I feel the need to ramble...

[alliecat8]

I seem to have a small crush. On a real person. One who's not inside my tv set, he's right there where I can talk to him and touch him and stuff. Only I'm married so I can't indulge in "stuff," right? Tell me I'm right, or I might start investigating that stuff, *gulp*.

GFG girls, I finally read all your intros and all the comments, and I left comments, and all of that took me right up until time for Dr. Phil. If we talk this much on LJ, just IMAGINE what it'll be like in N.O.!!! Is it July yet?

Oh wait, no, it has to be June first because then I'm going to Paris. Depressingly, my excitement has turned into terror. It'll just be me and my 18-year-old daughter, and I've never been on a trip like this, where I'm totally in charge in a country where they don't speak my language and they get around on trains and stuff...can anybody give me advice on how not to completely fuck the whole thing up? (Oh, and after 3 days in Paris we're taking the train to Nice for 4 days, then back to Paris to fly home. I think this is the part that terrifies me the most.)

Now, on to the important thing, Hawaii Five-0. I've made the decision to treat this show just the way I did Lost -- watch the whole first season and study the characters, get into their heads, then when the first season is over I'll gorge myself on H50 fic to get an even better feel for the characters, then probably sometime around August I'll start writing. I know that's a turtle-slow approach, but when it comes to writing I can't just dive right in, I feel like I have to be some sort of walking show-encyclopedia before I can fic it. I am not happy with myself for this.

1. Steve telling Blondie, "I answer to God and the Governor." I cracked up. Arrogant much, Steve? lol

2. Danny saying, "When you put both hands on the steering wheel you do something crazy and I have to pray." Oh Danno, I love you with all my heart.

Oh wait, I have a #3, speaking of Danno. Him bitching about how it's great to be part of the team, if you never want to drive your own car. POOR BABY! *pets him*

Ok, if this is too long nobody will read it so I'll save the rest of the stuff rattling around my brain for later. Now I'm off to read my flist, see ya there!

Comments

[elliotsmelliot.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, a lot of people is France, especially Paris, speak perfect English and will be willing to help you. Plus a lot of signs in touristy areas like the airport and train station will be multi-lingual. I recommend an English/French dictionary or phrase book to fall back on. But really, you will do just fine!

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

They'll be willing to help me? OH, GOOD. See, I thought that most French hate Americans and wouldn't like me. I'm glad to hear about the signs, too. And I still have my English/French phrasebook from college -- I took two years of French in high school and two years in college, so maybe it'll come back to me when I'm immersed in it again.

Thank you for the advice and encouragement, love! I'm glad that you and several others have gone ahead of me! *clings*

[adeline.livejournal.com]

Hee, Danno and his bitching. And the little hand gesture. Pretty soon I'm gonna need some "Drive My Car" silly waff-y songfic, lolol.

Also, Steve is totally a disciple of the John Locke school of Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do. His "watch me" after FBI lady told him he couldn't go after the bad guy made me a little bit weak in the knees, not gonna lie.

Did you ever get my email about Paris/France? Just making sure, don't worry about it if you have. ^^

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hadn't consciously picked up on that before, that Danny is the bitchy-boy in that relationship. But it just rolls off Steve like water off a duck, and it's all just so adorable!

Also, Steve is totally a disciple of the John Locke school of Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do.

OMG you are SO RIGHT! I hadn't thought of it that way but hell yes, he is!

I DID get your email, and I sent you an e-gift a few months ago to let you know that I haven't forgotten that I owe you email...I'm such a slacker, though...you can smite me if you want. I read it several times over, and I've put it in my file of tips and advice and highlighted the parts that pertain to the places we'll be. You're SO helpful, and I ♥ you for it.

Just curious, how far do you live from Paris?

[adeline.livejournal.com]

Oh that's right, you totally did! *facepalm* Where is my mind? I'm so scatterbrained sometimes, I swear.

Alas, I'm quite a way's away from Paris, myself, it's a 5-hour train ride.

[eponine119.livejournal.com]

BE A GOOD GIRL NOW. The point of crushes is not to act.

I'd give you advice on Paris but you've heard it from me like 12 times so I'll spare you.

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

I just sent you an email about my crush. Somebody might just have to tie me down to keep me from acting on it *at least just a little*. I know, I know, I'm using the appropriate icon 'cause I know.

I've saved all you advice on Paris in my file, and you've been incredibly helpful but I still have probly a zillion questions to ask you between now and then. Can you handle it or should I tick-a-lock?

[isis2015.livejournal.com]

"When you put both hands on the steering wheel you do something crazy and I have to pray." Oh Danno, I love you with all my heart.

You've really gotta love these two. That was actually one of the few charming moments of that episode, along with Kono climbing up the tree to get to the camera. I love the show, but that episode was not one of its stronger ones. Every episode has its moments, though. :)

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it wasn't the greatest episode, but they can't all be like last week with Danny drawing hearts in the air! That was priceless.

I had a bit of a "yuck" flashback to Lost when Kono started climbing that tree -- shades of Kate, ick. I love Kono, though, and she's a badass tree-climber so I got over it. BUT, if they EVER, EVER make a damn fucking love triangle between Kono, Steve, and Danny, I will drop that show like a rock, I swear I will.

[aurilly.livejournal.com]

I feel like I have to be some sort of walking show-encyclopedia before I can fic it.
I approach fandom the same exact way! I need a whole season to get to know the characters before reading fic or even thinking about writing it. It means that I miss the boat on a lot of things, but... ah well.

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad to find a kindred spirit! You're right, it's tough to be late to the party, but some of us just have to be. Do you think it's maybe a perfectionist streak or something? Or just the fear of screwing something up? I dunno. But thanks for letting me know that I'm not alone in this! ♥

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

You're going to Paris! That's awesome. I'm sure you'll be fine. Have you ever read any of David Sedaris's essays? He moved to France with his boyfriend and wrote several essays about his attempts to learn French and adjust to the culture. They're hilarious and made me want to immediately pack up my bags and move to France. :)

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm taking my daughter to Paris for her Senior Graduation trip, and I want to make everything perfect for her. I will definitely look up those essays!

p.s. Is it storming like Hades where you are? If so, STAY SAFE!

[tellshannon815.livejournal.com]

Seriously, don't worry about France, people will speak English back to you. Whenever I've been there, I always attempted to speak French in shops etc. and usually got a reply in English. I used to think that meant my French was really bad, but then someone I used to work with who'd lived abroad told me he thought they were probably just trying to practise their English!

As for the fic thing, I totally get that and I don't think it's anything unusual - I didn't start writing Lost fic until S3, and I just started S3 of Fringe and am only just trying to write fic now. As for H50, I do keep meaning to check that out, but I do have several other shows I'm very behind on and want to be a bit more caught up with first.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

Be good - you know you can!

I'm the same on the fic thing - I love H50, but being necessarily behind on the show and not having read much fic, I cannot make myself go anywhere near writing it yet. I'm scared shitless I won't get the characters right. We won't discuss how I have absolutely no ideas to write!

France will be fine, as you've already been told. I have never learned French at all and I went to Quebec City alone and without any language skills. It was daunting, but I survived that ALONE, so you and your daughter will be just fine - at least you won't be alone! It's always easier with two, no matter what goes wrong!

[valhalla37.livejournal.com]

I don't think you need to worry about the French-vs.-English thing! :) Friends of mine were in Paris recently and the husband doesn't speak a word, and he still managed to do fine with ordering meals and getting directions, etc. I know anytime I'm around French speakers, though, they seem to really appreciate any efforts to throw in a couple words -- I'm technically bilingual, but my accent and grammar are sometimes atrocious, and people are still really encouraging. Do you have a phrase book or a dictionary at all?