Just left L at a party. Not sure I should have left her, as she needs to go to work tomorrow morning, but she’s a big girl and should be able to take care of herself. Me, on the other hand, I’m doggone tired, and I really don’t think taking care of myself is something I’m quite up to, but at least I will now get a little sleep… I got up at quarter to five this morning, as I – stupidly – hadn’t packed, and had a six thirty train to catch. Anyhoo. I’m in Arvika now and planning to sleep shortly. The original plan was for us to go to some sort of happening at the harbour with a band called something obscurely Värmlandsk, but we sort of got stuck at a pre-party, and I really need to sleep…

Went CD shopping today, and thought this might be an interesting point of departure: If you were to analyse my character purely on the basis of the cds I bought today, what would your conclusions be?

– Dolly Parton: Greatest Hits
– Nalle Puh 3, berättare: Allan Edwall (audiobook of three chapters from Winnie-the-Pooh in Swedish)
– Blondie: Denis
– Absolute Rock Classics (2 cds, including such tracks as Whitesnake; Here I go Again and Sex Pistols; God Save the Queen, and what those two have in common is beyond me)
– Kenny Rogers: Back to the Well (Includes a second CD: Live by request which has The Gambler and Slow Dance More on it, both of which have been played repeatedly tonight at high volume)

Just wondered…

Voice in my head: Bon Jovi – It’s My Life (also played tonight at high volume)

In a small way. I now have my diploma for the 9th grade – i.e. I passed my grading and I’m now entitled to wear a yellow belt with my gi, which makes a nice change from the boring white one.

Typically, though, the grading has given me a bit of a kick and I now really feel like training, but there’s only one week of practices left – none of which I can make – and then the hall closes for the summer. I will have to find other ways to keep myself going. Also, I will have to stretch, as that seems to be my main problem at the moment.

Voice on the stereo: Fred Åkerström – Jag ger dig min morgon

I’m off. Karate grading in two hours and the nerves have just hit me. I’m sure I’ll be all right once I get there, though (actually, I’m not sure, I’m just trying to kid myself).

Voice in my head: Ludvigsen (and lots of kids) – Det er sommeren som teller

Oh, Donna, why do you do this to me? You know I can’t resist these…

(Long list of stuff follows here:)
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There is also the Friday Five:

1. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but never have?
Visit New York. That’s one. Am I only allowed one?

2. When someone asks your opinion about a new haircut/outfit/etc, are you always honest?
Are you mad? Obviously not! I try not to actually lie as such, mostly because I’m terrible at it so it wouldn’t be very effective. I say something nice if there is anything nice to say and try to change the subject if there isn’t.

3. Have you ever found out something about a friend and then wished you hadn’t? What happened?
Not that I can remember. I can’t quite see what that would be, either, I mean, surely it would be more rational to wish that whatever you found out wasn’t true rather than that you didn’t know? Say you found out that your friend was cheating on his/her spouse – wouldn’t you just wish that it wasn’t true/that they’d stop/that they’d come clean rather than that you hadn’t found out? I don’t believe in the “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” tenet. Though in my example I suppose I would wish there was nothing I could do, rather than the between a rock and a hard place situation you would find yourself in (do you tell your friend off and threaten to tell their partner if they don’t do so themselves? How on earth would you tell the partner? Is there such a thing as a tactful way?) and start talking in iambic pantameter couplets: “The time is out of joint, oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right” (No, I didn’t just make that up – it’s Hamlet).

4. If you could live in any fictional world (from a book/movie/game/etc.) which would it be and why?
I’d like to go to have gone to Hogwarts. As Jane pointed out, it would have been useful to know how to apparate. It would also solve an everyday irritation: The phone rings, I get up, answer it, talk for a while, go to sit down again. I realise I’ve left my book over by the phone. I mentally point my wand at it (I haven’t actually got a wand, you know, hence the “mentally”) and say: “Accio book.” It hasn’t worked yet (and I’d probably be quite worried if it did), but if I could live in that fictional world it would. Of course, I’d also have to worry about Voldemort and all that, but life, at least, would be interesting.

5. What’s one talent/skill you don’t have but always wanted?
I would have liked to have a voice to go with my ability to remember song lyrics.

Did you know there is a word for “the fear of Friday the 13th”? I didn’t, not until this morning, anyway. Thanks to the daily e-mail from Paul McFedries’ Wordspy I can now say, with confidence, that I do not suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Voice in my head: Johnny Clegg – Woman be my Country

1. Have you taken a bath already?
Yes, I have taken a bath, already! Oh, you mean today? No, I showered after karate yesterday.

2. Who did you gave your very first kiss to?(sic.)
(Don’t they ever proofread these?) That would be filed in a folder stamped “Confidential”.

And I don’t like piercing at the best of times…

I will have to stop answering all these questions.

1. If you knew that millions of faithful followers were going to model their lives after you, would you change anything about how you live it?

Nah. My life’s fine. (Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!)

2. When you find you don’t need something any more, is your impulse to throw it out, give it away, store it somewhere, or sell it?

Give it away or sell it, depending on what it is. Come to think of it, I have this box full of movies on VHS that I was meaning to get rid of, anyone interested?

3. What world record would you most like to set?

You know what? I can’t think of a single one right now.

This makes for interesting reading, doesn’t it?

Voices in my head: The Murmurs – You Suck (and that is definitely Martin‘s fault)