Greetings from the House Beautiful version of the Holy Unpredictable Manor. No sign of a buyer yet, so tell your friends or plan a summer visit while I'm still here! Links to listing and photos. There's still time to make this the Olde Fangurls Retirement Home!

I've started a writing project to harness the power of my obsessing over new places I might live. Called Imagined Voyages, it's at venturouslife.wordpress.com. So far there are a few short-short stories up there. I can't seem to get any other writing done, so point the obsessing brain in a productive direction!

Fandom, fandom, how do I love thee?
Check out my favorite HP fest, now running:  hp_beholder where there are rare pairs and wonderful art and fic.

I am sampling new flavours and being increasingly promiscuous:

Late to the Party  I recently watched Torchwood Series 1-3 and am recovering. AGH!! There are writers I no longer trust because they make you love their characters, then kill them. I'm a great fan of angst but JEEsus lord, I need funerals, or better yet resurrections. Then again, as Jack suffers so much by NOT dying, gah. Reccs for great fic MUCH appreciated.

I cant imagine making art for this series - it's already so pretty and stylized. Also, I am not sure I want to watch the Miracle Day series. Any advice? My next step is to watch the Cap'n Jack eps of DW. You can guess where that will lead!

Pretty Men
tjs_whatnot  has finally corrupted me, and I am enjoying White Collar Season 1. It's shiny!, It's pretty! and Neil is the best flirt I have ever seen. Last weekend she came for a visit and we watched 5 or 6 eps. Bring on the fic reccs!

ASHES to ASHES I've been distracted by the new and shiny (see above) but finished S1 and loved it. Campy, complicated, and although I still miss Sam, I adore Alex and enjoy the ensemble.

Speaking of Mr. Simm, I finally saw EXILE, a terrific 3-part story with Simm and Jim Broadbent as his demented dad. Both investigative reporters, the story has mystery, intrigue and deeply felt characters.

I'm not getting nibbles on the house yet, and both glad and worried simultaneously. This weekend, a three day training in RE financing. ugh to the hotel time, but I know the instructor is great, so I'll be inspired.

I may not be around much, but I stil love you! I am serious: if you want to visit, make plans to come now. The weather is perfect and the house is clean!

Current Mood: chipper

With a heavy heart I have to tell you that the Holy Unpredictable Manor is going on the market.

This house has been a great joy to me, and many of you as well! I'm terribly sad that there will not be a 6th Annual Fangirl Frolic here this year.
;-(



I love you all and wish everyone could come and live here in fandom frolic forever. If only someone could convert squee into gold, I'd have it made! As it is, I can't afford to keep going on my reduced income, and the housemates are driving me nuts and not covering the costs. So, it's time for Ven to downsize, downscale and regroup.

Open House is NEXT SUNDAY for fuck sake!! So I am crazy with house pretty-up. I'm expecting a buyer in May or June, and move-out in August. If anyone wants to visit between now and the end of July, now's the time to make plans! All fangirls (and boyz) and their dogs (and cats?) are welcome.

Short term plans are to share a house with a local friend. But I think of this as 'going mobile'.  I will be shopping for a more affordable community to move to. Considering going back to Michigan, my homeland. Or maybe Albuquerque, for a complete change-up! Frankly, I am willing to go almost anywhere, so I will be talking to you all about where you live and what might be possible in places I've never thought of.  What's the immigration situation to Australia? Wales? any other rad ideas, fen?

See that icon? that's my New Leaf.

I am grumpy with spring fever.  Maybe I can blame it on the pollen? Some explanation, please!
( Cut for whining.... )

Ok, some good things:

Garden is growing nicely: first iris blooming, radishes are yummy, greens coming along, baby brocolli is sighted!
I 've been wearing myself out being physical outside. Weedwhacking, River Clean-Up, weeding and digging. Plus, the gym!
FINALLY watching Torchwood. Stay tuned for possible new obsession.

I miss you all! I'm probably suffering from too little smut fandom, and need to play more.

I sprinkle oak pollen on you all!

Current Mood: drained

Thank you to all who offered good vibes, sage advice and encouragement. Every bit of it helped.  The bandaid is ripped off, the amputation is performed, I am standing untrampled.

The once-conflict-averse Ven finally took bull by horns and delivered the paperwork. Recipient accused me of dooming her to the homeless shelter. I told her that wasn't necessary. Out of town boyfriend is now here to console her. 

Thanks again, wonderful flist!

Current Mood: relieved

I read today's post by elisa rolle and was moved to signal boost.

"I DO" is a indie feature film about love, family and a green card marriage starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Alicia Witt, Maurice Compte and David W. Ross.



The film looks wonderful, the project is nearly completed and just a little support from us could make the difference.

To contribute: http://igg.me/p/64782

Housemate drama reached a pitch last night and I lost my temper. Closest friend says cut the damage and evict. Ugh, I hate being the bad guy. More ugly drama will certainly ensue. But Friend is right, this isnt working.

Evicting for non-payment was uncomfortable but easy compared to eviction for crazy-making behavior. Still, we both have a 30-day clause. I'm delivering it today. Last week she almost submitted her own intent to vacate.

So, your prayers and encouragement deeply appreciated.

Landlord hat on: check.
Grounded: check.
Determination: in place

========later=========

ok, your fearless Ven totally failed to deliver bad news when she first saw Crazy Housemate. ugh, I am so.... flawed.

Still, a good cry with a friend who then helped me see how this was so bad for me has given me more resolve.

I need less of this:    

and more of this:     and 

I call on my BAMF! heroes to back me up!

reduced to the simplest shapes. does it do anything for/to you?

Geometric Porn Site from Luciano Foglia on Vimeo.

I'm away again (second time this month!) this time in Cleveland, OH for a seminar. This time we drove, or I should say friend S drove, and I have been able to lounge and oogle the landscape, and play with my new smartphone.

It takes pictures, look!!!
( click for pics )

We wandered all over downtown Cleveland after class, really enjoying all the bridges in the Flats, finally eating fish fry at a pub. I drank a Guiness, a bit of a late toast to St Paddy. Then drove along the lake and back through the medical center and universities into downtown by night. I really nice day.

I'm off for a brief spring retreat in the mountains at Belle Meade - 'coincidentally' a place where I did a 3-day fast and vision quest in 1997. I look forward to hiking the mountain again 15 years later: older, wiser and who knows how much healthier and more creative?




Here's a bit of fun from Stephen Fry's twitter:

thank you wise Flist for your support.

I just concluded the House Meeting and laid down the rules. I was tossing and turning all night, but woke up calm and determined to be the Leader.

I live with two volatile expressive women, both of whom have not shared space like this before. Frankly, I've only done the group house thing on trips, not long term. It's an experiment, and I'm not sure it's going all that well.

I feel so damn grown up, having just scolded the stepchildren!

I need advice or at least sympathy! I've got myself embroiled in a dilemma and I'm having trouble being clear.

( cut for housemate drama )

I'm going to hug a dog now, and get some sleep.

click for more, they're brilliant!

title: Crow Catcher
artist: Leonora Carrington
1917-2011

Dear friends, I am about to unfriend/unsubscribe to journals and comms that I no longer follow. Please know it's not personal in any way - it's just an embarrassment of riches and my changing interests. If you feel I've made a mistake please let me know.
If I know I can follow you on Dreamwidth, I may unfriend your LJ

Title: When I Fall, final part
Author: Venturous
Fandom: Sherlock (BBC)
Characters: Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1200
Summary: It's time for Sherlock to move on
Notes: Thanks to TJ’s Whatnot for beta review, and of course to Moftiss, for breaking my heart so cleverly.
This is Part 5 of 5  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3  Part 4


( Read more... )

Current Mood: amused

Happy Valentines Day to all, and thank you for the crystal hearts!! There is so much love, all around.

My household is abuzz with it, in all it's messy human forms. New housemate recovering from breakup, another taking in her brother, helping out of a very sad place. I cook for them. We laugh, make art. Work gets done, pets get loved, boy does his homework.  It's normal and extraordinary all at once.

I am rather pleased with my blog today. (Click the heart to read) Avoided sentimental cliches, said something important, I like to think. Thanks to madam_minnie  for the inspiration.

Last night Dear Friend presented her transformative technique to a group of healers, and it was awesome, so much like our Art, our inner language is unique to us. In a journey I was given a beautiful container shaped like an acorn, and in it was a diamond-shaped quartz that needed to be placed in my heart. Amazing!

My WIP is nearly done, should post today. whew! never wrote one before quite like that. The stakes feel awefully high in Sherlock fandom, especially writing Sherlock's voice.

Oh, and I can now reveal my work in this year's wonderful Snapecase:

Mother, a portrait of wee lad Severus and Eileen sharing a moment.

There are wonderful stories and art in that fest. Be sure to

more SH/JM gifs at tumblr here

ok, dont throw things, but what if Sherlock really did 'invent' moriarty? what if the 'final problem' is reintegrating his imaginary friend? What if Mycroft knows his brother is a delusional psychotic?

Title: When I Fall
Author: Venturous
Fandom: Sherlock (BBC)
Characters: Greg Lestrade, Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1500
Summary: Greg's night out is a bummer; Molly can't sleep
Notes: Thanks to TJ’s Whatnot for beta review, and of course to Moftiss, for breaking my heart so cleverly.
This is Part 4 of 5  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3 


( Read more... )

Current Mood: cold

( Could their poses be any more gendered? )


amazing hybrid designed to please fangirls:

( amazing hybrid designed to please fangirls )