usedtobeljs

Hiya, it's the World Cup and I'm about to go on holiday and also I am drowning in work and house stuff, so let's do something silly.

Here are some of my Fiercely Held but Not Really Important Opinions (in the grand scheme of things), ie. this probably doesn't matter but I CARE ABOUT IT:

*William Shakespeare is a million times more interesting than Christopher Marlowe.
*William Shakespeare is the man from Stratford, please just accept it.
*I find that a photograph of a man in a beautiful well-fitted suit, esp with his tie loosened is more, um, arousing than a photograph of a naked man. (Because I can imagine the naked.)
*Summer clothes should be made out of breathable material.
*Angel on Buffy was deeply annoying. Angel on Angel the Series was fine. (Thanks, David Greenwalt, whatever happened to you....EDITED TO ADD: Apparently he was showrunner for Grimm. That makes sense.)
*Spike over Angel, though, always.
*UGH, Xander. I get why other people like the character, and I feel bad for Nick Brendon, but UGH.
*Tony Head has had a *great* career post-Buffy, and that needs to be acknowledged more.
*I cannot continue reading Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy, because I got to the second book and there was bullshit about Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.

What's one of your Fiercely Held but Not Really Important Opinions? Cheers!

Joys:
1. My backyard transformation is done, and it staggers me every time I look at it.
2. Master Danger now has a border fence to keep him from the property fence, and can play safely even if the neighbor dogs are out and barking. LOVE.
3. A stone wall/privacy screen in the back of the yard will be getting its own sign (once I make it): "Jim's wall," in memory of my darling dad. He would have loved the rocks in the wall so much.
4. It might rain the next two or three days, which would be helpful in making the new plants be at home. (And, er, would mean I wouldn't have to water those days.)
5. Last night, weary, I put on an old Carly Simon album and coloured a couple of images in my Vogue Goes Pop colouring book, which also reminded me that I bought the book at the V&A.
6. Two months til I'm back in London. Maybe I should book for the Balenciaga exhibit at the V&A, now that I'm thinking of it...
7. And also Rachel Whiteread and the the Impressionists in London exhibition. (Guilty secret: I don't really connect to Impressionists, but maybe this would change my mind like the Pre-Raphaelite exhibit did.)
8. F&M Russian Caravan iced tea with local honey and a slice of lemon.

To Lift Up:
I have only been to Sonoma once, but I so loved it and have been living there creatively ever since. The horrible fires across Northern California have hurt so many, and the rebuilding will be exhausting. I lift up those who fight the fires and those who will recover from them.

Hurricane Ophelia hitting Ireland as an extra-tropical system -- what the actual hell, world. I lift up those who will be battered by the gale, and hope for the best.

Still thinking about those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria....

May you all have a great start to your week!

1. Rain, but not too much rain.
2. New rainboots which are the BEST EVER.
3. McVitie's dark chocolate digestives.
4. Organizing 3 out of 4 dresser drawers, and the shining (momentary) order therein.
5. Listening to music from my childhood -- Gordon Lightfoot was the choice last night.
6. Having a day off.
7. Thinking about what my house will be like after all this construction kerfuffle is done.
8. Writing two paragraphs on a long-stalled project.
9. EVERYTHING about Jane Fonda and Dame Helen Mirren on the L'Oreal Paris catwalk.
10. Managing to post today.

I hope that you're finding amazing joys!

Right now I am looking at a bouquet of daisies and carnations that friends have sent me, and I am making myself smile. On this Sunday, let's think about things of joy:

*fresh pitcher of F&M strawberry black tea
*Master Danger stretched out at my feet (but not so close that I will trip over him)
*flow-charts
*ticking off work done on my To Do list
*planning to listen to this Proms concert featuring Dianne Reeves with a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald
*having dinner with friends on Thursday night, in the midst of a torrential downpour
*new shoes from Shoes of Prey (the brown ankle-strap mid-heels of my dreams)
*re-organizing clothes drawers and reminding myself of how much I have

May you be reminded of your joys today.

[Please insert traditional "Oh God this week" lament here. Because oh God, this week.]

So instead of thinking of that, Joy:

*rain in a time of drought, a good solid soaking not-quite-an-inch of rain
*only two three awful work things to do before vacation
*Master Danger allowing me to stare lovingly into his eyes for a whole 20 seconds
*hearing an old favorite song on the radio
*graduation day, and the adventures to come for those who are passing that milestone
*getting annoying/exhausting professional news but figuring out a way to make it slightly better
*FOUR DAYS TIL VACATION

May you have joy too, and a great weekend.

While I wait for the washing machine cycle to finish so I can throw stuff in the laundry and then go to the office...

1) My week has been really really really stressful. Like whoa. I have four hours of intense work to do today at the office, and then I'm retreating home (to work all weekend where it's quiet).
2) But a happy-hour drink with friends Downtown tonight -- which was arranged when I saw E walking his wife's dog this morning as Master Danger and I did OUR walk.
3) That's how we roll, here in Small Town.
4) My icon is of Ripper because my inner punch-people-in-the-face side is threatening to come out with a colleague or two.
5) Lalala.
6) Also, let's be real -- how gorgeous was Tony Head as Ripper? THIS MUCH GORGEOUS.
7) Brightens the day, yes?
8) Speaking of bright days, Earth Day is tomorrow! I might try to get to the March for Science held on the beach, because yay science, but it would involve driving and talking to people, two activities I'm not too keen on.
9) Spin cycle! Hey, here's a drabble on the topic of Spin.

"Stop spinning!" Anya hissed at the vampire dancing around her. Her fingers tightened on the stake, which felt too slippery, too insecure, where were Potentials –

"Stand still," came a beloved English voice. Footsteps, running --

"Which one of us?" she said.

A sword flashed in the moonlight, aimed at the stupid spinny vampire's neck. Poof, and now vamp ashes floated in the moonlight.

"You," Giles said, breathing heavily.

"You rescued me," she said, putting her hand on his arm. "Nicely done, honey."

"I always will," he said, and kissed her, there in the moonlight. She felt the world spin.

10) Off to work I go!

Hugs and a happy Friday to you.