Seasons greetings

Kris Kringle
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

The silly season has finally arrived. After a long lunch with the Geog gang at the usual Giovanna's for a final hurrah (I think Dan was bitterly disappointed that Ian didn't retell (again) his nuuude story), we proceeded to the new Drozdzewski-Hills residence at Coogee to 1) perform our Kris Kringle duties; 2) admire the top floor view; 3) more drinking & eating, in no particular order. A good time was had by all, especially when not-so-big Kev gave an unforgettable performance of singing out sex advice, or when TK promptly proclaimed that she can't get a blow (from the flute that she got from Kris Kringle just to clarify). I of course stumpled (ok, walked. Just thought I'd add a bit of dramatics) out of there 8-ish to catach PT back to Pennant Hills for tennis/more party. Absolutely buggered by the time I got home.

Wednesday supposedly was going to be the day that I should've reserved for preparing for my thursday job interview (got the call tuesday just before lunch). Instead slept in late & spent most of the time before escaping the heat moving things & setting up the bug bombs. Had to escape the house while the bombs went off & so shopped at DFO (Country Road 1/2 off!) before spenting the rest of the day re-moving things back to where they belong & summer-cleaning them up at the same time. Did end up spending some of the night putting things together for the interview & re-read my application letter.

Ducked into WESTIR to pick up more samples of work before training into St James for interview (my new leather briefcase came in very handy). I knew that Anne's was before mine, but little did I know that Arvind K (from FBE) was the 1st of the morning at 9! So all 3 interviews were from the FBE in a way! Small world indeed. Nonetheless, both Anne & I agreed that BOCSAR didn't really have an idea of what the full extent of that mapping exercise would involve. I did ok, but Arvind would probably be the 1 getting the call. Afterall, my setting-up-database experience is not the best, though my actually mapping skills would probably compensate quite well. Anyhow, just waiting for more partying tomorrow & NYE before finally putting head back down to writing.

In the mean time, have finished reading Dorian Gray (excellent middle half, but otherwise quite ordinary. Don't know what the rave was all about) & have just started on Importance of Being Ernest. Have reserved my 20th Century Speeches book for the Melbourne/Geelong trip. Looking very much forward to that indeed.

Fish update: have expanded stock with a pair of navy-blue swordtails, a yellow spotted male guppy, & a bristlenose for cleaning. Hoping the new swordtail/guppy breedings will be successful. Must also find a way of sellingthe other swordtail/platy off-springs. Must enquire at local pet stores otherwise will run out of room again.

One finaly seasons greeting to everyone!

Festive season

The festive season has finally begun. Thursday was the last board meeting of the year, & as per usual we all go out for lunch together on WESTIR’s shout. It’s the usual Thai Pagoda restaurant east on Main St. 1 last hurrah I guess, seeing that we’re FINALLY moving out of Blacktown & down to Parramatta in mid Jan. So of course for the last little while everyone’s been busy culling & packing & organising for the relocation. It’s been frustrating & boring & dusty & fun at the same time. The next time I’m in will be the traditional xmas sit-down that we have to surprise the newbies, & this year it’s Kristine’s turn. It’d probably be my last as well. Had my scholarship extended so I won’t switch to PT. There’s no need for me to work more to keep up with my $$ habits :) Have also applied for a well-paid temp job at Bureau of Crime Stats & Research, so if I get that I’d probably just stick with that instead of working 2 jobs & still doing PhD full-time.

On brighter notes, more xmas parties coming up!! The traditional geog xmas lunch is this coming Tuesday, followed immediately by kris kringle/housewarming at Dan & Will’s new place. Somehow this coming Tuesday end up being a pretty jam packed day, with usual tennis thingy happening that same night, but also a small party-ish thing at Pennant Hills. Which means I have to leave Coogee 7-ish & train directly to Pennant Hills. Then comes xmas eve at the Mo’s. If their last xmas party was anything to go by I should simply skip breakfast & lunch & just wait for the big feast. Seriously, as if there was any chance that 16 people could’ve finished a 8-kilo ham, 4-kilo turkey, steaks, chick wings, noodles, various salads, AND various desserts! We gave it our best shot & ate from 11 (am) till 11 (pm) yet alas still tonnes of left over. The do this year starts at 4 so I’m envisaging a smaller turkey?

Looking forward to Geelong & Aus Open. Yes! The Swiss Miss is back!

Swelter shelter

Yet another working-at-home day wasted. The planned rewriting Wednesday never eventuated. Because of the sweltering heat, & continued lack of sleep I didn't actually end up getting up until 10. After a cool breakfast my tv-quarium has finally been re-populated via the trans-aquarium migration of my tropical fish. All's fine & well. Thinking of adding to a guppy male to accompany lone guppy female. Shall wait & see.

Finally succumbing to the sweltering heat of 35+, I ended up going to my swelter shelter - Castle Towers - & watched HP4. Not entirely enjoyable seeing that the cinema (& the rest of the shopping centre) was filled with wagging/schoolies-ing teenagers who never failed to annoy each other (but mostly me) with their vulger, juvenile antics (see below). Pity the movie wasn't as good as HP3 either, or maybe it was just the constant sounds of sniggerings and (subsequently smells of) juvenile farts. Still sweltering after going home 4:30-ish. Did not actually end up doing anything productive until 9:30-ish when started reading a journal article which probably won't get used in my re-write. Shall see how I go end of today in my heat-trap room. At least I'm air-conditioned at WESTIR...

Checklist

1. Finally paid back the Melbourne airfares. Now I'm only $162 poorer! So it's quite a good deal :)
2. Secret santa pressy completed bar foam in the box to minimise damage during transit. Must fix by tomorrow.
3. Housewarming present arrived (long ago). Custom-made wrapping paper photoed, adjusted, tiled, printed, merged & wrapped. Terrific. Note to self: must take picture of finished product.
4. Trish's thank-you present finished & approved bar nice box/pouch to put it in. Must do that before Melbourne.
5. WESTIR chrissy pressies done & custom-design paper wrapped. Boy I'm good.
6. Xmas menu: not yet started, even though it's only 1 dish. Must think of something easy that looks classy so to bolster cooking credential.
7. Writing of next chapter not yet started. Too much gd TV on tonight (yes, it's monday afterall). Work tomorrow night then tennis. May start wednesday if remember.
8. Repopulation of tv-quarium in preparation. Filter newly poured in water as we speak. Should be ready wednesday (ooh, will have to delay chapter writing then) for tropical relocation. Contemplating starting tropical breeding program. (Ha, nearly typed 'problem' instead!!) (dork!)
   
9. Chuck Beck's present (in the mail)
10. Stop (or at least pretend to stop) going xmas shopping & instead buying things for myself. All presents taken care of so time to stop spending (nearing 1k the last 5 days, ouch).
    

$300+ worth of outlet therapy

Oroton
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

After the celebratory lunch for Trish's final submit we stayed in the office doing various bits before I bolted about 3:30 down to the city as it looked like rain. I was planning on heading into city to do some xmas shopping anyways, so when I finally got down to ANZAC Parade to catch a bus, the 393 was waiting for me. So I ended up going to Central first (& thus Market City) before heading to Town Hall for Kathmandu. It turned out to be a therapy session that costed me a bit. As the title implies, it was more than $300, not including the airfares for the Melbourne tix that we just booked earlier that afternoon. While most of the $300+ went to this LOVELY Oroton leather briefcase ($299 after half-off. If I'm any dumber I'd think that I'd saved myself $300. But seeing that I'm not really that dumb, I actually spent $299 in order to save $300. Wait, does that mean I'm $1 better off???) I also invested into a Ken Done T-shirt (why did I say invest?), a knitted wool cap (no, not beanie. Cap) from General Pants, before finishing off with a compass and thermostat at Kathmandu. The train back to Blacktown was a bit of a long haul even though it was express already. Maybe it only felt long because it was peak traffic & I didn't have a seat & this woman keep hitting me with her (fake) snake/crocodile skin handbag every time she turns around. So she said sorry (once, after the first time), but is that really excuse for her to keep swinging her bag at me afterwards?? People are just so considerate ...

Melbourne bound

Ok, finally I'm Melbourne bound once again. After a 2-yr absence, I've just booked a short round trip to Melbourne for mid-Jan w/ Rae. We'll spend most of the time down at Geelong visiting Trish, but will of course squeeze in a day at the Aus Open. The 1st day of the tournament actually, & am going to get Centre Court tix this time. A short thurs-tues round trip, & I shall be back in time to play tennis that tues nite! What great organisation!

Must head down to city now to continue xmas shopping before heading home. Hopefully I can beat the looming downpour as well.

Oh crap, so much reading to bring home...