Amy, 24, Melbourne, web designer, piano student, Slytherin, nostalgia (and chocolate) addict, and languisher in all things baroque, rococo, and Tolkien.
At last, both a post and a fresh look for this little journal. I think it still needs a bit of work but I’m quite pleased with this layout, though all the graphic elements came from www.scrapbookgraphics.com. I feel vain sticking myself in the middle but it made more sense than to feature someone else. The picture is by Juliette, my lovely friend. Comments here have been totally disabled for a while because I’m getting an onslaught of dozens of spam comments every day!
I haven’t felt like doing anything for a few weeks because I’ve been in so much pain and discomfort, having sores and rashes from head to toe! With lots of open, cracked skin and a low immune system my body decided to get a staph infection too, which was gross. Eczema has really been ruining my life. I haven’t found much relief in any one thing, and the most difficult part has been trying to break the nighttime itch/scratch cycle and habit. We must’ve spent about $700 on the doctors, the useless medication they prescribe, and other products to moisturise/bandage me up in! I am tired of the rigmarole of appointments and getting hopes up for nothing, and know that a real healing is more likely to come from good skincare habits, a detox, and a turnaround of diet and supplements. Things have let up a bit today though, so I fixed up this layout, practised lots of scales, went for a brisk and warming walk, and am going to end the day with a bit of Icewind Dale multiplayer and read Chamber of Secrets to Adam!
Have you ever found exactly what you’re looking for, only to find out you can’t possibly have it? And nothing else will do? A few weeks ago I found these on a classifieds website, so I immediately expressed my interest to the seller. I sent a “yes, I’ll take both!” message, provided the other tentative buyer pulled out. And of course they didn’t, and I can’t find anything as good for the price. Nonetheless, I am still hunting for a Rococo or Queen Anne style dressing table. I can only afford reproductions or revival furniture, it should preferably be white, second-hand, and have room for a stool underneath.
- Oh dear, we just bought a queen four-poster bed from a friend! What a good day! I have bought and received far too many lovely things lately, and everything else is going well.
- My eating and exercise habits seem to be leaving me feeling better than ever (or at least not sluggish and unable to cope with events day after day!) which I am attributing to cutting out sugar, and most breads or carb-heavy foods. The vegetarian thing doesn’t have as much to do with it, but I’ve saved money from not buying meat and have levelled up in cooking considerably.
- Christmas Eve and Day were nice, and tomorrow I’m going to the city again with family.
- Then I’m having my Harry Potter collection photographed and sending off the pictures in an entry to a book. I’ve also just opened The Elder Wand, which is a Tumblr blog at this point.
- We’ve been playing lots of Battlefield Bad Company 2 (I’m unlocking all the sniper rifles at present, and Adam has collected about 70 dog tags since we bought the game a few days ago).
This was taken about a bottle of Fresita (and a half dozen jelly shots) into last Friday evening. Minus a few rag-tags who don’t understand body language or the fact that I’m not obligated to explain why I need to end a conversation, I had a blast.
Apparently I have another recital this Sunday afternoon, but my lesson the other day went better than expected and I’m familiar with the venue, so it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m taking my grandmother to a convention the day before and am not really looking forward to it because it will be an early start. The morning is not my friend, and we remain barely civil, agreeing not to approach one another except in dire need. After an encounter with morning, I am usually forced to take a precautionary nap.
Two days ago I think experienced ‘paying through the nose’ for the first time I remember. And it actually really annoyed me! I had dental work done last year privately; the visits were spaced out because I had been afraid of dentistry all my life and hadn’t been to a dentist in about 13 years. The work weren’t pleasant but I knew the woman fixing my teeth and trusted her, and the pain was the only real factor I needed to deal with by then… and I’m used to that. Anyway, x-rays showed three wisdom teeth developing nicely (or not so nicely), one growing into the tooth next to it, and so I was told they need to come out. Mind you, it was 6 months after the x-ray was taken that I finally received it! So I scheduled an appointment with a dental surgeon who had what seemed like a 2-month waiting list. When I finally got to see him, he told me nothing I hadn’t already heard before from my dentist, and then asked why I wasn’t going public! I told him I had no idea that I could, since I was referred here and wasn’t told of any other options. The clinics all knew I was a pensioner but had somehow forgotten to mention that I don’t really need to be in debt for the next year or so to get these teeth out. In other words, we paid $100 to hear what I already knew and to be told that they would charge about $2200 to do the surgery. I guess that’s sort of like paying for a quote, except that you shouldn’t have to do that with important medical procedures. Adam is saying that they must all have their hands in each other’s pockets and I’m inclined to agree. The thought of the cost of this has been gnawing at me for a year and I feel I was knowingly directed to someone who would charge a lot when they know there are low-cost options. So I’ll be looking into some dental hospital and hoping in the meantime that I don’t start teething again.
In gaming news, The Lord of the Rings Online is just about to be available as free-to-play for all after being a subscription-only game for a few years. Since I’m a founder (naturally…) I get automatically upgraded to VIP status, but I wish I’d just bought a lifetime subscription from the start! More recently I’ve been playing quite a lot and am getting two characters ready for serious play. I’m hoping more friends will join me there now that it will be free. Unlike other fandoms, this is game is something I’ve wanted to discover completely on my own and without spoilers, because it feels very real to me. All these nooks and hills are familiar, I am running through Middle-earth, there are places and times that bring back sunken memories of ancient Beleriand and its people. I get excited, terrified, and nostalgic constantly there. It’s truly an escape, somewhere to adventure when real-life (huh?) adventures are neither possible or fulfilling.
Olotiriel Moriquende of Lindon, Hunter, and Dirtybeard Greychops of Gondor, Lore-Master
Sister Blog
Juliette at Classical Doll