“I've often said, the only thing standing between me and greatness is me” - Woody Allen

You find me in an uncharacteristically upbeat mood, so lightning in a bottle style, let's try and get it down on "paper" while it lasts.

Why the good mood you are almost certainly asking?
Well Billie just rang me with her GCSE results and she did really really well. I've been fretting for days and lay awake for most of last night and this morning (although that was the most pressing, it wasn't the only thing I was worrying about), listening to horror stories on the radio news, that for the first time in 24 years results were down, and marking was tougher, but thankfully it ended well, at least for her, I'm sure there are many many disappointed teens this day. I'm so very proud of her, she may treat me like an afterthought most of the time, but she's a clever and independent young girl.

For weeks now, it's seemed that I was far more anxious than her about these results. I'm sure most parents feel this way, and of course it may be anxious teens appearing cool and nonchalant in front of their oh so uncool elders.

 I've been on holiday this week, it took about two days to get bored, especially as Billie was on an adventure break in the Lake District (she doesn't count this as a holiday apparently, so just two foreign trips for her this year). I've been very lonely.  In fact signing on here I found an unfinished post about that very subject. You can picture the alcohol induced ramblings I'm sure, bemoaning my tragic and singular (in both senses) existence, but I do get very very lonely, at least sometimes. After all, I'm quite the misanthrope.

In local news, I shaved off my big hobo beard and had a reasonably successful haircut , both in the same 24 hours. Consequently I feel so much cooler (in the temperature, not style, sense of course).
It's week four of a five week month - bad planning holiday wise - I'm broke (in all senses). 

I 'partially' fixed the creaky floorboards, that for the past few months have been recreating the "Haunted Mansion" for anyone in earshot (so mostly me then). This may be one of the most trivial things I've ever said, but it was doing my head in!!!!
Also after literally years of being on sale, my neighbours house has finally been sold. I live in a less than glamorous neighbourhood, so it's probably not a little old lady moving in, but my paranoia is picturing the worst - noisy, rude, probably students!!! It'll probably amount to nothing, but I have the wonderful ability to see the worst in everything.

Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve... from yakkowarner on 8tracks Radio.

“I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.” - Woody Allen

 

 

Wow, just wow...



(please watch in fullscreen  HD)

“If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?” - George Carlin

Here's something new, a totally sober posting. Well maybe not completely new, but refreshingly different, and now with fewer calories. The lack of alcohol will mean it's drier than usual (pun intended), or as I also like to put it, - complete tripe.

Billie is finally back from Florida, and despite spending three weeks in a most excellent shopping destination, she somehow "didn't have time" to get me a present...

Oh dear, never mind.

Salt in the wound - she sent me a picture of all her purchases, neatly arranged in her room, that haul could clothe a small army , albeit a very small one.

I went to see "The Dark Knight Rises" last week, on what passes for an IMAX screen in these parts (Actually the quality was pretty good, pricey, but good). I enjoyed the film itself, although it must comes second to "The Dark Knight" for sheer entertainment and coherence.
It seemed a little joyless at the time, especially in the middle, but memory has revealed a richer experience. And personally I loved the ending, and I really don't think it's open to interpretation, à la "Inception".

(Billy and I watched "Batman Begins" last night, she thought it was "crap" - blimey!)

Work has become such a strain recently, physically, but especially mentally. And not just for me it seems - there's quite an undercurrent of stress to the whole darn place, we are simply being stretched too thinly. After all there is only so far you can spread butter before you have no butter at all.
I'm coming home so physically tired that I simply spend my days off sleeping and moping, and moping really takes it out of you, let me tell you. 

And don't get me started on money! Too late , it seems I've started! - No pay rise for three years, greatly increased pension contributions, and the simple rise in the cost of living - it effectively means I'm earning less each year.
I'm going to have to say goodbye to my international playboy lifestyle - goodbye!

“I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.”