First off, I loathe the "live every day as if it's your last" ethos. Absolutely despise it. That's what's caused the generations previous to mine to fuck up my planet. I try to live as though I'll be stuck with the consequences of my actions for ever. It's the responsible way to behave, and the touchy-feely Sunscreen woowoo L'Oréal-I'm-worth-it brigade who think 'being yourself' is the be-all and end-all can FOADIAF frankly.

I screw up, of course, but that's what I try to live by.

With that in mind, told I'd die tomorrow morning, I'd behave exactly as I normally do. I don't want to experiment with alcohol or say things I normally wouldn't or something and then find out it was all a mistake and I'll have to live with the consequences.

Admittedly, I would probaby order a massive pizza and watch a film I love.

But before that, I'd put down all my passwords, etc, in a folder to be distributed to my heirs. I'm convinced the world will cease to exist when I do, but one must be responsible.

Was tagged by charlycrash and I I'm bored with things not working and people not sending me necessary stuff yet.

FIRST: If you've been tagged, you must write your answers in your own LJ and replace any question that you dislike with a new, original question.

SECOND: Tag eight sexy people. Don't refuse to do that like a pansy. Unless you really don't want to of course. And if you're not tagged and you want to do it, then do!

Who sleeps in bed next to you?
Books, because books, and also there are unopened letters on the foot end that I leave there to try to make myself open and file them.

What did you last eat?
Houmous, sugar snap peas and baby sweetcorn.

What kind of books do you read?
Fant and sci fi and the occasional non-fiction for research.

What are you reading at the moment?
At the moment I am WRITING. Next up to be read are the Taken books by Alan Dean Foster: 1 2 3

If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
Asleep in bed, and if we can get really grabby, I'd like the underblanket straightened, because I keep fixing it and it keeps rucking up.

What's really creepy?
Infantilism has really got my goat recently. Also, sex in general. I think it's backlash from writing Alluring Swiper the ninja, who is pretty much my polar opposite.

Name one odd item within five feet of you.
I don't even know what's odd any more. Some jigsaw pieces decorate my monitor stand. I picked them up from a railway level crossing because I was so amused to see jigsaw pieces there. Otherwise, a red Songs of Praise vacuum mug with the legend carefully scratched off and a dog's head drawn on in its place in permanent marker.

What's your current fandom / obsession / addiction?
Writing Sankmarray. We're at the difficult, "wanting to sleep a lot" midway stage. I recognise this from last time.

What did you really want to do today that you didn't?
Be on time for work and sleep more. There's a little mutual exclusivity there, as you can see, which resulted in my not getting to do either.

What's your ideal mode of transport?
A Saunders-Roe Princess with a BMW Z3 and a dragon in the hold and POWER METULL on the stereo.

What was the last thing you bought?
Apart from the aforementioned food, that would be Xmas presents and getting keys cut.

If you could have any pet, what would it be?
My dogs, more dogs, a pure black Rottweiler/German Shep cross, some red pandas, a white German Shep with FLUFFY EARS like the one at the market yesterday, a pangolin or five, an octopus, a tortoise (possibly robot), a Saluki/English Mastiff cross, a Golden Retriever/St Bernard cross like Bilko, a Spitz (not fussy as to what breed), and a lot of robots.

What do you want right this minute, off the top of your head?
"To be rid of this headache" seems a waste, but I really don't WANT things much. "To have written more Sankmarray", except then I'd miss out on the sniggers I get while writing it, so...

Which of your friends most deserves to win the lottery, and would it change them?
(I have no answer to this question, I'm just replacing the other boring one.)

Have any of your life goals changed?
Having one would be a change, and I sort of acquired a "wouldn't it be nice" (which is pretty committal for me): namely, get something published before I'm 30.

Are there any bits of childhood that you miss?
In my case this'd be better phrased as "Are there any bits of childhood that you remember?" I don't think I miss much of it. The divorce was weird and is still around in my psyche, but I wouldn't want to go back to having a two-parent family. I went on a few cool holidays that I distantly remember. I'd like to do Disney World again.

My dogs were not "bits of my childhood", they were family members who happened to be there for most of it, but I miss them a lot.

Rename the days of the week.
Natday, Infday, Chiday, Youday, Adday, Matuday, Olday

Say something to the person who tagged you.
Your kitteh is stink and it stink teh whole wurld lol lol pwnt


I'm a pansy and proud of it, so it is incumbent upon me to refuse to tag anyone. Also, while I like you all, you're not sexy, not like a Z3.

Yay, necessary stuff has arrived! Now back to work.

I've always said shapeshifting, because sometimes there's no solution but to fucking fuck up some fuckers in the form of a large gunmetallic dragon, but recently I've come to consider telekinesis as the daddy/mother/egg/whatever of all superpowers, most others being expressible as super-applied or restricted teke (pyrokinesis, for example, or flight (teke applied against oneself), illusion (moving/bending light), and arguably even time-related effects).

And teleportation would be fun. As would generic 'magic'. Or specific magic, like being able to shout "Karatanka!" and a volcano appears just like in Populous: The Beginning.

A healing factor has obvious appeal too. Healing powers that can be applied both to oneself and to others (read: dogs) are more useful, albeit a bit hippyish. I've always imagined if I had a heal effect, it'd manifest as a slash of blue-white light and a bell-like sound like Arcanum's minor heal spell. Just because it's more manly than the Dungeon Keeper heal spell (little love hearts? HELLO? Evil here!) or the stupid whitelighters on Charmed.

Now the Source's fireballs in Charmed, THOSE are epic.

Superpowers: Bet You Can't Take Just One.

</Sylar>

(What do you mean, I sound like I've given this a lot of thought in the past?)

"See, here's the thing; if I die, you'll all wink out of existence. If it helps, it won't be intentional."

Globally broadcast.

And no, I've never imagined that. Now I am, and it's frightening. Thanks a lot for all your apparent grief, 'brother'(!)

Tonight Myers-Briggs says I'm an INTJ. I might be able to remember this one by recalling that it sounds like integer.

I don't generally recognise anything in the M-B test, but you have to admit they have me pretty well nailed career-wise.

But "Mastermind"? Do you reckon?

The sentence that rings most true to me in that analysis is "Problem-solving is highly stimulating to Masterminds, who love responding to tangled systems that require careful sorting out." Having something finite to sort and smooth gives me a massive hard-on.

BED TIME ZOMG.

I'm far more with Weft than Suitov and Basaltine on this issue, i.e. I am a massive cityphile girly-boy, and like nature to stay in natureland where it belongs.

Therefore, luxury hotel. Because I do not like to be dirty and I very much like to be comfortable. Holiday means "no chores", not "same chores (and more of them) done in different ways". And I don't like the enforced closeness to other people, or them complaining when I turn over and nagging me not to touch the inner membrane against the outer wall, yes, I KNOW it'll make moisture get in, I GET IT, but I'm still blasted well going to turn over until I reach a position in which I can sleep, and oh gods the air mattresses going flat and the stones in the back, and the communal shower-and-toilet blocks, heating beans (ugh! Beans!) over a little pointless blue stove, the noise from the other twits on the campsite who have better stuff than us and insist that we hear their ghetto blasters, unsalved curiosity about what those mega camper vans look like on the inside, and those blasted water taps on their not-perfectly-vertical supports, NOT VERTICAL!! GET A SPIRIT LEVEL, PEOPLE!!! In conclusion, I'm a white tile, room service, paid cleaners, mint-on-pillow creature at heart.

I'm glad we went camping when I was younger: it's a useful and valid Experience. The fact remains, however, that having done it, I quite simply would not consider doing it for fun ever again.

...Unless there was nowhere that allowed dogs! :O

"Those two are dating" is the most scandalous thing I've heard about someone in my workplace, and I figured that even if for some reason I wasn't the last to know, I wasn't going to say anything.

I don't tend to be someone to whom gossip is told. (Or maybe I don't remember it... I'm bad with people's names, which makes that kind of information useless and not very memorable.) But people do tell me things about themselves. Sometimes people I scarcely know tell me things of such a personal nature that it surprises me.

It isn't good to pass on rumours about people, though I will say "Apparently the new release of XYZ will have Google Wave support" or "I heard that XYZ is getting a second series" or "Watch out, I've heard from several people that XYZ app is buggy". If possible, give your sources. It's only responsible to make clear when you're repeating second+hand information.

By the way, Thingy and Whatsisface are totally an item!!!11!1!!

I read what's actually on screen, then I save everything to their desktop/documents folder (without reading anything else that's open), and shut everything (browser/client/word proc) down.

With a physical book or diary, after scanning far enough along any open page to realise what it is, I close it and leave it on their bed/desk/whatever.

In my eyes this is acting according to my conscience and delivering a tacit warning: you left it lying around and I could have.

Actually I'm annoyingly trustworthy with information, but if you leave something there on screen it's fair game. Leaving legible things lying around me... it's like leaving food on the floor if you live with a dog.

I don't know anyone who's so hopeless with their privacy that they leave sensitive stuff lying around. In my family nobody's arsed if I see their stray bank statement or something. I'm rather more private, which isn't to say secretive.

taito_kisses asked me to explain these five of my userpics:

( Including some DOGGEH )

Thad taito_kisses also called me Anubis, which is... well. Supernatural, psychopomp, dog. Need I squee moar? I didn't think so.

Memes, comment for one or both:

Icons
1. Comment to this entry saying 'ICONS!' and I will pick 6 of your icons.
2. Make an entry in your own journal and talk about the icons I picked!

Characters
Comment and I will comment back with a picture of the fictional character that most reminds me of you. Then post the same in your journal.

(The second one could be very difficult for me.)

I know four things about Denmark:

• Danelaw (was actually England)
• Hamlet (fictional)
• Bacon (supposedly not true)
• Jutland (juts. Puninsula)

And if I think really hard I'll remember Hans Christian Andersen (Aesop was better).

But, well, according to this, I should live there:

You Scored as Danish Danish 63% Swiss 50% Belgian 50% British 50% Polish 50% Italian 38% Spanish 38% Molvanian 25% Irish 25% German 25% Dutch 13% Turkish 13% Russian 13% French 0%

I know sod all about Belgique (although at least I'd have a bit of the language) ('Astings, mon ami) and the same goes for la Suisse (I have a Victorinox knife... are they really Swiss any more?). I'm surprised I'm as much as 50% British, given that I loathe tea and beer...

Maybe it's racial memory. Hey, did you know I'm distantly descended from someone called Jane Eyre? As literary heroines go I'd prefer an Irene Adler, a Liz Bennett or a Rosalind. At least it's not a Cathy Earnshaw or a Fuschsia Groan or Christine Daaaaaé or Ophelia or some balls.

Who sleeps in bed next to you?
Other than an occasional visiting cat, just my current book/s.

What kind of magazines do you read?
I don't. I hate magazines; the physicality of them, the periodical-ness, the dumbed-down-ness (especially that)... I've just learned somewhere along the line to file myself as Not a Magazine Person. I barely even read RSS feeds. :P I'd actually read New Scientist if I could get over it being a magazine.

What was the last book you read? What are you currently reading?
Last were a few children's books pertaining to ghost dogs, for my collection. Currently, Winterbirth by some British writer. It's really... Scottish. Includes a map, but also needs an index of clan names...

What's really creepy?
Nightmares involving violence or sex. Humans being naked for non-sensible reasons. Animal abuse of any sort – well, that's more ENRAGING than icky. Infantilism. Hurting people for fun. Especially those last two.

Who is your celebrity crush?
I tend not to crush on real people. In terms of "I know I don't actually know them, but they seem terribly enticing from what I have seen, so I hope I never meet them or I'll probably despise them as I do with all real human beings": Jennifer Saunders and Stephen Fry. (Someone who is worth meeting, in my experience, is Terry Pratchett. He's witty and not a prick in real life, even at an exhausting signing.)

Quote some lyrics that you love:

• Lycanthropy by Patrick Wolf doesn't just speak to me, it sings to me.
• "Rise another day across the distant skies / Where the dawn above the winter moonlight shines upon the fall of our lives" –DragonForce (I find themes of winter/snow/ice and moonlight quite often exhilerating)
• "All the pay I need comes shining through his eyes / I dont need no cold water to make me realise that / I love my dog as much as I love you / But you may fade, my dog will always come through." –Cat Stevens (I think explaining this might be to belabour a point...)
• "Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light; / Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night? / I'm being followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow / Leaping and hopping on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow" –Cat Stevens (Makes me think of a playful cat, probably because a cat I once owned was called Moonshadow. She had a cameo in Mews.)
• I suppose also Sad Lisa, also by Cat Stevens (lyrics) is another pretty one. (Some people think it's about a dog. I thought it was a ghost. Maybe she's a ghost dog!)
• Oh, and Morning Has Broken can be a great suitheist anthem with minimal tweaking. Anyway, enough Cat Stevens (what is it with me and him today?). Have a Bird Dog!!!

I could go on, but I suppose I'll stop...

What are you listening to right now?
One of Ian F's mixes.

What are you most excited for?
My moderate excitement currently has no focus.

What websites do you always visit when you go online?
profusion.hellhound.net, webmails, often LJ, and at home, a couple of game-type sites.

What was the last thing you bought?
Books, not counting mangetout and houmous for the week's lunch. (I'm getting SO BORED of that. Going to have to find something else easy to munch.)

What was the cutest thing you've seen today?
A West Highland White outside the newsagent. It was shy and I scritched its head briefly. Distinctly saw a passer-by smile at my talking gently to it. Westies aren't very cute; I prefer proper dogs, but y'know, a drowning person doesn't insist on teak.

Does the weather affect your mood?
I can't honestly say I've noticed... I think I'm too self-contained. I could be wrong, though: I am an Earth animal, and we're more natural than we think we are.

What is your zodiac sign?
Water Dog. Gemini.

Do you want to learn another language?
I'd actually like to get back into the ones I know a little of: German, Latin, French. And maybe learn more Finnish songs. Songs are easy. ANKAT, OO-OH, UUTA JUONTA AINA SAHAA

5 things you can't live without:
Internet connection, retreating into my own head, dogs, dogs, creating things

Do you have any siblings?
One blood, one miscellaneous.

Do you have to pee?
This is an evil question. I approve. Hey, everyone reading, whatever you do, don't think of waterfalls! *raps* Dripping tap, drowned rat, Reichenbach, neap! / splashing frog, shaking dog, soggy noggy moggy fog / tut tut, water butt, looks like waiting drops of rain upon my windowpaaane (speed up at this point...) / surface tension, water retention, plippy skippy crashy splashy blidder bladder downpour BURST!

Say something to the person who tagged you:
Safari park sounds good! Let's take your stash and let the baboons steal it.

View the original post at Black Dog Blog

Bone marrow potentially (I've read a leaflet and understand roughly what's involved, and wouldn't do it for fun; I'm not currently on the register). Kidney only to my brother, and I would judge him severely on his lifestyle before deciding.

important edit: I should say that I am on the organ register for after my death. Once I cease to exist, I won't have an opinion. So here I'm talking about live donations specifically.

Journal
1) Does my username suit me?
2) Is my journal's title cryptic or descriptive? What do you think it means?
3) Does my journal expand your knowledge of me?
4) Do you think my bio describes me well?
Interests
5) Which of my interests surprises you the least?
6) Which of my interests surprises you the most?
7) Which of my interests needs explaining?
Userpics
8) Which of my userpics suits me best?
9) Which of my userpics suits me least?
10) Which of my userpics needs explaining?

No. I'm not a numerologist. Or superstitious.

I don't let people buy me drinks. I am the one who buys other people drinks. I am inflexible on this unless you're a close friend or my brother. (I mean, of course you can convey my money to the bar and bring my drink back, or take your turn getting a round in, but you don't get to pay on my behalf.)

I'm not scared of rat poison, bleach or rohypnol (lol, can you imagine how wasted someone would have to be? They'd be in a worse state than me); I just do not want to be bought drinks. I am not a creature for whom drinks are bought. I am a provider of drinks. If I couldn't afford 'em, I wouldn't be out drinking them in the first place.

I don't particularly like receiving gifts either. I'm funny like that. You gots to ask permission.

(I think this is to do with insecurity related to anyone I perceive as less femmy than me. A woman bought me some flowers as a little gift once, and I was fine with it. All right, I blushed.)

In practice I don't tend to buy strangers drinks because I'm not interested in pulling, but if I see anyone fumbling for change, the instinct to offer to cover it is always there.

The pelt of a skinned animal, insectile or maybe crablike around the head. Looks like there are gaps for wings, too...

(I always, always see animals in Rorschach-esque inkblots.)

1. Can you cook?

I can follow instructions competently, until something calls for manual skill (for example, anything beyond "fold X into Y"). I do not improvise with anything dangerous, e.g. hot ovens or bladed machinery. Generally I confine myself to grilling false meats and boiling chlorophyll to eat therewith, or stir frys.

2. What was your dream growing up?

Odd question. I suppose a growing-up with a bunch of komodo dragons and red pandas would've been quite dreamy, actually. Or a growing-up as a space pirate chieftain. I'd add "being raised by dogs", but I sort of was. Grew up with two.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

View the original post at Black Dog Blog

Slen and I played Arkham Horror round at someone's house last night. It's great fun! We had eight players plus the host, who GMed (doesn't need a GM, but it was very helpful because some of us hadn't played before). In fact we stayed so on top of things that it was really easy to win, despite the GM doing his best to, erm, 'liven things up' for us. Also, I got some odd looks from cooing in delight over the Hound of Tindalos.

During the game I went and talked to the Black Man for a laugh, seeing as my character had a sanity bonus so couldn't die during that encounter. I failed the roll but couldn't be devoured, found it much funny and didn't think much more of it.

So later last night, erm, I had some dreams.

Very, very whacked-out dreams. And I woke up with a non-existent and horrendous pop song in my head, a song that IMO could have come from nowhere but R'lyeh. It seriously took me about ten minutes to stop being very very confused. I was glad of that sanity bonus.

Am now in perfect frame of mind to have a go at fixing mum's Inspiron.

EDIT:

( Read the rest of this entry » )

View the original post at Black Dog Blog

Your dating personality profile: Practical - You are a down-to-earth individual who is not impressed with material excess. You care about the stuff that really matters. Liberal - Politics matters to you, and you aren't afraid to share your left-leaning views. You would never be caught voting for a conservative candidate. Intellectual - You consider your mind amongst your assets. Learning is not a chore but a constant search after wisdom and knowledge. You value education and rationality.

Your Top Ten Traits 1. Practical 2. Liberal 3. Intellectual 4. Big-Hearted 5. Outgoing 6. Wealthy/Ambitious 7. Adventurous 8. Traditional 9. Funny 10. Sensual

Your date match profile: Shy - You are put off by people who are open books. You are drawn to someone who is a bit more mysterious. You want to draw den out of des shell and get to know what de is all about. Practical - You are drawn to people who are sensible and smart. Flashy, materialistic people turn you off. You appreciate the simpler side of living. Intellectual - You seek out intelligence. Idle chit-chat is not what you are after. You prefer your date who can stimulate your mind.

Your Top Ten Match Traits 1. Shy 2. Practical 3. Intellectual 4. Funny 5. Big-Hearted 6. Adventurous 7. Traditional 8. Conservative 9. Wealthy/Ambitious 10. Athletic

Take the Dating Profile Quiz at Would I Date You

Heyyyy, frigid, cynical, smart and funny individuals who won't talk over my jokes and bons mots! Hey, let's... er, see a film, then wave goodbye and go back to our homes. Or something. HAWT.