Weekend wibblings...

[cybermule]

Gave the house a blitz on Saturday morning. I haven't touched it in about 6 weeks and it was filthy. So I've finally hoovered up the layer of cat hair, cleaned the bathroom and even dusted, which I tend to do somewhat irregularly.

Saturday night was "Kill Bill" with my brother and his GF. This cheered me up a bit - housework always makes me depressed, and together with certain work and emotional problems, I'd got myself into a bit of a mess by the time I went out. But the film was pretty good. Not great, IMO - it was a bit slow and predictable, but maybe that will change in the second volume. However, I really enjoyed the style, particularly the cartoon-y bit, and generally had a good time. Saw the trailer to the new Matrix film, and wish to state comperhensively that I will not be going to see that.

Ate pizza at my brother's place while watching his "pirates of the carribbean" DVD (don't ask!), then crawled home ridiculously late, with a sore throat and headache :( Still felt crappy on Sunday, so I took advantage of the fact that I didn't have to do Mom's shopping until Monday to get some provisions and spend the day wrapped up in my quilt, self-medicating and watching cartoons. Watched a neat documentary on Pompeii. Then had bad dreams about volcanoes :P

Monday was incredibly busy, which took it out of me again. Went walking very early in the morning. I saw a massive hawk dragging a rabbit along - gross, but fascinating. There's a cute little lake near my hometown, so I went wandering around that. It was so still and frosty... amazing. That kind of recharged my batteries (must do country walks more often!), which was good because I needed it for the day ahead :P

Got home, tidied up a little (my family are VERY messy - it's best to get ahead of yourself). Then my brother phoned and asked if I'd drop in with my mom. I wasn't sure, but then neither of them have a car, so I feel like I kind of have to. Went to get my mother and took her to the housing office, where I argued endlessly with a council officer. Net result - my mom has an extra 60 points and has shot up the waiting list. So at least I feel like I did something concrete. We then had to do some shopping (Mom always runs out of money conveniently just before I take her shopping *sigh*) and hang around for my brother for an hour or so. Nonetheless, I enjoyed spending a bit of time with my mom, and cheering her up a bit.

Saw bro for half an hour, had curry for tea, then took my mom home, came home myself, showered and collapsed in bed for 10 hours. Still have a sore throat :(

Actually had quite a good day at work - some entries on my friends page cheered me up, I patched up a couple of sticky situations with my colleagues and got through a lot of narky tasks. Even phoning two people, which I've been putting off for about a month. I'm going to spend the evening catching up on a huge backlog of emails and working on my new website. Oh, and maybe watching one or two cartoons :P

In short, after a really shitty couple of weeks, I start to feel some serenity returning :)

Comments

[unsane1.livejournal.com]

Saw the trailer to the new Matrix film, and wish to state comperhensively that I will not be going to see that.


whaaaaaaat?

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Heheh :P OK, I might see it on video, but although I loved the first one, the second one bored the pants off me, and part 3 looks like more of the same. Nice ideas, but I'm just fed up of Neo flying around like Superman.

[unsane1.livejournal.com]

I recall being blown away by the theatrical trailer, basically the opposite reaction you had, so I had to rewatch it right now.

And you know what, you are right. There is basically no hint of philosophy in the trailer, and a lot of action. I sure hope that's a reflection of targetted marketing rather than of the movie itself. :/

However despite part 2 being worse than part 1 for me overall (tho i prefer part 2 to part 1 right now because i've seen part 1 too many times and analyzed it to death), I found that there was enough philosophy and ideas to keep me very interested.

It all depends how they spin the final episode. Hopefully Smith is the true good guy and Neo is the bad guy, but I have my doubts hollywood would do that.

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

There is basically no hint of philosophy in the trailer, and a lot of action. I sure hope that's a reflection of targetted marketing rather than of the movie itself. :/

I hope so too. I defended The Matrix stubbornly against all my evil INTP friends, and was a bit pissed off when the second one was a bit off. Like you said, it would be good if they turned around all the expectations in the final part, but I think it just got too "Hollywood-ed" in the second part. Just stopped surprising me, although maybe I should watch it again, seeing as you have such a good opinion.

[unsane1.livejournal.com]

I defended The Matrix stubbornly against all my evil INTP friends


heh, do intps generally dislike the matrix? if so, what reasons do they give?


Just stopped surprising me, although maybe I should watch it again, seeing as you have such a good opinion.


well, i've only seen it 3 times, but each time i saw it i understood more of the intricacies of the story. i'll probly watch it again today or tomorrow and see if i can confirm that there's not much really going on.

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

heh, do intps generally dislike the matrix?

Well, I've only got a sample size of 2, but it seems so. I think the phrase "playschool philosophy" was used. But TBH, one was the sort of person who likes neat philosophical ideas that they can debate at the dinner table. He'd broken it down into simple questions of reality and determinism, and isn't really into ideas of alternate realities. Like, more into philosophising than thinking, if you see what I mean. I will give it another watch at home, where I can concentrate - I think I've grown to trust your opinion more!

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

So I've finally hoovered up the layer of cat hair,

Did you keep any? If you get bored you can always start weaving a cat hair rug/blanket. Should be nice a comfy....

I will not be going to see that.

Heh, I have no interest in Kill Bill, but I definitely want to see the new Matrix.

watching cartoons. Watched a neat documentary on Pompeii

Cartoons and documentaries both good... Nightmares about volcanoes good... Nightmares and cartoons and documentaries not so good...

It's always good when you have a relaxing place to walk around near your house. The best place for me is about 150 miles away (called Enchanted Rock). It's nothing but a big granite dome, but its pretty and jumping from bolder to bolder is relaxing to me even though I'm terrified of heights and last time I did that I nearly plumeted 50 feet down a chimney I didn't see.

I hate cleaning (never remember to do it either)... That's why I moved in a neat freak for a roommate. I cook most of the time and he cleans. He gets cheap rent, I get more money to put into savings!

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Did you keep any? If you get bored you can always start weaving a cat hair rug/blanket

Heheh - I've thought about turning my cat into a hat at times, when she's just thrown up or peed somewhere really annoying. I've never kept enough fluff to make a blanket though...

Nightmares and cartoons and documentaries not so good...

ninneviane kindly did a dream analysis for me. I keep getting nightmares at the moment. Mostly about zombies. I think I'm maybe a bit stressed or something.

It's always good when you have a relaxing place to walk around near your house

Yeah - it's a beautiful spot:

http://www.cybermule.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/temp.jpeg

That rock sounds pretty neat. Where is it you live? I'm the same - terrified of boulder jumping (nasty accident during my teens :(), but still compelled to leap around like a rather graceless mountain goat.

I hate cleaning (never remember to do it either)...

Yeah - I mostly work on the "boom and bust" cycle. I leave it for ages, then it suddenly pisses me off and I have to clean. Then I swear that I'll keep it cleaner from now on... etc.

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

I've thought about turning my cat into a hat at times

I wear my cat as a wrap every now and then. Can't wear her outside though, she gets scared and digs into my jugular....

Mostly about zombies.

I have nightmares like that sometimes. Of course mine are all really campy... I had one where I was getting chased by demons and ended up hiding in a haylof in my grandma's den (note my grandma most definitely does not have a hayloft in her den... it's in the garage). I think I've watched too much Buffy, Angel, and Army of Darkness...

Last nightmare I had that actually scared me was when I was 4 years old. We had just moved into a new house and I dreamed that my brother and I went to check the mail when a demon popped out of the mailbox and dragged my brother down to hell. A few years later my brother started doing drugs. Still bugs me sometimes. That and cruise ships (old recurring nightmare of falling off a cruise ship and getting mutilated by the props).

Yeah - it's a beautiful spot

Definitely is a beautiful spot. I live in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Enchanted Rock is near Fredricksberg (which is a nice town to walk through). Lots of Native American stories regarding that rock.

I leave it for ages

I do the same thing, except what determines when I clean is when I need to find something. Like tonight. Need to find my truck registration since it expired in June.... Don't need another ticket, insurance is expensive enough...

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Can't wear her outside though, she gets scared and digs into my jugular....

Heheh - bless 'em, eh? I've got big scratches down my back from where my cat decided it was unreasonable for me to turn over in bed. Must remember not to change in front of anyone for a while...

Of course mine are all really campy

LOl - I'd actually quite like campy. I had a phase of being chased by waltzing skeletons, but I mostly just dream of wastelands and vast lonely expanses of sea :/

A few years later my brother started doing drugs.

Yikes - that would be hard not to see it as a scary premonition. I hope your bro has come through that. I'm not that innocent and clean living, but there are some borders that crossing seems to mess most ppl up.

I live in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Ah - I always thought Texas would be quite cool. But then, like I was saying to KidKarrot elsewhere, a lot of it is just contrast to SW England, with its water and trees. Plus, I always tend to think of each state as one tiny isolated spot that I saw in a photo once :D

Need to find my truck registration since it expired in June

Hmm - American trucks always confuse me. Do you mean big goods vehicles or pickups?

Still bugs me sometimes. That and cruise ships (old recurring nightmare of falling off a cruise ship and getting mutilated by the props).

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

that would be hard not to see it as a scary premonition

Actually I do have premonitions. Always about meaningless stuff (like the conversation I'll have over dinner in 3 weeks or something like that). Really frieks people out when you start saying exactly what their saying at exactly the same time...

Do you mean big goods vehicles or pickups

Sorry, pickup. To be specific a 1986 Dodge Ram longbed. Good farm truck (not so good in a large city. Can barely park the thing, but I love it).

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Actually I do have premonitions.

Hmm. I have occasionally, but not as a regular thing so I couldn't draw any useful conclusion as to whether I believed in them. You're really quite odd, aren't you? That's more of a compliment than an insult, BTW.

Sorry, pickup

Thanks. I thought you meant Heavy Goods Vehicles, but then you didn't seem like a truck driver :P We don't have to have special licenses for pickups. Maybe we should - they're a bit big for most English roads.

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

You're really quite odd, aren't you? That's more of a compliment than an insult, BTW.

I've always relished in other people thinking I'm odd. I enjoy it. I remember bits and pieces from past lives, I abandoned Christianity, I have premonitions and almost always know my dreams are dreams when I'm dreaming. I try to exert control over my subconscious rather than the other way around. I just like to do things ways people never have.

I prefer the term weird or insane, and don't ever call me psycho, but other than that it doesn't matter. *cackle*

We don't have to have special licenses for pickups

We don't have to have a special license for pickups either. We have special licenses for Motorcycles, cars/pickups/vans, and commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, large vans, etc).

Course Texas does have special license plates for pickups. Don't know if any other state does...

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

I've always relished in other people thinking I'm odd.

Mmm. I quickly realised (once I started school) that there was no way I was ever really going to fit in, and after a short while I also decided that I didn't even want to. So from then on, I decided to be as strange as possible :)

I just like to do things ways people never have.

yeah - I understand that. I guess I just like being quietly awkward :)

[unsane1.livejournal.com]

Cartoons and documentaries both good... Nightmares about volcanoes good...


heh, lemme meld kill bill with dreams. A friend of mine told me that the night after seeing kill bill he had his usual flying dreams, except that instead of the view of earth being realistic/photographic, it was cartooney. He found that annoying, but I thought it would be neat.

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

He found that annoying, but I thought it would be neat.

Heheh - would definitely be most cool. I'm becoming obsessed with cartoons, and the way they convey such complex ideas in a few lines. The older ones are best. I got in trouble at work for doing little cartoony schematics of the download processes we were getting ppl to use - everyone thought that big bulky screenshots were much better *sigh*

[kidkarrot.livejournal.com]

The only thing that made the movie predictable in my opinion was that Uma Thurman was playing the starlet role. Tarantino really likes her style, so if she's the hero, then yep, 'good' will win. The rest of it was a cartoon, of course, so I do hope the sequel will be more worth it. I haven't seen the Matrix 3 trailer yet, so what strikes you as so bad about the movie?

Cleaning does suck, but when I'm in my new house, I'm sure my cleanliness standards are going to shoot vertical because it will be a place I finally own! *bounce* Then, at the housewarming party, you can join me on a nice country walk around a waterless landscape with a sad pile of boulders people call the Organ Range. ;)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Tarantino really likes her style, so if she's the hero, then yep, 'good' will win.

*nods* I think that was pretty much the problem. It just seemed layed out from the start, so I'm hoping the sequel will be a bit more interesting. I'm quite a fan of slow "vendetta" westerns and "Japanese Westerns", but this seemed to take their slowness and leave behind the intensity of the interaction of personalities. I didn't hate it, but I guess I was expecting more of it.

I haven't seen the Matrix 3 trailer yet, so what strikes you as so bad about the movie?

Heh - see comment to unsane1 above - basically I loved Matrix 1, but Matrix 2 was dull (other than Agent Smith ;P) and the thrid part looks more of the same. I'll probably watch it eventually, but not at the cinema.

it will be a place I finally own! *bounce*

Yeah - I'm way fussier now I own my own place. Although, not so fussy that I quite get around to cleaning. I guess I use all my organising energies (and they are few!) on my garden.

Looking forward to that walk :) I loved the desert in California - so different to the SW of England... no water, few trees, piffling little piles of boulders ;)

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

I loved the desert in California

*chuckle* if you want no water, few trees, and flat land dirve the 600 miles from San Antonio to El Paso (west texas). You get a tree every few miles, shrubs every few hundred feet and the occassional oil well.

I definitely prefer the central TX hill country to the pseudo-desert of west TX, SE NM.

And kidkarrot, do I get an invite to the house warming? not sure I have access to transportation, but it'd be nice to be invited *grin*

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

And kidkarrot, do I get an invite to the house warming? not sure I have access to transportation, but it'd be nice to be invited *grin*

So how far do you guys live apart? I've no real grasp of the scale in the US :P

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

IIRC, he's about 600-650 miles (sorry, don't remember km conversion) west and what 60-70 miles north. Only about 650 as the road goes I think... (its 583 to El Paso, he'd no better from El Paso to him though).

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

I like your dreamcatcher icon :)

It's OK - we use miles over here. And that's about as far as it is from my town to the end of Scotland!

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

Well, let's see. Its about over a thousand miles from one end of texas to the other along I-10, and about 600 along I-35 (I-10 is east west and I-35 is north-south, but hit San Antonio). Course that's road miles...

As the saying goes: Everything is bigger in Texas.

Maybe that's why we're now the most overweight city in the US! I feel like an outcast be quite a bit underweight myself (if you haven't seen it, kidkarrot is fond of saying i can turn sideways and disappear).

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

if you haven't seen it, kidkarrot is fond of saying i can turn sideways and disappear

LOL - that's a neat trick :)

Unimaginable distances! I don't think the entire length of Britain is that much, and I've only personally driven about 300 miles :P

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

Not too far. A few months ago I drove to southern Ohio (1450 miles by road) in 24 hours. That 24 hours includes a 2.5 hour nap and being lost in Cincinnati (sp?) for 1.5 hours. Also got stuck in rush hour in a construction zone in Little Rock for 1 hour.

That was a long drive.

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Blegh - I get boggled by more than about 600 miles in a day. Even if I nap, my brain just refuses to drive any more...

[fyatuk.livejournal.com]

I have issues driving for more than 5 or 6 hours straight in daylight. The sun starts getting to me. During the day I stop at every rest stop and walk around for a bit.

During the night its non-stop as much as possible.

Course I also hate driving in cities (on highways at least). I'm much more comfortable when I can't see any buildings.

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

I'm much more comfortable when I can't see any buildings.

Yeah - that's quite hard to do in England, although you can avoid cities quite well. Hate driving in towns - too many ppl all in one space, getting really stressed. But to drive any distance you have to use the motorways, and they've got they're own set of problems.

Blech. Guess I don't like driving anywhere, except the open country road :P

[ninneviane.livejournal.com]

I can't help but comment on your dream, forgive the intrusion, but it's my thing **smiles**

Volcanoes usually suggest suppressed or deeply buried feelings or emotion, I'd be interested to know if it was erupting in the dream, given that you mention further back in this post work and emotional problems.
Seeing as you watched a programme on Pompeii before bed, it could also suggest feelings of being trapped or helpless when it comes to the feeling and/or emotions symbolised by the volcano itself.

Whilst it's true that the day events do have an influence on dreams the night after, it's only because the sub-conscious is adept at using 'new' symbology to get its message across...basically because it's fresh in your mind, and will have certain emotions attached to it already. The sub-conscious is a clever old thing and will try latching onto anything, if it thinks that you have a chance of understanding it :)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

I can't help but comment on your dream, forgive the intrusion, but it's my thing **smiles**

No problem - thx for taking the trouble. I've never quite got around to dream interpretation - I should, cos I have some mental dreams - but I've read a lot on symbolism and semiotics and stuff. It's my newest hobby. The trapped and helpless feelings could be spot on - there was an eruption in my dream, and I have been feeling really pissed off and frustrated recently - new responsibility for my mom, and ppl annoying me at work. I was really sarcastic to them on Friday, which isn't like me at all.

I'll consult you next time I have a weird one!

[ninneviane.livejournal.com]

Yes do! I love picking through a dream! **beams**

I've been fascinated by them since I was quite small, overly fascinated, due to their mystery and the fact that I dreamt very vividly keeping good memory of them.
When I got my first dream interpretation book a few years ago I was hooked! :)

On thinking about it further...
Volcano's can also symbolise buried potential (looking into the pit of fire), and the ability to remold one's landscape (errupting)...metaphorically speaking.

The most important thing to note when examining one's dreams, are the personal emotions attached to the symbolism. It's all about how it makes you feel, rather than a blanket interpretation out of a book. Some symbols mean different things to different people.

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Mmm - I'm fascinated by dreams too. I seem to dream VERY vividly, and have moderately good recall. I'm trying to train myself to remember more, but that slipped recently (too much stress!). Eventually I'm going to be good, and get up 15 mins earlier for some meditation and writing down my dreams.

I guess the buried potential might make sense too - that's one of the reasons I'm getting wound up at work. There just doesn't seem to be any opportunity to express myself, and to use a little of the skills I've got outside work. Serves me right for becoming a programmer, but then I think ppl should see other ppl as a whole, rather than just work.

The most important thing to note when examining one's dreams, are the personal emotions attached to the symbolism

*nods* Very true! Like, for example, I dream of the sea a lot, and it means a huge complex thing to me, rather than just looking it up in a dream dictionary and getting just one blanket definition. Do you know any good websites on dreams and interpretation?