denise: Image: Me, facing away from camera, on top of the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome (Default)
Denise ([staff profile] denise) wrote2009-04-10 01:49 am
Entry tags:

The "who I am" entry!

We're adding new people to our closed beta in leaps and bounds, so I figured I'd write an entry about this journal and who I am so people know. :)

Hi! I'm Denise; with [staff profile] mark I own and operate Dreamwidth Studios. This is my "staff" account; my personal account is at [personal profile] synecdochic, which is where I post about my life (infrequently) and my fannish stuff (way more frequently).

During our closed beta phase, I've subscribed to every personal account that's been created, because I know some people are reluctant to contact us with their questions or don't think that something they've noticed is actually a bug. I wanted to make sure I caught those sorts of issues.

When we reach open beta, I'll be dropping most of the subscriptions on this account, because I don't want people to feel like Big Brother (or, okay, Big Sister) is watching. You're welcome to stay subscribed to me! I don't plan on posting much to this account -- it'll mostly be used for making posts to official communities and commenting in situations where it needs to be clear that I'm speaking as staff. (I may keep doing the bug counts, though. I've found it's really awesome to be able to read back over and see what kind of progress we're making.)

I am, in no particular order:

* thirty-two years old;
* queer;
* in an exceedingly committed relationship with the fabulous [personal profile] sarah, which we will get around to making official as soon as Maryland legalizes gay marriage/civil unions or we can get off our asses to get to a state that does;
* disabled (I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic disorder involving a defect in the connective tissue leading to joint pain, frequent joint dislocations, and a whole host of other associated side effects that make life a bit of a challenge, and have recently started using a wheelchair for mobility assistance outside the house);
* possessed of perhaps the worst case of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome you will ever find; my average 'day' runs on about a 36-hour cycle these days, which means you will often find me around at odd hours;
* a writer of both fanfic (mostly Stargate SG-1) and science fiction/fantasy;
* incapable of answering any kind of question without degenerating rapidly into tl;dr territory;
* powered by Diet Coke with Lime and Marlboro Lights;
* fiercely protective of my friends, my loved ones, and my people;
* open to being told when I have fucked something up, and willing to take whatever steps I need to take to make things right (and I'm even working very very hard on quickly getting over the immediate defensive reaction, or not getting immediately defensive at all, as well!);
* so incredibly, passionately, tremendously in love with the idea of online community, social networking, and social media, while at the same time hating the profiteering, advertiser-centric, sell-out attitude so prevalent in the Web 2.0 world;
* amazingly excited, and at the same time amazingly terrified, about Dreamwidth and what [staff profile] mark and I are accomplishing.

(Excited because this is what I have always, always wanted to do with social media, with LiveJournal, and with the internet in general. Terrified, because -- oh my God, what if we fuck up. I've been joking for a while that every time I think about what we're doing here, I need to go hyperventilate into a brown paper bag for a bit. In fact, a friend of mine recently shipped me a package of brown paper bags for that very purpose.)

I was raised by parents who were self-employed; they say your work ethic is set by the age of seven, and hoo-boy, it's no wonder I turned out like I did. You can read an older entry of mine -- (really, i'm just noodling around here) -- for some of my thoughts about the kind of business I want Dreamwidth to be. [staff profile] mark and I are looking to create something that will support our families and let us work at home in our pajamas, not something that will ever make us millions. Watching the energy and enthusiasm that everyone's been bringing to this project, the sheer amount of talent that has assembled around this project, is amazing.

I hope we can be worthy of you all.
luce: (Default)

[personal profile] luce 2009-04-25 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
yeh gods, i need to sleep - i can't post coherently.

I mean that "the quality decreased and the restrictions increased"

yep, I own up to it - the comment above is mine...
catecumen: Ellen custom made by dhampir (Default)

[personal profile] catecumen 2009-04-25 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much, Denise, for letting me in to the party, to play with the shiny new toys you have created! :-)
delusive_oneira: (Default)

[personal profile] delusive_oneira 2009-04-25 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Hallo!
I am simply amazed by all I have read so far.I I really admire how you dared to dream and to work toward the vision you have.
I am really excited about this project and am looking forward (rather impatiently) to see what else you have in store for it.
redstapler: (Default)

[personal profile] redstapler 2009-04-25 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
You seem rad! Thank you for the random draw invite. :)
nyxmidnight: (Default)

[personal profile] nyxmidnight 2009-04-25 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you very much for the invite! I am very grateful for it. And woot, Stargate SG-1! I used to be so into that.
ciorstaidh: (Default)

[personal profile] ciorstaidh 2009-04-26 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
*waves*

At first I was paranoid my mother had got a DW before I had (she's Denise), LOL.

And wait, how on earth do I know (or "know", I guess) so many people with EDS?! I have at least 4 RL friends living with EDS and one is being investigated as we speak...anyway, how terrific DW has become reality for you, I really hope it's the kinda work that won't be affected as much as regular office jobs might, say.

And a huge CONGRATS in advance of your and Sarah's union, fingers crossed MD pulls its finger out soon!
housepet: (dancin' pig)

[personal profile] housepet 2009-04-27 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Hello! Thank you for Dreamwidth - I have been searching for a new home. *looks forward to the seed account sale*
vatine: Created mostly with xpaint (impossible)

[personal profile] vatine 2009-04-27 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Um. Hmm. If "non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrom" is specifically for 24+ days, I do wonder what it was I suffered from (briefly, it seemed to clear up on its own after about 10 months)? I fit a 7-awake, 5-asleep, 9 awake, 3-sleep day into every 24-hour calendar clock. Bizarrely, that's also the most fix sleep/wake cycle I've had.
bluealbertaskys: Icon depicting CKR, Paul Gross, Victor Webster, Michael Shanks and Kyle Schmid, some of my favourite Canadian actors. (Default)

[personal profile] bluealbertaskys 2009-04-27 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for the invite. I'm looking forward to checking this out :D.

I'll echo Blackbird_song above and say thanks for all you've done to get this up and running. I've been keeping tabs on things via LJ.

And this introductory post is cool :D. I may need to update my profile accordingly :D.

Anyway good luck with this project and thanks again :D.
kerrick: (laughing)

[personal profile] kerrick 2009-04-28 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
Hi there. I thought you were DW's version of MySpace Tom. But you're a real person! And you made all this! I think I'll be staying awhile.

Mind if I pour myself a cuppa tea?

[personal profile] ex_thistle50 2009-04-29 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
Your bio makes you sound very awesome! :)

Thanks for what you helped create here. I'm very happy to see that fen populate this place. It makes for a warm environment (well, until the shippers start hating on each other!) But, yes, anyway, thanks!
trialia: Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), head down, hair wind-streamed, eyes almost closed. (Default)

[personal profile] trialia 2009-04-30 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh. I've never met another Stargate fic writer with EDS. You have type 3 too, I'm guessing? Hey there :)
trialia: Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), head down, hair wind-streamed, eyes almost closed. (Default)

[personal profile] trialia 2009-04-30 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
That's one way to put it. *chuckles* I - somewhat fortunately, perhaps - am not at the wheelchair stage just yet, although, having it coupled with primary FMS due to spinal damage, and knowing I can't use canes because of the upper-body issues, I'm beginning to think that it won't be all that long. (I'm 23.)

What pairings do you mostly write? :)
trialia: Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), head down, hair wind-streamed, eyes almost closed. (Default)

[personal profile] trialia 2009-04-30 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
*nod* Looking it over. I miss SGA when it was good, sigh. I just finished rewatching season 10 of SG-1. I don't usually go for the m/m side of things in Stargate, apart from the Rs (Rodney/Radek & Rodney/Ronon... occasionally). More stuck into femmeslash. ♥ Elizabeth and Janet, always did. Sigh! Ah, times that have passed and will no longer return... huh? *g*
trialia: Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), head down, hair wind-streamed, eyes almost closed. (Default)

[personal profile] trialia 2009-04-30 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Indeed.

(I quit mid-third season, too. Kill off my favourite character AND make me puke? Not keeping me as a fan, kthxbai :P)
rainflowermoon: (Default)

[personal profile] rainflowermoon 2009-05-01 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for DW...seriously. Both you and Mark.
I'd like to sub to your personal account, if I can? I know what it's like dealing with joint pain, and wacky sleep..

Dreamwidth is something I've grown very fond of, and I have faith in EVERYTHING you guys do..
Seriously, DW rocks.

[personal profile] seska_w_i_t 2009-05-02 11:17 am (UTC)(link)
Hi - I think we have a friend in common (fialka), as well as a syndrome in common (always fun, heh!). Adding you - hope that's OK!

Love what you've done with dreamwidth. :)

- Naomi (Seska/lilwatchergirl)
fire_and_a_rose: It's not just by me, it's OF me.  DO NOT TAKE IT. (Default)

[personal profile] fire_and_a_rose 2009-05-02 11:31 am (UTC)(link)
This is unrelated to the vast majority of the entry, but I had to comment because I haven't yet met/heard of someone else with Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome. My own case is pretty bad, and it's complicated by chronic illness, and so you have my sympathy. At the same time, it's sort of nice to know someone else out there has it with a name attached to it, rather than knowing logically that other people have the condition.
slamaina: (Default)

[personal profile] slamaina 2009-07-17 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I had never heard of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome so, of course, I had to click the link. I finally know that I am not nuts. I have had insomnia since I was a child. I have often joked that I would do better living on a planet with a 30 hour day. I was often exhausted when I was in school or employed with a 9-5 job. When I had a work from home job where I only came to the office when needed, I did fine. I worked when I was awake and slept when I was tired. I am great with newborn babies too. Most people claim the baby's schedule is exhausting because they don't sleep through the night. Well neither do I.

While I was reading up on this syndrome, I was also looking at the other circadian rhythm sleep disorders. It has given me food for thought. I know I feel better when I just do as my body dictates but, unfortunately for me, life is on a schedule, and with three children, there are many things on that schedule.

Do you go to a doctor or use any sort of treatment?

Slam
vanessagalore: (Default)

[personal profile] vanessagalore 2009-07-22 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Dreamwidth is awesome, so by extension, you and Mark are awesome. I hope my fellow content-providers follow me over so we can take over the world, fannish and otherwise.

Page 5 of 6