A quick post to thank all the kind people who sent me snowflakes and Christmas greetings. It's very much appreciated. My mum's health has deteriorated over the last few months, and she's spent quite a bit of time in hospital. She's home again and keeping quite well at the moment, but with helping to look after her and my own family, I don't get to spend much time online any more.

I hope things will improve in the New Year, and I do have some fics lying around on my hard drive that I would love to get around to finishing and posting. For now I just want to let you all know that I really appreciate the good thoughts and prayers you've all sent me.

Hugs to you all,
Eloise
xxx

ONE

Make a post (public, friends-locked, filtered... whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. The post should contain your list of ten holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related ("I'd love a Snape/Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV"). The important thing is to make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) can get in touch with you. Your home address is not required!

Make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ, or link to this post (it'll be public) so that the holiday joy will spread.

STEP TWO

Surf around your friends list (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now, here's the important part...

If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes one person's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use - or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free - do it.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf - to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not - it's your call. There are no guarantees with this project, and no strings attached. Just... wish, and it might come true. Give and you might receive. You'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.


( Wishlist under here. )

So what is everyone doing for Christmas?

Link to the slideshow: http://www.buddytv.com/slideshows/tvs-100-sexiest-men-of-2009-511-20977.aspx

( The blurbs about the guys aren't really spoilery for this season, but my comments are. )

Title: Some Things Are Absolute
Author: X_tremeroswellian
Rated: PG-13 for violence.
Pairing: Implied Oliver/Chloe
Note: This ficlet is based on spoilers, speculation, and one of the photos that's been released from the upcoming Smallville movie, "Absolute Justice."


( I can't believe... )

I'd just like to know when it became okay to start mudslinging and throwing around accusations that have not been grounded in any kind of proof or reality, but on mere speculation.

I'm way behind on my blogging schedule. It's been over two weeks since the last one.

It's hard to believe 2009 is almost over. It's been an overwhelming year with a fair amount of negatives (dad's death, girlfriend's dad's death) but also a lot of positives (back in school with good grades, a nice apartment, fun programming projects, an internship for 2010 and a deepening relationship with the lovely Teresa Finn).

This semester has been much harder on me compared to the last two for reasons I won't elaborate on here. My last two big papers are due by tomorrow and Dec 4th, respectively. Then I'll be pretty free until exams on the 14th and 16th. I'm almost there but the end seems wildly far away. In part because I'm having trouble focusing on doing what I need to do today. I'm preoccupied with all kinds of concerns about graduating on time, finances, finding a job, where I'll be moving and other things that just flat out don't matter right now.

Though there are personal projects I'd love to work on, I may be a vegetable most of this holiday season.

Back to paper writing...