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Merry Christmas people!
Down at Grandad's place waiting for the family to arrive; even Grandad. He's off being Santa down at Avalon. I'd attach the photo of him, but blogger doesn't allow it...
Merry Christmas people!
Listening to: Pete's crappy Christmas album
Well, I'm sitting in the Volvo on the side of the street, waiting for a tow truck to come pick me up.
I spent yesterday with Jon finishing off my Christmas shopping in Hornsby. I got it all down, but I didn't end up being able to get that album that I wanted to get Peter. I ended up getting him a "bachelor's cocktail book" from the 70s instead. It's just photos of naked chicks with cocktail recipes next to them. I thought it was classic, and embarrassing enough to make a good present.
After we were done with the shopping, Jon and I decided to go to the RSL for a cheap beer and a cheap lunch. We ran into Mike S there, and decided to wait for his shift to finish in 4 hours or so. So Jon and I knocked back a quite a few more beers, and played an hour-and-a-half game of snooker (which I won!).
We ended up going to Mike's house afterward for a few more beers and to watch some Aphex Twin filmclips.
I was informed that I was meant to be working the next day, and that Mum would pick me up on the way through. I'm not sure how that was going to work.
So this morning Mum gets the call to pick her car up from the smash repairers. So I'm not working today... which is crap coz I need the money.
So after waiting around at Mike's and being picked up by Mum, on the way into work the transmission on the Volvo goes. Again. Stupid fucking Volvo. So it's hot, I'm hungry and we're waiting on the side of the road when I have a million things to do before I leave for NZ.
Crud.
Listening to: Traffic noise
God dammit!
I just spent half an hour recalling the tale of my formal night when my PC crashed for no apparent reason. I cannot receover what I wrote, and I don't feel like going into detail again.
So I'm keeping it much more brief this time...
Sooo...
Marty invited me out to the UTS end of year engineers ball on the 2nd Dec. It was a formal event, with a 3 course meal and unlimited drinks. His mate Tony (an engineer at UTS) was going and wanted us to come too.
I would have to catch the train down to make it, because I'm still a bum with no license, and Mum doesn't go down to Sydney on Fridays. We took longer than expected to get everything ready (things to do in Cessnock, including pressing my suit), so we ended up having to catch a train from Gosford rather than Morrisett (Gosford station being 1 hour away, rather than 45 minutes away). Mum dropped me at the station in time to catch my train, but unfortunately on the way home, she had a car accident. Luckily noone was hurt, but both cars were seriously fucked up. Our smash repairers are trying to get ours back before Christmas (fingers crossed). After the accident Mum had to fo down to Sydney Airport to get a hire car (the only place still open). She ended up getting a POS Magna. The insurance company won't pay for the car beyond a certain date, so bow we've had to rely on the Smash repairers courtesy car: a Daewoo Hacthback. Now we realise what a POS actually is... I don't believe it, but I miss the Magna. The Volvo moreso, but the Magna is still better than the Daewoo.
Anyway.
So I get down to Sydney, meet Marty, drop my bag off with his Mum, put on my jacket and tie, and head into the city to meet Tony. We got to UTS before him so we indulged in a pre-dinner Becks. I'm pretty keen on Becks these days, but the price usually scares me off.
Tony arrived shortly and we headed up. Neither Marty nor I knew anyone there, but we were introduced, and we made conversation easily.
After a few more pre-dinner beers, we sat down for the Entree. Tony had 4 female friends arriving later, so our table looked pretty empty. Because of this, a random guy came and sat with us. Andrew was his name, and he was leaving for Japan at the end of the year, so I told him some tales from my trip to Japan in April.
Tony's friends arrived shortly after Entree (we ate some of their portions... oops), so there was no longer any room at the table for Andrew. Luckily enough there was room at the table next to us, so we continued talking.
Talking, drinking, eating and more talking ensued for the next few hours. Tony's lady friends were very interesting, and conversation never waned. Nor did the wine actually...
After dessert, we headed out to the dance floor (via the bar). The band were pretty cool, and played a few original tracks in amongst their covers.
Unfortunately, the bar closed at 11:30pm, regardless of what was left on the tab (it started at $7000, and we didn't finish it). So after the band finished up, we headed out to the nearest pub for more beer. Someone mentioned coming from the Foo Fighters concert, and that made me call Boggle to see if he wanted to meet up with us (having himself just been to the concert). Of course I didn't think that the concert actually ended 2 or 3 hours before my calling him. I woke him up, but he was sleepy enough, and I was drunk enough for neither of us to make any sense. Needless to say we didn't meet up.
So headed back inside, and we left that pub shortly after to head over to the Slip Inn (where Tony's girls said they'd be heading). The Slip Inn is on the other side of the city, and all the people walk too slowly, so Andrew and I stopped off for a Kebab half way. Mmmmm Kebab... Strangely Andrew and I beat Marty and teh rest to Slip Inn, and becase my phone battery had died, I had to borrow a phone off of a stranger to make the call. Lucky I know Marty's number by heart. Turns out they'd stopped at another club, so we just waited outside Slip Inn until they arrived. There was a $10 cover charge that Andrew and I managed to "slip" (haha) by when we first got there, but there was no way the 8 of us would get away without paying it. So we though "Fuck that," and headed down to cargo bar.
I don't know how long we stayed there, but we had at least one beer, and then decided to head home. After all, I had to go to Homebake the next morning.
We walked back to George Street, and Marty and Tony decided they wanted a Kebab. Having already had one, I decided to get KFC. BIG MISTAKE. The Twister I ordered must have been sitting there for > 30 minutes, and was one of the very worst meals I have ever eaten. Fucken pile o' crap.
After Marty finished his second Kebab (in that sitting), we headed to the buses. It was a long wait for the bus home, but there were a few idiot homies at the bus stop that managed to keep us amused by being generally stupid. We ran into someone from Uni (whose name we've never caught, but who we've seen in the bar many a time before), and he too was entertaining. We all fell asleep on the bus, but managed to wake up at the right moment, and were back at Marty's by dawn.
Damn, and I had to go to Homebake...
I was awoken by a phone call from Alex a short 3 hours later at 9:30am, informing me that he was already heading in and that he'd meet me in the city. So I got up, went to the toilet, nearly fell aslepp there. Went back to my couch, and went back to sleep. I woke myself up half an hour later and called Alex and told him I'd meet him later, and for him to go to Homebake without me for the time being.
So I slept a little longer (until Marty awoke). We talked about honours, about the ladies last night, about his lady in Antarctica (seriously, she's in Antarctica!!), about what has happend since we last met and generally shot the breeze.
Marty's Mum (Sue) arrived a little later with Bacon and Egg Rolls. Despite how tasty they were, it tookme sometime to eat mine.
I bummed around Marty's place for a few more hours, until Steve and his girl Nat (?) took Marty away for a BBQ. I then got a lift to the station from Sue, and I headed into Homebake (leaving my suit and bag at Marty's place).
Unfortunately I missed The Herd (I was too late), but I caught everyone else I gave a shit about. Because I was so buggered, Alex gave me a bit of this wonderful stuff I put in my water that gave me the energy I needed. Thanks Alex, I couldn't have done it without you!
The first decent (well, awesome actually) act were Wolfmother. So god-damn rockin it was amazing. Oh my God, his 'fro is massive! It must be a metre across. Totally awesome. So yeah, they rocked.
After they finished we headed over to the smaller stage to catch The Beautiful Girls. Luke and I (hold on, I'll fill you in on who was there. Alex, Ally, Jason (from Safe Installations), Paul (His mate), and Luke (one of Alex's mates)), were thirsty, and our water empty, so we went on a quest for free water.
On the way there, a pretty face flagged me down. I recognised this face, and the face of one of here two friends, but I didn't know from where. I assumed Uni, but I don't know who introduced us. And both were very familiar faces. So we talked for a while, danced a little while, but unfortunately Luke and I were still thirsty, so we headed off for that water. The queue for the bubbler was huge, and teh bubble low pressured, but we eventually got our water, and I headed back to this mysterious girl. We talked a little longer, and she recommended me seeing Wolf & Cub, who were playing next at the even smaller stage. Alex soon called me and told me that my beerwas getting warm, so I said goodbye and headed over to meet him.
I told him that I had had Wolf & Cub recommended to me, and that we should go see them. So when The Beautiful Girls finished up, we did just that. The teeny stage where Wolf & Cub were playing was near empty, so it was no surprise when that same pretty face flagged me down. So I stood with her and her friends for the show. Alex and Co. headed off to see Pnau, but Wolf & Cub were too damn good, the company too damn enjoyable, and the face too damn pretty for me to want to leave so soon. So I stayed for a while longer. My assumption that she was somehow tied to Uni proved correct; she was doing the same degree as me, only one year behind, and was actually about to go on the same NZ field trip that I went on in 2003 (and that I'll actually be in NZ when she is - only on the North Island rather than the South). She said we should catch up so I could give her some pointers on the assignment (being that I got a Distinction++). So I got her number. Not wanting to embarrass her or myself and admit to me not knowing her name, I sneakily handed over my phone with no name written in the name field. So she typed in her name and number, and I headed off to Pnau (after staying for longer than intended). Her name was Agata. That added some confusion. How do I pronounce that? or did she mis-type her name in my phone... shit... I knew whe would be at The Cat Empire, so I hoped we'd see each other again there.
Pnau were cool as feck (as was expected), but I didn't see Alex and Co. there. So I called them afterward, and we met up again. There was nothing to see until The Cat Empire, so we all bummed around doing nothing much, but having a fantastic time doing it.
I ran into Mark Terei at The Cat Empire, and we talked for a bit, but it was absolutely packed at The Cat, and he wanted room to dance, so he headed off shortly. Alex was having bongs in the mosh with an off-duty Cop standing next to him, and sharing the bongs with her (the cop's) friends. Funny. Unfortunately I didn't see Agata there.
So when The Cat finished up (no encore... grrr), we headed over to the Dirty Three because they were the only band playing other than the Finn Brothers (and they suck). The Dirty Three had a novel sound (drummer, bassist, violinist), and it was powerful to listen to, but the songs melded into one, and the novelty wore off. Why they were one of the last bands was beyond me. The Herd should have played then, not The Dirty Three. We all lost interest, and waited outside the tent where they were playing. And wiated. And waited. And waited for Luke to arrive. In the mean time Mark Terei called me and we talked for a bit before he headed home. We resumed wiating. We eventually called Luke and gave up waiting for him. We then made the long walk to Pitt St McDonalds for some munchables (having not eaten since the Bacon and Egg roll at Marty's).
Alex was getting the irrits, and wanted to go home, and so Did Ally and I. Jason headed off shortly after Maccas, but Paul and the rest of us went for a beer. Paul convinced us we were up for a game of pool and a Jagermeister, and we eventually obliged. We leftshortly after that though (much to Paul's disappointment). We headed back to Alex's,a nd I realised that the magic powder I'd added to my water had worked a little stronger than I realised because I kept talking. We eventually went to sleep and woke up at not too bad an hour (10ish maybe?).
Boggle called and wanted to go out that night, and I was keen for the idea. So I decided that this was a perfect oppurtunity to call Agata. So I did. Seeing that I never introduced myself, she was alittle confused when I introduced myself as "Simon." So a breif recall of the previous day was needed. Much to my dismay she was unable to go out that night (she stayed out much later than I did after Homebake, and also had to go home to Blacktown that day - she was staying at her brothers place in Surry Hills). Despite this dismissal, we talke for a good 15-20minutes, and agreed that we needed to catch up again before I left for NZ. Yay! I called Marty, but he couldn't make it out either. So I called Boggle back and we decided to meet at Mac Centre and buy some cheap (<$5) DVDs, then head back to his for beer and pizza. Tops. So I swung by Marty's to grab my stuff, and met Boggle and Mac Centre. Met up with Boggle, and we found some pearler DVDs @ an average of $2 each. Tops. Went back to his house, Brendan and Leanne came over (and there was also a brief visit from Monique), and we started watching The Howling III. NOt a movie that makes a great deal of sense, but it certainly served it's purpose and payed itself off. We also watched an OJ Simpson movie called Codename: Alexa. It was even worse. Overall A top night. The next night Brendan held a DVD night of the same nature, only this time with fried food rather than Salad. It too was a top night. I had to meet up with Alex the following afternoon to do a job in Cessnock, and decided to stay home that night (rather than go back down to Sydney with Alex). It turns out that I was meant to work the next day, and then Mum was actually driving to Newcastle with Peter the next day to pick up his car. This meant that there was actually no way for me to get to work. Another reason why I need my damn license. So the jobs had to be fucked around to accomodate this. Newcastle sucked arse. It was hot and boring, and it took hours for the fucking finance idiots to do what they said they'd done the day before. After 4 or 5 hours of waiting around, the finance guy informed us that the finance couldn't actually go ofrth today (despite them telling us that it was ready at 3pm the day before). Luckily the guy with Peter's car trusted us and let us take the car anyway and would just wit for us to send the payment. It took them another 4 or 5 days for it to go through after this. To say that they were fucking useless would be kind of me. So that day sucked more than most could. Peter's new car is sexxxy though. That was Wednesday. Thursday was Atomic Live at Fox Studios (which was, in essence, a geek convention... http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/atomiclive-blog.asp ). Boggle, Michael S, and I had been planning this for months. And Alex was going for his Motorbike training course that day, and Safe Installations wanted me to work in his place. I had to decline, and told them that I had told Mum the week before that Alex's license would clash with that convention. Despite this, Mum blamed me for not telling Simon (my Boss, her Brother, the man she works with EVERY day), and Grandad (the boss too) was pissed off at me for saying I couldn't work. Despite this I was still keen to go. So I stayed at Boggle's place the night before and we watched more Pete and Pete (I absolutely LOOVE Pete and Pete). The Geek Convention was very enjoyable, but the highlight was my photo with teh Orc and the Asus mug I got (a good mug too). We met a guy on the bus on the way who was a cool kid (only 16). Actually, the coolest thing was the WMD case Mod ( http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/atomiclive-gallery.asp?i=21 you can see the guy we met on the bus... he's the guy with the pony-tail at the bottom left of the pic). I'm kinda in one picture: http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/atomiclive-gallery.asp?i=55 I'm obscured by the guy in beige. You can see Boggle's head to the right of the guy-in-all-black's shoulder. Wow. We're totaly famous. Michael had to leave the convention by about 1:30pm for a job interview (which he subsequently got!), and Boggle and I gre bored of the convention by about 3pm (depsite door prizes being drawn at 5pm, we just couldn't see it all again for another 2 hours). So we went to teh nearest pub, which incidentally had free pool. Tops. Although we woudl have been pissed off if they charged us for the pool; the tables were ~1 foot lower than usual, the balls were bigger, and the tables were thinner and shorter too. There were also no marks on the table for the balls to sit on. Yeah crap. but Free! I had to go back to Grandad's that night becasue I was starting work at 7am the next day. Peter gave me a lift back to Grandad's but he didn't stay there (social responsibilities). So I checked my email, listened to music, played my DS, and eventually decided to call Agata. After priming myself for 50 or 10 minutes, I dialled her number. Her phone was switched off. I laughed at that. So I carefully worded an SMS showing my desire to meet up, and went back to my music. Grandad arrived shortly aftre, and I went to bed. Work wasn't too bad. All the jobs went off with near no troubles, and despite being called back or overtime, it wasn't a bad day. We had promised Jon that we would help him move back to Sydney that weekend. But because Mum had crashed her car, we cuold no longer tow our trailer (rental cars don't come with tow bars). Because we had promised him, and because he was relying on us, we headed down to Canberra anyway. We headed down late because we had things to do and didn't get down to Canberra until 10pm or something. Most of the Hotels were full, and the place we stayed at was shit, despite being expensive ($20 less than the intercontinental... we really should have stayed there). So Sunday involved us packing up Jon's stuff,a nd driving back home. Well kinda. I had to work Monday, so I once again stayed at Grandad's and headed in to work the next day. Jason called in sick, so we had to postpone one job,and couldn't do the job that we had postponed on Friday. Not well done Jason... But Agata messaged me that day saying that she was in Tasmania and would like to catch up :) I also worked Tuesday and Wednesday, but don't really remember anything much. Excpet that we did the jobs that were postponed. It was also Alex's 23rd birthday on Wednesday, and my Mate Michael S's 22nd on Thursday. Agata messaged me on Wednesday, and we agreed to meet up on Firday for dinner and a movie. That's a date isn't it? It was actually my first ever "first date." A little nerve racking... We had Alex's birthday dinner on Thursday, so I didn't get to Michael's party until a little later than most others. Michael's Party rocked my fucking socks off. Actually it rocked them off so hard that I sprained my ankle pretty bad. I was actually dancing, and not wanting to tread on anyone's toes (I'm such a good dancer), I took my shoes off. Only a minute or so after, I landed badly on my foot (the side of my foot) and fucken my ankle up. So I would have to go to my date with a fucked ankle. Neil was good enough to bandage it up for me. Beside that, the party was awesome, and wound down at about 4am. I slept on a chair. Linden woke me up at 9am or so, and wanted to take me back to her place so she could help with my ankle and give me some needed rest. She's good to me that girl. So I washed my clothes, had a shower and a rest, and hung out with Linden until it was time for my date (and for her to go off to Chatswood to see Harry Potter). I had an appifany that day that maybe I'd met Agata at Tree Of Life in Macquarie Centre. Jen's boyfriend drove me, and Agata was waiting for me on a bench outside the movies. we saw The Brothers Grimm. It was alright. Pretty average, but not terrible. I probably won't ever bother seeing it again, but it was better than, say, Legally Blonde or Final Fantasy. After the movie we talked for a few hours (no real silence), and it was confirmed that she used to work at Tree of Life at Macquarie. Agata ran into one of her friends, which I also recognised very well. Dammit. Where the hell DID I meet her?!?! She left and we kept talking, but 9pm came around and Agata had to catch her bus (her, like me, doesn't have a license), so we said our farewells. She said it was likely that we wouldn't see each other until I'm back from NZ, but expressed interest in seeing me then. I'm going to see if I can catch her on her lunch break tomorrow while I'm doing some Christmas shopping near her work. Anyway... So I stayed the night at Linden's place. Monique was over, and her friend Hannah (the barrel of energy) was coming over despite us all being tired. She brought with her a bottle of Champagne. A few hours later Monique left, and we eventually went to sleep. I kept my sore ankle elevated, and it felt a little better the next morning. It was what was planned for Saturday that pissed me off most when I sprained my ankle. Michael S, Michael KP, Alex, Denise and I were meant to be heading out to Gatecrasher at Home Nightclub for a night of drugs and dancing till dawn (and a little later). So me having a fucked ankle was was not a good thing - especially as we planned it months ago. Despite all this I was determined to make a go of it. I headed into the city witH Hannah and Boggle (Boggle coincidently had a birthday do on at Circular Quay that night, and Hannah lives in Newtown) for a few pre-night beers and a delicious hamburger. Hannah had a concert (where she sould be meeting Monique and Linden later), so when the time came closer for her to get there, we all headed off to our various destinations, a little pissed. Boggle left us when we got to the pub in order to make it to the birthday do on time, but Hannah and I enjoyed a few more drinks at the Three Wise Monkeys. I then met up with Ross and his Friend James, and Hannah left shortly after to get to her concert. Ross and James didn't stay long, as they had a party to go to, and only 1 hour of parking in the city. Shortly after I met up with Denise. Gods this post is long. And we headed toward Home (the club, that is). Alex wouldn't be getting there until after his concert finished, so we went to a pub for some drinks, and waited for the two Michaels to meet up with us. They were about an hour or more, but the time passed well as Denise is great company. When they got there it was only half an hour until Alex got there, and then we headed into Gatecrasher. Alex had the drugs, Michael the tickets, and the club the music. It was all we could do to dance. And dance we did. What a tremendous night it was. Met a few great people, bonded with those I knew,and dance my fucken arse off. Couldn't even feel my ankle for most of the night. The night ended at about 6:30am in the club, and we caught a train back to Michael KP's car at Gordon (sans Alex, who went home). We then headed back to Michael S's and just chilled there for a few hours before Michael KP and Denise left. I slep until about 3pm, and then we headed out to Hornsby for lunch (breakfast) and CD shopping. I eventually went over to Linden's to pick up my stuff, and was about to head off to the station to catch a train home when Monique called (Linden's house actually) and asked if she could drive me home. She was keen to come up. I'm not going to turn that offer down. So she drove me up, and spent the night here. We were meant to be organising as much as possible the next day, but all we ended up doing was buying her ipoo. Mum accidently left her paperwork at home, so we had to drive it down to her. We didn't get down to Sydney until late (my place has a habit of sucking time), so we didn't even get any of the things we wanted to get done in Sydney done. With the exception of buying a cheap FM transmitter of NZ - on the off chance that the rental cars didn't have tape players (we wanted to hook up our mp3 players). Monique got a bit surly (as she does after long drives), but we lived. I then met up with Mum, and I headed home again. What an adventure. So, I'm keen to see Agata tomorrow, but haven't yet called her to arrange it. I should do that after this. I also have to get Christmas presents for Mum and Peter tomorrow. So I'm hoping to kill two birds with one stone. Since my last post, Alex has since got his KTM 640 Lc4 2005 Supermotard Bike, and as impressive as it's name is, the bike itself is moreso. Very cool. What else? I think that's actually more than enough for this time around. I promise not to write this much ever again. I'm sure none of you read it. Until next update!
Listening to: Underworld - Everything, Everything (Album)
Yup, I'm still in Sydney. I've spent only brief periods at home since I last promised a decent post, so this post is not that post; just another update.
Peter (younger brother) had his Tragus pierced yesterday. It looks fucken tops. He felt kinda faint before and after though. Still, I reckon it's worth it. I want another piercing now.
I've been working at Safe Installations everyday this week, and Friday last week too. Need those dollars.
The trip down to Canberra was dull, but then again, what trip to Canberra isn't (ha ha). It's good to have Jon back though, this time for good too!
So that's it really. I'm sitting in the Truck with Jason as I write this, so I'd best stop this and start keeping good company.
See ya!
Listening to: JJJ
But unfortunately I'm sitting down in Canberra writing this blog entry from my phone.
I'll have to fill you in when I'm next bored at home.
The last week has involved drinking, $2 DVDs, a geek convention, a car accident, a music festival, a trip to Canberra and work. Oh and Summer heat. I love Summer.
Hope to fill you in soon...
I wrote this last night when I was feeling a little melancholy over some family arguments. It didn't turn out as poignant as I wished, but it was never meant to be a life-changing thought... anyway:
Intelligence is a curse.
Our human race has made it to where it is today because of it's intelligence. Our intelligence is what has eradicated countless species from the Earth in our quest for domination. Our intelligence is what has choked our waterways, spoilt our soil and contaminated our air.
Our intelligence created society. The same money based society that is the source of the majority of our stresses. Our intelligence has created family troubles. Our intelligence is what placed us at the very top of the food chain, and, ironically, it is this intelligence that has caused us so much grief. Does a wombat get depressed?
I think intelligence and self awareness is our punishment for fucking everything up.
Hmmm. So what's happened since last blog?
Not much really.
Worked a bit last week, and got paid too much (a good thing really). Went out to dinner with Alex, Ally and Mum to a wonderfully tasty Chinese Restaurant in Thornleigh.
Ummm. What else...?
Mum and Pete argued, but that happens every week.
I bought Pink Floyd's Meddle for $10. Bargain, and a top album, albeit short (but that's the way albums were back then).
Had a haircut on Friday. Above the collar now. Much neater/nicer (as much as I loathe the word "nice"). Pete had his done at the same time, despite him having a shaved head (number II length maybe?), he had it roughed up a bit, but the lady didn't charge him. "The Lady" I mention is Kate, a wonderfully entertaining hairdresser, that is sadly leaving the salon. Bummer. She is managing a candy shop that is opening only a few meters away. Sweet (hahaha sweet...).
Saturday night I went for a BBQ at one of Tristan's mates house (ok, don't know how the grammar should be in that situation... forgive me). Was a good night; good people, good beer and good food. What else could I ask for? A blowjob maybe... I couldn't help but say that. Sorry.
At the moment I am making my well-overdue CDs for Helen (they are part of her birthday package. Her birthday was in the beginning of October.... Sorry Helen. I mean well). I've compiled some of my very favourite songs and stuck them across 5 or 6 CDs. I'm still putting them all in order, but I'm up to CD #3. My brain's a bit mushy from it all. They should turn out well however. I'm looking forward to completing them.
My first Nintendo DS game (Marioland DS) arrived last week too. It's pretty weird controlling with the touch-pad, but I'm getting used to it, and the mini-games are kickass. The game itself is good too.
My Lateralus vinyl also arrived. Looks sssschmick. Picture discs. Really thick picture discs. Kickass.
Oh, and today my art arrived. I bought some original art off of a guy in Canada called Craig Peterson. Check him out:
http://www.capka.org/
Funnily enough, the stuff on the website looks nothing like he stuff I bought off of him. The stuff I bought is more Gris Grimly style. Kickass. Ok, I've said that too much for one post.
And that might be it. It's certainly all I can think of.
So, until next time. Keep it smoooove.
Listening to: Ocean Machine - Life (from the compilation I am making Helen)
This weekend I stayed at home.
Mum's friend Rosalyn came up with her boyfriend Tony. Both are great people. It's always good fun when "Aunty Roz" comes 'round.
They were staying across the road at Cedar Creek Cottages. A nice place run by lovely people (my wonderful neighbours. I love living across the road from a winery!). We headed over to the cellar door for some wine and cheese for lunch, then headed off into Pokolbin for more wine. We went the back road to Pokolbin an dstopped off at Talavera Winery (I think...). Fucking beautiful views and tasting rooms, and pretty nice wine.
But the next winery we went to was called... ummm... lemme think.... what was it called?? Ah yes, a quick check with me Mum told me that it was Tamberlaine (don't ask me if that is correctly spelt however...). And that was freakin good. And what's better was that if you became a member and bought a dozen wines, you got them HALF PRICE!! So between Mum, Tony, Roz and myself we bought 50 bottles. By gum it was good wine, and it all ended up at about $10 a bottle. I also bought a nice dessert wine for $9. Absolutely fantastic! Was so stoked. I might save the dessert wine for Monique's birthday. But golly it was tasty. And the lady there was lovely. A really nice person, which probably contributed to the 50 bottle purchase. Num num.
Anyway, that's enough of wine.
And enough from me I suppose. My week was dull (I think... I can't really remember).
I bought a fair amount of shit this week. It's hard saving for NZ when you've just won $2000. I bought 2x pieces of art (originals by Craig Peterson from Calgary), the Deftones b-sides collection (well, I bought that last week, but received it this week), a DS game (finally); Marioland DS, and I think that might be it.
Alex has decided on his bike, and it's $13k, so $5k over what he has (after the $2k he's giving me). He decided against a 2nd hand bike, and is extending his loan for it. Kudos to him. Alex lent me Lyrics Born's album to rip. Pretty cool mang. I'm ripping too many albums. Far too many. I should be buying them.
On the same line of thought, I only have 2.56GB left on my jukebox!! It will be time to upgrade the hard-drive soon. Not lookin forward to that. I suppose I'll sell my old HDD when I'm done. Unfortunately the place that sold teh 60GB HDDs no longer exists. So I have to find another place now. Sucks.
So yeah, that's pretty much it...
Listening to: Lyrics Born - Later That Day... (Album)
Shout out to Melon in Edinburgh! Hope yer enjoyin it man! I think it's a kickass city.
Was just checkin out spamusement (see my links at side), and followed a link to http://simulatedcomicproduct.com/ check out the archives! It's awesome!
Hello there people!
So I last wrote some time ago... I have my reasons... really.
Jason (who works with Alex and I at Safe Installations... do I need b/g info here? Safe Installations is the family business that I work at - moving safes - 1, 2 or 3 days a week to help save money for my trip to NZ at the end of the year. And also as work while I find a career... which probably won't happen until I get my license, which won't happen until we register the EH, which can't happen until we charge the battery on the EH... one day I hope) decided to take a week off from work, so it fell to me to take his place on the truck. Not the best of plans. I'm not as strong as Jason (nor nearly as strong as Alex), nor nearly as experienced as either. But it was necessary.
So I stay over at Alex's place Sunday night 'coz we have to be up at 4:45am in order to get down to Canberra at a reasonable hour. Yikes. This coupled with the introduction of daylight savings and a very odd sore throat that only affected my epiglottis, meant that I had about 4 hours sleep before heading off on the 3 1/2 hour truck drive to Canberra. Have you ever driven to Canberra? It's the most boring drive imaginable (ok, short of the outback), rewarded by entering the most boring city imaginable. In short, it sucks.
So we get down to Canberra and try and do this job, to find out that there is no truck access (no truck = no crane, and the 2 tonne safe was going to Level 1). So we go get permission to remove the bollards. Done. We move the truck in position. Easy. We unload the safe. Simple. We strap the safe as to have it on an angle that allows is to fit into the balcony. Routine. We lift the safe up to the first floor, and it falls to me to pull it in. I try. I try again. I try again. Nope. We lower it. Change the straps to a sharper angle. Lift it up. I try. I try again. I tray again. I fail. We lower it and put it on a massive angle. Lift it up. I try. I try again. I try again. I can't do it. We lower it and put it on it's back. Re-sling it. Lift it up. I try. I try again. I try again. This is fucked. We can't do it with just two men. So we apologise to the manager, and tell them we'll be back Wednesday. We then go to drop off the lock to the other bank (the other reason we came down to Canberra). Of course, it doesn't fit. So we take away their old lock and tell them that we'll fix it and drop ot off on Wendesday.
So, we wasted a whole freaking day, an early start, and about $400 of the company's money. Shithouse.
So Monday night I stay at Grandad's place for the night. Nothing eventful there.
Tuesday comes along. Melbourne cup day. It was worse than Monday. It was raining. All the jobs were difficult. The last job particularly so. We had to take a jewellers safe (about 3 tonne) off of a 3 inch concrete slab, rotate it, and fit it out of a door with only about 2mm clearance. All this in a room the size of a single bed. So small in fact that the concrete slab stuck out as far as the door, meaning that the safe had to come out at an angle (despite the limited clearance). It was difficult to say the least. Most everything went wrong, and Alex cracked it. I hate it when Alex cracks it (not the safe, silly; his temper). Then after we finally get the safe out (the entrance door also only had mm clearance), we load it onto the truck, and when Alex is backing the truck out, he runs over a bollard. He almost breaks down. It was the final straw. Luckily, when we are able to pull over, we find out that it only bent the steel mudflap. Very lucky, there are alot of things that he could have damaged under that truck. We head back to Botany and place our bets for the Melbourne cup. I try my luck at a trifecter, but also put $10 on Macaybe Diva (sp?). Alex was about to put down money on Macaybe Diva, but at the last moment decides to put it down on Railings instead. Of course Macaybe Diva wins (in an unprecedented 3rd Melbourne cup victory), and Alex doesn't. Another thing to go wrong on Alex's worst day ever.
I stay over at Grandad's again that night.
When I get into work the next day, I find out that when Alex was cooking dinner on Tuesday night, he cut the tip of his left index finger off, and touched a nerve. He said it felt like he was puring boling water over the whole hand. Fucked. What a shitty, shitty, shitty day for Alex.
Wednesday was fairly average. I don't really remember it. We didn't end up going to Canberra.
Thursday we had to remove some filing cabinets and a double door from a CBA office in Paramatta. Of course we couldn't remove the double door into the lift because we didn't have the long trolley with us. We promised we'd be back. I don't really remember the other jobs that day, and you don't want to hear about them. We ran out of time and weren't able to get back to the CBA with the long trolly because we worked beaucoup overtime delivering some strongroom doors to Chatswood.
Friday promised to be just as average a day. However, it wasn't.
Nova (a radio station) run a promo that involves uessing 5 movies from the 5 1-second-long clips they play from them. People had guessed the first 4, but noone had guessed the 5th yet. Because of that they made the clip a little longer. Straight off the bat I recognise it as being from Lost in Translation. For a few reasons I don't call the competition line (I never bother, I didn't have the number, I thought Alex should call after having such a shit week), but Alex does. For the first time ever he gets through first time. He's like "It's ringing! It's never rung before!" They make him pull over (you can't drive while calling; it's illegal), get all his details and his answer (Shrek, A Fish Called Wanda, 50 First Dates, School of Rock, and Lost in Translation) and put him on hold. He's pretty fucking nervous, and so am I. He downs a cigarette in about a minute. He's shaking. They take his call (on the air), and ask him his answer. They say that the adjudicators are out, and will get back to him after the song. They play a Motley Crue song, and Alex downs another cigarette in another minute. The operator then gets back to him and asks him how he feels ("nervous"), and says that if he wins, he has to shout and make alot of noise. Then Merrick and Rosso (the DJs) get back to him and tell hm he's won $10,000!!!!!!!!!
His whole body was shaking. He tells them that he's never seen Lost in Translation and that it was his borther (me) sitting next to him that told him. So they ask him to give me the phone, and I talk to them for a moment (they ask if he's going to share the money with me, and I say "he better!" as a joke), and ask to talk to him again.
It was crazy man. For the first few hours it was literally unbelievable. Alex said the he'll give me $2000 of it. I didn't ask for any, and I refused him at first, but he insisted. Good on him. That's pretty god-damn lucky 'coz I haven't been saving enough for NZ, and that money has almost covered it. Sweet! During the next hour or so, all his friends called him. Pretty much all of them had heard him on the radio (Nova is quite the popular station), which made the win even sweeter.
So we drive to our next job (which we were late to), and told the guy there that we won. He didn't really believe us, but later Alex came on the radio, and he was pretty impressed.
The rest of the day involved picking up the safe from CBA Parramatta, a job in Chatswood (where we got a $30 tip!), and that was it. A Sweet day. So we headed back to the factory early.
I went over to Brendan's place that night with most of my mates for a few drinks, and some good times.
I headed home Saturday, and had dinner with Mum at Yummy Thai (best Thai restaurant ever). It was good to be home, but I had to head back to Sydney on Sunday to stay at Alex's so we could head back down to Canberra Monday with Jason. Alex had spent the weekend at Stockton beach with his mates, a hired 4WD and some big-ass dunes.
Monday we went down to Canberra and on the third time of slinging the safe to make tehangle bigger, Alex and I got it through the balcony fairly easily. We had to remove a fire door in order to get the safe into the bank, but we did it. The removal of the book safe (the other half of the job) was a piece of piss. We also dropped the fixed lock off at the London Circuit bank.
I bought 2x $3 CDs because they had cool covers, but I can't tell you what they are like because I left them in the truck. Mum is bringing them home for me. But I don't know when that will be, tonight or tomorrow night, because she was thinking of staying down in Sydney tonight because Peter has his final HSC exam then (although I don't think staying with him is a good idea because it only means he will be distracted). This sucks because one of my best mates, Marty, hands in his honours on Wednesday, and I wanted to go out with him, and if Mum stays down in Sydney tonight, it means I can't. And that fucking sucks. But it does serve me right in not getting my license earlier. I hate not having a license.
I also bought a few CDs this week:
Ween - Shinola Vol. 1
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Midnight Juggernaughts - Midnight Juggernaughts EP
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis - The Proposition Soundtrack
Terrorvision - Regular Urban Survivors (A $2 gamble)
Nomeansno - The People's Choice
The Bubba Ho-tep Soundtrack
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (Alex gave it to me)
El Caco - ?? (One of the $3 CDs I left in the truck)
?? (The other $3 CD I left in the truck...)
I'm staying at home today (and as said above) possibly tomorrow. Fun fun. I'll probably watch the free DVD that came with the Opeth album, and wander around teh house, bored. Actually, I'll try and finish A Feast for crows. I'm enjoying it, but I wish it was released as a complete book, rather than it being divided. Oh well, naught I can do about that one...
And that's about it (and about time too...). Hope your week is awesome.
Listening to: Nomeansno - The People's Choice (Album) (when I started typing this, but I've taken to long to copmplete it - 1 hour - that I'm now lisetning to Opeth - Ghost Reveries (Album))
So, last update, it didn't occur to me to talk about the eels concert that I went to on Wed the 20th Oct with Mum, Linden, Monique and Jess.
It was freakin awesome. They toured with a quartet (well, there was four of them on strings, if that is the definition of a quartet, then that's what it was), so there was a great spin on the songs. The drummer ("The Chett") was awesome, and actually more than a drummer (which is why he was awesome). They weren't actually drums as such, but rather a suitcase and a trash-can. So cool. The Chett also played those country and western slide guitars (the ones that aren't guitars, but actually a board with strings on it and a pedal), the saw (totaly awesome), and numerous other instruments I can't recall.
During one of the songs (I wish I could remember which), all the string players put donw their string instruments and picked up a percussion instrument. One of the instruments was a dildo that she held against the mic to give a rattly-like sound. Fekkin cool.
E walked out on stage wearing a suit, and a bowler-like hat, brandishing a cane, a cigar and a brandy. Tops.
It was a really god-damn good concert (although I wasn't as happy afterward as I was with the first time I saw them). And E really treats the audience well. He talks to us as if it were in one-on-one conversaton. When he was talking one time, someone shouted something out, and he says "shhh..... talking." I liked that.
The best part was the final encore though. Like the last concert of theirs that I went to (2003), they performed one final encore after even the house lights were turned on; just for the fans that stuck around. They all came out in their pajamas; one of the string players (who were originally wearing evening dress) came out in eels underpants. So cool.
So yeah, it was a rip-snorting concert.
And on Wednesday night (the 26th), I saw Electric Six with Boggle and Monique.
That was some freakin awesome rock and roll funk disco. The opening act was Midnight Juggernauts. I've heard their name before, but had never heard them before. They were really fucking cool. Like horror electro rock. Yeah they were awesome. A great opening band always makes a concert so much better.
The lead singer from Electric Six had such a mad presence. He would wave at the crowd, pose for the crowd (a long, very still forced smile) and generally just be fucking awesome. A really top gig.
On the way home, I ran into an old friend from uni, Sophie. She was catching the same bus as us (to Milson's Point), and we talked all the way there, then we hopped on the train home, and continnued talking. I made sure I had her number. A tops night overall.
I've got Nat's Birthday BBQ this Sunday. I'll probably meet up with him on Saturday first though, and stay over.
Unfortunately I'm pretty sick right now, so I'm hoping that I feel better before then.
Also becase Daylight savings starts Sunday, and all next week I am working at Safe Installations (7am starts... 5:30am wake-ups). Bloody daylight savings.
So I hope I feel better ASAP.
My DS is still without a DS game (only have BA games). Nuts. But I suppose it's worth it coz I bought A Feast For Crows yesterday instead of a game. I've been waiting 3 years for that sucker to come out. I'm up to page 100, and it seems good so far. I'm going to read it when I'm done on this post.
And it looks like I'm done on this post.
Keep it rockin' folks!
Listening to: Janes Addiction - Ritual De Lo Habitual (Album)
Well, yes, another day has passed by.
Relishing my time at home alone, I decided to not go down to Sydney today, but rather stay at home. Every time I do this, I am reminded why I like people. Gods I'm bored.
Lstening to: Monty Python - Money Song
Well... Tim L has been accepted into the airforce (life-long dream) as a navigator (hopefully a jet navigator), so on Friday night we had a farewell dinner for him at a new restaurant in Hornsby. I was feeling a little under the weather, so I only shared a dish with Monique, but the food was great, and we had a fair bit of wine.
We then went over to the Blue Gum for more drinks. Quite a few more drinks actually, but I didn't really get drunk. A good thing.
I played one horrible game of pool, and then played so well I won the next 3. Kickass.
We then went over to the RSL and had a few more drinks.
The night ended at about 4am, and I was buggered the next day (and still feeling under the weather).
Watched Team America which was hella funny, and then popped on the 2:50pm from Hornsby and went home (with a stopover at Yummy Thai in Morisett).
Didn't do much today, watched The Night of the Lepus which is a terrible '70s movie about giant rabbitts. Pretty cruisy.
I still feel under the weather - but so much physically anymore (a good thing I suppose), and am rather bored.
I've come very close to finishing my CV, and will probably email that off to Margot tomorrow. I hope something good comes of that.
And that's about it. I suppose this post served more as documentaion than entertainment, but I couldn't be arsed describing my weekend in an entertaining manner.
Keep it rockin'.
Hey folks!
Thanks for tuning in.
Well, I've been at home bored for two days, and as so often happens when one it bored, they start trying new things. This blog is one of those new things.
I thought this morning that I should keep a diary/journal, and being a great big smelly nerd, I figured that this would be the best way.
I will document travels (rather than sending so many emails), rabbit on about weekends. And whatever else tickles my fancy.
Man that sounds gay.
Ok. That's enough from me...
