Ultimately, Burn Suburbia

[sorcyress]

So, what has been up these past few days?

Sunday of Otakon was totally unexciting, besides getting to hang out with Kilika and squee over his stuff. That was nice and fun. I now need to get my hands on some way to transfer pictures off the new camera¹ and onto Vera, so I can post some pics.

After Otakon, I came home, and solidly crashed on a bed for about twenty minutes. When I got up, I was full of righteous cleaning energy, but mom solidly dissapated that my telling me I should watch Evil Dead: The Musical with her and DarkEric.

Watched Evil Dead, which was pretty fantastic, ate food, and went dancing at Oella, which was nice, and social, and dance!

Monday I babysat all morning, and worked all afternoon. Yesterday I hung out with mom and Marty, and sorta pretended to Accomplish Things. Until MaccyTu-Eric came over, at which point I just gave it all up in order to watch the Glee pilot.

Glee pilot? Totally watchable. You should all totally watch it. Also, has a very lovely version of "Don't Stop Believin'", which is, of course, possibly the best song ever after Crazy Train.

I've still been pretty full of accomplishing-things-energy. I'm not exactly sure what it is; my brain just snapped into "this is Not Right" mode regarding...lots of things about me, really, and so I've been trying to do things to change all that. It really was just...everything being too much for me. I'm tired of eating prepackaged food because I can't cook², I'm tired of being broke because I like buying frivols, I'm tired of being squooshy³ because I'm not getting any exercise in this lousy state, I'm tired of living in the mess that is my room, and I'm tired of not being creative like ever.

Oh, and a significant part of it, as always, is wanting so badly to not be in this place anymore. Columbia is pretty, there are things I like about it, but...sweet Athe and Mother, it is so very *not right* for me anymore. The Empty City is a fantastic place to visit, but living there for an extended period of time is hard, really hard. Every once in a while, back at school, it hits me --I am in the best city in the world. And I'll feel all my tension ebb, for just a splendid moment, as I close my eyes and take in the fact that Boston is around me and that means that I am Home.

I never get that feeling of safety down here. Columbia jibes badly with my Self, rubs rough against all the edges that Boston tries to smooth. A lot of folk I know swear they'd be happy anywhere, so long as they had people they loved around; I'd like the people, but I think I *need* the city.

Soyeah. That's life right now.

~Sor
MOOP!

1: Digital Cameras come to me to die. I've never owned a new one, nor do I really especially want to, honestly. I've owned...three cameras as hand-me-downs from the parents, each of which has bit it. I just got the fourth before Otakon, we'll see how long that lasts.

What I really want is another Sony Cybershot DSC-T1. It's the camera that most recently died (after being my mom's point and shoot for at least five years, and mine for most of two beyond that) and it is a *good* little camera. So, if you have a spare one lying around, let me know and we'll negotiate or something.

I'd be totally into the idea of just getting the newest cybershot (especially since it comes in green!) except for the fact that it HAS A FUCKING TOUCHSCREEN. Fuck you touchscreens, you make me such a very unhappy Kat. This is going to be a tremendous problem when my iPod eventually dies, too.

...technically more of a problem with the ipod thing, since I more need to be able to push buttons on the ipod without looking down at it. If I'm walking, I don't *want* to have to take the damn thing out of my pocket just to make sure I'm clicking the correct "go to the next song" button.

2: I made grilled cheese the other night, all by myself! Oh sure, this doesn't sound big to you, but believe me, I've never, not once, done that before.

3: Okay, I'm not going to argue the fat thing with anyone on my friends list, because oh hi, I'm not fat. Like...at all. But I *have* gained about five pounds this summer, and I *am* less toned than I would like, and those are both things I don't have to worry about when I'm in Boston, because up there, I actually dance every week, *and* I walk...oh jeeze, two or three miles a day, probably? More if I decide to go shopping?

That and, in Boston, there's less food lying around for me to put into my mouth, and what food there *is* is generally healthier for me. I won't admit to liking the mess hall food, but it's better than hot pockets.

Comments

[macaroniandtuna.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with touchscreens? OK, you can't press buttons in your pocket, but why would you want to press buttons on a camera that's in your pocket? An iPod I can sort of understand, I guess, but, y'know, Apple is smart. They'll come up with some way around that. Probably voice control, the iPhone already has it and the Touch is supposedly getting a microphone on its next revision so will have it too, etc. etc. trickle-down. And aren't there already those combination headphone/remote things? That would work too.

As for learning how to cook...watch Food Network. It's a help, at least. Especially Good Eats (http://www.foodnetwork.com/good-eats/index.html). Lots of why, not just how (=recipe book in TV form) like most cooking shows. Also Alton Brown is like Bill Nye, with food. It's pretty awesome.

[harena.livejournal.com]

i agree & disagree with your notion of needing the City more than the People.. because on the one hand, People can go a long long long way to make the Wrong City liveable but then again, if you are in the right City then People will come your way.

That said, i have a pre-existing set of people that are all totally not in the city where i live so i have to figure out how to come to terms with that.

. o O (i wish i had more local people like that.. i have my knit buddies but most of them whilst awesome & supportive and whatnot are still alarmingly Mundie)

[tirerim.livejournal.com]

The importance of the City lies partly in how it helps or hinders one's ability to actually spend time with the People. The more spread out, the less public transit and walkability, the harder it is. This is also affected by exactly where people live, of course, but the city will influence that, too.

[harena.livejournal.com]

Yeah, i quite agree, which is part of why i might be less than happy with Where I Live as well... it has major transportation issues and urban sprawl out the wazoo.

Doesn't help that i have social anxiety either ;)

[thorog.livejournal.com]

Cooking: I know this problem, and I'm not exactly top-notch at it either (but hoping to work on it!). Like a lot of things, I think the best way to get better at cooking is continually doing it. Maybe assign one night a week that you will make something for dinner or dessert, and stick to it. This means you have less free time, sure, but you were going to have to deal with that. The internet can provide you with recipes, and if you hit up the right sites they may even have a "cooking for beginners" type thing.

Alternatively, try taking classes. Not sure if they'd exist in Columbia, but they will in Boston. Or, yknow, come visit us and Rose will teach you.

Being broke: this will be sorted when you get two bank accounts, and get paid straight into your savings one. W.r.t. impulse purchasing: no one can stop you doing that except yourself.

Getting fit: do some walking. Download some audiobooks - yes, yes, I know you don't absorb information by listening, shut up and let me finish - throw them on your iPod, pick a direction, and go. Then you can say you follow the same routine as Stephen Fry does! Also, you might start listening to the book.

Mess: I've already adviced this one.

Creativity: that's (most probably) because you're busy doing stuff and not trying to be creative. Set aside some time and you should start getting your creativity up and going again.

Camera: DSC-T1 is ten bucks on ebay.

iPod: They still sell the classic, stop whinging.

Now I've organised your life, back to science!

[kirby1024.livejournal.com]

Being broke: this will be sorted when you get two bank accounts, and get paid straight into your savings one. W.r.t. impulse purchasing: no one can stop you doing that except yourself.

Well... Not quite. I do this and I still have no money. Everything gets paid, mind, but I lack much money afterwards...

[mrbelm.livejournal.com]

You can have our old Canon Elph in exchange for babysitting instead of monies.

And you know I can teach you to cook.

[kirby1024.livejournal.com]

I have generally found that the three major ingredients needed to cook effectively are Attention, Recipes, and a technique guide. If you can get those three set, you're golden. You may not cook like a five-star chef, but you'll certainly be able to cook yummy meals.

Also, I'm so very annoyed right now that I have to wait until September for Glee. Evil. EVIL!!!

Finally, if you're looking for creativity stuff, I'm planning to run regular Lexicon games (http://www.wikiphilia.net/lexicon), so I can keep my creative muscles working. If you can come up with a decent prompt, I'll even start a new one so you can get started right away! :)

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

I have a fun ska cover of Crazy Train.

[tirerim.livejournal.com]

Yay, grilled cheese. That can go a long way, believe me. Let me know if you ever want specific grilled-cheese-making tips. (I am being completely serious: my dad taught me how to make a good grilled cheese sandwich, and even though I have since gained the ability to occasionally make more complicated things, I still make it pretty frequently, because it's fast, easy, and delicious.)

[herbertinc.livejournal.com]

Which is a skill I sadly cannot take advantage of.

Maybe you want to consider getting a mini George Foreman? I know that sounds silly, but there's one in the farm office and it makes grilled cheese (the usual lunch of the farmers) really easy and fast. It also does not require a stove. And, if you're like the farmers, no cleaning either.

[sparr0.livejournal.com]

Which butter application alternative did you select? How did it work out?