Cass ([info]calove) wrote,
@ 2007-04-03 00:28:00
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Current mood: grateful

GJP (Gratuitous Just-about-everything Post)
So, it's been a while, huh? Truth to tell, I can't blame work because there hasn't been any for the past couple of weeks. What there has been however is much dashing around like a decapitated bantam trying to do everything I never have time to do when I am working. There was a lot of it. That's all changed because work is back on the horizon and meanwhile the Easter Horrordays are in full swing. Yay. I was just contemplating slipping quietly away, in all honesty, given that my paid account ran out and the lack of bunniness and lack of anything even remotely interesting to say but then... BUT THEN...

Just LOOK at what the wonderful and ridiculously talented [info]kazzy_cee made me! Look! New Spike-banner-type gorgeousness AND matching layout.

*happy sigh*

Isn't it fab? I'm a lucky, lucky bunny :)

And then there were these:



For the one I nearly didn't post, Do Not Go Gentle:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

For the one that never got its final chapter (oops),On Parliament Hill

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

And for the baby of the trio, Hope:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Wow. Honestly... just wow. Thank you whoever nominated and voted, and those who do all the hard work running the sites. These are wonderful things.



And congratulations to everyone else who nabbed pretties - I saw lots of you in the lists, so YAY!!!!

Right - feeling a bit less like fading away (other than the fact it's almost 1 am and I really should go to bed) :) The paid account has been renewed and I will catch up, and although it may be not be as often or soon as I want, I do miss everyone in LJ land.

Take care all.


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[info]brunettepet
2007-04-03 12:07 am UTC (link)
Congratulations! Well deserved wins. "On Parliament Hill" is one of my all time favorites. I think I'll have to re-read it and "Do Not Go Gentle," too. The new banner is indeed brimming with gorgeousness!

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 08:59 am UTC (link)
Thanks Pet! I'm completely in love with my banner - [info]kazzy_cee turned a vague idea into something truly wonderful. I'm in awe of her talent.

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[info]slaymesoftly
2007-04-03 12:09 am UTC (link)
So glad to hear you are not going away. We would miss you terribly. :) And congratulations on all those awards. Good job! (jobs)

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:07 am UTC (link)
Thank you, sweetie! I keep thinking I've made the actual, final decision to step away from LJ - but it's really not that easy!

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[info]slaymesoftly
2007-04-03 11:55 am UTC (link)
Hee! It isn't, is it? One can try for more selective and less stressful visits, though. That's my plan at the moment. :)

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 04:50 pm UTC (link)
That sounds like a very good plan! I may have to try it myself :)

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[info]slaymesoftly
2007-04-03 12:11 am UTC (link)
PS - just found my way to the banner. Can I just say...guh! That is probably one of the most amazing banners I've seen.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:08 am UTC (link)
Isn't it great? KC made a wonderful thing :)

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[info]petzipellepingo
2007-04-03 12:14 am UTC (link)
Congratulations on all the pretties and that banner is just gorgeous!

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:09 am UTC (link)
Thank you Petzi! The banner is wonderful as is the person who made it :)

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[info]enigmaticblues
2007-04-03 01:11 am UTC (link)
Congrats! All very well deserved.

I am very glad that you're not going to be slipping quietly away. I would miss you terribly.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:17 am UTC (link)
Thank you, honey. I do miss LJ - everytime I sit down at the computer (so that'll be every day). I just wish I could do more than whizz through the FList once in a while. Still, whenever I think that it's time to move along, I bail and sneak back. I just have to get my head around not necessarily having to sneak back with the guilt-cookie of a fic to offer!

(((hugs)))

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[info]enigmaticblues
2007-04-04 02:25 am UTC (link)
Well, it can't be denied that we love your fic, but I love you more. *hugs*

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[info]beanbeans
2007-04-03 01:38 am UTC (link)
Many congrats, and those are stunningly gorgeous banners! *hugs*

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:21 am UTC (link)
Thanks beans!

*hugs you back*

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[info]fredsmith518
2007-04-03 07:13 am UTC (link)
very clever/artistic banner, cute icons, well done on the awards
but, most importantly, I'm glad you are not slipping away

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:24 am UTC (link)
Thanks Jane. [info]kazzy_cee is so talented.

Slipping away really isn't that easy, is it?

Hope you're enjoying the Easter break, hon. Are the girls around?

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[info]fredsmith518
2007-04-03 09:26 am UTC (link)
good break so far, lots of gardening yesterday
one home at the moment, not away, if you follow
one away coming home today, so will doubtless see her +b'friend, 2 for 1 deal:)
hope your children are enjoying the holiday

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 10:15 am UTC (link)
Yesterday was lovely, wasn't it? We went to Wakehurst Place (Kew's out-of-London garden) to admire the rhododendrons and camellias.

It sounds like you're going to have a full house over Easter! Enjoy!

As to my two - they're OK as long as I keep them busy. I'm sure my parents never did so much when we were on holiday.

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[info]jamalov29
2007-04-03 07:22 am UTC (link)
That banner is absolutely mesmerizing and gorgeous , lucky you! Karen does marvelous art indeed. And there's even a bit of spuffy in it! ;-)

So you were contemplating of fading away but pretty art and pretty awards made you think otherwise? *whimpers*
If you go away from the porch I may think of following you. Standing in the shadows is not that bad, Spike did it all the time.

I missed you , Cass. Congratulations for the wins , highly deserved.
the Easter Horrordays are in full swing. Oh poor you. Is it that frightening? *pets you*
For Easter we stay quietly at home on our own ( with the sons) and just spend the day savoring dark chocolate. :)


*stares again at those beautiful blue eyes*

*sighs*

::hugs you hard::

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:39 am UTC (link)
Isn't it lovely? Karen is a wonder.

And there's even a bit of spuffy in it! ;-)

There will always be a bit of Spuffy in it!

So you were contemplating of fading away but pretty art and pretty awards made you think otherwise?

Well, not so much made me think otherwise as remind me how wonderful the people of LJ land are, how much I miss not being a part of it, and how much Spike is still important to me. I just feel horribly guilty that I sneak in and out like a theif in the night, without really taking part as I'd like.

If you go away from the porch I may think of following you.

If you left the porch, if the fandom loses people like you, people who's passion has kept the fire alive, then it's truly doomed. Not quite ready for that yet, so I'll lurk here and make sure you don't escape :)

Easter Horrordays... *sigh* Having no school has its upsides, but I do find bickering kids difficult to deal with, and they bicker a lot. It's just a case of keeping constant distractions on tap, but that gets to be hard work and does reduce the 'me time' to nothing. I could just let the pair of them collapse in front of the TV/computer/PlayStation, but I feel way too guilty! I like the sound of your Easter plans so much more. Enjoy your time with your wonderful family and savour that chocolate!

(((hugs)))

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[info]jamalov29
2007-04-03 10:20 am UTC (link)
Well, not so much made me think otherwise as remind me how wonderful the people of LJ land are, how much I miss not being a part of it, and how much Spike is still important to me. I know ,sweetie.
And please keep on sneaking in and out and don't feel guilty. Many people find hard to manage RL and online life on a regular basis , but as long as you 're here from time to time , it's already wonderful.
so I'll lurk here and make sure you don't escape :) I like the sound of this. :)

I do find bickering kids difficult to deal with, and they bicker a lot. It's just a case of keeping constant distractions on tap, but that gets to be hard work and does reduce the 'me time' to nothing. I hear you. I remember that time and it wasn't easy some days , pretty tiring. I wasn't happy to leave them in front of the TV either . The good thing is that they went outside a lot to play with friends and all in all it was alright.

It feels far away now that they're 15 and 19! My younger son Alexandre is on holiday , does schoolwork in the morning and goes outside the afternoon. Gabriel works very hard all day long because his exam at the University of Pharmacy is in less than four weeks .

Have a lovely day,my sweet friend.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 04:37 pm UTC (link)
The problem we have is that we are a good few miles out of the town where most of the kids' friends live. There is no public transport, and thanks to Hever Castle the roads are too busy, twisty and narrow to trust them to walk or cycle yet. It's lovely living in the countryside, but we moved here pre-kids and the lack of close-by companions wasn't a consideration! Having friends around to play turns into such a logistical nightmare, juggling Alex's enormous circle of schoolfriends and Francesca's virtually non-existant one.

Your boys are so grown up! I forget, especially with regard to Gabriel. Very good luck to him with his exam. It must feel very strange to have your children turn into young men - at least you have the pleasure of them being such very wonderful young men.

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[info]kathyh
2007-04-03 09:03 am UTC (link)
Many congrats on all the pretties and wow, that banner is fabulous. Glad you aren't slipping away because I would miss you.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 09:42 am UTC (link)
Thank you Kathy. I may think it's time to slip away, but then I pay a visit and I realise all over again why that would most definitely not be a good thing...

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[info]hesadevil
2007-04-03 09:06 am UTC (link)
Great banner. ::Iz jealous that kazzy made one for you - but glad it stopped you fading away.::

Congrats on the awards. ::Iz also jealous that so many of them come your way - I think I prefer not to have my fics nominated to forever being disappointed when the results are published::

Can you tell I'm feeling bitter? Blame it on MWNN for spoiling my 'escape to France' plans.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 10:03 am UTC (link)
Oh, dear!

*pets you carefully*

I did read your post about MWNN's dental and previous engagement issues. I'm sorry it got in the way of your escape plans. But you're still going, right? Just think about how much more you'll appreciate it thanks to the delay ;)

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[info]hesadevil
2007-04-03 01:04 pm UTC (link)
Yeah - still going at some stage this year. The boat needs painting and I can't be there when that happens, and MWNN is looking at restoring the solid fuel stove now that we're in t'North and closer to home. We're hoping to resume our 'New Year on the boat' tradition.

Sorry I was so snippy, I'm having an 'off day' now that the weather's turned against us again - points at icon.

Congratulations again on the awards - they are very well deserved.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 04:42 pm UTC (link)
When do you think you'll get down? I guess now you're further north there's less of a risk of a ridiculous heatwave over the summer. Are you anywhere near any of your cruising friends where you are now?

It was cold today. But the forcast is improving nicely for a warm weekend...

I've been very lucky with awards - I don't flatter myself it's more than that.

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[info]hesadevil
2007-04-03 05:06 pm UTC (link)
We're hoping for a few days at the end of April. The boat's in St Quentin which is only a couple of hour's drive from Calais. That means we can drive there without the need for an overnight at Calais if we share the driving. There is no-one moored there that we have cruised with before, though we do know the couple from a broadbeam who were moored at a boatyard in Burgundy that did some work for us in 2004.

Getting away from some of the English-speakers was one of the reasons for moving the boat North - along with the hope of less heat in the summer months. The Marina at Pont de Vaux had developed a 'clique' of boaters who spoke no French. When we first went there, we were the only Brits and we like being among the French and enjoying the French lifestyle. Plus, our Australian friend, [info]jennylyle had become very clingy and proprietoria, making our cruising season a chore.

It's drizzled here all day. I'm hoping for a fine Easter weekend, though my lungs have reacted badly to the rapeseed this year - my asthma's quite bad at the moment - and being outside is not something I'm looking forward to.

Gah - I sound all doom and gloom which is not something you want on your visits to LJ land - sorry!

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[info]spikereader
2007-04-03 12:14 pm UTC (link)
Big congratulations on all the awards - so well deserved. Glad you've decided to stick around LJ too, particularly now you have that gorgeous new banner. Karen's so good with these, and I love it when she does the animated ones.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 04:44 pm UTC (link)
Thanks Carolyn! I didn't even know there was such a thing as an animated header. I went to Karen with a vague idea and she turned it into a thing of beauty. She's so talented.

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[info]kazzy_cee
2007-04-03 12:53 pm UTC (link)
Oh look at all the shiny!! Many congratulations!! Glad the banner has tempted you back to Lj even if it's part time.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 04:46 pm UTC (link)
Shiny shinies are good for the soul. As are wonderful new headers :) I hope you've read all the comments about your work here. I'm not the only one who loves it!

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[info]ayinhara
2007-04-03 03:28 pm UTC (link)
I'm glad that you re-upped. As for the pretties, they are indeed and definitely deserved. The banner is sensational.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 04:49 pm UTC (link)
Thank you Elsa :) It's nice to have some LJ time again, but it's never enough...

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[info]cordykitten
2007-04-03 07:56 pm UTC (link)
Congrats for your win :) And with this pretty banner you have to stay :-D
Glad you do.

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 10:50 pm UTC (link)
Thank you cordykitten - you're right, I can't abandon the pretty vampire now :)

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[info]bluekaty
2007-04-03 07:59 pm UTC (link)
Congratulations for your awards, truly deserved... and I'm really glad you're staying, I love your fic a lot and you would be really missed.
The banner is lovely!!

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 10:51 pm UTC (link)
Awww... thank you :)

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[info]vegmb
2007-04-03 10:18 pm UTC (link)
Wow, way to go Cass!

And Easter Horrordays, you have such a way with words. Are your little ones out of school for this as mine are? (I am insane and will be taking them on a week+ trip.)

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[info]calove
2007-04-03 10:56 pm UTC (link)
Thanks!

Yup - my two are at home for OVER TWO WEEKS! Good grief. They are fine just as long as I keep the entertainment coming; if it lets up they bicker and squabble, and if there's one thing I can't take it's bickering and squabbling. Well, OK, that's two things, but closley related. I do wish I'd done the whole motherhood thing ten years ago when I'd have had the energy for all this!

I hope you all enjoy your trip! Where are you off to?

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[info]vegmb
2007-04-04 02:51 am UTC (link)
I don't know that you ever have the energy for it, no matter how young you start.

I'm off to my best friend's, then my grandfather's, then back home. That is 10, 6, and 14 glorious hours respectively of bickering and squabbling between my two. I had said a couple of years back that I wouldn't take them agian without their father, but he is working and I'm afraid this may be the last trip to see my grandfather so I can't not bring them along. (If you are at all familiar with US georgraphy BF is in Tennesse and Grandpa is in Kentucky. I live in Louisiana.)

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[info]calove
2007-04-04 08:10 am UTC (link)
Wow, that's a lot of travelling. We Brits have a completely different attitude to getting around compared with you Americans. I guess it's the product of the huge size of your country, but while you don't turn a hair at driving hundreds of miles, I have problems summoning up the enthusiasm for the 2 hour drive to visit my sister. Mind you, it's mostly down to the horrendous roads - the London Orbital (M25) is always jammed (and no way would you try to drive through the City), the other motorways are a nightmare, we seem to have an inordinate number of downright aggressive and dangerous drivers, and 'they' always decide that roadworks are best done during the holiday periods. I love driving - but I hate our roads.

Good luck with your trip - hope the kids behave.

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[info]vegmb
2007-04-04 02:10 pm UTC (link)
That is a lot of travelling. As I have gotten a little older and more financially able, I have considered flying, but that is just not practical when visiting my grandfather. The closest airport is still a 5 hour drive from his house.

I am very envious of Europe's public transit systems. I would love to trade my 1.5 hour drive to and from work for a train ride. And our roads are wearing out, most of them should have been repaired already but the plans are only now in the works (at least in my area).

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[info]just_sue
2007-04-04 06:56 pm UTC (link)
The layout is totally ab-fab, Cas! And many, many congrats on the well-deserved awards - each one a gem! *hugs*

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