"Every artist must sometimes believe that art is the doorway to the divine. Perhaps it is. But it's dangerous for a musician to philosophize instead of practicing. The grandeur of the music, to be heard, must be played. When I hold the guitar, I may aspire to play perfect harmonies. But first I have to play well."

"Musical performance establishes a relationship between the performer and the audience. But musical practice is solitary, a relationship with yourself."

"Because practicing is more than exercises and study, the patient minding of your fingers. When you sit down to practice, however casually, you cast yourself as the hero and victim of your own myth. You will encounter obstacles; you will struggle, succeed, and struggle some more. Because when you truly believe your story of practicing, it has the power to turn routine into a route, to resolve discordant voices, and to transform the harshest, most intense disappointment into the very reason you continue."

"Practicing is the truth of who you are today, as you strive to change, to make yourself better, to become someone new. The goal is always to bring new notes to life. Even so, while you sit down to work every day, it may take years before you know what you've practiced."


And this is only in Chapter One x3 More to come, definately.

Wossy said so.
He's such a slasher.
Remember when Stephen Fry was on and he read him Fry/Laurie slash.

Wossy has some guests and a half.
Vivienne Westwood and JAMZZZ!!!

2 minutes in and they were on the gay jokes.
Oh James ♥

Also, this picture is making me squee.

'I'm praying for a series 4 of Torchwood'
are you all mad?
The only thing redeemable about that episode is that it had closure and everything is tied up.
What? Is Gwen going to risk her life when she has a kid? People want Jack to cheapen his relationship with Ianto and have another love interest?
WTF?!

No more Torchwood PLEASE!

That finale was just wrong.
Pure wrong.
Jack's character is passed being redeemable.
That was such a wrong episode.

Shooting kids. Suicide. Killing your own grandson.

RTD really knows no bounds.

Books I Should Read:
1. Strange Brew: Eric Clapton and The British Blues Movement:

2. It Ain't Easy by Paul Myers

3. Girls Like Us by Sheila Weller

Apparently this book is HORRIBLE, but I still want to read it anyway XD And I mean, to compare Carly Simon to these two, eeeeee. >.>

I wrote a song today, it's sappy, but It'll do. I drew it from a sappy moment anyhow XD All about sleep, watching people you love sleep, something I have an odd obsession doing XD

And some Questions:

1. Why is it so fucking empowering when you're newly scrubbed and shaved from a shower? 0-o
2. Why do we say "Good Morning?" I know it's courtesy, but I usually will not honestly care how your morning went and I honestly don't want you to tell me because it's none of my bloody business. Yet we all go through the trouble of the formalities. This is one cynic who simply says 'I DON'T CARE.' If I want to know you, I'll ask.
3. Why do we need love? Why do we need someone to validate us instead of growing the ability to validate ourselves? Is that why it's irrational?

I think people need to be more cynical. We're too content, we've been bought off by toys and technology, consumerism and profit. People don't question morals, values, reasons, and motivations enough. Isn't it ironic that with so much technology out there to help us to reach out to others and to be able to question our world around us, we learn to be complacent, be happy with the mediocre, and sit on our asses watching videos of pandas sneezing? XD

Besides grabbing a plane back home and promising my parents they wouldn't be jerk-offs and call me back for the next half of the year, I'm not perfectly content on a plane bound crosscountry. Before I went this morning, I recieved my Driver's License, got my hair shaped, and got a BEAUTIFUL book from the bookstore at the airport about practicing and the love of music.





Seriously, it's so sensually driven, it's gorgeous, and I'm only in about thirteen pages. It's called "Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music" by Glenn Kurtz, a memoir 'taking us from [Glenn Kurtz's first guitar lesson] at the age of eight to his acceptance at the elite New England Conservatory of Music. After graduation, he attempts a solo career in Vienna but realizes he has neither the ego or the talent required to succeed and gives up the instrument, and his dream, entirely. But not forever: Returning to the guitar, Kurtz weaves into the narrative the rich experience of a single practice session." He's definately renewed my passion to study, to become the best vocalist that I can be, to learn theory, and to practice. I practiced for six hours straight Wednesday, and hope to again today. Sadly, I need to make up for lost time, and I'm not sure I'll be able to achieve that.

Read it here:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/reader/030726615X/ref=sib_dp_pt/190-0241619-0398927#reader-page

Music is my soul and I don't want to lose it, I'm going to work my damnest to succeed, not matter what anyone says.

Plus, I read a bunch of George-slash today and had a very Mary-Sue moment 0_o I had the most perverted little smirk on my face for about fifteen minutes, till the flight attendant came over and said, 'Excuse me, are you alright?" XD -giggles evilly-

And besides the fact my hair isn't behaving and I'm now horny beyond belief, I am. -pouts- Seriously, the next mildly-attractive man is going to get it....
-prays Eric doesn't show up at the airport- xp

Stupidly sensual writers. -snaps as she sends her airplane meal flying- It doesn't help that Chopin is stuck in my head, and I can't get him to bugger off and move out.



Still, he has very beguiling eyes...


One of my favorite renditions of one of my favorite pieces of Chopin, such a gorgeous, emotional piece. Words can never describe music. 2:40 is amazing. His hands are perfect. Eeeeee. Can only to aspire to be this fantastic one day, when I'm forty- five XD Still Zimmerman's stupidly showy, which is annoying >.> But just close your eyes and listen, reflect x3

YouTube - Zimerman plays Chopin Ballade No. 1
 

And, I want this. 0_0



I also want this XD



-evil horny grin-

What are everyone's thoughts on leaving kittens on their own all day? My OH has found an adorable 9/10 week old kitten that needs a home, but we both work full-time and I've always thought that kittens that young shouldn't be left unsupervised for that long? We've come up with a few ideas for keeping her entertained during the day such as setting up a play area which we will change around every morning, plus hiding treats round the room. Obviously she will be contained in one kitten-proofed room until she's a bit bigger, but what do you all think?


EDIT: How can I resist this face?!?

Hi everyone,

Here is my issue: My 2 year old cat has decided to chew on everything I own... corners of my textbooks, my cell phone charger, those plastic toggles on the zippers of my back pack and any paper that is lying around. So I was wondering if anyone knows of any good cat "chew toys" or what else I could use to stop her from eating paper :P

Thanks!!

Well, that was it. My fabulous vacation in the UK has finally come to an end. I'm feeling quite miserable, as even though I had a great time I wish I had more time to spare. I guess we can't ask for too much though.

I'm at the airport at the moment, bored out of my mind. My flight has been delayed and now I have to wonder the neon light infested hallways of the airport for another 2 1/2 hours. I'm quite close to blowing a fuse really. Kids running around rabidly, people talking incredibly loud on their cells and families arguing trying to figure out what assortment of tea and chocolates they're going to get for their granny who's waiting back home. And all this with a scent of food lingering in the air and loud music blaring from the various airport stores. Mind you, these chairs in the internet department are incredibly uncomfortable.

I guess the only thing I can do is walk around just like everyone else, trying to find some last minute gift for friends and family back home. I like and hate airports at the same time. Weird I know. They're a place of unity and a part of departure. You wave goodbye to your loved ones but you also wave as soon as you see them upon arrival. You venture into new destinations but inevitably leave something behind. I think I'm analyzing it too much. My brain is starting to hurt! OMG I just turned into Mr. Gumby!!

I still haven't gotten over my addiction so my first stop will be HMV. Gotta get a last minute fix! Maybe an utterly brainless magazine, even though I just bought a David Sedaris book to read during the flight. :D

I have to apologize for not responding to any of your comments guys! It's just that whenever I update I'm in quite of a rush! I will make it up to you though! Promise! Well, the sweat sensation caused only by entering HMV is starting to take over and so I have to bid you adieu! Toodle pip!

Hello! I'm a creepy thing and have been lurking around this community for a long while, but this is my first post here. Instead of a long paragraph about how I got onto Python and who's my favourite and what my favourite sketches are and all of that, I'd like to introduce myself by bringing a little something to the community: a picspam. Hopefully these are allowed! If not, let the Hand of God strike me down.

I'm not saying it is the spam to end all spams. My image layout skills are lacking, but I think the awesomeness of the Pythons more than makes up for my formatting skills!

Now, if I seem a little bit biased in terms of how many pictures for each and so on, it's...uh...because I can't count. Yes. Cough.

Without further ado... ETA: Thank you to a kind mod for adding tags to this entry!

questino under here, cut to save all our friends pages...
( Read more... )

My default icon is pretty fitting today.
I had about 5 hours sleep thanks to Torchwood last night and I'm feeling pretty low, so I was thinking about all the other times I've been upset over stupid fictional characters (granted I've never been this upset) but there are a few entertainment moments that have made me cry buckets and buckets.

Here are some films that broke my heart:

This was really my first introduction to the world of crying like a bitch over films.
'Lord of the Rings: Return of the King'

when I was younger I never used to cry at films but when I saw this, omg I was traumatised, Sam & Frodo went through ALL what they did just for Frodo to bugger off at the end? WTF! ahaha.
It's also funny 'coz I never did and never will slash Sam/Frodo, I think it's a total insult to their relationship. I mean it's so beautiful and true there's no need.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Anyone who has seen this film will know how truly revolutionary it was in terms of it being made at a time where cinema was changing and it's so modern and fresh, it could of been made yesterday and wouldn't look out of place.
In a weird way I totally related to Holly Golightly, and the last scene was so touching and beautiful you'd have to have a heart of stone to not shed a little tear.

Laurel & Hardy's 'The Bohemian Girl'

Critics say that this is one of Laurel & Hardy's weaker films, in my opinion it's their best. I can't watch it without crying though because I am a bit of a Babe Hardy girl and seeing him reduced to tears by his 'daughter's' singing was so honest and beautiful. Also the song she sings, 'I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls' is my favourite ever song.


Now these 3 are my biggest 'tear jerking films' that I try not to watch because I get too depressed.

Wilde
I'd like to say that this film and Jeeves & Wooster shows that Stephen Fry is such a talented actor and whenever I get annoyed that he's playing yet another upper class homosexual I always think 'wait a minute Mill he did make you cry buckets in Wilde'.


The film as a whole is pretty depressing as it tells the life of Oscar Wilde, which we all know didn't end happily. What gets me is the scene where Oscar is told he can see his children and that thing Stephen does to show Oscar's happiness/relief that he can starts me off. THEN there's the bit where he's reading the story about the giant, that killed me the first time I saw it. I couldn't stop crying for hours.
Could it be that it's Stephen Fry reading a children's story? Could it be the mental trauma Oscar has faced in prison (what with the obsessive putting things in places and shaking)? Could it be that looking up at a bright window makes me think of Oscar Wilde reading the yellow book about the man who had to repent for his sins in order to go to heaven? I don't know. I just know that that scene has emotionally scarred me XD
It also doesn't help that you can't just say 'well it's only a film' 'coz it actually happened, and in my opinion it was all bloody BOSIE's fault. what a tit.

Milk

This is another film that you can't shrug off as 'it's only a film'.
Of course the assassination scene and the aftermath of it is what gets me crying.
Also, like Wilde, there's another bloody voice-over of the character speaking. I think it's voice-overs that make me cry aha.
His death was done so cowardly by his killer and so pointlessly, that's what I hate. Also, in the film, what was so haunting about it for me, was the way he looked at the opera house when he died, and then it cut back to his time with Scott. Very haunting.

Bolt

This film is, I think, the only film where I cried multiple times throughout it. And I don't think many people did cry over it because it's not the sort of film you cry at, but it hit me personally.
I have lived my whole life with animals, dogs cats, hamsters, rabbits, guineas, mice, gerbals, birds, horses, sheep and cows. So anything with the relationship between humans and animals affects me.
I also have a dog that really is my best friend and I know what it's like to have a dog so devoted to you that he/she would do anything to protect you. So yerr, because that is really the central theme of this film it's no wonder that I cried over the scenes where it showed Penny & Bolt's love for each other.
Also the lyrics 'there is no home like the one you've got coz that home belongs to you' sang at the end accompanied by the picture above ^^ had me crying like a baby.


So that's it, even after pouring out my heart I still feel no better about Ianto's death, what can I say, I'm a big wuss.

I stumbled onto this:
http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/trivia.htm
I found it very amusing and awesome. I thought I should share! <3

btw, it's random kitty facts. :)

It's been just over a week now, and only now do I feel ready to write this. On Tuesday night last week I noticed my beautiful Sonya having a bit of trouble breathing, she seemed a bit more listless than normal but otherwise her other vital signs were ok. her temp was up by .5 of a degree (celcius, I'm in Australia). I called my vet who said to keeo an eye on her and if ANYthing changed to bring her right in. Nothing changed over night, but I decided to come home at lunch time (I work 10mins drive away) to check on her. Her breathing had gotten heavier and she was very listless. So a rapid call to the vet and my boss to say I wasn't coming back later, she was rushed into emergency at my vet. The vet suspected pneumonia and asked permission to x-ray to confirm, of course I granted it. Now to understand what happens next you must understand I worked at a vets for a very long time. She called me in as the xray was developing. We decided if it was pnue, we'd drain her chest and see if that helped. The slide developed... and as it did, we both gasped in horror. In fact, she almost dropped the slide and light. My beautiful girl did indeed have pnuemonia, but she also had a MASSIVE tumour running throughout her entire intestines, there were dark spots all over her lungs and other organs. In fact the only thing that looked clear where her kidneys. I guess t he kidney-safe cat food really works, huh? There was no chance of survival. The vet was beside herself with grief, after all we'd just had Sonya vaccinated, wormed and health checked a few months ago. These tumors were AGGRESSIVE! She was starting to be in discomfort, but not pain. Yet. It would be a matter of day if not hourss before it developed into severe pain. Draining her chest would kill her too. I did the only humane thing I could. She purred in my arms as she fell asleep forever. I couldn't stop crying for the first 24hrs or so. I miss her so very much. She was part Siamese and part whatever her mum had a fling one night with. She loved having her front paws held, and her tummy rubbed. We'd have 'cuddle-slut' sessions together i.e big hugs and headbutts and rubbies. She is buried in my garden, where flowers will be planted come Spring. In the mean time, I am without my little friend. Words can not express just how much I miss her.
My only comforts are knowing I did the right thing, and that the vet said she had never in all her years or practice see acat that was so tumor ridden look SO healthy,. Whatever I had been doing, I had been doing it right. I just wish I could have done more.

Firstly, I was having a lovely dream about a certain someone when I was awoken by my phone. Turns out my parents want my out west for their birthdays and such, so with the time exchange, I had a grand total of three blissful hours at home with Eric before having to pay a taxi $40.00 to drive me out to the airport and take the plane back again. I arrived at 3AM and was told as soon as I reached my parent's home by crappy transit that I was to go for a run, lift weights, skip and get ready for 8, since I was going to do training with this kid who paid my dad for it. So I trained with the kid for an hour and a half before thinking I could collapse at 9 after an eight hour time change, but unfortunately not. My parents decided to book a contact lens appointment for me and I spent the entire time with my eyes running because the hard lense kept catching in the upper corner of my eye. Then, I was sent for a license test, which I consequently failed from lack of sleep, my new license photo looks like I'm drunk, and then I had to sit at a Starbucks for three hours before being picked up XD I had to laugh, my day's been so pathetic, and had no messages, feeling unloved xP I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye XP

On the plus side, the Starbucks was connected to a Chapters/Indigo so I read through like, half of their music session, plus a book about a little boy of 14 sneaking in to John and Yoko's Love-In in Montreal after hitching a ride from Toronto. John and Yoko signed a picture for him and allowed him to stay with them and sing as all these different famous people and annoying photographers came. Yoko actually sounds beautiful in this book, I have hope XD

And a book about 70s British Blues x3

Plus I'm yammering for a memoir about a concert pianist who quits and starts again years later, just as I did. I hope it has a happy ending x3

but re-watching that episode was the 4th time has given me such fanvid ideas.
I think Ianto isn't dead

*prays*


*inappropriate Russell T Davies growling icon is inappropriate*

Does anyone out there know of any decent open mic nights in the South West? I'm thinking around Exeter, Plymouth and down into Cornwall.

I'm about to give stand-up a go and, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing. Did a ton of sketch shows when I was at uni but I've never gone it alone. If any other aspiring stand-ups or fully fledged ones have some advice then please pass it on.

First an update on Lily. It's been more than three weeks since she fell and hurt her back. She is still not quite right. Her tail isn't dragging but it's not being held up the way she normally would carry it. She is jumping up onto and off of the window perch easily, so I can only assume her leg and back do not hurt, but she does sometimes still move a little gently so the inflammation is still present.

The incontinence has cleared up and most of the time she hits the litterbox. Last Sunday I woke up to an explosion in a cat poop factory. It was everywhere. All over the floor, all over her bedding, all over the pads on the floor and all over her. She had had a bad case of the diarrhea overnight, we determined it was because my partner filled her water dish with tap water. She has gotten nothing but filtered water for the last three years, the tap water was the only thing that was different, so we assumed it was the cause.

We have shaved down her back end to make it easier to clean her up when she has her accidents. So she's not looking very pretty. The fur that is left is stained, and ragged, but it will all grow back in time.
She is eating well, taking her cosequin and sucking down every bite of wet food.

We are still keeping her in one room, We had planned to let her out last weekend, but then the poop explosion happened and we decided to keep her closed in for a few more days. It'll be a lot easier to clean one room after all this is done than it will be to clean up cat poop or urine spills from all over the house. She doesn't seem to mind, we visit with her often and she isn't being bugged by Snowy and Tuna.

I have no pictures of Lily in all her stinky glory. But here are a few of the other beasties.

( Snowy, Tuna and PeeGee )