Breakfast

Breakfast
Originally uploaded by JadeMonkee.

Oh Lord.

I love breakfasts.

At Stockland Mall in Baulkham Hills, came here to get new tyres for Leanne's car. We stopped by Fresh It Up in the food court. We ordered the Everist (sic).

It's awesome.

Back to eating now.

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What's Happened to Me?

I just walked into JB, and I had no urge to buy a CD. Not even to *look* at CDs. I don't know what's up with me. I feel all over different today, so I don't feel as if it's going to be a long lasting problem. But it's odd. And a little worrying. I think I just feel a little out of it today.

Listening to: the food court.
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Case Refunded

Because the computer case I bought didn't have an ir receiver on it, and because the guy who sold it to me said that it did, he gave me a refund. Yay! He said I was mad to do it though, as it was well below cost. I don't care; it's a shit case (I didn't tell him that though...).
So, spontaneous regretful purchase fixed.
Oh, and he said that he doesn't have any Sempron 3100+'s so I wasn't able to get one anyway (which actually makes me feel a little better). Apparently you can't get them anymore.
FYI, the difference between my processor (Sempron 3000+) and the Sempron 3100+ is the 3100+ has 256kb Level 2 cache, and the 3000+ has 128kb.
What that will actually amount to in performance, I don't know, but I figured the $10 difference would have been worth it.
Oh, and Fluidtek don't stock the 20->24 pin power adaptor that I need to hook my mobo up - I will have to visit Jaycar tomorrow to get one.

The Impossible Quiz - 300th Post!

The Impossible Quiz - Presented by AddictingGames
This is annoyingly awesome.
Been playin it for a while now.
Check it out.
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300th Post WOOHOO!

The Events of Today and Last Night (yesterday and the night before...)

As promised, here are the events of "today and last night," but as time has moved on (as it usually does), they are now the events of yesterday and the night before.
I'll start at the night before.
The Asian Supermarket.
Holy cow, wow.
What an adventure. So many exciting goodies. So, so many. I love Asian Supermarkets, and this one was as big as a Woolworths (not a Tescos though). We bought all manner of fantastic products. I took a photo of everything we bought, included below:

The description on the photo page contains a list of everything in the photo. I've only tried the fried bread (no good) and the sweet chilli sauce (good). I'll let you know how everything else goes.
After our little shopping adventure, Leanne wanted to take me out to dinner - her knowing that I have been craving Cannelloni for the last few months, she decided to take me out to La Botte (which is across the road from the Asian Supermarket - actually, I have the events kind of backwards here, Leanne wanted to take me to La Botte, and to waste some time between picking me up at the Bus Stop and dinner, we decided to visit the nearby Asian Supermarket).
So we dropped our stuff off at the car, and walked across the road to La Botte. Now. Fluidtek lies between La Botte and the crossing, so I couldn't help but pop in and ask Eddie if there was any possibility of obtaining a Socket A motherboard. He said no, but said for $130 I can get a socket 754 board (the ASUS K8V-VM) and a Sempron 3000+ processor, which will mean I can keep my RAM, and because there is onboard video I don't need a new graphics card. Hmmm. $130 is a good price... so... I bought it. It's a mini atx board. Of course, the problem with the un built graphics card is that I can now no longer can play video games - not that I played many before, but Leanne was having fun on The Sims 2. But it has a PCI-E 16x port, so I can always buy a good video card and use it in my next system (and as the on board graphics only has VGA, I will have to get a new card if I want DVI anyway). Also, I'm not sure how the new Sempron will compare to my old Athlon. As they are two entirely different architectures I will have to wait and see until my PC is running and just compare the time taken to do tasks (although I now have more RAM as the 512MB module that I bought off of Jon should work in this board - but after buying the board I found out that there are only 2x RAM slots, so I can't use the 2x256MB modules that were in my old board, rather I will use the (non-matching) 512MB module that Josh gave me... either that or see if I can get the RAM out of Aaron's old PC. Complicated.).
Anyway.
While I was there I thought I would ask about a HTPC case for my new board (might as well). They had a Silverstone LC16 advertised on their website for $249 (which inlcuded a VFD, Remote control, volume knob, and play/stop etc buttons). He said they were out of stock, but had the Accent HT-200 HTPC case. He described it as the "Rolls Royce" of HTPC cases. He also mentioned that it came with an ir receiver, so I could use a remote with it anyway. It was advertised on the site as being $229, but he said he'd do it for $140. I thought that sounded a bargain so I bought it.
Mistake.
The Silverstone is a good case. The Accent one isn't. The only feature it offers is the VFD. In fact, my $50 case has some usability features that this case is lacking. In all honesty, I have no idea why people would pay any more than the $140 for it.
Even from the moment I opened the vanity flap for the 5.25" drives, one of the two magnets that keep it closed came off... hmmm.
The drive cages are difficult to remove.
There is no external 3.5" bay (I wanted a card reader to go there - and while I can get a 5.25" card reader, I currently have two 5.25" drives, so there isn't room for one).
Also, because of the vanity flap, I can't install my front panel connector for my soundcard (and there isn't room for it anyway, as there is only 2x 5.25" external drive bays).
The motherboard tray doesn't slide out (but it doesn't do that on my existing case, so no biggie).
The PCI card bays are hard to get to with a screwdriver (even my $50 case combated this by having holes for the screwdriver to pass through).
The VFD controller cable has to pass out the back of the case to the parallel port (why not connect to an internal USB header?).
If I wanted to use the breakout box for my soundcard, I would have to stick it outside my case (and I probably would want to).
Now, despite these problems, and because I had seen it online for up to $300, I was happy in the fact that despite it being a basic case, at least it was a bargain (and isn't bad looking). But yesterday I found out that it doesn't have the ir receiver that Eddie said it did. Ok. Fuck that. I don't need a new case right now, I would prefer my actual HTPC to go into a better (more functional) case, and I need the money. So I will be taking it back. If Eddie doesn't let me do so (there is a no exchange for change of mind policy - so all I have to go on is him saying that it had ir when it didn't), I will sell it on Ebay (and maybe get more for it??). Even if he just gives me a store credit, it won't be so bad, as Josh wants me to pick him up an external 2.5" HDD for him anyway. So. Little pissed about that.
Last night I placed the new mobo into my old case and started hooking things up. "Hey-ho, what's this? A 24 pin power connector where my PSU only has a 20 pin. Oh joy." So I couldn't get it all running last night anyway. Grr... Turns out that PCI-E boards require more power. So I need an adaptor (my PSU won't have a problem handling it). I think I can run it without the extra 4 pins, as they are only required for PCI-E, but don't want to risk it. So I will have to ask Eddie for that adaptor. So many problems!!
And Fluidtek is closed today, so I will have to do all of this tomorrow afternoon. Fingers crossed he lets me do it. Stoopid case. It didn't even come with any installation instructions/information, and the website is vague. Silverstone is heaps better. Rolls Royce - you motherfucker.
Wow. That was a long ramble.
So anyway, after spontaneously buying that stuff (I also bought a USB WiFi connector, despite being warned about USB NICs being a bit hairy... so I hope it works well... my logic was that it's easily removable when I move to a wired network, or need it on another PC), Leanne and I went to dinner at La Botte.
It was tasty! My Cannelloni (veal) had less besciamella sauce than I'm used to, but was nice. The meat had a nice texture. Leanne bought a very nice Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli, and we bought a nice bottle of red for $15. It was a lovely meal, made lovelier by the dessert (Crème Caramel and Sticky Date Pudding), and the complimentary port.
Now, I'm not sure that you normally get complimentary port, but the waitress saw that I had bought some computer parts, and talked to me for a bit on routers. So, I think she gave us the port as thanks. Aw, bless.
Man, I want some ravioli right now.
Now, because of the length of this post (and the last one), I will keep the details of yesterday short.
I was due to go to a meeting at Shorelink HQ (in Mt Kuring-gai) for work (Rebecca was to come along, too). We were due there at 9:30am, and to get there Rebecca had to pass through Carlingford, so we decided to just meet me at the BP on Pennant Hills Rd at 8:45am. Easy done. We actually arrived at 9:15am, but when we got in they informed us that the man I was to meet with had called in sick! That motherfucker! So we met with someone else, who didn't really know much about TC, but was helpful (actually more helpful than the man we were meant to meet with), and didn't see any problems with the maps they had in their possession (the reason we were called to meet was because of the problems that the original guy had with the maps). The guy didn't find problems not because he didn't know it well enough, but because the guy we were originally meant to meet with was making problems that didn't need to exist.
So the meeting achieved nothing. So that sucks. And we'll probably have to go back there. Which also sucks.
And now at TC we are just about out of work. Well, not me so much as I have the last of the Premier Illawarra edits to do before we move onto generating the Fare Matrix Tables, but I spent yesterday bludging, and I have spent all this morning doing the same. I do have work now though, so I shall start it now.
And there you go.
Sorry for giving y'all so much to read. I should try and keep posts short, but sometimes I just get carried away. I know they get boring when they are this long. Sorry.

Listening to: Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows - Les Fleurs du Mal (The new one... it's cool. Actually, a few moments before writing this, I was of the mind that it will get better with subsequent listens - like all the best albums - as it didn't sound exceptional, but just now there was a very cool bit, and I have a very good feeling about this album. Oooh, I like this song; In der Palästra. There's a cool choir in it. Very cool. Wow. No, it's a fucking cool song. Dude. This album is hot.)

Boggle's 24th, a Meeting with Sophie, and an Overpriced CD.

EDIT: Photos added!
Fun!
Although things get a bit hazy toward the end...
Met up with Boggle at the blisteringly early hour of 4pm (what's a birthday party if the host isn't drunk by the time the guests arrive?), and started on the turps at Lord Nelson's. The wonderful thing about winter is that it means Nelson's Blood is on tap. I fucking love that beer. While Boggle and I were hoping to get a meal there, the kitchen was not yet open, so we grabbed a pork pie each... I could totally go a pork pie right now, actually... they were good. Served with Mustard and Relish. Mmmm. Yeah, I want one now. Dammit. Stoopid stuck at work.
Anyhow.
We left there after a pint and a pork pie to head to The Hero of Waterloo, which was to be the main destination of the night, and the meeting point for everyone else. Pints are tricksy things, y'know... I was close to drunk by the time Leah (sorry if I spelt that incorrectly...) arrived. So as Boggle and I were getting drunk quickly, and Leah was hungry, we decided to get some food. Both Boggle and I bought their Hero Beef Burger, and Leah a salad. Tasty burger, man. I like the Hero; good food, good music, good atmosphere. Just wish they had Lord Nelson's beer...
We ate and continued drinking, and started moving further into the realm of drunk.
More and more people arrived, but I don't so much remember the order in which they did do.
We met some cool random people; Italians and Campbelltownians among the memorable.
Actually, the guy from Campbelltown was pretty fucking funny. He was hyperactive and had a good sense of humour (even if quite often it was "at" not "with"). He reckoned John 5 (not the robot) was the best guitarist ever, and said this as if it was fact. He only said it because his brother said so, and he trusted his brother's opinion. Of course, this is the first time I've ever heard of him being an exceptional guitarist... needless to say, I don't believe him. He claimed that he was good at bluegrass, and bluegrass was the hardest style of music to play. Silly man.
But he was funny.
So by now, my memories are becoming hazy. I remember Leanne arriving. I remember leaving the pub. I remember going to one nearby (although I don't remember the name). I remember getting cocktails there (and a TASTY chocolate one). I remember falling off my chair because of my heel getting caught on the foot rest (heel + a chocolate cocktail sounds a little queer...). I remember seeing Boggle in a bin. I remember going to McDonalds. I remember ending up at The Brooklyn. I remember not enjoying it and feeling drunk. I remember leaving. I remember the bouncer not letting Boggle in because he had a bag. I remember insulting the bouncer because of it. I remember a cab trip home (but not hailing it). I remember the cabbie nodding off and drifting across lanes. I remember surviving, and being happy about it. I remember waking up, feeling like I was floating. I remember waking up a second time and feeling better.
But indeed, it was good fun.
Sophie contacted me that night. She's about to leave for England (maybe even left by now?), and we both wanted to meet up before she left. So we arranged to grab lunch the next day - so it was good that I felt better the second time I woke up.
We met up at Macquarie Centre, and had Japanese. Very tasty. It was good to see her again, and I'm envious of her trip to England. I wish I could be travelling again. I really, really, really want to go travelling again.
Saturday night was the Cracker Carnival at Leanne's old Primary School (Murray Farm Public). It was cool. We took a lot of photos, and they too will be posted to flickr. Link coming soon. It was cool to have be around a carnival atmosphere again, and fireworks are always cool.
The next day we were to meet up with Pete (Talan) down at Newport, as I haven't seen him in some time. Mum was up in the Hunter, but she arrived by about 7:30pm and we had Thai with her. Tasty Thai down at Newport, but their noodles aren't as good as Sweeney's or Chat Thai. Also, my new Sopor Aeternus CD (and LP) was down there waiting for me.
I'm a little disappointed with it. Not worth the $100 they charged (for the CD alone). Because the site I bought it off was in German, I couldn't get a decent description of what it contained (despite using online translators), but looking at their previous bonuses (grave dirt, communion wafers, funeral wreaths, tshirts, patches, posters, DVDs among others, I figured it would be something super cool.
Nope.
It's in a nice box, and it's in a nice format (large, maybe 20cm x 20cm) with a nice booklet. But the bonus was a signed card (which, despite being cool, I already have one of) and a manga comic of the album. Whoopee. Well, the comic is big, but I don't like Manga. Here is what Babel Fish tells me it came with:

The CD comes in, a stable Deluxe limited on 2000 copies box with 6-seitigen Digipak in the 7"(!)-Sonderformat, 40-seitigem Booklet of inclusive all texts, extensive illustrations and exclusive photos, 112-seitigem Sopor Aeternus Manga Comic and one of Anna Varney personally by hand coined/shaped and marked dear map.

Dear map? Coin? Those where the the things that intrigued me. The coin is a stamp in the corner of the signed card, and the dear map is the card. Shit. $100 of terrible value. Dammit. The last box set was heaps better. I haven't really listened to the album yet, as I wasn't really home yesterday to listen to it, and I forgot to rip it to my mp3 player before I left for work on Monday morning. I also didn't bring my iriver to work today. So tomorrow I shall have a listen. I hope it's really good. I might add I got number 1999 (2000 would have been cooler, but 1999 is still pretty cool)
I also bought the album as a twin LP set (which was only $50, and limited to 500 copies! Where's the logic? - I got number 147(?) maybe?), and as is the usual deal when vinyl comes through the post, it was damaged, so that was disappointing. I actually ordered the vinyl because I'm quite fond of vinyl, and it had a different cover - because of this different cover, I thought there would be different artwork, but no, it's an identical booklet to the CD. And while in transit, the booklet tore away a little from the staples that hold it to the sleeve. This on top of the dents in the corners makes me a little unhappy. Grrr... But it came with two posters (which means I now have three Sopor Aeternus posters now... hmmm, I don't think I need three...). So, a disappointing parcel.
On a happier note, the adaptor that I bought to hook up Peter's laptop HDD to a USB port works a charm! I tried it when I met him at Newport, and moved his old music and photos off of his broken laptop, and onto his new one. So that's good.
I should cover the events of today and last night, but I think I've typed enough for one post, so I will leave you at this, and add the events when I get home tonight, or maybe even tomorrow at work (as this lack of work will probably continue).

Asian Supermarket

Oh my God. Leanne and I are in the biggest Asian Supermarket I've ever been to. There's so much crazy stuff. I shall take photos of all that we have bought and post it to flickr soon.
Fantastic.
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Heating

I don't understand why in winter heaters heat places (in this case, my bus) to Summer temperatures, while in Summer the air conditioning drops the temperature to Winter temperatures. Are people just contrary?
Yags, this bus is warm.
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You Motherfucker!

The bus driver just pulled away with me running after the bus. People had barely alighted by the time he pulled away, motherfucker didn't even wait 10 seconds.
No real reason to complain though, the next bus is due to arrive in <5 min anyway - it's just that it's cold here, waiting.

Listening to: Traffic noise, as my beanie is getting preference over my headphones.

I might add, that by the time I'd finished typing this up, another bus had arrived. Yay! I'm defrosting now!
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Dear Abby...

I have the nagging (and somewhat nauseating) suspicion that my photograph tacked to the top of this blog is frighteningly Dear Abby-like.

What do you think?
Are you having any family/relationship/workplace/general troubles that you would like me to provide my "uncommon common sense and youthful perspective" on?

Feel free to write in. I'm just brimming over with good and soundly advice about personal problems. Honest.