elisi's humble abode

Aw, someone gifted me with an LJ-rose! Many, many kisses to you, whoever you are! :)

ETA: Darcy brought home a bouquet of real roses (red, pink and yellow) and a very pretty little crystal vase! ::melts::

As I was looking through my LJ just now, the doorbell rang. Which usually means parcel. So I hurried downstairs and it turned out that it was flowers! I don't think I've ever had flowers delivered before. And much as Darcy is a die-hard romantic he wouldn't do this kinda thing out of the blue (and also he ought me a *really* pretty top yesterday...), so I opened the box as quickly as I could - and it was from Anna! Who has yet again confirmed herself as the sweetest thing ever! ::hugs you very tightly::

But now I must run and bathe the baby who just did one of those 'Oh dear I choked and will now throw up everything I just had for breakfast!' She's happy though, so that's nice. ::dances off::

I think my cheeks are going to hurt an awful lot very soon, because I can't stop grinning! buttersideup has finished making my webpage! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! You can find it here:

http://www.147days.com

I am so utterly stunned at how wonderful it is, that I have no words at all.

::smooches buttersideup until she can't breathe::

marsterslady your present came early!!!! I didn't know what it was, so I opened it and nearly fell over in surprise - Veronica Mars on DVD? But *how*??? Then I saw your little message and was all overwhelmed - you're far far too sweet! ::hugs you so hard you can't breathe::

Actually so many have done so many nice things for me recently that I feel all wrapped up in a cocoon of kindness. I don't know how I was ever so lucky as to find you all, but I'm fairly certain that I don't deserve you. ::is lost for words::

I had this entry all written out and then the computer crashed! Grrrr! Not something for making me any happier - it's a grumpy sort of day. Not even any pretty snow! But - here's what I wanted to share - something to keep the children happy:

First (and this is more of a gift-idea) Ice Age - a wonderful story that stands up to many repeated viewings! A witty, well-crafted script, great characters, beautiful animation... I could go on, but I won't. All I'll say is that 'the hero' is tall, broody and his hair grows straight up (um - and he's a mammoth...) and there are *3* scenes that make me cry! Three! Anyway, well worth your money. :)

Now onto stuff for the children to do: 'Charlie and Lola' have recently arrived on our screens. I think they were originally a book series, but they have now been animated and are utterly brilliant. Esp. because they talk like actual children and not in that weird stilted way most tv programmes make children express themselves. Here is their homepage (which I'm not familiar with) and here is their cbeebies page that I know has lots of games and stories (and a print-out-able activity book that we'll make as soon as the printer decides it can behave itself again!).

Lastly I'm very happy to introduce you to Tiny Planets (or as it's also known 'Bing and Bong'). This is a delightful children's programme that is educational, but *always* entertaining. It looks utterly gorgeous and since the characters never speak is suitable for any age group! The website is full of games, stories and various activities as well as many episodes watchable on-line! If you have a child under 10 make sure you have a look!!


That's all for now - I should go sort out the washing up or maybe the washing, now while the baby sleeps. (ETA: Baby very much awake! *sigh*) And yes I *have* written a bit of fic. The first part of a two-part story, but I've been boring myself to tears doing it (not that it's terrible or anything, it's just been sat in my head for so long that I'm very tired of it), so I'm taking a break. Have a nice weekend all. (And isn't my icon pretty? I almost used a grumpy one, but I feel like cheering people up rather than making them annoyed...)

Dearest buttersideup:

Thank you SO MUCH - I am thrilled and touched and coming over all fangirly! :)

Since I was out for most of today I missed the postman, so after work Darcy went to the main post office to pick up what he thought was a delivery for him (which he's been expecting for days), only it turned out to be a little Illyria for me, plus of course the lovely toy for the baby - he might have been a tad disappointed as I was squeeing and unwrapping! ;)

I've got quite a little collection now - Illyria is already keeping Giles, Anya and Spike company on top of the bookshelves. Oh - and Impish Girl thought she looked nasty, but Little Miss M said nice, so Darcy explained that 'She was a former hellgod who parasitically invaded and took over the body of a sweet young girl, so she was most certainly nasty!'. He might not be fannish, but he certainly knows his stuff. *g*

Anyway - it's been said before, but I'll say it again - LJ has the wonderfullest people in the world! ::hugs::

Will post about my weekend later, but just wanted to thank all the lovely people who made my day special.

First of all, the brilliant lillianmorgan wrote me a birthday fic: Waiting. A beautiful and angsty S6 Spuffy ficlet! ::loves::

I was also gifted with more paid time *and* extra picture space by 'Anonymous'! Although I do have a suspicion who it might be...

And kathyh offered to make me icons - I'm now trying to think up clever ideas. :)

But of course I also have to say thank you to all those who wrote me such wonderful and kind birthday greetings. Whenever I had a spare moment I'd log on and there would be more! :)

::hugs you all::

Just feeling in a talkative mood, so here are assorted bits'n'pieces from my brain - I doubt they'll be of interest to anyone else, but hey - it's my LJ! ;)

Friday night was very good! We had friends round for dinner (a couple we've know for years) and we'd managed to get the grandparents to take the children for the night. So not only did we have a nice dinner (very nice dinner - Darcy is an excellent cook!), but also a whole evening of interesting conversation that was never interrupted!!!! Stayed up rather late after the guest had left just so we could enjoy the peace. *sigh*

Saturday we went round to look at the local Birthcentre (I had the other two children in hospital. The first in 'The Royal London Hospital' in Whitechapel and #2 in York). Hospitals are of course very good and important, but this place might have been private, it was so lovely! And there's a pool and everything. I might just finally have hit the jackpot! :)

In the afternoon we went to see 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' which was very good - I liked most of it, although there were a few things I wish that they'd kept in. And I didn't like Marvin (just looked wrong). But the rest were very well cast... might do a longer post another day. And we saw a trailer for 'Star Wars III' which looked very good. Hayden Christensen might just pull it off... he does dark scowling very well!

Another reason for cheerfulness is that the most excellent lillianmorgan sent me 'Civilized Man'. Having read the various reviews of this album (and of course the concerts) that people have posted on my flist, I can honestly say that I had no expectations of it at all. And then - joy of joys - I listened to it and really liked it! It just so happens to be my kind of music (more so than f.ex. Common Rotation) so I'm very delighted. ::pets pretty cd::

Also (if all goes to plan) LM will be visiting me in about a months time, so I'm getting rather excited. And I've convinced Darcy that we can afford AtS S5 since it's on sale on Amazon. ::does the happy dance::

Hm, I think that was all... will try to write (fic) now I think.

First a thank you to all you lovely people who read my essay and left such clever and thoughtful responses. I actually thought of another parallel/opposite, which is possibly ridiculously obvious, but it never occurred to me before: In both ‘The Gift’ and ‘Chosen’ Buffy does a great running leap. In ‘The Gift’ she jumps into the portal and death, in ‘Chosen’ she jumps onto the bus and rides towards life. It just struck me as neat.

But the actual purpose of this post was to point out a parallel between ‘Graduation Day Pt. 2’ and ‘Chosen’. aycheb managed to sum up beautifully the similarities between the final battle plans in both episodes (Read it here), but having thought about it, the aftermath is very similar too:

There has been a big battle, with quite a heavy loss of life (a good few students must have died, apart from just Harmony and Larry), but the Scoobies seem quite unconcerned with this, and I think these words of Buffy’s explain why:

Buffy (tiredly):  "I haven't processed everything yet.  (with a small laugh)  My brain isn't really functioning on the higher levels.  (takes a deep breath)  It's pretty much: fire bad; tree pretty."

Fire bad, tree pretty. When someone has been through something that exhausting (emotionally and physically), I think it’s only natural if a part of the brain shuts down, and you just sit back and avoid dealing with all the implications straight away.

Here’s the very last scene of ‘Graduation’, which I think is in many ways very similar to the last scene of 'Chosen':

Cut to Willow sitting on a stone bench in front of the school, Xander sitting beside her on the ground and Oz standing behind her.  Cordelia come walking up to them.
Cordelia:  "Well, that's the most fun you can have without having any fun."
Willow smiling:  "How about the part where we kicked some demon ass.  (Oz strokes her hair from behind)  I didn't hate that."
Xander:  "Hear, hear!"
Buffy come walking up:  "You guys want to take off?  I think we've done pretty much all we can."
Cordelia raises her eyebrows and nods:  "I'm for it."
Willow looks up at Buffy:  "Are you okay?"
Buffy nods and says in a small voice:  "Yeah I'm okay. - I could use a little sleep though."
Willow nods and agrees emphatically:  "Yeah."
Buffy sits down on the bench next to her:  "If someone could just wake me when it's time to go to college, that'd be great."  Willow smiles at her.
Oz his hands in his pockets:  "Guys take a moment to deal with this: - we survived."  Xander nods.
Buffy:  "It was a hell of a battle!"
Oz:  "Not the battle (Cordy looks at him) high school."
They all look quietly at the school and listen to the crickets chirping.
Oz:  "We're taking a moment  (Willow and Buffy get up from the bench.  Oz looks at Cordy)  and we're done."
Xander get up and walks off next to Cordelia:  "Well, School's done."
Oz puts an arm around Willow as they all walk off together.  Xander:  "It's sss Cool!"
Willow:  "Why do demons even come here any more?  I mean, don't they know?"
Camera pans down to show a maroon Sunnydale High 99 yearbook with the words 'The Future Is Ours' on it.

About the joking, asta77 put it wonderfully in her comment:

“As for the end of 'Chosen', I never got upset over the joking. People react to grief differently and between the rush of adrenaline, the relief of surviving, and not having any time to absorb what had just happened, they tried to establish a sense of normalcy by falling into predictable behaviour patterns. And the smile? That was all for Spike and his sacrifice in giving her her life. :)”

ETA: Just thought of this, which I found rather fitting. From 'Forever':

DAWN: Mom ... died, and it's like you don't even care.
BUFFY: Of course I care. How can you even think that?
DAWN: How can I not? You haven't even cried. You've just been running around like it's been some big chore or something. Cleaning up after Mom's mess.
Buffy slaps Dawn across the face. Dawn yelps and puts her hand to her cheek. Buffy puts her hand over her mouth in horror.
BUFFY: Dawn ... I've been ... working. I've been busy, because I have to-
DAWN: No! You've been avoiding me.
BUFFY: I'm not! ... I have to do these things, 'cause ... 'cause when I stop, then she's really gone.


I’ll end with a rec and a prezzie:

buttersideup made a lovely ‘Smile Fan’ icon that is very sharable indeed. If you like it, please snag!

Finally, I want to tell you to go watch sdwolfpup’s vid Moving On, based entirely on ‘Chosen’. It’s is the most perfect matching of song and subject, especially the lines:

Make the best with what you’re given
This ain’t dying, this is living!

Ok - I just turned on LJ - and discovered that I have a paid account!!!!!! ::runs around in circles squealing::

Thing is - I thought it might be a surprise from my husband, but he's as clueless as me! So - who gave me this wonderful present? Mainly I want to squeeze you very tightly for about a month!!! ::grins and can't stop::

Now I'm going to go upload lots of icons and look around for a moodtheme! ::squeaks::

ETA: My husband has now banned the use of the word 'Squee' from our household! Heh!