I forgot to mention (bad mummy!) that one of my cub's got a student of the week award last week for being a responsible classroom monitor. : )

The next bit of Serving Ms Brown (not Jones, twit) is up. Oh and I'm aiming to update this weekly.

Yes, the cubs and I went to see 'Finding Nemo' today.
The animation was brilliant (you don't expect anything less from Pixar) but the plot was less than inspiring and the things I thought I'd like the most (the clown fish) I liked the least. Too anthropomorphised, too schmaltzy, I just didn't like them that much. However, it was the secondary characters, and their side stories, which made this movie for me. In particular I loved Dory (voiced by Ellen deGeneres). It's a given that side-kicks are goofy but there's a reason for this one's behaviour and it worked. : ) She was brilliantly handled and thoroughly endearing (more so than the challenged poppet lead), and watch out for the seagulls and the crabs! I also liked the way the sharks were depicted in this...

Warning! Spoiler!

... not as stupid evil bullies (as they usually are) but as enlightened creatures involved in a 12 step program to get them off the fish... 'Fish are friends, not food.'
There was a lot of humour in this directed at adults. : )
Yes, go and see this movie, you'll probly enjoy it but make sure you stay for the whole credits... Once again Pixar has fun there and it's definitely worthwhile...

<wahsnifflesoppysmile> Dammit, that solitary romantic bone I'll admit to is playing up again... I've just seen the first draft (are first thingys of art called 'drafts'?) of the pic Joules is doing for the 'Amazing Kiss' competition.
... you'll never guess who the subjects are! <smirk>:

It's funny, isn't it, that a joke that would normally have you rolling around laughing just isn't funny when it's told by someone you don't like...

Damn I love Trigun's end theme. I love the music but I especially love the lyrics (the english version, naturally) it sounds like such a simple philosophy.

My next AC will be posted soon, as will the next bit of Ms Jones, and next week will be spent working on... <dramatic reverb> The Novel.
Good gods I think we've only got 3 weeks of term left! Ack!
Hn, I'll be going away for a weekend during that I think, and I'd like to take the cubs up to my mum's for a couple of days... better start organising the finances then.

(nicked from Okapi's blog:)

Runes.. very interesting...

Past Berkana - Growth, abundance, fertility, Mother Earth, protection, the zenith of an idea or situation.

Present Lagaz - Intuition, imagination, success in studies, creativity, vitality and passion (especially for women).

Future Mannaz - Cooperation, teamwork, collaboration, help and aid from others, beginning new projects, especially with others.

Cast the runes here:
Rune Caster

Hee, the cubs and I are going to see 'Finding Nemo' tomorrow... we're very excited! <g>:

(nicked from Talon's blog about something on Joules' blog:)

... And I can't wait to hear how the visit to Body art goes!!! *is terribly happy for Joules, and only slightly jealous *grins**

<g>: me too! Currently waiting for Joules to get back so I can get allll the gory details. <smirk>

Heh, that's my next AC finished, need to have Joules give it the once over then hopefully it'll be posted by the end of the weekend. : ) What shall I do next?

It must be spring, I've gotten all enthausiastic about growing my own vegetables again...

I had a very odd dream last night.
I was visiting a small country town/festival/convention with a group of nebulous people, one of them an ex of mine. An ex of his was there as well and she was being hassled by some guy. My ex's sargeant (he'd suddenly become military) quietly suggested that if he wanted to go and 'fix the problem' he'd say he hadn't seen him there that weekend, effectively cover for him. My ex does deal with the guy but as I'm standing outside the room it happens in and I can't hear anything I'm left to imagine what's going on... I know my ex and what he's capable of and it makes me uneasy.
After the deed is done my ex has to stay low for a while, which he does in my hotel room, in my bed, snuggling into me like a lost and frightened child, something he used to do when I knew him before, when life seems to be kicking him in the guts.
I woke up feeling as if I was reliving an unpleasant part of my past...

...... O_o !!

I've been traumatised by the sight of housemate wearing nothing but a towel. I spose I should be thankful this meant he'd had a shower. <shudder>

Eeep! <sniffle> 'Interloper', Joules next Dystopia is finished...

You know what's the best thing about eating beetroot?
.... actually, I won't mention it, might be a bit too much information. <g> (I sometimes think that when it comes to bodily functions I've got a mental age of three. 'Cor! Lookit the colour o'that!' tee hee hee...)

Soulsis came over today for a basic lesson in html. A very basic lesson from someone (me) who's not that great a teacher. : ) But we muddled through I think.

Good to hear Ripley's sleeping in her own bed, Talon, : ) and, onna, you are way more dedicated than me. Learning any other language is too much like hard work let alone Japanese...

<big eyes> Joules has started her next Dystopia chapter. Now it really starts getting interesting...

(nicked from Joule's blog:)

Johnny Depp as the definitely... um... eccentric's not quite the right word... Captain Jack Sparrow [proof that males can be shiny and sparkly, Lutra!].

<eyebrow> I remain sceptical as to how a non-anime male can be sparkly but if anyone can manage it it'd be Mr. Depp. <g> He gives good face...

I really like melted cheese but I hate azaleas (no, there's no connection between those two statements, don't bend your brain over it : ) I loathe those plants - their leaves are little and mean, their flowers fleshy and bruised, and no matter how well-cared for the plant is it always manages to look less than wholesome. Ick.

I think the cubs and I are going to see 'Finding Nemo' this weekend. <happy grin> and Okapi found a lost and abandoned Golden Arches of Doom toy by the side of the road yesterday, one of the clown-fish ones, and she thought of me... : )

Speaking of Okapi we were talking yesterday and it transpires that waaaay back in the days of our carefree youth we both regularly made ourselves late for work by stopping to watch 'He-Man - and the Masters of the Universe' in the morning.. isn't that interesting?

I've been pondering over cartoons lately (western animation), specifically about how women/girls are portrayed. I grew up with early Warner Bros and Hanna Barbera <shudder> and The Holy Rodent Empire. What did they have to offer? Granny? The occasional plot-device female who was sometimes vampish but was more often someone's wife? Wilma & Betty? Jane & Judy? Daphne and Velma? (Beauty and brains but not in the same package, you'll note) Bugs in drag? And then we have the movie heroines of the HRE, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty etc, victims all. But these things were all products of their time, weren't they, when women's roles weren't promoted as anything more than being an adjunct to the men. Things have changed haven't they?
There's more and stronger female characters around now, true, and I hate to admit it but the HRE seems to be leading the charge though HB has certainly picked up it's game. (At this point I have to admit I don't remember who owns who at the moment, is Warner's a HRE company now? Or HB? Is HB owned by Cartoon Network?) Of the new wave my favourite female characters would have to be the PowerPuff Girls and Kim Possible but there's also the X-men girls, some of those wonderful villainesses in both the Batman animated series and Sarah Bellum from the PPG.
There's others as well - Dee Dee from Dexter's lab - I love the way that girl views the world : ), and the Totally Spies trio. You're more likely to see the females actively contributing to the plot now rather than just needing to be rescued. It's a good thing, I think, and been a long time coming, now we just have to get past the notion that fat or ugly women are a: a nuisance, or b: comic relief...

The cubs and I have started collecting a magazine series - 'Horrible Histories' - based on the books by Terry Deary. It's promoted as history with the nasty bits left in and it's perfect for gruesome little boys. : ) The cubs have pored over the first issue ('The Gory Glory of Rome') and are eagerly awaiting the next one. In fact they're so taken with the whole idea that tonight they enthusiastically showed me what they'd made. One had spelt out emperor Nero's name in lego and the other had made a small lego sword that he propped hilt up on their chest of drawers then randomly scattered blocks of red lego around it in imitation of the blood splatters in the tv commercial...
An interest in history is a good thing, ne? <g>

Okay, the first bit of that blog fic I mentioned is posted. It's called Serving Ms. Brown and I spose it won't be giving too much away to say it's going to be almost pure sub/dom yuri. But not this first, less than scintilating bit.
Writing it as a blog entry was actually harder than I thought it'd be. I tend to be a bit cavalier with the structure of my blog posts but this is a fic and so needed the same amount of attention I give to other fics. Eh, whatever, it's up, have a look if you care to, there'll be more soonish though it won't be a daily thing by any account.

This retro thing has gone far enough - I've seen Bay City Rollers compilation CDs... (yes, and to my shame I was tempted...<sheepish> Eric was such a spunk!)

'Share the bunny...' That sounds like a great euphemism - but for what, exactly? <g>

Waaaaaah! <sniffle> ... Joules let me pre-read her next AC...

Hee, I've just bought a DVD copy of Matthew Bourne's 'Swan Lake' from ebay. Cool, another piece of homoerotica to add to the collection. : )

(found on soulsis' blog:)

...tee hee hee...


Threat rating: Medium. Your total lack of decent
family values makes you dangerous, but we can
count on some right wing nutter blowing you up
if you become too high profile.


What threat to the Bush administration are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

<blinks> Ummm....


You should be dating a Pisces.
19 February - 20 March
Your mate is loving and caring, trusting and
hospitable, and romantic. Though he/she can be
self-pitying, temperamental or dependent, the
fishes are quite romantic in bed.


What Zodiac Sign Are You Attracted To?
brought to you by Quizilla

[You mean of course, share the bunny, don't you hab'lan...? <mmmm, bunny...>]

I would like to have it on record that I had a thing for clown fish waaaaay before 'Finding Nemo', ok?
Tch, the same thing happened with Batman, I was a fan for years before the 'revival' and it really got up my nose when people assumed my fannishism was me just jumping on the merchandising bandwagon... grrr...

One of my cubs is taking an interest in cooking! : ) He helped me make the omelettes tonight, and the other night he sat with me to watch a food porn, er, cooking program and piped up saying all the food looked beautiful and he'd like to make it...
Still doesn't want eat any of it though, (I checked) but I spose an appreciation of the visual aesthetics of food is a start. <g>

Heh, managed two chapters of 'Dancing' this week, not a bad effort. : ) This coming week I'd like to at least make a start on the blog thing and finish 'Cathouse Ellis'... aaaand maybe do something about my next AC...

(nicked from Talon's blog:)

<giggling>

What Are You Most Likely to Utter During Sex by UMAJohnnie
Name
Sexuality
Age
Most Likely to Say	"Hey, I'm not paying you for your thoughts."
Created with quill18's MemeGen!

(nicked from onna's blog:)

Awww! ^~^ That's so cute!


Rini - "Little bunny"


What would your Japanese name be? (female)
brought to you by Quizilla

[What do you think, aijin? Tenshi-rini? Rini-tenshi? Rini-Lutra? <giggling>...]

140 stars...

Right, Trigun... what's the deal with the neko? It's everywhere!

The cubs and I went to the Aquarium today. It's still fun : ) And I got another of the clear plastic bouncy balls with the little coral scenes inside - a purple one today. just a blue to get and I've got the lot. <g>

(nicked from Joules' blog:)

... this little fish is the last of a shoal of six neon tetras I had in a small tank Ken bought me as a present years ago...

He bought you a fish tank!? That's so sweet!
... Right, that's enough of that! <shoves starry-eyed fluffy bunny back in to her box> However...

... Tetras are only supposed to live for about two years - this thing has to be at least four years and more likely five years old... I won't actually kill it, tempting as it sometimes is, but honestly! I swear I can hear it cackling evilly from here....

Well if anyone's going to have an evil tetra it'd be you, sinam! <smirk>
Oh and yay! for rat, Onna! : )

Mmmm... prunes....

It's interesting, isn't it, how your attention can be drawn back to something you've more or less forgotten about when someone else expresses an interest in it. Joules and I have been given some fabulous feedback from Romyra and in it she mentions she'd really like to read the rest of 'Cathouse Eliis'. Well, gosh darn if the little blonde poppet didn't suddenly claw his way to my forebrain to demand some attention. He's very pretty when he pouts... : ) So, I'll see about getting that done, or at least started, this weekend; maybe have it finished by end of next week.

Hee, I found out today our local ABC shop is getting another shipment of 'I, Claudius' on DVD. This is one of my all time favourite drama series, not surprising given my interest in Imperial Rome. The shop's going to let me know when they come in and I might prevail upon the cubs' father to get them for me for xmas. <happybounce>
Poopies, it looks like the video/dvd of Matthew Bourne's 'Swan Lake' isn't on anybody's list any more. <pout> Have to try the net, I spose... How much do I really want to see it?

Tch, KittenKong brough another mouse in last night and it took refuge in one of the cub's school shoes, which was good cos that meant I didn't have to catch it per se to put it outside...

I'm finding myself squealing that I need more time so I can get more done... Sound familiar? <g> But, I can't use haddock as a euphemism, that's Joules'. She suggested sausages...
I need more sausages!
What do you think?

Heh, and Talon, it was me with the wrong end of the pineapple, it is two challenges...

Heh, my cubs wrote their first fan letter tonight - to our National Broadcaster about one of their children's programs... and volume 2 of BeBop has been added to the library! <g>

Wow, Kai's hols have zipped by, Joules! But at least it means you'll soon be able to have a rest... (yes, yes, I know just how likely that is : )

Good work, onna, encouraging rat to get a blog... You know, I think he's the only male I've got on my blog list? No, hang on, I've also got Hard (Sexy Losers) and Ghastly (Ghastly's Ghastly comic) - though that's because I read their comics, it's not like they're friends of mine, or friends of friends : ) (However, given the 6 degrees of separation theory I could probably find a connection to them...)

And that's another chapter of Dancing done. The style I'm writing this in is evolving the more I do, which is great but it means there's going to have to be some fairly extensive reworking of the earlier stuff. Oh well, should make for a better product. Next week I might have a go at getting down some of the snippets for this other novel cluttering up my brain...

Don't worry, Talon, we won't say no yaoi that'd just be inhuman! <g>

The great thing about having BeBop on DVD is being able to slow-mo it and really get a chance to appreciate the artistry of the animation. <happysigh> And I've got to admit, with all this extra viewing Spike's beginning to grow on me.

Tch, rotten cat brought in two mice last night. The first one was already dead but the second one was brought back in 3 times after I repeatedly rescued it and put it back outside...

Talon, I'm issuing you a challenge. I want you to write some fluff - not healing fluff after trauma and angst, just fluff. I dare you! <g>

[should we be finding you a pointy stick now as well, aijin?]

<smirk> For those of you that are interested, Joules is hosting my Bob the Builder x-over story at her site. I've re-read it and I'm still giggling... Oh, and BIG huggles to Joules for doing the coding et al. : )

There was ice on the car's windscreen this morning, first time this winter!
It was very beautiful, the way the crystals fanned out over the glass - if I hadn't been in a hurry to get the cubs to school I would have sat and gazed at the patterns for a while.

Hee, 121 stars...

It's no good, I've had to stop using ICQlite - my system just can't handle it. Reverted to ICQ2go which, while I don't like some aspects of it, is still better than having the puter freeze at the slightest provocation.

Right, about this novel (for ease of referral let's call it 'Dancing' - that's part of the title, btw : ) let me sum up the progress.
So far in this how-the-hell-am-I-going-to-do-this? first draft I have the first chapter done, also chapters 2 & 3 (or 3 & 4, haven't finalised that yet) plus a couple of other consecutive chapters from around the middle and snippets from the last third. It's a bit of a mish-mash at the moment, <g> but I can hesitantly say it's got potential. I'm aiming to have the first draft, at least, completed by the end of the year.