The unkempt and poorly nurtured ramblings of a slighty stunted penguin

Car...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:55:19 GMT

Passed my test last month. The biggest car nerd in most of your lives (seriously, I'm a total geek about them) is now looking for his first voiture.

Trouble is, I'm fussy. And not as rich as I'd like to be. Let the autotrader trawling continue.

Anyone else quite disorientated by this clock shift this morning?

Oh dear god an update!

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:38:48 GMT

Hi everyone!

So, I've been in UK for a year in 3 weeks. Weird.

Work's going well, despite being given a seniour engineer's job since Christmas. I fucked it up regularly, but got through, and got my name known within the company, if not pronounced correctly.

The future of the sensors on the powertrain on the future baby range rover is now in the hands of people who know better what they're doing and I'm gladder for it.

Social life has been hectic since I got here; Jaguar Land Rover hired me as one of 150 graduates, all of whom found themselves in a new part of the coutry at the same time. If that's not a recipe for instant new friends, I don't know what is.

Still learning to drive, test's booked; Irish people will have no pity, but the 2 month waiting list is pissing me off.

But yeah, life is good, life is great. I've still got my girl, faraway though she may be. Had a great couple of weeks in the US with her last month, and am still very much in love.

Give me a shout here, on facebook, gmail or skype if you fancy a chat; just search for my full name, it'd be great to hear from people.

Also, back in Ireland next weekend. Details to follow...

Stolen from the lovely paperfl0wers

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:20:48 GMT

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope, all my brothers were, my parents just liked my name.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Saturday, my girl was leavin again :( As was I.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Occasionally I look and it and think 'cool, it's a secret code only I can read', usually I don't though, it's very messy

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Pastrami

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No. Tiny people are awesome though.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I dunno, I get a bit intimidated when large men are as friendly as I usually am. Bit hypocritical really.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Yes.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No, the engineer in me says: it's safe. He also reminds me how often things go wrong.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Hmm... possibly Raisins, Oats and More. But you wouldn't like them. (advertising works, apparently)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No. Except my giant safety shoes at work, they don't come off without untieing them.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cheesecake brownie from B&J.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Size. I'm pretty heightist.

15. RED OR PINK? Red.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Lack of drive/ being a sycophant.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST ? My Ainey.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Sure, always good to see what's in your friends heads.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? No shoes, just black socks. And blue jeans.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Something sometime by General Fiasco. Fantastic song, check it out: http://www.myspace.com/generalfiasco

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Jolly giant Green.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Hard earned sweat.... :P

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? A conference call about the tooling for an engine ecu bracket made in Sweden. Work is sooo exciting.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Kinda nicked it, but she's my favorite person I've gotten to know in the last year. That's saying something, I moved country and met an awful lot of people in the last year, but reckon she tops it.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Fencing. Not often on telly though.

27. HAIR COLOR? Brown. And white.

28. EYE COLOR? Blue!

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No, glasses full time though. Thinking of getting contacts for fencing.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Most things made of decent lamb. And naan bread. And proper (lookin at the Slatterys of the world here) meatballs and pasta.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Watchmen - and I'm still not sure if I liked it.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Red Leprecon shirt, the classy machine one.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Used to say winter, but 4 years with the pav gave me a love of good weather and a good pint.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Good creme brulee, bread and butter pudding, sticky toffee pudding. Mam's apple pie.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Not sure.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Not a breeze.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Good Omens, two of my fave authors writing a book together :D.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Think it's an ad for a sensor supplier.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Top gear on Dave.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? Music and the burble of a V8. Or the whine of a V12, but we don't make those.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Stones

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Canada.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Hyperflexibility.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Dublin.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone who feels like answering!

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? Fencing, 2nd year college.

49. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? Twice too big.

50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Ian McKellan, AIne, Matt Bellamy, Terry Prachett and Jeremy Clarkson. Although Aine'd kill him. I'd say Alan Moore, based on his writings, but he's a scary lookin bastard.

Meme, as usual

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:17:14 GMT

Where did you begin 2008?
In Waterford, at a pretty bitching party in Ferg's.

2. What was your status by Valentines Day?
In a B&B in Kilkenny with Aine, nearly three years in at the time.

3. Were you in school anytime this year?
Teaching til June. Loved it, might go back to it some time.

4. Did you have to go to the hospital?
Couple of times, nothing too serious.

5. Did you have any encounters with the police?
None other than asking for directions.

6. Where did you go on vacation?
New York, Kilkenny, Boston, New York, Washington DC, New York. Lots of trips to America, visitin my gal :)

7. What did you purchase that was over E100?
Too many to mention, mainly plane tickets, a computer, ps3, and a number of other things, including the 3 week lasting ipod touch.

8. Did you know anybody who got married?
Couple o cousins, couple of friends.

9. Did you know anybody who passed away?
Too many people, mais c'est la vie, alas.

10. Did you move anywhere?
To England, the land of a couple of opportunities and funny accents.

11. What sporting events did you attend?
Finally went to a fencing competition again.

12. What concerts/shows did you go to?
Young Frankenstein, Metallica, Kila and Spamalot, fun times all.

13. Describe your birthday.
I cheated and had two.. one in the pav with a number of people, and one in Doyles with a number of other people, and the same people. The second one featured the magical refilling pint glass of straight whiskey...

14. What is the ONE thing you thought you would not do, but did, in 2008?
Landed a job designing sports cars.

15. What have been your favourite moments?
Kilkenny with Aine, three great days full of joi de vie and romance, it was fantastic.

Must say the Kim incident was hilarious.

The 'sir, that packie's being racist to me' comment at the school.

16. Any new additions to your family?
Nope.

17. What was your best month?
June, spent most of it in NY with Aine.

18. Who has been your best drinking buddy?
There have been many, probably a toss up between Stu and Clone. Some of the guys in England are pretty cool for a pint too.

19. Made new friends?
Lots, english (and scottish) people are rather nice.

20. Favourite Night out?
Can't think of a single one off the top of my head.

21. Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
The pub and work.

22. Have you lost any friends this year?
Probably, none irrepairably so, I think, just falling out of touch thanks to all of us growing up and moving on. Doesn't help that I emmigrated.

23. Change your hairstyle?
Nope, just the occasional haircut.

24. Have any car accidents?
None this year.

25. How old did you turn this year?
23

26. Do you have a New Years resolution?
Spend less, save more, cut down the booze, try to become a halfway decent fencer.

27. Do anything embarrassing?
I'm sure I did.

28. Buy anything from eBay?
Nope.

29. Get married or divorced?
Nope.

30. Get hit on?
Once or twice.

31. Been snowboarding?
Nope

32. Did you get sick this year?
Bit o liver damage, a chest infection and currently got a cough.

33. Are you happy to see 2008 go?
Another year over, a new one just begun. 2009 brings it's own challenges and opportunies. 2008 was fun, but I'll just keep truckin.

34. Have you been naughty or nice?
Nice, I think.

35. What are you looking forward to most in 2009?
not sure as yet

Album cover meme from Brohnos

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:25:07 GMT

Good fun:

The Meme

1. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. Go to http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.

3. Go to http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. Create your album cover and post it.

As asked by the wonderful Blogger Gundam

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:52:49 GMT

Questions answered here....

1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
A. Yep, over 2.5 years and counting.

2) What was your dream growing up?
A. To design cars. Reckon I got lucky on this one :D

3) What talent do you wish you had?
A. Always wished I could play guitar; tried and failed as a teen.

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
A. Pint of Bulmers

5) Favorite vegetable?
A. Hmm, cauliflower or sprouts, love the cabbage family in general

6) What was the last book you read?
A. Feet of Clay by TP

7) What zodiac sign are you?
A. Aries

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
A. Nope

9) Worst Habit?
A. Nose picking

10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
A. Hell yeah Gundam

11) What is your favorite sport?
A. Fencing

12) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?
A. I'm pretty optimistic most of the time

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
A. Rawr... ;)

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
A. Went for a tumble in a car crash, which was scary, but ultimately gave me nothing but a stronger sense of self preservation

15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
A. I can walk around my foot.

16) Do you have any pets?
A. Two evil bastard cats and a dog called Ringo.

17) What if i showed up at your house unexpectedly?
A. Hello; would you like a cup of tea?

18) What was your first impression of me? (hmmm...careful!)
A. Bit of a nerd, to be honest, but aren't we all?

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
A. Depends

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
A. Lose some weight

21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
A. Conscience

22) What color eyes do you have?
A. Blue

23) Ever been arrested?
A. What do you take me for? One of my students?

24) Bottle or can soda?
A. Bottle

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
A. Buy a car

27) What's your favorite place to hang at?
A. Gamers

28) Do you believe in ghosts?
A. Nope

29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
A. Paint, and other unmentionable things

30) Do you swear a lot?
A. Yes

31) Biggest pet peeve?
A. Skangers pushing their buggy into the moving traffic before jaywalking

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
A. Deadly

33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
A. Very much so

35) Do you believe in God?
A. Well, someone's out to get me

36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
A. Don't think so, but feel free to answer them everyone!

Occupation!

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:50:10 GMT

Starting in September I will be a design engineer with Jaguar/Land Rover. Life is good.

Merry Christmas to all! Also, a hobo stole my Calvin Kline scarf.

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 21:05:29 GMT

Hi everyone, merry Christmas, hope you're all having a good day.

Mine's been pretty good, comprising of booze with the neighbours before midday, a fantastic lunch, an afternoon playing UT3 (which rocks), turkey sandwiches (which I love almost as much as the dinner, wierd, I know) and general merriment. Other than the fact our central heating's busted, which is why I write this from inside a cosy sleeping bag.

On sunday went out to celebrate the season with old classmates from college and upon leaving the restaraunt realised I had forgotten my scarf. On returning I was told a long winded story about hobos stealing it. Sorta shit you can't make up, so I let it lie., and the waiter was deadly, so even if he kept it, he deserved it, we didnt tip enough, and they didnt charge us for the 2nd bottle of wine, always a nice show of appreciation.

So yes, another year over, a new one just begun. Let's see where it leads us.

Tá mé i mo mhúinteoir!

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:34:37 GMT

Title says it all.

Well, if you don't speak Irish it says gibberish.

I've been given a 6 week position teaching junior cert Irish classes. As a mechanical engineer, this is quite strange. More worrying still is the fact I'm enjoying it. I've been subbing for 2 weeks now, and found that I still have a damn good knack for technical drawing, and passing it on. The number of students that have asked me to off their regular teacher so I can steal their place is, worryingly, countable on 2 hands.

I'm in the school I attended until 4.5 years ago. All the 'sirs' and 'misses' now have names like Malachey (Heffo), Timmy (the Block), Gail and John (Gobbo). It's rather odd. But fun.

And the pay is a ludicrous hourly rate.

In other news, I am happy again, in general. This is due to my little lady (who sees tall people) returning to Ireland, although she's having problems with stupid Trinity beurocracy, which ain't good.

Scanno/CatScan/Cathal/ Mr. Scanlon out.

Question time

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:32:51 GMT

So, I'm still a bum :(

A few questions to answer from the lovely vuirneen.

Here're the rules of engagement:
* DIRECTIONS: Leave me a comment saying anything random, like your favorite lyric to your current favorite song. Or your favorite kind of sandwich. Something random. Whatever you like. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better. Update your LJ with the answers to the questions. Include this explanation. When others comment asking to be asked, you will ask them five questions.

Without further ado, here're my questions and answers:

1. Name the elventh Doctor.

Unusually for a gamer, engineer and general nerd, I don't watch Dr. Who, so I hit google for this one. Apparently he/she hasn't been chosem yet (from what I've found), although one theory is that it's Dave Tennant, because Chris Ecklestone's Doctor died twice...

2. Batman or Superman?

Superman all the way. No matter how much preparation time, contingincy plans and general smartassery Batman can do, Superman will win, he's just too damned good.
This and the 6 strips after it sum it all up really.

3. Relate your greatest gaming experience.

My first charater in a campaign; got to play the ultimate bastard of Westeros, much to Oisin's chagrin. In the opening night I shot the barman to see how combat works, later I tried to give the one survivor from the ambushed baggage train some acid to drink before he could say 'It was... it was... aaaaarrghh' and die, and finally got killed by two fellow party members. Good times.

4. Are you more attracted to those who are: kooky, sexy or the girl next door?

Quite fond of kooky myself, always liked wierd hair colour and odd personalities (no offence Aine, who's probably reading this)

5. If you have to choose between no internet or no TV, which would you choose.? And no cheating by downloading or streaming TV episodes from the internet - they're all blown up by squirrels.

No TV, most of it is rubbish anyway. The internet can offer so much more on a global communication scal, and gives me free calls to the US (yay Skype).

Rough and tumble

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:24:57 GMT

The story of my first car crash follows;

Some of you may have heard me wax lyrical about one of my local pubs up on a hill, so small that the toilets are in, essentially, an out house. There's still a bar and lounge inside (ie, one half has a couch against the wall. And a pool room, which is so ludicrously small I did my funny bone in on the edge of the shelves for drinks that are six feet off the ground.

So, my friend Fi came over for the night to chat and talk and plot and lament as we always do, and I decided to show her this place. My brothers came too, one even drove us up and didin't drink so Fi could have a couple (although she didn't in the end). Leaving at a respectible 11.15 or so we were on our way home. A bit too fast. Coming up to a deceptionally sharp bend we went onto the grass verge and the car flipped.

None of us are sure what way it went, me and Fi are sure it went onto the roof at some stage, the brothers say it was on its side and nearly toppled. Don't think we'll ever know. I know it was friggin scary. The others all say it went very slowly in their heads. No such thing for me. My corner (the front passenger seat) took the worst of it;; just saw blurs of green in front of me. When I realised we were kind flying I thought 'Shit, I';m too tall for this car, I'm going to hit my head off the ceiling. And I did. And it hurt. A lot.

Next thing I knew the car was stopped on its side (mine). 'I'm ok, is everyone else?', three yesses reply. Brother driving winds down his window and unclips his seat belt and climbs out the top of the car. The front of the car must have been on a ledge, because the two in the back climbed through the left hand side window. My arm wsa against the ground. Not a window, which was shattered. I think my elbow broke it. I unclipped and climbed out the top window of the car, using the seat as a ladder. Some locals had heard the noise and come out to check what happened. My arm was covered in blood from the glass, so myself and Fi went off to clean it up. Noone else was injured.

Not much else to say. I was woozy from the whack on the head and my neck hurt, so the others went home and to bed, and I went to A&E and got checked out. Nothing wrong except a bit of swelling and a bang on the knee where it went into the dashboard.

Two days later the only thing wrong is a stiff neck, and my brothers car might be a write off.

In other news, I'm still a bum. Had an interview with Cadbury's on Thursday, hopefully it went well enough to get me the job.

All growed up

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:15:46 GMT

Got my results today; 2.1.

The least deserved 2.1 in history. As any regular to the gamers room will testify; I was quite a regular in the room this year. Me and Clone once spent a whole afternoon/evening playing 6 games of Mordeim in a row. Any regular in the pav will tell you similar things there (without as many toy soldiers). I went to New York for 3 weeks of my Christmas holidays.
I started studying for the bulk of my exams the evening before they were on. I drank copious amounts, and fenced 6 hours a week for a lot of the year. And yet Trinity give me the second best degree possible.

Life's weird.

In other news, my little brother turned 21 2 hours ago. As did my big brothers gf.

Life's weird.

My gf is in America. I am not.

Sometimes life sucks.

I'm spending my days with friends, or painting toy soldiers, or playing BF2 online, my new crazy heroine-like addiction.

Life is overall pretty good.

Exams, and a puzzle...

Mon, 28 May 2007 22:15:48 GMT

So, in the middle of exams at the moment; got Tribology (the study of lubrication, friction and wear) on Wednesday. Nothing catastrophic so far; 2 down, I'd say 2.2 average only :(

Kinda hate myself (well, in a non emo-kid way, I just bug me occasionally) for how much my work ethic has died in the last four years. I'm in the middle of my finals. In 39 hours I have an exam I haven't even begun to revise for. I sat an exam today that I started revising at midnight last night. The worst day of my acedemic career was the day I realised I only needed a B average to get the course I wanted.
I was the top achiever in my school, yet I gave up on working to get the results I needed that day. There wasn't much of challenge in the leaving cert. Or first or second, or hell, even third year college. There was a hell of a lot of stuff I never understood, but there were easy ways around it. The one time I truely truely deserved to fail (I didn't attend a maths course all year, other than the first 3 weeks of 24), I got a sample paper, learnt the solutions by rote in 4 hours and got a 2.1, because the lecturer didn't know how to mix it up a bit.
I'm just a bit worried because I finish college in 2 weeks. And I'm supposed to know enough to be a professional engineer. Life's weird.

Speaking of weird, here's a song by a Canadian band who almost exclusively sing about lovecraft. Here they sing about maths. Can you work out Y?

Your facts
Your figures
What are they worth now, huh?
Are they worth the lives of seven billion people?

y
y equals x over 5
5 to the power of pzi
pzi is the square root of 3
3 is the number for me

I said
x
x by the tangent of n
n minus pi over 10
that equals negative 9
negative 9 is so fine

If you've got a brain
and nobody really needs another love song, looove song
(x3)
you've got a brain
and nobody really needs another love song

n
n is the product of v
v and the cosine of three
cube that and add forty four
and not an interger more

baaaay-beee
v
v equals one to the sum
the sum of a hundred and one
and 83 over 5
what is the value of y?

If you've got a brain
and nobody really needs another love song, looove song
(x3)
you've got a brain
and nobody really needs another love song

ahhaaa ahaa ahaa ahaa ahaa ahaa ahaa
ahaa ahaa ahaa ahaa ahaa ahaa ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

If you've got a brain
and nobody really needs another love song, looove song
(x3)
you've got a brain
yeah, I've heard you've got it

Questions from the legend that is KB

Thu, 17 May 2007 13:28:27 GMT

Righto folks, that nice chap KB asked me these questions on condition I'll ask whoever wants me 5 questions. Just post a comment stating so, and it will be done!

1) How did you get into fencing?
I always wanted to learn an armed martial art, but am not a katana fanboi nor do I have the patience to learn an eastern art and all the meditation it invloves. Fencing was there at freshers week and I joined and it has brought me much happiness.
2) Ditto gaming.
I am a nerd. Someone brought toy soldiers to school. I was intrigued. I played wargames throughout secondary school, and joined gamers in college, where I got into other stuff.
3) Name one game that you've no desire to play, ever.
Spoils. CCGs don't do it for me, especially not ones trying to be funny.
4) How many fencing swords do you own?
Only one at the mo. Used to have 2, but I broke one over a teammates head in training :(
5) Which way is the enemy's gate?
Always down, according to my nerdy-in-her-own-special-way girlfriend.

Projects suck...

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:31:51 GMT

.... but it's ok cos I'm:

Life, the universe, and everything

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:04:15 GMT

Hi all, have y'all missed me?

It's been a number of months since my last uninteresting meme. There's another below. I got a sabre or rapier! Who knew?

In real news; final year is a chuggin on by. Was terrified of the whole "60 page thesis" thingy. Started working on it just a second ago, and it looks like 60 pages isn't going to be all that unreachable a target. It has to be double spaced ffs!

Fencing 4th year has been and gone, I reckon I'll be lucky to hold a sword again before the exams. €130 for a couple of months of fencing when I'm not studying seems a bit steep (new gym on campus). We lost the varsities, yet again, UCD beat us by 2 matches. When every team fences 48, loosing 45-43 ain't half bad, especially when 3rd gets about 30, but it's still not first :(

Not much else going on at the mo; had my final presentation on the robot arm of doom on Monday. You all missed seeing me in a suit and tie! Wow! I hear you say. It went well, presented in front of 8 classmates. People I hadn't talked to in months came over to congratulate me on a great presentation later, when they weren't even there! Apparently I'm that damned good ;)

Anywho: meme!

Short Sword
You preferred a weapon with 29% power over speed and 9% range over melee.

You use a Short Sword.

Stylish and deadly, a short sword, sabre or rapier is your weapon of choice. You are well aware that an edged weapon puts you a cut above the rabble, but you also keep your blade relatively small to give you the quickness you need to stay on top. Your opponents seldom see your attacks coming, and by the time they could have regained their senses, they are all dead.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on power

You scored higher than 99% on range

Link: The What's Your Signature Weapon Test written by inurashii on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Well well well....

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 17:37:18 GMT

This is.... interesting. Apparently Aine is not the only one who thinks I'm "cute". The internet does too.

meme

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:58:46 GMT

Disorder	Your Score
Major Depression:	Very Slight
Dysthymia:	Very Slight
Bipolar Disorder:	Very Slight
Cyclothymia:	High-Moderate
Seasonal Affective Disorder:	Slight
Postpartum Depression:	N/A
Take the Depression Test

Grr...

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 21:48:33 GMT

"I need ram that'll work in my computer

Hmm, that's the old chip, yep we have that.

And it'll work?

Should do, if that's what's in it.

Will it?

Well, if it's the same stuff as is in your hand.

If it doesn't work can I bring it back?

No, we can't take back RAM, you have to be certain it'll work ini your machine.

Why not?

Because we can't sell someone else open RAM.

But it's yuor problem if I can't get it to work

No sir, it's yours, don't buy it if you're uncertain

But I have money now, can't I buy it and bring it back?

No

Why not?

(repeat above three lines with explanation ten times, voices getting louder all the time)

Sir, we're going round in circles, we can't take it back

We aren't going round in circles!!! What are you, some expert? You selling potatoes or something? Get me the manager.

Sir, he's not here, I'm in charge.

Get me an expert!

Sir, I'm not wasting more time with you, goodbye.

Yes you are! You can't walk away from me!

In that case, please leave the store, we can't help you.

You can't kick me out, come back here! I want to buy ram

We'll sell you ram.

This type!

Yes, that type

And if it doesn't work, I bring it back.

No

Why not?

I already explained that to you. Now just get out!!"

Fuck I hate customers. The actual conversation was much longer with more expletives (on his part) and more yelling (on both our parts). Ruined what had been a good day at work, and I'm still pissed off about it. Worst thing was, he started talking to me after a colleague had already told him we don't refund ram, and he wanted me to say otherwise. Wanker.

Cloney's big lone meme

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:46:32 GMT

I have no news. Life is rather boring of late.

(Click here to post your own answers for this meme.)

✓ I miss somebody right now.	× I don't watch much TV these days.	× I own lots of books.
✓ I wear glasses or contact lenses.	✓ I love to play video games. (Neverwinter ahoy)	✓ I've tried marijuana. (Too drunk to notice the effects though)
✓ I've watched porn movies.	× I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship.	✓ I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
✓ I curse sometimes. (sometimes?)	✓ I have changed a lot mentally over the last year.	× I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.

* * * * *

× I have broken someone's bones.	✓ I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal.	× I hate the rain.
✓ I'm paranoid at times.	✓ I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.	✓ I need/want money right now.
× I love sushi.	✓ I talk really, really fast.	× I have fresh breath in the morning.
× I have long hair.	× I have lost money in Las Vegas.	✓ I have at least one sibling.
✓ I was born in a country outside of the U.S. (shock, horror!)	× I have worn fake hair/fingernails/eyelashes in the past.	× I couldn't survive without Caller I.D.
× I like the way that I look.	✓ I have lied to a good friend in the last 6 months. (lying is natures way of telling the truth)	× I am usually pessimistic.
× I have a lot of mood swings.	× I think prostitution should be legalized.	× I slept with a roommate.
✓ I have a hidden talent.	× I'm always hyper no matter how much sugar I have.	✓ I have a lot of friends.
× I have pecked someone of the same sex.	✓ I enjoy talking on the phone.	× I practically live in sweatpants or PJ pants.
× I love to shop and/or window shop.	× I'm obsessed with my Xanga or Livejournal.	× I'm completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother.
✓ I have a mobile phone.	× I have passed out drunk in the past 6 months.	✓ I've rejected someone before.
✓ I currently like/love someone.	✓ I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.	✓ I want to have children in the future.
× I have changed a diaper before.	× I've called the cops on a friend before.	✓ I'm not allergic to anything. (go hyper immune system!)
✓ I have a lot to learn.	× I am shy around the opposite sex.	× I'm online 24/7, even as an away message.
× I have at least 5 away messages saved.	✓ I have tried alcohol or drugs before.	× I have made a move on a friend's significant other or crush in the past.
× I own the "South Park" movie.	× I have avoided assignments at work/school to be on Xanga or Livejournal.	× I enjoy some country music.
✓ I would die for my best friends.	✓ I'm obsessive, and often a perfectionist.	× I have used my sexuality to advance my career.
✓ I think Halloween is awesome because you get free candy.	× I have dated a close friend's ex.	✓ I am happy at this moment.
× I'm obsessed with guys.	× Democrat. (lol)	× Republican. (lol)
✓ I don't even know what I am.	✓ I am punk rockish.	✓ I go for older guys/girls, not younger.
× I study for tests most of the time. (not true)	✓ I tie my shoelaces differently from anyone I've ever met. (velcro is my friend)	✓ I can work on a car.
✓ I love my job(s).	✓ I am comfortable with who I am right now.	× I have more than just my ears pierced.
× I walk barefoot wherever I can.	× I have jumped off a bridge.	✓ I love sea turtles.
× I spend ridiculous amounts of money on makeup.	× I plan on achieving a major goal/dream.	× I am proficient on a musical instrument.
× I hate office jobs.	✓ I went to college out of state.	× I am adopted.
× I am a pyro.	× I have thrown up from crying too much.	× I have been intentionally hurt by people that I loved.
× I fall for the worst people.	× I adore bright colours.	× I usually like covers better than originals.
× I hate chain theme restaurants like Applebees and TGIFridays.	× I can pick up things with my toes.	× I can't whistle.
× I have ridden/owned a horse.	× I still have every journal I've ever written in.	× I talk in my sleep.
× I've often thought that I was born in the wrong century.	× I try to forget things by drowning them out with loads of distractions.	× I wear a toe ring.
× I have a tattoo.	✓ I can't stand at LEAST one person that I work with.	× I am a caffeine junkie.
× I am completely tree-huggy spiritual, and I'm not ashamed at all.	× If I knew I would get away with it, I would commit at least one murder.	× I will collect anything, and the more nonsensical, the better.
× I enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner.	× I'm an artist.	✓ I am ambidextrous.
× I sleep with so many stuffed animals, I can hardly fit on my bed.	× If it weren't for having to see other people naked, I'd live in a nudist colony.	× I have terrible teeth.
× I hate my toes.	× I did this meme even though I wasn't tagged by the person who took it before me.	× I have more friends on the internet than in real life.
× I have lived in either three different states or countries.	✓ I am extremely flexible. (hyperflexible, according to my physiotherapist)	× I love hugs more than kisses.
✓ I want to own my own business.	× I smoke.	× I spend way too much time on the computer than on anything else.
✓ Nobody has ever said I'm normal.	× Sad movies, games, and the like can cause a trickle of tears every now and then.	✓ I am proficient in the use of many types of firearms and combat weapons. (well, I can stab stuff quite well at this stage)
× I like the way women look in stylized men's suits.	× I don't like it when people are unpleased or seem unpleased with me.	✓ I have been described as a dreamer or likely to have my head up in the clouds. (Well, the second one, mainly in the form of the question "What's the weather like up there?")
× I have played strip poker with someone else before.	× I have had emotional problems for which I have sought professional help.	× I believe in ghosts and the paranormal.
× I can't stand being alone.	× I have at least one obsession at any given time.	× I weigh myself, pee/poo, and then weigh myself again.
× I consistently spend way too much money on obsessions-of-the-moment.	× I'm a judgmental asshole.	× I'm a HUGE drama-queen.
✓ I have travelled on more than one continent.	× I sometimes wish my father would just disappear.	× I need people to tell me I'm good at something in order to feel that I am.
× I am a Libertarian. (buh?)	✓ I can speak more than one language.	× I can fall asleep even if the whole room is as noisy as it can be.
× I would rather read than watch TV.	× I like reading fact more than fiction.	× I have pulled an all-nighter on an assignment I was given a month to do. (All nighter, pah! Morning of the day it has to be handed in is the manly way to do it!)
× I have no piercings.	× I have spent the night in a train station or other public place.	× I have been so upset over my physical gender that I cried.
× I once spent Christmas completely alone because there was a miscommunication on which parent was supposed to have me that night.	× There have been times when I have wondered "Why was I born?" and may/may not have cried over it.	× I like most animals better than most people.
× I own a collection of retro games consoles.	× The thought of physical exercise makes me shiver.	× I have hit someone with a dead fish.
✓ I am compulsively honest.	× I was born with a congenital birth defect that has never been repaired.	× I have danced topless in front of dozens of complete strangers.
× I have gone from wishing I was a girl to revelling in being a boy to feeling like a girl again in the span of five minutes, and not cared a whit for my actual sex. (what the fuck sort of question is this?)	× I am unashamedly bisexual, and have different motivations for my desires for different genders.	× I sometimes won't sleep a whole night or eat a whole day because I forget to.
× I find it impossible to get to sleep without some kind of music on.	× I dislike milk.	× I obsessively wash my hands.
× I always carry something significant around with me.	× Sometimes I'd rather wear a wig in day-to-day life than use my own hair.	× I've pushed myself to become more self-aware and thereby more aware of others.
× Even though I live on my own I still cry sometimes because I miss my mother.	× I hand wrote all the HTML tags in this document.	× I've liked something which a majority of people claimed was either bad or weird.
× I have been clinically dead for a brief period of time.	✓ Instead of feeling sympathy/empathy with people and their problems, I simply become annoyed. (sometimes people just piss me off)	× I participate/have participated in auto drag races and won.
× I do not 'get' most comedy acts.	✓ I don't think strippers are money-greedy or slutty for dancing. (They jsut like to take off their cloths. Is it such a crime?)	× I don't like to chew gum.
× I am obsessed with history/historical things and can't wait for someone to build a time machine so I can be the first to use it.	× I can never remember for the life of me where I parked the car.	× I had the TEEN ANGST thing going for at least 2-3 years.
× I wish people would be more empathic and honest with each other.	✓ I play Dungeons and Dragons weekly. (well, I'd like to, but don't have the time)	✓ I love to sing. (when noone's listening)
× I want to live in my mother's basement when I grow up.	× I have a custom-built computer. (but i'd like one)	× I want to create a certain someone's babies, even though there's a 0% possiblity of ever achieving it.
× I would be in a relationship with one of my pets if they were human. (that's fucked up)	× I've gone skinny-dipping.	✓ I've performed in three plays.
✓ I enjoy burritos.	✓ I'm Irish and loving it.	✓ I have a thing for redheads.
× I am a twin!	× Most of the times, I'd rather do something intellectual instead of doing something generically 'fun'. (once upon a time, this was true. then I started drinking.)	× Once I set out to finish something, I always stay at it until it is completed before I move on to something else. (not true)
✓ I wish there were a way to erase past mistakes. (but so does everyone)	× I sleep more than 12 hours a day.	× I wish I could be prouder of what I've accomplished, but it's never enough.
× I need more time to myself.	× I wish I was more open-minded.	× I hope that I go really prematurely grey. (it's happening already, for shame)
× I download songs from the internet.	× I've just reenacted chapter 58 of Death Note with my best friend.	✓ I say random things to freak people out.
× I'm still a little mad about the ending of Death Note.	× I love playing Truth or Dare.	× I love listening to slow music, but I hate singing to it.
× Music helps me remember that I am not alone.	✓ Playing my favorite sport makes me temporarily forget my problems. (Parry, riposte, step back, redouble, remise, no time for anything else in there)	✓ I think this survey is particularly long. (quite)
× I prefer my LJ friends to my real-life ones. (but they are my real ones)	× I can only hate someone that I love. (?)	× I've ordered an extra two shots of espresso to an Americano at Starbucks. (no, cos that would be both silly and expensive)

My my, I've been busy

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 21:19:00 GMT

Doing a fucking stocktake! Started with a cup of crap coffee from a machine in Spar, and went downhill from there. It was sooo boring! And it went on for 11 hours! With 45 minutes break! Thank God it only happens once a year. Now I;m tired and relieved it's over. The store has 500 quid more stock than it should, apparently. Means noone gets fired, and I get 1.5 hours of overtime (ooh, ahh, I hear y'all say).

Got accepted for on campus accomodation, I shall be living with my good friend Colman, he of the supersweet tv, and two strangers. I also got accepted into final year with a 57% average, and a suspicious 40% mark in a course given by two americans who go home for the summer and don't like returning a month early to correct repeat examinations. And 52% in a paper I did 40% of. Life is wierd, and fate seems to like me. Him'n his scary eyes. Now just have to find time to start researching my project.

Had a giant bbq on Sunday to celebrate the fact that today 25 years ago John and Tricia Scanlon got married. And there was steak, sooo much steak. We had about 60-70 kg too much. Not pounds, kilos. So we could have made 240 quarter pounders out of the left over steak alone, not to mind the chicken and the ribs. My mam is rather mad with the buthcer that gave her that much when she ordered "steak for 80 people".
Still, the day was a blast, even if I am a share of the cost of a holiday to Rome lighter thanks to my brothers.

Fencing is next to nonexistant in my life at the moment, as are some of my best friends and people (well, person) whom I dearly love. Damned oceans and seas, why can we not all live on one giant supercontinent? People in New York, Sweden, Bath and Kulkata are all missing the dull monotomy of the 45 hour working week that is my life. Have to have fun on Friday, it'll be my only chance for another week.

Not much else going on really, loving the arcade fire, bell X1 and dedannan at the moment. But soon I'll buy the new muse album, and all that new age hippy bullcrap will be forgotten in what is a very good album (I've already listened to it, just don't own it to do so repeatedly).

Me, doing a meme, with MY reputation..?

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 22:16:48 GMT

LIVE TRUMPS

catdlighthouse



Player 3954	catdlighthouse



Social Rating	12



Sophistication	2



Speed	0.25



Honesty	100.00%



Ambiguity	68



Depth	10



Parent	bambi-la



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Battle monsters!

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:52:55 GMT

catdlighthouse is a Giant Man-Eating Plant that Fears Nothing, Freezes Solid when Cold, and carries a Samurai Sword.
(Strength: 12 Agility: 9 Intelligence: 7)
Unleash your Giant Battle Monster.

Enjoying System of a Down at the moment. Even though I only own two of their albums, I find them rather diverse and quite spiffy really. Nothing like a yelling pot head at 11 pm to cheer one up, it seems. Not much going on in Meath. People are dieing, I'm working, and there's a big giant party on sunday for my parents. Which they know about. Cos they're paying for it :D

Hmm, this was unexpected...

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 22:04:51 GMT

...although the quiz writer seems to think that the whole world is a black abyss that we do not deserve to inhabit. Nonetheless, it's nice to see someone calling me insane again. Hasn't happened in a long time.

What does your mind look like? (Cool Surreal PICS)

You are: Insane. You have officially crossed the barriar between Sane and Insane and live in a mixed up little world of your own...
Take this quiz!

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I'm bored, so it's time for an update

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 16:24:07 GMT

"I'm tired. So tired. I'm tired of having tests."

That's what Weezer wrote a few years back in a song called "Tired of Sex". Now, while the title doesn't fit here, the line certainly does. I've had 7 exams in the last week and a half. And I've gopt three more next week. That is, as some of you already know, the most in the universe.

Some more ranting and updates on life for thos of you who are interested (and, in all honesty, who wouldn't be) are available here:
And these aren't just little arts block hour long thingies, they're fully blown 3 hour papers, on maths, mechanics, materials, mechatronics, manufacturing, and no end of other things that also begin with "M". It all makes me a tired lighthouse/scanno/catscan/cathal, depending on who you're talking to.

Need to get back onto my boss about rejoining Maplin for the summer, although the nice people in Games Workshop have been making noises about wanting to hire me (for I am just fantasticness personnified, and all who know me want me [to work for them, sicko {well, most of the time }]).

Speaking of brackets, this brings me onto my next news: Programming!!!eleven! (practicing my l337, y'see).
Next year, I shall be modifying a 5 foot long robotic arm for my thesis. The robot is worth 15 grand, and it is mine to play with for a year. It is also stupid, and likes to run into tables when trying to pick up blocks. My project is to modify and reprogramme (I use English spelling, for those of you who are wondering) this robot (who shall from here on in be referred to as "Johnny 5"), to avoid embarrassments involving trying to go though said tables.

Not much else going on at the moment. Aine's back, but she's in Clare (the county I can never be sure I've spelled right). She should be back in time to get invited to a Lucan Lads reunion tomorrow night. (if you're reading this honey, want to go for drinks with my schoolfriends tomorrow?)

And now, a meme very like the one I did a while back. This time, though, I'm gonna use random lines as opposed to intros. Now it's time to

1. You keep on giving me the hold up,
I wish you'd make you're mind up.

2. You can go west to east,
Confess your sins to a priest,
But you can't ignore my techno.

3. (Observation round) I'm tired.
So tired.
I'm tired of having tests.

4. Do you believe what you hear?
Can you believe what you see?
Do you believe what you feel?
Can you belieeeeeeveeee, what is reeeeeallll?

5. My shadows the only one that walks beside me (sitter, damned random funtion)

6. These birds want to get me coz they like my behind.
I'll tear all my blisters off, I can't get a trick.

7. I shot him from the window,
The world just held their breath,
I made my escape,
As if noone could see.

8. For a hill men would kill,
Why? They do not know.

9. Don't believe me if I tell ya,
That I wrote this song for you,
There just might be some other city pretty girl,
I'm singing to.

10. They take me away from,
The strangest places,
Sweet Danny and Lisa.

11. Now all I want to know,
Is how to go,
I've tasted blood and I want more.

12. In the days,
When we were swinging from the trees,
I was a monkey, stealing honey from a swarm of bees.

13. So take the photographs and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.

14. They say you'll stand
by your man
i'll tell you something,
you're gonna understand.

15. (last one) It's the tuxedo I'm wearing
That gets me where I want to go.
It's the illusion, of money,
That gets me home.