We're going somewhere tomorrow, so I probably will get my Sherlock when I get back. I might even stay up to get it.
It's been one heck of a year. Last year at this time I was heading off into the great unknown, not knowing if I'd have a degree at the end of it or not. 12 months later, I've got that and no job.
Hopefully this next year gets me that and maybe a guy, too.
BAH HA HA HA HA HA HA
Sorry.
Ahem.
Anyway, this is me, signing off from 2011. May next year be full of Sherlock, hobbits, superheroes, and a blasted job.
Ta,
Bec
31.12.11
29.12.11
Today Hasn't Gone The Way I Planned
I know it's been awhile since I've posted. My sister is currently cleaning the kitchen floor because I had to clean the fridge out because we had a milk leak this morning. Despite the apparently tiny leak (one eeny weeny pusillanimous drip out of one corner), it got EVERYWHERE on three different shelves. I had to throw down my clothes for laundry because they were soaked in the stuff. The dog got some of it that had frozen (and any drops that hit the floor.)
I think we got it under control. What was left of the milk has been transferred to a pitcher (I kept the leaky jug for a bit so I can show Mum the leak, however slow and pathetic it is.)
My original intention for today was to sign up for a couple of jobs. So far, I've done a load of clothes, washed all the moo juice out of the fridge, and started a fire in the woodstove because we had entire boxes of butter soaked with milk. The butter was fine; the boxes were not. Couple days down the line, all that stuff will start to stink if it isn't dealt with. Rotten milk is not a pleasant smell.
Today, therefore, has not gone according to plan.
I have the Merlin reviews typed up; I just have to get them to THIS computer. We'll get there.
Sherlock coming in three days! Very impatiently waiting. Seen some trailers and can barely stop smiling while watching them.
Not much more to say; survived a late Christmas dinner at my grandmother's, mostly because some people weren't there and some people that I hadn't seen in a decade were.
That's about it for now. I will try to talk once more before the end of the year.
Ta,
Bec
I think we got it under control. What was left of the milk has been transferred to a pitcher (I kept the leaky jug for a bit so I can show Mum the leak, however slow and pathetic it is.)
My original intention for today was to sign up for a couple of jobs. So far, I've done a load of clothes, washed all the moo juice out of the fridge, and started a fire in the woodstove because we had entire boxes of butter soaked with milk. The butter was fine; the boxes were not. Couple days down the line, all that stuff will start to stink if it isn't dealt with. Rotten milk is not a pleasant smell.
Today, therefore, has not gone according to plan.
I have the Merlin reviews typed up; I just have to get them to THIS computer. We'll get there.
Sherlock coming in three days! Very impatiently waiting. Seen some trailers and can barely stop smiling while watching them.
Not much more to say; survived a late Christmas dinner at my grandmother's, mostly because some people weren't there and some people that I hadn't seen in a decade were.
That's about it for now. I will try to talk once more before the end of the year.
Ta,
Bec
15.12.11
The Eagle Has Landed
Back home. Didn't have Internet signal on the way back so I couldn't communicate online. I'm still unpacking and probably will be for a week or two yet.
I have things to do, but I'll try and talk soon.
Ta,
Bec
I have things to do, but I'll try and talk soon.
Ta,
Bec
10.12.11
700 Posts and an MLS
It's over and done. The hood's been put over my head, the degree given out, everything is finished.
Let's see how this looks, shall we?
REBECCA LE KOSHAK, B.A., M.L.S.
As I said on Facebook, that stands for Badass Master of Library Science.
We are resting at home. I think we're all exhausted. It's been one big adrenaline and tear-filled rush and I just want to take the rest of the day off.
I think we're eating in tonight.
This is post 700! There's been partying already. I'm worn out.
Merlin review later on.
Ta,
Bec
Let's see how this looks, shall we?
REBECCA LE KOSHAK, B.A., M.L.S.
As I said on Facebook, that stands for Badass Master of Library Science.
We are resting at home. I think we're all exhausted. It's been one big adrenaline and tear-filled rush and I just want to take the rest of the day off.
I think we're eating in tonight.
This is post 700! There's been partying already. I'm worn out.
Merlin review later on.
Ta,
Bec
9.12.11
Day Before
Parents are here. The dog has been as annoying as always; she's been demanding stuff since the minute she walked in here last night, and eating everything in sight.
I have to go to march practice in about an hour. They're going to teach me how to walk, apparently.
We're all sitting and watching TV.
Got stuff to do today, so ta,
Bec
PS: Tiring, busy day. Grad practice finished at noon, friend's bridal shower on campus at 3, then party thingy at 6 tonight.
Tomorrow we start EARLY. We've got food arriving at 6 via catering from Jason's Deli (tomorrow is going to be too bloody hectic and I don't have anything here to actually cook anyway.)
And then we're off and running! I will write up an account of the whole crazy thing after the fact, because I'll be too busy having a hood dropped over my head, getting a really important piece of paper, and reading poetry to a very bored crowd of people who just want to eat, dammit.
Ta,
Bec
I have to go to march practice in about an hour. They're going to teach me how to walk, apparently.
We're all sitting and watching TV.
Got stuff to do today, so ta,
Bec
PS: Tiring, busy day. Grad practice finished at noon, friend's bridal shower on campus at 3, then party thingy at 6 tonight.
Tomorrow we start EARLY. We've got food arriving at 6 via catering from Jason's Deli (tomorrow is going to be too bloody hectic and I don't have anything here to actually cook anyway.)
And then we're off and running! I will write up an account of the whole crazy thing after the fact, because I'll be too busy having a hood dropped over my head, getting a really important piece of paper, and reading poetry to a very bored crowd of people who just want to eat, dammit.
Ta,
Bec
8.12.11
Double Thursday Posting
Since I needed another entry to make 700 on Saturday, here it is.
Oh, and I want to confirm that Scandal in Belgravia is definitely showing in the UK on January 1st. I made a comment on Facebook about the joy giving me a left hand tremor. If you don't get that joke, you won't be the least bit excited by this news.
However, I AM, and so are a whole ton of those who have been waiting since the August before last for this series to arrive. I've only been waiting since April. It's been long enough.
On another note, I made a pie.
Granted, the crust was a bought crust (because I have the family "problem" with pie crust, and I don't have any flour here even if I wanted to make one.)
But I did all the rest of the work. Cooked a can of sweetened condensed milk unopened in water for three hours to thicken it (this was done Tuesday.) Poured it into the cooked crust. Layered bananas in until they literally wouldn't go down in the stuff anymore. Whipped real cream and turned it into whipped cream (ha ha! Didn't know that would happen, did you?) and then shaved a bar of chocolate and scattered shavings over the cream.
This is what it looks like:
Me and my pie!
We'll see if it tastes like anything later tonight when the parents get here. Between 5 and 7. Dummy's downstairs right now (damn he talks so LOUDLY) or I'd dare looking out.
Ta,
Bec
PS: They'll be here in a half-hour. I'll blog more tomorrow :)
Oh, and I want to confirm that Scandal in Belgravia is definitely showing in the UK on January 1st. I made a comment on Facebook about the joy giving me a left hand tremor. If you don't get that joke, you won't be the least bit excited by this news.
However, I AM, and so are a whole ton of those who have been waiting since the August before last for this series to arrive. I've only been waiting since April. It's been long enough.
On another note, I made a pie.
Granted, the crust was a bought crust (because I have the family "problem" with pie crust, and I don't have any flour here even if I wanted to make one.)
But I did all the rest of the work. Cooked a can of sweetened condensed milk unopened in water for three hours to thicken it (this was done Tuesday.) Poured it into the cooked crust. Layered bananas in until they literally wouldn't go down in the stuff anymore. Whipped real cream and turned it into whipped cream (ha ha! Didn't know that would happen, did you?) and then shaved a bar of chocolate and scattered shavings over the cream.
This is what it looks like:
Me and my pie!
We'll see if it tastes like anything later tonight when the parents get here. Between 5 and 7. Dummy's downstairs right now (damn he talks so LOUDLY) or I'd dare looking out.
Ta,
Bec
PS: They'll be here in a half-hour. I'll blog more tomorrow :)
Not Sleeping
Call it a case of my brain just not shutting off, but I am sitting here at 1 this morning, unable to shut my eyes and go to sleep.
Mum called from Cincinnati, so they're 8 hours out. Tomorrow's estimate of afternoon arrival is looking pretty fine.
Unfortunately, my inability to actually crash is going to make me very tired tomorrow, and I have a lot of stuff to accomplish. This is not good.
I'm sitting at the computer because I honestly couldn't think of anything that might put me to sleep faster. My head's getting a bit heavier, so yay there.
I'm going to go try sleeping again.
Ta,
Bec
PS: Succeeded in sleeping and managed to get out the door this morning to get my tickets and Permit to March Card.
Made sure my name was right on my diploma (and got a sneak peek in the process-shh!) then made my way down to the library to hand off one of my three tickets to Marie.
And found the third was missing. Two cards were in my hand.
Drat.
So I turned around and retraced my steps, figuring I'd dropped it.
Nothing.
So I caught the bus, figuring I could pick up a spare and get it to Marie tomorrow when I come in for march practice.
THEN I went back to the bus, opened up my bag again.
Three cards.
WTF?
So the missing card was on me all along but apparently I couldn't see it, even when I dug down into my stuff to FIND the damned thing.
SO NOW I'm going to either bust my buns going back to campus to get the card to Marie or I'm going to give it to her tomorrow. Probably the latter. I have about six more things to do today and that wasn't in the plan.
Marie will get her card, just later than I thought she would.
AUGH.
Still later:
Mom called at 11:15 and said they were going to be in Charleston at noon.
She said they'd be here at 9 tonight. Pah. It's five hours from here to there and I just looked at it, so they'll be here around 5.
No matter. All the things that needed doing today have been done.
I'm eating anyway. I've been going since dawn without a break so I earned the fish and chips.
Talk to you later,
Bec
Mum called from Cincinnati, so they're 8 hours out. Tomorrow's estimate of afternoon arrival is looking pretty fine.
Unfortunately, my inability to actually crash is going to make me very tired tomorrow, and I have a lot of stuff to accomplish. This is not good.
I'm sitting at the computer because I honestly couldn't think of anything that might put me to sleep faster. My head's getting a bit heavier, so yay there.
I'm going to go try sleeping again.
Ta,
Bec
PS: Succeeded in sleeping and managed to get out the door this morning to get my tickets and Permit to March Card.
Made sure my name was right on my diploma (and got a sneak peek in the process-shh!) then made my way down to the library to hand off one of my three tickets to Marie.
And found the third was missing. Two cards were in my hand.
Drat.
So I turned around and retraced my steps, figuring I'd dropped it.
Nothing.
So I caught the bus, figuring I could pick up a spare and get it to Marie tomorrow when I come in for march practice.
THEN I went back to the bus, opened up my bag again.
Three cards.
WTF?
So the missing card was on me all along but apparently I couldn't see it, even when I dug down into my stuff to FIND the damned thing.
SO NOW I'm going to either bust my buns going back to campus to get the card to Marie or I'm going to give it to her tomorrow. Probably the latter. I have about six more things to do today and that wasn't in the plan.
Marie will get her card, just later than I thought she would.
AUGH.
Still later:
Mom called at 11:15 and said they were going to be in Charleston at noon.
She said they'd be here at 9 tonight. Pah. It's five hours from here to there and I just looked at it, so they'll be here around 5.
No matter. All the things that needed doing today have been done.
I'm eating anyway. I've been going since dawn without a break so I earned the fish and chips.
Talk to you later,
Bec
7.12.11
Cookie Madness (In Parentheses!)
Yesterday was busy, but didn't go the way I had planned it to.
You see, I had two half-batches of cookie dough frozen in the freezer that needed baking off. I also had a smidge of flour left to bake another batch.
So, inbetween watching the last of "To The Ends of the Earth," I baked three batches of cookies for today's party, for a friend, for my parents, and for myself. The cookies are blocking the light in the fridge and making it look like I have lots in there.
(I don't have lots in there. I'm on the 'cookie and water' diet around here.)
(By the way, Ben Cumberbatch's character got a burned face but still got the girl in the end. I was just marveling at the fact that the burns didn't lessen his gorgeousness one jot. Lucky Marion-in paradise with a rich, hot, heroic husband. SIGH.)
There will be no shortage of chocolate around here the next few days, I can assure you.
There are two things to do that will get done tomorrow thanks to yesterday's stuff taking forever.
But stuff is getting done. Slowly but surely.
Catch. You. Later.
(Now all of you in a high-pitched voice, "No you won't!")
(Humpf. If you'd watched Sherlock, you'd KNOW this line.)
(By the way, thanks to the press premiere of that particular series' new episodes tonight in the UK, we SHOULD have a date for the new series regular premiere by tomorrow. Let's just hope they didn't have it early because both the leads are slinking off to New Zealand next month for Hobbit.
In which case, I say DRAT.)
Ta,
Bec
PS: Drat it is, for the moment. Nothing. Not Twitter, not on the news feeds, nothing. I'll just have to be patient. GRR.
(Note from later: Looks like we MIGHT be getting Scandal, the first one, New Year's Day. Yay New Year and it starts with the glorious Cumberbatch and the marvelous Freeman. If this is true, I will be smiling for the rest of the week.)
Meanwhile, cookies went down well and there's some left. Mum and Dad are probably closing in on Indianapolis soon, so they'll be here tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.
After Mum called, I went and did most of the prep work for the crockpot chicken. Tomorrow's going to be busy and I would rather have most of the chopping and other stuff that can be done early done early. That way I'm not spending all of tomorrow morning rushing about and not getting things done.
Got to make an early start tomorrow (lucky, lucky me) so I have a lot to do before bedtime-bed making, clothes laying out-ing, setting my damned alarm because I have to be on campus at 8 AM. Unf.
Ta, all. Will talk tomorrow when I actually STOP MOVING.
Bec
You see, I had two half-batches of cookie dough frozen in the freezer that needed baking off. I also had a smidge of flour left to bake another batch.
So, inbetween watching the last of "To The Ends of the Earth," I baked three batches of cookies for today's party, for a friend, for my parents, and for myself. The cookies are blocking the light in the fridge and making it look like I have lots in there.
(I don't have lots in there. I'm on the 'cookie and water' diet around here.)
(By the way, Ben Cumberbatch's character got a burned face but still got the girl in the end. I was just marveling at the fact that the burns didn't lessen his gorgeousness one jot. Lucky Marion-in paradise with a rich, hot, heroic husband. SIGH.)
There will be no shortage of chocolate around here the next few days, I can assure you.
There are two things to do that will get done tomorrow thanks to yesterday's stuff taking forever.
But stuff is getting done. Slowly but surely.
Catch. You. Later.
(Now all of you in a high-pitched voice, "No you won't!")
(Humpf. If you'd watched Sherlock, you'd KNOW this line.)
(By the way, thanks to the press premiere of that particular series' new episodes tonight in the UK, we SHOULD have a date for the new series regular premiere by tomorrow. Let's just hope they didn't have it early because both the leads are slinking off to New Zealand next month for Hobbit.
In which case, I say DRAT.)
Ta,
Bec
PS: Drat it is, for the moment. Nothing. Not Twitter, not on the news feeds, nothing. I'll just have to be patient. GRR.
(Note from later: Looks like we MIGHT be getting Scandal, the first one, New Year's Day. Yay New Year and it starts with the glorious Cumberbatch and the marvelous Freeman. If this is true, I will be smiling for the rest of the week.)
Meanwhile, cookies went down well and there's some left. Mum and Dad are probably closing in on Indianapolis soon, so they'll be here tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.
After Mum called, I went and did most of the prep work for the crockpot chicken. Tomorrow's going to be busy and I would rather have most of the chopping and other stuff that can be done early done early. That way I'm not spending all of tomorrow morning rushing about and not getting things done.
Got to make an early start tomorrow (lucky, lucky me) so I have a lot to do before bedtime-bed making, clothes laying out-ing, setting my damned alarm because I have to be on campus at 8 AM. Unf.
Ta, all. Will talk tomorrow when I actually STOP MOVING.
Bec
6.12.11
Day Off? What Day Off?
Today was going to be busy and I knew it.
Starting out at 7 this morning, there was shopping. I needed just a few things for the pie and some stuff for the leftover pasta I didn't have sauce for.
I got back here at 9:30 and ate breakfast.
I'm headed back out around 1 for the next round. I have some other things to do today and I'm hoping the rest in between will mean I can get chores 2 and 3 done without getting too exhausted. Fibro makes one divide and conquer.
If not, I have cooking to do here also, and I'm probably going to be working on that tomorrow as well.
Whatever doesn't get done today will be done Thursday, save the baking. I need to do that today for tomorrow.
Yeah, I don't have class and work anymore. Does that mean I get a break? No, no, no...
Talk to you later!
Ta,
Bec
Starting out at 7 this morning, there was shopping. I needed just a few things for the pie and some stuff for the leftover pasta I didn't have sauce for.
I got back here at 9:30 and ate breakfast.
I'm headed back out around 1 for the next round. I have some other things to do today and I'm hoping the rest in between will mean I can get chores 2 and 3 done without getting too exhausted. Fibro makes one divide and conquer.
If not, I have cooking to do here also, and I'm probably going to be working on that tomorrow as well.
Whatever doesn't get done today will be done Thursday, save the baking. I need to do that today for tomorrow.
Yeah, I don't have class and work anymore. Does that mean I get a break? No, no, no...
Talk to you later!
Ta,
Bec
5.12.11
Busy Monday
I got started early today. Way too early, in my opinion.
First off, I walked to the bus stop at Brightleaf, got on the 5, came here, had a meeting.
Went to the bookstore, bought a keychain that says NCCU Alumni that I can put on the Christmas tree, and unexpectedly got my cap, gown, tassel, and hood when they said it was available. And why not? I'm there, it's not busy, do it now and get it over with.
I have my last day of work today and then I go home and do something productive with my time. I'm not sure what that kind of productive is.
I'm going to go write something and try NOT to go on Youtube today (this plan may not be successful. But I'm trying anyway.)
Gotta go do something productive.
Ta,
Bec
First off, I walked to the bus stop at Brightleaf, got on the 5, came here, had a meeting.
Went to the bookstore, bought a keychain that says NCCU Alumni that I can put on the Christmas tree, and unexpectedly got my cap, gown, tassel, and hood when they said it was available. And why not? I'm there, it's not busy, do it now and get it over with.
I have my last day of work today and then I go home and do something productive with my time. I'm not sure what that kind of productive is.
I'm going to go write something and try NOT to go on Youtube today (this plan may not be successful. But I'm trying anyway.)
Gotta go do something productive.
Ta,
Bec
4.12.11
It's Official!
The last grade has arrived, and as predicted, I got a B.
This means that I am graduating from Master's School. There is NOTHING that can prevent that now. Not me forgetting to turn something in, not administration, and CERTAINLY not annoying neighbors who insist that I want to talk to them when I made it clear months ago I have washed my hands of them completely.
Mom and Dad will be here this week!
My dog is coming down!
I'm moving out!
I'm graduating!
Ta,
Bec
PS: I am having the best Sunday in a long time. My apartment has been cleaned within an inch of its life, and I cooked a lovely lunch for myself of fish and chips, had a cup of tea with milk in it, and then had one Jaffa cake for myself (not gluten free but one doesn't hurt.)
Football game doesn't start till later so I might walk to the store because I don't want to waste the nice weather (and the fact that I can walk to the store, neither of which I'll have after next week.)
Went to the store and got what I needed. Went to a friend's house and watched the game on the computer.
We bloody won AGAIN, and it was a close one this time. 12 and nothing. It's a damn dream. Go you Packers, go, go!
This means that I am graduating from Master's School. There is NOTHING that can prevent that now. Not me forgetting to turn something in, not administration, and CERTAINLY not annoying neighbors who insist that I want to talk to them when I made it clear months ago I have washed my hands of them completely.
Mom and Dad will be here this week!
My dog is coming down!
I'm moving out!
I'm graduating!
Ta,
Bec
PS: I am having the best Sunday in a long time. My apartment has been cleaned within an inch of its life, and I cooked a lovely lunch for myself of fish and chips, had a cup of tea with milk in it, and then had one Jaffa cake for myself (not gluten free but one doesn't hurt.)
Football game doesn't start till later so I might walk to the store because I don't want to waste the nice weather (and the fact that I can walk to the store, neither of which I'll have after next week.)
Went to the store and got what I needed. Went to a friend's house and watched the game on the computer.
We bloody won AGAIN, and it was a close one this time. 12 and nothing. It's a damn dream. Go you Packers, go, go!
3.12.11
One Week To Go!
Don't know what I'm going to do today. Maybe the mall.
I'll let you all know later.
I'll let you in on a secret-if I keep posting these pointless blog entries talking about my meaningless life every day for the next week, I'll hit 700 on graduation day. Which would be why I'm posting repeatedly. Because that would be awesome. I might have to post an extra talking about cupcakes or something to get it there ON the day but this is what I'm aiming for for some reason. I have no idea why.
Gonna go do something more productive with my time (ha ha ha)
Ta,
Bec
PS: Went to the mall. Got a few things-one small thing for myself but got presents for Mum and both sisters.
I also watched Merlin and here's my thoughts on Episode 10.
SPOILER LINE
Herald of the New Age
Okay, so the knights, Arthur, and Merlin are walking through a forest. Elyan gets teased because Gwaine drank all his water. The troupe walk into a clearing full of what appears to be Druid laundry.
However, the area is a spirit haunt thing, and Merlin kind of gets wary about the whole thing. Arthur thinks it a good idea to get out of there and they do...but Elyan gets a drink from the well first.
They go back to the castle. Everything seems fine.
AND we find out Elyan woke up the spirit of a drowned boy and is now possessed by him. The boy wants Arthur dead. (I actually predicted the kid would want Arthur dead BEFORE he said it. Sigh. Show, you can be a TAD bit predictable sometimes.)
Elyan, then, gets to have the ignomious honor of being the first person to try to directly assassinate King Arthur (they tried plenty when he was a prince.) Arthur defends himself with a couple of stools but I'm fairly certain from now on, our king will have a sword two inches from his fingers at all times (he does when he's SLEEPING!)
The assumption between the knights is that Elyan's lost it because Gwen got banished. Give me a break. He never even said goodbye to her as far as we know and the two of them spent YEARS apart in the past. It was Gwen's fault in the first place, too. Bit ridiculous.
Elyan gets cornered, Percy calms him down, then Percy basically whops him one with a paw and takes him out of consciousness for awhile. (I love Percy by the way and wish the man got more screen time.)
Agravaine, showing remarkable loyalty (why isn't he HELPING Elyan here?) wants Elyan dead.
Merlin, wise and powerful, tells Arthur it's a damned vengeful spirit and Elyan's not himself. Him and Gaius have visited the camp and Merlin got all sensey and teary-eyed because he could FEEL what had happened. Colin Morgan is amazing in his ability to cry on command and should receive a BAFTA for doing so at the drop of a hat in almost every episode.
Arthur decides that both of them are driving him nuts and they should leave him to think.
Merlin decides to fix the whole stupid problem himself by taking Elyan out, knocking him senseless with some drugged water, and banishing the spirit. The Camelot prison guards are just as dumb as they always were (personally I think the writers get a kick out of guards who are as thick as a flaming Christmas pudding.) Merlin gets past them easy and lets Elyan out with the keys. They go out the dungeon entrance and Merlin tries to get Elyan to drink the water full of sedative, but the spirit warns Elyan not to drink with a shake of its head.
Elyan clonks Merlin in the head and escapes.
It's obvious to Arthur that Merlin busted Elyan out of jail, but he doesn't call him out on it.
Elyan attacks Arthur in the throne room. Merlin blows the door lock to try and get in there and stops Arthur from killing Elyan. He lets him go free.
Arthur pretends to Agravaine that if they find Elyan they can kill him, then TURNS AROUND to Gaius and Merlin and consults with them as to what he should be doing. This obvious disagreement with his uncle's method of shoot first and ask questions later is new and welcome. It shows Agravaine isn't completely in favor anymore. Could be interesting to see where that goes.
Arthur is basically told he may have to kill Elyan because the spirit ain't going to get its vengeance. Uther was the one who committed the atrocity at the Druid camp and caused the tragic deaths and there's no avenging it because Uther is dead. The spirit won't let go until it gets what it wants and it won't.
And then Arthur does something unexpected.
Arthur goes out to the camp in the dark. (Merlin follows him.) Arthur gets a little ticked about it but lets Merlin follow.
Arthur lays down his sword.
Elyan comes to him, possessed by the spirit. Arthur kneels.
It turns out Arthur is responsible for the atrocity at the camp. He apologises, says he was young and inexperienced and longing to prove himself to his father. AND THEN!
ARTHUR SWEARS TO NEVER ATTACK THE DRUIDS AGAIN.
Yes, that's right. Arthur swears to leave the Druids in peace. And you can be sure he means it.
The spirit forgives him and leaves Elyan.
I cried when Arthur promised to leave the Druids be. How many times were they attacked for no reason at all? How many of them died for no reason, even in the last five years?
How much has Arthur changed things if he's calling a stop to all the Druid massacres, a stop to all the meaningless deaths, a stop to the senseless violence enacted upon a peaceful people?
This had to be a proud moment for Merlin (and you can guarantee he'll hold Arthur to this promise.) It's such a big step. Such a proving of destiny. Arthur is becoming the king who lets magic be, who lets the Druids live in peace and safety once again.
There was also the minor subtext of Arthur missing Gwen. He falls asleep in his stew and winds up with it in his hair (heh heh). Why he didn't wash it out is beyond me. He's clearly distressed over the whole business of Gwen being gone and is trying to move on.
But barring the mooning over Gwen stuff, Arthur has come so far since the days of that arrogant prince who threw knives at a servant holding a wooden shield. Aren't you proud of our boy?
Next week: A blonde princess comes to Camelot. Oh, no. Here we go again. (Don't laugh at me. How many BLOODY times has a blonde chick, lady, princess, whatever, shown up, tried to get Arthur, and wound up almost killing him? THREE TIMES? I have a right to be cautious about this. Merlin should be watching this girl. Blondes and Arthur do NOT mix, have we not learned this yet?) Gwen is in some sort of purple thing that kind of makes her look like Princess Jasmine. Morgana and Aggie are involved somehow again.
Three more episodes to go, folks!
I'll let you all know later.
I'll let you in on a secret-if I keep posting these pointless blog entries talking about my meaningless life every day for the next week, I'll hit 700 on graduation day. Which would be why I'm posting repeatedly. Because that would be awesome. I might have to post an extra talking about cupcakes or something to get it there ON the day but this is what I'm aiming for for some reason. I have no idea why.
Gonna go do something more productive with my time (ha ha ha)
Ta,
Bec
PS: Went to the mall. Got a few things-one small thing for myself but got presents for Mum and both sisters.
I also watched Merlin and here's my thoughts on Episode 10.
SPOILER LINE
Herald of the New Age
Okay, so the knights, Arthur, and Merlin are walking through a forest. Elyan gets teased because Gwaine drank all his water. The troupe walk into a clearing full of what appears to be Druid laundry.
However, the area is a spirit haunt thing, and Merlin kind of gets wary about the whole thing. Arthur thinks it a good idea to get out of there and they do...but Elyan gets a drink from the well first.
They go back to the castle. Everything seems fine.
AND we find out Elyan woke up the spirit of a drowned boy and is now possessed by him. The boy wants Arthur dead. (I actually predicted the kid would want Arthur dead BEFORE he said it. Sigh. Show, you can be a TAD bit predictable sometimes.)
Elyan, then, gets to have the ignomious honor of being the first person to try to directly assassinate King Arthur (they tried plenty when he was a prince.) Arthur defends himself with a couple of stools but I'm fairly certain from now on, our king will have a sword two inches from his fingers at all times (he does when he's SLEEPING!)
The assumption between the knights is that Elyan's lost it because Gwen got banished. Give me a break. He never even said goodbye to her as far as we know and the two of them spent YEARS apart in the past. It was Gwen's fault in the first place, too. Bit ridiculous.
Elyan gets cornered, Percy calms him down, then Percy basically whops him one with a paw and takes him out of consciousness for awhile. (I love Percy by the way and wish the man got more screen time.)
Agravaine, showing remarkable loyalty (why isn't he HELPING Elyan here?) wants Elyan dead.
Merlin, wise and powerful, tells Arthur it's a damned vengeful spirit and Elyan's not himself. Him and Gaius have visited the camp and Merlin got all sensey and teary-eyed because he could FEEL what had happened. Colin Morgan is amazing in his ability to cry on command and should receive a BAFTA for doing so at the drop of a hat in almost every episode.
Arthur decides that both of them are driving him nuts and they should leave him to think.
Merlin decides to fix the whole stupid problem himself by taking Elyan out, knocking him senseless with some drugged water, and banishing the spirit. The Camelot prison guards are just as dumb as they always were (personally I think the writers get a kick out of guards who are as thick as a flaming Christmas pudding.) Merlin gets past them easy and lets Elyan out with the keys. They go out the dungeon entrance and Merlin tries to get Elyan to drink the water full of sedative, but the spirit warns Elyan not to drink with a shake of its head.
Elyan clonks Merlin in the head and escapes.
It's obvious to Arthur that Merlin busted Elyan out of jail, but he doesn't call him out on it.
Elyan attacks Arthur in the throne room. Merlin blows the door lock to try and get in there and stops Arthur from killing Elyan. He lets him go free.
Arthur pretends to Agravaine that if they find Elyan they can kill him, then TURNS AROUND to Gaius and Merlin and consults with them as to what he should be doing. This obvious disagreement with his uncle's method of shoot first and ask questions later is new and welcome. It shows Agravaine isn't completely in favor anymore. Could be interesting to see where that goes.
Arthur is basically told he may have to kill Elyan because the spirit ain't going to get its vengeance. Uther was the one who committed the atrocity at the Druid camp and caused the tragic deaths and there's no avenging it because Uther is dead. The spirit won't let go until it gets what it wants and it won't.
And then Arthur does something unexpected.
Arthur goes out to the camp in the dark. (Merlin follows him.) Arthur gets a little ticked about it but lets Merlin follow.
Arthur lays down his sword.
Elyan comes to him, possessed by the spirit. Arthur kneels.
It turns out Arthur is responsible for the atrocity at the camp. He apologises, says he was young and inexperienced and longing to prove himself to his father. AND THEN!
ARTHUR SWEARS TO NEVER ATTACK THE DRUIDS AGAIN.
Yes, that's right. Arthur swears to leave the Druids in peace. And you can be sure he means it.
The spirit forgives him and leaves Elyan.
I cried when Arthur promised to leave the Druids be. How many times were they attacked for no reason at all? How many of them died for no reason, even in the last five years?
How much has Arthur changed things if he's calling a stop to all the Druid massacres, a stop to all the meaningless deaths, a stop to the senseless violence enacted upon a peaceful people?
This had to be a proud moment for Merlin (and you can guarantee he'll hold Arthur to this promise.) It's such a big step. Such a proving of destiny. Arthur is becoming the king who lets magic be, who lets the Druids live in peace and safety once again.
There was also the minor subtext of Arthur missing Gwen. He falls asleep in his stew and winds up with it in his hair (heh heh). Why he didn't wash it out is beyond me. He's clearly distressed over the whole business of Gwen being gone and is trying to move on.
But barring the mooning over Gwen stuff, Arthur has come so far since the days of that arrogant prince who threw knives at a servant holding a wooden shield. Aren't you proud of our boy?
Next week: A blonde princess comes to Camelot. Oh, no. Here we go again. (Don't laugh at me. How many BLOODY times has a blonde chick, lady, princess, whatever, shown up, tried to get Arthur, and wound up almost killing him? THREE TIMES? I have a right to be cautious about this. Merlin should be watching this girl. Blondes and Arthur do NOT mix, have we not learned this yet?) Gwen is in some sort of purple thing that kind of makes her look like Princess Jasmine. Morgana and Aggie are involved somehow again.
Three more episodes to go, folks!
2.12.11
Grades Are Coming In
There is always one course to worry about in a semester. The one you thought you might fail, the one you handed in homework to at the 11th hour, the one you were sure would be your Waterloo.
In that course, I landed a B.
Two more to go; I will post those grades as they come up. There is much less worry about those; I worked hard and honestly don't expect to get less than B's in both of them.
Got to get out the door in 5, so ta,
Bec
Class Number 2 gave me an A. Good thing-there were only two of us there.
Funny enough, Class Number 3 had its grades submitted first and it still isn't up there. I know I passed it-I just want to KNOW I passed it.
I walked home from the bus stop today-it was nice out. I needed to do it. I also printed off a big honking Skyrim map for myself. Busy weekend planned here.
Someone came and knocked on my door tonight. I know who the someone is. Five and a half months and he hasn't gotten it. Good thing in a week and a half he can go harass someone else. I should be able to turn on my damn lamp in the living room without him bothering me.
Have been watching "To The Ends of the Earth" like I planned, and got the shock of my life when Benedict Cumberbatch started to sing. The Italian was bad. The singing, however, had me going back three times just to hear it, because DAMN.
Here's a link to a clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phY0WbePZuE
Um. Yeah. Jaguar in a cello. Some parts may be flammable. I think I'm smoking at the ears in a good way. Yeesh. If he doesn't do a musical at SOME point, it'll be a damn sacrilege.
And now I'm kinda mad that they didn't make him the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. I mean, GERARD BUTLER? WTF?
In that course, I landed a B.
Two more to go; I will post those grades as they come up. There is much less worry about those; I worked hard and honestly don't expect to get less than B's in both of them.
Got to get out the door in 5, so ta,
Bec
Class Number 2 gave me an A. Good thing-there were only two of us there.
Funny enough, Class Number 3 had its grades submitted first and it still isn't up there. I know I passed it-I just want to KNOW I passed it.
I walked home from the bus stop today-it was nice out. I needed to do it. I also printed off a big honking Skyrim map for myself. Busy weekend planned here.
Someone came and knocked on my door tonight. I know who the someone is. Five and a half months and he hasn't gotten it. Good thing in a week and a half he can go harass someone else. I should be able to turn on my damn lamp in the living room without him bothering me.
Have been watching "To The Ends of the Earth" like I planned, and got the shock of my life when Benedict Cumberbatch started to sing. The Italian was bad. The singing, however, had me going back three times just to hear it, because DAMN.
Here's a link to a clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phY0WbePZuE
Um. Yeah. Jaguar in a cello. Some parts may be flammable. I think I'm smoking at the ears in a good way. Yeesh. If he doesn't do a musical at SOME point, it'll be a damn sacrilege.
And now I'm kinda mad that they didn't make him the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. I mean, GERARD BUTLER? WTF?
1.12.11
Last Assignment Away
The last assignment is away, 45 minutes before deadline at noon. I had to wait till the last minute for one more thing and it arrived this morning at 11. Dropped it in and whoo-hoo I was done.
I'm kind of a little bit giddy.
Now there's the period of checking Banner every 15 seconds to see if my grades have come up yet.
Nothing as of yet. Probably Monday sometime.
I'm sure I passed. I just want to know I did. I'm such a cautious person.
Meanwhile, I have plans this weekend. Food shopping this afternoon, party tonight at the house of one of my professors, one thing tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday are all mine to do what I want to do. Maybe the mall, definitely "To The Ends of the Earth", some cooking with the few supplies I have left in this kitchen.
It doesn't feel like the pressure's off yet. I'm feeling strangely like I didn't finish something. I'm SURE I did. Guess it's going to take time for the little bit of guilt I've been carrying for not working on homework nonstop this week to wear off.
It'll go away. I've got other things to worry about. I absolutely need to go food shopping if I want to eat the rest of the weekend, so I will talk to you all tomorrow.
Ta,
Bec
I'm kind of a little bit giddy.
Now there's the period of checking Banner every 15 seconds to see if my grades have come up yet.
Nothing as of yet. Probably Monday sometime.
I'm sure I passed. I just want to know I did. I'm such a cautious person.
Meanwhile, I have plans this weekend. Food shopping this afternoon, party tonight at the house of one of my professors, one thing tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday are all mine to do what I want to do. Maybe the mall, definitely "To The Ends of the Earth", some cooking with the few supplies I have left in this kitchen.
It doesn't feel like the pressure's off yet. I'm feeling strangely like I didn't finish something. I'm SURE I did. Guess it's going to take time for the little bit of guilt I've been carrying for not working on homework nonstop this week to wear off.
It'll go away. I've got other things to worry about. I absolutely need to go food shopping if I want to eat the rest of the weekend, so I will talk to you all tomorrow.
Ta,
Bec
30.11.11
Two Down, Two To Go
That's right, folks. I have two assignments left because Field Experience is outta here!
Despite screwing up my back muscles for quite possibly the rest of this weekend (cue painkillers and lots of heat tonight) I am finished. Got 6 hours. I am damn well done.
Two more and FREEDOM! FREEDOM! AH HA HA HA HA...
Ahem.
I'm hoping to get one of them done tonight and then hopefully the next one will be done tomorrow morning (if not today.)
Oh, and this is a lark-I have to go food shopping tomorrow because I have nothing in my fridge or freezer besides stirfry, three bananas, half a tomato, and three carrots. In Skyrim, you could maybe make something out of that, but in the real world, that constitutes nada.
So I have to get some stuff to survive the week because I don't really have anything, including corn tortillas, which are essential to my survival these days, and rice milk, which has replaced regular milk in my fridge because 1)I can drink it without having a 'reaction' to everything I cook with it and 2)I have cocoa, dammit, and I want to drink it.
I have nothing to do for an hour and a half. I'm going to go goof off.
Ta,
Bec
PS: I also forgot to mention that while trying to pull my Sigma Tau Delta canvas bag up around my containers full of lunch and dinner today, I did what I thought was impossible and cut my finger with one of the loose strings.
That's right. I got cut with a piece of THREAD.
And I thought I'd gone through all the substances one could cut themselves with-paper, rock, scissors (ha ha), glass, wood, metal, and now a cloth canvas bag. Clearly I underestimated myself.
I am apparently talented at a thing I don't want to be talented at-getting hurt in ways other people manage to avoid.
Granted, it's only a bit of loose skin, but it damn well hurt at the time.
I hope it seals over in the next little while because I really do not need damage to my fingers this week (cue the sixteen injuries I'm sure to have for saying that.) I suppose it might be healed enough when the parents arrive so that I don't have to cover it with a bandage just to clean the chicken, but we'll see.
It'll heal. I just feel stupid (again) and oh ho ho, it's kind of humorous that I actually managed to cut myself on cloth.
I hope I have amused all three of you reading this. Be assured something similar to it will happen again.
Despite screwing up my back muscles for quite possibly the rest of this weekend (cue painkillers and lots of heat tonight) I am finished. Got 6 hours. I am damn well done.
Two more and FREEDOM! FREEDOM! AH HA HA HA HA...
Ahem.
I'm hoping to get one of them done tonight and then hopefully the next one will be done tomorrow morning (if not today.)
Oh, and this is a lark-I have to go food shopping tomorrow because I have nothing in my fridge or freezer besides stirfry, three bananas, half a tomato, and three carrots. In Skyrim, you could maybe make something out of that, but in the real world, that constitutes nada.
So I have to get some stuff to survive the week because I don't really have anything, including corn tortillas, which are essential to my survival these days, and rice milk, which has replaced regular milk in my fridge because 1)I can drink it without having a 'reaction' to everything I cook with it and 2)I have cocoa, dammit, and I want to drink it.
I have nothing to do for an hour and a half. I'm going to go goof off.
Ta,
Bec
PS: I also forgot to mention that while trying to pull my Sigma Tau Delta canvas bag up around my containers full of lunch and dinner today, I did what I thought was impossible and cut my finger with one of the loose strings.
That's right. I got cut with a piece of THREAD.
And I thought I'd gone through all the substances one could cut themselves with-paper, rock, scissors (ha ha), glass, wood, metal, and now a cloth canvas bag. Clearly I underestimated myself.
I am apparently talented at a thing I don't want to be talented at-getting hurt in ways other people manage to avoid.
Granted, it's only a bit of loose skin, but it damn well hurt at the time.
I hope it seals over in the next little while because I really do not need damage to my fingers this week (cue the sixteen injuries I'm sure to have for saying that.) I suppose it might be healed enough when the parents arrive so that I don't have to cover it with a bandage just to clean the chicken, but we'll see.
It'll heal. I just feel stupid (again) and oh ho ho, it's kind of humorous that I actually managed to cut myself on cloth.
I hope I have amused all three of you reading this. Be assured something similar to it will happen again.
29.11.11
Referencing Away
Spent the afternoon moving reference books from one shelf to another, all the while thinking, I'd better damn well get an A for this.
See, long ago and far away, I was told I had to do field experience and volunteer this semester for 6 hours.
Yes.
That was in September.
By now, it is very nearly December and SOMEONE (remaining nameless) has really royally screwed herself and is scrambling to get this done.
Su-bloody-prise. Who would have thunk that I, after 20 years of schooling and 7 of those spent getting degrees until I'm hotter than a volcano, you would think procrastination would have faded away by now.
Oh, and you'd be dead, DEAD wrong.
I, in desperation, begged the head of the library downstairs to help me out. She referred me to the reference department.
Glory be! I am saved!
I did three hours today, figuring that I can go in early tomorrow and do the last three, take the signed form up to the scanner, scan that puppy into the system, throw the thing on an e-mail, and send it off to oblivion.
Ta and dah and three more assignments to go.
I have just taken a bath to ease the ache in my muscles (reference books get exponentially heavier as you lift more of them. Did NOT know this.) and I'm curled up in bed with coconut incense burning, a bowl of popcorn at my side, and wrapped in as much warm as I could get my hands on. The warmer I stay, the better I'll feel tomorrow, and the more willing I will be to move books for three more hours.
That and a painkiller. Excuse me.
That's better. This is really lovely popcorn.
I'm going to rest a bit and then do some more stuff for tomorrow. Hopefully I can get most of my stuff done by tomorrow night (crossing fingers.)
Then I can take Thursday and Friday OFF! And Saturday and Sunday OFF! And finally, finally, FINALLY get to watch "To The Ends of the Earth," which has gotten delayed for about the last three weeks because of homework. Not this weekend, no, no, no. I'm going to see Ben Cumberbatch throw that woman out of his cabin after he shags her senseless if it KILLS me.
(Not wishing I was her. Not wishing I was her.)
I'm going to go find out if my mum is home, so ta,
Bec
See, long ago and far away, I was told I had to do field experience and volunteer this semester for 6 hours.
Yes.
That was in September.
By now, it is very nearly December and SOMEONE (remaining nameless) has really royally screwed herself and is scrambling to get this done.
Su-bloody-prise. Who would have thunk that I, after 20 years of schooling and 7 of those spent getting degrees until I'm hotter than a volcano, you would think procrastination would have faded away by now.
Oh, and you'd be dead, DEAD wrong.
I, in desperation, begged the head of the library downstairs to help me out. She referred me to the reference department.
Glory be! I am saved!
I did three hours today, figuring that I can go in early tomorrow and do the last three, take the signed form up to the scanner, scan that puppy into the system, throw the thing on an e-mail, and send it off to oblivion.
Ta and dah and three more assignments to go.
I have just taken a bath to ease the ache in my muscles (reference books get exponentially heavier as you lift more of them. Did NOT know this.) and I'm curled up in bed with coconut incense burning, a bowl of popcorn at my side, and wrapped in as much warm as I could get my hands on. The warmer I stay, the better I'll feel tomorrow, and the more willing I will be to move books for three more hours.
That and a painkiller. Excuse me.
That's better. This is really lovely popcorn.
I'm going to rest a bit and then do some more stuff for tomorrow. Hopefully I can get most of my stuff done by tomorrow night (crossing fingers.)
Then I can take Thursday and Friday OFF! And Saturday and Sunday OFF! And finally, finally, FINALLY get to watch "To The Ends of the Earth," which has gotten delayed for about the last three weeks because of homework. Not this weekend, no, no, no. I'm going to see Ben Cumberbatch throw that woman out of his cabin after he shags her senseless if it KILLS me.
(Not wishing I was her. Not wishing I was her.)
I'm going to go find out if my mum is home, so ta,
Bec
26.11.11
Lakes and Dead Guys: Merlin Episode 9
Here's my think on the episode. The homework is slowly getting done and will hopefully all be done by next weekend. Hopefully. Two weeks to go!
SPOILER LINE!
4x09 Lancelot du Lac
Arthur tells Aggie he's marrying Gwen regardless of what Aggie thinks. Aggie hates the idea and goes to Morgana, who hates it more and plots off.
She raises Lance from the lake and of course he has no memory of being Lance, so she has to tell him a lot of things. Lance reappears dramatically at the engagement party jousting rumble. He also CONVENIENTLY has forgotten Merlin's magic (DRAT.)
That's when Merlin senses something is funky with the recently dead knight.
Lancelot goes off to woo Gwennie away from Arthur with a nice token thingy that Morgana helpfully enchanted to screw everything up.
Merlin does his research and looks alarmed! ALARMED!
Morgana's done necromancy. Ooh, damn.
We're drawing spirals on the floor! It's medieval Supernatural! It's a big damn Spirograph! Giving Lance a swirly causes his face to go very wraithy. We have problems.
And Gwen can't HELP herself because of the trinket bracelet. Don't fall in love with the dead guy, Gwen; it'll only end in tears!
The only way I think Merlin could off Lance now is to go get the sword. So why doesn't he? Lance can't remember how to fight. Maybe it'd take too much time.
Arthur gets himself into a final joust with Lancelot.
Arthur gets hurt and just keeps going. Lance lets him go. Both of them are standing in front of Gwen, and they both look up at her. You can feel the trouble coming.
AND there it goes. Gwen gets smoochy with Lance in the tent while Arthur's all injured upstairs. If she wasn't enchanted, I'd call her a BITCH.
Merlin follows Lance, who meets Aggie. He finds out Morgana's involved.
Lance knocks Merlin out when Merlin tries to thump him. Aggie goes into the bedroom to bother Arthur while he's sleeping. Do I hear setup? Lance and Gwen hooking up in the council chambers and Arthur's going down there.
Merlin wakes up.
AND trouble! Lance and Arthur get into a nice swordfight, Arthur does some yelling and is mad. Gwen cries (told ya) and finally stops the two of them from trying to murder each other. Lance and Gwen are chucked in separate dungeons and then she takes off the bracelet in anger. Yay, sanity is so cold and lonely.
Aggie suggests offing Gwen and torturing Lancelot to death because that's what daddy Uther would have done. O the joy.
Gwen goes on trial. Arthur orders everyone else out, including Aggie.
They have a painful conversation and Arthur loses his temper a little bit. Understandable. This is the best scene Angel's ever, ever had. Amazing acting here. This is powerful stuff. I've never really bought into the Gwen/Arthur thing on this show, but this scene is convincing.
Arthur banishes her from Camelot and tells her he's sorry.
Showing Lance's true nature won't fix what's been done, so Merlin's kind of stuck here.
Aggie gives Lance a letter from Morgana. He looks kind of pissed when he reads it.
Gwen hauls out of Camelot (where's her damn brother?) with a cart bigger than she is. Merlin just stands there. What could he say?
Merlin and Arthur have a talk amongst the flowers and all of the not-wedding.
Merlin tries to convince Arthur that Aggie is manipulating him a bit here. Arthur thanks him for his help but says he can't trust Gwen.
Lancelot is supposedly dead again-committed suicide (a dead guy committing suicide. That's a new one.) They drop him in the lake with a boat and flowers but AH HA! Merlin does a thing and gives him peace in death with his soul back in place.
Merlin is forced once again to light a friend on fire. Always tough to watch.
Lancelot is dead, and for good this time.
Next week: the episode of everyone freaking out again and Elyan losing it. Spirits and druids and stuff, oh my.
Gwen won't be back for a bit since she's been banished (psst! Episode 11) At least Arthur can be assured she will never cheat on him with Lancelot again.
SPOILER LINE!
4x09 Lancelot du Lac
Arthur tells Aggie he's marrying Gwen regardless of what Aggie thinks. Aggie hates the idea and goes to Morgana, who hates it more and plots off.
She raises Lance from the lake and of course he has no memory of being Lance, so she has to tell him a lot of things. Lance reappears dramatically at the engagement party jousting rumble. He also CONVENIENTLY has forgotten Merlin's magic (DRAT.)
That's when Merlin senses something is funky with the recently dead knight.
Lancelot goes off to woo Gwennie away from Arthur with a nice token thingy that Morgana helpfully enchanted to screw everything up.
Merlin does his research and looks alarmed! ALARMED!
Morgana's done necromancy. Ooh, damn.
We're drawing spirals on the floor! It's medieval Supernatural! It's a big damn Spirograph! Giving Lance a swirly causes his face to go very wraithy. We have problems.
And Gwen can't HELP herself because of the trinket bracelet. Don't fall in love with the dead guy, Gwen; it'll only end in tears!
The only way I think Merlin could off Lance now is to go get the sword. So why doesn't he? Lance can't remember how to fight. Maybe it'd take too much time.
Arthur gets himself into a final joust with Lancelot.
Arthur gets hurt and just keeps going. Lance lets him go. Both of them are standing in front of Gwen, and they both look up at her. You can feel the trouble coming.
AND there it goes. Gwen gets smoochy with Lance in the tent while Arthur's all injured upstairs. If she wasn't enchanted, I'd call her a BITCH.
Merlin follows Lance, who meets Aggie. He finds out Morgana's involved.
Lance knocks Merlin out when Merlin tries to thump him. Aggie goes into the bedroom to bother Arthur while he's sleeping. Do I hear setup? Lance and Gwen hooking up in the council chambers and Arthur's going down there.
Merlin wakes up.
AND trouble! Lance and Arthur get into a nice swordfight, Arthur does some yelling and is mad. Gwen cries (told ya) and finally stops the two of them from trying to murder each other. Lance and Gwen are chucked in separate dungeons and then she takes off the bracelet in anger. Yay, sanity is so cold and lonely.
Aggie suggests offing Gwen and torturing Lancelot to death because that's what daddy Uther would have done. O the joy.
Gwen goes on trial. Arthur orders everyone else out, including Aggie.
They have a painful conversation and Arthur loses his temper a little bit. Understandable. This is the best scene Angel's ever, ever had. Amazing acting here. This is powerful stuff. I've never really bought into the Gwen/Arthur thing on this show, but this scene is convincing.
Arthur banishes her from Camelot and tells her he's sorry.
Showing Lance's true nature won't fix what's been done, so Merlin's kind of stuck here.
Aggie gives Lance a letter from Morgana. He looks kind of pissed when he reads it.
Gwen hauls out of Camelot (where's her damn brother?) with a cart bigger than she is. Merlin just stands there. What could he say?
Merlin and Arthur have a talk amongst the flowers and all of the not-wedding.
Merlin tries to convince Arthur that Aggie is manipulating him a bit here. Arthur thanks him for his help but says he can't trust Gwen.
Lancelot is supposedly dead again-committed suicide (a dead guy committing suicide. That's a new one.) They drop him in the lake with a boat and flowers but AH HA! Merlin does a thing and gives him peace in death with his soul back in place.
Merlin is forced once again to light a friend on fire. Always tough to watch.
Lancelot is dead, and for good this time.
Next week: the episode of everyone freaking out again and Elyan losing it. Spirits and druids and stuff, oh my.
Gwen won't be back for a bit since she's been banished (psst! Episode 11) At least Arthur can be assured she will never cheat on him with Lancelot again.
24.11.11
T-Day
So, not doing much. Watching the Packer game. Waiting for my friend to call because I'm going over to her relatives for today's feast. I have to make sure I pack my pills and lots of 'em.
I baked some potatoes today for tomorrow's breakfast, possibly lunch. It's another one of the get-rid-of meals.
Two weeks, two days to go.
Ta,
Bec
I baked some potatoes today for tomorrow's breakfast, possibly lunch. It's another one of the get-rid-of meals.
Two weeks, two days to go.
Ta,
Bec
22.11.11
I'll Be At Holmes For Christmas Posted!
I have posted the Christmas fic I mentioned a few months back a little earlier than I'd planned, because hell, it's close enough to Black Friday.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7572541/1/Ill_Be_At_Holmes_For_Christmas
It's had a few changes to the intro this morning, but it's still got the spirit of brotherly love missing entirely, which is always good at Christmas.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Ta,
Bec
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7572541/1/Ill_Be_At_Holmes_For_Christmas
It's had a few changes to the intro this morning, but it's still got the spirit of brotherly love missing entirely, which is always good at Christmas.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Ta,
Bec
19.11.11
A Bit of A Domestic
I am glad I didn't have to work this morning (swapped with someone and worked Tuesday instead) because last night at about half-past midnight, things got loud downstairs. I was woken up by the just-below-me's having a doozy of a fight.
I have no clue what the argument was about, but it went on for at least a half hour. Loudly. Could pretty much make out everything that was said even if I didn't want to (and I didn't.)
It did get quiet in the middle, which made me think the girl in the apartment had left (because that's I would have done. There's got to be a friend you can go hang out with or an academic library to hide in) but then he started roaring again down there and she was talking back.
From what I heard, he appears to think he knows it all and better than anyone, and that apparently gave him the right to rant on for a whole half-hour.
Me, I was chanting 'three weeks to go, three weeks to go' and thanking heaven I didn't have to work today, because if I had, I would have called the cops.
I really hope one of them moves out so that they don't have a fight underneath me the night before I'm supposed to graduate, because I'm supposed to be up at an ungodly hour of the morning and I do not appreciate my sleep being disturbed by their stupid domestic warfare. But at least Dad will be here and he can go down and bang on their door and tell them to shut up.
I slept in a bit today and now I have homework to go and do. Merlin review will be up later today under this entry.
Ta,
Bec
Sunday update: PACKERS 10 and OH! That's as good as we were last year all season and this year the other teams all pretty much suck (*cough*Colts*cough*) except for the 49ers, who don't. We're doing very well. Very proud. Keep up the good work!
Merlin Series 4, Episode 8.
SPOILER LINE
So, a village has three men sick. Gaius is busy so he sends Merlin, but no one apparently trusts Merlin's healing abilities because he's young and handsome and has great bone structure.
BUT Merlin takes the insults on his gorgeous chin and tries to do his job, but since the issue the men have is clearly caused by SAUCERY!, he needs Gaius.
So five knights, a servantgirl, and a wizard ride into a forest ANNNNNND...
Run into some clingy chick that makes Percy, Leon, Elyan, and Gwaine turned into idiots. Overprotective idiots. Oh, and she's a snake-person.
She knocks out Elyan with the same sickness doing in the villagers, sending the whole troop of idiots, Merlin, and Gwen, into an abandoned castle (which Camelot apparently has plenty of to spare. It's like Oblivion without the skeletons.)
The knights blunder around looking for Lamia (clingy chick) and she subsequently knocks each of them out.
Gwen suspects Merlin of being different. Oh COME ON Gwen!
Then Merlin swords Lamia in a very Skyrim hero-shot move, but she becomes snakey. Sort of octopus also. Very confusing.
And so he drops a spell on the room they're in (wouldn't that trap Percy and Leon, who were supposedly IN THERE?)
Merlin does magic BLATANTLY in front of Gwen, who doesn't notice because they're both being grabbed by the ankles by the octo-snake, and Arthur shows up!
See, this whole time inbetween all of this stuff happening, Arthur and Gaius have gone out to the village to visit the sickees, confirmed Merlin's suspicions, and headed back out to find the FIRST group who are wandering around in the forest because Lamia has screwed up the knights and they won't hear reason.
Luckily, Gwen has a shirt she can rip, and she's leaving bits of it along the way so that Arthur can find them.
And Agravaine gets one bad guy move this week (smushing down the horseshoe prints in the mud and covering them back up so that it makes it harder to find the others.) He didn't count on Gwen.
I'm not sure what this episode was meant to accomplish, honestly, because it didn't do anything. Merlin was insulted (again), Gwen got the credit for being brave (again), Arthur and her had a smoochy (sigh), and the knights didn't even apologize for acting like assbutts to Gwen and Merlin both.
So, a bit of a throwaway here. But NEXT WEEK!
Lancelot (squee!) returns from the dead. Surprise (not.) I suspect someone magical and bad has brought him back to separate Arthur and Gwen and WHY WHY WHY do I think it's Morgana?
Arthur asks Gwen to marry him, but it'll all end in tears because Lancelot is back! From the dead! And apparently he's looking for love!
And there's a jousting thing. Yeah. So that's happening.
4 episodes left. Where will it end?
Some suspect that Gwen's going to be told by Lancelot that Merlin is magical or something. Might be. She almost had it this episode.
Things are about to get interesting within the walls of Camelot. Dead people coming back, main cast members disappearing, nobody listens to Merlin EVER!
I can't spoiler you. I don't have the heart. But go look at Wikipedia, and go look up the episodes to come, and maybe you can work out what I'm talking about here.
I have no clue what the argument was about, but it went on for at least a half hour. Loudly. Could pretty much make out everything that was said even if I didn't want to (and I didn't.)
It did get quiet in the middle, which made me think the girl in the apartment had left (because that's I would have done. There's got to be a friend you can go hang out with or an academic library to hide in) but then he started roaring again down there and she was talking back.
From what I heard, he appears to think he knows it all and better than anyone, and that apparently gave him the right to rant on for a whole half-hour.
Me, I was chanting 'three weeks to go, three weeks to go' and thanking heaven I didn't have to work today, because if I had, I would have called the cops.
I really hope one of them moves out so that they don't have a fight underneath me the night before I'm supposed to graduate, because I'm supposed to be up at an ungodly hour of the morning and I do not appreciate my sleep being disturbed by their stupid domestic warfare. But at least Dad will be here and he can go down and bang on their door and tell them to shut up.
I slept in a bit today and now I have homework to go and do. Merlin review will be up later today under this entry.
Ta,
Bec
Sunday update: PACKERS 10 and OH! That's as good as we were last year all season and this year the other teams all pretty much suck (*cough*Colts*cough*) except for the 49ers, who don't. We're doing very well. Very proud. Keep up the good work!
Merlin Series 4, Episode 8.
SPOILER LINE
So, a village has three men sick. Gaius is busy so he sends Merlin, but no one apparently trusts Merlin's healing abilities because he's young and handsome and has great bone structure.
BUT Merlin takes the insults on his gorgeous chin and tries to do his job, but since the issue the men have is clearly caused by SAUCERY!, he needs Gaius.
So five knights, a servantgirl, and a wizard ride into a forest ANNNNNND...
Run into some clingy chick that makes Percy, Leon, Elyan, and Gwaine turned into idiots. Overprotective idiots. Oh, and she's a snake-person.
She knocks out Elyan with the same sickness doing in the villagers, sending the whole troop of idiots, Merlin, and Gwen, into an abandoned castle (which Camelot apparently has plenty of to spare. It's like Oblivion without the skeletons.)
The knights blunder around looking for Lamia (clingy chick) and she subsequently knocks each of them out.
Gwen suspects Merlin of being different. Oh COME ON Gwen!
Then Merlin swords Lamia in a very Skyrim hero-shot move, but she becomes snakey. Sort of octopus also. Very confusing.
And so he drops a spell on the room they're in (wouldn't that trap Percy and Leon, who were supposedly IN THERE?)
Merlin does magic BLATANTLY in front of Gwen, who doesn't notice because they're both being grabbed by the ankles by the octo-snake, and Arthur shows up!
See, this whole time inbetween all of this stuff happening, Arthur and Gaius have gone out to the village to visit the sickees, confirmed Merlin's suspicions, and headed back out to find the FIRST group who are wandering around in the forest because Lamia has screwed up the knights and they won't hear reason.
Luckily, Gwen has a shirt she can rip, and she's leaving bits of it along the way so that Arthur can find them.
And Agravaine gets one bad guy move this week (smushing down the horseshoe prints in the mud and covering them back up so that it makes it harder to find the others.) He didn't count on Gwen.
I'm not sure what this episode was meant to accomplish, honestly, because it didn't do anything. Merlin was insulted (again), Gwen got the credit for being brave (again), Arthur and her had a smoochy (sigh), and the knights didn't even apologize for acting like assbutts to Gwen and Merlin both.
So, a bit of a throwaway here. But NEXT WEEK!
Lancelot (squee!) returns from the dead. Surprise (not.) I suspect someone magical and bad has brought him back to separate Arthur and Gwen and WHY WHY WHY do I think it's Morgana?
Arthur asks Gwen to marry him, but it'll all end in tears because Lancelot is back! From the dead! And apparently he's looking for love!
And there's a jousting thing. Yeah. So that's happening.
4 episodes left. Where will it end?
Some suspect that Gwen's going to be told by Lancelot that Merlin is magical or something. Might be. She almost had it this episode.
Things are about to get interesting within the walls of Camelot. Dead people coming back, main cast members disappearing, nobody listens to Merlin EVER!
I can't spoiler you. I don't have the heart. But go look at Wikipedia, and go look up the episodes to come, and maybe you can work out what I'm talking about here.
16.11.11
New Fic!
I have become ridiculous.
There is homework to be done and yet, here I am, writing out fanfic like there's no tomorrow.
So far I have one typed up and gotten it out, one waiting for the right holiday season (next week Friday and I swear I'll post a link), and one on the way because apparently I have a desperate need to write Merlin and Arthur again.
Here's the link to the Sherlock one I put up today.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7556848/1/The_Curious_Case_of_the_MMs
It's cracky and sees Anderson get what's coming to him, but it's worth reading.
Three weeks, two days after today. It feels like a thousand years.
Meanwhile, my food is getting low in the cupboards and I'm obscenely happy about it. I have a plan and everything. Stuff has been labeled. Things are going to specific meals and I figure when all is said and done, I'll have MAYBE a half-cup to a cup of sugar left in my cupboards. That's it.
Yes, I am awesome.
And now I'm going to go work on this dialogue, because Merlin and Arthur want to talk to me again (or shout at each other. Nearly the same thing.)
Ta,
Bec
There is homework to be done and yet, here I am, writing out fanfic like there's no tomorrow.
So far I have one typed up and gotten it out, one waiting for the right holiday season (next week Friday and I swear I'll post a link), and one on the way because apparently I have a desperate need to write Merlin and Arthur again.
Here's the link to the Sherlock one I put up today.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7556848/1/The_Curious_Case_of_the_MMs
It's cracky and sees Anderson get what's coming to him, but it's worth reading.
Three weeks, two days after today. It feels like a thousand years.
Meanwhile, my food is getting low in the cupboards and I'm obscenely happy about it. I have a plan and everything. Stuff has been labeled. Things are going to specific meals and I figure when all is said and done, I'll have MAYBE a half-cup to a cup of sugar left in my cupboards. That's it.
Yes, I am awesome.
And now I'm going to go work on this dialogue, because Merlin and Arthur want to talk to me again (or shout at each other. Nearly the same thing.)
Ta,
Bec
15.11.11
Positive Things
Packers are 9-0; absolutely shredded the poor Viqueens last night. Shame. They didn't even really put up a fight.
Chris Thile was funny, engaging, and brilliant and while I wish that the concert could have been a bit longer, his fingers and elbow probably didn't.
Working this morning; some stuff is getting done.
Here's my little complaint about the possible Doctor Who movie. Yates is making drastic mistakes here already, and he JUST announced he's interested:
1. No BBC support, so far as anyone knows.
2. No Tennant or Smith thus far.
3. Making a separate story from the current stuff going on- not so much a mistake if he deals with subjects that have never been touched on-early life of the Doctor before he leaves Gallifrey or the Time War. Otherwise the whole stupid thing is going to be wibbley.
4. Bringing in the AMERICAN Hollywood execs. Big mistake. British execs know their Who, and they know where they should not tread (I'm thinking burly-chested shirtless Doctor with a machine gun, shooting at the Daleks in the style of Rambo- shudder, shudder). One mistake that was made with the 1996 movie was people who thought they knew our Doctor and wound up making a bit of a farce out of him.
Suggestions for Yates:
1. Get Peter Jackson, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Neil Gaiman, Russell T. Davies, even a couple of old Doctors themselves in on the game. These people are the best thing we have for experts. You want a quality script? Get someone who KNOWS the material back, front, and time-locked.
2. Make your separate story fit in-universe. Blend it in.
3. If you're not going to conquer the Time War or the early Doctor, then cast Smith or Tennant or whoever 12 is going to be, because I guarantee that'll get a lot of us watching (and Tennant and Smith have their Doctors and won't go into it without a decent script.)
4. Get the BBC behind it so you can use all the characters effectively.
This could be a decent movie if he doesn't fly in the face of everything that makes Who work. If he screws it up, it could turn people off of the show, and we do not need another 1989.
A new story is fine. However, retooling so that we all curse your name till the end of time and beyond? Not so good.
Ta,
Bec
Chris Thile was funny, engaging, and brilliant and while I wish that the concert could have been a bit longer, his fingers and elbow probably didn't.
Working this morning; some stuff is getting done.
Here's my little complaint about the possible Doctor Who movie. Yates is making drastic mistakes here already, and he JUST announced he's interested:
1. No BBC support, so far as anyone knows.
2. No Tennant or Smith thus far.
3. Making a separate story from the current stuff going on- not so much a mistake if he deals with subjects that have never been touched on-early life of the Doctor before he leaves Gallifrey or the Time War. Otherwise the whole stupid thing is going to be wibbley.
4. Bringing in the AMERICAN Hollywood execs. Big mistake. British execs know their Who, and they know where they should not tread (I'm thinking burly-chested shirtless Doctor with a machine gun, shooting at the Daleks in the style of Rambo- shudder, shudder). One mistake that was made with the 1996 movie was people who thought they knew our Doctor and wound up making a bit of a farce out of him.
Suggestions for Yates:
1. Get Peter Jackson, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Neil Gaiman, Russell T. Davies, even a couple of old Doctors themselves in on the game. These people are the best thing we have for experts. You want a quality script? Get someone who KNOWS the material back, front, and time-locked.
2. Make your separate story fit in-universe. Blend it in.
3. If you're not going to conquer the Time War or the early Doctor, then cast Smith or Tennant or whoever 12 is going to be, because I guarantee that'll get a lot of us watching (and Tennant and Smith have their Doctors and won't go into it without a decent script.)
4. Get the BBC behind it so you can use all the characters effectively.
This could be a decent movie if he doesn't fly in the face of everything that makes Who work. If he screws it up, it could turn people off of the show, and we do not need another 1989.
A new story is fine. However, retooling so that we all curse your name till the end of time and beyond? Not so good.
Ta,
Bec
13.11.11
Almost but Nope
Going to see Chris Thile tonight-will tell you all tomorrow.
Homework is definitely getting there. Not this Monday but the next should be it for me.
Meanwhile, Merlin review coming up. We're halfway through!
SPOILER LINE
So, Agravaine and Morgana need someone to lay blame for being a traitor in Camelot. Since they figure someone in Camelot knew about the Fomorra because someone told Emrys (never mind that Emrys was busy trying to fix himself there), Aggie says Gaius is the most likely choice.
Aggie questions Gaius who won't really answer the questions.
So Morgana goes to a group of guys who apparently are the High Priests of the Old Religion. They are apparently so awesome that their bodyguards never wear shirts ever, but instead adorn themselves in what appears to be Sharpie marker (or butterfly stamps. Wasn't sure on that one.)
They go in and grab Gaius, and Aggie helpfully plants evidence. What was with the knife in Arthur's chambers?
Gaius is taken somewhere off to be tortured, where he actually DOES give up the name of Merlin...but to the High Priest. Morgana is not in the room when Gaius talks.
So, Merlin gives Arthur what for, Arthur gives Merlin what for, Merlin and Gwaine go out to get Gaius back. Aggie freaks, goes to Morgana, and they ALL ride out to a mine.
Gwaine walks in just in time to see Aggie holding a knife to Gaius' throat. Yeah, THAT didn't look suspicious AT ALL...
BUT things go awry for Morgana. Yay, she has Merlin at knifepoint, but the High Priest decides that Merlin is a superhero and will save the world. The only information Morgana gets is that Emrys is in Camelot, but that's really not enough to go on. If she'd just Sherlocked the man's FACE, she would have been able to tell that the gorgeous man that she was pointing the knife at was her archenemy.
BUT she didn't, and so the High Priest decided he was on Merlin's side.
So he smashes Morgana into a pillar.
And then kneels at Merlin's terrified feet.
Gaius gets carried back to Camelot, where he has his brow mopped by Gwen (this is an official duty-now she's done it for Morgana, Arthur, Merlin, Uther, and Gaius.)
Gaius gets better, and Arthur and him have an awesome discussion about the sorcerer who tried to save Arthur's father (cough*Merlin*cough)and Gaius says the sorcerer did all he could and tried to save Uther, but Uther was dying anyway. Gaius also says that there are people unknown supporting Arthur and that one day he'll understand. Arthur is not Uther-his heart is not completely hardened towards sorcerers and he's willing to forgive a mistake. Let's just hope that when Dragoon/Emrys comes around again, Arthur won't run him through.
This was a great push forwards for the show, but I kind of wish Aggie had gotten killed off. He's hagfish-level slimy and at some point in here he's going to screw up.
Another thing: Arthur doesn't yet know who the traitor is, and with Gaius out of suspicion again, the scope moves subtly back towards Agravaine. Whoopsie.
We don't know if Morgana's still alive. Chances are she is.
SPOILER FOR NEXT TIME:
Next week: Everyone suspects everybody. Some chick is screaming. Percy shoves Merlin. Gwen gets snappy.
Merlin, have you been screwing around with that PMS spell again?
Homework is definitely getting there. Not this Monday but the next should be it for me.
Meanwhile, Merlin review coming up. We're halfway through!
SPOILER LINE
So, Agravaine and Morgana need someone to lay blame for being a traitor in Camelot. Since they figure someone in Camelot knew about the Fomorra because someone told Emrys (never mind that Emrys was busy trying to fix himself there), Aggie says Gaius is the most likely choice.
Aggie questions Gaius who won't really answer the questions.
So Morgana goes to a group of guys who apparently are the High Priests of the Old Religion. They are apparently so awesome that their bodyguards never wear shirts ever, but instead adorn themselves in what appears to be Sharpie marker (or butterfly stamps. Wasn't sure on that one.)
They go in and grab Gaius, and Aggie helpfully plants evidence. What was with the knife in Arthur's chambers?
Gaius is taken somewhere off to be tortured, where he actually DOES give up the name of Merlin...but to the High Priest. Morgana is not in the room when Gaius talks.
So, Merlin gives Arthur what for, Arthur gives Merlin what for, Merlin and Gwaine go out to get Gaius back. Aggie freaks, goes to Morgana, and they ALL ride out to a mine.
Gwaine walks in just in time to see Aggie holding a knife to Gaius' throat. Yeah, THAT didn't look suspicious AT ALL...
BUT things go awry for Morgana. Yay, she has Merlin at knifepoint, but the High Priest decides that Merlin is a superhero and will save the world. The only information Morgana gets is that Emrys is in Camelot, but that's really not enough to go on. If she'd just Sherlocked the man's FACE, she would have been able to tell that the gorgeous man that she was pointing the knife at was her archenemy.
BUT she didn't, and so the High Priest decided he was on Merlin's side.
So he smashes Morgana into a pillar.
And then kneels at Merlin's terrified feet.
Gaius gets carried back to Camelot, where he has his brow mopped by Gwen (this is an official duty-now she's done it for Morgana, Arthur, Merlin, Uther, and Gaius.)
Gaius gets better, and Arthur and him have an awesome discussion about the sorcerer who tried to save Arthur's father (cough*Merlin*cough)and Gaius says the sorcerer did all he could and tried to save Uther, but Uther was dying anyway. Gaius also says that there are people unknown supporting Arthur and that one day he'll understand. Arthur is not Uther-his heart is not completely hardened towards sorcerers and he's willing to forgive a mistake. Let's just hope that when Dragoon/Emrys comes around again, Arthur won't run him through.
This was a great push forwards for the show, but I kind of wish Aggie had gotten killed off. He's hagfish-level slimy and at some point in here he's going to screw up.
Another thing: Arthur doesn't yet know who the traitor is, and with Gaius out of suspicion again, the scope moves subtly back towards Agravaine. Whoopsie.
We don't know if Morgana's still alive. Chances are she is.
SPOILER FOR NEXT TIME:
Next week: Everyone suspects everybody. Some chick is screaming. Percy shoves Merlin. Gwen gets snappy.
Merlin, have you been screwing around with that PMS spell again?
11.11.11
Chicken, Chicken, Chicken; Good and Finger-Licking...
So, Whole Foods had a smashingly good sale on whole uncooked chickens today.
I bought three.
One of them is currently freezing solid in preparation for Mum and Dad's arrival in less than a month. Current plan is to crockpot it when they arrive so that dinner can be prepared when they get here. I know if I came off a long journey, the last thing I would want is to go out and scavenge for food someplace in a town I barely know.
One was boiled and I demolished it, taking all the meat from it and stashing it in the freezer and the fridge.
One was roasted and I demolished that one, too, also taking the meat and stashing it in the freezer and the fridge.
I've been wanting a good bit of chicken for, well, everything. It goes into salads, and it goes into fajitas, and a la king if I have too much at the end of a month.
In short, it can be used in a myriad of ways, and with a little bit of effort, I have enough chicken to get me through probably two and a half, maybe three weeks.
I just finished cleaning up the last of the carcasses and taking them out in the trash, washed down all the dishes I used for cooking and the subsequent, messy ripping apart of two cooked birds.
I have other stuff to do today, but having that all wrapped up makes me feel better about getting everything done today (little bit.)
I really have nothing else to do right now, so I'm going to go do something bad with my time and then I'll go be productive someplace.
Ta,
Bec
I bought three.
One of them is currently freezing solid in preparation for Mum and Dad's arrival in less than a month. Current plan is to crockpot it when they arrive so that dinner can be prepared when they get here. I know if I came off a long journey, the last thing I would want is to go out and scavenge for food someplace in a town I barely know.
One was boiled and I demolished it, taking all the meat from it and stashing it in the freezer and the fridge.
One was roasted and I demolished that one, too, also taking the meat and stashing it in the freezer and the fridge.
I've been wanting a good bit of chicken for, well, everything. It goes into salads, and it goes into fajitas, and a la king if I have too much at the end of a month.
In short, it can be used in a myriad of ways, and with a little bit of effort, I have enough chicken to get me through probably two and a half, maybe three weeks.
I just finished cleaning up the last of the carcasses and taking them out in the trash, washed down all the dishes I used for cooking and the subsequent, messy ripping apart of two cooked birds.
I have other stuff to do today, but having that all wrapped up makes me feel better about getting everything done today (little bit.)
I really have nothing else to do right now, so I'm going to go do something bad with my time and then I'll go be productive someplace.
Ta,
Bec
9.11.11
Clearly, Not Enough Homework To Do...
I have descended to a new level of crazy. Bear with me here:
If you are a fan of Sherlock on the BBC, you have no doubt:
Watched the three episodes a dozen times each
Snorted derisively at Robert Downey Jr. fans who INSIST theirs is the only Sherlock to be had
At least taken a stab at the books, if you hadn’t read them before
Wondered speculatively where on earth you could get a riding crop, a fluffy jumper, or that COAT.
If you have no bloody clue what the hell I just talked about, it’s best you look away now and not spoil everything for yourself. And go watch Sherlock already.
Meanwhile, Series 2 is nearly, nearly here (two months away is nearly, oh yes it is) and I have been pondering, maybe a lot too much, on this. Spoilers in heaps below!
SPOILERS SPOILERS SHERLOCK'S GENIUS SUCK IT ANDERSON WATSON'S AWESOME
(Thanks to the Daily Mail for this picture.)
Yes, that’s your favorite asocial detective after falling 70 feet off the roof of St. Barts. (This picture terrifies the living hell out of me, by the way.) The circumstances of the fall don’t really matter at this moment, what matters is THIS…
(Thanks so much to Cumberbatchweb for this poster.)
And yes, while this is an awesome poster that sends me into eddies of delight, LOOK AT SHERLOCK, besides the fact that he's sitting in John's chair (Union Jack pillow just visible behind him.)
Note the knuckles of his left hand. Bandages?
Note his chin. Something’s happened there.
And note the right side of his neck. That appears to be a scar, or at least a healing cut.
What befuddles me is that these aren’t injuries consistent with falling off of a building (broken bones, big open wounds that require lots of stitching, a bandage or two, and most telling, a lack of a bandage on his head where it's clear in the other photo he's bleeding from.)
I'm pulling a Sherlock here, and I'm going to say that these are injuries consistent not with someone who fell off a building, but someone who got into a nasty fight. The knuckles are broken open because he punched someone; the chin mark is from where they got him; the scar is obviously a cut that has been stitched closed, or a stab wound. It’s way too straight to be anything else.
I don't know what episode the second picture hails from (first one is from Scandal), so I can't tell you if his big fight comes before or after he makes too close of buddies with the ground outside Bart's. Since the Scandal ep is listed second at the moment, I'd say this might be from the first or the third episode, because he's going to spend most of the second one healing from you know, FALLING OFF A BUILDING. He's probably going to be in no condition to fight anyone.
So, we have Sherlock getting into one hell of a fight, falling off a building and winding up on a stretcher, and conceivably going over a waterfall with his archenemy and disappearing into the mist. All I can think is, Dear God, they are banging him about this year. Last year, they choked him twice in the same episode and then he was almost smothered in the next, but clearly the ante has been upped.
If you are a fan of Sherlock on the BBC, you have no doubt:
Watched the three episodes a dozen times each
Snorted derisively at Robert Downey Jr. fans who INSIST theirs is the only Sherlock to be had
At least taken a stab at the books, if you hadn’t read them before
Wondered speculatively where on earth you could get a riding crop, a fluffy jumper, or that COAT.
If you have no bloody clue what the hell I just talked about, it’s best you look away now and not spoil everything for yourself. And go watch Sherlock already.
Meanwhile, Series 2 is nearly, nearly here (two months away is nearly, oh yes it is) and I have been pondering, maybe a lot too much, on this. Spoilers in heaps below!
SPOILERS SPOILERS SHERLOCK'S GENIUS SUCK IT ANDERSON WATSON'S AWESOME
(Thanks to the Daily Mail for this picture.)
Yes, that’s your favorite asocial detective after falling 70 feet off the roof of St. Barts. (This picture terrifies the living hell out of me, by the way.) The circumstances of the fall don’t really matter at this moment, what matters is THIS…
(Thanks so much to Cumberbatchweb for this poster.)
And yes, while this is an awesome poster that sends me into eddies of delight, LOOK AT SHERLOCK, besides the fact that he's sitting in John's chair (Union Jack pillow just visible behind him.)
Note the knuckles of his left hand. Bandages?
Note his chin. Something’s happened there.
And note the right side of his neck. That appears to be a scar, or at least a healing cut.
What befuddles me is that these aren’t injuries consistent with falling off of a building (broken bones, big open wounds that require lots of stitching, a bandage or two, and most telling, a lack of a bandage on his head where it's clear in the other photo he's bleeding from.)
I'm pulling a Sherlock here, and I'm going to say that these are injuries consistent not with someone who fell off a building, but someone who got into a nasty fight. The knuckles are broken open because he punched someone; the chin mark is from where they got him; the scar is obviously a cut that has been stitched closed, or a stab wound. It’s way too straight to be anything else.
I don't know what episode the second picture hails from (first one is from Scandal), so I can't tell you if his big fight comes before or after he makes too close of buddies with the ground outside Bart's. Since the Scandal ep is listed second at the moment, I'd say this might be from the first or the third episode, because he's going to spend most of the second one healing from you know, FALLING OFF A BUILDING. He's probably going to be in no condition to fight anyone.
So, we have Sherlock getting into one hell of a fight, falling off a building and winding up on a stretcher, and conceivably going over a waterfall with his archenemy and disappearing into the mist. All I can think is, Dear God, they are banging him about this year. Last year, they choked him twice in the same episode and then he was almost smothered in the next, but clearly the ante has been upped.
7.11.11
Four Weeks, Five Days
33 days to madness
47 till Christmas
5 days till Skyrim
Too many damn days till Sherlock
Scratch that first one. I'm there already today.
I am busy glaring at this computer screen as if it has done me some great personal wrong. It makes me feel better. My brain has quit working and I have three weeks of school left, so it’d better start up again and fast.
And now I’m hearing Pop Goes the Weasel in my head. It must be Monday.
Three bloody assignments down. Four to go. One nearly there, three not even really begun. I am in for a rough two weeks coming up here if I can’t get my neurons to start firing SOMETHING off that isn’t poetry, fanfiction, or novel stuff, because that’s all they’ve been firing for the last three blooming weeks.
Add to that: I have to work tomorrow, so the laundry and shopping has been pushed back to Wednesday, but only if I don't have to go and do homework on that day. So it might be Thursday. Or Friday. And if I get Saturday off this week it might be then. But I don't know. Sunday's shot through because of the CONCERT! EEP! which I'd forgotten all about until this very morning. Then I remembered that, yes, it WAS this weekend, you ninny, and you have tickets in the 5th row.
Yes, I called myself a ninny. Out loud.
The neighbors must be sick of me by now.
Sigh.
I must get back to work.
Ta,
Bec
47 till Christmas
5 days till Skyrim
Too many damn days till Sherlock
Scratch that first one. I'm there already today.
I am busy glaring at this computer screen as if it has done me some great personal wrong. It makes me feel better. My brain has quit working and I have three weeks of school left, so it’d better start up again and fast.
And now I’m hearing Pop Goes the Weasel in my head. It must be Monday.
Three bloody assignments down. Four to go. One nearly there, three not even really begun. I am in for a rough two weeks coming up here if I can’t get my neurons to start firing SOMETHING off that isn’t poetry, fanfiction, or novel stuff, because that’s all they’ve been firing for the last three blooming weeks.
Add to that: I have to work tomorrow, so the laundry and shopping has been pushed back to Wednesday, but only if I don't have to go and do homework on that day. So it might be Thursday. Or Friday. And if I get Saturday off this week it might be then. But I don't know. Sunday's shot through because of the CONCERT! EEP! which I'd forgotten all about until this very morning. Then I remembered that, yes, it WAS this weekend, you ninny, and you have tickets in the 5th row.
Yes, I called myself a ninny. Out loud.
The neighbors must be sick of me by now.
Sigh.
I must get back to work.
Ta,
Bec
5.11.11
Five Weeks and Counting
I have been struggling with something lately, and so I haven't been in the mood to blog. It's a bit better now; I'm handling it. I won't go into details because I'd just embarrass myself, so I'll just let you know that I'm all right and spent all of yesterday working on homework instead of moping about whining. Definitely an improvement.
Of course, the Powerpoint I created is so freaking long it might as well be a movie. Oh well. It finished at 34 slides, while Byron himself only lived 36 years. I think I covered him pretty thoroughly.
Merlin review of, well "Merlin" up later today. I'll plunk it at the bottom of this entry.
Ta,
Bec
SPOILER LINE
Little later than I'd planned, but here it is, a review of "Servant of Two Masters."
This episode felt like a prelude to a lot of other things. It sets up more Emrys stuff, mostly with Morgana (but do you think the knights are going to be all friendly now that he knocked them on their asses?) Morgana meets the stuff of nightmares and the stuff of nightmares kicks her butt and kills her baby hydra.
First off, Merlin's Goa'uld infestation was funny and dark and typically very Merlin-esque. Really wish he could have fought the thing off with the power of his mind or something, but let's not complicate matters. Colin's acting was spot-on (THREE distinct personalities in this one) and his slightly more acidic personality here was hilarious-you could actually tell Merlin wasn't himself at all. Was nice to see Gwen help Gaius with his treatment by clonking Merlin upside the head with the water pitcher twice (such a lovely, helpful girl.)
Every scene with Arthur and Merlin was pure awesome here, and I suspect the ONLY reason Arthur hugged Merlin was to get his armor nice and dirty for boring old stuffy George.
Agravaine plants suspicion of Gaius in Arthur's mind. After all the loyalty Gaius has shown, and how many times he DOESN'T leave the castle these days, you would think that would be enough. Arthur has that stupid loyalty to family thing, which I don't get, probably because mostly everyone outside of my immediate family that's related to me pretty much sucks.
Agravaine shows real care for Morgana after she gets whopped by Emrys, and speaking of which...
Loved Morgana's freaked out face when she saw her nightmare walking around, snooping in her stuff. Chemistry between Emrys and Morgana-you could feel the air crackle in the room. Didn't think I'd ever see that between a 20-something witch in training and a 20-something wizard pretending to be much older, but whew! Seems like everytime Colin and Katie go head-to-head like this, there are sparklers going off in the background.
I suspect that later this season, Merlin's magic will get revealed to her, and Morgana will still think Emrys is out there, but she won't have a clue that the two beings are one and the same.
Next week: Gaius gets kidnapped, and clearly Arthur is feeling suspicious about the whole business. Someone knows who Emrys is, and I BET they get it wrong (or get stabbed before they get to talk.) And if you thought Morgana was dead, that would be a no.
Of course, the Powerpoint I created is so freaking long it might as well be a movie. Oh well. It finished at 34 slides, while Byron himself only lived 36 years. I think I covered him pretty thoroughly.
Merlin review of, well "Merlin" up later today. I'll plunk it at the bottom of this entry.
Ta,
Bec
SPOILER LINE
Little later than I'd planned, but here it is, a review of "Servant of Two Masters."
This episode felt like a prelude to a lot of other things. It sets up more Emrys stuff, mostly with Morgana (but do you think the knights are going to be all friendly now that he knocked them on their asses?) Morgana meets the stuff of nightmares and the stuff of nightmares kicks her butt and kills her baby hydra.
First off, Merlin's Goa'uld infestation was funny and dark and typically very Merlin-esque. Really wish he could have fought the thing off with the power of his mind or something, but let's not complicate matters. Colin's acting was spot-on (THREE distinct personalities in this one) and his slightly more acidic personality here was hilarious-you could actually tell Merlin wasn't himself at all. Was nice to see Gwen help Gaius with his treatment by clonking Merlin upside the head with the water pitcher twice (such a lovely, helpful girl.)
Every scene with Arthur and Merlin was pure awesome here, and I suspect the ONLY reason Arthur hugged Merlin was to get his armor nice and dirty for boring old stuffy George.
Agravaine plants suspicion of Gaius in Arthur's mind. After all the loyalty Gaius has shown, and how many times he DOESN'T leave the castle these days, you would think that would be enough. Arthur has that stupid loyalty to family thing, which I don't get, probably because mostly everyone outside of my immediate family that's related to me pretty much sucks.
Agravaine shows real care for Morgana after she gets whopped by Emrys, and speaking of which...
Loved Morgana's freaked out face when she saw her nightmare walking around, snooping in her stuff. Chemistry between Emrys and Morgana-you could feel the air crackle in the room. Didn't think I'd ever see that between a 20-something witch in training and a 20-something wizard pretending to be much older, but whew! Seems like everytime Colin and Katie go head-to-head like this, there are sparklers going off in the background.
I suspect that later this season, Merlin's magic will get revealed to her, and Morgana will still think Emrys is out there, but she won't have a clue that the two beings are one and the same.
Next week: Gaius gets kidnapped, and clearly Arthur is feeling suspicious about the whole business. Someone knows who Emrys is, and I BET they get it wrong (or get stabbed before they get to talk.) And if you thought Morgana was dead, that would be a no.
29.10.11
Six Weeks And Counting...
Not much to say about me as of late. Six weeks from this morning just past, I will walk across the stage at NCCU and get my degree. Still don't have a job. Working on it.
Meanwhile, Merlin Episode 5, "His Father's Son," aired today and I caught it.
SPOILER LINE
This was a good episode, lots going on. Pay attention:
Since this was all about Arthur, let's start with him.
Arthur-Is settling into the new job of king, and makes his first mistake by not sparing Caerleon. This prompts Mrs. Caerleon to lose her temper and come after Camelot with an army.
Um, whoops?
Arthur decides to think more with his head than his heart (he IS a cabbagehead, so this is not the best of decisions.) It makes him do these two amazingly dumb things:
Arthur decides to listen to his uncle and tries to dump Gwen.
Arthur decides he doesn't need friends and tries to dump Merlin.
BUT Arthur, thankfully comes to his senses and decides single combat is necessary...with a seven-foot Caerleon goliath.
Arthur proves with the decisions he makes that he is most certainly NOT his father's son. He is his own man, and makes his own decisions.
This is where Morgana sort of steps in, 'cause she's responsible for this fight almost not going the right way...
Morgana: Annis Caerleon judges our outlaw princess pretty well here (love ya, Lindsey Duncan! Fine performance!)Morgana is full of bitterness and unwilling to compromise. She's more like Uther than Gorlois, Annis says, and that is NOT something Morgana wants to hear, especially after saying Uther was only her blood-daddy, but she comes in honor of Gorlois, her REAL daddy. Uther was a bastard who killed her REAL daddy.
She also wants her younger half-brother dead for sleeping with her maid and for becoming king.
And she killed her half-sis earlier this year.
(Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!)
Hold on, why is she still walking around with the surname of Pendragon, then? Maybe because she wants to keep reminding people that she's supposed to be on the throne? That's probably it. She has no other reason to keep the name otherwise.
Morgana saw a golden opportunity to get rid of Arthur and tried to make his sword weigh a ton so he'd die. This backfired when the OTHER magical person in the OTHER army decided he liked Arthur alive and thwarted her plans (obvious who this is to all involved.) Merlin was probably unaware of Morgana being there but it doesn't matter. He thwarted her again.
Back to Arthur again-wins the fight, gets the parade, gets his girl back, his servant insults him. Everything normal here. He'll do OK from here on out; young bucks at a new job with a lot of pressure always make mistakes, and he fixed this one well.
Merlin-Really, really tries to advise Arthur during this episode, and we see Arthur finally, FINALLY starting to listen to his bumbling manservant a little bit (granted, it was ridiculously late and almost got Arthur killed, but whatever.) Arthur makes big strides here-he calls Merlin FRIEND! (I cried here.) and said Merlin was right (cried again.)
Best Fall of the Year is going to Colin Morgan, hands down. To trip over someone's feet and fall backwards into a tent without killing yourself is a talent that should be used.
And slash moment of the episode: Arthur apparently doesn't want to sleep with Merlin in a bed (and neither does Merlin.) That doesn't mean much. There are walls, windowsills, corners, trees, convenient mountains, the ground, either person's bedroll (does NOT count as a bed), back of a horse, the throne...
Yes, Camelot watchers: Shagging on a bed is SO Roman Empire.
(Actually, ignore those last two comments. I have no clue where those came from.)
Gwen: Backdropped again. Give that girl more than two scenes, please!
Gaius-Has NO lines. At all. Although really, what could he have said to help this situation along?
Aggie: Tries to get Arthur to break up with Gwen and almost succeeds. Hands over Arthur's sword to Morgana for eviling up. Also looks conveniently worried when he needs to, but I don't believe his expressions for a second (creep.)
So that's this week. Next week is an episode named after our dear dark-haired wizard himself. Merlin gets knocked out, Morgana gets her mitts on him and possesses him with the need to kill Arthur. Obviously it won't work because he really really likes Arthur alive.
I love how Morgana calls him a boy. Laughter. You stupid bitch. He could twitch his little finger and probably blow you to bits.
And Dragoon makes another appearance, probably to really freak out Morgana. This is going to be fun. Cannot wait to see her face, seeing as she's been having dreams about that old face of his all year...
Let her have it ALL, Merlin. Let her scream and panic and cause small explosions in fear of you, because we're all waiting for you to have enough justification to kick her ass all the way to the Isle of the Blessed.
Meanwhile, Merlin Episode 5, "His Father's Son," aired today and I caught it.
SPOILER LINE
This was a good episode, lots going on. Pay attention:
Since this was all about Arthur, let's start with him.
Arthur-Is settling into the new job of king, and makes his first mistake by not sparing Caerleon. This prompts Mrs. Caerleon to lose her temper and come after Camelot with an army.
Um, whoops?
Arthur decides to think more with his head than his heart (he IS a cabbagehead, so this is not the best of decisions.) It makes him do these two amazingly dumb things:
Arthur decides to listen to his uncle and tries to dump Gwen.
Arthur decides he doesn't need friends and tries to dump Merlin.
BUT Arthur, thankfully comes to his senses and decides single combat is necessary...with a seven-foot Caerleon goliath.
Arthur proves with the decisions he makes that he is most certainly NOT his father's son. He is his own man, and makes his own decisions.
This is where Morgana sort of steps in, 'cause she's responsible for this fight almost not going the right way...
Morgana: Annis Caerleon judges our outlaw princess pretty well here (love ya, Lindsey Duncan! Fine performance!)Morgana is full of bitterness and unwilling to compromise. She's more like Uther than Gorlois, Annis says, and that is NOT something Morgana wants to hear, especially after saying Uther was only her blood-daddy, but she comes in honor of Gorlois, her REAL daddy. Uther was a bastard who killed her REAL daddy.
She also wants her younger half-brother dead for sleeping with her maid and for becoming king.
And she killed her half-sis earlier this year.
(Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!)
Hold on, why is she still walking around with the surname of Pendragon, then? Maybe because she wants to keep reminding people that she's supposed to be on the throne? That's probably it. She has no other reason to keep the name otherwise.
Morgana saw a golden opportunity to get rid of Arthur and tried to make his sword weigh a ton so he'd die. This backfired when the OTHER magical person in the OTHER army decided he liked Arthur alive and thwarted her plans (obvious who this is to all involved.) Merlin was probably unaware of Morgana being there but it doesn't matter. He thwarted her again.
Back to Arthur again-wins the fight, gets the parade, gets his girl back, his servant insults him. Everything normal here. He'll do OK from here on out; young bucks at a new job with a lot of pressure always make mistakes, and he fixed this one well.
Merlin-Really, really tries to advise Arthur during this episode, and we see Arthur finally, FINALLY starting to listen to his bumbling manservant a little bit (granted, it was ridiculously late and almost got Arthur killed, but whatever.) Arthur makes big strides here-he calls Merlin FRIEND! (I cried here.) and said Merlin was right (cried again.)
Best Fall of the Year is going to Colin Morgan, hands down. To trip over someone's feet and fall backwards into a tent without killing yourself is a talent that should be used.
And slash moment of the episode: Arthur apparently doesn't want to sleep with Merlin in a bed (and neither does Merlin.) That doesn't mean much. There are walls, windowsills, corners, trees, convenient mountains, the ground, either person's bedroll (does NOT count as a bed), back of a horse, the throne...
Yes, Camelot watchers: Shagging on a bed is SO Roman Empire.
(Actually, ignore those last two comments. I have no clue where those came from.)
Gwen: Backdropped again. Give that girl more than two scenes, please!
Gaius-Has NO lines. At all. Although really, what could he have said to help this situation along?
Aggie: Tries to get Arthur to break up with Gwen and almost succeeds. Hands over Arthur's sword to Morgana for eviling up. Also looks conveniently worried when he needs to, but I don't believe his expressions for a second (creep.)
So that's this week. Next week is an episode named after our dear dark-haired wizard himself. Merlin gets knocked out, Morgana gets her mitts on him and possesses him with the need to kill Arthur. Obviously it won't work because he really really likes Arthur alive.
I love how Morgana calls him a boy. Laughter. You stupid bitch. He could twitch his little finger and probably blow you to bits.
And Dragoon makes another appearance, probably to really freak out Morgana. This is going to be fun. Cannot wait to see her face, seeing as she's been having dreams about that old face of his all year...
Let her have it ALL, Merlin. Let her scream and panic and cause small explosions in fear of you, because we're all waiting for you to have enough justification to kick her ass all the way to the Isle of the Blessed.
24.10.11
Battling With the Fiction In My Brain
So I avoided posting a link to this fic simply because I am still not comfortable with the content. I have never, never fought so hard to see a story NOT emerge from the confines of my mind. I didn't want it when it came to me, I didn't want to write it down, and I didn't want to type it up.
But even after I erased it from the computer, wrote it on the back of a piece of paper and attempted to throw that away (it sort of stuck to my fingers and wouldn't go in), and then found myself the next morning typing the thing out again without a memory of how I wound up doing that, I decided that I was wasting time and energy fighting the thing off and I might as well just get it out of my hair and write the damn thing down.
The reason I fought this so hard was that I was deeply disturbed by the idea this story presents, and I still am. This thing made me uncomfortable.
This story is dark, dark, dark. I rated it M on Fanfiction merely because of the content. It deals with themes not meant for children and even some adults. I completely disagree with it, but this is how I saw it happening and so this is how it goes.
Oddly enough, I watched a movie with the same actor not two days after writing this fic and found it to have an ending fairly close to what I had written down i.e. facing the end of his life, the character does himself in because he no longer wants to suffer. Note that the movie had absolutely no bearing on the fic itself.
That little fact freaked me out as well, as I had no idea of the plot of the movie at the time and didn't know what was going to happen, but somehow managed to have two endings to two characters played by the same man that were so similar it was freaky.
I can only conclude that some of the time I am mildly psychotic...psychic. I meant psychic.
Also note that this story is a 221B, which is a Sherlock fic that's 221 words, with the last one starting with the letter B.
Now here's the link to the fic. I have given you fair warning about it.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7472398/1/Noble_Heart
Ta,
Bec
But even after I erased it from the computer, wrote it on the back of a piece of paper and attempted to throw that away (it sort of stuck to my fingers and wouldn't go in), and then found myself the next morning typing the thing out again without a memory of how I wound up doing that, I decided that I was wasting time and energy fighting the thing off and I might as well just get it out of my hair and write the damn thing down.
The reason I fought this so hard was that I was deeply disturbed by the idea this story presents, and I still am. This thing made me uncomfortable.
This story is dark, dark, dark. I rated it M on Fanfiction merely because of the content. It deals with themes not meant for children and even some adults. I completely disagree with it, but this is how I saw it happening and so this is how it goes.
Oddly enough, I watched a movie with the same actor not two days after writing this fic and found it to have an ending fairly close to what I had written down i.e. facing the end of his life, the character does himself in because he no longer wants to suffer. Note that the movie had absolutely no bearing on the fic itself.
That little fact freaked me out as well, as I had no idea of the plot of the movie at the time and didn't know what was going to happen, but somehow managed to have two endings to two characters played by the same man that were so similar it was freaky.
I can only conclude that some of the time I am mildly psychotic...psychic. I meant psychic.
Also note that this story is a 221B, which is a Sherlock fic that's 221 words, with the last one starting with the letter B.
Now here's the link to the fic. I have given you fair warning about it.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7472398/1/Noble_Heart
Ta,
Bec
23.10.11
Getting Nowhere!
Trying to get homework done. I'm having a lot of trouble with distractions lately, more than usual. It's like I'm trying to beat my brain into submission and the stupid thing is pushing back.
But I wanted to get the Merlin review up before I attempted, yet again, to get homework done, and so here it is. I hardly need to warn you all about spoilers.
For the rest of you,
Ta,
Bec
SPOILER LINE
4.4 Aithusa
So, Merlin eavesdrops (loudly-I could hear him breathing!) on one of Gaius' old proteges. The guy has two-thirds of a tripod thing and the third part's in the Camelot basement. A little too much time is spent with Merlin trying to snag the key off Arthur (although de-trousering him in the middle of court and then pouncing on him to "help" probably will earn Merlin a ban from council meetings in the foreseeable future.)
The slash is now not just obvious, it's bloody dancing in front of me wearing Dobby's tea cozy. It didn't help when Merlin flung himself across Arthur's sleeping body to get a goblet that had landed on the bed (has he ever heard of walking around to the other side of the bed?)
I have decided the writers are deliberately doing this to mess with us, because the way the two are acting, Gwen might as well throw in the towel and move to Ealdor.
I felt sorry for the other knights, who apparently got one line each this week. Percy had a bolt through the leg and it was barely addressed. Gwaine seemed more himself rather than the clown we've seen lately. Elyan did some advising. Leon was even in on the fun a bit. It felt a bit like older brothers teasing a younger one, and Merlin seemed to take it with good humor.
And newflash, everyone: Merlin did a healing spell that actually worked! 4 times!
It was nice to have a week off from Morgana's glowering and Gwen hanging all over Arthur like a bit of Spanish moss. I like Gwen, but come ON.
More and more, I sense that Merlin's not just rebelling against Gaius quietly, he is outright defying him in plain sight. It was perfectly obvious to Gaius who had stolen the key and opened the vault. Merlin's powerful, and he's aware that sometimes the decision is in his hands simply because he has the sparklers to do it with. But the kid needs to listen more, and it's not always going to be happy dragon babies and the bad guys get spelled off in the collapsing tower, oh how convenient. Sometimes it's going to end like last week, where Uther dies and Merlin is facing a new king who hates magic as much as his father. As Gaius says, Merlin needs to think things through.
I thought they could have gotten to the point a bit faster and had more time for the end battle. Wouldn't have been amiss to have Merlin knock EVERYONE out (including Balt from Battlestar) and run into the tower himself, seeing as it was that easy. I wanted to see how tough the puzzles King A-whatever had set up and found only that he tried to gas the person who opened the door and then set the whole building up to go boom when the egg was lifted. Bit disappointing. More brawn than brain needed there. Certainly would have been nice to see Merlin having to pass some worthiness tests or something.
The baby dragon was stolen off of Primeval's set, and I can only hope that the Merlin crew eventually gives him back. He was cute for a baby lizard, but Merlin's crying over the little guy was much more adorable.
Let's just hope that Merlin doesn't decide to hide THIS particular baby dragon in a conveniently empty hut and give it a teddy bear. Let's hope that the custody battle over Aithusa doesn't wind up with Kilgarrah roasting the opposing party (or stepping on him) and let's hope Merlin doesn't raise the thing, because he's got enough things to worry about (Arthur, Arthur, Morgana, Gaius, Arthur. In that order.)
Next week: Morgana goes to Lindsay Duncan and probably petitions her to do evil. Arthur screws up and starts a war (oops) and I predict Gaius will worry, Merlin will try to advise, and Gwen will hang all over Arthur like Spanish moss. Again. Everyone will give Reassuring Speeches of It Wasn't Your Fault but We're Fighting Anyway, Go Camelot, and war will be averted in the nick of time with some well-placed secret magic and Arthur's unfailingly awesome haircut.
But I wanted to get the Merlin review up before I attempted, yet again, to get homework done, and so here it is. I hardly need to warn you all about spoilers.
For the rest of you,
Ta,
Bec
SPOILER LINE
4.4 Aithusa
So, Merlin eavesdrops (loudly-I could hear him breathing!) on one of Gaius' old proteges. The guy has two-thirds of a tripod thing and the third part's in the Camelot basement. A little too much time is spent with Merlin trying to snag the key off Arthur (although de-trousering him in the middle of court and then pouncing on him to "help" probably will earn Merlin a ban from council meetings in the foreseeable future.)
The slash is now not just obvious, it's bloody dancing in front of me wearing Dobby's tea cozy. It didn't help when Merlin flung himself across Arthur's sleeping body to get a goblet that had landed on the bed (has he ever heard of walking around to the other side of the bed?)
I have decided the writers are deliberately doing this to mess with us, because the way the two are acting, Gwen might as well throw in the towel and move to Ealdor.
I felt sorry for the other knights, who apparently got one line each this week. Percy had a bolt through the leg and it was barely addressed. Gwaine seemed more himself rather than the clown we've seen lately. Elyan did some advising. Leon was even in on the fun a bit. It felt a bit like older brothers teasing a younger one, and Merlin seemed to take it with good humor.
And newflash, everyone: Merlin did a healing spell that actually worked! 4 times!
It was nice to have a week off from Morgana's glowering and Gwen hanging all over Arthur like a bit of Spanish moss. I like Gwen, but come ON.
More and more, I sense that Merlin's not just rebelling against Gaius quietly, he is outright defying him in plain sight. It was perfectly obvious to Gaius who had stolen the key and opened the vault. Merlin's powerful, and he's aware that sometimes the decision is in his hands simply because he has the sparklers to do it with. But the kid needs to listen more, and it's not always going to be happy dragon babies and the bad guys get spelled off in the collapsing tower, oh how convenient. Sometimes it's going to end like last week, where Uther dies and Merlin is facing a new king who hates magic as much as his father. As Gaius says, Merlin needs to think things through.
I thought they could have gotten to the point a bit faster and had more time for the end battle. Wouldn't have been amiss to have Merlin knock EVERYONE out (including Balt from Battlestar) and run into the tower himself, seeing as it was that easy. I wanted to see how tough the puzzles King A-whatever had set up and found only that he tried to gas the person who opened the door and then set the whole building up to go boom when the egg was lifted. Bit disappointing. More brawn than brain needed there. Certainly would have been nice to see Merlin having to pass some worthiness tests or something.
The baby dragon was stolen off of Primeval's set, and I can only hope that the Merlin crew eventually gives him back. He was cute for a baby lizard, but Merlin's crying over the little guy was much more adorable.
Let's just hope that Merlin doesn't decide to hide THIS particular baby dragon in a conveniently empty hut and give it a teddy bear. Let's hope that the custody battle over Aithusa doesn't wind up with Kilgarrah roasting the opposing party (or stepping on him) and let's hope Merlin doesn't raise the thing, because he's got enough things to worry about (Arthur, Arthur, Morgana, Gaius, Arthur. In that order.)
Next week: Morgana goes to Lindsay Duncan and probably petitions her to do evil. Arthur screws up and starts a war (oops) and I predict Gaius will worry, Merlin will try to advise, and Gwen will hang all over Arthur like Spanish moss. Again. Everyone will give Reassuring Speeches of It Wasn't Your Fault but We're Fighting Anyway, Go Camelot, and war will be averted in the nick of time with some well-placed secret magic and Arthur's unfailingly awesome haircut.
20.10.11
Notes On Today's Events
Another dictator gone, another day.
Whatever the man might have done, whatever he might have been, he's gone. Whatever happens to Libya now is up to the people who live there, just like Egypt.
I noted that there wasn't as much rejoicing over this lunatic dying as with Osama Bin Laden, probably because this one didn't kill a whole pile of Americans in one day. Again, I'm refusing to be joyful about this; the man is dead and his bloody face is all over the telly. It's a touch disrespectful; even if the Libyans did take the footage and put it on TV, it was a little cold to put it on ours. Guess we needed proof this time.
I hope that the Egyptians, the Tunisians, and the Libyans can get things together and make their countries better and more successful. If they want democracy in their own fashion (because they are Muslim countries and the rules are different there, a fact we Americans love to overlook when we're liberating places like Iraq) they will find it without our fingers in their pie.
I think it's time we back away and let them figure it out. We've done our part there.
Ta,
Bec
Whatever the man might have done, whatever he might have been, he's gone. Whatever happens to Libya now is up to the people who live there, just like Egypt.
I noted that there wasn't as much rejoicing over this lunatic dying as with Osama Bin Laden, probably because this one didn't kill a whole pile of Americans in one day. Again, I'm refusing to be joyful about this; the man is dead and his bloody face is all over the telly. It's a touch disrespectful; even if the Libyans did take the footage and put it on TV, it was a little cold to put it on ours. Guess we needed proof this time.
I hope that the Egyptians, the Tunisians, and the Libyans can get things together and make their countries better and more successful. If they want democracy in their own fashion (because they are Muslim countries and the rules are different there, a fact we Americans love to overlook when we're liberating places like Iraq) they will find it without our fingers in their pie.
I think it's time we back away and let them figure it out. We've done our part there.
Ta,
Bec
19.10.11
Nothing Going On With Me
Been a little down. Could have had something to do with
A) Little bit lonely lately.
B) Watching Benedict Cumberbatch drown in a movie (Third Star) because his character was dying of cancer and chose to go out into a bay in Wales and go under rather than be in pain anymore. Hard to watch (not as hard as watching him scream in agony because his friends had lost the box containing his morphine, but STILL.) Watching the tears leak out of the corners of his eyes was enough to make me want to turn it off. I hate seeing people I like in pain; ditto for this. I was hurting with him.
If you ever actually read this, Benedict, (because I'm sure he searches his name on Google more often than he cares to admit,) I'm letting you know now that your friend David Tennant evoked almost the same reaction from me when he did the movie about the head injury. So you did fine. Brilliant as usual. Scared the heck out of me with the screaming and the drowning (feel free to enlighten me as to how you pulled that off, because for a couple of seconds there I thought you actually drowned.)
Back to my misery, y'all! Onward!)
C) When I was on the bus yesterday, no one would sit next to me. Don't know why. That kind of made me a bit depressed.
D) Then on the way back from the store, a short, rather pudgley woman in a pink shirt came and plonked practically down on top of me. She was very rude about it, didn't even apologize. That wasn't exactly what I meant when I said I wanted someone to sit with me. I was hoping they'd give me some personal space when they did it.
I am off work in 15 minutes (that is not a negative!) (Progress!)
I get down sometimes, but I always bounce back up. Takes awhile but I'll get there.
Gotta go finish some stuff!
Ta,
Bec
A) Little bit lonely lately.
B) Watching Benedict Cumberbatch drown in a movie (Third Star) because his character was dying of cancer and chose to go out into a bay in Wales and go under rather than be in pain anymore. Hard to watch (not as hard as watching him scream in agony because his friends had lost the box containing his morphine, but STILL.) Watching the tears leak out of the corners of his eyes was enough to make me want to turn it off. I hate seeing people I like in pain; ditto for this. I was hurting with him.
If you ever actually read this, Benedict, (because I'm sure he searches his name on Google more often than he cares to admit,) I'm letting you know now that your friend David Tennant evoked almost the same reaction from me when he did the movie about the head injury. So you did fine. Brilliant as usual. Scared the heck out of me with the screaming and the drowning (feel free to enlighten me as to how you pulled that off, because for a couple of seconds there I thought you actually drowned.)
Back to my misery, y'all! Onward!)
C) When I was on the bus yesterday, no one would sit next to me. Don't know why. That kind of made me a bit depressed.
D) Then on the way back from the store, a short, rather pudgley woman in a pink shirt came and plonked practically down on top of me. She was very rude about it, didn't even apologize. That wasn't exactly what I meant when I said I wanted someone to sit with me. I was hoping they'd give me some personal space when they did it.
I am off work in 15 minutes (that is not a negative!) (Progress!)
I get down sometimes, but I always bounce back up. Takes awhile but I'll get there.
Gotta go finish some stuff!
Ta,
Bec
15.10.11
Merlin Reviews
I'm getting these up here before Number 3 airs later today, at which point I will post again.
Suffice it to say that if you don't like spoilers, stay away from this stuff.
SPOILER LINE
Merlin review 4.1 and 4.2
We're a year on again, which means that we're now 5 years on from Merlin becoming Arthur's servant. Merlin's age is about even with Colin's now at 25, since Arthur was 21 when the show began and Merlin has to be about a year younger. Bradley is 28, so unless the show does a leap it isn't getting closer. That's okay though-Tom Welling was about middle age when Smallville ended.
I was grateful and pleased to see Arthur acting like an adult with Merlin (i.e. not hitting him with objects, not demeaning him by using him as a footstool, and NOT locking him up in the dungeons.) Arthur's normal, common-guy friends are helping him to become more down to earth, instead of an arrogant prat.
This was the first time at the beginning of a Merlin series where Merlin didn't get chained up or locked up (frozen solid works, I suppose. No one even questioned him coming back alive-I suppose Lancelot could have told them all about the magic water nymphs saving Merlin's frostbitten hide, but would Arthur have really believed that?)
Morgana seems to be continually pissed off, but there's that underlying fear of Emrys she keeps mentioning (wonder who that could be. Hmm.) Without Morgause, Morgana's a barely functioning witch in a hole with a grudge-not exactly major threat material. She can't even kill people with her throw spell. How's she going to deal with Merlin when he bangs her neatly off a tree?
Uther's just gone, mentally and physically. I doubt he's ever going to be back in form again, especially since he's been steeped in crazy for a year.
Gwen's finally learned not to backtrack every time she speaks, and I really liked the way she mouthed off to Agravaine about his decision to close the gates to the commoners. I was applauding her spine on the issue, and I'd like to see more of it.
Agravaine hates Uther because of the death of his sister Igraine and brother Tristan (and here I was thinking he was a Pendragon. A whole paragraph on his manipulative Pendragon ways and he was a de Bois.) Uther killed both of his siblings in various ways-sure sign he's enraged somewhere under the slimy exterior. The good news is that now I know which side he's from, he can sleep with Morgana and get away with it because they're not related (still icky.) He's obviously trying to slip into a power vacuum created by Uther's lunacy and Arthur's not being king yet because Uther's still alive. He probably hates all the Pendragons and wants them to do each other in. My previous paragraph was better, but that was before he was on the opposite side of the family tree. He was easier to categorize when he was a Pendragon-I just chalked his arrogance and villainy up to the typical traits of the bloodline.
In short, Lord Aggravation is a bloody creep and a traitor. I think he sees Morgana as the poor ambitious sweet thing who unfairly got kicked out of the family, despite trying to take over Camelot and kill Uther and Arthur at least twice each. Agravaine might see Arthur's lack of motivation in slashing down his family and just taking what he wants as a sign of weakness (remember that that was continually something the bad guys told Uther was why Arthur would make an awful king.) Arthur's soft on the regular people and is kind to them, even wants to be seen as their friend. The rest of the family see the common people as cattle, ready to do their bidding at a moment's notice and die for them in a war.
Morgana will come to fear the one she calls Emrys, but first she has to learn about Merlin's powers. She's not likely to put the Emrys label onto him until she knows that he has magic in the first place. I would think Morgana would no longer have designs on Uther simply because he's no longer a threat to anyone. She doesn't care about him anymore because he doesn't matter to her schemes. She's more intent on getting rid of Arthur or Gwen (that I just don't understand. Why would she be after Gwen? Unless she's jealous about that ugly crown...) Merlin doesn't come up on her radar because she still has no idea what he really is.
Agravaine is probably going to get stabbed by someone in the family simply because he's a simpering idiot. If Arthur does it, it'll be out of obligation to Camelot. If it's Morgana, it'll be because he's getting in the way. She's already stabbed Morgause this year so I wouldn't put it past her.
I really hope Gwen can advise Arthur the way she tried to advise Agravaine. That was kind of nice, even if Agravaine was trying to kill her at the time.
And we're going to see Lance again, so stop bloody crying already.
This week: The return of Dragoon the Great, Powerful, (and really Colin Morgan in old-man makeup again) and in the photos it appears Lancelot is around...
Ta,
Bec
4.3
Well, that slammed the door in the face of Arthur ever finding out that Merlin has magic, eh? Uther's death by accident means that at the end of this episode, Arthur is finally fully in charge of Camelot...and hates magic.
Morgana killed Uther at last, not by the sword but by a nice necklace. Subtle and effective. I said three years ago now that Morgana was going to do Uther in, and now she has (she polished him off, anyway)though my version had her stabbing him across the throne room. Details, details...
Merlin took a risk and it blew up in his face. I don't think we'll be seeing Dragoon again for awhile, but he was definitely a much more even character than last year's edition.
Agravaine is working with Morgana purely to get to Uther, so obviously he got what he wanted in this episode. Now his motives are all mysterious again-why the hell would he go after Arthur? Our new king, may he live past this series, had nothing to do with either his mother or his uncle's deaths (which were probably days apart when Arthur was a newborn.)
Another thing that keeps bugging me - Why does Agravaine like Morgana so much? Is he going to stop hitting on her before she whops him dead? She sidestepped him this time (ain't she supposed to hook up with Merlin this year? Now that I'd love to see...)
But it's come at long last - Uther is dead! Long live King Arthur!
Next week: A dragon egg? The dude from Battlestar Galactica? Is Merlin going to wind up outwitting Arthur's guys all year now? Is Merlin going to play Mommy to a baby dragon all year?
Suffice it to say that if you don't like spoilers, stay away from this stuff.
SPOILER LINE
Merlin review 4.1 and 4.2
We're a year on again, which means that we're now 5 years on from Merlin becoming Arthur's servant. Merlin's age is about even with Colin's now at 25, since Arthur was 21 when the show began and Merlin has to be about a year younger. Bradley is 28, so unless the show does a leap it isn't getting closer. That's okay though-Tom Welling was about middle age when Smallville ended.
I was grateful and pleased to see Arthur acting like an adult with Merlin (i.e. not hitting him with objects, not demeaning him by using him as a footstool, and NOT locking him up in the dungeons.) Arthur's normal, common-guy friends are helping him to become more down to earth, instead of an arrogant prat.
This was the first time at the beginning of a Merlin series where Merlin didn't get chained up or locked up (frozen solid works, I suppose. No one even questioned him coming back alive-I suppose Lancelot could have told them all about the magic water nymphs saving Merlin's frostbitten hide, but would Arthur have really believed that?)
Morgana seems to be continually pissed off, but there's that underlying fear of Emrys she keeps mentioning (wonder who that could be. Hmm.) Without Morgause, Morgana's a barely functioning witch in a hole with a grudge-not exactly major threat material. She can't even kill people with her throw spell. How's she going to deal with Merlin when he bangs her neatly off a tree?
Uther's just gone, mentally and physically. I doubt he's ever going to be back in form again, especially since he's been steeped in crazy for a year.
Gwen's finally learned not to backtrack every time she speaks, and I really liked the way she mouthed off to Agravaine about his decision to close the gates to the commoners. I was applauding her spine on the issue, and I'd like to see more of it.
Agravaine hates Uther because of the death of his sister Igraine and brother Tristan (and here I was thinking he was a Pendragon. A whole paragraph on his manipulative Pendragon ways and he was a de Bois.) Uther killed both of his siblings in various ways-sure sign he's enraged somewhere under the slimy exterior. The good news is that now I know which side he's from, he can sleep with Morgana and get away with it because they're not related (still icky.) He's obviously trying to slip into a power vacuum created by Uther's lunacy and Arthur's not being king yet because Uther's still alive. He probably hates all the Pendragons and wants them to do each other in. My previous paragraph was better, but that was before he was on the opposite side of the family tree. He was easier to categorize when he was a Pendragon-I just chalked his arrogance and villainy up to the typical traits of the bloodline.
In short, Lord Aggravation is a bloody creep and a traitor. I think he sees Morgana as the poor ambitious sweet thing who unfairly got kicked out of the family, despite trying to take over Camelot and kill Uther and Arthur at least twice each. Agravaine might see Arthur's lack of motivation in slashing down his family and just taking what he wants as a sign of weakness (remember that that was continually something the bad guys told Uther was why Arthur would make an awful king.) Arthur's soft on the regular people and is kind to them, even wants to be seen as their friend. The rest of the family see the common people as cattle, ready to do their bidding at a moment's notice and die for them in a war.
Morgana will come to fear the one she calls Emrys, but first she has to learn about Merlin's powers. She's not likely to put the Emrys label onto him until she knows that he has magic in the first place. I would think Morgana would no longer have designs on Uther simply because he's no longer a threat to anyone. She doesn't care about him anymore because he doesn't matter to her schemes. She's more intent on getting rid of Arthur or Gwen (that I just don't understand. Why would she be after Gwen? Unless she's jealous about that ugly crown...) Merlin doesn't come up on her radar because she still has no idea what he really is.
Agravaine is probably going to get stabbed by someone in the family simply because he's a simpering idiot. If Arthur does it, it'll be out of obligation to Camelot. If it's Morgana, it'll be because he's getting in the way. She's already stabbed Morgause this year so I wouldn't put it past her.
I really hope Gwen can advise Arthur the way she tried to advise Agravaine. That was kind of nice, even if Agravaine was trying to kill her at the time.
And we're going to see Lance again, so stop bloody crying already.
This week: The return of Dragoon the Great, Powerful, (and really Colin Morgan in old-man makeup again) and in the photos it appears Lancelot is around...
Ta,
Bec
4.3
Well, that slammed the door in the face of Arthur ever finding out that Merlin has magic, eh? Uther's death by accident means that at the end of this episode, Arthur is finally fully in charge of Camelot...and hates magic.
Morgana killed Uther at last, not by the sword but by a nice necklace. Subtle and effective. I said three years ago now that Morgana was going to do Uther in, and now she has (she polished him off, anyway)though my version had her stabbing him across the throne room. Details, details...
Merlin took a risk and it blew up in his face. I don't think we'll be seeing Dragoon again for awhile, but he was definitely a much more even character than last year's edition.
Agravaine is working with Morgana purely to get to Uther, so obviously he got what he wanted in this episode. Now his motives are all mysterious again-why the hell would he go after Arthur? Our new king, may he live past this series, had nothing to do with either his mother or his uncle's deaths (which were probably days apart when Arthur was a newborn.)
Another thing that keeps bugging me - Why does Agravaine like Morgana so much? Is he going to stop hitting on her before she whops him dead? She sidestepped him this time (ain't she supposed to hook up with Merlin this year? Now that I'd love to see...)
But it's come at long last - Uther is dead! Long live King Arthur!
Next week: A dragon egg? The dude from Battlestar Galactica? Is Merlin going to wind up outwitting Arthur's guys all year now? Is Merlin going to play Mommy to a baby dragon all year?
13.10.11
Back To Good?
Yeah, for some reason, my pain is down by a ton, my swelling has improved, and my fingers are moving again. I am off painkillers and anything else that would knock the swelling down. For the moment, I'm officially better.
And if you're having trouble keeping up, imagine how I'm feeling.
Now of course, if this continues to improve, there will be the doubt and the fear at every twinge and all of the crap that goes along with that. Why I swelled up in the first place, why it went, and if it will come back are all questions that absolutely no one has an answer to. Ever.
Face it, kids, I have no idea what's going on. It'd be nice to be clued in but I never get that lucky.
I'm still a little sore and puffy but since I kept shucking the sling to do things with my right today, I just finally took the thing off. It was less of a help and more of a hindrance and so it has been put away. We'll see how long I can go without it.
Let's hope my stupid hand goes back to normal now.
Ta,
Bec
And if you're having trouble keeping up, imagine how I'm feeling.
Now of course, if this continues to improve, there will be the doubt and the fear at every twinge and all of the crap that goes along with that. Why I swelled up in the first place, why it went, and if it will come back are all questions that absolutely no one has an answer to. Ever.
Face it, kids, I have no idea what's going on. It'd be nice to be clued in but I never get that lucky.
I'm still a little sore and puffy but since I kept shucking the sling to do things with my right today, I just finally took the thing off. It was less of a help and more of a hindrance and so it has been put away. We'll see how long I can go without it.
Let's hope my stupid hand goes back to normal now.
Ta,
Bec
11.10.11
Getting Bad Again
Results are in-all normal.
I sigh emphatically, and let you know that my hand is very, very sore so this entry is going to be short.
My last prednisone is sitting in my backpack. I'm not even sure I'm going to take it, because what good will it do me?
Here's hoping Duke calls tomorrow! I'm on the waiting list.
Ta,
Bec
I sigh emphatically, and let you know that my hand is very, very sore so this entry is going to be short.
My last prednisone is sitting in my backpack. I'm not even sure I'm going to take it, because what good will it do me?
Here's hoping Duke calls tomorrow! I'm on the waiting list.
Ta,
Bec
10.10.11
Frustrated
In pain. Still feel like no one's listening who can help. Waiting on Duke to start pulling their weight on this. Frustrated beyond belief and honestly don't know where to put it, so I feel like a pot of water boiling over.
Even on Tylenol my fingers hurt hitting the keys. Galdarn it, I have homework to finish. How the hell am I supposed to do it like this?
I'm going to call Duke every hour tomorrow until I get a damned answer. I'm swelling up and I'm scared and I want someone to bloody DO something about this.
Ta,
Bec
Even on Tylenol my fingers hurt hitting the keys. Galdarn it, I have homework to finish. How the hell am I supposed to do it like this?
I'm going to call Duke every hour tomorrow until I get a damned answer. I'm swelling up and I'm scared and I want someone to bloody DO something about this.
Ta,
Bec
9.10.11
Solving the Problem
Definitely not better. I'm starting to want to miser the steroids so that I can function. I run out Wednesday morning and honestly I'm dreading it. What am I supposed to do then?
This is truly, honestly ridiculous. I shouldn't have to stash pills so that I can finish homework and things. Did anyone actually think this would work?
Sigh. I already sent a message to Duke requesting another appointment-it doesn't matter that my results haven't come in yet. I need to see someone even if the X-rays and all have no evidence of anything going on. Something's up. My arm is a mess. This needs fixing so that I can get my degree and go somewhere else. Give me the tough meds so that this will go back under to where it was for another three years (forever would be better but I can hope for a couple of years of peace, eh?)
I just wish someone would take me seriously on this. I'm not too damn young to have arthritis because I HAVE IT NOW. While they're screwing around with blood tests and X-rays and handing me steroids, I am living with the knowledge that I'm going to be in as much pain on Thursday morning this week as I was last week. Joy.
There just ain't no way to put a positive spin on this. I'm of half a mind to leave a message with Dr. Bocoun's nurse and have them call her or her call them. She knows me, she's treated me, and she can get them on the same stupid page already.
I'm prepared to carry my medical records with me all week in preparation for their phone call saying they can get me in. This cannot wait. I need help and they're giving me steroids to shut me up.
Meanwhile, I found an offer today that intrigued me. The University of Lancashire (sort of above Wales, south of Manchester) is offering a degree if someone does research at their university...an English degree. I'd have the equivalent of an MFA and they'd pay for it if I would do research.
I'm going to go for it; why the heck not? I wasn't expecting to get another degree but hell, I would if it was in English, in a topic I would like to research, and paid for. I could probably even hook up with their academic library for a position if there was an open spot.
I just hope I'll be well enough to go.
Ta,
Bec
This is truly, honestly ridiculous. I shouldn't have to stash pills so that I can finish homework and things. Did anyone actually think this would work?
Sigh. I already sent a message to Duke requesting another appointment-it doesn't matter that my results haven't come in yet. I need to see someone even if the X-rays and all have no evidence of anything going on. Something's up. My arm is a mess. This needs fixing so that I can get my degree and go somewhere else. Give me the tough meds so that this will go back under to where it was for another three years (forever would be better but I can hope for a couple of years of peace, eh?)
I just wish someone would take me seriously on this. I'm not too damn young to have arthritis because I HAVE IT NOW. While they're screwing around with blood tests and X-rays and handing me steroids, I am living with the knowledge that I'm going to be in as much pain on Thursday morning this week as I was last week. Joy.
There just ain't no way to put a positive spin on this. I'm of half a mind to leave a message with Dr. Bocoun's nurse and have them call her or her call them. She knows me, she's treated me, and she can get them on the same stupid page already.
I'm prepared to carry my medical records with me all week in preparation for their phone call saying they can get me in. This cannot wait. I need help and they're giving me steroids to shut me up.
Meanwhile, I found an offer today that intrigued me. The University of Lancashire (sort of above Wales, south of Manchester) is offering a degree if someone does research at their university...an English degree. I'd have the equivalent of an MFA and they'd pay for it if I would do research.
I'm going to go for it; why the heck not? I wasn't expecting to get another degree but hell, I would if it was in English, in a topic I would like to research, and paid for. I could probably even hook up with their academic library for a position if there was an open spot.
I just hope I'll be well enough to go.
Ta,
Bec
8.10.11
Functional, At Least
Having a good day today, not as good as yesterday. Little bit tired and sore, but since I'll be predictably worse tomorrow the homework's gotta be done today.
It appears that without the steroids, I will go back to formula, so to speak. Without them this morning I was in pain, and since I've gone down to one in the morning now I can feel the ache in my arm. I think I'm going to call Duke on Monday and get on their wait list so that when a time comes up I can be ready to go in and be seen again.
Have already dealt with the screaming elevator when the door got stuck on our floor this morning. Work is such fun on Saturday morning when the elevator tries to die.
Lots of serials to type in today, and homework to do, so I will hopefully be able to post something about at least the Merlin two-parter today later on.
Ta,
Bec
It appears that without the steroids, I will go back to formula, so to speak. Without them this morning I was in pain, and since I've gone down to one in the morning now I can feel the ache in my arm. I think I'm going to call Duke on Monday and get on their wait list so that when a time comes up I can be ready to go in and be seen again.
Have already dealt with the screaming elevator when the door got stuck on our floor this morning. Work is such fun on Saturday morning when the elevator tries to die.
Lots of serials to type in today, and homework to do, so I will hopefully be able to post something about at least the Merlin two-parter today later on.
Ta,
Bec
7.10.11
Steroids: The Miracle I Can't Keep
So, started the prednisone this morning.
And here I am, typing with both hands. My right is almost normal again. I think the swelling's even gone down.
I feel wonderful, but here's the problem-I only have enough for a week.
See, prednisone is not one of those things one is supposed to keep taking. It reduces swelling, yeah, and it makes me feel awesome when I've felt increasingly crappy all week, but it's also weakening tendons and it can dissolve joints.
When this week is up will be the real test-will the problem go away or will it come back?
I'll know for sure probably next Friday, and maybe a bit before that. For now, I'm just going to enjoy the fact that I have both my hands back, even if it is for just a week.
Ta,
Bec
And here I am, typing with both hands. My right is almost normal again. I think the swelling's even gone down.
I feel wonderful, but here's the problem-I only have enough for a week.
See, prednisone is not one of those things one is supposed to keep taking. It reduces swelling, yeah, and it makes me feel awesome when I've felt increasingly crappy all week, but it's also weakening tendons and it can dissolve joints.
When this week is up will be the real test-will the problem go away or will it come back?
I'll know for sure probably next Friday, and maybe a bit before that. For now, I'm just going to enjoy the fact that I have both my hands back, even if it is for just a week.
Ta,
Bec
6.10.11
An Entire Day Turned Upside Down
So, I was going to spend today food shopping and maybe resting a bit.
But at 12:17, that plan changed completely.
Duke called. Wanted me to come in today...at 1.
So there I am, clear across town, with not all that much food in my cart and an appointment open, finally. I had none of the stuff I wanted with me. I didn't have my records. Not even a map.
So I went. I threw the cart at the customer service people and left the store without having bought anything. I hopped on the bus and went across town, jumped on the 6 and arrived at the clinic as soon as I was able (17 minutes after 1, and the receptionist had the gall to yell at me for being late. Hey, bucko, try being all the way across the town, unable to drive, and have to get to the clinic in an hour, dammit.)
Found my way into the place where I was supposed to go, had my appointment. Two blood vials and a bunch of X-rays on my elbow and shoulder later, I went to wait for my prescription for prednisone.
Got that, and by the time I left the clinic it was 4:30.
I went straight to NCCU from there, grabbed a sandwich (with a gas pill, of course), finished my homework in a half-hour, and went to class.
Once done there, it was about 8, 8:30. I thought, I have a little bit left.
And back to Walmart I went. Finished shopping in an hour and came home at 10.
I am trashed. It was hard enough trying to shop one-armed in the middle of a store full of screaming kids running in all directions, but then toss in being poked, prodded, drained of blood and posing for X-rays in painful positions. Then add in waiting for pills. Toss on a dollop finishing homework at lightning speed, eating something I shouldn't, going back to the store and running around for an hour trying to avoid more screaming kids, going home...
So, yes, I'm exhausted, but hopefully the blood tests and X-rays will show SOMETHING.
My hand is hurting, so that's it for now.
Ta,
Bec
But at 12:17, that plan changed completely.
Duke called. Wanted me to come in today...at 1.
So there I am, clear across town, with not all that much food in my cart and an appointment open, finally. I had none of the stuff I wanted with me. I didn't have my records. Not even a map.
So I went. I threw the cart at the customer service people and left the store without having bought anything. I hopped on the bus and went across town, jumped on the 6 and arrived at the clinic as soon as I was able (17 minutes after 1, and the receptionist had the gall to yell at me for being late. Hey, bucko, try being all the way across the town, unable to drive, and have to get to the clinic in an hour, dammit.)
Found my way into the place where I was supposed to go, had my appointment. Two blood vials and a bunch of X-rays on my elbow and shoulder later, I went to wait for my prescription for prednisone.
Got that, and by the time I left the clinic it was 4:30.
I went straight to NCCU from there, grabbed a sandwich (with a gas pill, of course), finished my homework in a half-hour, and went to class.
Once done there, it was about 8, 8:30. I thought, I have a little bit left.
And back to Walmart I went. Finished shopping in an hour and came home at 10.
I am trashed. It was hard enough trying to shop one-armed in the middle of a store full of screaming kids running in all directions, but then toss in being poked, prodded, drained of blood and posing for X-rays in painful positions. Then add in waiting for pills. Toss on a dollop finishing homework at lightning speed, eating something I shouldn't, going back to the store and running around for an hour trying to avoid more screaming kids, going home...
So, yes, I'm exhausted, but hopefully the blood tests and X-rays will show SOMETHING.
My hand is hurting, so that's it for now.
Ta,
Bec
5.10.11
Slung Up (Slanged? Slinged?)
Can't get into Duke for an earlier appointment just yet, but I did get a sling, so I am far more comfortable. I have to go get drugs to combat the swelling (possibly today) and hope that they make me better again.
I am officially down a wing until further notice. Joy!
When my arm is back online, I will post Doctor Who stuff, and Merlin, too.
Cannot wait to have both hands back. Typing like this is tiring.
Gotta go do lunch stuff (everything has to start a half-hour earlier when one's minus five fingers.)
Ta,
Bec
PS: I am living between doses of pain medication and hoping that something will start going right for once. I keep reminding myself that I just have to be patient. I've been in pain for days and it feels like it's been months already.
At this point, I want to dope myself on Tylenol, curl up in bed, and sleep for a week straight.
But tomorrow's there's shopping to do, and class, and homework, and really there's no way I can just lie around and do nothing.
So I'll get up and go do those things because the alternative is lying about and crying, and there's no room for that right now.
And whoever's got ahold of my voodoo doll and is repeatedly stabbing it with gleeful abandon - when and if I find you, the payback will be so swift your head will spin. You have been warned.
I am officially down a wing until further notice. Joy!
When my arm is back online, I will post Doctor Who stuff, and Merlin, too.
Cannot wait to have both hands back. Typing like this is tiring.
Gotta go do lunch stuff (everything has to start a half-hour earlier when one's minus five fingers.)
Ta,
Bec
PS: I am living between doses of pain medication and hoping that something will start going right for once. I keep reminding myself that I just have to be patient. I've been in pain for days and it feels like it's been months already.
At this point, I want to dope myself on Tylenol, curl up in bed, and sleep for a week straight.
But tomorrow's there's shopping to do, and class, and homework, and really there's no way I can just lie around and do nothing.
So I'll get up and go do those things because the alternative is lying about and crying, and there's no room for that right now.
And whoever's got ahold of my voodoo doll and is repeatedly stabbing it with gleeful abandon - when and if I find you, the payback will be so swift your head will spin. You have been warned.
4.10.11
Adjusting Again
I had forgotten for a time how much fun it is to have a life with one and a half arms.
The right one works, all right, but not WELL, and adjustments must be made.
1. Switched shoes because the sproingy laces were on the other pair. I won't have to tie them then. Much easier.
2. Started putting stuff in the left side pocket instead of the right because it gets bloody awkward trying to reach your right with your left.
2 1/2. Mind you, if I could remember which was RIGHT and which was LEFT...
3. Switched out my bottle of painkillers for a different bottle that I can open. This one I can unscrew even with my left alone, which will make life far less difficult. They make the blasted painkiller bottle a bitch to open with your fingers on the fritz and then wonder why you swap them around. Geez...
I am learning again how to open doors with one's wrists (o the joy) and getting touchy about the right elbow being banged on anyone or anyTHING.
I am resigning myself to a long month of trouble. Sigh.
If I don't use the right hand I'm perfectly fine...which sucks because that's my dominant hand. And I have the added issue of my left actually being very weak in comparison to my right-when I did the puzzle test for my math disability, I had to do it right hand only and then left hand only. When I did it with my left, I should have been faster because I'd done it once already, but I was slower. For some reason it just doesn't work as well as it should.
My arm is kind of going hot and cold again, so I have to stop typing this.
Ta,
Bec
PS: Lo and behold, my fingers have swelled up and are are now twice as big on the right hand as on the left.
My pain is outmanuevering three Tylenol (glad I took them, then) and I'm hoping I can get some sleep regardless.
I'm going into Student Health tomorrow-they might be able to get me in sooner.
Gotta go fight with my toothbrush and crash.
The right one works, all right, but not WELL, and adjustments must be made.
1. Switched shoes because the sproingy laces were on the other pair. I won't have to tie them then. Much easier.
2. Started putting stuff in the left side pocket instead of the right because it gets bloody awkward trying to reach your right with your left.
2 1/2. Mind you, if I could remember which was RIGHT and which was LEFT...
3. Switched out my bottle of painkillers for a different bottle that I can open. This one I can unscrew even with my left alone, which will make life far less difficult. They make the blasted painkiller bottle a bitch to open with your fingers on the fritz and then wonder why you swap them around. Geez...
I am learning again how to open doors with one's wrists (o the joy) and getting touchy about the right elbow being banged on anyone or anyTHING.
I am resigning myself to a long month of trouble. Sigh.
If I don't use the right hand I'm perfectly fine...which sucks because that's my dominant hand. And I have the added issue of my left actually being very weak in comparison to my right-when I did the puzzle test for my math disability, I had to do it right hand only and then left hand only. When I did it with my left, I should have been faster because I'd done it once already, but I was slower. For some reason it just doesn't work as well as it should.
My arm is kind of going hot and cold again, so I have to stop typing this.
Ta,
Bec
PS: Lo and behold, my fingers have swelled up and are are now twice as big on the right hand as on the left.
My pain is outmanuevering three Tylenol (glad I took them, then) and I'm hoping I can get some sleep regardless.
I'm going into Student Health tomorrow-they might be able to get me in sooner.
Gotta go fight with my toothbrush and crash.
1.10.11
Denial Is An Egyptian River (And I'm Swimming In It)
Working at the library this morning.
Got a bit of a headache and don't know why. Took some stuff for it, and it should go away.
However, it's not the headache that's got me worried today. Oh, no.
I'm having lockups in my hands again.
They've been going on nigh two weeks now, and were happening mostly when the weather was bad. However, today is bright and sunny with not a cloud in the sky...and my right hand froze up this morning.
I tried desperately to believe that the weather was the cause, but with perfect weather going on and my right hand on the fritz, I couldn't really push it away anymore.
Smartass me has an appointment at the end of the month for my hips and shoulders, so it's only another 30 days before we find out why exactly I'm having pain, tingling, and then slow movement in my fingers.
I'm only having one or two freezeups a day, but that's more than normal and every time it happens I tend to go into a minor state of panic.
I am trying very hard not to be terrified, because as I said the last time when the methotrexate tore me apart, the next step is probably injected drugs. I hate needles. I've put up with them because I had to, but potentially having to get them more often just makes me want to find a corner where I can stiffen up in peace.
Add to that that these drugs are not cheap and it means I really, really need a job so I can have insurance so I can pay for them.
It's taken two hours for my right hand to go back to normal today. It just went back-the sensation's like cold water on my fingers.
Let's all hope this doesn't keep on going, huh?
Ta,
Bec
Got a bit of a headache and don't know why. Took some stuff for it, and it should go away.
However, it's not the headache that's got me worried today. Oh, no.
I'm having lockups in my hands again.
They've been going on nigh two weeks now, and were happening mostly when the weather was bad. However, today is bright and sunny with not a cloud in the sky...and my right hand froze up this morning.
I tried desperately to believe that the weather was the cause, but with perfect weather going on and my right hand on the fritz, I couldn't really push it away anymore.
Smartass me has an appointment at the end of the month for my hips and shoulders, so it's only another 30 days before we find out why exactly I'm having pain, tingling, and then slow movement in my fingers.
I'm only having one or two freezeups a day, but that's more than normal and every time it happens I tend to go into a minor state of panic.
I am trying very hard not to be terrified, because as I said the last time when the methotrexate tore me apart, the next step is probably injected drugs. I hate needles. I've put up with them because I had to, but potentially having to get them more often just makes me want to find a corner where I can stiffen up in peace.
Add to that that these drugs are not cheap and it means I really, really need a job so I can have insurance so I can pay for them.
It's taken two hours for my right hand to go back to normal today. It just went back-the sensation's like cold water on my fingers.
Let's all hope this doesn't keep on going, huh?
Ta,
Bec
28.9.11
Application Frenzy
I'm in a better mood than I was, but I think the boilover to my anger was just the start. Christmas might require either my absence or duct tape, possibly both.
Application is out at Hull University and I've got one for Cambridge that I'm working on today. That's five. Here's the current list:
Leicester (38 miles from Harlaxton! I'd have to go and visit them up there.)
Hull (On the North Sea. That'd be fun. I've only ever seen the North Sea from a distance, never actually touched it or anything.)
La Crosse (It's a UW school I've actually never been to, but Mum would be pleased.)
Cambridge (THE Cambridge!)(The one that Oxford doesn't like!)
U of Iowa (English librarian? Sign me up!)
Three over there, two over here, not a one of them for a public library job although that's what I'm trained for.
I think after applying to Cambridge I'm going to slow this train down a little bit. I don't want too many things out there or I'll start to lose track of all of them, and probability says the more I apply for, the more likely it is that I'll get offered two of them at a time and have to decide between them (oh how horrible that would be.) I said I'd at least get picky after five were out there and that's what I'm going to do.
Besides, if I get the Cambridge job I'll really probably explode because that would be awesome. It's one of the best universities in the world and I know I'd be held to a pretty high standard and all, but damn, it'd be worth it. I might even have to check a book out for Stephen Hawking or something (goes into meltdown at the thought of THAT...)
Boy, am I getting ahead of myself today!
The Iowa job wouldn't be bad, either. Not too far from home, I have an English degree and a library degree so I have knowledge of the subject matter involved.
Hopefully one of these puppies pans out and I get a job. I do not want to languish at my parent's for another year and a half (and have to endure Grandma's snide remarks.)
Gotta go ask my references if they want to be references again.
Ta,
Bec
PS: New Poem! A link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKyIPHc5eg
Application is out at Hull University and I've got one for Cambridge that I'm working on today. That's five. Here's the current list:
Leicester (38 miles from Harlaxton! I'd have to go and visit them up there.)
Hull (On the North Sea. That'd be fun. I've only ever seen the North Sea from a distance, never actually touched it or anything.)
La Crosse (It's a UW school I've actually never been to, but Mum would be pleased.)
Cambridge (THE Cambridge!)(The one that Oxford doesn't like!)
U of Iowa (English librarian? Sign me up!)
Three over there, two over here, not a one of them for a public library job although that's what I'm trained for.
I think after applying to Cambridge I'm going to slow this train down a little bit. I don't want too many things out there or I'll start to lose track of all of them, and probability says the more I apply for, the more likely it is that I'll get offered two of them at a time and have to decide between them (oh how horrible that would be.) I said I'd at least get picky after five were out there and that's what I'm going to do.
Besides, if I get the Cambridge job I'll really probably explode because that would be awesome. It's one of the best universities in the world and I know I'd be held to a pretty high standard and all, but damn, it'd be worth it. I might even have to check a book out for Stephen Hawking or something (goes into meltdown at the thought of THAT...)
Boy, am I getting ahead of myself today!
The Iowa job wouldn't be bad, either. Not too far from home, I have an English degree and a library degree so I have knowledge of the subject matter involved.
Hopefully one of these puppies pans out and I get a job. I do not want to languish at my parent's for another year and a half (and have to endure Grandma's snide remarks.)
Gotta go ask my references if they want to be references again.
Ta,
Bec
PS: New Poem! A link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKyIPHc5eg
26.9.11
I Hope There Are Worse Things Than Being Reincarnated as a Dung Beetle...
Because if there are, my grandmother, uncle, and aunt just earned them.
Here's the update: Dad was in the ER last weekend thanks to his thumb being infected. By today, he'd worked up to a red line up to his shoulder. They did surgery to clean the wound and he's in the hospital till tomorrow at least...and then IV antibiotics for A MONTH.
I am so mad right now I can barely type. They should be glad I'm a thousand miles away (and unhappy that my mother isn't.) This is how they treat my family, this is the way they've always treated my family. But this is depraved and vile and cruel. I can stand being treated like a carpet and I can live with being shunted off to one side, but when it could mean my father possibly losing a finger because of their willfully stupid ignorance, I draw a line.
This is their fault, ENTIRELY. If Auntie hadn't demanded someone help her with her inventory, if Grandma hadn't bent to Auntie's wishes, if Uncle hadn't bent to his mother's and sister's, we wouldn't be in this mess.
You, my darling extended family, have treated us like crap all these years. You make my father a slave in your fricking cursed lumberyard, you chain him with a paycheck that wouldn't feed a moose let alone five people, you bind him with obligations to you because you're family. You drag my mother into it, who thus far has been the only one to keep him actually functioning all these years, who was the only person who watched him bang his head on the wall in his sleep from lack of oxygen and decided it was DAMN well time something were done about it, instead of laughing it off.
You were the ones who ordered him to work 50 fucking hours a week in the summers. You were the ones who showed no pity when he was hurt or sick and couldn't work. You were the ones who never, ever, gave any one of us a chance because we were just Denis' kids, we didn't count for shit with you.
Grandma, none of us ever did, did we? Locationwise, we were the closest grandchildren you had and yet you never even gave a damn. We pulled weeds from your garden and we visited you when you were lonely and we mowed your lawn and scrubbed your bloody garden shed and cleaned out your camper and did a hundred other little chores for you. Did we ever get anything but Christmas and birthday presents and food?
And Sue and Evan, you rats, did you ever stop to think that we might not have enough to eat while you were dining down on fast food? While you were stealing money from the company? While we were wearing hand me downs and thrift store clothes because we couldn't afford what you could? Did you ever think that maybe we might want something more beyond used clothing and donated food? DID YOU?
This is why I'm where I am, because these stupid, ignorant people treated me and my parents and my sisters like garbage. I have always worn hand-me-downs and I have always had to be comfortable with donated food because sometimes that was all we had, and it was good at the time. But I want more for me and mine. I want to be able to go to the store and buy what I want without worrying about whether I'll be able to pay the rent this month. I don't want to count pennies and wonder if I have enough. I want to be able to go out to eat and not have to order something because I can afford it.
And my family will never visit you, not ever. My children will never visit their great-grandmother, nor their great-aunt, nor their great-uncle. I won't ever bring my children over to visit because you make me sick to my stomach and I can barely stand you. I don't want your snakelike influence over my family, I don't want your evil spreading to another generation.
You are permanently uninvited from every party for me for the rest of time. I have the brains, the youth, and the education to get away from you before it harms me for good. It's just too bad Dad doesn't have enough willpower to leave you all behind.
I don't care if you're family. I certainly didn't ask for you. And when I leave this country for another and don't call you for years on end, you will know why.
Ta,
Bec
Here's the update: Dad was in the ER last weekend thanks to his thumb being infected. By today, he'd worked up to a red line up to his shoulder. They did surgery to clean the wound and he's in the hospital till tomorrow at least...and then IV antibiotics for A MONTH.
I am so mad right now I can barely type. They should be glad I'm a thousand miles away (and unhappy that my mother isn't.) This is how they treat my family, this is the way they've always treated my family. But this is depraved and vile and cruel. I can stand being treated like a carpet and I can live with being shunted off to one side, but when it could mean my father possibly losing a finger because of their willfully stupid ignorance, I draw a line.
This is their fault, ENTIRELY. If Auntie hadn't demanded someone help her with her inventory, if Grandma hadn't bent to Auntie's wishes, if Uncle hadn't bent to his mother's and sister's, we wouldn't be in this mess.
You, my darling extended family, have treated us like crap all these years. You make my father a slave in your fricking cursed lumberyard, you chain him with a paycheck that wouldn't feed a moose let alone five people, you bind him with obligations to you because you're family. You drag my mother into it, who thus far has been the only one to keep him actually functioning all these years, who was the only person who watched him bang his head on the wall in his sleep from lack of oxygen and decided it was DAMN well time something were done about it, instead of laughing it off.
You were the ones who ordered him to work 50 fucking hours a week in the summers. You were the ones who showed no pity when he was hurt or sick and couldn't work. You were the ones who never, ever, gave any one of us a chance because we were just Denis' kids, we didn't count for shit with you.
Grandma, none of us ever did, did we? Locationwise, we were the closest grandchildren you had and yet you never even gave a damn. We pulled weeds from your garden and we visited you when you were lonely and we mowed your lawn and scrubbed your bloody garden shed and cleaned out your camper and did a hundred other little chores for you. Did we ever get anything but Christmas and birthday presents and food?
And Sue and Evan, you rats, did you ever stop to think that we might not have enough to eat while you were dining down on fast food? While you were stealing money from the company? While we were wearing hand me downs and thrift store clothes because we couldn't afford what you could? Did you ever think that maybe we might want something more beyond used clothing and donated food? DID YOU?
This is why I'm where I am, because these stupid, ignorant people treated me and my parents and my sisters like garbage. I have always worn hand-me-downs and I have always had to be comfortable with donated food because sometimes that was all we had, and it was good at the time. But I want more for me and mine. I want to be able to go to the store and buy what I want without worrying about whether I'll be able to pay the rent this month. I don't want to count pennies and wonder if I have enough. I want to be able to go out to eat and not have to order something because I can afford it.
And my family will never visit you, not ever. My children will never visit their great-grandmother, nor their great-aunt, nor their great-uncle. I won't ever bring my children over to visit because you make me sick to my stomach and I can barely stand you. I don't want your snakelike influence over my family, I don't want your evil spreading to another generation.
You are permanently uninvited from every party for me for the rest of time. I have the brains, the youth, and the education to get away from you before it harms me for good. It's just too bad Dad doesn't have enough willpower to leave you all behind.
I don't care if you're family. I certainly didn't ask for you. And when I leave this country for another and don't call you for years on end, you will know why.
Ta,
Bec
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