anarchist_nomad | I Would Write Five Thousand Comments and I Would Write Five Thousand More

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I Would Write Five Thousand Comments and I Would Write Five Thousand More

Wednesday evening. Writing this entry from -- where else? -- the Oxford Tube on my way home from work. Despite the fact that I worked late and it is after nine o'clock, I can still see the sun in the sky. Indeed, it is quite a beautiful sunset this evening!

Ah, how I love these long Summer days! They are what make the insanely dark Winters bearable![*] I have never been much of a morning person, but I am tempted to do a little experiment later this month, just after the Solstice. I am toying with the idea of shifting my schedule to the early side so that I am asleep by about nine o'clock in the evening and wake up at about five o'clock in the morning. Just for a week! It would be interesting to go an entire week without seeing night! We shall see if I can make it work...

Thus far, this week has been quite ordinary. Progress at work continues apace, and I am really enjoying being in my current group. Much better than my last job, with a hostile boss and a difficult atmosphere! Nonetheless, I finally got around to doing something important yesterday. Something that I have been meaning to do for quite some time. I joined the union. Specifically the University & College Union. So, as of July 1^st, I will be union labour once again! Huzzah![**]

Next, in entirely unrelated news, I would like to congratulate

acelightning!! She has long held the title of the most frequent commenter in my blog.[***] Now she has also secured another prestigious honour! Yesterday afternoon, she posted the TEN THOUSANDTH comment in my journal! Nicely done -- go Ace!! This is an accomplishment so monumental that I cannot even award points for it! How can one quantify such a milestone?

What else is new? Yesterday evening I missed bell ringing at Mary Mag, as the coach that I was on broke down and we needed to wait for a replacement. This was a bit of a disappointment, especially as I was hoping to have rung there for all eight Tuesdays of Trinity Term this year.[****] Making lemonade out of the lemons, I used my newfound time to sit outside in the Summer evening air and read more of The Sandman, specifically issues #16 - #20. I am really enjoying this series! Part of me thinks that I was daft for waiting two decades to read it... but part of me is very glad that I did! Not only do I have a solidly good story to follow, but I think that I understand and appreciate much more of it now. Partially because I have a more mature and sophisticated understanding than I did at age fourteen... but also because living in England -- and becoming an amateur expert on English history -- gives me a lot more context for where much of the comic has been set so far!

Finally, I should note that I bought my plane tickets to the States yesterday, in preparation for my Summer Vacation next month! All of you gentle readers on the Western side of The Pond^TM, prepare to have scheduling information come your way soon! It has been nearly five months since my last trip Stateside and I am quite excited about returning!![*****]

[*] Although I am envious of my Good Twin, the adorable

tawyneypup! Living in Michigan, which is in the far West of its time zone, she gets Summer evenings that are nearly as late as mine without the short Winter days! Being much further South, her Summer days are shorter... but the Westness shifts them later. Personally, I prefer that -- having the sun up before five o'clock in the morning is not much use to me!

[**] I also need to re-join my favourite union, the Industrial Workers of the World. After being a member for years, I let my membership lapse... mainly because I did not know where to find delegates to pay dues to in the UK.

xugglybug or any other Wobs reading this, any advice on this front??

[***] Not counting myself.

[****] We are currently in Week Six.

[*****] Plus, there are less than seven weeks left until Starwood!!! YAY!!!!

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I thought that you _had_ said that acelightning could have points?

Whilst such had been my original intent, my dear, upon further pondering, it became self-evident that such would not be within the bounds of possibility. For what value of points could truly be worthy of such an achievement? Nothing less than ten thousand, methinks! Indeed, the very act of quantifying such an accomplishment with points would be inherently demeaning to it!

Some things are simply mean to be.

Well, I probably wouldn't know what to do with Nomad-points anyway. (Except possibly redeeming them for science lectures?)

But I am honored and flattered, even though my being the one to post the ten-thousandth comment was sheer random chance. Thank you!

Well... there's always the prize turkey to strive for!

And, yes, congratulations again!!

But since you're a vegetarian, it would either have to be a live turkey, or a tofurky (http://www.tofurkey.com/products/tofurkyfeasts.htm), wouldn't it?

Actually, I tried a tofurkey once, back in 2003. It was the first Thanksgiving after I had given up poultry. Ye gads, it was disgusting! Blech!

I guess a live turkey it will have to be, then!

I couldn't eat tofurkey even if I wanted to - I found out from their website that, like almost all other "fake meat" products, its ingredients include garlic and onions... both of which cause me swift and violent digestive disturbances :-(

As a former carnivore[*], I am actually a big fan of fake meats. Quorn, in particular, does some amazing simulations... and there are other good ones around, too. Some vegetarians disdain fake meats, but I'm fine with them in general. It's just tofurkey that I dislike.

[*] Not omnivore.

I have nothing against fake meats - it's just that most of the prepared products contain things I'm violently allergic to. I eat tofu at least once a week, although I do sometimes include a bit of meat in the preparation. I don't like tofu when it's trying to pretend to be cheesecake or scrambled eggs, but it's fine when it's just tofu being itself - especially when seasoned with hot peppers ;-D

And if you were a carnivore, not an omnivore, that would mean you never ate anything but meat - no starches, sweets, dairy products, fruits, or vegetables. I don't think a person could stay healthy for very long on an all-meat diet.

And if you were a carnivore, not an omnivore, that would mean you never ate anything but meat - no starches, sweets, dairy products, fruits, or vegetables.

Not true. That is the definition of a "hypercarnivore". Such animals do exist; examples include dolphins, eagles, octopi, sharks, and sea stars. However, to qualify as a carnivore, one's diet need consist mainly -- but not exclusively -- of meat. Check out the opening paragraphs of the Wikipedia article on "carnivore" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivore).

Well, you have so many feline characteristics, I figured you had been an obligate carnivore ;-)

(And another LJ and "real world" friend of mine describes herself as a "nomnivore", which I guess means she only eats yummy things...)

IWW say you can pay dues online! Otherwise, this year's Anarchist Book Fair seems like a good bet. I *think* IWW are involved with the United Campaign Against Police Violence too, but I may be wrong.

Dues online! Excellent! Welcome to the 21^st century, IWW!

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Fellow Worker! When last I had checked, it was not an option!

Speaking of the Anarchist Book Fair, do you know when it is supposed to be this year? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is in November... as my diary is rather full from now through the end of October!

Yep, means I really have no excuse not to do it now, do I?

According to this, the 2009 bookfair is again at Queen Mary's (Mile End) and is Sat 24th October. I'm really going to try very hard to make it this year, hope you're free! It's loads of fun, and they really need the support cos they seem to be losing cash hand over fist...

I pay by standing order; you can get the details by emailing the BIROC treasurer - frank.syratt@virgin.net

Cool! Thanks, Fellow Worker! As a new member on this side of the pond, I had a feeling you would be able to tell me something useful... and you didn't let me down!

Not counting today (Wed.) or arrival day Sat. July, 18th, 44 more days until Starwood!!! I have 803 Nomad points! (And hopefully a few more opportunities to earn more before Starwood! Hint, hint!) Wheee!!!

Have I told you that I love your icon?

Oh, I have, have I?

Well, have I told you today?

I thought not. Let me rectify that now:

Fat Lazy Ho, I absolutely love that icon of yours! Yes, we need a little Starwood right this very minute! *grin*

In recent years, I have been arriving on the Monday before Starwood begins. This year, I'm going to push that back another day, because (a) more Starwood is a wondrous thing, and (b) I'm tired of feeling like the last person on-site by arriving only one day early! *grin* So I'll be leaving Chicago on the morning of Sun July 19 and pulling up into the Brushwood driveway that evening. Can't wait to see you then!!!

(And, yes, I shall see what I can do about more point-earning opportunities between now and then, my dear!)

The picture was taken by the lovely

autumnquest. I found it on the Starwood website and "borrowed" it before I met her at Starwood that year. I added the caption - often shouted by the Lansing Pagan Village folks. In particular, a certain

tawneypup we both know and love!

alchemistdave and I try to do gate duty Sunday night. I might even be there to greet you when you arrive! Wheee!

Awesome! I am very much looking forward to becoming properly acquainted with

autumnquest properly this year. We "met" briefly last year -- or at least encountered each other -- during the kilt parade. It will be lovely to have more of an interaction that just flashing my private bits at her this year! *grin*

As for Sunday night? How cool would it be if you and

alchemistdave were the people to welcome me home?![*] Awesome!!

[*] If that happens, prepare to get squished with a gigantic hug!!!

If you stop going out at night the stars will weep from loneliness.

*giggle* It's just for one week. I know it will be hard on them, but they will find a way to cope, I'm sure!

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