Really, you can ask Daniel. I've been getting random narcolepsy all week (wait, is there actually a non-random version of narcolepsy? It would rather defeat the object of the syndrome, I think...) So um, yeah, I haven't blogged in a while have I? I have had a busy week dagnammit. >_<
Ok, summary of events and so on and so forth. I am back in Grantham. Hooray yay. -_- At least the boyfriend is here, which does make sitting around the house being useless considerably more fun. The trip back here was...painful. o_0 Me squashed into about three cubic centimetres of space in the back of the stupid new weiner-car. Really, if you know you're bringing someone like *me* home, you should know you're going to need a *truck*, parental units! Anyway, leaving Oxford was not a nice thing and I certainly didn't enjoy it. -_- I want my room and my libraries and more than anything in Oxford I want the Ass no Ryu randomly dropping in to cheer me up and lounge in my room. But we move on, I suppose, and I should be seeing people soon enough.
See? I already have withdrawl symptoms and it was only three days since I saw people. o_0 The Grantham Expedition was wonderful, I have to say. I would have loved it if you had been able to come, but the evil job-hunting beast had other ideas, as we all know. >_< Hope all the legwork pays off soon. >_< So all the not-otherwise-harrassed Ass no Ryu arrived at mine and I *hope* they enjoyed it. They seemed to, despite the weiner-tininess of my house and the uber-hugeness of the amount of stuff we have in it. o_0
On to events. I Love Alton Towers. I hope the italics are sufficient warning that this is going to be a squeefest. The usual favourites get the thumbs up, Nemesis *would* still be my favourite ride at Alton Towers, if Liz and I hadn't been on the life-changing experience that is Air. *returns to trance-like state she and Liz were in for hours after the ride* Its...so...beautiful. o_0 We were incredibly lucky to get seats on the front row, which, as far as I'm concerned utterly made the ride. I don't know how much your view is obscured being on a different row, but it couldn't be as good as the feeling you get with that I'm flying and there's nothing at all in front of me! effect. I suspect Liz may be the only one who knows what I mean here, but anyway. :p
Saturday we went to Sherwood Forest, which was awesomecool and I now have my own Richard the Lionheart outfit, because that's who I got to be. We ran around the forest in costumes. People looked at us like we were either very amusing or mental patients, or possibly a combination of both. Frankly I think the pictures speak for themselves. ^__________^
Evening brought boyfriend and not-so-able-bodied assisstant, me, cooking dinner for all. And lo did we dine on tacos and lo did no one get food poisoning as far as I am aware. o_0 So that was nice. Tasha gets a bazillion thanks for making me watch Pitch Black. Riddick is a dude, if only because he's a character played by Vin Diesel who *isn't* entirely hateful, despite the fact that he's a murdering psychopath. o_0 How?
Anyway, at this point I think I am going to go back to some of my other pursuits of the week. These including making beads out of Fimo, reading Jennifer Government (yes Ivan and Tasha, it's rather awesome isn't it? ^____^) and playing FFX-2 (yes everyone, I *do* feel soiled). Ooh, and I got a copy of Klonoa 2 when I was in Peterborough today, so that ranks quite high on my to-do list too. Anyway, doing...
Alright, alright, I know I have managed to neglect the whole "blogging incredibly important events" for too many days now, but frankly I have been in a state of shock/recovery/random stress. o_0
So, I finished my exams. That was a nice thing to achieve in one piece since the odds of doing so seemed to have made big pyramids of themselves against me about three months ago. But never mind. I sat exams, some of them weren't horrible. Others were Coptic. But it's alright because afterwards the Ass no Ryu and co got me wonderfully drunk and covered in sparklies so I wasn't even thinking about the horror of unseen translation. If you want evidence, you may find it here. *Warning - contains pictures of me* o_0
The pictures are fairly indicative of the drunken debauchery. It was indeed spiffy, and I had a tiara with a sparkly bat on, not to mention balloons, a cutlass and a kazoo. Methinks this was a well-chosen selection of post-finals goodies. ^__________^
And then we went to Frevd, and I drank grasshoppers, which I like very much. They taste like toothpaste and don't make you quite as drunk as a "killer zombie". o_0 New levels of class and sophistication were reached towards the end of the evening, however, when we went to MacDonalds then sat in my room watching Gone in 60 Seconds, Starsky and Hutch and Pirates of the Carribean. Which, as the saying goes, was nice. ^____^
Aaaand then I collapsed and slept for a long time.
Highlights of the rest of the week in brief:
Dinner at high table with moral tutor and tutor. Hooray for two nights in a row coming home plastered! The wine and food were very very good and the entire affair was incredibly posh, involving champagne, roast duck and sitting in the senior common room looking at incredibly expensive old paintings. This is a wonderful Oxford thing which makes me glad I've been here and not any other university on earth.
Drinks with the provost also lovely, oddly enough. I was not looking forward to this due to the probability of having to see other students, but I managed quite well to only speak to members of staff through accident rather than design. What? Everyone else at this college is just really hateful. >_<
Oh yes, important news! Kira has flowered!! ^___________^ He looks utterly stunning with his little yellow flower now, I am exceptionally motherly and proud. Finally a plant grown by me that hasn't died. o_0
Yesterday was...strange. o_0 Daniel and I spent most of the afternoon catching up on animesoc series. This included an enormous chunk of Last Exile, which officially gets the thumbs up despite its rather poor middle (A Gonzo series being patchy in quality? What's up with that?!?!), Trigun never left my favour because it's wonderful, Haibane Renmei and Utena I'd already seen and love. Wolf's Rain however, Wolf's Rain. I think Wolf's Rain deserves a sentence of its own. I didn't manage to watch between eps 27 and 29 inclusive because I was actually losing the will to live. o_0 I think somebody was an unhappy puppy when they wrote that. Consequently I may have missed some of the cool bits, but I'll go back for those later. I rather liked the last episode in a fighty-fighty-bloody-bloody way, but it wasn't exactly sensible or indeed fulfiling. But never mind. o_0
Soooo, that was my last animesoc. I'm sorry I made a rather quick exit at G and D's. Daniel and I were both very tired, and, well, a fair part of me doesn't like doing goodbyes. I should rather prefer to think that this isn't the last time I'm going to see the people who have attended this year, so I don't have to say horrible emotional goodbyes and what have you. Such things are already frequently the bane of my life so I thought I would slink away relatively quietly last night.
These last few days have been attempts at relaxation and rather stress panics. I have been hit with the whole "I need something to panic about now my finals are over!!" quite badly, which is as irritating as it is upsetting. >_< But then it would be naive of me to think that all my problems were going to go away as soon as finals were over. They may well improve once I'm out of Oxford, which I soon will be now. -_-
I'm not actually looking forward to or loathing the idea of leaving Oxford. I love this place entirely, and the people I've met here easily rank as the best friends I've made in my life, along with Daniel, but this has been a bad term as I think has been pretty obvious. I think Oxford and I are going to part on good terms, and I will miss the people I wish I were taking with me, as well as living in such a gorgeous place with all its lovely little haunts we've frequented over three years, but it is time to go. Not to sound too philosophical about it all, of course. I said I don't run with the whole permanent goodbyes thing, and Oxford will certainly be revisited soon, not least because I can't get into a graduation until next year! >_< But never mind. ^__^
Going to kick the boyfriend until he wakes up now. ^___^
End of finals happy glee balloons and alcohol and BIG PLASTIC CUTLASS!! ^_______________^
sleep now. o_0
One more to go one more to go one more to go one more to go. >_<
Coptic was not quite as mingy as I thought it would be, which was pleasantly astounding. I did, however, have to get up at five thirty this morning, somewhat startling a very jetlagged other half, to revise Coptic texts. >_< But never mind. >_<
There is a certain amount to be said for lying to one's boyfriend. But only when it pertains to how much coffee requires to be put in one's morning caffeine boost. The equivalent of six cups of coffee in three hours may not have been sensible but it kept me awake through my exam. >_< And the revision was actually of use in the exam so that was alright in the end.
And on to them other events of the weekend, considerably more pleasant...DANIEL IS HERE!! ^_____^ A fair chunk of the readership of this blog has now met him, and hopefully everyone was suitably ummm...however you describe the situation that doesn't involve some kind of social schism on my part because my two favourite groups of people can't bear each other. o_0
Have spent most of the weekend and today revising and/or introducing Daniel to the delights of English comedy. Eddie Izzard and Black Books have gone down decidedly well, so that's chirpy.
And now I have to go and cram Coptic vocabulary into my brain for tomorrow. Luck please. >_<
Exam not bad. Nice question: "write whatever the hell you want about whatever the hell Egyptian god you want." Mental hug to tutor.
Not enough hours of sleep. Bad cumulative stress exhaustion feeling.
Number of things are also making me angry/stressed but will be lefted anonymous.
Coptic revision is something that happens to other people.
Bakuten 7 is awesome on wheels and awol Jo somehow manages to be infinitely cooler.
Eddie Izzard makes the world a better place.
My computer makes a wonderful new noise.
Daniel is coming in less than two days. Thank goodness. >_<
May I be the first to express my fear and confusion concerning the fifth episode of Dogtato. How? Why?? Why must all harmony and perfection in the world perish?? *sobs bitterly*
Amen to that, JCR Exec. This may be the greatest thing you have ever done. Thank you.
Dear All
It has come to my attention that there have been unacceptable levels of
noise in and around the college late at night. While I appreciate that many
people have finished finals and spirits are running high, I would like
everybody to remember that there are people who still have to sit
finals/mods/prelims. Last night, finalists in Front Quad were kept
awake by people singing and shouting outside the gate and, in
spite of their being asked to quieten down, they took no notice. I have
received an email from one person in particular who was kept up by this
noise and as a consequence had to go to one of their final exams
exhausted.
This is really not on: it is immature and inconsiderate. I hope that I
will not be asked to send out further emails like this in the remaining
weeks of term. Enjoy yourselves - but with consideration for those for
whom exams are ongoing and/or looming.
This is so awesome.
Exams going....places. A little jittery about tomorrow's one but never mind, we shall face it with big sticks and pointy things!
TAKE THAT MIDDLE AND LATE EGYPTIAN PREPARED TEXTS! YO' WHACK, YO' TWISTED, YO' GIRL'S A HO!!
*plunges aforementioned pointy stick into exam and fills its mouth with garlic*
egyptological vampire-hunting badass.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!
SCREW YOU EGYPTOLOGY I'M GOING IN!!!
crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap. >_<
that'll be less than eleven hours until finals start then. >_<
Slam door as many times as possible at three am on night after finishing finals.
Katy had a bad night's sleep and Katy is going to hit female neighbour with sticks if she sees her at any point in the near future.
1. I am not a happy person when I am THE ONLY PERSON who turns up for our last ever lesson leading to the situation wherein I have to sit alone with my tutor and spend an entire hour translating Coptic unseen texts.
2. I am not a happy person when EVERY SINGLE PERSON OTHER THAN ME seems to have finished their exams already in this college and is being noisy about it. Evil female neighbour finished today. Who else think I'm not going to have a good night's sleep without the aid of sedatives and anger?
3. Revision is going like arse on a stick. >_<
*beats head on desk*
..... 4. Why don't I have a spare \a3100?
KIRA HAS GROWN A FLOWER BUD!! ^____________________^
...and if you don't know who Kira is you haven't been in my room recently. ^__^
/is exceptionally proud and motherly over pet girasol.
edit: dude.
Can one of the Japanologists help me? ^__^;;; I am trying to find Bakuretsu Tenshi manga. I *was* under the impression that it existed but no one else seems to know. If I could prevail upon one of you to go to Amazon.co.jp and tell me if you can find any manga for 爆裂天使 (*hopes she has the kanji right*) I would be a chirpy person. And if any of the l33t anime searchers know if/where I can get scanlations I would be doubly happy. It would be nice to know if it was complete hentai or not before I get hold of it. o_0
*wonders how many hits this page is going to get now from people looking for Bakuretsu Tenshi hentai* *just don't >_<*
Oooh ooh...that's what I was going to glee about! I'm getting the Loosey single thanks to Laura! Hurray yaay!! ^________________^
*insert whinge about revision*
*insert complaint about breakfasts at Macdonalds being cheap but tasting like cardboard and dishwater*
*insert recommendation that everyone listen to THE STRiPES regardless of whether they like Loosey because Ten Made Todoke is lovely*
*insert rabid fangirlism over Jo to compliment huge amount of pictures now covering wardrobe*
*insert general expression of panic*
It's June 1st! Happy Shenoute Day everyone!
(Explanation when I get back from the doctors...)
Back now! And now I can commence my Shenoute Day celebrations!! To explain, today, July 1st, is the feast of St Shenoute. Shenoute was a terribly important Coptic saint, and me being a Coptic student I officially see fit to celebrate the occasion.
According to the Coptic tradition, on the feast of Shenoute one ought to read out bits from the "Life of Shenoute" and praise God for the spiffy things done through Shenoute. So, here, to facilitate your own celebrating of Shenoute Day, is a bit of his biography, as translated by me:
"It was one occasion that the holy Cyril [the bishop of Alexandria at the time] sent for my [the narrator is the author of the text, Shenoute's pupil Besa] father Apa Shenoute the prophet with Apa Victor the archimandrite because of Nestorius the heretic [a chap from Antioch who said things various theological Shenoute didn't agree with]. When they went to the royal city, our pious father Apa Shenoute was about to walk into the palace of the king when he found a grain of wheat that had been cast away. He picked it up and he put it in his pocket until he went back to his monastery.
When the king dismissed them, Apa Shenoute came to board the ship with our holy fathers Apa Cyril the archbishop and Apa Victor the archimandrite. The servants said to him \93You can't board with the archbishop!\94 as they did not know who he was. My father said to them \93Since it is not to be, let the will of the Lord be done.\94 Then he went a little distance from them with his disciple and he stood and he prayed, saying: \93My Lord Jesus Christ, how will you take me back to my monastery?\94 However, when he was thinking about these things, a cloud of light came from the sky and it lifted him and his disciple, seizing him aloft and flying away with him.
When they reached the open sea, Apa Cyril the archbishop looked to the sky and saw my father Apa Shenoute in the middle of the cloud with his disciple. He cried out, saying: \93Bless us, holy father, the new Elijah [the biblical prophet Shenoute really admired]!\94 My father Apa Shenoute said to him \93Remember me, o my holy father!\94 And so the cloud flew with him to the monastery.
Because it was summer and the brothers [ie the monks] were grinding bread, Shenoute took the grain of wheat that he brought coming from the king's palace and he cast it under the millstone. A great blessing of grain appeared in the millstone, and they could not turn it back. The brothers complained that they were very weary and unable to turn it back. My holy father Apa Shenoute proceeded to the millstone and he put his palm staff upon it. He said \93I say to you o millstone, stop now!\94 and immediately it stopped in accordance with the word of my father the prophet Apa Shenoute, the man of God in truth, this one whose works have power in the manner of the prophets of earlier times with the apostles, his virtuous actions being countless, with the miracles that he did through the gift of the Holy Spirit which was in him at all times.
When the holy archbishop Cyril went to his city, he sent for my father Apa Shenoute and he asked him \93How many days did you ride on the cloud before you reached your monastery?\94 My father Apa Shenoute said to the archbishop: \93Forgive me, my holy father, I am not worthy in this sort of thing.\94 Apa Cyril said to him \93I adjure you by the prayers of the saints that you tell me what happened to you.\94 My father said to him with humility \93Since you adjure me, I went to the monastery on the day that we spoke together. When you were in the ship, I was on the cloud. I took communion with the brothers [ie of his own monastery] in the evening of that very day.\94 And immediately he was amazed, the holy archbishop Cyril, and Victor the archimandrite. In this manner they gave glory to God, this one who does miracles through the holy ones who do his desire and whose hearts are given to him. Afterwards Shenoute went from the archbishop and he went to his monastery."
Three cheers for God and Shenoute! Hooray God and hooray Shenoute! ^____^ I hope you feel sufficiently inspired or amused by Shenoute's antics. He gets a cloud to fly around on, that's *got* to be cool.