(no subject)
May. 9th, 2013 08:31 pmSTAR TREK.
(no subject)
Mar. 6th, 2013 10:04 pmI was all like 'WOO! COMPUTER GAMEZ!' and bought the new Tomb Raider one. Only it won't work. I open it, it gives me shitty 8-bit graphics, fixes the graphics, says 'Tomb Raider has stopped working' and then throws itself out the window. I don't know what's happening and I don't know how to fix it and I'm cranky; very, very cranky. My computer is shiny and new and I tried turning all the graphics all the way down and no dice.
HALP.
HALP.
(no subject)
Feb. 20th, 2013 11:07 pmSo I bought an xbox game, not realising the 360 wasn't backwards compatible. I am not smart. But it's about Obi-Wan! *sob sob* I either have to buy a new (old) console or just never play it. But Obi-Wan! I'm torn. But I'm also not mad, so I haven't bought the other console yet. In other Star Wars news, I am overly excited for the two spinoff films (Young Han! Young Boba! alksdjfalsdkfaoweuhralikshdfbvaliawheybalkhugjsgvdkbaieulskrljdhf!) and have sort of been sobbing on and off about what I know about The Clone Wars (managed to spoil myself for a pretty big plot point, go me, very clever).
I haven't been able to watch any hockey because I am just at work all the time. ALL THE TIME. And somebody stole my jacket while I was at work, and I hate them, whoever they are. HATE.
BUT! BUT! I have finally been able to finish my first non-children's computer game. yeaaaaaaah. Fable 3. I feel so proud! Though that boss fight was so easy I didn't actually realise it was a boss fight? Certainly flippin Zurg or whatever in Toy Story for N64 was six trillion times more difficult so maybe I shouldn't be proud of myself, but WHATEVER.
This entry was written after a series of dayshifts while trying to stay awake to prepare for nights. So it's boring and kind of drunky. Sorry? Or I would be sorry if I wans't so flipping tired.
I haven't been able to watch any hockey because I am just at work all the time. ALL THE TIME. And somebody stole my jacket while I was at work, and I hate them, whoever they are. HATE.
BUT! BUT! I have finally been able to finish my first non-children's computer game. yeaaaaaaah. Fable 3. I feel so proud! Though that boss fight was so easy I didn't actually realise it was a boss fight? Certainly flippin Zurg or whatever in Toy Story for N64 was six trillion times more difficult so maybe I shouldn't be proud of myself, but WHATEVER.
This entry was written after a series of dayshifts while trying to stay awake to prepare for nights. So it's boring and kind of drunky. Sorry? Or I would be sorry if I wans't so flipping tired.
Despite my inability to play most sports, I've always enjoyed them as a spectator. When you are born into a Welsh family, you are bound by blood and thousands of years of violent history to root for Wales in all things and against all foes, but especially against the English*, particularly when it comes to rugby union. A rough, highly physical sport where success is determined as much by the strength of the scrum as the cunningness of the coaches play, I am always at the ready to cheer from the sidelines as "my boys" duck up and under and hurtle themselves down the field on the way to victory.
The problem is, Wales doesn't often do this, and when the finally do I am not there to see it. Because I live in Australia.
So this year, sick of being unable to properly participate in being a Sports Fan, I decided that I would introduce myself to a new sport, and teach myself to understand and love it as I do with union. Being me, of course, I had to make it tricky and choose Ice Hockey, a sport Australia doesn't really *do*, on account of its being played indoors and involving ice that isn't expressly used for keeping beer cold. But with a little help from a friend, and the absolute amazingness that is the internet, I've managed to see live three games so far.
I liked them.
Hockey is, obviously, incredibly different from union. A few of the differences, though, have struck me more than I expected that they would, and are taking me longer to adjust to than I first thought. Firstly and foremostly, the speed at which hockey is played is phenomenal. Sometimes I swear it's like the puck is teleporting itself at random about the rink. Another thing is the very obvious differences in playing styles between the teams, something which isn't quite so apparent in union. Having watched the Ducks v Flames game, I was surprised at how much more physical the Blues v Blackhawks game was, and how differently each team played. There's also definitely far less of an emphasis on brute strength in hockey, and much more importance placed on strategy, the ability to react instantaneously, and to feint successfully against the other team.
But there are similarities as well, and those, I think, are helping me to understand and appreciate hockey. They do share some (albeit universal) rules, such as the offside rule, a 'don't hit people in the head' rule, and those who start/are involved in violent altercations are punished because violence is bad, mmmkay, so in many ways the basic groundwork is the same. A ref awarding a penalty because a player is offside is something that I can understand, even if I am still learning what 'offside' looks like on the rink. While brute strength doesn't seem to play as big a part, there's still an immense physicality required that, at times (like when they run, not skate, down that ice like it were grass and they were in runners, not skates), takes my breath away. Perhaps skating ability is not so impressive to those of you born and raised with hockey, but it's knocked my socks off every time. The crowd involvement is reassuringly the same (though lacking in hymns), and on an entirely superficial level - the jerseys are the same colour.
Two of the three games I've seen have involved the Calgarly Flames, whose jersey is the same red as my Dragons. It's easy for me to barrack for the men in red, second nature. I don't have to think about it, I just do it. Even more like Wales, the Flames (from what I have thus far seen) try very hard, have some brilliant moments, show they have the ability to and seem on the point of claiming victory...then don't. I can support that sort of team, and easily, because I've been doing so my entire life.
It's the very beginning of the season. My interest in hockey is brand new and shiny enough to see your reflection in. Perhaps this disqualifies me in some ways from talking about it, and maybe I'll look back on this post in a few months and cringe. I hope not. What I am hoping for is that, at the end of this season, I'll not only know and understand hockey, but that I'll love it as I love rugby union, excitedly, passionately, and wholly (and that the Flames will have won something).
*except if they play Australia.
The problem is, Wales doesn't often do this, and when the finally do I am not there to see it. Because I live in Australia.
So this year, sick of being unable to properly participate in being a Sports Fan, I decided that I would introduce myself to a new sport, and teach myself to understand and love it as I do with union. Being me, of course, I had to make it tricky and choose Ice Hockey, a sport Australia doesn't really *do*, on account of its being played indoors and involving ice that isn't expressly used for keeping beer cold. But with a little help from a friend, and the absolute amazingness that is the internet, I've managed to see live three games so far.
I liked them.
Hockey is, obviously, incredibly different from union. A few of the differences, though, have struck me more than I expected that they would, and are taking me longer to adjust to than I first thought. Firstly and foremostly, the speed at which hockey is played is phenomenal. Sometimes I swear it's like the puck is teleporting itself at random about the rink. Another thing is the very obvious differences in playing styles between the teams, something which isn't quite so apparent in union. Having watched the Ducks v Flames game, I was surprised at how much more physical the Blues v Blackhawks game was, and how differently each team played. There's also definitely far less of an emphasis on brute strength in hockey, and much more importance placed on strategy, the ability to react instantaneously, and to feint successfully against the other team.
But there are similarities as well, and those, I think, are helping me to understand and appreciate hockey. They do share some (albeit universal) rules, such as the offside rule, a 'don't hit people in the head' rule, and those who start/are involved in violent altercations are punished because violence is bad, mmmkay, so in many ways the basic groundwork is the same. A ref awarding a penalty because a player is offside is something that I can understand, even if I am still learning what 'offside' looks like on the rink. While brute strength doesn't seem to play as big a part, there's still an immense physicality required that, at times (like when they run, not skate, down that ice like it were grass and they were in runners, not skates), takes my breath away. Perhaps skating ability is not so impressive to those of you born and raised with hockey, but it's knocked my socks off every time. The crowd involvement is reassuringly the same (though lacking in hymns), and on an entirely superficial level - the jerseys are the same colour.
Two of the three games I've seen have involved the Calgarly Flames, whose jersey is the same red as my Dragons. It's easy for me to barrack for the men in red, second nature. I don't have to think about it, I just do it. Even more like Wales, the Flames (from what I have thus far seen) try very hard, have some brilliant moments, show they have the ability to and seem on the point of claiming victory...then don't. I can support that sort of team, and easily, because I've been doing so my entire life.
It's the very beginning of the season. My interest in hockey is brand new and shiny enough to see your reflection in. Perhaps this disqualifies me in some ways from talking about it, and maybe I'll look back on this post in a few months and cringe. I hope not. What I am hoping for is that, at the end of this season, I'll not only know and understand hockey, but that I'll love it as I love rugby union, excitedly, passionately, and wholly (and that the Flames will have won something).
*except if they play Australia.
I miss my puppy. At seventeen, you couldn't really call her a puppy anymore, but since she never grew too big to be scooped up and cuddled (if she let you, that is), we never got out of the habit of calling her a puppy while doing those things and/or settling for tickles in just the right spot under her chin. She was a fiercely independent little miss, frighteningly intelligent, not particularly empathetic (to cheer you up she would try to force you to play fetch, because it made her happy, and that's all that really matters, right?), and incredibly cheeky (when we had a pool, she was very fond of jumping at our knees and knocking us in it, fully clothed). She almost never let you take her photograph. Once, as a puppy, she fell asleep in my shoe, and I carried her around in it, laughing, until she woke up and wanted out. She loved to click her nails on tiles and wooden floors. Her favourite thing in the world was wrapping paper, and she could delicately unwrap all our presents for us and then save us all by attacking and shredding the now-liberated paper. She was brave and blustery and ready to eat any dog that was so much bigger than her it could swallow her whole, but that one time she met a six-week-old golden retriever puppy she clawed her way up my face in terror. When Scamp went blind, she would lead him to the ball and let him run back with it during games of fetch, so he didn't miss out. She was a gem. We had her put down on Saturday, after we believe she suffered a stroke, and could no longer coordinate her back legs. I miss her. I know I always will. I also know that I'll hear phantom 'you aren't paying me attention/I want the food that's cooling on the bench/I'm bored and up to mischief' scratching on the good furniture for years to come.
(no subject)
Jan. 15th, 2013 10:58 pmHello. Greetings. Happy New Year and all that. I was, not two minutes before, actually quite happy, but as I've now locked myself out of my phone for roughly the umpteenth time I'm in a bit of a snit. It happens. I get in a snit. Then I humph off into the distance and don't post for months at a time and really, I'm a terrible blog-friend and wait, can I unlock my phone online? hold on.
I CAN. GOD BLESS YOU, TELSTRA, YOU ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND.
Anyway, as I was saying - I'm sorry for being rubbish and I think I may be back now. I suffered last year, from burnout and depression associated with it. I might have escaped Townsville, but the stress kept coming (death in the family, threat of death in the family, deaths at work (tougher now in that I get angry as well as sad, which I did not expect), illness, etc) without a break for quite a while, and I think I'm only coming out of it now.
To help me get out of it completely, I've made some goals for this year (and onward), which include (but are not limited to) 1. write more - blog posts, letters, postcards, words; 2. learn about SPORT (chosen sport - Hockey! I am EXCITED!); 3. ACTUALLY teach myself Welsh instead of listen to a podcast every three months and consider that enough (because it truly isn't); 4. Have a holiday before I go insane. Or more insane.; and 5. Fix my health! This one is a long process. I have put on a lot of weight over the past two years, and I am not tall in the least - I do not carry it well. It needs to go, or I'll die alone and young and childless and not even surrounded by cats (which I hear is how everybody wants to go, these days) because I'm horribly allergic.
SO NOW YOU KNOW. I hope everything has been at least okay with all of you?
I CAN. GOD BLESS YOU, TELSTRA, YOU ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND.
Anyway, as I was saying - I'm sorry for being rubbish and I think I may be back now. I suffered last year, from burnout and depression associated with it. I might have escaped Townsville, but the stress kept coming (death in the family, threat of death in the family, deaths at work (tougher now in that I get angry as well as sad, which I did not expect), illness, etc) without a break for quite a while, and I think I'm only coming out of it now.
To help me get out of it completely, I've made some goals for this year (and onward), which include (but are not limited to) 1. write more - blog posts, letters, postcards, words; 2. learn about SPORT (chosen sport - Hockey! I am EXCITED!); 3. ACTUALLY teach myself Welsh instead of listen to a podcast every three months and consider that enough (because it truly isn't); 4. Have a holiday before I go insane. Or more insane.; and 5. Fix my health! This one is a long process. I have put on a lot of weight over the past two years, and I am not tall in the least - I do not carry it well. It needs to go, or I'll die alone and young and childless and not even surrounded by cats (which I hear is how everybody wants to go, these days) because I'm horribly allergic.
SO NOW YOU KNOW. I hope everything has been at least okay with all of you?
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