I got bored and found the link to this on matt's blog...
Desert Eagle |
| You use a Desert Eagle. One of the most powerful handguns in production, the Desert Eagle is a heavy punch in a small package. Its reliability and speed are remarkable for a gun with such high caliber. Your enemies won't stand a chance as you fell them bullet by bullet. |
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| The What's Your Signature Weapon Test |
Yes folks...I'm Back!
It's been a while I know...
It all started on the 6th May...the morning of my birthday. My computer figured that me getting old wasn't quite enough stress for me today, and decided to give me a little extra present...it's demise.
Poor old Tiny (yes, I name my computers, shhh! =P) had passed on. My beloved computer was no more. He had ceased to be. He'd expired and gone to meet his maker (no silicone heaven? but where do all the calculaters go?) He was a stiff. Bereft of life, he was resting in peace. If he hadn't been nailed to the desk he would've been pushing up the daisies! He'd shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! Infact...this computer, was an ex-parrot!!
*cough*
Eeesh. The hard drive had gone capoot. Thankfully everything important was backed up, but still, this meant buyin a new hd...which I did - a shiny 200gb one...only to find the motherboard couldn't take anything higher than 136gb. Time for a bios update? Well sure...if the floppy drive hadn't failed right after the hd. So with that, we ended up not only getting the new hd, but also a new motherboard, processor and ram as well. "Great" you might think..."fantastic"...a brand new computer that is surely now bound to work. Well...umm...i'm sure it would've been grand...had it have fitted in the old case! Grrrrr.....so yes, two point five weeks and one shiny-ish new case later, and we were up and running. Basically I have a whole new computer with just three remaining donor parts - the graphics, usb2 and firewire cards. Poor Tiny is no more =( 
matt fixin up me new pooter
I can't really be too sad though...the new pooter is like three times faster than Tiny...which is nice!
So...'wot did I get up to during those long internetless days?' I hear you ask...
Well...if you're sitting comfortably, I'll tell you...
As I've already said, the 6th was my birthday. I turned 25 and was in the midst of feeling very old. I'd never really had the birthday blues before, but I guess it had just hit me that the next big stop was 30. 30!! Eesh. It's not that I think 30 year olds are old by any means...it's just I guess I still think of myself as still 19, despite the so called "grown up" things I've been doing now for the past few years like starting a business, getting engaged and looking to buy a house. And not just any old house you understand...but one with a garden, a garage, and a morgage over there by the swings and trampoline.
Yikes. My mum was married by 19 and here's me feeling old at 25.
But as the old saying goes "Growing old is manditory, growing up is optional". And just to prove it, one of the b'day pressies Matt bought me was a cute little kite called Eddie (yes, I name kites too =P now shhh!)
So off to the Vally Park we went to set Eddie free...
*sings* ...let's go fly a kite...
Mostly the rest of the time was spent fixing the computer, going to various friends weddings...
Ross & Ali ...just hitched
matt & myself at wedding ...dont we look just lovely
...oh yeh, and fixing my laptop, which decided to crap out just after I got the desktop fixed. Grrrrr.
This time the boys at Mplex weren't quite as much help as they had been with the desktop...so we decided to go to an expert ;o)
Stewarty and his magical data recovery machine
Stewart was brilliant...he spent roughly 5hrs recovering all the data from the HD. Cheers Stew!
Well...by the time it sank in that I had lost two computers in just under three weeks, my head was spinning...
Tyson tried to help by finding me a good shrink in the Yellow Pages...
My doggie Tyson - he's a big Jimmy Nesbit fan...
...but personally, I found this worked a whole lot better ;o) ....
my two best friends - Ben & Jerry
which in the end benefited Tyson more than anyone as he helped walk off the "half Baked Cookie Dough & Double Choc Fudge Brownie"!
Giants Causeway, North Coast of Antrim
Mussendon Temple
Downhill, Causeway coast
Downhill, Causeway Coast
Downhill, Causeway Coast
A tourist packed Giants Causeway
Incidentally guys, I need names for these photos before they can go in my folio...any ideas or suggestions greatly welcomed...
matt, raj & sarah
Bank Holiday Monday...May Day. I had been meaning to get myself back round the north coast to do some more snapping for a while now, and being as today everyone was off from their respective work, college or school...this seemed like the perfect opportunity for a little crossover working-jaunt to the sea.
The sun was shining, the air was warm and the cameras were packed. We took a little detour via Tescos for supplys, then we were on the road.
Essential expedition "equitment"
Todays musical playlist was entitled "car sunny happy", which included al of the most sickenly cheery, upbeat and uplifting songs we could think of, such as "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers, "Bright Side Of The Road" by Van Morrison, "Some Fantastic" by the Barenaked Ladies, and the ironically titled "Down" by Pearl Jam.
We took the scenic route so our journey was that of a 3 hour one, taking us down many a long and winding road. Narrow roads are also very popular in those parts, as was proved when a Corsa (ehh...it was a small car of some description...coulda been a Corsa...'little boy racer" cars...they all look the same...i do however remember it was silver...) and a Jeep (yes i remember Jeeps...i like them...) got stuck side by side at one point. It took ages for them to edge apart, but we later saw the wee car stopped down the road a bit, with the driver and co. out looking distinctly pee'd off...so the Jeep must have managed to remove most of the right hand side from their car =/ eek!
By the time we reached Ballintoy it was lunchtime. We headed to one of our regular coastal haunts for some pub grub...a little local bar / b&b called the Fullerton Arms. If you're ever up at the north coast of ireland and need a good meal...this is the place to go. Seriously, it rocks. Umm..although they could do with updating their jukebox selection....and yes by this I do mean more than just removing Shania Twains Greatest Hits...although that particular gesture was much much appreciated. Really.
"Cheeeeeeeeese"
Right next door to the Arms is a little ye olde sweety shop (or candy store, for any of you foreigners out there). It keeps all sorts of sweets you havent been able to get anywhere else since 1985. We were able to introduce Sarah to the wonder that is "Alphabety Sweets", which are great for many reasons, not only because you can randomly form eatable sentances with them...but mainly because they're pure, unadulterated, sugar! mmmmm...
We purchased many forms of wonderful sugary eats and then headed on round the coast.
A very packed Causeway
When we reached the Giants Causeway it was blazin sunshine, and the place was swarming with tourists. I had only ever been up there during the off peak season, so I'm used to it being nice and peaceful......serene, if you will. Just the way I like it when I'm trying to take that perfect photo.
Today was anything but...eesh! I think I filled an entire 256mb flash card just trying to get one particular shot without someones unwanted foot, arm or head in the way! Grrr...people. Who'd have 'em! =P
Eventually I gave up trying and just crossed my fingers that I had managed to get something of use. The sky had darkened so we thought it best to head back to the car...
...which we did, just in the nick of time, as the skys opened and poured out the contents of the irish sea on us. Phew, that was timed well.
Ablve left: Raj & Matts terrible attempt at a "Rolling Stones" impression
Above right: Raj & Matt decide to lift a stone back into position
*wishing i had an ark*
The Raj & Sarah Collection
Us lot...in a car...
With the rain crashing down around us, we did the only sensible thing we could...
...yes, thats right...we went for ice cream! =)
By the time we'd finished gorgeing on yet more sugary substances it was getting close to tea time. I had txted mom to find out what time sunset was at (as I knew she'd be using t'internet while I was out), so the plan was: get dinner, eat in car on beach, watch sunset, and if rain stops take some photos. It was a reasonable plan. Unfortunately the weather wasn't having any of it and when we got to Portstewart the beach had been closed off due to excessive flooding at the entrance ramp. Poo. I was beginning to think I wouldn't return home with any decent photos for the original aim of updating the portfolio. =( *sniffle*
To be honest I'd never really been any further along the coast than Portstewart, but today I was feeling adventurous...and very determined to finally get some photos...so I suggested going a little farther to the beach at the other side of Mussendon Temple.
Yay! This one was open...and pretty desserted apart from a couple of fishermen up to their thighs in surf.
In the time it took for us to scoff down our dinner, the rain had dried up...for now anyways...
I finally got my photos =) Yay me! Yay the new beach! and Yay the rain for staying off for 10 mins!
We watched the remainder of the sunset from inside the nice 'n' dry car, then slowly headed for home.
I think Matt and I finally got in (after dropping off Sarah in Belfast, then Raj at the far ends of the northern ireland galaxy known as Ards) at around 2am or so...tired and ready to collapse after a long but fun "little crossover working-jaunt to the sea". =)
xx jo
Why is it, when I really need to sleep the most...I cant?
Why is it, I get into bed, snuggle into the covers, and then just fail miserably to switch off?
Why is it, that when I finally do get to sleep, my average 'falling asleep time' is 3:37am?
Grrr...sorry, I'm just moaning now. I was meant to be at a friends birthday 'do' last night, but I ended up feeling all sick and crappy *sigh* =( ...go me...
*pouty face*
S'not fair.
...to top it all off I couldn't sleep......again...
Nothing unusual there I guess. One of these days I'll find a sleeping pattern for sale on eBay, then I'll be sorted!
In the meantime I'd like to recommend filling a four hour video (preferably on long play) with episodes of The King Of Queens, and watching it whenever that old insomniatic grip takes hold...it appears to work for me...
I'd hazzard a guess it has to do with relaxation. Funny light-hearted sit-com = laughter, which = a continuous release of stress and tension, which therefore enables you to shut down your internal processor for the evening. Et voila...eventual sleep. If not, then at least you have something to watch whilst you lie awake wondering where you left the whiskey.
Well done sir! I see someone wasn't listening to all those thousands of road safety ad's that run on tv all day every day...
*note the lovely new angle of our telegraph pole
So last night I had been out with Matt, Raj and Sarah, up at the Odyssey watching 'Hitch' (yes, yes it is the second time I've seen it...but Kevin James just cracks me up...) and returned home only to find THIS outside my door...
"atmospheric" photo of the drunk's totalled car ...I'm pretty sure this is how he saw it too...idiot
After dropping Sarah home we decided to grab a bite to eat...which I guess added a good 45mins onto our travel time...
CAN U IMAGINE IF WE HADN'T???!!! Matt's car would have been parked there! Or it could have been us he crashed into...eesh...it just doesn't bare thinking about...
My first thought as we pulled up was "oh lord don't let that be dads car" as it was the same colour and from a distance roughly the same size. My knees nearly went from under me as I ran up the street
I thank God it wasn't. His car was still tucked neatly in the driveway, and he and mum were fast asleep in bed...didn't even hear the almighty bang of the crash...
All the neighbours were out in the street...some said the car was being chased...but y'all know what nosey neighbour gossip can be like!
The driver had been pulled out of the car by the time we got there and was being questioned in the back of the police car. Drunk. He was feckin DRUNK! What an idiot. He could have killed someone! He had hit another car, but thankfully the girl was ok...a bit shaken up, but physically ok...
The telegraph pole was another story...the hit had taken it right out of the ground and it was kinda balancing by it's wires. Somehow though we still had a line from our phone...go figure...
The BT guys have been out there all morning fixing it. Think they've managed to get it upright again! *applauds*
Anyways...moral of this story folks... Never EVER drink & drive ...it's not big, and it's not clever.
Well, much of today was spent down at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast at a Business Ireland trade show, where companies get the chance to meet potential clients and other business contacts face-to-face, showcase new products and services, and raise awareness of company activities blah blah blah blah...
I had been asked to attend as a guest of the Prince's Trust, and the general idea was that I could go meet people, show off my portfolio, hand out cards etc...and then also be there to testify that the Prince's Trust was an essential component in helping me get my business off the ground...which incidentally they were.
Anyhoo, besides the random 'networking', most of my day was spent catching up with an old work buddy, Kerry, from the Cinemagic days...salivating over the new Mac Powerbook complete with the shiny new Tiger OS...and having my business cards slagged off by Todd Kelman, who then tried to convince me his printing company could do them much better...hmmph...well, we'll see! =P
Anyways...when I got home I logged on to msn messenger for some general chit-chat and amusement whilst I waited on Matty coming over with food...he'd nipped home after dropping me off so he could shower and change after work...tho not necessarily in that order...
Sarah, the shiny one, was online so we exchanged pleasantries, caught up on the days events and then proceeded to update her music collection...
(It turned out to be the right time to do this as Matt ended up taking two and a half hours to shower and change....*blinkblink* whyeee, I ask you?! At least when I take forever I have a 'makeuping' excuse...but anyhoo...)
A couple of the cd's she had previously foraged for on my behalf in Nottingham (during the playoff weekend) were Ben Harper's 'Burn To Shine' and 'There Will Be A Light' with the Blind Boys Of Alabama...so I figured it was only right she hear a couple of the songs, which of course will eventually enrich her life in many many ways...
So as I was flipping through the tracks on iTunes, deciding which she needed to hear most...I was listening to one called 'Not Fire, Not Ice' which was on his 'Ground On Down' single. THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is the one! My absolute favouritest song ever. If you havent heard it, go out and buy it...right now...go on!
Well with this in mind I decided to revive my Top 5's that I used to do every six months or so when I was a kid....don't laugh, I had a little book for them an' everythin'!
I'm thinking I might do them a bit more frequently than that, but whatever I may as well start with this months Top 5 most listened to songs, seeing as this is kinda were we're stemming from. I'm actually taking the play count data directly from iTunes, so here goes...
Top 5 Frequently played Songs of April 2005
5. Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - Jack Johnson
4. Temporary Remedy - Ben Harper
3. High Tide or Low Tide - Ben Harper & Jack Johnson
2. Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
...and at number 1... Not Fire, Not Ice - Ben Harper
Yes folks, as you can see there is a bit of a running theme here...
Despite me having more music than MTV itself, I just cant seem to tear myself away from these two particular musical geniuses...and you'll just have to stay posted to see if that changes over the next few weeks =P
In the meantime, go buy everything ever penned or recorded by both of them...honestly, once your bank balance realigns itself with the circling of venus, you will thank me for it...I promise! ;o)
xx jo
Devils Jersey (front)
=D Yay! How exciting is it when you run downstairs in the morning to find a nice big shiny parcel waiting for you to open? It rocks, doesnt it?
Well what can I say apart from...IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE!!!!!!
*giggles* ...ok...so I'm a tad excited...and yes, very very sad ;o) lol
Incidentally this thing is huge...across the chest from arm to arm it stretches 6ft...eek! That's some reach!
It has a reasonable amount of wear for only being worn during the away play off games, some puck marks, a couple of holes in the right sleeve, stretched and now wonky lettering and some sticky stuff from the stick tape on the right arm =)
I'm sure I'll get a pic taken asap of me getting lost in it and when I do, I'll post it here...I haven't even had a chance to see how it measures up to Paxtons yet!
Right, gotta run do something that's considered "constructive"
Catch y'all later
xx jo
Devils Jersey (back)
