*bad blogger*

that would be me...

just been working and avoiding Nano-ness...

anywho...

I took my parents and my bro to Chinatown on Sunday (for Dim Sum). I had a nice time :) I hope they did too...It was for their collective birthdays after all.

The Man's b-day is coming up on Friday and although I have a few ideas for gifties I'm being a waffle on the entire gift thing in general. I am quite uncertain about what constitutes the ideal present.

but anyway...

I finished reading Perdido Street Station a few weeks back, and I loved it. Except I felt let down by the ending. It was disturbing and sad and appropriate yet...I can't help wishing that it had been less gloomy and less depressing.

Just needed to rant about that.

I just finished reading the first graphic novel of "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". (The Moore comic book) What a gem! I is campy and witty. Full of literary references more and less obscure. I am looking forward to reading more of it.

I also read "Mr Punch" recently. (Can you tell I've been in the mood for comics?) It was written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean. Weird weird weird! Yet, I could not stop myself from being drawn into the story. The way the text and the images interacted was masterful...A must read again...Later.

On a different note, I started playing in a new campaign...Well we did introductions of characters. It should be interesting, all of our characters are chaotic (a rollercoaster ride waiting to happen) :D I must admit that my character is not fleshed out to my liking yet...I'm quite unsure of how to play her...she is not what I had envisioned...but I guess time will tell...

enough about me, what about all of you?
;)

 
ah..haha...it seems that I dropped off the face of the web shortly after my last post.

eh.

bad me.

been kinda sick for the past week and a half...a very lame excuse for not writing much in the NaNo way and for not checking my e-mails...

I WAS going to catch up on my writing and get my medicare card done (since mine has expired while I was ignoring it) but instead my body forced me to take two naps of three hours each on Tuesday (11th)... my eagerly awaited bank holiday sublimated before my (closed) eyes...I did not see it go by...

grr

I guess I should try to write something...you know, for NaNo.

 
Still alive.

just thought I'd let you all know.

eh.

Short and somewhat monosyllabic update follows:

Job at bank ok.

Life quite good.

Cat is big now. (well more big)

Rain is cold but nice...Too wet though.

Know now: Buffy and Angel rock.

__end of update__

On another front, I started reading Perdido Street Station (China Mieville). This is probably the best book I have read all year! I am barely one hundred pages in and am quite amazed at how lyrical some of the passages are. The way that he plays with language has astonished me a few times now.

One of the reasons for my slow reading is the fact that I reread passages two or three times in an attempt to absorb as many of the subleties as possible...I find myself daydreaming that my own words were as eloquent and poetic.

I am most impressed at how he conveys both respect and disgust in the same sentence...I am unsure about how to explain my thoughts...More on that later I guess.

Bunny hugs to those I have not seen in a while and to those I have...bunny hugs as well!

 
Pagan Pride Day was fun... more than I was expecting I must admit.

Even the ritual that I co-led was pretty fun, no icky energies...yay!

and

I now have a witchy broom!

go me!

When I came home last night (after the rit and the crazy day) I was so pooped that I fell asleep around 10:30...a rare occurence.
I was woken up around 1:30 by The Man, but I did not mind in the least.

anywho...more later

 
Oh! I forgot to mention...

Party at our place for Halloween/Samhain. On the 31st (a Friday).

Come costumed, as always.

Bring your own booze. (Please)

The theme (for there is one...) is "Fantasmes" "Fantasies" if you will. Yes, we know that it can lead to much weirdness but it was better than the myriad requests we got for a latex theme (to which we said "err...err...err")

 
In answer to Elim's question...

I just learned today that I start on Monday (8:30) and that I will be working at the BNC on the corner of President-Kennedy and University.

The person who will be my superior called and actually sounded more excited than me about having me. It bodes well.

The schedule is lovely. I will work 30 hours a week (from 9 to 4:30) Monday to Friday. This means that I can pay rent AND do that NaNoWriMo thing and whatever else strikes my fancy...Like that play...

The only thing that I still need to really get into gear is my application for the Master's program...Need to do that really soon, someone kick me in the ass and make me...Please. ;)

That's it for now.

Hope to see some of you at the PPD celebrations on Saturday. (Come and make wands with me...)

 
*does a little dance*

I have a job! (sorta).

I just went through a week long training to work as a "representante du service a la clientele" [translation: cashier/teller] at Banque Nationale.

I was somewhat nervous about being tested on my basic accounting skills as well as on my absoption of the BNC doctrine...However, it seems that I am (as I always suspected) a genius since they did not even for one second doubt my capacities. Ha! I fooled them well indeed.

But seriously folks, it turns out that I am rather quit on the math and the accounting despite my lack of genuine interest for it. My Customer service skills (as we all know) are without compare. And I can remember the products and services to boot.

ok ok...rocket science it is not, but cut me some slack...this week was (supposedly) the equivalent of training three months-in bank-


Does this mean that I have to grow up? Now that I have a grown up job that requires me to wear "fancy" stuff...

*sigh*

I sure hope not.

 
just because I'm in quiz mode it seems...





Which flock do you follow?

this quiz was made by alanna

I am a neutral sheep...how surprising.

baaa. I mean...bah!

 
Warren Ellis writes novel. Nifty.
Boing Boing said it, it must be true!

 
Have an interview this afternoon...probably a battery of silly office tests as well...

want to work.

really badly.

*sigh*

gonna get this! Grr!

 
Yaaarrr! This is a very silly test...who else is a pirate...?

You are The Cap'n!

Some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some slit the throats of any man that stands between them and the mantle of power. You never met a man you couldn't eviscerate. Not that mindless violence is the only avenue open to you - but why take an avenue when you have complete freeway access? You are the definitive Man of Action. You are James Bond in a blousy shirt and drawstring-fly pants. Your swash was buckled long ago and you have never been so sure of anything in your life as in your ability to bend everyone to your will. You will call anyone out and cut off their head if they show any sign of taking you on or backing down. You cannot be saddled with tedious underlings, but if one of your lieutenants shows an overly developed sense of ambition he may find more suitable accommodations in Davy Jones' locker. That is, of course, IF you notice him. You tend to be self absorbed - a weakness that may keep you from seeing enemies where they are and imagining them where they are not.

What's Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!

 
I'm baack!

Toronto is a funny city...it is nice and ugly all at once...and it is quite stinky.

WorldCon was lots of fun despite the problems. I had never experienced convention-madness to this degree...there is something electric about such a large number of people gathered together with the goal to have fun and discover new authors or exchange ideas with people of like minds (mostly).

:D

 
Have train ticket.
Have lodgings.
Need to pack.

What does one bring when going to a convention? WorldCon is where I am headed...

 
Going to TO...Yay!

must purchase train ticket today...*sheepish grin*

 
Yay! Going swimming today!

I know that bunnies should not like water but I think I may have been a mermaid in my past incarnation.

lol

*mermaid bunny*

would it hop swimmingly or use the bunny style for swimming?

I'll leave that to the philosophers.

 
Autumn is right! (As she almost always is...) I need to write more stuff.

now I just need to get writing...
______
*still jobless*

grr...I have not gotten a call back from that Friday interview...grrr grrr
But I do have another interview tomorow...Go Me! I don't know if I want the job though (argh! sabotaging myself!!!)...it is evening work and part-time only...I would barely make enough to pay for stuff...but it would give me loads of free time for writing and stuff...and it has advancement potential...
______

*going to Toronto*

yay! I get to go to WorldCon and hang out with the fabulous and always lovely Robyn! I believe others will be there too...Ceri, Scott, Tamu, who else?

can't wait can't wait...

hmm...maybe I should check out the prices for train tickets and makes sure I have somewhere to sleep while I'm there...

eh.

 
Last Friday's interview went well enough...and the work would be a constant change, which I like, since that would mean I would not get bored.

Here's to hoping that I get a lovely call during this week.
_________________

I received an e-mail from one of my professors (well not anymore but I took three courses with her) and it reminded me of how much I admire her. I think I sat there for at least 30 minutes trying to write a proper reply to her simple questions, her prose is so precise and I feel the need to strive for the same kind of proficiency she has...a B+ in her class felt like a C- because she always expected more than I was giving (and she always knew exactly where I cut corners...) She is leaving in two weeks for post-grad studies at Cambridge...I am delighted for her and cannot help feeling that McGill, in loosing her, becomes lessened. In fact I would have stayed for master's studies without hesitation for the possibility of having her as my thesis supervisor. However there are other passions of mine vying for academic attentions...and then there is my ultra secret novel idea that I have only told my mom...
_________________

Enough nostalgia and nonsense!

I response to T!'s post about theater being a stupid hobby... Does anyone have pointers for me about producing a play? eh...

 
On Friday I have a job interview, think good thoughts for me.

 
On the second to last Sunday (or was it Monday?) it rained like mad. The sky briefly opened up and wept all that it could weep. I was indoors, occupied. When I heard the waterfall outside my window, my entire being longed to step out in order to feel the hard raindrops on my skin. I just wanted to sit on the balcony and drown my identity.
I did go out of the appartment later but the clouds had already exhausted most of their fury. Anyway, it just isn't the same when I'm wearing a raincoat.

 
How quickly things change...

last post was when I started my sales job...I quit after one week...on Monday of this week to be more precise. All weekend I was brooding over how this job was not bad but did not pay nearly well enough...mea culpa of course because commission was all I got...

The problem did not lie with my sales numbers as much as with the nagging voice in the back of my mind telling me that come tax time I would suffer...I don't want to count as an independent contractor (or however it's called)...moreover, as I thought about this job and learned about my coworkers I realized that I did not want to be indoctrinated into their life philosophy.

*sigh*

Unfortunately, the job that I was hoping to get did not materialize...I thought it was a sure thing but I guess I was wrong. The interview on Thursday had gone very well but I guess they found someone with more experience and with less desire to become an academic...oh well...

Enough self-pity! The Gods will provide! They always have. I just need to help myself...right?

Maybe I should apply to work abroad...perhaps the time has come for such a thing...

It is a Domaine weekend again and I need to finish writing a cover letter for a job.

Wish me luck and think prosperous thoughts!

 
Hey hey kids!

well, on Friday I had an interview with this (somewhat odd) company...nothing like random interview number one was (those who know will know and those who wonder can ask)...

I had an observation day today: *sigh* cold call sales is unlikely to suit me...but the money is not bad...guess it'll get me to TO and will allow me to pay rent for September as well.
Unsurprisingly my cool and sophisticated (not!) wit won them over...:)
They want me back tomorow morning, this time I have to be there at 7:45 am (ouch)...we shall see what we shall see.

anywho,

I'm actually mildly captivated by a James Bond movie on tv...time to bounce!

 
Got my hair cut at Funky Toque today...expensive but they were very nice and I really like the results.

The man has been back from Africa since Monday. Yay! Unfortunately he is sick. Boo!

I have been reading much and thinking about my own path...wondering about whether I have the discipline to be a professional writer; not sure I do...

 
I took Terabyte to the veterinary today. They were very nice and she behaved herself like a real lady. She got her first checkup and her first vaccines...the vet also confirmed that she indeed has mites in her ears and needs to be treated for them. sigh.

It was awesome bringing her outside and having so many people especially since they all ooh-ed and aah-ed when they saw her. (I'm such a proud mommy :) )

 
Eh...I just noticed that I did not mention what the Specchia stuff is for...

She is my goddess concept for the new campaign in which I will be playing. All of the players are expected to come up with a god or goddess that they would like to play :)
We get to build them from the ground up, literaly since they will be fallen gods whose goals will include rebuilding a base of worshippers.

The campaign is pseudo real world...where d&d magic exists but is feared on top of being rare. The gods will be the Atlantean pantheon, right after Atlantis has sunk.

I can't wait to play!

 
I anybody still out there or am I alone in cyberspace?

(feeling kinda lonely today...*sigh*)

 
I need some feedback:

Specchia The Veiled One—goddess of secrets, mysteries and hidden knowledge.

Great rulers and fishermen alike give their respect to Specchia. It is said that no one is able to look upon her true face without loosing being irrevocably changed. None know what she can and cannot do, as such; she is feared among both gods and mortals.

Specchia has three main avatars.

A 10 year old child with wild shoulder length black hair, she looks very androgynous in this aspect. She wears a grey tunic and is always barefoot. This is how she appears to most mortals who seek her favor. Her eyes are mirrors that reflect within them the beholder’s true essence. (Hidden knowledge)

A tall and slender 30 years old woman, her lower abdomen is slightly distended making her appear pregnant. Her dark hair extends down to the middle of her back and sometimes cascades in front of Specchia’s face. A fine silver mesh covers the many layers of grey diaphanous cloth that veils her body. In this aspect she is masked. Her mask is a mirror that distorts all that it reflects. There is only one angle from which her facial features can be seen. It is said that whoever is able to see through Specchia’s mask holds the balance of the multiverse within his/her grasp, if they are able to keep their mind in one piece.
(Mysteries)

A gnarled old woman, bent over her walking staff. Her face can only be guessed at through the veil that she wears and her body is hidden by a large grey cloak. In this aspect, Specchia speaks rarely and only in whispers. Those that wish to ensure that secrets will be kept as well as those that wish to unveil secrets pray to her. (Secrets)

Alignment: True Neutral or Chaotic Neutral
Worshippers’ alignment: any
Priest’s alignment: any neutral
Symbol: A small silver mask polished to a mirror finish with either an eye, a key, or a veiled doorway engraved on the inside to indicate the mystery level to which the wearer has been initiated.
Holy days: Both the summer and the winter Solstices are regarded as special days for the cult of Specchia since they represent the worldly changes in illumination. Monthly gatherings are not the same for all cult members but closely follow moon-cycles; The New moon (first crescent) is for the lowest levels of the priesthood, the last crescent is for the middle echelons of the priesthood, and the Dark moon is for the higher levels. During eclipses only the most influential clerics of Specchia meet.

The cult of Specchia is a Mystery Cult, most of its members hover in the outer circles and only the most devoted clerics are introduced to the inner circles.

It is believed by some that Specchia was once mortal and that she was a priestess who supplanted her own deity in power, therefore taking over the role of god-head. Some initiates are also led to believe that Specchia herself appears to her priests when they gather during her sacred meetings. These rumors have never been confirmed, but they have never been denied either.

 
Yes yes...I know that I haven't posted anything here in entirely too long.

But when I stopped working last week on Monday, I just suddenly felt thoroughly lazy. No desire to take action, none whatsoever.

Oy.

So I did nothing mostly. I read, played with kitten (who is not really kitten sized anymore), did laundry, wrote a little bit (for a game...something I've been meaning to do since I kinda have to)...

Then this week-end was Domaine again, I had fun.

Monday was sleepy day.

Today I did laundry again and read (again).

I need to get out of this rut.

I have stuff that begs to be written, I wake up with story ideas filling my head...

Maybe I'll have to chain myself to a chair, forcibly remove the books from my sight,...

Bad me. I am not impressed with myself.

Maybe I should get a haircut, then a "real" job would surely follow. ;)

 
hmm...that last post was slightly disjointed...oh well.

 
I will now post before my body shuts down again...

The reason I say this is that I've been working in a kitchen these past two days...the Cafe du Nouveau Monde. Being a kitchen runt is weird, and very draining. I have much admiration for the people who do this year-round. (You think its been hot in Montreal? Try being around several ovens that are constantly on for nine hours a day!)

The kitten, whose name can be found in the previous post, woke us up at around 5:30 this morning...she is SO lucky that she's cute, I don't think she would have survived otherwise. ;)

{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]c

That would be her reply.

I will not be working in a kitchen for the rest of the summer, I will do the Jazz Fest and then bow out. A great learning experience that is making me appreciate school...Gods I miss school!

I've been staring at my HP:OotP since I received it on Saturday. I haven't started it yet because I want to get through the !%&$* appendix (appendices, appendie???) that are at the end of The Return of the King. The third book was a lot better than I recalled. Perhaps I'm more mature than I was at age twelve (though not too much more I hope), or perhaps the original version is better...
A lesser writer would have ended the cycle at the moment Frodo and Sam manage to succeed, instead a properly cyclical/circular story has been given to us, with the Hobbits returning to their homes; realizing that not only they have changed but their world as well.
sigh.
The love between Faramir and Eowen is so bitter-sweet, and it is both slow and quick like a spring that takes forever to happen and yet manages to surprise you when it does arrive overnight.

Enough with the book reviews! (unless you want more...) I still have to catch up on some reading.

*bunny hugs everyone*

 
The kitten has a name!

Tera...as in Terabyte.

He latest mischief>>Pressing the Enter key on the Man's keyboard while he is playing Civilization *lol* Turns of gameplay just zoomed by!

 
Have kitten, need name.

She is the sweetest thing! Everytime I see her I want to go "aaww".

Her original name was Princesse but I don't like it...

maybe we could call her Bunny...hehe

 
Just to get things started I'll cheat and post a story I wrote for school...It's a bit odd because it contains passages from middle english texts but what the heck!

Lytyll and mykyll, olde and yonge,
Lystenyth now to my talkynge,
Of whome Y wyll yow kythe;
Jesu lorde, of hevyn kynge,
Grawnt us all hys blessynge
And make us gladd and blythe.
Sothe sawys Y wyll yow mynge
Of whom the worde wyde can sprynge,
Yf ye wyll lystyn and lythe;
Yn bokys of ryme hyt ys tolde
How hyt befelle owre eldurs olde,
Well oftyn sythe. (Octavian ll.1-12)
A long time ago, in a far away land we now call Arabia lived a prince named Hesam. This noble and bold young man was the youngest son of a powerful sultan. No one at court could use a scimitar better than Hesam and his skill at weaving words was unsurpassed. His four elder brothers constantly bickered over who should inherit their father’s lands upon his death but Hesam did not join them in their scheming; he loved and honoured his father.

“So hit byfell upon a day,” (Sir Isumbras l.43) that the sultan’s most trusted advisors convinced him to go to war against the Christian infidels. The unbelievers were an offence to Yggoril Almighty and it was imperative that they be dealt with. The sultan chose his warriors with care and decided that Hesam, his most skilled son, would lead them into battle. The men traveled across the sea towards unknown lands where grass grew and the desert held no sway. For forty days they floated upon the waters. I will tell you what befell them, if you listen quietly.
When they disembarked on a coast of what we now call Cornwall; an enormous army of Christian knights attacked them. The sultan’s soldiers fought fiercely and managed to kill many of the knights but in the end they were too few. Some tried to swim back to their boats while others fled. Hesam was engaged in single combat with a valiant knight named Agobard. The two noble young men were so intent upon each other that they did not notice that the Christians were victorious; they continued to fight. Hesam attacked and Agobard parried, and for a time it seemed that the courageous prince would have the upper hand. However, as it is told in scrolls, Agobard managed to wound Hesam with a powerful blow to the head. That noble prince lost consciousness. Instead of giving Hesam a killing blow Agobard captured him. He had seen the nobility inherent in the handsome prince.

Hesam was imprisoned by Agobard’s lord, a Christian king of renown who had many castles and rich towers.
Syr [Brandyn] was his nome.
He hadde bothe hallys and bowrys,
Frythes fayr, forestes wyth flowrys;
So gret a lord was none. (Emaré ll.27-30)
Hesam was placed in one of the towers and a guard was posted. For forty days he sat alone, only briefly seeing the maiden who brought him some food at meal times. Our hero felt much sorrow.

Now we leave Hesam to his woes and look in on the court of King Brandyn during this time period. The rich lord of the castle had a lovely daughter
That was y-clepped Dame [Hadwig]—
The fairest levedi, for the nones,
That might gon on bodi and bones,
Ful of [joy] and of godenisse—
Ac no man may telle hir fairnise. (Sir Orfeo ll.51-6)
One of Hadwig’s companions was the maiden who brought Hesam his meals. The young maiden told the princess about the noble prisoner; she told of his obvious strength and of his exotic handsomeness but she also told of how courteous he was. Hadwig became enamoured of Hesam and resolved to meet him, in secret.

The next day, when it came time for Hesam’s meal, Hadwig disguised herself by wearing her handmaiden’s clothes and brought him his food along with a cup of wine. During his meal, they shared soft words.
[Both] were thay gladde and blithe.
Quen aythir of othir hade a sighte,
Suche a lufve betuene hom lighte,
That partut nevyr thayre lyve. (Sir Amadace ll.609-12)
For the next forty days, the princess continued to visit Hesam. The more they spoke together the more Hadwig’s love for the handsome prisoner grew.

One evening, during a meal, King Brandyn announced that he had found a suitable husband for his brilliantly beautiful daughter. Hadwig was now engaged to the wealthy king Yngvarr of Demetia. When she visited her one true love in his prison, Hadwig tearfully told him of her father’s decision and that she was to leave in the morning. Hesam promised that when he was released, he would find and rescue her no matter how difficult it proved.
‘[Darling]’ quath heo, ‘trewe,
Ihc wene ihcmai the leve.
Tak nu her this gold ring;
God him is the dubbing.
Ther is upon the ringe
Igrave “[Hadwig] the yonge”;
Ther nis no betere anonder sunne,
That eni man of telle cunne.
For my luve thu hit were,
And on thi finger thu him bere. (King Horn ll.561-70)
They exchanged a tearful kiss and she departed. Throughout that night Hesam prayed unsuccessfully, as he had for so long, to Yggoril. As the first sunbeams entered the room where the sultan’s son was imprisoned, a new prayer rose in Hesam’s heart.
He seyde, ‘Dere Godde, wo is me,
I have loste my [one true love],
And am myselfe alone.
I am as kerefull a manne
As any with tonge telle can,
To God I make my mone.
God, as thou werest hevenn crowne,
Wysse me the wey to [exit this prison],
For all amysse have I gone.’ (Sir Isumbras ll.376-84)
The guard outside of Hesam’s door overheard his heartfelt words. The young squire promptly informed his superior, who was the good and loyal knight named Agobard, of the prisoner’s extraordinary words. This worthy knight visited the distraught Hesam and offered him freedom if he was willing to convert to Christianity. That is how a sultan’s son came to follow the Heavenly Father.

Agobard, being in king Brandyn’s confidence, advised him to knight Hesam since the Arabian prince had already proven his outstanding prowess in battle as well as his willingness to serve the cause of the Lord Saviour. However, shortly before the knighting ceremony Hesam heard rumours of trouble brewing in his native country. Overwhelmed by his concern for his father the sultan, the noble prince requested that he be allowed to lead a small group of knights into Arab lands. King Brandyn agreed but decreed that Agobard, his most loyal and trusted knight, had to stay in Cornwall. Hesam and his knights embarked upon the sea; they floated on the waters for forty days. Without a lie, they lived to tell the tale of their adventures; as you will learn if you keep your ears open.

When the bold and free knights arrived in the lands belonging to Hesam’s father they were too late. A rival sultan had attacked, killed the entire royal family, and placed their heads upon pikes outside the city gates. The only remaining heir swore to avenge his family’s honour and asked his knights for their assistance. The noble knights pledged their loyalty to Hesam and all of them disguised themselves and concealed their weapons before going within the gates. When the guards at the entrance of the palace saw them, they asked Hesam and his companions what their business was.
Hi seden hi weren harpurs,
And sume were gigours.
He dude [Hesam] in late,
Right at halle gate.
He sette him on the benche,
His harpe for to clenche. (King Horn ll.1473-8)
Hesam played his harp with enchanting skill and accompanied his music with a song that made all the people at the feast weep uncontrollably. When he saw that they were all distracted, Hesam showed his companions that it was time to attack and
He yede up to borde;
With gode suerdes orde,
[The usurper’s] crune
Ther ifulde adune;
And al his men, a rowe,
H[e] dude adun throwe.
Whanne hi weren aslaghe,
[The evil sultan] h[e] dude to-draghe. (King Horn ll.1487-94)
During the following days, Hesam and his loyal knights regained control of the sultan’s lands. The Arabian population celebrated the return of the rightful heir.

Meanwhile, Hadwig had arrived at the court of king Yngvarr and been married to him in a most unkynde way. As soon as the wedding celebrations had ended, the fair lady was secluded from the other occupants of the castle. She was kept in her chambers and only her maidens were allowed to visit. One of her companions, the same one who had brought food to Hesam, informed the lonely princess of the rumours that were circulating in Yngvarr’s castle: the unhende king was planning the demise of her father in order to acquire his lands and riches! Hadwig, fearing for the welfare of her father, sent a messenger to loyal and reliable Agobard telling him all that she had learned of her husband’s nefarious plans. When Agobard learned of king Yngvarr’s plot, he sent the same messenger to Hesam, the man traveled across the sea and into the newly liberated heathen lands. The brave messenger arrived at the new sultan’s palace in the evening. Upon reception of the missive, Hesam left his knightly companions in charge of his native lands and embarked upon a ship at first light. He floated on the sea for forty days until he arrived upon the shores of Yngvarr’s kingdom. Ywis, if you sit still a little longer, you will hear the end of his adventures.

On the day of that noble youth’s arrival it so happened that a festival was getting under way. King Yngvarr and his advisors had organized a tournament through which they would be able to select the strongest and most skilled knights in attendance. Hesam on his way to the king’s castle, met a pilgrim who told him of the festival and tournament. That handsome and royal youth thanked the pious man for his tidings and went on his way. Further down the road, Hesam was attacked by a knight that was eager to kill Saracens. The skilful and strong prince easily defeated the knight by giving him such a blow on the neck that the head rolled off of his shoulders and onto the road. Hesam took the knight’s armour and weapons and went on his way. When he was close to the site of the festival, the brave and noble youth met a child who offered him blessings and prayers for success in the name of Our Lord King in Heaven.

Hesam, his features disguised within the knight’s armour and helm, joined the tournament. Every morning before going to the combats, “[h]e lokede on the ringe,/[a]nd thoghte on [Hadwig].” (King Horn ll.1485-6) This simple act gave him the strength to win much honour. When the three days were done, noble Hesam had won the most combats. King Yngvarr was impressed and invited him to come to that evening’s feast in the castle hall.

When he arrived the tables were already set and Hesam was invited to sit close to the king and his advisors. Hagwig was seated between the king and a duke who spoke incessantly, but throughout the entire meal her gaze always returned to the face of her one true love, which she would have recognized anywhere. When the meal ended and the boards were lifted, Yngvarr and his knightly advisors approached Hesam and asked him to join their ranks, telling him of their plan and promising him rich rewards. One look across the room at the radiantly beautiful Hadwig convinced the noble and courageous prince that it was time to rescue his beloved. In a swift and smooth movement, Hesam drew his scimitar and cut off the head of one of the advisors. While the king and his companions were drawing out their weapons another one of them was mortally wounded, his forearm having been sliced cleanly from his body. The other guests of the feast all ran from the hall, screaming for the guards. Hadwig was pulled away by one of them, no amount of struggle allowed her to get free until they were outside. Meanwhile, in the king’s hall, combat raged on. Hesam was at the center of a whirlwind of metal and blood, limbs and guts flying away from him in all direction. King Yngvarr stayed away from the combat until all of his knights and guards laid dead and mangled at Hesam’s feet. The noble and courageous youth glared at the unkynde king across the field of corpses, Yngvarr dropped his sword, turned tail, and ran. He was never to be seen again in this or any other country since as he ran his foot slipped in a puddle of blood, he fell and cracked his skull.

As Hesam went out of the bloodied hall to search for his beloved, the sound of horses, armoured men and trumpets was heard. It was the noble king Brandyn and his loyal knights who were coming to declare war upon Yngvarr for his treachery. After learning of Hesam’s adventures and recent exploits, Hadwig’s father was so impressed that he knighted him on the spot. The newly knighted youth and his one true love were wedded forty days later. King Brandyn took over Demetia and the two lovebirds went to live in Arabia, where they built many churches and spread far and wide the word of Our Lord King of Heaven and true Almighty. Agobard married the resourceful maiden who had been a constant companion to Hadwig and when king Brandyn died the loyal Agobard was given stewardship of all the lands of Cornwall and Demetia. As it is told in books, all of them had many descendants and their legacies live on.
Here ends the story of Hesam the noble Saracen.
Jesu Criste, hevenne kynge,
Graunte us all thy blessynge,
F[o]r now and evurmore. (Sir Isumbras ll.796-8)

 
Autumn is right!

I need to get a sense of accomplishment while I'm looking for work...

So here is the challenge I set for myself: every week I will post some sort of literary thing written by moi...be it a poem, a story, or whatever.

Here is where you gentle readers come in...I will accept suggestions of genre but also parameters...just leave them in the comments section and we will see what we will see.

I need to get myself writing and this is my insane solution...well, that and me trying to write a column for rpg.net (they asked for sample stuff! go me!)

Now I just need to get random job number 1 in order to pay the bills. eh.

bunny hugs to whoever is out there. :)

 
might not post for a little while...

looking for work makes me feel guilty when I do unproductive things...

I might change my mind of course. :)

 
BlogSnob has officially approved me...:)

I feel validated.

*bunny hops*

 
comments are back it seems. :)

and the countdown is over...how anticlimactic, four years of university ending in me handing a paper in and chatting with my prof.

I don't know what I was expecting but this was not exactly it...well I guess that simply means that it isn't over yet...hehe...not forever anyway.

 
comments have been eaten by the big web monster...

will deal with it (either the monster or the comment problem) this week at some point when my paper is done.

:)

 
one of my e-mails was messed up for the past four days...grr. That means that the Pagan Community Conference thing I was supposed to go to today is not happening--for me--...I have no way of knowing where to go...
I feel kinda guilty about this.

however it means that I have more time to prepare for that paper that is due tomorow.
(that would be the last one of my undergrad career)

I'm hoping for A grades in both classes...guess I should go work...I'll have more time to write when I'm done writing this thing ;)

 
two more days of class and a paper...

the countdown has begun.

:)

 
two more days of class and a paper...

the countdown has begun.

:)

 
Domaine was SUCH a blast!

I think my faith has been renewed.

:)

Two more weeks of school then: c'est fini! (so very weird...)

 
*hop* *bounce* *hop*

It's the first game of Domaine this w/e...

I am getting excited :) Yay! (I was afraid that the spark of fun might have died out)

I just hope the weather holds and the bugs are not out in force.

now to make some last minute preparations...

 
Ha...! Neil Gaiman had a link to the little green man running away on his blog...I think this is quite cute...
Click on the green box in my links column and be whisked away to a work-acceptable site. (for those of you who read blogs at work Web Fire Escape is the thing to use)

 
Some really good friends of mine have left for Africa (Burkina-Fasso to be precise)...both Gab and I are quite sad that they will be gone for three months.
Gab has been invited to go and visit them...he is seriously considering it. If I were in his position I don't know what I would do...I always think about travel and about how nice it would be to see the world, but I cannot imagine saying goodbye to my family, to Gab, to my friends, and to Montreal.
It is odd to feel the urge to just take off and live in other places for months at a time but to feel an intense sadness at the thought of leaving home even for a few weeks.
GAH!
(And that is how I could not bring myself to go to China when my parents offered to pay for it...)

I admire E and A, they have traveled their whole lives and seem to have the ability to make friends everywhere (and manage to stay in contact with them!).

If you guys are reading this: I hope your travels are safe and joyful! Say hello to your parents for me. And most of all come back to us whole.

 
The Pagan Association (well...four of its members anyway) did a maypole dance today.
We were a week late because of the rain of last Thursday but we had fun.
:)

Now I just have to figure out where to store all these ribbons...

 
Whew! I haven't posted in a while...

The concert on Saturday was quite nice. :) Gab was all aglow afterwards and the event had a pretty good attendance (about 150 people).
We went to Chinatown that night...it was SO empty! Usually even around midnight the restaurants are relatively full, but not on Saturday. This whole SARS scare thing had remained mostly unreal to me since Montreal has not had any cases but seeing our favorite chinese restaurant (Beijing) with a scarce 20 people inside was somewhat odd. On the plus side, the food was better than we had ever had and the service was top notch.
_____________________________

I got my new glasses on Monday, I adore the frames but I'm not sure about this whole astigmatism thing that was diagnosed...it feels as though my eyes have to strain when I look at things for too long or when they are too close. I tried my old glasses again...there is no doubt that things are more clearly defined with the new lenses but this whole eye strain thing is disturbing. *sigh* I hope it's just a transition...if not I'll have to go back and get my eyes checked again.
_____________________________

Domaine is coming up! I have to reserve my spot for the whole season (330$). The first game is very soon...I can't get myself psyched...I know I'll have fun but I don't feel the "can't sit still" excitement of the first years we played. I wonder if it's because I'm growing out of it...ha! I don't think that I could, not entirely anyway...

 
I just ordered my copy of Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix on Amazon...

:)

Now I have to decide whether it is better to receive it on the day of and pay for shipping OR to buy more stuff that I want and not pay shipping but also be unable to receive HP on the 21st.

decisions decisions.

 
Oh. I also bought new paintbrushes today!
They are so colourful...they make me happy!
There is a big wide brush with red bristles and a red handle made out of clear plastic, a little orange one, a funny yellow and a very stiff green as well as a tiny blue one.
All of them have matching bristles and handles.
And they feel so soft. The way that new paintbrushes should!
They are almost too pretty for me to use...I'll wait until tomorow before getting them dirty!
*hops around*
Oh. And I also went to the optometrist today. Got all sorts of tests done. You will all be glad to know that I do no have glaucoma ( I was ). The testing for it was so strange, first my optometrist put drops in my eyes and told me to wait...so I sat there like a putz, just waiting and blinking. I had no clue what the drops were meant to do (he had mentionned freezing my eye but I had not believed...) Gah! It is so freaky to realize that you cannot move your eye as much as usual, that your eyelids cannot close properly. I had a mild headache so my eyes were hurting from the back, but the part that can be seen were entirely desensitized (is that a word?). I wonder now if maybe he had to touch the eyeball or something...it only seemed as though he looked in with a special flashlight but...
hmm.
On a happier note, I will now have new glasses. I picked RED ones because they were well...red. That was what tipped the balance intheir favour...there was another pair that was cute but it was almost the same colour as the glasses I've had for the last five years. It is time for a change.
____

I'm going to see a movie tonight. "Saved by the Belles" On the plus side: I get to see Ex-Centris Cinema from the inside.

 
All is well in the world today...

I got to go on a shopping spree with my mom (she paid!) and therefore I now have lots of new duds. Thanks mommy!
(including the most awesome suede skirt and the niftiest dress jacket)

Yay!

I usually hate shopping so it was refreshing to find so many things that suited me nicely.

I also got one of my tax refunds which is another good thing.

Of course...now I have to pay rent as well as cater to my gaming addiction...eh.

I think this summer will be quite nice, as long as I survive the month of May.

 
*hop hop*

 
Argh!

I feel like an idiot!

I just realized that I still need 6 credits not 3 to finish my minor. I guess I have to fix it now.

On top of that I'm feeling ill. *pout* I hate having a fever...and a headache...

and R's goodbye thing is tonight and I do not want to miss it!!!

gah!

I will now stop whining and go take a shower. I am bound to feel better after that...then I must figure out what to bring tonight since I did not make ice cream as I had promised...maybe I can make pies...those are easy to deal with...

*hop hop and away*

 
So...The Man is in a choir. (By that I mean Gab, aka evil Gab, Ba, swami Gab, that guy Maia lives with ;P )

Les Chanteurs de la Pleiade are having a concert on the 3rd of May at 8pm.

Where:
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
400 Saint-Paul East
(Champ-de-Mars metro)

I believe this is the same place as the last concert they did...the accoustics in there are absolutely amazing.

If anyone is interested you can e-mail me or leave me a message. The tickets are also on sale at L'Esplumoir de Merlin and at the Chapel itself.

15$ if you buy early or 18$ at the door.

The tickets are going like hotcakes since there are only 200 seats in all.

*We now return to your regularly scheduled Blog*

 
*Dances around...doing the Bunny Hop*

Yay!!!

The semester is done!

Now what do I do?

 
Thanks to Hobbes for his advice about links. :)

 
ok.
I give up trying to put up links. (for tonight)

 
I just sent in my last paper for this semester.

I hope to all the gods that I did not mess anything up.

Why am I so anxious? I should be more nervous about the final exam that I have tomorow for which I have not studied yet...not really anyway...although I DID read Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Wolf.

...

well, I guess I should at least study a bit tonight...

"The man" is reading anyway...snuggles will have to wait.

*sigh*

Good night.

*bunny kisses to all*

 
Just a quick hop in...

yergl! I can't figure out where to put permanent links...I mean in the template code.

hmm.

visitors.

time to go.

 
Ok.
I just learned that "some people" have discovered my hidey-hole on the web.

Eek.

The owls are onto me.

:)

Hello Autumn, Ceri, Skippy, who else is out there?

 
Oh...well I guess it is.

so to comment you just need to "Shout Out"

eh.

does anyone know how to change what it says on the hyperlink?

well if you do just "shout out"

:P

 
er...don't think it's working.
grr

 
Ok...here is an attempt at a comment system which Robyn is using.

:)

 
feeling sick

blech!

just when I need to really get cracking...

 
So I have this paper to hand in by tomorow...the topic is controversial.
The information that we were given was in many ways biased...although surprisingly the bias was against Israel's politics.
(I think I was convinced in many ways)

*procrastinates*

time for lunch!

eh...

 
*pout*

I can't find myself on Google...

oh well...

 
Not gonna learn HTML until done with school...no reason not to post.

I am surprisingly calm about school coming close to an end...papers?well yeah but no sinking feeling of panic just yet. Finals? One but with plenty of time to study for it.

maybe I've entered into the Twilight Zone (haha)...I am entirely too calm. In fact that is one of the only things that is weirding me out...

Graduating soon?Know what to do with rest of life? Yes to one No to the other...err maybe there is a little bit of anxiety in my life. However, yet again I am eerily calm in the certainty that I have no idea about where I'm going.

Time will tell I guess.

 
Ok...it seems to be working now.

Now if only I could figure out how to create links and the like...

maybe I should learn html programming.

 
Gah!

I can't see my actual page...getting error messages.

*pout*

 
First post...

Just a minute ago I had a million things to say, now that I am looking at the mostly blank space butterflies are fluttering around in my tummy and I have drawn a blank.

*sigh*

oh well...time to fiddle with stuff... :)