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

On my way to pick up my mother and take her shopping.

I think I'm going to have to redo one of my salads. Note to self: boiling vegetables to death is not always a good idea. Managed to get the last remaining duck in Tescos. We have oozo and vodka for the meal and more cheese, salami, smoked fish, ham and assorted pickled mushrooms than actually fits in the firdge, as well as about 12 cans of caviar. Anyone want some caviar? I don't know how we ended up with so much. I'm sure I gave away about 12 cans for Christmas...

I suppose I should feel pleased that after my first year back both B and I have survived, both got jobs and have saved a shedload of money, but frankly I'd rather be in Russia. Haigh ho. How long does culture shock last again?

I'll buy some of the caviar off you Sol, if you bring some to the meet. I don't think I've ever had real Russian caviar.

Isn't it odd how we set our heart on something, and find it altogether tougher to deal with than we ever expected. I guess I should take warning from that. Maybe the reason I don't have what I want the most in the world is that it would be Bad for me. Thinking about it, it would be harder to pull off with flair and grace than anything I have managed so far. Mind you, I have managed some pretty fiddly gigs. Hmmm. It is good to philosophise on Old Year's Night. Thank you Sol.

*feeling frustrated that I cannot listen to 'Let it Be' and watch crap-tv at the same time*

Greedy? Moi?

Ben

Ah well, what I'm really mourning is the loss of my lovely flat in Moscow. To get something similar in London would be... expensive. Call me a snail, but give me a nice secure shell and I'll take on the world.

Actually, it's red caviar. Salmon roe? I've only ever had black caviar once. It was nice though. If I come to the meet (it clashes with Russian Christmas), I'll certainly bring you some.

I love Ormy's version of Let It Be!

Tonight's repast will be extremely simple, here -- some salad stuff, leftover turkey, cheeses, potato crisps, rolls, ice cream and apple flautas with caramel sauce.

Some Best and Worst, now, y'all. Feel free to contribute your own.

A great big raspberry for the worst of organized religion:
http://images.dailykos.com/images/user/3/phelps_large.gif
Take good note of the official website name! This is the church of the Reverend Mullah Phelps. And it is not a joke or a satire.

A big Hurrah to the best of organized religion, tv ads by the United Church of Christ, whose inclusiveness so shocked the heads of CBS that they refused to run the ad. You could see them on lots of cable channels, but the networks didn't want to offend Dubya. Go to this page
http://www.stillspeaking.com/resources/index.html
and click on your choice of media player for the "bouncer" ad to see what horrified the network executives. Go, UCC!

[GDZ]

"I know, I know. Computer software doesn't have a personality, really. Or does it?"

How about hardware as well? Not just computer hardware, but any office equipment hardware? There are times when your computer or printer or photocopier just won't work, and then you fetch somebody to have a look. 'Now, see when I do this, it... it...' and of course the error just won't ocurr again while this somebody is watching. And guess what? I am a somebody!

I hadn't realized it until I read about Mr Matekoni's attitude towards engines (The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency) and recognized the attitude.

Yesterday, I managed to get a photocopier to work again simply by doing exactly the same thing the person asking for help had done - turn it off and then back on again. It didn't work when she did it, but it did work when I did it.

And then another colleague had trouble with our intranet - all I had to do was stand next to my colleague and look at her screen, and it worked just fine!

Thinking back, I realize that I've done this a lot of times - standing next to people watching them trying to re-create the error, and failing...

I guess this is the reason while I still insist on using a 9-year-old computer at home - it has served me loyally and I just don't have the to dump it...

Re: Knicker sniffing
"How else does one sort clean washing from dirty washing?"

Well... you store them in separate places?

Re: Russian Caviar

I don't mean to be fussy, but I actually prefer whitefish roe - crispier and a bit more salty and less sea-watery taste...

As for 2004 - well, if winter blues is going to hit me as hard as it did this year, then I will definitely have to take some preventive measures next year...

*busy trying to locate the most recent back-up copy of her user page, since she's now turned it into a happy-new-year-card, and the current link refers to an old page*

Titania, that is also a great way to get the answer to a clue in a crossword puzzle; read it out to someone or have them take a look. The answer always comes just as they're reading it.

Hmmm, as long as we are on the topic of resolutions, I am going to try to quit smoking. It's the one real addiciton I have left, and I really do need to give it up. It's doing me no good at all.

2004 was a mixed year for me. I managed, finally, to get the dead weight baggage of my ex out of my house and to find a relationship that is both healthy and wildly fun. I also came to realize that damnit, I *deserve* to be treated like this!

On the downside, D's learning/impulse problems made life really hard for a bit there, and it's dawning on me that because of her (not that I would give her up, mind you!), I am stuck having a relationship of sorts with her father for a very long time. Well, the next ten years or so...once she's gone to college, no more. And the global issues are starting to be something I just can't ignore!

I'm in Brighton, and I've found a wireless internet connection. We're here and A's mother gave me a button and lent me a needle and thread. Which I just didn't have time to do this morning. But I did sew the button my self, I'm not totally incompent, fairly, but I can sew buttons on.

I think in academic years rather than actual years, 04/05 seems to be shaping up to be a pretty good year so far, I thought 03/04 was good but 04/05 is fab! I feel slighlty odd going against the grain and saying I've had a good year.

Resolutions. I wasn't going to make any because I never think of them, 2005 is a rather scary year for me, because it's the year I'm going to graduate, start work and Grow Up. So yes there's lots of things I want to achieve in this next year..

Graduate

Learn to drive

Make sure the uni gliding club has someone to replace me

Buy a house

and a car.

So with all that ahead of me I don't really think I'll have time to try and loose weight *again*. Though I'd like to loose two stone and do a parachute jump.

[Teuchter]

Good things about 2004

I was working for most of it
Some astonishingly good sex
I new five year plan, including:
A decision to do a Masters, and which Masters to do
Those I love are still alive, and most of them are well
A lot of things learned

Bad things about 2004

The stepson has gone back to his father, good for both of them, but I miss the boy
The teenage daughter of someone I love very much was murdered less than a week after her 15th birthday - a bit of a show-stopper that one, in every way
A dear friend is having her heart broken, piece by loving piece
Separation
Endurance
The Tsumami - which did not affect me personally, but which is leaving me as raw as 9/11 did, and as fearful

If 2003 taught me patience, and it did, then 2004 has taught me endurance. I am afraid of the lessons that 2005 will bring me.

We must, as the Scots say, dree our weird. Shit, as everyone says, happens.

Ben

04 was a damned hard year for me, but it made me realize that I need a change. We will see what teh future brings. If the Borg hire me I can get much further in my old carreer, if they do not hire me I still have my plan about bartending and cooking. Either was is an improvement over my last place of employ.

Let's raise a glass to Plan Bs

Ben

2004 was definitely mixed for me. I have my kids with me, that is what matters most to me

Likely my last post this year. Happy New Year to all!

Plan Bs!

Plan B and Plan 9!

Plan 9?

*hurries to grab a glass of happy to celebrate whatever the cause*

Just not PLan Nine from Outer Space.

*sulks, slithers out of Titania's arms and retreats towards the guest rooms*