(no subject)

[mari4212]

It seems like half my flist is having a really bad day/month. *bakes cookies and makes tea for all of you* My hugs and good thoughts go out to all of you, and I really hope things start looking up soon.

*tries to come up with good things that have happened to cheer all of you up* Well, let's see. There's been a run of excellent weather hitting my part of the country, warm enough that it seems like every time I pass the front oval I see people either lying around on blankets soaking up the sunlight or playing a game of frisbee.

I still have drabbles to write for various people, so I'll try to get on that soon. If anyone else wants one, especially if they need a pick-me-up, you can still ask for something from any fandom we share.

My parents have once again shown how much they adopt anyone who comes home with me. The truly important questions they had to ask about the friend I'm taking home for Easter? What kind of chocolate bunny does she want for her Easter basket, and is there anything she really wants to eat over break? *loves my parents so much*

Only a week and a half until I'll be home for Easter, and then there's only a month in between then and going home for summer.

Okay, I'm really glad that my corner of H_E remains rather drama-free. It doesn't sound like it's been fun for the people caught in the middle of it.

What do I think about the coming changes? They sound like a good thing, especially the moving away from having so many contests. Gives some more breathing room, and a bit more time to relax and enjoy the community randomness, discussions, and silly times.

Comments

[cacophonesque.livejournal.com]

Now that I'm not at H_E I miss out on all the drama! So, I have no idea what is going on--but fewer contests and more discussion and fun sounds like a positive move. I'm always up for less competition and more community-building.

Also, talking about chocolate bunnies makes me want a chocolate bunny. I like hollow bunnies, dark chocolate. :D

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel better, you'd probably still be unaware of what exactly the drama was. Three quarters of H_E are pretty much shaking their heads and going bzuh?

I only know as much as I do because some of the people who have been most upset by it are on my flist, but they've been venting in flocked entries, so I don't feel comfortable sharing why they're upset.

My preference now is for milk chocolate, hollow. I like dark chocolate, but in small portions, not an entire bunny.

[minisinoo.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what's going on either. 8} I've been buried in spring semester. I think, aside from sorting, I've entered perhaps one contest. I warned folks when I joined, but sometimes yeah, I agree with you. I'd prefer not to feel constantly prodded towards contests -- especially when 1) my main contribution would be writing, and 2) I have writing commitments of my own that I feel I 'owe' first. Also ... the writing prompts haven't really grabbed me. I think I've written one thing for a contest since I joined, and it was for Hogsmeade. I just haven't had time, and I wind up feeling guilty. I'd rather get involved in more random discussions. that's what I thought the community WAS, when I joined.

Between the feel of being pushed to do all these contests, and issues I've had with sorting ... sigh. I've been considering politely withdrawing. I may wind up on probation anyway, as several of my sorts were "lost" and not recorded. And while, yeah, I reckon I understand them wanting me to look them up ... I don't have time. I barely have time to DO them. I do not have time to go back through the pages and pages of comments on applications looking for which ones I did.

So between the feeling that it's all contests, my crazy spring teaching schedule, and the sorting issues ... yeah. (sigh) I joined for the discussion. Well, so I'd thought. (G) Feel like I'm not a 'good' member because I don't sort everybody and I don't have time to join a bunch of contests.

(And I've realized belatedly that I should have asked to have your dad as my 'mentor' because the one I got was absolutely no help at all. It's not that I have specific questions -- especially not right out of the gate -- as I'm not really sure WHAT to ask. Ha. I'm more a sit-back-and-watch-before-leaping-in person. (g))

[glacierscout.livejournal.com]

I'm available for informal help and/or questions answered.

[minisinoo.livejournal.com]

I may take you up on that, once things get going again. :-)

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Please don't feel guilty for only entering one contest. Please. I did the same thing my first term or two, trying to get used to what the place was like. I was so timid my first few terms, before I got to know some of the incredible people here.

We've had less discussions than we used to, which is why I'm looking forward to seeing us take on the new schedule next term. With fewer contests, we can get back into the random discussions.

And hey, always feel free to grab Dad and ask him stuff, he loves explaining, even if he's not the official mentor.

[minisinoo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That makes me feel a bit better. I did check all the writing contests, but just either 1) had no idea or 2) didn't have time to get it done before the deadline. (That Hermione-Zach "Language of Flowers" stories was in an earlier incarnation meant to be for the 'no dialogue' contest but I couldn't get it done in time, and liked it better with their discussion anyway instead of letters.)

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

These days I rarely have ideas for the fiction prompts. Drabbles are better, my brain tends to work well with short stuff, distilling a scene or emotion.

And yeah, this term has come at a really bad time for most people, I think. Spring Semester always seems busier than fall, for some reason.

If it makes you feel better, the vast majority of our members don't do much besides vote and participate in discussions. I could probably name the twenty to thirty people who are most active either in contests or behind the scenes, and this is in a community with several hundred members. You're probably at a normal level of participation. Especially considering that it's only your first term here.

[layrenelement.livejournal.com]

Awwwww I wish I was at your school so I could come home with you for a weekend, that sounds like so much fun. We never do anything fun for Easter around our house *mopes*

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

*pets*

*passes you my share of the peeps*