Heading out to case the promise land

My work has been closed early due to weather. As I always like to say at these times: best. Day. Ever. (I will not be saying that if a tree falls through my window, obviously). Perhaps I will use this time to catch up with my yuletide source. Did I mention I was excited about that? I am.

In news that couldn't be related but isn't (unless I'm double bluffing and Community is my source), in this week's Community watching: Troy was picked by a cute librarian, and then he left her because she said Abed was weird. His outrage actually surpassed adorable and entered some realm for which the English language is inadequate. I believe they are the most in love ever. Really. And the thing I particularly enjoy is how the show loves them, too. Like, in Big Bang Theory, Howard and Raj are BFFs, but the show is always skirting the line of mocking it, you know? It's sort of, "Look how gay they are! Only not! Ha ha!" So far Community hasn't done that, and it makes me really happy. I am not onboard with this suggestion of no 4th season. :(

I am, however, onboard with the new Florence + The Machine album (Shake it Out can be my new Sam Winchester theme song, yes?), and the new Black Keys one. I haven't listened to all of the The Black Keys yet, but what I've heard has guitar Solos, and decent lyrics and awesome hooks. It is like good rock music in my life again. What is this madness?

Hi! Hope you guys are all having good days, too.

I was going to make a post about the OTW stuff, but I got all my ranting done by text today, and I'd just be adding to the noise at this point, anyway. So instead, I'll just say thank you. I love that there are people trying to do something awesome and huge and groundbreaking, and I love that there's a magical place of nothing but fic that isn't going to go away, and, for purely selfish reasons, I love how much easier it's made modding remix. Thank you to everyone who's worked, and is still working, to make that possible, and especially to Naomi for daring to make it happen in the first place. There's a lot of really unpleasant stuff going on in fandom at the moment, but the work and time put in for free to build this crazy thing, even if it's not perfect yet and never will be, is a lovely reminder of what makes fandom special and worth sticking around for, and I appreciate that, too.

And while we're talking about thank yous and the good side of fandom--thank you to girlmostlikely and marciaelena for the v-gifts. They were a very welcome surprise. ♥ ♥

***

I have just realised I've had a post saved for weeks now, and for some reason not posted it. It starts out like this:

OMG, Community is the best show in the whole world. I have just watched the season 1 Christmas ep. How is it so sweet and heart-warming and yet not, like, a thing I hate just on principle?

Two things I particularly love: 1. Troy/Abed. Surely there is fic wherein they hook up and are in love! And the friendship between Annie, Shirley and Britta. I love that they support each other in their quirky, crazy way, and it's not all about guys.

I was going to make it 3 things I love and add in Jeff, but then I realised I'd have to add in Britta separately too, and Jeff/Britta who I apparently ship pretty hard, and then I started just making a list, and the list was everything. I love everything!

Then there was some other stuff about walking into a door and not getting my awesome halloween cloak. My life is too exciting for you all to handle, I know.

Instead of telling you about that, in the detail I know you secretly grave, I will go read this Stephen King book, which I cannot get into at all. But I am going to persevere! I do not like it when SK disappoints.

1. Dude, Merlin was full of unexpectedness. I spent a good half hour or so afterwards just texting all, "What just happened! Did that really just happen! What!" Because seriously, what is with the way things are happening this season? It is approaching S1 levels of good again. though ( spoilers )

If I have one criticism, it's that I wish they'd let Gwen have meaningful relationships with people who aren't Arthur again, and motivations that aren't directly tied to him. Remember when she used to be friends with Merlin? Right now, she seems not so much like a person as Arthur's love interest. But that is pretty easily fixable, and I am content with all the other awesomeness on display at the moment.

2. I saw the first 2 eps of Community last night. Why was I not informed of its goodness before now? Admittedly, I was, but it should've been done more forcefully. I already love pretty much everything about it. And there is no laugh track, so it's already ahead of pretty much every other sitcom I've ever seen. <3

3. Josh Ritter has a live album up for download at his twitter here. I haven't listened to much of it yet, but my feeling is that you can never have too much Josh in your life.