Week Thirty-Seven: The Life Curmudgeonly

A long week, for being a short one. I had one tasker that became a massive goat rope and then after all the work, I got a call from the source of the tasker (in D.C.) who basically said "thanks but that was not what we were looking for. Your command didn't really have equity in this at all." Never a dull day. I recently introduced one of my sailors to the term curmudgeon (by telling him he was one), and after consulting a dictionary, he happily agreed he fits the bill (at 25 years old). Bless. Though for whatever reason I was rather that way myself all week. A more normal girl might blame hormones, but I prefer to blame my brain and my blood sugar and sleep levels.

Day 1 (253): 18th of August
Watching loads of So You Think You Can Dance again (to catch up, you see), made sure my crap mood from earlier (stress-related from ship offload and having to go in to work for a couple hours) was greatly relieved. Nothing like thinking about dancing to make me less cross, though it does make me miss the days when I was rather not terrible at dancing. This is a silly photo of some dancing shoes (if one is mad enough to dance in shoes like these). I couldn't get the light right on the watch face, but really I'd not dance in these any rate.

Let's be honest; these are more my speed for dancing. And pretty much anything else that requires shoes.

Day 2 (254): 19th of August
Yesterday was about dancing shoes, which put me in mind of other articles of clothing associated with cliches. Thus we have the thinking cap. This one is for thinking about v naval things. Or really just thinking about when I can not have to be wearing it any longer. If I'm wearing this it can only mean I'm in one of the more wrinkle-able and rather tedious uniforms. I don't care that they look all fancy and cool; they are a nightmare to care for and to wear and to not stain with sundry food and drink.

Again, we have a thinking cap more my speed. In this I shall think about not-naval things.

Ahhhh. The ultimate salve for a crabby girl. Beautiful sunsets. Can't even remember why I was so cross earlier....

Day 3 (255): 20th of August
A Wednesday that behaves like a Monday - totally unacceptable. I suppose that is what I get for having only a sort of work-y day Monday and a liberty day yesterday. Though in the middle of that day my phone indicated I had a voicemail from work, but all that was in the message was silence and the phone didn't show a missed call. When I called to inquire, no one knew who had called, so I spent the next several hours trying not to worry that it was something bad. I v nearly gave up and went in to work regardless, but my bloody mindedness kicked in and I decided not to let anyone ruin my much deserved day off. So there. Laaaaaaaaaahhh light through the clouds.....

Day 4 (256): 21st of August
Department picnic / hail and bail for new and departing people. At least this time someone brought beer. Almost had to miss it because I am the local "she'll do it" girl, and my rank sometimes distracts people from the realities of my position. Trying to say "if you can't find anyone else, I'll do it" when your brain is trying to direct your mouth to say "bugger off!" is an interesting experience. Wooo Saaah. Just look at the nice clouds, Rodeo, and stop being such a grump.

Not sure about this picture. A BBQ grill without the grill bit. Meh.

Day 5 (257): 22nd of August
I've decided that if anyplace can be a market for the discerning tastes of sophisticated land sharks, that place is the autostrada in Italy. I've heard that the left forearm of the human male is a delicacy, and any land shark with an interest in such things would have a lovely time on the roads here in the summer. Male left arms just hanging in the breeze out car windows, as far as the eye can see. I think the richness comes from the dedication to paying attention to the road. Really adds to the bouquet of the arm. Do pardon the attitude. It does seem to be the thing this week. Between maddening taskers and maddening locals and maddening brains, it really is nearly enough to drive one to drink. If only these grapes were already wine, but they certainly aren't in any hurry, now are they?

Wait, I think I may just possibly have one or two or several bottles in the house... Take your time, grapes. Take your time.

Day 6 (258): 23rd of August
As I was driving today, I heard an odd little thwack just beside my head.  Turns out a fly had been sucked in the passenger window and splatted on the passenger headrest. Quite a thing, that. Poor little bugger had been going about his day getting a little thrill out of flying across traffic on the strada statale. A bit of a thrill seeking fly, he thought he had it down and had avoided getting the windscreen treatment. Cut it a little too close, however, and the little crack of an opening just sucked him in and introduced him to the headrest. He's still there, by the way. I keep thinking the wind will blow away the remains, but no such bloody luck. Makes you think. Or maybe it doesn't. One or the other. On second thought, all this thinking or not thinking makes me just want to curl up with the bunny slippers and a good book I've been needing to finish.

As an interesting aside, I recently received the below in the mail as a thank you for my contribution to an Omaze charity for Make a Wish. I'd already received a t-shirt signed by Mark Hamil, two original Star Wars passports, and a Star Wars Fan Club poster from the '80s. This is a 3D MakerBot of Luke Skywalker's lightsaber hilt signed by John Dykstra, visual effects guru for the films. Pretty neat, no?

Day 7 (259): 24th of August
I GOT TO NEW WATCH DOCTOR WHO TODAY!!! HUZZAH!!! GOOD GRIEF THAT WAS BRILLIANT!!! LET ME WATCH IT AGAIN!!! I AM FAR TOO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!
Sorry about that. I get a little excited about my nerd things. Do try to hide your surprise. There is a technique of photography that attempts to split a shot in half diagonally, creating a unique perspective and composition. I've experimented with it in the past, with mixed results. When I stepped outside this morning to have a go with the camera and a chat with the chat, I was greeted by a sight that is so familiar, yet in this instance demanding of capturing. I attempted to make the diagonal split, and while it was not a perfect split, it is a shot of a perfectly lazy feline.

Upon further venturing into the garden (where I've not taken as many photos of late), I realised a) that my landlord cut down / ripped out one of my favourite trees that makes flowers that smell like citrus (but no fruit) and attract loads of bees, and b) that my lemon tree has recently gone bananas (if you'll pardon the expression). For the past two years, this fool tree has had one giant grandpa lemon hanging on one branch, but little else to prove its viability. Apparently the beast awakens and now is simply covered in little bunches like this one.

Been a while since the last garden flower boring photo, and if I'm honest there are not many flowers left to photograph. Found this little guy all alone on his plant.

And this one as well, not far away. I love the little spots in the middle. Like a tiny person dropped tiny dollops of tiny paint in a nice little tiny circle.

So it turns out the crankiness / curmudgeonly behaviour that so characterised the early days of the week just needed time to settle. I probably managed to not burn down too many bridges along the way. All part of my charm, I suppose. A visit from the Doctor (yes, that Doctor) certainly didn't hurt, I am certain. Such AMAZING Doctor Who, too. Really, properly good. So refreshing to see a Scottish actor being a Scottish Doctor. And maybe a little curmudgeonly himself. Just a little. 

Week Thirty-six: Nauti, Nauti Girl

This week will be rather naval in nature. But being on a big metal floaty thing will do that. Big floaty things don't have great connectivity (rather small bandwidth on a good day), so the upload left much to be desired. But the experiences were fantastic and the photos were too many to choose just a few. Still left some out (like the ones of me in uniform - didn't take them myself, you see, and no one needs to see it), but some of the really neat ones from France and a special WWII naval ceremony are below. 

Day 1 (246): 11th of August
Not going to have the strongest opening this week (again). Only really got photos from the bus as we drove (in the worst beach traffic imaginable) up to Gaeta. So needless to say they all came out neither good nor terribly interesting. But that is life I suppose. We never got up to much of a speed, but when we were properly stopped, it was not near anything all that demanding of being photographed. Just a vineyard or two.

And maybe an olive tree.

Even Gaeta itself was all hazy and gross so I didn't bother with a majestic shot of the Mighty Mount Whitney (that was only slightly said with a smirk). Just the generic "coming up on Gaeta" shot.

Day 2 (247): 12th of August
Woke to hear that Robin Williams had died. I well know that many comedians struggle with depression, but it is still sad to see the passing of someone who had such an impact on my youth. As a compulsive people-pleaser, I have a natural love for those who bring joy to others, even if at their own expense, or perhaps more accurately to make things not seem so bad. Rather a glum note, and rather glum photos, as I was busy and only had time for a couple in the old stateroom. Like the odd phone base still on the wall (we have a newer one right beside it). Gosh it's a bit blurry, eh?

And the big art piece identifying the room and frame and all that jazz. 

Day 3 (248): 13th of August
Woke to hear Lauren Bacall had died. She taught Bogey how to whistle. She was a force of awesome. What a lady. Seems a bit appropriate that for our time in Theoule Sur Mer (on the French Riviera), we popped over (via mad expensive taxi) to Cannes. Yes, that Cannes. Such an amazing place. Someone really ought to think about putting on a film festival of some sort. Great food. Had duck with apricot rosemary sauce... mmmmm. Also, so many amazing brilliant cars. This is not Cannes. It is just the whole bay. In the rain. 

Looks rather better in the sun.

Like riding away from the mighty ship, the weather makes things seem nicer. 

This is Cannes. So many amazing boats. 

And this one that is less amazing posh-wise, but still looks great in slightly altered colour. 

Day 4 (249): 14th of August
Second day in Theoule Sur Mer. While on the shuttle that took us to the beach I was totally distracted by this amazing British boat in the harbour. It needed the frame. Such a beauty.

Long ass day. My meetings got pushed back several hours in the day, so the liberty plan of being lazy in the afternoon on the beach became being lazy in a beachside bar. 

Then it became being piggy over some veal piccata and creme brulee that made me want to cry. I don't do food porn photos, so the scene is the name of the game. 

As is this part of the scene. 

Day 5 (250): 15th of August
Basically today was all about ceremony. after a day of rather rocky travel about the sea off the French Riviera, we were a part of a parade of ships and then a pass in review (look it up; I'm not explaining it) before the French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle. During the mad wind and choppy seas, I went out and got a few nice shots. Like the coast near Toulon. 

And here are the ships in formation. 

And again. The wider shot. 

Such a gorgeous day at sea. A tough job have I sometimes...

Later, we got to put on our glad rags to go man the rails during the pass in review. Despite the pain it caused my back and the mess the wind made of my hair (it happens), the experience was incredible. Took so many photos today it was nearly impossible to only choose a few. The French carrier looked quite posh all manned and covered in important people. Had to sneak this shot with the iPhone because we were supposed to still be at parade rest. 

We even busted out the battle ensign (not to be confused with busting on embattled Ensigns - Navy people will get it). So majestic and things. 

Day 6 (251): 16th of August
Back to Theoule. On a Saturday. Felt like a cross between late on a Friday and a Tuesday, what with the "some work but not really but yes a bit" manner of the day. But we got out and had more time in France. Not that we wanted to go much of anywhere. Just found a nice beach and brought books and grub. Nice view.

Nice water. See how we try to make a little bitty wave look like a proper big wave?

And some rather artistic beverage containers (my overpriced adult bevvie is off camera).

Day 7 (252): 17th of August
Last day. Thank the great Water Gods. 
This is a placeholder in the event of an inability to get the Sunday shots up (a good chance of that happening). It is a passageway (or hall if you prefer) within the Mount Whitney. My room is just up a few frames and on the left (or aft and to the starboard...)

Another placeholder. Another passage/hall. This time looking forward. My office is just up a few frames and on the left (or forward and to port... you get the drill).

Not the easiest week for upload purposes (and not great for the sleeping). But the shots came out alright, and the Big Grey boat trip was not as bad as it might have been (if it was in the end a trifle tedious at times). Lessons learned and all that. 

Week Thirty-Five: Muscle Memory

Someone should tell August its name is too long. Come to think of it, lots of the months have names too long for polite spelling. And I was born in one of them. March through July are the months for my fingers. December is easy to spell, as I've put it to paper more than any other month in the last 30 years. Now, I don't mean easy to spell in terms of remembering the letters and where they go. I was quite the speller back in the day. I merely refer to the ease and quickness that my clumsy fingers hammer out the letters on a keyboard. Some things we can simply do by feel, as though the fine motor muscles remember things better than the big cognitive muscle that is the brain. My brain for certain is too busy being daft and sorting out when I last bought bread and remembering the name of that one film that one gal was in last year. Leave the muscle memory to the limbs.

Day 1 (239): 4th of August
I've got a lovely bunch of taskers now
There they are sitting in my queue
Real ones, frivolous ones, some I might even do
Give em a go, finish em so
you might have your hullaballoo
I am the keymaster. Nevermind the gate keeper. I just don't want to lose my keys. Takes a fair amount of effort, that. If ever you need a person to misplace things (especially important things, like keys) at essential times, I'm your girl.

Day 2 (240): 5th of August

Don't need me to worry 'bout time 'cause it goes on
Don't want me to tell you it's time to go home
Don't care what I want anymore this is your show
Go ahead with your big plans, leave me alone

Ever have one of those truly terrific Tuesdays that are so spectacularly terrific that the real "T" word that ought to describe them is not really for polite company's ears? Or really the ears of most dock workers.Thus the cranky Billy Joel re-write. And somewhat disturbing bizarre doodles. Honestly... not even sure what these are. I'll stick to photography I think.

Day 3 (241): 6th of August

Ice cream was piña colada, and I got caught in the rain.

I thought about doing yoga, but then I fell from the train. 

Don't like waking up at midnight, watching Dune in a cape.

There's a dream that I wait for but each night it escapes.

I had a great photo of a brilliant sunset this evening, but forgot to add it to my memory stick, so as I finish this at the hotspot, I am alas without. May remember to add it later. One action that gets easier (but sometimes harder) with age is the turning off (and the setting of) bedside alarms. I do hate it when they pull me from a really great dream. And announce a long day of being chained to a desk. Yay.  

Day 4 (242): 7th of August
Well I never gargled, I never gambled,
I never smoked at all
Until I met my two good amigos
Nick Teen and Al K. Hall
I may not smoke, but I do love this particular Rolf Harris song. So much so that I'm not even giving it the usual snarky re-write treatment. Al K. and I have had some good times and some not so good times, but sometimes he is just what the doctor ordered.

This one is a bit more fun.

Day 5 (243): 8th of August

Life is a beautiful thing
As long as I play the strings
And you're silly so I say
If you try to take them away
Really, I mean that. You may lose a digit or two. Not saying the things will be ripped from my cold dead hands. That's a bit dramatic, no? But I do love my guitars. I call them Florence and the Machine, because I named the first one Felix, and the other two by default became Florence and Rupert. Florence is pictured. She was an impulse buy. Who impulse buys a guitar? (P.S. Sorry for the re-write, Frankie).

She's just so pretty, and who here hasn't done silly things for the sake of the pretty ones?

Day 6 (244): 9th of August
But promises you know what they're for
It sounds so convincing, but you've heard it before
'Cause talk is cheap and you gotta be sure
And so you put up your guard
And you try to be hard but your heart says try again
I think I'm past the snark of the week, so I'll leave Ms. Benatar's lyrics alone. Best to just let the fingers do the talking and only say what needs said. Even if those fingers are not the best at typing.

Day 7 (245): 10th of August
Sunday mornin', praise the dawnin'
It's just a restless feelin' by my side
Early dawnin' Sunday mornin'
It's just the wasted years so close behind
Watch out, the world's behind you
There's always someone around you
who will call
It's nothin' at all.
Thanks for that one, Mr. Reed. I'll drink to Sunday mornings. But only if tea is what's on the menu. Do love a good cuppa to start the day.

Much like memories, most of these ended up in Black and White. Cannot say for sure, but it might have something to do with having odd-looking hands. 

Week Thirty-Four: Murphy's Back for More

All my life I've had a love-hate relationship with Murphy of Legend. His Law has long been woven into the fabric of my life, much like Monty Python, ISIRTA, and large equine quadrupeds. How it chooses to manifest is always a surprise, and when it works out in the end I am the first to offer thanks. Other times it is just hateful and obstreperous. Yes, I just used the word obstreperous in a photo blog. Deal with it.

Day 1 (232): 28th of July
Such a drag when the day starts earlier than is legal when one has gotten no sleep and has a seemingly unending journey on the itinerary. Not to mention rending one away from the delightful clutches of home and hearth. One would think these things get easier with practice (and I've had some practice, let me tell you). Truth is (apparently) that it never gets easier, and in a way gets more tiresome. In my silly youthiest years, I rebelled against a great deal of things (most of them illogical or not in need of a rebel), and one of those things was homesickness. I was far too cool to be tied to anything (or anyone) and wanted the life of transit and first class lounges. Was quite good at it, if I'm honest. It all seemed so sexy and easy.

Not that I hate travel - far from it. I still love gadding about and seeing all the things, but those fool blood ties and such are not so distasteful any longer. May be able to live any old place, but going home will never be a bad thing. Even traveling the posh way doesn't make the outbound journey more joyous. Just softens the blow a bit.

Day 2 (233): 29th of July
Best part of two days eaten by travel. And lots of free booze (not going to lie, it was nice). But now I've a headache to wake the dead and have to go to work tomorrow. And my power went out whilst I was gone. Thus my fridge and freezer were stinking soggy moldy heaps of vile malodorous death full of meat, veg, and cheese that had gone off beyond what can possibly be natural. Much bleach and profanity later I have a fridge with rather little in it as far as food. So this is all I will be giving you for the day. Munich, everyone.

Day 3 (234): 30th of July
Praise be I only have three days of work. FITREPs due this week, several new taskers accumulated in my absence, and apparently I will be embarking on the Good Ship Whitney (lord knows why) for a week. Just wait till the jet lag hits... Oh, and to add to the tiring litany of whinging, the power blow killed my wireless router. So I have no connection until I get a new one. But the sky is pretty, to there's that.

And there are clouds.

I may have been missed, but really, I think the Return of the Grub is more the cause for attention.

Day 4 (235): 31st of July
Found an old wireless router, but managed to blow it out, even with a transformer. Will just have to suck it up and go purchase a new one. Ugh. Buying things is annoying. So is moaning about every little thing. Isn't it? I agree. Photos are better. Here is a lighter.

And pretty trees.

And this guy again.

Day 5 (236): 1st of August
I'll not lie; the odd mood continueth. Got good news that I'll be teaching another class in September, and this one's in Madrid. Also learned that the reason I'll be embarking is simply because I am an officer and there were not enough of us going. Don't really have an issue with the trip; the commute from bed to work is about three minutes, someone else cooks all my meals, and we'll be getting some port time in France. I only rankle at the logic train. Really should know better after a decade of doing this. Logic has no place in the military. Which is why I put my TIE Interceptor in a tree.

Merry was rather bored by the notion.

But the Empire flies on.

Day 6 (237): 2nd of August
Despite the delayed-onset jet lag, have gottten crap sleep all week. But slept until v late in the morning, and then proceeded to do little more than my PT and read. And drink tea, because one just does. My alarm went all screwy again, so I await the gracious landlord's assistance. But now I have a new wifi thing, so am no longer disconnected (to the internet... life is another kettle of onions). And I may have to go in to work at midnight for about six hours. Waiting for that sort of call is really lame. Not lame is the 12ft Tom Baker scarf knitted for me by my darling Grannie. Now my TB hat has a mate.

Day 7 (238): 3rd of August
Praise the sweetness the call came to take me off the proverbial hook (not sure I know that proverb). Good news, as I've still not gotten back to a sane sleep schedule. Getting older is lame. So is having a poor vocabulary. Getting older is rubbish. That's a bit better. What is not rubbish is the display of amazing that is dance on my only reality show (SYTYCD). At least once an episode I can be brought to a complete halt by a routine. Usually those choreographed by one Travis Wall or one Sonya Tayeh. Honestly - their work can stop me mid sentence (not easy to do) or even mid chew (even harder). Check it out some time. In the meanwhilst, here is the random moment of zen for the day.

Murphy never rains, but he pours, no? But I suppose it keeps life a bit more interesting.