Ill...get that? no? how about "iLL"?

So here I am at home once again being ill...

I'm not a fan of being ill. I hate being bored and like to be occupied. This is why before yesterday, Monday 21st February 2005, I hadn't had a single day off sick from work for over two years!

I'd been sent home before through being ill and people thinking I looked like death, but usually if I felt rough I'd either push through the day or I'd take a half days holiday.

I think I may well see taking time off work as being some kind of weakness. I never used to have time off school either, having continued to go to school despite at one point having tonsilitis... nice...

But I think that the real crux of the matter may well be that I suffer from boredom. [this could well be the reason why I write this blog, seeing as very few people actually read it at all anyway...]

There's only so much abc1 I can watch over a day and only so much Amped 2 I can play over a day before my head starts to split in half and my eyes turn slightly square.

Fact 1- abc1 play their promotional videos for their upcoming programmes just after the title credits of their programmes, then again in the middle of the programme, then again 1 joke before the end... apart from in General Hospital and Ellen, in which there are no recognizable jokes, so they have to just abbitrarily pick a point shortly before the end in which to break up the tedious lethargy of the actor's performance with a brief glimpse of hope of some humour coming soon...

Fact 2- being ill is the worst thing in the world when it comes to phoning your work to tell them you're not coming in. You have to sound ill enough to warrant not coming in, but not just knackered at 8 in the morning. If you were going to go to work then you of course would be up at this time and getting ready, so unless you're signed off for the week, you have to get up, assess if you're ill enough to warrant not going in and then try to convince someone else of that fact...

Fact 3- I've watched 8 different sitcoms... Joey, Ellen, Mad about you, Perfect life (or something equally forgettable) Two and a half Men (which was truly brilliant and sees Charlie Sheen returning to his Hot Shots days), one about a disfunctional family in which the son bought a monkey and the mum worked in a maternity ward of a hospital, Friends, Home Improvement. I've watched 3 films including a matinee performance... I've listened to about six albums, written about 3 songs, played guitar for about 3 hours, read a chapter and a half of this book by Derek Bigg which is heavy going and a lot of words and played a computer game football manager game for approx. 10 hours! I played it for 8 hours whilst watching tv and stuff and then for another 2 hours solely because I found out how to cheat and win...

Fact 4- I have no more facts...

if you read this and have a mobile, please text me as it really does break up my day...

[listening to:- album 7 Songs about Jane - Maroon 5]
[contemplating:- how irnoic that it's the first time it's properly snowed and I'm ill...]

Happy Valentines?

Well hello there!

I think it must be about time to question another public holiday type thing, this time one that doesn't really annoy me deep down, but moreover one that causes me to become very introspective and therefore quite selfish, moody, and generally depressed.

For the background as to this rant, please check out this little site here, which gives a fair opinion as to the original beginnings of this Valentines day "celebration" - I say day but now big business has a death grip over the proceedings, it's now a Valentines weekend, and in some places a whole week of Chris DeBurgh on VH1 and TMF... (exceptional viewing I assure you!)

Now, once again, I'm not against the practice of giving "love tokens" (are these like book tokens? only redeemable in certain places and before a certain date? -ed) however, surely if one was truly, madly deeply in love, would the idea of only giving one such token seem a little pathetic? Surely true love would be embodied in a lifetime of dedication and bestowing of blessing?

The particular part of St Valentines day that I have a tiny little pixie of a problem with, is the sheer smugness of those people that receive a valentines gift from someone. Again, the idea of receiving something in itself is not a bad one, though it would appear from my observations that people are almost getting into a "can you top this" competition, of
-my mate got me this...
-so?! My bloke got me this...
-well my partner got me this...
-well my boyfriend got me this...
-WELL, MY LOVER gave me THIS!
etc etc...

And then it comes round to the person who is crying in the corner embittered with rage because their boy/girlfried split up with them 2 days before Valentines and cancelled the flowers...

I'm well aware that I've done it again, and by "it" I mean ranted for a fare old while without actually saying a lot... but hey, this isn't for you people, it's for me to vent...

[listening to :- again, colleagues...]
[contemplating :- the concept of "me time", surely all time is me time unless explicitly given to someone else?]

Magic Roundabout

Unfortunately, this post will not be examining the details regarding the "cult-classic" TV-series, watched by student-wired experiencing the immediate effects of finishing their final dissitation and waiting for the pro-plus to wear off.
It is in fact to albeit briefly talk about the sheer thrill of receiving a circular e-mail. (The link is tenuous I know...)

Today, I received the following e-mail... (I apologise by the way, this is huge...)

"WHAT TREE DID YOU FALL FROM?
Find your birthday and then find your tree. This is really cool and somewhat accurate, also in line with Celtic astrology. Then send it to all your friends, including the one that sent it to you, so they can find out what tree they fell from, but don't forget to change the subject line to your tree.
Dec 23 to Dec 31 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 0 1 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only) - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only) - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 -Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only) - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only) - Beech Tree
YOUR TREE (in alphabetical order)
Apple Tree (Love) -- quiet and shy at times, Lots of charm, appeal, andattraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive,loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner,very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

Ash Tree (Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive,demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent,talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable,restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention,needs love and much emotional support.
Beech Tree (Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks,materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, goodleader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetimecompanion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

Birch Tree (Inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly,unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar,loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination,little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (Confidence) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt, likesunexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to lookdown on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, oftenimpatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthyoptimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive,well-developedsense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born diplomat, can beirritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest>demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others,>noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree (Sensibility) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, few sexual relationships, great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (Mysterious) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary) -- charming, sense of humor, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) -- of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, can become a complainer, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Oak Tree (Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Olive Tree (Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree (Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low self esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree (Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, un limited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow (Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh."

(PHEW!!!)

Right...now... I would just like to make a few observations...In fact this is actually what I wrote back to the person that sent it to me...

"These things really pander to people, don't you think... I mean, it wouldn't say anything bad about people. Imagine the response it would get if it came up with, "few friends, lonely, selfish, brash, fickle...etc..."

Read mine...Fir tree (Mysterious) (off to a bad start... I wear my heart on my sleeve, unfortunately my sleeve is torn from my jumper and on the floor being walked all over by a marching band of elephants...) [1...2...3... awwww-ed]
extraordinary taste, - is this good or bad? it could be taken either way.
handles stress well, (that's not true, I panic and sweat lots...)
loves anything beautiful, (who doesn't?)
stubborn, (incorrect, I'm fairly open to ideas)
tends to care for those close to them, (again, who doesn't)
hard to trust others, (incorrect, I trust too much if anything)
["Trust everyone, just don't trust the Devil inside them"-ed]
yet a social butterfly, (what?-I get drawn to light people?)
likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, (incorrect,I hate being bored, and have to be doing something.)
rather modest, (How apt that they used the word "rather" ... couldn't have had a better word to put in front of modest!)
talented, (sorry again... jack of all master of none, just polished the phrase to make the reader feel good and say, "yeah! I am talented! I'm gonna quit my job and set up my own company selling toothpicks because I feel GREAT!")
unselfish, (who would admit to being selfish? apart from those that are truly so and as such see it as a good thing?)
many friends, (know many, many don't know me...)
very reliable. (also known as a sucker...)

A more apt wording would be... "Cynical to the core, deals with sarcasm on a case by case basis. English, therefore activily seeks disappointment."
Along those lines... Feel free to summise my persona with responses. I look forward to reading them with a distant look of futility...

[listening to:- People go on and on and on about Man U vs Arsenal last night... SHUT UP!!]
[contemplating:- eating a sandwich]