Lauren's Fandom and Creative Journal

Nick Jonas is recording a side project without his brothers, called Nick Jonas and the Administration.

There are no words. There is only high-pitched squealing.

So I've been here in the US for two weeks and I've entered into multiple new fandoms and it's kind of scaring me XD I mean I got into Harry Potter in 2001, my next fandom (High School Musical) didn't come til 2008 and now Jonas Brothers at the start of this year. But suddenly, 136daysafter and friend Michelle are getting me to watch Supernatural, and D and I are watching True Blood, and I've been watching Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel because, face it, even HAVING the Disney Channel is a freaking novelty.

But it means that now half my time is spent watching TV. Which I guess is fun, because I'm watching it WITH people. Going "OH MY GOD SHE'S POSSESSED!" and laughing with D and M, which is great, because I've never done that before.

Anyway. So D and I just got done with Season 3 Disc 2 tonight and my tweet immediately afterwards said this: "Just finished Season 3, Disc 2 of Supernatural. What the eff is Bella's problem? Why are all Bellas so annoying? At least Gordon's dead..."

I really think that sums it up.

Also, I set up an iTunes account for the US store. I'm hoping to purchase Dollhouse and download it at the college campus where D goes to school, since she has dialup at home which is not conducive to even looking at pictures on Facebook, let alone downloading video.

I'll keep you updated fandom-wise - after all, this is my fandom journal - as much as possible. Which will probably be more often than usual because I don't use Skype or any IM any more, really. I spend a lot of time on LJ, the only thing is that it's not posting anything of my own, it's reading fanfics. I have WRITTEN a couple, but I'm still kind of too chicken to post them. At least D doesn't check up on my browser history and get judgmental XDDD Yay.

So, guys, I'm totally in the US right now. And I'm going to have a lot of fandom stuff to report - there's a Remus Lupins concert tomorrow night so I'm sure I'll have a concert recap after that. But just in case you want to know what else is going on, I decided to post a blog about what I've done so far. I'm not going to repost it here because this journal is just for fandom but you can read it here: http://lauren.digitalkiss.org/2009/06/the-good-old-us-of-a/

Yup, totally stole this from jennilind. Hey Jenni! *waves*. Also, I realise this is a crappy comeback after months of nothing. But...I've been busy! *lame* I have an important post to make later/tomorrow/sometime before Saturday so watch out for that.

So it's "8 Ways to Fuck Me" but that just makes me LOL because it sounds like positions or something so it's going to be 8 Ways to Make Me Love You instead.


1. If you can't love Harry Potter, you at least have to accept that it's a massive part of my life, that most of my friends are through fandom and wizard rock is my favourite music, a lot of the time.

2. Make me laugh. That's a straightforwar one XD

3. Make me a mix CD. I love music A LOT (even non-wizard rock lol) and that's definitely a good way. But if you put Metallica or Slipknot on it, then you're out XD

4. Read. There's nothing sexier than enjoying a good book.

5. Ship one or more of my OTPs. This is more an optional one but by God, if you do this, I'll be well impresed XD (For the record: Harry/Draco, Albus Severus/Scorpius, Chad/Ryan, Joick, and yes I know for a supposedly hetero/bicurious GIRL this may be seen as an odd selection. Whatever, I've been a slash shipper since the age of about 15. I'm not going to suddenly stop now XD).

6. Tweet or text me. Yes, I know modern technology can be a bitch, and I know that I text and tweet A LOT, particularly if I really like you (not necessarily romantically). But if you text/tweet me back - or start conversations! - I'll love you for it. Loves me some technology.

7. Tell me things. I'm a Ravenclaw and I LOVE to know "everything". So TELL me things. LOL.

8. Finally...Understand my moods. Appreciate my frequent insanity, dirty-mindedness and general hyperactivity. I don't know whether I'm easier to be around when I'm way UP or when I'm way DOWN, but I do know that the hyper, bouncy phases are LOUDER. And dirtier. And usually more fun - for me, anyway, not sure about others XD Equally, when I'm down I send random depressive text messages that can be irksome. So...if you can appreciate both sides, that's a maaaassive thing to me.

So, I was looking up an old ad for my uncle a couple months ago and I stumbled on a Flickr group of retro advertising pictures and was immediately hooked. I saved all the ones that caught my eye and then...forgot about them. A week or two later I spent something like 7 hours (I stayed up til 5am XD) making them into icons. I'm aware that they probably still suck because my icon making talent is pretty much nonexistent. Bearing that in mind, you're allowed to take them and make them into whatever you want. If you credit me with the base I'll even give you a cookie ;-)

So. 47 icons based on ads from here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/goldenageofadvertising/

Previews:




( The girl I love...is on a magazine cover )

Sorry, no, not really. This is entirely pimpage.

HAPPY BE AWESOME MONTH!!!!



Go visit. Put up buttons. Tell people. Change the world. etc. :-P

Sorry. I'm really excited. Second time around, and we have merchandise on order, and a charity chosen who will benefit if we sell any. So YAY.

I know I haven't updated in, oh, roughly forever, but I've had so much going on.

I guess I just wanted to say: Hey guys. It's 12.53am here in Scotland. And I'm offically no longer a teenager. Happy 20th birthday to me :)

So this is going here and on facebook. Those who have me on both - Vago, Jenn, Pippa, Emily, some others - please forgive this!!


The Christmas Wishlist Meme:

Step 1:

Make a post (public, friend-locked, filtered... whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. Then, post should contain your list of 10 unlimited holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related ("I'd love a Snape/Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact information in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.

Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step 2:

Surf around your friend-list (or friends' f-list, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use ー or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free ー do it.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf ー to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not ー it's your call.

There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just... wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.


1. I wish my mum would be well for Christmas. She's had so much to deal with lately health-wise.

2. I would love to get snail mail. I really like getting mail. There's not much better, except for hugs. But when you live in Scotland, hugs are hard to come by.

3. More love in the world. Please, please tell people that you love them. That's one of my wishes. You never know how long we have with them. Something else we remember at Christmas time.

4. A Remus Lupins "Fight evil read books" tshirt. I didn't get one at Wrockstock and I really, really want one. That would mean I had three TRL ones, and then people would REALLY call me an Alex fangirl, but I don't care. The "Make Love Not Horcruxes" one is good because ALL Potter fans understand it, not just wizard rock ones, but the message of "Fight evil, read books" is universal, and I want to spread it around. Even if it's secondhand. Size-wise I'm a bit of a pain. Right now I'm wearing a "Remus Lupins '08 - Making Trouble in Harmony" shirt and it's a size S, but I'm a ladies L in the HPA heart logo shirts. THANK YOU JENN!!! <3

5. New music. Mix CDs (whether in CD format or online emailed to me) are total love. I love music and it helps pass the time on my daily commute to classes.

6. Ghirardelli chocolate. My mum's friend went to America and came back with some and I got to try a square of dark chocolate with raspberry filling, and it is probably the best chocolate I have ever tasted. I am a chocoholic. That would make me very, very happy. THANK YOU SO MUCH EMILY! <3

7. A new template for my personal website, http://www.digitalkiss.org/laur. Though I'm hoping to change the address a little, to a subdomain, sometime soon if I ever have time. I can't find any I like, and I suck at trying to make them. I found one :)

8. High School Musical 3 or Harry Potter memorabilia. Chocolate frog cards, postcards, any of the HP sweets you can buy which simply aren't available here now - we used to have Every-Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs but not any more :-( and sherbet lemons! Awesome, AWESOME friends.

9. I wish my dad could find a new job.

10. To be able to stop worrying so much about everything. Right now so much has gone wrong and KEPT going wrong that I just want to be able to sit down and go ONE DAY without feeling like I'm just waiting for the next catastrophe to hit.

Ok dudes and dudettes, this is up here to get your opinions. I'm adding as I write more, so it's by no means finished (I need ~2500 words *sadface*)...let me know in the comments, plzkthnx.

THE QUESTION:

"With reference to case studies of your choice, describe, explain and critically evaluate the extent to which public space has become privatised, militarised and ordered."

THE ESSAY SO FAR:

( ~Cut to avoid spamming my flist!~ )

...thoughts, comments, suggestions, all welcome.

Aww, man, everything has been in chaos lately.

I went to Birmingham for the gig, the writeup hasn't even made it onto Facebook yet (although considering the fact that I've been promising to do a writeup for Accio Wrock which was at the end of JULY and it is now almost NOVEMBER I wouldn't hold your breath...darn, I bet I've forgotten all the best bits about that. I'm still not even finished my writeup from the August 16th gig...though that's because it's languishing in draft form on my fb notes. Besides, the gig part is almost all done, I think. The drunk guy on the bus, however, should be interesting to write about. I'm quite good at getting gasps and looks of horror from my audience whenever I tell it XD I like that.)...the gig was awesome :-) I won't say "epic" but it was pretty amazing. Some quick notes on it:

1) I got to see Luna Wants a Longbottom live again. It made me VERY happy. And I got them on video! (even though all my footage is hideously dark. Stupid mood lighting. Must remind Tim that lights have to be proper bright next time. Grrr) And their actions are HILARIOUS. They sing this one song where they're talking about walking and they do walking-on-the-spot...and their actions in "Lily" are just hilarious. Zoe and I joined in a bit :P Zoe was a bit self conscious about it though I think XD I didn't care. I was a bit tipsy, to be fair. Silly lightweight me.
2) Speaking of Zoe - I finally got to hear "It's Real For Us", my favourite song of hers, live!!! It made me VERY happy. Right after she finished and people stopped clapping she said "Right, Lauren, now you've heard it live!" and I was like "YAY!" and people were amused.
3) I amused people a lot in general. I went to change into my Halloween costume - because despite being a couple of weeks too early, it was officially a Halloween gig - and fell over twice. And then overbalanced a few times after that, too. Shut up XD
4) Siriusly Hazza P didn't play their cover of Save Ginny Weasley From Dean Thomas!!! Made me sad. They did however play arguably their funniest song, The Ballad of John Simons, so that's ok then.
5) Ruby (of LWALB) is insane. We knew that already but she cemented that by telling us in graphic detail how she got a nosebleed when she was jogging...and then she was like "OK, we're ready to play the next song!" and we were all like "Dude, there was no point to that story? THAT is your idea of idle chitchat to kill time? XD". It was pretty amazing.

So yeah, NaNoWriMo starts soon...I still have nothing for it, so that should be interesting. The only time I've "won" before it was pure, utter crap. So I'm not exactly thrilled, but I know the exercise of the writing muscle (as they say...I forget which book that was from) should do me good. I'm going to a NaNo meet-up tonight actually, here in Glasgow...I have to take a different bus home than usual because the express buses stop running at 6 :-S so it should be...interesting. Anyway, I'm pretty nervous about the meetup. I'm hoping people there might be interested in Harry Potter. I SO want to start a Glasgow HP group. It sucks having my friends be so far away...

Anyway, no complaining! Lol. I've been busy doing nothing all weekend, it seems. My self-taught guitar skills are getting better. I can play a speeded-up "I Am A Wizard" as well as "Pansy (You Are The Girl of My Dreams)", "Potions Yesterday", "My Dad Is Rich" and "Save Ginny Weasley From Dean Thomas (which, HOORAY. I <3 that song). I can almost play "Ginny Gets Around"...the B continues to elude me, even with Paul and Abby's advice on alternative (cheating) ways to play it. Darn it. Anyway, it's all good fun.

Zoe mentioned an epic live Malfoy Manor performance and asked me to play drums. I can't believe it's been over two years since I've played. I miss it. I think if she gets it together I'll do it :)

I can't think of much else. We're planning "Wrock the Loch", basically a wizard rock sing-along at Loch Ness, for next month. It's turning out quite expensive for people to come! Sad. At this point it's looking like me, Christie, Dinah, David, Quinn and James with an acoustic guitar XD although Tim's hoping to come too, which is awesome. <3 Tim.

...oh, and HatP have a version of Save Ginny Weasley in SPANISH on their Myspace!!! I was like "ZOMG!" and hastened to snag it, and I let Harny and Amy hear it in the Communities lecture this morning XD they were just like "Um, ok." Amy was like "So you really like Harry Potter then?" Given that I just let her hear HatP, I was raving about the "Hufflepuffs For Obama" and the like, banners that they made, and I'm wearing my freaking HP Alliance tshirt XD I was like "Oh, yeah, just a little." Silly Amy. You can tell we don't talk much XD everyone else is well used to it now.

I know that I'm totally rambling, sorry. I'm so nervous about tonight...it's been a while since I met people IRL that I hadn't already met online, that I really want to like me. That's kind of sad, isn't it? On the plus side, I found someone online the other day through a HSM community who likes wizard rock (in your face Rae, HSM is SO useful XD) and that's awesome. I'm hoping she'll make it to the Yule Ball, though I plan to make Skype introductions before then. I believe a resurrection of the Slug Club is in order!!

...Yep, I'm just that sad XD I'm off to finish my August 16th gig write-up while I remember. Peace out.


PS. Livejournal spotlight totally wins again: I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you over my TRAGIC PAST

Hey dudes and dudettes,

If you're into Harry Potter, I need your help. It's not URGENT but I'd really love it if you could get back to me kinda quickly!!

I'm looking for recommendations. Fanfiction, wizard rock, fanart, websites, videos...anything you can think of that's HP related and that you think is awesome. Can you leave me comments about that???

...I can't explain why atm, though some of you already know (if you're bothering to read this, that is :-P)

Obligatory random life update: Uni is going fine, my classes are really interesting and I've got like four books checked out of the library at the moment...I have to go see my Communities lecturer to ask if I can approach my essay in a bit of an unusual way...basically my usual slacker status compared to my sudden OMGIWANTTOLEARN!-ness (yes, I've always been a Ravenclaw, but more of the random-general-knowledge-and-pointless-trivia as well as music, type, rather than a study type. I don't study. Or get enthusiastic about classes), it seems like I have been replaced by a pod person.

Anyway. The 'Hallowe'en' gig in Birmingham is on SATURDAY, hooray! This makes me very happy. So I'm totally going and I'm going to get to see a bunch of people again and it'll be ACE. Tho I don't have a costume. I figure I'll just turn up in my TRL shirt and it won't be so bad.

I'm a bit nervous because for my features class (for those of you who don't know or have forgotten, I'm doing a degree in Journalism and Sociology) we have to interview a celebrity...and I don't know who to interview. I mean, they'd have to be in the UK, because she wants it to be face-to-face. It would be better if they're in Scotland but I suppose I could travel to see them if I have to. You know what would be awesome? If they're in Wales XD then I could go stay with Jess again! That would be super mega fun! It's not due til the week of my birthday (January 26th - my birthday is the 29th) however I need to start sending out begging letters to celebrities. Someone suggested JK Rowling and really I think I will because y'know, there's no point in NOT lol. At the very least someone might read it. I'm gonna mention the HPA in it, because that might help XDDD Other suggestions I'm actively considering right now, there are two: Chris Hoy (Scottish double gold Olympic medal-winning cyclist) and Frankie Boyle (Scottish comedian). However I'd not be averse to interviewing DanRad, either. If the interviews are good enough they're going to publish them in the Strathclyde Telegraph!! (that might not sound too good to you but I dono't have anything published that actually has my name on it yet, and I kind of need to start XD)

Anyway. HP fanworks and celebrities in the UK that I could possibly get an interview with for my feature-writing class. Answers on a postcard, please (or a comment will do just as well ;-) )


~Lauren

PS. Be Awesome Month is coming around again. Don't book anything for February XD Plans are in the...er...planning.

PPS. Anyone doing National Novel Writing Month? If you are, add me as a writing buddy on the forums!! My screen name is labra_lege :) Good luck!!

Even though I've done this like five times on Facebook. It NEVER GETS OLD. I'm hoping I have enough fandom friends to get it if they come up wrock songs XD

1. Put your iPod/iTunes on shuffle
2. Press play, and click next for every entry.
3. Post a section of lyrics from that song for friends to guess!
4. When someone guesses correctly, cross out that lyric and put their name next to it so everyone can bow down to them.


1. I'm asleep and all I dream of, is waking to you...tell me that you will listen, your touch is what I'm missing...and the more I hide I realise, I'm slowly losing you.
2. All they know is how to put you down, when you're there with your friends, but then when you're not around, they say oh, she's changed, know what they mean, what they mean, they're just jealous, because they'll never do the things, they wish that they could do so well...
3. Hanging out with insects, under ducting, the CIA was on the phone, well...such is life...latino caribo...
4. He wanted her, she'd never tell, but secretly she wanted him as well...all of her friends stuck up their nose, they had a problem with his baggy clothes...
5. Loving you, isn't the right thing to do...how can I ever change things that I feel? If I could, baby I'd give you my world...how can I, when you won't take it from me?
6. I remember doing nothing on the night Sinatra died, and the night Jeff Buckley died, and the night Kurt Cobain died, and the night John Lennon died...I remember I stayed up to watch the news with everyone...and that was a lot of nights, and that was a lot of lives, who lost the tickets to what they need...
7. Bill's got a new girlfriend, boy that girl is cute...her name is Fleur, she's a hottie for sure... Abbey
8. Through the smoke, she calls to me to make my way across the flames, to save the day or maybe melt away...I guess it's all the same.
9. My heart hit a problem in the early hours so I stopped it dead for a beat or two, but I cut some cord and I shouldn't have done it, and it won't forgive me after all these years, so I sent it to a place in the middle of nowhere with a big black horse and a cherry tree, now it won't come back 'cause it's oh so happy and now I've got a hole for the world to see...
10. Burning through the sky, two hundred degrees that's why they call me Mr Fahrenheit, I'm travelling at the speed of light, I'm gonna make a supersonic man outta you...
11. I'll start a revolution from my bed, 'cause you said the brains I had went to my head...step outside, summertime's in bloom. Stand up beside the fireplace, take that look from off your face, you ain't ever gonna burn my heart out...
12. The sun always rises, sometimes the future is full of surprises. It's gonna be all right, just look on the bright side...
13. Music is my brother, music is my great-granddaughter, music is my sister...music is my favourite mistress.
14. Your legs are smooth as they graze mine, we're doing fine, we're doing nothing at all...my hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me, so won't you kill me, so I die happy?... Abbey
15. Is it true, and that you're always this breathtaking? And you're smart and you're willing, my God this is killing me...send me all the things you've never said, we can lie here and talk for hours in my bed...
16. Please don't miss this train at your station, 'cos if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you...
17. I want to see you smiling, weak in the knees. I want to see you come, come, completely pleased. I want to give you something priceless and free.
18. Fall in line and remember your place, stand up straight, don't forget the time. How the trials never taught you a thing...its meaning is lost on ears shut tight, but one day it will be fine...
19. I don't see the things that bring me down like I used to, no, and there were times that we felt like giving up, but we came through... (this was the winner of a reality TV show. If you don't know it, I don't blame you XD)
20. We're both misunderstood but that's all right, we help each other through the lonely nights, a werewolf, a Willow, the greatest love in the whole world... Abbey
21. Take your time, hurry up, choice is yours, don't be late, take a rest, as a friend, as a known memory...
22. She walks, like an angel walks. She talks, like an angel talks. And her hair has a kind of curl...
23. She didn't walk away. I think she was impressed, and was having a good time. And when we're laughing and joking with each other, spending all our time together...
24. She said everybody loves you, she said everybody cares, but all the things I keep inside myself, they vanish in the air. You tell me that you'll wait for me, I say I won't be here, I wanna say goodbye to you, goodbye to all my friends, goodbye to everyone I know...
25. The time you asked me if I'd...ever been on treks to find a Crumple-Horned Snorkack, if I'd ever seen a Thestral fly. I read in the Quibbler that these Nargles hang in mistletoe, try to be careful when you go kiss Cho... (I tried my best. The "I read" might not be quite right. Correct me, please. It's hard to make out!!!)

*goes off to post this on Facebook too, just to annoy all her FB friends :P*

Yup, you heard right. I'm honestly not dead. And I have a new haircut. I'm going to post about the awesome gigs I've been to and stuff, but it's after midnight and I'm really tired, so for today you just get the hair. Hope you like it. Behold the images, in which a) nothing looks different b) it looks like I cut it myself and c) I pull a Lucy and do the mad-posing-visible-arm shot. WORD.


L x










PS. Yes, that's a Hello Kitty top. Nyah-na-na-na-na-na.

Mm, it *was* just my eyes deceiving me. Sirius is dead folks, no sweet R/S for us. Saaaad. ANYHOW. I totally was just on HPANA (which OMG I literally JUST discovered and I am VERY sad that I didn't find it before. I'm such a dork.) and saw an article about HBP. The title: "Harry Potter Finds New Love Interest In New Movie". So I think, doy, Ginny. But hey, there might be something else interesting. So I click it. And the first part is:

"The new Harry Potter movie 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' has a new love twist added to it.

The new film will see the dark evolution of blond rival Draco Malfoy, played by Tom Felton, and Harry teaming up with Dumbledore to keep Hogwart's protected from evil. Potter will find himself falling for Ginny played by actress Bonnie Wright, the little sister of his best pal Ron Weasly, as described by director David Yates."

Somehow I managed to misread this as "The new film will see Draco Malfoy, played by Tom Felton, and Harry teaming up..." and went "WTF?SLASH?YAY!" except of course it wasn't XD In my defence...it's REALLY small text and short lines. I probably skipped some. You can read it here if you're interested though http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/Entertainment/20080705/992449.html

Also, Wrockstock was totally in the Australian Sunday Telegraph!! We might get some Aussies to Wrockstock 2009!!! HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE? Especially since it's promotion through a proper paper. And it wasn't the Associated Press article that, while absolutely awesome and stuff, gets REALLY monotonous if you read it a million times just from different sources XD

"Rock and Rowling

THIS Insider regularly trawls the Internet for unusual music yarns and was surprised to read of a popular new genre that has emerged thanks to the Harry Potter franchise.

Hundreds of bands have apparently taken inspiration from the characters and storylines from J.K. Rowling's intricate fantasy world.

The genre has its own name, wizard rock, and fashion sensibility _ chequered scarves and askew neckties that replicate the Hogwarts school uniform.

With a decidedly youthful and literate audience, bands such as Draco And The Malfoys, Tom Riddle And Friends and The Moaning Myrtles are as likely to gig in public libraries, bookstores or church basements as at rock clubs.

The movement has grown big enough to support its own summer festival circuit and, in May, more than 300 devotees gathered in the foothills of the US Ozark Mountains for Wrockstock 2008, wizard-rock extravaganza featuring 15 bands over three days.

Later this northern summer, similar events are scheduled for New York, Chicago and even De Pere, Wisconsin."

*NEW* genre? Dude needs to read the Wizrocklopedia's History of Wizard Rock, I think. But isn't that awesome? YAAAAY.

In other news, I totally got addicted to the Shrieking Shack Disco Gang's song "Expecto Patronum" again unexpectedly, and texted Huw to ask if they'd be playing it at Accio Wrock! in Oxford later this month. He said Holly hates the song but they might give it a go. Which is a big YAY for the SSDG fangirls (of which I am most decidedly one.)

So yeah. Magical Acts of Kindness is a GO, at last, finally, everything's up and ready, we just need people to participate, so go find out more at www.magicalactsofkindness.com!!!

Hope everyone's having a good day :)


L x

PS. I have had this song STUCK IN MY HEAD ALL DAY and I can't even bring myself to be annoyed!!! "Chinese Fireballs will burn your butt off, Hungarian Horntails rip out your spleen. The Swedish Short-Snout will eat your grandma, but you can have a pint with the Common Welsh Green." Heeheehee.

Yup. I *am* a fangirl. I totally admit it (and maintain that ANY and ALL spelling errors in the following document...or any communication from me whatsoever...are symptoms of my Cabbageitis!!! - it's a common affliction in those who come into contact with Allie from the Chinese Chomping Cabbages ;) Yes, that does sound lame and fangirly but it's true hahaha. It's a Skype thing, I think.)

So, now that we have established I am indeed a fangirl, let's get down to business.


So I'm totally enjoying chatting up a storm on Skype...I belong to this fandom-related chat called "Skype Is Evil" (I'm one of the hosts actually) and it's so freaking awesome. I've added like three new people as a result of Wrockstock and everyone gets on so well...even if I'm totally forbidden from mentioning Twilight in there *pouts*. Or slash. Or High School Musical. (but sometimes Zoe and I start alternative slash conversations XD But I really need people to squee over Twilight and HSM with, I mean really. I totally just saw the Twilight trailer for the first time - horribly slow, I think, but I was obsessed with other stuff! Cut me some slack! lol - and watched it like six times in a row. OMG, if it's as awesome as it looks it might just MAKE MY LIFE.)

Also, the next big UK wizard rock event is coming up!! Accio Wrock is on the 27th of next month in Oxford...I'm so looking forward to it!...I need to book transport, fo realz. *looks sheepish* I will get around to it...I have to...I can't NOT see my Wrockstockers for months on end! And NOT wish RiddleTM the best of luck before they swan off to the US of A to play WROCK FREAKING CHICAGO!!!! (and help them celebrate their 18th birthday with a few drinks...of course...hahaha). So yeah, Oxford should be MEGA fun. God I hate living so far from everyone else :( Allllll my friends live so horribly far away! *sulks*

Also, I can't remember if I've told you or not (and am rather too lazy to check, because I am SO TIRED right now, for absolutely no reason), but Magical Acts of Kindness, the Harry Potter Alliance project Jess and I are working on, has been officially launched!! And so the first post(s) will be going up really soon! Like, in the next few minutes providing I can log-in and copy-paste stuff correctly! HOORAY! So totally go and check that out over at www.magicalactsofkindness.com :D
**EDIT - ok I lied. My mum is booting me off the pc...but it WILL be up tomorrow, for sure. So totally check back. It'll be worth the wait, I promise!**

Lastly!! My copy of Ministry of Magic's latest album, Goodbye Privet Drive, arrived on Monday and I can't stop listening to it...it's freaking AMAZING. If you like MoM and you haven't bought it yet, then WHY NOT?!?!?! GO AND BUY IT NOW. It might well be the best CD you buy all year.

But wait a minute! The Moaning Myrtles are releasing a CD at Terminus!!! "What About Myrtle?"!!! And they totally posted two songs from it on their Myspace...and an excerpt from the title track in a YouTube video in their latest blog. GO AND CHECK THAT OUT. It may well be a tie for best album. (Yes, I might be a bit of a fangirl of bands who have two Ms at the start of words in their band name. SO WHAT? XD)

Finally, I just found this over at sashullichka's journal and did it, with hilarious results:

(by the way - it chose A-Slack over 1) The Whomping Willow 2) Robert Pattinson 3) "all of Ministry of Magic" XD DAMN. That last one would've been hilarious)

		I will marry Andrew Slack.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in Scotland in our fabulous Mansion.
		We will have 509 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a rainbow Ferrari.
		I will spend my days as a journalist for the Daily Prophet, and live happily ever after.

Hey all! I'm using this icon even though it's not strictly true...tomorrow, Harry Potter BECOMES my social life once again as I fly to America for WROCKSTOCK!!!!!

I'm going to get to meet Andrew Slack from the Harry Potter Alliance...and Brian from Draco and the Malfoys has promised to hug us...and I get to meet Jess at long last! And Tim and Zoe properly! And the Other Jess again! And Lauren-from-St-Louis too!!!

I have to sit an exam first though. 9.30-11.30 tomorrow is Intro to Social Theory. I'm not hopeful :(

So I get up at 6.30, my dad will drop me off in the next town over at around 7.30, then I'll get the bus in to uni where I will sit the exam, then walk to the bus station to get a shuttle to the airport, my mum will meet me at the bus station with my suitcase and bag...god I'm so NERVOUS. Like REALLY. What if they don't like me? What if they don't UNDERSTAND me? Argh. I'm going to be the only Scot there, but one of four Laurens. (count 'em, at least 4 that I know of! - Lauren Myrtle, Lauryn-Spirit's-wife, Lauren-in-st-louis and me).

But if I manage to get there, I'm going to see Draco and the Malfoys live. And Catchlove. And The Whomping Willows! And Tonks and the Aurors, yay. And Remus and the Lupins, double yay. I'm missing The Remus Lupins but if I have to miss one of the bigger bands I'm kind of glad it's them. Sorry guys.

Anyway, so my flight's at 3.45, then I get to Philadelphia and then I change planes and fly to Missouri...and it's going to be midnight when I get there. The lovely Michelle and Danielle are coming to the airport to pick me up :)

Also, the top-secret project? Is a go. From next week HOORAH. So when I get back everything will be buzzing. And awesome. And just fantabulous, generally :)

I have to go to bed now - it's 12.30am and I have to be up at 6.30. Oh dear. I do NOT see this exam going well.

Goodnight, I love you guys, and I'll see you next Wednesday (or Thursday if I'm dead from jetlag!)


Lauren x

PS. I get to ride a BROOM!!! Hopefully with picture evidence ;)

So, it's Saturday night. What is a hip, happening person like myself up to, I hear you ask?...

Well, I've spent the day downloading floor plans of mansions for my Hih School Musical fanfiction kick (since I really want to write about the Evans house without screwing up. The kind of faux pas that is the house-layout equivalent of "Thursday was the longest day ever and they had lunch twice", which happened in a HP fic I read once, but don't ask me to name it. Years ago. Gosh. I think I quite liked it though), and I've watched Chuck, NCIS, CSI: New York, Law and Order, Gossip Girl (Blair and Chuck! SQUEE. Also Serena and Dan! And a hilarious scene where Dan is watching Serena and Nate kissing - right before they had sex, as we know, at least the people who watched previous episodes anyway XD - and asking for tips!)...also part of Cheaper By The Dozen looking out for Jared Padalecki (blame the RPS slash, First Cut Is The Deepest by cyndrarae is based on a fictional encounter during the filming of that movie) but had to put it off because I remembered Gossip Girl was coming on...Also watching some Hannah Montana online, because we don't get the Disney Channel...I'm suddenly so tempted to get the box set. I'm totally torn between liking Miley (because, gorgeous! and funny!) and being totally jealous of her (because, georgeous! and SKINNY). I'm thinking new fandom. I bought the album "Meet Miley Cyrus" a couple of days ago and already Rock Star is on my "25 Most Played" list, with a staggering 32 plays, not including the recent ones on my iPod since I last plugged it in. Good grief. But it's SO ADDICTIVE. And I've been singing Best of Both Worlds all day. But it keeps segueing into "I Don't Mean Maybe" by the Faders. Odd. Songs always seem to do that to me. Some TV theme tune always used to turn into Bananarama. Huh.

...But I'm getting sidetracked. Also I'm writing an article on wizard rock (omg, so LATE. I mustmustmust have the ezine out by Monday. That's over a week late. My motivation is NOT helping. I'm being motivated to write fanfics instead. SONGFICS. Liekomg. I should have known that giving in and doing "Go the Distance" was a bad idea XD (although as someone on one of the Chyan communities on here, Corbin does sing about going the distance in Run It Back Again! I noticed today and was like OMGYAY! So yay, gay matchiness AGAIN.)

(In case you don't know what I was just on about - High School Musical. That may be all you need to know.)

Oh yeah, and Bryony got me a "Potter-tastic!" gift as a thank you for spelling-and-grammar checking two stories for her (and let me just say, she got one back yesterday and it was a 78! I'm totally taking credit for at least ONE mark. Because I spent an HOUR going through it making corrections.) and GUESS WHAT IT WAS?

No, you'll never guess, I'll just tell you. It's a black waterproof jacket. With the Hogwarts logo at one side of the zip. With a hood. And DETACHABLE CAPE.

Yes, my Potter friends, aren't you SO JEALOUS!!!...I modelled it for my parents who told me I was crazy. Where have they been, like, my whole life? XD

So yeah, at the moment I'm planning two fanfics, both are High School Musical, sorry - one is about camping (yes really, and it has the obligatory Brokeback Mountain reference. I watched it again, up to the boring part where they come back down off the mountain anyway, in order to make the reference RIGHT - and it still amuses me. The sex comes from NOWHERE. Like, I mean, really. I remember my first impression of it was "They spend half the movie watching sheep, and the horse runs off with some supplies, and then there's more sheep watching and then all of a sudden they're having sex! Like wtf." It earned me a blank stare from my mother, but as one of the most vocally homophobic people I know (followed by my dad and then my uncle, who refuses to like Stephen Fry because he is gay, which is just RIDICULOUS as Stephen Fry is LOVE) she probably wasn't the best person to say that to XD Well she did ask. "You mean you've seen it?!" Yes, duh, my dad brought it home from work XD Hahahaha how random. Well I can't remember if I asked him to get it or not. But still. We have it. And it's kinda cool.

Anyway, sidetracked YET AGAIN. The other fic is going to be based on a Westlife song. And no, I'm not joking. I like Westlife, had forgotten how much I liked their version of that song, and found it on my lovely download site, so bought it straight away :) As well as a Jesse McCartney album, YAY. So I finally have "Just So You Know", which may also be the basis of a fic at some point in the future. Lawks-a-mussy.

I bet there are people who read my personal journal who wouldn't risk coming here because of my occasional warnings "There'll probably be graphic slash on there soon..." XD Except there WON'T because I now have a NEW account for that. But I'm not going to link it here, only send it to anyone who contacts me and is interested. There's nothing on it atm anyway. But it's a pretty name! *proud* Also, I don't want to link to Eamonn's site sometime (journalism tutor) and have him come and check the journal and read it all out and follow up the links. As an investigative journalist he's very thorough and somehow I think finding gay porn is just TOO thorough for my liking, thank you very much.

Also, YAY I had Chinese XD

Sorry, I'm in a really random mood. I think that's all my fandom news. Wrockstock is LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY *squees madly* I still can't believe it. I don't think I'll believe it until I'm actually in Philly. Then I'll be like "Oh my GOD I'm in America and going to meet wizard rockers!!!" and then I'll have to calm down and get on another plane XD but STILL.

And GET THIS. Huw says the Shrieking Shack Disco Gang might (MIGHT) be playing the Accio Oxford gig!!!!!!! I was so stoked. I texted Tim and he said it was really awesome, which from him is a high compliment :P actually there was some swearing involved I think XD And just, ZOMG. It'll be ace. I told Jess she NEEDS to get time off work to come see them XD and Oxford!Chris wants to come. Hmmmm. I'll get back to you XD

I'll go now and leave you all to your "humdrum little lives" (to quote Singin' In The Rain, I think)...hahahah "Why I'm smarter than...than...Calvin Coolidge!...PUT TOGETHER!" *snigger*


L x

PS. "It's never too late, there's a will, there's a way, gotta stay in the game go the distance..." (the Corbin Bleu lyric ;) ) which of course matches with Lucas Grabeel's (<3) song "Go The Distance", which came from the Disneymania 5 album. Hooray :)

Heeeeeeeeee I filled this in as part of an application to be friended on a journal and thought, heh, I should post this here. Possibly no one will fill it in, but I may send the link on skype and ask people to come answer it. Because they love me :P hahaha. I may offer sexual favours as an incentive, just so you know.

Also: New ezine should be out on Monday if I can get it all sorted out (Maren has decided to leave the staff, therefore it will be just little ol' me...but friends Zoe and Tim have been 'commissioned' - ha, I'm so ridiculously excited at being able to write that XD - to write an article each so WOO.) And WROCKSTOCK in THREE WEEKS EXACTLY!!! I am so very excited about it. And The Big Bang Theory, I'm now addicted to that show. And also I found some awesome icons and a lot of new fic and...basically I'm really REALLY high on sugar right now. Yay sugar.

Here is the thingy to fill in. Kindly do so and I shall do so for you too if you so desire. Or shall perform the aforementioned sexual favours. However if I have already promised you some (or you have the right to expect them automatically) you are exempt. If that means you, I'm sure you will know.

(THE SUGAR, I TELL YOU!!!)

( The Quizzy Thing Of Doom )

I asked my friends whether they would LJ-friend me based on the comment-answer to the quiz I posted...they have completely blanked this. I do not know whether this is Skypetastic lag or they would just rather not incur my wrath XD

*goes off to read some more awesome fic and dry hair*

L x

PS. Yaaaaaaay RPS. We need more.

PPS. People must think I namedrop ALL THE TIME. In Skype earlier I said to Rae, "Oh, and Harry and the Potters invented the term Wizard Rock! Paul even told me." What with that and saying "I was talking to A-Slack..." and whatnot, they must think I am SO BIGHEADED XD except I emailed Paul to ASK him, "DID YOU INVENT THE TERM?" as I am writing an article on preferred terms ("Wrock", "Wizard Rock", "Wiz Rock", "I don't care"? I posted a poll on the Wrockstock forum and everything XD) and I was talking to A-Slack because, well I can't tell you yet. And he was attempting to give me help with a Sociology essay too, because he's just awesome enough to have majored in Sociology same as me!...well, mine is technically a joint major. Still. Journalism and Sociology are very good subjects to have a degree in when you want to be involved in social change XD

PPPS. Potions Master 101 = freaking AWESOME. Check out the two songs, remixed dialogue from the Harry Potter movies (so not actual wrock, though Jess did "Most Awesome" them because she got STUCK and couldn't think of anyone. hahaha, the truth comes out, J), here: http://www.myspace.com/bottlefame

( As-yet untitled story about a funeral )

So it's exactly four weeks today that I will be taking my first exam then getting on my first transatlantic flight...leaving the UK for the first time...to go to my first music 'festival'...sharing a room with people I haven't met...coming back with jetlag to sit another exam...

I'm like completely stoked about Wrockstock but kinda terrified about the exams. Four weeks is SO not long enough to do Tricia's revision plan, so it looks like I'll be resorting to my old cramming method. I figured out the other day that I must ave done REALLY badly in my Sociology exam last year to get 65 because I had really high essay marks, unprecedented for me. So I really don't know what happened...So basically I'm worried because I have to learn more stuff this year as we have TWO exams...Journalism isn't til a week after the second one though so I'm not worried about that. Well, not as much...

Anyhow. Feeling slightly nerdy, not-cool-enough-for-fandom, but I guess being Scottish is certainly a novelty factor. I haven't decided whether I really am too uncool for fandom or not yet. I'll let you know.

Working on plans for future ezine issues. I'll have to put together some proposals and run them past Maren but I think the stuff I've got here so far sounds pretty good. The May one is pretty put-together at the moment (thank goodness becuase it'll hopefully be coming out NEXT WEEK! Eeeeeeh.)

So yeah, next week we should beback from the unscheduled hiatus. And then in June I plan to release either a Wrockstock special edition as well as the regular ezine, ora specific Wrockstock 'souvernir magazine'. I think Jess is going to help me with that though :)

I dunno, I'm slightly blah. I had such a long to-do list this morning and though I got up at 9am and was on the computer all day I still only managed to check off ONE thing. Incidentals keep coming up :( Yet I haven't been slacking. I've added friends, sent messages, fixed the CCF button problem (the server was switched and the whole site disappeared, but I fixed the links earlier)...And yet. Basically I have way too much to do and not enough time to do it. EEEEEEEK.

L x

P.S. If anyone fancies submitting a Harry Potter "fandom rant" (in which you tell us what you HATE about the fandom), which can be anonymous or credited to a name or pseudonym, for inclusion in the ezine, please go right ahead. You can email me or send it through the CCF Contact Form. I hope we get a couple more anyway :)