InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Pirates Rule!"

chazpure (chazpure) wrote,
@ 2007-09-09 15:34:00

Current location:	home
Current mood:	busy
Entry tags:	car, dh, rl, sewing, snape

Rambly bits and bobs
I've been meaning to post for ages, it seems but with one thing and another, I just haven't had the time. So here are a few rambly, disjointed notes and thoughts...

For those of you who've been following our car saga via odogoddess's posts, I'm happy to report the poor wee beastie is home again, having had intensive surgery to its cooling system. Last Tuesday, I was stopped at the signal at the top of my usual freeway offramp, when the car shuddered, rattled, gasped, and died. Oh, dear. :-( I managed to get it started and nursed it a few blocks, turning on the heater to try to cool the engine down, but after restarting it a couple more times, I decided not to risk warping the head, so I called AAA and had them tow me to the garage two doors down from where I work.

It took the better part of three days, but they managed to diagnose and replace a cracked flange, only to find that when they buttoned it all up and pressure-tested the system, the brand new radiator that we'd had installed a few weeks ago was now leaking! Fortunately it was under warranty, so the shop that installed it had the car towed back across town and took another day and a half replacing it.

Well, that put a dent in our plans to drive up north to visit my mother this weekend. :-( We'll have to reschedule, now that the car's "well" again. It also meant several days of riding the bus (2.5 hours each way, plus a long slog up two steep hills at the home end) to and from work. Bleah. The garage that replaced the radiator did spring for a rental car for the last day and a half, so at least we managed to get out and pick up some medication and groceries on Friday.

I finally picked the car up yesterday, and it seems to be running fine. The mechanic was sorry to inform me that it seems to have a pretty bad oil leak, but (in a comforting burst of honesty) also said that to diagnose where the leak was coming from would require having the engine steam cleaned top and bottom at some other facility, then bringing it back so they could put in a UV dye additive and find out where it leaks through. Even then, he said, it could be a $3 seal that would cost $500 to replace, because they might have to drop the transmission to get to it. Far cheaper to simply check oil regularly and keep the car topped up. *rg*

Moving right along...

My company is having a big whoop-te-do this coming Friday, at a very formal and stuffy venue. Long story as to why this particular venue was chosen, but I'll spare you all and just say some of the Old Guard insisted, (then were astonished to hear how bloody expensive it's going to be, but still refused to reconsider...*sigh*) and the rest of us would far rather be going someplace rather more relaxed and fun. Anyway...this is definitely a "dressy" place, and although I might have an outfit I could scrounge together (and may have to yet), odogoddess and I have got to get stuff to wear for it.

We scored big, last night! I'll let her tell you about it, if she so chooses, but I'll just say we found an outfit that fits her beautifully, looks elegant and festive, and it was a real steal! *G* We also picked up evening bags for both of us, as our usual purses just wouldn't cut it for this occasion, and I hate to be without a purse of some sort - even if it's only got my ID, debit card and PDA in it!

We both need shoes, and we'll try tackling that later today, along with a visit to the salon for hair trims.

As for me...well, in a mild fit of insanity, I succumbed to the "but I can make it myself!" voices in my head, and bought 8 yards of "costume satin" off the $2 table at Walmart - very silky, nice and drapey, just about the shade of a melted Hershey's milk chocolate bar, plus soft off-white lining and a pattern.

After I picked up the car yesterday, I stopped at JoAnn's to get the required notions, and I spotted some really pretty organza in chocolate brown, with a light sparkle finish to it, and decided to get a couple of yards for the bolero, if I have time to make it (if not, I'll edge-finish it and just use it as a shawl.) A very nice lady ahead of me in checkout even gave me her 40% off coupon to use, as everything she was buying was already on sale, and the coupon expired in a couple of days! :-)

I trimmed the pattern out last night, and odogoddess helped me fit it. Now I've got to hack out the fabric and run it up on the machine. If everything cooperates, it should go together fairly simply; the pattern's all straight lines, and I'm not fussing with shoulder straps or ruffles. I will have to unearth my sewing machine though...or odogoddess's, whichever I find first! ;-)

Further updates as events warrant. ;-)

I gots bunnies. Oh, man, does I gots bunnies! *rg*

I have the next chapter of "Far from the Tree" almost ready to post. It needs a couple of XXXXX's replaced with place names, and a quick beta...but before I post it, I need to post the previous chapters here and/or to lupin_snape here on IJ, and fix all the chapter links, as all the existing links are to the LJ posts on Lupin_Snape.

DH actually gave me new ideas for a couple of WIPs that had been simmering away, and I think I'm going to be able to combine two or possibly three of them into one story. It'll take a while, though, as I've got a lot of fest writing to do between now and November.

I signed up for merry_smutmas, snupin_santa and, after some pondering and tempting (looks at odogoddess and bethbethbeth), Smutty_Claus as well. I have my assignments for the first two - and was quite tickled with them - still waiting on the third. Snupin_Santa should be fun to write (knock wood!), and I got a positively twisty bunny for Smutmas. *rg* I'm going to try tacking that one first - I'm outlining now - and see if I can finish it this month. *crossing fingers*

odogoddess and I have plans for a couple of collaborative post-DH stories, but I don't know when we'll be able to get to them, what with all the other writing we're both planning. It will actually be a first for us; as long as we've known each other and beta'd for each other, would you believe we've never written fic together?

I don't have the energy to say anything about the LJ kerfluffle right now, nor to go into my thoughts and feelings on DH, but I'll get to both of those at some point. I'll just say that I intend IJ to be my primary journal, but I'm still reading my flist on LJ as well, and will try to post links to my IJ posts on my LJ, for those friends who haven't yet migrated.

As for DH...well, like I said before the book came out, canon is closed now, and the Wizarding World is ours to play with. And JKR can't hurt "our" characters any longer. We can rescue them, revive them, awaken them from their nightmares, reboot the system and try a different way.

And just so you know...Severus Snape is alive and well ~~and living in Southern California with two very affectionate--~~ er...and happy! ;-)

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(Post a new comment)

	gmth 2007-09-09 10:48 pm UTC (link)
	Ugh, I imagine living in southern CA must be a PITA transportation-wise whether you're driving yourself or on public transport. Glad to hear the problem is fixed, though. I wanna see a pic of your dress when it's finished! I'm always so impressed with people who know how to do stuff like that. The pic is beautiful. :-) (Reply to this) (Thread)

chazpure
2007-09-09 11:12 pm UTC (link)

LA just doesn't have good public transport. It's too far-flung for one, really. I'm lucky, I suppose, that it only takes me two buses to get to work, when I have to take the bus, but I'm so used to driving everywhere that it really feels crippling to be without a car. *rg*

Heh - thanks! It's been a while since I did much sewing, but I used to sew quite a bit. I'd like to try taking and posting pics of the work in progress, but I don't know if I'll manage that or not. :-) I'll be sure to get pics from the whoop-te-do, even if I wind up wearing a decorated gunny sack. ;-)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	cordelia_v 2007-09-10 02:17 am UTC (link)
	I'd love to see a picture of both you and Odo, dressed for this event! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chazpure 2007-09-10 04:23 am UTC (link)
	I'm sure there will be lots of pics taken, so I'll be sure to post something when I have 'em. :-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	valis2 2007-09-09 10:50 pm UTC (link)
	Ooh, I hope you'll post pictures of the dress--that color sounds lovely! I'm really excited about Snusa, seriously. The prompt I received is already brewing in my head, yum!! hugs (Reply to this) (Thread)

	chazpure 2007-09-09 11:14 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks! I'll try to get some pics of the finished project, assuming I finish it! rg It's going to be a great exchange, I think - lots of fascinating prompts! I've still got to settle on one of my recipient's ideas to run with. :-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	bronze_ribbons 2007-09-10 12:36 am UTC (link)
	and living in Southern California with two very affectionate- Two very affectionate sharing... right? Right? hopeful smirk (Reply to this) (Thread)

	chazpure 2007-09-10 04:24 am UTC (link)
	Hey, we want him to be happy, so if that's what it takes... ;-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	dracosdreamer 2007-09-10 02:18 am UTC (link)
	i was considering joining Smutty Claus this year but it's already closed! arg!! i had a Remus/Tonks idea i was going to want to trade for a hot Dramione piece. :disappointed: glad to hear the car is fixed! :huggeth to you &J: (Reply to this) (Thread)

	chazpure 2007-09-10 04:31 am UTC (link)
	Aw! That's too bad! :-( Keep an eye out for the springtime het exchanges - they'll probably start signups in December! I can't remember the comm names at the moment, but I'll let you know if I do. :-) And lots of {{{{{hugs}}}}} back to you and Meru. :-) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	dracosdreamer 2007-09-10 05:27 am UTC (link)
	hmm okee. yell my way just in case when the time comes! i blame LeAnn Rimes and Coyote Ugly....i find myself picturing Remus' reaction to Tonks dirty-dancing to "Can't Fight the Moonlight"....oy :facepalm: [at this point i'm thinking my return to my fandom roots is safer. Kathryn's not that wild, LOL.] (Reply to this) (Parent)

	inkgeist 2007-09-10 04:02 pm UTC (link)
	He'll move to SF eventually ;) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	chazpure 2007-09-11 05:52 am UTC (link)
	Heh - well, I have a feeling there'll be plenty Snape to go around. ;-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	theentwife 2007-09-10 05:56 pm UTC (link)
	I'm very happy to hear there will be more of "Far from the Tree" soon. :) DH sparked an interest for me in werewolves other than Remus. Really, how can you NOT love a lonely werewolf who chews on his paws when he's nervous and upset? Persephone (Reply to this) (Thread)

	chazpure 2007-09-11 05:53 am UTC (link)
	Thanks! I just have to get a few RL issues handled, so I can get back to the important stuff! ;-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	irena_candy 2007-09-10 06:03 pm UTC (link)
	The chocolate-bar dress fabric sounds scrumptious, the news about the car is pretty good, and you've got to SHARE Severus with the rest of us, y'hear! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	chazpure 2007-09-11 05:55 am UTC (link)
	I got the material cut out last night and am about to go excavate a sewing machine. rg The car's running as well as can be expected; we just have to remember to check the oil frequently. And I think there ought to be enough Severus to go around, don't you? "A Severus in every ~~bed~~ home!" - the rallying cry of Snape fen everywhere! ;-) (Reply to this) (Parent)