Is it Greeeen jelly?
I am aware that the above reference is slightly obscure but I don't care. You should have watched more Lee and Herring.
Anywho, I am very excited because this week I have discovered a penpal. I did not go out and try to find a penpal, she found me. This came about, I am guessing, because she decided to do that thing that we've all done at some point; typing her name into Google and seeing what comes up (my favourite is still MuleBoy's lifestory on film - it was made in 2002). She spied my work email and decided to make contact - so yes, my penpal has the same name as me. At the moment we're still amused by this and keep signing off our emails with our full name. Unfortunately our middle names are different, sadly for me as hers is particularly pretty, so the similarity ends with our first and last names.
We are very different in terms of lives. She's 13, which makes her half my age, and this, along with a very good standard of written English, makes me think of her as a smaller version of me. Henceforth, she shall be known as Mini-Kitten! She lives in Connecticut, which inspired me to enquire about it as a honeymoon destination as I plan to spend some time looking at trees looking pretty (the plan is also to go to New York so that MuleBoy doesn't go crazy - he's not a big lover of the countryside). She also thinks England is "elegant", which made me chuckle, and is going to be learning about Europe in school this year so "anything she doesn't know about England will be covered, hopefully", which confirmed my feelings about the US perception of Europe. We're very small, apparently. I bit back a comment on that one; she's bright, she'll work it out.
I'm guessing that, being 13, she'll get bored of it quicker than I will. However, it's quite sweet and fun for the moment so I'll keep it going until she stops replying or asks me to stop.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
snazzle frazzle mazzle
As said by Mutley.
I had to apologise to my colleagues yesterday. After borrowing Neanderthal Boy's phone directory and then realising it wasn't helpful, I did actually intend to throw it back to him with the intention of hitting both his phone and cup of tea. No accident. I was generally extremely irritable yesterday; I really had to stop myself from screaming at students and just shutting up the office. It may have been because I am trying to kickstart the diet again so my only sustenance during the day was a bowl of cereal and Diet Coke. It may have been because I had spent much of the weekend being grouchy and hungover so hadn't really felt like the weekend had happened, except for the two evenings where I was creating the hangover. It may have also been because Muleboy had come to bed at 4.30am Monday and woken me up, which was fine as I normally go back to sleep again but then he woke me up again because he thought he'd heard something. Of course he'd heard something - we have two overweight but active cats. Anywho - whether it was one or all of these things, it meant that I wasn't in the best mood, exacerbated by the proliferation of new and subsequently confused students needing help and a data-inputting job with a deadline for Friday that I'm only halfway through now despite doing constantly for two weeks.
I have resigned myself to being irritable on occasion. I don't have much control over it and can do nothing except wait for it to be over. I only ask that if you realise that this is my mental state, do not try to see if I'm alright, jolly me through it or tease me. I'm not saying that I will actually rip your throat out, I will just want to. Bizarrely, after years of living with this and occasionally being subjected to me in this state of mind now, Big Sis still does at least one of these things. I have come to the conclusion that she has no sense of self preservation. That, or she is an evil mastermind and, in a twist from my currently perceived view of the situation, I am the good sister (I sense scepticism from my gentle readers). Tips for the future - leave me alone without making it obvious that you are leaving me alone, do not draw attention to mental state in any way, wait until I start laughing at myself and then approach.
I had to apologise to my colleagues yesterday. After borrowing Neanderthal Boy's phone directory and then realising it wasn't helpful, I did actually intend to throw it back to him with the intention of hitting both his phone and cup of tea. No accident. I was generally extremely irritable yesterday; I really had to stop myself from screaming at students and just shutting up the office. It may have been because I am trying to kickstart the diet again so my only sustenance during the day was a bowl of cereal and Diet Coke. It may have been because I had spent much of the weekend being grouchy and hungover so hadn't really felt like the weekend had happened, except for the two evenings where I was creating the hangover. It may have also been because Muleboy had come to bed at 4.30am Monday and woken me up, which was fine as I normally go back to sleep again but then he woke me up again because he thought he'd heard something. Of course he'd heard something - we have two overweight but active cats. Anywho - whether it was one or all of these things, it meant that I wasn't in the best mood, exacerbated by the proliferation of new and subsequently confused students needing help and a data-inputting job with a deadline for Friday that I'm only halfway through now despite doing constantly for two weeks.
I have resigned myself to being irritable on occasion. I don't have much control over it and can do nothing except wait for it to be over. I only ask that if you realise that this is my mental state, do not try to see if I'm alright, jolly me through it or tease me. I'm not saying that I will actually rip your throat out, I will just want to. Bizarrely, after years of living with this and occasionally being subjected to me in this state of mind now, Big Sis still does at least one of these things. I have come to the conclusion that she has no sense of self preservation. That, or she is an evil mastermind and, in a twist from my currently perceived view of the situation, I am the good sister (I sense scepticism from my gentle readers). Tips for the future - leave me alone without making it obvious that you are leaving me alone, do not draw attention to mental state in any way, wait until I start laughing at myself and then approach.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Attitude
Working in an educational establishment as I do can definitely have its ups and downs in terms of how old I feel. On the plus side, people mistake me for a student quite often, I get a student card and can pretend that I am forever 21. However, on the minus side, I can turn up to a class in "Urban Funk" (feel free to laugh at the image of me doing Hip Hop) at the Uni Gym and find myself surrounded by girls whose main aim in life seems to be to make me feel old. The worst part was when the instructor said that she was 21 and I felt very alone. I also struggled to possess any "attitude", a necessity for any dancer of the Hip Hop. The end of the dance routine that was put together was a move full of attitude and yet the only attitude that I had was looking slightly like a little teapot. Bless the students and their ability to look good in jogging trousers while striking poses. I'm going back, though, it's the best class I've done for ages. I may look silly and I may be old but I do like a dance.
Much love to the good people who have been carrying on the nice things. The nice things are reciprocated in triplicate. You are all very lovely.
Much love to the good people who have been carrying on the nice things. The nice things are reciprocated in triplicate. You are all very lovely.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Touched
I have been loath to commit anything to html for about a week for fear that I be flippant. Thank you (again) to Herself for being supportive and basically very nice to me. If you want to know why, there is a comment under the 0 comments link to the previous post but it isn't showing up. Please take a look if you would like to see nice things about me. Please go ahead and add things (no obligation). Please go ahead if you would like to add comments about Herself. Or if there is anyone else that you feel needs to know nice things about themselves for any reason and whom you know actually reads this blog, please feel free to continue the nice things thing. We could have a forum of sisterly love going on. I know that having a list has made me feel very good about myself and I have referred to it at the various points when I have felt a bit crappy about myself this week. So go on people, be nice!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Mo' Money
The heading is a reference to a film that I've never seen and which I remember primarily for the accompanying theme tune sung by Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross. In retrospect, it heralds the coming of the apocalypse starring, as it does, the Wayans Brothers. Admittedly the lead is Damon Wayans who is less evil than his brothers Shawn and Marlon who are responsible for Little Man (in cinemas now, run and hide), White Chicks and the Scary Movie franchise. These movies make these particular film makers (they write them too, dontcha know) as high up in my "I wish they didn't have a career" list as Michael Bay, Paul W S Anderson, Martin Lawrence and Renee Zellweger post-Nurse Betty. Damon, I can put up with for having starred in a Spike Lee film, albeit one that I didn't particularly like, and for not being involved in his brothers' output. Well played, Damon, well played.
That was a surprising detour considering that this was meant to be a post about the job that I applied for recently. I've been having that "stuck in a rut" feeling and have been applying for jobs that would be a big change, especially in the improving my finances department. This means that I have been applying for jobs quite a way above my experience level. However, I have had good feedback for my applications and managed to get an actual interview for one post. I got excited when I was shown what could be my office, which had but one workstation in it and a surprisingly pretty view but in the end this turned out to be more of an "and this is what you could have won" situation as I didn't get the job itself. Again, positive feedback but no actual job.
I had really mixed feelings about it, though. At one stage this weekend I considered the possibility that I may get offered the job and entertained the idea of turning it down and telling everyone that I just didn't get it. Obviously, that didn't happen because I wouldn't confess to it if I'd done it but the idea was there. I almost wished that I had done worse in interview so that there was no chance I'd get offered it. I fear change, basically. I would have said yes because I couldn't have turned down the money but I would have been shitting myself. It takes me a while to adjust to the idea of doing something new and even longer to convince myself that I can do something that I haven't already proved to myself I can do. My need for security, which I was explaining to Herself yesterday, extends to much more than my need to know where the money's coming from.
That was a surprising detour considering that this was meant to be a post about the job that I applied for recently. I've been having that "stuck in a rut" feeling and have been applying for jobs that would be a big change, especially in the improving my finances department. This means that I have been applying for jobs quite a way above my experience level. However, I have had good feedback for my applications and managed to get an actual interview for one post. I got excited when I was shown what could be my office, which had but one workstation in it and a surprisingly pretty view but in the end this turned out to be more of an "and this is what you could have won" situation as I didn't get the job itself. Again, positive feedback but no actual job.
I had really mixed feelings about it, though. At one stage this weekend I considered the possibility that I may get offered the job and entertained the idea of turning it down and telling everyone that I just didn't get it. Obviously, that didn't happen because I wouldn't confess to it if I'd done it but the idea was there. I almost wished that I had done worse in interview so that there was no chance I'd get offered it. I fear change, basically. I would have said yes because I couldn't have turned down the money but I would have been shitting myself. It takes me a while to adjust to the idea of doing something new and even longer to convince myself that I can do something that I haven't already proved to myself I can do. My need for security, which I was explaining to Herself yesterday, extends to much more than my need to know where the money's coming from.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Likes and Dislikes
I've been catching up on book reading recently. I had a dry period before I went on holiday due to busy-ness and change of routine, especially walking to and from work which meant that I no longer had a good hour a day of platform and train-bound reading time. It took me a good two weeks to get through one book that would normally take me about four days. The last time I spent two weeks or more reading one book was Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, a sizeable work of fiction that took me a mere three weeks (seriously, it's huge. I'm still proud of that record. It's also awesome, read it). Now I feel I am returning to form once again as I am able to utilise my spare time for reading once again. I have borrowed a couple of Ian Banks novels from my boss recently and am quite awed at his ability to not repeat himself in style or content. Go from reading The Wasp Factory to Whit or Espedair Street and see what I mean. You need a strong stomach for The Wasp Factory though, there's a particular scene in it that still makes me go pale at the thought. I don't think it would have had the same effect if I'd seen it on film, which is the reason I keep picking up Chuck Palahniuk's latest at the bookshop, before returning it to its pile in fear. There's a parental advisory label on it for goodness' sake.
Speaking of censorship, I am currently reading The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas whose blurb was so enigmatic that I had to get it. Although the story can be assumed from the blurb, the approach to it in the novel is different to any others that I've read on the subject and I approve of the mystery as more detailed descriptions would spoil the gradual revelations meted out to the reader through the lead character's innocence. The censorship that I object to is that implied in the blurb, which states "you will go on a journey with a nine-year old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year olds)." I actually think this is a book perfect for nine-year olds. They may not know about the subject, they may not realise the situation but they will understand the feelings of Bruno and perhaps want to learn more because of him and what he sees. Thanks to Mum and the boy in her class who urged her to read it.
So there we have it, I like reading. I like other people reading and then having conversations about books. I dislike watermelon. Although, bully to me, I ate some on holiday. It was mildly traumatic and I still don't like fruit.
Speaking of censorship, I am currently reading The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas whose blurb was so enigmatic that I had to get it. Although the story can be assumed from the blurb, the approach to it in the novel is different to any others that I've read on the subject and I approve of the mystery as more detailed descriptions would spoil the gradual revelations meted out to the reader through the lead character's innocence. The censorship that I object to is that implied in the blurb, which states "you will go on a journey with a nine-year old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year olds)." I actually think this is a book perfect for nine-year olds. They may not know about the subject, they may not realise the situation but they will understand the feelings of Bruno and perhaps want to learn more because of him and what he sees. Thanks to Mum and the boy in her class who urged her to read it.
So there we have it, I like reading. I like other people reading and then having conversations about books. I dislike watermelon. Although, bully to me, I ate some on holiday. It was mildly traumatic and I still don't like fruit.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tricky
The problem is, the more you refrain from posting, the more there is to post about and the next post can become a huge rambly update-y thing when you finally return. So do I describe my holiday in great detail, or do I take the lazy approach and just refer you to Beanie's description of the holiday so I don't have to?
Regardless, I shall inform you that I had a really, really excellent time, Muleboy's insect bites and my ankle-wrenching accident nonewithstanding. I spent some quality time with the Mule, spent some quality time with lots of other people that I really like, ate a lot, drank a lot. Didn't do as much exercise as I would have liked and despite my preference to spend ridiculous amounts of time in the pool ended up spending rather too much time using it as physiotherapy or not bothering because getting in and out was too much like hard work. We went on trips out and we had our first wedding present bought for us on my favourite day out. We danced, we sang, we talked, we watched Dog Day Afternoon in Italian and we slept.
Since then, it has been nicer than I would have thought getting back home as I did miss the cats (call me crazy cat-woman) and my house. I don't really want to be back at work but what can you do? I had a great extended weekend and popped up to London to talk to a man about a dog and spend some time with Mum, Dad and Big Sis, followed by a lovely wedding the next day. Mr Whistler and Funny Girl are now joined in holy matrimony and shall be henceforth the Funny Whistlers. It works for me. I also managed to tidy and sort some of the bedrooms that had yet to be done in our new and enormous house, which gave me a great sense of fulfilment before I spent bank holiday monday parked in front of a TV, first at Drunken Accomplice's and then at my very own. I didn't do as much concerted laziness as I had planned but as this is probably something I would say about my holiday as well, I would count this as a personality flaw.
While on my holiday, I made two decisions. One, that I would direct again with the Mule. I expected to come home and regret this decision but am actually both hopeful and excited. I shall be better this time and try and improve the stuff I got wrong last time (assuming we get voted in). I also plan to write more. I have good ideas, I write fairly well, I just don't dedicate any time to it. If it doesn't work after I make a concerted effort, then it isn't something I can do and I can cross it off the list.
So there we go, both long and rambling. I thought it would be.
Regardless, I shall inform you that I had a really, really excellent time, Muleboy's insect bites and my ankle-wrenching accident nonewithstanding. I spent some quality time with the Mule, spent some quality time with lots of other people that I really like, ate a lot, drank a lot. Didn't do as much exercise as I would have liked and despite my preference to spend ridiculous amounts of time in the pool ended up spending rather too much time using it as physiotherapy or not bothering because getting in and out was too much like hard work. We went on trips out and we had our first wedding present bought for us on my favourite day out. We danced, we sang, we talked, we watched Dog Day Afternoon in Italian and we slept.
Since then, it has been nicer than I would have thought getting back home as I did miss the cats (call me crazy cat-woman) and my house. I don't really want to be back at work but what can you do? I had a great extended weekend and popped up to London to talk to a man about a dog and spend some time with Mum, Dad and Big Sis, followed by a lovely wedding the next day. Mr Whistler and Funny Girl are now joined in holy matrimony and shall be henceforth the Funny Whistlers. It works for me. I also managed to tidy and sort some of the bedrooms that had yet to be done in our new and enormous house, which gave me a great sense of fulfilment before I spent bank holiday monday parked in front of a TV, first at Drunken Accomplice's and then at my very own. I didn't do as much concerted laziness as I had planned but as this is probably something I would say about my holiday as well, I would count this as a personality flaw.
While on my holiday, I made two decisions. One, that I would direct again with the Mule. I expected to come home and regret this decision but am actually both hopeful and excited. I shall be better this time and try and improve the stuff I got wrong last time (assuming we get voted in). I also plan to write more. I have good ideas, I write fairly well, I just don't dedicate any time to it. If it doesn't work after I make a concerted effort, then it isn't something I can do and I can cross it off the list.
So there we go, both long and rambling. I thought it would be.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Signing in
Just a post to say, I have been away and am back again today (Once you start rhyming, I think you should see it through). It was very nice (despite thunderstorms, terrorism fears and my typical knack for accidents and misfortune). I shall fill you in in detail at some point and may even be so daring as to include a photo (although I have got so lazy recently that I haven't even been bothering with links etc). Right now I just have to try and remind my body that I do have to stay here all day, I can't have crudo (yum!) or a ridiculous amount of cheese for lunch and I can't just pop indoors for a nap during a strenuous day of swimming, sunbathing and reading when I feel like it. I do not need a nap, I do not need a nap.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
It was all going so well
I have fallen back into bad habits. Not the eating thing, I messed that up already. No, this is the obsessive counting and listing thing that my brain does when I'm tired. I found myself counting my footsteps as I walked to work this morning, which I change when I walk on a different surface. I can walk on cracks within a particular type of surface but I have to try and avoid stepping on two types of surface at the same time. Nothing bad will happen, I'm not that crazy, but it will fuck up the counting, which isn't allowed. The worst thing is when I realise I'm doing it about halfway through and try and work out what I must have looked like as I take alternatively large and small steps trying to fit it in. And then, despite being conscious of it, keep doing it.
Basically it's a brain under stress thing. When I'm very ill or very tired, this is what it resorts to. When I had appendicitis (aged 12), I couldn't sleep and went through in anal detail things that I had just watched (Vice Versa and Abigail's Party) and listed the plots and characters' relationships to each other to a dizzying extent. It stopped making sense but I still kept listing. It explains my love for Japanese puzzles and pointless trivia about films at any rate - they're both ways of fitting my brain's need to count and make order into (mostly) acceptable forms. So the next time I annoy someone by listing all of the films that a particular actor has been in when you only needed one, please take a deep breath and try and think of me like a high-functioning Rain Man. I just can't help it. And if you harrass me about it I will hit my head with my hand and make braying noises. You have been warned.
Basically it's a brain under stress thing. When I'm very ill or very tired, this is what it resorts to. When I had appendicitis (aged 12), I couldn't sleep and went through in anal detail things that I had just watched (Vice Versa and Abigail's Party) and listed the plots and characters' relationships to each other to a dizzying extent. It stopped making sense but I still kept listing. It explains my love for Japanese puzzles and pointless trivia about films at any rate - they're both ways of fitting my brain's need to count and make order into (mostly) acceptable forms. So the next time I annoy someone by listing all of the films that a particular actor has been in when you only needed one, please take a deep breath and try and think of me like a high-functioning Rain Man. I just can't help it. And if you harrass me about it I will hit my head with my hand and make braying noises. You have been warned.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Living for the Weekend
At the moment, weekends are really good. I'm staggering from one event to the other and spending lots of time with people I like. However, this is starting to get to the point where work is so quiet after busy-ness (and I am being forced to file) that they take a zillion years to even get to the weekends meaning that my time is divided unequally between zippy, fun, social stuff and crappy, slow, boring stuff. Currently, I am in denial that it is Wednesday today as this week has already been so long that it simply must be Friday. As soon as I get home, time resumes normal speed again and I can quite happily spend a half hour sorting the cats out and putting things away and it feels like half an hour rather than a day.
I spent a very pleasant evening last night when MuleBoy was out, sorting out a couple of bills (which is actually quite pleasant at the moment as people keep giving me money), deciding on recipes for Friday evening when we're having family over to celebrate MuleBoy's Mum's Birthday (I've narrowed it down to about twelve) and having Steve the cat fall asleep on me while watching The Terminal on Sky Movies. Not great but actually not subject to the recent Spielberg disease of half-hour-too-long-itis. It needed some story refinement but at least when it got to the end it didn't keep going. The best bit by far was the main character's reaction when he gets to America and is running around the airport frantically trying to find out what is happening to his now-dissolved, war-torn country on the airport TVs. Completely isolated and unable to read the English onscreen or hear because they don't have the sound up, he eventually has to resort to standing outside, looking in at the TV in the VIP section with automatic doors closing in front of his face every few seconds. There were other nice touches, such as the contents of the tin he carried around with him and the ending. But ultimately schmaltz became the overriding (and overbearing) characteristic of the film, which let it down.
Well, at least writing this has made time go a bit speedier. I only have seven hours and forty minutes to go now so should be able to make it until the evening. Go me!
I spent a very pleasant evening last night when MuleBoy was out, sorting out a couple of bills (which is actually quite pleasant at the moment as people keep giving me money), deciding on recipes for Friday evening when we're having family over to celebrate MuleBoy's Mum's Birthday (I've narrowed it down to about twelve) and having Steve the cat fall asleep on me while watching The Terminal on Sky Movies. Not great but actually not subject to the recent Spielberg disease of half-hour-too-long-itis. It needed some story refinement but at least when it got to the end it didn't keep going. The best bit by far was the main character's reaction when he gets to America and is running around the airport frantically trying to find out what is happening to his now-dissolved, war-torn country on the airport TVs. Completely isolated and unable to read the English onscreen or hear because they don't have the sound up, he eventually has to resort to standing outside, looking in at the TV in the VIP section with automatic doors closing in front of his face every few seconds. There were other nice touches, such as the contents of the tin he carried around with him and the ending. But ultimately schmaltz became the overriding (and overbearing) characteristic of the film, which let it down.
Well, at least writing this has made time go a bit speedier. I only have seven hours and forty minutes to go now so should be able to make it until the evening. Go me!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
What's it all about, Alfie?
Or, what's this, what's going on here sweetie? as Karen from Will and Grace may say. Unfortunately I hated the remake Alfie (haven't seen the original) and find myself liking W&G less every time it's on. Anywho, I was only trying to express the confusion that you, gentle readers, would naturally be feeling at my posting two days in a row. I don't know what to say, must have just got bitten by the bug again.
I saw Ponytail Boy today. There's something of a saga behind this one. About two or three years ago, maybe even four (help me out, when was Finding Nemo released?) I went to the cinema to see, well, Finding Nemo with a group of people. On coming out, one of the ushers, a short, chubby blonde guy with a ponytail (hence the name) stopped me and said "Hi, Alice. How are you doing?" Now that's a friendly greeting isn't it? Implying an acquaintance where the pair have perhaps met regularly for a period of time but haven't seen each other for a while. I had absolutely no recollection of him AT ALL and allowed myself to be swept away by the large crowd exiting the screen. MuleBoy and I go to the same cinema regularly and he would generally be there and I would smile and act like I knew him and ask surreptitious questions of his co-workers. I asked one girl his name and she said it was Toby. I know no Tobys. Eventually it got very awkward because he'd twigged I had no idea who he was and I was too chicken to just ask him his name and where he knew me from. But I stopped seeing him at the cinema and didn't think about it again. Imagine my joy when I turned around a corner one day at work and realised he works for the same company as me now. Oh. Crap. So on the days when I see him it's back to awkward smiles and uncomfortable silence. One day I will find out, I promise.
Was it only myself and Mrs Drunken Accomplice (presently sober, birdseed eating Accomplice) who mourned the loss of Nikki from Big Brother? I don't understand a public who get rid of the really arsey, interesting people in the house. They want fights, sex and bitchiness but don't want the people who actually do these things to stay in. I miss her already. ("Who is she? Where did you find her? Who is she?)
I saw Ponytail Boy today. There's something of a saga behind this one. About two or three years ago, maybe even four (help me out, when was Finding Nemo released?) I went to the cinema to see, well, Finding Nemo with a group of people. On coming out, one of the ushers, a short, chubby blonde guy with a ponytail (hence the name) stopped me and said "Hi, Alice. How are you doing?" Now that's a friendly greeting isn't it? Implying an acquaintance where the pair have perhaps met regularly for a period of time but haven't seen each other for a while. I had absolutely no recollection of him AT ALL and allowed myself to be swept away by the large crowd exiting the screen. MuleBoy and I go to the same cinema regularly and he would generally be there and I would smile and act like I knew him and ask surreptitious questions of his co-workers. I asked one girl his name and she said it was Toby. I know no Tobys. Eventually it got very awkward because he'd twigged I had no idea who he was and I was too chicken to just ask him his name and where he knew me from. But I stopped seeing him at the cinema and didn't think about it again. Imagine my joy when I turned around a corner one day at work and realised he works for the same company as me now. Oh. Crap. So on the days when I see him it's back to awkward smiles and uncomfortable silence. One day I will find out, I promise.
Was it only myself and Mrs Drunken Accomplice (presently sober, birdseed eating Accomplice) who mourned the loss of Nikki from Big Brother? I don't understand a public who get rid of the really arsey, interesting people in the house. They want fights, sex and bitchiness but don't want the people who actually do these things to stay in. I miss her already. ("Who is she? Where did you find her? Who is she?)
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Update
So here's a quick rundown of the past two, blog-free weeks:
Moved
Unpacked
Did garden (except old bamboo which defeated me)
Mule Boy painted the front of the house
Had housewarming, hurt back trying to rescue Scotland Girl from my bathroom
Walked around like an old woman at various events at the weekend
Was bullied and forced to go to doctor's, realised I hadn't changed doctor's and had to go to Havant
Worked very very hard at work and it felt very long. Filing looming like an unavoidable monster
Applied for new job which is my job but for more money. Fingers crossed, everybody
Went to see play; cried but didn't laugh and was subsequently confused by the play as a whole
Had an anniversary dinner and cinema date with the Mule. It was v. v. nice. I still like him a lot
GOT CATS!!!!!
Had Mr and Mrs Drunken Accomplice round for a meal on Saturday and used the new oven properly. Tempted to really push it, using both grills, both ovens, griddle plate and all four hobs. Also determined to invite more people over for dinner as forgot how nice cooking properly is.
Had a preview of our Italian holiday. Got drunk, embarrassed myself with the language and fell asleep. Cannot wait!
Took a day off work and went clothes shopping with MuleBoy. Not as much of a chore as you'd think.
Am now at work and still many nice things are stretching out before me. What a good Summer this is turning out to be.
Moved
Unpacked
Did garden (except old bamboo which defeated me)
Mule Boy painted the front of the house
Had housewarming, hurt back trying to rescue Scotland Girl from my bathroom
Walked around like an old woman at various events at the weekend
Was bullied and forced to go to doctor's, realised I hadn't changed doctor's and had to go to Havant
Worked very very hard at work and it felt very long. Filing looming like an unavoidable monster
Applied for new job which is my job but for more money. Fingers crossed, everybody
Went to see play; cried but didn't laugh and was subsequently confused by the play as a whole
Had an anniversary dinner and cinema date with the Mule. It was v. v. nice. I still like him a lot
GOT CATS!!!!!
Had Mr and Mrs Drunken Accomplice round for a meal on Saturday and used the new oven properly. Tempted to really push it, using both grills, both ovens, griddle plate and all four hobs. Also determined to invite more people over for dinner as forgot how nice cooking properly is.
Had a preview of our Italian holiday. Got drunk, embarrassed myself with the language and fell asleep. Cannot wait!
Took a day off work and went clothes shopping with MuleBoy. Not as much of a chore as you'd think.
Am now at work and still many nice things are stretching out before me. What a good Summer this is turning out to be.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
bleurgh
Am not going to post too much this week as the Mule and I are moving at the moment and I tend to come home from the gym and get confronted by stuff. Boxing and packing stuff and bills and change of address stuff. Although the Mule has done a large amount of it himself, it is still not what you want to come home to at the end of a tiring day. However, people have been very helpful, particularly family members, and we have had many boxes donated and offers of help with the actual move so thank you to everyone, including The Emsworth Two who very kindly offered us boxes and then who we had a breakdown in communications with when we didn't need them any more. I hope your Wednesday evening was not ruined.
So expect minimal posting for the next couple of weeks as we attempt to put together our new and bigger place. Expect Christmas Tree like tantrums as I get frustrated at not being able to help as much as I'd like (the busiest time of the year at work is underway) and MuleBoy gets to do all the fun decorating stuff. There will be tears, there will be sighs but eventually it will all be over and we'll be able to go to Italy and sun ourselves and relax as work and moving related angst is swept aside.
In a byword to Herself, aw shucks!
So expect minimal posting for the next couple of weeks as we attempt to put together our new and bigger place. Expect Christmas Tree like tantrums as I get frustrated at not being able to help as much as I'd like (the busiest time of the year at work is underway) and MuleBoy gets to do all the fun decorating stuff. There will be tears, there will be sighs but eventually it will all be over and we'll be able to go to Italy and sun ourselves and relax as work and moving related angst is swept aside.
In a byword to Herself, aw shucks!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Dear Diary Room
Now, I have omitted to tell you all about the Mule and me and our current need to watch Big Brother. As I have claimed several times recently, I haven't been this hooked since series 1, although I remember watching the big fight of a couple of years ago with fascinated horror (still the Mule's favourite BB moment). I don't know why it is more watchable this year but my main justification is that I can actually identify with some of the people. I don't think I am like anyone in there but I have definitely met them before in certain incarnations. Grace, the nationally hated girl, is the one that I went to school with that I loved and hated in equal measure. Capable of cruelty but also the embodiment of what I wanted to be aged 13-16, she was the most popular and, if not exactly the prettiest, she was definitely attractive and comfortable with herself (which was definitely something that the rest of us lacked). Part of why I think the BB audience hates her is because they all knew that girl too. Obviously Grace was bitchy and two-faced, but I think the fact that she owned up to it and didn't try to make excuses was quite impressive. However, she is still reviled because she didn't seem too bothered about the fact that people hated her but what is she supposed to do; break down in tears, break into the house and apologise to everyone? Every time I have spent any time with a group of girls in a claustrophobic setting; school, college, halls of residence I have bitched, been bitched to and been bitched about. It's what we do.
Regardless, although I didn't mind Grace and feel the need to defend her because, let's face it, a 20 year old girl who could be a bit mean doesn't really deserve this level of hatred, my favourite housemate is Nikki. I know, I know, I'm a bit surprised too. I would have cheerfully throttled her in the first couple of weeks and especially after she entered the house in a bunny outfit. However, at some point this changed. I am sure that if I met her in person the need to throttle would return but, in a way that I can't really justify, I absolutely love her on BB. It's partly the way that she is ridiculously melodramatic, with her posturing and hairtossing and incredibly loud and idiosyncratic way of complaining but also the way that I really can't tell whether it's real or not. Earlier this week she was dancing and singing in the garden and got upset that the other housemates were complaining about it so she stormed off to the diary room. When she got in there, she started complaining than realised how stupid it was and started laughing at herself and her crap singing. MuleBoy was convinced she was an actress when she first went in and I really wouldn't be surprised if it was the case. She also reminds me of a very funny girl I know, who often does caricatures of people she knows or has met and Nikki could easily be one of these. I'm hoping I see Funny Girl on Sunday actually in order to request a "Nikki" although I can't imagine her and Mr Whistler watching BB so would probably just get a funny look.
My fascination with BB would probably end at the point when Nikki leaves, thoughink. Although the rest of the housemates are okay and I enjoy Glyn's songs and Pete's apologising when he's cross with someone (I can definitely relate to that), Nikki is the reason that I keep watching. So if she is evicted tonight then that will probably be the end of my current BB obsession. Next year, the Mule has stated he wants to apply so that would be a reason for obsession. Fear, horror and tension but definitely obsession.
Regardless, although I didn't mind Grace and feel the need to defend her because, let's face it, a 20 year old girl who could be a bit mean doesn't really deserve this level of hatred, my favourite housemate is Nikki. I know, I know, I'm a bit surprised too. I would have cheerfully throttled her in the first couple of weeks and especially after she entered the house in a bunny outfit. However, at some point this changed. I am sure that if I met her in person the need to throttle would return but, in a way that I can't really justify, I absolutely love her on BB. It's partly the way that she is ridiculously melodramatic, with her posturing and hairtossing and incredibly loud and idiosyncratic way of complaining but also the way that I really can't tell whether it's real or not. Earlier this week she was dancing and singing in the garden and got upset that the other housemates were complaining about it so she stormed off to the diary room. When she got in there, she started complaining than realised how stupid it was and started laughing at herself and her crap singing. MuleBoy was convinced she was an actress when she first went in and I really wouldn't be surprised if it was the case. She also reminds me of a very funny girl I know, who often does caricatures of people she knows or has met and Nikki could easily be one of these. I'm hoping I see Funny Girl on Sunday actually in order to request a "Nikki" although I can't imagine her and Mr Whistler watching BB so would probably just get a funny look.
My fascination with BB would probably end at the point when Nikki leaves, thoughink. Although the rest of the housemates are okay and I enjoy Glyn's songs and Pete's apologising when he's cross with someone (I can definitely relate to that), Nikki is the reason that I keep watching. So if she is evicted tonight then that will probably be the end of my current BB obsession. Next year, the Mule has stated he wants to apply so that would be a reason for obsession. Fear, horror and tension but definitely obsession.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Attention to Detail
We've reached the time of year at work where all I do is check things and fret that I haven't checked enough even though I am now checking one particular thing for the third time and am now taking an enforced break so that my head doesn't explode. The thing that keeps me checking is the knowledge that any mistakes I make will be magnified tomorrow afternoon when everyone else gets to checking stuff. So far, I have missed something every time, which is excruciating, but its always been relatively minor so no-one else has been too bothered. But it would be nice if, this year, I managed to catch everything.
Had a lovely time at the weekend. Caught some rays at Himself's birthday party, although Archimedes was surprisingly reticent given his recent overtures of friendship. Managed not to fail at Giant Jenga despite clutching a plate of delicious barbecued goodness while removing Jenga bricks.
Then the Mule and I caught a film that we'd wanted to see for a while. Brick has been criticised (by Trash Addict, see link, right) for taking the whole teenage adaptation thing too far in the way that it sets a Raymond Chandler-esque tale in a high school. I understand the criticism as cinematic power does seem to be placed fully in the hands of teenagers and films therefore become aimed at that market. However, as MuleBoy mentioned on the way home, it is difficult to consider Brick attracting the texting, giggling audience that seem to frequent the same cinemas as us. With a labyrinthine plot, no sex or nudity and witty dialogue that never panders to the lowest common denominator, it isn't your typical teen film. The reason why high schools work as a setting and have been used in updatings of literature and styles is because the constraints and social structures that govern them relate more closely to past social structures than anywhere else in modern-day Western society. Clueless worked as an updating of Emma because of the hierarchical class divisions perceived in both. Brick works because it takes a similar class structure and uses the central point of the school to create the film noirish claustrophobia, although we never see our antihero Brendan actually in class (he does, however, acknowledge a debt to Accelerated English when complimented on his nifty turn of phrase). My favourite aspect of the film was the language, which used the rhythms of film noir language and some of the phrasings in order to recreate that hard-boiled style of the 1940s. I really enjoyed Brendan's dry wit and delivery and am impressed by the actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's, graduation from sitcoms to difficult drama. I liked the following exchange in particular, as Brendan provokes the anger of a school jock:
Brad Bramish: Oh yeah?
Brendan: Yeah.
Brad Bramish: Oh yeah?
Brendan: Yeah.
Brad Bramish: Yeah?
Brendan: There's a thesaurus in the library. Yeah is under "Y".
Love it.
Had a lovely time at the weekend. Caught some rays at Himself's birthday party, although Archimedes was surprisingly reticent given his recent overtures of friendship. Managed not to fail at Giant Jenga despite clutching a plate of delicious barbecued goodness while removing Jenga bricks.
Then the Mule and I caught a film that we'd wanted to see for a while. Brick has been criticised (by Trash Addict, see link, right) for taking the whole teenage adaptation thing too far in the way that it sets a Raymond Chandler-esque tale in a high school. I understand the criticism as cinematic power does seem to be placed fully in the hands of teenagers and films therefore become aimed at that market. However, as MuleBoy mentioned on the way home, it is difficult to consider Brick attracting the texting, giggling audience that seem to frequent the same cinemas as us. With a labyrinthine plot, no sex or nudity and witty dialogue that never panders to the lowest common denominator, it isn't your typical teen film. The reason why high schools work as a setting and have been used in updatings of literature and styles is because the constraints and social structures that govern them relate more closely to past social structures than anywhere else in modern-day Western society. Clueless worked as an updating of Emma because of the hierarchical class divisions perceived in both. Brick works because it takes a similar class structure and uses the central point of the school to create the film noirish claustrophobia, although we never see our antihero Brendan actually in class (he does, however, acknowledge a debt to Accelerated English when complimented on his nifty turn of phrase). My favourite aspect of the film was the language, which used the rhythms of film noir language and some of the phrasings in order to recreate that hard-boiled style of the 1940s. I really enjoyed Brendan's dry wit and delivery and am impressed by the actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's, graduation from sitcoms to difficult drama. I liked the following exchange in particular, as Brendan provokes the anger of a school jock:
Brad Bramish: Oh yeah?
Brendan: Yeah.
Brad Bramish: Oh yeah?
Brendan: Yeah.
Brad Bramish: Yeah?
Brendan: There's a thesaurus in the library. Yeah is under "Y".
Love it.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Ping!
Okay, so I talk about my hair a lot. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that in my head I tend to think of my hair as a separate entity that contributes to, but is still apart from, my person as a whole. Not like a wig though, I mean like a consciousness thing. I often bemoan the fact that I can't just brush the damn stuff and envy women with straight hair who get mussed up and can correct mussing very easily with a single, portable implement. If I get mussed up, I have to use fingers, water, a mirror, an afro comb in desperation and generally just pull the whole thing back with a hairband that I keep on my wrist. Unfortunately the only thing that generally improves my hair when it looks shit is washing it and showers aren't as portable as hairbrushes. However, if I had lovely, shiny, straight hair, I am sure I would get bored of it pretty speedily. It would also look odd with my crazy big face and head (it's enormous. Really). I actually love my hair, however much I complain, and especially the curls that are endlessly entertaining. I was pinging a particularly stubborn corkscrew this morning while reading my emails and thinking that if I had straight hair, I wouldn't be able to spend my time pinging it when I'm bored. It certainly wouldn't be as elastic or as useful as a weapon. I'm kind of re-in love with my hair again after getting it cut back to my original style, which really does suit me the best. I was briefly loving the bob-like cut but it got long and triangular so quickly that it wasn't worth it. Shaggy layers are the best because they're more flexible and, for someone who has always resisted tattoos for the main reason that I throw out clothes within a year of buying them and generally out of boredom, this is a good thing.
I have been getting a bit hysterical at work this week. A particular situation has been created by one of my artistically inclined colleagues that generally makes me start giggling in a slightly panicky way when I think about it. Basically, I have to sort something out in a week that would typically take a month and the first step involves contacting someone who may be the person that I need or may be just someone who has the same name and I am beginning to suspect that neither of them exist. It's all deeply silly and my only consolation is that it is not my fault.
I have been getting a bit hysterical at work this week. A particular situation has been created by one of my artistically inclined colleagues that generally makes me start giggling in a slightly panicky way when I think about it. Basically, I have to sort something out in a week that would typically take a month and the first step involves contacting someone who may be the person that I need or may be just someone who has the same name and I am beginning to suspect that neither of them exist. It's all deeply silly and my only consolation is that it is not my fault.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Useless
Oh my God, I haven't posted for 12 days! I am not as useless as Beanie or Dad who haven't posted for years and years but am still pretty flipping crap. I promised myself I'd post at least once a week and have let myself down. I am hanging my head in shame. However, being crap appears to be my forte as this weekend I managed to muck up several plans and many things went askew and skewiff and skewed all because of me. Mainly MuleBoy's plans and it was all my fault. Also, I missed rehearsal on Sunday because I didn't think I was needed and instead spent my time gallivanting in the sun with Big Sis. Can't really pretend to be sorry, especially as I spent the previous day inside making puppets out of copper wire and solder for the same production. It wasn't too bad but it did mean that on Sunday I had the urge to be outside for extended periods. And I had to buy that cheese and those garden statues; these are life necessities, people!
However, all this does mean that I now have to apologise to several people and surrender my weekend to the Mule to make it up to him.
However, all this does mean that I now have to apologise to several people and surrender my weekend to the Mule to make it up to him.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Something Missing
I caught up with my friends last night, one who lives most of the time in Scotland and two others who live locally and who I very rarely see. We get on incredibly well and last night we spent hours talking about minutaie, baring our souls and making each other laugh and we can go months without seeing each other and still feel very comfortable doing that. It's not surprising that I haven't seen Scotland Girl since last August as she does spend most of her time in Aberdeen and she's had a lot of significant life changes recently. But Her Loveliness and AltGirl live around the corner and I still only catch up with them when the more farflung Londoners, Scotland Girl or Spy Girl are around. I spend a lot of time worrying about the fact that I am in a rut in terms of friendship, in that I don't have anyone that I really confide in or reveal everything to and have a group of people that I get on with but don't really know very well. But that rut is of my making as I just start convincing myself that I'm too busy or that person is too busy and don't get on and make contact as I should.
We did talk last night about how much trickier it is to make friends as adults. Your lives are so much more complex and situations are different to college or University where friendships are initiated because everyone is making friends and you have that shared connection and situation. At work, you're entering at a different point to everyone else, you're all different ages and it is so unlikely that you will have much in common that you're very lucky to be able to socialise with people at work. The main people I work with are all a lot older than me, except for Neanderthal Boy who I don't think I could bear spending any more time with than I already do, and I'm so useless and shy outside of my comfort zone that I find it really difficult to talk to other people who work in different parts of the place even though I may have a lot more in common with them.
So I miss my friends and yet feel unable to make the effort to see them more. Partly due to fears of rejection, partly due to fears of impinging on their time, partly due to own busyness and laziness but the end result is still the same. Yet another thing to put on my list of stuff I need to do to improve the overall quality of my life. This is going to sound so stupid but how do normal people fit all this stuff in? I feel like I have to fit all the important life things that I need to incorporate into my day-to-day existence by never sleeping ever again. I used to play The Sims but had to stop when I got frustrated that I could never get enough time to fit in all the stuff you need to create a fully-rounded little person. It started to reflect my own life in a way that made me uncomfortable. I hate being a grown-up.
We did talk last night about how much trickier it is to make friends as adults. Your lives are so much more complex and situations are different to college or University where friendships are initiated because everyone is making friends and you have that shared connection and situation. At work, you're entering at a different point to everyone else, you're all different ages and it is so unlikely that you will have much in common that you're very lucky to be able to socialise with people at work. The main people I work with are all a lot older than me, except for Neanderthal Boy who I don't think I could bear spending any more time with than I already do, and I'm so useless and shy outside of my comfort zone that I find it really difficult to talk to other people who work in different parts of the place even though I may have a lot more in common with them.
So I miss my friends and yet feel unable to make the effort to see them more. Partly due to fears of rejection, partly due to fears of impinging on their time, partly due to own busyness and laziness but the end result is still the same. Yet another thing to put on my list of stuff I need to do to improve the overall quality of my life. This is going to sound so stupid but how do normal people fit all this stuff in? I feel like I have to fit all the important life things that I need to incorporate into my day-to-day existence by never sleeping ever again. I used to play The Sims but had to stop when I got frustrated that I could never get enough time to fit in all the stuff you need to create a fully-rounded little person. It started to reflect my own life in a way that made me uncomfortable. I hate being a grown-up.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Being Fair
And that isn't as in the Fairest of them all, because I may wish it but it aint so. Fairest of all the 26 year old women who have curly hair, glasses and occasionally blog and call themselves Kitten maybe. That's as in pale, wan, translucent (my personal favourite), white, untannable. Now, I know I am not as pale as some, namely Beanie and Geef who once got burnt within approximately two minutes of stepping outside. However, I do have trouble not with getting burnt so much but with getting stuff to match my skin tone. I recently bought a tinted moisturiser for fair skin with an SPF to speed up my morning toilette a little. I got the 'fair' tint, tried it on my hand and it looked okay. When I put it on my face at home before work on Monday morning, I looked ever so slightly like I was blacking up and my face hovered above my extremely white-looking neck like a magnum on a white stick. So I did my neck and then rued the fact that I was wearing a low cut top as an expanse of white spread out from my now-brown neck. Unfortunately, by that point, I had to get my train and ran out of the house without any breakfast. Fortunately I had make-up remover things with me and was able to get rid of the ridiculous face and neck when I got to work. So not only did the tint look stupid, it also slowed me down rather than sped me up! I have since decided to improve my colour with self-tanning moisturisers instead and now I am covered in patchy golden brown bits of skin. I can't win. I should just accept that colour does not look good on my skin and I will not be able to get away with white at my wedding, otherwise no-one will be able to see my face and, if it is a particularly bright day, may get struck down with snow-blindness.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Bad Blogginess
I have not been in the mood to write this week. I don't know why, maybe it's because I haven't spent long enough brushing my teeth (although they are still clean teeth, don't get me wrong). I just felt that my last post wasn't as inspired as it could have been and am scratching my brain as to what I should write next. I have been feeling tired lately - maybe it's the stress of thinking about moving, which we should be doing soon, or MuleBoy's insomnia which is bad at the moment. Maybe my mental faculties just aren't acute enough to ramble in a crazy way as is my usual style, I don't know. I promise to be back on form soon, but don't expect too much for a while. I will post, just don't expect the high quality word diarrhoeia that I know you have come to expect from me for a while. Inferior diarrhoeia for the near future it is, then.
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