|
[Nov1109] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 sad |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
The Fairwell |
] |
Went to see Elliot Minor this eve at Birmingham Academy 2. I've put 15 pix up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/elliotminorphotos.htm
A review and bigger pic will be in Black Velvet issue 63.
On the way to the show I went in Borders to buy a mag for a friend and noticed Fireworks mag was in there. Nicky Baldrian did a little interview with me for Fireworks (him asking me questions about doing Black Velvet) - so I checked and I'm in the issue that's out now. :-) It's part of a piece on Independent Zines & Radio Stations. Pretty cool. Issue 38. Page 42. Look out for it.
|
|
| Article: "Why we're mad about the boys" |
[Nov1109] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 chipper |
] |
Here's a new, and interesting, article that talks about the sucsess of Top Gear, and how it all began with Clarkson and Wilman, two loud-mouthed boys at a boarding school...
Source: Guardian
There's also a photo slide show, here, with some photos I haven't seen before. (You have to click on the photos to see the rest)
x-posted
|
|
| You want it? Pay for it. |
[Nov1109] |
|
One of the sponsored blog companies I occasionally do posts for is PayPerPost 4.0 Alpha. Their setup is a little different than PayPerPost. With v4, bloggers set a price per word and per link. The platform spits out recommended amounts based on your blog (PageRank, Alexa rating, traffic, content, topic(s), etc.), but you’re free to set your own price. By setting your own price, you ultimately decide how much you’re paid for writing a sponsored post for an advertiser.
Another difference with v4 is that you don’t have to worry about refreshing the dashboard looking for opportunities — they come to you. Advertisers are able to sift through the various bloggers and send personal invitations inviting targeted bloggers to write about their products, services or whatever else it is they’re wanting to promote.
Now, you’d think this is a good thing, right? For once you get to be paid per word and per link. Gone are the days of being paid $5 for a 300 word post with three links (not that I’d accept such a measly amount for such high requirements; by the way, that’s what this blog entry is about — I’ll get to that in a paragraph or two). On the flip side, gone are the days of scoring the awesome $10, $15 and even $20 and $25 opps that only required 100-200 words and just one, sometimes two links.
The bad thing about v4 is that advertisers can supply their own requirements for written content. Typically advertisers use this area to request that a blogger writes the entire blog entry around a certain subject. In other instances the advertiser may ask the blogger to simply include the link. An advertiser may also use this section to request that a blogger include an image, or a certain keyword, or a certain blurb about the product/service/whatever.
Unfortunately, there are also advertisers that will use this requirements section to require a blogger to include extra links. And because the advertiser has the ability to ultimately approve or reject the submitted blog entry, they can essentially get extra links for free if they decide to be underhanded and do this.
On no less than five occasions I have outright refused to do a sponsored post because an advertiser would essentially pay me for 100 words and one link, but then specify in the requirements that I include 1-2 additional links. In another outrageous instance, an advertiser privately emailed me a long-ass Word document that outlined the 500+ word post I had to publish, along with three links and two images. Mind you, the invitation in v4.0 outlined and offered payment for 200 words and one link.
I really, REALLY fucking hate and loathe advertisers who try and do this shit. I can’t fucking stand it. It’s sneaky. It’s underhanded. It completely disrespects ME as a blogger, and basically says that I am not worth being paid for X, Y and Z. I’m sorry, but my time, my creative energy and the space on my blog IS worth being paid for, which is why time and time again I have outright rejected $8 and $10 opportunities, because I’m not throwing in freebies. Bastards.
Originally published at jenn.nu. You can comment here or there.
|
|
|
[Nov1109] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 pissed off |
] |
Not to sound emo or anything, but I really do hate life right now.
Toady and I had a major fight this morning, it made me REALLY angry and upset. He basically refused to open the shop without me - despite a) I have to open the shop ALMOST EVERY DAY without him because he's too fucking lazy to get up! I get annoyed but I go down there because THE SHOP HAS TO BE OPENED, and b) today was supposed to be my day off! I had said I'll come in in the morning, yes, but I also said this morning, 'I'll come down in about ten minutes, I have to sort some things out.' But no, he had to WAIT for me. So I ended up storming out of the flat crying because it was pretty much hard proof that he doesn't actually care about the shop at all, and I not only locked myself out but I also went out with no shoes on and it was tipping it down!!!
Five minutes later, Toady called me asking where I am, so I asked where HE was, and he was still at the fucking flat!!!! It was 9.35am and the shop opens at 9. So I got even MORE angry, my feet were soaked through and hurting like hell. Obviously when I got back inside, I had to change, and he insisted that he HAD to wait for me to change and get myself ready. We ended up getting to the shop at 9.50am, almost an hour late. Of course, it's all my fucking fault because if I had got up in the first place it wouldn't have happened! MY GOD, imagine if I did that every time HE slept in!!!! The shop would never, ever, ever open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then it just got even worse! He stormed off into the toilet and locked the door so I couldn't get through to him at all, finally he came out and tried to fucking leave the shop. So I grabbed hold of him and by this time I was really angry so I started screaming at him, and he pushed me to the ground. IN FRONT OF TWO CUSTOMERS!!! Then he ran out the shop, so I ran after him, and we started having a proper physical and verbal fight right in the middle of the fucking street. I couldn't believe I was stooping that low, I just hate him SO fucking much. I really do, I can't stand living with him for another moment, he's a fucking IDIOT.
I also managed to break the flat door so it's almost hanging off its hinges, and now I can't even eat comfort food because my teeth have suddenly become really bad over the past couple of days. One of them has a black mark, and loads have got brown marks (all overnight, all at the same time?!) even though I brush them loads, use floss all the time, etc. It's really fucked me off, it's just one more disaster that I DON'T need right now.
AND someone really special (who I'll have to explain about another time) hasn't emailed me for five days, and I'm really worried about him. He's pretty much the only person who I feel I can talk to properly right now, and in the time I need him the most, he's not around! :'(
So I went to the other person I feel I can talk to, and he doesn't want to see me! Fucking brilliant. It's nice having friends, especially when you need them.
|
|
| Thank you Target! |
[Nov1109] |
|
Ah Target, my favorite store. I was able to get one of Dan’s Christmas presents from them this week, thanks to an awesome sale. And by awesome I mean a savings of $50. I had to take Dan to work this morning (tl;dr: forgotten, unpaid parking ticket from last spring turned into a suspended license that Dan found out about last night when he was pulled over. We went to the DMV today to find out the details, and will be paying the ticket and restoring his license tomorrow.), but since he was working a short shift it didn’t make sense to go home, even though that’s all I wanted to do — go home and crash. So I ran over to Target, kept my coughing to a minimum and coughed in my sleeve when I couldn’t hold back, used sanitizer to kill off germs before I spread them, and picked up said sale item. Last one on the shelf, too. I’m glad I didn’t wait!
I’m so unhappy about being sick. I have a concert to attend with my mom on Saturday, and I wanted to see my dad while we’re in Philadelphia. I also have some stuff going on next week that I’d rather not be sick for. Here’s to hoping I can shake this crap by Saturday, and if nothing else by Monday or Tuesday!
Originally published at jenn.nu. You can comment here or there.
|
|
| ‘Tis the flu season |
[Nov1109] |
|
I have the flu, and I am not happy about it. I went to my physician today, who took down my symptoms, took my temperature (100.8 at 2:00pm, ouch) and listened to my chest, then proclaimed that I have mild strain of the flu. He’s not sure if it’s swine or regular, but since the swine flu seems to be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, body aches (my chest, back and ribs hurt like a bitch, but that’s from all of the violent coughing spasms), it’s probably the regular flu. Since I didn’t get checked out when symptoms initially set in — last weekend, when I was running a fever and my throat felt weird — it’s too late for Tamiflu. So I get a morphine-containing cough syrup instead. Spiffy!
I am beyond miserable, and I just don’t know what to do with myself. I have spent the day in bed, in the living room recliner, on the couch, back in bed again, back to the recliner, and now in the bedroom at my desk. I can’t wait to shake this crap. I hate being sick. 
Originally published at jenn.nu. You can comment here or there.
|
|
| Battered Bladder Syndrome |
[Nov1109] |
|
Earlier today I tweeted a poorly worded message that gave probably half of my followers the wrong impression (note to self: including the word past probably would have made all the difference in the world). For the record: I am not pregnant. I have no desire or plan to be! And with everything that’s going on, I think I’d shoot myself if a pee stick turned up positive.
But I am sick. I guess I forgot to knock on wood, because I woke up last Friday morning with an itchy throat. I ran fevers off and on all weekend, and what was an occasional throat-clearing has blossomed into a serious 24/7 cough fest. My abdominal muscles ache, my throat is raw, and I can’t stop coughing. I’m sucking on cough drops like they’re oxygen, and downing Dayquil every four to six hours. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow afternoon, and I’m taking Alyssa in on Thursday morning since she is still sick. Ryan sees the doctor right after her for his continuing bowel issues.
I’ve got some pretty cool product reviews to do. One is for Respiratory Guard, which if I may be perfectly honest, tastes like berry-flavored ass (yes, I plan on including that lovely description in the actual review. After all, I was asked by the company and the organizer of the review to be honest!). I also received a Disney Tabletop Christmas Tree. I know. Kick-ass, right? It’s worth $199. When I showed it to Dan his response was, “Are you sure you didn’t really buy that?” No, I really didn’t buy it. It’s pretty, and I’m sure well worth two hundred bucks, but it’s not my kind of purchase to make. It is beautiful, however, and I can’t wait to put it out when we decorate for Christmas!
I’m looking forward to Thursday: not the 8:00am and 8:15am appointments for the kids, but the midnight showing of 2012 that Jason, my mom and I are going to. Friday is payday, which means a grocery store and Target run to replenish on food and household goods. Saturday will be spent with my mom in Philadelphia. She wants to stop and visit with a woman she knows from a Yorkshire Terrier message board, I want to see my dad (I haven’t seen him since last February!), and then we’re going to see Mannheim Steam Roller at 8:00pm.
What are your plans for the week?
Originally published at jenn.nu. You can comment here or there.
|
|
|
[Nov1109] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 bored |
] |
I have a LOT to blog about. I'm going to blog about this another time, but Toady and I have broken up, which is really horrible. I won't go into details, but I will probably be blogging a lot about it, I just... haven't been in the mood for it at all. I can't really believe it. We've been unhappy for a while, deep down, but I never imagined how much it would really hurt. Three and a half years is a long time, we've had SO many good times. Towards the end, we had a lot of bad times and it ultimately led to the break up, but as always with human nature, the loss has made me pine the good moments more than anything.
However, we went to Prague this weekend, which was amazing! I was pretty worried because we only broke up a week before we went, and for most of the week I was convinced he wasn't going to come. We were constantly angry at each other, and it's been really difficult because we not only own the shop together, we also live together. So I've been sleeping on the couch and we've constantly been in each other's hair, it's made it really hard because it's not like I even have anywhere to go, my parents are 800 miles away and so are my friends.
Anyway, Prague really was fantastic, although we were only there for two days. I mostly booked Prague specifically because I wanted to see two of my friends from camp, I mean I wanted to go there anyway but I would probably have chosen Rome or something over Prague this time around. But it is SUCH a nice city, it's really small and so lovely, it's all cobblestone lanes and gothic architecture and really beautiful buildings, I loved it.
( click to read all about our prague adventure! )
|
|
| 24 Top Gear related icons |
[Nov1109] |
[21] David Bowie related icons
[21] Doctor Who related icons
[11] NCIS related icons
[43] Supernatural related icons
[24] Top Gear related icons
[20] Misc. icons (Narnia: Prince Caspian, Britain's Got Talent, Ant and Dec, Michael Sheen, ER, Metallica, Olivia Wilde, Robbie Williams and Star Trek.)
Teasers:
  
Here at ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) justice_b
|
|
| They're at it again... |
[Nov1109] |
Latest Headline - Top Gear 'ad' breached guidelines:
"A spoof car advert shown on BBC Two's motoring show Top Gear was too graphic for the time of its broadcast, the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has ruled.
The mock advert, which featured a man committing suicide by shooting himself in the head, prompted 50 complaints.
The BBC argued that the advert, shown before the 2100 watershed on 2 August, was 'ludicrous and obviously comic'.
But Ofcom found the programme in breach of its guidelines, saying it 'exceeded audience expectations'."
|
|
| A movie-induced blog entry |
[Nov1109] |
|
I kind of fell off the face of the blogging world for a few days there. Sucks, because I fully intended on participating in National Blog Posting Month — on November 2nd, when I remembered about it. Sucks, but there’s always next year, right?
I’ve been rather preoccupied with television lately. I’m usually not a TV person. I’ll set our DVR to record shows or the occasional movie that catches my interest, but I won’t get around to watching anything until weeks or months (yes, months) later. Case and point: this morning I finally got around to watching The Notebook. The DVR recorded it in August.
I really liked the movie, even though it was poignantly sweet and sad. I started tearing up towards the end, when Allie and Noah were having dinner together. When they were dancing and she suddenly forgot who she was and subsequently who Noah was, and was screaming and nurses came and Noah started crying, I seriously bawled. Dan was in the living room then and he was teary-eyed too. I can’t imagine what it would be like to know that the love of your life doesn’t know you, doesn’t have any recollection of who you are, the memories you created, the things you did together. It must be so heartbreaking. Alzheimer’s scares me. It’s a disease I hope to never get, and I hope to God Daniel doesn’t either. It’s one thing to break down physically as you get older. But to lose your mental faculties, your memory? No thank you.
But if that were to happen to Dan, or to me, we swore we’d be there for one another, as heartbreaking as it would be. That’s what love is about. It isn’t the novelty and infatuation that initially brings couples together. I remember and wax nostalgia over the initial thrill I felt when Dan and I were first together. Our first flirt, first date, first touch (ask Dan about the first time we rode the log flume together…), first kiss, etc. That initial “spark” is gone, but, and excuse the mushiness, that spark set the fire ablaze, and nine years and a handful of months later it still burns strong. We know each other so well. Daniel is my best friend, my lover, my soul mate. I go to him for everything. He has my back and I have his. No matter what may be going on between us, petty squabbles or stupid arguments over stuff that means nothing at the end of the day, I love him, he loves me, and we have each other and would fight to the death for one another — and for our children.
I love our relationship, how far we’ve come, what we’ve accomplished, and what we mean to one another. I love that we’re still so in love with one another. The passion is there, but our relationship is about so much more than sex. We’re intimate with one another in so many ways, far beyond sexual. We crave each other’s company, and just enjoy being in the same room with one another. Going shopping for groceries, running errands, laying in bed together, cuddled under the sheets watching Hell’s Kitchen or CSI (two other current obsessions of mine), running out for medicine or comfort food when the other is sick, just being with each other but not necessarily doing anything “exciting”, like the kinds of “exciting” things couples in the dating and early relationship stages do.
I love our love. ♥
Originally published at jenn.nu. You can comment here or there.
|
|
| Love's The Only Rule |
[Nov1109] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
happy now |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Bon Jovi - The Circle |
] |
With the release of 'The Circle' on Monday in the UK, Bon Jovi were in town. You may have seen them on X Factor performing first single 'We Weren't Born To Follow' on Sunday. I went down to London Monday evening to meet up with friends ready for Bon Jovi's Radio 2 Live show at Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House on Tuesday. We were lucky enough to get into the event. Tuesday actually seems like forever ago now. Well, the venue was tiny. Without seats downstairs I think it fits just over 400 people. There was no barrier, the stage was super-low. A couple of cameramen were at the front recording it for the BBC. Chris Evans announced Bon Jovi who then performed for about an hour and a half. The main set was:
We Weren't Born To Follow
Who Says You Can't Go Home
You Give Love A Bad Name
Work For The Working Man
Whole Lot Of Leavin'
Prayer (acoustic)
When We Were Beautiful
Superman Tonight
Lost Highway
It's My Life
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
The band then left the stage briefly before coming back for an encore. They decided to retake When We Were Beautiful and Superman Tonight, two of the new songs from 'The Circle'. And then rounded the show off with Wanted Dead Or Alive.
Before doors had opened I gave Obie (Jon's friend/sound engineer) a couple of Black Velvets (issue 61 & 62) as he likes to have a flick through occasionally (Obie is also involved with Soraia who Black Velvet has featured in a past issue). Later that night after the show Jon came over to say hi to us. I was going to give him a copy of Black Velvet - but he tells me he got one off Obie already (which surprised me!). He asked me how Black Velvet was going, which was nice. :-) It was nice to talk to him, it's been a while. Also had brief chats with Richie and Huey. I should have asked Jon when we're gonna do an interview, hehe, but... I didn't. Ah well, someday!
Wednesday was our 'day off' (although Bon Jovi were filming The Today Show and the National Lottery). Went to Camden, did some shopping, wasted some money, had a vegan meal at http://www.inspiralled.net and was also happy to find http://www.secretsocietyofvegans.co.uk/cts/.
Yesterday (Thursday) Bon Jovi were playing a secret show, similar to Tuesday's show except not for the BBC. Contests to win tix were on various radio stations including Absolute Radio, with winners being announced on the morning of the show. Contest winners took a boat to the O2 in the evening (apparently the band were on the boat with them) and the show itself was at the British Music Experience, an intimate venue in the O2.
The set was very similar to Tuesday except for no retake of WWWB & ST in the encore. Oh and they opened with a cover of 'Pump It Up'. Nearly forgot that! Jon's brother Anthony was filming on his camera - so hopefully some footage will appear on http://www.maxmouth.com or http://www.bonjovi.com at some point. The stage was a little bit higher although again no barrier and everything was very laid back and relaxed. No support band - just Bon Jovi on the stage for an hour. The only downer was that not so many real fans made it into the audience. I know a lot of Bon Jovi fans who would have killed to be at the show - but mostly (except for a handful) it was radio contest winners that overall didn't seem quite so fanatical. I'm super-honoured to have been there. Getting a ticket to this show was almost like winning the lottery itself.
After the show everyone made their way to the Indigo2 venue where there was a screening of the band's When We Were Beautiful documentary. This is great viewing and gives an interesting insight into the life of a touring rock band... well... not just any touring rock band - but the band that is BON JOVI - and how the whole hard-working, enigmatic enterprise works. You discover more about each band member and how they tick, and how Jon Bon Jovi himself is the focused brain behind the successful Bon Jovi corporation. You should watch it. Buy 'The Circle' CD/DVD package and it's included with the album. The director of the documentary, Phil Griffin, introduced it prior to it beginning. (Oh, and if you look hard enough you might even spot my hair/black gloves clapping in the distance in the odd live shot - as some footage of the final Madison Square Garden '08 show is on there - we were front row for that show).
Travelled back home today. I guess that's our Bon Jovi goodness for the year over with now... Get ready for 2010 - as the band start their world tour, including an impressive residency at the O2 arena in June.
|
|
| One present down, a bazillion to go |
[Nov1109] |
|
Last night I gave my mother her Christmas present — two tickets to a live Mannheim Steam Roller Christmas concert in Philadelphia. The concert is on November 14th, which is why I had to give her the tickets now. When I handed it to her last night I told her it was a time-sensitive Christmas present, which is why it wouldn’t be under the tree for her on Christmas day. She was thrilled to get the tickets! She has almost all of the Mannheim Steam Roller Christmas CDs in her CD collection, and she’s talked about loving their music for as long as I can remember. When I saw the commercial advertised between Judge Judy episodes, I knew it would be a perfect Christmas gift for her.
Poor Alyssa. The kid that never gets sick, and if she does manages to shake it within 1-3 days, is sick, and has been for almost two weeks. For the first week or so it was just the sniffles, a somewhat runny nose, some coughing. A few days ago it escalated to major coughing, a constantly runny nose, a sore throat, and a wet, raspy cough accompanied with nasal and chest congestion (she looks and sounds so bad that I haven’t sent her to preschool this week). Since she wasn’t getting any better, despite plenty of rest, fluids and childrens’ cold medicine to ease her symptoms, I made an appointment with the doctor. They diagnosed her with a bacterial infection and sent her and Dan on their way with instructions for plenty of rest, fluids and OTC medications for treating her symptoms. Grr. I mean, I know they don’t want to just start handing out medication like it’s candy, because too much medicine can cause bacteria to become resistant to it. But at the same time, she’s been sick for two weeks. If they diagnosed a bacterial infection, why couldn’t they give her a little something for it?
I was out while Dan had Alyssa at the doctor, and when he called to let me know what the doctor said, I stopped in Target for a humidifier, some Vicks VapoSteam, and some more medicine. She sounds a lot better this morning, so I think the humidifier helped to loosen her up a bit. She’s in the living room right now, but I think I’m going to put her back in her bedroom with the humidifier. She’s also become a fan of “toasted” blankets, ever since she saw me tossing blankets in the dryer to warm them up on chilly evenings. 
Amazingly, I am not sick. I say amazingly because Dan is also sick. He isn’t as bad as she is, but he has something. Considering we kiss and sleep together, you’d think I would be half-dead by now, since I’m getting an overload of germs from him and Alyssa. Normally they bring germs to me and get me sick, while they stay healthy. Not this time! *knocks on wood* Maybe it’s the decent sleeping routine + vitamins?
Originally published at jenn.nu. You can comment here or there.
|
|
| This ain’t your mom’s sweater |
[Nov1109] |
|
A few weeks ago I ordered this sweater from Torrid. When I showed it to Dan he remarked, “Wow, you look like such a mom in that”. Then I put it on. Hello cleavage! Dan quickly revised his statement to note that I looked like a mom he’d like to ____. Yeah. You can fill in the blank there.
I love the sweater. The colors, the feel and especially the fit (I’m sure it wouldn’t look as good if I were 40 lbs. heavier, like I was last fall!)! Sweaters are too often too thick, bulky and neck-hugging for my liking. This one? Perfect. ♥
Originally published at jenn.nu. You can comment here or there.
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
|
|
|
|
indifferent![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}
