Mel

pollymel — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 05:03:36 GMT

Oh, so like a bunch of people, there's still this LJ thing, huh?

I don't know... how do yous guys (I like to keep grammar real) use it now? Like, what goes here, twitter, facebook? I don't have tumblr because my plan to be a jobless, homeless mad catlady is for after I turn 70, and tumblr is totally what will take me there. That's my long term plan, I don't wanna get ahead of myself.

I'm home with a migraine and only came on this computer because I was bored of failing to nap and staring into space, but I think it might be time to get back to it. There appears to be a lull in leaf-blowers and whipper-snippers.

There's probably news. Probably. Mostly it all feels the same.

I was here all along

pollymel — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 07:52:24 GMT

So, yeah, stuff. I'm not dead. Again. I do keep thinking of things I should post and then not.

The main reason I'm posting now is because tomorrow morning Sin, Seraph and I are off on a bit of a road trip around Places In NSW on our way to Byron Bay for Bluesfest where we will meet with, well, other dudes. And there will be fun and frivolity and stuff. This might not seem like a reason to post, but I haven't packed yet, nor done a long list of other things I was going to do before I went away, and so I am posting here instead of packing, making mix-tape things or downloading books to read. Or cleaning. Or, well anything useful.

In other news. Um. I postponed the Masters for a bit because, well, because I kept getting sick and admitted I was having failure to cope and promptly stopped getting sick. Sometimes it's that simple. Unfortunately I'm going to be at the end of the program leave shortly and I'll have to decide what I want to do/be when I grow up again. I'm a bit all over the place on that one, but frankly I do kinda love the job I do (uh, not this week, but in general) so...

Anyway, I've been playing the Uke a bit, and am improving enough that sometimes it actually sounds like music. Sometimes. Uke dates with [Bad username: blamebrampton.livejournal.com] have helped!

I've been doing lindy hop-ish classes again, this time with some determination. I would like to do solo historical jazz classes too, but I am waiting until after this trip to do so. It looks like fabulous, fabulous dorky fun. I kinda had a weird moment where I went looking for info on - well, you guys know me so it went like this. First I was looking on stuff about learning to lead and follow if I could do both, one, whatever and stuff, then I went all WOW DUDE about the gender-role/politics/philosophy stuff around, and sexuality stuff, and then I fell into a deep deep well of stuff. It was awesome. In a sometimes horrifying way. I am really a bit... boggled by a lot of gender-role stuff, and some of this is so - I don't even have the word, inflexible? hide-bound? ugly? Obviously some of it isn't, there is some very interesting conversations but anyway. Then I found a few awesome blogs/tumblr/stuff from amazing people and fell deeper and there was one by this woman who had an academic background in feminist cultural/media studies, and she was in Australia, and she teaches and she's geek (reading Hawkeye) and and ... eventually I figured out she is one of the teachers of my beginners' class and dude I have to stop accidentally becoming a creepy stalker. So yeah.

Anyway, also reading comics a bit again. Er, finally read Winter Soldier right before the movie, which was nice 'cause I got some of the references since I was never much of a Cap/Avengers reader.

I've also been thinking about housing design and the tiny houses movement and space and colour and how people use these. And I'd like to get a cat. Playing a lot of phone/tablet games. But otherwise, mostly not dead.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slashers

pollymel — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 09:47:26 GMT

Um, is anyone interested in going to Opera in the Domain after Sydney slashers on Saturday? I was thinking about bringing some picnic stuff and parking at the domain.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Like a bowl full of jelly

pollymel — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 12:08:59 GMT

So I thought, haven't posted in months, what would be a good way of easing back into it? Well, I don't know about you, but discussing what people refer to as rape culture and ruining Christmas seems like a dandy way to do this. And you know how I don't cut-tag? Well, I'm cut-tagging this one. Because warnings:

1) I will be discussing stuff about social perceptions of rape/rape victims/rapists and this may be upsetting for some people.

2) I have been reliably informed that this theory has ruined Christmas for a number of people. It's a thing, you may not want to read if you don't want that.

So, I was thinking...

Over the last few years I've been reading more about cultural expectations and such, particularly in terms of the social constructs about women. I probably have about sixteen different rants about them, and several have been in this journal, I'm also pretty sure that some of my friends mention them to me in order to see my hand gestures, facial expressions and hair tugging when I get going on a rant. There are a couple in particular I wanted to put out there.

In particular I've become aware of some of the discussion about rape in the culture I'm part of. I don't know that this is the place to talk about rape jokes or the structures of insults that use rape mentions to punish, threaten or reinforce the status of individuals. There's a lot of that stuff around.

What I wanted to do was to tell you all about the brilliant solution I came up with to one of the confusing dichotomies that I keep running up against.

The two assumptions that have messed with my head:

1) Women are in control and can prevent rape by wearing the right things, controlling her emotions, not having sex, not enjoying sex, not being in the wrong place (whatever that place is), not drinking too much, not drinking at all, not having any mind altering circumstances (drugs, sleep, confusion), not flirting, not being rude, not controlling what and how they do things at all times.

2) All men are not rapists and as with above women must be able to tell from the first 'Hello' whether or not a man is likely to assault her, because if she treats a non-rapist in an impolite manner she is rude (insert here "Bitch/lesbian/frigid") or if she doesn't immediately punch a rapist in the face, she didn't fight hard enough....

Now I'm not saying that this is how any of you, my dear friends, thinks, but there is an awful lot of narrative pressure toward those points.

I have a solution.

There is in fact one being who is the uber-rapist. He knows when you have flirted too much, he knows when you are wearing the sexy knickers, he knows when you take that back alley to get home after a party. He knows when you aren't a virgin, he knows when you're a slut, he knows when you are high or drunk, so be good for goodness sake.

It's not men who think that assault is okay, there is just Rapey Santa.

Women should be careful about what they do, because it's Rapey Santa's job to see who's naughty and who's nice, and if you don't get on the list you won't get Rapey Santa's attention. This theory is great because it takes the pressure off women who no longer have to worry about some dickhead who figures that he is entitled to sex because he wants it, because he was dating you anyway, because you caught his attention, because you are not a separate person with a mind of your own. No! All a woman has to do is follow the rules not to be on the naughty list, and it's made perfectly clear what those rules were on the Being a Woman Memo girls get at birth*. If you don't follow the rules obviously you totally deserve it. We all know the song.

You better watch out,
you better not cry,
you better not pout,
I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is coming to town...

Sorry if I ruined Christmas. Ho Ho Ho.

* You didn't get one? Well if you don't care enough to keep all the important memos it's no wonder you're not on the nice list.

I think I just creeped myself out.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Like a bowl full of jelly

pollymel — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 10:46:06 GMT

As always, stuff and things.

pollymel — Sun, 26 May 2013 06:12:35 GMT

so about Star Trek. There are a number of things, but you know what? The big thing is what is with the dresses/short skirts? They are so very impractical. Why? Also, I would be less annoyed if some of the women wore pants, like it was a choice. Also if some of the men wore the dress. I'd like to think that in the future men also have knees.

In other news, I've don't think I've said this here but a while ago I got a program with the full 14 1/2 hours of Wagner's Ring Cycle. I have a terrible attention span, so I've been listening to it while I play computer games/read the internet. It's very old news, but music totally affects the mood. I gotta tell you, scanning planets (good grief it never ends ME2) is never so exciting as when you have Valkyries going on. Also just figured out why I was dying so much. I never play on hardcore.

I recently got and started a job as a fulltime genetic counsellor, which is permanent, so I can give stagnation a go. I also started a Masters, which is probably going to be a very slow process since I'm also getting pressure to undergo the several year certification process. In the middle-beginning of an assignment on the economic effects of breastfeeding!

I am right at this moment attempting finger waves for the first time, which is... entertaining, and about to go out to see the Vivid light festival and have dinner. Watched Stardust last night, looking forward to watching Ever After again too! I love it when the woman rescues herself.

Aaand, I'd better go get rid of these hair clips and get at least a little pretty. See yas round.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Good grief

pollymel — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:45:57 GMT

So I realised I haven't checked LJ in a while. My friendslist stopped working at about 3rd of Feb, and I was still seeing new things. If I missed something important, I'm sorry, I have no idea what happened.

Erilyn, wow, sorry about missing the birthday thing, hope it went well. Obviously I need to pay more attention.

Otherwise all is good, same old same old. Vacillating between doing nothing at all and doing all the things, so still haven't figured out the being an adult thing. Am currently trying to rewatch and then finish watching Psych. Also watching Elementary, finished watching Lewis, and watching Phryne Fisher Murder Mysteries- which is making me want to watch the Murdoch Mysteries because y'know, awesome.

I think I've mostly finished reading the Mary Balogh back catalogue and rereading a bunch of Rachel Gibson books - since getting my Kindle at christmas I have read SO MUCH STUFF. A lot of rereading, see the entire Jennifer Crusie back catalogue - but also a bunch of recs from Eloisa James's review site.

I've also been playing Mass Effect 2 through with my arsehole character which is surprisingly difficult. I love my people so much that being mean is HARD.

Also had 2 ukulele classes and have the last one this Tuesday. I bought a tuner so hopefully Sin has one less on her long list of reason to kill me. I can now play about 8 chords, and it even sounds a bit like music sometimes. My strumming is still quite ... erratic.

I became an auntie again, my nephew is adorable, probably redheaded and GINORMOUS. I also became auntie to a kitten who is adorable and fluffy and ginormous, so there seems to be a theme on that front.

I managed to get to a couple of trivias recently, which was lots of fun, and as soon as I get over my period of narcolepsy I'm sure it'll be even more fun.

Bernie and I are going walking on Sundays again. I was feeling wussy today, but then realised we did almost 9km and finished as fast as we started, so y'know, yay us. Even if that wasn't really fast.;)

And I'm starting back at uni in a double masters Public Health/Health Management in the next couple of weeks, and Sin has been warned about impending crazy. All the rest of you should be warned too! Working fulltime and studying (distance at least to start) is a road that leads to mood swings, violent outbursts and existential crises. Awesome.

Um! And I'm planning to cut sugar out of my diet as an experiment over the next few weeks. Also supposed to make people cranky. Possibly bad timing. Ehn, bugger it.

And I'm up to The Fifth Elephant on my data entry-audio book Terry Pratchett run. It's not read by Nigel Planer or Tony Robinson, unlike the other's I've listened to, but I'm enjoying it anyway.

Still doing 2 0.5FTE jobs, still driving lots, blah blah.

Oh! Going to see ... well all sorts of people, The Cat Empire, Something For Kate, Mama Kin, Seth Lakeman, Adam Hills, Margaret Cho, and some jazz thing next weekend if I can sort myself out before then and get tickets.

Yeah, so things.

If I haven't been in contact it's not because I don't love you, it's because I have the attention span of a thing with very little attention span who is also really bad at describing things. If you have Skype, give me a heads up because I'd love to chat, if you're in Australia and I have your number, sucks to be you because I'm still going to call you when I'm bored on my way home from work.

Uh. So how're you doing?

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Talkin' 'bout the weather

pollymel — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:53:35 GMT

Today it got to 45.9C (114.6F) where I work. I got into my car at 6pm and the seat adjuster burnt the back of my legs. As did the centre console. And at that time my car was sitting in the shade of the building, so I could touch my steering wheel.

Then, the cool change came by. The best example of the change from bom (Bureau of Meterology) was for Sydney:

7:30 34.3C (93.7F)
7:34 31.6C (88.88F)
7:36 27.2C (80.96F)
then 8:00 24.6C (76.28F)

It was like something slapped the building, all the open doors slammed, and the blinds slapped against the windows.

From a top of 45.5C (113.9F) to 23C (73.4) now. What is that crap?

I just looked somewhere else and it reckoned it got up to 46.5C (115.7F)

This is nuts.

But it is cooler, which is nice. :)

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Festival and question (For people in Sydney)

pollymel — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:22:48 GMT

Hi!

So, I recently found out about the Roaring 20s and all that jazz festival. I was thinking about going, and at least trying for the world record with them (people in costume doing charleston for 5 minutes) for the heck of it. :) Then maybe high tea at one of the numerous places that does it, and/or visit the botanic gardens or see some of the betty boop movie marathon.

Sadly the Ukulele festival is the next weekend, when I'm going to be be in Brisbane meeting my new nephew.

Anyway, anyone else interested? You don't have to dance - although the routine does seem pretty simple - but how about a dress up and a high tea in the mountains instead of a Sydney Slashers Who? Or y'know... you don't have to.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slashers Who!

pollymel — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:01:37 GMT

Hi! So first get together for 2013, this Saturday, Sanctuary Hotel, 3pm. Anyone interested?

Please signal boost if you can!

Makes me sad

pollymel — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 11:31:12 GMT

Somewhere between failing to be able to make people listen to my recording of the shouty bird at the Sydney Slashers Who this afternoon and getting home tonight I lost my phone. It's going straight to voicemail which makes me think that it's been de-simmed already. Dammit.

This is the second time this has happened to me (although the last time was over 4 years ago), and I think I used up all my good karma on losing things when I was a teenager who left her wallet on trains. I just don't understand the stealer-ers. Surely my ancient Samsung Galaxy 1 isn't really worth anything much.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slashers Who!

pollymel — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:52:29 GMT

Hey, it's that time again. Saturday, Sanctuary Hotel, 3pm till. Same old, same old! See you there!

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Public Service Announcements and Other Things

pollymel — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:38:43 GMT

So, I have a ticket to the sydney symphony for Wednesday night and no one wants to come with me. I don't suppose there is anyone out there who wants to help me not waste a ticket to the opera house and people playing Russian Masters? PLEASE EMAIL/TXT/MSG/CALL ME.

I bought myself tickets to the Harry James Angus Band's outdoor show tomorrow which I am only mildly less excited by now that it won't stop raining. I'm going to take picnic things (that's a cover for taking bread, cheese, wine and that awesome smoked trout stuff that I can get at the markets) and going to have and AWESOME if wet time. I do hope it won't be raining. Hope hope hope.

I have gone to all the appointments today, part of which lead to me discovering that I can go from horizontal and napping without pants to sitting in my dentist's office in under 25 minutes. Not bad, considering it involved both Parramatta rd and Glebe Point Rd. Worst parking ever, however.

I have just finished Mass Effect 3, which I enjoyed INSANE amounts. It is probably Lennie's fault that I am now writing/trying to write a fic about it. She is a tricksy devil. I'm trying to decide what to play next, either another run through of that with my arsehole character or one of the other games in my pile of shame.

I have several posts I want to write/post but I feel totally overwhelmed by my past history of not posting, so I'm going to keep thinking about them until I drive myself nuts and either don't post or post them in a flurry of rage and frustration. Because that's always a good thing.

Oh, and I applied for another uni course next year. I think it's because insanity runs in my family.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slasher who forget things.

pollymel — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:20:40 GMT

I'm sure you guys don't but this Sydney Slasher did. Tomorrow is that time! I know a bunch of people are away, but if you're free and can make it, Sanctuary Hotel 3pm, dinner starts at 5 and cheap cocktails at 6. I have designs on a cocktail, myself. Again signal boosts would be appreciated!

Ciao!

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

pollymel — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 13:17:35 GMT

Hi! Am drunk and bored... Is 11 too late for a walk? ... And want to talk to people. My skype is Mellypol. Or here. Seriously, keep me awake long enough to finish my wine.

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Just so you know,

pollymel — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:25:18 GMT

attempting to tune my ukulele by ear totally gives me the shits. If I ever thought I had any sense of pitch I was wrong. So very wrong.

Petunia, darling, I can't take you out in public if you are horribly out of tune. How many different Cs can there be?

ETA: ARGH. I give up. Sound wonky. See if I care.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Uh, invite

pollymel — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 10:26:26 GMT

Hey, just thought I'd put this out there. Sin and I are planning to watch Stick It and possibly Save The Last Dance tomorrow night, and if anyone wants to come over, that's cool. If anyone does want to come, uh, I might even not wear pajamas. ;) Popcorn should be amply provided and uh, I have lots of nice teas. How can you not take up an opportunity like that?

PS: Not dead, just waving.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slashers

pollymel — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:42:33 GMT

So, you thought I'd forgotten, hadn't you? You thought, the first saturday of September is a Saturday, Mel will not remember that Sydney Slashers is on.

Well you were all wrong. I remembered! So I will remember that I have to be at the Sanctuary Hotel at 3 (or after) for wine, women and schnitzel on Saturday.

If you are thinking about coming, you could also think about posting to your journals to signal boost.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Dance movies!

pollymel — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:32:52 GMT

We've been talking about it for a bit, but the next Step Up movie is out. A few people have sounded interested in the past, but I don't know who that was anymore! It's a terrible thing being a functional amnesiac. We're looking at Sunday, maybe 2-3ish? Sin was saying something about cheap 3d tickets.

Anyone interested?

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slashers Who!

pollymel — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:18:48 GMT

It's just about that time again! This Saturday, be there or be sober and un-schnitzelled.

3pm, Sanctuary Hotel, gossip will be had, and stuff.

Oh good grief, it's been a long day and it's totally bedtime, g'night.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slasher who!

pollymel — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:53:15 GMT

It's that time again, this Saturday, 3pm till we choose, Sanctuary Hotel!

Cocktails, gossip and schnitzel all round!

Please pass the word on, post in your journal, tweet, text, smoke signals or semiphore.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Sydney Slashers Who ... are not on the ball.

pollymel — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:28:44 GMT

Or at least this one isn't. If you didn't know, it's on again this Saturday! All the gossip, wine and schnitzel you can consume. Sanctuary Hotel, 3 pm tomorrow.

I am thinking about going to Vivid afterwards, maybe.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

Things Heard In Our Place

pollymel — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:29:10 GMT

Me (phoning home): Dude, I need to know so I can make it home without giving up. Tonight is Lewis forever, right?
Sin: Uh, well it could be the Muppets. I bought it today.
Me: ... There is not enough Gonzo in that movie for me to give up All The Lewis.

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.

In other Saturday News!

pollymel — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:59:26 GMT

I'm thinking about going to the Archibald thingo at the art gallery, anyone else interested? Apparently free entry for people who have an ANZ bank account. I can live with that...

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Sydney Slashers Who!

pollymel — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:57:35 GMT

Hey y'all! So April was, well, April. However! This Saturday is the Saturday of Doom, to certain values of Doom which include talking, cocktails and chicken schnitzel.

Same old, same old, 3 pm Sanctuary Hotel, bring a friend or a funny hat, it's pretty flexible.

I'm in. Sin's in Hawaii, so she won't be coming, how about the rest of you?

This entry was also posted at other journal. Figured I'd let you know. Comment where you want, dudes.