Iesus Non Amat Me

I see LJ is once again upsetting people and causing another mass exodus to DreamWidth. I've always been reluctant to move because (a) I'm set in my ways, and (b) I forked out money for a permanent account and I don't really want to lose the benefits I get from that. But I've finally given in and signed up for a DW account so I at least have a backup and somewhere to go if it does turn out to be necessary. I'm in the process of importing this journal over to there, but so is everyone else it seems and the queue is pretty long.

In other news, we took Tilly to the vet for her annual check-up and booster jabs and it turns out she has an infection under one of her teeth. We're going to have to take her back next week to have that tooth and possibly the one next to it extracted. It's going to cost quite a bit, but I'm more worried about having to leave her there. She's always been a nervous dog and not comfortable with strangers. I know it needs to be done because toothache is horrible and I don't want her to be in pain, but I also know I'm going to spend the next week and a half worrying about it.

Remember how a while ago I mentioned one of the banks I wrote to about Probate said that they had no records of any accounts in Dad's name so I had to write back to them with a copy of a letter which stated quite clearly that he did have an account with them?

Well now, nearly three weeks after my second letter, I have a reply from the same guy as before in which he refers to my that second letter as "advising" them of Dad's death, and explains that they need to see the death certificate in order to register it.

At first I was tempted to send a long, annoyed reply detailing our correspondence so far, but I think I'll just send the certificate with a covering letter and hope that they'll get it right this time.

I am annoyed though. Firstly because he told me there was no account when there was, presumably because he didn't bother to check properly, and secondly cos he didn't really address anything I said in my second letter. In fact I'm not sure he even read it, just saw that it was about a dead person and sent the form letter asking for a death certificate. He could have at least acknowledged that I'd already written to him and sent a certificate, but that he needs me to send it again cos he didn't bother to make a copy of it the first time.

~*~

I tried to donate blood last month but couldn't cos my haemoglobin levels were too low again. This time they were low enough that they told me to see my GP and have taken me off the blood donor register for 12 months. I think that's a bit of an overreaction cos I looked it up and my levels only put me at 'slightly anaemic'.

Still, I went to the doctor and he said it could well just be due to me giving blood regularly, but he wants to do a blood test to check and see if there are any other issues that could be causing it.

It probably is just due to giving blood and I'm so annoyed with myself for it. I had had an appointment to donate later this month, but because I'll be away then I changed it and I thought it would be better to bring it forward rather than waiting another month. And if I'd just been patient and waited a bit longer I would probably have been fine and wouldn't now have to wait a year before being able to go again.

~*~

Although I don't really care about sport in any way, I have had the England v Wales match on in the background as I've been writing this and it went into stoppage time with both teams tied 1-1. I turned to Tilly and said "You need to score another goal". She huffed, laid down, and a couple of seconds later England scored. I had assumed she'd go for Wales, being from there herself, but maybe she's been living in England so long she considers herself an English dog now. Either way, very impressive Tilly!

Ah, PMS. How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I can't decide if my favourite part is the way my mood plummets so far down that I end up feeling absolutely hopeless and suicidal, or the way that my sensitivity to sounds increases so much that I feel like clawing out of my skin just by being near other people and the noises they make, which, when coupled with my extra irritability, leaves me feeling constantly on the verge of screaming at someone for simply existing. Or possibly bursting into tears, which I can't imagine would go down very well either.

And let's not forget the inability to concentrate on anything for more than a few seconds and the almost constant nausea and tiredness. So many super happy fun time things to choose from!

Ahem.

Moving on...

I found a lump on Tilly's leg on Sunday. We took her to the vet and they took a sample. They called yesterday and it's not malignant, which is a relief, but they're also not sure what it is. We're going to keep an eye on it and if it looks like it's getting bigger we're going to take her in to have it removed. The thought of that does worry me though, cos she's such a nervous dog. I don't want her to think we're abandoning her there!

Also, last night was pub quiz night. After our aberration of fourth place a few weeks ago we were back to full strength and back on top once again. So that was fun. I'm not sure the early start this morning has helped my mood any, but I still think it's worth it.

I've been considering writing an entry about the latest episodes of my TV shows, but at the moment it would mostly be me complaining and that's no fun. Hopefully I'll feel better in a few days and in a better position to talk about them.

It was six years ago today that we brought her home from the rescue centre, and to celebrate I have made her a doggy birthday cake. That second picture shows her reaching out to pull it towards us as I was trying to take photos so I think it was a success!

Tilly got the first slice, of course, and seemed very happy with it. I tried a bit myself and it was actually not too bad!

Ack, it's cold. I just took Tilly out and I think it's actually freezing out there.

My Tardis skirt arrived today. It took nearly a month to get here and I'm actually really disappointed with it. It's more grey than blue and doesn't look very good at all. Oh well, live and learn I suppose. I'm just sad because it looked so good in the picture and I waited so long for it.

And now the cat is meowing at me. And sitting under my chair. Weird kitty.

Uh, weather? A word, please? You may not have noticed this, but it's autumn now. It's going to be October in two days. So what's with the summeriness? While I'm sure all this bright sunshine, clear blue skies and soaring temperature would have been lovely a month ago, it's not really appropriate for now. My coat is feeling sad and unloved. I'm sure you understand.

Speaking of autumnal things, Saturday is going to be an awesome day for TV! Last episode of Doctor Who series six and first episode of Merlin series four on the same day! Plus I plan to finally get around to watching the third episode of Sherlock, so it's going to be a trifecta of brilliant British television.

Also, Strictly Come Dancing! I'm seriously just going to set up home on the sofa and not move for hours.

And then, on Sunday, I can watch Tumblr explode.

Oh yeah, I have a Tumblr now. Tumblrs are cool.

My parents and I have just been on the patio watching the local rugby club fireworks display while drinking mulled wine. Very impressive fireworks, not so great wine.

Tilly came out and joined us for a while. I'm sure anyone seeing us would have thought we were horrible people to have her out there, but that's the advantage of having a deaf dog. =D

Only a few HOURS to go now! Eeeeee!

Yes, I'm still doing my usual CAPSLOCK Friday. Just a bit EARLIER than usual cos I FLY out tonight. I took today OFF work and it feels kinda WEIRD to be sitting at home at the moment. I've DONE my last minute packing and now there's not much ELSE to do before heading off later.

It still doesn't feel ENTIRELY real. Sometimes it does and I feel extremely EXCITED, but then at other times I have to keep REMINDING myself that I'm actually going. I find myself thinking of what to have for DINNER tonight then remember that I'll be at the AIRPORT to eat.

I don't think TILLY is very happy. It's pretty OBVIOUS to her that SOMETHING is happening. She was climbing over my SUITCASE earlier and she keeps LOOKING at me now. I hope she FORGIVES me for leaving her for two weeks.

I wonder if MCGEE will take over my BEDROOM while I'm gone. It wouldn't SURPRISE me.

FURY probably won't care.

ALSO, BEHOLD NEW LJ THEME!

Meme time! Only took me about a week to do this one!

Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Please post them in your journal and explain what they mean to you

I have two sets of words, because I am just that awesome. And it will soon become apparent that I did not take this meme entirely seriously...

Vegetarian

I’m a vegetarian, which means I don’t eat animals. And yes, that includes fish. Being vegetarian is the nice middle ground where I get to feel morally superior to meat eaters but can still look down on vegans and their crazy ways. (I am, of course, joking. I feel superior to everyone regardless of what they eat, in a John Crichton "Humans are superior!" way, complete with costume.)

Dog

I have a dog. Her name is Tilly, she’s deaf and she sheds her hair everywhere. Most of my clothes are now covered with white hairs. For some reason they shed much more than the black ones. I don’t know why, I’m sure there’s a reason. Perhaps I should look into it. Start up my own research project, get government funding then scrap the research and run off to Mexico, using the money to fund a life filled with sun, sand and margaritas. I’ll send for the rest of you when the government loses interest in finding me.

Degree

I have a degree. It is in History and Religious Studies and has been of no use whatsoever in my life since leaving university. I am currently doing a job that requires zero qualifications and could in fact be done by someone whose greatest academic achievement was a papier-mâché mask they made in first school. But on the bright side, I do work in a place where people make shop-wide announcements about chocolate chip biscuits. So it all evens out in the end.

Home

I have a home. It belongs to my parents but still, I live here, it’s my home. It’s a…bit of a mess, but that’s what happens when you’re from a family of hoarders. We’re all the same so there’s no one to challenge the status quo. And that is why my cause of death is almost certainly going to be “crushed under a pile of old junk.” I think that would be covered by the death benefit that I was offered at work the other day but didn’t take up (Yes, for the low low price of £2 a month my family would get £5000 in the event of my demise. Although not if my death was the result of suicide, war or exposure to nuclear radiation.)

Skirt

I wear skirts. A lot. I’ve always disliked trousers, although I do now have two pairs that I wear regularly. My jeanish ones, which are good for climbing and going to theme parks, and my work trousers. We have to wear trousers at work, which makes sense since it’s a very physical job and I climb a lot there too. Ladders, of course, not the racking. Climbing the racking would be naughty and I’m a good girl. Honest.

Canada

Canada is really big. It has bears and maple syrup and Mounties and Keith’s beer. Truly it is a wonderful place. Someday I hope to go back there and visit the places I missed out on before, and go back to the places that I loved. But not walk up that hill again. You know the one I mean, Mr Afterthought, THAT hill. And in case you were wondering, the answer is no. No, there will never be forgiveness for that hill.

Sleep

I assume this was put in cos I’m lazy. Thanks. I am a pig in the Chinese zodiac, which is supposed to mean that I’m lazy, so I guess it’s appropriate. Not that astrology really means anything. I’m also a Virgo, which means I should be exceptionally neat and, as we discussed three words up from this one, I most certainly am not. Plus I always remember what my physics teacher said – “Never confuse astronomy and astrology. Astronomy is science, astrology is bullshit.”

Animals

I like animals. I come from an animal-loving family and we’ve almost always had pets. I shall now list them for you in chronological order: Jess (cat), Breeze (dog), Lucky (hamster), Goldie (hamster), Dopey (hamster), Smartie (hamster), Minnie (rat), Evie (rat), Lily (rat), Rose (rat), Fury (cat) and Tilly (dog). Also McGee, who is technically the neighbours’ cat but spends most of his time here. His name is actually Gee, or possibly Ghee, but we changed it to McGee after the NCIS character.

Australia

Australia is a magical far-far away land that only exists in story books and daytime soap operas. In November my intrepid friend and I plan to attempt to visit this mythical place. If we survive the trip we will be sure to bring back evidence of the country’s existence. Perhaps in the form of a boomerang or cap that says “Pobody’s Nerfect.”

Mexico

One day we will call our families and say “Hey, yeah, we’re in Mexico.” That is the plan and hopefully it will happen without defrauding the government, but you know, if that’s what it takes. Personally I think we should have gone when the swine flu paranoia meant that everyone was avoiding the place and prices were really cheap. Plus it would have had the added advantage of making us look crazy. Or awesome. Or even crazy awesome. Mmm…crazy awesome.