Procrastination over.

TMA07 has gone.

Now it's sent, I shall stop thinking about it. (Or so the theory goes... I've just had to make sure of a word definition. Luckily, I was correct in my usage. Phew!)

Hovering on the submit button...

(Image 'Myo - Illumination, Enlightenment' from www.theartofcalligraphy.com)

So, I am done. I am (though not exactly) happy with the essay. I just can't find the courage to hit 'Send'. I don't want my confidence dashed again before taking on the last two assignments. Hmph.

Speaking of the last two... I've got to get motivated to start some revision for TMA09. I really want that done by next weekend, just so I can concentrate fully on TMA08. I am hoping to have the course done and dusted by the submission date for TMA08. That way I can get started with some of the reading for A215. I don't know if I'm looking forward to, or actually quite daunted by, the prospect of starting the writing course. But I'm signed up to it now, so I will strive to do my best.

I might take a day out to have a go at Japanese calligraphy. My cousin got a set of brushes and an inkpad, so I've bought a book in order to have a go at it. I didn't want a pressie to go to waste! And besides, it might get me started on learning Japanese again. It's been such a long time since I've done any study for Japanese, but I'd like to get back to it at some point. Which reminds me, I'll have to get around to reading the Haruki Murakami books I bought a while back.

Dum de dum...

Why do I crucify myself?

Wow! It's been so long since I've listened to Tori Amos, let alone the album Little Earthquakes. I'd forgotten how good it was. I'd forgotten all the memories that comes with it too. Wow! All I can think of now is the start of a poem that I began years ago, that might now need looking at and rewriting because I really liked the first two lines:

Orcs and elves and Tori Amos
Let's not talk now about my demons

Yep, I still like those lines. Reading them back now, though, and remembering back to the time I wrote them, it's almost like I lay myself on a slab to be dissected. Eek! I'm sure there was another line in there somewhere that went something like:

Pysychology, Endocrinology
I'll know you inside out.

Slightly sinister, me thinks!

Hold on... just listening to Silent All These Years... Fantastic! That song still takes my breath away.



So, today is another day of combing the essay. I did a little yesterday, ended up more or less rewriting the conclusion, just to include why the two pieces are still relevant today, taking into account the masculine/feminine attributes and comparing them to modern day cultures. Hmmm, I hope it sounds okay. I've just got to make the rest read fluidly now. Maybe I should put some more references in. Not line references, I have enough of those, but references as to where I got the info for the rest of it. Wish I wouldn't panic so much!

Is that the fat lady I hear?

(Pic from www.edward-norton.org/)

No, the pic is not a representation of how I feel, though it is more than likey what my brain looks like after writing that essay. That said, I have finished. Done, done, done. 1537 words of pure, unadulterated rubbish. After a full day of working, many long words thrown in to make me sound intelligent, words like dichotomy and socio-verbal. Words I would never use in everyday life. God, I'd probably sound like Edward Norton (have you ever listened to his commentary or what ever the extra is on Fight Club?)! But it is done. I am just hesitant to send the damn thing off now. I'll leave that until tomorrow, I think. Give my brain a rest and a give the spawn of the devil essay a final read through tomorrow.

I think I should go and spend some time with Principessa now. Poor thing. I've almost completely ignored her today just so I could get this essay out of the way. At least she has me to herself over the next few days, now I don't have anything to fret about! Yay! Playtime with Principessa!

Would it help if I went to the dentist?

Because writing this damned essay is like pulling teeth! Saying that, I've got just over another 300 words to write, but in that I've got to get suitable conclusions to end the separate sections, a decent tie in section to bring it all together, and an all round conclusion just to finish it all off. Hmmm, seems a bit of an uphill struggle. Oh, bum! Oh, and I forgot to mention, I haven't quite finished writing the central body of the Don Juan section. I think I am about done with Medea.

Oh well. Hopefully I'll be done with this by the weekend. Not that anything special is happening at the weekend. I should be so lucky. But, if I can be done with it by then, I can do some revision for block one and read up on the Rousseau philosophy and the David/Friedrich art history, and maybe aim to get TMA09 done and dusted before the 60s block. It would make me feel so much better.

But for now, I need to stop a Principessa from bouncing the bed through the ceiling....

Reliving lost days...

Yay! But oops! I fell to the perils of Ebay, once again, but I have finally got a copy of Chronicle Of The Black Sword by Hawkwind! Raaaawwwwwkkkk! Chuffed to little mintballs I am. I've been meaning to get the album for ages as I only had a copy on cassette, and it's one of those albums that gets under your skin. The only problem now is, I want to go and dig our my Elric books and read them all over again. Maybe Stormbringer is trying to eat my soul!

What makes me smile even more as I listen to the album again is that Principessa is rocking out with me. She has already decided that Jerry Cornelius's Needle Gun is her favourite song.



She is making me giggle so much by pogo-ing about singing 'It's gonna make you run, needle, needle, needle, needle gun!" 'Tis a happy day.

'Tis a doubly happy day as I have also got myself a copy of Brian Lumley's book 'A Coven Of Vampires'. Woohoo! More little mintballs in the happy offing!

Right. Well. Happy day, but need to try and get the Medea/Don Juan essay written, and get ready for the surveyor and occupational therapist visit. They are hopefully going to the extension business started. Finally.

"He needed that like a thrid armpit!"

Just one of the fantastic commentary quotes that made me laugh out loud whilst watching the MotoGP last night. Well, I'd put in the work watching the qualies the night before, so I thought I might as well watch the actual race. And my oh my! What a RACE!

The first few laps consisted of Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in an absolute dogfight for first place. They completely blasted away at the front and didn't let anyone else get a look in. It was hair-raising, breathtaking stuff!



The jostle for the lead ended up with Rossi taking the front, but Stoner was always on his back wheel. Until eight laps to the finish line. Stoner attempted to overtake Rossi but Rossi pushed him wide. Stoner slowed just enough not to take them both out, but had to lay off the breaks to stop himself crashing, only to drive into the gravel and mini-crash anyway. He was still far enough in front of third place man Chris Vermeulen to stay in second place after he picked the bike back up and rode back onto the track. It was Rossi's first win at Laguna Seca. And James Toseland didn't do too bad, getting 9th place.

I've not ever enjoyed a race as much as I enjoyed this one. I think the commentators also helped though, because when I wasn't on the edge of my seat I was crying with laughter. All in all, a damn good night!

The good news came in the form of F1 though, as Lewis Hamliton won the German Grand Prix. That means he leads the championship, four points ahead of Felipe Massa and seven points ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.

Yep, I've a weekend of sports, I even watched Padraig Harrington win at Royal Birkdale, and I don't watch golf!

Just a little out of sorts...

Brain? (Or as my fingers demanded me to type - barin.) What is that? I have lost the ability to access mine. I think it may just need a wooden leg, or at least some matchsticks to prop it up, such a flaccid, useless thing it seems to be lately! Yes, I am still fighting the combat foxes in my head, the ones stuffing up my brain's bunghole, stopping the free flowing of the River of Idea and Creativity. Poop. But at least I had a relaxing evening last night - well, as relaxing as it can be watching MotoGP qualies. *Yawn.* But a can of beer and an hour out to watch Bonekickers (not sure about Bonekickers yet, the jury is out at the minute. Will watch again next week, must make an informed decision!) made all the difference. I will get back to the essay tomorrow.

So, my slackness forced me to slack off blogging yesterday, so no mention of the Dr. Horrible episode. Yes, act three went up yesterday. It's still available to watch, but will be gone by tomorrow. Pity. I really enjoyed it. Made me long for more Buffy, I tell ya! I still feel robbed that Angel only had five seasons. Stupid TV networks!

Anyway. I'm going to post this. And thanks Skips for pointing me to it. Cat lovers of the world, unite! Cats are far too evil to be cute, but they manage it somehow...

I feel like a quote out of context...

Argh! This TMA is doing my head in! But on the upside, this is post 250! Woohoo! And act 2 of Dr. Horrible's Song-Along Blog is up for viewing.

Back to normal programming. I am slowly being driven up the oil-slicked wall with this TMA. Every time I think I have found a foothold I am unceremoniously dropped from a great height. The Medea section seems to be coming together, but the Don Juan bit is eluding me at the minute, even though I know I have all the info that I need to write it. Fudgecakes! I may be going slightly mad.

So, for a quick music lesson...

For your consideration...

Woohoo! The first act of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is up and ready for perusal here. While I know it will get better, and the first act is just introducing the characters, so far it's a little flat. However, I love Nathan Fillion's entrance. I think he may be the best thing in it so far! But, as it's a Joss Whedon project, I'm just going to love it anyway!

TMA avoidance.

This is what this is. I am so frustrated with the whole thing, it's driving me up the bloody wall.

So, what do I have to do in this latest essay? I have to contrast the traditional attributes of masculinity and femininity in two of four specified texts. I've already said that I have chosen Don Juan and Medea here, but working the essay around them is proving more elusive than the Scarlet Pimpernel. I know what I want to say, and what parts of the 'texts' I want to use, but cohesion is non-existent! I am floundering, plain and simple. It is so frustrating because both of the 'texts' are goldmines for essay material. Maybe that's the problem, maybe I'm trying to incorporate too much. I think I will need more thinking time.

On other stuff... The things Principessa has me doing! Today she had me try to teach her how to play bowling and tennis on Wii Sports. It was both funny and frustrating at the same time. Principessa has developed the art of selective hearing extremely well, so trying to show her or explain to her what to do is a very hard job. But, saying that, she did strike out in bowling at one point. 'Twas very impressive! Another thing she has me do is put socks over her bedtime bottle (sooo much less hassle than a cup at bedtime) so that the milk or orange juice doesn't freeze her hands. Oh, if a drink is too cold she throws it on the floor. That is me, not a happy Mummy! A sock makes it all better, and her socks fit the bottle perfectly!

Anyways, enough of my rambling. Time to try and get more of this essay done. 500 words down (ish), another 1000 to go....

Cabaret Cthulhu...

(Pictures from http://www.toyvault.com/cthulhu/plush_cthulhu.html and www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies)

I have just been watching some TV with Principessa, specifically a program called Doodle Do. I must admit, I zoned out a little. My brain went off on a tangent and I found myself thinking about Cthulhu. I wondered why, but then I realised. The characters on Doodle Do resemble cabaret Cthulhu hand puppets! I don't feel so bad about Principessa having a cuddly Cthulhu now!

Now I have a picture in my head of Cthulhu in Las Vegas, feathers and all, singing 'I Will Survive'! I suppose it'd look a little like this, but with more tentacles!

What a secret blunder!

*Eeks* I received the secret 'exam' paper today. Well, the envelope contains the very last assignments for the A103 course. But...problem. The ever so secret pages have been sealed into the return envelope, instead of the top secret instructive envelope that should contain the exam paper and the return envelope. If any of that makes sense! So, I'm just keeping an eye out at the A103 forum to see what is to be done. Ho hum!

As for the current essay TMA07 plan... I've not started yet. I've taken a day or so out to finally get around to reading Wide Sargasso Sea. Holy heck! it's depressing. Just got a few more pages to read before I'm done. And I shall breath a sigh of relief. I thought I had better read it, just to make sure that it would not be a text I could use for the essay. I can tell you, it's a big, fat no! It's an interesting take on the Bertha character from Jane Eyre, Rochester's first wife. But it drains the life out of you faster than the death drain in Guitar Hero 3. So, it is definitely Don Juan and Medea for my two texts. Time to finish the Medea block work, methinks, and gather my thoughts about the Don!

Paper and pencil skiing.

Last night, Principessa was scribbling away quite happily when she go up and started playing with the two pencils. With one in each hand, she pretended to push herself along in the style of a skier.

• Princi: "I'm skating, Mummy"
  
• Me: "Don't you mean skiing?"
  
• Princi: "Yes, skiing."

Then she took two pieces of paper down, put them on the floor - one under each foot - and proceeded to pretend to ski out of the front room.

• Grandand: "Are you a Langlaufer?"
  
• Princi: "No, I am just a skier!"
  

And off she skied, into the hallway!

Cyborg Me

Get Your Cyborg Name

Has your child ever said "yuck" to food?

If they have, they can now be branded racist according to this report in the Daily Telegraph. Now, this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I still say yuck to things like baked beans and lettuce. Does that make me racist? Surely if someone, child or adult alike, says "yuck" to food it means that you simply don't like it, that the taste or texture does not suit your palate? I love strawberries, but don't like strawberry flavoured things (weird, I know, but strawberry flavoured things make me chuck up), so what does that say about me.

The bit in the report that really irked me was how even babies could not be ignored in the fight against prejudice, as they can "recognise different people in their lives." If this is truly enforced it must mean that we are criminally responsible from the day we are born.

Wimbledon, Men's Final. Silverstone. Journey's End.

(Picture from www.wimbledon.org/)

Back to back they faced each other, drew their rackets and aced each other!

Rafa won! That was a fantastic final, full of excitement. I thought it was over in the third set. Rafa had taken the first two sets, 6-4, 6-4, and he was 4-5 in the third. He was playing just a notch better than Roger, so I thought he would break Roger and go onto win. But - dun dun duuuuun - rain delay! The third set went to a tie breaker. Roger turned on the tennis magic to win the breaker 7-5. The fourth set, littered with championship points for Rafa, also went to a tie breaker, again won by Roger, 10-8. At two sets all, 2 games all and 40-40, another rain delay. After about 30 minutes they resumed play.

After a really tough battle royale, Rafa took the fifth set 9-7. I think at the end of it all, after climbing to celebrate with his family, then taking a jolly jaunt over to the Royal Box, Rafa was a bit shell-shocked. But, I think, the better player won.

(Picture from www.bbc.co.uk/sport)

Yay! Louis Hamilton did go on to win at Silverstone. From a starting position of fourth, he jumped to second spot from the starting line, then overtook Heikki Kovalainen on the fourth or fifth lap, and led for the remainder of the race. 'Twas an incredibly interesting race in wet conditions.

(Screencap from time-and-space)

Now. Doctor Who. Journey’s End. Not sure if I enjoyed it, or if I was a little disappointed. It had the making of a great episode, it wrapped up all loose ends, but it seemed a little too convenient. However, there were some fantastic components. The threefold man idea was complete genius. It also provided a reason for Donna’s repeated comment ‘I’m only a temp. Catherine Tate completely out-acted David Tennant, and I’d go so far as to say she was amazing. She nailed the quick talking explaining Doctor trait perfectly, though Tennant mimicked her quite well too. Dalek Caan, what a twist! Davros, too, was brilliant. Unfortunately, the cameos from everyone else seemed to fall by the wayside, seeming all pretty pointless.

I do have more to say, but I wont, for fear of spoiling it for peeps yet to watch it. All that’s left to say is – there’s a Doctor-shaped hole in Saturday evenings that needs to be filled!

Wimbledon, Ladies Finals Day.

So I really should talk about the Ladies final, but I think this needs to be said first.

(Pictures from www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/index.html)


Laura Robson won the junior Wimbledon title! She played such a good game. She beat the Thai 3rd seed Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. I really hope she can keep up this level of tennis and break onto the WTA tour with a vengeance!


In the Ladies final, Venus triumphed over Serena to win her 5th Wimbledon title. I didn't watch the match, I was too busy shouting 'Laura, Laura, Laura,' at the TV with Principessa! Venus won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

So, Men's final day tomorrow. I'm not sure if I'll be watching as the F1 race is on at the same time. And as it's the British Grand Prix, I think that might need watching. Let's hope Louis Hamilton can win at Silverstone.

Wimbledon, Day 11

(Picture from http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/home/)

Well, it's the final everyone knew would happen. For the third year. *Yawn*

Roger Federer saw off Marat Safin, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. I was hoping that Marat would find his best form and beat Roger but, as usual, he was far too strong for poor Marat. I suppose a semi-final was more than Marat had expected, so he's probably happy with his performance.

Rafa Nadal saw off Rainer Schuettler, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. After the first set I thought 'yep, there's not going to be much in this match'. I am so glad that Schuettler proved me wrong. It's just a pity he couldn't keep the break he had in the second set to take the set from Rafa. But hey, he did more than I though he would, and gave Rafa a good run for his money.

Laura Robson made it into the girl's singles final. Well done her! I'm hoping she goes on to win the junior Wimbledon title.

Wimbledon, Day 10.

(Picture from www.bbc.co.uk/sport)

Again with the ah wells. Zheng Jie did not manage to overpower Serena, and Elena Dementieva did not manage to overpower Venus, so it's a Williams sisters final. Ho hum.

Arnaud Clement and Rainer Schuettler battled through a 5 hour long, rain delayed match.
Schuettler won 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (7-9), 8-6. He has to play Nadal today. Here is the line-up for the men's semi-finals:

Roger Federer (SUI) 1st seed vs. Marat Safin (RUS)
Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2nd seed vs. Rainer Schuettler (GER)

In the girl's singles, Laura Robson is doing fantastically well. After dispatching the 1st seed in the first round, she took out the number 9 seed yesterday to make it into the semi-finals. She looks like she's going to make a very handy tennis player.

So much for me doing any study last night. Principessa fell asleep just before 5pm, woke up at around 8pm, and didn't go back to sleep until 1am. Knackered, I am. I would so like Principessa to go to bed at 8pm and wake up at 7-8 am. I could handle that! But no. She usually goes to sleep between 9-11pm, then wakes up any time from 7.30-9-30am. That means I stay up until 1am to study. Oh so tired... But if I get a degree out of it, then it'll be worth it!

Forget Wyld Stallyns!

God gave rock and roll to Secondnature...

Wimbledon, Day 9. And stuff.

(Picture from http://sports.espn.go.com/sports)

Ah well. I'm not surprised. There was only a modicum of hope, and that slipped away quite quickly when Murray just looked drained. I think he must have expended far to much energy in the match against Gasquet. At least he said he was outclassed rather than blaming his loss on exhaustion. Oh, yeah, Rafa won 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. It was only to be expected though.

Apart from Murray misery, Safin supremecy ruled! So chuffed! Wish I had not turned over to watch Murray. I was all 'blah' when Safin lost the first set, thinking that Lopez would easily win, especially as Safin was being Angryman again. But the rain delay helped in a big way, allowing Safin to focus. He won out 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-3. *Bouncing* Problem the next... Federer, who beat Mario Ancic 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.

The other quarter final between Arnaud Clement and Rainer Schuettler was suspended due to bad light. Currently it stands at one set each.

On other stuff... Principessa caused havoc last night. Nanny had let her into the bathroom to wash her hands, leaving Principessa to her own devices. About ten minutes earlier, Principessa had pinched a slice of bread (I don't know how she can eat bread without anything on it, but it's one of her most favourite things). Yep, you can see it coming, can't you? She had taken the bread upstairs, and when she got entry into the bathroom - the sink in particular - she blocked the sink with her bread and flooded the bathroom. Argh! Lots of AngryNanny shouting ensued, followed by AngryGrandand shouting. Principessa understood that she had been very naughty and once she had been put to bed with a drink of orange juice she fell straight to sleep. I feel guilty for benefitting from her being disciplined, but having my bed to myself all night allowed me to have a good sleep for once!

I carried on studying Medea after Principessa went to sleep. I can't believe how much of a goldmine that play is in answering the essay question. There is so much good stuff, like how the different areas of the theatre were used to convey masculinity and femininity, and how different parts of the funerary rights were alloted to the mother and father. Lots of interesting info, and plenty of lines that contrast masculine and feminine attributes. I'm loving it! So I have decided to leave the rest of the blockwork for Medea for now, as I feel quite confident of being able to eke out all the good bits, and I am going to start the Don Juan blockwork today. I am hoping that I will find the same confidence with Don Juan that I have with Medea.

It's raining, it's pouring...

Yup, play is suspended due to rain. So, just to keep the anticipation going, here are the highlights (and lowlights) of the Murray/Gasquet match.



*Fingers crossed* the rain clears up.

Wimbledon, Day 8

(Picture from www.wimbledon.org)

Bum! So Tamarine Tanasugarn was knocked out by Venus Williams, 4-6, 3-6. Ho hum. But, Zheng Jie fly-swatted Nicole Vaidisova aside, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Zheng played some fantastic shots, but I was worried she would break down after losing the second set. I'm glad she didn't. She has also pledged to donate her prize money to the victims of the Chinese earthquake. Here is how Thursday's semi-finals look:

• Zheng Jie (CHN) vs. Serena Williams (USA) 6th seed
• Elena Dementieva (RUS) 5th seed vs. Venus Williams (USA) 7th seed
  

Looking forward to the Murray/Nadal match and the Safin/Lopez match today. I'd watch Federer, but there is only so many times you can watch brilliance in action before it gets a little bit boring. I'm kind of hoping that Mario Ancic can cause an upset and knock Federer out, if only to cause a little bit of excitement rather than the same-old, same-old.

Well, while I have Principessa occupied watching Balamory and other CBeebies favourites, I shall go and study some more Medea.

Doogie Howser in Whedon net prog...

I think I need to watch this. So I'll be sitting by my computer, waiting patiently, on July 15th.


Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

And, just in case you're interested, here is a review. I maybe just a tad excited. I loved 'Once More, With Feeling', one of the best Buffy episodes ever!

"They got the mustard out!"

Wimbledon, Day 7.

(Picture from www.bbc.co.uk/sport)

Well. Was not expecting that at the start of the tournament. All four of the top seeds in the women's game have fallen. Second seed Jelena Jankovic fell to Tamarine Tanasugarn, 3-6, 2-6. Fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova fell to Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), 4-6, 61-5-7. Zheng Jie also continued her fantastic run, beating fifteenth seed Agnes Szavay(HUN) 6-3, 6-4. This is how the quarter-finals are looking:

• Zheng Jie (CHN) vs. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) 18th seed
• Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 14th seed vs. Serena Williams (USA) 6th seed
• Elena Dementieva (RUS) 5th seed vs. Nadia Petrova (RUS) 21st seed
• Venus Williams (USA) 7th seed vs Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA)
  

I'm hoping that Zheng Jie and Tamarine Tanasugarn get through, just because they are the unseeded and have played fantastic tennis throughout.

In the men's game, well. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are still going strong. That was to be expected, even though Rafa beat Mikhail Youzhny after picking up a knee injury. Andy Murray played with determination after Richard Gasquet (FRA) went 2-0 up in sets, beating Gasquet in five sets, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, 6-4. There were some absolutely amazing rallies during that match, I kind of wish I had recorded it. Marat Safin continued his fine form too. The quarter-finals look like this:

• Roger Federer (SUI) 1st seed vs. Mario Ancic (CRO)
• Marat Safin (RUS) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 31st seed
• Rainer Schuettler (GER) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)
• Andy Murray (GBR) 12th seed vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2nd seed
  

It's looking like a good few days of tennis!