Coincidences, conspiracies, and cartoon kids

I've experienced a few notable coincidences today, which eventually piqued my interest. They usually involve numbers, which isn’t particularly reality-shattering, but it’s still kinda fun when it happens. Then something REALLY creepy came up. I’ve been going through the Frasier boxset this weekend, possibly for the first time in about ten years (so, to be clear, it is NOT on my regular sitcom rotation). On this rare viewing, and definitely for the first time, I’ve been keeping an eye on IMDb to see which celebs turn up, uncredited, as callers on Frasier’s radio show. This afternoon, actress Piper Laurie made a vocal appearance (one of two, apparently), which was cool; but then, a few hours later I learned that the actress had sadly passed away only two days ago. Bless. She was a great work horse of a character actor, who I know best from an episode of Will & Grace she did, but most people will mention Carrie (and rightfully so).

So, yeah, a spooky coincidence and a sad loss.

Two birds.

In other news, a strange man was knocking on my neighbour “Angry Game Boy”’s door on Thursday, an event which I interrupted. I thought it might be a courier who I could store a parcel for but, instead, it was this guy looking for a person by the name of “Kelly”. What’s odd is that the same person has previously knocked on MY door about the same “Kelly”. Funnily enough, in that instance, it was Angry Game Boy who interrupted him. All I could say was that I don’t know anyone called “Kelly” but, in retrospect, I probably should have said “I’m not giving away any personal information about any of my neighbours to a complete stranger”, but hey-ho.

Good ol’ hindsight, huh?

I’m guessing it’s to do with either a runaway daughter, a prostitute, or one of those internet romance scam thingies. Anyway, a few hours later, Angry Game Boy knocked on my door to discuss what happened (he was home at the time but, like with me and my similar experience, just didn’t fancy answering the door). The conversation was brief, but I ended it by asking if he was alright, as he has been very quiet lately. Sometimes I’m worried he’s descended into a heroin haze or something. I think he just gets stoned though, nothing harder than that. I even offered to buy him something from the takeaway, as I was going to do so for myself anyway, but he politely declined. Even though he freaked me out when he first arrived in the building about eight years ago, I’ve slowly come to like the guy and realise that he’s not actually going to beat me to death in the stairwell. His behaviour has certainly calmed over the years, going from smashing his flat up daily in a psychotic rage, to just pottering up and down the stairs about five times an hour.

Where he goes and what he does remains a total mystery.

Perhaps it’s to get more weed.

Oh I’ve discovered that actress E G Daily (the voice of Tommy Pickles and Babe) has had a little music career going since the 80s. I knew she’d been a backing singer on “Electric Dreams” (the only credit one needs, in my opinion!), and did some singing on an episode of Friends, but not actually released her own albums. So, yeah, I’ve been listening to those over the past 24 hours. Her output averages out to one album a decade, but that’s still far more productive than myself. Spotify seems to be missing her 2000s album, but there are plenty of singles from that decade up to this one to generate another album’s worth of material. I get the feeling she’s gearing up for a fifth album, as there’s been a spike in recording activity recently. Her stuff is very upbeat pop with a hint of indie, which is great. Some of it is painfully in-keeping with the sound of the time (her 80s output is very Lauper/Madonna, her 90s output is very Loeb/Hanson etc.), but still enjoyable. I’d recommend the songs “Little Toy” and “Bad Water”, so far.

There is one iffy track called “White Train”, which includes some pretty heavy religious imagery, but nobody’s perfect. Unless she’s just REALLY into Bolivian marching powder or having loads of dudes cum up her back, but I doubt she’s that awesome.

I can’t be the ONLY one with that lifestyle, surely!

But, yeah, check her music out and rewatch Rugrats. I think I’m gonna. Oh and she also turns up as Pee Wee’s love interest in Big Adventure too. I love her body language in all her live action stuff, which is usually awkward and introverted. I think I’m the same way.

Onwards!

I did some browsing for a new large electronic magnifier today, the sort you feed into your television to read and write with. In the blind community they’re called “CCTVs”, so it’s been a little tricky trying to find the official industry term for them. The one I currently have is analogue, even using a scart lead to access my TV but, sadly, it’s on its last legs. I’ll still use the body of it as a TV stand in my bedroom, but it’s getting harder and harder to read and write using it. Most of the new, fancy, digital ones offered by the RNIB cost around £2,000, so I’ve decided to experiment with buying a webcam and an adjustable stand, both of which come to £2 short of £100. Slightly better deal there. I’ll use my laptop as a TV which, hopefully, will be enough. I only really need it to fill out my prescription once a month, but who knows what’s ahead.

I’ve had no updates about mum and her recently-diagnosed Alzheimer’s, but I’m not expecting anything good tbh. Therefore, at this point in time, no news will have to remain good news.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!