Something wicked this way comes...

Went to see the new Harry Potter film last night, and really enjoyed it. The third Harry Potter novel was always my favourite - I'm not ever going to be an obsessive fan, but it seemed to combine depth with brevity in about the right proportions. The film was actually quite beautiful, with wonderful landscapes, and the dementors were quite creepy.

Feeling way less spun out today, too. My brain was with the faerie yesterday. In a good way. And it still is, mostly. But in a better way :)

One thing I am having difficulties with in life is postfeminism. I've got the feeling that I'd actually find it really interesting, but that the book I'm reading isn't that good. It doesn't explain anything, just bombards you with cool phrases. I'll either find a better book, or get someone to explain some of it to me, I think.

Holiday plans

I still have a bunch of holiday to use up.

I'm going to use some of it to go away for a few days and write by the sea. I always wanted to do that, and I have a pressing essay to write some time in August/September.

I have to go and give seminars in September, so I'm going to experiment with staying on in Manchester for an extra day. I never got around to going to the Lowry museum, and I can revisit some of my old haunts. And maybe even it'll make the thought of public-speaking more appealing. If not, next year I'll just fly to each seminar, stay for an hour, then fly home :P

And the rest I'm going to use on reading days. I'll take my book and a picnic and hang out somewhere cool, just reading for the day.

*nods*

Probably TMI, but I need the reminder :)

Meme dream

cleverkat made this up, and it was a damn fine meme:

If you could have any profession in the world, what would you be?

Three answers for me - a professor, a photojournalist or a stand-up comedian.

I'm not quite sure what I'd like to be a professor of. Maths and theoretical physics sounds both cool and feasible. Otherwise archaeology or linguistics. Maybe a combination of both - some sort of culturo-archaeologist who specialises in mythology and sociolinguistics. But mostly I just want to be eccentric, dress badly and get paid to research my passions.

It would also give me the chance to write. But being an author would do that. Except I really don't think I have even one novel in me :P So short stories would be better. Then I'm quite good at researching and assimilating information, and being a photographer too - photo-journalism!

The only subliminal one is the stand-up comedian. I'm actually quite funny. Not everyone appreciates it, and nor do I show it everywhere, but I have quite a range of wit, from feeble puns to vitriolic rants. But not everyone understands it, and it's not so pretty in a girl. Plus, and this is for no good reason, I'm terrified of public-speaking.

I guess I just always get this lingering and nagging thought that if I were a bloke, I could maybe make a living by being funny. But it would probably help with the other two as well. I never really confessed that last one to anybody before.

Anyway, please add your own and pass this on :)