Party time ahead!

[wiseheart]

Well, yes, dear folks, it's this time of the year again. The big, one-week virtual party from today to the 9th of October starts here. Come on in, be welcome, make yourself comfortable, and post a comment. May we have many collapsed threads again!

Last year we had 559 comments on 4 pages, which is an impressive record to break. But I have an excellent apple pie in the oven, and offer a virtual slice to every party guest.

Let's party!

Addition: someone asked for the apple pie recipe. Here it is, behind the cut.


400 gr wheat flour
200 gr butter or margarine
200 gr sugar
1/10 litre sour cream
1 pinch of salt
ground peel of 1/lemon
2 gr baking soda

For the filling:
2 kg apples
sugar,cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla and ground lemon peel as you like

One eggyolk for painting the top.

How to make it?
1) Make a dough from abovementioned ingredients.
2) Cut it in two equal pieces. Roll out one piece, lay it into a baking tin (baking paper under it is helpful).
3) Spread some dried bread crubms all over it.
4) Peel and plane (slice???) the apples, press out the juice with your hands (it shouldn't be too dry, though) and mix them with the spices.
5) Spread the apples over the dough.
6) Roll out the other half of the dough. Cover the apples with it.
7) Paint the top with eggyolk and bake it in a pre-heated oven, on 200°C for twenty minutes.
8) Cut it when it's cooled down.

Sorry, but I had to use the metric system. My brain doesn't work in cups and pounds and that stuff. I hope you can still figure out how much you need from the ingredients.



Addition: I also wish to gift upon my dear party guests a birthday-present, Hobbit-style: Chapter 03 - Puer Natus Est Nobis of my Cadfael fic "Sparrows" has just been posted to hiddenrealms and to FF.Net. Enjoy!

And the end results are: 735 comments on 6 pages! It's more than I could have dreamed of, and I thank you - all of you - who contributed to this record. It will be a hard one to break next year indeed, but I hope you'll be back. :)

Thanks again, I had a fantastic time and met great new people - it was fun!

Comments

Happy birthday

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

To make properly sure that you feel you have been wished a happy birthday, here is a wish in English as well: Have a fantastic day and all the best for the year ahead! May it have lots of books and time to read them in it!

Re: Happy birthday

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Don't mention books! I've bought six new books today in a second-hand bookshop! They are all part of the excellent history series "The Making of the Past", of which I already had some 12 volumes - now I only lack one more, and I'll have the complete set!

Of course, the family will live off of three-day-old bread and water after this action, but still...

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

To finally get back to doing more of the fandom meme (sorry - life ate me for a while, but I survived and am now back), so onto the other two fandoms:

1. Name 3 of your most favourite fandoms.
Babylon 5 (I know we've been talking about already, but it is where my mind is at the moment), Studio60
2. Name one character of each fandom you particularly like. Tell us why.
Babylon 5: Very hard to choose, but I'm going to say Talia - I like the way that her character develops and watching how she learns about Psi Corps and starts to question everything that she has been taught. The way that she slowly moves from accepting every that Psi Corps does is right through various steps towards being finally estranged from them. It is such a pity that she was then written out. Plus I like the way that she interacts with the station staff - the way that she is not quite and insider, but not quite an outsider, it makes it very interesting to see how she reacts differently because she doesn't know everything that is going on.
Studio60: There are so many characters that I could pick, but I think I'm going to say Suzanne. She is a minor character but has a wonderful scene in which she stands up to Matt (her boss), asking him if he is high, then goes and tells his best friend/co-boss what is going on, even though she think he might fire her for this. I like the fact that she knows what her job is and seems to remain relatively sane and keep her sense of humour while everything is crazy around her.
3. Name one character of each that you don't like. Tell us why.
Babylon 5: Sheridan: This one was an easy choice - I don't like him because he allows thinks he is right and the show mostly supports him in this. His taking over control of Babylon 5 doesn't make sense with his total lack of diplomacy in most situations and the way that his character randomly changes to make bits of plot work is annoying. Also, the fact that most of the background that his gets involves more and more ex-wives appearing is not particularly interesting, especially as it is used to create conflict between him and Delenn. [Now I'm going to stop before this turns into a total rant] :)
Studio60: Ricky and Ron - I know they are two characters, but given that they mostly appear as a pair, I think they count for one. They are annoying and mostly seem to be there to add conflict to a show that already has enough going on. As characters they are so self absorbed and seem to have no redeeming qualities - even talent.
4. If you can, recommend a piece of fanfic to each of those fandoms.
I can't think of any to rec at the moment.

B5 hate file

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Sheridan: This one was an easy choice - I don't like him because he allows thinks he is right and the show mostly supports him in this. His taking over control of Babylon 5 doesn't make sense with his total lack of diplomacy in most situations and the way that his character randomly changes to make bits of plot work is annoying. Also, the fact that most of the background that his gets involves more and more ex-wives appearing is not particularly interesting, especially as it is used to create conflict between him and Delenn.

Boy, don't I agree! I was sooo annoyed when stupid JMS got rid of Sinclair, who was an intriguing, complex character, and brought in Sheridan, who's, basically, the same annyoing type as Kirk. Or Riker. Or Dylan Hunt. Or John Sheppard. The same cocky pilot type who can do anything and can get away with it, without bearing the consequences, and gets to decide in big questions that aren't his frigging business, just because he's the Big American Hero (TM).

The ex-wives were really annoying, too. And despite what one might think of Lochley: to choose her as the commanding officer of B5, despite that she'd fought for the other side, based on the fact that they were married? Hello? Didn't that happen after having too much booze or whatnot? A truly thought-out and responsible choice, eh?

Rant away. The wasted potential about Delenn could make me scream and break things every time I consider how JMS has practically ruined a potentially fantastic character. Making her the bossy wife. Or the whiny wife. Or the flabbergasted wife. Whatever.

I'm sorry that I don't know your other fandom. Haven't even heard of it before, in truth. Is it a British series?

Page 4, at least!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

We've done it, folks! Page 4 has been reached! If I'm not mistaken, this is primary comment #3 - only 22 more to go, and we still have two full days.

The comment nummer record we've already broken - go us!

Re: Page 4, at least!

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Yay for breaking the comment number record! :)

Great party!

Favorite food

[artemis10002000]

So we've been talking about a lot of favourites already, how about everyone's favourite favourite...

...food!

:)

Re: Favorite food

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Bacon. I'm not supposed to have it but it smells so delicious! On the healthier side, artichokes plain or stuffed, shrimp or any kind of seafood, salads and of course, chocolate.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Favourite food? Anything from my favourite restaurant, Midsummer House.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It looks like a beautiful place. Do they have any specialities?

Fresh goodies!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I've just pulled out of the oven a fresh tin of apple pie - this time the spicy version of it - and several tins of the biscuits that will become Ischler tomorrow, when I've glued the halves together with red currant jam and covered the finished product with chocolate icing. Yum!

Apple pie will be cut in half an hour or so - it has to cool down a bit first - so have a seat and prepare your eating utensils! The pretty young man above - points at Ianto icon - will serve his best coffee to the pie... or tea, if that is your pleasure. :)

[artemis10002000]

*licks her lips hungrily and takes turns eyeing the apple pie and Ianto*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is hard to choose, isn't it? And this should be comment #600!

An edited one cuz I apparently can't spell...

Comment #600 has been posted!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Ladies and gentlemen,

We have hereby reached one of the established goals of this party: to have a minimum of 600 comments. congratulations and my never-ending gratitude for your help.

Now we still have two days to reach the other goal: to get on Page 5. We must not rest on our laurels, or our honour will be besmirched by only partial success. Which will not happen. I know that. We're the best, we can do this.

Re: Comment #600 has been posted!

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Yay for reaching more targets and so much fun!

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm late! Congratulations on passing 600 comments!

Afraid I haven't baked a cake, but I have got some semi-stale buns that were being sold off cheap from the bakery. Tea?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't worry, we're not choosy here. Besides, it's the company that counts. Welcome to the party!

[rcfinch.livejournal.com]

Favourite food? Make that foods (which explains the way I look).

I love: pumpkin soup, ice cream, chocolate, steak with mushrooms, gorgonzola cheese, and most things with cinnamon. Though not necessarily in that order.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You look pretty enough. We women who actually *look* like women are an endangered species.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Artemis asked about favourite foods. Again this is a hard question to pick just one for! :)
However, going for the obvious choice: chocolate. At the moment my favourite type is Thorntons' Orange And Cardamom chocolate.

Otherwise what I remember as being favourites are mostly fresh fruit and vegetables picked straight from the garden. Bought fruit and veg just can't compare. It is one of the things that I miss about leaving home - no more fresh peas, carrots, parsnips, plums etc. However, while I miss these, it is not enough to make me think that I should grow my own, given how much time and energy it would take.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Oooh, fresh from the garden - yum. Sometimes I can get "almost" just picked from the farmer's market but it is not quite the same. Sadly, my thumb is anything but green.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Jumping from work to say:
Hurrah for breaking the comments record!!!

Now, let us hurry on toward the pages goal, because I, for one, cannot afford to lose what bit of honor I have left after beginning "Awful Mary-Sue." I'll need that last shred of honor so I can lose it when I finish the fic...

Favorite/Favourite food

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

If I have to pick one category, it would probably be good, dark chocolate. Or maybe a cheese lasagna. Or a decadent cinnamon roll with browned-sugar glaze over it.

However, at the moment, the food that that nearly transports me when eating is a "vintage" Dutch gouda. It seems like a decent, slightly salty cheese when I first put a piece in my mouth, but as I chew a bit and it warms on my tongue... suddenly, there is a flood of rich flavor almost like a good butter, but so much darker. The flavor has such a fullness, an almost physical dimension to it that I'm sure someone somewhere must have labeled sinful. I'm squirming in my seat at work just thinking about it...

Besides the exquisite taste, it also offers a bit of fun. It's coated in a black wax that is, in turn, wrapped in heavy paper or cloth that has what looks like an ancient map printed on it. When I realized that the lines were ships' rigging and lines of latitude and longitude, I started peeling off that outer wrapping and collecting the pieces from the wedges. So far, I've been able to piece together 4-5 bits into the larger material from which they were cut, but a lot of the bits are repeats, so I'm not sure there's a whole image to be assembled. The store never has more than a couple wedges in the refrigerated case, so not much selection. Still, it's a fun little game.

Favourite food

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid my preferences tend towards the direction of food that is either unhealthy and/or makes fat. *g*

Re: Favourite food

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me!
[public health self slaps me]

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

Favourite food: sometimes I just like something simple but great quality, like crusty bread, good butter and cheese. My local shop used to sell this French cheese made with truffle butter. Expensive - only for a rare treat - but delicious.

3 favorite fandoms meme

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

1. Name 3 of your most favourite fandoms.
This is hard. I rarely go to movies. My reading nowadays is mostly professional, rarely fic. Can't watch broadcast TV: digital converter box died. No cable. Online, I've been watching "Flashpoint," a cop show set in Canada, so they mostly solve things without shooting. Refreshing! But I have no desire to read its fanfic.

Lord of the Rings is my "serious" fandom. It's the one through which I discovered fanfic. And it introduced me to some wonderful people, including The Birthday Girl and many other lovely folks attending this party.

I've been reading a bit of fanfic for the 1988 remake of the American TV show Mission: Impossible. (NOT the movies. Tom Cruise = big turnoff!) It's my fluff fandom. I came across some episodes on YouTube and found a small fanfic group at Yahoo. I've promised to weave The Team into my Tolkfic spoof. (I've had TV "Miami Vice," so why not?) The challenge: Nicholas has to use a boomerang -- I promised the listmod.

I'm not following anything else right now and, lacking cable, haven't seen the sci-fi shows others like. I wasn't a big fan of Doctor Who back in the days of Jon Pertwee. I liked the first season of "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda," but then the show became "The Kevin Sorbo Hero Hour." Yawn.

2. Name one character of each fandom you particularly like. Tell us why.
LOTR: no one really jumps out -- it's such an ensemble piece. In the movies, I liked Sean Bean's Boromir: so concerned with honor and duty, so conflicted within that he could be seduced by The Ring, and yet able to realize the horror of what he'd done, sacrifice himself for the greater good and thus redeem his honor in death. Eomer is also intriguing: not one of The Nine, not immortal -- just a guy trying to deal with the crap Life has been dumping on his family and homeland. A leader himself, he's able to recognize the greater leader in Argorn and do what needs to be done for the good of M-E.

MI:1988: No deep characters here, but I like Nicholas best. He seems the most mature of the new team. He has a poise that the two younger men lack, but more vigor than Jim. Casey gets points as a competent woman, but I'd much rather spend an evening chatting with someone who teaches than with a fashion designer, and at the end of the evening, I want to go home with a guy...

Andromeda: This one's easy: Tyr Anasazi kept me watching long after all the other characters lost their depth (except Dylan who had no depth to lose). In the final season, Telemachus Rhade had promise, but needed better scriptwriters and quite likely, a better actor.

3. Name one character of each that you don't like. Tell us why.
LOTR: Merry and Pippin mostly me. I understand (I think) their significance as foils to emergent heroes Frodo and Sam. Still, seven Walkers would have been OK by me. But I haven't read the books in a couple decades, and I know PJ took some liberties (as one must always in making books into movies), so maybe I'm just ignorant.

MI:1988 - The team members aren't deep enough to be unlikable. Everyone has a sense of humor, and they all look out for each other.

Andromeda: Dylan Hunt was a real disappointment. He could have been a fascinating character in the hands of a good actor, at least in the first season or two, but -- maybe this a Rodenberry thing -- while he had a few flaws, he was always The Hero Doing Right in the end. Creators should not become too enamoured of the heroes they create.

4. If you can, recommend a piece of fanfic to each of those fandoms.
LOTR: anything by birthday girl Wiseheart!!! Also look for JastaElf, The Wild Iris, Cirdan Havens, Dís Thráinsdotter, Nerwen Calaelen, Jilba, Mirasaui, Altariel, Isabeau and... Oh, just go look at Gildor's Library (gildors_library at yahoo dot com), find folks whose work you like and then hunt up more of their stuff on FanFiction.net or use a search engine to find their websites.

MI:1988: Take a look at Aja Aron's stuff on FFN. There's a Yahoo group (mission_impossible_1988) -- just ask to join.

Andromeda: Probably some good stuff out there. I haven't really looked.

And now it's time for me to retire. Must be rested for the Grand Finale later today... whatver it may be!

Re: 3 favorite fandoms meme

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Boromir rocks. And so does Tyr Anasazi. Totally agree with you on the Dylan Hunt hate.

Merry and Pippin are actually responsible adults in The Books. At least Merry is, as Pippin isn't of age yet. But not even he is such an idiot comic relief as in the movies.

Re: Andromeda fanfic
Well, aside from the obvious (tries to look modest and fails miserably), I would recommend you The Recreation of the Warrior (http://www.anzwers.org/free/andromeda/fanfic/Mandyfic/warrior1.html) by Kit Mason. It's a great fic, with lots of Nietzschean cultural background, I think you'll like it.

The gratutious het scenes get a little boring sometimes, but you can always skip them. I also recommend browsing the website it's posted to, "Andromeda Uncovered". There are some interesting stories there, although no other that would be half this good,IMO.

Forget to add: Where men named Rhade are concerned, I vastly prever the original, Gaheris. Steve Bacic is a decent enough actor, I've seen it in many different roles - not an overwhelmingly genial one, but good, solid average. Rhade as a character would have needed a concept to begin with - I don't think the writers really knew what they wanted to do with him.

and another thing...

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

...I didn't even turn on my laptop while I was on vacation, so I still owe a new chapter in "Awful Mary-Sue." Does The Birthday Girl (or anyone else) have any requests?

Are we at page 6 yet?

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

I can't quite figure all this out...

I mean, Page 5

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

I can't count, either, it seems. However, it's possible that Wiseheart is waking up and finding all these lovely posts everyone has been putting up while she slept.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Re: I mean, Page 5

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Hehehe, thank you! We're not quite there yet, but two or three more first level comments and we might.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday! May the next year bring you lots of fun with the time and energy to enjoy it and less stress.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Good morning, dear wiseheart, and a very happy birthday to you!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks bunches! Also for sending such lovely people to the party.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Happy happy birthday from New Zealand, right around the corner from Rivendell!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :) It's nice to hear from you, after all this time. We tend to drift apart way too quickly, maneuvering between the pitfalls of real life, I find.

Rivendell, hm? How's Master Elrond doing?

[maglors-finch.livejournal.com]

The big day has arrived - congratulations time! As you have some Dutch, I'll do it in my native language: Van harte gefeliciteerd, Wijshart, en nog vele jaren, pagina's en commentaren!

Come on, folks! Only a few more comments until page 5!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Two more, if I'm not mistaken. Thank you for contributing, so far it has been a really fun party, with interesting converstions and delightful silliness. Not to mention great virtual food. *g*

[mraltariel.livejournal.com]

Mmmm. Pie! Happy Birthday!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Why, tank you! Have some more - or there's some Ischler biscuits, they're delicious, too. Filled with red current jam and covered in dark chocolate icing.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

And happy birthday again for the day itself! I hope your birthday is full of delight.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, it is a Saturday, which means no work, the weather is pleasant, and I've baked the pie and the biscuits in advance, so yeah, it's fine, just fine.:)

Thanks for dropping in!