My extraordinary journey home from work

I finished work last night at 12:30am. I was cold, tired, didn't have a fabulous evening and was suffering from an injured thumb (which is currently causing me an awkard time typing). I just wanted to get some pain killers from the 24 hour garage and get to bed.

Except this was not to be. Now as a former student myself and a friend to many I am usually pro-student. But not last night. Not when a certain drunk civil-engineering scholar attracts my attention as I walk home. At first I thought he wanted a light or perhaps even directions. But no. He wanted to walk with me. I politely declined his request but he insisted. I explained how I preferred to walk alone but he insisted.

I was surprised how quickly my politeness expired. I began to get annoyed, my sentences now blunt and to the point. Soon I was making gestures and raising my voice. I shouted a profanity at him and walked away. But, like an idiot puppy, he failed to comprehend the distress he was causing and started to follow me. He began to quiz me and started to reveal information about himself. It became apparent that my moronic tormentor was studying civil-engineering at the University of Plymouth where I myself once studied.

Mike was his name. I exclaimed in an alarming amount of fury that I couldn't have cared less if he was Jesus. I really didn't want anyone walking with me. Before I knew it, true condensed anger was being displayed. I never realised I could blow my lid like that. His incessant chatter and irritating presence resulted in a Vesuvian explosion of expletives and hand gestures. Exasperated pleas for him to leave me alone. I impressed myself that I could scream near poetic insults from the top of my head and I swear he suppressed a snigger when I referred to myself as 'irate'.

I told him I had a bad day. He said it could not have been as bad as his. Unfortunately for him my heart towards him was colder than the night itself and I would have continued to shout at him regardless of what he said. To me he had lost all credibility by simply not leaving me alone. I don't know why he couldn't annoy some other poor sap. Eventually I shoved my headphones into my ears and drowned him out with Big Band Jazz. It had a remarkable calming effect, almost presenting a comic edge to my situation. He continued to talk at me stopping every now and again to put his shoe back on. We reached the end of the road and I heard him promise he'd leave me alone as long as I shook his hand. I yanked the right headphone out of my ear and jutted my hand out.

"Thank you," he said, "you have no idea how much that means to me." I bid him good night with next to no emotion. I was simply glad to be rid of him. I don't know what it is he needed. Probably just company. I'm normally good at that sort of thing but he caught me on the wrong night. Any other night I could have made a new friend.

Little Ball of Feline Fluff

My mother recently received a present from my step-father. A small black and white kitten with faint Bengal stripes.

She is so cute! Friendly, fearless and smart too. She's affectionate and knows where the litter tray and food is. She'll grow up to be a great mouse catcher as well the way she attacks things so enthusiastically.

The parents have settled on the name Rani due to her connection with India (what with having Bengal heritage). The little thing has cheered me up greatly as my life is currently a poverty smeared one.

The Furry Fandom

I've been a slef-identified furry since the age of 15. I never really properly expressed it to anyone else until I was about 20. The Furry Fandom carries a lot of bad press and the media tends to focus on the extreme aspects of it.

For me being a furry is about being a fan of anthropomorphic animals and art and literature. It's also about expressing yourself through that medium. I also treat it as a hobby. Not something that my life revolves around.

For anyone unclear about what the Furry Fandom is perhaps this will help give a rough idea: Wikipedia's entry on The Furry Fandom.

Look Mum! I made arts!

I have recently been drawing. Really basic stuff at the moment. Soon I'll experiment more with my pencils. My medium has been Photoshop of late.

I really enjoy drawing and creating an image from my mind. If gives me great satisfaction. Being able to express my imagination not just in writing but also in drawing is quite liberating. I look forward to enhancing my skills and refining my technique.

Take a look at my creations on my Fur Affinity account: Dieselcat's Profile

Everyday Appearence

Now that my internet access is back on my desk and not in the hallway I am able to comfortably add more to my blog.

Anyone who knows me or has met me in person will know that I tend to overdress. I enjoy wearing smart clothing. Suits, waistcoats, ties etc. It makes me feel like I've made some small effort.

What fascinates me most is how I am treated. When I am wearing my work uniform I am treated like an idiot. When I wear my beach bum clothes on a hot day I am treated like just another member of the public. When I wear my smart clothing people smile, are helpful and thoroughly pleasant. Little do they know how cheap it is to look so good.

I feel it also highlights the shallow attitude many have (I myself have been guilty of it) and one should never judge another human being purely by appearance. Wait until they've proven themselves to be lovely or downright awful.

Sweet Sweet Internet

I fling up my arms in glorious praise to the gods of the wires! For I now am reconnected with the rest of the civilised world! This may or may not be a good thing.

My lack of internet did make me think back to the '90s where things were just kicking off. Radio advertisements would scream "Get online now!" and to have home internet was a thing of wealth and the height of modern technological achievement in your own living space.

Now of course we take it for granted as we do mobile phones. There was once a day where I had to use a house phone with a cord forcing me to stay in one spot whilst I spoke to someone. Once I had to walk around a department store fifty times before I found my friends and/or family.

Communication is stronger than it ever was and this is not a bad thing. I have kept in touch with people it would be so easy to loose if it weren't for websites that constantly remind me they exist. It would be tragic to loose contact with the many splendid people I've met along the way.

So yes, internet! Hurrah!

Home Internet on the Horizon

Hurrah! Soon my readers I will return to the aethernets to talk once again about my askew thoughts on the world! The incompetent internet provider has finally recognised the fact we have an active phone line, despite the fact we had already told us this. It'll be another 5 - 10 working days.

Stay tuned!