Dalekboy

Been meaning to make this post since September, but as you're all aware, life has been hectic. Getting around to posting has been a lesser priority than 47 other things.

Something Sharon and I discussed at WorldCon (and more or less ever since) was how blessed we are to have such awesome and brilliant friends.

We were room-bound for a good chunk of the con thanks to the kids. This was something we expected and were fine with, knowing we'd only see small sections of the con, and some of our friends. But then we had all those lovely folks that made the time to come up and say hi, to sit with us, chat, and give us the pleasure of their company. We were really grateful for this, because some of these folks we'd have not seen at all if they hadn't come to us.

We had a couple of folks who offered to babysit Lex for us, which was fabulous and gave us a chance to see a little more of the con. And then when Sharon hurt her back, the help and assistance given to us by so many was an absolute Godsend. People went and got painkillers, helped organise food, and just came up and gave us company once again seeing as we wouldn't get to any more of the convention.

We also had help packing our stuff and loading up the car.

More recently, I had help cleaning the house, packing and loading the truck, and unloading and unpacking.

And just this week, in light of a couple of my recent posts, two people sent us presents for Lex - a pink monster, and an Upsy Daisy top.

So this is just a quick word to those people mentioned, those folks I've missed, and to all the others out there that have been there for us over the years, as help or company.

We really appreciate your friendship and help, it means the world to us.

Thank you.

Been having a rough time, recently. The trips to Cooma are tiring - the work there, the packing here, doing all the loading and unloading on my own, and so on. But the spending of so much time away from my kids seems to be seriously hitting my depression buttons.

I think the clearest sign of this is the fact that, while rewatching season 4 of the 2005 Doctor Who, almost every episode has made me cry. Hell I rewatched Voyage of the Damned and that made me cry every time someone died!

On top of that, we're seriously talking about the need to have Kal put down. He's healthy enough physically but his mental deterioration is getting worse. He's become so skittish and jumpy about everything, and in the last few years has started to be very angry and bitey every time he's handled. So he doesn't seem to be terribly happy, and there's the constant concern that he'll bite Lex. And in actual fact, I don't mind if he does bite Lex, if Lex is mishandling him or anything, but I don't necessarily trust it to be a single nip, given his current demeanour.

So there's the serious consideration to making one of the first acts of moving into our new house putting my dog down.

And today I had a tooth removed. They didn't have to saw the jaw this time, but they did have to cut my gum a bit. So I'm very sore and headachey.

( So, the request... )

Way back in '91, (or was it '92?) I ran a convention and very deliberately insisted on a panel about being a parent and staying active in fandom. It had two two fan mums on it. Back at that point, I think I knew three people with kids that were still active fans. ( A little long, and a bit of swearing... )

Reply to this post (all comments are screened unless you specifically tell me to unscreen them) with your ideas on how you'd like me to photograph you. This is your idea on a photoshoot, so no need to reference anything from the previous post unless it really inspired you and you want to run with it.

Basically, I want to see what you think would make for a good photo or series about you. And I'll tell you what I think and if I'd be up for it.

You can check here for links to my photos to maybe get some ideas, inspiration, or to go, "No, he's just not right for me!"

Rules - If you're waiting on a reply to yesterday's meme, then don't post here with your ideas until after I have replied to that one. I'd like to avoid having my first reactions influenced by something you've suggested here.

(I have a couple of things that I need to drag myself out of bed to attempt to do today, so there may be delays on replies to those still waiting on yesterdays meme.)

I could go for the ones everyone remembers Doctor Who, Star Trek, and Star Wars but instead I present a rare appearance by Deep Roy in Blake's 7. Why is it rare? Because virtually every time he appeared in the show, he was covered in half a tonne of latex!

I present, from the B7 episode Gambit, Deep Roy as The Klute!

* April and Andy visited on the weekend. Yay!

* My car indicator continues to play up. Boo!

* Sharon and I got to go see Up on Sunday. It was good and didn't stupidly pander to the 3D. Yay!

* Sharon's grandpa died Sunday night. He was an awesome old bloke. Boo!

( More under cut, some TMI... )

I've always had a soft spot for the Carradine family of actors, and enjoyed each of them in their various roles. Like many others though, David was a particular favourite, and his passing is keenly felt.

Farewell David, I hope you can rest easy.

This is just to publically state that celuran is one of the most incredibly awesome people in this world, and several alternative realities as well. That is all.

I have just discovered that, apparently, there are those that have referred to me as "the Confather"...

On an evening where I feel like a delicate flower, this does not so much comfort me as leave me feeling rather bemused.

Still, could be worse, they could be calling me a SMOF. I find that so uncomfortable a term (when used in relation to me) that it borders on offensive. Confather has an air of gentle mockery which I am far more comfortable with.

And I like the idea of having a personal mafia. I could get them all working for me on Continuum Foundation projects...

In the last week or so, between getting ready for the rent inspection, looking after Lex, and not much else, I have been thoroughly enjoying two different movie related shows. Actually, not enjoying - mainlining. Inhaling.

Both are by non-professionals

The first is Terry Frost's Paleo Cinema, a fairly regular podcast on movies pre-dating 1980. Terry's range of tastes and knowledge is fairly eclectic and encyclopedic, though as he is the first to admit, he's no expert. Terry forewent a formal study of cinema, and instead simply grew up watching lots of films.

His shows are usually well put together and presented, and it tends to feel like you're sitting around chatting with him, rather than being talked at. I don't always agree with his views and criticisms, but there hasn't been a single show I haven't enjoyed.

I checked out a couple of random podcasts, but have now gone back to the start and am running through the shows in order. Highly recommend it.

The other is The Bazura Project, a movie show that screens on Channel 31. Shannon Marinko and Lee Zachariah present a half-hour program of news, reviews, interviews, entertainment and general silliness. Every show opens with a short parody of a well-known film (there's only been one I haven't picked so far).

My attention was first drawn to the Bazura Project by this report on Media Watch about their efforts to get nominated for a Logie.

All three seasons are watchable on their website, and on youtube. I started from the first episode and I'm now nearing the end of season two.

What I enjoy about both shows are that they are simply people who love movies talking to you about them. It's rare I come away from either without wanting to check out something new, or rewatch something old.

Check'em out!