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Freya Lorelei's LiveJournal:
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| Sunday, July 19th, 2009 | | 5:52 pm |
Don't get me wrong, I love the teenydog, but....
After a year and a half of living with Cricket, I have decided that I will never, ever have a dog under 10 lbs. While she is darling and possessed of a sparkling personality, after two broken legs in under a year and hypoglycemia, she is just way too delicate. In addition, she seems to have no clue that she IS delicate, and shows no qualms in leaping off furniture* and wrestling with the cats, even on three-and-a-half legs. (Technically she still has all her limbs, but the left front leg sort of...dangles and isn't good for much more than keeping balance.) So my next dog? Whippet. Totally, completely, and utterly whippet. A medium-sized breed that I'm familiar with and that has few physical weaknesses. Toy breeds are adorable, and I love my Pekingese (actually, I wouldn't mind having another of those, but good breeders are hard to find, and I'd be leery of ill-bred rescues), but I don't want anything inclined to athleticism without the sturdiness to back it up.
I've also considered rescue greyhounds, but they're a bit on the large side for me. Large dog = large food bill + large waste to clean up.
*It was just the one time, from a height of maybe eight inches; we monitor her VERY carefully, but she can be so freakin' fast and agile that it's hard to prevent her sometimes. Spindly Chihuahua body + fearless Dachshund brain is a nightmare combination.
Current Mood:  calm | | 1:35 pm |
In which I become an editor a lot sooner than expected.
Last night at fighter practice (I didn't fight but Shade did, and he looked adorable in Vlad's combat gear), Vlad asked me if I wanted the position of chronicler. Apparently after some recent events it's now up for grabs, and I'm the best candidate for the job. The only caveat is that I would need to be an official member, but that's like $20 a year so whatevs ($35 if I wanted to subscribe to the SCA newsletter). Basically I would be in charge of the canton newsletter, to be released whenever I have the time. Formerly it was a quarterly newsletter, but he said I could make it as frequent as I liked. I'm both excited and terrified. The idea of being totally in charge of a whole newsletter is awesome (okay, usually it's like an eight-page mini pamphlet, but still!), but on the other hand I really, really don't want to screw it up. Plus I'm a little iffy on what the hell to put in it. Fortunately I'm not the only person expected to write for it, and others will contribute articles, but it's a responsibility nonetheless.
Current Mood:  hopeful | | Thursday, July 16th, 2009 | | 1:40 am |
| | Sunday, July 12th, 2009 | | 1:46 am |
Yay! I (possibly) has a hobby!
On the suggestion of ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) mechanicalhyena, I have made my first tenative steps toward studying calligraphy, and bought a cheap three-pack of calligraphy markers for practice (not the best material, but better to start off small than sink a whole lot of money into a hobby early on). Current Mood: calm | | Saturday, July 11th, 2009 | | 12:13 am |
Oh God, I feel bad that I forgot to mention...
Cricket's cast came off today...for about thirty seconds. See, the vet said that if the bones haven't set after six weeks, she will need an amputation. And today, at the seven-week marker, it flopped around like the day she broke it. Shade will be making an appointment for surgery tomorrow. We're all kind of devastated at the moment, although Shade is holding together creditably. And while I'm glad that she's not in any pain (she didn't react one bit when her leg moved, which probably means the nerves are dead), I'm kind of concerned for the other three legs. She's standing on twigs as it is, and removing one of her already meagre supports....
Ah well. We'll cross that limb when we come to it.
Current Mood:  worried | | Friday, July 10th, 2009 | | 11:59 pm |
So I'm kind of in love with a new series.
A couple Christmases ago, Mom gave me a little paperback titled The Haunted Abbot by Peter Tremayne, subtitled "A Mystery of Ancient Ireland." Not being much into historical fiction or mysteries at the time, I pretty much ignored it. Since my involvement in the SCA I have acquired an interest in things medieval, and, remembering the book, started reading it last night.
HOLY SHIT. IT IS ALL FLAVOURS OF WIN.
It's set in the middle of the seventh century A.D., and the main character is a lawyer nun who solves mysteries and fights crime with the help of a monk sidekick. And it's ALL BASED IN FACT. Apparently the Dark Ages of Europe was a golden period of enlightenment in Ireland, with universities and all kinds of advances, and women were afforded a lot of power in both government and the Christian church (which was brand-spanking new), even serving in high-ranking positions as judges and bishops. So the main character, Sister Fidelma, is super-educated and highly respected in her field. The author is a real-life authority on medieval history and old Irish languages (among other things), so pretty much everything is 100% factual, aside from the characters and plots.
I'm now a little over halfway through it (and I do NOT finish books this quickly, my attention span rarely allows it), and bought two more at the little half-price bookstore in the mall: Act of Mercy and Smoke in the Wind. It's extremely entertaining and goes down very easily, plus with all the little factoids on Irish history that invariably crop up, it's educational, too!
Current Mood:  dude, crime-fighting nun! | | 12:25 am |
I wanna skill. :(
Went to surprise baby shower for Stephanie-the-Former-Coworker, daughter of Diane-the-Coworker. Gave little pink plush snail (because a) it's a girl and b) snails are cool) and box of baby wipes. Turns out nearly every single guest also gave baby wipes. Expect child will have enough baby wipes to last her through college. Stephanie surprised us in turn by revealing that her boyfriend had proposed to her just that morning. I told her about the traditional Norse gift of a cat as a wedding present to new couples (pest control for the household, doncha know), and assured her that she was fully within her rights to demand the kitten for which she yearns. :D
Am feeling rather guilty right now regarding SCA stuff, because in the year or so that I have been attending, I haven't really picked up any skills outside of dances and making a single dish (rugula). Meanwhile Shade is ridiculously crafty and has made a belt pouch, several tablet-woven belts, and a whole freaking shirt. And that's all just in the last few weeks.
I dunno, I feel like I ought to develop a skill, but I have no idea where to start. That and I'm wavering on my persona...I started out determined to do 15th-16th century German based purely on the clothing, but I'm peering over to the English side of the fence, roughly 11th-13th centuries (a pretty wide umbrella, I'll admit). On top of everything, I'm fairly certain my SCA name (Hilde*) isn't period for either one!
I'm so confused. :(
Current Mood:  inadequate. | | Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 | | 11:44 pm |
FUCK HUMANITY.
Today at work I had to deal with 1) an angry asshole (incidentally a black woman; this sadly becomes relevant) who accused me of lying and stormed out, followed immediately by
2) a little old lady who, in a misguided attempt to console me, chirped up with some of the most appallingly racist shit I've ever heard. As I gaped at her, literally dumbstruck by the words coming out of her mouth, she kept pouring out this diabtribe of hate. I finally managed, "...can I help you?", completed the transaction, and got her out of the store as quickly as possible.
I later related this exchange with Mom, who got angry with me and told me I shouldn't have reacted AT ALL, not even stunned silence, because said little old lady is a "very good customer" and we couldn't afford to offend HER by being judgmental.
WHAT THE FLAMING BLUE FUCK?
If she had spat on the floor--and I consider gross public displays of racism (or sexism, or other staggeringly blatant expressions of prejudice), socially speaking, on par with that sort of behaviour--I would have fucking well disapproved, because YOU DON'T DO THAT SHIT, not and expect to skip off on your merry way, consequence-free.
Current Mood:  from now on i'm a hamster. | | Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 | | 10:58 pm |
Okay, sleeptimes now.
Went to Derbyshire Ren faire and spent time “papering” (aka passing out fliers to) the crowd. According to the chatelaine, I snagged eight people all on my own! I have no idea who, but one new girl showed up at meet yesterday with her mother (although I'm pretty sure Shade was responsible for her). I got a couple small things at the faire: a d20 necklace and a strap to carry around my metal tankard. Shade looked for some belt pouches but found nothing he liked.
Went shopping after the first day of faire on Saturday, still in garb, and heard one little girl say, "Look, Mommy, a princess!" :D
FINALLY reordered my meds after going without for three days (yes, I know, STUPID). Was getting a tad twitchy and irritable, also bursting into tears with little provocation (and by "provocation" I mean "my sister being a bitch." Yes, I know you disapprove of every aspect of my life, there's no need to go on about it).
Shade ordered Wonderfalls on Netflix. I am kind of hearting it a lot. Very badly want second season of Pushing Daisies on DVD.
Wrote a few more pages of my hamster book. Go me, or something.
God, I so do not want to be conscious at seven in the morning.
Current Mood:  tired | | Thursday, June 25th, 2009 | | 2:20 am |
| | Sunday, June 21st, 2009 | | 6:38 pm |
I cannot stop smiling.
Went to Border Wars and it was extremely awesome (hampered only slightly at first by Shade's co-worker of FAIL) and I had lots of fun and may have even had happy snuggletimes with a person of the male-shaped persuasion. :D (Someone likes me and I kinda really like them and I have been ridiculously giggly all day over it.)
Current Mood: happy | | Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 | | 2:38 am |
Sad fan is sad.
So I found the third series of Primeval on YouTube, watched a couple episodes, and was getting all squeeful and renewing my fannishness...then I found out that the show has been cancelled. WTF? It was supposed to last four series! They really couldn't squeeze out another ten episodes or so? Witchblade, Firefly, The Dresden Files, Pushing Daisies...now Primeval. DAMMIT TELEVISION, QUIT BREAKING MY HEART.
...oh God, my mother is going to shit bricks. She is in love with this show.
ETA: It ends on a CLIFFHANGER? FUCK THAT NOISE.
Current Mood: i hate you, world. | | Monday, June 15th, 2009 | | 9:39 pm |
New (to me) Tolkien!
I went to an SCA Arts and Sciences meet yesterday, and they were selling off extra copies of the historically-relevent books kept in stock. I got one of the very, very few Tolkien books I have not read: a collection of his translations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Pearl, and Sir Orfeo. W00t! Then I came down with a migraine (or something very like: I got a massive headache with nausea) shortly before I got out of work, and was unable to attend dance practice this evening. I just got up, like, an hour ago, after nearly four hours in bed with a pillow over my head to block light and muffle sound. I'm still a little queasy, to be honest, but at least I can get up and do stuff, although I doubt I could leave the apartment.
Current Mood:  sick | | Sunday, June 14th, 2009 | | 2:18 am |
Disney!
On Shade's insistence, we saw the third Lion King movie (and rented the first*, as I hadn't seen it since it was in the theater and naturally sequels make more sense in context). I enjoyed the rewatch, although I've liked other Disney movies better (my all-time favourite being Lady and the Tramp, although Mulan runs a close second). Then he cracked open the third movie.
OH MY GOD IT IS HILARIOUS. It takes a baseball bat to the fourth wall, and throws in references that only adults could fully appreciate (when Timon broke into a completely poker-faced version of "Sunrise, Sunset," I inhaled my root beer). Also, meerkats are like exotic, skinny hamsters and I therefore less than three them. "Dig a tunnel," indeed. :D (SHADE, YOU WERE SO RIGHT ABOUT THE BRAINWORM AGH IT WILL NOT LEAVE.)
*We did NOT see the second, as Shade told me it is utter crap of the most flagrant kind, although he intends to show me eventually, just so I have an idea of how awful it is. From what he described, I believe him.
Current Mood: tired | | Saturday, June 13th, 2009 | | 1:01 am |
Conure dig it?
So yesterday I was thiiiiiis close to getting a parrot; the only thing that stopped me was the fact that I did not have hundreds of dollars on my person, nor can I afford to fling around said hundreds of dollars on a flagrantly unnecessary purchase. I went to visit Shade at PetsMart (as I often do), and while I was there I noticed one of the store's handfed green-cheeked conures had been sold. I peered in at the remaining green-cheek, and it climbed down to greet me. Carefully, I stuck a finger through the bars and began to scratch its neck.
This bird is a TOTAL CUDDLESLUT. I have never had a bird, even my beloved lovebird Pache, react so enthusiastically to being petted. It craned its head around, eyes closed in bliss. At one point it rolled over onto its back to give me better access to under its beak. It even let me pet its wings (and most birds HATE strangers touching their wings, it's too vulnerable a position).
I never, ever thought I would fall in love with a conure; I've always heard they were shrieky and nippy. (Of course, I've since learned that lovebirds have a reputation as hyper little assholes that are difficult to handle, so.) This conure was a living doll, and I'm interested in learning if it's typical of the species.
Current Mood:  mellow | | Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 | | 11:50 pm |
Yay! My taste is validated!
So Shade and I were sitting around bored, mulling over what to watch since the next disc of NCIS has not arrived from Netflix, and I suggested The Librarian (which I own), since it's like National Treasure on a budget and I thought he might like it. I was staggered. He LOVED it, and the minute it was over immediately wanted to rent the two sequels (the second I've seen, the third I haven't). The second one isn't as bad as I remember it being, although it still doesn't live up to the original. Not that The Librarian is an immortal beacon of cinematic virtue, but it's certainly above-average entertainment; the sequel has its moments, but is overall kinda middling. It doesn't help that Gabrielle Anwar is so painfully skinny that even I thought she could stand a few hearty meals--I, who think that Keira Knightley looks perfectly fine. My threshold for skinny chicks is high, but Anwar just looks unhealthy.
ETA: Just finished the third movie (threequel?).
OMG. OMG.
IT IS AWESOME. In a cheesy, winkingly self-referential way.
VAMPIRES! SWORDFIGHTS! EXPLOSIONS! PIRATE SHIPS! RUSSIAN SPIES! TWEED! The only thing it was missing was dragons and steampunk; otherwise it would have been a perfect nucleus of Shiny.
And the new girl/requisite love interest was damn smokin' fine and kicked ass like whoa; I instantly girlcrushed on her SO HARD. Such an improvement over McPrissypants.
Current Mood: satisfied | | 2:34 am |
The ongoing therapy of Audrey Hepburn movies and antipsychotics.
Bought The Nun's Story a couple days ago (half price at the little media store in the mall, w00t!). I hadn't seen it in about ten years, but I remembered it as being one of Audrey Hepburn's best performances. And, internet, my memory does not fail me; she's truly fantastic. It's extremely long at 2 ½ hours, and does drag on occasion (mainly in the panoramic shots of the exotic Congo--filmed on location, so the director was milking all he could from the scenery), but overall is a very interesting and steadfastly neutral depiction of life as a nun. To sum up in one sentence: holy shit, it's HARD. From what the film portrays, nuns can't talk outside of work, have to write everything down in little penance books (with sins ranging from "looked at reflection in window" to "drank a glass of water between meals without permission" and even "gave comfort to a fellow sister"), and must drop everything to answer to a stupid bell. At one point Hepburn's character, Sister Luke, who is in training as a surgical nurse, has to walk away from a patient in surgery to receive communion at the sound of the bell. This everlasting obedience chafes, and being naturally strong-willed, she struggles throughout her time as a nun to achieve more perfect humility and compliance. At one point a senior nun flat-out tells her to fail her exams, because only then can she experience true humility. She disobeys, feeling horribly guilty at her supposed pride, only for another nun to say years later, yeah, while that sister's heart was theoretically in the right place, she was wrong to encourage that sort of dishonesty.
Then, as she's stationed at a hospital in the Congo, she meets up with the local doctor who I swear to God reminds me of House. He's extremely cynical (though brilliant), brusque, is agnostic (if not downright atheist), and repeatedly challenges her faith, telling her that she's not cut out for this nun business and she might as well give it up to focus on the medical work. (Oh yeah: Her father was some sort of genius doctor, so she played with microscopes and so forth since she was a young bean.) She sticks it out a while longer, then is sent home after a short bout of TB (which she diagnoses on herself, catching it before the symptoms are barely there).
She ends up back in the convent in Belgium, only to find, surprise! World War II! Belgium's been invaded by the Nazis, and guess what? Since the Church is neutral, she's supposed to help save the very people who invaded her home and, oh yeah, killed her family. At this point she gives up the habit (so to speak) and leaves the convent, presumably to help the Resistance. Or goes back to the Congo to marry the doctor (they seemed to have a mutual thing for each other; it's subtle, but it's there). Or just disappears into a normal, bell-free life. The end is sort of a choose-your-own-adventure for Sister Luke, because we're never actually told what she does. I like to think she runs off with the doctor and together they fight crime! help defeat the Nazis with the awesome power of Science! (It would make one hell of a series. I'd watch it!)
Current Mood:  bouncy | | Sunday, June 7th, 2009 | | 1:11 am |
May be a tad caffeinated. Bear with me and my italics.
Have been mainlining the entire series of NCIS over the last few, er, months. McGee is adorable and I want to be Abby when I grow up. (Except that I think she's actually younger than I am, which is kind of distressing.) Also, thanks to the new movie, Shade has now awoken to a fact that I have been telling him for years, that Star Trek is all flavours of awesome and win, and I have finally managed to show him the first few episodes of TOS. And he likes it. :D I told you so! I told you so!
On rewatching the series, I've found myself starting to 'ship, of all things, Spock's parents, WTF? (Seriously! Watch Journey to Babel! They're just so cute!)
Bought Victory of Eagles, #5 in the Temeraire series. Am fifty pages in and so far it feels more...settled than her previous works. Like Novik's finally reached a level of comfort with her world and it's become more...I dunno, fluid? I realize this is staggeringly inspecific, but my brainmeats are at minimum efficiency.
Current Mood: cheerful | | Saturday, May 30th, 2009 | | 12:39 am |
"Admiral...there be whales here!"
Went out and got a boxed set of Star Trek movies II, III, and IV (packaged as a "trilogy" because honestly no one cares about the first movie, or at least I sure don't, and Paramount is milking the franchise for all it's worth now that it's supposedly "cool"*), which at $30 ends up being $10 per movie...not bad, especially since it includes my absolute favouritest that I saw, like, a zillion times as a kid: The Voyage Home (unofficial subtitle The One with the Whales). I now own it and can watch it whenever I like. :D Coincidentally, I saw Catherine Hicks two weeks ago when I was at the Motor City Con. I didn't go up and talk to her, but it was worth a double-take or two. It's kind of eerie how little she's changed in twenty-three years.
*Holy shit, Star Trek is, at least for the time being, cool. I even saw posters for it at Meijer, next to posters for stuff like Twilight and whatever else teenagers get up to these days. It's like we're in some sort of alternate universe!
Current Mood: hello, computer! | | Sunday, May 24th, 2009 | | 11:47 pm |
Hamstercula.
I seem to have acquired another hamster. Not the sapphire Winter White I was eyeballing a few days ago (although she is pretty). A female Campbell's bit one of Shade's co-workers hard enough to draw blood, and was deemed too vicious to be sellable. Since I am the unofficial Hamster Whisperer and can tame the meanest hamster, Shade called me to ask if I wanted her.
I expected to find a huge, fat bully; what I saw was a teeny baby girl who didn't so much as nip when I picked her up (although she did a few exploratory nibbles). She's a little nervous, but she didn't bite, wriggle, or try to jump out of my hand. And later, when I carried her around in a small modular console, she sat and ate contentedly, followed by some relaxed grooming (not the quick, hurried grooming animals do to calm themselves when stressed).
Because she was surrendered for drawing blood, I have decided to name her Carmilla. :D She even looks kind of like a little vampire, with red eyes and a mottled "cape."
Current Mood: cheerful |
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