Owls' Court

All For Phnee

Since I'm not allowed to post cute mushness-inducing baby pictures that threaten her brain's physical integrity, I present, for Phnee's benefit, Cats In Sinks.

Because I just know her day is going slowly at work. They always do. It doesn't matter what day she sees this post on; it will do what it's supposed to do for her.

Yes, I'm back at the computer. While HRH was out buying fuses, he picked up that gallon of paint for my office. Hurrah! And we'll know in an hour or so if the fuses have solved the water heater problem.

Curiously Accurate and Amusing (To Me At Least)

Seriously -- the house, the wand, the birds, the classes... and I was voted Most Likely To Become Prime Minister at the end of high school, so why should this be any different?

My only disagreement is with the Fudge Flies -- it should have been Sugar Quills.

Things proceed apace. I'm getting stuff done. Plus the baby's been fed. It's ticking the little things off your to-do list that keep the day going, you know?

That Kind Of Day

How to make an Owldaughter cocktail:

Method:
Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Add sadness to taste! Do not overindulge!

Sigh. Even my cocktails are bland and reliable. Something with a little more oomph than a combination of success, leadership, a lesser amount of humour and "sadness to taste" might have been nice.

(Via Personality Cocktail.)

State of Miff

In a remarkably decent examination of one's proficiency in the correct use of commonly confused words of the English language, I scored 100% in the Beginner level, 100% in the Intermediate level, 100% in the Advanced level...

and only 55% in the Expert level.

I am miffed. Never mind that I scored higher in all four levels than 100% of the people in my age range who have also taken the test; never mind that the stats report that people in the 55-59 age range are the only ones who score higher than I did in the Expert level, and that I match their scores in the first three levels. I am still miffed.

Test statistics:

* Compared to users who took the test and are and in your age group:
o 100% had lower Beginner scores.
o 100% had lower Intermediate scores.
o 100% had lower Advanced scores.
o 100% had lower Expert scores.
* With respect to Beginner, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.
* With respect to Intermediate, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.
* With respect to Advanced, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.
* With respect to Expert, users aged 55 to 59 scored highest.

This was the The Commonly Confused Words Test.

My Question Is, How Did They Drug The Flies?

Nets Made By Spiders Fed On Drug-Dosed Flies

The one made by the arachnid fed on caffeine-spiked flies is actually rather pretty.

Destress

Only conquering Undead Elbow Macaroni of Unusual Size with my enchanted saucepan could make me laugh this much on a day like this one.

I love you, Ann.

Surprising Exactly No One

You scored as Verbal/Linguistic. You have highly developed auditory skills, enjoy reading and writing and telling stories, and are good at getting your point across. You learn best by saying and hearing words. People like you include poets, authors, speakers, attorneys, politicians, lecturers and teachers. Verbal/Linguistic 93% Musical/Rhythmic 64% Intrapersonal 61% Visual/Spatial 57% Interpersonal 57% Bodily/Kinesthetic 29% Logical/Mathematical 21% The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences created with QuizFarm.com

Found via Firewillow, who is cool and whom I miss seeing.

Of Course, Personally, I Think It'd Be Tacky To Wear Diamonds Before I'm Forty

WORSHIP! Your inner Bombshell is the beautiful Audrey Hepburn. Like her you've been blessed with a "certain something" that no one could describe accurately. You are more reserved than other bombshells, and that shows in your gentle, graceful nature. You like doing things for other people and love volunteering for your favorite charity. Yours is a rare gift in this day and age. You don't need to show a lot of skin to be sexy, all you need is your eyes. To see Audrey at the top of her game watch the movie "Breakfast at Tiffanys".

Who is your inner bombshell?
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"Cross my heart and kiss my elbows!"

Gods... I can only dream of being this photogenic.

Dill?

There's an awful lot of construction going on around here, both in the road and in the alley behind the building. And whatever they're doing in the alley, it sounds like they're cutting wood, but it smells like fresh-cut dill.

Hmm

When I breathe in deeply, my back should not crack.

It felt good, though. Especially after working at the computer for five straight hours.

Whimsy

Hands up those who want to see one of my cats in faerie wings. What's your favourite combination? How about Maggie-Cat in a pair of Sugar Plum wings? (Remember to insert the "you-must-be-kidding" look for full effect.) Or Nixie in a set of Dark Dragonfly wings?

I firmly believe that it's evil to dress animals up, and besides, they'd kill me. But thinking about putting them through it is offering me plenty of amusement this morning.

The only book which doesn't take place in Narnia at all, per se, you're the story of a voyage to find the end of the world and hopefully the Seven Lost Lords (remember Rhoop!). You contain some of the most unique people and places and beautiful descriptions of the whole series.

Find out which Chronicles of Narnia book you are.

Some of the questions are too easy, but others are good and challenging. Mostly because they describe very ordinary things, I think.

It's Funny Because It's True

I'm not a Christian-basher; I'm a freedom-for-all-religions kind of gal. But I'm all for political satire. This targets Bush, not Christ, and it's damned funny.

The Bush Campaign's TV Commercial If He Was Running Against Jesus

Shopping

I picked up new leotards, tights, and ballet shoes this morning. My, but these items have risen in price since I last danced. I mean really, thirteen dollars for dance tights? It's twenty for a long-sleeve leotard, for heaven's sake. I know that I'm in adult sizes now, and adult clothes are always more expensive, but still.

I also went anniversary shopping. Muah-hah-hah-hah...

(d) none of the above

In response to the Lit Geek quiz ("As a first step to making the world safe for Lit-geeks everywhere, take this quiz to determine if you are a lit-geek"), I received the answer:

"Congratulations, you probably spend your life quoting Shakespeare, and correcting people's grammar."

Wow, when did we get ceiling tiles?

Grr

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate the space bar on my keyboard?

Oh, glory -- Home-grown tomatoes

Oh, glory --

Home-grown tomatoes and cucumber, picked two days ago, dressed with balsamic vinegar and really, really good olive oil smuggled home from Italy.

It's the little things that make life all right again.

(Anyone else noticing that this year's tomatoes have really thick skin?)

From the Files of the Obvious

In general I avoid quizzes, as they frustrate me; they're never multi-dimensional enough, and I usually wouldn't choose any of the answers, so I'm left with a best-of-the-worst-choices selection. Sometimes, though, I'm curious to see how they're constructed, how they would slot me into a limited, pre-conceived category.

Today, I discovered via the What Style of Witchcraft Suits You? quiz that I am "best suited to Traditional Wicca!! You feel more comfortable in a structured setting, but have no qualms about doing what must be done when necessary." Which is true enough, and the only answer which even remotely describes my actual practice.

I also discovered this, according to the What Kind of Pagan Are You? quiz, and I'm pasting the whole thing because Dame Maggie Smith is just cool:

You are THE REAL THING! You are just a regular person with alternative
beliefs. You don't feel you have anything to
prove and are just enjoying life. Good for
you!

What kind of pagan are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Drat Those Celts

From an e-mail conversation:

Me: (in response to a request for an authentic source for some Celtic information) What, if anything, is verifiably authentic when it comes to the Celts? Pesky Celts, doing stuff and not writing it down.

Ceri: And having different names for everything, damn them. They're worse than people on the internet, misspelling everything.

And if you've ever tried to do any sort of Celtic research (and in so doing sought to avoid Llewellyn authors such as Edain McCoy like the plague), you too know this pain...

Fromt he Very Cool Information File

Some of you know about my amber obsession.

Well, today I discovered the existence of Blue Amber.

I'm still processing the new world view.

Despair of ever creating great

Despair of ever creating great art? Never be a Da Vinci, a Donatello, a Van Gogh? Then soothe your soul with the Sistine Chapel Coloring Book.

No, I'm not kidding.

Take No Prisoners

From the daily herbal newsletter I receive:

There is an old garden saying I found in the Herb Farm Cookbook that says, "You don't have mint, mint has you."

How's that for a remarkably dead-on comment?

Present in Body

I woke up, organized my whole day while I lay in bed, got up, and now have absolutely no idea what I was planning to do.

Irritating. I was happy with the original plan, too. While I try to remember, I'm doing book work: the publisher sent me the back cover copy for my book to edit. I'm trying to figure out how to re-state the bulleted information without repeating the info everywhere else.

Yesterday was the first writing jam in about six weeks, and although both Ceri and I were remarkably uninspired, we managed to get things done we wouldn't otherwise have accomplished if we'd been alone. I transcribed eight hundred words of handwritten work to the computer. Ceri made some adjustments to the story that On Spec asked her to rewrite, and chaperoned two reluctant characters through the beginnings of a conversation that will eventually turn into something useful. Neither of us committed as much jamage as we'd hoped; but then, we're out of practice. And t! was not present in body, although he called.

And yes, HRH walked in, damp and unimpressed, partway through.

The day was capped by a very productive CMS co-ordinators' meeting. Blade makes a mean ice cream/Jello dessert which finished things off nicely. And I not only slept through the night, I slept well.

Now, if I could only remember what was on today's agenda...

Beating the System

I am drinking iced tea instead of hot tea. That way it can't get cold. And if it hits room temperature, well, it's a heck of a lot easier to drop an ice cube into it than to boil a new pot of water.

Summer Food

This recipe came to me via an herbal e-list I'm on, and it sounded so delicious I wanted to share it.

Lemon Thyme Pesto:
1/4 cup lemon thyme leaves
2/3 cup parsley
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 clove fresh garlic
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender, making into a paste. Use on pasta, blend into softened butter to use on grilled chicken or fish, cooked carrots, as a bread spread, or mixed into rice. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

(Originally published in the April 2002 edition of The Herbin' Thymes, the newsletter of The Evening Herb Society of the Palm Beaches.)

Aha!

I knew I'd encountered Jennifer Saunders before I heard her voice the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2. Not only was she in AbFab, but she was Mrs. Bluberidge in Muppet Treasure Island. (Think about it: "How does she do that?" Yes, indeed.)

The Walker Is Abroad

Which 'The Dark Is Rising' Sequence Main Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Now sounds like a good time to re-read the whole sequence. It's summer. I always associate the Dark is Rising sequence with summer. (Even though The Dark is Rising itself takes place in winter. Everything else is very summer hols-type stuff.)

You Are A Head By A Sentry

Happiness is hitting random on the Tragically Hip playlist, and getting Nautical Disaster right off the bat.

It doesn't get any better than this.

(Oh, the post title? The result of listening to the Hip while on the way home from a live TV broadcast in Kingston. It was night. I was tired. t! was in the car. It was Hallowe'en.)

Well, Damn

Dittany of Crete is simply marjoram tops.

I love what I do, but you know, sometimes research takes the mystery out of things a little too completely.

I'm currently craving fresh bread, balsamic vinegar, and that lovely Italian olive oil my mum hand-imported for me from Tuscany. Thank all the gods that HRH left me his keys today so that I can go out for the vinegar and the bread, otherwise there would be a very nasty Autumn waiting for him when he got home...

See what happens? I go home for twelve days, and my food standards have shot way the hey above what I normally eat. Ruined, I tell you -- ruined. Although the ten sliced yellow and orange peppers from the farmers' market (eighty cents each!) currently freezing on baking sheets in my freezer, along with the raspberries, will go a long way towards soothing my gastronomic snobbery in the coming days.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy thirty-seventh anniversary to my wonderful mum and dad, who have persevered through tears and laughter, challenge and triumph, and a thirty-three year old daughter who has had her nose in a book most of her life.

I love you both immensely.

Feel Our Pain

Gaming goddess and fellow occult-store-employee type Roo sent me the link to this strip:

Oh My Gods June 13, 2004

It's funny and sad at the same time, because it's true.

Damn it.

I forgot to eat again.

I've really been trying hard to keep to a regular schedule of food intake, and I've been so good for so long! Only now, after the shakes and dull headache have set in, do I realise that the last time I ate was around seven last evening. And it was a light meal, too.

Huzzah for bruschetta, mozzarella, and fresh bread!

(d) none of the above

In a quiz to determine which Angel character I most resemble, my answer turned out to be (and to no one's surprise, I'm sure):

"You are Fred! Sweet, sensitive, and a little quirky. Though incredibly smart, you have a tendency to confuse people. You are well-liked, but can be a little clingy. When you are brought out of your shell, you really shine!"

So, what; on a bad day, does this make me Illyria?

Wesley is dead. I am feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it. I wish to do more violence.

She Has a... Caffeinated Personality

According to a coffee quiz, my personality type is classified as "Peppermint Cappuccino: You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please."

Well, I'm amused. I'm not so sure about the trying anything new, and I actually prefer to drink my coffee alone, usually with a book. The quiz actually had decent questions though - certainly better than the writing quiz a couple of weeks ago - with answers I could choose because they were right, as opposed to selecting the one I disliked the least.

In order to achieve balance in all things, I looked for a tea quiz, and found two. The first one, which told me that I was "hot herbal tea: a spa for the soul," wasn't very deep. The second one would have been better if the author hadn't expressed his/her own preferences in the questions, but it's well-rounded, and even offers the option of rating the importance of the answer. The author indicates in the preamble that "Note- Black teas should only be made with boiling water, mostly. Green teas should never, ever be made with boiling water. For green tea, about 180 F is a good temperature to go by, mostly. If green tea is infused with boiling water, the tea will taste bitter and flat, and you will have wasted your money", which is some of the best advice I've seen included in any quiz.

The answers are better than most quizzes, and they are twenty-five of them provided in a ranked order as per your quiz answers. I'm posting the first half of my answers to educate you about different teas. (They needed a bit of editing, like the quiz does, but the basic info is good):

1. Jasmine Green, intoxicatingly fragrant green tea I drink this already.
2. "Constant Comment", wonderful black tea with orange rind and cloves I drink this too - t! introduced it to me years ago, and the irony of the name is just too good to pass up.
3. Dragon Well, rare Chinese green tea, quite refreshing This is actually already on my list of teas to try.
4. Genmaicha, green tea with toasted rice, a traditional japanese creation I love Genmaicha!
5. Earl Grey, black tea with oil of bergamot oranges, a classic blend Well, duh.
6. Pu-erh, highly aged China black tea, has an earthy, woody aroma, a bit of an acquired taste This is a new one to me.
7. Silver Needles, very very rare white tea, delicate, extremely light flavor, like hot water with a mere suggestion of tea in it Also new - sounds like I'd love it. And what a beautiful name!
8. Darjeeling, a lighter- bodied black tea, famous for its first and second flushes Again with the well, duh.
9. Ceylon, traditional black tea from Sri Lanka, very full, well-balanced tea Once in a while.
10. Chamomile (herbal blend), medicinal taste, good before bed I hated this until recently.
11. Lapsang Souchong, chinese black tea smoked over pine embers Mmmm - but I have to be in the mood for it.

Not bad. And the quiz serves a purpose, rather than just entertainment.

Depth Perception

I'm all messed up week-wise. All morning I've been thinking it's Wednesday, because I went into the bookstore yesterday instead of today on Tuesday, my usual day. However, the writing jam has been switched from Thursday to Tuesday (possibly temporarily due to yet more schedule changes), which is today - or so my calendar tells me. My brain is struggling to maintain the Wednesday-day-after-work truth simultaneously with the Thursday-writing-jam-day truth, along with the Tuesday-according-to-the-calendar truth. It's very sad, but I think I'm getting a headache from trying to figure out what day it is.

The solution is probably to stop thinking altogether and go check on the laundry.

What Kind of Writer Are You?

I'm not a big quiz person, but when I saw this on Sapph's LJ I just had to find out.

You're a Dialogue/Character Writer!

What kind of writer are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

No surprise to anyone who knows my writing or my reading tastes, I'm sure. It amused me.

Takes Cleanse and Consecrate to a Whole New Level

Hail, powers of DayQuil, conqueror of sinus infections, cold, and flu.
I invoke the powers of Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, and blessed Acetaminophen.
With your might I banish infection and congestion, muscle ache and sore throat.
I invite the ability to breathe clearly and to edit a whole page of this manuscript without coughing so hard that I see spots.
For the good of all (and I really mean it), and with harm to none (because I wouldn't wish yet another cold on anyone this spring),
So mote it be.

(Yeah, this wretched cold is courtesy of my husband, who feels appropriately guilty. Nothing's stopping me from seeing the advance screening of Hellboy tonight, though -- nothing, I tell you!)

Ye gods - I've been online for four hours. I finished my editing a couple of hours ago, and have since been gaming in a Changeling chat room for the very first time, instead of lurking and getting a feel for who and what and how. And I really, really ought to sign off and go to bed!

Curse you, Roo, for introducing this to me! (And I mean cursing in the nicest way, of course...)

I currently have a black fairy kitten between my keyboard and my monitor as I alternately tear my hair out over editing an author's most recent batch of chapters, and eavesdropping on what's going on at the Firnost Freehold chatroom so I don't completely lose my mind. Nixie has been helping by smacking the pointer every once in a while as it flies around the screen. I think she wants to play Changeling too, but it would take too long for her to make a character.

Watching Roo interact with others, and being cuted out by Nix are the only things keeping me sane at the moment. There; she just patted the text as I typed. Painfully cute.

Every Day Is Hallowe'en At Our House

Hobbes sent me this photo of our demon kittens. I'd say they're practicing for Hallowe'en, but every day is Hallowe'en at our house...

Highlights of Today's Horoscopes

Here's a sampling of what could be in store for you today, courtesy of Davezilla

Gemini: An unhealthy addiction to H.P. Lovecraft novels will lead you to unnatural practices involving a squid and a meat pie.

Sagittarius: A good day to bet online. You’ll win big in the death pools but then feel unusually philanthropic and donate it all to the new reigning premier of Nigeria, who has graciously set up a private bank account, just for you.

Capricorn: A great day as 166,503 gullible Sagittarians fall for your email scam. One of them, an NSA agent, will pay an unexpected visit to your office tomorrow.

From Davezilla, natch, who also listed "The God of Abraham is a jealous God, and still upset that Ganesh can beat him at chess" among Verses that God Edited Out.

Brain to Stomach: No.

I don't believe this.

I got up at seven. I ate breakfast (tea and a muffin - yes, that's a meal for me).

My stomach is now growling. It thinks it's lunchtime.

Argh!

Fools!

I poured a bowl of muesli this morning, and suddenly, all my cats were winding around my legs, looking up at me hopefully.

"Go away," I told them. "This is human kibble, not kitty kibble."

Silly Net Quizzes, or, Six Of One, Half a Dozen of Another

Tripped across another one of those wretched quizzes. I have been so good for so long, but I broke down and clicked radio buttons and discovered that I am...

Silly net quizzes.

Magic Kitty

Whilst cleaning out a bunch of drawers this week, I discovered a tiny pot of cosmetic micro-sparkles, employed as part of a costume a few Hallowe'ens ago and never used again. I'm not a sparkle kind of gal.

Well, part of Project 2003 is to learn how to have fun again, so I scooped some of the powder up and dusted it all over my arms and throat. What the heck, right? I'm at home, after all.

It's kind of quirky, and the sun outside catches it every once in a while, and I laugh at myself. So far, so good.

While I was in the living room getting a reference book, our little black kitten Nix hopped out of one of her hidey-holes behind a row of tomes and rubbed against my legs. I automatically bent down to pat her... and you know those micro- sparkles: even when you try to brush them off, a few still cling. Which means that they transfer to everything that you touch. For example, from my hands to her silky coat.

Voila - instant magic kitty. Here and there, glinting in the sun, there's a tiny random point of light in the depths of her midnight fur, like stars.

She's absolutely beautiful.

New York Owly!

So Garak went to New York City last weekend, and he took some phenomenal photographs while he was there. My favourite from the set was the shot of old buildings reflected in a body of water, complete with a few strands of willow framing it. In Central Park, though, he took a photo just for me, which absolutely must make an appearance in the Owlyblog:

Thank you, Garak!

When I have money again, I am so buying sinus medication. I'm sick of this.

My husband bought a 6/49 ticket last night. We'll see what happens. My goodness, I could be a millionairess already, and not know it.

Humour

Found in the middle of a page on making bath bombs (fizzy bath salts, guys, not - never mind. It's a girl thing, okay?):

Ummm.. what else? Don't store the bombs in metal because the of the corrosive properties of the salt, avoid storing them in plastic zip-loc type bags or cellophane, I have heard reports that the plastic eats the scents, and a few mysterious reports of lavender essential oil going bad when stored in cellophane, and try to store them either sealed or in a dry area. Don't use them if they look or smell funny, don't run with scissors, call your mother.

Hmm. I've been looking over the last few entries, and I seem to have a one-track mind. Just to prove to you that I'm not completely obsessed with my back:

NSW tonight! Blasters and Force points have already been packed and are waiting by the door!

Suspiciously Cheerful

I got my music folder back!

Yay!

The fire alarm went off this morning. Twice. I'm in a surprisingly good mood, regardless. Despite wrist pain (rehearsal was intense, but I walked out feeling much better about myself than I had in weeks. Practice actually does help. Wow.), back pain (no surprise there), and the knowledge that I have an eleven-hour day ahead of me... I'm remarkably chipper. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I had breakfast with friends (what else do you do when the fire alarm has you all up at an ungodly hour?) and that one of the stand-offish store cats jumped on my lap to cuddle this morning. It's sunny, too, which always helps!

Hollywood Princess

Flipping through random blogs, I came across this test.

I decided, for a laugh, to run through it. I said to myself, "Self, what with being so out of the celebrity and entertainment thing, you won't even recognise the Hollywood princess you end up as."

So I did it, and ended up as...

You are Sarah Michelle Gellar!
You acted in cool movies like: Scooby-Doo, Harvard Man, She's All That, Scream 2 and Cruel Intentions.

Take the "Which Hollywood Princess are you?"
quiz @ planetag.de

Later: Okay, so the other options were Alyssa Milano, Cameron Diaz, Christina Ricci, Angelina Jolie, Thora Birch, Alicia Silverstone, Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore, and Claire Danes. All of whom I know. Whoever would have thought? (Note to self: remember to thank Powers That Be for not being classified as Alicia Silverstone...)

New Star Wars tonight! Woo-hoo!

Crisis: The Lack of Chocolate

There is no chocolate in this house.

This is a bad thing.

Oh sure, when I go shopping I say, "No, if I have chocolate in the house, I'll eat it. By not purchasing chocolate, I shall cleverly avoid its consumption."

Which is all well and good, except on those days when you really would like a bit of chocolate, and have none, and slowly go stir crazy, because damn it, you're not going to break down and walk across the street to the depanneur.

Geek!

Hee hee hee...

Take the What High School Stereotype Are You? quiz, by Angel.

Yes, it's Saturday morning, and I'm bouncing around sites, taking tests, drinking tea. Woo!

I think I'll go put on a mix of Don Giovanni, Mozart's Requiem, some Mediaeval Baebes, and the new Star Wars Ep2 soundtrack. And make some toast with melty cheese. Mmm.

Being a fan of Trading Spaces, I took the Trading Spaces quiz that Ceri found. I was so afraid I'd be Hilda. I would have just died. Turns out I'm not.

Oooh! Oooh! Canada just took another point! 9-3 with three ends remaining!

Okay. I'm going back to trying to figure out how to put the code for this comment function in so the Grand Poobah can rest easy. I managed to do it for my web counter, which now works; I'm stunned. Let's see if we can make it two for two...

Back to the Olympics

Anyone else think that the little fanfare CBC Radio Two is using for the Olympic updates before the hourly news sounds like the Back to the Future theme? They're probably using it on CBC Radio One as well. You have to time it right to catch it... aim for around 5 minutes before the hour.

No, seriously.