Happy Championship weekend football campers. A couple of good games today, but sadly this is basically it for the weekly cf. There will likely be a cf at some point during the bowl season and hopefully one of the NFL teams I like will make it to the Super Bowl, but until then, let’s celebrate our last regular season football weekend.

A nod at my boys who will hopefully beat Kansas today and finish our season above .5

And a nod at my men who are playing Baltimore without Big Ben, but with……my future second husband Troy. (I know I use this picture a lot, but can you blame me?)

Who you lovin this weekend?

Hello Campers!

Weekly Challenge - Come and share a low fat recipe with us! Last week we discussed alternatives to fatty foods when cooking, now show us how to use them. Or another recipe that you have!

It's never too late to come and join us, just pop in an introduce yourself!

And don't forget to visit our LJ - http://adf-fit-club.livejournal.com/  It's been very quiet over there!

A friend introduced me to Youtenna.com last night.

 It's pretty cool!

I asked him about their listener base and library. (It's inside)

My how technology has emerged! It's not your Momma's yahoo music anymore....

Do you use it?

What is your favorite Internet music source?

(pic takes you to site)
 

So, how do you write?

I'm writing my first story as we speak. It is not fan fiction, it is a new story, with my own characters and emotions.

But, I have a question for all of the writers, of fan fiction as well as other stuff. How do you write?

Do you lay out an outline and then fill it in? 

Do you start writing and see where it takes you?

I'm a bit stuck you see. I don't have an outline. I have a story idea. I've started writing the story idea. I have the end... it's an incredible scene!!! But now I'm piecing the story together, beginning... idea... and ending. It's overwhelming sometimes!!!

So, my question to the forest is: What's your method? Do you write scenes or chapters? How do you tackle the task of tying them together?

I sometimes find myself imagining a scene with my characters, writing my story... writing the scene... then trying to piece it into the whole! Am I the only one that struggles with this?

And, also. Merry Christmas to all! I put an invitation on the Christmas exchange for cards. But want to reiterate it here. I haven't sent cards out in a few years, and am excited about getting into it again!!! PM your address and I will send greetings from the beautiful state of North Carolina, US!!

I have a rough draft that is due in less than a week, and I have absolutely NO IDEA what to write about! 

My assignment is to write a Criticism of "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot. I can use any critical discipline (New Critcism, Deconstructionism, Historical, Pyshological, and/or Political), but it has to be 1000 - 1500. I've been researching for three weeks, but I haven't found anything to write about! I'm freaking out! I feel like I'm failing as a student right now. I've had the worst few months imaginable! 

Please, is there anyone that can help me? I'm not asking anyone to write my paper for me. I'm just asking for ideas. I'm panicking right now. I really want to pass this semester. I have a high grade in the class (my 1st and 2nd essays were a 93 and a 98, and my mini essays have been a 70, 90, 100, 100, and a 90) but I don't want it to drop because I bomb this essay.

Please help me.  

So I'm sure this has happened to you: You're watching tv or a movie, and do a double take. Is that you who think it is as "party guy #1?" Why yes, it is! It's (insert name)! Holy bejebsus, I can't believe they did that! How many times have I watched this and never noticed it before?!?

The other day, I was watching Law and Order and almost spit out my drink when I realized that none other than Peter himself was the leader of the Mac Rangers, a high school gang of popular boys that likes to terrorize girls (sexually) and film it.

Back in the spring, I posted a campfire, Makeup 101. I got some great suggestions for products and now I have a ton of cosmetics, some of which I love, some of which I must be using improperly because I don't see why they're so popular.

Makeup mavens, please step inside and lend me your advice.

ETA: Campers have been asking if it is too late to join... Even with 530 comments, there are still a lot of card/gift offers in here. Lots of people are still looking to exchange and a second wave of "Late Campers" can start. Get in here with your offers. This will be pinned a little longer! Make someone happy and carry on....

Example: 

Camper: I will send out ten christmas cards anywhere in the world, offer up 4 boxes of homemade christmas cookies (ANYWHERE!), and give two surprise gifts from my home state (For US only!) in exchange for gifts from where you are from.

responses could include:  "I'd love a card!" "OOOH, I'll take some cookies! Yum!"   "I would love to exchange a gift with you!"

THEN, VIA PM you exchange your information. **Try to keep on top of your offer and remember to keep track of your responses so you don't get in too deep. Hopefully, this will give you plenty of time to complete your exhanges!

Personally, I am going to try to spread out my offers, since I want to keep open for some exchanges... plus, this campfire will be pinned, so that way I can offer things after I get back from work :)

In general, this is the EXCHANGE, next week will be the FREECYCLE campfire that is lead by my fabulous hippie twin WTVOC. There you can unload all of that stuff you have laying around and regift...(I am a teacher, I have lots of re-gifts LOL)

hello, darlings. it's the freeforall! please feed a tree as long as you're here.

that means you get to start campfires on anything you want, no permission or recommendations required. just no nudity or curse words, please. it gets us in trouble with google ads. 

a few things-

it's holiday time here in the forest, so be prepared for some cool stuff in the weeks to come, including the usual 2-week long freeforall, card exchanges, holiday freecycle, and maybe even a contest or two in which we will not be donating the prize money without asking unless another disaster that costs hundreds of billions of dollars happens. promise.

err, carry on. let's talk about our favorite holiday movies or scenes from our favorites or bunny suits or clark griswold in the attic wearing a lady's turban. idk, let's start getting excited for chriskwanzukkaholiday!

to me, riick grimes is perfect fyt:

I am speaking about what happened in Syria. All internet traffic is down, and some of the phone lines as well. Information has been sketchy at best. (lots going on over there.)Apparently their main fiber optic trunk has been cut.

The reason for this campfire?

ADF is made up of wonderful people from around the globe.  I believe (can't be positive) that we have a few campers from Syria-near Damascus?

I have them all in my thoughts tonight and was wondering if anyone knew a bit more about said campers.

Sorry if I'm rambling-I've been getting crazy stuff from places that is making me both very grateful and thankful to live where I do. 

(*Approved by wtvoc.)

Rec:My Savior by DesertDarkfire

He's been searching for over 100 years, when he stumbles upon his future. She's been trying to make it big, but ends up getting so much more. Bella gets another chance, Damon gets what he's been looking for. Is he a demon, or a blessing in disguise? AU, BellaxDamon. COMPLETE.
Rated: Fiction K - English - Romance/Supernatural - Bella & Damon S. - Words: 1,007 - Reviews: 3 - Favs: 12 - Follows: 7 - Published: 11-19-12 - Status: Complete - id: 8718987
 

IT'S BACK ON!

random but HIGHLY AMUSING! :D

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT???

WILL DAMON AND ELENA FINALLY GET TOGETHER??

somehow, i forsee problems will arise.

COME ON IN AND DISCUSS, FELLOW CAMPERS!

YOU KNOW THE DRILL...

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN'T WATCH THE SHOW AT 8 PM EST, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!!!

Full interview in the comments. Here's what she said about each of the movies:

PLOT POINTS

"Twilight"
"The biggest challenge was trying to figure Bella out, and then the middle of the movie, where she discovers that Edward's a vampire. Then you get into that second half of the second act, where you usually have people running to each other in a slow-motion montage. That was the problem, as there's a lot of talking in the book. So how do you make that interesting in a movie? Unfortunately, due to budget constraints and other issues, it ended up being them talking on a rock. If I could redo that, I'd find a more creative solution."

"New Moon"
"That was the trickiest of all, as Edward isn't in the book -- and there's also this new guy, Taylor Lautner. In the book, Bella hears Edward's voice, so it seemed natural to turn that into visions of him."

"Eclipse"
"Keeping Bella more proactive, and adapting the tent scene, which was Stephenie's personal favorite. So the bar was very high, and it took many attempts to get it right."

"Breaking Dawn -- Part 1"
"How do I write about the issue of 'choice' and not violate my own beliefs -- and Stephenie's? I solved it after talking with my sister-in-law, a former ACLU feminist lawyer and a big fan of the books. She reminded me that having a child is a choice, and that perspective got me in."

"Breaking Dawn -- Part 2"
"My favorite to write because Bella's a vampire now, so she gets to kick ass, and as embodied by Kristen, the character's so much fun."

To make it interactive: Which parts of the scripts made you absolutely raging mad? And anything you're actually grateful for?

This is the campfire of Self Promotion:

THE PIMP CAMPFIRE.

Tell us about what you or a friend write. If you beta something fantastic, let us know. If you are hosting a contest, tell us about it.

Don't be shy! Give us a link. Give us a sample. Show us your banner.

We want to read what you write!

In our quest to broaden our fanficking horizons, we are adding new fandoms to our MASTER FIC LIST.

Today, we're looking for fan fiction from Charlaine Harris's SOOKIE STACKHOUSE mysteries.

AKA The Southern Vampire Mysteries

AKA True Blood (from the TV series)

Bring on the BEST FICS from this fandom!  Books or TV-based, there are fans that want MORE!

Since we only have this one list at present, please format your fic recommendations like this:

Book or Television (if applicable)

AU or CANON

PAIRING/CHARACTERS INVOLVED

CATEGORY (ANGST/ROMANCE/DRAMA/ETC.)

RATING (G — NC-17, K - M)

Title, Author, Summary

Link (link may be imbedded in the title, as per usual, if you prefer)

YOU KNOW THE DRILL...

POST 'EM, WATCH 'EM, DISCUSS 'EM.

MY WEEKLY RECS:

"You're my only reason [Edward/Bella]" by Lisa7bella1

"Breaking Dawn Pt.2 - You are everything to me" by TheRagDolliish <- There are some spoilers in this vid for those of you who haven't seen BD2 yet. Although I'm pretty sure all of the clips used in this vid have been released in some way (i.e. music videos, etc).

POST AWAY CAMPERS!

(Roughly) Once a week we open up the HELP DESK so people can ask questions, make requests and get advice. There have been LOADS of people starting campfires looking for fics lately so I expect this to be packed with amnesiacs and lost souls.

If you have amnesia about a fic, this is the place to ask about it!

If you have a request for a type of story or a book, this is your spot.

If you are unsure about something that has to do with ADF, ask here. 

If you want to ask a personal question unrelated to supernatural entertainment, this is the place.

 I don't care if you want to know about Christmas cookies. If it is bothering you, here is the place to ask. We won't judge.

This is your campfire. Ask away! Many people like to answer!

WELCOME TO HELP DESK WEDNESDAY!

By now, you've probably seen this video of Kristen and Rob being mobbed at LAX.