Hey gang - I've been a bit quiet lately, but going into this weekend, I'm feeling a bit inspired, and wanted to share a few thoughts.

Fandom Gives Back starts tomorrow - as you've seen mentioned here and other places. It's a lovely testament to what a group of people can do when they join their voices/interests/talents together to give back.  Whether it's donating to charitable causes, providing time helping others (be it as a beta, a mentor, a friend, graphics - the list can go on and on) there are so many amazing things that we as people are capable of doing. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the day to day, and let the frustrations and to do's get you down (speaking personally, I've very much felt that challenge of late, and am grateful for a few amazing people helping me remember that there is good out there).

So as we roll into a big weekend for this fandom - as we gear up to see the movie, talk about red suits, rally around charitable causes, or just have a laugh, let's take a moment to remember what power we have as individuals, and how the smallest actions can spark the most wonderful things.

With that - I throw out a challenge to you.  Reach out to five people - be it in on ADF, in email, on twitter, on ff - doesn't matter.  Tell them how much you appreciate something they've done, be it make you laugh, sharing a picture, telling you how to crop and avi - doesn't matter how big or small.  Let's talk a minute to enjoy the friends we've made and the way we laugh.  It's going to be a glorious weekend - and let's kick it off right :)

Pollyanna out :)

I'm drunk.

I have had a craptacular two weeks (a fortnight, for those of us who speak the Queen's English) and I have decided to drink lots and lots of wine at home whilst avoiding all members of the human population

Whilst drinking lots of wine and trying to surf for a decent fic to start reading (I have a shit-ton that I have read or have on alert, so feel like there is nothing unread  and decent out there), something a little random popped into my less than pure brain:

Which drink do you think each of the main Twilight characters' would prefer?

I can see Bella drinking Tomato Juice and Alice preferring Pomegranate Martini's. How about you?

Please entertain a drunk Australian needs entertainment...

Good Morning Campers, Rangers, and small forest animals!  I could use your help this lovely FFAF.

As some of you know, I just graduated from Pharmacy school and have been trying to prepare for my boards this summer.  I haven't been around much lately b/c  I've been busy with the last quick rush of studying.  The exam is here.  I may or may not barf in the near future.  Or maybe just hyperventilate.  Or have a panic attack.  Or maybe all of the above.  Of course, if I barf while I'm hyperventilating and having a panic attack I'll probs just end up aspirating on vomit and then I wouldn't have to worry about the damn exam.  (Am I  allowed to say damn in the main post?  I know we're not allowed to swear, but it's not like damn is the f-bomb or anything.)

Ugh.  Sorry.  Way too much caffeine this morning.  My mind keeps galloping down every dirty, rubbish-strewn alley it can find.

ANYHOOO>>>>
 

THE POINT!  Yes, I do have one. 

The point is that TOMORROW AT 2PM EASTERN TIME I WILL BE SITTING IN A LITTLE CUBICLE (for 4 freaking hours) DECIDING MY FATE.  SO, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, SEND ME A LITTLE LUCK AND GOOD WISHES.

I believe in the power or positivity!  Help a camper out!  If I don't pass, I won't be hangin in the forest any longer, 'cuz I won't be able to afford internet access anymore:(

Alright, back to studying.  See you ladies on the flip-side! 

Oh, and thanks for all the pics of the premiere.  Of course I missed it, b/c I couldn't justify wasting the time two days before the exam.  How is it possible that Rob could look that good in a maroon suit???

So lets talk about what's wrong with fanfiction

I had this idea and then was talking to VampGirl last night and got my thoughts in order (kind of)

When I write, I write what I know. My stories are mostly set in England, because I don't know an awful lot about the US. I don't write about pregnancies, as I've never been pregnant etc.etc.

However I've noticed sometimes people decide to change the setting (as this is where I've noticed it most) to say...England, but then they don't ask questions about living here or research to find out word changes and things like that - if they don't already know them.

For example over here it's 'Mam/Mum' not 'Mom' and I know most everyone knows this, but sometimes they don't.

But what really gets me is when people get the currency wrong :| It's the Great British Pound here...not Euros, if you don't know a currency either find a way to not include it or ask...

And talking to VampGirl she said the same, she's from Australia and (although not many people set fics there) she does notice it.

So where have you noticed it?

Lets have a learning experience, when you've noticed something wrong (no naming names!) correct it here and maybe when people write about things they don't know, they'll get it right :D

I hope this doesn't sound all complainy...it's not supposed to be XD

OH!

And don't Kristen and Rob look cute @ the after party?

I need your help. 

I need some ideas.

Not fic ideas.

Speech ideas. 

C'mon inside and share!

Has anyone else noticed Stephenie Meyers weight gain?

I was browsing through some of the redcarpet photos and didn't believe that was her when I first saw it.

Well I did a little google search on it and some people seem to think it started around the time of Breaking Dawn. Maybe because it got mixed reviews at best. Lets be honest a great number of us here at the forest have let our distaste for Breaking Dawn be known.

What do you think? Stress? Living the high life?

Now, no one please take this as an attack against her because it most certainly is not. Nor is it against any one who has weight problems because I would be attacking myself. I honestly just want your opinion.

ETA: Well obviously I should have read the posts from earlier in the day for your opinions.

ETA: Oh Cheese Nips I spelled her name wrong. >>> I fixed it. Spelling police don't attack.

THIS:

REMINDS ME OF THIS:

SOMEONE MASH THE TWO TOGETHER, PLZ

GO FOR IT!

Hi!

We want to chat with you! Anything goes! Twilight-non-Twilight-WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CHAT ABOUT-STICK IT IN HERE.

FYI-The Rangers want to thank punkfarie for starting the red carpet thread earlier. The forest doesn't exist without all of you. She has stuck with us since the beginning and "adore" doesn't come close to how we feel about her.

The person in plaid.... tell me who you see.

I don't know if anyone else is trying to pimp out small-time authors who will be auctioned off in FGB. I just wanted to let you guys know, though, that Twimpage is attempting to start a pimp post for small-time authors. We need you to give us your information, though.

Would anyone be interested in this, or know of a movement to do something like this?

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL RED CARPET POST!

WHAT THE HELL IS SM WEARING? SHE IS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE-GET A STYLIST-YOU LOOK AWFUL.

Lookie lookie here

Hang on Kristen-it's almost over

Are you one of the TENT-CITY SCREAMERS camping out for the ECLIPSE premier in LA?

Do you feel compelled to go for days without a shower just for the CHANCE to glimpse Robert, Kristen and Taylor in the flesh?

Were you freezing your New Moon tee-shirt off in November when Ranger Jennday and I walked around Westwood with hot coffee and cupcakes?

Yeah, well... because of that BIG SURPRISE that Ranger wolvesnvamps sparked up a fire about earlier, I didn't make it out to meet with any of the fabulous fans camping in LA for the Eclipse Premier AND I'M DAMN SORRY FOR IT.

So how about this time, you come to me?

WIN A CHANCE TO WATCH A SPECIAL EARLY SCREENING OF ECLIPSE ON TUESDAY THE 29TH OF JUNE AT 9PM IN HOLLYWOOD. THIS SCREENING IS SOLD OUT, BUT WE ARE GIVING AWAY ONE PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE FAN WHO IMPRESSES US WITH HER (OR HIS) ECLIPSE-MANIA.

CAMPERS IN GOOD STANDING CAN SUBMIT PHOTOS BY FOREST PM TO ME of your tent or home-made poster or bling or special tee-shirt you made for the event or other such flair (no faces please - our judges need to be able to make an unbiased choice, which means YOU must be anonymous) from the LA premeir event (this is limited to LA because the PRIZE IS IN LA) for your chance to win.
Submissions BY FOREST PM TO ME must be photo url for a photo hosted externally (i.e. photobucket, flickr, tinypic, etc) BY MIDNIGHT SATURDAY, JUNE 26 (PACIFIC TIME).

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SUNDAY THE 27TH AT 5:00PM (PACIFIC). IF THE WINNER DOES NOT CONFIRM BY 10PM, THE RUNNER UP WILL BE CONTACTED, SINCE THE EVENT IS ON TUESDAY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TICKETS ARE INDEED CLAIMED.

WINNER AND GUEST MUST BE PREPARED TO AND AGREE TO TRAVEL TO HOLLYWOOD BY NO LATER THAN 8:15PM ON TUESDAY THE 29TH TO MEET ME FOR A PRE-SCREENING DRINK. ID REQUIRED IF WINNER OR WINNER'S GUEST INTENDS TO ORDER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE.

EDIT: judjes will be me and whichever two other Rangers I can get  my hands on in the middle of the day on Sunday.

So, what I want to know... are any campers at tent city or know people at tent city?

And, how are you going to celebrate Eclipse? Seeing it at midnight? Going to one of the AMC marathon thingies? Throwing a viewing party?

Or are you just kinda over it now?

^^ I could never be one of those people.  Could you?

Yup. It's big.

BIG BiG Big.

And

We are not going to tell you what it is

Except to say

Come to the forest on Sunday night!

Then you will know what the BIG NEWS is.

Care to guess? Leave 'em in the comments.

this was on last night's kimmel

i don't approve of reality television, but i do approve of jimmy kimmel as charlie swan:

I saw this this morning on Jezebel's gossip roundup, and had to share:

"If you look carefully, it's a little Easter egg in the film, the censors wouldn't let the wolves have genitalia." — Robert Pattinson points out that Taylor Lautner is neutered in Eclipse. (via E!)

LINK

Anyone bidding on anything?

I'm definitely interested in a few of the stories. Like Feisty and In a Blue Bathrobe, greeen goldfish, and Mrs. The King.

Are there any teams out there?

I know the authors of UofEM and Legendary (I might join this one!) have teams and so does Mrs. The King, but do you know of any others?

Come on in! Maybe you'll find a team to join or see something you wanna bid on. : )

I kinda want Bella mittens but everyone who knows me is going to immediately call me out on them. And then I'll feel silly. Maybe I'll just wear them to bed. Ha. 

We got covers last night. Here are more pics. 

And a sneak peek of the interview:

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: One scene fans have been dying to see takes place in the tent during the snowstorm. Jacob warms up Bella with his body because Edward is cold-blooded and can’t do it himself.

LAUTNER: The tent scene is probably my favorite, because it’s the first time Edward and Jacob are actually able to connect and understand each other.

How many takes did you go through to get that scene?

LAUTNER: Two days originally to film it, and then a full day of reshoots.

Why?

PATTINSON: [The director] wanted it to be more erotic. Seriously.

STEWART: It’s true. In the book there’s a serious sexual tension. As I’m sleeping, Jacob is staring over my vulnerable body, and he’s naked in this f- - -ing sleeping bag because you heat up faster that way, and Jacob and Edward are leveling with each other.

Taylor, you and Rob have some pretty serious confrontations in this movie.

LAUTNER: Some of those scenes were pretty hard for me. I think we ruined a couple of takes in front of the house and in the tent. It’s just, I don’t know, I have a hard time looking at him…

STEWART: Ha! “I have such a hard time looking at him”!

LAUTNER: [Laughs] I wasn’t finished. He and I were thisclose to each other — we are literally, like, an inch away — and we’re screaming at each other.

STEWART: And about to kiss…

LAUTNER: A couple of moments it felt like that.

PATTINSON: Every single time we had to do a threatening thing to each other — for one thing, you always have your shirt off, and so in the tent scene I literally grabbed your breast. And it’s very difficult to remain in the moment. Also, in that tent scene, I can’t really get over the fact that the word thought sounds like fart.

STEWART: The word thought does not sound like fart.

PATTINSON: It does.

STEWART: Maybe because you are an English person.
PATTINSON: The opening line of that scene is “Can you at least keep your farts to yourself?” I couldn’t quite get over that.