(no subject)

I am primarily spending my free time reading fanfiction and watching TV the last few days. Watching TV when I'm tired and have no brain, and fanfiction when I'm more awake. I found a prolific, good fanfiction author so naturally now I'm going through her stuff and reading it. I don't always agree with her characterization (then again, do I ever entirely agree with characterization? Not often when it comes to my OTP, though it does happen on occasion) but her writing is good and engaging and there's lots of it so I'm content. Makes me want to write more. I want to write and post some one-shots one of these days.

I fixed up the chicken coops so they're safer now! They're looking nice and I feel much better now because I think I may have gotten predator control pretty well squared away, at least for now. The only thing that could still use some work is protection against digging predators, but thankfully I haven't had problems with digging predators. The only one is the one skunk, but he only ever eats a few eggs if he does get in, and he hasn't gotten in in a long while anyway because I have him stumped with putting the rake or shovel into the hole he likes to go in.

I also moved all of the ducks so now the ten of them are in my 10' x 20' enclosure together. The bantam ducks think this is fantastic and threw a massive party to celebrate. They have two "ponds" to choose from, three houses, and seem to do fine with the large ducks. The guinea fowl chase them around some but the bantam ducks can fly and are much more agile than the guineas.

I took in another injured "hen," but said "hen" turned out to be a rooster. I decided to take him anyway, I just couldn't turn him away. He looks like a barred rock cross rooster? Poor guy has a crossbeak and one missing eye (old injury) and he was found on the side of the road. I figure he can hang with the ducks and guineas for now. If he's able to be relatively content in there, he can stay, otherwise I'll have to try and find him a home (difficult for roosters, not to mention roosters with issues) or I'll have to figure out somewhere else to put him on my property. He's a standard-sized bird, probably at least six pounds, so there's no way he can go in with bantam hens. He would crush them. He seems chill, though.

Henny-Penny isn't looking good lately. She's droopy and listless, and her comb, face, and wattles are all pale. She doesn't have mycoplasma, though, so I don't know what I can do for her. I keep picking her up and looking at her, trying to think of some way to help her, but I just can't figure out what could be causing it. She is a laying breed bird (patridge rock) who is a few years old, so she could have cancer or something like that. Laying breeds frequently get reproductive cancers, which is a big reason why I don't keep many of them.

Won three out of four SatoKasu doujin I was after on Y!J. I fought fairly hard for the fourth one, seeing as it's by an artist I really like, but the Japanese bidder clearly really wanted it. When it hit $100+, I could not justify that at all for something that is 20-something pages. Just not worth it. But I'm happy I won the three I did, and hopefully the fourth one will pop up again! It just came out so there's hope. :)

My lips have been dry lately! So dry that now there's a sore. I'm trying to put chapstick on more but I'm so forgetful. My left hand also hurts a little, I'm not sure why.

That's the extent of my life lately. I could whine about minor dumb things I've done at work (overall I have been excellently productive and got completely caught up with paperwork), but I'm trying to be more positive lately and I feel like whining about little things just allows me to dwell on them longer than they deserve.

I have the next three days off, so I intend to do things on my list of things to do, as well as relax.

Back to fanfiction! Again.

(no subject)

I am primarily spending my free time reading fanfiction and watching TV the last few days. Watching TV when I'm tired and have no brain, and fanfiction when I'm more awake. I found a prolific, good fanfiction author so naturally now I'm going through her stuff and reading it. I don't always agree with her characterization (then again, do I ever entirely agree with characterization? Not often when it comes to my OTP, though it does happen on occasion) but her writing is good and engaging and there's lots of it so I'm content. Makes me want to write more. I want to write and post some one-shots one of these days.

I fixed up the chicken coops so they're safer now! They're looking nice and I feel much better now because I think I may have gotten predator control pretty well squared away, at least for now. The only thing that could still use some work is protection against digging predators, but thankfully I haven't had problems with digging predators. The only one is the one skunk, but he only ever eats a few eggs if he does get in, and he hasn't gotten in in a long while anyway because I have him stumped with putting the rake or shovel into the hole he likes to go in.

I also moved all of the ducks so now the ten of them are in my 10' x 20' enclosure together. The bantam ducks think this is fantastic and threw a massive party to celebrate. They have two "ponds" to choose from, three houses, and seem to do fine with the large ducks. The guinea fowl chase them around some but the bantam ducks can fly and are much more agile than the guineas.

I took in another injured "hen," but said "hen" turned out to be a rooster. I decided to take him anyway, I just couldn't turn him away. He looks like a barred rock cross rooster? Poor guy has a crossbeak and one missing eye (old injury) and he was found on the side of the road. I figure he can hang with the ducks and guineas for now. If he's able to be relatively content in there, he can stay, otherwise I'll have to try and find him a home (difficult for roosters, not to mention roosters with issues) or I'll have to figure out somewhere else to put him on my property. He's a standard-sized bird, probably at least six pounds, so there's no way he can go in with bantam hens. He would crush them. He seems chill, though.

Henny-Penny isn't looking good lately. She's droopy and listless, and her comb, face, and wattles are all pale. She doesn't have mycoplasma, though, so I don't know what I can do for her. I keep picking her up and looking at her, trying to think of some way to help her, but I just can't figure out what could be causing it. She is a laying breed bird (patridge rock) who is a few years old, so she could have cancer or something like that. Laying breeds frequently get reproductive cancers, which is a big reason why I don't keep many of them.

Won three out of four SatoKasu doujin I was after on Y!J. I fought fairly hard for the fourth one, seeing as it's by an artist I really like, but the Japanese bidder clearly really wanted it. When it hit $100+, I could not justify that at all for something that is 20-something pages. Just not worth it. But I'm happy I won the three I did, and hopefully the fourth one will pop up again! It just came out so there's hope. :)

My lips have been dry lately! So dry that now there's a sore. I'm trying to put chapstick on more but I'm so forgetful. My left hand also hurts a little, I'm not sure why.

That's the extent of my life lately. I could whine about minor dumb things I've done at work (overall I have been excellently productive and got completely caught up with paperwork), but I'm trying to be more positive lately and I feel like whining about little things just allows me to dwell on them longer than they deserve.

I have the next three days off, so I intend to do things on my list of things to do, as well as relax.

Back to fanfiction! Again.

(no subject)

This fanfic author has a way with words, fascinating interaction and excellent observation skills.

Yet I feel a bit guilty because the more I read, the more I simply cannot seem to accept her characterization of these characters. I'll get into it for a little bit, a few paragraphs, and then something will throw me out of it. Some stories are more jarring than others. You know how, in the right fanfiction, you can "hear" the dialogue in the characters' voices, and see the characters doing everything? Yeah, there's a definite disconnect there. I just can't seem to make this work.

More than that, I find her characterizations somewhat unsettling, as weird as that is. I'm trying to put my thumb on why exactly, but aside from a few minor-ish things I'm not sure what the issue is. I've read things with more blatantly "off" (to me) characterization that didn't bother me, even enjoyed them on occasion and been able to picture the characters despite not agreeing, so I'm not sure why whatever it is about her characterization bothers me so much. I feel like the characters are well-rounded and seem like real people interacting in real people kinds of ways, and they're quite similar to the characters, but I cannot seem to accept them mentally as the characters.

It's subjective, I know, so it doesn't matter. Fanfiction is peoples' interpretations after all, so if two people can't agree, then whatever. Who cares? There's a place in fandom for everyone! I'm just baffled a bit because it's so well-written, she writes this pairing a ton, and yet I can't get myself to accept the characterization nor can I figure out what precisely doesn't work for me here. It's unfortunate on my end because I think her writing is fantastic, just doesn't work with the way I see the characters I guess. I may continue reading some of her stories, because I do appreciate her craftsmanship, but it's confusing me.

Anyone else have this kind of an experience with fanfiction?

(no subject)

This fanfic author has a way with words, fascinating interaction and excellent observation skills.

Yet I feel a bit guilty because the more I read, the more I simply cannot seem to accept her characterization of these characters. I'll get into it for a little bit, a few paragraphs, and then something will throw me out of it. Some stories are more jarring than others. You know how, in the right fanfiction, you can "hear" the dialogue in the characters' voices, and see the characters doing everything? Yeah, there's a definite disconnect there. I just can't seem to make this work.

More than that, I find her characterizations somewhat unsettling, as weird as that is. I'm trying to put my thumb on why exactly, but aside from a few minor-ish things I'm not sure what the issue is. I've read things with more blatantly "off" (to me) characterization that didn't bother me, even enjoyed them on occasion and been able to picture the characters despite not agreeing, so I'm not sure why whatever it is about her characterization bothers me so much. I feel like the characters are well-rounded and seem like real people interacting in real people kinds of ways, and they're quite similar to the characters, but I cannot seem to accept them mentally as the characters.

It's subjective, I know, so it doesn't matter. Fanfiction is peoples' interpretations after all, so if two people can't agree, then whatever. Who cares? There's a place in fandom for everyone! I'm just baffled a bit because it's so well-written, she writes this pairing a ton, and yet I can't get myself to accept the characterization nor can I figure out what precisely doesn't work for me here. It's unfortunate on my end because I think her writing is fantastic, just doesn't work with the way I see the characters I guess. I may continue reading some of her stories, because I do appreciate her craftsmanship, but it's confusing me.

Anyone else have this kind of an experience with fanfiction?

(no subject)

So, the rooster I took in last night (I named him Sarge) managed to sneak out and took off today while I was fixing up the coops more. Ugh, I hope he shows up again. Otherwise he'd be an easy meal for predators or he could get run over by a car. You already got rescued by the side of the road once, don't push your luck, buddy! I'm going to look for him again tonight, and if I don't find him tonight hopefully nothing will get him and he'll be back around the coops tomorrow.

I talked to my neighbor today about physics, metaphysical concepts, and all kinds of other topics today over the fence for about an hour, haha. Pretty interesting stuff! I'm glad my neighbors are now friendly and easy to deal with, as opposed to my previous neighbor. This guy seems bright and knowledgeable, I'm definitely interested in talking to him more. I think he was somewhat surprised by my scientific knowledge and interest as well.

Lucky's adopter has been approved! I'm excited. I'm going to miss him when he leaves, he and I have bonded, but he'll be much better off with her and her family. Hooch will be glad to have his house back. Things will be much less stressful without Lucky, as much as I love him. We'll probably take in another foster after a few weeks' break or something. Probably a chi-mix or something else small like that. Hopefully an adult this time.

I'm excited for a bunch of the packages I'll be getting this month! I've had some exciting collection purchases lately.

(no subject)

So, the rooster I took in last night (I named him Sarge) managed to sneak out and took off today while I was fixing up the coops more. Ugh, I hope he shows up again. Otherwise he'd be an easy meal for predators or he could get run over by a car. You already got rescued by the side of the road once, don't push your luck, buddy! I'm going to look for him again tonight, and if I don't find him tonight hopefully nothing will get him and he'll be back around the coops tomorrow.

I talked to my neighbor today about physics, metaphysical concepts, and all kinds of other topics today over the fence for about an hour, haha. Pretty interesting stuff! I'm glad my neighbors are now friendly and easy to deal with, as opposed to my previous neighbor. This guy seems bright and knowledgeable, I'm definitely interested in talking to him more. I think he was somewhat surprised by my scientific knowledge and interest as well.

Lucky's adopter has been approved! I'm excited. I'm going to miss him when he leaves, he and I have bonded, but he'll be much better off with her and her family. Hooch will be glad to have his house back. Things will be much less stressful without Lucky, as much as I love him. We'll probably take in another foster after a few weeks' break or something. Probably a chi-mix or something else small like that. Hopefully an adult this time.

I'm excited for a bunch of the packages I'll be getting this month! I've had some exciting collection purchases lately.

(no subject)

Porcia, a favorite hen of mine (silver spangled hamburg bantam), has severe respiratory symptoms right now. Her tongue is extremely swollen and the top of her mouth as well. I have the flock on Tylan right now, but I'm torn because now I'm wondering if she could have coryza, in which case she'd need Sulmet (which I thankfully have on hand).

The problem is that you're not supposed to give the two medications concurrently, so I'm worried I'll choose the wrong one and she won't make it. I'm tempted to just give them concurrently regardless because I don't see any severe warnings with a brief search, but I don't want to cause damage to her either.

On the other hand, coryza usually has a smell to it, and I don't smell anything. So maybe it's not coryza after all and I just need to get Tylan into her system. I don't think she's been drinking much, so she probably hasn't gotten enough Tylan into her.

I've been searching every image search I can think of to try and figure out exactly what this swelling is, it's very strange and I'd recognize it if I saw another picture, but I can't seem to find anything similar.

I just hope I can save her. :( Poor sweetheart, she's struggling to breathe because her whole mouth is so swollen.

(no subject)

Porcia, a favorite hen of mine (silver spangled hamburg bantam), has severe respiratory symptoms right now. Her tongue is extremely swollen and the top of her mouth as well. I have the flock on Tylan right now, but I'm torn because now I'm wondering if she could have coryza, in which case she'd need Sulmet (which I thankfully have on hand).

The problem is that you're not supposed to give the two medications concurrently, so I'm worried I'll choose the wrong one and she won't make it. I'm tempted to just give them concurrently regardless because I don't see any severe warnings with a brief search, but I don't want to cause damage to her either.

On the other hand, coryza usually has a smell to it, and I don't smell anything. So maybe it's not coryza after all and I just need to get Tylan into her system. I don't think she's been drinking much, so she probably hasn't gotten enough Tylan into her.

I've been searching every image search I can think of to try and figure out exactly what this swelling is, it's very strange and I'd recognize it if I saw another picture, but I can't seem to find anything similar.

I just hope I can save her. :( Poor sweetheart, she's struggling to breathe because her whole mouth is so swollen.