Stuff

[vilakins]

I got my hair cut today and on my way home I was behind Lucy Lawless in her car with the custom "1 XENA 1 Warrior Princess" numberplate. She was going to one of my local supermarkets which is odd because she doesn't live in this part of town.

We now have three gold medals which puts us 12th on the official medal table and ahead of Australia to their enormous chagrin; apparently at least one TV channel over there doesn't show us in the standings. We're first on the alternative table by population. :-)

The annual Food Show is on and we'll be going tomorrow (Sunday) first thing; it gets incredibly crowded after an hour or so but I like to see and try new products.

And it's not raining! I really like winter when it's fine and dry.

Our boarder is still with us. I should point out that she does pay board (hence the term), provides her own bedlinen and towels, and does her own laundry (at home in the weekend) but I can't see her finding a flat in a hurry, especially since her mother said one she liked was too expensive when it was standard for Auckland. I'm betting she'll still be here in summer. :-( She isn't a lot of trouble in terms of housework but people who aren't introverts (like her chatty mother) don't understand how stressful it is not to have your house to yourself. I do enjoy the weekends and the chance to do what I like and schlep around in old clothes but they aren't long enough.

Ooh, and I just saw the DW trailer on TV. They said "coming soon" which may mean that we'll see it shortly after the UK. Cool!

Comments

[gwendraith]

When you bring population and team size into the mix you can see how well countries like NZ are really doing :)

Hope your boarder finds somewhere soon!

The Dr Who trailer was awesome!

[vilakins]

And GB is third! That's amazing considering the monster countries in 1 and 2.

I somehow doubt it. Her (and her mother's) criteria are so narrow. I really don't want to not feel relaxed at home long-term. :-(

I've seen it several times on TV now. It must be going to be shown very quickly after you.

[gwendraith]

I know, third is amazing. I'm not sure we will hold that position. We aren't the best in athletics although after our three golds in the stadium last night I guess anything is possible. I'm so proud of our team. I'm in awe of any athlete tbh. The dedication, gruelling training and years devoted to their sport just to get them into an Olympic team is unbelievable. I couldn't have have done that.

I can't wait for Wednesday when I have my day in London at the Olympic park. Handball quarter-finals in the basketball stadium in the morning, sightseeing in the park in the afternoon and watching sport on the big screens and a great athletics session in the evening. I think there's 4 finals and 4 semifinals including Usain Bolt in the 200m and the 110m hurdles final which has a fantastic line up. I can't wait to be one of the 80,000 in the stadium and experience the noise :) I just hope I manage to catch the last train home otherwise I'll be sitting on Kings X station all night :)

[vilakins]

I'm in awe too. I just don't know how they do some of those feats.

I was wondering when your day there was!

[kalypso]

Touched that Lucy Lawless has a Xena numberplate! There was a really nice interview with her about her activism in The Guardian recently.

Well done New Zealand! I seem to remember being told they usually do very well on that count, probably during the interminable team parading.

[vilakins]

Yes, she got arrested recently with some other activists. She's much admired here and as a really down-to-earth person who wanted her child to grow up freely and without media hype, so returned here.

Hetaira!

[fails to find an appropriate icon for either]

[kalypso]

Presume you've heard the new Aussie tactic is to annex New Zealand's medals?

[vilakins]

We have! We wouldn't mind if our athletes could train at their very well funded sports academies. :-)

Actually I wouldn't mind us being an Australian state if we got all the benefits of their economy.

[kalypso]

There was a piece on the radio last night about how the Australian economy has avoided the global financial crisis better than almost anyone else, but they're still paranoid that they're going to turn into Greece tomorrow.

[vilakins]

[rolls eyes] It's the Lucky Country. Huge numbers of people from here go there for far better pay and conditions. I would have years ago if I hadn't met Greg.

[kerravonsen]

I hate biased Olympics coverage. For goodness' sake, if I only wanted to watch my own country, I'd watch normal sport!

[vilakins]

I do get a bit annoyed when we're shown a race or heat just because a NZer is in it. I like to see as much coverage as possible regardless of who's competing. Except for team sports like basketball and [spit] beach volleyball (I don't regard them as Olympics sports) and boxing which I don't regard as a sport.

I need to find some time to do chores today or I'll end up watching for hours. :-P

[gracewillow.livejournal.com]

Ooh, Lucy Lawless! Yum!

Pic of haircut?

I agree about needing one's space to oneself for at least PART of the time one is living with others... this is (among other reasons) why I live alone*... roommates used to get on my nerves something awful. Hope your boarder doesn't stick around too much longer.

Must confess I was briefly confused by "winter"--then remembered we live in different hemispheres! Oopsie on me. :P


*with two cats, of course.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Not now it's been slept on!

I think it's my introversion that's making me so tired lately because I'm not getting my alone recharge time. I was going to go to a potluck dinner at temple on Friday but I couldn't face it and we blew off the FOod Show because of crowds.

I don't get why people up there don't get the whole round planet thing. We grow up with it; we all know about different seasons, probably because all the books and TV shows assume half the world is all of it, and SF that all planets just have norths.

[threeoutside.livejournal.com]

It is only since I was widowed (6+ years ago) and since starting to emerge from the cave of grief that I have realized just what an energy SINK it is for me to be around *anyone* else on a constant, daily basis, which includes family and the workplace. I'm definitely an introvert (by my definition, which is that being around people, even when we're having a good time, drains me of energy; so my definition of an extrovert is someone who *gains* energy by social contact). I am enjoying my solitude SO much that it really makes me wonder sometimes if I'm a hermit! LOL - but I have great loving support family and friends here in my city, too, and I get to socialize as much as I like. But I also am realizing that just now am I starting to recuperate from that constant energy drain. It's not that I don't like people, I love people - just in rather smaller doses, and less frequently, than society thinks is "normal."

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

"I'm definitely an introvert (by my definition, which is that being around people, even when we're having a good time, drains me of energy; so my definition of an extrovert is someone who *gains* energy by social contact)."

That's the best definition of the terms that I've seen. I'm an introvert, and it's true of me too, even when the other people in question are my brother and his family.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

That's the definition MBTI uses and probably why I've been so very tired the last few months.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I understand perfectly, my own situation is a variation of yours. I like being with a group of local people from time to time and I have my favourite duties in the village life but I do cherish my home life and my freedom and my rituals.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

That's the classic MBTI definition of an introverts and extroverts. We're both definitely the former. I miss Greg when he's not around but we often do our own thing in different rooms but like knowing the other one's there. It's like a huge relaxation of tension when Zoe is out for the night or away for the weekend, and I think a big factor in why I feel so exhausted lately come the weekend. Her mother however is an extrovert who is lonely without her kids and always seems to have someone around and thinks it's no problem at all for us (because surely it's the pleasure it is for her). I can't explain without looking churlish. It's really nothing to do with Zoe (except for her pickiness re flats), it's just hard having someone here for so long.

[thisbluespirit]

I never see famous people going to my supermarket! :-)

I'm sorry to hear you seem to be stuck with your boarder - I really do hope she surprises you and finds somewhere sooner than you think!

The DW trailer was v cool indeed.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I've seen a couple of local actors in mine. A friend saw heaps at her local in London because so many lived around there, but now she's in Norfolk, she doesn't.

I do wish she'd find somewhere but she has very narrow criteria. It's really that we're introverts and value our time alone; I feel drained by the end of the week.

The only thing that worries me about the trailer is again with the Dakeks and Cyberman. I want more original aliens.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on NZ's medal success.

I hadn't realised that Lucy Lawless is a New Zealander. I'd just assumed that - since she was in an American show - she was an American.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Nope, she's one of ours (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Lawless)! She came back here to give her kids a normal childhood and does a lot of charity work and activism for Greenpeace too.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

A new haircut, great!
But the other thing...I think I understand your feeling about having people who "don´t belong" around. I hope the situation will change soon and you will be free again.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

She has very narrow criteria for a flat so it won't be soon unless she finds the perfect place but the thought of it being months more really gets me down. I only expected it to be a week or two.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Ironically I have returned from one of my local supermarkets with the nagging feeling that someone I saw there is an actress. The trouble is, I know the face but can't put a name to it!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Maybe it'll come to you hours or even days later. I always think our brains to slow sequential background searches for stuff like that we can't directly access.

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy your hair cut. :o) It's fun seeing actors/actresses/singers etc in places we don't expect - last summer, Craig saw the actress who plays Ziva on NCIS (I can't remember her name at the moment) at our local grocery store.
I'm sorry your boarder is still there and I can relate with your stress - I'm the same way. Apart from Craig, I get very tired very quickly being with people. He's much more a 'people' person than I.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Cote de Pablo! I didn't realise she lived in NY.

It's also lots of things like having to back into our driveway because there's nowhere to turn now her car's parked there and it's harder to back out in the morning, having to shower in the evening because two people in the morning leaves me no time, having to cook every weekday, not being able to vege out and be a slob when I get home...

But yes, I think my introversion is why I'm so tired lately; I only get a recharge in the weekend and it's not enough. And I'm more sociable than Greg!

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

Lucy Lawless, hooray! :)

NZ winning gold medals within an hour was wonderful.

Sympathies from a fellow introvert. Explaining to people why you need 'alone time' can be really difficult...

[nautile26.livejournal.com]

Yay, new DW series, I do hope we don't have to wait too long!

Hope the weather held for your Food Show; it's been a beautiful winter's day here. Perfect for being outdoors.