First: ( cool map. )

( And the mathadventures of wee hob )

That's really all for now. I have ch9 of In Loco nearly ready for beta and a start on 10. But I really need to get cracking on Summer of Giles here. Soon.

Last night Wee Hob and I got dressed up to attend the annual banquet for the Bishop's Choir. I haven't been as regular and faithful to the group as I'd like to be, and I was honored to be invited anyway. But the real honoree that night was an amazing fellow who has devoted the last 74 years of his life to this chorus. Here's the article that ran in the local paper.

( Tornadoes and grace )

I survived the Boy Scout Dinner. I'd tell you all about it, but I'm repressing. Sadly, the pain in my back is making the repression a bit difficult. Wee Hob done pretty good, though, as designated Trash Guy. Even if I found it hilariously ironic that he was so happy doing it there, when he has expressed the opinion at home that having to take out the trash is some violation of his Civil Rights.

I know I have some visually oriented folks on this f-list-- can any of you point me to pretty pictures I might load into Scrivener for inspiration on In Loco? Snape, Privet Drive set, young Dan Radcliffe (are there pictures of him as a very young child?), Dursley actors, drawings of any or all the above? Somehow, I don't seem to need or want images of Hermione-- I'll have to go into it in another post sometime, but she's never struck me as a physical presence like the other characters-- she exists in the books, on paper far more substantially. Maybe because she's almost an "in loco authoris" figure (if that's even correct Latin. I'm too groggy to want to look it up.) I just see her differently somehow and accept her that way just fine.

At any rate, I'd be ever so grateful for any suggestions.

Getting new glasses cannot come soon enough here. I don't know if it's allergies, or just my body finally realizing the warranty has Expired, or what, but I am having a really hard time lately. But before I can get new glasses, I first have to make it to Friday, when the exam is scheduled.

In the meantime, Wee Hob is doing pretty well so far at this Clean Slate thing. Though tonight he wandered a little too far away and had me And the parents of the other two boys he was with yelling and looking for them. I was really scared when they didn't answer us, because the little strip of wood they were supposed to stay in wasn't that big, and older kids than mine have disappeared.

But he's all right, I let him live, and he seemed kind of stunned that I was so worried. Gee, mom really must care. Duh. And wow, she cares enough to take away his woods wandering privilege for a couple of days to reinforce the point. That's less cool, to him, but still.....

Tomorrow night, Wee Hob gets confirmed. That should be a blast, too.

I got the DVD of Sweeney Todd tonight-- the single special feature, a behind the scenes thing, was disappointing (not nearly enough Alan Rickman. But it has a great bit with him describing being in a rehearsal hall and having Stephen Sondheim himself walk in):

"One of the more challenging moments in one's life, is, when you've got the music in your hand and you're in a huge rehearsal room and Stephen Sondheim walks across the room and says 'Okay, let's hear it.' It doesn't get much tougher than that. But it's so tough, and it's so ridiculous what you're about to do, i.e. sing for Stephen Sondheim, that um, something in the body just says, well then, just do it."

I noticed, watching some of the DVD that the sound mixing in the movie is a bit better than on the movie soundtrack (where the orchestration is a bit too loud and overpowers the voices)-- you can hear some harmonies towards the end that Alan sings that drop out of the soundtrack version. Again, I can't help but admire both these gentlemen for the performances they turned in here. Especially hearing the above quote from Alan.

Okay, off to bed.

I couldn't figure out why I've been in such foul temper all weekend. Yesterday, I could see it-- insufficient caffeine, 5 hours of mind numbing boredom in a training class for fundraiser groups to work concessions stands at Reds games, 4.5 hours of which was spent wondering what on Earth had possessed me to agree to said fundraiser, when I could make more money working the same number of weddings (and spend a Lot less time). And it was cold and rainy.

But today I slept late, had a beautiful dream involving having an confrontation with the Good Monsignor, and had plenty of coffee, but I was still short tempered and on edge all day. So much so that I didn't even make Wee Hob go to mass tonight. I probably could have gotten him to, but the decision was less about fighting with him to get ready than it was about Not wanting to get into an actual confrontation with said Good Monsignor about That Boy being in the building with (possibly) no "acceptable" overseer sitting right next to him in the pew. Honestly, in the mood I was in today, I thought there might be "killins". Or something. So hey, if the Good Monsignor wanted me to feel welcome with my kid in his church, he has failed on an epic scale. Yes, I am immature. Your point?

But talking with my Fearless Leader before mass, it suddenly hit me. Oh. Yeah. My eldest son was born on Palm Sunday, 16 years ago this year. The actual date is about a month hence, but still. Funny how those anniversary dates work, isn't it?. Anyway, after some lovely singing, and a couple of hugs and prayers, I felt loads better. And a bottle of Sam Adams Scotch Ale with dinner didn't hurt, either.

I do hope zeegrindylows updates De Profundis on schedule tonight sometime-- that fic is really eating away at my imagination as only really good stories or intriguing premeses tend to for me. I find myself spending more time daydreaming scenarios for her fic than for one of mine in progress. Which, by the way, should be up by next weekend-- I have one beta out of town until Tuesday, and thought I'd spend the time polishing the section and starting on the next before putting it up for both of them at once.

Should be a busy week-- Tuesday night Chrism Mass, Good Friday service, and Easter. Luckily I'm not technically in Choir right now, or it would be Holy Thursday, another Good Friday service and Easter Vigil as well. Ah well. Maybe next year. I may pinch hit on Easter morning if I'm asked to. One good thing about a repertory chorus is, you tend to do the same 200 or so pieces a lot. Plus, I read well enough to get away with sight reading stuff I don't know. Even when I'm at rehearsal, I often end up singing a different part than the one I rehearsed, to fill gaps caused by absences in a section.

Happy Holy Week for those who celebrate it, and happy regular week for everyone else.

Huh. This is interesting. I was quite pleased and surprised to be recced for "Lost Boys" in the_new_library the other day. (Thanks again, sunsethill. I hope to see more recs from you for things I haven't read or written. There's entirely too much of a particular ship on that comm so far. Need more Snape to even things out.)

But I was astounded this morning to see I had been mentioned in hgss_digest for "In Loco Parentis."

What? *blinks* It's Not HG/SS. It's Genfic. Truly.

*Looks again* Yeah, says Genfic in the listing. But Hermione and Severus are so far the only two characters over the age of 2. And it's in their alternating 3rd limited POV. Okay, sorry. I guess I just panicked. I've been reading so much HG/SS fic that it has affected my take on the characters, just as being exposed to Buffy/Giles stories first in the Buffyverse affects how I approach the two of them in fic. I can't write smut or romance, but that doesn't mean certain assumptions and expectations don't filter in as I'm writing.

Still, I apparently need to get some chaperones on the scene pretty soon for "In Loco." Just in case. The Dursleys better enjoy their vacation while they can.

In unrelated news, I did a good deed last night. I did not rat out the Good Monsignor to Miss Emma, Wee Hob's confirmation sponsor, the one who is deemed unable to control "That Boy." I have plausible deniability, as no one has spoken to me directly about it. And The Good Monsignor could not help but notice that That Boy was seated next to Miss Emma at the confirmation preparation retreat last night. If he pushes things, I still may. But I won't go out of my way to bring down the good lady's formidable wrath on the unfortunate Ordained One.

Even if a wicked part of me still wants to sell tickets when she finds out.....

The next installment of my latest WIP, "In Loco Parentis" (HP, age regression, genfic) is now up here. Thanks to research_girl and sahiya for their wonderful beta work. As I say in the author's note there, what I'm finding so far about this experiment is that Real Life and new ideas are hampering my progress a bit-- I have already reworked some of the posted material to conform to such ideas, and I have more work to do now on things I thought were pretty set. But the comments are holding my feet to the fire, too, so it's a trade off, I suppose. Thanks to everyone who's offered comments and encouragement.

And, Wee Hob has been writing his Epic this morning, too, since CCD was cancelled due to the weather. He has gotten a lot written and is very excited about it. I am quite proud of him. (No Charlie Brown fanfic, in case you were wondering. Not sure if the giant spiders are still here somewhere, either.)

Thanks to all for good wishes. I have felt dizzy and lightheaded all day without having had a thing to drink. I much prefer the alcohol induced version of this feeling, if only because I can choose when and where I feel it.

All I have to say is, if they're planning to jerk us around, they're going to elaborate lengths to camouflage the fact. They spent an hour going over our "transition" paperwork, which included how to opt in to their insurance/401K plans. Lot of trouble to go to for people they might lay off in 30-60-90 days. Of course, they had no real answers to questions, either. If they can be believed, they want us to continue as usual for now, servicing our existing customers and keeping things running. Best case scenario-- better benefits, and some chance that a sane manager might take over this inbred, dysfunctional institution.... Worst-- layoff in the aforementioned 30-60-90 days. Though as one of my compatriots pointed out, "this is not a bad job to lose, really. Considering."

In other news, Boy got where he was supposed to be this afternoon by his own little self, so yay Wee Hob! Hoping we can have three good days in a row here. He's wandering the library now, but he has been fed, and allowed to run a bit, so, perhaps.

Just a quick drive-by to say that Wee Hob had a very good day Monday. He rolled his eyes when I collected him in the office and followed him upstairs to apologize to Ms. M for not showing Friday, then to Ms. C to work on his history paper. She informed me he was missing a bit of homework, so I collected that as well. And after we got done there and went to the library, He Did His Homework. Nicely. No fighting. And when we got home, with new batteries for the tape player, he played his conversation/ essay about Friday for me. And we shared a nice snack.

Thanks to everyone for the hugs and great advice.

That is all.