tis the season to be jolly

Things I Am Not Doing

I do not, per se, resent the UK, so much as Harrods, for having Maxwell, the 2009 Christmas Bear right there, and then charging shipping higher than the price of four bears.

Yes, fine, I am an obsessive Christmas bear person, and I am only ashamed of this when it's not the season of craziness. In scarier news, somehow, it is still more expensive to buy it from ebay. Yes, I did check (in several countries of ebays). I am that kind of a person. svmadelyn promised to find me an appropriate bear in Chicago, but I am just saying, Harrods, why do you hate me? Why?

(He has a friend, Rufus! And a Christmas Westie! A Christmas Westie. Oh my God, that is just cruel.)

See ETA

Things I Am Doing



Child's and a few of my friends' Christmas presents are about done. All that's left is my parents, Niece One, how we will do my sisters (I think we do a pick-a-person thing amongst us, instead of one each), and my baby niece/nephew. After talking to Mom, she is getting them a bouncy horse, I'll get them the pedal firetruck, and then individually we'll get them some books (or small toys). Since they're so close in age and my sisters trade off the books, we can get a nice range of different ones so they can switch off, which means they'll probably at some point have the entire collection of Dr. Seuss between them.

(Still no idea with Niece One. Books, of course, I am that kind of an aunt, but at eight, that's not something she will appreciate now and I get that. I didn't hit my reading kink until fourth grade, and it didn't take off into a lifestyle choice until fifth, but man, did I appreciate all those years of books waiting for me by that time. Let's say the garage is still mostly books that we cannot make ourselves let go of. Like, ever.)

That means only one large purchase next month, since my parents put strict limits on what we're allowed to buy for them after the year me and my sisters did this thing with appliances and all of us have a habit of buying them vaccuums and computers and software and books and origami and tools and things during the year for no particular reason.

All of us have a shopping addiction, and most of us handle it by buying for other people. I do not say it is healthy; I am saying it is fun. I think the difficulties of our childhood come out in this; we're really, really overkillers in Christmas presents. And for that matter, any presents. It's still very weird for my parents, my sister, and me to really get we are financially stable for all intents and purposes, and that we're not hovering on the line of disaster with every month of our lives. And for me and Middle Sister, it's--I don't know. It's not so much giving the children what we didn't have (my parents were really determined that Christmas was the time of year that budgets did not matter), but passing on that giving to others is an act of joy, and to make some else happy is the best thing you can do. And they all get that, I think. They practice it every day.



Things I Have Done

Trekfic went to beta last night (and all three four betas do not hate me despite the fact I do not think they signed up for what they ended up with). With the exception of the epilogue, which doesn't do more than wrap up, it's complete. I seriously, seriously cannot believe it's done. I also sent my character notes, because it will make them laugh.

....seriously. Five months. But honestly, I didn't know if I'd ever finish. So you know, that's kind of awesome.

Pony

Still do not have one, but oddly, today, I do not mind.

ETA: Okay, the thing is, it did not occur to me to just ask someone on my flist. I mean, I even asked two people on AIM if they knew anyone going to London. For reasons beyond my understanding, I didn't think to, you know, check with the native residents. I--blame Trek. I am going with that. *blank* Thank you, syllic and clo.

*facepalm* God. This is Spock's fault, I can feel it.

ETA 2:

And someone sent me a pony. *falls over* My lesson for the day? People here are rather awesome.

ETA 3:

Two links from comments that I really feel need to be shared.

feanna shared this. Just--okay, seriously. Check out the dancing bear. And click on teh cellphone. FURTHER INFORMATION FROM FEANNA: The bear is dancing the Macarena here.

ladyholder shared Clash of the Titans trailer. This looks epic. *glee*

Comments

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Why don't you find a friend in the UK to get you UK stuff and you could them get US stuff?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

...because it literally did not occur to me while hating on Harrods?

I don't even know. I feel this is one of those obvious is obvious moments that is passing me by. Can we blame Trek for this?

[amireal.livejournal.com]

She actually asked if I wanted to you know, make a trip to England, for the fun and bears! It's amazing how her brains work.

[syllic.livejournal.com]

Uh. Yes. What archaeologist_d said above. Would you like me to pick up one (or more) of these for you and stuff it (carefully) in a reasonably-priced-postage box before sending it your way?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

....seriously? *blank* Yes. Please. I'll even stop making a I Hate Harrods For Not Letting Me Have That Awesome Bear T-shirt in honor of you.

I really did not think of this solution, sadly enough. I was staring at ebay resentfully. Can I paypal you? *hopeful*

[clo.livejournal.com]

I was beaten to it in my offering to get you a Christmas bear. Damn. Thought it'd be a nice way to say thank you for the years of squee you've given me with your fic (Sleep While I Drive is still my favourite thing on the entire internet). The offer stands if you want the bears or anything from Harrods since that's while I'll be next week. I'd love to return even a little bit of the squee. :)

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*blushing* Okay, the sad part is, I did not think of asking my flist. *facepalm* And thank you very much!

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

*g*

This post made me grin.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*curls up in small, moody ball* So I am not quick with the thinking today.

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

I've said it before and I will say it again, reading your posts about your life are always smile worthy.

This one got a grin.

I'll be looking forward to the Trek work, if only because you have written it.

~L

P.S. The bear is indeed darling and I can understand why you want it so badly. :)

[seperis.livejournal.com]

HE IS ADORABLE. And thank you! *grins*

[jazzy-peaches.livejournal.com]

and all three betas do not hate me despite the fact I do not think they signed up for what they ended up with

IDK, I signed up for awesome and that's exactly what I got. ;)

[seperis.livejournal.com]

My highest hope was no one would email back saying "What the hell, one hundred thousand words? Are you kidding? YOU DID NOT WARN FOR THIS."

*sends huge hugs* I seriously appreciate it. That's--a lot of fic to beta, and I'm still correcting from teh earlier betas. Which are not entirely reflected in the draft, but I still have them, so if you remember already commenting once on something, you can skip over it.

[feanna.livejournal.com]

http://www.weihnachtsbaer.de/

Click on the cell phone and look through the windows and... yeah, I don't know what to say, except that you made me google Weihnachtsbär (christmas bear) and this it where it got me.
(I hope it works from other countries)

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Yes, it works.

*bookmarks* The bear is dancing. *falls over* This is awesome! Thanks for the link!

[shinetheway.livejournal.com]

You know, if I told you that this was exactly what I signed up for, that would mean that I knew this was where it would end up when you started five months ago. So, the real question is, would you hate ME? [grins]

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*whimpers* I was thinking 50K at most. FIFTY.

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

See, I would have got one for you, but I'd have charged you the postage so I could buy a bear for myself...

[seperis.livejournal.com]

HE IS ADORABLE. *looks at bear happily* And buy one get one half-price? My God.

[akacat]

Hah, I'm going to London next weekend, and am actually planning to go to Harrod's! (If my broken foot allows me to.)

But I'm glad you found a native to help you out -- I won't be getting anywhere near a post office on a weekday, so Max would have had to travel 2 weeks in my suitcase.

....of course, I may end up getting one for myself, now. :-P

[seperis.livejournal.com]

The bear is that aweseome. And buy one get one half price! IT IS SO ADORABLE.

[ranalore.livejournal.com]

Oooh, PUPPY!

...Yes, yes, we all have our priorities.

Also, I do not even know what happened in that "Clash of the Titans" trailer. I feel this is only to the good.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*Grins* Priorities are awesome.

I want to see this. I really am not sure I care about the plot, but wow, the fighting.

[devildoll.livejournal.com]

I just got back from riding my pony.

YEAH THAT'S RIGHT I'M RUBBING IT IN.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*sniffs* RUB IT IN.

But do you have Poor Clare Nun raised miniature horses (http://www.monasteryminiaturehorses.com/)? I am just saying there is tiny tack for them. God, why did no one give me that career option in elementary school?

[raphaela667.livejournal.com]

New Trekfic from you? I am very excited about this. I'm sorry it sounds like it was a bitch to write, though :(

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I feel worst for my betas. God knows what horror I just threw at them to fix. *g* Thank you!

[puckling.livejournal.com]

Trek fic is coming, bear is arranged, life seems good. *nods happily*

but passing on that giving to others is an act of joy, and to make some else happy is the best thing you can do

Also, I agree with this wholeheartedly.

[rainey-creek.livejournal.com]

The bears are super cute, and I'm glad helpful people found a solution so you can get them, but I'm really excited for the ginormous and wonderful Star Trek story!

[clancy-s.livejournal.com]

Massive trekfic looming for the holidays? Wonderful!

Do we hangers on get a chance to look at the character notes too? I love that sort of thing.

[grey-bard.livejournal.com]

More Seperis Trekfic? Seriously? I can hardly wait! So, this is going to be soon, right?

(eager)

[sexybee.livejournal.com]

I would offer to send you a Steiff bear from Germany (as I walked past a Steiff shop tonight), but you can get them back in the states.

[sdlucly.livejournal.com]

Just so this doesn't, like, totally comes out from left field and stuff. I found your Star Trek stories (You'll get there in the end) then figured I should check if you wrote anything else, and then I thought I should check out all your entries, and so I saw this one about the bear.

My god, that bear is way too beautiful for words. I hate that company right about now. Also, my boyfriend lives in Spain right now, and I've noticed that they ship to Spain like it's just around the corner (it kinda is), so maybe he could buy it for you and then ship it over to you and you could send him the money? *shrugs* I'd do it but I live way on the other side of the world, and he's just much closer. *g* Thought I'd mention it.