Flowers wilt. Chocolates melt. Roaches are forever.

Can't decide on what to get that special someone for Valentine's Day? Sometimes the answer is all around us, and right where it's been for millions of years—like cockroaches! How better to express your appreciation for that special someone than to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after them?

http://www.bronxzoo.com/name-a-roach/

~*~

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wow - Two Weeks Later

Sorry, dear old Blog. It's been a while. It would be great if I could say I have been up to fantabulous things, but, alas, life has been pretty dull, really. We did go to St Jacobs on the train, though, so that was fairly exciting - our one trip out of own for the summer. sigh.

Things are kind of blah - I'm broke, I still haven't been able to afford to apply to graduate, and I put in apps for the fall, but still do not have teaching work for the fall term. yippee.

BUT, I do have some exciting news... They accepted my novel for publication! I will have editing stages, etc., but if all goes well, it should be available for purchase come 2011! So, that's something.

Also, I don't know if I have posted this link before, but it's quite a neat site, so take a look - it's got to be more interesting than this blog, right?

Expecting the Reaper

So, I played with one of those Life Expectancy Calculator thingies.

I got 98 years.

That's more than the train robbers got!

I guess smoking isn't working as a replacement for a retirement fund. dang.

(ETA: Apparently, I can squeeze out another seven years if I stop a bunch of stuff and let the doctors poke me with sharp objects more often... I think I'm good, actually, thanks.)

23 Days til D-Day

Recently, I started feeling like I was missing out on the networking end of professional life, but was generally unwilling to return to Facebook. Luckily, I found Academia when Googling a former classmate's contact info, and have signed myself up. It's like FB for academics, but less personal - and more space for CV and publications, etc. I'm kind of hoping I can make some contacts for the use of job hunting. We shall see.

My external reader has already befriended me... I think that is a good thing. I think.

Got a little freaked out about the defence yesterday when the advisor emailed me to make sure I wasn't freaking out, which seems rather counter-productive. Am feeling a bit better now.

But, holy poop! JUST 23 DAYS LEFT.

OK, now I really have to get down to brass tacks on this sucker.

Things We Have Learned from Zombies

from Necromantic Media

tired

I am sleepy, but oddly wired... yet too brain dead to do anything productive. I'm also hungry, but I can't make food without waking the pooper, so sigh on that one.

Presentation went well - advisor was pleased, so I "passed."

Here's something better than this lame post for you to read.

A New Addition to My Favourite Sites:

This one.

Movie posters are an under-appreciated art form. Also a lesser-known treasure trove of idiocy.

A new fav, Demotivational Posters - always good for a laugh.

To the Pink

*


There's an interesting "cultural history" of the colour pink in today's Globe and Mail, which, in part, investigates why we slather girls in pink from their first breath.

I personally abhor the practice, both as a female who had to endure pink gifts from relatives (not from my own blessed parents, who very early on understood my dislike for the colour), but also as a parent who cannot understand the heavy hand people use in gendering small children.

Pink, while actually a fairly pretty colour, represents so much more than a rosy hue - it is the crass market's way of categorizing future consumers.

However, it should not be assumed that boys are void of such things; while I have nothing against blue, personally, some aggressively-"masculine" clothing items for boys go far too far. For example, camouflage on an infant, being that it represents the governmental use of violence, inspires revulsion in me.

(Children should not be raised as mini-soldierbots in the making; I live in constant hope that the days of "dolce et decorum est" will end.)

When will people come around to the idea that a baby knows what/who it is as it grows, no matter what colours are on its back? Why continue this socially acceptable mimicry of Crips Vs Bloods through the gender gang warfare between blue and pink?

And, as a side note, when on earth did the Valtrex Queen Paris Hilton become a "role model" for little girls? The mind (and the stomach) reels.

Also, in the Awesome Category...

I've been stunned by the animals-in-their-wombs photos around the net today, here:

Daily Mail
i09
Geekologie

Nature is pretty wonderful.

Pretty Damned Wunnerful

Thanks to Katie for sending it to me.

Dear Lord, No!

Disgusting.

You've been warned.

How to Poop

New Blog

I started a blog here for Declan and his adventures.

Killing Time

No baby, still, but here's something you can play with, instead.

5 Important Songs

I got this from 42K: "This is the meme. Write about 5 or 10 (or so) songs that had an impact on your life, and tag five people to carry on."

Well, firstly, I am not going to tag anyone, but feel free to do it. Secondly, this isn't as easy as it looks. What does he mean my "impact"? Anyhoo, I picked 5 songs of importance, songs that seem to flavour my life (in no real order).

1)"What a Good Boy" (The Barenaked Ladies). This song means something very special between my husband and I, involving memories, experiences and plans, and so forth. He'll understand why it's on here, but I think I will leave it at that.

2)"G-d Save Ireland" (T.D. Sullivan). This song, though a bit more militaristic than I usually like to be, does inspire me. Sure I don't plan on dying on the gallows or the battlefield any time soon, but this song does help me when I lack courage.

3)"Farewell to Nova Scotia" (Traditional). A sweet bit of home, which always gets me in a deep place.

4) "Rock You Like a Hurricane" (Scorpions). OK, so by far the silliest entry, but one with good cause. This is my "pump song." I mentally sing this before every presentation I have to give. It makes me smile, distracts me, and generally makes me feel better. Ludicrous, but effective.

5) "At This Moment" (Billy Vera and the Beaters). I have no idea why I have decided to add this, but this song was the one playing when I was kissed for the first time. Somehow, it seemed like a fitting thing to kick off my romantic career.

Blame the Gays

Here's something for your Sunday enjoyment. Bush was right all along! Who knew?

Calling All Americans!

The most amazing thing ever has crossed my desk (or rather, was pointed out to me by a friend). The new 7/11-Simpsons Movie tie-in promotion. They aren't doing this up here, sadly, but if you guys down there get the chance, let me know how this looks in person.

I, and a bunch of people I know, have been calling all convenience stores "Kwik-E-Mart" for years, so it's pretty exciting to see it come to life.

I vote they keep it that way.

Update, Finally

Sorry for all the radio silence, but so-called "morning sickness," which is really "all day sickness" hit me like a mack truck this weekend, plus I had a bad cold, which didn't improve matters. However, I have been trying to get some work done, and I did make some headway.

When not working, I have found a new cheesy passion. How did I miss this as a youngster? Oh yeah, I didn't get cable until I was 14, and I missed out on the wonders of Fox programming at a young age - lucky me.

Hope all is well!

A Very Cool Thing

Something for you to peruse while I am gone:

Sustainable Building Design and Construction 2007 - Home