Goodbye and good riddance
Jan. 1st, 2009 10:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwynI can't say I hated 2008 any more than I have hated any other year since sis_r died; they pretty much all roll together in one big batch of suckitude, so I'm never really inclined to say goodbye to the years, but I confess, 2008 definitely had its special moments. One being losing my job and finally pushing me to try my hand at freelancing full-time, which I can't say I'm doing all that stupendously at. Most of the other things I didn't enjoy this past year were related to that, especially the uncertainty of no money and not being able to travel anywhere or buy presents for people (an activity I love). And I feel oddly down tonight considering that I just got back from having one of my favorite meals, chicken and dumplings, at a friend's house and seeing other friends. But I think it's just the act of doing a year in review mentally, and also post-vid letdown.
Also, worst day ever to post about a new vid? I'm thinking New Year's Eve, yup. Plus I'm in a lot of pain from all the computer work on the vid, not to mention the hours I've spent in front of the computer reading Yuletide. I still have more recs, even though it seems like people act as though you can't post recs after the reveal. Shyeah.
I really didn't do much this year, fandom-wise. I've spent a lot of time with people and getting to know new people, but, wow, what a crap year for output. I haven't developed any huge new fandoms, nothing that has been as consuming as my older fandoms were for me. I miss that feeling very much.
After Escapade, where a lot of my friends were missing and the vidshow had only 15 entries, we had Pacificon up here (aka bitchin party). That was a nice chance to see some of the people I'd missed down in SoCal, and make some new friends up here. I made a vid to premiere at the con, so that was two vids in a row with a slash theme.
For Escapade, it was my Professionals vid, Broken English, which got a really interesting and varied response. I was fascinated by what people saw in it, and one person even wrote a line by line dissection of it, trying to figure out if it meant anything or was just irritatingly random. Maybe I'm a sick person, but I find that kind of fun. At least people are *talking* about it, you know?
For Pacificon, I made a Keen Eddie vid, Don't Get Me Wrong, which was really a ton of fun even though I was working up to the eleventh hour, something I never do. I was honestly amazed and touched by the great reception it got, and I then had a chance to follow up with a pimp-my-fandom spiel the next day about it.
Then I made a couple vids for Vividcon, Jump Around for the dance show, and Angel all-cast vid, and Try Not to Breathe for Torchwood/Dr. Who, about Capt. Jack. Jump Around went like lightning for me, but Breathe was really a different story. I made it after I got my new iMac, and had to buy Final Cut Pro studio because my old FC Express would no longer work on the new OS. Not only was there a long lag time in getting everything together, but the program worked very differently from what I had before, so there was both a learning curve and a hideously tight deadline. And couple that with trying to learn how to demux files, which I could never do before... gah. I also had some iffy source for the Torchwood S2 eps... it was a nightmare. I'm amazed in a way that it came out at all.
I personally feel very close to the vid, but it's hard for me to gauge what others feel about it. A lot of people missed seeing Jump Around, too, so I have no idea what people thought of that one, but I smile every time I see it, and I guess that's what counts. Also, I got to dance with Dorinda when it came on at the show, and that made me very happy indeed.
ETA: I can't believe I completely forgot the vid I enjoyed making the most; I guess that's how weird and dead of a space I'm in right now: 27 Jennifers for Veronica Mars. I was frustrated by my inability to create the cute credits I had dreamed up for it, but otherwise, it came very easily once I settled on the idea of making the 27 Jennifers photo-sized shots of the annoying girls at Veronica's school. It's all about how perfect Veronica is for Weevil, which comes straight from my heart. I sent it to Vidukon, but I still have no idea if it even showed over there at all.
And then I didn't do anything until yesterday, when I finished the little holiday-themed vid for About a Boy, which I really liked working on and feel much love for.
Fic-wise, it was another useless year. Until Yuletide, that is. For those who are new to my LJ (hi!), I haven't written much since my twin died a few years ago; the antidepressants seem to curtail my ability to read and write with any focus. Which means I do little of either. But this year I decided, after waffling for a long, long time, to participate in Yuletide, and I ended up writing two stories. One was for Sage for the Flashpoint fandom, which is very wee, called Someday We'll Look Back on This and It Will All Seem Funny, and the other was for Chuck, a treat for EleanorJane called Because Your Kiss (Your Kiss) Is on My List, a little Chuck/Casey slash.
I think that considering how long it's been since I've done any writing at all, things turned out okay, but they're definitely weak compared to their competition (for want of a better word). I think I still have far to go in terms of getting back in some kind of groove, of trying not to overcompensate or overwrite. I plan to pick up some New Year's resolutions to keep the momentum going (at least, I hope so).
And I have a wee ickle vidlet to make for Brynn McK coming up, which should be very fun. We did a fannish exchange and she picked my offer up! Plus, I get to squeeze Belmanoir for a ficlet.
All in all, not the most productive year, not the happiest, but not the worst. My dad's still alive, though he injured himself rather badly recently, but he'll be okay. The house is still mine, and I do have sporadic work coming in, I just have to do more to keep the flow up. I still have all my fingers and toes, even if they ache more and more all the time. And one truly great thing happened to me this year: I met this crazy little kitten named Blues, who came to live with me and torment me and Olive. It's the best torment you can get, if you ask me.
Also, worst day ever to post about a new vid? I'm thinking New Year's Eve, yup. Plus I'm in a lot of pain from all the computer work on the vid, not to mention the hours I've spent in front of the computer reading Yuletide. I still have more recs, even though it seems like people act as though you can't post recs after the reveal. Shyeah.
I really didn't do much this year, fandom-wise. I've spent a lot of time with people and getting to know new people, but, wow, what a crap year for output. I haven't developed any huge new fandoms, nothing that has been as consuming as my older fandoms were for me. I miss that feeling very much.
After Escapade, where a lot of my friends were missing and the vidshow had only 15 entries, we had Pacificon up here (aka bitchin party). That was a nice chance to see some of the people I'd missed down in SoCal, and make some new friends up here. I made a vid to premiere at the con, so that was two vids in a row with a slash theme.
For Escapade, it was my Professionals vid, Broken English, which got a really interesting and varied response. I was fascinated by what people saw in it, and one person even wrote a line by line dissection of it, trying to figure out if it meant anything or was just irritatingly random. Maybe I'm a sick person, but I find that kind of fun. At least people are *talking* about it, you know?
For Pacificon, I made a Keen Eddie vid, Don't Get Me Wrong, which was really a ton of fun even though I was working up to the eleventh hour, something I never do. I was honestly amazed and touched by the great reception it got, and I then had a chance to follow up with a pimp-my-fandom spiel the next day about it.
Then I made a couple vids for Vividcon, Jump Around for the dance show, and Angel all-cast vid, and Try Not to Breathe for Torchwood/Dr. Who, about Capt. Jack. Jump Around went like lightning for me, but Breathe was really a different story. I made it after I got my new iMac, and had to buy Final Cut Pro studio because my old FC Express would no longer work on the new OS. Not only was there a long lag time in getting everything together, but the program worked very differently from what I had before, so there was both a learning curve and a hideously tight deadline. And couple that with trying to learn how to demux files, which I could never do before... gah. I also had some iffy source for the Torchwood S2 eps... it was a nightmare. I'm amazed in a way that it came out at all.
I personally feel very close to the vid, but it's hard for me to gauge what others feel about it. A lot of people missed seeing Jump Around, too, so I have no idea what people thought of that one, but I smile every time I see it, and I guess that's what counts. Also, I got to dance with Dorinda when it came on at the show, and that made me very happy indeed.
ETA: I can't believe I completely forgot the vid I enjoyed making the most; I guess that's how weird and dead of a space I'm in right now: 27 Jennifers for Veronica Mars. I was frustrated by my inability to create the cute credits I had dreamed up for it, but otherwise, it came very easily once I settled on the idea of making the 27 Jennifers photo-sized shots of the annoying girls at Veronica's school. It's all about how perfect Veronica is for Weevil, which comes straight from my heart. I sent it to Vidukon, but I still have no idea if it even showed over there at all.
And then I didn't do anything until yesterday, when I finished the little holiday-themed vid for About a Boy, which I really liked working on and feel much love for.
Fic-wise, it was another useless year. Until Yuletide, that is. For those who are new to my LJ (hi!), I haven't written much since my twin died a few years ago; the antidepressants seem to curtail my ability to read and write with any focus. Which means I do little of either. But this year I decided, after waffling for a long, long time, to participate in Yuletide, and I ended up writing two stories. One was for Sage for the Flashpoint fandom, which is very wee, called Someday We'll Look Back on This and It Will All Seem Funny, and the other was for Chuck, a treat for EleanorJane called Because Your Kiss (Your Kiss) Is on My List, a little Chuck/Casey slash.
I think that considering how long it's been since I've done any writing at all, things turned out okay, but they're definitely weak compared to their competition (for want of a better word). I think I still have far to go in terms of getting back in some kind of groove, of trying not to overcompensate or overwrite. I plan to pick up some New Year's resolutions to keep the momentum going (at least, I hope so).
And I have a wee ickle vidlet to make for Brynn McK coming up, which should be very fun. We did a fannish exchange and she picked my offer up! Plus, I get to squeeze Belmanoir for a ficlet.
All in all, not the most productive year, not the happiest, but not the worst. My dad's still alive, though he injured himself rather badly recently, but he'll be okay. The house is still mine, and I do have sporadic work coming in, I just have to do more to keep the flow up. I still have all my fingers and toes, even if they ache more and more all the time. And one truly great thing happened to me this year: I met this crazy little kitten named Blues, who came to live with me and torment me and Olive. It's the best torment you can get, if you ask me.
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no subject
Date: 2009-01-02 02:19 pm (UTC)Happy new year!
no subject
Date: 2009-01-02 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-02 07:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-02 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-02 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 05:50 am (UTC)also you should give me your prompt soon! i only have a couple weeks now!
no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 05:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 06:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 08:55 am (UTC)This gives me much hope for my 2009. There is a desire on my part to liven things up in the household with another furry thing...and the subsequent trials and tribulations are things to welcome.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 07:59 am (UTC)