Am so bored

[brigdh]

Things I have been doing recently:

1. Watching way too much reality TV (particularly of the "I want to be a supermodel/Miss America*/a fashion designer**/ghost hunter" sort) and lamenting the writers' strike. Seriously. I need new things to kill brain cells with, people.

2. Reading lots of fantasy/Regency romances/humor novels, and not one single one of the thousands of things I should read in the spirit of academic research.

3. Not doing anything on my more specific academic goals, such as, oh, the PhD proposal due next month, the MA thesis due in May, or the various visas/vaccines I need to go to Syria***.

So, what are you all procrastinating with?

*Miss Vermont is awesome and you all know it. I totally want a Miss America who looks like a shy hipster.

**Christian, on the other hand, should be set on fire.

***Did you know the Syrian government apparently reads the mail and will kick you out of the country for mentioning even the name of Israel? Awesome, people. Also, I hear peanut butter is ungodly expensive there, for some reason. I am here to bring you these bits of trivia.

Comments

[drmoonpants.livejournal.com]

Well, I've read the same multi-chaptered gay modern AU Avatar: The Last Airbender fanfic twice in as many weeks, and I may well do it again before this week is out. I believe I no longer feel the emotion known as 'shame' and I have never wanted to work on a dissertation less in my LIFE.

Sooooooo what I'm saying is I completely get where you're coming from.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Shame, ch, what is that? Clearly it is an invention of those mean girls in high school (TM) because they're jealous of the gay porn.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's awesome! I don't remember her particularly, but I will totally watch and cheer for Miss Nevada next week. XD

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

I know not of this Miss Vermont of whom you speak. Me, I'm procrastinating with trolling ebay and craigslist for (a) computers and (b) art supplies.

Also, football. Not at precisely this moment, because I don't really care about Green Bay and Seattle. But at 8, Team Riverside comes on. What, there's television that isn't football? Are you sure??

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Miss America, as a result of declining ratings, has decided to turn itself into a reality show this year. And so all 52 beauty pageant queens have to live in a house together and take advice from hair stylists, fashion experts, etc, in order to try and make them into a more modern "Miss America" and less of a punchline. Miss Vermont is a plump, brown-haired cutie. During the first episode, when they were asked to talk about current issues in a way more interesting than everyone wishing for world peace, she advocated gay marriage against the entire rest of the competition.

Ebay is always entertaining.

Ah, football. I can be interested in the stories of it, but never quite enough to actually watch the games.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I got Netflix! I believe this has saved my sanity through the strike.

*of course she is.

**Seriously. Shut up you little wanker.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee! I have netflix, and I so rarely take advantage of. I always forget that I have a DVD in the house to watch.

*I'm so glad people agree!

**FOR REAL.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

We have watched about ten discs, a grand total of one in English. Hee.

* Home state represent!

** This season is so boring!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

** Yeah. I don't have anyone who I'm cheering on this season. I like Chris, but not always his designs.

[aluragayle.livejournal.com]

Oooh, the peanut butter. *nodnod* It's either ungoldy expensive, or you can't find it AT ALL. ;_;

Luckily, when I spent my summer over there (not Syria, but in Egypt and Jordan) the girl I roomed with brought a big jar of it in her luggage. After getting food poisoning from some street vendor, we lived off that one jar of peanut butter and fresh bread for nearly a week. XD In Jordan, I ended up eating mostly 'Hot N Spicey CheezIts', Canada Dry ginger ale and some yummy olives from Saudi Arabia. =P

What all vaccines do you need? I'm just curious - since I remember needing quite a few for my trip. *discovered a new and useless allergy to the hepB vaccine in the process, too*

*random hugs*
Christian probably should be set on fire, but I still love watching him. He's such a little queen!bitch. XD

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

It's so weird! Why is peanut butter so expensive? Hopefully I like the local food, though, because I think I can eat only so much of peanut butter, even if I could fit it in my luggage.

Typhoid, tetanus, and Hepatitis A (which I think I might already have, but I have to call the doctor I had when I was little). I also have to bring anti-malaria medicine, which worries me, since mosquitoes looooove to bite me.

*hugs!*

Yeah. He does provide drama, at least, in his own annoying way.

[keelieinblack.livejournal.com]

All I've done this weekend is scour the internet for Larklight fic. You'd think a 'Victorian Steampunk! In Space!' series with pirates and giant spiders and evil top hats would attract more attention, but noooo.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

That does sound really fascinating, but I haven't heard of Larklight before this! Is it an anime?

[keelieinblack.livejournal.com]

It's a trilogy of YA books! Larklight (http://www.amazon.com/Larklight-Rousing-Dauntless-Farthest-Reaches/dp/1599901455/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200190366&sr=1-1) and Starcross (http://www.amazon.com/Starcross-Stirring-Adventure-Travel-Curious/dp/1599901218/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200190366&sr=1-2) are the first two; the third (Mothstorm) is supposed to be published this year, and until then I'm stuck with the craving for fic about every single character in the series.

They're lots of fun, though, and written in a hilarious sort of 19th century boy's-adventure style--the first chapter's online here (http://www.larklight.com/extract.html). Not that you need more things to read, I'm sure, but they might make an entertaining diversion the next time avoid research or paperwork. :D

[miep.livejournal.com]

one of my students is totally enamored of Larklight. THEY FIGHT GIANT SPIDERS! how much more appealing to a ten-year-old boy can you get???

therefore, I must also read it, because it seems far too clever and fabulous to be left to 10yoboys to appreciate. ;)

[keelieinblack.livejournal.com]

Do read it! Not that ten-year-old boys should be deprived of their giant spiders + pirates + aliens entertainment, but it really is a series that can be appreciated by adults as well as kids, and I kind of want everyone in the world to read it. Wait, here's a quote from it that made me howl every time:

Among my mother's books I had once discovered a volume of stories by a gentleman named Mr Poe, who lives in Her Majesty's American colonies. There was one, The Premature Burial, which gave me nightmares for weeks after I read it, and I remember thinking that there could be no fate more horrible than to be buried alive, and wondering what type of deranged and sickly mind could have invented such a tale. But as I lay there immobilised in a jar on the wrong side of the Moon with only a ravening caterpillar for company I realised that Mr Poe was actually quite a cheery, light-hearted sort of chap, and that his story had been touchingly optimistic.

How can you get more awesome than that?

[miep.livejournal.com]

oh law! I must confiscate the library copy on Monday. It was checked out on my card, so I can do this. heh heh heh...

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Okay, I love the quote you posted in the other comment; I think I'm totally going to have to read these. Thanks so much for mentioning them!

[dipping_sauce]

I'm watching the US version of the Office -- and I- I think I like it better than the UK version.

I'm going to try to draw it out, though, since I lost my job last week and I now have a *lot* of procrastination time now.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the UK version, but I like the US. I don't watch the show regularly, but I've always enjoyed it when I've seen an episode.

Oh, that sucks. I'm so sorry.

[dipping_sauce]

It was a horrendously shitty job and I hated working there, so I'm not so broken up about it :)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Well, hey, that's good news, then!

[seraphim-12.livejournal.com]

I obviously haven't been paying attention to your journal if the thing that sticks out is your going to Syria? LOL, I've been catching up on my reading. specifically the Miles Vorkosigan Series which is awesome x 1000'S!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I'm going for about two months this summer, for archaeological field work.

I haven't read those books! But I should; I hear good things about them all the time.

[seraphim-12.livejournal.com]

I would highly rec them. Not only is it good plot and great characters it's terrific writing! I really enjoyed them.

That's is so funky, if a little dangerous at this time, o_O!

Oh god your icon, I don't know whether to laugh or cry, XD!!!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Ill have to check them out!

And hee, thank you!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

To avoid career-related writing, I've written a lot of Gundam Wing fanfic, learned to cook, and done chores-- some of them outstanding for literally years.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I have chores like that. Unfortunately, I have not accomplished any of them this week.

I have procrastinated through cooking, though!

[bladderwrack.livejournal.com]

Hanging around on livejournal, of course. orz Just because I could theoretically put this essay off until Friday doesn't mean I should ... but our boiler is broken and I have a horbl cold so am sulking. =_=

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Livejournal, yay. And I always put off essays until the last possible moment. It's the sign of a true student. *nods wisely* Sorry about your cold, though! I hope it clears up soon.

[rackhamrose.livejournal.com]

Correction: Christian needs to be dangled in front of a shark and then set on fire.

Even if his prom outfit did look like Anakin Skywalker Disco-Style. (Er... the one he wore, not the one he made.)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha! That is awesome. Best description ever: I even had to read it outloud to the person sitting next to me.

[redshoeson.livejournal.com]

Catching up on LJ. :)

Also, here are the queer books I was talking about:

Baby Remember my Name
The Book of Salt
Drag King Dreams
Trace Elements of Random Tea Parties
A Simple Distance
The Borgia bride
Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary
Stone Butch Blues
Trans-sister Radio
Keeping you a secret
The price of salt
Nightwood
Kissing Kate
Dare truth or promise
The Terrible Girls
Odd girl out
Patience and Sarah
Empress of the world
Sister Safety Pin
Valencia
Calculated risk
Godmother night

I can't speak for any of them, but they are on my To Read (Queer Fiction) list. If you read any of them, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on them! ^^ Also, are you familiar with LibraryThing (http://www.librarything.com)? It is an AWESOME resource, particularly when searching for books similar to those you've enjoyed in the past. ^^

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I haven't read any of these, so this is really awesome.

And I do know Librarything! It's really useful. *grins*

[redshoeson.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. ^^ Definitely let me know what you think of them. I actually almost bought Borgia Bride b/c it looked like such a fun romp, but I resisted. Baby Remember My Name is a selection of queer short stories. The Book of Salt is actually about the queer relationship of Gertrude Stein and her lover as told by their chef. Trace Elements of Random Tea Parties has the best title, sez me. I think it's more about the main character's latina/chicana (can't remember which) identity than her queer identity, but it is definitely in the queer lit section. A Simple Distance and Stone Butch Blues are written by the same person and I /think/ they're both more about the trans-identity than the queer identity.

...that's all I can remember about them ATM. ^^

[gen50.livejournal.com]

and such interesting trivia they were.

syria? i suppose it is part of your job.
you are busy, PhD proposal and an MA ....
wow/

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Syria is for archaeological field work this summer. It will be interesting!

[kessie.livejournal.com]

This is just to say that I'm about to post your way, way overdue Christmas card. As in, about to head out the door to the post office.

So hopefully it'll get there!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I just got it! Oh my god, thank you so much! I am really touched. Thank you. Wow. I adore it.

(And I haven't mailed out mine, yet, so we're all overdue together.

[kessie.livejournal.com]

Yay, you don't hate it! \o/ Hahaha, I admit, I had a moment when I was putting it into the packet and I looked at it and thought, "Crap, I hope she doesn't hate this." I imagine you can't fit much in it, but, you know, pretty. :D

(Apparently, I have a late birthday present coming from achiasa and, er, I hope she was late posting it because if it's tracked it should be here by now. Not that I've been waking up early for the post, or anything, and just got bills for my trouble. I hate the fact I have an unreliable address right now.)