We had a nice day out today. We went to both Book Offs, and I was smart and took a book to read, because I knew that Mike would be looking around the shop looooooong after I was done. So I got quite a lot of reading done today as well as finding some good manga. :D

There were huge sales going on, so I got some stuff for very cheap. One of the manga I got is the first of a two-volume series called G.I.D. by Shouji Youko. I just happened to see it while browsing the shelf for something else, and grabbed it right away. Unfortunately they didn't have the second one! D: I thought I'd just order vol. 2 off Amazon Japan, but they want $30 shipping for one book! DDDDDDDDDD:

When I put it in my cart, though, Amazon popped up a suggestion for another manga about a transgender character, called Oppai wo Totta Kareshi. I really want that, too! But argh, shipping, wtf!? I haven't ordered anything from Amazon Japan in years, but when I did before, it was not that ridiculous for shipping. Maybe $10 a book.

Anyway! Mike wanted okonomiyaki so we found a place in Torrance (which was actually right on the way from one Book Off to the next) called Gaja that is omg so, so, so good. We will definitely be going there again. I have only ever made okonomiyaki at home from a packet (mix up the batter, add some cabbage, fry), never had it in a restaurant (or properly homemade). I did not do very well at cooking it, but I'll just have to go again and practice. :D Also, their servings are huge, so we could go and just split one (which would be great price-wise, too, as it's not cheap).

It was rainy today, and I'm really glad it waited to rain until the day we had a car, rather than the days earlier this week when we were going all around town on the bus all day.

And most of all, I'm happy that Mike is gone and we have the house to ourselves again and can just relax. It was even more exhausting than having guests usually is, because while we're out to him, he refused to call us by our names and kept using the wrong pronouns. Carla has decided that it's probably just time to let the friendship die.

Crossposted from http://kanata.dreamwidth.org/150732.html. There are currently comments. You can comment either here or there (anonymously (please sign a name) or using OpenID if you don't have a DW account).

I have finally learned my lesson about tempting fate by posting reflections of the year before the year is up, because last year I was able to blithely announce that no one in my life had died, and then a few weeks later my grandfather did. This year, no surveys or memes, only lists.

Highlights of 2010:
Moving to Sydney and surviving
Two trips to Melbourne, one for business and one for pleasure
Making a lot of new friends
Dove chocolate being way too into me
Living a city life
Starting the PhD
Iron levels stable

Lowlights:
Dealing with grief and mourning
Continuing feelings of isolation, and developing depression
I now swear way too much and have an even shorter temper
Had panic attacks for the first time
Experienced My Worst Hangover Ever
Had many awkward conversations with faculty at department social events
B12 levels low

Food-wise, I...:
Fell off the bacon wagon
Converted to poached eggs
Learned to relove mashed potatoes
Got over my fear of ordering steak at restaurants, and have worked my way down from 'well done' to 'medium'
Cooked a passable stew
Practised omelettes
Mastered muffins (sort of)

Theatre-wise:
Melbourne:
Wicked
Billy Eliot

Sydney
Breast Wishes
Chicago
Wicked x2
Avenue Q
Messiah
Mamma Mia!

Sydney Theatre Company:
When the Rain Stops Falling
Poor Boy
A Streetcar Named Desire

Celebrities spotted:
Matthew Newton outside the theatre before Poor Boy
The Chaser boys frequent the same pub I do
Ray Martin signing books in Myer

Book-wise:
I read 34 total, down from last year's 36, both abysmal figures, but there are good reasons for that and I don't expect to read any more than that in 2010. Some highlights:
The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
The True Story of Butterfish – Nick Earls

2010 Resolutions:
To learn to bake cheesecake, and to cook better casseroles
To not be afraid to get help when I need it
To clean up my language
To not be bothered by tiny, inconsequential things
To bring a bit of Queensland joy to Sydney, instead of complaining all the time about it being such an unfriendly city
To write 20,000 words of my thesis AT LEAST
To knit myself a blanket
To take care of myself and attempt not to be a neurotic mess all the time
To save money in two ways: one, in a book fund towards purchasing the hideously expensive and often out-of-print texts that I need in my line of work, and two, for a mid-year trip to England, which will be mainly business but I will also save a bit of money for some pleasure.

Happy new year, friends.

Oh, how stupid of me. In Ghost Hunters, we see a bunch of little white orbs that are said to be spirits of those who died at sea nearby. I'm thinking that's a lot of suicides in the area, but then Mai touches one of the orbs and it's shimmers into a little glowing fish for a second. Why didn't I think of animals having spirits?

Animated Amelie mood theme here. Join 6hundred72 to see over 270 mood themes.

I don't do well with resolutions, but 2009 has been pretty sucky in many respects, and it would be nifty to have things to plan for and aim at in the New Year, but I'm lazy (well, unmotivated and meh, mainly) thanks to the SAD, so I thought I'd let you lot come up with some resolutions as to what hobbits should be doing in 2010.

Anything goes, pretty much, cos I can always ignore you or make rude gestures should I disagree ::grin::

Ganked from moon_chylde

( Read More... )

LOOK AT THE PUPPY!!!!!!!!

Here we are. Last day of 2009. It's been interesting. I look forward to not living in such interesting times but I know that's not going to happen anytime soon so I'd better just get used to it.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
don't think I did anything new!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept the main one, which was to actually GO to the SNP meetings and become more involved in the day to day stuff. For the coming year I plan to do more of the same, get even more involved, work my arse off for the coming election, and starrt preparing myself to put myself forward as a candidate - yes - the decision is made! I AM GOING TO DO IT!!!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Old friend just had a baby on the 21st Dec but we're not exactly close anymore

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No - not this year thankfully

5. What countries did you visit?
Italy & England

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
a place of my own, a relationship

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Nothing really stand out this year!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
probably clearing most of my debts

9. What was your biggest failure?
inability to lose weight and get fit

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes - recurring problems with leg & back

11. What was the best thing you bought?
holiday to Italy

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Alex Salmond

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Gordon Brown, David Cameron, 'Lord' Mandelson, Ian Gray, Jim Murphy

14. Where did most of your money go?
paying of debts which are now thankfully, almost clear!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
going to Rome

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
probably anything by Kings of Leon or Lady GaGa

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? slightly fatter
iii. richer or poorer? slightly richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
saved money, exercised

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
moping, spending money, eating Old Jamaica!

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home with the family

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Ashes To Ashes, Lost & Dr Who

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No - but disappointed in some

26. What was the best book you read?
hmmm, well I surprisingly really enjoyed the 2 Stephen King books I read this year - Duma Key and Lisey's Story.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
that I actually LIKE some dance music - and of course, the rediscovery of my first big music crush - Rick Springfiled whose last two albums just totally took me by surprise!! (and he still looks awesome!)

28. What did you want and get?
didn't really get anything I wanted

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
haven't seen many this year

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 41 and went out in Stirling with Angela for Chinese and drinks

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
meeting someone special

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Same as always, long skirts, anything with sequins, beads,fringes! tho due to lack of said items in the shops also a lot of A line knee length skirts from Monsoon with ummm. aye, beads, sequins, embroidery.... so really no change! I am still liking my 'hippy chic'

34. What kept you sane?
my boys - no matter how bad thimgs are there is nothing that can cheer you up better than snuggling up with a purring cat!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
these never change - David Bowie, Johnny Depp, Josh Holloway and, only new (old) addition - Rick Springfield!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
where do I start?? Anything that came out of Gordon Brown's mouth probably! and of course the whole expenses scandal,the Americans that are opposed to the healthcare reforms, anything Israel does...... I could go on and on here but I'll leave it at that .... for the moment!!!

37. Who did you miss?
Becky, Ziggy & Heidi, my grandparents

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kelly

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
only count on yourself

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
no idea

Housebroken, the Being Human convention, has been cancelled due to lack of people signing up.

The organisers have said everyone'll be refunded in early January and to call to cancel reservations with the hotel. They're hoping to book the guests at their signing events instead.

SULK.

This brought to you by the type of fan who hates the Collectormania/LFCC events and likes her conventions to be three day weekenders with talks, parties, and chatting to actors in the bar.

I was wondering if anyone's tried to draw up the layout of the house, particularly the upstairs rooms -- I know it's based on a real building, but it's still a set, and the more I get looking at screenshots the less it feels like all the walls are in the right places for the outside! I think, for example, that the bath must be in the rear corner of the house not visible from the street, since the top of the stairs turns off to the right somewhere, but I'm not sure what that then does to the corridor and the other three upstairs rooms... {scratches head, wondering why I care...}

 
 
 

I am in for the night. I had to go to Asda today, I've been putting it off due to weather and general cannae-be-arsedness but it would only be worse tomorrow. It was bad enough as it was. I clearly have not been paying attention to the news and missed the bulletin informing us that once the shops close on Hogmanay they will never ever re-open. People seem to be wandering around the store piling their trolleys high with all sorts of things, not just shortbread, black bun, and booze.

The queues at the tills were quite long as well, overlapping some of the shelves I was trying to get into, which caused some problems. Finally I got through the checkout,packed my stuff into my rucksack and escaped to the bus stop.

I'm in for the night as I really cannot face going back out there again. The streets are randomly covered in ice. Some of the pavements have been treated and some have been left. There is no pattern as to why so you have to pick your way along and hope that they've been cleared where you are going. The roads are clear so there is no reason why the council cannot now divert their grit to deal with the pavements which are deadly in places. People have fallen and hurt themselves, including a friend who broke his elbow yesterday.

I've yet to make it down to Saltcoats to see my parents but they're well aware of the travel problems so I guess I'll see them in the New Year.

It's Hogmanay tomorrow. It's also a full moon, a "Blue Moon" in fact, http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/29dec_bluemoon.htm?list1306461. That should encourage some mad behaviour. For the first time in a few years I will actually be going out to a Hogmanay celebration. Last year I spent the night alone at home and the year before that I was working behind the bar at a local venue.

Whatever people's plans are for tomorrow, I hope they have a good one.

Ah, fortunately I will not have to f-lock my earlier pr0n post. I was going to do it solely for the pics, 'cause Lord knows some people get really uptight about guro and pr0n, but the adult content setting LJ already has is even better. I never f-lock my posts if I can help it. I'd hate to hide a good rant like that. It's no fun if people not on my flist can't read it and see my thoughts, especially when I get that fired up--if I'm going to show my emotions and get angry or upset, I shouldn't hide it for multiple reasons. I always wonder how writers who work solely under f-lock get by. I know some of them are good/popular enough to get plenty of reviews regardless, but it's got to suck for those trying to build up a readership. Writing for oneself is fine and well, but to have the readers write back with their feelings and questions--solid gold.

( in which I rave about the wonderful anime that is Ghost Hunters )

I highly recommend this series, especially for people who may like ghost stories but don't like to be scared badly and don't enjoy the lasting creep factor that creepypasta might give you.

I was wondering how widespread education was in the Revolutionary era and/or the decades immediately prior to that.

To be a little more precise, how many people were actually literate and how was that spread over the different social classes? How much farther than that did the average education go? For example, who would have been able to understand Latin? Would you need to attend a special institution to get that degree of education?

On a related note, how widespread was the knowledge of different political theories? Who would have been well versed in those?

*peers at results and difference between current and future*

I think that translates as "I'd like a girlfriend"

::giggle::

I've not written here for ages. Damn only having work internet, and everyone wanting to advertise prior to Christmas. The ninnies. So, apologies for the poor writing below, I'm a bit rusty, and like my cupcakes, the words are coming out a bit lumpy when mixed together.

**************

I'm making a compilation CD - well, mp3 folder, the modern age and all that - for my youngest nephew. The older ones listen to bad donk music, whilst he is learning guitar, has grown his hair, wears waistcoats and a Crombie and likes The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Gorillaz, Coldplay and Keane (quiet now: I liked Shed bleedin' Seven at his age). I didn't have a cool older relative to get me into music beyond the charts, and it would be pretty good to do this, I reckon. I feel sorry for him not having John Peel - in a place where everyone listened to Northern House or boybands, record shopping had to be done in the bustling metropolis of Preston, and you were lucky to get the NME before the copy sold out, it was great to have cultural arbiters. Of course, there's music blogs now, which is great for me and unimaginable to my fourteen-year old self. But it's getting exposed to things, even if you hate them, that's necessary. I used to devour the music press - '80s back copies of NME were much prized - and books about new wave to see what I'd missed out on, and at the risk of sounding ancient, NME ceased to be relevant for me once they stopped reviewing HMHB and Hefner and started asking people what their favourite ringtones were, sponsored by Shockwave.

I felt quietly proud when, in countenance to my sister's 'Why did they choose this Machine to be Number 1? What a CRAP song', he replied 'It's good! It's about racism.' I remember being made to feel weird because I didn't listen to Rock FM, had records as well as CDs, worked in a record exchange that didn't have copies of Rock The Dancefloor in it. It wasn't fun, although part of me revelled in it. Rebellion could be achieved by actually loving music, instead of liking it a bit.

The trouble is, at that age I was also very rockist - I didn't know dance music I liked was out there until I was in my late teens, thinking it was all like the stuff played in the fornication sheds in the precinct carpark where my friend got 'licked out' once at 3am. All hip-hop closed my ears, as I automatically thought it would be boring 'sexy music' rather than the interesting or insightful stuff that lurked just beyond The Chart Show's R+B chart - and while I adored Elvis Costello, I didn't 'get' Prince or Springsteen until my mid-twenties. I got records from the library (took out The Bends at 13, didn't get it, but loved it two years later) or taped from the radio; it took a couple of years for me to start appreciating unusual structures and styles. Is a 14yr old Raconteurs fan going to like Mogwai? Belle and Sebastian? Majik Most? Laura Cantrell? Possibly not. I didn't 'get' The Smiths until I was at least 15 - you need to have had a good dose of teen angst not to think that Morrissey is a moaning minnie, and like reading The Catcher in The Rye, do it too late and you feel it's passed you by already. And I'd love to stick some Easy Star All-Stars on there - the Toots and the Maytals version of Let Down is bizarrely life-affirming given the source material - but what of reggae? I forget that not everyone had Madness to grow up on before dipping toes into ska, dub and bluebeat.

My tastes of late have got somewhat esoteric - my favourite band are probably still The Fall, my favourite albums are probably still The Italian Flag, Tel Aviv, Rattlesnakes, Steve McQueen etc. etc. and so on, but since I got ill a couple of years ago I've found listening to music hard and veer between midwestern indie-rock and outsider music. Plus, there's a fifteen year age gap - I want to stick in the songs that made me feel understood, allied with, a little bit bigger, but is someone born in 1995 going to appreciate 'What's on the box?/Man About The House with Paula Wilcox' or just think it's a bit crap really?

I need suggestions. And if there's anything I might have missed myself this year and need in my life, then let me know too.