Blogalogalog!

I discovered that trying to finish off a large website when (a) you’re too tired to actually see straight, and (b) you’ve been at work all day (week) and have to be up at 6am for work the next day, is just a bad idea. And in fact, doesn’t work. So I went to bed at midnight (instead of the 2am it’s been every other night this week) and slept like the dead til Willow landed all four feet on my stomach at about 5am. She’s a remarkably sproingy kitty, really. Anyway, I feel a little better today for having had almost 6 hours sleep… but since we’re sposed to be going for dinner tonight with B’s Dad before he goes back to France, I very much doubt that S&S is going to get opened on time. Maybe I’ll postpone the opening date to the 3rd, since I have 2 days off now – I’ll be able to take my time finishing it off. Shall decide this evening.

I love being able to touch type. I really really do. I mean, before I could, I thought I was fairly quick at typing with 2 fingers of each hand, but now…. well, I don’t see how I could cope online if I couldn’t touch type – everything would take so long! It’s just sooooo much better to be able to watch the screen, and not worry too much about what my fingers are doing. As I’m typing this, I’m feeling slightly amazed by how fast the clicking of the keys sounds, *and* the words I want are magically appearing on screen! Taking that course has to be one of the best things I did – I never would’ve got a job after uni/college if I hadn’t. And I wouldn’t be in this job, because I would never have landed the temping job at the ISP which lead to full time job, blah blah blah. But I spose there have to be a load of people online who don’t touch type at 55wpm or whatever. Anyone reading this? What’s it like?

Pig Brother – you can’t deny it, it’s gotta be better than the human version…

Some interesting-mixture-of-painkillers induced rambling at Soulfreak. I think it does make sense, but apologies if not.

What I’d actually intended to write about when I went to post there, was Cruel Intentions. Not entirely sure how the connection between head and fingers got lost there. So I’ll mention it here instead. See, we finally gave in to temptation / the-lure-of-wrestling respectively, and got Sky movies and sports last night, and determined to get my moneys worth I hunted for a film to watch then and there. Cruel Intentions was on, I hadn’t seen it but I have seen (and love) Dangerous Liasons, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. And damn, good film!! Grabbed me immediately and completely… can see why the brother likes it so much (other than the obvious SMG factor). I did miss some of it, though, when there was some kind of cat crisis outside. And of course I was trying to work on Spiked and Skewered at the same time (why, oh why do I give myself so much work to do?!). So I’ll be keeping an eye out for it to watch again. Definitely one I’d recommend.

Well, I’m back at work. I’ve caught up on all my journal reading, just about. And I just had a Scary Experience^(TM) in, uh, Xperience, the alternative / goth / punk / bondage clothing shop next door to where I work. I was having a browse (and then a buy – more tops, must get skirt / trousers!!) at lunchtime, when a voice from behind me (talking to the shop assistant, though, not me) said “Do you have kid’s jeans here?”. And it’s this ‘normally’ dressed mother, with three kids of under-12 in tow. WTF? I’m at the back end of the shop – well past all kinds of interesting stuff. So the girl behind the counter (well pierced and tattooed, fab mohican) told her, no, they didn’t, and the mother turns to the kids and says “Oh well, back to GAP then……”. I seem to remember Megs telling me of a similar SE^TM she had in there recently, too. What is going on?…… And, brain meandering back to needing trousers, I think I might have those tartan bondage trews. Like muchly.

But anyway, where have I been the last 10 days or so? Well, I was off work, for a start. On the first day off – Saturday – I went to the cat shelter as arranged, with Becx from work, Megs, and Heather (who was visiting). And came home with the largest kittymonster there, “Jerry”, now renamed Alexander. Shall get pics up….. eventually. Like I said before, he’s pretty jumpy – expects to be hit at every turn, poor baby. He was even scared of the toy I got him! He wanted to be friends with Willow (bless), but she was a stroppy little mog…. they’re getting used to one another, though, so that’s good.

Saturday evening, we went to a wedding reception for one of B’s friends from school. We were both pretty knackered, and were also providing solidarity for B’s best mate (complicated ex issues and the like), so we played barfly all evening. Which meant we got to see almost everyone there with no real effort, since they had to come by to get drinks. Then the groom’s Mum came to say hi, and asked Those Questions – “Where did you meet?” and “You’ve known each other nearly two years? Are you engaged yet?”. I swear, one of these days I’m going to make up some plausible meeting place, because having to explain the internet-y truth is just way too much hassle….

I then spent a few days hanging around, working on Spiked and Skewered, and cleaning the house. Mum and Dad arrived on Wednesday late afternoon, dumped a whole load of stuff with me (my stuff, from home), and went off to their B&B. Thursday – Monday was spent doing little day-trips to local places of interest and the like. I probably got more fresh air in those five days that I have all year so far. Heh. It was fun…. though now I’m pining to live by the seaside again. I miss it. Saturday was the BBQ at Megs’ house, and that was most excellent…. B applied his manly skills to burning barbequing the burgers; Meghan got bird crap on her head then later informed my previously clueless parents that Martin and Heather had done far more than snog a bit on the dancefloor at Nocturnal…. hope he doesn’t get a Talk when they get home; we melted marshmallows with gusto; and then we all watch Sister Act. I have to get the movie channels.

And then yesterday, of course, after Mum and Dad departed to visit my Uncle Ted, various cousins, their children (roughly my age), and their children*, I went and got my hair snipped and dyed. Wheeeee! Then it was back home for further Spiked and Skewered toiling. I’m not going to get everything done for 1st September, but I’ll have plenty to re-open it with. The rest can be added later (thank god I simplified the navigation as far as adding sections goes!). I believe it’s going to be a fairly large site, now. I want it to be a good one. I think it is, but I hope other people will like it. The content, anyway. I’ve come to the conclusion that the design sucks….

* My Dad, at 68, is the youngest of five. Ted is 13 years older. Mum is 15 years younger than Dad…. Ted’s son Malcolm is a few months older than Mum. And so on and so forth.

Well, they do say write what you know. Hmm.

Kitty-update: going to the cat shelter at 2pm tomorrow. Fully expecting to return home with at least 6 feline additions to the family……

Things like this are why Willow drinks out of a mug. Oh well, OK, she does have a water bowl in the kitchen. But she prefers the mug. We are so under the paw.

The bars of my twix have moulded into a slightly flat, uber-twix entity. It’s somewhat disturbing.

But at least I actually finished a fic last night. Fred POV, my first attempt at such. And my first Angel fic in general. Go me. The Fred site is nearly done, too. Opening it tonight. I think I might drop the gallery, since there aren’t that many pics at the mo, and it’s a bit time consuming to do. Can always add it in later. The other bits that need finishing are more important. God, listen to me. As if this is actually important at all. H-o-b-b-y. LOL. Which is why I actually take time off work to do it. Mmmm.

Hoping to get a new cat tomorrow. Need to call the cat shelter place again – left a message last night. I want to adopt another fluffboy, a young adult cat, preferably one like Worf. Or maybe it’d be better to get one totally unlike Worf, lookswise. But a Worf-y temprement would be lovely. :-)

Meghan had this on her blog, and since I haven’t put anything like this up that I remember, I thought what the hell. So here we go:

TIME: 15:39
FULL NAME: Louise Anne
DOB: 17th Oct
SIGN: Stop! (Um. Libra)
BIRTHPLACE: Hastings, E Sussex, UK
HOMETOWN: Hastings. But I live in Beverley, E Yorkshire.
PARENTS TOGETHER/DIVORCED: Together, for just over 30 years.
CURRENT LOCATION: At computer, at work, in Hull
HOW OLD DO YOU LOOK: Apparantly, the same age as my younger brother (who is 21, 5 years younger). According to all the people who’ve asked if we’re twins, anyway.
SHOE SIZE: 4 (or 37 European)
EYE COLOR: Murky Puddle (green-ish, changes depending on what I’m wearing / the light / any old random factor)
HAIR COLOR: Errrm. Naturally, dark blonde, I think. Used to be, anyway. Currently kind of middle-y brown from washing out other colours. Soon to be black with red chunks.
CURLY OR STRAIGHT: Mostly straight with vague wavy bits.
HEIGHT: 5’2″
WEIGHT: Too heavy. Ask me again in six months.
TATTOOS/PIERCINGS: Only ears pierced once, so far. But I’m planning, and saving up, for a couple more piercings and a tat. Or two. *g*
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING: Usual work clobber. Black jeans, black/purple top, black hoodie, big chunky boots (w/ 4″ sole, 6″ heel).
WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO BED: Depends how hot it is.
PETS: Currently one kittymonster, Miss Willow (the perpetrator of mass birdicide…. I said we should’ve called her Buffy). Taking a trip to the Cat Home place on Saturday and planning to adopt another one and bring him home. :-)
BEEN TO CANADA: No…. but I’ve got some cousins there, and Mum and Dad went. For a month. Damn retired people.
BEEN IN A CAR CRASH: Yes, two or three. Horrible, especially when you’re driving and some bastard rips the front off your car….
SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER: ……. it was on offer in Safeways, and it’s pink.
EVER GIVEN MONEY TO A HOMELESS PERSON: I have, but I’m with Megs on the pointlessness of doing it round here. Used to help a guy out in London.
COLLECTIONS: Anything and everything, really. I’m a horder. But I spose domain names and websites mostly at the mo. Heheh.
IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE: Somewhere with pleasant but cool weather. I don’t know, though. Maybe parts of Australia, cos I found the heat there OK. Or maybe Ireland – that’s the weather I’m built for.
DREAM HOUSE: Big. Spacious. Comfortable. Huge-ass computer room, an octagonal music room (not sure why), enough rooms to have plenty of people to stay for parties.
DREAM VEHICLE: Right now, any car would be good. I’d really just like a fairly new car that runs well and is comfy. And has a CD player, of course. ;-) I also want a motorbike, but that’ll have to wait a few years.
DREAM JOB: Predictably, webdesign.
MOST ANNOYING THING: Online, moronic people who don’t *read* requirements or rules for things, or make any effort to learn netiquette. And txt msg spk in email. Offline, cleaning up crap / beer bottles / scum that isn’t yours.
FAVORITE NUMBER: 7 or 23
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Angel, Buffy, Andromeda, Trek
FAVORITE MOVIE: Hmmm….. Matrix, Evita, Star Trek: First Contact, Top Secret, Princess Bride, Interview with a Vampire….. several more.
FAVORITE TOOTHPASTE: Signal
WHAT’S TO THE LEFT OF YOU: A pen, a folder, a 500ml bottle of coke, half a flapjack, a nectarine, and my bag.
WHAT’S TO THE RIGHT OF YOU: Mousepad, mouse, my writing notepads, drink coaster with the company logo on, phone, work notepad, and the pen again cos I had a call and moved it in the middle of typing this.
CDS IN YOUR CD PLAYER: If B hasn’t changed it while I wasn’t looking, Skunk Anansie (Post Orgasmic Chill).
WHAT DID YOU DO TONIGHT: I didn’t yet. But what I *will* do is the Fred site. Really I will. Plus dull houseworky stuff. Blah.
THINGS YOU DO ON THE WEEKEND: Quite often, work. But if I’m off (and on weekdays when I’m off), I’ll veg out, faff around online, design and update stuff, go shopping, clean the house, and if I have someone to go with, go down the pub. Oh, and sometimes on Sundays we go to B’s parents’ for Sunday fooooooood.
THE THREE PEOPLE YOU’D TAKE ON A DESERT ISLAND: Superman, so he could fly me on and off at will; A portable cabin constructor (with materials) to, duh, build me a fancy cabin; Pretty man with guitar, for eye candy and entertainment factor (he has to be able to play it and sing well).
TIME IT IS NOW: 16:38. Heh.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING: 1 hour, 20 mins to go…. and mustn’t forget to get B a pie or something for tea…… I wonder if anyone wants the rest of this flapjack…..

Um. So yesterday I had my hair snipped, met Megs in town where we wilted in the icky heat, and when I got home, made the house marginally tidier. And did sod all towards the Fred site. I had such good intentions, too. Still, there’s not too much to do now, so I think we’re still on track for opening tomorrow. Better be. Also, I’m fairly happy with my design, so it’d be nice to open the site before I’m sick of the sight of it. ;-)

Oh, and I finally booked in to get my hair dyed. Right after payday, so it’ll be done before I work out that I can’t afford it again. Heheh. Black and bright red. Whee :-)

……… I’ve gone and done it again, and this time it’s all Heather’s fault. So now I have a grand total of:
1 .nu
1 .com
2 .net
9 .co.uk
Oh dear. But if people will email me and ask me to think up possible domain names…. *sigh*

Of course, now I need something to do with them. I might think about rearranging a site or two… we shall see. But not just yet… I have too much to do at the moment, site-wise. I have a grand plan for that though, and it goes something like:
1) Finish Fred site, hopefully by Wednesday, has to be by Friday 17th.
2) Open Fred site, on either Wed, Thurs or Fri.
3) Sat 18th – Wed 22nd, get my head down and work on Spiked & Skewered… I really need to get the bulk of the work done then, so I’m planning on not actually talking to anyone online, or doing anything else other than (ugh) housework for these few days.
4) Thurs 23rd – Mon 27th, parents up to visit, so won’t be online much.
5) Tues 28th – Fri 31st, finish off S&S… hopefully only small things left to do.
6) 1st Sept, re-open S&S. Phew.

Did I mention, I really hate mornings? I just could *not* get to sleep last night, and now I feel like utter crap. Couldn’t sleep with B snoring cos it was too noisy, couldn’t sleep in the spare room cos it was too quiet. Aarrgghh!!! (And his Mum told me yesterday that the snoring is fixable, if only he’d just go to the doctors. I feel some incessent nagging coming on……)

Oh, and for those people who keep hitting this site searching for Rachel Grant / Nina / Scifright, etc…. No, there’s nothing here of much relevance to her, but I am involved in the setting up of a site for ‘Nina’. Specifically, I’m doing the design… I know next-to-nothing about the content. If you’re interested in knowing when the site opens, drop a mail to lykan@tiscali.co.uk and if there’s enough interest we may start a mailing list. Ta.

And see that advert up the top there? I’m giving space away here, people, on a nice pretty domain. Come on!