raven: [hello my name is] and a silhouette image of a raven (for a girl)
raven ([personal profile] raven) wrote2004-11-24 10:39 am

Feet of clay

And a very good morning to all, etc, etc. Why and where I am writing this are slightly out-of-the-ordinary, hence some explanation. The night before last, I was in a state of blah. The sort of State of Blah that acquires capital letters, a flag and welcome sign:

"You are now entering the State of Blah. Please drive carefully. Or not, because we don't care."

It was all happening because of the mock interview I had yesterday. What they do is they assign every Oxbridge/Medicine applicant with a(nother) mentor, sit them in a room in a formal situation and make them answer questions. Consequently, I was a nervous wreck by the night before because I couldn't think of a single thing that I actually, like, knew. My mother was no help, telling me I ought to focus on Medicine when the mock interview was for PPE and don't be nervous when it was something I couldn't exactly help, like breathing. At the same time, my ears were ringing. Loudly. I couldn't explain it. In the morning, I listened to Keane's Hopes and Fears on my way into school, and couldn't hear it above the noise in my head. Later, in in the small Biology lab, I became convinced the noise was so loud it had to be real. Of course, I had to ask, does anyone else hear that, and they said hear what, etc, and clearly, I said, I am going insane. Their collective expressions did not dissuade me.

By the time the interview itself rolled around, I was actually feeling rather calm and collected, and decided that if I made a fool of myself then oh, well, and sat there whil Mr Donnan (English teacher, hadn't said more than five words to him before) asked me questions. After the usual why-this-course why-this-college why-you, he got onto the actual subject questions, and they were hard. The ones that stick out were: "Why study such an ivory tower subject as Philosophy?", "What is the connection between science and philosophy?", "What are the advantages of a market economy?", "What were the long term ramifications of the Thatcher years?", "Will Labour ever be a socialist party again?" and "Which should dictate to governments, economic or social policy?"

It wasn't an easy interview, clearly, and by the time I got to the last question, I was feeling a little unstuck. But when it was over and I sat back in my chair, he was terribly nice. Said it was the best interview he'd done in a long time, and if it had been up to him, he would have given me the place. So I smiled like an idiot, thanked him, went wandering out of the door and round the corner into the library, where I engaged in jumping up and down and making entirely too much noise. I had to, to make myself heard over the noise in my ears.

So that was that, more or less. Interview over, I had to then cope with parents' evening - last one ever, thankfully. My parents were polite, even Pedar, who is notoriously bored at these sort of things, and he probably scandalised Mrs Colvin, who was actually very nice about me. Said I was "very astute with large molecules" (huh?) and she called me an intellectual. Pedar called it slander.

But by the time I got home, I decided that was all I was ready to face for one day, so I watched Friends (TOW Ross Flirts), and went to bed. I refused utterly to go to school, especially as all I'd miss would be General Studies (and some other things, but blah) and this morning I woke up at nine, feeling like crap. I am virus-ridden and ill, more tired than one night's sleep will cure, without the ability to concentrate on anything much in particular. But I'm in a good mood. I've hit my lowest point and refused to get out of bed in the morning. Now the only way is up. And the inside of my head is blessedly silent.

Today, I plan to finish watching season seven of Buffy - I'm up to Dirty Girls - and make a start on season one of Angel (the DVDs arrived two days ago, may Amazon be blessed). And maybe do some work. Maybe. Definitely will spam LJ as much as I want, and do the wishlist meme, and just generally do stuff I wanted to do. The first piece of spam is simple. Does anyone have, or know where I could get, the Exposition Song from Restless on mp3? It's sort of kind of very important.

And I forgot to mention strawberry laces. My mother bought a massive box of them. Life is, if not good, then decidedly okay.

[identity profile] hathy-col.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
Huzzah for mock interview goodness!

Angel. Ohmygodsofabulous. Season one? Less fabulous but definitely enjoyable.

Don't know about the Exposition song, though. Sorry.

Looking forward to seeing you soon! *bouncy*

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, yay for Friday! It's a full moon, according to Clare. By then I may have actually watched one episode of Angel. Yay me, etc. Wish tomorrow was Friday.

[identity profile] apestaartje.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
The exposition song (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=108D1E03034550ACDA4F70AFAF3D20F3). :)

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
You angel. *down on knees* Thank you so much.

[identity profile] apestaartje.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 12:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I have "Behind blue eyes" from "Where the wild things are" and "Free bird" from the "Yoko factor" if you want those as well.

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 01:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, please. I would love you forever. I used to scroll through the DVD chapters just for those bits. I didn't say that.

[identity profile] apestaartje.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I used to scroll through the DVD chapters just for those bits. I didn't say that.
lol

Behind blue eyes (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0EC1D33AE445C7ADD04F9E84A8B88192)
Free bird (http://s2.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1F3C4B2C5FF3F11DADB013EFCFF576D8)

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, again! *is happy*

[identity profile] amchau.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
>"You are now entering the State of Blah. Please drive carefully. Or not, because we don't care."

This is why you write mock-Prattchet so well. You're even clever and funny about the blah bits of life. All I ever mangage to write is blah.

*hugs* I wish there was something I could do.

Err... does distraction help? Did you see SG-1 last night?

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
That is not true. You don't write at all about the blah! In fact, you don't write in your journal enough. That said, I write too much. :)

Didn't see SG-1, no. Which one was it?

[identity profile] amchau.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, today I will keep notes on the blah and then write about it.

SG-1 was the one with the business man guy who tried to tell everyone about the aliens. Thor came to help. It was quite cool.

[identity profile] enguarde.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 10:27 am (UTC)(link)
oxford said
'if god is omnipotent, and everlasting, can he commit suicide'

and
'can nothing be proven?'
and things like that.
a maths question about lemons and plums on paper. The spiral of the economy if a plum turns bad and things like that.

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 11:07 am (UTC)(link)
You had an interview already?

[identity profile] enguarde.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
it was a day for fe colleges etc. lectures and mock interviews. I thought that the questions were difficult, but it didn't matter what answer you gave so long as you discussed it thoroughly and clearly.

[identity profile] bekkypk.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
>"You are now entering the State of Blah. Please drive carefully. Or not, because we don't care."

Love love that line. Glad you're feeling a bit better now :) *hugs*
xx

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
*grins* Glad to amuse. Hee.

[identity profile] lilka.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
*grins* Mr. Donnan taught me English my first three years. He rocks :)

Fic for you. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/lilka/87259.html)

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd never even spoken to him before! Everyone who's had him seems to think he's either incredibly cool or incredibly weird. What is it about him?

Fic? Excuse me while I die from anticipation... :)

[identity profile] walkertxkitty.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 12:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Yikes, sounds rough! They don't do that sort of thing over here. At most, you get asked for a biography submitted with your application.

Are laces the same as strawberry licorice? I've never heard of them.

[identity profile] loneraven.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
They're notorious for it at Oxford, hence all the extra preparation I'm being given. I'm told it's good for me. :)

Strawberry laces are probably the same as red liquorice, but I'm not sure. They're long red strands that taste mostly of sugar, anf you can tie them in knots and plait them and stuff. I use them when revising so I've got something else to concentrate on, and get through boxes of them. It's embarrassing.

[identity profile] walkertxkitty.livejournal.com 2004-11-24 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, those would be strawberry licorice whips. Love the things, I can diddle with them for hours, but they haven't yet made a no-sugar equivalent.

Good luck! As far as I can see, you're doing well.