Spinning on that dizzy edge

Title: Man Smart, Woman Smarter
Fandom/Characters: Stargate: Atlantis, Jeannie Miller, Rodney McKay (with appearances from the rest of the gang)
Music: "Man Smart, Woman Smarter", by Robert Palmer
Spoilers: Through season 5
Vid Download Links: Here for 55 MB AVI
Here for 37 MB WMV


Rodney McKay may be a genius, but his sister Jeannie Miller can solve his problems - with fingerpaints.

Notes: "McKay and Mrs. Miller" was one of my favorite episodes of Season 3 - hell, favorite episodes ever! - because it was the first time we got to meet Jeannie Miller, aka David Hewlett's real-life sister Kate Hewlett. Snarky, smart, completely used to puncturing her brother's oversized ego...what's not to love? When I met the actors at Shore Leave in 2008, it was immediately apparent that that was their relationship in real life as well.

When Creation announced that David and Kate would both be at the last Vancouver con, I knew I wanted to go, and that I wanted to show Kate some appreciation for her role in SGA. So here's the result! (More notes below.)

To preview it, use the password "WomanSmarter" below.

( Preview box behind the cut )

More Notes: ( How to win contests and infuriate people )

So, long story short: I'm four for four for winning (wow, that's a stutter!) the Creation vid contest, and Creation is similarly four for four for screwing it up. Go team go!

I'm going to the Stargate con in Vancouver to see the Hewletts and my fangirl peeps, WAHOOOOOOO!!!! And some other stars too, I suppose. ;)

I've been obsessing over it so hard, you don't even know. (Except maybe a couple of you, like mercury973, who's gotten about 50 emails from me - sorry!)

The sticking point has been the airfare. I live within driving distance of a bunch of airports, but what with gas prices rising faster than Atlantis from the sea bottom plus post-con fatigue, I didn't want to drive more than an hour or so.

But today, oh frabjous day, I scored a flight for almost $100 cheaper than I've been seeing, with reasonable departure times. (The flights will be looooong, but that's what portable electronics are for, right?)

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Now I have to get cracking on a vid. I have no idea why Creation needs 40 days to review submitted entries, other than their general policy to screw with people.

Who's going? Who has tickets for what? Who knows the best places to stalk for cheap gold tickets? Oh, and who still has space in their hotel room? I swear I'm an excellent roommate. *grin*

The two-month countdown begins!

The end of day camp, two cons, and the start of school all done - I may yet survive August. Whew!

Two weekends ago was Vividcon. It blew me away. I was expecting the intense happiness of getting to meet friends finally in person, and talking nonstop of fannish things, but the friendliness and inclusiveness bowled me over. Almost everyone was welcoming and happy to hang out with a complete n00b like me, even the vidding BNFs. And such a world of fandoms! I got to gush about "Grease 2" and SGA and BSG, all in the space of a few minutes. Club Vivid was so much amazeballs fun that I wish it were a monthly event. And the vids! OMG the vids. Someday I aspire to make something half as good as what was shown. I am so going back next year if I can. And next year, I'm not leaving at 11 PM on Sunday to drive home. I was so wrecked the next day at work.

Then this past weekend was the Chicago Creation con, and boy, did they con me out of a lot of money, heh. More and more, I wish for chances just to squee with my fellow fans who have become friends, and not be rushed from celeb event to event. But I can't complain too much about getting to see Ben Browder and David Hewlett that many times.

Lessee, first there was Ben at the breakfast on Saturday, then his panel, photo op, and signing. (Many blessings and thanks to mercury973 and gyri for giving me their Ben autographs. I still think you guys are kinda nutty, but it certainly benefited me!)

On Sunday, while waiting for David Hewlett's meet and greet with ailurophile6, we got to see him come in with his luggage, head back upstairs, then return with coffee and breakfast. The meet and greet itself was the usual outstanding fun. I got to ask him about the uncanny similarities of Paul McGillion's new project with David's ongoing Starcrossed plans. He hemmed and hawed, then stated that at first he "didn't love" how close they seemed, but explained that Paul's thing will be focused on the actor's life and his friends, where Starcrossed would be more of a behind-the-scenes of a sci-fi show. Not only is David Hewlett awesome, he's classy, too.

Then there were autographs (David was very nice and scribbled a Mars pawprint on my "A Dog's Breakfast" DVD booklet, since I had everyone else's signature) first thing for everyone but the day passes, so Joe wouldn't be signing things on his way out the door and David wouldn't be there until 11 PM.

Finally we were treated to the David-and-Joe panel of TOTAL RIDICULOUS ENTERTAINMENT. I swear to God, Creation could make a mint if they just taped their damned panel and sold it already. The panel was supposed to be equal parts David, David & Joe, and Joe, but Joe literally would not let David leave the stage. Why does Creation even bother? They should just let the two be together the whole time. (Wait, there I go trying to apply logic to their motivations again.) I would recap it, but crysothemis did such an amazing job here, you should just go read hers. I love those guys so hard.

Oh! And on Saturday, right before Paul's panel, Creation announced that my vid won! Yay! But then they said it was a Carson-focused vid, which I had to politely refute and explain that it was a team vid. Then Gary defensively asked, "He's in it, though, right?" Technically, yes, for all of two brief seconds. But I had my shiny certificate and voucher, so I was happy. Then we waited and waited and WAITED for it play, and BOO. It had to be skipped due to technical difficulties. Once again, I couldn't win for winning. They played it later after the costume contest, when there was almost no one in the room. *sigh* It did look very pretty on the big screen.

However, I left so late on Sunday I didn't get home until almost 3 AM, and it's taken all week to get my brain back from zombie land. I think there may be suspicious chunks still missing.

My pictures! I have to share my pictures with you, because they make me so giddy.

Me and Ben Browder (I will never tire of hugging that man):

( My happiness, let me show you )

Me and David (who continues to indulge me with goofy poses. I simply asked him to choose his weapon, and he went to this):

( Are you ready for this? )

I LOVE DAVID HEWLETT, AND I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS.

Many thanks to nakedwesley for being a lovely roommate, and all the rest of you guys for making it so much fun to be a fangirl. I can't wait to see you all next time.

I have printed out a book's worth of maps, tickets, guides, lists, and random useful pieces of information.

My carry-on and schlep bags are ready, with only the CPAP left to be disassembled and packed.

I have my passport, US ca$h for things (hoping I can spend it in Vancouver) and credit cards for elsewise, and streamlined stuff in my purse.

I have to fill up the gas tank, drive home, load the car, eat, and drive to St. Louis. Then I will hopefully get on a plane to Seattle without incident, catch nakedwesley at her gate, meet mercury973 at the curb, and get whisked away to the latter's apartment. In the morning, we will depart on a road trip to Vancouver and the Stargate con, so that I may bask in the presence of David Hewlett and some other guys that were on Stargate shows. *grin*

I am barely keeping on top of my squee. I can't run out of it too early, or it would be Bad.

EEEE!!!!

Back on Tuesday, if everything goes according to plan, whereupon I will most likely be barely ambulatory and close to brain-dead.

Wish me luck!

Well, I missed the deadline for kink_bingo. I did finish four out of the five story ideas I had, all since Monday, for a total of about 6600 words or so. The fifth is basically plotted out. I'll be in great shape to post them when the amnesty starts on September 15th. Thank you mods and participants for being awesome!

Now that I'm not gunning for the finish line, I could really use betas for them, if anyone is available. I've got a Jack Carter Eureka story, a John/Rodney SGA offering, Tara/Willow from BtVS, and Minerva McGonagall/Pomona Sprout ala Harry Potter. The fifth one, when it's done, will be Jake/Diane from Jake 2.0. (My fandom brain is a gadfly, what can I say?) I still need titles for most of those, too. Buh.

I am soooo far behind on everything else, between being at the con last weekend and getting my kink on since then. (I think it counts as a new frontier for me, writing during my son's capoeira class.) mcshep_match is over and done with, and I've got at least a week and half's worth to still read. Go Team Work! kate posted her recs here, and I have to say I agree with most of her picks, and the rest are just ones I haven't yet read. I've been chuffed to get some lovely comments on mine - not bad for another piece of speed-writing.

My LJ is at skip=Headache. I've got today and tomorrow to plot out my Dragon*Con plan of attack, now that my Hewlett-stalking time has freed up. *sigh* This includes packing and mapping and everything. Anyone else planning on attending aside from the couple of you I've talked to?

And I suppose I should actually do some work at some point. Meh.

In the interests of closing a few tabs, have some links!

The Cameron Mitchell & Daniel Jackson lilblckdressfic is back in action! Signups close Wednesday, September 10th. kazbaby, I totally plan to sign up, just as soon as I can point my brain in that direction.

David Hewlett did a podcast with GeekDad last night - you can download it here. I haven't listened to it yet; I'm thinking it will make for good plane audio.

For the Highlander and Peter Wingfield fans: Peter Wingfield answers 11 of your deepest Highlander questions!. I haven't watched this either, since work's firewall is a pissy hall monitor.

Ta for now!

Hello to everyone that I recently friended! And for those of you lovely people that I met this weekend at the con and have completely forgotten the names of...please forgive me - I've got about two brain cells left. Work tomorrow is going to be interesting.

I hope to get some kind of pic post or recaps or something up soon. In the meantime - David Hewlett continues to be SO AWESOME. I mean, signing for four hours so everyone can get personalizations? *swoon*

Sunday was as deliriously happy-making as Saturday was failworthy.

( Pics and it DID happen )

David Hewlett, however are you so entirely Awesome?

I think my body is getting sneaky on me. I've been bumping along with a 28-29 day cycle for years now, with a day or two deviation. Now, according to the lovely chart at MonthlyInfo (I can't recommend that site enough for simple tracking), I seem to be settling at a 31-32 day cycle. Guess I'll have to start up charting again to pin down the magic week.

The vid is coming along quite nicely - I've got about 10 seconds to nail down at the end for the first draft will be ready for a discerning eye or two. kazbaby, you still willing to take a look?

COOOOOOOOOOOON! I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through tomorrow, with everything I want to get done before I leave Saturday morning. Maps, tickets, questions, schedules...Packing! I still have to pack! I hate packing so much, you wouldn't believe it - I have nightmares about vacations where I arrive and I've forgotten all the vital stuff. At least it's a short weekend. *deep breath* All else pales, though, against the prospect of Hanging with Hewlett.

I was looking at TV Guide's Fall TV scorecard (which only mentions the main five channels and not any cable ones - click here for the schedule), and my curse wasn't terrible this year. The Big Bang Theory, Castle, Chuck, Glee, NCIS, Parenthood, and V all are returning. That includes three shows that I've been watching for two years or more! \o/ Gossip Girl and HIMYM are still hanging on, waiting for my interest level to catch up again. I am sad, though, at what I lost: Dollhouse, Eastwick, FlashForward, and Heroes. OK, no, I'm not actually sad about Heroes; I totally choose Chuck over Heroes any day. But I wish I could have gotten FlashForward instead of V, and more of the lovely ladies of Eastwick, and definitely more of the finally-hitting-its-stride Dollhouse. Ah well. I haven't read any reviews of the new shows other than Hellcats, and they lost me when Ben Browder left. *sniff*

Now it's time for the summer TV series. When is Eureka coming back, anyway? Or White Collar, My Boys, or Warehouse 13? A girl has needs, you know.

...where by "outer space" I mean the vacuous cloud of nothing between my ears.

I was just thinking back to last year, where I was navigating between a bunch of story commitments, and planning Christmas shenanigans, and not having my cabana boy at home, and dealing with the Emperor's hard transition in school.

Now, I defaulted on the only story I've been interested in writing, my husband is home again (did I mention he got laid off a few months back? Yeah. Good times. In the good news/bad news vein, he's making almost as much from unemployment as he did at his job, which points out how grossly underpaid he was) and back to being my alternately surly/smiley cabana boy, and the Emperor is bored with daycare but not in active danger of being kicked out.

At least the Christmas shopping is almost finished. Oh! And the Space Battle Tree is all done, so we can pose the Emperor by it and get this year's holiday card knocked out.

Since I turned 36 this year, which is rather an arbitrary age except that it means I've been out of high school for as many years as my age when I graduated, I decided I really need to start taking better care of myself. I did my doctor visit for a full check-up, got mildly reproved for my cholesterol levels, and was referred to a dermatologist and the sleep clinic for other questions.

So this past weekend I did my sleep study and proved to their satisfaction that I have severe sleep apnea. (I might post my Frankenstein's monster pic of me all wired up.) Let me just say that calling it a sleep clinic is kinda like the misnomer of a speed zone - there was a minimum amount of sleeping involved. Anyways, I'm now waiting for my very own CPAP machine, and hopefully many restful nights will follow.

In other news, Creation is trying to kill me. I have no other explanation for why they scheduled David Hewlett, Joe Flanigan, Jason Momoa, and Rachel Luttrell all for the Vancouver con, and me with the not being able to go. (My TEAM!) I swear, if David Hewlett hadn't agreed to attend the Chicago one next August, I'd be really tempted to go postal. I shall clutch my receipt for my Gold ticket (SQUEEEE) and wait and hope that they add more non-Universe people.

I have been utter crap at following people on DW and LJ. My stalker lists (where I get things emailed so as to avoid the awkward friending dance) are beyond full, and I have no hope of ever catching up on my actual flist. My abject apologies for missing any huge life news and/or chiming in beyond late to your posts. Meanwhile, as a personal challenge to myself, I'm going to try to post more than once a month. Dammit.

On the other hand, David Hewlett Twittered today about his new role on The Closer. I can only hope that this leads to bigger and better things for him, AKA his regular appearance on my TV.

Oh, yeah - anyone want a Dreamwidth invite code? I've got one to share.