http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php The largest classic literature discussion forum on the Internet. Read Write Teach Share. en Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:56:07 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12227 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:03:08 GMT I have some very strong mixed feelings about this movie. While on the one hand it was a well made, good movie, and while watching it I had enjoyed... I have some very strong mixed feelings about this movie. While on the one hand it was a well made, good movie, and while watching it I had enjoyed elements of it. Generally speaking I enjoy survival type movies. I loved the movie Alice (which was referenced in "The Grey" which I thought was funny since part of the reason I wanted to see the movie was because I hoped it would be a bit like alive).

But one of the things which I struggled with throughout watching the movie was the fact that it reaffirms negative stereotypes against wolves, whom have I think already been greatly vilified, and of which there still exists misconceptions about among many people. The way the movie portrays wolves is almost laughable in how completely inaccurate it was. Making the wolves appear as being nothing more but savage man eating killers. When in actual truth it would be extremely rare for a wolf to attack a man.

I knew from the previews that there would be at least one scene which involved an encounter with a struggle, but I thought it was meant to enhance the action and excitement of the movie. What I did not know was that the entire movie was going to be centered around this pack of wolves marked repeated attacks against this group of people. I have tried to just put my mind in the frame that it was just a movie, and thus need not be taken seriously or factually, but the problem is there are plenty of people who will watch the movie and think wolves really are like that, and take that as confirmation that wolves are dangerous and should be eradicated.

In addition, and even worse than the portrayal of wolves within the film itself is claims that the cast had in fact eaten actual wolf meat during the filming of the movie. It is alleged that the director had ordered wolf meat from local trappers. When I first heard these claims, I remained skeptical at first, and I want to believe they are false, not only because I would find it absolutely horrific if it were true, but also because I want to like Liam Nesson but will not be able to continue to do so if this is true. Liam Nesson was quoted making statements about eating wolf stew, but it is still uncertain if it actually happened or if the remarks were made as a very bad joke. There are conflicting reports upon this point.

According to the Animal Humane Society, they have stated that while none of the wolves used for the filming of the movie itself were harmed, they could not put out a statement in the credits stating that "No Animals Were Harmed During the Making of this Film" because they could not verify for a fact that absolutely no animals were harmed throughout the movie making process. ]]> Dark Muse http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12227 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12223 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:47:09 GMT I have been thinking about the power of words. The written word and the spoken word. We give so much meaning to letters put together to form a word.... I have been thinking about the power of words. The written word and the spoken word. We give so much meaning to letters put together to form a word. Novels and poetry have always been a big part of me and I have had feelings that aren't mine but described in a book, a poem or in a song. I have also been very happy about words said to me or unhappy or upset about words. I judge people by what they say, good or bad cause words can betray you, you say something you didn't plan to say or somebody hears something they weren't supposed to hear.

I don't talk a lot in general but every now and then I talk and talk and talk, until I realize I have said to much and maybe even betrayed myself a bit with what I say. Show to much or show something I didn't know was there.

Sometimes people say something and expect an outcome or reply that is so far from the truth or not realistic in any way. Words can change your mood and affect the rest of your day. I try to remember the four agreements and think that way and I do think it is good but it can be hard and take time, I think most about the one about words, I don't want words to have this power over my feelings. Maybe that is impossible unless your a robot, or a Vulcan.

We quote someone famous or someone who sad something we think is wise or witty. But they are just words that have some power over us.

'The whispering, may hurt you, but the printed word might kill you' ]]> Helga http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12223 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12222 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:03:32 GMT Greetings to all. I know I have been spotty in my appearances here lately. I have had to travel for work four of the last five weeks. Even worse... Greetings to all. I know I have been spotty in my appearances here lately. I have had to travel for work four of the last five weeks. Even worse than not visiting my friends on the internet is missing my beloved little Matthew and my wife. This past trip was for the entire week, which really puts a strain on my wife. What’s strange is that for the past couple of years, I haven’t had to travel much. I think the year before was four trips the entire year, and here I’ve done that many in a little over a month. It’s just a strange confluence of several different things coming together. I’m certainly not looking to travel. And unfortunately it’s not over yet. I have another planned for a couple of days next week, on Valentine’s Day no less. I know, I know, I’m in the doghouse…lol.

Funny thing occurred on the plane going out on this trip. I was sitting on the window seat, a business woman in the middle seat, and a gentleman on the aisle. The two of them had Ipads and they were comparing and then they started taking out their laptops and compared those. I was just reading, but it struck me funny how they were gadget obsessed. And then when the plane landed, the business woman took out her blackberry and started scrolling through her emails, and then took out her iphone and started looking things up. What the heck is all that about? Isn’t one enough but four devices? :lol:

So on my mid week flight (this week was multiple cities) as I’m carrying my briefcase I started asking myself why my briefcase was so darn heavy. Oh, I realized, as I’m scrolling through the emails on my blackberry, it must be my laptop with the Kindle that’s in there and the ipod as well. :lol:

Where the heck is this all taking us? :crash: :wink5: ]]> Virgil http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12222 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12221 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:17:55 GMT So, I haven't done a blog in a while, but I'm going to seek lit-net's advice on a subject. Some of you may know that I've been working part-time on a B.A. since completing my microbiology degree. I've never really liked lab work, and though I love science, I don't love doing science. At first I started studying the arts, political science and literature primarily, as a hobby taking advantage of subsidized education in Quebec.

Now, I will receive my B.A. in April, and on a whim I decided to apply for a M.A., at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Because they have a really good program in 17th-18th century literature, which I have a passion for.

And then today, bizarrely, I got accepted.

Now lit-net I pose a question to you, should I do this?

As I see it:
Pros:
Well there's little going on in my life professionally or of any interest.
I was offered sufficient funding to make this readily affordable for me.
I think it would be a really interesting experience.

Cons:
Little professional benefit to be gained from earning this M.A.
Not sure I'm really committed to this.
Have to relocate to Hamilton from my beloved Montreal. ]]> OrphanPip http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12221 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12219 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:33:45 GMT Why does my life seem to keep repeating itself? It's like a wave, comes and goes. But it leaves a mark on me. Sometimes washes away the hardness. I hate to make the same mistakes people made before me, but I guess I have no choice. Every one has to go through them once. Wish it wasn't so hard to accept that fact.
So, the semester starts again. I'm still loving it, enjoying it, though I feel tired and I'm sure I'm going to make alot more mistakes than last term, it sucks. I want to start over...though I'm not sure it would've ended up difrenetly.
Every term is getting longer and my patience is getting weaker and weaker. I hope that day would never come, the day I start hating my ife for real, the day I fall on my feet and can't find the will and strength to stand up again. But until then my life will continue to repeat itself, just like the waves. ]]> farnoosh http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12219 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12217 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:57:38 GMT When I was a little kid, I had a bag of marbles. We used to play marbles outside in the dirt for hours. Can you imagine kids doing this today? We... When I was a little kid, I had a bag of marbles. We used to play marbles outside in the dirt for hours. Can you imagine kids doing this today? We almost always went outside to play, unless the weather was really bad. I remember one day my friend Bruce Robinson and I climbed up to the top of a couple of young maple trees during a ferocious wind storm. We held on to those thin trees for dear life as the merciless wind buffeted us around. We were both screaming at the top of our lungs in real fear. While it was truly scary, I at least knew that I could've climbed down at any time and been safe. The, "make believe", part of it was that I allowed myself to be petrified with fear at the very thin top of this tree and it was delightfully fun!

Being a kid meant that we could pretend things at the will of our own imaginations. Oh, it was probably not safe climbing to the top of that tree on such a windy day. But I learned how to explore my world through make-believe, at times having tremendous fun. We rationally pressed the envelope of our childhood confinement to learn about the reasonableness of rules and the acceptance of punishment. I was allowed to go out and play in the neighborhood and expected to come home for dinner at the agreed-upon time. I walked to friends houses and I walked home, sometimes after dark. When I was old enough to have a drivers license, I sometimes hitchhiked many miles. It was not uncommon for boys to do this – girls never hitchhiked by themselves – this would have been considered a bad idea. I also knew how to change a flat tire.

Today, kids aren't expected to walk anywhere, unless they have a PDA device held firmly in their hand in front of them – that way they can be in constant contact at all times. In fact, it would be an odd thing to sit quietly by oneself anywhere, ever, that is, without being in textual or voice contact with someone. And if anyone is seen hitchhiking, he is obviously a lowlife felon, to be steered clear of. No normal person has any business opening the hood of an automobile or messing around with a flat tire – it's not safe to be outside your car anywhere, except at known locations, like the mall or a friends house. Besides, cars can be dirty, smelly and greasy underneath. Flat tires and fuel outages or other nonperformance of one's vehicle is strictly the business of AAA.

A while back we went to see, "Final Destination 5", in 3-D at the IMAX theater in our town. As soon as I got the nice, black plastic, 3-D glasses on, I was ducking the movie titles, breathing hard through the previews as the letters making up the words on the screen came ripping past my head in alarming clarity – I was sure that blood spattered on me a couple of times during the show.

With maturity, I'll admit to a certain amount of hearing loss (my wife says it's a very particularly selective loss, pertaining mostly to her) and I find myself sometimes wondering what people are saying, in a room with normal conversation going on. Technically – sensor failure has provided my brain with poorer quality data. The mind adapts to this loss of signal efficiency by working harder to process the input data. It's amazing what my mind comes up with during the first pass – when someone says something to you, you need some kind of a response in a timely fashion. Often, a half a minute later, my brain will jog me with the obviously correct answer, after it has reprocessed the poor quality data, relative to the current context.

But, back in the theater, as soon as this surroundsound audio came on, I wished I had worn some of those little yellow earplugs – the foam ones you scrunch up, and then they expand inside your ear canal. I remembered then how I had thought the same thing the last time we came to the movies. Did I mention, that it also seems as though I might have a bit of memory loss? No? Well I do think that some earplugs might preserve what I've got left in the hearing department. Incidentally, I remember as a young guy, noticing my buddy, rolling those little yellow cylinders up at a rock concert – he was protecting his hearing back then. "What a dweeb", I thought, "we're at a Dead Show, for Christ's sake – turn it up, oh, and give me a toke on that!" And by the way, that friend can hear pretty well today. And come to think of it, I think his memory's pretty good too.

Anyway, that's the thing – I feel somewhat obsolete these days. I mean, if anyone's actually reading this, they might not know what I mean by, Dead Show. The Grateful Dead was something, an institution, they weren't really, "rock 'n roll". They weren't even that well known or, super popular – but the notion of the Grateful Dead is a thing that has gone past, like the stagecoach or the telegram. These things were a big part of the lives of some of the folks that lived during that time. So what, right? It's just funny, being a guy that lived in a time when, for example, there was no way to rent a movie, no way at all (I mean even before VHS tapes).

Both of my parents and my first wife have passed on. All my aunts and uncles – dead. All those people, everything they knew, felt and remembered, gone forever. It's almost like a dream to me. The only vestige is my two wonderful children – they are evidence that that past life existed. It's like I'm walking along the mountain top and it's getting narrower and narrower as I proceed. Don't get me wrong, I really love being alive. More than ever, in fact. Sometimes I get pretty down; I have some baggage, some physical detriment you might say, which makes living life these days something that requires more planning, help from other people and even some specialized equipment! It's a funny thing: my spontaneity and invincibility have declined and my aches and pains and fatigue are on the rise, but life is more valuable today than ever. I suppose it's no different than a kid with a pocket full of quarters at the arcade – at first he's willing to play nearly any kind of game – maybe even involving other people, however, the emptier his pocket grows, the more wisely he considers on his continuing purchases.

Even odder, the warning and advice given me by my now passed elders is more commonly to be heard, echoing back just behind conscious thought. "Save your money boy…", I hear my father say – the ticket for the movie I was talking about was $14, in the afternoon, with the senior citizen discount! You can bet I heard old dad, rest his soul, I could imagine his eyes bugging out at the incredulity of my spending that much money on something that would've cost him a nickel. I heed! ]]> Captain Pike http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12217 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12215 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:53:42 GMT I have this friend (I know that right there is shocking) and though we have known each other for a very long time, we have always had something of an... I have this friend (I know that right there is shocking) and though we have known each other for a very long time, we have always had something of an on again off again friendship, (not meaning that in a negative way) we never had falling outs or anything of that nature, but he would get busy with life and for long periods of time drop off the face of the earth and periodically pop back up again. So we never really got that intimately close and always have had more of a casual friendship, but he was always really cool and we would joke around with each other a lot.

He knew what kind of sense of humor I have and he was aware of my misanthropic tendencies, and my cynical and pessimistic views on the state of mankind, and he was never the sort to be bothered by such things, in fact in some instances he even agreed with some of my onions. I even told him about my long standing desire to own a human skull (yes it is true) and he did not even flinch at that. So he knew me well enough to know about my quirks, eccentricities, and craziness, but never was the type to be overly sensitive or take offence easily or be phased by my macabreness .

He made another one of his reappearances this evening, and we were chatting for a while, and the last time we spoke he had just recently gotten married, so he told me they just had a baby. Now I never know how to react when people tell me that, I know that to most people it is a good thing but to me it is not. When my sister told me she was pregnant for the first time my response was...uh...oh...sooo is that a good thing? (with a look of bafflement on my face.) But I congratulated him, and just so happened to mention my own personal aversion to children. Now I was speaking in purely general terms in which I specifically said I myself have no desire to reproduce. I was not criticizing him for having kids, or saying anything personally against him or his kid. I was just speaking my truthful opinion on the subject of children in general just as I would always do.

Knowing me as he does, a) he should not have been surprised by me making such a comment and b) I would never have taken him for the sort that would take something like that personally.

But he seemed put off by my saying that. Though he did not actually say anything on the subject it was just a vibe a felt like there was some sudden awkwardness about my saying it, and maybe I misinterpreted his response, but my making that comment had brought all further conversation into a sudden halt. ]]> Dark Muse http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12215 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12213 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:54:33 GMT I am not a worrier, I don't sit around thinking and worrying about something that might not happen. I deal with things when they come, like my mom has financial worries about me when I don't, she needs to worry, it's what she does.

I was studying with a few girls today, when I arrived one was already there and she asked me if it was OK to move the theater trip to tomorrow, we have to see a play for school, I called my mom and asked if she could babysit tomorrow and that was OK. Then this girl asked if I wanted to come to a museum night downtown on Friday. One girl in the group will be dancing in a show so we are going to see that and then all the museums are open 'till midnight and we are gonna go get dinner and drinks and walk around. Now this is OK, my brother already invited my son to sleepover at his house on Friday, his son has spent a few nights here. They love it. Now I start thinking what I am going out twice! I can't do that can I?

I don't worry but I can't stop feeling nervous about this for some reason. anxious might be a better term since I have had problems with anxiety in the past.

When I was 18 I quit school because of depression and anxiety, I just couldn't handle the pressure. I tried a bunch of different therapies and drugs and when I found out I was pregnant I quit everything cold turkey, now that is not a good idea. I can handle it better now and I know I don't to go back to a therapist or anything like that but it still lingers a bit in my head and comes out at moments like this when I have to leave my 'comfort zone'.

I'm not gonna let it stop me from going since on Friday I would be alone anyway but tomorrow night that was like wow, leave home two nights this week. A few of the girls are going to see another show on Sunday and asked if I wanted to go with them but I said no, I think that it's enough to go out twice.

Another part of this is (like I say in the title) I am not used to people wanting my company. I am usually the one seeking it, not many call me and ask me to do something. I am usually the last one to find things out because I don't have a facebook page but they still make the effort to let me know and that is kinda cool but also I don't know I don't have words to describe what is wrong in my head.

I overthink, that is my problem. ]]> Helga http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12213 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12206 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:17:10 GMT Another typical Saturday at the Dog Park, until about 3:30. The parking lot was full and if you were lucky you got a space as someone was leaving, if... Another typical Saturday at the Dog Park, until about 3:30. The parking lot was full and if you were lucky you got a space as someone was leaving, if not you parked on the road or across in the other lot. A gentleman lucked out and pulled into a spot that had opened down in front. He was driving a Subaru SUV with a bike rack and bike on the back and the head of a young white lab peering out the window. He stepped out wearing knee length short and what looked like support hose, tennis shoes and a tee-shirt with a sweat stain streaked down his back. He released pup from the vehicle and proceeded to the Daily box. I noticed no tags so I approached this silver rumpled hair man.
“Good afternoon, Sir. Do you have a rabies tag for your dog?”
“No” was his short reply as he pulled $5.00 out of his wallet.
“Without proof of a rabies vaccine I can not let your pup enter the park.”
“I’ve been here a thousand times and today just because you are here I can not come in?”
“Yes Sir. That is correct, without a rabies tag your dog can not use the park. Those are the rules” I replied as I pointed to the large and highly visible sign next to the entrance gate.
“That is not fair….” And the grumbling went on as I noticed a large well detailed black pickup truck backing down the lot, stopping just a few feet shy of where I was having this conversation. As he spun and huffily walked away tugging his dog behind him a gentleman got out of the truck and walked over to get a park permit and some information. He started to ask a few questions about the park. Then it happened. The man in the Subaru started backing out and directly into the side of the still running black truck. There was a crunch noise and then he pulled slightly forward.

Let’s call the man in the Subaru John and the one in the black truck Bill. John got out of the car and Bill walked over and they both surveyed the damage which was a scratch in the tinted glass of the extended cab and a dent/scratch in the door. John throws his hands up in the air and says
“Everything is good, right?”
“No! Everything is not good. My truck is scratched and dented.”
John proceeds to moisten his fingers and tried to wipe the scratch away and with this Bill said,
“Hey man, don’t touch my truck! Get me your insurance information and I will get mine.”
“You should not have parked your car in the middle of the lot.”
“It isn’t parked, it is still running. I was just stopping to get some information on the park and you should have been looking where you were going. What if someone with their dog was leaving the park? You gonna run over them? Just admit you made a mistake and get your insurance.”

John got back into his car and pulled into the space, then got out and wanted to argue with Bill about how he left his truck.
Bill just wanted John’s insurance info and asked for it three times with John just walking back and forth to his car. At one point Bill said,
“Look you are older then me and acting like a child. You made an error and we have an accident and all that needs to be done is for you to get me your insurance.”
“Well I want your information too.” John’s voice was growing louder.
“I’ll get it as soon as you give me yours.”
“You get yours first!”

Oh boy, I sighed.
I figured it was time for me to step in.
“OK. I will stand here and both of you go at the same time and get your information.”
Bill walked over, opened the door and took out his information. John walked to his car and stood there.
“Well, here is my information where is yours?” Bill pressed John. John said nothing.
“Do I have to call the police to get this resolved?” Bill asked.
“Yes, go ahead and call the police cuz you should not have been parked there.”
“My car is running and you should have been looking where you were going.”
With this John got into his car and Bill called the police.

Meanwhile John’s pup was eyeing the dog park probably having to take a pee and I was keeping an eye on both of them and the incoming dogs.

Bill kept walking up to me and asking
“Do you believe this guy? We could have been gone 15 minutes ago. Do you think he is behaving immaturely?”

John stepped out of his car and walked over to Bill and me and handed him a slip of paper with his insurance information, turned and then proceeded to get in his car and started to back out.
“Hey! Where are you going? The police are on their way.” Bill yelled as he raced up to John’s car. John put the car in park and got out.
“What do you mean the police are coming?”
“You and I both agreed to call the police. If you leave now you are leaving the scene of an accident. Is this your way of admitting you were wrong in backing into my truck and not paying attention?”
Without a word, John got back in his car and proceeded to back out.
“Bill, you might want to get his license tag number in case he gave you bad info.” I suggested.
Bill pulled out his iphone to take a picture of the rear plate but it was blocked by the bike and bike rack so he ran around to the front of the car. John started to hurry off and hit his breaks yelling out the window.
“I am trying to get your license plate number!” Bill yelled as he jumped out of the car’s way. He also got a picture of John yelling out the window at him as he left.

The ending is not all that dramatic; hell I didn’t even get to use my tasser! But the police did show up, verified that the information that John had given Bill was accurate and gave him a police report for his insurance company.

Bill shook my hand and left.

Wow….just cuz I wouldn’t leave a dog into the park!'

Kittypaws ]]> kittypaws http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12206 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12205 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:46:37 GMT Or should that not be Yuki - yuki? Yuki - snow? Snow - yuki?
It's snowing. We've been waiting for the snow since Christmas when we held off on getting her spayed in case it snowed. As you know Yuki is a husky, a snow dog. And the chances of her getting to even see snow round here is rare. This is the first time we've had snow since we got her. We're going to take her out now to introduce her to her namesake. Yuki, as you already know, means snow. I've no doubt she's already seen snow before but that was before we renamed her.
Yuki yuki yuki. Snow snow snow. We have to go.

UPDATE

We took her out in the snow, all 3 of us together. Yuki was going crazy and running ahead and generally just looking happy. She's been a bit funny lately.

Monday and Tuesday she was good. She ate all her food when I put it down for her and was very good when I put her ear drops in. Then on Wednesday she changed. She doesn't eat all her food and she complained when I tried to put her drops in.

She generally looks unhappy and makes groaning noises for no apparent reason. We've been wondering if she's coming into season again since she did that last time. We also keep wondering if it's possible she could be pregnant since she was violated by another dog a few weeks ago but surely not. It's impossible right? Sometimes when I look at her she looks fatter. Then again it's probably just her winter coat. Maybe she just has a hairball or some kind of blockage. or maybe she's just fine.

She was very happy in the snow. She ran around, got covered in snow (it was still falling) and kept shaking it off. She was sniffing and jumping around leaving lovely, scuffed pawprints. We went around the big park and just so she could enjoy it longer we went to the little park too, shut the gates and let her run around. She loved it, but she wanted to leave earlier than we expected so we put her lead back on and continued the walk.

I was quite snug, I dressed in layers. A pair of socks, thermal leggings, Boot socks, a t-shirt, Wellington boots, my regular trousers, cat hat, furry hoodie, my coat, gloves and a scarf. My coat isn't waterproof and the snow stuck to me (as snow does), melted and partially re-froze and made a crunching sound when I moved my arms.

When it was deathly quiet we could hear the snow as it fell and see the shadows of the falling snow under the street lights. Snow always looks amazing when it's freshly fallen. I love having the honour of being the first person to set foot on freshly fallen snow but I feel a little guilty for ruining it. Also, despite the fact that it's cloudy outside it's light enough to see, like very early morning. The sky at night is the same colour as the snow at night. I like that.

I should end it here before it gets too long.

Bluebiird out. ]]> Bluebiird http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12205 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12204 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:03:21 GMT It's almost noon. My boy and I watched 'The GhostbustersII' last night and had a lot of fun, wanna see number one again... went to bed late (for the kid) but happy after a fun movie night. Then at about 4 am he woke up burning with fever and a headache and just sick. He didn't want to sleep in his bed and not in mine so he went into the living room and slept on the couch, it's a bit chillier in there. now he is in his bed watching Tom and Jerry (all kids love them!) still hot as hell. We had planned to get a haircut today and then go visit his grandma and take my brothers son home for a playdate but not today, hopefully he'll feel better tomorrow.

It's good he is sick on a Saturday though, I hate missing out on school.

I am reading 'The Antelope Wife' for school now, very interesting, it's an interesting course I am taking, myths in modern literature, it's to bad the teacher is just OK. She seems to expect the students to have the same education and background as hers. I know Ovid and Greek mythology pretty well so reading 'Last World' by Ransmayr was fun but I know nothing about native-american myths or anything like that but she kinda assumes we do and says things like. 'like you all know...' and everybody is like 'what?' but the books are interesting and I have enjoyed them so far, I just need to google the myths.

Well I should go do something for my boy, don't know what though.... ]]> Helga http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12204 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12203 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:41:08 GMT 1607 L'Orfeo- Monteverdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9J9v...eature=related
1642 The Coronation of Poppea- Monteverdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb9nCKAQVyA
1638 Miserere- Allegri
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x71jgMx0Mxc
1694 Canon in D- Pachelbel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZHw9uyj81g
1707 Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor- Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1z12_Ps-gk
1717 Prelude to Cello Suite 1- Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_QR_FTt3E
1718 Air on the G String- Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOVwokQnV4M
1719 Double Violin Concerto- Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vesrqFeq9rU
1723 The Four Seasons- Vivaldi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSw7CcAXPWk
1723 Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring- Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwWL8Y-qsJg
1725 Badinerie- Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxwuirUX-M
1748 Zais Ouverture- Rameau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQHRu5wG6RI
1754 Halleluah Chorus- Handel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI
1771 Minuet- Boccherini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSE15tLBdso
1773 Symphony 25- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lC1lRz5Z_s
1780 Night Music of the Streets of Madrid- Boccherini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5pnr53S_qc
1783 Rondo Alla Turca- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCSevzJQ2-Y
1784 The Marriage of Figaro- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcuXkicCTro
1785 The Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtTqpqGIIYU
1785 Piano Concerto No 21- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-eLzao63I
1787 Don Giovanni- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK1_vm0FMAU
1787 A Little Night Music- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb_jQBgzU-I
1788 Symphony 40- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZD9nt_wsY0
1788 Jupiter Symphony- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehqc17iiBBU
1791 The Magic Flute- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ODfuMMyss
1791 Requiem- Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swkT07TP-mo
1798 Romance for Violin and Orchestra 2- Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64KW04601ts
1801 Moonlight Sonata- Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQVeaIHWWck
1804 Symphony 3- Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFltqVS8d9I
1808 Symphony 5- Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcR1ZS2hVo
1808 Symphony 6- Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbFxVVLM2zc
1808 Clarinet Concerto 1- Spohr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVcyRizubIc
1810 Fur Elise- Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQTTFUtMSvQ
1816 The Barber of Seville- Rossini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OloXRhesab0
1817 The Thieving Magpie- Rossini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSrLDHDQ2eo
1824 Symphony 9- Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAOTCtW9v0M
1825 Ave Maria- Schubert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bosouX_d8Y
1827 Piano Trio No 2- Schubert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQy-cgUYA6g
1829 William Tell Overture- Rossini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkymTHSbWe0
1834 Fantasie Impromptu- Chopin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvm2ZsRv3C8
1841 Spring Song- Mendelssohn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mz5Rtx-Eu0
1843 Wedding March- Mendelssohn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDr8Q7lDW8o
1843 Tannhauser Overture- Wagner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDwiYOCnuao
1843 The Flying Dutchman- Wagner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJtrXqRu9K8
1844 Ach So Fromm- Flotow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is1gMLBW_bY
1845 Carmen- Bizet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axvhEUyVfX0
1847 Hungarian Rhapsody 2- Liszt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goeOUTRy2es
1848 La Traviata- Verdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcKdnkGBSgA
1851 Rigoletto- Verdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYRZOEzoOgQ
1853 Anvil Chorus- Verdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXFZckzjcKw
1856 Ride of the Valkyries- Wagner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxU
1864 Barcarolle- Offenbach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7czptgEvvU
1866 The Bartered Bride Overture- Smetana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVTutjfb22s
1866 The Blue Danube- Strauss II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTqlLKBKFhg
1869 Hungarian Dance 5- Brahms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X9LvC9WkkQ
1871 Grand March- Verdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUv-G8TzkMc
1872 Danse Macabre- Saint-Saens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyknBTm_YyM
1874 Dies Irae- Verdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDbMzp86tOc
1874 Pictures at an Exhibition- Mussorgsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_98452AxFI
1876 Swan Lake-Tchaikovsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S76CGGPqI3s
1876 March Slave- Tchaikovsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5poSw7tFLB4
1876 Peer Gynt- Grieg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEXAruiTSjk
1879 Eugene Onegin: Polonais- Tchaikovsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19lJZGzOeEg
1880 Romeo and Juliet- Tchaikovsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmwMkMJlcfA
1880 1812 Overture- Tchaikovsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNatwyAJ6dI
1883 Flower Duet- Delibes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qx2lMaMsl8
1886 Night on Bald Mountain- Mussorgsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0h6H_vcSKc
1886 Carnival of the Animals- Saint-Saens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsD0FDLOKGA
1887 Pavane- Faure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpgyTl8yqbw
1887 Polovtsian Dances- Borodin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8C8frqCKKg
1890 The Sleeping Beauty- Tchaikovsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sU4mgkGtrs
1890 Intermezzo- Mascagni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CVyf13B1vE
1890 Clare de Lune- Debussy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o
1892 Vesti La Giubba- Leoncavalo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8WOKsdHuc4
1892 The Nutcracker- Tchaikovsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1dMpu4v7M
1893 Symphony 9- Dvorak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctfXIqugXc
1894 Meditation- Massenet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObxzdawhM-8
1896 Sunrise- Strauss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmuNxYLxTs
1899 Flight of the Bumblebee- Rimsky-Korsakov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXHd-ZLN_ew
1899 Enigma Variations- Elgar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgoBb8m1eE
1901 Pomp and Circumstance- Elgar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moL4MkJ-aLk
1901 Prelude in G minor- Rachmaninoff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QB7ugJnHgs
1904 Un Bel Di- Puccini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpW8Jvl9low
1916 The Planets- Holst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B49N46I39Y
1917 Dream of Doretta- Puccini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3PtVRWNYus
1918 O Mio Babbino Caro- Puccini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxy4qrnKwVo
1920 The Lark Ascending- Vaughan Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKz6XJlI_jk
1924 Rhapsody in Blue- Gershwin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK_ShoOL2ao
1926 Nessun Dorma- Puccini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOfC9LfR3PI
1928 Bolero- Ravel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-4J5j74VPw
1932 Suite For Jazz Orchestra 2- Shostakovich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYhZVqODYsI
1934 Rhapsody on a Theme By Paganini- Rachmaninoff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Z-HCq5EeU
1934 Troika- Prokofiev
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hINfOSlMANc
1935 Dance of the Knights- Prokofiev
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUmq1cpcglQ
1936 Carmina Burana- Orff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNWpZ-Y_KvU
1936 Adagio For Strings- Barber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMz8fKkG2g
1939 Concerto De Aranjuez- Rodrigo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9DOtuPLqNI
1940 Violin Concerto- Khachaturian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZexcMRKVMkk
1940 Comedians Gallop- Kabalevsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw0oQ4sD4us
1942 Rodeo- Copland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqah1rucyRg
1942 Fanfare for the Common Man- Copland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzf0rvQa4Mc
1942 Sabre Dance- Khachaturian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg3l3r_DRI
1947 Petrushka- Stravinsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkg_l...eature=related
1952 Blue Tango- Anderson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQRIL4q7IPw
1956 Candide Overture- Bernstein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422-yb8TXj8
1966 The Ecstasy of Gold- Morricone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV0wPBYDQ6Y
1975 Einstein on the Beach- Glass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmX_GgozpQs
1976 Symphony of Sorrowful Songs- Gorecki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miLV0o4AhE4 ]]> mortalterror http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12203 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12202 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:20:19 GMT Sorry, couldn't think of a better title. Haven't blogged for a while. I'm trying not to keep quiet for too long. Writing about things, even meaningless things proves they actually happened. (Sometimes, when I'm feeling a little out of touch with reality I wonder if my memories are real. Supposing technology existed to create memories that never happened, like in Total Recall for example. How would you know the difference? I think about these kinds of things a lot. These kind of questions make me wonder if I'm normal. I bet other people don't think about these things....)

I could ramble on about that since I'm in that kind of mood but I won't. I started this entry with a goal of some kind.... Typing is hard. I've let my nails grow too long. When I reach a point that everyday things are a little tricky or uncomfortable it's time to cut them. Anyway.

I've taken the second step towards a new hobby. The first step being me finding out about the hobby via interesting youtube videos, a little research on the matter and video tutorials. A couple of days ago I got all the supplies I needed. Today I made my very first lump of cold porcelain. Yay.

I spend a lot of time drifting from one interesting, crafty hobby that I can sit down for to another. Sometimes I wonder if the next thing I try will be something I have a natural talent at. People do seem to have natural talents for things. I'm jealous of that. But I know that very few people are lucky enough to be good at something without trying.

I can make lots of origami things. Admittedly none are my own design and if I don't do a particular design for a while I need a reminder, but I can do them.

I can make pretty cards from limited resources (most of what I have is poorly made merchandise from Tesco). Okay so It's not amazing. Better than a complete beginner though.

I can knit. I've knitted scarves of my own design. I've made a hat, a baby jumper and almost made a full baby body suit, I've made socks, 2 little toys, admittedly these are all from patterns but I still made them.
I can also do basic crochet and amigurumi. I've made two unique designs for that. I made a clumsy stuffed pig named potato and I made an apple (It's a bad apple from the song Bad Apple).

I can cook to some degree. I love adding a little mixed herbs and spices to things to give them flavour.

I can sew. Only basic sewing but if something rips I can sew it up.

I can also do cross stitching, haven't done it for a while though.

I can stray off topic for no reason. Sorry. Sometimes I need a little self validation to remind me of what I can do. So it's not important. It's not going to change the world. I don't care. I can do it and not everyone can. It's not a matter of them not being able, it's because they do other things and that's okay too. I can't do everything that everyone else does.

Anyway. What else did I set out to say? Ah.

Mum's birthday didn't exactly go as I planned when I mentioned it a few blogs ago. I'd planned to go out and buy some new, better, card making supplies but in the end I didn't want to go outside. So I ordered the book on Amazon for next day delivery. On her birthday I went round the corner to buy some cream, strawberries and a sponge cake. Since we didn't shop that weekend and mum did it during the week I couldn't get that cream I was after. If I asked her to get it she'd get suspicious and I hadn't seen it since Christmas finished. I planned to make her a strawberry roll cake instead. We had sponge mix already. I got the cake as a backup in case things went wrong.

I could only get light whipped cream for the filling and that goes runny pretty much as soon as it's out of the can. The roll cake came out burnt in 2 corners and a little too stiff anyway, although I still tried to make it work. The cream melted into the sponge and made it soggy.

I iced the shop bought sponge with white chocolate and topped it with 6 evenly sized strawberries (I cut them to size). I was going for the kind of cake I see a lot in anime, covered with cream and topped with a ring of strawberries (check out cooking with dog. The Christmas cake video on youtube for a perfect example of what I mean). I was going for a simple design that slightly resembled that. I even perfected something I failed to do last year. Put a little chocolate tablet in the middle with HAPPY BIRTHDAY on it. I was very proud of it.

I hate going backwards, especially when I think that something I've done wasn't good enough. Last year's birthday cake was a mess. I didn't want to repeat it. That's why I iced the cake with some old cooking chocolate that was still good, because I suck at making good icing with icing sugar, and we didn't have any icing sugar.

Since I've been doing this for a few years now, doing it because I can isn't good enough anymore. Appreciation because even though it looks kind of crummy you know I tried hard with it, even though it didn't turn out like I wanted, isn't good enough. It has to look at least slightly appetising. It can't just look like love and little skill has gone into it. There has to be skill. It has to look almost shop bought but maybe not quite. It has to be somewhere between my previous failures and professional quality because if it doesn't then there's not much point me trying to decorate it now is there.

That's why I worked hard on both cakes but the sponge more so (after the roll cake collapsed). The roll cake failure is disappointing but forgivable since it was my first time making it. Decorating a plain shop bought sponge cake is a different matter. Like I said, I've been doing that for a few years now. Failure is not an option.

But. Enough about cake.

I made her a card. I spent the whole day on it. The card was similar to the cake. It had to be better than previous ones. The day before her birthday I was trawling through tutorials but I either lacked the skill or supplies to make them. Eventually I got hooked on basic pop up techniques. I found a tutorial that made me remember I used to make basic pop ups when I was little, at one point I was rather obsessed with it. (You know when you make 2 snips in a folded sheet of paper and invert the fold?) I played around with that for a while and eventually designed a pop up mug. It was actually too big to fit inside the card so I stuck extra bits of card to the front in a pretty frame shape but left the back uneven since that didn't matter. I made a top and a bottom for the mug and added a handle to it. Then I used some extra card and put happy birthday on it in fun sticky letters. I stuck on a tab and put it inside the mug so when you pulled the tab the happy birthday message came up. It was quite rough and didn't work as well as it did when I first made it but it was pretty good.

For mum's birthday, about a week or 2 before she suspected her friend was up to something because people kept saying happy birthday for last week. Despite the fact that it was the wrong date, generally people don't know when her birthday is. Like with me, people don't ask so I don't mention it. A few days before the day I got a strange email. I don't log onto Facebook. I don't like it. I feel awkward using it. But I get email notifications for messages and friend requests and such. I don't respond. Providing the message is small enough I can read it in the email notification.

So. I got a message from someone claiming to be mum's friend's son. I didn't doubt it. When I was working there he was having a baby girl and I knitted my first clothes for her (a furry white hat with a Hello Kitty face and a furry white jumper to match. This is because when I heard about the baby I gave her a nickname, like I do with all babies I hear of from and/or relating to the few people I know of (In this case it was mum's friend's third grandchild but that son's first baby. Mum told me how he was so excited about it when they found out the gender but when he told his father that it was a girl the father was uninterested and that upset him so I vowed to myself to make the baby a pretty present. I had a little hobby at the time of imagining what kind of hats I'd like to knit for certain babies. Mainly things like a frog, a ducky, a bear or a bunny.) For some reason I nicknamed this baby Kitty, after Hello Kitty, or Kitty-chan). Recently he had a baby boy (I call him Snow bear) too but I didn't knit anything this time because it was too close to Christmas. (When we were going to see the family last Summer (though it was actually Autumn but let's not get into that) I made 2 congratulations cards, one for a boy and one for a girl, since I didn't know Usa-chan was a girl then, but I never used them because there was no one to give them to. Annoying. I worked hard on them too. Mum told me that her friend was expecting another grandson so we could use the boy card for that. When he was born we bought a cute little coat (it's kind of like Chi-chan's full body bunny suit I was making, except a professional job and it was fleecy, not knitted) with little bear ears on the hood (exactly like the one we bought Chi-chan last Christmas only this one was either white or pale blue, can't remember now, and Chi's was brown.) They sent us pictures of him in the coat in an email saying thank you, especially since it was cold (they also sent a thank you email about 2 years ago for what we gave Kitty-chan.) That's why I call the baby Snow bear, because of the bear coat. Anyway. Unnecessary back story there. Basically I know of this person reasonably well but I don't know him personally, I've never met him (although he was in a few pictures holding Snow bear).

He said that his mother had asked him to ask me what perfume mum liked. Not wanting to log onto facebook just for this I questioned mum on her current perfume (I know her favourite but we haven't been able to get it for a while) she was a little suspicious but didn't have a clue as to my purpose. I looked through the Boots website to make sure I was recommending the right one and check the spelling and availability and discovered that mum's favourite is available again.

I wrote a short yet surprisingly formal letter listing the 3 most recent choices and describing the third one as "The Holy Grail of sorts" because it was mum's favourite. I sealed it in an envelope and instructed mum to hand it to her friend as soon as she got to work.

They got her favourite one. I didn't tell her that it still existed so she'd be surprised if they got it for her, which they did. She wears that one to work now. It's long lasting but not overpowering like some others she's tried.

Mum stopped off in Tesco during that week to get assorted cupcakes and things to take into work. She wouldn't normally do that on her birthday but since people knew of it this year there'd be a little spread for everyone. I was annoyed with her. Why should she take in cupcakes for her own birthday? Shouldn't they supply the cupcakes? And what if they weren't really planning anything? She'd look like an idiot. I already think they take her for granted. That's one of the reasons I never want to work in an office again but maybe I'll complain about that later.

When I was in primary school (I'm not going to explain primary school to those of you with different education systems. I advise Wkipedia or something. I had to look up the American grading system to understand what people kept going on about in American films and sitcoms "I did this in 5th grade which is clearly advanced for someone of that age" but means squat to me so I don't get the joke). So, Primary School. Whenever a student had a birthday it was a custom that they take in a bag of sweets and stand at the door as everyone leaves to give them a sweet. I never quite understood this. Firstly, if they didn't know when my birthday was why should I give them sweets? (I've never had many friends, even then, which explains a lot about me now) It's not like I had a close bond with any of them or anything. It almost felt like bribery I guess. Although, I never had such objections when other children had a birthday and brought in sweets so I never complained about it.

Naturally you don't do such things in Secondary school and since I had no friends my birthday slipped into obscurity. I thought the world of work would be like that too, which is why mum taking in sweets for her own birthday annoyed me. To make matters worse she went about it all wrong. She didn't go for the cheap cupcakes. Oh no. Quite the opposite. She also got an assorted box of Krispy Kremes which, thankfully, she decided not to take. Unfortunately that meant I had to eat them. I've been trying not to eat so many sweets, especially after the Christmas indulgences.

If you're going to take in cakes for a bunch of people you work with but don't really know on any great level and you're not trying to show off by taking in home baked goods, or show off how rich you are by buying expensive goods, or buy people's affection so they'll like you more, then assorted cheap cupcakes are best. A 12 pack or 3 of cheap, simple fairy cakes with a little icing are much more appropriate at least, that's what I think. Then again I hated my work colleagues and pretty much everyone else in the office. Also these kinds of things are usually done during or after lunch, meaning they wouldn't want something too filling. Well. It worked out well anyway. All that was left was a tub of mini muffins. I still think it's stupid that she took in cakes for her own birthday though, she barely speaks to half the people in the office (since most of the people she did know have been let go or moved on and her office merged into another one full of people who were mainly strangers, and mostly men so she doesn't have much to converse with them about).

Anyway. They gave her a card signed by everyone (the usual thing you'd expect in an office) a big pink bouquet of 14 day or so flowers (from a florist. Sprinkled with glitter. A little tacky. Flowers are beautiful as they are. They don't need glitter.) and her perfume I recomended. They also gave her a box of Belgian chocolates and Quality Street.

Overall she was pleased with everything so that's all that really matters.

Ah. I didn't mean to go on for so long. This was only meant to be half a page to a page and only for half an hour, not an hour and a half.

Oh Blue, you talk far too much. No wonder people don't want to read it...well, I guess they wouldn't. I wouldn't.

Like I said. My blog is mainly for me, as proof that what's happened has happened.

A very tired Bluebiird out.

Egad. 6 and a half pages :eek: ]]> Bluebiird http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12202 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12201 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:24:31 GMT The snow is all gone now, it has been raining for two or three days straight. I love the rain, right now I am sitting in my living room listening to... The snow is all gone now, it has been raining for two or three days straight. I love the rain, right now I am sitting in my living room listening to Maladjusted and the rain and wind are banging the window. I have a nice cup of tea I bought today and thinking about reading a bit.

I feel so rich this month I decided to buy whatever I wanted at the store today, the only thing I could think of was a new brand of tea....I think that is kinda lame. I did go to the bookstore to check out a book I want to read but they didn't have it, I might go to another store tomorrow. but the tea is good.

When people think of a single mom they tend to get a certain image. A poor,overworked, lonely woman, and just someone who needs every excuse to complain. That is what people seem to expect of me here on the ice anyway. I don't get it, my mom says I'm not like most single moms but I don't think so, people tend to focus on the negative and the moms who complain seem to be a stereotype. I think people in general act like idiots when it comes to money, at least they do here on the ice. They complain about not having enough to buy food for their kids but they are wearing designer clothes and have the most expensive phones on the market and so many NEED a ipad. I don't feel poor at all but I know I am very cheap and rarely buy things I don't need (except when it comes to books and coffee).

My son is in a bookclub and he loves it. He gets a new book in the mail every month and we read them together, he probably has about 50 books and he is not even 6 years old. Most of the boys around him have computers and he tells me about all the computer games they play. Six year old kids playing computer games about killing zombies, that is not OK in my opinion!

I know I'm not perfect, I watched LOTR with him but he wasn't scared or anything like that, I may have mentioned this before but the only tv thing that he has been afraid of and had nightmares about is the Simpsons. He saw a treehouse of horror episode and was really scared but the main thing is that the dad is always trying to choke his son. that is not nice. we are gonna watch 'Ghostbusters II' tomorrow, when we watch movies like this I narrate the whole thing so maybe that makes it not so scary.

I'm gonna take my boy to get a haircut next Saturday, he asked me if he 'could get hair like Morrissey, not like when he was young but like it is now'! of course, that would be very cool

I guess I have said enough about nothing for now, gonna go read. ]]> Helga http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12201 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12200 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:52:29 GMT I got a few pm's after my last blog. Some didn't want to comment here and that's fine I welcome any communication. I have just been thinking about this 'self image' a bit and I know I over think everything. It's odd how the human being can be and act, I don't have low self-esteem,at least I don't think so, I like myself for the most part. I know what in my behavior I should fix (at least a few things) and I take small steps in doing just that. Like meeting girls at school was a pretty big step for me, I even talked to a guy in my class the other day! WOW I know! I go over the things I say and regret some but am pleased about others, I know I shouldn't do that and it's not like I sit and think about it all day or anything like that I just go over it. They must like me cause they invite me to go with them to get coffee and things like that

The human mind is very complex and sometimes you just get tired of how complex your thoughts are.
The best part about litnet is you can follow conversations and never interact. I do that a lot, like in general lit, I really enjoy everything that goes on there even though I rarely comment.I like being a fly on the wall you notice only if it buzzes around your head.

I know my son is a funny kid and I do enjoy his wit, but this morning he woke up before 6 cause he was so excited to see my bother for dinner because he is leaving for Italy tomorrow. He drew them a map from their house to Italy so they would know how to get there. He drew Italy like a boot (it does look like a boot!) and he drew them very small in Italy eating ice cream and candy floss. I am very tired now cause I got up so early.

I'm gonna go read Aristofanes before I go to bed. ]]> Helga http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=12200