Its Halawia's Birthday!!!

So let's all wish her a Happy Birthday!

Lucky girl, even had Iwan tweet her!

Since it's free-for-all,

I thought I'd ask what other campers' favorite cookbooks, Internet food blogs and web sites, and cooking shows are ...

the other day talking with a friend, we had a conversation about emotional abuse, where are the lines to divide "mean" into "abuse?", I mean, phisical abuse, well, one thing is slap a child once in the bottom because he/she is behaving bad, (I mean I got at least some of those when I was a child), another is slap him in the face because he accidentally spilled the milk, but this are obvious cases, I think, and life is more grey shades than black and white... so what about emotional abuse?, one thing is make fun of/with you, another is using it as an insult?, where is the limit?, while the scars in the phisical abuse are visible.. no so much emotional...

How much it is too much in your opinion?....

I was lucky enough to see this guy in Philadelphia this week.

It was among the best Springsteen shows I've seen, and I've been to about 10 of them.  I can't believe the energy and passion he still pours into his music.  He played for three hours, without a break.

He's 62 years old.  And aside from some hair loss and the inability to slide across the stage the way he used to, he's still got it. 

To make this interactive, which concerts have you been to recently that blew you away?  Are there any upcoming shows you're really looking forward to?

Come in here and share your funnies!  Crazy internet stuff, jokes, tmi, whatever you've got!  Make us laugh, we could all use it! :)

I'll start...

I ran across this video last night and I just about died laughing.  It's kind of long but, in my opinion, it's worth it.  If you absolutely must, fast forward in the middle but don't miss the end. :D

Arrested Drunk Man Sings "Bohemian Rhapsody" In Its Entirety In Back Of Police Car [UPDATE]
Dude in the video above wasn't happy about being picked up by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for being intoxicated. The best excuse he can muster is something about "brotherhood of men on the planet earth" before he segues right into singing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." In its entirety. He even provides the instrumental interlude. There's nothing clever to add here. This performance can't be topped.

Source: http://deadspin.com/5897507/arrested-drunk-man-sings-bohemian-rhapsody-in-its-entirety-in-back-of-police-car

and I'll share a tmi on the inside. :)

I had surgery on Wednesday.  My gall bladder was removed.  That sounds so gross.  

It wasn't much of a surgery.  They did the laproscopic form so I have four holes in the trunk of my body.  One at my navel, and three above that along my rib cage.

Well, today's the day I get to remove the bandaids.

But I'm so sore, I fear doing it.

Is there an easy way?  These are cloth bandades and are pretty wide.  Should I wet them, oil them? Just grit my teeth and pull?

I forgot to add a tag and when I went back to edit it, I found I couldn't or I couldn't figure it out.  Sorry, rangers/gamemasters.

Hello,

   I'm looking for an old Twilight fanfic and I can give you pretty much nothing to go by (sorry).  It's just bothering me that I can't remember if I finished this story.  I just remember happily waiting for each update.  Here's what I can offer:

1) Bella and Edward, AU/AH, circa 2008-2010 (maybe '08 -'09)

2) I think that Alice is Edward's sister and Bella might come to share a house with them (they should be around college age)

3) Bella and Edward don't get along

4) I believe the story opens with Edward coming to pick up a stranded foul-mouthed Bella who might be smoking at the time and he tells her she smells like piss (I think he even calls her Piss Girl).

5) At some point Esme has some charity function (?) and I remember Edward wearing a beanie with his suit

They say the memory is the first thing to go, but I really can't remember who told me that.  I don't know if any of this information will get me remotely close to this fic, but that's okay.  I thought I'd give it a try.  Thanks in advance!

Recs:

Sins of My Past by content1

Bella was left by Edward to clean up the ruins of her life after his betrayal. What happens when Edward finds out that not all was as it seems. What are the consequences of his sins and what will he do to get her back? AH and rated M for a reason.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7423404/1/bSins_b_of_My_bPast_b

and a few of my completed favs that I like to reread:

A World Without Sound by The Romanticidal Edwardian

AU, BxE. My name is Bella Swan; good at sign language and karate. My best friend is deaf, and you know what? It doesn't matter.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4292727/1/A_World_Without_Sound

This is Not My Life by IsaKassees

Follow Bella as she tries to survive a madman's abduction and keep a stranger's child from succumbing to his wild fantasies, and follow Edward as he tries to stay sane searching for his daughter taken right before his eyes.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5540509/1/This_Is_Not_bMy_b_bLife_b

Parachute by Kitsushel

After finding an abandoned child on the streets of Seattle, Bella Swan raises him for five years as her own. What happens to their life when his biological family is found? AU/AH

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6036478/1/Parachute

From Cosmopolis

What I'd really like to see is Rob shaving instead.  That would be sexy.

To make this interactive:  

Do your prefer your sexaaay actors with longish or short hair?  

Johnnie Depp looks great with long; Ryan Reynolds: short I think.  Jake Gyllenhaal, either.

I am missing Mallmouse. Is she travelling? Has she left? I liked her comments and her posts. Does anybody have news?

I don't know it I have to rec, as she is a fellow camper, but here it is:

Finding Fred, by Willowby. A lively mix of humor and drama, Almost completed.

Summary: Freaky Fred went north while the newborn army went south. He thinks
he can disappear and start a new life. The Cullens and the Volturi may not
entirely agree. Lots of BxE, canon couples.

(I couldn't find an appropriate tag, sorry)

ok I have seriously been out of the loop and people keep speaking of this story does anyone still have a copy from when it was fanfiction or has it been completely changed now that it is offcially published?

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Lissa Bryan
Bella is a powerful telekinetic, escaped from a government research facility. With her is Edward, her guardian angel, sent to earth to protect her. Can they find safety? Can Bella love this extraordinary creature? OOC/AU Rated M for all the good stuff.
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Romance/Supernatural - Chapters: 42 - Words: 192,441 - Reviews: 2509 - Updated: 2-11-12 - Published: 12-1-11 - Bella & Edward - Complete

For those who never got to read danieller123’s story, Under the Apple Tree, it’s being reposted (with danieller’s permission) by slapflaps123official.

Under the Apple Tree

Love that hurts can sometimes heal. Ever wish you could go back and change something you did in life? Bella does.
 

And you should come in and love her right back.

In continued appreciation of the Rangers Gamemakers, Emibella is next on the list. She posts the weekly recs, help desk, and pimp campfires. She engages people in conversations, helps referee some of the hot button topics, encourages…. basically EVERYONE, and is just a genuinely awesome lady.

Come in and thank another Ranger for giving us a place to play.

RANGER EDIT: DON'T FORGET THAT IT IS FREE FOR ALL! please feed the trees :)
 

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!

This weeks special pimp assingment

Instead of just posting a regular pimp with your summary and a link, let's do something FUN. Rename your two main characters and tell us who you think would play them in the movie version of YOUR FANFICTION. Is it a plucky romantic comedy staring Amy Adams? A steamy NC-17 porno starring Henry Cavill? The only rule is that it can't be Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. They were unavailable. I am not sure why. Maybe they were clubbing and hung over. 

Too difficult? Ignore me and just pimp your stuff. I really don't mind!

One asks, "Kate, what ever do you mean???"

So, apparently, over the last few days there have been some... breaches... of what I'd personally consider to be acceptable behavior - in other words, some people have been acting like @$$holes. I'm not going to go into who or what or why or where or how. Don't even ask. This campfire is not for that. No calling out individuals please.

I would like to discuss your feelings on what is and what isn't "proper" or "acceptable" or "polite" behavior inside the fandom (and outside, too, sure, but let's focus... inward).

1. What do you consider to be no-nos in terms of author behavior?

2. What do you consider no-nos in terms of reader behavior?

3. What kinds of behaviors are severe enough that you will flounce a story/author? 

I actually mean this campfire to be sort of "educational". Really. Sometimes I don't think people realize that what they are doing is grating/annoying/impolite/etc. Maybe this is a good place for us all to check up on our own behaviors.

So, stick to the topic please. Again, this is not a place to call out specific parties. It's also not a place to discuss plots or "story stuff" that you don't like. This is purely about people's - readers' and writers' - behaviors and attitudes.

ETA: and ffs this is NOT a campfire to discuss that book or that author or P2P. Leave that mess out of here please. There are more than enough campfires for that.

I was listening to a story on NPR earlier tonight about bees.  I'm pretty sure the broadcaster said something like, "...and that's why SOME BEES are having trouble finding their way home."

The kids were talking, and I was pulling chicken out of the oven, but I was trying to hear the story.  

What I heard was "...and that's why ZOMBIES are having trouble finding their way home."

For just a second, I couldn't figure out why the zombies were having so much trouble.

Here is the bee story.

So, I'm wondering ... what have you mis-heard?  News stories?  Song lyrics?  Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Edit to add:  Thanks to the lovely LJSummers for approval.  She rocks!

IT'S TIME!

COME ON IN AND WATCH TONIGHT'S EPISODE WITH YOUR FELLOW CAMPERS.

YOU KNOW THE DRILL... THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T WATCH THE SHOW AT 8PM EST.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS WEEK?

COME IN AND DISCUSS WHAT'S GOING ON, FLAIL AROUND WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS, DROOL OVER MR. SOMERHALDER (AMONG OTHERS), AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... DON'T FORGET TO USE THE PHRASE "WTF IS GOING?" B/C QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S USED A LOT WHEN WATCHING THIS SHOW.

AND AS ALWAYS, HAVE FUN!

... for my kidlets.

I have a six and a half year old girlchild who's quite a good reader. I need books for her to read, please!

At the moment, she's reading Alexander McCall-Smith's Precious and the Monkeys, which is just adorable.

But I need more recommendations, please. Both for books she can read on her own, and then more difficult books that I can read to her.

Then, I have a five year old boychild who has just started Kindergarten. And I need recs for him as well, if you please.

Here's some recs for your time:

For little people: OLIVER JEFFERS. His books are beautiful, and these are my son's favourite stories.

Love, love, love them to pieces.

Lost and Found, How to Catch a Star, The Heart in the Bottle, The Way Back Home, Stuck, The Great Paper Caper, Up and Down, The Incredible Book Eating Boy.

Get them all.

Fic-wise:

Dusty.

Do it. Do it. Use it as a how-not-to-parent manual ;) Figure out how to be less-controlling that Charlie and Renee, and less permissive than Carlisle and Esme.

High Fidelity. It's brilliant.

Thanks all.

Shell xx

P.S. Tor said this was okay to post.

P.P.S some of these tags are flipping hilarious!

FFn is not sending out update alerts - again.

Let us have a campfire where we can post the latest updates of the stories we follow. Mine's inside.

This campfire was approved by the lovely and much appreciated Ranger Emibella

This is from People magazines website

Fifty Shades of Grey: Who Should Play Christian Grey?
BY RENNIE DYBALL

Thursday March 29, 2012 01:45 PM EDT

Clockwise from top left: Max Irons, Chris Pine, Kellan Lutz, Alex Pettyfer, Ryan Gosling, Henry Cavill
Getty (2); WireImage (3); Landov
FacebookTweetE L James may be a self-professed "control freak" about the process of bringing her erotic trilogy to movie theaters. But the author may want to take note of her rabid fan base – and just which actor they envision on the big screen.

The not-safe-for-work novel Fifty Shades of Grey is sitting pretty atop multiple best-seller lists, and women everywhere are talking about its protagonist, Anastasia Steele, and her troubled, controlling man, 27-year-old multi-millionaire Christian Grey. And after a Da Vinci Code-esque bidding war, Universal Studios and Focus Features came out on top and will release the film adaptation.

While Christian Bale (circa American Psycho) and Michael Fassbender (of Shame fame) immediately come to mind (as do Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, for obvious reasons), PEOPLE.com readers – and our staff! – also had plenty of suggestions.

Which actor could best embody the young and "very attractive," tall, finely dressed character with "unruly dark-copper-colored hair and intense, bright gray eyes"?

RELATED: Fifty Shades of Grey Author Is a 'Control Freak' About Film Adaptation

Max Irons

Just one look at the hunky star of Stephenie Meyer's new movie The Host can set pulses racing, as Ana might say. Between his brooding look and that messy bed head, he certainly resembles Ana's suitor, and he could easily transition from Tween fare to what's been widely labeled "mommy porn."

Chris Pine

The Star Trek actor is the perfect age for the role (Pine is 31 but certainly looks like he could be Christian's rather-mature 27) and his smoldering good looks obviously fit the bill. And while Pine once told PEOPLE his dream role would be Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, Grey could be a classic for the 21st century ... right?

Kellan Lutz

A former model with a fashion background, Lutz knows how to dress, just like Christian. They've also got Greek-god good looks in common. "I always wanted to play a Greek god in something," Lutz, who portrayed Poseidon in Immortals, has said. And who could resist those eyes?

Alex Pettyfer

The Beastly star is a bonafide beauty, and his British background might appeal to author James, a fellow Brit. He's also got lead actor experience, thanks to last year's I Am Number Four.

Ryan Gosling

Is there a woman on this planet who wouldn't want to see more of Gosling? Beyond his sex appeal, the Golden Globe-nominated Gosling has clearly got the acting chops to take on the complex, complicated role of Mr. Fifty Shades.

Henry Cavill

Cavill is no stranger to edgy material – he played Charles Brandon on the HBO series The Tudors. The same can be said for strong, sexy: Cavill will portray Superman in the upcoming film Man of Steel – the ultimate beautiful man who comes to a woman's rescue. Need we say more?

Vote in the poll or add your suggestion in the comments below!

Tell us: Who do you think should play Christian Grey?
Max Irons
Chris Pine
Kellan Lutz
Alex Pettyfer
Ryan Gosling
Henry Cavill

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20582650,00.html
 

So I think we all need to gain acceptance that this IS really happening. If we have to sit through months of promos, we should at least enjoy looking at the man (or lady) candy. So if we have to endure this, who would you want to look at while doing it?

Who should play the leads?

           THE TREES ARE HUNGREH!!

                                                  (AND SO AM I)

     WE NEED TO FEEEEEED THEM!!

Please, come inside. Feed the forest trees and tell me what you're eating... What you want to eat... The best thing you ever ate was... You've always wanted to try... You regret ever eating... The weirdest thing you did eat... You will NEVER eat...

((Let me know if the trees in this campfire start poppin' up as trees for food, eh?))

Also-- Get any particularly fun, unusual or WTF-y trees lately?? Or just plain seen any really crazy ones around? I get some weird ones! It sorta makes me crazy that my computer spies on me!!