I saw an unforgettable film last night. David's Birthday (original title Il compleanno). It came out in 2010, and apparently was a big hit at Cannes. It's a story of a middle-aged, seemingly straight, happily married guy falling for his best friend's teenage son. I think the name David is a very deliberate choice, because the boy totally has the look of a Michelangelo sculpture about him.:) And he is an underwear model (played by an actual Brazilian model, Thyago Alves). ( Read more... )
Winter has descended. It's been snowing for most of the day, and the temperature has dropped well below the freezing point. And since the past week or so was unusually mild for January, this is a bit of a shock to the system. I feel partially hibernated.;) And the fact that I waited about 20 minutes for the bus tonight, at the stop near our office with no shelter, certainly didn't help. It gave me a bad case of tingling toes.:/ But guess what got me through it? Tiamat in my headphones... LOL. I just finished creating the massive playlist last night, and it's been my lifeline throughout today (mind-numbingly boring hours at work included). And ever since I got home, I've been thawing slowly while browsing their videos on YouTube. My mind is far from lucid enough to attempt any sort of comprehensive presentation - as in, how the musical style of Tiamat changed in curious ways over the years, while remaining entirely awesome throughout, or something - but let me just share a few random picks. Here's Gaia, from the album Wildhoney (1994):
Still totally death metal there - the slow, hypnotic kind (which I love). But listen to this - Do You Dream of Me?, from the same album actually. Such a sweet, nostalgic little tune - with a very interesting animated movie set to it:
And then there's this. Brighter Than the Sun, from the album Skeleton Skeletron (1999). I love the video, which is a little tongue-in-cheek (just like the album title, I suppose) and strongly reminiscent of the Sisters of Mercy. And, to be honest, you wouldn't know it's still the same band - if not for the pleasingly memorable angular features of frontman Johan Edlund. Yes, I do admit I have developed quite a liking for his stone-faced Nordic hauteur.;P
Any color you like - as long as it's black. OH YEAH, BABY.:D
And with that, I bid you good night.:)
Still totally death metal there - the slow, hypnotic kind (which I love). But listen to this - Do You Dream of Me?, from the same album actually. Such a sweet, nostalgic little tune - with a very interesting animated movie set to it:
And then there's this. Brighter Than the Sun, from the album Skeleton Skeletron (1999). I love the video, which is a little tongue-in-cheek (just like the album title, I suppose) and strongly reminiscent of the Sisters of Mercy. And, to be honest, you wouldn't know it's still the same band - if not for the pleasingly memorable angular features of frontman Johan Edlund. Yes, I do admit I have developed quite a liking for his stone-faced Nordic hauteur.;P
Any color you like - as long as it's black. OH YEAH, BABY.:D
And with that, I bid you good night.:)
I hereby notify anyone who might care that I have finally created a DreamWidth account. I mean to use it as a backup, in case LJ goes to hell (which everyone seems to think is eventually going to happen). It's a free account for now, without any bells and whistles, and I'm not too crazy about the available journal styles for free accounts - so I don't really feel like posting from there. However, I don't think it is possible to crosspost from LiveJournal to DreamWidth (I know I can do it the other way around, but... meh). Anyway... I'll worry about that later. For now, I imported my profile, entries & comments over there for safekeeping, but I don't want to get rid of the paid LJ account (and my 200 pretty iconses, prrreciousss!...;) anytime soon, so I guess I'll just leave it the way it is and see what the future brings. However, if you are on my friends' list and do have a DreamWidth account, by all means go ahead and add me over there (I am also "floatingleaf" on DW). And let me know who you are if your DreamWidth username is different from the LiveJournal one.:) I just want to get an idea of how many people on my flist actually have DW accounts...
In other news, I just accidentally discovered another INCREDIBLY AWESOME music band. TIAMAT. The name sort of rang a bell (and I mean as a band, not just as a Babylonian goddess... LOL) - but I never really looked into it further, until it came up on the list of "similar artists" while I was downloading something else the other day. So I thought, well, I might just as well check it out... and before I knew it, I was a hardcore fan.:D I love when that happens. Somehow, seemingly out of nowhere, another 4-hour playlist appears on my iPod as I get to sample two decades of discography that happened while I wasn't looking.:) Anyway... long story short, it's another one of those Scandinavian bands that started out as death metal, but ended up being more goth rock/darkwave/psychedelic etc. It sort of sounds like a cross between Anathema and Sisters of Mercy. Which, if you ask me, is positively orgasmic.:P Surprised, anyone?... *looks around* Didn't think so.:D
Well... no time for futher elaboration tonight, but here's a random vid to illustrate the case in point. Wings of Heaven, from the album Prey (2003):
This is the kind of sound I can't ever possibly get enough of. Seriously... who needs drugs? Music is all the "high" I can handle, thank you very much. *floats somewhere on cloud nine*
In other news, I just accidentally discovered another INCREDIBLY AWESOME music band. TIAMAT. The name sort of rang a bell (and I mean as a band, not just as a Babylonian goddess... LOL) - but I never really looked into it further, until it came up on the list of "similar artists" while I was downloading something else the other day. So I thought, well, I might just as well check it out... and before I knew it, I was a hardcore fan.:D I love when that happens. Somehow, seemingly out of nowhere, another 4-hour playlist appears on my iPod as I get to sample two decades of discography that happened while I wasn't looking.:) Anyway... long story short, it's another one of those Scandinavian bands that started out as death metal, but ended up being more goth rock/darkwave/psychedelic etc. It sort of sounds like a cross between Anathema and Sisters of Mercy. Which, if you ask me, is positively orgasmic.:P Surprised, anyone?... *looks around* Didn't think so.:D
Well... no time for futher elaboration tonight, but here's a random vid to illustrate the case in point. Wings of Heaven, from the album Prey (2003):
This is the kind of sound I can't ever possibly get enough of. Seriously... who needs drugs? Music is all the "high" I can handle, thank you very much. *floats somewhere on cloud nine*
A disturbing article on how pharmaceutical companies in the US create and "promote" new mental disorders in order to sell more drugs:
http://www.alternet.org/story/153634/7_reasons_america%27s_mental_health_industry_is_a_threat_to_our_sanity/?page=1
Ever wonder why we suddenly have so many mentally ill people in need of drug treatment, including small children?... Yeah, that would be why. If you're feeling brave, read the story of a four-year-old who died of a massive overdose. She had been diagnosed with ADHD AND bipolar disorder, and prescribed three different psychotropic drugs. Yeah, a four-year-old. Why? Because she was "hyper". And even though her parents went to jail after she died, the psychiatrist who prescribed the drugs wasn't even put on trial. She's still treating small children according to the same guidelines, "without any restrictions, penalties or supervision."
And here's the conclusion of the article, which I completely agree with:
When we hear the words disorder, disease or illness, we think of an individual in need of treatment, not of a troubled society in need of transformation. Mental illness expansionism diverts us from examining a dehumanizing society.
In addition to pathologizing normal behavior, the mental health profession also diverts us from examining a society that creates the ingredients — helplessness, hopelessness, passivity, boredom, fear, and isolation — that cause emotional difficulties. We are diverted from the reality that many emotional problems are natural human reactions to loss in our society of autonomy and community. Thus, the mental health profession not only has financial value for drug companies but it has political value for those at the top of societal hierarchies who want to retain the status quo.
In other words, apparently being human is now a disorder. We all need medication that will transform us into unfeeling, unthinking, unquestioning, docile androids. And if it kills us in the process, then oh well... accidents happen. At least someone made a profit.:/
Which reminds me of how a year ago, when I had landed myself in a nasty financial pickle and was feeling pretty crappy because of it, some people immediately suggested that I should seek "treatment for depression". Which, had I done it, would have most likely resulted in being handed a prescription for some mind-numbing pills. It kind of shocked me that this was apparently the most obvious "solution" to the problem in the eyes of those people - but perhaps I understand it better now. Not that I find it any less troubling - but at least I can see where it comes from...
http://www.alternet.org/story/153634/7_reasons_america%27s_mental_health_industry_is_a_threat_to_our_sanity/?page=1
Ever wonder why we suddenly have so many mentally ill people in need of drug treatment, including small children?... Yeah, that would be why. If you're feeling brave, read the story of a four-year-old who died of a massive overdose. She had been diagnosed with ADHD AND bipolar disorder, and prescribed three different psychotropic drugs. Yeah, a four-year-old. Why? Because she was "hyper". And even though her parents went to jail after she died, the psychiatrist who prescribed the drugs wasn't even put on trial. She's still treating small children according to the same guidelines, "without any restrictions, penalties or supervision."
And here's the conclusion of the article, which I completely agree with:
When we hear the words disorder, disease or illness, we think of an individual in need of treatment, not of a troubled society in need of transformation. Mental illness expansionism diverts us from examining a dehumanizing society.
In addition to pathologizing normal behavior, the mental health profession also diverts us from examining a society that creates the ingredients — helplessness, hopelessness, passivity, boredom, fear, and isolation — that cause emotional difficulties. We are diverted from the reality that many emotional problems are natural human reactions to loss in our society of autonomy and community. Thus, the mental health profession not only has financial value for drug companies but it has political value for those at the top of societal hierarchies who want to retain the status quo.
In other words, apparently being human is now a disorder. We all need medication that will transform us into unfeeling, unthinking, unquestioning, docile androids. And if it kills us in the process, then oh well... accidents happen. At least someone made a profit.:/
Which reminds me of how a year ago, when I had landed myself in a nasty financial pickle and was feeling pretty crappy because of it, some people immediately suggested that I should seek "treatment for depression". Which, had I done it, would have most likely resulted in being handed a prescription for some mind-numbing pills. It kind of shocked me that this was apparently the most obvious "solution" to the problem in the eyes of those people - but perhaps I understand it better now. Not that I find it any less troubling - but at least I can see where it comes from...
feeling sulky
Jan. 3rd, 2012 09:47 pmSo I didn't go to the movies yesterday. I woke up still feeling pretty weak and lethargic, and was actually relieved when ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
akashaelfwitch cancelled our outing (something urgent came up on her end). It was very cold and windy too, so getting dressed and venturing outside really didn't sound appealing. Instead, I spent the day lounging about, reading, catching up on emails etc. Which seems to have been exactly what I needed.
This morning my energy levels were back to normal, but after a full day at work I am a little deflated again. It is always a bit tough to "get back to reality" after a long, relaxing weekend - especially if said "relaxing" was mostly due to not feeling very well. And it is particularly tough, for me, in cold weather - after spending a few days ensconced warmly at home. There's always this baleful feeling of "wahhh, do I REALLY have to go out there in the grey, frosty morning and shiver at the bus stop???" *sulks*
I'm sure I'll get over it in a few days... but right now I'm struggling with a bit of classic winter gloom. Which means I might not be feeling very chatty in the near future. The one thing that helps with this despondent mood is getting more sleep - which, of course, makes weekday evenings even shorter.:/ But what's the use of longer evenings if you're not coherent enough to enjoy them much anyway?... I've found the hard way that I am unable to "cheat" my body when it comes to the required amount of sleep - that "one more hour" of computer time at night will sooner or later come back to bite me in the ass, especially if I have to get up early the next morning. Still, it's tough to be the strict parent to my inner child and send it to bed when it's having such a great time online.:D Which, I'm sure, is something a great many of my flisters can relate to...
akashaelfwitch cancelled our outing (something urgent came up on her end). It was very cold and windy too, so getting dressed and venturing outside really didn't sound appealing. Instead, I spent the day lounging about, reading, catching up on emails etc. Which seems to have been exactly what I needed. This morning my energy levels were back to normal, but after a full day at work I am a little deflated again. It is always a bit tough to "get back to reality" after a long, relaxing weekend - especially if said "relaxing" was mostly due to not feeling very well. And it is particularly tough, for me, in cold weather - after spending a few days ensconced warmly at home. There's always this baleful feeling of "wahhh, do I REALLY have to go out there in the grey, frosty morning and shiver at the bus stop???" *sulks*
I'm sure I'll get over it in a few days... but right now I'm struggling with a bit of classic winter gloom. Which means I might not be feeling very chatty in the near future. The one thing that helps with this despondent mood is getting more sleep - which, of course, makes weekday evenings even shorter.:/ But what's the use of longer evenings if you're not coherent enough to enjoy them much anyway?... I've found the hard way that I am unable to "cheat" my body when it comes to the required amount of sleep - that "one more hour" of computer time at night will sooner or later come back to bite me in the ass, especially if I have to get up early the next morning. Still, it's tough to be the strict parent to my inner child and send it to bed when it's having such a great time online.:D Which, I'm sure, is something a great many of my flisters can relate to...
grumble grumble
Jan. 1st, 2012 05:50 pmI feel very strange. My body has been acting in a most frustrating manner since yesterday morning, and I can't help but wonder what the reason might be. Like I mentioned, my period started early - but it also feels very reluctant to actually get on with the program, so to speak. ( cut for possible TMI and general boring/grumbling rant you can safely skip )
Oh, and while I'm in a grumbling mode, let me also remark on the fact that I won't be getting that new phone I had mentioned a few posts back. I received a negative response by mail. Thank you for your interest, blah blah blah, but we are unable to process your request at this time. As to why, they are referring me to the credit reporting agency Equifax. I should have expected this... but still it pisses me off. I mean, it's been three years since I changed my name, and apparently my "new identity" is still not being recognized by the credit bureaus.:/ ( Read more... )
Oh, and while I'm in a grumbling mode, let me also remark on the fact that I won't be getting that new phone I had mentioned a few posts back. I received a negative response by mail. Thank you for your interest, blah blah blah, but we are unable to process your request at this time. As to why, they are referring me to the credit reporting agency Equifax. I should have expected this... but still it pisses me off. I mean, it's been three years since I changed my name, and apparently my "new identity" is still not being recognized by the credit bureaus.:/ ( Read more... )
Happy New Viggo :)
Jan. 1st, 2012 12:05 amHappy New Year, Dear Flist! Here's a little something to make you smile - a very short, hilarious interview with Viggo, David Cronenberg & Vincent Cassel that someone just posted on ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
viggo_daily:
I couldn't resist sharing it, because it made me LOL despite the generally crappy mood I'm in right now (nothing to do with being by myself on New Year's Eve - everything to do with Mother Nature being a bitch and making my period start about five days early this month, introduced by a vicious headache).
Anyway... no worries, dear Viggo - I will never send you dirty underwear in the mail.:D My fannish obsession - even for you - doesn't go QUITE that far. Thank God. *headshake*
The Hour has struck!!! I think it's officially OK to go to bed now...:P
viggo_daily: I couldn't resist sharing it, because it made me LOL despite the generally crappy mood I'm in right now (nothing to do with being by myself on New Year's Eve - everything to do with Mother Nature being a bitch and making my period start about five days early this month, introduced by a vicious headache).
Anyway... no worries, dear Viggo - I will never send you dirty underwear in the mail.:D My fannish obsession - even for you - doesn't go QUITE that far. Thank God. *headshake*
The Hour has struck!!! I think it's officially OK to go to bed now...:P
something to ponder as the year ends
Dec. 30th, 2011 11:57 pmJust a random video share tonight - because I love the song, and I think it's a great metaphor for the shallow competitiveness of today's show business. And not only for that, perhaps. I think it's actually a brilliant philosophical commentary on Western culture, in general. In less than 3 minutes. Sung by a guy with a very beautiful voice. The video isn't great quality, but it's a rare track and I'd rather share that than one of the "top hits" everybody knows anyway. So even if you're familiar with Marillion, you might not have heard this song. Which is - very ironically - called Number One...
Don't you ever wonder if this will to win is a weakness?... Why yes, I do. I've wondered about this for quite a while. It's hard not to, when you live in a country that claims to be "the best" in so many ways, while at the same time failing so miserably at upholding the simplest standards of human decency and compassion towards so many of its residents (I don't say "citizens", because - newsflash! - non-citizens are human too, even if this lovely and highly civilized administration chooses to refer to them as "aliens"). It's "survival of the fittest" (read: "the richest" and/or "the most privileged") around here; either you're "number one", or you're a loser. Well... sing me a song for the deliberate loser, Steve. <333
Don't you ever wonder if this will to win is a weakness?... Why yes, I do. I've wondered about this for quite a while. It's hard not to, when you live in a country that claims to be "the best" in so many ways, while at the same time failing so miserably at upholding the simplest standards of human decency and compassion towards so many of its residents (I don't say "citizens", because - newsflash! - non-citizens are human too, even if this lovely and highly civilized administration chooses to refer to them as "aliens"). It's "survival of the fittest" (read: "the richest" and/or "the most privileged") around here; either you're "number one", or you're a loser. Well... sing me a song for the deliberate loser, Steve. <333
how to rescue a boring post :)
Dec. 27th, 2011 10:20 pmJust like I expected, yesterday was tremendously lazy. I spent most of it in my pajamas and didn't venture outside (not that this is extremely unusual for me, mind you - I just felt even MORE lazy than on a typical day off...;P). Today was back to work, but only for three days before another long weekend. Which, hopefully, will be a little less lethargic and gluttonous... (since it won't feature my mother, I don't see why not...;)
Btw, I love my new Sony headphones. They tend to stay put (unlike the tiny ones I always used before), and - as a bonus - they keep my ears warm.:) And, of course, they are much better at blocking outside noises - so I can actually hear my music over the roar of traffic at the train station...
But speaking of music - that band I mentioned recently, Antichrisis, has given me a bit of a surprise. I said it sounded gothic, right? Well, it did - on the first album. When I moved on to the second one, I was greeted by a very lively, soulful brand of Celtic folk-rock with only some metal-sounding vocals here and there. Not that it was a disappointment - I love Celtic music, and it does sound very fresh and captivating. I also tend to like bands which are difficult to categorize. And this one definitely is. Their music is chock-full of various influences that you might think don't really go together - until you hear them put together, and then you go, Hmmm... oh wow! That actually works!!! :D Most tracks are pretty long - 7 to 10 minutes on average - and as soon as you think you have the style of the song figured out, it changes without warning, shifting like windswept, cloudy skies. Here's that gothic groove again... now a catchy folky tune... now, wait, didn't that bit sound like hip-hop?... oh OK, no worries, we're back to the reels and shanties. And the funny thing is that it really DOESN'T CLASH. Not to me, anyway.
But describing music in words can only do so much. Here's a video - a very good example of that strange indefinable style I was talking about. It's a long song - and the longer you listen to it, the more it surprises you. In a good way.
And another one - just a pretty gothy lullaby this time, with some beautiful images to match, because that's precisely the sort of thing I am unable to resist.;)
Btw, I love my new Sony headphones. They tend to stay put (unlike the tiny ones I always used before), and - as a bonus - they keep my ears warm.:) And, of course, they are much better at blocking outside noises - so I can actually hear my music over the roar of traffic at the train station...
But speaking of music - that band I mentioned recently, Antichrisis, has given me a bit of a surprise. I said it sounded gothic, right? Well, it did - on the first album. When I moved on to the second one, I was greeted by a very lively, soulful brand of Celtic folk-rock with only some metal-sounding vocals here and there. Not that it was a disappointment - I love Celtic music, and it does sound very fresh and captivating. I also tend to like bands which are difficult to categorize. And this one definitely is. Their music is chock-full of various influences that you might think don't really go together - until you hear them put together, and then you go, Hmmm... oh wow! That actually works!!! :D Most tracks are pretty long - 7 to 10 minutes on average - and as soon as you think you have the style of the song figured out, it changes without warning, shifting like windswept, cloudy skies. Here's that gothic groove again... now a catchy folky tune... now, wait, didn't that bit sound like hip-hop?... oh OK, no worries, we're back to the reels and shanties. And the funny thing is that it really DOESN'T CLASH. Not to me, anyway.
But describing music in words can only do so much. Here's a video - a very good example of that strange indefinable style I was talking about. It's a long song - and the longer you listen to it, the more it surprises you. In a good way.
And another one - just a pretty gothy lullaby this time, with some beautiful images to match, because that's precisely the sort of thing I am unable to resist.;)
being random is what I'm good at :)
Dec. 22nd, 2011 10:15 pmFirst of all - before I forget - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, goddessofchaos!!! I hope you have a wonderful time, and do find something edible at the office Christmas party.:)
Second of all - thanks for the lovely card,dissonant_dream! It's quirky and artistic and very cool.:) *massive hugs*
I didn't send any cards this year - which is not suprising. I basically suck at this whole card exchange business. I am very picky about greeting cards in general, and I refuse to send people stuff I don't like, and I never seem to remember to go "card hunting" early enough so that the mail gets wherever it needs to get before the holidays... and and and. Long story short - I gave up on it, once again. *sigh*
Yesterday I had dinner with Nancy (the famous Namarie120),akashaelfwitch and jades_tempest. Which should be called our Annual Holiday Get Together... because the last time we all got together was exactly a year ago.:P Actually, the last time I got together with ANY of them (yes, even Akasha, who lives a few blocks away) was exactly a year ago. Yeah, that's what my "socializing with friends" looks like these days. *snort* Not that I really have a problem with it - which is probably troubling in and of itself... *sigh*
BUT!... my "online socializing" potential just greatly increased, thanks to a "friending frenzy" atelven_ranger's journal, to which I was pointed by meathiel. So I have FIVE new people on my friends' list since yesterday (!). People who actually POST, I might add. *stunned gasp* ;) I had a full page of fresh flist entries to read tonight - and that hasn't happened in a while.
So welcome, new friends.:D I hope I won't bore you all to death - well, at least not right away.;)
I might not be posting again until next week, so Season's Greetings to everyone - whichever variant of midwinter holiday you celebrate.:) I'll be heading over to my parents' house, as usual, to make them happy by enduring two days of endless gluttony and vegging out in front of the TV.:D That's what Christmas is all about, after all, isn't it?...:P
Oh, and btw, I seem to just have accidentally discovered a great goth/metal band called Antichrisis. How timely.;D Honest, I was just randomly going throught the alphabetical list at Soundike.com, looking for intriguing (or amusing) band names (yes, that's what I do every other night, why do you ask?...;), and this one caught my eye. So I click on it, chuckling to myself, thinking it's probably going to sound cheesy... and BOOM! it's delicious. Darkly romantic and melancholy, with just a bit of an "edge" to it, and lyrics talking about "cold midwinter nights" and "immortal desire". I mean... be still, my Piscean heart!... The brooding little goth girl inside me is in heaven.;D Who knew? Has anyone ever heard of this band?... I certainly haven't. It's incredible, all the great stuff I seem to be missing out on. And I'm still not even finished with the letter A... LOL.
All right. Shutting up now.:P
goddessofchaos!!! I hope you have a wonderful time, and do find something edible at the office Christmas party.:) Second of all - thanks for the lovely card,
dissonant_dream! It's quirky and artistic and very cool.:) *massive hugs* I didn't send any cards this year - which is not suprising. I basically suck at this whole card exchange business. I am very picky about greeting cards in general, and I refuse to send people stuff I don't like, and I never seem to remember to go "card hunting" early enough so that the mail gets wherever it needs to get before the holidays... and and and. Long story short - I gave up on it, once again. *sigh*
Yesterday I had dinner with Nancy (the famous Namarie120),
akashaelfwitch and jades_tempest. Which should be called our Annual Holiday Get Together... because the last time we all got together was exactly a year ago.:P Actually, the last time I got together with ANY of them (yes, even Akasha, who lives a few blocks away) was exactly a year ago. Yeah, that's what my "socializing with friends" looks like these days. *snort* Not that I really have a problem with it - which is probably troubling in and of itself... *sigh* BUT!... my "online socializing" potential just greatly increased, thanks to a "friending frenzy" at
elven_ranger's journal, to which I was pointed by meathiel. So I have FIVE new people on my friends' list since yesterday (!). People who actually POST, I might add. *stunned gasp* ;) I had a full page of fresh flist entries to read tonight - and that hasn't happened in a while.So welcome, new friends.:D I hope I won't bore you all to death - well, at least not right away.;)
I might not be posting again until next week, so Season's Greetings to everyone - whichever variant of midwinter holiday you celebrate.:) I'll be heading over to my parents' house, as usual, to make them happy by enduring two days of endless gluttony and vegging out in front of the TV.:D That's what Christmas is all about, after all, isn't it?...:P
Oh, and btw, I seem to just have accidentally discovered a great goth/metal band called Antichrisis. How timely.;D Honest, I was just randomly going throught the alphabetical list at Soundike.com, looking for intriguing (or amusing) band names (yes, that's what I do every other night, why do you ask?...;), and this one caught my eye. So I click on it, chuckling to myself, thinking it's probably going to sound cheesy... and BOOM! it's delicious. Darkly romantic and melancholy, with just a bit of an "edge" to it, and lyrics talking about "cold midwinter nights" and "immortal desire". I mean... be still, my Piscean heart!... The brooding little goth girl inside me is in heaven.;D Who knew? Has anyone ever heard of this band?... I certainly haven't. It's incredible, all the great stuff I seem to be missing out on. And I'm still not even finished with the letter A... LOL.
All right. Shutting up now.:P
just couldn't resist this one
Dec. 18th, 2011 10:37 pmStolen from taelyn_sass:
I am a Danish. A DANISH! Get that, fellow Viggo fans?... *massive wink* :D
taelyn_sass: You Are a Danish |
 You are sweet and optimistic. You find a lot to be happy about in this world, and you are easy on yourself. You love to take it easy, and you prefer when things are peaceful. You don't mind a little solitude. Because you are your own best friend, you find it easy to be a good friend to others. You are patient and kind. You understand that people need acceptance more than anything else. |
I am a Danish. A DANISH! Get that, fellow Viggo fans?... *massive wink* :D
slow down, brain, will you?... ;P
Dec. 11th, 2011 10:55 pmCute little meme stolen from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gairid:
So I've been thinking... Yeah, I know - thinking is all I ever do, LOL. But I've been processing this spiritual talk I mentioned earlier, and I sort of want to tie my own reflections to it. Without any preaching, mind you. You will never see me preach - in this journal or anywhere else. I absolutely cringe at the thought of telling other people what to believe or how to lead their lives. Just like I cringe when other people do the same to me. Which is why I am most likely to explore the ideas of those who are the least "pushy" about spreading them around. Could be my incurable stubornness or something, I don't know. But I digress. ( Read more... )
gairid: Your Soul's Spice is Basil |
 You value deep, authentic relationships. You're not big on small talk. You are deeply spiritual, even if you don't talk about it much. Deep down you are good with yourself and the world. You are unpretentious and natural. You couldn't be another way even if you tried. You have a beautiful soul, and it shines through in the way you treat others. |
So I've been thinking... Yeah, I know - thinking is all I ever do, LOL. But I've been processing this spiritual talk I mentioned earlier, and I sort of want to tie my own reflections to it. Without any preaching, mind you. You will never see me preach - in this journal or anywhere else. I absolutely cringe at the thought of telling other people what to believe or how to lead their lives. Just like I cringe when other people do the same to me. Which is why I am most likely to explore the ideas of those who are the least "pushy" about spreading them around. Could be my incurable stubornness or something, I don't know. But I digress. ( Read more... )
Viggo talks and talks... and so do I ;)
Dec. 7th, 2011 09:11 pmSo there's this new lovely Viggo article in the New York Times Style magazine. Called Viggo Talks and Talks.:D With quite a few nice photos, I might add. You can view the whole thing here (someone kindly provided the link on viggo_daily):
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/viggo-talks-and-talks/
My favorite part:
Mortensen’s combination of cheekbones and limpid-eyed sincerity has tended to inspire a slightly awestruck tone in journalists over the years. Some of their more breathless accounts of his chilled-out, barefoot demeanor have come perilously close to making him sound a bit of a pill: a parody of the soulful gypsy artiste, all flared nostrils and rippling Kant quotations. Happily, he is not really as oppressively soulful or as grandiose as such reports might suggest. He is earnest, God knows, and his pronouncements on life and art verge, occasionally, on the sententious. But he’s not a preening nostril-flarer. What he brings to mind, more than anything, is your older brother’s hippie friend from childhood — the one who played you your first Velvet Underground album and instructed you in Trotskyist politics.
Yep. That's our Viggo. The one we all know and love. *sporfle*
( And now for something completely different - long, work-related rant under the cut. )
viggo_daily):http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/viggo-talks-and-talks/
My favorite part:
Mortensen’s combination of cheekbones and limpid-eyed sincerity has tended to inspire a slightly awestruck tone in journalists over the years. Some of their more breathless accounts of his chilled-out, barefoot demeanor have come perilously close to making him sound a bit of a pill: a parody of the soulful gypsy artiste, all flared nostrils and rippling Kant quotations. Happily, he is not really as oppressively soulful or as grandiose as such reports might suggest. He is earnest, God knows, and his pronouncements on life and art verge, occasionally, on the sententious. But he’s not a preening nostril-flarer. What he brings to mind, more than anything, is your older brother’s hippie friend from childhood — the one who played you your first Velvet Underground album and instructed you in Trotskyist politics.
Yep. That's our Viggo. The one we all know and love. *sporfle*
( And now for something completely different - long, work-related rant under the cut. )
sharing my good vibes, as it were ;)
Dec. 5th, 2011 10:45 pmI received a beautiful gift today. Viggo's latest poetry/photography book Canciones de Invierno/Winter Songs. From a dear LJ friend who had originally purchased the book for herself, but after reading it (multiple times, I suspect, even though it is in very good condition) decided to "pass it along" and share with me. If you happen to remember romi, the long-lost legend of the A/L fandom (*giggle*), then you will know that she hasn't been around for a while. Real Life snatched her away from these shores - but what a delight to know that she still treasures our friendship enough to actually come up with the idea of sending me this book. Yes, she mailed it from Sweden. So the book has come quite a long way - there and back again, as it were. Traversing the path of friendship, shared fascinations and beautiful memories. Which reminds me, yet again, of the incredible wealth that discovering LJ and the LOTR fandom has brought into my life. It's a gift that keeps on giving - to use a popular corny cliche...:P
Why yes, I am feeling very emotional these days. My period is about to start any minute, which probably ranks pretty high on the list of contributing factors - but there has been other stuff, including the movie I mentioned in the previous post and various Things Seen On The Internet. Sadly, I lack the time to mention them all. I probably shouldn't even get started, because I feel tired and want to go to bed early tonight... but. I often have this wild craving to post when there is nothing of import to talk about - and then, ironically, when my brain is BURSTING with stuff to talk about, I don't have the time/energy to do it. *sigh* But the main reason I am keeping this journal is to write about things that keep my brainwheels running - not about the daily trivia that somehow occupy the majority of its pages. The trivia are simply easier to manage and squeeze into a post that takes less than five hours to compose... *sigh*
( a lengthy quasi-religious rant under the cut - consider yourselves warned :) )
romi, the long-lost legend of the A/L fandom (*giggle*), then you will know that she hasn't been around for a while. Real Life snatched her away from these shores - but what a delight to know that she still treasures our friendship enough to actually come up with the idea of sending me this book. Yes, she mailed it from Sweden. So the book has come quite a long way - there and back again, as it were. Traversing the path of friendship, shared fascinations and beautiful memories. Which reminds me, yet again, of the incredible wealth that discovering LJ and the LOTR fandom has brought into my life. It's a gift that keeps on giving - to use a popular corny cliche...:P Why yes, I am feeling very emotional these days. My period is about to start any minute, which probably ranks pretty high on the list of contributing factors - but there has been other stuff, including the movie I mentioned in the previous post and various Things Seen On The Internet. Sadly, I lack the time to mention them all. I probably shouldn't even get started, because I feel tired and want to go to bed early tonight... but. I often have this wild craving to post when there is nothing of import to talk about - and then, ironically, when my brain is BURSTING with stuff to talk about, I don't have the time/energy to do it. *sigh* But the main reason I am keeping this journal is to write about things that keep my brainwheels running - not about the daily trivia that somehow occupy the majority of its pages. The trivia are simply easier to manage and squeeze into a post that takes less than five hours to compose... *sigh*
( a lengthy quasi-religious rant under the cut - consider yourselves warned :) )
it was time for another movie review, non?
Dec. 3rd, 2011 11:37 pmWatched an amazing film last night. Shortbus by John Cameron Mitchell. Supposedly "the most sexually graphic American narrative feature made outside of the porn industry" - as proclaimed by the trailer. And it certainly looked like it.:P But that's not what I loved about it. In fact, that's the only aspect of the movie I wasn't too crazy about - some of the scenes were indeed graphic enough to sorta gross me out. What I did love about it was that it wasn't actually about sex at all - it was about all the different things that sex represents to different people. The things that people are really looking for when they think they are just looking for sex. Intimacy being one of them, obviously. But the film goes even deeper than that. It's incredibly raw and honest, heartbreakingly sad and startlingly funny all at the same time. In other words, it's exactly the kind of movie that "hits the spot" for me.;) The characters represent a pretty wide range of sexual predilections - and they also deal with a variety of psychological issues. Btw, the cast is comprised mostly of first-time actors, who "play themselves". Basically the director sent out a call for audition tapes from people who were ready to "bare it all" (both physically and emotionally) on camera - and then developed the story and the characters over the next few years, in cooperation with a group of the most promising candidates. The result is fascinating. ( Read more... )
getting ready for winter
Nov. 28th, 2011 11:15 pmSo, yesterday was spent mostly at my parents' house, gorging on roast turkey and various side dishes, followed by a delicious Vienna cheesecake made by my sister (who's turning out to be quite the accomplished baker - to everyone's surprise, since she never showed much interest in such pursuits before). We also watched the latest Pirates of the Caribbean, which I hadn't seen yet, and which my brother-in-law absolutely insisted I had to see.:) It was... entertaining. Penelope Cruz makes a perfect pirate - almost as perfect as Johnny Depp, and certainly better than Keira Knightley.;) I also loved the charming cannibalistic mermaids.;P But other than that... oh well. At least I don't have to bother ordering it through Netflix, just so people would stop asking if I have seen it already.:D
Today I went shopping again, and bought a nice new skirt and jacket. Yes, I have three other skirts in a very similar style - but it is the style that looks best on me, and I am going to stick to it. And yes, two of those three other skirts are also in very similar colors - namely, different shades of gray. However, they both have some blue in them, due to which they can only be worn with either blue or gray sweaters. The one I bought today is pure gray, and so it will go with a number of other colors as well. Yeah, I am that anal about my clothes. Surprised, anyone?... *snort*
The jacket I bought is also gray (yeah, I know), but more importantly windproof and waterproof, with a zipper going all the way up to the chin, and a hood fastening under the chin as well. It protects the neck and head so well I probably won't even need to wear a scarf with it. See, my old black fake suede winter coat looks very heavy and warm, but, to be honest, doesn't do all that much for me in wet, windy weather. First of all, it doesn't have a zipper, but only about four buttons, and the hood is so loose I have to hold it together under my chin if I want it to stay on. Not very practical while walking around the streets in a classic Windy City gale.:/ It was all fine and dandy when I only had to walk to the car - but standing at the bus stop in such flimsy attire just won't do. I need hardcore outerwear now, savvy? I also bought two pairs of new waterproof boots a while ago - after the fancy fake suede "elven" pair I had bought last year got all soaked through while waiting for the bus in the rain one evening. Yeah. You live, you learn. Car-less existence means a considerably higher level of exposure to the elements... LOL.
And that will be all in today's fascinating newsflash. The long weekend fun is over. Work tomorrow.:/
Today I went shopping again, and bought a nice new skirt and jacket. Yes, I have three other skirts in a very similar style - but it is the style that looks best on me, and I am going to stick to it. And yes, two of those three other skirts are also in very similar colors - namely, different shades of gray. However, they both have some blue in them, due to which they can only be worn with either blue or gray sweaters. The one I bought today is pure gray, and so it will go with a number of other colors as well. Yeah, I am that anal about my clothes. Surprised, anyone?... *snort*
The jacket I bought is also gray (yeah, I know), but more importantly windproof and waterproof, with a zipper going all the way up to the chin, and a hood fastening under the chin as well. It protects the neck and head so well I probably won't even need to wear a scarf with it. See, my old black fake suede winter coat looks very heavy and warm, but, to be honest, doesn't do all that much for me in wet, windy weather. First of all, it doesn't have a zipper, but only about four buttons, and the hood is so loose I have to hold it together under my chin if I want it to stay on. Not very practical while walking around the streets in a classic Windy City gale.:/ It was all fine and dandy when I only had to walk to the car - but standing at the bus stop in such flimsy attire just won't do. I need hardcore outerwear now, savvy? I also bought two pairs of new waterproof boots a while ago - after the fancy fake suede "elven" pair I had bought last year got all soaked through while waiting for the bus in the rain one evening. Yeah. You live, you learn. Car-less existence means a considerably higher level of exposure to the elements... LOL.
And that will be all in today's fascinating newsflash. The long weekend fun is over. Work tomorrow.:/
uhhh... nothing, really
Nov. 25th, 2011 11:57 pmI wanted to make a longer post tonight, but somehow it didn't materialize. Whenever I seem unable to decide what to write about, there probably isn't much of anything worth writing about. *sigh* Shopping trips? Crowded malls? Maddeningly inane "Christmas" music played at every store I walked into?... Blllerrrghhh. I'm not gonna waste any time or space elaborating on that. Instead, as a form of detox, let me share this video. One of my favorite songs by Anathema. With lyrics.
THIS is music, people. In case anyone thought otherwise.:P And one more Anathema vid with lyrics - just because the background image takes my breath away.
Why yes, I am feeling emo. For no apparent reason, in case you're wondering. *shrug*
THIS is music, people. In case anyone thought otherwise.:P And one more Anathema vid with lyrics - just because the background image takes my breath away.
Why yes, I am feeling emo. For no apparent reason, in case you're wondering. *shrug*
So, I said I needed to take a break from too much internet, right? Well, apparently some higher powers were listening, because my connection went dead last Saturday. Randomly and with no warning. I waited till Sunday night to call customer service, just in case it was a temporary issue - and then had to wait until today for a scheduled visit from a technician. Like I suspected, someone had disconnected a bunch of cables outside my apartment building. Apparently, guys who work on various utility repairs do that sometimes, and then forget to connect them back again.:/ The same thing happened a few years ago. Strangely enough, that sort of shit usually occurs on a weekend, when I don't have the convenient option to check my email at work. However, I did manage to get the problem fixed right at the onset of a long holiday weekend - so all's good.:) *relieved sigh*
In fact, this is a six-day holiday weekend for me... LOL. I took today off, since it was an "early close" day at our office anyway (that means you come in for 5 hours only, but get paid for 8; or you can choose to schedule a day off by using only 4 vacation hours, which is by far the more sensible option...;P). Friday after Thanksgiving is a paid holiday at my workplace - and then I also took Monday off, just because.:P So I actually get more time off around Thanksgiving than I do around Christmas, or New Year. Which is weird... not that I'm complaining right now, mind you.;) I've got several shopping trips in mind for those few days... as well as an obligatory visit with my parents and, hopefully, some catching up on the online stuff that has piled up while my internet was gone.
Oh, and btw, I took some precautions in order not to scandalize the Comcast technician by the blatant LOTR slash display on the wall behind my desk (color printouts of highly erotic Aragorn/Legolas manips - in case you don't know that much about my room decor by now...;D). Namely, I dragged some cardboard boxes out of the storage closet and propped them up against said wall as a makeshift camouflage, LOL. But guess what? The technician looked behind the boxes anyway, because he wanted to check if all the cables inside the apartment were plugged in correctly before he went to check the outside. So... bummer.:D For the record, he didn't display any outward signs of either shock, disgust or uncontrollable amusement. High points for professionalism, I suppose. *snort*
In fact, this is a six-day holiday weekend for me... LOL. I took today off, since it was an "early close" day at our office anyway (that means you come in for 5 hours only, but get paid for 8; or you can choose to schedule a day off by using only 4 vacation hours, which is by far the more sensible option...;P). Friday after Thanksgiving is a paid holiday at my workplace - and then I also took Monday off, just because.:P So I actually get more time off around Thanksgiving than I do around Christmas, or New Year. Which is weird... not that I'm complaining right now, mind you.;) I've got several shopping trips in mind for those few days... as well as an obligatory visit with my parents and, hopefully, some catching up on the online stuff that has piled up while my internet was gone.
Oh, and btw, I took some precautions in order not to scandalize the Comcast technician by the blatant LOTR slash display on the wall behind my desk (color printouts of highly erotic Aragorn/Legolas manips - in case you don't know that much about my room decor by now...;D). Namely, I dragged some cardboard boxes out of the storage closet and propped them up against said wall as a makeshift camouflage, LOL. But guess what? The technician looked behind the boxes anyway, because he wanted to check if all the cables inside the apartment were plugged in correctly before he went to check the outside. So... bummer.:D For the record, he didn't display any outward signs of either shock, disgust or uncontrollable amusement. High points for professionalism, I suppose. *snort*
A cute little quiz stolen from samtyr:
I meant to make a longer post, but I totally lack the energy. I didn't sleep well last night, due to a ridiculous time management failure that I am having trouble explaining even to myself. *sigh* See, I took yesterday off work, because I still have a few unused vacation days left, and I desperately needed to clean my place and do some laundry. And I guess I somehow imagined that this "long weekend" was long enough for everything I planned on, including cleaning, shopping, cooking, laundry and downloading tons of music. And somehow it wasn't. Technically, it should be - but somehow I ended up coming back from the laundromat past 10 p.m. last night, having done only one load instead of two. Having spent much of the morning watching random videos on YouTube might have had something to do with that, I admit. *shifty eyes* But still... I had ALL DAY, right? So I was kinda pissed off at myself for such blatant failure to effectively organize my time... and then I couldn't seem to wind down enough to go to sleep. This is kinda typical for me after a "long" weekend - especially if it somehow seems shorter than it should have. Which is usually the case. *sigh*
Anyway... I am dead tired, and can't even muster the brain power to leave any comments to other people's posts - let alone talk about the really interesting film I watched on Friday. I think I'll just hit the pillows.:/
I've been spending entirely too much time with my eyes glued to the computer screen, and my ears filled with loud, emotionally intense music. Perhaps that's why I haven't been sleeping too well. I need to get a grip and drag myself away for a bit... regain some balance.
I'll be back as soon as I manage to get rid of this monstrous headache...
samtyr:You Are Ma'at |
 You believe in doing what's right. You have the inner strength to stick to your guns. You have a quiet spirituality and balance to you. You don't preach; you lead by example. You are peaceful and serene. You try to make life go as smoothly as possible. You have a reassuring nature. Your friends find you to be both soothing and comforting. |
I meant to make a longer post, but I totally lack the energy. I didn't sleep well last night, due to a ridiculous time management failure that I am having trouble explaining even to myself. *sigh* See, I took yesterday off work, because I still have a few unused vacation days left, and I desperately needed to clean my place and do some laundry. And I guess I somehow imagined that this "long weekend" was long enough for everything I planned on, including cleaning, shopping, cooking, laundry and downloading tons of music. And somehow it wasn't. Technically, it should be - but somehow I ended up coming back from the laundromat past 10 p.m. last night, having done only one load instead of two. Having spent much of the morning watching random videos on YouTube might have had something to do with that, I admit. *shifty eyes* But still... I had ALL DAY, right? So I was kinda pissed off at myself for such blatant failure to effectively organize my time... and then I couldn't seem to wind down enough to go to sleep. This is kinda typical for me after a "long" weekend - especially if it somehow seems shorter than it should have. Which is usually the case. *sigh*
Anyway... I am dead tired, and can't even muster the brain power to leave any comments to other people's posts - let alone talk about the really interesting film I watched on Friday. I think I'll just hit the pillows.:/
I've been spending entirely too much time with my eyes glued to the computer screen, and my ears filled with loud, emotionally intense music. Perhaps that's why I haven't been sleeping too well. I need to get a grip and drag myself away for a bit... regain some balance.
I'll be back as soon as I manage to get rid of this monstrous headache...
