Just got in from the movies where I saw The Bourne Ultimatum with Trixy and Rachel. This little movie from the Basic had been uploaded while I was watching the other movie, and I liked this one more. (wasn't keen on the hollywood blockbuster for it's vomit making camera work that kinda blotted out large pieces of the story, which from what I could tell, was quite good).
You wait boys, when you get home, a schooner will look like the babies glass of beer.
August 31, 2007
Mmmm...Trifle
I was called a ‘neurotic fusspot’ today. So I looked up the words just to confirm that it wasn’t me this person was talking about and this is what dictionary.com had to say;
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary
Main Entry: 'neurotic' Function: noun
1 : one affected with a neurosis
2 : an emotionally unstable individual
American Heritage Dictionary
Entry: 'fuss·budget' Function: noun
1 : A person who fusses over trifles. Also called fusspot.
Now, In the current climate I think I would have every right to be ‘emotionally unstable’ but I’m not and never really have been. As for fusspot, yes, I do have my moments, but then who doesn’t.
And in my defense, I wouldn't fuss over a trifle, I'd eat it, especially if it was the sherry type with cream and glaze cherries.
All those that think I’m a ‘neurotic fusspot’ say I.
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary
Main Entry: 'neurotic' Function: noun
1 : one affected with a neurosis
2 : an emotionally unstable individual
American Heritage Dictionary
Entry: 'fuss·budget' Function: noun
1 : A person who fusses over trifles. Also called fusspot.
Now, In the current climate I think I would have every right to be ‘emotionally unstable’ but I’m not and never really have been. As for fusspot, yes, I do have my moments, but then who doesn’t.
And in my defense, I wouldn't fuss over a trifle, I'd eat it, especially if it was the sherry type with cream and glaze cherries.
All those that think I’m a ‘neurotic fusspot’ say I.
August 29, 2007
ANTM - 8:10
Guest Judge : Carissa Rosenberg, entertainment director at seventeen magazine
Challenge : Tell their story by body painting and dancing aboriginal style. Renee won with her tale woe as a child.
Photoshoot : The girls had to learn aboriginal dances and then represent them in the photos. Food Gatherer, Red Breast Robin, Dance of the Butterfly, Willy Wagtail
Judging Panel Question : Who do you think has the most/least potential?
Natasha was voted as the least by all the girls, only Dionne didn’t vote for herself as the one with the most potential.
Bottom Two : Dionne and Natasha
Went Home : Dionne ‘cause I know I could’a did a better job’
Notes : They went to Crystal Bar for a night out and left Natasha (she was fluy) at the hotel then bitched about her all night. Classy!
Season Finale next week when we’ll find out who Americas Next Top Model will be.
Challenge : Tell their story by body painting and dancing aboriginal style. Renee won with her tale woe as a child.
Photoshoot : The girls had to learn aboriginal dances and then represent them in the photos. Food Gatherer, Red Breast Robin, Dance of the Butterfly, Willy Wagtail
Judging Panel Question : Who do you think has the most/least potential?
Natasha was voted as the least by all the girls, only Dionne didn’t vote for herself as the one with the most potential.
Bottom Two : Dionne and Natasha
Went Home : Dionne ‘cause I know I could’a did a better job’
Notes : They went to Crystal Bar for a night out and left Natasha (she was fluy) at the hotel then bitched about her all night. Classy!
Season Finale next week when we’ll find out who Americas Next Top Model will be.
Bonnie Would be Proud
- 7.54pm
- 8.36pm - you can see the stars to the right if you look close
- 9.25pm
- 9.46pm
- 10.41pmThere was a total eclipse of the moon. The technical details are all in Eastern Standard Time. I tried to take a few pictures but mucked it up by allowing to great an exposure so a couple are a bit hazy, but you get the general idea.
5:53 - Penumbral eclipse begins (Moon begins to dim, very slightly, as the Sun begins to shine through our Earth's atmosphere)
5:53 - Penumbral eclipse begins (Moon begins to dim, very slightly, as the Sun begins to shine through our Earth's atmosphere)
6:51 - Partial eclipse begins (curvature of the Earth becomes visible on the Moon)
7:52 - Total eclipse begins
8:37 - Greatest eclipse
9:22 - Total eclipse ends
10:23 - Partial eclipse ends
11:21 - Penumbral eclipse ends (Moon gets bright again)
August 28, 2007
Clean T-Shirt
The Basics left Australia to embark on an eight week world tour (Japan and UK) eleven days ago. They have been posting a video diary on YouTube roughly four times a day and it looks like they are have a great time. A bit of business, a bit of sightseeing, a bit of catching up with friends and most of all, a bit of playing of the music.
My only concern is, and this is apart from the haircuts; did Wally only take three t-shirts with him?
My only concern is, and this is apart from the haircuts; did Wally only take three t-shirts with him?
Californication
So I went over to Trixy’s place last night for pasta, cheese and a glass or five of wine to watch a new telly show on channel 10. It called Californication and starred David Duchovny. It’s about a writer called Hank Moody…blah blah blah sex.
The opening scene was HM getting out of his car in a church yard smoking a cigarette, he walks up the driveway and puts his fag out in the holy water at the church door. He then walks up to the statue of Jesus on the cross and asks for his advice about his writers block. Out of nowhere a nun appears and says ‘how can I help Hank?’ He says something like it a guy thing to which she replies ‘well clearly only a blow job with help,’ and gets down on her knees.
Later, a friends says (referring to the dream, yes it was a dream but only 'cause his lover was waking him up with a blow job) ‘you’re attracted to unavailable women,’ to which Hank replies ‘Can’t it just be that it’s naughty?’
I loved it, it was witty, sharp, refreshing and it has David Duchovny in it. Strangely though it also had Madeline Zima as a femme fatale who gave DC a black eye during a sex, I’m sorry but it may take a bit of getting used to, isn’t she little Grace from The Nanny?
Anyway I must get a telly arial so I don’t always have to watch at Trixys’ after she going home to the States in November.
The opening scene was HM getting out of his car in a church yard smoking a cigarette, he walks up the driveway and puts his fag out in the holy water at the church door. He then walks up to the statue of Jesus on the cross and asks for his advice about his writers block. Out of nowhere a nun appears and says ‘how can I help Hank?’ He says something like it a guy thing to which she replies ‘well clearly only a blow job with help,’ and gets down on her knees.
Later, a friends says (referring to the dream, yes it was a dream but only 'cause his lover was waking him up with a blow job) ‘you’re attracted to unavailable women,’ to which Hank replies ‘Can’t it just be that it’s naughty?’
I loved it, it was witty, sharp, refreshing and it has David Duchovny in it. Strangely though it also had Madeline Zima as a femme fatale who gave DC a black eye during a sex, I’m sorry but it may take a bit of getting used to, isn’t she little Grace from The Nanny?
Anyway I must get a telly arial so I don’t always have to watch at Trixys’ after she going home to the States in November.
What Part Don’t They Understand?
A few weeks ago I did a silly test and as a result have ended up with a profile on a free dating site. As you can image it takes all sorts and I’m sure there are some very fine people on there, but I’m having issues so far. I can’t seem to find a way to take the profile off, so I decided to make it as fool proof as possible.
I haven’t done a very good job so far. Clearly.
I have received eight emails from interested parties and seven of them have failed to take into account a key point in the main body of my profile. I have stated ‘if you don’t like cats, don’t bother as mine is very important to me.’ And in the short notes I ticked ‘likes cats and dogs’
So, seven of them have ‘don’t like cats’ ticked on their profiles. D’Oh!
- Maybe pictures of Puss will help clarify the situation a little.
I haven’t done a very good job so far. Clearly.
I have received eight emails from interested parties and seven of them have failed to take into account a key point in the main body of my profile. I have stated ‘if you don’t like cats, don’t bother as mine is very important to me.’ And in the short notes I ticked ‘likes cats and dogs’
So, seven of them have ‘don’t like cats’ ticked on their profiles. D’Oh!
- Maybe pictures of Puss will help clarify the situation a little.
August 26, 2007
And She Scores
So we have four months left in the year and I have reached my goal of 30 bands to be seen in 2007, in fact it stands at 30 bands seen 44 times.
But I shall endure and continue my quest, so I have a figure to beat next year! ;-)
But I shall endure and continue my quest, so I have a figure to beat next year! ;-)
I Will Go Out Alone
I walked the few blocks from my house to The Hopetoun Hotel just as I have many times in the past, only this time I was alone, not meeting anyone and going to a see a random band. Okay, so the random band thing wasn’t so new but the rest was. I was kinda nice though, the punk with attitude was on the door and welcomed me, as did the owner and a couple of regulars. I wasn’t alone after all.
__________
I walked into the Hopetoun blind. You can image my surprise and pleasure to see Des Miller on the bill. I had already missed Berkfinger and the curiously named If It Bleeds It Can Be Butchered. Shortly after my arrival the Melbourne based Plastic Palace Alice began to play. A six piece band that had driven ten hours to play a forty-five minute set before turning around and going home again. Lead singer Rob wore braces for the occasion and Emily one of the two girls in the band and the percussion queen wore a paper clip to hold her belt in place. They opened their set with ‘Murakami’ followed by ‘Karaoking’, an early Bowie inspired song with Emily also showing her vocal range. It was such a shame she looked so bored.
After the fifth song ‘Carrion’ they finally decided it would be a good time to talk to the audience. It may have been a bit late to admit that they had brought too much stuff with them, we could see that. On the small stage were six people, eight guitars, a drum kit, a harmonica, two keyboards, a xylophone, a tambourine, one of the little shakers that looks like a seedpod and the biggest brass triangle you have ever seen. Despite the over profusion of instruments the music was surprisingly simple with a heavy emphasise on guitar and Bob Dylan sounds. It was an extremely likable set that ended with the very catchy ‘Girl Who Cried Wolf’ and a well deserved and loud round of applause.
After the quickest turn around I’ve ever seen Des Miller came on stage. Now despite the name, none of the band members is actually called Des, unless you count lead singer and guitarist John ‘Desmond’ Miller. With short curly hair and a red cowboy shirt under his jacket, he soon lost his Cat Stevens look in the heat of the room and took on a look of sweaty pop idol, as in fact did the entire band. A full house meant the temperature in the room had shot up to the late thirties and it became very clear to me as sweat dripped from the end of Johnno’s nose why so many performance artists wear those awful sports headbands. The only one looking cool was keyboard player Robbie Moore in his Ziggy Stardust t-shirt while everyone else struggled with western style.
The set started with ‘On the Surface of Solitude’, as soon as it was done they took the time to thank the support bands and praise the talent they were following. It gave the crowd something to relate to and even if Des Miller hadn’t been in full favour before, they were now. ‘Lucy’ and ‘3pm’ showed the bands country Travelling Wilbys style crossed with a little Pink Floyd mixed in with a splash of Buddy Holly. It’s a confusing sound that pulls you in with it hypnotic sound, the lead singer being down on one knee praying to the gods of rock and roll doesn’t hurt either.
The set continued with ‘Borderline on Fire’, before they pulled Lucy from the audience to help them out with a little feminine vocal on ‘Time’. Is this the Lucy they told to ‘close your eyes and make it go away’ earlier? They wound-up the set with ‘Sorry’ and ‘OK’ before playing the finale, ‘Knife Edge’ a really catchy if slightly disturbing tune that had the entire crowd bopping in the aisle. Okay, so the whole place is one big aisle, with everyone dancing and generally having a great time. An encore was requested but kindly declined due to the shear amount of water that had to be drunk to stop the guys turning to dust and I don’t think I’m the only one who doesn’t want that for a very long time.
__________
I walked into the Hopetoun blind. You can image my surprise and pleasure to see Des Miller on the bill. I had already missed Berkfinger and the curiously named If It Bleeds It Can Be Butchered. Shortly after my arrival the Melbourne based Plastic Palace Alice began to play. A six piece band that had driven ten hours to play a forty-five minute set before turning around and going home again. Lead singer Rob wore braces for the occasion and Emily one of the two girls in the band and the percussion queen wore a paper clip to hold her belt in place. They opened their set with ‘Murakami’ followed by ‘Karaoking’, an early Bowie inspired song with Emily also showing her vocal range. It was such a shame she looked so bored.
After the fifth song ‘Carrion’ they finally decided it would be a good time to talk to the audience. It may have been a bit late to admit that they had brought too much stuff with them, we could see that. On the small stage were six people, eight guitars, a drum kit, a harmonica, two keyboards, a xylophone, a tambourine, one of the little shakers that looks like a seedpod and the biggest brass triangle you have ever seen. Despite the over profusion of instruments the music was surprisingly simple with a heavy emphasise on guitar and Bob Dylan sounds. It was an extremely likable set that ended with the very catchy ‘Girl Who Cried Wolf’ and a well deserved and loud round of applause.
After the quickest turn around I’ve ever seen Des Miller came on stage. Now despite the name, none of the band members is actually called Des, unless you count lead singer and guitarist John ‘Desmond’ Miller. With short curly hair and a red cowboy shirt under his jacket, he soon lost his Cat Stevens look in the heat of the room and took on a look of sweaty pop idol, as in fact did the entire band. A full house meant the temperature in the room had shot up to the late thirties and it became very clear to me as sweat dripped from the end of Johnno’s nose why so many performance artists wear those awful sports headbands. The only one looking cool was keyboard player Robbie Moore in his Ziggy Stardust t-shirt while everyone else struggled with western style.
The set started with ‘On the Surface of Solitude’, as soon as it was done they took the time to thank the support bands and praise the talent they were following. It gave the crowd something to relate to and even if Des Miller hadn’t been in full favour before, they were now. ‘Lucy’ and ‘3pm’ showed the bands country Travelling Wilbys style crossed with a little Pink Floyd mixed in with a splash of Buddy Holly. It’s a confusing sound that pulls you in with it hypnotic sound, the lead singer being down on one knee praying to the gods of rock and roll doesn’t hurt either.
The set continued with ‘Borderline on Fire’, before they pulled Lucy from the audience to help them out with a little feminine vocal on ‘Time’. Is this the Lucy they told to ‘close your eyes and make it go away’ earlier? They wound-up the set with ‘Sorry’ and ‘OK’ before playing the finale, ‘Knife Edge’ a really catchy if slightly disturbing tune that had the entire crowd bopping in the aisle. Okay, so the whole place is one big aisle, with everyone dancing and generally having a great time. An encore was requested but kindly declined due to the shear amount of water that had to be drunk to stop the guys turning to dust and I don’t think I’m the only one who doesn’t want that for a very long time.
August 25, 2007
8.45 Saturday Morning
Not even a month in my new home and I had my first visit from a Jehovah's Witness this morning. Good job I hadn't been out last night or I may have said more than, 'No point talking to me bud, I give blood every three months.'
The look on his face was a picture. It was as if I had opened my robe and flashed him.
(Let's forget about about the fact that the Australian Red Cross won't take my blood because I might have Mad Cow Disease)
The look on his face was a picture. It was as if I had opened my robe and flashed him.
(Let's forget about about the fact that the Australian Red Cross won't take my blood because I might have Mad Cow Disease)
Coming Back
My first attempt at embedding a YouTube video is the video for Gotye's Coming Back. I love this song and the video rocks! I first saw it at the gigs late in July, but now you can all see it ;-)
ANTM - 8:9
Guest Judge : Priscilla Leighton-Clark, director of Priscillas Modelling
Challenge : Go Sees being judged on personality, catwalk walk and portfolio.
Photoshoot : A combination of two. First up was a shoot for a woman’s magazine with a male model with soft girlie poses. Next up was a raunchier shot for a men’s magazine.
Bottom Two : Dionne and Brittney
Went Home : Brittney ‘I never been the emotional person’
Notes : The cab driver got blamed by Brittney for her being late back from the challenge and for once a Sydney cab driver wasn’t at fault. She had a tantrum.
Episode 8:8 was a recap episode.
Challenge : Go Sees being judged on personality, catwalk walk and portfolio.
Photoshoot : A combination of two. First up was a shoot for a woman’s magazine with a male model with soft girlie poses. Next up was a raunchier shot for a men’s magazine.
Bottom Two : Dionne and Brittney
Went Home : Brittney ‘I never been the emotional person’
Notes : The cab driver got blamed by Brittney for her being late back from the challenge and for once a Sydney cab driver wasn’t at fault. She had a tantrum.
Episode 8:8 was a recap episode.
August 24, 2007
Pictorial Trip to Work
I like my new home, so I thought I’d share a few pictures from my trip to work each morning. I cheated yesterday and got the bus most of the way, as I have most mornings since I moved in because it was raining AGAIN!
Will this Winter never end?
- My Street, I'm sure it looks much nice in sunshine
- These tree seedpod are everywhere. I have still to identify the tree.
- Crawford Place, Is this the most boring street in Sydney?
- The Bike, someone was brave enough to leave their bike outside chained to a fence.
- An innocent row of terrace houses? I'll give one guess who lives behind the door of 99.
- Shot from the hip, and example of the cafe on my way to work. Geeks and Nerds Rock!
This morning Edna sent me a link and asked;
How many do you fancy? And be honest! ;-)
My response was six, with one of them being a girl. But I was horrified that Tom Cruise is now being listed in Geek halls of fame. How can they lower the standard so much.
Tom Cruise never has and will never be a geek or a nerd. He is and will only ever be an actor that happened to have an amazing scene in a reasonably good movie a long time ago and only ever plays Tom Cruise. He just happens to be ‘good looking’ (if you’re into that kinda thing) with the charisma of a snake (although I think that’s being unkind to snakes)
I shall step off my soapbox now and give you my list of six;
David Tennent
Louis Theroux
Daniel Radcliff (although not that picture, it’s not good)
Alyson Hannigan
Jack Black
Paul Rudd
Finally, I ask you the same question Edna asked me. How many do you fancy and who?
How many do you fancy? And be honest! ;-)
My response was six, with one of them being a girl. But I was horrified that Tom Cruise is now being listed in Geek halls of fame. How can they lower the standard so much.
Tom Cruise never has and will never be a geek or a nerd. He is and will only ever be an actor that happened to have an amazing scene in a reasonably good movie a long time ago and only ever plays Tom Cruise. He just happens to be ‘good looking’ (if you’re into that kinda thing) with the charisma of a snake (although I think that’s being unkind to snakes)
I shall step off my soapbox now and give you my list of six;
David Tennent
Louis Theroux
Daniel Radcliff (although not that picture, it’s not good)
Alyson Hannigan
Jack Black
Paul Rudd
Finally, I ask you the same question Edna asked me. How many do you fancy and who?House Guarding
A few months ago I agreed to housesit for the Alpaca Lady that agists Wispa, Arabella and Bertie. She had to take a business trip to Perth and it is the least I could do seeing as she is so good to us.
On Monday I left work at noon to drive up to the Central Coast. It was raining, so I drove with my usual care through showers and pelting rain to the road that was to take me to the house I was due to sit in. The rain was still hammering down and a phone call to the Alpaca Lady told me that the road was blocked and that she couldn’t get out, so I had little chance of getting in. So I had time to kill. I went shopping. I got a nice little nest of tables that could double up for stools. Anyway I digress.
On Monday I left work at noon to drive up to the Central Coast. It was raining, so I drove with my usual care through showers and pelting rain to the road that was to take me to the house I was due to sit in. The rain was still hammering down and a phone call to the Alpaca Lady told me that the road was blocked and that she couldn’t get out, so I had little chance of getting in. So I had time to kill. I went shopping. I got a nice little nest of tables that could double up for stools. Anyway I digress.
- a bird rests on a cows back on the way to the house
- What can I say, I like cows.I drove in and came across the water she was talking about. Rain had burst the banks of the Ourimbah Creek and flooded paddocks on either side of the road. The water was flowing in a torrent across the road to the lower paddock. Looking at it I would guess the water was about four to six inches deep, nothing my Subaru Outback Bessie couldn’t handle, but I wasn’t happy about how fast it was flowing. I’ve seen pictures of cars being swept sideways by rushing water so I took a picture and turned the car around. After killing four hours it was decided that it wasn’t going to stop raining anytime soon, so I drove back to Sydney.
- The Flooded RoadAfter an early start on Tuesday I got to the Alpaca Ladies gaff just after 9am. She showed me how to mix the alpaca feed, how many biscuits of hay the boys got, where to collect the eggs from, how to stop the alpaca breaking into the hen house and nicking the food and how to and when to feed the dogs. She has sixty odd alpacas (including my three), thirty odd chooks and three dogs. The dogs are Bonnie, an aging Golden Retriever that shuffles around but rarely leave the house or porch. Pepe is a little grey poodle thing with really sharp toenails that doesn’t seem to understand ‘Down!’ Cossie is another small dog, in fact he looks like a Labrador who’s been put in a dehydrator and shrunk to two thirds his original size. He’s very cute and does understand when he’s being told off. He gets that look in his eyes that could melt butter and the stoniest of hearts.
- The Cockerel that woke me at stoopid o'clock for a couple of morningsI spent the morning reading some stuff for work (after all I was ‘working form home’) before falling asleep on the sofa at one. I woke at three and turned on the telly. There was something on about digging up bones in the West Country and Baldric was hosting it. I pressed the up channel button. Snow, snow, snow, red snow with a foreign accent, more snow. So I went down through the channels. Snow, snow, blizzard, more snow. I ended up back with Baldric and his Roman bones before realizing she only had ABC. I was stuck in a house with three smelly damp dogs in a house that only received the ABC, had no DVD player and no internet access!
I turned off the telly and started reading again. When I woke up at six, it was dark and I had no idea where the light switches were. After a brief hunt the house was illuminated and I decided to cook dinner. Mushroom and Spinach Omelette. I was in the country with fresh eggs, I had to have an omelette. Only I couldn’t find any pepper or tomato ketchup, so I had a rather bland dinner while watching The Bill surrounded by the eager faces of begging dogs.
- Cossie, not a good model, he doesn't keep still for long enoughThe second night I couldn’t bear the idea of more ABC. So I went to the movies and saw I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry. Not a bad movies, but not a good one either. It’s typical Adam Sandler with a serious underlying message about gay rights. It did of course have a plethora of men in fireman uniforms so it wasn’t all bad. I would say see it, but don’t rush to see it on the big screen.
When I got back to the house, the dogs all decided they had been missing out on some affection. Cossie and Pepe climbed all over me on the sofa and Bonnie curled up at my feet. I tried to read, but arm movement was severely hindered, so resorted to the final option. Yeap, you got it…the ABC. At ten thirty I went to bed and the dogs followed me (unlike the night before). They watched me do my nightly abolitions, then curled up around the bed after I turned of the light. I drifted to sleep.
I was awoken by the most god awful smell five times in the night. Each time I ushered the dogs out, and each time they snuck back in to wake me up again. I swear these dogs could power a methane power plant.
- Feeding happens in harmony down on the farmThe whole experience reinforced that I am a city girl really. I like to think I can do country, but I can’t really. I like my city comforts too much and even more I require outside stimulus to keep my brain firing. I’ll house sit again, but I will make sure I take more entertainment and an industrial sized can of air freshener!
August 19, 2007
ALPACA ULTIMATIUM
After a great night out on Friday/Saturday morning I dragged my butt out of bed at 8.30 to drive up to the Central Coast and mingle with alpaca people in order to get them to volunteer for a display that I have ended up convening.
I’m not quite sure how it happened but it did, and being a woman of my word I find myself in a position that I have been in at other times, but this time, for some reason it seems to be worse. It was a beautiful sunny, winter day but I found myself feeling physically sick, deep in the pit of my stomach. Despite not having a lot of sleep, I wasn’t suffering a hangover, so it wasn’t that. I feel like, for the last two and half years I’ve only spoken to these people to ask for stuff.
Will you advertise in the newsletter?
Will write up that great story you just told me?
Will you be a volunteer at this and that display?
Will you host a meeting?
Will sponsor a month on the calendar?
Will you sell/buy a raffle ticket?
Granted, most of the time they’ve said yes. I seem to have the magic touch and I’ve been told I could sell sand to the Arabs, but I hate being like this. It all started as trying to do good marketing for a growing industry, but I am well and truly picking up my ball and going home. I’ve had enough!
Being around people who could have once been called friends now makes me feel ill, drained and exhausted. The negative energy that emits from a certain few (those mentioned in other posts mostly) effects my well being to such a degree that it starting zapping my lifeforce before I even get close. I feel the Carnations eyes boring into me. Now, I understand that this in purely physocologically, but you know what? I don’t need this type of shit, ever!
I have just one more thing to do (because I said I would, actually I never said I would, but it’s only two weeks away so a bit late to bale) and that is take a week of work (without pay) and run the alpaca display at the Australian Springtime Flora Festival in Gosford on the weekend that George Bush is turning Sydney into his own little fortress aka APEC. Then I will have nothing more to do with the alpaca industry except to enjoy the beautiful majestic animals it claims to want to promote.
Wish me luck!
I’m not quite sure how it happened but it did, and being a woman of my word I find myself in a position that I have been in at other times, but this time, for some reason it seems to be worse. It was a beautiful sunny, winter day but I found myself feeling physically sick, deep in the pit of my stomach. Despite not having a lot of sleep, I wasn’t suffering a hangover, so it wasn’t that. I feel like, for the last two and half years I’ve only spoken to these people to ask for stuff.
Will you advertise in the newsletter?
Will write up that great story you just told me?
Will you be a volunteer at this and that display?
Will you host a meeting?
Will sponsor a month on the calendar?
Will you sell/buy a raffle ticket?
Granted, most of the time they’ve said yes. I seem to have the magic touch and I’ve been told I could sell sand to the Arabs, but I hate being like this. It all started as trying to do good marketing for a growing industry, but I am well and truly picking up my ball and going home. I’ve had enough!
Being around people who could have once been called friends now makes me feel ill, drained and exhausted. The negative energy that emits from a certain few (those mentioned in other posts mostly) effects my well being to such a degree that it starting zapping my lifeforce before I even get close. I feel the Carnations eyes boring into me. Now, I understand that this in purely physocologically, but you know what? I don’t need this type of shit, ever!
I have just one more thing to do (because I said I would, actually I never said I would, but it’s only two weeks away so a bit late to bale) and that is take a week of work (without pay) and run the alpaca display at the Australian Springtime Flora Festival in Gosford on the weekend that George Bush is turning Sydney into his own little fortress aka APEC. Then I will have nothing more to do with the alpaca industry except to enjoy the beautiful majestic animals it claims to want to promote.
Wish me luck!
August 17, 2007
Muppet Mad!
Whilst looking at Wikipedia today I happened upon a link to the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while, except ice cubes and the condensation on a champagne bottle of course.
Kermit T. Frog has got a myspace page!
Gotta love the green one.
Kermit T. Frog has got a myspace page!
Gotta love the green one.
School Dinners
Why do people insist on bring leftover dinner into the office for lunch? I can understand if there is a kitchen with a bench for you to eat at, but I have a guy who sits over the barrier from me who’s wife must work for the airlines.
Everyday he comes in and heats up what smells like a long-haul flight meal. It always smells the same, unappetising and old. I’ve never actually seen him eat, but I can visualise the grey plastic tray with a miniature glass, wrapped cutlery and little rectangular bowl full of something that resembles food, be it chicken of fish.
And the smell always appears at 12.30 on the dot. This is OK if I don’t have a lunch date, but when I do, like today, I have to sit here until 12.55 when I will run from my desk to flee the smell.
Yes, it will still be here half an hour from now!
Maybe one day, I’ll get him back…but I have a hard time thinking what I eat that could possibly smell that bad the next day.
Everyday he comes in and heats up what smells like a long-haul flight meal. It always smells the same, unappetising and old. I’ve never actually seen him eat, but I can visualise the grey plastic tray with a miniature glass, wrapped cutlery and little rectangular bowl full of something that resembles food, be it chicken of fish.
And the smell always appears at 12.30 on the dot. This is OK if I don’t have a lunch date, but when I do, like today, I have to sit here until 12.55 when I will run from my desk to flee the smell.
Yes, it will still be here half an hour from now!
Maybe one day, I’ll get him back…but I have a hard time thinking what I eat that could possibly smell that bad the next day.
August 15, 2007
Husband for Hire
So, those that read on a regular basis will know that I have moved into a new place and last Tuesday I brought some new bookshelves from Ikea.
Yesterday, I Hired-a Hubby to come and put them together for me. Not because I couldn’t do it myself, you understand, but because these buggers are so heavy they broke the trolley in Ikea by flattening out the wheels.
Anyway, he came round late last week to price the job up and put up a few picture hooks. When I went to the website I was presented with this image.
You can image my surprise, actually not really surprise but disappointment when man in his sixties turned up with an arse wider than mine and more sweat than a man who'd just run a marathon.
False advertising I call it.
On the plus side I do now have three new bookshelves so I can finish unpacking.
Yesterday, I Hired-a Hubby to come and put them together for me. Not because I couldn’t do it myself, you understand, but because these buggers are so heavy they broke the trolley in Ikea by flattening out the wheels.
Anyway, he came round late last week to price the job up and put up a few picture hooks. When I went to the website I was presented with this image.
You can image my surprise, actually not really surprise but disappointment when man in his sixties turned up with an arse wider than mine and more sweat than a man who'd just run a marathon.False advertising I call it.
On the plus side I do now have three new bookshelves so I can finish unpacking.
Why Oh Why...
…won’t Puss let me do this?
If I don’t get a full night sleep soon, I’m going to go mad. He wakes me by pawing my face, my shoulder and by biting my toes should they dare peek out from under the covers.
What I don’t understand is that he seemed to hate Newk, but now that Newk is not there to harass, chase and persecute, he’s turned his attention on me!
He looks so angelic…don’t let his cuteness fool you!
If I don’t get a full night sleep soon, I’m going to go mad. He wakes me by pawing my face, my shoulder and by biting my toes should they dare peek out from under the covers.What I don’t understand is that he seemed to hate Newk, but now that Newk is not there to harass, chase and persecute, he’s turned his attention on me!
He looks so angelic…don’t let his cuteness fool you!
August 13, 2007
Sosumi Sushi
I had to go to Martin Place at lunch today for a couple of reason so I decided I would sample the wears of Sosumi Sushi, downstairs in No1 Martin Place. It’s been there a while and for one reason and another, this sushi monster had never got to eat there.
So I sat down on the tall small topped metal stool which is not ideal for my wider than average backside to a train that seemed to chuffing around with plenty of black plates ($7.10) a few blue plates ($5.50) and no white plates ($5.10). I ordered Miso Soup and green tea then helped myself to wasabi and soy sauce. Then I waited for just the right thing to come around which took a hile due to the plates being spaced fifteen centimetres apart.
The first plate was a black with a Crab and Avocado Big Roll, very nice. The second a blue with Seaweed Salad (aka carrot and lettuce with a little seaweed on top) then the only white plate that had Deep Fried Bean Curd (didn’t have batter on it and looked like all Inari but smaller) finally the California Roll I ordered arrived on a black plate and seemed to be made with salmon rather than seafood stick. I have NEVER had a California Roll made with salmon before and worse, it was smoked salmon.
In total my four plates, green tea and miso soup cost me $31.70. At the Sushi Train in Oxford Square on Oxford Street I could have eaten 10 plates, plus the extras. And you know what, despite the fish being Brain Spike killed (apparently it reduces stress and makes the flesh more relaxed) I would rather cram myself the corner in Sushi Train with the plates piled high and take my chances on whether my favourite was going to come round. And you know what…the Miso’s better too.
So I sat down on the tall small topped metal stool which is not ideal for my wider than average backside to a train that seemed to chuffing around with plenty of black plates ($7.10) a few blue plates ($5.50) and no white plates ($5.10). I ordered Miso Soup and green tea then helped myself to wasabi and soy sauce. Then I waited for just the right thing to come around which took a hile due to the plates being spaced fifteen centimetres apart.
The first plate was a black with a Crab and Avocado Big Roll, very nice. The second a blue with Seaweed Salad (aka carrot and lettuce with a little seaweed on top) then the only white plate that had Deep Fried Bean Curd (didn’t have batter on it and looked like all Inari but smaller) finally the California Roll I ordered arrived on a black plate and seemed to be made with salmon rather than seafood stick. I have NEVER had a California Roll made with salmon before and worse, it was smoked salmon.
In total my four plates, green tea and miso soup cost me $31.70. At the Sushi Train in Oxford Square on Oxford Street I could have eaten 10 plates, plus the extras. And you know what, despite the fish being Brain Spike killed (apparently it reduces stress and makes the flesh more relaxed) I would rather cram myself the corner in Sushi Train with the plates piled high and take my chances on whether my favourite was going to come round. And you know what…the Miso’s better too.
Weekend Review
The last couple of weeks have been very full on and pressure filled. So this weekend I cancelled plans (Swannies on Saturday and City2Surf on Sunday) and kept it to myself.
But things still had to be done. On Saturday, Ikea finally decided they would deliver my bookshelves (after I’d paid again) between ten am and two pm. Of course, as usual with a time window such as this, they turned up at 1.55. After they had gone I caught a bus (yes Edna, you read right, a bus) into town and walked into JB HiFi were I procured myself a complete set of Sex and The City.
Then I wandered over to Oxford Street through Hyde Park and got my hair cut at three. The hairdresser took a bit too much off my fringe, but as Grandad Pops always said ‘the difference between a good and a bad hair, about two weeks.’ It’ll grow back and hair gel works wonders.
After that I went home and tried to plumb in the DVD player. Turns out I didn’t have the right cables. D’oh! Hubby saved the day by raiding his cable collection and plugging it all in via the Foxtel box. It seems I have an old DVD player, but a new telly, who would have guessed.
I spent the evening reading with the telly on in the background.
Sunday I spent with Hubby putting the finishing touches to the 2008 Alpaca Calendar, even if I do say so myself, it looks pretty good.
I did the ironing while watching Alias Season 4 before going to bed nice and early to read my book.
All in all my weekend was a tad relaxing.
Congratulations to Edna and Sally for completeing the City2Surf in two and a half hours!
But things still had to be done. On Saturday, Ikea finally decided they would deliver my bookshelves (after I’d paid again) between ten am and two pm. Of course, as usual with a time window such as this, they turned up at 1.55. After they had gone I caught a bus (yes Edna, you read right, a bus) into town and walked into JB HiFi were I procured myself a complete set of Sex and The City.
Then I wandered over to Oxford Street through Hyde Park and got my hair cut at three. The hairdresser took a bit too much off my fringe, but as Grandad Pops always said ‘the difference between a good and a bad hair, about two weeks.’ It’ll grow back and hair gel works wonders.
After that I went home and tried to plumb in the DVD player. Turns out I didn’t have the right cables. D’oh! Hubby saved the day by raiding his cable collection and plugging it all in via the Foxtel box. It seems I have an old DVD player, but a new telly, who would have guessed.
I spent the evening reading with the telly on in the background.
Sunday I spent with Hubby putting the finishing touches to the 2008 Alpaca Calendar, even if I do say so myself, it looks pretty good.
I did the ironing while watching Alias Season 4 before going to bed nice and early to read my book.
All in all my weekend was a tad relaxing.
Congratulations to Edna and Sally for completeing the City2Surf in two and a half hours!
August 10, 2007
I'm A Hieroglyph
So a little bit of bowsing and I came across a site that give you a little test to tell you what ancient language you would be, after twenty questions it came up with this;
You are Egyptian Hieroglyphics! Monumental, ornate and even in technicolour! Your users contributed virtually all ancient knowledge on inks, dyes and writing surfaces - to the point where the popular reed of Papyrus became the universal name for organic, manufactured writing surfaces in the western hemisphere for thousands of years. Proud, upstanding and dignified.
Test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 53% on Ideogramatic
You scored higher than 59% on Syllablic
You scored higher than 21% on Logogramic
You scored higher than 17% on Alphabetic
You are Egyptian Hieroglyphics! Monumental, ornate and even in technicolour! Your users contributed virtually all ancient knowledge on inks, dyes and writing surfaces - to the point where the popular reed of Papyrus became the universal name for organic, manufactured writing surfaces in the western hemisphere for thousands of years. Proud, upstanding and dignified.
Test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 53% on Ideogramatic
You scored higher than 59% on Syllablic
You scored higher than 21% on Logogramic
You scored higher than 17% on Alphabetic
What an Odd Day?
So I’ve had an odd day at work, what with the Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment workshop, how to prevent it rather than do it. Somehow the teacher thought it would be a good idea to reveal that a group of people had been caught having group sex at eight am in one of the offices. I was traumatised! Not by the thought of group sex in the office, but they were going at it at eight am…what kind of a sick pup does that?
Then I had lunch with my boss, a lovely man whom I some very odd conversations with. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just that I'm fairly sure he shouldn’t be discussing some of the sensitive information he does discuss with me. But, I know how to keep my mouth shut, so all’s good.
After lunch I got a phone call from the Ikea delivery guy saying he had tried to deliver my furniture, where was I? I explained I had booked it for Friday. Turns out that message didn’t get through, so should I ‘work from home’ tomorrow morning or not? Maybe I should call them first thing to find out?
Uni started at six, so off I trundled to class. I get asked about an email I sent out to a friend of mine from class. So I have to sit there and explain a couple of things about my current personal circumstances to the sounds of sympathetic ohhs and ahhs. Class then got a little weirder when the lecturer turned up with a bottle of Blue Sapphire gin saying, ‘it’s water really, I just didn’t want to throw the bottle away.’ I’m guessing that she was telling the truth because after two tumblers she still hadn’t fallen over.
During class I got a text message from a mate telling he had taken a new job and was celebrating. I sent back I was in class til nine and I would catch him after maybe. He then said he was going to go to a movie and it would be Die Hard 4.0, being a bit of a Die Hard fan I asked what time it would start and soon found out it started fifteen minutes before my class ended. But I made it, only thing was I had no idea were he was sitting in a packed theatre. So I guessed. I ended up sitting alone one row in front and about six seats to the left. So I went to a movie, with a mate but sat alone.
That just about sums up my day, want do you think?
PS. You have to see Die Hard 4.0 on the big screen as it’s full of the usual Die Hard blowing sh*t up and moohosive car chases. It ROCKS!
Then I had lunch with my boss, a lovely man whom I some very odd conversations with. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just that I'm fairly sure he shouldn’t be discussing some of the sensitive information he does discuss with me. But, I know how to keep my mouth shut, so all’s good.
After lunch I got a phone call from the Ikea delivery guy saying he had tried to deliver my furniture, where was I? I explained I had booked it for Friday. Turns out that message didn’t get through, so should I ‘work from home’ tomorrow morning or not? Maybe I should call them first thing to find out?
Uni started at six, so off I trundled to class. I get asked about an email I sent out to a friend of mine from class. So I have to sit there and explain a couple of things about my current personal circumstances to the sounds of sympathetic ohhs and ahhs. Class then got a little weirder when the lecturer turned up with a bottle of Blue Sapphire gin saying, ‘it’s water really, I just didn’t want to throw the bottle away.’ I’m guessing that she was telling the truth because after two tumblers she still hadn’t fallen over.
During class I got a text message from a mate telling he had taken a new job and was celebrating. I sent back I was in class til nine and I would catch him after maybe. He then said he was going to go to a movie and it would be Die Hard 4.0, being a bit of a Die Hard fan I asked what time it would start and soon found out it started fifteen minutes before my class ended. But I made it, only thing was I had no idea were he was sitting in a packed theatre. So I guessed. I ended up sitting alone one row in front and about six seats to the left. So I went to a movie, with a mate but sat alone.
That just about sums up my day, want do you think?
PS. You have to see Die Hard 4.0 on the big screen as it’s full of the usual Die Hard blowing sh*t up and moohosive car chases. It ROCKS!
ANTM - 8:7
Guest Judge – Erika Heynatz, host of Australia’s Next Top Model
Challenge – Interview skills and they got to do ‘on the street’ interviews incorporating as much Aussie Slang as possible in the foreign location that the rest of the season will be filmed in. That location? SYDNEY! We got to see Hyde Park, Bondi Beach, Circular Quay and fountain next to the QVB. Their apartment is in No1 Martin Place.
Photo Shoot – Actually a Cover Girl advert shoot with a thick Aussie accent.
Bottom Two – Jael and Brittney
Going Home – Jael ‘it’s been such a learning experience and I’m so thankful to have had it.’
Notes – Sydney always looks so beautiful on film.
Challenge – Interview skills and they got to do ‘on the street’ interviews incorporating as much Aussie Slang as possible in the foreign location that the rest of the season will be filmed in. That location? SYDNEY! We got to see Hyde Park, Bondi Beach, Circular Quay and fountain next to the QVB. Their apartment is in No1 Martin Place.
Photo Shoot – Actually a Cover Girl advert shoot with a thick Aussie accent.
Bottom Two – Jael and Brittney
Going Home – Jael ‘it’s been such a learning experience and I’m so thankful to have had it.’
Notes – Sydney always looks so beautiful on film.
August 9, 2007
Soirée
So as I was saying, I was on the bus this morning and the there was this girl on there talking on a mobile phone. She was the spitting image of Paris (a girl I used to work with at Stateside Speedy) but without the passion for Burberry. She was talking about a tasteful soirée next Friday that was only for interesting people and she asked her friend if she knew any.
Obviously I couldn’t hear what the friend was saying but her answers were priceless;
‘Ohh no, not her. I’m sure she’s very interesting but I find her dull.’
‘I think he’s a very nice person, but I don’t like him.’
‘I really like her, but I find her very consuming.’
‘He only talks about production units; I don’t find him interesting at all.’
Unfortunately she got off the bus before I got to find out if she managed to know, like, feel comfortable with enough interesting people to rustle up the 10-12 people she wanted at her exclusive Friday night soirée.
I suppose buses do have their uses.
Obviously I couldn’t hear what the friend was saying but her answers were priceless;
‘Ohh no, not her. I’m sure she’s very interesting but I find her dull.’
‘I think he’s a very nice person, but I don’t like him.’
‘I really like her, but I find her very consuming.’
‘He only talks about production units; I don’t find him interesting at all.’
Unfortunately she got off the bus before I got to find out if she managed to know, like, feel comfortable with enough interesting people to rustle up the 10-12 people she wanted at her exclusive Friday night soirée.
I suppose buses do have their uses.
Forty Minutes
This morning I had a little lie-in and finally dragged my butt out of bed at 8.50. Whilst in the shower I realised that I had to be at work for 9.30 and no later ‘cause I had to be in a Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment workshop which was due to start at 9.30.
Crap!
For once, the worlds smallest hot water tank was a blessing in disguise (four and half minutes of hot water) I whizzed through the shower before the hot ran out, slapped on my face paint, threw on my clothes, fed Puss, picked up my Uni books and left the house at 9.05.
I started speed walking down the street. Towards the end of the street I decided to get on the bus that had just overtaken me so a quick jog and $1.70 later I was sat next to the guy on the mobile talking about his finances and in front of a Paris looky likey talking about her tasteful soirée only for interesting people (see entry called Soirée for further detail).
Isn’t it funny how the world slows down when you’re in a hurry? I swear the bus stopped at every stop, every traffic light and every twit crossing the road when they shouldn’t be. Finally I go toff the bus and trotted along the road from the bus stop to the office. The lights on the pedestrian crossing took an age, then the damn revolving door seemed to go even slower than it normally does (which is pretty slow) then all four lifts where in level 8 and still going up.
I dumped my stuff off on my desk and went to the workshop. It was 9.32 when I walked through the door and I wasn’t the last to arrive. Phew!
So now I know I can make it to work in 40 minutes from bed to desk. A very sweaty and profanity filled forty minutes but it is doable.
Crap!
For once, the worlds smallest hot water tank was a blessing in disguise (four and half minutes of hot water) I whizzed through the shower before the hot ran out, slapped on my face paint, threw on my clothes, fed Puss, picked up my Uni books and left the house at 9.05.
I started speed walking down the street. Towards the end of the street I decided to get on the bus that had just overtaken me so a quick jog and $1.70 later I was sat next to the guy on the mobile talking about his finances and in front of a Paris looky likey talking about her tasteful soirée only for interesting people (see entry called Soirée for further detail).
Isn’t it funny how the world slows down when you’re in a hurry? I swear the bus stopped at every stop, every traffic light and every twit crossing the road when they shouldn’t be. Finally I go toff the bus and trotted along the road from the bus stop to the office. The lights on the pedestrian crossing took an age, then the damn revolving door seemed to go even slower than it normally does (which is pretty slow) then all four lifts where in level 8 and still going up.
I dumped my stuff off on my desk and went to the workshop. It was 9.32 when I walked through the door and I wasn’t the last to arrive. Phew!
So now I know I can make it to work in 40 minutes from bed to desk. A very sweaty and profanity filled forty minutes but it is doable.
August 8, 2007
August 7, 2007
Nerd Attack
Once again I have more time on my hands whilst at work than strictly necessary. So I’ve been designing my own business cards and had a quick surf. I went to XKCD again, ‘cause I love these cartoons a found this
Not sure why it’s funny when I generally love nerds…it just is!
Not sure why it’s funny when I generally love nerds…it just is!
August 6, 2007
I Just Work Here Man
Last weekend feels like an age away because of the events of the last week but I feel like I should revisit a part of it. Namely the parts were I went and saw Gotye on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at the Metro Theatre on George Street in Sydney.
On Saturday I went with Edna. We saw queued outside for the doors to open, the man himself said ‘Hi’ as he was on his way to grab some food before the gig. We waited in the foyer by the door and then we grabbed a spot on the front railing to the left of the stage. We had a great view. We could practically see his nose hair (if he had any;-).
But first we had to get through the support band that we had neither heard of nor seen before. Mountains in the Sky were a two piece band that came out onto stage wearing white hoodies. One sat behind a drum kit the other stood at a keyboard and proceeded to explain that a technical hitch meant he was using a strange keyboard and any odd sounds that emitted were not meant to happen. Edna and I looked at each other and said a sarcastic ‘Ohh goodie!’ As it happened there were no odd sounds (I think) and their entire set flowed seamlessly from one track to the next. I wasn’t sure it that was because they all sounded the same or because of clever playing. It was kinda hypnotic though and brought the CD for further listening.
- Singing 'Thanks for you Time'
The time that he was on stage passed in a flurry. He introduced those playing on stage with him one at a time and thanked the audience at least three times for coming to see him. I get the feeling that he is still surprised that he is getting to play the packed houses of over a thousand at a time. Edna and I left the theatre on a high and with the feeling that he does this for love and nothing else. I also get the feeling that the lyrics of ‘Thanks for your Time’ will never be issued while he’s working.
Sunday was very much the same except for the company. Syms Covington was there, as was June and Hubby. Once again we were front row but to the right this time, different angle for the photos. Mountains in The Sky had a different energy from the night before, maybe less of whatever then had to give them bounce, after all it was only three in the afternoon. With a daytime crowd, the audience had a younger feel and the screaming proved the crowd was very much younger. It gave the concert a glow it hadn’t had the night before. Both concerts were great and I would without a moments hesitation go and see this exceptionally talented and rather strikingly good looking fella play again.
On Saturday I went with Edna. We saw queued outside for the doors to open, the man himself said ‘Hi’ as he was on his way to grab some food before the gig. We waited in the foyer by the door and then we grabbed a spot on the front railing to the left of the stage. We had a great view. We could practically see his nose hair (if he had any;-).
But first we had to get through the support band that we had neither heard of nor seen before. Mountains in the Sky were a two piece band that came out onto stage wearing white hoodies. One sat behind a drum kit the other stood at a keyboard and proceeded to explain that a technical hitch meant he was using a strange keyboard and any odd sounds that emitted were not meant to happen. Edna and I looked at each other and said a sarcastic ‘Ohh goodie!’ As it happened there were no odd sounds (I think) and their entire set flowed seamlessly from one track to the next. I wasn’t sure it that was because they all sounded the same or because of clever playing. It was kinda hypnotic though and brought the CD for further listening.
- The Only Way
The stage was back dropped with a giant screen and the data projector suspended from the roof was giving me the jitters but I relaxed once I saw the quality animation and films that matched perfectly with the music. Ink in water, cartoons of boys with balloons and the mostly black and white (there was a bit of red in there) alien abduction fitted perfectly with ‘Coming Back’.
- Singing 'Thanks for you Time'The time that he was on stage passed in a flurry. He introduced those playing on stage with him one at a time and thanked the audience at least three times for coming to see him. I get the feeling that he is still surprised that he is getting to play the packed houses of over a thousand at a time. Edna and I left the theatre on a high and with the feeling that he does this for love and nothing else. I also get the feeling that the lyrics of ‘Thanks for your Time’ will never be issued while he’s working.
Sunday was very much the same except for the company. Syms Covington was there, as was June and Hubby. Once again we were front row but to the right this time, different angle for the photos. Mountains in The Sky had a different energy from the night before, maybe less of whatever then had to give them bounce, after all it was only three in the afternoon. With a daytime crowd, the audience had a younger feel and the screaming proved the crowd was very much younger. It gave the concert a glow it hadn’t had the night before. Both concerts were great and I would without a moments hesitation go and see this exceptionally talented and rather strikingly good looking fella play again.
I Predict A Riot
Kaiser Chiefs
Hordern Pavilion
5th August 2007
So I went to see the Kaiser Chiefs. I won’t say they are my favourite band in the world I certainly wouldn’t shed clothing for them as some of the girls in the audience seemed to do, but I do quite like their music.
Hordern Pavilion
5th August 2007
So I went to see the Kaiser Chiefs. I won’t say they are my favourite band in the world I certainly wouldn’t shed clothing for them as some of the girls in the audience seemed to do, but I do quite like their music.
I was feeling a bit crap before leaving home and wasn’t really in the mood for the Mosh Pit, but Edna, my fellow concert goer and die-hard fan was determined to get as close the front as possible. We ended up in the middleish of the stage about five metres back. We were squashed, stood on and pushed. Edna was jumping up and down with the thongs on people, I was giving dirty looks to the Jack Russel next to me who had bricks in her bag and kept wacking my in the hip and elbow, I’d move and she’d follow. The music was great though and the lead singer (see I don’t know his name) made plenty of attempts to interact with the crowd. He talked, asked questions and even invited us all to take part in the filming of an advert for the BBC Electric Proms.
They started with ‘Everyday I Love You Less and Less’ and moved on through the hits and the not so well know. I don’t know all their song titles, but I do know they also played ‘Angry Mob’ and ‘Ruby’ and I even knew the words to some, that surprised me. Also, and I have to confess this before I get outed by Edna…I wore earplugs. Well, I’d had a headache all day and I didn’t want to make it worse. Poor excuse I know, but tough! ;-)
After it was all over we tried to get backstage. I have met the manager before at a friends party and I thought I push my luck for the benefit of Edna (I’m sure if she’d been closer it would have been her shirt on stage) But it was not to be. My name wasn’t on the list despite being told by the brother’s best friend’s cousin (or whatever) that our names were on the list. The beefcake at the door in the yellow shirt was not to be budged and he didn’t know were the list was. We left autograph-less.
Anyway, I had a good night. The walk home was nice too. I flopped into bed feeling relaxed and ready for the sleep ahead.
___________________________
I won't be sending this review the Brag 'cause we missed support band Operator Please and listened to Wolf and Cubs from the lobby.
Leading Lady
I saw The Holiday on Saturday morning, you know the one were Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet swap houses to get away from bad relationships. Anyway there is a line in it that I will remember for a long time. Kates character, Iris is having dinner with the old bloke who lives next door and he say to her (in response to being told about her bad relationship);
Arthur Abbott: Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend.
Iris: You're so right. You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god's sake! Arthur, I've been going to a therapist for three years, and she's never explained things to me that well. That was brilliant. Brutal, but brilliant.
And so should we all!
The Week that Was
So it has been a full week since I moved out into the big wide world on my own. I’m exhausted and just want to sleep because the last seven days have been full on.
Monday – Moved out taking with me most of my clothes, the fridge (we had two, don’t ask) and Puss.
Tuesday – Work in the morning then went to Ikea, where I purchased some furniture and a few bright shiny objects. Spent the evening putting together the newly acquired furniture.
Wednesday – Went to work in the morning then ‘worked’ from home in the afternoon while the man from Foxtel did his bit. Spent the evening unpacking.
Thursday – Went to work all day then to Uni between 6 and 9. I went straight home got into bed and read a bit before falling asleep before 10.
Friday – Worked all day then went home. Spent over an hour on the phone to various concerned buddies before putting books on shelves and DVDs into unit, then moving to sort out my wardrobe (aka more unpacking).
Saturday – Spent the day with Hubby and a trip to the house for more division of assets. All was disturbingly calm and amicable. Spent the evening with Trixy and Rachel at a gay disco dancing to ‘It’s Raining Men’ and other classics.
Sunday – Woke with a bit of a headache. Did some washing and hoovering before sorting out a little bit more unpacking. Went to see the Kaiser Chiefs with Edna in the evening
Monday (today) – I’m in work but really want to be in my bed, curled up with a good book (unfortunately I have to read Lolita for Uni, so the chick lit will have to wait) and Puss.
Monday – Moved out taking with me most of my clothes, the fridge (we had two, don’t ask) and Puss.
Tuesday – Work in the morning then went to Ikea, where I purchased some furniture and a few bright shiny objects. Spent the evening putting together the newly acquired furniture.
Wednesday – Went to work in the morning then ‘worked’ from home in the afternoon while the man from Foxtel did his bit. Spent the evening unpacking.
Thursday – Went to work all day then to Uni between 6 and 9. I went straight home got into bed and read a bit before falling asleep before 10.
Friday – Worked all day then went home. Spent over an hour on the phone to various concerned buddies before putting books on shelves and DVDs into unit, then moving to sort out my wardrobe (aka more unpacking).
Saturday – Spent the day with Hubby and a trip to the house for more division of assets. All was disturbingly calm and amicable. Spent the evening with Trixy and Rachel at a gay disco dancing to ‘It’s Raining Men’ and other classics.
Sunday – Woke with a bit of a headache. Did some washing and hoovering before sorting out a little bit more unpacking. Went to see the Kaiser Chiefs with Edna in the evening
Monday (today) – I’m in work but really want to be in my bed, curled up with a good book (unfortunately I have to read Lolita for Uni, so the chick lit will have to wait) and Puss.
Growing Big and Strong
I have set new rules with regards to the rubber band ball. I can only add to it when I’m on the phone. I really do need to find something more useful to do with my phone time.
August 3, 2007
The Three Rs
Reading, Writing and Arithmetic
Forgive me for being picky but doesn’t the correct spelling make it the RWAs? And we are looking for the correct spelling when teaching aren’t we?
Forgive me for being picky but doesn’t the correct spelling make it the RWAs? And we are looking for the correct spelling when teaching aren’t we?
Travel Options
For the last few days I have been walking to work, the weather has been fine and a new found freedom has brought about a desire to sashay. It’s a rather pleasant twenty five minutes walk if I dawdle and window shop, fifteen if I power walk and take in nothing of my surroundings. I’ve only power walked it once and that resulted in sweat which is neither pretty nor elegant, so I won’t be doing that on a regular basis.
This morning it was raining so I caught a bus from the stop just across the road from my house. The 303 from San Souci to Circular Quay. It took a grand total of five minutes to get down Crown Street then another five to walk from Campbell Street to work. So all in, all I didn't get as wet as I could have, nice! It wasn’t too bad an experience despite the driver giving me dirty looks for having the audacity to ask which way the bus went and then sending me flying through the air as he pulled out of the stop.
I think I prefer to walk if it’s not raining, but the bus will suffice for rainy days and longer trips.
This morning it was raining so I caught a bus from the stop just across the road from my house. The 303 from San Souci to Circular Quay. It took a grand total of five minutes to get down Crown Street then another five to walk from Campbell Street to work. So all in, all I didn't get as wet as I could have, nice! It wasn’t too bad an experience despite the driver giving me dirty looks for having the audacity to ask which way the bus went and then sending me flying through the air as he pulled out of the stop.
I think I prefer to walk if it’s not raining, but the bus will suffice for rainy days and longer trips.
Semester Commencement
I started back at Uni last night with my Writing Seminar class. There are fifteen people in the group with a fifty/fifty mix of girls to boys. I have worked with five of them before in previous classes including the Mad Folk Singer from Theory last semester.
It’s a mixed group of weirdos and people who consider themselves intellectual. There’s the lady in her fifties with two kids and about eight degrees who has dispensed with her surname and simply goes by her Christian name (ala Prince, Madonna and Jesus), the American who looks like he’s been hit with a frying pan who is really hard to understand ‘cause his accent is so thick, the older lady who has had many natural history books published but can’t make up her mind about anything and the girl in her mid twenties who is clearly the smartest in the room and is living on a shoe string.
Should be a fun semester!
It’s a mixed group of weirdos and people who consider themselves intellectual. There’s the lady in her fifties with two kids and about eight degrees who has dispensed with her surname and simply goes by her Christian name (ala Prince, Madonna and Jesus), the American who looks like he’s been hit with a frying pan who is really hard to understand ‘cause his accent is so thick, the older lady who has had many natural history books published but can’t make up her mind about anything and the girl in her mid twenties who is clearly the smartest in the room and is living on a shoe string.
Should be a fun semester!
Gotye High
What with moving and everything, I haven't written my review for last weekends shows yet, but I'll try and get it done very soon!
August 1, 2007
ANTM - 8:6
Guest Judge - Matthew Jordan Smith, photographer
Challenge – The Acting One. The girls had two hours to memorize three short scripts and then play Melodramatic Model, Diva Model and Perky Model
Photo Shoot - Matthew Jordan Smith. The girls had to pose in re-staging of events from with previous cycles. A fainting, dental work, lesbian kiss, food stealing, the twins, spot breakout, naked.
Bottom Two – Whitney and Jael
Went Home – Whitney ‘it’s becoming evident to me that, maybe, modelling isn’t exactly the avenue I need to be going down.’
Notes – Natasha had a mini breakdown when Renee and Dionne won visits from their families for the challenge. Dionne had issues with the photo shoot, she had to portray a lesbian but ended up enjoying it. Both the Plus size potentials are gone.
Challenge – The Acting One. The girls had two hours to memorize three short scripts and then play Melodramatic Model, Diva Model and Perky Model
Photo Shoot - Matthew Jordan Smith. The girls had to pose in re-staging of events from with previous cycles. A fainting, dental work, lesbian kiss, food stealing, the twins, spot breakout, naked.
Bottom Two – Whitney and Jael
Went Home – Whitney ‘it’s becoming evident to me that, maybe, modelling isn’t exactly the avenue I need to be going down.’
Notes – Natasha had a mini breakdown when Renee and Dionne won visits from their families for the challenge. Dionne had issues with the photo shoot, she had to portray a lesbian but ended up enjoying it. Both the Plus size potentials are gone.
Shop & GO!
I’m not sure why but I’ve wanted one of these for ages, and now with the lack of car, I will have to walk too and from the shops, it became a necessity. Mine is neither red nor navy but a yucky powder blue with a section of stripes around the bottom.
I was surprised to learn that even thought these thing make carrying your shopping home easier, when it’s fully loaded you still get a decent workout. By the time I got home today with my new bed covering set and lovely new fluffy towels, my arms where hurting as if I’d done fifty press-ups.
I was surprised to learn that even thought these thing make carrying your shopping home easier, when it’s fully loaded you still get a decent workout. By the time I got home today with my new bed covering set and lovely new fluffy towels, my arms where hurting as if I’d done fifty press-ups.