I am now the proud owner of a fifth tattoo! (And ten years ago, I thought I’d maybe get just one…*giggle*) It’s the same exact size, design, and placement as my eldest demonspawn’s first tattoo, but done in blues & purples instead of the more traditional phoenix/firebird colors. I’ll post a piccie soon, although nobody’s even seen it yet — except my exquisite tattoo artist Jennifer Billig, and the quick look I got before it was bandaged up. After it’s all healed up, I’ll have to have a pic done of me & the demonspawn next to each other with the matching ink! For the time being, however, it’s just a bit sore. Luckily, this one hasn’t been as painful as the previous ones, at least so far. (Right now it just feels like first-degree road rash.)

So we have a new housemate — Bun-Bun! Yup, Robert’s bunny is now our bunny. I had mentioned to Claire that I thought it would be nifty to have a bunny, since Robert’s is so sweet, and she nearly fell over herself offering him up. He’s a very happy, sweet, mellow bunny — and utterly fearless when it comes to the cats. I’ve let him hop around outside his cage for a few minutes at a time, with me sitting right there so I can make sure nobody gets hurt, and the cats are incredibly intruiged. Michiko seems to think he’s a funny-smelling cat and just wants to sniff at him, but Hasani is fairly twigged out (he’s that way with anyone new coming into his house, human or animal, until he gets used to them), and Zadya…well.

And now for something completely TMI…

In more somber news, my 14-year-old’s hamster Secil DFO’ed (if you’re not a CSI fan, DFO = done fell over). He was approximately 4 months old, seemed perfectly healthy and active, and was well cared-for. My best guess is a sudden illness, or perhaps a birth defect of some kind that took a while to kill him. It was sudden — he seemed fine earlier today. First time I’ve touched a body of any kind that was in rigor mortis (when I moved his body from the cage to his makeshift casket, an old wooden jewelry box that I hadn’t used in years), so that was interesting. (Sorry, I’m kind of creepy when it comes to death, in that it doesn’t weird me out at all.)

After Anxiety was finished with quite a lot of intense sobbing and was coherent enough to ask for a glass of water, I asked her if she wanted me to take care of the body, and she nodded. I padded the box with fresh hamster bedding, and tied it shut with some purple yarn, and on top of the box I tucked the nametag that she had made for his cage. It looks really quite nice, and properly respectful. We’ll have a little funerary rite out in the side yard tomorrow, when we can dig a grave in daylight. In true witchling fashion, she’s lit some candles (black & white, for the colors of his fur, and green for new beginnings, she told me quite reverently) to honor him, and she & her friend Katie (her date for the Valentine’s dance at their school on Friday) are planning a hamster wake after the dance.

She’s never lost a pet to death before, except for fish, but she’s mature enough to remark that she thought you’re supposed to lose your first pet “when you’re 7 or 8 and don’t really know what death means, so it’s easier.” Poor thing.

It’s that time of year again, when people (usually those owning Y chromosomes) give other people (usually those not owing Y chromosomes) cards & gifts due to somebody’s idea of a holiday (based on a martyred Catholic saint that nobody really knows anything about, despite the legends involving a priest sanctifying the marriages of star-crossed lovers, blah blah blah).

Geoffrey got me a box of dark chocolate-covered Altoids (a few days ago, but only because he taunted me with the prospect of having to wait until Wednesday, and I said, “Fuck that!”). Basically when it comes to Valentine’s Day, the only celebration I feel is warranted is a loud and vigorous mocking of the endless diamond commercials on the TV. WTF-ever, and all that.

On a scale of The Most Obnoxious Holidays, I’d have to rank VD as #4, right below Mother’s Day (obviously Xmas & Thanksgiving get the top 2 spaces) and just barely squeaking above the tie for fifth place between Independence Day and New Year’s Eve. But hey, a fun holiday is just around the corner…the one where we scarf down candy delivered by mutant rabbits while worshipping a zombie! *smirk*

One of the few TV shows I watch (and the only one which is new this season) is Jericho, which has been “on haitus” for a couple of months. It’s a really neat show, and a lot smarter than anything else I’ve seen come out of network TV since the original CSI.

The 11 episodes aired thus far are currently available on the Jericho website, as well as OnDemand (if you have that service through Comcast, like I do). In addition, the Jericho website has “mini episodes” for extra backstory (called “Countdown” on the website), although based on the ones I’ve seen so far, you don’t need to see them in order to fully appreciate the show. (And in fact, if you’re easily upset by the possibilities surrounding nuclear disaster scenarios, you probably shouldn’t watch them! On the other hand, I’m fascinated by this stuff…possibly because the very first science fiction book I ever read, Z for Zachariah, was about surviving after a nuclear holocaust.)

For those who haven’t seen the show yet (and aren’t interested in watching 11 full episodes online), there will be a “the story so far” recap episode on tomorrow night, and a week after that the new episodes will start airing. I can’t wait!

It’s official, I’m sick. (Not in the head! Well, not exactly.) I have a nasty cold & cough. If things don’t improve in the next few days, I shall be quite wroth.

Especially as I’m getting a tattoo on Thursday, and I don’t want to be coughing (or zoned out on cold medicine) while someone is stabbing me with needles!

This bites…and not in the happy “Hey Sailor!” way, either.

Lots o’ crap this weekend. Not good. At least I didn’t hit anyone when I threw the coffee cup heater, although my hand still hurts from when I slapped the wall.

It’s all just petty bullshit, so I won’t get into it.

Because my Number One Internet Fanboy did it…

Instructions: Use your media player set to random to answer the questions with random song titles.

What does next year have in store for me?
Pink, Aerosmith (Pink, it was love at first sight / Pink, when I turn out the light / Pink, it’s like red but not quite / And I think everything is going to be all right / No matter what we do tonight) Does this mean I’m getting laid more? *grin*
What does my love life look like?
True, Spandau Ballet (I bought a ticket to the world / But now I’ve come back again / Why do I find it hard to write the next line? / Oh, I want the truth to be said) I’m big on the truth, so this is good.
What do I say when life gets hard?
1999, Prince (The sky was all purple / There were people runnin’ everywhere / Tryin’ to run from the destruction / You know I didn’t even care) Um, sure, whatever.
What do I think of when I get up in the morning?
In The Air Tonight, Phil Collins (Well, I was there and I saw what you did / I saw it with my own two eyes / So you can wipe off the grin, I know where you’ve been / It’s all been a pack of lies) Alrighty then…
What song will I dance to at my wedding?
Basket Case, Green Day (Sometimes I give myself the creeps / Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me / It all keeps adding up, I think I’m cracking up / Am I just paranoid? / Or am I just stoned?) Yeah, I’d have to be cracking up, or stoned, to get married!
What do I want for my career?
From The Inside, Linkin Park (Take everything from the inside / And throw it all away / ‘Cause I swear for the last time / I won’t trust myself with you) Not sure how this relates to a career…and not sure I want to know, considering the lyrics.
Favorite saying?
A Reason To Believe, Wilson Phillips (If I listened long enough to you / I’d find a way to believe that it’s all true / Knowing that you lied, straight-faced, while I cried / Still I’d look to find a reason to believe) Maybe this used to be a favorite saying, but I’m much better/smarter now.
Favorite place?
Who Knows?, Avril Lavigne (Who knows what could happen / Do what you do, just keep on laughing / One thing’s true, there’s always a brand new day / I’m gonna live today like it’s my last day) I really like this song lots, even if it doesn’t exactly fit the question.
What do I think of my parents?
Rock of Ages, Def Leppard (Rock on, rock on, drive me crazier / No serenade, no fire brigade / Just pyromania!) I suppose they used to drive me crazier…when I was fourteen. Sheesh.
Where would I go on a first date?
Human Touch, Rick Springfield (Everybody’s talking to computers, they’re all dancing to a drum machine / I know I’m living on the outside, scared of getting caught between / I’m so cool and calculated, alone in the modern world) A dance club, then? Mm-kay, or not.
Drug of Choice?
Lady, Styx (Lady, when you’re with me I’m smiling / Give me, whoa-oh, all your love / Your hands build me up when I’m sinking / Touch me and my troubles all fade) This one is really funny!
How do I describe myself?
Sooner or Later, Michael Tolcher (Sooner or later, we’ll be lookin’ back on everything / And we’ll laugh about it like we knew what all was happening / And someday you might listen to what people have to say / But now you learn the hard way) Frighteningly accurate.
What is the thing I like doing the most?
Runnin’ Thru The Fire, John Cafferty (I got a hunger and a cold desire / Someday it’s gonna take me higher / Just another small flame, runnin’ thru the fire / Just another small flame, runnin’ thru the fire) Again, frightening accuracy.
What is my state of mind like at the moment?
All I Need Is A Miracle, Mike and the Mechanics (And I know you were never right / I’ll admit I was never wrong / I could never make up my mind / I made it up as I went along) *blinks in confusion*
How will I die?
Welcome to the Black Parade, My Chemical Romance (Sometimes I get the feeling she’s watching over me / And other times I feel like I should go / Through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streets / When you’re gone we want you all to know we’ll carry on, we’ll carry on / Though you’re dead and gone, believe me, your memory will carry on) Sounds like it’ll be impressive, possibly catastrophic even.
Song they’ll play at my funeral?
Rock You Like A Hurricane, The Scorpions (It’s early morning, the sun comes out / Last night was shaking and pretty loud / My cat is purring, and scratches my skin / So what is wrong with another sin) Is someone giving me a “headbanger’s ball” funeral, or what?
What song will I put as the subject?
It Ends Tonight, The All-American Rejects (When darkness turns to light / It ends tonight, it ends tonight / Just a little insight won’t make this right / It’s too late to fight / It ends tonight, it ends tonight)

Damn, I was hoping more of my Top 25 Most Played would show up…eh, oh well.

I’m sure this is just Not Right, but I couldn’t help laughing so hard I actually scared the cats:

Bad re-enactment

And here’s one for those kinky folks I know:

All tied up

Now I must go giggle some more.

I can’t figure out if I’m on the verge of dozing off because of the Imitrex I took (to get rid of the Evil Migraine), or from breathing paint fumes (renovations in progress), or from the post-adrenalin reaction I had earlier (when I fell down in the shower because I slipped & reflexively grabbed at the shower curtain rod, which then came crashing down on my head as my ass landed in the bathtub…no, I wasn’t hurt, just startled all to hell).

In half an hour, I get to go to another “family information night” at a nearby high school. Hopefully it’s not snooze-inducing. It would be embarrassing to fall asleep in a school auditorium.

Then again, maybe not as embarrassing as my 14-year-old bursting into the bathroom yelling, “Are you okay?!” and seeing me sprawled most unelegantly in the tub while pulling a shower curtain off my head.

Battlestar Galactica was a rerun this last Sunday, grrr. I suppose they thought to mollify fans by airing 2 episodes, and I’m not one to turn down watching any episode, but I’m really jonesing for a new one! (And jonesing for most of these shirts…)

Oh yeah, and I should never ever put “Battlestar Galactica” in the search function at eBay again. Not unless I win the lottery.

But the new BG quizzes are fun! Here were my scores:

Simple level — Rank: Admiral (10) Perfect Score. You could lead the fleet to Earth.
Easy level — Rank: Commander (9)
Tricky level — Rank: Colonel (8)
Hard level — Rank: Colonel (8)

Gee, and I’ve only seen most of the episodes once!