$*(%!!!

It's 1 a.m.

I have to sing and dance for play practice at 8.

I am tired and have been very, very grumpy for hours. (Except when I was IMing tonight, but I've since managed to brood my way back into my blue funk. Go me.)

I cannot sleep.

Rapture.

I shall go to YouTube and watch one of my favorite episodes of QI, and get myself into a better mood. Then I will hopefully be able to get to sleep. Here are the URLs to Series 2, Episode 3 (Bombs). This is one of my favorite episodes, with Stephen Fry, Phill Jupitus, Clive Anderson, Rich Hall, and of course, Alan Davies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy1giV_VL2c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1480YrMl-eA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQcwDxjgLsM

Enjoy!

Nominee of the Day: didodikali

didodikali's charming (pun intended) illustrated fic, Teacher's Pet, has been around since 2002, and is therefore eligible for the sshg_awards. It's very cute, very funny, and complete in two chapters. Go read!

Summary: Hermione discovers her Animagus form. (My summary, not hers.)

Now that the nominations are underway, I'll try to make one rec a day, in addition to pimping those fics of mine that are eligible for this Classics round of the Awards. So keep an eye out!

That was fun!

I sent in twenty bucks as a donation to the Republican National Committee about ten years ago -- back when I thought that politics mattered -- and I've been deluged with mail and phone calls ever since, asking for more money ... despite the fact that I've asked them repeatedly to take me off their lists. (This is why I am completely unapologetic about my rudeness.)

About ten minutes ago, I got a call from Sam with the RNC. He identified himself, and I just laughed. He assured me that the phone call would be thirty seconds, tops. I told him to please hang on, put the phone down on my chair, and then went back to weeding. Five minutes later, I noticed that annoying sound that the phone makes when it's been left off the hook, and I put it back in its cradle.

Mission accomplished.

Self-Pimpage

In addition to reccing fics by other authors whose works are eligible for this round of the sshg_awards, I'm posting links to the four fics that I've written that are eligible, too. (No matter how badly written they are.)

Family. Complete in one shot. Summary: A moment at home. (Posted to Ashwinder 18 July 2005, but it was originally posted here at fanfiction.net in September 2004.)

Babble. Complete in two hundred words. Summary: Sometimes, a word can take on a life of its own. Sequel to "Family." (Posted to Ashwinder 29 June 2005.)

Hero. Complete in six chapters. Summary: Hermione is trapped in Hagrid's hut after the rising of the full Moon. Professor Snape is in a bad way after a Death Eater gathering, and is mortified to find that he needs Miss Know-It-All's help to get through the night. Pre-romance. (Started at Ashwinder on Severus' birthday, 2005.)

She Was Beautiful to Him. WIP, sixteen chapters posted. Summary: Professor Snape has cause to think about his most insufferable student and comes to some unexpected conclusions. (Started at Ashwinder 6 March 2005.) I'm still struggling with it, but I've started making progress ... yet again. ( Here's an excerpt from my next chapter: )

Here are some relevant links to the sshg_awards community:
Rules for Nominations
Award Categories
FAQ
The Nomination Post