I was just browsing through wasting time and found this layout at minty_peach. The header pic just pulled me in. What can I say, I'm pathetic when it comes to anything Harry Potter related. Obsessed? Me? No, never.

It's been a while since I've written and even then, I never wrote much before. But I had to write a bit today. At the moment I am sitting in the cafe 'The Elephant House' also known as 'The Birthplace of Harry Potter.' To think that this quirky and awesome place is where my favorite series started...wow. Yesterday and today my group and I ate here. And yesterday without even knowing we sat at the same table that J.K. Rowling sat at when she wrote. Apparently she sat there because she liked the view of the castle. And I must say, it is a great view. And all in all just knowing that this is where she wrote the first book....just gives me chills in such a loverly way.

Now that I've had my dorky fan girl moment.

Edinburgh is lovely. Absolutely lovely and beautiful and charming. I'm thinking about saving up and maybe coming to live here for a while. I don't know how long I'd be able to do so, but oh how I'd love to do it. So we'll have to see on that. Maybe even any other part of the U.K. at least.

And I have been having a blast on this trip, the best I've ever done so far. And although I have spent way too much money (and I mean, WAY TOO MUCH) I wouldn't have it any other way. Plus, this trip's served as a learning tool for me to be able to decide on any future trips I may take.

Basically I don't want to go home. I'd much rather just stay here and carve my living out anywhere.

Wow, it's amazing how crazy things can get because a single person/group points fingers.  Geez.  And talk about the whole "act now, ask questions later" thing.

It's horrible how this whole thing is affecting the HP Fandom (and others as well) in such a huge manner.  I'd hate to have something I've worked so hard on just be suspended for something as insignificant as a word listed in my interests.  If LJ is going to get all up in arms over it, specific words that are apparently not allowed need to be listed.  I'm not blaming LJ, not entirely.  But I do think they could have handled things a bit better, given notice or something.

Anyways...this isn't going to be about me ranting.  Really.

I'm trying to think of a way to help so that the communities/users who write and post such amazing stories don't get discouraged.  Best way I can think of is offering web space.  I have tons, and I mean TONS, of web space and bandwidth available that I am more than happy to share.  How much exactly??  Well I have around 230 GB of storage and around 2800 GB of bandwidth.  In the overall scheme for the size of the communities, etc. it may not seem like a lot, but it could help, no?  I also have funds for a domain name.  And I can set up just about any type of program/code/etc.

It would be free and empty of any kind of ads.  I HATE ads, they give me the hibby-jibbies (yes, I totally did just say that) and I would never put them on my own space.  If costs run up more than what they currently are or more space is needed, I'd ask for donations when needed.  But nothing more than that.  I am capable of maintaining a large site on my own up to a certain point and I don't mind doing it at all.

So I'm asking for anyone who runs across this entry to spread the word to HP fans and see if anyone is interested.  I am more than happy to contribute so that all those fics are not lost or shunted.

<3 Rea

P.S. (((huggles))) to all the users/communities affected by this, I hope it's all sorted out soon!

Well, interesting, I got a comment on my post about the HP "sins" and it was quite...heartfelt. I know I didn't quite come out and say it, but please, that post was not meant to be taken seriously. It was not meant to be a "you shall follow or else" guide at all. As I said at the bottom it came about from too much time on AIM and an overwhelming overdose of HP slash.  I do apologize for any who may have taken this personally.

Oh, and just so you know (my dear anonymous commenter), one of my favorite HP slash stories is an H/D story full of romance and love with non of the hate.

ps:  Comment can be read here: Have you ever read a Harlequin romance? Or perhaps a historical? Jane Eyre?

incapricious has just set up a great new community: hallowed_goals. I joined right away. I think it'll be helpful in helping Laura (moosatcows) and I with meeting our goal of finishing our story up before the 7th book comes out. That in itself is a pretty lofty goal, considering that at the pace we're going, we have about roughly 30 or more chapters in the works. Oi!

I'm not one to get all goggley-eyed over actors *cough* but I must say, that after running across this picture of Dan from Equus...dayum! Now my mind is running in all sorts of directions and all of them as far from pure as can be.

( Sexay Dan )

...and our pledge to avoid them like the plague (just like we avoid clichés).

In an effort to keep our joint Harry/Draco slashfic from falling into the many trappings of the genre, we've decided to draw up a list of the things we plan to avoid. We will keep these in mind as we write, and we promise our faithful readers that we will not dupe them into reading smut or fluff cleverly disguised as fiction. We will provide the perfect mix of angst, tension, and romance, and we promise to make you laugh as well as cry. We promise not to be temped by the following deadly sins:

1. Draco is NOT a veela, Harry is NOT an incubus, and Snape is NOT a vampire.

2. Repeat after me: Fred and George are brothers, not lovers (you sick, sick people!). Now, that said, let's allow ourselves a minute to indulge in the thought of twins...*beat* Alright, now that that's done, let's move on, shall we?

3. There is no good reason to put Snape in leather. Let me re-phrase that...there is no reason to write that into our story. Reasons to put Snape in leather outside the context of our story will be discussed at length in our next entry.

4. Instant love is not a possibility. Even if magically bonded by a potion gone wrong, a backfiring spell, or a strange phenomena created by us, Draco and Harry have been rivals for years. There's not a chance, even inside our wildest fantasies, that they will suddenly fall madly in love with each other. Besides, where's the fun in that?

5. Draco is not brave, nor is he a complete coward. He is not nice, nor is he a complete sap. He is proud but can be humbled. He is both loyal and backstabbing. He is a lover and a fighter. He is snobby, cruel, ambitious, and bigoted, and yet, none of his faults were deep enough to allow him commit murder. Love him and show the love in the writing. It is only natural that Harry, and the readers, will soon follow suit.

6. Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape are not secretly big softies at heart. And neither have a thing for Harry...or Draco. (Again, you sick, sick people!)

7. Harry and Draco cannot be stunningly, strikingly gorgeous and beautiful at all times. No matter how much we want to put them in suits, tuxes, dress robes, boxer briefs, chain mail, tight t-shirts and jeans and, erm, nothing at all, they cannot be perfect every minute of the story. Hairs must be out of place at some point. Clothes are not always tailored. And even though both of them could kill an innocent woman with one carefully aimed smirk, they cannot be completely irresistible 24/7. Added to that, Snape hasn't had an extreme makeover. His hair is still greasy, his face has more pits than a bowl full of cherries, and he's got a big honkin' nose. He is not suddenly a sex god. Lucius, however, is perfect. That gorgeous man can do whatever he wants to do.

---

This came about from too much time spent on AIM with moosatcows and an overwhelming dose of HP slash. We will be further discussing the phenomena that is Harry Potter Slash in future entries.

One of my loveliest friends posted this phenomenal letter to the oh so beautiful Daniel Radcliffe on her journal. I just had to share. So In honor of Valentine's Day...

I too wait with abated breath and am now keeping my cell phone on my person at all times.

An autobiographical bit that came to me one day. Still not sure what it means. But I do hope to develop it further.



( Read 'Haunted' )

I have been delving more and more into the world of writing as of late. So as a birthday present to myself, I decided to start a paid LJ account to share my writings and musings.

I will be posting bits and pieces here and there. Any and all comments are welcomed and appreciated.

~ Rea