acampbell

...and knock me over with a feather.

I got as far as page 11 when I stopped typing on my fic that I lost to a corrupted file the other day. Tonight I saw the file turn up on my zip-drive lineup and noticed it said: 122K. Just for a lark, I clicked on it: and it opened!

I tried to open it yesterday and it either refused or opened with the zillion question marks. Then I thought I deleted it!

I have no clue what happened, but it's resurrected. I'm recopying it to a new file: "Extempore Reborn"!

What an unexpected blessing. Thank you, computer gods!!

I have the afternoon off due to having worked Sunday; I did some yard work and laundry, cleaned the refrigerator, and maybe can do a pic post later as Leah will be out for dinner tonight. What I really feel like is a nap, but it's a bit too late in the afternoon for that. I'll do a little writing instead.

It's pretty sad to think that it's nearly November and that, this year, I've only produced a couple of chapters of "Crossroads" and one Clex fic. A new low, that's for sure. The fic I'm working on today has been in process nearly two years.

Leah and I watched "Roulette" the other night, and usually I like the eps better the second time through. This one, however, was definitely better the other night post-several-glasses-of-wine. Maybe the Oliver Queen fans found it enjoyable, but I agree with my viewing partner that it was a crashing bore. "This is so boring I can't even make fun of it," my viewing partner said, and contended that it would have been much better as a Lex episode. Which caused me to realize that from S4 on, we had no episodes that were generally focused on Lex's background, character, and development. What a waste. I admire MR immensely for leaving the program, but I sure do miss Lex. Still, the way his character was being treated (and still is, in fact) it's better this way.

So, I hope to be back later.

ETA:

Well, great. I just destroyed my fic file, same as I did my last Clex fic earlier this year. I was trying to close out another program, tried to save what I'd written today on the fic, and I got that temp file ("WRD, etc.) warning and the fic is gone. I can recreate most of it from a recently printed copy, but I haven't backed it up in a week or so.

Damn, the fic gods are sure against me these days.

"Reaper," despite the dumb "A" plot, is one of my favorite Clexy episodes, and maybe the last truly glorious one of S1. I simply can't convince myself that the tension between Clark and his dad is over anything but his relationship with Lex, and the final conversation between Lex and Jonathan is one of only three or four reasonably cordial conversations in the series--in this conversation, it seems that his boyfriend's father is thawing and beginning to consider accepting Lex at last. *sigh* Too bad it never went anywhere.

Lex is a very good friend to Clark in this episode. He is nothing but cordial to Clark's father despite some extremely nasty & rude behavior, and it's eps like this that prove beyond a doubt to me that Lex wasn't always "evil." Too bad the characters have all forgotten.( Image Heavy )

"Stray" is a bit sad for the Clex. Clark's new "sidekick," Ryan, is snippy and rude to Lex, and warns Clark about the "darkness" in his friend before he leaves. Luckily, the kid redeemed himself in "Ryan" in S2.

Lex also shares with Clark the story of the death of his infant brother, Julian, and it's never clarified whether Lex at this point truly believed the version he gave Clark here (having suppressed the horror of what actually happened) or whether this was the "sanitized" version the Luthors deliberately dispensed to the public in general.

Lex also veers close to leaving Smallville to join his father in Metropolis, but realizes he'd far rather stay in Smallville near Clark! I wish they'd given us a scene between the guys in which he confided to Clark, as well as to Lionel, his decision to stay!

( Image Heavy )

Heads up that the pic posts will be a bit shorter till further notice due to limited computer access. Hopefully I can go back and beef them up later.

"Nicodemus," isn't a really great ep for the Clex. The flower that causes people it infects to live out their deepest, most secret desires spares Clark and Lex, but causes trouble between them. Lex lies to Clark, Clark gets angry with Lex, Jonathan and Pete bash Lex in extremely rude and cruel ways, Clark sends Lex flying into a stone mantlepiece, and Lex is once again left out of the Kent Family Circle. About the only good thing is Clark defending Lex against Jonathan's taunts
I wonder why they thought we'd be most interested in learning the secret emotions of Jonathan and Pete (they both hate Lex: surprise!) and Lana (to climb to the top of a windmill and f**k Lex--apparently not in that order! Well, at least we can relate to her on the last one! it's the one scene where I can unequivocally 'ship Lexana!)( Image Heavy )

Having gone back to work this week, I don't believe I've been able to do an entry all week.

The computer virus has put a crimp in entries, capping, pic posts, meta, you name it. I began moving all my files to the external drive about a week ago, and I think it will take several weeks to move everything. Once everything is moved, I'll try running some antivirus programs in addition to the (useless) ones I have. I'll also be shopping for a new system, but intend to wait to buy until the sale computers appear in the stores a bit before Christmas. I got this system in December 2006 at just such a sale, and I know they had them last year, too. I've been very happy with it, viruses aside.

I am able to get on Leah's computer when she is out, but as I typically spend evenings and a good part of the weekends on my computer out in the living area, my computer output will, of course, be somewhat drastically decreased for the time being. I just want to let f-list know that I'll still be around and as active in SV fandom as I am able (and that I'm enjoying S9 so far, at least after one ep!) and I do intend to resume everything--fics included.

This also means I'm behind on f-page, so I'm planning to get caught up as I can.

Anyway, new ep tonight! Woot!!!

Due to the thoughtfulness and generosity of one of the most brilliant and insightful people on LJ, I now own the SV S8 DVD set. Last night, I watched "Odyssey" for the first time since last September. I remember, directly that episode concluded, coming down with a terrible cold.

Heads up: I'll be doing the more "exhaustive" ep caps down the road. Caps for these rewatch posts will be sporadic depending on how much time and computer access I have.( Image Heavy )

quiet__tiger posted, about a week ago:

I don't think it's really a meme if only I'm doing it, but I don't know what to call it.

Anyway.

Like many of you still watching Smallville, sometimes I wonder why the heck I still do watch it, considering the massive amounts of complaining about it I do.

So, I propose that over the next week we each think of nine reasons we watch the show: either why you started, or things you like, such as any specific acting, casting, writing, sets, faithfulness to source material, special effects, anything you can think of that has kept you watching Smallville all this time. (maybe you like Chloe's wardrobe, or Clark's hair, Lex's acting, the school set, a guest star, a particular scene, music, anything!)

Then on Thursday September 24, the night before Smallville premieres, post nine reasons you continue to watch Smallville, or at least nine reasons that you did watch for some length of time.

I'm hoping I can come up with nine reasons, because otherwise it really is depressing that I'm still watching. I just think I could use a reminder, get psyched up. :)

If you post, link it here and I'll put together a master post on Friday.

So.

Smallville Season Nine. Nine reasons why you watch Smallville. Accept the challenge?

Yes!

Here are mine:

1. I've loved Superman since the age of 10, was an avid reader of Silver Age DC comics, and I tend to be very loyal. I was particularly fond of Superboy, and as SV is another version of Superboy, here I am.

2. I like the early world the show created: the idyllic small town with mystery and violence under its surface, simple yet relateable characters with basic, fundamental issues and concerns that, however idealized, everyone could relate to. In particular I was mesmerized by the comparison/contrast of two fascinating young men trying to find themselves and fit in, and deal with their parents to boot. It was a fun place to escape to.

3. Clark and Lex: the characters AND the relationship. Even though, as the seasons progressed, TPTB did their best to stomp it out and deny it ever existed, the magic it worked lived, and remained so intense that it still holds power over me. They had more chemistry together than any two people I’ve ever seen.

4.TW/Clark. Even though they’ve dragged his character through the mud, and he’s become not very heroic at all I still love him, mainly for what he was in the earlier days and because TW is so damn goodlooking. And because of his relationship with Lex. As long as he’s on my screen, I’ll be tuning in.

5. Lana is gone (I think). Although 1) The damage they did with her most recent arc, on top of years of audience abuse and character assassination and 2) Her being around DID give me a lot to bitch about. I find that now I can look forward to tuning in without feeling nervous and nauseated before the episode begins.

6. Lex and Lionel are gone. As much as I miss Lex/MR, and no matter how much poorer the show is without him, I no longer have to worry about seeing him kicked around and emotionally gutted/abused every week. And Lionel, once the Magnificent Bastard, turned, by S5, into someone whose treatment made me yank hair out by the clumps of every week.

7. Through SV, my first “online” fandom, I discovered the world of online friendships and interaction. I don’t have much interest in online friendships independent of fannish interests, so, again, that’s another reason to keep tuning in. My big problem now is that I’m not that interested in what’s going on, “plot”-wise, any more, because there’s only one character I remain interested in.

8. SV inspired me to write fiction for the first time in my life. I loved the experience of being creative, trying to improve my craftsmanship, and the thrill of posting, getting comments, discussing the work. Nothing else has inspired me to write, and even though my productivity has dwindled practically to zero, I don’t want to give that up. so that’s a BIG reason I’m holding on.

9. SV and I have been through eight years together. It’s taken my mind off things and provided comfort during a lot of darkness and loneliness, and no matter how crappy it gets, I’m loyal to it for those reasons alone. I really have nothing to take its place in my life. I’ve tried watching other programs but none of them have inspired me.

9a. Till recently, I’d have said that I’m watching in the hope it will get better, but I’ve given up on that.

In conclusion, I think it’s a genuine credit to the original show, vision and actors that so many devoted fans have hung on so long. Our loyalty was won, and strong bonds were forged, in the early days, and have held. Unfortunately, while enabling the series to stick around, it’s given the program license to be incredibly sloppy and maddening.

I've been truly invested in only a handful of TV series during the course of my life, and I often reflect on how hard it is to win. Either the shows are cancelled prematurely or become what SV has become.

Still, bring on S9! I've given up hope that the show will get better, but as long as The Pretty's on screen, I'll be there!

The fourth day of my vacation, and it isn't turning out the way I thought, planned or hoped. Hope is fading that I'll be able to get the viruses off my computer. It will run Norton and Spybot--Norton pulls up nothing, and Spybot says: "14 files in use and cannot be deleted." I'm sure those are the virus files. None of my doc or program files will open.

Right now, I'm just trying to jump ship and copy everything on my hard drive to my external hard drive so I can at least save my stuff, but I'm having trouble getting with that, too. My online activities will be limited until further notice. It's amazing how much of my life revolves around online stuff, and without it, I'm lost.

If anyone has ANY virus removal tips, or even file moving/transfer to share, please do! I'm so discouraged. I can use Leah's computer during the day while she's at work (I'm on it now) but I'm being very conservative in what I do on it. I'm so afraid of picking up a virus on here, too!

In the evenings while on vacation, I've been trying to sort all my fanfic and related fandom stuff, and rewatching random SV eps as I do. Up last night was "Facade."( Image Heavy )

"Zero" is another ep that's about as Clex-y as they come, and the fun thing about this ep is that the shoe's on the other foot, in more ways than one! In addition to Clark's almost obsessive concern with Lex (over the course of the series, Lex generally came off as valuing Clark more than the reverse), this time Clark's the one who's curious about his friend's life, and what he might be covering up, and Lex is the one who's asking Clark to "stay out of it" and telling him "this doesn't concern you." The sad part is that what Clark learns causes him to begin drawing away from Lex because: "There's a lot I don't know about you."( Image Heavy )