xans

Not normally scared of earthquakes... hell, I remember that 6.8 one all those years ago... but still, slightly freaky to hear ominous rumbling and then have the house start shaking, and not knowing how bad it's gonna be. Thankfully... not bad.

But speaking of earthquakes... There was that huge earthquake in Hawkes Bay on Feb 3, 1931. Like, every kiwi knows about it, right? Well, my grandmother was in that earthquake. And my mum has been reading through her old diaries, and came across the entries leading up to and just after that disaster.

( For the sake of posterity )

Any and all errors are of my mother's making. :P

Fin.

Sunday, I came home from work and promptly had a hot bath to soak in, 'cause I was tired and dirty... anyway, cleaned up and everything, and discovered in a discussion with Suzy afterwards that Dad had just cleaned the bathroom earlier that day. So I just sorta undid all his hard work. But then, this afternoon, I finally got to doing my chore of mopping the floors, and had Dad promptly walk over the part of floor I'd just mopped. So he got his own back, in a way.

Was all set to sleep in the morning, but decided to get up just after nine... and it's just as well, since the lawn mower ladies showed up not long after and it would have been hard to sleep through that. I did laundry instead. And then I straightened my hair.

Mmm, parcel for my brother from mum arrived. There's an acryllic blanket in there that's for me. At least, I figure it's for me. Mum said there was something in the parcel for me, and I looked at the customs thingy... anyway, the acryllic blanket is to replace the one that has been misplaced/lost in the move of my shit from the States to down here. At least, I still haven't found it if it even made it here. Anyway, better email her and let her know it arrived safe and sound.

Dunno why, seem to be playing at Domestic Goddess today. Mopping, laundry, changing my sheets, and then I baked some cheese muffins this afternoon. Mmm. Cheesy muffin goodness.

No idea what I'm going to make myself for tea tonight. What goes with cheese muffins? Probably something with bacon.

Fin.

It is a beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous day out there. Sososososos v. nice. So why'm I here? Why am I not out basking in the sunlight, dressed as I am? (knee high socks, schoolgirl pleated skirt, purply-pink tube top, y'know, skank that I am) Well, I'm here to inform shiseiji that the parcel arrived Monday, I didn't find out 'til Tuesday, and didn't get to pick it up until today, Thursday. But zomg zomg. Sugar rush already. Aaaaand yeah. Love, much love. :D

Anyway, you know when you're talking about something, and your mouth just takes over and says something you didn't mean to say? And I don't mean, you suddenly offer a blunt opinion that upsets someone, but like, you mess up your words or have a case of spoonerisms. Happened the other day, Friday, I was at Grant's and somehow it came up that, slim as we both were, my wide hips were good at taking up a lot of the space. (I may not have shiseiji's gigantic birthing hips, but they're wide enough, that's for sure) Well, Grant went to say, "Wide hips" but it came out "Wild hips." Funny enough on its own...

It just gave me this hilarious visual of a bunch of bare hips grazing on a plain. They'd just be plodding along in their herds, 'til someone came along to rustle some up or something... then there'd be panic, and these stampeding wild hips... it was a funny visual, anywho.

Yesterday I was all geared up not to see Grant, 'cause he'd sent a text saying he was tired and planned to sleep. But then, my cellphone was on its charger so I didn't get the next text saying he couldn't sleep, he was going into town, and did I want to come over for pizza later? Instead he found me in the library, and we wandered around for a wee bit, enjoying the lovely, lovely sunshine. Then we went up and passed the time for a while, until it was time to make the pizza.

It was kind of a gourmet style pizza. Aside from the necessary tomato paste and cheese, there was onions, salami, capsicum, olives, feta cheese, anchovies (I discovered they're not all that bad, but I wouldn't wanna overdo 'em), and these things, these other things that I can't remember what they're called, but they're supposed to be good and I think I plain did not notice them. But it was a v. nice pizza that we ate while watching the news.

We actually watched a lot of tv, spent the most amount of time in the living room we ever have, watching Aqua Teen Hunger Force, the Simpsons, Scrubs, SVU, and Green Wing. All in all, good stuff.

Oh, oh, it was so funny; Grant and I stopped by where I'm staying so I could grab a couple things (some CDs for him to listen to, I meant to grab my phone off the charger and forgot, and my jacket so I wouldn't freeze when I walked home), and as I was heading back downstairs Glenn came out from the back room.

I smiled--no, I think I rather smirked--at him, so he asked, rather paranoid, "What?" and I laughed.

"What have you been up to?" he demanded.

"It's not what I've been up to," I replied, "but more what I'm about to get up to!"

He swore and I walked out under a tirade of, "Oi, no one said you could leave. Where are you going? Get back in here!"

(Don't worry, he wasn't serious, just jealous at the mere suggestion someone's getting laid when he is not)

Besides, that was more than enough revenge for the stunt he pulled yesterday morning. Back on Tuesday, I very generously cooked him dinner (what the hey, I'll play domestic goddess when I've got so much bourbon from him) and we also watched the DVD of Wes Craven's "Cursed" with Christina Ricci and Josh Jackson. While utterly predictable, it was fucking hilarious. Anyway, afer the movie I pleaded sleepiness and went to bed. I didn't have a hangover yesterday or anything--I've only had one or two ever thanks to Absolut Vodka--I just had a hard time waking up, and I was in a sort of not-ready-to-face-the-world-grunt-my-answers mood. I'd be better once I'd had my coffee and breakfast.

Well he and the Other Grant apparently got up when the birds did or some shit 'cause they were already up when I stumbled down. I was making my coffee when they walked into the kitchen. "You look like shit!" Glenn told me not unkindly. "I'm not awake yet," I responded. He walked past me, and the next thing I know, I'm flinching back 'cause I looked over in time to see him banging to pots right next to my head.

"Fuck!" was all I could say while they laughed at me. Bastards.

Oh, rather amusing email from my cousin John. He's a cop in Colorado, and I get the occasional narrative from him about some interesting event or another. he's a cool cousin.

( Subject: Stroker Ace )

Fin.

The following are different answers given by young school-age children to the given questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Think about it, it was the best way to get more people.
3. Mostly to clean the house.
4. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. He made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string. I think.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

How did your Mom meet your dad?
1. Mom was working in a store and dad was shoplifting.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

What makes a real woman?
1. It means you have to be really bossy without looking bossy.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dads such a goofball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just got to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you gotta ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What's the difference between moms and grandmas?
1. About 30 years.
2. You can always count on grandmothers for candy. Sometimes moms don't even have bread on them!

Describe the world's greatest Mom?
1. She would make broccoli taste like ice cream!
2. She'd always be smiling and keep her opinions to herself.

Is anything about your Mom perfect?
1. Her teeth are perfect, but she bought them from the dentist.
2. Her casserole recipes. But we hate them.
3. Just her children

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd dye-it, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

Fin.

Pumpkin pie: yep, still don't like it. Tried it for the first time in years as a sort of "just checking" and there was a lovely huge piece of pastry for my piece, and it was made by Eileen rather than dad. Figured it would be polite to eat it. But admitted I don't care for the pie. The cookies and cream ice cream was vair nice though.

Brandy: ughhhhhh *shudders* Never had it before. Nope, don't like it.

Today was not dad's day.

We went to the bank today, because the fucktard clerk who served me on Friday when I deposited his Christmas check from Gma and Gpa McFarland totally fucked up. For one thing, she told me that I could no deposit my check into my dad's account (which I need to do, because my account is overdrafted at the mo and I need to fix that up). For another, she deposited dad's check into the wrong account. Wrong, as in, not his. So we talked to this guy there, and he fixed up with dad's money, and looked to see IF I could deposit my check into his account--I could, I just had to write on the check to deposit in his account along with my endorsement.
And that was okay. Although we had to deal with a couple shitty drivers on the way there. And dad was pissed because his bottle of ink for his quill pen had disappeared. Couldn't find it anywhere. Not in the house, not left at the course place he's been at. No sign.
So, we get to Chartwell and get a new bottle of ink. If I suddenly find myself up $200 I'd love to buy him a new printer/copier/scanner--the current printer has utterly died. No surprises as it's at least five, no, six years old. But yeah, that's just a secret desire. Anyway, over to the mall to look in the hardware store at curtain rings. Thing was, dad was sure the rings they had in the style he needed were too small, so he didn't get them. When we got back, we learned they'd been the same size as the four he already had here.
But yeah, got back, and I open the door of the van and look down to be sure of my footing when I get out. Guess what I see lying in the dirt? Yeah, uh-huh, the missing ink bottle. Oh, how I laughed and laughed. Dad, he saw, and rolled his eyes in the "that's just typical" fashion... said that yes, it was funny, but he couldn't laugh right now.
We weren't home more than two or three minutes, and Suzy showed up. She was getting dinner in order and all, and then Eileen showed up with one of her pumpkin pies. It is, after all, Thanksgiving--even though I'm the only American of the household. Dad's not got American citizenship anymore. He's gone Kiwi. But yeah, it was celebrating both Thanksgiving and the fact Dad's citizenship papers went through finally. I really impressed them when I got up and made coffee for Dad and Eileen, and got a glass of apple juice for Suzy--without any motivation for myself (I wasn't thirsty, I was just being the good hostess) and I hid in the kitchen washing the dishes and being a total Domestic Goddess. No wonder dad said, "We'll keep you on." (I neglected to mention how many times Gary has said that when I've been a good little helpful daughter--Dad would not appreciate the comparison)
I was very good, and resisted going on the computer until almost 7:30 or so--only to discover when dad and I left this afternoon not only had he left the computer on, he'd left the internet connection on. There were no messages or anything though, so that's all right.
I hope LJ gets it all sorted and starts sending email notifications right. It's confusing to get maybe half of the notifications and find 'extra' comments on an entry. It makes me wonder if there are any replies or comments I'm completely missing because I don't even know where to check.
*laughs* Eileen just coughed. Lin is in the kitchen, making stir fry like he usually does. And what is part of the stir fry? Chile. It makes the eyes water a little, and often makes us cough, too. They're waiting for it to hit me. Poor Eileen is asthmatic though so no wonder it's affecting her.
*coughs* There we go!

Fin.

So I have decided as part of Andrea's b-day present I will take her to see Finding Neverland. And I will also buy her something else she needs but as I gave her a link to my lj I won't say it on the off chance she has a look before then. :D
It was 29 degrees today. C. Not F. So it was really hot rather than below freezing. (First it will be measurements in metric. Then it will be resuming Brit spelling... lasly the accent will die!) It's cooled down now. The weather is supposed to get worse this week. Rain for the North Island and all that. In a way, it will be a relief. The kiddies going back to school will probably rejoice on the one hand that they're not missing out on good weather, and hate it at the same time because it's bloody miserable.
Going to Palmy in less than a month. Scary and exciting. I just have to keep reminding myself that I won't be the only one going there who won't know anyone at all.
*laughs* Checking my emails to see what replies if any to comments I've made and... You've captured his voice brilliantly, and managed to make the two boys up to their usual (well, we like to think it was usual) behaviour still v. hot. British spelling! Ha! I knew I wasn't a lost cause!
Lost. Hahahahaha.
(Wednesday, 8:30, channel 2)
Hehehehe.
Don't ignore me. I'm here and I think about you guys and I hope you're doing okay. I update so you know I'm still around, still doing all right (or maybe I'm not, and then I hope you'll be there then too).
But also because it's fun to be random.
Iain was here yesterday and asked me if I'd checked out oldfriends.co.nz yet. Yet? Yet? He hadn't even told me about it! Nor, when I mentioned it to Eileen, had she when she realized she should have mentioned it if he hadn't. But it was cool what little glance I took at it (should really look closer).
*runs off to join and wreak havoc*

Fin.

I get emailed the comments that are replies to my posts and comments. Nothing new. But... I just got emailed about three or four replies to old posts and comments, comments that were posted way back at the time those posts were made. Here I'd been, thinking Shanny wasn't interested in my old clothes because I never saw the reply she made. (I still have the clothes lying about, btw) Here I got to reread comments from Brit that I'd seen and replied to!
Confusing to say the least.
My kitten went from sleeping behind the computer to sleeping on my lap. Pathetic sap? I think so too. Stop whining you silly cat.
I wonder what it's like to be a young widow.
Today when in the sanctuary at the church and the kiddies were singing I had one of them using me as a jungle gym. It is weird to have a little child crawling all over me, singing. Who'm I kidding? It's weird to be with all those little kids. Especially when they start telling me I'm going to juvie.
Why does everyone on my MSN list have to be offline or away?

0-9%: You're clean. Although, the fact that you made it through the entire test without leaving in disgust probably does count for something...
10-19%: n00b.
20-29%: You might be infected. Just slightly, but it will fester and grow and there is nothing you can do...you will be assimilated, resistance is futile.
30-39%: Embrace the nerdness. Don't bother making excuses for why you were watching the sci-fi channel anymore, it's too late for that.
40-49%: What's this, a well balanced nerd? Impressive.
50-69%: Dangerously nerdy...no make that dangeresque.
70-89%: You eat lembas for breakfast, know more IP addresses than phone numbers, and watch star trek reruns in your head. At warp speed.
90-100%: l33t hax0r king! pwner of n00bs! All hail ye, and despair! ...do try to shower on a somewhat regular basis, though.

38.095238095238095% of me is a huge nerd! How about you?

I didn't think I'd get such a high score. But, it works. I was tempted to email the guy and ask for the answers. *snickers* That could have upped my nerdiness big time. Didn't though.
Shopping is tiring, but new shit is good.
Besides, I got five books. FIVE BOOKS. That's wonderful. I love reading, and.... *grins* Several of them came from the sci-fi section... hehe. I'm looking into getting this Wheel of Time guide book type thingy from amazon.com.
I need to take out the trash.

Fin.

You are Spearmint.
You are quick-witted and sharp. You pay close attention to details and you can tell what your friends are feeling. You are always the first to understand a joke and you are valued for your insight and advice. However, you sometimes isolate yourself from other people, afraid to share your own feelings.
Most Compatible With: Cinnamon

Which Tic-Tac Flavor Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I saw it coming. So true.

Other than that, I don't really care to write. Instead, I have an email from my brother I feel like sharing. Ah, he amuses me. Crazy boy. He's 21, and in Thailand. With no one he actually knows. Or, knew before he came to Thailand. And he's there just for the hell of it.

----------------
well, i got here safely (tho was a little unsure about my taxi drivers' ability - he did not seem to realise that the white dotted line meant different lanes)
The plane trip was okay, the people i sat next to were interesting and didnt smell :)
The security at Bkk airport was shocking, they just stampe your passport and shuffled you out the door, wish i had brought my 2 pounds of cocaine with me.
Me and this british chick shared a taxi to khao sahn rd (back packers area) we then walked around for ages at 11pm at night in the stifiling heat and eventually found a place to stay which was pretty cheap and clean. we got a rm for 240B a night - 2 beds, a shower, toilet and is clean :) they also serve western food in the resteraunt below which is good, i had french toast and a watermelon shake for breakfast and it cost me about $2NZ
wandered around the markets a bit today.. really really neat, but i think i wont buy anything til my way back - save me having to carry it around.
the amount of activity in this place is staggering, me and tash (brit chick) just sat in a caf drinkin coke from a glass bottle (not twist cap either) watchin people go about their buisness for ages, and it was never boring, never the same thing
dont think il stay in Bkk much longer - a day or so, and then il head south, il see bkk on my way back.
well thats it for now, will email update later :) hope everyone is doin okay, i am. bye
------------------
Fin.