tinhuviel: (Default)

Thursdays get me down. Why? Because they are the only day that feels like it should be Friday, but isn't, yet it is too late in the week to resign yourself to the bitter fate of what is called a "work week." Why do we enslave ourselves to the notion of such trivial and fabricated ideas?

The good news, however, is that it's raining. And the temperature is at a more sane level. Here's a look outside my window at approximately 11 AM, Eastern.  

For quite a few days, the temperature never made it anywhere close to freezing during the warmest part of the day.  As a result, David's well-water froze as if he lived on the moon Europa, which isn't too very far off from Fountain Inn.  He's been collecting water from my pad, and showering here during this difficult time. One pipe near the well actually burst, but it wasn't a life-changing, bank-breaking ordeal, so he was lucky there.

I've been doing my laundry at his place but, obviously, no clothes were being washed during this deep freeze, so now I'm dealing with Chinese-laundry-level cleaning to do.  Luckily, I'll be able to address that later on, since I'm heading for D's this afternoon.  We're having a laundry-themed pyjama party that will end with his hauling my butt to the doctor tomorrow morning.  I'm going to be harassing her for some topical stye ointment.  Don't ask, just nod in agreement and move on.  Whilst partying with dirty clothes, I'm guessing we'll finish up the movie, Splice.  After that, maybe we'll check out some Riverdale.  David seems to think it would behove me to visually ingest this television show.  Since I used to really be into Archie Comics, and I've heard some nice dark things about this interpretation, I'm not at all averse to the suggestion.  We shall see.  I still need to catch him up on Breaking Bad, so there's that as well.  

Not to mention he's gotten me started on building LEGOs.  Fucking LEGOs.  When I was a kid, I always wanted to get into LEGO, but we just couldn't afford it.  Now, I'm 50, and I built my very first LEGO just the other night.  One super-awesome Wonder Woman.  I took a picture, but I got a message from D later, letting me know I'd forgotten her.  I explained that I assumed he was just letting me put her together. Apparently, if you assemble a LEGO, it's yours. Do they imprint? Who knew?

Anyway, it's Thursday, and it's raining, so that makes it a good Thursday.  Good Thursdays are rare.  The only way this could be a better Thursday would be if Robert Mueller had Donald Trump, his family, and every last one of his allies and supporters arrested and publicly shamed.  Guess that's too much to ask at this precise mo, though.
 

tinhuviel: (Default)

Thanks to the slightly uncomfortable cold weather, D and I resorted to wearing hats to keep our brainpans from collecting permafrost. It turns out, such activity turns us into Pop Culture icons. For reference, please take a gander at Charlie's legendary Winter cap. As for my headgear, I'm thinking it speaks for itself.

tinhuviel: (Augury)

That's the title of a Peter Gabriel song, but I'm certain anyone who may read this knows that speck of trivia. What does a Peter Gabriel song subject line mean, though? What does it reference?

Drumming and weather. That's pretty much it.

Later on this afternoon, we're supposed to go to a drum circle. I'm not sure if we're attending the Rainbow Family event in Balboa Park, or heading up to Carlsbad for their brouhaha by the beach.

Whichever one we're going to, I'll still be wearing short-sleeves and sandals with no socks. This is not post-Thanksgiving weather... I've been messing around with a new theory about Southern California and its inhabitants: The area is deeply influenced by alternate opinions, artistic expression, political leanings, and a general rabid hipster/purebred Hippie world view. Why? People gotta stay busy putting the spice usually provided by interesting weather back into a pretty boring, uneventful meteorological yawn-fest. This is the kind of weather most everyone seems to adore, but it's ever single fucking day! Perfect spring/summer weather can be safely assumed when you open your eyes each day. The only way to mark today as being different from the others, is to shake things up in the sphere of your influence. Going to drum with the 'natives' is a perfect way to overcome meteorological apathy.

A while back, when I mentioned once having and playing a bodhrán a few years ago, Matt grew quite curious about it, so much so, he ended up buying a bodhrán! Using a pretty good intro I found on You Tube on how to play bodhrán and achieve "rolls" or "triplets", I showed him how to start slowly and focus on loosening your grip and your wrist as you increase the rhythm. He feels like he will be unable to play the bodhrán, but I think he did pretty well. We'll be taking that along with the djembes and other percussion when we head out later.

Sometime in December, I think, the Rainbow Family is organising a weekend camping event in the desert. Even though I have zero camping gear, I would still love to go to this, mainly to escape the light pollution and be able to see the cradle of creation that is our Milky Way. I don't care what crawls on me, I want to see the Milky Way!

tinhuviel: (Andy Partridge)
You discover that you're making inane posts about absolutely nothing just for the chance to toast yourself over the warm keyboards.

Well...

Aug. 7th, 2012 02:59 pm
tinhuviel: (Super Sane T)
This schizophrenic weather is giving me a schizophrenic body response. Because it was rainy and stormy all night long, the temperature never had a chance to reach its normal level of hell degrees. That means that it's too cold for air conditioning, yet too hot without it. Blankets are too much, but short sleeves leave me feeling like Cold Miser is sodomising me. What do I do in a situation like this? Suffer, I suppose.

I am watching X-Men: First Class for the 258347520th time, because I accidentally picked that one up when I meant to get 2012. That's okay, though. I could look at Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy all day long. And I adore Magneto's message. When you look at it from my point of view, that of a Jew and Witch, when he says "I've been at the mercy of men just following orders. Never again," my soul gets all jiggly. Good for Erik Lensherr. Good for all those who get pissed off enough to take back their personal power. It's not revenge, it's retribution; it's the Sith way. >:| It's what the Goddess Nemesis does.

Speaking of Nemesis, there's this news about yet another Star Trek reboot. I wish I could say I was excited but really, if Shinzon isn't in it, I really can't be bothered.

Tomorrow is my first appointment with the actual grief therapist. Even though it's my inclination to give an "everything is fine" response to everything and, honestly, I may have watched way too much Lie to Me, taking notes for future Tim Roth Tutorials. My problem is that my frankness is gonna end up making me cry, and then I'll have to slaughter everyone within a two mile radius. I don't like to cry in front of others. No, that's too weak. I really really really hate it.

Alrighty then, it's time to turn the A/C back on. Kill me now, please.
tinhuviel: (Snow)
I just had to turn the heater up a tiddly tad. I can't feel my digits. I'm not complaining that it's finally feeling like Winter, Goddess knows it's about time we had some seasonal temperatures to stave off the local pestilence. I'm just perplexed that last night's low was around 40 and tonight's is forecast to be 19. If our weather were any more schizophrenic, Mother Nature would have to get Herself a psychiatrist.

It may be time for a hot cuppa tea. Who cares about the caffeine? I've already been awake going on 40 hours or so, so I don't think some tea would be very detrimental at this point.
tinhuviel: (Cadmus - Long Hair)
So I'm back at the hospital. Aunt Tudi is asleep, just the way I left her at 1 this afternoon. That stress test, combined with the phenergin they're giving her for nausea, has really kicked her ass in a mighty way. When I got here, I spied a flower arrangement, sent from [livejournal.com profile] acook and [livejournal.com profile] gunslingaaahhh. Aunt Tudi hasn't seen the flowers yet. When she does, she's gonna have a hissy fit of joy. I don't think anyone other than me has ever sent her flowers when she's in the hospital. See, Aunt Tudi has always been a caregiver and, therefore, pretty much taken for granted. When she needs a little TLC herself, people tend to forget about her and just assume she knows they care about her. As a result, I've heard more than once from Aunt Tudi, once she gets out of the hospital, "You know, Tracy, I bet the hospital staff think I'm a terrible person because I never get phone calls, visits, or cards. I just lie in that room by myself except for you, and that's a sign of someone who is basically hated." And it just really hurts her to the bone, and me too, for her. So the phone calls she's gotten, and this flower arrangement, combined with the visits, and the balloon and card from yesterday have really surprised her and made her very very happy. Thank you all so much. I'm a bit teary-eyed myself, thinking about how very cool all of you are. You so rock, there's just no way to express it sufficiently in human language. Maybe if I could say it in Quenya...

There is another storm on the horizon. It's every night's business, which didn't used to be the case. And some people contend there's no such thing as global warming. Puh-tooiee. It's good to be in safe and dry before the rains come. Whatever the weather, I'm planning on staying until visiting hours are over, which is 9 PM. I brought the computer and electric cord so I won't go mad from 'net withdrawal.
tinhuviel: (Caveman)
After my 50-page editing extravaganza yesterday, I've been a total slacker today. I've yet to begin editing today; instead, I've watched useless TV, went to the grocery store with Aunt Tudi, and now I'm eating an American Pot Noodle and hummus while I psych myself out to grind the editing bone into action. I think I've been useless today because the weather has sucked my life force out through the top of my head. I usually enjoy the rain, but this round of precipitation has been clammy, messy, and generally unpleasant. It's not conducive to creative endeavours, including editing.

This Pot Noodle is like eating a bowl of roundworms with freeze-dried vegetables. Tasty, neh?
tinhuviel: (Cadmus Priest)
The temperature is supposed to get high enough today that everything is going to be a tad slushy. I'm going out to shovel the foot of the stairs and the walkway so that Aunt Tudi won't slip and bust her behonkie on the way out to the car tomorrow. We have errands and doctors appointments to run tomorrow and Tuesday and it just wouldn't do for either of us to get injured on the frozen and refrozen ice. I figure around 2 or 3 PM should be the best time to get the ice loose and away from the walkway.

Other things I want to do is go through more of The Blood Crown that mama edited. She's also willing to read through The Augury of Gideon, for which I'm eternally grateful. She's just such an avid reader and exemplary in English, I really appreciate this help. Of course, this doesn't mean I'm abandoning [livejournal.com profile] gunslingaaahhh. [livejournal.com profile] gunslingaaahhh will always be my editor. The Mother Unit is my ace in the hole. You can't proofread a manuscript too many times. That's my belief.

A friend of mine who also happens to be an artist just finished reading The Chalice, and now wants to draw Cadmus Pariah. She's already given me permission to use the piece however I want to use it. Depending on the route she takes, I may have the cover for The Blood Crown! She's an incredible artist and I'm looking forward to her interpretation of Cadmus Pariah. She said she had some other artistic obligations, so it may be a few months, but I'm a patient person and I just know that the wait will be worth the while.

Sojourn

Jan. 12th, 2011 04:02 pm
tinhuviel: (Snow)
After Janice helped me get the car out of the driveway (she drove and I pushed), I hit the road and headed to the drug store for mine and Aunt Tudi's prescriptions. The roads are barely icy now. There are a few treacherous spots in the shady areas on the secondary roads, but that's about it. I had no trouble whatsoever getting to Lyman and back home. When I got back, I let Janice and Uncle Michael know how the roads were in the event they wanted to brave the weather. I also told them that I'd be happy to take them anywhere they wanted to go if they didn't want to risk it. They let me keep the car parked up at their house so I wouldn't be stuck again. So now we all have a way to get around if the need arises. It's about time, too. I was suffering from major cabin fever. It's weird; I can stay home for days on end when I know I can go anytime I please but, when I realise I'm truly stuck, all I can think about is getting away. Funny how the mind works.
tinhuviel: (Rango)
Makes me want to poke out my eyes.

Fitzgerald didn't get in bed last night until around 10:30 and he was up rearing to go at 5 on the dot this morning. I've been online ever since, but I just haven't had a functioning brain to post here or anywhere else for that matter.

I woke up to a wonderfully dreary day with threats of storms with winds topping 70 miles an hour popping up unexpectedly here and there. We haven't had any storms here yet, just a skoche of rain, but the potential is there and I've the feeling it'll be the last storms of the seasons before Summer finally surrenders to Autumn's wise counsel. Until that time, the weather radio keeps going off with "important weather information" and issuing thunderstorm watches and warnings. This is what happens when a cold front meets Summer in the South head on. It's glorious to behold.

Oy Vey

Oct. 23rd, 2010 08:18 am
tinhuviel: (fitzgerald)
Fitzgerald let me sleep til almost 7 this morning. He was apparently waiting for the light of day so I could schlep my way outside to fix the fence he broke last night. Yes, he broke the fence, just a little piece and out of the yard he flew. It's not that he hates his home or even is worried with what's outside the fence. He's just a puppy who wants what he wants when he wants it. Last night he wanted to play with the next door neighbour's 9000 year old poodle, Lucky. Lucky was not impressed. So I had some fence mending to which to attend. Fitzgerald joined me outside and frolicked and played throughout the yard while I froze myself silly mending the fence. The temp right now is 43. That's cold to someone used to temps in 7000s. And I have holes in my flannels, so they're no good, at least not as good as they used to be. Buuuuut, anyway, the fence is mended and Fitzgerald is still outside running around like a little idiot.
tinhuviel: (Chalice)
This is the second day of rain and temperatures in the 60s. It's been 20+ degrees cooler in the past two days. I'm loving every single second of it. Autumn is my favourite season, even though we don't get to see much Autumn in this area. The leaves turn crisp brown and drop off to herald the coming of Winter way too soon. That's why I like to go back home in the Autumn. In Asheville, every colour on a painter's palette can be found dotting the mountain ranges. We always drive up the parkway as far as we can before being turned back for safety reasons. The ice of the mountains make for dangerous travel once you get too high and the park rangers are very particular when it comes to October.

[livejournal.com profile] falkenna and Paul are planning a visit in October. Not sure when, but I do want to meet with them at Malaprops and all of us go up the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the colours. They're going to be stupendous this this because of all the moisture we've had. When we make it to Craggy Dome, I want to take [livejournal.com profile] falkenna and Paul to the Faerie Tree down the secret hiking spot. I think they shall be duly impressed and pictures will be taken. I will definitely be taking a food offering and hopefully a libation. The Faerie's deserve it for our intrusion.

I've already made a playlist for the Asheville trip, even though I'm sure it'll be outdone by the talking, which is fine. That's what friends are for ~ communication. The playlist will just be our background music for the merrymaking to be had by us all. I have a surprise for Steph on the playlist though. I want to see her buttdance on my backseat, which I'm sure she will.

Le Sigh

Sep. 12th, 2010 01:04 pm
tinhuviel: (Can't Stop Writing)
I woke up at 7, peeked outside as I let the dogs out. It was dark with clouds and misty with rain. Humming happily to myself, I got breakfast, did a little of this and a tad of that, then got me a large glass of tea. Before I sat down with my tea, I flung open the front door for the inspiration I was going to draw on as I wrote. It was bright and sunny, not a drop of rain in sight. Damn. What else can I expect on "there's a tick on my face" day?

BOOM

Aug. 12th, 2010 03:40 pm
tinhuviel: (Podling)
We're having an electric storm and it's right over our house. Toby is beside himself as well as being all up in Aunt Tudi's grill. He's usually all up in my grill, but I sit closer to the door, and he wants no part of being anywhere near the storm. This is just fantastic that we're having a storm, though. It'll help cool things down a tad. Last I heard, the apparent temperature was 93 but, with the humidity, it felt like 103. This place is cursed.

Autograph

Jul. 20th, 2010 04:29 pm
tinhuviel: (Dr. Who Boogie)
Aunt Tudi and I went over to [livejournal.com profile] clumsycake's abode this morning so I could get her to witness a document sent to me from SC Vocational Rehabilitation. It's a release form allowing my case examiner access to my medical records. I had to sign and date the document, fill in some information like my street address and phone number, and they also wanted a witness to attest that s/he knew me by signing the paper and leaving a phone number. She was happy to be my witness and I was happy to finally get to meet one of her cats, River. He has a stumpy tail like Smidgen, but he can move his. Her other cat, Storm, is a shy and moody Tortie, so no luck on meeting her. [livejournal.com profile] clumsycake was my first choice because her last name isn't Evans and she knows me...boy does she know me! We've been friends now for twenty years. It's hard to believe. We have pretty much a lifetime of memories stashed on our mutual behalf now. Anyway, we had a good, albeit short, visit before heading to Spartanburg so Aunt Tudi could give blood for some lab work Dr. Ebrahim wanted. Her potassium is a little on the high side so they're wanting to keep a close eye on it.

We got everything we needed to do done today and got in early before the worst heat of the day came to kick our butts. The heat over the next few days is going to be scorching with high humidity. God, just kill me now.

Earthling

Jun. 16th, 2010 09:35 pm
tinhuviel: (Nathor)
For the first time in a long time, I experienced a magickal moment. It was during a rainstorm at Wal-Mart. I was walking out to the car, ahead of Aunt Tudi, and the wind blew the rain in my face. It made me feel like a true Earthling, a creature of this wondrous planet, engaged completely in the phenomenon of rain. I lifted my face to meet the rain as it blew and swirled around me and lifted my palms to embrace the feeling. The feeling was one of the most intense ones I've felt in a very long time and I praised Emshi'shan'ha for her blessing me with it. I'm a huge believer in spontaneous magick, the kind that lifts you out of the mundane and shows you the beauty of the world around you. I'm making a promise to myself to dance in the rain more often, to feel the leaves of the trees and grass, to thank the world for having me. I promise to celebrate the fact that I am an Earthling.

Stormy Day

May. 31st, 2010 08:46 am
tinhuviel: (Cadmus Wrath)
I've been awake since 3:50. Yes, I've been out of the Zyprexa for a few days and my body is going back to it's crazy schedule of little to no sleep. Instead of twirling like a British Petroleum drill, I decided to go ahead and get up, maybe write a little. I'm already 2000 words into today's 3000 word goal. The characters have chosen some odd routes and partnerships. Kelat and Cadmus found themselves on the same Virgin flight to New York City. Thiyennen and Eve have decided to join Dmitri and Ishtar on their road trip from Asheville to NYC. Rebekah and Mephistopheles are flying into NYC from Iraq. And Agatha, with the Augury of Gideon in tow, is flying into NYC with Orphaeus Cygnus. And what is drawing them all to the Big Apple? The spirit of Faust, aka Kallum McCreary. We're gonna have ourselves an old-fashioned resurrection right in the heart of SoHo. As Kallum would say, it's gonna be the berries.

Anyway...there's really not much going on with me other than the writing. Today is stormy, messing with a lot of Memorial Day hoo-ha, but I'm not concerned with any of that. Smidgen has decided that the safest place on Earth is behind the toilet when it storms. Poor thing is making herself a lightning rod and she doesn't even know it. Aunt Tudi got up, got her medicine, got her insulin shot, and is now lying back down and snoring. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious. Instead of sleeping, I think I'm gonna watch Dr. Phil and try to stir up a little hatred, so I can write Cadmus sufficiently well later on. Like me, he's been suffering from insomnia, and he's not handling it nearly as well as I am. But that's Cadmus for you.
tinhuviel: (Snow)
First off, a big THANKEE to [livejournal.com profile] brujah for the bear hug. You can see it on my profile page. I could use all the bear hugs I can muster right now. I'm a raw nerve ending as I wait to hear the verdict on The Chalice. If the response is a positive one, I will consider myself incredibly lucky, having so many talented and capable people come to my aid at precisely the perfect time. And some say there's no such thing as divine intervention. If everything works out to my satisfaction, I most assuredly won't squander the good will and kindness of those who've offered me a hand. Having been on the other end of that sorry situation, I will never knowingly or willingly throw that kind of grief on another person.

We finally got snow. Not ice, not freezing rain or sleet, but full-blown, fluffy, lovely snow. There is nothing more peaceful or sacred than the sound of snow falling upon itself at night. It's like the Earth is whispering herself to sleep. Of course, Duncan receiving so much snow in such a short period of time (I see a good 7 inches in my yard) is surely a sign of the Alpaca Lips. The End Is Coming and it looks like this.



I may go out later on and build a snow thing. It may not be a man or a woman, thus the thing cognomen. If I do, of course, pictures shall be taken.

In the meantime, I need to get with Editor Supreme [livejournal.com profile] gunslingaaahhh and have more of the 3rd draft Chalice sent to me to do a final read through just in the event Sophie wants more. It's never a bad thing to be a bit ahead of the game. ::nods::

Happy Snowpocalypse!
tinhuviel: (Dark Doubt)
I find it frustrating that, for the first time in the history of the Cliffs of Insanity, I'm having to filter certain posts. This has always been a public blog and I hope that, eventually, it will become that way again for the most part. I've had to set some entries to private because I can't not write about what's going on in my life, yet I can't let people read what I'm writing about. It's distressing because I am, for the most part, a very open person. I don't like hiding. I don't appreciate insincerity, hypocrisy, or other such unpleasantness that can often be associated with the worst examples of humanity. Since I've never been a big fan of humanity in the first place, the worst examples hold a special place of perturbation in my eyes. What's even worse is when I let such individuals into my realms and find that, like a barnacle on a whale's arse, they're nigh to impossible to rid myself of them.

And that makes me angry at myself. Because I was fool enough to allow these people any access to my life to begin with, I'm now having to suffer their intolerability indefinitely. The situation is dire and untenable. And I have only myself to blame. I've suffered so much unwarranted abuse over the past few months and I've searched my life over the past few years to see if maybe Karma might be involved here. I have found nothing to merit such foulness. I'm still in the process of sorting out the situation. The more I'm forced to dwell on it, the more infuriated I become. If anger makes a better Sith, I'm the best Sith in the galaxy, this one or the other one that's far, far away. My rage has been sufficiently honed.

I am once again behind on my email. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day for me to do everything I need or want to do. One of my problems is focus. Fibro Fog has been a serious issue for me of late and this doesn't amuse me in the least. One thing that did seem to help that condition was my consumption of a couple of Arizona Rx Energy Fast Shots the other night. No, I didn't drink two at one sitting. I paced them out over the course of a few hours. I needed to be awake and alert that night, and I needed my faculties. I got everything I needed out of that, but I am not making a habit of drinking energy drinks. First of all, despite the herbal base of such concoctions (extreme caffeine notwithstanding), I don't think they're very good for you. They serve a purpose when one needs to remain on one's toes but, other than that, it's a poor substitute for overcoming Fibro Fog naturally. It's just something I have to deal with in my own way and without the risky effects of energy elixirs. That's not to say I won't get more Arizonas if the need arises, given similar situations like the other night. I'm just not going to Do Whacka Do on a regular basis.

Even though I have signed up to participate in NaNoWriMo, I have resigned myself to the fact that I will not win this year; however, that's not to say I won't succeed in my goal. There are two reasons I signed up for NaNo. The main reason was to challenge myself to finish The Blood Crown. Even though I doubt I'll reach my 50k goal required by NaNo to win, I'm pretty certain I'll come close to completing the second installment of The Vampire Relics. I've created a Facebook group for the Relics and will probably create an LJ comm for them as well. When I do this, I'll be deleting [livejournal.com profile] chalice_novel. [livejournal.com profile] gunslingaaahhh is going to be editing The Chalice, which will go up in installments in the new Vampire Relics community. She's currently editing "The Sainted Confessor," which is a huge chunk of The Blood Crown. That'll be the first thing to go up in the FB group, but it won't appear in the community over here until The Blood Crown is complete.

I won't win NaNo this year because The Joker Blogs is still going on and will continue past Samhain. I was under the impression the series would end at Halloween. This has been extended. I don't know when the series will end now. Who knows? The current series may end and then another may begin? That's total speculation on my part maybe just a wee tad of wishful thinking. Either way, when I committed to help Dude with my own odd brand of PR, I did so for the long haul or until he tells me to walk the plank. I can't turn away from my duties to TJB for the entire month of November. I don't feel right doing it. It's not who I am to make a commitment, then just wander off for a little while when I might be needed to do what I promised I would do. So I'll be balancing NaNo and TJB in November and that means writing 50k words in 30 days might not be the most realistic goal in the world.

Is it doable? It might be. I'm going to give it my all. I'll give my all to both projects. But some things, like email, may be neglected as a result. Best to leave me messages on my posts here or reach out to me on Facebook or Twitter. That's not to say I won't write you back if you send me an email. I'm just saying it may take a while. When you have no mind to wrap around all the things you're doing, life in general gets a little convoluted.

Speaking of email, I got an email notification of a comment posted to my You Tube channel. It says: Tinhuviel...WOW! I knew you from your Shriekback yahoogroup back about 10 years ago! Not sure if I was Lilly Tilly, Sierra Bloom or Heide (or was I meengreens) in those days, LOL

I read an awesome story of yours back then, something very Vampirish, with a man remindful of B. Great stuff... just found your name on a... what else? ... Shriekback video!


How freaky-cool is that? I remember HeideHo very well. We had some very cool astrological conversations, mainly about B's chart, which is oddly almost identical to mine, even though our birthdays are almost 11 years apart and we were born in extremely different locales. Guess that's one reason why we've always kind of grokked on both a spoken and unspoken level. I left a comment on Heide's YT channel and I've friended her. If I'm not mistaken, she's a Canadian. I love Canadians. It's good to reconnect to people with whom you've lost touch. I gathered quite a network of unique and talented souls when I went searching for fellow Shriekback fans in the hope of rallying a revival of the band. That goal was met and produced some wonderful friendships, inspired creations by fans, and surreal encounters (like my visit with B in 2006). There's nothing I love more than to be an active part of a group of souls coming together for a common purpose and, as a result, Making Things Happen. Yes, that's capitalised for a reason. It's that important. And it always thrills me when souls that may have drifted apart, find their way back to one another. Now, if only Me'Shel'le would emerge from her hidey-hole...

I'm about 1/3 of the way through another Date story, this one called "The Artist's Date," and is a sort of 'thank you basket' to [livejournal.com profile] luvthyjoker for the lovely art she's so far contributed to The Vampire Relics. It's your typical Joker Date Night tale with the 3 rules to be followed strictly: 1) A Heath Ledger Reference, 2) An original scar story, and 3) the Date dies. There were a few special requests for this particular date since it is, after all, [livejournal.com profile] luvthyjoker's date. She's a horror nut and is truly looking forward to being murdered by J. This is not to say I want her dead in any way, shape, or form, but her wish is my command and J's absolute pleasure. Not sure where this will fit in the chronology, but Sidney's alive, so it's definitely after "The Nun's Date," where he was introduced. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that Sidney is based entirely upon Sidney Poitier, who starred in Lilies of the Field. That was my paternal grandmother, Granny's all-time favourite film and, since it has to do with nun's it just made sense to me to connect this movie with "The Nun's Date" and introduce a little grounding energy to Joker's madcap existence. And I'm probably going to hell for making such a connection. Yet another reason I should be preparing my handbasket now. I'm truly racking up the Hell points these days...trust me.

After I finish "The Artist's Date," I'm making a bit of a departure in J-fic Land and am going to try my hand at writing Joker as a woman. Why? Well, it's another "thank you basket," this time to [livejournal.com profile] acook, who did a fantastic reading of a portion of "The Sainted Confessor." Over time, she's been creating a costume tailored just for her and her version of Joker. No, she's not dressing as Joker or as a girl trying to be Joker. No no no, it's not that simple. No. [livejournal.com profile] acook has defined herself as Joker, had Joker been female all along. [livejournal.com profile] acook is Femme Joker. That said, I'm going to attempt a fic based on that concept. I have no idea what it's going to be like and it will mean introducing yet another J into my already crowded head, but I think it'll be worth it. To give an idea of what Femme Joker is all about, I present this snappy little video. Prepare to get your Romany on.


While we're talking J-fic, I want to scream from the hilltops that the third chapter of The Endgame is available for reading. I can't stress enough how you really should be reading this fiction. It only gets better with each subsequent chapter, so you're destined to be hooked and happy for it. Here's the link to the third chapter, entitled Epiphany. [livejournal.com profile] paisleydaze is truly a rare talent in writing and her ability to bring life to her characters, even those who aren't originally hers, is uncanny. When I read her Joker, I can hear him in my head. I love it when that happens and, therefore, I love Soph's story. You should read it, I'm telling you. It's not just good Joker fanfiction, it's good fiction period. And I need to finish my picture of Claire that I began ages ago. Like I said...not enough hours in the day for everything I want and need to do. But it'll happen, every...last...bit... Or heads will roll. And that'll be fun too.

I'm surrounded by talented people for the most part. Some who think they have me surrounded also think they're talented. They should think better of it. But that's another rant for another day. For now, I'm just gonna sit here and be grateful for talented friends who allow me to tag along.

I think that certainly should be enough from me. At least for now. I'm around these parts, just lurking, watching and observing. I'd never desert you guys...unless offered plenty of money. Hee! I'm gonna try to doze a little now. Then it's back up to write some more. It's 33 degrees here right now. Unprecedented.
tinhuviel: (j-tunes)
I have a distinct insensitivity to heat and cold, but especially cold. This is a symptom of Fibromyalgia. Even in the Summer, I usually keep cold hands and feet, and that's a feat here in the Armpit of Hell.

Today has been our first cool day. It's actually in the 50s right now. After 75-80+ degree weather every day, this is quite a shock to the system, especially my system...and I had to go out in it to get mine and Aunt Tudi's monthly prescriptions, or we would have woken up dead tomorrow. That said, this is my only mildly enhanced account of my errand.

I put on every pair of socks I own and they still frosted over. I put on three pairs of underwear, four pairs of pants, seven tee shirts, two flannel shirts, a scarf, a toque, gloves (Isotoner!...not really) and my glasses. I got my iPod, my car keys, the money for the meds, and various protective amulets, and I ran screaming out of the house into the misty, rainy wasteland that is the Armpit of Hell in October. I didn't even hesitate to open the gate. I leapt over it like a gazelle in heat and landed squarely in my car without memory of having unlocked it or opened the door.

Hooking up the iPod with numbing digits, I threw on some angry crunk tunes, and did a wheelie out of the driveway. Before I could even go to the drug store, I had to drop by the post office first. I skidded into a parking spot and shouted, "Like a ga-love!" at the fearful moon faces that turned in my direction. I flew from the car, ran in, checked the mail box and expressed my extreme displeasure at the amount of junk mail by threatening the closest postal worker I could find. Before the angry employee could pull out her arsenal to take me out, I hauled ass out of there and departed the post office, my tires squealing satisfactorily.

In less than five minutes, I was at the drug store. The nice lady asked me my name and I asked her who wanted to know before I realised she needed that in order to get the meds. "Oh what you must think of me," I joked, quoting Mr. Horse before we found out he was a walrus hostage-taker and latex abuser. The nice lady gave me the prescriptions and thanked me very nicely. I threw the money at her, screaming obscenities in her general direction as I sped off because, by then, I was Fast and Furious at having my window down long enough to lose all feeling in my extremities. By that my brain was beginning to freeze as well, and not from anything pleasant like a Slurpee (God forbid we have 7-11's here, that might make the people...happy), so I took things up a notch and stopped for no one.

On my way home, I squished one tortoise, three cats, two dogs, a moose, Bigfoot, two teenagers in love, 7,586,998,511 amoeba, the village idiot, three small children (I had to detour into their yards, but it was worth the time taken), eleven chipmunks, six squirrels, 2 winos, and a partridge in a pear tree. Aunt Tudi screamed with horror at all the blood, hair, and bits of bone clinging to my car as I shrieked to her to shut her pie hole and open the door, I was coming in fast! She quieted down and forgot about the car when I presented her with a pear I got off the pear tree. Throwing the prescriptions against the wall in a fit of nihilistic what-the-fuckery, I retreated to my love seat and fleece throw. And here I sit attempting to get warm. So far it hasn't worked.

I was gone for 25 minutes. Duncan will never again be the same.

All of this was true. Every word.
tinhuviel: (Podling)
tinhuviel: (Syd Barrett)
I fell asleep writing a little earlier, slept for about an hour sitting straight up. Woke up feeling like I'd been struck by a freight train. And now here I am writing here, thinking about Pink Floyd. So they're my theme over on Blip.fm this morning. Yesterday it was a bit more festive, as I featured a series of Klezmer tunes to get whomever was listening to jumping early in the morning. Absolutely will "On the Turning away" be featured. That song just makes me ache. I may have to add that to my fic playlist. I wish I had "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," but iTunes won't let you buy just that one song. You have to buy the whole album and I don't have the fundage. Boo on them.

This insomnia thing is really getting on my nerves. It'd be nice to sleep more than five hours at a time, and this grabbing of an hour here and there by my body without my realising it is quite disconcerting. It's like having lost time. What really irks me is that I drank some very strong coffee pretty late in the evening with the intention of writing all night. I knew that I was going to have insomnia. Your body can just tell you these things. So I figured I'd fuel the ailment and take advantage of it. Instead, however, the body kept fading out of consciousness, even with the caffeine overload. Sometimes, I feel I can't win for losing.

Aunt Tudi and I have some errands to run later on this morning. Again, I'm overloading on caffeine so I won't be a menace on the road. I want to go and get it done and get back home before the thunderstorms start. We're due for a rough day and I'd prefer to be at home instead of on the road if a bad one comes along. I have to say that's one thing I like about the South ~ the thunderstorm. If I'd had my druthers, I would have become a storm chaser.

Okay, I'm off to write on this thing before my body decides to act the fool again.
tinhuviel: (Orphaeus Cygnus)
More so than usual, I'm in a quite writerly disposition. It must be something in the thick, barely-breathable air! [livejournal.com profile] dandyxrandy sent me the first draft of our collective narrative, with some additional commentary by her Jess to my J's answers. J couldn't very well let that go, so I just finished up Draft 1/2.0 and shot it off to her in an email. Now, I'm staring at The Blood Crown. Kelat has informed Orphaeus of her plan to give him the memories of the Tarmian race. My task is to figure out how this is going to happen and, then, how I'm going to describe it happening. Honestly, I'm struggling to maintain the poetic tone I established in The Chalice, so this is slower-going than I would prefer. I want it all done now now now!

Speaking of poetics, I need to sit down and listen to 'Dreamlife of Dogs' and 'Nowhere Nothing Ever' while perusing the lyrics until I can sufficiently put into words what I think of the songs. Barry is feeling a little creatively blue and, if I can cheer him on with one of my reviews then, by the Mighties, that's what I will do!

There are storms once again predicted for this afternoon, so I'll be doing all of this whilst dodging lightning. If we get another major thunder-bumper like the one that came through late yesterday, I may have to take a movie and post it. All hell broke loose in Duncan and it was so much fun.

**Note to [livejournal.com profile] song_tothesiren: I promise to read more of your fiction very soon. I cycle it dribs and drabs of either writing or reading, and I'm in a writing jag at the mo. Please don't think I'm ignoring you!
tinhuviel: (Here is the news!)
On our way home, Aunt Tudi and I were stopped at red light almost directly under this. The swirl was there and the clouds were beginning to drop down and form a funnel, but it never came to fruition. I was beside myself with glee and Aunt Tudi was bug-eyed with fright, which made me laugh even more because she's so funny when she's scared. Not to dismiss her fear at all, it's just how she handles herself that makes it so comical. I've always wanted to be a storm chaser and Aunt Tudi has always wanted to run like Jesse Owens away from them. We don't work well together during the storm season.

Photobucket

Isn't that beautiful? I wish it'd followed through.
tinhuviel: (Snow)
The weather seems to have knocked out the Weather Channel's signal. ::snicker::

Oh and... It had to be done )
tinhuviel: (Lolcat Alpaca Lips)
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's snowing and it's thundering. I so hope Dr. Patch is experiencing this as well. When I told him about my experience in Black Mountain back in 1974, he looked at me like I was a loon. Well, phooey on him.

IT'S THE END OF THE BLOODY WORLD! YAY!
tinhuviel: (Joker_Upside Down)
We're expected to get 3-5 inches of snow in the Armpit of Hell. Typically, everyone around the Upstate of SC gets snow and we get cold rain. It's like we're in some kind of vortex of shitty weather or something. Anyway, it's still raining here while reports of snow and even Thunder Snow come in from Georgia and North Carolina. I hate this place. Hate.It.
tinhuviel: (Nathor)
The last person to suggest a top was [livejournal.com profile] msmoon, who suggested I write about hurricanes. Since I'd already written about Gustav, including an old journal entry from my dedicant days, I'm just going to direct folks to that journal entry and declare the Topics Brouhaha concluded. Thanks for playing, good people.

Good night! and good luck.
tinhuviel: (Nathor)
While Aunt Tudi was watching the latest on Hurricane Gustav, I came across an old journal from my Dedicant days in 1992. The first page, written in late October of 1992, is entitled "The Tornado and the Hurricane Speak." I decided to transcribe it here in hopes that it might bring a shred of comfort to anyone in the path of the oncoming storm who might chance upon this entry. My thoughts are with everyone in New Orleans. Despite my affinity for Crone weather, I'm not at all happy that NOLA might be getting it again. That area has had enough horror and heartache to last a lifetime. Again, hopefully this might bring a little peace in the coming days of worry.

THE TORNADO AND THE HURRICANE SPEAK


We are the hand of the Dark Goddess, She who creates through destruction. The banishment of the Circle is performed by going widdershins, and so it is that we travel widdershins in order to banish the old, or that which is deemed ready to pass from this place. It is we who roar in welcome of new landscapes, new vegetation, new life. We do not destroy for destruction's sake. Our fury blows for the potential of Creation that follows in the footsteps of the Crone as surely as Spring chases Winter.
tinhuviel: (2D and 3C)
Janice came down to investigate the window in which the old AC resided and the new AC needed to be installed. She confirmed our fears that the sill was rotten and needed to be replaced. We started the process of pulling the old AC out. As soon as it was dragged across the sill, the sill crumbled and fell to the floor. Janice set to replacing the sill and preparing the window for the new AC. By 3:30, the AC was installed. It has a thermometer in it and the ability to cool down to 61 degrees. When we started it up, the temperature in the house was 83. It's now 72. Sweet. Aunt Tudi is beside herself with glee and thankfulness. It's supposed to be in the mid to upper 90s for the rest of the week. If we didn't have the AC, I'm certain I'd be rushing Aunt Tudi to the ER because of an asthma attack or heat exhaustion or even heart issues. So thanks again to all who helped to get her the AC. I'm off to find a flannel shirt because I'm freakin' cold.
tinhuviel: (Suck_ass Day)
It has stormed all day long today, as my Sith siblings in Gawgia know all too well. Our weather radio has been alarming, on average, about three times an hour, alerting us to severe weather heading in our direction. We've been under Tornado Watch 119 all day long. It lasts until 7 PM tonight, at which time I'm thinking we'll probably go under Tornado Watch 120 until only Goddess knows when. Aunt Tudi and I have been sitting in the dark for the majority of the day, waiting for some sort of reprieve to where we could safely use some electricity. That reprieve is now, but I don't know how long it will last. I just saw a flash of lightning outside.

At least it's not 400 degrees and we're having to do without A/C. When the Alpaca Lips happens, if there are survivors afterward, a lot of those survivors will perish underneath the cruel Southern Summer sun. For my part, I'd rather just drop dead quick during the Alpaca Lips.
tinhuviel: (Here is the news!)
I got an email from Jesus. The subject line says "Monday will be amazing." If Jesus says this, then it must be so. I'm looking forward to Monday because Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

It snowed this morning. At first I thought my car was being swarmed by bugs because we're inundated with bugs in February here in the Armpit of Hell. But then the bugs got bigger and fluffier, and there were many more of them than before. By the time I got to work, it was snowing pretty heavily. Pretty it was. And I took a couple of pictures, just to prove that it actually did snow for about 15 minutes in Upstate South Carolina.

wanna see? )

This afternoon, I took Llew over to the library to check out a repair book for his car. While he was there, he got a library card. Aunt Tudi went with us because she needed to go to the store. She checked out a couple of movies at the library: Hotel Rwanda and Black Dahlia. She was well-pleased when I informed her that Josh Hartnett was in Black Dahlia. She thinks he's very cute....better looking than Danny Huston. Aunt Tudi has taste for shite when it comes to men. Just sayin'.

When we left the library, I had to take a picture of their current display. It's of outhouses. Only in the South.

wanna see again? )

My knee is singing a tune again, one that is off-key, very loud, and incredibly obnoxious. I called Dr. Jowarski's office and got an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. They're gonna work with me on the charges since I don't have insurance. The office visit is pretty spendy and I know that the doctor will want to give me cortisone injection, so that will be even more. I hate my left knee as much as it apparently hates me. What's worse is that we can't get away from each other, at least not until I turn 50 and have insurance to where I can get a replacement. I want the surgeon to put my knee in a jar so that I can put it on a shelf and whisper "fuck you" to it as I trot by with my new bionic knee. It's a dream of mine. You can't take away a woman's dreams, especially when she has a rebellious and inflammatory joint.

Despite my pre-owned knee problems, I rest happily in the knowledge that Monday will be amazing.

My Day

Aug. 1st, 2006 08:12 pm
tinhuviel: (Steamed)
I didn't have to wait nearly as long at the school today as I have the other days. Today was the day I would find out whether or not I would have to take any placement tests. Because of my extensive English courses in both high school and college, I was fine there. Math was a different matter. They set me up for a math test to see if I'd need to take any algebra courses. I went into the testing room resigned to the fact that I was about to make a spectacle of myself. It turns out that I did better than I expected and actually did well enough to not have to take any math courses. ::puffs up:: Maybe I'm better at math than I thought I was. Or maybe I'm just a really good guesser. Either way, I was in the home stretch of registration. I was directed to the registration office where I signed in and began to wait. It took about an hour before I was called back. My "adviser" had the personality of wet towel. That said, registration when quickly and without incident, although he did ask me if I had cats because he noticed the scratch I got on my arm, courtesy of Aloysius. When I told him yes and how many, he looked at me like I was some sort of crazy cat lady and hurried me out of his cube. That's fine. At least now I have my class schedule and equipment requirements. I get to go back on Friday and mooch for money, aka talk to Financial Aid.

While I was waiting to be registered, I wrapped up "Sui Generis" with, if I may say so, a mighty fine segue into "Beautiful Pets." It still needs some tweaking here and there, but I'm well-pleased to finally have this story/chapter behind me. Cadmus' brief biography has been plaguing me for...oh....six years. It's about bloody time I got it on paper.

After I left the school, I zipped by Llew's place of employment and dropped off my computer so he could work on that Power Point project. The plan was that I'd pick the computer up when I went to see him at home this evening. After leaving the shop, I stopped at the vet's office to pick up some Interceptor for the dogs, then I went home and collected Aunt Tudi to take her to her eye doctor.

We got to Dr. Weeks a little early, so they went ahead and took Aunt Tudi on back. They dilated her eyes, which is always fun -- for me. I love dilated eyes. I think there's something fundamentally Elven about them. So I've spent a lot of time gazing into Aunt Tudi's eyeballs. She got a pretty good report. Her cataracts are a little foggier, but not too bad, and she still doesn't need prescription glasses. She's 62 and only needs drugstore reading glasses, and I'm 38 and have been wearing prescription lenses for two years. What's wrong with this picture?

After the doc, we ran by the grocery for some pop, milk, and cheese, because that's what we're living on at the moment. By the time we got home, both of us were so sick from the heat, Aunt Tudi passed out on the couch in front of a fan, and I horked up my lungs in the bathroom. I hate Summer. And I hate global warming. And I hate that shithead in Washington DC who says there's no such thing. Thanks to my getting sick from the heat, mine and Llew's festivities have been postponed until Thursday evening. He came back on his way home from work and gave me my computer and here I am.

At least now, I've cooled off and am no longer churned up from the heat. Blech. Tomorrow we're under another heat advisory. I may avoid the out of doors at all costs.
tinhuviel: (Mowing)
I have to cut it today. As I've said before, I'd rather be smoking it. But, since I have none to smoke and way too much to cut, I'll be mowing instead of toking. Life is unfair, yes it is, yes it is. Our sunset begins at 8:32 DST, so I'm going out at 7:30 to use the lawn tractor first. I'll be thirty minutes on that, doing Uncle Michael's back yard, the field, and my front yard. Then I'll get out the push mower and do the trimming of the front yard and all of the back yard. I should be finished up a little before 9 PM, if I don't stop to mop sweat or drink anything cool and refreshing.

Words are insufficient in expressing my hatred for Summer and all things related. It needs to go away. The Earth needs to be knocked off Her axis to where we're hardly exposed to the sun at all. Yeah, it'll mean certain death for us all, but at least we'll die cooler than this inferno.

The school thing wasn't a go today, so I'm having to split it up between tomorrow morning and Thursday morning. Ain't that grand? Bah! After I leave there tomorrow, I've got to swing by Llew's work so he can use my computer for a PowerPoint project. None of the equipment or computers they have at work have that capability, so he came to me. I'm also due to go visit Llew at home tomorrow after work. There may be some serious naughtiness to write about after tomorrow night so, if you want on my 'naughty filter,' let me know. If not, you're good.

I had a bowl of cheerios for supper. It's too hot to eat anything even remotely warm. The cheerios hit the spot in a way that I never imagined. I feel fulfilled and energised after having ingested approximately one cup of "doughnut seeds." If they'd been the Honey Nut Cheerios, I think I would have burst out into the yard to sing like Julie Andrews in the mountains of Austria. Yeah. That dramatic.

Aunt Tudi just thumbed her nose at me after I told her to shut her pie-hole, so I promptly flipped her a bird. Family togetherness and love: that's what it's all about.

Twenty-five minutes until I have to go out and be microwaved by the giant ball of fire in the sky.

Brains

Jul. 21st, 2006 09:05 pm
tinhuviel: (Devil Smidge)
My Number One Summer Memory is pretty representative of my feelings regarding the worst season. I was 13 when Aunt Tudi and Granny took it upon themselves to hijack my arse and move it to South Carolina. We moved in the house I would eventually buy years later, behind Uncle Michael and his family. At the time, none of us had AC. In 1981, Global Warming had not even been heard of, as far as I know... I could be wrong there. It was still hotter than Hell's door knob, but not as hot or humid as it is now.

So...we came down here in June of 1981. In July, the heat really started oppressing all us inmates of South Carolina. It was horrible. The only way to get cool was to go outside and fan yourself, hoping that the mosquitoes wouldn't take every last drop of blood in your pathetic, clammy, fish-coloured body. In those days, Uncle Michael would do tons of woodwork and crafts in his little shop. His shop was about the size of two port-a-potties glued together and it was packed to the ceiling with wood, electric tools, and sundry gadgets. It was a Man's Building. It even had the obligatory Lynda Carter (as Wonder Woman, of course) poster adorning the door. Every day, it was tradition: we kids helped Aunt Tudi, Janice, and Granny with the garden and then play until we collapsed from the heat while Uncle Michael went into his shop and sawed wood like mad.

One particular day in July, we were all out in the yard after garden work and play when, suddenly, the sound of Uncle Michael's skill saw stopped. ....And it didn't start back. The kids and women all looked at each other, wondering what was the deal. Then, with a loud crash, Uncle Michael burst out of his shop, stripping off his tee shirt and pulling his hair, which remained sticking out at the sides of his head like sweaty antennae. His eyes looked much like Smidgen's in the icon here, all glow-y and otherworldly, and he was beet red all over. The string of expletives that came out of his mouth made many a dead sailor spin in his watery grave, I can guarantee you that. But, what he said at the end of his tirade has forever defined South Carolina Summers for me, especially now that we're in the throes of Global Warming:

MY GOD DAMNED BRAINS ARE BAKIN'!


Ah yes. The good ole days. ::ambles off to pour herself some sweet tea::
tinhuviel: (Steamed)
Our high today and tomorrow is supposed to be around 100 or higher, with heat indices of 105 to 110....or higher. The weather folks are advising everyone stay indoors or go to an air-conditioned place to wait out the horror. That said, I'm postponing my duties until Thursday, when it will be a nice, balmy low-90s. Aunt Tudi and I have both window units going and all the lights off, with the curtains drawn and the doors closed. It's bearable in here right now. By 4 PM, though, I'm sure we'll be sweltering and wishing we were dead.

Have I mentioned lately that I hate the South in Summer? Not that it'd be better anywhere else, from what I'm seeing on the map. But thar's no sech thang as global wormin', according to our fearless leader. He needs to be dropped off in Death Valley for a 48 hours. Fucker...

My Day

Jul. 16th, 2006 07:50 pm
tinhuviel: (Mowing)
I was supposed to go over and see Llew today, but he ended up having to babysit until 5:30 this afternoon. He said we could still go flying, but I'm not keen on doing anything with the kid because.....well, because she's a kid. I don't do kids. I have contended in the past that the only way I'd intentionally have a child would be to ensure good meat for when the pickin's get slim after the Alpaca Lips. I am that wicked witch who fattens up children for baking in a pie. As for Llew, I'm going to see him tomorrow.

As is almost weekly tradition 'round here, I went out to cut the grass. It's so dry in our area right now that I blow red snot outta my nose for hours after I'm finished mowing. Maybe I need to wear one of those face masks, but I really don't want to do that. I already wear Terminator sunglasses to keep the light and crap out of my eyes. Combine that with a face mask and I'd end up looking like an extra on the Road Warrior set. It was hot out there. I was slimy by the time I was finished. I was a pale blue, slimy lump of misery who was blowing red mud out of her nose and throat. Attractive. Very attractive.

Aunt Tudi and I prepared an actual dinner to eat today. We had conflake crust fried boneless/skinless chicken, glow-in-the-dark green beans, and mashed potatoes. Afterward, Aunt Tudi had a slice of sugar free lemon pie and I had a nap.

An hour after that, I drug out the computer to stare at The Chalice for a while. I've hit another block. All I want to do is get past "Sui Generis," then the rest will be gravy. I'm so close, but I can't seem to get there. In frustration, I threw my hands up in the air and logged on to The INTARWEBS. Once there, I stared at the e-mails I need to answer and the journal in which I haven't written all day, while I watched the bad news about the Middle East. So I made a misanthropic post about that in [livejournal.com profile] misanthrope_inc, then commenced to staring at The Chalice again. Oh, and I got an email from [livejournal.com profile] moad_terran_hq in which he sent me some pictures of himself.

He is a hottie. It is proclaimed, yea and verily. As it is written, so shall it be done. Amen.

And that brings me up to this point in time. Now, I'm watching a Law & Order: CI that I've seen twice before and debating on whether or not to post another useless poll about nothing and everything. Honestly, I can't be sussed. All I want to do is finish up "Sui Generis," go to bed, and watch Harry Potter movies until I fall asleep.

Tomorrow is an early day. After being delayed last week, I'm heading out to Greenville Tech to take my placement tests and enroll for the Autumn semester. After that, I'm hoping I can go on to the financial aid office and let them see my cupped hand of blatant begging. Gimme money pleez. I R POOOOR. I spent all my money in England, so pity me! All I want to do is care for the animals and hit humans with a big stick, so please let me come to school for free. Better yet, pay me to come to school so I won't have to work whilst getting an education.

It would be nice to be a slacker student. It'd give me time to get back into the groove of school life. I've got twenty years of rust to scrape off my edumacation skillz.
tinhuviel: (Asthma Hound Chihuahua)
It's been a very long day so far. Very long indeed. It's been one of those days where I want to be left alone, requiring silence and time with my thoughts. Of course, this means that Aunt Tudi has been at her most talkative and boisterous. We rarely cycle in the same way. When I'm all bouncy and out there, Aunt Tudi is folding in herself. When she's manic and doing her best to be Daffy Duck, all I want is solitude and quiet. I swear, while we were in the car together, I kept having this fantasy of reaching over and grabbing Aunt Tudi by the goozle and shaking her to and fro. I guess that's what happens when you live with someone long enough. Another thing, too, is that I'm going into my PMS week, which isn't helpful at all.

Earlier, we swung by [livejournal.com profile] green_goblin70's abode as he had a Sith comic for me, bless his heart. Those Jedi types....so thoughtful!

This evening, we're supposed to go see Davis and Kathleen so we can compare England pictures and travel tales. Kathleen reached out thirty or so minutes ago to confirm that we're still visiting. I told her yes. So, we'll be over there from around 7 until 9 or so, I guess. While I'm over there, I'm gonna use their computer and high speed connection to send [livejournal.com profile] ealdthryth the song "Greenman" by XTC, a song that may possibly be either played during the Solstice service at the UU Church this Sunday or I'll attempt to sing it. The problem is, "Greenman" isn't the most ideal song to try to sing a capella, so I'm not really certain I can pull that one off without putting off everyone present.

It is currently 96 degrees. Now, the weather service always takes their temps in the shade, which makes no sense to me. This means that, actually, we're probably well over 100 right now. What a way to celebrate the beginning of Summer. Again, I can't bear to imagine what it's gonna be like in August. Maybe everyone in the South should just start making out wills now. I really don't see how we're gonna survive this one. Omigawd.

It's time for me to get all gussied up for our impending visit. Maybe looking less like roadkill will make me feel less like roadkill. .......nah.
tinhuviel: (Danny Elfman)
I was supposed to go spend some time with Llew today after he was finished babysitting Destiny. Initially, it was to be around 5 PM. I called shortly beforehand to discover that Melanie wouldn't be home until 5:30, so I told Llew I'd see him then. I got to the house around 5:35 and Melanie was there, but she told me that Llew and Destiny were both crashed out asleep. I went into Llew's bedroom to see the sleeping beauties snoring away, so I left a note to let Llew know I'd been there. After bidding Melanie adieu, I left, went to the drug store and the grocery (for popsicles and hotdogs), and then I came back home. I guess I'll see Llew Tuesday, if all pans out okay.

One thing's for certain: Llew's gonna have a helluva time sleeping tonight after having two naps today. He's gonna feel like bantha poodoo at work tomorrow. But I think he has the same affliction as I. We're both inclined to sleep during the day and become very much awake at night. It's the Night Owl Syndrome, methinks. Llew will get up early, but is inclined to nap during the day on weekends. Me? I'll go to bed early, get up late, and still feel like shit until the sun goes down. Unfortunately, we've been cloudless for many days now, so all I see when I look or go outside is the sun. The hot, burning, sizzling, steaming, unmerciful sun.

Please take me back to England where there are clouds and more forgiving temperatures (at least most of the time).

Aunt Tudi is in the kitchen making up hotdogs. We're having them with cole slaw on top this time, which is my favourite way. She'll probably devour two or three. I'm having one. Afterward, Aunt Tudi will enjoy a sugar free popsicle for dessert and I shall have a scoop of Life Savers Wild Berry Sherbet. It's a frozen party in your mouth. Other than it being hotter than a whore working overtime, life is pretty damned skippy.
tinhuviel: (Doomsday Clock)
There's a big black cloud hovering over The Waystation. All of the phones just went *hyrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh* and fairly alarmed Doug and Heather, who were both holding the receivers up to their ears. Shortly after that, there was an extremely loud BOOOOOM. Maybe we'll get some rain out of this. It'd be nice to have a little bit of moisture. Everything is quite dusty at the mo. Hot and dusty. Hot and dusty and miserable. Hot and dusty and miserable and horrific.

And now there's this big black cloud. I peered out the window at it and it peered back. That's never a good sign.
tinhuviel: (Steamed)
Nine Inch Nails is perfect Summer music. You feel like you're listening to Hell's soundtrack and it just seems to fit perfectly with the South Carolina heat. The only difference is that I do not want to fuck anyone like an animal. I don't want that close to any-damned-body. Keep your animal fuckery away from me unless you're wearing an ice-encrusted body condom. Then, come rub all over me, baby! I'm hot! Not hot as in sexay, but hot as in I'm roasting in my own juices, this is ungodly, please help!

The question keeps arising in my bubbling brain: Can you imagine what it's going to be like in August? Sadly, I can imagine it, and it terrifies me. It's not scary on a "oh gee, this is gonna be uncomfy" level; rather, it's scary on a "all the meteorologists from the Weather Channel are circled about me in black robes and chanting 'burn in hell burn in hell' level. The Weather Channel is going to air a new show called It WILL Happen Tomorrow, featuring South Carolina spontaneously combusting and leaving what looks like a skid mark in Axl Rose's underpants on the map of the United States of America.

I would rather be hit in the left temple with a large hammer than to tolerate one more Summer day here in The South. I would rather have my eyes eaten out by emaciated turkey buzzards than have to see one more Southern sunrise. I would rather be buggered by desperately angry outcasts from Oz than be reminded that it isn't even Summer yet.

There's a host of people who've pointed out that I live so close to the Waystation, that I could walk to work. Why, yes, yes I could walk to work, if the people here didn't mind a wet, miserable soul, gibbering with the madness only the Southern sun can bring teetering in to do her job for 8 hours, if she lasted that long after having suffered a heat stroke. Thanks, but I'll reserve the walking to the 2.5 days of Autumn we might be afforded this year, if we survive the Summer.

Last Day

Jun. 4th, 2006 07:26 pm
tinhuviel: (Cadmus)
This is my last day as an unemployed slacker. If I didn't have the responsibility that I have, I wouldn't go back to work. I'd liquidate everything and take to the road, going where my nose and my wits may lead me. I may even go back to England or Wales, and disappear. But that's not my path right now and I accept that. Even if I don't get to be absorbed by the artistic community and live a free and wayward Bohemian life in this incarnation, there's always the next. Honestly, I'm looking forward to going to work tomorrow. When I passed the place on Friday, there was a woman in a ball cap and a man in a do rag sitting outside smoking. They all seem pretty laid back, and that's totally for me. I think I'm gonna get along with these folks fabulously and the job is going to be a good one for me. We'll see if my feelings are accurate soon.

It's raining outside right now. The temp is about 15 degrees cooler today than it has been in about two weeks ~ 80 degrees. It's been a beautiful cloudy, cooler, rainy day. I'd love to go out and enjoy it, but the mosquitoes would drain me dry in a matter of five minutes. So I stay indoors and admire the weather through the storm door. It's on days like today I miss the beach the most. A perfect day at the beach is cloudy, cool, and threatening to storm. The waves crash onto the shore with an urgent tide. And the sea birds keen to the gods of air and water. I need to be near Mother Ocean today.

Queen of the Damned is on Sci-Fi. Even though I have this on DVD, I'm still watching it. The music of this film touches me on a very primal level, particularly the violin and viola duet on the beach. Gypsy music. It stirs me. I'd never seen Queen of the Damned before [livejournal.com profile] falkenna sent me the video tape. The moment I saw it, I was in love. Stuart Townsend makes a superior Lestat, especially compared to Tom Cruise. I still think that Julian Sands would be wonderful as Lestat. Well, crap. It just went off.

Speaking of vampires, I believe I've figured out a way to include "The Embrace of Cadmus" as a chapter in The Chalice. Why I didn't think of it before is beyond me. When the convergence occurs, instead of Braecca representing the Hive of Redemption, I can make it Eve coming to Kelat's aid. Eve would have a twofold reason for wanting to conquer Cadmus: 1) She is aligned with Thiyennen, who is being tormented by Cadmus and 2) She is Cadmus' only Chylde, created by violence into violence for the sole purpose of enriching the Pariah. Her reasons can be enhanced by telling her story, which is "The Embrace of Cadmus." It makes perfect sense to me, so I think I'm going with that. Of course, I need to ask Michelle's permission before I proceed. "The Embrace" was written for Michelle many moons ago and Maria/Eve is based on her. It was a gift in response to a very disturbing and lovely vignette Michelle had written for me. I can't not let this tale stand alone and not be included in the arch story. Besides, Eve's inclusion in the group that's intent on overpowering Cadmus would charge the group with even more purpose. What Cadmus did to her, what he turned her into, is unforgivable. Her desire for retribution would be good for the "feel" of the story, I believe. And it would also give me a chance to give more information about the Augury of Gideon.

Aunt Tudi and I are now viewing Law & Order: Criminal Intent. It's every night's business. What NBC needs to do is create an L&O cable channel that would show nothing but the shows from the Law & Order franchise. That would be damned groovy. When there was nothing else of interest on TV, you could always depend on the L&O channel to provide great entertainment.
tinhuviel: (Basil Fawlty)
I took Aunt Tudi to the doctor about her back today. He's ordered up two weeks of intensive massage therapy for her back and physical therapy for her left knee, which is deteriorating at a faster speed from arthritis than the right one. She goes three times a week for two weeks. Now we've got to figure out how to get her there since I start work next week and won't be able to take her myself. Public transport isn't an option as we have none in our area. I'm thinking that Johnna could do it for us, especially if I warm her palm with fundage for gas and her time. It'll work out.

Aunt Tudi and I bought a new weather alert radio today. It's one of those radios that hones in and gives alerts for a particular area. This is a very good thing because, even though I don't harbour any malice for folks in the low country of SC and upper Georgia, I get a little pissy when the weather alert goes off and wakes me up in the middle of the night only to let me know there's a thunderstorm in Rabin-fucking County, Georgia. Now, when the alarm goes off, we'll know we're about to die and prepare ourselves accordingly. Werd.

On the way back from the doctor, I toodled down Rogers Bridge Road to see how far Lytles is from home. It's a half mile. BMG was 2.5 miles away and I felt that I'd never have it that good again. And I don't. I have it better. Going back and forth to work for a week will put 5 miles on my car. Five miles. I could walk to work on decent days and be there in 10 to 15 minutes. When I say "decent days," I'm talking about days where the temperature isn't making your skin bubble up and fall off your bones as you run, screaming, along the countryside begging god for death. When South Carolina's 3 days of Autumn and 5 days of Winter come along, I can walk to work. And, in the event of an ice or snow storm, I can can strap Chester and Riley to a garbage can lid and have them pull my Iditaroding arse to work. Ho ho ho!

Ohhhh, and I heard a hilarious news story about Sony BMG on CNBC earlier today whilst waiting on Aunt Tudi to get an X-Ray of her knee. In the last 12 months, Sony BMG's U.S. market share dropped to 26%, from 28% a year earlier, according to Nielsen SoundScan.. ::SNORKLE:: It's like watching what folks are left turn on each other for the purposes of cannibalism after they learned that their human sacrifices to the Great Music Biz Monster God (I'm among this lot) were of absolutely no consequence. They're forsaken. I am enjoying watching the decline of the music business as a whole. It's my wish to witness its utter destruction before 12/21/2012 arrives. Bwaaaahahahahah! My only regret is that many of my friends are still suffering under this tyranny and they don't deserve such treatment. Todd is one of them, although I can't help but wish he'd leave all that rot behind and just come home. But that's me being selfish.

We're in for a stormy night. I'm hoping I get to see Dr. Who before we either have to turn off and unhook everything, or we lose power. Otherwise, let it rip! We need some rain, we need some wind, and we need some cooler weather. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like in July since we're already having July's weather in late May and now early June.

Weather

Apr. 8th, 2006 04:34 pm
tinhuviel: (Alpaca Battle Cry)
We're barely into the stormy season and already The Crone's fury is evident in the weather patterns over America. I can't say for sure for any other part of the world, but I can only assume everyone getting a dose of Her dread attentions. We deserve it all. Collectively, we deserve it.
tinhuviel: (Snow)
"Spring has sprung
Fall has fell
Summer's here
And it's hotter than hell."

That was the poem my Granny used to recite right around this time each year. And, from a friend I used to work with at BMG:

"Spring has sprung
The grass has rizz
I wonder where
The flowers is?"

This is the only thing that makes me smile this time of year. While others are awash in glee over the warming and lengthening of the days, I find myself growing more withdrawn, angry, and depressed. Maybe I'm a true Crone by nature and in deepest caverns of my heart, but I'm only truly happy when the leaves are turning and the air holds a distinct crispness.

We've had no Winter to speak of and already my grass needs to be cut. Already the fleas are coming on full force. Already the bees are hovering around the front porch. Already the heat is pressing in. The further south Aunt Tudi and I drove today, the warmer it got. By the time we reached Moncks Corner, it was 83 degrees locally. That's not right.

Where's my snow? Where's the bonechilling wind and grey days? What happened to my Winter?

And who will come and cut my grass?

Winter?

Mar. 1st, 2006 01:47 pm
tinhuviel: (Snow)
It's currently 74 degrees here. SEVENTY-FOUR. We're going to have fleas the size of beavers and mosquitoes the size of hang gliders. It's going to be fucking miserable.

I hate South Carolina. It truly is the Armpit of Hell.
tinhuviel: (Snarl)
The only white out South Carolina ever has is a KKK rally.
tinhuviel: (Syd Barrett)
We all got home a bit later than expected. I estimated our victorious return around 2 PM or so. We got Diane and [livejournal.com profile] clumsycake home and then made it home ourselves at around 7 PM. It was quite a day.

Aunt Tudi and I started off at 7:30 AM sharp, going by the dump to drop off trash and stopping at the Circle K for some gasoline. We then picked Diane up at 8:00 on the dot, just as promised. Heading for Lyman, we had [livejournal.com profile] clumsycake in the car by 8:30 and off we went to the Land O Sky!

About an hour later, we were in Asheville and decided to drop by Lake Julian to see if it's open in the Winter. It is! We took our snack foods (Pringles, sunflower seeds, melba toast, sesame sticks, and wheat thins) and gave them to the resident waterfowl. Diane was so enamoured with the amount of feathered critters, we decided to come back by Lake Julian on the way out of town. We didn't stay too very long the first time around because it was much colder there and very windy. After about 10 minutes I was unable to feel my lips, hands, feet, or ass.

some pictures )

We left Lake Julian and headed up the Blue Ridge Parkway. We didn't get far as the roads are closed in Winter. Even though it might be balmy and dry in Asheville proper, it's always very icy and dangerous on the Parkway. We did visit the Folk Arts Center and stopped at the French Broad overlook to take pictures of the river and sample the icicles. Yes, we sucked on icicles. The water that comes out of the rocks in the mountains is some of the most pure water you can drink. It's sweet mountain spring water and is absolutely delicious, so I broke off some of the icicles and we all enjoyed the tasty frozen treat.

some more pictures )

After a brief detour to Bent Creek, it was time for downtown Asheville. We went to Morrisons where I bought a great big buttload of Appalachian Naturals soap at 30% off. I also got Aunt Tudi a bubble machine for her next bubble party with the brats in the family, and a pound of chocolate cognac balls which blew Diane's mind. On our way out of Morrisons, we met a couple from Minnesota who was visiting Asheville to "get warm." (their words). I offered them some cognac balls when a Hippie ambled by and asked if he could take some too. "Sure!" I said. And he said, "Hey thanks!" and grabbed a handful, then walked on.

We then headed for a grocery store to buy a few loaves of bread to give to the waterfowl at Lake Julian. Aunt Tudi got six cheapo loaves at Ingles and off we headed for Lake Julian. While Aunt Tudi, Diane, and [livejournal.com profile] clumsycake fed the birdies, I took an abundance of pictures. I then spied the heron and snuck up on it to take some groovy pictures. It had warmed up considerably by then, so we got to stay a bit longer, long enough to feed the birds all six loaves of bread. That sounds like a lot, but there were several dozen birds there, and the squirrels joined in on the feeding frenzy.

even MORE pictures! )

After about 45 minutes, we toodled over to the Sagebrush restaurant where we stuffed ourselves like pigs from hell. And then we headed back home at around 5 PM.

the last of the pics I'll post here* )

All in all, it was a totally groovy trip with totally groovy friends and conversation.

The only bad thing that happened was, when Aunt Tudi and I got home, we discovered that the pilot light on our heater has gone out and I can't get it to light again. Our low tonight is supposed to be 29, so we're gonna be colder than a snowman's ass by tomorrow. I'm taking the heater apart tomorrow morning and see if if there's a clog somewhere that I can take care of. If not, then I'll have to get a tech out from Freeman Gas to work on the heater before we end up like Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining.

Despite this setback, I'm still quite happy and very pleased with our fantastic voyage.

*All pictures from our trip can be found HERE
tinhuviel: (Cliffs of Insanity)
I rented it on Video on Demand on account of I hadn't seen it yet and I figured Romero's birthday is as good a day as any to catch a good flick. Right? I forgot that John Leguizamo was in this movie. Hubba hubba, waka waka.

Motley has enjoyed a hefty little growth spurt. She now actually looks like a six-month old kitten, albeit a small one. Now she's all legs and her primary joy in life is running like a little bat out of hell. True to her Manx nature, she trills more than meows. She's gotten in the habit of running past either Aunt Tudi or myself and trilling as she zips to the kitchen. It's her way of saying "feed me Seymour!" I call it her drive-by trilling. And she sounds a lot heavier than she actually is when she runs like that. Motley really puts all her power in those gangly little legs of hers.

Aunt Tudi has taken a wild hair and is outside doing yard work. I, on the other hand, am not. The Moon isn't conducive for heaving and tugging at branches that didn't need to be cut down in the first place. Sometimes I think Aunt Tudi invents stuff to do just to do stuff, if that makes any sense. Me? I'm just lying around bleeding and feeling sorry for myself.

So far today has been pretty chilly and windy, which makes it feel even chillier. Word has it that we may be in for some snow come Monday. Omigawd, I hope so! Nothing would make me happier than to experience a little bit of Winter weather in fucking Winter. There will be pictures if there is snow. Pictures and a mighty celebration.

February 2019

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