One for All and All for One

i have not been sleeping well. i NORMALLY don't sleep well, as i'm sure you all know by now, but it has been really bad for the past week or so >.< i think originally it was just all the shifting in the weather, which was making my joints all hurt like crazy, making it hard to sleep >.< but then i got like two hours of sleep thursday night so i could take cori to the airport, only to have his flight canceled. then i got about three or four hours of sleep friday night so i could take him to the airport again. and since then i have averaged 2-4 hours of sleep every night >.< i think one night i might've gotten around six but i can't remember. i went to bed reasonably early last night, but i have no idea how much sleep i actually got.

i am perpetually irritable/depressed/exhausted. also i've had NO appetite at all. and i miss the summer >.< i'm sick of my house being so dim, and i sleep better when it's light out ; ; gtfo winter

also i fucking hate fireworks >.<;;;;;;;; we are not supposed to have fireworks here, because it is too dry in alaska and our area has a lot of beetle kill etc. so fires start very easily. but of course you get the wannabe redneck jackasses who have to shoot some off. now even the slightest noise outside has bailey AND sabre going nuts. this has not been helping with the sleep issues.

ugh... i'm so sick of feeling like this.

Was prodded into X-Files mode a few weeks ago when I went in to Forbidden Planet to ask about Christmas temp jobs and they informed me that they'd appointed them all, so consoled myself by purchasing Skin and Whirlwind, the two X-Files novels that came out in 2008. Subsequently, a post on LJ by natalie_adcock about her Christmas presents and the ensuing conversation has led to me making the following purchase: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Files-Complete-Collectors-DVD/dp/B000X41AY8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1262726852&sr=8-1

OK so I prooooooobably shouldn't really spend my Christmas money on stuff like this when I 'm not in paid employment, but given that the RRP is £200 - TWO HUNDRED QUID - and these are going for £66, which by my (admittedly not very good) calculations is less than a third of the RRP, NO WAY am I passing that up! OK so Mum might freak out a little if she's home when they arrive, but come on, they'll last me for aaaaaaaaaages, and considering the difference in prices...

holy crap o_O my fairyland GO got to just under $2k o_O;;;;;

that is going to be a buttload of dolls (1 mnf, 2 ltf, 4 pkf)... i'll have to open all the windows to avoid dying of resin fumes lol

FA Cup 3rd round.so not league but given that we lose every time another match happens before I've posted about the previous one, I'm not going to tempt fate!

First goal was a penalty - needless to say it was Graham Alexander who took it! Because of this, they were talking about records of penalty-takers, one of whom was the legendary Leighton James (a past Claret) and someone else who played for us at one point. Second goal was some horrendous defending on the part of MK Dons. It wouldn't be Burnley, however, if we made it nice and easy for ourselves!

I'll save my rant on the Wimbledon-Milton Keynes thing for another time. Only real shock of the round was a REAL shock - Leeds beat Manchester United, at Man Utd!!! Mind you, I watched the match on TV and Leeds wanted it waaaaay more. This is the first time in my lifetime that Leeds have won at Old Trafford.

As for Bolton... They want our manager. There are currently "talks" taking place. He played for them about 15 years ago, but NO NO NO! DON'T LEAVE US, OWEN COYLE!!!!!

Well 2010 is here and I have made one enormous resolution: lose 140lbs.

I let my weight balloon in my last couple of teenage years while I was taking prednisone, and I kept the weight on for 4 years now by being inactive and eating poorly -- so I think it is time for a major change. I have a new healthy eating plan: only eat fresh fruit, veggies, lean protein, and nuts (and minimal fat free dairy products such as skim milk and fat free cottage cheese) -- no frozen, overly processed, or canned foods.

Both me and my husband are excited about this huge change. I am looking forward to shedding all of this excess weight, and being able to wear the clothes I want and to go out and do things without feeling like an unhealthy wad of dead weight. I am hoping to be close to my goal weight by September 2010 so I can dress up for AWA, and maybe even be small enough to wear a cute pinup style one-piece swimsuit this summer.

I am starting out by just changing my diet, and I will be introducing regular exercise by February. I will increase the exercise according to how my body responds. Luckily I have a supportive network of friends and family who are going to help make this change an easy one. I will also be taking pictures to show my change throughout the next few months.

Once we reach our goal weight, we will keep our weight steady by continuing regular exercise and eating healthy -- we will eventually re-introduce bread, pasta, and potatoes once we have reached our goal weight, but we will still be wary of portions and continue to do weekly weigh-ins to make sure we don't gain the weight back.

We are also cutting out all fast food forever -- once we reach our goal weight we will occasionally go out somewhere nice to eat, but fast food is a no-no from now on.

any tips or advice is welcome -- wish me luck <3

hmm mercy suggested that i put together a little comic-style biography thing like hers on doll-lite, so i've been working on that tonight. i have been reminded that i am a pretty boring person lol but i managed to think of SOMETHING to say :B

also, gaboo wrote a little blurb thing about me since i suck at talking about myself (otherwise it probably would've been only two sentences long lol)

( both are under the cut )

ooooh i figured out that our flickr group (for the photostory archive) has an RSS feed, and managed to set up a syndication for it :D

so you can now get updates on your LJ friends when both me and hakari update with photostories:

btmsphotostory

(handy for those of you who just have me friended for photostory updates but don't care for my random babbling lol)

skype video chat! hehe



Meryll, "Hmm... Hello? Is anybody there?"

( 32 pics )

DoA link
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345632

took a couple extra pics of meryll after working on a photostory with sarah today. she got a new bracelet from saryn for christmas! it's actually a necklace but i wrapped it around her wrist instead hehe




(are you seeing what i'm seeing?)

skills with a brush (or other face-up tool) ≠ skill with a face-up

Again, can't say much as there wasn't much on Match of the Day. We had some good chances and some bad luck.

And now Bolton have sacked Gary Megson so, because Owen Coyle used to play for Bolton, he's being tipped as favourite to take over, despite MANY MANY statements he and the club have released saying that he's going nowhere. Why won't they get the message?!?!?!

i was aaaactually awake early enough to take a photostory in the daylight! gasp! actually i've only had two hours of sleep soooo.... lol happy new year



Alister, "Hm... stocks are not going so well lately..."

( 30 pics )

DoA link
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345180

got some new candlestuffs yesterday... finally bought the sakura pieces i've been wanting, and some sconces cori's been wanting to put in the hallway. i didn't take pics of the other stuff i got but here is the votive holder (sakura votive holder) on one of the sconces (essentials wall sconce). there is another one further down the hallway.

i hated most of 2009.


2010 had better be better. i would list the highlights, but i really dont feel like summarizing this yr. it started nicely, went horrible, and then flatlined. its a bit better now, but only marginally.

this is prolly the worst update ever. sorry. thinking about 2009 makes me bitter.

cheers!

tonight i got a really good idea for how to do tato's open-eyed and winking faceplates :D hoorayz!

i'm going to do a quick leeke order this weekend, if anybody wants to get anything!

and i'll be ordering from fairyland on the 15th if anybody is getting some dolls and wants to jump in to bump the order up for event items. so far the order is at $709 so it's already up to free shipping and the sleeping breakaway + scar arm (the breakaway is already spoken for, and there is a dibs on the arm depending on how the armor piece is attached). if the order gets up to $1500 the animal faceplates are up for grabs.

aaaaand for the tata's paradise order, it was placed over the weekend and i'm just waiting on shipping!

edit: fairyland order is potentially up to about $1200
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5753711

sorry i haven't been posting much :/ i have been sleeping a lot, or not sleeping enough and spending a lot of the day in a zombie-like state. christmas has me a bit bummed this year.

but in non-emo news, i offered to help doll_paparazzi out with her blog Doll-Lite! i even made my first news post just now :3 a little exciting hehehe there is an LJ syndication for Doll-Lite at dollpaparazzi if you want to sign up and keep an eye on updates!

in ooooother news, not much going on. i got a couple of adorable christmas presents in the mail from sparrowshellcat yesterday n_n a little tea set for brodwyn, and a baby blanket for meryll "just incase" hahaha

and in other other news, i really need to get off my butt and do some photostories :/

Meme yoinked from saralinda 

Then: December 1999

1. Age: 15

2. Romantic Status: Single, completely uninterested, more concerned about GCSEs

3. Occupation: Woodford girl (Year 10 pupil at Woodford County High School For Girls, state grammar)

4. Fun night out: Sleepover at a friend's (generally Catherine's, Katie's or Carol's).

5. My BFFs: Carol, Catherine, Katie, Claire, Naomi

6. I spent way too much time: Reading books late into the small hours.

7. I spent not enough time: Practising my flute.

8. I wanted to be when I grew up: Writer (author), nurse.

9. Biggest concern: Trying to get my teachers to accept that Higher GCSE maths was beyond me and that I should drop down to Intermediate (managed that about a year later); doing as well as I could at school in order to get the heck out of my home town (yet to be permanently achieved).

10. What my biggest concern should have been:  Probably what it actually was (see 9).

11. Where did I live: My parents' house.

12. Dumbest thing I did that year: Probably making some major social faux-pas that increased even further (if possible) my social alienation.

13. If I could go back now and talk to myself I would say: Insist on the Higher-->Intermediate maths switch.

14. Picture of myself then: Ponytailed, bespectacled, tall, skinny Woodford girl with books, notebooks and a pen tucked behind her ear.


Now: December 2009

1. Age: 25

2. Romantic Status: Single.

3. Occupation: Volunteer at a cat sanctuary; feline foster mum; level 2 BSL student.

4. Fun night out: A decent ceilidh.

5. My BFFs: Er heck... I'm going to pick 3 people from 3 areas of my life: Catherine; wildelover ; Caroline.

6. I spend way too much time: Playing Bejewelled Blitz on Facebook, playing GemCraft online.

7. I spend not enough time: Jobhunting. Problem is, it's a nightmare right now and I know what I want to do and how I want to do it (and I am doing it!)

8. I want to be when I grow up: Published author; BSL interpreter (working on both of these).

9. Biggest concern: Being stuck indefinitely in my home town with no prospect of an escape (looking more hopeful, though). Also, making sure the kittens are safe.

10. What my biggest concern should be: Trying to do a bit more gentle exercise (which, admittedly, isn't the easiest thing with the fibro).

11. Where do I live: Stuck back in my home town. I swear I can't escape this wretched place!

12. Dumbest thing I have done this year: Travel across London in a wheelchair avoiding the Tube (it takes about 4 times longer, is more expensive and you get snarky Overground people who whinge at you - and the slopes at Walthamstow Central are TOO STEEP for a self-propelled wheelchair).

13. What I think I would say to myself in 10 years: Why are you always putting off/forgetting to do things???

14. Picture of me now: Haven't got one to hand. Brown-haired, speccy (tinted), hoodie, cords, earrings, crucifix, d20 pendant (thanks, Liz!) Maybe I should do an update of my eLouai doll.



Summary

1. What do I miss most from 1999: I didn't have an irritating chronic illness then, so probably good overall health.

2. What do I miss least from 1999: Quite a few of the girls I was at secondary school with.

3. What have I accomplished in 10 years that I am most proud of: Getting a really good degree (and Dean's Commendation!) despite very adverse circumstances; being heavily involved in organising a successful major folk festival.

4. What have I NOT accomplished in 10 years that I wish I had: Getting away permanently from my home town.

Another penalty claim waved away (unfairly, yet again). Can't take anything away from Bolton regarding their goal - it was a beautiful free kick...(whether or not it should actually have been a free kick is a little disputable but that's something of a moot point now). Our goal was a nice one.

Not much I can say because it barely got a mention on 5Live and MotD only showed a few little bits.

Whoopsie, I've not read my flist for at least a week...

What to report? Haven't got anything particularly eventful occur - still at the cat sanctuary (nobody wants to employ me, and much as I love the sanctuary, it doesn't bring in any money), no longer fostering Brian and am now fostering two 5-month-old kittens. We don't know their real names so we're calling them Mary and Joseph (she's black, he's tabby). I'm not posting photos of them anywhere because they're "case cats", which means they're still technically the property of the owner and the RSPCA is taking said owner to court. They are ADORABLE! I've got them till January 5th (earliest; depends on the case). He LOVES laps, she's not so keen. They love playing, especially with a bit of paper attached to some string, which is attached to a wooden rod, and can keep going for AGES! I get tired before they do!

Writing is plodding along steadily. I'm still mainly doing Robbie stuff, although I am doing quite a bit of Rita stuff too. Pip's going to be a focus soon, after "glamming up" a bust of some obscure artist nobody's ever heard of, because he got bored in Art. I like Pip, he's fun! Tansy Cummings is starting to drift into the gang, but I 'm pretty sure she's only a background character. Mind you, I seem to recall saying that about Robbie...

Christmas was OK. Grandparents came down as usual on Christmas Eve and went home today - so I survived, just about. The problem with Granny M is that she taught seven-year-olds for many years (it REALLY shows) and I'm her only grandchild. This is A Bad Combination. I can only cope with her in VERY VERY small doses because she really stresses me out. For about the last 9 years I've had coursework, revision, course reading, etc. to get me out of spending too much time around her. Admittedly, this year I've had "work" - aka. playing with the kittens! The house is quiet once again, which is rather nice. Apart from the kittens having punch-ups and mad turns!

Am trying desperately to get some D&D going! At the moment I'm just doing it with the Exeter people via Skype - there is a London D&D Meetup group but they're generally 4th-edders (no no no no NO!) I've stopped buying D&D books - partly because I really don't have the money coming in, partly because there's no more room for them in my D&D box, and partly because, simply, I have all the ones I particularly want. I don't have the space for them like jedda does (though I must confess to some jealousy to her number of books!)

Yesterday I broke one of my absolute favourite mugs. It fell on the carpet rather than the lino-covered stone floor, thankfully, but the handle came off. *sighs* Oh well, we have plenty of others. It's just that this was the one I've had for about 6 years and that I always have my peppermint tea at night in it. I love that mug.

Hopefully coloursofdusk is able to come Wednesday-Thursday. It'll be good to see her again!

Right, should go to bed, due to work tomorrow. Religious musings long overdue but I'm too tired to do them right now.