Today was this year's cold record (so far) - -24,4ºC (-12ºF). Consequently, my cheekbones hurt and I can't feel the soles of my feet.
In good news, my winter holidays have now officially begun!

EDIT: New record - 29ºC (-20,2ºF)

Also, I saw this in aerodactylos's post and just had to have a go myself
( Read more... )

This is probably either going to sound corny or like a cry for attention, but feedback. It's wonderful to know what you do is appreciated. The two most awesome things to happen to me has got to be A) when I was in New York a couple of years ago, and we were standing in the line to get on the ferry to Staten Island. I was drawing some drawings to pass the time and suddenly, this guy around my own age who'd also stood in line, came up to me and told me he liked my drawings. I didn't know him and I never spoke to him again and it was something completely different from uploading a picture to dA and getting feedback. The second was when I cosplayed as Katara at that convention and everyone recognized me. I was literally dragged up, when I went over to the Cosplay Catwalk. Later, I was stopped by someone who told me how happy she was to have found an Avatar cosplayer. That was really awesome.

In the start of November, I went to a convention. There, I cosplayed as Katara. A week later I took a lot of pictures of my cosplay. About a week after that I uploaded those pictures to deviantART. And now, you guys finally get to see them.
( Cut for pictures )

Where did this sudden cold come from? I was outside at weekend and the weather was completely bearable. Now it's near impossible to be outside. It's just unbearably cold. And considering that by our standards unless your nose is frozen shut, it's not really cold yet, just cool. Yes, before you ask, my nose did freeze shut. I also lost all feeling in my toes for hours, despite the triply layer of socks. It's going to stay that way too for at least a week.

So at work in order to call in sick for a day you have to call a special line and speak to someone live. If you don't, and don't show up then you get fired. It's as simple as that.

The problem is, the phone line (called a Doc phone) is hardly ever manned. People refuse to pick it up, and the phone number changes once every few months with little or no warning. That's what happened to me today. I called in to flex today (not work today, but work Saturday instead). No one picked up. For two hours and the only voice mail message said not to leave a message, that it wouldn't be accepted, and to keep calling in until I got someone live.

Now, I used to be a senior lead, and I kept some of the old phone numbers to a direct sick line for supervisors. Getting desperate, I called that in. Sure enough, someone picked up.

Me: Hi, it's me, "Avocado Love" --
Bitch: Why are you calling here? You're not supposed to call this number!
Me: Well, I've been trying to call the Doc Phone for the last two hours--
Bitch: It's sitting right here next to me. You can't call this number. Who gave you this number?
Me: Uh, well, maybe I have the wrong number for it?
Bitch: It's *rattles off number so fast I cannot catch it* What do you want?
Me: I need to call in flex time.
Bitch: Then why are you -- Who gave you this number!?
Me: Uh, can you give me the flex number again? I think it's been changed while I was out.

Anyway she drops trying to figure out how I get the number, we make the deal for flex time and she just abruptly hangs up.


I mean, are you serious woman? What a fucking cunt. This is a coworker, someone I see every day -- say hi too every day. Just... wow. I can't even express how rude she was in simple text. She was just acting like I was something to be scraped off the bottom of her shoe.

Not to mention, being able to call sick in the middle of the flu season when your job depends on it is so important. If they change the phone number, they got to let us know about it. And they've got to update the voice mail messages on the previous other five phone numbers they've used over the last few years letting people know what the real one is.

But my job sucks, and that's nothing new. :D I actually equate it more to a cannery than a call center: No pity, no excuses, no help. No hope? Anyway, I got the day off.

Yea for me! :D

*catches up with things*

I happened upon a free-for-all book club today. My favourite translator was talking about fantasy literature. It was just... exciting. We discussed the aspects of fantasy, past fantasy vs today's fantasy, Estonian fantasy vs world's fantasy, fantasy vs science fiction, the 'big' works in fantasy and their impact of the world of literature, fantasy vs horror, and the best fantasy books ever in our opinion. I even got to request that the Death Gate books would be translated one day.

One thing that was mentioned was that the best worldbuilders are the natural scientists, which I think explains why one of my WIPs is badly stuck plotwise, yet has an intricately detailed microbiology.

Best evening ever!

Title: Another Brother
Rating: PG-13 (T)
Warning: AU
Summary: It was a mission of revenge. There weren't supposed to be any survivors, but Chief Hakoda couldn't bring himself to kill the Fire Nation boy. Against his better judgment, he brought him home. (A Zuko joins the Water Tribe story.)
Notes: Spoilers for Southern Raiders
*******

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14| Chapter 15 | Interlude: Zuko's Tombstone | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 |


( The two Water Tribe boys sat with legs crossed by the fire, working in amiable silence, their breath just visible in the chill air.  )

First off, a very happy birthday to spyridona!

Now, let's see if I can get things actually in my head. Muse, oh muse, whyfore art thou so dead?

I had a dream today that I went to check livejournal, but it turned out that somehow someone else was logged in. I can't remember the username, but their entire friendslist consisted one single community - emowank. I checked and it doesn't actually exist, but it does leave me to wonder how my subconscious came up with something like that.

My sister made gingerbread, with running commentary about everything she was doing at the moment. Unfortunately some managed to burn, but fortunately there was more than enough icing to hide the taste.

( I have pics too )

...slept in the same bed with a bulldog?

My sister was away very late yesterday and poor Debi can't stand being alone so she marched all the way to my room. I didn't have the heart to drive her away and she was rather nicely warm to my frozen feet. She does snore worse than any man though (trust me on that one - I've shared a room with many snoring guys) and I also found that probably the fastest way to deaden your feet is to load about 7 kilos of vibrating dog-meat on them. I couldn't turn around at all because she was weighing both my feet and my blankets down.
I did manage to fall asleep eventually - about 5 minutes before my sister came back, thus exciting the dog and causing her to start barking.

So the xmas tree is finally cut down and hauled home. While it's drip-drying in the garage I thought I would tackle some fanfiction. Unfortunately, I've come to a part where I need to get the characters to a certain head-space... but the idea I got from Ellie won't work (I think) and now I'm at a loss.

Anyone care to brainstorm with me?

( Cut for spoilers for the next two chapters or so of Another Brother. If anyone cares. Lol. )

Suggestions?

So apparently going back to an 8 hour day full time after about 6 weeks of nothing is... utterly exhausting. I have no time in my day to do anything but sleep, it seems.

The good news:
I guess I was honestly missed at work and warmly greeted by coworkers and supervisors alike.
I don't feel the heavy weight of stress on my shoulders anymore, nor the feeling of absolute dread whenever I log into the phones. I think some time away from work has done me good!

The bad:
I'm tired. Drained. Exhausted. Just feeling.... Blllllllah.
Still dislike my stupid job.


And hey, I'm getting some money. I've promised myself I'm going to see this through the holiday season. Then... well, I'll figure it out. It's only a few weeks away.

I might have actually done this one before, but meh, I'm bored.


1] Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2] For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3] YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY?" YOU SAY?
Comeback
(Okaaaay...)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Far From Home
(Except that I'm actually home right now...)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Late Goodbye
(Don't you just hate when people leave early?)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Mad World
(And it's getting madder)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Heeding the Call
(Okaaay...)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Nemesis
(I fight against everything)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
You're a Soldier Now
(Wtf?)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Silence
(Ummm... well, they do object whenever I start yelling)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
Chrome
(Err... I like browsing on the Internet?)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Dare to Dream
(Dare the dream that it could ever be anything more than a 4)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND(S)?
One Girl Revolution
(I kinda wish my best friend was a guy just for hilarity's sake)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Stay
(Obviously I wouldn't want him to leave)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Where Does My Heart Beat Now
(Eh, I'm flighty, so what?)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Forsaken
(Say what?)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
On My Own Alone
(...Huh?)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Voldemort Is Going Down
(*falls off the chair laughing*)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Optimus
(At least it's not a party music)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Lift
(Well, I still don't have a driving licence)