Unshelved	by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum

:)

You are the Buffy the Musical song "I've Got a
Theory/Bunnies/If We're Together"!


Which Buffy the Musical Song Are You?
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Eilir raved on 02:48

Oh, how I wish I had a car...

...if only so I could put a Cthulhu antenna ball on it. You can buy them through Chaosium's catalogue too, including making PayPal payments. I had this idea myself some time ago; glad someone took the trouble to make one. Still, viewing the images...unsettles one. Perhaps they truly are channeling Cthulhu from the deep. Definitely time to get some sleep. 'Night.

Eilir raved on 01:34

Here goes. Happy Friday!

1. What do you most want to be remembered for? My ability to love and my loyalty to those I love.

2. What quotation best fits your outlook on life?
from A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson, published in 1992, as quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be – brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?"
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so small that others won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in us, it's in everyone.
As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

3. What single achievement are you most proud of in the past year? Getting my life back together after basically having a breakdown.

4. What about the past ten years? Learning to trust and love myself. It took most of that time to get it.

5. If you were asked to give a child a single piece of advice to guide them through life, what would you say? Live fully in the moment and love deeply.

Eilir raved on 00:11

Okay, I'm back

Sorry, I've crashed each of the last two days--yesterday I was asleep by 6pm and didn't wake up until 3am, then went back to sleep and still managed to sleep through my alarm until 9am. Fortunately I don't have to be to work until 9:30. :)

What I'm listening to tonight: Once More, with Feeling (Buffy: the Musical)
Here's an excerpt "Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes - They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses - And what's with all the carrots - What do they need such good eyesight for anyway". Okay, maybe you have to be a Buffy fan. Obviously that's an Anya song. :)
What I'm reading: The June issue of Victoria magazine.

The CD is courtesy of a gift certificate to Joseph-Beth that I received for serving as president of our local library consortium last year. I got that, Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis, and Teach Yourself Hieroglyphs. (Can you tell I was afraid I'd lose the certificate?) Then I took the change and stopped by Cold Stone Creamery. Gee guys, that's waaaaaaaaayyy so much better than a plaque! :) Let's see, $50 at your favourite bookstore or something to gather dust on a wall. No contest. :) And it's helping with the Buffy withdrawl.

Before I crashed yesterday things had gone well. We'd had our library meeting, with an excellent catered lunch (fettucine alfredo with broccoli, salad, yummy rolls that tasted like my grandma's, and carrot cake). Come to think of it, maybe that's why I crashed later. Our continuing education topic was electronic journals, and much of the afternoon involved negotiating software licences. For the record, I now more than anyone without a Juris Doctor has a right to on this subject. Fortunately the speakers were both animated and enjoyable. The truly frightening thing is that occasionally I feel like going to law school (after all, I have a history degree--that's one of the best preparations, right?) I wouldn't be a criminal lawyer--no Perry Mason drama for me. I'd be one of those people who help the disabled get their social security or do civil rights challenges, etc. Meaning I'd have yet another job that wouldn't pay well. Sometimes it's kind of bad to be an idealist. I mean, I'm right in that bracket that's making such headlines for not getting any tax relief (over minimum wage but less than $25,000 a year) already. All I need is more student loans and less ability to make a living. :)

Today's my grandmother's 79th birthday. I still haven't found anything suitable for her (but then I haven't found anything for Zabet yet, and hers was a month ago! I did call Ma, though, to wish her a happy birthday. I'm going home to Danville on Saturday, too. Next weekend I'm attending our company picnic/minor league baseball game, which, while fun, sort of sucks because my aunt and uncle are apparently stopping by on their way back to San Antonio from an Ohio visit that weekend. :( Maybe they could stop by when they drive through Lexington. :)

One profound thing today: I was reading the latest National Geographic's article on the status of the Dalit (aka Untouchables) of India. It was very moving. You can check out some of the information on the online article, but the most disturbing and sobering image is in the print version--a photo of two young men who were attacked by higher caste villagers for fishing in a pond. These so-called "superior people" threw acid on the men. One in particular looks like he would be quite handsome, except that three-quarters of his face and a good portion of his neck and chest have literally melted into a twisted form he'll carry for the rest of his life. I'd say he's blind in one eye, as well. If the theory is that a person is only born into the lowest caste due to some horrendous thing in the past, then anyone who would do such a thing to another human (or any living thing, for that matter) surely should fall to the bottom next go around. But it'd be better if they were prosecuted in this lifetime, don't you think? If you want to learn more about the Dalit and their cause, you may want to check out Ambedkar.org, which is named for the Dalit's greatest champion and includes up-to-date news.

Seeing this reminds me how, as an American with not merely basic freedoms but a pretty decent scope of rights, where money and fame may make a difference but the inherent dignity of all people is guaranteed by our constitution, I just can't understand the cultural reasons behind something like the caste system. And for once, I'm glad that I will never understand. I just wish they could all come here and make new lives.

Well, that's enough ranting for tonight. If you have a chance, check out the magazine. Well, I'll probably post the F5 in a few minutes and then bid a good night. :)

Eilir raved on 23:35

Day #4 of Holiday--tired, but it's a good sort of tired...

Had trouble going to sleep last night and wound up getting to bed around 4:30 am only to woken up an hour later by the phone. Then got up this morning at 10am and made final plans to see the movie. Enjoyed The Matrix: Reloaded immensely, then went to the game and used the adrenaline rush to finish up an adventure. Now I'm home, and I'm pooped, but it's more like when you play a really good game of ball, or put in a garden, etc.--it's the good kind of tired, with a sense of accomplishment. I'm definitely looking forward to the last installment of the Matrix trilogy; the second ends very suddenly, and I'm glad I was forewarned. And I still like Agent Smith better as an elf. :)

So this is the end of my holiday. Patrick said the Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, French, etc. he met in New Zealand were shocked by how little vacation time Americans have. I feel that way too, sometimes. But I'm ready to go back. When you're the only librarian in the workplace it's a little harder to take off much time. I'm am fighting off what I hope are allergies rather than the aha!-you-stood-still cold you sometimes get when you finally have time off. But generally I got some rest, spent time with assorted friends, and had a much needed break--at least enough to get me to the Fourth of July. :)

Eilir raved on 20:23

Parting Shots

Came across this commentary on why Charmed is better than Buffy.

Although I'm a fan of both, I have to agree with Robert Black. Charmed is more consistent; even with the major hurdle of having to replace a main character (Shannen Doherty's Prue) mid-show they did an excellent job. Charmed is a little more like the game I was talking about before--except the game is even more complex. But still, hmm....

Speaking of things that make you go hmmm, I watched The Matrix tonight while I was over at Zabet's in preparation for seeing The Matrix: Reloaded, tomorrow. I don't think I've seen it since it was originally in the theatres, and I needed a refresher. I forgot how much the movie dealt with the philosophy of reality. I'm looking forward to seeing the sequel and hope they've continued to question what is possible.

Talk to you tomorrow (hopefully). 'Night.

Eilir raved on 01:46

PS

Just so you don't think that I'm totally unaware of the reason for the holiday, I just don't care for this, 'let's move Memorial Day' and every other holiday to Monday and we'll have more time off. Memorial Day (or Decoration Day as it's still often called here) is the 30th. That's Friday. That's like saying, 'gee, we'll celebrate September 11th (celebrate?) on the nearest Monday, and oh, by the way, how about a cookout?' See what I mean? Okay, that may be harsh, but a lot of folks out there agree with me. And it's not like all the 'national' holidays are like that. Look at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Actually, I've never understood why Christmas is a national holiday, given the whole separation of church and state thing, but that's a tangent for another time. I once came across a website (but can't seem to find it now) where they were calling for a return of Memorial Day observance to the traditional date, precisely because putting it into a long weekend encourages us to goof off and kick off the summer with barbeques rather than to remember the lives lost in war.

I'm going home to Danville next weekend, and we'll probably decorate and visit the graves then. If I can, I plan to take a recording of "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes with me. It was the only thing my grandfather requested for his funeral, and my mom and grandmother told the funeral parlour that, but they played it on some sort of bell chime thing. Not bagpipes. You can't fool Scots. :) I wish I knew where to track a girl I used to know named Cammie down. She's the only person I know who plays the pipes, and I don't even know her last name. Bill, if you read this, do you have any ideas? Or if any of you see a girl playing the bagpipes with a black Labrador companion animal in tow, send me an e-mail. :)

I wish I could get up to Owenton and take care of the graves there. Another good reason to get a reliable car. My cousins are the only other ones in the area, and I don't know if they're keeping the gravesite up. It was always my grandmother's job until she died--she passed it on to me. It's a tradition here for a daughter, usually the oldest of the survivors, to keep the graves up. I promised Nana I would, but with my transportation woes, I haven't been able to do it. My great-grandparents, Joe and Carmen Duncan, and two of their children are buried there--my great-uncle Joedy and my grandmother, Frances. If anyone in Owenton reads this, would you mind stopping by a checking on them for me. I'll light a candle for them instead.

We've always celebrated the holiday by tending all graves, not just the war dead or veterans. But everyone of my grandparents who are entombed now were veterans; even Nana was an army nurse. But tending all the graves means I've been to some of the smaller cemeterys like the Reardon plot outside Mitchellsburg, etc. It's on a hill way up at a steep angle. I'm not sure my grandmother can get up that one, but my mom and I might stop by.

In the meantime, we get off Monday from work automatically, and there's no sense in me being there with no one else there. So I'll be gaming, etc. tomorrow and visiting the graves at the end of the week.

Eilir raved on 15:22

Day#3 of Holiday...Change in Plan

With about a half-hour until I expected to go to the game, we totally re-worked our plans. Turns out one person has a cookout tonight, so we're all going to get together tomorrow for The Matrix: Reloaded, followed by the game. It works out better for all of us. One person I called (the one who was supposed to be picking me up in a half an hour :) was asleep, but her husband thought that would work for her. Another was halfway asleep as it was. And it's begun to rain, after having two wonderful days to dry out. Not that the rain matters in terms of the game, I think it makes us all sleepier.

I blog about this a lot, I know, and you're probably wondering what the hell I'm talking about. Our game started, pretty much on a weekly basis, in July of 1991. Yup. Nearly twelve years ago. I'd just gotten married, which was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. The gamemaster and I are the only ones of the original crew left, but the storyline and characters have been developing ever since that time. A total of thirteen people have played at some point, although never more than about five or six at a time. Oddly enough, we've generally found women do better at the game. I don't know if it's because it takes a certain amount of altruism (it's deeper than just blowing things up, you're trying to save humanity). Male gamers have a tendency to play out like it's some video or war game. Women gamers tend to emote a lot and focus on their appearance. I don't know if we're just a more balanced bunch or what, but we can easily go from a stunning dinner party to kicking monster butt.

For those of you not familiar with role-playing games, you create a character using guidelines from a book and rolling various-sided dice to randomly determine certain physical and mental traits, depending on the system used. Our basic system is that of Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu, which is based on the fiction of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. Over time, though, several other systems have been incorporated. Our gamemaster is very creative and manages to streamline all sorts of things. The ones incorporated that I know of are Ars Magica, G.U.R.P.s, RIFTS, Harn, all the various White Wolf World of Darkness titles, In Nomine, Ninjas and Superspies, Trinity, Conspiracy, and Witchcraft--and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head! In addition, we have a couple of "alternative" games, one drawing heavily on Aeon Trinity, and another from Brave New World. In the latter, all the characters from the orginal game were assigned superpowers randomly according to when they entered original play and matching that with the power packages from BNW. In the former, there are eight characters representing the eight classes on psions; we each have a gift needed to help save the world. :)

Game mechanics aside, the idea of the game is that we are specially trained in the martial arts, weaponry, and mystical arts to fight against transdimensional, extraterrestrial incursions as envisioned by Lovecraft. We basically belong to a secret order and have take oaths to protect humanity. We are not allowed to kill humans (except in self-defence), and never with our blessed swords. (The results are hazardous to the character's health). We live in modern society, based in Arkham, Massachusetts (the creation of Lovecraft, near real-life Salem). Our "cover" so to speak is an investigating agency, Arkham Paranormal Investigations, Inc. Think a mixture of detectives, ghostbusters, etc. Our jobs are to track down cultists, try to save the world from yet another apocalypse (which, I think, is one reason we can all relate to Buffy). Usually there's a lot of investigation, but when the action starts, its usually spectacular. It's much more riveting than a book or movie--for one thing, it's interactive--your actions and decisions, along with those of your fellow gamers, make the story happen. There's nothing quite like it--and I've never found a game that was as satisfying as this one. Most don't last for so long, for one. People lose interest or move away. People get tired of playing. That really hasn't happened with this. There have been times when we felt like we'd never finish a campaign, but we keep coming back for more. I guess we're just gluttons for punishment. But it's a nice, healthy way to let off steam while still interacting with others (how many wives do you know who curse the Playstation?), and it's been very good for me in terms of learning how to deal with people and situations. This game has been better therapy for me than any other, and whenever I go to a seminar and have to role-play, they always go--"you're a natural at this". Not really. It's just that I've been playing several parts for several years in an impromtu play, if you like. Pretty decent for someone who used to be so shy she wouldn't even take her nose out of a book. And it's been one of the biggest creative outlets of my life; I have nearly a dozen of my own characters that I've developed over time; many of the other players' are as near and dear to me as my own. It's been great to see them take a life of their own--and each one tells something about the person playing it. They're not alter egos; they're not real in the material sense, but they are both masques and aspects of ourselves we usually don't let people see. One of these days I'd like to get together with some of the others and write up some of this; part of the problem is the scenarios are often copyrighted, of course. It's always been agreed that characters stay in the game mythos, so to speak, regardless of whether the player continues, so that's not so much a problem--the past player characters become non-player characters and are run by the gamemaster, etc. But I'm not sure if we could ever do a website for Arkham Paranormal, even so, although I'd love to.

So, the next time you hear someone saying that roleplaying is dead in this computer age, or someone talking about the evils of roleplaying games, think of this. Sure, there are some people who probably are too obsessive or never quite get the balance between reality and fantasy. They're usually mentally ill to begin with, and usually no one wants to game with them because they can't follow simple rules. They're the minority. Gee, I think I've ranted enough--you might think I was a gaming geek, hmmm? Sorry, I guess I was geared up for the game and now I'll have to channel all that enthusiasm into housework. :) Or maybe take a nap.

Eilir raved on 14:33

Day #2 of Holiday

Just got in (it's nearly midnight, and I've been running around since about 10:45 this morning!)

• Installed Seti@Home. It never worked right when I tried before; I don't know if they've updated or if Windows XP likes it better, but it's doing fine, now. Yipee! It's busily analysing as we speak. (Yes I know I'm such a geek, but really, my stepdad built a wonderful computer that's overclocked at a gigahertz. Shouldn't I put that to a good use, like, for all humanity?)
  
• Went to the Rusty Scabbard, a gaming store. Met up with my friend Dee and we made plans for the game tomorrow. She's coming back after being off during the semester for school (which worked out well--she got a 3.5 GPA) and a trip to Vermont (to see an old friend get hitched--okay, maybe not married, but I think hitched works--in the only state that recognises gay unions). She's going to give me a ride, which means I can take Cerys with me. Everyone misses seeing her (I have never found a way to smuggle a 45 lb. dog on the bus. She's too small to say she's a companion animal and too big to fit in a bag). So I'm looking forward to that and hoping all the animals get along.
  
• Stopped by Turfland Mall and ate at Subway. I tried their Southwester Chipotle sauce with a Veggie Delight and it was very nummy.
  
• Did much transcription of some rules for the game in easily indexed bits. Let me just say for the record that White Wolf's Werewolf tribe Black Spiral Dancers is just sick, sick and wrong. Don't these people ever do happy stuff? Oh, that's right, happy isn't tragick enough. :)
  
• Home at last..to find that Zabet and I continue to play phone tag. She must have called about 15 minutes after I left. I never heard from her yesterday (our usual day to get together). Don't know what happened, but at least I know she didn't fall off the face of the planet. :) I was beginning to worry. So, I'll call tomorrow and see if we can finally connect.
  
• Heard from Dwana, who was on her way to her in-laws for the day. She's feeling better, which is good. When I talked to her yesterday she was dealing with some pain and generally not feeling too well.
  

On another note, I've jumped on and off a lot of buses over the last 24 hours, and it's definitely interesting to watch people and listen to some of the oddest things. I am, however, seeing the wisdom of keeping my own mouth shut and looking for terribly interesting things out the windows. One lady totally went off with a lot of profanity the other day at the transit centre. The only thing I could figure is that someone got too close to her space. You see such a variety of people on the bus. Some are mentally ill, physically disabled, or elderly. Some are students, or just the working poor like me. There are some real characters, both in terms of passengers and bus drivers. It's always an adventure, but since I have a degree in sociology, sometimes it just seems like some sort of crazy experiment that I've been sucked into. :) Well, that's it. I think I'll play Word Mojo for awhile and then totter off to bed. 'Night.

PS How can a seven-pound cat chew his food so loudly he sounds like a 100-ft crunch monster? I don't know how Buns does it, but damn, it's unnerving. It sounds like if you took a 50-ft woman and stuck her in corduroys, making sure her thighs rubbed together!

Eilir raved on 00:03

Shiver

I was listening to a new age music show, and suddenly recognised Margie Adam's 'Something About Us'. Somehow it's a little different listening to music when you've been onstage with the artist. A few years ago I sang with a women's chorus and Margie was our guest artist. It was a wonderful experience. Listening took me right back to that moment.

I miss chorus. It's on Sunday evenings and in a part of town that it's difficult for me to get to, given my reliance on public transport. I needed a break while I got my life together and I was w-a-y too overstretched for awhile. But it was a place I was accepted for who I am--and they're always appreciative of first sopranos, which are somewhat uncommon, especially since most of the women in the chorus were in their 40s or above. If I get another car (that's actually reliable), I'd like to go back and sing.

When I was a kid, I could sing with my mom to the car radio, but singing in front of others terrified me. I have some mixed up memories of being 8 and singing in a talent show and feeling like they were all laughing at me, but I don't really think they did. Of course it didn't help that I chose a sappy 70s song outside my range. My mom always thought I was a contralto. It wasn't till I took a voice for non-music majors class that I found out I was soprano. The first time I sang for the class I clenched my fists, turned red, and nearly passed out. :) The students were very encouraging at least, and there were a couple of others who had problems with staying on pitch, etc., so I wasn't the problem child. In their defence, one was a girl from Bangladesh who had not spent much time listening to western music, and one was a guy from eastern Kentucky who had the typical never-open-your-mouth problem (think the one guy on "King of the Hill" who you can barely understand). They both got it by the end of the class, and I got to where I was starting to relax. I didn't sing in the chorus until someone dragged me to a concert, then plopped me in front of a couple of the women and said, 'she's a soprano and likes to sing--think you could take her under your wing?!'

I tend to sing on the bus, walking, in the halls, just about anywhere _so long as I think no one's listening_.The thing is, I know I have a nice voice and if I could just get over the stage fright I'd be okay. I've had people come up to me and tell me I had a beautiful voice. It only makes me embarrassed. There was one concert with the chorus that I really, really wanted the solo to 'You Can't Hurry Love'--I knew the words by heart; it's one of my favourites. So I tried out. They were great--said I'd do well if I had enough time to work on my volume but there was only a short time before the conference. I couldn't get my volume out because I couldn't relax enough to really sing. Well, and because I had asthma but didn't know it. I've got the latter under control, and I'm hoping that my shyness/stage fright issues are being helped by my anti-anxiety medicine. I wonder if I went back if I could sing by myself without fainting? :)

Eilir raved on 00:25

Day #1 of Holiday (in a sort of stream of consciousness, with a vague attempt at chronology)

• Slept until 10:30 am. Heaven!
  
• Watched a movie, Final Descent, one of those aircraft disaster flicks. Interesting (although improbable) solution to having the plane stuck in an upward climb 1) Send all the weight you can forward, 2) Have a military chopper fire holes through the elevators--causing a fire in the galley which thank goodness an oil rigger is nearby to use a fire extinguisher because the flight attendant can't remember to pull and sweep due to her panic, 3) Have a military tanker full of water pull alongside, blow your escape hatch in the cockpit, run arctic suits and a hose through, then fill the oxygen bay with water, nearly drowning your engineer, nearly freezing your co-pilot (and love of your life) and somehow managing to get the nose down and land without a computer. Thank the Gods for creative writers. After awhile it became the 'what will they think of next?' movie.
  
• Took a deliciously wonderful bath. I used a new product called Totally Juicy Apple Hot Sugar Scrub that leaves my skin very soft. I have this thing that's always been a little annoying called keratosis pilaris. Depending on the area of the world, up to 50% of the people have it. You see it a lot in Celts, for example, although it shows up worse in darker-complected people. It's hereditary, and if you have it, you have at least a 50-50 chance of passing it on. When the skin renews little plugs of keratin (which is in the top layer of skin, hair, and nails) get stuck in the hair follicules. This usually happens on the arms, thighs, and buttocks, sometimes on the face. This can make pores reddish or dark, or give you little bumps all over. In my family we just saw it as a sort of childhood acne, but it isn't. (Do a search on childhood acne and you won't get KP. I didn't have luck until a paediatrician I work with mentioned something that's characterised as 'goosebumps' in childhood.) But the bumps have little bits of dead skin, and it makes it more likely for the hair to get ingrown, even though it's usually not infected like acne. I can remember my mom picking my bumps when I was 5 or 6. It has been a compulsive thing with me, too, and so that's led to some scarring. Think of how annoying acne was when you were a teen and imagine having it all your life. Of course, it does get a little better as you age. And it's one of the most benign inherited problems you can have. But I'm a little self-conscious of it, even though most people probably wouldn't even notice it. (Someone I had known for fifteen years touched my arm once and say 'your arm is bumpy' in surprise.) This sugar scrub gently exfoliates without causing problems with the sensitive skin. It has sugar, apple, vitamin A, vitamin C, grape seed oil, bergamot oil, orange oil, sweet almond oil, kelp exctract, algae, safflower oil, grapefruit, apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil, macademia seed oil, sesame seed oil, and jojoba. Very nice. And it's 'tested on friends and family, not animals' and contains no animal ingredients. :) I guess it's not great for someone with a nut allergy, though.
  
• Went to the co-op. That took awhile--four hours; it's always an adventure on the bus. Also, I grabbed a sandwich at their little coffee shop But with the exception of a tragick Cheetos Naturals accident, we all returned intact.
  

So now I'm sitting at the computer, catching up on my e-mail, etc., enjoying a soda. One of my co-workers lent me the video Office Space and I'm contemplating watching it. But I'm almost too pooped. Maybe I'll just rest. :)

I'm going to see The Matrix: Reloaded on Monday, I think. I still have one free pass left, and I have it on good authority that it's a "killer movie". So it looks like it's a weekend for movies. Which is great compared to last year, where some medicine made me sleep all but four hours of the entire holiday. :) And of course, barring cancellations, Sunday is the Cthulhu game, which is sort of movie-like in its own way.

I just remembered the weird dream I had last night. It started out with hobbits, who were basically running about an arena that was sort of a 3D version of the old video game 'Gauntlet'--lots of holes down to the next level, various booty, thing chasing you, etc. Then at some point they crashed into a munchkin review onstage. It was a little odder than my normal dreams, which are strange in their own right. I dream cinematically--it usually has a contained story, sometimes several with not much to do with one another, but almost always vivid, in narrative--not those fleeting things you usually think of. I don't know if that's normal or not, but it is for me.

Well, that's a lot of typing. I figured I hadn't written since Tuesday. Oh, and of course, I'll have to include a Friday Five! Here goes:

1. What brand of toothpaste do you use?
I don't have a 'set' brand. I usually use Tom's Natural anise toothpaste, although I just bought Doctor Burt's Lavender Mint toothpaste. Sometimes it's nice to get something that doesn't just taste like gum. The oddest I've tried is Colgate's Herbal Toothpaste from our local Indian grocery--it's sold there but usually not here. It's good but it's an acquired taste. It has tulsi (cloves) and also pudina, laung, and neem. I'm not sure what those are.

2. What brand of toilet paper do you prefer?
Seventh Generation when I can afford it, Cottonelle when I can't.

3. What brand(s) of shoes do you wear?
Whatever fits.

4. What brand of soda do you drink?
Diet Pepsi.

5. What brand of gum do you chew?
None. I swallow anyway, so what's the point?

I'm not really a brand afficianado. I prefer Pepsi products for colas, Heinz for catsup, etc., but other than that, I open to trying most alternatives. I have to admit, I prefer what I think of as regular peanut butter, although I'll eat the 'natural' type--but then I have to add honey or something like that to make it sweeter.

Eilir raved on 21:50

Oh, Buffy-qua!

And so a legend ends. At least for now. I won't write about who lived and who died, because at last word Zabet, who reads this, was going to probably wait the indeterminable time it takes to put Buffy episodes onto DVD since she and Hubby are still behind on their viewing. But a few comments:

• Thank you, guys, for letting the show go out with a bang, in all the Buffy-licious glory we've come to expect. You kept us guessing who was going to die, who would survive, how things would happen with the First--everything up to the last minute.
  
• Thank you for that that last "Grrr...Arrgh" with the little monster turning its head towards the audience.
  
• Thank you for coming up with a story (and I think Joss Whedon did this one) that not only was satisfying, but literally gave us unlimited possibilities for new series, movies, and it will even make the Buffy: The Role-playing Game imminently more fun to play.
  
• Thank you for making me cry, blubber, and laugh all within the last ten minutes of the show.
  
• Thank you for seven years of fun that kept us on our toes and made us want to be scoobies.
  
• Thank you for showing us happy snuggling relationships between lesbians, and the pain of losing someone you love regardless of their gender and how the relationship can be just as "valid", especially when accepted by your friends.
  
• Thank you for understanding just what sort of hell high school is.
  
• Thank you for showing us strong females who can kick butt and sensitive guys who can save the world with a hug.
  
• Thank you for the line: "I used to be a highly respected Watcher. Now I'm a wounded dwarf with the mystical power of a doily".
  
• Thank you to all who helped create the Buffyverse.
  

Lastly, if you can't stand the fact that the show is ending, check out their auction. My favourite (which is still available) is the remote-controlled Buffybot, which last I checked was at a bargain $600 and change. But I figure they've got something planned, because the best stuff (i.e., the mummy hand) wasn't on the auction block just yet. There have been rumours of a new series. :) Here's to future slayage! And if none of this makes sense, check out reruns of the show--it really is worth the effort. :)

Eilir raved on 00:04

Got this in e-mail and loved it--and for you guys out there, some of us females are okay with these rules...or at least I am--although if we get lost, I'll get out and ask directions, okay?

> The Rules....this time by Men.
>
> We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the
> rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note ... these
> are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!
>
> 1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it
> down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us
> bitching about you leaving it down.
>
> 1. Birthdays, Valentines, and Anniversaries are not quests to see if we can
> find the perfect present yet again!
>
> 1. Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.
>
> 1. Sunday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.
> Let it be.
>
> 1. Don't cut your hair. Ever. Long hair is always more attractive than short
> hair. One of the big reasons guys fear getting married is that married women
> always cut their hair, and by then you're stuck with her.
>
> 1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that
> way.
>
> 1. Crying is blackmail.
>
> 1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not
> work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
>
> 1. We don't remember dates. Mark birthdays and anniversaries on a calendar.
> Remind us frequently beforehand.
>
> 1. Most guys own three pairs of shoes -- tops. What makes you think we'd be
> any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good
> with your dress?
>
> 1. Yes, and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
>
> 1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what
> we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
>
> 1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.
>
> 1. Check your oil! Please.
>
> 1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact,
> all comments become null and void after 7 days.
>
> 1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to
> act like soap opera guys.
>
> 1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We refuse to
> answer.
>
> 1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the
> ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
>
> 1. Let us ogle. We are going to look anyway; it's genetic.
>
> 1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.
> Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
>
> 1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during
> commercials.
>
> 1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
>
> 1. The relationship is never going to be like it was the first two months we
> were going out. Get over it. And quit whining to your girlfriends.
>
> 1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for
> example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea
> what mauve is.
>
> 1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
>
> 1. We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-reading
> ability is not proof of how little we care about you.
>
> 1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's
> wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
>
> 1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you
> don't want to hear.
>
> 1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine.
> Really.
>
> 1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss
> cars, sports, or music .
>
> 1. You have enough clothes.
>
> 1. You have too many shoes.
>
> 1. Foreign films are best left to foreigners. (Unless it's Bruce Lee or some
> war flick where it doesn't really matter what the hell they're saying
> anyway.)
>
> 1. It is neither in your best interest or ours to take the quiz together.
> No, it doesn't matter which quiz.
>
> 1. BEER is as exciting for us as handbags are for you.
>
> 1. I'm in shape. ROUND is a shape.
>
> Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch
> tonight, but did you know we really don't mind that, it's like camping.
>
>
>

Eilir raved on 15:43

Had to do this quiz, being a long-time semi-gaming geek

Which RPG system are you?

by Mr. Vimes

Eilir raved on 02:11

Brain. Hurt.

Today I have:

• Analysed the linguistic differences between sheep and goats--'baa vs. maa' (both sounds being made with the lips, both voiced, with the goats nasalising their sounds). Gee, is it any wonder people think I'm weird?
  
• Typed dictation for three hours and at one point demonstrated that I can read, speak, and type at the same time, although a bit slower than doing just two at the same time.
  
• Listened to a Spanish conversation on the bus that, barring a few words that I couldn't quite make out, I generally understood.
  

The language parts of my brain have just worked too much today. Dare I play Literati?

Eilir raved on 22:03

Listening to Saturday Night Live

A couple of quotes from the opening sketch (a Chris Matthews take-off interviewing various politicians):

"Is it just me, or is the Bush administration starting to seem like an episode of 'Walker, Texas Ranger'?"
"Not even Jesus Christ would run against George Bush. The Bible clearly states that Jesus was a Republican."

Yeah. I'm glad that SNL and I have the same views of the political mess in America today. :)

Well, I'm going to go watch it. Dan Ackroyd and Jim Belushi are singing "Time Won't Let Me". :)

Eilir raved on 23:42

Ooh, this horsey-girly girl is hoping for a Triple Crown...

Funny Cide, the gelding who won the Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness today. Whenever this happens, you've pretty much got to be rooting for a Triple Crown winner, and of course, that would be history in the making, since a gelding has never won all three. People in our area are hoping that a Triple Crown win, along with the upcoming movie Seabiscuit, starring Tobey Maguire, will help renew interest in the horse industry. When the movie comes out, one of the early screenings will be here in Lexington, because part of the film was made here at Keeneland with lots of extras who showed up in the rain. Personally I have a lot of mixed feelings about any kind of animal racing, but it's such an important part of our history here in the Bluegrass. A lot of people in our area depend on thoroughbred industry. Only a couple of years after the disaster of Mare Reproductive Loss hitting the Bluegrass, anything that could give it a boost would probably help our oeconomy. The fact that Funny Cide is New York bred, notwithstanding, it could really help.

Central Kentucky is a little odd in that our biggest employers are Toyota, Lexmark, and the University of Kentucky. There aren't a lot of traditional factories belching out smoke, etc. Many smaller communities have small factories where people sew clothing, etc. We're still largely agricultural. The common joke, of course, is that Kentucky gets it's money from vices--horse racing, bourbon and other distilling, tobacco, and our largest cash crop, marijuana. :) Then there's coal and timber, which are both environmental hot potatoes. This in an area that is firmly Bible belt in nature. We also have a lot of horse farms, Angus (beef), and people are exploring alternatives to tobacco like soy and organic vegetables. Most people have gotten out of dairy, but there are some. It's also perfect sheep country, especially once you get to the hills, although I don't know how many people actually raise it. Our family did in Owen county, I know. When you have lots of mineral-rich grass, grazing is a big commodity. Years ago, this area was a favourite of buffalo. I have to admit, I can understand why my ancestors came here. It's very much like Britain and Ireland. We even have karst topography (lots of limestone caves, sinkholes, etc.). My geology professor at UK was Irish, because that was his specialty. (I spent a lot of time in class just listening to his lilt). One of Central Kentucky's most charming features are the limestone fences reminiscent of Ireland. This time of year it's especially lush and beautiful (although full of allergens!) If you've never been, you might want to visit. There's a lot of history. Practically anyone who went west went through Kentucky--it's important in genealogy searches. We have Mammoth Cave, Natural Bridge (a stone arch), the Red River Gorge, etc., etc.

Gosh, I'm sounding like an ad. Let's just say I think of Kentucky as home, and I love it. It gets a lot of ribbing for being backwards (some of it undeserved, some of it deserved). But I like it with all its good and bad points.

Eilir raved on 23:29

Oh, gee, it's amazing the permutations of SARS...

SARS is causing foreign adoptions of Chinese children to be suspended indefinitely. That's got to be heartbreaking. I watched someone go through the trials and pain of adoption from within this country. I can't imagine the problems involved with international adoptions, and this is one more wrench in the process.

There was a time when our society believed technology would solve all our woes. I never believed that; I can remember my father explaining to me when I was pretty young that the purpose of war and disease was to check human population. At the time I thought he was pretty callous, but really, he was right. But it still sucks, doesn't it?

Eilir raved on 23:00

I'm back

And absolutely drenched. Not in rain--it hasn't done that yet. No, the humidity is such that just the little bit of walking I did and then a bit of gardening has left me feeling very wilted. I'm very tempted to put the air conditioning on, but I know as soon as it rains (and we're under a tornado watch, so I expect it soon), it'll cool down. I may just curl up with the animals and a fan.

Things I've learnt over the past day or so:

• When building a Sims sacred grove, do not locate your bonfires too close to the sacred birches. A conflagaration may ensue, engulfing all your nice, expensive trees as well as your worshippers. (And no, I didn't do that one, but I'm not going to tell you who did or she might kill me. I'm really more the destroy your Sims through toaster oven type.)
  
• Rottweilers are probably the best dogs to cuddle with. They are big babies who just want to be touched, preferably full body, on top of you, and give big, soft doggie kisses.
  
• One of the biggest detractions of the Rottweiler, besides the drool, is the way they go bongy, bongy on your breast (or face) when leaping to see who is at the door.
  
• Never let stability lure you to complacency. Nothing is ever 100% stable. Certainly never accept less than you're worth in exchange for not taking risks.
  
• Gothic is an extremely weird and unsettling movie that makes one question if you really got a bargain DVD for a buck fifty. Actually, it wasn't that bad, just...well...let's just say it could be shown to teenagers to illustrate the danger of drugs. It's a shame Julian Sands couldn't have inched up just a little in the bath. I've always loved the Romantic era (except the women's dresses, which frankly few women can wear well), and while certainly the poets Byron and Shelley were often seen as depraved--well, I think I'm going to go back and do some research and see if Mary Shelley's sister was really stark raving, etc. It may very well be an accurate depiction, but I still wouldn't invite any of them over for tea. I've always had a thing for Byron, even though I do realise Shelley was probably the better poet. (Shelley's funeral, I think, always grabbed me more than the man. I mean death at sea, a beach cremation, then Byron fishing out the heart that refused to burn to take it back to Mother England to bury under Westminster--how could you resist the romance in that? I think it was about the time I studied that in school that I decided I wanted to be cremated.) There was a time when I thought if I had ever been anyone of note in a past life, it would have been his half-sister Augusta (yeah, I know, sick...) but if I were alive then I was probably one of the infatuated cast-offs. :) At least it left me in good stead--I never cared much for poetry when I was younger except for the Romantics and Dylan Thomas. I love poetry now, of course, but then I was more into Arthurian legend, Shakespeare--plays, not sonnets, Dickens, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Funny how I've learnt to love Homer, Plato, and all sorts of things I didn't care much for at 17, but I'm still no fan of Hemingway. I guess some things don't change. "He looked at the fish. He looked at his hand." Grrr. Of course, to be fair, I've never read anything except the Old Man and the Sea.
  
• One of the great things about Dwana's husband (although it probably causes a bit of confusion now and again) is that no matter how you play down a call he will almost always call her with your message immediately--no "just tell her I called" for him--he takes his message stewardship seriously, although sometimes it's like playing the game "operator" as a kid--you once it's filtered through two or three poeple it takes on a life of its own. This, however, seems infinitely better than someone never getting your message. :)
  
• There is usually more effort expended in worrying about something than doing something about it. (Actually, I already knew that one, but it bears repeating.)

Not bad for 24 hours, hmmm?

Eilir raved on 15:21

Today's kind of odd...

Most people I know are out of town or doing stuff with their families, or both. With the exception of one bill I had to pay (which I've already done) and one other errand (which I'm getting ready to do), I pretty much have the day to myself. :)

Last night I went over to Zabet's, who is, quite frankly, pining for her Hubby, who will be back from New Zealand Monday. It's cute, although she'd probably growl at me for saying so. I think this is the longest they've been apart since they got married. Oh, and he's actually "bored" enough to be playing Jenga and Scrabble with his roomates. Patrick has to be pretty darned bored to play Scrabble. Zabet and I are constantly dragging him to games.

I'm getting my Scrabble fix by playing Literati on Yahoo!Games. It's interesting to play with different people you don't know. I'm apparently a very fast player (I'm usually plotting my moves while they'r