Jun

30

Good things to those who wait

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Too bad I’ve never been good at waiting! :D
Anyway, more good news regarding my writing endeavours can be found over on that blog.

Also, on an unrelated project, I want to thank my mom for reading my short story competition entry and really liking it. I’ve mentioned her passion for reading before and anyone who meets her quickly realises that she’s one smart lady. I’ve always had a fear of showing her anything I’ve written because I’m afraid it won’t measure up to her expectations. I know she’s mortal like the rest of us, but my irrational fear of rejection or disappointment has been at times embarrassingly paralysing. But she liked my story. She’s read it several times and can tell me precisely why she likes it. I often feel like a child whenever I show her something, like there’s a chance the project won’t make it onto the refrigerator or something, but today I feel like a thirty-four year old writer getting praise from a tough critic whose opinion I respect immensely. It feels damn good.
Thanks Mom.
And thanks especially for not bullshitting me that I’m good when I really am not.

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Jun

29

Even in the UK, I suck at bowling.

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Ticky ticka ticky ticka ticka tap
Ticky ticka ticky ticka ticka ticky ticka ticky ticka ticka tap
Ticky ticka ticky ticka ticka ticka ticka tap

86 cents of returning bowling ballThat’s the sound of two girls on chat arranging to go bowling. Sam and I met up outside the flats and walked downtown to spend too much cash on tenpin bowling and American atmosphere. As an expat, I felt it my duty to research and compare UK Tenpin to US Bowling.

The UK version of a bowling alley is very similar to an American joint, but more like a movie set parody of one. I’ve never been in a bowling alley that seemed so much like an amusement park! It was garish, loud, expensive, and almost trying too hard. Maybe I’ve only been in small/medium-sized US bowling alleys, but this was nearly circus-like. (My apologies for not having any good pictures of the wackiness. I only had my phone and rubbish lighting.)
Sam watches.

Wanna know what two games of bowling costs one person in Maidenhead?
£9.50, shoes included. That’s (checks today’s exchange rate…) $17.25 USD!!!
Did you catch that?

— $17.25 —
I shit you not.

It’s outrageous, but we had a good time. We are both really bad at bowling. Gutter balls and single dead pins were common. There were teasing glimmers of prowess when the odd Strike happened, but all in all, we blow at bowling. If it wasn’t so fun, it would possibly be the worst investment I’ve ever made.

After some hardcore bad tenpin, we wandered the land, settling in the park for chat and snacks. Sam and I made plans to attempt some sort of fitness routine but you can bet your sweet, chubby ass it won’t involve bowling, at least not until we each have a sugardaddy to fund our gutter balls.

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Jun

28

Can’t concentrate for all the electricity today!

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My hitcounter has gone wild today with the additional hits I’ve received thanks to the Spreadshirt.net email newsletter. It’s been fab and I send a hearty ‘howdy!’ to all the new faces mousing around these parts. I’ve got photos (check the link at the top under the header too), geek tips, software opinions, personal ramblings, tender reflection, educational entries, confessions, many smoothies (search my site for more), current events analysed, blurbs about writing, humorous banter, and pretty pictures. And all of that comes from 2006! You’ve got so much to catch up on! :P
In addition to the fun created by my pals at Spreadshirt, (Which, by the way, my header graphic is now available in the shop on two different shirts. Honk if you love platypus!) I’ve sent off my first short story contest entry! Whoo-hoo! I’m terrified and excited all at once! The results won’t be known until mid-September, but that’s fine. I won’t have any fingernails left by then, but I’ll survive… just.

Off to craft more code. Must regain my concentration…
Happy day!!

smooches~
jEN

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Jun

28

holy cow- I can only giggle and blush! Thanks Spreadshirt!

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I’ve returned to earth this morning after a freaky evening (see last post) and am coding some CSS for a major project. I was about to take a break for lunch munchies when I switched applications to see what’s shakin’ in my email…

(I’m about to go acronym on yo’ ass for a moment, hang in there, it’ll pass. I suck at it anyway.)
OMFG! WTF! RTFM (I just like that one…) OMG OMG OMG
OK. I’m better now.

Here’s why I’m all a-blushin’: I found this in my inbox—it’s from the folks I opened an online shop through: (click to enlarge captures)

Spreadshirt1
Spreadshirt2
Although it focuses more on me in my underwear and other past adventures, I’m still giggling uncontrollably at the mention in their mass newsletter! OMG! * slaps self * Right, holy cow!

Thank you, Spreadshirt! (Now, someone go buy something from me, pretty please! :) I’ll be adding more items soon, so keep your mouse finger limber. )

OK, I’m buzzing like mad, but off to make lunch. Wheeeee!

smooches~
jEN

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Jun

27

kind of a weird day

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It’s not been such a dramatically weird day that I felt uncontrollably drawn to blog about it, but I’m in the mood to procrastinate myself away from what I’m doing (perhaps part of the day’s soft oddness) and so I shall.

I woke from an abnormally good night’s sleep to classical music and a cheerful disposition. Let me tell you, I’m not accustomed to the kind of positive morning experience where you’d swear animated bluebirds just lifted the sheets from your rested body and adorable woodland creatures delivered your robe and slippers… nope, I’m kind of a struggler in the morning. But not today…

It had not yet ticked over to 9 AM when I found myself, fairly alert at my desk, beavering away at my RSS feeds, email, and the code project I needed to get my teeth into today. I even paused when something got tricky, did some yoga, pleasure read some PHP instructional book as I stretched, and got back to my desk with renewed insight and enthusiasm. I think those bluebirds refilled my coffee… and spiked it with something…

There was a pretty intense looking car crash outside the flat this afternoon, but even that seemed to happen in the most positive way possible— no one hurt.

I think I’ve finally reached my limit. I haven’t had dinner yet and I can’t tell if my blood sugar is bottoming out or if the world really has gone slightly foggy. Either way, it’s tempting to ride this almost drug-like daze till bedtime, though I know that’s not healthy whether it’s got anything to do with my blood sugar or not. Maybe I just feel like the bluebirds will magically make dinner. Tesco magically delivered the groceries, so now the little imaginary creatures in my head can make dinner. I’m just gonna sit here and listen to myself type while the world looks like it’s covered in cellophane…

UPDATE: I made some food. This concludes my efforts towards anything productive for the rest of the evening. :P

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Jun

26

a return to youth

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Did this owl hold your towel?Ever wander through the internet and realise someone out there has an online gallery of the kitschy crap that coloured your childhood landscape?

Mom— which macrame owl did we have? I was leaning towards the one pictured on the right, found through the Page 4 link, but damn, they all look so vaguely familiar.

Thanks to Bill Davenport’s Homepage for the owls as well as a really excellent gallery of thrift store paintings.

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