Miscellanea

[osprey_archer]

I'm going to Florida! I'm going to be gone Friday to Monday to visit my brother and sample the delights of Disney World. The laptop is staying at home. I may check LJ and keep up with comments but I won't post till I get back.

I'm very proud of myself, because I did finish the first draft of the last part of Tea and Sympathy before leaving--just as I planned--so go me!

Tea and Sympathy as a whole is 13777 words long, which just fills me with awe--it's the longest thing I've written that hasn't made me consider becoming a botanist instead of a writer.

For any British people who read this: do you actually use the word "counterpane"? I spent years thinking that a counterpane had something to do with windows, so I feel very odd using it to refer to bedding, although the dictionary assures me that's correct. I also spent years thinking sideboards were somehow attached to the table, like a table leaf. Clearly I need a tutorial in furniture terms.

Back to the topic at hand! Is a counterpane a fluffy sort of blanket, or is it more flat? And if it's not fluffy, what word would you use for a fluffy blanket? And how do you feel about the phrase "safe as houses"?

***

And now for something completely different: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, just in case anyone hasn't run into mention of Joss Whedon's project thing. It's about Dr. Horrible, who wants to join the League of Evil, and his troubles with his One True Love and his nemesis, Captain Hammer (played by Nathan Fillion. I am told the other actors are famous people but I don't recognize them).

The songs are good, the One True Love is a bit flat, Captain Hammer is hilarious, and Dr. Horrible is strangely poignant for someone whose goal in life is to gain the acceptance of the League of Evil's leader, Bad Horse. The first one starts off slow but the whole thing picks up speed; it's fun.

Comments

[goldjadeocean.livejournal.com]

it's the longest thing I've written that hasn't made me consider becoming a botanist instead of a writer

I love this phrase to death.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Hee. It's phrases like THAT that kill my botany career before I ever even take a class.

I'm sure the botany world weeps.

[silksieve.livejournal.com]

Not British, but counterpane is like the thin covering that goes over the top sheet. And I've seen it in use, so you're definitely fine using it. A fluffy blanket might be a quilt or a comforter?

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I feel like comforter is mostly an American term (I don't have any hard evidence to back this up, I just can't recall ever seeing it in a British text).

However, the internet informs me that quilt is an acceptably British term, as is duvet, which is probably the fluffiest option. Thanks!

[anait.livejournal.com]

Fenella got me to watch Dr. Horrible, and my favourite part by far was Nathan Fillion. The Bad Horse communigrams were fun too. I can't wait for Dollhouse with Eliza Dushku and Tahmoh Penikett.

Have fun in Florida and at Disneyworld!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Joss Whedon should just sit down and write that hilarious Western musical he is so clearly dying to put on Broadway. It would be the bestest Western-themed musical ever!

I agree that Nathan Fillion was the best part of Dr. Horrible. I thought the whole thing skewed off course in the last segment.