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[JD]

So I might become a founding member of a small business in the next year or so? That's about the coolest thing that's happening to me right now. Other than that I got the summer blaaaahhhhhs

[Zingoleb]

I'm leaving on a flight in less than twenty four hours to go from New York to Washington and oh my god I am freaking out

[Cire27]

So, uh, going to college but not really sure why (don't have a major or anything!).  I guess it's the thing expected of me.  I don't really know what my other options are either.

[bainidhe_dub]

We had a friggin' earthquake today. In Virginia. It was weird and kinda scary and everybody asked us what to do, us being building management and all, and we had no idea. And my coworker is kind of a twit and was afraid to go back inside the building which didn't help anything.

[whom]

Felt it in Delaware.  Wasn't sure what was going on at first.

[smack that isaiah]

I didn't feel it in middle NJ, but a lot of my friends say they felt it.  I'm kinda sad I missed out on feeling my first earthquake

[nekowafer]

My whole office building shook. It was pretty terrifying, actually.

[Thomas Edison]

We decked out our living room with the essentials (it also happens to be my bedroom courtesy of a sofa bed).



I managed to cut my finger open whilst putting up the curtains after this was taken.

[Jimor]

So, my sister tried to set fire to our grandparents' house today. She's been living there since my grandmother died 4 years ago (my grandfather died about 5 years before that). My mother, who's actually in charge of the estate, is quite rightfully pressing charges and evicting her.

[Tom]

Why the arson?

[Jimor]

We don't know. For the most part, things have been quiet there the past few months. She had been arrested for shoplifting just before Christmas, and there's always a constant stream of... characters... she kept bringing to the house. But this came quite out of the blue even for her. She just started yelling that she was going to burn the place down and started splashing gasoline on the front. One of the boarders there stepped in and stopped her and called the police, who she screamed at and called a few choice names while being arrested. We don't know if this was a drug/alcohol induced freakout or what at this point.

[Zingoleb]

That's...kinda scary!

I've been having the best few days, though. I got into Seattle Wednesday night - my plane was overbooked and delayed, so they put me on an earlier flight. Got into Olympia, slept through the night after having an excellent meal of paella and clams. Woke up the next morning, was treated to a breakfast in a fancy little cafe, where I met an adorably little dykey librarian girl, and she ended up staying at the place I'm staying at (she's friends with the dirty old man I'm staying with) for the day and there was various degrees of nudity, swimming in the lake, grilled chicken and sweet potatoes and Iron and Wine all day.

The guy here, Kozmo, does plaster casts of people, and when I told him about my transgender status, he ended up really intrigued, and at some point he's going to do a plaster cast of my body.

I'm really happy around here. This area is so gorgeous, so wonderful, I feel like I'm at home. Later today I'm going to meet some People From The Internet, and see how well that goes.

[Tom]

So I'm bored, super bored. My brother (in Year 11) asked me to print his assignment/essay/what-have-you and so I did (verily!). I forgot to close it down before I returned his USB so I had the thingie open on my desktop. I decided to proof read! Here's what I've got so far This is the entire thing, my brother is so screwed:

Cleopatra VII (referred to as Cleopatra throughout the text) [excision] of Egypt was the last pharaoh to rule Egypt and one of great controversy. Whilst there are a great number of sources about Cleopatra many contain biased views that are expressed in different ways; from greatest ruler of all time to a profligate, power-hungry woman [replaced clause for poetry]. Her contribution to life is evident in most if not all Egyptian society [poor construction, consider revision].
Cleopatra was born in 69 BCE to [deletion of redundant verb] Pharaoh Ptolemy XII and his queen, Cleopatra V. Cleopatra [ambiguous pronoun, should also be new sentence] was born in Alexandria [DYAC!], a vibrant port city and mercantile hub [lyricism!] for Egypt at the time [consider replacement with period, e.g.: for x era Egypt]. Provided with a library  (proposed by Ptolemy II, he stated that he would collect at least one of every document)[deliver as foot note?] which helped with her choice of subject [wait, uh what?]. [Perhaps: The library... where she studied...] The subjects she studied were mainly history, languages and Greek culture; she was reported to have excel in every area [sauce?]. One of the contributing factors to Cleopatra being renowned as a great pharaoh was her learning of Egyptian (many in her family did not know how to speak Egyptian) [I’ll let this slide but somewhere else I’ll draw the line]. The education provided for her [Nitpick: so not something she did of her own volition?] would help her secure the throne. At this time Ptolemy XII hired Roman support to secure his place on the throne, by 59 BCE Rome had moved to secure bordering countries of Egypt. The Egyptians revolted for his action would condemn Egypt, Ptolemy retreated leaving Cleopatra the VI and her sister Berenice to rule, Cleopatra VI died later giving total rule to Berenice [revise]. Gabinius marched on Egypt, seized control and placed [remembered, past tensed] Ptolemy XII back on the throne.  51 BCE Ptolemy XII died, the laws of dynasty dictated that Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII would rule as Pharaoh and queen. Cleopatra honored the rituals and practices of the Egyptian people gaining support.  49 BCE Cleopatra was exiled by her brother, Cleopatra fled to Syria, whilst Ptolemy XII had been “a friend and ally” to Rome. (Cleopatra: beyond the myth)[this a reference?]. 48 BCE Cleopatra had recruited an army to march on Egypt and take back the throne. Cleopatra still was no mach [Go! Go! Go!] to [for?] Ptolemy XII’s [possession] army; she decided to seek an [articles] alliance with Caesar.

Cleopatra devised a plan to meet with Caesar within his private quarters in Alexandria. She was wrapped within a role of carpet then carried to his quarters. When Caesar met with Ptolemy XII in the morrow, he declared that he would rule with Cleopatra, and gave Cyprus back to Egypt. This movement meant that Rome had an interest with Egypt and would give it support; this gave Egypt (a country close to being absorbed into the Roman Empire) its strength back. Caesar also moved to stabilize [curious that should use an americanism whilst using whilst] the government with both military and financial support. After the Alexandrian war Caesar left Egypt, leaving Cleopatra (21-22 years old) and her brother Ptolemy XIV (13 years) in charge of Egypt. Caesar appointed three legions to ‘keep the peace’ and to protect Cleopatra. As ruler of Egypt Cleopatra was recorded to be loved by her people and had motivated them [to do what?]. Roughly [circa?] June 23 BCE Cleopatra gave birth to Caesarion, strengthening [describes the act] ties between Egypt and Rome. Caesar declared Cleopatra as the true ruler of Egypt and turned his army toward Ptolemy XII, after 6 months Ptolemy was drowned in the Nile and Cleopatra was given the rule of Egypt.  Cleopatra and Caesar moved to Egypt in 46 BCE but were forced to leave due to Caesars assignation. After her return to Egypt she helped fund the war against those who killed Caesar, the Caesarian party [Wasn’t the Second Triumvirate formed following the assassination?] led by Mark Antony and Octavian. The enemy was Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Cleopatra signed a treaty with Mark Antony, which would benefit her with military and Roman support [Why, Shakespeare?].

41 BCE Mark Antony, the new ruler of Rome sent for Cleopatra in order to question her loyalty. Upon meeting her Antony was charmed and, as Plutarch describes it: “Her beauty, as we are told, was in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her; but converse with her had an irresistible charm, and her presence, combined with the persuasiveness of her discourse and the character which was somehow diffused about her behaviour towards others, had something stimulating about it. There was sweetness also in the tones of her voice; and her tongue, like an instrument of many strings, she could readily turn to whatever language she pleased...” (Plutarch in the life of Antony). Antony spent 41-40 BCE in Alexandria with Cleopatra. Whilst in Alexandria Antony proposed that if Cleopatra were to fund him he would protect Egypt. She agreed, but also moved to take advantage of him by ordering him to kill her sister Arsinoe, which was performed in 41 BCE [is fine but you can do better]. By 40 BCE Cleopatra having given birth to her third son by Antony, Ptolemy Philadelphus, officially married Antony even though he was also married to Octavius sister [like Steinman but pleasing my Aphrodite of the written word]. In 34 BCE, Caesarion and Cleopatra became co-rulers of Egypt, Caesarion was associated with the god Horus and Cleopatra the goddess Isis [not to be confuse with Lsis, goddess of cellular destruction]. Octavian declared war on Egypt after Antony and Octavius’s sister divorced. Octavius and Antony met of the coast of Actium; Cleopatra was present with her own fleet but retreated with Antony when defeat was indefinite [I find that the worst kind of defeat is the one with no clear ending, you want: their defeat was assured. I’m assuming that Antony and Cleo lost this]. Octavian marched into Egypt in 30 BCE, where his army was met [? They were fighting each other right or is this a huge ass-mutiny?] by Antony’s. Antony moved to fight Octavius but died, once made known of his death Cleopatra was bitten by an asp (thought to be suicide), she died 39 years old. The two were buried together and to this day their burial ground has not been found.
Cleopatra used Caesar to kill her brother who expelled her form the throne. Using her charm [fascinating, how?] she managed to prevent Rome from annexing Egypt and a full scale war between Rome and Ptolemy which would most likely end with Egypt loosing. She gained military, financial and political support from Rome and as some sources [which?] describe, she also controlled the Roman senate. When Caesar died she married Mark Antony [wasn’t he dead] who provided her with military support. Sources record that Mark Antony was willing to give her anything. Till [ she wasn’t running a shop] her death, she managed to prevent Rome form taking Egypt for close to 20 years.
Cleopatra VII the last pharaoh of Egypt is still surrounded by mystery. She still holds many questions still unanswered and proves a difficult person to research due to the nature of the sources, for each has its own agenda [you didn’t demonstrate this, what use is a thesis if ignored?], whether to disgrace her action or to promote her love interests. Even though Egypt was taken by Rome their society and persona is still strong. [related how?]

The stuff in bold is me.

[Barmymoo]

You guys, I have been gone for about three weeks on various jaunts and coming back to read the happy supportiveness in this and the relationship thread makes my heart glow. Well done, internets, we appear to be in a good place at the moment!

[Jimor]

Zingo: sounds like the fresh start is really going to work out for you, and it's good to see! There might still be setbacks along the way, but it feels much more like you're heading in the right direction.

Barmy: welcome back! The internet missed you! 

Bail for my sister has been set at $135,000. She asked for a new judge because the one assigned to her case had seen her so many times before she thought he'd be biased against her. Went down with my mother yesterday to asses the damage. It was just a couple of scorch marks on the front siding and stains from the gasoline, so not too bad there. Unfortunately, she hoarded up the back yard, and it will cost us around $500 to get rid of all this "free" stuff, including such treasures as a flattened sofa, the back casing to an old TV set, 30 used bicycle tires, and god knows what else.

[sean]

wutup motherfuckers.

i live in a badass house in wv now, i just got internet in it.

my life continues to be goddamn awesome.

[Zingoleb]

Two different girls have asked me out this week. I go on one date tomorrow, and another the day after.

This is fantastic.

[Thomas Edison]

£3 in my account and all I've got to eat is 4 tins of tuna (but I don't have a tin opener). Gotta survive 14 days until my next payday. Score.

[The Seldom Killer]

Your options now include overdraft, robbery, porn (starring not watching) or as an absolute last resort, calling your mum and dad and explaining that you still haven't learnt how to budget your money.

Been off the bike for week following buggering up my knee on as 1200km ride. Please to announce that I am largely injury free. However, as I have spent the last two years preparing for said ride, I'm hitting a bit of a blank as to what the hell I'm supposed to do with my life. So this would be a good time for my girlfriend to go to the south of France to work on a whiz-band machine for three months leaving me with only the cat for conversation then would it?

[Patrick]

Dear blag,

Sorry I've been away so long! I've missed you. But, as you'll soon see, I've been a very, very busy boy.

Last I wrote was the 22nd. Let's see. Since then, I've moved out of one house into another, I've seen my best friend off to the Air Force for a 6-year-commitment, I've completely revived a bar's Wednesday night business (last night, they sold nearly $1k in drinks where they'd been selling maybe 1/4 that before! The owner and I get along reeeeeeal well), I've gotten 2 girls' phone numbers, I've put my Fender Jaguar on consignment, I've found a place where I can actually afford to pay rent AND feed myself (and I move there tomorrow), I've made my back incredibly sore by lifting things incorrectly, and I've decided to start seeing somebody new now that the lady I WAS seeing is no longer interested.

Tomorrow I move, I buy a Honda CT-90 as soon as my geetar is sold, registering that bitch immediately afterward, and everything will be absolutely gravy from here on out. For now.

Love,
Me!

[Patrick]

Oh man two random girls showed up and they wanted to look at the rooms in the house and I did not let them in because it is not my house (I am staying with a friend until tomorrow) and none of the people who are on the lease are home and basically they are both larger than me and I am not about to watch my buddies get jacked.

[Zingoleb]

I just went on my first real date in a long time. It was amazing. We shared a cheesecake and kissed in alleyways.

[Jace]

£3 in my account and all I've got to eat is 4 tins of tuna (but I don't have a tin opener). Gotta survive 14 days until my next payday. Score.

Can't you just like start a riot or something?

[nekowafer]

I just went on my first real date in a long time. It was amazing. We shared a cheesecake and kissed in alleyways.

So cute!!

[valley_parade]

Too soon, Jace. It'd seem cliche.

[Zingoleb]

Have you ever wondered where your diaphragm is? Here's a quick and easy way to figure it out.

First, blow up an air mattress by yourself. Then, when you're all done, find the part of your stomach that feels like pain. That's your diaphragm!

Lessons learned the hard way.

[The Seldom Killer]

Although she has never used one, the girlfriend found that oddly amusing. Largely because she has a guttermind.

[Zingoleb]

Not that diaphragm.

[Tom]

Oh hey, Dad got a kindle 3 and neither of parents really do much reading of novels and whatnot. Ipso facto I have a kindle.

[Thomas Edison]

Can't you just like start a riot or something?

Pfft, who needs looting? I got a free cupcake off a lovely lass whilst going off to extend my overdraft (also found a coupon for a free milkshake from ShakeAway. Totally got a Skittles and gingernut biscuit milkshake with popping candy on top).

[Jace]

Start a riot on her vagina

[Thomas Edison]

She just added me on facebook and she's 16, bro.

Which is actually legal in England, I guess (but I still think 16 is pretty young).

Addendum: All girls that I flirt with in future must be made to wear a sign with their exact age on it.

[Tom]

This is why being attracted to guys is so much easier. Generally speaking, stubble = fair game.

[Patrick]

I just moved into an apartment right next to my favorite coffee shop (where I run my Tues. open mic) and so now I live with two hipsters, an unfathomable yet easily ignored asshole, a super nice metal bassist, and a 15-year-old girl.

I don't understand how in the fuck this group of people lives together, but it's been working so far with zero deaths. So I don't give a fuck. Long as I have a place to sleep, store my shit, and bring ladies up for bonin', it's whatever.

[Jimor]

Ugh. My video camera is dying. During the last 3 shoots, as it heats up, it loses focus and it just won't come back until it completely cools off again, which may take at least 15-20 minutes, which means I basically lose the rest of the music set. I was already getting frustrated by the occasional tape glitch that ruined some awesome performances. Even when I'm doing this for free, it's just unacceptable to have to apologize for missing songs, and if I'm going to try to make money with this, it's really not OK to have something this unreliable.

So I ordered a new camera. It's a nice one that is definitely a step up from what I had, but I was really hoping to be able to wait until I could afford something truly professional. But even as it is, this puts me at an uncomfortable level on my credit card considering I only work part time and will basically only be able to keep it level for a while. Ever since I got this card and until about a year after losing my full-time job, I had always paid the balance in full. Because of that, it has a ridiculously high limit that I'm now pushing more than I really want.

On the other hand, it looks much more like a camera that somebody charging professional rates would use, so perhaps it will help pay for itself in the long run. And no more tapes!

[Zingoleb]

stubble = fair game.

My brother is Puerto Rican and was getting stubble around the age of 14.

I found a place to live! The guy who offered is kinda rednecky but not intolerably so. He doesn't know when to shut up, though. I also made a passing reference to a girl I went on a date with, so he assumes I'm a lesbian, which I'm okay with. Maybe he'll not skeev on me if he just assumes I don't like guys.

[Lupercal]

She just added me on facebook and she's 16, bro.

Which is actually legal in England, I guess (but I still think 16 is pretty young).

Addendum: All girls that I flirt with in future must be made to wear a sign with their exact age on it.

Had a brownie off of a woman who's tits were certainly no where near contained in her top yesterday while in the capital. As I walked away indulging in chocolatey goodness and thinking about her huge knockers, I couldn't help but think that was a very successful and yet somehow subtle marketing ploy. Also saying "You know you want some!" and winking probably helped. She can't have been older than 24.

Anybody else think that while high school was a time of mass rejection and intolerance of your general appearance, you grow up a bit and suddenly can't help noticing that a lot of people give you their time?

[Thomas Edison]

I had no luck with girls in high school. At college I got into a two and a half year long relationship, and now that I'm single and at uni my jaw is literally dropping at the number of chances I have with girls who wouldn't have given me the time of day a couple years back. I don't understand what happened.

[Dazed]

You got fuckin sexy man, that's all

[Barmymoo]

I dunno, I was much more successful relationship-wise when I was in high school, but that is probably a lot to do with circumstances (tricky to meet people when you're living in rural Shropshire with only your parents to talk to) and also because of being ill, which I think has made me less outgoing and less likely to connect with people. So maybe when I go back to uni I'll start making friends and maybe meet someone supernice (instead of a bit skeezy, like lots of people in sixth form were).

Today was my last counselling session, because next week I'm in hospital and the week after I won't be able to get into town without a lot of waiting round for buses or walking, and it's not worth that. And then I go back to uni! Suddenly things have sped up a lot. There are a whole bunch of things I need to do but it doesn't feel like there's time - go to the dentist, finish up volunteering at the hospice (I haven't been for over a month), see friends. I'm kind of nervous about going back because it has to work out this time. There are no second chances now; if I can't cope with this year I have to drop the entire degree because I can't get finance for any more years. It should be ok though. It should. I hope.

[Zingoleb]

Maybe he'll not skeev on me if he just assumes I don't like guys.

Didn't work. He's an utter creep but he's also the only person who would let me move in.   He's really touchy feely and keeps talking about having sex with me even when I repeatedly tell him to stop and I feel super uncomfortable around him. Last night I was laying down watching TV and told him I was going to bed, so he walked over, kneeled in front of me, nuzzled my chest and then kissed my stomach. I told him off for it and went to my room, which I'm going to have to buy a lock for because this guy is just creeping me the fuck out.

edit: oh right, and he kept asking about my 'man feet' (I wear size twelve women's shoes), and I told him I'm trans. He didn't believe me, but kept calling me a he-she and shemale and whatnot, and calling my friends such, even after I first politely explained that those are super offensive, like on the level of ignorant fucktard-word, to me, and then when he continued, to get super pissed at him. I needed a place to live but I'm going to start immediately looking for a place in October because seriously. This guy is skeevy to the core.

[Tom]

Yeah, you gotta get outta there.

[Patrick]

Yeah, you gotta get outta there.

You like this.

Dear blag,

Yesterday I went to Berkeley to visit my friend and bandmate Kabir! I sold him my Boss delay pedal (a DD-20), he partially paid for it, we rehearsed a shitload with a couple of friends over to critique and provide feedback, and we discussed potential shows.

Also, some of you may have heard about the cannabis street fair in Oakland, and how it got shut down because of their not having the right permits. Well, I've contacted one of the main organizers of the event, and he says 1. that they're going to shoot for a date next month, 2. that they're gonna get the right permits this time, and 3. that Injun Magic can play there. They can't pay us, but we can have a tip jar, merch booth, shit like that. So I'm talking to Kabir about it, and we'll see where this goes. Hopefully it's a success, although I can't see it any other way.

The last year's taught me how to be a businessman a lot better than I could've hoped, I think, and at the moment I can support myself with the open mics I run. But I'm not done. I won't be finished until I've built something truly noteworthy, and that may take some time. Still, I definitely feel like I'm on my way to some amazing shit this year, and next year I imagine it'll be even better. Ahoy!

[Barmymoo]

Well, I was all excited about maybe tutoring a GCSE english student, but then I think they chose another tutor instead. But then today I got an email from someone who wants me to tutor their son in english and maths! Yay!

However, I have slight ethical qualms about this, because they want two two-hour sessions per week (that's £40 a week to me, awesome, but...) the child is five years old.

Five years old and four hours of tutoring a week, in two two-hour blocks? That sounds like hell! I have suggested, partly for my own logistical reasons, that splitting it into one-hour sessions or at least splitting one of them might be better, because what five year old is going to sit still for an extra two hours of school each week?

I suppose it is possible that the kid is home educated or possibly not at school yet or something, and of course I would make it as fun and un-schoolish as possible (if they're falling behind at school already, more school won't help) but still. Pushy parents? Super-ambitious? Hard to say. Anyway if I can do the job I'll take it. You don't turn down that kind of money for doing something you love just because you don't necessarily approve of the parents' pressure. Fix it from the inside, I say (also £40 a week).

[Zingoleb]

Not to mention, I've found most people learn better in four one-hour blocks than two two-hour blocks (I've been on both block and period scheduling - aka one where there's four two hour classes per day, and the other where there's eight one hour classes a day, and I learned way more on the shorter time frame ones. It takes time to digest things.)

[valley_parade]

I'm at work for another 2 hours and I have literally NOTHING to do.

Huh.

[Barmymoo]

Teach a five year old long division!

[valley_parade]

No five year olds around.

[Tom]

long division!

Why do people do this, it drives me crazy. I was meant to learn long division but I told my teacher to 'bugger off' and just did short division.

[valley_parade]

The CS department got a little jumpy, so I've been answering the odd phone call here and there, and hey, I leave in a minute.

Also I just read old threads on OSG.