calima: August 2005 Archives

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August 31, 2005

Tidal

I slept on the sofa last night. I pretty much did it on accidental purpose. I fell asleep there whilst watching CSI:NY last night, then when I woke up, Law and Order was on, and I was like, 'Well, I can't miss that' so instead of going to bed, I stayed on the sofa.

And slept.

Yeah. Logic...it kinda misses me sometimes.

At any rate, I just couldn't be arsed getting up and going to bed. And you know what? My back hurts just a little this morning, but I feel so much more refreshed. Sometimes, I feel like my room is just a dungeon and that every night I lock myself away.

This probably has something to do with the fact that the week during which Frodo and Svenska were away, I was just merely hanging out in my room. I had the whole flat to myself, but I was tucked into my little nook.

It also doesn't help that I have a tv and dvd player in my room. I don't need to hang out in the living room to watch a movie, becuase what could be more comfortable than to watch a movie whilst on my own bed?

Admittedly it's pretty anti-social of me to just hang out in my room all the time; but honestly, most of the time, Svenska and Frodo aren't here. So, how about being social alone? Hmmm?

Anyhow, you should probably know, if you've read my journal long enough, that I'm a huge fan of sofa-sleeping. I don't know why, I think it takes me back to my childhood when my mom, every once in a while, would let me stay up to watch Miami Vice, or LA Law and I would fall asleep.

So, the sofa-sleep last night, has revived and refreshed me. Even though my back hurts now, and I'm still getting a cold (which i've been trying to stave off for the past couple of days). Despite these...despite....I'm actually feeling pretty chipper today.

I'm ready to take on the world. Who's with me?!

Posted by calima at 12:34 PM | Comments (3)

August 28, 2005

Defeatists

I was watching, 'You've Got Mail' tonight, though, I know what you're thinking: It's a shit film, right?

Well, I don't normally admit this, but I do like the movie, if only becuase it looks like crap on the outside, but has different layers to it, depending on what mood you're in when you watch it. (Could any Ephron film actually have layers? The question floats in the void, endlessly.)

During the movie, I noticed what I hadn't noticed before...that each of the characters at one point says, 'I could never be with anyone who...'

For instance:
'I could never be with anyone who wasn't as serious about politics as I am'
'I could never be with anyone who had a boat'
'I could never be with anyone who liked Joni Mitchell'.

Personally, I think the single population today is single for exactly this type of pickiness. I have a rl friend who is this picky about men she dates (or considers dating)(or doesn't consider dating), and I've found myself frustrated with her on a number of occasions for letting a perfectly acceptable date pass her by becuase she has some little hangup about him, which has been completely overblown.

The truth about love, which I think everyone forgets, and perhaps this is also the truth about people in general (I know it's cliche, but...): No one is perfect. And in saying that, you might not ever find the 'perfect' person for you.

Oh dry yer eye...this doesn't have to be something to feel rejected over. So, there may be no such thing as a 'perfect' mate. So what. Not every love is like the love they try to show you in movies. There's no 'perfect' couple out there. Even the couple that's most right for each other have their little imperfections.

And it's these imperfections, my friends, that make the couplehood work. Becuase, face it, if you love someone, I mean, really love them, then the little imperfections are something that you love also. Maybe you fight every single time you go to the cinema becuase you can't decide on a movie you both want to see. So...? Compromise.* Take a chance. Maybe you'll actually like the sequal to xXx. You never know.

Take these examples:
'He's going bald'
And what if you were going bald?

'She's got a sixth toe'
That could be cute with sandals.

'He snores'
And you're sure you don't?

'She spends hours getting ready'
Oh, and is that why you always feel so proud when you're seen with such a beauty?

See, folks. It's not about lowering your standards, but it's about letting exceptions sneak in there. Looking past that sixth toe, or the spots on his forehead, or whatever.

And it's not about what others think. So many people pass judgement on their friend's partners, or say about other couples, 'They're soooo not right for each other'. But in being wrong for each other, are they not right? And who are you to judge anyway?

If we could choose who we fall in love with, I believe there would be world peace. Seriously.

But you can't. If you try, you'll just make yourself lovesick, and that (second only to not being loved at all) is the worst feeling in the world.

Anyhow, that's my little hangup about what I saw in the movie tonight. I apologise if I sound condescending. You shouldn't listen to anything I say anyway, becuase I, in no way, have things perfect, or do all the right things.

Now. Off you go to watch the Bodyguard and decide for yourself if people can be 'wrong for each other'. (Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston? Really? Come on...I think they could make it. Really!)

Oh and Xinh, if you want to dream about Dennis Quaid then you go on ahead! ;)

*Make your partner compromise also, though, don't just take everything on your own.

Posted by calima at 11:28 PM | Comments (7)

August 25, 2005

exhausted

Last night, Regan and I went over to Missy's for dinner. Missy took holiday from work this week, like me, and she was supposed to go to England with her family but decided to stay here so we could hang out. She's a sweetie.

Regan and I had an adventure getting the bus to Rutherglen. I've never been out in that direction before, so we were on the edge of our seats trying to find the landmarks that Missy told us to look out for. We finally made it to the right stop (yay!) and walked up the road for about 15 mins to Missy's house.

On the way, Missy asked me if I could roll her a cigarette, which I was happy to do, but, like an idiot, I put my brand-new pack of tobacco in my back pocket, and while we walked, it wriggled itself out an lost itself somewhere along the way. Doh! I wasn't very happy about that, but I figured that the person who finds it needs it more desperately than me.

As it is, I'm smoking Svenska's swedish tobacco that she brought back, and it looks a lot like silly string. It's a bit weird to roll, and it's stronger than the stuff I'm used to. I don't like it as much as my Drum Gold, but you know...beggars, choosers, etc.

Missy made an excellent dinner of chicken breasts with pesto and lemon. Delicious. Then, she had a surprise cake that she gave us for pudding, and we ate every crumb before she told us that she had just invented it herself.

Renaissance woman, that missy. It was scrumptious.

Took a taxi back to mine at about 230, and waited with Regan at the bus stop until 3am. Came home and watched more of Velvet Goldmine, which did my head in a bit, and then practically crawled to my room at 4 and went to bed.

Today I feel physicaly exhuasted, despite the fact that I slept most of the day. Svenska and I cleaned the kitchen...I don't think we necessarily wanted or intended to do it, but we were listening to Moulin Rouge soundtrack and didn't want to shut it off. So we cleaned. It gleams now.

Thinking about a touch of karaoke tonight. Frodo's working, so I might skip down to the pub and join him after my shift.

Friday I'm putting on my party dress (whichever one I finally decide upon....I can't make up my mind very easily about these sort of things). I'm looking forward to it, and I think I've invited just about everyone I've run into in the past couple of days to join in. Should be quite the party.

Miles says 'Hi'.

Posted by calima at 04:37 PM | Comments (6)

August 24, 2005

Seeing dukes

Yesterday, I got up early (for me) and met Regan at the UGC for the press screening of Dukes of Hazzard.

Lots of laughs, and I was careening back toward childhood. I adore Dukes of Hazzard. Just the entire concept of it reminds me of home.

So, out of the movie, unsurprisingly, I was craving barbeque. Did a bit of shopping with Regan and then we went over to Frankenstein for a burger.

That was at 1pm.

At 6pm we were still sitting in Frank's drinking. Oh yes...we drank all day long. It's so nice to hang out with someone who, like you, has nothing better to do than to sit with you and drink all day.

Regan's friend, Buttmunch showed up, and we proceeded to have more. Mmmm....

It's funny though...when we went into Franks, we were having a tough time deciding what to order. I jokingly said that I was just going to stay in there after lunch until I started feeling hungry again and then get something else.

Yeah...i could have actually done that. But I didn't.

Yay for self-control. *cough*

So, then I went to meet some other friends while Buttmunch and Regan went to see Crash at the cinema. Somehow, I ended up in a gay bar, organised a horror movie night at my house and started a band.

Princess and I stumbled to a cab, then stumbled to the chippy, whereupon we got greasy food to satiate us, stumbled home, watched 'Lake Placid' and argued over what the hell Bill Pullman was thinking when he decided to do that movie.

Then...it was almost bedtime when.....

*buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*

Svenska is home!

Poor lamb was completely exhausted from her trip. Princess, Frodo and I barraged her with hugs and kisses; we were just too excited to see her. Princess and Frodo went to bed, and Svenska and I sat up talking. She asked about my panic attack and like the best friend that she is, she took one glance at the look on my face and knew everything.

I'm so glad she's back. So is Miles for that matter. He was actually well-behaved at feeding time this morning.

So now everything's back to normal (almost). Everyone's still asleep, but I'm feeling a bit peckish so I'm going to go have some cereal.

Posted by calima at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)

Justa good ole boys, never meaning no harm

My review of Dukes of Hazzard is ready.

And now...a true Dukes of Hazzard story. Gather round now...

See, when I was a child, I loved Dukes of Hazzard. My brother and I used to carelessly annoy my mother but jumping into her Trans-Am through the window, feet first, and sliding across the hood.

Even more than the show, I loved Bo Duke. Bear in mind that I was about maybe 6 or 7. I had the hugest crush on him, and I kept it a secret from everyone except for my mom. I swore her to secrecy, but she let my secret get out and then my whole family knew.

I was mortified.

Worse came to worse, one evening, my mom took me and my brother to a Monster Truck Rally or somesuch, and lo and behold, there, sitting at a little table on a stage, there was my angel, my beloved:

Bo Duke

The instant I saw him, I immediately went into a fit of blushing. Mom gave me a gentle push and nudged me toward him to say hi or get his autograph.

I stood, stunned.

There was no way I could go near him. If he saw me he'd know. He'd detect it the second he looked at my face. He'd know I was in love with him.

I pushed backward, trying to keep as far away from him as possible. Mom didn't force me to go up to him, but for the rest of the evening, she did allow us to go out of our way to walk in front of his table so I could get another look.

And that experience, right there, my friends, ruined me for the rest of my life. I never met Bo Duke, I never got over my crush. Even now, seeing John Schneider on Smallville, I get a little weak kneed.

The experience, however, did mend my star struck celebrity siting reaction. If I do happen upon meeting someone famous, I don't get all gooey, I don't scream, or cry, I just look at them and think, 'Yep, he/she's just like everyone else' and go on my merry way.

I suspect, however, that this casual cool and aloofness toward celebrity would be shaken if I were to encounter John Schneider again.

Oh well, as long as all the other famous people are safe. And what are the chances that either myself or John Schneider will ever be at a monster truck rally again?

Posted by calima at 11:23 AM | Comments (1)

August 22, 2005

vague poll

Just answer with your gut instinct:

Should I or shouldn't I?

Posted by calima at 02:07 PM | Comments (13)

August 19, 2005

The very bottom of the bottomless pit

It's dark in here.
I can't find my way out.
I grope around in the darkness, I try to find
the secret passageway, but I cannot see one.

My hope is gone.
I watched it;
the delicate little flame
fading, finally snuffing itself out
when it ran out of fuel to keep it burning.
Little Flame, I wish you were here again to light my way;
help me find the way out.

You are gone.
I am here
alone,
in the dark.

Posted by calima at 10:48 AM

August 17, 2005

The Panic Room

Yesterday, while I was walking into work, I had a panic attack. Of course, I didn't know what it was at the time, all I knew was that I no longer had control over my body. I got very hot all of the sudden, started sweating buckets, my vision went all blurry and I felt like I was going to pass out or throw up.

Luckily, I had two of my co-worker friends there to help me. They said I just went white as a sheet. They helped me outside to get some air, got me some water, helped me calm down.

Of course, I didn't know what was happening to me, and it frightened me. All I knew was that I couldn't stop shaking. My hair went completely damp for sweating and I had trouble walking down the stairs for my legs shaking so badly.

One of my co-workers called Frodo and asked him to come and get me. He, in turn, called Princess, who was in town already, and asked her to pick me up, as he thought she could get there faster than he.

I sat in the reception of my work, sipping my water and freaking out with Missy, when one of my bosses came in and said there was someone waiting for me in reception. She walked me down the stairs (slowly) and there I saw Princess, who was worried but together, who walked me to the taxi queue, and then proceeded to holler at the cabbies who were milling about having their smoking breaks.

'Alright guys, get it together now, we've got a sick girl over here. chop chop! In the cab!' she commanded.

I couldn't help but laugh. Princess is a very 'take charge' woman when she wants to be.

I got home, changed into jammies, and laid on the sofa all evening, convelescing. Frodo made me some pasta and I just took it easy, and felt a lot better later.

I have no idea what triggered this attack. Ok, that's a lie. I do know why I was feeling like I'm at the very bottom of a bottomless pit. But the trigger itself, I don't know. I was fine, and then I wasn't fine.

If you know me at all (in rl or through this blog) you would know that I like to be in control. I'm not over-controlling by any means. But I do like to know what is happening, when, how, etc. I often joke that I am Monica from Friends. (This isn't entirely true, but then, it's a joke, right?) Therefore, the scariest thing about having a panic attack is suddenly not being in control. Not even control over my own body and reactions to stimuli.

I've only been reading a little about these sorts of attacks, but I suspect that the way to keep them from happening is to let go a little, and not be so wrapped around the axle about stuff. The crappy part is that it's a round-robin: I'm worried, then I have a panic attack and then I'm worried about the panic attack. Perhaps I'll take a yoga class or something. Or learn mind control. I've always wanted to learn mind control. Especially over other peoples' minds...hehehehe.

I'll be ok. But I don't want this to ever ever happen again.

Posted by calima at 12:27 PM | Comments (4)

August 14, 2005

Loster

They've begun to play Lost here in the UK. The premiere was on Wednesday, and becuase I had to work, I missed episode one, but managed to catch episode two later at 10pm.

Tonight, E4 was playing the first three episodes back to back, so Frodo and I watched them one after another.

And all I can really say is that:

I'm hooked
I can see why it's got a cult following in the States
Thank you to other bloggers who hid their Lost spoilers from me.

This should be fun. I can feel another case of addiction (a la Desperate Housewives) coming on.

Posted by calima at 11:25 PM | Comments (4)

buzz buzz buzz

It's been a busy week. It was pretty much non-stop...it did slow down in some places, but only slowed enough to get my breath and keep going.

('Breath' looks like I spelled it wrong or something. Hmm...apparently it is spelled correctly. Weird.)

I went out on Friday with the Get-Along-Gang at work. I was only there for the one free drink I get from work, but then one of my co-workers just kept buying me another and another. Yes, I have no will-power. I am a weak person, and I embrace that part of me.

The night ended up better than it could have. Had a bit of drama towards the end, which sort of threw me into a bit of a conundrum. You know that way where you feel like you did something wrong, but you didn't. You did something right. But for some reason it feels like you're in the wrong? Didja get all that? Yeah, well, hmm. It's just not a very nice position to be in.

Yesterday was interesting and fun though. I brought Loki, Regan and Shell with me to Edinburgh to see Frodo's play. I must say, that was the best play I have ever seen. I've never laughed so hard at my life, not even at Friends episodes, and that's saying something becuase Friends is fucking funny. Princess did an excellent job of writing and directing, and Frodo (et al) did an excellent job acting in it.

I was muy impressed. And I think I embarassingly laughed louder than anyone else in the audience. My laugh is weird. Sometimes I just can't hold it in, and I end up going '*PAHhahahhaha*'

*ahem*

So, after the play we went in search of food and found, instead, snotty bitches. Not even snotty bitches that were our peers. Oh no. Old snotty bitches. Regan, the resident Edinburgh tour guide, took us all over the Fringe looking for a restaurant that would serve what I was craving: American Food.

She dragged us through Univ of Edinburgh campus and through a dirty car park, to a restaurant that was perfect.

And also perfectly jam packed full of people.

Enter: The Snotty Bitches

We stood looking at the menu, salivating, and contemplating if we would be waiting for a table or not, when the aforementioned Snotty Bitches came and jumped the queue.

SB's: We're not jumping the queue, just so you know.
me (thinking): Oh? Becuase that's what it looks like you're doing...
SB's: It's quite packed in there. Did you book a table? We booked a table already.
us: *shakes heads*
SB's: Well, I don't think you'll get in.
us: (an hour later, think of 45 things we could have said to them right then)

It all ended up for the best though, as Regan led us not two blocks down the street which had very lovely american food, and *drumroll* No snotty bitches!

Tada!

Then....we ate too much.

Then....we drank.

Then....we got a bus home.

Then...it took me an hour to get home.

Then....i went to bed.

It was cool it was fun, it was Fringe.

Posted by calima at 01:37 PM | Comments (1)

August 12, 2005

Dear Svenska

Things here are quite bland without you. Since you've left, Frodo went off to the Fringe for his play.

It's been quiet around the flat without the two of you here. Miles is annoying me to the point of murder. He misses both of you, and walks around the flat yowling, hoping he'll find you in some hidden corner. When he gets in trouble (which is often now that he's being a pest), he runs into your room and pouts. Your bed is now covered in hair. Sorry about that.

Regan came over on Wednesday night to keep me company. We watched the first episode of Lost, then watched Airplane!, which we thought would be an ironic choice. That movie is hilarious, if not a bit bizarre in places.

Yesterday, we cleaned the flat vigorously, even to the point of polishing the wooden tables. We have too many wooden tables. I recommend we change to Ikea fake wood so we don't have to polish.

We ordered pizza. We gorged. I was so full, I thought I would burst. It was fantastic.

Later, Regan's friend See-moose, came over to join us for drinks. We stayed up until 3am talking and drinking. It was a lovely time.

Today I am tired, but I'm going out to see a movie this afternoon before work. It's my present to myself for having been bored all week.

BTW, I did post your packet to Borderline. I even got to see the postman come and take it away.

Hope you're having fun...miss you

Posted by calima at 12:47 PM | Comments (0)

August 10, 2005

disenchanted

Most of you know that I work in a call centre. Call centre jobs are great for students and great pay. Well...how about 'decent pay' as opposed to 'great'.

For the most part, I like my job. We're not a customer service agency, so I don't have to be nice if I don't want to be. I get to yell down the phone at people if I'm in a bad mood, take out some agression, or I can be sweet and lovely and never raise my voice at all. Purely my choice. I like choices.

I find that my job is mostly unstressful. I get to take out my agressions, and I normally walk away at the end of a shift breathing a sigh of relief. I leave work at work and go home and live my life.

Lately, however, I've lost the zeal for my work. It's mostly due to some changes that are washing over the company I work for, and partially due to the fact that I'm starting to get a thin skin about being hung up on.

I shouldn't mind when people hang up on me...makes my job so much easier. But, for instance, last night I got yelled at by a guy becuase I had called the wrong number.

yeah..not even the person I needed to speak to, and I got yelled at. The very next call (I kid you not), I got yelled at becuase I had another wrong number. Guy #1 was helpful. Guy #2 told me to go do all sorts of horrible things.

Now, I ask you this...if someone called your house repeatedly asking for someone who didn't live there, and you didn't know who was calling, would you necessarily shout obscenities down the phone?

Most of us, would not. It could be the Queen on the other end for all you know.

Anyhow, I think I'm going to take a holiday. I don't really plan on going anywhere just yet, but I need a break. My nut is officially done in. I can now understand why postal workers go so mental.

And they just deliver the mail.

Posted by calima at 10:59 AM | Comments (3)

August 09, 2005

Dye

So, I dyed my hair today. It's not permanent, but I just felt I needed a bit of a change.

I was looking for something that was a bit strawberry blondish, as my hair is naturally a medium blond. I thought maybe some strawberry would give it a bit of a lift.

All I could find at Semi-Chem, however, was a chestnut looking colour, and I thought that if it was going to wash out in 6 weeks that it might start out dark and then get lighter.

So...I'm a red-head. It came out much darker than it said it would on the box, but this may be becuase my hair hasn't been dyed in over two years and is in good condition.

Quite funny, becuase Miles watched me fling hair dye all over the bathroom. Then, when rinsing, I managed to spray the entire bathroom down. ha!

At any rate, it's red now...makes my eyes seem bluer. It's a drastic change, to me, but it's nice to have that sort of change every once in a while.

It's quite boring around the flat now that both Frodo and Svenska are gone. Miles is driving me nuts; I keep throwing stuff at him to get him to leave me alone. It's as though he's not sure what to do now that everyone else is gone and he keeps walking around the flat, yowling, looking for Svenska.

I think I might go see a movie tonight.

Posted by calima at 02:53 PM | Comments (5)

August 08, 2005

survey

Well. The surveyor came this morning. I had thought that he would be here at 2 or something. I'm not sure why I said that. Though, thinking back, I'm sure it was probably 12.

At any rate, bang on 12-noon he buzzes and where am I? Yes. I am still asleep. I'm still in my jammies. I have to answer the door, then run and throw on some clothes, hair not combed, teeth not yet brushed, and let this stranger wander around my flat with his little gadgets and things.

And that's not even the worst of it. Our flat is a mess. Seriously. The rubbish hasn't been taken out in God knows how long, there are pizza boxes everywhere and oh good God.

*sigh*

So I apologised for the mess and he said he didn't care, but I know he's probably thinking, 'Gah, This girl lives in a sty. I hope she has people who come once a week to clean up after her'.

Ugh.

Well it's over now at least. Bygones.

Posted by calima at 12:36 PM | Comments (2)

August 07, 2005

gimme

I want chips and cheese.

Yes, it is 11am.

Yes, I am still in my jammies.

Yes, I just got up.

But dammit, I want my chips and cheese.

Posted by calima at 10:47 AM | Comments (2)

August 05, 2005

You have a talent for causin' things pain

I need a dentist...I've been trying to put it off, but it's becoming painful. I won't go into any details, but I knew this moment would come. Just goes to show you what a procrastinator I am.

I have no idea when I can get in to see one, as it's the weekend now, but I'll call on Monday and see if I can book an apptment as soon as.

Just figures...I was at work tonight, had to borrow 30p from someone to get a coke becuase the Machine from Hell decided it didn't want my pound coin, no matter how many different ways I tried to feed it.

I finally get a sip, at long last, of my icy cold coca cola and what happens? yes. Searing pain. So far, it's only causing me problems with cold drinks, but if it gets to a point where I can't have coffee then someone may loose a very valuable limb to my distress and frustration. (Not to mention my bad attitude).

I'm also quite relieved to report that drinking beer harms it not one bit, so I suppose I'll just have to drink beer from now on.

It's annoying though. In the most annoyingly annoying way.

I hate dentists. Never trust a man who's willing to put his hand in your mouth.

Posted by calima at 11:15 PM | Comments (4)

I've been waiting all week...

I'm so glad Friday's finally here. No, it's not becuase I look forward to the weekend (I don't), it's becuase it's finally payday, and this time I'm going to keep my money instead of using it to pay utilities. Yes, for one week I'm not going to be skint, living off beans and toast and water.

Thank. God.

Tomorrow night I finally get to have a proper night out. I've been out every night this week because of Frodo's play, but it didn't feel quite right because I couldn't afford to buy any drinks. Those who did buy drinks for me, knew they wouldn't get one in return, and I feel badly.

So by 'proper night out' I mean that I get to go out, buy drinks and enjoy myself guiltlessly all night long.

Then, maybe, afterward, I can get some takeaway. I've been dreaming about a kebab for the past two nights.

Dreaming about food doesn't surprise me. Lately, I've been back on my nicoffeine diet. Not becuase I necessarily planned to, it just seemed that my appetite had dissipated down to one meal per day. My body isn't very happy about this set up, but if it were doing its job properly, it would be telling me I'm hungry, then I would eat, and then I wouldn't have to deal with the sore stomach.

at least I'm losing weight though.

Miles is going NUTS without Svenska here. He keeps jumping out from shadows and attacking an ankle and then running off. Last night he put his ears back and ran full tilt to the kitchen and hid behind the table, waiting for me; prowling. He's kinda scary, actually, as he's not exactly a tiny kitty.

Off to nap now.

Posted by calima at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)

August 04, 2005

You're coming home....

My Svenska left yesterday to go back to Sweden for holiday. (On a side note, it amuses me when people go back to their hometown or birth-country and call it a 'holiday'). I must admit that I'm selfish and didn't want her to leave. My only solace was that I knew she was looking forward to going, and she's been working so hard, she needs the break.

Monday night, we had a very hilarious time trying to make Shakespearean ruffles for Frodo's play.

Svenska and I ate some dinner before she was to begin the task, and watched an episode of Buffy. Normally one episode of Buffy with dinner ends up being two or even three episodes, but I knew we were on a time constraint, and the episode we watched was the last on the tape, so there was no getting up to put in another tape. If it had been the first episode on the tape, we probably would have happilly watched the entire tape.

But...I digress.

Svenska started making the ruffs, while I puttered around on Beasty. Not long after, I heard Svenska cry out in anguish and went into her room to see what had happened.

She was not happy with the wire idea for the ruffs. So she asked me what I thought we should do. * I suggested forgoing the wire bit, and trying elastic to make the fabric ruffle naturally. Her eyes got wide a moment while she considered it, and then said, 'Yes! That's what we'll do. We'll use elastic.'

Satisfied that I had actually helped in some small way, I went back to beasty and left Svenska to make the ruffs. She appeared in the hall some time later, and produced a very funny looking clown collar.

'I hate it' she said.

It did look like something a clown, not the great Bard would wear. But I honstely thought it would suffice. Svenska didn't like the fabric. It was too stiff...she needed something more pliable.

Problem was that this was all the fabric that she had brought for the ruffs as she'd been so sure that it would work like a charm.

She approached me in the hall, after dumping every scrap of fabric she had on the floor and sifted through it. 'Calima?' she called sweetly, 'You don't have any white fabric anywhere, do you?'

Yes, I replied and snorted at the idea, 'The sheet on my bed'.

Can I have it?

...

So, Svenska took the sheet off my bed in order to use for the Shakespearean ruffs. This, my friends, is how costumes get made.

Later, while Svenska fretted over the new ruffs, I offered to make her the box of trifle we had in the cupboard.

What's trifle? she asked.
Dunno said I, But we're about to find out!

Trifle, as it turns out, is the weirdest British dessert in the world. (If any of you have ever seen the episode of Friends where Rachel makes trifle and accidently makes half-trifle and half-shephard's pie, let me tell you that trifle does not actually have beef and peas in it).

It is a layer of strawberry jam, with pound-cake-like biscuits on the bottom, covered with custard, covered with whipped cream, covered with chocolate sprinkles.

It is, by far, the weirdest dessert I've ever eaten (or made). Who in the world puts strawberry jam and custard together, mixes in some biscuits, tops it off with whipped cream and then decides that there should be some chocolate sprinkles?

At any rate, we gobbled down the trifle, then got back to making ruffs, whereupon, we both had on a ruff and sat laughing and pointing at each other.

Hey, if you can't laugh at your own creation, who can you laugh at?

The project finally finished up at about 430 that morning. Mission accomplished! Ruffles were made (and I was told they look pretty good on stage), trifle was made, and I get a new sheet for my bed courtesy of Rhymes with Purple. All in all, a successful night!

That entire story being relayed to you, you should now have an idea of why I'm going to miss Svenska. I will probably only survive by updating this journal too much.

ha!

Here is an English trifle recipe if you dare.

* One of the things that I love about Svenska, is that even though she's a genius at sewing and making costumes and I'm not, she never hesitates to ask me my opinion. She never says, 'Oh, you don't know what you're talking about! Shut up!' she always considers the idea, and then explains why it won't work, or using the idea as a jumping off point for another idea. This we call 'brainstorming'. It has worked in two out of two situations so far.

Posted by calima at 12:38 PM | Comments (3)

August 02, 2005

if it ain't broke...

...don't fix it.

The reverse also applies.

Today I received some mail from Mom that had been delivered to her house. Amongst the (mainly) trash, was a letter from Apple regarding my iPod. I opened it up, wondering what they could possibly want, and discovered a claim form for my iPod and a Notice of Pendency and Proposed settlement of Class Action from the State of California.

Can't say I was really expecting to receive that.

The claim form contains a lot about what generation iPod I have and whether I had problems with the battery in it and what I did about it.

I can't say I've really ever had any problems with my ipod, except for the one time I tried to update it and it freaked out and died. But, I got it working again by following the useful tools on Apple's website. Never had a problem with the battery though.

Being the honest person I am, I'm not going to send in any claim form. I might just follow the case and see how it gets on, but I've never had any reason to complain.

I do find it somewhat suspicious that the claim was sent to my mother's house in the US. I bought the ipod whilst in the UK. Hrmm....

I wonder if I did have a claim, if it would still be valid given that I live outside the U.S.?

At any rate, it's not broken so it doesn't need fixing.

I should also point out that if something is broken and does need fixing then you should get it fixed right away, whatever it is. If you ignore it, it won't fix itself, and it won't go away.

Heed my advice.

Posted by calima at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2005

Ok fess up

One of you has purchased something for me from my Wishlist.

You didn't sign anything.

Your name wasn't included.

I have no idea who did the wonderful deed. But thank you...it was a lovely gift.

You can fess up here or email me.

Or drive me crazy at night wondering who you are.

Thanks again!

Posted by calima at 07:50 PM | Comments (4)

I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad

I had a 'seeing' dream last night and was given some advice by someone about how to handle my future. It was more like a warning actually, which worried me a bit when i woke up this morning.

Another dream, however, led me to find that my friends and everyone I know from back home had come to Glasgow. The first person I saw was Cory, and I went to hug him and instead, he shook my hand. I then realised that he didn't recognise me.

I saw my mom, dad, brother, etc also. I was so excited to see them that I ran up to them and tried to hug each of them, but they looked at me with a blank stare. I thought they didn't recognise me, but they just didn't know me at all.

It was like I had never existed; like some weird 'It's a wonderful life' spin-off.

I was greatly saddened by this dream, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I haven't been home to visit in over a year now. I've never been away from home that long, not even my first year here. I've never actually lived more than an hour away from my folks, and now here I am, 3,000 miles away.

Last year at this time, I was just getting back from my visit home. I remember now how homesick I was for Glasgow. But when I'm here, I'm homesick for there. I wonder sometimes if I'll have to deal with one or the other for the rest of my life. I can't, now, imagine how my life would be if I'd never come to Glasgow at all. It's my home now.

I've found out recently that I have 17 days of holiday remaining from work that I have to use before Dec 31. I had saved all these up in the hopes that I could venture home. I'm hoping that I will be able to buy a ticket home for Christmas; after two Christmases away, I'll be happy to be with my family again for the festivities. I've never really liked Christmas, but who would have thought I would miss it so much?

That being said and pondered over, Beastie is being a big a-hole lately, giving me the Blue Screen of Death whenever he can. I sorted him out tonight and threatened to turn him into an end table, and he seemed to snap out of it. If he keeps playing up, I might have to harvest his organs and build a new computer.

Rather not have to resort to that, as my money is needed elsewhere. I thought about setting up a donation area for Beast to get new insides, but I scratch the thought now. The most Beast deserves at the moment is to be put by the roadside for the council to pick up.

I hope he doesn't read this and retaliate.

Posted by calima at 02:23 AM | Comments (2)

calima

the curious little yankee