blamebrampton: 15th century woodcut of a hound (Default)
blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2009-04-25 11:11 pm

Further drive-by-ing

I have some sort of virus that is highly annoying. Mild fever, mild snot, and the ability to sleep for England. At least it is the weekend, so I can doze to my heart's content.

Am woefully behind on writing, reading, commenting and replying to comments still, but catching up on beta-ing. Bry and This_girl, I have not forgotten you!!

In cat news, Monster has just spent half an hour playing merrily with one of the crocheted mice Cal sent her for Christmas. She pounced, grabbed, nommed and tossed. What makes this amusing is that the other day she meekly and gently followed a marsupial rat all the way through the house making her 'will you play with me?' sound. The poor little rat was terrified and hopped as quickly as he could towards the back door (J and I spotted him and helped him outside before he could come to harm).

So Monster apparently believes that rodentia are only to be nommed when they are stuffed with catnip. Bless her gentle mad heart. And for anyone concerned, marsupial rats are insanely cute and hoppy, we have a small colony of them nearby, which is very unusual in highly urban areas. Luckily, there is a lot of native planting near us and a small wetland down beside the railway where many frogs, birds and small animals make their home.

It's Anzac Day here, where we remember the Australian and New Zealand troops who have fallen in various wars and other conflicts, and while serving their countries in peace time. I feel I should be writing something significant. But I am fatigued and blurry, and watching Independence Day, one of the trashier films ever made and surely a strange choice to air on a day like this.

And yet, I noticed two things I hadn't noticed before. In the passage when they are spreading the news about The Plan, the British troops are in the Iraqi desert and have one of the unspecified Arabic forces come running in and explain something urgently. An Israeli soldier translates: 'They are receiving a message in Morse code!' and the British officer then translates the message, and all of them celebrate and plan to act together.

I had to check the date it was made. 1996. Yep, that was an accurate depiction of the dreams of Clinton's America, even after the death of Rabin the year before. I liked those dreams.

The second thing I noticed was that a giant spaceship lands on Vaucluse. This is mildly amusing to anyone who has ever lived in Sydney.

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2009-04-25 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, I want a marsupial rat! They sound adorable. Only I know we could not let it roam, because my Annabel is a vicious hunter, despite looking like a little gray teddy bear.

Sleep well, and I hope you feel better soon.

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-25 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
They ARE! Soft and grey/brown like a normal brown rat, but with hoppy little legs and tufty little tail.

I want to be awake for a while! SO SLEEPY!

[identity profile] glass-violet.livejournal.com 2009-04-25 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Am glad you're not dead! I've negotiated a deal with the tall boy, whereby I get as much linen as I need to get started on that chemise, but I can't remember what I promised him in return. I have had many G'n'Ts, so please forgive me for this spelling and grammar mistake littered comment. I habe spent an inordinate amount of tiem over the last few days reading smutty HP fic, and it's all your fault! MWAH!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-25 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
But if you are reading smutty fic, you aren't reading MINE! *Weeps!*

Am glad you are not dead either. Sew, young one, sew like the wind!

[identity profile] glass-violet.livejournal.com 2009-04-25 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, you know how it is, I was just in the mood for a bit of graphic naughtiness. The novelty has pretty much worn off now, so I'll be back to reading yours very soon! After I've finished wasting time on the internet I'm going to sort out some scrap fabric on which to practice smocking...

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
YAY SMOCKING! It is good for you!

[identity profile] glass-violet.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I have decided the best practice would be to make a mini-smock for the small girl (and besides the practice, how adorable will she look?), but there is now the complicating factor of YF Invest, and the mending and further embellishment of old garb this requires. Smocking will begin after that, I think.

[identity profile] adores-draco.livejournal.com 2009-04-25 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I visited Sydney in 2002 and saw the Anzag Day parade. All those men and quite a few women as well. Some of them were sitting in wheelchairs and many had (at least) physical injuries. Some participants were really old.

They all looked wonderfully proud. I admired them but had a huge lump in my throat when I watched the march. I just couldn't help thinking all those scary things they had to experience (in their youth).

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
It is a very touching march and ceremony. The strange thing to me is how old the WWII verterans are. I remember them being so full of vigour at Remembrance Day memorials when I was young, but that was many years ago, which have passed for all of them, too.

[identity profile] snottygrrl.livejournal.com 2009-04-25 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
so sorry to hear you are sick, hon.

i'm just wibbly and mildly freaked as the time draws nigh.

i went and checked out a fortress for anzac day :D

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Fortress sounded cool! The sickness is not so nasty, just tres fatigued ... naptime again soon.

[identity profile] uminohikari.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
...omg marsupial rats *.* They are so cute! Monster is so cute!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
They really are the cutest rats in the world. And Monster is appallingly adorable. She wants to be friends with EVERYTHING!

[identity profile] shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Hope you feel better soon. Get J to fix you lots of tea, tomato soup and some toasted crumpet and you'll be feeling better in no time.....

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
We managed the toast and tea, alas, no soup. I really want some now! Thanks, miss. Will say something more useful as soon as I can stay awake long enough ...

[identity profile] brissygirl.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
Hope you feel better soon. Us Aussies have to stick together.

I went to my local ANZAC Day service and participated in the march. I always get chills up and down my spine during the service every year. I wear my Grandfather's medals from WW2.

After the service i had brekkie with some of the local Vet's it was very funny they were drinking beer and having shots of rum (probably Bundy)they are telling joke and old stories and included myself and my neighbour in the conversation. The VEt's were trying to get the two Cops at the table pissed tipping rum into their morning coffee. hehe

What kind of cats do you have? My mum breeds Burmese cats and just had a litter last weekend.

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I am only an adopted Aussie, but I agree with the sticking together sentiment ;-)

The services are so emotional, I think I can only manage one every five or so years. But that does sound exactly like veteran humour -- deeply naughty!

My cats are both moggies, one short haired and tortiseshell, one longer haired and black and white. Here's a shot of them when they first arrived, the black one is now three times fluffier and the tortie is four times bigger! http://blamebrampton.livejournal.com/29602.html#cutid1
ext_14590: (Default)

[identity profile] meredyth-13.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
*passes tissues and tea*

As I officially nap for Australia, there's a distinct possibility we could go head to head in the sleep olympics. I would like to see that.

I can't imagine anywhere better to crash land a spaceship - and I'm an ex Eastern Suburbs girl. Hopefully it also takes out both my old high schools. :D

btw - my cats know the difference between real fur and fake fur, and will not sink to playing with toys made with fake fur. I thought you needed to know this.

abtw - your name may have been mentioned fondly in dispatches this morning over eggs and caffeinated beverages. :D

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-04-26 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh thank you, dear! I had a vague notion of jumping on a plane and crashing your breakfast, but I slept till 2 instead. Made it out of bed by midday today, though I am aching like buggery at the moment. One day soon I will grab you both over a meal!

You were a Kincoppal girl, weren;t you? I long to buy that land and make it into an artists' commune!

And the toy mouse is crocheted wool, I will have you know. Of course, ratty was genuine rat, but apparently rats are our friends in Monster's head. Of course, toys made of elastic and feathers are even BETTER!