| Wow.... |
[Aug. 7th, 2008|06:20 pm] |
I own a bike 'cuz it makes me seem cooler than I am.
This dude just jacked it up a few notches. Except for the photo depicting me in all of my (dubious) glory and splendour, I wouldn't recognize myself.....
http://catalytic.livejournal.com/302772.html?style=mine |
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| Sleep.... |
[Aug. 5th, 2008|08:19 am] |
...or the lack thereof. I got one hour last night. I think. And, 14 more hours of work ahead of me.
Damn. |
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| A conversation with the Roo.... |
[Jul. 29th, 2008|07:58 pm] |
[19:39] Nyarlathotehp: So, tell me about your mother's visit.
[19:39] Roo: Boring. She made me feel crappy the minute I saw her as usual.
[19:39] Roo: We went to Banff though. That was good
[19:40] Nyarlathotehp: That sucks. I'm sorry. Truly.
[19:40] Roo: I should have expected as such. *shrugs*
[19:41] Nyarlathotehp: It just sucks when someone spends that kind of money, dedicates that kind of effort, and expects you to devote the time, and then acts like a total dickweed.
[19:42] Roo: She doesn't see it that way though. She never does.
[19:44] Nyarlathotehp: I have to tell you, there is nothing more satisfying that knowing that I can say to my parents (I haven't yet, but the time may come) 'my house; my rules'.
[19:47] Roo: Hehehe.
[19:47] Roo: Well, if I say that, I am a terrible daughter and my mother might as well go drown herself since nobody loves her.
[19:48] Nyarlathotehp: Just tell her, after you've said 'my house; my rules', that if she's lucky, you and Mere will be choosing her nursing home, and if she continues this way not only will you and her NOT visit, but you'll phone all of her friends and family in the old country and tell them that you've put your mother in a nursing home, and you're not visiting her.
[19:50] Roo: LOL
[19:50] Roo: You amuse me to no end
[19:50] Nyarlathotehp: I know eastern europeans.
[19:51] Roo: You shouldn't. They're trouble.
[19:52] Nyarlathotehp: Oh, but I can't resist a troublesome eastern european wench. Not to marry, mind you. But, just to have around. You know. Someone to throw fits, break my shit, yell at my, cry for no reason, and bake.
I don't know why this amuses me so much, but it does.... |
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| And again, regarding Dowland.... |
[Jul. 29th, 2008|11:28 am] |
My friend Douggie, who doesn't do LJ 'cuz he's too old to remember any more passwords, wondered about how I encountered John Dowland. For those of you who don't know (and perhaps care) I have been listening to 'classical' music for the last 35 years. My favourite stuff is medieval through baroque, a select few classical and romantic composers, and 20th century classical. Don't ask me why. I just do. I'm learning more about jazz, but I still can't seem to shake my Handel kick, and I'm loving learning to play the guitar. Which is making me want to play the lute. And the oud. Fuck. I need another 200 years to do all of the stuff that I want to do.
Anywhoo, there are a whole boatload of renaissance composers who have been backshelved or ignored or simply forgotten, who sometimes get recorded by artists who have vast amounts of talent for music that no one cares about, has heard of, or understands. In my despair at the hallmark repertoire of the RCM for guitar, my teacher and I have found a 'book of lessons' by Gaspar Sanz published in 1674 that will be my study guide for the next year. And, for those of you who may have an interest, I include the following for your delectation and delight. Whatever you think of this artist, whatever you think of the merits of his attempts to record this music, I believe he deserves praise for following his heart, and attempting to resurrect popular interest in a composer whose works are currently studied and performed mostly in very seriously wanky environments by well trained, passionless voices. So there:
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| John Dowland - Lyrics |
[Jul. 29th, 2008|09:56 am] |
I am ever thankful that small things give me such delight, such as the following lyrics....
"The Lowest Trees Have Tops"
The lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall
The fly her spleen, the little spark his heat;
The slender hairs cast shadows, through but small,
And bees have stings, although they be not great;
Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs;
And love is love, in beggars and in kings.
Where waters smoothest run, there deepest are the fords,
The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move;
The firmest faith is found in fewest words,
The turtles cannot sing, and yet they love;
True hearts have ears, and eyes, no tongues to speak;
They hear, and see, and sign, and then they break
Heh. "The turtles cannot sing, and yet they love."
Heh. I like turtles. Reminds me of another turtle related ditty (which I am likely misquoting below...):
The turtle lives twixt plated decks
That practically conceal its sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
In such a fix to be so fertile.
[This reptile related interlude was brought to you by the number non sequitur and the letter i...] |
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| One thing I noticed.... |
[Jul. 29th, 2008|09:00 am] |
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...was that OID kinda looked like Shahna from "The Gamsters of Triskelion" which merely demonstrates what a complete geek I am. OTOH, I don't care. So, for the edification and delight of my acquaintances, I provide you with a photo I took of ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) labyrinthman and ophelia_is_dead on Saturday evening. This photo was, of course, taken in an parallel universe where all the good guys are now bad guys, and have beards and stuff, and the place is ruled by evil brains-in-a-vat creatures, or siamese cats, or something....
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| An advertisement... |
[Jul. 22nd, 2008|10:45 am] |
...wherein this dude is giving away all of his ex-wife's books, including a metric fuckton of self-help books and the following:
A bunch of other crappy novels. You know, the kind that are so bad that you can't hardly stand to look at the cover. Now I'm not talking trashy romance novels here. I'm talking about the kind of crap with some cheesy rose on the front that you just know is about some family where the mom gets cancer or something, and there's tons of suffering, and no one gets laid.
I R amused.... |
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| Badgerfood at QuadWar.... |
[Jul. 21st, 2008|04:08 pm] |
I will attempt one meal at Quad War. I anticipate cooking on Saturday evening. The menu is as follows:
Steak, marinated in red wine, garlic and Thai green curry paste
Vanilla-scented seared scallops and foie gras
Charred asparagus
Rosemary-onion potatoes with blue cheese-tequila sauce.
Now, this is all stuff that I've made before. Nothing special. However, in an 'outdoor' camping context, it might be a bit of a challenge. I shall be cooking this for myself, probably for the Devil Bunny, too. I ask, therefore, if there are any other interested parties in the above? Comment below. I'll cost it out depending on interest. I can, however, guaratee that on the meat-only basis that we're probably lookin' at $20/head.
So there... |
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| And, yea and verily, the Badger goeth forth! |
[Jul. 11th, 2008|03:53 pm] |
...to his first SCA camping event. Here's to avoiding offending the nubility. And to beer. And archery. And some guitar practice. And reading. And drinking.....
Cheers!
...teh Badger |
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| Baaaaaaa................... |
[Jul. 10th, 2008|03:40 pm] |
Well, what a big effin' shockeroo.....
Your result for The Attachment Style Test... The Hermit37% Anxiety Over Abandonment and 57% Avoidance Of Intimacy 
You prefer to be alone, without strong emotional ties. You know from experience that people usually leave anyway, and that it's probably best that you don't get too attached. You prefer plenty of alone time, and have learned to entertain yourself. Part of you suspects that this is more to protect others than yourself. Fictional character with whom you might identify: V (V for Vendetta), Rogue (X Men) Take The Attachment Style Test at HelloQuizzy |
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| Quad War |
[Jul. 8th, 2008|01:28 pm] |
I just read on the Quad War site that the lovely but spiny Baroness Wilma is in charge of 'childrens' activities'. I do wonder what an ADHD member of the gentry would come up with....?
1) Shiny! The sparkler toss!
2) The Bengal tiger petting zoo!
3) The manure pit!
4) The BDSM treehouse!
5) Naked badger wrestling!
6) Carnivores galore! Your child, one pound of rancid hamburger, and a bear. Vultures extra....
7) Bobbing for shards of glass!
8) Poke the drunken Viking!
9) Mock the Pelican!
...and the endless list continues. No wonder I'm starting like the SCA so well. Or maybe it's just my imagination.... |
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| On the continuous accrual of incidents, and stuff.... |
[Jul. 8th, 2008|07:42 am] |
1) My ex's father is currently dying of a brain tumour. Neither have spoken to the other much over the last 20 years. As one physician noted, people tend to die as they've lived. Me, I'm eating a bullet.
2) On the ride home Saturday evening from a birthday fete, I lost the right side float bowl from my carburetor, which was promptly run over by somebody following me. I am irritated.
3) Houseguestage continueth. Enough said.
4) Dragonslayer this weekend. Rain predicted for this weekend.
5) S'not all bad, however. Rosie got her eBadger massage on Saturday, which seemed to please her. I also cooked dinner, 'cuz I really think that I'm getting the far better end of the bargain, here. But, so long as she enjoyed herself, and feels physically better, all is good....
I was talking with one of the lawyers at Parlee last week. We were comiserating about our lives, noting that when we were both students, we had a lot less 'stuff', but a lot more time. I miss the days of working hardly at all, going to class, and then wandering out to a coffee shop to sit and read and work and write for hours, as friends came and went, and all for the price of a few cups of coffee. I crave the emptiness and simplicity that seems missing....
I hope August roadtrip re-establishes a sense of balance.... |
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| Just 'cuz.... |
[Jun. 26th, 2008|07:40 pm] |
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| Randomness... |
[Jun. 24th, 2008|12:20 pm] |
06:30 comes early.
There are days when I loathe the human race. Today is one of them. This is probably sublimated self-loathing, but what the hell. There's a lot of stupidity out there I can blame my foul mood on.
There's a restaurant across from Thackray called "Mysore Palace: Fine South Indian Cuisine" (or some such). I can't but help reading the name as 'My Sore Pale Ass'. I'm so juvenile. But, I'm also not ever going to have the Vindaloo on their lunch buffet. Ever.
I'm not taking a guitar exam on Friday; my pieces aren't quite tight enough. I lost a month of practice when I was working at Code and Parlee six days a week, 11+ hours a day in May. I'm kinda choked that I'm so candyassed that I couldn't manage to practice after (or during) a 14 hour day, but I also can't really blame myself, either. OTOH, my teacher has said s'all good, and gave me four new pieces to learn....
I bought a new tie for Steve and Jamie's wedding.
I'm probably going to go drinking tonight with my ex and her sister, and we're gonna talk about their father, with whom neither have spoken much in the last 20 years, and with whom they're attempting to reconcile now as the guy is dying of a brain tumour.
I think it might be time to pay a visit to the rifle range. Maybe next Friday. I also need to make sure that I go to archery at least once a week. I need the practice, but even more I appreciate the activity, the peace, and the fellowship. Mostly. Except when I'm feeling like the rest of humanity is composed of a bunch of pink-skinned hairless fucking apes.
That is all. |
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| I so.... |
[Jun. 19th, 2008|06:09 pm] |
...don't want to be at work. I wanna be on a patio with a cold one, watching the nubility saunter forth.
Damn. |
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| String related stuff... |
[Jun. 16th, 2008|05:27 pm] |
Years ago, I suggested to my piano teacher that I wanted to learn to play the lute. His response was: "Why would you want to do that? You'd only ever be able to play renaissance music." I currently very much regret not pursuing this earlier; I'm addicted to the guitar, and I want a lute, now, too. Preferable several: a sever-course renaissance lute, an archlute, and a therobo, just 'cuz. I also had no idea that Sting released an album of lute music and songs by John Dowland and others. And has done lute transcriptions for 'Fields of Gold' and 'Message in a Bottle'.
So much for boneheaded piano teachers who dunno fuggall about fuggall...
So, when my guitar exam is done in two weeks, I'm gonna go purchase a copy of stingy lutey goodness, and learn some Dowland on the guitar while I save up money for my lute, and get Devil Bunny to sing renaissancey stuff at SCA events, and things like that.
Yeah. That's it.
In other news, I'm feeling physically bludgeoned for some reason. This is poor. |
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| Dammit.... |
[Jun. 15th, 2008|09:37 pm] |
Someone mentioned halibut. Now, I've a craving for fish and chips.
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