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Can't Erase The Stupid Things [06 Oct 2009|08:08pm] [ music | Here We Are - Breaking Benjamin ] You know when you decide to do some investigating to put your mind at rest and you realize that you've just uncovered what may be a great big steaming pile of shite and you and your compadres are now probably in it up to your boots? Yeah. On the positive side, it's been great having House and Fringe back. My TV schedule is looking pretty darned sweet right now. Really ought to go to bed now as I'm knackered. Having had a really nifty dream the night before, I was hoping for more of the same last night and what did I get? Alligators, blood 'n' guts and work colleagues of whom I am not at all fond. Nightmare! But soon (well, in a couple of weeks), I can have some decent rest as I have now booked all bar one day of my considerable remaining annual leave over October, November and December. Only this time I am planning to do (reasonably) Productive Things with it instead of just hibernating. Oh, yes! 1 comment|post comment

All The Things... [05 Oct 2009|01:30pm] [ music | Life Starts Now - Three Days Grace ] ... I got up to over the weekend. ( Read more... ) 7 comments|post comment

drunken confersation [02 Oct 2009|07:45pm] ME: Hands up anyone who's a pervert! H: Yay! Me: Oooo. Hands up what? H: Oh, that's genius¬! Heehee. 1 comment|post comment

Count Your Blessings [01 Oct 2009|07:23pm] [ music | Warning - Incubus ] Purchased: one adult (ha!) standard entry for Collectormania London Saturday 28 Nov, one adult standard entry for Collectormania London Sunday 29 Nov, one Anthony Michael Hall photoshoot, one George Takei photoshoot and one John Barrowman photoshoot, to go with my previously-ordered Misha Collins photoshoot and Supernatural talk. That's a record number of photoshoots for a signing event for me. And they haven't stopped announcing guests yet! I really do hope there aren't too many more I end up wanting to meet. Helen, petal, thanks for the offer of kippage space, but when photoshoots are involved I use a ridiculous amount of kit (make-up, toiletries, clothing, you name it), and I can't be arsed to lug a full-sized suitcase around London. Very kind of you to offer, though! In other news: the Reporting & Development dept is now expected to log all activities on a database so that we can justify what we do with our day. Which is fair enough as we're pretty much the only dept which isn't monitored with KPIs and whatnot. I have to say that if one must do that kind of thing, the database one of my colleagues has created for the purpose is really rather clever and one of the best ways I can think of to get it done, having done similar and far more labour-intensive activity-logging in the past. Nifty! 5 comments|post comment

Where To Start [30 Sep 2009|07:26pm] [ music | Fall To Pieces - Avril Lavigne ] Today's ramblings. ( Read more... ) 7 comments|post comment

Welcome To Your Vice [28 Sep 2009|08:23am] [ music | Russian Roulette - 10 Years ] Last night I dreamt I was pregnant again. ( Read more... ) 2 comments|post comment

A Long Time [25 Sep 2009|08:26am] [ music | We Used To Be Friends - The Dandy Warhols ] The annoying thing about having a yen for US/Canadian acts is that they are not so readily available to buy in downloadable form as the UK stuff. Three Days Grace's latest album Life Starts Now is just out; Amazon.com has it in MP3 format, but not for buyers outside the US and Canada. Amazon.co.uk's MP3 collection is woefully inadequate for my needs in general, although I hope that this will improve. And it's not in the UK iTunes store yet. So if I want something like this now (and you know what a bugger I am for instant gratification), I have to order it as a CD (not ideal as it takes up more storage space) or sit there for months wondering when it'll be available online. So I've ordered TDG's album and the latest Breaking Benjamin (Dear Agony), although my heart sank to see that my order would be coming from Amazon EU SARL, which is the slowest Amazon store of the lot. And the irony is: BB's album isn't out until Monday but will be dispatched immediately. TDG's is out now and when am I likely to get it? Between 12 and 26 October. AUGH!! Instant gratification, my arse! 1 comment|post comment

Amnesia Lane Alert [24 Sep 2009|09:04am] [ music | Crash And Burn - Bif Naked ] The actor Stephen Collins is signed up for Collectormania MK next year. I remember him best from Tales Of The Gold Monkey waaaaaaaaay back in 1982. I've done this a few times before without success, but decided to check again on Amazon for the DVD and holy crap, it's coming out on 26 October. I think I might get it. I don't remember much of the show now (bar a couple of scenes which will stay with me for the rest of my life because they freaked me out a bit at the time), but I know I used to love it (if I recall correctly, it paid shameless homage to Raiders Of The Lost Ark at times which is no bad thing), and Dad says he used to enjoy it too, so I think it's worth taking a risk. Speaking of TV shows, I couldn't resist checking out the S4 premiere of Heroes and I'm afraid to say that while it had its moments, I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone on it. No, not even Nathan. (Although HRG is still cool.) Such a shame. I'll probably watch it for a while when it starts airing on Aunty Beeb or wherever it ends up in January, but the days of slavering over each new ep are long gone. HIMYM S4, on the other hand, was right on form. Yay! In other news, I am looking forward to a weekend of geekery with Callie Helen while H goes to Harrogate for those national band finals. Huzzah! 5 comments|post comment

All I Know To Do [23 Sep 2009|10:41am] [ music | Proud Of You - 10 Years ] I was reading in the paper yesterday that some kids these days are being failed so badly by certain areas of the education system (never mind those parents who don't take the time to help them to learn the basics of reading and whatnot at home) that you've got seven-year-olds with the reading age of a child half their age and more than ever seem to be illiterate when they really shouldn't be (there was an anecdote concerning a head of school who was rejoicing that he'd found an exam paper that year which did not require his pupils to read a book, so they'd have a shot of passing. Bloody hell). And primary education was under particular scrutiny, because if those critical first stages are missed, that poor pupil is struggling to catch up forever unless they can get additional tutoring, and let's face it, the vast majority of learning habits are taken on by age seven, so it just gets harder after that. (If there weren't enough bloody things to learn at school without being at the disadvantage of not being at the right level to start with.) It depressed me so much I was actually tempted to retrain as a teacher and teach primary school in poorly performing areas so I could head that kind of shit off at the pass. (Yes, me, who doesn't even like children.) Of course, I would be the most patronizing, control-freakish teacher ever (and frustrated as hell if I weren't able to teach "sensible" methods which actually, you know, seem to work, like old-fashioned phonics and spelling and times tables and pointing out errors with RED PEN *gasp*), but still. Of course, that was more depressing, so I recycled the paper and looked at vampires instead. Very pointless. But I thought I'd just let you know that sometimes I do think about other things than TV and food and Wine and sloth and geekery. Even if my thoughts are not all that well constructed on the matter... Edit: Of course, I'm not lumping all schools in this, and the media do like to paint the worst picture so, as Caz points out, it's not all doom and gloom. I sincerely hope these examples are a very small minority. It just frustrates me to think that some (many?) kids are not getting a chance, through no fault of their own. 4 comments|post comment

We Can Be Like They Are [22 Sep 2009|08:50am] [ music | Don't Fear The Reaper - Heaven 17 ] I know, it's probably sacrilege to prefer this version to that of Blue Oyster Cult, but this version is the one which was playing in True Blood ep 1.04 "Escape From Dragon House", and I love it. So there. As for the books... yes, I'm obsessed. And very shippy. ( In which I ramble aimlessly about the books and the show for a while ) To sum up, WHEN CAN IT BE SPRING AGAIN? New book! New eps! (And my favourite season, let's not forget. Stupid autumn and winter, getting in the way. Thank goodness the "fall" schedules are starting - they'll keep me occupied in the meantime.) 6 comments|post comment

In Der Küche [20 Sep 2009|05:28pm] Heute habe ich Currywurst und Spätzle für Ver List bereitet. Es ist gut, daß ich deutsch lesen kann, denn die Vorschrift war nicht auf englisch. Unser Abendessen war lecker. Ich habe natürlich auch etwas Wein getrunken (er war eiskalt - fantastisch). *HÄKCHEN* (zweimal) Ich bin sonst wirklich faul gewesen. 13 comments|post comment

Munchies [19 Sep 2009|05:54pm] Have now read all the available Sookie Stackhouse novels and am like a junkie in need of a fix. Roll on May 2010 (and the next paperback). Pan-fried abalone. Not bad, but nothing to write home about. Better than oysters and mussels, fer shure, but not a patch on scallops. *TICK* Now, the catfish. Grilled kebabs, an evil white wine and butter sauce with onions and mushrooms, plus Mediterranean vegetables and rice... DELISH. *TICK* (Und morgen, currywurst und spätzle!) In other news, my alcohol diary is going to record that I drank an entire bottle of cava tonight. Whoops! I am a total alky. post comment

Yeah [18 Sep 2009|01:52pm] [ music | Inside The Fire - Disturbed ] My hand and arm appear to have recovered from the painting last Saturday. I'm getting a very faint twinge from time to time, but it's nothing compared to how it felt earlier in the week, so that is good. I read Book 4 of the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) novels last night (having read the blurb first thing in the morning and become so excited I could think of little else all day) and it was even better than I could have imagined, so that is good. Book 4 was so awesome I read Book 5 as well, which was also thoroughly enjoyable. So that is good. This weekend we have very little planned, so I am going to read all the rest of the books I have so I don't have to sit there on tenterhooks wondering what I'm missing. So that is good. The Pilates sesh I did on Wed which mashed my coccyx and appeared to do little else has finally made itself felt in my abs and obliques. So that is good. My weight is behaving, so that is good. I can have Wine tonight and lie in for as long as I like tomorrow, so that is good. Actually, that all sounds pretty damned great. 4 comments|post comment

In Other News... [16 Sep 2009|07:08pm] ... I have just tried umeboshi and it is disgusting. Achhh, so salty! H agrees with my assessment. Going through Ver List is fraught with hazards, it would seem. *TICK* 5 comments|post comment

[Public Service Announcement] [16 Sep 2009|01:13pm] I've just discovered that JG Hertzler and Robert O'Reilly (Martok and Gowron respectively from Star Trek TNG/DS9) will be attending Collectormania 16 in Milton Keynes at the end of May and they will be doing photoshoots in full Klingon makeup and costume. Possibly cosplay-style costumes rather than the real thing, but who cares? They are my two favourite Klingons ever (yes, even over Worf, although only just). OMG I AM SO GOING. post comment

If My Faith Gives Way [15 Sep 2009|08:10pm] [ music | Kerosene - Mad At Gravity ] Had three deliveries today, including my catfish, abalone, currywurst mix and spätzle. Not that I have eaten any of it as I had to go to the doc's for a prescription and H made me something else for supper. My BP is creeping up again: 136/92. The doc (not my usual one) had a nice long chat with me and asked me to do a blood test for cholesterol. I can tell him right now that it will probably be revolting, although I have resolved to give up Brie (and similar cheese like Camembert) until Christmas, because I'm pretty sure it is the main cause of all my problems (yes, even above Wine). My weight goes crazy when I eat it, partially because of lactose intolerance, but possibly also due to water retention. I notice that on those rare weeks when I don't have it, my weight is good, even if I'm eating a fair bit. I'd reached a new Best Weight for this year so far on Saturday, but on Sunday I had Brie (and other things, but mostly Brie) and put on 6lb, just like that. I threw away the remainder this morning as I didn't even enjoy eating it all that much - I was just eating for the sake of it, and that's wrong. I'm starting the food and alcohol diaries again (the former petered out mid-August and the latter hasn't been maintained for a year). I've also bought a recommended Pilates DVD and will start doing that as much as, er, possible, with Tae-Bo added once my wrist is 100%. The test isn't until late October, so I've got a bit of time if I only BEHAVE. And that's the hard part, isn't it? I am a fat, lazy git who eats too much and doesn't exercise enough (even the daily walks fell by the wayside when it started to rain over the summer). I know the problem; it's implementing the solution that's so damned hard. Doesn't help that my evenings at home seem to fly by. This wrist support I bought has been doing a sterling job, BTW. I've taken it off for the rest of the night, but there are only slight twinges in my arm and hand now. I have decided to read the rest of the True Blood novels (ha! Didn't last long, did I?). If Book 2 is anything to go by, things are turning out a fair bit different in the TV eps anyway. It's fascinating seeing things which were so fleshed out in the season being almost a footnote in the books, and vice versa. 6 comments|post comment

Can I Have A Peek [13 Sep 2009|11:52am] [ music | Caught In The Moment - Edgewater ] Around 11pm last night, the effects of wielding a paint brush for several hours caught up with me and my right hand began to hurt like buggery. I'd tried to use alternate hands where possible, but I am a righty and need that control when dealing with the fiddly bits, so that side took the brunt. The pain was even extending up my arm. Took Nurofen and went to bed. A couple of hours I woke up and it was even worse, so I found some Nurofen 400 and took that, got some plastic ice cubes out of the freezer and lay in bed with those in my palm to numb the pain until the drugs kicked in. After that I slept reasonably well but was wide awake at 8.30am. So much for lying in until 4pm! Took advantage by getting dressed and going to Bracknell while it was still lovely and quiet. When I got to The Point, there was some kind of congregation of American cars (classic and muscle), which was interesting - and mostly gone when I got back an hour later, so the early bird definitely got the worm there. (No '67 Chevy Impalas, sorry.) Went to Waterstones and snapped up all bar one of the Charlaine Harris True Blood novels as they were on a threefer (thanks for the tip, Callie Helen!). Of course, I don't dare read beyond book 2 in case I spoil myself. In fact, I probably shouldn't even read book 2 until after the S2 finale (which I'll get to see tomorrow. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH). My hand is still too sore for me to do much (even typing hurts), so I am going to flop out and watch TV until my eyeballs melt. Nice. 2 comments|post comment

I'll Tell You Something [12 Sep 2009|06:24pm] [ music | Temptation Waits - Garbage ] H has gone to play with the band in London for Malta Day and is going from there to Whitstable to see his mum. He'll be back on Monday. He had to get up at 6.45, bless him, so no lie-in for me today. I really did not want to get up and paint the five fence panels adjoining our neighbour's garden today. But I knew that if I didn't, I'd be even less inclined to do it tomorrow, and the weather was so good I had no excuse. So I psyched myself up, got Teh Music on, prepped and masked off the concrete bits... and nearly came a cropper because I couldn't get the lid off the wretched paint. That was a bit surreal. But I managed it eventually, and I painted all five panels and it took me four-and-a-half hours (including prep and tidying up afterwards) and I feel Really Darned Proud of myself. I've even lost a brand new pound for this year over the course of today! (Which I shall now put back on again with the amount of Wine I am about to drink, but still.) And tomorrow, if I want to lie in until 4pm, I think I'll have earned it. ;) 1 comment|post comment

Card Sharpy [11 Sep 2009|09:11pm] Ordered tonight for Ver List: Abalone Catfish kebabs Umeboshi (As well as some other items including sake, breaded prawns, scampi and shark steaks. Shark is not on Ver List, strangely enough, but I've always wanted to try it.) In other news - YAY for returning Supernatural! It ticked all the boxes most satisfactorily. *g* 3 comments|post comment

Another Update For Ver List [10 Sep 2009|07:01pm] [ music | Wide Awake - 32 Leaves ] I have just tried a dirty gin martini. It's REVOLTING. Ugh! *TICK* In other news, I have found a German Deli in London which does online ordering. Next Tuesday I shall be in possession of currywurst mix (I can get bockwurst for it at Tesco) and a bag of spätzle (or spaetzle, as it's written on Ver List). Ausgezeichnet! Still haven't ordered the whole insects from that other website I found, though... 8 comments|post comment

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