Owner: Cinnamon Marine URL:http://cinnamonmarine.blogspot.com Join Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:46:53 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: Rock music. Diet obsession. Hamster antics. Ramblings of a 20-something woman. Do not expect deep thought. Site statistics:Click here
So when am I meant to have free time? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've been looking at my diary and in the two weeks beginning Monday I think I only have a couple of evenings when I'm not working. This is bullshit! I think I'm going to have to take mornings or afternoons off during this, assuming there aren't things I need to get done. I'm going to have to plan days off for immediately afterwards.Otis has been at the walls again. I've sprayed the 'Chew Stoppa' stuff on his favourite spot in the hope that it will have an a effect but I am going to need to get some plaster for that part of the wall. Bloody bunny and his teeth. I discovered it will cost £100 to get a replacement cover for my futon as well, so I'll have to put up with the holes for a bit longer.Too many expensive things happening! I've got Christmas presents to buy, I have to pay off the credit card with the new set of tyres on it, there's the computer to still be paid for, I know I'm going to need a new cam belt in February, and I really, really want to get on with t
Paying for the privilege 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've had my first experience of private health care - having been paying £10 a month since April, I finally got round to having my six month check up at the dentist. Does the fact that I'm out £80 make a difference? Well, since it's the same dentist and there's nothing wrong with my teeth not really. Although he did give my teeth a quick polish which he never usually does. I also got more of an assessment of what's going on in my mouth - I have very good oral hygiene, apparently. Always nice to know. I suppose it's a question of making sure the patient feels they have had their money's worth. After all, I've already contributed to NHS dentistry with my National Insurance so I'm now paying twice because I don't have access to an NHS dentist anymore. Thank you Mr Blair and your stupid dentists' contracts, it's thanks to you that the practice I have been going to for 20 years went private.One piece of advice was to try flossing of an evening. Apparently there is a r Read more:privilege
Another evening out 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Took myself out to the rock club last night. I probably should have gone to help with something work related in the afternoon but decided I really didn't want to and went to Mum's for dinner with her, my cousin, cousin-in-law and second cousins before I went out for the night. My boss might have a sarcastic mutter this morning. Two acts on last night: Lunar Mile, fronted by Tony Iommi's daughter, and The Celturian, one guy playing acoustic guitar. Both were cool, Lunar Mile more on the rocking front, The Celturian for being an awesome guitarist. Seriously, the guy is fast. He was still playing when I left but I was feeling weary in spite of the three Red Bulls. It was gone 12.30am anyway.There was a guy there with the most gorgeous long, dirty blond hair. Most fabulous hair I've seen on a guy since Axl Rose in the early 90s. I was watching him for a bit then had the sudden realisation he must be the best part of a decade younger than me. Eep!There's a spider in the flat. Read more:evening
Weekend round up 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I don't know why it is I don't seem to post much at the weekends. You would think, since I didn't have to worry about doing anything with work, that I would have made some time in my busy schedule of world domination to drop by and say a few words but no. Actually, my computer goes a bit funny when I've been playing Civilization IV for hours on end and can't seem to cope with a return to the web. Yesterday I was conducting a campaign as the Spanish empire and am still in the process of destroying Rome.You will also have gathered from my silence that the odds of 70 million to 1 didn't fall in my favour so I can't disappear around
the world on the Queen Mary II just yet. Nor can I replace the games machine, which my little bugger of a rabbit killed on Friday. It was only a cheap thing and I didn't play all that often, but that's hardly the point now, is it? Otis also put hole number three in the futon on Saturday morning. I'm wondering if there's something in the fabric Read more:Weekend
Budget food shopping 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've just done a subsistence shopping exercise again - not having any money until I get paid on Thursday. Having already decided I wanted to have spaghetti bolognese and defrosted the minced beef this morning, I needed to get a couple of bits and pieces on my way home. For only £1.84 I just bought:an onion;two carrots;two tins of chopped tomatoes;tomato puree;two low fat fruit yoghurts;some mushrooms;and a yellow pepper.The pepper was the most expensive item at 68p. Not bad going. I'm not sure what an 8p yoghurt is going to taste like, but there's no harm in trying it. Thank goodness I already had the meat though - cheap meat is not something I want to experiment with! I'll go stock up at the farmer's market when I have a bit of cash.Sainsbury's has, however, got me hooked on a potentially expensive habit - they're doing pure varieties of grape juice, in a kind of non-alcoholic wine alternative thing. I drank 1 litre of the chardonnay grape juice yesterday (a lot sweeter
Domestic Sundays 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Still at 9st 10lbs. My one positive is that there isnt a weight gain, but really, what does a girl have to do to get to 9st 7lbs? Cut off a limb?After the awfulness of the England match on Saturday I didn't venture far from home on Sunday. Trip over to Sainsbury's in the morning was it. I watched the act of remembrance from the Cenotaph while cleaning out the rabbit then randomly decided to make lemon poppyseed cake. Other than the Sainsbury's trip I didn't leave the flat. GBF rang to see if I wanted to watch Flight 93 in the evening, but Mum was coming over so I wasn't able to do that.Might take one of the cakes into work (there is too much mixture for one tin so I have to make two cakes when I do this one). That way it isn't hanging round the flat and tempting me. It occurred to me this morning that I have a fairly high carb diet, but since I've already noted that my weight doesn't appear to be on an upwards creep maybe the level is about right. I was pondering the hu Read more:Domestic
, Sundays
Remembrance Sunday 1970-01-01 00:59:59 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun, and in the morningWe will remember them.In Flanders Fields by Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Candadian ArmyIn Flanders fields the poppies blowbetween the crosses row on rowthat mark our place; and in the skythe larks, still bravely singing fly,scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days agowe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,loved and were loved, and now we liein Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:to you from failing hands we throwthe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who diewe shall not sleep, though poppies growin Flanders fields. Read more:Remembrance
, Sunday
Change might not be a bad thing 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've been eating breakfast the last couple of days. By which I don't mean I'm having a SlimFast shake, I mean I have been eating two slices of fruit loaf. Looking at the bag this actually comes out as marginally fewer calories. What this also meant yesterday was that it got to lunchtime without me noticing the morning had disappeared because I hadn't been feeling hungry. Although the fact that I was insanely busy yesterday may have been a contributing factor. Lunch was a single cheese roll, a yoghurt and a plum. The apple I had packed as a snack was never eaten, but I did nibble probably too many crisps and biscuits at the meeting I had to go to straight after work. Had the last of the SlimFast bars instead of a meal in the evening which should have more than made up for it.So far I haven't pulled out Paul McKenna's CD again yet, but I might have to. I don't want to get into the habit of grazing. Today I have again had a couple of slices of fruit loaf with my first coff Read more:Change
Miscellany 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Still 9st 10lbs. I'm actually eating (although not necessarily meals since there has been nibbly stuff in the office a lot this week) and I'm still solidly on 9st 10lbs, so that has to be a good sign, doesn't it? On the other hand, my Mum asked me last week if I had lost more weight because she thinks my face is looking thinner, and I have been wondering if my calves are getting thinner because my boots don't grip as tight anymore. It could be that they've stretched of course.I've put a sitemeter on the review blog as well now, because I was curious. Was surprised to discover yesterday that there had been three views of it that weren't me. Weird. Mind you, the sitemeter to this site provides some amusing information on how people get here. For example, someone found my site by putting the search terms bunny peed on futon into Google. Okay, so I know I've got those various words in the blog, but since the visitor apparently didn't stay long you do wonder what they were Read more:Miscellany
A very charming man... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 ... bought me flowers this afternoon for helping him out. Wouldn't it be nice if there were more of them out there?
Bad day at HQ 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I was at Twickenham this afternoon watching the worst England performance I have ever seen in person. While I did wonder if some football supporters had wandered in by mistake (we do not jeer while the opposition is lining up for a kick at the posts) I can't help thinking the boos that England received at the end of the match were exactly what they deserved.On this performance England will be lucky to win a single match in the Six Nations, and we won't get beyond the group stage of next year's World Cup. The whole squad and coaching staff should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Read more:Bad day
Eating out 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Eating at other people's homes is quite interesting as a means of assessing how much you eat and whether or not it's normal. There may be an element of the host feeling the need to provide more than necessary on the basis that they are being the host and they want to ensure their guests don't go hungry, but it's interesting nonetheless.Last week I ate at my Mother's two evenings running, while my cousin and her family were staying. The first night there was sweet and sour pork, a mountain of vegetables (including mashed potatoes, a fatal weakness of mine), and a cheesecake with cream to follow. On the second evening they were having fish cakes but I don't eat fish so Mum offered me Aberdeen Angus hamburger as an alternative. This is where the difference between her style of feeding and mine was most noticeable - she did two fishcakes each and therefore two beefburgers for me. These were quarterpounders, they were not small. I ate them because you kind of feel a bit odd refu
Another milestone passed 1970-01-01 00:59:59 It is officially six months since I quit the alcohol. Six months. I'm sure there have been people who genuinely thought I couldn't do it - hell, sometimes I was one of those. Not many people know to be fair, and some of the ones who do know I've stopped drinking think it was as part of a diet. Easy cover story and since it isn't their business anyway I haven't enlightened them. Since I finally paid my wages into the bank yesterday and I don't have a meeting this evening (hoo-fucking-ray!) I shall treat myself to a litre of merlot grape juice, a ridiculously creamy looking pasta thing (which I planned to eat yesterday but didn't have time to cook between work and meetings) and watch The Libertine which arrived in the post from LoveFilm.com. There's a band on at the club tonight and I would quite like to go, but I'm feeling worn down and have an all day thing with work tomorrow so I should probably have an early night. I think there's another band on Saturday so I shall Read more:milestone
, passed
Shopping and sewing 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've been spending again, but I think I'm about there with the Christmas presents. Except I need something for my Grandparents - I don't think I can do the calendar idea after all. Having dropped into Hobby Craft yesterday on my way back from the work thing I went back over again this afternoon for more stuff. I bought a cross stitch magazine yesterday which has a 3-D nativity scene which I am now aiming to make before Christmas so I needed some more threads for that, and there were some designs which were suggested for the top of wooden boxes you can buy. The boxes cost about £15 though, so I am going for compact mirrors instead which should look nice but are pretty straightforward to make. Especially now I have a bit more time.Driving over this afternoon it looked like a rainbow was erupting from the road somewhere straight ahead of me. I remember when I was a kid I made up stories involving climbing the rainbow. Probably inspired by My Little Pony or the Carebears or something l Read more:Shopping
Being a nosey neighbour 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My new neighbour
s intrigue me. I have seen nothing of them, I only know they're there because I've heard them come in of an evening and in the morning I hear them get up, shower, and leave. There is a car with Irish registration plates in the allocated parking space for that flat, and a beaten up white van is parking along the fence of the enclosed parking area. It isn't being a nuisance to me but I would probably be annoyed if I owned the spot along the fence behind it, even though I think they should still be able to get in and out. There would appear to be two of them in there, and as I might have mentioned before I haven't been asked to sign any new forms for the land registry so I don't think they can own it. So is this a long term thing or my old neighbour helping out friends? I'm dying to know.Having neighbours again reminds me how thin the walls are, so in the unlikely event I bring a guy home anytime soon (well, you never know, CG might visit. Oh, was that a pig flapping
A series of minor frustrations 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Since I was actually able to manage a lie-in on Sunday I turned my alarm off. And then forget to turn it on again Sunday night, with the consequence that I overslept on Monday. Wasn't late for work though - which only goes to show how much time I spend on-line of a morning.Blogger has been odd over the weekend - the edit functions on the compose post section were missing which rendered me unable to do what I wanted to and I abandoned the idea of posting in minor frustration. Still, they had sorted out the blip by yesterday afternoon so thanks to the technical bods at Blogger for dealing with whatever it was. They do a pretty amazing job considering all this is free for the user.Otis has got really persistant with the carpet behind the futon, to the extent that I kept having to put him back in his cage and I would hear instant nibbling again everytime I let him out. Rather than continually moving the futon to grab him (which was probably giving my arms a good work out but was gett Read more:series
A developing fascination 1970-01-01 00:59:59 It's the weirdest thing, but I am increasingly fascinated by Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance. This photo isn't helping matters - he just looks incredible in that one. This is quite bizarre. One might almost consider it a teen crush, except I'm 29 years old so shouldn't I have got beyond those now? And it isn't the same thing either as my generalised lustful adoration of Axl Rose, Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx. Aside from anything else, this one's my age rather than at least 15 years older. That doesn't make it anymore likely that I will ever meet the guy, but why let reality get in the way of a good daydream?I think it must be tied in with quite how amazing The Black Parade is. Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge is a good album but it isn't one I've listened to repeatedly. Way had a very different look for that one as well. I was a bit uncertain of the blond hair when I first saw it, but it definitely works. He looks so striking in all the publicity shots for The Black Par Read more:developing
, fascination
Feeling like my Mother 1970-01-01 00:59:59 For my birthday last year, Mum bought me a pair of very comfortable and warm waterproof walking boots, and a sensible waterproof jacket. This was mainly in preparation for our trip to the Lake District with the church. I owned no flat shoes at all, aside from my trainers, so my footwear wasn't exactly suitable for the countryside in the rain. Similarly, I had no jacket which could count as even vaguely waterproof. The colour I chose was a lavender sort of shade, and my Mum had the same style of coat in the same colour. As a consequence, I never actually wore it while we were up there because I realised the ridiculousness of the pair of us in identical colours. In actual fact it has only been in the last few weeks that I have started wearing it. The first time was to see England's woeful performance against Argentina, but I've been wearing it over to the shops or out generally when the weather hasn't been promising. And everytime I've worn it I have pictured me as my Mother: Read more:Feeling
Morning musings 1970-01-01 00:59:59 There's a most unusual coloured sky outside my living room window right now. Dawn related, no doubt, but it looks more like the colours you associate with sunset on a summer's evening. I've tried taking a photo but the colours have completely confused my camera and I don't think it's going to come out.Tonight is the only evening this week I don't have a meeting, but I think I'm going to have to do some driving around delivering stuff to people ahead of Saturday's work session. What fun. Not. I've got shopping to do since I haven't had the chance to do any at all this week, but I don't even know I'm going to be able to manage it today.Bunny is running round like a mad thing, periodically pausing to recline in an oh so cute and innocent manner on the futon. I suspect he's been having a nibble at the carpet behind the futon. So much for the chew stopping thing.Might have found £60 I can spare towards the tattoo, so only another £60 to find and I can book a two hour s Read more:Morning
Conversations I'll never have 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I live too much in my head. There are times when I find myself rehearsing arguments with people which have never happened and are never likely to happen. I have conversations with people and some of them can get me quite upset because I attribute attitudes to them that I have no idea whether they actually hold. It's a way for me to work things out in my own head though. Sometimes I need to figure out what I think about a situation or something about me and internal conversation seems to be the simplest way of doing it, for me anyway.Take the other day for example. I was having an imaginary discussion with my Mother about my tattoos. Let's face it, this is one I could probably ring her and actually have, I know what she thinks about the ink and I know she will be very disapproving of number four. But then, in my head I can articulate things I could never put into words when the person is actually there in front of me. Mum doesn't 'get' my tattoos. She doesn't wear make up,
Lacking opportunities for world domination 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I feel weary. Work is being frantic this week and it won't get better until December. I have actually been making sure I leave on time so the bunny can have a run and I can get some food before I have to go out again for a meeting, but Monday was the only night so far I haven't had a meeting. Today might be a problem with escaping as well because the boss has scheduled a meeting for 4.30 to talk about strategies for next year. Hope it doesn't go on too long, I've got a 7.30pm meeting 30 miles away and with the last few meetings I've got home in time to go to bed so I don't want to have to stay up another hour so Otis can stretch his legs.He has been a bit annoying the last couple of days actually. I think it's because I've been out so much he hasn't had the freedom he is getting used to. He'll hate Saturday when I will also be out all day with work.Still, the time between the office and meetings has meant I've found a bit of time to unwind with the destruction of civilisatio Read more:domination
The need for the visual 1970-01-01 00:59:59 You might have noticed a change to the blog. Since I've switched to the beta version of blogger I thought I might as well update the look a little too. I think I'm happy with it, but am in two minds about the colour scheme. If I live with it a bit I can see if it is me. The review blog has changed as well - the lighthouse thing is pretty but I'm not sure that's right. We'll see.I don't know about you, but I find I have to have an image in my head before I'm sure I'm happy with it. When I'm planning on going out for something special/significant I spend some time in the day or so before I need to actually get ready visualising what I'm going to wear and how it will look. This saves an awful lot of "what the hell am I going to wear?" time when the clock is ticking down and I have to actually get ready. It's the same when I go clothes shopping - I have to have a rough idea what I'm looking for, otherwise I can't get anywhere with it.Last night I had an epiphany. I ha
Domestic duties 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I think I have new neighbours. There has definitely been someone living in the flat next door the last couple of nights, but I don't know if it's the original neighbour for whatever reason (sale on the flat fell through when he went to the buyer and demanded an extra £5,000), whether he has rented it out, or whether he is just letting some friends stay there. I haven't been asked to sign anything about the land registry transfer so he can't have sold it. But there is a couple in there - I can hear them talking through the bedroom wall. It would appear this morning that they are eary risers as well, although slightly earlier than me, which helps me not worry my radio might wake them up in the mornings.I was tired last night though. After Mum had been round to drop off my laundry and play with the bunny (who is in my bad books again for the hole in the carpet) I found myself dozing off on the futon. I was in bed and fast approaching sleep by 10pm. Still feeling weary this mor Read more:Domestic
, duties
Tattoos and rabbits 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I need £120 for a two hour session with my tattoo artist before Christmas. Went to see him yesterday for an idea on cost for the new one and he has said to do it on the basis of£60 an hour, with an initial 2 hour session to break the back of it then see how we go. It might need more for colour and detail but we will have to see. I just need to work out where I'm going to find the money. I think I've got all my big presents sorted for Christmas but there are still bits and pieces I need to get, like the presents for all the girls in the office. Otis is currently removing paper from the rubbish bin and chewing it up in the middle of the floor. I guess I can live with it if it keeps him from digging up the carpet, but he has also had a nibble at the cable for the mouse. I usually get to him in time when he's investigating that. It works, although it now has tape around a lovely cut patch showing copper wire. I might need to investigate a wireless one. I know you're not mean Read more:rabbits
, Tattoos
Keep on rocking me, baby 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The one advantage of the club not opening until 10pm is that when I have a meeting in the evening I can still get along to see a band play afterwards. It helps when you have a chairman as efficient as last night's of course - with some of mine I would have been in that meeting until coming up for 11pm I imagine. Sadly I arrived part way through the support act, Red Star Rebels. They were good, and their demo CD had sold out by the time I decided that parting with £4 wasn't going to break the bank - apparently they sell through their website though. It was a bit of a glam night last night and that's the way I like it! Main act Tattooed Millionaires weren't as good as they thought they were (what they did to The Kinks' classic All Day and All of the Night doesn't really bear thinking about) and the singer/bassist so desperately wanted to be Nikki Sixx it was quite amusing. Good news from the scales this morning. I might have lost 2lbs. Shh, don't say it too loud, they might
Christmas shopping 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Mum and I had a day Christmas
shopping yesterday. We set it up a couple of weeks ago when I was having a particularly busy time at work - I think she was trying to ensure I took at least a day off to compensate for all the evenings I've been working recently. Whatever, it was really nice. Today feels like it should be a Sunday but never mnd.We didn't go anywhere different though. We had talked about possibly going over to Oxford, but in the end we just mooched around town and went to the next town over to go to HobbyCraft. But neither of us has really had the time to just amble round the shops for a while, looking for nothing in particular. And it has been years since we've done it together. I have now found presents for my Mum's parents, which leaves my Dad's mother and I have an idea for her I need to check with Dad when he comes over today. I still need three presents for work (and have one and a half to finish) but I think I know what I'm going to do with them. Then I
WAAHHH!!! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Bloody weekends. Bloody family meals. Bloody bathroom scales. 9st 10lbs this morning. Not amused.
Preparing the gifts 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I had quite an enjoyable evening yesterday. Just me and a whole load of wrapping paper. I had a litre of the Chardonnay grape juice and a Motley Crue DVD on in the background. Really quite enjoyed myself. Otis had to spend most of the time in his cage which I don't think he was thrilled about, but I couldn't have him eating presents or ruining the paper. He was utterly adorable when I did let him out though, all friendly and bouncy and not eating the carpet for a change. Currently he's under the futon but since I don't hear ripping I'm not too worried.Anyway, that got the bulk of the presents done - it's our office Christmas lunch today so it is traditional that we have presents under the tree. Don't know why, they don't go anywhere until we close for Christmas which will be in another week.It occurred to me this morning that the largest number of people I buy for are work people. If we didn't do this every year my Christmas would be a lot less expensive. Nine present
Nightmares and monsters 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I wish I knew what is going on - the scales tell me this morning that I currently weigh 9st 12lbs, but I haven't been eating more than usual, and in fact yesterday I possibly ate slightly less. It was the office Christmas lunch yesterday so we went to a local Chinese for a buffet type lunch. Three course meal in the middle of the day is not usual, but then I had eaten less of a breakfast than I have done recently (actually I'm not sure I had anything to eat, I might just have had herbal tea) and I only nibbled in the evening because I was still full from lunch. Monday wasn't exactly excessive either. I haven't the faintest idea what's going on and I don't know what to do about it either. I can't really eat any less, I was feeling a bit peculiar by lunchtime yesterday as it was.If it sounds like I'm panicking a bit that's because I am. It took me ages to get down to below 10st and I don't want all that effort going to waste. Having finally looked like I was losing weight again Read more:monsters
, Nightmares
Tattoo Day! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today's the day! It's amazing how you can find £120 just before Christmas if you really try. I suppose it would have been far more sensible to put the money towards paying off my computer. Meh. The computer won't last forever, but the ink will!The piece I am going for is based on flash by Jenny Clarke Design. Set 23 - on the torso. It's the set on the top row on the left, the group of three flowers with the tribal work background. Thing is, the colour I want is the colour of the purple flower on the bottom of the page in the next set along - so I'm thinking it might be better to use that flower design as well. This is going on the back of my left shoulder, up over the top and onto the top my left arm. The tribal bit we're going to do in dot form rather than solid, with the flowers on the back of the shoulder and the tribal work being the linking feature to take it onto the arm for another flower.And if Dee gets all that done in two hours I will be amazed so I might be looking fo
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