Trekking on...

I actually have been "making progress" (God, I hated when my mother would ask me, "Are you making any progress with your house?" A. Not your business, B. Are you 'making progress' with your nasty-ass house, and C. Would you ask any other adult that?) with the house, but other than get the top of the dryer cleared off, and a good start on my little desk in my room, there's not much to show.

My son and brother flew down on the 1st and then drove the boy's car car up to Lincoln. Junior Birdman and I went to the dentist on Thursday--I stayed home from work and we had lunch and hung out), then stayed in the cluster-fuck that is Austin traffic for over an hour trying to pick Hairy Mon up from work, and then another hour getting home. Austin has just gotten out of control...it's nowhere near as bad as other cities, but the influx of people from other places has just ballooned the traffic issue.  Our 'secret' route in the morning is now just as bogged down as I-35.

I give on on trying to give stuff away via Freecycle. I deleted by auxiliary blog that I kept for photos of things I was giving away. People are just eejits when it comes to picking things up. If I want something and they give me the address, by God, I'm there.  Anyway, picked up the perfect little table for keeping the pet food bin on. And yes, I said, I'll be there within the hour and I was there...and boom...home. The table works perfectly; I'll try to post a pic tonight.

Poldark is over for another year...thinking on a review of some kind....

*falls off the world for another month or two*

No...really...

New Adventure

This is the exploration of Gecko Hall (so named because of all the geckos around our house --and in it from time to time).

I'm hoping by putting this up here that I will be inclined to not only post about the progress I make (if any), but actually MAKE progress.

I apologise for the out-of-focus video. This camera is really old and I think it's about to get donated, maybe. I'd do better taking vids on either my Nikon or iPhone.

So without further ado...

Link to the video if this one won't play.

I cracked myself up watching the part about turning the light on in the studio...  what can I say? I'm easily amused.

xxn

http://www.unfuckyourhabitat.com/

www.flylady.net

Not as down and dour  lately...rain always helps.

Gentle the rain falls

Soft the thunder rolls away

Grateful land renews

No title

I am fairly convinced no one reads this but me...so am writing here just to get this out...somewhere other than my journal where I can be all emo and passive-aggressive and no one will give a shit.

I'm sure you've seen the little acronym, FML (fuck my life). Well, if I had a life to fuck it would be great.

I’ve kind of painted myself into a corner. So many things I would have done differently had I known how miserable I’d be now.

I wouldn’t have stuck around Austin for a man…stupid thing to do. I should have pursued my dream of working in film. I was still only 37 when my daughter graduated from high school. But I thought I was all in love. I realised I wasn’t about 6 ½ years later and left. But I got pregnant and stupid sentimental and went back.

Even then, I could have had some kind of gumption..something other than staying in a dead-end job, shuffling papers for the man…for Twenty. Four. Fucking Years.

I could actually have retired 4 years ago, but I couldn’t afford it—in a way, it’s good I didn’t, because at the time I think our insurance didn’t become free after retirement, the way it has now, and I developed breast cancer.

I want to retire so badly, I get almost suicidal thinking about having to go into work every day. But, as I said, I kind of painted myself in a corner. I want to live alone..but can’t afford to, I want to retire, but can’t afford to. I want to fucking leave Texas..and the US, but can’t afford to.

I’m too fat, old, and maimed to find a sugar daddy LOL. So…I write, I live vicariously through my characters…and I even manage to fuck that up. 

It’s a shitty day in the neighborhood.

#nobondforAidan

A few weeks ago, I read an "article" in some British online rag, yet again stating the betting odds or some such nonsense on Aidan Turner becoming the next James Bond. My comment was something to the effect that Bond would be a career killer for him, that it was a tired franchise needing a Zimmer frame and a comfy chair; Aido would be happier doing what he wanted to do: acting. Doing interesting roles for directors he admires, in indie films that don’t get into the limelight, etc.

I was told I was being selfish and that I was “another Bond hater.” For the record, I am no Bond hater. I own nearly half of the 24 films (not going to count Never Say Never Again, because it’s not really part of the franchise) and have seen more than half of them—been thinking lately I need to catch up. They’re fun films. They aren’t great cinema, but they’re fun. Lots of action, derring-do, impossible technology, and pretty cars.

As for being selfish? Quite the contrary. I suppose this woman’s opinion (I think her name was Gina) is based on making a kabillion pounds and having your name plastered all over every tabloid from Bakersfield to the East End. From all I’ve ever learned about Aidan, I can safely say that is not what he is about.

I’ve been researching some statistics about the Bond films. Interesting, useless trivia pops up. When adjusted for inflation, only three Bond films have made the top two highest grossing films in their year.  Both From Russia with Love and Goldfinger were 2^nd highest in 1963 and 1964 respectively and Moonraker was 1^st in 1979.⁽¹⁾  None of them rank on the 25 highest grossing films of all time (Gone with the Wind is still undisputed champion). However, if we don’t adjust for inflation, Skyfall is #13.⁽²⁾

And just for shits and giggles, I ran some numbers. When I average the ranking of the 24 films by four different film sites, Screencrush, Rotten Tomatoes, AMC Filmsite, and Rolling Stone, they line up like this:

1 - Goldfinger

2 -  From Russia with Love

3 - Casino Royale (2006)

4 - Dr. No

5 - Skyfall

6 - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

7 - The Spy Who Loved Me

8 - Thunderball

9 - GoldenEye

10 - You Only Live Twice

11 - For Your Eyes Only

12 - The Living Daylights

13 - Diamonds Are Forever

14 - Licence to Kill

15 - Live and Let Die

16 – Spectre (only Screencrush and Rotten Tomatoes had rated this film as of this writing)

17 - The Man with the Golden Gun

18 - Moonraker

19 - Die Another Day

20 - A View to a Kill

21 - Tomorrow Never Dies

22 - The World Is Not Enough

23 - Octopussy

24 - Quantum of Solace

The Bond starring role has only ever gotten one BAFTA nomination for best actor in a leading role for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. Lazenby was nominated for a Golden Globe, best new star-actor. Only Casino Royal has been nominated for best film (Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film at the 60th British Academy Film Awards).⁽³⁾

Not the greatest career builders, are they? Timothy Dalton was barely heard from, doing mostly television after his three Bond films. Sean Connery ended up hating the role ⁽⁴⁾; Daniel Craig reportedly abandoned £100 million and was quoted as saying he’d rather “slit his wrists” than play Bond again. Pierce Brosnan reportedly had to produce his own work to get noticed again. Why on earth would Aidan want that? He follows the writing, the direction, not the money and fame.

I would counter, Ms Gina, that you are the selfish one, wanting a brilliant, up and coming young actor to play the fantasies you want him in, rather than respect his choices as an artist. 

nbr

Box Office numbers for the James Bond films

Lantern

Handmade Art Journal

A journal I made, using a cereal box, brown packing paper, tissue paper, acrylic paint, Dylusions sprays, stencils, matte medium, washi tape, scrapbook papers, old drawing paper, and waxed linen thread.

Fun with Photoshop and my Nikon D5300Ax

Asclepias 1

Asclepias 2

Asclepias 3

Asclepias 4

Asclepias 5

Asclepias 6

Asclepias 7

Asclepias 8

Haiku #1