Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Another rambling load of old nonsense

First up, I must apologize to everyone on my blogroll, as well as to those who for some reason (i.e., no decent reason) aren't on my blogroll but I still visit regularly, a big "sorry" for being a poor visitor of late. It's a combination of work and selling stuff on eBay that's taking up all my time.

I can't believe how much time and effort it takes to make a few quid on eBay. I've sold 18 "items" and made over £100 so far, plus P&P (though I don't make much profit on that cos I'm not one of those rip-off bastards).

But it's all the confirming buyers' addresses, packaging stuff up, going to the post office... It all takes time, y'know.

So I've made £100. Well, then I went to the dentist, didn't I? Bye bye £190. And I paid £200 off my credit-card bill. I'm making money, yet I'm still out of pocket. What the fuck...?

Yes, then, I was in London Town yesterday (where my dentist still is). And I'm going to London Town again next Tuesday (for my birthday tattoo), and again on 16 March, for a gig up in Camden. Truly, I think that by the end of March, I will have been to London more this year than the whole of last year. Weird. I want to be there at 5:30pm one evening to see the alcoholic ladies and filthy kids from the Adam & The Ants song "Mowhok". The lyrics go: "London Town / 1730 / Women drunk / Children dirty", you see.

RDRR.

It's my mum's birthday today. She's 58. Happy birthday, ma. You know that my folks split up a couple of years ago? Well, I'd meant to call my dad yesterday. It's been a while since I last spoke to him. But I forgot, what with the dentist, then getting home late, then having to do some work, yada yada yada. Well, I can't very well call him today, on my mum's birthday, and I can't call him tomorrow, on what would have been their wedding anniversary. So I've got to wait until Friday. Soz, pappy.

In other news, I finished reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Wow. Well. What can I say. I sort of loved and hated it. I really liked the story itself. But I cannot put into words how much I abhorred the way it was written.

Candy, I know you love the McCarthy, but man... It really fucked me off. Not only is his omission of apostrophes inconsistent (e.g., cant, wont, but let's), in some cases it seems even more wrong than others -- e.g., "in two day's time"; that apostrophe should be after the s because it's a possessive plural. Aaaaggghhh! And I even found a stray sentence fragment that clearly should have been deleted and should not have made it to the printed page.

Still, I read the last 20 pages or so on the train on the way to London. And you know, that bastard brought a tear to my eye. In fact, one tear for each eye. Maybe I was feeling particularly open to the emotion, giving how it ends and the e-mail I'd read just a couple of hours before from a blogpal. A tear for each of you guys.

Peace out.

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15 Comments:

Blogger me said...

happy ones to your mam!
speaking of tatoo's, i have finally decided on what i am having, and seeing as you are genuinly busy, and won't see my post, (not everyone has the freedom to read as some of us!), here it is!

XIII.VI.MM

i know it aint as flash as yours, but it is the lads birthdate, and will mean the world to me!
see you round. cos i know you will be!

28 February, 2007 10:47  
Blogger Tamarai said...

Nice to hear that you don't shaft people on the postage on ebay. We like sellers like you.... Hmm. Maybe I can be a seller like you too? Will have to go through my stuff and see whatsigots to sell.

Hopefully, with a little prodding, I too may be getting a birthday tattoo from Kate. I'll have to really drop dozens of hints. I have a pic of intended tattoo on my blog.

28 February, 2007 11:29  
Blogger apositivepessimist said...

Waayhey...my son was born the same day as yer mah's. CoolBeans.

Happy Birthday [*]'s Mum!

28 February, 2007 11:37  
Blogger Milla said...

Your mum is so young! Congratulations and HB.

Funny about you crying at a book...I must have had some water in my eyes when I finished reading The Secret History coz the lenses got a bit steamy...Same for Joolz's Billie Morgan.

What tattoo are you having done?

28 February, 2007 15:18  
Blogger Martha Elaine Belden said...

first of all, happy birthday to *'s mom!

second, i so hear you on the finances thing. i'm going to be in debt FOREVER what with all the medical bills, medication, etc. i hate money stuff. oh well :)

third, i'm so impressed that you finished the book even with all your grievances about his style/format/whatever... i would have had a lot of difficulty not putting it down. and i'm so glad you felt the reward of finishing it regardless.

very nice. and happy wednesday!

28 February, 2007 15:38  
Blogger ldbug said...

Happy birthday to your mom! I'm sure you're dad will understand, you've been busy! Hope all your teeth are well:-)

That McCarthy guy sounds like he could use a good editor...

28 February, 2007 17:29  
Blogger Shep said...

I just read that! Bleak...my God...not really the sort of book to read in February...

(word verification: mlegma)

28 February, 2007 18:51  
Blogger Suze said...

So, that's where you've been. :) Happy Birthday to your mum, I hope you got her something nice before you spent your profits. lol

28 February, 2007 19:44  
Blogger Jay said...

Crappy grammar makes me cry too :)

28 February, 2007 20:30  
Blogger * (asterisk) said...

Cappy: Cheers old boy. That sounds like a cool tattoo. I like Roman numerals.

T: I'm loving eBay for selling stuff. One of my magazines went for £8.49 yesterday + P&P. Amazing!

APP: Thanks. My friend's mum's birthday, too, and blogmate Cynnie's.

01 March, 2007 09:44  
Blogger * (asterisk) said...

Milla: Neither of my folks is even in their 60s yet, so I guess they are pretty young. Donna Tartt's Secret History? Man, I had tears after three pages, knowing I couldn't read any more. Really couldn't get into that book! I'll post a pic of my tattoo in due course... When are you going away?

01 March, 2007 09:46  
Blogger * (asterisk) said...

Martha: I'm not one of those people who feels he has to finish a book. Life's too short. But I did genuinely enjoy the story itself. The reading was hard going, though. For me. Thanks for the birthday wishes!

LDB: From what I understand, McCarthy is single-handedly trying to reduce the english language to as few components as possible. Doesn't woprk for me. (Incidentally, that lower-case e for English: that's the sort of thing he does that annoys me, too.)

01 March, 2007 09:48  
Blogger * (asterisk) said...

Shep: I don't mind bleak, although it's not something I delve into to often. But yeah, not much fun! Hope you're feeling better. It's March now, which means you must be back to blogging...

Suze: No, I didn't buy her anything. We don't really do birthday presents in my family. Or at least I don't! I guess I would if I lived nearby.

Jay: Hi. Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, bad grammar is a weep-worthy sin.

01 March, 2007 09:51  
Blogger Tamarai said...

Hmmm.... (think bubble emerges from Tanya's head.) I have some old jewellery and clothes that no longer fit me that I could possibly ebay... and some CDs and books. I'll let you know if and when I get it up.

01 March, 2007 10:38  
Blogger Milla said...

Oh, I won't be travelling again until May...
You really didn't like The Secret History? I loved that book. I also cry whenever I read And the Ass Saw the Angel, and Beckett's Footfalls. I am a wimp!!

P.S. The word verification today is 'eekez': wouldn't that sound good for an indie band?

01 March, 2007 13:22  

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