Sometimes I get so fed up with the internet - blogs and forums in particular. Why is it that no matter how hard you try to carefully word something - it always manages to offend someone? Why do ppl get so defensive about things and automatically assume everything is about them? I’m so freaking tired of it all.

I locked my LJ to protect myself in response to something BIG that happened over there (not to me personally). I don’t even know why I bother keeping my blog here, it’s just an excuse for ppl to spam me with crap. The only thing I really have on this domain are my fanlistings and even they are annoying me to death because ppl can be so disrespectful. What are you supposed to do when someone joins an FL and then writes disgusting and abusive content about the subject? I don’t care about the TFN ruling that everyone should be approved no matter what - if someone is being abusive I feel I’m within my right to reject that person. No one should have to put up with that sort of behaviour.

I really don’t know if it is just the internet or a reflection of society in general but I think ppl are so rude nowadays.

We had a family meal yesterday in honour of my dad’s 60th birthday. We went to this little pub place in Bonnybridge that serves fantastic food in HUGE portions. The whole thing was a secret and much lying was involved to make sure my dad didn’t find out. Oh, the things you have to do!

I have to admit I was a bit nervous since my mum had arranged for the chef to cook me this special vegetarian dish. I mean, can you imagine the scenario, him presenting me with this much prepared dish and me valiantly swallowing down a mouthful with all eyes on me. What if I hated it? I’d be the first to admit that I’m not very adventurous with food and I really can’t stomach hot spices or herbs. So to say I was a little concerned is putting it mildly.

Anyway, there I was watching everyone being served with these massive platters laden with food, nervously waiting on my turn. Finally, my dish is brought out last and as the waitress approaches, I get my first glimpse of this thing that is stacked on the plate. It looks like one of those huge triple stacked sandwiches with all this green stuff poking out the top like spiky hair. I’m looking it with great trepidation wondering what the hell it is supposed to be and my brother, never one for being subtle, asks what it is called. Like I have a clue. My sister-in-law immediately answers a “veggie thingie”. LOL! Anyway, I grab my knife and fork and wade in, trying to ignore all the spectators. Surprise, surprise, it is actually fantastic. From what I can gather it is slices of fried aubergine stuffed full of courgettes, slices of aubergine and various other veggies, topped with parmesan and spiky bits of leek, all in a white sauce which I can’t identify. Still no clue what it is actually called but I enjoyed it! Makes a big change from having to order the same old thing wherever you go - usually macaroni!!

Just as I’m wading in, a side dish of veg arrives to go with it and I’m having a hard enough time eating what’s in front of me without adding to it! I did my level best to clear my plate but didn’t quite manage it - I was so stuffed. Of course, everyone else had started looking at the dessert menu and I’m sitting there trying to adjust my waistline to make more room. I really, really intended being good but how can I remain sin free with all those fabulous desserts passing in front of me? I rolled my eyes and thought what the hell, my dad is only sixty once and ordered a mint tulip. A mint tulip is basically lots of wicked choolate and mint icecream done up like a knicker bocker glory. Slurp! I’m a sucker for mint and chocolate ice cream.

I’m so tired of the internet this week. I’ve had to deal with more people either direct linking to my graphics or downright stealing them and slapping them on their blogs. Can these ppl be any more stupid? Don’t they realise I can track them through my stats? If it’s not fanlisting codes - it’s codes I made for the CSI fanlisting directory. The fanlistings thing I can understand but sites that don’t have anything to do with CSI are hotlinking to the buttons on the directory. FCOL!

On top of that when you confront them, you get nothing but abuse back and they are the ones who are in the wrong here! I’m just so goddamn tired of it all and so frustrated.

I’m also sick of ppl moaning and bitching at me this week with petty complaints that they should be able to sort out between themselves. For God’s sake, you are supposed to be adults, people - I’ve seen children behave better.

On the other hand, I’ve been consoling myself all week by taking loads of screen caps of Martin for MCO. I went through a quiet spell recently and now suddenly everything is happening at once!!

I know it’s a lame title for a post but I seem to spend more time agonising over titles for my posts than making the actual post itself. *shrugs*

I’m glad to say I seem to have hit a creative streak this week after days of agonising over where to take COTL. I finished Chapter 7 on Mon and am currently about half way through Chapter 8. I’m not sure how many chapters there will actually be but at least I’m back on track. I decided I’m not posting any new chapters until the story is finished. I’m definitely going back to the old “I don’t post stories until they are finished” policy after this.

I also revamped my George Eads fanlisting last night after a last minute spurt of activity. The old one was really starting to annoy me - I tested it in Opera, Firefox and IE. Needless to say, IE gave me the most problems as usual. Anyway, I haven’t checked to see if it validates or not because I’m way too partial to coloured scrollbars and I’m keeping them - invalid or not. So there!

Not much else happening on the home front, I’m trying to work out the best way of buying Christmas presents without having money to pay for them. I’m also making a list of items that I desperately want - namely the Star Wars DVD set and ROTK extended version - and working out how to get them as birthday or Christmas presents!

It’s my dad’s 60th birthday next week and I haven’t a clue what to get him. He doesn’t want a fuss so I doubt we’ll be doing anything special, although my mum keeps asking me if I have any ideas for presents. She thought about getting him a gold bracelet but I just don’t see him as the bracelet type. I don’t think he’d wear it and she’d just be wasting her money. My dad is really awkward to buy for because he just has no hobbies and zero interest in anything. I’ve bought CDs and DVDs that he still hasn’t watched and it gets kinda annoying. He also doesn’t like getting birthday cards and I finally gave up buying them for him a few years ago because he would just open them, have a quick look and put them back inside the envelope.

Awkward much!!