Whitechapel - The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

taphead — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:02:47 -0800

So. Uh. I guess there's this girl?

... I just realised I'm doing the thing I really don't like, which is to downplay elation in some weird attempt to create, I don't know, some kind of buffer I guess? Or not to jinx it? Anyway, fuck that nonsense. She's damn awesome and I'm pretty much a-squee. I do believe the way you (or at least I) spend the crossing point is a sign of things to come, and let me tell you, this is not a bad start for 2012.

So, what's been giving you your stupid grins, Chaplains?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

lazarus corporation — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:58:04 -0800

You might want to change the year in the title of the thread, though ;)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

taphead — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:58:57 -0800

*ahem* Thanks, done. :)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:08:30 -0800

@ government spy:Shit,man,your doing so good.And your partner.

You both get a polite,English,reserved hug from me.Don't worry...i've washed my hands!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:25:00 -0800

Trying. Huge bump in the road recently. No drinking, but causing chaos nonetheless. Trying to figure this out. Think we're gonna get some kinda moderator. Embarrassing. I'm having trouble figuring the right way to admit my faults & she's having a hard time forgiving me. I guess so am I.

I read what you're going through Flecky and although we have different shit going on, the part I'm struggling with is where making mistakes doesn't send me down that sick old spiral again. The one that just feeds on defeat and self-loathing, and makes you want to keep screwing up because what's the point?

I'm fighting that bastard right now. Think I'm at a standoff. Not losing but sure as Hell not winning.

Think I'm sleeping on the couch tonight. And have a root canal on Wednesday to look forward to. Fun.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:38:34 -0800

@government spy:I hear you mate.Loud and clear...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:47:44 -0800

Went for about a 6km walk to the mall today and bought a few things that were on sale. A simple thing, but it was good to walk around the city again.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:27:26 -0800

Didn't wear shoes today. Yep, challenging myself already. At least I ate a banana.

(Also figured out my budget for the month & wrote out a hypothetical daily routine on paper.)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:42:16 -0800

It's fun when people don't check their press-lists, we just got a review request for Iron Sky blog of a book called "Tickle My Tush - Mild-To-Wild Analplay Adventures for Everybody". What is even funnier is a colleague ordering a review copy to the office under our team lead's name. I'm easy to amuse today :P

Ohhh, it's so much fun to work in an environment were people really aren't too uptight.

5 minutes after that incident my fiancé got dugong as her spirit animal in this test: http://www.worldwildlife.org/sites/inner-animal/index.html

Today I had to write one of the most difficult mails I've written during my adult life. This day called for a good laugh and a half. Laughter is good :P

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:47:40 -0800

There's a boy.

He thinks I am many things. Things like "fun" and "exciting" and "hot".

He makes me breakfast.

This is what stupid grins were made for.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:27:44 -0800

@rachael HOORAY FOR STUPID GRINS!

Speaking of...today my boyfriend, noting my interest and curiosity in creating artificial gravity in space, wrote a lengthy e-mail discussing it using flirty analogies. I am laughing and blushing and learning.

Also cooking fun! I was at the store and saw some ground veggie chicken and decided to cook that with onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers, cucumber, curry powder and soy milk and serve on a bed of lettuce on toasted focaccia. I overtoasted the bread and I think I'm going to try and find a better tasting fake chicken (or hell, use real chicken), but otherwise it was quite delicious! While I'm not vegan I like making vegan dishes now and then. :)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

DavidLejeune — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:39:56 -0800

@Rachæl :D

You are all of those things.

And I am a wee bit jealous that the boy is not me. C'est ma vie.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:26:30 -0800

@Rachael:Oh yes,i'm happy for you.

Your also honest,cool and been a good mate to me on this site.

Good on ya! :)

@oldhat:Damn,that sounds like a good meal.I've been thinking about going vegetarian again.

I'm listening to me old mucka Syd Barrett.Loved him from about the age of twelve and i always will!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:38:53 -0800

@Vornaskotti: I got Cape Hunting Dog.

Yay...me..?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Alastair — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:56:33 -0800

we're getting a puppy!!!!! :D

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:58:56 -0800

A Cape Hunting Puppy?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:53:19 -0800

I've been dabbling on getting back to drawing comics this year, and poking this pal who draws comics and illustrations to run some kind of small drawing classes or such. Originally I thought it would be just me and her, but some other people got interested and last night we had the first "class". So, first proper drawing session in ten years or so, doing some poses and drawing each others' faces. Goddamn it was fun, and felt great to scrape off the rust from that budding skill as well. It's not like I was ever actually any good at that, but eh, practice, practice, practice... and you can enjoy doing something even though you are not the damn grand master. Looking forward to the future classes and wondering how the hell do I manage with the homework we got assigned :P

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:03:47 -0800

Good friends. They're the best, innit?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:23:13 -0800

Damn straight.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Elfay — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:22:15 -0800

Turned 50 on Monday. Just so you know, you're only as old as the man you feel.
L.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:27:42 -0800

@Fauxhammer:It's a bit funny this.Well,for me,that is.On the new Open Mic it seems you got my name mixed up with Flabyo's.

So when i read "I do my wife's ears all the time"i found myself thinking "What's going on here?"

I immediately heard a line from LUST FOR LIFE by IGGY POP in my debauched skull.

I think he say's "Of course i've had it in the ear before" and,being a sicko,i envisioned a grown man having intimate relations with a woman's ears.Yes,i know-childish toilet humour-i accept responsibility.And when i read "You will be amazed at what comes out" my thought processes went right beyond the u-bend.

I pictured the obvious but also a sorta ear-baby mutant that amazes and makes people shudder in revulsion as it is forced to do tricks in it's little sawdust strewn enclosure at some awful and struggling Victorian travelling circus of curious oddities and manifestations of mating mishaps.

Sorry about that.I can't control what goes on in my head.Nobody want's to hug me tonight.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Alan Tyson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:37:15 -0800

Robin gets here tomorrow. Everything's wonderful.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:38:43 -0800

Ach, gott in himmel. Sorry, F-Boyz.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:44:54 -0800

I've had a night of being social. I like these nights, where I feel like I live in NYC for a fucking reason. I slept for about 15 hours, making up for the activity I've had earlier in the week. I woke, showered, dressed, headed out to meet up with Oldhat and Bankara, headed home, then took a detour to visit a bartender friend on the LES and closed the bar, got a cab home with a fellow I'd just met at the bar who lived near me, then ran into a neighbor as I arrived home at 5am and chatted in my kitchen till after dawn. Now, I sleep! When I wake I shall have the mental oomph to be productive and awesome!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

taphead — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:54:05 -0800

Today:

- The city under a blanket of snow, like PROPER snow.
- A festival of light, with a fire show and goshdarnit all too cute random lanterns all over one of the parks.
- Hot chocolate.
- The Skin I Live In, which was a wonderfully twisted movie. Semi-scifi thrillers might not sound like Almodovar's genre, but. Yeah.
- And I guess that was a date? (I'm new at this.)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:21:43 -0800

Yesterday:

- CAEK. A terrible horrible amount of cake. Pal's wifeyface has her birthday at the Christmas eve or something, she turned 30 and decided to bump the celebrations to January. They've had cake parties earlier (as in: everyone brings cake) but I think this one was the best so far.
- Bubbly. Those who didn't bring cake, brought bubbly. Had just enough of it, until the sister of a pal started pouring drinks which were 1:1 vodka and mixers. My hair is screwed on a bit tight now.
- Pals. New acquaintances and interesting conversations.

Today:
- Waking up to the smell of fresh bread, again. <3
- Probably the last workday in my current job. Feeling kind of wistful, but relaxed. New adventures await.

Oh, and @taphead - you go, girl!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:28:21 -0800

Last night was the lady's birthday.

Last year, we had a big Sushi dinner, with like 6 other people, and while fun, we wanted a more low-key dinner.

We went to this little place called Baba Yega's, and I had a fantastic tuna steak, just perfect. The lady had grilled trout, also very good. Walked home, hand in hand, no one followed us or tried to rob us this time, very great evening.

It's funny the things you start being thankful for.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:38:28 -0800

So, yesterday was my last day working on Iron Sky, and now I'm unemployed for the first time in... shit,15 years or so. Feeling a bit weird about the fact, and about life in general. Good kind of weird, though. I'm feeling relaxed and serene in a way I've never felt before - ever since I got to the university in 1997 I've been driving myself far too hard, always scrabbling up and forward or away from something, but for the first time ever I'm feeling I don't have to do that. I can just... be.

I see some lifestyle changes in the near future, as well as art. A whole lot of art.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

phill_sea — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:29:00 -0800

I see some lifestyle chances in the near future, as well as art. A whole lot of art.

This made me smile, thank-you Vorn. I don't want to know, FYI, if it was a typo or not.

ETA: Since the thread for it sank, I'm pleased I managed to mail my gifts out to all the White Chaplains on the list for the xmes card exchange this year! (They went out Saturday. . . >.> >.<)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:52:38 -0800

In a similar vein to @Vornaskotti, I've just officially applied for my "leave of absence" from college. I'm not sure if or when I'll return, but good god, the idea of having some breathing room to just... sit still for a moment; to feel safe and be able to just breathe and not be frantically feeling guilty for not doing a million pressing things; to be able to actually enjoy and be able to focus when painting, drawing, exercising, READING, socializing.... wow.

I've already been gathering my things for future projects, been doing the small things like making my bed each morning, and have started drawing and photographing again.

Also, the Reznor soundtrack to TGWTDT is just... so perfect for my brain in every conceivable way. Oh Trent, you are so superb at making seething chaotic tension! Mmmmf!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:23:21 -0800

Taking a leave of absence is a good idea if you need it. I wish I had when I was super depressed in late 2009, but instead I decided to stay because I thought that was what I should do, and I ended up failing a bunch of classes and destroying my transcript :/

I saw Tekkonkinkreet last night as per Whitechapel and a local friend's request, and I LOVED it. Such a good movie.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

JP Carpenter — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:07:09 -0800

I still have a jar of stilton from Christmas. It's pretty much sentient now. And that's the way it should be.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

allana — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:18:29 -0800

Had a good weekend, mostly sober, lots of free food, some photography, much cuddling. I'm finally developing some time-management skills as regards under- and oversocializing. And apparently the boy and I are going to take dancing lessons?

Also I might have a copyediting job offer. Don't wanna jinx it, but, yeah. Would be amazing if it worked out.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

phill_sea — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:42:43 -0800

@JP Carpenter Eat its brains! Consume its power!

@allana *crossed fingers* for the maybe thing. In the past, I have found dancing lessons to be a great way to spend time w. a s.o..

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:45:20 -0800

Jesus Christ what a day.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

StefanJ — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:13:31 -0800

I found a drafting / drawing table in the trash yesterday evening. Well, left out by the trash. A "deep discount moving sale," I call it.

Sturdy. Clean. Looks intact. And damned if I know what to do with it.

I used to draw a bit. Mostly descriptive and mechanical drawing. Maps for roleplaying adventures. Model rocket plans.

But while I haven't totally gone over to computer-based drawing and layout, I don't know if dedicating a significant amount of floor space in my little office to this thing.

If there's a Portland OR area Whitechaplainer artist who wants such a thing . . . .

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:57:42 -0800

Mhh theatre. I love my theatre peeps. I love hanging out with them and I love just working at space and reactions and talking about why we do it and... ah... I love it. My chosen art form, plus excellent people who share my love. Always makes a good night.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:11:14 -0800

Okay, so... uh, that was a brief unemployment, then. Quit my work on Sunday, had a work interview on Monday, this morning I got a phone call "can you start tomorrow?", and I've spent today in briefings and handling the paperwork. Guess I'll be the communications co-ordinator of this, then, for the next year or so. :)

Happy wallet is happy, and the department of industrial design seems like a really interesting place to work in.

Blogged about the movie job, too: Leap Into The Unknown – Farewell to Moon Nazis

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:22:07 -0800

TOLD YOU

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:46:32 -0800

Hooray!!!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

JP Carpenter — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:37:36 -0800

@vornaskotti - awesome, well done.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Soviet Rocket No. 9 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:39:02 -0800

Just got Phil Sea's holiday card and mojokingbee's.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

trini_naenae — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:02:43 -0800

Nothing to be giddy about, but I'm working on creative stuff again. Benefits of being unemployed?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:06:26 -0800

My Pokemon Black I ordered on Amazon just got delivered.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:31:05 -0800

Here's why I like NYC. On my way out of the house at 9pm, I see a shiny decked out Mercedes parked in front of a taco stand. I go to a bar in Manhattan, where I discover that a friend of a friend works with my cousin at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and he talks me into coming to the Friday show. The bartender buys my friends and I three rounds of whiskey, and lets us hang for an hour with the gate closed so we could smoke. Three am brings amazing artichoke pizza, and the subway ride home provides the company of a squat punk protestor fellow from Iowa, and gives me the rest of his Keebler mint chocolate cookies. We are now friends on facebook.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Flabyo — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:12:44 -0800

Tekkonkinkreet should be the official anime of this forum.

Although I suspect most of you would find the original manga 'black and white' much cooler.

It's kind of like the Scott Pilgrim movie compared against the comic book. Film is cool, but source destroys it.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:23:13 -0800

I also got Phill_sea's card today! Thank you!! :)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Beamish — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:30:47 -0800

Me too Phill, many thanks cuz (apparently I need to speak more Americany).

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

phill_sea — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:52:31 -0800

@All card received-eers, You're quite welcome!
@Beamish, my Stoke Podges cousin refers to me as Cuz --not helping your case!

[[[I would only post sentiment like this in this thread, have no fear mods]]]
White Chaplains mean a lot to me, so, like the cards said, "Thank-you." !

ETA: Tuition Reimbursement came through this morning. I can pay bills! And fix my roof! And pay for college! WOOT.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Beamish — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:47:44 -0800

@Phill Bollocks to that mate.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:35:03 -0800

I hope everyone is ok.I miss coming on here in the dark hours to splurge my madness.

Good stuff:I've been able to get around London without my crap N.H.S stick quite a bit recently and my pins have not been as irritatingly tingly-numb which was making it really hard for me to concentrate on reading etc.I'm just trying to take advantage of it as i have to be realistic about my geriatric puny human legs.

I'm vile and i've been hugged today.By people.Real people.Strange but true...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:06:24 -0800

I finally have internet! Well, that's one thing.

So Washington DC has proven to be a hell of a lot of fun. The museums were wonderful (I got to see Julia Child's kitchen despite it being closed for rennovations! The power of the puppy eyes, I tell you.) and I just plain geeked out in the Library of Congress' photography archives.

And Alan...I've been having a really great time with him. Part of me was worried about what we would be like for longer than the day and a half we normally have for each other in person, but we make a pretty damn good team! And soon we will be making beer together!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

JP Carpenter — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:08:55 -0800

I went for a walk in the park (Lincolns Inn Fields). Which has broken my phobia about exercise and somewhat compensated for my diet consisting only of cake over the last couple of days.

And my smallest daughter insisted on hijacking my bath in order to 'make me into a snowman' with foam, which amused her enormously, and by extension, me, because it was highly cute.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

dorkmuffin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:24:48 -0800

@JP Carpenter, that's fucking adorable. Cheers.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

RenThing — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:19:29 -0800

Yesterday I lost the flash drive I take everywhere. It has a lot of my work in progress on it, some older story files, gaming stuff, basically my general nerdery. I'd just started a short story and was three thousand words into it, which isn't a lot but I liked the tone. Anyway, I didn't wake-up my computer out of sleep mode all day yesterday and this morning, when I did, I discovered that I still had the story file open. I copy and pasted the info into a new file, saved it to my new flash drive and my backup on DropBox and didn't lose any of the data. Very happy.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:14:52 -0800

Listening to Balkan Gypsy (yes, I know the preferred term is Romany, but hey) music and getting amped for a friday night in NYC with a group of photographers. Spent the last week editing my OWS portrait series for big time photo competitions and actually feeling pretty good about my odds, for once. Getting back on on track after major Holiday related swerves off the rails. Writing my daily allotment of pages. Shooting a lookbook this weekend. Getting back in the studio with the magnificent bastard of a photographer that I work for. Next is a resumption of regular rock climbing and yoga and meditation and all that stuff that I know is good for me and I enjoy but that I somehow manage to avoid doing.

@Oldhat, glad to hear that you are having an amazing time in DC. It was awesome to meet you in NYC on your way down. Adding that to my highlights reel here. Life is good, folks. That is all.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:03:09 -0800

Just got rear-ended. No big deal, no damage to conveyance or organics, but it sure was interesting.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:37:12 -0800

After two and and a half years, I finally can get Medicare starting in February.

I've just realized something. It's a friday night, my head pressure is hurting, I'm spending the night in watching videos about my brain problems provided by The Chiari Institute.

The Chiari Institute: the brain specialists that are generally considered the best in the country, the ones that happen to be right on Long Island, the ones that don't take any health insurance, the ones that charge between $30,000 to $90,000 for the needed brain surgery, the ones that I've been dreaming of going to for the past 8 years of my life, tortured that they are a 45 minute drive away and yet so financially inaccessible, the ones I'd filled out all the paperwork for and sent my records to, the ones who said I was a good candidate, the ones that my mom told me to make an appointment with and then cancelled a month later....

The one thing they do accept is fucking Medicare.

omg.

I... I could be seen by them by summer.

I'm actually crying.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:53:15 -0800

@Rachæl:

\o/

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

JP Carpenter — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:04:01 -0800

@Racheal - YAY!!!!! Hope you get a damn break at last.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:09:44 -0800

Wrote a sad prison story today.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

nelzbub — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:22:54 -0800

Gov spy- I think you will be the one to finally make me get the interweb in the house, cos I can't be reading that at work and blubbing at my customers!
@ Rachael- that's great news, hope the year continues to bring more of the same.
As for me, things are moving in surprising directions with the coffee shop but I'm not going to share until I know for sure what is going to happen for fear of jinxing it.
hugs all round.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

DavidLejeune — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:00:50 -0800

Found a decent crepe place within walking distance of my apartment.

@Rachael: Fanastic news! Sending good vibes, as always.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:54:33 -0800

@Rachel - Awesome! *high five*

@fauxhammer ACH Fucking suck! I hope you & everyone are alright. Been through enough wrecks on my own - even when I'm ok the situation is still a big crapfest to deal with. Here's a *vile hug* for you.

Did pretty much nothing today. Why? Well I started drinking yesterday around 930 at a cheapo bar, waiting for people more than hour late to their own party. Naturally kept drinking after they showed up. Continued drinking in the wee hours when we relocated to their house and was trashed enough in the predawn hours to partake of a little MJ - which I haven't done since college.

So yeah, I've either been unconscious today or moving very, very slowly. At least I finally got in a shower.

It's been a great day. }:>

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

allana — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:15:07 -0800

Tempted to start a renegade Open Mic since what I have to contribute isn't especially hug-worthy.

After a multi-hour comedy of bureaucratic errors while trying to renew my health card yesterday (yes I just moved and no I don't insist on being sent paper bills -- why am I being punished for being reasonable and conscientious? Why haven't you noticed the 21st century, dear government?) I finally got the diagnosis: that weird spot on my back I noticed a few days ago is officially a full-blown infection. So I cancelled all my blood-letting and wrestling plans for the day, because I'm disgusting and no one should ever touch me again. Then after about six hours of feeling sorry for myself I came back to reality and took a picture. And then the people on the internet (who are apparently also unable to have exciting Saturday nights) liked it a whole lot. So that was nice, I guess.
So now I'm post-processing a bunch more shots from the rope-bondage thing, and obsessively watching every Youtube video with Mark Lamarr in it. (Marry me.) And, you know, eating peanut butter from the jar, and all that other stuff you do when you're trying to distract yourself from being OH SO ITCHY
(Hey didn't I just go through this ridiculous itchy skin thing a month or two ago? Yes. Yes I did. What the fuck? you ask. What the fuck, indeed.)

Also I spent several hours transcribing a fifty-minute-long interview which was mostly solid gold, then having to cut it down from 5,000 words to 1,700. Which is probably still 700 too many. I guess we'll see.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:58:46 -0800

Yesterday was one of those kind of low-key awesome days. On Friday night spent some time writing and reading in a bar, then off to home and to bed after a short session of Crimson Alliance with the fiancé. Slept like a damn ton of bricks, the kind of sleep that follows after unwinding from horrible amount of stress. Up late and refreshed, out into the world to a great art exhibit with Russian avant-garde from the early 1900's, which really hit the spot with me. Something about the clear colors and the cubistic shapes they preferred just appeals to me. Of course, RUSSIAN CUBO-FUTURISM just sounds pretty damn cool :)

Upstairs there was another exhibition, this one was from Akseli Gallen-Kallela, who's a rather well known Finnish painter from the same era. A lot of his work is about Finnish nature or about the Finnish national epic Kalevala. I'm not nationalistic as such, but seeing those paintings live, especially the Kalevala ones, made me go surprisingly misty and get a lump in my throat. (Kalevala has actually had surprising amount of influence in fantasy literature via Tolkien, who picked some of his stories almost directly from there. Found an English translation of the book online, for those who are interested.)

The high art was followed by dinner in Ilves, which is a bar/restaurant attached to the biggest and oldest rock club in Finland, and that place usually leaves you waddling out carefully and looking for a maternity clothes store to contain your aching gut. It was followed by some low culture indeed, the second film I almost walked out of ever: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. It was so fucking dumb it was embarrassing, and not good entertaining kind of dumb, but just dumb-dumb.

An evening of video games, West Wing and good reading, feeling really happy and content, and relaxed. The latter hasn't had a big place in my emotional inventory for far too long.

Life is good.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:19:39 -0800

Welp...It's 5.53am and I'm on a train heading for NYC where I'll be doing a very quick transfer to the train heading back to Toronto. I'd sleep, but there's a businessman speaking in phone voice about the trends of "Black America". So with my current awake time I may as well give a little update.

This past week was fucking amazing.

To elaborate a bit more, it was wonderful seeing some of the sights that Washington, DC and the good state of Virginia have to offer. The museums, the four-hour walks in the city, the beer (Dear LORD, the beer. Highlights included a Dogfish Head World Wide Stout that had been aged for 1 year!), nerding out in the Library of Congress' Photography archives (I'm considering my library card there the ultimate souvenir) and hanging with Alan and meeting with his friends (one who threatened me with death if I hurt him!). Oh! A fun thing was discovering a hotdog place on Capitol Hill called DC-3 and getting a free "Spicy Special" hotdog for free because the Food Network show Hot Spots was filming there and needed people to interview while trying it out. They ended up having enough people, but I still got the free dog and impressed the Food Network people by saying the special, which was stuffed with chili peppers, could have been hotter.

And on that whole relationship front, happy to report that things went well. I knew that in this week we'd see a bit more of each other on a day-to-day (and more human) basis and I was a touch worried how that would go. Turns out we're still pretty crazy about each other, so hooray! Going out to dinners aside, the best moments I had were laughing at his jokes as he drove me to the morning commute bus, watching Mission Hill or The Untouchables with him, waking up/falling asleep in the same bed as him and, this was awesome, BREWING with him (and this recipe of his creation is exciting us all. Less than 24 hours and it was bubbling every two seconds!).

And while I'm already missing the hell out of him, I'm happy that I have someone like that in my life.

Right, may need to think about packing this computer. My stop is near and I need to prepare to do a dash to get a really good seat with leg room.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Beamish — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:39:14 -0800

The new semester starts Tuesday, it is the first of three for the year and by the end I will have a piece of paper that says I have an Associates Degree in Network Administration. Then I will start the hunt for a job that is, vastly, different from where I am currently at, I am very excited for this. It will be a long, and grouchy, year that will end very well. Aside from that I've been very tired, all the time, even after sleeping a full night, which I know has to do with my weight problems (read being very fat), but between work, school and my duties at church, I do not have much time for much else. That being said, I have, since I started being food conscious, lost nearly 100 pounds. The rotten part is that I am still fat, just less so now.

@oldhat and @anchorbeard I am so very happy for the both of you and wish you the best. I can honestly say this the first time in years that I've seen a relationship start on message boards and twitter after reading the twitter back-and-forth thinking, they should probably just get together.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

JP Carpenter — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:48:03 -0800

@oldhat - that's really cool, wishing you both well.

Did the best thing for a scattered mind today, found a big sodding bloody hill and marched to the top of it. Harting Down on the South Downs, not been there before, but it was a sunny day, and you could see ships in the English Channel from the top of it.

Back to the purgatory of work tomorrow, but at least I got some fresh air.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:37:17 -0800

Theatre nerd like whoa. Reading a fantastic, weird new play called ROADKILL CONFIDENTIAL that I am absolutely convinced is right and perfect for my company. It's funny and dark and asks some pretty hard questions. Then we sat around after for an hour to talk about it and it was just a fun exercise (for me) in nerding out about theatre criticism, literary analysis.

Then on the way out I was handed a big old project to nerd up over the next week. Anyone who's ever read Jean Genet, absurdism, and in particular Theatre of Cruelty, knows these are some seriously dense subjects. And, better yet, I have to get as deep into the history of the French-Algerian war and as many aspects of Alegerian (and Moroccan) culture as possible. Dude, I was asked to go be nerd! }:>

Now if only there were some pay in all this...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:54:43 -0800

Just when I thought last weekend couldn't get more awesome, it did. I've struggling a bit with creative stuff and it's been ages since I've really "fallen through the screen", but that's what happened yesterday. I lost a damn hour, just writing and coding, without realizing where I was, totally engrossed in the process. It really has been ages since that kind of flow has happened, I was and am so happy I could dance.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:15:26 -0800

Wrote about saving someone's life. Also: lots of vomiting.

Also, someone reminded me of the food loaf.

This is what happens, if you're in solitary confinement and you act like a jack ass. Normally officers serve your meals on a tray through a very small food slot. If you try to assault the staff with your utensils, or throw food at the officers, or generally act inappropriately involving your meals, you will be served a food loaf.

I have not seen it during my time with the Feds, but back when I worked at a Texas state facility, it would consist of whatever the regular meal was, baked into a brick-shaped food loaf. That meant if the meal was spaghetti, green beans and mashed potatoes with jello for dessert, it would all be baked together. I can't imagine it would taste good. But there it is in all its glory.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:22:27 -0800

I'd eat it.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:06:13 -0800

My new job is really nice, I'm again surrounded by talented and creative people in an interesting project, and my job is to poke my nose into every part of it to see what happens. I see a pattern forming here, and the pattern is good.

I noticed this week, though, that the new job started a bit too quickly considering how brain-tired I've been, so I basically took a three day sickie for stress and work exhaustion and fucked off to the cabin. This was not skipping work, but a couple of legitimate sick days. I've been working on four jobs at the worst times throughout the autumn, including most weekends, and I got half a day of pause when switching jobs, so I think I really need to cool down my brain.

So, arrived here yesterday night. Nice banks of snow everywhere. Fired up the sauna, faffed around on the net a bit - then an evening sauna to sweat out the demons, walking naked through the yard in a January night and slipping under warm covers in the cabin, next to a roaring fireplace, with a book and a laptop. Waking up in the morning in a warm comfortable nest under the covers to the sound of snow and wind storm howling outside.

This defines coziness and relaxation.

Sadly I can't really ski or go to the lake: when I went to make a hole for drinking water, the ice crackled and dropped down in an area few meters in diameter around me when I stepped on it, and whereas it's usually almost half a meter thick on that shore, now two good whacks of the ice spear made a hole. I don't think I'll be going somewhere where there's 50 meters of water below my feet...

So, planning on spending the days coding a game, reading, playing IF, smoking fish and barbecuing meat, and poking my nose out if the weather permits. I think that come Sunday, I'll be one really mellow guy.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Soviet Rocket No. 9 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:02:06 -0800

I found a dog wandering the street when I came out of work, got him on a porch, called the number on his tag, and got him back to his owner.

That's all.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Peter Kelly — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:01:44 -0800

@Mostly Harmless - WIN! That was the shortest, happiest story I've ever read.

@oldhat - Reading the joy in your posts as of late brings joy to me.

Me? well posting under my real name makes it a bit awkward to share things at times...Frankly, i usually share too much and talking about work can be....bad for one's career at times. That said, I need to share this. (though I reserve the right to come to my senses and edit everything below out)

My role at work changed about a year and a half ago and while it was a great move upward for my career at the time, it's since turned into middle management. I don't do any of the stuff I was hired to do (and am really fucking good at), i don't feel respected a lot of the time and when I was approached last spring about moving across the country for an amazing job I was more then ready to jump ship....then they offered the job to some one else instead.

Which sent me into a 6 month spiral of frustration and anger and blah blah blah.

Just before X-mas my wife verbally bitch slapped me, told me all the things I needed to hear (but didn't want to) and snapped my out of my funk.
I've genuinely changed my attitude. I'm happier, and while not LOVING my job, I'm making the best of it and I'm nicer to be around (mostly).
Tonight, I came home to a simple e-mail that came from across the country asking me if i was still interested in heading out there to do all the things I am really fucking good at doing. Now I haven't actually been offered the gig, and I don't know that I will take if I am, but I feel like a million bucks right now.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

dorkmuffin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:19:53 -0800

This isn't so much vile hugging as grudging optimism.

A while back I posted in an open mic thread that I have a paralyzed vocal cord. I also talked about how I used to be a singer. Well, I basically stopped singing because, shame on me, it was too fucking hard. It depressed the shit out of me that I wasn't as good as I used to be.

(and I used to be GOOD. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but we're talking senior district choirs in high school, and even all-state once. As a soprano, and sopranos are a dime-a-fucking-dozen. I was in several singing groups in high school, had solos a lot, could sing insanely difficult stuff, and I had a 3+ octave range.)

Well this is where I am now.

I was listening to Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn and realized it was basically right in my old range. So I figured I'd record myself singing a bit of it as a "progress" report of some sorts. Some fucking progress right now.

And I'll be honest, it's depressing as hell. The "lower" parts of that song are right on a break and my low voice has been fucked for years now. I'm not hitting notes. Granted, the microphone in my computer isn't doing me any favors, but still. It's really frustrating.

However, it's something. I'm getting a little more clarity than I used to. Maybe I'll get back to being able to sing without constantly having to focus on my breathing some day. Besides, I only just started my voice therapy, and it's focusing more on speech than on singing. SO that's something.

Ugh. Fucking fuck ass.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:50:03 -0800

Ugh, just got out of an hour and half long argument with my sister, who is bi-polar and a recovering addict. I want to help her be OK but I feel like there is literally nothing I can do for her because she cannot fucking listen to anyone else and her entitlement, jealousy, pride, and anger are out of control. She is breaking up with her fiance because she cannot let go of her jealousy. There is no one else on Earth who gets under my skin like she does. It seems to be her talent with most folks, actually. The screaming matches that she got into with my mother when I was a kid put me off of raising my voice for a lifetime and yet she is so infuriating that all I want to do is scream at her, shake her, and tell to grow the fuck up. She is 11 years older than me and yet she acts like a 14 year old. I love her, she is blood, and she understands me better than most anyone but she infuriates me because she uses that knowledge against me. 8 years ago I walked into a crack house in LA with one of her oldest friends and after a week of visiting her I pulled together a crew of people who still loved her and staged an intervention and got her into rehab. She has been clean since and I give her massive credit because no one comes back from where she has been but she still expects the world to pat her on the back and congratulate her when what she actually needs to do is take responsibility for herself and her life and move the fuck on! I have a lot of friends who have been through the rooms and almost all of them have come out on the other side as better people so perhaps I am just perplexed at why she is the sole exception. She never recovered from our father's death when she was 18 and I try, I really fucking try, to be sympathetic but I of all people shouldn't have to be. That was my Dad too and I was only 8 fucking years old! I ain't perfect, far from it, but I don't expect the world to roll over on its backside for me and I went through the exact same shit as she did. I have fought, struggled, failed, gotten better, failed again, crashed, fought harder, and then come out on the other side of that shit only through sheer stupidity and perseverance and yet when I try to talk sense to her she cannot hear a fucking word of it.

So, the fight began because I defended that same friend who helped me to save her, who just went through a bitter divorce and is heart-broken, but who failed to call my sister when she came to town on business because her job is super-intense and she simply cannot invite my sister into her life right now because of the superfly-TNT-atomic-bomb-shitting nightmare that my sister is. I defended the woman who convinced me that my sister's life was worth saving and she fucking excoriated me for it. Because she knows better than me. Always has, apparently.

Why the fuck would I add this to this thread? Perspective, mostly. Venting, partially. Once the vent has run its course though I have to admit that as infuriating, frustrating, maddening, and hateful as my sister can be I am grateful for every fucking day that she is alive and it would break my heart right in two if anything ever happened to her. I have to step up now and be her big brother again. She would fucking KILL ME if she ever heard me refer to myself as such, but that is who I am. We got a long way to go. I aim to be there every step of the way. I love her, she is my family.

I guess too, that I add this here because I could use the vilest, most base, and slime covered hugs that this forum has to offer. Thanks for listening, Whitechapel.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

taphead — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:46:40 -0800

You've got it, Bankara. Take care.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:22:44 -0800

That's the idea. Thanks, mate.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Peter Kelly — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:54:13 -0800

@bankara - might be a day late, but hugs my friend. Massive, awkwardly long hugs.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:01:12 -0800

Bankara, she's lucky she has you. I had bipolar friend once and she sounds just like what your sister described, only I stopped being her friend before we got too close because I noticed she had a pattern of wanting to sabotage the lives of people who had at one point been the people she loved most - she'd have an episode and once she recovered felt like she needed "revenge" on the very people who were trying to get her through it. It was very strange, and difficult to deal with. So, I'm glad to hear that she has you to stick by her side, because lord knows I didn't stick around for some of the troubled bipolar people I knew. That shit it very emotionally difficult (and like I said, I didn't want to be one of those people she tried to get undeserved "revenge" on just because she had an episode. So, I feel bad having distanced myself, but am also glad that I did it before she got too attached to me. It's...an odd situation).

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:40:47 -0800

Thanks, y'all. I just hadda get it off my chest so that the poisonous weight couldn't drag me down. A long late night bullshit session with a good friend and an inspiring lecture series at the Guggenheim museum will do wonders to buoy one's humours and restore confidence that all is not fucked. I am pissed off at the girl but I can put that aside and just be there for her. Ain't nobody else to do it so it is gonna have to be me. I am ready for it this time, I think. Seriously, thanks guys for the kind words.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:12:16 -0800

@Bankara people you love having mental/emotional issues is damn, damn hard. *vile damn hug*

I have done theatre today. Now I sleep the sleep of the artistically justified. Assuming my brain lets me.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

RenThing — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:06:07 -0800

My son, who has been in the hospital since Thursday night when we took him in for a 104.6 degree temp (103 for nine month-olds is the "go to the doctor NOW" temp) is finally starting to do better. Two IV antibiotics killed the eye and ear infections and he is getting over his RSV (a virus that usually hits kids like colds hit adults only it can hit a lot harder because their immune systems aren't as mature). Unfortunately, we won't be coming home until Monday at the earliest; his oxygen levels while sleeping need to come up and his feeding needs to get better so he doesn't get dehydrated again (he was so dry it took five nurses six attempts over the course of an hour and a half to find a vein to tap to put in the IV). It sounds a lot more serious than it was, and it was serious enough to require being treated right away, but he never was in any danger of anything life-threatening (at that point, thankfully) although that didn't keep me from worrying about it. If he keeps up his recovery we will hopefully be going home on Monday.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:13:59 -0800

Damn, apparently the small cool-down brain-holiday in the countryside really did something good (made a video-hello from there for Whitechapel) today I slept late and thought the day was lost. Got up, went out for a coffee intending to read a bit, but ended up writing a blog post and a whole article, which will net me some 400€. Back home, great sex, cooking some salmon selyanka, watching the new Sherlock, and almost started writing a second article, but got stuck watching the first round of our presidential election, which saw my candidate, who's from the Green party and an openly gay guy, to get to the second round. Considering what happened in our parliamentary election, ie. a landslide to Christian-socialist nationalistic "immigration-critical" populist party, this was very good thing indeed. Now a little bit of Bastion and then to bed to read.

What an awesome day.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Osmosis — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:21:34 -0800

What an awesome day.

I've been inside all day, reading for my next post-grad presentation. I found it really hard last year combining university and work, and since being back at work this year I've felt much more balanced and at ease. I don't always get to do what I've done today and completely immerse myself in journals, books, arguments, but whenever I do it's tremendous.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:54:08 -0800

Just finished brewing an amber ale. In 1 month it will be alcoholic, carbonated beer. Mmmmm....

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oddbill — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:40:53 -0800

In one month I will be driving down to San Diego again, I think.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:30:01 -0800

woohoo! I'll let you know when it's done so you can plan accordingly.

My airlock is steadily bubbling away! Hooray fermentation!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:40:21 -0800

It was gorgeous and unseasonably warm in NYC today, put some air in my tires and rode 20 miles, took a break to do some bouldering and basically just pretended it was spring. Awesome day! I can get through winter now.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

StefanJ — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:29:15 -0800

Finished and submitted an RPG project last Saturday. I was pretty damn blocked on finishing it . . . mostly, the tedious game mechanics stuff. And the maps . . . six pages of graph paper maps.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

RenThing — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:31:36 -0800

@Oddbill

Where are you that you will be heading south to San Diego, if you don't mind me asking?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:32:20 -0800

I made Parsnip Soup and it was fucking DELICIOUS. And definitely a chill-buster. Damn. I'm saving some for tomorrow night.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oddbill — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:31:21 -0800

@RenThing - Los Angeles. You?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:06:23 -0800

Oh crap...I missed the open mic.

My chance to spew vitriol out has gone so here i dare rear my ugly head.Vile.Hugged.

What's good? Well,i've resisted all urges to smash my face off the kitchen sink.The end result wouldn't be too pretty so that's a no-no.I'm still getting around without my shit walking stick.You'd think that would make me happy.It does a bit.

I got the dreaded interweb writers block.Seriously.I can't think of anything to say.So before i step on some animal poo and flies lay maggot eggs on my manhood i'd better just sign on ze dotted line and scuttle off.

Take care all.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

dorkmuffin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:14:48 -0800

FLECKYYYYYYY! You've returned!!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:39:31 -0800

@dorkmuffin:Thanks for that.

I'm tempted to smile yet fear it may set off a chain of events so hideous that the filth will boot my door in forcing me to take my travelling flea-husk circus on the road again.We didn't earn much on our last tour of West London.It's not like the good old days when high-society used to flock to see my pretties perform and the internet was on paper.

Gor blimey,guvnor!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Littlepurplegoth — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:32:54 -0800

I'm fighting the urge to say sod-it and find myself in London HOURS early for the thing I'm going to (on my own! argh!) which will inevitably end up with me buying trashy american magazines in Selfridges...

On the plus side - finding here has been quite inspirational.

Now, need a swift kick up the jacksy to ring an editor who appears to be ignoring the email that *they asked me to send*...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

RenThing — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:10:00 -0800

@Oddbill

The Bay Area, San Jose to be specific. If you were up this way I'd offer to get some beers out.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:08:28 -0800

Don't know where else to put this, but I had to share...

It's my Monday morning today, and I just walked on my housing unit. One of my orderlies motions for me to come over and talk to him. Hes sitting with another orderly, they're both Aryan Brothers. He says, "Hey Fireball (this other inmate) got a book about how to get sentence reductions. One of the ways says an inmate can get a sentence reduction if they were raped by a guard. So we were wondering..."

I just kind of look at him.

"Yeah, so anyways we thought it would be better if it was a white guard. Or an Asian would be better..."

Then I just start laughing. Thanks for a good Monday morning, guys. I just know the rest of the week is gonna be OK.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:28:21 -0800

I feel like my time is coming.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:43:33 -0800

@government spy, that is brilliant, it is like a scene out of one of Warren's books. Wouldn't be surprised if he nicked it. Who says the brotherhood doesn't have a sense of humour?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:27:33 -0800

@government spy - That's awesome.

Me, I've managed to not fall apart in the face of adversity, and seem to be looking at things in a positive way. I've got bedbugs (and it seems that I'm the host of choice), so most of my furniture (couch, bed, dresser, shelves, rugs, end tables, all cardboard) will have to go, and I've got to shed as much of my stuff as I can manage. Just about all the hard work i've put into making this apartment feel like a home will be dashed. I've been kicking ass getting my stuff in order, and probably wrecked a lot of my clothes by roasting them in the drier on HIGH for over an hour. It's forcing me to reevaluate what is important. I'm looking at it in an optimistic fashion, using it as a way to shed the past and better prepare for wherever my next move will bring me, which may present itself soon. I will work my stuff down to the bare minimum. Yes, this will actually make my life easier in the long run.

The cute boy who was interested in me seems to be interested no longer, which is a shame and I hope isn't the case. But regardless, it has been awesome to have someone to be silly about for a while, and it reminded me that I could .... y'know... date. And enjoy myself. With an attractive and intelligent person.

So, hey, look at me, not being doom and gloom, even when I totally have reasons to.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:09:23 -0800

@rachael, damn. Fuck bedbugs. It can be a good and worthwhile thing to pair down one's possessions but not when they are contaminated with itchy-bitey things. Also, fuck cute boys with short attention spans. Just sayin'. You got a lot of reasons not to dwell on the doom and gloom, just try to keep those at the front of the line.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:15:10 -0800

@Bankara - Yeah, fuck bedbugs indeeeeed. This week has been pretty horrific as far as how physically grueling it can be to go through EVERYTHING YOU OWN, but... it's a good justification to get rid of everything that had a bad association with it. Itchy Bitey has blessed me with INCENTIVE. Also, I'm not sure that cute boy is distracted out of being interested, or if my mentioning of happiness at being able to probably get brain surgery soon spooked him. I've no idea. I've had a lot of people not able to deal with my health stuff, but then, I've had guys get scared off because I was too good at sex, so who the hell knows?

I love my70's brown striped velour sectional couch so fucking much, and it kills me to dump it, but... *breathe* ... it will free me from expense and hassle later when I move, or have to battle bedbugs again in the future. I get to eliminate massive amounts of my things, feeling the freedom of having the choice taken from me.

For some reason I feel like having to purge this much stuff will make time hurry up, and my next stage of life will arrive more promptly and completely.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:17:11 -0800

@Rachel

I went through Bedbug Hell for several months, and I didn't have to throw everything away. I ditched the mattresses in bedrooms, but we saved everything else. We made the landlord spray the apartment probably three times with KILL BEDBUG SPRAY, and I suffered for a while while we waited for eggs to hatch and then KILL THEM ALL AGAIN, THIS TIME DEAD, but it was worth it not to destroy everything we owned...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:31:06 -0800

So... I could save my couch?!?

I love my couch. Dammit.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:51:36 -0800

So. We got a new TV.

I have problems with where it's placed (On top of our previous TV/stereo shelf. The area where the TV goes in is too small so it's on top of everything leaving a GIANT 32"x32" hole in the centre of everything) and I doubt I'll be able to play video games on it much because my father feels that the TV is HIS and not the family's, but...

We got a new TV. It's huge and wonderful. And I'll be able to play on it now and then.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:12:56 -0800

A guy friend had apologized to me for his hand in excluding me and any other womenfolk from a certain event. He didn't qualify, pass the buck or get defensive, he just explain how it came about (as dumb little things like this happen, it was quite organic) and accepted that letting it carry on so long when others had complained was wrong and he said he was sorry.

*smile* I love my friends.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:27:00 -0800

@Rachel

Honestly, I don't know what I can tell you. Bedbugs nearly drove me insane. I hadn't ever really knew what they were before. I spent several months just itchy, before I was uncomfortable enough to start complaining that something was wrong. They never bothered my girlfriend, so I thought it was just me. Then I went to a doctor who told me I was infected with some unknown parasite. I had to use some weird cream to put on the bites that was supposed to kill them dead. It kept happening. Then we moved downstairs after we had the drug dealers evicted. Then we found the bugs, and thought they were tiny roaches. Then we finally figured out they were bedbugs. Then we were completely disgusted. Because we were able to convince the landlord that the bugs were from the drug dealers, they became his responsibility. The landlord sprayed for the bugs. Then a couple weeks later, they showed up again, then his exterminators sprayed again. Several weeks later we had them do it again. Thankfully, he paid for the exterminators every time we complained. I don't know if that's an option for you.

Now I lie awake at night, itching from phantom bedbugs. I don't honestly know whether they are gone or not. I don't want to tell my girlfriend if I think I have bites because I don't want her to freak out. They don't bite her, so I don't know if it's all in my head or not. I'm still going crazy.

So whatever option you do take, do the one that will make you feel satisfied that the motherfuckers are gone.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

mister hex — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:49:16 -0800

So get this: I got a job. (Hold your applause, it's a shit job. Retail. The grocery industry, if you must know. At least I'm employed.) Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE, even people who have been there for years) has to have "Customer Service Training". Seriously. I have to sit in a room for two hours (paid, apparently) to be trained how to play nice with customers. I HAVE WORKED IN RETAIL SINCE 1986 or thereabouts. I worked in a bookstore for TEN YEARS - do you know what that entails? Finding titles based on the sketchy and incomplete requests from customers? "I can't remember the author. Or the title. Or what it's about. But the cover is blue."

I view this as a chance to either a) not take this seriously and have a lot of fun (show up drunk, ask foolish questions like "is it okay to call a customer a polak? What if they're not actually Polish?", mutter violent obscenities under my breath, you get the idea) or b) take it SO seriously, I get a new job at the corporate level as the new Customer Service Training Expert and travel troughout the land, telling my colleagues that no, you should never refer to a customer as a polak.

Of the two, I prefer option a. It involves showing up drunk (which I'm good at), a certain level of humor and piss-taking. Sticking it to the Man- kinda thing. Furthere updates as they occur.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:44:12 -0800

Congrats on the job!

In-between working for the Feds, I got a job as a butcher at a grocery store, and after I started sleeping with the hot HR lady, it really gave me some promotion opportunities. Cant recommend that enough.

That and being the grizzled veteran working with a bunch of high-schoolers made for interesting conversations.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:12:12 -0800

Let me tell you, having neuropathy (which makes me feel like I have insects crawling on my skin, with the creepy crawling and small pains and sudden itching) and bedbugs at the same time makes for some crazy person paranoia.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:38:49 -0800

@ government spy:I do love your post about your orderlies.It's hilarious stuff.

I'm no longer a petty-criminal so even if i did something "naughty" i doubt i would end-up behind bars again.My stint in Young Offenders at 19 was hideous:24 hour lock-up on some days.No medication in those days if you where a junkie.
Going to see the governor...
"Name?"
"79364994 etc Flecky,Sir."
"Ah,Flecky,is it.I see your in here for...let's see...getting caught,yes?"
"Yes sir,that's right,sir!"
"How are things,boy?Enjoying the slop and taking showers with perverts who keep dropping the soap?"
"Yes sir.When i get out i'm going to be a new man and lead a productive life.Honest,sir."
"Excellent,boy.That's the spirit.You can't beat the good old English penal system,wot!?"

What a load of crap.I ended up in the notorious Brixton "Fraggle Rock" Mental Wing a few years later.Only till i could get bail.I believe the place has been shutdown now for sometime as it was so barbaric.Made Arkham Asylum seem like good fun.

Such fond memories.Lovely...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

dorkmuffin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:59:32 -0800

Dear Tea Tree Oil (capitalized because I'm personifying it so I figure I should probably ask it properly, and give it the credit of being a proper noun),

Please get rid of the totally out-of-character acne cyst on my nose. GUH! EW!

C

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:12:03 -0800

Oh my God I'm tired. Oh my God. Theatre. Will you marry me? I know I've asked you before and you've sniffed and waited for me to prove it and I just kind of bummed around, and it's true I'll have to make my bread and butter elsewhere, but I swear, I'll still love you best. I'll always love you. It's possible I can only love you.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:32:57 -0800

@Rachael:I hope your battle against those bastard bedbugs isn't giving you too much grief.I've had to nuke various forms of critters over the years.Some of a most disgusting nature..
I was well happy to read about the Medicare and i want you to know i really hope you get the treatment/surgery that you should be entitled to.February is almost here and i'm sure everyone is rooting for you.

@razrangel:When i was younger i was in a amateur theatre company and we put on some crazy-as-hell productions in a few venues,universities etc.Afterwards,in the bars,students used to ask me questions about "hidden meanings" etc.I probably just stood there with a stupid expression on my face and said "I don't know.Mine's a pint."I even managed to get a job out of it doing workshops in a rehab.I don't know how on earth i pulled it off as i'd had no real formal training.
If the theatre flirted with me i'm sure it will marry someone like you who has put so much work into it.

I know i mentioned i did some time in prison but it's nothing i'm proud about and i just want to say i never did any crimes which involved hurting anyone with violence.I've known some real scum-bags in my time and i hate bullies in any form.Don't we all.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:22:32 -0800

Thanks @fleck More theatre today. Excellent dinner. Tired as fuck.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:25:01 -0800

Made tempura last night; shrimp, mushrooms, cauliflower, sweet potato, broccoli, zucchini, and then I grilled a tuna steak.

My first time cooking all of those, and it turned out pretty awesome. I made maybe 3X too much though.

About three years ago, all I could make was breakfast, some pasta, and chili mac. I'm feeling pretty bad ass.

@Flecky

I know i mentioned i did some time in prison but it's nothing i'm proud about and i just want to say i never did any crimes which involved hurting anyone with violence.I've known some real scum-bags in my time and i hate bullies in any form.Don't we all.

Hey man, I don't think anyone here would have assumed you were a bad guy, regardless of whether you've done time or not. More than most, I understand that usually it's just one bad decision that separates the average person from ending up in prison. I've met more cops that were bullies than convicts. Maybe it's because I've met and worked with so many cons and ex-cons (while working in the system, and with my jobs not associated with prisons), but unless you're in for stuff involving kids, or the guy I knew who killed his mom, I'm really inclined not to judge. The way it's supposed to work is that once you're out of prison, your "debt to society" is paid, you should be able to start over.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Nil — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:26 -0800

Got a job interview. It's causing me some sleepless nights - they want a 15-20 minute presentation and a piece of writing with some critical analysis - but given that I've seen nothing but rejection emails in the last year and a half I'm feeling pretty good right now. Hell, even if I don't get the job it's a nice confidence boost.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:36:25 -0800

Woo! So, I can talk about this now because Edgar just told his parents and now it's all official like. Anyway, I am engaged! :D (no ring pictures yet because we still need to get one, haha)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:39:51 -0800

Hey, mazel tov!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

government spy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:45:22 -0800

Congrats!!

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oldhat — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:15:09 -0800

CONGRATS!!!!!

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trini_naenae — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:16:08 -0800

Congrats!! *girly squees ensue*

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Morac — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:16:27 -0800

Exciting news, Argos! Congratulations!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Alan Tyson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:16:50 -0800

Argos, yay! Fucking glorious!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:17:11 -0800

@Argos:Well that's some goddamn good news,darlin'.You get the big hug from me and i wish you all the best :)

Oh aye!!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

chiaslut — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:36:44 -0800

@Argos - Fantastic! Congrats and well-wishes to the both of you. Vilest of hugs and all that too!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:30:48 -0800

@Argos: Wow. That is so exciting. I can't wait to see what kind of wedding garb you wear! Boots? Please say you're going to wear fabulous boots.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Comicbookbunny — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:50:30 -0800

squee!!! congras Argos!!!!!!!!

The morning almost started with me nearly strangling the husband. He set his alarm for me (i have no clue how to used his damn phone....) It did not go off. My morning was spent rushed unwashed smelling like cigarettes pissed off going to the job interview. I made teeth for 8 hours having not eaten anything.

They hired me anyway.

I"m now a dental Tech again- they hired me and liked my work. Soon to use the money to put up the web site, pay girls to show me their boobs, and buy lots of awesome crap and not be broke.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

texture — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:01:49 -0800

Congratulations Argos!

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Beamish — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:04:35 -0800

Congratulations darling!

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Argos — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:04:54 -0800

Thanks everyone! I am so happy to be telling people :)

@RaFox - Not sure yet, but I've worn boots for all my big events so far so I wouldn't be surprised if I did wear some awesome boots!

@Bunny - grats! Sounds like a tough morning but glad to hear you were hired.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:24:11 -0800

Congratulations @argos! Excellent news @comicbookbunny! Rock on the both of you!!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:26:44 -0800

@Bunny:Glad you got the job.

Teeth...bit of a sore subject with me.Not the sort of thing i guess anyone want's to know about but i got bastard false ones and it's getting me down.I'm trying to save up to get some work done that is not available on the N.H.S.So brush 'em everyday you lot!

@gov spy:Cheers for your words,mate.It's just i've met loads of people(men and women)who seem to use the fact that they've been in prison to try and impress/intimidate others as if it's some some sort of bad-ass medal of honour.Sad but true.When i hear loud-mouth London girls going on about it i cringe inside.I've been out for meals with some hard-core,quite infamous and old-school(OK...the great train robbery)blokes and they didn't go on about it.I only met them 'cos a old mate of mine was one of their sons.

I keep forgetting this isn't the open mic...which means i'd better curb my enthusiasm or,as someone suggested,we start a renegade one; a sort of Whitechapel thread for the psychotically deranged and delirious;the insomniards;those that keep weird hours and are hell-bent on waging war against everything bad every-time they take a breath...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Comicbookbunny — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:51:58 -0800

@Flecky there are some options for you tooth wise i can put some stuff together for you if you'd like. The hubby and I are actually going to a dental college to get all of his work done- his entire mouth is getting reconstructed save for his lower anteriors (costing us a fucking fortune...)
also i second the brushing but not flossing is usually the reason people loose their teeth. Floss you fuckers! or I might have to make you new ones.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Peter Kelly — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:16:29 -0800

@flecky RE: a sort of Whitechapel thread for the psychotically deranged and delirious;the insomniards;those that keep weird hours and are hell-bent on waging war against everything bad every-time they take a breath...

Didn't you just describe whitechapel as a whole? :)

@argos- congrats!

Simple things made me happy to today, wife got me "Earth a vistors guide" and my mother law got me " am america (and so can you)" so I have some happy reading to do.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:23:33 -0800

@Bunny:Thanks.Some info or whatever wouldn't go amiss.I guess if you got the time you could post it on the help thread.It's either that or i may have to send my head by boat/plane so you can custom build me some adamantium cranial-crushers.I bet you could even put the Whitechapel logo on my new upper incisors...

Comicbookbunny has spoken.Floss you fuckers!Floss!

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Comicbookbunny — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:26:35 -0800

@ flecky i can do titanium hehehe :D

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dorkmuffin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:48:57 -0800

@Argos, oh sweet jesus I will want pictures of your outfit. Ferrealz.

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Argos — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:11:16 -0800

I shall post them! Wedding won't be til next year, sometime in Feb-April, since that's when my partner's parents can fly over from Poland. Means I have a lot of time to plan a cool outfit!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Beamish — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:15:10 -0800

@argos, just a thought, you honeymoon could be a nationwide journey mapping your way around to let us individually by dinner!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

dorkmuffin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:33:19 -0800

I'd buy you dinner.

EDIT: Relatively inexpensive tasty dinner OR relatively inexpensive homemade dinner. Since I'm poor. Both would be tasty as fuck though. I am a fine cook.

Last night I baked a gluten-free quiche (I'm a glutard) with butternut squash, rosemary, red onions, and goat cheese. It was goddamn delicious.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:37:02 -0800

DUDE, that's such an awesome idea!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:41:17 -0800

WEDDING BEER.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Comicbookbunny — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:52:51 -0800

I agree with Beamish!! heheheheh :D

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Argos — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:10:42 -0800

Omg I totes gotta brew a wedding beer!

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flecky — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:11:19 -0800

I'll send some fish and chips from England.By Royal Mail,of course.

@dorkmuffin:Jeez,that quiche sounds bloody good.I'm starving now;gonna have to make myself a early breakfast.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:31:08 -0800

Dork, I just saw the edit. I'd go for homemade dinner any day, that quiche sounds really good.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fishelle — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:48:49 -0800

Yay Argos! that's wonderful news! Congratulations!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

taphead — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:45:10 -0800

Argos! Yay!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:49:38 -0800

You're in San Diego, right Argos? I'd totally cook for you as a starting out or ending pit stop in the OC. I'm minutes away from Disneyland. And I always have good wine (and occasionally good whisky). }:>

Today was the last night of my theatre company's workshop on Jean Genet's THE SCREENS. ZOMG Fucking YES!!! experimental absurdist theatre for the motherfucking WIN! RAH!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

roadscum — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:05:11 -0800

@ Argos: Engaged? Hurrah!

@ Bunny: ' I made teeth for 8 hours having not eaten anything.' Funny, i read that as i was listening to The Diary of Samuel Pepys on the wireless, that sounds like a phrase that might fit well.

And Flecky with titanium gnashers? Eeep!

Me? No work today, might go out with the camera later and see if i can get some more pics of the park if the weather clears up a bit, if not might try to actually finish my little short story idea. Either way, NICE!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Fauxhammer — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:59:02 -0800

@comicbookbunny Pls. send me many titanium choppers--mine are snapping like Pez.

AND I FLOSS! It's just genes, I guess.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Comicbookbunny — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:38:57 -0800

@fauxhammer i hear yah, genetics gave the hubby soft bad teeth and then moutain dew dissolved them.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:06:26 -0800

Same with me. I floss most days, brush twice a day, and all my molars have fillings, I've already had one root canal & crown, and am getting me second root canal started in February. I have horrible teeth genetics.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:30:58 -0800

Hm. I don't floss, but I guess I will now. Have had perfect teeth all my life (well, aside from one chip).

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flecky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:35:55 -0800

I just tried to floss my tooth;the floss turned into a Colombian neck-tie and severed my jaw;i'm now sitting in casualty with half a face staring at a attractive nurse making farting noises as i try to tell her that our babies would be beautiful...

All-in-all,not a bad day so far.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:19:16 -0800

Flecky, you've made me laugh. Thank you.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:03:17 -0800

@flecky bahahahaha

Me, I have successfully lost half of the weight that I gained over the holidays and while on my trip to Amerika. Five more pounds and then I'll feel a little more like normal and can go on losing the rest of it.

I've also been having fun flipping through Appetite for Reduction and picking out some incredibly tasty recipes for my dinners.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:08:12 -0800

Wow, I am totally going to order that book! A book of foods for PCOS on a budget of both money and time?! AWESOME!

The best thing that has happened to me today is finding David Lynch's "Hotel Room" on youtube. The one with Crispin Glover and Alicia Witt (52:44) is so fucking amazing it's criminal. Get yourself in the zone and watch it.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:15:14 -0800

@Rae, I can't recommend this book enough. So many damn good recipes (my favorite being the Curried Scrambled Tofu which is now my brunch specialty). Sometimes it can get a bit ingredient heavy (1tsp of a spice that can be rather expensive), but the recipes can easily be tweaked.

And hooray for full movies on youtube! I found Plan 9 From Outer Space on there and enjoyed the hell out of it last night!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

roadscum — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:52:01 -0800

@ oldhat: i do believe you've just sorted my evening's entertainment, thank you most kindly Madam!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

icelandbob — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:28:31 -0800

well i gots paid today. and i am going to spent it all on money and comics!

and i have made the decision to go to the MCM comics Expo in London in March perhaps finally i can meet my master/nemesis Uncle Warren and Senor Spurrier....

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

sellmeyoursoul — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:33:13 -0800

I'm late to the party (or I would be if a party was allowed to officially start before I got there - they aren't), but must still say @Argos wins the vile hugging thread for January. Congrats m'am!

I've been promoted at work (in the "we don't pay you any more, though we expect more out of you, but perhaps may decide that all this extra work is a reason to pay you more at some point in the future. Or not." sort of way). Next week I'm going to some management training all week because I'm leading a team now.

Cheers all!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:25:24 -0800

@Rachael:Excellent.You've found me something to view tonight.I love the Lynch and some of his films are my favourites-ever.Eraserhead takes me back to a time when it wasn't fashionable to be weird and,because the interweb only existed in a secret bunker beneath the FBI's main field office,there wasn't all the insanitus for the kids to devour like there is now.The bar/club scene from Twin Peaks:Fire Walk With Me;when you can't hear what the hell anyone is saying because of the rocking guitar and bass from the live band as they pass around the spiked bottles of beer.Love that shit.

And yeah,i'll admit it-The Elephant Man has moved me to tears on a few occasions.In a good sort of way.
Blue Velvet has moved me to mass murder.In a bad sort of way.

@oldhat:Marvelous.You watched Plan 9 From Outer Space!Isn't it just freakin' amazing?!I've not seen that beauty for years.The special FX-wow!They put toss like all this new CGI to shame.At times i really thought i was watching actual footage of UFO sightings as it just seemed so real.And Bela's performance...blinding!

Yep...they don't make 'em like they used to.Everyone has to be able to say they've seen Plan 9 or life just aint worth living.Ha!

If your after a bit of weird check out The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb.It's a bolox(seriously)brothers film.It's quirk-city and if you enjoy seeing animated,latex creatures doing strange stuff then you could do worse.Good shit.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:52:00 -0800

@icelandbob:That's the first thing i've heard about the MCM comics expo this year.Another thing i've never been to but i intend to rectify that...especially if our benefactors Mr Ellis and Mr Spurrier are gonna be in the house.If anyone else is going it would be nice to know...so i don't run up to you and embarrass you in public.I seem to be good at that.I said hi to Warren at the screening of his film last november in London.I'm still happy from it in a stalkerish sort of way.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Beamish — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:05:26 -0800

I made the president's list last semester.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Jay Kay — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:35:45 -0800

Well, finally got all my books I need for classes this semester, got my assignments all done--starting to get back into the swing of academics after almost a year of absence.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:39:06 -0800

This song came on the radio yesterday, and I realized...

(blasting this song is quite cathartic)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

phill_sea — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:13:49 -0800

@Argos I'd totally help you see the innards of Detroit, Michigan, if y'all so came this way(!) (Chicago is a 3 hour train ride, and Canada's right there, too...!)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:23:33 -0800

@Rachael:I enjoyed the Lynch show you put up last night.Good on you.When did it come out...1993? I really can't believe i'd not seen it.If you ever find more gems PLEASE put them up here.I'm a bit of a technophobe,truth be told,and i rarely find anything over 20 odd minutes to watch on YouTube.

The ex used to do all the internet stuff for me like downloads of films and TV stuff.We fell out-as is usually the case-when i decided to clean up my act.When my legs gave way last year was when i found out how shallow she could be.People can be so fickle.My pins have been quite a bit better recently and when she saw me bouncing around the high street the other week she suddenly seemed interested again.Soz to have a moan-i'm not being bitter about it;just realistic.

Once again,i hope you've sorted out the bedbugs.Weird,when i read your posts about them i'd just watched BUG again-yet another crazy film i really love.Ashley Judd screaming out something like "I'm the queen bug.I'm the mother queen bug!"

Music.Cathartic.Don't know what i'd do without it...

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

trini_naenae — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:56:35 -0800

@Argos: I live in one of the prettiest parts of Wisconsin! (Seriously. You would not believe the tourists in the summer. Among other things.) And maybe by then I can captain a boat sufficiently well to take y'all to the islands.

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Argos — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:01:42 -0800

omg, you all are making me want to do this road trip more and more. I love you all!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

chiaslut — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:17:59 -0800

@Argos - Can you imagine the online "photo album" with stories and pictures you could create with this honeymoon road trip? If you make it through the Pacific Northwest, I would be more than honored to host you and your fella. So much good beer up here that your liver will hate you and, similar to trini's offer, it's glorious here in the summer and we can offer hiking, camping and chill kayak trips.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Comicbookbunny — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:56:39 -0800

@argos we are in PA nothing to see here much, have a kick ass house with crash space. We have plenty of great places to eat but I make a killer boeuf bourguignon heh.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:35:28 -0800

Us limey folk will be with you in mind,if not in body,Argos.

I was looking at old posts again.Foook!!

Some of us have been through some shit.Really have.I got lots of crap to sort out tomorrow and i'm feeling real cold.Gonna try and eat and hopefully get a few hours kip.

Take care all.I like you guys :]

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Beamish — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:11:47 -0800

@argos DO IT! DO IT!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

razrangel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:10:52 -0800

@argos - badass punk rock hospitality, Whitechapel style!! DO IIIITTT!!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oddbill — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:33:25 -0800

Argos & Edgar Southern California Whitechapel and Friends Engagement Party this summer?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Argos — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:36:44 -0800

Ooooh, yet another good idea. Maybe we can rig together a Stone Bistro dinner or some other thing with beer.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:53:48 -0800

If someone is willing to be amazing and fly me out, I would be down for that party.

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oddbill — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:55:35 -0800

@oldhat - we will start a ship Robin's ass to California fund for the occasion.

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DavidLejeune — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:47:25 -0800

I'd drive out for that.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

256 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:59:49 -0800

On the subject of (legit) free movies on the internet: Get yr respective asses to:

The Internet Archive feature film collection!

Lots of film noir, sci fi, horror, some westerns, etc. - all public domain. There are classics, forgotten gems, and some real trash. Also, about 1 billion Bela Lugosi films. Enjoy!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

256 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:44:47 -0800

Thought I'd add a few of my selections (either for being good or entertainingly terrible):
White Zombie (1932) - Bela Lugosi!
The House On Haunted Hill (1959) - Vincent Price!
Werewolf Of Washington (1973) - Dean Stockwell!
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
The Stranger (1946) - Orson Welles!
His Girl Friday (1940) - Cary Grant! Rosalind Russel!
Warning From Space aka Uchujin Tokyo ni arawaru (Spacemen Appear In Tokyo) (1956) - giant starfish people!

And, while I can't vouch for it personally, reputedly one of the worst films ever made:
Manos: Hands Of Fate (1966)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Jay Kay — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:30:31 -0800

#Free movies

Every once in a while Hulu will have some great stuff available on their free portion. In December they had Snatch on there, for example. Right now I have The Legend of Drunken Master, Vacancy, Gangs of New York, W., American: The Bill Hicks Story, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, Fist of Fury, Notorious, Sukiyaki Western Django, and Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party all available and on my queue, ready to be watched for the first time. In terms of entertainingly terrible films there, I would recommend Dragon Wars.

Anyway, today I'm going out for a job interview, so, you know...wish me luck. :)

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:11:35 -0800

@ Jay Kay:Hope you get it!

#free movies:Thanks for that.I'm going to pollute my brain even more with celluloid depravitus and cheese-bomb weirdness.Damn,i may even dig up my wife from under the patio and dress her up real pretty just like i did for prom;take my baby to the notorious Whitechapel Drive-In and Slide-In and get me some candy...

I was looking through the letter columns(remember those?)in some early copies of TRANSMET recently and i remember when VERTIGO had to stop the letters in all their mags.I'm not too sure about it(i'm not sure 'bout anything nowadays)but i think it was down to monetary constraints.Me and my mates found it quite depressing at the time.

I miss those things.It made buying comics on a monthly basis all the more fun.Plus,back then,getting reading put into graphic novel collections wasn't a certainty so you didn't have the choice you have now.

Who can forget(not me)Grant Morrison's ramblings in the back of THE INVISIBLES for everyone to have a wank on a particular day as part of a experiment in energy-magic or something like that?

Anyway,i loved the INSTRUCTIONS part of the letters in TRANSMET when Mr Ellis gave us recommended reading,listening etc for the month.It would be cool to see a thread where we are given a dodgy film to watch each month so we could all come back and discuss it...

Jeez-ignore me,folks.I'm full of dumb ideas and obviously have too much time on my hands.You ever had time on your hands?The shit can be really hard to wash off.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Morac — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:17:25 -0800

So I've made some quiet noises on here about making one a' them vidja games with some friends. So, with that in mind, I'm just going to leave this here:

Also this.

(I am actually pretty dang excited to be able to finally start showing stuff off).

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:26:49 -0800

Also free on Hulu is: The Booth at the End. I can't recommend it enough. It was originally a series of webisodes that Hulu then compiled into five 28 minute long episodes. It's so well written. It's like the Twilight Zone.

Thank you Flecky for Tom Thumb. I watched it in my pesticide-ridden haze, and it was fabulous.

My vile hugging thing for today is: I have to move.

This does actually suck. A whole lot. I put a great deal of wasted effort trying to make this a nice place, and I only JUST THIS MONTH ran out of my disability backpay and am living on thin funds. HOWEVER! Everywhere but NYC is cheaper, while my SSD payments remain the same regardless of where I live, and other places have things like Section 8 (subsidied housing for the poor), which NYC does not. This might be awesome. Even if I stay in NYC, I imagine that a change of living situation will do my brain a great deal of good. Being often lied to eats away at my soul and starts to disintegrate my overall view of humanity.

I wish I could go anywhere, but I do need to stay on the East Coast so I can go to the fancy hospital in NY for my brain thing. But I could go anywhere within training distance that my rent could be less than $500 (and/or they take Section 8) and I don't need a car. I just need to scramble up some funds.

Ideas? Suggestions? Anyone need a clean and poor-yet-responsible green-friendly roommate?

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

flecky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:19:11 -0800

@Rachael:Glad you enjoyed it-little Tom;i want to adopt the weird blighter.I will give your latest recommendation a view later on :)

I wish i could suggest something that would be of help to you.I'm sorry you've had to endure lies-it's something i try to protect myself from.

I'm just concerned that your housing is stable for the treatment you got coming up.Breaks my heart it does.I guess all i can do is let you know i really hope you get somewhere new to live soon.Take care,eh.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

trini_naenae — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:14:06 -0800

Tonight I helped my bosses with an event fundraiser/pizza competition to fund a totally sweet mural. (We didn't win.) And two things happened that made my night. First, on one of my breaks, I got to flirt with a guy and hopefully he is going to call me sometime to go for coffee. Second, I discovered that some researchers (with http://www.glsc.usgs.gov) in the area eat our pizzas and offered a chance to get a ride on their research boat and get tours and stuff. Which is so fucking badass. So aside from the cute guy high I'm having (who is a nerd), I'm having a nerd high for getting to talk with a researcher. And since my mom does activities with a retirement community, I got some info for her too.

@Rachael: I'm so sorry to hear about your money problems. I wish I could help but I am very much not anywhere near the East Coast.

And I actually would love to host visitors for the weekend or so, and as long as you can get to the airport in the Twin Cities or Duluth, I can drive you up. Well, any of the ladies would be welcome. Guys, sorry, but it's going to be a case by case deal.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:35 -0800

@Flecky - Actually, I don't have anyone. Not really. I'm sort of afraid about what I am going to do when I do need to get the surgery I need; probably brain/skull surgery, possibly one or two spine surgeries. I am not close to family, and my one close friend who hasn't bailed and still lives somewhat nearby is married and probably having a kid soon. She was the person who transported and housed me when I had my eye muscle surgery, but that was ten years ago. She's all "wifed up" now. That kind of rehabilitation isn't something I'd put on roommates to take care of, so... I've no idea what I'll do or where I'll go. I'm on my own in life. I'm trying... desperately... to find something positive in that... but I suppose it's nice that there will be less people emotionally hurt when I die?

thinking... thinking... thinking... thinking... um...

Honestly, it's good that I'm leaving here. I just wish the timing with my money didn't suck so bad. Really, I don't belong here. I just feel old and repeatedly saying things like "please, can we do our dishes at least once a week" or "please recycle", which I'm told makes me a nag to my roommates. I don't want to be a nag. I don't want to be in a situation where I get angry and offended. The idea of living somewhere else is actually a pretty happy notion.

I just wish time would slow down for a minute. I'm losing my grip, and I keep getting older without being prepared for it.

Oh! Wait! I've got it! Here's my good thing! An old friend of mine recommended this band to me, and it's AWESOME! It's like Black Sabbath and maybe some Jefferson Airplane a smidgin of Jethro Tull (due to the occasional flute) with ... something else I can't place. Everything that's awesome about 70's rock and metal. Blood Ceremony They are sooooo gooooood. And I rarely dig on female vocalists. I've listened to the myspace songs five times today.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

oldhat — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:23:46 -0800

Today was good. After doing some calculations, I've figured that if I continue to live frugally for another month, I'll be a mere $250 or so away from my "zero-point" with finances. Phew.

I did a beer review for the first time in a while and the brewery let me know that they absolutely loved it. That felt pretty damn good. On a similar note, I'm to write down a few topics regarding beer that I can talk about on television. I may very well be on the teevee soon.

Boxing was...meh because we were running defence maneuvers and I was teamed with someone who just didn't care about it all and was clearly putting no effort in to punches. I tried to give her helpful suggestions, but she just smirked and ignored me. Soooo...I made sure that if she was going to block one of my punches, she was going to feel it. I think her arms are a little sore now. In my defence she DID say she didn't care how strong I went. But the look on her face when her arm caught my right hooks...

Now have 4lbs to go until I'm what my weight was before the holidays. Feeling good about it. Hope I don't blow it by going on a pizza bender over the weekend (MMMMMMMM....Pizza).

Two nights in a row of AMAZING sleep with some pretty interesting dreams. And I'm digging that I'm having more and more space travel dreams. My favorite one so far was where I bought an old Medical Carrier ship, gave it a lick of paint and just got the hell off this planet and travelled the 'verse doing odd jobs where there were no problems. Corny to say, but Firefly is pretty much my idea of freedom.

And finally, The Boy has been making me feel amazing with cute little things he says. It's nice to feel so special to someone.

So...yeah. Huge improvement compared to the past few weeks of crippling depression! Feeling positive!

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

allana — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:34:30 -0800

Y'know, Rachael, I should've just offered to marry you years ago. You don't deserve the crap your country does to you. Also! You and I could run around with our cameras and smear mud on ourselves like the Northern equivalent of Rose & Olive! How freakin' sweet would that be!

Also, Robin, space travel dreams? Seriously? I hate you. My dream last night was about my old boss endlessly emailing me about needing the password to get into some site I had worked on.

Okay so today I spent all day overcaffeinated and jittery. I mailed a masters application (my first! of three! yay!) and did some errands and then spent four hours sitting in a cafe poring over this book that is the subject of another masters application (my second! oh so close! to freedom!). It was awesome and I talked to myself and laughed to myself and scribbled notes like a schizophrenic and probably alienated some hipsters. Woop. I would do more tomorrow and finish this thesis proposal and mail this shit off but I instead have three THREE THREE job interviews tomorrow. The day after my EI came in and I finally stop stressing about money long enough to be able to write. Three fucking job interviews which means I will get nothing concrete accomplished. ... Or, I'll just wing them all and go back to being on the dole so I can get my third and final masters app done before the deadline.
Does anyone else have this weird synchronicity in their lives? Where they wait and wait and wait for multiple things that, when they do all finally occur simultaneously, only ever interfere with one another? It's like putting eggs in too many baskets except it's regular pragmatism that ends up royally fucking you over a whole bunch. Yes? No?

[/coffee]

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Bankara — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:07:13 -0800

@rachael, lets grab a pint sometime soon and talk all of this shit out. I may not be able to offer much either than moral support but if I can do anything to help out I'd be happy to.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Rachæl Tyrell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:14:47 -0800

@Bankara, that would be lovely. Thank you.

The Vile-Hugging Thread Jan 2012

Vornaskotti — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:02:13 -0800

New thread for February