When I said I liked the early light, I didn't mean every day

Given that I was wide awake forty five minutes before my alarm was scheduled to go off this morning, I've had extra time. I took a very long bath, and then a shower while I drank my morning coffee. (Incidentally my morning coffee recently has been this Brazillian stuff that isn't bad, but is only palatable after I dump enough cream in it to make it match the terra cotta color of my coffee cup.) While reading Bourdain in the tub and drinking coffee, I had the leisure to contemplate what a mess the apartment is and how we really should get down to a thorough cleaning. I have made some progress that largely consisted of making my room slightly more messy. Tonight I intend to be more productive after a trip to the grocery store.

Lately I've been avoidant of the news, which is a shameful thing on my part. Every explosion in Baghdad makes my throat tighten, and I think about Bob, and every other poor damned person stuck in that quagmire. I feel dishonest, avoiding it.

Instead I read a lot of random articles about science. Science has never been my field, but I study it in my desultory way. For instance, the ethical debate over choosing the sex of your babies. Or the recent study scientifically rigorous grounds to evaluate talk therapy treatment for panic disorders. Or the strange, slightly creepy world of designer dog breeding.

Then I have to go read Penny Arcade and feel a little better about the world.

work natterings

After checking my email umpteen million times, I re-read the email about the shift openings. The deadline for applying is February 14th, so I probably won't hear anything for at least two more weeks. Aaarrrggghhh. I swear this will make me cry. Making the decision to apply for a different shift was such a huge, fraught decision and I just want an answer.

My coworker Robin, getting off the phone with an irate father making a CPS report: " These men! They have three kids and then they act like they never knew these women!" Word.

some memes you never get tired of

The brilliant thing about this meme is that it is always different, and tends to generate a more substantial post than a lot of surveys or online quizes. These questions come from brienze, who is a relatively new LJ friend. I actually only met her last week, at the gathering of BPAL and Wearable Sculpture fans held while kythryne and Amy visited. She happens to be attending Phoenix Rising, and is a potential driving companion provided I don't scare her away. (Which would be a brilliant thing as I was not looking forward to the idea of going all the way down I-10 on my lonesome in May.)

You know the drill by now, or you should anyway. Comment and I'll throw some questions your way.

1. What are your preferences in HP fic?

Oh fic. I love tragedy, because I'm that kind of person. I love a tragic hero. I like adventures, and mysteries, and hot sex and the deep personal examinations of the motivations of characters. I love things that have the twins being funny and just as they are. I have a penchant for Death Eaters, because someone has to root for the bad guys. (I blame Julian Sands in Warlock, all those years ago. He started my unfortunate prediliction for evil, blonde wizards.) I have a deep and abiding interest in the Malfoy family and the rise of Voldemort.

The one thing I've really kept up with in the past year is descensus_hp because it has just about everything I like and is extremely well done. I have also really loved Anna's fics Roman Holiday, Jewel of the Nile and Last Tango in Paris. In fact, a large number of the fics I really love came from Witchfics writers.

2. What kind of music do you like (and dislike)?

I have pretty varied tastes I think. Mostly I listen to what we I would say falls under the general heading of rock - The Killers, The Bravery, Our Lady Peace, Counting Crows, Sum 41, Blink 182, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Guns N' Roses, Liz Phair, the Cure, etc. I like a fair bit of electronica/dance/industrial/anything-with-a-synthesizer sort of stuff - KMFDM, VNV Nation, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Oakenfold, Moby, Depeche Mode. I like Marilyn Manson. There, I admitted it. I also like Tori Amos, Fleetwood Mac, Druha Trava, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Ice T, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes and Yoko Kano. (Beethoven was the greatest composer ever, nya.) This list is nowhere near complete, and does not address my love of the occasional bad radio hit and much of the 80's.

The things I don't like are Brittany Spears, most annoying pop bimbos with fake noses. (Shakira being the exception because she still seems like the kind of girl you could go out with to pound down cheap beer and tequilla shots on a Friday night) Most rap & hip-hop doesn't do it for me, though I've found a few exceptions. I really don't like reggae probably because I don't do enough drugs. (Though I love Matisyahu because he's so damned earnest) I also dislike Michael Bolton, Michael Jackson and a lot of hippies.

3. Do you cook, and if so, what sort of things?

I'm actually a pretty decent cook. I don't do much meal preparation because my roommate takes on that job and is much more patient with the potato broiling than I am. These days, most of my cooking tends to be on the sweet side. I make some killer desserts, things that have sent my friends and coworkers into sugary delicious comas. One of my specialities is a chocolate strawberry pie that is so rich even I have to eat small slices. I make a pretty decent pound cake, using the Elvis recipe. I love to bake new things. My only downfall is that by the time I'm done, I don't feel like eating it and my roommate doesn't eat a lot of sweets. I need more people to bake for, though I do have a friend that I promised a cake.

4. What makes you wish you could just throttle someone?

Willful stupidity, and willful ignorance top the list. I become incensed on a daily basis by this sort of thing. The kind of people who think it is cute to name their kids Vayjay, Vagina or Cocaine make me hold onto the edge of my desk until my hands go numb. The kind of people who believe that teaching evolution at school will cause the destruction of America. The people who think a one year old kid deserves a beating so bad it breaks bones because the kid was making noise and interrupting Mommy's quiet time with her dope. The kind of people who think those of us who engage in homosexual activities ought to be shot and not allowed to exist. The kind of people who think it is okay to marry their 14 year old daughter to some forty year old illegal immigrant, and not let her come back home when the bastard beats her until her nose breaks. The people who think it is okay to steal Grandma's pain medications while she is dying.

Also, people who double park. Gods above that makes me want to key the fracking car.

5. What question does no one ever ask you that you wish they would (and what's the answer)?

At first I thought this would be a hard question, but the answer came to me quickly and I just knew it was true. The question no one ever asks me is "What are you thinking?" I ask people that often, though less than I used to do it. It seems to make people uncomfortable. I actually honestly want to know though. We experience our lives entirely inside ourselves, and there is no way of knowing short of that question what the person next to you is thinking about it. I always want to know. I know I have asked just about every single person I know that question at some point, and often more than once.

What the answer would be in any moment changes. At the movie theater the other night I would have said, "I am thinking being shot in the stomach is a horrible, horrible way to die." This morning I would have said "I am wondering if I can find unscented bubble bath to go with my bath fizzes so I can have both colorful water and bubbles." Two weeks ago I would have said "I just want some sun."

Right now, the answer is "When am I going to the Power Ballad singalong and who is coming with me?"

(no subject)

Power Ballad Singalong - 2/15!
Moulin Rouge Singalong - 2/18!

If you want to sing with me, buy tickets now!