Yesteryear

teacher: poke...poke munin: grumble ...

teacher: poke...poke
munin: grumble ... attemts to slap hand away
teacher: poke...poke...cough
munin: moans, tries to hide head further under arm
teacher: "AHEM!"
munin: look up rather groggily, glares at annoyance
teacher: "you know class time isn't meant for sleeping on the keyboards"
munin: looks about sheepishly, surreptitiously wipes drool of keyboard and desperately tries to look like she has been paying attention all along.

Yup, class is just not going all that well today!

Bright side. Listening to "Always

Bright side.
Listening to "Always look on the bright side of life" by Monty Python. Not sure how I feel about the song, but dang is it ever catchy. "Some things in life are bad, they make you swear and curse...Always look on the bright side of life... la dee dida la dee dida... always look at the bright side of death" HUH!?! [rewind/replay] "Always look on the bright side of death" Oh well. [bobbing back and forth] "la dee dida di dah!"

Author's disclaimer: this entry was brought to you by the strange musings of a caffeine deprived mind

POOF! I made the mistake

POOF!
I made the mistake of purchasing Rubiks Cube yesterday. So far 5 hours have been lost on trying to solve the darned thing! Anyone got a quick solution?

We may just make it

We may just make it yet.
Canada's Olympic dream team has finally pulled themselves together and may just be a contender for the gold. That's if we don't choke while playing Belarus.[face scrunched up in hope] In other Olympic news, we gained two more bronze medals in the women's 3000 relay speed skating event and the men's 1500m. Though that one came to us under controversial circumstances...

Wednesday Mission
[Formerly known as Monday Mission but since I haven't been able to get this done on a Monday for several weeks running now, I am taking the liberty this week, if no one minds, of naming it the Wednesday mission!]

1. What's the one thing you hope your Mother never finds out about you? [Pensive look] Can't really think of anything. I say this now and then one day something will pop up and I'll groan and mutter, " I really wish my mom hadn't found that out!"
2. Hair can just out-of-the-blue start growing on the most unusual places on our bodies? What is the oddest place you've had hair begin to grow? [Checks self in mirror] None that I can see, nothing growing out of ears, no hairs sticking out of nose, Hey! What's that? Now that is odd, I have an eyelash growing out of the corner of my eye.
3. What do you think happens to us after we die? I don't know if I necessarily believe in the pearly white gates/ dark brooding gates of hell scripture. I am more inclined to believe in reincarnation. That our souls recycle themselves and that we move onto another life, another time to learn anew. It's the only way I can explain that feeling you get when you meet someone and felt that you have known them before.
4. Skydiving, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, these are all pretty extreme and exciting experiences? Have you ever risked your life for that type of a thrill? Not by choice, have gone camping with my mom when I was a child and we got caught in torrential storms child, I slept through a tent collapsing on us. I do love rockclimbing though but would no attempt anything foolish while climbing; I pretty much know my limits and will only push the envelope so much. Might possibly try skydiving one day, though I think that the person I would do that with will have to haul my arse onto the plane and I WILL be swearing my head off as I all the way down.
5. What (if any) illegal drug do you think should be legalized? Care to explain? Marijuana. I could go into a whole spiel about the legalization of drugs... Yadda, yadda, yadda. Site many medical uses of this particular drug, give statistical analysis, and list its pros and cons. But I will just say this, Cigarettes and Alcohol legal, addictive and accessible so why not this.
6. Have you ever felt like you were under attack from a "dark force?" What happened? No.
7. Before my Dad passed away, we were all able to give some thought to his funeral together. At his service we decided to play the "Love Theme from Somewhere in Time." What music would you like played at your funeral? Dixie style funeral, with lots of music, trumpets playing and people having a grand ole time.

BONUS:[slightly revised] There was blood and a single gun shot, but just who shot who?
The butler! Must have been the butler.

Palindrome of a day.

It's funny what we pay attention to, how little quirks catch our eye and become ground breaking news.

I took the What?

I took the What Mythological Creature Are you?

Crispy Coziness

I love nights like this, when the sky is clear and the air is crisp, with scents of fireplaces wafting upon the breeze. You can just lose yourself in the semi-darkness and twinkling stars, let go and relax. I love walking on the streets on nights like this surrendering myself in the darkness, falling into the coziness of the night, sneaking peeks into windows as I trot down the streets watching happy people walk by.

Stone gazer

I took the What Mythological Creature Are you?

plucked from neurotic fishbowl

Woke up to a feeling tired, headachy and mildly stressed. It's gonna be one of those days where the space beneath the desk looks like a mighty fine place to nap. Think anyone would notice?

We got two more!!!

Two more medals for Canada in the Freestyle Aerial competition and a gold for Australia [happy cheering continues] Way to go Australia! I love it when countries that aren't considered as winter sports places win Winter Olympic events!

Squishing yer head.

Which Kids In The Hall recurring character are YOU?

Blatantly stolen from Michele

I would formally like to express my appreciation for the Catholic Church for the following reason:

Coffee was believed by some Christians to be the devil's drink. Pope Vincent III heard this and decided to taste it before he banished it. He enjoyed it so much he baptized it, saying "coffee is so delicious it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it."

And there you have it... if you'll now excuse me I'm off to drink some spiritually blessed liquids.

Erika has come up with a great idea! Take a picture of yourself; find a kindergarten picture or some other picture when you where 5, mail them to her so we can play match the blogger! [Unfortunately I do not have any old pictures of my self :( ]

Mais c'est moi!?!

Christine had posted these a long while back and I was surprised to find that the above was I in a nutshell! [Well part of the nutshell]

Characteristics of Gifted Children (from the the NFGCC)
A. High sensitivity
B. Excessive amounts of energy.
C. Bores easily and may appear to have a short attention span.
D. Requires emotionally stable and secure adults around him/her.
E. Will resist authority if it not democratically oriented.
F. Have preferred ways of learning; particularly in reading and mathematics.
G. May become easily frustrated because of his/her big ideas and not having the resources or people to assist him/her in carrying these tasks to fruition.
H. Learns from an exploratory level and resists rote memory and just being a listener.
I. Cannot sit still unless absorbed in something of his/her own interest.
J. Very compassionate and has many fears such as death and loss of loved ones.
K. If they experience failure early, may give up and develop permanent learning blocks.

Rather a scary revelation though as I have grown up under the assumption that I was just your average run of the mill child, not too bright on occasion a little too sensitive and one who got bored rather quickly in class. [That's what it says on one of my old report card, not the 'not too bright on occasion,' but the rest is there] There are many a notebook filled with doodles, odd sketches and bad poetry from various stages of my academic career. As a child, and even as an adult I have had trouble sitting in a classroom, with my full attention devoted to the lecturer. If they don't grab my attention within the first 10 minutes of class it's too late I am already of in my own little world doodling away, dreaming them grand old dreams of freedom. This will also happen if they diverge from their lecture and proceed to drone on about themselves in monotonous syllables. Point J also hits home. Am still to this day very afraid of losing the ones I love. I just don't know if I will be able to cope with life without them, as I tend to become am emotionally dependant on the people I trust and love. They become the foundation to my life and are the strength that I draw from when times are rough. I think I would do rather poorly in life if these people weren't around and that truly frightens me.

So, I'm at home on the phone helping out with a computer problem, which is what I do professionally - although not on the phone anymore and I am thinking about other people who are asked by friends for advice on what they do professionally. I imagine tax accountants, lawyers, doctors are all hit up for `free advice', but what about waste disposal engineers (`should eggs get their own bag?'), supermarket baggers (`should eggs get their own bag?'), professional hooligans (`should eggs get their own bag?')... Or to be a bit racier, prostitutes, sex-phone operators?
Is this a kind of professional hazard no matter the profession, or is it found only in certain fields?
What about that old advertisement for Hanes and inspector 12, do they get friends calling them up and asking for the best way to test waist bands on underwear?

Todd's blurb on the new Guinness Book of Records holder for longest ear hair [eeww!] has got me perusing their site. What exactly was I thinking?!? Some of the stuff on their site has sent shivers down my spine. [cringe]

"Gone are the days when I can do it more then once" quoted a passerby on the way home. We are still trying to put it into context. Nope, we just can't do it with out grinning.

Cat Toy.

The pear discovered her tail today! The pear is our flatmates rather rotund gray cat. [I need to post pictures of them] So imagine of you will a rather rotund cat chasing her tail! Really cute. After a bit of chasing she got a little winded and just sat there trying to catch the now flicking tail with one of her paws. I couldn't stop giggling it was just too adorable.

Canadian Skaters get Gold!

I am glad that this is finally resolved and I am happy that the Canadian pairs team got the medal that they deserved. I am happier still because they didn't take the medal away from the Russians and that the Canadian team had suggested this course of action when they where investigating the scoring. It is good to know that there are still some decent people out there. [happy bouncy cheering continues] Way to go CANADA!!

Heather's Friday Five

1. What was the first thing you ever cooked? Omelet, I was 5 at the time and a galley cook taught me how to make an omelet. Damn fine one at that too. ;)
2. What's your signature dish? Use to Chocolate chip cookies and Cheesecake. Now it's Guinness stew. Whatever happened to my sweet tooth!
3. Ever had a cooking disaster? (tasted like crap, didn't work, etc.) Describe. A pot of chili that my flatmate and I where making. Somehow a soap-laden sponge fell into the pot. God that stuff was awful, there is nothing like soap to ruin a dish.
4. If skill and money were no object, what would make for your dream meal? Crepe suzette! Tiger shrimp in garlic anything made by Julia Child. I would fly her over here and beg her to teach me her secrets.
5. What are you doing this weekend? Homework, some more homework and a whole bunch more homework. Maybe rent a movie or two, sleep in, and snuggle with Hugin.

Day after Valentine's Day... because something about Valentine's Day annoys me.
It's a great sentiment, to remember how special the person you are with truly is; I just don't go for the commercialism that surrounds it. Not a new song I know, but it's one I keep playing.

So, I just wanted to say, Munin I love you.

And I am your post-valentine always.

Canada Won Gold!

Canada Won Gold! Canada Won Gold!
[big happy cheering] Way to go Cat!
[Unfortunately she didn't make the medal ceremonies as she and her husband where stuck in traffic]

Hope you don't mind but these lovely gents are joining us for supper.

So me being the slightly accident prone absent minded person that I am, I managed to set off the fire alarm whilst making supper. This wouldn't be so bad if it was an internal alarm where you could just knock the battery out to shut the darn thing off. No, thanks to our wonderful landlord [sarcasm here] this alarm system is connected directly to a local dispatch center. So as you can guess 5 minutes later 2 fire trucks pulled up to our place. There they are about 6-8 firemen, in their gear, masks around their necks with rather large axes in their hands and here I am, barefoot, jeans and a light sweater standing outside my front of my door. " I'm sorry lads, so nice of you to come but ... umm, yup, you see I was cooking and I didn't mean to but I accidentally triggered the alarm. Would you care to stay for dinner?" Am quiet lucky, they took it all in stride and had no other pressing matters to attend to. Though they did tease me about the whole thing and one of them 'threatened' to hose me down the next time it happened. ;)

As much as I am grateful for the fact that we do have an alarm system that will alert the fire department of our demise it irks me that our landlord has not given us the number to call in case of a false alarm. This is the second time that this has happened [sheepish grin] and it worries me to think that one day they will just not show up because they will assume it's a false alarm.

Mushiness abounds... a wee little rant and a bit of history.

In all respects I am a big sap and love any opportunity to show the ones I love that I care about them. I will occasionally shower them with chocolate, lemon meringue pie and scrawl I love you all over the place. [I know it all is rather pathetic] However, as much as I like the fundamental notion of Valentines Day I can't really say that I agree with the whole commercial aspect of it. There seems to be something superficial about the whole treat your love one to something materialistic today so you can show them that you love them. I mean don't you usually show them that you love them each and everyday. When has the need to buy big expensive gifts become a way of showing someone that you care for them? Color me silly but I thought a simple "I love you " would suffice.

For those history buffs out there here's how valentines day came into being. Its unedited, unaltered and swiped directly from the page, as I didn't have enough brainpower to paraphrase it into my own words.

"Mid February was traditionally the time of the Lupercian festival, an ode to the God of fertility and a celebration of sensual pleasure, a time to meet and court a prospective mate. In AD 496, Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagan festival. But he was clever to replace it with a similar celebration, although one deemed morally suitable. He needed a "lovers" saint to replace the pagan deity Lupercus.
The martyred Bishop Valentine was chosen as the patron saint of the new festival.
Saint Valentine had been beheaded for helping young lovers marry against the wishes of the mad emperor Claudius. Before execution, Valentine himself had fallen in love with his jailer's daughter. He signed his final note to her, "From Your Valentine", a phrase that has lasted through the centuries."
Pope Gelasius didn't get everything he wanted. The pagan festival died out, it is true, but he had further hoped people would emulate the lives of saints. Instead they latched onto the more romantic aspect of Saint Valentines religious life. While not immediately as popular as the more passionate pagan festival, eventually the concept of celebrating true love became known as Valentine's Day"

Happy Valentines Day Hugin!

Otherwise known as my "not-bad-pretty-ok-mostly half" [teasing smile]. Thank you for being the wonderful person you are.

One should really not start posting without coffee as one's thoughts tend to get all muddled up and there is no real rhyme, reason or sanity to what I am typing. This is aside from the horrid grammatical errors and speling [sic] mistake that I make when I am not fully awake. So with that in mind I am going to go and make myself a huge honking cup of java and then we shall be back to see what can be seen and blog what we thinks at a some particular moment or some such. Until then, wanted to also wish everyone a

A little something for the geek in your life on Valentines Day.

If that doesn't make' em happy try this, or maybe this or perhaps that.

Though this t-shirt is something I definitely need.

Monday Mission
[from now on I think I might just call it the Wednesday mission]

1. Have you ever been caught up in a natural disaster (flood, twisters, earthquake, etc)? Yes, though I had almost forgotten that I had. Shows you where my minds been over the last decade. Got caught in the Ice Storm.
2. Have you ever been arrested? If so, why? Niet.
3. What was the last time you were tempted (or actually did) break the law (other than speeding)? I have always wanted to be a cat burglar, sneaking into museums and the homes of the wealthy robbing them of some long forgotten piece of art and then returning it to them a couple of months later placing it in an odd in your face location. But have not yet taken up that life of crime, as it costs too much, aside from that nope not really.
4. What shareware or freeware do you use most (time to plug your favorite coder - ew, that sounds bad, doesn't it)? Umm. Ah. Favorite shareware... hmmm? I know that I have a few on here just can't recall which ones I would consider my favorites to be.
5. Do you listen to music and hear a tune and say "oh, that's 'our song?'" What is the tune and with who do you share the song? There are a bunch of songs that remind me of different people, different moments. Can't truthfully narrow it down to one song. Though "La Mer" sung by Kevin Kline and " I just saw a face" by Holly Cole are two that I share with Hugin. [[What about Fallen for You by Sheila Nichols and was in the High Fidelity soundtrack? -Hugin shaking his head]]
6. What is the worst thing you have done to your body on purpose? Nothing intentional, just occasionally will push it to its limits and occasionally when too busy I forget to eat. [["Busy" aka "Blogging" -Hugin]]
7. Have you ever felt like a "Higher Power" was trying to tell you something? What was it, and did you listen? Yes, but it is more of an intuitive thing. A gut feeling if you will where my subconscious feels as if it is screaming 'don't do that'. Occasionally I'll have portentous dreams which scare the bejeezers out of me.
BONUS: Where were you when the world stopped turning? Up here sitting on this here tree reading a book.

Gimme Gimme Gimme! NOW! Please!

Hugin downloaded the demo for this game last night. Disciples II from Strategy First is a very pretty, the graphics are awesome,looks like it will be a lot of fun to play. Me wants it now!! Me in need of new addiction. [Have recently gotten slightly bored of Heroes 3 as I am not very good at the game.]

Considering I have spent the past few months glued to my computer these results feel skewed.

Snagged from IPonEverything.

... and Canada gets the...short stick?

Though the Canadians skated what was said to be a flawless routine they walked away with the silver to Russia's stumbling Gold. We actually haven't managed to see any of the footage yet, we missed it! Aigh. Still hoping to see the reruns, but have had no such luck yet. The one thing I have seen is how the Canadian skaters have dealt with this blow, and in my eyes they have acted with great dignity. They haven't reduced themselves to name calling, to catty bitterness or to tantrum throwing. This in itself makes me proud to be Canadian and have our country represented by such fine athletes. I don't know what the inquiry will bring. I hope it brings them the gold, but if it doesn't they are still champions in my eyes.

Back to Oz.

The Ozzie lad is a heading back home tomorrow to warmth, sunshine, books, University and a glorious beach. I am so bloody envious. Perhaps you could stuff me in your luggage? I am rather small, I can fold up nicely and I promise to not make a sound!
I am going to miss you my dear friend [am fighting back tears here. It's rather a pathetic sight, my nose is a crinkling and twitching and my eyes are welling up with tears. Someone please hand me a tissue]. Hope you have a safe flight dear friend. Hopefully we will soon get the chance to fly out and play in the sun with you. Good luck on your courses, be good, play nice and if that fails play to have fun. I got to go now before I become a sobbing mess. [big hugs]

What does it mean when you are at work and can't concentrate, so you browse online until you find a concentration test and score a 93/100?

Back in a funk.

Wow that took all of two minutes I am seriously taking too many things to heart as of late. Feeling if all the injustices of the world have come crashing down again and the little things feel like iron balls dragging me down.[sigh] Hopefully this mood will dissipate by the end of the day.

My what big eyes you have?

Waferbaby has started the eye project Unfortunately we won't be able to contribute quiet yet as our collective digital camera has now made its way south with the flatmates. They are in warm sunny Mexico, enjoying the margaritas and laying on a really nice beach. [pout!!!]

Link snagged from Robyn's site.

Also if you are feeling a little bolder there is also the Waferbaby's Sex Project link nicked from AE

Was watching Inside the Actors Studio, I do enjoy the show more often than not. Gary Sinise was on and it was amusing, but the best part was during the questionnaire that is asked near the end and after a rather extended examination of his favourite curse word,

What is your favourite sound or noise?
My kids singing.

What is your least favourite sound or noise?
Barney.

There's a name I haven't heard recently... thank god.

I am a game I never excelled at:

I am Mario. I like to jump around, and would lead a fairly serene and aimless existence if it weren't for my friends always getting into trouble. I love to help out, even when it puts me at risk. I seem to make friends with people who just can't stay out of trouble. What Video Game Character Are You?

Oh the irony.

I am Kung Fu Master. I like to be in control of myself. I dislike crowds, especially crowds containing people trying to kill me. Even though I always win, I prefer to avoid fights if possible. What Video Game Character Are You?

Some one please help me put an end to this madness!

It's been grand!

Hugin picked up the Half Life CD yesterday. It's been fun love, see you in a while, write soon! [munin waves goodbye vigorously] [[Hmph! -Hugin]]

Need something to wake me up, have been in a daze for most of today. Just been wondering about the house starring glassy eyed at either the computer screen or TV.[not much on the TV, we don't get all the Olympic events and there are some things I am just not interested in watching.] Too chicken to go outside, it's cold out there. I must be part bear I could hibernate all winter long. Well sort of, someone would have to knock me out cold otherwise I think I might go insane. Oh need something to wake me up, not making much sense here. Maybe I can cajole Hugin into going out and bringing me some coffee. [batting eyelashes] Café au lait, if you will dear sir?!?

Just call me Sparky.

[[Hi Sparky! -Hugin]]
Our poor cats, as much as they love the affection we bestow upon them, having me rub their tummies seems to drive 'em batty. My hands are very dry and generally feel like parchment paper, which means that rubbing anything soft and furry will generally cause sparks to fly. The poor dears, they'll come padding up to us, rub up close and then plop down and mewl to be rubbed at which point I'll oblige them. After two minutes of vigorous rubbing a charge will generate and the sparks slowly begin to fly. The feline poised under my fingers will continue to purr until the moment when it all becomes horribly unbearable and all you can hear is a crackling as my fingers pass over their coats. It is at this point that they pounce away horrified that they have subjected themselves to this type of affection.

Keyboard dyslexic.

Going over recent posts just to make sure I had written everything properly and wouldn't you know it, it seems I had packed two long stemmed flute classes. Now how anyone can fit two whole classes into a backpack is beyond me. It must take a lot of raw sheer talent to do that. The worst of it is was I made sure to spell check my entry first. Reread it twice and by golly I was sure I wrote glasses. So much for relying on Word, [sigh] well it's fixed now, go read the post and enjoy.[or not [wry smile]]

Heathers Friday Five

1.What's the most romantic thing you've ever done for someone else? [Turns around to ask Hugin, 'have I done anything romantic for you?' Hugin points at notes strewn around computer.] Oh! Leaving small love notes in books, packed in lunches, on keyboards and occasionally on pillows for Hugin. [All to gather now, Aaaaww. Please direct yourselves to the nearest window if you are feeling queasy]. Though the most romantic thing that I went all out for was a one-year anniversary with my previous boyfriend and now best friend. I packed two long stemmed flute glasses, a bottle of Icewine, dragged him up the mountain to the place we first kissed and surprised him with the bottle.
2. [pardon the cosmo question] What are your erogenous zones? Lips, neck, lower back, and tummy... Mostly my lips and neck though, there is somthing about being carressed or kissed on my neck that makes me melt... hmm...[grabs Hugin by the scruff of the shirt... Excuse us!]
3. How old were you the first time you had sex? Care to expound? I was 19. It was with my first serious boyfriend, sadly enough the occasion itself was not that memorable.
4. What's the most unusual place you've ever had sex? There aren't many to choose from, but then what would constitute odd? Anything outside the bedroom? If that the case well them umm, how about these them here places. The coldest and oddest place would have to be in an open log lean-too in the middle of winter. All I can say was thank gawd the sleeping bags where zipper compatible. A student office in the middle of exams [shaking head ruefully] not quiet sure how my boyfriend at the time and I decided on that one and a rather cold bathroom floor.
5. Do you have plans for Valentine's Day or is it just another Thursday? No plans. None yet! Maybe in a little while.

Sexy Tools.

There is something all together disturbing about a teacher who obsesses over his tools and who calls a NC program sexy.

It's not my fault, honestly the books just looked so wonderful, sitting there all shiny and new. Their black covers gleaming in the dim bookstore light, a beacon beckoning book enthusiasts to come explore their virgin pages. I just couldn't help myself, one moment I was off in a corner exploring a stack of new books and the next moment there I was. Reaching up, grasping a box with shaking fingers, trembling all over at my new found find anxious to explore this set of black shiny cardboard bound books. The cash register must have appeared next and somehow Hugin was handing money to the nice lady at the cash and then I found myself sitting in the subway new set in hand not knowing exactly how we landed up with the extra books.

In truth the new set of covers for the Tolkien series, no not the movie ones, look better then the original set we both have.

Having been an accessory to picking up yet another boxed copy of Lord of the Rings, I have owned one for years now, I wonder how many copies of Tolkien's books have been sold since word of the making of the movies and the actual release of the movies. It would be an interesting graph. I mean obviously they have gone up, but how much? Admittedly, I like the new black cover series better than I like my older ones... But nobody needs to know that.

In other news, fish are interesting I must say. Don't know what it is about them, but it is nice having an aquarium.

Shiete!!

Late again! Got to get to class, got to get my arse of this here chair away from the computer. [runs about room stuffing odds and ends into backpack, scampers out door] Ta Ta!

Word Hooer.

I have always loved words. I enjoy the way certain words the roll of your tongue, and how others sound when strung up in sentences. I love the feel of them as you pucker up and elongate your lips to form their sounds. I have a desire to puzzle them out and figure out why certain words are used and others are not and there is something insides me that needs to know their origins and the secrets that they hide. I thrive on learning new words and slang of any kind.

Due to this insatiable thirst for knowlege I have recently been eyeing Cassell's Dictionary of Slang , a dictionary of etymology, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations and Loose Cannons, Red Herrings, and Other Lost Metaphors. Not quiet sure if some of these books would aid my already atrocious spelling but I thought they would add more color to a somewhat bland vocabulary. Unfortunately I am currently living under unfunded circumstances [am still rabidly looking for a job, but the school schedule is still interfering with that] so these books shall remain, for the moment, a touch out of reach.

Poetry at the tip of a button.

Fun little poetry generator, just enter the variables you want or use the random button, press generate and voila you are a poet!

Upon a branch
Never conceived about, never more has been spoke
Scoff not at my vile remarks mushy fiend
Immediately it rolled from the front of the jade barge.
The eccentric ravens danced like a dainty pixy, or a fragile little elf
His lover held on to his bristly eyelash, he was bored
"Appear!" bitches Ceres, the keeper of guinea pigs
The sight of the white spider before him, Hugin was resisted
He tossed and turned, his lethargic scale flapping uselessly,
Frolicking for foul fun, eccentric ravens, conquer an yam instead.

Monday Mission
[A wee bit late again, life seems to be a little hectic on Mondays and Tuesdays [lil' smile]]

1. Any songs on the radio that you just can't stand? Haven't been listening to the radio recently [due to 5gigs of mp3's] so I can't really say.
2. What color do you think looks the worst on you? Yellow um no Orange. Yup those two, they both make me look a little sickly.
3. Can you ever really trust someone 100%? YES.
4. What is one comforting thing you can always count on in life? My best friends and love. A large mug of Hot Cocoa and Teddy Bear.
5. This Sunday my pastor encouraged the congregation to go on a 30-day fast of some sort. Some are going 30 days without television, others are eating only vegetables, while others are giving up caffeine or chocolate, etc. The concept is similar to lent, where sacrifice leads to spiritual enlightenment. What one important thing you could you give up for 30 days? I would say coffee but I fear I'll turn into some unreasonable beast that stalks maddeningly about the house snuffling about for coffee beans. So I guess it would have to be chocolate if this were to be a lent type fast.
6. Imagine this: there is a fire in your parent's house. Your parents and any pets are safe. You are able to run in the house and grab something, but there is only time to carry out one box. What would be in it? A box of pictures and memorabilia that my moms has collected from when I was young.
7. Taking it a step further, let's say the fire was in your home, but it was small and contained to the living room. The fire is out and your family is helping move your belongings out of the house. Is there anything embarassing or personal in your house that you might not want a family member to discover? Umm [blush, hiding behind the tall people] well there is this here box of... umm ...pictures.

BONUS: Am I in too deep? Have I lost my mind?
Ackk!! Another one I have no idea of. Where do these all come from, can anybody tell me? :)

It's not about turning a blind-eye, that would be tantamount to living in ignorance, to living without examining, without caring. That's not the way it should be, and shouldn't be aspired to. Certainly there are many injustices in the world, and I truly doubt that they will ever be fully extinguished, as terrible a thing as that is to say. It would be better to say that one should not dwell on the problem, but realize the source, the cause, not on a grand scale, but on the individual level. Why is this individual like this? If you can find the reason you can better deal with it. With that perhaps instead of having them stop the visible signs of being injust that rankle, maybe, you can be a part of them being less injust. Not by pushing or pulling, or forcing or even coercing, but simply by being who you are, feeling as you feel, acting as you act. If I believe one thing, it is that nobody can change the mind of another, only make it easier for them to change their own.

Moulin Rouge.

If you can resist the urge to turn it off after the first 15 minutes, it is an enjoyable romp. The use of pop love songs at first really is just very jarring, but if you take it in the way the movie takes itself, it is rather enjoyable. A love story narrated in parts by love songs. Sort of like a Knight's Tale, or perhaps the way Quake the video game was underscored by NIN, or maybe perhaps a Tarantino movie underscored by country and western tunes about your dog being shot and your girl leaving and all that... maybe not...
Taken in that context, it was a good heart jerking formula love story. I don't really have anything snappy to say about it. It was what it was, and I am glad that the conflict within me between shutting it off and plunging in was won by diving in.

The shower, the tea, a talk with Hugin and a good night sleep seem to have done its trick and I am no longer feeling grumpy. Still feeling a little fragile though but at least I am not feeling as if I should be tearing heads off. I still can't pinpoint exactly why this mood has come on. I just seem to be taking all the injustices of life to heart lately. Just feeling generally malcontent with the way some people treat others, with their need to feel superior, with their need to simplify things into one worded explanations of why events occur. With their need to pigeon hole people into a set of characteristics that they feel most comfortable with and I am getting tired of the popularity contests. [Sigh]
I know I need to lighten up on some of these things, they are just part of life, but I can't seem to. Some of these things just get me so mad and I wish I could just make things right and just. I know that I am an idealist at heart, and I know that I see the world through a set of eyes that many don't. I also know that there are many sides to a story and that one person's idea of pigeon holing may be another's method of coping with the world in general. But to simplify another life down to a word, to take a stance that brings their whole existence down to a single definition is ludicrous. To call a person a complication is inane, and to me it shows an inability to view the world beyond the square box that they live in... [long sigh] I have to stop doing this, I have to stop dwelling on those that will cause harm and I have to stop worrying so much about the injustices. I need a new outlook on things, I need to not be effected by those who cause harm. Some days I wish I could just develop a heart of stone, become uncaring. [shaking head] But I can't. I just can't turn a blind eye to the dark spots in life.

I am tired, grumpy and for reasons unfathomable to me I am need of a good cry and a long maddened rant. I just want to slam the windows shut, pull the blankets over my head and tell the world in general to feck off. [sigh]
Am going to go and have a long hot shower, put on some comfy pajama pants, make a cup of tea and see if that helps lighten up my mood. As it stands now, I seriously doubt it.

As a certified geek I got to say that of the bud ads I loved the robowars commercial. To catch the rest of the Superbowl ads follow this link, just be forewarned the ifilm ad follows each and every one of em. [As an aside, Visas six degrees of separations with Kevin Bacon was a great idea.]

Seems I am on auto drive cause I can't quiet recall the steps I took to get home tonight. I know I left class got onto subway and then I was at the door with a key in my hand. Don't ask me what I did in between 'cause I really won't be able to tell you. 'Honestly officer, it wasn't me who streaked naked through the subway yelling free the felines, you must have the wrong gal!' Yup, It's all very strange when you are on autopilot.

odd addiction

Have recently developed a 'Winnie the Pooh' sock fetish and have in the past week gone on a mad buying spree of said socks. I now own at least a nine pairs. The colors of the socks don't seem to matter as long as one of the whimsical characters is present I am content. Can't explain why, they just seem to appeal to some strange desire or madness.

A game? What game?

The lack of sleep from the night before, big blankets, Hugin and a large comfy couch sucked me into to sleepyland. So needless to say I did not see much of the game. I don't think that Hugin saw much of it either, though occasionally I would hear the channel flip hmm... The flatmates where kind enough to inform me, when they got back from the pub, [satellite dish there, means they could also see the SB ads, plus 25 cent wings] that the games was pretty good and that the Patriots won the game in the last moments. Now that is something I would have loved to see, not that I have any particular affiliation to a specific team just because an action packed football game is always enjoyable to watch. Oh well maybe I'll be able to catch the news at one point and see the end of the game.

Tackle, Slide, Fumble?

Well folks its Superbowl Sunday, which in this household means... "Hey, what are we doing tonight lads?" Oh, ok we watching the game, having a bud [yech! Sorry but it will be Coca-Cola or Dew for me] eating some chips and jostling each other of the comfy couch. One thing that sucks about watching the super bowl in Canada is that we don't get to see any of the Superbowl ads. I need to find me a sight that will be broadcasting them. Anyone know of any good sites for ads? I haven't been able to find any since Adcritic went down. Well kick off is at 6:30 got to go make the munchies run... adios

Travel the world, meet new people, order coffee from them.
Sounds like a plan.

[[Munin - where to first love?]]

Snappy Movies Returns

Enemy at the Gates.
Alright, wow did this movie every make it seem like the Germans were in complete control of Stalingrad, could come and go as they wished and had supplies to waste casually shooting bodies as they drive along just in case a couple weren't dead, right... The Germans were surrounded, cut-off, and their supplies which were promised to be delivered by air... well, that didn't work very well. So the whole Russians suffering horribly and the Germans listening to music and enjoying themselves, I don't think so; nobody enjoyed themselves in that battle. Other than that, the characters were shallow, facades of real people, pantomiming emotions for the most part and doing it well in some cases, but lacking in depth to it. The only two redeeming aspects were the expression on Vassili's face as he is arriving, a very piercing gaze perfect for a sniper. The second was Ed Harris, who was for a simple character, much more three dimensional. I think I gave up all attempts at being snappy for this movie. But the count is probably a good 6 or 7, hard to tell since some snappiness endures for the whole movie while other things are the matter of a moment.

Princess Diaries.
Julie Andrews schlumping. That made the movie. Other than that, it was an annoyingly formulaic movie that didn't do anything interesting. Ugly Duckling meets royalty. Not to say it wasn't funny in parts, but truly, try and find a clip of the schlumping and you will get all the enjoyment you need. Splice it into the Weapon of Choice video and everybody has fun.

Tired, groggy and in need of coffee

Other then that went to bed at 4:00 and got up at 9:30, what the hell was I thinking?!? It's Sunday morning and instead of snuggling in bed next to Hugin under a ton o' blankets I am up and about freezing my little arse off in the computer room. Just couldn't sleep, my eyes fluttered open at 9:15, tried burying myself deeper under the blankets but no, nothing, nada, sleepy time all gone. [sigh] Must be the new addiction, am currently playing Heroes 3, ya its an old game but I needed something other then Diablo II to de-stress with. This was supposed to be a study weekend. Ha! Does sitting with an open textbook on your lap while playing on the computer count as I studying? Someone please yank my ass away from the computer got to finish the assignment this afternoon so I can have more play time later.

a little change...

Finally got around to redesigning the site. Think I like it better then the old design, a little more color and a hopefully a lot more pizzazz. The painting on the site is another of those paintings that I love [as is most of the art that Hugin or I plop on the site/sidebars]. Painted by Jack Vettriano, entitled "Where You Belong." I just love his style of painting, how he manages to capture movement and the emotions of the characters that he paints. Perhaps one day I'll get the chance to see his artwork in person. Anyone up to sponsoring me? All I need is an airline ticket to London. [hopeful smile]

Ah well... Me off to go and fill me mug with coffee and then am going to go and read the saturday comic page!

Heathers Friday Five

1. Have you ever had braces? Any other teeth trauma? I had braces for two years and a half in High school, got to have my gradation picture taken with them. They were the icky shiny metals ones that flashed in the sunlight. After that I had to wear a retainer for 3 years. Supposedly I should still wear be wearing that thing at least once a week to keep the teeth all snug and in place, but I haven't seen the damn thing in 3 years.
2. Ever broken any bones? Nope, no bones broken. I am hoping to keep it that way.
3. Ever had stitches? Recently got 4 stitches, I needed to have a mole removed and now there is a thin red scare where the spot use to sit. It was the first time that I have ever gone for surgery, god was I ever a nervous wreck. I do not like needles!
4. What are the stories behind some of your [physical] scars? I have the scar on my tummy from the surgery. I have two chicken pox scars one above my eyebrow and one on my hip. There are various nick and cuts on my fingers and hands that I have accumulated from my early and sometimes recent attempts at cutting vegetables. Finally my knees and elbows are scrapped and battered. This is due to many minutes spent sliding on gravel.
5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? I wish I could say bumming about the house doing DFA, but alas this shall not be the case this weekend. The professors have begun to lay on the work, and I being the smart-aleck that I am, have managed to get an extra assignment. [sigh] So there will be no playing of games, no watching countless hours of MacGyver episodes nor will there be any goofing about. But there will be the Superbowl, oh yes there will be that. [Not by complete choice more by design the flatmates will be watching and I plan to partake in the festivities. [hic!] ;) ]

Alms. Alms for the caffeine deprived.

Would someone be so kind as to package a mug of coffee and send it over. Can't stay awake, falling asleep, class is so...