Thunder and lightning

Wow!
Falling back into the nothingness/oblivion of skag was almost too easy ... except now I have suffered through the junk sickness (well, apart from the leg cramps, vomiting, runny nose/eyes/mouth, etc. that is) and looked at the $1000 spent, I seriously doubt that this was ever going to really be an option ... as previously considered, if it was freely available, this would be a fantastic break from the humdrum ...
Sitting around waiting for washing, drinking Budweiser - 1.4 standard per, and only $10! Taste is not so bad either, so could be an option here ... not that I supposed to be drinking beer, of course ... Even funnier? Turns out they are twist tops! Oh well, was a good excuse to bring out Leatherman for a play ...
Surprisingly am not feeling much effects from the Sunday Southbank to Southport ride ... but very soon after Eagleby, I did notice that the glucogens were lacking ... almost certainly due to lack of opportunity to reload carbs. Had started the week well, minimising carbs, but got to end of week, and shit just happened that prevented me from reloading properly. Anyway, felt bit crampy coming into back of Southport, so slowed it down a bit, concentrated on stroke, and it faded. But then when I climbed off the bike at the Helensvale station, BAM!!! Almost fell over in front of all the other jocks ... interestingly, I think I was the only non-road bike on that particular train? Got chatted up by some old bird ( who looked like one of those Audax types, though she denied it), who commented that it must have been so much harder riding such a heavier bike ... maybe she was one of those 'weight weenies' in disguise? Anyway, now it is time to get back into training for the Otway, and the Jetstar trip to Geelong again ...
Okay, washing done, now for tumble drying ... might just try 1 medium, then 1 high?Read Frank Miller's 'Sin city' last night ... OMFG!!! Of course, may well be the residue of the affect of 'Ronin' from all those years ago? But the sheer use of shadow - all done in B&W - and the internal monologue were just fantastic. Such echoes of sensation.Seems such an odd thing that these 'Buds have got twist tops on them ... so un-American, almost ...
So, the night creeps in, and it is time to hit the hot stuff ... hmm, this week's wash is almost about just doing an intro drying, to just get some of the excess moisture out ... predicting thunderstorms tonight, showers tomorrow ... not that it matters much to me, as I do all my drying inside anyway! But I just feel like utilising my little drying rack, spread some stuff out, the warmth of the room tomorrow will do the rest? Plus it gives an aired smell to much of my clothes ... which I notice I am not getting a lot of usage out of lately (apart from these work shirts/pants, of course) ... may have to go out more, maybe? Which reminds me - what to do this weekend??? Apart from go climb Mt. Cootha (a couple of times) of course ... ;)
Will come back and edit this later ... time for bed now

Enhanced absences

so, so easy to get caught up with the simplicity and restrictiveness of Twitter ... sorry ...
But, anyway, the news, ad hoc ...
Dinner was vegies (onions, garlic, carrots, pumpkin, corn, mushrrom, spinach, parsley, coriander, tomato) topped with slivers of swordfish, and liquid from lemon + dash of tamari, prepared with Jap knife provided by DJ, then turned off to lightly steam through ... except when turning off, the knob kept going ... so ended up doing blast furnace for a few minutes (!!!) until I realised that the corn was popping whilst I was on the phone building up DJ's ego, congratulating him on a useful knife choice ( even though it was not what was being sought), etc. What can I say, but 'Bloody infuriating electric stovetops!!! At least with gas you can see if it is off or not ...
Made up this cocktail: ice, 2 parts Barcardi, 1 part whisky, 1 part tamari, 3 splashes (drops?) of tabasco, 1 part lemon juice, 12 parts Mercury dry cider, and 6 parts chinotto ... at first very sharp, but then chilled and blended to allow sensations to settle, and evolved into a really pleasant tease as I sat beneath my roller door, watching the clouds skid across the sky, etc. Did I mention the 33c today? Was such a temptation to take the bus into town this morning ... even though let two (2) buses go by before settling upon the one ... and then got to share the seat with a smelly pro-Abo, who was grqcious enough to offer a modicum of engaging conversation ...
The afternoon ended with doing laundry, drinking beer, chatting to Dave, who told me of evil designs re. visiting Sexpo and bringing back some nasty surprise for Donna, so I had to warn him off such a path ... he can be so innocent at times! Or maybe that is easily manipulated? Anyway, then Donna rings later all in a tizz, so maybe the playing is all getting a bit nasty??? Bit like acknowleding their cruelty, but excusing it by saying that they at least talk to me??? Gosh I hope it is not really like that ...
No idea what Ray beam doing, but what she has done has the ramifications echoing across time ... told Laura she had taken out an AVO on me (must have missed that?) ... God knows what she has told Nik, what fears of his she has exploited, but he refuses to talk to me now ... such sheer stupidity, and how is one to respond?
Anyway, have roof, job, working on relationship(s) ... but still not getting laid ... ;)
Been awake since 0212, so expect that is why my eyes are so heavy? Best off to nod land go again ... now, that is a thought ... bloody Dani and her desperate deserving drudgery!!!
Or, is that just me???

Balzac says ...

"A man who boasts about never changing his views is a man who's decided always to travel in a straight line - the kind of idiot who believes in absolutes." Pere Goriot
To be continued ...

Death song

You know how sometimes you are just so caught up in your own litle pit of misery, wallowing in the angst, the pain, and regardless of admonishing yourself that 'The answer lies not in these 4 walls' or 'What was was, is not, shall not be' or 'Stay focussed, keep moving', but then something comes along and just slaps you so hard that it makes a ray of sense? That was this:

Death is before me today:
Like the recovery of a sick man,
Like going forth into a
garden after sickness.

Death is before me today:
Like the odour of myrrh,
Like sitting under a sail
in a good wind.

Death is before me today:
Like the course of a stream;
Like the return of a man
from the war-galley to
his house.

Death is before me today:
Like the home that a man longs to see,
After years spent as a captive.

Anyway, was an interesting realisation that most people are born, and then spend most of their time 'looking forward to death', but as something to be feared ... there is always so much more to be done?
Was from the collection of Sandman ('Preludes & nocturnes') where his sister (Death) takes him for a walk on her daily rounds, and he realises that it is all natural, part of the cycle of existence, so why fear it?
For me, death is not to be feared, except as impacts on others ... a period of resting before going onwards ...

oh ... to think about

From ica:
Girls are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. The boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the wayto the top of the tree.
Hmm ...

Oh joy, oh joy ... here we go!!!

Yahoo for the man!
What a feeling!!!
Got home, having just been out to parents
[complex: Legal Aid wanted to do further interview, a 'Just what sort of person are you?' (trans. 1. What was your favourite job? Why? 2. What are your strengths/weaknesses, and how do they contribute to a team situation? 3. Why does working p/t or casual suit you?), but demanded a landline number, claiming 'mysterious drop outs' when previously calling mobiles (must have been non-Telstra mobiles?), so I nominated parents place. Also gave me an opportunity to go out there, check on Ma/Sis, and go to Ikea to (finally) get that saucepan set ... except Sis was having a hissy fit (a la Daddy), so in the end just went home]
and decided that was worth my while to spend more money, but get pans that were a better quality, last longer, etc.
So went back to Executive chef and got:
Chef Inox 1.2l
Profiline 3l
cheeky little 20cm iron frypan
Messermeister bread knife
baby whisk
Was SO elated walking back, felt so elevated, so released from daily concerns (except for the drawback of this electric stovetop) ... can cook ... create ... enjoy ...
So toddled down to Coles and picked up a few more necessities (such as pasta, oats, cous cous, rice bran oil (which I sort of needed also to season the frypan with), eggs/milk, pancake mix to play with frypan, and rice, glorious rice) ... am good to go ... sort of, but you know what I mean ... ;) and then cooked up some food ... bit of shark laid on top of spicy (OMG that chilli was hot!!!) vegies - oh, and also got my first delivery of Food connect box of goodies ... $28/week, but am unsure if 'great' value for money in terms of quantity ...
Oh, and also came across a rather cheeky little 'Classic dry white' wine, apparently made from organically grown grapes, down at my 'favourite' little alcohol shop (Nextar on Boundary Street) ... have to say am surprised by relative quality too ...
Suppose I best go eat it, hey?

Knackered, but starting again ...

Sunday night, feeling the strain ... out to Mother's last night to have Salmon and vegies with Sis (12.8/33'22"/24.03/51.5 out, 12.62/31'56"/24.29/50.8 back) ... because the River Festival was on, LOTS of stop/start from the top of SouthBank ... so made up for it by pedalling furiously (hence the high speed) down Vulture Street, scaring the cars ... was really, really good cruising the streets, lights on wheels ... turned out later was the dead moon night! Then went down to Melbourne to meet DJ + his mate/wife ... had a glass of Pilsner, discussed Google Earth, and use of geostat imaging sats, then headed off home ... but they all got a bit miffed (mortified?) that I did not climb into the car with them ... even though it is something like 2 blocks home ...
Then today was taken up with Brekkie at DJs, going to the new house to fix up + take photos (which I promise to put some up ASAP), then back to Coles to get bleach, etc. Back to DJs for lunch with family ... finally crawled home, looked at computer, thought 'Maybe a quick little ride first?', so jumped on and went up and over Mt. Cootha (on the RHS) ... never done before ... afterwards could see why-very long drag, with quite a few pinches, esp the one just past Ch 10!!! Then, of course, came over the top, and had a ball free falling all the way to the bottom ... even found a way to access/leave that missed some of the traffic hazards! Came back into Toowong, turned right and went through UQ (where there seemed to be some massive sports day on), and back over the friendship bridge to home ... 34.7/1h34'/22.34/73.7 ...
Got home, showered, went down to Sling for cocktail + tapas ... they have like a 50 page menu book of possibilities for cocktails, drinks, etc. which DJ + Bianca came along and had some fun sifting through the options with me ... also has a rather detailled conversation about 'customer service' with Bianca ... odd girl ... ended up having a Bitter root + lemon pepper calamari/fried avocado/sweet potato spring rolls ... not cheap ...
So tomorrow we begin afresh ... apparently ...
Current thought on Rachael, etc. is 'So, what are you going to do?' ...

Today is another day

But, gone out and actively pursued employment with Medibank and Telstra (albeit via an agency) ... then promptly came home and 'celebrated' with pizza (had 1/2 veg + 1/2 chicken - $17, tasty, but SO thin ... almost ethereal) and beer (got a 6 pack of Grolsch Premium on card) ... which also, coincidently, used up the last of my money, including the 'emergency' monies ... and, yes, that includes the 2nd degree 'emergency' monies ... EKK!!!
Bloody parents/sister still have not given me any money back for the Lotto draw on the w/end - tried a System 10 entry, everyone got to choose 2 numbers, but $110.00. So I paid for ticket, but they have not been too keen to get the money back to me ... excuse being they did not realise that I needed the money? HA! Unthoughtful so and sos ... ;)
Also walked home, and what a beautiful experience that was! Totally enjoyed the sensation of meandering along at the end of the day peak hour, dodging bored office workers ... soon to be one of those?
Put a little pressure onto the pedals this morning, and averaged 27+ ... improvement follows effort, hey?
Spent a bit of time yesterday getting the first Word of power in NWN, an impressive performance, if I may say so myself ...
This whole thing with RSVP does not, it would seem, favour the backward, so really must make some effort to get a move on and 'kiss' some of the candidates that I have come across in my travelling/searching ... especially as some of them sound SO particularly interesting ... lol
As for all of my old friends, acquaintances, etc. not a sound, peep, hiccup ... ... so guess I must let 'sleeping dogs lie' as it were ... :(
Friends, who needs them, hey? ;)
Have some rather interesting photos, but they are on the Mac, and I forgot to copy them over via Memories, so promise to upload soonest ... have also being trying to get some sort of practice/introduction to the CS3 suite ... hence the icon ... but also doing a PhotoShop montage, as there is a rather interesting/odd spray mural around the corner ... which needs a bit of reworking?
Oh yeah, that irrascible brother dragged me off kicking and screaming ("No, not tonight" "Fine, what time will I pick you up?") to see Broncos down the Titans by 4 points in extra time ... pretty bloody exciting, I tell you! Especially as was see-sawing all throughout 2nd half, and was drawn at full time ... all THOSE people ...
BTW ... apparently I have a typing speed of 45wpm + 90% competency in MS Word ...

Better late than not at all?

Ooopps ... time so easily slips away! Well, have tried my luck at RSVP (go have a look at JonEC), already got 1 kiss ... but still working out how to respond/reply to any or all of it, so another experiment in the making, hey?
Still no job, very little motivation at best of time *sigh* hard to replicate the success of Geelong - talk Bottleshop owner into letting me run the place, have someone ring me up (out of the blue) and ask me to come in for an interview - so must try other strategies?
Having said that, just had a call from a girl from Telstra Business, who logs the Questus complaints, just ring back to say that they do not recruit directly there, but she was happy to pass resume on to employment agency, and they are looking for people at the moment ...
Will explain background later - gtg as coffee burning ...

to start

sorry, this comes before the previous post ...

There was a need for a friend. Someone to listen, gently prod, to encourage the mixedness to be exposed to the air, to be examined and unkinked. But alas, this was not to be. All had their own reasons or reasonings, but were the obvious interpretations shared by each active viewer? Someone to listen to the angst and turmoil, to offer opinion as to courses of action. But that was not to be ... so lost we remain, uncertain. But from uncertainty comes ignorance. Everyone who does respond says to ignore, forget, leave well alone, move on/away. Even her. Such self loathing, hatred, lack of value ... but who am I to say otherwise, apparently ...
Have discovered my little circuit - down Vulture, along river, over to city, along river path through Toowong to UQ, over bridge, then climb up Hardgrave Road, before dropping down along back down to the river, then along spinning to Jane Street, before coming back up around the school and home. This morning was (loosely) 48 mins :) but will actually sit down with computer instructions to see if can get more precise info for comparative purposes for future reference ... Then down to UG for espresso as treat ... So the day begins!

Interestingly, a call came out of the ether, saying what are you up to today? Nothing, you? Nothing. So to meet for tea we go. Except that it is not acceptable, so off to a Japanese restaurant we go. Where I end up paying for lunch ($60) :O without consultation ... *sigh*
Long and the short is that she is shitty at me, wants to be firmly in control, and feels is the sinned against, rather than a complicent sinner ... Interesting how am accused of not listening, yet what am told is quite contradictory - 'Want nothing to do with you, but this (having luch together) is nice' ... wonder if that means that I got value for money here? Did get to play with Cam for 90-odd minutes ... After having spent the afternoon 'together', was dropped off near home, where I realised that there was so many other things that had been left undone, such as getting kero to clean bike, so grabbed remaining cash, and headed off to Coles. Where I ran into them again in the queue. Interestingly, Ray had all these MREs to put it politely ... and was suitably embarrassed. Although whether by what was in the basket, or being seen in public together, remains to be seen ...
Clearly there is a lot of pain and resentment, which is utilised in preparing rationales for actions, but am unsure of how quite to soothe such having told her that am sick of fighting with her and/or seeing her as 'problem' needing resolution ... *sigh*
Am I to seek forgiveness? What is the final outcome desired here? Having someone to play with would be good, someone to hold and cherish, someone to share more adventures ... so guess I had better get on the path to adventures then ... And so another day begins afresh ...

negotiations with neighbours

To start afresh, in a new land, in a new way, requires that negotiation be the paramount preferred skill utilised ... so on that basis, and without reference to any of the other failed communications that are going on, I have failed dismally already.
Rob, from next door, stuck is sticky little nose through the fence to say that:
a) no communicating with Ky without supervision; and
b) he was rescinding my 'privilige' to pass through his garden to access mine.
WTF!!!???
Seems that:
a) he had been approached at the local library, and been asked to prove that he actually had a child, so as to be allowed in the childrens' section. Clearly this caused his repressed memories of when his father used to interfere with him to resurface, and giving him the excuse to refocus his angst/anger at some sort of nebulous bogey? More interestingly was when I agreed, but asked his reasoning why, to which he initially tried to stick to the line of 'You know, I do not have to explain myself'. So I replied along the lines of "For someone who says so much, you do not actually say much" ... and,
b) seems he took exception to me cutting down the Chinese Elm out the back, and then pouring the waste kero on it from when I had cleaned the bike chain earlier ... tried to use the 'Weeds have their place in the world too' psuedo-hippy-love crap, but he was the only one referring to weeds. So he tried the initial approach of 'My house, you no pass through', followed by 'Your rent does not include a back yard'. Unfortunately, it is screened off from 'his' yard, and has a lot of waste bamboo in it ... wonder what the reaction would (will?) be if I was to return the waste to where it sprung?
Hmm, certainly seems good to have something else to take my mind off the other dramas going on around here ... ;)
He sure does whinge and whine a lot, it has to be said ... However, what is most ludicrous is that he sprouts forth all this nonsense about respecting boundaries, being good neighbours, and then tells me to 'piss off' when I point out that he is to start using his front door more, as he encroaches upon my quiet enjoyment of my property when he so noisely uses my access to go through his back door ... oh how easily the thin veneer of respectability fades when the bully is confronted ... Certainly Ky looked most confused and concerned, poor bugger ...

Chez Carleton is open for business

Starting from the front, we have the view looking into the abode. As you can see, there is a large single room leading back to ...

the kitchen, on the right, ...

or the bathroom, through the door straight ahead.

Although not much, and incredibly inaccessible, there is also my little relaxation piece of garden. Do not think at any stage there will be anything resembling a garden for vegies, etc. but as a contemplative/peaceful place, it would seem to be most suitable. Although not clear from this picture, I have taken the liberty of hanging some reflective mirrored mobiles, as well as a rather large crystal to refract calming and clearing light, to chase away the evilness ...
Just in passing, Rachael is being a bitch of the worst possible sort :(
Other complaint is that my back rotor on the Yukon is rubbing at odd times, make grinding sounds as I tootle along, and I am unsure why!!! Of course, probably would not hurt if I was to clean the bike properly, especially as the chain is particularly disgustying ;)
But, am settling in, slowly, surely, finding the rythmn of the place, slipping back into sync with the ebbs and flows ...
Very little contact with the old crew, however especially LewE is being quite amiable in staying in touch, letting me know what is happening down in ye ol Geelong ...
Anyway, enjoy, stay in touch?
You know you can post comments to this page as well?

Old memories, new beginnings

29 May 2007
And so the final countdown begins ... having rushed about like a blue-arsed fly all the afternoon, I actually arrived at the terminus quite a bit before I was required to be here - even had to await for the check in desk to actually open!!! Anyway, standing in line, started chatting to the bloke in front, turns out that Geelong is very wet + windy ... so maybe there is some truth in the rumours that I am a bringer of rain ... ;)
Oddly enough, just about every flight imaginable is delayed tonight, and although the clients/customers/sheep take it well, the delay is so bad for the Prosepine flight that Jetstar has even resorted to providing vouchers to feed the awaiting masses ... this is particularly odd in that Jetstar does not even provide food on their own planes!
Have a very nice 17" PowerBook to use, and it sure is fun sitting here at the eerily empty, echoing, halls in the QANTAS section typing away. Discovered a rather nice little background of the sun behind clouds over a parched vista, all in B&W. With the widescreen, the attached keyboard seems almost dwarfed, but the perspective is such that it leads well to the screen. Must remember to see what the resolution is set to at the moment, see if it needs to be set any higher, because at present it seems fine, quite usable. Indeed, this reminds me that there is much consternation that I may be one of the few people that uses such a high resolution - most seem to prefer to utilise one much lower, and just keep flipping from program to program.
As for the rest, got to briefly see Laura, spent a bit of snatched time with Nik, had some harried moments with Father, met Mother, had a few moments with Brother, managed lunch with Cuz, and that was about it. Most of the time up here was spent with Kids and Rachael, playing (un)happy families, kicking balls, cleaning up, cuddling, cooking. Managed a rather nice seafood get together at Gambaros, tainted only by the uncomfortableness of Bianca - even (finally) managed to try some Moreton Bay bugs!
Alright, that will do for now ...

30 May 2007
Awoke several times throughout the night with an incredible shortness of breath and an extremely tight chest, which was not helped by the fact that I had left my puffer back in BrizVegas ... so staggered out of bed at 0625 to turn off the alarm, and then promptly went back to bed to stay warm, whilst listening to the radio, trying to breathe and stretch out the lung muscles. Eventually got up, put some porridge on, and made a pot of coffee, for not only was I feeling quite ill - even toyed with the idea of staying home today - but it was really cold too!!!
Still felt quite crap at work, so put out an email asking for Ventolin, and next thing I knew, there were several people offering, including the manager of Telstra Retail ... one does wonder why he was carrying such a thing around with him, however ... a quiet day on the phones, with a lot of time trying to resolve complex and vexing issues/accounts, and I may have spoken to Elspeth Probyn, albeit by another surname, so maybe not, hey? ;) Went out at lunch and bought some Ventolin and a 10m network cable, so as to recline in bed, surfing the 'net, which is quite useful on these cooler nights - the forecast is for ongoing intermittent showers over the next few days, with the temperature hovering around the 15c mark ...
Finally staggered out and came home where I made a little tomato + kidney bean sauce to go on some pasta, snuggled up beneath the quilt to watch (another) 'Biggest Loser' show about engaged couples - the girl on the red team was 297lb to start with ... OMFG!!! ... so I suppose I am not that bad (yet), not being engaged and all ... ;)

02 June 2007
Crass consumerism to the max!!! Went up to Melbourne this morning, after a rather seedy night out - one of the girls was having 'farewell drinks', as she is off next week, so I thought I would just pop in, pay respects, for an hour ... instead, I was barely home by midnight! Anyway, up to Melbourne ... first stop is Pellegrini's for an espresso ... down to a bookshop, ogling so much knowledge, but the last thing we want is to have something we will not use, right? ... down to McGill's to look at 'real' books - so many law books, but was there to pick up a definitive text of OS X and something to aid me in understanding Adobe CS3. Nothing for the latter, but a search of the web shows that there are some coming (patience, Johnny, patience), and found a rather good little text for the former ... then around the corner to Crumpler, where it turned out that they did not quite have the right size laptop case, but I bought that one anyway, on the proviso that it would be a 'snug' fit - got home to find that the fit was so 'snug' that the zip would not even close (!), and also a carry bag - the 'Complete seed', which is basically a voluminous satchel with some internal pockets - in the fetching colours of navy/light purple/navy (remind me and I shall put a photo up of it?) ... then it was time for breakfast + a flat white at a little healthy 'cafe' tucked up one of the laneways ... walked down to Spencer Street, called into Levi's at DFO, and although I was tempted by a pair of shrink-to-fit 501s, in the end I walked away, and bought a Bonds LS top instead ...
Have an ongoing nagging feeling that I am going to have to reset my password ... especially as I can not bloody remember what it was ... O the travails of being D + D when setting up a computer ...

08 June 2007
So, here we are (at 0333 ...), now have laptop, loaded the software, and have the bags to carry it in ... although these bags (in particular the laptop bag, or 'School Hymn (L) 17" BP' to give it it's proper name) were a bit dramatic - rang up next day to arrange exchange, offered to Express Post the bag back, ring them up with the number, and they do the same for me, but Crumpler (Nicole) refused to do it until they received the bag first :( which meant I had to wait longer, but all good now, hey? Since then has been a kind of busy week at SalesForce, have managed to 'sell' an ADSL connection to a bloke who had rung up originally to remove his dead wife's name from the account (!) - how is that for the power of TI (Transforming Instants) Max??? Now the pressure is on to sell at least another 8 this month ...
Have discovered a rather interesting little feature in old Tiger here called 'Comic Life', which is a feature to expedite the creation of comic strips, particularly using photos, so (once I actually load some onto this computer) I have some ideas to trial - maybe the first one could be of my adventures to BrizVegas, especially for the VFestival ... Another idea I have is to use some of the 'relics' that I collected on that trip to make up a framed collage image, as it were ...
In other news, I think my consumerism is almost at an end, but, having said that, I AM toying with the idea of upgrading my mobile, and not JUST because it is 18 months old :O to a LG KU970, a.k.a. 'Shine', on an Optus $49 cap plan, although I do wonder about whether my credit rating exists in any palpable way. One of the reasons for this is that I am looking at my telecommunication needs, and I think that, as I tend to spend $40 on the prepaid and $28 on the cable, maybe I could afford/need(?) to go to the next level - $49 mobile + $40 cable plan, the only question being whether I would necessarily get the value? After all, it IS a tad consumerist - what happens if I fall on thin times again??? Would it still be affordable ... could always move the cable back to the $28 plan, so minimum cost would be $77/month, at least until 0408 anyway ... But the new mobile would be such a match for the laptop, as they both do have a similar exterior ... ;)

17 June 2007
How soon the time begins to pass afresh ... and still I have not even started to set up the 'new' website ... t'is there in my head, but is just not quite getting out onto the page ... As is often the case with such projects, the hardest part, particularly in the beginning is establishing how to frame the project, so that all that follows is able to slot within the parameters. Or at least give you a frame upon which to work so that you can hang your ideas until they gel, and you need to do a complete redesign ... ;)
As for some of the previous efforts, I have constructed a Comic Life version of the V Festival adventure, with a little humour, a little bit of drama, and a little bit of cheekiness ... ;) DID go into Strathfield to sign up for the 'Shine', but as I did not have a license (or a passport/shooter's license/Key access card) they refused to sign me up for a contract (!), so am a little unsure what the next step will be - maybe this is a test by God to make me get a license (or passport)? Certainly I am toying with the idea of resettling into the 'mainstream', especially after July 01, but maybe I need to be considerate of just how much is enough? Is that ever an option however - when is 'enough'? Or, more cynically, when is enough ever 'enough'? Reminds of comments I read recently by the new head of the (Australian) Anglicans that Christianity was not about accumulating wealth for its own sake ...
Other thing I want to do today/tonight is actually open up CS3 and start playing ... so much haste/enthusiasm, and just NO time/space to play!!! Really have to make your own fun, hey? Anyway, time to go make some lunch to take with me into the shop for what I suspect will be a rather quiet day today, but we shall see ... of course, if it is, that is more time for me to prepare other options ... ;)

09 August 2007
Golly gosh it can be expensive to study law, and that is just in relation to the textbooks! What else? Well ...
* Last pay I was underpaid for a day that I was in training-was counted as a 'sick' day, and it was such a drama to get it rectified! Tell you what, and then it is all like well it is done now-no word of apology or concern, in fact it was very begrudgingly done ... so I go into bank today to get pay, and rather than there being a little extra as compensation ('we will put it into your next pay'), there is even less than what was to be expected! Can only wonder if the two (2) days I had off last week have (again) not been adequately compensated for ...
* Speaking of which, we are given contracts to sign, and I am concerned about the wording, so am directed in to see the Project Manager, who showed an amazing flexibility in denigrating my concerns, ranging from, 'what it says there is not what is meant; what it means is not what it says' to 'it is just a generic contract, so do not worry about it' to 'obviously you have issues, which is nothing to do with me' to (finally) 'well obviously my answers aren't good enough for you, so go away so that I do not have to deal with it'. Adding insult to all of this was the way that I had an appointment time scheduled, got there to find that he was taken up with another matter, and then there was no acknowledgement (in fact, even though it is a glass 'wall' so that he can see out over the floor, I was just ignored, as if it was opaque) of me, nor any apology when I finally did get in to see him! All of this from a person who sprouts constantly about the need to recognise others, and treat them well ...
* As my stars said, it has not been the best of weeks for me, no ...
* Have been spending the last few nights trying to catch up, at least with Commercial Law, anyway :) - even forwent my Tuesday night movie watching so as to do some more readings on Agency and Authority to act ... as usual, it is fascinating stuff once I start to get into it ... but I am fearing the amount (or lack) of absorption into this head of mine ... :(
* On the other hand, Sister is floating around in the deep North, will not be venturing South, and I was unable to secure any time off from either workplace to go see her ... she seems well enough, very pleased that she has been offered another position with a company to assist with their HR requirements, and getting paid quite well for her efforts (apparently much to the chagrin of her brother, who is going into home ownership together ... interestingly, I have not been offered the opportunity to go in with them, even though I was the one who raised this possibility as being the most beneficial for all the children jointly ... do they not think I would be interested? or am I simply not on the radar as a possibility?) Anyway, they have a tiny block just out of Highgate Hill, are going to build some gigantic mansion on it, and then dither around trying to decide whether to keep it or sell it ... do not think there is a clear (joint) investment strategy in place there - more likely to be suiting one's wants rather than the other's needs ... we shall see, we shall see ...
* Other than all of that, have been going for rides along the rail trail the last two Saturday's, both times as far as Drysdale (wow!!!). This last one was particularly cold and hard, so stopped for chippies at local ... where the owner gave away our order to a regular, so that they did not have to wait their turn ... then gave away the replacement order to another regular 'by accident' ... and then had the audacity to not even apologise when we finally did get the chips!!! Amazing how I notice these examples of customer service (or lack there of) these days ...

24 August 2007
So here we are, rather drunk, extremely tired, and still a little pissed ... today was to be a day of catch up at Deakin with the lecturer for Commercial law, but literally as I was about to walk out the door, Rachael rang in quite a tizz, so crawled back into bed and chatted for a good 90 mins (or more?) about what was going on in her life, and how the past seems to be impacting upon her in the present, bringing to bear all the little lurking dramas, which tend to be quite convincingly repressed usually ...
Still in a great sense of limbo re contract and SalesForce in general - was supposed to have started the 'Work from home' project on Thursday, but it has been delayed for unspecified reasons, and so I am stuck in at the office for a bit longer - somehow I suspect that my feelings of paranoia may be tempered by the fact that I am achieving the 2nd highest stats behind Manoj in many things, and leading in things like 'Right plan' changes - personally I find it my forte to be able to assess whether someone is in need of correction ... although there have been a few subsequent mind changes, so maybe my analyses are not prefect? Also had the trivia night on Thursday night, organised by wafer Kathyrn at the Scottish Chiefs - I had got off early that afternoon, after starting before I was supposed to (!), so had gone home, did the circuit+, and then gone in, to find most of the management there, plus a small scattering of floor staff!!! So paid my money, and then just quietly sat in the corner with no one really talking to me, except for Cassie (Tamika's mum of all people), and then Cherryl came in, and mentioned that Luke was o/s, being depressed about not getting his commissions - he being off that weekend to give the wife a good time, as it was her birthday, and all - so I shot out and let an ear ... by the time I got back it was mega filled up with people, and I was given the choice between Cindy sitting down or me leaving, so I left ... only to get caught up having a bit of a chinwag with Luke, before finally extricating myself, and walking home via Felix's ... where he decided that as it was payday, not that he had any money, we should go out, have a few beers, and he whip my arse at pool, which was what exactly happened ... And then last night was drinks at Lord Nelson for Jen, who had finished up that afternoon. At first I was concerned that, as Morrissey phrased it so eloquently, 'my chance had come at last', but alas not so ... too many people, including 1 boyfriend ... so had two Coopers Stouts, and headed back to talk to Ron, who wanted me to do the shift this Friday :) But just before I got there, Cindy rang to say that she had just put a bid in on a kE970, and seemed a little put out when I suggested that was not quite what I was looking for ... but you get that ... ;)

20 July 2008
Amazing how the words of so long ago still echo with sentiment of sychronicity, where the travails of then still emanate now, as if nothing had changed. But change is here at last-off to Brisbane, to an uncertain future, without job, roof, or even adequate support! What has been particularly surprising (comforting?) has been the level of support for self from the people here. Many came along to add their farewells, others added their voices at other times, in other ways ... particularly amusing was the call to action to go and enjoy the meat that Donna won at an impromptu BBQ out at Eastern Beach - must admit that I was surprised at the response to my somewhat intended flippant comment ... wonder if little Donna has forgiven me for being so bossy, trying to protect her from the chills of the night?
In some ways, according to some interpretations, I could be seen to be insane, out of my mind, not really doing the right thing - had job, roof, friends, all left behind for an uncertain future, in an environment that has changed beyond recognition. The skeleton may remain the same, but it is now clothed in a flesh that is excessive, glamorous, or even deceptive ... but, we shall see, nay? Easy enough to look back on the visual reminders of times/places, and see how much these things stay the same, letting fears and concerns take over what could otherwise be a beautiful arrangement ... can this work to the advantage of the viewer? For some the act of observation is also the act of ownership, to take over that which can be controlled by that act of viewing, where what is seen is what is to be seen by the viewer, creating their own vision.
Seemed to have knocked my jaw out of whack, somehow, and now it hurts to move it about much :( worse bit is knowing how I did-moved the jaw, heard a 'pop', and the damage was done ... wow! quite a few people here now-hope we all fit! Of course, already the jockeying for position has begun, so I suppose I too should begin my own slow path towards enlightenment?
Farewell to the old way of life; hello to the older way of living ...

Here we go, here we go

Um ... The Tour has started ... :)
Bought some Coffin Bay oysters, Kingfish steak, segemented 'underground mutton' - which have then made up slow cook with vegies + wine ... still waiting to taste, though ...
HP has brought out their alternative to Ristretto, the Mini - interestingly, the options are either a 160GB 7200rpm HDD or a 4GB SSD - and, no, that is not a misprint, 160 vs 4 ... hmm ...
Had coffee/cake with Simon ...
Oh, did I mention that I have been shuffled off the floor? No longer required to be 'Deployment support', apparently ... ;) so handed in notice, moving ahead with change!
Of course, watching Mel Egan come out from the blindside and whack that girl in the head at Planet Pool has also helped ... but then Johnny Sattler's behaviour the other night concreted that discontent into disgust ...
Girl needs help to understand what is going on with account ( another girl had been call coaching, took the call, but then abandoned her when it started to go bad). Getting too much, but worked out issue, so asked girl to get Johnny. First thing he does is abuses me for it not being a Siebel enquiry, so I explain that I am helping to make it easier for him to take the escalation ...
Oh wait, suddenly he starts flapping like a headless chook ... where is the girl who started this call? (gone home) ... who told you that you can not take escalations? (the PM) ... so he goes off to PM, comes back and says that I have to take call* ... starts flapping gums, so tell him to fuck off (albeit slightly more politely)and take the call ...
Turns out the customer wants to blow steam, have credits (or lack thereof) explained, and wants to ensure that his mobile contract was in place and correct ... which it was not ... so gave details to the original girl for her patience (and to compensate for Sattler's rudeness) ... ;)
*[ Next day I express my concerns re above to PM; tells me that he said nothing of the sort ... :O ... so I told him a little truth re the Christine incident]
First night of the tour, Cadel comes in 6th, but same time as winner (Valverde) - 4h 36' 07"

Current acquisitions

Have I mentioned that I have been finishing work recently, discovered this cheeky little Bavaria brew, but it did not come with a screwtop, so I needed a bottle opener, which I did not happen ... Then, as happenstance would have it, turns out my current Excellerate (the staff reward system from which you 'earn' points to redeem for goods) total was sufficient to get a Leatherman Cs4 ...
Also discovered that, as the current cap plan that I am on requires that I also have MRO to ensure that it goes on for the full 24mths enjoyment of the cap, so I lashed out on a Sony Ericsson z750i (in silver), which seems to be working out quite well :) especially as it is also a BlueTick phone too ...

Gems (re)discovered

Two (2) completely random, yet amusing things I have recently (re)discovered:
[This is from My Career, p 7 28/06/08, by Margherita Larne-Jones]
What is a 'dream workplace'?

"A dream workplace is one where you encourage people to establish challenging
yet realistic goals, work for a sense of accomplishment and people know that
their efforts make a difference in a tangible way. It's a place where you value
creativity, quality over quantity, both task accomplishment and individual
growth, and where people act with integrity. You manage in a participative and
person-centred way, and people are encouraged and expected to take
responsibility for their actions. In addition, a high priority is placed on
constructive interpersonal relationships and people are friendly, open and
sensitive to the satisfaction of their team. This emphasis on co-operation and
collaboration ensures results and outcomes are achieved.You can spot a dream
workplace by asking potential and future employers questions such as: how do
decisions get made and how do people learn in this
team/department/organisation?"

Ray's winter Tuna Delight(ful):

1. Tuna (or similarly firm white fleshed fish), 150-200g/person. This is panfried/grilled quickly, so that slightly pink in centre;
2. Cous-cous, 100g/person. Mix with equal quantity of boiling water (plus a dash more), then stirred with fork to mix in bowl;
3. Sauce (1/2 medium red onion (finely diced), 1 small red chilli (deseeded and thinly sliced), 2 tbsp mayonaise, 1 tbsp ricotta, 1/2 lime juiced, squeeze of lemon, squeeze of honey, and 12 capers, diced);
4. Mix ingredients in bowl, let sit whilst frying fish, then spoon over fish/cous-cous on plate, and serve with a cheeky little dry Australian white

Sadness from rumours

Am sad to be told that I am no longer floor walking because I showed homosexual predatory behaviour, and that a complaint had been made to Chris.
Or so Vineet tells me he was told by Kelly.
Not that he was able to tell me who this person was.
Or when.
Or why I knew nothing of this ...
Such an aberrant behaviour, so fancifully manufactured, and yet so effective in removing any opportunity for discussion or denial. After all, why have I never had any feedback or discussion with anyone in regard to this matter previously or since, and more specifically, nothing at all from Chris?
Most saddening was the way that Vineet reacts as if to say explicitly that he does not give any credence to such an unfounded accusation, yet implicitly does by the way that he then goes to drag me outside to make this revalation, even though he himself acknowledges the poison that Kelly drips, having been the victim of her machinations himself ...
Rumours about rumours, and the rumoured effect that rumours are runoured to have ...

A test to see who reads this shit

This would seem to be a doable situation ... pack everything up, put it into boxes, put into back of truck, send it up, and then jump on to a plane, to meet the goods there ...
Alternative would be to do the road trip with PM, go see Nik as excuse for travels. But may be unfair in terms of making him do the return trip alone ...
As for what to do with stuff, the boxes on a truck may also work best if unable to part with any furnishings?
Still very unsure what to do about Michael and the flat ... horses and water, etc.
Wonder how long before places get wi-fi around here? Seems to be a few networks which can connect to, as they do not have security, but must learn how to go about doing that ...
Am sitting here in Gobble, the site of John's old butcher shop, and it is very, very popular, albeit it being lunchtime, especially amongst a certain type of power broking bored women who have perhaps not much else to do?
Be that as it may, returning to my earlier cogitation, will the furnishings/crockery be alright to 'recycle'?
Productive use of this time would be to do up a few letters of application (+ update resume) to send off, more concrete r/e enquiries, and maybe even some preliminary assessment of transport options ...
Would it be useful to take as much as reasonable/possible, or to cull for the purposes of travelling light? Of course, this may as much be dictated by the transport options, as anything else?
This not having any coffee in the house is costing me way too much money - the cost of principles, hey?
Be nice to lob into Ray's with bunch of flowers, wish 'Happy birthday' ... but could be a forlorn hope, we must conceed, so need to acknowledge the requirement for other sustainable implications ... and in one sense, running away to WA has a certain panache ...
Who ever said that a secret is the hardest thing in the world to hold onto spoke a reflective truth ...
So, home to watch 'No country for old men' and a 10 pack of Red bear (disgusting as it sounds), with first impressions being 'Blood simple' (same people) ...

And you wonder why I ride?

If you are ever wondering about the beauty of a bunch of cyclists in motion, this is a perfect example of this - a bunch heading over Pete's bridge on the way back from Torquay, along HorseShoe Bend Road on Sunday afternoon.
And, yes, that is me in the blue, scooting along, about to run up the back of Simon (down low on the recumberant) as we start the climb up, and he swerves to the side to allow the faster riders past ... where as I took the inside, as I tend to be one of the quicker climbers ...
But they then go and make up for such antics by publishing the photo below ... and, no, that is not my regular weekend stubble - was a huge spray of road dirt as we came down past Deakin uni earlier ...

[These are all from the excellent capabilities of John from the GTC site. Thanks]

Riding into the mud

Went up to Melbourne yesterday, and tried to melt the plastic ...

Managed to get a new little utility knife, made by Kamati;

Decided on a little Knog microlight for the rear;

Invested in a suitable Crumpler bag, the Seedybar (described as "Holds 2x A4/legal size folders in style with plenty of pocket space to store accessories, tools, food and daily essentials", the image shows a 6 pack of VB shoved into the bag), over the Yee-Ross, for even though the latter had a dedicted laptop pocket and was smaller, realised that did not leave much space for anything else, such as the daily necessities! As a bonus, the girls there also gave me some nice Crumpler stickers (one of which is now on Ristretto), instructions for usage, and a box of micro matches;

Rediscovered the Hard Techno 7 cds in JB, turns out the the cds with mixes on them are pretty pumping, but the others are just tracks, as if you are to do your own mixes? Most amusing was that it turns out to be a French Techno label;

Had coffee at Pellegrini's of course, but managed to pretty much not have anything to eat up in Melbourne apart from a vegetable pancake thing; and

Whilst at the Drug display, which was pretty much exactly the same as the one had seen in Sydney all those years ago, at the Museum, found some little gelati spoons for Bub. Whilst there also grabbed the final year design students booklet/cd, as it was a really intriguing little display ...

Also managed to get some footage on the vidcam of adventures, so I had better learn how to edit and produce ...

Came home, grabbed a bottle of cheap Deakin Estate shiraz, and cooked up a kangaroo + mushroom stew, but rest of bottle not really both drinking afterwards ...

Today was day to drag out of bed on GTC 'medium' ride run by Simon, meandered out to Moriac (included the hill run down past Deakin Uni, where I managed to get myself all splashed with mud flicked up from the road, which led to much amusement when the others saw me when we stopped at Moriac), headed towards Torquay along Hendy Main, helped Herbert repair a blowout, refreshments at Panache cafe, and then home along Horseshoe chatting with Simon.

All up about 75km, but no real hurry, so started at about 9, got home around 2, via a stop at F&V shop for bread where a rather buxom kiwi babe said that I was cute, to which I could only reply that it took years of training, as I was rather flummoxed by such things ... chance would be a fine thing. Or at least seizing it, anyway ...

A few of my favourite things

Oh there is so much to enjoy in the current environment ... cash is king, credit is easy to get, and there are so, so many things to obsess about ...
Already have the laptop to go, so know a little camera to go with it ...
And all in good time (well, another month (oh, why so long???) anyway), a phone could also come in handy too ...
but most important of all, there is love, friends, and self gratification ...
climbed out of bed this morning to go riding at 7 - decided to pull on the red skin suit that I had originally given Michelle to get her started, was a funny fit - to got 5 minutes down the road, and the heavens opened, but I kept going. Interestingly, the arm/leg warmers stayed damp, albeit warm, whilst the suit dried out real quick!!!
Stats were: 40' 44", 28.8 avg (WOW!!!), 47 max (in sprint past Apco too - also WOW!!!), and 19.59km distance, on the circuit-
Impressed, very impressed ...
Just a pity that the coffee I had at lunch to celebrate is still hanging around, and I will probably be so wired tonight that I will not get enough sleep, and will use that as an excuse not to ride in the morning ... and you wonder why I complain so loudly about giving up drugs, hey?
Anyway, best to try to sleep anyway ...

The worked weekend

Another beautiful weekend where an extra day made no difference to what got done!!!
Managed to get a lot of the game done :)
Went for a ride (but only one)
Still managed to drink copious amounts of alcohol :O
Cooked some great food - roast chicken rubbed with dukkah and then used the carcass to make a stock to have with noodles
But not much cleaning or washing, I am afraid
Spoke to Michelle + siblings - turns out "No' does not have the meaning it used to have, as brother had booked a ticket 'just in case' ... not too sure how that works!
Other than that, lots of playing with new toy(s) and seeing what the possibilities can be
Another exciting phone conversation with Telstra,trying to get my billing resolved, as there was a small discepancy with the previous bill that bled over ... managed to get $142.57 out of them, so not too bad, I suppose?
Hopefully now it will all play out properly, and no further dramas? Or at least not for these same things ... ;)

starting the weekend afresh

Is Certainly a winter's day o/s, which should not be that surprising given that it is June,
which is traditionally the first month of June ...Have decided to upload the Office package to the dektop instead - seems Ristretto is too
underpowered? But there are other things on this which are much more versatile and usable -
one of which is the Sun version of OpenOffice for XP ...Cooked up my chicken last night with a stuffing of herbs, bacon, and bread, then covered the
skin with olive oil and dukkah - seems to have worked out well enough?Wonder if I was supposed to have said 'no' to the loading of hotfix for .net on the
computer???Microsoft, the evil empire ... all this to set up the 'Business Contact Manager' ... suppose
you need this to conduct your business sucessfully? Pigs arse! But is all good fun, I tell
you, all good fun ...Well, that seems to have worked ...

first day of the another beginning

seems to be a day for the security ...first we have the ongoing responses from the local lollipop boys up the road nodding and winking as i pass each day, and then it turns out that today is BP Security day at the office ...Not that I have anything in black or white these days ... so am left to wonder about in the baggy comfortable look - Levis + polo shirt + glofing jumper ... least I think I look good though ;)Oh, it is also Environment Day, Queensland Day, and also the last day of one of the most grinding weeks in recent memory ...Have survived since Monday morning without coffee or alcohol ... bought Ristretto last night, had brandy to celebrate ... now sitting at Rimini's supping on espresso, typing this, about to go back to team meeting ... suddenly life begins to look more rosy - oh, and three (3) whole days to be slothful, energetic, and even recover ...Must say that the owner sure does know a lot of uses for 'fuck' in his random conversations ... connections, always the connections ...Oh, and good to see that there are quite a few wireless connections to be picked up ... even if all of them are security locked ......And here we are later on the day ... rain has set in, the wind is cold, but there have been some sales, so some people are happier ... hey! must remember that new bottle shop is opening up just down the road today, so should go and check out after work ...Oh so much to do/see, so little time ... but wait-there are three daays to explore and enjoy ... so let us see what may be?Tried to log into Deakin site, but seems you need a certificate, which I do not have at present ... let us try this instead ... nope, no loading of IE either ... is all such an adventure, I tell you ...Talk about boys and their toys ... best get back to the happy people again ... ;)

A new eeePC beginning

This is a few words about the eeePC 900 that appeared at JB's so I rushed down to have a look, and ended up cancelling my original order, as they had the XP model in store ... and somehow got talked into purchasing a TV tuner card, as well ... Hmm ...
Because it is so small, it does not rest on the lap very well ... the keyboard is smaller, but the real challenge is that some of the other keys are in different positions than larger keyboards ... oh so light however ... gives off a few bit of heat as well - good for winter lol
Looks like a new bottle shop is opening down near where the pet grooming store used to be ... opens tomorrow, so could give me someting to check out after work tomorrow??? Although there has been some talk of going out with the boys tomorrow (OR sATURDAY) NIGHT ... hmm, see how easy it is to hit the CAPS LOCK button suddenly became apparent ... lol
One of the greatest attractions of this is that the keys are very firm, clicking as you stumble over the keys ... And the glide pad allows multi directional movements, something which I am more used to from the Apple environment ...
In other news, have really been burning a hole in the old credit card, all in time for the financial year ... lol but will write of what later ...
wonder if anyone else reads these postings?
but is certainly better for longer ramblings than the twitter site ...

Why do I bother???

Oh, what happy little people they were last night, with smiles and frivolity all around the room!
Of course, there may have been a little alcohol induced encouragement ... lol
Except for that one on the far right, who just shines naturally ...

And here is an example of the inducements to celebratory enhancements ... 'Blue avalanches' - splash of Lemon Russki + blue curaco ... and after all of those (lol) + the Wild Turkey/Dry + Coopers Stout, was there any wonder that I have had such a wobbly day today???

Oh well, have stew on at the moment, and it smells divine!!!

One of Matthew Evans' recipes ... who wastes so much time with dreadful, boring recipes, but then lets one rip that is an absolute bottler ... looking back at some of my best, most comfortable, most enduring and endearing cooking experiences, a disproportionate number come either from his pen (word proceessor?) or, at the very least, influence ...
Have just gone and had a taste of the sauce, and the sheer complexity of flavours was mindblowing - the hint of citrus from the orange peel, followed by the body of the garam marsala, and then the big chilli after taste, leaving warmed and enboldened ... YUM!!!

Must say my thigh muscles are very, very sore ... tempting to blame it on shagging away in odd positions, but that would be wishful thinking ... must have been striking particularly odd poses in the pub last night?

Oh, PA contacted me today too!!! Oh joy, oh joy ...

Words from the past

So, this is a little picture from the Brisbane PowerHouse, which pretty much sums up their attitude to life, love, and limbo line dancing ...
A most odd sight one strange, yet glorious Sunday morning, sitting outside the local Anglican church ... it is interesting to note that the entire mess was cleared up and only a stain remained within record time ...

how cold the night?

Apparently it shall lower to 1c overnight ... is it any wonder that I awaken with frozen toes and trembling limbs? And yet still there is a certain pleasure to be had in enjoying this difference to the sultriness of Northern winters where one may have a need to actually add a blanket, at worst ... instead of here where the extra blankets, doonas, and bed sox are barely enough ...

Am still feeling the pressing urgency of rampant consumerism, as if Asus has an attraction too great to resist - eeePC 900 or something more hardcore?

Temptation is great to get the 700, as a shop is closing down, and they are offering it for $359 ... awfully cheap, I must say ...

Should really post some more photos, as there are nearly 400 just on the hdd here ... but there are not that many which are worth putting up ... which may well be as much an indication that I need to start winnowing down the quantity some ...

seeing a dvd, seeing you

An afternoon where I should have gone to see a movie, but then received the suggestion to why not just go home and rent a dvd instead? So I did - American gangster and it was not too bad ... a kind of glorified documentary, but interesting, for all that ... typically, got a bag of twisties (as you do for movies) but could not stomach more than a small bowl full ... guess that leaves some for later ...
Just to keep you amused, here are some pictures of various people ...

People care?

What is it that I am able to offer to keep the people of the world happy? Seems I have a lovely voice, a calm manner, but would seem to have forgotten how to smile ...

Note to self: trying smiling at people, laughing with people, and sharing your joy with people ... it is not all just about selling, you know ... Having said that, must remind myself that one of the positive spins out of all this is that I am reminded not to trust any of those people, to smile on the outside, whilst protecting the insides ... and that when asked why not walking, reply that I am instead doing the Transformation project ... this in and of itself may be a more significant step than being attached to a team as the token CSL mascot ... even if I did take a 25% pay cut without rationale or reason ... so maybe there is some bitterness remaining?

But, enough ... have many other things to worry about ... such as when this Torts paper is due???

To begin

My life began, afresh, on awakening the morning of 29 January 2006 ... all the changes that were wrought as a result of that cannot dismiss the impact that the life that I lived prior to that have and had on this life now ... so I would like to share more of it, as sometimes I get the urge to be more verbose, sometimes I have things that I want to show, sometimes there is more to say to my adoring public ... that's you, btw ...
So, to begin ...