Yeah, yeah, I know. too much blogging spoils the pudding
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Husker Du is still going on
Topic: Blogs with photos
Sweden trip pictures.
Enter at your own risk.

Spoiler-free thoughts on Harry Potter VI
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Steel Pole Bath Tub - Scars From Falling Down / Husker Du - Candy Apple Grey
Topic: Stephen Says
Well, I finished it a week or so ago and have had some time to digest it. First of all, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is, as far as I'm concerned, the bar to which all cross-party-child/adult literature should be held up to so, granted, Harry Potter will fall quite far below the bar. Of course, the series isn't finished so I'm open to revise my opinion once it's all been said and done.

I'm also aware that His Dark Materials is principally for young/middle teenagers and Harry Potter is for children. And this is my main criticism of the 6th book - They're all 16 now and a year away from being (Wizarding) adults. The original fan-base is also rapidly approaching this age (If they're not aleady older), yet the style, while maturing (Since Mrs. Rowling is maturing as a writer), the content is not.

Is this really how 16 year olds actin Britain? Even if they're wizards and witches? Um, where are the thongs, the boob tubs, the experimenting with illegal drugs. And please, don't tell me that (Insert charater name) and (Insert other character name - you know who they are!) didn't have sex after all the stressing of how hot & heavy they were.

Harry Potter is stuck in this weird idyllic Enid Blyghton (Spelled wrong, I know) world yet, at the same time firmly placed in the present (Don't tell me that you didn't think you were reading about Tony Blair & Chimpy in those 1st three pages) (Also, don't tell me that you didn't see MASSIVE resembelances to U.S. style indefinate detentions and the random [and fictitious] headline grabing caused by the so-called war on terror [though, if my sources are correct, its name will be changing shortly. Stay tuned!]). As a result, there's something that just seems, erm, wrong about it. Remember what happened at the end of His Dark Materials? If Harry Potter doesn't have a heart-breaking, mind-blowing conclusion like that, where all the nerds (And lets face it, Harry Potter fans are nerds. The books are written to appeal to them and, I have no shame in saying it, they appeal to me) are left going "holy shit!!!," then, I fear, they will be a big ol' waste of time.

That said, I was planted for 3 days reading it. While I was aware of some of what happened in the final pages (Who wasn't), the Really Big Twist caught me by surprise and I think the last book, at last free of the structure set up by every single other book before it (Thank God), will be really quite good. Even thought it's obvious what's going to happen in it. Except for the final chapters, of course. Those are up in the air. My money's on Harry dying, though. Mind you, I've been wrong about everything in the past. So he'll probably live. After all, he was The Boy Who Lived.

Oh, and those last two chapters just dragged and dragged and dragged, trying a little too hard to squeeze a tear out of your eye.

But I enjoyed the book. I really did. I just suspect that, come book seven, much like The Matrix, everyone will be left wondering what the heck all the hype was about.

And if you're gonna comment, it had better be spoiler-free. I'm gonna have a certificate in first aid. I can fix you and I can break you, too.

I think I'm in love
Mood:  silly
Now Playing: and You Will Know us by the Trail of Dead - Source Tags & Codes
Topic: Stephen Says
And her name's Annie. She's got no arms and legs and she's pretty quiet. Yup, she's a CPR dummy. I'm almost through my 4 day First aid course and my sanity has (mostly) returned. What was poorly planned about this course is that I'm taking it with the certain co-worker that (according to my 3 month probationary report) "can have dramatic and destructive effects on Stephens (sic) ability to focus on the job at hand." Hence why were were making wind up calls to the boss from the pub during out 'lunch' hour.

It's a weird thing to be taking this course because I thought that it would be with other people from a care environment and the vast majority are, in fact, slaves to a large corporate firm (Tele-communications-something-or-other). As a result, my co-worker and I have taken it upon ourselves to engage in fast-track rehabilitation Snowdon style on them. There hasn't been too much progress but we have managed to convince one fine fellow to leave threatening messages on the project's answer phone claiming to be the first aid instructer and saying that he had to kick the two of us out for being inappropriate and coming back from our 'lunch' hours drunk.

My probation report also says something about this, let me see... Ah yes, " [I] must be aware that [blah, blah, books & stuff] are legal documents and should keep this in mind when assessing the appropriateness of [my] comments." Hmmm...

The really interesting thing, though, is that I've withnessed an interesting cross-section of the types of orifice office workers that Elisabeth works with and all I can say is holy cow, I could never conform to that kind of a crowd and kudos to Elisabeth for having that ability (Though I wonder if that's a good thing...). I mean, honestly, they're all really nice folks but they're really quite S.Q.U.A.R.E. And the funny thing is that they're all aching to break out of their squareness. Whenever we have to do role plays, improvisations or volunteer for things, they're petrified. But holy moley do they get into it once they're up there. It's refreshing to see and gives me hope for their future.

Oh, and the guy that were were able to corrupt so easily into crank calling the project? Well, my co-worker recognizes him from a club in Brighton. So you know what that means. It's a handy skill to be able to spot those who you just know will be willing to fuck with someone's head.

Don't readt this entry
Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: Love - Forever Changes / Da Capo
Topic: Stephen Says
Rightie ho, I'm on my 3rd pint of Pimms and am ready to blog about mine & Elisabeth's most recent trip to Sweden.

Be warned: This entry may get deleted in the harsh light of day. You know what I'm talking about, M&J.

First off, holy cow, Swedes are good looking. Danes are too (We once again spent quite alot of time loitering around Coppenhagen airport and had the opportunity to meet the funniest check in guy ever. For example: "Any bags to check in?" "No." "Good!"). But it's quie a strange thing to fly for an hour and a half and enter this mystical land of blondes who are all normal (Though slightly boring) and beautiful in non-trendy ways. ie, ways that will not grow old or dated.

Anyway, onto the juicy stuff.
Actually, it won't be quite so juicy - I'm going to write in the abstract for a little bit.

There was a good line in the book that I was reading while in Sweden that went (To paraphrase) "some people can be so rational to the point that they become insane." I thought that was really interesting because rationalality is relative and, when someone is firm in their beliefs, there becomes little room for introspection and, as a result, for some, their their very rational beliefs can be sane to them but abso-fuckingly-ridiculous to others.

Confused? Well, this entry will get more so.

There's also a strange insanity when it comes to flexability. It's that old question about anarchy - Who will fix the sewers? Likewise, when does one persons irrational flexability, combined with theit martyrdumb and add a dose of oppressively imposed low-self esteem become utterly ridiculous? You know, like just because a restaurant serves really good cheese cake, well maybe I don't want cheese cake for lunch. Maybe I want a quiche! And maybe I won't eat any cheesecake at all!! And why is it so fucking weird that I eat and drink what I want?

Why does my menu have to conform to yours?
Why do we have to eat together and why does it all have to bee the same thing??

(Look, I'm sorry - this is the kind of artsy / over pretentious thing that someone in high school writes. I promise not to do it again.)

(After this time.)

It's weird to visit an essentially Western country country with all the first world conveniences only to discover that your hotel is stuck in the middle ages where the management goes out of its way to turn you into a monastic serf and, should you not crumble into their clutches after their first half-assed barely heartfelt attempt, they hide in thier bedrooms, spying on you. Afraid to leave you alone because you must be some kind of horny sex-monkey who will start humping anything and everything at a moments chance at the first second that you're alone with your wife.

Or how about the franctic "NOOOOOooooo!" as you try and open a bottle of wine that you smuggled into the monastery under the nose of the watchful bloodhounds, only to have most of it drunk greedily by the head monk, who cares notihng about offering it (even though it wasn't even given to him) to those who brought it in, as the bloodhound angrily chastizes the 'alkies' who have hardly had a tipple.

The thing is, there's more, there's more, there's always more.

-Angrily driving around parking lots of glass factories under the pretense of 'finding a place to eat,' except that, dude, you didn't even stop the car OR check to see if you could even eat at thre glass factory.

-Getting so angry that you couldn't even to bring yourselves to say grace. Over the course of 3 meals!

-no communication, fleeing the scene, encouraging others to flee the scene.

-insanity, insanity, insantiy.

Thank God the airport had nice, cold beer on tap. I'm not an alcoholic but some people turn me into one. Give us a call is you need me to explain all this shit. It's been a long four days.

Back from Sweden
So, it was that exciting, eh?

Off to Sweden for a couple of days
Keep us posted in case anything exciting happens while we're away.

Long, boring, another rambling entry
Mood:  loud
Topic: Stephen Says
Hi folks, Stephen here. Long time no see. Haven’t been doing much, you know. Alotta work, I guess. What’s that you say? Work? Weeeeeelllll….

I’ve been meaning to tell y’all about Thorpe Park. It was a fun day out for some of the younger residents and out reach clients that we have over at Snowdon. Man, I don’t know where to start. Thorpe Park is one of those rare U.S./U.K. hybrids that actually work amazingly well! There’s very few big rides at the park, but holy moley, they’re hard core! Look, I’m not theme park wimp, but some of these suckers had me making hot fudge in my pantaloons. And unlike American theme parks, everything was grassy, over-grown and you didn’t so much mind the line ups because you’re standing next to a pond with little quack-quacks swimming around and oh! Look over there! Someone’s put an old ’57 Chevy in the middle of the lake!

Yup, work, work, work. Yobbo got arrested the other day – it looks like he finally snapped. He hit his girl friend, made his child cry and smashed something really big and loud. So the police came and took him away. An ambulance came and made sure that his girl was okay. And boy, does their five year old have a pair of lungs! He can scream ‘fuck off!’ at his mommy AND daddy just like his mommy and daddy.

So the Grange development is kinda quiet now. Well, except for the guy who lives below us. He smokes drugs and plays his loud ‘hippity hop’ music all the time. But I don’t really mind. ‘Ghost Face Killer’ is numero uno in my books!

Well, we’re off to Sweden this weekend. Boy, I bet that will be a lot of fun! Discovering new cultures and new civilizations can be fun. Even if they are a little backward. Thank goodness that there are lots of good Christian missionaries around to make us all see how happy we can be. I’m happy. Are you happy???

Boy, I’ve got nothin’ to say and I can’t keep up this happy crappy persona much longer! Things are good with me, blah, blah, blah and I’m ? way through the new Harry Potter which is really what counts. Oh, and work rocks. I got to talk to the mayor of Woking today. Politicians and professors at Royal Holloway are a lot alike – pompous prick who expect for you to agree with every piece of rhetoric that comes from their mouth, no matter how idiotic or wrong it is.

Anyway, the point of this blog is that I wanted to put up a blog at last and I’m not good at re-capping things so much as dealing with things as they come.

Dinner tonight was brought to you by triple pepper, double cheese, mushroom pita pizzas (with red wine & shallot sauce) and an Australian shiraz. Oh, and the sign that you’re blog has reached the end of its pointless rambling?

You’re blogging about the wine.

Maybe Tuesday, Maybe Not
Mood:  lyrical
Now Playing: Nothing, as usual
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
There is no point to me blogging today, as I can't think of anything to say. This is probably why most blogs are REALLY boring, because people start talking about how their cat did something really cute, or how they overheard a conversation on a bus, or wouldn't it be great to be Hermione in Harry Potter.

I put too much sauce on my spaghetti. There was a huge swan standing on the canal bank. Our secretary was burnt out today (after less than a month on the job) so I bought her a chocolate ginger bread man. Stephen remembered to take out the garbage when he left for work (before me) this morning. Stephen is still working, and it 20:52. Avocado and tomotao taste wonderful together. Pear shaped women are scientifically healthier than stick-thin rails of women. It's true. Japan isn't all that different from England. There's rain on the horizon. We have no pets. I do not like being a personal assistant. I would never want a personal assistant. There is never enough time to relax, or make good music. I think I'm a better cook than I am. I said I can type 80 words per minute with 88% accuracy on my CV. I think this is a lie. It is really windy. Stephen is half way through Harry Potter. Hair is not about the cut, it's about the style. Italians always speak in Italian. I've got an email! Gotta go.

Ciao.

The Verdict
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
Why is incredulous a mood?

Ok, so we decided to split the stuffed vegetables two last night: onions & mushrooms a and have courgettes & peppers tonight.

The verdict on last night came as clear as a fog horn in the night. Yup, baking an onion and eating it doesn't seem to please our colons.

And the mushroom recipe that I used was pretty bland. It was only parsley, breadcrums, olive oil, and garlic. It really need cheese or the zing of lemon juice, you know, something!

Anyway, tonight's menu should be more palatable.

Stephen's off at work again having his Sunday roast/barbeque.

Nothing else is happening...but we are starting to prepare for our Swedish excursion next weekend to visit my parents. Yay another trip!

Have a relaxing day y'all!

Lame and Lamer
Mood:  spacey
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries
It's a Lame and Lamer Friday here in 31 Dorchester Court. Stephen is sleeping over at work tonight, so what do I do as soon as I've eaten dinner? Embark upon a 3 hour cleaning session, leaving the kitchen & bathroom scrubbed, de-moulded, de-crusted, the carpets up and downstairs vacuumed, and 2 loads of laundry completed.

I thought I would get everything out of the way tonight so I can enjoy the rest of the weekend. Plus it would keep me up until mid-night so I can get the new Harry Potter book. But alas, I am so lame, that cleaning has made me too tired to bother.

I'll just get it tomorrow since Stephen pre-ordered the book months ago.

Not much else to say...I'm planning the week's menu to prepare for the shoppoing tomorrow. I've decided on a theme for Sat. dinner: Stuff It.

This is nothing dirty or lewd, but rather a combination-platter of :

Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed Zucchini (Courgettes in the UK, ok)
Stuffed Red Onions

Does anyone know another other stuffed recipes? Any ideas for a dessert within this theme? Even if you think of something well after tomorrow night, it's alway good to know for future.

Ok culinary wizards or otherwise, I'm pooped.

G'night.