Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Michael Palin....
Oct. 13th, 2002 10:40 pmI just watched the first episode of Michael Palin's new travel series Sahara. I can't believe he was willing to spend nearly a year in the middle of the most inhospitable place on earth for fun. He's insane! But still sooooooooooooo cute. *drool* *lol*
As a special treat, I hearby allow all my friends to see a very silly picture of me with His Royal Paliness taken 6 years ago. Wow, has it really been that long? And yet I look exactly the same. *G*

What is it with me posting all these pictures lately? Not so long ago I would never let anyone see my picture, not even my closet friends, I was so worried and ashamed of what they might think of me. But now I can't stop! I even took some this afternoon of me wearing glasses because I felt like it. The strange thing is, while I don't mind showing off my webcam photos, I absolutely loathe having pictures taken of me with a proper camera. I always end of looking terrible, I really don't know why webcam pics are better. I suppose because they're so blurry, they fade out all my 'unpleasant' features. *grins*
Here's a rather interesting little quizlet, courtesy of
bnh :)
Number of people on my lj friends list: Over a hundred (!)
..whom I've met in person: 6. More soon though!
...whom I've met in person more than once: 5
...whose house I've been to: If dorm rooms count, then 1
...who have been to my house: 2
...whose precise geographic location I know offhand: 10
...whose full names I know offhand (at least first and last): 6
...whom I've followed/been in touch with for more than 3 years: 1 (
ashfae!)
...who live outside my country: Oh god, all of them. *laughs* Hmmm...I think all but 12
...whose journal I consider myself "addicted" to: 8
...whom I've lived with: 2 (
eyre_lasgalen and
wreibyn survived a whole month in my house!)
...whose ex I slept with: Errmm...none
...who you've kissed?: On the cheek? Loads. I'm sure I've given one or two a quick smooch on the lips. Being affecionate is fun. :)
...who I'd "do"?: ...Ermmm...none. What an impudent question!
...who I've "done":
wreibyn wants me. *smirks*
And so does
orangelover. Hell, you ALL want me. *lol* ;-)
New friends to introduce! Please say hello to fellow Folklore addict
prosewitch and my dear friend
lady_aquilla, who finally took my offer of an LJ code and joined us here! Yipeeee! :D
I have two friends named Aqui. Isn't that odd? :)

What aspect of LOTR fandom are you?
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What Underappreciated Female Vocalist Are You?
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I think I've heard of them before. they do sound like my sort of band. Can someone recommend a good song or two for me to download? :)
Tomorrow night I'm going to the xXx premiere in London with
shiveringjemmy. God, I must really like her to do this. *laughs*
As a special treat, I hearby allow all my friends to see a very silly picture of me with His Royal Paliness taken 6 years ago. Wow, has it really been that long? And yet I look exactly the same. *G*

What is it with me posting all these pictures lately? Not so long ago I would never let anyone see my picture, not even my closet friends, I was so worried and ashamed of what they might think of me. But now I can't stop! I even took some this afternoon of me wearing glasses because I felt like it. The strange thing is, while I don't mind showing off my webcam photos, I absolutely loathe having pictures taken of me with a proper camera. I always end of looking terrible, I really don't know why webcam pics are better. I suppose because they're so blurry, they fade out all my 'unpleasant' features. *grins*
Here's a rather interesting little quizlet, courtesy of
Number of people on my lj friends list: Over a hundred (!)
..whom I've met in person: 6. More soon though!
...whom I've met in person more than once: 5
...whose house I've been to: If dorm rooms count, then 1
...who have been to my house: 2
...whose precise geographic location I know offhand: 10
...whose full names I know offhand (at least first and last): 6
...whom I've followed/been in touch with for more than 3 years: 1 (
...who live outside my country: Oh god, all of them. *laughs* Hmmm...I think all but 12
...whose journal I consider myself "addicted" to: 8
...whom I've lived with: 2 (
...whose ex I slept with: Errmm...none
...who you've kissed?: On the cheek? Loads. I'm sure I've given one or two a quick smooch on the lips. Being affecionate is fun. :)
...who I'd "do"?: ...Ermmm...none. What an impudent question!
...who I've "done":
And so does
New friends to introduce! Please say hello to fellow Folklore addict
I have two friends named Aqui. Isn't that odd? :)

What aspect of LOTR fandom are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

What Underappreciated Female Vocalist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
I think I've heard of them before. they do sound like my sort of band. Can someone recommend a good song or two for me to download? :)
Tomorrow night I'm going to the xXx premiere in London with
Re: Ester the Gyspy Alchemist - the poem
Date: 2002-10-17 10:37 am (UTC)===========================
As an alchemist's constant habit,
I went to the apothecary for my supplies.
And as I matched pleasantries with an Abbot,
A strangish looking man caught my eyes.
He stared at me with eyes intent -
Making notice of my choices, he said,
"I see that your Alchemist lord has sent
You here for Quicksilver, Sulfur, and Lead."
I chuckled with frank amusement and replied,
"Thou hast made an honest mistake, my friend,
'Tis not my lord who's an alchemist, but I,
And I know thou didst not mean to offend."
His obvious surprise lasted only a moment
Before his slanted eyes returned to scrutiny.
"M'lady, I am but a humble foreign merchant,
But I think I may have something to interest thee."
"Is that so?" I said with curiosity piqued.
His body shock with a nasty, wheezing cough
As he motioned to me to go to the street.
Where I saw an animal the color of thin broth.
"I have journeyed far from my home in Cathay
With spices, incense, jade, and silk to sell.
I have picked up a strange illness on the way,
Which no physician can make well.
I know now that I will never return
To my home near the Ginkgo tree.
And my family will never learn
What fate has befallen me."
Then he handed me a large bundle,
Filled with spools of unusual thread.
And staring at the silken jumble
I, in disbelief, shook my head.
"Why would you want to sell me these?"
I asked in total befuddlement.
"M'lady Alchemist it would displease
The gods if I from this life went
Without bestowing this precious material
To one with the knowledge and gifts,
To make it into the ethereal
Colors which causes many eyes to lift."
Again his body became racked with wheezing
And I led him to my humble dwelling.
Then after a great bout of sneezing,
I bade him of this substance to continue telling.
"This special silk," he said with trembling hands,
"If treated after the manner of alchemists,
Will become as spun silver and gold stands,
And yet lay comfortably on your wrists."
As I fed him porridge, he told me how
To make this silk shimmer and shine.
And as sweat began to bead his brow,
I layed him down and gave him wine.
"What must I pay for such a treasure?"
He shook his head weakly and replied,
"I no longer have need of earthly pleasures.
Just tell my family how I died."
So as life seeped from his frame,
I begged from him one more thing
The location of his home and his name.
"In Cambalec, I am called Mangu Ching."
I wrapped the body in linen fine
And anointed it with fragrant oils.
I set it in a box of pine.
Then in my lab I toiled.
I wove a clothe of the finest gold
And went to a visiting countess.
For two thousand florins the silk sold.
I used them to keep my promise.
I sent his family his body also,
To bury beneath the Ginkgo tree.
A trusted merchant I know
Took care of this duty for me.
As for the rest of the material,
I did worked and changed it
Into dazzling bolts of precious metals,
Which into this dress, I did stitch.
Now let us dance and let us sing.
My story is all told.
Around the fire I'll be dancing
In my dress of silver and gold.