I'd be more persistent about Irish if (a) I hadn't had a pretty cold welcome to Ireland when I finally got there and (b) I weren't already involved in languages that I'm at least intermediate in but badly need to push to fluency (Spanish, Swedish and Danish). That said, I'm not selling off my Irish language learning materials or anything...

I just spent some time drawing and it was looking pretty decent for me being so rusty and forcing myself to commit by drawing in ink rather than pencil. Then I tried using a silver ink marking pen I hadn't used in years and it blobbed all over everything.

Oh well, at this point anything that gets me drawing is an improvement and part of that process is being super-critical of what I turn out because the self-criticism is what has made me so unproductive in visual arts for 25 years now.

Ooooo! Shir-Mail!

Right back at ya!

Ugg, I need to go to bed. Insomnia? Why? I'm tired, really.

As in Alf Stewart from Home and Away? As in, "Ya flaming galah!" Alf Stewart? What? I maybe don't actually want to know.

Exactly as in Alf Stewart from Home and Away. Its... unexpected.

Teppy, I'm glad your trip went ok.

I think there was something else I meant to say, but I'm having a harder time typing accurately than if I were drunk.

This link contains the secret to happiness and it doesn't include kittens: [link]

Amish websites are mostly run by teenagers or non-Amish neighbors. Or are actually Mennonite.

my 68-year-old dad got his first tattoo. ON HIS NECK. (I actually think that the tat itself looks fantastic; I just have some doubts about the placement.

Are those his initials? I have my initials tattooed on me! just in case...

Anyway, it is a nice looking tattoo with a bold placement.

What's an ass antler?

What's an ass antler?

Something along the lines of this, methinks?

[link]

I've been considering egtting a tattoo for like ten years now. By the time I'm 68 maybe I'll be ready.

Nerves nerves nerves.... Ugh!

I am out talking to the people today, just learned that there are 12 slots here and @700 applicants. My first thought at that news being PanicHideHurl. Why am I doing this?

Why am I doing this?

Erm, because your odds are already better than 1 in 60 with those numbers! And if you assume that as in all things, ninety per cent of the applicants are crap, and you are quite clearly in the other ten percent, then your chances are already 1 in 5 or so without you even making much effort!