Botanical gardens visit

Since best friend is visiting, we went to the botanical gardens today. She got to look at the trees, I got to see the sculpture exhibit. Nature does not interest me that much. And because I have nothing better to do, here are pictures. I don't know the names of most of the sculptures because my phone was acting up and I couldn't take pictures of the name plates.

I liked this sculpture.

And this one.


Next to the water gardens.

Flower in the cacti section.

One of my favourite sculptures in the park, called Fifth Horsman(Deborah van der Bek).

Close-up of the head.

Pretty.

Cactus.


Falling Man 9/11 - John Sidney Carter FRBS. Absolutely loved it.

Also pretty.

My third favourite of all of them. I think.

Ray II - Irene Rogan.


The water garden.

I was completely obsessed with these people. And I thought this picture looked better in sepia.

And another picture of them. I have a bout a gazillion, but this is my favourite.

Cupcakes

It’s 3AM and I want to bake. Now don’t ask me where this insane urge for me to bake cupcakes came from. I am not exactly Donna Reed and baking has never been one of my major passions. But I want to bake, dang it, and if it wasn’t 3 AM and I had any eggs in the house I would be baking. I also want to cook but it almost feels useless making a huge giant feast only for myself and my best friend is very ‘meh, I don’t care’(she’s visiting, by the way) and all my flatmates are temporarily gone.

So here is my problem: I want to bake/cook but it’s 3 AM and it would be insane to cook. But guys, I am dying to bake something. Is that normal? Is that the first sign that I am going insane? Am I just turning suddenly overly domestic? Cause the last one is rather scary. I think this is just a normal continuation of this uber-creative mood I’ve been in lately(I’m working on 2 fanfics, a short story that has every chance of turning into a novel and have started throwing around ideas for NaNo this year). That is obviously besides real life. And I’m trying to kick Pedro(flatmate, Canadian, I swear I’ll make a post about the flatmates soon. I live in a constant sitcom)into motion because he wants to start a thing for his department at uni and I’m supposed to help and I would love to help but he’s being lazy. So I obviously have enough projects.

But I still want to bake. So since there’s been some interest expressed in a sponge cake as well as a baked Alaska, I thought I might combine the two on Saturday and greet Pedro with cake when he comes back. Yes, my life is hard to explain sometimes(trust me, my flat feels like a train station lately). Who knows, maybe I’m pregnant and nesting. (No, I am not actually pregnant. However, the thought of people who know me and my lack of maternal instinct in real life chocking at the thought of me pregnant was too funny to resist. Ok, now I’m creeping myself out slightly so I’ll just stop thinking about it).

In other news I am completely obsessed with the song in this commercial and I have updated the blog roll to reflect some changes. I am actually try to write something on one of the subjects soon, I promise. Ok, maybe not promise, promise ‘cause we all know that never ends well. But I’ll try.

And really, if you want me to cook and bake anything for you, give me a call. I even wash dishes when I’m done.

Growing up, growing old

I am now officially a grown up. I own a quarter of a fridge.

Let’s back up a bit here. Exams are done so now the only thing I can do is chew on my nails while waiting for results. And do a whole lot of adult stuff. As in sign a contract for my new flat. Because, as the first year of uni is done(How? When? Really?) I’ve got to move out of halls and into a flat. A really awesome flat(really, really awesome. Skylights, guys!). Which lead to my realization that I am a grown up. So far in the last three days I’ve signed the contract, bought a fridge with my flatmates(hence why I own a quarter of it) and proven more commitment than ever before in my life by opening a joint account.

And you know what? It was exciting. Which made it even sadder. Because I really don’t want to be excited about buying a fridge or getting a really great deal on a hoover(£50 off). However, there we were, all 4 of us, scanning through pages and pages of appliances, comparing and analyzing cost and quality instead of just flipping a coin and picking the cheapest one available.

Of course, maybe we’re not completely mature. Meet Duckie, or coffee maker.



As soon as we move, I'll take a picture of Vinnie, our knife block. It's going to be a fun year.

Things that annoy me right now

Because I’ve barely written anything here this month, I’ve decided to put down another list of things I hate(first one is here, if you’re interested, although that's about people I hated at that point). In no particular order:

Just for now annoyances:

• Exams. Self-explanatory, isn’t it? My stupid department put 5 in 7 days, instead of spreading them out like the normal people. They had 3 weeks…would it have been that hard not to stick them all together?
• People that are already done with exams. I get you’re happy, but some of us still have to study so could you please keep it down before I get the sub-warden on speed-dial?
• Insomnia. I am running on 40 minutes of sleep right now. Don’t get me wrong, a few extra hours of studying are helpful but right now I can’t focus on anything. And still can’t sleep.
• And yet another one about myself, my brain. You see, my brain is reacting badly to the sudden input of science by going into ultra-creative mode. As in ‘Dude, remember that story that you started writing 3 years ago? I have this great idea and here it is and now go write it! Write it, write it, write it!’. Brain, could you please wait one more week and focus on chemistry and law? I promise we’re going to spend a lot of time writing this summer, just give me one more week(wanna bet that I’ll be completely incapable of writing one word all summer?). (Also, yes, I realize I am personifying my brain. Give me a break, I’m tired.).

General annoyances:

• People that badly misspell a word on a forum and then post (sp?) or (spelling?) after it. You know it’s wrong. Spell check is telling you it’s wrong. Why can’t you take 20 seconds and try to spell it correctly? For the love of my sanity, it only takes 20 seconds. Google is your friend.
• Connected to that one, people that don’t capitalize. Proper format will make it so much easier to read for the rest of us, I swear. How about you put in some effort and I don’t completely skip your posts, ok?
• The lack of Bruckner books in English. The man is an absolute genius. Why can’t you translate more of his books? I don’t feel like dragging all the ones I have in Romanian and I can’t lent those out to friends and get them hooked as well.
• When people don’t update the blogs I love for weeks at a time. I know I am guilty of that but I don’t think that there’s anyone crying in their pillow at night because I haven’t updated. However you writers of the blogs I like, update more often. Entertain me.
• The amount of celebrity gossip websites with pictures of Chris Pine walking. Um, seriously?
• British spring weather. Argh, for the love of all things, make up your damned mind. I go to uni, it’s sunny. Walk out of my exam, it’s raining. It’s a vicious circle or rain/sun/rain/sun and so on. From now on, weather must stay as it is for at least 4 hours. Reasonable, I think.

Ok, I can’t think of anything else but I’d love to hear some of yours. So…what is annoying you right now?

Things I wish someone would have told me before getting a tattoo

Kind of like with oddly coloured hair, there are things they never tell you about tattoos(just in case you’re wondering, the thing people should tell you before you dye your hair any colour not usually found in nature is that kids will point, you’ll get a lot of compliments-seriously, every time I’m out in public I get at least 2 people telling me how lovely my hair/hair colour is- and that if you see another person with the same colour hair as you, you’ll exchange a knowing smile, like you’re part of the same secret club house). My list of things I wish someone would have told me about first tattoos is:

• The second you’re down from the tattoo high, you’ll start planning the next one(if you’re lucky. If you’re not, you’ll start saving for laser removal surgery). I think it took me two hours before I started thinking about my next one.
• You’ll become best friends with your tube of antiseptic/nappy rash cream.
• There is no way you’re going to pass in front of a mirror without stopping to admire it.
• You will start noticing other people’s tattoos way more. I loved to see ink on people before but since I got mine, I see it more. It just pops out.
• You’ll have to answer the “Does it hurt?” question about a billion and one times.
• Comparing ink and stories will become a regular past time between you and your friends who are just as passionate.
• Tattoo blogs do exist and you may end up spending hours browsing them.
• Remember point one? Let me say it again. You will start planning the next one. They’re bloody damn addictive.
• Clothes will be separated in two piles: those that show the tat and does that don’t.
• They itch. When they’re healing...they itch. Possibly at the most inappropriate times, like your organic chem revision lecture. Did I mention you can’t scratch them? Argh, the itching.
• They’re amazing.
• People will ask “Why did you get that/What does it mean?” a lot.

Yes, I am still very much in love with my tattoo. I’m thinking my hip might be next. Or lower back. Or both.

Heroes finale(spoilers and many of them)

I just watched this and I am utterly confused about how I feel. On one hand, I am very happy that they weren’t extremely predictable but dude…they killed Nathan. Nathan! And it has to be the single most retarded plot line ever on Heroes.

I get that Sylar becoming Nathan is going to be this big thing next season but why? Really? Are they that out of good ideas? And am I the only one who thought it was utterly retarded that they didn’t just inject Nathan with Claire’s blood, like they did with Noah in season 2? Or Nathan in season 2 for that matter(although he wasn’t dead so I don’t think it counts). Or just leave him dead for the love of all things. I love Adrian Pasdar but deaths are waaaay more dramatic if they stick(and keep in mind that Nathan was one of my favourite characters on the show). And just how many seasons can they finish with killing or almost killing poor Nathan? I’m groaning in agony already, if season 4 ends the same way I’ll turn into the Incredible Hulk, fly over to LA and rip someone in two. Chemistry student by day, Jessica by night. Hey, at least I’m not a stripper. Did they send Peter and Claire our of the room(quickie in the bathroom?) so that Peter, who seemed not to be hugging his beloved Idiot Ball too tightly(he almost not in possession the whole episode. Please don’t pick it up again. It’s Angela’s turn apparently. And Noah’s. Although, with the amount of Idiot Balls flying on that tv show, Peter could have his back really fast. Probably will. But I will hope until next season), wouldn’t point out the sheer stupidity of the plan? God, even Idiot Ball Peter could see how this was retarded. After an impossible amount of whining and crying over Nathan’s death, obviously. It’s the only thing he’s good at.*

I think it’s a safe bet to say I’m no longer confused, just angry(and managed to break my space bar in the process. All fixed now.).

So this makes it two season in a row ending with a completely retarded solution instead of going for the obvious one(why didn’t Peter just take Adam and walk through the safe door with him? I mean other then ‘because otherwise the others couldn’t have found them and the virus would have been released’. I want a good reason that isn’t just so the writers would have an escape).

It’s weird that the whole Sylar and Claire thing didn’t even make me as angry as it could have. I get it. And Matt should stop painting the future. Unless something changes in season 4/Volume 5, Washington didn’t explode(how perfect an ending would it have been if Sylar had gone ‘splodey and Peter would have flown him out of there? I have a lot of arguments as to why this would have been a better ending. Season 1 reference, makes more sense than this piece of shit, the canon rules-which they’ve completely ignored so far-say paintings come true-although that was Isaac not Matt so I’ll give them a pass on this one. I should start writing for Heroes. I could do way better. Give me a call, guys. You need my help.), therefore making yet another Parkman original a huge waste of paint.

That being said, and believe me, I could go on, I will still watch Volume 5. Because I did like Tracy coming back, I’m hoping beyond hope that Peter found his brain, a new company will be fun, I wanna see if Danko will work on it(no spoilers as to whether or not Zeljko is coming back-I usually wait until August for my curiosity to get the better of me although I am disappointed enough not to care right now) and am really, really curious if they can salvage anything out of this stupidity. Until then, I might write my own finale fanfic, complete with exploding man.

*Note: I am just picking on Peter out of habit. He really didn’t annoy me this episode and if he thought of turning into the president by himself, then I am impressed. Step away from the ball!

Inked!

As those of you that know me in real life know(and I’m sure I’ve mentioned it here at least once), I’ve been talking about getting a tattoo pretty much forever. Ok, maybe not forever, but for at least the last couple of years. So today I did it. It wasn’t really planned. It was mostly of an ‘I woke up and decided that it was as good a day as any’. Printed off the picture because I can’t draw worth a damn(not even a straight line and my old math teacher can attest to the fact that my circles closely resemble squares or aliens-just not circles), took the bus into city center, walked in the tattoo shop and presented the guy at the front desk with the picture. Really nice guy looked at it, gave me a price(way less then I was expecting. As in almost half what I was prepared to pay) and told me the tattoo guy was free at 4PM. I said ‘Ok’ and presented myself at 4PM. The guy that did my tat was awesome, we talked about graphic novels(yes, he is obsessed too), Watchmen, just how excited we were about Wolverine coming out this week, Heroes(the second time today I had a random conversation about Heroes-the first one was with the guy at WH Smith, where I bought the Heroes magazine), Star Trek, my hatred of CSI and his of Miami Ink and pretty much geeked it out. He’s awesome. For those of you thinking of getting one, it really doesn’t hurt(and if you're in Leicester, go to Abody. Great people and incredible work-I got to see one of the guys do a sleeve on someone else while I was waiting-amazing). It’s mostly uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes, then you get used to it. It did sting a little when he was working over my shoulder blade but that’s it(it’s kind of like a cat’s scratching you-not very pleasant but I wouldn’t call it painful either).

Now for the mandatory pictures(I'll be posting more, detailing the healing process over the next few days. Oh, and sorry about the quality, it's rather hard to rake a picture of your own back):

Also note the pink highlights in this picture.

And a close-up: