Bits and Bobs

So this isn't the first time I've neglected this blog, but it's the first time I've had a legitimate reason. I've been working a full-time job and a part-time job, so time is at a premium.

So.

Firstly, a bit of bragging. Got my dissertation results in the mail the other day: distinction! Overall mark: distinction! Suffice it to say, I'm well chuffed.

Secondly, I've decided to participate in NaNoWriMo, which starts November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in a month, disproving the writerly myth that one can never find time to finish a novel. Between my two jobs and trying to catch up with everyone stateside, I'm not sure I'll be finish, but I will give it a go.

Thirdly, I saw two license plates while out driving today that made me snort/roll my eyes. The first was on a big SUV and it said: TACKL U. I'll take that under advisement. The second was on a beat-up something-or-other driven by a guy who looked like he had gang aspirations. It said: POPE 14. Does he take his mother to church in that jalopy?

Fourthly, NUFC are doing very well so far this season. Yes, they have been relegated to the Championship League, but if they continue the way they are, they will back in the Premier League next season, where they belong. Hopefully by then they will lose those awful, awful away kits.

That's all for now; I'm tired.

Draw Serge!: A Blog Review

J'aime yé-yé, particulièrement Serge Gainsbourg. I don't remember how I first came to Draw Serge! (I think it was maybe David Galletly?) Anyway, it has since become a pleasant addition to my Google Reader, bringing a new portrait of Serge from a different artist every few days or so. I enjoy blogs with specific themes like this, because it's always nice to see how people can interpret something in completely different ways.

I suggest scrolling through this page while listening to Histoire de Melody Nelson with a glass of wine and a Gauloise. Or maybe not that last one because apparently cigarettes are bad for you.

Awful Library Books: A Blog Review

I like libraries. I like the obsolete card catalogs and the unnatural quiet. I like the dewey decimal system despite being shit with numbers. I like that you can borrow movies for free even though I have never done this. I just like the fact that you can. Unfortunately, public libraries aren't known for being the most up-to-date organizations.

Awful Library Books is a blog I found which focuses on whether certain tomes should be purged from the shelves. It's not about censorship, rather, it's a tongue-in-cheek look at books that are old-fashioned, outdated, or just plain odd.

Here is an example: Crafts for Retarded.

So many things to say about this one, I don't even know where to begin... the title? The swastika-decorated "Indian" tom tom?

Happy reading!

Welcome to 2000 and Late: A Blog Review

Wow, I've actually fulfilled my idle promise to update this thing today.  I might need a lie down from the shock.

I'm a bit behind with this whole blogging thing.  Apparently people have been blogging on the Internet* for a while now, but I just recently started to take it seriously.  I've been filling up my Google Reader with blogs that I've found or that friends have recommended and I'll be writing up little reviews of them here from time to time.

I'll start with Portraits as Living Deads, which I mentioned a few posts back.  This blog is the brainchild (ha ha) of Frederik Peeters, a French guy who does drawings of celebrities as zombies.  His work is carefully done and really captures the essence of the subject.  Unfortunately, he stopped posting in May, but it's still worth checking out.  Look for footy fan favorites Zizou (Zinedine Zidane) and Man Ho (Cristiano Ronaldo).

*I refuse to say things like "blogosphere."

Ambition.

I am going to try to make something of this blog, maybe post some reviews of something or other.

However, that will have to start tomorrow, because I can't be bothered to do anything right now.

News.

I turned in all of my second semester work on Monday which was a big weight off my shoulders.  Now the only work I need to worry about is my dissertation, due in at the end of August.  Oh, and trying to find a job.

In other news, I am going to be an aunt.  You all know how I feel about babies, but at least this one will have an English accent.

Zombie Sunday

Today, in the Christian world, is Easter Sunday, the day in which Jesus rose from the dead.  Technically, this makes him a zombie, no?

In Jesus's honor, I'd like to direct you to my new favorite blog: Portraits as Living Deads.

Enjoy!

xx

Here's the craic.

When I was about 8 or so, I spent a lot of time listening to my mom's old records.  In particular, I listened to Simon and Garfunkel: Greatest Hits and the Godspell soundtrack.  I'm not sure why.  I don't especially like musicals all that much.

In 8th grade, I had a big crush on the guy who played Jesus in our high school production of Godspell.  This past week or so, all I've been listening to is... Simon and Garfunkel: Greatest Hits and the Godspell soundtrack.  I can't explain it.

Tuesday is St. Patrick's Day.  After my Tuesday evening class I will be boarding a plane to Dublin with some friends.  They call it St. Patrick's Week over there.  I'm pretty pumped.  We're leaving at the buttcrack of dawn Thursday morning to get back to Newcastle in time for our Thursday morning class.  Go go go.

I'll finally be having a break after next week, a month off for Easter hols.  I'm heading to Barcelona April 6 and Nice April 15.

Other than that, it's been working like mad and watching a lot of football.  I'm pretty content.

Howay man!

x

My Life Lately.

I've been doing lots of writing and reading, which I love.

I turned 25 and basically celebrated for a whole week.

I ate authentic French crepes on Thanksgiving.  Vive la France!

I've been missing everyone in the US a lot and have not-so-secretly been counting down the days until I get on a plane.

I've been dancing up a storm and making others do the same.

I saw The Mighty Boosh Live the other day and can now die happy.  What an amazing show!

I want to do more exploring and traveling and picture-taking.  Maybe I'll start now.

Over and out.

xx

The Cooperage.

The Cooperage is, I think, my new favorite place.  It is the oldest building in Newcastle and is right by the river.  It is also haunted, with a certificate on the rafters to prove it.  There's lots of different rooms that play different music and you can lost trying to find your friends.  Also, perhaps most importantly, the drinks are cheap.

Har har.

I found 5p today and it was like finding TEN CENTS!

Fact.

There is no hell, only summertime in Philadelphia.

Yes, this is news.

I watched Star Wars for the first time.  I guess I have to watch the other two now.

Maybe I'll be bold and watch Lord of the Rings.

Maybe.

Wisdom.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

It's very hard to talk to someone who has absolutely no sense of humor.

The saddest thing.

I think the saddest thing I've ever seen is one person riding a tandem bike.

Dance Dance Revolution.

I've been listening to a lot of Michael Jackson lately.  I want an eighties night dammit!!!

Rocky Raccoon.

I almost hit a raccoon last night!!!  That is one of the dangers of living in The Nature.  After I got over the initial bit of shock, I couldn't get that song out of my head.

Mystery ailments.

I tend to get a lot of cuts and bruises on my hands, but I can never figure out where they come from.  Does this happen to anyone else?  I'm sure it does.

Also, I get what I call icepick headaches every now and then.  This is when it feels like someone is piercing your brain with an icepick and it hurts so bad you feel like you're going to die.  It lasts between 15 and 30 seconds and disappears as quickly as it comes.

No worries?

Cell Phones.

I text message sometimes. When I do, I like to use T9 which predicts the word you want to use as you press the keys. My problem with T9 is that there are words I use that it doesn't recognize, like "bagel" and "ninja," so I have to switch to the regular type of texting. Boo.

Sheesh!

Jealousy is a useless emotion.

Resolution

Not to swear so damn much.

Good car.

My car no longer sounds like an angry cat.  Things are good.

Note(s) to self

1. It might be time to bring out the winter coat.
2. Money does not grow on trees.

New Year's Hopeful

I found this on my computer from New Year's 2005.  We need to find fun, excitement, and many many drinks for this New Year's.

music confusion

I was doing some Christmas shopping at the mall today, when I was drawn into some stores I wouldn't normally go into, only because they played music that I liked.  Did I go into Coach because I needed a new handbag?  No, I went into Coach because they were playing Daft Punk.  I didn't go into Finish Line because I needed new running shoes.  They were playing Peter Bjorn and John.  The music I was hearing didn't fit the stores' aesthetics.  Were they trying to lure in unlikely customers like myself?  The joke was on them because I didn't buy anything.  I bought a pretzel instead.

Happy birthday to ME

I share a birthday with:

Terry Gilliam

Jamie Lee Curtis

Mark Ruffalo

Geraldine Page

Mads Mikkelsen

Richard Kind

Mariel Hemingway

Steve Van Zandt

Scarlett Johansson

Donald Sutherland?

I thought I saw Donald Sutherland on Market Street this morning, but I was mistaken.

The English

I've spent the last week with Concetta and Lindsy, hanging out with these two guys.  Their show opened at Amble Gallery on Friday, but not many people came.  It's too bad because the show is actually very good.  I bought a piece for my slowly growing art collection.  We all went bowling and dancing, and drank a LOT of booze.  Good times.  Now it's back to normal...

1-2-3

I have decided to try my hand at this blogging thing. No guarantee I will stick with it. The only thing of interest I have to say at the mo is I participated in my first ever drunken spelling bee at Bob & Barbara's. It got started late and I could only spell one word before I had to get the last train out of the city. Still, good times. More later?