The Other Valhalla [entries|archive|friends|userinfo]
Valhalla

[ website | My old LJ Account ]
[ profile | this valkyrie ]
[ archive | past adventures ]

*sigh* [Nov. 2nd, 2009|08:03 pm]
[Tags|, , , , ]
[Mood | peaceful]

Not written anything for NaNo yet... I was hoping to, especially since J called me yesterday morning to tell me our planned RPG meeting wasn't happening due to the Master's alcohol poisoning -- WTF? I was out to party as well, but carefully didn't drink much so I could play! *pouts* (The party was great, by the way, even though the DJ wasn't the best, constantly fumbling the fade-in and -outs of songs, and playing largely obscure and undanceable stuff, except if people requested something else -- which after a while everyone did, which in turn made a bitchy DJ who hacked off the songs halfway through to play ones he (but no one else, as evidenced by the empty dance floor) liked. Seriously, that's not how you do it! Also, except the zombie-masked club staff, no one was really dressed up for Halloween, leaving the single group in "blood"-spattered and ripped white T-shirts, and J and A in their "sexy witch" outfits standing out a bit.)
Anyway, writing: Somehow my writing mojo got channelled elsewhere and I wrote two (probably awful) anonymous comment ficlets for the DC Kink Meme (thanks for the inspiration, Vulgarweed, though I suspect you wanted people to do GO, not other fandoms, but anyway, thanks) instead. Yay, me? Whatever, any productivity is good productivity for me these days. ":-/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a different note: whoever invented the Spanish subjunctive needs to be shot. Seriously, I had no idea I could hate any linguistic feature that much! (Russian verb aspects are a close second, though.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Much as I rant about my roommates from time to time, they do have their advantages: in contrast to living with the parents, the atmosphere is usually relaxed. Right now, soothing seventies music (folk rock and reggae) is playing in the living room, it smells of home-cooked food, the dog is snoring on her sofa, and the light is cosy. Much better to come home to than screaming brats and a bitchy mom! ":-)
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Happy Halloween + Cinema Rec [Oct. 31st, 2009|06:04 pm]
[Tags|, ]
[Mood | cheerful]

Went with friends to see the movie version of the very popular semi-historical novel "Die Päpstin" yesterday night. It basically takes the rumours about "Pope Joan", which have been around since the 13th century, at face value, tweaks events here and there and gives them some extra action. The result is surprisingly gripping. Fairly close to the book (if not so much the historical sources), we see Johanna's life from childhood on and follow her on the stony way to papacy. The actress makes a believable cross-dresser, and the other performances are good as well. The are a few eye-rolling moments best described as Mary-Suish (which was only to be expected), and some historical (the horses don't even surprise me anymore, but... huge stone castle east of the Rhine? In the ninth century? Really?), as well as logical (not a single field anywhere? what do people eat? why can't people wash their faces but their armour shines?) inaccuracies. Overall, the depiction of the era is realistically nasty, and the half-decayed glory of Rome well-evoked. (Yes, their Vikings were appropriately horn-less as well -- to the point where some of my friends didn't get that they were supposed to be Vikings.) The film also manages to condemn religious fanaticism and the failings of the church as an institution, without being disrespectful to religion itself. I know, cinema is really fucking expensive these days, but this movie is definitely worth it! Especially if, like me, you have a thing for the earlier middle ages, and the general lack of interest in the period (by historians and movie makers alike) makes you sad. I went in with low expectations, so it was definitely a great surprise!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To everyone who celebrates it: Happy Halloween! I'm so-so about the holiday, but it's a good excuse to get all nostalgic with the black nail polish and too much eyeliner and some satanistic-looking old band shirt or other: J, A and I are going to party! Just like in the old days* when everyone was still living close by. And a good thing too: I'm in the mood for fast car rides and some really cheesy heavy metal to sing along with tonight!

* (i.e, until two years ago)
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*happy* [Oct. 28th, 2009|05:42 pm]
[Tags|, , , , , , , ]
[Mood | procrastinating]
[Music |Guano Apes ]

Skipped uni from noon on today and did some garden work instead -- some twenty wheelbarrows full of dead leaves needed clearing away. (Yes, I know there's something wrong with you when nothing fills you with more giddy elation than neglecting your expensive tertiary education for menial physical labour. I've been that way all my life and just can't help it. As I said, if I could make a living mucking out stables and doing garden work, I would.) It's been one of those beautiful last sunny October days, with blue sky, green meadows, and trees all possible shades of flaming red and yellow, when staying inside seems a crime against Nature. I normally love the grey, misty autumn days more, for their sweetly melancholy mood, but today was simply perfect. A day to breathe and feel free and stick your middle finger to a world that wants to lock you up and smother you.
It wasn't at all cold (quite the opposite, seeing as I could work with sleeves rolled up), considering we already had first frost several weeks ago), but I had tea afterwards anyway. I love my new kettle to bits! (Even though it drips a bit after pouring. ":-/) I have a hard time getting used to drinking it without milk, but I've heard it's a good deal healthier that way.

After a conversation with a friend recently, I've paid more attention to my taste in music, and have to say he was right: I tend to like songs best that are simultaneously kick-ass and sad and can be interpreted either way according to my own mood of the moment. Hm.

Talking about music: "Papillon" by The Editors is the Perdido Street Station theme song, y/y? (Not normally my type of music -- too electro and lacks guitars -- but I like that song!) Everytime it's on the radio I get creeped out by association. "X-D

And talking about books (wow, my transitions are smoooooth today): I want to try again with Dragonslayer (last year's oft-renamed project that didn't get far past 8000 words, but counts as a success by my pathetic standards) for NaNo, but... well, the uni stuff I've been procrastinating is slowly getting past "urgent" into "certain profs will shoot me on sight" territory.

I'm also still debating with myself whether to sign up for Makesmewannadie's RareLitBigBang... I want to, even though/because it's right during my MA thesis writing time. What am I planning on? Procrastinating one with the other by turns? *facepalm*
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Meme responses [Oct. 24th, 2009|06:34 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | lazy]
[Music |Amy McDonald ]

I finally finished the responses from the old 15 Questions meme from two or so weeks ago! All rejoice!

Jane Roland from Temeraire )

Dalamar Argent from Dragonlance )

Lord John Grey from Outlander )

This was a fun meme! Request more? ":-D
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The latest meme [Oct. 19th, 2009|07:13 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | braindead]

The problem with LJ: we all think we are so close, but really, we know nothing about each other. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away.
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Busybusybusy [Oct. 15th, 2009|09:14 am]
[Tags|]
[Mood | tired]

Sorry to everyone I still owe emails/replies/reviews/meme responses, but today is the first day I have the brain space to do so. RL was just insane these last few days (still is, technically, but I'm taking a break). Uni has started again (with all the usual attendant chaos, which for some reason surprises me anew every semester), German Rail is doing crap with buses again, my cough has gotten worse from standing around drenched and cold for an hour thanks to them, it turned out that my main class will be held by the prof whose lecture last year I constantly walked out of after giving my signature (because it was a 101 class and I haven't needed anyone to explain to me what a knight is and how the feudal system works since I was in elementary school, plus her tone was pretty damn condescending -- I'm not sure whether she recognises me, but at least the class is good, content-wise), it also turned out that the MA students get a mentor now, and mine is probably going to be the prof whose stuff I've been procrastinating since February (yes, some mistakes really do come back to bite you in the arse), and the friend I mentioned is miffed at me for not having that party.

Well, at least everything is fine with the other friend and her death threats. I went to see her on Monday, listened to the whole story, established that the woman didn't know her address or how she looked, only her name (but she's not in the phone book, so whatever), and it wouldn't be risky to leave the house. We went to the police, where a really nice officer took care of the matter, amusingly enough giving my friend the exact same advice I'd been giving her. (Apparently, I can rely on my common sense.) After that she contacted the guy to give him a piece of her mind. Since my job in the whole affair was to talk her down and cheer her up some, I can probably say I was halfway successful. I got her out of the "waaaah, someone out to murder me" panic, but now her only recently overcome depression is back. That asshole of a cheater and his crazy wife really scrapped her trust in humanity once more. Anyway, she hasn't heard of either of them since, her roommate's boyfriend opens the door when it rings for now, and I hope that's the end of it. *crosses fingers*

ETA: It's interesting to note one main issue in the conflict: the guy my friend was dating and his wife are Muslims. So even if their marriage doesn't work, they can't easily divorce, because she probably depends on the man financially, and maybe their families wouldn't take kindly to seeing the marriage break up, either. It is probably also why she's been giving my friend hell, not her husband -- typical of women in a strong patriarchy. If that doesn't enforce every stupid stereotype there is, I don't know what would. ":-/
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Holy shit! [Oct. 12th, 2009|09:46 am]
[Tags|]
[Mood | angry]

A fried of mine is in trouble: the guy she has been dating for the past two weeks (coffee and lunches, nothing serious happened) turned out to be married. And instead of ripping her husband a new one (which I'd approve of in this case), his wife's been terrorising my friend all night. (And she didn't even know he was married before that! Otherwise, she'd never have met with him. If there's one person who still believes in the sanctity of marriage, it's her.) I'll go see her on the next train, and then we'll go to the police together -- with an answering machine full of murder threats it's probably better to be safe than sorry!

So, my question: anyone here been in or know of a similar situation? Advice?
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Things I don't need in my life -- Part 267 [Oct. 10th, 2009|06:59 pm]
[Tags|, , ]
[Mood | bemused ]

Arranging a dildo party.

A friend of mine just called me. Apparently her new part-time job is selling stuff at the equivalent of the long-since* out-of-fashion** tupperware parties. Only with dildos.

And she wants me to have one. At my place. (This would be half as bad if I wasn't living in a roomshare with paper-thin walls. And with perpetually-dazed hippie boys, who'd probably enjoy an invasion of giggling hipster/metaller/geek/yuppie (yes, I have an eclectic taste in friends) girls about as much as the other way around.)

See, while I can vaguely understand wanting to share your hobbies with like-minded people, even if you happen to be a boring housewife with no hobbies besides the latest kitchen supplies, I think I must draw the line at masturbatory practices. Seriously, I do not want to know what size/colour/shape dildos my friends prefer, and most importantly, I don't want them to know that about me. My friends are largely the people I share hobbies with (fantasy/RPGs, movies, music, horses), or who went to school with me and sort of stuck around out of habit. I'll happily discuss sex with most of them, no problem, it's, in fact, a major topic of conversation.*** But gritty details? NO, THANKS! TMI! DO NOT WANT! It's fine as long as it's hypothetical. For example, I can appreciate venting frustration about being single, sharing the sentiment that we'd all like to fuck Johnny Depp,**** or comfort someone about the fact that her boyfriend is a bore in bed, or debate about which BDSM practices we would be interested in trying, but I do honestly not want to know what anyone rams into their vagina (or elsewhere) on a nightly basis in lucid detail.***** It took me years of my adolescence to train myself out of a sexual interest in my friends. It was hard work. Don't undo it.

And I'm not the only problem. I think they'd feel the same. Knowing them, I have exactly three friends who would enjoy that sort of party. 1) the one who came up with the idea, 2) the absolute and utter pervert who is kind of embarrassing to take somewhere public because she'll never ever shut up about the TMI, even if it's horrid details, and 3) the friend I can talk about absolutely everything with without much shame on either side, even though we are never of the same opinion on anything at all, but who is very tolerant and, while prudish to the extreme herself, tends to view other people's deviance with a sort of endearing, almost scientific curiosity I can't help but find entertaining.

All in all, I'm just not comfortable oversharing with my friends. With the exception of aforementioned three, they are just not that kind of friends. (Which I think is part of the problem: the friend whose idea that was is not part of any of my other groups of friends. She doesn't know I relate to them differently than I do to her.) And anyway, oversharing is what I have the internet for. At least people here largely understand and share my particular brands of perversion.

~~~~~~~~~

* At least as far as I know... the last one in my family happened some time in the 1990s. I don't think anyone in my age group has had the horrid idea to have one yet.

** And good riddance!

*** At least it's that way with about half my circle of friends. The other half are hopeless prudes, which is why the idea of talking to them about sex in even the vaguest allusions is somewhat mortifying. In fact, I'd rather go see the dentist for an hour.

**** I'm not a sociologist, but I strongly suspect celebrity crushes are to a large degree about the female bonding that happens over them.

***** Also, again, I even less want them to know that about me. My friend's think I'm freaky enough as it is. There is absolutely no need to confirm this and/or make it worse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

See, after that call, I imagined that dildo party actually happening, and was torn between bone-deep horror (Forget Chthulhu! There's the Eldritch Dildo to fear!) and hysteric giggling, but the writing of one LJ entry later, I can finally appreciate the absurd hilarity of it all. (Note for posterity: In the unlikely case anyone ever makes a movie about my life, I want to be played by a genderbent Rowan Atkinson.) Now I'm almost tempted to write a circular mail to my entire address list (yes, the boys too -- I encourage equal opportunity embarrassment squick suffering whenever possible) and invite them, if only to imagine their O_o and D-:> faces and get their sputtering replies. (It would have the added benefit that I could forward those replies to said friend to dissuade her from further attempts.) So, thanks, LJ. And Internet, I love you. For very special definitions of the word, you're keeping me sane.
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Interesting meme, stolen from Kindkit [Oct. 6th, 2009|09:54 pm]
[Tags|, ]
[Mood | productive]

Name a character I've written fic you know I'm fannish about, and I'll answer the following questions about him or her:

1. What would your character kill for? What would they die for?
2. What would they refuse to do under any circumstances? Why?
3. What do they dream about?
4. What’s their biggest fear?
5. What single object would they be most hard pressed to part with? Why?
6. What is their fondest memory?
7. What is their worst memory?
8. What or who was their most significant influence? Expound.
9. What do they believe makes a successful life?
10. What makes them laugh?
11. What are their religious views?
12. What is their greatest strength?
13. Do they have a fatal flaw? If so, what is it?
14. Who is the most important person in their life?
15. If they died, who would miss them most? How would they die?
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Rrrrrahgh! [Oct. 6th, 2009|06:28 pm]
[Tags|, ]
[Mood | frustrated]
[Music |Pat Benatar]

Why must my prose suck? There is all this stuff I want to write, right there in my head, a ready-made movie, and it's awesome! But whenever I try to put it into words, I fail miserably. Writing an outline? Fine, no problem, scene-by-scene, if you want. The pacing probably isn't perfect, but I get my point across and am fairly sure it's an interesting story, too. But as soon as I try actual prose? It's horrible! Clumsy and stilted in some places, overly colloquial in others. (And no, writing in German doesn't work any better. Rather the opposite, because written German is nearly always stilted.) I have no idea what to do about this. Fanfic, at least for book-based fandoms, is a little easier, because the canon author's style is usually distinctive enough to pastiche (and boy, am I ever prone to that even when I don't do it on purpose!), and in movies, you usually at least get a vague idea of the characters voices, but in original fic, it's horrible. I wish I knew what to do about it.
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Life is awesome! [Oct. 6th, 2009|11:46 am]
[Tags|, ]
[Mood | mellow]
[Music |Leaves' Eyes]

Well, as long as I repress how very much I'm still procrastinating my uni stuff, anyway. (Not thinking about that, no sir!) Everything else is definitely awesome: I have tea and music, there'll be fish and potatoes for lunch, and am actually getting some writing done. (Well, if something can ever technically get done, at my (lack of) speed. *sigh*) Also, it's finally autumn, and absolutely beautiful. I can breathe! I'm also jogging again, and it's satisfying. Also, it's cool enough that I can wear my beloved half-boots, and have gotten myself a lovely pair of new high boots* as well as that teapot+stove I was talking about a while ago from ebay. Cheaply, because, yay, ebay! But well, since it's ebay, I'm only very carefully happy about these things until they actually arrive.

* Yes, I'm one of those people who wear boots over trousers, even though they probably shouldn't. But well, I never listen to the fashion police anyway, and boots over jeans is so very practical, especially when you're in the habit of spattering everything below the knees with mud almost daily.
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Huh. [Oct. 2nd, 2009|08:15 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | discontent]

I'm feeling weirdly restless tonight. It's such a beautifully bracing evening; I want to go out and do something. For some reason, singing karaoke is high on that list. WTF, self? I'm a bad (read, ear-bleedingly horrible) singer at the best of times, and my current cold is unlikely to improve matters. So, very random urge there. Where other stuff is concerned: sadly, the only friend I'd feel like going out with (read, the only one who isn't happily paired up and therefore currently unavailable) is going to hit the Russian disco with some study colleagues, and while she asked me along, Russian techno really isn't my sort of music, not to mention that I'll stick out like a sore thumb for a) my unwillingness/inability to fit in with the general style of fake blondeness, miniskirts, and too much blue eye-shadow and b) not speaking much Russian ("Hello," "Goodbye," "Which way to the Kremlin?" and "The toilet of my hotel room is broken" are about the only phrases I can recall, and ill suited to getting laid).
I should probably write, but I can't make myself sit still for five minutes. Gah. I think I really miss my jogging routine (but I've heard you shouldn't run with a cold), and it annoys me that the hiatus will have set my training weeks back.
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Another general update -- because thinking up entry headers is hard [Oct. 2nd, 2009|03:01 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | angry]

One of my roommates is moving out... Which is sad, because he was easily the nicest of the lot, always ready to call the others on the kind of sexist and homophobic bullshit the average guy seems to spout unconsciously all the time.
I think I'd be sorrier, though, if the new roommate wasn't a really hot girl. *facepalm at self* Way to be shallow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As to the currently running debates -- the Lambda awards and the Polanski rape case -- I think there's not much point in uttering my own two cents on these matters. Not least because everyone else has said it so much better already. But also (probably because I'm still coughing my lungs up and feeling shitty, and procrastinating my uni work to a by now problematic degree), because I can't quite muster the strength for actual heartfelt outrage at the moment.

It's both just so very... unsurprising. Straight people not noticing their own privilege and whining over reverse discrimination all over the place? Must be Monday. Asshole rapist trying to evade punishment and getting support from all sides, because hey, his art is much more important than the life of the woman he traumatised? Well, art > all is not exactly a new argument, either. It's a fucking dumb argument, but it's not news.

The only somewhat eyebrow-raising (and very depressing) thing here is how many people are on Polanski's side, even though he confessed his guilt thirty years ago and there shouldn't be any doubts in a reasonably well-working mind that he belongs behind bars. What's more depressing, as someone on my f-list pointed out, is that the only reason anyone is against him at all, is the victim's age. If she'd been a grown woman, she would have gotten all the blame and no one but her would remember the incident now. We are, as a society, still far too prone to listen to rape apologists, and that's the only bottom line I get from this case.
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Two surprises in one day? My heart! [Sep. 29th, 2009|07:20 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | pleased]
[Music |Mother's Finest ]

- Got a pile of the eBay books today, and collected them personally, because the guy lived close and I could save the shipping this way. Considering they were fairly geeky books (and, let's face it, fantasy geeks are only slightly higher on the bottom end of the social acceptability hierarchy than Trekkies), I was expecting someone, well, stereotypically-geeky-looking to deliver them... (But don't worry, I got my prejudices cured.) That guy? Totally pretty! (Slim, black hair, nice cheekbones, and the most stunning blue eyes... *drools*) I kind of missed him at the meet-up place at first because of that, but since he did have a pile of books along... Well. *facepalms at self* (In retrospect, I kind of wish I had bothered dressing up a little this morning -- or at least not worn the torn and frayed jeans I pretend are punk, but that in fact only make me look poor and/or slovenly.)

- My frantic cleaning rage yesterday seems to have had an inspiring effect! When I came back from town, someone had actually cleaned the Bathroom Floor of Doom! (I don't quite dare ask which of them it was, for fear he might break down and crumple in a crying heap with the PSTD.) It's still not clean by normal people's bathroom floor standards (and seriously, why do parents teach their daughters house-cleaning stuff, but not their sons? It's the 21st century, damn it!), but I do appreciate the bravery that went into the effort.
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Adventures in Housecleaning [Sep. 28th, 2009|09:21 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | amused]
[Music |radio]

After the bitter disappointment of last night's elections, and after book-shopping-on-ebay therapy failed, I had to vent some rage today, and... Wow, I actually did something useful! (All cheer!) I cleaned my room (which didn't take long, because I never let it get too bad) and all the ground floor windows (the upstairs boys can mind their own grime), which took me several hours. That should be an indication of how dirty the fuckers were. I strongly suspect they haven't been cleaned since they were put in. (As they already have double glass, I estimate that this nebulous date was some point in the 1980s.) I got the inspiration when looking out and wondering whether that vehicle parked on the opposite side of the road really was the mail man or just some random yellow car. All I could make out were the colour and a vague car shape.

My roommates were of course filled with delight and glee, because (for everything but dishes, which happen in rotation) we have the convenient rule for dirt you didn't make yourself (if you make dirt, you clean it), like most of the, er, sedimentation that happens over time, is that it's left around until someone caves and cleans it. (That someone usually isn't me, because I'm not easily bothered by a little dust. It's what shoes are for.) Of course, if you do that, you lose. (I don't know what you lose, but you definitely lose something. Piggy points, probably. Or squalor cred.)*

But well, as I said, I needed something to vent. So I set out with heavy cleaning equipment, sleeves and jeans legs rolled up, and my CD player blasting classic heavy metal.
Roommate A: "It's a war, isn't it?"
SV: "Indeed, my friend, it is! If I don't return, tell me family I died bravely." *grimly eyes window* "Lie, if you must."

2 hours later: SV's rage is mostly vented. There are still half the windows to clean. The CD player is now playing woeful Joan Baez ballads.
Roommate A: "Let me guess, you lost?"
SV: "I prefer saying that we have entered peace negotiations... But I would have won if it hadn't been for these damn hippies!"

In the end, I cleaned all of them. Even the kitchen one that doesn't open (because someone has cleverly built the work surface in front) and has to be ascended to on a wobbly ladder from the garden, and the one that has half a hedge bursting in if you open it. I think I killed about a bazillion spiders, and made a far more obscure discovery: two of the windows were a lot cleaner than the others. Roommate A admitted to having cleaned them at some point. Which made me wonder... why not the others while you're at it? Until I realised, the clean ones were those that are easy to open and easy to reach. So, maybe his logic was that cleaning the same windows several times made up for never cleaning the others? It being the same amount of work and all?

* General Observation: Humans can make a contest of just about anything. Even about who wins at bad things. Or at not doing something. Probably because only winning stupid contests is still better than never winning anything at all. We are practical that way.
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Urgh [Sep. 26th, 2009|01:29 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | ":-( ]

I seem to have caught a cold (I'm pretty sure it's not a flu, since I'm not feverish and only my head hurts), complete with sniffles, coughing, and sore throat. Add one bastard of a mosquito to that, and you'll see why I'm sleep-deprived. And of course my blood pressure is all shot to hell. I almost did a 19th-century-lady-style faint at the supermarket cashier. So much for getting my uni stuff done.

ETA:
And so not going out tonight, either. Gah, I party so rarely; I was looking forward to that! But a) sharing my germs with a crowded dance floor = not cool, b) sweat + drafts = bad, c) blood pressure still dizzyingly low, and d) sleeping is still the best cure.
The other cure is sage tea with honey. As good as pharmaceutical medicine against the throat ache, and much cheaper, as well as better-tasting. Since tea season in general is starting again, I need to get my one of those useful tea kettles that have a little candle stove underneath so I don't have to brew every single cup anew.
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SV's home! [Sep. 23rd, 2009|01:53 pm]
[Tags|, ]
[Mood | happy]

Catching up on DW/IJ/LJ, may take a while yet, because wow, folks, you've been busy while I was gone. And I planned to be productive after my return... But not with that much procrastination fodder! (Also, holy shit RL eMail inbox.)

So, life is good! Autumn is finally here, I have epic porn (Te porn! Happiness!), and am listening to the British Forces Radio (which only has reception here when the weather is bad) -- not because they have good music (mostly they don't), but because it's good to hear some English once in a while, as opposed to only reading it.
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PSA [Sep. 13th, 2009|08:49 pm]
[Tags|, ]
[Music |Spider-pig, spider-pig... ]

Don't be surprised if you don't see me around and I don't respond to stuff the next few days. I'll be all over the place offline, visiting people and (hopefully) getting stuff done.
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Life is weird [Sep. 12th, 2009|08:09 pm]
[Tags|, , ]
[Mood | serene ]
[Music |90s special on the radio]

God, I love living out here. Not least because I have the most awesome sunset views from my room. (Hell, even our bathroom has a view! If the house wasn't so derelict and had central heating, it could pass as a hotel. On the other hand, I wouldn't be able to afford living here then.) Bonus points when the neighbour down the road finally cuts his maize field down from in front of my window.

Anyway, [Horse-Friend] and I talked on the phone for a long time this morning, among other things jokingly making plans for what we'd do if we won the lottery jackpot tonight (I hope you're all crossing your fingers for us? *g*).
Her: "If I win, I'll have this huge farm..." *describes detail*
Me: "I hope you'll have a place there for me?"
Her: "You can be my live-in muck-out girl-groom!"
It made me realise that that would be a dream job: live for bed, board, and a monthly allowance, and do work I enjoy for a boss I like. It's a sad thing farmers only ever hire illegal Polish workers for that sort of thing around these parts anymore. (Or employ their kids. I grew up that way, after all, which is probably why I like it.) I don't care that my BA means I'm vastly overqualified. I'd trade any potential career (not that those are likely for a History student, anyway) for a simple life like that. The thought that my future more likely involves living in some concrete hell of a city and working cubicle 8-5 in a drab grey business suit makes me want to scream.
Anyway, if I win, I'll get the little cottage I've mentioned before, with vast pastures and a beautiful garden. And an apple orchard. Because I? Have read Mists of Avalon once too often.

On the spur of the moment I kept the little kernels of the apple I picked outside while watching the sunset, to plant them wherever I end up living. Problem is, how long do apple seeds hold before they lose the ability to quicken? So, well, I just found myself looking for gardening comms on LJ. And behold, there are plenty! Bewilderingly, there is a comm called "Goth gardening." (How the hell do you do that? Plant only black flowers? Weed out the beds at night? Think depressed thoughts while you water the rows and watch the little saplings grow happily? Plant vegetables in graveyards? Fertilise with the ashes of dead loved ones?) It's even more popular than "Gay Gardening" (which also raises the question, How is this different from other gardening?) and, amazingly, than the comm for pot-growing tips.
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It was ridiculous when they did it October... [Sep. 12th, 2009|01:41 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | bewildered]

...but this year it's not even mid-September and the local supermarket already has a Christmas foods aisle. WTF?
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Really, brain? [Sep. 7th, 2009|11:53 am]
[Tags|, , , ]

I often dream bizarre stuff, and I often dream fannish stuff, and occasionally, both things mix, but usually it's vague, fragmented and I don't remember much. But last night I dreamed I was on vacation with Lord John(1), of all people, who collected me from home in a flashy convertible and one of those oversized US caravans, whereupon we headed for the beach and (after being locked in a supermarket all night(2)) spent all day ogling surfer boys together. (And let me tell you, that's an odd experience with someone dressed in an 18th century British officer's uniform.) I've realised that as far as platonic co-habiting goes, you couldn't do much better than Lord John. (In fact, the list of "characters I'd move in with" is scarily short -- though still longer than my list of real people. ":-/) I hope we see some more of him in the new book than we did recently. (I fear I may well be the only person with an emotional kink for John/Jamie/Claire scenes, and that makes me sad, because this way no one pesters Gabaldon into writing them.)

(1) I've been rereading Outlander in preparation for the new book coming out this month, and also gushed about the books to Hyel, so that may be it.

(2) I suspect that was because I forgot to shop before the weekend and therefore had neither bottled water, nor toilet paper, and -- worst of all -- no chocolate for all of yesterday, so sleep sent me shopping.)


~~~~~~~~~~

In other news, I've started reading China Miéville's Perdido Street Station (thanks to Vulgarweed, who recced it a while ago, and Dingsi, who provided a link for free downloading). Let me just say, HOLY FUCK, NIGHTMARE FUEL!!! The overall feel is what you'd expect from a steampunk fantasy novel: a mixture of Victorian London and dystopian sci-fi, complete with alien races. But at the same time, it's something very different, and I'm not yet sure whether I love or hate it. I've put off continuing reading to such a degree that I even made some progress with my original stuff (you could almost call it self-defence O_o), but the idea of putting it away for good doesn't seem possible, either.
Detailed review definitely forthcoming when I'm done.
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Mmmm, cozy! [Sep. 3rd, 2009|07:34 pm]
[Tags|, ]
[Mood | happy]
[Music |The Scorpions ]

According to the windy, cool (YAY!) weather outside, it's almost time for this autumn's first tea. (I find tea in warm weather somewhat repulsive.) I think I'll have the annual little ceremony on Sunday. Right now I'm happily wrapped in my bed (I don't care what time it is -- no one sees me!), with my beloved shiny blue satin bedclothes on the duvet and my fluffy zebra bedspread under me, freshly showered (note to self: don't shave in the semi-dark -- the bathroom is disgusting enough without puddles of blood all over the place), have my favourite PJs on, my laptop along (which didn't work on the bed in the old place, so yay) and a bar of almond chocolate by my side, and can watch the low sun paint the storm-tossed tree in front of my window golden from under the dramatically towering clouds.

My life is waaaay too good, people.

(Well, except for how it'll be awful this time next year and the small matter that I currently can't seem to get any writing done. *sigh*)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And I think the final word on SurveyFail'09 should be this. Let's end this one on laughter, not tears, shall we?
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Urgh. [Sep. 2nd, 2009|05:30 pm]
[Tags|, , ]
[Mood | discontent]

Since I can't muster the motivation to start on my uni stuff, anyway, I thought I could at least spend today writing, but it's 5:30 pm now, and I haven't written a single line. The internet truly is the world's greatest time wasting device. *sigh* Now I'm angry at myself and it gives me a headache.

I also wanted to start a new foreign language next semester, but uni doesn't offer Swedish, which I originally wanted. *sadface* I applied for a place in Beginner's Arabic instead, but since I already had a lot of trouble with Russian, I don't think it'll work out too well. I suspect I only learn languages easily when they're close to my own on the family tree. And I would have stood a much better chance to actually use Swedish (as opposed to learning it too feed my personal curiosity), since Scandinavia is the perfect vacation spot for me, whereas the Arabian-speaking world is far too warm.
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General update [Sep. 2nd, 2009|10:06 am]
[Tags|, ]
[Mood | cheerful]
[Music |Gossip ]

I think I'm getting the hang of this whole jogging thing. It was almost easy today! I suspect the main issue was that I was running too fast before, with too long strides and therefore constantly out of breath. (I'm more of a sprinter than an endurance person, always have been.) I made an effort to go slowly today, and voilà! But it also helped that the weather has cooled down a bit and I bought a new bra. Bras are love!

Other than that, things are not all that great: I'm still procrastinating my assignments and without a proper deadline there's no end in sight, I'm having a major spell of future!angst, and several of my friends have relationship trouble -- which for some reason they all tell me about. Of course, it's flattering to be the confidante, but I sadly doubt I'm the right person to offer useful advice, my first and last "real" relationship having ended when I was barely fourteen and all. I hate being unable to actually help, but maybe just being there to listen is better than nothing? *sigh* Well, at least it makes me feel less frustrated about being single when everyone else is paired up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In fandom news, SurveyFail'09 continues merrily. Several of the aca-fans have written formal letters to the researchers' university, complaining about their shoddy methods (like biased questions, or altering the survey in mid-research -- WTF?) and IP-logging without consent. *rubs hands* I can't wait to see the epic smack-down! I hope someone remembers to inform their publisher as well, so their overpriced piece-of-crap book deal goes down the drain.

And because fandom wouldn't be fandom without obeying Rule 34, someone wrote ResearcherGuys RPS! Awesome. Let them get a taste of what fandom does best: porn. Hopefully the lovingly detailed description of them getting it on with each other will squick them out enough to run for the hills and never look back. Leave us in peace, damnit!


ETA: As of tonight, 9 pm, the shitstorm seems to be coming down! *glee* Boston University denies affiliation with these guys or their 'research' project, they do not have scientific funding or acknowledgement from anywhere else, either (which explains why they thought they could get away with shoddy research methods and patronising behaviour -- fandom is a bunch of pervy thirteen-year-old girls after all *snort*), and lead idiot Ogi Ogas locked his personal journal down after it got swamped with several pages worth of macros and biting commentary in response to his letting his ass hang out with derogatory terminology. Good luck with ever rebuilding yourself a scientific reputation -- not!
Which shows again: Don't fuck with fandom, for fandom will fuck back! And we will use our biggest, shiniest strap-on and no lube whatsoever.
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Important Fannish PSA [Aug. 31st, 2009|03:15 pm]
[Tags|]
[Mood | angry]
[Music |Die Toten Hosen]

You have possibly seen the fandom survey that is currently going round, huge advertising in various comms and all. DON'T TAKE IT. The people conducting it are not only outsiders to fandom, aiming to dissect us and our sexuality for their own advancement, but, what is worse, are also doing this in the name of evolutionary psychology, aka the popular pseudoscience that reinforces sex- and gender stereotypes by declaring all differences natural in the best nineteenth-century manner, and insisting that men and women are somehow fundamentally and unbridgably different, denying any influence of culture on personality. A view which I venture to say fandom as a largely queer space doesn't support or approve of.

Go here for further info!
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