A Can Of Worms

...both retro- and proactively (because I can never manage to post them earlier, darn it)-



Happy (whatever kind of)holidays and the best wishes for the upcoming year!

This entry was originally posted at http://calime.dreamwidth.org/100396.html comments at Dreamwidth entry

Dear Estonia,

I love you. I do.
That said, there are times I am ashamed of how you are and oh so very angry at you. Here, have a dose of common sense: if Estonians as a nation die out, it will be because it will be our time - even nations have their lifespan -, because we leave too much hard work on the shoulders of women we pay too little, because we drink too much, work too much and die too early, because we fail to learn from past mistakes, because we will forget our history or because we will become blinkered and ensnared in it, because we sit too much in the dark of our soul and do not smile outside, because we keep everything inside, because we teach our men that they should pretend to carry the world and expect our women to do it in reality, because we only consider a person worthy as long as that person is young, able and high-wages-earning, because we forget to teach our children that education always pays off, because a big neighbour gobbles us up again and again and again and at last one time there won't be enough life left in what is spat out...
If we as a nation die out (or for that matter, the whole Western civilization declines), it will not, let me repeat, NOT be because some of us are queer. Nor because queer people might gain the right to form a civil partnership or marry and/or adopt children or gain any other rights inherent to marriage institution. So, my dear native land, in that regard, with all respect, screw you.

Lovingly,
Cali, shouldering her part in the decline of the Western civilization.


The above brought to you by the week-long theme in the local media about how a proposed change in marriage/partnership legislation might be about giving the gay people marriage rights, and the bile and acid in the comments and some opinions. Today's radio debate, for example, made me lose all respect towards Martin Helme.
I just try to remind myself that usually, the reasonable and non-belligerent people are the majority, but the silent one. *Sigh*. Though, I totally dig /sarcasm living in a country that prides itself on being European and 'western' and then has a major newspaper running a poll regarding the legislation of the same-sex partnerships where the options are: Leave legislation as is (result 8%), allow same-sex couples register civil partnerships (17%), allow same-sex couples to marry (22%) and (I kid you not) make the legislation regarding the homosexuals more severe - whatever that means - with the result of 53% of responders choosing that option.
Thank you. Some days, I just feel like emigrating and teaching my hypothetical future children Estonian and tolerance in some other country that perhaps has more sense. Though, good coffee and Jim Byrnes singing also helps to normalize the blood pressure, at least.

Oh hai, it's, um, been rather a long time, isn't it? I've been meaning to post (and I've even had some kind of ... fleeting ficc-y urges), but it seems as if I'm always away, working, or too tired. Or all three.


So, in the name of a) brevity and b) learning new stuff, I looked up the html for bulleted lists and present you my last couple of months in a list form. The highlights (which might or might not be expanded upon at some later date, depending on the availability of spoons. And beer.) include (in no particular order):

• A week-long trip to Italy, which included the SCIVAC conference in Rimini, a trip to Venice, a swim in the Adriatic sea, a rather satisfying amount of cheap red wine and A LOT of trains. Also, it was hot. Even when it rained.


• A four-day trip to Finland, to the summer days of the Finnish Bullterrier Club - with Nublu being the winning male in champion class, best male 2 overall and the best coloured male, Nosu being very pretty and starting her heat the first day we got there and Vants being brave above and beyond the call of duty and friendship (including driving for 2 x 550 km's, most of it abroad, while saying things like *I promised myself I'd never drive a car in Helsinki!* and *We'll go again next year, right?*).


• Going to the pretty fancy-schmancy new cinema in town (the building of which has resulted in the ticket prices being lowered to a reasonable level again), to see Star Trek:Reboot, and lately, Transformers. I might post about my reactions later. I might even rewatch ST. And I think I'm going to start going to the movies again (I had maybe a 2-year break, since dresta11 moved away to her island farm, and the ticket prices got freakier).


• Participating heavily in a citizen initiative *Preventing duck infanticide* a.k.a. trying to convince the momma duck that while hatching the ducklings in the city centre might be a good idea, evolutionarily (I doubt many predators dare to risk the place), it is pretty much negated by the attempt to lead them to the river by walking on the busy road. We tried bribery (food) and terror (shooing), but ultimately the duck got fed up with both and decided to alternate between ignoring us and attacking our legs, so we ended up scooping the whole lot up (thank you, duck, for having to wash your shit off my leather jacket's lining later in the cinema toilet, no really. I have already learned something of the life lessons - I turned the jacket inside out. My last leather jacket had to be retired after I forgot to take it off before trying to get a weak foal to suck. Colostrum and nubuk don't go well together.) and depositing them by the river bank. Ducks - still not the overwhelmingly brightest of the species.


• Starting to work for the local animal shelter, in addition to the clinic hours. Luckily, we share the duties with J., my employee and the clinic owner. I will very probably be posting some stuff about the shelter work in the future, but I promise to lj-cut for those who have no interest or are squicked or ... Shelter work is ... complicated. I strongly feel it is something that needs doing (and the people working there have been my good friends for a long time, and the last vets were my coursemates and...), yet, in this time and place, shelter work means 'a good day is when you don't have to euthanise anyone'. I don't expect to be able to do it for very long, maybe a couple of years max, but *shrugs* someone's gotta do it, and right now I just might have the strength to spend, so...


• Stomach flu. The less said about it, the better.


• Work, possibly partly insane amounts of. Clinic work, translation work (some of which has deadlines approaching on the sneaky speed of light, I swear) - for the amount of it, one'd think there'd be more money, right? Urk. And of course the volunteer stuff, like the freakishly huge backlog of unanswered 'ask a veterinarian' questions on a local doggy website. I swear, every time I think I've seen it all, someone tops the all-time-stoopidest-question again. I mean, a lot of these are very reasonable questions, but there are some that ... stand out. In a way that makes one want to troutslap them.

Anyway, I have two days off - it's jaanilaupäev (St. John's Eve), which is also the Victory Day here, and while I'm not planning to going to any fire-making (except perhaps the one in our own yard), I've managed to clean the flat (it no longer looks like a particluarly bloody dustbunny war zone), do a load of laundry and am relaxing with a red beer for company. I also wish a (belated) happy Solstice and the beginning of summer (or winter, if you're antipodeanly inclined) to my f-list/circle - may your luck be with you, and things go rather well than not, and stuff, like, you know *gg*?

This is just to announce that as I got lucky (read: my openID account got an invite in the draw) I am now also calime on Dreamwidth. I do plan to purchase a paid account there come April 30th and open beta launch, and then I'll likely let my LJ paid status lapse for good. I'll see whwther I'll keep crossposting my few posts to IJ, LJ and Dw, or maybe just post links to DW posts, but DW interface makes crossposting even easier than Semagic, so..
I don't expect there will be a tremendous exodus from LJ to DW, though maybe more people will move than did to IJ, but I don't really see the problem of having three (or four, counting JF) reading lists to check daily - I'll probably divide stuff into 'read on IJ' and 'read on DW' etc. I read several different sites daily anyway, and I'm very glad of the Firefox Morning Coffee addon *grin*.
In general, so far I do like the DW interface best, though.

So, if you're so inclined, please donate to OTW.

calime33 is blacked out: Stand up against "Guilt Upon Accusation" for New Zealand

I dragged my sorry arse back from an exhausting (but fun) weekend and found out that I had been commanded to reveal my secrets share irrelevant tidbits of boring TMI tagged by evildrem, so, in the spirit of good taggedness, I shall meme like a memeing thing.
A: People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blog and replace any question that they dislike with a new, original question.
B: Tag eight people. Don't refuse to do that. Don't tag who tagged you.Don't you people know you're not supposed to say that... that number? two times four? REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO RINCEWIND! IT WILL NOT END WELL, I SAY!

Tagging: *glares* Because a) everyone and their choice of non-human minion have already done it and b)You said "Eight" (Yes, you did, I heard you! And now BAD THINGS will happen! With tentacles!) I shall tag all of you that have not yet succumbed to the power of eight memeage!! Tag, YOU'RE it! Or possibly, It. BWAHAHAHAHA!


[1] Make a list of 5 things you can see:
1)A horse skull (it belonged to a past patient and served faithfully fro a few years as a tool for teaching equine dentition; now it has been retired to the honourable position of the cat perch).
2) the Basement Cat (no, seriously, I'm at work, and the Basement Kitten of the spawn of Chtulhu has grown up.)
3) Several dogs. Possibly four, only they're moving around, so there may be a margin of error involved in that estimate.
4)Snow(outside).
5) Laptop (inside).

[2] Would you ever get plastic surgery?
To... blow up boobs or stretch wrinkles or similar ? NO. I'm Ok with me. But if I have the misfortune to be bitten in the face or something, well, yeah.

[3] What are 5 things you usually keep in your pocket/bag/wallet backpack?

1) Mobile phone
2) Wallet.
3) Pocket knife
4) Keys.
5) Plastic bags and dog treats *g*.

[4] What person in your life has made the biggest impact on you?
This is a difficult question ... I'd have to go with at least two - my maternal grandfather and my best friend.

[5] What is your dream occupation? (It doesn't have to be realistic)
Occupation as in a vocation, or as in a particular job position? My dream occupation would be just the same that I have in RL - I love being a vet, and I believe it fits me. If I would dream outrageously, I'd say the same as now, only with oodles of more finances so that I could spend on loads of CE and on shiny new equipment that'd allow me to specialize more deeply in veterinary dentistry.

[6] Would you rather lose an arm or have an incurable headache for the rest of your life? 
Does incurable mean 'impossible to suppress by medication'? Then, I'd rather lose an arm and install a hook robotic claw rely on hope for a decent prosthesis and adaptability to compensate:) I am acerbic and rather prickly even when healthy, I doubt the world would deserve me with a headache. 

[7] Who is the last person you hugged?
My dad, I think. In general, I am apprehensive of hugging. I've grown up with the idea that hugging is a rather intimate thing best left for family members or the select few friends I feel very comfortable with.

[8] What is your current obsession?
Fannish - well, Highlander in the background, always, then SGA, NCIS, Supernatural, Torchwood all to a differing degree. Otherwise, I suspect I've been pretty obsessed with watching the new pup to grow up and trying simultaneously not to fret nor expect too much.

[9] What's the last text message you received?
One from a friend on the dog-sitting duty reporting that all is well:)

[10] What sites do you always visit when you go online?
LJ, Delicious, IJ, JournalFen, a couple of dog fora, a slew of webcomics (particularly XKCD and Two Lumps), newspapers.

[11] Last thing you bought?
Bus ticket from Tallinn to Tartu

[12] What random useless fact did you learn today?
Contestants have been disqualified from Miss Finland contest due to breast implants.

[13] What do you usually drink in the morning?
Coffee. With milk and brown sugar. If I remember, also a glass of juice.

[14] What would you tell your 12 year old self if you could?
Care less for what people say or think, don't try to be something you're not and that you're uncomfortable being to boot, don't guilt over what you cannot change, hang in there, it gets better and better, remember that no matter how much you learn, there is always a lot you don't know and fuck the gender roles.

[15] If you could play any musical instrument what one would you play? 
When I was a child, I begged to be allowed to take piano lessons, but dad figured he'd teach me himself and... well. It did not work out well. I'd take any instrument, really. I have a cheap guitar hidden behind the closet that I'd love to learn to pick out a few easier chords with some day. When the pigs fly and there will be 48 hours in a day. Or when I retire. Whichever comes first.

[16] Do you have any siblings?
No.

[17] What's something you would like to say to someone right now?
Is it really chilly in here or is it me coming down with something?

[18] If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Canada; I'd also love to see some of Australia and Greenland and Iceland, maybe some parts of USA.

[19] What's your favourite kind of weather?
Between + 10C and +22 C with a bit of moving air. I'll take either sun or clouds, just in case of the former, some kind of shade possibilities are compulsory. And to be my absolute favourite, the weather better be situated on the seacoast :)

[20] What's the last show/gig/concert you went to?
There was a concertina player in the pub on Sat night, does that count? Barring that, we went to the theatre with the clinic gang last December, to see a stage adaptation of 12 Chairs. I keep thinking I should start going to the theatre and concerts more, but at present, there really is no one to go with. In a way, it makes me sad - as a child, I practically spent half of my evenings in the theatre (the now-National Opera, actually), because at that time my grandparents worked there and took me with them. I probably saw more theatre during my first 12 years than during the rest of my life.

P.S: Did you know that Semagic spell-check suggests I replace NCIS with ASCII and fannish with mannish?

I can haz cheezburger a puppy. Went to pick up the new pup this weekend, just got back. Pup is sleeping, I'm dead tired, and the other furry inhabitants are either sleepin or eating. Pup is very cute, in a generic puppy-way, but also seems to be of a calm, yet bold temperment, which is of the YAY! Pics will come. Be afraid.
Now I'd like to crash and sleep, but a) I have a lecture to give tomorrow in the Uni (which, thank all powers that be, is all done and ready, I just need to review) and b)it is puppy tiems nau, meaning I think the sleepy tiems will be somewhat diminished in the near future, in the favour of foodz tiems, pee-moppin tiems, NO-yellin' tiems, oh-my-god-NO-yellin' tiems, how does she grow so fast???!!-tiems and play-with-pup-tiems.
MUST HAVE COFFEE!!! *staggers off into the kitchen*
*pops back* I hope ya'll are OK and have not blown up the universe while I was puppy-hunting?

...on the US presidential elections, and are not the citizen of US, go http://iftheworldcouldvote.com/ (found via tmelange)

Is Teyla-as-a-Wraith-Queen awesome or is she AWESOME? I mean, she's always awesome for me, but this is the whole new level of awesome. Also, Todd! I want to hug him and squeeze him and call him ...um, Todd,and probably not hug, really.But still.
I want more fic with Todd in it...and I'm totally craving an alternate reality fic where Teyla is a Wraith Queen, and the team is Wraith too. It would make for such an intricate, nifty role reversal ... *goes on dreaming*

After frantically wracking my brains on what I'd be good for (I mean, I'm not a reliable or good ficcer and I doubt anyone'd want an English-Estonian or vice versa translation done), have finally come up (or, well, shamelessly copied others) with these two offers.. Basically, I'm offering to be your veterinary Agony Aunt for a month (I'll give advice over email or IM or phone or provide you with background info for fic,if you want). The second offer is for a care package from here, Estonia - with an option for the buyer to choose what will be in it.
So, hey, I hereby pimp Live Long and Marry, a fandom auction to benefit marriage equality. Go ye and bid, or offer!

There is a new challenge open on Highlander100 - Challenge 153 Titllation/Illumination. So, if you feel 'agreeably exited' by the idea of drabbling a bit of Highlander, head over there and have fun!

And if you haven't yet seen the awesome Methos mythos ficlet by sparklebutch, go here and enjoy. The underlying idea is fantastic, and like always, the writing quality is mmmmmm tasty!

...I can still wish my f-list all the best for the upcoming year, I guess.

This is the summary of the chat about future possibilites that could be offered by squidge.org, basically, some ideas that could be good to be incorporated into some kind of a fannish hub/fannish social networking base. So, if you're interested, please check it out, comment, there will probably be another chat some time soon as far as I'm aware.
I'm interested in aforementioned project for the following reasons: I was and to a big extent, still am, basically a reader/lurker. My participation in fandom activites would likely never had come to pass if it wasn't for the LJ with it's easy comment feature and the possibility to collect people's blogs on the flist. Seeing how there are several fanmade projects in the works (Fanarchive, Scribblit, Fandom_flies etc.) and people move to different blogging services like Insanejournal or Greatestjournal or incorporate blogs within their own websites, I'm kinda confident in that authors will find their new safe spaces to display their creations. I'm interested in something that would make it easy for readers to follow them - a kind of all-in-one place that could host content, but also serve just as an address book. So, for me the squidge project sounds very appealing. What do you think?

If you're interested in alternative outlets for fandom due to the recent strikethrough business on LJ, you could be interested in
the chat the owner of squidge.org is having about the issue and some possible new services from Squidge.
Please, do read, pimp the link, participate!

My home looks like a very messy arceological dig that has suffered under native hostilities. I might be happier about it, if it'd feature also some delectable fictional archeologists, like maybe Indy or at least pretty (cursed being optional) Egyptian princesses. Or maybe a nice Medjai to ward off all and sundry curses. But, alas, there are none. Just the downstairs neighbour. Though, seeing as he is the one doing all those necessary things like plumbing and follrs and stuff, I really cannot complain. Much.
( Read more, if you want to know mostly boring stuff about renovations, dust, cats and crappy, yet strangely funny anime-style avatars )

Depending on the test, it's a toss-up between INTP and ENTP with me. Probably also depends on whether I'm feeling more or less hospitable towards the world, too *g*. Shouldn't they have some kind of middle-ground-letter for those who score about 50/50 ? An introverted extrovert? Or an extroverted introvert?

So, I'm here, now *looks around*. I'm probably not going to mirror the posts from my LJ and IJ here, at least not for the foreseeable future. So, to find me, you can drop in here or here or just to read my ficlets, go here.