Sunday, March 28, 2004
Gabba gabba hey! How y'all doing (I know you can't answer just now, but I am probably going to put a comments link on this site soon- no doubt a terrible idea, but hey!)
I've been pretty good this week, even if I did spend most of thursday trying to secure our computer from the scum of the internet (its a dangerous place out there). This connection is impossibly slow, even worse than the work one, so I'll probably upgrade to Broadband as soon as we've honoured this contract.
Finished reading 'Coraline', a kids book by neil gaiman. It was very good, but as Gill rightly pointed out, most of his writing is suitable for kids anyway. This is not to say he is a childish writer, he takes on some pretty big themes and stuff, but it is very accessable writing, and plot wise, usually quite straightforward. This is no bad thing as far as I'm concerned, and is how I would like to write someday, but my work isn't coming out naturally at the minute, and I was always told (though not in reference to writing) if it ain't coming naturally, don't push it.
Also watched 'So Close' yesterday, a kick ass chop socky Hong Kong flic with three dead hot chicks in it. As you can imagine, I liked it a lot (whats not to like) and we're gonna see school of rock a little later on.
*****Cyst Watch UK******
Well, the docters didn't lie, and the results of my cryosurgury are kicking in in quite a gruesome fashion. Rather than just rot and drop off, as I was expecting, the effects of the nitrogen seem to be stripping the skin off layer by layer, which is not very satifying. It looks nasty, and every time I brush my nose on the curtains, for example, I wince in pain. Still, shouldn't be long now.
I've been pretty good this week, even if I did spend most of thursday trying to secure our computer from the scum of the internet (its a dangerous place out there). This connection is impossibly slow, even worse than the work one, so I'll probably upgrade to Broadband as soon as we've honoured this contract.
Finished reading 'Coraline', a kids book by neil gaiman. It was very good, but as Gill rightly pointed out, most of his writing is suitable for kids anyway. This is not to say he is a childish writer, he takes on some pretty big themes and stuff, but it is very accessable writing, and plot wise, usually quite straightforward. This is no bad thing as far as I'm concerned, and is how I would like to write someday, but my work isn't coming out naturally at the minute, and I was always told (though not in reference to writing) if it ain't coming naturally, don't push it.
Also watched 'So Close' yesterday, a kick ass chop socky Hong Kong flic with three dead hot chicks in it. As you can imagine, I liked it a lot (whats not to like) and we're gonna see school of rock a little later on.
*****Cyst Watch UK******
Well, the docters didn't lie, and the results of my cryosurgury are kicking in in quite a gruesome fashion. Rather than just rot and drop off, as I was expecting, the effects of the nitrogen seem to be stripping the skin off layer by layer, which is not very satifying. It looks nasty, and every time I brush my nose on the curtains, for example, I wince in pain. Still, shouldn't be long now.
Gabba Gabba Hey!
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Whats up fans and fanettes?
Since the last post I have FINALLY got connected to the net at home, so theoretically at least I should be able to spend a bit more time and take a bit more care with this piece of shit blog. Oh, yeah, the swearing will probably be upped as well (sorry mum) as I have to be careful what I write in the library; if I have to leave the computer to go and serve Vernon or Marge public, some nosy gobsheen will be perfectly within their rights to read what I'm writing and summarily report it to my boss.
While we're on the subject of my boss, I am so fed up with her bullshit. She's perfectly nice to me, of course, because as you are all well aware I am, in fact, an Angel and no-one could possibly take issue with any aspect of my behaviour, but she will not stop bitching about one of my co-workers. Now, granted the co-worker in question is a bit slack for someone who has been on the job for 15 odd years, but no-one deserves this kind of vitriol without the chance to defend themselves. I can actually get along with her fine, but it seems I am in the minority, and having seen what has become of other people who have 'Taken her side' (ie, spoken out about the bitching) I doubt if its worth the headache. Working with women sucks. It was the same when I worked in that mushroom house as a nipper, and it was the same at the pub.
Enough of this cods.
I also visited the doctors yesterday to have that little wart on my face sorted out. Rather than cut it off like I'd expected, I got sprayed with liquid nitrogen and told that I can expect it to 'drop off of it's own accord' some time in the next week (!) Now, I'm not an unreasonable person (see above) but this seems to me a bit off. How can I relax over my pot noodle (if I ate the wretched things) knowing that its quite possible a cyst will fall from MY FACE into my food? The best was yet to come though, as I was leaving, the nurse casually said 'don't worry if it doesn't come off all the way, just book back in for our next cryosurgury in two months and we'll finish it of. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SIMPLE IN AND OUT PROCEEDURE YOU SICK SHITEHAWK! I'm gonna leave uglier than when I came in, and I'm gonna spend the next two months wondering if part of my face is 'ready' to drop off.
I think I'll just remove it myself if it hasn't gone by the end of the week.
I'll let you know how that goes.
Since the last post I have FINALLY got connected to the net at home, so theoretically at least I should be able to spend a bit more time and take a bit more care with this piece of shit blog. Oh, yeah, the swearing will probably be upped as well (sorry mum) as I have to be careful what I write in the library; if I have to leave the computer to go and serve Vernon or Marge public, some nosy gobsheen will be perfectly within their rights to read what I'm writing and summarily report it to my boss.
While we're on the subject of my boss, I am so fed up with her bullshit. She's perfectly nice to me, of course, because as you are all well aware I am, in fact, an Angel and no-one could possibly take issue with any aspect of my behaviour, but she will not stop bitching about one of my co-workers. Now, granted the co-worker in question is a bit slack for someone who has been on the job for 15 odd years, but no-one deserves this kind of vitriol without the chance to defend themselves. I can actually get along with her fine, but it seems I am in the minority, and having seen what has become of other people who have 'Taken her side' (ie, spoken out about the bitching) I doubt if its worth the headache. Working with women sucks. It was the same when I worked in that mushroom house as a nipper, and it was the same at the pub.
Enough of this cods.
I also visited the doctors yesterday to have that little wart on my face sorted out. Rather than cut it off like I'd expected, I got sprayed with liquid nitrogen and told that I can expect it to 'drop off of it's own accord' some time in the next week (!) Now, I'm not an unreasonable person (see above) but this seems to me a bit off. How can I relax over my pot noodle (if I ate the wretched things) knowing that its quite possible a cyst will fall from MY FACE into my food? The best was yet to come though, as I was leaving, the nurse casually said 'don't worry if it doesn't come off all the way, just book back in for our next cryosurgury in two months and we'll finish it of. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SIMPLE IN AND OUT PROCEEDURE YOU SICK SHITEHAWK! I'm gonna leave uglier than when I came in, and I'm gonna spend the next two months wondering if part of my face is 'ready' to drop off.
I think I'll just remove it myself if it hasn't gone by the end of the week.
I'll let you know how that goes.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Well, I'm feeling a little better now.
Mickey is out of intensive care now and in the childrens ward, so presumably he's as well as can be expected.
I went out for something to eat and some beers last night with Marybeth and Jonathan and had a generally good St. Paddy's. This morning I've finished my ECDL scoring 94 in my Access test, which was the one I was worried about.
This Youth Action Group thing that I've become involved with at work has taken on a degree of seriousness I hope I'm ready for: I'm setting up a videogame club in the Library for teens, and because the money that has been allocated has to be spent by the end of the week, I have to go console shopping today, which is good and fun and all the rest, but scary as well. We don't even have the room spare to store this stuff, let alone set it up and use it. No doubt these things will be sorted out in time.
Anyhoo, I'd better get on with that. Until next time y'all.
Mickey is out of intensive care now and in the childrens ward, so presumably he's as well as can be expected.
I went out for something to eat and some beers last night with Marybeth and Jonathan and had a generally good St. Paddy's. This morning I've finished my ECDL scoring 94 in my Access test, which was the one I was worried about.
This Youth Action Group thing that I've become involved with at work has taken on a degree of seriousness I hope I'm ready for: I'm setting up a videogame club in the Library for teens, and because the money that has been allocated has to be spent by the end of the week, I have to go console shopping today, which is good and fun and all the rest, but scary as well. We don't even have the room spare to store this stuff, let alone set it up and use it. No doubt these things will be sorted out in time.
Anyhoo, I'd better get on with that. Until next time y'all.
Monday, March 15, 2004
...A black day.
All sorts of depressing things are happening. The father of one of my best mates is very sick again, won't go into too much detail as he will probably not appreciate, there's this mess in Spain, and last night my workmates son was in a bad traffic accident when his girlfriends father was dropping him home. He's in intensive care now, and his girlfriends father didn't survive the crash.
I have been in no mood to put forward a welcoming face to our borrowers. Scratch that- I feel positively affronted at having to sort out their shitty little problems. They aren't to know, of course, but I just can't keep my mind on the job. Or typing for that matter.
All sorts of depressing things are happening. The father of one of my best mates is very sick again, won't go into too much detail as he will probably not appreciate, there's this mess in Spain, and last night my workmates son was in a bad traffic accident when his girlfriends father was dropping him home. He's in intensive care now, and his girlfriends father didn't survive the crash.
I have been in no mood to put forward a welcoming face to our borrowers. Scratch that- I feel positively affronted at having to sort out their shitty little problems. They aren't to know, of course, but I just can't keep my mind on the job. Or typing for that matter.
Saturday, March 13, 2004
So I've just read Chuck Palahniuk's short story 'Guts' in the Guardian weekend. Didn't think it would have much effect on me, but as soon as I finished reading I felt really really sick- and I had to go to the bog, yet was scared to do so...
Anyways, this week has been fairly humdrum. Finished reading Neverwhere by Gaiman, very good it was too, and started on 'Timequake' by Kurt Vonnegutt. My day off this week was slightly more constructive than usual- I wrote a bunch of reviews of games and films in the morning, then sent them off as examples of my work to local papers. Since I'm in the jaws of a creative dry spell, I've decided to fill my time making little of the efforts of others to salve my ego. No doubt the local papers will think as much of my work as everyone else has (not much) but it is still, the action of posting something to someone gives me a fuzzy feeling of pro-activity that really quite hard to beat.
Those jism monkeys at Amazon have screwed me again. Well, perhaps not, but my order is taking ages. It all started in January when I ordered a calender and a DVD from them. Admittedly the calender had to be imported from Japan, but fast forward to March, and only now do they get round to telling me they cannot get it. Now the DVD (Which is Chinese, but on release over here) is over a week late, and when you consider that I could have walked into HMV and bought it two months ago (albeit at a cost of £10 more, probably), you may see why I'm irked.
Emma popped into work yesterday too. She knows someone who works on 'Sandman' (local music mag, not Gaimans masterpiece) and she reckons they are always pretty desperate for live music reviews, so even though I am singularly unqualified to write such things, the imperative to see my stuff in print means that I will probably start bombarding them with my witterings any time now too.
'As if' started again today. HOORAY! not as good as having it on on Sunday mornings, but I'm not complaining. And Sooz has done her hair all lovely and red.
Later...
Anyways, this week has been fairly humdrum. Finished reading Neverwhere by Gaiman, very good it was too, and started on 'Timequake' by Kurt Vonnegutt. My day off this week was slightly more constructive than usual- I wrote a bunch of reviews of games and films in the morning, then sent them off as examples of my work to local papers. Since I'm in the jaws of a creative dry spell, I've decided to fill my time making little of the efforts of others to salve my ego. No doubt the local papers will think as much of my work as everyone else has (not much) but it is still, the action of posting something to someone gives me a fuzzy feeling of pro-activity that really quite hard to beat.
Those jism monkeys at Amazon have screwed me again. Well, perhaps not, but my order is taking ages. It all started in January when I ordered a calender and a DVD from them. Admittedly the calender had to be imported from Japan, but fast forward to March, and only now do they get round to telling me they cannot get it. Now the DVD (Which is Chinese, but on release over here) is over a week late, and when you consider that I could have walked into HMV and bought it two months ago (albeit at a cost of £10 more, probably), you may see why I'm irked.
Emma popped into work yesterday too. She knows someone who works on 'Sandman' (local music mag, not Gaimans masterpiece) and she reckons they are always pretty desperate for live music reviews, so even though I am singularly unqualified to write such things, the imperative to see my stuff in print means that I will probably start bombarding them with my witterings any time now too.
'As if' started again today. HOORAY! not as good as having it on on Sunday mornings, but I'm not complaining. And Sooz has done her hair all lovely and red.
Later...
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
My dear mother phoned me up to give me a bit of an ear bashing for not having called in over a week last night. I wonder how she would feel if, like my sisters and my friends, she'd be lucky to get one phone call biannually. Its not that I don't like talking to them you understand, I'm just cripplingly lazy when it comes to shit like that, and when I do phone people I know, the only effect it really serves is reminding me just how little 'news' I have, outside of what films/books/TV shows/flavour of peanuts I'm currently enjoying, and that really ain't worth pickin the phone up for. That, in fact, is why god gave us blogs.
I am confident that this state of affairs will change though, as this not-having-a-life malarky is not really working out for me. Once upon a time, whenever something shite came on telly, rather than watch it anyway, I'd go upstairs and do some writing instead- thus forgoing the whole 'I could write better than this' chestnut (as my dad says). The trouble with this was that the good people at Channel 4/BBC/everyone else didn't see it this way, and if they had even considered me worth talking to, would have probably advised me to stay in front of the box watching Hollyoaks after all. These people, I need hardly tell you, are wrong, and though I have yet to experience the upswing in my creative juices that I thought my Lenten sacrifices would herald, I am definitely getting pissed off enough to start writing letters again.
...Then they'll be sorry.
I am confident that this state of affairs will change though, as this not-having-a-life malarky is not really working out for me. Once upon a time, whenever something shite came on telly, rather than watch it anyway, I'd go upstairs and do some writing instead- thus forgoing the whole 'I could write better than this' chestnut (as my dad says). The trouble with this was that the good people at Channel 4/BBC/everyone else didn't see it this way, and if they had even considered me worth talking to, would have probably advised me to stay in front of the box watching Hollyoaks after all. These people, I need hardly tell you, are wrong, and though I have yet to experience the upswing in my creative juices that I thought my Lenten sacrifices would herald, I am definitely getting pissed off enough to start writing letters again.
...Then they'll be sorry.
Monday, March 08, 2004
the bastard fleas have yet to vacate the premises...
Gills mum told us about some kind of bug bomb you can detonate in your front room, which apparently annihilates all forms of life if left to fume for a couple of hours. Intriguing as this sounds, the practicalities (viz a viz taking all the cats, plants, probiotic yoghurts etc... out of the flat for the guts of a day) may pose a problem or two. Besides, if the cats hadn't been let outside in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.
Watched a pretty good little indie film last night called 'fast sofa'. I enjoyed it more for the performances than anything, I've never seen Jake Busey in a starring role before, and I just love his big drooling sneering face- and his hair was hilarious. Also, Jennifer Tilly (hothothot) was in it and Crispin Glover who is wicked (Haha Biff and George McFly together again at last- I always knew they could get along without that tosser Marty butting in all the time).
...I appear to have become distracted, it’s the end of a long day, and I'm lapsing into babble. I'll stop now.
Today was Gillos first day at work, and all I know at this time is that she has her own laptop, so I'm already jealous...
The OC started last night here, and despite not fancying the look of it much, I thought anything with involvement from McG and Doug Liman would be worth a look. And it was. Not fantastic by any means, but just right for that time on a sunday afternoon. Popworld is still the best thing that’s happened to sundays since 'As If' though, myself and Gill have an ongoing debate about whether Simon and Miquita should have a more high-profile show that does justice to their talents, but their current timeslot not only affords them some cult kudos, but also they sneak an awful lot more bitching and sniping and piss funny barbs under the radar than they would ever get away with on a primetime slot. Westlife, Britney and Beenie man are just some of the people who refuse to talk to them anymore after feeling the sharp end of Simons sarcasm, in fact the only people who seem to take all their shit in the spirit its intended is Blazin' squad, which explains why they crop up in interviews every week or two.
Enough of this barnacles, I have to go home...
Gills mum told us about some kind of bug bomb you can detonate in your front room, which apparently annihilates all forms of life if left to fume for a couple of hours. Intriguing as this sounds, the practicalities (viz a viz taking all the cats, plants, probiotic yoghurts etc... out of the flat for the guts of a day) may pose a problem or two. Besides, if the cats hadn't been let outside in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.
Watched a pretty good little indie film last night called 'fast sofa'. I enjoyed it more for the performances than anything, I've never seen Jake Busey in a starring role before, and I just love his big drooling sneering face- and his hair was hilarious. Also, Jennifer Tilly (hothothot) was in it and Crispin Glover who is wicked (Haha Biff and George McFly together again at last- I always knew they could get along without that tosser Marty butting in all the time).
...I appear to have become distracted, it’s the end of a long day, and I'm lapsing into babble. I'll stop now.
Today was Gillos first day at work, and all I know at this time is that she has her own laptop, so I'm already jealous...
The OC started last night here, and despite not fancying the look of it much, I thought anything with involvement from McG and Doug Liman would be worth a look. And it was. Not fantastic by any means, but just right for that time on a sunday afternoon. Popworld is still the best thing that’s happened to sundays since 'As If' though, myself and Gill have an ongoing debate about whether Simon and Miquita should have a more high-profile show that does justice to their talents, but their current timeslot not only affords them some cult kudos, but also they sneak an awful lot more bitching and sniping and piss funny barbs under the radar than they would ever get away with on a primetime slot. Westlife, Britney and Beenie man are just some of the people who refuse to talk to them anymore after feeling the sharp end of Simons sarcasm, in fact the only people who seem to take all their shit in the spirit its intended is Blazin' squad, which explains why they crop up in interviews every week or two.
Enough of this barnacles, I have to go home...
Saturday, March 06, 2004
well, its been a pretty good week.
Gill turned 28 on thursday, and we went out to see the Lady (as in Fast Lady, pauls band) play on Wednesday. We had a great night, its been ages since we saw Gaz, everyone's favourite wheeler dealer cum rock messiah, who it still promising to move back to sheffield any day now.
Marybeth and Jonno came out too, and we all got blissfully blitzed (except ruth, who was driving)
For some reason I spent all the following day trying to rid our house of the fleas that regan and twinkle brought in, and gave myself a bitchin headache. By teatime I was really quite nauseous and I'd booked to eat in Nirmals (dead dead good indian in sheff) but my appetite was kaput by this stage and I could just look on with mingled envy and disgust while Gill tucked in. Had a very nice time all the same.
some scummy public person wants to use this computer now, so I'll have to continue the tale another time.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast...
Gill turned 28 on thursday, and we went out to see the Lady (as in Fast Lady, pauls band) play on Wednesday. We had a great night, its been ages since we saw Gaz, everyone's favourite wheeler dealer cum rock messiah, who it still promising to move back to sheffield any day now.
Marybeth and Jonno came out too, and we all got blissfully blitzed (except ruth, who was driving)
For some reason I spent all the following day trying to rid our house of the fleas that regan and twinkle brought in, and gave myself a bitchin headache. By teatime I was really quite nauseous and I'd booked to eat in Nirmals (dead dead good indian in sheff) but my appetite was kaput by this stage and I could just look on with mingled envy and disgust while Gill tucked in. Had a very nice time all the same.
some scummy public person wants to use this computer now, so I'll have to continue the tale another time.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast...
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Oh to be rich...
I'm trying to not spend any money this lent on books/dvds/vids etc as I have an enourmous backlog of stuff waiting to be read/watched that I keep adding to rather than working through. The thinking was that this would save me a load of money too, alas it is not so. I can't seem to get through a day without some 'essential' purchase straying into my ken.
The smoking thing is not going well either; I've had two cigs this last two days, and a drag on Gills whenever she sparks up. Not as bad as it might be admittedly, but hardly the cold turkey treatment I'd envisioned.
I may or may not be applying for a new post in the library service. I would still be based at Hillsborough, but would be responsible for all the library service points having consistent policies and operating proceedures. The nature of the work does not really appeal, but the money is far better than what I'm on, and since I'm here working in the library, I figure I may as well try to advance myself...
Rapidly losing confidence in my future as a writer. I know all aspiring artists get knock backs and confidence blows, but even I am starting to suspect that it may all be self-delusion. I'll probably stick with it over lent at any rate- since I have eliminated every other thing I do with my spare time, more or less, but after that, who knows?
I'm trying to not spend any money this lent on books/dvds/vids etc as I have an enourmous backlog of stuff waiting to be read/watched that I keep adding to rather than working through. The thinking was that this would save me a load of money too, alas it is not so. I can't seem to get through a day without some 'essential' purchase straying into my ken.
The smoking thing is not going well either; I've had two cigs this last two days, and a drag on Gills whenever she sparks up. Not as bad as it might be admittedly, but hardly the cold turkey treatment I'd envisioned.
I may or may not be applying for a new post in the library service. I would still be based at Hillsborough, but would be responsible for all the library service points having consistent policies and operating proceedures. The nature of the work does not really appeal, but the money is far better than what I'm on, and since I'm here working in the library, I figure I may as well try to advance myself...
Rapidly losing confidence in my future as a writer. I know all aspiring artists get knock backs and confidence blows, but even I am starting to suspect that it may all be self-delusion. I'll probably stick with it over lent at any rate- since I have eliminated every other thing I do with my spare time, more or less, but after that, who knows?
