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 ...