Stolen from the phenomenally talented longsufferingly, here is a fun and different meme.

1. Write down the names of 10 characters.
2. Write a fic of fifteen words or less for every prompt, using the characters determined by the numbers. Do NOT read the prompts before you do step 1.

My characters are:

1. Sam Winchester (Supernatural)
2. Dean Winchester (Supernatural)
3. Ray Doyle (Pros)
4. William Bodie (Pros)
5. Ken Hutchinson (Starsky & Hutch)
6. David Starsky (Starsky & Hutch)
7. Blair Sandburg (The Sentinel)
8. Jim Ellison (The Sentinel)
9. Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)
10. Logan Echolls (Veronica Mars)

Under the cut are the prompts and my responses (don't peek till you make your list!)

( Prompts & An's Responses )

Hi, everybody. I wanted to be a little more timely this week with my episode ramblings. Of course, that's easy to do when you love an episode as much as I loved Abandon All Hope. Seriously, this is just behind The End as my fav episode of the season. I thought it was exciting and heartfelt, and it had so many gorgeous character moments that I scarcely know what to do with my bad self. I was so happy with it. I don't know how I'll ever be able to wait two months for my next fresh Supernatural fix.

Because I was vidding, I got behind and didn't post my Changing Channels thoughts. As last week's episode was by and large a comedy, as was The Real Ghostbusters, I thought I'd pare down my observations and combine the two episodes into one review.

It sounded like a good idea in theory; we'll see how it goes in practice. As my content is a little different this week, I'm going to mix up the format as well. Hopefully, I won't ramble on too long.

( Two Reviews in One )

This is for my darling callistosh65. She'd visited me over the summer, and had brought with her a list of songs she would love to see made into vids for Supernatural. I'd told her we would pick one, I'd make her a vid, and it would be her Christmas present from me. I needed to get this finished a little early, as shortly I'll probably be at less than my best--thus, Christmas the second week of November. (Ho, ho, ho!)  One owed vid down.  One more to go.

Of all the songs under consideration (and this woman came not only with sound files at the ready, but with lyrics printed out!), this was her first choice. I hope I've done it justice. Merry Christmas, honey! I had a blast working on your vid (even if I did call you evil and complain almost incessantly all through the process--bitching is how I show my love!)

It can be downloaded here. (Please right click to save.) The file has been encoded with xVid, so you'll either need the codec or the VLC player to view it. It's also available embedded below.  Please give a round of applause to two eagle-eyed individuals, my oh-so-talented betas, przed and lauramcewan, both glorious vidders themselves.  Thank you, ladies.  You were all kinds of help.

I think this says it all.




Hope your day has been special so far!

Happy Saturday, all!

Here are things I've neglected to do:

- Wish sarituss a very Happy Birthday! (Sorry, hon. I haven't been as good about checking my journal as I could be. I hope it was wonderful.)
- Changing out my Halloween themed LJ. (Now, done and done!  Only a week after the fact.)
- Doing my episode meta for Supernatural. (I've watched the episode once and liked it [though had some reservations]. I hope to get to it this weekend.)
- Doing any writing on my Supernatural Christmas exchange story (due some time in December).
- Commenting as much as I'd like in other people's LJs.
- Do any of my S&H Crack Van recs (thanks for reminding me, Laura!)
- Any kind of housecleaning or prep for my convalescence (I keep telling myself I'll wait till next week to pull out all the heavy duty cleaning equipment).

On the plus side, all three doctors visits are now done (though I still have to go to a lab and give blood AGAIN). I think this statement (made by me to my OBGYN, who I adore) sums up the oncologist visit:

"Most painful pelvic exam ever! I can tell he's a doctor who normally works on patients who are unconscious."

Seriously. (<--a little hospital humor in honor of the Dr. Sexy, MD segment of this week's Supernatural)

The main reason I'm so far behind is that I'm madly vidding. I only have till next weekend. And I'd really, really like to wrap this baby up this weekend. It's callistosh65's Christmas present, and one of two vids I currently owe.  I've got about 80 seconds left, which doesn't sound like much.  Unless you're a vidder, in which case you know it's sorta substantial.

Still, I think I might be able to knock it out if I stop writing here and get to work.

Everyone, please enjoy your weekend!

Oh, man. I'm so late on this. Sorry! My dear Pros pal, and AMAZING writer, the lovely and talented msmoat is going through a bit of a rough patch these days. So she asked for some spirit-lifting pics featuring the lads, Bodie and Doyle. Here are two I like. I can't say for certain they haven't been posted elsewhere. But seriously--can you ever truly get enough of these guys (particularly when they look like this)? Hang in there, Beth.  We've got your back.  :-)

This comes courtesy of oasis3017, who wrote in her LJ:

Leave me a comment saying "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" (I'm having a Pat Benatar moment...).
• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity.
• Update your journal with the answers to the questions.
• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions.

( An answers five questions )

Anyone who knows me or reads this LJ knows I love Sam Winchester and I love h/c with him as the hurtee.  I don't know if I would call this vid a hurt comfort extravaganza.  Though wounded Sam certainly factors in.  Think of it more as a crack Sam-in-peril-needing-rescue-set-to-80's-power-rock vid. 

Seriously--I laughed so hard watching this, I was crying.  I was practically hooting!  It's silly and just brilliant.  The cutting is first rate, and it's just...good.  Go watch it.  And while you're at her LJ, look up The End of the World as We Know It.  Awesome tribute to Supernatural Season Four.  It's so good columnist Mo Ryan rec'ed it in the Chicago Tribune.

The vidder has both downloadable and streaming versions of all her vids available.

Happy Friday, y'all!

Woo hoo!  Nice monster of the week with great guest stars (for the most part) a bit of Bobby!angst, and some lovely (if panicky) brotherly love.  I wholeheartedly approve.

( Thoughts about The Curious Case of Dean Winchester )

So, on Thursday, I emailed callistosh65 and told her I was going to do a top 10 favorite Supernatural episode post. After all, there wasn't a new episode on, so I might as well do something else in the fandom to celebrate Thursday night.

Yeah, I know today is Saturday and I'm just now posting. I got distracted. It's not my fault I sometimes have the attention span of a flea.

I got the urge to do this from rewatching some of the older eps. I'm working my way through Season Two right now, and one episode in particular (which you'll see if you read my list) reminded me yet again how freakin' brilliant this show is at its best.

As far as the criteria used to come up with this list--it's not exactly scientific. I'm not looking at this as a list to use to pimp newbies into the fandom (I didn't include the pilot or some of the first episodes that set the scene for what is to come). I'm also not saying these are the episodes I'd watch over and over again (I've got some painful ones on here, and stayed away from the comic eps). By and large, I'd say simply these are the eps that have made an impact on me or stayed with me in some way. I've left off some brilliant episodes--On the Head of a Pin, The Monster at the End of This Book, Born Under a Bad Sign--which is a shame. But that's also the fun of making a list. You need to be ruthless when you make those cuts.


( An's Top Ten Supernatural Episodes )

I'm slipping in just under the wire--HAPPY BIRTHDAY,debbiel66!!!  Writer extraordinaire and beloved Sam girl.  I hope your day was filled with all the things you love.



Isn't he pretty? (Even if you can't see his arms...)  :-D

Happy Saturday morning!

This is really late for me to be posting meta.  I usually like to finish watching the show, sit down at my computer and spew.  I don't know if the time lag is going to make any difference in the way I viewed this week's episode.  But I've seen it twice now and have given it some thought.

( Reaction to 05.06 (Long) )

To andreathelion and lisaloveslewis, may your special days be filled with everything that makes you happy!  Enjoy, girls. :-)




Happy Birthday Glitter Graphics

Bad news:

• For the third day in a row it's cold and rainy here.  It's supposed to remain like this through the weekend.
• I was so tired last night after my five day vid farr that I fell unconscious on the couch as soon as credits rolled on "I Believe Children Are Our Future", slept there until 7:00am this morning, and didn't get to rewatch Supernatural or write my commentary
• The heat in my office either roasts me alive or doesn't work at all.  I've been here less than three hours and have adjusted the bloody thing about a half dozen times
• Mom isn't coming down at all post-surgery (which I've mentioned in some of my comments but didn't whine about in an actual entry *g*)

Good news:

• I was asked to teach Intro to Literature next semester.  At a real, academically selective university with good students (aka where I work full-time) and a normal class schedule (two 75 minute classes a week as opposed to the once a week 220 minute classes I'd taught for the last four years).  I won't even know how to act!
• One of my direct reports walked in the door this morning and handed me a large Dunkin' Donuts coffee fixed just the way I like it and a pumpkin muffin, and said, "Happy Bosses Day."
• It's Friday.
• The problem that had made work rather tense earlier in the week seems to be less problematic than originally thought.
• The fridge at my home (that I'm renting out) miraculously fixed itself (we don't question these things...).
• My sis is coming in for nine days to help me after surgery and will be here at Thanksgiving (even though she has a family of her own--let's give it up for my little sister, people!)
• People seem to like my Supernatural vid.  :-)
• There is chocolate in the break-room.

All in all, not too shabby.

Now I just need to rewatch Supernatural and get my commentary glasses on. 

Happy Friday, all!

I can hardly believe it's been 11 months since my last vid. How is that possible? I've never gone that long between vids since I first started doing this back in 2005.

( An's Latest Vid )

Hmm.

I knew this week's episode was going to be a letdown.  Almost any ep would following The End, which for me ranks right up there with the best Supernatural eps of all time.

I've watched it twice at this point, and probably need to watch it a few more times to solidify how I feel about it.  I didn't like it at all the first time through, but enjoyed it more the second go-round.  I can't decide if that says something more about me or the episode.  Regardless, here are my impressions.

( All About Fallen Idol )

So, not only do I have a bunch of fannish friends generously respond to my plea for diversions, but it's 3:00 on a lazy Saturday afternoon and I hear a knock on my door.  Outside is a delivery person with a ginormous arrangement of flowers.  Apparently, my idiot coworkers (imagine "idiot" said with as much affection as can be crammed into a single word), who were privy to a bit of my emotional angst yesterday, decided I needed cheering up.

They sent me flowers.  On a Saturday.

Just because I got a little upset.

Nothing has even actually happened yet.

::Sob::

I'm ridiculously happy right now, and crying like a big ol' baby.

...because I feel like a bit of a drama queen.  But I've decided I kind of need it.  So if you can help me out, f-list, I would really appreciate it.

I got some worrying news this morning that has been preying on my mind, and I could really use some happy-making stuff to distract me over the weekend.  So if you can, comment and give me a suggestion of feel-good fics and vids.  Schmoopy, happy-ending stuff.  I can probably take the angst if it all ends well.  But I'm looking for comfort fannish stuff.  You know what I mean, right?

I'm obsessed with Supernatural these days (particularly after last night's AWESOME episode), so anything with Sam & Dean or J2 would be especially good.  But lord knows my love of S&H, Pros and Sentinel hasn't faded, so recs would be welcome in those fandoms as well.

Thanks everyone.  I'll try and be clearer about what's going on once I have a better idea.  Probably on Wednesday.

Happy weekend, everyone.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Dean Winchester, welcome back.

And Jensen, this is the kind of work we've come to expect from you, the caliber of performance that has made you one of the most underrated actors working today. Bravo. Thank you for a truly intelligent, emotional, yet understated performance. In fact, this was, for me, your best performance this season. Let's hope you just go on, getting better and better.

Now for the particulars:

( The End Thoughts )