Five Fish And A Ukelele
Aug. 17th, 2010 03:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
laliandraToday I found out that my contract at my horrid temp job has ended. Hopefully this means that the universe is going to reward me with work that doesn't involve feeling my IQ drop by the minute, and dealing with Dicks.
Anyway, I have fabulous adventures to relate to you!
On Friday I headed off to celebrate the birthday of the excellent![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
playwithfyr , aka Pyro but mostly aka Play. It was a Fish Birthday Meetup, with Isi and Bec and Lisa, oh my, all there too.
Me: *arrives*
altogetherisi : Thank god you're here. They don't like Lady Gaga!
r_hayburn : Would you like a glow in the dark gecko?
lisaheron : Why is the ukelele being like this?
playwithfyr : It's okay, Lal is here now to be the Responsible Adult.
Everyone: *looks doubtfully at Lal*
Me: I also go by "Corrupting Influence"?
We had barbecue food indoors, because the summer conspired against us. During the meal we talked about Many Things, such as pirates and demons and the Guardian of the Dead and booklust and memes. There was also debate on what constitutes shipping and what is some separate thing where you don't need anyone has to like each other or be happy, you just want them to have really, really hot makeouts. (I do not call this shipping)
Isi and I also told everyone about our RPS conversations, aka The Greatest Conversation Ever Had In A Starbucks Before An Adam Lambert Concert.
Isi: It's like Lal and I were saying, once you've slashed the President of the United States, there's no going back.
Me: Don't forget our metaphor! RPS is like a slippery slope...
Isi: But a slope into a really fun place. More like a slide...
Me and Isi: Like a ball-pit!
It's the truth, people.
Then we went out to the campfire and toasted marshmallows and made s'mores. I would say that it was the sugar high that made us go slightly crazy, but that would be a lie. A terrible lie.
People were supposed to be teaching me how to play the ukelele but we kept getting sidetracked by, well, everything. We did a LOT of singing. It turns out that you can sing almost any song in the world to 4 chords played on the ukelele. You haven't lived until you've heard Take On Me, Don't Stop Believing, No Happy Ending and Let It Be all sung together.
The plan had been to go inside and watch the first episode of Firefly (because there were people present there who hadn't seen it!) but the plan ended up devolving into Lal and Isi quote the first scene then fall asleep. This was after some discussion about how Bec might be a werecatapillar.
The next day Lisa thoughtfully woke Bec by jumping on her and then we had cookies for breakfast. That pretty much set the tone for the day. We were meant to be going on a picnic, but it was raining. A lot. But we were determined, so we packed the car full of food and set off.
Lisa: We are five fish and a ukelele. Sounds like a band!
Isi: Or a bad euphemism.
Play: The Bad Euphemisms would be a great name also.
Isi: In ~your~ endo...
Me: I'd like to double ~your~ entendre.
Bec: Now we have two album titles.
Then we sat in the in car, balanced food on every available surface and had a very fine picnic. We were occasionally beset by spies, and then the End Of the World (or at least the part where the sky turned into water and then fell on us) happened. But we sang the Zombie Song and braved it out.
Sadly then I had to leave. But, it was because it was Nat's birthday! We went to a huge family barbecue at his brother's girlfriend's father's house, and it was great! I made pistachio cupcakes for Nat, by the way, and it took a really, really long time. Turns out finely chopping 100g of pistachios without a blender will <i>break your spirit</i>. They are delicious, though!
I think the evening can best be summed up by this conversation, which I am naming A Treatise on the Perils of Drinking
Girl I have just met: Hey I like your necklace. It very much compliments your breasts.
Dude I have just Met: Even as a gay man, I can appreciate that those are very good breasts.
Me: Er, thank you?
DIHJM: I also like your top!
Me: Thank you! I like your top too!
DIHJM: You should come into this room and swap tops with me!
Me: OK!
So that was fun!
As for the rest of my life.
It looks like this. ALL THE TIME.
/>
ETA; YOU GUYS, WHY IS MY .GIF NOT GIFFING?
Anyway, I have fabulous adventures to relate to you!
On Friday I headed off to celebrate the birthday of the excellent
playwithfyr , aka Pyro but mostly aka Play. It was a Fish Birthday Meetup, with Isi and Bec and Lisa, oh my, all there too.Me: *arrives*
altogetherisi : Thank god you're here. They don't like Lady Gaga!r_hayburn : Would you like a glow in the dark gecko?lisaheron : Why is the ukelele being like this? playwithfyr : It's okay, Lal is here now to be the Responsible Adult.Everyone: *looks doubtfully at Lal*
Me: I also go by "Corrupting Influence"?
We had barbecue food indoors, because the summer conspired against us. During the meal we talked about Many Things, such as pirates and demons and the Guardian of the Dead and booklust and memes. There was also debate on what constitutes shipping and what is some separate thing where you don't need anyone has to like each other or be happy, you just want them to have really, really hot makeouts. (I do not call this shipping)
Isi and I also told everyone about our RPS conversations, aka The Greatest Conversation Ever Had In A Starbucks Before An Adam Lambert Concert.
Isi: It's like Lal and I were saying, once you've slashed the President of the United States, there's no going back.
Me: Don't forget our metaphor! RPS is like a slippery slope...
Isi: But a slope into a really fun place. More like a slide...
Me and Isi: Like a ball-pit!
It's the truth, people.
Then we went out to the campfire and toasted marshmallows and made s'mores. I would say that it was the sugar high that made us go slightly crazy, but that would be a lie. A terrible lie.
People were supposed to be teaching me how to play the ukelele but we kept getting sidetracked by, well, everything. We did a LOT of singing. It turns out that you can sing almost any song in the world to 4 chords played on the ukelele. You haven't lived until you've heard Take On Me, Don't Stop Believing, No Happy Ending and Let It Be all sung together.
The plan had been to go inside and watch the first episode of Firefly (because there were people present there who hadn't seen it!) but the plan ended up devolving into Lal and Isi quote the first scene then fall asleep. This was after some discussion about how Bec might be a werecatapillar.
The next day Lisa thoughtfully woke Bec by jumping on her and then we had cookies for breakfast. That pretty much set the tone for the day. We were meant to be going on a picnic, but it was raining. A lot. But we were determined, so we packed the car full of food and set off.
Lisa: We are five fish and a ukelele. Sounds like a band!
Isi: Or a bad euphemism.
Play: The Bad Euphemisms would be a great name also.
Isi: In ~your~ endo...
Me: I'd like to double ~your~ entendre.
Bec: Now we have two album titles.
Then we sat in the in car, balanced food on every available surface and had a very fine picnic. We were occasionally beset by spies, and then the End Of the World (or at least the part where the sky turned into water and then fell on us) happened. But we sang the Zombie Song and braved it out.
Sadly then I had to leave. But, it was because it was Nat's birthday! We went to a huge family barbecue at his brother's girlfriend's father's house, and it was great! I made pistachio cupcakes for Nat, by the way, and it took a really, really long time. Turns out finely chopping 100g of pistachios without a blender will <i>break your spirit</i>. They are delicious, though!
I think the evening can best be summed up by this conversation, which I am naming A Treatise on the Perils of Drinking
Girl I have just met: Hey I like your necklace. It very much compliments your breasts.
Dude I have just Met: Even as a gay man, I can appreciate that those are very good breasts.
Me: Er, thank you?
DIHJM: I also like your top!
Me: Thank you! I like your top too!
DIHJM: You should come into this room and swap tops with me!
Me: OK!
So that was fun!
As for the rest of my life.
It looks like this. ALL THE TIME.
/>ETA; YOU GUYS, WHY IS MY .GIF NOT GIFFING?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 02:58 pm (UTC)Also!!! Lal!!!! Yes, slashing the president qualifies you as slash crazy. Welcome. So OMG have you read Rave's RPS fic about Chris Pine and Zach Quinto? Have we already discussed this piece of brilliance? OMG pls read eeeet! DON'T be stopped because (in whiney voice) "I'm not into Star Trek" or some other stupid excuse. NEITHER AM I AND IT IS SO GOOD!!!! You KNOW she owns boy dialogue. Now add L.A. jokes and sex to SBP and you have this new fic. OMG READ ITTT!!! It's like that ghost story bandslash thing you made your flist read...but...WRITTEN BY RAVE!!!! COME ON!!!!
http://dorkorific.livejournal.com/77392.html
And here is a post where she discusses The State of the Shoebox Union:
http://dorkorific.livejournal.com/74708.html
OK. That is all. For now.
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Date: 2010-08-17 08:13 pm (UTC)Well, the whole "slashing the President" thing was totally not my fault and mostly the fault of a really great series of college AU fics... It was not something that just, you know, happened.
OMG I HAVE I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT BUT I ADORE THAT FIC AND EVERYTHING THAT IT CHOOSES TO BE.
Aaaaah, love it. I still miss Shoebox and wish that it were finished, but I totally get the whole time and muse-abandonment thing...
Incidentally, I actually really love Star Trek.
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Date: 2010-08-17 08:44 pm (UTC)OMG I LOVE IT FOREVER TOO AND IN A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE I WOULD HAVE CALLED MYSELF APASSAGETHATSINGS4LIFE OR SOMETHING. maybe I should call myself iadorerave. or wittyboydialougueftw? hmm. This could go on and on. and on.
Oh, I liked ST reboot, too. So fun. I haven't found the fic to be that awe inspiring. Not that I've really tried hard. BUT THAT CHRIS/ZACH FIC. I will have its babies. Wait! I think I am done having babies. unless that's a deal breaker for someone. i would reconsider. I WOULD TOTES RECONSIDER IN A DEALBREAKER SITUATION WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.
OH! you know who I want to marry and who I'd have more babies for?
This:
http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/occasions/dinner-parties/come-dine-with-me/series-6/fillet-of-beef-marinated-in-soy-and-garlic-with-greek-potatoes-recipe_p_1.html
more pix? sure. Here you go. Click for the lovely.
http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=Julia%20Bradbury&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1143&bih=627
Anners
ps what WHAT is going on with me today? I write SUPAH DEPRESSING FIC in the worst of all morose moods yesterday like nothing will ever be right in my awful little life again and today? UNSTOPPABLE CHEER!!! wtf? idek.
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Date: 2010-08-17 09:03 pm (UTC)Me and my friend spent about an hour on Skype talking about it, seriously. SO AMAZING. God, the whole passage about what athors they would sleep with? Makes me so happy.
Do you want recs? Actual reboot fic or RPF? Because there are some pretty delightful fics out there.
I WOULD MARRY THAT FIC IN A HEARTBEAT.
Julia Bradbury! She is super awesome!
It is a lovely thing that you are happy, maybe writing miserable fic helped? It helps me to write, I know that. ILU in any mood <3
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Date: 2010-08-17 09:18 pm (UTC)Rave (She'd hold me accountable for being interesting. although she'd totes be the selfish ADORE ME!female and maybe that'd be fine with me)
Jeanette Winterson, obviously. No need to elaborate if you've read anything by her. Nope. no need.
Barbara Kingsolver (did you read animal vegetable miracle? this is a woman who appreciates sensuality of nature and the CRITICAL importance of season and delayed gratification. Yes. Could be a bit hairy or ungroomed. But maybe I like that in my eco sensitive fuck, okay?)
Maybe Dorothy Parker?? Someone who could top a top.
um, David sedaris for the wit?? John Irving for the sensitive character understanding?? I KNOW!!! None of these people have anything in common. idk!!!
Your turn!! Oh, should this be a post? This should be a post, lal.
But yeah, Julia. I do hear she is gay.
Happy again for a moment in writing you! I just wrote Pir8 and totally fell apart. wot? :/
no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 04:39 pm (UTC)http://archiveofourown.org/works/64506/chapters/85150
Fic of my frickin' heart, I tell you. I mean, after Rave's. Loveit! It has a silly title but it makes my heart happy and the banter is incredible and the amazing dynamics and the whole growing up and old together thing. Also, MARK TWAIN JOKES.
Aaah, the Gregorian chant is made of so much win, good god. Also the part where he finally reads him the passage and it is perfect and the best declaration of love ever. EVER.
Oh I am so bad at this gaaame. Although, Shakespeare, come on. Zac was so right about him, seriously.
I will get back to you!
I am always delighted to hear from you, darling.
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Date: 2010-08-20 09:12 pm (UTC)Ok, thanks for the link. But I am in the middle of part two in the unholyverse and ZOMG. I have many thoughts, both thinky and non, about that fic and you must hear them. That will have to be another post. my new otp is like eyeliner/ghost story bandslash???
Some other time. I have to go. More later. next week? Camping in two hours with the kids and Sam.
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:40 pm (UTC)*fails forever*
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Date: 2010-08-18 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 03:03 pm (UTC)Five fish and an ukelele sounds not only like a band name, but like a 50s early doo-wop band name, if you ask me. I want to enlist!
Congratulations on loosing the bad job, then! You know, I've been researching UK design jobs lately... Hmph, hmph. I want to live somewhere closer to tea party picnics with fangirls, that's all. And for desperate "artist" I got "sandwich artist". Why yes, I am sandwich artist. Or even master. :D
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Date: 2010-08-17 08:21 pm (UTC)It really does! You can join! You have to learn at least one on the ukelele. I can teach you C. I can do C.
Woo! Ohmigosh, you should definitely come into England and have tea party picnics with us :D. That would be delightful!
You are Queen of Sandwich <3
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Date: 2010-08-17 08:31 pm (UTC)Oooh, that's fantastic! I even think my stepfather has an old ukulele, I could borrow it, and with two Cs we can rule the world. :D
I wanna. Did I tell you that my doctor bill kinda ruined my journeying plans for that autumn? Yeah:( Unless I find somewhere really cheap to stay (there are hostels in UK, are there) and wait till October so I could buffer it all with next paycheck. Or, you know, research more jobs. All right, not angsting anymore.
I will make you a wonderful sandwich some day. Yes. &hearts :D
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Date: 2010-08-17 09:08 pm (UTC)You did say, yes, which is sad. But we shall think of it as a postponement. There are cheap hostels, sure, we have those. Maybe you could make it a work research trip?
Yes. Yes!
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Date: 2010-08-17 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 10:48 pm (UTC)Yes, to all this. ^^
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Date: 2010-08-17 03:23 pm (UTC)This is the best description of RPS that I have EVER HEARD EVER.
There are... a lot of balls involved in RPS. \o/
Your weekend sounds like it was amazing. You remain the most hilarious post-writer I know.
So, did the Gay-Man-That-You-Had-Just-Met's top ALSO complement your breasts? You can't just leave us hanging. :P
&hearts&hearts&hearts
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Date: 2010-08-17 08:25 pm (UTC)HEH, BALLS. I had not thought of that.
See, it was a good weekend, I just had to complain to you first. Sorry about that, but it was nice to vent... <3. Also, pshaw, I work with what I have.
:D, actually we both agreed that my top suited both of us best. But I kept it. Woe betide any man who gets between me and my clothing.
Oh! And then Nat was like, why did that man just say, "Well Done on the girlfriend, there" and I was like, he saw me topless.
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Date: 2010-08-17 03:35 pm (UTC)And I have never been asked to swap tops by a gay man. DUDE, that's totally something I want to experience! :D
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Date: 2010-08-17 08:28 pm (UTC)This is the recipe I used http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/470633/pistachio-cupcakes
It turned out really well. I hope you have a blender!
It was certainly an experience :D
no subject
Date: 2010-08-18 02:32 pm (UTC)We have a blender! I do rather like chopping things though, but I think that in the process of chopping that amount of pistachios into tiny bits, my fingers will inevitably get chopped at some point too.
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Date: 2010-08-17 03:43 pm (UTC)I have to say, I am still not convinced as to the non-creepiness of RPS. It just kind of weirds me out, I'm sorry, and the friends I have told about it rather agree. However, I did not tell them that there is slash fic in existence starring our president... mostly because I think their brains would explode. I just-- this is a thing which-- I don't even--
... yeah.
(HE'S THE PRESIDENT, FOR GOD'S SAKE. I mean, yes, he's very handsome and charismatic, but... THE PRESIDENT. Would you slash your prime minister? I mean, with good conscience on your side?)
Your life continues to amuse me endlessly. How do these things happen to you? They're all very hilarious.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 08:44 pm (UTC)Well,
It's more that I read lots of fic ABOUT the President and it was awesome. So... I am not a tin-hatter, I don't actually think these people are doing the things in fic. IDK, sometimes I feel like a horrible creeper, but mostly I think that fiction is fiction, you know? I would not want not to have read so much of the amazing stories that I have, like
Also, with good conscience doesn't really come into it! But, hilariously, we were talking about that very situation, because basically all the newspapers were doing JUST THAT and one of my friends is in a fandom that does, so... I don't, because I find him hateful. Because, I think RPF goes along with a sense of loving a character?
I have no idea. I am a weirdness magnet or something :D
no subject
Date: 2010-08-18 09:24 am (UTC)Like, I understand the CONCEPT of RPS, and why people would be into it... but to me it's just weird, because treating real people as characters just seems odd to me. I mean, I know we already tend to do that all the time - we define people, we give them identities, etc - but it seems too intentional of a simplification of real people. I think it's an interesting genre (?) conceptually, at least in the questions it raises about real people vs. people's ideas of real people vs. fictional characters, but I just feel like I am seriously invading on someone's life when I read it. EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT THEIR ACTUAL LIFE.
But don't worry - of course we can still be friends. (After all, I did read your RPS fics... and adored them.)
...really? Lord. It's actually kind of interesting for me, having an attractive/likeable president for the first time in my personal life. Like, I feel this weird sense of national pride because of it. Or maybe it just feels weird because having any national pride as a result of our president has been essentially impossible for half of my entire life so far.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-18 10:52 pm (UTC)So a scary steep slide into a ball pit is actually a really accurate metaphor. Also, because its easy to get stuck in ball pits, and never want to leave :P
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Date: 2010-08-19 04:47 am (UTC)I did enjoy Lal's fics, though, so... obviously I will read it if it's my friends writing it. It's just that... Lal is my only friend who writes fic, RPS or otherwise, so it's not like I'm going through much of it.
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Date: 2010-08-19 03:32 pm (UTC)Well, I never used to. I also sometimes feel creepy. Like, I don't really understand RPF about things that are really real? If you see what I mean? About real couples or whatever, that tends to make me feel weird. Sigh. This is clearly me drawing lines in the sand in my head but... Sorry, I doubt you wanted to get drawn into this debate!
Anyway, :D, I am glad that you liked them. Even though I hardly count those as RPF anymore.
We are jealous, let me tell you! Our Prime Minister is such a poshboy private school conservative. The Deputy (the guy he has to share power with) is pretty cool though. He speaks many languages! I like that in a person :D
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 04:46 pm (UTC)DOOOOO IIIIIIIT. Or just write anything, period. I suggest that.
Hey, it's all good. I'm sure one day I'll probably cross over into RPS and then I'll look back and go, What was all the fuss about?, but... for now I'll just stick with fictional characters.
Well, you might get on with my sister then - she speaks fluent German and Spanish, as well as some basic French. As you might imagine, this makes me feel a bit unimpressive with my mediocre Italian and patchy Japanese.
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:45 pm (UTC)I am! Now we have until November to think of a plot. At the moment all I have is "I just want to write them all sitting round chatting and mocking each other" which is what every fic of mine would look like if I had my way...
That is pretty cool, nonetheless :D
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Date: 2010-08-18 04:36 am (UTC)But that's because my prime minister is Stephen Harper, so.
I think I can be forgiven there.
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Date: 2010-08-17 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 08:45 pm (UTC)She had to wake her up somehow...
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Date: 2010-08-17 09:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 07:54 pm (UTC)But it is, only when you click it. Neat, no flist slowing, and still works when I want it to! :)
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Date: 2010-08-17 08:47 pm (UTC)Oh, his little flailing legses *watches endlessly*
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:46 pm (UTC)Thank you so, so much! It's just GORGEOUS
*raises a tea-cup to you*
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:50 pm (UTC)*raises tea-cup*
(heh, it is a month late, but I really truly couldn't draw before... hmm, better late than never?)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-18 04:32 am (UTC)Once you have slashed the Chief of Staff of the President of the United States there is no going back. Also I think the 'I just want to watch them make out' state of being is also known as 'perving'? IDK. I mean I live there most of the time, I call it 'home,' but I accept that others may prefer different labels.
This sounds like a ridiculous amount of fun that I wish to be a part of! Damn you, Atlantic ocean - DAMN YOUUUUU.
I also enjoy random strangers complimenting your breasts. It sounds like a lovely evening!
And now, having mentioned it twice, you have me craving barbecue.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 03:42 pm (UTC)Heh, we were talking about Jamie from TDL and how I cannot in good conscience ship him with anyone in the books because they would not make him ~happy. And Isi was like, "it's not that I want him to be with Gerald because he would be happy. It would be HOT"
So, yeah. I have many things that I think that about \o/
AAAAAH, I wish you could have come tooooo, that would be the awesome sprinkles on the cake!
I was like, self, maybe you are discussing your breasts too much on this livejournal. And then I thought, w/e, this IS the internet, after all.
OMNOMNOM, I loves me some slightly burned food.
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Date: 2010-08-18 11:01 pm (UTC)My ukulele should arrive on Friday. I am very excited. Had you not been called away to other engagements, you might have learnt more chords - by the time I eventually left I had C, C7, G, Am, A, F, D and the two death chords down. And was playing happy birthday like a pro! THIS BAND WILL BE AMAZING.
I hope you get a new job soon, and preferably one where they let you have access to the internet, or even sunlight if you're very lucky...
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:51 pm (UTC)I hope you are enjoying the ukelele! It sounds fabulous.
Thank you, my lovely
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:29 pm (UTC)ALSO I AM JEALOUS OF YOUR IN PERSON AWESOME HANGOUTS AND PISTACHIO CUPCAKES!!! Nggggggg *_*
ALSO ALSO speaking of Marmfishery, I feel obligated to mention that I am now finally in the possession of my very own copy of TDC! Haven't had much time to read yet, but next week is a kinder shift and uhuhuhu I AM EXCITE ALREADYYY
ALSO ALSO ALSO ............INCEPTION!!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 04:55 pm (UTC)IT WAS AWESOME, WHY MUST YOU LIVE SO FAR AWAAAAY D:D:D:
Yay! You must tell me how you feel when you finish it! I hope you love Mae as much I do. She is <3
INCEPTIONNNNNNNN!!!!