ATLA fanfic update

My new year's resolution is to get a pet.


Fanfic

I've been stuck on my 3x12 plot bunny, so instead I detoured and ended up browsing then consolidating all my notes for The Night Has Come To Hold Us Young.

During this process I posted a new drabble chapter, only to discover moments later that I was supposed to have two more chapters posted before the one I'd just put up. Unfortunately, The Pit wouldn't let me delete my chapter, so I had to replace the text with a lame-ass "I'm sorry, false alarm!" author's note.

I need to write three drabbles in the next couple days, and post four. On top of that, looking at my outline I think I'll have at least 12-15 more before the fic ends. I did some pretty extensive outlining for the latter parts of this fic last year, and I've gotten over one of the difficult sections. Now it's just about writing the stuff in between the exciting stuff. Writing the build-up and the actual business of making two characters fall in love.

We could be looking at 70+ chapters. A daunting thought. I almost wish they were full-on chapters, not just drabbles. Then again, if they'd been full chapters I'd never have gotten as far as 46. It's amazing that this story is still so alive in my head.


EDIT: Does anyone have the song "The Power of Orange Knickers" by Tori Amos? I find myself badly needing it for writing inspiration. I used to have it on my harddrive, but who knows where its gone. If anyone could send it to me, I'd be very grateful. Thank you, faoiltiamatani! The YSI link is in the comments; it's great song.

Pets

I've recently become obsessed with the idea of getting a pet, and I've pretty much settled on getting a pair of rats. I've been researching, and everything I've read says that rats are the best choice for me. They're supposedly the most intelligent and friendly of rodents, and less inclined to bite or run away. I've read several articles that said if you like interacting with dogs, you'll find similar social qualities in rats.

When I was young my day care school had many different pets, among them hampsters, birds, gerbils, and rats. I played with the rats many times; I was never bit, only very lightly nipped-- more like the rat pressing its teeth against me than biting. I could ride around with them on my shoulders, and they were fun to play with. I found the hampsters to be alright, but they were smaller and were always trying to run away or get out of their cages.

If I had enough space and money, I'd buy a dog. If I had enough money, and less space, I'd buy a cat. But if I share an apartment, I would need to have my roommates consent to bring a cat into our living situation. And this year, once I move out of my parents' place, I'll probably only be able to afford a rodent or fish. And fish are terrible pets, more like living ornaments. Rodents cost only about a quarter of what cats cost in annual care.

I looked, briefly, into ownign a ferret. But from what I've read, while they make splendid and loyal pets they require training, something I might not have time to do. They're also illegal in my state, and owning one is a misdemeanor (also though there are supposedly half a million domesticated bred ferrets in California homes right now.) Later in life I might see if I could own one, if they become legal or if I move out of state. Secretly owning an illegal pet, while it has its romantic appeal, is not something I can feasably do, and I'd hate to get one only to have it confiscated and possibly put down.

So rats it is. My new year's resolution was to get a pet, so sometime this year you'll be seeing me post pictures of something cute and furry. Maybe rats, maybe a cat. But something.

MMMMMMmmmmmmm CANDY

For Christmas I received a one-pound box of See's Chocolates, Assorted Dark. I've only got two pieces left in my box, and it's only been a week since Christmas, on top of all the other cookies and various candies around to snack on. God, Sees chocolate should be illegal. Can anything taste so good? I mean, I've had a LOT of chocolate from a lot of different famous companies, but I always go back to Sees. It's... it's goddamn Sees chocolate. If Rygel of Farscape had discovered Sees on his brief sojourn to 1980s Earth, instead of just trashy halloween candy, he wouldn't have just become an addict, he probably would have expired in a chocolate feeding frenzy.

I've never really had any Sees candy that wasn't chocolate or peanut brittle (or chocolate lollipops). I suppose they must make other forms of candy, but I would never know if they did. Because I always go into a Sees store knowing precisely what I want. Hint: it ends in "ocolate".