TG's Realm Updated

[tarotgal]

Yep. I updated. That I did. It's updated all right. Yup. Go, look if you don't believe me! :-)

This Update:
*5 new Harry Potter stories- Reception, You Stroke Me like the Rain, Comfortable Place on the Couch, Nowadays You Can't Be Too Sentimental, Chance Encounter
*1 new Star Wars Story- Insistence and Impertinence
*1 new Titanic Story and corresponding page- Last Messages
*10 new video clips (Witch Hunter Robin, Monk)

The WHR clips... gah... it's the Italian dub version, I'm afraid. TG had trouble finding anything other than that online. LOL I find it pretty funny to watch, though. LOL

And stories... nothing new... except for Reception, but that was just posted to sneezefic. So it's nothing that hasn't been posted here or there already.

And my galleries... looks like I can't add any ot access them... I can only view them still, but they're still online. I have a hard time knowing what it is about them the TOS people didn't like. Reasonably, I'd say everything. LOL But they don't offer specific reasons. So I dunno. Anyhoo.. yeah... an update. There it is all right. Right there. Yeppers.

Comments

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

Do you mind if I devote the rest of my life to following you around, sputtering and oogling you in awe? Because... yeah... you're, I think, the most talented non-professionally published ((that I know of)) writer I've ever known. And I've only read your sneezefics!

I'd say more, but I'm up to my ears in data entry. And I'm still all... wibbly over the sweetness of the Remus!story.

Seriously. I'll get one of those trailers attached to a bike...

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

*sigh* That was an adorably sweet Remus fic, and I'm not even that much into HP at all lately.

Sometimes though, I think my years of studing medicine and drugs have ruined me for sneezefics set in modern times. Maybe that's another reason why I so enjoy fics set in Middle-earth: fewer aspects of medical treatment that remind me of work make it easier for me to lose myself in the story. This usually goes for most HP fics with magical potions, but seeing the bits regarding modern allergy medicine made the anal-retentive pharmacist in me take over for a short while. (Did you get your ingredient list from an Actifed box? If so, the antihistamine component should be spelled 'Triprolidine' with an 'r'...sorry).

Anyway, I really enjoyed the fic, especially the parts about taking the time to enjoy simple things like dancing, even while at war. Especially when at war...those things become very precious things to hang on to as a reminder of why they are fighting. That, and the knowledge of how the marriage will end shortly after Harry's birth, really set the bittersweet tone for the marriage. You never fail to impress me, that you can write such delicious sneezing, and still manage to work in profound thoughts and ideas...I bow before your amazing skills and humbly request that you continue to grace us with your talents for a long time to come!

[tarotgal]

Ohhh did I spell it wrong? Whoops- sorry! Will go correct that! It's the Walmart generic equivalent, actually... antihistabs. But obviously, same deal. I should have triple-checked the spellings... I was holding box with one hand and typing with the other. Thanks for the correction. I'll go make it right away!
Was the "anal-retentive pharmacist" part of you that took over a good, engaging sort of thing? Or mostly bad a bad thing since I was absusing the poor medicine and spellings and reminding you of work? (sorry!)

Thanks for your other comments, too. I have always been curious about the birth rates in the HP world during the war, as well as other things they did.
Before the latest JKR interview (where she messed up Bill & Charlie's ages) I always took the large gap in ages between Charlie and Percy to be because the Weasley's didn't want to have children at the beginning of the uprising. And that would also help explain how few kids there at at Hogwarts. JKR says there are supposed to be 1000. Harry's Gryffindor class has 8. So right now, roughly, there might be about 220-250 students. Which would make sense to me, if people stopped having kids in the middle of a war.

But Lily and James clearly had a wedding... because Sirius was best man. And they had wedding photographs. This all we know. It's interesting to me that these two incredibly intelligent people, who we know were fighting Voldemort even harder than some (given that Voldy knew so well who they were and that they tried to kill him three times) would stop it all and have an actual wedding, with dresses and tuxes and a photographer. Really makes me want to get into their heads and try and figure it all out. They really seemed to want to hold on to their way of life, and continue with the happy things in spite of the fact that they could all die tomorrow. Which makes their decision to have Harry soon after their marriage/graduation (according to the timeline) one that sort of means to me that they wanted to bring more good into the world, despite current circumstances. They obviously understand the dangers in doing that... but yet they do have a formal wedding and they do have a baby in the midst of it all. They're much smarter and braver people than I would be, I'll say that much! I find myself thinking a lot about that, and focusing on their attempts at being happy through it all. Because it seems they were. They made each other happy, no matter what else was going on. And they wanted to make others happy as much as they wanted to help protect the world from evil. And you're so right. It *is* very bittersweet since it was so intense but so short (not quite Romeo & Juliet short, but pretty darn close) It's like they knew they had to do it now because there might not be time to do it later. And they obviously knew months before their death that Voldy was after them. They seem smart enough to know that they were going to be strong enough to be targets at the beginning, though. It all really fascinates me :-) I'm glad just a little of that came out in the fic :-)

I wrote a chapter in an unfinished fic about a year ago about Harry's birth... with Sirius being all nervous and jumpy in the waiting room. But them all getting together and being happy for the birth (well, perhaps Peter wasn't all that happy... I like to think of him selling himself off to Voldy the night of Harry's birth because it's so dramatic and the timing is perfect) But I was trying to capture a little of that time-stopping, war-stopping, being happy-for-your-friends feeling there at the end :-)

Oh, and I'm glad you enjoyed it- and the sneezing *G*- in general :-) I do try. And this one fell out in a matter of just a couple days. I like when stories push me, then turn out all right. Thanks much! Glad you liked it!

*off to change spelling mistake*

[tarotgal]

Hey, especially if you have rent money for next month, feel free to come on over! heehee

I'm blushing terribly right now. Almost feel compelled to print this out and put it up on my fridge or something to remind myself every time I go for ice cream that I'm not a worthless human being. :-)
Really, that's such a nice thing to say. Thank you so much *hugs* Truth is, I put so much into my sneezefics that my regular fics are probably boring in comparison. LOL :-) Then again, some aren't that bad. I dunno *shrug* But thank you much. *still blushing*

And I take it that means you liked the story? I hope it wasn't too overly sweet in places. Sirius is such a drama queen in my eyes that throwing himself on top of Remus time and time again actually works for him... but sometimes I think it might be a tad bit too much even for him :-)

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

About the 'anal-retentive pharmacist' part of me, it doesn't help that I was a perfectionist long before I went into pharmacy. However, it's not really good or bad in most cases, it just is. How I react to it depends largely on the medium involved. I've seen episodes of tv shows were they get it just plain wrong, and that's really jarring to me...makes me laugh or groan instead of taking something seriously. Sometimes, basic research that people who make these shows get paid to do is severely lacking. Take the SG-1 1st season ep 'The Broca Divide'...their use of the antihistamine chlorpheniramine maleate was laughable! It's the main ingredient of Chlor-trimeton tablets (the little yellow ones), for heaven's sake, and certainly not available in a clear yellow injectable form, for use as a fast-acting tranquilizer dart. My best friend (also a pharmacist) and I crack up every time this ep is on...

Most of the time, it bothers me less in fics, because I know that most people writing them do so for fun and have no real medical background, and even if they do their research well, little things will slip by them that only an expert would notice. I can't really blame them, as I'm sure I couldn't write a convincing sci-fi technobabble-filled ST or SG-1 fic featuring astrophysics or computer programming to save my life, and I highly doubt I could write an X-Files fic that accurately portrays what it's like to work in FBI Headquarters, for example. So I tend to skim over these things for the most part, and just choose to ignore little things that might bug me...

So yes, things like Pepper-up potion, or athelas are like a breath of fresh air to me...no one knows exactly how they work, so there's a ton of flexibility in writing stuff that is believeable. And there's a lot to be said for the POTC era, as well as Middle-earth...no antihistamines, no cold pills, no miracle cures, no relief in sight for our sneezy males in these locales! *giggles semi-evilly*

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

*digs into pockets* I have... four dollars. *sheepish smile*

Aww. I didn't mean to make you blush, really! But it's good if it makes you feel good. Because you deserve to. For you are tehAwesome. And FAR from worthless.
Hee. You're welcome. *hugshugs* And aww, I'm the same way. Though I haven't written much of ANYTHING lately. So I'm not sure anymore. Heh. And... I've only finished ONE sneezefic. I'm horrible. ._. *slinks into the corner*

I LOVED the story. I was so very much in the mood for something incredibly sweet and wonderful, and then this popped up. Sirius's toast was wonderful! I adored it, all of it. And it's okay for him to be a drama queen! He reacted better than I would have. LOL Aw, don't worry about it being too sweet. I happen to think it was perfect. I loved it almost too much, but I couldn't love it any less. And I'm done stealing lines from Don Juan. Ahem. :-D

[tarotgal]

Yeah, it's very similar to computer programmers watching things like Jurrassic Park (the movie, not the book) or most any sci-fi anything. We cringe at how complex viruses can be written with three keystrokes or the stupid examples of artificial intelligence... or how dumbed-down explanations of security or lines of code are so that the audience can understand... when it really makes no sense what they're saying.
And every time I see them supposedly typing in one Stargate address and the original one pops up on the screens in the back instead... makes me want to jump in and do it properly. Though that's not specifically programming, obviously. Just something I notice because I'm always staring at the computer screens more than the characters/action. LOL Yeah... I always wondered where the heck they came up on that- they're always doing that on Star Trek, though. Making happy little injections for anything and everything because it's so dramatic and useful :-)

Hope I didn't make it too painful for you to read that part, at least. *worries* Or that the plot didn't make sense around it. I have a friend who has such high blood pressure that he can't take normal OTC's for colds and things. So I was sort of going off of that. But as Remus' disease is a magical one, the reaction and treatment (which I skillfully bypassed to save myself having to explain that) were obviously fictional.

But, yeah, I know exactly what you mean. And it's horribly painful when things are so laughably wrong. And I definitely like when characters have no solutions to turn to for their problems.
Though I am having fun throwing every solution in the book at James in my 'Too Many Cooks' series. I had fun digging up obscure folk remedies like swallowing spiders and walking backwards with a glass of water on your head, etc. heehee!

[tarotgal]

LOL Well, thanks for the offer, but my rent is slightly higher than that :-)

My percentage of sneezefics to nonsneezefics finished is too embarrassing to mention. But I start about the same number, which I guess proves that I've got some ideas not bound to my passion for seeing cute guys sniffling. LOL But, yeah, I'm horrible at finishing things. And you're right- it is good if it makes you feel good! I just feel a lot better when I finish things. LOL

I'm glad you didn't think it was too sweet. Given that Sirius has had to deal with a lot of serious (forgive the pun) things in his life, I figured he'd be able to handle it when he had to. When Remus needed him to. But that last breakdown after Remus is all right might have been a little much to read. of course, if it were me, I'd be a lot worse, too.
And I'm glad you liked the toast! I didn't want it to be this big thing... I actually intended it to be just a paragraph at the very most. But the more I kept writing, the longer it got. And then with all the breaks in the middle and things... it became this massive "toast" scene which I didn't want it to be. But then at the end it was suddenly important, and I was glad I wrote it. I love when I write things I don't mean to write and then suddenly realize a day or two later why it was I wrote them. heehee! I really enjoy when my stories surprise me like that. In this case, bringing in a whole new theme to the story I hadn't intended on including. So, yay for pushy characters and story scenes! I'm glad it read well in the end, though. Even if I never wanted it to be that big and important :-)

LOL I haven't seen Don Juan, I'm afraid. Though it's one of the many many movies on my list :-)

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

Doooooooon Juaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan.... *shoves DVD against the screen* It's such a FUN movie, and lots of beautiful lines about love and romance and cute, squishy love scenes. I adore it.

Believe me, I know what you mean about feeling good about finishing things. If only I could feel that more often. LOL It's like one of those rare treats. I want so much to finish my Aragorn-through-time story. Piffle.

I think the toast was perfect as it was. It was perfectly fitting to the story and... perfect. Yep. Good word to use. I use that word with your 'fics a lot, I've noticed. Heh. I'll buy you a hat, that says 'Sar thinks I'm perfect' across the front. ;-)

[tarotgal]

Tis one of the few Johnny Depp movies I've not seen. Okay, that's not true. I haven't seen a lot of them. He's just made so many. LOL And every time I think he's done all he can do as an actor, I see him in something else that just blows me away. Ack. No pun intended there either. I haven't seen Blow. I keep missing it each time it's on USA though I'd assume that's the edited version and not worth watching anyway. :-)

Oohhhhh tg likes stories that move through time much much!! I love drawing parallels with themes throughout different points in time. Because, really, that's all life is. Just a series of repeating themes and ideas with a slow bit of change.
Mmmm... sexy Ranger...

And back to the toast- good. :-) I'm so glad. Tis hard to look at things objectively after you spend so much time writing them, sometimes :-) I really didn't want it to be that long... but I am glad now it was :-)
LOL! I have a hat that's red and reads 'OBEY ME!' in white letters. Got it when I was volunteering for the AIDS Walk in DC one year. The one you suggest sounds like a great thing to have. I could start a collection of hats to annoy others! LOL
Boyfriend just called and thought I was crying- I was actually laughing over your last statement there. heehee Thanks for the smiles! They're definitely as good as any hat. And without having all the hair problems hats cause!

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

No worries about your fic...because Remus has the whole werewolf thing going on, there's not that much real-life medical stuff I could criticize that applies to him! The only thing I noticed was that personally, I didn't think there'd be any problem with them trying to lower his fever. The point of choosing not to lower a fever is to kill off bacteria and viruses that require a very narrow temperature range to survive. However, Remus's problem was more like he was poisoned...no living organisms to kill, so I think he would have benefitted from fever lowering, IMHO.

Also, antihistamines don't target the blood...they travel through the bloodstream yes, but they work on histamine receptors in the tissues (with the target areas being those in the nasal passages in this case, but also systemically for allergic skin rashes, etc.), just to clear that up. And I'm curious about your comments regarding blood loss. Did I miss something, because I didn't notice any mention that Remus was bleeding at all, unless Wizard detoxification involves bleeding the victim? Also, sweets won't build up blood; only time and fluids will help there, and maybe iron supplements if red blood cells are low...

Ok, that's all I noticed...you really shouldn't have gotten me started! And like I said, none of these things are important enough to affect the plot at all, just things that jumped out at me, especially since I'm reviewing patient cases in preparation for serving as a volunteer evaluator of student presentations at Purdue tomorrow. So, I was already in pharmacy nit-picker mode before I read your fic and you shouldn't take any of it personally...I still thing your story was fantastic!

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

I would suggest Don Juan if you're in a floofy, fun movie sort of mood. Or just want to see Johnny make love. A lot. Hoooo... much skin in that movie. Okay, I'm shushing now. :-D

Siigh. I have this entire story ALLLLL plotted out -- Aragorn at different ages, always in/coming back to Rivendell, and it always ends with him falling asleep with Elrond, or to Elrond talking, or on Elrond's lap. Something like that. I just can't get motivated enough to finish most of it. It's so sweet in my head, I think I'm afraid of ruining it if I write it. Sob.

Hee. You SHOULD be glad, for 'twas very very good. I love sweet sappy things like that, so I could be a bit biased. Only a bit. ;)
HAH! I want a hat like that! I have one that says 'I'm busy, you're ugly, have a nice day.' It's my favorite. XD But a 'Sar thinks I'm perfect' hat would be GOOD for you! Yes yes, it really would.
Hee! I'm glad I made you smile. That makes me feel good, because YOU make me smile all the time. So... we're almost even! *twirls* HAT HAIR! I chopped all my hair off, so I don't have to worry about that anymore. Haha, I'm not smug. Really.

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

Ooops, that last 'thing' should have read 'think'. I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't correct myself there...

Also, did you read my Legolas icon? I thought it was appropriate given the topic at hand! *G*

[tarotgal]

Oh, yes. I meant to comment. The icon is absolutely adorable. Love it. Loss of coherent speech indeed! LOL

[tarotgal]

Awwwww! Cute little Aragorn... or not so little Aragorn. I definitely have a thing for sleeping men. There's just something so sweet and vulnerable about them. They're much less likely to be asses when they're asleep. Not that Aragorn could ever be an ass... though he certainly has a sexy one... where the heck was I? Oh, yes yes. The story sounds adorable! *sigh* I have so many of those. Brilliant ideas in my head that I have all planned out... I just never get them to sound the same on paper. Even electronic paper.

Ha ha! I like your hat! Too funny. See, more smiling :-) Always good.

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

Yes yes. And I just finished my data entry work, so now I can open lovely aragorn story and see if my brain wants to get at least one of the parts started. I tried to write one of him when he's eight, and it's just not going so well. So maybe I'll start with an older-ish Estel, and work from there. *crosses fingers*

Hee. I feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy tonight.

[tarotgal]

Hermerow... should I rewrite parts maybe, you thinkith? I certainly can give Madam Pomfrey's 'long and boring speech that makes no sense as well as the part where she doesn't actually go back afterwards' a bit of a rewrite. In fact, I might anyway while I correct that other mistake you so wonderfully pointed out (you wouldn't be able to tell that I edited this for two days, LOL). Hrmmmmm.
And the, er, possible bloodletting was more sort of a joking nod towards Medieval treatments and the unconventionalness of magical medicine than anything else.

And, no, totally wonderful for you to point it out for me- I asked, didn't I? :-) I don't take it personally at all. It's just nice you think the story was good, even with all its little problems. Problems can be easily fixed. Stories that are horrible from the core, however, usually all you can do with those is close the window and hope they leave your head sooner rather than later. So, definitely, thank you :-)

[tarotgal]

I *so* jump around when I write. Sometimes it's just so much easier to get into the spirit when you write a different scene... or the end, for that matter. I hate when parts are uncooperative. Many times I've ended a scene much shorter than I mean to just to get it to catch up to the good part I've already written and get that part over and done with.
Not that you should do that there, obviously, but I know what you're feeling. :-)

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

Heh. I gotcha. We're on the same page. *nods wisely* Or... something. Wavelength, perhaps?
Arrgh! Aragorn, cooperate with me! He keeps wanting to fall asleep on horseback on his way to Bree. But that doesn't fit with the rest of the story. Unless it's the end. But... Argh! *smacks head against wall*

[smokeycat-430.livejournal.com]

Hey, this is Meg. I just started a new LJ since my old one was getting crowded and wanted to know if I could put some of you guys on my buddy list? It would me much appreciated as,well, I have no fiends at the moment...

Thanks, Meg

[tarotgal]

Ohhhh! *waves hi*
Yay! Feel free! But only if I get to add you back ;-)

Mmmm yummy icon goodness *G*

[smokeycat-430.livejournal.com]

Yup, yup yup. Doing it now. :)