Hn, I feel a bout of ethical vegetarianism coming on. I cooked roast chicken last night and found myself staring at the little carcass thinking: 'omigod, that's a dead animal'.
Heh, maybe if I just stick to meat in chunks, or minced, and don't think about its origins I'll be fine...
I know sour milk is what cheese is made from but it still shouldn't taste like it.
The cubs and I went swimming this afternoon. It was good, I felt much better for the exercise. I really should do this more often.
'k, my next AC is teetering on the edge of being finished. It's short and I'm not overly impressed with it but it sets up a few things.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Interesting lot of dreams last night. The first was about a selkie in a rainforest by the sea (still trying to pin the details down on that one), in the second, an unattractive man asked me if he could defecate on me – for the purposes of research. I said no but that I could watch him shit if he liked. He agreed, but then didn't show up for the appointment. The third dream was a news report/eyewitness account of the recent 'Lancaster Uprising', (or something), where 600 Protestants from the North of England travelled down to London to slaughter as many non-Protestants as possible. They'd killed 1000 people before they were caught. Weird. Perhaps I'm watching too many historical docudramas...
<miffed> Michael bloody Parkinson on his show last night called the Pet Shop Boys 'golden oldies...! Ok, fair enough they've been around for ages but dammit, I associate them with my youth.
Humph, golden oldies indeed. <settling ruffled feathers>
<sigh> My fav DVD shop has the first 3 volumes of Yu Yu Hakusho, up to episode 12. My initial reaction on seeing them, naturally, was to cackle maniacally and snatch them off the shelves...
Heh, well, I think I'll finish collecting X first; I've seen those YYH eps whereas I'm viewing X for the first time.
Finished replacing the offending stars in the quilt-strips, now all I need to do is clear a space (2 metres x 2 metres) so I can work out the order to sew them together. Hah!
This next step may take some time.
(Oh, and this could just possibly be taken as being a teeny bit obsessive, but I've worked out, roughly, that once the strips are joined up I'll have hand-sewn over 153 metres. :)
Hn, our national broadcaster is heavily promoting an upcoming program 'Angels in America. I always get suspicious when that happens, it means they've spent an obscene amount of money on something and are really hoping it'll rate well enough to justify the cost.
Ack. Seriously squicked myself last night. Forced myself to sit through all of the Herbie Hancock 'Rockit' video clip. <shudder> It's only hydraulics, think of something else...
<miffed> Michael bloody Parkinson on his show last night called the Pet Shop Boys 'golden oldies...! Ok, fair enough they've been around for ages but dammit, I associate them with my youth.
Humph, golden oldies indeed. <settling ruffled feathers>
<sigh> My fav DVD shop has the first 3 volumes of Yu Yu Hakusho, up to episode 12. My initial reaction on seeing them, naturally, was to cackle maniacally and snatch them off the shelves...
Heh, well, I think I'll finish collecting X first; I've seen those YYH eps whereas I'm viewing X for the first time.
Finished replacing the offending stars in the quilt-strips, now all I need to do is clear a space (2 metres x 2 metres) so I can work out the order to sew them together. Hah!
This next step may take some time.
(Oh, and this could just possibly be taken as being a teeny bit obsessive, but I've worked out, roughly, that once the strips are joined up I'll have hand-sewn over 153 metres. :)
Hn, our national broadcaster is heavily promoting an upcoming program 'Angels in America. I always get suspicious when that happens, it means they've spent an obscene amount of money on something and are really hoping it'll rate well enough to justify the cost.
Ack. Seriously squicked myself last night. Forced myself to sit through all of the Herbie Hancock 'Rockit' video clip. <shudder> It's only hydraulics, think of something else...
Saturday, May 29, 2004
"Thomas was a little engine with a long tongue..."
James' driver and fireman were feeling him all over..."
Hee.
Taking things out of context is such fun.
Half-way through my next AC - it'll only be a short one, I think - and an idea for a short, 'future' side-story tentatively raised its hand yesterday. I told it to line up with the rest of them. :)
Now, ideally, spending a week on my own (with computer and net access of course) would be a triffic way of catching up on work. That's unlikely to happen any time soon so I guess I'd better just get on with it.
Excavated a goat-trail from my bedroom door to my bed last night. It took me half an hour. I have got to rethink how I handle the limited space available. The easiest solution is to move to a new house with 3 bedrooms, a workroom/study, lots of inbuilt cupboards, room for bookshelves, a lock-up garage for storage etc. That'd be great but what if I can't achieve that (for whatever reason) within the time-frame I've allocated? Am I willing to continue living the way I do, picking my way through mountains of stuff, never being able to find anything without searching for an hour first? No... ergo I have to think of another way to with cope with the lack of space. <frowning> After the last couple of moves there's not that much I can/want to get rid of... Eh, I'll have a look in the garage later and see if I can shove in a few more boxes.
James' driver and fireman were feeling him all over..."
Hee.
Taking things out of context is such fun.
Half-way through my next AC - it'll only be a short one, I think - and an idea for a short, 'future' side-story tentatively raised its hand yesterday. I told it to line up with the rest of them. :)
Now, ideally, spending a week on my own (with computer and net access of course) would be a triffic way of catching up on work. That's unlikely to happen any time soon so I guess I'd better just get on with it.
Excavated a goat-trail from my bedroom door to my bed last night. It took me half an hour. I have got to rethink how I handle the limited space available. The easiest solution is to move to a new house with 3 bedrooms, a workroom/study, lots of inbuilt cupboards, room for bookshelves, a lock-up garage for storage etc. That'd be great but what if I can't achieve that (for whatever reason) within the time-frame I've allocated? Am I willing to continue living the way I do, picking my way through mountains of stuff, never being able to find anything without searching for an hour first? No... ergo I have to think of another way to with cope with the lack of space. <frowning> After the last couple of moves there's not that much I can/want to get rid of... Eh, I'll have a look in the garage later and see if I can shove in a few more boxes.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
A conversation with one of my cubs after I'd told him he couldn't do something:
Cub: <pouting> You're Mrs No-Fun.
Me: <eyebrow> Mrs No-Fun?
Cub: Yes, you never let me do anything.
Me: Yes. You're right. I never let you use the computer, or watch television, I never take you to the Aquarium, Museum, movies...
Cub: <pause – you can hear the gears whirring> Okay, you're Mrs Almost-No-Fun then.
<rolls eyes>
And in the supermarket this evening I was stopped by an elderly lady who wanted to tell me what beautiful hair my children have (this isn't an unusual occurence). We chatted for a while and then she smiled at my cubs antics – they were wrestling with each other - and made the comment that they 'were showing off because I'm talking to you.' I smiled sweetly and said that, no, they were like this all the time...
<grumble> I'm feeling thwarted, I've not been able to find a DVD copy of 2002, not in my usual haunts anyway. Looks like I might have to gird my loins and venture into one of the Asian video shops in Box Hill.
And because I couldn't watch 2002 again I watched Velvet Goldmine instead. : )
Heh, and guess what? Iggy Pop has recently released a 'greatest hits' CD which includes 'Gimme Danger', my favourite song from Velvet Goldmine that's not included on the soundtrack. Hee, if the 30 second grab of the track I managed to squeeze out of Border's crappy 'preview' system is anything to go by, Eyecandy McDrooly's version is very close to the original. : ) Eh, even if it's not it won't hurt having some Iggy Pop in the music collection.
My latest Dystopia chapter, 'Seduction', is now posted (thank you, Joules!) and I've reviewed what there was of Dancing's chapter 11. It needs expanding, certainly, but I have to have a think about it first. The next AC is planned, and the next Elga is beginning to bubble. <happy sigh>
Tidied up all the loose ends of my scarf tonight – that's finished now - and I completed the final strip of my quilt! <happy dance> Now I just need to replace a few of the stars then I can get on with piecing it together. Chuffed? Oh yes...
The cubs favourite program on Cartoon Network at the moment (apart from Transformers) is The Cramp Twins. It's gross, though not as gross as Ed, Edd & Eddy and I swear the opening theme utilizes the first two stanzas of Slade's 'We're all crazy now...' Not entirely inappropriate given the show's content.
Cub: <pouting> You're Mrs No-Fun.
Me: <eyebrow> Mrs No-Fun?
Cub: Yes, you never let me do anything.
Me: Yes. You're right. I never let you use the computer, or watch television, I never take you to the Aquarium, Museum, movies...
Cub: <pause – you can hear the gears whirring> Okay, you're Mrs Almost-No-Fun then.
<rolls eyes>
And in the supermarket this evening I was stopped by an elderly lady who wanted to tell me what beautiful hair my children have (this isn't an unusual occurence). We chatted for a while and then she smiled at my cubs antics – they were wrestling with each other - and made the comment that they 'were showing off because I'm talking to you.' I smiled sweetly and said that, no, they were like this all the time...
<grumble> I'm feeling thwarted, I've not been able to find a DVD copy of 2002, not in my usual haunts anyway. Looks like I might have to gird my loins and venture into one of the Asian video shops in Box Hill.
And because I couldn't watch 2002 again I watched Velvet Goldmine instead. : )
Heh, and guess what? Iggy Pop has recently released a 'greatest hits' CD which includes 'Gimme Danger', my favourite song from Velvet Goldmine that's not included on the soundtrack. Hee, if the 30 second grab of the track I managed to squeeze out of Border's crappy 'preview' system is anything to go by, Eyecandy McDrooly's version is very close to the original. : ) Eh, even if it's not it won't hurt having some Iggy Pop in the music collection.
My latest Dystopia chapter, 'Seduction', is now posted (thank you, Joules!) and I've reviewed what there was of Dancing's chapter 11. It needs expanding, certainly, but I have to have a think about it first. The next AC is planned, and the next Elga is beginning to bubble. <happy sigh>
Tidied up all the loose ends of my scarf tonight – that's finished now - and I completed the final strip of my quilt! <happy dance> Now I just need to replace a few of the stars then I can get on with piecing it together. Chuffed? Oh yes...
The cubs favourite program on Cartoon Network at the moment (apart from Transformers) is The Cramp Twins. It's gross, though not as gross as Ed, Edd & Eddy and I swear the opening theme utilizes the first two stanzas of Slade's 'We're all crazy now...' Not entirely inappropriate given the show's content.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
<growlypurr>
I watched 2002 and was hooked within the first 5 minutes. Bishies and leather and wire-work, oh my! What more could I ask of in a film? Supernatural elements? Check. Humour? Check. Sniffly bits to keep the fluffy bunny happy? Check... : )
I'd give it a high phwoooar rating too. Nicholas Tse is exquisite (and such a flexible little cuss <smirk>) but Stephen Fung (is that the actor or the chara's name? Can't remember, anyway...) isn't quite as sculptured but he's soft and round and he's got the most beautiful smile.
There was a bit near the beginning that had me giggling. Tse's character (I have enough trouble remembering Western names, let alone Asian ones. It took me weeks to sort out Kurama-Kuwabara. Where was I? Oh yes... ) told his partner he was trying to look cool in front of the 'spunk' (was there an Australian subbing this, perhaps? <g>) and in my innocence I immediately thought he was talking about the traffic cop (Fung) who as far as I was concerned was the only 'spunk' that'd had screen time so far. Silly me, Nickiepoohs was talking about a female cop we hadn't seen yet but who was then shown in a flashback.
Too much yaoi in my life? <squinch> I don't think so....
I want to watch 2002 again - now, please - which means either: a/ getting a new VCR so I can play the tape I've already got, or: b/ seeing if it's been released on DVD.
IMO this would make a fabulous series – I'd watch it! Especially if they kept the original cast... : )
There was a lovely line of script too, which is quietly nudging something in my brain – '...tears from a spirit mean love and rebirth...' Not sure where that's going yet but no doubt it'll deign to let me know in the fullness of time.
Not sure if this was deliberate on the part of the broadcaster but immediately before and after the movie they ran an add for a funeral plan. <snigger>
Right, my next Dystopia chapter is almost ready to be posted which'll mean there's 53 chapters now. Not bad, eh? : )
Blimey, only 2 more sessions of this latest class I'm taking then that one's finished with. Really should see about getting my name down for some other subjects. Eh, tomorrow...
I watched 2002 and was hooked within the first 5 minutes. Bishies and leather and wire-work, oh my! What more could I ask of in a film? Supernatural elements? Check. Humour? Check. Sniffly bits to keep the fluffy bunny happy? Check... : )
I'd give it a high phwoooar rating too. Nicholas Tse is exquisite (and such a flexible little cuss <smirk>) but Stephen Fung (is that the actor or the chara's name? Can't remember, anyway...) isn't quite as sculptured but he's soft and round and he's got the most beautiful smile.
There was a bit near the beginning that had me giggling. Tse's character (I have enough trouble remembering Western names, let alone Asian ones. It took me weeks to sort out Kurama-Kuwabara. Where was I? Oh yes... ) told his partner he was trying to look cool in front of the 'spunk' (was there an Australian subbing this, perhaps? <g>) and in my innocence I immediately thought he was talking about the traffic cop (Fung) who as far as I was concerned was the only 'spunk' that'd had screen time so far. Silly me, Nickiepoohs was talking about a female cop we hadn't seen yet but who was then shown in a flashback.
Too much yaoi in my life? <squinch> I don't think so....
I want to watch 2002 again - now, please - which means either: a/ getting a new VCR so I can play the tape I've already got, or: b/ seeing if it's been released on DVD.
IMO this would make a fabulous series – I'd watch it! Especially if they kept the original cast... : )
There was a lovely line of script too, which is quietly nudging something in my brain – '...tears from a spirit mean love and rebirth...' Not sure where that's going yet but no doubt it'll deign to let me know in the fullness of time.
Not sure if this was deliberate on the part of the broadcaster but immediately before and after the movie they ran an add for a funeral plan. <snigger>
Right, my next Dystopia chapter is almost ready to be posted which'll mean there's 53 chapters now. Not bad, eh? : )
Blimey, only 2 more sessions of this latest class I'm taking then that one's finished with. Really should see about getting my name down for some other subjects. Eh, tomorrow...
Monday, May 24, 2004
Hee, I love inspiration :)
Got 4 pages of a Dystopia chapter done today without even realising it! This, combined with the 3ish pages I did end of last week, and the oneish page I started with months ago it's adding up nicely.
Does anybody remember from yesteryear the 12" remixes (on vinyl) of the 7" releases? (Do they even do anything remotely familiar on the CD's now? Oh yes, there's dance mixes I spose.) Remember how it used to be a case of taking your chances buying them? Sometimes they were good, just like the single you adored but 2 or 3 times longer. But sometimes they weren't good and you ended up thinking 'What the hell have they done to this?!'.
I was watching one of the LotR movies on a nice, big plasma screen the other day. Couldn't help thinking how cool would it be to watch anime on one. <dreamy sigh> Vash's nose up close. One day... when I'm unecessarily wealthy...
There's a movie showing on telly early tomorrow afternoon which - when I mentioned it to Joules - provoked a bout of spontaneous drooling. <eg> A Hong Kong flick, 2002, with Nicholas Tse. Joules sent me a copy of this movie at least a year ago and I've not been able to watch it cos the stupid VCR doesn't have a stupid long-play function (That's also the reason why, GoodTwin, you've not heard anything from me about the JJD videos, cos I haven't been able to watch them. Just thought I'd mention that. :)
Where was I? Oh yes... Anyway I've only got one class in the morning tomorrow so I should be home in plenty of time to catch it.
Course, I can't record it cos the stupid VCR won't do that either, but hey, at least I'll finally get to see it.
And speaking of movies (but not in this case recommending one) if you ever get the chance to watch Galactic Force, I beg you, in the name of sanity, no matter how much of a geek sci-fi fan you think you don't do it!
The only name I recognised in the cast list was Brigette Nielson and we're all well aware of her association with quality products, aren't we? (Though having said that, I have to say I really like Red Sonja, but that's got nothing to do with her acting ability...)
Trite, clichéd, appalling... These are some of the words I mentioned in the first 5 minutes to Soulsis - and then came the plot twist (TM). In a nut shell, the bad guys are after a power source, a crystal which is being kept/guarded/whatever by the good guys who've been hounded to the brink of destruction because of it. The leader of the good guys dies in the heroine's arms - after the bad guys have made off with the prize - but with his dying breath he tells her there was another crystal created, in case something like this happened... it had been kept safe on another planet...
Oh gods, please - I whimpered, horror struck at the looming unoriginality - please don't let that other planet be Earth...
Next shot we see the New York skyline...
That was it, I went to bed in disgust.
Awful.
Got 4 pages of a Dystopia chapter done today without even realising it! This, combined with the 3ish pages I did end of last week, and the oneish page I started with months ago it's adding up nicely.
Does anybody remember from yesteryear the 12" remixes (on vinyl) of the 7" releases? (Do they even do anything remotely familiar on the CD's now? Oh yes, there's dance mixes I spose.) Remember how it used to be a case of taking your chances buying them? Sometimes they were good, just like the single you adored but 2 or 3 times longer. But sometimes they weren't good and you ended up thinking 'What the hell have they done to this?!'.
I was watching one of the LotR movies on a nice, big plasma screen the other day. Couldn't help thinking how cool would it be to watch anime on one. <dreamy sigh> Vash's nose up close. One day... when I'm unecessarily wealthy...
There's a movie showing on telly early tomorrow afternoon which - when I mentioned it to Joules - provoked a bout of spontaneous drooling. <eg> A Hong Kong flick, 2002, with Nicholas Tse. Joules sent me a copy of this movie at least a year ago and I've not been able to watch it cos the stupid VCR doesn't have a stupid long-play function (That's also the reason why, GoodTwin, you've not heard anything from me about the JJD videos, cos I haven't been able to watch them. Just thought I'd mention that. :)
Where was I? Oh yes... Anyway I've only got one class in the morning tomorrow so I should be home in plenty of time to catch it.
Course, I can't record it cos the stupid VCR won't do that either, but hey, at least I'll finally get to see it.
And speaking of movies (but not in this case recommending one) if you ever get the chance to watch Galactic Force, I beg you, in the name of sanity, no matter how much of a geek sci-fi fan you think you don't do it!
The only name I recognised in the cast list was Brigette Nielson and we're all well aware of her association with quality products, aren't we? (Though having said that, I have to say I really like Red Sonja, but that's got nothing to do with her acting ability...)
Trite, clichéd, appalling... These are some of the words I mentioned in the first 5 minutes to Soulsis - and then came the plot twist (TM). In a nut shell, the bad guys are after a power source, a crystal which is being kept/guarded/whatever by the good guys who've been hounded to the brink of destruction because of it. The leader of the good guys dies in the heroine's arms - after the bad guys have made off with the prize - but with his dying breath he tells her there was another crystal created, in case something like this happened... it had been kept safe on another planet...
Oh gods, please - I whimpered, horror struck at the looming unoriginality - please don't let that other planet be Earth...
Next shot we see the New York skyline...
That was it, I went to bed in disgust.
Awful.
Friday, May 21, 2004
The cubs have recently gotten into the Transformers and today there was much rejoicing - we picked their new toys up from lay-by. They got stumped, though, when it came to actually transforming the things from one mode to another. The cubs asked me - their technology-challenged mother - to help.
I tried, I did, but had to give up after 10 mins - I just couldn't make sense of the diagrams. I've never been good at following written/drawn instructions (I'm rubbish at origami) no matter how precise they are. However, show me how to do something and I'll pick it up very quickly (or alternately leave me alone to fiddle and prod and I'll eventually nut it out).
<g> See, not a complete idiot then...
I tried, I did, but had to give up after 10 mins - I just couldn't make sense of the diagrams. I've never been good at following written/drawn instructions (I'm rubbish at origami) no matter how precise they are. However, show me how to do something and I'll pick it up very quickly (or alternately leave me alone to fiddle and prod and I'll eventually nut it out).
<g> See, not a complete idiot then...
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Hn. I think the mutant eyebrow gene I inherited from my father has activated. Eyebrows that swept up to a demonic point gave his face character – doesn't quite work the same for me...
This is one of those answer-the-questions-and-reveal-all thingies. It came to me through one of the email lists I lurk on...
What time do you get up?
On a school day, usually around 7.30, any other day it depends on how long I'm allowed to sleep.
Bed time?
Between midnight and 1 a.m. generally, though that can creep up to 2-3 a.m. if I don't have to get up early the next day.
Gold or Silver?
Silver, though I don't often wear jewelery. The stud in my nose is silver and if I decide to put any more holes in my body they'll probably be plugged up with silver as well. :)
What was the last film you saw?
At the cinema? 'Love Actually'. Or was it 'Return of the King'? Tch, can't remember...
On DVD? Um... 'Love Actually'... <happy sigh>
What is/are your favourite TV shows?
Currently: Teen Titans, Mondo Thingo, The Bill, Strictly Dancing... I'm usually tuned to our ABC : )
What did you have for breakfast?
Today was a school-day so nothing until lunchtime. This isn't unusual, most school-days all my energies are directed in getting the cubs ready.
Beach, country, Mountains?
Oh yes, mountains...
Favourite ice cream?
Don't eat it very often but I'm very fond of Cafe Grande - it's got grand marnier and chocolate almonds.
Butter, plain or salted popcorn?
Ooooh! Coloured!
Favourite sandwhich?
Falafel, lettuce and tomato.
Or chicken, alfa alfa and avocado.
What characteristic do you despise?
The refusal/inability to accept that we're all part of the web of life on this planet.
Favourite flower?
Carnations, strongly scented roses, grape hyacinths
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
UK! For months and months and months...
What colour is your bathroom?
Dirty egg-shell and brown. It's a rented house.
Favourite brand of clothing?
Ones that fit - Maison de Target, mostly.
Do you pray?
Daily, though I should probly point out I'm not xtian.
What is your favourite board game?
Killer Bunnies!
Oh hang on, that's a card game... um... combat scrabble.
Money or Love?
Love, naturally : ) Though money would be nice too...
What quality do you admire most in a person?
The ability to know themselves and not feel as if they have to hide/change to be accepted.
Where would you retire?
Mountains, with an ocean view. Ferny Creek in Tasmania is nice...
Favourite day of the week?
Mondays, back to school days. Closely followed by Wednesdays, and then Saturdays cos that's the first day of the weekend and I can sleep in.
Where were you born?
Hertfordshire, England, in my family's house on the banks of the river Lee.
Romantic, eh?
Perhaps - but that river stole my favourite red plastic bucket.
Favourite sport to watch on TV?
Usually nothing except when the Olympics are on and then – I don't know why – I can sit for hour and hours completely enthralled.
Coke or Pepsi?
Dr Pepper, or plain soda water with ginger cordial. Yum!
Are you a morning person?
No, but I've been forced by circumstances to become one.
Do you have any pets?
A cat, Tilda; 2 guinea pigs, Boxer and Joxer (they're both female, don't blame me, I didn't name them!)
Do children count?
... and it concluded with 2 pointless questions about who you most/least expected to send it back...
Hee, the second joint Haadri fanfic is almost completed.
And I think I've finished reviewing chapter 10 of 'Dancing' but chapter 11 needs lots of work.
And the dream-based short story I've started is leaving me with that uncomfortable, something's not quite right feeling I get from a Sherri Tepper book. Interesting...
The school had it's 'Open Night' on Tuesday night. Didn't really consider going until the cubs reminded me that the choir was supposed to be performing.
Have I mentioned my cubs are in the choir?
The performance was cute – not particularly tuneful – but cute. : ) And short - only 2 songs, which was helpful seeing as we couldn't stay for very long.
Niki and Soulsis popped in for a visit yesterday afternoon. They brought me sushi! <happy squeak> I have the best friends! (And Soulsis had found me a lovely little cheese knife topped by a ceramic mouse. That makes 4 cheese knives I have now, all of them from Soulsis... I suspect I may be adding 'cheese knives' to the list of things I collect : )
Finally finished my scarf. Can't remember when I started it - November last? - after I'd finished Soulsis' scarf, anyway, and that was ready before Xmas. Like Soulsis' scarf, mine is made from a fluffy type of wool that's awfully popular at the moment. Hers is a shining black, mine is mottled purple-green-cobalt blue. <bg>
This is one of those answer-the-questions-and-reveal-all thingies. It came to me through one of the email lists I lurk on...
What time do you get up?
On a school day, usually around 7.30, any other day it depends on how long I'm allowed to sleep.
Bed time?
Between midnight and 1 a.m. generally, though that can creep up to 2-3 a.m. if I don't have to get up early the next day.
Gold or Silver?
Silver, though I don't often wear jewelery. The stud in my nose is silver and if I decide to put any more holes in my body they'll probably be plugged up with silver as well. :)
What was the last film you saw?
At the cinema? 'Love Actually'. Or was it 'Return of the King'? Tch, can't remember...
On DVD? Um... 'Love Actually'... <happy sigh>
What is/are your favourite TV shows?
Currently: Teen Titans, Mondo Thingo, The Bill, Strictly Dancing... I'm usually tuned to our ABC : )
What did you have for breakfast?
Today was a school-day so nothing until lunchtime. This isn't unusual, most school-days all my energies are directed in getting the cubs ready.
Beach, country, Mountains?
Oh yes, mountains...
Favourite ice cream?
Don't eat it very often but I'm very fond of Cafe Grande - it's got grand marnier and chocolate almonds.
Butter, plain or salted popcorn?
Ooooh! Coloured!
Favourite sandwhich?
Falafel, lettuce and tomato.
Or chicken, alfa alfa and avocado.
What characteristic do you despise?
The refusal/inability to accept that we're all part of the web of life on this planet.
Favourite flower?
Carnations, strongly scented roses, grape hyacinths
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
UK! For months and months and months...
What colour is your bathroom?
Dirty egg-shell and brown. It's a rented house.
Favourite brand of clothing?
Ones that fit - Maison de Target, mostly.
Do you pray?
Daily, though I should probly point out I'm not xtian.
What is your favourite board game?
Killer Bunnies!
Oh hang on, that's a card game... um... combat scrabble.
Money or Love?
Love, naturally : ) Though money would be nice too...
What quality do you admire most in a person?
The ability to know themselves and not feel as if they have to hide/change to be accepted.
Where would you retire?
Mountains, with an ocean view. Ferny Creek in Tasmania is nice...
Favourite day of the week?
Mondays, back to school days. Closely followed by Wednesdays, and then Saturdays cos that's the first day of the weekend and I can sleep in.
Where were you born?
Hertfordshire, England, in my family's house on the banks of the river Lee.
Romantic, eh?
Perhaps - but that river stole my favourite red plastic bucket.
Favourite sport to watch on TV?
Usually nothing except when the Olympics are on and then – I don't know why – I can sit for hour and hours completely enthralled.
Coke or Pepsi?
Dr Pepper, or plain soda water with ginger cordial. Yum!
Are you a morning person?
No, but I've been forced by circumstances to become one.
Do you have any pets?
A cat, Tilda; 2 guinea pigs, Boxer and Joxer (they're both female, don't blame me, I didn't name them!)
Do children count?
... and it concluded with 2 pointless questions about who you most/least expected to send it back...
Hee, the second joint Haadri fanfic is almost completed.
And I think I've finished reviewing chapter 10 of 'Dancing' but chapter 11 needs lots of work.
And the dream-based short story I've started is leaving me with that uncomfortable, something's not quite right feeling I get from a Sherri Tepper book. Interesting...
The school had it's 'Open Night' on Tuesday night. Didn't really consider going until the cubs reminded me that the choir was supposed to be performing.
Have I mentioned my cubs are in the choir?
The performance was cute – not particularly tuneful – but cute. : ) And short - only 2 songs, which was helpful seeing as we couldn't stay for very long.
Niki and Soulsis popped in for a visit yesterday afternoon. They brought me sushi! <happy squeak> I have the best friends! (And Soulsis had found me a lovely little cheese knife topped by a ceramic mouse. That makes 4 cheese knives I have now, all of them from Soulsis... I suspect I may be adding 'cheese knives' to the list of things I collect : )
Finally finished my scarf. Can't remember when I started it - November last? - after I'd finished Soulsis' scarf, anyway, and that was ready before Xmas. Like Soulsis' scarf, mine is made from a fluffy type of wool that's awfully popular at the moment. Hers is a shining black, mine is mottled purple-green-cobalt blue. <bg>
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Took the cubs to the 'Japan Festival' in Box Hill today...
<whimper> Hundreds of people there but that's not why I'm whimpering. So much tempting stuff to buy! Could've spent about 5 times the amount I'd brought if I'd been allowed to stop and browse properly. Heh, kids sometimes do have their uses.
Did get myself something really cute though, from a second hand stall: a 2" plastic figurine of a gorgeously buxom goth chick with black hair and red eyes, holding a bottle of Coke. If, as I suspect, she's from a vending machine (a 'capsule toy') she's part of a series. On the bottom of her stand is '12 Lulu'... I'd say that's a big hint. Wonder what else is in the series?
While waiting to see the cubs' father take part in a naginata demonstration, we watched some traditional Japanese dances, the ones performed with fans... <shining eyes> I want to do that! So beautiful, and there was so much joy in the last, combined, dance it brought tears to my eyes. (Hee, though one of the dance props made me giggle - 2 fans joined together, bedecked with bells and frondy things... it looked like a muppet scallop... and the first dance we saw was performed to a Japanese version of Tom Jones 'Green green grass of Home'... that was odd.. :)
Not surprisingly the cubs were far more interested in the martial arts demos (blimey, full-on kendo is fast!) and they were dead chuffed to see their father up on stage.
Fortunately I was able to dump them - er, leave them to the care of their father and his girlfriend so I could snatch a few minutes to myself before the taiko drumming.
<happy sigh> Now that was fun! Really enjoyed it, even though the enjoyment was marred a little by tired, fractious cubs who said it was too loud. <rolls eyes> But I guess it was the end of the day and we'd been there for hours...
All in all a fun time - I'll keep an eye out for next year's festival.
My journey to the darkside is almost complete...
There's an anime convention in Melbourne in August [see here - link provided by the ningen. She wants to go too...] and I'm seriously considering going, for one day at least. Of course, this is an anime con, not a yaoi con so I suspect there'll be wall-to-wall geeks in places :)
And - Oooh! - cosplay! I could make a Penelope Ham-ham costume! Yellow sheet and ham-ham ears. <evil smirk> Dead simple...
<whimper> Hundreds of people there but that's not why I'm whimpering. So much tempting stuff to buy! Could've spent about 5 times the amount I'd brought if I'd been allowed to stop and browse properly. Heh, kids sometimes do have their uses.
Did get myself something really cute though, from a second hand stall: a 2" plastic figurine of a gorgeously buxom goth chick with black hair and red eyes, holding a bottle of Coke. If, as I suspect, she's from a vending machine (a 'capsule toy') she's part of a series. On the bottom of her stand is '12 Lulu'... I'd say that's a big hint. Wonder what else is in the series?
While waiting to see the cubs' father take part in a naginata demonstration, we watched some traditional Japanese dances, the ones performed with fans... <shining eyes> I want to do that! So beautiful, and there was so much joy in the last, combined, dance it brought tears to my eyes. (Hee, though one of the dance props made me giggle - 2 fans joined together, bedecked with bells and frondy things... it looked like a muppet scallop... and the first dance we saw was performed to a Japanese version of Tom Jones 'Green green grass of Home'... that was odd.. :)
Not surprisingly the cubs were far more interested in the martial arts demos (blimey, full-on kendo is fast!) and they were dead chuffed to see their father up on stage.
Fortunately I was able to dump them - er, leave them to the care of their father and his girlfriend so I could snatch a few minutes to myself before the taiko drumming.
<happy sigh> Now that was fun! Really enjoyed it, even though the enjoyment was marred a little by tired, fractious cubs who said it was too loud. <rolls eyes> But I guess it was the end of the day and we'd been there for hours...
All in all a fun time - I'll keep an eye out for next year's festival.
My journey to the darkside is almost complete...
There's an anime convention in Melbourne in August [see here - link provided by the ningen. She wants to go too...] and I'm seriously considering going, for one day at least. Of course, this is an anime con, not a yaoi con so I suspect there'll be wall-to-wall geeks in places :)
And - Oooh! - cosplay! I could make a Penelope Ham-ham costume! Yellow sheet and ham-ham ears. <evil smirk> Dead simple...
Most times I trundle along with my life - not content, perhaps, but not discontent - until something, some event, (some particular alignment of the planets? whatever...) makes me realise I'm not doing as well as I thought.
Eh well, those moments pass, life goes on...
Finished watching volume 4 of X, up to episode 15 - I'm really enjoying this series.
Someone asked me what it was about and I flippantly replied, "Oh, the usual - good, evil, the end of the world...".
It's not as simple as that <g>. It's about choices, one of which could be considered 'evil', in a very narrow Western point of view, cos it involves the destruction of the human race. (Some people think this is a bad thing but within the context of the series it actually makes sense to me. :)
I'm thoroughly enjoying the delving into the characters, their lives and motivations, and yes, X is a bit melodramatic in places but hey, it's by CLAMP, what do you expect? <smirk>
Hope I can pick up the next volume soon!
My cubs have joined the school choir... I've just had one of them sing 'You can't stop the music' (Village People - remember them?) at me. I couldn't help it, visions of bike leathers and hard hats were conjured up in my mind...
Okapiprincess found this delicious site. The cubs and I have been discussing how to do Garfield. Rice and grated carrot figures largely. :)
Eh well, those moments pass, life goes on...
Finished watching volume 4 of X, up to episode 15 - I'm really enjoying this series.
Someone asked me what it was about and I flippantly replied, "Oh, the usual - good, evil, the end of the world...".
It's not as simple as that <g>. It's about choices, one of which could be considered 'evil', in a very narrow Western point of view, cos it involves the destruction of the human race. (Some people think this is a bad thing but within the context of the series it actually makes sense to me. :)
I'm thoroughly enjoying the delving into the characters, their lives and motivations, and yes, X is a bit melodramatic in places but hey, it's by CLAMP, what do you expect? <smirk>
Hope I can pick up the next volume soon!
My cubs have joined the school choir... I've just had one of them sing 'You can't stop the music' (Village People - remember them?) at me. I couldn't help it, visions of bike leathers and hard hats were conjured up in my mind...
Okapiprincess found this delicious site. The cubs and I have been discussing how to do Garfield. Rice and grated carrot figures largely. :)
Friday, May 14, 2004
I'd be cringing at the marysueness of my Haadri fanfic if I wasn't having such a good time.
Joules, bless her, has assured me it's not reading like a marysue and I guess she's right. True, I've created a character purely so I can play in the Haadri universe but unlike other fanfic I've had the misfortune to read, her presence isn't affecting the main narrative, like say, Aragorn's half-sister would. <shudder>
But the point I'm trying to get to is that I've finished the second fanfic, and Joules and I have completed a combined third. Neat, huh? :)
Been a good week for dreams too. The one I woke up to this morning left me with a profound feeling of peace and loving acceptance (until I realised I'd slept in and if we wanted to get to school on time we'd have to leave in 20 minutes... aaargh!) and the dream from the night before is in the process of being turned into a one-off short story. Ah, I love my imagination - conscious and subconscious.
Not sure what's been happening with the school this term but so far every time we've been asked to outlay extra money we've only been given a couple of days notice. Fine, they've not been large amounts but I budget week-to-week, and having a sudden request for $20 can throw things out siginificantly. Anyway, I whinged quietly about this to one of the other mums and she told me yesterday that her husband – who's on the school committee – had raised my complaint at the latest finance meeting. Heh.
<grumble> Something's not working properly in my 'puter, it's got to the stage now I can't use ICQ and Word concurrently cos the system seizes and I have to reboot. This is really aggravating seeing as I do a good chunk of my writing while chatting to Joules (not to mention it's been impossible to chat to more than one person at a time for months anyway) and I can't retrieve any work I haven't saved if the computer freezes. Ah well, short of getting a completely new system there's not much I can do about it at the moment, and being a resourceful soul (once I've finished having a tantrum, that is) I can usually find a solution to most problems.
Notepad doesn't seem to cause any conflicts and I've discovered it's got a 'word rap' funtion. Excellent - this means everything is contained within the screen and I don't have to use the scroll bar to read along a sentence. :) I hate that.
Our local supermarket had my favourite plastic storage boxes on special again this week. I grabbed a couple and managed to decant the contents of another 4 ratty old cardboard boxes into them. Slowly, slowly working through...
One of the boxes I dealt with contained all my old metal miniatures that I've been meaning to paint for years. It was fun going through the assortment of Ral Partha, Grenadier and AD&D goodies (those names will probably mean more to gaming geeks :), and remembering what I'd intended to do with them. In my next house I'd like to be able to set up a work desk or table where I can, theoretically, work on these and my wooden boat model, and any other of the dozen or more crafty things I've planned in the last decade...
(nicked from onna's blog:)
(Tch, and now the 'preview' function in Blogger's edit screen isn't working...)
Joules, bless her, has assured me it's not reading like a marysue and I guess she's right. True, I've created a character purely so I can play in the Haadri universe but unlike other fanfic I've had the misfortune to read, her presence isn't affecting the main narrative, like say, Aragorn's half-sister would. <shudder>
But the point I'm trying to get to is that I've finished the second fanfic, and Joules and I have completed a combined third. Neat, huh? :)
Been a good week for dreams too. The one I woke up to this morning left me with a profound feeling of peace and loving acceptance (until I realised I'd slept in and if we wanted to get to school on time we'd have to leave in 20 minutes... aaargh!) and the dream from the night before is in the process of being turned into a one-off short story. Ah, I love my imagination - conscious and subconscious.
Not sure what's been happening with the school this term but so far every time we've been asked to outlay extra money we've only been given a couple of days notice. Fine, they've not been large amounts but I budget week-to-week, and having a sudden request for $20 can throw things out siginificantly. Anyway, I whinged quietly about this to one of the other mums and she told me yesterday that her husband – who's on the school committee – had raised my complaint at the latest finance meeting. Heh.
<grumble> Something's not working properly in my 'puter, it's got to the stage now I can't use ICQ and Word concurrently cos the system seizes and I have to reboot. This is really aggravating seeing as I do a good chunk of my writing while chatting to Joules (not to mention it's been impossible to chat to more than one person at a time for months anyway) and I can't retrieve any work I haven't saved if the computer freezes. Ah well, short of getting a completely new system there's not much I can do about it at the moment, and being a resourceful soul (once I've finished having a tantrum, that is) I can usually find a solution to most problems.
Notepad doesn't seem to cause any conflicts and I've discovered it's got a 'word rap' funtion. Excellent - this means everything is contained within the screen and I don't have to use the scroll bar to read along a sentence. :) I hate that.
Our local supermarket had my favourite plastic storage boxes on special again this week. I grabbed a couple and managed to decant the contents of another 4 ratty old cardboard boxes into them. Slowly, slowly working through...
One of the boxes I dealt with contained all my old metal miniatures that I've been meaning to paint for years. It was fun going through the assortment of Ral Partha, Grenadier and AD&D goodies (those names will probably mean more to gaming geeks :), and remembering what I'd intended to do with them. In my next house I'd like to be able to set up a work desk or table where I can, theoretically, work on these and my wooden boat model, and any other of the dozen or more crafty things I've planned in the last decade...
(nicked from onna's blog:)
(Tch, and now the 'preview' function in Blogger's edit screen isn't working...)
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
I found a grub in my brussel sprouts tonight, cute little wiggly green thing. Fortunately I found it before I started cooking... : )
<sigh of relief> Had the final test today for the last of my term 1 subjects. I'd be surprised if I failed, it wasn't particularly involved. I'm down to one subject a week now and even then that's only an 8 week module. Half way through it already. Heh, better check the timetable and see what other subjects I can wriggle into.
Almost finished my second Haadri fanfic - Joules seems pleased with it.
Of course, it won't be for general viewing yet, not until First Light is released, it's only we few (we lucky few, we band of beta-readers...) who are able to read anything Haadri related for the moment. Which feels a little unfair but then again, it means there'll be some extra material ready for those who've devoured the first book and are tearing their hair out waiting for the second. : )
Heh, my Melbourne Aquarium membership is due for renewal this month - there's no hesitation, I'll happily renew it. The cubs and I have been to visit the fishies loads of times this past year, something we wouldn't have done if we'd had to pay full price each time.
Mmmm... fishies...
<sigh of relief> Had the final test today for the last of my term 1 subjects. I'd be surprised if I failed, it wasn't particularly involved. I'm down to one subject a week now and even then that's only an 8 week module. Half way through it already. Heh, better check the timetable and see what other subjects I can wriggle into.
Almost finished my second Haadri fanfic - Joules seems pleased with it.
Of course, it won't be for general viewing yet, not until First Light is released, it's only we few (we lucky few, we band of beta-readers...) who are able to read anything Haadri related for the moment. Which feels a little unfair but then again, it means there'll be some extra material ready for those who've devoured the first book and are tearing their hair out waiting for the second. : )
Heh, my Melbourne Aquarium membership is due for renewal this month - there's no hesitation, I'll happily renew it. The cubs and I have been to visit the fishies loads of times this past year, something we wouldn't have done if we'd had to pay full price each time.
Mmmm... fishies...
Monday, May 10, 2004
What the hell have Blogger done now
What was wrong with the old software? <grumble>
Mmmm... It's amazing what you can do with a tin of tomatoes. Stewed with fresh, grated ginger and white pepper that's been sautéd in butter, then served with rice. Yum!
Heh, well Mother's Day didn't go quite as planned but it was still enjoyable. It started with the cubs waking me nice and early – not to wish me happy mother's day but to ask if they could get online. <rolls eyes> I said they could, just until I got up, then promptly went back to sleep. When I did finally drag myself out of bed my loving children were thoroughly engrossed in an online game and I had to remind them about the presents they'd been asking me all weekend if I wanted early... (And these were a purple note book, tissues [in a purple pack – my cubs know me too well : ] and a rose-scented drawer sachet thingy. Oh, and volume 4 of 'X' from their father and Mum gave me a lovely, long scarf in blues and pinks, purples and peach. Hee.)
Soulsis (and her chicks) brought my Mum down a little later and we all headed off to Smorgy's for lunch...
Except that Smorgy's was full - no room in the carpark and the line of people waiting to get in stretched back to the road. We didn't fancy tackling that so we went to a local take-away instead. Ended up being waaaay cheaper and much, much less crowded. :)
Hee, then we came back to my place and watched 'Love Actually' again. <happy sniffle>
Joules recommended Gandhi's blog on her blog, and now it's my turn. It's well written, well researched and if you're at all interested in relevant commentary about what's going on across the other side of the globe, take a look.
I shouldn't be democratic when I'm having a clean-up, should I? I shouldn't ask the cubs if they want to keep that grotty bit of paper they've drawn on, or the now mangled school project, I should just nick it when they're not looking and throw it out...
Been a while since I've done a quilt update. : ) Just finished the 14th of the 15 strips, then I can replace the 10 or so stars I don't like so much, and then I can start putting it all together! Exciting, ne?
Well, it's taken 6 months of lay-bys but I've finally acquired all of the Tidja Midja Nidja Turtles action figures. Now all I need is somewhere to put them... : )
What was wrong with the old software? <grumble>
Mmmm... It's amazing what you can do with a tin of tomatoes. Stewed with fresh, grated ginger and white pepper that's been sautéd in butter, then served with rice. Yum!
Heh, well Mother's Day didn't go quite as planned but it was still enjoyable. It started with the cubs waking me nice and early – not to wish me happy mother's day but to ask if they could get online. <rolls eyes> I said they could, just until I got up, then promptly went back to sleep. When I did finally drag myself out of bed my loving children were thoroughly engrossed in an online game and I had to remind them about the presents they'd been asking me all weekend if I wanted early... (And these were a purple note book, tissues [in a purple pack – my cubs know me too well : ] and a rose-scented drawer sachet thingy. Oh, and volume 4 of 'X' from their father and Mum gave me a lovely, long scarf in blues and pinks, purples and peach. Hee.)
Soulsis (and her chicks) brought my Mum down a little later and we all headed off to Smorgy's for lunch...
Except that Smorgy's was full - no room in the carpark and the line of people waiting to get in stretched back to the road. We didn't fancy tackling that so we went to a local take-away instead. Ended up being waaaay cheaper and much, much less crowded. :)
Hee, then we came back to my place and watched 'Love Actually' again. <happy sniffle>
Joules recommended Gandhi's blog on her blog, and now it's my turn. It's well written, well researched and if you're at all interested in relevant commentary about what's going on across the other side of the globe, take a look.
I shouldn't be democratic when I'm having a clean-up, should I? I shouldn't ask the cubs if they want to keep that grotty bit of paper they've drawn on, or the now mangled school project, I should just nick it when they're not looking and throw it out...
Been a while since I've done a quilt update. : ) Just finished the 14th of the 15 strips, then I can replace the 10 or so stars I don't like so much, and then I can start putting it all together! Exciting, ne?
Well, it's taken 6 months of lay-bys but I've finally acquired all of the Tidja Midja Nidja Turtles action figures. Now all I need is somewhere to put them... : )
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Yesterday morning the Historical Society (ie: Penny and I <g>) brainstormed with the other Grade 3 parents about ideas for the display we're thinking of doing for the school's 50th anniversary. Turns out there's lots of people who know lots of other people who went to the school years ago. This is great, it means we'll have a better chance of scoring some memorabilia.
And then Soulsis and I nicked off down to the city (sans children, weee!) to see the Guy Bourdin and Caravaggio exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Bourdin was a fashion photographer during the 70's and 80's and the blurb on the wall said he wanted to do more than simply photograph another dress or another pair of shoes so he attempted to construct narratives within his photographs, sometimes with overlays of violence and pornography...
Right. In the end, though, they're still just photographs of fashion – superficial and disposable, you view them then move on.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy the exhibition. Some of the pieces were amazing, Bourdin produced some exceptionally strong compositions, but it wasn't his fashion photos that prompted an emotional response for me, not even the blatantly sexual, apparently controversial ones. A small, understated part of the exhibition comprised a set of b/w photos which, I assume, weren't 'work' shots as such but were more like artistic studies of textures and patterns formed within rocks, and gravel, trees and sand, and piles of discarded cow bones. Some of these images were beautiful and they're the ones I'm still thinking about...
Of the 66 paintings in the Caravaggio exhibition only 9 of them were originals - the rest were representative of the artist's followers and contempories - but it was the originals that really stood out. There's an amazing clarity to Caravaggio's work, a brightness that's instantly recognisable. Caravaggio was famed, and scorned in the 16th/17th century, for the realism in his paintings. He's credited with starting a whole new way of thinking about painting; he was evidently one of the first to downplay the background and put the subject right at the forefront of the piece. (Please, anyone with more than a passing interest/knowledge in Art History, feel free to correct any of my inaccuracies. : ) I admit I love this style (chiara obscuro? Light and dark - Rembrandt was another proponent...) it can be very powerful. Interestingly though, it wasn't the subject matter Soulsis and I enjoyed looking at so much as the details. How would that gorgeous court dress have been constructed? See the books in that stack there? Look at how they've been bound. Look at the glass that gambler's drinking out of, it's beautiful! <bg> It's the little things...
The cubs spent the evening with their father so when we got back from the Gallery Soulsis and I took advantage of the hush and had a girly moment watching the Love Actually DVD I gave her for her birthday. <happy sniffle> Love that movie...
Here's the funny thing though. We'd gotten halfway through watching the deleted scenes when Soulsis had to leave. The cubs had gotten home by then so they leapt in and commandeered the telly to watch Cartoon Network. In between bustling about doing mummy-stuff I caught a little of what was on the telly. My initial response was to think that yes, this was crap and it was a good thing it'd been deleted from the final product... And then I remembered that this was Scooby Doo they were watching and it was actually part of the program.
I've never liked Scooby Doo <beg>
And then Soulsis and I nicked off down to the city (sans children, weee!) to see the Guy Bourdin and Caravaggio exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Bourdin was a fashion photographer during the 70's and 80's and the blurb on the wall said he wanted to do more than simply photograph another dress or another pair of shoes so he attempted to construct narratives within his photographs, sometimes with overlays of violence and pornography...
Right. In the end, though, they're still just photographs of fashion – superficial and disposable, you view them then move on.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy the exhibition. Some of the pieces were amazing, Bourdin produced some exceptionally strong compositions, but it wasn't his fashion photos that prompted an emotional response for me, not even the blatantly sexual, apparently controversial ones. A small, understated part of the exhibition comprised a set of b/w photos which, I assume, weren't 'work' shots as such but were more like artistic studies of textures and patterns formed within rocks, and gravel, trees and sand, and piles of discarded cow bones. Some of these images were beautiful and they're the ones I'm still thinking about...
Of the 66 paintings in the Caravaggio exhibition only 9 of them were originals - the rest were representative of the artist's followers and contempories - but it was the originals that really stood out. There's an amazing clarity to Caravaggio's work, a brightness that's instantly recognisable. Caravaggio was famed, and scorned in the 16th/17th century, for the realism in his paintings. He's credited with starting a whole new way of thinking about painting; he was evidently one of the first to downplay the background and put the subject right at the forefront of the piece. (Please, anyone with more than a passing interest/knowledge in Art History, feel free to correct any of my inaccuracies. : ) I admit I love this style (chiara obscuro? Light and dark - Rembrandt was another proponent...) it can be very powerful. Interestingly though, it wasn't the subject matter Soulsis and I enjoyed looking at so much as the details. How would that gorgeous court dress have been constructed? See the books in that stack there? Look at how they've been bound. Look at the glass that gambler's drinking out of, it's beautiful! <bg> It's the little things...
The cubs spent the evening with their father so when we got back from the Gallery Soulsis and I took advantage of the hush and had a girly moment watching the Love Actually DVD I gave her for her birthday. <happy sniffle> Love that movie...
Here's the funny thing though. We'd gotten halfway through watching the deleted scenes when Soulsis had to leave. The cubs had gotten home by then so they leapt in and commandeered the telly to watch Cartoon Network. In between bustling about doing mummy-stuff I caught a little of what was on the telly. My initial response was to think that yes, this was crap and it was a good thing it'd been deleted from the final product... And then I remembered that this was Scooby Doo they were watching and it was actually part of the program.
I've never liked Scooby Doo <beg>
Thursday, May 06, 2004
(nicked from Onna's blog...)
Suitable for 12 years or older, but under 18s must be with an adult. This is virtually identical to the 12 certificate, in that we'll have some adult-themed storylines, but no real meat or detail. No scary bits, but some language and maybe a bit of skin.
Examples: Die Another Day, Lord Of The Rings
Heh, well that about sums it up...
Ooookaaay... Chapter 9 of Dancing was giving me problems but I think I've beaten it into submission.
I'm sure it could be better though...
I've started my second Haadri fanfic – much to Joules' delight – and I have to say that fanfiction is hard work! All the things you've got to double-check, especially when you're new to the universe. I mean, you want to get it right, right? <bg> Of course, it helps having the author of said universe on hand to check the details with.
I showed the cubs the picture of Rosa on Joule's blog. Naturally they were charmed and spent the next half hour pretending to be big, cuddly hairy spiders... I wonder about my children sometimes, I really do. (Joules, by the way, thought this was cute... I wonder about her sometimes, too... : )
This little rhyme Joules snagged from Kai's school had me giggling.
| My life has been rated: |
|---|
 |
|
See what your rating is! |
Suitable for 12 years or older, but under 18s must be with an adult. This is virtually identical to the 12 certificate, in that we'll have some adult-themed storylines, but no real meat or detail. No scary bits, but some language and maybe a bit of skin.
Examples: Die Another Day, Lord Of The Rings
Heh, well that about sums it up...
Ooookaaay... Chapter 9 of Dancing was giving me problems but I think I've beaten it into submission.
I'm sure it could be better though...
I've started my second Haadri fanfic – much to Joules' delight – and I have to say that fanfiction is hard work! All the things you've got to double-check, especially when you're new to the universe. I mean, you want to get it right, right? <bg> Of course, it helps having the author of said universe on hand to check the details with.
I showed the cubs the picture of Rosa on Joule's blog. Naturally they were charmed and spent the next half hour pretending to be big, cuddly hairy spiders... I wonder about my children sometimes, I really do. (Joules, by the way, thought this was cute... I wonder about her sometimes, too... : )
This little rhyme Joules snagged from Kai's school had me giggling.
I am a little firefly, and fireflies aren't glum.<rolling around laughing>
How can you be unhappy when the sun shines out your bum?
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Just watched a program about people in Tasmania who've built shacks to live in, mostly out of salvaged materials. Some of the shacks are wonderful – lovely organic structures that grow out of the ground and into their (generally) bush surroundings. <sigh> Looks like a blissfully simple life and it certainly doesn't hurt that these places have nearly all been built on the coast. I've been taking notes. There's a guy who has his vegetable garden in the middle of the house under a glass roof (this is in South Western Tasmania, doesn't get very hot there) and another couple's shack has fixed windows - ventilation is provided by small, shuttered slits.
I really really like the idea of building my own home from scratch, and the temptation to just up and go somewhere right now is acute. Eh, it's just been one of those days...
Have you seen the Tiny Tins collectables? They're little soft toys (or diecast cars/trains, plastic animals) that fit into a standard size tin and today I saw a series of Ham-hams! <happy squeak!> So cute...!
Housemate (he has his uses) told me last night that Madman is releasing the first series of Yu Yu Hakusho on DVD sometime this month! Aaaargh!
I'll add it to the list.
Onna's made some t'riffic banners for different areas of the Zone and a gorgeous Wolfwood/Vash pic. Go have a look!
Got the test results today for the subject that made my brain hurt. Did better than I thought I would - 38/40. 'k, that's another subject passed. One more test to go next week then I'm done with the first 4 subjects.
The cubs and I had a tiny bit of a clean-up on the weekend – it's amazing how many socks can fit under the couch...
I really really like the idea of building my own home from scratch, and the temptation to just up and go somewhere right now is acute. Eh, it's just been one of those days...
Have you seen the Tiny Tins collectables? They're little soft toys (or diecast cars/trains, plastic animals) that fit into a standard size tin and today I saw a series of Ham-hams! <happy squeak!> So cute...!
Housemate (he has his uses) told me last night that Madman is releasing the first series of Yu Yu Hakusho on DVD sometime this month! Aaaargh!
I'll add it to the list.
Onna's made some t'riffic banners for different areas of the Zone and a gorgeous Wolfwood/Vash pic. Go have a look!
Got the test results today for the subject that made my brain hurt. Did better than I thought I would - 38/40. 'k, that's another subject passed. One more test to go next week then I'm done with the first 4 subjects.
The cubs and I had a tiny bit of a clean-up on the weekend – it's amazing how many socks can fit under the couch...
Sunday, May 02, 2004
There's something to be said for the never-ending early mornings of school terms... the cubs were fast asleep by 9.30 tonight. : )
Had a good mummy day – the cubs got both exercise and fresh fruit. <rolls eyes>
I took them swimming this afternoon – been weeks since we've gone. My babies are growing up, though, wasn't that long ago they wouldn't consider going near the 'big' pool unless they were clinging to me but today they happily took themselves off into it and weren't fussed I didn't go with them. Of course, it helps that the water in the shallow end now only comes up to their armpits, not their noses. <g>
One of the cubs decided he'd like to grow his own apples. Not too hard to do, not with the varieties of apples that can be grown in tubs. If we get a chance we'll go have a look at some nurseries later this week to get an idea of price.
And still on the cubs...
They spent most of last evening, and this afternoon, drawing their own comics and giggling hysterically at each other's work. : ) One of the cubs in particular produced some lovely, very expressive little characters, with a good use of anime conventions like sweat drops. Thank you, Teen Titans... <smirk>
Joules has been very busy on the Wordwrights site, re-organising things. My Elga stories are now accessible from the non-password protected area, so if you want to read them and are not a member of The Zone go here.
(And for the record I am dead chuffed Joules thinks enough of this series to make it more accessible. : )
I've also mostly finished the first part of a Dystopia chapter inspired by something Thorne drew. It should be posted soon – and as a bonus there's a Posh Nosh in-joke included! <bg>
Had a good mummy day – the cubs got both exercise and fresh fruit. <rolls eyes>
I took them swimming this afternoon – been weeks since we've gone. My babies are growing up, though, wasn't that long ago they wouldn't consider going near the 'big' pool unless they were clinging to me but today they happily took themselves off into it and weren't fussed I didn't go with them. Of course, it helps that the water in the shallow end now only comes up to their armpits, not their noses. <g>
One of the cubs decided he'd like to grow his own apples. Not too hard to do, not with the varieties of apples that can be grown in tubs. If we get a chance we'll go have a look at some nurseries later this week to get an idea of price.
And still on the cubs...
They spent most of last evening, and this afternoon, drawing their own comics and giggling hysterically at each other's work. : ) One of the cubs in particular produced some lovely, very expressive little characters, with a good use of anime conventions like sweat drops. Thank you, Teen Titans... <smirk>
Joules has been very busy on the Wordwrights site, re-organising things. My Elga stories are now accessible from the non-password protected area, so if you want to read them and are not a member of The Zone go here.
(And for the record I am dead chuffed Joules thinks enough of this series to make it more accessible. : )
I've also mostly finished the first part of a Dystopia chapter inspired by something Thorne drew. It should be posted soon – and as a bonus there's a Posh Nosh in-joke included! <bg>