Imaginary Gardens

Sickle's Random Tid-Bits:

• I finally watched an episode of Battlestar Galactica, which I've been meaning to watch in full for ages. Obviously it was a Mark Sheppard episode - 3x18, "The Son Also Rises" - and he was basically the reason I watched it. And, it turns out, the only reason I liked it.
  
  Sure, I was jumping smack in the middle of the third season with only a basic knowledge of the whole series' storyline, but I didn't enjoy it because I got lost. And it wasn't because I didn't feel for the characters, because I did, for some, even without knowing their life history. I don't know, I think it was just all the politics and intrigue and all that type of happenings that made me not like it, because I've figured out that that is just not my genre. Thrillers and spies and politics - even if they are in space! - just isn't my thing.
  
  But that said, it really is a good show. Good pacing, good look, excellent writing. And by that I mean I absolutely adored all of Romo Lampkin [Mark Sheppard]'s speeches. His character had a slight Irish lilt to it, which was charming once I actually figured out what accent it was I was hearing - because previous to that I was just all ears going, "What? What accent is that? Where is that from? Is that, what?"
  
  I actually had to extract some of his speeches and made them into MP3s (wanna listen?) because I just loved them so much. Mark, damnit, do audiobooks.
  
  So in sum, I'll be watching more BSG, but only the kind with Mark Sheppard in it, until and if I get hooked on it and want to watch the whole thing.
  
  Oh, and on a completely different not, the president? Couldn't keep her apart from Doctor Who's Sarah Jane Smith in my head. I'm okay with that.


• The newspaper did an article on prostitution zones in Rome, and so I learned that there are two zones in my neighbourhood. There's seven women right around our place - which doesn't surprise me, as I knew of five and actually walk by their hang-out place which is a little park every day to and from work - and some twenty-one a bit farther away - coincidently, where one night my mother and I were walking and were called at from a car and we knew they'd mistaken us for prostitutes. So that makes almost thirty prostitutes right in my area. Huh.


• One of my co-workers, who's camping out at a friend's place until he can find one of his own, got robbed. In his apartment. At night. While he was sleeping. Someone ninjaed in through an open second-story window and took his friend's TV, his iPhone and wallet. Apart from being freaked the fuck out over someone being in his house while he's sleeping, he didn't have a dime on him. He went to his folk's for the weekend, to recover a bit until he could move in to his new place. The worst thing? This is totally not an unheard of or even uncommon thing in Rome.


• I just realized today that it's going to be ten years since I graduated from highschool and started university, and I've got a friend who's at that stage right now. (The best thing? We're both like, "What age difference?") Ah, squishy ♥ And since it's that season, there's a few Tumblr things about starting university which mean a lot because I can remeber it all happening, and because I'm seeing it happening to my squishy. So this.

Supernatural Season 7 Promo-Spoilers: ( One tiny little screencap of squee )


GIF Meme: You're stuck in an elevator...: ( Read more... )

Quote of the Day: Sneebs

It's better to belong where you don't belong than not to belong where you used to belong, remembering when you used to belong there.

Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Doctor Who: ( Read more... )
Firefly: ( Read more... )
Other Fandom: ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* Terry Pratchett

I'm a bit better today, but the past few days have been pretty shitty in the emotional department, all Social Isolation Monkey and Random Crying and Anxiety and Extreme Boredom. Seriously, I've been going crazy.

I've been sunbathing, watching Firefly, and editing old unfinished stories for the anthology I'm working on for my ex-supervisor. Not much else happening apart from the, y'know, mental meltdown.

Oh, and I've petted some cats. That was nice.

Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Doctor Who: ( Read more... )
True Blood: ( Read more... )
Sherlock: ( Read more... )
Jurassic Park: ( Read more... )
Other Fandom: ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* Mal, "Our Mrs Reynolds", Firefly

I haven't been posting lately, I know. Part of that is because of the late evenings out I've been having - movies, concerts, and so on - and part of that is because I've been editing a fanvid like I've been breathing, and since Windows Movie Maker eats WordPad if they so much as look at each other, writing up Links of the Day hasn't been getting done, which means I feel like I can't post unless there's something I really want to say. So here I am, trying to get back on the posting horse.

Today mom and I went to watch Habemus Papam which was supposed a comedy, but is only one during the scenes not dealing with the main character. It's about a cardinal who gets elected as pop and he really doesn't feel like he's up to the task, and goes into a depression and eventually runs away from the Vatican before he's announced as pope. So very sad to see the man struggle with a role that's been placed on his shoulders, and the acotr - Michel Piccoli - is amazing. And he has the most wonderful, loving, grandfatherly-popely smile. (Oh, and IMDB's synopsis is a lie, because it so is not centered around the relationship between the pope and his therapist. That lasts a single audience. The King's Speech this is not. It's one man, alone, trying to figure out what to do and being scared to death of what he's asked to do.)

I'm really excited about this weekend because it will involve Easter chocolate, Supernatural, and Doctor Who. Stetsons, here we come!

A word about last week's Supernatural: ( Read more... )


Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Doctor Who: ( Read more... )
Sherlock: ( Read more... )
Misfits: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* Dean Winchester, Supernatural

Today was sprinkled with suck, apparently. Consider that it started with my not getting out of the elevator at warp speed, so that it flew right back up to the very top floor when a neighbour rang it. "But I saw the button go dark," he said, referring to the "I'm free! Call me!" button. Yeah, but dude, you have to give me time to get out once the elevator lands.

Then there was work. Work was frustrating because I'm editing the format of a bunch of articles for a collection, and by gods are the articles in some serious need of formatting. Some only give half their references, others throw in copy/pasted lists, and still others decide that one-line paragraphs are teh awesome. Why can't people do things right the first time, or at least be consistent in their own article?

But that wasn't it, either. The office is cold. Like, very cold. Like, I wear wool sweaters and fingerless gloves and sit next to the portable radiator while the heater is rumbling on in the background. That's cold. But my co-worker - the substitute secretary who's from round-about my generation - insists on forgetting to close the door behind her whenever she leaves the room. ( Rant is ranty )


Also, my mother's back, as I might have mentioned, and we're back to me sucking and me not being able to breathe without being a rude daughter and obviously not even trying to get out of a house I'm just leeching off of which I am trying to keep my head together and not die a little support would be nice. ( Oh look, another rant. )


I think you can see why I'm not really up to posting or writing or anything at all these days. Like, I have a queue list on YouTube from October, and a fanfic I haven't touched in almost four months, and fanmixes that have been live for two months and still haven't been pimped, and it took me like two weeks to revise my CV ( and rant continues )

AND I KEEP GETTING SPAM COMMENTS ON MONTHS-OLD LIVEJOURNAL POSTS WTF.


Meme: Good Things:

Day 13: I had the house to myself for the almost-three hours between internship and German. Also, there were cookies.
Day 14: I watched New Moon with Rifftrax. What, it made ma laugh.
Day 15: ...I'm going to watch John Simm and Philip Glenister and other people be awesome on mad Dogs 1x02 and it will be good.

Quote of the Day: cleolinda quotes her mother, here

"Your job," she says, "is to call for help."

Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Doctor Who: ( Read more... )
True Blood: ( Read more... )
Human Target: ( Read more... )
Other Fandom: ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* cleolinda, Twilight in Fifteen Minutes

Sickle's Brain Went Buh-Bye, Have Some Bullet Points Instead:

• I got the first quote over on ljdq's Answers. Whoot whoot!



• I've had sea shanties stuck in my head for ages, which is both awesome and annoying because I don't actually know the whole songs. So I've been humming bits of Lukey's Boat, Heave Away, Ramblin' Rover and Donkey Riding over and over again.
  
  
• On that topic, Great Big Sea ♥ I watch ed them live years ago, and I loved it. (Or I would have, but I was in the deepest state of depressed funk that whole summer because I'd failed a course.)



• I watched The Walking Dead last week (1x02) and while it was good, it didn't have the same shiny coating of awesomeness that the pilot did. Plus, it didn't help that I facepalmed at a little plot and science (yes! science! with zombies!) fail. ( Spoilers )

Nanowrimo 2010:

• A few days ago I realized that my brain was going "Omg, argh, this sucks!" at Nanowrimo 2010, which was dispiriting because its perception of Nanowrimo 2009 was, "Omg, so organized, it flows so well and argh! Will never be repeated!" but then I saw that whilst I was doing Nanowrimo 2009, my brain was going, "omg, argh, this sucks!" So I guess I'm comforted by the utter suckitude of Nanowrimo 2010. It probably doesn't suck royally (just slightly). It might even make sense in the end!



• Today's writing session was not so much like pulling teeth and a lot more like bashing my head repeatedly against a wall for the most part. I went back and added to the scenes I'd written yesterday, except one was Icarus, Chip and Dean talking and they didn't actually say all that much except angst and Dean wasn't being a hunter enough, and the other scene was Kezef being all ooooh, evil, but nothing was happening. I tried to fix it and I don't know if I succeded because of the massive amounts of SUCK but it's goddamn over.



• Next up: Zombie hordes attack! ...this scares me a little, because it's all action with some plottyness on the side plus a reveal and then a panic moment. I do believe we're reaching the big plotty climax from which everything winds down. It's like I have a plot!

( Excerpt )

26708 / 50000 words. 53% done!


40 Days of Supernatural Meme: Day 38 - Favorite Jensen movie/other show? ( Read more... )

Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Human Target: ( Read more... )
The Walking Dead: ( Read more... )
Other Fandom: ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* "Heave Away", The Fables

1) I have a coin collection (which does not necessarily mean I'm a numismatic - I just hoard the pretty shiny things and am therefore a casual collector). We're going to Switzerland next week, passing through other countries. What does my mom do, then, pray ask? ( Read more... )


2) My mother has incredibly unrealistic expectations and notions regarding the job market. ( Read more... )


Question: What is the term for the red domed thing at the entrance in this photo?


40 Days of Supernatural Meme: Day 31 - Your ideal SPN ending? ( Read more... )

Quote of the Day: Overheard in Chicago, Under the Red Line at Argyle

Guy: "Hey, is that chick crying?"

Girl: (crying) "YES! AND IT'S PROBABLY YOUR FAULT ANYWAY!"

Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Lost: ( Read more... )
True Blood: ( Read more... )
Sherlock: ( Read more... )
Other Fandom: ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )
Psychology: ( Read more... )


* Bladerunner
** This is a person, however, who not only opened and read my preteen diary, but corrected the spelling and put massive question marks in the border. And hid behind my bed in my room, then giggled when I walked in and talked to myself thinking I was alone in my room. Honestly, what the fuck?

I went to the beach yesterday, and we all went to the beach today. Still have those damned tan-lines, but I think they're fading. And yesterday I wrote a good bit for the Doctor Who meets Stonehenge Apocalypse crack story, although I apparently tend towards serious and long-winded crack. *sigh*

I'm currently playing Echo Bazaar (Wikidot entry) which is a role playing game that you can only do in short little bursts (i.e. ten actions to a total of 50 per day). It's awesome, though, and this is coming from someone who's most recent experience in role playing games is Pick Your Own Adeventure...back in her wee years. But it takes place in Fallen London, so it's a bit HP Lovecraft and quirky. It's twitter-based (i.e. you log in via your twitter account). The Escapist's review describes it as:

Set in the world of Fallen London, it combines elements of tabletop gaming, Victorian England, RPGs, and social networking. Sporting a cheeky sense of humor and a Lovecraftian vibe, the game combines the addictiveness of grinding with an unusual and compelling story elements. While its browser-based gameplay is certainly quite entertaining, Echo Bazaar's real appeal lies in its robust mythology and surprisingly deep backstory, which you discover bit by tiny bit as you play. The world of Fallen London is a joy to explore, a weird and wonderful playground where clay men wrestle in pubs and you pay for your lodgings with cryptic secrets.

Come on, join up! I'll invite you over for tea or on a bank heist or whatever it is I can invite you to. Or don't, whatever, I'm just sharing the fun.

Did I mention I have a weasel? Yes I do :D

And again with the meme-as-content. Because the other option is to tell you how I opened a coconut using only a hammer and a mini-flathead screwdriver in twenty minutes [ETA: By which I mean, I totally made that cococunt coconut where did that typo come from, Frued?!? my prison bitch, and had it cracked open and completely gutted in twenty minutes) or how I'm currently re-translating everything at Internship into Spanish, which results in boredom and brief escapades into wikipedia where I learn about sky burials and The Thing and The Invisible Pink Unicorn.

Also, is 20 songs too long for a fanmix?

Meme - 30 Days - Day 30 → Whatever tickles your fancy: ...from space! ( Read more... )

30 Days of Doctor Who: Day 01 - Your Favourite Quote: Multiple ( Read more... )

30 Days of Supernatural Meme: Day 1 - Your favorite character ( Read more... )

40 Days of Supernatural Meme: Day 1 - What character would you like to see return from the dead?( Read more... )

Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Doctor Who: ( Read more... )
True Blood: ( Read more... )
Other Fandom: ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* Richard Dawkins

Okay, so I'm being incredibly shitting at posting lately. That's simply because the day is too bloody short and I can no longer just hook up the internet via IV direct into my bloodstream like I used to. I've done Things, like:

Wednesday and Thursday I have no idea what happened. Probably not zombies.

Friday I walked for hours and hours in the heat with blisters all over Rome trying to find the spot marked down on my map where I could find a second-hand sale of English books, only to discover, upon arrival, a note stuck on the door saying that if there were a transport strike - which apparently there was, but it was very discrete - the sale would be canceled. Cue Sickle sitting down on the steps and crying in frustration.

Saturday I went to Ostia Antica (which was awesome) by myself (which was even better) and took lots and lots of photographs (which I will share....eventually).

Sunday I went to Castel Gandolfo with my parents (which was right next to where we'd gone the other time, Genzano di Roma) and it went well except for the whole "with my parents" bit which did nothing but result in heartache and anger and utter, utter crap.

After that I went downtown to have dinner with Friend C from Italian class and we talked about cultures, countries, immigration, friendships and the like for four fucking hours and my brain could not take that much socializing and talking but it was nice nonetheless.

Today I went with mom to the neighbourhood where we used to live, back when it was still the 1980's and I recognized our parking lot and it was okay except for the whole "with mom" bit.

I spent most of yesterday writing a blog entry in my head for Blog Like it's the End of the World Day and let me tell you, your day becomes much more interesting once you put on the mindframe of, "What if the zombiepocalypse happens right now?" Unfortunately, I didn't have the energy to write the entry and then today I saw that no one had BLITEOFW anyway. Still, I was hit over the head by a sentence and therefore wrote a zombie drabble. It's here at sickle_stories.

I also copy/pasted a cracked-out drabble I wrote for seschat onto sickle_stories. It's called Eliminate the Impossible and crosses Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man and House, M.D.. Yeah...

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Review: ( Spoilers. )

Doctor Who, "Cold Blood" Addennum Review: ( Read more... )

Sickle's Dreams: ( Read more... )

Quote of the Day: Luigi Barzini, The Italians

Dull and insignificant moments in life must be made decorous and agreeable with suitable decorations and rituals. Ugly things must be hidden, unpleasant and tragic facts swept under the carpet wherever possible. Everything must be made to sparkle..!

Links of the Day:

Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Lost: ( Read more... )
Doctor Who: ( Read more... )
True Blood: ( Read more... )
Watchmen: ( Read more... )
Jackie Earle Haley (NOES, Human Target): ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Other Fandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* Terry Pratchett**
** Where craic is pronounced crack

Sickle's Life and Times: I've just got back from a long, long and delightful chat with a girl from my Italian class. Not only is she lovely and talkative (and just with that I had a wonderful time), but she was incredibly helpful in helping me figure out things regarding jobs and careers and What Sickle Wants. ( Read more... )

Since June 1, I've sent out four applications, inclding two laboratory positions, one dealing with data entry and one as an ecologist. I am absolutely terrified of getting a response. *stuffs a sock into that train of thought*

I've been having rather disturbing dreams lately. ( Read more... )


Sickle's Fannish Things: I've made a fanmix! It's here at sickle_stories. It's also not so much a fanmix as a bunch of songs I have put on repeat for hours and hours between Jan. and June 2010.




Links of the Day:
Lost: ( Read more... )
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Doctor Who: ( Read more... )
Watchmen: ( Read more... )
Ashes to Ashes: ( Read more... )
Zachary Quinto: ( Read more... )
True Blood: ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* Common expression

My dad's doing the equivalent of being a professional doctor and telling me, who's shown up with a fucked up arm, "I don't know if it's broken! Just look it up on that website I sent you. Jeez, I already told you how hospitals import the bandages used in casts."

Not. Helping.

In other news, today has been sucktastic and wibbleliscious. Fuck you, world.

Have some links.

ETA: He just sent me another link. And hasn't listened to a thing I've said about why the fuck I need these papers, which I don't even need, really, because why else is this fucking Europe?

ETA 2: Yeah, okay, the links help and explain and all that shit, but it's his fucking job to do these things, and he sends me links? And the world sucks, have I mentioned? Sucks donkey's unmentionables. Jacob you incredible douche, you, sign me up for Island Watching, I'm so done with this shit right here.


Links of the Day:
Supernatural: ( Read more... )
Lost: ( Read more... )
Ashes to Ashes / Life on Mars: ( Read more... )
True Blood: ( Read more... )
Nightmare on Elm Street (2010): ( Read more... )
Multifandom: ( Read more... )
Random: ( Read more... )


* Blade Runner