all made up with nowhere to go

I really ought to make myself some sort of cooking icon. Even though I talk about it infrequently.

I have been convinced for years that chocolate brownies were difficult to make. I made some a couple of days ago, convinced I was going to mess them up BIG TIME. Well, let me tell you, they're literally the easiest thing I've made. The worst part was mixing in the flour and cocoa, but that's because my wrists hurt if I so much as look at them funny. Also I think the chocolate started to set before I could get all the mixture out of the bowl, so it sat there in the middle of the pan looking sorry for itself.

Anyway, they turned out fine and I am going to make another batch very, very soon! (And mum practically begged me at dinner time to make some more. So I guess I am on a promise now!)

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I have finished watching Lost. I did not think the final episode would make me cry, but it did and, for the first time since I did this rewatch, Matthew Fox actually turned me into a sobbing mess. Though at that point, I'd been crying off and on during most of the episode, so I suppose that was the icing on a very a soggy cake.

I did not remember anything about the episode, even though I've already seen it.

I think the epilogue was pointless (except for Walt - that bit was nice), but that's just imo.

I think there was a lot of wasted space/opportunity, and there are attempts to explain things that probably don't need explaining. Like, there didn't need to be a flashback episode about Richard, I don't think. Nor the one about Jacob and his brother, but that's just my opinion. I think there was too much backing and forthing in the jungle, and I think ( there's a spoiler here ) Again, though, just imo. If I ever watch it again, I might be more lenient on it, I don't know.

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I bought some OPI nail varnishes as a treat, because I've wanted some for years (but they are hella expensive - though I didn't pay full price for these). They are legit the nicest varnishes I've ever used. They go on nicely, and here I am two days later, and they haven't even chipped.

I've got two different green sparkly/glitter ones, one silver one sparkly/glitter, and a bright orange one that has the worst pun name ever (it's called Rolling in the Hague).

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I did some research about the more deserty states in America, and I am surprised by how empty the US is. Like, there are only 2 or 3 million people in some of them, for example. I always think America is very densely populated, and then you have a state the size of, I dunno, New Mexico, which has less people in its entirety than Wales does. Which kind of baffles me. Perhaps I am just easily baffled, and America is bigger than I think, and has less people per square mile than I think it ought to.

I need to do some more research, though, because holy inspiration, Batman!

Still watching Lost. Up to episode six of season six.

( mumblings; potential spoilers )

Relatedly, we had to get a new DVD player because we'd had the old one for years. I think it's lasted well, considering it was a cheap make, and it was a freebie. So we got a Sony one and it's kind of amazing?? If you plug an HDMI cable (which I did, because we don't have the other kind of cable it can take), it will upscale your DVD to HD automatically. The sound quality is great. And it has a USB slot so you can plug in a memory stick and play music or watch videos!! (Though I can do that with the TV anyway, as it also has a USB slot). And it's so small! And light!

Anyway, I'm really impressed with it, because everyone in Lost looks even more awesome than usual. (And nobody sounds like they're mumbling any more, which is great!)

~

I have been writing a lot recently! I'm taking my third stab at attempting to get a finished version of the abominations story which, I suppose, makes it like the third draft or something. Except I've totally gutted everything and started from the ground up. Sort of. The details are the same, it just happens differently.

I'm writing it all out by hand, because the computer offers too many distractions. So I have no idea how many words that is. I'm not putting in too much detail (going to do that on the second pass on the computer) - I'm just trying to get the characters from A to B so that C can happen, and then D. And you know what? I think I actually have a three act story? I'm still in the first at the moment, but C definitely is in the second, and D is in the third.

*horrified gasp*

My characters are being recalcitrant, but that is really no different from the norm, tbh.

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It's my birthday tomorrow. I'm going to be 36. My birthday really snuck up on me this year. But I kind of don't mind. I said to mum earlier that I'm kind of past the point of caring about them. I just kind of feel now like, "Oh, another year has passed", because I really don't feel any different than I did several years ago. In fact my brain keeps going, "We're thirty six? NO FREAKING WAY, MAN!" because I really don't feel it.

I am seven episodes into season five of Lost. Most of what happened, I thought was season four. Since I conflated seasons one and two like this, I suppose I shouldn't really be surprised at myself. I also think I watched more of S5 than I thought I did (I thought I watched up to The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, but then no further, but I stopped the episode before Some Like It Hoth, if the IMDB's synopses are to be believed).

Naveen Andrews continues to be ridiculously attractive. So does Ian Henry Cusick.

According to my old lj entries, I enjoyed the beginning of S5, and then it got boring at some point, and that's when I gave up for good. So far this is holding true. It's certainly been less boring than a similar amount of episodes in S4. I said to mum that, even though we're into the stretch of less eps per season, I think some stuff is dragged out, and could have done to have been tightened up writing-wise. (Although certainly not as draggy or useless as some episodes in the previous series).

I have completely forgotten why ( this spoiler happens )

I also don't think the Widmore/Hawking swerve that this season/the previous season has taken. I don't get the point of it, given they already had the framework in place for [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] and why didn't they just keep up with that? They could've finished the whole series a whole lot sooner, I reckon. And I don't think it adds anything to the story. I suppose I may change my mind come the end of S5, but I doubt it.

I successfully ignored the inauguration (on at least five channels, all at once!) by watching Lost. I am now into the last third of season three. I am very whiffly about it. I don't think three is a good season over all, and I almost stopped watching because the first however many episodes are boring. But I didn't! I will persevere!

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I missed a meme question yesterday!

lassarina said: a place you want to travel to

This is very difficult!

There are lots of places I would like to travel to. I would like to travel to Japan, Norway, Canada, and Egypt. I'd also like to go to Iran. I'd like to go back to Wales, specifically to the Brecon Beacons so I can appreciate them (I went once, possibly a couple of times, when I was much younger and I don't remember much about it).

I would also like to go to Cambodia, and Vietnam, and Thailand. And China.

Ireland would be good, too. And Ecuador. And Mexico. And probably Peru.

There's places in America I'd like to go to, but they're less of an urgent want, if that makes sense?

Essentially I want to do a round the world trip with infinite time and money. But I know I'll likely never get to any of these places (bar Wales and maybe Ireland) because I don't think I'll ever set foot on a plane. And I'll probably never have the money either (depressing, but likely true). But it's nice to think about what it might be like if I go to these places, though.

~

Comics meet tomorrow and with any luck I will be going (I'm going to be seriously mad if I can't). I had an anxiety dream about it last night. (I dreamt I missed my bus because I got carried away playing a video game from my youth, then it was dark out, and a long time to wait for the next bus, so I couldn't start walking home. Then I was worried about mum, and then I don't know what happened, because the cat woke me up to tell me the world was ending because she was hungry).

I'm going to do two questions in one go, because I missed one yesterday (whoops) and I'm doing tomorrow's early. Because it's my meme, and I can! (Also sometimes I legit forget to switch the computer on if I'm not doing anything on it already, sooooo...)

lassarina said: fictional character you would most like to meet

I have been thinking about this question since I got it, and I have not thought of a good answer. I really can't think of anyone I would actually like to meet! Well, I mean, I can form a short list, but I don't know as I would actually want to talk to anyone? And if they'd want to talk to me, you know?

(Sorry, that makes me sound like a right misery guts; I haven't slept well, so I might come back to this one!)

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helvetica asked: What is your morning routine?

I generally get woken up by the cat telling me that she is STARVING and that the world will END and we will all DIE if she is not fed RIGHT NOW. This is usually between half six to seven in the morning. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, she'll let me sleep longer, but I've not been lucky for a looong time.

So I get up, feed the cat, and check on my mum. Then I go back to bed for a bit, and check my email on my phone and catch up on twitter. Then I reluctantly peel myself out of bed again, get dressed, and go to have my breakfast (which is generally just a cup of coffee because I never feel like eating first thing).

(Sometimes I also play Pokemon Shuffle while I'm having my breakfast, but I haven't been doing that recently).

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I am into early season three of Lost, and I have three four things to say:

1) Jack is still a colossal plank.

2) The first six episodes are filler, right? I've always thought they're boring and this time is no different. I actually sat through the ones I saw this afternoon thinking about what bits I would keep and which I'd ditch. (Nikki and Paolo are top of the list ;) I thought they might not annoy me so much this time around but dude, they are so pastede in that I can't even).

3) Sayid is still the most awesome thing that ever awesomed, and I appreciate all the close-ups of Naveen Andrews looking lovely.

4) I had legit forgotten what happened to the hatch.

Watching Lost is really weird at the moment.

It's sort of like I'm watching it for the first time, but also that I know exactly what happens. Also I remember WAY more of season two than I thought I did. Some of the stuff I remember, I thought happened in season one, which obviously it didn't! I didn't think I remembered much about s2, so this is kind of weird.

I still think The Other 48 Days is really interesting episode, because it gives an alternate view on the crash. And I love that opening shot, from the beach, before you see the tail end of the plane coming down.

( some inexact spoilers )

I had forgotten about the episode with Hurley's weird dream, though I remember that ep airing, because everyone on the Lost community on LJ flipped wondering what the heck it was all about. (I think a couple of stills from it were preview images or something).

I had forgotten about the episode with Charlie's wacky dreams, however.

Mr Eko is just as awesome as I remember. I still hate Ana-Lucia (though not for the reason I hated her first time around; this time it is just because she's irritating as heck).

I have now fully revised all the Korean words I know (yes (예 ye), no (아니 ani), what? (뭐? mwo) ).

I am continuing to enjoy this rewatch, anyway. I'm glad I decided to do it!

Up to S1 ep 10 of Lost. Which is...whichever episode title it is. GDI, I would've known once upon a time! It's the first one about Claire, anyway.

Still shipping Kate and Sayid, even after all this time! Which got me thinking about why that might be the case. I think it's because their friendship feels very natural. As much I (used to) enjoy the flirty banter between Jack and Kate, I am analysing their relationship now and the whole thing feels forced? ( cut for spoilers )

It appears Sayid has always been my favourite character* and I didn't even know it. How odd. Though much happy sighing because ahhh, Naveen Andrews. He is so very lovely (and gosh his eyes do that amazing thing in light/sunlight which happens to, I guess, all brown-eyed people, where they go all liquid-like looking** and ahhh happy sigh).

I keep wanting to take notes on the episodes I'm watching (I think this is a hardcore hangover from recapping way back in the day, though honestly I want to make notes about almost every piece of media I experience these days so IDEK???)

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Still taking questions, if you want to ask me a thing (or several)?

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*When it isn't Desmond, I guess?

**I suppose mine may well do that, too, since they're brown, but I've never seen it happen to me, so I don't know.

I'm still accepting questions for the question meme, if you have anything you've ever wanted to ask me.

~

I was looking up writing stuff/prompts and some how ended up reading about Lost and whoops I fell into a hole and can't get out.

Which is nice and all. I loved Lost for a veeeeeeery long time, in spite of its flaws (and don't pretend it didn't have them because oh yes it did). I mean, I still do have a great amount of affection for it. I just get mad at it where I might not have before.

I just wish my brain would pick one thing to be obsessive about and stick on it for a bit longer than a week or so?

I feel like I can't settle on anything for very long, and I'm finding it kind of annoying. But I think that is down to current offline circumstances. My daily life is pretty hiccupy and easily interrupted, so I don't feel that I can get stuck into anything because there's a chance that I might be interrupted at any second. Which has often happened in the last month or so so, grrrrrrr arggghhhh.

(I mean, I always have been very butterfly-esque when it comes to fandoms, but right now it feels like it's 500% worse than usual and idk it's really annoying).