Just let me lie here on the tile

There's a big-ass storm outside (that dark green shape underneath the moving thundercloud? That would be my entire country) and I'm feeling rather like a small, cranky raincloud myself. Apologies to those of you whom I owe comments, email and feedback - give me a few more days of hiding under a fleece blanket and I will get to it.

In the meantime, have some links:

- Baaaaaaaby polar bear.

- An Interactive Google Maps Guide to Ghostbusters, showing all the movie locations in New York. The firehouse that served as their headquarters is still a firehouse. Aw. I would so go visit.

- Free downloadable instructions and designs to make your own 3D paper models of Ecto-1, the Batmobile and my favourite, the Agreeable Sheep automaton.

- The Ares costume auction I mentioned earlier has started on Ebay.

With a whole bunch of exceedingly nosy relatives grouped about me, I've still managed to manoeuver myself and my laptop so that none of them can see the screen or appear suddenly and heartstoppingly at my shoulder -- which means that I have managed to read all my Yuletide stories and am now trying out the posting-without-interference thing. Fingers crossed.

Yes, I did say all my Yuletide stories. I'm completely verklempt, here, and it was very hard to keep my composure and not go eeee! out loud a lot and startle said relatives. I got four stories, which. I. seriously. FOUR STORIES, in three different fandoms, and they're all wonderful. They seriously are, and they complement each other beautifully, and I loved reading all of them. O Yuletide fairy goddess type people, you rock, and I am so grateful and gleeful and thrilled, I can't tell you. I scatter rose petals at your feet, and thank you so very much!

It is so lovely to get presents you can share. Here are my presents, come read them!

First, my official story: The First Time is the Hardest, set in Martha Wells' Fall of Ile-Rien universe. (Ilias/Giliead, NC-17.) Gil and Ilias go hunt their first wizard, and have a very tough time of it, and I loved the adventure and suspense and the deep trust between them. The way this story makes connections with other events in the books and the worldbuilding feels exactly right. I read this lovely long & plotty story in three bites, with long walks in the dunes in between, and that was just perfect - I spent the whole walk worrying about Gil and Ilias and Gil's father Ranior succumbing to the evil wizard and scarybad things happening to them, ohnoes!* Thank you so much, my wonderful author, I adored it.

Then there was A Good Day, Real Ghostbusters (PG).
Peter Venkman deals with a difficult ghost, alone. Again, I adored this - short, vivid, crammed full of action, a fiercely determined Peter Venkman and some understated but warm hurt/comfort, which are things that go together like tea and chocolate, yum. The only complaint I have is that I wish to read more of this story, moremoremore! *is greedy*

Then, Festival Day, also set in Martha Wells' Fall of Ile-Rien books (PG-13 for swearing).
Fabulous first line: "In the months since Tremaine has arrived in Cineth, she hadn't wanted to kill herself once, but it was certainly looking like an attractive option today." and the rest is just as good. Syprian celebrations, with Tremaine in her new position as head of the household, and it's just warm and fun and delicious, with a perfectly written Tremaine. I love it.

And then there is I Friend You, You Friend Him, Hercules: the Legendary Journeys (PG).
Iolaus and Hercules deal with one of Salmoneus' most insidious inventions ever.This. I. *flails* This is sheer demented genius, much like Salmoneus himself. It made me laugh like a drain, and the scary thing is that I can totally see this happening on the show. Just fantastic, and you should really read this even if you don't know from Hercules, because I guarantee it will crack you up.

*hugs all of Yuletide*  Happy holidays!

*(They do not get eaten by the sharks at this time.)