Oh dear, we've had our first injury of the year. During sports this afternoon one of my cubs stood a bit too close behind the batter and ended up being hit in the nose on a backswing. Ouch! <wince> Poor baby, he was looking positively Roman there for a while what with his nose all swollen but after a couple of hours the swelling began to recede while the bruising came out. Nothing's broken, thank heavens, and the paracetamol is working so he's not overly discomfitted but he's worried about being laughed at. Of course, it didn't help that his brother skipped ahead of us at hometime telling everyone about the accident. <rolls eyes> There was no malice in the action, he was genuinely concerned, but his brother hates being singled out and was getting very defensive. He felt better after some jelly beans, though. : ) (Heh, when I was little and not feeling well, if my mum had to go to the chemist to get medicine she inevitably bought me a little bag of jelly beans. Made being sick not quite so bad...)
Anyway, I think the injured cub will be well enough to go to school tomorrow, we'll see how he feels in the morning...
Monday, January 31, 2005
I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning to the smell of burning. Was the house on fire? No. Housemate had put some chops on to cook then wandered off to play a computer game. <grumble> I hate waking up that early, always takes me a long time to get back to sleep.
The cubs had a good weekend though - they raided the paper recycling for cardboard boxes so they could build their own Transformers. Hours of fun.
And they've been reading Calvin and Hobbes. Hmmm... they identify far too readily with the little brat, but it's lovely to hear them laugh out loud as they read. : )
The cubs had a good weekend though - they raided the paper recycling for cardboard boxes so they could build their own Transformers. Hours of fun.
And they've been reading Calvin and Hobbes. Hmmm... they identify far too readily with the little brat, but it's lovely to hear them laugh out loud as they read. : )
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Yay! Finally got volume 2 of 'Last Exile' from my purveyor of quality anime. I really like this series, the worldframe is fascinating and the plot's taking on intriguing layers of complexity. I want to know more about the Guild and how/why the fighting started.
There was also volume 3 of 'Wolf's Rain' on the shelves which would've been t'riffic except I haven't seen volume 2 yet. <scowl> I suspect both 2 and 3 turned up at the same time but the other person who's been waiting for the rest of this series to appear got in before me. Ah well, with luck another copy of 2 will turn up at a time I can afford it. (Hm, and the next couple of volumes of 'Yu Yu Hakusho' haven't appeared yet either, and it's been months since the last batch. Heh, according to Lutra's theory of retail availability no doubt they'll show up when I can least afford them. Such is life. : )
The cubs got a DVD copy of the 1986 Transformers movie.
... it's not as dire as the Thomas the Tank Engine movie.
Actually, it's not bad at all despite the paperthin plot, wooden characterisations and twenty-year old japanimation. The english voice cast is interesting: Eric Idle, Leonard Nimoy, amongst others, and would you believe Orson Wells? I really hope this wasn't his last screen appearance...
Some of the characters/ideas from the movie have been resurrected for the later series of Transformers and guess what? Optimus Prime dies - again. I swear, that 'bot buys it in every series. He's just one big plot device so the 'younger' 'bots can get some character development!
The first couple of days of the school year went well in spite of the heat and having to take public transport. The cubs both seem to like their new teachers - so do I which will hopefully mean I won't be as hesitant to approach them about potential problems as I was with the grade 3 teacher last year. (Yes, it's all about me, isn't it? <smirk> )
Quilting news: Almost finished making up the individual strips for the hexagon quilt - only 3 to go! - then I can start joining them together. Still haven't got 'round to pinning the various layers of the first quilt but that's not surprising. This is the first time I've done anything like this so true to form I'm being shy and insecure about the whole process. <rolls eyes> But at least the lounge room floor is still clear enough to spread it all out on so that's one less thing to get stalled over.
I know myself too well...
Oh, and good luck with the ouchies, Alarice! <hugs> I wince in empathy for you.
There was also volume 3 of 'Wolf's Rain' on the shelves which would've been t'riffic except I haven't seen volume 2 yet. <scowl> I suspect both 2 and 3 turned up at the same time but the other person who's been waiting for the rest of this series to appear got in before me. Ah well, with luck another copy of 2 will turn up at a time I can afford it. (Hm, and the next couple of volumes of 'Yu Yu Hakusho' haven't appeared yet either, and it's been months since the last batch. Heh, according to Lutra's theory of retail availability no doubt they'll show up when I can least afford them. Such is life. : )
The cubs got a DVD copy of the 1986 Transformers movie.
... it's not as dire as the Thomas the Tank Engine movie.
Actually, it's not bad at all despite the paperthin plot, wooden characterisations and twenty-year old japanimation. The english voice cast is interesting: Eric Idle, Leonard Nimoy, amongst others, and would you believe Orson Wells? I really hope this wasn't his last screen appearance...
Some of the characters/ideas from the movie have been resurrected for the later series of Transformers and guess what? Optimus Prime dies - again. I swear, that 'bot buys it in every series. He's just one big plot device so the 'younger' 'bots can get some character development!
The first couple of days of the school year went well in spite of the heat and having to take public transport. The cubs both seem to like their new teachers - so do I which will hopefully mean I won't be as hesitant to approach them about potential problems as I was with the grade 3 teacher last year. (Yes, it's all about me, isn't it? <smirk> )
Quilting news: Almost finished making up the individual strips for the hexagon quilt - only 3 to go! - then I can start joining them together. Still haven't got 'round to pinning the various layers of the first quilt but that's not surprising. This is the first time I've done anything like this so true to form I'm being shy and insecure about the whole process. <rolls eyes> But at least the lounge room floor is still clear enough to spread it all out on so that's one less thing to get stalled over.
I know myself too well...
Oh, and good luck with the ouchies, Alarice! <hugs> I wince in empathy for you.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Nicked from Onna's blog.
THE MEME OF THREE.
THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Lutra
2. 'manda
3. Mu-um!
THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. Lutra
2. skree-ratling
3. action-otter
THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. my creativity
2. my optimism
3. my love of simple pleasures. ("Oooh, shiny!")
THREE THINGS YOU HATE ABOUT YOURSELF:
… hate is such a strong word - I dislike:
1. my weak will where sugar and shiny things are concerned.
2. my inability to function in hot weather.
3. my tendency to self-sabotage.
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. English
2. Irish
3. … um, I think that's about it unless you count possible Scandinavian from one of the numerous invasions of Eire over the centuries.
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. The world losing all its topsoil – and therefore the ability to grow food – because of unsound, chemical company sponsored land mismanagement.
2. losing a child.
3. spiders. Big ones.
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. creativity
2. food and water
3. computer access.
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. sarong
2. t-shirt
3. talculm powder (it's hot…)
THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE BANDS OR ARTISTS:
1. Queens of the Stone Age
2. Beatles
3. Oasis
THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS AT PRESENT:
1. Gimme Danger – Iggy Pop
2. Go with the flow - QotSA
3. Wouldn't it be nice – Beach Boys
THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. moving house without the hassle of working around housemates other than my children.
2. finishing a quilt.
3. stop feeling tired all the time.
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP (love is a given):
1. respect.
2. space.
3. support.
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE:
(in that order?)
1. I'm a dog-person.
2. I managed to not get elected to anything in High School.
3. The first time I saw photos of actual dead bodies I couldn't sleep for three days.
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. intelligence without arrogance.
2. useful physical strength.
3. thighs… long, lean thighs in tight, pale trousers…
THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN’T DO:
1. smoke
2. buy Nestle products
3. litter
THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE HOBBIES:
1. Writing. (Though realistically I see that more as a life-path thing.)
2. sewing – cross-stitch - quilting
3. reading
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. get cool
2. nap
3. write
THREE CAREERS YOU’RE CONSIDERING:
1. Author
2. Librarian
3. cooking-show host (no, seriously…)
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
(places not in Australia, that is…)
1. UK
2. Japan
3. New Zealand
THREE KIDS NAMES:
1. Toby
2. Ceinwein
3. Coral
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. dote on my great-grandchildren
2. live in a houseboat or some remodelled train carriages
3. travel while not having to worry about money
THREE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TAKE THIS QUIZ NOW OR DIE PAINFULLY:
Bush – Blair – Howard. Hah ha! <evil smirk>
THE MEME OF THREE.
THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Lutra
2. 'manda
3. Mu-um!
THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. Lutra
2. skree-ratling
3. action-otter
THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. my creativity
2. my optimism
3. my love of simple pleasures. ("Oooh, shiny!")
THREE THINGS YOU HATE ABOUT YOURSELF:
… hate is such a strong word - I dislike:
1. my weak will where sugar and shiny things are concerned.
2. my inability to function in hot weather.
3. my tendency to self-sabotage.
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. English
2. Irish
3. … um, I think that's about it unless you count possible Scandinavian from one of the numerous invasions of Eire over the centuries.
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. The world losing all its topsoil – and therefore the ability to grow food – because of unsound, chemical company sponsored land mismanagement.
2. losing a child.
3. spiders. Big ones.
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. creativity
2. food and water
3. computer access.
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. sarong
2. t-shirt
3. talculm powder (it's hot…)
THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE BANDS OR ARTISTS:
1. Queens of the Stone Age
2. Beatles
3. Oasis
THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS AT PRESENT:
1. Gimme Danger – Iggy Pop
2. Go with the flow - QotSA
3. Wouldn't it be nice – Beach Boys
THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. moving house without the hassle of working around housemates other than my children.
2. finishing a quilt.
3. stop feeling tired all the time.
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP (love is a given):
1. respect.
2. space.
3. support.
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE:
(in that order?)
1. I'm a dog-person.
2. I managed to not get elected to anything in High School.
3. The first time I saw photos of actual dead bodies I couldn't sleep for three days.
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. intelligence without arrogance.
2. useful physical strength.
3. thighs… long, lean thighs in tight, pale trousers…
THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN’T DO:
1. smoke
2. buy Nestle products
3. litter
THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE HOBBIES:
1. Writing. (Though realistically I see that more as a life-path thing.)
2. sewing – cross-stitch - quilting
3. reading
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. get cool
2. nap
3. write
THREE CAREERS YOU’RE CONSIDERING:
1. Author
2. Librarian
3. cooking-show host (no, seriously…)
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
(places not in Australia, that is…)
1. UK
2. Japan
3. New Zealand
THREE KIDS NAMES:
1. Toby
2. Ceinwein
3. Coral
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. dote on my great-grandchildren
2. live in a houseboat or some remodelled train carriages
3. travel while not having to worry about money
THREE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TAKE THIS QUIZ NOW OR DIE PAINFULLY:
Bush – Blair – Howard. Hah ha! <evil smirk>
Thursday, January 27, 2005
[... killing time before catching the bus to pick the cubs up from school...]
First day of the new school year. Woohoo feel the enthusiasm.
I'm exaggerating, of course, we started the year on a positive note. The cubs got up at 7 a.m without fuss and we were out of the house just after 8 with me only having to bark once or twice. : ) We got to school niiiice and early with no rush, just the way I like it.
Cubs are in separate classes this year which should be good for them, they really need some space from each other - going to be great when they can have their own rooms. Fingers crossed they'll get on better with their teachers this year than last, but then I don't think grade 3 is ever a good year while grade 4 is always better. Or perhaps I'm being selective in my memories? Eh.
Still ploughing through 'Fellowship of the Ring' and came across the word dolven. I wondered if this was a real word or one Tolkien made up so I went looking. Found this jolly interesting site in my travels. Doesn't say anything about the word's origins - still don't know if it's a real word or not - but does give a definition that makes sense.
On the subject of language the cubs asked me a little while back why I used 'big words' when I spoke. After blinking a bit I told them it was because English is such a rich, beautiful and eloquent language I don't see the point of restricting my vocabulary to the boring, ordinary words everyone else uses. <g> English snob? Oh yes...
I gave the piggle a wash yesterday. Given the size of her cage it's impossible for her to not sit in her own waste at some point, and with piggles not being the most flexible of creatures she was having trouble keeping herself clean. The last thing I wanted was for her to have problems with flies so a bath it was. She wasn't impressed, eyes bugged out in stark, staring terror. Tch. Though she enjoyed being clean and was quite happy to be towel-dried.
Quizzes, quizzes...
(The first was nicked from Onna's blog, the second from Joules')
You scored as Verbal/Linguistic. You have highly developed auditory skills, enjoy reading and writing and telling stories, and are good at getting your point across. You learn best by saying and hearing words. People like you include poets, authors, speakers, attorneys, politicians, lecturers and teachers.
The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences
created with QuizFarm.com
You're an earth mother! Your friends sometimes
call you Gaea, because you're the original
earth goddess! You and your kids both have
dirt under your fingernails, and you spend as
much of your time as possible out of doors.
Your kids have an incredible appreciation for
nature.
What kind of a freaky mother are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
... okay, aside from the being out of doors bit. <thinking> Though actually, that's not inaccurate, I do like being outside amongst nature and stuff just not when it's hot.
Finally got to see 'X Men 2'. I enjoyed it! Liked what they did with Nightcrawler's character. There is a third movie on the way, isn't there? I mean, this second movie was nicely setting up a sequel. (Though it probly helps having an inkling of the original storyline. : )
(Bother. Looks like one of the quizzes has done odd things to the page layout. Tch, sorry...)(Fixed it for you - Joules)
First day of the new school year. Woohoo feel the enthusiasm.
I'm exaggerating, of course, we started the year on a positive note. The cubs got up at 7 a.m without fuss and we were out of the house just after 8 with me only having to bark once or twice. : ) We got to school niiiice and early with no rush, just the way I like it.
Cubs are in separate classes this year which should be good for them, they really need some space from each other - going to be great when they can have their own rooms. Fingers crossed they'll get on better with their teachers this year than last, but then I don't think grade 3 is ever a good year while grade 4 is always better. Or perhaps I'm being selective in my memories? Eh.
Still ploughing through 'Fellowship of the Ring' and came across the word dolven. I wondered if this was a real word or one Tolkien made up so I went looking. Found this jolly interesting site in my travels. Doesn't say anything about the word's origins - still don't know if it's a real word or not - but does give a definition that makes sense.
On the subject of language the cubs asked me a little while back why I used 'big words' when I spoke. After blinking a bit I told them it was because English is such a rich, beautiful and eloquent language I don't see the point of restricting my vocabulary to the boring, ordinary words everyone else uses. <g> English snob? Oh yes...
I gave the piggle a wash yesterday. Given the size of her cage it's impossible for her to not sit in her own waste at some point, and with piggles not being the most flexible of creatures she was having trouble keeping herself clean. The last thing I wanted was for her to have problems with flies so a bath it was. She wasn't impressed, eyes bugged out in stark, staring terror. Tch. Though she enjoyed being clean and was quite happy to be towel-dried.
Quizzes, quizzes...
(The first was nicked from Onna's blog, the second from Joules')
You scored as Verbal/Linguistic. You have highly developed auditory skills, enjoy reading and writing and telling stories, and are good at getting your point across. You learn best by saying and hearing words. People like you include poets, authors, speakers, attorneys, politicians, lecturers and teachers.
 |
|
The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences
created with QuizFarm.com
You're an earth mother! Your friends sometimes
call you Gaea, because you're the original
earth goddess! You and your kids both have
dirt under your fingernails, and you spend as
much of your time as possible out of doors.
Your kids have an incredible appreciation for
nature.
What kind of a freaky mother are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
... okay, aside from the being out of doors bit. <thinking> Though actually, that's not inaccurate, I do like being outside amongst nature and stuff just not when it's hot.
Finally got to see 'X Men 2'. I enjoyed it! Liked what they did with Nightcrawler's character. There is a third movie on the way, isn't there? I mean, this second movie was nicely setting up a sequel. (Though it probly helps having an inkling of the original storyline. : )
(Bother. Looks like one of the quizzes has done odd things to the page layout. Tch, sorry...)(Fixed it for you - Joules)
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
<happy - though exhausted - squeak> Niki, Soulsis and I, plus kinder, went to see The Incredibles again today! Dang, I love that movie - be nice to see it without the distraction of children sometime.
Caught a preview of the next Pixar movie,'Cars'. Looks like fun, and I recognised Owen Wilson (Starsky & Hutch, Shanghai Knights) as one of the voice actors.
We all trooped 'round to Niki's afterwards and spent the rest of the very (very) hot day watching DVDs and eating. It was a good 2nd last day of hols. : )
Hee, I got 9/10 on Soulsis' quiz!
Too hot to think... more later...
Caught a preview of the next Pixar movie,'Cars'. Looks like fun, and I recognised Owen Wilson (Starsky & Hutch, Shanghai Knights) as one of the voice actors.
We all trooped 'round to Niki's afterwards and spent the rest of the very (very) hot day watching DVDs and eating. It was a good 2nd last day of hols. : )
Hee, I got 9/10 on Soulsis' quiz!
Too hot to think... more later...
Monday, January 24, 2005
Band 2 was loads of fun to write - thanks for letting me play, Joules. <g>
The next Elga chapter is now underway, to be hopefully followed by a B2 side-story (that doesn't involve any of the main charas so quite likely won't be posted) and the next bit of a Haadri fanfic (which also won't be posted. <g> ). Actually, looking at my list of pending fics there's not a whole that can be posted, considering the majority of things involve works that are intended for publication.
And to think that when I started writing I couldn't imagine myself doing anything but fanfic. Heh...
The cubs and I went to the Aquarium on the weekend. Lots of fun as usual but there was the inevitable moment I wished I had a camera, or cyber-optics. We stopped outside to eat our snacks before heading home - the cubs sat together on an elevated bridge pylon and shared their lunch with the assembled seagulls on the walkway below. They were having so much fun making the birds nod and jump in unison (by pretending to throw the food) they didn't notice the feathered crowd gathering behind them. <smirk> When they did they squeaked! Some of those seagulls were awfully close... I laughed. : )
Tee hee hee...
'There are 10 types of people in the world - those that understand binary, and those that don't.'
Did you know that fun is the key that opens the door to success?
One of my cubs told me that. I suspect he'll be grow up to be an advertising mogul. Or a motivational speaker, gods help us all.
Here's a good word I stumbled over in the dictionary while looking for something else:
Arcarpous - not producing fruit.
Neat, eh?
So, the school holidays are almost over and I'm trying not to dwell on what we haven't done, like daily writing practise for the cubs, and teaching them to tie their shoelaces. Eh, I'll count it a bonus if we can get to school on time those first few days...
The next Elga chapter is now underway, to be hopefully followed by a B2 side-story (that doesn't involve any of the main charas so quite likely won't be posted) and the next bit of a Haadri fanfic (which also won't be posted. <g> ). Actually, looking at my list of pending fics there's not a whole that can be posted, considering the majority of things involve works that are intended for publication.
And to think that when I started writing I couldn't imagine myself doing anything but fanfic. Heh...
The cubs and I went to the Aquarium on the weekend. Lots of fun as usual but there was the inevitable moment I wished I had a camera, or cyber-optics. We stopped outside to eat our snacks before heading home - the cubs sat together on an elevated bridge pylon and shared their lunch with the assembled seagulls on the walkway below. They were having so much fun making the birds nod and jump in unison (by pretending to throw the food) they didn't notice the feathered crowd gathering behind them. <smirk> When they did they squeaked! Some of those seagulls were awfully close... I laughed. : )
Tee hee hee...
'There are 10 types of people in the world - those that understand binary, and those that don't.'
Did you know that fun is the key that opens the door to success?
One of my cubs told me that. I suspect he'll be grow up to be an advertising mogul. Or a motivational speaker, gods help us all.
Here's a good word I stumbled over in the dictionary while looking for something else:
Arcarpous - not producing fruit.
Neat, eh?
So, the school holidays are almost over and I'm trying not to dwell on what we haven't done, like daily writing practise for the cubs, and teaching them to tie their shoelaces. Eh, I'll count it a bonus if we can get to school on time those first few days...
Friday, January 21, 2005
It's been fun frog-hopping around the various quizzes. Come on GoodTwin and Sue, where's yours? <eg>
It's interesting, isn't it, how many webcomix revolve around students. I'm guessing it's because students write a lot of them. :) Mind you there's plenty of comix that don't involve student storylines, and it's not like I've done an indepth survey of the genre or anything so I should probly stop making sweeping generalisations, ne?
<checking list of notes for blog - ack, can't read my writing!> Soulsis, Niki and I are contemplating taking the brats interstate for another holiday later this year. To Tasmania, to be specific. Better start saving now! Could be lots of fun, though, I love Tassie. <dreamy sigh> Thought about moving there a while back. The temperature tends to stay lower there than on the mainland which, yes, makes the winters very cold but on the plus side it means the summers are more bearable for a heat intolerant creature like myself.
Hm. The car is still off the road and it's unlikely to be back for some time. Means I'll be taking the cubs to and from school on the bus. <sigh> Inconvenient but not actually difficult, and at least I'll be getting a little exercise daily. (See, there's an up-side to everything. Tra la la...) But Soulsis informed me last night schools go back next Thursday, not the following Monday as I'd assumed. Ack! I'm not ready to go back to the daily grind! Been enjoying my sleep-ins too much!
Oh well, don't really have a choice, do I, and it means I'll have some time to myself again. Not that that's been so much of a problem these holidays. I don't find myself climbing the walls desperate for some space. Mostly I think that's cos the cubs are now well able to amuse themselves for hours on end with me only needing to referee the occasional skirmish. Or maybe I've just got used to the restrictions of parenthood? Meh.
Heh, and the rental inspection didn't happen, as it turned out - agent never showed. Not that I'm particularly upset but there's one or two things in the house that need seeing to and I'd rather the agent did that than the owner.
OkapiPrincess sent me this! And this! The first had me shaking my head and saying 'heh, fans...', the second had me rolling on the floor laughing. Wait for them both to load and watch the first one first. <smirk>
It's interesting, isn't it, how many webcomix revolve around students. I'm guessing it's because students write a lot of them. :) Mind you there's plenty of comix that don't involve student storylines, and it's not like I've done an indepth survey of the genre or anything so I should probly stop making sweeping generalisations, ne?
<checking list of notes for blog - ack, can't read my writing!> Soulsis, Niki and I are contemplating taking the brats interstate for another holiday later this year. To Tasmania, to be specific. Better start saving now! Could be lots of fun, though, I love Tassie. <dreamy sigh> Thought about moving there a while back. The temperature tends to stay lower there than on the mainland which, yes, makes the winters very cold but on the plus side it means the summers are more bearable for a heat intolerant creature like myself.
Hm. The car is still off the road and it's unlikely to be back for some time. Means I'll be taking the cubs to and from school on the bus. <sigh> Inconvenient but not actually difficult, and at least I'll be getting a little exercise daily. (See, there's an up-side to everything. Tra la la...) But Soulsis informed me last night schools go back next Thursday, not the following Monday as I'd assumed. Ack! I'm not ready to go back to the daily grind! Been enjoying my sleep-ins too much!
Oh well, don't really have a choice, do I, and it means I'll have some time to myself again. Not that that's been so much of a problem these holidays. I don't find myself climbing the walls desperate for some space. Mostly I think that's cos the cubs are now well able to amuse themselves for hours on end with me only needing to referee the occasional skirmish. Or maybe I've just got used to the restrictions of parenthood? Meh.
Heh, and the rental inspection didn't happen, as it turned out - agent never showed. Not that I'm particularly upset but there's one or two things in the house that need seeing to and I'd rather the agent did that than the owner.
OkapiPrincess sent me this! And this! The first had me shaking my head and saying 'heh, fans...', the second had me rolling on the floor laughing. Wait for them both to load and watch the first one first. <smirk>
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
How much do you know about me? Take my Quiz! and then Check out the Scoreboard! (Idea nicked from Onna.)
I've been rereading Fellowship of the Ring. It really is quite tedious, a good story dragged back by ponderous language. The only thing that's keeping me from nodding off while reading is the mental exercise of comparing the book to the moviverse. I can see why PJ altered some bits for the movie - Gandalf's bare statement that 'They took me and they set me alone on the pinnacle of Orthanc...' isn't half as exciting as dueling wizards.
Random camping thoughts:
While I was slogging my way up the mountain my cubs were very encouraging, popping back to tell me I was doing great... even though I patently wasn't! <soppy g>
We had a t'riffic spot for our tents, too. The area was shaded by lovely big trees essentially from 10 a.m. onwards. We stayed nice and cool despite the heat.
The wildlife in the camp was abundant and fearless. For instance, the ducks saw nothing wrong with wandering around the edges of our campsite and even went so far as threatening one of the brats when he got too close. Cheeky sod. And there were finches and wattle-birds all over the place, as well as kangaroos. Soulsis and a big grey startled each other early one morning as Soulsis was tramping off to the loo. :)
The local (hah, 40 minutes away) supermarket bottle shop stocked bottles of CS Cowboys, which when you get them from a pub are heaven on a stick - Baileys and Butterscotch schnapps or liqueur. The ones we found had vodka as the alcohol base and were only flavoured with butterscotch and cream. Still nummy though with not quite the same toe-curling effect of the original recipe. Just as nice - 'cept in a fizzy way - were the tins of Red Bear: vodka, lemon/lime and soda. Mmmmm, refreshing...
Well, the house is clean and now we wait. The estate agent was due to appear at 9 a.m. this morning for the inspection but 2 hours later and she hasn't showed. Eh, I'll chase her up later, I'm not that fussed. The house is acceptable though I don't doubt we'll be roasted for the state of the garden. Meh - as long as the cockroaches stay out of sight...
Band 2 (the CCO 808 AU fanfic that Joules and I are working on jointly) is languishing a bit. It's almost finished but it looks like we the writers need our energy levels and enthusiasm to be synchronized before we can settle down to finishing. We're not going to force it, either, the bulk of the story is pretty good so it'll be obvious if we resort to hurriedly slapping the last part together. We both have too much respect for our craft for that.
Good gods, the cubs go back to school in a couple of weeks! Where the hell did the holidays go?!
Hee!
Sammi found this...
You are a black and white cat. Can't you make up
your mind about what color you are??? You are
very indecisive, and not too stable. You can't
sit in one place, you need to explore, see new
things, perhaps you even have ADD...
What color of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Random camping thoughts:
While I was slogging my way up the mountain my cubs were very encouraging, popping back to tell me I was doing great... even though I patently wasn't! <soppy g>
We had a t'riffic spot for our tents, too. The area was shaded by lovely big trees essentially from 10 a.m. onwards. We stayed nice and cool despite the heat.
The wildlife in the camp was abundant and fearless. For instance, the ducks saw nothing wrong with wandering around the edges of our campsite and even went so far as threatening one of the brats when he got too close. Cheeky sod. And there were finches and wattle-birds all over the place, as well as kangaroos. Soulsis and a big grey startled each other early one morning as Soulsis was tramping off to the loo. :)
The local (hah, 40 minutes away) supermarket bottle shop stocked bottles of CS Cowboys, which when you get them from a pub are heaven on a stick - Baileys and Butterscotch schnapps or liqueur. The ones we found had vodka as the alcohol base and were only flavoured with butterscotch and cream. Still nummy though with not quite the same toe-curling effect of the original recipe. Just as nice - 'cept in a fizzy way - were the tins of Red Bear: vodka, lemon/lime and soda. Mmmmm, refreshing...
Well, the house is clean and now we wait. The estate agent was due to appear at 9 a.m. this morning for the inspection but 2 hours later and she hasn't showed. Eh, I'll chase her up later, I'm not that fussed. The house is acceptable though I don't doubt we'll be roasted for the state of the garden. Meh - as long as the cockroaches stay out of sight...
Band 2 (the CCO 808 AU fanfic that Joules and I are working on jointly) is languishing a bit. It's almost finished but it looks like we the writers need our energy levels and enthusiasm to be synchronized before we can settle down to finishing. We're not going to force it, either, the bulk of the story is pretty good so it'll be obvious if we resort to hurriedly slapping the last part together. We both have too much respect for our craft for that.
Good gods, the cubs go back to school in a couple of weeks! Where the hell did the holidays go?!
Hee!
Sammi found this...
You are a black and white cat. Can't you make up
your mind about what color you are??? You are
very indecisive, and not too stable. You can't
sit in one place, you need to explore, see new
things, perhaps you even have ADD...
What color of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Sunday, January 16, 2005
We're back! My quads are aching fiercely but after aspirin and Tiger's Balm at least I'm not dying anymore. <g> More on that later.
Hall's Gap is lovely, ruddy great ancient mountains rising out of a plain. You're driving along, it's flat, there's the occasional tree then suddenly - egad! - there's a mountain! <g>
The camp-site was great as well. Situated at the base of some mountains (no idea which ones) and with lots of stuff to keep the bratlings amused. Only took us a couple of hours to set up, which after a 4 hour trip that had taken 6ish hours was a very good thing. We ended up with 5 separate dwellings in all, and I didn't have to share mine with anyone. Hee. True, I couldn't stand up in it but it was cosy, my own little holt... We were right next door to one of the shower/toilet/laundry blocks, too, so sending the brats off for showers wasn't an expedition in itself.
It took us a day to get settled in, not surprisingly, and because we'd squeezed in a food-shop on the way we didn't need to make any forays until friday morning. That's when Soulsis and I went in to Ararat for more supplies, stopping off at a little old cemetery on the way back. That was eerie, reading the headstones while noting the spaces below were human-sized. I'd never noticed before... Anyway, we saw a rabbit there, sheltering in the shade of a family mausoleum. Looked like the cheeky blighters had made burrows under some of the slabs as well. That afternoon we all trooped off to a local Aboriginal Cultural centre (I'll look up the name later) for some boomerang throwing displays and lessons, a puppet-show and lots and lots of information about all sorts of things.
It was very hot the first couple of days we were in Hall's Gap, and there were grass-fires over the other side of the mountains. We watched the smoke from those drift over to our side - interesting.
On saturday morning it was Niki and Soulsis' turn to escape for a little while. :) They went off exploring a 2nd-hand/antique place while I stayed behind to keep an eye on the brats. When they got back Niki and I nipped into Hall's Gap proper for a look, and a cup of coffee and then when we got back we rounded up everyone and went for a drive up one of the mountains.
I love mountains, I love being on top of them but I'm no mountaineer. The walk to the Pinnacle was described as 'strenuous'... Soulsis commented it should've been listed as 'challenging'. As I was struggling back down I wondered how the hell I'd got as far as I did! Steep, rocky, treacherous footing with hand-rails in places for safety. Gah. My heart was hammering with exertion on the way up, and my legs were shaking with fatigue on the way down - such is the fitness of Lutra. I didn't make it to the top either, though the others did and apparently I was only a little short of the distance. I was a bit annoyed with myself though - I was so close, why didn't I finish it? What sort of wuss was I? <bg> The sort of wuss who knows when she's beaten and isn't going to risk physical injury when the only way down in that instance would've been by rescue-helicopter. Needless to say I was a wreck by the time I'd straggled with Soulsis' help back to the car - hence the aspirin and Tiger's Balm - and we all crawled off into our tents early that night.
Packing up to come home took 3 hours but while we were in the middle of it we got compliments for both our efficiency and for our children being so quiet during the stay given how many of them there were. :) (And let me say that our kids were so much better behaved than some others that were there.)
Anyway, on the way home Soulsis and I paid a quickish visit to the Chinese Heritage Museum in Ararat (I'll look up the name later) which was fascinating, I love buildings with internal courtyards.
But now we're all home safely, if still aching in my case, and I am sooo looking forward to sleeping in my own bed...
Hall's Gap is lovely, ruddy great ancient mountains rising out of a plain. You're driving along, it's flat, there's the occasional tree then suddenly - egad! - there's a mountain! <g>
The camp-site was great as well. Situated at the base of some mountains (no idea which ones) and with lots of stuff to keep the bratlings amused. Only took us a couple of hours to set up, which after a 4 hour trip that had taken 6ish hours was a very good thing. We ended up with 5 separate dwellings in all, and I didn't have to share mine with anyone. Hee. True, I couldn't stand up in it but it was cosy, my own little holt... We were right next door to one of the shower/toilet/laundry blocks, too, so sending the brats off for showers wasn't an expedition in itself.
It took us a day to get settled in, not surprisingly, and because we'd squeezed in a food-shop on the way we didn't need to make any forays until friday morning. That's when Soulsis and I went in to Ararat for more supplies, stopping off at a little old cemetery on the way back. That was eerie, reading the headstones while noting the spaces below were human-sized. I'd never noticed before... Anyway, we saw a rabbit there, sheltering in the shade of a family mausoleum. Looked like the cheeky blighters had made burrows under some of the slabs as well. That afternoon we all trooped off to a local Aboriginal Cultural centre (I'll look up the name later) for some boomerang throwing displays and lessons, a puppet-show and lots and lots of information about all sorts of things.
It was very hot the first couple of days we were in Hall's Gap, and there were grass-fires over the other side of the mountains. We watched the smoke from those drift over to our side - interesting.
On saturday morning it was Niki and Soulsis' turn to escape for a little while. :) They went off exploring a 2nd-hand/antique place while I stayed behind to keep an eye on the brats. When they got back Niki and I nipped into Hall's Gap proper for a look, and a cup of coffee and then when we got back we rounded up everyone and went for a drive up one of the mountains.
I love mountains, I love being on top of them but I'm no mountaineer. The walk to the Pinnacle was described as 'strenuous'... Soulsis commented it should've been listed as 'challenging'. As I was struggling back down I wondered how the hell I'd got as far as I did! Steep, rocky, treacherous footing with hand-rails in places for safety. Gah. My heart was hammering with exertion on the way up, and my legs were shaking with fatigue on the way down - such is the fitness of Lutra. I didn't make it to the top either, though the others did and apparently I was only a little short of the distance. I was a bit annoyed with myself though - I was so close, why didn't I finish it? What sort of wuss was I? <bg> The sort of wuss who knows when she's beaten and isn't going to risk physical injury when the only way down in that instance would've been by rescue-helicopter. Needless to say I was a wreck by the time I'd straggled with Soulsis' help back to the car - hence the aspirin and Tiger's Balm - and we all crawled off into our tents early that night.
Packing up to come home took 3 hours but while we were in the middle of it we got compliments for both our efficiency and for our children being so quiet during the stay given how many of them there were. :) (And let me say that our kids were so much better behaved than some others that were there.)
Anyway, on the way home Soulsis and I paid a quickish visit to the Chinese Heritage Museum in Ararat (I'll look up the name later) which was fascinating, I love buildings with internal courtyards.
But now we're all home safely, if still aching in my case, and I am sooo looking forward to sleeping in my own bed...
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
(nicked from The Mousehole.)
Tee hee hee... Just as long as I don't have to have bread buns on the side of my head.
Princess Leia.
A strong-willed herald of causes against injustice, you passionately strive to right the wrongs around you.
Somebody has to save our skins!
Tee hee hee... Just as long as I don't have to have bread buns on the side of my head.
Princess Leia.
A strong-willed herald of causes against injustice, you passionately strive to right the wrongs around you.
Somebody has to save our skins!
Monday, January 10, 2005
There was an add on telly tonight for a new season of the Parkinson Show. What I heard was - "... the show enjoyed by minions around the world."
Pardon? I know the man's fans are loyal but that's ridiculous.
( <g> It was of course "...millions around the world." I really do need to get my hearing checked.)
Hooray, the rental inspection has been put off for a week! Yay, I can stop fretting. :)
But the cubs' room is clean now - though there was tears. The vacuum cleaner is pulled out so rarely in this house it's always something of an event, and the cubs always want to play with it. Which is fine, I don't mind them mucking about with it, but this time a piece of one of their toys got sucked up. <rolls eyes> My initial reaction to the pleas to open the bag and rummage about in the muck to rescue the bit was to say 'tough - you should be more careful!' but the heart-rending sobs wore me down. I know what's it like to lose a toy, I've never got over the river stealing my plastic bucket when I was four...
Where was I? Ah yes. Haven't gone into the bag yet but I've no doubt I'll be reminded at some point.
Pardon? I know the man's fans are loyal but that's ridiculous.
( <g> It was of course "...millions around the world." I really do need to get my hearing checked.)
Hooray, the rental inspection has been put off for a week! Yay, I can stop fretting. :)
But the cubs' room is clean now - though there was tears. The vacuum cleaner is pulled out so rarely in this house it's always something of an event, and the cubs always want to play with it. Which is fine, I don't mind them mucking about with it, but this time a piece of one of their toys got sucked up. <rolls eyes> My initial reaction to the pleas to open the bag and rummage about in the muck to rescue the bit was to say 'tough - you should be more careful!' but the heart-rending sobs wore me down. I know what's it like to lose a toy, I've never got over the river stealing my plastic bucket when I was four...
Where was I? Ah yes. Haven't gone into the bag yet but I've no doubt I'll be reminded at some point.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Several years ago my father died suddenly of a heart attack. In my dream last night he got to choose the time and manner of his death. It was still uncomfortable being in the same room with him but I did get to say goodbye.
And there was a reminder about editing his writing...
My room's clean!
I don't want to dwell on how many hours it took (6!) and while it isn't pretty you can at least see the floor. The big break through came when I realised I wasn't actually using my desk for anything, ergo there was no need to keep it clear. It's amazing how much stuff can be packed in, on and around a desk. I still need more space and I'd dearly love a house where there's room for bookshelves...
The cubs are playing in my room now - it's the novelty of actually being able to get in there. Enjoy the play while you may, my pretties, we're doing your room next.
And there was a reminder about editing his writing...
My room's clean!
I don't want to dwell on how many hours it took (6!) and while it isn't pretty you can at least see the floor. The big break through came when I realised I wasn't actually using my desk for anything, ergo there was no need to keep it clear. It's amazing how much stuff can be packed in, on and around a desk. I still need more space and I'd dearly love a house where there's room for bookshelves...
The cubs are playing in my room now - it's the novelty of actually being able to get in there. Enjoy the play while you may, my pretties, we're doing your room next.
Friday, January 07, 2005
<panicpanic fretfret> Gah! Rental inspections... We hates them, precious!
We've one scheduled for early next week. Haven't been able to contact the agent yet to arrange another date. Everything could be more or less up to scratch by the original date but I'd rather not put myself through that.
Eh, I've coped before no doubt I'll cope again.
All I can say is that it's lucky that when Niki and Soulsis were here the other day we did some impromptu gardening. The garden's nowhere near being completed but at least it looks like some effort's been made.
And nine months on from the last chapter, the next chapter of Elga is posted. Don't like to make rash promises but it'd be nice to have this second part of the story done with by the end of January. Not sure what to do with it when it's completed though. It could possibly lend itself to a third part but I'd have to give it some thought... No, I'm pretty sure I can wind up the story at the end of the second bit. Don't really want to have this dragging on forever, got far too many other pretty-shinys to play with. :)
(For those interested, the Elga stories are posted here in the short stories index (The Vault) on Joules' WaveWrights site. No password needed!)
Weeeeeeee! Best ever stress relief. Thanks, Joules!
We've one scheduled for early next week. Haven't been able to contact the agent yet to arrange another date. Everything could be more or less up to scratch by the original date but I'd rather not put myself through that.
Eh, I've coped before no doubt I'll cope again.
All I can say is that it's lucky that when Niki and Soulsis were here the other day we did some impromptu gardening. The garden's nowhere near being completed but at least it looks like some effort's been made.
And nine months on from the last chapter, the next chapter of Elga is posted. Don't like to make rash promises but it'd be nice to have this second part of the story done with by the end of January. Not sure what to do with it when it's completed though. It could possibly lend itself to a third part but I'd have to give it some thought... No, I'm pretty sure I can wind up the story at the end of the second bit. Don't really want to have this dragging on forever, got far too many other pretty-shinys to play with. :)
(For those interested, the Elga stories are posted here in the short stories index (The Vault) on Joules' WaveWrights site. No password needed!)
Weeeeeeee! Best ever stress relief. Thanks, Joules!
Thursday, January 06, 2005
One of the cinema ads the other day was a bit odd. It was for a brand of lollys and I thought the jingle was saying "Just for fun... you become a candy!" This confused me a little cos while there was lots of visuals of people getting sugar-hyped not one of them turned into a candy. Then I noticed the brand name and suddenly it all fell into place. "Just for fun... Yuppi Gummi Candy!" <g>
This month's cable telly guide has a spruik about the movie Alexander. Along with some general patter about it there's a list of Alexander 'facts'. One of these was "Hephaestion was Alexander's life-long male companion."
His what? <smirk> That's one way of putting it, I suppose.
I don't have much interest in seeing this movie but I'll admit to a certain amount of curiosity about how the A/H angle is handled.
And speaking of movies, I have three Orli-squee films in the house now. Not sure what that suggests...
Ahah! I've collected 7 of the Golden Arches of Doom Neopet Techos - red, yellow, blue, white, shadow (black), cloudy and green. All that's left for me to find is the near-mythical purple and starry ones. Apparently they do exist but are very rare. But, if they do exist they'll almost certainly turn up on eBay at some time. Lucky I'm patient, eh?
This month's cable telly guide has a spruik about the movie Alexander. Along with some general patter about it there's a list of Alexander 'facts'. One of these was "Hephaestion was Alexander's life-long male companion."
His what? <smirk> That's one way of putting it, I suppose.
I don't have much interest in seeing this movie but I'll admit to a certain amount of curiosity about how the A/H angle is handled.
And speaking of movies, I have three Orli-squee films in the house now. Not sure what that suggests...
Ahah! I've collected 7 of the Golden Arches of Doom Neopet Techos - red, yellow, blue, white, shadow (black), cloudy and green. All that's left for me to find is the near-mythical purple and starry ones. Apparently they do exist but are very rare. But, if they do exist they'll almost certainly turn up on eBay at some time. Lucky I'm patient, eh?
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Cubs and I went to see The Incredibles today...
<raverave> Effin'gnnnh! 's good!
This is the best thing Pixar have produced to date and I'd go as far to say it's the best movie I've seen in ages. Ok, as a superhero story it meant I was mostly sold on it as soon as I'd seen a preview but even so I was not disappointed. In terms of production this film is stunning, the animation is smooth and detailed, realistic without that pretension to realism that's buggered up other movies for me. I've found Pixar always work within the medium, they know that cgi - no matter how photo-realistic - is not like using film. Why limit something so flexible to aping film?
Anyway. Unlike Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. and the two Toy Stories, The Incredibles is not a kids' movie with something for adults. Yes, the plot is simple but the characters are not. There's depth to them all - I can smell the backstorys! - and they lived for me, I believed in them. There were elements of the movie, too, that had me thinking that the production team really understood the 'Superhero' genre; a genre that can be a whole lot deeper than its detractors would have you believe.
And someone obviously loves the Bond movies: the secret headquarters was fantastic!
Right, I've run out of coherent things to say, save that the small 'short' before the film was awfully cute. <g>
Really looking forward to seeing this at the cinemas again, and will definitely be getting the DVD when it's released.
<raverave> Effin'gnnnh! 's good!
This is the best thing Pixar have produced to date and I'd go as far to say it's the best movie I've seen in ages. Ok, as a superhero story it meant I was mostly sold on it as soon as I'd seen a preview but even so I was not disappointed. In terms of production this film is stunning, the animation is smooth and detailed, realistic without that pretension to realism that's buggered up other movies for me. I've found Pixar always work within the medium, they know that cgi - no matter how photo-realistic - is not like using film. Why limit something so flexible to aping film?
Anyway. Unlike Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. and the two Toy Stories, The Incredibles is not a kids' movie with something for adults. Yes, the plot is simple but the characters are not. There's depth to them all - I can smell the backstorys! - and they lived for me, I believed in them. There were elements of the movie, too, that had me thinking that the production team really understood the 'Superhero' genre; a genre that can be a whole lot deeper than its detractors would have you believe.
And someone obviously loves the Bond movies: the secret headquarters was fantastic!
Right, I've run out of coherent things to say, save that the small 'short' before the film was awfully cute. <g>
Really looking forward to seeing this at the cinemas again, and will definitely be getting the DVD when it's released.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Thanks for whipping Blogger's time thingy into line, Joules <g> .
Got 'round to watching Troy today. It was better than I expected I have to admit. Of course, a pretty-pretty Orli didn't hurt (though there wasn't nearly enough pretty-pretty naked Orli… Does he wax, I wonder? … where was I? Ah yes…) Achilles was an arrogant git and Pitt-pony was perfect for the role. Loved some of the sets, too – I want the King's tent next time I go camping! – and I thought the costumes were triffic. And guess what, this is the first movie I've seen of Sean Bean's where he hasn't died horribly. : )
One itsy-bitsy niggle however. True, my knowledge of Ancient Greek history/myth is sketchy at best and true I might have missed something as my attention wasn't rivetted on the movie the whole time but surely the siege of Troy didn't go for just 15 days?
Right, what'll I tackle first this year? The next bit of 'Elga' is ready to go, might get on with that, though there's something from my lurid role-playing past bubbling up from the muck. Could do something with that. Hm...
You know, with the cubs not being at school I've completely lost track of what day it is. Could've sworn it was tuesday...
Got 'round to watching Troy today. It was better than I expected I have to admit. Of course, a pretty-pretty Orli didn't hurt (though there wasn't nearly enough pretty-pretty naked Orli… Does he wax, I wonder? … where was I? Ah yes…) Achilles was an arrogant git and Pitt-pony was perfect for the role. Loved some of the sets, too – I want the King's tent next time I go camping! – and I thought the costumes were triffic. And guess what, this is the first movie I've seen of Sean Bean's where he hasn't died horribly. : )
One itsy-bitsy niggle however. True, my knowledge of Ancient Greek history/myth is sketchy at best and true I might have missed something as my attention wasn't rivetted on the movie the whole time but surely the siege of Troy didn't go for just 15 days?
Right, what'll I tackle first this year? The next bit of 'Elga' is ready to go, might get on with that, though there's something from my lurid role-playing past bubbling up from the muck. Could do something with that. Hm...
You know, with the cubs not being at school I've completely lost track of what day it is. Could've sworn it was tuesday...
Hee, the cubs made it to midnight. 3 minutes later they took themselves to bed. My little party-boys. : ) (And now they're having trouble sleeping cos the sound of the fireworks is 'freaking them out'. I told them to just go to bed, it'd be over soon... such a sympathetic mum.)
Was a time, not that long ago, when it was vital to have something to do, somewhere to go on New Year's Eve. To not have something planned was just so sad. <g> I really don't care that much now, NYE frolics go into the too-hard basket. Maybe next year...
Good fortune and sunshine follow you...
Except when you need rain, rain is important too...
Was a time, not that long ago, when it was vital to have something to do, somewhere to go on New Year's Eve. To not have something planned was just so sad. <g> I really don't care that much now, NYE frolics go into the too-hard basket. Maybe next year...
Good fortune and sunshine follow you...
Except when you need rain, rain is important too...