Memes

[bop_radar]

I fall into the ethrosdemon school of thought on memes: they are often boring. However, I truly enjoyed and learnt things from this one doing the rounds on my flist at the moment. And so in the spirit of reciprocity, I post my:

Ten Things To Know About Me

I will try for things relevant to fandom/my LJ:
1. I live in Melbourne, Australia. That is really, really far away, people. This means I am at least six months behind the rest of the world in terms of TV, fashion, etc. Movies usually get released at least three months late here (IMDB is frequently informing me that the German-speaking part of Switzerland gets movies before we do - including GoF), and we are similarly backward in regards to many other aspects of popular culture (iTunes only just opened an Australian store a month or so ago). This is not to diss my country, which I love (well: love-hate), but simply to explain the slight competetive disadvantage at which I find myself! *g*

2. I am an obsessive reader. My first word was 'book'. The first word I ever read was 'coca cola'. We were in Spain when I was two and I pointed at the sign from my stroller. It was probably the only word I recognised in that unfamiliar environment. I take a book everywhere I go. I have walked into a pole while reading. I can go upstairs while reading. I can knit while reading. I read while on the phone to my mum. Actually I'm a big fan of anything that can be multitasked with reading.

3. I'm an editor in an educational publishing house. I work on secondary school books (um, high school - 12 to 18 year olds - i'm never quite sure of the terms in different countries). I have a grad dip in editing and publishing but I was also lucky enough to get in-house training, which is really rare these days and which I will be eternally grateful for. I love punctuation. Deal.

4. I have dysthimia: chronic low-grade depression starting in my childhood. I suffered major depressions in my early 20s and was undiagnosed for five years. I am now stable but it will always be an aspect of my life. The learning curve I went through in recovering was the most remarkable journey of my life. I would like to promote better understanding of mental illness in our community and fight discrimination. One in five.

Relevancy to fandom? Lex is my hero for delivering the line 'There seems to be an absolutely medieval prejudice about mental illness' and yes, my mental illness has shaped my reading of him: that's inevitable, but I try to be balanced about it.

5. In my spare time from work, I do martial arts (tae kwon-do until a year ago when I got the first-dan restlessness - I recently started kung fu) and belly dance, somehow coordinate life with my partner (who I share a house with and who works nightshift) and hang with my friends. Therefore I have an almost-constant backlog of fandom-related activities to catch up on!

6. I'm an only child and an introvert. I'm used to a lot of personal space. Although I totally love my friends, I adore time alone. So don't ever take it personally if I'm absent for a little while.

7. I had an LJ for years before I really got fannish, and I am still startled by the enjoyment I now get from it. Smallville is the only thing that's really brought fannish participation online out in me, although I have enjoyed (and read fanfic in) Star Trek Voyager, Highlander, X-Files and Harry Potter. BtVS and AtS should get placed in a class above those others, as I was/am obsessed with them and converted everyone I knew to my cause. Except my boyfriend who resists to this day. But Smallville? Smallville demanded participation at a new level.

8. Other shows I watch: West Wing, Lost, House. I've also just started watching Grey's Anatomy and Veronica Mars - the pilots of both aired this week here.

9. I am an old indie-pop/Britpop kid. I spent my early twenties indie-dancing in one-stars in clubs with names like Flipside and Weekender. I still have deep and abiding love for bands like Blur, Pulp, Suede, Belle & Sebastian, St Etienne and so on. My music fannishness went through an early-2000s slump but has been rekindled recently by exciting new bands like Franz Ferdinand, Earlies, Maximo Park and The Shins.

10. Hugh Laurie babysat me when I was little. *g*


Oh and polarenigma also tagged me for the Five OTPs meme I think the idea is you list your five with the moment when they became your OTP.

1. Clark/Lex: Irresistably drawn to each other, destined never to achieve true unity: that's my take on those two. Moment: Lex giving Clark the foil in Stray. (I am not predictable!)

2. Buffy/Spike. Don't flame me. Don't. I have issues about this: who wouldn't? But I can't fight it. Moment: Spike attempting awkward sympathy with Buffy in early Season 5, on the steps of her house, I forget the ep.

3. Niccolo/Gelis: Dorothy Dunnett's The House of Niccolo series is among my most treasured books. Moment: Niccolo sees Gelis bathing in the harem.

4. Willow/Oz: As the ultimate teen couple - they were just too cute. Moment: Oz tells Willow that in his mind when he kisses her she's kissing him - and not just to make Xander jealous.

5. Lois/Clark: Ahem. Because I am a contrary little miss, I have to put these two down as well. I loved 'Lois and Clark' and I totally ship them on Smallville now. For me, Clois can exist with Clex because they represent different aspects of Clark - I can't really see him without either. Lois is Clark's future. Again. Please don't flame me! *g* Moment: Too deep in my subconscious to extract.


Warning: it got long.

Comments

[mskatej.livejournal.com]

This meme is amazing. Everyone is being so honest! I can't believe you (sort of) know Hugh Laurie! That's the coolest thing ever.

I'm a Spuffy person as well. They're totally hot together and the first fan fic I ever read was Spuffy, many years ago.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Somehow I just *knew* you were a Spuffy fan! When I posted this... I thought, hm, I bet Kate at least will be cool with this. *g* I have no idea why I thought that. *puzzles*

Distant HL connection is my uncle who is an actor in the UK. He used to get roles... He nearly got cast as Darcy in BBC's Pride & Prejudice! LOL. He is the quintessential could-have-been-great actor. Anyway, he knows (or knew) HL.

[estrella30.livejournal.com]

this is all so interesting! I have a friend in australia and she says the same thing about tv and movies, etc.

and dude, hugh laurie BABYSAT you? how did THAT come to be!

awesome stuff!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Ah, *points at comment in reply to Kate's above* It was before he was famous... long before. Although I've been a fan for a loooong time, naturally. All my fam are in the UK - one branch are very theatrical! *g*

[sadface.livejournal.com]

You know, I enraged that I only found out about the HL thing last week *grrrs at you*

I miss reading, I used to do it all the time. Now I watch TV. I tried to re-read OOtP the other day and got through about a page. My attention span is totally shot :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I stopped watching TV for a few years - it improved my reading no end! You definitely can get out of practice. Now I stick strictly to a few shows I commit to and the rest of the time I read.

Ah, how little it takes to get Becky 'grr-y'! ;) I'm so used to noone knowing who he is, I forget it's interesting... honestly!

[feliz581.livejournal.com]

You're an Australian editor who Hugh Laurie baby-sat for that now takes belly dancing classes! Honey, you are making the rest of us look uninteresting!! :D

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hee! You are never going to let me live that one down, are you??!

[nehellania.livejournal.com]

I would like to promote better understanding of mental illness in our community and fight discrimination

All of it was interesting, but particularly that statement. If It was possible for me to love you more..I do now. I absolutely loathe people who are ignorant about mental illness, as it's affected so many people in immediate family, including myself.

So go you! Thank you for making that statement.

Willow/Oz! Hee.

And I still think you should send Hugh Laurie something. "Remember me, you used to babysit for me? Send me something!" Only ya know..more polite. :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Jen! *hugs* I am glad you appreciate me making that statement: I wondered what sort of response it would provoke, to be honest. I have several friends with mental illnesses as well, so it's become a big issue in my life. And yet so few people understand it. Looking back, I cannot believe how long I (and other people like me) remained undiagnosed. And I have issues with the medical profession and their handling of mental illness too. There are tv ads now and the last time I went to a university campus there were posters up promoting understanding of the issue. I nearly cried because I spent my five years at uni in misunderstood misery. There was nothing like that then.

[voldything.livejournal.com]

You do martial arts? HOW COOL IS THAT?

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Why thank you! I never expected this about myself, having been very girly-pathetic about sports most of my life. But once I started TKD I was addicted. It was a very rewarding journey and as a woman, I found it very empowering.

[vibrantharmony.livejournal.com]

Grey's Anatomy and Veronica Mars are AWESOME! So exciting that you can watch them now! In the mas_files, I'm going to be doing VM, so if you ever want to get ahead of the tv airings.... ;)

And yay lists! People are fascinating, you know?

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

People ARE fascinating! I honestly was not going to post this... but then people were fascinating and so I thought hey, maybe it will be of reciprocal interest. *g*

Cool - I'll remember you're a VM and GA fan and come squee at you when I get a bit more into it! *g*

[tehjules.livejournal.com]

Books are awesome, and as I was telling Jen yesterday, working in a book store would be my ideal job. I'm that in love with books... but now that I think about it? Being an editor sounds like it could be the best profession in the world. Hee, so cool!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I love my job. :) When I started work as an editorial assistant I felt like I'd finally found my home. I'd worked in a great library before then, and that was really fun, but I love working with language and with so many wonderful creative people who understand and appreciate the ins and outs of making books.

[pun.livejournal.com]

Hey! I do TKD, and I've always said that if I were to try another martial art I'd like to do Kung Fu (or maybe Capoiera). What is switching from TKD to Kung Fu like?

Hugh Laurie babysat me when I was little.

Oooh! How exciting!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh cool icon! Side kick! Nice. I love board breaks - they give you such a rush. *g*

Switching to kung fu - oh boy! well, it's incredibly different. The energy principles behind it are completely different: it's based on using your opponent's energy and minimising the effort you have to make, rather than going for the big 'hard' spectacular moves. I have to learn a whole different approach. But it is fascinating and complex and new. I think, if I persist, the two will be wonderful complements to each other. Personally I'm glad I did tkd first. I have power and confidence already. In kung fu I can concentrate on understanding energy and learning new techniques.

[elandrialore.livejournal.com]

Hee! You do know how to tease your audience by saving the fanishness of Hugh Laurie for last:)

Smallville demanded participating at a new level

Boy did it. I am right there with you.

And I used to do tae kwon do too, and I'm kind of upset that I gave it up. But then, inherently lazy person that I am, I actually say that about a lot of things:)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Another TKD-er! I am kind of sad I've given it a rest for a while. I do miss it but I had plateau-ed so badly at first dan level and was unsure of where to go from there. It can be hard to find the right motivation but when you do it really pays off. Perhaps it's just not the right time for you to do it right now.

[complicat]

I'd never heard of dysthimia, but I just looked it up and it just sounds like me. Which is interesting, because I've been diagnosed with clinical depression but for me it's never been a sudden debilitating thing which is a change from my usual mood, it's a constant background thing that has always been there. So I've often wondered if I actually do have depression or if I'm just naturally a miserable cow. Now I'm wondering if I actually have dysthimia. Huh.

And Hugh Laurie? *is so jealous*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

A 'constant background thing that has always been there' is a perfect description for dysthimia. I think I was lucky to find an excellent GP who diagnosed accurately. I have also seen a lot of terrible GPs who had no clue. While I know the treatments for both can be similar, I do think it's good if your therapist or doctor or whoever has a clear idea of what form of clinical depression you have. Perhaps you could run it past them and ask for their thoughts? It helped me understand things a lot better: because my depression had always been there, I felt like I just WAS an inherently sad/depressed/lethargic person, which I'm not at all! I'm a quite cheery person, it turns out! Being told I was suffering an incident of major depression never really worked with me because I felt like saying 'know - I'm always like this. Worse than normal now, but this is just who I am'. So I guess I'm saying the accurate diagnosis helped me process all those tricky emotions about 'who am I? am I my illness?' so many people face when diagnosed. Perhaps that's helpful for you too?

[duskwillow.livejournal.com]

Wow! Very interesting 10 things meme answers!

As for OTPs - I'm a die hard Spuffy and proud of it. :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you!
Yay for another Spuffy fan! *hugs*

[grapefruitzzz.livejournal.com]

Such great choices! I had to mention the scene with Spike and Buffy on the steps. It was one of the first BTVS episodes I ever saw and I still think it's almost miraculous. I have a special soft spot for that first tiny choice (which is why I loved "I, Borg" and that damn emo Dalek.) I saw him walk up through her garden with the shotgun and thought "Oh, he won't shoot her, he'll just slink off. How cute!" It was amazing to get *more* than I wanted - he asks her what's wrong as if it's being jerked out of him :D er, sorry, I can't stop raving about that scene.

I'm also fascinated with Lex for the same, but opposite reason - where's the first moment that he stepped off the path of, er, righteousness? Has he done it yet, even? (I mean himself, not Zodilex). That'll have to wait for broadband...

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

It was amazing to get *more* than I wanted - he asks her what's wrong as if it's being jerked out of him
Oh, that's the PERFECT way to describe it--and yes, I got more than I wanted too!! I'm so glad someone else blissed out on that scene as much as I did. It was a sparkling moment of television history for me.

emo Dalek
The emo Dalek was cuuuuute!

Lex is so enigmatic--one could puzzle over him for years and still be peeling back laters...

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

You are me, in a lot of ways. I'm really glad you wandered to my LJ that one day. If there hadn't been for that, we might have never met.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know you better. (And as an introvert, loving alone-time to another: I get your absense, should it occur.)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yay! i'm looking forward to getting to know you better too.

[starryeyedmagic.livejournal.com]

After reading this I'm even more glad that we became LJ friends. We have even more in common than I thought. You have fantastic taste in music!

I love the OTPs! I was hardcore about Buffy/Spike a couple of years ago. I haven't watched Buffy in awhile though. I think I need to break out the DvDs and have a marathon sometime soon.

and yay for Lois/Clark! I always love them in pretty much all Superman based tv shows/movies.

WOAH Hugh Laurie babysat you???? How did that happen?! I'm so jealous, I've adored him since I was like 11!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! *g* I'm glad someone likes my music taste--I think its unusual for fandom. ;-)
I'd love to break out the DVDs of BtVS and AtS again one day; they've been resting on my shelf for some time. They are such good comfort viewing though.

I always love them in pretty much all Superman based tv shows/movies.
Me too!! And when I was a teenager, I loooved Lois and Clark so much--I just love that dynamic of the smart girl and the geeky but goodhearted guy.

Hugh Laurie babysat you???? How did that happen?!
My uncle is a british actor--while he's of no note whatsoever himself, he does know many people in the industry, so it was through him. I don't think they are in touch any more. Pity! ;-)

[katiebugs18.livejournal.com]

Well since I can't find an email address for you I'll just leave this here and hope it's emailed to you. :-) I'm replying to your hello from my first posting on beyond_insane. I had actually been on your LJ snooping around before I got an LJ and it's quite fun.

I'm looking forward to your meta on Lee. I absolutely adore Lee. I love Starbuck, I want to BE Starbuck but I am so Lee it's a bit scary. I just "get" him. And really, it's not all bad "being" Lee.

Ok, back to work. I really just wanted to say 'hi'

Cheers,
Katie

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hi Katie! My email address is in my userinfo, but it's ok because LJ (in theory!) sends me any comments made to my journal.

If you've read any of my bsg posts, you probably know I'm much like you--so 'Lee' it's scary! It's always great to find other fans who feel the same way. I 'fangirl' Kara, but I don't always 'get' her, but Lee's instinctive.

I just re-read this post of mine and it's so weird--there's no mention of BSG!!! Smallville was my first fandom on LJ, and then came BSG. I should do an update, really... or maybe I'll just wait until the 'ten things' meme comes round again. *g*

*friending you*

[spinkkitty.livejournal.com]

I am a furious reader as well so understand, maybe not as furious as you perhaps but still constantly reading

I tried to get into publishing but they did not want me (cry).

Spike/Buffy i get (even though i am truly a Buffy/Angel vanilla shipper) because I LOVE spike and they were hot and wrong and hatey

As for Willow/Oz - as mentioned on my page yesterday i LOVED them together, SOOO adorable, and this is the reason that i to this day have a weirdo crush on seth green.

i did not realize that australia was so far behind! i thought nz was bad but damn! (high five fellow antipodean!)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I tried to get into publishing but they did not want me (cry).
Awww, boo! Perhaps it's even harder in NZ--the publishing industry would be very small there, right?

I have a crush on Seth Green too! ;-) Oz was just so wonderful.

I seem to be finding more antipodeans these days. *g* It is good to have some people closer to my timezone. *lol*

[spinkkitty.livejournal.com]

actually it was in new york, so smallness excuse does not apply *more cry*

and although i am indeed antipodean, i'm afraid i am still way out of your timezone because i live in nyc. oh well, we seem to doing alright so far (timely replies and all that)

:OD

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! *foot in mouth* I'm sorry! *hugs* But NYC would be sooo competitive! It's like the publishing Mecca! There are a few people here who've been to work over there and it always makes them big shots when they come back just by virtue of having been in NY. ;-) Publishing certainly can be a real bitch of an industry to get into. And I'm not exactly in a glamorous area, so don't be too jealous.

At least you beat me in the coolness stakes in terms of where you live. :-)

[thrace-adama.livejournal.com]

Hi! I realize you posted this years ago, but I was just surfing your journal (I am a devoted Kara/Lee shipper, but I was just blown away by your Baltar vid and wanted to watch it again) and saw the link to this meme in your bio.

ANYWAY (wow, could it take me any longer to get to the point?!), I just wanted to say that it's cool to read that you're a book editor in Australia. I'm actually an editorial assistant for a small book publishing company in the U.S. (Florida, not NYC or anything) and I interned at a university press in college. So, yay editors! I'm always glad to meet/talk other people in the industry, especially since I'm just starting out. :)

Also, I am totally a "Lee girl," too! I love Kara to pieces, but it's so much easier for me to relate to Lee. I see where he's coming from in terms of his issues with his dad, his efforts to always try and do what he thinks is right, etc. He's just such an good, honorable guy, and I wish more people would recognize that...

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hi there! Lovely to hear from you, and yeah, wow, this post *was* a long time ago now... (I really should update my bio!)

Yay editors! :D There are a few publishing folks on my f'list, purely by coincidence. I'm getting to the 'jaded' stage with my career, I'm afraid, but that is probably because I've been in textbook publishing for too long. It has been good but I would like a change--pity that I want one just as we plunge into recession .... ;)

And yay another Lee fan! Most fans seem to find either Kara or Lee easier to relate to, and it's definitely easier for me to see Lee's pov. I'm often very baffled by people's reactions to him because to me it's so obvious that he's struggling, sure, but really trying hard to be the best man he can be.

*friends*

[elzed.livejournal.com]

Oh, that #2? Yes, me too! Walking into lampposts while reading? check. Reading on the stairs? check. While eating? Of course. I have even managed in the shower (well, ok, propped on a stool outside, but still...).


Lost of interesting and very honest stuff there - thanks for sharing - and I did notice the absence of bsg! (that "poof" still rankles, right? ;) And you already know that I'm another Lee girl through and through (even if I adore Kara. But Lee, I just get)
xx

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

This was actually written before BSG!! (Shock!) Yup, in the intervening time I fell in and out of love. And yes, the poof DOES still rankle. As does the pigeon. I feel so scarred. It kind of feels wrong that Lee/Kara is not on that OTP list. Nowadays my OTPs would be: Clark/Lois, Lee/Kara, Niccolo/Gelis, Clark/Lex, and... oh ten million minor ones

I have even managed in the shower
Hahaha, I tried that once! I always try to keep one hand dry in the bath too.

[elzed.livejournal.com]

Ahaaaa

I just realised I clicked the wrong link in my late evening/booze fuelled daze. I checked your updated parameters and yes, that makes more sense....

(and I am sorry bsg broke your heart)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

You're cute! And now you know about me four years ago too. \o/

(and thanks)