Miss Cellaneous

As for the weekend, the less said, the better, but it did have its moments, among them this afternoon when thelastgoodname dropped by, and when I say "dropped by" I mean "arrived after some careful re-routing and re-scheduling." Best laid plans, mice, women; you know how it goes. I'm sure she was thrilled to learn so much about the German train system, small-town architecture, and how Real Germans Eat Dinner. No, really, she did like the Leberwurst, she listened attentively to my father's Riyadh stories, and she smiled at my mother in a sunny way. And as much as I love Papa & Mama, it was so good to see a friend again.

Did you mi...okay, fine, I wasn't really gone long enough to be missed. Spent last night at my friend Anne's, watching the game (\o/) and drinking Nero d'Avola, cheering on the boys and Philipp Lahm most of all. What? Pocket-sized football players are kinda cute. ( Semi-final talk, the intersection of food and foot-ball, and some superstition to boot! )

Otherwise, even when the game was over, life was good: turns out Anne's a Secret Buffy Fan, who never dares to tell Germans because they either stare without understanding or point and laugh. She has the DVD sets of all seasons but is only up to S4; we agreed there needs to be (re-)watching in both our near futures.

Today, then, work was fairly unremarkable. Afterwards, I made my way to this sophisticated little café where, on Thursdays, they offer a free French Conversation Stammtisch (regulars' table, LEO tells me). Today, of course, it didn't happen...but the place was so lovely and the waiter -- you can see him in one pic, in fact -- so friendly and helpful that I will definitely return next week.

( See? )

That said, I need to polish my French but lack the resources for classes. If you are aware of free yet effective ways to practice speaking and listening especially? Sharing is caring. & :-)

Home from witchsis's birthday party, where I talked to music teachers and consultants, sociologists and fair-trade-goods-selling parents...and only belatedly realised the last train was leaving soon.

On the train, I met an old man ( ... )

Also, I wish to show around the icon I just created, stealing this straight from sheafrotherdon's post that displays the original image:

[...] photographer John Russo has launched his [About Face] project - head and shoulders shots of various celebrities in natural light. Including Joe Flanigan.

pukajen is gone again, after six days that flew by. Today, she still saw a little glimpse of Cutie--who came by for our study session in the morning (not a euphemism)--but was then sent off for some last sight-seeing adventures in the city while he & I poured over Exam-prep-type stuff.

Cutie: *door closes behind Jen* So, this was one of your winsome academic lesbians?
Mona: Nope, she is one of my straight'n successful geekgirls.

Guess this is what I get after outlining my California adventures with various friends to him.

rez_lo, thank you so much for your package! Am listening to your music mix right now, and will try the tea tomorrow! Put the sachet in my wardrobe, too. ♥

So yesterday night, I talked to my friend Vee on the phone for 1 1/2 hours or so.

( Score one for feminism. Only NOT. )

Still working my way through aforementioned 300 pages, but in the other hand, I've got some surprises: cindergal, got your gorgeous UNICEF card, and oh, kangeiko--found the package with your lovely tea from The Tea House @ Covent Garden and your even lovelier card; I'm currently brewing two cups of the Christmas Tea (spicy black tea + orange peel, cinnamon, ginger & vanilla pieces) and will tomorrow have a huge pot of Christmas Chai (Indian black tea + cardamom, ginger, cloves & black pepper).

Thank you!

I could tell you all about our Botanical Gardens experiences and the diner lunch that pukajen, ahedonia and I had--complete with mmmalted! milkshake--but instead, until rez_lo arrives to pick me up for a day of frolicking about museums, I'll spam you with a few first photos of my and callherblondie's ( concert night with Iron & Wine )

Also, pertaining to this laptop and thus the computer-savvy folks: What's the cause of random Internet Explorer windows or Firefox tabs with spam advertisement popping up randomly even while I'm on safe sites? I installed Adblock Plus, but obviously, there is a great big hole in the protective virtual walls around this computer....

kangeiko? ♥ Your birthday gift matches my pink(ish)-pale-translucent skin tone exactly! & :-D Thank you so much. ( Pic )

Before I go to bed -- y'all, check out the music mix ciderpress made for my birthday & SGA fandom:

they're advertising in the skies for people like us: a john/rodney ep.

If you snag, don't forget to tell her! I gotta warn you, though; I've been listening to the boy least likely to - i'm glad i hitched my apple wagon to your star on repeat for a while now.

( This is probably only funny to other Europeans, possibly only to other Germans, and maybe not even to them. )

In fannish news, maybe you're interested in and want to contribute to the Fannish Vocabulary musings selenak has posted in her LJ. Example?

"Katana Space: it's a kind of magic, to say it with Queen. Refers to the mysterious place the Immortals of the tv show Highlander hide their swords if they are NOT wearing those handy coats. Buffy, Faith and other Slayers must know the secret, as they obviously hide their stakes in the same spot. They probably learned it from Captain Jack Harkness."

I smell like a lemon drop.

( Scents, Tastes, and Curious Wonders from Estonia. With photo! )

Really brief this time -- thank you, anonymous friend, and thank you, kangeiko, for your v-gifts. & :-)

( Friends & foods & new-ish monitors )

from the ljnews page:

"Paid members can send a free v-gift

We're celebrating all the new gifts by giving each Paid member a $1 coupon to spend on a v-gift for a friend. Just choose your v-gift in the gift shop and then look for the dropdown menu under the "Have a gift certificate?" section at the bottom of the page. Select your $1 coupon and click the "Use" button next to it, then hit the "check out" button to send your free v-gift."

I cannot remember if the handcuffs were also free.... Also, as amireal shared, it seems they stopped the advertising commercial sponsored v-gifts.

ciderpress! Your parcel arrived! ♥ ♥ ♥ Thank you so much. It does cheer me up, oh yes it does.

Speaking of London(ers), my witchsis has a few questions about Kensal Green & good neighbourhoods for a twenty-six-year-old girl (her little sister); if you think you might have some info, please share. & :-)

Did not bike to lake again. Am studying instead. Stay, me!

Must, however, share that eretria sent me lemon balmlemon VERBENA leaves from her garden so I can have fragrant tea. Thank you, sweetie!

Totally going to bed, yes. Work today, work tomorrow, then train trips & class. There: Your burning curiosity satisfied.

Just -- after half of ljdom had gotten themselves an ljarchive, I had to give it a try as well.

( The 3 most commonly used words in my livejournal? )

But I ask you -- ( what's the use of graphs like this one? )

And eretria, darcydodo, avrelia -- you're still heading the comment count. & :-) Sweet tools, some of these.

Final note -- I metaquoted for the first time. Obviously, everybody on LJ thinks she's got the cleverest, wittiest, and all around most quotable f-list. I'm no exception.

Livejournal now offers direct posting of pics stored at Photobucket -- neat feature, though in my opinion, it's only advisable for single photos.

Now, the last few weeks were less than perfect. But thanks to comfort from family and friends, I'm a bit better now. Last week, in the midst of mock exams & more, grundbuch came and made me blinis. ( Blinis with caviar, roast prawns, and sour cream. Also, of course, Russian vodka. )

Also, thegrrrl2002? Check out ( my new coat. )

Party was nice. Of course, there were conversations that made me reconsider my, shall we say, image. ( We shall. )

Had left early but, as previously arranged, joined a merry bunch of interns for a little amateur wine-tasting session. ( ... )

Came home to yet more proof of my friends' loveliness: First, there were two lovely Christmas cards -- jwaneeta, thank you so much! And rez_lo, that's just the most amazing card; again, wish I could show it to everybody. I put them both on top of my computer so I can look at them. And smile. Then, kangeiko had found in a sale and promptly sent me Gender Trouble by Judith Butler and Anna Tripp's Gender -- I'd asked about that kind of literature, so this was nothing short of an amazing gift.

Now, I shall do my exercises and watch House. In the best of all possible worlds, I would have studied for next Monday's exam, but this just goes to prove we live in an imperfect universe.

Physiotherapy day again. ( You know what that means. )

So, feeling better now. 'specially since one of my best friends from uni, usually living too far away, is coming by...just about now. But the Autobahnen around this city at rush hour -- yeah, you can imagine. If you live in L.A, that is.

Another awesome surprise was the postcard I found in my mailbox -- all the way from Melbourne, pentapus had sent me a card...and not just your usual Harbour & Sky scene (which she annotated, making me smile even wider); she'd drawn me Boy!Teyla and Girl!Ronon with markers, coloured:
( The whole postcard, small size )
( Teyla & Ronon 1, bigger )
( Teyla & Ronon 2, bigger, too )

The always-fabulous autobadgirl sent me a parcel from Canada, and not only Canada but Québec! There was much glee upon opening it and finding, among other sparkly beauties, an assortment of Tartinades Abitibiennes. Now, you wonder, what on Earth is that? ( Here's a pic of the contents. ) Badgirl, you're even sweeter than all these babies. Thank you -- I feel very much like a prettypretty princess now.

***

In other news, I just booked a flight to London for August 30th, returning September 4th. Pray that my supervisor doesn't mind; I had no chance to ask her yet and would prefer to do so face-to-face.

In any case, my English friends (or friends-in-England, actually): Care to come to your fair capital city and meet me? I'll be paying a visit to kangeiko, and we'll be having a ball -- attending one, anyway -- but if I recall correctly, she's working, and I'll be free during the day (Thursday, Friday, and Monday).

***

Something that made me giggle: Salman Rushdie is a fanboy. I'm linking to selenak's post so you can avoid the spoilers in the original post.

***

grundbuch will be here in an hour, and we'll cook ourselves some nice curry. Or maybe it'll be naughty curry. We never know, being forced intoMasters of Improvisational Cuisine.

the_royal_anna, I got your parcel. Thank you so much! ( What I did with the contents )

kangeiko, your postcard from Rome was in my mailbox today. Aw. Rome, how I miss it. And its palm trees. *g*

***

( Because you haven't heard enough Axel-the-Physiotherapist Tales )

1. We're still tagging, Auburn & I. C'mon, SGA writers, you know you want to.

2. Talked to witchsis yesterday. Caught up, gave her an LJ crash course, and before I knew it, she was writing about guys piling up in the apartment above hers. She's certainly got the hang of it rather quickly. *eg*

3. ( Alias 5x06 )

4. ( VM 2x06 )

Home-home for the weekend -- old friends' wedding today; I'm almost ready.

( And, just because... )