I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

. Who was the last person to call you?

No one. Haven't had a phone in over 3 weeks.

2. Where was your default picture taken?

What the heck is a default picture?

3. What's your middle name?

Beth

4. Your current relationship status?

Old maid and plan on staying that way

5. Does your crush like you back?

I've not had a crush in over 25 years.

6. What is your current mood?

Defeated.

7. What are you doing this weekend?

Laundromat, telemarketing, sleeping, farting around on the computer, housework.

8. What color shirt are you wearing?
Light blue with dark blue print of little flowers

9. Ever been in love?

Nope.

10. If you could go back in time and change something, would you?

Nope.

11. Have a crazy side?

I'm bi-polar, what d'ya think?

12. Ever had a near death experience?

Yeah, I actually listened to George W. Bush give a speech. Damn near killed me.

13. Something you do a lot?

tug on or rub my earlobe

14. Angry at anyone?

Yup.

15. Who can you tell anything to?

A certain friend in the UK

16. Name someone with the same birthday as you?

I don't know anyone with my same birthdate.

17. When was the last time you cried?

This morning.

18. Who would you do anything for?

Certain friends, my sister...within limits, of course.

19. If you could have one super power what would it be?

Teleport

20. What's the first thing you notice about the opposite/same sex?

His smile.

21. What do you usually order from starbucks?

I prefer Green Mountain brand coffee--it's cheaper and more mellow than Starbuck's.

22. What's your biggest secret?

Well, I'm not blinking going to tell YOU, am I?

23. Favorite colour?

Blue.

24. Favorite TV show?

Dr Who

25. Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?

Not much, no. Bugs Bunny sometimes.

26. What are you eating or drinking at the moment?

Lemonade.

27. Do you speak any other language?

I can say "thank you" "Yes" and "No" in about five or six different languages.

28. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Don't know, Dont' want to know.

29. Describe your life in one word, what would it be?
Life?

Meh.

30. Have you ever kissed in the rain?

Never been kissed.

31. Ever kissed on the beach?

ditto.

32. What are you thinking about right now?

Ummm-dinner smells good.

33. What should you be doing?

Sorting the laundry.

34. What was the last film you saw?

With Six you Get Eggroll on DVD.

35. What are you listening to?

Traffic on the street, my windchimes out on the balcony, the humming of my PC, Charlie snoring.

36. Do you like working in the garden?

Most of the time, yes, except when it's hot and humid, and/or there's a lot of bugs around.

37. Are you on facebook or myspace?

Technically on Facebook, but can't figure out how to use it.

38. Do you act differently around the person you like?

Not really, maybe more self-conconscious.

39.What is your natural hair color?
Brown, with a bit of salt and pepper going on towards the right front side.

40. Who was the last person you kissed?

Probably my sister.

"I'm ordering you to leave this planet, or I will blow you up! I have a tin of beans, a spoon and a cigarette lighter in my pockets, and I'm not afraid to use 'em!"

No, it's not the name of a perfume.

I was thinking about all of the extremism in the world today: reglious fervor, racism, terrorism paranoia, liberal vs. conservative politics, health fears, self-image, all of it.

In my mind, obsession isn't healthy. A little obsession is fine, nothing wrong with being overly-enthusiastic about something. That's perfectly normal and healthy, I believe. But, being obsessed with something, to the point where it blinds you to all other things, where you start to exclude yourself from society, or your view of the world starts to become seriously skewed, or your ability to reason, to use your basic common sense, is totallly unbalanced...that's bad.

I don't think an obsessive society is a happy one. Wheter it's owning the latest electronic wonder or video game, or fussing about your health until that becomes the only topic of your conversation--let's face it, when I hear people freaking out--I mean, really genuinely upset, because their cholestrol level had gone up a few points, or that a supermarket doesn't have organic produce...THAT'S obsession.

I think that we are best served by avoiding going too far. Knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing when to start--perhaps moreso.

It's great to go for more in your life, to strive to be better, to have better things for yourself, to get the most out of your life as you possible can--no agurments from me, on that score.

However, it's what and how you choose to satisfy that that need, that's at the crux of the matter.

Our society today pushes us to be the best we can be--to the point where too often, those high goals are totally unattainable for us: perfect bodies, perfect clothes, perfect make-up and/or hairstyle. Perfect house, job, family, what-have-you. We are discouraged by society from just being ourselves.

Gender and age roles have been turned on their ears. Many children are now treated like little adults by their parents and the media, in their surge for equality, many women have eschewed femininity for masculinity--tatoos, swearing, clothing designed only to turn women into sexual objects...have backfired on us.Subtlely, without us noticing, gender roles are gone.

Sometimes these role changes have been great things...gay partnerships are becoming more accepted, and women have much greater chance for advancement and recognition, than they had 30 or 40 years ago, have more opportunities than ever, and we (sometimes) more redily accept new cultures, new experiences and new ways of thinking, then we did in the past.

Yet, some of these changes came too fast. We humans today have a tendency to go over the top with things, and I believe that is what is crumbling away at our civilization. We aren't being told when to slow down, to moderate our roles, to stop, if need be.

The obsessions of people today, instead of pushing us forward, seem to be pulling us backwards--the more technology we require, the more disconnected we seem to get from the real, lving, breathing world.

The more intense we get over how we should look, and act and dress, the more our true selves are whittled away, until we become a parody of what we truly are as individual human beings.

Well, I may be wrong about all of this. I'm no genius. This is just how I feel.

Sorry about that last post, but sometimes I just have to VENT after a tough day on the job. I really do feel wrung out...it's tiring talking to miserable ill-mannered human beings for hours.

Well, I have a frozen pizza in the oven for my late lunch--when I work to 4pm, lunch generally isn't until 5pm..dinner at 9 or 10pm...my poor stomach doesn't always know when or not it should be hungry. Dinner is the ham--which turned out to be not such a great bargain, as it's got more fat than meat. I didn't notice that until I unwrapped it from the wrapping. I cut up some carrots and green cabbage, and am boiling it, throwing in some bay leaves and cloves for flavour.

Another stormy day. Lost power at the office for about 2 seconds...not long enough to bring down the phones or computers...more's the pity.

Flamey's busy exploring the living room (lounge) closet...I was sorting through some things I had in storage...some empty boxes could use throwing away, and those odd socks I've saved in the vain hopes that their mates might one day return to the fold, that sort of thing. Flame has been really full of herself today, scampering around, playing with her furry mice, wandering out the open window on to the balcony for a look around, checking out the flat-pack shelving in the closet. The boys...they just snooze. Typical.

For two days, I've been having to ring up American women who do crafting: croceting, knitting, scrapbooking, beading, etc.

God! American craft women are the most cantankerous, miserable, grasping, unhappy bunch of people in the US today.

What a bunch of pathetically unhappy craft people bitches women are.

At least, that is totally the impression they are giving me.

Craft women seem to believe that THEY are the ONLY one's on the planet who have a busy life...oh, did I say life? What sort of a life is it, when one has to rip some total stranger's head off just because they rang you up from a club YOU joined VOLUNTARILY.

Sorry, it's just been two days of misery talking to these miserable, nasty, un-ladylike snarky women, and I have a massive headache. It's not easy being forced to ring up hundreds of people that hate their lives so much, that--rather than get some therapy, or find some other outlet, take their whinging, chav problems out on someone they don't even know.

What gets me, is no one is forcing these people to have busy lives, and hell--I used to work 7 days a week, so what? Heck, when mum was a live and I was in college, between caring for her and doing my schoolwork, I might go 48 hours without sleep--did I take it out on innocent people? NO. Never even crossed my mind. I just accepted it and dealt with it--but there's the thing, these women have had cusy lives for years, now with the big old recession, their nice cosy world is falling apart, and they're freaking out and hitting out at innocent parties.

Anyway, I swear that I am NEVER stepping foot near a crafts fair ever again! Miserable excuses for human beings--I can do better on my own, thanks. Take your knitting and go try knitting yourself a actual pleasant personality.

Hi Lydia, thanks for the PM with the feedback for my additions. Finished the play this morning--well, in rough draft as you know. Sill needs a lot of work, I'm thinking, to make the character's more believable and interesting.

Here's what I wrote this morning:

GEORGE: But…I don’t love Susan. I love you.

(As the lights go down, the two women continue murmuring, and making plans amongst themselves.)

I tag whomever wants to be tagged.

1. From where you are sitting right now, list an object that you see, which is one of each of the following colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white and black.

Red: My little address/phone number book. Orange: book titled "Shakespeare as a Dramatic Artist." Yellow: can of furniture polish I was using earlier. Green: the green marble top of my octigonal end table. Blue: My Saratoga tee shirt I'm wearing. Purple: the silk lilacs in my emerald green glass vase. White: the background on my computer screen. Black: my computer tower.

2. What color do you wear most often? Why? blue. Just like blue, always have, not sure why.

3. What color are your eyes? What color do you wish they were?

Brown. What's wrong with brown?

4. What color is your desktop image?

Blue and white mostly.

5. What colors are you walls and floor?

Walls are off-white, the rug is ugly dull brownish...whatever. It's how it looked when I rented the place--like I can afford to buy and hire someone to put in new carpets and paint?

__________________________________________________________

1. If you have any books in the room, list first five titles nearest you:
(the cat's have been knocking my books off the shelves lately--in pursuit of a moth last night, and I've not yet bothered with putting them back in their rightful places--just sort of stuffed them onto the nearest shelf, so this list may seem a bit eclectic)

The Red Rose Girls: An uncommon story of art and love
Elmer Kelton's Dark Thicket
Cradle and Crucible: history & faith in the Middle East
The Works of Oscar Wilde
New Webster's Dictionary, Vol. 2, Q-Z

2. 5 DVD's nearest you:

Dr Who: The Poisoned Sky
With Six you Get Eggroll
Dr Who New Earth
Dr Who Shakespeare Code
The Sea Wolves

3. the 5 CD's nearest you?

The best of The Proclaimers
ditto: Kylie
Music of the Great Smokey Mountains--Gary Ramal Malkin
Electric Version--the New Pornographers
Dr Who soundtrack, Series I & II

4. Video games or board games?

board games--tho' I used to enjoy my NES a great deal.

5. reading or watching tele?

Reading, definately. (Tho' sometimes I miss getting televison).

There's this quiz that allegedly tells you all about yourself, just based on your personal colour preference. Of course, I will tell anyone who takes this, that in the end, 99 44/100th of all these online "quizzes" are purely rubbish, but...they're something to do when you've nothing better else to occupy you, aren't they?

but this one....okay, this one's REALLY so accurate, it's downright freaky! I mean, FREAKILY ACCURATE. Weird. It's likely just coincidence, but it's so spot on...it's very strange to see a description of yourself based on some colour cubes you happen to like. Not sure what to think.

Here's the link to the page:

http://www.goldinuniverse.com/default.asp

The only thing I dont' agree with, is the liking the "better things in life." I could care less if I ever own jewelry, furs, the latest electronic wonders, a big-screen TV, etc., and would never dream of living in a big house, or driving a posh car. So, not sure what "the better things in life" is supposed to refer to.

And the favourable impressions--me? I've always made my own paths to follow--yes, everyone wants to be recognized by their peers, sure, but I never have gone out of my way to impress people, that's totally not me--(at least, not conciously).

But the other stuff is pretty much spot-on, I must say, which I find a bit surrel, even tho' I'm still highly skeptical of these things.

And here's what my "results" say about "me:"

You are a very sensitive person and you try hard (perhaps a little too hard) to make favourable impressions and to be recognised by your peers. But you have that inherent need to feel appreciated and admired and you are easily hurt if all of your endeavours go by unappreciated or not acknowledged. Stop trying so hard.

You are presently worried about your future and you feel that whatever you do will go wrong. At this time you are your own worst enemy. All the disappointment that you have experienced, coupled with the fear that there is no point in formulating fresh goals, have led to anxiety. You would like recognition and a position of trust but you are concerned that these hopes and dreams may not be realised. You are very argumentative and insistent that you are right - maybe you are - but you are pushing too hard. Take it easy, let go, and smile. Smiling and agreeing with people works wonders - try it and see.

Not the most entertaining night at home. I'm so bored, I can't even think of anything interesting to write about.

Storms moved through the area all day. Coming home from work, I got caught in a downpour, and was soaked through--it was pelting me so hard, I had to take my glasses off, 'cos I couldn't see. Think the last storm's moved off though, a short while ago, and things should be calm for the rest of the night. Supposed to be unselttled weather through part of the week.

Had a slice of pizza for dinner, that I bought from the pizzaria next door to the supermarket, then sat up reading for a while...before nodding off to sleep unexpectedly. Someone told me the other day, that she was surprised at my age (she'd asked me how old I was), having thought I was seven or eight years younger than I am. Strangely, I may look 40 to this woman, but these days I'm beginning to feel like I'm 70!

The cats are contented tonight. Charlie's rediscovered one of his little cat-nip filled pillows, and is cuddling up to it, and licking it. Boots is curled up inside their little nylon play cube, alternating between watching Charlie and washing himself. Flame is sound asleep in the closet.

Read the local paper online, not much going on, 'round these parts:

A house fire tonight in the town of Whitehall--which is on the southern end of Lake Champlain, near the Vermont border--left a family of six temporarily homeless. Thankfully they weren't home at the time, but they did lose most of their possessions in the fire, which closed the main north-bound B-type road, State Route 4, for a couple of hours, while volunteer firefighters from two different fire departments fought the blaze.

A man from the adjacent city (to Glens Falls) of Hudson Falls, was arrested by federal agents from the U.S. Customs office based in Albany NY yesterday, at his place of work--Winchip Overhead Doors. He was nabbed for possessing child pornogrpahy, which is a federal (US govt. law, as opposed to state law) offense. US Customs is very agrresive in going after anyone who possesses, manufactures or distributes child pornography. The arrested man is believed to have allegedly illegally downloaded child porn onto his computer. However, at this time it is not thought that he was pursuing any local children. The man was arraigned and then released, being required to wear a 24 hour monitoring device, until his sceduled hearing.

In other news:

Spotty power outtages occured as thunderstorms moved through the city today, however most power was restored fairly quickly. The main problem was a traffic light that was out at a major cross street near my building, despite traffic flares placed to warn motorists, the heavy mid-afternoon traffic nearly caused several near-misses, though no mishaps were actually reported.

The local non-pro baseball team, the Golden Eagles, lost game one of the regional championships.

The local U.S. Congresswoman for our area, was in Glens Falls today, inspecting the new library project, which is nearing completion. The new Crandall Library is undergoing massive renovations and expansions. The library is currently in temporary quarters a few doors away, in the historic old Ordway Hall building--a former 1900's era meeting hall, that most recently housed a large furniture and bedding shop, which had gone out of business two years ago. Gillibrand praised the new library building--the design of which has left many of the charming 1930's era details of the building in tact, while apparently at the same time, smoothly blending in a very modern addition to the building. The congresswoman is currently in a hotly contested race with a fellow republican, for her seat. Her opponent is a form NY state offical from Lake Placid, New York.