Archive journals, icons etc

Hmm, haven't posted in a while ... partly because I was away on one of those family visits that result in stress levels that make you think wistfully about expressing yourself with a lead-tipped bludgeon, and head immediately for the local pub on your return in an effort to preserve a measure of sanity! I even found myself joining a party going clubbing afterwards (for the first time in about 2-3 years -- didn't reveal much except that my self-confidence is shot to shit, but then I knew that anyway).

However, I did take advantage of being away to send my old PC to be kitted out with a DVD writer and USB2 ports, and have just acquired a 320Gb external HDD -- *adopts Four Yorkshiremen style voice* Sheer bloody luxury, I tell thee ...

Anyway, enough RL drivel. One of the things I've been experimenting with was the idea I mentioned a while back of a fic archive journal. A draft version with a couple of random stories as test posts can be found at snorkfics -- comments on the layout, colours etc would be received with interest.

The ad-sponsored LJ does offer more scope for icons to distinguish the various types of story. Since I'm revising NTLJ anyway (and wincing at how clunky those early chapters were), I thought I might try a specific icon for the story. Eight experiments below the cut -- again, comments welcome.

( NTLJ icons )

Lyrics: The last one was I Don't Feel Like Dancin' by the Scissor Sisters from last year -- spotted by sparkly_stuff who's a fan, and ladybracknell who's a pro. :)

As for this one ... well, since I mentioned clubbing, this next song is one that might spring to mind if you'd visited a cheap dive very pleasant Torquay nightclub called The Hideaway in the 1990s. The management used to play it at chucking-out time, presumably on the theory that it would make the patrons run screaming for the exits. Naturally, however, it merely resulted in everyone sitting around and singing the chorus. :)

I saw a mouse!
Where?
There on the stair!
Where on the stair?
Right there!
A little mouse with clogs on
Well I declare!
Going clip-clippety-clop on the stair (1960s)