Let see, as we pass the middle point of this week, we have PMS, packing, changes in gear at work, training at work, packing, the various and sundry utilities to take care, and, oh yeah, dealing with everything involved with hitting a postal truck this morning...

I LOVE MY PAXIL! I don't even want to think about the blubbering mess I'd be right now if I wasn't on it.

For the record, he was totally at fault (pulled out right in front of me), and thankfully, I wan't going all that fast (my air bag didn't even deploy), but still my poor little car is all smooshed in the front. Good news is I'm fine. Have a little of the post-adrenalin-rush shakes, but that's pretty much it. Also, score one for having family in the area. My dad was able to come get me and will take me to pick up my rental soon.

Now I try to take a nap. *cudddles*

In an effort to keep myself sane in the midst of packing, I ducked out to the bookstore and picked up a couple Florida mystery books: The Deep Blue Good-by by John D. MacDonald (the granddaddy of Florida mystery writers) andTen Thousand Islands by Randy Wayne White.

I'm seriously enjoying Ten Thousand Islands. If fact, for the first time in possibly a year I had to stop myself from devouring the book in one go. As it is I'm half way through already. It's not anything deep, and given that it's sort of dealing with Calusa artifacts and possible basterdized rituals, there is still a chance of it being annoying.

But...

I'm really enjoying the characters and the setting and the pace and just the whole vibe of the thing. It really is... soft boiled crime fic? It's got a lot of the hardboiled tropes going for it, but it's Florida, so less gritty and more, um, oozy? Which sounds not good, but it really fits. Also, he struck a really good balance with putting in a enough stuff that'll have locals going "zomg yes!" with out bogging it down with too many trivialities. He'll give land marks, but they always serve an actual purpose, and he doesn't go overboard. Actually, muuch of the stuff that had the native in me nodding along, was less physical places and more some of the things the characters have said about stuff like development. And definitely the descriptions. Also, while it keeps the slightly left of center vibe that I enjoy, it doesn't have the out and out kookiness of Hiaasen. Which is kind of nice, because while I love Hiaasen, he can get a little over the top.

Apparently, this story was inspired by a real event, and the amulet described in the authors notes that the real kid found, and the drawing of it on the cover, totally look like a pendant my mom once had. It always confused me because it is very much not her style. Now, if someone had made a reproduction of the original, then it's something my dad would have definitely have picked up. Or my faulty memory could be at play here. :-D Anyhow, no way to check as it in a heap of jewelry that was given away.

But, yeah, long story short: I think this may be the first fiction book in way too long I actually finish, and I am totally getting more of this series.

So, I've been mainlining the first season of Dexter, and dammit that show is making my fall for my stupid, freaky, beautiful, crazy-ass state all over again. It also reminds me how much I deeply love South Florida mystery writers, and yet how little of them I've read. Me thinks a trip to Haslam's may be in order.

Oh God, I really am going to end up in a Lauderdale retirement home aren't I? *headdesk*

N'aaaaw, so my nephew Sparkles just got involved in his first ever D&D game. The father of a friend of his has started running a campaign for his son and friends. It gives them a chance to stay up late and "party", but have it be supervised. Apparently, the mother makes all these snacks and the boys all dork out, and I about melted for the cute. I diddn't tell him that of course, because, well, 16 year old boy, but still!

He got stuck playing the half-elf ranger, and while he likes the ranger part, he wasn't so happy about the half-elf. He perked up a little when I told him that chicks love half-elves so...

My little Sparkly is growing up! *happysniffle*

A simple google of "Pongidae" (as you do*) yields an article entitled Nose-Picking in the Pongidae and Its
Implication for Human Evolution.

Sparkly hearts, y'all. SPARKLY HEARTS!


*i always forget the distinction between "ponginae" and "pongidae" and it annoys me till i can set myself straight again.

I was reading through one of those "What Have You Done in Your Life" memes and all I can say is, dude, I've been wanting for years to raft the fucking Snake River! I haven't run a river in like 16 years and that's just a damn shame, because rapids make me happy.

Also, while I'm more into rockclimbing (though again haven't been in a rassifrassing forever) than mountaineering, Rainier needs to be climbed before I croak. Just saying.

Stupid Florida Needs More Mountains And Rapids!

Good Morning, Kiddies!

I feel like I've been a bit distant to just about everyone in my life the past couple of weeks. A combination of new diet, new schedule, pms, and looking for a new place to live has left me limiting my interactions to those which don't really require emotional responses. Tired Monkey is EXHAUSTED. I'm really hoping, though, that it will all even out by the end of this week. A deep, deep, deep hope. There may even be some prayers involved, because seriously, this is starting to get annoying.

Nothing is bad right now, I'm just in one of those transitional phases that pop up every now and again, and all I want to do is spend a day sleeping.

Which, bed now.

Oh hey! I finally did manage to get those books sent out to those of you who've been waiting. So YEAY! You should be getting them soon.

Does anyone else feel the need for a GEODUCKS ARE LOVE banner? Because that would amuse me to no end, and, ya know, geoducks are such classy animals that I feel they really embody the true notion of agape.

*cracks up*

Yeah no, there is no way in hell to keep a straight face when confronted with the world's most phallic non-phallus. LONG MAY THE GEODUCK REIGN!!!!

Leaving now. :-D

It's sometimes helpful to have a cute ( self-portrait ) laying around.

In actuality, this day wasn't so bad, but I'm not used to feeling fragile. Drama llamaing, yes that I'm all good with. Random tears are a total catharsis. But feeling delicate, like I'm ok now but I know my mood could disintegrate at any moment, that's something I'm not used to at all. It's seriously weird to have the moments of ZOMG DIE DIE DIE and then be back chilling.

Going to bed now, thank valerian.

So, if you substitute the cute kitties for me and PMS, my day looked rather like ( this: )

Yeah. I swear my PMS has gotten worse since I've been on the thyroid, but then again it seems like I may actually be starting to cycle normally again which is good I guess. Still, though, graaaaah! And me doing the South Beach thing means no nummy breads or ice cream to see me through. *woeface*

In other news, tomorrow I'm going to check out some potential new digs. Here's hope it's a cute on the inside as on the outside.

I don't know if the artist had ever seen Stargate, or what his inspiration was for THIS painting, but it's very beautiful in a stark industrial way, and I love the use of different kinds of light. Th luminosity of the "portal" is amazing. Also, make certain you look through the rest of his site, because there are some other amazing steampunk/scifi paintings in there.


ETA: Now for something totally different.

"All choice of words is slang. It marks a class."

"There is correct English: that is not slang."

"I beg your pardon: correct English is the slang of prigs who write history and essays. And the strongest slang of all is the slang of poets."

Color me totally and completely amused, with a shading of HELL YES. I found the excerpt here on LanguageHat.

Surfing through tattoo sites is always something of a test of fortitude for me. Ok, yes I am a tattoo snob (which is hilarious given the simplicity of my own ink), but also there are quite a few body modifications that I just do not get. And you can't look for tats without stumbling over every other type of body mod out there. For example: the chicks who stretch out their labia with heavy piercings* or, you know, eyeball tattoos.

Sometimes though, I stumble across a piece which beautifully utilizes techniques that normally leave me rolling my eyes, such as this cross done with normal and uv reactive ink.

And sometimes I find a relatively normal tat that is just so damn geeky that I melt with love.


*actually, i have a lower threshold for piercings in general. many of them, even rather normal ones, squick me the fuck out. except for small gauge nipple piercings. those i like to suck on.

PS: this post brought to you by the "trying not to think about carbs" coalition. when will the l-tryptophan get here?

I need to just give up and make myself a steampunk icon as that is all that I seem to be thinking about these days.

( What prompted this you ask? )

I do believe that goes in the OMG WANTZ file.

it's way past bedtime when all you can think is: what the fuck is Stark doing with a ribbon device? Or, alternately, RDJ would make one smoking hot Goa'uld. Especially, when confronted by Daniel and his Man Pain.

Oh and um HI! Am back safely will do constructive stuff at some point soon.

1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List (and upload, if you feel like it) 5 songs that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.

muccamukk gave me "#" which confused me at first as I don't have anything that starts with "#". Then she kind of bopped me with a cluestick. At least I think she did. Anyway, I'm choosing to interpret it as a song that begins with a number, even if it is spelled out. These lead to outside links, but I really do own all these, I'm just lazy. :-D

1. Jim White 10 Mile to Go on a 9 Mile Road
I was never really fond of this song, and then for some reason after 9/11 I couldn't stop listening to it. If fact, this was the song playing when I finally broke down and really mourned a month later. Now, it's become one of those songs I put on when I need manic energy to sustain me through a bad day. Don't feel bad about skipping him rambling about his car. :-D

2. Sorten Muld 2 Sisters
Wiki Synopsis. It's fitting that it is listed here, as Muccamukk was the one to introduce me to this song and this band, which I have fallen in complete love with. I do also have the Loreena McKennitt version called "The Bonny Swans".

3. Three Minutes with the Truth by Astor Piazzolla. Not certain who is performing this version, but it is made of awesome, and has one of the best titles ever.

4. Ten Miles Wide by The Builders and the Butchers
The Builders in my top 10 of favorite bands and I'm certain you've heard me babble about them before. More death but death leading to "singing in the sky", well unless you're evil. Damn, but they hit so many of my buttons.

5. One Particular Harbour by Jimmy Buffet. I actually prefer the stripped down on-the-beach version he did on the second Live from Anguilla cd. This one I can blame on doolabug. No idea why I like it so much, but it's one of the songs where (especially the stripped down version) I have to be careful or it will be on loop all day.

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want -- good or bad. When you're finished, if you so desire, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you.

In other news, I'm off to Austin on Friday! ZOMG YAYNESS!!! To those I promised books to, I will get them out by Wednesday, things have just conspired to delay me. To everyone, have mad fun and try not to burn down the Net till I get back. :-D

Only four more days till Austin, m'dears! \o\/o/\o/

So, tonight was one of those nights that started off with one part of the brain (the smart part) going "you know, if you go for one drink at the Ale House you'll end up stumbling home at 4 am somewhat annoyed at yourself" and ended up with me ignoring that part of the brain and then stumbling home at the early hour of 3 am somewhat annoyed at myself. *headdesk* It wasn't a bad night, but it was just...meh. Which I knew it would be as I was walking at 11 pm into a bunch of people that had been drinking since 9 pm, and a couple of those people were the Smith sisters. They're good people, but sort of ride the alcoholic line and have an occassionally strained relationship.

The good news is that I'm not as sketched out about being on downtown St. Pete at 2 am.

The bad news if that I feel kind of stupid because I KNEW this is how everything would turn out AND I'm totally not making it to the gym tomorrow/today/whatever. Also, I only had 50 bucks in the bank, and spent half of it. Whatev, I got to dance at a crappy club! *rolls eyes*


In other news, wtf is AKOS doing with a facebook??? HE'S CREEPY!!!!

Ganked from linaelyn and dangerousfred

You are in a mall when the zombies attack. You have:
1. one weapon.
2. one song blasting on the speakers.
3. one famous person to fight alongside you.

Weapon can be real or fictional, you may assume endless ammo if applicable. Person can be real or fictional.

1. A nice sharp kukri since I hear they're really damn effective at cutting of the heads of things. And I'm also (frighteningly) more apt to have a random kurki on my than a gun.

2. Ocean Land (the revelation) by Orphaned Land (lyrics), Because seriously, there is nothing like an Isreali metal song to pump you usp for fighting zombies. \mm/

Although, in the post-fight period, where I'm all shocky and totally need a comfort threesome, the song playing is Whistling Girl by Woven Hand, because I find David Eugene Edwards voice to be incredibly hawt comforting. In case you are doubting, please to hear Hutterite Mile and For Heaven's Sake from his 16 Horspower days.


3. Sam&Dean. What? They totally count as a single entity, and they have some decent experience in handling zombies.

More pluses in the Seattle column. And Portland gives a good showing as well.

Urban Farming Sprouts in Seattle

The highrise farm is really, really neat, and I would totally live there. Green growy things for the win!