OK, so I noticed that there are still quite a lot of people who are searching for my Winskins here via the tags. And I feel bad for not uploading the new ones here first like I used to. But if I did I'd feel bad for cluttering the pages of my friends' f-lists. So instead I decided to use this entry to show the new skins to the rest of the world. I hope everyone is happy now ^^;;( For non-LJ'ers: Click here! )
Latest updates:
May 20, 2012: Aozora Hayato (Starry☆Sky)
April 09, 2012: Rath Vogart & Fiona Galland (Black Wolves Saga)
April 04, 2012: O-chan (Hiiro no Kakera)
March 03, 2012: Kanata Nanami (Starry☆Sky)
January 30, 2012: Mikono (Aquarion Evol)
January 15, 2012: Salomon (Wand of Fortune II)
December 08, 2011: Alvaro (Wand of Fortune II)
October 30, 2011: Some Oni by Kazuki Yone
October 09, 2011: Boris Airay (Alice In The Country Of Hearts)
August 31, 2011: Otoya Ittoki (Uta No☆prince-sama♪)
July 24, 2011: Nanami & Tomoe (Kamisama Hajimemashita)
( 2010 + 2011 Jan-Jun )

Book: N.P. by Banana Yoshimoto
Language I've read it in: German
Genre: Somewhat contemporary... weirdness
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This week was hellish and I'm glad it's over (basically my boss and my grandmother conspired to make my life miserable. I'M NOT JOKING!). Hopefully next week will be less stressful. My next mission is to find out why my computer sounds like a starting diesel engine when I switch it on. I already cleaned both fans and took apart the power pack. Everything is OK. I just don't know why it makes so much noise but it's annoying! ><

And no, Otter, I didn't forget about the Folk Metal entry. I'll get to it. Soon-ish. I promise :)

OK, this is going to be the final Eurovision posting, I promise! ( But I didn't say anything about the Big Five yet and, well, Azerbaijan )

Who will probably win: Either Sweden or Italy or Russia.
Who I'd like to win: Serbia or Turkey. But I'd be alright with either Sweden or Italy. Or Russia, actually *lol*. I also like Greece (naturally) but winning for them would be a veritable national catastrophy.

BUT half of the points are decided by the votes of a jury and for Germany this means a bunch of lukewarm singer-songwriters, a wannabe-rocker and two TV presenters who know as much about music as I do (which, given the alleged taste of said singer-songwriters and wannabe-rocker is probably a good thing). I suspect this will mean that most of Germany's points will go to horrible ballads like Estonia and hysteric Björk parodies like Albania and no one will know how that happened. For once I hope the voting diaspora from Turkey and Russia is strong enough to overcome them ><;;

And regarding blockvoting - someone on ontd_skating linked this handy graphic which tells you everything you need to know. And I agree that if Germany had been allowed to vote in the 1st SF, Austria would be in the final now ^^;;

Edit: LOL no surprise for once! Can't say I'm angry, I like the song! I just wish it had been Serbia but I think Sweden really earned it. And it could have been much worse! For a few minutes I was scared that Azerbaijan would win AGAIN with a disgusting ballad ><;; I'm surprised that Italy finished 10th or so and IDK but how did it happen that Norway got in last?! HOW?! It's the freaking juries, they hate pretty boys, I swear *cries*. However, Lordi = the absolute highlight of that evening!

I just got home from Munich where we had sort-of dinner at the only real Israeli restaurant (yummy! Almost like in Tel Aviv!), so this is gonna be very quick!
( ESC SF 2 - my opinions and predictions *grabs crystal ball* )

I predict Sweden will make it, so will Turkey (hopefully!), Norway, Serbia (oh please!) and maybe Ukraine. And probably one (or several *ewww*) of the many horrible ballads ><;;

Edit: What's up this year? Almost all my favourites are set for the final on Saturday (even MALTA!!! Sadly not Georgia but can't have it all, right?) and there aren't even too many ballads? Not that I complain but... it's a weird feeling suddenly being the majority *lol*. I voted only for Serbia, Turkey, Norway and Georgia tbh. Also: The interval act? So sweet *lol*. I sort of forgot Molitva existed. And Fairy Tale. But given what won last year, it was classy. Good thing they didn't sing it but Waterloo ^^;;

Book: The Bearkeeper's Daughter by Gillian Bradshaw
Language I've read it in: First in German, then in English
Genre: Historical
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BTW, I saw my first A380 today! It was cruising at an relatively low altitude of 1,200 m and I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for Flightradar24 *g*. It was an Emirates flight from Dubai to Munich. Usually they come in from the east towards the airport, I have no idea why this one didn't (we're in the west). The engineering part is fascinating but I'm still glad I don't have to fly in one :/

Edit: Her blog is incredibly interesting! Go, read it if you're even vaguely interested in Ancient Roman culture! (I hope that points to research for another novel set in antiquity... *crosses fingers*)

Quick and dirty rundown of the 1st semi finale, starting in 5 minutes:

( My opinions, let me show you them )

My predictions: Russia will make it to the final, definitely, so will Romania and probably Albania. Possible chances, too, for Ireland and Iceland. Cyprus probably too, maybe Israel and Finland. I hope Montenegro - best song of the evening!


Edit: For once, I'm happy to announce that all but one of my favourites made it to the final!!! And, I mean, it doesn't come as a great shock that Montenegro didn't. I'm sort of pleasantly surprised that Iceland did, as well as both, Greece and Cyprus; no surprise with Ireland and Russia; some of the ones I hate made it, too, but that's alright. I mean, Sweden or Italy will win anyway and that'll be great. After the horror that was last year I'm not picky anymore *lol*

Went to the largest garden centre in the vicinity, which happens to be in the westermost outskirts of Munich today with my Dad because we wanted to buy a Bougainvillea as a birthday present for my grandfather (long story) and there were Bayern München fans everywhere, also from everywhere. We went to KFC (yeah, shut up, we like unhealthy food, OK?) in Pasing afterwards and everything was packed with fans, cars and busses from Hamburg, Cologne, Vienna and Italy, all with Bayern-scarfs and flags O_o;; I wonder where the Chelsea fans were *lol*.

In case you're wondering what the heck The Neko is talking about: THE most important European football/soccer event before the European Championships - The Champions League Final between Bayern München and Chelsea is taking place in Munich today and everyone here, even people who are usually not a fan of Bayern München (it's the club Germany loves to hate) have planted their flags in windows and on regular poles, I've even seen a makeshift-flag that was clearly a bedsheet *lol*. Outside it's slowly getting veeeery quiet because everyone is going home or to bars and pubs to watch the game. My boss is a big Bayern-fan and has tickets he aquired god knows through which channels; I know who will NOT be working on office stuff that should be done this weekend :/

It's hard not to get excited, even if you're not a fan (well, I'm not. Not really. Who am I kidding). However, I do hope Bayern München will win. Not only because my boss will be in a good mood on Monday but generally, just to spite everyone else in Germany =D

Edit: Oh fuck, someone will be in a very bad mood on Monday ><;;

Book: The Sword Of Maiden's Tears by Rosemary Edghill
Language I've read it in: English
Genre: Urban Fantasy
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I'm actually more of a SF-girl than a fantasy reader. It's just that it seems to be that there is simply more fantasy out there. Next up should be a SF novel, I suppose *lol*. Oh, and I hate werewolves, did I ever mention that? And while some vampire books are great (I intend to post about one or two of them XD) I cannot stand most of them. Elves are OK, I suppose, unless they drift too much into teenage angst territory (more common than you think)...

Book: The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith
Language I've read it in: English
Genre: Steampunk+Paranormal Romance
( Read more... )
Appropriate icon is surprisingly appropriate.
Next up: I dunno. Probably something without vampires. I can only stand them in small doses.

I saw it first via tricianna and, yeah, I don't know either why I do this. I mean, it's not that I'm not on LJ anymore. I've been here for more than 10 years. I don't have a Wordpress/Blogger/Tumblr, I don't even have a Twitter. I'M NOT EVEN ON FUCKING FACEBOOK, OK?! The only platform I use is LJ (although I have aquired a DW, just as a fallback if Our Russian Overlords manage to kill LJ off after all) and I just don't feel like getting on another platform for blogging or blogging-like activities and doing effectively nothing with it. I just sort of think that if I'll probably forever waste my money here because I need my scrapbook (or whatever they call it right now), I can at least do something with it besides posting Winskins and whine to the German-speaking part of my f-list about the loony bin I work in.

So there - 100 THINGS! My 100 things will be BOOKS! Not long, witty and insightful reviews, just a few lines. The books in question may be in English or German and I'll probably highlight my pet-peeves or why I love them (I mean, I would only write about books I love. But that doesn't mean I don't have issues with them). I probably won't write about manga unless they only are a single volume long.

And because I'm nice, I'll put everything under a cut =D