unmitigated joy

Ten things that are making me quite unforgivably happy today:

1. Wearing my new light blue blazer with ripped jeans and battered converses. It makes me look like a punk rock Mother of the Bride.
2. The sun is out and for once I'm not stuck in a windowless office, completely unable to enjoy it.
3. Going to the supermarket and spending half an hour in the cookware aisle choosing new cake tins and measuring cups.
4. Waiting until it gets dark, turning all the lights off then holing up in my room and immersing myself Ico
5. The prospect of going drinking with a fellow Pajiban before the week is through.
6. Issues 7-12 of Runaways and the fact that I bought them at a mini sci-fi convention I accidentally stumbled on while out clothes shopping.
7. My soon to be shiny bathroom, replete with new shower curtain.
8. Spending my afternoon making ooey gooey chocolate brownie cake while singing along to Fiona Apple.
9. This book in all its strange and grotesque beauty... and the fact that it's the first book I've read in years that's sent me reaching for the dictionary at least once every chapter.
10. The fact that after a blissful day entirely to myself my house will be filled with people this evening, people that I can feed and entertain and give the damned Wii back to.

five things that make me the world's best potential girlfriend

1. I'm generous, impatient and I have an incredibly good memory. Chances are if someone I know desperately wants something and can't/won't buy it for themselves I will buy if for them and give it to them immediately so that I can see their reaction. Because that's just how I roll.

2. Want to go out with the guys? Brilliant, I've been itching for a night out with my friends anyway. I'm a firm believer in having your own social group. I would be absolutely baffled if a guy objected to me going out with my friends and can't see any reason to impose social restrictions on anyone.

3. I'm enthusiastic about pretty much everything, especially if it is something I haven't been exposed to much before. If someone can teach me something new about their obsession (whether it be sports, music, video games or stamp collecting) you can guarantee that I'll quickly be into it too.. or at least understanding of the attention it needs.

4. Cosmopolitan magazine is the devil. I will never spring anything involving a scrunchie, ice or pineapple slices on a guy. Ever.

5. I'm nine kinds of awesome. For serious.

five things that make me the world's worst dating prospect

1. I have to be slightly in awe of someone in order to take them seriously enough for me to date them, unfortunately my giant ego and sense of intellectual superiority immediately excludes 90% of people from this. As does any indication of keenness.

2. I change my mind on a minute-by-minute basis about everything from my career path to how my hair should be looking. Anyone who assumes they would be exempt from this is an idiot.

3. There are days when I will choose my playstation over my boyfriend. I'm sorry, but RPGs don't just complete themselves.

4. With great ego comes great neuroticness. I need the following things constantly: attention, praise, reassurance, requests for advice, physical affection. Also: once I get into a routine it has to be maintained: if I'm used to getting a nightly goodnight text message and suddenly don't receive one I will spend the entire next day convinced that the boy in question hates me.

5. I'm covered in tattoos. And in a couple of years' time I will be covered, covered in tattoos. Parents are not going to like me purely on principle.

the Saturday nines

Nine random thought-groupings for a rainy Saturday afternoon:

1. Alcohol (and the lack thereof): Under no circumstances are any of you to play the Pajiba Drinking Game with the review of 27 Dresses. There. I've said it. I now take no responsibility for any forthcoming hospitalisations. Also: I haven't had anything to drink in the entire month of January, it started off unintentionally but warped into part of my detoxy thing. I'm slightly worried by the fact that I'm impressed with myself for this.

2. My "diet" hasn't failed yet: I've been doing ludicrously well: in the last *checks diary* two and a bit weeks I've lost about 7lbs. Go me. Actually I've surprised myself by eating better and more cheaply since I've been on this mini health kick. Plus: apparently I'm an awesome cook and master of the "I have five things left in my house let's make something that is tasty, filling and nutritious" game. Now, normally I'd go back to my old ways now because I'm back at the top end of my "spiritual weight" spectrum but I don't want to do that, I'm kind of enjoying this whole "feeling healthy" malarky.

3. The "boyfriend" quandary: I really really hate the term "boyfriend". It sounds so twee and teenagery coming from someone of my age (I'm sure there's an age when it becomes applicable again, but I'm not at it). I do however like the term "sigoth" and may have to use that for the next Mr TheOdd (in the event that there is one before I hit the magical age when I can use "boyfriend" again), it's quirky and sounds very much like my favourite unit from Warhammer 40K, which makes me smile.

4. My new cat is an ungrateful brat: I put Plantet Earth on last night and didn't watch the rainforest episode like I wanted to but instead chose the great plains episode so that she could see the lions. Did she appreciate it? Did she hell. She did rather enjoy watching the fish on Blue Planet though.

5. Willpower: Get this: apparently I have some! Madness I know. I always thought I was lacking the necessary glands for feats of self control but I have done remarkably well on that front recently. My normal "can't say no" vices are: cakes and candy, boys, insanely frivolous purchasing of things I don't need, alcohol and watching TV rather than being productive. So far I have resisted them all.

6. Shhhh don't tell anyone: But I'm working out on an almost daily basis and actually enjoying it. Once I get into the habit of blocking off an hour of my evening then I won't notice that I'm missing valuable sitting on my arse time and will hopefully continue. With any luck by the time Spring is in full force I'll have the fitness level of a normal human being and may actually be able to go running.

7. My "to be read" pile is scaring me: I have thirty books that need reading now, five RPGs on my shelf that I haven't even started and some box-sets crying out for attention. For this reason I have been banned from shopping in February, if I come home with DVDs, books, CDs, video games or clothing of any kind they are either getting returned or given to charity by my housemates. I'm hoping the whole "willpower yay!" thing is going to kick in here.

8. A blast from the past: My childhood best friend contacted me out of the blue last night, we saw each other on a daily basis from 8 until 18 when I left for college after doing something that probably should have classified me as "world's biggest bitch" but was actually an act of pure altruism if you knew the back story. She seems happy and entirely less neurotic than I remember her. Aces!

9. I cannot stand my shitty job: Despite having a busy day one Thursday for the first time this year (on a semi related note: who the fuck decided to class bees as livestock? Do you have any idea what a hassle I've had with these fucking bees? Seriously: I'm the world's biggest slacker and I've even been online today on the second day of my four day weekend trying to get this sorted out) I have nothing to do and it's killing me. I'm seriously considering dropping out, working in a bar for seven months and living like a student again. I know that's not exactly financially viable what with my tattoo expenditure and all but I am going to start looking for other jobs as well as applying for my masters. That way if the course falls through (likely as I can't seem to get started on my aptitude assessment, still; two months after receiving it) I will know that I'm not stuck there.

Look, it's not you. It's me.

Inspired by several sources (Jezebel's newly emerging series, Manda's Friday tradition, some comments on the state of my mortal soul and my inherent love of lists and talking about myself) I've decided that there are some more things you must know about me, Internet, if we are to continue on. And so in a crazy amalgamation of my inspirations I present:

Fifty things you probably will never need to know about me, handily split into manageable bitesized chunks, but nevertheless will ensure that you will know me better than 90% of my general acquaintance by the end of the post.

...about the way I look
1. The pendulum of my self image swings wildly between "I'm hideous" and "Holy shit I'm actually rather pretty" with literally no mid-arc point of "meh". There is no reason for this. And contrarily I actually feel better about myself when I compare me to others.
2. I am ludicrously vain, I watch myself walk past in mirrors, shop windows, metallic surfaces of any kind. If it's reflective I will check myself out in it. This is reflexive.
3. My childhood anorexia was in no way linked to body image.
4. I have an ongoing love affair with my own hair. Occasionally I find this weird, but seriously people. It's gorgeous, silky, well behaved and longer than it's ever been before. I love it.
5. I hate my arms with the kind of passion that people usually reserve for baby killers and people who club seals. I never have bare arms in public. I don't care that they "aren't that bad" I feel like crap with them on show so I'm not going to take off my cardigan no matter how bloody hot it is.

...about my home
1. I've never been able to do the whole "student living in one room" thing. My crap is spread all over the house, along with everyone else's. Although mine takes up roughly five times the space of theirs put together.
2. My flatmates B and G are a couple. And they're lovely.
3. Between us we have 5 TVs, 3 DVD players, 2 PS2s, 3 Laptops, 1 PC, 1 Gamecube and 5 Stereo systems. We have no idea how.
4. Whoever cooks is exempt from washing up. G and I only ever remember to wash up because B is a neat freak and we're scared of her.
5. I keep my pretentious books on the two sets of shelves in the living room and in the hall, my trashy novels are kept under my bed. Yes, I am ashamed of half the things I read.

...about me and the arts
1. If I had to choose only one of my senses to keep it would be sight because I would die without the ability to read. Plus I could still enjoy anime.
2. In my opinion there is nothing better in this world than going to a midnight screening of a movie you're desperate to see and then discovering that you're the only one there. Nothing.
3. Music just doesn't "do it for me" the way it seems to for other people, I'm chameleon like in my tastes and very few songs move me to feel much of anything. I've never been obsessive about a band and unless I can hang out at the back by the bar I hate concerts.
4. I think that if a movie was filmed in a particular language then that is the language it should be watched in. Dubbing is the work of the devil.
5. Art galleries are sanctuaries for me but more often than not I end up sitting in a corner completely engrossed in what I'm writing. I think I just like the quiet.

...about me and men
1. Although there have been more than one when I refer to the Ex Mr. TheOdd it is always the same person. I don't like him very much, although I used to. I have been single now for the longer than I ever have been before. I have also been happier than I have ever been before. I'm pretty sure these are related.
2. I've never slept with someone for the first time when sober. This really upset me until polling my friends and realising that a) I make it sound a loads worse than it is b) I don't actually suffer from beer goggles to any great extent and c) at least I can remember all of them.
3. I don't have many male friends. I went to an all girl's school so I find interaction with guys kind of awkward, plus I'm incredibly suspicious (and arrogant) and instantly assume any man who is nice to me has an ulterior motive.
4. I find it actually cripplingly embarrassing to admit to liking someone. I simply cannot do it. I have not one single clue why but I feel like if I do all my dignity will be stripped. Which is insane as after the Ex Mr. TheOdd I'm not entirely convinced I have any.
5. I've been in love twice, one of them I dated, one of them not. One I still have feelings for, one definitely not. Neither loved me back. This doesn't upset me, in fact it makes me kind of glad.

...about my Family
1. I am the only person to have ever been University educated on either side of my family.
2. I'm also the first grandchild on both sides - although not the eldest.
3. My Mother and I speak to each other pretty much every day owing to the fact that we both have really boring jobs.
4. I refer to my step-father as Grumpy and fully intend to encourage any children either I or my step-brother have to do the same.
5. I adopt aunts on a semi-regular basis. So far I have about six. I adopt sisters too although that's much rarer and there have only been two women who have inspired me to do so.

...about my life Online
1. There is only one mention of me on Google under any permutation of my real names, this wasn't intentional but I'm very happy with it.
2. I am an Internet attention whore and get fairly obsessive about it. I know, there's a shocking fact you never knew. Although: I read a hell of a lot more blogs than I comment on.
3. Google reader may have in fact prevented me from being fired.
4. I used to use the alias "Eternally Ignored" but ditched it when I moved out of my self-pitying phase
5. I, personally, believe that due to the existence of spell checkers illiteracy is even less forgivable online.

...about me and food
1. I eat out of boredom and fast out of distress.
2. My sweet tooth is legendary.
3. Desserts should be warm and ideally served with vanilla icecream. (Examples include my home made toffee apple crumble, chocolate brownies and golden syrup sponge. Exceptions to the rule: Cheesecake and chocolate mousse.)
4. I'm not a fan of sandwiches. I like them but I can think of better foodstuffs.
5. Once I decide I like something I'll happily eat it every single day for at least a couple of weeks, often this involves having the exact same meal every day for lunch and occasionally again for supper, I see nothing wrong with this.

...about me and emotions
1. I'm contrary. Pointing this out to me just makes me worse. I know this. Doesn't mean I can change it.
2. I overshare. Badly.
3. I get very, very paranoid. I can quite happily convince myself that any conversation that's going on slightly out of ear shot is about me.
4. My god, I look terrible when I cry. In the real world I don't cry when I'm upset, only when I'm angry. Books and TV make my cry all the time though.
5. I feel in colours.

...about my friends
1. I suffer from "only child syndrome" according to my high school friends, making me selfish, whiny, determined to be the centre of attention and unable to share. Luckily they pretty much kicked this out of me via a systematic campaign of what can only be called "bullying" over the years. And I love them for it.
2. I'm terrible at keeping in touch with people so unless I see someone every day I tend to lose touch with them very quickly. Facebook has made my life a much more sociable place.
3. I'm keenly aware that my friends have flaws and I'm not prone to hero worship. Most descriptions of my friends begin with "I love X but...." they know this and do the same about me.
4. We don't have drama with each other. Although I thrive on the drama that other people have in their lives when it comes to my own friends and the relationships between me and them there is no fighting, no back stabbing and no scheming. I find it too exhausting and anyone that that kind of thing happens around doesn't class as a "friend" for very long.
5. I have several different circles of friends which never cross over, some people find this odd but the number of nicknames I have alone makes this arrangement much easier on everyone.

...about the things that make me... me.
1. I love lists. Like, love them. Everything makes more sense in list form. Especially if there are ticky boxes involved.
2. As we've already mentioned I don't find puppies particularly cute. I can't help it. I think I still have a soul though.
3. Nobody finds it weird any more when my answer to the question "What are you up to this evening?" consists of "Oh not much, I have to kill Rasputin and then hunt down some photos of naked men for this tailor... I need a new dress for my animated mannequin you see".
4. I have really specific compulsions. Mess and dirt I can handle (OK, OK I barely notice) but if something is out of order it sets my teeth on edge until I can fix it.
5. I won't feel validated unless you comment.

22 wishes

Today is the annual festival of me, and in recoginition of that I thought I'd make today's post appropriately themed. Here are 22 things that I wish, some serious, some not so serious. Some possible, some less than possible. Anyway - here they are:

1. I wish I hadn't drunk so much last night.

2. I wish I knew who it was that gave my Father my email address.

3. I wish I hadn't managed to lose my iPod at some point on the journey home and consequently wasn't on eBay at 1am this morning buying a new one.

4. I wish someone would bring me a coffee so I wouldn't have to go all the way to the lab to make one.

5. I wish I was three inches taller, preferably this would be achieved by lengthening my legs.

6. I wish it was Wednesday already.

7. I wish people knew how  much their Birthday wishes are making me smile.

8. I wish I'd never seen Simply Irrisistable.

9. I wish I'd never had to live through the third act of my own private performance of "When Sucky Guys Happen To Girls Who Don't Deserve It".

10. I wish I'd brought my new nail varnish to work with me so that I wouldn't have to spend the day with a chipped nail.

11. I wish I had a white kitten named Gabriel.

12. I wish that I didn't scare my Adorable Geek.

13. I wish I could speak Italian.

14. I wish I'd kept in touch with some of the people I went to primary school with.

15. I wish I could spend tonight doing something other than packing up boxes.

16. I wish I was a columnist for the Guardian rather than being a mindless drone.

17. I wish I hadn't agreed to go out partying 4 nights in a row.

18. I wish that I could sleep properly.

19. I wish that the carrot and orange cakes sitting on my desk weren't essentially pure fat.

20. I wish I'd carried on playing the piano.

21. I wish I knew what I should be doing with my life right now

22. I wish I didn't have to be at work today.

decisions decisions....

In a continuation of my hideous week, we have now come to the beginning of "Typical Alex life freak out Phase III"* in that I'm quite tempted to run away. Here, as I see it, are my ten best possible options:

1) Move to the New York and intern for a newspaper or a journal, live in a flatshare with about 9 other people and eventually work my way up through the publishing world (problem: a million and one people want to do the same thing and I'll probably starve to death)

2) Become the next Internet sensation and ride the wave of the publicity onto chat shows and make a ton of money (problem: becoming the next internet sensation would probably be fairly difficult and embarrassing)

3) Move to Amsterdam and become a stripper, use my dubious connections to blackmail important businessmen (problem: if I end up meeting and falling in love with a minor member of the European royalty he'd be forced to break up with me because of my seedy past)

4) Move to Italy and get a job in a vineyard, learn about wine making and eventually take over the business when I marry the owners' rugged yet strangely sensitive son Marco. (problem: likelihood of my Italian ever being good enough to converse with Marco is slim to none)

5) Go on a countrywide tour with an up and coming rock band and learn valuable lessons about the value of family as well as gaining an important insight into who I really am (problem: as great as Almost Famous is, movie plots aren't really representative of real life)

6) Move to Fiji, spend my savings re-taking my PADI qualifications and spend my time doing marine conservation work, teaching diving in my spare time and bar-tending to earn money to pay the rent (problem: Lack of funds to afford the initial flights, diving lessons and accommodation)

7) Become a receptionist at a tattoo parlour, spend all my earnings on rent for a tiny box room in Camden and adding to my now completely acceptable tattoo collection (problem: I'd be poor for all eternity and my mother would disown me.)

8) Hole up in a cottage in the Highlands and write an astonishing debut novel winning several awards in the process (problem: lack of muse and easily distracted nature means that I would spend the entire time blogging or internet shopping and hence would die cold and alone but surrounded by beautiful yet ill-fitting shoes and bargain jewellery)

9) Move to Japan and get a job writing the scripts and story concepts for RPGs, spend my evenings learning to cook and hanging out in video arcades (problem: lack of knowledge of Japanese and any kind of programming skills may hinder me somewhat)

10) Suck it up, get over it, apply for more research jobs now, start working on my 4 year project application for this winter and wait for the new batch of PhDs to be advertised later in the academic year. (problem: If I wanted to be sensible and do that I wouldn't be having a freak out now would I?)

So there we have it. Now I just need to pick one.




*Phase I: anger, ranting, frustration. Phase II: anti-social behaviour, lack of communication, apathy. Look out for Phases IV (psychotic chipperness, optimism and unintentional honesty) and V (drastic image modification/inappropriate boy/extreme drunkenness/all of the above). Coming soon!

(vanity + boredom)*something I should be doing =

Listage!

Yep that's right, I should in fact be reading up for my interview tomorrow but instead I'm watching Supernatural and blogging. So here for your enjoyment are the answers to 38 questions about me (the source they were ripped from was helpfully provided by Vermillion). Enjoy.

1. When you're home alone, do you still close the door when you go to the bathroom?

Yep, and I lock it. I live with flatmates, they have keys, and boyfriends. You can see where this is going.

2. If you have to go grocery shopping, would you rather go alone or with someone?

Alone, foraging for food is a solo activity although I always come back with treats.

3. It's your best friend's birthday, do you buy them a gift even though they didn't buy you one for yours?

We normally all agree to either buy gifts or none of us do, although if I see something they’ll really like then I’ll definitely buy it for them – doesn’t have to be a birthday though.

4. You win the lottery. Lump sum or small payments over a period of time?

Lump sum = bankruptcy within less than a year. I am terrible with money, if it’s in my bank account I will spend it. I feel that small payments are really my only option.

5. Do you like your music loud or at a reasonable level?

Normally at a reasonable level. Unless I’m exercising, pissed off or upset in which case I want to blast it out as loudly as is humanly possible. Normally there’s singing involved.

6. Are you a beach person or a snowy mountain person?

I’m a snowy mountain person all the way. I do not do well in the heat. The second it gets over 25 degrees I start bitching and whining. I cannot do summer elegance by a long shot.

7. When do you brush your teeth?

Before leaving the house in the morning and before going to bed at night. Unless I’m coming home drunk in which case make-up stays on, earrings stay in and teeth remain un-brushed.

8. Can you watch scary movies alone?

Indeed I can for I am not an 8-year-old girl. I did slightly freak myself out by watching the original Ring movie on an unmarked VHS tape that my friend had recorded for me, though. That screws with your head.

9. Soft bed or firm?

Firm, anything else screws with my back.

10. Would you rather stay home all day, or be out and about with some friends?

Out and about with some friends. I do enjoy spending time alone at home but its normally through laziness. Once someone drags me out of the house I normally end up thoroughly enjoying myself even if I really didn’t want to go at first. Plus there are boys in the outside world. And beer.

11. What's one of your worst memories?

Being exploded. Oh OK, that’s too melodramatic I mean “in an explosion”. That’s one of my very favourite “bad parenting” stories – I’ll so a series on “why I no longer speak to my deadbeat father” at some point in the future, this anecdote’s the highlight (although technically this one wasn’t his fault, he was just a douche in the aftermath). For the record: No, I’m not horrifically scarred. Yes, I do have an unhealthy fascination with fire now.

12. Do you like to keep the peace or be confrontational?

I tend to keep the peace amongst my friends purely for an easy life, drama tends to irritate me unless I’m being told about it in the third person. If someone steps out of line concerning either myself or one of my loved ones then I won’t hold back. I am snippy and sarcastic with strangers on a daily basis during rush hour, I owe these people nothing and they annoy me.

13. Are you more likely to be with a large group of people or a few close friends?

I’m more likely to be with a big group socially – normally my close friends are in it. I’m at my best with an audience, the drama queen in me likes to play to a crowd. At home I’m normally hanging out with my flatmates.

14. What are your plans for October?

Well, hopefully a new job is in the works if my interview tomorrow (which I’m supposed to be reading up for right now as a matter of fact) goes as planned. I’d be starting at the beginning of October. Between now and then I’m moving to a new flat, saying goodbye to some friends and celebrating my birthday. Fun month.

15. If money were not a problem, where would you like to live?

I’m crazily in love with London even after four years of living here, ideally I’d like to stay but in a nicer apartment. New York looks like it might be fun too. I’d definitely need to live somewhere urban with shops, seasons, art galleries and good restaurants.

16. Are you close to your Mum and Dad?

I haven’t spoken to my father in over 7 years, not through lack of trying on his part. My mother and I speak on the phone at least once a day (I get very bored being on my own and so tend to call people if I’m not watching TV or playing video games, she gets fed up of being trapped in a house with a teenager –it’s a good arrangement.) I’m ludicrously close to my Stepfather too.

17. What is one fear that you can't seem to overcome?

I am terrified of being cut or stabbed. Surgery freaks me the hell out especially if it’s under local anaesthetic and injections have me literally crying with fear. It’s way too much of a violation for my liking and the thought of it makes my skin crawl. Tattoos don’t bother me because the needle only goes into the skin superficially. Piercings however freak me the fuck out. Getting my lip done was the scariest experience of my life and I spent an hour in the chair psyching myself up before I could even let the woman near me. Essentially I like the fact that my blood is on the inside and I’d like to keep it that way.

18. Are you good at maths?

For a “normal person”? Yes. For a scientist? No.

19. Do you kiss on a first date?

I’ve never actually been on a first date with someone I haven’t already kissed so it would be kind of strange not to.

20. Is there anyone that you regret ever meeting?

Nope. Even my most hideous ex-boyfriend had his advantages.

21. Rate your life on a scale from 1 to 10.

8.5

22. Would you rather have roommates or live alone?

Roommates, I get really lonely by myself. Even if I spend the entire weekend holed up in my room with a book I like being able to go and knock on someone’s door if I need something. My flatmates are very easy to live with too, I’ve had roommates that I didn’t get on with at all and some that I just couldn’t stand to live with but once you find the right people it’s just dandy.

23. Do you like any of your friends a little more than just a friend?

Indeed I do, I have a crush on an adorable geek but he’s not interested. Ah well, such is life.

24. Do you like to drive?

I can’t drive, terrible I know. I will learn at some point. Honest.

25. Do you hate anyone at the moment?

See above re: awful father.

26. Do you give money to homeless people when they ask?

No, never. I do however buy coffee or a sandwich on occasion.

27. A weekend in Las Vegas or Miami?

Tricky one. Miami if you can get me an appointment at a tattoo parlour, Vegas if I get to heckle Celine Dion.

28. When you go to the store, do you have a list or just buy random things?

I have a list, when I shop then I shop properly. I do tend to deviate though.

29. What do you wear to sleep in?

Depends on the season and who’s currently staying in my flat. Normally a nightdress or hotpants and a vest.

30. You have 3 months left to live, what do you do?

Get very, very, very drunk. I’m sure there’s something meaningful I could be doing but seriously: you’ve just told me I’m doomed before Christmas. Cut me a little slack.

31. You're having a bad day, what's one thing can make your day better?

Going to the cinema and losing myself in a movie.

32. Tanning beds?

Are the work of Satan and should be banned. I can see no earthly reason why they exist.

33. Is there anything you would change about your body if you could?

I’d lengthen my legs by about 4 inches, give myself some cheekbones and tone up my arms. The last one I probably could do something about but I’m too damned lazy to.

34. You wake up in an unfamiliar place, what is your first reaction?

Aw man! Again?

35. Is there anything that you should be doing right now?

Reading about the expression patterns of KCNV2, refreshing my knowledge of bioinformatic genetic analysis and re learning the developmental stages of the Xenopus oocyte. Not much.

36. If there was a way to know when and how you're going to die, would you want that information?

No way. I know me, I’d completely give up.

37. What is your favourite breakfast food?

My mother’s traditional English pancakes with sugar and lemon juice. Yummy. A fry up is never going to get old.

38. It's 4am, and your phone is ringing, who would it be?

My flatmate who’s woken up at the end of the bus route again, my flatmate’s boyfriend wondering where she is, my friend Ade telling me he’s pulled or someone who’s phone has switched on in their pocket. A startling number of people call me at 4am.


And that's me in a nutshell. Interesting or not so interesting there it is, in my defense I kept getting distracted by Jensen Ackles.

evening update - ten true things

Well I'm off on a road trip to the coast this weekend (now I know that I'm not going to get eaten by sharks I feel remarkably more happy about the whole thing) to celebrate 22 years of one of my friends being alive. It's going to be at close quarters with a big group of people (about 3/4 of whom I've never met before) combined with large amounts of alcohol, dancing and board games. Should be fun. 

I'm also celebrating for a reason greater than the four day weekend: the application form I was struggling with last week (and which drove me to start this damned thing) proved fruitful. Out of 80 applicants I was one of the 9 to get an interview. This is good news as it is my first official step out of my current slackerdom and into the world at large.

So to herald the early start to the weekend, here are ten true things*. We'll start with the subject I know most about: me.

1. According to Wikipedia I am 3" shorter than the average female my age in the UK. This is apparently not tall enough to reach the hand-rails on the London Underground.
   
2. My pupils are naturally so dilated that eyedrops have no effect on me. It is possible to take a photograph of my retinas without any preparation. According to two qualified medical professionals this is "freaky".
3. I still don't understand differential equations despite having an A-level in Maths. I never want to.
4. My hair colour is currently purple.
5. At present there are 6 self-help books in my bedroom. I've read two of them. Five of them originally belonged to my mother and have significant passages highlighted. This is creepy.
6. My favourite drinks are red wine, gin and vanilla white russians. These vary depending on weather, time into the evening and whether or not I have access to nutmeg.
7. I own as many pairs of pink shoes as I do games consoles. This number is 5.
8. I hadn't eaten meat until I turned sixteen. This is not a euphemism.
9. Nine is my favourite number (because it's thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, And thrice again, to make up...) it's also a very nice shade of blue.
10. I currently own 230 movies on legally bought DVDs.

Discuss.

I really should do one of those "here's all the things about me" questionnaires that are so rife on facebook, just so people have a basic frame of reference, but I can't seem to find one that isn't horrifyingly pedestrian if anyone knows of one (or has any questions to put to me) feel free to leave me a note in the comments section.

Have a good weekend, kids!

*Note: true things are subject to change. We here at Circular Logic take no responsibility for the nature of these claims, we cannot guarantee that they will be salacious enough to satisfy you and would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any disappointment caused.

things I know

I am living proof that premonition is essentially futile, a testament to the fact that predetermination is alive and kicking. Observe: 

• I will make a fool out of myself in front of someone I really don't want to.
  
• 
  
• At some point tonight I'll offer to show someone my tattoos.
  
• 
  
• I will passionately defend something I shouldn't even admit to liking. To a total stranger.
  
• 
  
• Tomorrow three people will have added me on facebook, I may or may not remember them.  Probably the latter.
  
• 
  
• I will be convinced that at least one person will never want to speak to me again regardless of whether or not this is the case.
  
• 
  
• Even money that I will say either "It'll be so much easier if I just crash at yours" or "God, why don't you just stay at ours, we have loads of space" to someone I fairly openly dislike.
  

You see? I know the future and yet am powerless to change it.