Lately things have been very calm at work. So calm, in fact, that I’m a bit tired of browsing, even though I found some amusing links: Dark Roasted Blend: Category: Signs. Dave-chan gave me this one the other day and after going through quite a few of them, I ended up not being able to stop laughing, so I had to quit looking at more. Breathing was becoming an issue. So I’m taking it slow, and reading a bit each day so people don’t look at me like I’m a looney (more than they already do, that is). What’s so amusing about those signs? Browse there for a while and you’ll soon find out.

Also keeping me entertained are the classics I Can Has Cheezburger? and I Has a Hot Dog! . Oh, and Cute Overload for all your daily cuteness needs.

Other than that, I started packing yesterday - everything except the stuff I’ll have to pack today (like toothbrushes, etc.). I was feeling so lazy that I, once again, skipped installing my scanner’s drivers and my preferred image editing program on my recently formated laptop. Too bad, since I’ve been drawing some stuff lately and wanted to post some sketches here. I also didn’t post last weekend’s photos, not that’s a regular thing I will always do, but I actually managed to take some photos of stuff I did despite being sick. I’ll have to do that whole installation thing after Munich.

I also managed to finish one of the three novels I was reading. Go me! Now, onwards to more George R. R. Martin. That reminds me that I’ve purchased the third volume of GRRM’s Song of Ice and Fire novels, in portuguese (where each of the original english books is divided into two huge books - volume 3 here is actually the first half of the second novel in the original version) to take to Rafa, who asked me to take it to him in Munich. I am slowly, but steadily turning everyone I know into George R. R. Martin fans. Heh.

Movie-wise, over the weekend I watched Blade Runner at the movies (YEAH! \o/ ), and also saw My Blueberry Nights, which is decent enough.

Oh yeah, despite having Internet access on my friend’s Munich house, I’ll probably be a major slacker and not post for the next four days. So this is possibly my last post until then. If so, have a nice next few days, folks!

Found Shit - pictures of… well, everything you can imagine. Check out the Amazing section if you don’t want to browse through everything.

Passive-Agressive Notes - notes people leave everywhere, usually with some witty aggressiveness message going on.

PhotoShop Disasters - Photoshop gone wrong. I’m wondering how this passes through reviewers. ‘Sure, Chun Li’s thumb looks natural - she used to be a man!’

[ Overheard on the bus today ]

Xenophobic Lady: Oh my gawd, Indians smell horribly! They smell like fish!

Guy who seemed to have Indian ancestry (and who obviously didn’t smell like fish): *sideways glare*

Where do these people get those ideas? Seriously…

Right now I am:

a) Sleepy.

b) With neck pain whenever I rotate it

c) Wanting to try out a Martha Stewart recipe - French Toast Kebabs. Am I sick or something?

d) Coughing, sneezing, or coughing some more.

e) Thinking if this idiot ever becomes Prime Minister, I’ll relocate to another country. Spain perhaps.

f) Being amused by this. And liking this.

g) Thinking about my camera’s cables. Damn you Sony, for not using mini USB like everyone else!

h) Doin’ the inner happy dance as this week only has three working days. W00t!

i) Wondering if I’m going to get lost today on my way to the medical exam.

j) Wanting to talk to Rafa, who isn’t online. Wheereeee areeee yooooou, Rafa?

k) Turning my head. Ouch.

Still giggling about this.

Looking out the window and seeing the last rays of Sun today hit the river’s surface. I wish I’d gone outside today - such good weather.

I’m really craving cheesecake but I’m sick so am avoiding going out to get some. Meh…

At least I’m watching what seems like a decent movie.

Smuggler Lady (hastily hiding her counterfeit goods while two police officers approach): I’m really sorry officer, I didn’t see you coming there.

What have I been up to lately?

Not much to be honest. Stuff have been oddly quiet at work so I’ve managed to escape relatively early and take walks around town. Funny how I used to completely want to avoid being alone, and now I actually enjoy my own company, even though I’d prefer to have company sometimes.

I’ve volunteered to be on preventive service this next weekend, in case something horrible happens over at work. Hopefully I won’t have to go to my workplace, especially with it being a three-day weekend. It’s calling out for much needed rest/sleep, going out, watching Blade Runner at the cinema (w00t!), and a ton of other stuff I want to do and won’t, due to lack of time. I also need to buy stuff like suitcases, sleeping bags and such for my nearing trip to Munich. I just know I’m going to forget something important. Maybe my camera.

Speaking of which, I’ve been taking photos also, mostly on the weekends, when I go out. I’ve also found some old ones, from some trips I took to Serra da Estrela (remember that blizzard caught us, guys n girls? I have some of that also and even a small video clip if I’m not mistaken) , and other places, which I might start posting here as soon as I organize them.

I’ve been reading (one book almost done), drawing and, gasp!, writing on my Moleskine. Even while using the public transportation services, I’ve doodled this and that there.

Oh, and I didn’t resist getting ‘Watchmen’ by Alan Moore. My friend Alma kept talking about it a while ago, and they’re making a movie out of it, so I thought I’d read it. As soon as I finish ‘A Clash of Kings’, that is.

Other than that, I’ve harly played NeverWinter Nights 2 because I get home too tired to do anything more complex than watch TV or movies (watched ‘Match Point’ the other day - surprisingly nice). Too bad, because I had just gotten to the city of NeverWinter and was eager to start questing there. Speaking of quests, I’m considering renewing my World of Warcraft subscription for a month to play a bit (With an alt, please! An alt!) with a few friends who have just started doing Karazhan. I miss the social part of the game, so I’d mostly use it as a chat program and do the occasional instance when in the mood.

Lately I’ve been so cheery I’ve even managed to ignore some of the silly things people do and think I don’t notice. If it’s meant to get my positive attention, they’re doing it really wrong.

Anyway, who cares? It feels like Summer and I’m happy!

I love George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire book saga. He’s an amazing writer, and those are the best fantasy novels I’ve read in years (though I’m currently still finishing the second one, A Clash of Kings - bad me).

Anyway, I kind of hyperventilated a bit when I read what he wrote on his Not a Blog:

Anyway, I’m back now, and not going anywhere until late June, when I will be taking off on my long-anticipated trip to Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. It’s part vacation, part speaking engagement, and part promotional tour. If you live in or near any of those three places, watch the Appearances page on my website for details of when and when I’ll be. We’ll be adding dates as the events are confirmed.

Squeeeeeeee! Okay I’ll stop now.

Though he says it will be in late June, I can just tell that it will somehow overlapse with my three or four-day trip to Gibraltar in mid-June. I hope not. I’m thinking of buying hardcover versions of all the novels on eBay or something, so I can get them autographed.

I’ll try to remember how to breathe when I see him. All that came to mind was what my friend Jorge told me had happened when he saw Neil Gaiman a few years ago. He was literally speechless and had to return the day after so he was able to talk to actually him (he’s Jorge’s favourite writer, as far as I can tell - he just loves his work). I hope that doesn’t happen to me.

I’ll have to get on with my readings faster. I’m finishing another novel I’m reading in parallel with the GRRM one, and it should be easier to dedicate myself to the rest of A Song of Ice and Fire after it’s done.