I did it, but I did not do my essay (yet)

Hopefully you're reading this on my all new layout? Do you like it? I think I do, although there are a lot of things that need sorting out. Like in the archives, pink is still the colour for my early posts. And I'm not sure about the columns, I might go back to two. But otherwise, I like the change to blue, I like the photo and I like the little tabs at the top. Blogger in draft is pretty cool.

So what say you?

Volcanoes were one of the few things I understood in Geography

Did anyone see this coming? I mean, anyone? I for one have never heard that planes can't fly through volcano ash. I mean they can fly through thunderstorms where lightning can actually hit a plane and nothing. No big deal. But apparently a bit of volcano ash can bring the whole thing down. Who knew? Yes, ok, air traffic people and airplane people. But what ordinary, non-geek knew that?

At the start it was all a bit of a lark, but now, with no real end in sight, it's just annoying for everyone trying to get somewhere. You kind of forget how reliant we are on planes. And it's everyone that's affected. Even me. I'm not trying to go anywhere, and I'm not stuck anywhere. But my Time magazine, my much loved Saturday morning read, did not arrive today. Sure, some would argue it's not quite being stuck in an airport with no money, no bed and no idea when you'll get out, but I like to think I took one for the team too this morning.

This BBC article tells of the areas affected and it mentions how Obama has had to cancel the trip to Poland and Merkel had to get a bus from Italy back to Germany. But then it just throws in the fact that Whitney Houston had to get the ferry from Britain to Ireland. Hilarious.

You can just see her running up the stairs to try to get a good seat, one with a clean window and chewing gum not worked in to the upholstery. Having to listen to where her nearest muster station is. Then going for a walk out on deck with her big Hollywood oversized sunglasses. Then going to the shop to get a deal on some perfum. Or a big bag of M&Ms, then discovering that they have all the colours in them, not just the brown ones as is per her rider.

Oh come on, who doesn't love a Whitney Houston/ferry joke once in a while?!

Stuff Christians Like

I've told you about this blog before. I love it.

And now I have a guest post from Jon Acuff himself! That's like having Donald Millar write on your Facebook. Kind of.

Through this post-a-thon, Jon is looking at how you can spot a Christian on American Idol with:

The "Is that contestant on American Idol a Christian? Scorecard"

91. Their name is Biblical but not like John or Mark, we're talking about Asher or Gideon = +4 points.

To add up your score with over a 130 other ideas on this scorecard, visit stuffchristianslike.net

(Yes there might be a typo, just proves it's authentic. Plus who doesn't make typos? Well, yes, God. Which further goes to prove that God is God and Jon Acuff is Jon Acuff.)

Did you know there's a book as well as a blog? You can get it on Amazon and the Book Depositary as well as other good bookshops.

My copy arrived today, thus making today officially Stuff Christians Like Day!

Re-decorating without the smell of paint

I just spent about twenty minutes there looking at changing my blog template (that's the background and colours and what not). You'll notice I didn't do it. But I think I will. Maybe. I just couldn't decide if I should go all out different or stay largely with the white and pink theme. So I left it.

I realise you probably don't really care, but I've had this one since I started way back in 2005 so we've gone through some good times. In fact, when I see it on someone else's I think of mine. And if I change it this one will be lost to the mists of time (I did make some changes to the default). I might need to take a few screen shots of the little map and statue of somewhere I don't know and that little orange box that goes with nothing else before it goes forever.

I know, I'm getting all sentimental about a blog template. Seriously.

[Updated on 18th April 2010: I did change my template. Just for old times' sake here's what it looked like before.]

No, I hadn't forgotten

I just thought I'd let them build up for a while.

Friday 5th March

At Soul Mates. Things to notice in this photo: Yes I have swollen ankles. I was on my feet from about 3.00pm right through til after midnight. Yes, my airbed is flat. I lost the little screw top thing that holds the air in. Crucial for an airbed you might say.

Saturday 6th March

My ear plug. I never travel without ear plugs. Well I do, but I never sleep away without them. I can go to the supermarket and work without them.

Sunday 7th March

Me and my pass, which had me down as 'worship'. I thought my big moment had come only to have it denied by a clerical error.

Monday 8th March

In class. This is the dullest of dull classes, taken by Dr. Dully Dullerson. Seriously, the man could make fireworks boring.

Tuesday 9th March

In the small staff room again.

Wednesday 10th March

In my jammies with hot chocolate. No, it was not 2.00pm. It was before bed.

Thursday 11th March

It's a wonder I was able to take this photo! No hands!

Friday 12th March

In bed. I might have forgotten to take the photo again.

Saturday 13th March

Just in from a run but catching up on the rugby I missed.

Sunday 14th March

Checking for split ends. I didn't find any.

Monday 15th March

Eating the last bit of baked blueberry cheesecake. It was a triumph.

Tuesday 16th March

Getting ready for a another run. I am so fit.

Wednesday 17th March

Even if this photo was in colour, you'd see no green. Worst St. Paddy's Day ever was spent all the live long day at my computer finishing off an essay due the next day. It wasn't even on St. Patrick.

Thursday 18th March

Happy Christmas Mum! We went to see The Sound of Music in the Opera House.

Friday 19th March

I took a bit of a lazy day. Here I am enveloped in my slanket on the sofa.

Saturday 20th March

Getting my stuff ready for the Sport Relief (three) mile(s).

Sunday 21st March

At the finish line. I look a sweaty mess while Lynsey and Caroline look like they're about to start. Also, the woman taking the photo made me hold up my fingers like that to show we'd done three miles, it's not some sort of Brownie Guide promise I'm making.

Monday 22nd March

My nails are all long again after being broken down to nothing in Colorado. These are long for me.

Tuesday 23rd March

There was a time when I couldn't change a lightbulb. Seriously. I wish I was joking. Now I have the knack. Which has led to a dramatic reduction in the answer to the question how many people does Tina need to help her change a lightbulb.

So that's another week or two in the life of Tina. Thanks very much if you sponsored me by the way. Well, actually if you did, you'll already know that I have thanked you already. But I better say it here too, or someone will think I was rude for not mentioning it. £45 in the end so I'm glad that I put it on here in the end.

But that's nothing compared to how the nine people who get malaria nets because of us feel.