ニカのダイアリー

So, it's been a while.

2009-12-10T05:22:06Z

Life's been pretty normal/boring, for me anyway. Still losing a little weight, though the beginning of winter has made me unusually hungry, so I've only gone down to 171 or so (Still, that's about 25 lbs lost this year). It's cold, and a little snowy, and a little lonely. Had hopes for one situation, but it didn't pan out. I always jinx these things by talking about them. I really should learn to just keep my mouth shut and pray instead.

I've been wearing my hair down lately, instead of tied back. Ever since I got it cut. (I have a fringe. I have /bangs/. It's so weird, but so me. And I've already had to trim it myself, by an inch, and it's grown back like another half inch again. I only got it cut in November!) It's a bother to try and dry it in time for work and stuff, but on the other hand, it's so pretty, I can't /not/ wear it nicely.

I wish I had more to talk about. Oh, I got a really awesome poster. (Mine's a little different: The two years are at the top of the poster, and the bottom has 'Celebrating 20 years of' and 'The Sandman' on different lines.) It's hanging in a thin black frame above my bed. The Sandman's been chasing away most of my bad dreams. I've had random insomnia and when I wake up remembering my dreams, I'm always tired. Since I put the poster up, it's been mostly restful nights, and no bad dreams that I can recall.

Hallowe'en was fun. Dressed up as Death (See poster link above, the pale pale girl in a black tank top on the left, middle-bottom) and have been wearing a small silver ankh ever since. All my rings are too big to wear now, so I've been going without. What's the point buying more jewelry before I stop losing weight? (I feel terrible complaining about it.)

My goodness, it's only 2. I shouldn't have been out so late last night. Gotta work in a little over 12 hours.

So um, I started watching this show...

2009-08-20T04:44:28Z

I needed a good angstfest. So I made it through six episodes of Tree of Heaven today. I managed to just barely pull away from the screen at the end of ep 6, which has a sort of happy ending. I'll probably finish the rest tomorrow before work. GAHHH. So in love with it. ~~I'm such a masochist. It can only go downhill from here! It is a K-drama after all.~~

In other news, why do boys (at least the boys I know IRL, few as they are) always seem to smell as if they haven't showered or washed the clothes they're wearing in weeks? Blehh. Perfectly good outing, ruined by my Super Sniffer. D: Also, like when I'm around people that are smoking, apparently the wind will change directions spontaneously whenever I move upwind instead of downwind. AUGH. Note to self: sniff something airborne you're allergic to before hanging out with males.

Haven't been sleeping well lately. Been getting up 10 minutes earlier each day this week to steel myself for an 11:30 start on Saturday. Construction on the docks down the hill makes sleep difficult, at best, after daybreak, and my, er, erratic sleep habits aren't helping to begin with. Though, I have a feeling I'll actually sleep tonight, without artificial/chemical aid. Here's hoping!

Oh, and I preordered Scribblenauts yesterday, and had fun with the guys at EBGames while I was at it.

ME. So um, are you taking preorders for Scribblenauts?
GUY 1. Er, uh, well...
GUY 2. *Just walked in the door* Yes, yes we are.
GUY 1. Yes!
ME. And, do you know if you're getting any of the rooster hats as the preorder bonus?
GUY 1. *Kind of speechless*
GUY 2. Well, you're one of the first to preorder, so yeah, you'll probably get one.

So. Guy 1 took my contact info and stuff, and we all got into a nice discussion about the game and how non-mainstream but damned fun it looks, and I mentioned the Joystiq trial of the game where they took suggestions in the comments for one of the puzzles and stuff, which kind of left both the guys speechless for a moment, though I'm not sure if it was the suggestion of tying a bowling ball to a pterodactyl, or the fact that I follow gaming blogs. At any rate, there was some more funneh as we finished up.

GUY 1. So, you'll just have to present photo ID to pick it up.
MOM. Can I pick it up, if she's working?
GUY 2. Sure, we can add you to the account as well. *Pause* Er, way to misspell, [Guy 1]. You left out the N. Moique. (Mwa-cue)

Mom and I had a grand old giggle after we left. ^^ I love surprising the EBG employees with my charm and 1337 knowledge.

People suck.

2009-08-10T03:08:24Z

So today, I went out with The Girls to go swimming and relax and have a nice, social day off. Well, that blew up in my face hardcore.

First, the outdoor swimming in the river was closed off because the water level was too high. OK, I can understand that, we've had a lot of rain recently. So we go up to the indoor pool. The indoor heated pool. The whole reason I wanted to go swimming was to cool off, so I was a little miffed at this. Even the showers were all set on hot. Then, because they could actually swim and tread water for periods of time (I can't), they kept hanging out in the deep end, nominally to get away from all the children, but really, the children were all IN the fucking deep end, so it made no difference at all, except that I had to either get out of the pool to actually stay down there near them and chat (which they made fun of me for) or spend the whole hour at the shallow end alone. Great.

Also, they picked at me continually. They'd constantly pick apart anything I said, and then picked at me because I got offended because of it. We started talking about drinking, for example, and they A) implied that tequila is worthless (it may not be for everyone, but it doesn't make everyone sick, either), and B) picked on me for saying I prefer to drink it straight, no salt or lemon, because 'anything out of a shotglass is straight' and 'there's no other way TO drink tequila, is there?'

So we get out of the (heated, frustrating) pool, and we go for supper. I haven't got enough money to cover supper, because I already went out drinking with the nicer one of them on Friday, but she's nice enough to lend me a few dollars to cover what I can't afford. So we're eating, and they start talking about hockey, which I've no interest in at all. Nice One starts talking about her mom's ex-boyfriend's son, or something, who's a goalie, and how he's pretty good, but once one goal gets in, he tends to lose focus. I made a comment about how that's a lot like Ron Weasley, isn't it, when he plays Quidditch. Well, Bitchy One (whom I don't normally hang out with) just stared at me like I had three heads, and Nice One blinked at me a few times and derisively asked if I just made a Harry Potter reference.

Yes, for fuck's sake, I did.

If only I could've recorded or written down the way they picked the whole affair apart. Vicious, is what they were. Hateful. Making snide comments about how they have to 'get me outside the house more', and implying a hatred of Harry Potter that I know at least Nice One (I say that relatively here, but the nicer one I normally have no problem hanging out with on her own) simply does not have, because I've loaned her the last two books and we went to see the sixth movie together recently.

Then, they were going to a store that was on my way toward home after we left the restaurant, so I walked so far with them. Whenever I say something, they keep picking it apart, and then Bitchy One comments that I'm awful moody today. I say, 'Well, maybe there's a reason.' 'Why?' they ask. 'Well, I'm about to start my period,' says I. 'Well,' says the nicer one, 'I'm about to start my period too, but I'm in a GREAT mood!' I just about wanted to strangle her for this. Basically, she's been drinking for the last two nights, and she has a date planned for Friday with someone she's really into. That's all great for her, but with her all lovesick and even the Bitchy One in a longterm relationship, I felt really like the odd one out. Not that this is terribly unusual for me, but I've been really lonely lately, and this sort of highlighted it.

Then the bitchier one comments about how I should go out with her roommate. To put this into perspective, her roommate is almost 22, loud enough to hear him across the call centre most nights, never stops talking, and is very heavy, and not muscled. He works two jobs just for something to do, because he has. no. friends. He also spends almost all of his spare time at one or the other workplace. He's not quite the dullest tool in the shed, but he doesn't miss the mark by very far. He likes rap music, and yet the way he talks and acts is like the gayest gay man you'd ever met or imagined. Every stereotype and then some, but heaven forbid you should imply that he, himself, is gay. And if you couldn't guess, he's also a social idiot and a virgin, and shows no interest in really changing either.

They have a sort of ongoing joke about getting someone to go out with him, and by implication sleep with him, to smarten him up or something. We joked a while back that the Nicer One should 'take one for the team', but I, for one, never meant it with any seriousness. But today, the Bitchier One keeps nagging at me that we'd 'be perfect together', and he'd 'treat [me] like a princess' because he's got so much money from working the two jobs. Then Nice One says that I'd be perfect, because I'm a bitch, I'd be able to whip him into shape. I asked them to quit it, but the bitchier one just wouldn't stop. So finally I said, 'Fuck you guys, I'm just going home,' and as I walked away I heard the bitchier one comment, for the five billionth time today, how I shouldn't take everything so personally.

You know what? I put up with enough of that snide, bitchy, holier-than-thou bullshit in elementary and high school, from my classmates and my father. That shit is the reason I used to have panic attacks. That shit is the reason I had one when I got home today. I would honestly rather have no real life friends, than have friends that are going to do nothing but tear strips out of me all day when I try to hang out with them. I don't want to have to rush home before I launch into a panic attack, just because some hateful bitch has self-esteem issues and feels the need to tear someone else apart to make herself feel better.

If I can continue to hang out with the nicer one on her own, and she doesn't do the same thing to me, I have no problem with that. But I'll play hockey in hell before I hang out with the pair of them together again, or with the bitchier one at all.

Forgive and forget. Two words I like to live by, especially when it's not intentional. But the reason I stopped talking to my father, was because he used to tear me apart, too. I don't set myself up for the same bullshit once I know what's really going on.

Maybe if I weren't sleeping so poorly, maybe if I weren't PMSing, maybe, maybe, maybe! Maybe I wouldn't have let this get to me so bad, but I don't know, I still don't think I should have to put up with this, just to be able to say I have friends.

THIS JUST IN

2009-08-07T04:14:51Z

I only just found out that Rain is due to star in a movie called Ninja Assassin.

Initial thought: RAAAAAAIIIIIINNN.

Second thought: RAAAAAAAIIIIIINJAAAAA.

Third thought: If I see this movie, I'm going to be humming the Power Rangers theme. (Go, go! Power Rain-jaaaa!)

That's all.

Damn, it's been a while.

2009-07-29T03:23:03Z

I need to post more often. Although, I post all my interesting quips on-the-go at my Twitter feed. [/Shameless self-promotion]

Major things that make me happy:

-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows casting. Bill Nighy as Scrimgeour, for one. And Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd's Anthony) as young Grindelwald, with Toby Regbo as his Dumbledore? OHGOD TEH CANON BISHIE SLASH. (Also, run a Google Image search for Domhnall Gleeson. Add long hair. SO MUCH THE BILL OF MY ~~NAUGHTY DREAMS~~MENTAL IMAGES.)

-New Moon badpire casting. Jamie Campbell Bower again, as Caius, whom was once nearly killed by a werewolf. Incidentally, guess who plays Aro, the telepath? Oh, just everyone's favourite werewolf slave, Lucian. Rounding off our supernatural main-badpire cast: a many-times myth creature, Christopher Heyerdahl (Alastair in Supernatural, Todd the wraith in SGA, Bigfoot/John Druitt in Sanctuary) as Marcus, the strong, silent badpire. There's also Dakota Fanning, Cameron Bright, and some other people who haven't been in much. (Well, ok, Colossus from X-Men 2 and 3? But really, I've no recollection of him. Or of those movies, tbh.)

-Got a new poster for the still-empty wall above my bed. I took down my wall scrolls to paint, and haven't got round to putting them back. But I saw the fullview Enterprise poster at Wal-Mart, and I simply could not resist. (Also, they got out those MJ posters awful gorram fast. I'll grant that they're not much more than a stock picture, his name, and his birth/death years, but really? Too soon, guys.) While I was there, I also got 300 on Blu-Ray, because nothing's better than scarcely accurate 'historical' fiction as interpreted through 5 or more people (if you include translations of the original descriptions of the events) in 32-inch, 1080p glory.

So, other than all that, I'm just slowly working my way back through my BL (one volume per night. Ah, the illicit thrill.) and spending way too much (like THAT'S news) but feeling better than ever, most of the time. (Exceptions: When there's a storm coming in, and I feel tired and grody and sick; when my loneliness here comes to a peak, especially after seeing someone I used to know but haven't talked to since my emotional rocky period a year ago, or longer; immediately before finishing the nonstop climb up one of the monster hills that I used to have to stop several times to complete. Incidentally, on the last one, the moment immediately AFTER I complete the climb, I feel amazing. Level Up!)

Wewt!

2009-06-24T13:52:19Z

So, news. I've stopped losing much size, but 12 is fine by me. My legs, on the other hand, are looking fantastic. Been massaging cellulite away by hand. Magic! I might even be not-embarassed to wear a bathing suit without shorts/a skirt this year. Must look into getting one next paycheck...

Had to take my first sick day in seven months this week. I ended up going into the emergency room for my random stomach cramps. Got a scrip for them, which seems to be working, and it takes effect really quickly, which is nice. When I have to see the doctor again, I might ask for a refill, if it keeps working as well as it does.

In strange news, Chocomimi v1 shipped out today, almost two full weeks early. Bwahaha! I'm also on episode 37 of Kamen Rider Den-O and considering restarting the Bleach anime when I'm done. Downloading it anyway, might convert it for iPod and bring it around with me to watch.

Just waiting for my GST to make a Lush order. Now that I know what works for me, I can start getting it quarterly instead of constantly. x3 Save a little money that way, if it's money I wasn't counting in my 'budget' to begin with. Speaking of money, I'm a little pissed that they gave me Canada Day as a third day off next week. No extra pay, nooo! D: I need it after the sick day this week. Maybe I'll see if I can pick up a shift. Then I'll get out of any 'family time to go see fireworks' too. Hmm...

Waking up at 11 consistently which is REALLY nice, much nicer than, say, waking up randomly at 9 AM without an alarm, when I don't have to work until 5.

Whee-hoo!

2009-06-12T06:41:15Z

Was out all night, eating garlic fingers and drinking slushies and generally getting sugar high and spastic. Now I've come home to discover that Amazon.ca's categories, so helpful at the bottom of each product page, include Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga > Yaoi > Boys in School, as well as Sensei & Student.

God help us all.

(Especially if I can't get "Ii jan! Ii jan! Sugee jan?!" out of my head. DAMN YOU, DEN-O! ♥ )

Wewt!

2009-06-06T17:29:23Z

I think the summer is trying to kill me. I have to get through two more seasons of Supernatural, one more season of Stargate Atlantis, four more seasons of Sex and the City, and I've been downloading all the Star Trek TV series for weeks so I can watch them when I'm done... something else. (Just 4 days left on The Next Generation, and then I can start on DS9!) That's before you take last season's and this season's jdramas into account.

Last season: Though xxlithiumflower and I have been watching Atashinchi no Danshi (OHGOD GUYS. THE LULZ. YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT.), I do want to get around to Godhand Teru (looks good and lulzy), Meitantei no Okite, and Hyoryu Net Cafe.

This season:
Otomen - Okada Masaki as a very manry kendo champion, who loves shojo manga and sweets and sewing and cooking and generally being a girl. Seto Koji fits into the mix somewhere. IDK. How can I resist?
Orthros no Inu - I think Tokyograph says it best. "Takizawa plays the role of a mysterious and ambitious man with a wicked heart, who possesses the power to heal pain and illness with the touch of his hand. Nishikido, on the other hand, plays a high school teacher with a gentle heart, but who has the ability to kill with his touch." There's really nothing else to be said about this one. Except, for once Tackey can undo the TRAGIC CURSE that follows him around, where people have that tendency to die/get cancer/die of cancer wherever he goes.
Koishite Akuma - Nakayama Yuma falls in love with his homeroom teacher, Kato Rosa. I mean, really? How can I say no to ♥~Forbidden Love~♥ (And did I forget to mention that Yuma's character is a ~vampire~? Oh, I did? Right, well, now you know.)

So, my summer's already going to be full, even disregarding the whole 'being more social' and 'hiking on days off to burn more calories' things. Eheheh.

In other news, it's beeeeeeautiful here lately. Hot and sunny and gorgeous. 20C outside right now, no humidex, hardly a cloud in the sky, but with a nice gentle warm breeze. Also, I was at the cafe yesterday, and there was a painting there I wanted soooo badly. It was a painting of an empty store, with a 'Sorry, we're closed' sign in the window, and a... well, it must've been a guy in a teddy bear suit, or something, just standing inside the store, staring into your soul. It reminded me of Donnie Darko, and I wanted it so bad, but it was $350. (For a painting maybe 10x15 inches, not even framed!) If it were 50-75, I would've got it on the spot, but... $350 is a biiiit much to ask, even for something so awesome. D:

Went shopping earlier, spent $8.50 and got about 15-20 new books. Rejected old library book sales for the win, $1.50/kg. Some I'd had my eyes on previously, some that I'd heard good things about but never had the chance to read, and some I had to pick up for the sake of getting them. (OKAY SO I GOT 'Gone With The Wind' OK. SHUTUP. D: I also got a Pern book, and a Dune book. Does that make it up in geek cred?) My Rowan series should be completed some time next week, when the first/last shipment gets here (with S.Darko, yay! Princess Princess+ ships out separately in another few weeks/month-ish, boo!) and the second/fourth should arrive from the US as well. Good thing I just picked up three 5-shelf cherry-finish bookshelves for $120 after tax. Be setting those up tomorrow and transferring/rearranging my books (again) to fit. ^^ (Currently using six 2-shelf oak finish shelves, which don't match ANYTHING else in my room, and there's barely enough space for all my books and trinkets/figures. Though, there IS enough space by my Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy of five for my wax skull and fake knife, making for an interesting Macbeth effect.

Now, time to go grocery shopping! Lots of nummy salad fixins to get. ♥

Lots of yays!

2009-05-21T15:03:42Z

Colour me squeeful. This year's manga release schedule holds not only Chocomimi, not only Train*Train, but a handful of other manga from Eiki Eiki (Millennium Prime Minister), Mikiyo Tsuda (Princess Princess Plus, which is so in my next book order), AND Mikiyo Tsuda's yaoi-writing penname/alter-ego, Taishi Zaou (several interesting little volumes. And by interesting, I mean, OHGAWD THE LULZ).

Speaking of books, instead of making a Lush order this payday (There's nothing I particularly NEED, I'm pretty well stocked up for a while...) I'm spending about $80 on Amazon. I've been itching to re-read the Rowan/Tower and the Hive series by Anne McCaffrey for a few months, and there are 'very good' used copies of the out-of-print ones available on Amazon's marketplace, and I can get the first and last new for cheaper than their marketplace 'very good' copies (go figure), so I'm getting the entire series (Plus the Princess Princess Plus mentioned above), and S. Darko, because I'm really curious as to whether it will match up to Donnie Darko in quality. (Plus, it's only $24 on blu-ray on Amazon, score~!) In terms of cost, I REGRET NOTHING. Except that I'm gonna have to rearrange my bookshelves again, and my Anne McCaffrey books are now going to take up more than a full shelf. ♥ (Next stop: filling out the Pern series, and getting the pre-Rowan Talents series. I may need a full two or three shelves for her by the time I'm done...)

In other news, it's officially turning green outside, which is reassuring after such a long winter. It's still a bit chilly, but as long as there are leaves on some of the trees, I know summer will be here eventually. Also, the doctor's impressed with me (I've lost another 3 lbs since my last visit, not much, but progress nonetheless, and it's a small sign of great changes) but not enough to avoid giving me a practically complete blood test workup, and an ekg, although it's been 2 years since I had either done so I guess it's reasonable...

It's cold and miserable outside, though. I don't want to work, but if I don't, then I'll never pay off those books. D:

nica1287 @ 2009-05-05T11:48:00

2009-05-05T14:18:03Z

This is an MMS message. Please go to http://mms.telusmobility.com/do/LegacyLogin to view the message.

So my collection of Death Note special editionb DVD figures is almost complete. They give a certain symmetry, no? Now I kind of want the last one, Shidoh, so I can put him between Near and Mello in the back. y/n?

Hmm...

2009-04-25T15:03:14Z

So, question: If there's a guy that you know likes you (you know through the accounts of at least 3 mutual friends and his own willingness to humiliate himself to get your phone number), but that you not only aren't dating ~~yet~~ but don't really know all that well, and you meet him at a bar when he's planning to leave to meet up with someone else who's only in town for the weekend (who he's not dating, but is good friends with and may sleep with later that night, by his own admission), is "When your friend's gone, give me a call" really the worst thing to say when he asks you to write your number on his arm, in pen? It's not like I had any claim on him to make him stay or anything, and does it really matter what he does before he makes a serious/major move toward me?

(Also, I'm apparently an idiot for not making a better effort to keep him there, given the circumstances above.)

I hate relationships and friends who won't let you try and learn your own mistakes when it comes to those things you just can't learn from advice.

Now for your recommended daily source of random rock remix!

2009-04-10T04:07:53Z

This brings a tear to my eye. ♥

In other news, I finally (FINALLY!) got to see Donnie Darko today before work (in 1080p, no less!) and homg. WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE MAKE ME WATCH THIS SOONER? I'm planning to rewatch it a few times on my days off next week (Tuesday or Wednesday, or both) and the commentaries and deleted scenes and featurettes and stuff. ♥ ♥ (The first blu-ray in my player, though, was Twilight. I HAD TO SEE EDWARD SPARKLE IN HIGH DEFINITION OK? DON'T JUDGE ME.)

The best part is, my cousin, who is becoming a Twitard, came over and tried to play my blu-ray Twilight in the living room DVD player. I lol'd when mom told me. I must admit, one of the best parts of blu-ray is that very very few of my friends can borrow them, and the only place they'll play in the whole apartment is on MY tv. ^^

Finally on season 10 of SG-1, and 3 of SGA. Only 5 seasons left to go, plus 2 movies! *Dies*

News! Also, look, a book meme!

2009-03-30T05:48:41Z

So, I got dragged (kicking and screaming as they twisted my soft, rubber arm) to the bar the other night. Had a blast, though. Got to see some people I hadn't seen since, well, they quit working at the call centre. One bought me a drink, and another asked me for my number, making a fool of himself in front of his friends, after dropping a few cheesy pickup lines. (Most notably, coming over and putting his arm around my waist and saying, "So, I don't know what my limits are with you...") I told him, if he can find me on Facebook (he added me a couple of months ago) and remembers to say hi, he can find my number there and give me a call.

The next day, one of the friends he humiliated himself in front of went into gossip mode and started digging for details from my mom (they're good friends, incidentally, mom and the guy's friend) about what I'd said about the whole thing. I told mom afterward that if he asks again, to tell him I'm definitely interested, if the guy in question has the guts to back up what he was saying Friday night. ;3 (The friend that dragged me out has said in no uncertain terms that I'm going out with them again next weekend, too, probably to the same bar. We'll see what happens... >:D *Evil, mischievous Nika mode* )

===

In other news, BOOK MEME! Stolen from xxlithiumflower.

1) What author do you own the most books by?
Anne McCaffrey, with honorable mentions to Piers Anthony, Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, and Tamora Pierce. ^^;

2) What book do you own the most copies of?
I actually have two copies of Stardust, in paperback and graphic novel. Does that count?

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Pfft, I really don't care.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
I've always had a really bad girlcrush on Menolly and Lessa. >.>

5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children; i.e., Goodnight Moon does not count)?
Most of my books have been read at least three times. The very most.. probably Virtual Mode (and the rest of the Modes series), or Neverwhere.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
A Wrinkle In Time, and the Time Quartet in general I guess.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
Brisingr. I was addicted to Eragon, even Eldest was acceptable, but Brisingr... I don't know why, but I couldn't even finish it.

8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
It's a tie between jPod and Anathem.

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Good Omens. (And I've made a good attempt at getting everyone to read it, too!)

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Neal Stephenson.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
I'd love to see a movie of Anathem. Honestly. It'd be nigh-on-impossible to create faithfully, but I would call in sick for a week or two and go see EVERY SINGLE SHOWING OF IT when it played in town. Srsly.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
If graphic novels count, I would really, really hate to see Neil Gaiman's Sandman turned into a movie. It would fail so hard in theatres, no matter where in the story they started, and if they continued it along the natural plotline? It's so schizophrenic and disjointed and... yeah, no.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I... can't recall ever dreaming about books, per se. Video games, but not books. :o

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
Twilight. But I still love it, because it's so... yeah.

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Lord of the Rings. (Dudes, seriously, have you ever ACTUALLY read it? The council of Elrond lasts an ENTIRE. FUCKING. CHAPTER.)

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
Ehhmm... Probably Twelfth Night. *Fail*

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
No.

18) Roth or Updike?
I have no idea who these two are, so let's go with Roth, because I don't like the word 'dyke'.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Again, no idea, so let's say Eggers, because I don't want to have to clean up those eggs off the house.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Billy, my man!

21) Austen or Eliot?
What is, the capitol city of country music? I WON JEOPARDY. =D

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Tbh, I have a sore lack of the classics in my repertoire. I'M WORKING ON IT THOUGH. Sloooooowly...

23) What is your favorite novel?
Uhhmmm... Neverwhere.

24) Play?
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).

25) Poem?
I don't really read much poetry myself, but I have a longtime love of 'I Carry Your Heart With Me'.

26) Essay?
A Modest Proposal.

27) Short story?
Gaiman's Chivalry.

28) Work of nonfiction?
Erm... what is this 'non-fiction' you speak of?

29) Who is your favorite writer?
All of them. ♥

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Stephenie Meyer, AKA little miss "SOMEONE posted my manuscript online and thus you must all suffer the consequences!" drama queen.

31) What is your desert island book?
...can I have a one-volume copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy?

32) And... what are you reading right now?
New Moon at home, and Dragonsinger at work, to be followed by Diamond Age.

Too bad Lush can't cure the common cold, too.

2009-03-25T05:50:22Z

I hate being sick. Sore throat and stuffy, runny, sneezy nose aren't enough, this time, they're too fixable. Oh no, this time on top of that I think my ear's infected or something, because every time I yawn or swallow or anything, my left ear hurts. Also doesn't help that I've had a headache for days that nothing seems to tame, and womanly time is uncomfortable, at best. D: Sigh.

On another note, I've become spoiled by Lush products. The facial cleanser I got a sample of in my last order was so effective, my skin is dying for another go. D: I made an order with a full lot of it on Friday. Here's hoping it gets here tomorrow! (Along with all my other new goodies. Time to try solid shampoo, and hopefully smell like cinnamon hearts for a while!~)

Took a nice long walk today, up to Wal-Mart. Haven't walked that far in too long, though, 'cause my feet are killing me now. Gotta shape up! But at least I didn't have to stop the whole way up for a breather!

Time to catch up on Mei-chan no Shitsuji and Hanadan-K before bed!

Boys are stupid, throw rocks at them!

2009-03-16T17:38:18Z

Sometimes, there's a great temptation to go out and become a man-hating lesbian. Boys can be so... stupid. Acting like a petulant child, just because someone asks you to meet halfway and go for coffee to meet, instead of expecting her to go all the way to your house, a $20 cab ride away? And daring to blame the 'economic crisis' as the reason she doesn't want to go to your house, and be alone with you, the first time she's really getting to see you? No, my darling, go back to kindergarten where your tactics may be better tolerated, or at least reacted to. This is no stupid piece of ass, like your last conquest. (Note to self: NEVER believe a male is any different from the rest of his brethren, until he gives you definitive proof to the contrary.) And yes, this is the gotta-be-bipolar guy that I thought might have had two brains, instead of just one.

In lighter news, I'm down to a size 10. From 16 to 10 since my birthday. And I'm kind of hoping it keeps going. I'd love to be a size 8 for the first time since I was 12, not to mention be able to wear all sorts of pretty new 'skinny' clothes for the summer. =D

nica1287 @ 2009-03-05T16:20:00

2009-03-05T19:50:09Z

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So, the guy at work that I thought might have been a potential friend is now back on speaking terms with me. I swear he's gotta be bipolar or something.

In other news, I had JUST reset my sleep schedule when they pull a noon start shift on me. ARGH! I can't reset until next Wednesday now cause I have a 1:15 start on Tuesday. At least then I can reset, solid in knowing I only have 4 pm starts the week after.

Made another order from Lush. I'm such a sucker for a good bubble bath, and the variety of their bubble bars is ridiculously 'me'. Also, I've discovered I'm in love with patchouli, which doesn't make much sense for me, I'm usually sensitive to strong scents, but oh well.

Should probably go before I get caught. x3

Writer's Block: Desert Island Time

2009-03-03T04:59:41Z

You're packing your bag for that magical desert island that happens to have electricity, a TV, and a DVD player—what five DVDs do you take with you?

View 501 Answers

1. Serenity. If I had to narrow it down to a single DVD to represent Firefly, this is it. I never get tired of it. (The whole series would win if I could fit it on a single disc. ...burnt-off Blu-Ray anyone?)

2. Stardust. If I can't bring a book, I'll bring a movie based on a book by possibly my favourite author.

3. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. This is my dose of games in lieu of the actual games.

4. Attack on the Pin-Up Boys. My share of comedy and hot Korean boys.

5. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Extended edition, disc 1. Because, "Welcome, wilkommen, to Kino das Bang Bang Boom Boom 1970 Gjong-Hai Ich Habe Eine Diese Nacht Wilkommen 2004" will never, ever get old. (Though if I could bring both movie discs, that would rock.)

PS - Stolen from/inspired by xxlithiumflower. You can do that with these things, right? >.>

Randomness.

2009-03-02T04:49:45Z

So today the temperature didn't go above -6C, but there were still rivulets of meltwater running down the roads. Spring is most certainly here, in spirit if not in appearance. ♥

I should have my VISA paid off by the end of May, which means a nice big shopping spree in June for new clothes in my new size, and then lots and lots of saving. Then, after about September, if I find someplace else to live, I can actually move. It comes in waves, but I'm getting a little sick of this town. There's nothing here. I know nobody. Nobody seems to really care to know me. The only thing I'd really be leaving behind would be Ivy and my mom.

I don't know. I'm comfortable here. Utterly alone, but comfortable. I have a job that pays well for little work, low rent, and a happy home. I just... want more. I want a place with things to do. With winters that don't enforce hermitude. With people that might actually maybe want to be my friends.

I wish I hadn't taken a Lush bath before work. I could really use another one right now. *Sigh*

nica1287 @ 2009-02-25T16:04:00

2009-02-25T19:34:28Z

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The buds on the trees seem to be multiplying, and there are actually dry patches on the roads and sidewalks. Hell, I can SEE parts of the sidewalks. Spring is definitely in the air.

Also, real, cafe-made lattes make me feel pretentious. :3

The world is crumbling as we speak.

2009-02-25T16:38:13Z

I am Twittering. Dear god, what has the world come to? Come along if you're into that sort of thing.

In other news, I've all but given up on finding even a good friend here. Everyone flakes out on me at some point. If I'm going to be social at all, I need to move... somewhere else. Within Canada, preferably. Any suggestions/takers with extra rooms? *Sigh*

On the up side, doctors who prescribe painkillers for PMS cramping are made of win. (Even if I only get one night of horrifying, cold-sweat-inducing, crippling pain instead of a steady onslaught, it's still nice to have something to take the edge off.)

Glee!

2009-02-24T17:33:12Z

Possibly old news to some, but New Moon is dated for November 20 this year. And for the scenes in Italy, they're going to be filming in Volterra, where the actual events take place.

*FLAIL*

That is all.

nica1287 @ 2009-02-18T18:03:00

2009-02-18T21:33:32Z

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So I've only lost 3.5 lbs for the 7 inches I've gone down. Wtf? I think it may be all my winter gear, last time I was weighed I only had early autumn clothes on, and my shoes weren't huge, waterproof kahunaboots.

At least my doctor was glad I'm losing at all, and at the size change. I'm making progress in the ways that matter most, that's all I care about. =)

Feeling better than ever!

2009-02-14T17:20:02Z

So, in total, since my birthday, I've lost a total of 7 inches, give or take, between my bwh measurements. o.o None of my clothes fit. I've had to tighten up straps and belts. My metabolism's changed, too. I can't eat very much at a sitting (I had a regular sized bowl of rice, maybe a cup and a half, and I could only eat about 2/3 of it before I was stuffed) but I'm eating something every few hours (a cup of rice for breakfast at 11, a bagel at 1-1:30, a muffin or granola bar at 3:30-4, and so on) and I've got so much more energy, it's ridiculous. The past few nights notwithstanding, I've only been sleeping 5-6 hours a night and waking up completely. (The last few nights, I've been trying to stay up to reset my sleep schedule by staying up super late and seeing if I'll sleep past 10, but I think my body's on to my trick, and has been falling asleep much earlier than usual, last night I was asleep by 1:30. o.o;; ) I'm really curious to see if I've actually lost any weight, now. I have an appointment with the doctor on Wednesday, so we'll see!

In other news, might FINALLY be able to hang out with the guy I gave the book to (two entries ago). I have this week off, and he should have the end of this week off, so I might finally be able to pick his brain on a few things. :D It's been WAY too long since I had a good conversation in person with someone. D:

And now that I've finished my second breakfast, I'm off to sit down at the coffee shop with a nice latte, and then do a little bit of grocery shopping.

To those who may not have seen snow before...

2009-02-08T23:08:25Z

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This is a real picture of the current snow piles I pass on my walk home every night. Note: Real building. Real car.

I've had another one of those epiphany things...

2009-02-04T16:35:09Z

So, I think I've cemented another friend here. I've been chatting with this guy at work a lot lately on breaks and such, and he gave me a link to an online version of a book, written in the 20s by a Canadian mystic, that's been... very educational, for me, so far.* When I found out he didn't have a copy, I decided to buy two (it wasn't very expensive, I'd have paid twice the price on the cover for the book willingly anyway) and give one to him as a gift and a show of thanks. He seemed surprised but pleased that I'd gotten the book in hardcopy at all, but when I told him he could keep the copy I brought over to his desk, he lit up like Christmas had come early. It was very... gratifying, for me. I don't need, or really want, anything in return, I did it for the sake of returning a favour rather than wanting something in trade, but also partly as a gesture of friendship. I hope that maybe this could be the start of a solid friendship with someone I can really relate to, as most of the people here are fun to be around socially, but it's rare that I find someone I can really talk to, about real, deep subjects.

Now, my task is to work my way through that book (Which, ftr, is massive in print. Well over 600 pages in paperback, about 2.5-3 inches thick, and the cover size is about the size of a standard hardcover, a fair bit bigger than most paperbacks, and it has very small print inside), and spend time on my own journey when I can. I've been stagnant for long enough, I think. I've undergone some radical changes in the last few months, physically and mentally, and I want to catch up to that progress spiritually, and I feel that the time is right.

I've come a long way since I started this journal. I've come a long way since I turned 19, and got my heart condition under control. I've come a long way since I turned 20, and started to really grow up. I've even come a long way in the two months since I turned 21, and I hope that I have a long and fulfilling journey ahead of me, too. ♥

* For anyone familiar with the book (I know a few of you who might have heard of it, maybe even read it, in whole or in part) I do realize that some of it is outdated and incorrect, however I do feel that at the very least, it will give me a starting point on my path, and new insights into subjects that may lead me to the answers to questions I've yet to even form consciously.