Archive for April, 2009

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Good Scottish Weather

April 29, 2009
This is me. Behind me is... an assload of construction. Behind the assload, however, is the Edinburgh Castle! I went up there enjoyed the sights, and the wind, and very nearly had a seagull land on my head. I think it mistook my hair for a pastry.

This is me. Behind me is... an assload of construction. Behind the assload, however, is the Edinburgh Castle! I went up there enjoyed the sights, and the wind, and very nearly had a seagull land on my head. I think it mistook my hair for a pastry.

The sun came out for a few hours today, to spoil me. Neil Gaiman once described the north of Scotland as a place where “the bones of the world show through,” and although I am nowhere near that, brooding in in Ediburgh and overhearing stuffy conversations about art (really now – if you’re viewing a delightful picture in a delightful museum, do you HAVE to launch into a “oh yes, naturally we have some of his work, but ours are from a more refined period in his life…”?), I can feel these bones here as they slope toward the surface of things.

Which is not to say I am not feeling terrific. I am. Edinburgh is exactly the sort of visually intense place I could picture myself settling in if I had more options. You can feel yourself swishing in through the ghosts at night here. Or do they actually swish through you? I can never tell.

I’ve another adventure planned for myself tomorrow – I’m horrible with adventures, really, but I must do what I have set out to do or I will hate myself later – don’t know yet if it will be a raging disaster or a pinnacle of awesome. Let’s just say it involves heading back south, for now.

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Monday Music: the London in Raging Bloom Edition

April 28, 2009

I’ve got the dirt of Regent’s Park on my jeans, and I am headed to Scotland tomorrow. The music here should be able to capture at least some of that, if my technology is as smart as it claims to be:

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London has thrown me on the pavement and ravaged me

April 26, 2009

In a good way. So far.

That’s why I am not blogging; I am too consumed with living life. In these short, brilliant bursts that can’t possibly be referred to as “days,” every detail wants to be noticed and fawned upon, from a silk scarf flapping in the wind like a standard to a distant light appropriately filtering through a glass of rosé on the window.

I must, however, report on my meeting with the lovely Helen, a.k.a. the bird of paradox. Have you ever experienced one of those glorious, meandering, hilarious and devastating conversations that basically reaffirm your flagging faith in humanity? I did. Today. In a little place on Fuham Road, during champagne brunch.

Thank you so much for that, Helen. And so sorry for getting lost and being late. It’s like my feet kept carrying me in the wrong direction, desperate for more and more London pavement. The girl can’t help it. Or else her sense of direction just sucks.

Oh, and please accept your fate as an influential blogger. You have no choice in the matter. The case has been closed.

:)

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Never a Zenit fan, Never an Arsenal fan – but Arshavin? God-daymn

April 22, 2009

And I mean it. God-daymmmn.

That’s it. I don’t think I have anything cleverer to say.

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Thanks to Sarah, Matt, Anonymous Donor & Various Others

April 22, 2009

So if you have been around me lately, you know that I’ve been quite the ray of darkness these days. There hasn’t been a tragedy, nobody is dead or ill, and – inshallah – nobody will be dead or ill any time soon. It’s just that I have found myself in a private little hell here in Jordan, and have concentrated on stewing in it for months now. I have become so good at stewing that I have forgotten how to do anything else.

It’s gotten so bad that I rejoice whenever I get sick – since I can stay locked up in the house completely guilt-free. But there is no black hole without a silver lining. And there are people I need to thank for being the silver lining.

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Parody of Johann Hari’s piece on Dubai

April 21, 2009

If you know me well enough, you probably realize that I am as likely to go off on a tirade about one of the Gulf states as anyone. However, even if I leave my professional role aside for a moment, I still must say that this parody on Johann Hari is priceless. Notice that the author does not skewer the valid points Hari made in his piece (such as the stuff on labourer rights, etc.). Notice, also, that it is freaking hilarious.

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Monday Music: the “Can It Be?” edition

April 20, 2009

So unless the gods fail me in a major way (it’s been known to happen), I’m off to London this Friday. I don’t think I’ve ever needed a holiday more. I fully intend on doing some traveling outside the city, as well as within it, and there are people and places on my agenda.

The other part of my agenda is “chilling the fuck out.” I wish I could put it in a nicer way, but I can’t.

With that in mind, this Monday Music edition must start off with the new Tori Amos single – a song about not forgetting who the hell you are when you’re living in a place that’s utterly Not Home (and for me, that place is Jordan): “You better bring your own sun, sweet girl.”

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This Stupid Slag is Not Amused by Tanya Gold

April 20, 2009

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know that I’ve no love lost for Tanya Gold’s recent writing on the Guardian. First she labels all beauty contestants as stupid slags who should be used as battering rams and tampons, and now she has decided to compliment the lovely Susan Boyle by calling her a “sad little Scottish spinster.”

It’s odd, because on one level, I want to agree with Tanya Gold. I modeled a few times when I was younger and thinner; I like to think I’ve no illusions about industries and businesses that trade in looks, particularly women’s looks. Of course, I’m just another piece of blood-soaked cotton for having done it, I ought to just shut up and let the Tanya Golds of the world speak on my behalf.

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Happy Orthodox Easter! Time for kulichi!

April 19, 2009

…Well, not for me, I am in Jordan.  But will be eating kulichi in spirit. Since this is a spiritual holiday, I figure I can swing it.

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Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent

April 16, 2009

Here.

Isn’t she lovely? Isn’t she wicked? I think we needed her.

I don’t care if this is one of those “good television” moments that people like me are supposed to sneer at.

I am of the opinion (not a very humble opinion) that few things are better than a joyous woman with a sad song in her. Somebody needs to get on their game and write a novel about this already.

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