I'm A Stranger Here Myself

Damn right I am...

2007-10-22T13:56:00.001-05:00

Your Score: Captain Jack

You scored 55% strength, 36% intelligence, 57% friendliness, and 84% escapology!

You are Captain Jack - handsome, charming and always in the right place. The girls (and boys!) just can't seem to get enough of you. The Doctor can't get enough of you either, as you always seem to turn up just when the time is right. You've taken and dished a few beatings, stayed until the bitter end, and always manage to get out of trouble when it suits you. It's almost like you have a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Still, you've made some stupid decisions in your time, and The Doctor isn't likely to let you forget them. In fact, despite your worldliness and age, you still can't seem to keep up with The Doctor as fast as some of his other companions. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

Link: The Doctor Who Companion Test written by lobotomy42 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

dies of awwwwwwwwwwwwww

2007-03-03T11:48:00.001-06:00

In which our hero makes a valiant return

2007-01-13T01:47:00.000-06:00

This is just a short post. Testing the new Blogger system and all that.

Also, I'm back. In Baton Rouge. At LSU. Although, technically not until Tuesday when classes start.

Beware!

2006-12-16T21:08:00.000-06:00

Beware!
Originally uploaded by aliceswndrland.

It'll sell your car when you're not looking.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T09:27:00.000-06:00

Which would be great in our dark, spooky, misty tree-lined street. Except that tonight they're making a Christmas advert for Tesco two doors along, so the street is full of vans and trailers, and big arc lights. There's a rumour going around that they'll be bringing a snow machine later, because what's a Christmas commercial without snow? If they do, it'll be a wonderfully surreal Nightmare Before Christmas-esque juxtaposition.

Which reminds me, I have a pumpkin downstairs that needs cutting with a mildly sardonic grin. And I wonder if we have any candles.

Halloween still isn't the same as it is over in the US. I see supermarkets and shops stocking up on cheap plastic masks and bad costumes, but do kids really go around trick or treating over here? In all my years, I've only ever seen a couple. I've just missed the big annual party on Carlotta street back in Baton Rouge. Live music, hundreds of people in costume, good times. Although this year apparently there were lots of fights, and the police had to break it up. I've never seen that before. Usually it's peaceful and everyone's there for a good time. Ho hum.

Anyway, pictures from Chicago up later.

2006-10-24T00:09:00.000-05:00

The Instant Karma Party

Your Tuesday earworm.

...brought to you by the numbers 60, 5 and the colour Blood Red.

2006-10-15T10:55:00.001-05:00

So, things... currently doing dull and dusty work helping to do up a house my parents bought purely to sell on. Ah well, at least I'm being paid for it, and should get me a bit fitter.

I've re-enrolled at LSU for January 2007, so I've got a couple of months to go until then. So now I just have to sort out... oh, everything. Visa, funding, apartment, car (hopefully), and I'm sure lots of other little bits I'll forget until I get there. At least it'll be good to get back 'home' again.

I've been downloading a lot of new American shows lately, checking out ones that have piqued my interest. Here are my favourites:

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip I'm enjoying immensely. The West Wing vibe is incredibly apparent due to Sorkin's patented Walk and Talk (andtalkfasterthananyoneelseontelevision), but it's in danger of becoming a bit pat. Mini-crises happen to fill the episodes and it's all wrapped up neatly in 45 minutes and you wonder exactly what just filled the last 3/4s of an hour of your life. Declining audiences make me sad because it has the potential to run and run.

Heroes is up to 3 episodes now, and is getting better and better. The first episode was a bit hard going, as was the first half of the 2nd, then something clicked and it suddenly got exciting and interesting, although I couldn't actually put my finger on it. It still suffers from being a bit po-faced and taking itself too seriously, especially considering its subject matter. It could do with taking a leaf out of Studio 60's book and having the characters react to things with a sense of humour, as opposed to having one character designated 'Comic Relief' (Hiro, for those who have watched). Some nice eye candy in it, though.

Eureka which has just ended its first season. Incredibly light and fluffy, it still manages to pack an emotional punch from time to time as you suddenly realise you care about these characters. And with the setting up of a conspiracy, its Buffy season 1 'monster/science gone wrong of the week' eps should be behind it now. Roll on season 2.

Dexter if you live in the US and here if you don't. Showtime's series about Dexter Morgan, a forensic investigator who also happens to be a serial killer. Outstandingly produced, directed, written and acted. Six Feet Under's Michael C. Hall is wonderfully cast in this incredibly black and clever series, walking a fine line with humour, pathos, drama and a little touch of horror in tow. The flashbacks to his teenage years are very revealing about how his character came to be so... different. I've watched 3 eps so far and cannot wait for the next one. Which possibly says something uncomfortable about me.

Let's end here.

2006-08-20T16:48:00.000-05:00

The House on Allen Road

2006-08-07T15:06:00.000-05:00

Darth Vader being a smartass

Teh funny. SRSLY.

2006-07-28T19:44:00.000-05:00

On June 2nd we moved out of our house in Kenton, commonly known among the peeps who have been there as 'the TARDIS' on account of being much bigger inside than they expected. We hadn't actually found a new house to move into, because my parents want to become property developers and do up a few old tatty houses and sell them on for $$$profit. So we left the TARDIS and moved into a tiny rented bungalow out on the edge of Pinner.

Now tomorrow, we move out of this tiny cramped house into a much larger house, with a seriously huge garden. We'll be there (well, I won't. Back to LSU and all that) for about 18 months. It'll be a nice house to return to, anyway. Thus I dub it, the House on Allen Road. Who spods will know why.

After a short hop to Florida in late August to relax, I'll be flying onto New Orleans to spend a couple of months there being happy. Looking forward to that immensely.

2006-07-23T13:52:00.000-05:00

Apparently the LJ feed for my blog is churning out all the old entries again. I have no idea why. I don't control the feed. But I apologise.

2006-07-22T18:10:00.000-05:00

I made this!

2006-01-22T18:43:00.001-06:00

And I started to walk
Pretty soon I will run
And I'll be running back to you

'Cause I followed my star
And that's what you are
I've had a merry time with you

2006-01-13T05:03:00.000-06:00

US Invasion

The Sci-Fi Channel in the USA has bought Doctor Who! Hurrah! From the Press Release:

Welcoming the deal, Sci FI Channel's Thomas P Vitale said Doctor Who was a "true sci-fi classic".

The award-winning Eccleston series will premiere on the Sci Fi Channel in March.

Mr Vitale said: "With its rich history of imaginative storytelling, Doctor Who is a true sci-fi classic. We're excited to add the show to our line up."

So the Americans will finally get to see it. That's nice. But wait, isn't this the same Sci-Fi Channel who passed on buying the series back in March last year stating:

The Sci-Fi Channel are NOT in negotiations for the new series with their sources saying "Sci Fi Channel has already had a chance at the new series and passed after viewing some of the completed episodes. Some of the executives at the network found the series somewhat lacking and didn't think it would fit into the network's schedule." (Dated March 3rd, 2005)

*nods sagely*

2006-01-03T18:30:00.000-06:00

"Witchcraft!" "Time Lord."

So, here we all are. Another new year. It's odd when you realise we're now closer to 2010 than 2000.

Everyone's made the same comment that we're in a weird alternate 2005/2006 where Doctor Who is now an amazingly popular thing instead of the lame duck it's been seen as for years. To see evidence of this, one would only have to look at my Christmas booty pile.

R/C Dalek
Season 27 DVD Boxset (such a waste of cardboard though)
Sonic Screwdriver
TARDIS Mobile Phone flasher
TARDIS keyring

And I could have got so much more. There's a board game, puzzles, more books than you can shake a stick at, more toys, a money box, etc.

Wow, that's how forgetful I am. Got distracted in the middle of writing this post. A few hours later, I go to shut down and fnd this window still open. And so to bed.

2005-11-23T03:16:00.000-06:00

Hmm. I've just seen the date.

"The time is a quarter past five, and Saturday viewing continues with an adventurein the new science fiction series Doc-”.

Happy 42nd Birthday, Doctor!

2005-11-23T03:11:00.000-06:00

"Can you change back?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"Can you?"
"No."

6 and a half minutes of joy. That was fantastic. A great little prelude for the Christmas Invasion. You have to love the IntarWub that it was online properly only 3 hours after being shown. I'm talking about BitTorrent here, not the horrible horrible RealPlayer that the Beeb still insists on using. You know you're the only people on the Internets still using RealPlayer, right Beeb tech guys?

My return flight's been booked. I come back Thursday December 7th. Hurrah, I guess. Returning home. Fish and chips, sausage and mash, beans on toast. No, Christmas! Turkey... Yummeh.

Well, I won't be staying home till the New Year. I want to go to Brighton and Exeter on my return and just see everyone and do everything I've missed. Proper Chinese food for starters. Oh, I've missed that. I miss my coat. It's getting cold here (I know, it's weird).

Two weeks to go. I want to enjoy them. Thanksgiving this Thursday. Much eating. Yay eating!

"Hold on tight! Here we go! Christmas Eve!"

2005-10-10T00:12:00.000-05:00

You know who has too much time on their hands? People. :P

http://www.reasonablyclever.com/lego/firefly/index.htm

But at least it's in a fun way. And I'm jealous because I don't own that much Lego.

2005-09-22T23:57:00.000-05:00

Wheeeeee... another hurricane incoming. But too far west of here to bother closing the school for like they did for Katrina.

Earlier today, I wanted more than anything else to be drinking Twisted Russians in that cocktail bar in Exeter. Excellent, homesick. But not for home home. Elsewhere in England home. I think I want cold. That's definitely what I miss the most. The cold. Waking up of a morning and needing to put a jumper on.

The artificial cold of air conditioning isn't the same. And when you wake up, you have to decide how hot the day's going to be and how little to wear, or how thin the fabric needs to be to get through the day.

Sooooo... I've got a few options. None of which involve me being able to stay in school for the rest of this semester, unfortunately. I have an appointment on Monday morning to talk to the International Office about a possible scholarship for next semester, which would be nice if I qualify.

But, basically, it looks like I'm going to have drop out or defer or something for the rest of this semester before my next fee is due (October 1st.. good timing). But then there's the matter of when I go back home. Once you drop out, you have 60 days to leave the country, so I'd have to leave about late November time. I could leave earlier, sure, but I don't want to really leave my roommate in the lurch with regard to rent. Plus I want to be here for Hallowe'en. Because quite frankly, that kicks ass over here. Thanksgiving would also be nice because I enjoyed that back in 2003. Muchos food. :)

Eh, we'll see. Maybe I'll be back before my parents move. That would be shiny.

2005-09-17T17:40:00.000-05:00

"I want to study at your university"
"Excellent! You have to pay this amount of money!"
"Huh? But all these people pay less than half that..."
"Yes, but you're not from around here."
"I don't get it..."
"You're not meant to!"
"Well... all right, I've saved up the fees like you asked."
"Oh, actually those fee prices are out of date, it's another $500 on top of that now."
"Um... ok."
"Oh, and then there's these extra costs."
"Wait, no-one told me about these..."
"Well, you have to pay them. It's an extra $1000."
"But... ok. Can I pay it bit by bit?"
"Sure! We're helpful like that!"
"Ok, well can I get a job to help pay for it while I'm there?"
"Of course! But only on campus. And you can't work more than 20 hours a week."
"That doesn't seem fair, somehow. Because I have to pay fees, rent, food and everything else as well."
"That's America!"

So I have to go talk to Financial Aid on Monday... There may be trouble ahead...

2005-09-03T03:25:00.000-05:00

Since it's September 3rd... and I'm all the way over here, I'm putting this up early, because I don't know what the postal system's going to be like, especially after Katrina. October 1st is less than a month away, people!

Things UK!

Things USA

(Both lists ship to me here in BR)

;)

2005-08-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Outside my front door:

Curse you Katrina! Power was also out here for about 7 hours. Cable tv still not back, which is a bit annoying.

2005-08-29T00:39:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm alive and well. Hurricane Katrina hasn't hit land yet, and almost certainly will only lightly skim Baton Rouge about 10am-midday tomorrow.

However, New Orleans has pretty much a zero percent chance of escaping unharmed, which is incredibly sad. I had planned to go down there either this coming weekend or the next, but I guess not for a while now.

Classes have been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday, and probably a bit longer too, depending on what happens.

The rain is starting to lightly fall again. Apres moi, la deluge.

2005-08-12T20:46:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how difficult it is to buy a bed here. Oh well, hopefully soon.

So I've been here 4-ish days now. On Tuesday, I got heartburn on the way to the airport through nervousness. This was about 9am, and lasted until about 4pm, 4 hours into my flight. Needless to say, I wasn't Mr Fun Bunny with the giving of smiles on my departure, though I tried. Beset on all sides by the loud Turkish students during my flight. They seemed vaguely put out when I wouldn't swap my aisle seat for a window. No, sorry, I have legs, I need the legroom.

Finally got into New Orleans about 7pm, got driven to Baton Rouge, and dropped off luggage at Neyna's before heading out for food at Louie's. I got me the exact same thing I got last time I arrived in BR, a 'Mitchell'. Omelette filled with hashbrowns, sausage and cheese. Tis teh yumx0r. Then slept.

Wednesday, signed my lease, got my key for my shiny new apartment which looks right out over the pool. Now I just need to move in with stuff. Once I get a bed.

I've bought a bookcase, a desk, and a whole bunch of stuff including cutlery, plates, mugs, etc etc. Standard home set-up junk.

Yesterday I had my first taster of uni life. International student orientation. Me and about 500 other foreigners. Met some other Brits, but they're all just here for a semester or a year. I'm the only full-timer. They look at me with something approaching a look of disbelief and amazement.

Had today off, so Neyna and I went bed hunting. One nice one, but not sure about the place. Another one wasn't really clear about what $299 covered. Plus they wanted another $50 for delivery, maybe more depending how many stairs, etc. Sod that. More looking tomorrow. I want to get moved in really soon. Enough couch sleeping.

On Monday I have to be at uni for 7:30am. Because that's the day about 3000-5000 other freshmen turn up and you need to get there early to not be at the back of the queue. These are the regular homegrown n00b students. Wheeeee.

At Neyna's family home today, I saw her mum, gave her a big hug, because it's always nice to see her. Family member Vinnie came over to see her too. He travels a lot. St. Kitts, England, other places. We were chatting about the fun of international flying and the sort, and then he detoured and suddenly we were taking about Big Brother. The UK one. He'd left England about a month ago and he was missing it. So I filled in as best as I could. There was a wonderful moment of surreality as I realised I was sitting in a Baton Rouge kitchen discussing Big Brother with someone who knew exactly what I was talking about, pondering whether Makosi or Anthony will win...

Big Brother... the universal languge?

2005-08-10T23:26:00.000-05:00

Global Frequency Central Operations is now online.