| *happy* |
[Oct. 28th, 2009|05:42 pm] |
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* |
|
|
| Life is weird |
[Sep. 12th, 2009|08:09 pm] |
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. |
|
|
procrastinating