Bummeration

Good news – flying out to L.A. in about eight hours’ time. Bad news – t-shirt shop lied about the time needed to produce my most amazingest creation ever, and now I won’t have the damned thing in time to take it with me (yes, you do have to be a bit of a ‘Supernatural’ fan to get this t-shirt gag). How upset am I? Put it this way, I’m smiling now, but someone will be crying later…

So I go to work, battle through some tedious compositions and some downright rude students, buoyed by the fact that I’m leaving on a jet plane later. Get home, sort my life out and pack it, and get down to the airport check-in to find that my particular airline does not do check-ins after midday. Riiiiiiiiight. So now I have to turn around and get my suitcase back home again, and come back in roughly six hours – 5.30am. Nice! Just how I want my holiday to start. Still, at least I have one. Just hoping everything will go much more smoothly once I’m there…

Finally finished and posted the fan-fiction I was worrying over. It’s done now, though. It’s another ‘Supernatural’ one (my penultimate, I think), it’s called ‘Bad Company’, and it’s available here. And yes, the very last chapter explains the above mentioned t-shirt gag.

All that remains to be said is that I hope everyone gets by without me, and I’ll be back soon, just in time for ‘Doctor bloody Who’ series four, over on BBC1 at the earlier time of 6.20pm. If you’re int UK, which I’m not. So I’ll be watching it Sunday tea-time, then…

I’ll leave you with some great resources for the Gene Genie, otherwise known at Sir Gene of Hunt the Eminently Quotable’s best and brightest Huntisms from ‘Ashes To Ashes’, the last episode of which I shall miss due to being with the lovely Winchester boys from ‘Supernatural’ (Do you really think I’d fly all the way to L.A. for anyone else?). There’s also the Gene Genie’s witty reposts from Life On Mars, too.

That’s it. I’m blowing this pop-stand, folks. I’ll see you crazy kids in about ten days.


Tags:
Supernatural ~ Doctor Who ~ A2A ~ Life On Mars

Harry! Holiday! Ace!

So Harry Connick Jnr were bloody ace, appearing in Wanchai last Wednesday night. He sang wi that super-smooth hot chocolate type voice, did some cheeky banter, changed some lyrics to thank the ex-pats for coming, and basically did the whole Harry thing. We loved him. My only gripe? At 90 mins he were on too short – and the venue sucked the Big One. he mentioned not once, but twice, how it looked amazingly like an aircraft hangar, and he weren’t wrong. Whoever decided that the Wanchai Convention Centre would double as a concert venue wants a bloody good hiding. Twats. The fact that more than half of the audience were 50 feet away from’t stage would probably be the first indication, even if I were a complete fucking numptie, that it weren’t really suited.

Anyway, he made the most of it, and we bloody loved him. He did a few golden oldies, and then ripped into shedloads of N’Orleans rhythms (and even made space for that old ‘Big Easy’ favourite, ‘Iko Iko’ – how fab is that?). He stopped a few times to tell a story, or pass his views on Hong Kong cuisine and how you really should not try everything ont menu the night before a concert, and was basically very, very ace.

One thing annoyed. The row of people sat behind us. I swear I have never heard anyone make so many asinine comments in so short a time. I know he’s not exactly a famous performer if English int your first language, and I understand that praps not many people out here have heard his stuff. But these are ABCs (American Born Chinese), or maybe CBCs (Canadian Born Chinese) – you’d have thought they’d maybe heard of him (or at least checked up before they paid money for a bloody ticket), and then could manage to not come out wi summat stupid like “He’s a good piano player, isn’t he?”

Anyway, that aside, I’m kinda stoked pretty much all of the time cos I’m counting the days before I get to L.A. I have a looooong list of things I have to accomplish while I’m there: get an iPhone, get some ‘Firefly’ comics, do Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Grauman’s – oh, and meet some famous people, of course. I’m really, really excited cos we also get Jason Manns and Steve Carlson concerts, Friday and Saturday evenings. Then we have to see Eric Kripke, Chad Lindberg (Ash), Fredric Lane (the late great YED), Jensen Ackles (PHWWOOOAAAR!) and Jared Padalecki (bless). How fab is that?

And now it’s Good Friday, and yay, it’s pretty good cos I have four days off now. Just have to avoid the food poisoning-come-gastroenteritis that Bestest Flatmate and Bestest Mate both have. Apart from that, it’s smiles all round, cos it’s one week till L.A., and then about twelve hours after I get back, the BBC start showing series four of ‘Doctor bloody Who’. Does life get any better than this? Well obviously it could, I’m just trying to work out how.

And just fert record, I think Donna’s going to be fine. She’s not Martha, and thank all the gods and all of their brothers than she ent Rose – yes, I’ve heard the same rumours about them all coming back (Boo, I say, BOO!), but she’s going to be interesting for a change.

Need to get off my arse now and go shopping. Holiday stuff to buy, you know how it is…

Peach and lube, everyone! It’s a beautiful day!

Tags:
Harry Connick Jr ~ HKCEC ~ convention ~ iPhone ~ Supernatural ~ Eric Kripke ~ Dean Winchester ~ Sam Winchester ~ Jensen Ackles ~ Jared Padalecki ~ Hong Kong

HOT FUDGE!

Crank up ‘Hot Fudge’ by Robbie Williams, get the vodka out and show me yer Happy Dance of Ultimate Victory (or Smackdown Carnage Conga of Triumph, if you prefer), cos right now I’m planning and plotting and worrying and stressing and trying to come to terms with the fact that in just 10 days’ time, I’m leaving on a jet plane.

I’m going to Los Angeles. As in, La-la Land. As in, home of a mighty ‘Supernatural’ convention. Oh yes, ladies and gents, I am gonna stroke me some Winchester!

*** short break whilst demented dancing and squeeeing goes on ***

There, all better now. I have, in my highly agitated state, come up with some more Winchester Wallpapers for your amusement. Or just mine. Whatever, man. They’re there.

I need to finish my dance, then think about bedtime – it is 3am over here.

Cannot sleep. Rakshasa will eat me…

Tags:
Supernatural ~ Dean Winchester ~ Sam Winchester ~ Jensen Ackles ~ Jared Padalecki ~ Hong Kong

Porn mags and tea bags

It’s been a full week, as seems to be the way these days. Saw HK Singers perform ‘Anything Goes’ at City Hall Sunday afternoon, and yay, it were ace. We laffed in all the right places, clapped along and thoroughly enjoyed it. I nearly died when the tap-dancers came out. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for good tap-dancing, and they were so very, very ace. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Friend Of A Friend came back from Blighty recently and brought us obligatory gifty-gift-gifts (hence today’s title). Apart from a large box of Yorkshire tea bags (red label), which will secure him a place in our hearts for a long time to come, he brought us girlie porn. A copy of The Fortean Times has been very good company fert past week as I trundle along, MTR-bound, to work. Just as good as it always was, when I used to read it religiously way back int day. (This actually qualifies as geek porn, I suppose.) The other publication he brought, knowing praps I’d get very very excited as only a girl can when faced wi such a fab piece of full-on girlie porn in print, were the first issue of the official ‘Supernatural’ magazine. While it’s been great and I’ve been poring over most pages enjoying the fact that someone cares enough about the show to put it all together, I’ve been hit wi a dilemma too. The centrefold is reversible. Finally – a full-on, glossy, high-quality shot of the Impala (or rather, ‘the Metallicar’, as its apparently been dubbed by fans). How made-up am I wi a nice big, clear shot of her? Fab. You know that’s getting saved – and going on the old cork board of fame. Trouble is, guess what’s on the back? Yep – The Boys. Hmm.


Sorry boys – we get oodles of pics of you two, and none of the Impala, so she stays. You two are getting relegated to next month’s centrefold. Apart from the obvious flashy glossy pictures, it’s also delivering on all gossip, information, profiles, trivia and Q&A aspects too. Just ace. Interesting fact of the week, kiddies:

Eric Kripke, the God that is the series creator, originally wanted none other than fellow deity Bruce Campbell to play John Winchester – and he’s still trying to find a way to bring him in as a guest star.

How fab is that? As if the series couldn’t get any better! The mighty Bruce Campbell in the show? Think I’d die happy. Which explains praps the few and far between but nonetheless present references to ‘Evil Dead’ (and if the season two episode ‘Hollywood Babylon’ wasn’t a complete parody / homage to this film then I’ll… er… be wrong). Thing is though, I love Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Dad Winchester. Having only seen him in maybe TV dinner fare like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ before that, I took to him very very easily in ‘Supernatural’. He’s ace as the dad, I have to say, and I hate to think that we may never see him again. He were such a cool character, such a good strong lead for the pilot and every episode he made it into, that it’s a hyowj shame he’s gone and pretty much done and dusted. Or is he? Or is he? [‘OR IS HE?’ – Hugh Laurie.] In a continuity kinda way, I can see where Dean is supposed to have got his whole ‘smooth at being rough’ thing from. In a word: phwooar. (Which begs the question: What happened wi Sam? Just joking. Kinda.)

Anyway, onto other points as have caught my attention: American Idol and the bloke I want to win. I can’t decide, in a Scissor Sisters kinda way, if I want Michael Johns (Aussie Rocker Dude) or David Cook (Actual Rocker Dude) to win. Mr Johns has done some fantastic Doors and Simple Minds covers – yes, Randy Jackson, it was Simply Minds, not INXS, who did ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’. Praps I misunderstood, but he seemed to imply that it were by INXS, as they’re also Aussies. Anyway, Mr Johns is ace and gets my vote just cos he performs and does excellent songs. However, David Cook did that bloody excellent rendition of the Lionel Ritchie song last week, and for that we love him. I spose we’ll have to wait till tomorrow night to see what they give us this time. Hopefully they’ll also be ace, and Simon Cowell will finally agree with purr wee Mr Johns’ song choice for a change.

One gripe, American Idol producer/marketing people – why are the audition songs only available to buy on the US store for iTunes? Surely you can sell these to the world? As is the whole point with selling the show to air on so many different networks around the globe int first place? Don’t be stingy – we want our Michael Johns songs!

Right, that’s yer onion, I’m off to bed. Three wins at three pub quizzes in one week takes it out of you. Peach and lube everyone, and I’ll see you all very soon.

Tags:
Bruce Campbell ~ Evil Dead ~ Supernatural ~ Eric Kripke ~ Dean Winchester ~ Sam Winchester ~ American Idol ~ Michael Johns ~ David Cook ~ iTunes ~ Jeffrey Dean Morgan

TARDIS hard disk!

Yes, in a lovely little alliteration of which the Doctor himself would approve, a Bestest Mate has come up with a tiny shiny idea to plug my hard drive problems.

Woah, woah, woah, let’s back up and explain. I have an Apple Mac Mini that’s creeping into old age in that it’s a first generation PPC, not an Intel. Anyway, it’s running 256MB of SDRAM and could do wi a shot up the arse. A quick squiz at its pertinents using Crucial Systems’ scanner and it’s been revealed I can safely pull out the 256MB and replace it wi a maximum of 1GB. This suits me, and another quick search later and I’ve found 1GB chips are not so pricey. That’ll be a day of my Easter break filled then. The next step is to expand the storage capacity. Obviously a weeny 160GB drive would do, a 1.8 inch jobbie. While attaching it to me Mini by USB cable is not a problem, I’d rather me room did not look like Doctor Emmet Brown’s workshop. So Bestest Mate simply suggested that the hard drive go into the casing of the TARDIS USB hub – 90% of which, PC-stylee, is empty anyway. Which brings us to tonight’s title: it’d make it a hard disk inside a TARDIS. How fab is that? Gotta be done, just so I get as much mileage out of the phrase ‘TARDIS hard disk’ as possible.

* insert big cheesy Doctor Ten grin here *

Moving on, I think there is a veritable shitload of people jumping up and down, squeeing and performing their very own versions of victory dances all over the US and in fact the world right now. Yep, the unthinkable has happened – the CW (channel) has renewed ‘Supernatural’ for another season. Which means, kiddies, we get the end of season three plus a shiny, shiny season four! How fab is that? Which officially makes Eric Kripke a Big Damn Hero: he’s done the impossible, and that makes him mighty. I can’t say how relieved I am that we’re getting season three filmed as we speak, never mind a new season. Have done a few new Winchester Wallpapers on this very subject. Would have been rude not to. After all, what does this mean for Dean and his deal? Sam and his hair attitude problem? Conceivably, Dean could end up in Hell but Sam could get him out. Or he could just break the deal somehow (and I have theories on that one). Or the most obvious of season finales could leave me spitting with anger. But I really hope that’s not going to happen – and of course, the immense writing team would not do that to us.

Just time to assert what complete socialites we are: Off to watch the HK Singers perform ‘Anything Goes’ at City Hall this coming Sunday. It's not John Barrowman, but it’ll do for now. Besides, they did really well with ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘The Full Monty’, so should be a grand day out. Then we’re off to see Harry Connick Jr at the HKCEC March 19th – how eclectic is that? Mix in the fact that we’re off to see Duran Duran live in some nightclub in Kowloon April 12th, and we’re looking quite busy. And then – even better than that, and what we’re really, really looking forward to Big Time, is Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ musical over at the HK Academy of Performing Arts. It’s the actual London cast, so can’t say more than that. We are going to be so made-up wi all that lot, it’s hard to keep my next bit of hugest hugest most amazingest news fert next post. I really have to stop now before my head explodes. I still can’t intimate details about it wiowt getting all squeey and girlie. I’ll be back later after I’ve had a lie down.

So peach and lube to everyone, especially the CW and Bestest Mate, and I’ll see you all very, very soon.

Tags:
Doctor Who ~ TARDIS ~ USB hub ~ Apple ~ Mac Mini ~ Supernatural ~ Eric Kripke ~ Dean Winchester ~ Sam Winchester ~ Harry Connick Jr ~ Duran Duran ~ Queen ~ Hong Kong

More stuff wot I’ve done

I’m trying to post shorter more often. We’ll see how long it lasts.

So onto more updates as I couldn’t fit into the last essay I submitted here:

Done and dusted a new ‘Supernatural’ fan-fic, ‘Illegitimi Non Carborundum’ – this time only a 4,500 word humorous look at the trials and tribulations of exorcising demons who come knocking. Concept to polished end product in approximately five hours, fuelled by vodka and then Purple Nurples. I’m not defending it (I’m actually thinking it’s some of my best work), I’m just pointing out how yer brain does funny things, creative ability-wise, when suitably lubricated. Go on, read it and prove me wrong.

Also updated the Winchester Wallpapers, and found myself pondering, if fleetingly, why The CW doesn’t release a ‘Dean Winchester’s Book Of Contemporary Latin’ paperback, which I think would go down very well. I am slowly letting meself watch the rest of filmed season three, but am also making meself wait for it. Thinking that there may not be an end of season three has made me slow it down and enjoy each one as if it’s the last. Cos one day, it will be.

Then there was the ‘Ashes To Ashes’ episode 4 – we’re halfway through now already! Not so sure I like the conspiracy overtones here – smacks of ‘The X Files’ when it were cracking telly till the Smoking Man and wider conspiracies were seen to hove into view. Hmm. However, some fab acting and some wonderful, wonderful lines. Go Chris!

And then there were ‘Torchwood’ episodes 2.7 and 2.8 – we’re two-thirds of the way through the series already! Is it all kicking off before ‘Doctor bloody Who’ starts again in April / May? Hmm… We all know Captain Jack’s back for some of series four (probably kept for the end finale again), but then so’s Sarah Jane, Martha and Rose. Not so excited about the Rose bit… Series four trailers are looking good though, so can’t wait for that, obviously. Anyway, back to ‘Torchwood’, I’m wondering why Martha were there for just three eps and then sent back to U.N.I.T. Although she were fun to have around, and definitely different, I didn’t see the point. And the whole thing with Owen not being dead – well, alright, he’s dead but not completely, Captain Carrot of Terry Pratchett’s ‘Night Watch’ books’ stylee, and nearly turning into Mort too – it’s all pretty good sci-fi. Not sure it’s delivering on an ongoing arc level, but we’ll have to wait and see, eh.

So just to show that yeah, I am still the geek that people take me for, I’ve been looking to upgrade my phone to a PDA for a while. Well alright, not a while. But I were looking at a Motorola to replace my Samsung E-908, and then thought I may as well go for a full-on PDA, seeing as I’m finding not being able to do note-taking or e-mailing on the go a little irritating. So I’ve been in shops, playing with Blackberries and Motorola Qs, but been unimpressed with the reliance on Windows Mobile or just plain ugly GUIs. I do not want a touch-screen phone or PDA again, that’s for damn sure – ask Our Dave how many times I’ve hung up on him wi my face cos it’s wandered too near the flamin’ touch-screen button. Anyway, we go down the pub for the usual and there’s a mate of mine, playing what looks like a PSP but thinner.

Yeah, you’ve clocked it already, haven’t you? It’s not a PSP, it’s an Apple iPhone. He pauses the game to answer a call, putting them on hold (I assume) to check summat on Tinternet before confirming wi said caller and then getting back to his game. How fab is that? I were stunned at the simplicity – especially when he thrust it at me and told me to play wi it. Point, understand, do. Pretty simple, really. I’m sold. Absolutely and 100% sold. There’s just one problem wi the Apple iPhone if you live in Hong Kong – it’s not (officially) for sale over here yet. Matey bought his last time he were in New York, brought it back, went to Apple and got some updates and Chinese input downloads, and now runs it on CSL. So I guess I’ll just have to buy one next time I’m in L.A… Which is pretty soon, actually. But that’s another story…

Right, that’s yer onion, I’m off. Peach and lube, everyone. I’ll see you all again very soon.

Tags:
BBC ~ Hong Kong ~ TV ~ fan-fic ~ A2A ~ Torchwood ~ Supernatural ~ Sam Winchester ~ Dean Winchester ~ iPhone