They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

You know, I'm kind of done with Family Guy. I've watched it from the beginning and I've always managed to make excuses for its stupidity and sexism. Like the makers were trying to point out the absurdities of the racism and sexism and fattism and ageism etc by poking fun at it.

But McFarland doesn't even try to disguise all his many hatreds and prejudices any more. This guy really hates women, and is a huge racist. And a completly shallow jerk. And now he's rich and powerful enough - he just doesn't even pretend he's not any more.

The last couple of season have been disapointing - but now it's bad with a capital B.

I am rapidly running out of stuff to watch.

Once upon a time I devoured any m/m books I could get my hands on. It was rare and I was thrilled to get anything. (not fan fiction, the published stuff).

Then the online publishing thing started and suddenly I am drowning in m/m stories. So I can afford to be more choosy. There are a few things I will NEVER read, even if written by a favourite author:

Prostitute stories.
BDSM.
Domestic Discipline.
Slavery stories.
Porn star stories.

Now I can add to that list - stories I avoid, although I would be willing to give them a chance if recced or if by a fave author:

Vampire stories.
Werewolf (or indeed any kind of 'pack') stories.
Fantasy realms.

Stuff I side eye, not my first choice:

Sci fi stories.
Dystopian future stories.

So, that pretty much leaves me with plain old vanilla contemporary romance. Which are pretty thin on the ground these days, I can tell you!

Oh, but I love:

Cowboys!

(I am updating as I remember more)

To my dear friend iibnf,

I know you probably don't watch American Dad - and let's face it, it is a load of crap. But on the off-chance you might catch an episode for some reason, I must warn you, don't allow episode 14, Season 7 - "Stan's Best Friend" - into your life.

Remember that Futurama episode with his dog? This is that episode x 100 without one redeeming feature.

Sincerely, and wishing for a bottle of brain bleach,

Your friend

gillianinoz

Yesterday was the anniversary of Dad's death. It's hard to believe it's been a year already. I haven't really cried for him yet, not like I did with Sam. Sometimes I feel like it's all just there under the surface, waiting to explode.

I find myself thinking about my sister in law Sharon a lot thsee days too. Things like the announcement of The Doctor's new Companion, and how we would have been nattering away on the phone trying to guess what will happen. Or trailers for The Avengers movie, which I know she was so looking forward to.

Oh well, it would be nice to post and be postive for once!

*tries to come up with positive*

Only two more eye treamants. That's good.

Back pain under control. No pain is always good.

Centrelink interview is over and it looks like I get to keep my Carers Allowance for Mum. (it's only $114 a fortnight, but it helps pay the mortgage. But sriously, a review of a Carers Allowance for an 82 year old woman! Like she's going to need LESS care, not more!)

I have my ipad to fall back on since my laptop died...

Seriously, it's hard to be positive! But I know a lot of folks are doing it harder than me. My job is secure for another three years, i get a (tiny) raise next month, and my friend and I have booked a week at the seaside in December.

Hope you guys are all well!

Australian government House of Reps wants to know whether you believe in equal marriage.

Vote here:

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=spla/bill%20marriage/index.htm

Originally posted by morgandawn at The War Against Women Is Never Over

Thanks so much iibnf and accioslash for the adorable dragons!!

Thabks so much iibnf, accioslash, mickeym & davincis_girl for my lovely valentines hearts!

On the 28th of Feb I will be celebrating 10 years on LJ! Woohoo!

Makes me feel old!!

I will probably forget on the actual day, as I am scheduled for my monthly IVI (needle in the eye - gross) so I will celebrate today!

Woo hoo again!

My sister-in-law, Sharon. Rest in Peace.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows opened here in Queensland yesterday so I treated myself to a Gold Class session at Garden City.

It was a good movie, lots of fun, but they are just taking the piss with the gay jokes now. Really having a ball with it.

"Lay down with me, Watson."

Everyone looked so old up there on the big screen. Old and wrinkly and tired. Except for the actress playing Irene Adler. God, I love her clothes!

Best thing about the session was seeing the ad for The Hobbit on the big screen! Loooks so goood!!!

Also watched the latest BBC Sherlock Holmes yesterday - it was really good too. Not as many exlosions but still pretty fun and action packed., Sherlock just kind of stalks across the screen looking like a stork. A stalking stork.





 

Happy New Year to you all!

2011 was a pretty sucky year. Lost my beloved Sam on Jan 3, then Dad on March 21.  Was diagnosed with BRVO and my eyesight deteriorated pretty quickly. Doctors bills mounting up.

Now the arthritis in my hips has flared up twice in the past few weeks, and I'm on holiday. I'm really worried about how I'm going to manage when I get back at work. I have sick leave, and insurance, but that doesn't help with the pain. Extreme pain. Agony.

Anyway, here's to a better year.  

Finally! After hours of obsessive playing I finally completed 40 levels of Survival:Endless in Plants Vs Zombes on my iPad.

Phew! What a son of a bitch. Seriously, the hours of my life that I have spent to achieve this stupid goal...

In the words of the immortal Comic Book Guy:

"Life well spent!"

Here's a screencap as a testament to me brilliant and yet so worthless achievement:

I really need to start taking some more photos! I wanted to post pics of the boys but I have so few to choose from.

Here is Jethro, this pic is about a year old:



This is Humphrey - Jethro's brother. they are the exact same age, being from the same litter, but Humphrey is a lot smaller than J. They are starting to look alike though, now I've trimmed the hair on their ears.



And this is a pic I found online of their sire, the champion Barsaac Northerly:

A reminder this holiday season!

Pass by those red buckets, ignore those jingling bells.

The Salvation Army is a church not a charity. They are an anti-gay religious group that openly discriminates in its hiring process and denies benefits to same-sex partners. They are also pro-life.

But more significantly, they use the money they get to pay lobbyists to pass anti-gay legislation.

Here is a list of legislative action that the Salvation Army has funded to deny homosexuals their rights, or even make homosexual sex a criminal act.

For every dollar you put in their bucket, some of it will be spent to oppress gay men and women and make the world a worse place.

Here is a PDF from their own website detailing their bigoted and ugly views on sexuality -- a view point that has contributed to the bullying of and suicide of gay teens in this country.

There is the argument that they do feed the hungry -- and they do -- but please keep this in mind.

In 2004, when NYC planned to require businesses to extend benefits to same-sex partners, the Salvation Army threatened to close all their soup kitchens and leave the city. To be clear: The Salvation Army would rather people starve to death than recognize the rights of gay people.

They are a disreputable and bigoted group that do not deserve your support, especially when there are so many other, better charities out there working to feed the hungry.

So when you go shopping this season, please remember to pass by those buckets. Do not give them a cent. Money that you earned, that you worked for, that you donated in good faith, should not be used to back hate legislation.

Instead, please consider donating to one of these reputable charities:

Goodwill
The Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders
Habitat for Humanity
The Trevor Project

PLEASE spread this message and let your friends know. You can repost this info in your own journal, or link back here to mine.

Deceitful businesses such as the Salvation Army do not deserve your support. Taking people's money with the explicit goal of feeding the hungry, and then using it to back hate legislation, makes them dishonest at best, thieves at worst, and bigots either way.