Nun of that!

[blamebrampton]

Back to punctuation in a moment, but first, a few 'we're not willing to finish being a pilgrim' moments. On Tuesday night there were hordes at Circular Quay station playing their tambourines and singing, I give them another four days before that sort of thing is met with an Offensive Behaviour charge.

This morning saw a large group of Argentine pilgrims on the train, all bound for the airport and thence New Zealand. Keep an eye out for those orange, yellow and red backpacks, Kiwis!

Then, at Central, I had a magical pilgrim moment.

There were three nuns, standing on a quiet part of the platform, dignified and graceful against the foggy clutter of the morning commuter traffic. Their white tunics and long white veils gave them an otherworldly air, blue scapulars fluttering lightly in the breeze, with elegant ropes of rosary beads across their left hips. They were young, smooth faces and joyful smiles, with clear complexions and perfect teeth. Where they French? I wondered. Scandinavian? I moved closer, until I could hear them speaking.

"So, you know, it was, like, really good!"

I managed not to giggle until I was at the other end of the platform, and wondered if it might not be worth suggesting to Californian orders that they work on that valleyspeak if they are committed to the whole dignity concept. But they were the sorts of nuns that would make schoolgirls consider vocations, even if they sounded like Buffy. Actually ... they could have been working a few weapons under those scapulars ...

People have been saying dumb things around me lately. Of a book: "It's really hard, the chapters are 10 pages long!" was wailed around the office yesterday. NB, this is the office of a publishing house. Of course, it doesn't beat last year's winning idiot comment:  "I still haven't read  the last three Harry Potters." "Well, you need to set aside some serious time to tackle big books like those." Heard in the office of what was then Australia's most prestigious magazine. Though I believe it was said by an ad rep.

Tonight's current affairs has brought a special moment, though. Joan Coates, an Australian member of the International Olympic Committee was on the 7.30 Report defending China, and expressing surprise at the pro-Tibet protests. "I mean, we could have had that here for our Olympics. We could have had people in Sydney protesting Iraq."

Yes. At the Sydney Olympics. In 2000. Moron.

Comments

[emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com]

AHAHA. I watched a bit of the 7:30 Report but I missed that.

And it's good to hear that even people who work in publishing houses are lazy. :) Although not so good when you consider that they determine the books that are released.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Luckily these were all magazine people, and I think yesterday's was really from the ad department, too.

Though I once had a chat with a book editor who was planning to get around to Shakespeare at some point.

Are you watching The Gruen Transfer? Did I just hallucinate an American add for a bedside gun rack? I'm scared!

[emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am, and no, you didn't hallucinate! I'm just slightly scared for my life.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The Pacific will save us! They will be too tired to shoot straight by the time they reach our shores. Although I'm now not so sure I want to move back to England, it's a bit close ...

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, it's Wednesday, isn't it? I missed Spicks and Specks too. Bugger. Serves me right for the appalling shiny that is So You Think You Can Dance. *sporks self*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It was good S&S ... Step away from the commercial TV, mere, come back to the ABC.

[emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a shame! You missed a U2 tribute band singing "Wake Up Jeff!" (Wait, is that how Jeff spells his name?)

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Well, pre-emptively you realise. They could have been those sorts that see the future, and protested events that hadn't happened yet?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Surely then they ought to have been protesting Tibet!

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Oh no, in fact, I think they should have protesting the complete meltdown of civilisation as we know it in 2048. *shrugs* To each their own I suppose.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

2048?! I'd better finish that novel so I can build the compound.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

*stands by my Olympic boycott*

OMG! You do realise you just bunnied Joss for a series on weapon wielding, valley-speak nuns out there and doing it?

Of course, I did wonder briefly if a scapula was some kind of bone.

Poor New Zealand - 100% guaranteed to get all our rejects and refugees. ;)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It makes a pleasant change from sending them all to Nauru ...

I was happy to see them all rugged up properly, though. If they thought it was cold in Sydney this morning, wait until they hit Christchurch.

I would TOTALLY watch a Joss ninja nun series. Especially if it had singing.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Am I the only one having horrible Sally Field Flying Nun visions right now? I seem to remember gratuitous singing and dangerous guitar wielding - not to mention the damage that hat could have done to innocent bystanders - standing 10 feet away.

If we have ninja nuns, we're going to have to have pirate nuns - it's a cosmic balance thing, you know?

Argh - then I tried to envisage a Captain Jack Sparrow Nun. I think my brain is bleeding.

I love getting on the plane from Brisbane to Melbourne or Canberra. My natural sadism kicks in when the pilot or copilot calmly announces 'and it's a balmy 8 degrees outside' and all those short and thong wearing buggers starting shivering and moaning. I imagine Christchurch has many similar moments.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am used to Christchurch, being a frequent visitor, but last winter it plummeted 15 degrees in 24 hours. People were hiding in the corners of buildings where the heat collected. I bought a length of wool and wrapped it around myself and my 11-year-old Kiwi friend.

"We look like orphans!" she complained.

"Yes," I replied,"but WARM orphans!"

I think pirate nuns may have already been done in the colonial period ...

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Remind me to give you Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog, speaking of Joss and singing (but not nuns).

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OOH! Yes please and I can send it down to meredyth, who missed it! LOVE YOU DEENSE!

[empress-jae.livejournal.com]

scary. i actually considered becoming a nun when i was a little girl.

i also aspired to be a ninja, so go figure. i was such a strange kid. :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You would make an ideal Joss Weddon heroine!

[empress-jae.livejournal.com]

i think i'd be an awesome joss heroine! the black, badass bible toting, wanna be ninja-bitch? the ratings would soar!

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Hey BB. I am tired and emo today so I'm lacking in decent wit but I still had to say that this cracked me up. Valley Girl nuns and the bit about setting aside serious time to tackle big books like children's novels. Your world is funny!

Oh and congrats on surviving the pilgrams. If they left without any major sewage flooding, that's a success! When they left here, I remembered thinking, "I wonder how many of them are pregnant now...."

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

No, it's okay, the Swedes were picking up the condoms. Our protesters are thoughtful!

I am tired and deranged (I am too old for emo), but I suspect that is because I am up after midnight watching the Tour de France and writing about apostrophes. I hope you get a good snooze and a big dose of cheer!

And yes, my world is very silly.

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Yes, the Tour's been all over our tv screen too. I don't know anyone this year though, at least no one I care to follow. It's more my hub's thing than mine so I only every know a handful of riders. Most of my fav's got the boot for doping... *shrugs*

And bah, we are never to old for emo. Are we? Oh! Am I to old for emo? Hmmm. What is a more age appropriate way of brooding and wallowing? Cigarettes and whiskey? lol

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy your posts? The World Youth ones have been especially entertaining.

Valley girl nuns and publishing sorts that require 'serious time' to read HP and think ten pages make a long chapter? *grins*

[literalgrl.livejournal.com]

On the topic of people saying stupid things at work...I used to work at Blockbuster. And when Pride and Prejudice came out, I mentioned something or other about Jane Austen. And the resounding response was:

*drumroll, trust me, you'll need it*

"Who's that? Was she in the movie?"