Sally's Journal

I seem very much to be living in a LJ frame of mind at the moment. I suppose I needed something to replace the iambic pentameters :-) But instead of just thinking to myself, I'll find myself thinking to myself, and then thinking how I'd write it up to LJ. So I have all these strange musings, half-rants, and ideas, that I then don't write up because I feel guilty posting LJ at work (not reading it, that's different :-) )

And then I don't write what's on my mind when I do get time, because I'm so busy worrying "well, I need to make that histories post, and that big post about religion, and rant about why the bus people are upsetting me, and..." that I don't write anything. So I'm going to break out of that.

The result is that you all have a dull post about "what I did yesterday" But when I'm 40 it will make me happy that such a post exists.

But I will start with something that amused me greatly over the last couple of days; I desperately want to find someone else who gets it. Unfortunately I fear the number of turbomachinery modelling people with my sick and twisted mind is few, and the thought isn't funny at all under inspection - you just have to be in the zone where everything you think about is related to your work. Days and days of pearing over papers where ducting is modelled as long and straight, compressors are measured as actuator disks with pressure changes across them, and the combustion chamber is a large plenum of compressible gas. Then ( The first bit of TMI this journal has had )

Anyway, what did I do yesterday? I woke up early, with a keen plan to go into work, but M was too beautiful and so eventually I got up at about 12 and dashed into town to meet up with bouteillebleu who not only provided good company for a very pleasent lunch at Dojo's, but also lent me even more Tamora Pierce books, which is something to look forward too once I've finished Jude the Obscure (I'm really enjoying it, don't get me wrong, but it's just so much longer than I'm used to at the moment - I've been reading trash for too long :-) )

I've managed to make a mess of my social life at the moment, by twice in the same weekend double booking. I have no idea why my brain can't cope with the idea that monday next week is the same day as the monday in a fortnight I agreed to a week previously. Anyway, I'd sent John an email explaining what had gone on, and begging forgiveness, and recieved no answer. Worried that I'd finally pushed his tolerance for my uselessness over the edge, I phoned him, to make vague peace offerings of a fun Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately he was away with the geologists in the peak district, and so hadn't got the email yet. And my nerve failed me. You know when you read books and the heroine does something so stupid that you know is going to drive an embarressing and farcical plot for the next three chapters and you just want to scream at them "no! Just *tell* them!"? Well, half my brain was screaming that at me, as he happilly said "see you monday then" But no, I open my mouth and pleasently say "yes I'm looking forward to it". *me goes and bangs head against a brick wall*. Well, I didn't want to spoil his weekend away :-/

Anyway, then I went shopping, as I've just had the quarterly pay check and been promoted to the big desk, things that need celebrating by the purchasing of plants (whether or not arnhem thinks this is a good idea, I'm certain it is :-) ) - a blue african violet, a yellow begonia, and a pink mini rose. All my favourite colours, with no fear of coordination... And some CDs, inspired by seeing ilanin the other night

Then I really did get into the lab, but this was surprisingly pleasent. There is coffee, and LJ, and good company, and getting things done always makes me happy. Although I could have done more, I think I just have to accept that I always "could have done more" and there's a balence somewhere I should find.

Off to aldabras party. I felt a little like a gatecrasher (I knew Ian, but he left 10 minutes after I arrived, and I don't have any children) but everyone was lovely, and I had a really nice time. Then I dashed off to pub collecting, to break my personal best with £145 and as a pair to raise a wopping £301 !!! This is mainly due to Ros's breasts. I felt a little guilty to be pub collecting for Campus at such a time as this, what with the Tsunami appeal, and the fact that much as I love Campus and believe we do far more good than many "better" charities it is a little lame when put in black and white "we take kids on holiday. No, they're not starving, or living in war zones, or disabled, they just wouldn't otherwise get a holiday". But even though big things happen the other charities in the world still need money (a point that only Médecins Sans Frontières seem to be making at the moment. I suppose the other charities are just grateful that the public are giving lots of money to anything) And Campus does work with the same kids from 8 to 13, gives them role models they would never otherwise have seen, and gives them the opportunity to go on to be helpers and leaders themselves. So I think we're a Good Thing

Wonderful moment where three very drunk men were harrassing Ros to show them a nipple for a fiver. (TBH this wouldn't have entailed moving the top very much, it was a great top for pub collecting in) I came over in the juliet dress, and they changed tack - "we'll give you a fiver if you show us your legs!" After a little bit of flirting and negotiation, it was arranged that two of them were prepaired to give a fiver to Campus if I were to raise the skirt of my dress over my head. "Really?" "Really." "So you're not going to back out after I've done it?" "Nope". "Ok, give the money to Ros, and she'll give it back if I don't, and put it in the pot if I do..." Up goes the skirt.... to reveal my favourite jeans. Well, walking from pub to pub is jolly cold, and that's a thin dress! They were very good natured about it, and gave us the money anyway with a wry grin :-)