Hubby & I decided NOT to exchange gifts because we were going to get a set of French-style doors to replace the utterly craptastic sliding glass door that leads out onto the patio. We were going to take advantage of the energy efficiency tax credit to get some of our money back. We've been trying to get an estimate for the job from some contractors since late September/early October. So much for our energy-efficient Christmas present. (Not gonna happen now.) I guess I'll get him the box set of Star Trek DVDs he wants instead. I wish I had seen THIS before I made some of the changes to our house, especially summer before last when we added insulation to the attic. Hee hee.

Dear Santa... Dear Santa, This year I've been busy! In September I pulled samrainbow's hair (-5 points). Last Thursday I gave joes_lashes a life-saving blood transfusion (50 points). In July I helped precious_rosie across the street (6 points). In November I bought porn for multred_a (10 points). Last month I set wastingyourgum's puppy on fire (-66 points). Overall, I've been naughty (-5 points). For Christmas I deserve a lump of coal! Sincerely, omteddy2006

Write your letter to Santa! Enter your LJ username:

It's absolutely frightening how "spot on" this is for my f'list...Apologies to WYG. I was unduly influenced by Michael Vick. And I'm sure it was an accident.

Is anyone else dreading the avalanche of e-mails that are gonna be a-comin' whenever LJ fixes their notifications system?

Apparently, they are in a queue just waiting for us. I'm a little nervous...

Everyone...to the store for bread and milk! Cover your waterpipes! Cancel school! Call out the National Guard! I...I...*thud*


ETA: Okay...I posted this in self-deprecating jest (making fun of Texans' reaction to the rare phenomenon that is snow), but now the university has announced that it is closing at noon, which means that daycare will be closing at noon, which means that I will be going home where I am temporarily without a computer as Hubby took the laptop out of town. *SIGH* So much for catching up on things I needed to do today involving the computer. Bye, y'all.

I sit down to eat my breakfast sandwich (eggs and veggie bacon between two slices of wheat toast) this morning and Roscoe comes and drops his rawhide bone at my feet. Then, he gives me "the look." We've moved away from simple begging and moved on to actual bartering. Sometimes, my dog scares me.

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I don't even eat meat and this film, Food, Inc., made me angry...and motivated. Going to have to start selling platelets and plasma if that's what it takes to buy organically-grown local foods. And I must do more research so I can sucessfully boycott Monsanto COMPLETELY.

Yes, that's right...Monsanto can kiss my ass. And, I don't care what "veggie libel laws" that statement might break (answer: none, I think, because I did not disparage one of their products). None of this is news to me...I just get riled every time I hear it - for my family who aren't vegetarian, for the children, for myself who can't grow everything I eat and have to deal with the irresponsible practices of big agribusiness.

*SIGH* If only my garden would grow...I could move closer to the edge of the grid without going completely off of it.

What these companies do to our food supply...It boggles the mind...

I know your party was on Friday, but here's Allan anyway...a ha' penny short and several days too late! Bless him...he tries.

I think this reporter from the U.K. has been reading my fanfic. I am stealing that carrier pigeon for the next message from Allan to Will & Djaq in the Holy Land.

Top 5 ways to beat the Royal Mail strike

I bought a 2009 guidebook for my upcoming trip to England, proud of myself for not cheaping out and using one from a previous year. I knew that I liked the writer/series having read other guidebooks of this series (not specifically on England, however) and I was confident in my purchase. Imagine my chagrin when my package from Amazon arrived and I skimmed the contents of my guidebook only to find that two of the cities that I am visiting are not even included! RATS!

Now, I have a good start on sites in Bristol (thanks everyone, and especially Lizzie), but I am at a loss on Birmingham. Since my friend and I will be traveling up there to see Joe perform, I figured we might as well check out the city as well. So, besides fantastic curry and The Rep, what is there to see and do in Brum? In one day?!

Thanks, f'list!

Series 1, Episode 5: “Turk Flu”

Written by : Debbie Oates; Directed by Declan O’Dwyer

The "Insta-Squee" thing is really addictive. There is nothing I like better than snarky comments, as those of you brave enough to read will soon see...

( Read A LOT more... )

ETA: For the second week in a row, I've forgotten to add a link to the main re-watch page. Oops! You can find it HERE.

Series 1, Episode 4: Parenthood

First of all, I have to say that as a parent this episode horrified me! And it wasn't Guy's apparent abandonment of baby Seth that was truly appalling. (Show me a parent that in the first few months hasn't WANTED to set their baby down in the forest and just walk away for a little while, and I'll show you a parent who is lying. Most of us, obviously, refrain from doing so, but we've thought about it in a moment of sleep-deprived weakness.)

Allan could also be forgiven for his cluelessness in turning the baby upside down. (They don't come with manuals. There is a lot of trial-and-error in parenting.) But Robin really should have known better! Fighting with the babe in arms and at one point tossing him to a guard to throw the guard off-balance? "Takin' with" (as Allan puts it) so that baby is jostled on a galloping horse?

And even Will who shows so much paternal-like concern at the beginning is guilty of reckless endangerment when he ends the episode by giving Annie the most lethal-looking baby present that I could possibly imagine...a strangulation device (bow) that comes complete with a dozen severely sharpened choking hazards! Boys, boys, boys...*shakes head* With all the baby shaking in this episode, little Seth is all set for his future career as some village's idiot-in-residence! If the toy doesn't kill him first.
( Read more... )

My answers to roh_wyn ’s discussion questions (this week’s topic: the Nightwatchman) can be found at the main re-watch page HERE.

Series 1, Episode 3: Who Shot the Sheriff?
Written by Paul Cornell; Directed by Richard Standoven

Okay, Episode 3 was not my favorite episode ever. Upon re-watch, I can say that I still don’t care for it much.

 

( Read more... )

In a subconscious attempt to get myself fired by spending too much time on LJ, I have joined another fun-and-games RH community, hoodland. I would tell you ALL about it, but it's new and I've never joined anything like it, and I'm discovering what it is as I go along. Basically, you can join either Team Leather or Team Outlaw and there will be various competitions for teams to earn points. And, it sounds like FUN.


Just made for signature tag for Team Leather:


Okay, now I know how to post images in a journal post (see above for proof). However, I have never figured out how to post an image directly into a comment box. The LJ FAQ page doesn't seem to address this, either. GRRR.

When I post a comment with my freebie LJ account, I don't get the insert image button on a task bar like I do with a journal post. Am I missing something here?

Oh, and what do you think of the sig tag? (I knew I never should have started dabbling in fan art...so many addictions, so little time...)

ETA: In my lethargy and confusion earlier today, I gave a really weak pimp to the community. Still tired, but have had more caffeine. I think I've done better now. Please join us for fun!

If you are reading this, then my attempt to post a link in a comment box at roh_wyn's S1 re-watch post worked. Or, you are on my f'list. If you are on my f'list, this is in response to a re-watch of Robin Hood Series 1, Episode 2. If you are not interested, then you are excused. (Sorry to bother you.)

Anyway, roh_wyn's questions/comments in italics with my responses in bold. Additional comments at the end. Hopefully, my computer woes will be fixed soon and I can do my own proper post (without all of the heavy-handed cutting-and-pasting).

( Episode 2 re-watch )

I just finished my first drabble and I need one detail that I am missing. Does anyone remember what town Allan thought Valhalla was near? From episode where Izzy's hubby desecrates Norse burial mound, 3X07 or 3X08? I just need that one town name and I'm done!

IT RAINED!!!!! We have been breaking records for high temperatures right, left and center with heat indices reaching up to 104 and 107F. The last rain we had was in May. AND, It finally rained today!

I don't know if I'm more sensitive to the drought because I'm older, or because I'm now a "gardener" (*cough*), or because I'm a homeowner with a yard, or because I'm the mother of a small child/pet owner, or what. But I have never been more happy to see precipitation in my life. This is the worst heat wave we've had since 1980, if I'm not mistaken, and I'm just so grateful for the rain! YAY!!!!!

Maybe tomorrow, it will only get up to 95F. *wink* I'll take it, and even the humidity. I'm just so glad it rained. :)

So here's what I know about the University of Bristol...it's Joe's alma mater.

I need to know more about the university, and more importantly the surrounding area, as hubby is going in September to an international conference and wants to know if I want to tag along. I have no desire to attend any of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontol...*yawn*...ogy conference, so does anyone have suggestions on what I could do with my time while he's lecturing/schmoozing/etc. I would love to know what sites I should see, etc., etc. Any input is appreciated. And quickly, I need to make up my mind soon as he is planning the trip now!

Thanks, f'list.

You Should Spend Your Summer at the Beach

You're a free spirit who is always thinking of new ways to have fun. And you don't just love summer... you live for it. So, you really should blow off your responsibilities and head to the beach!

Finally, a blogthing I can agree with wholeheartedly! I especially like the last part.