All about YOU

[birdsofshore]

I love talking with you all here each week / day / hour / insert own level of addiction, but I often think I don't even know basic stuff about your LJ , like what your username means, what your icons are, etc etc. Come and tell me everything.

Why did you pick your username, and what does it mean? What's your default icon, and does it have any significance? If it's a famous person, please don't assume I will know who it is - I never know who anyone is unless I have the hots for them. What about those other things we can personalise on LJ - the quotes or messages at the top of your journal, and that odd little thing I've never worked out how to change, for instance who_la_hoop's says "I can see your house from here", which always makes me laugh. Do you have special art or graphics on your header? What are they all about?

I will start you off. My username is from a poster that I have in my living room, which says "Birds of shore & sea", with, er, drawings of different birds. Of shore, and, indeed, of sea. "Birdsofshoreandsea" is more characters than LJ allows, and besides, the shorebirds are the ones I like the best.

My picture is probably self-evident, but it's a curlew, which is my absolute favourite bird. I live quite near to plenty of these glorious creatures and they make me very thrilled and happy whenever I see one. They're just so ludicrous and beaky. They look like they shouldn't exist, and they seem to have really fabulous personalities. I can watch them for hours, just mooching about and digging for worms. They also have subtly beautiful plumage and the most wonderful song. I'm not actually OBSESSED with birds in real life, but I can verge on HIGHLY ENTHUSIASTIC about birds on any given occasion, so apologies if you just glazed over there.

The quotes on my journal are from one of my favourite books, The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving. "You've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed" and "Keep passing the open windows" are pieces of advice from the book on how to survive whatever life throws at you. If you haven't read it, it's a big, insane, sexy, sweet, funny, tragic romp of a book and please don't tell me if you don't like it, because I have adored it since I was about 15 and bought it to impress a boy I fancied who worked in a bookshop (my rec for Frequent Patronage will be along any day now, by the way). Fandom is definitely part of my plan to remain sane and to 'keep passing the open windows' (in other words, to avoid falling into depression and self-harm), so both quotes seemed apt when I was picking my layout.

I have only got a standard LJ header thing - it was the one that seemed least offensive when I looked through. I'd love fancy graphics or some beautiful art up there, but OMG, how hard to choose, plus, if I'm being honest, I don't have a clue how to do such things DD:

Please come and do all the sharing. I really, really want to know.

p.s. A very big thank you to whoever nominated me at HPfanficpoll thingy, if you are on my flist. I was very flattered indeed that you liked my fics, and touched that you took the time ♥

Comments

[eidheann_writes]

So. Eidheann. That was my second online handle (first being Tamlin) which was in the mid-90s on irc. I needed a secondary handle, I don't even remember why, and a super Irish-yay friend suggested it. It's gaellic for ivy, and apparently a traditional knit pattern.

I can't really pronounce it; never actually heard it said, but it became my go-to name for everything (except twitter). So if you google it, odds are it is me. And the -writes part was just to make a secondary fandom account that the personal account people still potentially hanging around my flist on the eidheann account won't be subjected to boy porn.

As for my default icon, I had several friends who called me m-bunny for quite a while. So when those little cartoony icon sites went around, I made a cartoony head that looked kinda like me & shoved some bunny ears on. It has been a default icon for... at least 5, probably closer to 10 years now.

My layout was all capitu who gave me very specific "go here click this paste that" directions. I don't (think I) have any header/titles/words of wisdom because titles are evil and we should all throw rocks at them.

[capitu]

M-bunny? OMG, how cute is that? LOL

Ohh, you're never living that down, my bunny. <3

[birdsofshore]

Another Tamlin! That's interesting. I can't say I actually consciously thought your name was pronounced "eyed-he-ann", but subconsciously I must have done, because when Omi and I were nattering about LJ one day, she called you "Eden" and I had to do a "Wha?" because I didn't know who she meant. It's lovely that it means ivy, I like that.

I knew about your bunny ears because I asked you once before! I am eternally nosy!

[celestlyn.livejournal.com]

Well, my icon is self-explanatory, but I'll just explain anyway. It's a pic of a snowy owl. I found it on a google search and it is in honor of the oh-so lovely Hedwig. Some of my favorite scenes in the movies are Harry's interactions with Hedwig. I adore birds of all kinds and owls are fascinating and beautiful creatures.

My layout is strictly an LJ creation. I have no clue how to make headers and I'm not really good with html and coding, so I just went with what was easy.

My name (celestlyn) is one I have used online for many years. It is a blend of part of my 'real' name and my spiritual name (Celeste). I chose Celeste years ago as my spiritual name because it's a beautiful name and because it says a lot about who I am. So I stuck the 'lyn' on it from part of my real name to create my online identity.

[birdsofshore]

I love both your icon and your name, and the reasons for you choosing the snowy owl. Such a very beautiful bird.

Is it OK to call you Celeste for short? It is such a lovely name, I admire it too.

[writcraft]

Oh FUN!

You have a bunch of comments which I want to read through because I'm intrigued. For me, my fandom love was HP, I wanted to do something 'magical' (seriously, you're welcome to laugh :D) and hence I went for a spin on Witchcraft with a writing focus which led me to Writcraft and...

I'm SO embarrassed about my user name. Annoyingly, I also had this wanky blog under the same name which I keep trying to fucking delete and I can't - it wasn't wanky in that I was an ass, more that I posted about 3 things and it's boring as fuck. More problematic is people in RL had access to the blog so they can guess my fandom name. I went to a dinner party recently and chatted about fandom and a friend said "are you writcraft?" and I just shrugged and said "well who is anyone in this world...is anyone watching the Great British Bake Off?"

*coughs*

[birdsofshore]

The comments are so interesting, every single one has fascinated me! I have often wondered about your name and I must admit I like it! Your story about the wanky blog and the dinner party really made me laugh.

well who is anyone in this world..

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH they will have you sussed, but I admire your balls to try to get away with that, heh

[notearchiver.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA at the dinner party. Poor, poor writ. *pats head in motherly fashion*

[megyal]

Oh wow, this is awesome. I'll definitely post this in my LJ to get ANSWERS!!

Why did you pick your username, and what does it mean?
Hehe. It's the local creole way of pronouncing 'my girl'. People say it all the time, especially when they're feeling particularly chortle-y, or gossipy or comfortable. My mother calls me that all the time, and I freak out very quietly on the inside, because I'm like, 'OH GOSH SHE'S BEEN AT MY FANFICTION.' ETA: When I hear non-locals pronounce it, like on podcasts, they tend to say 'ME-GAIL'. I like that!

What's your default icon, and does it have any significance?
I used to change my default icon a lot, but this one has stuck with me for a long time. It's an hibiscus flower, my favourite! I think this image just translates my personality well. I used to eat the flowers as a child!

Umm, okay, my 'name' is Truthful Plum Logical Horse. I think it was a translation of the Japanese characters that make up my real name; I'm sure it's not accurate, but I thought it was hilarious to get that translation. Logical Horse!

My Journal's subtitle is 'writing you a chorus', a lyric from a Fall Out Boy song. Fall Out Boy was the first fandom I wrote for on LJ. Before they changed the friends' page layout, my friends page title had been 'here is your verse', which was the next part of that same lyric. Here's the song if you want to hear it: Dead On Arrival

The 'header' on my journal (it's really to the left) cycles through images of most of the fandoms I'm in, plus a random one or two! I'm very proud of that layout, it took me awhile to figure out. Got by with a little help from an awesome friend. Go ahead and try it! Just refresh the page, and you should see a different pic. :D :D

[birdsofshore]

Isn't it brilliant? I was worried people would think I was weird or stalk for wanting to know, but it has made me realise how much headspace I use up thinking about people's names and so on! I did think yours was pronounced "Meg-yal" but I wondered if your name was Meg. I love the meaning of it and the fact your mother says it in RL and makes you freak a bit XD

Truthful Plum Logical Horse also intrigued me! For some reason it was obviously Japanese, but beyond that, a mystery!

I love your hibiscus, it's very recognisably 'you'. Your revolving header photo is clever! I don't know what the fandoms are, though...

[icmezzo.livejournal.com]

Supposedly I banned myself from LJ until I hit certain word counts on Erised. Clearly, I am a bad, bad girl. ;) But this is just too fun to ignore.

ICMezzo is an old username I adopted back in undergrad. The internet was just starting to really take off at that time, and I needed a username for all sorts of random websites. IC has to do with the college I attended and Mezzo was my voice type. I was studying classical vocal performance at the time. A lot of people misspell or mispronounce it as Icy-Mezzo or Ice-Mezzo. But when I pronounce it, I say the initials so it reads like "Eye sea Mezzo." Anyway, I never dreamed I would ever write anything, so way back when I signed up for FFn.net, I just used the same old username. If I had ever dreamed I would start writing or take any sort of an active role in fandom, I'd have put a lot more thought into it. Many times I've thought of changing it, but I fear it is too late now...

My default userpic is... I actually have no idea. I think it is my two octopuses. I sort of adore them. It started as a joke...someone on twitter tweeted the original B/W image to someone else and was jokingly wondering if they were male or female. I quickly pulled up photoshop and said that if they looked closely, it was possible to tell, and responded with the following manip:

Later we decided those little octopuses must be properly slashed, so we dressed them up for a proper date. And the following photo resulted:


So that's my default userpic. Because it's fun and funny. And fandom just appreciates tentacles. *ahem*

Let's see. What else. Oh, my LJ banner is just me being silly...putting my fic titles on books. I like that I can update the titles at times as I write new pieces and have new favorite stories. And the lovely, lovely capitu did all of the code to make it all look so gorgeous together.

My title, "Yet the sea is not full," has roots in my graduate study of ancient Israel. The text comes from Qoheleth 1:7 (Ecclesiastes for the Christians): כל הנחלים הלכים אל הים והים איננו מלא אל מקום שהנחלים הלכים שם הם שבים ללכת

(Forgive me if that Hebrew becomes messed up when I post the comment. I have no idea how LJ will handle the right to left reading font, much less the characters themselves.)

While obviously not the original intent (that's a discussion for another day, and one I'm happy to have--Qoheleth is pissy and a pessimist and I love that his voice is so unique but managed to survive for us to read today), part of the line has become an encapsulation of how I view fanfiction, and thus, it has a place atop my journal. It is: "All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full."

I imagine the water to be words. So many, many words pouring out of so many different minds and cultures and times and places, and it all ends up in this vast pool of stories. But there is always room for more. There may be nothing new under the sun (that also comes from Qoheleth, a few lines away; he's all about the cyclical nature of life), but we can keep interpreting and rearranging and producing more. There will always be room. That sea won't get full, so keep the stories flowing.

[eidheann_writes]

Yay!
I called you "Mezzo" and "I C Mezzo" ( I seeee yooou) in my head- I am doing it right!

[icmezzo.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. My octopuses are quite large. Er. Sorry, folks.

[sara-lakali.livejournal.com]

Not being a Biblical scholar, I had no idea that 'Ecclesiastes' was a person's name.

[birdsofshore]

ahahaha re: erised. yeah, this was just a quick post to amuse me before I got down to erised. Right...

Your octopi are so awesome and I have missed them so much, even though I like your other icons too. It's hilarious that you added the hats yourself, and the story behind them. They are really in my top 10 favourite user icons, so clever and funny.

I say your name Eye See Mezzo, but I now worry might be pronouncing Mezzo wrong... I think it's "Met-so", please tell me that's right....? When Omi and I talk (nice) gossip about you, we usually call you ICM, pronounced in my head as Eye See Em. :D

The explanation of "Yet the sea is not full" is really moving and fabulous. You are a star. Hoorah!

I love your header and am WILDLY JEALOUS of it. Gnash.

[oakstone730.livejournal.com]

Love reading everyone's responses.

My Username: This is really stupid, I'm afraid. I was going to post my first fanfic and needed to create a username on FF.net and was stuck - had no clue. So I plugged in what I thought was my Pottermore name, but I had only logged in once on it and got the number wrong. The real Pottermore username is Oakstone with a different number.

I figured it didn't matter, because I was only going to post that one story, right? Wrong. Oh, so wrong. And now I'm kind of stuck with a name that has no significance other than being assigned by a ginormous computer server.

My default icon is just a page shot of the first page of the Sorcerer's Stone, because that is where it all begins. I was using a horrible sketch that I did of Harry, but for some reason it shows up crooked on some browsers so I abandoned it.

My LJ page is horribly default, I love all the beautiful pages that people have created but it is just beyond me.

[icmezzo.livejournal.com]

"Because that's where it all begins" LOVE IT.

[potteresque_ire]

Hello new friend!!!!!!! ♥

Sure! I'll play. Quite boring though, compared to the wonderful stories already shared!

I chose my username while I was re-rereading Book5. So, yes, it was a celebration of CAPSLOCK!Harry! I thought of potteresque_angst or potteresque_capslock, but both were too long.

I was a lurker at the time, using the handle only when it's necessary to log in to read stories, which didn't happen often. I never thought at the time that I would delurk to comment, never mind to write and post; otherwise I would have used a more calling friendly name. (In retrospect, I should know myself way better than that. I can never quite keep mum on my obsession of the moment! :) )

Luckily, not long after I delurked and started to comment everyone's ears off, two friends shortened my name for me. Frayach started calling me P.I., and then Calanthe said something along the line of "I dubbed thee Pie" and so Pie I become and I love it! So Pie I am...

I stick with this icon of mine 99.99% of the time. I rely heavily on icons to tell who's who, including, er, myself, when I'm scanning a page. I am Asian and so have the black hair like the girl does and I love owls.

LJ journal name: Between the Shadow and the Soul, from a poem by Pablo Naruda. I am far from a "literate" person in RL, as in, I haven't read much at all compared to most of my LJ friends here (or anyone, really) and what I read I've mostly forgotten, and I feel guilty quoting people and things I don't really like or know about... and Neruda was one of the very poets who left an impression on me in poetry. And more importantly, the sonnet from which it came from, as well as the phrase itself, was to me so very Harry/Draco .. which is, of course, my main ship.

As for the layout, I change mine quite often--my one and only *huge!!!!!!!!1111!!!!!!!!!!* problem with LJ layout is that the title is usually in Helvetica / Arial, which simply doesn't look right with Between the Shadow and the Soul to me (on the other hand, it's PERFECT with ABCDEFG, or NATIONAL SHUTDOWN AGENCY, or DO NOT REMOVE.. you get the idea.. ). I usually make a bit of modifications here and there with existing designs. The current one I have isn't my favorite, but it's simple and fast to load :).

I really love your username (poetic in its own way!) and the icon fits perfectly, although, I admit these days I have this wondering whether the bird is Nic Cage's patronus or... Nic Cage in disguise. :D!!!!!

*Huggles*!!!!

[khalulu]

In my mind your user name is a pun on Potter Esquire. Pie is nice and friendly!

[sara-lakali.livejournal.com]

Why did you pick your username, and what does it mean?

Sara-la-Kali or Sara the Black, is the mythic patron saint of the Romani people. The annual pilgrimage to the center of her veneration takes place close to my birthday.

What's your default icon, and does it have any significance?

My default icon is from a photo I took while I was in London to pick up my copy of Deathly Hallows.

What about those other things we can personalise on LJ - the quotes or messages at the top of your journal?

My journal's title is 'Sara's Wanderings'--in keeping with the Gypsy theme of my username--and the subtitle is 'The Light at the End of the Tunnel May Be You'--which is the final line from 'Amazing' by Aerosmith. 'Recent Entries' has been renamed 'On the Stands'; 'Friends' is 'Teammates'; 'Archive' is 'Back Issues'; and 'User Info' is 'Secret Identity' all because I was moderately active in DC Comics fandom while I was busy being pissed off about Jo killing off four of my five favorite characters, and because I'm too lazy to change them to something HP-themed.

Do you have special art or graphics on your header? What are they all about?

The theme of my journal is Moon and Stars, which is free.

[birdsofshore]

Lord, I was SURE I recognised your icon, but it seemed too odd a coincidence, really! It's from a dragon statue near the Royal Courts of Justice, isn't it? I really love that statue - we always get the bus to Waterloo via St Pauls when we are in London and you get a great view of the statue from the top deck.

Here it is:



Ah, that has made me really happy.

Who were your 5 favourite characters? I can imagine you were fairly pissed off, yes!

[mab.livejournal.com]

Okay... I'm going to jump in late. I love reading all the comments people have left.

My user name comes from the character Queen Mab in Arthurian legend and mentioned in Shakespeare's R&J. I fell in love with Miranda Richardson's portrayal of Mab in the miniseries, Merlin from the 90s and also had a real thing for Mercutio in the 1996 R&J movie (though I really liked Claire Danes in that too)... and the Mercutio monologue where this couplet struck me "And in this state she gallops night by night
Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love"
And so I started using Mab as my goth handle, back in the days I used to frequent clubs and fetish nights, then when I started writing and sharing it online, it just made sense to use it.

My layout is a simple lj one because I have no idea how to muck around with that. I like it because it's simple and has rainbow tabs. My quotes say Mab's Mad Musings which... I think is pretty accurate. I don't post personal stuff often, more because I don't think people really want to read it, than me being secretive. I switch back and forth between being outgoing and extremely introverted. I was misdiagnosed as bipolar for about ten years and during that time the meds they gave me really messed with my head and made things hell... then lo and behold, when I was pregnant with my baby (now 2 and a half) and had to go off them all, my brain righted itself and I feel like ME again. Then they diagnosed me as ADHD and I'm doing a million times better with a wee bit of ritalin.

The other quote: "I may be getting older, but I refuse to grow up" has been a staple to my family since I was born. My grandmother had a paper sign with this quote proudly displayed in her dining room and basically the whole family rose up to meet the challenge. We're all very much kids at heart.

I use my journal to promote my fics when I archive them at Ao3, for HP fanworks recs, and an occasional blip about me or to pimp another community. It's all rather boring.

Congrats on your nomination! I got a notification too, just yesterday. I was nominated for Lucius dark!fic and thought that was rather cool and flattering and very unexpected.

[eidheann_writes]

Oh man, Miranda Richardson was awesome as Mab. That entire miniseries was great- campy, yes, but they did a good job making fae scary and alien and lovely.

I am sad I haven't seen it in forever.

[khalulu]

LJ ate my comment, so here's the brief version - khalulu means rabbit in Chichewa, a language of Malawi (southern Africa). Like the Harry in my fic Beekeeping, I spent some time there and studied the language a bit, and though I didn't see any rabbits there, I liked the sound of the word. (Sounds like kah-LOO-loo.) Icon is that word changing into the Chinese character for rabbit. Someone was offering such word-to-character icons in the Japan relief benefit auction just as I needed an icon for posting my first fic. I like animals and I like languages and I hope the plot-bunnies hop my way.

I only have one other icon, it's ancient Roman art of the god Triptolemus, a blond guy in a chariot drawn by winged serpents, and perfect for my story Abraxan Wings.

My journal header is standard LJ of snowy hills and trees on a starry night. I like it. The quotation is from a gently eccentric and adventurous poem by Edward Lear that I have always loved, "The Jumblies".

[birdsofshore]

I love your metamorphing icon, and very interesting to hear where it comes from.

I am an Edward Lear fan, so I knew your quote already. It goes nicely with your header.

[ashindk.livejournal.com]

My username is a play on my initials and my location and has been my online handle for ages. I'm not really happy with it, but I have no idea what I would like to be called instead, and the work involved in changing it sort of gives me a headache. I think I prefer to be called Ash or being called by my first name, but I don't want to put my first name in my username.
My journal is just a LJ template. Originally I only made it to be able to comment on other peoples work, but then I started posting things, so I should probably make it look a little nicer.
My default icon is because I self-identify as a Slytherin. Obviously.

[birdsofshore]

I do think of you as Ash, I think. Probably with the 'in DK' added on the end. It's very funny how all these revelations make me realise I spend a lot of time mulling over people's names and icons. I wonder if I will spend more or less time thinking about it, now I know all these things.

[astardanced77.livejournal.com]

This is fun!

My username comes from my favourite Shakespeare play - Much Ado About Nothing - and I chose it because it reminds me of my daughter (who bids fair to be just as spunky as Beatrice). My icon is a quote from Oscar Wilde, who is another of my favourite authors. He has so many awesome quotes but most need more context will fit on an icon.

My LJ Journal screams noob! I do lots of reading but not much posting. I should get right on to that...

[birdsofshore]

I like your username and your icon quote very much indeed. I am an Oscar fan, also. :DD

[blossomdreams.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the nomination!

Next, I hope I'm not too late to do this. Well my username is a combination of two things that I love. I love flowers and I was a huge Powerpuff girls fan hence where the first part Blossom comes from. I love flowers, but one whiff of pollen and I'm sneezing and feeling awful for the rest of the day. I still love flowers though. I also love the Powerpuff girls! It was one of my favorite shows when I was little and even though Bubbles is my favorite I picked Blossom because I like her name. XD

The second part dreams come from me daydreaming almost all the time. My dad would joke that I was always daydreaming my next idea which was true. XD If I wasn't daydreaming about a hottie. I put them together because they sounded awesome. Well to me ^^

My default picture is Yachiru Kusajishi from Bleach an anime/manga I enjoy. Her squad is my favorite squad and I love her so much! It's also a representation of my love of anime and manga. Along with books my uncle introduced it to me and I've been with it ever since. It's pretty cool to have something with my uncle we have spent a lot of good times talking about it and when I was depressed he pulled out a lot of old shows and we would watch them together.

The header on my journal comes from something I thought about when I first started it. I wanted it to be inviting so I thought about a greenhouse and how writing has been a dream of mine for a long time so I put them together! (omg this sounds so cheesy XD)

My layout is something I had when I had paid time and it's flowers and purple my favorite color. I keep thinking about changing it, but I can't leave my purple! (I have a problem ask my family.)

[birdsofshore]

Aw loads of stories and secrets! Well, they feel like secrets. I guess they are not any more :DD

Thank you for sharing with us. And for the congratulations, too.

[groolover.livejournal.com]

Well, since you asked...

The answers, in my case, aren't very interesting, I'm afraid! I don't have a fancy title or any quotes on my LJ, mainly because I've never felt the need to (and that's probably because I'm usually convinced no-one would pay any attention!) So the title of my journal is just my real name. My layout is just one of the standard LJ ones, for the same reason.

My default icon is me, wearing a Manchester United jester hat. (I took that hat to the UK HP meetup in Edinburgh a couple of years ago, and that's the only reason anyone knew who I was!)

The only slight bit of mystery is my username, maybe... but, when I originally joined LJ, it wasn't mysterious at all to my friends at the time. My first fandom was Buffy and Angel, and everyone I knew online was a Buffy/Angel fan. When I finally gave in and joined them on LJ (in 2003), Buffy had just ended but Angel was still going. And my favourite character on Angel was the Groosalugg, or Groo for short. I was very taken with his arm muscles :-) So, when I had to pick a user name, he sprang to mind.

I decided after a few years (especially after Angel had been cancelled) that it was a bit of a silly username, but it seemed like too much effort to change it. However, when I've had to pick usernames elsewhere (e.g. on Twitter), I've usually used "iolanthe". This is from my main World of Warcraft character, but she in turn is named after the Gilbert and Sullivan heroine. (I was performing in a production of Iolanthe when I created that character.)

[birdsofshore]

Sorry I missed your comment - it's so interesting knowing everyone's usernames and so on.

I LOLed about you wearing the hat to be recognised. I'd agree your icon is very distinctive with the hat!

[eva667.livejournal.com]

Hi,
My user name is pretty dull, it's just a name I picked thats similar to my own name, Aoife, which is irish and no one can pronounce :-)
My icon came about after I found out I was pregnant with my first kid. I was probably the least maternal person in the world so my friends thought it would be helpful to send my little tips like the one in my icon....I wish I could say it was the only one I received :-)
Now that I'm a mother of two I'm an old hand at it, but I still like to refer to them every now and then :-)
My journal heading is pretty much my attitude to things I have no control over, my darling hubby has taught me how to relax and not sweat the small stuff.
I had to edit this cos I realised I got your bio and nursedarrys bio confused *face palm*

[birdsofshore]

Oh, I am so silly, I read this yesterday and then forgot to reply, so I am very glad you did have to edit. Yes, I thought it must be Darry you meant!

I love your icon and it makes me smile whenever I see it.