In Memoriam: Katherine Hepburn

Katherine Hepburn, one of the strong women of film, who's beauty, charm and charisma graced the silver screen for more then 60 years passed away today at the age of 96.

'Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only what you are expecting to give — which is everything. What you will receive in return varies. But it really has no connection with what you give. You give because you love and cannot help giving.' - Katherine Hepburn

Eight more hours.

Eight more hours and a smidgen till the weekend! This weeks has felt like it gone one forever. And, I am not sure if it is the heat, mmm yummy heat, or the lack of sleep that has made this week seem like it will never end. I fear today I’ll be counting the seconds until I can come home, slip into something light, comfortable and airy, prop up the fans and past out in front of them.

In other events it seem that they have been something to say about us:

Hugin is:
Pleasant shape
tasteful clothes
modest demands
tends to not forgive mistakes
cheerful
likes to lead but not to obey
honest and faithful partner
tends to a know-all-attitude and making decisions for others
noble-minded
generous
good sense of humor
practical.

I am:
Strong
muscular
adaptable
takes what life has to give
happy content
optimistic
needs enough money and acknowledgment
hates loneliness
passionate lover which cannot be satisfied
faithful
quick-tempered
unruly
pedantic and careless.

Strong?!? Muscular?!? [pokes muscles - pokity poke, poke]
Well that just doesn't seem right.

Go see what they have to say about you.

Meme first spotted at Jennifer's and Melissa's

June babies

Not just another June Birthday, today’s the Birthday of a very special, wonderful talented woman. [yes, we’re talking about you Nicole]

Wishing you a fabulous, warm, happy making, joyous, snuggleable, stupendous birthday Hon. Hope your day is filled with lots of love, big snuggle hugs, laughter and many happy wonderful moments spent with friends and family. Wishing you all your hearts desires, may your happiest dreams come true. Many, many happy returns.

Big squishes and kisses
Us.

Now go, give her lots of birthday loving.

'True Quandary'

A dear friend sent me this, today.

A true quandary...

Imagine that you are a bush pilot in the African veldt. You fly in some
critical medical supplies and enjoy a quick lunch at the hospital. You are
eager to get to your next appointment. It's a stifling 100+ degrees in the
shade. You return to your plane to find that the only piece of shade around
has become very popular in your absence...

Maybe you should stay for Dinner AND Sundown.

Insominia

Insomnia rears its ugly head, once again. It’s has been three nights in a row that I have woken up in the middle of the night to a chattering churning mind running through all matter of worries. These discourses, though unnecessary to the conscious mind, seem of the utmost importance to the drowsy one as it chases away sleep in a never-ending spiral of doubt. The minutes tick by as I try to cajole it back to sleep until not one, but two hours have past when finally exhausted it ceases its endless ramblings allowing me the precious few hours that are left to fall in a dream laden sleep. Waking is an almost torturous hell after that. All I want to do is sleep through the bloody alarm. But no it’s off to work* where copious amount of caffeine are ingested so that I can make it through the day without conking out at my desk and then back home where late at night the cycle repeats itself, over and over again.

Would someone be so kind as to bonk me over the head with a 2 by 4 this evening? Please.

*Which I'm grateful for.

Another Birthday In the Tree

Happy Birthday Bobby G!
Time to swing in the big old tree
Another year older, yes
But lots of vibrant youth left in you
To PartY!

Hope your day is filled with wonderful happy moments, lots of love, giggles, laughs and many joyous yelps. Wishing you all your hearts desires and many, many happy returns.

No scat, go join the boy in his big ole tree and wish him a Happy birthday!

Snazzy Birthday wishes

Happy Birthday Dear Eka! Hope you have a warm fuzzy feeling making, stupendously enjoyable, absolutely fantabulous birthday filled with love, sunshine and all things wonderful! Wishing you all your hearts desires, and many, many happy returns.

Go give her lots of wonderful, yummy Birthday loving!

New Machine

So, I got the new computer components.

Motherboard, CPU, ram.

I planned ahead and was still worried, as always.

So, the worries of course were that the RAM would not work properly, that I would break the CPU when I placed the HSF on it, that I would short something/everything.

As it turned out, putting the HSF on the cpu was a strain involving sweat a flathead screwdriver and a bit of praying. So far so good.

I removed my old motherboard, inserted the new one. That involved a bit of force to get it seated correctly.

I had to move the CDROM and CDRW down in order to have them reach the with the IDE cable.

Plugged everything in and hit the power.

It ran through the POST, and recognized the RAM. And popped into the BIOS. Recognized the HDD and the CPU. I also noticed that the BIOS was flashed already, which saved me having to attempt something else that might go wrong.

And as Win2K starts to boot... I get a blue screen with a fatal stop error.

After a bit of checking, it turns out that I had failed to consider that the controller for the HDD wouldn't be the same on the new motherboard.

Thus follow a great many attempts to do as little as possible to get it to work properly. Needless to say, none of those things worked.

So, I pulled out my old motherboard, rested it on some ESD placed on the edge of my case and haphazardly connected the old video card, IDE cable, power, mouse, keyboard... and realized that I needed to be able to power it on! Which meant trying to stretch the little cable that connects to the motherboard to the other motherboard... it didn't quite reach. So I had to hold the old motherboard diagonally and connect it, then boot.

And the old machine wouldn't boot. After a couple of worries, I noticed that the RAM hadn't seated properly since I had been trying to put it in without a solid surface underneath. Fixed that.

After some fiddling, fixed what I needed and unplugged it all and set to plugging in the new motherboard.

Noticed that the prongs on IDE slot were bent, had to try and fiddle with getting the cable on properly without breaking them.

Got that and it booted!

Woot!

So it works now, speed is good.
No disasters, a little bit of blood spilt.

I can't get my old video resolution of 1192x### due to the drivers I am using. Thinking of switching to another set because I tend to find 1280x1024 a little small.

Have to run some things in OpenGL instead of Direct3D. But it works.

Let the games begin.

Potter right to our very door.

We had pre-ordered ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’. Our online bill stated the book would only arrive after the rush around the 26th of June. Imagine our surprise when the doorbell rang this morning and we found the Chapters' delivery guy holding onto a humongous box containing our copy! Now all I want to do is find a comfy spot under a huge tree and read all day long. Must devour book. The only problem is, we were silly enough to only order one copy. [wry smile] Let the nabbing of the book commence!

Stagnating

Trying to find a way to fill up the hours. The staring at screen while twiddling thumbs is getting old and I feel like I’m drowning in my own boredom. A handful of origami pieces now sit on my computer, and there is this little notepad that I type in when inspired. But other then that I can’t think of anything to do that will fill up the time spent while waiting for things to load. So far I have been spent two hours doing, well basically doing nothing other then staring at the screen praying that this time the program will not boot me out. I feel like I am stagnating in this never-ending cycle of waiting.

I am in need of suggestions on what one can do when one’s computer is too busy crunching away and inaccessible. It has to be something unobtrusive and something I can get away with while at work. What do you do when you are bored?

penned while waiting. blargy.

One done. A few more to go.

Many wishes of GOOD LUCK, and congratulations to a dear friend who's writing his last exam of the semester. Kick some arse, Oz Boy.
*squishy*

Dilbert zone.

Yes, please come work for our company. Yes, the work needs to be done ASAP. Yes we have all the tools needed to ensure that the work gets done as quickly and as efficiently as possible. No, we won’t be providing you with all the tools necessary. This would insure efficient productivity on your part and to put it frankly we really aren’t quite sure that would be good for company moral. Asides, we are not sure if we trust you. Who knows what secrets you’ll walk away with we gave you access to the tools that would facilitate your work.

penned @ 4:15 with grumpy enthusiasm in a fit of frustration.
Silly Kniggits. They’re all silly kniggits I say!

Computer Boy Scout

Since I decided and ordered the cpu/motherboard/ram I've decided that I should stray from my usual path of Computer Sage and walk the steps of the Computer Boy Scout. Namely, be prepared.

So, I've printed out some sheets from a forum on my motherboard, wrote in links to drivers and bios files, made a notation about borrowing a grounding strap. Downloaded and am reading the manual.

Basically just getting ready to do things by the book and hopefully (fingers doing that christian thing) have it work out perfectly well.

Now I just need to wait...

I hate waiting.

Thought tied. Tongue-tied.

It frustrates me that I can have full discourses with myself, presenting one diatribe after another when standing under a shower, or using the facilities [i.e. sitting on the john] or walking from one point to another, but that as soon as I attempt to commit thought to paper, my monologues/tirades will either seem to be trivial and unformed, like some child’s tantrum or they will simply vanish, smoke caught up in a strong wind, never to be seen again.

I am aware that one of the contributing factors is my lack of self-confidence in laying out my thoughts for the all world to see. I do not have the ability to read the things I write and say: This is good. You’ve made some strong points and people are going to appreciate the views you have brought forth. No, instead I pick at every thought and nuance of phrase and wonder if I am just farting in the wind or simply babbling, a monkey at a typewriter striking random keys. And then there are the spurts when I will furiously type something out, a master piece written in the middle of the night when sleep is an elusive muse only to come back to it later, a cynical critic who will mark it up as. ‘Tripe.’ Questioning the world as to, ‘ Whom the bloody hell would want to read anything like this?’

I envy the people who seem to have no difficulties in writing out their thoughts, whether they are presenting their views on current affairs, ranting about injustices, telling stories with their words, or simply rambling on about the non-consequential. They have a knack at making what they write seem effortless and yet it manages to captivate you, drawing you in deeper with every turn of phrase.

They are my blog muses and in my heart I hope that if I keep doing this, maybe, just maybe one day I’ll get that knack. Maybe one day that flair with words will be mine.

Google's Eschered!

I can spend hours staring at his artwork, doodling away attempting to create some 'Eschers' of my own.

Vegetable Envy

If you need me, I’ll be the one flung out on the couch, legs hanging over arm. A squidgee squishy vegetable of a person. Mindlessly surfing through our two channels, drooling occasionally as the mindless drone lulls me off to sleep.

Can it be Thursday already?!?

Happy Father Day

To all the fathers out there, wishing you a wonderful Father’s Days. Hope the day was filled with love, happiness and laughter.

To me Dad:

Dear Dad, thank you every so much for being there. For your stories, your love, your calming presence, your support and your continued support in everything we have accomplished and done. We may call you kooky and eccentric, we may roll our eyes at your stories and we may not always listen to you, but we love you very much. Hoping that this day was filled with wondrous happy making joys. Lots of love. Us.

Good Things Come

The aphorism is that good things come to those who wait.

This is applicable in the world of consumerism - to a degree.

So, I want to get a processor and in looking find that the price of a retail boxed AMD XP2500+ Barton is 149$CAN approx. I find it at another place for cheaper, but I get all my computer stuff from one place because it is reliable and has been for many people for a while.

So (part 2), I send them an email and mention all of this but state that $pesos$ are $pesos$ and I might have to go elsewhere because of this.

So (part3) they send me a reply saying that the best they can do for that part is 144$CAN. OK, it isn't much, but it is something. I am considering this and deciding based on considerable thought that this will be the processor that I get (its 333Mhz FSB matches the speed of the ram I am getting and the ability of the motherboard nicely).

So (part4) I continue to look around and think about this, because I really don't have that much else to do, and I see on their site that the price is now 141$CAN.

...

So (part5finale) the point is, if you wait long enough the value of X will become closer to 0 (I've been reading the Cryptonomicon again, good book by Neal Stephenson and so this kind of equation is straight from there). Of course, the problem is that while you are waiting for time T at which point this event occurs, you have nothing to show for it.

So (epilogue) really, at the point when those people who are waiting finally get those `good things', it's probably too late and they are waiting again.

So (addendum) carpe processor.

wispy thoughts

There was a whole series of thoughts dawdling about me head this morning, bumping into dreams pulling them off into silly segues. Then the alarm blasted and they all scattered like leaves in a strong wind. I know amidst them all there was something insightful, something that I wanted to say. I can’t for the life of me recall what it was. Humph. Senility, some days you just gotto love it.

Naughty ‘puter.

Feh. Arrg. Grr. Mrfff. Thhpt. Grr. Merwp.
Bloody, heavy arsed assembly is driving me to distraction. Mrrf!
'Oh drat these computers. They are so naughty and so complex. I could pinch them'*

This moment was brought to you by the letter ‘F’, the word 'insanity' and the numbers 8 and 30.

Grab Bag

Just a few thoughts as I go, as I have gone, as things have proceeded today.

1) Notes from loved ones are wonderful.

2) I really find garbage bags that are tied at the top but not sealed to be very annoying.

3) I'd like to switch to typing Dvorak, or at least give it a go, but the overwhelming use of QWERTY is frustrating in that I would have to alternate between the two.

4) When deciding on a purchase, you can compare prices and percentages and numbers until you have a nice little spreadsheet with everything on it. But it won't tell you what to decide.

Oral fixation.

Have the oddest desire to pop candy in my mouth and play with it. Clicking it up against my teeth, rolling it about with my tongue and finally crunching down, hearing the snap as the sound reverberates through my mouth. There is really no logical explanation. It’s an odd oral fixation that seems to stem from the mundane boredom of twiddling ones thumbs, manifesting itself when I am either waiting for the computer to finally finish generating an assembly/program/whatever else it is taking so goddamnlong to generate or when I am playing on the computer.

In the words of the infamous [if mentally challenged*] Ash**:’ Gimme some sugar, baby. '

*Hugin’s addition.
**Otherwise known as the idiot, according to Bruce Campbell.

'Make it go away'

There are days when you would give anything for a magic wand, so that you could wave it about, utter a few magic syllables and make all the bad things disappear. Other days you wish you could just gather up those who are dear to you in your arms, hold them tight and drive away the darkness. And then there are the days when the only thing that gets you through is the song, a dear friend played, when the world seemed a bleak dark place, devoid of light and happiness. This is for you*. Keeping you in our thoughts. Holding you tight.

*Yes You.

Make It Go Away
Holly Cole.

Make it go away or make it better
Isn’t that what love’s supposed to do
Make it go away or make it better
Cause I would do either one for you

This is not the way you should see me
This is not the face I recognize
Could I lay my head down here for a moment
Would you sing to me like I’m your child
Cause I’m not angry I’m not crying
I’m just in over my head
You could be the angel that stayed on my shoulder
When all of the other angels left

Make it go away or make it better
Cause I am waking
This more then one should have to take
If you do this for me then I will promise
I’ll make it go away for you someday

There are reasons silver linings
There are lessons but I don’t care
Cause I just need a hand that I can hold onto
When it’s darker then death out there

I’m so cold
And so far away from my home
But tonight you’re
You’re where I belong
You’re everything right
When I’m everything wrong

Make it go away or make it better
Isn’t that what love’s supposed to do
Make it go away or make it better
Cause I would do either one for you
(repeat)

Questions.

Nicole asks and I attempt to answer*.

1. What is your favourite childhood memory? I can’t say that I have one childhood memory in particular that I cherish above all. There are a lot of things from my youth that I hold dear: Spending time with my great-grandmother and my great -aunt. Lazy summers spent with my family, seaside. Little quite moments curled up in my grandmother’s arms. Travelling with my mom. Being silly with her. Drive-in movies, curled up on the hood of my mom’s car. Sitting at the kitchen counter at either my grandmothers place or our kitchen, with the sun gently streaming in, doodling, painting and making weird creations out of papier-mâché, egg containers and cardboard boxes. My grandmother or my mom reading to me at night. The good days. Being free, and wild with no real responsibilities.

2. What angers you the most? Abuse and mistreatment. It angers me to see other people oppress those who are weaker them. I cannot abide people who mistreat others just because it makes them feel better. This abuse does not have to be solely directed at humans I hate it when people abuse animals, or any other manner of living creature. It leaves me feeling irate to the point of seeing red and at a loss for words.

3. What is one thing you wish was different about your significant other? Quite honestly nothing comes to mind. He is an amazing caring loving person who is wonderful and delicious just the way he is.
Grumpballishness, tetchy, et al.

4. What is your best talent? Blink. Talent. Sorry no talent here. Truthfully, I am not sure how to answer that one, being a self-deprecating little wench at the best of times. I guess I would say my ease at sardonic self-disparaging humour, which I don’t think truly falls into the category of talent. But if pressed, I will admit to an ability to make people smile or laugh.

5. What is your most prized possession? There really isn’t one particular item that I would claim to be my most prized possession. There is an accumulation of things that I have picked up over the years that hold significance to me. Little tidbits, recollections of memories old and new: A pebble, memory of a dance. Pictures, kept in a wallet of dear friends. An old ring given to me by my grandmother. Boxes of photos, flowers, shells, and other odds and ends. . And Pooh Bear, who’s is now gallivanting about Australia.

To continue the 'game', if you would like us to 'interview' you, leave a comment and we'll send some tough thought-provoking questions your way.

*Nicole you weren’t kidding when you said some of these would be tough. Couldn’t you have just kept them to questions like 2 and 3? I am not good at answering questions about myself.

Further adventures of Munin the klutz.

Picking up the laundry basket in the morning, I managed to scrape a good part of my knee off. The pain only just kicked in and the scrape is pretty impressive; a bright pinkish red with little bits of epidermis missing, yellow goop scabbing over covering the lost spots.

I should not be allowed to perform any menial tasks before a good strong coffee, especially when I am only partially dressed.

Mind Control

Some products, whether they be tangible or intangible seem to use some variety of mind control in order to produce the intense desire for the consumer to purchase them.

I remember a song heard while in a taxi a while back that induced the intense `need' for me to purchase the cd. It was impressive.

Just the other day while picking up a planned dvd purchase, we walked around looking at what else was there and saw in the tv section a good few shows that we would want to have.

We saw CSI, Due South, Buffy, Stargate, and Babylon 5 just to name a few.
Then we saw Frasier season 1. We had both known about it coming out and had discussed it briefly as an enjoyable show that neither of us really felt the need to pick it up.

Yet, when we saw it, both of us immediately were thinking about picking it up.

What was it that caused this? Some form of subliminal cue, a hidden visual one, some kind of olfactory trigger? Whatever it was, it hit hard and strong. Maybe it was some form of magnetic resonance that was modified by the de-magnetizer when we purchased it.

Because afterwards we were both wondering what we had done. It wasn't that we didn't like the show and enjoy it, but we hadn't planned on purchasing it. We pondered what we had pondered and couldn't figure it out.

I don't believe in impulse buying; I believe in the manipulation of the masses. [Well, not really... but also a little bit really yes]

Whatever the case, after some thought on the matter, we watched the first few episodes and laughed and it was good.

Exist

2"x8" pieces of wood exist. Yup, nuff said.

Except to add... (in the voice of Lori Petty imitating Malcom McDowell)

"I win" ;)

Layers

First found at Nicole's. Then placed on the back burner as work took over. Seen again at Erika's. Finally done.

LAYER ONE
-- Name: Munin
-- Birth date: Undisclosed. *
-- Birthplace: Africa, southerly.
-- Current Location: Canada. Otherwise known as the Great White North.
-- Eye Color: Brown.
-- Hair Color: Currently chestnut brown.
-- Height: 5’ 3” and ¾ if you please.
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty
-- Zodiac Sign: Leo.

LAYER TWO:
-- Your heritage: Mutt.
-- The shoes you wore today: Booties followed by black flat sandals.
-- Your weakness: Ice-Cream. Chocolate and yummy lines.
-- Your fears: losing the ones I love
-- Your perfect pizza: cheese, pineapple, hot peppers, tomatoes, green olives and onions. Though the hot peppers are optional.
-- Goal you'd like to achieve: Currently staying coherent until the end of the day. There are many goals that I would love to achieve. Becoming a better photographer, writer and storyteller. Living life to it’s fullest. Finishing off the last of my degrees before I tackle another one. Being a well-read, well versed world traveller. Taking up flying, horseback riding, and snorkelling. Mostly though I hope to end my days having never regretted much, having lived a full life that has left me enriched, surrounded by those I love and hold dear.

LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase on IM: depends on who I am IM’ing. Though smilies make a regular appearance.
-- Your thoughts first waking up: Mffmfff. Mmerp? Who turned on the air siren? Mffmfff. Coffee. Ooph.
-- Your best physical feature: my eyes. I guess.
-- Your most missed memory: being by the sea, with my grandmother.

LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Coke.
-- McDonald's or Burger King: Mcdonalds for their nuggets. But rarely. It’s an odd craving.
-- Single or group dates: huh? Dates? Oh. Depends.
-- Adidas or Nike: Nike. Adidas. Whichever, just as long as the shoe is comfortable.
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Nestea. Though much prefer Ice-Tea made from scratch.
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Dark chocolate.
-- Cappuccino or coffee: Depends.

LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: Never.
-- Cuss: Occasionally when I am scared or frustrated. And it has been said that I can make sailors blush when I am making crepes.
-- Sing: In the shower and in the company of people with whom I am not shy.
-- Take a shower everyday: yes. Mostly in the morning.
-- Do you think you've been in love: yes. Very much so.
-- Want to go to college: A while back.
-- Like(d) high school: as far as I remember it was ok. Nothing spectacular.
-- Want to get married: Someday. Maybe.
-- Believe in yourself: I refuse to answer this question based on the fact that the answer will incriminate me. Rarely.
-- Get motion sickness: when stressed otherwise no.
-- Think you're attractive: no. not really. Occasionally cute. But I wouldn’t go o far as to say attractive,
-- Think you're a health freak: no.
-- Get along with your parent(s): Yes and No.
-- Like thunderstorms: Love them.
-- Play an instrument: No. But would love to pick up the violin or piano.

LAYER SIX:
In the past month...
-- Drank alcohol: yes
-- Smoked: no
-- Done a drug: no.
-- Made Out:. …
-- Gone on a date: Again. A date?
-- Gone to the mall?: Nope.
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos?: No, but I know someone who absolutely adores ‘em. nudgenudgewinkwink.
-- Eaten sushi: yes. Love it.
-- Been on stage: Yes. Umm oops that was further back then 6 months.
-- Been dumped: No.
-- Gone skating: Yes.
-- Made homemade cookies: Yes.
-- Gone skinny dipping: Too bloody cold, to do that.
-- Dyed your hair: No.
-- Stolen anything: No

LAYER SEVEN
Ever...
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes. But then haven’t we all?
-- If so, was it mixed company: yes
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: no.
-- Been caught "doing something": that would be telling won’t it?
-- Been called a tease: Yes. Maybe. Perhaps.
-- Gotten beaten up: No.
-- Shoplifted: No
-- Changed who you were to fit in: In the past I have. But I think we all to that to some extent.

LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age you hope to be married: Never actually thought of a specific age.
-- Numbers and Names of Children: None currently
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: A marriage between two people who are in love. The day should be a celebration of their love, and their commitment to each other. Nothing more, nothing less.
-- How do you want to die: Peacefully
-- Where you want to go to college: Already been. Though would love to go back to Uni at some point.
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: I have to grow up? Um. Thank you no. I much rather stay young at heart.
-- What country would you most like to visit: New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, and Spain. Portugal. Scotland. UK. Holland. Morocco. Egypt. Japan. Indonesia. India. Most of South America. Mexico. Caribbean Islands. Parts of the States. Parts of Canada. To name a few. Am always open to suggestions.

LAYER NINE:
-- Number of drugs taken illegally: Only once.
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: A few. They are people who I trust and love.
-- Number of CDs that I own: Never actually counted.Though I much prefer Mp3’s
-- Number of piercings: 2 holes in my ears. That is all..
-- Number of tattoos: None.
-- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: Never.
-- Number of scars on my body: A few.
-- Number of things in my past that I regret: It all depends on what you mean by regret.

Morning reverie

Sunbeams stream in tickling my nose and warming my toes
As the cat begins to purr, a small motor curled up next to my tummy.
The blankets, fortification against the mild chill that rises from the floor
Lull me deeper into sleep. Dreams come. Riding horseback
Through fields filled will long golden reads. Dandelions puff up.
Filling the air, a summer snowstorm.

A blaring ring fills the air. Sit bolt upright to a rude awakening.
The dream is broken. Someone. Anyone. Can I please just have
some Coffee.

Therapy.

Hurt. Distressed. Sad. Vexed and Venting. Writing it out is the only way I can deal with this right now. So please forgive the rant. I promise that: Funny. Cheerful. Positive. If occasionally Entertaining. Good News posts, will resume shortly.

Dear Dreams Thereto*.

I would like to thank you for the wonderful message you left on our answering machine today. I must confess that since the last one of it’s kind left only a few moons ago, I have not had the pleasure of listening to someone be so forthright and acerbic. To hear the words coming out of your mouth, to know that every syllable was uttered with conviction, feeling and a deep belief that your view is always right, left me with a feeling that is beyond my ability to express in words. But what touched me most was knowing that the contemptuous tone in which you uttered every phrase was only used with your deepest regards for my well-being and with the greatest of affection that you hold for me.

I would like to point out, however, for future reference that leaving messages in which you proceed to belittle me, call me names, and are just generally unpleasant, scathing and caustic will not entice me to actually pick up the phone and return your call. Which makes this sadly a rather large game of Catch 22. Thank you for your understanding.
Yours always.

*Anagrammed. Simply because she deserves that much.

Continual Quest

Well, as always, seeking reading matter. Preferably the dark matter of books that will suck me in and cause time to pass slowly in their event horizon.

Problem is finding them.

I'm waiting for Steven Erikson's next book to come out in mass market paperback (House of Chains). I'm waiting for the next Harry Potter. Waiting for the next book in the Sword of Truth series (to come out in hardcover shortly after Harry Potter, which means waiting some time after that for the paperback). Saw an amusing David Morrell, his last few books haven't interested me, but this one has a bunch of personal security type stuff in it which I find interesting; of course that's in hardcover too.

Lately I've gone on a few forums of books that I did like and read reviews of books that the people who liked those books... liked. That helped a little. Slashdot had a list as well, and that's where I saw this book. Looks like it could be a lot of fun, and the sort of thing that would be a lot of fun... so, now to go find it and then to find out.

Big... Noise

OK. I'm always annoyed (lately) that my speakers for the PC don't have a volume dial. They are Altec Lansing 2.1 (don't remember the model number), and this is sometimes a problem, especially when switching from one sound source/file to another... ow! Plus, there is a spot where one push up on the volume control makes it really loud, and one push down makes it really quiet very unhelpful for fine tuning.

So, I look for speakers online. Usually the 5.1 systems for a nice surround effect; not that the geography of the computer room is such that these would be useful. It is hard to put a couple of satellite speakers in the middle of the room. So, in my looking around, I saw a review for these Diva Swan M200 which look interesting (if I could afford them, I'd get the Klipsch speakers though, but I've said that before), but that led me to their site and ... these.

Wow!

Fneh.

Well that just bites the big one. The project we were working on was cancelled after 8 months of work on the company’s part and a week and three quarters on our part. Blarghy. I really, really do not want to go back to part time. I am just too weary and unwilling to deal with that kind of stress. Damnitalltohell, all I want is a regular paycheck*, a regular biweekly [or if you please, a weekly, bimonthly, on the 15th day of every month, whatever, as long at it comes on a regular basis] paycheck that covers all our expenses and allows us to save a little bucketful o’ gold** for future consideration.

Sitting here cringing and praying to all the deities that be in the hopes that the company finds other projects for us to work on.

Update: they are transitioning us over to some other groups. Hopefully this bouncing will continue for a while.

*I confess that is not entirely true. I would prefer that the paycheck be attached to a job that is challenging, interesting and does not involve spending long hours glaring at screen twiddling one's thumbs. I would like to work for a company that doesn’t frown when you take your vacation time [which in my mind should be at least four weeks per annum], and respects that you much prefer working in the wee hours of the night safely ensconced at home, curled up in your favourite chair, dressed in warm flannelly PJs. Is this too much to ask? No. Good. I didn't think so.

**Make that a semi-large bucket full o’ gold. Lots to do, lots to see. Would prefer not to be complete paupers for the rest of our lives.

[penned on Wednesday @ 4:00pm]

Movies R Us

So, we've seen a few movies of late and haven't really said anything about them.

Time to change.

Comments, but no spoilers included.

Matrix Reloaded:

How can you say anything about something that is incomplete without being presumptuous, assumptive and generally half-baked? Seems most people have done it, so I'll cautiously prod their coattails and say a few things.

It seemed like half a movie. Which I suppose it should. So that's ok and I accept that. Unfortunately this means that characters seemed to do little for all the hype that they were given. I can accept that also on the assumption that they might do more in the final part.
The action was fun, the CG impressive. The ending, intriguing, subject to what they do with it. After all, it means very little to setup the greatest ending of all time, only to make it a dream sequence in the finale. So, basically I liked it, but the original was better. It was more groundbreaking, more breath taking and of course, complete. I look forward to the final movie, and to see what resolution they decide to use. Without going into details, I've taken one point of view and Munin has taken the other. I'm open to alternatives, but worried what they might be.

Italian Job:

Ok, I can't help but compare it to the other relatively recent remake movie, Ocean's Eleven. And sadly, while their were cool car chases involving minis (which were IMHO done better in the Bourne Identity), and some nice concepts, it just wasn't as slick as OE. I didn't originally want to watch OE, so it was suggested that I have no preconceived expectations and thereby enjoyed it more. Whereas for IJ I thought it would be fun and while it was, I didn't find it as fun.
Bottom line, I'll watch OE more and enjoy it more.

Hankerings.

Went to see this last night, now I really want one of these. Neat little thing, ain’t it? Zips, zooms and can fit almost anywhere.

Validation: An open letter.

You* may not agree with me but please do not ask me to defend why I chose a certain course, or why I am not following a predefined norm that you, yourself are following and expect everyone else to pursue. i.e.: Get married. Buy a car. Buy a house. Have kids. Invest. Invest. Invest. Renovate said household. Grow old and retire. I am not a melon with an expiry date, nor am I a mechanical devise that has a set sequence of steps that it must complete in order to reach it’s final output. And, this is definitely not the way that I want to live my life. Furthermore, if I suggest to you that we, my SO and I, intend on moving to such and such place. Please do not come back to me days later with the line, ‘Tell me you are not moving to such and such. It’s godawefully expensive, the salaries are comparatively low, the weather is dreary and is not doing well financially. You should really reconsider and invest your money.’ I am aware of these facts, but as the planned move is probably not happening for a little while, please give us the benefit of the doubt, and trust that we are doing what is best for us. Your constant nitpicking of the issue leaves me feeling uncomfortable and cornered, dissuading me from seeking further conversation on any topic that does not fit into your mindset. Thank you for your understanding. Please know that even though we don’t see eye to eye on this subject or others, I still enjoy conversing with you.

*General you. But you do know who you are. But it’s not YOU. Ok. Is that clear?

Justifications: an addendum
I dislike having to justify my dreams or the plans I have made for the future to people, dear or acquaintanced.** The need to so only makes me grumpballish and defensive. It’s not that I do not understand their concern, nor is it that I do not believe that they are only presenting their views because they care. However, what does occur is that I feel they do not trust my judgment, which ultimately puts me on the defensive. And, here I go again justifying myself, in a never-ending circular argument. [wry smile]

**Yes, this is a made up word, but it sounded better then 'dear and acquaintance'.

Bony mouse elbow.

Am I the only person who bruises their elbow while mousing? Or am I just that talented. [/self deprecating sarcasm] I should invest in elbow pads, except that I am afraid I’ll be ridiculed if I wore them to work.

mondays.

Monday morning already?!? What happened to weekend? Wasn't it just friday? Do I have to get up? Can't I just sleep in for just a couple more hours. [whine]

I really can't handle monday mornings.