My Personal Mantra

I'm going to write a mantra here that I will repeat to myself whenever Miles enters my brain and starts nagging me. I'm coming up with this mantra because I have a good thing in my life and refuse to sabotage it by being a paranoid freak of nature. So here's the mantra: I will not suspect Hunter of liking other women, based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever. I will not run in the opposite direction because he's friends with a person who made my life a living hell last year and misses them. I will not judge him based on the previous mantra statement or any other stupid reasons I can come up with. I will not be a paranoid freak of nature, nor will I let a boy from my past ruin my present. I will not.

I Have My Music on Shuffle and No Regrets

School can be really complicated and stressful. A bit like relationships, but more easily fixed. The problem is fixed, but I still have to get up well before 8 which makes me sad. :sigh: I'm just not a morning person at all.
Today was the first day of classes here at good ol' UMW and I was up bright and early at 7:15ish am. I won't have to get up that early everyday, but the only days I'll be sleeping in this semester are the weekends, and even that could change, god only knows. My first three classes were good and will be good. I mean theory is theory, but my classics and history classes should be at least mildly interesting if not actually quite fascinating. And then I was done. It was kind of nice today, but this whole being done at noon shit is going to get boring really fast, and probably very awkward. Still, it gave me plenty of time to worry over my geography class. Which I'm no longer in.
One of the great things about my brain is that it has an incredibly difficult time remembering that aren't trivial* or in some sort of context. So when I found out that 50% of my grade in geography would be based on how well I can memorize maps and remember them at 8 in the morning, I started panicking a little. I knew this could an issue, but I was kind of hoping I would be able to avoid it. Alas, me and geography were not meant to be and I'm now taking Asian Civ. II. The brilliant thing about this new class that I'm taking is a)I don't have to memorize any maps (as far as I know) and b)it covers the part of Asian history that deals with Europe, thus is tangentially about Europe. Oh yeah, I'm totally grasping at straws there. Granted this doesn't solve the problem of band set-up, but I've decided that what I'm going to do is set-up the night/afternoon before and put up a sign telling people not to mess with the room on pain of death (and yes, I really mean death.) Except for tomorrow, because I came up with this great idea well after the band room should have been closed. Tomorrow I have to hope someone will be there to open the room for me, or I might just explode before I even get a chance to enjoy any of my classes.
The highlight of my day though was eating with people. People can be really fun. So is threatening your boyfriend with a pitchfork if he doesn't study enough. I wonder if you can get pitchforks on Amazon...
On one last final note, I sent in my application for an internship at NPR. Here's to not getting a position yet again!


*While memorizing countries on a map might seem trivial, my kind of trivial is within a context as well. Like knowing that Billie Piper was on the same NMTB episode as Meatloaf or knowing that Ricky Wilson was born on Jan. 19th, ten years before me. All trivial, but within a context.

And Then There Was a Loud and Piercing Sound

HE'S COMING BACK!!!!!!!!! No, not David Tennant, this has nothing to do with DW. But yeah, I'm feeling much better with this piece of information* and yes, I do feel like an overly excited fangirl. It's brilliant 0_0!!!
*For those requiring further explanation: Hunter was reinstated with mucho thanks to VP Barra. He found out today and the whole world smiled. See? I am an overly excited fangirl, but with good reason.

Nore Unabriged (with Gusto)

A Facebook meme. If you've been reading this thing since it's inception (or have trolled through the archives) none of this will be new to you, however I like how I wrote my answers, so I'm posting it here. Enjoy!

1. I have central auditory processing disorder which means that I process everything I hear milliseconds slower than someone who doesn't have CAPD (and those milliseconds are really important and make the difference between eating a peach or a beach) and ambient noise doesn't help any.


2. I love reading and taught myself how to read when I was five (which is pretty normal actually).


3. I've been mildly obsessed with the Elizabethan era for as long as I can remember which in turn led to my not so mild obsession with the UK.


4. Pop music is my life and many of my interests are tangentially connected to pop music (I can make some really random connections including how I got into Doctor Who).


5. I've had five blogs since I was in 8th grade, but my blogger and livejournal accounts are the only ones I've written in consistently for more than a year. (I've had my blogger and livejournal accounts for almost 4 years now)


6. I went to boarding school for two years (8th and 9th grade) in Staunton, Virginia. Granted I went home every weekend, but it's an experience I'll never forget


7. I listened to only the Beatles for the majority of a year, but then I discovered British indie rock and became frightfully obsessed with that.


8. I was a ballerina for 9 and a half years and miss it with every fibre of my body. However I can't imagine wearing a leotard ever again, so there's no chance I'll start dancing again

I have been playing the clarinet for 8 and a half years and have tried to quite multiple times. It just keeps coming back.

9. The majority of my favourite shows are British which is rather inconvenient, especially since all but two are not aired in the US.


10. I've only been to London once, in 9th grade, but plan on living there the rest of my life (after college).


11. I like reading non-fiction in my spare time and particularly like reading about history (British, World, European, anything but American).


12. Since 10th or 11th grade I've slowly been training my self to spell words in British English. On my blog my spell check is in British English which reinforces what I'm training myself to do.


13. I can figure out the exact date of when something important happened in my life based on my blog (or at least important in the last four years, I lost the blog I had when I visited London).


14. I have a very British sense of humour and blame that entirely on Monty Python (especially since they inspired the current generation of British comedians).


15. I'm an extremely shy and private person and wouldn't normally do this kind of thing, but three people tagged me, so yeah 0_0 now you know everything.

This Isn't the Music 2008 Post I Promised

Dear Future and Perspective Boyfriends,
I am not dainty. I am a stubborn mule who refuses to move on the opinions (and things) I care about. I won't necessarily argue with you, but I tend not to argue when I'm not an expert on the subject. Also I've never really had good experiences when arguing, so that's another deterrent. However this doesn't mean I'm old fashioned and will bow to your every will. Yes I am inexperienced, but I'm not stupid. In fact that there's a very good chance I'm smarter than you, so don't underestimate me. Or if you do, do so at your own peril. To reiterate my first point, I'm not dainty. I don't want to be treated like I'm a porcelain doll, just like a princess, and only occasionally. Generally I should be regarded as your equal and if I'm not I'll get tetchy and then angry and you won't like me when I'm angry. I'm very much like my father when I'm angry. I won't yell, I'll just brood and be terse. Trust me, in the long run that reaction is much worse than yelling. I know my anger may seem unreasonable, but that's a tendency you'll just have to deal with. I am unreasonable and have been ever thus since my birth [wow, that was really Shakespearean]. As long as I am me I will be unreasonable and I will be stubborn. I will also be a romantic, but at heart (or better yet at intellect) I am a realist and a pessimist and will act accordingly. Don't taunt me, don't tempt me because my Emergency Program One is to run and I will if you give me a wide enough opening to do so. Treat me as you would treat yourself and I suppose you'll be fine. There are no guarantees when it comes to dealing with me. I have unreasonable expectations instilled by Disney and fairy tales and I've yet to let go of them. Also I have hormones from hell and hate phones. So good luck. I can't pretend to imagine why you want to be with me, but I've given you fair warning now. So yes, good luck.
With all sincerity,
Nore

Ringing in the New Year

In the past year (literally since January 1st) I have written around 147 entries (depending on where you're reading this). In the same amount of time I've had around 2,381 people look at my blog (or a particular entry) and go "Mmm, not what I was looking for." Granted of those 2,381 hits some have stuck around for a couple of minutes, but most glance and retreat. Without actually reading all 147 entries I would say more than half of them concern music in one way or another. The rest of the entries are either emo-tastic, nonsense (less than four sentences), fangirl-ish ravings (though really a good majority of those fall under the music category), or can be considered misc (any and everything about Hunter and a good bit of how I spent my summer). Most entries are a combination of the above categories.
In past years I have written more entries and slightly more profound things have happened to me. It seems that 2008, except for some really big awesome events (Obama getting elected comes to mind), has been a bit of a let down for everyone involved. But, things have happened, both good and bad and I feel they need to be documented. Just the good bits anyway, it is a holiday after all.
The year started off a bit rocky, but then again I was living with a moody bitch, so anyone's year would have started off rocky given the conditions. However things got better and by May I was free of the bitch and looking forward to the summer. Not that I should have been really, but I was anyway.
Late-ish in May I got my first job which was all well and terribly exciting. Having the job helped me narrow my focuses in terms of what I want to do in radio, but also reconfirmed that I really do want to be in radio for ever and ever (amen.) Having a job also meant that I spent a great deal of time commuting and not being around my Dad, both of which I was thankful for. But, as people who like clichés say, all good things must come to an end and soon it was time for the family vaca. And then school (dun dun duuuuuuuuh.)
The new school started out with a frenzy of depression followed by three different colds. Needless to say the first two months can only be described as somewhat grim with two things saving me from completely writing them off as shit: Anticipation and Doctor Who. The former deals with my waiting eagerly for the new Keane and Kaiser Chiefs albums and the latter has to do with the newly formed sci-fi (Doctor Who) club. But then something rather miraculous and completely unexpected happen: I got a boyfriend. A living breathing boyfriend. And that made all the shit (music theory, band) not matter as much. It's kind of sad, but true nonetheless. The past three months have gone by at a ferocious pace and the Kaiser Chiefs album is still only passable.
So now, as the new year begins I have Who, a boyfriend, and a roommate who doesn't drive me up the wall. My life isn't perfect, but I look forward to the new year and what it holds. It should be very interesting.
Later (today or tomorrow) a round-up of music and movies from 2008. Guaranteed to be much shorter than this entry!

And Again With Feeling

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Let's hope 2009 a just a little bit better than 2008.

Hard

It's so hard when you know you should feel sorry for someone because they're just so pathetic, but you don't have any at all because they act so shit and can be such a bastard. It's so hard when you can't do anything to change the situation because they're suppose to be the more mature one, they're suppose to be the authority figure and you can't argue with an authority figure. It's just so hard when you know things could be so much worse than they are, but everything feels shit and everything gets turned to shit because of just one person. It's so hard, but I'll be gone soon and I won't have to deal with this for another two months. And now I don't want to think about it, but it's so hard not to. My life isn't as awful as I make it seem and I'm so incredibly lucky, but sometimes it just doesn't seem that. Sometimes I still feel like I'm in 6th grade, begging for all of this pain to stop. I wish I could leave and never come back and I don't care how horrible I seem, but that's what I want. I want to do what he's done with his parents, leave and never go back. But I can't just yet. Soon though, so much sooner than I think, I'll be gone and I won't ever come back.

Awkward Rambling is Awkward

Oh there is so much to say. So very, very much to say. But I guess I'll start with the most recent events and work my way backwards. So I guess the first event is Christmas, so we begin.
Since my family did not host Thanksgiving, it was our turn to host Christmas. Holidays are always rather awkward because half of my family (Sophs and Dad) don't really get along with my aunt's family and refuse to make an effort to have inane small talk with them. Therefore, because by this point in the day I too have given up having any kind of small talk with anyone, my Mums is left trying to have inane small talk with six people (three cousins, one uncle, one aunt and one great-uncle). The whole thing becomes extraordinarily awkward, boring, and slightly hellish leaving me (who is already quite tired from all the cooking and waking up before noon) even more tired than I was to begin with. Nevertheless you could say I had a good Christmas because I had a good and very filling meal and got some really excellent presents. By all other measures though, my Christmas was fairly mediocre, but I'm use to that now and don't really expect anything else.
So what did I get for Christmas that makes up for the fact that most of my Christmas was really rather dull you may be asking. I got The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio series, that's what. The complete original radio series. All mine on 14 CDs. As I said when I opened it, I win at life. I also got some really interesting/exciting books including new Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman books as well as a memoir about a reporter who lived in England for a rather long time. I got some essential DVDs and a book to hold my hand-written set lists, courtesy of my sister. I also got handsoap in a frog dispenser from my Mum's mum. I really wished she had looked at my Amazon wish list, but oh well. So that was my Christmas: Excellent gifts (mostly) and a really awkward late afternoon/evening.
The time up to Christmas was spent staving off depression, hacking (as a severe form of coughing) up my lungs, and doing various things on my computer. I talked to Hunter some as well which always made (and makes) things a bit better than they were before. As I always remind myself, things could be a hell of a lot worse than they currently are and can always and quite often do get better. As long as I keep that in mind and watch QI whenever possible, I'm fine really.
It's sort of funny, I've realized in talking to Hunter over the phone I have this really awkward habit of rambling when I don't know what to say and don't really have anything to say but feel I need to say something. I'm not quite sure what he makes of it, but I'm always kind of annoyed with myself afterwards because I know I was rambling and generally not making sense at all. But he's working his way through the first season of Torchwood and his reaction to it is rather amusing. Next time I see him I may not let go because he's so damn cute.
Finally, I watched my various Christmas specials and the Mock the Week and QI ones were hilarious (which is to be expected) and the Doctor Who special was emo-tastic. Just really, really, amazingly angsty in some parts, but good nonetheless. I can't wait to get the DW series 4 box set.
Alright, I'm going to watch some more QI and possibly listen to more HHGG, we'll see. Entries will continue to be sparse until I get back to school, but even that's not a guarantee. You'll just have to wait and see.

The Anglophile In Me Want to Wish You A....

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! Further updates when I get my head around the idea of forming complete sentences 0_0

Because I Got Tagged

A) People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blog and replace any question that they dislike with a new, original question.

B) Tag eight people. Don't refuse to do that. Don't tag who tagged you. (I don't know enough people to tag 8 people, so if you know me, feel free to do this thing)


Make a list of things you can see without getting up:
my entire room

What do you do if someone tickles you?
I'm not that ticklish, so I either become your girlfriend or kick you by "accident"

What are you wearing now?
Jim-jams because I can't be bothered

Do you have some sort of secret superpower?
Yes, my amazing coughing abilities (in other words, no)

What's the last thing you read/are currently reading?
I'm working my way through The Canon by Natalie Angier

Do you nap a lot?
It depends on how busy I am

Who was the last person you hugged?
Umm...mums

What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
Gee, I don't know...do you?

What was the last thing you ate today?
Toast...mmmmm toast

What was the last thing you said aloud?
"I'm fine" while trying not to laugh and cough at the same time

What websites do you always visit when you go online?
LJ, AV Club, Facebook, NME, Cracked.com

Last thing you bought:
Dad's Christmas present

What are you listening to right now?
nada

What's the last song that got stuck in your head?
"Carol of the Bells" though really it's hard to say since I have music playing in my head at all times

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation please :)

What is your favourite weather, and why?
70 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny, not humid. Otherwise known as the opposite of any weather existing in my country of choice

How are you?
I have a horrible hacking cough, but am otherwise very jolly

What's something you'd like to say to someone right now?
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS! now leave me alone"

Say something to the person who tagged you.
Happy Christmas, don't die 0_0

Further updates later...

Long Awaited News Update

I've come up with four more reasons to love the UK. The first is the Doctor Who Christmas special, the second is the QI Christmas special, the third is the Mock the Week Christmas special, and the Big Fat Quiz of the Year. The reasons for the reasons are as follows: David Morrissey, Stephen Fry, Alan Davies, Clive Anderson, Rob Brydon, Dara O'Briain, David Mitchell, Hugh Dennis, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard, Andy Parson, Michael McIntyre, Ed Byrne, and Sean Lock. Also, The Sunday Night Project Christmas special and that is reasoned by the following names: Simon Pegg and Kaiser Chiefs. So there you have it, five more reasons to love the UK.
Sprechen of the Kaiser Chiefs, here they are performing with Girls Aloud. The only reason I'm posting this is so I can posit the following reasons for them even thinking of performing on a show hosted by Girls Aloud: They are absolutely desperate or one of the members of KC (I'm saying Ricky because I can) is dating one of the members of Girls Aloud (I'm saying the ginger one because I can and she's my favourite). The whole thing is rather sad and pathetic, but I'm sure the boys will be gain back some of their reputation on The Sunday Night Project and if not they'll always have Employment.
Ever wonder how winter came to be? Well here is Mata's version of how winter came to be. Enjoy!
Finally, here's Weebl and Bob's version of "Hallelujah." You'd have to be slightly obsessed with the UK pop scene to understand why this is funny, but trust me, it is. That and they change the lyrics to revolve around pies, so ya know, that's hilarious in and of its self.
So that's it. See you on the flip side.

Long Ass Meme

50 Questions meme.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Oy mcvay

2. How much cash do you have on you?
Enough to pay for a small pizza with sausage and pepperoni

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?
floor

4. Favourite planet?
Betelgeuse

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
dunno, missed call list is clear at the moment


6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
really don't have one

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Folger's library student Shakespeare festival from 7th grade

8. Do you label yourself?
constantly and it usually involves the word nutter, anglophile and looney

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?
socks, no shoes right now

10. Bright or Dark Room?
bright, so as I don't get depressed from the gloom

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
writes the best damn DW fanfiction

12. What does your watch look like?
umm...don't have one

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
sleeping

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
I don't get texts

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
somewhere not near by (aka I don't know)

16. What's a word that you say a lot?
umm

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
Sophs or Mums

18. Last furry thing you touched?
Nikki or Rosie

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
My meds, so quite a bit

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
one

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
Right now

22. Your worst enemy?
Myself (how cliche)

23. What is your current desktop picture?
Women walking dog in the snow (it's a graphic I got from Veer)

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
I don't remember...I think it was "okay" to my sister

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
Oooh toughy...million bucks

26. Do you like someone?
Why yes, yes I do.

27. The last song you listened to?
La Gazza Ladra, can't remember the composer's name

28. What time of day were you born?
7:25 am, which is why I hate the morning

29. What’s your favorite number?
42

30. Where did you live in 1987?
I wasn't born yet

31. Are you jealous of anyone?
Every single person in the UK

32. Is anyone jealous of you?
Dunno

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Chorus


34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Have yet to have that happen to me, but I suspect I would get very annoyed and then walk away

35. Do you consider yourself kind?
Most of the time, yes

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
When I get my tattoo, it will be on the back of my wrist, 'cuz I thnk that's a cool place


37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
French, so I could live there and become very, very large eating nothing but crepes

38. Would you move for the person you loved?
No, unless they lived in London in which case yes

39. Are you touchy feely?
Umm, does clingy count? If so, then yes

40. What’s your life motto?
Don't panic

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
Ring on my right index finger, ring on my right ring finger and Irish wedding band on my left thumb

42. What’s your favourite town/city?
London

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Small pizza with sausage and pepperoni

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
No clue, it's been so long

45. Can you change the oil on a car?
God no

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
He's in NYC

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
I know bits and pieces from both sides of my family and recently found out I do in fact have some English from my Mom's mom's side of the family

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
That would have been for my chorus concert and it was all black and a green blazer

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
No

50. Have you been burned by love?
Rather not discuss that, ta

Hold My Hand

I've been feeling rather depressed lately. I think it has something to do with being home and the sun not shining as much as I would like it to. In any event I've been feeling a bit blue and today just compounded that feeling. Today has not been very good for making me feel better, not one bit.
Hunter's not coming back next semester, or at least he doesn't think he is. And quite frankly unless Ms. Smith can pull a fucking miracle out of her ass, I don't think he will be coming back next semester. The strange thing is that he's totally calm about the whole situation. I'm having a freakin' melt down, emotionally speaking, and he's all fine and dandy. A wee bit pissed, but mostly just calm. Which is fine, but I feel really odd about the whole thing. A month ago I wasn't even sure I liked Hunter enough to be his girlfriend and now not only am I freaking out on his behalf, he's entered my subconscious (booyah to the dream world). It just seems so strange how quickly things can change in life. I feel slightly paralysed to be honest. Maybe this is why Farber wanted to have a boyfriend, so I would learn not to be paralysed by unfamiliar and stressful situations. Dunno though, never will either.
Well now that I've entered into the realm of stream-of-thought rambling, I guess I'll end it here. Don't mourn for me too much though. He's promised to visit and if the world and karma decide that I'm (and by proxy he's) not too shit he'll be back at UMW this summer, and trust me if he is my weekends will be spent in Fredericksburg. I'm just that clingy.

I'll Be Home For Christmas

I sometimes wonder how I can be apart of the family that I'm apart of. I use to think that since I didn't belong I must have been adopted or something like that, but since I've inherited too many of the same disabilities (both learning and pyschological) that option has long since left the th building. HOwever I still do wonder how it is I ended up in this family since I'm so patently different from any of them. I also can't stand being around the lot of them, though really that's not a sign of anything based on the movies. Still I've been home four days and I'm already looking forward to the beginning of the next semester. In fact if the world could just fast-forward to Christmas (because I like presents) and then fast-forward again to January 11th, I'd be just fine, ta. Of course this could all pass and like I almost told Hunter (decided against 'cuz I didn't want to worry him too much) I'll just become numb to the whole situation. Either that or time will pass as quickly as always does and I'll be back at school before I know it. Still, I'd rather be at school now instead of having to wait. C'est la vie I guess. :sigh:

Another Finals Interruption

We again interrupt Nore's study of linguistics with this small piece of news: Blur are reuniting. Now over to Nore for her reaction...
LIES!!!!!!! I don't know why I have such a visceral and unloving response to Blur reuniting, but I do. I think it has to do with the fact that two of the four members have gone on to have semi-successful music careers and they probably won't make it to the US and I don't need any more disappointment in my life. Or I'm just a very bitter old hag who doesn't want anyone to be happy. Dunno.
In other non-music news (well non-pop music news anyway) I've all but given up on completing MacBastard (MacGamut/aural training) by Thursday when it's due, but I still have to figure out how I'm going to write a fugue by Friday. Tomorrow is going to be hell, absolute hell. So's Thursday, but less so because I don't have a jury, just skills and socio. But as Amber (from Seaco) said this morning, by this time next week it will all be just a really horrible dream and I'll be able to sleep like a normal person again. Finally, Kathy has disappeared for the most part, which is a nice but very odd alternative to last year when Allison hid in her bed for the duration of finals. At least I can listen to my music without headphones, which is also nice, and talk out loud while I'm studying, which I acknowledge is very strange. Anywho, got to get back to linguistics. Do you know what a polysemy is? I do.

Lyrics for Finals

Well, more like a part of some lyrics. Two stanzas in poetry terms. From two different songs. By the same artist. Anywho, here they are:

"You Want History" --- Kaiser Chiefs

It's a waste of money you have to admit
If it's a waste of money you have to have it
It's a waste of brains but hard to resist
If you wanted mystery you've blown it

It's a waste of money you have to admit
If it's a waste of money you have to have it
It's a waste of brain cells hard to resist
If you wanted history you missed it


"Like It Too Much" --- Kaiser Chiefs

Going in and out of
Another state of
Try not to be obvious
With a ringside seat
Going in and out of
Another state of
Try not to be obvious
You get the first one free...

You are descended from animals
And you are constructed of chemicals
The one thing you can't have you like too much
You look but you cannot touch
I like it all too much

The Fear of Good Days and Bad Days

Ah, time for some reviews. Lily Allen has a single, the Kaiser Chiefs have a single...and both have videos! There's also the small matter of not wanting to think about my exams, so here's a nice way to pass the time. Write two reviews.

"The Fear" --- Lily Allen
Lily Allen has a gift for lyrics. She writes brilliant and catchy lyrics that, while not exactly mind-stretchers, are able to be topical without sounding pedantic. However, as with "The Fear", she can sound a bit hypocritical singing them. In this latest single Ms. Allen's musical vocabulary has expanded to a certain extent, but ultimately her songs aren't about the music but the lyrics and the lyrics sound silly coming out of her mouth. Ms. Allen is almost as well known for her tabloid antics as she is for her music and so singing about the stupidity and shallowness of her life seems a tad rich. A bit like the pot calling the kettle black if you know I mean. But "The Fear" is saved by the musical expansion exhibited by Ms. Allen and her cohorts. If this any indication of her next, I'm sure it will be as good and as catchy as her last one. Let's just hope she avoids any more hypocrisy. [As for the video, it's majestic and visually interesting, but Lily is not a good actress. Really horrible in fact.]

"Good Days Bad Days" --- The Kaiser Chiefs
There's something peculiar about the Kaiser Chiefs. First impression rarely do justice to the actual quality of the music they produce. While I wouldn't exactly retract my original grading of Off With Their Heads I don't hate the album much as I did when I first listened to it. There are moments in nearly every song that makes it worth while to listen to. In the case of "Good Days Bad Days" it's the refrain and bit towards the end that discusses changing your attitude. "Good Days Bad Days" isn't a brilliant song by any stretch of the imagination, but if you listen to it enough times, you too will find a moment in it that you like and makes it worth while to listen to. That's just how the Kaiser Chiefs work. [Peanut was in hospital during the video shoot and the hang a neat little sign on his keyboard that says "Be back in 5 minutes." The whole thing is a giddy romp that reminds me of the video for "Everyday I Love You Less and Less" except without skeleton sex. Though it's odd, they always pat down Ricky's hair and it makes him look really odd. But yeah, good video.]

Ugh. Exams. I've got so much MacGamut to do it hurts my brain just thinking about it. However I got to watch a really weird French movie last night, so it's not all bad. Well the exam bits are, but the French movie isn't. So yeah, off to bed. Night.

This Is Going to Be Very Long, But I'm Very Bored

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (marching band, Rock Band)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (in the mountains is close enough right? Because I've done a lot of that)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (and I will never eat doritos again)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (and I have a poster of her too!)
20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (of the heart!)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David (or a replica, I can't remember)

41. Sung karaoke (it was awful)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted by your mother. it wasn't flattering.
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (in November and it was cold)

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (and never got beyond an orange belt)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (one of the last things I did before moving to the suburbs)

71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone (how is that impressive?)
99. Been stung by a bee (which is one of the ways I found out I'm allergic to insect stings)
100. Read an entire book in one day (back when I had time to read)

I'm Taking a Break From Writing About Sociology to Write About My Life

If I write one more page, get through one more topic, I can go to bed and finish the paper tomorrow. I just have to write about one more topic and since I underlined so damn much, this paper is proving a hell of a lot easier than the last one. I just have to write about one more topic. :sigh: I'm good at this, I just hate doing it.
Today has been so stressful. I had one three hour break in the middle of the day, but even then I had grocery shopping to do and then tonight was utter chaos, so the break really didn't mean that much to me. The only plus side was that I got to see Hunter after the chorus concert and before I rushed back to my room to eat and watch GG. Now I'm working on a sociology paper that will be five pages if it kills me. Still I got to see Hunter and watch GG, so it isn't all doom and gloom. Just mostly.
So, for those who don't know, Torchwood, especially the first season, is ridiculously sex-drenched. Just a ridiculous amount of sex and sex innuendo. So it comes as no surprise that John Barrowman (Barrowman, not Boarowman) would take out his dick while on the radio. I mean absolutely no surprise whatsoever. He turned a song from The Sound of Music into a perverted thing about wanking when he was on Buzzcocks. Really, people are just silly.
So this is my last week of classes before exams. Many people on Facebook have been describing the next two weeks of hell. I would tend to agree with them. This, however, does not guarentee that I will not be blogging throughout the next two weeks. It simply means that if I do write, I will most likely be bitching or bitching. So yeah, welcome to hell.