Evil Dead Gav

I hit my head last night. I occasionally bump my head (as i'm sure we all do) and it's usually a case of "Ow ow, shit, ow" for a few seconds then all is well. Not so in this case.

Ash and myself decided to get Chinese food delivered as a "Yay for Friday!" meal. Went downstairs to the main gate (as we live in an apartment block) to pick it up, opened the heavy-as-fuck iron security door to get the food off the delivery guy, and proceeded to forget the extra half-foot of metal on the top side of the door that acts as the magnetic lock. It hit my head with some force. So much force in fact that I stumbled a little, and I heard the delivery guy do that horrible sharp intake of air that ends in a hiss when you've just watched someone faceplant off the Empire State Building on 'Youtube'.

"I'm fine, i'm fine", I muttered to him, then looked at him in puzzlement as he still held the food in his hand with his mouth open.
"Do you want me to call an ambulance?", he asked quickly.
"Why?" I asked, then saw blood spurt from my head when I took my hand off where it hurt. Turns out i'd given myself quite a deep cut, albeit a small one, and, as deep cuts tend to do, I was leaking at quite an alarming rate (well, alarming to the bloke who see's a trail follow him when he's walking.)
"Umm, no thanks. I'll call them when I get upstairs."
He then (very nicely I might add) ran to his car and grabbed a huge wad of tissues to staunch my head.

I got back upstairs, still feeling fine, and saw the look on Ash's face. I looked like Bruce Campbell towards the end of 'Evil Dead 2', but no nearly as awesome.
And then I felt woozy, sick to my stomach and sleepy. Apparently what followed was me refusing to drink 7-Up, slurring my words like crazy and promptly throwing up on the floor and carpet. Apparently this only lasted about 5 minutes, but what I can remember of it was only seconds.

Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting on the couch being taken care of my Ash who having grown up with 3 brothers knew full well what was a serious issue and one that was a man being, well, a man who has suddenly regressed to that of a boy who's skinned his knee. I was the latter.
The cut had stopped bleeding fairly quickly, and there was only a tiny bit of blood when I dabbed my noggin every few minutes.

The chinese food was great though, and we're going to see Bill Bailey tonight, so in all it's a general win.

Right.

Every Thursday one of the local pubs (The Wicked Wolf, which is also a fantasmic name for a pub) does a Karaoke session. Its got tons of songs, a generally great enviornment and beer.
Of course, I hadn't gone in about 2 years. Even though i've been getting better with my whole 'fear of everything outside the apartment' stuff, even the simple idea of going to the pub of a few pints and a sing-song made me shit myself.

But for whatever reason, last week when everyone was heading out of the apartment (the guys generally pop in before hand as the apartment is essentially next door to the pub in question and Ash always goes with them too) I decided to go with them. It caused a few 'looks'. Not in a bad way, not at all, but in the 'Is Gav actually coming with us? Nice!' kind of way.
So, get the the pub (it's fairly full), grab a table and I start looking through the songlist booklet. It's quite extensive. You know when a Karaoke list has more than one 'Tenacious D' song, it's thorough. But yet there was not really anything I could see that I was comfortable singing. Sure, there was tons of stuff that's a laugh, but for some reason (most likely the fact that the 4 people on the table next to us had gone up a few times and were actually REALLY good) I couldn't choose. (Bah, for all your song choice, there's not a SINGLE Muse song?! Curse you!)

Eventually, after much deliberation with my own head, I found and chose 'Behind Blue Eyes'. I'd like at this point to thank Fergal for the many campfire sessions of this song, as pretty much imagining he was playing the guitar for it helped my shaking legs get through it. And it was fun. Really fun. The night carried on and I said 'You know what? I'm going up again!'
I found 'Music of the Night' from Phantom of the Opera. So I went up. And the song was faster than I was used to singing, and a few drunk Germans started to heckle the fact that the song, and I, was shit. At this point i'd like to that Herr Feldwick for letting me recognise German insults ;)
It was a proverbial kick to the nuts, to be honest, and I went outside then for a smoke with a few of the lads. Then a bloke made a shitty comment about my mate Scott's t-shirt. And I tried to start a fight. I HATE fighting. Sure, put a controller in my hands and let me pick a 6'5 Jungle Warrior and i'll happily (nay, gleefully) break more bones with glorious abandon than Tony Jaa in a Scottish Carpack at 4am. Fighting in reality? Outside a pub? Fucking pointless. I did Shaolin so I wouldn't have to fight, and there's nothing I hate more than the bastards who go out trying to start one. But I was trying to start one. It boiled down fairly quickly, no punches were thrown and I walked away.

The lads rationalised it was due to the adrenaline still flying through my system and the fact the Germans had given me stick (who I found out were kicked out of the bar half and hour after I left for being assholes). Anyway, I went home. I was pissed off with myself. I had tried to start a fight, but more importantly, I was now terrified that I can't sing anymore, at least not the way I used to be able to. Ash is a star, and told me I was being ridiculous. So did the lads, especcially Chris.
Maybe it's just my brain once again trying to hamstring me, but i'm not going to let it. I didn't go to the Karaoke yesterday; no money and generaly not in the mood.

But i'm going back next week :)

.... and they're indeterminate. How can they be INDETERMINATE?! It's been over two months and all that waiting, when i'd finally know (i) if I had a serious problem down there and / or (ii) if I have to lose a fucking nut, the tests are inde-fuckin-terminate. I want answers damn it, but apprently, more 'aggressive' tests are required. Fuck it. Two months, nothing, more tests.

Pumpkin passed away yesterday morning. I had taken her to the Vet because she had completely changed mobility and personality wise over less than 24 hours. She had a stroke and had to be put down.
Over the last two years she's given me great companionship, in the sense that one can have with a rodent companion. I originally bought her to prove to myself that I could take care of things on my own. It seems then rather fitting that she pass away while I try to take care of her, only for her to pass away of no fault of my own. I'm not depressed or feeling guilty, it just is as it is. I'll miss her.

Dessie's awesome post regarding a certain Tiberius reminded me to post this too.
Best gimmick band ever; Arnocorp. All their songs are named after Arnold Schwarzeneggar movies, and as such all the lyrics are lines from the corresponding movies. Enjoy. And they're coming to Ireland too.

My computer was virused good and proper for the first time since i've every touched a keyboard.
It was hidden in an email (aren't they all) disguised as my AIB Apartment Account details. One click and 5 minutes later and i'm infected with the supposed 'PandaSex' (why it's called that i'll never know, I have no interest in Panda's, nor their apparent lack of sex drive).

Good news, i've successfully deleted and destroyed said virus. Thank you, updated AVG.

Bad news, it has ravaged many of my most prized saved items. Once again, i'm taught the folly of not backing things up. The list of things (that i'm currently aware of) that are gone forever consist of the following:

1) All my music: Not such a huge deal, but several of them were incredibly rare, the 'Sunshine' soundtrack being one of them, and several of my CD's that I ripped to provide said music are long lost or beyond use.

2) All my movies: Again, not a huge deal. I shouldn't have had them anyway.

3) All my written works: Now this annoys me to the point of madness. Every single thing i've ever written (I only write on my computer) for the last 3 years, is gone. This includes all my copies of the Luntians, all the short stories, all my Plot Docs and ideas, and most annoyingly, all my film scripts, plays and my half finished novel. I can't possibly count the number of hours I put into writing all of them. I can remember nights when i'd write from the moment I got back from work till the time I had to shower and leave for work again, and now it's all gone.

Rather than being horribly depressed by this (don't get me wrong, I am furious and saddened beyond belief. Let me just say, nothing in this world is more theraputic for anger than 'Manhunt' on PS2), I can see the silver lining: It's a clean slate. I can start again, write with renewed fervour and create things that were better than before.


On other notes, finally met Mia Priest: adorable as hell, and no kneecaps. Dislikes me (for now), loves Ash, and vomits milk. I can tell we're going to get on like a house on fire. Mother glowing, Father exactly the same, but more Father-like.
Broke Rory's XBox 360 in the oddest way: I wasn't even there. I lend him 'Soul Calibur 4' as a nice little gesture, and got a call from him later saying that it caused his XBox to give him the Red Light Ring of Death. Damn.
'The Force Unleashed' is fun. Taste Force Lightening, you Rebel Scum.

Anyhow, things (oddly) sorta looking up!

Cheers,
Gav

Well, had my interview with GOA for the CSR job on "Warhammer: Age of Reckoning."

Thought it went fairly well, was chatting away to a guy called Dave for the first part of it, and was very pleasant and friendly, so I was able to open up a bit (I usually freeze up in situations like that). Then I had my written portion of the interview and a typing test. Don't think either of those went very well.

Anyway, all to do now is wait and see. I really want this job.
Will update when / if I hear anything.

Cheers,
Gav

UPDATE: JOB ACQUIRED!!! GO ON, YA DANCER!!!

Just had a pelimenary interview with CPL in regards to working for GOA.
Went very well. Have now got GOA (final) interview on Tuesday. Awesome.
Seems if I just keep my head together and just get through it i'll be rockin' my way working for 'Warhammer Online', just like the rest of the Irish Lantians ;)

Whee!

Also, according to several reliable sources, I apparently look fucking awesome in a tailored suit.

Tomorrow will see the 8th Year that myself and Ash have been together.
It's been maddening to the point of, well, madness, but I wouldn't change a single moment of it.
Lots of plans of what to do to celebrate this lovely event, but seeing as neither of us really go in for a huge celebration of anything unless it involves kittens, I think a nice cinema trip, a home made dinner by a fabulous Gav, and.... yeah, i'll stop there.

Anyhoo, if my lady can see this, I love you honey-muffin. You've made 8 years only feel like 1 decade ;)

I rarely change my mind about films for the positive. I will look back occasionally at a film I previously thought was a pure slice of fried gold, and realise once the moments past and i've had some time to process every single detail in my noggin, that sometimes a film I thought was a resounding masterpiece is actually a self-depricating shitfest.
It happens, occasionally.

Never, in my memory, has it happened in the reverse. 'Fried Gold' to 'Shitfest' I can understand, but 'Shitfest' to 'Fried Gold'? Nevers, I say! Or rather 'said'.

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Gathering happened. It was awesome. It was so good that looking back on it I swear I pee a little.

I'll simply sum it up in my usual manner:
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This is very late, SOOOO very late, SOOO very incredibly late to be asking.

Are any of the Irish drivers going to the G and have a spare seat for a lone beastkin and one bag?

I suck.

Myself, Ian and Eoin went up to Tad's house on Sunday to have a read through for the short film we're all doing with him. I could go on about this for a while, but in essence, we're going to make a road trip to Arklow for it, so that should be fun.
Oh, Eoin plays a psychotic, demonic Addict, Ian plays a 3-piece suit wearing Corrupting Plant, and i'm the one who tells them what to do. Yes, I just read that correctly.

On the more Fauna side of life, we have two new additions for good ol' Apartment 13;

Ian picked up a new tortoise the other day to complement his current tortoise, Xenu. He's struggling with coming up for a name for the thing, and considering your first tortoise is named after Scientologies version of the Alien Devil, you really can't just name the new one 'Bob'. It's a thinker, to be sure.

As for the other member, Tads delightful missus greeted us at the door of his place with month old kittens. Four of them to be precise. There's something deeply off-putting about 3 guys who are on average about 6ft tall and 200lbs stepping into a house and going "AWWWWWWW!!!!", then catching your reflection in the mirror and realising you've just shamed all creatures with a scrotum.
But anyway, the first words out of her mouth after introductions were "So you want to adopt a kitten, then?"
After about 30 minutes of playing with them, serious thought and more M-anguish than i'd like to confess, I heartily agreed.
I picked a little black male one. His name is Thor Hatredcopter McDougan the Fifth.
I'll be taking him home in the next week or so, so they have finished weaning.

Have never owned a cat before, but I have a shed load of friends who own several, so it'll be a joyous learning experience.

Joy, indeed. Pictures to follow.

... and I kind of like it. Random setting. 20 Songs. Guess away.

Just a moment ago a woman came into the shop looking to buy two cartridges. I only had one of the ones she needed, so I said i'd have the other one in by Monday.
She took the cartridge, paid for it, and left.

One minute later, she comes straight back into the shop, and I quote:

"Hi, sorry me again. What I'm going to say is going to sound very odd, and i'm not coming onto you or anything, but you have the most amazing eyes i've ever seen. They're absolutly mesmerizing. Thanks again."

And with that, she leaves, gets into her car, and drives off.

That has absolutly made my week.

The Zombie Meme

You are in a mall when zombies attack. You have:
1. One weapon
2. One song blasting on the speakers
3. One famous person to fight along side you.

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Well, was in England this weekend, Nottingham to be precise, for the Lions Plot Meeting. A good time was had indeed. Here are some of the highlights of my time in enemy territory:

1) Good Chinese food is definitly worth it, even if it's out of delivery range.
2) Amanda has a really nice place. She does not like fudge and definitly finds me charming.
3) Wee Duncan McAllister has been taught that a finger in the air does indeed make you invisible, but has a strange urge to use this talent to hit peoples feet.
4) I have been enlightened that the English never oppressed the Irish; they were simply indifferent to our situation. Thank you Barney.
5) Barry has created the most terrifying super hero of all time. Ever. Period.
6) Sherwood Forest is fucking huge.
7) DVD's and the like are far cheaper in Nottingham than over here.
8) 'Hornblower' is essentially 'Sharpe', but on the water, and it's awesome.
9) "Galactic Phantom!" is the best thing ever to shout when punching someone.
10) Plot is fun but hard.
11) Seeing Irish friends in England outside the realm of an event is initially jarring and highly confusing.
12) All Dark Elves are extremely Emo.
13) I don't like Tea, but I love to rap about Tea.
14) A town in England once hung a Monkey because they thought it was a Frenchman.
15) Barry grows Chili's.
17) Having £80 stolen from you on your last day is the true opposite of awesome.
18) Dessie is the official spokesperson for t-shirts everywhere.
19) England now officially has longer drinking hours than Ireland. Hell just froze over.
20) Ice Cream makes plot better.

Thanks to everyone in Nottigham who made my stay there an absolute blast, and big up to Barry for putting me up AND putting up with me. Cheers!

Stan Winston died this weekend. Film special effects has just lost it's Jesus.

You may recognise some of his work here, just to show a few;

Well, the Moot happened.
I'll just say now I had an absolute ball plotting and marshalling, and I heartily look forward to doing it to you all again.

Only just in about an hour and a half ago. Forgive tiredness.

I'll deter from doing my usual long winded random rant, so i'll just break it down into easy to read "WIN" and "FAIL" segments;

WIN:

Kalisto Company went out to kick ass; FINALLY. Great fun to do, and finally showing that the Company actually have claws, so to speak. Expected a small transport group to investigate, got half the faction. Such is life! If i'd had more monsters it would've been a fairly animal battle, but fun was had regardless. Especcially fun was capturing Hydra (Si) when he stepped into the transport circle as Ads transported.

Being part of the Gallathrix fight. It's soooo much fun to watch a fight from the outside perspective, and I will admit at certain points when I was timing people out, the flicker of "..... shit. This could really go nasty" planted itself firmly in my noggin. Great fun!

Plotting / Marshalling in general. All my fellow plot members and NPC's were an absolute joy to work AND have a laugh with, as well as being very understanding.

Roleplaying! Had surgery, a wedding and a spiritual conflict all in the space of 3 hours.

Sarah freakin' the shit out of me with wibbly Cara. There's nothing more disturbing than having someone you see as a little sister saying "You can fuck anything you like". Kudos Sarah, that was awesomely creepy. And go Lucie (Silverthorn) for stepping in and having a Jerry Springer moment by instigating a fight with Sarah with the phrase "Oi, that's MY husband." Made all the more awesome by Ads then ghetto shouting "Oh no she didn't!"

Kaz and Daniel putting me up for the night. Thanks so much.

Seeing all my mates again and getting to roleplay with them.

Getting married. I nearly shit myself when Hengist asked Giblet if he accepted the Beast as his Alpha. Damn you Sir.

Seeing Stu and Lisa again. Seems like an age since I had a chat with either of them.

Sarah, Karen and Lisa's boobs reminding me of home ;)

Having the nicest drink and chat in the Toby Carver i've had in a long time.

Making up an insane future of a friend with Allen Stroud.


FAIL:

I didn't 'get' IC. I just couldn't get myself into the mindset of the Beast at this event. I was FAR too nice and played him badly. Must fix.

Also, didn't play Morbo nearly enough. As I was sporadically IC and OOC, I tried to go as much Beast as I could, but realised i've been neglecting Morbo a lot. Have to get back into a nice balance. I love being the pair of them, so I should play them equally.

NO MONSTERS. Not anyone's fault, just due to lack of players, and I worship the ground those that did walk on, but it couldn't be helped. There were so few people at the Moot I was shocked.

Panic attacks were limited to one. That's good. Stomach issues were a big problem. I was spitting up acid all over the shop, and it was embarassingly pointed out to me on more than one occasion, most of all when Helen put her cloth bag in a pile of it, causing me to wish the ground would open up and swallow me. Epic fail.

Ash. Not being there. Missed much. Ash having surgery tomorrow. Grr-ness.

Generally being too tired to stay up for drinking on any of the nights. Especcially annoyed in the Carvery as I really wanted to stay up for beers with Brian and Oisin, and then tiredness hit like a wave.

Forgetting to put Taz's tent down. Taz goes out of his way and lends me a tent and I leave it up. Bad Gav.

Having (only) Panic Attack during awesome roleplay. Stoopid head.

Spending over £75 at the bar. Must buy less rounds.