an exercise in percussive maintenance
Tag: random
I’ve been quiet, I know. It’s this new job, you see? I’m working hard. Harder than I should, in fact. But I’m enjoying it. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed any job this much.
That does freak me out just a little, as it’s not the career I chose for myself, or ever thought I would choose. But aside from a brief bout of imposter syndrome, I haven’t regretted my choice for a moment. I get to work with incredible people on something that makes a difference in the lives of many people.
Tomorrow I celebrate the thirty-third year of managing to not join the great majority, so watch this space for an extra special birthday edition of the Song Title Challenge. It’s dealer’s choice, and I’m feeling excited about this one.
Tomorrow is also Felt Hat Day, so dust off your fedora or pretend you’re a time lord and don your fez. And if you don’t have a felt hat, no problem, for tomorrow is also Make A Hat Day, so make your own hat, as long as it’s from felt. I’ll be taking down three birds with one stone by making myself a pirate hat. Confused? Read on.
Wednesday will bring another edition of Percussive Etymology. This week I’m taking my hammer to the expression “rule of thumb”. That’s allowed, as long as the hammer’s handle is no thicker than one’s thumb (or is it?)
An’ on Friday it again be International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Sharpen yer cutlasses an’ load the cannons (no brass monkeys on this ship), cause there be ships ter plunder, towns ter sack, an’ wenches ter…yer know 😉 I’ll be sharin’ with you a special tale as had ne’er been told ’bout one o’ the black heartedest pirates ter ever sail the seven seas.
Would you believe that yesterday I forgot to post? That’s the truth, though, whether you believe it or not. My hammer and I have been fiddling about on the inside of if all else fails… and I just completely lost track of time. But it wasn’t time wasted: I’ve given the Song Title Challenge page a little makeover and it now boasts a streamlined index of all past challenges which will update itself automatically every time I post a new story. It might not impress you but it’s sure going to make my life easier.
Actually I’ve been tinkering quite a lot lately. I’ve been volunteering in the WordPress.com forums and a pleasant side-effect is that I’m learning much more about how WordPress and blogging works, and I’m trying to rectify some of the mistakes I made in the early days when I did not yet know any better.
A consequence of all this tinkering is that things around here might go a little awry, so if you happen to stumble across any missing images or broken links, please let me know in the comments and I’ll be right along with my trusty hammer to whack things back into shape. I do recommend wearing a hard hat, though. Don’t want you getting injured by a falling hammer.
In other news, (at the risk of jinxing it) I finally seem to be getting into my stride with the studies (took long enough!). It is only natural, then, that the universe appears to be conspiring against me working this week.
First my former boss wants me to check up on my replacement by moderating some of her students’ examination scripts from the mid-year exam. That means I’m once again grading English essays – something I’d hoped I’ll never have to do again. At least they pay me to do this.
I’m also suddenly getting inundated with requests for extra lessons by seniors finally realising that their final examinations are terrifyingly close and that they haven’t been paying attention in English for the last eleven-and-a-half years. Between my inability to say no and my intense desire to have a positive cash flow again for a month or two I’m trying to squeeze them in, but we’ll see how it goes.
And the final cherry on top is that the wife’s come down with a stomach bug. Which means she’s at home. Which means when I take a study break I’m playing nurse. Or washing dishes. Or cooking. Or doing laundry. Oh, the things we do for those we love (though I do the last three even when she’s not ill, but I’m complaining here – I don’t get the chance that often).
But busy is good, right? Hopefully I wont forget about this weekend’s review 😉
So, not only is today Friday the thirteenth. It is the second Friday the thirteenth of twenty-thirteen and falls exactly thirteen weeks after the previous one. As stated previously, I’m not superstitious, but just in case your computer explodes as you read this, I’ll keep today’s post short.
Yesterday marked the two-hundredth post on if all else fails…use a hammer. No, I’m not going to regale you with two hundred facts about myself, I just thought it worth mentioning.
Last week I did a post on five truths and a lie. I was planning to reveal which one is a lie this week, but Nelson Mandela’s passing and lack of internet last weekend have upset my schedule somewhat, so the reveal will come next week. That means if you haven’t guessed which of the six facts about me are made up, go there now.
I have a couple of song suggestions lined up for the Song Title Challenge, but I’d love it if someone can suggest me an interesting Christmassy song for the week after next. Bonus points if it’s something I’ve never heard of. Last year I did Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (posted here in June). Go read it.
While I did not have internet last weekend I was within fifty kilometres of a cinema, so the wife and I went to watch Catching Fire. I won’t be doing a review, but it’s definitely worth watching. It did what The Hunger Games couldn’t do: convince me that something is missing from my life if I don’t read the books.
Next week Tuesday we’ll be driving 150 kilometres to the nearest cinema to go watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Why Tuesday? Half price (which won’t cancel out the petrol costs, unfortunately). However, I absolutely can’t not see it on the big screen, so it’s a justifiable expense.
The novel has not moved a word since NaNoWriMo ended, I’m ashamed to admit. Perhaps I shouldn’t allow myself to go to the movies unless I finish 10 000 words this weekend…
That’s it for today. Hope you survive your Friday the thirteenth without tripping over black cats, having ladders fall on you, or getting stuck inside broken mirrors. More seriously, if you find yourself in one of the areas experiencing some extreme weather, good luck. The sun is still there behind the clouds. Just hang on.
You know those days where you have nothing to write, but you really, really feel like writing something? Yeah, here’s the result.
It’s getting colder over here. I hate it. I’ve never been fond of winter, but I suppose it’s necessary – can’t really have spring without it. Thing is, where I live winter is just cold. There’s no pretty snow or anything, just constant, freezing cold. It’s also very dry. Think dusty fields, hard grass, runaway fires, bare trees…I know Roy Campbell got a kick out of that, but I prefer summer with it’s thunderstorms, green trees and picnics in the sun. On the other hand, now I have an excuse to whip up a batch of soup. Mmmmmmmm.
I’ve started on the third chapter of my novel. I’m seriously lacking in the discipline-department when it comes to writing. At this rate I don’t know when I’ll be finished. Any suggestions?
Wifey and I are currently on a Doctor Who marathon. Just finished watching Blink, probably the scariest Doctor Who episode there is (at least in the post-2005 series – haven’t seen any of the old ones yet). Very apprehensive about this weekend’s season finale. The Doctor’s Name. Oh, the possibilities.
If you haven’t heard yet, the Pianoguys have released a new video, this time a cover of Home by Philip Philips. It’s terrific. I especially like the cows. Apparently they respond positively to the cello. Who knew.
And, naturally, my post on spamming of Saturday received a spam comment today. This one worked, though. Luckily Akismet did as well. Speaking of which, if you haven’t voted in the poll on spammers yet, there’s no time like the present. Look. I even pasted it below so you won’t have to go back to the previous post.
Happy blogging, all.
if all else fails...use a hammer 