Wednesday 31 March 2010

Welcome to Aberdeen

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Seriously, folks.  This absolutely must have been on the beach in the 'Deen.  The seagulls here are huge and scary.  I've heard that we have the largest seagull population, perhaps in the world-- in both numbers and in bird size.  So I just had to share this when I saw it.  Heh heh heh. 

Sunday 21 March 2010

Let's Dance, Cheryl!

She is on one of the most popular soaps, EastEnders.  I was totally blown away by this.  I laughed so dang hard.  Cool as ice, right to the finale.  Brilliant.  Truly.

If you want to see more of the acts, the BBC channel on YouTube has them.  Or you can just search there for 'Let's Dance Sport Relief'.  That's how I got them to share with you.  I hope you've enjoyed these... =D

Friday 19 March 2010

Let's Dance, Debra!

Actress and comedic impersonator... which shows.  She was so in character, she never even spoke as herself in any of the interviews.  Classic.  And straight to the finale. 

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Let's Dance, Sam and Mark!

These two are children's presenters on CBBC.  They were born in the 80s, and neither of them can remember when this song was out!  And yet, they are pretty convincing as Wham!  I was really shocked they didn't make the final.  Silly voters. 

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Betcha didn't know...

that fish 'n chips is healthy.  as is kool-aid.  and hanging out with liz.  i have photographic proof...

The box says a lot of things.  They are all obviously true things.  And Liz buys it... she drank the kool-aid, so now she's on board.  Fish 'n chips=healthy. 

See?  I told you so.  =D

Monday 15 March 2010

Let's Dance, Katy!

Katy Brand, comedienne.  And Beyonce double.  Obviously.  She, along with Rufus, were shoe-ins for the finale.  I only wish the short video intros that they do were on here as well... they are often as funny as the performance themselves! 

Sunday 14 March 2010

New Addition

Kenny came home from work one day a couple of weeks ago and said, 'We'll have a new addition to the family on Wednesday.' My first thought:

Dear Lord, please not another cat!
They always expect treats or fancy food whenever I get up and go into the kitchen.  Silly kitties... treats are for me!

Anyway.  It wasn't a new cat.  And thank goodness, because instead of one new addition we got two!  Can you tell what they are?  If you've been to my flat before, you probably can...
If you said 'recliner' and 'tv stand', you'd be right!  Except that it's more of a tv accessory stand, since our awesome flatscreen is now mounted on the wall and doesn't need a stand.  But either way, you'd be right if those are the things you spotted.

The recliner is very, very comfy.  I've tried it out quite a few times--for napping, for reading, for tv watching.  So far, it works for all of those.  And I love the tv stand, where each box has its own shelf.  Things don't overheat nearly so bad now.  And Kenny bought a faux leather box for me to put all my gaming stuff in, so it's not just out or needing to be packed away.   Yay! 

Now if only we had baseboards.... =D

Saturday 13 March 2010

Let's Dance, Rufus!

So you may or may not remember about this time last year when I posted about Comic Relief, and a couple of clips from the show where celebs performed their versions of famous dance routines.  If you want a refresher, that post is here.  This year, they brought back this awesome show, in aid of Sport Relief (which raises money for the same type of charities at home and abroad as Comic Relief).  Each week for three weeks, six acts perform-- and two go to the grand finale, which is this weekend.  So far, five of those in the finals I completely agree with... and one I think got a bum deal.  Because I think they are fun, I'm going to share the ones I really like.  Hopefully you'll get a laugh, even if you don't know the celebs in them.

This was the lead act of the first show, and it was a show-stopper.  Seriously, it's been hard to top it in the following three weeks.  Rufus Hound is a comedian, and apparently a great Cheryl Cole imitator.  Enjoy!

 

Friday 12 March 2010

R.B. Thistlethwaite's

Back before she moved to Nigeria, I finally scored an invite to RitaBekah's all-boy flat.  And for those of you who didn't get a chance to visit her there (which is pretty much everyone but me), I took photos.  =D

First, her bedroom: 
Now the kitchen, along with the microwave warning (because it just made me giggle)...
Now the refreshments... it was a chocolate feast!
And finally....
Proof positive that she only washes dishes at other people's houses.  ;)

Thursday 11 March 2010

Not a Laughing Matter

(I wrote this for something else, so please forgive the lack of caps.  I know some of you have heard this before from me, but I can't help it.  It's still an issue, and it's still close to my heart.)

i am not all that political.  i am glad to have the freedom to vote and have an opinion, but i don't get very caught up in it all, either locally, nationally or internationally.

i am, however, very opinionated about how people are treated.  especially when it is completely unfair.

i also know that a lot of people will think that this makes me political.  it doesn't.  i'm not anti-anyone-- i'm pro-everyone.  i just think that all people have the right to live and work and love, and to do so in a manner that is not in constant fear or under constant threat.

what made me so mad today was the stupid young undergrads in a class i'm taking notes for.  it's a class on the history of the middle east and all the conflicts there.  i actually am really glad to be in this class.  i have been to israel and the palestinian territories, twice.  i know people who live and work in various parts of the entire region.  i love the history, the culture, the food, the people-- arabs, jews, christians, muslims, all of them.  it is fascinating to me, and i would love to live there some day.  i also took classes in university from a rabbi-- both bible classes and classes on the holocaust.  i am not ignorant of what has been done to jewish people... but neither am i ignorant of what they have done to others.

today in this class, we were talking about the history of the conflict between israelis and palestinians, going back to the 1930s.  it has been a difficult situation for a long time, and neither side is blameless.  for the second half of the class, we watched the first half of a film called 'paradise now' about two young men from nablus, following their journey in becoming suicide bombers.  i don't know how it's going to end yet.

first off, the film is filmed in nablus.  having spent time in the west bank, and really wanting to go back, it actually made me a little homesick, which is funny because it's never been 'home' yet.  also, having spent time there with friends who have family living there, as well as having spent a summer term at hebrew university of jerusalem, i have experienced both sides-- and now i've studied the history of both sides.  this film, seeing these two young men struggle with very limited options, trying to decide what they can do, how they can make a difference for their family, their people, their land... it was heartbreaking.  at many points, i had tears streaming down my face.

and the kids behind me were giggling.  laughing.  ridiculing.  i was furious.  but i just had to sit there.

i want to be clear:  i do not support or approve of violence on either side, whether state sanctioned (israel) or revolutionary (many arabs).  i. do. not. think. violence. solves. anything. or. is. ever. the. answer.  EVER.

that being said, i do understand why many oppressed people around the globe feel that violence is their only option.  i have seen myself what life is like, and how intolerable it can be, when you are the oppressed and occupied people.  one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter.  israel itself used the very same tactics to claim their statehood-- and are every bit as violent and oppressive towards their arab neighbours as they suffered under the nazis.

how is that fair?  how is that right?  it's not. and it's no laughing matter.

i know that there are no easy solutions, and that violence begets violence, and everyone has claims, and all that.  but i get angry anyway.

Wednesday 10 March 2010

The Ermine City

Normally we are the Granite City, for obvious reason if you've ever been here or seen photos.  But this winter, I've thought of us largely as the Ermine City.  I got this from a poem I remember having to learn in elementary school--second grade, it seems to me.  I cannot for the life of me remember the poem or who it was by, but I remember that even though I didn't understand most of it, I thought it was beautiful.  One of the lines was something about fenceposts (or some other thing) dressed in ermine.  That's always stuck with me. 

And because I haven't gotten around to it yet, here are the last of my snowy winter photos.  There was one Friday when it just started coming down, rather unexpectedly.  I had to be heading into town to meet a friend to go see a film anyway, so I just went a little early to take advantage of the city centre in snow.  I had only been to uni and the Bridge of Don the other times it snowed.  I'm so glad I did! 
This is the window in our stairwell, and that white glow always makes me happy.  I can tell both how much snow there is and how bright the sun is by judging from this. 
It was a mess out.  Traffic on King and Union Streets were pretty much at a stand-still.  Made me very glad to be walking, even on the less-than-perfect pavements. 
The Arts Centre
The top of Marischal College
Queen Street Church
Castlegate
The clocks on top of the Town House
Where it's always winter, but never Christmas....
All in St. Nicholas Kirkyard. 

The snow started melting again pretty quickly, and big globs of it were dropping off the trees and soaking me.  But it was so gorgeous, and I was so lucky to get the chance to take these! 

We had such great snow this winter.  I don't even mind the cold when there is no wind and rain.  It was gorgeous, and I am thankful for it.  Really.  I'm not just saying that because it seems to be past now.  I really honestly did like it.  And I hope every winter is so gloriously snowy. 

Monday 1 March 2010

Sucker for 10s

We played so well.  And yet we lost.  It's heart-breaking, though nothing compared to a fortnight ago.  And now I have another fortnight to wait.  In the meantime, I thought I'd share something with you.

Sorry-- I'm talking about rugby again.  The 6 Nations.  In case you were confused.  

I have to confess, I can't but help play favourites.  I love all my Scotland boys, no doubt.  They all have a special, special place in my heart.

Even so, I can't help it.  I love a good fly-half.  I love to watch them kick and run and tackle... they can generally do it all.  And dang.  Just look at this!

 James Hook, of Wales, courtesy of the bbc.
Ronan O'Gara, of Ireland, courtesy of the bbc.
Today's Irish hero, Johnathan Sexton, courtesy of Sky Sports.
Jonny Wilkinson.  England.  Oh boy.  I know I'm not supposed to cheer for them, but dang.  From the RBS 6 Nations.
Chris Paterson, our most amazing kicker.  Sadly, he's out with an injury for the rest of the 6 Nations.  From the Daily Mail.
And Dan Parks, our very animated play-maker.  I love it when this guy is on the pitch.  Again from the Daily Mail.

And just to round things out, my boys: