I have no comment...

THIS made me cry soppy emo tears of wedding-y happiness. Only look if you have time to touch up your eyeliner. (No, I really really mean it.)

And I have to link THIS ONE, too, because I miss my hockey (damn you, NHL lockout!) and I used to love watching Sean Avery on the ice.

There have been some really good strides made toward acceptance in pro sports this year, which I think is a very important stepping-stone. I think one of the ways to make ‘the gay issue’ the nonissue it should be is for those who are seen as iconic examples of masculinity to expose nonacceptance for the shameful thing it is--Neanderthals will usually only listen to someone they view as an equal or superior Neanderthal. Sean Avery started his advocacy several years ago, back when he was still with the Rangers, and the example seems to be catching on.

For those of you who don’t follow sports, THIS story from this past autumn will make you want to stand up on your chair and cheer anyway.

Still too slow, but progress nonetheless. Not a terrible way to end a year. :)

To celebrate Halloween, Dreamspinner is inviting people to come trick-or-treating at our web site. Thirty-one of our fantastic authors have donated free short stories. Search through the different pages on the web site for Gary the gargoyle. Each time you find him, click on him for a free download by the author whose page he's hiding on! And make sure to check out the end of each story for a discount code good any time in the next year.

Dreamspinner Press

You guys remember Crepuscule Monstrum? The one with the painting and the monster? That one is up on my page, but you should know that one of my go-to authors, PD Singer picked up where that story left off with Crepuscule Monstrum Part II, and I promise, you won’t be wanting to smack her when you’re done reading. Just go to the Dreampsinner Author Index, follow the link to PD Singer and find Gary the Gargoyle on her page.

And then poke about some more. Lots of terrific authors there, including Eden Winters and Chrissy Munder. Free stories, discounts, great writing, sexy guys—what more could you want?

So, I met mews1945 for lunch today. It was quite lovely. Everyone should have a mews1945 of their very own. *pets her*

So, anyway, it was a forty minute drive for me to where we were meeting. That was nice, too, because it was time all to myself--twice! I love Alone Time in the car. I cranked Evanescence on the stereo--as you do--and omg sang at the top of my lungs. Actually gave myself a headache. Those key shifts'll kill ya.

And here is yet another it's-funny-because-it's-not-me site: Texts From Last Night (tfln). Which is exactly what it sounds like: other people's drunk-texts. As funny as Damn You Autocorrect! (autocorrectfail) but in a more wince-ish sort of way. It'll either make you feel way too old, or make you laugh 'til you cry.

She said she couldn't sleep with a guy who had blood stains on his ceiling. I tried to explain it wasn't my blood, but she still left :(

See what I'm saying?

Oh! And in case any of you haven't seen this yet--hekateriness sent me a link to this fabulous article on fanfic last week, and I *heart* it with an esoteric bliss.

Excellent blog post by Nathan Bransford, Separating Confidence from Self-doubt.

EXERPT: To be able to spot your own flaws requires confidence. Staring your own weaknesses and flaws in the face doesn't come from a place of self-doubt, it comes from a place of strength. You have to be a strong person in order to own up to your flaws and to shoulder the responsibility of making your work better.

Read the full post HERE.

Maybe just because it validates my own tendency to write main characters whose partners or potential partners see them as the most beautiful person in the room, but I quite liked this post: EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by Lee Rowan.

Strange--scary and inspirational at the same time.

Ah, now this one made me happy.  Triggering subject and generated subject--I now have official names for what I've always called flailing.  ;)

http://storytellersunplugged.com/sarahmonette/2010/06/07/finding-the-story-in-the-story/

Oh god!  And this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NKXNThJ610&feature=channel 
Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!  *falls down*