Hmm.

Beginning to think that some of the writers just view deadlines as something that make pretty wooshing noises as they fly past. This is a problem! Maybe it's time to start thinking about sending out mafia-style warnings, like a (toy) horse's head with their cheques or something like that.

TV Gold

Okies, I know it's shameful, bad, wicked, etc, but I watched Big Brother last night with the nomination show thing and it was so well worth the moments of possible brain injury for the pure gold that was Gretel totally sticking it to the guy who was evicted on Sunday night, Michael (who had to be the biggest jerk ever to appear on television, Today/Tonight reporters included).

So in spite of her odd grey and black top choice (and general other unusual clothing choices), go Gretel! It's not really a bad thing to have a bit of controversy or for her to defend a totally silly show like BB. Plus it kind of showed why that guy should hopefully never appear on TV again, for the sake of the safety of Australian TV sets.

My bank will lurrrrve me...

Well, maybe they already lurve me. Maybe not with all the fees and charges. Who knows... But anyways!

Hmm.

Retail therapy on the weekend was good. It's nice to splurge now and then and it was necessary to get some more winter things. So what did I end up getting? Can I even remember? I guess so...

> New black woolly snuggly jumper. It's so nice!
> Winter jacket. Will wear it in Winter. Or something. Or break out the old mock-fur one from the 1970s and scare people. I like that option at the moment... ;)
> Gorgeous high wedge heel shoes. Yes, you may drool. If you want to know what the shoe looks like, just observe the pic. Except mine's in purple rather than gold. And yes, it takes my shoe tally to more than 40 pairs, but they're all totally vital, I can assure you.
> $60+ worth of Kayser stuff. It's an addiction, what else can I say.
> New jeans. Yay flares!
> Some shirts and a hoodie. Been YEARS since I've owned a hoodie, but I used to like pinching my ex's hoodies. They're so warm and stuff. Plus kinda cute to hide in.
> Skirts from Jacqui E. They're really nice.
> Other stuff, don't remember. Oh yeah! Some cute Summer tops from Just Jeans. They're so nice. Was wearing them around the house last night with the fire blazing away thinking, "Ya, totally practical to do something like this. Not."

There's probably other stuff. But it's nearing home time. It's all disgustingly consumeristic, isn't it? But lately I've been throwing things I've owned and don't want to wear any more into bags for St Vinnies so it's not entirely evil to restock. Although I rarely get rid of shoes so there wasn't any other reason to buy the wedge heels other than for the fact that they're mind-blowingly gorgeous ;)

Object of hatred: skinny-leg jeans.

They make everyone look chumpy, which isn't good. And there's just way too many of them in the shops at the moment! I DO NOT WANT SKINNY-LEG JEANS!

When it comes to jeans (and trouser-type things in general), I want flares. Flares that make people say, "Good heavens, I didn't know there was enough denim in the world to make flares that flared!"

I love flares...

So it was with a cry of inarticulate joy that I fell upon flares in Jay Jays yesterday at the DFO. Flares! Dark denim. Tight in the right places (I hate jeans that fall down). One problem is that they're made for someone with legs about 15 centimetres longer than my legs.

I was just talking about this kinda thing with Karina. Not quite sure what it is that's brought this about, but I have a pair of jeans from like '99 or so (my good old Just Jeans Red Stitch Super Flares), and they're the perfect length.

Jeans since then have been seeming to get longer and longer... And no, my legs aren't getting shorter and shorter! :-p Maybe in medieval times, the rack was really invented to help people have legs long enough to fit into their trousers... Which later led to the Plague. Or something.

*teehee*

I feel kinda Leonine here... raowr! *lol*

Heh! I'm a Leo after all! But other than that, I look tired. Meh, it's the end of the week, things have been stressful lately, hopefully the weekend will be a time of some relaxation. Then it'll be Monday again and I'll see if things are any perkier then :-p

It's so weird taking photos of yourself and not being able to see the image you're about to snap (so used to camera phones and webcam stuff). Most of the time you end up photographing yourself with a puzzled expression, or missing half your face, or looking like a drugged hippy freak.

So bring back the 'cam I say!

AAAAAARRGHHHH!

Suddenly had the most frightening song pop into my mind. Don't quite remember the title of it or anything, but it was that one by Steps that goes, "My rodeo Romeo, my cowboy god from head-to-toe, gonna make you mine, better get in line, 5 6 7 8!"

*shudder*

Other than that, the plumber arrives tomorrow at 9am. Frankly, I'm worried. Very worried, because with the problem that exists, it may have rotted the wood away behind the sink, which would need to be replaced, as well as making it vulnerable to termites (which love damp wood), plus regrouting the tiles, replacements of this and that and all of that kind of thing.

Will attempt not to hyperventilate tomorrow *lol* Or sing Steps songs.

...as if it were some natural curiousity from the near inspection whereof he was likely to derive high gratification and improvement...

These passages from Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens have had me almost howling with laughter at times due to Dickens's absolutely magical way with words, so I definitely had to share them. They're all from the family meeting in the fourth chapter of the book:

"If ever Mr Pecksniff wore an apostolic look, he wore it on this memorable day. If ever his unruffled smile proclaimed the words, "I am a messenger of peace!" that was its mission now. If ever a man combined within himself all the mild qualities of the lamb with a considerable touch of the dove and not the least dash of the crocodile, or the least possible suggestion of the very mildest seasoning of the serpent, that man was he. And, oh, the two Miss Pecksniffs! Oh, the serene expression on the face of Charity, which seemed to say, "I know that all of my family have injured me beyond the possibility of reparation, but I forgive them, for it is my duty to do so!"..."
"First there was Mr Spottletoe, who was so bald and had such big whiskers, that he seemed to have stopped his hair, by the sudden application of some powerful remedy, in the very act of falling off his head and to have fastened it irrevocably on his face..."
"Then there were Anthony Chuzzlewit, and his son Jonas: the face of the old man so sharpened by the wariness and cunning of his life, that it seemed to cut him a passage through the crowded room, as he edged away behind the remotest chairs..."
"Then there was George Chuzzlewit, a gay bachelor cousin, who claimed to be young but had been younger, and was rather inclined to corpulency, and rather over-fed himself—to that extent, indeed, that his eyes were strained in their sockets as if with constant surprise; and he had such an obvious disposition to pimples, that the bright spots on his cravat, the rich pattern on his waistcoat, and even his glittering trinkets seemed to have broken out upon him, and not to have come into existence comfortably..."
"The two Miss Pecksniffs being a pretty good match for the three Miss Chuzzlewits, and all five young ladies having, in the figurative language of the day, a great amount of steam to dispose of, the altercation would no doubt have been a long one but for the high valour and prowess of the strong-minded woman, who in right of her reputation for the powers of sarcasm, did so belabour and pummel Mrs Spottletoe with taunting words that the poor lady, before the engagement was two minutes old, had no refuge but in tears. These she shed plentifully, and so much to the agitation and grief of Mr Spottletoe, that the gentleman, after holding his clenched fist close to Mr Pecksniff's eyes, as if it were some natural curiousity from the near inspection whereof he was likely to derive high gratification and improvement, and after offering (for no particular reason that anybody could discover) to kick Mr George Chuzzlewit for, and in consideration of, the triffling sum of sixpence, took his wife under his arm, and indignantly withdrew. This diversion, by distracting the attention of the combatants put an end to the strife, which after breaking out afresh some twice or thrice in certain inconsiderable spurts and dashes, died away in silence."

You can find the e-text here: http://www.bibliomania.com/0/0/19/43/frameset.html

Martin Chuzzlewit is considered to be the last of Dickens's picaresque novels, as Dickens's work tended to move more towards heavier and darker social commentary work following this novel. The book has one of my favourite Dickens characters, that of Tom Pinch, who is just such a lovely person. Plus it's also a fascinating look at a variety of "evils" of character (including the description about Mr Pecksniff of being like "...a direction-post which is always telling the way... and never gets there...").

The American-based section of the book had always bored me a little and I tended to skip over it, but I was suprised to read this about Dickens's inspiration for what he wrote: "Astonished at the gross conceit of Americans and their lofty condescension to foreigners, as well as their tendency to use violence instead of compromise to solve disputes, Dickens noted the inconsistencies between American ideals and conduct."(Philip Allingham of Lakehead University). This followed a visit Dickens paid to America in 1942.

Funny how human behaviours don't change, whether it be in our selfishness or pride or greed or general treatment of others...

Caution: graphic content

Well, not entirely graphic, but perhaps not for those of a weaker constitution. Or who find the thought of blood and gore a bit icky... But it explains how making dinner can lead to only being able to type with one hand.

Anyhoo!

So there I was, making dinner, merrily singing away to myself (okay, I wasn't singing, but it sounds so much more 1950s housewife, doesn't it?) when the knife I was using slipped and went almost all the way through my index finger on my left hand. I think I screamed, I'm not sure. The whole thing was kind of a bit of blur in my memory. But I think there was swearing involved?

Cut to the next thing I remember being standing there with a knife stuck in my finger. Oh my goodness, indescribable pain, all the way through my hand and up my arm, me thinking, "Breathe deeply, just pull it out," so I did. Cue loads of blood, me almost fainting for the first time in my life because it brought me too close to seeing my fingers own insides, rushing around to find bandaids and strapping it up tightly. Then changing the bandaids in a few minutes 'cos blood had come through them already.

Ewwww! *shudder*

But that's how I'm typing with one hand. It's amazing how much the left hand is used, even though I'm right-handed. Kind of only realised how much use it gets when I automatically go to do anything with it, which hurts. Moral of the story: be nice to your fingers. Maybe buy them some chocolates to say thanks for being such fantastic things. Don't stab them.

Ohhh, MASSIVE thanks to Clare and her prayer group for praying for my finger. Muchos, muchos gracias!

Nice... pear?!

Oh my goodness...

This moring a colleague was in our office and said something to me while I was kind of off in my own e-mail checking world about me having a nice pear. I think I've had way too many Carry On movies in my upbringing and I was like, "Nice pair!? Wtf?!" (in my mind, not out loud). Thankfully the colleague cleared things up by making his reference to the pear on the desk clear, so that was all good.

Then at lunch, I popped down to the grocery store and was sort of off in my own lil' wandery world thinking, "So, do I buy soup or not, because it's so not on special..." when some teenage guy says to me, "Sh!t babe, nice tits" which snapped me out of my soup reverie.

I just gave him a "grr!" look and thought about whether it would be entirely appropriate to clobber him in the groin with the soup can I was holding in spite of CCTV.

Very odd.

...Taxpayers aside, the major financial supporters of [political] parties include merchant banks, gambling proprietors, property developers, construction companies, military contractors, pharmaceutical giants, private health and child-care operators and tobacco companies. All have a vested interest in keeping politicians onside...

Are our politicians for sale? from The Age, May 24.

Hmm... that doesn't go a long way to reassure me that our political parties are making the best, most unbiased, non-purchased decisions...

Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government...

It's been far too long since I posted anything political, but I heard some of this comment from an Irish politician on the news this morning and it was such a great way to start my day:

The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Howard, is not welcome in Ireland. Prime Minister Howard is a warmonger, complicit with Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair in the criminal invasion of Iraq and compliant with the ongoing occupation of Iraq, with Australian troops in that country. Prime Minister Howard is the author of vicious, anti-trade union legislation designed to strip away workers' rights which were hard won by the Australian working class over many generations.
During the Australian general election of 2001, in order to win votes from an entrenched bigoted minority, Prime Minister Howard pedalled the monstrous falsehood that desperate refugees fleeing Iraq had thrown their children over the side of a ship as they were prevented from landing in Australia by the Australian navy. When it was proved that this was a vicious lie, he did not retract it or apologise.
Every day the Australian Government steals of €1 million worth of oil and gas from the Timor Sea, resources that by international law belong to East Timor. The unfortunate Timorese people live in abject poverty while their resources are stolen by the Australian Government. Not too many generations ago, an imperial power sent thousands of Irish people in chains to Australia after waging war against them, robbing their resources and telling the world of that time that they were savages. With Prime Minister Howard at its head, the Australian Government, now acting as a local imperial power, is replicating these injustices against the poorest people on earth.
The noted Australian folk hero, Ned Kelly, in his famous ‘Jerilderie letter’, railed against the repression of the poor by the powerful and the rich. I believe that is also the instinct of the Australian working class, one of the reasons Ned Kelly is held in fond memory. I do not know what he would say today with regard to Mr. Howard coming to this House given what he had to say about those in authority who repressed and brutalised his family and community. There should be a céad mile fáilte roimh [‘welcome to’] Australian people in Ireland but not the Prime Minister.

That was a comment made by Joe Higgins in the Irish parliament (Dáil Éireann) on May 18th. Okay, so he's from the Socialist Party there and people tend to be a little freaked out by socialists. But he makes some points that are valid regardless of political persuasion, especially about the warmongering, lies and stealing. It's interesting to see and hear more politicians speaking out against this sort of thing, as they should.

Usually the words that sping to mind with Calvin Klein stuff include "vanilla" and "not as lavishly boring as Ralph Lauren but still in the beige scheme of things."

These boots, however... OOoooOOOoooh, it's love!

And I think they're Calvin Klein. But how gorgeous they are! A pointy toe would make them 100% perfect (because boots sometimes need to be made for prodding buttocks as well as walking), but as is, they're still fantastic.

*drools*

Winter is definitely the right time for these things :)

Following the rant below, I thought I'd make a list of things/people/etc that make me happy, so here goes :) Maybe Pollyanna had something with that Glad Game idea...

# Clare being my partner-in-Big-Brother-crime. The crime probably being that we watch it *lol* But it's on a so-bad-it's-not-good-but-a-good-way-to-pass-time level. Oh, plus we've got this plan that's like the Biggest Brother Loser. So we'll see how that goes :) I swear I'm starting tonight! *teehee*

# Fun Fridays.

# Cooking turning out really well and being soooo yummy (made raspberry and blueberry pies yesterday).

# Drewsy Woosy for being crazy funny and always cheering me up by making me laugh until my sides are hurting and I feel like I can't smile any more in case something gets strained permanantly.

# Work people. Sure, work itself is annoying at times, but the people here are fantastic.

# Randomly calling friends.

# All of my friends. I love you all!!! In a non-pervy way, of course :-p *lol*

# My dog. He's blind and crazy and occasionally annoying, but he's the most amazing creature on the entire planet (in my unbiased opinion). I absolutely love the lil' munchkin to bits and I think I honestly won't know what to do when he passes on. Probably wear mourning dress for a year or two. But he's like the animal kind of soulmate I guess.

# My family. They're fantabulous :D

Ohh, there's loads more, but I really should get to work and try to reply to the e-mails in the inbox and all of that kind of thing. Really, in spite of everything, I guess the problems in life shouldn't be so major. Although they suck, the good stuff really does outweigh the bad stuff. But somehow bad things are so much more mind-occupying at times. Plus they require a lot of work to smooth out or fix or whatever and you can't just ignore them and hope they'll go away.

But hurrah for the good stuff.

Anger management *punches stuff*

Ahh, the weekend...

What can one say about Friday? It was perfect. Perfect weather, sunny, gorgeous, went out for hour-long ramble with my dog, laughed, danced, did gardening, planted bulbs for Spring, felt that all was right with the world, had some special kinda happy moments involving finding Mars bars on special at Safeway, wildly outrageous loads of sms-ing with friends, etc.

Saturday? Cold. Oh, and I discovered a bad thing about the taps in the kitchen. Looks like they've been leaking behind the splashboard thing for God knows how long. So here's me having a mild panic about termites and costs and so on and my friend Dale making some comment about the house being a money guzzler or black hole for cash and not wanting to agree with him but by God it's true.

Oh so very annoyed. Oh so very tired of EVERYTHING going wrong and wondering where on earth this particular hex has come from. Although nattering away to God about all of the woes of late made me think, "Oh, perhaps this is a kind of Job moment and besides, live and learn and all of that. Just don't punch a hole in a wall in frustration, because although cathartic, it would make things just that much worse..."

Plumber's coming to see what can be done on Friday 26th. Small horrors about costs. Other small horrors about all assorted costs that have been and are to come as of late. Think about turning to the lottery and cubism. Must remember to ask about getting the water heater done, too.

Sunday? The 'flu hit in the afternoon. Don't remember much of the day. Can be summed up with: did stuff. Brain hurt. Bed good. Renounce cubism and shout at tap in kitchen. That was probably due to a combination of cold and 'flu stuff and frustration and sleepiness.

But sweet LOOOOOOOORD Almighty, I am so tired of stuff being so annoying.

If you hadn't guessed, the following photos are thanks to some spare moments and boredom.

Things are mighty quiet today without my officmate around. Apart from being able to play music loudly and sing along... *ahem* Although he's usually not that noisy. But without the daily rituals of paper 'plane manufacturing, joking about various things and whatnot, somehow work was done so much more quickly.

Anyways, the photos. Without my computer at home, I hadn't been able to take any, so it was such a fantastic feeling to be able to just grab a camera, point, click, accept, reject, experiment, find new perspectives... Some perspectives included:

1) reflections on a computer: Didn't notice how reflective the computer thing was until I took the photo. Maybe computers reflect us in more ways than one *shrugs*

2) ...français? Mais oui...: Felt oddly French, or looks oddly French. Makes me think of SBS films where not a lot happens other than meaningful looks, coffee and a variety of random events.

3) cloud castles: Was odd, because I was just thinking about how miserable weekend weather typically is while week weather is perfect, turned around to the window and there was the thunderhead...

*sigh* Sometimes I think I should have done more with photography earlier in life. Something about 22 is already set on a path in a way that 21 isn't. Meh. Life's always full of changes and surprises. It's time to enjoy the weekend!

reflections on a computer

...français? Mais oui...

master of all you survey

eternally eternity

we're both in a bit of a hurry

drift by my window

could we use your phone

obscenely orange

walking: made for

many leaves

the blue mouse

cloud castles

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn

Maybe I'm totally heartless or some kind of unfeeling cold-hearted child, but I honestly DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER THING ABOUT THE MINERS FROM BEACONSFIELD! And yes, I see the irony in writing about it ;)

So obviously I'm not going to be watching their "exclusive," worth an estimated $3 million dollars, on Channel 9 on Sunday. And it looks like I'm not alone in this ~ according to a poll on The Age's website, 66% of respondents won't be either if they can help it.

It's annoying me how they're the "heroes" and "true Australians" and all of that other crud when their rescuers did a whole heck of a lot more than sit in a cage to get them out of the situation they were in. Yes, it was brave of them to stick it out like that and still keep a sense of humour (because there's only so many times you can go through "1,568,992 green bottles, hanging on the wall..." right?).

But...

There's been such an over-saturation of them and their story in the media already that I avoid it at all costs, if possible, and have come to the conclusion that I'd rather hear the story of the rescuers and what they did to get to the men if I'm going to hear anything more about it at all. All of those "live crosses to Beaconsfield" during programs that dragged on interminably for the two weeks were REALLY annoying because nothing was ever happening that was any different to in the "live cross to Beaconsfield for the latest update" that was on an hour before.

Plus it's not like people who work in the mining business aren't aware of the huge risks involved in their work and it's not like they're not paid accordingly.

Maybe if Todd Russell and Brant Webb had personally (think with a Tom Cruise sort of emphasis on the "personally, personally") chewed their way out of the mine with a set of dentures and a toothpick, I might not be so jaded and suffer from the desire to avoid their story at all costs. Who knows.

Someone who I think is about a thousand times braver? Sophie Delezio.

Because it's stuck in my head...

Ten Points For A Razor Scooter
Tism
Five points for hitting petrol-heads, Jet-skiers too
No points for hitting P Platers, they do the work for you
Three points for a Volvo-driver, dock one for stereotyping
But here's the way to maximum points, you'll do it without trying
Ten points for a razor scooter, double if it's not a kid

Smash a Pumpkin, kill a Heidi, celebrity's worth a fiver
Hit anyone on Reality TV, call it "Non-Survivor"
Three points for a pagan worshipper, four if they go to heaven
Five for a World Business Leader, plus six for S Eleven

There's no point to this world, let's make that clear
But you can leave your mark, on a smaller sphere
Tell the cops "He just came out of nowhere"

One point for road rage tailgaiters
Two for custom license platers
Three for the Beamer driving ponce
Four for a limo full of debutantes
Five for the re-made retro classic
Six for the original while we're at it
Seven if it's open-top red and sporty
Bonus if the driver's over forty
Eight for bumper-sticker teasers
Remember to honk if you love Jesus
We must observe equal opportunity
Put the pedal to the metal and hit everybody.

Rammstein image from www.rammstein.com

Okie, this is bizarre. And I don't mean the pic of Rammstein from the Rosenrot clip, by the way...

Last year Head from Korn became a Christian, and then apparently Maynard from Tool did, too (but then Tool are known for pranks so who knows about the validity of that...). But today I found out that a not-so-interesting-"musician" is a Christian (altho it seems he always has been). AAAAAAAAAND...

Apparently, the Brian guy from the Backstreet Boys *sprinkles holy water over screen, chanting "Unholy! Unholy!"* *shudder* is going to be releasing an album of Christian music. Or has released it, seeing as one of his songs is something like number 14 in Christian charts.

I don't like the Backstreet Boys. The only kind of boybands I like are like Rammstein (who described themselves as the first real boy band once). And I'm puzzled as to what Brian Littrell will sing about, coming from the whole Backstreet background to a Christian thing. Like, "I'm gonna make love to you woman, after we're married and united in the sight of the Loooooooord! Amen! Halleluuuuuuuujah!" or something??

The mind boggles.

Life Swap

My friend Tony and I were just b!tching about our current life situations and he suggested we spend a week as each other. Like some kind of Dating the Enemy (was that the movie??) kind of thing or whatever it is where the minds and bodies get swapped over *lol* How bizarre... but with the potential for much amusement. I'd pay to see him trying to walk in heels...

;)

Anyways! Looks like I'll be going back to South Australia later in the year with some awards thing and representing the company and whatever or just being there generally to look pretty. Or whatever. Apparently it's not too strenuous, though *flicks hair and practices looking disinterested in an interested way*

Okay, enough of being flippant. This is really kind of cool! I'm excited about it - seeing friends from high school, trying to con Tony into wearing heels, being nominated for an award thing (altho with pretty much no chance of winning *lol*)...

Why do I think of Big Brother now when I hear the word "nomination" anyway?

Argh.

Kubla Khan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree :
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round :
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree ;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh ! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover !
A savage place ! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover !
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced :
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail :
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean :
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war !

The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves ;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice !
A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw :
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight 'twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome ! those caves of ice !
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware ! Beware !
His flashing eyes, his floating hair !
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.

Life ain't all bad... Just 90% of it ;) *

Okie, I definitely have the most fantastic parents in the world :)

On Friday I found out that my computer is dead beyond repair (or at least read inexpensive to relatively non-heart-attack-inducing price range repair). Everything's gone. The PCcillin problems were the straw that broke the camel's back, as it were, with the computer that the repairs guy said had been obviously flawed since created in the workshop/production line where ever (and it was lucky it'd lasted so long - eep).

Reader's Digest cutting to the point time: my parents bought me a new laptop (yes, I'm paying them back, but they thought they'd buy one seeing as they were on sale locally and convenient for them to get at that time). It'll be arriving with them next month when they come for holidays here :) I'll be back online sometime after that... The enforced hiatus perhaps isn't such a bad thing, anyways. It's been a good time to focus on everything but technology.

So although it's bad and sad and mad (and other things ending with 'ad') that the computer is dead and all my work and photos and whatever else is lost forever to the world (meh, cry me a salt-lick), it's reminded me once again of how fantastic my family really is and that they're always there when ever. Yay for family :)

*just kiddin'!

Move over, Jamie Durie

Or I'll throw my Glomesh handbags at you..?

Umm, no, not really!

I just feel so renovation-y, Backyard Blitz-y lately that it's infuriating me that Winter's arriving and making the weekends too cold to do much. Like last weekend. Rain. RAIIIIIIIIIN. And hail. And snow up on the mountain. But during the week while you're at work? Oh no, everything's sunny and perfect. Grr.

Anyhoodle...

I've decided to change things around in my house (once again) and have started on the dreaded laundry area first. That was sort of where the tools and garden implements and everything else was stored along with five big plastic boxes from moving with mercy knows what in them.

Last night I thought, "Enough is enough with the boxes, I'm going to stack them all inside each other and chuck the stuff out if it's not at all useful." So a cleaning frenzy ensued! It's amazing how cleaning makes everything so much messier though. My lounge room is now covered with 15 handbags (mostly glomesh and they were in one of the boxes), loads of art supplies, paper, drawings, paintings, card-making materials (I used to make epic cards - for my friend Ben's 21st years ago, I made a 16 page card or something like that), etc.

But the laundry area looks fantastic. Very, very happy with it. Plus all of the garden whatnots are organised into one area completely now and I traumatised my dog (who hates loud noises) by testing the whipper snipper out inside (yes, shuddup, I already know I'm about as practical as the Pope's testicles, don't even ask me why anyone would sell a house to me!). Oh, and I found about 50 bulbs to plant out on the weekend.

As much as I don't really hold much belief in feng shui, there are definitely some points to it that make sense and the area is feeling more harmonious now that it's not cluttered. The next task will be the lounge, dining and kitchen area. Then the bedroom and spare room. Oh, and the repainting work, too, which has sort of been on hold for a month. Must get back to that...

Tech-no-lo-geeee, Tech-no-lo-geeee...

Okies, it's a whinge, but let this be a warning to you! NEVER, EVER get PC-cillin anti-virus for your computer. It's the thing that stuffed up my computer, you see, and they have those oh-so convenient statements on the back of their packaging that simply by opening the box absolves them from any responsibility for problems their program causes.

I'd had PC-cillin on the computer last year and it wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad either. It did slow down the performance of the computer a lot, it wasn't good at detecing spyware or adware at all (contrary to what it says) and was generally just a program that did some stuff.

The thing was going to expire soon, so I bought a new version of the anti-virus last month. Installed it. It decided to play merry hell and delete system files at will. So no more 'puter... And I'm taking it somewhere on Friday to hopefully get it fixed. We'll see what happens I guess. It may or may not work. When I said to the guy at the repair place that I'd had PC-cillin, his response was: "Oh no! That one's one of the worst programs for doing things like that. I'd never advise anyone to buy that brand."

What annoys me most is that I'd really wanted Norton anti-virus, which admittedly isn't much better, but at least it doesn't anihilate the computer. But the sales assistant at the store refused to show many any of the Norton stuff, just foisting the PC-cillin thing on me with numerous words of praise about how mind-blowingly orgasmically wonderful it was. So more fool me, I guess. And in future, I think I really will just be the b!tch customer who demands things, like, "RIGHT! I know you have some Norton products here. I DON'T care. GET THEM FOR ME YOU MINION OF SATAN!"

*ahem*

The worst thing is, I'm not even sure the computer can be fixed.

Budget basics: Breeders, boomers to reap benefits by Leon Gettler.

Opinion on the budget: Shameless vote-buying by Tim Colebatch.

I can't believe my 600th post on this blog is about the budget. Why am I paying attention to the budget? Oh yes, that's right, I work and now own a home. Well, the bank really does until I pay off the loan, but you know what I mean. Lord knows I hate these responsibilities that come with adult life, but there we are! The budget!

Again, tax cuts for high earners (oh that makes sense to me...). No tax cuts for the lower income earners who actually find it more pressing to have perhaps an extra $10 a week in their wallets. Boosting childcare places and family benefits (fantastic if you're a family and want to force something the size of oh, say a watermelon from your loins now and then). Money heaped on "defence." Nothing much invested in Australia's actual future with things like working to make education affordable for everyone, more money for the arts, investment in infrastructure, etc. And cutting the tax totally on superannuation now will probably just see it having to be reintroduced down the line somewhere or else taxes on other things increased to make up for it.

Ohhh, call me a latte-sipping-Leftie but I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! When is there going to be a government that is actually interested in working to build up our country and look seriously at not only problems we have now, but problems that will exist 10, 20 or 50 years down the track if we continue as we are now? We need to be making sure that we have lots of education for all people so that we can at least pretend to keep on being a "clever country." The importance of education and the positive effects that it has on society cannot be underestimated.

Investing in the long-term betterment of our country, rather than just sucking up to the people who already vote for the current government, would have been so much wiser and made me feel a lot happier about the government taking the money I earn. Sure, people are "winners" now and in the short-term with this budget, but who knows what the future holds.

Domestic Goddess

The power was out for hours on end on Sunday, which was an insanely cold day so I thanked all of my lucky stars for the fireplace, so it kinda put a halt to doing loads of domestic goddess kind of things. Although I suppose it's better than having to do the laundry by hand with some rocks by the river or whatever, the washing machine relying on electricity can be a pain sometimes. Oh, and the oven for cooking...

So when the power came back on around 1pm or so, I went into a baking frenzy. The results were 24 chocolate cupcakes made from scratch (I was organising the kitchen cupboard, found I had the ingredients, so why not...), roast pumpkin, zucchini and feta lasagne plus some quiches. The freezer and fridge are now stocked. Although Lord knows what for. Possibly armagedon or something.

Aaaaaaaaaaaarmagedon, where the wind comes whistlin' down the plane and the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right before the raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!

Okay, I popped off into Crazy Musical Land there for a moment. But I think if I were a domestic goddess, I'd be someone like Venus, who's nice enough when she wants to be and really good at certain stuff, but then has massive moments of tantrums and not ever wanting to do stuff. Something like that. Except, unlike the Venus de Milo, I have arms and hands (and tend to wear something on my top half...). And do occasionally make rude gestures at things around the house when in a non-goddessy mood.

Just because it's beautiful :)

Usually I can't stand the Sam and the City blog on SMH, but the title of today's one caught my attention!

Why girls love older men.

As someone who has only ever dated older men, it was like, "Ohh, should check that out..." Although there hasn't been much interesting stuff on it yet. Still, I don't think there's really that much on the topic that can be said. Younger women dating older men isn't really as "taboo" as younger men dating older women is. After all, it's always seemed to be that women go out with guys who are a couple of years older than them at least.

*yawns n stretches* It's no real revelation that older guys are more mature, experienced, comfortable in their own skin, etc. But not all of them like younger women or want to trade what they've got in for a younger model, so it's kinda unrealistic to think that they do. Or that all women like older guys. People like people for the craziest of reasons ~ sometimes love really is kinda blind after all and age or whatever really doesn't make a difference when it comes to actual attraction to others.

That said, it's rare that I find guys my own age or younger attractive. The youngest guy I've dated was 25 when I was about 19. The oldest was 46 when I was 21, but that was kind of weird even though he was a fantastic person. Now at 22, I find a good age range is about 32-36 or so. Although there are no hard and fast rules to attraction and there are some people older than that who are definitely hot. I mean, George Clooney? Mreowr...

Attraction's more than looks. It's about looking ~ looking on the inside, seeing something about the person that amazes you beyond what any others do and that can be found in a person who's 22 or 42. You can never tell when it'll come along or who it'll be with :)

Although if he acts like Tom Cruise, it's DEFINITELY time to run in the opposite direction before you're up the duff and he's wanting to call it "Ron."

NEWSFLASH: This is suddenly all kinda ironic considering this: Time, gentlemen by Andy Beckett in The Age. So it looks like life-long fertility for males is a myth after all.

Logies *harrghhcoughblah!*

Things I liked about the five seconds I saw of the Logies while channel surfing and avoiding annoying ads on other channels and throwing my slippers at the TV for Big Brother even existing:

~The expressions on American celebrity faces~


Particularly enjoyable is this image, which makes it look like Chris Noth and Joan Rivers are clinging together out of utter fear and are hoping that together they can make it to the exit. I can imagine Mr Noth saying, "Right, I've got you Joanie, let's back towards that exit over there and get back to the airport... They'll never realise we're gone and I won't have to be interviewed by that Rave... Reve? Rove?? guy..." I also loved the "Get me the hell out of here" expression that Mr Noth had on his face while Jessica Rowe was interviewing (read: salivating over) him pre-event. Ohhhhh, and who can forget Joan Rivers's comments? They were good...


~Hi-5~


Oh come on, tell me you didn't snort with laughter when you saw them. I mean, it's kinda funny that the hosts of kid's shows are dressing like cut-price hookers. But speaking of kid's shows, congrats to Play School for 40 years of Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemimah, stories and songs!


~Pizza~


Because they look like they're having fun and not like they've gotten lost on the way to a school formal.


~Pink~


Because in this photo, you just get a mental image of her at like 40, still kinda dressing the same but probably with like a formal dress and military boots with a ciggarette dangling from one hand, fluffy duck in the other, and she's cool with that, y'know? Like, who wants to be like all those other celebrities with botox? That's just for idiots.

Anyways, if you want an alternative to the Logies, check out the Fugly Awards.

Grrrr!

Goddamn Marlowe! Those @******s at the Pentagon assured me it'd be a three-day turkey shoot!

*ahem*

I want to express my frustration at not having a computer at home. I want to take more photos and do photoshop things and arty stuff and get started on projects and finish others off and everything. ARRRRGHHHHH!!! I WANT MY COMPUTER TO WORK!

So very not impressed with the anti-virus software that decided to delete a system file. I'm trying something tonight with an XP system disc that may get things working, but I'm not optimistic. Other than that, tomorrow will be a day of hunting around, trying to find someone or somewhere to get it fixed.

Or I think I'm going to get stabby.

*grumpy moment*

I want my photoshop stuff for art, I want stories I've written, I want photos of my family and our farm and other stuff, I want all of my music, I JUST WANT MY COMPUTER TO WORK! Is this dreaming the impossible dream?!

Nyargh!

Amanita Muscaria

Watched Insight last night on SBS, which was great as usual. Well, compared to all the other guff on TV anyways. Who cares about what Big Bother (ohhh, alright, Brother) is up to? So it was great to see Insight, which covered one of my passions - politics. In particular, the Labor party and it's decline in recent years on a Federal level while on a State level they're generally extremely popular (as evidenced by all States and Territories having Labor governments).

It was great to see that there are more people out there passionate about there being a viable alternative to the Liberals and John Howard at the next election. And I'm not the only person out there who thinks that Kim Beazley, although probably a great person, is as weak as a newborn kitten when it comes to being a party and policy leader. Maybe he lacks the fire in the belly.

The term "Opposition" actually does kind of spell out something that the part in opposition should do to bad laws that the government tries to push through. Instead Mr Beazley seems to agree with most of the things that the Liberal party spouts forth or at least doesn't have anything strong to argue against bad policies with. As John Button said on the show, "I don't think the Labor Party at the moment is articulating an alternative, a strong alternative vision to that of the Government."

Of course, along with the ideological side of things, they also need to be working on getting solid policies that show some difference from those that the Government is presenting. Look at what people need or want or are expressing concern about. Think the Industrial Relations laws. They scare people. So make better ones - ones that offer more protection and job security. Then market them. Let people get to know the policies.

Politics is a lot about marketing as well...

Eek!

This is how I know it's officially a bad week and I should probably go back to bed and hide under the covers until it ends, or at least start hoping that this isn't some kind of karmic thing for some unknown naughtiness...

Anyhoodle!

I sent an MMS to a friend and he rang me back a couple minutes after I sent it to tell me that looking at it had almost made him run someone over (a guy stepped out onto the road and apparently was missed by about four inches!).

Starting to feel like The Virgin here (refer to Nochnoy Dozor). Maybe that would explain the raven trying to get in at the window of the office yesterday.

Arrghhhhh!

*le sigh*

Okay, my home computer is officially stuffed.

Not working. Totally knackered. And it has all of my stuff on it! *cries*

So now I have to try to find someone to fix it, if possible. Apparently, according to a tech genius friend of mine WHO LIVES BACK IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA (*shakes fist*) (why are they always so far away?!), it should be easy enough to solve. But requires the right stuff to do so.

It's just one of those weeks, I think.

But then problems and bad things always come in huge clumps, so it's not that dreadfully surprising, really. Just annoying. Plus I hate to think what'll happen if the computer can't be fixed.

Oh well. Happy place. Happy place...

Holidays! :D

Clare stayed with me for a week and just left this morning.

It was heaps of fun ~ yay! Although I have the feeling that Clare might have been kinda bored by the whole small-town thing we have happening around here *lol* Ah well.

There was shopping, gossiping, shopping, touristy stuff, watching really silly TV, etc, etc. Ohhh, and she so got hit on by a guy who owns a store here! It was really funny... Sorry, Clare, but the look on your face when he was draping shawls around you was too funny :D

Weirdest thing was being asked by that guy whether we did any art, and then he said to me to bring stuff in for him to look at for selling in the shop and stuff. So we'll see what happens with that if I actually manage to do anything in the next couple of weeks or so. All a matter of extracting the didgit :P