Another one of those Big Things In Sally's Life Updates

[annwfyn]

Today, boys and girls, I'm going to talk about my assessed essay!

I've got to write two of them over the christmas holidays. One is on the process of anglicisation in Northumbria, and the other is on the use of burial data in assessing attitudes towards age and childhood in Anglo-Saxon England. Both have to be 5000 words long, and involve some kind of original thought, re-interpretation of archaeological data and critical interpretation of current data and work.

I've been stressing a fair bit about this. It may possibly have been affecting my moods just a tiny bit. Erm. OK. It has been sitting in my mind like a large and squat demon, croaking and cackling and taunting me with the apparent impossibility of producing original and valid academic re-evaluation.

Today, however, I think I realised that I could do it.

This break through began yesterday, where I finally managed to pick up the last of the books which are on the reading list my supervisor gave me and I realised that I actually can get all the base reading done by the end of the week. Today I looked at my notes - my rough notes for my essay on burial data - and realised that I had hit 3000 words. Those are just my bullet points and scribbles and annotations. I do have enough materiel. I am getting there.

I'm also realising that I can think. I do have critical comments in the margins. I do have things I want to say. I can actually write this essay.

I've been up since 10 am this morning and I've only just taken a break from working. My head is beginning to hurt a bit and so I might possibly need to stop looking at the screen, but I am doing well.

*does her happy dance*

I can do this!

Oh - and while I'm in a good mood - let me share the love! You know the meme going round. Drop me a comment and I'll reminisce about you for a bit. I do actually really rather like everyone on my friends list, so I think I've got some good things to say.

Comments

[borusa.livejournal.com]

Me!

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Italian food! Walking through Glasgow! Going to the pub afterwards!

You and Lucy had come up to Scotland for a wedding or something and Jason and I came through to meet you. I think it is still one of the far too few occasions we've been able to just hang out in a social setting.

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

See, you just needed to get back into the swing of things...

and why not :) I like that meme.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I'm remembering that Roman banquet Hugh put together where you came dressed as one of the barbarians hordes as I remember. I think it was the first time I'd really gotten to chat with you away from larp world and I remember thinking that you were surprisingly good conversation and much less scary when you weren't playing the sidhe queen woman!

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

*chuckles*

Poor Tamalin. Nobody understood her.

Yes, I believe much LARP costume was used for the Votadini effect, IIRC.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

My turn! And RAaaarrrr on the essay front. Show the squat archaeology demon your evidence and how you will draw conclusions from it, take out your bullwhip and send him over the the head demon for his redundancy package.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Ooooh...*tries to remember*

I am tempted to reminisce about the Blackfriars Bridge as well, or the entire evening before it when we failed to do anything wraith related and just sat in the pub talking. I'm also quite fond of remembering one lunchtime spent sitting in a cafe at the Brixton area having deep and meaningfuls and me coming to the conclusion that you really were a top bloke.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

That's Top Aussie Bloke.

Lunch was good, though you were deservedly cross with me for breaking your rules.

[melsner.livejournal.com]

*points to his name tag, since Sally is easily confused and forgetful* :)

And yes, you're quite clever. just don't mention the role that werewolves and vampires played in history... the world of archeology isn't ready for it.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Ashland. I remember Ashland and wandering around it after dark where the lights were sparkling. I also remember watching that Noel Coward play with you and coming out with faces sore from laughing and planning to be that amicably divorced couple in twenty years time.

Twas a wonderful wonderful holiday.

[melsner.livejournal.com]

I loved that play. I liked that the worst thing she could do to him was take him back. :)

I remember you liking bits of Midsummer's but loathing Oberon.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

He was WRONG WRONG WRONG. The other thing I thought was that Midsummer was surprisingly pedestrian. They hadn't done anything exciting with it. It was a bunch of people in kinda dull costume going through the play. I suspect that is me being bratty because I've now been involved with two different productions - once as Bottom and once as Puck but never as Titania, damnit, and I do love that play to pieces. I therefore have Views on how it should be.

[melsner.livejournal.com]

I liked that they tried to cast against the stereotype for the parts... Puck was a tired old guy... the "good" couple were the plain people, instead of the hot ones. The Fairy king and queen were bufoonish.

Well, I liked that they attempted something different, anyway... Oberson was a mugging ass. I kind of liked the haggard put upon version of Puck.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Memememememe!

And hurrah for the essays! Sounds like you'll have difficulty keeping the buggers below the wordcount limit :)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

This is quite a random memory - Evil Squared - you were wearing the blue jeans and rugby top and I walked in and thought 'wow - Sarah looks really pretty today'.

I have many other good memories of you as well, mostly featuring deep and meaningful conversations, but that one stuck out today for some reason.

[crocodilewings.livejournal.com]

Oh...go on.

I think the number of times we've actually met is still in single figures, so shouldn't be too hard.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Virtual memory - having a long conversation on irc at about 4 am when we were the only people awake. Twas the first time I really actually talked to you as a person instead of just banter on electronic media.

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

Go on then!

And as for essay-stuff, I know exactly what you mean. It felt so good to actually sit on my bed surrounded by journal articles and summarise and criticise and make notes. Academia is really rather groovy, after all.

Go you!

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Standing outside the changeling venue in Brum and snarling and ranting at you and realising that you were a really good, clean person to fight with. You understand my style of argument and respond really well to it.

Oddly that made me happy and meant I left a fight feeling better for it, even if we didn't come to any kind of conclusion. You are a good person to fight with, if that makes sense.

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

It makes sense, and it's much appreciated. I do like to keep my arguments as appropriate as possible, if that makes sense; plus I can separate from the task at hand while still being passionate about it (where possible).

And it was a hell of an issue...*wry grin*

Looking back, I'm more inclined to lean toward your side of the debate, but then that's because hindsight's 20-20, and thus various facts and opinions and occurrences have come to my attention since then that change things.

The best kind of argument/debate/discussion/fight is one that gives you a level of catharsis.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

That's coz I'm always right :p

OK. Maybe that's harsh. I can say that I do see your side as well, and on an emotional level it does make a lot of sense.

[kiffkin.livejournal.com]

oooooooooooo do me do me do me

:D




Many of my memories of you involve standing around in our hallway with cristobel. And discussing underwear.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I remember that. I think most of my memories are the same - the three of us in that flat, with the blue painted fish on the bathroom wall.

[headinclouds.livejournal.com]

Go on then, m'dear. :)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Running through Armstrongs in Edinburgh with our fingers in pistol shapes, playing at Charlie's Angels. *beams* One of my very fun silly memories of Edinburgh.

Either that or me being asleep in Alex's room in the old Edinburgh flat and you wandering in at 5 am to wake me up because there was a beautiful sunrise you wanted me to see.

[headinclouds.livejournal.com]

I think that was in Flip that we did the Charlie's Angels thing. That was very silly, had we been in Bar Kohl? ;)

[soullessflyer.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear your making some head way with the essays. I always hated having to write essays and the like over the chrimble holidays.

As for the meme, go on then, you've twisted my arm :o)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Sitting in the pub in Dundee chatting while I avoided the Dundee Mage game like the coward I am :p

Twas one of the first times I really got to chat to you.

[soullessflyer.livejournal.com]

*smiles* S'funny i thought it was just me that was avoiding Dundee mage at that time. :o)

Twas one of the first times I got to chat to you as well, was nice to put a person to the name "Sally" and find out she's every bit as nice as I thought she was.

[castorlion.livejournal.com]

Me please?

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Singing Christmas carols with you and Sarah and Ginnie at the last wraith game. *happy smiles* We suddenly had a baritone!

[kathminchin.livejournal.com]

Meeting you for the first time properly, and the much missed Tau Cat. The entire Scottish trip was fun in fact.

[wildrogue.livejournal.com]

Do me, do me

[aardnebby.livejournal.com]

*raises eyebrow*

Do me too! *grins/ducks*

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Calling you from the side of the Thames in London when I was having a panic attack. You were an absolute sweetie and really looked after me rather a lot in my time of need.

[aardnebby.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I could help hun, *hugs*.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

*grins wickedly*

Pendragon. Conversation. Our moment of unity when we ran into the kitchen to hide from Anthony and jez and bitch in peace. *reminisces fondly*

My favourite memory of you...

[suchid.livejournal.com]

Spending time with you at your place near Waverley Park and chilling out was one of my favourite memories of you. For some reason, it sticks out in my mind because it didn't come across that you were trying to hide anything from the people you were with.

Oh, and it'd be nice to know what your favourite memory of me is, too. :)

Re: My favourite memory of you...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Hrm.

I think that Glasgow game with the opri out in force. You, me, Rich, Steph and James and I think Matt as well. Just one of the supreme rp moments. SO much fun. We felt unstoppable.

Re: My favourite memory of you...

[suchid.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I've ever played Opri in Glasgow, y'know... :)

Re: My favourite memory of you...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

You have. I'm sure of it. The game started with Dmitri in torpor and Rich threatening you with Mr Dustbuster.

Or am I thinking of another Scottish game? Swear to god you were at that one!

Re: My favourite memory of you...

[suchid.livejournal.com]

Edinburgh. :)

I think that was the infamous attempt at McGreggor that went horribly wrong. :)

[suave-steve.livejournal.com]

If you get time to think beyond essays.

[taimatsu]

Go you :) Brainy Sally!

Go on, give me a reminiscence :)

[rossclmx.livejournal.com]

Waves vaguely.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Lying in Victoria Park on a Friday afternoon. Or dancing in the bandstand late at night when there was no music. Or wandering around my house at 2 am with me only wearing that jumper of yours looking for food. Or playing with the Toy Story toys we got with our Happy Meals after our first date in McDonalds - and my god that makes us sound like REAL childhood sweethearts.

Too many memories to count.