all things me

Using a kitchen towel that just yesterday was used as a sandwich wrapper to wipe your nose is not a good idea. It’ll smell like dog food.

[‘chow’ means food]

Matrix DVD collection box comes out tomorrow. 10 DVDs including all the 3 movies and their Revisiteds, Animatrix and more. Of course, I have bought all the 3 movies and Animatrix (not the Revisiteds, though), so it’d be crazy to buy the 70€ box, wouldn’t it?

There’s also a 4-DVD Indiana Jones box. I have all the 3 movies on VHS. It wouldn’t be that crazy to buy the 60€ box.

And, there’s a 3-DVD Star Wars box. I have all the 3 (+ Phantom Menace, I think, unless I haven’t gotten it on tape after a certain Unmentionable lost my first copy of it ) movies on tape. Taped from TV, though, so it wouldn’t be crazy at all to buy the 60€ box.

2 out of 3 isn’t so bad. But the Matrix box would be so nice!

1) Finally the bill for the domain/webspace arrived (although they couldn’t have terminated the service if they themselves had forgotten to send a bill) AND I’m loving this domain
2) I was able to help someone on the WordPress forums. I also decided to register.
3) Tommyknockers has arrived at the library AND the library is open till 7pm today so I can go get it!
4) I’m getting my 2nd paycheck tomorrow
5) We’re going to see my grandparents’ new house on Sunday (I was there helping with the move, but now it’s going to be sorted out — all the wonderful stacks of books on shelves)
6) Tomorrow I’m seeing a friend of mine whom I haven’t seen in a long time AND I’ll be working only about 5 hours
7) The treaded group projects are coming along nicely albeit barely on time (the story of my life… )
8 ) I have the Father’s day present bought, over two weeks early (now I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that Dad doesn’t buy the same thing on his own) AND I have one Xmas present (well, at least 80% of it) already stashed
9) The coffee is very good this morning

@ 14:45
Words of the day Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum (= manyplies), Abomasum; very useful, the stomach compartments of a cow (and other ruminant animals I just learned). I know them in Finnish (which some people find strange) and I suddenly wanted to know them in English…

I’d made myself a full thermos of coffee. Milk and all. To keep me happy through the 4 hours of work and the 3 hours of lecture. (I just realized it’s *3* hours…)

I forgot it on the kitchen table…

Yesterday I watched Sixth Sense for at least the 2nd time. I had completely forgotten the ending which was good (both the ending as such and the fact that I’d forgotten it) but that’s not the point. It was a good movie. I felt empathetic toward the little boy, Cole, and his fears. Made me think of children’s fears in general. Made me think how horrible it would’ve been to be in a similar situation as a child. (real dead people or not) That’s really not the point either, but I just wanted to “prove” that I’m not a heartless person.

I am, you see, immune to horror. I mean the entertainment kind (real life kind I have never met, and hopefully never will). Books, movies… nothing “works”. Well, does horror mean scaring people, really? In my opinion, it doesn’t. I’ve watched horror movies seriously (or religiously?) ever since I got my own tv (I was able to watch anything I wanted), at the age of 15. I remember seeing one movie, Bad Dreams, which included a scene where “the bad guy” sticks a knife through a woman’s hand. Back then it was awful and after that I’d always thought it is the worst movie I’ve ever seen — until I watched it again last year. Boy was it stupid. Really bad 70s–80s special effects and the hand thing? Meh, small potatoes.

I appreciate horror movies that have a twist. I love Ring (apart from it’s cheesy ending) because IMHO it’s got a new idea (even though it’s a remake of the Japanese version, Ringu, but I haven’t seen that!). Blair Witch Project was refreshing when I first saw it. I also like splatters like Scream(s), Nightmare on Elm Street(s)…
I also rarely (make that: never) jump at the movies (or watching a movie on tv) when something sudden happens on the screen. People say they get easily scared even when the suddeness is clearly hinted upon before it comes. Tense music… a character walks into a room where the door is opened to form a dark corner… camera pans so that there’s a space for the new arrival — you know the drill.

I appreciate horror books because they can keep my interest. And besides, how can black on white scare the bejesus out of anyone? It goes without saying that Stephen King is my favourite author. Now that I’ve read almost all his books, I’ve come to like the little connections I can find. Makes me proud: “hey, I can remember something about the books I’ve read!” (but about Nikolai Gogol’s Lost Souls, Moliere’s Miser, or most of the 10 Finnish classics we had to read for high school Finnish course I have no recollection) And of course, I love the stories.

Now, would I rather NOT be immune to horror? Probably not. I don’t know what’s so wonderful about having nightmares, being scared of every screech and shadow, jumping at every sudden noise or movement.

I do have to admit: sometimes I startle awake from my dream and clearly see a huge spider crawling above me. But that’s a whole different ball game. Spiders are horrrrrrible. . . . .

I woke up 15 minutes + 4 minutes (my alarm clock is 4 mins early) ago and I don’t feel so peachy. And now the bloody system says I can only enrol to exams!

@ 9:07
Good, “Basics to databases” checked. Now I’m going back to sleep.

I don’t like holding babies in my lap because they usually start crying and I feel like it’s my fault. They should have a disclaimer plaque hanging around their neck saying “Don’t take this personally, but you’re just not my Mommy or Daddy.” *waaaaah*

Or maybe it is my fault but the parents say “oh, it’s only a phase” …

Blue! Can you imagine?! Uhh… I think my feet are numb.

Never buy socks after work. I honestly didn’t notice they were blue (instead of black, duh) until this morning when I read “navy” in the barcode sticker. I hope no one notices… my socks flash like neon signs: “freak freak”

Today I have to go buy some *properly* coloured socks.

While I wait for the Agency to start on tv (oh yeah… Day 15 without my TV — I need a countUP) and listen to Maroon5 This Love (groovay!):
Every time I have a summer job, I wonder if should take up smoking (if you know me, you know that’s the last thing I’d do — and if you don’t know me, I’m telling you, I would never ever ever start smoking)… at least it would be a good excuse to take a break. But me, what would I do on a break? Suddenly stop working and start reading? I’m entitled to two 12,5-minute breaks a day plus at least a 30-minute lunch break. So far, I’ve picked up a glass of water every now and then and the other day I visited the library (at the dept., on the same floor even — and it was a book I used in the ontology-making). Oh, I did go to lunch when I was invited, on Tue and Wed last week.
Perhaps I could take a Virtual Smoke Break.
Anyway, now it’s time for the Agency, then Harsh Realm and then reading… I have to take Carrie [Eng] back on Friday. Luckily it’s a thin book.

First time for everything
I had my first Jehova’s Witness experience today. Seriously, not one has ever been on our doorstep in the 22 years I’ve been around. (Hmmm… Witness repellent) Oh well, not much of an experience, I got a magazine (…”these jesus dudes showed up on my doorstep and all I got was this lousy magazine”…) Nice guys in nice suits, the “witnesses” that is. Not in the magazine.

Btw, it snowed (!!!) today. This morning (*cough cough*) when I left from home it was snowing nice little flakes and in the afternoon when I was coming from the Uni it was huge wet sleet — i.e. rags.