Straight Outta Bayside

Dear France, please stop being saps.

2011-04-12T00:31:00.000+01:00

"Police said they were held ... for joining an unauthorised protest."

"Offenders face a fine of 150 euros (£133; $217) and a citizenship course."

"Critics of French President Nicolas Sarkozy say it suits him to play up the Muslim question because he is an unpopular president in need of an easy vote-winner."

Now, these quotes shouldn't come from France, but they do. Horrible, horrible saps, with their stupid, pointless, ridiculous, racist laws.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13031397

Grace's dating tips

2011-04-04T23:20:00.002+01:00

Grace is my mate. She's a very mature six year old, and has just become a big sister. So it was time to discuss my love life with her. I told her I was single, and she said maybe I should get a boyfriend. I asked her how, and she said:

"Just ring up the boys, tell them you're at home, you're alone and you're lonely. Then ask them if they want to get married. Or go for a date."

I asked her if she would try it. She said no.

New Verse

2011-03-26T00:40:00.002Z

Straight Outta Bayside, another crazy ass figure,

More puns I make, yo, my rep gets bigger,

I'm another bad motherfucker and you know this,

But those southside asses won't show this,

But I don't give a fuck, I'ma make my snaps,

If it's not from the headlines, from the raps,

Just like burglary the definition is jackin',

And when I'll illegally armed, it's called packin',

Click on a story, in a minute,

I find a good podcast, I go listen to it,

So if you're in the news, on the front page,

I'm a call you a bitch or a dirty ass ho,

You'll probably get mad like a skanger's supposed to,

But that shows me, you're composed to,

A crazy motherfucker from the street,

Attitude legit because I'm writing up shit,

My pals control the layout,

Everything's locked to baseline, that's the law,

B-E-A-N spells bean, but I'm raw,

See cos I'm the motherfuckin' sub,

The definition is clear, we'll probably go to the pub,

That's going to a places for some pints,

And once you've got the scoop, you're ass is published,

Look, you might take it as a trip,

But a girl like Bean is on the gangster tip,

Straight Outta Bayside...

Céad mile fáilte

2011-01-08T17:11:00.003Z

On my way to college the other day, I saw a member of the Gardaí, who was alone guarding the Kildare Street entrance to Government buildings, being asked and obliging to take a photograph of a tourist outside the gates.

That'd never happen in many other places in the world. It made me proud to be Irish.

Brown Owl

2010-12-14T16:52:00.002Z

When I was between the ages of about six and eleven, I was in the Brownies.

It is a wholesome organisation where little girls go to dress in yellow jumpers, wear small neckerchiefs with toggles and earn badges for learning to skip, helping your mam, etc.

Every Saturday morning we would meet in a Church hall and do various activities. Before the fun and games started, we would have to gather around in a circle, say a prayer and sing the songs of our Brownie sub-groups (I believe I was a Sprite).

The woman in charge of a Brownie pack is called Brown Owl. Our Brown Owl was a straight-talking woman with grey hair which was always in a very neat up-do done with what I can only imagine had dozens of clips holding it together, and she drove a red, sporty car.

One Saturday, before we sang our songs, our Brown Owl told us her thoughts on Dublin safety.

"Things just aren't the same these days, I never feel that safe when I'm by myself any more," she told our little group of uniformly dressed youngsters.

"You never know who you're going to run into. When I'm out driving in town I always carry a crow bar in the passenger seat next to me. You can never be too safe."

And then we proceeded to say the Our Father and my group sang, "Sprightly Sprites we're on our way, Play and laugh and help today."

Babies

2010-11-19T22:24:00.002Z

My auntie had a baby today, which is brilliant. She very much deserves it and I'm delighted to have a new cousin.

But today I also found out that someone I know, a friend of a friend, might not ever be able to have children.

And I heard something about a Soviet nuclear bomb testing site in Kazakhstan, where some doctors suggest people shouldn't be allowed to have children for fear they are deformed.

Once I told my boyfriend that if I got pregnant it would probably be the best thing that ever happened to us. Which I still believe, even though I know it wouldn't be the best timing and we aren't even still together, which would make things even more difficult.

I also saw this ad today, which is pretty mental. Can't tell if it's real or not...

The issue of babies is very strange. Who should have them, who shouldn't, when should you, when shouldn't you, etc. I'd say there's no way of knowing the answer to any of these questions.

But I'm still VERY pleased for my aunt.

Marriage

2010-11-17T18:55:00.002Z

Found myself listening to 'Band of Gold' by Diana Ross and the Supremes, looking up news on the royal engagement and then flicking through sites about wedding dresses.

I don't even have a boyfriend.

But on that note, isn't it weird how much the Irish don't like the royal family? I think my family's grand with it cos we're one part English and one part Protestant. But almost all my peers seem to think the whole royal thing is silly. Funny.

Food

2010-11-08T21:42:00.002Z

Foods I cannot be trusted with include:

Counting

2010-11-07T22:27:00.002Z

I've given up doing something and taken up doing something.

It is very hard for me to keep up anything without giving myself a measurable goal, such as a number of days.

But, so far: two days down.

For every week I'm successful, I will buy myself a bath bomb or something equally frivolous.

2010-11-07T22:13:00.003Z

We both sat on the DART.

She had a black plastic bag.

I had a red handbag.

She drank a bottle of water, studied a receipt, and counted up coins and some vouchers.

I stared out the window.

She was wearing a striped navy men's t-shirt and a baggy black rain coat.

I was wearing purple heels and a red jumper dress.

She ran her fingers through her long, curly hair, flicking the strands that came loose on the floor.

My hair was tied back in a bun.

She wore a bracelet with little pictures of religious imagery all around it and a string of green rosary beads.

I wore a heart pendant and a silver bracelet.

She prayed.

I listened to Lady Gaga.

She got off at Kilbarrack.

I got off at Howth Junction.

Censorship

2010-11-04T00:35:00.002Z

Rightly or wrongly, recently I've found myself not speaking my mind.

People say something I don't agree with -- I stay quiet.

I often find that people are often offensive and ill-informed when they try to be funny. But I don't respond with my opinion or tell them when they are just plain wrong.

And sometimes when someone's having a light-hearted conversation about something or other, the first thing that comes into my head is some heart-wrenching interview I've recently read, or some interesting (to me and my boring person head, at least) fact about something or other. But I don't express it.

In the past when such things are mentioned or objections are raised, people look at me like I have two heads.

At the moment, I feel like I don't have the strength to defend myself or deal with people thinking I'm awkward and weird.

I'm glad there are people in the world who stand up for what they believe in. One day I hope to be one.

I feel like a Taylor Swift song

2010-11-01T23:49:00.001Z

Compliments

2010-10-31T21:56:00.004Z

It is weird the different compliments that can come in different spheres of one's life.

Here's two I've gotten over the last couple of months:

"You're very good with a comma."

"You have a great bottom lip."

I always believe the specific compliments, but rarely the general ones: "You're beautiful", "You're such a nice person" or "You're great with people". You could say those things about anyone.

But I'd probably believe it if Elmo told me.

Eight

2010-10-08T23:13:00.002+01:00

I just asked the magic eight ball quite a serious question and got a certain answer. I wonder is it true? I suppose it's about as true as any answer anyone else might give me...

Happiness

2010-10-08T22:45:00.002+01:00

--If you want to be happy in life, you have to have wealth, good looks and stupidity. At a pinch, you can get rid of the money and the beauty, but without the stupidity, you'll never be happy.--

I heard that on the radio just there. I wonder is it true? If it is, I hope I'm one of the stupid ones.

(In)decision

2010-09-29T23:32:00.004+01:00

How do you know when you've made the right choice?

You're not funny

2010-09-04T12:21:00.002+01:00

Why do people try to use comedians' jokes and try to pretend that they're their own?

It's so obvious and not funny at all.

Stop.

If you want to use someone else's joke, just say that it was someone else's. Maybe then I'll pretend to find it funny.

Exclamation marks

2010-09-03T11:00:00.002+01:00

I seem to overuse ! a lot in my internety speech. I do this to feign casualness. I think it's a replacement for emoticons.

I hate when people use excessive amounts of !s but I do it myself. People always hate their own bad qualities in other people and often don't even realise it.

I say weird things at work

2010-09-03T02:18:00.003+01:00

Today, as someone was buying a jumper dress and a knit / saying how her earnings are comparatively small to the work she does (or similar) I said, "Good thing you have these cosy clothes so when you can't pay for heating costs in the winter, you'll be warm."

And on the weekend, someone told me she had a two month old child. As she was leaving, I said, "Good luck rearing him."

It's an embarrassing habit.

Taylor

2010-08-01T16:22:00.003+01:00

I love Taylor Swift. Bit nervous the new album isn't going to be as good as the last one. Fearless is so good, you should download it (that's aimed at my one blog follower, John Orford).

Charity

2010-08-01T16:13:00.002+01:00

A couple of months ago I did something for someone even though I could've walked away, like everyone else was.

The funny thing about it was I didn't feel good about it afterwards. And I didn't really talk about it. I only told two people about it.

I thought doing nice things for people was supposed to make you feel good about yourself...

And I keep thinking about the person who was involved. I wonder how he is. He might even be dead, I've no idea.

He probably doesn't remember me, if he is still alive. I probably didn't even really help him. If I did, it couldn't have really changed anything.

I wonder how often acts of charity actually make a real difference.

Lists

2010-07-30T00:35:00.002+01:00

I'm more productive when I make lists. I make lists when I have crayons. I don't have crayons. I'm currently unproductive.

My dad gave my crayons to a child and I want them back. But obviously can't get them back because her and her childish ways probably ate them or lost them.

I should buy more crayons, but unfortunately I am very unproductive.

When it rains, it pours...

2010-07-20T00:40:00.002+01:00

Seems like almost everything I was worried about is coming together nicely.

No complaints.

Or at least there shouldn't be.

Maybe I have too many options. It's a little over whelming. Maybe that's why I spend so much time in bed these days. And maybe that's why I put off decision making as long as I possibly can.

Stay positive...

2010-06-11T02:14:00.002+01:00

I know a few people who have tried to kill themselves.

It's amazing when you see them living their lives, looking happy. It reminds me how differently life can turn out to how you thought.

It's always important to remember that when there's a down, there will be an up.

That's what makes it so tragic if they succeed.

It's like that Streets song, a bit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpx40CNGaw4

INTERDIT/VERBODEN

2010-05-19T01:37:00.003+01:00

Is it just me or is banning a piece of clothes ridiculous?

I do not believe in oppression, which is why I believe women, and men for that matter, should have the right to choose what they were. Especially if this is an expression of their culture and religion. Expression of culture and religion is a human right.

I am currently living in Belgium which is set to become the first country to put this ban in action.

France is set to become the second. But even the French constitution contradict this ban. This ban in France is constitutionally illegal not to mention immoral and bigoted.

There is the argument that these pieces of clothing are forced on women. And in some cases, I suppose they are. And this is obviously wrong. But there are also cases where the women choose to wear them. This is punishing women for no reason.

There is also a clause in the French piece of legislation that punishes men more severely than women. What does this mean? If they don't mind what their wife wears in the first place, they may now pressure her to conform to a law she doesn't believe in. If they force their wives to cover up, they could put them under virtual house arrest. Who is this helping?

It is also provoking anger in much of the Muslim world and beyond. This side of the world comes off as racist and oppressive.

Why does Europe seem to think West is best and everything else should be slowly faded out? The world is bigger than the EU.

Procrastination

2010-05-01T17:49:00.002+01:00

It's that time of year again, children. Exams, essays, presentations....

I got back to Belgium a week late because of that volcano, so then I really though I needed to study. But what have I done?

1 -- Spent a day at an agricultural fare looking at a hay throwing competition.

2 -- Took up Tai-Chi.

3 -- Hoovered the house within an inch of it's life.

4 -- Organised my cosmetics very neatly on my shelf.

5 -- Booked flights to Africa in three weeks.

6 -- Drank beers almost, if not every, day of this week.

7 -- Published a blog post.

S'alright

2010-04-22T17:22:00.003+01:00

Sometimes I feel a bit bad about myself because of other people.

Then I just remember how brilliant I am and it's all okay.

Jaw pain

2010-04-01T00:33:00.002+01:00

My jaw hurts.

It's because I've taken up clenching my teeth the last couple of days. It's rubbish.

I looked up online how you can stop it.

The suggestions were, "Stop taking drugs, alcohol and be less stressed."

I don't take drugs.

I live in Belgium, alcohol is a necessity.

One can't just be less stressed. And the idea that I have such bad stress that it's causing me physical pain is a little stressful.

I miss Ireland a bit

2010-03-29T19:10:00.003+01:00

I miss (in no particular order):

1) Having a couch.

2) Watching television with my mam.

3) Llyod Grossman tomato and chilli pasta sauce.

4) More than two crisp flavours. Notably Waffles and Monster Munch. And maybe Meanies too.

5) Having more than one eye shadow.

6) Being able to talk to strangers and not having them ask, "Where are you from?"

7) Koka curry noodles.

8) Picking up the phone and talking to my matesers.

9) My lovely necklace.

10) Christopher.

Questions

2010-03-27T02:08:00.002Z

I was on a website that had one of the best question/answer combos I've ever seen:

What time is it in England now?

This is a hard question to answer as time is changing all the time.

Fate

2010-03-23T00:45:00.001Z

I hate when the magic eight ball is vague. WHAT'S THE POINT OF IT HAVING A STUPID MAYBE SIDE?

Old lady Wade's veggie stew

2010-03-15T00:25:00.001Z

-2 tablespoons oil

-1 large onion, sliced

-2 large carrots

-3-4 celery sticks

-175g/6oz turnips

-500g/1lb potatoes

-400g/ can of tomatoes

-750ml veg stock

-1 teaspoon paprika

-1 tablespoon tomato puree

-4 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Dumplings

-50g butter

-125g self-raising flour

-2 tablespoons chopped parsley

-1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or marjoram

-1 egg lightly beaten

-Gently fly onion till soft in oil, then put chopped veg in.

-Cover tightly and cook on low heat for 5 minutes

-add other stuff (except dumpling stuff) bring to boil then simmer gently for 15-20 minutes

make up dumpling by rubbing the melted butter into the other ingredients until it resembles bread crumbs then add egg, it should go kinda doughy, if the consistency isnt doughy enough add small amount of water.

-drop dumplings in ball shaps into stew,

-cover and cook for another 20-30 minutes.

Surprise

2010-02-28T13:01:00.002Z

I was taking a walk around a train station in Brussels and I found a red light district.

Prostitutes in windows. Like in Amsterdam.

It bothered me. It was half nine in the morning. That is very early.

Then I went to Antwerp. I went for a bit of a wander by myself and found my second Belgian red light district of the day.

I never even knew prostitution was legal here. Goes to show you never can tell..

Punishment

2010-02-18T00:52:00.004Z

Malaysia, Malaysia, Malaysia...

I would imagine it's a great country in a lot of ways. In fact, I have friends who have visited it and said it was a wonderful place.

Which makes it even more sad that the Government sapping around overshadows the good bits.

Caning. When is it a good idea? I'm no capital punishment enthusiast, but I could probably understand it for crimes. And I understand crimes to be something that infringes on the rights of others in some way.

Not for having pre-marital sex. Not for drinking beer. Aren't they personal choices?

And the thing about this recent spat of official canings in Malaysia is that they only apply to the majority Malay population. So basically, if you happen to be born into a certain ethnicity, you have less rights than your ethnic Chinese or Indian neighbours.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Islam is to blame. I think if you want to follow Islam, that's probably a good thing. But I also think it's a personal choice. Hence, you should not be punished for not following it, the same way you shouldn't be punished for following it or any other religion, for that matter.

Simply not following a religion, or certain rules of a religion, is not a crime.

Killing

2010-01-16T18:50:00.002Z

When I think about people my age having grandparents who fought on the German side in World War Two, I often feel sorry for them.

I don't know how they can come to terms with the complicity of those people they love with one of the most hated and violent regimes in recorded history.

But then, most of the people on the Axis side did the exact same thing as people on the Allied side; kill people on the battlefield, target civilian cities, slaughter women and children, kill people just like them. Only difference is they were born a couple hundred miles away.

I had a grandfather who fought in the War. He died when I was about six or seven. I didn't really know him. I only remember him as a kind, old man, maybe slightly grumpy at times, who gave us boxes of chocolates or jellies.

I suppose when I think of him in the War, my mind goes to the same places that the mind of someone like me in Berlin or Munich goes to.

Did he think...

"I was only following orders"

"It was him or me"

"An eye for an eye"

And the excuses are the same for people worldwide, no matter what conflict, no matter what side.

Sleep

2010-01-15T02:33:00.002Z

It has been weeks since I have slept through a night for eight hours or without some kind of disturbance, such as nightmares.

Last night I slept without a nightmare, first time in about ten days, but I also woke up three times.

Why?

Exams, being mugged, moving....

Probably.

Knowing doesn't help. It doesn't put me to sleep.

This time 12 hours I will be sitting an exam. Oh well... At least it's not in five hours.

Language

2010-01-03T19:36:00.002Z

I'm glad I'm learning a language and here's why:

"Britons' linguistic incompetence is not just a social embarrassment. It is through knowledge of language that we undertand foreign cultures. Only the English have derogatory terms for so many different nationalities. This is partly because our vision of Europeans is two-dimensional; our lack of interest in their language means we do not know or care how they perceive the world."

And I definitely think this statement stretches across the Irish sea too.

Quote: From Our Own Correspondent, Chapter 1: Family Affair by Misha Glenny.

Two thousand and fine

2010-01-03T18:41:00.003Z

I always complain about things on my blog.

Actually, it feels like I always complain about things in life in and outside the Internet.

So here is my top 10 list of things in 2009 (in no particular order).

This American Life -- Like a pal of mine said, the quality of this podcast ranges from "Very, very good to life changing."
The International Herald Tribune -- Really good paper. Great insights coupled with journalists who are experienced enough to attempt humour successfully.
Magic Eight Ball -- You would not believe the amount of decisions it has made for me and the mistakes it has aided me to avoid.
Red wine
Lily Allen -- How did I not discover her earlier?
Sesame Street you tube videos
Pub Quiz -- I love the quiz master. I love the weak, overpriced cocktails that force you to put nagans in. I love it all.
My gorgeous navy dress -- It cost me loads of euros, but it's so, so, so nice.
Flossing -- Great idea. Only bad thing about it is I didn't start doing it properly many, many years ago.
Being single -- Probably the hardest but probably the best thing that's happened to me all year.

STRAIGHT OUTTA BAYSIDE

2009-12-17T23:09:00.003Z

Straight outta Bayside, crazy girl called Christine

From the gang called the Orford family

When I'm called off, I get a DART off

Brings me to town and the bodies are hauled off

You too boy if ya have a ticket

Or the Gardaí are gonna hafta come and get you

Off the DART, that's how I'm going out

To DIT, motherfuckin' Aungier

People talk about me, they wanna fight me

Mix 'em and cook 'em like a burger from Munchies

Goin' off on a motherfucker like that

With a can that I drink real fast

So give it up smooth

Ain't no telling when I'm down for a Coolock move

Here's an angry rap to keep yo dancing

With a crime record like the IRA

32-10 is the took

Don't make me act a total sap

Me you can go toe to toe no maybe

I'm prank phone-calling people daily

Yo weekly, monthly and yearly

Until the dopey saps see clearly

That I'm down with the capital B-S-D

Boy you can't mess with me

So when I'm in your neighbourhood, you better duck

Cos Christine is crazy as fuck

As I leave, believe I'm stompin'

But when I come back boy, I'm coming straight outta Bayside

2009-12-17T14:58:00.001Z

christine did not leave her facebook open for hacking but she did however leave open this blog. I love you Beanie.

mwaahaha.

Popcast

2009-12-14T20:54:00.002Z

The NY Times popcast is hilarious.

This weeks bit on R. Kelly is so ridiculously funny I laughed out loud for about ten minutes on a dart.

It's in the middle. Feel free to skip the Chris Brown and the jazz bit.

(It's at the bottom of the page.)

New goal

2009-12-14T01:42:00.005Z

Eat three meals a day. I try to. But sometimes I don't. And now people I meet tell me how skinny I look. If I get my weight up, they may change the record to: That dress looks nice on you; I like your hair like that; You look nice!

Imagine...

Facebook

2009-12-13T13:06:00.003Z

I think I go on Facebook too much.

And all for the wrong reasons.

I think I will try not to go on it for a few days. Maybe a week.

People who really love me can contact me via mobile telephone.

And I also don't agree with all this crazy Facebook trying to expose our lives by sneakily changing privacy policy.

((Definitely a good idea to stop my Facebooking as during writing this post, I signed in for the second time today. And I only woke up about an hour ago. Get ready for loads more bored blog posts, my trusty three blog readers!))

Research

2009-12-05T23:37:00.002Z

I am researching an essay about Estonia at the moment. But on my travels through Google books, I found this quote and I thought I'd share it with all three of my blog followers:

"According to a Romanian editor, "words such as banana, orange, cheese, meat and other food denominations were blacklisted because the censorship committees thought such words would inflame the hungry Romanian population at that time."

Losing

2009-12-02T00:24:00.002Z

I was in Galway over the weekend for my lovely friend Luc's birthday party.

On the way back, I had a dodgy, overpriced breakfast (at about half four, but a breakfast nonetheless) at a large café on shop street.

We had to run to get the bus and in the rush, although I managed to get the best milkshake of my life, I left one of my bags behind me.

Inside there was:

A pair of jeans I got for a fiver in Penneys about 18 months ago. They never fit me. The zipper was held up with an elastic band and the waist was tied with old ribbon at the back to make sure they didn't fall down. But I loved them.

A half bottle of horrible seven euro red wine. Probably a good thing I lost that, cos I would've drank it and regretted it.

My 24 pack of Crayola I got on the way to NYC.

It sounds silly, but I feel like those crayons have been with me through thick and thin.

I used them to make track-listings for CDs I made for my French friend and many other friends beside.

I used them to make birthday cards for my nearest and dearest.

I used them to count off the days I had to go until my exams ended.

I used them to encourage myself to not contact my ex. Each day I managed to not contact him, I would make a mark. The small satisfaction I got from making these marks and counting them up was enough to make me get up and face the world.

In recent weeks, I haven't been using them so much.

But I still feel a bit lost without them.

I could buy a new packet, I suppose. But I don't know if it'd be the same.

Saps all over the world

2009-12-01T00:49:00.003Z

Man...

Some countries...

I opened a second hand Irish Times this morning and I found out that STUPID referendum in Switzerland banned future construction of minarets was passed.

Our favourite nut-case Ahmadinejad is up to his old mentalist tricks of not-so-secretly planning to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

Then Uganda comes out with their shit-stirring.

How do they propose to deal with gay people?

If you have same sex sexual relations, you have to either tell the police within 24 hours or face a three year sentence.

But if you have sex with someone who is under 18 or who you are a person of authority to, you get executed.

And the cherry on top of the stupid, stupid bill is if you test positive for HIV, you also get executed.

How are some people so stupid?

If this law passes, it would be horrible for so many different reasons.

Apparently this is a Christian nation. What is Christian about persecuting people for no reason at all?

Drying and dressing

2009-11-21T20:58:00.003Z

I'm waiting for my nail polish to dry, listening to Julie London and trying to decide what to wear.

I've been very indecisive recently, as anyone I've spent time with will tell you.

And very into procrastinating.

Which is great for my cyber farm and café, but awful for my Erasmus and general studies.

Anyway, I must get off line and figure out what to do with my life (or at least what to wear while I'm doing it).

Now.... What goes with Racing Green nail paint?

Waiting

2009-10-25T15:32:00.002Z

I have spent the whole weekend waiting.

Waiting to finish my newspaper in college.

Waiting for people to call me.

Waiting to watch a film.

Waiting to have a bath.

Waiting to be invited places.

Waiting for people to come onto Facebook (like a total weirdo).

I'm sick of waiting.

But I'm still waiting.

Birthday presents

2009-10-09T17:19:00.002+01:00

I know it's a silly complaint.

I know it sounds ridiculous.

But I really hate shopping for my own birthday presents.

Today me, my mam and my dad went into town to try and find a 21st birthday present. Some kind of jewellery.

I just ended up stressed out and now I really, really don't want to have to choose anything.

Again, everyone says this kind of thing, but I really would be just as happy with a box of chocolates and a card as I would be with a diamond ring.

My mother

2009-09-19T22:56:00.002+01:00

I want to become more like my mother.

She is patient, sensible, kind and really great to be around.

She wouldn't binge drink every other day.

She wouldn't make stupid mistakes and loose her temper at things like duvet covers and chopping boards.

I think I am going to try very hard to ask myself before doing something silly or rash, what would my mam think? Would she do the same thing if she were in my position? If the answer is no, I will try not to do it.

Burlesque

2009-08-24T01:35:00.002+01:00

Surprisingly brilliant.

It's hard being a vegetarian...

2009-08-17T00:47:00.002+01:00

When I was shopping the other day, I happened to glance at the back of a packet of cheese. In the ingredients, a thing called "rennet" was listed.

This is the lining of an animal's stomach.

I looked at different brands of fresh mozzarella, but they were all the same.

I ended up buying some processed stuff that was veggie.

Throughout my time as a vegetarian I have found some kinds of crisps, butter, yogurt, milk, beer and sweets, among other things, to be not suitable for nerds like me. And I have a habit of finding it out in the middle of chowing down on whatever it happens to be.

Someone offered me a jelly sweet the other day and when I refused on the basis of being a veggie. He was shocked to see that they contained beef gelatin.

Now it's coming up to winter and I need a new pair of boots. Nowhere stocks good quality non-leather shoes in Ireland. I think I might just cave in and buy leather ones.

I know I don't have to and I know I could order veggie shoes online, blah, blah, blah, but I don't know if I have the energy for all that shite.

Between only buying "cruelty free" cosmetics and checking the back of every goddamn packet of food I buy, I feel as though I should cut myself some slack.

But then again, it's one of those things, once you start thinking about these things you can't stop. I know if I buy leather shoes I'll feel guilty about it.

Maybe I'll just shop in Penneys where prices are too low to buy you leather.

QUANTUM LEAP

2009-08-11T21:23:00.004+01:00

Almost everyone who knows me knows I love Quantum Leap.

Check. It. Out.

Obama vs. Putin?

2009-08-08T00:41:00.004+01:00

The world loves the new American president.

He seems clever, he seems thoughtful, he has a winning smile and last, but certainly not least, he has a great speech writer.

The thing I love most about this politician is his fairly often heartwarming appearances in the "And finally..." kind of sections in news websites all over the world.

I wonder how different this is to the Russia's former president Vladimir Putin's recently staged holiday photos and similar, thinly veiled attempts to grab media attention.

Of course Barack is more subtle about it, but the basic aim is the same: to appeal to their public and to try and convince them that in these "recessionary times" (sigh), these politicians are still able to keep their countries ticking over.

Where Obama swats a fly, Putin shoots a Siberian tiger.

Obama gives an 89 year old lady a birthday cake and Putin gives a poor boy an expensive watch.

Their countries may be on opposite sides of the world, as well as traditionally ideologically opposed to each other, but they aren't as different from each other as they would like to believe.

Squirrel nuts over builder friend

2009-08-01T21:27:00.000+01:00

The best video I've seen in all summer.

New dress....

2009-08-01T21:23:00.001+01:00

Heartbreak and hangovers

2009-08-01T21:04:00.000+01:00

The past few weeks I've been drinking too much to avoid thinking about my ex, an age old method of getting over people.

I'm trying to turn over a new leaf by deleting his number from my phone and un-adding him as a "Friend" and "Other half" on social networking sites.

I've also applied to work for a newspaper and a magazine (who knows if I'll ever get emailed back), downloaded all of the Mercury Music Prize shortlist for this year and started working twice as much in work (but that wasn't really by choice).

I've also considered getting a drastic haircut, becoming a meatetarian again and blind dating, but these things probably won't help me in the long run.

Maybe this blog will distract me from my hangover and from him. Or maybe it won't.