I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Tardisgurl saw my meme this morning, and decided to tag me with another quiz, since I "stole" her meme. Cute, TG, real cute.

Oh, alright. I got dragged into the ER by my doctor junior this morning, just before work, and only just got home--she insisted that I HAD to go right away, and was rather put out with me that I didn't go on my own, yesterday--but I felt much better by early evening, so didn't see the point. I had called it in to her...if it was so important, why didn't the health centre get back to me on Sunday, via my emergency number (my neighbour's phone)?

Anyway, yes, they said there's still a trace of some very minute stones in my system, and my white blood cell count is up slightly, and I still have a trace of an infection--but, no fever, only minor pain--which is nothing, 'cos I hurt 24/7 what with the bad foot and all, anyway, so I'm used to that. I was cleared to go back to work, but told to come back in if I developed a fever or my problems returned.

So, I'm back to work at 3pm, and work into the night shift. I just realized that I may not have worked all my hours last week--I THINK I made them all up (I was out a day, sick, and wavered between feeling okay and feeling ill, on and off all last week). But now I'm wondering if I accidently was an hour or two short? I should have looked at my time card Saturday, but didn't really pay much attention to it. Oh well, too late now. Everyone keeps telling me how rubbish I look today--even the ER nurse! I don't feel rubbish, jut tired a bit, and sore. Not that bad, really.

So anyway, while my little mini Banquet beef pot pie is in the oven, I'll do this quick meme.
I think I may have taken this--or one like this, before, as it seems familiar.

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WHAT WAS THE FIRST DOCTOR WHO EPISODE YOU WATCHED?

We're talking 25 years ago, but I THINK it was Ark in Space.

HAD YOU HEARD OF CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON BEFORE DOCTOR WHO?

Yes, I'd seen him (and was impressed by his performance) in "Gone in 60 Seconds"

HAD YOU HEARD OF DAVID TENNANT BEFORE DOCTOR WHO?

Not at all, no.

WHO DO YOU LIKE BETTER, ECCLESTON OR TENNANT?

Tennant. Eccleston was a great Doctor, don't get me wrong, but Tennant has just taken the proverbial bit in his teeth and run away with his character. Best Doctor ever.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE DOCTOR?

Tennant.

WHO WAS YOUR "FIRST" DOCTOR?

Tom Baker--who, until Series 4, was my favourite Doctor. Midnight changed my mind, though, and now Tennant's nosed out poor ol' Tom...but I still love Tom Baker, really.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE COMPANION?

Catherine Tate has finally knocked poor Sarah Jane off her pedistal--but, it took four of the new series to knock Sladen and Baker off the top of the list, to give them their due.

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, HOW WOULD YOU RATE TENNANT'S PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES?

Come again? Oh, I don't know. About a 2 or a 3, I suppose. Sorry, nothing personal, honest.

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 HOW WOULD YOU RATE TENNANT'S ACTING ON DOCTOR WHO?

9 44/100. (Sorry, he's not Derek Jacobi or David Warner quite yet.)

HOW WOULD YOU RATE DAVES' WRITING?

8 out of 10. (That rating is mostly to do with the "soap opera" element--but don't mistake that as criticismim, it's purely a personal like/dislike thing--though I thought the last episode of S4 seemed rushed, and found a gaping continuity error in Episode 11--and I won't go back into what happened to me over episode 12--still, who cares? Despite all of that (except for E12 S4), I do genuinely think Davies is one of the best writers on British television. He brought back Dr Who--brought it back brillantly-- and I love him for that.)

HOW WOULD YOU RATE STEVEN MOFFAT?

I haven't seen his work outside of Doctor Who, but so far it mostly seems outstanding and astounding. Rating? Like Tennant, a 9 3/4 out of 10, so far, I suppose.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MOFFATT?

Not sure what this question is specifically asking, so I'll answer on two fronts:

In regards to the programme, I think it's a logical choice: The man obviously adores the show, he's one of "us," a fellow Whovian, and, unlike Davies, he seems to relate better us "old" fans, as well as he relates to the brand new 8 year olds--fantastic! He also understands that it IS a kid's series and not a soap opera--though his series 4 two-parter had a "soap" element to it, alas. But, I really do think the gentleman will give it a whole new direction, energy and drive, so I'm really looking forward to the new scripts.

As for Moffatt--a friend of mine sent me a video she did of a sci-fi con (convention) she went to, where he was one of the guest speakers. He seemed genuine, friendly, had a good sense of humour and was intelligent and well-spoken, but also seemed to have a bit more of an ego, like he might have a bit of an artist's temper, and not be quite as laid back as Davies? Gosh, I don't know... Maybe I'm being unfair-maybe I'm 100% wrong--I mean, it was only a 5 minute video, for pity's sake--it's hard to form an impression of someone, after only 5 minutes of shaky video watching! I can only give my first, fleeting impressions, and may feel completely different about the man, a year or two from now, who can say?

FAVOURITE EPISODES OF SERIES FOUR?

Midnight, Turn Left, Planet of the Ood, Wasp and the Unicorn, the Doctor's Daughter, The poisoned Sky, Fires of Pompeeii.

LEAST FAVOURITES:

I can't say there were any "least" favourites, just some I liked a little less than all the others.

Stolen Earth, Forest of the dead.

WHAT GUEST CHARACTER(s) DID YOU LIKE LEAST IN SERIES 4?

You know, I wish I could tell you why (but I simply don't know) but something about Professor Riversong's voice/mannerisms really irritated me, it's silly, I suppose, but true. I didn't like Jenny for the first 10 minutes or so, but then the actress (Peter Davidson's daughter, I'm told--I didn't have internet until early June, so I couldn't keep up on any Who stuff), well, the actress did a great job of warming me to the character, to the point where I felt really bad when she "died," and actually cheered when she regenerated.

WHAT GUEST CHARACTER(S) DID LIKE MOST?

I thought the woman who played Agatha Christie was fantastic, of course Donna's grandad, (gosh, so many brilliant performaces!), The actors in Midnight were wonderful, especially the woman who played the "monster." Lovely!

LIST YOUR FAVOURITE DOCTORS IN ORDER: (oh, don't make me do that! They're each wonderful in their own way)

David Tennant, Tom Baker, John Pertwee, Peter Davidson, Slyvester McCoy, Patrick Troughton Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, Colin Baker, William Hartnell.

WHICH DOCTOR WOULD YOU MOST LIKE MOST TO MEET, OR HAVE MET?

Living: Tom Baker. Deceased: Jon Pertwee.

1. How early do you wake up in the morning, before leaving for work or school?

Oh, about an hour and a half, to two hours before leaving, on average. That's if I have to be to work by or before 10am.

If I'm starting work late in the afternoon, or on a night shift, then I get up whenever I want to, pretty much. If working nights, I generally will sleep somewhat later than if working days, as a rule of thumb. Back in the days, when I had to get up at 3am, 4am or 5am for work, then I might pair down my wake time to only about 45 minutes to an hour before leaving.

2. What's the earliest you ever had to leave for work or school?

In my first year of high school, our school bus came at 6:50 am, so we had to be up around 5:30 or 6am at the latest. That's because we had a full bus load of students--mine was the last class from our village, to be bussed out to this particular high school (my village didn't have enough kids to support a high school), so as time went on, the bus came later and later, and by the time I was in my 4th year, we were using a small van or a station wagon, and I didn't leave until 7:20.

For work? Well, as a breakfast chef, I had to get up at 2am in the morning, 'cos I had to walk to work (still didn't have my driver's license yet at that time). I had a job where we traveled all over, and sometimes had to be in a different state by 7am in the morning, so sometimes we had to leave at 3am, so that meant waking at 1am to be ready for work and drive to the meet up in an Albany car park. When I was a stablehand, I had to get up around 4am in winter, 5am in milder weather.

3. Best job you ever had?

Stablehand. No time clocks, loved being there, really enjoyed my job (most of the time, anyway...there were a couple of days, though, when I almost regretted giving up my cushy, better-paying office job)

4. Worst job you ever had?

Tie: working in the convent as an assistant cook, and working at the casino/race track as a cleaner.

5. How do you feel about your present employment (if employed)?

Meh--it's a living, and it's better than cleaning loo's.

6. Easiest job you've ever done?

Washing, drying and folding towels at a Lake George motel 7 days a week, one summer. A no-brainer.

7. Most interesting job you've ever had?

Never really had a job that could be construed as "interesting." Working rides at Six Flags? Stable hand, kennel assistant? Temping--I was, in my mid-20's, working for 3 different temp agencies, and that sometimes was interesting, as I was always working for a different company every two to three months, for about 2 years. I was also a trucking permit agent when I was about 24 years old--and that could get kind of weird sometimes, dealing with truckers.

8. First job? How old?

Waitressing special functions for the local Veteren's of Foreign Wars post a few weekends a year. I was around 13 or 14 years old. Worked for tips only, under the table (off the books), as we yanks say.

9. What do you do now?

Telemarketing--B2C sales, B2B leads, surveys, fund-raisers, collections.

10. What non-paid jobs have you done (volunteer work, and so forth)?

Library assistant, mostly. Also volunteer work: tour guide and docent at 2 museums, voluteer with handicapped riding programmes, 4-H (equine youth group) lecturer, delivered Measl-on-Wheels to seniors for 2 years, animal shelter help, Salvation Army Christmas kettle bell-ringer a couple of times, some Earth Day hiking trail and road side clean up activities, various activites at the Presbyterian church, various community functions through my 2-year college, ran sound (effects) for a theater production about six years ago. Oh yeah, at my 4-yr. college I was a features reporter for the college newspaper...you know the type of thing, writing about the Elvis fest, the snow sculpting competition, the professor who raised llamas, that sort of thing. Oh, and I've interned twice--very briefly, as a writer for two websites, a college recruitment website and also a travel website.

Feeling better this morning, at nearly half-past eight am. Still a bit weak and slightly more groggier than ususal, but somewhat more rested than I was, yesterday, but considering what I went through with the kidney stones--thankfully very minute ones--I'm not doing all that badly, at least, I'm well enough to go to work this morning. Thank God it happened on a weekend, and I didn't have to lose any more time (meaning also pay, of course) from work.

I even had a proper American fry up, for breakky: steak and eggs with fried potatoes. Well, one of those thin, tiny little eye of round steaks, one gets from the food section of the local All-for-One-Dollar shop, and a hash brown patty similar to the one's sold by McDonald's, and a couple of scrambled eggs. Still, no worries about my stomach growling at work--I don't get lunch 'till around 3pm or later, so I do get a tad hungry at work, sometimes.

Not quite as hot as yesterday--it's actually overcast and damp, this morning, but no rain at all in the forecast until maybe a week from now. Of course, that can change, but so far, so good for the last week of the summer holidays, over here. This is the last week for daily trolley bus service to Lake George. After that, it only runs on Saturdays, and perhaps Sundays as well, until some time in October--if that. We have a horrible bunch of jobsworths running the local transit company, so one never knows what totally moronic bus schedules they'll dream up--they have lousy PR, as well, and aren't well-known for actually advertising scheduling or route changes. Even the bus drivers themselves, don't always know what's going on!

Anyway, it's supposed to be sunny and in the mid-70's all week, and in fact, the sun's just come out, as I writhe this---at some point this week, I'll make a trip by trolley up to the lake, for one last quick swim. Too bad I didn't find my suit 'till summer was nearly done, but no crying over spillt milk, I say. (yeah, I know "spilt" isn't a proper word, but then, I'm not feeling very proper today, so sod it. )

Well, have chores to see to before leaving for work. Have a grand day, all. N.

As a last word before bedtime:

Sometimes my country genuinely makes me feel ill.

Obama is a two-faced, weakling. Seen by some of us liberal democrats as grossly unprepared and uncertain, Obama has backpedaled more and more, away from his vision of hope for America's future--positive thoughts about the economy, healthcare, housing and education, to a much more conservative stance, mainly focusing on foreign policy and tax cuts and the usualmindless, greed and power-driven Republican palaver.

He is a good speaker, but has lousy human relations skills. He's no diplomat, that much is certain. Rather than let the Clinton's do what they do best--speak about positive change, stress the good things that happened, when Bill was in power: NO wars, NO national debt, NO recessions, instead, Obama is literally forcing Clinton to talk about foreign policy, one of Clinton's weaker points! What an arse Obama is!

To me, Obama is more like Bush than McCain is. By that, I mean Bush is a very weak, immature person...he is, or rather, was, very good at relating to the "commoners," but in reality, he's weak, 'cos he doesn't listen to ANYONE's advice, but like a spoilt child he does whatever HE wants to do, and if anyone tries to restrain him, Bush throws a genuine temper-tantrum.

Now, Obama is also weak, but for different reasons. He doesn't listen to his heart, but listens too much to advisors--who are too often, giving the man the wrong damn advice! Already, a LOT of Obamas major key spporters--including many celebrities, famous authors, heads of major liberal charities and think-tanks---are slowly backing away, very quietly and carefully. They've begged the man to get back on track, and stay with the pulse of the people--but Obama is refusing to listen to the voices of reason, and instead seems to be solely relying on his "professional" council.

In other words, Since early this year, Obama has steadily turned from the Great New Hope, into Just Another Politician. Same old, same old, is the message that we liberals who are listening between the lines, are getting from the candidate.

We democrats win elections by swinging the southern voters. Obama seems to reject that established fact, glossing over his race (how's that for irony?) genuinely assuming blindly, that southern black voters will swing those states to the point, where he doesn't need the Southern Anglo-Protestant white male votes. In dumbing himself down by appeasing Israel and the anti-Iraq/Iran/Russia republican voters, Obama is bending over backwards--or really, just bending over, for the conservative vote, and in doing so, he is farting in the face of tens of thousands of his previously loyal supporters. My neighbour bragged that he'd always voted republican, but that he "really liked" what Obama was saying, "lately." This would be the drunken redneck neighbour who thinks bombing the hell out of Iraq, Iran and Russia would be a splendid idea, mind you.

I mean, it's like the man is being paid by the republicans to throw the election! And, maybe his is.

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On the other hand, the republicans seem to not only want to destroy all of the Middle-east, Russia, parts of Asia and Cuba, now they are going after their fellow Americans.

The Democratic convention is coming to Denver, and the republicans have set up a press and public relations centre, to counter the various speeches of the dems. However, what are the republicans calling this nerve centre? Their "WAR ROOM."

That's right, the conservative republicans are so mindlessly aggressive, that even when they are merely counter-acting speeches ("freedom" is such a subjective term to these people--when THEY talk it's free speech. When anyone says a word against them, it's anti-American propaganda) the republicans take delight in showing their dictatorial bullying tactics.

I wouldn't be surprised if the neo-cons in Denver, ringed the convention center with tanks and threatened to imprison Obama in Cuba indefinately, as a terror suspect.