New Ethos

So I started this blog ages ago but rarely update it. I think part of my theory is that since I'm rarely interested in what I have to say other folks definately won't be. Regardless of that, I'm going to endeavour to update more regularly and make more of an effort.

The past year or so have been strange for me. I feel like someone has hit a pause button on my life. I've spent the last few weeks feeling pretty sorry for myself, mainly because of financial constraints meaning that I couldn't really do anything at all. But I've been thinking about the past year.

The life and people I knew from the age of 17 changed overnight and then over the past year I've slowly changed. My tastes have changed, my taste in clothes and accessories have changed a lot. For a long time I kept feeling that my friends had changed and that annoyed me, until I realised that it wasn't them, it was me. They still wanted to do the same things we always did, and the other things they suggest doing, I never have the finances to join in so I feel like the pauper, can't join in and I blame everyone but myself for that.

The problem is, I I'm waiting for something to happen. My flat has been on the market for 14 months with no end in sight. Until it sells, I don't have a lot of money. I have no social life to speak of so I have resorted to never ending watching of DVDs and sporting events - Loving the olympics by the way! I got a new job late last year which is going spectacularly well at the moment so I'm not a total loss. I have my job, my friends are still awesome, I have my crazy dog, I am doing a marathon walk in 6 weeks. I'm looking forward to the World Cup.

So in short, all my introspection has made realise that I have to make more of an effort. Make more of an effort with my friends, who despite myself, are always there when I need them. I need to remember who lucky I am to have them in my life. And in the meantime, I shall amuse myself by talking to relative strangers on twitter.

Oh, and if you do know anyone who wants to buy my flat, that would be great!

People Watching

So I'm not one of these girls that has ever really enjoyed places like the hairdressers but I'm trying to embrace the experience. Today I used the experience for some people watching. There are the women that clearly see there stylist as there best friend whether they are there weekly, monthly or every second month, like me. There are the women that it's there big day out of pampering - now I have to explain, that I do not go to a top class city centre salon. It's a local, nice wee place. but still..... What I don't understand is the blokes. Why do blokes go to a salon? I can understand it if they want their hair coloured, although that can be very dodgy for blokes so take advice from girlfriends, sisters, girls that are friends guys. But guys, you can go to a barber get a cut for like £8, be in and out in 10 minutes and not have to make an appointment AND generally it looks alright. But some of you choose to go to a salon and pay £30 I just don't get it.

I go to a salon because I have to. I have afro hair, barbers wont/can't cut it, I need it dyed and basically females have to pay that bit more but guys - for god sake, get out of the salons, you don't belong there.

Unleashing my inner Geek

I decided to splash out and get myself a new TV and join the new world. I did a bit of research, spoke to some people and ordered myself a 42" panasonic plasma tv. I also decided that if I'm going to have a big flash, TV I might as well get HD television. I had heard it's not worth paying for (it's an extra £10 per month and you only get about an extra 20 channels at the moment) but I watch a lot of sport so I figured for that alone I'd do it.

I am now obsessed. I have watched 3 football matches in HD now and I actually get annoyed if the highlights of another game are not in HD because it looks weird and blurry. I am so impressed. I have turned into one of these techy geeks I hate who goes on and on about how good techy things are. But while watching the football, I can actually see the pattern on the ball. I can see the beads of sweat running down the players faces, it's amazing. It has also made me go and splash out on Blu ray player which is due to arrive tomorrow and will undoubtedly make me even more boring and geeky.

In short, I got a new toy and I like it!

Where'd all the time go

I recently got a promotion at work, it's only a temporary one but it's a start. The thing is it has meant a change to my shifts. I now instead of working 6 days on, 4 days off which a couple of my working days being nightshifts giving me time during the day, I am now working Monday to Friday 1pm - 9pm. I am actually enjoying it better than I thought I would but the major drawback is it has come while the TV season is good, therefore my Sky + is taking some hitting and the fact that I 'ahem' aquire quite a few US shows to get through too.

It has now hit Friday night and I have about 20 or 30 hours of TV to catch up on. This includes a week worth of The Daily Show and Colbert Report, The Shield, Life, ER, Newswipe, The Mentalist, Southpark. I also have; House, NCIS, Lie to Me (which if you haven't caught yet you have to see) It stars Tim Roth as a Body Language expert and it is just fantastic, Family Guy, American Dad, Scrubs and the list goes on. Oh and the Wire, which I've seen before but now that it is being shown on terestial TV in the UK I am watching it again. Although the BBC in their wisdom, decided to show it 5 nights a week - too much BBC. Anyway, I don't class myself as a big TV genie. My life does not revolve around TV but all the good stuff seems to be on at once. And now I'm single and poor (cause no-one's bought my flat yet) I can't afford to go out much but I also don't have time to catch up on TV.

I'm trapped in a cycle and I can't get out.

God I need to get a life

By the way, have you seen the BBC sitcom Outnumbered.....

Movies

I decided not to work as much overtime this week, maily because I have migraines that are getting out of control again, so a break away from work is a good thing probably.

I have used my time productively to try and catch up on tv viewing and some movies. I watched a movie called An Incredible Journey, which is a 1963 Disney film where the basic premise is that 2 dogs and a cat try to find their way home over 300 miles of rugged terrain. It has since been remade and Disney, in their wisdom decided to make the animals talk. In the original it is narrated and doesn't use special effects which means what you see from the animals is amazing. I realised that kids films from 40 or 50 years ago gave kids way more credit than they do now. They remade rather than jsut re-releasing it. And it's not just Disney, why do they have movie studios insist on remaking films rather than giving people credit and if you want to celebrate a good film, re-release it and give people credit.

The Incredible Journey I love this film, and highly recommend you watch it but ensure you get the original.

Obama

Just read an article about Barrack Obama's first wee while in office and I have a new found respect for him for this comment: "Hey guys, what do you think of my -- this spiffy ride here?" the president asked the group of reporters traveling with him on the presidential plane. I like the fact he's enjoying himself and using normal words and being in awe of things still. Can't beat a president with a bit of humility.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/air.force.one/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

a tweeting obsession

A friend of mine recently got using Twitter recently. I've used (and still use) Bebo and Facebook. I use Bebo predominantly for friends and colleagues I know vaguely through work and Facebook tends to be people I have known for a lot longer and know a lot better. The thing is I'm not, and never have been interested in joining groups and poking people and having full blown public conversations with people. I've always used them as a tool to stay in touch with people not really much more. My favourite parts of both these sites was the status updates, the one line people would write about how they feel, what they're doing or just something funny. Twitter is just that, just one line - well 140 words. I started following a couple of friends and now I follow people like Stephen Fry, Adam Savage, Charlie Brooker and Penn Jillette. There are funny, interesting, mundane and silly posts. I enjoy keeping up to date with my friends during the day and i enjoy following the famous tweeters too. I know it's sad but it makes you feel like you have a personal connection to these people. And if they reply to one of your 'tweets' it makes you feel like you have become a friend to the celebs. I know you don't have to say it!!

I tend to follow it a lot during the day and it is becoming more and more like a way of life for those who use it. The plane crash in the Hudson river had pictures posted on twitter from the plan and from the rescue services. During the inauguration people were watching and 'tweeting' as the speech was made it's like a huge international conversation. I believe that Twitter is going get bigger and bigger and people will start to communicate with each other in 140 words or less and through twitpic.

So get Twittering and follow me @weedief