So apparently it's almost spring. And yes, here in Vancouver, il pleut comme une vache qui pisse.

And yeah, I meant to be posting more frequently, but it didn't happen. Things in my life are ticking along mostly okay.

I've been watching the end of BSG and although I don't hate it, it's mostly making me miss the earlier seasons. I'm feeling a marathon coming on soon! My old roommate is coming over tomorrow night for the finale and if nothing else, we'll make a fun night of it.

Speaking of series finales - ER. Oh, ER, you're really not a good show anymore at all. But at least Doug and Carol came back and were all adorable! And Dr. Benton! Back when I used to watch ER all the time (more than 5 years ago), I'd not yet discovered online fanfiction and slash and all that. But now that I know, Benton/Carter? So so slashy I can't quite get over it.

Strangely (sadly?) "The Biggest Loser" has become my new can't miss show. I know. But it's awesome in a strange way, and so compelling. I want Bob to come and live in my closet or something. And it's not like I'm just sitting on my couch waiting for it to come on. I'm actually working out a fair amount, running a few days a week and doing pilates/resistance bands, too. I even ran 7km yesterday!

Any other fangirls (or boys) working on getting in to shape? I just joined fangirl_shapeup and it's pretty nifty so far.

Anything else? I don't think so but maybe I'm just saving something for next time?

Please tell me someone out there in internet land is working on a crossover between Atlantis 5.19 ("Vegas") and CSI. I mean, I haven't watched it yet, but seriously.

In other excitement, I have the day off tomorrow and no actual plans other than to drink coffee and read my book. Possibly watch a movie. And clean my house, but it's a small house and not that messy (just cluttered).

And now I think I might go on an icon foraging expotition It might be scary, but don't worry, I'm taking those prothings.

So it's the end of 2008 and that's kind of a crazy thought. This year has flown by so quickly. Compared to last year (spent mostly in Australia), this year's been relatively quiet and uneventful. I started a new job and I moved, which in most years is a lot to do, but at this point, they both felt both necessary and unexpected. I don't make resolutions, but I do make plans. I don't usually make plans on New Year's Eve, but I'm feeling introspective today and I'm procrastinating cleaning my house.

I plan on having a full-time job by this point next year. Whether it's my newer job, but full-time or a totally new job, I don't really know, but I'd really like to have benefits and vacation time and sick days. And, you know, be on some sort of career path.

I plan on running more next year. I'd have been running already, but as my neighbourhood resembles a skating rink, it'll have to wait.

I plan on posting here more, if only because I like the sound of my own voice (well, you know...).

I plan on finding a small dining table and having small dinner parties.

Hope you all have a safe and happy new year's eve and I'll catch you on the other side. 2009, baby!

So, I'm heading to my parents' house tonight, then up to Kelowna tomorrow to have christmas with my Granny. It should be a four hour drive, but seeing as there's snow to the top of my gumboots here, and we're going to be crossing a couple mountain passes, I'm thinking it'll take about 6-8 hours instead. Oh, joy!

It's a really good thing my Granny's my favourite person in the world.

Other than snow and work, not too much exciting is going on here. I'm really looking forward to the end of the holiday period (say 28th to Jan 1) because I'm pretty much off work and will hopefully get things at my place organized. And also watch lots of movies in my jammies!

I hope you all have a safe and happy and lovely holiday season and I'll catch you on the other side!

President Josiah Bartlet: Leo, hard as you might try, the Republican party isn't going anywhere.

Leo McGarry: We don't know that for sure, sir, they could all end up moving to Vancouver.

President Josiah Bartlet: I don't think so.

Leo McGarry: Me neither, but being in power means everybody else can take a seat for four years.

So, I'm all moved in to my very own place. I even have like real furniture and stuff. And the cable guy came today, so I have internet and television now. Well, the tv's a bit glitchy, but that's a project for tomorrow. My parents just brought over my bookcase for me and I'm really excited to see all my books that have been in storage for a couple years. I don't even quite know who's all in there!

I always knew I'd like living alone but it's been a week now and I really, really like it a lot. I mean, people are awesome, but so's a lack of people!

In other news, I have a runny nose and it's really making me want to curl up in bed, books be damned. Or, rather than bed, perhaps watch my canadian dvds that I haven't seen for two years either - they must feel all left out of the book glee. Maybe Princess Bride, or Serenity, or Rent. Mmm, Rent.

Also, Great Big Sea is on the Detroit PBS station right now (not at all recent, but still! Detroit!). Oh, Alan.

Ooh, that reminds, me. GBS concert! A week ago, I went to the GBS concert (ran into adventurat and S). Oh, my goodness, I had perhaps more fun than should be allowed. Screamed my heart out, fell even more in love with Murray (who knew that was possible), and really wished I could have gone the next night, too. Alas, I did not, but that's okay. The memories, man! And now, Murray's on my tv and, really, I am a happy girl who's going to go put the 'puter away and focus on her boys.

This post has been brought to you by the letters Ikea and GBS and the number 525,600.

So, I'm in Cairns still, in far northeren Australia. Where even though it's not quite spring, the daytime highs are around 29 degrees. Thank goodness it's not the summer!!

And I have found a job. Conveniently located right in the hostel I'm living in. I'm the dish washer at a busy little cafe with really awesome food. The pay's alright but I get fed (usually lunch and dinner), we all have a (free) beer after work most nights, the staff's awesome, I've got weekends off, and my 'commute' consists of a staircase. Awesome. Today, though, I started to learn some of the hostel stuff, like cleaning and driving the shuttle van, and I'll be doing those things at least a couple days a week, while other people are having days off. Should be a pretty good place to hang around and make some money over the next seven weeks or so.


Our plans once we have some money include:
-a 3 or 4 day live-aboard dive trip
-Tasmania!
-a week or so with my little brother (who's coming down for a month), where we'll probably all three drive from Sydney to Adelaide
-some time in Adelaide!
-2 or 3 weeks in New Zealand
-home on Dec. 17th (just 13 short weeks away)!

I can't believe my year-long (well, close to) trip is, not exacly nearly over, but all planned out. It's very surreal and strange, as for most of this trip I've been thriving on not having a plan. I'm excited about the above plan, however, and I think that makes all the difference.

Oh, far north queensland (australia, still, in case you're wondering), how you have fantastic weather at the moment. Far far too many tourists, but I'm hoping that will help in the job-hunting. And if it doesn't, well, I shall be living off cans of spaghetti (baked beans are too awful to contemplate).

Too many parantheses in that paragraph, but alas I'm out of practice at this lj thing.

But I'm in Cairns, at a really cool hostel, back in the company of my dear L (she of many movies and an undying love of all things I love). For example, I'm downloading CSI and she's downloading Firefly. A match made in heaven. Oh, and she's a marine biologist, too, and shares my crusade to irradicate the word 'star*$%^' from the vocabulary of the people of the world. 'Do they have gills? I don't think so!'

Love (but platonically, without fluids, as witchling said so poetically).

What else? Oh, I've finally watche the season finale of Battlestar Galactica. I think I need to watch it again, but man. When does season 4 start? (Oh, right, I'm online and can find out such things for myself.)

November?? Who decided that was a good idea?

Moving on.

I have a regular internet cafe now, and am often found here at around 1pm, if you know you ever would like to find me online. Timing, of course, might change with the finding of a job, but I'm happy here for now. And looking forward to getting back into the Fannish Life. Although, I keep saying that every few months and then all I do is lurk on LJ for a couple days, post an update and read part of some fic before I accidently close the window (so I can't read it offline). But I'm here, and hopefully participating...

So I finished Harry Potter. And I watched the movie. It's like I'm a real live fangirl again. And now I get to bum around Perth for the next 12 hours, in the rain, waiting to go to the airport to catch the redeye to Sydney. Oh Perth how you suck in the rain. I'm holed up in an internet cafe at the moment, but will need to emerge for food soon. And I have to put together a much delayed parcel for the siblings' birthdays. They both got souvenir stubby holders from my job (the first time in recorded history, I think, that they'll have received the exact same gift). And I need to go find some yarn or something like that for my sister's uni graduation present. And possibly a bottle opener for the brother so he doesn't feel left out.

Oh, damn, and cards. Good thing I have 12 hours to kill.

Now, if I were to go see a movie today (highly likely), do you think I should go see Shrek 3 or Pirates 3? Or something else completely different?

Oh, and I got attacked by a plot bunny last night that I may in fact start developing for NaNo. I'm still in the twittery stages of plot bunny love, though, so don't take anything I say about it seriously. I'm really really really going to miss being in Vancouver with my nanos, though.

Ok, enough sad stuff. I should write up my thoughts on Harry Potter but I'm starving. Toodles fair internet people.

Hello LJ world! It's been at least 10 weeks since I've been on lj - crazy how time flies!

But there's a reason I've been away for so long - I was living on a (not tropical but very warm) island in the middle of nowhere. Thevenard Island, if you're interested, located in Western Australia, about 22km from Onslow or about 100km north of Exmouth. I was working for the Mackerel Islands Resort (mackerelislands.com.au) doing some cleaning and customer service. And, for the record, I had a freaking amazing time! Check the blog for more details and photos.

I'm currently in Exmouth but fly back to Perth this afternoon, and then will be heading to the east coast of Australia on the 31st. My plan for Perth, as I've already seen the city and it's winter down there, are to read the Harry Potter book. I haven't even seen it yet so if anyone spoils it for me, I'll be very homicidal. And until I've finished reading it, I won't be checking the friends page.

But! Now that I'm back in civilization, I'm really missing all you lot, so if there's anything I should know about going on in your life (you're getting married, you've written an epic, you read the most amazing fic ever, etc.), please leave me a note! I'll love you forever. But if you mention a certain wizard, well, you know... And I haven't seen the movie yet, either!

In any case, I hope you're doing good and keeping happy!

Only a short update but hey, why not!

I'm in Perth at the moment, but leaving on the 15th to go work on some islands up north of here. I'll be living on a tropical island! Go me!

And I'm working on my novel. Kind of the same one that I wrote for NaNo (journo goes to moon, things happen) but with lots of changes. I'm doing the snowflake outline at the moment and it's been good so far, though I'm only on stage 3.

And that's me for internet time!

loves you

Leave a comment and I will:

1 - Tell you why I friended you.
2 - Associate you with a song/film.
3 - Tell a random fact about you.
4 - Tell a first memory about you.
5 - Associate you with a character/pairing.
6 - Ask something I've always wanted to know about you.
7 - Tell you my favorite user pic of yours [if it pertains].
8 - In retort, you must spread this disease in your LJ.

Or at least I'll try my best.

In other news, I'm in Perth (well, Fremantle technically) again. I was bridfly up north of here and am planning to go back. Not the most efficient way of travelling but it's working for me so far.

Being the fish geek I am, when I saw Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flanigan in the hostel's book swap, I totally snagged it. Of all the books I've read out of all the book swaps I've been around lately, this one took me the longest to read. It took the longest because it's so freaking intense. Fantastic book, for sure. It's got the kind of language you can just immerse yourself in. At first, I think because I was so keen to get to the fish, it's really complex sentences frustrated me. I kept getting lost in where the story was going (might have had something to do with it often being 6am on the bus when I read it). Once I realized that it was about so much more than fish, though, I got right into it. And actually ended up reading the second half even slower than the first because I'd reread parts frequently.

And now that I've finished it, moved on to yet another book, I still have this book in my bag. I think I might reread it. And the strange thing is, I can't quite figure out if it's completely batshit insane or totally brilliant. But, for me, it doesn't really matter because it's got enough other stuff going for it - fish, discussions of fiction and reality, Australian history, unreliable narrator(s). I have no clue if you will like it, too, but I'd say give it a shot. If all else fails, there are some really lovely paintings of fish at the back.

Once upon a time, I fell in love with a television show named ER. It was awesome and funny and made me cry sometimes. I shipped Susan and Mark, wanted to marry Carter and wanted to be Carol. I was 12 when the show started.

And now, here in Australia, they're awesome and show ER reruns everyday! They're in the era when Carter was still a med student and Susan was looking after her neice. The episode yesterday was one of my favourites - 'A Shift in the Night' (S2). It has so many of my favourite moments, ones that over the years I'd forgotten were all in the same episode:

-Mark borrows Doug's shoes, and then they get puked on.
-An old lady is pretending to be blind and Mark, Carter and Lydia 'fix' her while letting her keep her dignity.
-Corky. His drunk dad beats his mum, she gives him an alcohol deterrant that could kill him when mixed with alcohol. And Corky's stuck in the middle.
-Carter and Mark have a moment outside the ER just at the end of the episode. Awesome.

A memory stick cepahalopod!

The writing's all in Japanese, which might make ordering tricky, but the photos are fabulous!

Oh, Adelaide. Met the lovely lizbee today in Adelaide. We went on a Search for a Squid at the museum of South Australia. Found it, too. Plastic replica, mind, and in a dark case, but still there. The rest of the museum wasn't too exciting. Liz and I went for lunch. It took a long while to find it, but we did, eventually. The fish was yummy! There were many stops in various vintage, 2nd hand book and comic shops on the way back to the city. Fun was had. Liz is lovely as I'd expected. The accet through me, which is kinda dumb, I know, but for a few years now, I've been reading her posts and, well, the voices in my head have Canadian accents.

Tomorrow I'm off to see Real Live Australian Animals! Yay!

Before I go, though, hanging with Liz made me remember the gang I used to chat with on occasion way back when. I miss yous! You were a really nice gang of online peeps and I still like to here what you're up to!

Adelaide is officially the most fannish town in Australia. stareyednight lives here, as does S (who has an LJ, but I'm not sure where yet). Us three all hung out today in various comic shops and such. At some point, it was mentioned that there's a trek con here in April. But not just any con, one with Avery Brooks! Sisko!!! I'll likely be in Perth then, but, well, for The Emissary, I might come back.

Let's see. What else? Oh, yes, lizbee is coming in to town tomorrow and we'll hopefully meet up! OMG, how fantastic?

Adelaide is also awesome because I'm the only one in my dorm room! And there's a free wireless connection that I'm currently on! huzzah!

Oh, and on the way to the hostel from S and J's, we all sang along, rather loudly, to the Rent movie soundtrack. Fabulous, let me tell you!

Such love!

I've been watching a lot of DS9 lately, and then I saw this meme over on mosca's. Makes me feel happy.

( I am not a merry man! )

Things that are new:
-I'm back living with my parents.
-I leave for Australia in less than a month.
-I am 25 now.
-I have a Nintendo DS (birthday present).
-I had a lovely holiday season with my family.
-Also had a fun NYE with my friends.
-I am sick of winter.
-I have seen "The Pursuit of Happyness" and loved it. I really love that they explain why the title of the movie is spelled wrong.
-I own the book of the Princess Bride.

Things that aren't new:
-I have no money (but I do have gift cards).
-I have no job (but I'm really not upset about this).
-My brother drives me batty.
-I love "The Timetraveller's Wife" (apparently Rachel McAdams is in talks to play Clare).
-I have too many books.

Much love to you all. And now I have to go make yams and roast chicken for dinner. mmmm yummy