Maureen

herophelia! I finally found it...

2003-12-04T23:11:56Z

And goodness, it took me awhile...

Remember the story I mentioned at y-con - a 3x4 that contained non-con, that I liked in a really "God, that hurts" kind of way?

Here 'tis...

I don't like non-con in fanfic - most of it is gory little rape fantasies written by people who have no clue how nasty the experience they're writing about is - they tend to over-sensualize and almost glorify it. Yes, I've read Kinsey, I know that it's perfectly normal to have rape fantasies, and that having such fantasies doesn't mean that one actually wants the experience. The majority of rape fanfics strike me as redundantly juvenille and just plain silly. (You know, rape followed by the "magical healing cock" of the victim's true sweetie. Nothing like a little anal sex to make you feel all better after being gang-raped... That scenario's been written so often in 1x2 that I have to wonder if Heero has antibiotic and aestheticizing sperm... Hmm, windsorblue weren't you going to go somewhere with that once?)

But I liked this fic - it's sparse and economically written - the rape isn't described in detail (thank god). Plus, I'm a masochist, and occasionally I like a fic which pulls my guts up through my nose. This did it for me...

Okay, now I'm going to toddle back off into obscurity...

Oh, and it should go with out saying that fablespinner should in no way read this. Just don't, hon...

WHOO and HOO

2003-11-26T01:12:35Z

Bloody hell, some good news for a change!!!

Remember Jeff, the nice gay boy I enslaved for y-con? He had his sentencing yesterday, and damn, the criminal justice system worked this time!!

(For those not in the "know" Jeff worked for several years in a medical marijuana club - one that had the support of both the mayor and sheriff of LA. The feds shut them down and were hell bent on sending all involved to the Federal Pokey.)

So, if you're interested, go read here and do the happy Snoopy dance of joy with me:

San Francisco Gate Article

Herald Tribune Article

By the by, he says "Hi!" to everyone - and I'm too darn lazy to look up all the livejournal tags for you - Bast, Ro, Lorena, Oppy, and D. But he says "Howdy!!" all the same.

And the judge was a flippin' Republican - how 'bout that? I lurve that judge in a major way, especially for how he spanked the prosecutor.

Hey, I'm too lazy to email...

2003-11-23T04:42:28Z

or something like that, anyway...

First, hey haydenthorne I found something for you:

The Slash Cotillion - historical slash. Don't know if it's any good, but I saw it and thought of you.

Second: bearilou, darthanne, zozma. How y'all doin'? Fine, I hope. Anyhow, to the point - how are the archives you're all involved in going? Huge pain in the ass? Want an easier solution to running a fandom list archive? Here:

eFiction

Check this out, specifically this page:

Links to sites using eFiction as an archive base

If you've got webspace with the appropriate things available (PHP and SQL on the server), I'd be happy to tinker with the backend for you so you can get it running. This is a nifty little program - you can set the archive to open, or make it so only admin-approved authors can post. And, you, as the site admin, no longer have to code the fics - the authors upload them in doc or txt form themselves, like ff.net. Nice, hmm?

And gee, I bet you know a few people who could make skins (the pretty backgrounds...)

Like I said, I'd be happy to do the program mods for you, and if this is anything like any other PHP driven program I've ever dealt with, then the admin interface should be easy (as in, no PHP necessary.)

Lastly: vr2lbast, the cats like to tap dance on my computer when I'm not around. Lots of strange things happen. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to walk in one day and see them IMing you... So, if you ever catch me on line and I ask for sardines, well, be a bit suspicious.

I'm still alive and other uninteresting rambling...

2003-10-26T20:51:10Z

Yep, so I made it back to home base safe and sound. I still feel minorly jet-laggy and generally blah, but that could be just because is darn cold here in comparison to Cali...

I came home to a lay-off letter, which is both a relief and distressing at the same time. So much for insurance, but now I'll have time to scan dj covers for the store and maybe even fit in another con before the end of the year.

I'm not doing a con report, mostly because I didn't do any "con" things. (Although I wish I'd gone to the bish auction! Mrowwww!) It was a learning experience, and on that level, all good. Besides, when I look back at all the things that went "wrong" I'm ever so greatful they didn't go wronger (that's so not a word...) I will take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitute to the folks that let me use them as indentured servants for the weekend - haydenthorne, fablespinner, herophelia, vr2lbast, Ro, and Jeff. I would have been ten times crazier without you lovely people there...

As per the discussion I had with random people about the chapter titles in "Order of the Phoenix" (It's my most probably unfounded opinion that JK has read mucho fanfic) here are the links to the stories which happen to share titles with chapters from the book (and yes, all these fics were written well in advance of the fifth official installment in the series)

Chapter 19 - The Lion and the Serpent
Fic - Le Lion au Serpent by Snaples
Good stuff here, folks, although unfortunately a WIP. And for those of you curling your lip in distress at the thought of HP/SS, Harry's well graduated in this fic. Tread carefully with Snaples other work, however...

Chapter 32 - Out of the Fire
Fic - Into the Fire by Aspen
Okay, so the titles aren't exactly the same, but the fic's worth the read, anyhoo. Very tongue in cheek sort of PWP, and yes, Harry's still a student, but I believe he's 17

(You know, I thought there were more chapter title/fic title coincidences, but I'm having a brain fart moment...)

And other fics in which the author read JK's mind:

The If You are Prepared Trilogy by Cybele
Okay, if JK had been writing the HP as slash, I could so see her going in this direction... There are so many things in here that are either canon or incredible close parallels. There are things only hinted at in the fifth book that Cybele explores indepth (mainly the connection between Harry and Voldemort) Plus, the writing's incredible - I generally don't dig first person, but Snape is soooo bloody Snape here. And I will warn you, this ain't a happy story...

Her other stuff is wonderful, as well. One that sticks out particularly in my mind is a Bill Weasley/Harry fic, Just Add Water - a very realistic look at a drunken first time. (Harry has a little problem, you see - he's straight, but when drunk he finds himself "alarmingly" gay...)

Aw, hell, just check out the whole site: Swish and Flick

Another author that humbles me with her writing talent - wikdsushi (Sushi.) And good lord, but this woman is prolific - her latest installment (The Last Battlefield) in her mega-fic series is actually longer than OOTP. The series in question would be the Civil War Universe. Angsty but well written, and I'm sure rec'ced on every HP rec site out there. Her site, Dark Matter, contains all her work. (Although for the fic mentioned above, you'll have to get the link from her livejournal, or here: The Last Battlefield.)

Of her stand-alones, I'd in particular recommend Flight - a dark look at after war possibilities, and The Consequences of a Weary Mind, an absolutely hysterical PWP kind of fic. Snape is delightfully canon, in a pissy yet sexy way.

And I cannot recommend Telanu highly enough - her site can be found here: Rag and Bone Shop Her "Tea" series is lush, exquisitely written. It also happens to focus muchly on my pet theme (yeah, the student/teacher thing, but also obsession) Warning to the faint of heart, in the first four installments, Harry is young - but there's also no sex until he's 16. The "Coffee" series is lighthearted, Harry's definately an adult, and the writing is still bloody brilliant.

Alright, and fics that need no warning away - you can appreciate these even if you don't read the fandoms:

Hogwarts Rehabilitated - Harry's a slut, Snape's a teamwork councelor, Lupin makes "special" brownies, Ginny's sharing her body with a young Tom Riddle, and Voldemort's "soul name" is "Fucking Dogs." The fics are hysterical, and the cast page is snicker-worthy, to say the least. (Snaple's illustrations - hee!)

The Bagenders - sacreligious LOTR. Damn funny, too...

Okay, I feel a nap coming on.

Y-con and other ramblings...

2003-09-21T07:35:47Z

Well, first off - Hey, everyone!! How's life? I'd know if I'd had the time to read anyone's ljs in the last 5 months, but here's hoping you're all still alive and kicking. And to everyone that asked, Dad's doing much, much better - he's got a pace maker now and is able to do a lot more, which makes him, and by extension, the rest of the family, very, very happy.

And second, a big hearty "Whew!!" - it was touch and go for a bit on actually getting the time off from my job to go to the con. Nevermind that I officially requested the time back in May. Point is, frustration and much head-against-the-wall-banging aside, I'M GOING. Woot.

As that great sage, Rosanna Rosanna Danna, was oft known to say "If it's not one thing, it's another."

(The job absolutely sucks, btw, but that's a rant, and I don't feel like ranting. Well, the job doesn't suck, but the majority of the staff is far, far kookier than the patients, and man, that's saying something...)

Okay, and here my life takes a huge veering detour into the surreal...

See, I was whining to my dear ol' Dad about not knowing if I could get the time off. I even threatened to quit the job. And then he guilted the hell out of me about that - you know, "Jobs are hard to find. Think of the insurance." and general, sensible, parental things like that...

But then I said the family buzz word - money - and bemoaned how much I've got invested in the con. Dad gets this peculiar, thought-perculating look on his face, and a short while later, presents me with a solution.

"You know," he began, "Your mother likes to travel. At the drop of a hat."

I, not even believing where this conversation is going, simply reply with a startled, "Huh?"

"She'd go for you, you know."

And I make big watery, chibi eyes at Pops as I tremble my bottom lip in a pout best suited on the face of a three year old. "But I wanna go!!!"

To which he just says, "Well, think about it."

So, I thought about it. And asked her. And then she proceeded to jump on it like a duck on a June bug (hee - I love colloquialisms), calling people she knows in the SF area, and making plans. And getting really darn excited about it...

So, when I found out I am getting the time off, I couldn't exactly tell her no, could I? Especially since she's offered to pay her own way, and to sit the booth while I run about doing fangirly things.

Of course, there was the strange, strange, and even stranger conversation in which I had to explain to my mother exactly what I was selling (doujinshi) and what the con was about.

"So," sez she, "It'll be kind of like a flea-market set-up, but I'll be selling smut."

"Yeah, gay smut."

"Oh, I thought it was women at this convention."

"It is..."

"So, I'll be selling lesbian smut?"

"No, gay smut. You know, boy on boy?"

"To gay women?"

"Well, Mom, I usually don't inquire as to my customers' sexual preference, but most of them are heterosexual women who like gay smut."

"Straight women want to buy comic books about males having sex?"

"Hey, guys get off on lesbians!" And then, in weak attempt to lend some legitimancy to the concept. "If you look at it from a sociological perspective, it's actually quite - "

"Don't try to explain. I'll just leave the books in the wrappers and count the money."

I'm still trying to decide if this conversation was worse than the one wherein I had to explain to my Grandmother exactly what all that "fellatio" stuff was in connection to the Clinton scandal. (And I'm damn glad she didn't ask about the cigar...)

So, if you happen to go to Y-con, and wander by my booth, say "Hi, Mom!" to the round blonde lady who'll be steadfastly reading a good, wholesome mystery and ignoring all the strange goings on...

Things I've been forgetting:

Ophelia! Just bring your id to the con, no need to pre-reg or prove your age ahead of time...

Ruth! Thanks for the e-card. Hee, Muppets!! Perked me right up! I've been thinking about all of you, too.

And would someone tell Ash she's welcome to crash with in one of my rooms on Sunday night, I lost her email...

Okey-dokey, as you all may, or hell, may not know, I've been trying to wrap my poor lil' head around a new-to-me coding language (php) in the past few months, and I think I've finally got the store so it's good to go...

Give 'er a try for me? Pweese?

http://www.doujinshidirect.com/

If you could spare a few to look around, try the system, and even place a fake order, I'd be ever so greatful. Most probably greatful in the "Here, have a doujinshi!" kind of way... Don't worry - if you do "order" I won't take it as being a legitimate order, I just need to know if the system works on anyone else's computer besides mine (and Bast's in a spotty sort of manor...)

And, should you choose to accept this assignment, please be brutal - tell me whatever doesn't work for you - and I do mean anything. Are the prices too high? Is there something confusing or not well explained in the information section? Is anything just plain annoying? I need to know...

Oh, and the only thing in the catalog so far is GW djs, I haven't gotten to scanning the other 700 or so books I've got sitting around.

Although, Pond, if you're reading this, I'm setting aside the Spriggan book jes' for you...

And for now, I'll leave you with an amusing ancedote...

Just the other night, I'm sitting around at work, in the "dayroom" (where the tv and comfy chairs are...) Most of the staff and patients are in the same room. One of my absolute favorites comes and sits next to me, and after giving me a conspiritorial wink, booms out in a loud, deep voice, "NO-ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!"

Which sends the PTS (post-traumatic stress syndrome) patients scrambling for cover, several staff members scrambling for thorazine, and leaves me literally laid out on the floor laughing so hard I can 't breath....

Okay, my job does have it's moments...

And speaking of Y-con

2003-07-31T18:35:18Z

Who's going to be there Thursday night? (Besides the people I'm dragging with me, I mean...)

Dinner, anyone? My lovely slaves (No, I didn't say "love slaves," D. Don't pout, we'll work something out later... ^_~) and I will be doing setup in the dealers room until 8 or 9, but after that...

Windsor? Suzume? (And Ms. Sparrow, didn't I hear a rumor about the other Ms. Blue attending this year's festivities?) Lorena?

Thai food? Greek? Pizza on a hotel room floor?

I don't care, let's just all get together and act like fools...

er.... I'm alive....

2003-07-31T04:46:14Z

As requested, I'm posting here to let those interested know that I am, indeed, still breathing. I do believe that the rest of my bodily functions are also intact, but I haven't had much time to check, lately.

Is it Y-con yet?

And could someone pass me a beer? Or maybe just a straight shot of vodka... Perhaps a sledgehammer would work best.

Oooh, look!!! I'm alive...

2003-05-25T16:08:51Z

Hey all...

Yep, I'm still alive. Someone remind me again why I was so desperate to find a fulltime job? Oh, that's right - the pesky double digit balance in my bank account... (Okay, it wasn't quite that bad, but it was getting there.)

The job, in and of itself, isn't bad, but it sucks up my time in an unbelievable manner. The straight 40 a week would be bad enough, but there's also heaps of manditory overtime involved...

What am I currently doing, you may ask? Well, in this glorious economy, my BA (magna cumme laude) and 24 credits of grad school were virtually useless. (Okay, I could have had a job in my field for $8 an hour...) So, I fell back on previous experience and am now gainfully employed as a psychiatric nursing assistant at the local Veterans' Administration hospital.

Yep, I'm finally in the funny farm...

But hey, where else can you get paid $11 + an hour for playing Spades? (Okay, and I'm majorly trivializing what I do...)

And I must apologize, if I owe you any correspondance, you won't be seeing it anytime soon. Besides the job, my dad just got a pace-maker, so I've taken over all the heavy lifting duties in their household, and my other grandmother (not the one who was sick last summer) is doing poorly with her congestive heart failure. So, what little free time I do have, I've no claim to...

In the midst of all this, I managed to find time to go on a date yesterday, which did nothing more than reinforce my conviction that I'm simply not meant for the world of romanitcal type relationships. It wasn't a crashing horror or anything - the guy was nice, did nothing gross or offensive, the conversation was good, movie viewing as part of a pair rather than alone was fun, but the whole thing just did nothing for me... And if I can't get excited about dating a nice-looking, polite, gainfully-employed, all around "good-catch" of a guy, I don't think I should even bother with the whole mess. I'll leave him to some deserving young thing with homemaking stars in her eyes and continue with my peaceful, solitary type existance. And don't even say it was just the wrong guy - I could happily see myself engaging in recreational sex with him - the chemistry is there - I just don't want the rest of it. (The rest being the part that involves a long courtship leading to marriage...) So, when he asks me out again, I'll give him the "just friends" speech and even leave out the tempting offer of being "fuck-buddies" because I know he's looking for more, and that just wouldn't be fair to him... Hmm, when the hell did I grow up to be so noble?

Argh... is it October yet? I want to wallow in the glory of Y-con and forget about real-life responsibilities for a few glorious bish-soaked days...

Someday, when I have both the time and the motivation (HAH!) I'll write up a scathing review of Matrix Reloaded, a movie I actually enjoyed, but felt had some major, major flaws...

Saddam trying to be a bishie, Pt. II

2003-03-09T05:29:23Z

Hee... okay, so tonight I get called out in a mild ice storm for a "computer emergency!!!" (I've been doing some freelance tutoring/setup kind of work for computer idjits...) The poor woman was frantic "I've tried loading the same program from cd 5 times now, but everytime the installation completes, it's just not there!!!" She sounded desperate, and wouldn't take "tomorrow" for an answer - so I drive 15 miles over ice-slicked roads to discover that she's neglected to go to the start button and open her Program folder - which of course, is where the newly installed program resides...

The kicker? For as desperate as she sounded, you'd think it was something she needed for work, or perhaps a step-by-step guide for an "do-it-yourself" tracheotomy....

But no, it was the "Sims..."

And then she didn't want to pay me, because, after all - "You charge by the hour, and that didn't even take you a minute!!" After I calmly explained what an inconvience it was for me to come to her house, after 9 pm, and how much a "real" tech would have charged her for a house-call, she grudingly agreed to hand over my exorbinate $10.00 fee if I would stay for the rest of the hour to give her some tutoring... So, now I've unleashed another fool on eBay. I'm sure I've done someone a favor - she's the type to bid $100.00 on a $2.00 item simply because she wants to win, damn it!!

But on an entirely different note - I came home and leafed through the rest of "World News Weekly" and found this lovely strip of photos. So to beat a probably terminal horse for a few more chuckles...

here ya go...

Now, for a beer. I think I deserve one, don't you? And not just any beer, mind - heh, this is the King of all Scottish Ales - the kind of beer you can eat with a knife and fork. Yum!!

(And you know, I think he looks kind of like Freddie Mercury in that middle shot...)

Oh, Windsor...

2003-03-08T03:02:46Z

Today, whilst embarked on a gloriously tedious grocery shopping expedition with my Grandmother, I saw something that made me think of you...

Be aware of my fragile state of mind when I happened to look over in the check out lane and catch a glimpse - circumstance has conspired with Murphy, and together, they've made sure that I only got to sleep 6 hours out of the last 50. I'm tired, and was wanting nothing more than the comfort of a warm bed for about 7 solid hours. And I'm going there, but first I just had to share

this

with you... (I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe for a few minutes, which of course made me laugh harder...)

And how are those dangerous plot bunnies feeling now? Actually, I think it's a conspiracy - someone at the Weekly World News must be reading your lj...

And now I bid you all a fond goodnight.

(Just be thankful I'm stopping here - ask raletha)

mojo3x4x3 @ 2003-02-25T23:43:00

2003-02-26T04:54:55Z

"Happy birthday, Quatre. When was it?" asked Trowa.

"It was two days ago. It was a pretty good day--I beat Wufei at chess, and there wasn’t a battle."

/So you didn’t have to kill anyone that day. Oh, Quatre./

From one of my favorite fics, and I'm not saying that just to kiss Kay's ass... "Inside of a Gundam" by Kay Zozma found here

I'm with Quatre - it was a good day, no one died and I got to sleep in... Whoopie. And there was Black Forest cake - can't forget the chocolatey goodness!

We're getting a quarter, duuuu-de!!

2003-02-11T08:29:24Z

Oh, yeah, like it takes a genius to figure out this kid is a stoner...

Dell Dude gets busted

Okay, it's not funny that anyone gets arrested for a "crime" such as this. Ironic in a wierd way - funny, no.

But I still laughed.

And yes, Bast, I'm working on it. Heh, heh. Hee! (Oh, you poor unsuspecting people!)

Sisters, can you spare a code?

2003-02-02T22:24:51Z

Before I forget, again, - Does anyone have a spare lj code they can donate to Lady Bast?

I'm not sure what my online time is going to be like, and I'm kind of loathe to stick her e-mail address up in a public forum - so if you have one you're willing to give her and don't know her email, you can get it from her site: Bast's Site.

Heh, yes, indeed, let's sucker another staunch non-user type into the fold. I can't be all alone it this...

It's Tiny Elvis!!

2003-01-21T08:46:41Z

urgh... I'm just popping on for a moment before I go back to bed. I've been so darn tired lately, and it'd be nice if I could manage to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time... D, babe, I'm sorry I didn't make it back on when you were still up. I swear, if I have to prop my eyelids open with toothpicks, I'll be around tomorrow night (or tonight, as it were...)

But here, all that aside, allow me to act the doting mother for a brief moment - I give you "Tiny Elvis!" This was my kid, at Halloween - in a costume of his choosing. Yep, my 6 year old has an Elvis fetish - and not slim and sexy Elvis - the boy likes the "Bloated!Elvis" years the best. I'll live, I suppose, but if he starts playing "In the Ghetto" on repeat, I'm throwing the cd player off a high cliff.

Oh, yeah - the boy is generally blonde.

And another has joined the fold...

2003-01-19T19:08:00Z

zozma has joined us - give her a big, hearty welcome.

Okay, that's enough from me - I'm going back to freezing my butt off. Anyone wants to talk to me, come back after the spring thaw...

And now for something completely different...

2003-01-18T08:05:00Z

What can I say, I'm in a sharing mood tonight...

If you want to see some 3x4 djs, and aren't on any of the lists I already spammed with this link, then here ya go:

http://fablespinner.com/mojo/kar/kar.htm

Four books by Karyou - everyone's bishonen. Heck, even Une's bishoujo...

I don't like to get political, but...

2003-01-17T22:25:06Z

Seriously, I get into more arguments with people who I get along with in every other respect when I decide to have political discussions/debates. Mostly I just keep my darn mouth shut. But I saw this a few days ago, and it neatly sums up my feelings about war. As a mother of a son (albeit a very young one...) my heart goes out to all the other mothers whose children now find themselves heading off to be used as cannon-fodder in this latest "big-wig" pissing match. I personally don't think it's worth even one of their lives. It's far too easy to "play war" when you don't actually have to pick up a gun or face getting your own ass shot off.

I'll support the people going, but I'll be damned if I'll support the cause. War is wrong - just plain wrong. The very fact that we're still engaging it in shows just how little civilization has actually progressed. Think of all the things that could be accomplished with the money and man-hours spent developing new and better ways to kill people.

Sadly, however, I'm pessismistic about human nature. I don't believe true peace can ever be achieved - too many variables, too many people interested only in their own gain. The human race on the whole is nothing more than a sad and silly cosmic joke...

See why I don't talk about these things?

The pimp who couldn't be prouder...

2003-01-12T11:58:49Z

I'm so absolutely overjoyed - the premiere "girl" in my stable has gotten the recognition she so richly desereves:

http://www.katsudon.net/nanashi/winners.html

Yep, that's right - Windsor Blue won a Nanashi. For a damn fine fic, too. Shoo, go read it now:

http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes/bigman.html

Also, I'm quite pleased to see that Lorena's Churchy fic took the overall best award (among others.) She may not be writing GW fics any longer, but she's still one of the very best authors to ever grace the fandom with her presence.

And as an added bonus, 3x4 finally made a showing in a major contest. Whee!! About damn time.

Okay, since it's now 7 am in my part of the world, I'm dragging my grinning butt to bed.

Happy darn holidays!!

2002-12-26T01:24:48Z

And all that celebratory jazz...

Now you really won't be seeing me for awhile - I'm driving about 900 miles straight North into Canada sometime early in the am, to visit with Bast for a few days. Yes, only someone who lives in Michigan is insane enough to drive northward in the middle of the winter... I'm going to do my darnest to stay away from the email and all things computer related while I'm gone. I think I can live a few days without... (yeah, right...)

And I'm going to hope real hard that my missing packages show up while I'm gone. I've basically given up, though. Oh, the perils of importing things - 6 boxes of djs and assorted stuff mailed from Japan on the 11th of December, and 4 of them came to me on the 17th. The others are still floating out there in limbo. Which is very, very sad, because amongst the missing is my 400 yen copy of "Eternal Refugee" by Eiri Asato, as well as a large pile of 1x4 djs (big sellers, who knew? Well, okay, I have a wee thing for that pairing, but I didn't know anyone else did!) Also in the wayward boxes - two copies of an absolutely gorgeous 1x2 - "Electronic Hallelujah." Yes, I am most sad about this. After the first of the year, I'll no longer be able to delude myself that the books are coming. Boo-hoo, poor me...

Don't expect to see me here often...

2002-12-21T02:07:57Z

Because who knows why I signed up for this in the first place. Oh, yeah, that's right - because Suzume's an evil person who offhandly dropped the code into an email. Evil Suzume, Windsor can keep your cranberry sauce ^__~

I'd talk about politics, but that's ulcer inducing. I'd talk about things that annoy me, but then the people who I was referring to might see this. And I like not to tell people when they upset me for some reason. It's much easier to stew in my own intestinal juices than risk upsetting someone else, I guess...

Or, gee, I could blather on like I'm already doing.

I suppose I could mention that I came less than a half inch (I measured!) from destroying my car this afternoon after sliding off my own driveway and heading directly towards the only large tree in the side yard. And here I will add that I'm most glad which ever deities watch over me decided to answer my fervert "Cripe!! Don't let me hit the tree!" prayer.

Having said that, I'll stop now...