Countdown

I think I've mentioned this before but I can't be bothered trawling through my posts to find the link...basically, I have/had this plan to start looking into adoption once I hit 35. The reasoning was that I'd have a secure job by then, complete with all the trimmings - nice house in a good neighbourhood, reasonable income etc. I'm turning 29 soon. I like to think I've got a stable job. I'm not earning a lot, but my income will (hopefully) increase in the next 6 years. I already have a nice place in a good neighbourhood. I'm gonna learn how to drive this year. So basically, I'm almost there. Which is kinda nice, I suppose...

...but it's also scary. I mean, do I have the guts to go through with it? Or will it be like my fleeting flirtation with the idea of applying for X Factor? And if I do go ahead with it, what if I'm a crap mother? I know that's a question every prospective mother asks herself at some point, but it doesn't make it any less an issue.

It all seems rather callous to type this up on a blog. But...yeah. My colleagues have kids. Most of my classmates/batchmates are having kids. I've been broody for the past I don't know how many years. This kind of post was just waiting to happen.

Anyhoo, we'll re-evaluate in 6 years' time. Maybe I would've grown up by then. lulz

I wish...

...that I could ogle hot guys on the bus without worrying that they might be students.

He was hot :(

I need another life

Jonathan Overend, possibly the greatest radio tennis commentator to grace the airwaves in recent history (yeah I'm a fan, how'd you guess?) is in a jazz band.

James Toseland, former world superbike champion and all round hottie sings and plays the piano really really well.

I want to be good at my job, but I also want something more. I know I said I don't mind being defined by my job, and that's true - I don't. But as I sit in my living room on a Sunday afternoon marking project reports, I wish I had an outlet. All this work and no play just makes me feel a bit dull.

Unfortunately I live in the middle of nowhere, so what chance do I have eh. *sigh*

10 things about my Avengers movie experience that aren't spoilers (so you don't have to kill me)

1. Black Widow is the only Scarlett Johansson character that I don't want to throw things at. In fact, I think she's amazing.
2. I wanted to shout "Scherbatsky!" every time Cobie Smulders was on screen.
3. The Avengers is possibly the only superhero movie I've seen where women are not treated like sex objects or weaklings.
4. Gwyneth Paltrow's legs are just wow.
5. Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. - HOW TO CHOOSE?!?!?!
6. I think I have a crush on Agent Coulson. He's just so...n'awwwwww.
7. 142 mins goes so quickly.
8. You would think, after so many superhero movies, that people would know not to leave the cinema as soon as the movie ends. You would be wrong.
9. I haven't seen Thor or Captain America 'cos I was broke when they came out. I need to fix this.
10. I haven't had so much fun at the cinema since I went to see Iron Man.

Work tales

Kindergarten

Student 1: Dr, I'm not feeling well, can I go?
Me: OK
Student 2: *starts picking up stuff to leave*
Me: I'm sorry where do you think you're going? Only he's allowed to leave!
Student 2: Oh but Miiiiiissss...can I go please?
Me: Have you finished answering the questions on the board?
Student 2: *groan* Oh Miss you always have a way of twisting my arm, Miss
Me: Yup *evil grin*

I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm teaching kindergarten.

Am I on the wrong side?

Students are discussing the Avengers movie (which they're evidently going to see tonight), trying to decide which member is the best (they're supposed to be answering the questions on the board, but you can take a horse to water etc. etc.). I'm itching to join in. I've half a mind to go "♪I saw it yesterday, naa naa na naa naa!♪". I want to fangirl over the movie because IT WAS BLOODY AMAZING AND I LOVED LOVED LOVVVVVED IT AND I'M CONSIDERING GOING TO SEE IT AGAIN AT THE IMAX AND AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

Instead, I just calmly inform one of the students that my powerpoint slides aren't in 3D so he can remove his 3D glasses.

Waxing Lyrical

Someone says something about one of the other staff members using a song to teach chemistry.

Me: *sounding far too excited for my own good* Oh you mean the Elements Song?!?!
Students: OMG you know it too?!

Conversation moves to how no non-chemist gets as excited about chemistry as Daniel Radcliffe.

A label I can stick to...

Those of you who know me know that I dislike labels. Not the sticky kind or the blogging kind, but the kind that we attach to people. In my eyes, a label reduces a beautifully complex human being to just one defining feature. Jocks, geeks, plastics (Mean Girls, anyone?), tomboys, goths...the list is endless. I get that we like to pigeon-hole people because it makes them easier for us to understand, but in reality it just means that we're overly confused when they present a characteristic that we have deemed to be incompatible with their 'type'. And let's not even think about getting into how most labels are derogatory and highly judgemental!

I've resisted labels throughout my life. I've been the 'white' girl, the 'poor' girl, the 'geeky' girl, the 'plain' girl, (and most recently) the 'single' girl. I've hated all these labels. I've always wanted to be defined by who I am, not what I do or don't do. Until now.

It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I don't have any friends outside work here, but work is my life now. The only time I'm not thinking about work is when I'm watching tv. I'm not kidding - I recently had a dream about a class test I was planning (and I never dream).

I am an educator. And in spite of the low pay, the ungrateful students, the mindless bureaucracy and the towering pile of lab reports that I need to mark, there is nothing else I would rather be. And if people want to label me 'the lecturer girl', then I will wear that label with pride.

I'll still watch the cricket and fangirl over Made In Chelsea though.

Since I've Been Gone

I realise the last post may have been a bit cryptic to those of you who only know me through the blog. So, a few things that have changed since I was last on here:

• I got my dream job
• I no longer live in Cambridge

Er...yeah that's it. I'm so interesting.

Special

The second years were genuinely disappointed that they don't have me tomorrow morning. Get in :)

Version 2.0

Yeah. I'm gonna try and pick up blogging again. I don't have time to read though, so apologies in advance (if any of the old bloggers are actually reading this...which they're probably not).

Also, new me, new blog colour. ish.

Let's see how this goes, shall we?

Seven nights in with the idiot box

Listening to: 'What You Know' by Two Door Cinema Club [Tourist History]

So since I've been awol, I thought I'd share what I get up to in the evenings. Which is basically a lot of TV. In case you weren't aware, Freeview is awesome.

Monday:
2000-2030 - University Challenge (BBC1) - my twitter followers may recall my elation last week as I managed to get 15 questions right (out of, I dunno, 50?). The questions are usually so highbrow, it's a wonder I even understood that many!
2235-2305 - A Question of Sport (BBC1) - clearly Monday night is 'specialist quiz night' in my flat. I pride myself on being able to get the majority of the cricket and tennis questions right (I'm rubbish at other sports, but oh well).

Tuesday:
2000-2100 - Made in Chelsea (E4) - yeah so it's actually broadcast on Monday nights but clashes with QofS so I just watch the repeat on Tuesdays. I thought I would hate these 'staged reality' shows but OHMYGOD it's so much fun. The majority of the characters are either complete a-holes or so posh it should be illegal, which means I have plenty to laugh at.
2200-2230 - Later Live with Jools Holland (BBC2) - half an hour of live music, need I say more?

Wednesday:
2200-2300 - Fresh Meat (Channel 4) - the writers of Peep Show made a tv show about uni students with Joe Thomas off of Inbetweeners and Jack Whitehall...was I ever not going to watch this?

Thursday:

Friday:
2100-2200 - Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1) - starting this week, can't wait! Harry Judd, nom.
2200-2230 - QI (BBC2) - what could be better than Stephen Fry, Alan Davies and a myriad of bizarre facts? Nothing, that's what.
2230-2300 - 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4) - Another random quiz show. With Jimmy Carr, Jon Richardson and Sean Lock (and others). I loves it.

Saturday:
1930-2130 - X Factor (ITV1) - love love love this season. The new judges are brilliant.
Whatever movie's on (this week I have to decide between Frost/Nixon and Shaun of the Dead...or I could watch the latter on ITV1+1)

Sunday:
1945-2100 - X Factor (ITV1) - twice in one weekend, yay!
2100-2200 - Spooks (BBC1) - ah so good. Are real MI5/Russian agents really this easy on the eye? (Oh hi there Sasha! And Dimitri! And Callum!)
2200-2315 - Downton Abbey (ITV1+1) - the terrestrial airing clashes with Spooks, but +1 saves the day! TELL HIM YOU LOVE HIM, MARY! *ahem* sorry.
2315-0000 - The Only Way Is Essex (ITV2+1) - not as good as Made in Chelsea IMO (the characters are too realistic for me to be able to take the piss) but Joey Essex is adorable (albeit incredibly thick) so it's OK.

If I'm bored and there's none of the above on (or it's Thursday), you might find me watching Don't Tell the Bride on BBC3, Poirot on ITV3, or the endless reruns of CSI/CSI:NY/NCIS on 5USA. I've also been known to dabble in a bit of Outnumbered (BBC1), How I Met Your Mother (E4), Big Bang Theory (E4), Cleveland Show (E4), American Dad (BBC3), Family Guy (BBC3) and the Ricky Gervais Show (E4). Oh and if I'm up that late, Misfits and Skins. And there are always one-off documentaries on BBC1/2/3/4 that are quite interesting.

Soooo yeah. Seriously, who needs to illegally download stuff when there's this much good stuff on TV?!

Whinge whinge whinge

Listening to: 'Take It All' by Adele [21]

Just got back from the Dr's. Apparently the back pain isn't anything to worry about, but I've been referred to a physiotherapist just in case. And apparently I should start swimming again 'cos otherwise I'm on the fast track to becoming a cripple. Thanks for nothing, scoliosis.

Combine all this with the lack of money and the fact that a 45min swim session costs £4 (?!), and I am not a happy bunny. Where the hell am I supposed to find ~£20 a month from? Oh and have I mentioned how I don't actually like swimming 'cos it leaves me with a runny nose for the next 24hrs? Although I suppose I'd take a runny nose over using a zimmer frame at 40.

Ugh someone give me a job already.

Um, yeah, hi.

Just checking this thing still works. Everything's changed and I'm not quite sure what I'm doing any more. But yeah.

I'm gonna go now, but I may be back.

The news of me having a life has been greatly exaggerated

Listening to: Radio 1

I've been neglecting this blog. Partly 'cos I've become a tumblrwhore, and partly 'cos I haven't really got anything interesting to put on here. I haven't been doing anything 'interesting' in fact, apart from stalking cricketers.

Hmm let's see what else I've been up to...I've had a fish pedicure (gimmick, but got it on the cheap so why not eh?), I've watched some cricket, I've...yeah OK that's all I've done. The job hunt is soul destroying, so let's not talk about that.

But yeah, I should probably think of something interesting to write here. Maybe.

The battle of the unexpected remixes

Listening to: Radio 1

Most of you will hopefully be familiar with the first single from the forthcoming Foos' album, Rope. It took a while to grow on me, but I'm loving it now.

Some of you will also be familiar with the remix of this single done by a certain Mr Joel Zimmerman, a.k.a. deadmau5. An electro-house remix of a rock song? Surely that's not gonna work? On the contrary (in my opinion at least) - I think it works very well. Here, see for yourself:

Now if that wasn't enough, the amaaaaaaaazing Chase & Status were in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge today with Delilah, and guess what they covered? If you can't guess, go to the top of this post and start reading again :P. But yes, again...a dubstep remix of a rock song? With female vocals? Surely a no-no? Well have a listen:

So what do you think? Personally, I love all three. I think the remixes are faithful to the original without being carbon copies, and they're also faithful to the genres of their respective artists. And I love Delilah's voice.

Die hard Foo Fighters fans might be offended that someone has dared to touch the work of their darlings, but I think it should be taken as a compliment. Especially when the remixes are this good.

British rock, you say?

Listening to: Radio 1

Nothing much to blog about these days, so I'm just gonna share more new British music. Not quirky indie for a change...more 'rock' I guess.

Free - Twin Atlantic

The Waiting Room - We Are The Ocean

Higher and Higher - The Blackout

Interestingly, Twin Atlantic's first EP was produced by Romesh Dodangoda, who also produced The Blackout's first album/EP...and We Are The Ocean have apparently supported The Blackout on tour. Howzzat, fact fans?

Enjoy!

Remembering the remixes

Listening to: Radio 1

It's Sunday...and in my world, that means 'flashback'. A little known fact (or is it?) is that while growing up, my idol was the one and only Mariah Carey. Before she went bat shit anyway. I wanted to be as beautiful and as talented as her. Ah well, one can dream.

Aaanyway, instead of giving you the usual 'single' versions of some of my preferred Mariah tracks, I figured I'd give you the remixes...the ones you may not have heard before.

Dreamlover - Club Joint Mix (not sure if this is an official mix, but I ♥ it)

Fantasy - Bad Boy Remix ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard

Always Be My Baby - Mr. Dupri Mix ft. Da Brat and Xscape

Honey - So So Def Remix ft. Da Brat and Jermaine Dupri

The '90s were cool, yo. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

On the IPL *barf*

Listening to: Radio 1

So I watched a bit of the KKR v DC match a few days back...ugh. Words/phrases that came to mind: tacky, decadent, grotesquely flamboyant. I mean the cricket is good (because the cricketers are good and cricket, in general, is good), but it's masked by ridiculous cheerleaders and nauseating product placement. Why the hell are there cheerleaders?!?! Totally unnecessary (if I wanted to see sexy women shaking their perfectly toned naked midriffs, I'd just watch this). Not to mention it's totally hypocritical in a cultural context, but let's not go there.

Everything about IPL just screams nouveau-riche at me. Maybe I'm being snobbish, I dunno.

Anyway, whatever. I don't know why I care (I mean the way Kallis is playing, Moggie's not gonna get to hold a bat this season anyway). I think the post-WC lull has got me looking for cricket. I'm sort of following county cricket, for goodness' sake! At least there, the focus is on the cricket...I'll take that over IPL any day.

What a start to the New Year!

Listening to: nothing

So yeah, I passed my viva :-)

Happy New Year everybody!

Behold the moment I died and went to heaven

Listening to: my heart thumping

OK so I don't really know how to put this, other than to say...

I JUST MET STEVEN FINN!!!!!!!!!!

Now let me tell you how.

Middlesex CCC are playing Cambridge MCCU this weekend, in Cambridge. In case you've been living under a rock for the past I-don't-know-how-long, England fast bowler Steven Finn plays for Middlesex (along with England captain Andrew Strauss and England batsman - and my future husband - Eoin Morgan). So I knew Finny was gonna be in Cambridge this weekend (the other two are on post-WC leave and IPL duty respectively), and decided to do viva-prep all day and then cycle over to Fenner's for a bit of the afternoon session.

I got to Fenner's and I watched the cricket and took a few photos, all the while surreptitiously trying to spot the delectable Mr Finn. I mean he's 6'7"...surely he can't be that difficult to find? And sure enough, he wasn't...'cos a few mins later I saw him walking towards the bench where I was sitting!!!!!!!!!! He was with another guy who I assumed was a friend. I kinda whimpered "Finny" (I was sooooooo nervous and excited and my heart was RACING) and I don't think he heard me but the other guy did and he stopped and then Finny looked at me and smiled and then I asked "could I get a photo please?" and he said "yeah sure" and then I like a dumbass turned my camera OFF (so classy, PR :-| ). So then I fumbled and turned it back on again and the other guy offered to take the photo so I said yes please. And then I said "hmm maybe I should stand on the bench" and they laughed and then Finny stood next to me (and I almost died) and then we took the photo and then I said "thank you" and he said "no worries" and then I said "good luck" and he said "thanks" and then I sat down and then I realised that the other guy was actually a journalist about to interview him. Oops.

So yeah. I was planning on just getting an extensively zoomed-in picture of his right foot or something, and instead he stood next to me and I got a photo of us. Perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket today?

yes, that's how much I was smiling/blushing

I should probably try and calm down and get some work done now. EEE!

I wish I was this cool

Listening to: Radio 1

That's one of my tags on tumblr. I mean is it too much to ask to be effortlessly cool? I wanna be one of those people that rolls out of bed looking awesome. Haha wishful thinking indeed.

Aaanyway, here are a few songs that make me wish I was cool. It's been a while since a music post so...

Get Away - Yuck

I dunno why, but this reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins

Whirring - The Joy Formidable

Yay, yet another cool Welsh band!

Undertow - Warpaint

Random fact: This video was apparently directed by the girl who came in 40 Days and 40 Nights

If You Wanna - The Vaccines

"What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?" is such a cool album title!

Brick by Brick - Arctic Monkeys

Anyone else feel like they've been transported back to the '60s?

I'm really looking forward to the next Monkeys single. Is "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" an amazing title or what?!

Hope you like this stuff. If you know of any similar music that I may not have come across, feel free to suggest!