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December 16, 2004

there she goes


Aside from getting an undeserved mark on my essay, my week is going swell. Today was the last day of classes (for me, at least) and I am now officially (and happily) on holiday.

Woo!

The end of the month brings more studying and preparing for exams, but I have good intentions of studying throughout the holiday to prepare myself so that I'm not cramming at the last minute like I always do.

Another on the list of goals for the holiday is to read the books I just bought yesterday (and at a bargain too! One was 10p and the other 25p!), and to try to learn to write with my right hand. We shall see how that goes. I did try writing with my right today during lecture, but it turned out like a child's scrawl and was ugly, and now my wrist hurts. Practice practice!

Another on my list of things to do over the holidays is to get to the keyboard again. I miss playing and the relaxation that comes with it. I've decided to ask Santa Claus for a keyboard for the flat, but really the TV is the first on my agenda. Mr Claus...I don't care which one you bring really. Either is fine.

So, I'm off for holiday (woo!) and I feel a heck of a lot better than I did a few weeks ago...as I suspected. So, being in better spirits, I think I will prolly join my friends tonight to celebrate Rue's b-day, even though I won't be drinking, it should be good fun.

Have a lovely holiday everyone!

x

Posted by calima at 04:00 PM | Comments (2)

December 14, 2004

duckies


I could do without today...weatherwise that is.

The rain is coming down in sheets, as the wind is swirling and laughing and pulling everyone's umbrellas away. I saw an umbrella take flight today. It must have been quite happy to have escaped its owner's grip and flapped away merrily, over the bus and down the street, while its owner looked on, dumbfounded.

I received a parcel this morning from Mom, which pushed me to the Land of Teardom. My original plan was to open the parcel, look at everything, put it all back and then get ready for classes today.

That didn't happen.

I pulled the first treasure out of the box and squealed 'Cheetos!', but then, each following item I revealed pushed me closer and closer to tears, until finally, there I sat, on the floor of my living room, holding my Christmas present in my hands and sobbing my poor heart out.

Inevitably, all of those thoughts came rushing to me. The guilty thoughts. The 'How could I do this to her?' thoughts. What was I doing? Why did I come here? Why couldn't I just be content in the US?

There are a few of you who have emailed me asking for advice on moving to Glasgow, and while it's great fun to move and exciting, this is the drawback that I have to warn you about. Christmastime without your family is depressing.

So, I didn't make it to my classes today becuase I just couldn't stop crying. With each revealing of a new item in the box, my sobs worsened until I finally gave up retrieving the treasures from the box and just whined to nobody and Miles.

Mom sent over gifts, which are wrapped, but becuase of customs service, there's a list of everything on the customs slip, so I know what I'm getting even though I haven't unwrapped them yet.

Thank you, Customs.

I also received (finally), my invitation to Luminati's and Rhymm's wedding, along with some pictures and gifts. I love what Luminati gave me...it's soooo right up my alley. I won't say what it is, just in case she's sending it to anyone who might maybe read this...I don't wnt to spoil any potential Christmas surprises.

Also, in her infinite sweetness, she sent along a toy for Miles, who enjoyed it immensely.

Mom sent along the gifts, and then stacks and stacks (and stacks) of Christmas cookies, which made my day, as they have every year. There are so many, I have no idea how I'll manage to eat them all, and have considered having a cookies and milk party and inviting everyone over.

At any rate, about 2 hours later, I finally managed to drag my guilty self to the shower and got ready to come to Uni, whereupon my mother pounced on MSN and proceeded to make me cry again. This time I'm wearing makeup, and it's just not funny.

Thank you for the gifts, Mom and Luminati. Also, Lumi, I've got the pictures you sent posted on my photo door (just a door where I tack up pics and cool postcards).

Definately got those tear ducts cleared out, which it appears they were needing.

Happy Christmas

x

Posted by calima at 02:33 PM | Comments (3)

December 13, 2004

scrumpy


I could do without today. I really dislike people trying to jerk me around...it pisses me off to no end.

I got to talk to Coney last night, and she received The Birthday Book for her birthday. She was excited because she's wanted this book for quite a while.

She read to me my personality traits based on my birthday and it fit me almost perfectly. To my dismay, however, it said that I can be, at times, naive.

This I know.

Each year I pick out something about my personality that I want to fix, whether it be jealousy, or snarkyness or whatever. This year, I was working on my naivite, which as I've pointed out before, seems to make people believe they can walk all over me.

I'm not sure what is with ~today~, but all this walking all over me always seems to culminate and coagulate (I really like that word) all on one day.

Having already decided not to accept this trampling of my feelings any longer, I have put on my boxing gloves.

I am the black cat. Do not cross my path.

The thing is, and I think I've mentioned this before, is that I hate being like this. I hate being bitchy and rude and ruthless. I like being the nice girl that will lend you £.50 to get the chocolate muffin at the coffee shop. I like walking off the bus with a goofy smile on my face.

But it's all going away now. And if you want to thank anyone for the change, you can thank the people who have been doing the walking on me.

Thank you, walking-people: for shaping me into the person I am today.

Now get to fuck.

Posted by calima at 02:41 PM | Comments (1)

December 09, 2004

Movie thing


Bold are the ones I've seen, italicized are the ones I've partially seen.

See my list...continue...

  1. The Godfather (1972)
  2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
  4. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
  5. Seven Samurai (1954)
  6. Schindler's List (1993)
  7. Casablanca (1942)
  8. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  9. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  10. Star Wars (1977)
  11. Citizen Kane (1941)
  12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
  13. Pulp Fiction (1994)
  14. Rear Window (1954)
  15. 15 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  16. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
  17. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  18. The Usual Suspects (1995)
  19. Memento (2000)
  20. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
  21. 12 Angry Men (1957)
  22. North by Northwest (1959)
  23. Cidade de Deus (2002)
  24. Psycho (1960)
  25. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  26. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
  27. Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
  28. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  29. Goodfellas (1990)
  30. Once Upon a Time, In the West(1968)
  31. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
  32. American Beauty (1999)
  33. Vertigo (1958)
  34. The Matrix (1999)
  35. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
  36. Apocalypse Now (1979)
  37. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
  38. The Pianist (2002)
  39. The Third Man (1949)
  40. Paths of Glory (1957)
  41. Fight Club (1999)
  42. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
  43. Taxi Driver (1976)
  44. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
  45. Some Like It Hot (1959)
  46. Das Boot (1981)
  47. Double Indemnity (1944)
  48. Chinatown (1974)
  49. M (1931)
  50. L.A. Confidential (1997)
  51. Se7en (1995)
  52. All About Eve (1950)
  53. Rashômon (1950)
  54. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
  55. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
  56. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
  57. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
  58. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
  59. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  60. Raging Bull (1980)
  61. Alien (1979)
  62. American History X (1998)
  63. Léon (1994)
  64. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
  65. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  66. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
  67. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
  68. Modern Times (1936)
  69. The Sting (1973)
  70. Touch of Evil (1958)
  71. Life is Beautiful (1997)
  72. On the Waterfront (1954)
  73. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
  74. Ran (1985)
  75. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
  76. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
  77. Amadeus (1984)
  78. The Great Escape (1963)
  79. The Apartment (1960)
  80. Finding Nemo (2003)
  81. Annie Hall (1977)
  82. Jaws (1975)
  83. City Lights (1931)
  84. Metropolis (1927)
  85. High Noon (1952)
  86. Aliens (1986)
  87. The Shining (1980)
  88. Braveheart (1995)
  89. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
  90. Fargo (1996)
  91. Strangers on a Train (1951)
  92. Det Sjunde inseglet (1957)
  93. Donnie Darko (2001)
  94. The General (1927)
  95. The Great Dictator (1940)
  96. Cinema Paradiso (1989)
  97. Blade Runner (1982)
  98. Princess Mononoke (1997)
  99. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  100. The Incredibles (2004)

    Posted by calima at 03:44 PM | Comments (5)

    Cloud stuck to my shoe


    I finally got a night out last night. I had to work until 9 and then the night was mine all mine.

    Had a lovely discussion last night about the fog last week. I didn't journal about it becuase I was busy, but it's definately something worth remembering. I think I might have journalled about it once last year, but heck if I can find it.

    The fog last week. Magnificent. It rolled in late one evening, a huge blanket of cloud, unfurling in the low points in the city. By morning, it was so thick still, that when bussing across the Clyde, I couldn't see the water below. It hung like a heavy mist over everything, and clung to my clothes and to my hair.

    The sight of the University Tower was amazing in the fog. It looked like it disappeared midway up. I felt suddenly like I was in a gothic novel. By evening, it was thicker still, without signs of fading, and I watched in awe as the mist regenerated itself and rolled along the sidewalk along side me.

    After walking through the cloud, going indoors causes the cloud, which has attached itself to your clothes and hat, disappears suddenly, leaving behind a feeling of dampness. Not wet, but just damp. You know that a cloud was there once.

    I've never seen that sort of fog anywhere but Glasgow. In the US, the fog runs away from you as soon as you get near it; in Glasgow, it wraps around you, enveloping you until you seemingly disappear.

    Beautiful.

    Posted by calima at 02:51 PM | Comments (1)

    December 08, 2004

    This is weird...


    My eye is leaking.

    And it's not just leaking in a little bit of a way, like moist or damp, it's really flowing.

    I'm a bit unnerved...not only is it annoying becuase I don't have any tissues handy, but it worries me that something might actually be wrong with it to make it cry like this.

    Oddest thing I've ever seen. (ha)

    x

    Posted by calima at 11:42 AM | Comments (3)

    December 07, 2004

    little by little


    The stress is beginning to dissipate a bit. Just a little at a time. I can gradually feel the weight lifting off my shoulders each time I get one more thing marked off my list.

    My last essay of this term is due tomorrow and thankfully I have it finished. That was my major issue this week...what with starting a new job and all. I find that I can no longer be worried about more than 2 major events at the same time. My poor body is about to break down and go into hibernation.

    Alas, it's nearly done...the term, that is. I'm looking forward to next week when I have minimal classes and can relax for once. That and getting paid should balance out the weeks of hell and stress I've had lately.

    Miles Winston Davis did a terrible awful childish thing last night.

    Yes. Like a child, he snooped for his christmas presents, found them, and then exploited them (and the bag they were in) all over the kitchen. Selfish little shithead. He's now getting nothing for Christmas.

    Oj has leant me her guitar again, and, what with lack of television (i.e. distraction), I've been playing it nearly every night, and am proud to report that I have learned (or am learning) 3 songs. I'm almost to the point where I don't have to look at my hands and I've almost got it up to speed.

    Miles runs out of the room when I play though. I'm not that bad...

    x

    Posted by calima at 03:56 PM | Comments (5)

    December 06, 2004

    Lust

    Warning: This entry will sound like nothing but 'I want, I want I want', which isn't very christmas-y, but...well....there you are.

    I am going to get a tv. Hopefully very soon. I'm absolutely dying without one. At the moment (like today for instance) it's not so bad becuase I have an essay to do for Wednesday and having a tv would just be a huge distraction for me. But after wednesday, there's near nothing left to be done for Uni until January, and I'm going to want some relax time.

    And...

    As I was riding home on the bus the other day, it got stuck in the 5pm traffic in the city centre, which I swear, is an awesome site becuase you realize just exactly how many busses there are in Glasgow, and what it would look like if they were all in the city centre at the same time.

    But it's hell to get through.

    At any rate, while the bus was stopped in a very awkward diagonal position downtown, a sign caught my wee eye, and I did a major double take.

    It read: Xbox: £79.99

    I pawed at the window.

    The sign glared back at me, teasingly:

    Xbox: £79.99

    I began licking the glass at this point.

    I could have £80.

    I could get that Xbox.

    I've always wanted my own Xbox.

    Then I started running through all the games I would play.

    How much fun I would have.

    How much boredom would be swallowed up by its simple presence.

    I could have £80.

    But then I remembered, the cold awful truth: I have no tv.

    No tv makes an xbox into very pretty plastic cupholder.

    dammit. dammit dammit dammit.

    Oh well. Tv first.

    It's christmas anyway...I should be spending money on other people instead of myself.

    Mmmmxboxmmmmm.....


    x

    Posted by calima at 02:21 PM | Comments (2)

    December 05, 2004

    You're a mean one, Mr Grinch

    I was shocked and appalled to learn that they don't play How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated) over here.

    What. the. heck.

    It's a Classic! I say it deserves airtime! I demand that it be shown to the little boys and girls (and me). *bangs fist on desk*


    Anyhow...I went last night to (finally) see The Grudge and wrote a little review about it. It was pretty good. A good night overall: good drinks, good company, good conversation and semi-good popcorn.

    I did have to call Loki when I got home just to make sure we were ok. Then I made the noise (ghostie noise from the movie). She called me 'evil' and I sniggered malevolently. *muwahahahah*

    Good stuff.

    Tonight I am making Potato Stuff, which will be a first for Glasgow. I have to make it from scratch though becuase apparently O'brien potatos don't exist here. At least not at my Somerfield, and I'm not desperate enough to search elsewhere. I'll just dice the potatoes myself.

    Oj and Pam came over the other night and we played Trivial Pursuit. It was frustrating for me, becuase it was the British version and I know dirt about British news etc. I didn't do too badly, but I'm now wanting to get the American Version so I can kick their asses back.

    Miles is doing well. He's becoming more sociable, and for my part, I've been having guests over every so often so that he gets used to having strangers about. He did pretty well while the Trivial Pursuit game was on...he didn't give me any hints though, so we'll have a little talk about that.

    I got him a furry mouse (toy, you sickos) to play with yesterday and he attacked it a la Dodi (i.e. he chewed the tail off first). It was cute watching him carry the thing around in his mouth.

    He has not given up the shower, for those of you who asked. In fact, he waits outside the door when I'm showering, with his paws on his hips, looking at his watch and complaining, 'Are you done yet? Jeez'.

    And now he has discovered something even more fascinating: The sink.

    You can see another shot of Miles Winston Davis here.

    x

    Posted by calima at 02:29 PM | Comments (1)

    December 01, 2004

    As if there isn't enough stress right now...

    ...I've quit my job today.

    Yes! I've got a new job lined up and I start next week.

    This is most unfortunate as far as stress is concerned, as this is possibly the (first of many) most stressful terms of my academic career and I really could use a break from real life stress while I put the finishing touches on academia for the term.

    I have wayyy too much stress going on right now. If you've written to or msged me, and I've not written back and you think I'm ignoring you...well...I am. I am way too bogged down with drama at the moment to do much of anything else. I haven't even had a proper night out in a while.

    Woe. is. me.

    I've spent the last 3 hours in the computer lab doing assignments and now that it's 1638 (and dark as midnight outside), I'm going to go catch the bus home and collapse, exhausted, into a plate of macaroni and cheese.

    Take care.

    x

    Posted by calima at 04:40 PM | Comments (2)