all made up with nowhere to go

So over the past couple of days, I watched Ian from Eurogamer* play a game on his channel called Still Wakes The Deep.

It is a game set on an oil rig off the coast of Scotland. Everything is fine, until it isn't. And it's way better than that sounds, but I can't say any more without spoiling.

I recognise a bunch of actors who are in it, and it's awesome to have a game mostly full of Scottish accents, imo!**

Ian started off playing like, "Wouldn't it be cool to spend twenty four hours on an oil rig? Just looking around and stuff?" And I was all nope, nope, nope, absolutely not, because I have always been convinced that rigs are terrifying places because they're in the middle of nowhere, on the sea.

(I later found out that the reason for me thinking this was probably the Piper Alpha disaster, which happened when I was seven. I don't remember it happening with any clarity, but I dare say I have heard a lot about it in the years since).

Suffice to say, by the end of the game, Ian had changed his mind about whether he wanted to be on an oil rig or not.

But anyway, I'm glad I watched it - I was in two minds whether or not to, because I didn't know what it was about - but it proper spooked me out. I made the mistake of watching the first part before I went to bed one night, and then last night I woke up sweating (because I'm still ill), and my mind immediately started thinking about stuff that had happened in it.

I might have to watch it again, or watch someone else play it (I kind of hope Johnny will, but I don't think that's going to happen), because I think it will be interesting to watch the story unfold now I know what happens.

It's not often a game messes with my head this much - the last time I remember it happening was when Johnny streamed The Excavation of Hob's Barrow, which left me feeling much the same way, but for very different reasons.

~

*I suppose I ought to give him his own tag; I watch enough of his stuff to warrant it.

**There is also one (1) Irishman, one Yorkshireman, and one Londoner. And afaik, those are their actual accents - the Yorkshireman's definitely is.

So, as you possibly know, my bus route runs...terribly at best, horrendously at worst.

There's been two bank holidays so far in May, and both times the bus I was meant to catch was over an hour late. The first time I walked, the second I didn't, so I was waiting around for close to forty minutes instead.

Anyway, saw some posts on fb on Friday about how bad the traffic in the valley had been (e.g. taking an hour to travel one freaking mile!)

Did not take this into account really when leaving work on Saturday (yesterday) and hoping to be home by 3pm, as I naively thought the problem might have been solved.

Friends, I did not get home until after four. I was at the bus station for an hour and a half.

Luckily, my friend Chris was there, so I got to talk to him for ages, which was nice because I haven't had a decent conversation with him in forever. I wish it had been in different circumstances, though. But we talked about all sorts of shit, including music, and how much we both love Nicky Wire. (Me, indulging my biases?? NAHHHHHH. Though in my defence, he mentioned how much he loves Nicky first, and I fervently agreed, because I'm me).

So that's how my Saturday afternoon went.

~

In other news, I'm almost at the end of the Manics episodes of What Is Music?, and I'm pleased to discover I'm not the only one who dislikes Postcards From A Young Man intensely, and also glad I'm not the only one to feel kind of meh about Resistance is Futile (I don't dislike it, but it also does exactly nothing for me).

I'm currently in the middle of the Ultra Vivid Lament episode (the one about the album, not the one with Dave Eringa), so I only have the Know Your Enemy reissue episode left :(

In some ways, I can't believe it's taken me two weeks to get here, but on the other hand, I can't believe it's only taken two weeks to get here.

I'm kind of sad I'm almost done with it, but I'm not about to go back and relisten any time soon. It has been a fun, wild ride, but I have been irritated by some stuff, but that is probably just a me thing. For the most part, I have enjoyed it.

It's made me realise that I kept tabs on the Manics' career about as much as I thought I did, even though I wasn't actively seeking out the albums to listen to. Probably helped by the fact that I've been following their official twitter since forever ago, so I've been aware of stuff, even if I wasn't as interested. (Who am I kidding, I am always interested. These are my boys! All four of them!)

It's also made me realise how melancholic Nicky is as a person. I spent a lot of the time with the newer stuff listening to the lyrics and being all, "shit, why is this such a vibe?" and then perhaps having the circumstances explained to me via the podcast and the realisation setting in. Guess it's another thing to add to the (very small) list of things I have in common with him.

(I mean, I came to like Be Natural because one of the lines near the end is "Be natural / Just leave me alone," and the way I was feeling when I first heard it, I was like, "FUCK. YES." and then also Solitude Sometimes Is has "Drop your bombs on all I see / Leave this world alone for me," and again, similar thing. I don't like being lonely, but I do like being alone on occasion).

I don't have any conclusion to this bit, apart from to say, it's nice to feel like I am back into them, even if I never really drifted that far away to start with. Feels like I came home.

I finally have a new phone!

It is the Samsung Galaxy A22, and I am slightly leery about it, as I have not had a lot of luck with Samsung phones in the past! Both of them needed sending for repairs for different reasons. But on the other hand, my tablet that I had was a dream, so perhaps my luck is changing?

I bought a 64Gb memory card for it, which means I now have double the memory :D and I've just bought a gel case for it with stars and a moon on it, which is so totally me that I can't believe it. (But now I know what to name my ko-fi membership tiers when I get around to deciding what the rewards will be - something astronomy related!)

Apparently, the camera can make .gifs! I haven't tried it yet (since I've been at work, so I haven't really had time to play with it), but what is this magical nonsense? Although it will come in useful for showing off shiny things in artwork :D

I was also able to downgrade my data allowance, meaning I'll be paying less per month, which is what I wanted. I went from 10Gb of data, which I barely ever use, to 4Gb, which should be just enough (I use my internet when I'm at home, rather than the data).

So yeah, now I am obviously Very! Excite! about it all!

~

Guess who's got two thumbs and didn't realise that SMT V is going to be a Switch only release?

Like, I really don't know how I missed that! So I guess I will never play it, since I don't have a Switch and by the time I get one, copies will be probably be very expensive, sighs.

I feel like an absolute fool for not realising it sooner, but on the other hand, at least now I don't have to worry about saving for it??

Talking of video games, I totally forgot to mention last week that Andy from Outside Xbox is streaming the Gamecube remake of Resident Evil as part of the Hallowstream stuff they're doing this year! The link goes to the first part from last week.

I don't generally watch the Hallowstream stuff, because as I have noted in the past, I am a ginormous scaredy cat, but I will almost always watch RE stuff :D

~

Thought I had more to say, but apparently not! Off to mess about with my new phone some more, I guess!

Dear everybody who is in the really cold in America right now: please stay warm and safe!

On that note, rugger, who lives in Finland, made this list of things that will help you in extreme cold.

I'm not even in extreme cold, and there's a few things on there I didn't think of/know about.

~

In other news, my mood has improved. I was still a bit ¬_¬ when I woke up yesterday morning, but by the time I got to work, I felt okay. Also there was a lot of stuff to do, so that kept me occupied.

And I feel okay again today, so yaaaay!

(I knew it would pass, it always does, but blimey I hadn't felt that grim in a while).

~

In other other news, because pretty much everyone I know is super hype about Kingdom Hearts 3, I thought it was time I familiarised myself with the story outside of what I know already, instead of making jokes about how nobody understands what's going on.

(I'm always going to find them funny, though).

So I have watched a cutscene compilation from the 1.5 Remix, and that unexpectedly made me cry when an orchestral version of Sanctuary kicked in (though to be fair, the same song gave me An Emotion the last time I listened to it, so I don't know why I'm surprised).

And then I started on the cutscenes from Re: Chain of Memories. There's lots of running about and not much else (I suspect the game would be more fun to play than watch). I know that's how it goes, because I did play a bit of the original a long time ago (I couldn't get the hang of it, though, so gave up), but sheesh, it's boring.

I know I could just give up and watch one of those videos on youtube that are like a story recap but a: I'm fussy about voices/how the video is presented and b: Billy Zane*

(I'm checking out listings on ebay for the other games and ooooooooh the cover of the deluxe edition of KH3 is purdy!)

~

Anyway, the next entry should be an FFXII liveblog! (I've got a bunch to catch up on, esp since I just got to Giruvegan the other day).

~

*I know he's only in the first game, but even so.

Hello all you lovely people!

I have been sick as a dog this week!

I think I'm better now, but I guess we'll see.

I had some kind of misc stomach bug earlier in the week, which led to me not eating a lot and then, on Thursday, I had a close encounter of the norovirus kind. Which I won't elaborate on. I've had it before, no doubt I'll have it again. Suffice to say that, thanks to having already not eaten much, I am as weak as anything. I mean, I can get about okay, but moving heavy things is a trial. I had to go and pick up some bits and pieces from town this morning, and I struggled a little with those (mainly liquids in bottles; luckily the massive box of cat food was on my back).

I think because I'm feeling super lonely right now, it's made me super whiny as well? I said to mum that I wanted to stamp my feet and whine about how ill I've felt, and I want all the sympathy from everyone. (I...think I'm past that, though). I bought myself the Star Wars colouring book because I felt sorry for myself, and I'm eating ice cream for tea for exactly the same reasons.

~

In other news, I have been listening to Muse's back catalogue. Mostly on Spotify, and then I remembered I own most of it (just missing Drones), so I ripped it and put it on my phone instead.

I pretty much like everything they've ever done. I can only think this is because I literally expect nothing from them, and so I'm pretty much pleased with what I've heard. I mean, there are tracks I like less than others (Fillip, The Resistance, for example), but all in all I like what I hear??

~

Oh, and I think I've got to the bottom of the dye problem!

It's been barely a week since I redyed my hair blue (though it came out green again), and it's faded really quickly already.

I have had this problem with blue dye before. I bleached a streak in my hair when it was longer a few years ago to dye blue and, while it took perfectly, it was gone in a week. I can only think that there's something in the make up of my hair that just does not like blue dye. Either that, or it's sentient, and it thinks there's enough blue shit in my life already (which. accurate. i guess).

I'm going to try the green next, anyway.

Book meme, stolen from lassarina:

( q&a under here )

~

While I am on the subject of books, and urban fantasy in particular, can we stop having books with awesome premises that turn out to be paranormal romances specifically where the main couple are destined to be together, forever. Or that turn out to be paranormal romances full stop?

Please?

I watched Pacific Rim this morning, and pretty much all my thoughts about it are, "Oh, OK then."

Which sounds a lot harsher than it is, but I didn't spend the time wondering why I watched it, and I didn't spend the time jumping up and down while screaming at the TV. I actually spent most of the time gawping at Idris Elba, because honestly how can you not?

But really, watching this film confirmed to me that kaiju are not my favourite things, which is why I've never watched a Godzilla film, and don't intend to start any time soon. (I'm also not that big on mecha which, as someone who grew up loving Transformers, I find almost ridiculous, but hey welcome to my brain!)

I can see why people said you ought to see it in the cinema. I should imagine it works way better that way.

I liked how jaeger piloting works, that was cool. Because that's exactly how a human brain works.

( these are spoilers )

I thought I had other stuff to say, but apparently not. So that's what I think about kaiju, anyway.

OK, I give up.

For now.

I discovered earlier in the week that there is a new version of Ubuntu available - 13.10. Now, I didn't know this, because the version I'm using (12.04 LTS) wasn't set up to tell me when new versions are available, unless they were also LTS versions. So anyway. I thought, "I want a go!" and I went on the Ubuntu website, and I read up about Stuff™

They said I could either do a fresh install, and lose all my personal data, or I could upgrade through the various versions, and keep the stuff I'd accrued. I figured that whatever I did, I should Back Shit Up™ first. Because remember the Vista Fiasco? Yeah, well, you might not, but I bloody well do.

So I did that.

Then yesterday, in the early evening, I sat me down, and followed the upgrade instructions. Long story short: I didn't get past 12.10 because it hates Toshiba computers (e.g. MINE), and it's a known bug (not that I saw it on the list of known bugs, but there we go). So it installed and everything, but then it would get to the splash screen and hang.

I tried a whole bunch of fixes, including reinstalling grub, but that did not work.

So eventually, after at least an hour of trying to fix, failing, and repeatedly headdesking, I decided I was going to sleep. And then I realised, why not just install 12.04 again, and repair from the backup? GENIUS! So I did. And I summarily downloaded 13.10, and burnt the .iso to a disc.

Do you think I can get it to run in Ubuntu now?

Nope.

I have all the updates downloaded, so it can't be that. I installed Synaptic Package Manager, because I think it has to do with one of the dependencies I might have installed when I was looking at weird desktops? IDK, to be honest. Um. Halp?

I mean, in the end, it's no biggie, because I can boot from DVD, and I'm doing a fresh install anyway, but you know when you want to check something works before you use it? Yeah. That.

Also while we're here, does anyone know if you can use a backup from a different version of Ubuntu in a later one? I'm assuming not, and my Google-Fu isn't amazing, so I couldn't find anything, but I just wondered if it was at all possible (not that I've got anything major to lose via a fresh install - I've copied important files like comics and playlists - it's just my open Firefox tabs I'm worried about (whose addresses I have written down. ON PAPER, NO LESS). So it's really not a problem if there isn't a solution to this. (Or to the other problem, either. I really just wanted to a) document it and b) get it off my chest).

ETA: I'm starting to wonder if it was a leftover from when I had WINE installed...I hadn't tried putting any software discs in because I hadn't needed to for whatever reason. Although the Ubuntu page for loading a distro from a disc assumes it will open anyway...so something must've gone a bit wonky somewhere maybe.

I have succesfully installed Ubuntu! \o/

OK, it took me two goes because I found it a bit scary (it wanted to wipe the entire drive, but then I discovered how to make it not do that, so that was OK). But it is working! Yaaaaaaaaaaay!

I've installed some "essentials" (VLC, GIMP, and now a language program ;) ). I've got a few things more that I want to install, and I'm currently looking through themes to pretty up my desktop c:

I did have a look at Linux Mint and, while I like it, I can't actually see the benefits of Cinnamon (that's what makes it look like Windows, right?) and it's too like Windows for my tastes, actually. I'd got so used to Ubuntu that suddenly using something that felt like a backward step was kind of unnerving. So. Here we are: on Ubuntu and so far, so happy!

(Tomorrow I will watch The King and I while I install more stuff).

EDIT: I would like to echo beccatoria's sentiment of "I installed Linux and I didn't die!" because seriously, that's what it feels like right now (I'm sure in a few months/years' time, this will be old hat, heh). [/eta]

I've finished off my first commission! Hurrah. Now to, um, start on the other one.

I was going to deliver it today (as the commissioner lives five minutes' walk away), but felt ill, so opted to veg about all day (which I was going to do anyway, to give myself a break, but instead I didn't leave the house because I felt so oogy).

ANYWAY.

I am SUPER pleased with it, and I hope she is, too. And once I get paid for it, I can pay off my NI contributions! YAY.

(I feel grown up. It's so weird).

I will try to post pictures at the weekend, but I make no promises.

~*~

In unrelated news, Tumblr is doing my head in (but seriously, when does it ever not?)

~*~

Two more days, and then I am on holiday until next year!!! (Well, 2nd of January). Although I still have the second commission to work on, so I won't be having a "proper" break as it were, but I won't be working on anything else, nor working all day. And then I will get distracted by ME3, so...yeah...

Life will be good.