Muppetry and Grand Achievements

Mixed bag at the weekend. We began with muppetry - I forgot to go fetch the tripod I had booked out for the weekend, remembering only when I got to East Cross Causeway and the view of the Crags which it allows. Rather annoying that, as the sun was going down quite beautifully when I went for my wander around. Panoramas would have been epic. I did get a couple of which I am reasonably proud, though. And I found outlook, unknown to me, that allows you to see the Scottish Parliament as I believe the designer envisaged it. End on, it actually looks like a ship. Sorry this photo is a bit dark. Filters are the next step, I think. Although, it looked fine on my laptop, so maybe y'all will be able to see it.





And the skyline of the city centre looked wicked good too.





The whole lot - well, not the whole lot (I got a bit snap happy) - are up on my photostream. I must figure out how to put Flickr on the blog template. They obviously look better in the 'large' format, but the slideshow's nae bad.


I was a Good Boy on Sunday and went down to Prestonpans to sort out my Gran's garden. Mum had already dead-headed and cut back a lot of stuff when I got there, so I was mostly bagging and then cutting back the short stuff that she couldn't bend for.


I did find this fella on a bush. I thought him cool.






'specially in Extreme Close-Up.





Then up to B&Q where I bought the MDF and blackboard paint I'd been hankering for. Actually, no I didn't. B&Q had sold out, so I got them in Wickes. Which didn't have the magnetic paint, so it's just plain old blackboard.

On Sunday, I went out to Currie and picked up the magazines from nice freecycle lady who was very encouraging. She was full of compliments on my photos (I'd sent link so she could check out my 'work' before she gave me all those magazines) and her directions to get to flat were nice and easy.

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*laughter*

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Wasn't all that terribly sociable at the weekend, which is kind of the ongoing plan. I don't intend to entirely hermit-ise myself (mainly because I'd go crazy in my own company - it's happened before) but I do need to spend more time Doing Stuff. Hung out with SteveO and Mikey on Friday night, after I'd been up the Crags, so didn't get there until ten or so and back home by midnight. Flying visit.

Sat night I stayed in. Sunday I went out for breakfast with Gregor and Caroline who very grown-up-edly just bought a hoose. Quick breakfast as they had a six hour drive followed by van unloading to do. Very nice to see them, though, as they're so terribly far away now.

Sunday night was a quick drink with a fella, then a visit to Steve, then a trip to Lidl to stock up on lovely goodies. There is food in my cupboards, bigods! Yey payday!

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Still loving the Stumbleupon. Seriously - go have a look. Two button pushes and you're looking at something Way Cool. I can see that site being both a brilliant source of inspiration and a brilliant drain on my time. :) :(

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This week - paint MDF to blackboard, FINALLY hang mirror (as blackboards are going where it currently stands), sort out cupboard in hall, file magazines, draw up some plans for cupboard in hall, finish off that plasticine animal I'm making, LEARN LINES for Scene 3.

Aaaand...that'll probably do it, eh? Friday will be here before blinking!

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Stick in,

C

Bzzzzzzz

Hair gone. Hair all gone. Well, not quite. I only got it done to a '4' blade, but that's pretty short. Get the urge every now and again to just have it shaved down so I can forget about it. And it does a person good not to hide behind floppy hair. Get your face out in the world.

(Gods help the world.)

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Loving the Freecycle at the moment. Tons of email in a day, but Gmail very nicely herds it all into one folder so my Inbox isn't a mess of "Taken" "Offered" and "Reoffered". So far I've managed to option on 27 back copies of Digital Photographer. Going to go pick them up on Sunday.


I've also sent in a 'Yes, please!' to someone who's offering a studio flash and diffusers. He got them off freecycle and has upgraded so is spreading the love, as it were, by offering them out again. Everyone cross their fingers. Although gods know where I'm going to put them if I do get them! I'm supposed to be getting rid of stuff from the cupboard in the hall, not getting more to put in. Speaking of which, if any one needs a front-opening freezer, they're welcome. Fed up running it for two ice trays and a pizza and I need the space! (Going to freecycle it soon, but I thought I'd let y'all know first.)


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Also loving StumbleUpon. It's kind of a reference card collection for the internet, with sections on the Arts, Science, Humour, etc and so on. It is Very Good. You should try it. There is an option to download a toolbar which will make connections with the stuff you surf and the stuff they have referenced - it'll also tell you what the 'Buzz' sites of the day are. You don't HAVE to download that, though. You can just browse the site, linked above.


I have found this animation, this picture and this article. Just as a wee sample of what I've been browsing through over lunch. OK, yes, and while I should have been working.


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This weekend was supposed to be a quiet one. Never works out that way. Breakfast on Sunday, then going out to Currie to pick up those magazines. That is an 'achievement' in furtherance of projects though, so that's OK.

Sat I was to have entirely to myself, but then Mum asked if I could help do Gran's garden. How does one say no to that, exactly? I've blagged a lift to B&Q afterward - blackboard paint and chipboard (ish-type-stuff). Yey!

Tonight...not sure. There'll be some Friday Gang, I am sure, but I'm thinking I might stop in. Or go for a walk. It's payday so traditionally it's party night with booze and merriment, but I'm not wholly in the mood. All quiet on Friday Front, anyhoo, so wait and see. I do not fancy garden work in hot sun whilst hungover, either.

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My old boss sent me an email this week, asking for comment on a publication they're putting together.

Flattered. :)

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Stick in,

C

Quiet, yous!

We were learning to talk New York last night, which was fun and stimulating on many levels.

Martin is a friend of mine, very experienced in the creative arts, and also spent 17 years living in New York (originally from the South). Letting an Extremely American, experienced theatre chap loose on a bunch of wee community theatre folk may have been cruel. I think folk got something out of it, though. Martin, quite cleverly I thought, paid attention to rhythm and inflection rather than attempting to improve folks' particular accent. Some chaps were No Way ever going to manage the actual accent, but concentrating on the style of its language, and where the attitude of it came from really got a result.

I think he may have harassed a couple of years off some of their lives, but hey - if it achieves the result...

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Sooner or later, everyone gets tired of it.

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iboreeasy.com is available, I have discovered. I like the idea of that. It'll let me put up loads of different kinds of things and still be within a one site rationale. And it's true - I bore easy.

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This typifies the problem I have with organised religion.

It's an article from Discovery News saying that the Pope is planning to release all the unbaptised children from Limbo (read it for details) because, "There is greater theological awareness today that God is merciful and wants all human beings to be saved. Grace has priority over sin, and the exclusion of innocent babies from heaven does not seem to reflect Christ's special love for the little ones."

Limbo seems to be a place of ennui these days, but back a few centuries it was somewhere you went to have your sins burned away - for centuries. So, what's being said here is that some guy on Earth is the one who decides whether or not little babies (that's what we're saying here - those who died before they could be baptised) burn for centuries or are allowed into eternal grace and joy.

HOW does this make sense? I mean, if 'we' have a better idea of how God would want things now, don't you think He knew it then and has been doing it all along? Seriously - why, in the whole feckin' cosmos, would an omnipotent, omniscient, infinitely merciful and loving deity need some dude in a pointy white hat to make these decisions? And how does said pointy-hatted due know this? Inferred wisdom? Or are we to believe that God actually talks to him.

I am so against hierarchical theocracies.

For objectivity, I'll have to state that Limbo's never been part of RC doctrine - just a hotly debated 'issue'.

But STILL!

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LOL

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Stick in,

C

Skippy

*wanders in, looking transparently confused (not unlike a puppy who isn't sure whether or not you've seen the puddle)*

I think Skippy was here. You know Skippy? My evil twin. It certainly can't have been me being such a whiney-assed MoFo yesterday.

Can't have been.

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Rehearsal went terribly well last night. Small Jen (watch her preen) is a good director. I'd been projecting a very controlled mood of the character which she teased out into a bit more emotion from me. With a few well chosen words. More and more chemistry / connection between myself and Andy (t'other guy) at each rehearsal, too.

Accent coaching tonight, which should be good. Early start, which means I must race around after work to make it on time, but Jenni's going to feed me which will make things easier. And early starts means early finish so time enough to go home and chill for a bit, too.

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Dropped in on Steve last night after rehearsal, which was likewise good. We talked animation and camera, his work, my work and photography.

And golf. It's that time of the year again. I haven't struck a ball in anger since last September which means I need to get back into the swing of things. Hopefully hit the driving range this weekend, some pitch and putt and then go play an actual round on a proper course. I have to work my way up to it, especially when playing against my father. Not good to let the Old Man entirely humiliate me. He gets above himself. :)

(That's entirely untrue. He's quite a good teacher. Which shocked the Hell out of me, given I can still come out in a cold sweat remembering certain driving lessons - but I suppose I must have got it from somewhere and my Mum couldn't guide you through the supermarket.)

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Lists, lists, lists. I think at least part of yesterday's grump was a feeling of being somewhat...well, not overwhelmed, but definitely with a large list of Things to Do. And, if workwork isn't going as well as I'd like, I start getting frustrated. Thinking I could be getting so much of my own stuff done in the time. So, I have been Making Decisions, I have.

Something's got to give, basically. I am doing too much and want to do a whole lot more. I am not Superman and therefore have to make some compromises. Regrettably, I've had to decide that being sociable is going to suffer the biggest cutbacks.

I'm a very social animal and find myself most inspired by people. If I ever manage to leave whatever event / outing / get-together I'm at within a reasonable time to do stuff when I get home rather than straight to bed, I find myself full of ideas and plans. Snippets of writing or functions for photographs. Problem is I'm very, very bad at leaving said things when I'm still having fun.

So, I've decided that being sociable is for the beginning of the month. It'll also tie in with budgeting and buying resources for all these projects I have in mind. I'll be able to make purchases at the beginning of the month and then make use of the time which is freed up to utilise those same purchases. Being skint won't matter as I'm not 'allowed' to go out partying all the time, anyway.

First on the list is yon blackboards I've been talking about. Which have won out over pretty top. For now. It wouldn't even have been an either / or excepting I am most definitely joining the gym this Friday now that I have a goal to get fit for.

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Also suffering from cutbacks is dinner at my Mum and Dad's. I'm going to be unpopular, but it is somewhere I can claw back some time. Dinner every fortnight rather than every week. I'll still be visiting the Mad Gran on Thursdays, though, so Mum can get her night off from visiting. And also just because it's nice to visit Bessie. She's always been incredibly good to me, so it's good to give a bit back, even if that's just some company once a week.

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Stick in,

C

BitchMutterMoanComplain

Foul mood.

Not quite clear why, which just makes things worse as I get pissed off with being pissed off. I'm feeling frustrated at work, don't entirely approve of the management style and wish they'd been a bit more forthcoming about that at my interview / on offer of the post. Tired, I think, too. I did just have a holiday, but I packed a lot into it and I'm feeling like I need a bit of a break. Perhaps this weekend I will give myself permission to hermit-ise myself. There is a lot incoming, after all. Play is only eight weeks away, for a kick off.

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OK - I've written five paragraphs and deleted them all for being excessively whiney.

I'm going for a walk (and possibly to give myself a slap).

Shake it off, Reynolds.

Happy Shield UP and - AWAY!

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***update***

It's OK - I figured out why I was in a foul mood. I didn't have the new Mark Ronson CD. This has now been rectified.

Retail-Therapy Man - AWAY!

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Stick in,

C

Many Things

No photos today as I'm writing this somewhat illicitly while I cover Reception's lunchbreak. Normally wouldn't try as constant interruptions usually, but it's very quiet today.

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Pleasant weekend.

Ballet was good. Didn't much like the first of the four pieces but the other three more than made up for it. All thanks to Martin for taking me along. :)

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Awesome par-tays were likewise cool. Offer of photograph birthday present, as mentioned on Friday, was very well received. So we've decided that's cool, definitely, and not cheap. Other noteworthy event for parties was hopefully finding a third team member for the Rat Race in July. Now I just have to get fit for it, but there's an entry fee and there is no greater spur onwards than having spent money on something. I also managed to sell a painting for a mate. I think. Not entirely confirmed yet, but I reckon it's on.

Just short of three months to get into good enough shape to run for three hours. It's running around town, though - finally all of my shortcut knowledge will be of competitive use. Longer term plans to do the full day next year. Kayaking, abseiling, climbing, running, biking. At £89 the entry fee for the full weekend is Not Cheap, but there are social events - big parties in Princes Street Gardens - which are included in that price, plus all the equipment you'll need for the various activities.

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Grand plans to turn the Big Cupboard in my hall into a wee animation studio. I'm halfway through my first script - concept's good, and I'm pretty sure it's going to be silent, or no dialogue rather, so it's mostly a matter of deciding on different shots. I'm taking plasticine around to James and Alexis house tonight so that, after they've cooked me dinner, we can have modelling fun. See how I'm integrating social time to creative time?

I'm still making heads. And still squishing them (sigh) - none of them seem good enough, especially now I can *see* the characters in my head, but I'm almost happy with eyes and eyebrows. I try not to think about the awful stat that I read. (New model required for every three frames. 28 frames per second. No wonder there's such a long time between Wallace and Grommits.) Still, the tools are proving useful.

I'm also keeping myself interested by making animals so that I get that feeling of completion. You wouldn't believe the stupid grin I get on my face when I've turned two chunks of different coloured plasticine into an orang-utan or similar.

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Not much in the way of photographs at the weekend. I did have camera with me on a couple of walks, but I gave myself permission to experience rather than record. Plus, I have about three folders full to sort. West elevations of power station incoming.

What? I don't care if you think it's ugly. I like it and it's my blog, so there. ;-b

Using Flickr uploader just now, rather than the individual upload, so the new ones that are up aren't as big as they could be. Still, I think they're pretty cool. Cropped and zoomed from the boat trip on Forth. Not that any one should be going there at the moment.

Undecided about going for a Pro Flickr account. It's cheap enough - £25 for a year, or something - but I'm not sure if money couldn't be better spent elsewhere this month. Sums required. And lists. Maybe even a timeline.

*laughter*

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Stick in,

C

Somethings Shiny

The weekend is a busy one. Once again. But seriously - check the pop-oo-larity of me. Tonight - had one thing to do which was regrettably superceded by the ballet. Would have missed the Spring Season entirely (barring a trip to Aberdeen or some other godsforsaken gaff) but Martin offered to spring (no pun intended) for tickets. Isn't that nice. Hence, I am missing a Friday Gang (we're not superheroes) night. First in quite some weeks.



Tomorrow (to return to the 'lookit the pop'lar Chris' thread) I am going to not one, but two parties. Normally, I'd prioritise one and not bother with the other but they're semi-linked and will have some of the same core people.



This would be a great opportunity to do a party Venn diagram, but Anita just shared the Indexed link (which I meant to highlight with y'all ages ago, it being of the shiny persuasion). I declare no diagrams allowed for a oneweek.



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Budgeting. Urgh.



But it must be done. There are so many purchases to be made - and that's before I'm allowed to buy lovely Scotland top or a new pair of shoes. Can you imagine? Shoes are our friends.



Still and all, I've managed / am managing to survive the latter two weeks of this month on a grand sum of £60 - no mean achievement when you lop off the £10 I spend on train fares each week visiting the folks and Gran. There have been many meals constructed of chick peas and suchlike. Tasty meals, obviously, just cheap ones.



I'm going to prioritise the blackboards this month. And a Flickr pro account, I think. I long for sets.



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I'm getting my feedback on Myers-Briggs today. It's a personality test, based around personal preference. Some of the advisers got trained in it and needed guinea pigs, so I stuck my hand up. (Navel gazing - who, me?).



Just filling in the forms was quite interesting. Properly thinking about it made me aware of a few things that surprised me. I must be growing as a person.



*laughter*



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Speaking of Flickr, I really have to go through some photo folders again. I was having a flick round last night and there are quite a few that I'm actually very chuffed with, but need a tiny polish in the way or a couple degrees rotation and maybe a bit of cropping. Not to mention the skater series that all still need done.



Happily, I've found a reason for them. One of the parties I'm going to tomorrow night is a 30th birthday and the man of the moment is a rabid skater. Being as I'm Skintman of Skintonia at the moment, I'm going to print off a couple of the Skater pics and offer him a 'shoot' for his birthday. Do one of / for him.



That's special, right? Not cheap?



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Stick in,

C

Six of one...

Dentist later today = bad!

Half day off in order to go to dentist today = so-so

Opportunity to take photos of West Elevation of Cockenzie Power Station = good!

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I love that building.

I know it's a 'bad' thing, per se, what with being a coal-burning electricity generator, but...it's Way Cool. If you like industrial structures, that is. That particular one dominates the skyline from Port Seton (that's where I'm from, if you didn't know. No. NOT Prestonpans.) You can see it from the shore, the school, my folks' place - pretty much everywhere. It also has the need to let off steam occasionally so there is / was some auditory stimuli there, too. I remember playing in the grounds of Cockenzie House when I was a kid (my mate's folks owned it. Amazing place to play for kids.) There was a particular hedge-structure we had to run and hide underneath whenever the station went off.

One can go and hit golf balls from underneath the coal flyover and the gas tank going up and down was something to watch and note. And long to climb to the top of.

On top of that, my Mum told me when we were out for a walk round it that her cousin, John McLaughlin made and emplaced all the setting moulds for the very top of the chimneys. This is Very High.

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Berwick Law. And the Earl of Wemyss house in front.

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Plasti-scene.com is taken. Poop. I had grand plans for that. Still do have the grand plans, obviously, but the website name was so godsbedamned applicable.

Any one any thoughts?

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Missed rehearsal last night. Developed a thumping headache late in the afternoon to the point where I had to neck some painkillers and go to bed when I got home. Slept straight through until half nine, got up long enough to chuck some food together and then back to bed. Slept straight through until alarm went off this morning. Clearly a Sleepy Boy.

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No new music in a while. I want Mark Ronson's new album, 'Versions'. It's covers and they are good. Good, I tells ya! The Lilly Allen vocal of Oh My God by the Kaiser Chiefs is f*cking WICKED!

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It is so very, very true.

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Stick in,

C

p.s. Sorry about cramped format today. It's blogger's fault. Really.

I had LOADS

To say. Earlier. There was a meeting this morning, and then lunch, and then walking up to King's Buildings so not much chance to blog and, as ever, this means I had tons of ideas when I couldn't settle to blether. Not necessarily no ideas now, but many of them seem lame. Or dull. Or something. Ooh. I know.

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I've written a couple of leaflet type things for work and sent them out for feedback. Team members all liked it, with some very useful constructive criticism thrown in. Nothing I didn't agree with on reflection. This makes me cheerful. One colleague commented that it was a lovely style, very chatty, like talking to me.Wonder why that is...

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Check out Neil Gaiman's Incredible Oracular Journal. I reckon it works. I asked if I should write something in prose form or as an acted drama, telly or theatre no matter.

Its answer: "Mush!"

Which makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

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Stick in,

C

Wasn't that lovely

Cop some of that:

Bliss to be up on top of the city yesterday. I took a sudden afternoon off. Big reorganise of second site information centre yesterday morning, but we got that all squared away by lunch and, it being such a lovely day, I decided to take the afternoon off. All of a sudden.

With desk cover and break cover and all that jazz, it's not usually so easy to take on-a-whim time off, but we were shut yesterday and it's not like anything I do is so terribly time contingent.


Far better to go perch on top of Arthur's Seat.

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Pure Victory!


Ma Reflection Is Perfection.


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It's been a grand time for photos. Walk up to SteveO's on Sunday evening - many pictures of trees. Arthur's Seat, obviously, and a wander down to the power station with my Mum last night. I love that building. Not quite done it justice yet, but I'm hopeful.


And I hate bird. Bloody things can't stay still. I reckon I get about one decent shot out of every twenty five attempts. Usually worth it, though.
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Lots more photos on my flickr stream. I'm using their uploader which is far quicker, but leaves stuff at wrong angle so forgive the ones what are sideways. I'll get round to rotating them soon.

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Aaaand, what else is news?

Friday night was usual jollity with usual crew. Brilliant meal - a few folk cooked and the result was a groaning board. Some game-age, too, and then Liz and I walked up past the Castle to get to our respective homes. She did remember her camera to take bunny pics. I did not. Grrrr.

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If you're an Arctic Monkeys fan then tune into XFM Scotland tonight at 8pm (105.7 in the East, 106.1 in the West). Or online. They're going to play the entirety of the new album, with commentary from the band in between. I've heard three tracks so far and am personally excited.

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I actually managed a fair bit of 'me' time this weekend, even though I had plenty on. The flat is looking and feeling great, most especially in this weather when it's bathed in sunlight from morning till night. It's faced in such a perfect way to catch the light whilst still having areas where you can see a screen.

The cat is on a vacation day today out at my folks' house. It seems the flat agent never actually turned up at the last scheduled inspection - not that any one informed me of this. So this inspection is happening today and, what with the 'no pets' clause, Patsy has been banished out to Port Seton for the day.

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Modelling. Need to actually *do* some. Far too high-flying ideas and not enough execution at the moment. It's very me.

"Oooh - I could do that." "That's a great idea." "That'd be fun."

Yes. This is all true. And...uh...actually doing any of it? Going to happen?

So - goal by Sunday is to have created a new model. Not sure which one yet, but I have managed to get together a source material file - photos of different things I want to make up and so on, so I'm at least that far down the creative path.

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Stick in,

C

Sorry, but...

...it's far too nice a day to be indoors.

I've taken rest of the afternoon off and am heading up Arthur's Seat.

(we'll leave the obvious jokes to one side)

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Stick in,

C

Big Up Your Bad Self

Now that's my kind of self-actualisation, baby!

F*CK, YEAH!
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I call it 'getting my Reynolds on'. Those of you who have met my family will understand.

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Zzzzzzip!

Late night last night as I was organising the remainder (MA-NY!) of the skater photos. I was starting to get confused about which were done, which needed to be done, which had been labelled, which had been done but had scope for more being done to them...you get the picture. But, after an hour and a half of labelling and moving folders (and a whiskey and coke) all is ready to be 'shopped. Or picked out as a single.

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This weekend - I is chillin'. I reckon. I've been so very busy of late that I think I'm due a couple of days to my own self. Not to say I won't go out, do things, but I intend for them to be on an ad hoc basis. I may even turn my phone off.

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Once again, you must admit, that the man has a point.

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Stick in,

C

Bounce 'em off your Happy Shield

Sage advice there, from the small Jen.

There are other options, of course.

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I got a new coo!

James and Alexis are just back from Australia (which is nice, I have missed them). We hung out last night, had some dinner and dropped round to see Steve. Pleasantly relaxed conversation and saw a whole load of their photos.

Haven't quite figured out how to show you the coo yet. It is in photographic format what with the actual cow being a full-size one, and in a shop which you had to ring bell to gain access to.

"Um, no, we don't want to buy anything. We just want a photo of the cow for our weird little friend."

*laughter*

I note that the cow parade is going on in Milan at the moment - or Marseilles later in the year. Not a bad way to plan one's travel. "I go where the cows go, man!"

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Learning. (Photoshop, specifically)

On the one hand - phooey! Since when did I have to learn anything. Put actual effort into things in order to gain a new skill and remember? I mean, my God! When did this happen? Used to be I could flip through a manual and know what I was doing in about half an hour max. You're talking to a man who, in completing two degrees and highers and such like before those, has studied for a probable grand total of, fifty hours maybe? Now I have to reference top menus all the time in order to remember shortcuts. A....grrrrrrr.

On the other hand - is relaaaxed. In a way. Once one gets over the frustration, it is actually quite nice to think, "Well, not going to learn everything in a day, so just take your time and get to know this bit."

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These are very cool. Cambridge in colour, and the tutorials are pretty good, too.

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Stick in,

C

Ethics

This is something I must consider. Mainly brought to mind because I have a whole load of postcards I would like to photograph au montage. Which made me wonder about image rights and suchlike. I'm not at all clear on the law as applied to photography. Happily, being a member of university staff, I can use the main library which has any amount of books on just about every subject. I want something on anthropology, too. Having an idea regarding animal behaviours in human socialisation and the applicability thereof as a demonstrative tool in drama.

You know - cunning types dressed up as foxes. Although that's more anthropomorphing than anthropological (animising, even) and not really what I have in mind but what? You want me to give up all my genius ideas?

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Alexis and James coming round for dinner tonight. They're just back from Australia so should have many stories. They got back on Monday, so hopefully they've had some sleep and are not brain-dead jet-lag zombies. :) And Vid is up for some management training or other so a small libation later in the evening.

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Rehearsal last night - at which I did not shine. Was a tired bunny not having gotten much sleep on Monday night. Back to work trying to sort out sleep pattern. Definitely slept last night. And rehearsal wasn't awful - it just wasn't glorious.

Need to bond with my co-actor. There's a lot of intimacy in the play. No grand snogs or suchlike, but lots of eye contact, deep and meaninfuls. So we need to be comfortable with each other to really tease that out.

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Stick in,

C

Back to Work

Boo! Hiss!


Ach, well, mustn't grumble. Got a nice job. I may even have been whistling while at it earlier. :)


Quick comparison on returning to work day for this job, and last.


This job - 42 emails, dealt with in half an hour.
Last job - MANY emails, dealt with in - well, probably never did get around to all of them.


This job - no questions / comments / urgent actions waiting for me.
Last job - MANY questions...


...well, you get the general idea. Seriously - I keep looking around, waiting for the boss to come in and shower me with work and suchlike. So far - not so much.


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Fun with photoshop.

Go check out my Flickr photostream for a few more. And lots more to come. I have about sixty-odd 'runs' to put together in like format. Shame more of them didn't land jumps like fella above.

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If only it could work. I don't think 'Christopher Walken' is a valid output test, though.

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We need content warnings, it seems. The link is to a BBC article on a statement made by 'web pioneer' Tim O'Reilly. I'm all for it, actually. As you know, I do sometimes degenerate into swears but I put the significant asterisks in. Not quite sure why. Although I do curse day to day, I am loath to write them down. (It's that permanence thing again.) Plus, I reckon one should reserve swears for when one really needs them.

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I have signed myself up for a Lulu account. It's a self-publishing site. Watch this space for calendars and such like.

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Stick in,

C

Not Dead

I am still here. It is Sunday afternoon, and I have been egg hunting. Very cool. Liz hid many chocolate eggs on a particular mound on Arthur's Seat. Very fun.

Good week all round. Went out on boat trip, been to theatre and concert, out for dinner, took merryloads of photographs, hung out with da boyz, tapas with old colleagues, cinema - or was that last week? My crown came out, but I got it stuck back in the next day by a nice lady dentist who was Irish. Lunch with Craig, a date of three times from whom I got the 'friends' speech, but he was a nice chap. He sent a text later on in the afternoon covering something that came up at lunch (one of wikipedia's lesser noted advantages - keeping conversations going). Plus, I was taking photos at the time and managed to let my camera case fall out of bag and be lost. I retraced my steps when I noticed, as calmly as I could, and found it where someone had helpfully stuck it on a fence post for easy spotting. Good thoughts to them.

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Bunny!

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Not back to work yet, either. Off tomorrow, so Tuesday still seems comfortably far off.

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Stick in,

C

Lazy Boy

Not in the sense of not doing anything. Been doing loads of stuff. Just not been typing any of it out, that's all.

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Been for a boat trip on the Firth with Justin. Which was pleasant. I may have been a trifle dull as I was very busy taking lots of pictures.

Also been to the Scott Monument.

Which was pleasant.

And...sundry other things.

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Stick in,

C

Very Quick

As it's a great, glorious day and time on the computer, inside, is wasted time.

Monks was good, going to a concert tonight. Going OUTside now to generally bask in sunshine.

*grins*

May not be buying either shirt or blackboard. Shirt very pretty but ultimately not 'needful' and I can't actually put blackboards up until I sort out mirror, so they can wait, too. Money may very well be shuttled towards Angels in America which clever Jenni found at Citizen's Theatre later in the month.

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Stick in,

C

Ritual

I love ritual. I like the little touches. You know - napkin rings and all that shit. Bits of ribbon to gently tease open before you can eat the chocolates. Or something at the lower end of the scale - like sleeping until noon, followed by breakfast eaten wearing just your joggers.

I did mention I'm on holiday?

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Succint, as ever.
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Theatre tonight. Going to see Monks, which I'm rather looking forward to. It's had a couple of bad reviews, but it's had good ones too. And a bad review's never stopped me from going to see something I liked the look of. My opinion has been known to differ from other people's...

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I am somewhat conflicted today. On a purchase.

One part of me says 'the blackboard stuff' - that's Way Cool and can be used to further your creative goals.

The other part of me says 'the beautiful top' that's Way Cool and can be used for looking good.

No - seriously. It's looooovely.

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Stick in,

C

Ritual

I love ritual. I like the little touches. You know - napkin rings and all that shit. Bits of ribbon to gently tease open before you can eat the chocolates. Or something at the lower end of the scale - like sleeping until noon, followed by breakfast eaten wearing just your joggers.




I did mention I'm on holiday?

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Succint, as ever.

...

...

Theatre tonight. Going to see Monks, which I'm rather looking forward to. It's had a couple of bad reviews, but it's had good ones too. And a bad review's never stopped me from going to see something I liked the look of. My opinion has been known to differ from other people's...

...

I am somewhat conflicted today. On a purchase.

One part of me says 'the blackboard stuff' - that's Way Cool and can be used to further your creative goals.

The other part of me says 'the beautiful top' that's Way Cool and can be used for looking good.

No - seriously. It's looooovely.

...

Stick in,

C

Lookit!

I got the internets! Some new lovely person is allowing me to access their unsecured wireless network. We send them all of our happy thoughts.

Check me and my mad photoshop skillz. (You know - cutting and pasting)

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I'm on holiday, you know. Holidays are pleasant. I have been achieving great things and tomorrow, I am buying myself a present.

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On the topic of photos - small story. I was walking past the new building they're constructing in Bristo Square and I glanced up, as I do, and resolved to bring the tripod out so I could take some proper photos of the shadow play and suchlike in the building. Just a minute later I ran into a chap who had done just that. He was taking a photo of the mosque, though. Still, I thought that was cool. Had a small 'kindred' moment to myself.



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300 is very good. Oh, yes. Very good indeed. If you accept its inherent limitations that it's going to be a tiny bit reminiscent of LOTR or something similar. Battle scenes are wicked good. Dude kills a rhino.



It really, strongly delivered on the beauty aspect. And I don't just mean the big muscles on the men in loincloths. Not just them, but definitely them too.
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Scott Monument today.




I'd never been up there, you know. One of those tourist things one never gets around to. So I did. Got a certificate and everything.
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Stick in,

C