Aug

31

Work Fly Play Cry Fly Cry Play Work

Filed Under expat, regular, tout le fromage | 4 Comments

over the UKThat’s likely how the series of events will play out. I’m going to focus on work for the next day or so and then it’s off to the US to visit friends, family and the pets I share with Aaron. I’m excited to go back and slightly anxious over the deluge of feelings that will inevitably come with the experience. The last time I was in the states was the first week of March.

I had been living here in the UK for four months then– this time the gap is around a month longer. It seems possible to keep up the trend of visits twice per year. The last time I went back I enjoyed myself but missed my home here in Berkshire. Now, it will feel even more evident that I am a guest in the place I spent 10 years of my life, and I will miss my new home even more. I’m used to life here. I drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the car and road. I pronounce many words differently. I’ve finally got the hang of giving change with British coins instead of always using pound notes to avoid embarrassment… I am a British resident now and going back to the US will be a peculiar flood of familiar and foreign. Twice per year for that sort of emotional disruption might be plenty for now. ;) As time passes, the visits will become easier with each one. For now, it’s still difficult due to the friendly circumstances in which I left it all. I have love in both countries– 4000 miles apart and twice per year I saturate myself in hugs and tears of joy and sadness. Thank goodness I have the opportunity, no matter how tricky it can be to tiptoe through the emotional landmines. :)
I’m looking forward to this trip like you can’t believe. I’ll be with my friends and family, shopping, eating, laughing at my evolving accent, gaining weight on all the foods I forgot how much I miss, and getting in as much fuzzy love from my cats and dog as possible! I will have a great time and leave drunk on love coupled with the intense desire to be here, cooking in my own kitchen, sleeping in my own bed.

This little expat has gone on long enough. There’s work to be done both with code and with housework. The next day and a half will be busy, so I bid you a good week and I will do my best to blog once or twice from the US.

Until then,
smooches~
jEN

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Aug

30

Argh. Freelancer blues

Filed Under me so g33ky, tout le fromage | 7 Comments

I’m getting pretty good at this cross-browser/cross-platform thing. I spent this morning developing a site template for a new client. It’s lean, mean, W3C valid for both XHTML and CSS, as well as working on more than 10 different browser/platform configurations with excellent consistency. What I was given by the client as the basic CSS to start from was messy, clumsy and not cross-browser/cross-platform. The XHTML document was poorly structured, completely standards invalid and again, not rendering cross-browser/cross-platform. I made that code sing in four hours, and let me tell you, she’s got a lovely voice!

This was a much longer post, but in the interest of staying as vague as possible on the subject, I’ll just say that the client hired us for several templates, got one for initial approval/guidance that is super compliant and met the requirements, then said they had done some of their own work and wouldn’t need us after all… Fortunately, we had only sent off one template, and not finished the whole day’s work.

They say they’ll pay for what we’ve done so far. I hope so. Part of why we were hired was that they truly wanted to get away from the TABLES structure that currently forms the backbone of their resale template system. I built pure, clean, valid, truly cross-browser/cross-platform CSS and XHTML. I’m not at all mad nor do I feel like it’s a waste of time. After all, I do have a really good basic template from which I can create numerous sites (of course, so can they ;)…). If they pay the bill as promised, then sure, use my template for all it’s got. If they don’t pay…
Either way– bummer. I was enjoying the project. I don’t get to be ‘creative’ all that often, so this was a treat. Damn. I shouldn’t have commented that CSS so well :P. Next time I won’t for the initial submission. Live and learn…

A bit of a rant… and a techie boring one too. Now I’m off to the next project… It’s a really fun one and should prove to be a good, healthy client to work for. Fortunately, we’ve got a few of those. They’re my favourites. ;)
The template client just sent an apology and again say they wish to pay for the work done. That’s a good start… Probably won’t work for them again, but if so, I think more upfront negotiations will be in order.

smooches~
jEN

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Aug

30

Shameless promotion for PodcastCon UK 2005

Filed Under me so g33ky, tout le fromage | Leave a Comment

PodcastconI’m hardly a podcaster. I’ve done a couple of experimental recordings, but overall, podcasting is something I support from the sidelines. How, you may ask? I help out by being co-admin on the BritCaster.com forums and generally involved in the discussions there amongst the creators and enthusiasts of podcasts. Neil started the BritCaster thang to bring awareness to the growing UK podcasting scene, which invariably gets swamped by the glut of US-based podcasts. The attention for BritCaster has been astonishing! What started as just a goodwill feed aggregator has become the one-stop for finding the latest offerings from a wide cross-section of Brit podcasters.

So what’s the shameless promotion? (Sounded like it was for BritCaster– but wait! there’s more!)
As a result of the feed community at BritCaster, we’ve found ourselves partnered with a first-of-kind European event on September 17th– PodcastCon UK 2005! Sponsored by 24meg broadband upstart be*, it’s an all day convention in London for the creators, enthusiasts and media movers/shakers who are propelling podcasting further into even stronger professional and amateur channels and visibility. We’ll have folks from the BBC, Virgin, and several other companies present. Speakers will include the stars of many of your favourite British podcasts. There will be food, wine, coffee and lots of socialising, so sign up over at the PodcastCon UK 2005 wiki, book your spot online through the secure Paypal conference page (space is limited– hurry!), and we’ll see you there! :)
** End shameless promotion. We now return you to our regularly scheduled blog. ;) **

smooches~
jEN

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Aug

29

I didn’t lose my head, I gained another one.

Filed Under regular, tout le fromage | 2 Comments

ElvisboneI hear you asking, “Jen? WTF is that thing?” Why, it’s a pseudo-Dia de los Muertos-semi-Elvis head carved of wood and detailed with paint that likely wouldn’t pass lead detection maximum standards, that’s what it is. :) Never one to pass up a bargain, especially where freaky kitsch is concerned, I stepped deliberately into the vendor’s tent full of carved wood skeletal bliss and headed straight for the bust. I have several pieces of this style of Mexican art and couldn’t resist the King’s emtpy ocular cavities, staring at me and willing me to spend whatever necessary to adopt his armless form. Turns out, my driftwood Elvis was cheap. (I know, I know… I hear some of you say that free couldn’t be cheap enough for this post-mortem apple of my eye. But truly, inexpensive was a bonus.) His little price tag suggests £22. The one I initially picked up and handled, (Yes, my Elvis had a few brothers on display.), was unmarked, so I asked the nice bone vendor what his price was. “I’ve been charging 15, but I’ll give him to you for 10.” SCORE!
I walked proudly with my decorative deceased, now ten quid lighter, and never looked back.

That’s one of my highlights of the Reading Festival. Less ‘undertakerly’ overtones for the day included seeing some crackin’ performances by a couple of my favourite bands, Queens of the Stone Age (whom I’ve seen before), and the Pixies. I never had the chance to see the Pixies in the 80s, and after they disbanded I thought it slim I’d ever see them live. I am delighted to report that their performance was one of the best I’ve seen from any live band. There is a clear reason why the Pixies are the oft-mentioned founders and most influential band for alternative rock as we know it: they are astonishingly good live. Even after all these years, tears and trips, the Pixies played a long and technically astounding set, complete with encore, that likely showed the rest of the top acts a thing or two about what it is to have such understated star power and longevity. Frank Black sang, growled, cooed and shouted in more than his native language whilst proving to the crowd that he and his bandmates still have it, likely never lost it, and were there to entertain the fans. They were tight and true to their records but you could tell by the performance on Friday night that they cut teeth on stage a couple of decades ago and never lost that edge. They are a live band that happens to sound good in the studio. They are heroes deserving of the recognition they have in modern rock. I’m in love with the Pixies all over again…

Neil enjoyed the music nearly as much as I did, even to the point of recognising far more songs than either of us were expecting him to. We ate naughty but reasonably priced food, had some excellent fair-trade coffee from one of the vegetarian booths, and indulged in first class people watching for hours. There was a dense population of ‘alternative’ people– the type who would typically be looked upon with a raised eyebrow or shake of the head in their hometowns and high streets, yet at the festival, it was the ‘normal’ looking people who wore average clothes and washed their naturally coloured hair that looked like freaks in this ‘alterna-zoo’ of contrived individuality. It just proves that it takes a bit more than a mohawk and a pierced nose to be different these days. Times have changed, haven’t they?

That’s about all I’ve got for now. The weekend has been uneventful and I’m glad. It’s the August Bank Holiday, which in the UK, is the busiest holiday just before school starts. We stayed home for most of it but braved the crowds at IKEA for a few hours to pick up some bits and bobs. It’s back to crankin’ out code tomorrow, but it’s a task I truly enjoy. I’ll blog a couple more times this week, but it will be slim posting for a spell as I’m off to the US for a visit soon. I’ve been living here nearly a year and this will be a very strange ‘homecoming.’ More on that later…

smooches~
jEN

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Aug

25

Pixies and Queens and Over-priced water

Filed Under regular, tout le fromage | Leave a Comment

Readingfest…that’s what we’ll be having tomorrow! Yes friends, it’s time for the one and only Reading Festival! (*implied trumpeting here*)
Though I’m sure Neil’s wallet feels like a gutted deer over the entry fees, the chance to see my favourite band (Queens of the Stone Age), and a band I worship for their unequivocal contribution to grunge and alternative music as we know it (The Pixies), the value of the tickets is truly worth the debit card trial by fire endured.

It rained like a sonofabitch today and yesterday, so the ground ought to be in a perfect state of ‘festival sludge.’ No outdoor music festival takes place on dry earth– it’s against cosmic law. Shall I wear my unbelievably stylish wellies? Maybe. I doubt they’re any good for a whole day of grounds walking and drunkard leaping. (That’s me jumping over drunkards, not a the drunkard doing some acrobatics… I actually don’t drink at concerts. I want to remember the show instead of leaving fogged with alcohol memories.)

So, wish us luck. It’s Neil’s first music festival and my… erm… I dunno– fourth or fifth or more. I’ve lost track. Must remember earplugs and sunscreen. I hope he ends up having a good time. He’s fairly open-minded where my music taste is concerned, however, the barrage of crowds and new sounds could turn him off. I think my enthusiasm should affect him and I’m sure he’ll have a good time for having experienced something new even if he doesn’t feel the need to rush out and buy any CDs afterward. ;)
I shall report on the day after I’m rested on Saturday. :)
smooches~
jEN

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Aug

25

Your ‘Real Personal’ for today

Filed Under real personals, tout le fromage | 4 Comments

I have many tattoos. Well, I had many tattoos. As I went under the needle more and more often, my many turned into larger works but fewer in number as I filled the gaps of virgin flesh. Of all that inking, I have only one, short word tattooed on me. I don’t plan on more at this time, but this ‘Real Personal’ I’ve found for you today illustrates why it is imperative that you check a writing sample, essay, or even a supplies order by the person you choose to ink your skin for eternity.
I give you: The Tattoo Artist Who Can’t Spell…

TATTOO ARTIS LOOKING FOR SHOP

Reply to: [email removed]
Date: 2005-08-24, 7:58PM PDT

LOOKING FOR A SHOP TO WORK IN.
10 YEARS OF TATTOO EXPERIENCE-8 WITH HOME MADE/2 WITH PROFESIONAL MACHENE
ALWAYS READY TO PERSONALIZE ALL ART WORK.
75%RETURN CUSTOMER BASE.
WORK IN VARIOUS STYLES(AND FUSIONS)
I REGARD IT AS AN HONOR WHEN SOMEONE IS WILLING TO LET ME HELP THEM REPRESENT A PART OF THEM.I LIKE TO GET TO KNOW MY CUSTOMER AND GET A SENSE OF THE MEANING OF THE ATR SO I CAN EXACUTE IT TO MY BEST OF ABILITY.I FIND BEING ABEL TO EMORTALIZE THERE MIND FRAME INTO LIVING ART A MOST JOYFULL THING.THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO DO JUST TO BE SOME LOCAL EGO-HERO!THIS IS AN ART I HOLD DEAR TO ME AND IT SHOWS IN MY PORFOLIO.TO GIVE ME A CHANCE IS TO ENVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS INDUSTRY.

A tattoo is forever* fellas, so make sure that big man with the needle has his glasses on and confirms how to spell your girlfriend’s name…

smooches~
jEN

*forever: sort of. You could get it removed by painful laser treatment, but then you’ll have to get the name tattooed correctly after that to save face with your woman. Best to check the facts first before anything tragic happens. Which means YOU’d better know how to spell her name too… ;)

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Aug

24

Just try not to giggle

Filed Under expat, irregular, photos, tout le fromage | 2 Comments

Roastedmonkeynuts

Tee hee hee… :) Some of the expat stuff I encounter is really funny! Whatever happened to just calling them ‘peanuts’? I think there’s likely a joke in here about a monkey called and wants his nuts back… but I’d never say such a thing. ;)
smooches~
jEN

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Aug

23

It’s been a long time

Filed Under regular, tout le fromage | 7 Comments

I’ve been without the cancer for several years now. I think March marked three years since surgery, when the doctors removed a tumour as well as my uterus and cervix. My ovaries were spared and sent to new homes inside my abdomen where they could live happily ever after and still avoid contact with radiation if it would be necessary. (Thankfully, no chemo. No radiation.)

In rearranging and streamlining my internal functions, the hormonal balance shifted and I lost a lot of hair. You never read anything about women going through that sort of change unless they’ve had chemo or radiation. No one talks about it… Well, I had tests done to determine if my hormones would need supplementing and they came back with normal numbers. I chose to wait and treat my scalp casually with natural products that have no side effects and am pleased to show that after more than three years of waiting, massaging, crying and hoping, my hair is coming back and I can finally have some fun with it. I’m beginning to feel feminine again and even a little bit pretty sometimes.

If you look around on my dotmac page pictures, you’ll see lots of hair colours on mostly short hair. Although I had a great time tripping through the spectrum, the real stressy bit was never being able to grow out my hair or change it’s style dramatically. I was trapped into doing what I could to hide the four inch long by almost two inch wide thin and bald area just under my disguise. I’m almost free of that now. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had very short hair before and loved it, but shaving my head because of a freaky bald strip wasn’t going to be my solution. The imbalance has almost worked itself out and I didn’t have to take any freaky prescriptions to get here.

click to enlargeThis picture was taken today and although I have a couple of extra little hair bits in the pigtails, for the most part, it’s all me, baby. (I’ve always loved embellishing my own hair with bits of fake.) It’s getting fun to be a girl again. Though I’m grateful to be alive more than anything, it’s surprising how such a simple thing can get you down and chisel away your self-esteem. I don’t think this makes me shallow– I think it makes me human.

smooches~
jEN

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