I want to wish all of LJ a Merry Christmas.

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Meus nomen est 'Secondhandgirl'.
Meus nuntiant ego studium de latine, sunt melioritus.
Meus uti 'D'Ooge'.

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I'm trying to teach myself Classical Latin. I'm doing fairly well, I suppose. I'm working on it about an hour-hour and a half per day. Grammar is where I'm having a little trouble -memorising words is the easy bit. The high school I went to was pretty crap, educationwise, not to mention that I didn't have the attention span or maturity at that age(I left school at 16). Oddly enough I do have the intelligence, according to IQ tests(I've scored up to an IQ of 158 on online IQ tests), but lack the attention span and the docility to do well in a controlling environment such as a high school. Working on my own works very well for me though.

Current Mood: dorky

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I don't normally rec fan-fics, even good ones, but I read this one years ago and loved it so when I came across it again I just had to mention it. Usually I hate OC's but this one is well-developed.

http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/josan/hp/gol01.html

A Gift Of Light.
Slash, Snape/OMC, I think it was R-NC 17, so if you're under 18, be a good little kiddie and don't clickie. Doesn't really involve the War or DE's. I think it's post-final battle(Light won).

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I've been playing all these computer games I used to play as a kid. Because they're DOS-based(I'm really showing my age here) I've had to download a DOS-imitator called DOSbox to run them on. DOS was the pre-windows 'OS', and to run ANYTHING, you had to type long-winded commands. None of this point and double click of the mouse. Back in the days when your average program was 500 kilobytes(now they tend to be 150 MEGABYTES...). I still have an ancient laptop that has windows 3.1 as it's OS, and also runs DOS(and despite tbeing so ancient, it's actually internet capable), but the disk drive(no CD-ROM on that dinosaur) doesn't work most of the time now. Mind you the desktop I'm typing this on is only windows 98, and was bought in 2000. Oddly enough, the 1992 win 3.1 laptop is less buggy than the 2000 windows 98 desktop. I'm thinking of buying a new computer. XP, I suppose. It would take up most of my money though.

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'Twas my 21st birthday yesterday. It doesn't mean the same here as it seems to in America...adulthood is regarded as 18 in my country, but it's still symbolic.

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I am coveting a replication of an 1800's publication of Culpeper's Physican and Complete Herbal. $29.95 in my country's currency. Strictly speaking I can afford it, but I'm hardcore saving, and not spending much more than I have to. It's actually rather poor print quality, but the information within, *drool*. Mind you I do have access to my mother's copy of Culpeper's Colour Herbal.
I'm raising Echinacea, Scullcap, Anise and Elecampane from seed. At the moment all but the Scullcap has at least one seedling up, and the Anise has gone mad. I'm going to sell any I don't need when they're big enough. I also bought a Wormwood today. I figured out I have around 25 different herbs in my 'garden'. I'm constantly pruning and potting on. It's borderline Winter/Spring here but plants are already drying out quickly. Most of my herbs never went Winter Dormant, even the ones that were supposed to.

I'm trying to think what the other name for Wolfsbane is(Harry Potter fans -It is a real herb, although obviously it doesn't control werewolves...). I know it but it's slipped my mind. Going to drive me nuts now.

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I've finally gotten round to starting a grimoire. A grimoire is a resource of gathered information and 'techniques' that can be shown to other people, whereas a 'Book of Shadows'(the name of which I find to be a bit too cutesy) is a more religious-oriented private book/folder (mine is a haphazard jumble despite my attempts at organisation). This 'grimoire' is a hardback ringbound book- grey and white abstract leaf print cover(black leather/ette is traditional but I hate cliches). So far I've copied some of my herbal remedies down, but it's an ongoing project, and I plan to have a Centering, Grounding, Shielding and Meditation section. Not really the sort of thing that you really finish. As long as you live you are learning. It'll be more practical than spriritual, the 'BOS' is for more spiritual stuff. I've been planning this for awhile, but I've taken my time over it because I really don't want to stuff it up.

I got the Quiddich World Cup game, but this computer hasn't enough memory...it needs 64mb, and it only has 63mb. One bloody megabyte. The computer is a bit(or very) old. We got it around my 16th Birthday, and I turn 21 in about 6 weeks time. It's an antique by technological standards *grin*. Starting to show it's age too, the buggy thing. Mind you, my laptop dates from 1992. 13 years old. Windows 3.1. Internet capable though and it's fine as long as websites still support the OS(LJ doesn't). I used to use it when I was studying and living in another city.

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In the HP series, I don't think that the 'Light Side' is going to win the war.

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Bought a Hyssop, and a Catmint plant for my herb garden. I think I have around 15 different herbs at the moment...may seem like a lot, but it's nothing like the 200 the average medieval housewife would keep in her garden(yet). I like unusual herbs. If Cannabis(Marijuana) was legal, I'd have a plant in my herb garden. Not to smoke -I hate the stuff- but just because it's (officially) uncommon. The same reason I want Scullcap, which is poisonous. I also have a few 'weeds' that are actually herbs as well(they so don't need deliberate cultivating or encouragement though!), such as Puha(local name for Sow Thistle), Clover, and Chickweed for example. I'm planning to get Echinacea but although my garden centre has them, it's mid-winter and they've been killed by frost. Its a bad look to leave them on display, really. Most of my herbs are in troughs and in a roofed patio for winter, apart from hardy ones like Calendula and common Mint(perhaps I should have included Mint as a weed...).

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MAJOR HALFBLOOD PRINCE SPOILERS
I think it's safe enough for me to say before the cut: HBP is the best book out of all 6. Rowling's really got the hang of putting together a good story, with twists, turns etc now.

MAJOR Halfblood Prince SPOILERS( Read more...Collapse )

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You know these disclaimers on NC-17 fan-fic...the ones that pop up before you can access each chapter? Don't you think that if you're over 18 when you read chapter one you're not likely to de-age between reading chapters one and two and three and four.

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You know these 'Islamists' who think we're so evil and moraless here in the west. If we're so evil and moraless, why the hell do they live in the west? Instead of randomly killing as many people and causing as much disruption as possible -which is not likely to convert any many people to Islam- Why don't they just go back to their own countries where such cultures are already the norm? I've researched Islam, as religion is facinating to me, and I've read the Koran, as well as their book of 'parables'(the name of which escapes me at the moment), and absolutely nowhere does it say to do things like that. Jihad. Yes it mentions Jihad, but Jihad usually means a personal war, if I remember correctly. Against your own urges to sin, not others. Mad mad world. Islam is not the only one. They're just the current lot to cause the most trouble. The Muslims I've known have been decent likable people.

I've added Comphrey, Pennyroyal and Angelica to my herb garden, just need potting on. Comphrey: skin problems, a great mulch, and is also known as knitbone for its healing properties. Pennyroyal: headaches, and insect repellant, among other things -absolutely lucious(lucius?:P) scent. Can't remember the properties of Angelica at the moment, other than it can be candied and eaten as a sweet.
I've developed a fine white mold on the soil around my Thyme, Rosemary and Camomile. I'm not sure what to do about it without damaging the plants. I think its the new potting mix.

8 days till HBP. I'm dreading who will die in this book. Someone will. Bound to. As long as it's not Harry, Hermione, Ron, Lupin, Dumbledore, Tonks, Snape, McGonagall, Neville, Luna...oh alright I don't want anyone on Harry's side to die. Harry had better have grown up a bit cos he was a right immature prat in OoTP, and at 16, with his destiny...oy. The Wizarding world is doomed.

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Somewhat random, but in GOF Harry uses Gillyweed to breathe underwater. In reality theres no such thing as a Gillyweed with such properties(no shit...), but there is a herb called Gillyflower. I can't remember the description or properties at the moment, but I think it's either also known as something else, or it's quite rare.

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There is a lot of elitism in the Pagan community. Gardneran Wicca(They are the original Wiccans, Gerald Gardner was their founder) in particular as they (usually)belive that if you're not Gardnerian or at least British Traditional you're not a true Wiccan(There are other traditions...Seux, Feri are 2 off the top of my head but there are others, as well as eclectic which takes aspects of whatever trads 'feel' right). This actually annoys the heck out of me even though I'm not Wiccan myself. Its' something along the lines of Sunni Muslims claiming Shia' Muslims aren't Muslim(Which is another controversy in the Muslim community). To me, if you believe the basics of a religion, you're a member of that religion. I'm not Wiccan, Muslim, or Christian -I'm just a eclectic Pagan hedgewitch type(look that one up:P) who is facinated by all belief systems- but that sort of elitism within a religious community -any religious community- really pisses me off. Yes Gardner founded Wicca, but religions evolve over time. All religions evolve over time. It doesn't make the worshippers of the newer sects any less Wiccan/Muslim/Christian etc.

I wonder if referring to myself as a witch in a journal mainly devoted to Harry Potter makes me look just a little bit cuckoo grin. As long as I make it clear that a pagan witch isn't anything like a fantasy witch, y'all won't have the men in white coats come and take me away...will you...will you? "Heelp! I'm being kidnapped!"

Ooh-Ooh. 17 days until Half-Blood Prince is released. Dances

I bought some Rosmary, Thyme and Chamomile to add to my herb garden today, and ever since I've had the 1960's song Scarborough Fair on my brain(The chorus goes Parsley Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Remember me to one who lives there. Once she was a true love of mine.).
I have Soapwort, St John's Wort, Marsh-Mallow(no, not the sweet, but a herb), Stevia, Feverfew, Mugwort, Rosmary, Thyme and Chamomile in pots so far, as well as Mint, Sage, Calendula and a couple of others in the garden. I'm a herb-nut. Use them for medicinal purposes mainly, and I eat Stevia like a sweet. A couple are poisonous(You shouldn't eat soapwort for example, but it's used for washing wool) but they have other uses(No not for poisoning people I don't like pokes tongue out.) If HP were real I'd love to meet Professor Snape and discuss his Potions work with him(If he didn't tell me to piss off, in a suitably wordy manner). An absolute herb-nut.

Current Mood: annoyed

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Pre-Ordered HPB today. Seeing as New Zealand is the first to see the days, we will be the first to get the book. Thought I'd better get it as soon as possible or it was going to be spoilt for me by internet spoilers.

Wish I could come up with a bestselling fiction series. Alas I can barely write decent fiction(well actually I can't), so fugeddaboudit. It would solve my unemployment problems though. Ah who knows, I'm only 20. There's still time(yeah riiight).

I bought J K Rowlings' Biography a week or so ago. I haven't read past the first few pages yet though.

Current Mood: tired

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I'm quite amused that my mother refers to my herb research, cultivation and medicinal use as "Your Potions". So what's the instructions for Polyjuice Potion again? Perhaps I should make some Skele-grow. I love Culpeppers Colour Herbal(book/encyclopedia, written by Nicholas Culpepper, in the 1600's). I have to wonder if he was trying to kill or cure sometimes, but with the modern yay/nay explanations it is a great source. I prefer the older books for research because some of the newer ones are a bit flakey.

I could have paid $10NZ to reserve my copy of Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Price today, but the money was a bit on the tight side so I didn't. Obviously you pay the rest of the money when the book comes in. I want to get it as quickly as I can because you can be sure that as soon as it comes out, there will be major spoilers everywhere online.
How about the Halfblood Prince being Dudley? That'd be great!

It's freezing, and I think its hailing. No, its a thunderstorm. Better go.

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I hope that Luna Lovegood and Harry date in HBP. Seems likely. I never took to Cho Chang. I don't know why, but she just got on my nerves.
I also think that Neville Longbottom will have a bigger role in the War.
And I'll be extremely suprised if Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger don't get together...that's been obvious since book one.
On the subject of relationships, it's strange that none of the professors seem to have Significant Others. I guess the set-up of a boarding school would make marriages and de facto relationships hard though.
I must say I'm all for Dobby and Winky, but she likely couldn't handle Dobby's being a free elf.

Voldemort and his Death-Eaters are in ideology similar to Adolf Hitler and his Nazi's. Hitler: Jews are inferior and tainted, so must be eradicated. Voldemort: Muggleborns are inferior and tainted so must be eradicated.
A more modern comparison are Al Quaeda, in their methods. Guerilla tactics, rather than conventional war.
I'm tempted to add George Bush in there, but I'll refrain.

We have a Church in New Zealand that calls itself Destiny Church. They're a fundie christan church that borders on cult. They have some disturbingly nazi-like traits. Their main obsession is that they absolutely abhor homosexuality, and are determined to stamp it out. To demonstrate their point, last year they held a march in one of our main cities, where they marched enmass, dressed in black, shouting "ENOUGH'S ENOUGH" and giving Nazi-like salutes. If they had their way, I think Christianity would be mantatory, pre-marital-sex would be a crime, and homosexuality -whether celibate or not- would be a death-penalty crime. Oh, and lets not forget gender roles...men must be macho and women should know their place. They're actually quite amusing, in a sick way. Perhaps these groups are common in the USA but thankfully in New Zealand they're rare, although Destiny Church does have quite a following among Maori. Their Leader calls himself a Bishop or something like that. He's not, in the traditional ordained way. He ordained himself. He's very charismatic, and rather plastic. Need I add stinking rich? Anyway, point is, this is how violent fanatic groups such as the Death Eaters, and Al Quaeda start, odd, but seemingly too strange to become a real threat.

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There is something wrong with a(this) person who reads both children's books such as Harry Potter(admittedly HP are the only kid's books I read), and also say, the Sacred History of Britain, and The Diary of Samuel Pepys, for instance.

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I haven't worked on any fan-fic for a long time. Lets face it, I have no gift for it, and I can't write anything other than PG-rated slash, and that not well. I've been busy doing religious research, which takes quite a bit of time. Amusingly enough given the main topic of this LJ, I could be called a 'Witch', a widely used term among Pagan religions. I'm an Eclectic Hedge Witch with Wiccan and Asatruistic influences. Hedge means you work with Herbs and such, and without much ceremony(and no I can't do spells in the HP sense:P, and rarely do them in the wiccan sense). Anyway, I've been working on my 'Book of Shadows', or 'Grimore', which I generally refer to as 'Research'. For me, it's pretty much a self-compiled sacred book.

It must be pretty close to when Book 6 comes out. I wonder if any of my speculation will be confirmed. Snape as a loyal Death-Eater, Tonks also a Death-Eater, Pettigrew's silver hand meaning something dire for Lupin, and the latest: Mundungus Fletcher is an animagus Crookshanks(I don't actually think that one is likely). Harry had better bloody grow up, he's got a war to fight, and he still acts as if he were a little boy at times. He's 16 years old this book, and he ought to remember it. I was 16 5 years ago. I had my moments, but oye, Harry.

People who write fan-fic where the characters drink copious amounts of Fire-Whiskey should remember that Whiskey is vile. And verrry alcoholic.

Voldemort isn't bad, he's just misunderstood. Poor ickle Voldemort. One thing I can't work out is if Voldemort had his normal human Tom Riddle body right up until the Avada Kedavra he cast at baby Harry in 1981. He wouldn't have been that old then, if he was at school in 1945.

For the main part, I'm rambling. Time to shut up.

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