Thursday, September 28, 2006

Nought to do

I finished all my work about an hour ago, and now have nothing to do. Typical really.
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Done!

w00t!
I just finsihed the regular routes for Shorelink! The work that I have been working on for over a week now is finally complete! I'm taking a quick relaxation break at the moment, then I'm going off to lunch (in about 5 minutes) and then I have to start on the school routes (they shouldn't have nearly enough edits as the regular routes, I might add).
Stoked.
Yay!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Cheese

My brain just turned into cheese. I think I need a Red Bull, but I not only cannot afford one, but I can't really leave the office for the amount of time it would take me to get one. Bummer. I have to stay here for a minimum of 40 minutes from now too. I was planning on working longer hours this week because I want more money, but I don't think I can stay for much longer. I finished checking the timetables today, and now just have to QC them, but my brain doesn't want to; it's made of cheese.
Boring.

Listening to: The Mark Sandman Boxset (at least it's totally fucking awesome).
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Adventures on the train part... uh, I don't remember.

Felt tired this morning, and for the first time since starting work, I felt like staying in bed, rather than waking up. I'm going to try and have an early night tonight.
Because of this I left the house late this morning, so I'm catching the later express train (and to really mix things up, I'm travelling in the front carriage! Aren't I whacky?). It's more comfortable anyway, and despite leaving 10 minutes later than my other train, I only get into work 5 minutes later than usual (which I might add is still considered "on time") Where's the inspiration to catch the normal train, I ask?
My DS informed me during lunch time yesterday that the battery needed charging, so I read on the way home (and on the way in too, but just because I wanted to). I'm reading Terry Pratchett's <i>Guards, Guards!</i> (thought I'd see if html works on email blog posts). I really like Pratchett. It's funny, clever, insightful and the characters are great. So yeah. Pratchett = winner!
I thought there would be a chance that the front carriage would be less crowded. Nope. Lost the seat next to me by Beecroft (at least she's cute).
And I think that's it. Thanks for keeping me entertained.

Listening to: Kyuss - Wretch (not as good as their other work - verging on not good. Yeah. Pretty average. But not bad as such. And the last track is good. I suppose that's why there aren't any songs off this album on the Best Of)

PS The carriage now has people standing. So much for my theory.
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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

A shiny place I call home.

Exciting news! The real estate agent called today to inform me that our rental application has been excepted! Yay!
We sign the papers 9:00am Saturday morning! Hot Stuff! Going to have a nice little shin-dig next weekend probably to Christen the place. Shouldbe tops.
Also today I bought (Leanne lent me the money actually.. bless her) the tickets for Field Day (1st Jan) and Gods Kitchen (Sunday night). Should be super hot. Look forward to it.
I can't wait until pay-day. I need the dollars. I learnt a harsh lesson this week, so I will be less frivolous with spending from now on. I will save for more expensive items, rather than blow 1/3 or a 1/2 of my pay in one go. I can't wait until the 5th Oct...
Yes. That is all.
Listening to: Underworld - Everything, Everything (their kickass live album)

Seriously.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Are your panties G-fresh?

Sunday, September 24, 2006

New tattoo

So on Saturday, Brendan, Leanne and I looked at a lovely house in West Ryde, and liked it so much, that we have put in a rental application (we still need to provide some more info, but we'll fax that to them tomorrow). Fingers crossed we get it, coz it's nice, resonably priced, and close to alot of shit; or close enough. Only $330pw. Nice.
After viewing the place, we went to a park and just shot the breeze for a bit - with .44 magnum. Well not really. By a strange coincidence, Sally (friend from Uni, and Marty's longest standing friend) appeared at that very park, and we talked for a bit. Turns out she was also going to Marty's farewell that night at the Ranch.
we left shortly after that coz we had to drop Brendan off at work.
On the way back from dropping him off, I asked Leanne if she thought we should go get tattoos together some day. She simply replied with the question "How about now?"
And why not?
So I decided on a design, and she decided on a design, and we headed over to Jon's (my) house, and she drew mine up. Fucking perfectly, I might add.
In the mean time, Jon left work sick, and arrived home as Leanne was finishing my design.
I called a few tattoo studios (the really good one is booked for a month), and decided on The Illustrated Man - even though the guy I really liked had gone home for the day.
Leanne couldn't quite get her design right, so she decided to finish (and start) it on the train.
Got there, had some Thai Food, and got the tattoo done in about 15-20 minutes.
Awesome.
Here it is:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/jademonkee/My2ndTat.jpg
and here is Leanne's:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/jademonkee/20060923002.jpg
So yeah. Stoked. My tattoist didn't do as good a job as Leanne did, and he was a bit grumpy (Leanne's tattoist on the other hand was friendly enough and did a great job on her tattoo. Gaybo). But it was only ommisions that made my tattoo not as good as Leanne's original drawing, so at least I can get it added to if I feel the need. I eventually want to go to the good tattoo studio (that's booked out for a month or so), and get my first tattoo added to, and if I want, while I'm there I can talk to someone about adding some flare to my Boognish. Although it's the simplicity that I like.
Today Brendan, Leanne and I went to go look at their puppy. It's awesome. It's gonna be a nice addition to the household. I also met her biological Mother.
Also, Ross took me for a driving lesson (we practiced parking today), and came up with the idea to make chicken burgers for dinner. Holy shit they were fucking awesome. Fucking awesome.
We mixed in a special sweet chilli sauce, a but of lemon and cooked the chicken long with that sauce. Then we cooked some bacon and cooked the pineapple with the chicken, fried some capsicum, and warmed brie cheese on the chicken. We also added some lemon to some dijonaisse. Fucking awesome. Like FUCKING awesome.
We took one along to Brendan when we went to pick him up from work, and he said it was probably the best chicken burger he's ever had. Well done Ross.
So yeah. That's it.
Keep it rockin,

Listeningto: Jon talking to Helen on Skype. Hi Helen!

Friday, September 22, 2006

Broke

So I went overboard buying stuff, and now I have about $400 left of my pay. So I'm gonna take it easy next week...

Listening to: Melvins - Neither Here Nor There (Best of)

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Paid

Yes folks, the moment I've been waiting for: pay day.
Despite the schedule stating that I would be paid on a Thursday, when I checked my email last night, there was my pay slip in there. So I checked my balance and hey presto! There it was. Tops. I've already spent a whole lot though. Probably too much. I think I may pass on getting the 60GB HDD this week (there's no cheap sellers on ebay at the moment anyway). We'll see. I'm also going to get my DS tonight, and a game too. I think I'll probably just end up downloading the games that were stolen from me - I don't really want to pay for them again. But of course I have to get the SD adapter for the DS before I can do that. It'll probably have to wait until next pay (or when my tax comes through, whichever comes first). Then I want to replace my camera too.
Fun.
Work is getting along, but every hour, more and more errors appear in my data, but I'm getting through it.
Going to the Opera with Mum tomorrow night. Seriously. A Puccini Opera (I don't remember what one). Typically, it's casual Friday, so I can either get Mum to bring clothes to me that night, or I can just wear nice clothes at work, and be out of place all day.
Keen to go out Saturday night. Really keen. But Marty has a farewell gathering at The Ranch that night, and I can't miss that. So I think I'll go there to "warm up" so to speak, and then head some place more interesting. Don't know where though. I'm sick of Balmain, so I'm thinking somewhere in the city. Somewhere new and exciting in the city, I might add.
Saturday I'm going looking at houses with Brendan and Leanne (sorry Ross, they asked me first after all).
I'll see if I can get some driving time in on the weekend too.
And Monday is work again. We have a new guy starting Monday too. So many fresh faces at work (me included, obviously).
Oh, did I say I'm going to get Mars Volta tickets this morning too? Golden.
Got the intercity train this morning, but alas, I am not lucky enough to have a seat to myself. Oh well. Life's hard, isn't it?
I think that is all now.
Later!

Listening to: The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute (getting me in the mood. Hot stuff!)
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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Adventures on the Train, pt 3

I brought a book with me on Friday, so you probably noticed that there were few updates. Well, I've just about finished that book, so I figure I'll write something in my blog to help save what is left of my book for the trip home.
But anyway.
There was still little work to do up to Friday, so my boss assigned me with "prep" work. This is more complex than what I was doing before, and there are more decisions that need to be made, as well as more training.
This should be fine. Except the person that input the data that I'm working with was a fucking monkey. There are soooo many errors and inconsistencies that it's going to take me all of this week (and maybe part of next) to find and correct them all. To exemplify how many errors there are, the error report was 24 pages long. Gaybo.
I'm not sure I have a strong enough concept of our data to be making the kind of decisions that need to be made in doing this, so I'll still be hassling my trainers for info on best practice. In a couple of weeks I should be comfortable enough with my own decisions though.
Also, our new manager wants us to start working a minimum 40 hour week (whereas before it was a maximum 40 hour week). I'll be happy for the money, but I'll have to start getting into work earlier. About 8:30am should be early enough.
Went up to the Hunter this weekend for a haircut. I like it. Feels better to have shorter hair again.
I also tried the mentos and diet coke experiment with Peter. Fun. We decided that it would be awesome that next time one of Peter's friends is drinking diet coke, he should tell them to try a "mint swirler" by dropping a mentos into it - also telling them that it is tasty as. Obviously he'd have to stand back. Awesome.
So yeah. Work yesterday was really just error checking and hassling Lex for info on how to fix the errors. Work today will be much the same.
"Next stop Strathfield. Stand clear, doors closing."

Listening to: Faith No More - Angeldust (hey, what's that FNM song that ends with Mike Patton screaming "Help!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help!" [notice the pause between the "Helps"] I'm pretty sure it's off of Album of the Year. Comment me the answer [this is actually just a ploy to get you people to start leaving comments]).
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Thursday, September 14, 2006

Geebers

So bored.
So, so bored.
I just finished reading the data capture guidelines for bus operators... I need some work.

Listening to: Eagles of Death Metal - Death By Sexy (Album)
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What?

Wow. Still no work. Great.
At least Bec said that when she's finished what she's doing, there'll be plenty of work for everyone. Let's hope so.
Funnily enough, those that were waiting for work with me yesterday are doing work now. That's a little weird.
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Adventures on the Train, pt 2

Got an express intercity train today, so I should get the seats to myself at least until Strathfield.
Didn't bring a book today (thus why I'm writing this) because my bag was too full of sandwiches. I'm so broke that I had to get Jon to buy bread and stuff yesterday so that I could eat today (thanks heaps Jon).
It looks as if I spoke too soon on the seat thing. We're at West Ryde and the seat next to me was just taken. He kinda smells too. At least it's more comfortable than the normal trains.
So yeah. That's it. Back to Solitaire.

Listening to: Living Things - Ahead of the Lions.
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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Over?

Just might have finally been given some work to do!
Not the usual stuff (Chris still hasn't given me my next unit), but Becca has found something for me to do. Kind of. She went to show me what it is that I have to do, when she found some errors in it. So now she's trying to fix them. While I sit here typing on my phone to alleviate some boredom. Yup.
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AAAAH!

Still fucking waiting!

Still waiting...

Ok, so I didn't talk to Chris, as he was busy, and before he was free, Ben came over to give me some QC checks to do. I just finished them then. I go check to see if my new unit is ready, and... no. So I go to ask Chris if he can get it ready, and he's disappeared again.
Fun.
I hate being bored, even if I am getting $25 an hour for it.
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Waiting for work

Here's how work works (so to speak). You're assigned work units. There generally take about 2-3 hours each (although I only got through 1 yesterday, so they can take alot longer), and when you're about 1/2 an hour from finishing, you sign up for more work. Sometimes this takes a little longer than half an hour.
So I signed up for work at about 11:45am today, and had finished all my work by about 12:30pm. So I go to check if my new unit is ready. Nope. So I decide that I'm hungry enough to go to lunch, which would effectively give Chris another 1/2 hour to get the unit ready.
When I got back from lunch at 1pm, the unit wasn't ready. And Chris was at lunch.
So I'm sitting here waiting for Chris to get back and get my unit ready.
Of course, by the time I typed all this up, Chris arrived back.
So I'm going to go hassle him for my next unit.
Oh, one more thing. I put a pre-order for the new DS Lite Black today. It is due for release the day I get paid, so I figure that's something close to a sign.
Later!
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Adventures on the Train, pt 1

Yup, train trips are dull. I'm pretty happy that I get on at Thornleigh though, as I always get a seat. It'd suck having to stand.
So, what's interesting to look at on the train today? Certainly not the scenery. Any attractive ladies? I can't really be sure, as none are facing me.
What else?
There's one of those technology/lifestyle newspaper pull-outs on the floor, but I took a look at it earlier, and it was only "journalists" putting forth bias (read: paid) reviews of products I don't want/need/could make my own mind up on.
So what else?
I played Solitaire for a little while - as I do every train trip - but thought this activity had the potential to be interesting. I think I was wrong, and I'm pretty sure you're just as bored as I (What are you doing, Simon! The fourth wall! The fourth wall!).
Ha how funny is that, when I type wall, y2k comes up before I've typed the last "l" in wall. I wonder how often THAT has been typed across Nokias worldwide. Why freakin add it?
I was gonna bring a book today; I plum forgot (is that how you spell plum in this situation?). I don't know if I should bring my current State of The Universe(s) book (which is beginning to bore me, as I'm reading it so rarely), or grab the next Terry Pratchet book. Wow, such decisions. Isn't life hard?
Anyway, it looks like I've wasted enough time rambling; we just left Central.
Until next time.
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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Paranoia

How funny has the world become?
On the train I'm sitting across from a Middle Eastern looking guy. He's carrying a bag and he looks fidgety or nervous.
And this makes me nervous.
I blame the media (Well actually religion could take more of the blame for the situation... but I'm blaming the media for talking about it all the time).
That's all. Just thought I'd share a little moment of unjustified fear.

Listening to: Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows - The Vampyre Sucking at His Own Wound (an album by my favourite goth band. Love 'em!)
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Saturday, September 09, 2006

Lilly

Have I betrayed my sex by purchasing Lilly Allen's album?
I really like it, but I feel that it is somewhat anti-male... so I'm not sure I should own it...
But I really like it.
Curse your infectious hooks Lilly!

Friday, September 08, 2006

After work drinks

Wow.
I'm pissed.
yup. I'm not going to deny it... I'm pretty darn close to pissed.
I had several drinks after work with my cohorts. And I am close to newted.
And then, when I got back to Jon's (although I should probably be addressing it as "home") I was pretty much a write off.
And then I went to the fridge and had my designated beer for the night - which was "le Guillotine" the 9.3% beer. So of course, my "close to newted" became "undisputedly newted."
It's fun.
So work is good. I like the people.
A guy I work with called Ben has fantastic taste in music (and also has tickets to theTool concert; remind me to tell you about an ebay auction involving Tool tickets... I just hope I hear you when you remind me)
So I'm stoked to be working with such good people. And of course the $25 an hour helps. Alot. And the flexible hours. So yeah. Ilike my job. The only fault is that I want one that goes somewher; and I don't think this one will.
Wow. I'm totally maggot.
I can't reallythink of anything else... and truth be told, it's difficult to type.
Farewell!

Listening to: The Mars Volta - De-Loused In The Comatorium (Speaking of which they're touring in December. Jon and I are keen to go.. and so is Ben (from work). Come one, come all.

Oh. The Tool tickets. Check this auction out.
Seriously. WHY DIDN'T I GET THESE!!??!!

Monday, September 04, 2006

Jobby job-job

Soooooooo. I worked today. Was good. The work seems easy, the office staff are friendly, the pay is actually $25 (not the previuosly thought $24), and the environment in cruisy.
The hours are flexible within set conditions:
I have to be at the office between 9:30am and 4pm, but I can arrive before 9:30am and leave after 4pm if I want. I can take lunch whenever I want, for as long as I want, just as long as it is at least 1/2 an hour, and I work at least 7 hours in a day, and no more than 40 a week. Easy.
It's located just behind Town Hall, so is very central, and every Friday we go out for drinks. Yeah. Tops. I got my ID card today, whereas other other people had to wait a week before they got theirs. Sick. I will be in training for about 2 weeks, but after that I will be completely independent. Hot stuff.
This evening, I also tried the first of the 6 beers that Ross bought me in congratulations on finally getting a job. I tried "Rolling Rock." A nice refreshing Pennsylvanian lager, light on the pallete, and completely inoffensive. I look forward to working my way up toward the stronger beers. Thanks Ross!
But the day wasn't all joy.
You may or may not have heard about Steve Irwin. He died today. It's funny that in the last few months I have been watching his show a fair bit and really enjoying it. I think it's very saddening that he died at the young age of 44. Here's to ya Steve!

Friday, September 01, 2006

Fuck YEAH!!

Just got a phone call from EBR (the recruitment agency), and they informed me that I GOT THE JOB!!
I start Monday, 10am. How hot is THAT!? Get paid fortnightly. Work Mon-Fri. I don't know if I start at 10am everyday, or just Monday... will find out.
Now I just need business shirts... don't own any. The shirt I had for the interview is a little too dressy. Just wanna get a nice business shirt. I don't think I'll wear a tie, as the two guys that interviewed me didn't.
Stoked.

Listening to: Tenacious D - Kielbasa (FUCK YEAH!!)