So, it has once more been ages since I've updated. I try, I really do...I just fail SPECTACULARLY!! :-P I was considering doing this as several different posts, but then figured that the odds of them all actually getting done, what with my track record, was low, so, one big post it is...

( Real life catch up...Collapse )

( In fanning news...Collapse )

ART DUMP!!

I've actually been remarkably productive in the past 6 months, art-wise, though all but one of them are chibis...oops? But in various styles; I've been experimenting as I'm just not ever completely happy with them, especially my line work, which has never been one of my strengths :-p

( Avengers...and by that I mostly mean LokiCollapse )

( Nightwing/BatmanCollapse )

( Teen WolfCollapse )

( Person of InterestCollapse )

( Random McShep chibiCollapse )

So...um...do I need to even start with apologies/excuses anymore? We all just assume I'm gonna be terrible with updates by this point, y/y? ^___-

( Anyway, first off, RL stuff:Collapse )

Also have recently started a sorta travel log photo blog thing on Tumblr. Posting every few days, my favorites of my travel pics, from all different periods. It's just a small thing so far...but one I actually HAVE been managing to update regularly, so...um...go me? *shifty eyes*

( In fan related stuff:Collapse )

( Massive Art Dump. Theme: Loki, Loki oh and LOKI. With some Thor (and also Lex...um...OOPS?) thrown in...Obsessed? Me? Neeever! ^___-Collapse )

As always, C & C much appreciated. Or really, anything you wanna say, I MISS THE LJ CROWD!! Tumblr is fun, but it's just not the same! *en masse flist smish*

So, in between job hunting (I have some temp work starting next week, so that's something at least!) and my massive Loki feels (see beneath the cut) I also got in some sight-seeing. Went on a day trip excursion out of Sydney to the Blue Mountains. I'll do a full post about it, I swear (mainly cause certain parental units will bug me until I do...love you mom! ^_-) but in short, it was a great trip, beautiful weather, breathtaking vistas, made some new friends (that included an open invitation to Singapore, w00t!) and, as the title says, pet a koala:



There was also hand feeding of wallabies and kangaroos. I may have been a bit in cute overload ^_^

And now, my latest art, the second attempt in my ongoing need to draw Loki receiving ALL THE HUGS! Also known as, my Loki FEELS, let me share them with you!! ^_-

Preview:


( Pic this-a-way...Collapse )

On Tumblr here.

I'm on a roll, whee! This one was done mainly as a bribe to my sister 'cause I really want a sequel to this fic. Also, Thor with Loki as a little kitty was just too much to resist. ^^

Preview:


( More fun with chibis and animated gifs...Collapse )

So...yeeeah, Loki's kinda totally eaten my life. It's not my fault, it's just well...um...LOKI! ALL THE FEELS! Also, Tumblr, I blame tumblr for a lot of this. There's just SO MUCH SQUEE to be had!

But really, it just feels so damn good to be fanning again after so long! And inspiring! And on that note, more art, which is...a bit...um cracktastic? This is what happens when neechan and I skype too late at night...and, with me in Australia and her in the US, it seems like it's always late for one of us...OOPS! Also, I was exploring animated gifs...which got way more complicated than I first intended but are kinda addictive, and rather fitting for chibi comics, so I have a feeling this won't be last last of 'em...

Anyway, I give you:



( Animated cracky chibis this way..Collapse )

Original Tumblr post here.
As always, C & C very much welcome!

So, first off, in RL news, I'm in Sydney (well, a suburb of) and just moved into a houseshare today (for the past two weeks the wonderful, crazy generous alasen has been letting me crash in her spare room). My new housemate seems really nice and she has an adorable kitty as a plus! Yay living with pets again, oh how I've missed it! The job hunt is still ongoing, but it's only been two weeks so I'm not overly worried. Yet...ehehehe...:-p But, regardless, yay new country! ^^

Second, in semi-RL/semi-fan news, last weekend there was the awesome fangirl gathering that is sinpozium. Do so love meeting fangirls in person! Was a great time, with some tantilizing series pimping, fun discussions, informative tech intros (I really need to sign up for pinboard...) and a hilarious game of pictionary. To sum up, fangirl get togethers for the WIN! Also greetings to new flisters from the event! Yay new people!

Third, in TOTALLY fan-related goodness, I...um...seem to have fallen into a new fandom (it's taken me long enough!! :-p). One which is tangentially related to The Avengers movie cause, let's face it, the movie rocked in all kinds of ways!! So many feelings, so much LOVE! For everyone! But I digress. Anyway, in connection with all that squee, and due mainly to my sister's tireless pimping, I've read some comics. Specifically, Journey into Mystery. Which leaves me in LOVE with kid!Loki! HOMG, all the feels! I mean, I adore movie!Loki, but...but kid!Loki is just epically fun and wonderful and pushes soooo many of my buttons with the adorable brother stuff and villain redeemed and ridiculously smart, precocious, snarky, genius teenagers. With siblings who mean everything to them. And a NEED for hugs.

And this means, along with a new fandom, comes fanart! This is the first time in a while I've done more than just a chibi (though I did a reeeally quick stupid one on Tumblr for the Avengers movie over here) and I was experimenting with a painter program rather than Photoshop. I'm quite happy with it, especially with how quickly I was able to do it (under 10 hrs total and most of it in one sitting). New program for the win! Really just drawing for the win, man I've missed it!

Preview:


( Thor & kid!Loki, ALL THE HUGZ!! Part 1 as neechan insists there must be more...Collapse )

C&C always most welcome! ^^ Also, go read JiM, cause kid!Loki needs more love! Lots more...and by that I mean I need more fic...^_-

Just kidding mom, y'know I love you guys! Actually, all things considered, we handled it pretty well and no one was dead at the end, so really, I'm gonna count that as a win! ^_-

So, I actually started writing up this post less than a week after the trip finished on May 6th but then life got in the way. Really this time, not just me being lazy! My last two weeks of work at Tourism New Zealand were crazy busy in preparation of the handover, worked long hours and then this past weekend it was a lot of farewell get-togethers and goodbyes. And packing, can't forget that (no matter how much I may wish it at times :-p). But, thought it appropriate to get my last big New Zealand post up before I head off to Australia in two days. Meep! Where does the time go?!

*cough* Anyway, without further ado, my travel log of the 'rents visit: ( Picture heavy, as always...Collapse )

So...three crazy whirlwind weeks, done and done. As is my time in New Zealand. It's been great here, gonna miss it (like all my countries. OOPS!) But, so excited about Australia. Maybe I'll be better about posting my adventures there. *fingers crossed*

Oh, and as always, you can see more pics on my picsa, link below, (or my G+, which, while still bad about, I swear I'm waaaay better at updating than LJ...)

New Zealand Rents 2012

Sooo...I've been particularly sucktastic in updating recently, and considering my normal track record, that's saying something! Something very pathetic! :-p So...err...gomen? m(__)m. Partly it's because I've been using G+ more for quick updates/posting pics and partly I've just been busy, working and exploring New Zealand. (Also, partly, and by that I mean mainly, I'm horribly lazy...but we knew that already! ^_-)

Which brings me to the main reason for this post: I've just spent two weeks traveling all over the country with the siblings and have promised I WILL do a travel log this time! So here's me...doing a proper post! In less than a week since the trips conclusion! GO ME! (Really, I should NOT be this proud. OOPS! ^_-)

So, without further ado (or excuses! ^_-), ( New Zealand, North and South, in just under two weeks (VERY picture heavy...also full of geekiness ^_-)Collapse )

An all around FANTASTIC trip, ridiculously fun and ending in close to 1500 photos taken. All I can say is, thank the GODS for digital cameras because if I was still using film that would have been...err...BAD. Also, expensive!

Oh, and for anyone who wants to wade through 'em, even more pics can be found on my picasa here and here. And, while I really am going to try to be better about doing these posts, if you're really curious about what I'm up to/want to see pics, it's probably better to track my G+ as I have a slightly better track record there so far. ^_^

And, next month, I get to do it all again with the 'rents!

Then it's off to Australia with me, whee! Err, right, haven't mentioned that here either. So, at the end of May, I'm moving to Australia to do a working Holiday visa there so any Australia peeps, hopefully we'll get the chance to meet up! ^___^

...Not that any of them are particularly Christmas-themed, but here's some of the random art I did as Christmas presents. (Um, yes, one of these days I'll get around to doing an actual, y'know...update post. But, um...this is not that day. Oops?) So, in no particular order:

( Homestuck Chibis for the sibs...possibly spoilery if you've not read all of HS. Also, use of the F-word abounds, seeing as Karkat is invovled...Collapse )

( Merlin Chibis for the Meet up group...um...despite being chibis, possibly a bit NSFW? In a goofy, IDEK sorta way?!Collapse )

( Takadainmate and Cienna's present, which has tentacles to, again, NO ONE's surprise...^_-Collapse )

So, now that I'm all settled in, in a house in Karori, a suburb of the city of Wellington, thought it was time to do the first of what I expect to be many New Zealand travel logs. Along with the normal photos, as per Ri-chan's suggestion, I've done a few travel-related chibis, just a couple, quick slapdash ones...we'll see how that goes.

( Warning, picture heavy..So very very heavy! ^_-Collapse )
So, that's me, all caught up. For now, anyways...there's sure to be more...LOTS more, to come ^_^

And you can find more pics here:

Seattle to Wellington via LA & Auckland

Also from there you can link over to my G+ account, where I've been posting more frequent, if shorter entries. Good if anyone's interested in more timely updates...'cause I'm so known for those on LJ...ehehehee...OOPS :-p

Currently in transit, and by that I mean LA. Left Seattle last night (*sniffle* already miss the sibs! -_-) BUT, getting to meet ro_anshi for the first time in person, though I've known her online for almost 11 years now! Which is awesome! And getting to do a little bit of sight-seeing in SoCal before flying late tonight to Auckland via Fiji....Heee, New Zealand!! *bounce* *bounce*

...also, *meep* cause, yeah, the whole lack of job or place to live is sinking in and making me a bit nervous (also, the possible lack of internet. No clue how connected/disconnected I'll be and for how long, so if I'm even more incommunicado than normal, that's why)...

...but, well, it'll be an adventure! And a new country! w00t ^___^ See y'all on the flip side. *huggles*

Been meaning to post about this for a while, but a) have been very busy and b) was wanting to make sure everything was actually going to happen before posting 'bout it has delayed me...Not wanting to jinx it and all that...

But, seeing as it's two weeks away now, should probably let people know...I'm heading to New Zealand in two weeks for a year (well, hopefully. The visa lasts for a year, but if I don't find work, that might get cut short...:-p) SO EXCITED!!!! ^____^

Course, little bit nervous as well, seeing as this is the first time I've set out to another country with neither job/school or a place to live lined up. Well, should be quite an adventure, if nothing else...^_- I'm starting off in Auckland, but we'll see where the job search takes me...

Anyway, part of the reason I'm posting, beyond just...y'know, actually updating what's going on with me...something we all know I'm TERRIBLE about, is that I'm hoping to hook up with fan people when I get there. In both Japan and England I had great luck meeting up with LJ people in person and am hoping to do so again. Not sure if anyone from my flist is actually in NZ currently...but if you are, would love to meet up. And also, if anyone on my flist knows other fan/geeky people in NZ and they might be interested in hanging out, send 'em my way...

And hopefully soon, I'll be back to posting more frequently, doing my travel logs, if nothing else. New Zealand should provide plenty of material for that, if nothing else! ^___^ *bounce bounce*

First off, LJ, NEVER LEAVE ME AGAIN! *clings* Only it keeps doing so! LJ! *whimpers* Which is why this post reads like it was written yesterday...cause it WAS an then LJ keeps being a bitch...so um...here, a day late, but, thoughts on latest Dresden book:

Sooo...got my hot little hands on it Monday evening...and then proceeded to read it without stopping till I finished it. Which put me to bed VERY late...or rather early. Five am territory, when I had to be at work at 9 (well, more like 9:30, as I slept through the first five snoozes...OOPS, but thankfully work is pretty lenient about that sorta thing, so....:-p) (also, keep in mind that due to the fact I'm writing this without further sleep, the post is sure to be rather...AHEM, rambling and not entirely coherent...though some of that is probably more just normal squee patterns rather than sleep deprivation....^_-)

Obviously there are gonna be SPOILERS galore, so I'm gonna put all my thoughts, responses, SQUEE, etc. beneath a cut, read at your own peril. But whenever everyone else does read it, would love to flail wildly together discuss it. At length! ^_-

( SPOILERS, thoughts, response, SQUEE, CAPSLOCK ABUSE, etc....Collapse )

So, looking forward to hearing everyone else reactions soon! Remember to stop by for shared-fanning/squee/discussion! ^__^

A little in part because it's my b-day, but much more because a friend, someone I thought to be one of my closest friends for almost ten years, rather definitely ended our friendship yesterday...

THIS IS WHY YOU'RE GREAT!

my thread

So, I've been meaning to post this for a while now, but I've been a bit...err...bad? Oops...though really, nothing new :-p

Anyway, my best friend got married at the end of April (was out in CA for a week for the wedding and a spot of tourism. Beautiful ceremony, had a mani/pedi for the first time ever, saw the Red Woods, San Fran, Winchester Mystery house, had a wonderfully fan-girl geek out with spacealien_vamp and I really meant to post all about it but...um...as always, I suck?) and for her wedding present I did a pic. Seeing as Ri-chan has more of my various forms of artwork than any other friend or family, starting from when we were quite young, it was expected and, well, required ^_-.

And, after the considerable hours I put into it (right up until late into the night before my flight....ah procrastination, nothin' like it ^_-) I wanted to share it here. (Also to prove I have been working on SOMETHING....though not as much as I should be...and still gotta finish that mcshep chibi comic I owe....god, I'm so behind when it comes to my artwork! T_T)

That being said: ( Pic below cutCollapse )

As ever, C & C welcome and much appreciated.

HOMG, saw X-men: First Class last night and no WONDER my twitter/flist has been going NUTS!

( Cut for some possibly spoilery squee and maybe one or two criticisms, but mainly the SQUEE!Collapse )

So basically, to sum up, LOVED IT and need fic now, plzkthnks!

So in my normal LJ!fail, it's been a while. Been working, showing my mom Farscape, watching random anime and jdrama. Pretty much same old same old. And drawing.

(Though a week ago went to NYC for a bachelorette party, which ROCKED! I think I could move to NYC for the food alone ^__^ There were also pretty views of the city, ridiculously fun karaoke partying and...interesting taxi shenanigans...Only in New York could you hail a stretched limo...and a party bus. ^__^)

To that end, thought I'd post some of the random art I've done over the past few months.

Preview:



( chibi!Merlin Wedding Pic...Collapse )
( Random Kaiba brothers cuteness...Collapse )
( Mom's slashy B-day present...Collapse )
( Random work sketchs...Collapse )

As ever, C & C very welcome.

Just a reminder that the help_japan auction is closing tomorrow. My thread is here. If you haven't checked it out yet, there are tons of amazing things being offered by so many people. And for such a great cause! ^_^

So, haven't been posting much (pretty much par for the course at this point :-p) but after all that's been going on in Japan, even if I'm being bad about maintaining my LJ, I had to sign up for the help_japan auction. My entry can be found here. I'm offering a chibi pic/comic.

While the majority of the area affected by the earthquake and tsunami is far from where I used to live, and the majority of my friends in Japan still are, it's heart-wrenching to see the destruction and to read about the hardships striking the country I called home for four years. However, the overwhelming world-wide support flooding in, for Japan now and Chile and Haiti as well over the past year is at least one bright spot in otherwise rather bleak times.

So I actually did this pic back in November as a belated b-day present for my sister. But as it's an illustration for the wonderfully, heinously long fic she's currently posting, Pandemonium, she wanted me to wait to post it 'till it got to that scene.

The fic can be found here. If you know Gintama, it is fantastically fun, I highly recommend it! ^__^ And if you don't know Gintama...err...well, I'd highly recommend that as well, except...well, only if you like shonen crack anime (but if you do, it's AWESOME!)

Preview:



( Full pic this away...Collapse )

C & C very welcome, as always. And now, off to go pack as I leave for London tomorrow for a week. Wheee \o/ (if I'm even more incommunicado that usual, that's why...)

Book meme ganked from ionaonie cause, well BOOKS. Also, I'm distracting myself at work while I wait for multiple people to get back to me.

( Books, books, lalalal...I'd be more creative with my cuts but I'm tiiiiired...Collapse )

So at my new job, I've been assigned a cubical and to decorate it I decided to put up a whole bunch of the photos I've taken of the various places I've been in the last few years. (Mainly to remind myself that being stuck at a desk is not everything and that I'll be off seeing the world again soon...hopefully. Goal to work towards and all that. Also, if nothing else, good conversation starter ^_-)

Anyway, one of my co-workers stopped to examine the pics and after a bit was like "I like this one and this one, could I have them as bigger prints?" While I sat there going "umm" he added "I'll pay you for them, of course."

Now, on occasion I've consider offering my art for commission and have done some for charity stuff, but I'd never really considered selling my photos before. I mean I love taking them, but...y'know, but I've kinda always just thought they're just my trip snapshots, so when he asked I was very MEEP!*flail*

My dad has a really nice color printer and keeps stocks of photo paper for his own stuff, so it was an easy matter of printing them and I got $20 bucks for 'em. Not a ton of money or anything, but still, it was out of the blue and brightened up my whole week!\o/

Hmm...I wonder if I could use this as a reason to think about purchasing a better camera...*lusts longingly after new tech* I have a weakness for the shiny, what can I say? ^_-

A few months back, when I was crashing with cienna, she introduced me to the joys of Hikaru no go. I'd been meaning to see it for ages and just had never gotten around to it. Suffice to say, I loved it and couldn't help but madly OTP Hikaru/Akira. (Let's face it, even my poor brother, whom we subject to far more slash speculations then he'd like, was, by the end stating that they would totally be playing games each night for who's on top. Victory!...course apparently he ordered my sister to NOT pass that statement along to me, as he, correctly, assumed I'd gloat. Which of course meant it was the first thing she told me when we next talked. And now I'm sharing it with all you...oops? ^_-)

Anyway, after some prompting by cienna and as a thank you to her for putting me up for so long, I did this pic:

Preview:



( Hikaru/Akira the first...PG...13...ish?Collapse )

See, but then, when I showed it to my sister to C & C before sending it on to cienna, she pointed out that one of the things that I kept going on about, and one of the major points of my pitch to her when pimping the series out, was how very much I loved how equal and reversible they were. There was no clear seme and uke. And yet in this pic above, Hikaru is definitely being rather...bottomish and Akira is clearly topping. Oops. So, she said the obvious solution was a follow-up pic. And seeing as she had a rather indisputable point, I obliged. Only with the holidays and all, I didn't finish it until now.

Preview:



( Hikaru/Akira the second...PG...13...ish again...only more so...Collapse )

As ever, C & C much appreciated! ^__^ And if you haven't seen the series, I really do recommend it. It's great fun, well done, beautifully animated and very, VERY slashy! ^_-

So, it's been a whirlwind of a month...well, nearly two, really :-p. Back in MA, then to Seattle for three weeks then back to MA for holidays with the whole family (uncles, cousins and grandmother included...now THAT was a verrry crowded Xmas weekend :-p). The holidays were fun, but now everyone's scattered back to the four winds and just today I've finally started work. *shudder* I mean, it's good that I have a job, and more importantly, a stable source of income, and I like the company and all the people there. But this whole 9-5 desk job thing (even if it is probably only for the next 6 months or so) is a bit...well...daunting. I have a LOT of trouble with monotony...:-p

In other news, and the main...ish reason for this post, random Dresden Files art! This was done for my bro, who's verrry prompt response to 'what do you want me to draw you for xmas?' was 'Lara Raith seducing Murphy, 'cause that'd be HOT'!'...Well, couldn't really argue with that, now could I?

Preview:



( This way to the full femslashy goodness...Collapse )

Oh look, an update. It's only been...um...waaaaaay too long. I suck, we all know it, ahem, let's move on. ^_-

Thought I should probably post a "state of things" seeing as those are about to change in a few days and well...um...cienna was sitting next to me being a good girl and also updating and I felt inspired?

So, finished my MA, yay! And, though it's not yet official yet, according to my prof., who I may have cornered and desperately casually asked how I had done, said I passed and with a merit! W00t!

Now, after a month or two of job hunting (and a two week excursion into a reeeaaally unpleasant job situation that did NOT end well and in which my boss was rather...ahem...batshit control freak rude, oh and rather classist. Not fun, 'nough said. :-p) without much luck (London is expensive and the job market is nooot kind currently) it's back to the States with me for the next few months.

Leaving to head back Wed. and oh god but I'm gonna miss it here a LOT. Love London sooo much and all the friends I've made! *sniffle* Especially the merlin_london crew, who all ROCK and this past Saturday was AWESOME!

So, back in Massachusetts for the next few months, until May at least after a wedding I'm gonna be in (so excited for that, my darlin' dearest! *huggles*) and then I think it'll be off to some other country, possibly Japan, possibly somewhere else, but definitely abroad.

So, to all my New England peeps, hope to be able to catch up in the next few months!

And now...sorting stuff for packing...ugh...-_- Have I mentioned how much I hate moving?

Another friend’s b-day, another chibi, whee! ^__^ Happy Birthday takadainmate!!! Seeing as it's for her, any of you who know her will I’m sure be completely unsurprised to hear this pic involves tentacles. In fact, any time I draw tentacles, it’s probably safe to assume she was somehow involved.

Preview:



( My first foray into Sherlock fan art...Collapse )

This pic was done as an illustration for takadainmate's great, cracktastic...or should that be tentatastic?...fic, The Arms of London Bridge.

C & C is always love.

HOMG, I'm DONE! DONE! DOOONE!\o/\o/\o/ Just just got back from turning in my dissertation! It is DONE! And I don't even really care how I do on it at this point, just that it's DONE! (Okay, that's a filthy filthy lie 'cause really, I worked my ASS off on it and really hope to do well, but *shrug*, at least it is OVER WITH!)

Of course, now I have to pack as I am moving out of the dorm tomorrow. And flying out early Friday morning for a friend's wedding in DC. And I have yet to find a job. *sigh* And to top it all off, I get a message from LJ a few days ago that my paid account will be expiring soon. *headdesk* Oh September, why, oh WHY, do you always seem so intent on BREAKING ME!?!?!?

Okay, I'm off to bed for a short nap then packing then little owatta party with my peeps, but, but....

...I'm DONE! ^___________________^

So, it's been a bit...quiet here *sidesteps a tumbleweed blowing by* Um...I have reasons, really! (I mean reasons in addition to my normal sucktastic posting habits) I had the sister and bro and M visiting for two and a half weeks at the end of July/first half of August (which was AWESOME! And I reeeally should post about that, as we did lots of fun things like go and see the White Cliffs of Dover and took a DW/TW pilgrimage to Cardiff, and while we were there we got out of the city and went horseback riding and just yeah, fun times all around) and since then I've been flat out going crazy working on my MA dissertation (due in a week and a half, AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!) while simultaneously job hunting like mad (still no luck on that front *sigh*). In other words, NOT so fun times, all around :-p Oh, and I had dental surgery yesterday. First time I've ever been put under. Wow is that a weird experience. Also, cienna who accompanied me and made sure I got home safely said I was rather hilarious waking up out of it. Apparently I come out of drugged sedation happy as a clam and rather giddy. Huh...really, of those who know me well, is anyone *that* surprised? ^_-

But in between all the insanity, I've managed to find some time to do art (well, and subject certain fan friends with absolutely no anime experience to X, hee! Oh Clamp and your gorgeous, f**ked up men! Mmmmmm ^___^ What, it ties into my research, really, REALLY it does! ^_-) Two of the pieces I've done I can't share yet, as they were for a contest that has yet to be decided, but I finally got around to coloring a b-day sketch I did for krazykipper back in June....um, Oops! See above for lame excuses reasonable reasons for the delay. Anyway, for all the White Collar fans on my flist, thought I'd share.

Preview



( She knows what she wants!'Collapse )

As anyone who knows me well knows, just the huggles part is enough to make for a good weekend for me (for those who don't, I'll freely admit I'm kinda a cuddles addict! ^_-) The fact that one of the weekend's many hugs was with Ben Browder (Crichton, Farscape) was just one piece in a squee-packed two days.

Bringing William Shatner his tea (and Elisabeth Sladen--Sarah Jane Smith, Doctor Who--her coffee) was another!

( My ridiculously fun, if hectic, London Film and Comic Con experience!Collapse )

As you may or may not know, I’m currently working on my MA in Critical Media and Cultural Studies at University of London, SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies). For my thesis, I’m delving into the question of how culture, one’s own, as well as that of the source material one is fanning on, affects how fans identify and interact with said media and the fandoms surrounding them.

I am very aware that academic scrutiny of fandom has at times been…less than pleasant, shall we say. With that in mind, I’d like to make clear that it is not my intent to place fen or fandom under the microscope, but rather to use them as one concrete example in the broader investigation of culture’s impact on the field of media studies.

The following questions I’ve split into two sections, one focused on the media itself, the other on fandom as a whole. These are just a jumping-off point; feel free to answer as many/as few of the questions as you’d like, in as much/little detail as you feel comfortable. If you’d prefer to comment anonymously or email me directly at gnine AT livejournal DOT com, that’s fine, too.

( Media QuestionsCollapse )

( Fandom QuestionsCollapse )

Beyond that, if there are any other details, personal experiences, general trends you’ve observed, feel free to expound. Further discussion/questions in the comments is also very welcome.

If anyone's willing to link this in their journals, I’d be grateful, as the more responses the more expansive the research.

Thanks for your help!

Odacchi, you are such an evil evil EVIL man! The last few chapters have all been making me cry and this latest one is no exception...only this time I'm at work, so...fun times all around. Only NOT! Oda, go back to the happy, I know you have it in you! Please? Pllllllease?

So, this past weekend I spent a fantastic five days in Barcelona with takadainmate and cienna, where, among other things, we attended the SPN convention Rising Con. I'll be posting full details about the trip and the con soon (maybe even tonight) but I wanted to share this pic before I did so.

In preparation for the con, I did a chibi pic with the intention of printing it out on T-shirts for us to wear one of the days. Which went over well \o/...I also, along the way, got a printed copy of it signed by Misha Collins!!! ^___^ (More squee-filled details on that in the con report post to follow)...

Anyway, now that the con is over, thought I'd post the pic...

Preview:



( Full pic below...Collapse )

As always, C & C much appreciated...Case in point, I tried your last suggestion, byakkodan_slash, and used a different coloring style than my norm. What d'ya think, does it work, y/n?

Since I started regularly logging my little adventures, I've been pretty good about doing it shortly after the fact. These last two months...eeehhh, not so much. And I've actually done quite a bit, which is in part my excuse why I haven't posted about it. Well, that and also I'm lazy. Reeeally, reeeealllly lazy. Hey, at least I'm honest, right? ^_-

Due to the number of places, I'm gonna (try to) keep each description short...

( My numerous excursions over the past two months...Collapse )

And now off to Barcelona tomorrow. Two new countries in three days, a very good week indeed!

More extensive photo-journals of all these different trips can be found at my picasa account:

Stonehenge and Bath
Saint Paul's
London Eye
Bletchley Park
Paris, take two
Brussels

Last Saturday, during crashtestskater's brief, yet wonderfully fun visit (I haven't seen her seen I left Japan last May!), we accompanied cienna and takadainmate to Hampton Court Palace. The latter's adorable stuffed tentacle monster, Lee and crashtestskater's Volks Dolfie, Matthieu Canada, were also in attendance. Four giddy fangirls plus friends...why yes, we *did* garner some...'interesting'...looks from the other patrons, why do you ask? ^_-

( A pretty palace, some amusing cosplay, a little fangirl glee, and oh yeah, a ton of pics, all below the cut...Collapse )

So, over the last...um...while, I haven't really been into any particular fandom and sadly this means my art production rate has dropped severely. *sigh* But, between Xmas, several recent B-days, and one doodles-turned-assignment, I have done a few. Thought I'd share:

( Art, mostly chibis, of friends, family, classmates and various fandoms, including SGA, SPN, and White Collar.Collapse )

Last Friday cienna and I took a day trip to Leeds Castle, about an hour and a half (by bus) Southeast of London. The weather was not the most cooperative (gloomy and drizzling most of the day) but we had a great time, despite it! ^_^

( Usual write up and pic spam beneath the cut...Collapse )

Last week the 'rents came to visit me here in good old England, and together we did quite a bit of sightseeing, including Cambridge, Highgate Cemetery (both of which I might post about later) and, most excitingly, Paris! It was my first time going to France and seeing as French was my first foreign language to study, starting back in 7th grade, this trip's been a long time coming! (Not that I remember practically ANY of my French. It was so pathetic, I kept reaching for it and coming up with Japanese instead, which sooo didn't help. Well, except for the fact that we ran into like a billion Japanese tourist in the two days we were there, so actually, I did make good use of my language skills...just not the French ones :-p. Oops!)

( Our two-day whirlwind tour of Paris and Versailles, accompanied by the usual copious amount of pictures...Collapse )

Wow, been over a year since I've drawn the SGA crew. But, thanks to nakedwesley, who got my winning bid on help_haiti (THANK YOU SO MUCH!), I dipped once more into the fandom. Oh, how I'd missed these boys! And, since the due date was today, I thought a V-day-themed comic would be appropriate.

So, without further ado, ( The Valentines Day DebacleCollapse )

Thanks, as always, to xparrot for the betaing. C & C, as ever, is love! ^_^

Previous comics:

"Baby Blues"
Blink Blink
"Not Again"
Christmas Cosplay
"The Joys of Family"
'Dining Difficulties'
"Mission Protocols"
"The Costume Question"
"Movie Night Mayhem"
"Not Gonna Happen"
"Miscommunication"
"Pier Therapy"
"Painfully Obvious"
"Could have been in Mensa"
"An Attention Deficit"
"He likes me. He really, really likes me!"
"Mental Note"
"Creature Comforts"
A "Little" Crush
"Important Making Out
"Let's Face It, They're Twelve"

As you've probably seen else where on your flist, just a reminder that the fan auction going on over at help_haiti will be closing soon. My art thread is here. And there's tons and tons of other great things being offered, from fic, to vids, to crafts, to high end truffles! So, if you haven't, yet, and are looking for another way to help out a bit, go check it out! ^_^

I really do find it heartening to see so many people pulling together to help out their fellow man in times of need. The speed with which help_haiti and all the other groups have organized, and the numbers pitching in are amazing. We may have our darker aspects, but sometimes, humanity, you just rock!

So...I realize I'm a bit late to this, but, well, I've been hovering close to non compos mentis for this past week or so as I busily slapped together three essays. BUT, turned my last one in today *does crazy happy celebratory dance* and, thinking clearly (well, semi-clearly, still haven't caught up on sleep yet) once again, knew I wanted to do something beyond dropping my change in the campus collection jars (sadly, being a grad student, change is all I had :-p) so went and signed up here. Offering chibi drawings, cause I know I can be certain to get it done by the intended deadline.

A big, humongous thank you to everyone who voted for me for the McShep Awards. I love you guys!!! *big huggles to all!*

Thank you, thank you to those who sent virtual cookies! Wheee! Pretty snowflakes (so jealous of everyone getting the real thing!...I'm looking at you, mom! ^_-)

*big huggles to all*

So, today was an all around fantastic day. Spent the surprisingly sunny afternoon going around Kennington with cienna, exploring these little art and craft studios converted from old warehouses. Wandered among them, viewing the artworks and munching on the snacks and cakes (and mulled wine, at that one place) they all had laid out. Very pleasant.

Following that, we meandered our way back to her place, and watched a few more eps of B5 (bahahaha, found another victim fangirl to subject to my crazy love for it share it with! ^_____^) then it was off to Wembley Arena to see Eddie Izzard's latest show, Stripped!

I've been a fan of his work for years (have large chunks of his routines memorized! ^_-) and thus was ecstatic to get the chance to see him live! I had known he was coming to London, but hadn't realized it was this weekend only, until just yesterday. And, while most of the regular ticket sellers listed the show as sold out, trusty old ebay not only came through with tickets, but for less than half the regular price! W00t! And the seats were quite good, at that!

Loved the show! Not quite up there with my two favorites, 'Glorious' and 'Dressed to Kill', but utterly and thoroughly fantastic none the less, had several laugh-so-hard-it's-painful moments, and nothing beats the energy of a live performance and an enthusiastic audience! If I get the chance someday, I'll totally go see him again. He just brings the energy and the laughs (not to mention the crazy! ^_-)

I've seen this meme, and the fanfic love one, going around, and like the good little sheep that I am, I couldn't resist. ^_^

the ♥ fanart love ♥ meme

Tonight, me, takadainmate and cienna made our way down to the West End to see John Barrowman in a production of Le Cage aux Folles. So, not only did we get to see (from FANTASTIC seats, fourth row, near to center!!! which we bought just last night and are really not clear on how we managed it, especially for the price, but well...gift horse and all that...) John Barrowman singing and dancing, but it was in the musical which one of my favorite movies, The Birdcage, is based on! ^__^ 'Course, after all the glitter and sparkles, not to mention corsets, I'm not sure I'll ever quite see Captain Jack in the same light again! (I mean, sure, I don't think Jack would have any issue slipping into a dress...but at the same time, he's rather...manly, and the character of Albine is, well...NOT. In the slightest!)

The performance was great, everyone was brilliant, JB seemed to be having the time of his life, and all the cross-dressing dancers had AMAZING bodies. There was certainly no lack of eye candy, not to mention happy, sweet, adorable, gay kissing at the end, w00t! And, afterward, as part of the Children of Need charity drive, JB was in the lobby taking donations, so I was able to get a pic from quite close. (Sadly, to actually get a pic with him, he was asking for 20 pound donations, and being the totally broke grad student that I am, plus the 28 pounds I'd already spent on the tickets, couldn't really afford it...did empty all the change from my wallet though. It is a really good cause, after all...) But, still, did get to come face to face with him, so...happy days! ^__^



...and I just realized I'm totally lacking in Jack/JB icons...that's just not right! :-p

So, cienna and I , both having time off, as we're students and share the same reading week, but also, both being students, were strapped for cash, decided to take a nice, fairly cheap, daytrip to Brighton this past Wednesday. And we had a marvelous time.

( Rocky beaches, Royal Pavilions and cupcakes galore!Collapse )

So, over the past few days, in between classes, homework and a party, I've been doing something I've been meaning to do for several years now: catch up on One Piece. (For the last four years or so, I've only been reading it intermittently...often while standing around in a conbini, flipping through the latest Jump and Shonen Magazine and oh look, another thing I miss about Japan! :-p) And now, 250 scanlated chapters later, I've just caught up and just...asldkjfalkdjfalkkdj!!! HOMG...the sheer epic-ness of it all!!!

( Large amounts of squee, caps, and of course, spoilers galore, up through chapter 562 of the manga...Collapse )
So...to sum up, I love Odacchi, my soul once more belongs to him and oh, can we have the next chapter NOW, plzkthnks!?!?!?!?


...also, I totally need to make some OP icons!

So, I've spent the last few weeks so busy settling in/attending classes(which I'm greatly enjoying so far)/penny pinching until my student loan money arrived, etc. that I haven't had overly much chance for exploring. But, things have settled a bit, and the money came in (w00t...still a poor, poor grad student, but now have at least a bit of solvency \o/...however temporary it might be :-p) so I decided a little exploring was in order. However, a lot of the main touristy sites of London itself I saw back when I visited utopiantrunks in 2005, so for my first short foray, I decided to do a day trip to Windsor Castle.

( Castles and planes and birds, oh my...Collapse )

One of these days I'll remember to actually take my camera on the way to class and get some pics of the campus, the area where I'm living and even my dorm itself. Really...really I will. ^_-

So here I am in jolly old England, settling in, classes just starting up (something I do plan to write about soon, I swear...) and in between the socializing, studying and exploring, I find myself watching quite a bit of TV. This is happening in part because I always watch more when I live alone (something to do when relaxing before bed or while eating dinner, etc) and partly because while I'm studying, I often use TV as a reward for getting work done (write another page on this essay, and you can watch another episode, etc). Good motivation for a horrible procrastinator like myself ^_-.

Anyways, my request: I'm looking for series to watch. (Just got through all of Criminal Minds, need something new...) It can be new or old (and by old, I mean whenever. Keep in mind one of my most recent fandoms was Man from UNCLE, and if that's not old skool, don't know what is...^_-) Any genre, whatever. If it's one of your favorites or just something you think'd be fun to watch. Just gimme a brief description, maybe why I might like it...(bonus points for anything with hurt/comfort, teaminess or siblings being cute)

Thanks flist, I'm counting on you! ^_^

ETA: As a reference to those who are reccing things, a list of what I have seen:

( THE LISTCollapse )