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March 24, 2005
Where's the fire?
I was an ambulance chaser last night. Well, that statement is entirely false. I didn't chase, and it wasn't an ambulance. But you get my meaning anyway.
On the way home from the 3-in-1 last night (mmmm...chips/cheese/donner), Frodo and I smelled something burning in the area of our building. It was that distinct smell of something burning that wasn't supposed to be burning. Not like firewood, or someone's cigarette.
At any rate, while we mowed down our dinners, we heard fire engines and saw out the window that two fire trucks had pulled up to the building next to ours and there were random firefighters wandering about. One was dressed in a suit of some kind. Yeah. Obviously no regard for fire safety, that one.
So, we watched them like ants for a while, watched the guy in the flat across from the window watch the firemen, and then finally had to give up when the firemen obviously found no fire and left.
Whoa. The excitement.
It strikes me as interesting though...that people are more likely to watch an accident or fire or something, but do nothing to help out. Not that the firemen downstairs would have accepted help from a 5 foot blonde american girl with chippy breath and still swaying from drink.
I could have offered though.
What really bothers me about the apathetic bystander though, is the ones that take pictures like it's a tourist attraction or something. What in the hell do you say to your family members when you get back from holiday?
'See, there's me at the Eiffel Tower. Ooh, and here's me at l'Arc de Triomphe. Ah...there's the one of me by the car accident that nearly killed a guy. Notice all the blood...'.
Seriously. That's just plain folly. People are dumb.
And back to today's program....
I used the squirt bottle on Miles this morning. He did not like it one bit, not one bit, and ran into the other room to hide.
Aha! Supermiles has his own version of kryptonite.
Just call me Lex Luthor. *muwahahahahhahaha*
x
Posted by calima at 03:58 PM | Comments (4)
March 23, 2005
poo on you computoo
I know that 'computer' doesn't rhyme with 'poo' or 'you' but in my world of spelling it does (and should).
Just thought a rhyming title would be nice.
I'm at the library using their computers. Despite the fact that I have no internet at home, I should be grateful for free use of internet at a place less than 3 blocks from my house.
Buuuuut, I'm not.
They've blocked all the web messenger chat things. Wtf? What's the harm in chatting people? Did you think that maybe I'd like to say hi to my mom? No? Well you should've.
I'm not in the best of moods today. I suspect this will continue until well after my birthday. Nothing I can really do about it, since they don't sell happy pills over the counter. Of course something illegal would do the trick, but that's not really my style.
I'm thinking about calling Purple, darling tonight and see what she's up to. She might know how to cheer me up. If you're reading this Purple, darling, yes, I'm speaking about you. You'll know it's you when you get a phone call from me.
I bought a water spritzer today. Oh yes. Miles better watch out becuase I'm about to lay the smack down. I don't know what his fascination with biting random appendages (i.e. feet) is, but it's gotta stop as he's alienating all my friends.
Between the eyes. I always aim between the eyes.
Good luck, kitty.
x
Posted by calima at 01:57 PM | Comments (4)
March 17, 2005
Beauty and the Beast
Yesterday, I retrieved the Beast from Sweetheart's flat. The Beast is a very old curmudgeon of a computer who helped me through the worst of times right after my laptop died.
Beast is quite old, but he's not a bad computer, he's just misunderstood. I hauled him to my flat yesterday which took about 2 hours. I first had to put all of his gadgets (keyboard, mouse, cords, etc) into my bookbag, and then carry the very heavy case to my flat. It normally takes between 5 and 10 minutes to walk from Sweetheart's to mine, and in this case, I'm not sure how long it took me, but it felt like an hour (Im' sure it didn't take an hour though...prolly somewhere along the lines of 20 mins or so).
Then, I rested for a minute when I got in, vaccumed the space where Beast would be situated and then walked back to Sweetheart's. When I got there, I picked up Beast's head (i.e. monitor) and lo and behold, I'm a strong woman, but that thing weighs about 120 stone.
I struggled. I got it out the door and down the first flight of stairs whereupon I decided that if I was having this much difficulty carrying it down stairs, then there was no way I could carry it all the way home.
So I carried it back up the stairs.
Then I gave myself a pep talk. Actually it was more like an arguement going on in my head,
Come on, Calima. Just get this home and then it's all done.
But I dont' think I can carry it that far.
You've carried things much heavier than that when you've moved house.
But that was from the house to the moving van. That wasn't a 15 minute walk.
Don't be such a baby.
And it's raining.
Oh. Hmm...it is raining. Shit.
I'll just come back another time and get it.
No no no...you need it now. Tonight. You have an essay due tomorrow
*whine*
Oh stop your whining, I'll think of something.
...
...
Shut up, I'm thinking.
...
Ok. I'm going to call a cab
*snort* that's stupid.
No it's smart, now shut up and hand me the phone.
So, I had to take a cab about 10 blocks. Well worth it though as me and my alter-selves had a pretty rough time getting Beasty's head up the stairs.
At any rate, it was all worth it. I got my essay finished, and I have a neat little place in the corner of the living room where Beasty sits on the floor. I'm going to get some pillows to sit on. Very bohemian.
Beasty has been pretty good. He does sometimes like to reboot himself spontaneously, but I figure that's the computer equivalent of a dog wagging his tail when he's glad he's finally come home from the vet.
I just need some wee upgrades for Beasty. He has been neglected since round about the 20th century, so he's due for some refurbishment.
Poor Beasty. But he's home now...home sweet home.
Bless.
x
Posted by calima at 12:00 PM | Comments (5)
March 10, 2005
can't say I'm surprised
Someone has coffee. I can smell it. I'm about ready to tackle the person with it, do some sort of ceremony involving sticks and dancing around a fire, and then drink it in one glorious deliciously coffee flavoured gulp.
Someone is also wearing Sweetheart's cologne. But please note that this does not make me want the wearer of said cologne. This just makes me want my Sweetheart near...
...and in other news...
 | You scored as paganism. Your beliefs are most closely aligned with those of paganism, Wicca, or a similar earth-based religion. You may also follow a Native American religion.
Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com |
Posted by calima at 01:16 PM | Comments (2)
March 09, 2005
hrmph
Wasn't in a very good mood yesterday. In fact I was in no mood at all, and took it out on anything that would sit still long enough. Fortunately for Miles, he runs pretty fast.
I did receive another early b-day present from Moni (bless her wee cotton socks), which cheered me up, until I realized that per drokka's rules, I can't open it until my actual birthday. And then I was just frustrated.
And then the bad mood reared its ugly head once again when I realized I needed to get ready for work, and found out that my work trousers are completely covered with hair. I just washed them, but apparently this makes no difference. It looks as though Miles stood on my trousers, took out a wee electric razor and shaved his fur directly onto the trousers.
Argh.
I made a rather embarassing speech in front of a lecture class today, which actually went pretty well, but just reminded me that speaking in front of a large group of people you don't know is more harrowing when you forget what it is you want to say. Or, you know...you pronounce some Dutch guy's name wrong or something.
The weather the past few days has been rather mild, with mostly sun, very little clouds and a wee bit of breeze to remind us all it's still winter.
~extra hugs to Moni for the gift~
x
Posted by calima at 11:58 AM | Comments (3)
March 07, 2005
Quiet conversation permitted in this area
I'm in the computer lab. There's a very funny poster up on the wall with the rules. One of them says, 'No eating apart from small items of confectionary'.
No one says 'confectionary' any more. Hilarious.
I'm in a bit of a funk today, which is carry over from last night. I just feel so downhearted that my body weighs more than my muscles can carry, and I feel as though I'm dragging myself around, when what I really want to do is sleep.
There is a girl at another table with a laptop. She's logged into a uni computer, with her laptop on and a document pulled up, and is typing out the document onto the Uni computer.
This strikes me as terribly redundant.
...
Technology Man flings his cape over his shoulder, takes his 'I'm a real superhero' stance with fist on hip, and gives two firm taps on girl's shoulder.
Girl:
Yes, can I help you?
Technology Man:
Perhaps you can help yourself. Trying using a disk, memory stick or the internet to transfer files from one computer to the other. Copying is just a waste of time.
Girl: (dumbfounded)
oh! Thank you, Technology Man! I could have spent ages typing this all up! You saved my time!
Technology Man:
Sheesh...it was nothing. Just all in a day's work!
...and off he flies to help some other clueless person...
I know we're all kinda technologically daft at one time or another, but that just seems...I dunno. Really stupid.
See...now if I were the girl, and I had a brand new dell laptop, I would be typing on my dell, rather than using a silly uni computer.
But that's just me. I like modern technology, and the Uni computers do nothing to melt my butter.
Posted by calima at 02:25 PM | Comments (2)
March 04, 2005
she wastes no time
drokka has the best timing ever. I'm sure she didn't realise it when she did it, but she bought me a birthday present from my wish list and it arrived today on my *'anti-birthday'. Well done, drokka and thank you so much! It really made my day! I hope you don't mind that I opened it. It didn't stand much of a chance, really...there's no way I can wait a month before opening it ;)
So, here I sit, having been kicked out of my favourite computer lab becuase some high school kids are having some sort of class there today. Right. I'm paying for this University (in theory), so I should have first dibs. Get out.
I fell in love with a poem today which is written chiefly in Scots. I thought about posting it up here, but there are so many footnotes and glossary terms I'd have to include that I'd be better off copying over when I have more time. I love it though.
Also, I'm reading T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land which, though I haven't had the time to analyse it, is becoming a quick favourite. It starts:
April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
How can you not instantly love this poem? Well, admittedly, I haven't read it all, but it's already appealing so I assume I'll like the remainder of it.
I have finally learned the real reason that Miles Winston is pulling up the carpet in front of the door. It's not necessarily becuase he wants out...well, he does, but that's not the sole reason.
I was walking up the close stairs the other day and I saw Miles sitting on the landing of the first floor. He was standing next to the flat door, meowing to get in. He looked upset and scared at seeing me (prolly becuase he thought he was going to get a bollocking for having escaped, which he was), and twittered on the step for a moment while I cooed at him to calm him.
Then I realised which some surprise, 'This isn't Miles!' But he did look just like my miles...right down to the black mask they both wear.
Upon closer inspection I saw more similarities and difference, not the least of which was the fact that Miles2 was a great deal heavier. I knocked on the door to the flat, a woman about my age answered pleasantly, and Miles2 darted into her flat.
Me: That's your cat then! I saw him standing by your door and wondered if he was yours.
Her: Yep. It's strange that he wants in already, I just let him out 2 minutes ago.
She just let him out.
She just let him out.
So...Miles2 has presumably been roaming the close foot loose and fancy free, while MilesW sits in the flat, whimpering, whining and tearing up the carpet in front of the door.
And now the idea appears along with a bunch of questions to which I don't know the answer:
- if Miles's twin gets to roam the close, would it be ok to let Miles roam also?
- And should I ask Miles2's owner first in case they fight (most probably will, being both males)?
- Should I get Miles a collar with his address on it in case he gets out of the building?
So many questions.
Today it is mild and mostly cloudy, with a slight breath of wind. No preciptation to speak of except for a light burst of wanna be snow around 1pm.
Happy Friday everyone and special hugs and kisses to drokka once again.
x
* The 'Anti-Birthday' is the day that the University thinks I was born. When filling out my application form, I didn' realise that the date format for the UK (and Canada, I think) is different from the US. So when putting down my birthdate, I put 4/3/19xx which is April 3rd. However to the University it's March 4. Oh well. Now I have 2 birthdays within a month of each other!
Posted by calima at 02:41 PM | Comments (7)
March 03, 2005
achoo.
It seems to me that 'achoo' is one of those words which should always have a ! behind it. Perhaps when they re-write the dictionary they can make the ! a part of the actual word itself. So, if you spell it 'achoo' instead of 'achoo!' you've actually spelled it wrong.
Anyhow, I've punctuated my 'achoo' with a . just to show how annoyed I am at coming down with yet another cold. Since Christmas, I've gone about 3 weeks (intermittant) without cold. Every time I'm getting over one cold, I'm catching another, and I'm seriously not excited about having yet another opportunity to go to all my classes with a raging fever.
I'm not sure why I keep catching cold, becuase my diet is about perfect at the moment, the draft in my kitchen has been fixed, and I have a brand new heater to heat the living room.
The only thing I can think of is that it's stress. Now, I know you're thinking 'Oh. come. ON, Calima..you're always bitching about stress!' and yes, it's true, I'm always bitching about stress. But the reason I'm bitching about it, is becuase it's not going away.
And before you go and start thinking something to the effect of, [sarcasm]'Oh the life of a student is so incredibly hard [ /sarcasm] let me just take a moment to point out that though I haven't listed my stressors here, that the very least of them is my studies.
Yeah. So there. I have a presentation next week and I'm not worried about it becuase I have bigger things on my mind.
At any rate...where was I? Oh yes. Stress is making me ill. The last thing I need to worry about is getting ill or being ill. So...could all of the virii take a hike and stay a minimum of about 5 feet from me for a while? Unless you're a particular virus which can infect from 5 feet, in which case you just stay 20 feet away.
I need some of those mega-citrus tablets to ward off the evils.
In other news, it was bright and sunny today, with a slight breeze. Warm in the sun and cool in the shade, I stood at the bus stop (in the warm sunlight) feeling toasty, while I watched people across the street at the other bus stop (in the cool shade) freezing and wrapping up warm.
Now that it's decided not to rain, Glasgow has trouble making up its mind as to what temperature to be.
x
[Edit] Damn, I whined a lot in this entry.
In brighter news, I don't have to work tonight. There's a 'yipee!' for ya. And yipee! is yet another word which should be spelled with a ! at the end. Maybe one at the beginning too. !yipee!
Posted by calima at 03:33 PM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2005
*rubs temples*
Yesterday was crappier than I could have imagined it to be. But I'm not going to dwell on it any longer.
Bygones.
Someone on lj requested a recommendation on classic literature, and I instantly felt the need to reply with my personal favourite, Pride and Prejudice.
I love that book, and I know it sounds cliche becuase everyone loves that book. But seriously. Every time I go into a used book shop, I feel the overwhelming urge to purchase more copies of P&P to add to my current collection of P&P. At the same time, I am appalled at the idea that anyone would purposely give up their copy to the bookstore in the first place. I then can only conclude that the reason extra copies have appeared in a used book shop is becuase some older woman has died and thus her belongings have been sold or given away carelessly by some distant relative or solicitor who did not have the sensibility to glance first at the treasure they were about to callously discard.
If that's not a tribute to Austen, I don't know what is.
I also recommend Persuasion.
And that being said, I would like to make a rather mild announcement and say that my birthday is one month and one day away.
In the spirit of the occasion, I thought I would put up my Amazon Wish List for those of you who have no idea what to buy me, or perhaps those of you who I don't know very well who might be feeling especially charitable.
Anything marked 'Uni Book' is a book I need right now and are especially welcome at any time of the semester, not just my birthday.
Lastly, anyone making any reference to my being 'old', 'nearly 30' or somesuch will result in my ignoring you for the rest of your life.
x
Posted by calima at 01:45 PM | Comments (7)
March 01, 2005
The V Word
Today is crappy crappy crappy.
So crappy that the word 'crappy' has to be said more than once, resulting in the word no longer sounding like a word at all.
*sigh*
I am so stressed out, I really feel like I'm going to crack up at any minute. When I woke up this morning, all my worries came pouring back into my head...and not one by one in a tidy and orderly manner...oh no. They flooded. I was overwhelmed.
I had a couple of sips of coffee (wasted a cup becuase I was running late), and I wished that there was some possible way to fast forward through extremely stressful times. Not skip it all together...the events are still experienced and lessons learned where lessons ought to be learned, etc etc, but just fast forward, go at a quicker pace and get it all over with before head explosion is imminent.
If it were possible to fast forward, this month would be on 32x, while normally stressful times might be on 2x or 4x.
I did take time out of my busy worrying schedule to see The Vagina Monologues with Regan and bopalula. It was a pretty good show. Not quite what I was expecting, which is weird since I read the book, but interesting nonetheless. My favourite part was when all the men in the audience started shifting uncomfortably. I have to give them props for even coming to the play in the first place. Well done, boys!
Miles is being an ass again (he was doing ok there for a while), and I actually considered the money involved in having him lobotomised.
Luckily for him, I'm broke.
Today's weather is cold, windy and slanty-sleety.
x
Posted by calima at 10:55 AM | Comments (2)