h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think I shall avoid the subject of poetry just at present, as I find it exceedingly interesting and I simply can't afford to get distracted just at present, as I am one of those people seriously affected by Mercury and its funny little ways and this month has just been a total heap of self-inflicted stupid and I am now having my poor nose banged hard on the double dead-lines of the stupid novel and the vastly important and ridiculously complicated university application form. Which has to be in on FRIDAY, the day after the novel has to be completed oh I am such an eejit, really I am, I want to go hide in bed until it's all over...

*Ahem*

Anyway.

MS Word sucks big green poisonous bunnies. I have just been trying to update my CV and I KNOW. Bah.

*Staggers out again, looking folorn*

*pops head back in again*

I did once have some of my poems set to music by a music student. Very, err, sub-Britten.

Speaking of Britten, thoroughly enjoyed going to hear Sol's choir sing last saturday, and it was very nice to meet B at last! No crashing and burning, choir-wise, at all. It was rather lovely. And two of my favourite choral pieces. They had borrowed some 'serious' singers to do the solos, and the choir sounded gloriously rich in tone and were clearly enjoying the jollier bits, which is always nice.

Though the imported-for-the-occasion mezzo-soprano did sound alarmingly like Harriet Harman being pushed backwards down a cobbled hill on roller-skates.

Spends the rest of the evening imagining: >>Though the imported-for-the-occasion mezzo-soprano did sound alarmingly like Harriet Harman being pushed backwards down a cobbled hill on roller-skates.<<

[hh]

for the brooch.

Tartaronne's discussion about her daughter and all that got my attention. I wonder how much parents are or should be involved in their grown up children lives. To be there for them and offer help when asked - I can understand that. But else? I wouldn't know. My teenager blocks me out atm. And I am not sure if that will change in the future.

Poetry, like art , is always a personal thing but I have been sitting here thinking it is actually quite an important thing.
I have only 2 water colours and a bronze statue that wasn't that expensive but they actually give me a great deal of pleasure for not that much cost.
I think the thing about art for me is that it needs to be something that I am unable to do for it to have that much value to me, I can't sculpt or paint to save my life!
I am looking at the Five Autumn Leaves watercolour and admiring the way the colours have been done and the detail, like the holes put into leaves where they would age naturally and it gives me pleasure. I don't know if you could say it is the beauty that gives me pleasure or the skill gone into it, or perhaps it is both.
I am on safer ground with other peoples work than my own photographs as I am never sure whether my photos are that good as it is for others to judge, also of course the art-needs-to be-something-I-can't-do element is missing.

*Bangs head repeatedly against wall*

I meant Clare Short. Not Harriet Harman.

See what happens when I try to be satirical? I up the punch-line.

I hate myself.

*flaps in*

*tries to imagine any MP on roller skates*

*goes pink at FG's comment about his comments*

I've just read through some of the lyrics I most admire, trying to forget the tune, and even the nearly-poem ones tend to have at least one line that doesn't seem to fit until the shape of the music is added to it. Even wonderful standards like 'All the Things You Are' feel odd divorced from their musical context.

My realtor just called, and the closing date has been changed... to tomorrow at 11. Youse guys sent some really powerful vibes!

David commented on Codex. I have to admit that I've sometimes been disappointed by the lack of knowledge shown by people who, presumably, thought they'd do well on a historical gameshow. I missed it on Sunday, but I can still do the quiz. http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/C/codex/quiz.html

Hmm, 15/20.

The reason I missed Sunday's episode was that I went to my local Anglican church in the morning to see what it was like, and it turned out that the lay preacher was the husband of an old friend of mine. He didn't recognise me until I introduced myself, but I ended up hanging around with the pair of them all day, talking about computer games and stuff and cutting out Christmas decorations down at the University Chaplaincy. They live a few minutes walk away, so I'm sure I'll see them around.

Last conversation was memorable for Woolly's fancy dress.

16 on the quiz for me. At least one of the wrong answers was down to gross stupidity!

There was a couple I should have got, but then some that I did get that were educated guesses, so I don't feel that daft.

Woke up the morning after the concert with a cold. Which is my excuse for (enjoyably) missing the notes. Glad you enjoyed it, Ag! If the MS is the one I think it is, I entirely agree.

Well, obviously the crashing and burning was saved for today as I think it's safe to say that the interview did not go well. Well, bits of it went ok but we stuck on my apparently poor subject knowledge. I'm not sure what to say about this. It seems obvious to me that I'm not going to have the facts at my fingertips the way a recent graduate would and that I'm going to have to work to get it back, so I was flabberghasted to realise they are considering not taking me because of my lack of subject knowledge.

So I didn't handle it well, and I strongly suspect that's that for that training provider. Oddly enough, I didn't like them when I went there for an open day, and I wasn't very impressed again today. Perhaps it's meant, but I feel rejected and cross.

*believing second LED is fine when the conversation starts while on the way back home from Amsterdam*

Home again Once more, I should say - 5½ days 'till the airport beckons again

[Mol]

15/20 on Greece. Much better this time.

What a lovely shade of pink you are today, David. I can't hear "All the Things You Are" without hearing Ella Fitzgerald's version. She could sing the phone book and I think she could make it swing. Now I'm trying to picture her reading Emily Dickenson aloud.

Quiz for Greece: 17. I did much better on this than I did on Rome.

16 on Mesoptamia & Rome, 15 on Greece

Gosh, for once I'm relatively early to a thread...

I am slightly ashamed to admit that I'm very impressed with Will Young's rendition of 'All the Things You Are' in the film Mrs Henderson Presents. He was the UK's first 'Pop Idol' winner, so in theory I should despise him and all he does, but he sings the song magnificently. Not as well as Ella, though.

*waves to j'au*

*Rips conversation back to BRUSSEL SPROUTS!*

Bleah. Sorry. I've probably never had fresh brussel sprouts, so I don't know what I'm missing. I swear by (and at) fresh green beans. They're so much better than canned that it's a whole different vegetable universe.

> CCTV9. (chooses words carefully) Its awfully jolly.

I thought you meant *the* English Channel, Simpsonromany. Not going swimming, are ye?

> I feel that way about that Indian accent with the sing-song tone to it.

I had a call from Dell the other morning - was woken up to a pleasant Indian person with the unlikely name of Michael. And he had that same cultured accent that I like so much... I was tempted to ask him what his real name was.

Autumn Leaves Cocktail: Equal parts Frangelico, Amaretto, Chambord, and bourbon to cut the sweetness. Try not to pass out while drinking.

Honestly, which vegetable do you think is better canned than fresh?