Fannish visits, Yuletide, and dS recs

[luzula]

1) I have almost 1000 words on my Yuletide story. There's some plot that I'm not sure of, but I think it'll work out okay. Which is a relief--it's been half a year since I've written anything, so I was a bit worried about signing up.

2) I had exeterlinden here for a visit last weekend! We went hiking, tree climbing (I have gotten a second harness just so I can take friends climbing), watched movies (she showed me Whale Rider and I showed her Papillon) and did Yuletide writing and mutual beta-reading. It was pretty great.

3) I have discovered the comforts of putting a hot water bottle at my feet when I go to bed. This is a discovery that many people have made before me, I know. I have no idea why I haven't done it before! *has cold feet and a cold house*

4) I can recommend the due South story Origin Story by scribe and seascribe! It's 30 000 words of Ray/Ray/Stella, which is a pairing I've not seen much of before. There's also Oasis by scribe, which is a lovely Ray Vecchio/Anita Cortez story set in Vegas, with some great undercover stuff. And finally I can recommend In A Yellow Wood by Deputychairman which is a bit of a different take on Fraser/Victoria than I've seen before.

Comments

[ride_4ever]

Yays! All good things!

[luzula]

They are, indeed!

[kabal42]

Sounds like you had a lovely time with Linden! :)

Oh, Yuletide! I'm looking forward to really digging into mine. I've done a good deal of research, but haven't written much yet.

Now I am considering the water bottle, though it's not been too cold for my feet yet this winter. But it still might. I even have water bottles, but I've never used them for myself.

[luzula]

I did! Sometime I have to host a meet-up. Maybe in the spring?

I even have water bottles, but I've never used them for myself.

Are there special water bottles for this? I just use an ordinary plastic one and fill it with hot water from the tap.

[feroxargentea]

There are special bottles. (Apologies for interrupting - hot-water bottles are my first and truest love :) Flat rubber bottles with screw-plugs, designed so they can be rolled on without breaking. You're not really supposed to fill them with boiling water but I always have. In a fluffy cover, they stay warm till morning. Apparently most other developed countries abandoned their use long back - no idea why. Other bed-occupants might come and go, but god forbid anyone tries to muscle in on my hot-water bottle :)

[luzula]

My previous method of warming my feet was to use my bed-partner's calves, but alas, I do not currently have a bed-partner.

And huh, I have never seen these special bottles--I think it's because Sweden's building standards are generally quite high and so it's usually not that cold indoors.

[feroxargentea]

Calves are good, thighs are good, bottles are better *g* If I had your address I'd send you one, I'm serious, they are the cosiest thing ever.

With poor enough circulation a person can be warm enough - too warm even - and still have icy feet *shrugs*

[kabal42]

That would be lovely! :)

I have two rubber ones made for the purpose. They look, uh, like they do in comics? Or old movies? Or whatever. Only mine are black, not the reddish-brown I've usually seen them depicted as.

[luzula]

Cool. I've never seen one for sale in Sweden. But an ordinary plastic one works fine for me, although of course I can't fill it with boiling hot water.

[kabal42]

I came across mine some years ago (quite a few, I think!) and bought them because they were fun and old-fashioned. I should try to actually use them ;) I even think it was in a pound store or something, so I didn't pay very much for them. I think I tested one and it started leaking when the water cooled *G* So not too practical. I should find both and test them.

[calvinahobbes]

I don't use a water bottle but one of those heat bags/ pillows filled with grain. I think they're actually intended for muscle soreness, and I do occasionally use it for a sore neck. They're microwavable, which means they're super quick to heat, and it's easy to adjust the heat by the number of minutes you nuke 'em for. They don't stay warm for more than a couple of hours, though, but that's more than enough time to heat the bed and let me fall asleep all snuggly :)

[espresso_addict]

Congratulations on the Yuletide progress! (Mine is in bear alert mode, sadly.) I've never tried the hot water bottle but I've unrepentantly slept in bedsocks for years and the cats often come to sleep on my feet.

[luzula]

I still have a ways to go with the story, though--I need to sit down and work on it. Good luck with yours!

Yeah, cats seem like they would be good feet-warmers.

[mific]

I am envious! I am rereading the source which TBH is mostly procrastination due to being a bit daunted, at this stage. I need to start writing!

[luzula]

I knew the source well enough that I just had to review parts of it, which was a relief. But I still have a ways to go with the story--I need to sit myself down tomorrow and write...

[blnchflr]

Hot water bottles at the foot of the bed is the best. Wouldn't have survived without it when I lived in (the coldest house in) England D:

My current apartment is cold, too, but so far I've made do with woolly socks (and having the heat on all night on the coldest nights - not yet this season).

[luzula]

I guess building standards in Sweden (and Denmark?) are higher than in most countries, so it doesn't generally get as cold indoors here even though the climate is colder. But I live in an old house right now.

[seascribble]

I must get a hot water bottle, Turnbull cat is insufficiently reliable at staying near my feet.

Yessss, another Papillon victim. :D Any fannish feels?

(Thanks for the rec! And oh man, I love that Vegas story, everybody should read it)

[luzula]

Yeah, I imagine cats are good feet-warmers when they want to be. Another person's calves are also good, but alas, I do not currently have a bed-partner.

She liked it! And yes, she wanted fic about them being crotchety and slightly loopy old men together. So I'd say that was a success. : )

[scribe]

:D thanks for the recs!

[luzula]

You are most welcome! : )

[riverlight]

I really enjoyed Deputychairman's The Things We Aren't Saying, if you haven't read that!

[luzula]

Thanks! Yeah, that's a good one. I think I recced that too at some point, if I don't remember wrong.

[desireearmfeldt]

Y'know, I really didn't need to go re-read Origin Story -- well, okay, I did need to do that, what I didn't need was to do it tonight when I'm supposed to be working. Oops. :)

[luzula]

Um, sorry? : )