Time to crank it up

It's less than a month out from the BIG DAY and so things are getting cranked up. Apart from the weekly dance practice (which I sucked this past Sat. Must practice basic steps at home before this Sat's session), organisations of various things (who to teach missing groomsman dance steps; buck's/hen's night for respective buck/hen; fit everyone for rehearsal sometime during wk before; collect rentals - tux, cars, etc; discuss logistics of the day/days before/days after...). I have managed to take some time of my own mental challenge & not thinking about the PhD so much the past 5/6 days. Will start on next chapter again today/after this. Also need to plan backyard remodel so to adjust to termite treatment. Spent part of this past wkend clearing out existing garden beds next to house for termite traps. The guy's explanations sound very iffy to me, but I guess I (so far) know no details of the insect & how to treat them so I suppose we can only do as he says. But still, iffy.

No more movies lately except just order the Donnie Darko super boxset. Alas won't arrive until mid May (2 freaking months to wait!?!? Sorry, need to sound more Aussie - 2 BLOODY months to wait!?!?!). Must occupy self with other 'social' social events - graduation dinner, pre-wedding groomsman duties, bday drinks/nibbles, etc. Hmm, what about the Arrested Development season 2 DVD box that I & Scrubs seasons 1 & 2 that little bro just bought?

Gyllenhaal week - take 2

Finally sent off my project at work on Thursday which meant that after lunch I didn't really have anything important/urgent to tend to. Discussion of Business Plan is not until this coming Thursday, so I proceeded to read screenplay of Donnie Darko. Yes, after reading and re-reading and re-reading Brokeback screenplay I'm kinda into reading screenplays at the moment, so Marley & Me would just have to sit by itself for a while. Can't remember exactly where I read it, but wherever it was it said that any Gyllenhaal (Jake) fan should watch Donnie Darko. I found out that yet another version (a 6+hr, 3 DVD collector's box) is coming out mid May, so I thought I'd find & read the screenplay before decided which version I should buy (stupid sigle-disc, Director's cut 2-disc, or the 3-disc super box). Like I said, nothing important/urgent to do Thurs arvo, so started reading D.D.. I'm still failing to see why it's being called a cult classic, because from what I read (finished Saturday morning before dance lesson when not feeling like writing) it was tremendously funny. It is clicky, but funny. So have decided to order the 3-disc super box now. Sigh, have to wait until mid May!?!! Oh well, shouldn't really be spending that much time doing anything other than writing anyway. Plus, groomsman duties would be over by then. Great timing. Can't wait.

Almost finished writing Ch 5. Should be read to send off by tomorrow & have meeting Wednesday morning. Good, progress I like.

More groomsman duties:

1. Cars rented. Must remember to bring reservation numbers
2. More dance lessons. Scarping cha cha & will now hone in on the foxtrot/4-steps from now on.
3. Have designated bride's maid organised. Both of them are short, & both groomsmen (me included) are my height (well, I know I am, obviously. But Edmund is same height but smaller built) so won't make much difference who goes with who really
4. Search for glass pebbles as decoration for reception. The bride actually asked me to do this, so does that technically make me a bride's maid double?
5. Think about solution for rose decoration at reception. The bride asked me this too. I'm really doubling up as a quasi-bride's maid ain't I?
   

Gyllenhaal week

It's a very heavily Gyllenhaal week, & it's only Wednesday. Jake, not Maggie. The week after the Oscars (last wk) left me deeply depressed. Not entirely to do with the unsatifactory results (4 films got 3 each, how bizzarre was that!?!), but a combination of feeling sad after having read various versions of Brokeback numerous times (at last count, downloaded version: 1; book version (same as downloaded version): 1; production screenplay: 1; original New Yorker version: 1; various parts of the story plus various, 'important' scenes: lost count), my own inability to write my chapter (spent 4 freaking days writing 1 opening paragraph, pulling it apart, telling myself that I suck in this, etc) before finally turning around & managed to move on & get writing again. And so my Gyllenhaal week started. Good writing/editing Monday morning before meeting with supervisor. Great progress, & got myself mentally refocussed for a bit. Afterwards, skipped straight to the city & watched Brokeback Mountain again, 1st movie that I've seen in a cinema twice. I was willing to gamble my sanity away (been totally obsessed with Brokeback since end of Jan (read above). Watching it for the 2nd time was either going to bring closure on that obsession & get me back to 'normal' life, or continue my obsession). Still excellent as ever (ok, so it was the latter of the outcomes), which prompted me to go home & re-read some of the scenes again. Seriously, everytime I read it, & I've read it many times (read above, again) I find something that I failed to notice before. Must find way of ending obsession. Anyhow, back to work yesterday. While waiting for comp to do complicated graphic generations, started reading original New Yorker version of Brokeback. Didn't manage to finish it at work, and after tennis last night, finally finished reading it past 1:30 this morning. Combined with the drizzly humid weather last night, the late sleep (plus lack of sleep from pervious days) completely exhausted me, resulting in a 10-hr coma & not getting up until nearly midday (thank god was not going to go anywhere today). Attempted to write a bit, but recovery from tennis was going much slower than normal, which distracted me a lot. Decided to skip writing & went to watch Jarhead instead (thus continuation of Gyllenhaal week). A very good film that exposed the inhumanities & frivolity of war. Highly recommend it. The ending was a bit abrupt after the end of the war (oh come on, it was Gulf War I, every one knows how it ended!!), leaving the characters hanging a bit, particularly Swoff/Gyllenhaal. But otherwise, mighty gd film. Might try & catch more of others by end of March before discount ends. Already done Match Point lastMmonday, so will see about Capote, Rent and/or Transamerica.

Heavy social calendar coming right up. Groomsman duties officially begun last saturday when I went to a dance lesson & learned to cha cha. More to come this Sat, but before that, there's the fitting coming up tomorrow night, & being left in charge for booking rental car for the big day. Trish's graduation is also on thursday night next week, followed by Karen's PhD submission party on Friday. Might see about Easter Show early April as well. Chockers.

Faux tub

Faux tub
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Finally I've finished my faux stone tub planter! It's taken quite a while seeing that I kept putting it aside for other things like writing, reading, DVDs & movies, but as I'm having yet another one of my usual wednesday off, & after much bumming around this morning starting with Season 2 of Golden Girls on DVD & other bits & pieces, I finished plastering the remaining 2 sides of my faux tub (snowy polystyrine centre with home-mixed plaster exterior. Is that how you spell polystyrine? With so many Ys?) Here's the finished picture. No, not quite the finished product. As we speaking I'm waiting for my old-teabag/coffee distressing effect to dry so it'll look for like real stone instead of plastered polystyrine. Shall post again when product finished.

p.s. Never been around to watching TransAmerica free preview. Traffic/road work at Lane Cove just too crazy I'd have too much trouble getting home. Have not been to any movie since last post either, so no update on to-watch list either. Must find out when TransAm & Capote starts showing on non-arthouse cinemas...

p.p.s. Brokeback screenplay finally arrived Friday. Have already finished with short story, analysed it & pulled it apart (figuratively of course) like wrapping paper on Boxing Day. It's still as good as I had remembered and must proceed onto the screenplay & accompaying essasys by Proulx, McMurtry & Ossana double quick :)

Movie list update

Been to tonnes of movies lately, so my to-see list is getting shorter & shorter. Just been to Walk the Line this morning after Munich on Saturday. That would be 3rd for the month & 5th for the yr! I don't think I've ever been to the movies at such high frequency in my life. 1 every month or 2 months maybe, but never this closely together. Anyhow, having decided to skip The Producers, now I only have Capote & TransAmerica left on my list. AND, my free tickets to TransAmerica just arrived today for next monday night, so 1 more down by end of next Mon! Maybe I should add Jarhead to the list seeing that I have cheap ticket vouchers... Or Brokeback again after finish reading the script? Hmm, thinking...

On other fronts, had my 1st meeting with:

1. co-supervisor
2. both supervisor & co-supervisor present

Good outcomes from the hour-long meeting, which means that plenty more work still laying ahead of me. I'm finally seeing the benefits of having a 2nd supervisor. Wendy S. is telling me things that Kev is not/has neglected to/hasn't thought of yet. She thought that she was in a tone that sounded too 'corrective' but it was exactly what I needed to hear from her. So, excellent. Now, moving on the writing 3rd results chapter. Finished coding & entering data for this chapter this past wkend & monday, so should probably stop blogging now & do my analysis. Have had enough fun for the day (for the night, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter :P Ooh, new Property Ladder is on Lifestyle tonight!) Ok, stop now. Now, I said!

Geisha

Oscar noms are out and I intend to watch quite a few before the March ceremony. As said in previous post have already seen Brokeback Mountain (see Brokeback, 1 below) and am still waiting for the screenplay to arrive in the mail. Amazon said still 2 more wks to wait :'(

Took day off on wednesday & was going to take advantage of the Greater Union promotion & watch Rumour Has It then The Producers back to back, but changed my mind last minute and watched Memoirs of a Geisha instead (thus title of blog). With the general lack of nominations I think I'll be scratching The Producers from my 'to watch' list, unless none of the other 1s don't come off the 'no free ticket' list. Will see will see. Geisha - not bad. Never read the book, have no urge to do so. I can't put my head around Japanese women being so feministically forward. 'Cos in all the films/docos done on Japan it still looks like an extremely patriarchal society. It did, however, stir my interest in wanting to find 'Ah Sun' again. I think that would be a much more realistic story to be put on screen. It was, afterall, based on a true story.

Must get back to writing. Was going to spend wed arvo writing the intro & conclu to my chapter, but spent a big part of it in air-conditioned cinema/shopping centre/library instead before going home & watched Arrested Development S1 on DVD again. Was going to write at night, but too hot so watched Prison Break & LOST recap. @ work yesterday & LOST last night. Also spent too much time downloading games for BlackBerry. Must find way of changing background/screensaver.

To watch list update:

1. Capote
2. Munich
3. Producers, the (maybe)
   
4. Walk the Line
5. Jarhead (maybe)
   

Brokeback

Saw Brokeback Mountain on Aus Day (26 Jan for all 'foreigners'). It was not at all a bad movie. There were bits that I couldn't understand though, particularly that Heath Ledger's voice + accent. That combination just makes it so hard to understand what exactly he was trying to spit out! A bit of a thinking movie, so I found the short story online & read it late last night/early this morning. Not very long (thus the 'short' part of 'short story'. Nothing Harry Potter like), so even for a slow reader like me I finished it in an hr & a 1/2. Having now read the story, I can only say that the movie pales in comparison, even though the movie itself is quite a good one already. Highly recommend watching then reading in that particular order.

Other movies on the list, not necessarily in any order:

1. Capote
2. Memoirs of a Geisha
3. Munich
4. Producers, the
5. Walk the Line

Damn, I only got 1 free ticket! That means I'll have to shell out for the other 4!?!?!

Pigeon funeral II

Ok, I've had a better look this time. We were driving back from the other direction and I was on the passenger side so I really had a good look. The white fluffies were actually pigeons but cockatoos. They all somehow seemed smaller the other day.

Pigeon funeral

Unfortunately I was driving when I saw this, plus the fact that I didn't have a camera with me, so there isn't a picture for show & tell. But it was a pretty unusual site; well, at least unusual for me. I was on my way down to see Brokeback Mountain, & just ahead of the corner where I usually turn right there was a school of white pigeons standing on the other side of the road, looking right, towards a freshly squashed pigeon (white again. I'm pretty sure they weren't cockatoos since they were a bit small, so let's just call them pigeons). Next to the squashed pigeon there stood a galah, facing left towards all the other, still alive pigeons, as if giving a sermon or eulogy or something. I've never seen anything like that before. On my way back from seeing Brokeback there was still only 1 squashed pigeon, so I guess no more got run over. Wish I had a camera with me :(

BlackBerry 7230i

BlackBerry 7230i
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Luv it! I was out searching for archiving boxes around Parramatta to re-file the WESTIR library when I came across the PDA display in OfficeWorks. After a bit of looking around & research I've finally decided to buy this BlackBerry 7230i. It doesn't do all the web search but I don't really need all those 'complicated' functions anyway. I wanted an organiser, & if it came with a phone (liek the BlackBerries) then even better! No camera, yes, but I don't think I'd ever want a camera on my phone. I need my photos to be of higher quality. But anyways, after playing with it for a good while last night & for some time today as well, it's just so gd with syncing with your PC/laptop, keeping track of appointments/deadlines, updating contacts, wkday/wkend alarms, reminders...... & of course you can send & receive emails from it also. Oh so loverly :)

Happy camper

Garnier goody bag
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Day 1 of Aus Open 2006 & Rae & I bussed it up from Geelong to Melbourne early this morning & headed straight to the hotel on eastern end of Lonsdale to drop our bags before heading down to Melbourne Park. A bigger queue for tickets than I had expected, so we didn't actually get in until close to noon-ish (after an hr or so queueing). Pity neither of us had an AmEx otherwise we could've taken the Express Lane & got in ages quicker! And, rubbing salt to the wound, we found out we were missing out on more freebies just because we didn't have/use the products of the official sponsors (AmEx cardholders were entitled to complementary AO commentary radios & free freshly-squeezed juices all day long, while Optus customers could have their SIM card backed-up for free (for frequent phone losers) as well as enter daily draw for 3G mobiles whorth over a grand each!)!! After some loitering in & around Vodafone & Margaret Court Arenas watching some tennis matches, we lined up for the Garnier marquee to get the free goody bag. They also offer free hair styling/hand massage/mini facial, so of course the line was bloody long. We both eventually settled for the mini facials because a lot of ppl in front of us were holding out for the longer services. But definitely conned. That mini facial was so mini that it was just a dapple with a wet nap & quick massage with a get/cream from a small tub. It did the cooling that we so desperately craved in a humid day like today, but it was simply too short to be even called a mini. Ah well, I guess when they're free you can really complain! Plus, everyone gets a free goody bag that probably adds up to $40-$50, so that's the ticket price back plus more! Happy camper indeed :)

Hmm, mussels

Hmm, mussels
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Geelong, Day 3. Well, Day 1 didn't really count seeing that we took a 5pm flight & arrived almost 6:30. The long weekend officially started on day 2 (Friday) when, after breakfast, Trish, Rae & I had a nice stroll up Pakington Street & did some light shopping. Rae & I diverted off to op shops & other funky locals, & I managed to find 2 (!!) Snoopy soft toys + 1 soft toy of Moomin. But the real highlight of Geelong was of course the freshly-cooked mussels off the pier. Not only were they freshly caught that very morning, they were also perfectly cooked on the spot as you order. 2 varieties, & I chose the white wine/garlic/parsley option (other being red wine/chilli). I don't know if it was the freshness, or just the setting (Eastern Beach), it was simply the most delicious mussels that I've ever tasted. And cheap too!! Only $5.50 for box of 16! Must have another go before heading to Melbourne on Monday.

Medibank International

Martina Hingis
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Tuesday was our annual 'pilgrimage' to Homebush for the now renamed Medibank International. I wasn't planning on going, but after hearing that Hingis was attempting a comeback & that Sydney is one of the first stops, naturally I had no choice but to stalk her out (a bit). Busy packing at WESTIR all day Monday so had no idea that she lost (to Henin-Hardenne, which is not that big a surprise) in 1st Round until late arvo. We all thought that she'd go straight down to Melbourne & practise there instead, but to our surprise she stuck around & practiced, not once but twice on Tuesday!! We were there for about 7 hrs, & we spent probably more than 2 hours just watching her practice, taking photos & videos & of course seeking autographs. From memory I think hers this time is my first and only (thus far. Hopefully my Aus Open trip will change that) repeated autograph. All in all, the Syd tournament has really gone downhill a little bit. The atmosphere (along with the crowds) has gone a fair bit since they reduced the draw from 64 to 32, i.e. cutting out 1 Round. With new tournies popping up in Canberra & Hobart it is understandable that Tennis Aust would want a more even atendance, but Syd has suffered as a result. Maybe this time I'm really going to stay awya from it for a little bit before going again.

Flying down to Geelong this arvo. Rainy again today, but it looks like it'd be fine in Melbourne & surroundings. As long as it doesn't rain on Monday I'd be happy, cos that's the only day I have to go to the Aus Open. 1st repeat Grand Slam, & a 7-yr break. That's a big break. Must attempt to go more often :)

Must get back to writing. Looks like I'm a long way off from finishing Ch 4 by end of month with all the tennis-watching coming up. WESTIR is also relocating today so there'd be a fair bit of unpacking & cleaning up after I come back up north. Groomsman duties late April, so assistance & rehearsals before then. Busy busy.

Still sun-burnt from tues.

New Year's Day

Hot 1
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Stupidly hot on New Year's Day. After a lovely afternoon at Vaucluse the day before (nice warm weather, cool sea breezes) New Year's Day was inextricably hot. By mid morning it was already well over 40'C outside, with the inside temp approaching the same mark. Our thermometer outside only reads up to 50, & by mid afternoon it was so hot that it exceeded the 50 mark. It wasn't much better inside. It went over 40'C for the first time inside (see below), even though we had all the fans cranking. Alas air-con didn't help much. I'm pretty sure it's at its dyign stage, seeing that 1 of the 2 fans was stationary even though we had it on high, & it didn't really get any cooler anyways. The only bit of significant cooling only came when the cooler night breeze finally came some time after 9pm. I, having spent the day drenched in sweat while watching Hopman Cup on TV & reading HP5 (finally started 5 on Boxing Day after finishing 4 almost FOUR years ago!!) at the same time, resorted to dunking myself into a nice, cool bath in the evening to bring my body temperature back down normal. Luckily yesterday (Jan 2) was signficantly cooler (mid 20s) & so is today (so far). Either way, am indoors in AC-ed office most of the day, so not that big a difference to me :P

Need to seriously put my head down & refocus on doing real work. Have given up on the BOCSAR job that I got interviewed for (have yet to hear about the outcomes, but not very likely a success I'm guessing) so now I can put most of the mental energy back to writing my chapters. Have not done any writing since early Dec, & have forced myself to finish the 1st draft by end of month, so must do some serious refocussing. Otherwise, looking forward to Geelong/Melbourne!!

Happy New year

Happy New Year everyone! 2005 has come & gone so fast, probably because I spent a big chunk of it travelling overseas as well as just burying my head into various things for short periods before & after I got back. It has most certainly been a very interesting year for me personally but at the same time unsettling. As I approach the end of my studying days, I must now contemplate on my new move(s). No more coasting by. But before all that, I've got an office relocation & a Geelong/Melbourne trip to look forward to!!

Let's have a quick recap since last blog. Xmas thingo @ the Mo's was kinda fun. Was not as hot as espected. Even a little cool towards the evening. Not as much food as last time either, but ended up being just the perfect portion. Since then I've been roasting at home, reading 20th Century Speeches & Harry Potter 5 (after a 4-yr break since last reading HP4) while watching the cricket. Today was spent seaside at Vaucluse, at Strickland House. Picniced from about 3-ish until the 9pm fireworks, before some continued partying back at the Dan/Will's. Scooted out of that after a little while & came back home drained & exhausted. Must sleep now to regain strength...

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 ...