21 days 'til Order of the Phoenix is released! [boing]

I bought my first bit of merchandise a few days ago. The mini-sticker book. It's wonderfully vague - contains no spoilers whatsoever. :)
There's a handful of Snape stickers, but only 1 Lupin. At least, I think it's Lupin [peers]...

Citro Clean. Marvellous stuff, so tangy and citrusey. I think they've changed the formula, however. Used to be you had to use the stuff in a ventilated area cos, all natural ingredients or not, it stung; eyes, nose, throat. Smelt wonderful, though, and worked a treat on clearing your sinuses.
It still smells wonderful, and it still works really well, but it no longer has the bite. This is probably a good thing.

Caught the first episode of Torchwood last night. 'Bout bloody time it was shown over here! Joules has been teasing me with random, intriguing, non-spoilery comments for months.
So anyway, first ep... Honestly, plotwise it wasn't anything exceptional but damn, the more 'adult' nature of the series is like a long, cool drink. Sexuality is not at all covert, and to say there's a certain amount of flexibility demonstrated is an understatement. The potential is delicious! And Captain Jack certainly does cut a fine figure in that great coat of his. :)

Now, Deadwood - I love this series. On a whim - and after hearing some good reviews - I bought the first season box set last year when I noticed it was on special. Almost didn't make it through the first episode but I persisted and was well and truly hooked by the end. I devoured the first season then went looking for the second - which again I found discounted. Devoured that as well then had to sit back and wait blinkin' ages for the third season. [grump]
Yesterday on a whim, and as a reward for myself after the successful conclusion of a rent inspection, I thought I'd just have a look and see if the third season box set was out yet... It was! And as luck would have it, it was on special! Mwahahah. Itching to watch it but I'm schooling myself to patience. I'd like to rewatch the second series beforehand, so I can catch all the nuances. I'd like to, but I don't know that I will - I just wanna get on with the story! Eh, we'll see how I hold out, and how much quiet TV/DVD time I can wrest for myself. Sometimes the idea of having my own telly etc in my room is wonderfully tempting.

(Egad, a post!)

Got a rental inspection coming up so I have, for once, pulled my finger out and got some housework done. Sooo much to do, though. But, it's coming together. The place is still cluttered, but it's neatly stacked clutter, with no obvious piles of mouldering refuse. No, that's all been cunningly hidden...
I even washed the floors today. The cat was following me around, wide-eyed and hesitant - 'What's this with the bucket...?' [rolls eyes] It's not like she hasn't seen me wash the floors before, I'm sure! Though, given the nature of a cat's memory and the infrequency of the floor washing... Ok, it's just possible she considered it enough of an out-of-the-ordinary activity to be alarming. :)
And off on a cat-related tangent:
I love the way KittenKong follows me around. She'll even abandon a lovely warm lounge room to come and snuggle on my bed. This morning, however, I think I pushed the friendship. We had our first frost of the season (such pretty feather shaped ice on the car windows!) so naturally I skipped outside to take some photos. KK followed but she was clearly unimpressed. [grin] I don't suppose anyone enjoys getting a cold bottom from sitting on frosty grass while waiting for someone to hurry up and get back inside.

Finally catching up with posting my Queensland photos. Just a couple more days worth to sort through then I can catch up with the stuff I've taken since then. :)

The new Transformers movie is coming out soon. Cubs are ecstatic. They keep asking me who's my favourite Transformer. Can't quite seem to understand I don't have one... :) Eh well, no doubt the movie will be entertaining. If not, then I'll have a lovely nap...

Yay, well, made it through the Pervy Werewolf Lusty Month of May challenge. [evil grin] And didn't go entirely insane doing it, either. Go me.
Now I'd better get on with some real work before the Eyebrow of DOOOOM is cast in my direction... :)

I went to see a movie last night. At the cinema. It's been 5 months since I last saw a movie at the cinema. (And that was Flushed Away... which I'm still waiting on the DVD release.)
Oh yes, the movie was Pirates 3 (why yes, I am too lazy to be bothered writing out the whole name), and it was COOL. Much cooler than 2, which I got cross with, and more satisfying than 1, which was just fluff. Pretty fluff in corsets and baggy shirts, but still just fluff, let's admit it.
Caught a couple of previews, too. Order of the Phoenix (squee!) and the new Fantastic Four. It made me giggle cos Johnny was off chasing the Silver Surfer, who - in the last frames of the preview - catches him by the throat. "And so a thousand slash fics were launched..." I smirked to the cubs' father, (who incidentally had shouted me to the movie).

Mum's had a cataract removed from her left eye, and a new, synthetic lens put in. It makes her eye look uncannily clear. Fascinating... She's having her other eye done this week, and when that's all settled down she'll be going for her driver's license again. I sort of hope she's successful - she really, really misses the independence of getting herself around - but on the other hand... I'm not that keen on having to go back to public transport again. Eh, no big deal if I do - at least it's not Summer.

Quizzes. Nicked from various places via Joules.

Your Score: Outcast Genius

60 % Nerd, 60% Geek, 52% Dork

For The Record:



A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.



You scored better than half in all three, earning you the title of: Outcast Genius.



Outcast geniuses usually are bright enough to understand what society wants of them, and they just don't care! They are highly intelligent and passionate about the things they know are *truly* important in the world. Typically, this does not include sports, cars or make-up, but it can on occassion (and if it does then they know more than all of their friends combined in that subject).



Outcast geniuses can be very lonely, due to their being outcast from most normal groups and too smart for the room among many other types of dorks and geeks, but they can also be the types to eventually rule the world, ala Bill Gates, the prototypical Outcast Genius.



Congratulations!
Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

You scored as Spiritual Atheist, Ah! Some of the coolest people in the world are Spiritual Atheists. Most of them weren't brought up in an organized religion and have very little baggage. They concentrate on making the world a better place and know that death is just another part of life. What comes after, comes after. Spiritual Atheist 67% Apathetic Atheist 58% Scientific Atheist 50% Agnostic 50% Angry Atheist 42% Theist 33% Militant Atheist 25% What kind of atheist are you? created with QuizFarm.com

It amuses me that 'apathetic atheist' is second on the list...

Heh, well so far I've managed to keep up with the daily posting on Pervy Werewolf, but I'm finding it tricky to write smut every day just because. Don't have a problem with PWPs but this is different, it's an ongoing story with plot an' everything, and there's a part of me insisting that the smex must be relevant! [hand to forehead] : ) Eh, there's a reason these things are called challenges.

The other morning, as I stuck my nose in the cubs' room to wake them, Rocket, without lifting his head from the pillow, waved his hand at me in a mystical arc and intoned: "You don't want to take us to school"
I laughed. "Much as I would love to say I 'don't want to take you to school,'" I replied. "Your Jedi mind tricks won't work on me..." [grin]
Ah, my kids, such wags.

Really interesting dream last night. Or the tale end of one, rather. It felt like I was back in Queensland - same sunshine, same colours of the sea. I was walking down some stairs into the lower level of a house that had been done up as a restaurant. I could see the ocean from where I was, and as I descended I spotted some whales rolling over in the surf! That was very cool. But wait, there's more...
I watched the ocean swell up and flood the lower level of the house. As is the nature of dreams, there was nothing unusual about this. It wasn't an anticipated event, and sure it messed things up a bit, but you managed. Someone I was with was already down there playing in the water. I saw she had something perched on her shoulder. She did tell me what it was - jellyfish or something, but nothing I recognise from r/l - and while in the dream I knew it was quite a venomous critter, she was treating it with gentleness and respect and it was safe. (I think she released it into the water and it was carried back out when the wave receeded.) Anyway, I went down and waited for the next wave and it was scary fun, knowing that the whole event was kind of dangerous - what with unknown things being tossed about in the water, or the risk of being swept out to sea - but looking forward to the rush of water.
Unfortunately the wave had only just started when I was woken up. [pout]


Hee. Nicked from Joules', who nicked it from somewhere else:

Which God or Goddess are you like? Your Result: Budha You are Budha. You are a very peaceful person, you love all who love you. You are a cheerful personality, and you have a great sense of humor. Congratulations!! You are Budha!!
Goddess Bast
The Christian God
Jesus
God Zeus
Goddess Sekhemet
You are your own God or Goddess
Satan
Which God or Goddess are you like? Make Your Own Quiz

(Are the red bars showing up? They weren't in preview. Eh, let's post and see what happens...)

[Edit: nope, not working. But trawling through the code the results were - in descending order:
Goddess Bast: 60%
Christian God: 60%
Jesus: 50%
God Zeus: 50%
Goddess Sekhmet: 42%
Your own God or Goddess: 38%
Satan: 20%]

I'm quite possibly certifiable but I've taken the plunge and joined the Pervy Werewolf Lusty Month of May challenge. To whit (to woo! [snerk]) you have to post at least 500 words of Remus-centric lemon every day of the month. Don't know if I'll last the distance - forget drawing out a plot, can I sustain smut that long? - but I'll give it a go. Up to part 3 now... (Be warned, if you want to have a look at anything over there it's all Not Work Safe.)

A few days ago one of the cubs spent the evening wearing a Pringles cardboard tube over the end of his arm because he wanted to see what it would be like to lose his hand.
We (including his brother) had a bit of a discussion and I explained prosthetics to them. Both the cubs have decided that if they were unfortunate enough to lose a hand they'd want the 'cool looking' claw-type prosthetics. [rolls eyes] Whatever helps you cope, sweetheart...

Speaking of cubs. [grin] I was listening to Tom Waits God's Away on Business and they remarked - while falling about laughing - that it sounded like constipate on biscuits! It'd be very amusing if they've inherited both their father's and mine ability to mishear things but perhaps I should get their ears checked anyway. :)

Still speaking of the cubs... Tomorrow their school is having a 'media day' where the kids get to make short movies, radio commercials, and stop-motion cartoons. On the way to school today the cubs' asked me if I had any ideas for plots.
Well...
I suggested a scenario where the teachers' coffee is stolen and the kids have to get it back cos the teachers are all cranky now. But, in a cunning twist, when the burglars are unmasked they reveal they stole the coffee cos they know too much of it's bad for you, and so they did it for the teachers' own good!
I quite liked it, so did Mr Brown, apparently, and when the cubs' father heard the summary, and that the idea was mine, he grinned and remarked that that was why it sounded new and fresh, and not at all like something you'd see on telly. Hee, I love my imagination.

Seen a couple of interesting DVDs recently. The first was King Arthur, which wasn't bad but I think I would've enjoyed it more if it'd just been a story about the period. Trying to fit it to such well-known figures felt like too much of a stretch to be believable.
The other was Two Hands, an Aus movie about the crinimal underworld. This wasn't as immediately gripping as I'd anticipated but on reflection it was very funny with some finely drawn characters. In the opening scenes the symbol of yin-yan is mentioned, and how it can represent the little bit of good in the bad, and the little bit of bad in the good. The movie was peppered with some subtle examples of this philosophy, making it, I think, a little bit deeper than it first appeared. There's also a bizarre element of the super-natural in it which I remember vaguely some reviewers scoffing over. It worked for me, though, pushing the movie just slightly out of your standard gangster flick. I liked it enough to consider picking up a copy eventually.

Yesterday, when I got back from Queensland, there was a parcel from Joules waiting for me amongst all the chaos! It contained not only a copy of her Dream Decoder book but the The Mummy DVD; loads of chocolate [including a lemon mousse bar! Yum!]; a CD of her and GoodTwin's holiday pics (ottersottersotters! trainstrainstrains!) plus a slidey-pen style keyring from Stonehenge! Squee! My first bit of Henge-tat!
But wait there's more...
There were also a couple of particularly gross keyrings for the cubs [which they loved, thanks! :) ] and - ottersottersotters - bookmark, postcard, pin and card from the New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park! Eeee!
And last but not least there were also a couple of more offcuts of gorgeous green material and a postcard featuring a photo portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. That photo there on Wiki, in fact... (Now what would Lutra - a noted luddite and anti-19th Century, er, person - be wanting with a photo of one of the era's most noted industrialists? In short, I'm not actually sure, but despite my antipathy to the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the bourgeoisie I've always been captivated by that pic. It's a stellar example of photo portraiture, very evocative.)
Thank you, Joules! That was a lovely pile of treasure to come home to!

So how was my holiday? It was great, thanks! Queensland (or rather, Noosa, the bit where I was) is beautiful but I wouldn't want to be there over Summer. In the fortnight I was there the temperature ranged from 24-29 degrees during the day, and between 16-18 at night. Not so bad but the humidity was a little uncomfortable. Nothing incapacitating - especially as we were down on the coast with the sea breezes - but I really don't like sweating for no good reason. :)
Did a lot of stuff...
Visited the ginger factory at Yandina. (Won't give you the url cos it involves disturbingly cheery music.) Took a train ride around the plantation plus went for a couple of spins on a 'tunnel of love' sort of ride where the boaty thing trundled around past animatronic dioramas of different countries. Very entertaining. No, really.
We travelled further North for a few days to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, the 'world's third largest sand island'. Beautiful, beautiful spot. World heritage listed area, the interior only accesible by 4 wheel drives. No roads as such but Mad Mouse sand tracks that threw you about in a most jolly (read: bone jarring) manner. We only drove maybe 80 kms on the island but when you're travelling at an average of 15 km an hour while gathering bruises, it feels so much longer. Wonderful beaches, however. Endless skies. <happy sigh> I want to go back.

On our second last day Mum and I visited Underwater World in Mooloolaba. Lovely little place, not as big as Melbourne's aquarium but it has seals! And otters! Loved it. :)

As you might have expected, I've brought back a lot of tat, and, hm, I appear to be collecting pelican postcards. <eyebrow>
Photos... I took a lot of photos. Must be close to 1000. I'll put selected highlights up on flickr over the next couple of weeks. Wouldn't want to bombard anyone with the slideshow of DOOM. <g>
Anyway, had a great time but it's (mostly) good to be home. Missed my cubs, and my cat. Time to get back to work.

[Edit: D'oh, so excited about my new treasures I forgot to mention just how good Joules' new book looks! Not only in the 'this looks like a great read' sense but the layout, the graphics. All very cool!]

Right. Cos Joules is a genius I'm able to post again. Woohoo!
I've been in Queensland for a week already! Blimey. Weather that I would grizzle about back in Melbourne (warm and humid) is lovely here. <g> Probly cos I'm on holiday and not having to do all my usual chores. Heh.

The trip up was very boring. Mass transport is mass transport whether it's by road, rail or air. Sardines squished in a box. Fortunately it was only for a couple of hours so it was tolerable. Unfortunately, given that I was in an aisle seat in a row by a wing I was only able to see out of - at most - the top half of the 'window', but the few glimpses I did get were wonderful. Love being above the clouds...

Mum and I are staying with my brother; he lives about 5 minutes walk from the beach! Haven't spent a lot of time there - been busy doing other things - but I did go paddling for a bit the other evening. Odd, the water was warm. I'm used to getting into the sea and it being cold.

This coming weekend we're off to Fraser Island for a couple of days. Should be glorious. <g> No doubt I'll add substantially to the 600 photos I've already taken.

The other night my brother and his partner, Kirsty, went to see the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in Brisbane. Fabulous band, anyway, first he sent me a pic of them taken with his camera phone - that made me squee - then later he rang me while 'Under the Bridge' was being played! Oh, I squealed like a 12 year old, and sang along with it. I was in the shower at the time so I can't claim it was 'just like being there' but still... :)

Joules posting on Lutra's behalf.

The hassle with her yahoo! account being hijacked has left her unable to log in to blog. She's asked me to advise everyone on her behalf: she'll get back to normal as soon as possible.

(She seems to be having a great holiday so far!)

Grrrr... Looks like some bastard's hijacked my Yahoo account.
Pissed. Off.
I mean, I don't use it for anything really personal or important (except Flickr; and that right there is the main reason I'm resistant to this trend of linking accounts. If one's compromised then that puts the others at risk. Are you listening, Google/Blogger?) but, dammit, it's mine. <grump> Yahoo can apparently do something about it if I snailmail/fax account details plus my written permission for them to go delving. I'm going to do it, I think, cos I've had that account for ten sodding years and for sentimental reasons if nothing else I don't want to give it up. (Quite aside from the issue of Identity Theft. Bastards.)

Right. Just a wee bit stressed at the moment anyway. Mum and I are off to Queensland next Tuesday and I've been darting about getting ready for that. It's not just me I've got to get organised but the cubs and their father. And the cat. <sigh> Eh well, I'm mostly ready - I just need to pack my suitcase without packing the cat...

In more fun news... We won first prize in the school's Easter Raffle! Soooo much chocolate. Mwahahaha!



See that white blobby blur one of the cubs has a hold of? That's a huge plush rabbit - also part of the prize.

And finally a very belated response to Joules' sort-of challenge about people not posting pics of themselves. A photo of me that doesn't make me wince. <g> Taken by one of the cubs:



The lovely purple-patterned wrap I'm wearing was given to me by Soulsis. :)

On ICQ, leading directly on from a conversation about slimy dead frogs was this:

Lutra: <happy sigh> *finally* got a copy of Kate Bush's Suspended in Gaffa...

Joules:..... <blink> um - right.
whatever turns you on
(Is Gaffa some sort of bondage tape?)

loved the song since I was 12, or something...
it's the grey stuff they use to tape down wires
link

I thought that was geffer tape.
gaffer I mean

yes, that

so what the hell is Gaffa?
(Never heard the song, in case you hadn't gathered)

<g> I'll send you a copy if you like
gaffa/gaffer same thing

so it IS a song about bondage!
I think I have to hear it now

ROFL!
it's not! well, not in any obvious way... [link to lyrics]

uhuh.....

I can tell you don't believe me

<blink> and there's an advert for polythene bags on the page and you're STILL trying to tell me it's not about bondage?

this is the ad
Polythene Bags
Millions of bags in stock Call Nick Boyes 01277 626100
www.tetrasoc.com/Pages/polyt

link's not working

I'll have one of whatever she was on when she wrote it.
I have a suspicion it's a mishearing of 'Eyeless in Gaza', personally

LOLOL!
eh?

link doesn't matter - fact is the ad's still there!
Eyeless in Gaza

which is?
(<shakes head> I'm trying not to think too hard about polythene bags and their use in bondage)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeless_in_Gaza
ROFLMAO!!!

incidentally, I also have a copy now of Venus in Furs

YAY!!!
love a copy when you've a spare minute or five

neato. I'll add it to the list
ooh, interesting book

never read it myself. been on the list for years

nevertheless, the song is called Suspended in Gaffa, and I've always had the impression it's about being held in pl-
<sigh>

<snicker>
<poke snicker poke>

<giggling slap> oh piss off : ) this is why I was never any good in debates

<smirk>

[Incidentally, in the course of transcribing that text, I inadvertantly discovered how to make text blink...]

Tch, Summer's dragging its heels this year. 37 today, 34 yesterday. <grumble> Problem's been that we've already started acclimatising to the recent spate of lower temps so when it gets hot again... Erk. Eh well, we've got a week of mid-twenties or lower to look forward to from tomorrow. I really hope this is the last of the stupidhot, not least because poor Badger's been getting blood noses...

So, it's only 119 days 'til the final Harry Potter book is released. I don't envy JKR - no matter what she's written she's going to cop flak from somewhere. I wonder if she's been keeping an eye on the fansites? I wonder if she's ever felt like she had to change the ending cos we're too damn close to what she had planned? <g>
I've reserved my copy and while I have to admit I'm interested to see how she's going to wrap up the series I'm not wildly hopeful of the results - unless she's a better writer, story teller, than I've given her credit for. (Gah. Grammar. Blame the heat...) I have my speculations, naturally. I think Snape's going to die, regardless of whether he's 'redeemed' or not. There'll be another consequential death, as well, one that'll push oor Harry in the direction he needs to go to do the thing he's got to do. Sirius' and Dumbledore's deaths (oh please, don't squeak about spoilers now. It's been almost two years since HBP was released...) were traumatic for our hero but those charas could be considered parental. It'll be the death of one of his friends that'll kick him into UberRighteousAnger.
Other ideas? The Hogwart's inter-house rivalry will be healed when they all join together at the end and Harry and Draco will have hot smex. (Ok, perhaps not that. Especially as JKR is apparently precious about her charas being slashed. Mwahahah : )
And it's only 111 days 'til the next HP movie's released. <g> Not sure which event I'm anticipating more, to be honest...

Heh, it's almost the end of term. Already. Only a couple of weeks to go.
And then I'm off to Queensland for several day! Woohoo! (I'm deliberately ignoring the niggling wee things about this holiday that've gone awry so far...)

<beaming> Yesterday, Niki and Soulsis hosted a fondue party for my birthday! Sooo much food! We started with a steam boat (was that what it's called, Niki?), more Chinese than Swiss, meat and vegies cooked in a ginger/garlic/lemongrass broth. Meat. Mmmm... Marinated pork, chicken and steak, and some rolled plain steak which - in my case - even made it into the soup before being scarfed.
Later, much later, we had a more traditional chocolate fondue. What can I say? The phrase 'chocolate bliss-out' just isn't adequate. We dipped fresh fruit, cake, lollies and <drooool> glacé cherries. Going to do that again, real soon, and I can cos I've now got a fondue set of my very own! Bright red! : )
I had a great time, thank you! And 12 hours later, I still don't feel hungry. <g>

Hehehehe. My poor cubs with their delicate sensibilities. "Don't look at the screen," I said, "I'm writing sex..." Never seen him move so fast. <snerk>
Yes, sex. I've just finished a short piece for the latest Pervy Werewolf Fanciers challenge. Did research and everything. I now know more about men's bottoms than I ever really wanted. :)

For my birthday I treated myself to a copy of Cleolinda Jones' Movies in fifteen minutes. Gods above it's so funny - though like a lot of parodies and spoofs I can't read more than one item at a time cos the humour dulls with close repetition.
But! Just thinking about her version of Attack of the Clones, or the LoTR trilogy, or Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Sorcerer's Philosopher's Stone makes me fall over laughing. I don't know that serious movie buffs would like this book - it takes the piss too well - but I love it .

And now some words of wisdom from 20 Sided: the DM of the Rings - a comic based on LotR as likely to be played by modern Dungeons and Dragons hack-slashers. Hee. The comic itself is very funny, but some of the DM's comments (at the bottom) are priceless. I've played with gamers like these, heck, to my shame I've been gamers like these. Though in my defence, I got better...

That which does not kill you was simply not permitted to do so for the purposes of the plot.

The DM will do a lot of talking, but if he’s not rolling the dice then what he’s saying is probably not important.

No matter how difficult or absurd you make a puzzle, your players will find an even more impossible and preposterous way of solving it.

Never provide a dungeon without treasure. The longer they search and find nothing, the more your players will be convinced that the treasure is bountiful and exceptionally well-hidden. If left unchecked, they will eventually dismantle and excavate the entire site in their search for loot.

No matter how epic the battle, once begun, the thing sounds more or less like a bingo game: People shout out numbers and other people get excited about them.

Players may blunder through dialog with shocking ineptitude, forget the name of the country they are in, or get confused about which side they are on, but once it comes time to roll for initiative they all turn into Sun Tzu.

... and finally:
Ask any fighter: A hammer is just a really heavy set of lockpicks.
Oh, so true. <smirk>

<eyes full of sparklies> I'm being well and truly being distracted by the Kylie Showgirl Princess program on the ABC at the moment. I'm envisioning a range of teddy bears modelling the gorgeous costumes... oooh, that could keep me amused for hours.

(Ok, I've grudgingly switched over to the new Blogger system. How the hell do you keep the font from reverting to the default while you're doing an update?)

(Oh hang on, it appears to be staying...)
(Nope, have to reset it everytime I come back from previewing the post. <grump>)

Right...
It's been such a long time since I've bothered with a post that there's now, naturally, far too much to say, so a quick summation, perhaps?
I'm on to chapter 4 of the new novel. Though it's taken a looong time to get there. Procrastinations'r'us... <g>
Um, spending a lot of time at the school library this term, (and probly for the rest of the year). The school's been given a grant for rebuilding the library catalogue. Mwahahaha! Lots and lots of books. And I've got library monitors! Four of them, including the cubs. :)

I've managed to shoehorn some more furniture into my house. I think I mentioned that some time ago... Anyway, it's here now (thank you, Soulsis, Niki, Leonie!) and it's meant the taming [sort of] of the chaos corner in the kitchen. Going to be even betterer when I get the bookcases into my bedroom. Hee.

<snerk> Cubs' father brought me this soap back from the Phillipines...


It's been a mostly hot and humid month. Very unpleasant, though, fingers crossed, we seem to be heading towards Autumnal temperatures now. There'll be at least one more flare of hot weather - over my birthday weekend, as always - but then we should be in the clear. Having said that:
Imagine a sultry night, and a woman lying naked atop the bedclothes. And now imagine her reaction when - having recently had an altercation with a huntsman spider - she feels the lightest, ticklingest touch on her hip...
Yep, shat myself. Startled the cat, too, cos of course it was KittenKong's wee paw grazing my skin as she went to climb over me to get to the window. Tch.

Velvet Goldmine is still my favourite movie... Le sigh... :)

"In the war's dying throes, it was discovered that Peter Pettigrew had taught the Animagus transformation to Voldemort's inner circle. Voldemort wanted loyal warriors who inspired fear.
[snip]
Harry and his friends, with the Order of the Phoenix, had fought through inferi and Dementors to the heart of Voldemort's lair of evil. There they found the arch-villain himself, protected by a goat, two chickens, a wildebeest, an armadillo, three snakes, and a rat..."

<falling over laughing>
That's a quote from Animals by Busaikko recently on Pervy Werewolf So funny! Busaikko is always good value. <g>

(<head->desk> Housemate is 'educating' the cubs in classic anime. They're watching Robotech. Bloody Min Mei - she's a MarySue, I swear. No wonder I loathe her; she gave anime girls a bad name for years. Still makes my teeth hurt. And lets not mention the generally execrable dialogue I can still hear over the headphones. I refuse to believe the original Japanese is any better...)

Hee, I've pre-ordered my copy of the next/last Harry Potter book. My descent into HP geekdom continues. Gods, I'll be writing Snermione next.
No! Nevah! Not het...!
<smirk>

<giggling> Spotted this in an op shop yesterday.


<still giggling>

Oh yes, something else about Xmen III. I was impressed with how Hank McCoy's agility and strength were portrayed in the fight scenes. Gave a really good idea of just how efficient he is in combat.

<snerk> One of the cubs' bits of homework concerned television programs. Badger (they've got nicknames now, remember? :) filled out his imaginary program schedule with gems like; Box Wrestling; 20 minutes of Toilets; the Lame 40 Minute show; the 3.52 news, and More Box Wrestling. We have cable telly, can you tell?

(And at the party last night the cubs were thrilled to bits that people recognised who they were sposed to be. I think - like me - they get tired of being around people who have no idea what they're on about and it's always exciting to discover you're not the lone loony in the wilderness of mundanity. <g>)

LOL! Went to log in to Flickr and on the front screen was a note that 'Flickr is having a massage'. Scheduled maintainance perhaps?

Feeling kind of shiftless. The cubs are out at a party with their dad...

Their costumes: Spy vs Spy.


First week back at school and on Friday night the cubs had taken themselves off to bed - and were asleep - by 10.30. Puir, wee tired things. <g>
So far so good, they're enjoying being year 6; they've got Prep buddies to look out for! They remember their own buddies very fondly, which helps.

Oh goody. We've actually got two wasp nests, one in the front, one in the back. Still waiting for the cubs' father to deal with them. :) (He'd better do it soon, he's off overseas for a fortnight in about a week.)

DVDs. Seen lots of DVDs recently.
Constantine was a bit of a romp. <g> And there's just enough of the Catholic schoolgirl left in me that parts of the movie made me twitch. Keanu isn't the world's best actor but he chooses roles which suit. I got the sense they were just skimming the top here, that there was a lot more could've been said, but as it's based on a comic book that's not surprising.
Finally got 'round to seeing Xmen III. That's another one where I felt I was only watching half the story, for the same reason. Good, though, enjoyed it - not enough of the winged-pretty, however.
Mrs Henderson Presents. Not as good as I thought it'd be but infinitely better than, oh, 98% of the main-stream US product available to rent. Judy Dench was wonderful. :)
(Um, there were more but I've lost interest. Heh.)

Woohoo, up to chapter 3 of the new fic. Once again I have no idea how long this is going to be. I'll just write it and see where it goes.

It's Australia Day. Go us. :)
Monty Python sums it up nicely, I think. (Quoting from memory so possibly not entirely accurate:)

Australia, Australia, Australia.
Here is the wattle, the symbol of our land.
You can stick it in a bottle, or hold it in your hand. Amen.

<g>

Well, the gardeners came back yesterday to tackle the backyard, but had to abandon the project when they disturbed a wasp nest. Oops. I rang the council to see about getting rid of it but they don't come out to private properties any more. The couple of quotes I got from professional pest control companies were all over $100, which we can't afford, so looks like we'll be dealing with it ourselves. The cubs' father has volunteered. Probly just as well. I don't have anything resembling protective clothing, not even boots.

Awww, my cubs are growing up. They started their first lay-by yesterday, with their own money and in their own name. :)

Heh, we've xmas candy canes all over the house at the moment, far more than there were during xmas. Why? They're so cheap right now as shops try to clear their xmas stock!

Hee! Last week's Shakespeare Revisited was Taming of the Shrew! Definitely the best of the series so far! A good, workable adaptation of characters and plot - though this Petruchio wasn't nearly so horrible to Katherine as the original was - and so funny!

He's going to taunt me with a week's worth of clean knickers, then throw them in the pool, isn't he?

<g> Definitely one for the library.

Squeee! I would love to have a tent like this...



(Snapped at last weekend's Medieval Festival in Launching Place.)

Some time late last year I mentioned that my neighbours had organised (and paid for) someone to come and tame the front garden for me. I also mentioned that they didn't consult with me first - cos they'd obviously had enough of it being a blight on the street and so decided to take matters into their own hands. Even though I was horribly intimidated I can admit it was a fair cop, honestly, I know I was never going to get 'round to doing anything consistent about it. So anyway, the gardening people were back again today (again without consultation) but I spoke to the woman in charge and - long story short - they'll be here regularly and I'll be paying for the service. Very reasonable rates, too. Once the backyard is under control (and at a suggested $50 that's much easier to stomach then the $200 I was quoted by someone else) it'll be $25 a fortnight for front and back. Manageable, and I won't feel like I have to skulk when I leave the house in order to avoid the neighbour. :)

On my list of 'Things I Need' is a new doona. I've had mine for 20 years, and while it's done sterling service it's getting a bit fragile. Coincidentally one of the shops in the local emporium is having a 25% off bedding this week! I've got a brand new doona on layby - and as all my sheets are getting a bit tatty - a 100% cotton bed sheet set as well. (They were a little bit pricey but I'm awfully fussy about my bedlinen. Poly/cotton is just not acceptable. <g> ) I could start thinking about new pillows, too...
As for my old doona, it won't be going in the bin. Oh no, I'm sure I could do something useful with the remains.

Cubs and I have just spent the weekend at Mum's, and it was better than I anticipated. To clarify, I was so cranky on Saturday - because of the gods-awful weather - I was thinking that being forced into close proximity with the cubs and my mother for 3 days would be a nightmare. <g> It wasn't - in fact it was kind of relaxing. Helps that the weather cooled right down, of course.
Didn't do much on Saturday, just a little shopping, but on Sunday we traipsed along to a Medieval Festival at the local archery park. Lots to see, lots to photograph (heh, 134 pics later...) The jousting was fun to watch, and, oooh! Pavilions! Now that's what I call camping in style! Yes, they're bulky and a pain in the arse to transport, but I want one!
Cubs had a ball. They loved looking at the weaponry and armour, were dead impressed with the jousters, and got to fire a crossbow! That was the highlight for them, I think. <g>
We stayed for a few hours then, as promised, I took the cubs swimming afterwards. I only stayed in for an hour - all the earlier walking combined with not-quite-warm water made my feet feel twitchy and pre-crampy - but the cubs kept splashing around for another hour at least. I really like the pool near mum's; it's not stupidly crowded like the ones around here, even on hot weekends, and the staff are not stingy about letting the patrons play with the centre's equipment.

Today, Monday, the cubs went swimming again while Nana was at her exercise class. I stayed out and kept an eye on them while I did some sewing, listened to music. After that we drove to a friend of Mum's to check out her furniture. She's moving from a smallish house to a miniscule unit and has to downsize: I've been given first pick of the loot. <g> I've earmarked a desk, table and benches, kitchen unit and bookshelves - all in varnished pine, my favourite. Mine, all mine, for free! Now I just have to organise transport. (Niki? In case you read this before I ring you... Do you still have the trailer? Oh, and thank you for the bread. :)

Normally, well recently, coming 'home' was always a bit of a downer. Perhaps it's the prospect of being able to clear some of the clutter soon, but for a change I was quite cheerful walking into the house this afternoon. Let's see if I can keep the positivity going long enough to get my teeth into cleaning and clearing the crap...

Had an interesting dream while I was at Mum's. Joules came to visit! Which was fabulous as it was the first time we'd actually met but I'd forgot she was coming. So not only did she have to find my place by public transport instead of me picking her up from the airport, the house was completely unready (read: filthy) for visitors, plus I had to find somewhere comfortable for her to sleep! I was embarrassed, knowing I was letting myself down as a good host, and under the circumstances her bad temper was entirely reasonable. :)
(And the house itself was odd: a pastiche of the past 3 places I've lived with added bits from a couple of other houses I've visited in dreams. An awkward, uncomfortable place, but - I knew - with so much potential to be warmly quirky and welcoming, if I just put in a little effort.)
Strangely enough, this dream has the same feel about it as the other 'travelling' dreams I'd had recently, only this time it was someone travelling to me. But, there was the same debilitating sense of unpreparedness. I'm sure my subconscious is trying to tell me something...

[Edit: The Blogger spellcheck threw up coasters for jousters; Ares for arse (thinking of Xena, that's spot-on); travesty for traipsed; and pica for pics. Hee.)

Bleurgh. It's been hot and humid for a few days now. Don't like it at all; sweating when you're expending no energy whatsoever is unnatural. <grump> We've had some rain at least - which is good, it's desperately needed - but it only cooled things down a bit while increasing the humidity a lot.
Well, according the Bureau there's only one more day of ickyness before we get a break. <sigh> I'm really not wishing for Winter to get a move on - don't want to wish away half the year before it's even really started!

Speaking of which... Egad, the cubs go back to school in just over a week! Not fair! I've only just got into the swing of being on holiday!
My babies are going into Year 6... which means High School next year... which means - ah, crap - I'd better get cracking on sorting out some of the little niggling questions I've been managing to ignore for the past few years, like, where are we going to live? (Cos that'll determine which High School they go to.) And, I need to take their father and my mother into consideration as well. Ideally (for various reasons) we'd like we need to be close to both of them... <head->desk> Too hard. Right now, a cool, dark cave - with internet connection, 'puter and full bathing facilities - is sounding reeaaally nice.

(Right, can I find something to not whinge about? Let's see...)
While lying sleepless the other night (not a breath of wind to relieve the stifling heat.. oops, I wasn't going to whinge, was I? Hah!) I managed to firm and expand the basic plot for my next story - oh yes, I'm writing another book; set in the Dystopia Universe. What happened to the first book, you might ask? Well, you can ask, but I'll probly be skittish and evasive.
Dammit, got distracted again. Yes, started another book. Woohoo! I'll finish the Snupin one day, an' all.

Cubs and I spent the day at Soulsis' yesterday! Was hot (<growls warningly at self>) but fun. We left the boys playing video games for a wee space of time while Soulsis, girlie and I trawled some op-shops and a second-hand place for furniture. Didn't find any furniture but got loads of other good stuff. :)
Andandand I've now got a biiiig plush Hello Kitty courtesy of Soulsis! Thank you!

And I found this, too, in an op-shop a couple of days ago!


Neat, eh? It came with an appallingly cheerful yellow teapot. (Not pictured, cos the cosy didn't really fit it properly, so I used one of my other teapots to model. Tra la la.)

Right. Is it bedtime yet? More importantly - will I sleep?