I have three weeks worth of items, here.

[annakovsky]

1) Every spring I get excited when it's finally warm enough to have the windows open... and then every spring I remember why every fall I'm psyched when we get to shut the windows, because suddenly I can hear everything that's going on in the whole neighborhood. Dear lady who every night at 10 pm for the past three years has called, "Kitty! Kitty!" for fifteen minutes... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, NAME YOUR CAT.

Anyway, the house next door is only about five feet away from my bedroom window, so I almost always have the blinds closed in there. But last weekend it was really hot, so on Saturday night around 1, I was in my room reading with the light on, but I had my window open to get a breeze, and the blinds up so as not to inhibit the breeze. From where the head of my bed is, I couldn't see anything out the window, but it was open. Aaaaaand then I hear this dude moaning, and this lady shushing him.

Yeah, the couple next door was having sex, and shushing each other because it must have been very apparent that MY OPEN WINDOW WAS RIGHT THERE AND I COULD HEAR EVERYTHING. I mean, on the one hand, I appreciate the shushing because I didn't want to hear that, but on the other hand, them being totally AWARE I WAS THERE was almost creepier. Basically, this was my face:



2) We don't have furniture in our living room anymore. The couch went back out the window from whence it came (we videotaped it going out the window this time, so a post about that will be forthcoming -- stay sharp, internet). So basically for the next month before we both move, being in the living room is like CAMPING. By which I mean really uncomfortable -- we put a futon mattress on the floor, it's pretty hilarious.

Anyway. So all that to say that this morning when my roommate and her boyfriend walked in, I was sitting on a futon on the floor in the middle of the living room crosslegged in my pajamas, eating cereal out of a bowl and watching the Disney channel, as you do... when you're eight.

Jonas -- Man, so I knew I would thoroughly enjoy this show, but I enjoyed it even more than I was anticipating. There were a ton of genuinely hilarious lines, Kevin is AMAZING, and it's so META. "He looks exactly like Nick... but he's SMILING." "Check the fan magazines, I'm the serious one." Making fun of Kevin's boots, and Nick wearing a I Love Sports t-shirt and Joe taking pictures of himself, and Kevin and Joe palling around all over the place! Frankie! Basically it's like they filmed some satirical RPF, is all I'm saying, only with less incest.

Also, both Stella and their fake dad are AWESOME. Also, is it just me or is Kevin super hot in that part in the credits when they cut to him singing and he does that little eyebrow raise? Just saying.

Also, at the end of the first episode, my roommate's boyfriend, after having laughed hysterically at "VASE CLUB," said, "So... am I allowed to genuinely like this show?" JUST SAYING. EVEN CIVILIANS WHO ARE PROBABLY NOT ATTRACTED TO NICK JONAS LIKE IT. My roommate suggested that we go off and co-mod a community together.

3) Speaking of the Jonas Brothers, if you want an awesome introduction, you need to check these out:

JNS 101: Introduction to Jonases by irishmizzy
JNS 102: Modern Jonas History by agate
JNS 201: Jonas Music Theory by miss_bennie
JNS 315: Jonas Sexual Development by mozarts_friend

4) Apparently I'm also going to do all my super old, super out-dated TV catch-up now. God, why do I never post anymore?

5) Life: YOU GUYS THAT FINALE GAVE ME A LOT OF FEELINGS. I mean, the Crews/Reese felt a little bit like it came out of nowhere in the last couple of episodes, but I don't even care. Seriously, I have never had so many feelings about hands brushing. (How he kind of twitches his fingers afterwards!) And the whole ending was just like the most beautiful thing. I had feelings for days. I still keep listening to that goddamn song that played over it.

Also, Charlie THROAT PUNCHED ROMAN TO DEATH. AUGH. Haha, basically all I want from that show is 1) Charlie being sad over prison, 2) Charlie being terrifyingly badass, 3) sexy shipping, 4) pretty, pretty musical sequences. So the finale was PRET-TY AWESOME. I feel like I want to do a rewatch of all of season 2.

Anyway, I'm going to be so bummed if/when it really gets canceled, but if it does, that was a pretty awesome place to end it. Augh.

Also, this picture of Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi is maybe my favorite thing I've ever seen:



6) The Office: THE MICHAEL SCOTT PAPER COMPANY IS THE BEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO HUMANITY, END OF STORY. All of you who claim you're writing Pam/Ryan really better get on it, is all. God. Talk about having a lot of feelings. I love how both Pam and Ryan totally PARTICIPATED in all of Michael's nonsense. The morning cheer!

And even Halpert was pretty okay when he was saving the day and stuff. Also, Dwight/Andy y/y/y/y/y? Also Michael/Pam y/y/y/y/y/y/y?

7) I really like this Winters/Nixon Band of Brothers vid by kaydeefalls

8) Theories About Nuclear Winters is a Calvin/Susie Calvin & Hobbes fic that is so good it made me cry.

9) moireach introduced me to a drink that consists of creme de cacao, milk, and seltzer, and NO LIE, you guys, it is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. Every time I drink it IT IS BETTER THAN I REMEMBERED IT BEING, and I overhype it EVEN TO MYSELF. Also, it was invented for oilmen in the old west or something, so even though it tastes like a fizzy chocolate soda, it is actually BADASS. Smith and Curran: you will have no regrets.

Comments

[mardia.livejournal.com]

OMG, that's even BETTER. Especially if the girls end up running circles around the guys--they're just faster and more agile, and Dani's on the sidelines trying determinedly not to smirk, but when she and Winters go to shake hands, Winters is sincerely congratulating her, and asking her for tips on conditioning and drills, and Dani's blinking at him and wondering if he just hasn't noticed the fact that her team KILLED his on the field just now.

(They're just such an awesome CONTRAST, aren't they? And yet they're weirdly similar in a lot of ways. Man, I am really really hoping that somebody writes this.)

[annakovsky.livejournal.com]

Heeeeeeeeeee. He takes her out for dinner to congratulate her on the girls' win, and she thinks it's just going to be burgers or something, but he shows up wearing a TIE and she has to pretend she's running late and frantically change clothes, cursing the whole time, and then he takes her to this really nice restaurant, and finally she's like, "... is this a DATE?" And he turns bright red and is like, "Ummmmm, would that be a problem?" And she just kind of stares at him for a long time, and then is finally like, "No. I was just wondering."

(They ARE kind of an awesome contrast at the same time as being similar. Plus, Winters knows how to deal with someone who's been to rehab. Augh, it has to happen.)

[mardia.livejournal.com]

This has GOT to happen. I need this fic to be a reality. (And please God, no broken-hearted pining Lew, okay? Have him be involved in some crazy whirlwind romance with the new band teacher, Mr. Nick Jonas, who came in to replace Harry Welsh when Harry got promoted to vice principal after Sobel left.)

Ha ha, and you know that inwardly Dani's flailing around a little bit, because she doesn't date guys that can still blush, or never swear, and rarely drink, and hold doors open for her, and don't try to sneak glances down her shirt. And she'd be running from this as fast as she could, if it weren't for the fact that she also wants to get inside Winters's head, figure out what makes him tick. He's just so different from what she's always expected, is the thing.

[annakovsky.livejournal.com]

And please God, no broken-hearted pining Lew, okay?

Haha, God, I know, right? Last night me and londondrowning were talking about this, and we put it in the Sports Night AU-AU-AU where Nix flies to NYC to try to make it work with Nick, but it turns out that a Dick Winters who is dumped for Nick Jonas after all those years, and then goes back to ladies and tries to hits it with Dani Reese? But his kids miss Lew and he's all broken-hearted? IT TURNS OUT THAT IS A BUMMER OF A SITUATION. And God, this crossover has already brought too much angst into my life, haha.

Oh man, seriously, No Flaws No Vices Winters is completely weirding Dani out, but it's actually kind of convenient to be around a guy who doesn't really drink, and even though she is COMPLETELY UNNERVED, it is also super intriguing. He always seems like he has a lot going on underneath the surface. And at the end of the date, he's all, Let's take it slow, but she's like, eff that, and it turns out that she can do some stuff to convince him to come in. And then some stuff to convince him to stay over. And all the blushing is a little bit gratifying, even if it's insane at the same time.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is just too much angst for me, man. Like, no, londondrowning wove out the scenario for me in email, and after I quit flailing in horror, I immediately came up with a scenario where I killed Lew off and left Nick Jonas broken-hearted for all eternity JUST SO I COULD GET BACK AT HER. (Umm, I am kind of petty sometimes. And also insane, just to give a headsup.) So yeah, I'm just going to have my everyone-is-happy-and-not-pining-for-who-they-can't-have cake and eat it too, okay?

HEEE, No Flaws No Vices Winters would totally wig Dani out. And maybe Lew (who in this universe really kind of approves of Dani, he just gets her) takes her aside one day and says, grinning, "I swear you get used to him eventually." And Dani doesn't say anything much in response but she's obscurely comforted by that? And Dick's constant blushing would just egg her on even further. She just wants to see how far that blush goes down his body, is all. Pretty far, as it turns out.

[annakovsky.livejournal.com]

HEE, wow, you killing Nix off -- that some serious anger! But for real -- it turns out continuing the SN universe BRINGS NO ONE JOY. Well, it brings Nick some joy. But poor Dick. D: D: D:

The only thing is, if he's always been straight, why are he and Helen divorced? OOH, MAYBE HELEN DIED. (Hahaha, what is wrong with me?) Dick Winters: widower with two small children? Ummmmmmmmm that might give me some feelings. Hypothetically.

Godddddddddddd pretty far down his body. And Dani does her freak-out too-close intimacy issues thing the next morning, but his little face falls, and that kind of... gets to her? And then he's just so, like, kindly persistent, and she really likes him, and so when he invites her over and says he'll make dinner, she goes... and maybe she freaks out afterwards again, but he keeps wearing her down, and it turns out sticking around after isn't as bad as she thought? Even if the first time she meets his kids she feels like she's going to die of stress.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Never in my life would I have thought that a crossover involving Sports Night could be SO 'EFFING DEPRESSING AND SAD. There is NO JOY WHATSOEVER to be found there.

Dick Winters: widower with two small children? Ummmmmmmmm that might give me some feelings. Hypothetically.

Um, okay, that would be fantastic, just so you know. (Oh, Lord, I really have lost it.) And I'm sorry, but the image of Dick's little face falling makes me want to crack up so hard. Just the wording of that, when he's basically a foot taller than her and his hands are maybe twice the size of hers. Which also gives me feeelings, just so you know.

And that first night she goes to meet his kids, Dani's heart feels like it's about to explode in her chest like that John Henry guy, but his kids are just so freaking friendly it blows her mind. Manon's a little shier, but Gulliver immediately goes to give her a hug, and tugs at her hair a little bit, but that's cool, she can spare a few follicles. Especially when she sees Dick's face and--yeah. It was a good idea to agree to come tonight.

[annakovsky.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, I'm currently writing something 100% ridiculous that involves the SN universe a little bit, and TALK ABOUT BUMMERVILLE. I actually had to stop it before I made myself permanently turn depressed, haha. YIKES.

God, seriously, Winters raising two kids alone? AUGH. Haha, sorry to kill you off, Helen, but that is an amazing scenario. I'M NOT MADE OF STONE HERE. (And augh, his hands, right? AND HOW TALL HE IS? God, DLew, marry me.)

Augh, Dick just watches Gulliver showing her all his trucks, and he's got this little smile on his face, and Dani's just kind of... like, it's not really HER, being good with the kids, and she knows she's going to blow it any second, but it's way easier than she thought it would be, and the way he's looking at her, well. It's okay.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Not even kidding, I tried to figure out a way to combine Easy and the SN AU in a way that didn't leave everyone heartbroken, and I only 2/3rds managed it. In other words, Nick/Nix, but Dick is still heartbroken in LA, and because he's still living in denial, he doesn't even realize and AUGH, I just turned depressed all over again myself (ESPECIALLY AFTER HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT LIFE, GODDAMMIT, NBC.)

Heee, this scenario fills me with delight. Who knew that Dani Reese + little kids would be such an epically awesome combination? And after dinner, they all watch TV, and Gulliver actually climbs into her lap, and Dani thinks that there are worse ways to spend a Saturday night. And she'd know. And later on she helps tuck the kids in, kind of gingerly--she's terrified she'll drop Gulliver as she's climbing up the stairs, and so she's walking like the floor is made of slippery ice or like there are bananas strewn everywhere. It's sort of hilarious but Dick's not stupid enough to actually say that. Besides, seeing Dani's head bent over as she tucks Gulliver in is, well. It's nice, that's all.

[annakovsky.livejournal.com]

God, seriously, there is no way for everyone to be happy in the SN AU... haha, well, there's one way, which is what's going to happen in this thing I'm working on (we dug it out of the bummerville hole last night) -- but it is 100% ridiculous. THERE IS NO NON SCIENCE-FICTIONAL WAY. Even when you hook Nick up with Ted Mosby, he's not happy enough! Even when you give Dick Winters Dani Reese! WHY ARE THEY ALL SO CRANKY, WANTING THE ONLY THINGS THEY CAN'T HAVE?

Ugh, I can't even talk about Life, I'm seriously going to cry. WHY, NBC. WHY.

Oh GOD, Gulliver in her lap. And she's totally the first person Dick's even been out with since Helen died, the first person he's even THOUGHT about being out with, and he didn't even know if it was a good idea to introduce the kids to her when she was so, sort of... skittish or whatever. But they've been dating for a long time now, and he really likes her, and there's no point in going on if she can't deal with the kids anyway, and. And it's so much better than he expected, even, and when Gulliver was on her lap he kept sneaking glances over at her, and Gulliver's hair was all catching the lamp light, all red and halo'd, and leaning back against her like it was the most normal thing in the world, and.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Hee, now I am all intrigued by this, I mean, I seriously cannot think of anything that could fix that mess but that is only making me more eager to see what you've figured out.

Dude, if I talk about NBC right now, it's seriously going to come out in all astericks. A $^%%@*&!! kind of thing.

Dick maybe looks at her and Gulliver for a long time, just wanting to keep this image of them in his brain, all curled up around each other, so natural and quiet. And it's so easy to picture this as a normal, settled, every day sort of thing, the two of them coming home and being with the kids, Dani calling this home--and Dick needs to stop this train of thought right now. He does.

And later, when the kids are finally asleep, they're curled up on the couch and Dani murmurs softly, "They're really great kids." And Dick smiles and says, "Well, I've always thought so, but I've been assured that they can be complete nightmares sometimes."

And Dani actually laughs, because she's feeling really relaxed and calm and, well, happy, because the night did go really well, despite all her worrying, and she says, "Oh, I'm sure they can be. But yeah, they're great kids all the same." And when Dick places a kiss on the top of her head, she doesn't tense up or anything, she just relaxes even more, until she's feeling practically boneless.

[annakovsky.livejournal.com]

Haha, well, the stupid thing about writing it is that it can't get posted until after Easy is finished, so I don't know why I'm prioritizing it now, but whatevs. THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS.

And it's so easy to picture this as a normal, settled, every day sort of thing, the two of them coming home and being with the kids

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God, and Dani's so RELAXED. And she's not... like, this wasn't ever a future she wanted, the whole picket-fence, little kids thing, but all of a sudden she can kind of see it. And it... it would be kind of okay, actually. Which is weird.

Can we talk about the first time Gulliver accidentally calls her Mom? They're at the park, and Dani's playing soccer with him, and he says it accidentally, and Dani just FREEZES, and Dick sees her do it, and he watches her very carefully, and she won't look at him for awhile. And later he's like, "You know Gulliver didn't mean that like that," and she's like, "Oh, no, I know," and kind of pretends to laugh it off, even though she's still not looking Dick in the eye. And then she doesn't return Dick's calls for like three days.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

HEEE. Write it write it write it! Lord, it is almost shameful, how greedy I am for anything involving this universe.

And then she doesn't return Dick's calls for like three days.

MEEEEEEP. And Dick tries to be patient and not be hurt, because he knows enough of her history to get why this is such a big deal--and yes, he still wants to hit her father in the face a lot--and he gets that he, you know, comes with baggage. But still. It stings.

And finally Dani sees his name on the screen, and she's just so disgusted with herself that she picks it up without even really thinking about what she's going to say, and when Dick says cautiously, "Hello? Dani?" she freezes up again. But when he asks, very cautiously, if he can meet her for coffee, she can't say anything but yes. Not just because she owes him that much at the very very least, but because well--she's missed him, okay?

And they meet up at a cafe, and Dani's stomach is in knots, and after about ten minutes Dick sets down his coffee--that he's only been pretending to drink--and says, "I get--I get that this is a lot to handle. But if you can't, then I need to know that now."

[annakovsky.livejournal.com]

Oh man, and while she's not calling him back, Dick's not really talking about it, but he's moping all over the teacher's lounge, and Lew, who's in this ridiculously good mood all the time since he started dating some 19-year-old named Nick he met in a bar, keeps being like, "C'mon, Dick. You know she'll call you." And Dick's like, "Maybe." And Lew's privately resolving that if she doesn't call back by Friday, he's going to march over to Waverly and give her a piece of his mind after school.

Oh godddddddd, but she's totally missed him a lot -- they'd settled into this routine, and she's never been a person who got into routines with people, but it was weirdly comforting, and he would cook for her, and she misses the kids, too, weirdly. She... she just can't be their mom. But it's going to be sad not to see them anymore.

God. And when he says that in the coffee place, she doesn't even know what to say. Finally she's like, "Look, I'm a mess. Pretty much all the time. I'm just going to screw them up."

[mardia.livejournal.com]

And Lew's privately resolving that if she doesn't call back by Friday, he's going to march over to Waverly and give her a piece of his mind after school.

YES YES YES. Eeeeee, you just know that Lew is at that stage where he is so ridiculously happy and perky all the time that he wants everybody else to be like that. And besides--it's honestly been good seeing Dick this happy, and being able to be happy for Dick. And Lew just doesn't want to see all that screwed up.

And Dick's just raising his eyebrow at her, like he doesn't actually think that's true, and weirdly enough that just pisses Dani off, like after all these months he really doesn't get how screwed up in the head she is? "Look," she says more fiercely, "you don't get it--"

But Dick's looking at her, and he's saying frankly, "No, I don't think you get it. Do you honestly think I'd let you around the kids if I thought you were going to be bad for them? You think I'm that reckless with their well-being?" And Dani's staring at him, and Dick says, more gently, "The kids have been asking after you. They miss you." And then he takes a breath and admits, more quietly, "I've missed you."