ken continues to crack me up, and I'm still singing Sweet Caroline.

I never tuned back in to Stargate Universe after the pilot bored me, and I don't miss it.

I'm watching other things, but I guess they aren't making much of an impact. Things happen, I watch them, I move on.

My mother just called from the union vote - an OVERWHELMING majority of votes (we're talking 66%) were for NO UNION!!!!!! How brilliant is that??? We are so excited and I am so proud of her. Yay Mom!!!!!!!! I also love that after the State and one of the unions told her she wouldn't be able to watch the ballots being counted, the arbitrator said that it was vital that she and another parent be in there to watch as the no union reps, just like the unions had their people there. Score!

Now my question is - are they going to come after us again? How long do they have to wait? Or will they go prey on someone else now?

Whatever, today is for celebration. Way to go, parents!!!!

My mother is the top local news story and top investigative story at Fox News Chicago - watch the video and read the text at the website: Disabled Dispute or watch the video here:



Yay, Mom!!! She and my brother looked great. I think it the piece was well put together, although I wish they'd touched on a few more talking points. ( like these )

The woman from AFSCME was right, this happened too fast for things to be explained and ironed out. It's insane that a full quarter of workers can't vote. It's wrong that parents must do training and deal with union people governing how they care for their adult children with special needs. You don't unionize family members taking care of family members. For God's sake, keep the union out of my home! Except my opinion on the matter doesn't count - I didn't work in July, so the decision to take a large chunk of my monthly salary is out of my hands.

It's 38 degrees outside right now and it is PERFECT. Love love love. I went to the (outdoor) mall this afternoon and it was just so invigorating to walk around. I even got to put on my handknit striped scarf, and it was lovely and warm.

While there, I picked up some winter holiday things from Lush - I cannot wait to bathe with Cinders tonight. It's spicy warm and even has some poprock-type things in it to make it sound like a crackling fire. Fabulous.

I walked to the library's Old Time Radio program last night - a group of about 10 performers, old time mics, foley effects, using transcripts of various broadcasts. We heard Halloween shows from My Friend Irma and Baby Snooks - absolutely hysterical! I loved how their voices were perfect, even when they didn't act or look their parts. I kind of think it would be fun to try and join them - they only meet once a month, with at most 3 performances a month. It just looks so much fun.

I've been doing wii fit for the last week, every morning I don't work. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) I really kind of love it. I unlocked the punching one yesterday and I think it's my favorite so far (although I can't do the advanced yet - they don't break it down slowly enough for me to remember where to step). In the last week, I've lost a pound and definitely toned up a bit. My size 8 jeans fit again. Okay, yes, a little snug, but I couldn't wear them two weeks ago. My body responds so well to physical activity and I just don't know why I can't keep it going!! Hopefully this is going to be a turning point.

Yuletide is starting the brainstorming process, and I'm excited. Nothing has, so far, stood out as something I really want to see or write, but I'm sure something will. It may even, perhaps, be A Thousand Ways to Please A Husband with Bettina's Best Recipes. This was a suggested fandom and I am smitten. I had no idea what to expect when I opened the link, but wow. It's a scanned book from 1917, a cookery book that doesn't limit itself to recipes. Our Bettina is a master of frugality and a paragon of virtue. She instructs all of her friends on the best ways to live and serve men. (Not like that.) (That's for Yuletide.) There's a brand new community for it, and I hope that fanworks are created: bettinas_fandom. Seriously, I love this. I'm currently in November (it chronicles Bettina and Bob's first year of marriage, which began in June) and I can't wait to keep reading. Some of the recipes look great, others are ridiculous and I really do love it. Please read it with me!

I need to redo my look here, but I still love that banner so much. Maybe I'll play with the greens, see if I can make it more autumnal. There's so much that I want to be doing, and do you know what I do instead? I farm my Facebook Farmville farm. Seriously. I am not knitting, I am not writing, I am not playing Sims. I am farming. (Okay, and reading. I am reading a lot.) I need an intervention....as soon as I earn enough money to buy myself a yellow cottage.

My LiveJournal Trick-or-Treat Haul
suzy_queue goes trick-or-treating, dressed up as Flapper.
anamchara gives you 1 milky white grapefruit-flavoured pieces of chewing gum.
bizarra tricks you! You get a piece of paper.
carta gives you 17 light yellow cherry-flavoured wafers.
celli tricks you! You get a 3.5-inch floppy disc.
cphaurora gives you 17 red-orange lime-flavoured jawbreakers.
kdlb gives you 7 light yellow coffee-flavoured pieces of bubblegum.
msktrnanny gives you 1 mauve cinnamon-flavoured nuggets.
nydia_s gives you 19 light yellow evil-flavoured pieces of bubblegum.
powrhug gives you 1 pink coconut-flavoured gummy worms.
tw_babiez tricks you! You get a rotten egg.
suzy_queue ends up with 63 pieces of candy, a piece of paper, a 3.5-inch floppy disc, and a rotten egg.
Go trick-or-treating! Username:
Another fun meme brought to you by rfreebern.

A floppy disc? Really? LOL

I signed up for sg_rarepairings yesterday: Jack Harkness/Rodney McKay, I love you for your mind. I couldn't not. And Jennie said to. And I am weak. Can you imagine these two together? (Although I keep changing the prompt to I just love your brain, which is different. And keeps singing through my head.) I need to write it by the end of the month so that I can focus on Yuletide in November and December.

I'm still watching NCIS: LA. All the slash, less of the subtlety. How exactly is Chris O'Donnell playing this relationship with LL Cool J? And what is the role of the extremely tiny woman? Does she dress them?

My mother is fighting the state government on their de facto forced unionization of home based care providers. She was meant to meet with the gov yesterday, but he bailed. She did meet with his top aides and lawyers, though, and feels it was a very productive meeting. Meanwhile, I'm going to be filing a complaint this week because, as the gov gave the unions data from July pay checks (yes, the state gave our personal contact information to both unions) and I didn't work in July, I did not get a ballot. As I would be taking a significant pay cut by having to pay dues, since I work so little, this is important. They have bungled this entire process, first to last, and it is just not right. Unions have their place, but that is not in my home taking money and care away from my brother.

It may be 8:45, but I am ready for bed. Totally exhausted, determined that I'm not getting sick, need to be ready to face one year olds, observations and more several hour long meetings in the am. I can't wait for Friday and SLEEP.

If GH can't get Sonny and Rebecca off my screen, this is the next best thing: Jonathan Jackson returns as Lucky!!!

Greg Vaughn is a fine actor, but I really, really dislike his Lucky. All of the personality has just been sucked out. I really liked Jacob Young's Lucky, but Jonathan Jackson IS Lucky. My mother and I have said for years that we needed him back. It's going to be great to have the real group all together again - Lucky, Liz and Nik! Plus added awesome Lulu and Ethan. The Spencer clan is going to seriously rock.

Also totally loving NCIS this season - Gibbs and Ziva had me melting. I'm not so into Bones this year, and I look forward to that changing. Dancing with the Stars has been okay, but no one that I love. (Although Aaron Carter in his green Kermit suit was pretty fantastic.) Glee brings me much love and delight. House's premiere was one of the most brilliant piece of television I've seen in years. And while I'm watching other things, they are not making much of an impression.

As my Jennie girl has discovered that she will be having a little girl, I am queuing up all sorts of adorable knits. I'd really like to figure out how to knit the Converse booties, especially, but I may just end up buying a pair of baby Converse instead. LOL

I am super excited to attend my home library's Halloween Old Time Radio performance next week. I am also excited to check out the apartment with my friend Meg this weekend, although she is still job hunting. We can hope, right? And be prepared.

Beatles Rock Band is kind of the most amazing thing in the world and I love it muchly. Facebook's Farmville is quite addictive and fun, as well. I've also spent a lot of time reading this rather interesting and well done Tony/gibbs au. And I clearly need to update more often so I don't feel like I'm writing in lists.

(Logan Huntzberger is on The Good Wife, too! But Josh Charles needs to find a new way to style his hair.)

M and I started apartment hunting today. The place we intended to look at, we didn't so much like. Farther than we thought, rundown, kind of grimy and made me feel claustrophobic with the low ceilings. Then she showed us their other apartment, available Nov 1. It's practically perfect - maybe 7 minute walk to work, first floor, private entrance, two parking spots, heat/water/storage included, laundry on site, dishwasher, huge rooms, 11 foot high ceilings, gorgeous kitchen. One of the bedrooms is ginormous, the other has a walk in closet. There's a sunroom (read: craft room), little foyer, family room, dining room, breakfast nook, great looking bathtub. And it's affordable! A little tighter than the first one, but definitely doable. We're excited. She walked us through the third floor apartment, as the first floor people are slobs and still living there, so she'll call to schedule a walk through of the first floor in a few weeks once they've moved out and renovations have started. We want very badly for this to work out.

Fall TV season has begun! I had thought there wasn't much I'd be watching, but then I listed it out, and I was wrong. I have:

Sunday: Mad Men
Monday: Dancing with the Stars, Castle, Top Gear
Tuesday: NCIS, Dancing with the Stars
Wednesday: GLEE! (So glad the wait is over.) At least the premiere of Eastwick, for Paul Gross as the Devil. \o/ Possibly America's Next Top Model, although the premiere didn't catch me.
Thursday: Bones
Friday: Psych, Eureka, possibly Stargate Universe. I'm a bit burned out on those writers, but it's Stargate.

I also saw Josh Charles in a promo for The Good Wife, which I am not otherwise interested in, but it's Josh Charles. So much for not a lot of television. LOL

I've also been watching Guiding Light, which is ending next week, and General Hospital, which isn't bad. And I've been knitting. And I'd like to be sleeping, except I'm on Cal-duty. And that's my life at the moment!

My mother was in the Chicago Tribune newspaper today! In fact, on the home delivery edition, she was on the front page. It's an article about family caregivers of adults with special needs and the proposed unionizing of them. Please, go read, share it, and comment on it if possible: Organized labor recruits in-home caregivers.

Their picture was on the front page of chicagotribune.com and still shows up when you search for her name, but it's not in the article itself. In the purchased edition, there's a huge picture of them spread across two pages. Pretty neat.

So, yay mom! Less of a yay was me getting read-ended yesterday at a red light. I'm fine, the guy is fine, our cars are fine, but I was pretty shaken. I keep obsessively looking at cars coming up behind me now and worrying that they aren't slowing down fast enough!

I am awfully glad that this week is pretty much at a close. I plan to knit my way through this weekend whenever possible. I'm working on my winter scarf for my Hogwarts knitting class. Should be great.

If phase one of mustering my wits entailed getting my brain engaged again, phase two involves how I look and feel. To that end, when I went to my hair appointment on Friday, I told her that I wanted to go red. I've loved the blonde, but I feel like ME when I'm a redhead. She was initially thrown, but ended up pretty excited when she realized that I always like experimenting with my hair.

So, I am now copper colored (a new shade for me!) with golden highlights. Very Gryffindor, oops. I tried a few different places and lightings to try and show off the color - it tended to photograph dark brown. But trust me - copper. A slightly purpley copper. I'm digging it. We also are going to try and grow out most of my bangs, just leaving a very thin, short fringe and the rest swept to the side. I think I like it.

I wasn't able to walk in the forest preserves yesterday, like I'd hoped, due to rain, but I walked the mile to and from the market today instead of driving like I normally do. I really enjoyed that. As long as the weather cooperates, I want to start walking again.

Phases one and two haven't been very hard, because it's more like getting myself back to where I usually am. Phases three and four are going to be a lot harder and out of my comfort zone, although I've already taken little bitty steps towards three already. (I spoke up four times at work on Thursday, and it went well all four times! I have to stop thinking that if I've thought of something, clearly everyone else has, too, because that isn't always the case.) We'll see how this all continues to go. *g*