Fic Of The Week - Week Thirty Two

[bk_forever]

Well, we survived last week, despite everything, Misty included - I even managed to finish reading last week's fic, which was a miracle what with some internet issues. So, without further ado, here are this week's fics....

First up is Does Africa Know A Song Of Me?, a ten part fic from Nov 2009 by the wonderful etmuse .

It's apparently set sometime late in an alternate version of S2 (where no one is dead).

Summary: Jack gets a call from UNIT. They need his help... in Namibia. And when they arrive, Jack and Ianto (because Jack wouldn't leave him behind) discover the only communication they have with the team is letters...

This is one of many tw_bigbang fics that I've just never found the time to read. I love the idea that it's all told through letters!

First part is here: http://etmuse-fics.livejournal.com/56481.html and all parts are linked.

This week's second fic is a little 5-parter set after End of Days, while Jack is gone.

There Will Always Be A Torchwood is by pokerkitten and was originally posted back in Feb 2007. Each part seems  to be from the POV of a different team member.

Summary: The search for Jack, and for themselves. Ianto seems to be at the heart of it all, willing or not.

Part 1 is here: http://pokerkitten.livejournal.com/189123.html and as before, all parts are linked.

As always, I hope everyone finds something to enjoy. Happy reading!

(PS - If anyone can tell me how to get rid of those stupid great gaps between words, I'll be eternally grateful. They're driving me NUTS!)

Comments

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Oh, both of these fics sound good. I must save them and hopefully make time to read at least one of them if I can? I am kind of intrigued thinking about the second one you listed.

As for the great gaps between words, I have no idea? I can't make anything change here without instructions on how to change size of font, etc. Sorry I can't help.

love Deb. :)

♥

[bk_forever]

*Hugs* Thanks anyway. I think it will remain a mystery. The post on Dreamwidth is fine but occasionally LJ sticks stupidly big gaps between words.

Really enjoying the first fic, very amusing letters being sent back and forth between England and Africa! It'll be a few days yet before I can read the second one though.

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

I still haven't had time to check either one out. I bet they are good. I need to laugh. Are they fun ones?

I had 2 doctor appointments this week and busy getting ready for Alex to return to school next Monday...but mostly just trying to survive the days. I went to meet the new lady counsler, but it just didn't feel right. She was ok I guess, but her perfume sent me into fits and I am too nice to tell someone when something like that bothers me. I should of if I wanted to see her or else I could not relax there and feel it was a comfortable place to be. She's a Christian type counsler, nice, but not happy that I brought the husband and child with me either. She did NOT want them in there and she made me unconfortable about it. Michael had to bring me the first time because I had no idea how to find the place, in fact I still don't think I could find it. It is downtown and I get so lost. Maybe I will find a woman doctor or counsler eventually. I actually really do still love seeing Dr. Brown so I am thinking of going to him again and just see how it goes. He does not know about the recent Vulvodynia problems and stresses in my marriage. He has heard it all though so I think it won't be a problem telling him about it. He has known me forever! I also go to him without Michael which is better and I would have with the lady counsler the next times. It's just too far to drive and sitting in a car that long with no pain medication was killing me. I hope my Wednesday acupunture appointment goes better. I know I will be "very" nervous. Pray this Chinese guy isn't too mean to me! LOL! I better be nice to him since he is temperamental.

I took a pain pill and I hope I can sleep. I only got 6 hours of sleep last night and it is bad for me. I need a lot of rest with so much on me right now. I always have needed sleep. I used to sleep 10 to 11 hours a night if I didn't have to be anywhere the next day. I love escape from life. I usually deal with things better when I am rested too. I know I risk welts everytime I take a pain pill, but I can't sleep even 8 hours anymore because of the pain. I talk about this too much, I know. It is just hard to escape from, it is taking its toll on my health and on Michael too.

We contacted the Vulvodynia Foundation and they are going to email me a list of doctors who specialize in V. that work here in Tennessee. I sure hope we have some. This specialist, Dr. Goldstein, who works out of Washington D.C. said there were only around 30 doctors in the U.S. that specialize in treating women with it. I watched a short video online about him on an old TV show "20/20." He has a website I stumbled upon from a post a girl left on a V Forum. It was the first real spark of hope I have gotten. Some women have been treated and even cured though it wasn't over night. It could be years and I am going to have to come to terms with that and in the mean time keep trying to find help with the pain and I hope more knowledge toward a cure. Last year this time, I had no idea this condition even existed and I certainly never thought this would happen to me, but then does anyone ever expect crap like this.

I'm writing a book again. I need to sleep.

Thanks for putting up with me.

love Deb.
:)
♥

[bk_forever]

Hope you get a good night despite everything. I'm feeling pretty wrung out and exhausted myself, so I can sympathise though I'm sure you're far worse because of the pain and itching.

I hope the acupuncture appointment goes well. As long as you listen to him and do as he says you should be fine, just try to relax and think happy thoughts!

Sorry the woman counseller wasn't too nice. Some are nicer than others I guess, and just because someone is christian doesn't mean they're easy to get along with. One of our neighbours is a vbery committed christian but is also one of the gloomiest, most pessimistic people I've ever met. She never seems to smile.

Also, people who are thereapists really should only wear minimal perfume, they hav no idea how it will affect their clients. I have bad reactions to certain smells, they can make me feel ill for days, even some nice scents do that.

Good luck with your appointment and I hope there is a specialist near you - keeping my fingers crossed!

Love and hugs, J xxxx

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Well, the pain pill helped, but also makes it a little difficult to sleep. No idea why? I took an extra Ativan, Michael said to do that though I always hate taking too many pills together now. It took an hour, but I finally went to sleep and slept around 7 to 8 hours. I unplugged our phone before I went to bed because we always get these calls from people trying to sell something in the late morning when I am trying to sleep. Once woke-up, I can't seem to go back to sleep even when I am so tired. My luck, for some unknown reason, Alex gets in our bed at "7:00 a.m." and I yelled at him. I know he doesn't understand. Kids always want to get up early. God must have been with me because I managed to fall back to sleep.

Oh! I wanted to tell you! I finally got your package! I love the crystals!...and they are just what I need. I am going to try holding and meditating with them sometime. No idea if it will work, but I will give anything a try. I also love the card with your beautiful sewing. So adorable! I love the little guy; he does look like I feel a lot. lol! ...oh and the "Made with love" heart is so sweet. Where did you get these beautiful little drawstring bags for the crystals and the little individual ones for each stone? I love them. And I love that they each do something different to help me, first one I looked at was for inflammation. LOL! I really need that one for sure! One here that dissipates negative energy, I need a necklace made out of those stones and just wear it around my neck all the time! lol! Not kidding. :D

Thank you so much for them and I will look at the CD soon too so I can learn about them. I wanted to write this to you before you went to bed if I am not too late. I am going with Alex to my parents house tonight and tomorrow. I have to get us ready.

Love you!!!
{{{hugs}}}
Deb. :D
♥

[bk_forever]

=D

So glad everything arrived safely! I picked the stones with properties I thought might help you. Best thing to do with them is hold each one and tell it what it is doing for you. Always think in the present tense with stones so that they get working immediately. Cleanse then under cold water every few days, telling them you are washing away the negative energy and filling them ewith positive, healing energy. well, that's what I do anyway. You can carry them around in your pocket, hold them in your hand, or place them on the affected area (which in some cases is just not practical, but you know, somewhere nearby. I hold some of mine while I sleep, but they often fall out of my hand and I sometimes end up lying on them. A little uncomfotrable sometimes. On the other hand, they often seem to wander to where they'll do most good, so I let them.

The e-book should give you a lot of basic info - I found it on ebay so I bought us a copy each. The little bags are off ebay too, I bought several hundred in the end as they were cheap and ideal for giving crystal gifts. The stones with the printed info sheets came from the weekly crystal auction I buy from. Carole knows a great deal about crystals and I knew those would be ideal for you. The little angel I though you could carry with you to protect you, like I'm there with you in spirit. I hope they help, and there's the bonus of them being pretty too!

Glad you liked the card - I changed the colour of the mug because I know you like pink. He's just so cute, half asleep and needing his coffee, I just had to stitch him for you. I got the hearts from a craft shop years ago, but this is the first time I've used one.

*hugs tight* Glad you slept better, hope you do agin tonight!

Love and hugs, J xxxx

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

I will do what you said with the stones. Have they helped you before talking to them and all the other stuff? I know some of it has to be a positive state of mind and I wonder if the stones really do something too. I need to listen to the e-book you sent me. Thank you for buying it, you didn't have to do that. I hope it didn't cost much. :)

Yes I love pink....and it is so sweet that you just now used the heart for me. :*)

I didn't sleep well last night. It was a bad one. Aruging with Michael, but I won't talk about it now. Too painful.

I am going to pick out a time to sit down calmly with all these stones and hold them and tell it what it is doing for me. I sure hope it helps, if nothing else improves my attitude, helps me be more positive that I will get better that I will feel better and that hope is here and will stay....and in turn Michael and I will become closer because of all this and not torn apart which I am so afraid is happening right now. Oops! no negativity here at the end. lol!

Need to get Alex and me ready again to go to my parents. I love to procrastinate as you know. :D

love you!...and thanks so much again for the beautiful crystals!

Deb. :D

♥

[bk_forever]

I've always found the stones help me, I have some with me all the time - in my pockets, or in my handbag so I can hold them when I'm feeling stressed, I even sit on some during the day (I know, I'm weird, but I can't hold them when I'm typing and sitting on them seems to work almost as well!)

The e-book is a reading one rather than an audio book, so you can just look up the bits you want to know quite easily. It wasn't much at all, so don't worry, e-books like that are often quite cheap. It has quite a lot of information packed into it. Don't worry if the properties it lists for the various crystals aren't the same as the ones I listed, what's in the e-book is the short version and I got the information I gave you from a much more detailed (and big) book I have.

Anyway, relax and have fun playing with them. Remember, they are part of the earth, and God created the earth so he created crystals too, to help us. I firmly believe that he put them here for us to use, just as he gave us plants with medicinal properties.

Love you too! Take care and look to the Garnet and the Sardonyx to help you and Michael! *hugs tight* XXXXX

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

You know I just found the Garnet. That is actually my husband's birthstone. I need to find the Sardonyx. I have the Black Obsidian in my lap for pain relief. I will be holding this one a lot. I feel funny talking to crystals, but I will try anything. lol! :) It feels like a form of meditation too when I do it. I close my eyes while I hold the rock in my hand or against my body and tell it what I want it to do. Is that right? Should I "ask" it instead out of respect?...*laughs*...I understand how this could help me because staring at my candles, light blue holders with wonderful vanillia candles, used to bring me the same kind of calmness. I looked up once how different colors affects us. They really do like the crystals. I always hung onto sky blue because it is the most calming color to me though very pale/pastel pink soothes me too for some reason. I want to read up on colors again, I know some are suppose to give you energy like red or green, I think, but I can't remember those now.

Oh I found the angel! Is it the Archangel Michael?! He can protect me from Satan. My Michael thinks that's who it is. I just found it because I had not looked through that bag yet. I found a crystal that looks like an Angel to me. It is Black Onyx, it sounds like an angel, you wrote it supports in difficult circumstances, eases fear and worries. I would love to put it on a necklace and wear it around my neck, but I don't know of any way of doing that without putting a hole in it, which I won't do!

I keep looking through them and I will write more to you soon about them.

Thanks!

love
Deb.*trying to find her way back to peace & love*

[bk_forever]

Not sure which angel is on the bag charm, but it should say on the back of the angel - there are so many angels! He's a very protective one though! The Black Onyc angel can also travel around with you as extra protection. He's better held in your left hand. There's really no way of making him into a necklace, but then he's really for holding when you needsupport.

With crystals I awlways tell them rather than ask. i feel they are very matter-of-fact, they don't need frills, just need to know what they're doing. They're also nice to just play with in your hand because of the smoothness, just rubbing them is like meditation, everything just focuses down to how the stone feels as it warms in your hand. They calm me during panic attacks by doing that. You'll find what else they do for you just by playing around with them, find which ones feel best when you hold them. Some make the soles of my feet tingle when I hold them - those I know are very powerful for me. It's a strange feeling, but rather nice, like energy is being drawn up from the earth itself through my body, grounding me. Of course, I'm a weird person, so you might feel something different. I always say, if you're drawn to hold a particular crystal, then that's the one you need at the time, like you're being guided towards what is best for you.

*hugs tight* Love, J XXXX

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Thank you,

I feel kind of silly talking to a stone, but it is more like meditation like you said. I have been holding different ones, rolling them between my hands. The one I first liked the most was the pale pink stone that promotes calmness and unconditional love. It is so pretty!...and I don't know if it was the stone or just me saying the words to it and taking deep breathes, but I slowly started calming down. Tonight I really fell in love with the white/clear/sparkly crystal of "hope." I was praying while I meditated and.... (I'm weird) I also ask to the air if my "angel" was here with me. No answer of course, I mean I know I'm crazy....lol! I did for some reason need a sign that the angel was here, some sign that things are going to get better in "time"...at the very least with my depression and how to better handle life with me and my family....anyway I digress...I was holding the white hope stone and looking at the light shining through it and it look like a sliver of light inside was a person or maybe my angel, ok, yes I'm nuts! Maybe I just wanted it to be, but I laid the stone down for awhile and pick it up again in the same dim lighting of the room and looked at it. As of yet, I have not found that same sliver of light that might have been my angel or of a sign from him/her. I had taken a pain pill for sleep, so maybe I was seeing things. lol!

I have yet to feel any kind of tingling though that might be bad for me. I have enough itching and tingling from other causes. lol! I do feel drawn to certain crystals more than others. I love holding "the white hope stone, the pink one=calmness, the one that works like an antidepressant, and the green stone for inflammation. Not sure why except the colors are beautiful and I hope they might be helping all those problems some. This is so much fun and when I look at them and meditate, I forget to be upset for awhile which is fantastic! It keeps my mind from spiraling into holes. Relaxation techniques with my ocean wave CD. I know would help, but I'm not sure if the crystals help more right now. I want to get my candles out too!

Oh send a thank you to your friend who sent me a collection of gem stones in one of the little bags. I really LOVE the ones she picked out. They all seem to go together and there is a blue one that just jumps right out at me. It says R. U. S. O. E. Art. I guess I could email her myself, but she might want to sell me some and I'm broke right now. lol!...and many doctors yet see I 'm sure.

This was long, I must go to bed. Have to get Alex up for school in about 5 and half hours. I a going to have to start going to bed earlier. I hate that. I like staying up late unfortunately.

Love ya!

♥

[bk_forever]

I'm glad you're enjoying your stones and nothing you say about them sounds silly at all - remember who you're talking to, I've been playing with (and talking to) crystals for 30 odd years. I also believe in angels and that they're there when we need them, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if yours gave you a sign through the crystal!

Rose Quartz, the pink stone, has been my calming stone for a very long time, it helps me relax when I'm tense or having panic attacks and you're right, it's really pretty. It has a gentle energy that's very soothing.

I have one stone, a Pyrope Garnet (similar to your Garnet, but yours is Almandine) which often follows me when I get up off my bed, sometimes it jumps right into my slipper as I stand up, like it wants to go with me, so I take it with me! I'm completely daft with my stones and I have hundreds, they are just nice to hold and pretty to look at, and a great distraction from worry and stress, but I definitely believe they help me and I hope they'll do the same for you.

I passed on your thanks to Carole and she says you're welcome!

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

You really made me laugh when I read about your stone jumping into your slipper because it wanted to go with you. LOL! They're ALIVE! Maybe they are? I think I am getting hooked on them; it's your fault! :D You sent me a lot that I really need for different things. Well, I'm glad you are daft about your stones. We all need something and I had no idea they might be good for me when you first mentioned them to me when we first met. Did you buy these off of ebay and save them for me? You are so sweet.

Yes I love the Rose Quart the most too. It is so pretty and smooth and it really does calm me. I wonder if there are others that might help me. I will have to look into it.

I'm glad Carole got my thanks. Thank you for telling her. :)

love deb.

[bk_forever]

I get most of my crystals off ebay now - I bought quite a few packs of 10 of the same kind, for adding to presents etc, and some I got specifically for you from Carole's auctions over the last few months, because I hoped they might help. I literally have hundreds, Carole says my home must be bursting with crystal energy and I guess it is. They do make me feel happier. Have fun experimenting! *hugs*

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Well, I had written a reply to this and not posted it. I came back and accidentally rested my elbow on the cord and the plug pulled out. Rewritting....*rolls eyes*

I meant to tell you on one of the earlier posts when you were going to bed that I found the bloodstone. I told it what you told me to say, telling the allergic reaction to go away and cleanse my blood. I also told it to tell my immune system not to attack those chemicals. They weren't bad. Silly I know. I doubt that would work, but I wish there was a stone that could tell my body to understand that the drugs I am putting in are not enemies come to hurt the body and the brain, but to help it heal.

You are so sweet to collect all these stones for months and then send them to me. :D
I bet your house is lit up with crystal light! lol! I just need to come stay at your house for a day and I bet my body would heal itself. lol!

I've been ordering different crystals to help me. I have two next to my well...ya know?...lol! One for pain, the bloodstone, and I have used the iflamation stone (Moss Agate) a lot too. I'm so silly with all these stones laid out on my bed some I put on my body while I am typing. I hold some while I watch TV. I am amazed at how easily I can calm myself down with them when I have been very upset and hopeless.

Thank you again!

♥

Deb.

[bk_forever]

*hugs* Not silly at all, I'm sitting on a bunch of crystals right now =D

I love Moss gate, it's one of my favourites, it has so many uses. It treats fungal and skin infections (lovely!), is good for depression caused by left/right brain imbalance, treats infections, colds and flu, lowers fevers, speeds up recovery, cleanses the circulatory system, balances emotions, reducing stress and lessening fear, encourages trust and hope.... A really helpful crystal!

Hope they keep helping you calm down!

Love ya! *hugs* ♥

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

LOL@!!! Didn't your bottom hurt?! =D

I need a crystal/s that would help my whole body re-balance itself. I would love it if I could find an acupunturist who knew how to do that. I don't know if that is possible, but couldn't hurt to ask. :) I've been reading that they treat all kinds of problems, not just pain, but depression, anxiety, headaches, menstrual cramps, etc. The list was really long on this site about a group in Atlanta, GA. They are actually all Chinese doctors too. I still would want to check up on them, make sure they are not fakes....but like I said, I really need one in town.

[bk_forever]

Really hope you can find a good acupuncturist near you. It can help all kinds of things, I know. Travelling two hours to get to one isn't really practical, it's just too far. Keeping my fingers crossed you'll find someone nearer!

*hugs tight*

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Yeah me too.
Thanks!

{{hugs back}}

[musingwoman2.livejournal.com]

Does Africa Know a Song of Me is a brilliant fic. You are in for a wonderful time.

[bk_forever]

Yeah, I'm really enjoying it! I've read 5 chapters so far, going to read some more in a minute.

[iantojjackh.livejournal.com]

I'll have you know these recs are very distracting on a Monday morning:p such awesome stories you point out.

How are things on the bunny front?

[bk_forever]

Heee! Glad you're enjoying the fics, sorry for the distraction though!

Things are chugging along bunny-wise - he's still on antibiotics and painkillers, we're also doing tummy massages every 3 hours or so (when he'll stay still enough) and trying to tempt him with tasty foods. Unfortunately he's so fussy! He's eating cabbage, but turns up his nose at most things rabbits are supposed to love, and even things he liked yesterday he won't eat today. He's started trying to eat me though, he chews on my arm now when I'm carrying him. There's a reason I wear a woolly jumper under my blouse when I'm carrying him - those teeth are sharp! And then he stuck his ear in my mouth. I was tempted to bite him back, but frankly, he didn't taste very good.

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Butting in again....ROFLMAO!!! So he didn't taste good huh?! :D Bite that bunny! lol! No, not really. I was so amused when you talked about your rabbit trying to eat you. I do hope he is getting better. Give him a kiss or a tummy rub from me.

love Deb. ♥

[bk_forever]

He's definitely getting better, which is a mixed blessing - it's what we want, but it gets harder to treat him every day.

I definitely don't recommend rabbit ears - they're very soft and fuzzy, but not tasty at all. He's not staying still when I carry him now, so I worry he might get away from me. He's leaving teeth marks on my arms, but the thick sweater helps. Not fun having to wear it in the hot weather we're having though. i just need the protection for my arms.

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

He is getting better so he has more energy and he is a big bunny, good and bad I agree. I doubt I could hold onto either. I'm sorry that your having to wear sweaters to hold him, you do need arm gear while working with him. Ouch! teeth markes aren't fun.

Wheneven I have had to take Neo to the vet it has been awful. We have to pick him up and put him in a pet carrier. I have had him claw my arms off! My arms were all scratched up and bleeding. I have to put a tough coat on now if I do that. He doesn't know he is hurting me, he is just scared.

[bk_forever]

Thankfully, Misty doesn't seem scared, just annoyed. He gets scared when I take him to the vet though, so I know the difference. He's a hot, cross bunny, and I get hot and cross too, but I mostly win the battles! I've been bitten by most of my pets at one time or another, and sundry stray creatures too. I've been called on to trim the claws and beaks of various local critters over the years. Hamster bites are quite painful, but lovebirds are the worst. I caught a stray in the garden and it just sank its beak into my hand and wouldn't let go, I practically had to prise it off.