Post-Christmas Stuff

These things I got for Christmas:

Muse-Absolution
Snow Patrol-Eyes Open
Imogen Heap-I-Megaphone
Phantom of the Opera
Dog pajamas
Three boxes of biscotti
Socks
Money for a bra
Snow Patrol-Eyes Open (yes, got that one twice)
Walmart $20 gift card

What I still haven't gotten but I have been assured I WILL receive in future:

Snow Patrol-Final Straw (I'm trading Eyes Open for it)
Muse-Showbiz (Mum lost it someplace)
A ring that Mum bought for me two weeks ago and I have seen hide nor hair of since. She lost it someplace. It'll turn up.

Also got to see David Tennant in Hamlet last night. All I can say is "guh", and "Oh my LORD he's done it AGAIN!" because, of course, he's amazing and it was bloody wonderful stuff to watch.

The only bad bit was that he died at the end (of course), and he's gonna die again as a different character later this week, and apart from Michael Shanks from Stargate (whose character descriptions include dying/getting bashed every five and a half minutes) I don't believe I've watched somebody die in two separate acting jobs in the same week.

So, good play all around. Better BY FAR than the Mel Gibson version (the Freudian bits when he almost-rapes Glenn Close as Gertrude nearly blinded me for life), better BY HALF than the Derek Jacobi version (too old to play the part but Patrick Stewart's first go as Claudius was divine), and VERY MUCH BETTER than the Laurence Olivier version (ditto on the too old to do Hamlet. It made him look somewhat like a pervert when he snuggled up to Ophelia, who looked all of about 15.)

So, I'm very glad I got to see it at last. It was worth the wait. It's supposed to air in February on PBS here in the States, and if you can sit through three hours of Shakespearean dialogue, DO IT. I don't usually tell people what to do on this blog, but this was something to BEHOLD.

So I ask. I plead. I cajole. I beg you to do it. Watch this thing. It was so awesome I might have to sit down and watch it again in the next week (it IS three hours and I do need time between watchings.) Hope to God they put it out on DVD here, because then I'll have something coming next birthday or Christmas (I'm buying it.)

Not much else going on. Whisper's healing fine from her surgery (stitches out on Wednesday.) I actually can't move my chair right now without disturbing her sleep.

Ta,
Bec

Almond Joy Cookies and No Bloody Compliments.

The dog is at the vets. No report to here yet-either they got a late start or she's fine and coming home in a while.

I've made my Almond Joy Cookies again, but nobody around HERE apparently appreciates my efforts because I haven't received a thank you or a congratulations or anything. Not one damn compliment. Last time I make these for those two ungrateful saps. Those cookies require a lot of effort when it comes to chopping the nuts and when it comes to stirring the stuff in. I deserve some respect for the work I've done.

Nothing much else going on, save that I'm attempting to sign up for classes online and have hit roadblock after roadblock. I'm planning to go down to the actual campus in June-this gives me time to get down there and settle in over the summer months.

That reminds me-gotta contact Residence Life or whatever equivalent they have down NCCU way. Probably will do it after hols.

Ta,
Bec

PS: Whisper's home and sore. She can't seem to figure out what she's doing right now-a little confused and a little exhausted. We're going to have to keep her from bouncing up every time the TV does something she likes...

Muse Were Awesome

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 4
Tenth Doctor's Death: 11

Despite Matt's apparently recent breakup with his longtime girlfriend in the last week, he still managed to belt out very lovely versions of Uprising and Starlight, with the help of Dom and Chris, of course. Ever the consummate professionals, my Muse, and I understand the swapping off of Undisclosed for Starlight, seeing as Undisclosed is an extremely personal song about the now EX girlfriend and I can understand the emotions it entails right now. Although Starlight is also about them, it's a little less of an emotional song for him. And it just fits better with Christmas.

So on with Christmas week. Wednesday is Whisper's surgery day. Thursday is Christmas Eve, Friday is Christmas Day. The Tenth Doctor starts his downward spiral towards death on Friday (GASP! CRY! SOB!), and Tennant's Hamlet premieres on Saturday (I'm rubbing my hands together with glee for this one.)

It's going to be a busy week y'all.

Ta,
Bec

Dragon Release Day! Muse on SNL Day!

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 5
Tenth Doctor's Death: 12
Muse Play SNL: 0
Sparky Attacks Camelot: 0

Yes, the dragon has been released as of last week, but it's this week when we get to see him burn up Camelot into cinders and smoke.

POOFKA! Series 2 ends with Camelot on fire!

And it's tonight when Muse play SNL. Yay! I'll have to tape it, but no matter. I'll watch it tomorrow after everything gets over.

Ta,
Bec

MERLIN SPOILERS





PS: Well, the season is over. Gwen didn't leave. Arthur thinks he murdered the dragon, but the really awesome powers Merlin got from Daddy Balinor when he died meant that he sent the dragon off and told him to play nice.

Merlin's a Dragonlord. Ooh. That looks really cool next to his name. And did I mention that Colin Morgan looks even more gorgeous than usual with his eyes full of tears? And that Bradley James looks good covered in the soot of his burning kingdom?

They didn't look for Excalibur like someone said they would, so I don't know where that comes in now because the season is OVER.

Morgana was nowhere in sight and probably won't be for a long while.

This is it, folks. No episode next week (that's going to take some getting used to.)

For Those Who Were Asking...

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 6
Tenth Doctor's Death: 13
Muse Play SNL: 1
Sparky Attacks Camelot: 1

I got in to North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. It's a mostly African-American college (doesn't bother me, but it's an interesting detail.)

I don't know when I'm going. Two weeks is such a short time to plan a move to a state where I don't know anyone and don't have anywhere to live. I might try to get in in summer or even in fall, meaning anything I spent would fall under FAFSA but I'd have to pay back loans for a while if I got a job.

So we'll see. I'm waiting on a couple of e-mails and then I'll know more about the situation.

Oh, and I apologize for saying Merlin was ending today. I obviously was exhausted and MEANT tomorrow because today is Friday and Merlin airs on Saturdays. My bad.

Ta,
Bec

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 7
Tenth Doctor's Death: 14
Muse Play SNL: 2
Sparky Attacks Camelot: 2

I got in!

I got in!

I got in!

I got in!


Ta,
Bec

PS: Yes, I got in...and they want me down there on the 6TH of JANUARY. This may prove nearly impossible to do. We'll see.

As a plus, Merlin ends tomorrow. We'll see what happens to that stupid talking dragon...

Losing Patience

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 8
Tenth Doctor's Death: 15
Muse Play SNL: 3
Sparky Attacks Camelot: 3

No, I don't know and no, I don't know when I'll know. It's a terribly frustrating and annoying situation that A) isn't my fault and B) I have no power to resolve save by nagging someone who isn't making the decision in the first place.

I am thinking I should call Eau Claire and tell them I don't have a job yet so that my loans don't come due on me.

SIGH.

Ta,
Bec

PS: NOTHING.

I'm Waiting. Again.

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 9
Tenth Doctor's Death: 16
Muse Play SNL: 4
Sparky Attacks Camelot: 4

Nothing yet.

It's 9:30. I should be doing something significant right now. Like not sitting here, repeatedly clicking my inbox.

I ate. Got Mom something because she doesn't eat good stuff in the morning unless I push the issue. Did the dishes (keep that one a secret-Mum hasn't figured that out yet, although she's gonna in about two minutes). Clicked my inbox a dozen times. Sang along to a bunch of Imogen Heap songs (I'm working on my high notes. Laaaaa!) Clicked my inbox a dozen more times...all with the same damn result. Nada. Zilcho. Nein.

So.

I'm bored.

15 minutes later and still nothing at all. Wonder if these people have a clue how much of my future is hinged on them actually making up their minds before CHRISTMAS?

This is gonna be a long day.

Ta,
Bec

PS: 12:15 and still nothing. Grandma needs help lifting stuff today so we'll see if the e-mail arrives while I'm busy not paying attention.

Waiting, Waiting. I Might Just Go Mad With Waiting...

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 10
Tenth Doctor's Death: 17
Muse Play SNL: 5
Sparky Attacks Camelot: 5

Half an hour till the mail comes.

Half an hour till the mail comes.

Impatient.

Impatient.

Impatient.

Half an hour and it might all be over.

Or not.

But I hope it will be.

Been waiting all weekend.

Doesn't seem half-FAIR that they'd make me WAIT anymore...

But here I am. Half an hour till the post arrives. Have Elvis' Blue Christmas stuck in my head (no idea why.) Haven't bothered to get dressed yet.

15 minutes!

So, busy. Will go down soon.

Mum went. Still busy...

NOTHING. NOTHING!

AGGGH!

Ta,
Bec

PS: Having e-mailed the poor beleaguered woman who's been fielding my e-mails all this last week (e-mails that increase in panic with every day that passes by), she forwarded me an e-mail that basically begged the Dean of the college to get a move on with mine (and others) applications.

So nothing yet. Nothing in the mail tomorrow. But possibly an e-mail. Maybe.

Sunday Before An Answer Arrives?

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 11
Tenth Doctor's Death: 18
Muse Play SNL: 6
Sparky Attacks Camelot: 6

Hopefully tomorrow there will be an answer to the ultimate question: Am I a Master's student or not?

Not much else going on- I can barely type because my fingers are so cold, so I'm going to go warm up in the bathtub.

Ta,
Bec

Well THAT Was Unexpected...

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 12
Tenth Doctor's Death: 19
Muse Play SNL: 7
The Great Dragon (A.K.A. Sparky) Attacks Camelot: 7

MERLIN POST-MORTEM EPISODE 12.

DON'T WANNA KNOW, DON'T LOOK.





SPOILER LINE





We found out nothing about Morgause or Morgana's family tonight. Damn. My family tree stands in place a little while longer.

Instead we saw Merlin's relationship with Morgana go down forever and ever AY-MEN. There ain't no returning from giving Morgana hemlock in the waterskin...

Apparently seeing as Morgana was patient zero to Morgause's little sleeping sickness that knocked out the entire city, that meant that Merlin had to KILL the source, or risk losing everything in Camelot including his own life. Merlin POISONED water with hemlock and gave it to Morgana. Morgana realized it and was looking at Merlin like she couldn't believe he'd done that to her (who wouldn't?)

Morgause found out, and was pretty upset. She made a deal with Merlin that if she stopped her big marching 300 year old immortal knights that he'd tell her what poison he'd given Morgana. Morgause breaks the enchantment, and the knights go down in heaps of armor. Morgause tornadoes out of the throne room (Merlin's gotta learn to do that spell) with Morgana in her arms.

And Merlin let Sparky off his leash. So that's happening. Silly boy swore on his mother's life that he'd let the dragon go. So there wasn't really an out seeing as we all know Merlin's a momma's boy and would rather die himself than watch Hunith take the blow.

I have no clue if Morgana will be back next year (probably a no.) The minute Morgause gets a chance she's going to tell Morgana who she is and help her with her powers and stuff.

I have said many a time before in this blog that Morgana wouldn't be able to stay very long in Camelot without getting into trouble, especially given who she is (and her constant hatred of Uther, everything he stands for, and apparently her love of wandering around in the woods meeting strange people in cloaks.) I'm amazed, however, that her little treasonous butt got taken out in this season (I was almost certain it'd be next year. Oh well.)

She's gone to live with her half-sis. Knew that would happen eventually.

Unfortunately, Morgana's sudden departure into the arms of family (no pun intended) means that Gwen is out of a job. No longer a maidservant...but where will she go? She's supposed to DEPART. Only one episode left to DEPART in.

I suspect Camelot getting smashed into bits next episode means she doesn't have a place to live either, even though Arthur promised it to her as long as she lived last year (well, he didn't see the dragon coming out and smashing up the place into cinders, now did he?) and so she has to leave town on the back of a horse driven by Lancelot (why does HE keep sneaking into the picture? God only knows.)

Now here's a revision on the thirteen ways (cut neatly down to...10 and a HALF.) Anything in italics has been ruled out...meaning anything to do with Morgana.

1. Uther dies. (Ha. Not till the end of the show, darlings. But the dragon's probably pretty pissed at him so he'd better be hiding in the dungeons way, way, WAY under the castle.)

2. Arthur dies. (Double ha. They aren't going to kill the future king of Camelot. FORGET IT. They tried it last year and thanks to fourteen other people lining up to die in his place (that'd be because he's so HANDSOME even when he's dying), he ducked sailing off to Avalon. Again.)

3. Merlin dies. (Oh, BEYOND ha. Like they're going to kill the character the show is NAMED after?)

4. Gaius kicks it (a high possibility. He's been aiming for it for practically the entire show.)

5. Morgana dies (Enh. Probably not. Unless she rises from the dead as an eeeevil character)

6. Gwen (nah. Arthur's too attached to her to let her really die. And he has to marry the woman so they can't kill her off.)

7. Merlin's magic gets revealed. (OK, this could happen, and it would mean that Bradley James lied to all of us when he said he wished this scene would happen "someday," meaning not in Series 2. But I'd forgive him if this happened at the last minute. Probably.)

8. Morgana and Gwen leave town. (Yeah, maybe. It'd explain Gwen leaving, anyway.)

9. Morgana's magic is revealed (Mm, probably not. She has practically no control over it right now (see bedcurtains and window glass, episode 3) and can't really MAKE it go without being asleep in bed so that's probably not going to happen.)

10. Lancelot shows up and takes Gwen with him (possibly due to Arthur's loving influence telling her to get out of town before she gets smushed beneath the dragon's big nasty claws?) (Interesting, interesting...)

11. That guy that knows so darn much about Merlin dies. (Yeah, and his final words send Merlin off on some freakin' goosechase for next series to some faraway place with lollipops and Velcro.)

12. Some character looks like they're going to die/gets apparently mortally wounded at the last minute and in S3 will survive the wound SOMEHOW. (This is the most likely of all. Come on. They stick somebody with a sword/arrow/part of the wall/dragon claws and we get to see the horrified pain and fear on their faces (and everyone else's) as they drop in slo-mo to the ground. And END SERIES! HA! Do they make it? Do they not? Do they turn into a tree, a bird, a fish, or a marsupial?)

13. They just bloody END the series in the middle of nowhere and leave the other half for next year. Or they leave it as the castle gets smashed to teeny, tiny bits of marble and stone. Oh, Cornelius Sigan should have just let the damn dragon tear up the castle and it would have destroyed Camelot nice and thoroughly.

STILL. WAITING.

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 13
Tenth Doctor's Death: 20
Muse Play SNL: 8
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 8

STILL no answer from NCCU. I have no idea when or where from the answer will come. I have no idea if it will be a yes or a no. All I know is that I am tired of waiting.

There's nothing much else to say at the moment. Spritey got loose today out in the snow and 17 degree weather.

I went out once and shouted for her.

Went out again. Walked farther along the trail and still didn't hear her, see her, or anything else. Was having trouble with my lungs thanks to running all over and since my WET hair had frozen into place figured it was time to go back to the house.

Decided to try again after about 10 minutes of recovery and warmup time, and finally heard her loud barking in one part of the woods. Ran towards the noise and shouted her name the whole time I was fording through two feet of snow. Tripped and nearly broke my kneecap. Finally came up to her, she spotted me.

She started WADING towards me (short legs and deep snow mean she was swimming in the stuff,) and it was pretty clear she was exhausted from all the activity, so when she got to me I clipped her on the leash I had with me, picked her wet and cold ass up, and started to haul her back to the trail. I tripped again with her in my arms and nearly broke my kneecaps a second time, but we both made it home mostly in one piece. I dried her off with a towel and she got shouted at (a little bit) by both parents when they got home.

The only issue I have is that my knees were painful to begin with and now I have some LOVELY bruises to show for it.

Spritey has been trying to sleep all afternoon to get all the energy back she expended during her half-hour outside.

I'm tired after that long description, so I'm going to bed.

Ta,
Bec

Still Waiting...

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 15
Tenth Doctor's Death: 22
Muse Play SNL: 10
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 10
I Go Mad: Mom bought this stupid plug-in Christmas ornament that makes obscene noises like the Death Star (come to think of it, it looks like the Death Star, too.) Why she bought the stupid thing is beyond me-I find it just plain annoying as hell.

No answer yet on NCCU. Not that I'm impatient. No way. Not me.

Wrote a Merlin fanfic yesterday that turned out bloody brilliant. Here's the link:

http://merlinfic.dtwins.co.uk/viewstory.php?sid=327&chapter=1

PS: Should know today. But don't trust that because I said that yesterday. Let me rephrase that: I MIGHT, POSSIBLY know today, but don't count on it.

PPS: I am bloody miserable. They haven't answered. About all I'm doing is complaining and clicking endlessly on the e-mail. I'm dying here...

Triple-P S: Today is not my lucky day. No answer. I told you not to count on it.

AH-HA!

MERLIN STUFF!

HEE HEE!

Morgana finds out who she's related to this week. There's pictures of Morgause and Morgana having what can only be neatly termed as a "moment." I assume Morgana's origins will become very much clearer and I'll get to find out if that family tree was right or if I was just whistling in the dark.

Is it possible Morgause is about to bite the dust? Why on earth would Morgana find out now? Is it because she just figured out last week how much she hates Uther and they're just making it all the deeper this week? If Morgause IS about to die, then who kills her (Merlin? Morgana?) Or maybe they'll just keep her around for next season and have Morgana running off to hang out with her (like I didn't see that one coming.)

Those freaky knights with the Imhotep masks probably grab her up and haul her off to the woods (she's spending a hell of a lot of time in the trees this year. She keeps it up and they'll start calling her Le Fay.) She gets to meet some family. Fun! I just hope she doesn't find out about Uther hiding it from her or he's liable to get burned by Morgana...literally.

Well, that sets up Morgana for a really awesome fall from grace...like she wasn't already trying to do that this year. I wonder when and if the dragon will be loosed from his chains...

Here's the scenarios I came up with:

Uther, Arthur, Gaius, Gwen: Two of these people (Arthur, Gwen) probably know the dragon is down there but wouldn't have a reason to let it go. Uther never would, as he's the one who chained the thing up in the first place. Gaius has already heard the prediction Merlin saw in the crystal, and since he isn't on good terms with the dragon anyway I can't see him being driven to let it go.

Merlin: Knows about the dragon, knows his motives, made the deal in the first place, knows what's coming thanks to that stupid crystal, and is continually being telepathically yelled at to keep his promise and let the dragon go. If Merlin lets the dragon go, it will either be under a broken promise that the thing won't smash up Camelot or under severe duress/hypnosis of some kind. He won't do it unless he's pushed to the breaking point to do it.

Morgana: Hasn't visited yet, but I saw the shot of her standing in front of the dragon's cave in the green robe. Suspect it's coming in 12. I betcha she's going to feel sorry for the beast and since he can't get Merlin to do his release papers, he'll get her to do it. She doesn't know he's a manipulative pain-in-the-rear, but she should be able to hear him shouting at Merlin...

Morgause: She probably knows the dragon's down there, but she'd be better off sending Morgana to do the job. It would take a lot less time than zipping around inside the castle doing dangerous and deadly spells just to get down to the dragon's cave. She could get caught, and don't think for a moment Uther would spare her life if she got caught sneaking around his domain.

That's my theories on the topic. Feel free to write me!

Ta,
Bec

Waiting...

Days till (now I've gone and corrected my numbers again...):
Christmas Eve: 16
Tenth Doctor's Death: 23
Muse Play SNL: 11
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 11
I Go Mad: I'm really starting to hate these sappy Christmas commercials.

Nothing on earth is going to stop me from checking my e-mail a billion times today.

Nothing.

We're supposed to have a snowstorm today. Yay. Mom and me turned into little weather beacons-we were both aching like hell when we got up this morning. My rib on the left side has decided screaming is the best way to go today.

Oh, sorry. That's the RIGHT side rib. I can't even tell the difference when I'm TYPING.

I'm probably going to go take a bath just because I can't just SIT here on the computer and brood all day.

I'll let you know as soon as I know, guys. I'm trying not to think about it.

Ta,
Bec

PS: It appears there will be no answer today. Guess I'll get it through the mail in a couple of days.

Tomorrow...

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 18
Tenth Doctor's Death: 23
Muse Play SNL: 11
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 10
I Go Mad: I should really go argue with my characters again.

I called NCCU today (college I applied to). The nice woman there let me know that the decision will be made tomorrow, and she offered to send me an e-mail with the answer.

Yikes.

Today was exhausting. I found myself rough-voiced and coughing after singing again tonight. Dunno what this is about-I suspect it's mild asthma like my doctor said. Dunno why I popped up with it at 23 and not sooner, but oh well.

When I actually get some decent money I'll get it checked out, but for now it only bothers me when I work my lungs too hard-mostly singing or running. If it gets worse, I'll probably wind up at the doctor anyway because breathing is sort of important.

SO, after tomorrow I will know for sure.

Ta,
Bec

Not Much To Say

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 19
Tenth Doctor's Death: 26
Muse Play SNL: 12
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 13
I Go Mad: Been there, done that, ate the pie that came with it...





I've decided Morgana probably lets the stupid dragon out.

I have a lot of work to do with my writing and I don't seem to be getting anyplace. Round and round and round we go...

Nothing else to really say-I have a headache, I'm tired, and I'm going to bed.

Ta,
Bec

Merlin Post-Mortem Episode 11

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 20
Tenth Doctor's Death: 27
Muse Play SNL: 13
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 14
I Go Mad: Definitely a past thing...


SPOILER LINE







Morgana: Her big episode, besides 3 this year, is going to be Numero 11. I assume this is the episode where Morgana's irrepairable break from Uther comes in, and the beginning of the end of her friendship with Gwen. She's going to align with Mordred and with those who would see magic restored to Camelot...but NOT with Merlin, who would also see magic restored to the kingdom but not at the prices Morgana and Mordred will eventually be willing to pay.

I was right on all counts here, although this was an easy one. Morgana made a HUGE shift to the fanatical side...and Uther knows about it, and Merlin, and Gaius, but NOT a sadly oblivious Arthur and Gwen.

Uther, however, is still hurting over the sudden change in her, as she finally got fed up with his tyrant-y ways and told him to go to hell. He spared her, not having any evidence to A) kick her out of the castle or B) kick her out of living in general, but her movements are going to be watched and she will be under suspicion. She has set herself up neatly as Uther's enemy, something I personally wouldn't want to be if I was living at his behest, his sparing mercy, and in his castle. She was actually in a better position when she wasn't constantly mad at him.

BUT I get the deep and meaningful significance of their last argument-she was spitting at him in rage, calling him names and such. He was kind of in shock but treating her like a little girl again, telling her to go to her chambers. Morgana spun round, not a little girl anymore, but a woman finally knowing what side she was on, and said, "And you can go to hell."

Morgana is who she is, and whether Alvarr's love for her is real or fake SHE believes she loves him. Mordred has become well and truly pissed with Merlin, who is regretting not killing the little leech last year. And he knows that letting the Great Dragon out of the basement is NOT in Camelot's best interests, despite the nagging 30 foot telepathic beastie shouting in his head (he ain't gonna sleep for the entire span of the next episode, is he?)

Not much else to say-this one was very straightforward and got to the point.

Ta,
Bec

Thirteen Ways...

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 21
Tenth Doctor's Death: 28
Muse Play SNL: 14
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 15
I Go Mad: Forget it. Happened a long time ago...

Hello, all. I have gotten nothing done today and wish I had. I should do something besides sit here and THINK.

Having figured out I'm overdosing on Merlin slash fics (if you know what that is don't tell my mother.) Tomorrow I will try to read NONE (good luck there.)

Having heard that there's a possibility that the end of this series of Merlin could end in a cliffhanger, I have thought of thirteen ways this series could end. Or leave me screaming bloody murder at the end of the last episode because it's 9 MONTHS till we get a straight answer.

Bear with me-some of these are so stupid I could cry.






SPOILER LINE


1. Uther dies. (Ha. Not till the end of the show, darlings. But the dragon's probably pretty pissed at him so he'd better be hiding in the dungeons way, way, WAY under the castle.)

2. Arthur dies. (Double ha. They aren't going to kill the future king of Camelot. FORGET IT. They tried it last year and thanks to fourteen other people lining up to die in his place (that'd be because he's so HANDSOME even when he's dying), he ducked sailing off to Avalon. Again.)

3. Merlin dies. (Oh, BEYOND ha. Like they're going to kill the character the show is NAMED after?)

4. Gaius kicks it (a high possibility. He's been aiming for it for practically the entire show.)

5. Morgana dies (Enh. Probably not. Unless she rises from the dead as an eeeevil character)

6. Gwen (nah. Arthur's too attached to her to let her really die. And he has to marry the woman so they can't kill her off.)

7. Merlin's magic gets revealed. (OK, this could happen, and it would mean that Bradley James lied to all of us when he said he wished this scene would happen "someday," meaning not in Series 2. But I'd forgive him if this happened at the last minute. Probably.)

8. Morgana and Gwen leave town. (Yeah, maybe. It'd explain Gwen leaving, anyway.)

9. Morgana's magic is revealed (Mm, probably not. She has practically no control over it right now (see bedcurtains and window glass, episode 3) and can't really MAKE it go without being asleep in bed so that's probably not going to happen.)

10. Lancelot shows up and takes Gwen with him (possibly due to Arthur's loving influence telling her to get out of town before she gets smushed beneath the dragon's big nasty claws?) (Interesting, interesting...)

11. That guy that knows so darn much about Merlin dies. (Yeah, and his final words send Merlin off on some freakin' goosechase for next series to some faraway place with lollipops and Velcro.)

12. Some character looks like they're going to die/gets apparently mortally wounded at the last minute and in S3 will survive the wound SOMEHOW. (This is the most likely of all. Come on. They stick somebody with a sword/arrow/part of the wall/dragon claws and we get to see the horrified pain and fear on their faces (and everyone else's) as they drop in slo-mo to the ground. And END SERIES! HA! Do they make it? Do they not? Do they turn into a tree, a bird, a fish, or a marsupial?)

13. They just bloody END the series in the middle of nowhere and leave the other half for next year. Or they leave it as the castle gets smashed to teeny, tiny bits of marble and stone. Oh, Cornelius Sigan should have just let the damn dragon tear up the castle and it would have destroyed Camelot nice and thoroughly.

The only thing I'm (fairly) certain of is that that STUPID, MANIPULATIVE, PAIN-IN-THE-ASS dragon is going to DIE. Love to know how they'll get the body out of Camelot. Dragon steaks for all! Bar-bee-Q!

And I've got it narrowed UP to THREE on who let the dragon out (I tossed in Morgause while you weren't looking.) Gaius isn't that stupid, Morgana barely knows the thing, Merlin would be a total doof to let that thing out (Note that he's the one who made the promise in the first place but he didn't say WHEN either) and Morgause could sneak in through the bad castle security and break off his chains. Otherwise she sneaks into the caverns another way.

Two weeks from tomorrow. I'm starting to get all tingly!

Ta,
Bec

3rd Series of Merlin!

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 22
Tenth Doctor's Death: 29
Muse Play SNL: 15
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 16
I Go Mad: -4
Merlin Series 3: 10 Months. Oh the waiting will be long but the rewards will be beautiful, namely in heaps more of Colin Morgan's cheekbones and Bradley James in all of his Arthur-i-ness swinging around a sword IN. A. CHAINMAIL. HOODIE...

Oh, dear.

I am hopeless.

It was confirmed yesterday by Merlin and Arthur...oh, sorry-Colin and Bradley-that there's going to be a third series.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

(Screamed bloody murder, jumped about the room like an idiot, and finished by falling off a table while dancing a jig)

What a Christmas present, knowing that next September there will be more of this stuff for me to go crazy over. Which is all right and fine with ME, but I feel sorry for everyone else having to put up with me.

Well, that's settled. Now I have to go get the mail before the good news starts running out.

Ta,
Bec

Prince Within Getting Confused

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 23
Tenth Doctor's Death: 30
Muse Play SNL: 16
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 17
I Go Mad: -3

But the real problem is: His AUTHOR is confused.

See, I started doing something different with the writing on this part (have written most of the 2nd portion and got bored, so I'm working on the first again.) Instead of sitting down and writing a set section of work, I decided-nah. I'll just write a bunch of stuff down and see where it goes. Flow of consciousness. Thought process. Psychological mumbo-jumbo that might help me get SOMETHING down even if it wasn't useful.

That has backfired. Immeasurably. In a way I didn't see coming AT ALL.

It's all fine and dandy when you write two scenes two weeks apart and they're both good scenes-I was very pleased with how they turned out. The ISSUE is when those two scenes start to contradict one another. And both of THEM contradict the one I wrote in the first place.

I really didn't do it on purpose. I just happened to look at the notes I'd written on one page and the notes I'd written on the other two weeks later and said, "Damn."

They can't all exist in the same universe. I'm having a minor argument with, well, ME, over where the power comes from in the story. It can come from HIM, the PENDANT, or the book that I took out of this half-baked crazy plot about a month ago because I didn't need it anymore.

I decided on the pendant, which to my poor befuddled mind made the most sense, but that makes me have to change a whole bunch of really good dialogue lines and it's ticking me off.

I have no earthly idea where this ship is headed right now (iceberg, ho.) I have to untangle the rampant, sprawling mess I made of this story and figure out if there's an actual plot to be had (which at the moment there isn't.) I can't just have characters chatting, arguing, cajoling, and whatever else for 20 pages. That's going to get boring. I need to add an element of danger to this part that the second half has far too much of. I want to cut back on the "James Bond in the Middle Ages" bits, but the go-go-danger-danger-run-run impulse I love throwing in in spades is way too strong. Explosions, death, and character whompage. Isn't that the whole reason I'm writing in the first place?

See, all I was trying to do was add some pizazz to this puppy. And look where it's gotten me now-I have completely and totally LOST THE PLOT (no pun intended there).

I figure I'll type it all up, give it a week of distance, and then work on it again and see if I can't salvage something out of a month's worth of work.

Ta,
Bec

PS: The upshot of reworking my story is that now I have an idea of how close I am to having a full and complete draft of both halves. I am very close-I can give you a better idea after I type up the sketch lists and cross off what I have done and what I haven't. A good three or four weeks worth of difficult work and I COULD be done by Christmas, but I don't want to put that kind of pressure on myself. I'll pace myself and see how it goes.

Y'all will hear me screaming when I finish the bloody thing anyway.

Countdown Begins

Days till:
Christmas Eve: 24
Tenth Doctor's Death: 31
Muse Play SNL: 17
The Great Dragon Attacks Camelot: 18
I Go Mad: -2

So, today I have wrapped Anna's present (finally had the time and energy). This means Christmas present stuff is all completed for me.

I may wind up wrapping my sister's presents this year if Mom asks me to. I have offered my services. I'm here, I'm bored, I do about as well at the wrapping stuff as Mom does, so might as well.

I should be writing right now. I have three or four pages worth of Prince Within stuff to untangle and I should hop to it.

The dogs are sleeping peacefully on the floor. Very busy working today. Whisper's having a good dream-her feet are twitching like she's running. Spritey is sacked out two feet away from that and honestly doesn't look like she's sleeping at all although her foot just twitched so she must be.

I should really get to writing something that doesn't have Arthur or Merlin in it.

Ta,
Bec