Today’s Monday Mission:

1. Do you have any vacation time from work saved up for the Holidays? Or are you taking any time off or traveling this month? What are your plans?
I’ve got three days left to take, but might absent myself a bit more (time in lieu) if it’s possible. This year there might actually be call for me to be in the office, in which case 23-28 December is all I get.

2. When do you do most of your blogging? During the day, at work, at home, at night?
Early morning or early evening, I guess.

3. What tends to keep you from blogging more?
Lack of time. Better things to do (like sit on the couch with M).

4. Do you like dressing up and/or “role playing?”
Dressing up, yes. Role playing, no.

5. When choosing a mate, there are some things you can overlook (boob size, hairy backs, beer belly, bad teeth, hair lip, etc.) and some things you just can’t (see previous list). What are some of thing things you can live with when picking your partner, and what are the things that are a “must have?”
In terms of looks the only two things that really matters is height (he’s got to be taller than me) and (the area around the) eyes (I need to be able to look him in the eyes without being distracted by anything – I’d have problems with someone blind because of that). Mind you, I now know what my ideal man looks like, so I could describe him in detail if you like?

6. My neck and back are in a constant state of tension. In fact, on the rare occasion that someone gives me a neck/back-rub, I am so tense that it hurts when they work out the kinks. I am just more used to being tense than not. I think I need help. Have you ever had a professional massage or ever been to a Chiropractor?
Yes to both, and would again if necessary. In fact, professional massage is something I’d consider regularly if I had the money.

7. Inspired by the Amazing P3nis Patch…. Does size really matter? Girls, what is the real story and is that what you tell the guys? Have you ever been scared of one that was too big? For both: why do you think this debate is still going on?
Of course it does, but the key, as always, is compatibility, not “one size fits all”. Too big would quite definitely be bad (I mean, ouch!), but too small and you’d have to wonder if there was really any point to it, wouldn’t you? Not that I’ve really got any experience of either, to be honest.
As for why the debate still goes on? Well, I think it’s as inevitable as the debate on the size of women’s breasts and all other discussions to do with looks as they relate to sex and/or sex appeal – as long as people have differeing preferences (and they will, inevitably) and as longs as not everyone is 100% secure in their own looks (and let’s face it: that’s never going to happen, is it?) and as long (let’s not forget) as the media need something to write about when they’ve exhausted (or deceided to ignore) anything that’s actually newsworthy we’ll have these debates.

BONUS: Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?
And we all sing: “Feed the world! Let them know it’s Christmas time! Feed the world! Let them know it’s Christmas time! Feed the world! Let them know it’s Christmas time!” repeat to fade.

Meg and Anna are doing a Christmassy-blog-type-thingy. Go read.

That’s it, I most definitely have a cold in the head. I had to stop half-way through that sentence in order to blow my nose, and it now needs blowing again.

And as my nose is clogged up so I can’t breathe properly, my head already hurts and will get much worse as the day progresses.

I am feeling thoroughly sorry for myself and peevishly annoyed with the world in general.

Predicted amount of work I will get done today: None whatsoever.

Does that mean I might as well return home?

I thought as much.

…how much I love e.e.cummings’ poetry?

I thought I might have. Well, it’s worth repeating. I mean, I love Shakespeare, I love Dorothy Parker, I even enjoy the occasional romantic, but the only poet who can give me the shivers (literally) from “mere” wordsmithery is e.e.cummings.

I just thought you ought to know.

Voice in my head: noone reciting Anyone lived in a pretty how town

I’ve been doing some serious tidying today. Amongst other things I emptied the closet-cum-broomcupboard out completely and have been sorting through the contents. I have several big piles of “junk” now, some going in the garbage, some in the paper recycling receptacles and some to charity shops.

It feels good to have gotten this far, problem, of course, is I’m not done yet. At the moment it certainly doesn’t look like I’ve been tidying, it looks as if a bomb has hit the place (more so than usual). And on Saturday my parents are coming for dinner (there will be haggis. Mmmmm) and so I really need to get everything in order by then. Oh well, one more evening and most of Saturday to do it in, I guess.

Voice in my head: Bjørn Eidsvåg – Drømmemann

I’ve uploaded some pictures from the ball on Friday to the gallery. Unfortunately, they all seem to have measles. I think I need to clean the lens…

Yesterday’s Monday Mission:

1. Those paper toilet seat covers in public bathrooms, do you use them?
Unless the toilet seems particularly unclean, no.

2. What is on your Christmas Wish List for Santa to bring?
See the Christmas wish list entry.

3. In the month of November, Brian wrote over 50,000 words on his novel and is nearing completion. What did you accomplish in the month of November?
Not much. That’s not a very good answer, is it? I wrote a demo version of a data import which, if successful, might be used by most of NATO one day – is that an accomplishment?

4. Have you ever snuck into someplace that you shouldn’t have? Tell me about that.
Probably. The only place I can think of right now is an old abandoned house that used to stand just across the road from my school (they’ve torn it down now). It was creepy, but I think we probably made it more creepy than it really was.

5. Do you recall the first internet meme you participated in? How did you come to find out about it? Do you still participate? Why or why not?
I think the Friday Five was the first one I did regularly, and still do. Someone who’s blog I read regularly, though I can’t remember who, had done it one week and I just sort of kept going with it. It’s a good one.

6. Do you have any favorite internet or “streaming” radio programs or music channels you wish were available in your car or on a portable radio?
Nope. Haven’t started using internet channels yet.

7. Ever been skinny dipping? What’s the story there?
Yep. Staying up at the cabin during summer the only way to wash is to go swimming in one of the nearby lakes or ponds – and you can’t really wash while wearing a swimsuit, now, can you?