All Things Dead

[trinityofone]

My parents are coming tomorrow, and I sense I'm close to being pretty really extremely freaked out. I want to see them, but I know it's going to be weird, and then in a week they'll leave, and I'll have to go through the adjustment period all over again. Yes, I know: way to look on the bright side, trinityofone! Sorry. I'm just, well...freaked out? Yes, I think I mentioned that.

Anyway, good things: yesterday I got to see siriaeve, who I would like to inform you is more exciting than doing laundry. (I know. I just did mine.) Actually, she's a blast AND she lent me the first eight seasons of SG-1, which was pretty much the best unofficial Christmas present ever. So I may actually catch up with that half of the canon eventually. You know, if I never do homework or leave my room again.

She also took me to Dublin's Natural History Museum, which is officially the coolest museum I have ever been to, ever ever ever. Better than New York's Museum of Natural History, which I adore; better than the George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, which will always maintain a special place in my heart for still having the same video presentation I remember from, like, 1988. But this place... Let's just say that you really got a sense that this was what the monkeys in Planet of the Apes got their inspiration for their Human Museum from. I think it's sometimes referred to as the Dead Zoo--every kind of creature you could imagine, and some you couldn't, stuffed and mounted, pinned and wriggling on the wall. It was incredibly creepy and so, so awesome.

Words can't really do it justice, but you're not allowed to take pictures, and besides, my camera was broken. So here are some images I gleaned from the web:


Dude, just when you think you can't see any more dead animals, there are more dead animals. Did I mention that this place was awesome?


Birds, they will fly no more. You would feel bad, except it's all so weird and Victorian that you kind of don't.


Aww, this could be painted on a teacup! Except it's, you know, DEAD ANIMALS.


I'm kind of scared of people who go around taking tourist shots with a stuffed animal they call Mr. Monkey, and yet I feel a strange affinity with them, too. What's that about?

siriaeve and I kept giggling about Stephen Maturin was probably gaga over this place, and hey, if Stephen likes it, you know it's gotta be cool. So if you're ever in Dublin, this is now my official recommendation for the No. 1 thing you should go see. St. Stephen's Green? Pish. Dublin Castle? It's mostly rebuilt anyway. Trinity College? Whatevers. GO TO THE DEAD ZOO. Yes.

Speaking of dead things: plainsong_x, I finally finished Exquisite Corpse while I was doing my laundry this afternoon. I have no real coherent thoughts, but I would like to point out that I ate a burrito whilst reading it. *perverse pride*

And because I promised siriaeve that I would post it:

I Touch Myself - Scala

It's a Belgian girls' choir singing The Divinyls' "I Touch Myself." Yes, you read that correctly.

Oh, and whoever guesses what my subject line is from wins...well, my eternal respect? That should be worth something, right? No?

Comments

[dar-jeeling.livejournal.com]

I apologise for sounding like an idiot, but why exactly are you freaked out?

I'm imagining the Dead Zoo at night; dimly lit, oppressive atmosphere, all the dead animals staring at you with their dead cold eyes. Eeep.

Iwillnotdownloadthemp3Iwillnotdownloadthemp3Iwillnotdownloadthemp3

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I'm imagining the Dead Zoo at night; dimly lit, oppressive atmosphere, all the dead animals staring at you with their dead cold eyes.

Well, if I wasn't freaked out before, I would be now. =P

To be honest? It's just the usual fear of disappointing my parental units--I think that they had really high expectations for my coming here, and the fact that I'm not going to be able to take them around on the World's Best Tour of Dublin while hanging on the arm of my Hot Irish Boyfriend...well, I'm worried that they're going to shake their heads and sigh: "Oh, Trinity." Except, you know, with my actual name.

Probably they will actually just be happy to see me, but...family, man. It's tough.

Iwillnotdownloadthemp3Iwillnotdownloadthemp3Iwillnotdownloadthemp3

OMG yes you so will! Go on: succumb! *eg*

[dar-jeeling.livejournal.com]

Hee! My ears aren't bleeding. It's...better than the original version, actually.

It's just the usual fear of disappointing my parental units
Ah, yes. I get that. *hugs*

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Omg! The Harvard Museum of Natural History apparently copied their design from the DNHM, because it looked just like those pictures. Only smaller.

From their website: Exhibition highlights include pheasants once owned by George Washington, the Triceratops type specimen (first ever described), and the world's only mounted Kronosaurus, a 42-foot-long prehistoric marine reptile.

If you swing through Boston, I can get you in free. *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Dude, I totally need to see the world's only mounted Kronosaurus! Boston, here I come!

Seriously, though, I really do hope that I get to take a trip east once I'm back in America. (Like, with the first batch of vacation time from the job I don't yet have?) Vermont and I have some issues to work out, but I've always really loved Massachusetts, so I would totally love to swing down and take you up on that offer...*g*

Re: is it from Roxanne?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Yes, you WIN at LIFE! *showers you with eternal respect. it looks a lot like glitter*

And I'm glad you like the Divinyls cover. It is musical CRACK, my friend. *g*

[birdsflying]

Ah yes, the scary Dead Zoo. I loved that place when I lived in Ireland. I find myself fascinated by those creepy stuffed animals!

The monkeys are always the worst. The monkey room in the National Museum in Prague has some pretty creepy looking stuffed monkeys.

The PNM seems to work on a similar princple - bottom floor is full of rocks. Many many boring rocks. And then upstairs is crazy dead animal time. And a huge whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

What is with museums and whales hanging from the ceiling? THEY LOVE THAT.

The monkeys were by far the creepiest. I was saying to siriaeve, "Didn't the Victorians look at these guys and go, 'Hmm, they look creepily close to humans; maybe we shouldn't stuff them and put them in a case?'" But then I sort of thunked myself in the head because a lot of Victorians didn't view all people as fully human. Bastards.

Although: enjoyably repressed bastards. *finds repression oddly kinky*

I want to go to Prague like whoa.

[birdsflying]

The worst thing was that the monkeys were looking a bit...motheaten. And there was this tiny lemur-like creature with eyes that would give Elijah Wood a run for his money. Freaking creepy, man!

Oh, you have got to go to Prague. I had such a fantastic time when I lived there over the summer and it's really cheap to fly there right now. I'm trying to go back soon myself. Let me know if you do go and I can pass on some good places to go/eat where you don't get charged stupid prices for being a tourist + handy czech phrases.

[siria]

We should so have brought a stuffed monkey with us. We could have brought him to see the bog bodies as well! It would have been very educational for him to see the dessicated dead bodies that form such a proud part of my people's history. He could have met John Sheppard as well. (How bad am I that I totally want to icon that?) I've still not managed to find an appropriate Zelenka bird though.

if Stephen likes it, you know it's gotta be cool. So if you're ever in Dublin, this is now my official recommendation for the No. 1 thing you should go see. St. Stephen's Green? Pish.

I think Stephen would want you to go to the Green, though, because this is the last sentence I read in Letter of Marque before putting it down in order to check LJ:

'I believe,' said Maturin, 'that to the mariner paths are stretched across the ocean according to wind and weather: these he follows with as little thought or concern as a Christian might walk down Sackville Street, cross Carlisle Bridge, pass Trinity College and so come to Stephen's Green, that haunt of dryads...'

Dryads! Oh, Stephen.

That song owns my soul now, by the way. Especially since it just made my sister do a doubletake. *giggles*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

He could have met John Sheppard as well. (How bad am I that I totally want to icon that?)

Ahhhh! He has plumage!

You are bad in the sense that you ROCK. Have you noticed that your icons have taken over a fair share of my 100 slots?

Dryads! Oh, Stephen.

Oh, Stephen indeed. Why is Diana not dying to sex you?

And hurrah for doubletakes! Hee.

[siria]

It is less plumage, and more a work of art. Well, it less a work of art and more "what if we stapled a hedgehog to the top of a bird's head?" But. You know. I admire John in all his tonsorial endeavours, whether avian or not!

You are bad in the sense that you ROCK.

No, not so much. I am, perhaps, a small pebble. On my good days. Days like today, I make myself a sandwich for lunch, then realise its turkey, and it takes fifteen minutes and a cup of tea to calm me down.

Why is Diana not dying to sex you?

Mystery for the ages! He's a natural historian and a spy and the nineteenth century proto-dork! Why, in the colonial terminology, would she not want to hit that?

Also, re: your latest post. There should so be Rodney/Sam sexin'. Because they are hot together like a madly hot thing that burns and that kiss... and now I need to go rewatch 2.14.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I admire John in all his tonsorial endeavours, whether avian or not!

STOP MAKING ME LOVE YOU MORE! I can't handle it!

Why, in the colonial terminology, would she not want to hit that?

Dammit. *adores you*

Yeah, I need to watch GUP like, 45 billion more times. Today. And hee! Icon. *g*

[siria]

Hee. Oh, now I'm all smiley from the undeserved adoration. *loves*

And now I can't find the disc that I burnt 2.14 to. Woe is me. For I want to cap Rodney being painfully adorable, and then icon it forever and ever. *hunts through shelves*

That, and a picture of John's hair. Possibly with the words "tonsorial endeavours" inscribed thereon.

[jetspeaks.livejournal.com]

My friend Lynn carried a stuffed "animal" that is intended to look like a uvula around America and London before giving up on taking travel shots. The only reason he didn't come to Disneyland with us is because he was too damn heavy...

And hon, what about Jade's Boady-Does NYC photo spread?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

No, I secretly think stuffed-animals-in-travel-shots (or gnomes!) are awesome. I'm just trying to cling to what's left of my sanity while I still can...

[aurora]

Yay for family time. Or you know, not. But you can be their Dublin tour guide. :D

Ooh, SG1! Me and a friend of mine are in the process of rewatching it from the beginning. There's so much I'd forgotten and/or missed the first time around. Also, perving over Daniel. Good times.

She also took me to Dublin's Natural History Museum, which is officially the coolest museum I have ever been to, ever ever ever.
Okay, now I'm jealous. Because I'm perhaps the biggest museum geek ever. It looks eerily pretty. *add to long list of 'museums to visit'*

Hahaha, Scala. Oh man, they play their songs constantly here. Must be national pride. Or something. I like their version of 'She Hates Me' and this cover is pretty okay as well.

xxx

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Dude, do you have any more of that national pride that you perhaps would like to share with me? *waggles eyebrows*

Perving on Daniel is good. Though I know that the scruffy hair is going to go away, and that makes me sad. *pout*

[aurora]

Dude, of course. :) Don't really know your music taste, so here's a bit of everything. All Scala covers:

She Hates Me (Live)
With Or Without You
I Think I'm Paranoid (Live)
Creep (Live)
Teenage Dirtbag
Perfect Day
Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Live)
Every Breath You Take
Bittersweet Symphony

Voilà, enjoy!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that is seriously cracked. And by cracked, I mean awesome. Thank you!

[ilgattopardo.livejournal.com]

Wow... And now I'm wondering why I never went to the Natural History Museum in Dublin as a child? By the way, it looks remarkably like the University and Pitt Rivers Museums in Oxford (the former for natural history, the latter anthropology; they're under the same roof). Be careful not to award the title of Coolest Museum Ever before you have seen the Pitt Rivers... (Shrunken heads!! Yes, human ones...)

If the parents are coming, I should probably let them get clear before popping down to Dublin for a visit; our schedules will overlap. I'll e-mail you my details, really, I promise...

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

You never went? I will go again with you! I will pitch a tent and LIVE there!

wychwood recommends the Pitt Rivers, too; I must try to check it out. Shrunken head--w00t!

My parents are only going to be here a week, so that should give us time, yes? akirgo at yahoo is the way to go...

[airinshaw.livejournal.com]

See I was in Dublin only a few weeks ago and had I but known...

...we did train down to Sandycove though and be Fourty Foot geeks. Also, when I saw the Spire for the first time I could help but comment in it's resemblance to a giant phallic object.

But no museum. However, I do plan to visit again so here's hoping next time I can get to see the Building O' Death.

And the song? Creepy as feck! Small girls should never be allowed to sing the words "I touch myself" ever. Ever

[airinshaw.livejournal.com]

Coise my failure to spell "forty" *is ashamed that the typos got her*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Ahh, the Spire! Best phallic object/navigational tool ever.

The Building O' Death must be your PRIORITY next time. Promise!

Small girls should never be allowed to sing the words "I touch myself" ever.

Yes they should! For the amusement of me, they totally should! *is evil*

Your icon rocks.

[airinshaw.livejournal.com]

Ahh, the Spire! Best phallic object/navigational tool ever.

It is! Especially as we were staying at the Marlborough Hostel on Marlborough street.

"How do we get back?"
"Dunno"
"Head for the phallus! Thataway!!"

And I love my icon too - if I could I would marry it and have hundreds of half-icon half-human babies. But alas I cannot engineer it as I am a physicist, not a biologist.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

"Head for the phallus! Thataway!!"

Hee! Although I am now rather worried that I am going to slip and give my parents those directions...

But alas I cannot engineer it as I am a physicist, not a biologist.

Really? Oh, man. You must laugh at our dear, sweet show SO MUCH.

[airinshaw.livejournal.com]

Pretty much all sci fi has dodgy science anyway, and yet I'm still a fan! I do find it very amusing whenever I read fics that have Rodney bitching out the shit science in sci fi because I totally do that!

"What? Did you just forget about conservation of momentum?"
"No! Bloody hell! Did you just open a window and chuck physics out you rat bastards!"
"That makes no sense! Schroedinger used the cat to show that quantum theory is NOT applicable to large models - ack! Wankers!"

I actually quite enjoy it, as I'm fairly sure Rodney does too. My degree was in physics with astropysics too so it's funny to see their take on stuff like that. They should hire me to shout at them until they fix physics.

Actually I think that the biology is more shoddy in SGA - and with that I can stick my fingers in my ears and chant "la la la la!!".

[spazatron.livejournal.com]

That museum looks several kinds of awesome. If I were to visit you in Ireland (which I should be doing now, damn it), I'd insist you take me there.

By the way, I've been trying to call you and nothing is working. When it actually seems to connect me, all I get is a busy signal. Very frustrating, especially because I just purchased a new calling card. Bah. Your phone is on, right? Have you been able to receive calls from other people?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I just a received a call about an hour ago, so it is working. Are you sure you're dialing all the numbers correctly? With the 353 1 prefix and everything?

[spazatron.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I just tried again, too. This is so frustrating!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Okay, looking at this again (because I always get confused--who the hell came up with this system?) you should dial, in this order:

1 353 087 053 8496

And if that doesn't work...AHHHHHH!

(Although actually, you probably shouldn't try calling me right now, because I'm waiting for the call from my parents that'll tell me they've arrived. STRESS.)

Icon used for irony. And because Zelenka = love.

[wychwood]

...if you ever come over to the UK, you positively have to visit the Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford. It's possibly not quite as Maturin-worthy (although: dodo!) but it has the best totally random exhibits of anywhere I've ever visited.

Four words: Witch in a bottle.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what ilgattopardo said, too. I really must try. Because...

Four words: Witch in a bottle.

...makes me go, "Quoi?"

[slashygood.livejournal.com]

I went there at the tender age of five and between my father's creepy commentary and having a case of centipedes fall on me, I never quite recovered. Apparently various institutions and museums around the country have various spare animals that had been donated, so if you ever want to see a collection of stuffed rare armadillos for example, UCC is the place to be. :)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

A CASE of CENTIPEDES fell on you?! Dude, siriaeve and I were joking about things accidentally falling from the ceiling, but...yikes!

I really do want to get down to Cork at some point. (That is in Cork, right? *fails at geography, and possibly, life*)

BTW, your username totally cracks me up. It makes me think of Dylan Moran and Black Books and the fizzy good. Is that indeed the correct allusion?

[slashygood.livejournal.com]

Let me rephrase that: it fell on me, and opened.

Yes! You win at university anagrams! Yay! Like any other Cork person will tell you, Cork is a fantastic place full of lovely people and you must visit ASAP and enjoy it and not mock (at least not loudly) our City of Culture nonsense. Ahem. But yes, do come down, and then there will be a total of three people in Cork who like SGA.

Sadly not, but I sometimes pretend it is, because along Bernard's logic: 'slashy good make feel nice' which is totally and utterly true.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh my God. *is totally traumatized on your behalf*

Do I want to hear the rest of this story? (Yes.) How did this happen? What did you do? And did they at least buy you an ice cream afterwards, something?

A lot of people have raved to me about Cork, and I really do want to go. I may actually try to drag my parents down this week, but whether or not that works out, perhaps I will make an excursion during my next reading week. (Whenever the heck that is. *so confused by school system STILL*) And do you mind if I friend you? I am immensely excited by the idea of another SGA person in Ireland in GENERAL.

And yay to Bernard logic! Well, sort of. ;-)

[slashygood.livejournal.com]

You know the selection of cases downstairs towards the back, filled with insects? I was just walking along and the case front slid off and all the centipedes went splat onto me. I got chocolate and a healthy phobia of centipedes for years. :D

The thing about Cork is that there is lots to see, it's just all over the place, up hills and down valleys, unlike Dublin. There's all sorts of closing ceremony festival things going on this week actually. If it makes you feel better, I have no idea whatsoever what the reading week is. Crazy TCD people. :D

I've added you back, thanks! We should form a support group or go door-to-door, trying to convert people!

Bernard logic gets you arrested, or possibly waking up drunk in Galway after popping to the shops for some bread. ::shifty eyes::

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That centipede story? One of the most awful things I have EVER HEARD. Thank you for sharing!

Crazy TCD people. :D

So I tell myself daily. (I'm just visiting--I'm actually a crazy Berkeley person, and let me tell you, that is a very...special kind of crazy.)

We should form a support group or go door-to-door, trying to convert people!

Absolutely! So far the only people I'm stalking aware of in Ireland are siriaeve and jarsy in Dublin, and taelonmahal in Limerick. Our army is small but growing...I hope.

And agh, the 'rents just rang--must run!

[violin-road.livejournal.com]

Mmm, burritos.

Also, that song is fab, and I am pleased more people are getting to hear it ♥

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting experience to be eating your lunch and having to constantly reassure yourself: "Not intestines. NOT intestines..." *g*

[violin-road.livejournal.com]

... But they're so tasty!

Er.