Floating Leaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
floatingleaf) wrote2012-08-13 10:10 pm
floatingleaf) wrote2012-08-13 10:10 pm
Entry tags:
plumbing issues :)
No, the title of this post is NOT a metaphor for... anything. (Though, of course, it could be. And perhaps it SHOULD be... but that's a whole another. *cough*) It is a factual statement concering the state of the pipes in my bathroom. Namely, on Saturday night my hot water tap decided that it will NOT be shut off. I pushed the knob as far as it would go (it's NOT a metaphor, dammit!), and still the water kept running. Not dripping or trickling down in a thin line like it used to, but splashing happily along, with barely any difference between the "on" and "off" position. Now, you have to realize that the plumbing in my apartment is VERY old. As in, DECADES old. The building itself dates from early 20th century or thereabouts. My bathroom sink looks like it belongs in a museum. So, naturally, every once in a while there are problems. And all the taps are dripping, as a rule. But this was a bit much. If it hadn't been past 11 p.m. on a Saturday night, I would have called building administration right away. However, they only take calls on a weekend if it's an emergency, and technically it wasn't - just a tremendous waste of water. *sigh* So I knew it was going to have to wait till Monday morning. I also knew I would not be going to work today, because whenever I call for the plumber, it takes a good few hours before he actually arrives. So, in a way, I had gained an unscheduled day off.:)
And since it felt like a whole lot of extra time I wasn't expecting to have, I ended up being quite productive. I had done lots of laundry on Saturday, in addition to the usual grocery shopping; cleaned the place on Sunday; and then today, while waiting for the plumber, I did some ironing, made another salad (in addition to the one I made last night) and took care of a few other odds & ends, like updating my info with utility companies (I have a new phone number, after all). I also FINALLY made a dental appointment. For the 29th. Yes, I had switched my insurance plan to the new dental office back in June, but then you have to wait till the second half of the following month before they can schedule you in... and then I was always at work during business hours, and I hate making private calls from work. Actually, I hate making ANY sort of calls from work - but while I may not have a choice concerning work-related calls, I can at least avoid using the office phone for any other purpose. I did try to call the dentist on the one day we went home early (after the company picnic) - but apparently the dental office also closed early on that day, since no one was picking up. So today's unplanned day at home was the perfect opportunity to get this done...
The plumber did arrive, by the way, and the problem got sorted pretty quickly (by sheer stroke of luck, he happened to have a replacement part that fit - since obviously they don't produce the exact ancient model any more). So I ended up having the rest of the day to myself. I could have gone out somewhere to register my Nook (still haven't done it - ridiculous, I know, I've had it for weeks now...), but the weather is kinda greyish for a change and I really wasn't in the mood. After all, I'm not in a hurry to acquire new reading material (I'm still not done with the stack of novels I either bought or was given since last Christmas). So I decided to have a computer evening instead.:)
In other news, I am still in a weird mental space. I haven't been sleeping well for the past few nights - my fault, admittedly, since I stayed up waaay too late last Thursday AND Friday, and that just threw my whole sleeping schedule out of whack. I thought I was going to be able to "catch up" on sleep during the weekend - but I forgot that my body doesn't always let me do that. Since I routinely wake up after a few hours to go to the loo, it is best for me if it's still dark outside when that happens. Then I can usually go back to sleep for another few hours, and everything's fine. But if I don't fall asleep till, say, 2 a.m., then I will most likely wake up around 5 or 6, and then my body will decide that it's morning now and we should be getting ready for work, so sleeping is over. No matter it's the weekend - the stupid brain just won't shut down again.:/ So I just toss and turn and finally give up on trying to get more sleep. Strangely enough, though, this hasn't made me as exhausted as it should have. I have a lot of energy, actually - but it's the sort of nervous energy I usually feel when I'm PMS-ing. Which doesn't make any sense, since my period just ended. So I really have no clue what's going on. Plus, while I've been tossing and turning in my bed during those past few nights, I've been having vivid fantasies involving aforementioned fictional characters "getting it on" in a variety of positions.;P Again, I am talking about cartoon characters, and I had read the comics in question multiple times before. I honestly thought I was past the ability to experience rapid heartbeat at the thought of their x-rated antics.:P I probably need to have my head checked out, or something. I mean, I have ZERO self-including sexual fantasies, most of the time - I just don't like the idea of this imperfect, aging body involved in anything remotely sexual with anyone; the very thought turns me off - but when it comes to stylized, idealized, androgynous fictional creatures with unnaturally long limbs and sharp cheekbones, I am suddenly an obsessive-compulsive porn addict. *headshake* The most important sexual organ is the brain, they say. Well... indeed. It's also apparently the ONLY organ I am interested in using for that purpose.:D Which is actually quite convenient, all things considered. *snort*
But the weird part is, I really thought that particular fandom was a thing of the past for me. I mean, it's a well-known secret that Dany & Dany's main comic characters are based on Louis & Lestat from the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. They don't actually admit it outright, since Anne Rice forbids fanfiction - but it's obvious nonetheless, and all the fans know it. There's always the exuberant, impulsive, "bratty" blond and the calm, reserved, brooding brunet - and they always inevitably fall in love. It's an archetypal storyline, in a way, and it can have an infinite number of variations without changing the basic premise. There's just something about the sharp contrast between the two which renders them an erotically explosive pairing. Actually, contrasting personalities - and physical types - usually work pretty well as romantic couples, at least in fiction.:P But anyway... I went though a phase of intense fascination with the idea of Louis & Lestat as lovers about 10 years ago, and Dany & Dany's drawings reinforced that concept for me in a most aesthetically pleasing way.:) But then I sort of stumbled upon LOTR slash, and got blindsided by the magnificence of a certain brooding ranger (not yet king) and his best friend (*ahem*) The Elf.:D (Another lovely case of "opposites attract", by the way.) So there simply wasn't enough room in my dazzled brain for the famous vampire duo worship anymore. But it felt like a sort of untimely death - like I didn't let the fascination run its natural course. I mean, my fascinations usually last much longer (or, they never fade completely... but the intense phase of all-consuming adoration itself can last for years, and usually does). So perhaps now that I've gone for about 8 years obsessing over LOTR, my brain decided that instead of finding something new, we can go back to the unfinished business of Vampire Chronicles.:) Well... allright, brain. Can't say I mind.:P Just take it easy with the hormonal stuff - which is, frankly, ridiculous. *facepalm*
Yes, I know - I take my fandoms far too seriously, by any standards. It probably qualifies as some sort of mental disorder. How about Delusional Escapism Syndrome?... *snort* Maybe they already have pills for that. Not that I'd want them. There's a method to my madness, and it's what keeps me sane in this big cruel world. So judge me or pity me to your heart's content.:P
And now, how about I go to bed early and at least try to get some decent sleep before work tomorrow?... Sounds like a plan? (Yes, brain, I am talking to you, and you'd better cooperate this time.) I thought so. (*/schizo alert*)
I did say I was in a strange mood, didn't I? *shifty eyes*
And since it felt like a whole lot of extra time I wasn't expecting to have, I ended up being quite productive. I had done lots of laundry on Saturday, in addition to the usual grocery shopping; cleaned the place on Sunday; and then today, while waiting for the plumber, I did some ironing, made another salad (in addition to the one I made last night) and took care of a few other odds & ends, like updating my info with utility companies (I have a new phone number, after all). I also FINALLY made a dental appointment. For the 29th. Yes, I had switched my insurance plan to the new dental office back in June, but then you have to wait till the second half of the following month before they can schedule you in... and then I was always at work during business hours, and I hate making private calls from work. Actually, I hate making ANY sort of calls from work - but while I may not have a choice concerning work-related calls, I can at least avoid using the office phone for any other purpose. I did try to call the dentist on the one day we went home early (after the company picnic) - but apparently the dental office also closed early on that day, since no one was picking up. So today's unplanned day at home was the perfect opportunity to get this done...
The plumber did arrive, by the way, and the problem got sorted pretty quickly (by sheer stroke of luck, he happened to have a replacement part that fit - since obviously they don't produce the exact ancient model any more). So I ended up having the rest of the day to myself. I could have gone out somewhere to register my Nook (still haven't done it - ridiculous, I know, I've had it for weeks now...), but the weather is kinda greyish for a change and I really wasn't in the mood. After all, I'm not in a hurry to acquire new reading material (I'm still not done with the stack of novels I either bought or was given since last Christmas). So I decided to have a computer evening instead.:)
In other news, I am still in a weird mental space. I haven't been sleeping well for the past few nights - my fault, admittedly, since I stayed up waaay too late last Thursday AND Friday, and that just threw my whole sleeping schedule out of whack. I thought I was going to be able to "catch up" on sleep during the weekend - but I forgot that my body doesn't always let me do that. Since I routinely wake up after a few hours to go to the loo, it is best for me if it's still dark outside when that happens. Then I can usually go back to sleep for another few hours, and everything's fine. But if I don't fall asleep till, say, 2 a.m., then I will most likely wake up around 5 or 6, and then my body will decide that it's morning now and we should be getting ready for work, so sleeping is over. No matter it's the weekend - the stupid brain just won't shut down again.:/ So I just toss and turn and finally give up on trying to get more sleep. Strangely enough, though, this hasn't made me as exhausted as it should have. I have a lot of energy, actually - but it's the sort of nervous energy I usually feel when I'm PMS-ing. Which doesn't make any sense, since my period just ended. So I really have no clue what's going on. Plus, while I've been tossing and turning in my bed during those past few nights, I've been having vivid fantasies involving aforementioned fictional characters "getting it on" in a variety of positions.;P Again, I am talking about cartoon characters, and I had read the comics in question multiple times before. I honestly thought I was past the ability to experience rapid heartbeat at the thought of their x-rated antics.:P I probably need to have my head checked out, or something. I mean, I have ZERO self-including sexual fantasies, most of the time - I just don't like the idea of this imperfect, aging body involved in anything remotely sexual with anyone; the very thought turns me off - but when it comes to stylized, idealized, androgynous fictional creatures with unnaturally long limbs and sharp cheekbones, I am suddenly an obsessive-compulsive porn addict. *headshake* The most important sexual organ is the brain, they say. Well... indeed. It's also apparently the ONLY organ I am interested in using for that purpose.:D Which is actually quite convenient, all things considered. *snort*
But the weird part is, I really thought that particular fandom was a thing of the past for me. I mean, it's a well-known secret that Dany & Dany's main comic characters are based on Louis & Lestat from the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. They don't actually admit it outright, since Anne Rice forbids fanfiction - but it's obvious nonetheless, and all the fans know it. There's always the exuberant, impulsive, "bratty" blond and the calm, reserved, brooding brunet - and they always inevitably fall in love. It's an archetypal storyline, in a way, and it can have an infinite number of variations without changing the basic premise. There's just something about the sharp contrast between the two which renders them an erotically explosive pairing. Actually, contrasting personalities - and physical types - usually work pretty well as romantic couples, at least in fiction.:P But anyway... I went though a phase of intense fascination with the idea of Louis & Lestat as lovers about 10 years ago, and Dany & Dany's drawings reinforced that concept for me in a most aesthetically pleasing way.:) But then I sort of stumbled upon LOTR slash, and got blindsided by the magnificence of a certain brooding ranger (not yet king) and his best friend (*ahem*) The Elf.:D (Another lovely case of "opposites attract", by the way.) So there simply wasn't enough room in my dazzled brain for the famous vampire duo worship anymore. But it felt like a sort of untimely death - like I didn't let the fascination run its natural course. I mean, my fascinations usually last much longer (or, they never fade completely... but the intense phase of all-consuming adoration itself can last for years, and usually does). So perhaps now that I've gone for about 8 years obsessing over LOTR, my brain decided that instead of finding something new, we can go back to the unfinished business of Vampire Chronicles.:) Well... allright, brain. Can't say I mind.:P Just take it easy with the hormonal stuff - which is, frankly, ridiculous. *facepalm*
Yes, I know - I take my fandoms far too seriously, by any standards. It probably qualifies as some sort of mental disorder. How about Delusional Escapism Syndrome?... *snort* Maybe they already have pills for that. Not that I'd want them. There's a method to my madness, and it's what keeps me sane in this big cruel world. So judge me or pity me to your heart's content.:P
And now, how about I go to bed early and at least try to get some decent sleep before work tomorrow?... Sounds like a plan? (Yes, brain, I am talking to you, and you'd better cooperate this time.) I thought so. (*/schizo alert*)
I did say I was in a strange mood, didn't I? *shifty eyes*
no subject
I don't have many (if any) self-including sexual fantasies either. I have been wondering why. I guess I used to have some when I was younger, when I had a head over heels crush on someone and it was all quite hormonal longing and daydreams but for years now I haven't really involved myself into any of my fantasies. It's all about cool fictional characters being wildly in love. I may relate to one or the other (or sometimes even both) of these characters in some level and sort of feel s/he represents me in a way but it is never really me (so no Mary Sue stories for me... it would be plain weird to think I was the one doing things with these cool people). But I do feel I live up the romance, the sexual tension and the fulfillment through these characters when I hardly believe I could actually live it up in my real life. Maybe that is the sweetness & addiction of stories? The possibility to live up things that aren't so easy in this world? The possibility to be someone else for a while... feel what s/he feels and feel almost like in love without all that messy and scary stuff involved in real life passion? Because in stories these people can fall in love with each other over and over again. They can truly be soulmates. They can even go through some seriously painful shit and yet be "resurrected" in the next story. I don't know... just trying to see if any of it makes sense. :)
I have longings for connection and maybe some kissing, some passionate (probably quite platonic?) romantic friendship but I hardly ever really get as far as sexual fantasies involving myself. (Haven't met a rival or true love perhaps? ;))
But I do think it's okay to get your kicks from fan fiction. Yeah, it may turn into some kind of escapism and addiction but it is safe and it can even help you know & understand yourself better. Maybe it is not a replacement for "real human relationships" or whatever but that is not really the point anyway. It is make belief and as such it is important. Stories and characters are important.
no subject
Yeah, that was exactly the trick my brain was playing on me.;P
no Mary Sue stories for me... it would be plain weird to think I was the one doing things with these cool people
EXACTLY... LOL.
feel almost like in love without all that messy and scary stuff involved in real life passion
YES. I think you hit the nail on the head here. People like you and me need MORE than what we can ever possibly have in "real life", and so we find emotional fulfillment in fiction. Maybe it's a "disorder" - but if it doesn't harm anyone and makes us happy, I don't see the problem.;D
I have longings for connection and maybe some kissing, some passionate (probably quite platonic?) romantic friendship
OMG yes. That's as far as my "real life" hopes and wishes go at this point. I yearn for emotional closeness, but I don't really want any of that other "messy" stuff.:P I have to be really MADLY in love with someone before I am capable of feeling sexually attracted to them - and such intense emotional engagement is, frankly, terrifying (I have experienced it, more than once, and it has left me bruised, and I feel I don't have the strength to go through it anymore). In fiction, I can find the intensity without the pain - or the pain doesn't affect me as strongly if I don't identify with one character only, because being a little bit of both helps me believe that the love is mutual, and that there will be a happy ending...