I don't want to go among mad people...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Exalted Highness Duchess Marilyn the Euphonious of Pease Pottage Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

I like kal_el77's title for me better. :P

Some time ago ladygypsy lost her beloved pet, and I struggled in vain to find a beautiful little piece I had once read on dogs. It turned out to be, in of all places, a horror novel by Dean Koontz. I was chucking books a few weeks back, but ripped out the page so that I would have the quote to share:

TRIBUTE TO A DOG

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in
this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the
one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his
dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in
poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the
cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow
drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side.
He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will
lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with
the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his
pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other
friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing and
reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as
the sun in its journey through the heavens.
—Senator George Vest, 1870

I attended NEARfest 2006 and lived to tell the tale. Wahoo!

( Behind the cut 'cause it's long and there are some pictures. )

I swear, I'm not complaining, but this makes absolutely no sense other than Bettie and I are both brunettes:

You are Bettie Page

Girl next door with a wild streak You're a famous beauty - with unique look And the people like you are cultish about it

^_____^ My husband gave me flowers.

It's only slightly disturbing... really... O_o

You scored as The Operative. You are dedicated to your job and very good at what you do. You've done some very bad things, but they had to be done. You don't expect to go to heaven, but that is a sacrifice you've made for a better future for all. </td> The Operative 75% Capt. Mal Reynolds 75% Zoe Alleyne Washburne 69% Kaylee (Kaywinnet Lee) Frye 69% Simon Tam 63% River Tam 63% Inara Serra 44% Jayne Cobb 44% Hoban 'Wash' Washburne 44% Shepherd Derrial Book 38% Which Serenity character are you? created with QuizFarm.com

It's not as though I needed another addiction in my life, but Pandora.com is turning out to be lots of fun. For one, I'm amused by continued ability to stump the player with artists it's never had entered into it's database. Of more interest, the player's reasoning behind the playlists. Clearly it's got me tagged as an electronica fan with moments of pop-rock slumming, but I think that's only because it can't find half the artists I insert into the search engine.

Reasons du jour behind my playlist in no particular order:

• Disco influences


• pop rock qualities


• electronica influences


• extensive vamping


• synthetic sonority


• a subtle use of strings


• a smooth female vocal


• a laid back female vocal


• a high pitched voice


• a vocal-centric aesthetic


• minor key tonality


• mild rhythmic syncopation


• a repetitive chorus


• heavy use of choral patterning


• melodic part writing


• prominent use of synth

So far it's suggested two singles I would actually buy: Berlin's Scream and The Dream by The Birthday Massacre.

Unfortunately, I've just uncovered the other annoying thing about Pandora. It only let's you skip a limited number of songs per hour. And it's just my luck that I learned this as Lindsay Lohan started to play... bye-bye for tonight Pandora!

My poor husband, I've had 3 versions of Passion and Hikki's version of Boulevard of Broken Dreams on repeat rotation for about 5 hours and I show absolutely no signs of stopping. I like this song, lots. A part of me wants an English version - and we might get it because it's associated with Kingdom Hearts 2 - but then I remember Simple and Clean. =_=

( Passion Lyrics - beware, Japanese encoding )

If you want to hear Passion and Boulevard, visit Hikki's site: http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/hikki/ It's worth the 31MB download.

EDIT:
In case anyone wants to add Hikki's lives to their Jukebox ^_^

Boulevard of Broken Dreams (LIVE)
http:// s62.yousendit.com/ d.aspx?id=0OP9R4P0UBRWS3H428W5XTSKSP
(if it doesn't work, try http:// www.megaupload.com/ ?d=ORTD2YPV )

Passion ~ after the battle ~ (LIVE)
http:// s62.yousendit.com/ d.aspx?id=06YVZDZY5V39V1FLVUYE2REIYY
(if it doesn't work, try http:// www.megaupload.com/ ?d=ZU6FTFGS )

Jean Arthur You scored 26% grit, 28% wit, 33% flair, and 26% class!

You are a little bit of everything: smart, nutty, classy, and even a little scheming when you need to be. However, you aren't exactly the most effective dame around, as you're sometimes given to fainting and mumbling incoherently. But you're pretty steadfast and true, and might I add, cute as a button, even if you're not sure exactly what you want. Still, you end up with the likes of Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant...not too shabby! Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the Classic Leading Man Test.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 61% on grit You scored higher than 46% on wit You scored higher than 35% on flair You scored higher than 58% on class

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

"However, you aren't exactly the most effective dame around, as you're sometimes given to fainting and mumbling incoherently."

Well, that part's all lies. I am most effective, especially when I have a large, heavy, blunt object. Given to fainting my ass...

6,686.

Thank you Elfin Lied OST.

Elvis has left the building.

And if tomorrow prooves as difficult, he may surface in my novel. :P

6,138 words.

I am taking a break.

I WILL make 6,668.

Why is it that my days off are just as busy as my day's at work?

Oh, I know! I crazily organized a Japanese group order, signed up for NaNoWriMo and volunteered to make a Thank You Book for Luts (BJD company) all at once. Briiiiiight on my part.

And we had our first piano lesson today!

I really like the teacher. She's bubbly, informal, and doesn't believe that the path to skill is repeat until perfect or dead. I think we'll get along famously. She said I'm a good site reader, though I think it appeared that way only because we were dealing with quarter notes and the key of C. Talk to me after we introduce some sharps and flats to the key signature. ^^;

kidchyron on the other hand jumped right into some disgustingly difficult piece by Beethoven. I was both immensely proud, and immensely motivated to smack him. My husband. He has such talent. And seriously, I could actually hear the improvement in his playing after 30 minutes. She does not come cheap, but I think she's worth the money.

If I could find a watercolor teacher like this life would perfect.

Alas, little time to blog. NaNoWriMo calls! Tonight's goal: 6,668. Current word count: 5,383 Andreas is currently providing background music.

5024 words! My eyes! My eyes!!!

Day 1: I'm smokin! 1965 words. Fueled mostly by Andreas Vollenweider.

Day 2: More Vollenweider and... Edith Piaf WTF!? Throw in some 80's feel good hip-hop. Whatever works man! 3369 words!

Day 3: Vollenweider is dead, long live Enigma. My eyes... they burn. =_= Current count: 4030. Goal: 5001.

The "freaky" factor of my dolls has just dropped by comparison:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NATI-the-Haunted-Ballerina-doll-possesed-by-spirit_W0QQitemZ5626563898QQcategoryZ19270QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Killer-Haunted-Porcelain-Clown-Doll-Paranormal-presence_W0QQitemZ5628017237QQcategoryZ1468QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Handmade-Doll-Haunted-by-Girl-or-Demon-Please-Read_W0QQitemZ5628782355QQcategoryZ19270QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Haunted-Doll-CAMILA-WANTED-WHAT-SHE-COULDN-HAVE_W0QQitemZ5629817657QQcategoryZ19270QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Deserving of your bids just for sheer creativity:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Evil-Haunted-Doll-That-is-trying-to-kill-me-Satan-Doll_W0QQitemZ5628401756QQcategoryZ1469QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

{EDIT: Oops! Corrected link.}

The voice of reason?
http://www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/arthunters/haunteddolls.html

The most disturbing thing ever is riding the up escalator at the 7th Avenue stop on the B line and seeing not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE of NYPD's finest intently watching who's coming out of the station. O_o