I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Here we see an exclusive photo of actor David Tennant, disguising himself as a tourist from Lithuania. Tennant, whose nationality is Scottish, refused to be interviewed, but kept on walking, repsonding in a bad Eastern European accent: "No speak English. Big Brother Rocks. God Save Queen. I go eat McDonalds'. Have'a nice day." Word is that the actor has become so besiged by amorous fan-girls, that he has even taken to wearing women's clothing--oh wait, sorry. He was doing that before he was famous.

Drat! I missed the bus! I needed something to do to pass the 30 minutes 'till the next one came 'round. Stupid buses and their stupid bus schedules--I hate Glens Falls, sometimes.

Well, off to the store. Raided drawers, the dirty laundry hamper, under the bed and my living room chair...all for loose change. I'll be needing it.

I haven't a thing to eat in the house so must dash off to the market. All I've had today is a cheese sandwich and a little tiny tub of yoghurt. Not good for my blood sugar. Tight budget this week--lots of 50 cent boxes of macaroni and cheese mix, hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches in my future, I fear. I'd go to a food pantry, but need a car to do that. Last time I took a cab there, the woman said snarkly, "...but you could afford a cab to get here?" Yeah, like I'm capable of carrying 25 or 30 pounds of boxed food, a mile through the city? I don't get government disability 'cos I'm flipping healthy and fit, sweetheart!

Clouding up a bit, there's storms just to our north in Lake George, but no rain here, yet. Supposed to storm on and off, for the next few days.

Oh well, don't feel like grabbing a bus,but suppose I should get off the stick and do it. Cheers.

Visitors to Lake George can now view a fake shipwreck, just offshore. "Bateaux Below" a local archaeological underwater preservation group, commissioned a middle school (upper primary) industrial arts class, to build a fake shipwreck.

During the French and Indian War (Queen Anne's War), the British at the fort(s) by the lake, sank hundreds of bateaux boats under Lake George, to preserve them in the cold winter water, until they needed them again--which they did during a battle months later.

Many of the remains of these wrecks are now underwater archaeological sites for divers. But, a lot of tourists don't dive--so, they had a replica built--one that was deliberately "aged" to look like one of the real wrecks under the 32 mile long Lake George. The fake was "sunk" into 4 feet of water, near the Lake George village visitor centre, along with a plaque that describes what people are viewing.

Well someone just e-mailed me a Dr Who spoiler--I hate when people do that, without warning. One minute he's talking about Midnight...the next he says..."Oh I just read where at least one character's going to die."

Oh well. Maybe it'll be that annoying Mickey, ha-ha. (Just kidding, Mickey fans.)

I have to say though, the acting has been so incredible in this series--I mean, it's never bad...DT really blew me away in the ending of Midnight, and Tate was so great in Turn Left. Can't knock the supporting players, either. How the heck will they possibly top this finale?

And, if the death is the Doctor, I'm not going to have nice things to say about Tennant, as he's publicly said he's going on to do the specials....lying about something like that would be a really low-brow thing to do, and Tennant doesn't strike me as ever being capable of mean humour, so I'm thinking a companion--or maybe two...or three? With Davies writing it, anything goes.

1. Grab the nearest book and turn to page 186. Write down the fifth sentence you find there.

"The Fallen warrior was Tall Bull, one of the ablest chiefs the Sioux ever had."

2. What are you reading right now? What made you chose that particular thing?

I'm reading the sentence 'what are you reading right now?'

Oh, you mean a book? Just watched a clip of Olivier in Hamlet on Youtube, so last night I browsed through my old Monarch Notes book on Hamlet I used in my World Lit class in college, a couple of years back. Why? I dunno', just...because I felt like it?

I also read West Wing and Dr Who fan-fics online--because there's some really terrific fan fiction writers out there. And I am slowly working my way through an online book, "The Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie, as well--reading it because I've never gotten 'round to reading one of her stories and thought I'd give it a go. And, some online newspapers in the US and UK, too.

3. Your dream home is a:

a little cottage in the country...with a couple of pets...and a fireplace (always wanted to sit and read by a fire)...and a screen porch (to ward off the bugs)..with a tiny swimming pool, a place to have a BBQ, and a horseshoe pitch...maybe room inside for a train set or a pool table...and a good stereo to play tunes on, all so I can stay home and have fun and relax.

4. Sum up your life in six words only:

"She was born, later she died."

5. Would you rather be a nerd or one of the "beautiful people?"

I think I'd be more comfy as a nerd.

Just accidentally posted a post that I meant to be private to the public blog--whoops. It's gone now, sorry. I was just being all depressed and letting out with a massive whinge and moan session, so you didn't miss anything.

Need to punch myself out of my doldrums today. Don't know if I'm gonna' be able to do that, but I'll give it a go.

Off to try and make $20 or $25 dollars stretch for a week, for me and the cats.

I was hoping against hope to have some funds free and clear for the big 4th of July (Independence Day) holiday weekend, next week...LOL. Next week, I've the rent, the internet bill and a chunk of the National Grid bill to set money aside for...and the shopping and laundry, besides. So much for celebrations...but I suppose I could always have a picnic on out my balcony--not the same, I know, but something's better than nothing.

I don't have much in the way of jewelry--just a few pins and a couple of silver pendants/necklaces, no rings, nothing much of any value--think my most "expesnisve" item is the pin mum bought me--my last birthday gift from her--made from an antique glass and brass bridle ornament:

But there was a pendant she purchased for me, back about 15 years ago, that was very special to me, and now, after spending a month looking for it, I have to face the fact that it's lost forever. Mum surprised me with it--wasn't even my birthday or anything, because she said she saw it and instantly knew that it was "me." And, she was right. I was so delighted with it--and touched by her love, as well.

It was a silver filigree heart, set in the center with a small round, polished bright saphhire-coloured paua shell from Hawaii. It was my favourite piece of jewelry ever. And now...gone. I'm likely never to see it again--and as far as I know, another cannot be had, even if I had the funds to replace it. I'm just so shattered about it.

The heart looked something like this, only much finer in quality, and it hung on a 24 inch silver chain:

David Tennant goes into meltdown, after the BBC was ordered by media watchdogs Ofcom and Mediawatch, to eliminate all snogging on children's programmes, including Doctor Who.

(See? He really DOES drool.)

Another damp, overcast morning here. Woke feeling weak as a newborn kitten, trembling and barely able to stand--suspect either high blood sugar or low blood count...or both. Have to try and take it easy, today. Unfortunately, it's pay day, and as I'm out of nearly everything, I do have to shop after work, and go to the pharmacy.

I found some sliced cheese in the 'fridge that's still good, and have one hot dog roll left, so with a bit of mustard on the cheese, that's breakfast, this morning. Gradually feeling a bit stronger...not sure what's going on with me. But, absolutely nothing I can do about it--no cash to spare for a doctor's visit this morning, so just will do my best to forge on today. My brain's having difficulties, though. I just wanted to check the weather forecast, and opted to Google it...and literally sat staring at the Google logo for a full minute, trying to remember what I wanted to use Google for. That's not a good feeling, let me tell you. Scary stuff, because it's not absent-mindedness...it's actually my brain, failing to function normally...knowing one is losing one's cognitive skills and memory, isn't a pleasant experience.

The sun's trying to make an appearence. It's only going to 80 F (21 C) today, but with 95% humidity, it's not going to be pleasant, like it's been, but a tropical steam bath...especially if the clouds clear off, as it appears they may do. Still, at the moment there's a nice breeze, at any rate.

Back in the seventies, before he became an antiques dealer, my cousin used to drive his horse across river--on the motorway, to his office at downtown Albany's busy main street--until he was told the manure was a problem.

Despite its wealth, the US has a really lousy public transport system. Unfortunately, the car maker's lobbying and the politicians stupidity ("America's too big, it would be too expensive"--doh--but we can send a space shuttle into outer space, and wage wars in far flung lands, for more than triple the expense?), dictate that we will never have alternative forms of motorized transpor). So, if you live in a suburban or rural area, or in an urban area and work in another town, and it's simply too far from work to walk, what else can you do?

Well, now that the price crisis has driven the price of gasoline to as much as $4.39 a gallon (in parts of NY state, anyway), some people are just saying "NO""---or rather, "neigh" to OPEC and the oil company executives.

A Washington state employer in a small town, was himself a horseman, and many of his employees, horse owners.

So, getting a special permit from the town, the boss had his employees saddle up and ride as a group to work---the other two, non-horsey employees rode their bicycles. All of them thumbing their noses to OPEC, in an effort to encourage their fellow Americans to find other ways to get to work, rather than using their cars. Let's just hope the cost of hay, oats and sweet feed doesn't go up.

You know, a lot of people assume--wrongly, I may add--that I'm into reading and books, because my late mum was a librarian/library director. Nope.

I was well into my early teens, by the time mum was hired by the village school board to replace the retiring librarian.

When I was just a wee child, I was terrible at reading. Then mum made me take reading classes when I was in...oh, think it was about second grade...about '67 or '68. She also made it a point to read to me. I remember she used to read me Dr Suess--Green Eggs and Ham, Fox in Sox, and "cartoon" books like Yogi Bear and Alvin and the Chipmunks. There Ferdinand the bull--who preferred to smell roses rather than attack the matador, and this picture book about a fable where the wind and the sun battled to see who would be the first to force some man to remove his cloak.

An author/illustrator would go on to become a life-long favourite of mine (still have 2 of his books--he wrote horse books for children to adults) C.W. Anderson's "Billie and Blaze" series--a wonderfully illustrated series of books for younger children, about a young boy and the adventures he had with his pony...and also "The Rumble Seat Pony," and The "Blind Connemera', later, my all-time favourite, "Afraid to Ride." And, there were loads of other horse books, like Thunderhoof, and Five O'Clock Charlie, and the like.

Mum tried in vain to get me to read other things besides horse stories...the elementary school's librarian, as well. Mum was very keen on Little Women (my middle name even comes from one of the characters in the book)...I found it tedious. She was only mildly successful with "Lassie Come Home." Probably 'cos I loved the "Lassie" Series on TV--the later one in the 60's, with the really cool forest ranger, not with that sappy farm kid, "Timmy" from the 50's. My 5th grade teacher tried to foist "The Secret Garden" on me--bleh! She had slightly better success, with the historical book (featuring Paul Revere and the Boston Tea Party, etc) called , Johnny Tremain. That made a bit of an impact on me--later I'd go on to read other books by that author--but, not 'till high school. Finally, the elementary school librarian loaned me a few books, a book of Aseop's Fables, and a book of fantasy stories, and King Arthur and the Round Table--The fables I thought were pretty cool--but King Arthur--well, for weeks after, I tried to get my friend Tommy to play knights with me, using a metal garbage can (dustbin) lid and a broom handle.

But, still continued (right up to this day) to love horse stories: "I'll Take Cappy, The Blue Roan, The Lonesome Sorrel, Dark Sunshine, The Horse Comes First were my particular favs, read over and over. I still have "Cappy," and "Sorrel" on my shelf.

Also, some of my fav horse books were made into films: Fury-wild stallion of Broken Wheel Ranch (also a 50's TV series), Midnight--story of a Bucking Horse , some of the Black Stallion series, The Medicine Hat Stallion (, Black Beauty , National Velvet, the Gypsy Colt, the very sad "The Red Pony (by John Steinbeck), My Friend Flicka (but not thunderhead, the sequel)...gosh, I read them all.

About this time, mum also introduced me to poetry. Topps Department store, in our village, had a book section in their children's toy department, and mum bought me a big, lovely picture book, chock full of poems about horses to go with them--thus began my appreciation of poetry.

The first "big" book I ever remember mum reading to me, was called, "King of the Wind--which I think was later made into a film. I think that actually is one of my happier childhood memories of my mum--her sitting on the edge of the lower bunk on the bunk-bed, reading the story aloud to me--at least twice, by request---that was the turning point. I THINK that I was about 9, and that's when my love or reading truly began. It wasn't my absolute favourite--tho' I've re-read it, even into adulthood, but it was a wonderful rags to riches story, and something about it just clicked with me--and...well, I think King of the Wind began my lifelong addiction to reading.

To both Jess and GilraenH who gave me their valuable in-put as to what I should do about Chapter 2 of Dark Holiday, I thank you.

In the end, I cut over 98% of chapter 2, and added roughly 2 new paragraphs..then put the new stuff at the beginning of Chapter 3, and next cut chapter 3 in half (it was a longer chapter than I had intended it to be) to make chapters 2 and 3. Hope that makes sense.

Here's the "new" chapter 2, with the new paragraphs put in place. Feedback is appreciated. The story (so far) in its entirety can be seen at:
http://davidtennantsdoctor.wordpress.com/doctor-who-dark-holiday/

Glowing brightly green, the Tardis’ central column slowly rose and fell, its ancient engines sounding like an out-of-tune musical saw. The Doctor was leaning back casually against the console chair, absently watching it move. His friend Donna, came into the room, dressed casually in designer jeans and a burgundy jumper. “I’m ready,” she announced cheerfully. He looked at her, raising an eyebrow in puzzlement. “Ready for what?” She frowned, “For wherever we’re going.” Then frowning deeper she asked, “We ARE going somewhere, Doctor? I mean, we’re not just taking the Tardis out to some cosmic garage for it’s ten-thousand light year oil change, or something, are we?”

Well, as I've posted before, I live in a dump...the floors in my apartment all slope from the edges downward, so it's virtually impossible for anything to actually lean against the walls, without tipping forward slightly, even with folded cardboard or other contrivances put under it, to level it off. That's how I got that concussion and laceration on my forehead, this New Year's Eve, past. And...tonight, we almost had a repeat performance.

Once again my medium sized bookcase tipped over, as I was sat on the floor, pulling a book out of the bottom shelf to re-read. Yikes! That was CLOSE. And, besides every blasted book falling out of the bookcase, all my knick-knacks on top fell with them--my heart was in my throat, as two of them are quite special to me (see below)---I THOUGHT I had the bookcase well--fixed. Uh, guess that's a no. So, I re-positioned it, yet again, found some more stuff to stick under there...hopefully, no more mishaps--I get the feeling this bookcase has a curse on it...with my name on it.

My mum's favourite doll--the only one I kept (my sister got the others):

A combination Christmas ornament and free-standing model horse (shown actual size) that's one of my absolute all-time favourites