Antipodean Musings

[chunu]

Just thought I would stake my very own corner of the Lit multiverse, one that didn't involve photographs, art (or at least not solely devoted to that), or the demands of you know, like, actual blogging

Just a place where I can blurt without fear of looking an idiot - hard to do that around here, when I already regularly do it - and perhaps get some responses from my Lit friends (you blog and blog for years, and hardly get any feedback at all - frustrating). I know, I know, I'm not a hot chick, so this will probably die in the ass, but hell, nothing ventured nothing gained, and I do have lots of thoughts on my mind that I would like to get out.

I think I will keep it mainly to pop culture to start with, but who knows where the topics will head to. Maybe from time to time I will get serious, but those who know me will know I like to keep things as light and frothy as possible, even at the worst of times.

Cappucino, anyone

 

[Mr_J]

i'll have a cup with 6 tbsp of sugar please

 

[beenawhile]

most certainly

Cappucino will pair nicely with warm bagels.

Sits quitely and waits.

 

[chunu]

So, first cab off the rank topic wise. Doing the charades opening book thing, so yes, it's a reading topic. The Wheel of Time.

And those of you who know the reference already are probably rolling your eyes haha - Robert Jordan started the series in 1990, I started reading it hmm 1993 I think, recommended by a friend. Eleven books, and the series nowhere near resolution, and the author goes and dies, in 2007. The first six books were awesome, but then it seemed, to me at least, that the focus was getting lost more and more. From memory new characters were being added even in the last book he wrote.

And then he went and wrote a prequel rather than try and tie the series up - the word at the time of his death was that there was one more book to go, though I was thinking at the time to finish the series in one more book would be to come up with an 'it was all a dream' type of plot device.

So, bored as I was this morning, I had a brain wave to check on the status of said ' last book'. Robert Jordan's widow had chosen a new author, apparently based on the strength of how he wrote a eulogy - he had plenty of notes to work from, as Jordan knew he was dying and wrote down as much of the plot outline as he could. Surprise surprise, it won't be one book, but three, released November 09, 10 and 11. That's years, not days lol. Twenty one years to complete a series, that is quite a Tolkienesque time frame...

I am wondering whether I can be bothered getting back into the books - the last three or four books before Jordan died, it was a bit of a drudgery both to buy the books and then to read through them. Maybe I will see whether the reviews are positive first.

 

[chunu]

i'll have a cup with 6 tbsp of sugar please

Cappucino will pair nicely with warm bagels.

Sits quitely and waits.

bit of a sugar fiend there Mr J, or is it just the time of night that you need the buzz?

i LOVE bagels beenawhile

 

[beenawhile]

bit of a sugar fiend there Mr J, or is it just the time of night that you need the buzz?

i LOVE bagels beenawhile

Haha.

How about some homemade blackberry preserves on that bagel!

 

[chunu]

Haha.

How about some homemade blackberry preserves on that bagel!

more a savoury, cream cheese kinda boy, but preserves, well i will try anything once oh, we were talking breakfast foods were we?

 

[chunu]

Perfection is -

After a night out at the pub, where the highlight was being punched on the arm (in a playful manner) by a random girl at the bar when I told her that her football team had won, wandering out and feeling like a slice of pizza. Checking my change filled wallet and locating $7.05 with about sixteen five cent pieces in there - when the pizza slice costs $7 flat.

SCORE

 

[chunu]

Thought of the day - does anyone actually meet up with anyone in any way partnerish through the internet dating sites? I dabbled a few months ago, but found that the girls I met on there, either just on site or in real, were kind of ice queenish. If that makes sense and doesn't sound too catty.

Of course, maybe I should have continued to flay myself against the whole 'well, I COULD meet someone nice on here' - well, actually I did meet nice people on there, but just not partner material.

Or could it have been my laid back, perhaps can be taken as backing off, casual attitude, which meant that I often got the line, well I have met someone else (with while I was waiting for more enthusiasm from you perhaps unsaid). Maybe?

And I will shut up now, before this becomes too much of a moan session haha. Feedback would be appreciated though, if anyone actually reads this...

 

[imnauti]

First off... Hello. Hope all is well in your world chunu. Hope you don't mind me dropping by, but so far your musings have been about things I've often wondered, and I couldn't resist popping in to comment.

So, first cab off the rank topic wise. Doing the charades opening book thing, so yes, it's a reading topic. The Wheel of Time.

And those of you who know the reference already are probably rolling your eyes haha - Robert Jordan started the series in 1990, I started reading it hmm 1993 I think, recommended by a friend. Eleven books, and the series nowhere near resolution, and the author goes and dies, in 2007. The first six books were awesome, but then it seemed, to me at least, that the focus was getting lost more and more. From memory new characters were being added even in the last book he wrote.

And then he went and wrote a prequel rather than try and tie the series up - the word at the time of his death was that there was one more book to go, though I was thinking at the time to finish the series in one more book would be to come up with an 'it was all a dream' type of plot device.

So, bored as I was this morning, I had a brain wave to check on the status of said ' last book'. Robert Jordan's widow had chosen a new author, apparently based on the strength of how he wrote a eulogy - he had plenty of notes to work from, as Jordan knew he was dying and wrote down as much of the plot outline as he could. Surprise surprise, it won't be one book, but three, released November 09, 10 and 11. That's years, not days lol. Twenty one years to complete a series, that is quite a Tolkienesque time frame...

I am wondering whether I can be bothered getting back into the books - the last three or four books before Jordan died, it was a bit of a drudgery both to buy the books and then to read through them. Maybe I will see whether the reviews are positive first.

I quite agree that the series could hardly be wrapped up in a single book without some sort of dream scenario going on. The world he created was so large and there was so much going on, that I wouldn't think anyone would be able to wrap it up in less than three and be able to do the story justice at the same time. I know I'll be picking up the books just to see what happened... once you have that much time invested, it almost seems wrong not to find out how the story ended.

Thought of the day - does anyone actually meet up with anyone in any way partnerish through the internet dating sites? I dabbled a few months ago, but found that the girls I met on there, either just on site or in real, were kind of ice queenish. If that makes sense and doesn't sound too catty.

Of course, maybe I should have continued to flay myself against the whole 'well, I COULD meet someone nice on here' - well, actually I did meet nice people on there, but just not partner material.

Or could it have been my laid back, perhaps can be taken as backing off, casual attitude, which meant that I often got the line, well I have met someone else (with while I was waiting for more enthusiasm from you perhaps unsaid). Maybe?

And I will shut up now, before this becomes too much of a moan session haha. Feedback would be appreciated though, if anyone actually reads this...

Aaah.. Internet dating. A hodgepodge of losers and player with just enough genuinely nice folks thrown in to keep you from tossing up your hands in frustration. I've met a few men that way. Only one was someone I dated for any length of time (and that was only 2 months.... but more than just one or two dates) I think the same holds true for women.... there are probably a few nice ones out there (Well definitely, actually, since I'm one of them ), but I think in order to get something worthwhile out of it, you really need to invest your time into a focused search. I know it can be done.... my sister actually met her husband online. They've been married almost 6 years and have 3 kids and are still very much in love with each other.

Anyway.... just my two cents I can't wait to see what your next musing will be about. Have a lovely day.

 

[chunu]

First off... Hello. Hope all is well in your world chunu. Hope you don't mind me dropping by, but so far your musings have been about things I've often wondered, and I couldn't resist popping in to comment.

No problemo at all wandering in imnauti - i wouldn't have started this thread if i didn't want random wanderers haha - hope all is well in grand rapids MI in return

just on the keep going at it idea you had regards WoT (ooh, how geeky am i lol) there's a fine line between enjoying a series of books and feeling obligated to finish them off, just because they are there. and mr jordan danced over that line with a huge flourish, ballroom waltz style, around book seven or eight

 

[imnauti]

No problemo at all wandering in imnauti - i wouldn't have started this thread if i didn't want random wanderers haha - hope all is well in grand rapids MI in return

just on the keep going at it idea you had regards WoT (ooh, how geeky am i lol) there's a fine line between enjoying a series of books and feeling obligated to finish them off, just because they are there. and mr jordan danced over that line with a huge flourish, ballroom waltz style, around book seven or eight

Well I suppose that's true.... I kept wondering as I was reading, and he kept adding new plot twists and more characters.... When is he ever going to start focusing on the core of the story?? And how on earth will he ever pull it all back together again? But I admit that I always wanted to know what happened next. So for me at least, it really isn't some sort of obligation to finish. I hate the way it left me hanging. Now if I read the next one, and it's a serious let down, I may not feel the need to continue, but I'll definitely read the next one.

 

[chunu]

Botox - yes or no?

This musing has been on my mind for a few weeks now, ever since I saw His Grace, The Boss (aka Bruce Springsteen) on The Daily Show, the Jon Stewart one. Bringing two of my favourite things together, as it were - love love love Jon Stewart's humour, and well, the last concert I saw (mumble in mumble mumble 2003) was Brooooce, in Ottawa of all places. He did a relatively good gig in the Superbowl half time show, and is doing Glastonbury, the big UK concert, this year, the theme of which, with Neil Young as another headliner, seems to be Return to the 70s. Buddy, you got a C3PO tshirt? haha.

Anyways, back to the Jon Stewart interview, and erm botox. The Boss was mumbling away something about his latest album, but seriously, the guy could probably only move three muscles in his face. Sad really, surely he doesn't need to do it? We like our rock gods craggy hehehe. But then again, it's been thirty years - AT LEAST - since he has struggled on the Jersey shore...

And is botox something you would ever think of using? Not talking mad celebrities, but just everyday people. As Arrested Development, the band, not the TV show pops into my mind...

Rambling muse today

 

[heartoftexasgrl]

Stopping by to say hello to my favorite Aussie.

And no, botox is not something I would consider. I'm fairly certain that doesn't come as a surprise to you though.

xoxo

 

[chunu]

Is it just me, or have social networking sites such as Lit (as I see it, it's more just a general forum than sex sex sex all the time around here) and facebook etc, have they ruined everyone else's sleep patterns?

One last refresh, one last comment, mmkay? hehe

 

[chunu]

why are popular people the worst gossipers and bitch the most? or should that be why are the bitchiest cliques the most popular? or why do they throw the best parties haha.

dunno what i am trying to say above, but popularity just seems to come with a lack of social etiquette or something... or is that just my thinking on it?

 

[ilickum]

the wheels of time

hello chunu, hi to all the other passer byes , I found that at the end the Great hunt was finding the last three books of the series. I gave up on the last book because the only one I found on eBay was to dear +added postage. as you say the series could not be finished in one book even three will be a mammoth task. the different fractions in every group was making it in to war and peace on steroids . a shame I dedicated so many hours reading the books to. well thank you for letting me get that of my chest . I shall drop in again god willing to see what other subjects you are discussing. good night to all .please for give me if my spelling or structure of writing is below par . I struggle on in lit bye . thank you

 

[ilickum]

sorry doubled up message ,

 

[imnauti]

why are popular people the worst gossipers and bitch the most? or should that be why are the bitchiest cliques the most popular? or why do they throw the best parties haha.

dunno what i am trying to say above, but popularity just seems to come with a lack of social etiquette or something... or is that just my thinking on it?

Haven't really noticed that myself.... perhaps it means I'm not in with the popular crowd. Although if your observation is true, I guess I'm glad.

 

[theravenfox]

why are popular people the worst gossipers and bitch the most? or should that be why are the bitchiest cliques the most popular? or why do they throw the best parties haha.

dunno what i am trying to say above, but popularity just seems to come with a lack of social etiquette or something... or is that just my thinking on it?

Sadly, it is part of what MAKES them popular. With great disdain for those around them, they make people ACHE for their attention, LONG for their approval and YEARN for their friendship. I would imagine that it all goes to their heads and they become very full of themselves.

But deep down, they know just how bitchy (or bastard-y) they really are it feel guilty about it. If you are a drain on the goodwill of society, it eats at you. They are unhappy, therefore, they bitch.

This is my theory. I have never been popular, though I take great pride in being the better sort of bitch...the strong, independent, confident kind...not the mean-spirited, deceitful kind. Even in high school, I couldn't have BOUGHT my way into the popular girl clique. Didn't bother me much, though...I was too busy fucking their boyfriends.

 

[chunu]

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs084.snc1/4577_88791511715_42483226715_2317750_4207320_n.jpg

where i am off to now

 

[chunu]

Well, I was going to get all bitchy and moany about a stupid crush I have that is going exactly nowhere, but then I saw this on The Onion, and it's like they read my frikkin mind -

But If We Started Dating It Would Ruin Our Friendship Where I Ask You To Do Things And You Do Them

Too fucking funny.

 

[imnauti]

Well, I was going to get all bitchy and moany about a stupid crush I have that is going exactly nowhere, but then I saw this on The Onion, and it's like they read my frikkin mind -

But If We Started Dating It Would Ruin Our Friendship Where I Ask You To Do Things And You Do Them

Too fucking funny.

OUCH....

It was definitely funny, but I think anyone who's had a platonic friend of the opposite sex might find just a bit more truth in it than they care to. And I don't know if this will help or not but it does work both ways.

Hello Chunu Hope you are well.

 

[chunu]

"I am here to teach a generation or two how to read. After they've finished with me and I don't challenge them any more, they can move on to somebody important like Homer or Milton."

Guess whose quote that is? Can't tell? Is David Eddings, fantasy author, who died earlier this month, aged 77. Apart from a brief dabble with Tolkien via The Hobbit, Eddings and his Belgariad was my first foray into the fantasy genre, in my early teens. I had attempted Raymond E Feist earlier, but just didn't 'get' him - and the somewhat funny thing is that in my tweenie years, not that the phrase tween had been coined in the eighties, I ate up everything Asimov or Arthur C Clarke could throw at me. I look back now and wonder how much of the sci fi really got through when I was that young.

But back to Eddings, and yes, through the four series that I stuck with him, he did seem to become formulaic, person A meets group B and heads from point C to D on the map, and everyone lived happily ever after. Until the sequel series, when the bad guys from the last series joined up with the good guys to take on new bad guys haha. Exactly what Eddings says in the quote above, a lack of challenge after a while.

I devoured Eddings years before I took on Orwell or Shakespeare, and as another for example, I finished To Kill A Mockingbird off earlier this week, and bought In Cold Blood just today. Before Eddings I still loved to read, but mainly World War Two histories and non fiction.

Did any of the above make much sense? haha

 

[ilickum]

have alls loved David Eddings books as well as Raymond E Feist books. read Lord of the rings twice before I reached twenty , the Hobit plus his two other book on the series.