Is it ‘cos I’m geek?!

Well yesterday my google wave invite came through from one of the wonderful people I follow on twitter! I have no invites, sorry, so no point asking, but you can request one from google from here or ask around on twitter like I did!

Overall

So far, I love it and I can totally see it catching on. Basically it is a combination of IM and email, meaning that you can attach photos and documents to it and have a history of the conversation, like email, but also add other people and have a real time discussion, like IM. You can see what people are typing as they type which means that you can reply before the other person has even pressed “done” making the conversation a lot smoother and quicker.

 

 

Main Features

One of the main selling points google is using on wave is the “playback” feature which allows you to quite literally playback the conversation as it happened. Exceptionally useful for new additions to the wave who need to catch up and see how the wave has developed. It’s pretty interesting to watch as the conversation develops, you can not only see each “blip” in the order that it appears, but also any edits are highlighted meaning that you can see the original idea and how it became what it is now.

In my opinion the main selling point should be the language feature. On google wave you can set your language to, in my case, English and every “blip” sent is immediately translated into English meaning you can communicate with anyone in any language with no need to be sat with a foreign dictionary by your side! You could have a wave with British, French, Italian, Chinese and Russian people in it and everyone of you would be able to view the wave in your native language, invaluable for business! Alongside that you can easily add maps and weather reports and even stock reports to the wave.

The drag and drop function for attaching things to the wave is also very useful and the other people in the wave can see each photo as it uploads from your machine. There is also a “download” button that downloads all the photos posted by everyone in the wave, or you can view them all as a slideshow. From what I can see so far the same is true of documents.

Bots and Extensions

There are also bots on wave which can do all sorts! From conversation bots so you can wave even if you’re alone, to twitter and blog bots. Yes, you can tweet directly from wave, you can get all your updates to wave and you can search twitter all from wave. Also you can blog directly from wave, I haven’t tried it yet, but from what I see you can send a whole wave to blogger (obviously!) including the photos. The example google uses is organising a BBQ with friends, followed by discussion of said BBQ and photo, all uploaded to your blog in one easy click. Not only that, any responses to your blog are added to the wave so you can view them without even opening your blog!
Alongside this you can also set up wave to work as an RSS reader. I have no idea about RSS but I know a lot of people use it so I thought I’d mention it!

For organising social events, which will no doubt be my biggest use when it is released, it is fantastic. There are extensions to allow people to click “yes”, “no” or “maybe”. There are also polling options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geek use and novelty items

For the geeks and role players among us, there is a dice bot that allows rolling of dice, making role play easy. You can also create a wave within a wave, a “ping”, so each player can have a private wave with the GM/DM that other players can’t see, but both that player and the GM/DM can see it in the same window as the original wave. Genius!
The wave in wave idea obviously has other applications but I thought the best example was role play (how geek am I?!)

For novelty value there is a “pirate speak” extension, that turns anything you type into pirate speak, much like the facebook option! Also a “swedish chef” speak for those who want to say “bork bork”. There are also games, so far sudoku, hangman and rock, paper, scissors.
Other useful extensions are a wikipedia one which can replace specified text with a link to it’s wiki page and a URL to pic bot which replaces the URL of photos with the image itself allowing you to see the photo in the wave.

In my opinion

My biggest problem with wave is the scrollbars that they are using. They are small and strange, I can’t get used to them! Obviously with it being in beta testing it has some glitches and can be slow if there is a lot going on, but other than that I think it’s fantastic, I’m totally hooked!

“Die for Me” – Karen Rose

A fantastic and gripping book that follows a sarcastic and dry police officer as he investigates a series of horrific murders.

Initially I thought I was hooked because of the plot, which is incredible, and not the characters, which are what usually draw me into a book. However, halfway through I realised that, without even realising it, I was fully engaging with the characters and had become very attached to them. They are very well written and we learn a lot about each of them but through their interactions with others rather than because of a lot of wordy descriptions.

The plot gripped me immediately, there is no build up in this book, it begins in the action and the story flows unstoppably from then on. There are plenty of expertly places twists and turns that you can’t see coming and some are very shocking, well they shocked me!

If you’re not a fan of gore it’s not an excuse not to read this book! Despite the killer using instruments of torture from the medieval period there are no graphic descriptions of the damage done. In fact she manages to get across the horrific nature of the wounds without any need for imagery that would leave you scarred for life!

Overall this is a 5 star book. The writing is flawless, the character’s come to life beautifully and the plot is fantastic. As soon as I finished it I wanted to start it again.

Mexico and Jedward, what a combo!

Firstly a little TV update. I am loving X factor this year, especially Jedward who were absolutely fantastic tonight singing Queen’s “We will rock you,” which I will hopefully post a link to when it’s up on youtube! I know they can’t sing, or dance but they are hilarious every week and you can’t deny that they are entertaining. I’m not voting Jedward to win though, my money is on Lucie or Jamie Afro, love them both to pieces, Danyl however is just not as good as everyone seems to think! The man can’t do anything but yell, that’s not what I want to hear, if that’s what I wanted to listen to I would buy some cats, put them in a bag and swing them against a wall, but I’m not that mean! He proved tonight that he can’t sing a melody or in tune and I hope he goes this week. Hate me all you like folks, it’s true!

Right, now to reality! It’s looking more and more likely each day that next year we will be moving to Mexico. We have found out today that we can get a bank account out there with no problems, so now we’re looking for a house to rent and trying to find out if we can take our babies (the guinea pigs) out there, and if we can, how?! I’m not 100% sure how I’m feeling about the move yet but I miss Stuart so much. Having heard so many awful stories about certain parts of Mexico it does kind of taint your view! I’m sure it’s not all violent and third world… Anyway, we shall see, it’s a Rupert Bear Adventure as my Mother says!

Speaking of my Mother, Happy Birthday! She was born on Halloween!

On a Halloweeny note: Happy Samhain to everyone (or at least everyone who celebrates!)
I don’t need to tell those of you who know me that this year has been pretty rough for us and for our friends and family. Despite us getting engaged, which was the best news ever(!), Stuart has been away for most of this year which has been really hard on both of us because we both put such value in family life and being at home, Stuart has started His new job which has been a big challenge for Him but He is rising to it every day and I am so proud! Of course I attempted Uni this year as well, sadly it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped but I’m not especially bothered, I have the rest of my life to get a degree. My step-dad has had some heart trouble again which is still causing some worry so I’m sending all my love to him and hoping he goes to get his test results soon.
2009 all round seems to have been a pretty rubbish year for everyone I know; a lot of people have been lost and a lot of bad stuff has happened, anyway hopefully next year will be much better. And on that note:

Thank the Goddess for bringing it round,
Let us leave behind the pain this year has found
And find happiness in this new year
Let’s pray for no suffering and for no fear.

Blessed Be

Acceptance: Good or Bad?

I’ve been thinking, and that alone is never a good thing! Anyway, while Stuart has been away I have been piling on the pounds and it got me thinking whether accepting the way your body looks is really a good thing.

Before I met Stuart I was massively unhappy with my body, however I was also a lot slimmer, and healthier, than I am now. Since I’ve been with Stuart I have learnt to accept that I’ll never be skinny and gorgeous and initially I thought that was a fabulous thing because it made me so much happier and I felt a lot sexier and more confident, but the down side is that now I’m so comfortable that I’m not making an effort to stay healthy, let alone in shape.

Maybe it’s just me but it seems that that hatred of my body was what drove me to not put on too much weight and to watch what I was eating a bit better and now finding the drive to lose the weight again is really difficult.

Well I was intending this to be a deep, thoughtful and interesting post but can’t win ‘em all, eh?!

Missing Him

On Saturday I went to a small Wedding Fayre with my Mother-in-Law (to be!) and had a look around. We had a good afternoon together being girly and we even got a glass of Bucks Fizz out of it (well, she did! I’m still T-total!)! Sadly there was no pretty dresses there because it was small but it was nice to go to one and get an idea of local photographers and we have some ideas for centrepieces now too! Hopefully we’ll get to go to lots more over the next 2 and a half years!

On Monday I went dress shopping with a friend who absolutely hates shopping! It was…an experience! Sadly it ended in raised voices and no dress, although she did get a lovely coat! I’m thinking that I need to learn something from the experience but I’m struggling at the moment, I can’t think of any way at all to make it easier or more enjoyable for her. It made me feel pretty sucky as a friend

Wednesday Cheryl (the Mother-in-law) and I went to see Love Happens at the cinema. It was a good girly evening watching a good girly film, followed by pizza with smoothies and cheesecake good times!

I watched Nick Griffin on Question Time last night, with an open mind I hasten to add. It is worth noting that I am Tory, as is Stuart, and a big believer in family values, kinda fits in with the 1950’s/ M/s lifestyle too! Anyway, back to QT! I thought it was a disgrace, the entire show was used to hurl abuse at Mr Griffin. There was no debate of his policies or political ideals it was an outright attack on him as a person. It would not surprise me if the BNP got more votes in the next election following it and there would be no one to blame but the BBC for treating him so badly and making people feel sorry for him. I found it shocking that one of the women said that she didn’t agree with homosexuality or gay marriage but everyone’s blind hatred for Nick Griffin meant that that was totally overlooked. In my opinion Jack Straw came out of it the worst because he was so vile and unprofessional in his discussion with Mr Griffin, and David Dimbleby disgusted me too as he obviously let his personal views affect what should have been his neutral status.  Having said that, since watching him I have had a look at the BNP’s policies and agree with a fair few of them. I totally understand that the website will publish toned down views but they are policies that make sense and the main parties could do with adopting some of them. Giving Britain back to the British is something that is long overdue after Labour and the PC police have been giving it away for so long. Their education policies  are also mostly excellent, especially allowing competitive sports and sports days again. Essentially it seems that they want to reverse political correctness and that is something that I am all for.
Note: I am not racist, nor am I homophobic (that would be hard when I’m bisexual!)

At the moment, possibly due to hormones, I am missing Stuart so much it’s untrue I miss having Him home, cuddling Him, doing His washing, cooking for Him and being able to be submissive and myself. Apparently 3 months is a lot longer than you would think, still another month to go. I can’t wait ’til He’s back home and we can be sickeningly happy again! On the plus side it’s made us both even surer about our choices for the future because it has proved that we want to be with each other as much as possible and that we are strong enough to be apart, and therefore are strong as a couple. Sadly all that does not bring Him any closer to being home at the moment
Due to the fact we miss each other so much, and the state of the country, we are still looking into moving, although now I have agreed to look at Mexico because that’s where He’s based at the moment, and it looks like it might be for the foreseeable future too. We shall see what happens but it’s looking more and more likely that we will be abroad next year sometime.
In conclusion, I’m weepy and lonely!

Let the job hunting commence

Well seeing as the uni situation didn’t work out I’m now in the market for a job. However said job needs to be somewhere small and preferably in Nantwich, so it could be interesting! Fingers crossed though! I’ve started picking someone’s brain about the care industry and am going to pop into the Lady Verdin Trust next week to see if they have any jobs going.

Talking of searching, I’m also house hunting for somewhere for Stuart and I to live in the new year. We still don’t know if we’ll even be in the UK for much longer so that makes it more difficult! Who knew life could get so complicated? I’m hoping that we’ll get to spend Christmas in the house we’re in at the moment though so that we can have a proper Christmas in our own home and say goodbye. I’m so soft and sentimental!

On the plus side, my parents have left the building! Life is quiet again and less stressful again, thank the Goddess! They went on their merry way a couple of hours ago, sadly they took my babies with them so there are no lovely doggies in the house any more, but off they went with their new caravan to Poole and then on to France. I think they’re visiting people on the way to the ferry on Monday. Hopefully I won’t be seeing them again for a long time.
Also, I need an iPod nano for my Mum’s birthday/Christmas present. I keep being outbid on ebay

Also, in my usual over expectant and princessy way I have done an amazon wish list to give people ideas for Christmas presents! The link is on the left so feel free to browse and buy me stuff, how cheeky am I?! It was not entirely my idea, Weewifie whom I follow on twitter (she blogs too) did one and said it was great fun, which it was!

And RIP Steven Gately, I am a huge Boyzone fan and have been since I was a kid and I always loved him. Thoughts are with his Husband, family, friends and the rest of the group, he seemed like the nicest man in the world. Oh, and Jan Moir, shut the f**k up you evil cow.

In telly news, I am loving season 5 of Supernatural so far, seasons 2 and 4 are my favourites so far but it may be a contender! Also really enjoying True Blood which looks like it’s going to be an excellent series, and not just for the fantastic sex scenes! I’m not so hooked on Flash Forward as the rest of the UK seems to be but it’s not bad! Of course, I am hooked on X factor, despite the lack of talent this year! My money is on one of the over’s to win, mainly because they’re the talented ones! I really wish that they could have not put through any of the groups and all the over’s, that would have been much fairer. I was really chuffed to see Robbie back on stage, even if he did look like a deer caught in the headlights, his performance was fantastic although I don’t like the song. This week I really hope Cheryl Cole sings live because I think it’s disgusting that anyone is allowed to mime, if you can’t sing live then you shouldn’t do it at all.

Gaining a sister

Over the past month or so, you may have noticed, I have been spending a lot of time with a wonderful person, we’ve been shopping, to the cinema, done some baking with her Mum, watched various tv shows at hers and had many heart to hearts It’s been really good and bonding, so much so she’s like a sister, it’s fabulous!
Her real sister has been poorly so I’m sending her get well soons and lots of healthy vibes!

In Wedding news both Stuart and I are sold on Wrenbury Hall as our reception venue, it’s absolutely perfect and beautiful. Obviously when He’s back in to UK we will go and view it so He can see it in the flesh (so to speak) along with some other options. Sadly I missed the Wedding Fayre at Crewe Hall today but we will be going to the one at Wrenbury in January hopefully if Stuart is still in the country!

Life otherwise is still pretty stressful. Am job hunting which in itself is difficult at the moment, it doesn’t help that it has to be in Nantwich because I don’t drive and can’t afford to learn again! The uni situation has yet to be sorted, I’m planning to give it a last shot on Monday and if I can’t do it then I’ll drop out. There was me thinking I’d made all the mistakes I could in my life, but no, evidently I am still entirely capable of making the biggest mistakes ever by going to uni! Anyway, we shall see what happens on Monday.

Life is hard…and sucky

Argh!

The entire uni situation is more stressful that I first imagined, all sorts of bad things going on again in my life. Who would have thought something “good” could cause so much shit to hit the fan?

I’ve asked uni if they will let me study from home, they said no because the course requires class discussions, *sigh* who knew? Any way, I am looking into the Open University who do English Language with no requirement to talk to people, this we like! However, this means that I need to get a job which may be a problem if it isn’t somewhere small. I will be applying around my tiny town and praying that people are taking on for Christmas but failing that I think I am royally stuck. And of course the damned government will give me no help because I’m just not failing to function enough.

I feel this turning into a political rant and I can’t be bothered with that!

Anyway, we are looking for places to live now, although now that we’re not stuck in the UK for 3 years because of uni we can move to America ASAP, which is a good thing. The further away I am from Gordon Brown and his idiotic policies the better.

Damnit, political rant again! Sorry!

Feminism vs University

I had a shockingly terrible day today So I’m going to share, because I’m nice like that!

This morning my mother and I were discussing the wedding, this stressed me out loads to start off the day with because she is taking over completely and trying to do everything, and her way. I was having a fabulous time planning the wedding on my own, obviously with help from Stuart, but it was great. I was loving organising everything, making appointments, budgeting (I know, I was enjoying budgeting!) and doing everything else weddingy and planningy. However, now I am stressed to high heaven and ready to either call the whole thing off or just go to a registry office, just the two of us, and get it over with. I just want to marry the man of my dreams, I don’t want some big, flash, fancy wedding, even with unlimited money I would not do much different to how we have it so far. Anyway, Stuart phoned her to tell her to back off, I’m not sure if she will listen, or understand, but we can hope.

After this Jess popped round briefly to pick up my sexy thigh high boots so she can sass up her Rocky Horror Show outfit! Suey came to take my mum out for lunch and I headed off to the train station to get to uni. I waited at the train station for about 20 minutes and the train never came, I wandered home to check if it had been cancelled, nothing online, so I checked the next trains and it got me in late. I phoned my mum to get a lift, no answer, so I had no choice but to get the later train, as a result I was 40 minutes late for my lecture and crying. I sat outside waiting for it to finish and went in to talk to the lecturer. The lecture theatre was full with about 100 people so I was pretty glad that I missed it because there is no way I would have sat in there for an hour. I had a chat to the lecturer who said they didn’t do anything anyway aside from give out, yet more, information that is available online. So home I came feeling like shit, holding back tears and beating myself up for being such a failure (for going to uni, not for being late).

Now I shall explain why. I am the anti-feminist. I would give back the vote tomorrow, I don’t think women should be allowed into Uni, I don’t think they should have high powered jobs and I don’t think that they should have more rights than a man. In my opinion women should be at home, cooking, cleaning and raising the children, there is nothing that could ever compare to that, why would you want to be a “career woman”? I think a woman’s job should be marrying well and making that marriage work, there is nothing wrong with having a man look after you financially if you look after him emotionally, men and women are good at different things for a reason. As such, going to Uni makes me feel like utter shit. I am so out of place, I am not a perfectly preened 20 something who’s out for a career and to make her millions, I’m a dowdy 40 something (mentally!) housewife and mother who’s stressed about making sure her toddler gets his shots and her husband gets his tea on time, and do you know what, I’m proud of that. It’s taken me 10 years to be proud of that and happy with myself and to believe that what I want is ok even if society says it’s not, and I am not prepared to let Uni take that away from me. And when I walk round uni I feel like I am betraying myself and my values and destroying my future. What man would want a woman with a degree and a high powered career? I sure as hell wouldn’t.

Please keep the offensive posts to a minimum folks – I am expecting some!

Anyway, the rest of the evening was good, my fabulous friends Bob and Emma came round for dinner and we played some wii and chatted. Good times. Cheered me up no end.

First Days of Uni

Well it’s Tuesday night (actually, technically it’s Wednesday morning!) and I have done my first two days of the induction week at the University of Manchester. Now before people go accusing me of not being open minded (Sami!) although I was nervous (terrified is probably more accurate!) before I started I was determined to give it a shot and see what happened. I had no idea what to expect really and I was open minded.
Anyway, the first day was pretty nervewracking, Mum came with me and we got the train (fotunately we didn’t have to be there until 2ish so it was relaxed). I’m quite enjoying train journys now, have to say I do prefer them to busses. We got to Picadilly and got the uni bus to the main campus. We had some lunch in the Rock Cafe because we got there early (just in case!) and then found our way to the lecture we needed to be in. The lecture was pretty boring but settled my nerves a bit despite them telling us to buy a book from a shop that doesn’t exist and the general disorganisation. However all the uni students wandering around talking about partying and teenage stuff was getting to me, the whole atmosphere is one of youth and “coolness” and that’s just not me. I’m the first to admit that I’m a grumpy old woman! After the talk we went pretty much straight home because we were both knackered! Sad, after having time to reflect on the day I felt terrible and massively depressed and this resulted in a shocking nights sleep which didn’t bode well for day two.
Day two, today, was horrendous in the morning: the bus was an ass so we (my mum and I) ended up walking from the station in the poruing rain, leaving us both cold and wet for the lecture, which we got to an hour early after much arguing over whether we were going in the right direction or not. We had managed to get a proper map by now though. Waiting to go into the lecture was messing with my head something chronic, looking around there were all these young, hip, fashionable people who want a career and believe in feminism and all that jazz. I felt so out of place and inferior I wanted to cry. Eventually we went into the lecture and everyone quietened down and the teachers started giving their, completely useless and highly boring, talks on various aspects of uni life. I’m hoping that I will be able to avoid uni life so to speak and just be able to go to lectures, grab the work and go, I think if I manage that I will make it through. The problem is definitely with the other students and the fact I feel like a total outcast and completely different to them all because my views and dreams are so blatently different to theirs. We shall see I suppose.
After the never ending lecture we went to buy my books from the shop that Bob suggested and we had a nice coffee and lunch there. It was good to get away from the students, who were all at the student fair, again so I didn’t get brought down.

When I got home Stuart’s mummy dropped off my disney netbook It’s fantastic in everyway and it totally made my day! I have set it all up to be all pink inside too and downloaded all my programmes!  I got to spend the evening with some friends watching Supernatural too which is always great fun! I am loving season 4 so far, excellent story line! Even with Deanbat is forgivable, mainly because we love him!

Tomorrow my mum and I are going shopping because I need some new jeans because my fat thighs are rubbing holes in these ones, as usual! And hopefully I will be picking up an adaptor for my netbook (as it’s american) and a cover for it so that when it is in my bag it will be safe.

I shall rave about my netbook in a later, more appropriate blog post!
Toodles for now!