Finally, after months of wibbling, I collected all of the US state flags on my counter:



The Alaska flag is pretty, and it held out for so very long! So, thank you, mysterious Alaska visitor! :D

In other news, I've finished my yuletide fic and posted it, so now I'm flailing and running around in circles watching other people upload. I need me some Yuletide Madness, yo.

Other than that, we're decorating the tree today, so yay. It is so very nice not having to do any work. :P

Finally, here is an awesome video of an octopus building a shelter out of two coconut halves. It is so cute and silly-looking. *pets teh octopus*



This just goes to show that octopi are smart and will one day rule the earth. And I, for one, welcome our cephalopod overlords. :P

So yesterday I went with a group of friends to Chinatown, and on the way back we were waiting for the train. Keep in mind that this was Chicago in December, and it was cold and gray and everything. So the train arrived, and we all looked at it: "What the fuck?!"

Unlike every other train in Chicago, which are all gray and covered with advertisements, this train had winter wonderland scenes painted on the sides, and snowflakes and frosted icicles on the windows, and red-and-green Christmas lights on the side that said, "Happy Holidays from the CTA!"

So we all sort of boggled and got on the train, and the inside was all decorated, too. All the boring seats had been replaced by red or green fabric with scenes from Santa's workshop, and there was silver garland with red bows hanging from the ceiling, and - best of all - the metal poles for standing passengers to hold? Had all been painted red-and-white striped like candycanes! Hee!

So then this CTA employee in a red jacket came over and offered us complimentary candycanes and welcomed us aboard "the Holiday Express", and it was freaking amazing!

When we got off the train, we stayed on the platform to watch it go (as did most other customers, because it was freaking hilarious), and we discovered that the second-to-last car of the train had been replaced by a life-sized model of Santa's sleigh, filled with presents, being pulled by reindeer. *diez*

ETA: Kally found a picture!

So, so awesome! Thank you, world, for being surreal and absurd and keeping me constantly amused! :D

Also, since I'm flying back home for break today, I only have a few things to do:
Respond to comments.
Post fic.
Finish up this yuletide fic that won't end, baby!
Pack.
Take out trash.
Fly home.

Mooch for two weeks straight!

So ineffort woke up feeling pretty horrendous yester(to)day, and since I've been itching to try my hand at writing for a new fandom, I figured I would throw something together for her.

MayMay, I adore you! I hope you like this little ficlet. ♥ ♥ ♥

reaching eastward|richard/kahlan|r

390 words.

At night, Richard dreams.

( click! )

It's mostly a play day today, but I still have a few things to do:
Go to Chinatown.
Eat tasty dim sum.
Get tea for mom.
Go to bank.
Pay credit card bill.
Pay rent.
Dishes.
Laundry.
Write 1000 words.
Post fic.
Respond to comments.
Finish closing tabs.

However, even more important is my list of things not to do today. :P

Do not:
Go to work.
Go to gym
Grade papers.

WHEE! :D

ETA: Success!

Do:
Work.
Pick up paycheck.
Turn in timecard.
Gym.
Dishes.
Eat, sleep, breathe, etc.
Pick up late papers from mail folder.
Grade whatever has come in.
Clean 3rd/3rd of apartment.
Write 1000 words.
Reply to comments.
Post fic.
Close more tabs.

ETA: Aaaaaand done!

Do:
Work.
Gym.
Dishes.
Eat, sleep, breathe, etc.
Pick up late papers from mail folder. Only 1 today!
Grade whatever has come in.
Clean 2nd/3rd of apartment.
Write 1000 words.
Reply to comments.
Post fic.
Close more tabs.

ETA: Done! With 8 minutes to spare. :P

Is it...? *gasp* It is! My daily to-do list! Oh boy, I know you guys have all been missing these so much! :D

I kid. :P

To-Do:
Gym.
Dishes.
Food is good and necessary for survival.
Write 2000 words (double for the weekend).
Grade paper.
Post fic.
Respond to comments.
Clean 1/3 of apartment.
Wash sheets.
Start closing up tabs for vacation.
Re-pot cactus (which I've only been putting off for three months, oops).

ETA: Success! Now, I get to write more yuletide fic until bed, in the hopes that I'll actually get this fucker done. *gurgle* So many long fics! *whines*

To-Do:
Go to store to buy exciting SPONGES! (Y'all are so jealous of my posh lifestyle, I know. :P)
Go to campus stores to get Christmas presents for the parents.
Dishes.
Consume enough nutrients (and cheesecake) to survive another day.
Review source material for yuletide.
Write 1000 words (left over from yesterday).
Write 2000 words (double for the weekend).
Grade paper.
Post fic.
Respond to comments.
Pay electric bill.

ETA: Success! I'm all caught up again! :D

At least I finished The Fic That Wouldn't End (TM), though:
Edit TFTWE (TM).
Submit TFTWE (TM).
Work.
Christmas party.
Gym.
Get take-out. The Christmas party had take-out, score! Two birds with one stone!
Grade 2 papers.
Write 1000 words.
Post fic.
Respond to comments.
Movie night.

Do:
Finish that ficathon fic that's due tomorrow, holy Christ!
Edit fic.
Submit fic.
Work.
Gym.
Eat, sleep, breathe, etc.
Grade paper.