I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Shakespeare or the Bible: No contest, sorry God, but Shakespeare, hands down.

Most romantic quote in fiction: I can't remember the quote--okay, I'm on my lunch hour here at home, and don't especially feel like wandering over to the book case to look it up--but, it's from Wuthering Heights, the final kiss at the end--or, if you you haven't read it, the last kiss in the film--the old B&W one, with Lawwrence Oliver as Heathcliff. And, they didn't need any disgustingly loud snogging noises, to make their point, either, back then.

Favourtie word: Don't have one, that I know of--I like 'em all--except certain cuss words, and the word "debt," don't like that one, not in the least--oh, or the word, "fired," and "eviction," that's a nasty word, as well.

Most underated writer(s): No clue. I absolutely don't follow--or honestly care-- who's overrated or underrated, I just read whatever grabs me at the moment, so I have no idea who's popular and who is underated. I suppose, if I were a librarian, I'd have to know, but I'm not.

Best Meal in fiction: In The Walking Drum, the main character went to a lavish MiddleEastern dinner party in Medieval Spain: Carra bige--chopped nuts mixed with sugar and melted butter, rolled in a pastry and baked and served with Natif--a fluffy mix of sugar, egg white and orange flower water, rice with sour lemon sauce, Egyptian pilaf, Egyptian fritters called shebach, two kinds of olives, artichoke hearts fried in batter, kebaeba--made w/ beef, pine nuts and crushed wheat, smoking hot skewers of lamb, veal and beef kebabs--served with a wide variety of sauces, a Syrian dessert made from quince, cardamon seeds and and ground almonds, rose jam, wine from Greece, Italy and Portugal, coffee with sugar. Now THAT'S a meal!

Favourite novel in translation: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Favourite Children's Book: (two-way tie): Afraid to Ride, C.W. Anderson, King of the Wind, M. Henry.

Current bedside book(s): Shakespeare as Dramatic Artist, and Players, by Terrence Dicks (Dr Who).

Sexiest book(s): Don't have one. Not important to me...tho' I did read one rather erotic romance novel, back in the 80's that got me a little hot and bothered, about this 18th Century woman who's kidnapped off a sailing ship to become a Sultan's love slave, but in turn gets kidnapped from the sultan by a rival nomad prince--and what ensues...whew! Made "Casenova" look tame, by comparison, ha-ha. Hey, I may be an old maid, but I ain't dead!

Got a long day today--10 to 10 split shift, again. Thought I'd start the day with a little modest humour.

NURSE: "So, John, what's this 'genetic transfer' you dreamed about?" JS: "I think it's also called, 'snogging.'

"Okay, who's bright idea was it, to feed the crew beans and cabbage for lunch?"

In this episode, the doctor defeats the monster by singing (I'm Gonna' be) 500 Miles, very loudly, off-key.

Here I am again, day 10, story #10, of Drabble-a-thon, for Accord Hospice, in Paisley, Scotland. Please help out this fantastic charity, by sponsoring me with a small donation. It's easy and totally secure. Just click on one of the links at the top of each blog page--Justgiving.com will donate funds direct to Accord, and they do take credit and debit cards. For those in the UK, there's also a telephone number, if you have a cash donation.

I needed a good laugh, and this did the trick.

Many thanks to L__, a devoted DT fan, who sent me the link to this clip. (Why does everyone think I'm a DT fan, for pity's sake? I love his acting, and as I've said, he seems a charming young man--but he's too young for me, and I don't have a single fantasy about the man--okay, well there was this time, once, lying in my hospital bed, bored... )

Hey, I must be doing something right--just Googled "Accord Hospice"...and I'm listed in the number 6 spot on Google's search engine--Hey, I made it to Google's top ten, when it comes to accord! Not bad for only 9 days on in this fund raiser--and I couldn't have gotten there without the help of my blog friends.

So, just got home from work, about half-past ten. Shoved one of those $2 Dinty Moore's roast beef and mashed ready meals in the microwave, along with some frozen peas, had a quick supper, and now..here I am.

I'm sooo--tired! I was stumbling over my scripts tonight. Only two sales all day, not good. They don't pay me to not make sales. Oh well. Got some oddballs, as usual:

ME: "Hello, may I please speak to Harold?"

WOMAN: "No."

ME: "Well, Is there a good time I can reach him?"

WOMAN: "He ain't here now."

ME: (thinking--"Okaay, then, gonna' be one of those calls) "Is Mr. _______ still living at this address? I'm calling from his _________club."

WOMAN: "He don't get that no more."

ME: "Oh. May I ask, was there a problem with his membership, do you know?"

WOMAN: "No. He died."

And that, folks, is a conversation with your typical "average" American. Any wonder why I long to flee from my country?

It's hot enough today, to make me long for autumn. I'd give anything to get out of this city. Our office is doing a lake cruise, up to Lake George, next Thursday, but I opted not to go--one, there was a matter of a ten dollar deposit--refundable, but I just didn't have it to spare, that' outta' my food budget--to spend the night with a mess of drunken co-workers on a hot crowded boat, drifting lazily down a lake and back--no, I'll pass thanks--plus, I'd have to shell out a dollar and a half, to take the trolley bus, plus, I'm working 9 to 5 that night, so I'd have to walk home, shower, change and catch the trolley right off--no dinner until 8pm! And, it takes the trolley, traditonally, as much as an hour to an hour and a half, to go the five or seven miles to the lake, from here in the city..no, don't think so.

Ever been to an office party in America? Dull is not the word--okay, yes, it is. And drunken co-workers are only fun to other drunken co-workers.

So, as desperite as I am for something to DO, I'm not that desperate. I do dislike living in the city--NOTHING to do, ever! At least in Lake George, Lake Luzerne and Corinth there were free concerts in summer, public beaches within walking distance, and all sorts of events--here. Glens Falls is BLEH...not just in winter, but in spring, summer and fall! This has got to be the dullest city on the planet! Unless you're a rich yuppie, or a drunken chav, there's nothing to do!

Here's a pic of Lake Luzerne I took 3 or 4 years ago. This is from the main beach, which was just under a mile from where I lived. It's a guy on a raft...I liked the pic, with his little flag pole and his chairs and stuff--he had it made for hanging out on the lake. It was a nice balmy autumn day, that day, as I recall.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE:

"Does this Dalek-cam make me look fat?"

"Ohhh-Romana! Oh, yes, yes! Oh, K-9, yes, do it there, ohhh--yes..."

"Wait! We Can't go after the Daleks yet--my hair's not mussy enough. There, that's better!"

Arggh!! Two stupid PM's in one Day!

First "Niyall" or whatever--a 16 year old foreign boy, sends me a PM asking if he can "F__k" me. Nice. Flagged that sucker's blog, told him to keep it in his pants.

Then, another PM, some teenager (I'm assuming) saying she "hates Dr Who, thinks DT is ugly and thinks my drabbles are stupid." Oh, okay then. Everyone's a critic. Geez---I hate Mondays!

I have to pull a 10-hour split shift today, woke up at 9--my alarm was set for half-past seven...and, I can't walk today, because the nerves in my legs are going all wonky and won't support me. What next---no, wait...I don't want to know!

Someone just shoot me. As a matter of mercy, please...

I would like to announce that I am now at 8 percent of my goal--thanks to some very generous donations, the goal percentage doubled over the weekend, with 40 pounds donated to Accord Hospice (accord.org.uk) in Paisely Scotland. Way to go, sponsors! It is the sponsors who make this whole thing a success--I'm just the writer, but it my sponsors who give true meaning to this effort.

You can donate/sponsor me, by going here: http://www.justgiving.com/nbgolash

You can read every story to date--and also donate, by going here: http://nbgolash.blogspot.com/

Thank you all, for helping to make the lives of hospice patients--and their families, in Renfrewshire/Paisley, more comforting.

And now, on with Story 9. I noticed there's-accidentally--been a bit of a grim theme in some of my stories...and in keeping with that...nah--how about something to lighten the mood, a bit. Not one of my best (Ahhh! Writer's block!), but, any port in a storm. Bound to be a few sour apples in the barrel, from time to time, I'm afraid.

DAY 9

STORY 9

Andrew's Big Day

Andrew had it all planned. Inside the picnic basket, he’d tied the ring to a champagne bottle. He set the blanket beneath an oak. Sunlight sparkled on water, and swallows wheeled through cobalt skies. Jean’s family knew his plans. They were to meet in the park, later.

There was one problem though. Jean wouldn’t get out of the car. She turned her nose up at Andrew. “Not going.” “Why?” He moaned. “Ants--hate ‘em.” “I’ll kill them for you.” Jean recoiled in horror. “What?” Then, two old ladies showed up. “Hellooo, Jean, darling! Give your Aunties a kiss, won’t you?”

"Hi, Sophie and I are..umm--busy, right now, doing something we...erm..enjoy doing every night..she likes to do it up and down, and I like it back and forth----we'll get back to you as soon as we're done brushing our teeth..."

"Hi, this is Lucifer, who or what in Hell do you want?"

"Ahoy, this is the skipper, I'm out on the boat, and me wife, my first mate, is out making it with the boys--(Wife) "Hi, boys!"--(together) So, leave us a message and maybe one of our galley slaves will get back to you."

"Hi, I'm not answering the phone because I got laid off of my job last week, my dog died and my husband just ran off and left me, and I'm drunk as a skunk right now..leave a message."

"Hello, nobody's answering the phone because we're having another fight. The winner will call you back."

"Hi! Jesus loves you! But if you're a telemarketer, we hate you, so don't call us anymore. Have a blessed day."

If Jean Paul Sarte had an answering machine:

"I'm not here, you're not here. Don't leave a message. There is no beep."

William Shakespeare:

"To beep or not to beep, that is the question. Leave thy message, and take thy chances with the slings and arrows of misfortune, if I don't like what thou hast said."

My late mum and I didn't always agree on what constituted our favourite movies--but we had about a half-dozen we did agree on, including: The New Yorkers, Galaxy Quest, My Fellow Americans, Saving Grace, Rat Race, (mum was a huge comedy fan), Plus, we frequently watched Under Siege (I) and All the President's Men...and, mum's all-time favourite movie, is also one of mine: Arsenic and Old Lace. A movie that I truly think can be labeled a "timeless classic."

Here's one clip from the movie (yes, those bad guys are who you think they are--note the "in-joke" quip at the end of the clip):

Just to let you know, the main blog page is no longer linking to my fund raising page--but the address is there, you'll just have to link to it manually. I've notified Blog.uk of the problem, but it may take days for them to respond. So, sorry the banner is busted, but I don't have a clue how to fix it--or even why it stopped working. Cheers.

Now that's weird. I've less than, I think, 1500 blog entries--certainly less than 2000 since 16th of September...and had 3027 page views on Sunday--and a bit over 325 visitors. This is the third day in a row, that my stats have gone utterly mad. Hopefully, yesterday was the end of it. Not that I'm objecting, but now I'm worried that the website won't be able to handle that many page views in a day--robots or not.

I honestly would be very surprised if it was a human doing this, because I don't see how any one person could possibly view over 2000 blog pages in one day--and nobody's blog could be that riveting, especially mine, ha-ha.

But, it is odd, isn't it?

Blog uk doesn't seem to have a clue about this, other than suggesting Googlebots. But would search engine robots take three or more days to pour through my blog page entries?

Write on one side of the paper only, extra credit if you can name all the 7 dwarfs...

So, I broke down, went to the laundromat tonight, after a 2-week absence. What a joke. Never been to this one before, but someone at work told me about it. Yeah...most of the washers were out of order--but manage to find four that are working. Get the wet clothes out, put them in the ONE remaining dryer (only four without "out of order" signs on them), and..the attendant comes up and says my dryer "doesn't work." Oh greaat! Lovely, fan-friggin'-tastic! And some gal had just put her wash in the only other three working dryers, and shoved tons of quarters in them, so I'd have a half hour to 45 minute wait for a dryer--screw that! So, I bundled up my wet clothes--the bag weighed at least 30 to 35 pounds, and went to ring a cab--oh, yes, the pay phone didn't work, either! So, I borrow some woman's mobile, and ring the cab company....a bit over 45 minutes later, they finally deign to show up--damn! Can't win for losing--and I hurt my back lugging the wet clothes up two flights of stairs, and now have a mess a wet clothes to drape all over my tiny little tip--erm, apartment.

And how was YOUR day?

I found that 1919 penny yesterday, jokingly referred to it as my "lucky" penny..yeah, maybe not. Have I mentioned that life sucks, and then you die...?

In my 2-year college, you couldn't graduate without passing math. I took math 5 times--four times, before it was discovered I had dyscalculia and arithmaphobia! So, I took private turoring for a semester with my math professor, and then she wrangled me an exception--a waiver to not take the maths final, and instead, read an essay book on maths and also write an essay on what I learned from the book--got an "A" on my final--my first one ever in my entire 42 years of life, in math! I like algerbra, but brain damage as a child, procludes me doing all the mind processes required for abstract math logic. I also can't do "reverse" (subtraction, reciting things backwards, backing a car) well, either.

Anyway, here's my quiz results:

Your IQ Is 100

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Average Your General Knowledge is Above Average A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

You Are 73% Real

You know who you are, and you're pretty darn comfortable with yourself. Like everyone, you struggle with the parts of yourself that aren't so great... But you're good at accepting who you are and not dwelling on your faults. As a result, you're confident, optimistic, and very real. How Real Are You?

Confident and optomistic? Moi! Not blinking likely...and, I can't spell.

NOTE: Because of the delay in chapters, if anyone is reading this story, you can always look up previous chapters as well as the other Who stories, by searching the tags: "Doctor Who," "BBC" and "Writing."

Doctor Who: The Killing Frost

CHAPTER 6: The Process

The Doctor regained consciousness slowly. “Murrph.” He groaned, trying to focus his mind. Movement, vibration, the sound of tyres on pavement, the rattle of what felt like a truck, possibly a lorry, but he couldn’t tell for sure. The Doctor tried to move, but could only just barely raise his head. It was as if he were paralyzed, his limbs were numb, as if he’d been locked in a freezer for a long while.

Martha looked around for a means to escape. But there was none. The door behind her had been slammed shut and was now guarded by two warriors with guns. Martha felt herself being pulled towards a steel mesh cage, packed full of terrified people.

Well, the new Hotmail Live really is lousy...it won't load any pages with links to blog.co.uk!

It will just take hours to load ANY pages from blog.uk--have any other members that have this new hotmail live foisted on them, had this problem as well?

If you use blog.uk regularly at all, I'd stay clear of the new MSN Hotmail Live. Really, it's no good at all! Oh, it looks nice, but what are looks if you can't access your e-mails? I can read them, but if I want to click a link in the mail....no go. It's basically like having bad dial-up (I have highspeed cable modem, btw). It just totally blows, Hotmail Live.

So, I'm going to have to spend this week, setting up a brand new e-mail account somewhere, just for this website. What. A. Drag. I don't want to use my yahoo.com account, as I prefer to leave that for junk mail and less important stuff.

Well, I woke to some happy news, goingsomewhere made a banner to display on her blog, re: my naf little charity thing. And, another blogger and friend, very generously donated 15 pounds to Accord today. That's got me gobsmacked, that does. Profuse thanks to my friends--and to ajinspecer for his assistance. I'm now at 4% of my goal, with 20 pounds earned! Only 480 pounds and 92 days to go!

Oddly, someone asked yesterday, if told Mr. Tennant what I was doing. Ey?

Bit of a strange question, that. I couldn't access the e-mail, so here's my reply, here: the thought never even entered my mind. Even if the gentleman was accessible, which he isn't,not to someone like me, I wouldn't do that--the poor guy just lost his mum. It's been a bit over a year and a half for me, and I'm still trying to cope--the young man's got enough on his plate right now, without the likes of me, bugging him. Trust me, it's not a big deal, really. Other sites are raising thousands for Accord--which is fantastic, I think. This is just a tiny little thing I'm doing, and while I want to get the word out, I'm not looking for any "brownie points", as we Yanks say. I'm just doing this...to do it. That's all. Anyway, this is just a blog thing, set up for my two blogs, and as far as I know, even the folks at Accord, don't know I'm doing this--and that's fine. Really, I'm just doing this to give myself something positive to do with my life, and that's, while not my sole, it is my primary motivation.

Whew! It's a scorcher out there, today! half-past eleven on a Sunday morning, and it's already 24 C--feeling like 26 C, with the humidity. It's supposed to get up to 28 C, by this afternoon, with the old Turkish bath humidity turned way up. Yuck.

Woke with a stomach ache this morning--that'll teach me to eat a late dinner of tinned chili and a packet of Smoking Cheddar BBQ Doritos. Church is starting late today--must be on summer hours, now...the Presby church's bell is ringing, and it's well past the usual 9.55 start time. Huh.

I went out on the balcony to water the flowers, Boots joining me, we weren't out there long, the blazing sun drove us both back inside.

Have to work today, 2 to half past five, then it's off to the laundromat on South street, after. Yeah, I do lead an exciting life. As of today, I've not been out of the city of Glens Falls or more than 2 miles beyond, to the neighbouring suburb of Queensbury in 8 months and 28 days! Yes, I am going a bit potty, of late. Do you blame me??? The city's un-official slogan is: "There's nothing at all, in Glens Falls." And brother, they ain't kidding!

Drabble-a-thon for Accord Hospice in Paisley, Scotland. Day 8.

100 one-hundred word stories, in 100 days--can she do it? I'm sure gonna' try!

Please consider supporting my efforts with a donation to this fantastic charity:

http://www.justgiving.com/nbgolash

Drabble-a-thon story #8

Mac's Last Ride

Mac was leading his weary horse across the desert. Sweat soaked his shirt, the merciless sun beat down. Mac was tired. He’d been running from the posse for days now. Suddenly, a shot rang out. He swiftly remounted the appaloosa. There was twenty-five thousand in gold in his saddlebags, he wasn’t about to lose it.

The second bullet found Mac as he hit the saddle. He fell. Staring up, he saw the ranger standing over him. “I sent the posse away. I want that gold.” Grinning, he added, “I always wanted to see Australia.” The pistol spoke, and Mac died.

I was quite tired from shopping--blood count's still low enough to tire me easily..so about an hour after coming home, I went to bed and passed out for about four hours..I mean, I was totally snockerd. Had some weird dreams, as well-I dreamed...and I haven't seen this show in decades, mind--that I was with the Knight Rider car team (????) and we were racing around some dirt track somewhere, against the bad guys, who had all these big-rig semi trucks, coming after us around the track, and I was helping the good guys escape from the bad guys...where the heck did THAT come from??? I've not even seen or heard about Knight Rider in at least 20 years or more! Haven't even thought about the show, at all, in all that time! That truly was...umm---really weird, that dream...any ideas?

Something neat happened, while out shopping. After finishing the shopping, I dug some change out of my pocket--and found a wheat-ear cent from 1919! How cool is that? What are the chances, do you think, of that happening? I thought it was pretty neat. I put the penny in my wallet for luck. It was incredibly worn, and dinged up, so probably not worth anything--but still, that was really cool to find. (What can I say, I'm easily amused these days.)

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Hey, no funeral expenses and, my sister has enough left over to take my nephew to Disneyland!

Before I head out over to Cooper Street to do the dreaded weekly shopping and bill-paying, here's a few Who captions for Saturday--kinda' lame, but no one's perfect, ey?

"So, Martha, I've this burning question I've been meaning to ask: what kind of underwear are you wearing?"

"Blimey! What'd I say? That Martha sure packs a mean punch. Gives new meaning to the expression, 'numbnuts'"

What the series will be like without RTD writing them, Part II:

Terminal 42: In this episode, the doctor spends the entire 42 minutes, trying to decide what tie he should wear, causing Martha to slip into a terminal coma.

Sorry for the absence yesterday, but I've been a bit under the weather--physically and emotionally.

But, I thank you all for your caring and support. It means the world to me, believe that. It's always good to know you're not completely alone.

And thanks for all who are lending encouragement to me, in my drabble-a-thon/Accord Hospice endevors. To date, 5 pounds ($10) has been raised in the last 7 days.

I offer a dedication today:
A song, going out to Amy and others with CS, cancer patients everywhere, and also to all those with an end-stage or chronic illness or whom are suffering from severe depression--and the loved ones and others, who care about them:

lANDERS IS BLOGGING FOR AMY!

Read more about it, and hopefully, support, Landers in this most worthy cause, and help raise funds and awareness for young Amy.

http://bloggingforamy.blog.co.uk/2007/07/28/8_trimmed~2717338

NEW YORK'S ADIRONDACKS,