prompt me!
Sep. 23rd, 2013 07:40 amFeeling rather writery. Give me prompts?
logic fail
Sep. 19th, 2013 09:32 amI am very bad at paperwork.
Because I am very bad at paperwork, my superannuation is in a bit of a mess.
Thankfully, the Australian Tax Office is here to help! I just need to go to their website, and ask! Woo!
BUT WAIT. What if I'm not really me? Oh noes! They'd better verify my details to make sure.
...which is how I end up registering with the ATO, and having them ask me for:
- my name
- my birthdate
- the details of the bank account I had my taxes paid into
- the date they sent me a notice of assessment for my taxes
- the hour and minute of my first sneeze during the third full moon in 2008
(Okay, so that last one is a lie. But I consider it no harder to tell them than the OTHERS.)
...yeah. So, that being bad at paperwork thing? How am I supposed to find all this paperwork that I need before the ATO will help me to find my paperwork? How?
*slight sob*
Because I am very bad at paperwork, my superannuation is in a bit of a mess.
Thankfully, the Australian Tax Office is here to help! I just need to go to their website, and ask! Woo!
BUT WAIT. What if I'm not really me? Oh noes! They'd better verify my details to make sure.
...which is how I end up registering with the ATO, and having them ask me for:
- my name
- my birthdate
- the details of the bank account I had my taxes paid into
- the date they sent me a notice of assessment for my taxes
- the hour and minute of my first sneeze during the third full moon in 2008
(Okay, so that last one is a lie. But I consider it no harder to tell them than the OTHERS.)
...yeah. So, that being bad at paperwork thing? How am I supposed to find all this paperwork that I need before the ATO will help me to find my paperwork? How?
*slight sob*
being sneaky
Sep. 18th, 2013 02:22 pmAm discovering how much harder it is to hide birthday presents when you're married to someone.
Can't use my wardrobe, because it's also his wardrobe, can't use my desk, because it's his desk... Honestly, it's almost like he lives here, or something.
Can't use my wardrobe, because it's also his wardrobe, can't use my desk, because it's his desk... Honestly, it's almost like he lives here, or something.
WHAT THE HELL
Sep. 17th, 2013 10:44 amJust went to make a photocopy of my marriage certificate. Kind of important for reasons of proving identity for offical stuff.
So that the certificate wouldn't get crushed, I put it in the back of a book. And then I walked out my front door, across the street, through a shopping strip, and into the library. It took maybe five minutes. And then I opened up the book, and the certificate WASN'T THERE.
HOW THE HELL DO MY THINGS ALWAYS TELEPORT THEMSELVES TO WEIRD UNIVERSES WHEN I'M TRYING TO BE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT???
*angry sobs*
The next time a non-ADDer says "Oh, but everyone has organisation issues occasionally. You just need to plan better." I'm going to shoot them through the head.
So that the certificate wouldn't get crushed, I put it in the back of a book. And then I walked out my front door, across the street, through a shopping strip, and into the library. It took maybe five minutes. And then I opened up the book, and the certificate WASN'T THERE.
HOW THE HELL DO MY THINGS ALWAYS TELEPORT THEMSELVES TO WEIRD UNIVERSES WHEN I'M TRYING TO BE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT???
*angry sobs*
The next time a non-ADDer says "Oh, but everyone has organisation issues occasionally. You just need to plan better." I'm going to shoot them through the head.
switching sides
Sep. 9th, 2013 09:14 amI feel like I've lost my single-chick cred.
There are a few zillion conversations out there in the Christian blogosphere, in which single women complain (rightfully) about the church's focus on married couples to the exclusion of any acknowledgment of single people.
This is an area I have opinions on. Quite firm opinions, really, with a fair amount of experience behind them. After all, until I was 28 I was extremely single and expecting to remain so. I am, to a large extent, invested in the single-woman-in-the-church thing in a way I'm not invested in the married-woman-in-the-church thing. And probably will be for quite a while.
But now, I keep seeing all those blog posts about single people in the church and feeling like, if I say anything, everyone will roll their eyes and say "You don't know what you're talking about. You're married."
And somehow I've completely lost my ability to speak on this issue that I care about and know about, because suddenly I'm categorised as someone who can only speak on that other issue that I don't care much about, don't know much about, and will perpetually be seen as underqualified on because I got married so late (compared to my peers) that clearly I have nothing useful to say...
*sighs*
There are a few zillion conversations out there in the Christian blogosphere, in which single women complain (rightfully) about the church's focus on married couples to the exclusion of any acknowledgment of single people.
This is an area I have opinions on. Quite firm opinions, really, with a fair amount of experience behind them. After all, until I was 28 I was extremely single and expecting to remain so. I am, to a large extent, invested in the single-woman-in-the-church thing in a way I'm not invested in the married-woman-in-the-church thing. And probably will be for quite a while.
But now, I keep seeing all those blog posts about single people in the church and feeling like, if I say anything, everyone will roll their eyes and say "You don't know what you're talking about. You're married."
And somehow I've completely lost my ability to speak on this issue that I care about and know about, because suddenly I'm categorised as someone who can only speak on that other issue that I don't care much about, don't know much about, and will perpetually be seen as underqualified on because I got married so late (compared to my peers) that clearly I have nothing useful to say...
*sighs*
election day
Sep. 7th, 2013 07:08 pmSenior Labor figures concede Kevin Rudd has lost the election, as exit polls suggest Tony Abbott will be elected in a landslide.
*narrows eyes*
Now, I realise the journalist was probably just trying to phrase things in an interesting way, BUT if they'd tried to phrase things in an accurate way, they would have gone with this:
Senior Labor figures concede Labor has lost the election, as exit polls suggest the Coalition will be elected in a landslide.
Otherwise, unless the exit polls were purely polling people in Toby Abbott's district – and, somehow, Kevin Rudd was competing for the same district – there is no way that those polls could be predicting Toby Abbott, specifically, being elected in a landslide.
I despair for the political education of our future children, I really do.
In other news, we had an election today.
Our House of Representatives voting is fairly simple: order the candidates from 1 to whatever-number, with 1 being your favourite, 2 being your second-favourite, and so on.
Senate voting is a little more complicated. Either you can order the candidates from 1 to whatever-number, as per the House of Reps ("below the line" voting), or you can just put a 1 beside your favourite candidate, and the rest will be filled in automatically ("above the line" voting).
Usually, I vote below the line. Which means I have to spend an extra minute or so filling in all 30 boxes.
Today? I took one look at the massively huge voting form, with its 97 boxes... and decided that I'd vote above the line.
I mean, 97 boxes? 97? Really?
I want an app for my iPad.
It will be called "Weather Watcher", and will know my location. If it's about to rain in the next five minutes, it will send me an alert, letting me know that I should get all the washing in from the line.
*has wet washing, and a certain degree of frustration*
It will be called "Weather Watcher", and will know my location. If it's about to rain in the next five minutes, it will send me an alert, letting me know that I should get all the washing in from the line.
*has wet washing, and a certain degree of frustration*
![[livejournal.com profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif){kind=small}
pseudonymity
Aug. 23rd, 2013 02:48 pm...and, once again, someone out there in the blogosphere is declaring that using a pseudonym is "cowardly" and means you have issues.
*rolls eyes to infinity*
Dear Universe,
Should I behave like an arse in internetville, you may want to publish my name far and wide to shame me into submission. If this happens, you'll basically have one of three options, depending on which name you've got hold of.
1) My professional name.
Googling my professional name will uncover my Linked In account, and very little else. At which point, you may be able to track down my past employers (good luck: I can't manage to track down most of them), and informed them in horrified tones that I have been misbehaving on the internet. To which they will respond: "...so?"
2) My legal name.
If you google my legal name, you will be directed to a franchise of beauty specialists in the USA. I won't come up at all.
If you happen to know a whole bunch of extra details about my life, you may be able to track down the real me. However:
a) the only way you could find out those details is by knowing my screenname and checking out this blog;
b) the only people you could contact after this detective work would be my family - who read my blog, and already know most of the ways I'm likely to misbehave on the internet.
3) My screenname.
This would be Deird, deird1, St Deird, or other variations thereof.
I use this name at: LiveJournal, Dreamwidth, Slacktivist, Love Joy Feminism, Rachel Held Evans, Ship of Fools, Snark Squad, Making Light, Tumblr, Ravelry, AO3, Whedonesque, Hoyden About Town, Vimeo, and everywhere Disqus is in operation. If you know my screenname, you have the power to ruin my life.
Cowardly? Cowardly would be hiding behind one of my RL names. Using my pseudonym puts my entire online reputation at risk – and that's the gutsy option.
*rolls eyes to infinity*
Dear Universe,
Should I behave like an arse in internetville, you may want to publish my name far and wide to shame me into submission. If this happens, you'll basically have one of three options, depending on which name you've got hold of.
1) My professional name.
Googling my professional name will uncover my Linked In account, and very little else. At which point, you may be able to track down my past employers (good luck: I can't manage to track down most of them), and informed them in horrified tones that I have been misbehaving on the internet. To which they will respond: "...so?"
2) My legal name.
If you google my legal name, you will be directed to a franchise of beauty specialists in the USA. I won't come up at all.
If you happen to know a whole bunch of extra details about my life, you may be able to track down the real me. However:
a) the only way you could find out those details is by knowing my screenname and checking out this blog;
b) the only people you could contact after this detective work would be my family - who read my blog, and already know most of the ways I'm likely to misbehave on the internet.
3) My screenname.
This would be Deird, deird1, St Deird, or other variations thereof.
I use this name at: LiveJournal, Dreamwidth, Slacktivist, Love Joy Feminism, Rachel Held Evans, Ship of Fools, Snark Squad, Making Light, Tumblr, Ravelry, AO3, Whedonesque, Hoyden About Town, Vimeo, and everywhere Disqus is in operation. If you know my screenname, you have the power to ruin my life.
Cowardly? Cowardly would be hiding behind one of my RL names. Using my pseudonym puts my entire online reputation at risk – and that's the gutsy option.
Back From Honeymoon! *waves*
Aug. 21st, 2013 03:03 pmHi, everyone! Did you miss me? *puppy eyes*
So... there's this thing I just did... may have mentioned it...
Yep. That.
( post with many photos under here )
So... there's this thing I just did... may have mentioned it...
Yep. That.
( post with many photos under here )
practically fannish blasphemy
Aug. 8th, 2013 07:21 pmI must be the only person in the universe who likes the TV show of The Dresden Files better than the book series.
This is for many reasons, including...
...Bob. Rather than a lewd, cackling, sex-obsessed air spirit, I much prefer Bob as a refined, wise-cracking, STILL sex-obsessed ghost.
...Harry. While undoubtedly the same character in both media, I've always thought that Paul Blackthorne portrays him better than Jim Butcher writes him.
But then there's the part where I'm crazy. Because no-one likes the show better than the books. It's just not possible.
...it's still better, though. Really.
This is for many reasons, including...
...Bob. Rather than a lewd, cackling, sex-obsessed air spirit, I much prefer Bob as a refined, wise-cracking, STILL sex-obsessed ghost.
...Harry. While undoubtedly the same character in both media, I've always thought that Paul Blackthorne portrays him better than Jim Butcher writes him.
But then there's the part where I'm crazy. Because no-one likes the show better than the books. It's just not possible.
...it's still better, though. Really.
Am currently wearing a "Bride To Be" sash and a floral headdress, and feeling very silly.
For my hen's day (bachelorette party to Americans), we went to a winery and had a long, delightful lunch.
Unfortunately too cold to spend much time in the (very pretty) gardens, but we had a wonderful time.
Yay!
Now I am at home, listening to the rain, and waiting for the fiance to arrive and help me construct a bed...
For my hen's day (bachelorette party to Americans), we went to a winery and had a long, delightful lunch.
Unfortunately too cold to spend much time in the (very pretty) gardens, but we had a wonderful time.
Yay!
Now I am at home, listening to the rain, and waiting for the fiance to arrive and help me construct a bed...
I am, in many ways, rather weird. And while I knew this already, this whole wedding thing keeps finding ways to remind me.
It's slightly surreal to find yourself locked in a two-hour argument about precisely how many minutes the speeches will go for, and exactly who is going to speak in which order, when you know perfectly well that you do not care in the slightest about the speeches. You can get very invested in astoundingly trivial things.
Like speeches.
Or nails.
How Much I Do Not Care About This Thing I Suddenly Have To Care About
I take little-to-no care of my nails, normally. This is slightly because they suck, and tend to tear off at random intervals, and slightly because nails (like "fashion", and "sports") are just not really something I'm interested in.
My sister, on the other hand, is a Nail Afficionado. She has several dozen nailcare tools at her disposal, and uses them all with great enthusiasm. As a result, she tends to have gorgeous nails.
So, since I'm getting married, my sister suggested that I try paying slightly more attention to my nails than normal (ie: any attention whatsoever), because then I would have lovely nails for my wedding, and she would be very thrilled with this. Hence, I have dutifully been using nail strengthening stuff, crystal nail files, and other weird things.
And, let me tell you, even if you don't care in the slightest about concrete, if you spend an hour a day smoothing out a section of concrete then you will come to care, passionately and deeply, about keeping that concrete smooth. The same applies to nails.
A Terrible Problem, And A Worse Solution
So, last week, my nail tore rather dramatically. And after spending several days dutifully reinforcing it with tissue and extra nail polish, it was clear extra measures were called for.
I went to the nearest nail salon. This was a bad idea.
(Sidenote: My sister interpreted my interest in nail salons as a fixed idea, and so did not bother objecting to it. I interpreted her nodding her head – rather than shrieking in dismay and dragging me away – as approval. In future, I want to install Subtext Interpreters in every location I frequent, to prevent further mishaps.)
The nail salon fixed the broken side of my nail! Yay! And utterly destroyed the other side of it! Woe!!! At which point, being overly invested in mysmooth concrete lovely nails, and not a little highly strung from wedding prep, I collapsed in a wailing pile of RUINED FOREVER.
My family tried to fix this problem by pointing out wonderful solutions to make it not show up in photos - which I did not take well. Because, really, I don't care about having nice nails for photos! I don't care about nails at all! But I'd taken SUCH GOOD CARE of them, and now they were DESTROYED, and MY LIFE WAS OVER!!!
In the end, everyone shrugged and started telling me about all the things that went horribly wrong at their weddings, which made me giggle.
Yes, I Am Insane, But In A Productive Way
The thing that really made me feel better?
You're going to think I'm weird...
But anyway...
It was Buffy Summers. Specifically: the scene in which Buffy is talking about fighting vampires, and complains, "I broke a nail, okay? I'm wearing a press-on!"
Buffy fights vampires! She has no ability to keep her nails nice, because of all the vampire slayage! Woo!
Here is my new head-canon for my own totally imaginary life: I have been out fighting evil marauders for months on end, with my brilliant sword fighting skills. Which has totally destroyed my nails – so, upon my return to the castle to prepare for my upcoming wedding, the Royal Nail Fixers did the best job they could of giving me pretty nails, but were of course unable to replace the bits that had been sliced off by my opponents' swords.
Yes, I am very strange. BUT I'm a strange person who is ALSO a cool arse-kicking sword fighter, who lives in a CASTLE. I AM TOO AWESOME TO BE FAZED BY HOW MY NAILS LOOK. I FIGHT EVIL, BITCAS.
...whatever works. *shrugs*
It's slightly surreal to find yourself locked in a two-hour argument about precisely how many minutes the speeches will go for, and exactly who is going to speak in which order, when you know perfectly well that you do not care in the slightest about the speeches. You can get very invested in astoundingly trivial things.
Like speeches.
Or nails.
How Much I Do Not Care About This Thing I Suddenly Have To Care About
I take little-to-no care of my nails, normally. This is slightly because they suck, and tend to tear off at random intervals, and slightly because nails (like "fashion", and "sports") are just not really something I'm interested in.
My sister, on the other hand, is a Nail Afficionado. She has several dozen nailcare tools at her disposal, and uses them all with great enthusiasm. As a result, she tends to have gorgeous nails.
So, since I'm getting married, my sister suggested that I try paying slightly more attention to my nails than normal (ie: any attention whatsoever), because then I would have lovely nails for my wedding, and she would be very thrilled with this. Hence, I have dutifully been using nail strengthening stuff, crystal nail files, and other weird things.
And, let me tell you, even if you don't care in the slightest about concrete, if you spend an hour a day smoothing out a section of concrete then you will come to care, passionately and deeply, about keeping that concrete smooth. The same applies to nails.
A Terrible Problem, And A Worse Solution
So, last week, my nail tore rather dramatically. And after spending several days dutifully reinforcing it with tissue and extra nail polish, it was clear extra measures were called for.
I went to the nearest nail salon. This was a bad idea.
(Sidenote: My sister interpreted my interest in nail salons as a fixed idea, and so did not bother objecting to it. I interpreted her nodding her head – rather than shrieking in dismay and dragging me away – as approval. In future, I want to install Subtext Interpreters in every location I frequent, to prevent further mishaps.)
The nail salon fixed the broken side of my nail! Yay! And utterly destroyed the other side of it! Woe!!! At which point, being overly invested in my
My family tried to fix this problem by pointing out wonderful solutions to make it not show up in photos - which I did not take well. Because, really, I don't care about having nice nails for photos! I don't care about nails at all! But I'd taken SUCH GOOD CARE of them, and now they were DESTROYED, and MY LIFE WAS OVER!!!
In the end, everyone shrugged and started telling me about all the things that went horribly wrong at their weddings, which made me giggle.
Yes, I Am Insane, But In A Productive Way
The thing that really made me feel better?
You're going to think I'm weird...
But anyway...
It was Buffy Summers. Specifically: the scene in which Buffy is talking about fighting vampires, and complains, "I broke a nail, okay? I'm wearing a press-on!"
Buffy fights vampires! She has no ability to keep her nails nice, because of all the vampire slayage! Woo!
Here is my new head-canon for my own totally imaginary life: I have been out fighting evil marauders for months on end, with my brilliant sword fighting skills. Which has totally destroyed my nails – so, upon my return to the castle to prepare for my upcoming wedding, the Royal Nail Fixers did the best job they could of giving me pretty nails, but were of course unable to replace the bits that had been sliced off by my opponents' swords.
Yes, I am very strange. BUT I'm a strange person who is ALSO a cool arse-kicking sword fighter, who lives in a CASTLE. I AM TOO AWESOME TO BE FAZED BY HOW MY NAILS LOOK. I FIGHT EVIL, BITCAS.
...whatever works. *shrugs*
kitchens, teas, and such things
Jul. 28th, 2013 07:10 pmHad my kitchen tea today.
For those non-Aussies in our audience:
A "kitchen tea" is broadly similar to a bridal shower. It involves people such as grandmothers, aunts, and female friends of the family having a party, playing light-hearted games, eating afternoon tea, and possibly giving gifts – usually of the kitchenish variety (such as measuring cups, recipes, or tea towels).
Mine was lovely.
( some photos under here )
In summary? I have the loveliest bridesmaids in the universe. And I am so very tired...
For those non-Aussies in our audience:
A "kitchen tea" is broadly similar to a bridal shower. It involves people such as grandmothers, aunts, and female friends of the family having a party, playing light-hearted games, eating afternoon tea, and possibly giving gifts – usually of the kitchenish variety (such as measuring cups, recipes, or tea towels).
Mine was lovely.
( some photos under here )
In summary? I have the loveliest bridesmaids in the universe. And I am so very tired...
I find it fascinating that websites can detect I'm Australian when they want to stop me watching fun videos (the Daily Show, for instance, which I've never been able to see online clips from) – but can't detect that I'm Australian when it comes to filling my screen with pop-ups saying "CONTACT YOUR SENATOR TO ASK FOR MORE STATES' RIGHTS! ENTER YOUR ZIP-CODE BELOW!"
Oh dearest websites, please reverse your policies. I am, after all, someone who does not have a zip-code, but does have an interest in watching the Daily Show. Stop stopping me from doing stuff... please...
Oh dearest websites, please reverse your policies. I am, after all, someone who does not have a zip-code, but does have an interest in watching the Daily Show. Stop stopping me from doing stuff... please...
continuity issues in the AtS props team!
Jul. 19th, 2013 08:45 amThe fiance and I are slowly making our way through Buffy and Angel - which meant, for once, I was watching Angel with all my attention on the screen, rather than on crochet or work or similar. Which meant that I noticed a continuity error I'd never seen before.
And a rather unexpected one...
( a cake with super-morphing powers )
And a rather unexpected one...
( a cake with super-morphing powers )
pointless job
Jul. 16th, 2013 08:57 amVictorian state schools finished their winter holidays last week, so they're all back at school. And so are the lollipop ladies who walk them across the road.
Unfortunately, not all lollipop ladies are positioned outside state schools.
Drove past my nephew's school this morning, where I know for a fact that the kids are still on holidays until next week. There are two very bored lollipop ladies, waiting for hordes of children who aren't going to come...
Unfortunately, not all lollipop ladies are positioned outside state schools.
Drove past my nephew's school this morning, where I know for a fact that the kids are still on holidays until next week. There are two very bored lollipop ladies, waiting for hordes of children who aren't going to come...
important task
Jul. 5th, 2013 04:23 pmIf someone had told me, eight years ago, that one of my Important Aunty Duties would be to express unalloyed delight – along with exclamations of "Wow!" and "Well done!" – when a nephew rang me up purely to tell me proudly that he'd done "a big wee", I would have thought they were insane.
Now, I just consider it normal.
Now, I just consider it normal.
Answering (the Observer's Remix)
Jul. 3rd, 2013 11:43 amThere are now many interesting stories up at ![[community profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
buffy_remix. I would recommend reading them all. Here's mine.
Title: Answering (the Observer's Remix)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1148
Original Story: UnTwin by![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
snowpuppies. In which Tara spends season 6 still crazy.
Summary: You gotta help. Even if it's only for a while.
( post-season 5 )
buffy_remix. I would recommend reading them all. Here's mine.Title: Answering (the Observer's Remix)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1148
Original Story: UnTwin by
snowpuppies. In which Tara spends season 6 still crazy.Summary: You gotta help. Even if it's only for a while.
( post-season 5 )
