Well, it's typical.  I finally get on a roll and am writing like crazy... and my son drops my laptop behind my sofa, squishing my portable hard drive between the keyboard and the LCD display.

The hard drive survived without a scratch.

The LCD display did not.

Laptop will be heading back to Asus tomorrow for replacement of the display.  So, if I go MIA for a week or two, you'll all know why.

School started on Tuesday, and I've been busy, but I was sooooo looking forward to having the weekend to write.  *SOB!*

Hope you are all well -- or at least in better shape than my computer!

Date:	2008-08-25 20:30
Subject:	GATECON!
Security:	Public
Mood:	ecstatic

Vancouver was AWESOME.  I can see why people become addicted to attending these conventions -- I met so many interesting people and saw so many cool things! 

On Wednesday, we went to Bridge Studios and "Jack's Cabin" (which is really the caretaker's residence for a lovely public park.)

Bridge Studios:
]






The Cabin:



And, of course, I HAD to take a picture of THIS along the way...



On Thursday, we visited shooting locations from upgrades ("PX9-757"and "O'Malley's")







And we also stopped by "Tollana," the Tollan homeworld....





And on Thursday night, I went to the "meet and greet" event, where we met and were greeted by Alex Zahara (many roles, including Warrick on Space Race,) Corin Nemec (Jonas Quinn,) and Cliff Simon (Ba'al)! 

For the record....
CLIFF SIMON IS REAAAAAAALLY, REEEEEEEEEEEALLLY HOT.
:drool:

I'm betting Ba'al will be making a more prominent appearance in new fanfics of mine... 

Yum.

Um... Where was I?

Oh yeah.  Friday...

On Friday, we finally got to meet RDA in the panel discussions!!



RDA spent a lot of time talking about the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and appeared with Capt. Paul Watson.  It was very interesting... and it was nice to see that there are some people out there gutsy enough to actually live by the ideals they possess. 

RDA & Capt. Watson:



The stage was pretty cool, too...


We saw more actors on Friday and Saturday, including Steve Bacic (Camulus),  Andee Frizzell (Atlantis' Wraith Queen),  Dan Payne (many roles, including Wraith and Supersoldiers), Gary Chalk (Colonel Chekov), Gary Jones (Walter), to name a few.

In any event, the convention was AWESOME.  And, on Saturday, I got to STAND NEXT TO RDA and have my picture taken.  He was gracious and funny, in spite of being booked to the teeth.  It was an awesome experience.

I'll post more about the trip as time allows.  And I'm now thoroughly inspired to write more fanfiction, so look for more of THAT from me soon, too!!

Date:	2008-05-01 21:51
Subject:	Life is soooo much fun...
Security:	Public
Mood:	stressed

For those of you wondering what the heck happened to me... and why I'm not writing more...  Well, let's just say life is sucking in a big way these days.  My health has been in a slow decline for months now.  I've lost an alarming amount of weight, am constantly exhausted, have awful GI problems, and have been running a low-grade fever for about five months.  Nobody seems to have any idea what the heck is wrong.  The tests keep coming back normal -- and I keep getting sicker.  I'm having some surgery in July for endometriosis, which hopefully will clear things up.  But between now and June (when school ends), I'm afraid I might just be barely able to scrape by.  

So, for all of you who are keen on reading more of my fictions, please be patient.  I've got plans for lots of new stuff, but lack the energy to do much of anything.  Bear with me.  I'm barely able to put one foot in front of the other at this point, but as soon as I'm alive and well again, there will be lots of  new material to read.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Those of you in my particular situation may have seen this before.  For everyone else...  enjoy the window into my world.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

by
Emily Perl Kingsley

©1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Date:	2008-01-05 07:31
Subject:	YEAH, BABY!
Security:	Public
Mood:	ecstatic

I'm going to GATECON!!  In 229 days,  I will have the opportunity to stand beside RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON!!!  



With the VIP tickets I managed to buy today, I'll be in Vancouver in August attending the... Convention Q&A, receiving my RDA Pre-Signed Photo, participating in the RDA Photo Session (Squee!), attending the Other Guests (like Cliff Simon -- a.k.a. Ba'al!) Photo Sessions, and Other Guest Autograph Sessions, attending the Welcome Party, Charity Auction, and even the Location Bus Tours, and, just for fun, the Banquet.

I am SO psyched!!   At any rate, it's official.  I am now a card-carrying Stargate geek.  WOO-HOO!!

Vancouver, HERE I COME!!

Date:	2007-11-26 00:43
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 12
Security:	Public
Mood:	touched

Title: Distant Storms PART TWELVE

**Parts one through eleven posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)
(Click Here to read Part Four.)
(Click Here to read Part Five.)
(Click Here to read Part Six.)
(Click Here to read Part Seven.)
(Click Here to read Part Eight.)
(Click Here to read Part Nine.)
(Click Here to read Part Ten.)
(Click Here to read Part Eleven.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-26 00:35
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 11
Security:	Public
Mood:	jealous

Title: Distant Storms PART ELEVEN

**Parts one through ten posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)
(Click Here to read Part Four.)
(Click Here to read Part Five.)
(Click Here to read Part Six.)
(Click Here to read Part Seven.)
(Click Here to read Part Eight.)
(Click Here to read Part Nine.)
(Click Here to read Part Ten.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-18 23:08
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 10
Security:	Public
Mood:	worried

Title: Distant Storms PART TEN

**Parts one through nine posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)
(Click Here to read Part Four.)
(Click Here to read Part Five.)
(Click Here to read Part Six.)
(Click Here to read Part Seven.)
(Click Here to read Part Eight.)
(Click Here to read Part Nine.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-17 23:31
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 9
Security:	Public
Mood:	devious

Title: Distant Storms PART NINE

**Parts one through eight posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)
(Click Here to read Part Four.)
(Click Here to read Part Five.)
(Click Here to read Part Six.)
(Click Here to read Part Seven.)
(Click Here to read Part Eight)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-14 23:29
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 8
Security:	Public
Mood:	loved

Title: Distant Storms PART EIGHT

**Parts one through seven posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)
(Click Here to read Part Four.)
(Click Here to read Part Five.)
(Click Here to read Part Six.)
(Click Here to read Part Seven.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Title: Distant Storms PART SEVEN

**Parts one through six posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)
(Click Here to read Part Four.)
(Click Here to read Part Five.)
(Click Here to read Part Six.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-13 23:10
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 6
Security:	Public
Mood:	naughty

Title: Distant Storms PART SIX

**Parts one through five posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)
(Click Here to read Part Four.)
(Click Here to read Part Five.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-13 23:06
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 5
Security:	Public
Mood:	naughty

Title: Distant Storms PART FIVE

**Parts one through four posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.) 
(Click Here to read Part Four.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-12 20:48
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 4
Security:	Public
Mood:	naughty

Title: Distant Storms PART FOUR

**Parts one through three posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)
(Click Here to read Part Three.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-12 20:40
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 3
Security:	Public
Mood:	naughty

Title: Distant Storms PART THREE

**Parts one and two posted in previous entries.**
(Click Here to read Part One.)
(Click Here to read Part Two.)

Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
(Entry for "Apocalypse Kree" Fic-a-thon)

Date:	2007-11-12 20:29
Subject:	I'm alive!
Security:	Public
Mood:	peaceful

Yes, you heard me.  I really am alive!  And I'm still writing!  While the last two months have been a delightful blend of flooded basement, sick children, and work overload, I've finally managed to take a few moments to pick up some of my fanfiction projects.  

In the last few weeks, I realized something both obvious and important... Sometimes, life is amazing, and sometimes it’s incredibly cruel. A few weeks ago, one of our sophomores was struck by a car and killed, crossing the street two blocks from our school. In the face of something so incredibly tragic, so many other things seem to melt away as unimportant. It definitely makes you hug your own kids a little tighter, and, hopefully, it makes you want to live your own life to the fullest. 

Date:	2007-08-22 23:17
Subject:	Hello, Noah? Yeah, can I borrow your ark?
Security:	Public
Mood:	cranky

AAAAARGH!!

I'm so irritated with Mother Nature that I even created a new avatar in honor of the torture she's putting us through this week.  

(Note the watery torture scene from Descent in background.)

We've JUST got the basement dry, and in rolls another round of massive storms and flooding.  So far, we're keeping the water at bay -- thanks to two submersible pumps outside and the sump-pump inside.  But the rain is supposed to be back tomorrow night and again on Friday, which royally pisses me off.  Since my dear hubby works second shift -- and has already taken a day-and-a-half of vacation time to deal with the Great Flood -- if things work out this way again tomorrow, I'm on my own.  With twin toddlers and a flooding basement.  

So, in light of my own battle with the elements, Distant Storms is once again on the backburner.  I realize I've barely teased you with the beginning of it, and I'm being cruel and heartless by denying you a proper resolution, but that's the way its been this week.

Lord only knows when I'll get back to Torment of Tantalus.  If someone could figure out how to stop the rain, I'd be happy to finish both stories promptly.  Of course, I start teaching again next week, which means all bets are off for speedy updates.  I'm soooo sorry it's working out this way. 

Please pray for dry weather.  
-Karen

Date:	2007-08-21 23:18
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 2
Security:	Public
Mood:	pleased

Date:	2007-08-21 22:47
Subject:	Distant Storms, part 1
Security:	Public
Mood:	pleased

Okay, I'm still finishing up the end of this one, but since I'm already late for completing the fic-a-thon, I figured I'd post the beginning just to prove I haven't abandoned the project.

Title: Distant Storms
Author: Karibou
Rating: M, not quite NC-17.
Pairing: Sam/Jack
Warnings: Romance-novel sex.  Hot but not x-rated.  Mild language.
Prompt: "Apocalypse-Kree" #147. (Sam/Jack.) Earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, tsunami, or other natural disaster - and working together to survive it. Must include scruffy!unshaven!Jack.
Summary :  The prompt pretty much sums it up.  Though I should admit, I'm cheating a bit on the apocalypse theme.  It's there, but I'm just not capable of writing a blatantly unhappy "ending of doom."  Sorry if this disappoints anyone!  

Date:	2007-08-20 21:03
Subject:	Welcome to my swamp.
Security:	Public
Mood:	drained

I know at least a few of you have been waiting with bated breath for my entry in the Apocalypse-Kree fic-a-thon.  (Scruffy Jack, natural disaster, etc., etc.)  While I am this --> <-- close to having it finished, I have been unavoidably delayed by my OWN natural disaster.  I just spent the last 24 hours draining an inch of water from my finished, carpeted basement.  (Hopefully, after today's enzyme treatment, we won't have to yank out the carpet.)  I haven't slept in 2 days, and every muscle in my body feels like jello.  Unfortunately, this means my fic is on the backburner for a little while.

Some useful facts to tide you over in the meantime...
1) Did you know that even with a flood rider on your homeowner's insurance, many policies only cover water damage that results from sump-pump failure, such as those occuring during power outages?  If the water comes in, say, through a basement window-well full of 20" of storm runoff, creating a lovely waterfall down the basement wall, you may be pretty well screwed.

2) Calling a plumber after midnight on a Sunday to use their pump (to empty the 20" of water in your basement window-well) costs twice as much as buying the pump yourself.  Having just done both, I'm in a position to know.

3) Cardboard boxes aren't a good thing to place under a basement window which could potentially fill up with, oh, say 20" of storm runoff.

4) Emptying 6-8" of standing water from a few hundred square feet of your back and side yard takes the better part of 7 hours, even with a working 3/4-HP sump pump and two 1/2-HP pumps sumbmerged in strategically-placed, if hastily-dug holes.

5) Home ownership really bites sometimes.

Anyway, I'm going to get some much-needed sleep before I fall over.  If I'm VERY lucky, the rain predicted for tonight, tomorrow, and the next day will be light and fleeting.

-Karen