I just spent ten minutes humming some of the incidental music from Mad Men, trying to figure out what it reminded me of. I kept thinking Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but knew that wasn't right. It evoked a similar tone (disturbed melancholy), but I've listened to Jon Brion's music for that film so often I can tell when I've got it wrong. In the end, I realised the film in question was Being John Malkovich.

... does anyone else ever do that?

Also, I am enjoying Mad Men ( with caveats. )

I was going to go into work today, but it's ten to five and so far I have:

1. Not been able to get to sleep. I got close at one point, where reality and fantasy began to mix and I genuinely thought I'd got an LJ comment from John Simm (I hadn't.) Then I sneezed and the fantasy disappeared. (This is when I checked.)

2. Had about seventy billion coughing fits.

3. Stared at the ceiling a lot.

4. Started to think about Peter and Lyle in Kingdom - and then started to think about Peter/Lyle, and then sat up straight in bed in absolute horror, wondering why my mind was so cruel. Of all the relationships I most definitely don't want to slash, that one is high on the list. Unless you're talking to my flu-riddled brain.

5. Wondered if I should read, watch episode 1.06 of Mad Men, or call the Principal to tell him I'm not coming in today. Then remembered it's been anywhere from three to ten to five in the morning.

6. Felt miserable.

7. Posted to LJ and DW.

Kingdom! I didn't know it was coming back, thought we'd only got 2 series. Imagine my glee when I discovered there's a third series airing. I am now sitting here, feeling infinitely better because I have both Stephen Fry and Hermione Norris on my screen in a warm, beautiful show that makes me feel cuddly because it deals in real-life issues with a patina of whimsy and comedy. I love, love, love this show. The sibling relationship. The awesome old people. Lyle. \o/

But this is not the only reason I am feeling good. My next door neighbour made soup for me! She just rang and said she'd left it on the door step (which is just as well, because otherwise I would have found it on, like, Monday. This has been a sleep in bed and sniffle weekend.) How awesome is that? I must remember to do something for her when I am germ-free. Also, this soup is good.

Went to school, discovered I was on the verge of collapse, came home again to wallow in bed. Bleugh. I hate the flu. I start to oink or something, send help.

So, I have the Chicago musical recording lined up... or so I think. Suddenly, "If You Leave Me Now" starts to play.

Hah.

Title: The Lies We Tell Ourselves
Fandom: Life on Mars
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 360 words.
Notes: Sam/Gene, based on a quote from A2A 2.08, to be found after the cut.
Summary: Sam tells Gene the truth about where he comes from.

( The Lies We Tell Ourselves )

And now, my reaction to A2A 2.08

( ... )

YAY, FUTURAMA'S BACK.

Along with Life on Mars and Dexter, this is probably my most favourite show ever. I quote it ALL the time. I know weird geeky stuff in relation to the show that I probably shouldn't know. I've listened to some of the commentaries more than I've watched episodes of other shows. Love, love, love.

I am so excited!

A genuine conversation from today in the staffroom.

R: And how was Star Wars, Laura?
L (with a cheeky grin, thinking it's a slip of the tongue): Star Trek, get it right.
R: Oh. Sorry. ... they're not all that different, are they?
L: Er, yes. Star Wars is the one with Han Solo and Chewbacca and R2D2 and ---
R (interrupting): I wouldn't know anything about that.
L: Star Trek has Kirk and Spock, to boldly go where no man has gone before ---
R: I'm not into any of that science fiction stuff.
L: ...

I totally get not being into SF. There are plenty of things I am not into. And, you know, I may geek along with everyone, but if you showed me diagrams of the internal schematics of a flux capacitor and a warp core and asked me to identify which is which, I probably couldn't. I do not know Asimov's rules when it comes to robotics. And be damned if I've ever truly got my head around any of the sciences of space (I can point crap science out, but not really say what should be in its place.) But to not know the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek? Surely, surely she hasn't been living under a rock for ever and ever and ever?

I think this is a prime example of just how very out of my comfort zone I sometimes am with my colleagues, guys.

(And before you ask, no, R is not Anangu. I could forgive her were she Anangu. She has no excuse.)

( This pretty much made my entire day... )

Hello! I had a good time in Alice Springs. I bought lots of groceries, saw I Love You, Man (I love Jason Segel and Paul Rudd separately. And together they were cute), and Star Trek (which is still AWESOME), and went and sat in Gloria Jeans for an hour or so. Other than that, I read quite a lot and got very, very frustrated by the shite wireless at the hotel.

Yesterday and today I had an excellent time teaching. I really, truly enjoyed myself. We got tonnes of work done and had a fun time doing it! It was how I want school to be most of the time.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Alice Springs for the long weekend to go and watch Star Trek again (and a couple of other films), to replenish my pantry, and have as many spa-baths as humanly possible. It'll be awesome.

Title: Five things Sam Tyler told Gene Hunt about the Future (and one Gene Believed)
Fandom: Life on Mars
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2,850 words.
Notes: Gen with a Sam & Gene friendship focus. This is written for neuralclone for a prompt she gave me, er, half a year ago. This turned out slightly slashier than I intended, sorry NC. It's more Guy Love than slash, though. ♥

( Five things about the Future )

I'm not all that surprised that A2A 2.07 was written by Mark Greig.

( In which I pontificate... )

I came about this close to storming out of work, going home, getting in my car and getting the fuck out of here a few hours ago. God.

Days like today really make me question my intention to stay here. Why the hell should I waste so much time trying to help these kids when they are so rude, so horrid, I feel a great compunction to duct tape them to the ceiling and leave?

I need to know this. Immediately. I cannot see it yet and ---- *flails* I need to KNOW.

( Latest ep a2a query, guys )

The very best bit of Burn Notice so far;

( ... )

1) List 5 famous people you would have sex with without even asking questions.
2) Put them IN ORDER of your lust for them [5 - 1, 1 is the hottest].
3) Supply photos for said people.
4) Say which movie/show/thing it was that hooked you.
5) Tag five people. Go for it if you like!

( 5 alive... )

Working in a school in a remote community, you have to deal with issues and tasks that people in urban mainstream schools would never even dream about. Such as the beginning of this week when the school and the community store lost electricity for two and a half days. It was freezing, we had no heating, no lights, no siren, no technology at all --- and we still had school. Rather than throw away the items they needed to keep refrigerated, the store put on a community barbecue and gave food to the teachers to store in their houses (there are two electrical grids in the community) to dispense at school during lunch.

Today, I helped two of my colleagues replace gas bottles at the teacher's houses, in order for us all to have working stoves and heaters. So there's three of us, two guys and a girl, hauling these massive gas canisters from the holding place, putting them in the trailer, dragging them off. We replaced six at five different houses, and we actually made good time --- it took slightly less than two hours. It's raining today, we finished just in time because it's just started pelting down. I got covered in dirt and my muscles are sore.

I have to admit, I kind of love it. It gives me insight into a world I never knew I'd encounter living in Adelaide.

And now, my thoughts on Star Trek.

( Where no fan has gone before... )