Things

[raven]

"Unfried dough! May we eat it and remember the day the Avatar was not boiled in oil!"

Okay, okay, I get why people like this show so much. Also did I mention I love Sokka? I love Sokka. Eternal voice of reason! With a boomerang!

Here are some other things:

The good:

-So, you all remember I was furious with my research partner? So, a lot of you said I had to call him out somehow, even if only because it would be good practice. And I was fuming. The next morning, I met him before the class, and well, I didn't exactly yell. I told him he was a lazy sod, that he'd taken advantage of me throughout the process and actually I didn't care to let him work on my project any more. It was cathartic, but then the web project went online with his name on as well as mine. And I was debating telling the professor about it, and we had to meet her to talk over the presentation anyway, so I thought, why don't I go early. So if I do want to mention it to her, he won't be there as well and I'll have my opportunity.

I went early. He'd gone even earlier. He was sitting there, cosy in an armchair, happily chatting with the professor about the printed-off project that he wasn't mentioning he was seeing for the first time, and I went in and took several deep, steadying breaths. And then the professor said, "So, about the presentation, how will you divide it up? Who did what?"

I took another breath, waved the entire document, and said, "I wrote it. And researched it."

She raised her eyebrows. "What did you do, [partner]?"

Let us draw a kindly veil over the rest of the meeting. Tomorrow I am giving the presentation on my own.

The bad:

-When I first planned this year abroad, I remember telling Shim, rather blithely, "At least neither of us has an important birthday, and we don't have a very exciting anniversary."

Well, today is Shim's birthday, and I sent him a silly Penguin art book off Amazon, and I believe they even wrapped it for me - which, actually, is doing better than last year, when the people delivering my present for him took four months longer than planned - but nevertheless. Nevertheless, flist. I wish I were on the other side of the Atlantic tonight. I do, and I do, and what is there to say about it. Happy birthday, my love. Wish I were there.

The merely peculiar:

So, I went to mental health services today and said, "Hi, I do not think I need a follow-up appointment. Could you cancel it for me, please?"

"But you've only had one appointment with the psychiatrist."

"Right," I said, "and I don't need any more."

"Are you really sure?"

"Yes! I'm cured!"

Look, I never mean to say these things. They just come out of my mouth. And it's worse here in the US where I have a sense of humour two semitones out of step with everyone else. At least I managed not to follow it up with trust me, I'm a crazy person. I related this entire story to my therapist later and she said, wonderingly, "You have a very interesting life."

(I am not cured. The reason, I have managed to ascertain, that I was referred to psychiatry in the first place is that my sleep issues have become intractable, and it's becoming similarly obvious that all my mood issues are to do with either a) low light levels or b) sleep. The psychiatrist refuses to prescribe anything in the way of hard drugs, much to my unsurprise, and suggested lightbox-and-Benadryl. I got the lightbox and cancelled the follow-up. At the moment I'm working on a strategy of living off less sleep than I need, on purpose; staying up till I'm tired and getting up at the same time every day. And sleeping on the couch, I don't know why that helps but it does. It's not the best thing ever, but it's something.)

Work continues overwhelming, but, well, still here. I had a delightful - sincerely! - class the other day on the issue of popular constitutionalism and whether the US really needs judicial review. "What do you think?" asked the professor, and then grinned at me. "Iona, shut up. You're not allowed to talk."

"But-"

"Not for two hours."

I shut up and didn't talk for two hours. It was a very interesting class.

Oh, also! I have finally written my yuletide letter; dear author, if you are reading this I can only advise in the best traditions of the internet that you shouldn't read the comments.

Back to Avatar! Sokka is a Great Detective. We know this because he is wearing a funny hat.

Comments

[thingswithwings]

Yay for Sokka! and yay for Avatar in general! You are going through the same process that everyone who has ever watched the show goes through, which is: 1) Season One: fun, interesting, don't know what all the fuss is about. 2) Season Two: aw, I love these characters so much! 3) End of Season Two/Season Three: OH MY GOD I NEED TO WATCH THE NEXT EPISODE GIVE IT TO ME NOW NOW NOW. I'm just saying - it's kind of inescapable. Brace yourself.

I'm so glad you managed to get the upper hand (and in such a classy way) on [partner]. I didn't comment on your other post, I don't think, but I was absolutely thinking that that guy needs to be called out and stop sailing on his "charm" and privilege. Go you! And it sounds like your prof is pretty cool too.

[raven]

Heeee! Oh, hurrah, I look forward to the fannish flail. I'm really impressed with the depth of characterisation. Oh, Sokka, I do adore him. I love this whole amazing set-piece episode about Avatar Kyoshi and the subsequent boiling oil. Maybe I'll get through it all in time for the fic exchange? Maybe? *happyface*

Yaaay, thank you! I should admit that I have never stood up for myself this way before. I am glad it went well, for the first time I did it. )

[toft]

Go you re: annoying (not) partner!

[raven]

*happyface*

[musesfool]

Sokka! ♥

[raven]

HIS BOOMERANG ALWAYS COMES BACK.

[livrelibre]

Yay AtLA and pwning of terrible "research" partner! And I too have been sleeping surprisingly well on my couch. I think it offers better burrowing space.

[macadamanaity.livejournal.com]

"I wrote it. And researched it."

::cheers:: It's exactly like that time River Song jumped out of a spaceship. In heels.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

That is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. :P

[highfantastical.livejournal.com]

...I love you and Laura.

And WELL DONE re: presentation.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*grins* thank you! I feel very good about it. :)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Also, deepest sympathies from one insomniac to another.

[ladyfalcon.livejournal.com]

You did better with the partner situation than I would have - Had it been me, there would probably have been a certain amount of ranting and railing. You just let him sink his own damn ship in an admirably subtle way. Well done!

[sir-rosealot.livejournal.com]

What happened, what happened?! Undraw veil pls.

[lizzip.livejournal.com]

Yes this.

[bookwormsarah.livejournal.com]

"I wrote it. And researched it."

You absolutely rock. Hopefully he'll learn from this...

(It is 7.20am and I haven't been to bed yet, but that is due to the need to get my house/life packed up and ready to move for 8am tomorrow morning...I really thought I was organised this time...)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :) And, oh, I hope the move is going well!

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

yay for being Assertive and all that! Seriously, I'm impressed.

Okay, I laughed out loud at "Yes! I'm cured!"

Finally: if you are not asleep by now, I will come down there and knock you out myself.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Heee! I am in an unsurprisingly good mood this morning. And was asleep before two, so all-round win. :)

p.s. you said to remind you, if you had not sent me an email about Thing, Unspecified...

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Hooray for you and your presentation!

(And insomniac sympathies).

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Yaaaay! And, thank you. I got to sleep before two yesterday, so today is win on all counts. :)

[dr-biscuit.livejournal.com]

You are so brave and clever! And way, way more classy than I would have been. It makes my heart sing to hear a twerp like this being exposed and you getting the credit for your work. If watching legal dramas has taught me anything, this is totally good training for your lawyerly soul,
<3

(being apart on birthdays is sadness x)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

awwww, thank you! I have never stood up for myself like this before, so I do hope I can do it again, after this, if I need to. :)

Miss you, lovely lady.

[chiasmata]

WELL DONE! Glad it feels good :)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

My cheeks hurt from smiling! Thank you for the proddin'. :)

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

"I wrote it. And researched it."

*applauds*

Also, the comments to your Yuletide letter are giving me endless amusement.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my dear! And, er. Yes. I only hope that my yuletide author does not conclude I am a very bizarre person.

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

YAY to the professor learning about the group work fail and believing you!

Also, your sense of humor totally worked on me. Although I was raised on Doctor Who and other BBC shows from a young age...

And, yes! I LOVE Sokka as great detective with his funny hat. I think that episode has my, so far, favorite bit of him - his utter joy at "Boomerang! You DO always come back!" just cracks me up and makes me grin and want to hug him.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Yaaaay! I am very happy!

That whole episode filled me with delight. It has this very un-childish anarchic humour, I love it. Sokka! His boomerang! His determination to have a new thing!

[vampire-kitten.livejournal.com]

Who's awesome? I think it might be you.

I'm hoping the kindly veil contains a multitude of bad things happening to the partner, inlcuding BEES and very smelly socks and disapproving looks.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Aww, honey, thank you.

No bees. But some very awkward silences, and hasty promises to stay up all night working.... :P

[nerves-patterns.livejournal.com]

Good for you, in regards to the crappy partner! You are awesome. :D

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :P

[anodyna.livejournal.com]

Yay, comeuppance! I thought there was a very good chance that would happen--it seems like most profs who assign group work will do some kind of follow-up on who did what and how the group members rate each other's contributions. The chance to do it to his face, though, with the prof's full attention--that's pretty priceless!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I had my doubts, but she did come through in the end. I am very happy. :)

[tau_sigma]

Iona, I love you. Well done, and oh, what a brilliant way to manage it. The universe is smiling on you, perhaps. *dances you*

I have FINALLY managed to get what I wanted to send you. So, hopefully in the next couple of days I will be able to post it. *g* I am so sorry that it's taken me so long - it was supposed to arrive for Diwali, dammit! but I was too ill to manage it.