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About stephbg's public rantings and recollections
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Nov. 15th, 2009 @ 10:03 pm Something's missing
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Nov. 14th, 2009 @ 07:29 pm Two wrongs
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Current Mood: very afraid
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I have just borrowed the rest of the Twilight books from Middle Niece, who adores them beyond reason. Struck by inspiration I loaned her some Traci Harding. The exchange went something like this:

"These are awful. I think you might like them."

"You're going to hate these."

So much for being a good influence.
Nov. 13th, 2009 @ 07:53 pm Dexter Season 3
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Current Mood: meh
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( Not particularly spoilery )
Nov. 12th, 2009 @ 11:46 pm Horse head sculpture 2: progress report 2
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Current Mood: sleepy
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Late at night when I'm getting ready for bed I thought woozily, "Why don't I just wrap the armature in a vague layer of plasticine?"

We are talking pharmaceuticals here.

So this is it, in glorious early messing aboutovision:

Nov. 12th, 2009 @ 10:09 pm Yes, another one
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Current Mood: steamy
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This is Pumpkin curled up in a corner. Geometry is not his strong suit.

Nov. 12th, 2009 @ 05:37 pm Tick!
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Current Mood: accomplished
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This afternoon I tackled a much-deferred job and tested the reticulation. I am *very* pleased about this.

( Mmmm. Soggy )
Nov. 12th, 2009 @ 12:11 am Rumbles
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Current Mood: sleepy
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I was drawn outside by the still and the hint of a rumbling purr in the sky. As I stood, head thrown to the heavens and senses alive I felt the stirrings of a giant's heart. It's alive! Slowly but certainly, each beat from the clouds formed a living pulse.

The earthbound radar revealed the armies of the gods massing on the horizon, poised to unleash themselves on sweltering suburbia. Teased by the touch of potential electricity, the magic things emerged from their hiding places in the trees and shrubs.

Tonight. Tonight, things might come. Things might happen. Things might fly. The lucky ones might die.

Wait.
Nov. 11th, 2009 @ 03:28 pm This is a bit more challenging
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Current Mood: dizzy
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Nominations are still open for people to identify my defining characteristics: http://kevan.org/johari?name=stephbg

And now there's the icky version. Let me know what I get wrong (anonymity is fine if you're worried about retribution; you shouldn't be, but if you are, I'd like to know, but I accept that you might be too frightened to tell me. I think.):

http://kevan.org/nohari?name=stephbg

I'm not sure I like "childish" as a Bad Thing. If they mean petulant, greedy, impatient, egotistical etc then say it.
Nov. 10th, 2009 @ 11:19 pm Horse head sculpture take #2, progress report 1.
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Current Mood: playful
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So here we are again. I've decided that my favourite part of sculpting is in fact the sculpting part, and I love the freedom of plasticine, even if I have trouble spelling it. I figure (if you pardon the pun) that I could use the practice before worrying about immortality. So, if I make something that seems both (a) good enough to preserve, and (b) worth risking the loss, then I'll think about how to go about casting. Am I the only one here who sees that as a horrible conflict? ( Read more... )
Nov. 10th, 2009 @ 06:33 pm Where is the wall?
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Current Mood: curious
So, the Berlin Wall came down 20 years ago. Fortunately for the clan, LBS was at the time GBS--or to be specific, Berlin-Based Sister--and salvaged a bit personally, and it's at the folks' place. It being a rather anonymous small chunk of concrete with a vague hint of paint on the one flat surface. We've been meaning to mount it on a plaque of some sort and add a label so we don't forget what it is. Hmmm, that's 20 years of "getting around to it". Time certainly flies.

I also have an embarrassing number of rocks in my collection brought home by holidaying family whose origins have become very blurry indeed. The rocks' origins, not the family's. Then again...

Do you have any unlabelled yet meaning-laden objects or souvenirs lying around in danger of being forgotten?
Nov. 9th, 2009 @ 10:57 pm Pick some words for me?
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Please help me build a picture of how the perceptions of others match my own:
http://kevan.org/johari?name=stephbg

You'll be asked to select some adjectives you associate with me. Take a couple of seconds.



Results as they come in will appear here (probably best not to look at this first):
http://kevan.org/johari?view=stephbg
Nov. 9th, 2009 @ 10:36 pm RIP Monica
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Current Mood: strong
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Today we laid to rest my mother's mother's sister's daughter: Mum's first cousin Monica, taken fairly by old age at 79. Given that she was given the second artificial heart in Australia at age 21, all her years were bonus years.

I didn't know her--and quite possibly never met her--but I find the pure femininity of that family relationship somehow comforting. For me personally it was not a sad event, but an opportunity to stand with Family and show and share support. That strength is a wonderful thing and I treasure it.
Nov. 9th, 2009 @ 08:41 pm Possibly false advertising
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Current Mood: drooly
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I believe that this is a picture of a red 2005 Hyundai Tiberon:



Pretty, isn't it? Only $19,900.

( And? )
Nov. 9th, 2009 @ 07:17 pm It's like a movie
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Current Mood: playful
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Today my team of stalkers might have been surprised to see me walking out of a fertility clinic. Was I in a fertility clinic today? Yes. Was I there alone? Yes. Did I get something* done there? Yes.

( Let the hilarity begin )
Nov. 8th, 2009 @ 11:32 pm Shopping for a feminist cookie
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Current Mood: pleased
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( Shopping, teen communications, birthday presents, funeral plans. )
Nov. 7th, 2009 @ 11:34 am Video conversion rec please
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Current Mood: sigh
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Hi lazyweb. I've just discovered that the you-beaut video processing software I bought as a bundle with a hardware dongle is--surprise suprise--an ever-so-slightly restricted version that can't import .mov files. Discovering this fact took effort, shall we say. Our camera outputs .mov files, natch. Do I want to pay $50+ for the upgrade? Not right now I don't.

So, can anyone recommend any particular mov > avi conversion program? Preferably free/cheap and un-riddled with virii? Quicktime Pro 7 costs $44.

There are plenty of them out there, but of dubious trustworthiness.
Nov. 6th, 2009 @ 12:46 pm It's official
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Current Mood: very happy
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I managed 5 sessions at work this week, over four days. It looks like a 3 hour session is the longest I can manage in one go. The idea that the day has two potential work sessions in the morning and afternoon has merit. I am mentally fit, and I pronounce myself officially back at work part time.

WOOHOO!

Physically, well, ouchies, but you can't have everything.
Nov. 5th, 2009 @ 08:45 pm Home from the vet
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Current Mood: hot
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I always feel like an axe murder when I take one of the cats to the vet. Today it was Pumpkin's turn for a teeth clean and a make-hay-while-the-cat's-unconscious claw clip.

( Read more... )
Nov. 4th, 2009 @ 11:05 pm More milestones!
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Current Mood: very pleased
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I woke up very early today, so got to work at the crack of nothing, did three solid hours, then went home, had a nap, ate celery, and then went back to work for another 2 hours 20 min!.

*happy noises*

This is an important stage in increasing my working hours, becaus it looks like 3 hours is my absolute limit sitting at a desk, no matter how creative the furniture.

( Read more... )
Nov. 3rd, 2009 @ 09:49 pm Various kinds of progress
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Current Mood: tired but happy
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This morning was not a success, for I was held unconscious for all of it. I hate this particular form of CFS, it feels like my head is being held underwater. However, I picked up enough in the early afternoon to give work a go. I've been hoping to try an afternoon session at work, as a second chunk after a few hours in the morning, so today I achieved half of that. I hit one goal post at least.

( Read more... )
Nov. 3rd, 2009 @ 08:38 pm More supercuteness from Pumpkin
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Current Mood: melty
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I make no apology for the PumpkinSpam, but for the sake of the easily overawed I put his fluffiness behind a cut:

( Aaaawwww )
Nov. 2nd, 2009 @ 07:21 pm Cat checkup time
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Current Mood: relieved
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This afternoon we took the three cats to the vet Disneyland for the annual checkup and flu shots. As usual I felt like an axe murderer, but actually they made less noise than usual. They remain restless and ruffled, but are settling quickly.

( Read more... )
Oct. 31st, 2009 @ 09:46 pm Horse head sculpture progress report 3
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Current Mood: philosophical
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Well, that didn't take long. Although I covered up the work in progress with damp cloths the clay dried out (and cracks appeared along too-thin joints), so tinkering is out of the question. So this is as far as it got:

( Image under cut )
Oct. 31st, 2009 @ 09:12 pm Rowr!
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Current Mood: zoological
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It wouldn't be a day in my life if I didn't take stock of the wildlife I encountered over and above the usual cat and Husband quota. ( Read more... )
Oct. 31st, 2009 @ 03:59 pm Horse head sculpture progress report 2
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Current Mood: ok
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Progress Report 1

I've just come from my first major session with air-dried clay, and it was not entirely a success, but it was a learning experience. ( Read more... )
Oct. 30th, 2009 @ 09:23 pm Good thing
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Current Mood: chuffed
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I nearly forgot to mention that I received my favourite type of phone call today: a recruiter asking if I was interested in a job. Second one in two weeks, and judging by what's on seek.com.au just now I think it was probably for two different jobs. Awesome.

Had a good 3 hour session at work, and I'm feeling right up to speed now. My Monday afternoon appointment has been cancelled (my therapist may or may not have fled the country after one session) so Monday might be the day to trial a second work period in the afternoon. We'll see.
Oct. 30th, 2009 @ 09:18 pm Wakey wakey
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Current Mood: wobbly
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It's just a bit too early to go to bed, but I'm struggling to stay awake. I just need to hang on for another 40 minutes or so. Ideas?
Oct. 29th, 2009 @ 11:14 pm Fete Worse Than Death
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Current Mood: nostalgic
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It's the Wembley Downs District Fair this Saturday, one of the biggest events in the Wembley Downs calendar. Possibly the only event in the Wembley Downs calendar.

( Read more... )
Oct. 29th, 2009 @ 09:24 pm Seven Quirks meme
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Current Mood: baaaaa
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Tagged by [info]linstar

A. List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B. Tag seven people to do the same.
C. Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it".

( Read more... )
Oct. 29th, 2009 @ 02:02 pm Counting spoons
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Current Mood: unwell
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I've had a good run over the last couple of weeks: several productive 3 hour sessions at work, often followed by reasonably active days with walks and laundry and so on. Today, not so much. ( Read more... )
Oct. 28th, 2009 @ 07:39 pm The Australian Broadband Guarantee
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Current Mood: mutter mutter mutter
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Remind me to never investigate government services of any kind. In theory I qualify for support under the Australian Broadband Guarantee because I cannot access wireless or ADSL broadband services comperable to the alleged metropolitan standard. ( Read more... )
Oct. 28th, 2009 @ 04:43 pm Cultured Culture: Intelligent micro-organisms
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Current Mood: disorganised
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This is a rough placeholder for a panel idea for Swancon 2010. Comments, suggestions, references welcome. ( Read more... )
Oct. 27th, 2009 @ 02:03 pm Bermuda Triangle of Greenwood
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Current Mood: resigned
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Tired of at least 5 days of continuous poor connection speed I finally girded my loins to call 3 technical support to find out if it was just me. ( Read more... )
Oct. 26th, 2009 @ 10:55 pm A case of nuts
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Current Mood: positive
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Much to my joy I did another 3 hours at the office this morning, this time with BYO ergonomic furniture. I need to clock up a few more hours in the chair to be sure, but my left leg and arm appear to approve of the new angles. It's a kneel chair I've had for many years. I think I wrote most of my project management essays on it so I've clocked up multiple-hour sessions before with some success.

( with bonus psychoanalysis )
Oct. 26th, 2009 @ 09:12 pm Faceless book
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Current Mood: alone
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Is it just me or is FB horribly broken? I appear to be friendless :-(
Oct. 25th, 2009 @ 10:40 pm The plan for tomorrow
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Current Mood: hopeful
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Tomorrow I would be very pleased if I could go to work for at least 2 hours. More than that would be nice, and I'm bringing in an ergonomic knee chair to see if that helps my endurance at the desk. ( Read more... )
Oct. 25th, 2009 @ 09:38 pm Walkies
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Current Mood: tired but happy
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Today's outing involved a trip to King's Park, to visit the transplanted boab tree. It took a *little* longer to get there than expected, for I thought the freeway would be open to traffic at 1:00pm. I was wrong :-(

( Read more... )
Oct. 25th, 2009 @ 07:56 pm Time to call the RSPCA
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Our home is clearly too stressful an environment for the well-being of the cats.

Oct. 24th, 2009 @ 10:59 pm Easy Virtue
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Current Mood: entertained
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Take Noel Coward, add a modern Australian screenwiter or two and a seriously good cast, and you've got Easy Virtue. ( Minor spoilers )
Oct. 24th, 2009 @ 04:44 pm Wireless time
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Current Mood: pissed
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I now have a wireless router purely to act as a firewall. And maybe talk to the printer, that could be handy. However, configuration is not proceeding well :-(

I appreciate what the technical writer responsible meant by "This information will have been provided by your internet provider", but it's a damn lie. I have no such information. Absolutely *nothing* has matched the instructions, and the Quick Start and main User Guides contain conflicting information, both marked OMG THE WORLD WILL COLLAPSE IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY. I hate technology.

Grrr.

I hate 3.

Grrr.

And the bastards have the gall to call it "easy".

Bastards.

Grrr.
Oct. 24th, 2009 @ 10:53 am Lost skills
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I was reminded today that I used to be able to make balloon animals. I doubt very much that I could make one today, but that loss causes me no regret. It was a briefly held skill, and left unpractised it died a natural death.

What skills have you allowed to pass away over the years? Some forgotten craft, trick, musical instrument, dance move?
Oct. 23rd, 2009 @ 10:51 pm Walking with beasties
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Current Mood: tired but content
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Today's goal was simple: a good long walk, but I had trouble making up my mind where to go. I eventually decided on Lake Monger, but on the way I was uncharacteristically moved to go to the closer Carine bush reserve and recreation ground instead. I don't often do spontenaity on the road, particularly when I don't know quite where I'm going.

( Read more... )
Oct. 23rd, 2009 @ 05:32 pm Rubber glove time
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Current Mood: torn
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When we came here 6 years ago, Sector 7 came complete with a dishwasher of unknown vintage. At the time it never would have occurred to me to buy one, but I wasn't about to refuse the opportunity. I grew fond of the dishwasher. Very fond indeed. However, it was a bit of a black box (despite being a white good) and it occurred to me once or twice that if something went wrong I'd be pretty much at a loss for what to do.

( I think we can all see where this is going )
Oct. 22nd, 2009 @ 10:28 pm Forging on
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Current Mood: tired but pleased
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My pace was somewhat reduced today after a rough night. I woke some time in the early hours, shivering violently. After layering up I managed to get back to sleep, but by the time Husband was up and about I felt throaty and feverish and requested more layers and water. Blech.

( Read more... )
Oct. 21st, 2009 @ 10:43 pm I did it again!
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Managed another trip to the office this morning for another 3 1/4 hours. Although the body was weak the mind was willing, so it was a very productive time despite the necessarily abrupt halt. Mmmmmm. Brains.

( Read more... )
Oct. 21st, 2009 @ 07:10 pm Loll cats
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Current Mood: fond
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Oct. 21st, 2009 @ 05:20 pm Steph's Guide To Gardening
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Current Mood: maternal
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Step 1: Plant lots of things with a strong will to live.
Step 2: Stay out of their way
Step 3: Photograph the survivors:

Oct. 20th, 2009 @ 11:06 pm Today was a good day
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Current Mood: happy
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As optimistically planned since mid last week, I went to my client's office today and clocked up 3 hours of honest labour. Woohoo! They seemed very pleased to see me, and I was very pleased to see them. I've made solid progress on updating the suspended Plan, and managed to contribute some shamefully pop* psychology to a current field problem, so I feel I earned my keep. ( Read more... )
Oct. 19th, 2009 @ 11:13 pm Up in 3D
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Current Mood: entertained
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Today as a birthday treat I took Husband (47 today) to see Pixar's latest Up at the cinema. And for the first time this century I allowed myself to watch a full length modern feature in 3D*. It cost $39 for the two of us, which was a bit of a shock to the system, and I got a crick in my neck and squashed ears. But I say it was worth it.

( Possibly spoilery, which isn't usually a problem for my film reviews. )
Oct. 19th, 2009 @ 06:37 pm A boy and his shark
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Current Mood: hardly obsessed at all
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No, really, I can stop any time. Any time at all.