I'm thrilled, just a short post because I had to share. Final grades were posted this afternoon. I got A's in all four sections that I took this semester!!!!

I am so very, very happy about that.

I've debated for a few weeks, but decided not to post a fromal Christmas/Holiday wishlist here on my journal. I will happily accept cards, letters, or holiday grettings, and my Amazon.com wishlist is in my sidebar. I'd love anything off of it, especially by text books for next semester. it's getting to the point where I have to have them, and they will serve as reference books for my career as well.

I feel so blessed all around. Things haven't been great this year, and I've had a lot of problems, but I feel like I ended up in a good place. I successfully made it through my first semester back at school, as well as holding a job for 5 months as of this weekend. this is a huge accomplishment for me, as my health would have prevented it in the past. I still feel overwhelmed much of the time, but I am also thriving on the challenge.

Happy Holidays everyone.

I also wrote for ts_secret_santa. I first heard of the community when lit_gal wrote a post for a co-writer for a story she was stuck on. I signed on, and An Unexpected Change of Course was the result.

Summary: Once again, Blair's choice of friends creates a bit of a mess. This time, though, things might just turn out better than anyone expects. (NC-17, J/B, slash) written for bluebrocade.

I also wrote the following for drabble prompts:

Title: Decorating
Author: Syrenslure
Fandom: The Sentinel, gen
Rating: G
Promts: ts_secret_santa - Wreath, and varietypack100 – 44. circle.

( 350 Words – 03 Dec 2006 )

Title: Holiday Spirit
Author: Syrenslure
Fandom: The Sentinel, gen
Rating: G
Promts: ts_secret_santa - 'Jingle Bells', and varietypack100 – 071. Broken.

( 300 Words – 06 Dec 2006 )

Title: A Lot Like Christmas
Author: Syrenslure
Written for: Leigh
Fandom: BtVS, Faith/Cordelia
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 1,768 words
Summary: Sometimes the best gifts are the unexpected ones.
Prompts: For Secret Slasha varietypack100 : 097. Writer's Choice, and 15pairings : 11. inconsequential
( Read more... )

Title: Resolution
Author: syrenslure
Request: lexie_b requested: Friendship!fic :) Abby-centric is awesome. I like Abby/Gibbs or Abby/McGee and Tony/Ziva. Maybe an NCIS formal event, or post-case gathering. An appearance by Jimmy and Ducky would rock :)
Rating: G
Warnings/Spoilers: Very minor reference to Hiatus
Genre: Gen
Pairings: Abby/Gibbs, friendship
Word Count: 1,023.
Disclaimer: NCIS and all its characters are the property of Donald P. Bellisario and CBS. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Also for varietypack100 095. New Year. Happy New Year to all the members of ncis_tinsel.

( Read more... )

White Christmas
615 caps, 852x480

( Samples and Zips, under the cut )

Please comment and credit if you download/use.

It's after midnight here, and as such, it's Christmas Day. I hope that everyone is having a lovely holiday season, whatever their religious persuasion (or lack thereof).

The yuletide archive: While We Tell of Yuletide Treasure/Yuletide/The Obscure Fandom Secret Santa Project is now live, with over a thousand stories.

I had a lovely gen Friends fic written for me, Rock-A-Bye, Baby, set during Rachel's pregnancy, a point where I actually really liked the show.

Even if that fandom's not your thing, you should check the site out, as there are over five hundred fandoms represented, and it is an overall awesome experience.

I can't reveal which story I wrote until after the new year, but I am thrilled to have been part of this experience.

Today's gift is music, Christmas/Winter Holiday music to be more specific...

( But, baby, it's cold outside... )

When I was growing up, and still celebrated Christmas with my family, one of my favorite parts of the season was the advent calender. There were little gifts of chocolate or ornaments, or cool little gifts behind each hidden day, and I always wanted to be the one to uncover them.

In that spirit, I came up with a variety of offerrings for each day, from now until Christmas (or until the New Year, if I get really ambitious). However, my computer, containing all of the lovely gifts and treats is at home, and I am not. A friend called while I was in town today (yes, I finally joined the 21st century a few weeks ago and got a cell phone, though we really only use it for emergencies, or for me and my husband to communicate while separated), and invited us to lunch, then shopping, then to her house for dinner and movies. I am still there, so my first gift will be delayed until such time as I can get home and access them.

Instead, I'll take this time to wish you all a Happy Holiday season, whatever your inclination.

ETA: Poison Ivy 1 - Ivy
964 caps, 640x480

( Samples and Zips, under the cut )

Please comment and credit if you download/use.

First, I want to say thank you for signing up and volunteering to write me a story. I am sure that I will appreciate anything that you choose to write. I tried to make my requests clear and to give you a lot of choices. As I have just received my assignment, and am only familiar with one of the fandoms, I understand this may be the case with you also. Don't stress too hard. Even where I have specified character choices, I am flexible, as long as you don't bash any character that I have chosen.

As a matter of fact, don't bash any of the characters, please. It's really not in the holiday spirit, and whether they are likable characters or not, that really turns me off, as does unnecessary character death or pointless whumping. I like angst and h/c, but not too excessively.

I'd like a happy ending. If that means a shmoopy holiday themed story, I don't mind. Close friendships, instead of romance are ok, too. As I said, I even like angst, and unrequited love, as long as there is some hope in the end - a mostly happy ending. (And if you feel inspired to provide smut - have at it - but it's not required)

I enjoy het, slash, femmeslash, friendship and other gen pieces. I prefer characterizations over pairings, and will follow wherever you lead, if you can make me believe it. PWP is alright, if that's all you can think of, but I prefer stories that explore who the characters are and what their dynamic is.

It doesn't have to be an overly long story, as long as you meet the 1,000 word requirement, and tie up any plot threads you introduce. Long fic is always nice, but I'd prefer quality over quantity for sure. Write as your muse guides you.

Most of all, have fun. Don't stress too much, and write a story that you are happy with, and I will be, too. I promise.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Blessed Yule, and Happy New Year. I hope that you have a wonderful holiday season.

( Concerning my fandom specific requests )

Borrowed from kaz814

It's early, with the holiday sesaon still 2 months away, but here is what I would like this year.


Step One

1. Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fun ("I'd love a Snape/Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Hanukkah/Christmas/solstice is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.
2. If you wish for real possible things, make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.
3. Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ or blog so that the holiday joy will spread.

( Guidelines and my list )

My birthday is Wednesday, the last day of May. Ever since I can remember I have always celebrated it on Memorial weekend, except for the years I didn't care to celebrate it at all.

When I was growing up, it was the first big family get together of the summer, complete with a big bar-b-que, a party, and an Italian Rum cake (which I haven't seen since I left NY).

The year I turned 16, it fell on a Friday, the day between leaving high school and actually graduating. I had a sweet 16/graduation party.

The year I turned 18, I was in basic training, and my birthday actually fell on a Monday, so it was a national holiday and I got the day off.

This year, I turn 31, not much going on, but I have recieved several gifts this week that make me feel truly blessed, even though my r/l situation isn't exactly the best right now.

However, I did get to go see X-Men 3 last night, and that rocked, and I received 6 months of paid livejournal time, which I am happy about. As such, I added some more icons to my account (no more ad-supported lj - yeah).

I kind of like them... there will be a few more in the near future, I am sure, because I am trying to cover each of the fandoms that I regularly participate in, or that I enjoy.

( Here are some of the ones I added. )

I would like a copy of Silver Bells, the Christmas carol. Does anyone have a copy that they could send me, either by e-mail or YSI?

I would prefer the version recorded by the Carpenters, but I will take any. For that matter, anyone who wants to send me their favorite holiday song, please do so. I am starting to get in the holiday mood, and need a soundtrack.

I might put up the Yule tree this weekend. I normally do so right after Thanksgiving, but last year, I skipped it altogether. I think I would really like it.

Also, this is for FIC, yes it is... I need inspiration for Kaz's Holiday Challenge.

The Muppets - Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock

Also, I am a big dork, possibly (probably) because I love Mariah Carey's Christmas album. Her voice is well suited to the carols, even if I am not crazy about her current music, and she chose good songs. i was going to put up her "All I want for Christmas, but figured everyone who wanted it, probably had it.