My Year in Review

Cars Purchased - 1
Jobs worked - 3
Alcohol Units - Oh thousands
Xmas Functions - 4
Months unemployed: 5.5
Months employed: 12 minus previous answer
Months sleeping on the floor: 4 (that’s 1/3 of the year peoples!!!)
Months in a state of blissfully ignorant singleness: 12
Interstate moves: 1
Moves: 3
Cats acquired: 2
Lotto Wins: 4 (all division 5, but not too bad considering I only played three times)
Number of times perved on hot guy at work: Not enough (he was wearing overalls a bit too small for him today and leaning over a trolley… *drools*)
New friends made: Ditto perv answer, but without the stuff in brackets. That would be kinda weird.
Fridges owned: 2
Max vehicles owned at this household at any one time: 7 (for four of us. I only had one vehicle, but I am the only one with a bed :/)
New friends made by passing out in a toilet: 3
Kilo’s lost: not too sure, but approx somewhere between 8 and 10. (YAY!!!)
Lesbian kisses: 0

Don't people give you the shits

I have had an ongoing battle with one of my housemates.

Getting her to pay a bill on time is impossible. And if a late fee isn't incurred, then it doesn't matter. The fact that the bill is in my name and, up until I began to wait on her to pay her portion of the bill, I had a PERFECT record with the phone company doens't mean anything. Hell, my record was better than perfect. In four years I've only been charged a late fee once (maybe twice), and I usually put my account into credit when paying the bill. Not anymore.

I have also had to fight to get her to clean the litter tray that her cats primarily use. She never wanted to clean it. I had to ask her for about three times solid to scrape the tray in the morning. When she finally did she took out the solids but left the smelly stuff in there. Tally another fight to get her to scrape that up too. And she's been 'forgetting' for about a week solid.

She had a go at me a few weeks ago for not cleaning up after myself (i.e wiping the bench) after I cook. Then she got a full time job. Dishes constantly left on the sink, the benches always dirty. She never does her own washing. Her boyfriend does it, and just leaves it in the machine for the nest person who does washing to stick in the dryer. Which I have stopped doing. I just put it back on top of the pile (read mountain) that's constantly in the laundry. The very small, communal laundry. Where we also keep the litter tray that never gets cleaned.

Then there was the cat hair. Four cats (one longhaired, hers, naturally) create ALOT of hair. So I asked her if she could vacuum the floors once during the week, I'd do it once, and it would still remain a weekend task. The first two weeks I was the only one who did it. Then she chooses to tell me that she'd rather do it on the weekend. So I arranged for the person who would do the floors on the weekend to do them on a Tuesday instead. I'd still do the floors on a Thursday. She's done it once. Bitching and complaining the whole time. That was two weeks ago. I've reminded her, and asked her several times this week about doing the floors. They're not done. Next weekend, when we have our big house inspection clean, I'm not cleaning anything. In the week preceeding this I vacuumed twice, scrubbed the bathroom top to bottom, and cleaned the kitchen.

And to cap it all off we got a notice today to say that we're two weeks behind in our rent. Two of us in the house are paid up until NEXT friday. Guess who's behind? When I handed her the letter she poo-poohed it and said it was nothing. So when she goes to give me the money so that I can pay it for her, guess who's going to tell her to shove it?

Christmas has come early.

I went shopping today after work. Just routine shopping, nothing special. I unpacked my trolley, pushed it out of the way and drove home. Like I said. Nothing special. When I got home I unpacked my shopping and realised I had missed two items. I normally would say bugger it, but I know I'm going to want vegemite toast for brekkie tomorrow, so decided to go pick some up.

Can't find my bag. Christ! Its got my mobile in it. Where the fuck is my bag? Go out to the car, ringing my mobile. Nothing. CRAP!!! Its not in the house, and its not in the car. I havent been anywhere else. I call the shopping centre management. Has a bag been handed in? No. Uh-oh. I decide to head back there to ask at the shops I've been at today. I walk in the door and decide to ask at the front counter of coles. I used one of their shopping trolleys, maybe its turned up in that. *Holds breath*

The woman there doesnt understand english all that well. Shit. I see the guy who collects the trolleys. I ask him. It takes a while, but eventually he understands what I'm saying. He makes some vague gesture and wanders off. *Starts pulling out hair* Where the fuck is my handbag? I walk up to the cashier opposite the trolley bay. Hes she seen anything? No. I turn around and see the trolley return man walking in, waving a black bag at me. I could have cried from the relief. I check the contents of my bag. There's my phone, and my wallet. Complete with all of my cards, and the $50 note that I'd just gotten out of the bank.

How's that for lucky?

I even went up to the centre management to tell them I got my bag back. They were hopeful over the phone, but she even said that everybody in the office agreed it wouldn't show up.

Christmas has come early.

The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it

One of my solitaire games on my compy has a feature where it pops up with a quote after you sort out the deck. The tag line for this blog was a quote that popped up the other night. And it got me thinking.
I remember when I was a student, and I never really had time off. Sure it’s a pretty laid back lifestyle, but there’s always a looming stress with the next assignment, or the fact that, yes, right now I am bludging, but its going to catch up with me in a few days. There was little total relaxation from your chosen life.
But right now I’m sitting here in my new satin jammies (haven’t had new jammies in ages, one perk of making your own wage), drinking a glass of iced water (students save their ice strictly for alcohol), and listening to soft music and cicadas outside. I’ve just baked a whole crapload of bikkies and slice for tomorrows morning tea, and done all the cleaning. Its nice to be able to sit back and relax. Really relax like this.
And when I get to work tomorrow it’ll be busy, and stressful. My boss is leaving, and one of the guys who trained me is retiring. I’m taking over one of his areas, and he gave me a quick 20 minute run down on all that needs to be done. So next week is full of uncertainties, short-staffed-ness, new responsibilities and tasks, and lots of learning.But so long as I can come home and walk barefoot through the grass in the sun, or sit on the back verandah with a few drinks and watch the storm, all will be fine.

The 'I'm young and and I don't value my liver' thing

Im sitting here with crap on my face. Not literally. Figuratively. I'm doing a peeling mask. I makes me look/feel kinda like I've had botox. I cannot move my face. It even feels wierd to trun my head. I wonder if I might be ahead of the fashion here. Botox is cool, and shiny lips are cool, so why not go that one step further and introduce the shiny immobile face? So maybe its not going to be 'the look' at the moment, but maybe...

I've got a work do to go to tonight. And I want to get ready about an hour before I leave. Unfortuantely the hour is taking forever to get here. So I've decided to do the aforementioned thing and start drinking early. The only thing is I'm having some difficulty moving my lips.

There are drawbacks to having a shiny immobile face.

When I moved from Victoria to Queensland after high school, I had a going away party. I wasn't going to be returning to Victoria for any length of time for at least three years. Turns out its been pretty much permenant, and looks to be staying that way.
It wasnt a big party, but still only four people showed. I felt like crap.
Im hosting a sales party at my place this coming Saturday. I dont know many people outside of work. But I've invited pretty much everybody I have gotten to know since I started. Even though I've gotten a few yes's, I still can't shake the feeling that everybody is going to forget and nobody will show. Or worse. One very kind soul will show and feel sorry for me.

Next post please...

I have had the WEIRDEST week this week. On Monday I had the biggest urge to randomly stick my hands into their corresponding armpits, bend my knees a bit, so I was kinda hunched, wave my elbows in the air, and kick my legs around. I have no idea what caused this. I only refrained from doing this because I imagined the looks my co-workers would give me, and I didnt want them calling the men in white coats.

Yesterday felt like one huge caffeine rush. So did today when I came to it. Except today I had another random urge. I wanted to wave my arms in the air and bellow 'ROUND the world and home again, THATS the sailors way', while at the same time waltzing like Matilda. I think I'm sleep deprived.

I got this one from Nobuddy's Bizness. Go into your play list and press "shuffle". Then list the first 20 songs that play. Even if it's embarassing. It's lots of fun.

With over 6800 songs, this list represents less than 0.003% of my music collection
1. Caroline - Brooks & Dunn
2. The Long Day Is Over - Norah Jones
3. I Dont Want To Be Alone - Leann Rimes
4. You Move Me - Garth Brooks
5. Whispering - Frank Sinatra
6. something by James Blundell that I haven't titled yet (oops!)
7. You Give Me Love - Faith Hill
8. something by Ricky Van Shelton that I haven't titled yet (my bad)
9. Standing Up - Tina Arena
10. Walk, Don't Run - ??? (from the ultimate history of Rock & Roll)
11. Going Nowhere Slow - Bloodhound Gang
12. On The Other Hand - Travis Tritt
13. Hot Fudge - Robbiw Williams
14. Lola - ??? (its on a mixed CD ok?)
15. Heaven - DJ Sammy
16. Violet - Savage Garden
17. He Didn't Have to Be - Brad Paisley
18. It Was Over - Kevin Bloody Wilson
19. I'm A Beleiver - The Monkeys
20. So Young - The Corrs

Very Eclectic

Why does everything go wrong at once?

My fridge crapped itself last night. And I dont mean a little bitty hiccup. I mean it's lost its life force. I've only had it for three months and one week, on a three month warranty. Makes you want to hurt somebody huh?
But its all on top of a stressful week. After 3 months sleeping on the floor, I have finally purchased a bedroom package (on credit mind you, more financial woes for me). I was told when I ordered it that the bed wasn't currently in stock and had already been ordered, expected in early this week. I heard nothing from them on Monday, so I called. No bed, would most likely be in on Tuesday. So I decided to wait. I get a call Thursday. No bed. Would be in next week.
I was really excited. But all this putting off of the delivery is stressing me out about the credit. Its a GE credit card, with 26% interest. OUCH!
On Tuesday the head of my area handed in this resignation. He has a chance to do work thats closer to his heart, more hands on with animals, and less administrative work and political wrangling. Good on him I say, but its still going to be a big change for us. My direct superviser is worried. He's been through administrative changes before. So we don't know what we're going to get. Is it going to be somebody as laid back as our boss, who's going to let us sit in the tea room for 10 minutes after morning tea without getting on our cases? Or is it going to be somebody who insists we work righ up until 10:30, and we use our breaks to wash our hands and clean up. Cuz, seriously, thats going to take at least 1/4 of our break. More if we all do it at the same sink. And is he going to be 'cracking the whip' on our supervisers to do the same to us. Its stressful all round.
And there have been issues with sick animals too. I keep finding that my charges are unwell. It could be an oddly fluffed coat, or scours, or a decreased food intake. Sick animals are a fact of life at work, but it doesn't make sense that these ones aren't doing so well. They should be fine. Its not my fault, but at the same time its very disconcerting, because I'm half expecting to turn around and find a sick or, God forbid, dead animal. Its difficult to relax when its like that.
I hate being lonely.

Its official

I have no life. Four posts in a month?!? Either that or my life is so absolutely wonderful that I cannot express the greatness of it... nah.

I have decided to no longer try to hide from my fate... I am going to become a crazy old cat lady. I have started collecting cats and stopped brushing my hair.

I have decided that people are jerks and I'm going to become a hermit and live in the mountains with my cats and live off berries and yams.

My computer is irritating. There's no way to express how irritating it is without swearing. I have just downloaded an *illegal* album. And whilst transferring it to my music folder the goddamned bastard disappears. GAAAHHHH!!!!
Did a search. 5 songs in a temporary folder. WHERE ARE THE OTHERS I ask you. Nowhere. NOWHERE!!!!

GAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

Is there such as thing as s 'too-big' Harry Potter fan?

You mutter nonsense latin words under your breath.
You call your least favorite teacher Snape.
Your computer says "You've Got Mail" and you run outside looking for an owl.
You actually ask for a broom for Christmas.
You mutter "lumos" under your breath every time you turn on a flashlight.
You sort everyone you meet into the four Hogwarts houses. (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.)
You were burned when you couldn't get through the flames of your fireplace.
You had to go to the hospital after you broke your nose running headfirst into the wall between platforms nine and ten.
The wand order mistake in GoF drove you crazy, and even after it was "corrected" you still came up with dozens of theories to explain why that happened.
You point a normal things like parking meters and say "Look at the things these muggles dream up!"
You collect plugs.
You try on every piece of silvery fabric your mom has to see if you turn invisible
Before getting up to get something, you always try to summon it first. Accio TV remote!
You watched "Love, Actually" because two minor Harry Potter actors were in it.
You were reduced to tears when you finally had book 5 in your hands.
You refer to your Chemistry class as Potions.
You spend hours tapping bricks in special orders hoping that a secret entrance to Diagon Alley will appear.
When playing chess, you yell orders to the chess players and get upset when they don't move.
You yell into the "fellytone."
You get emotional every time you hear "Hedwig's Theme".
You say "wicked" all the time because Rupert Grint does.
You get thoroughly overexcited every time you see a word somewhere that is distantly linked with HP (ie. Saint Hedwig's).
You name all of your pets after HP characters.
You get in to heated arguments over how much gel Tom Felton had in his hair in the first two movies.
You know that Harry's birthday is July 31, 1980, Hermione's birthday is September 19, 1979 and Ron's birthday is March 1, 1980 even though it never said in the books.
You refer to Voldemort as "You-Know-Who", and no one has any idea who you're talking about.
You went out and bought the latest editition of the Webster's Dictionary because they added the word "muggle".
You were kicked out of the movie theater for standing on your chair, throwing your shoe at the screen and yelling "THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE BOOK!" You count the days until you're old enough for your apparating license, and everyone else thinks you're talking about driving.

The moral of the story is... DONT WAKE STEPH

At 3.30am last Friday I received a phone call, to my mobile, from male with Indian accent, from a private number. He began to introduce himself, and stated he was calling for…’ I cut him off with a mumbled ‘it’s 3.30 am’ and hung up.

At 3.50 the phone rang again. I picked it up and answered with ‘for Christ’s sake its 3.30 am stop fucking calling me’. I hung up immediately afterwards. The phone rang again immediately, and I let it ring out. It rang again straight after that and went through to message bank. The caller left a sexually offensive message starting with ‘hey bitch’ and going on to say he was going to come over ‘kiss you all over’ and ‘sex you up’.

When I heard the message tone I turned off all ring and message tones but left the mobile on as it is my alarm clock.

In the morning there were 4 unanswered calls from private numbers. A message was left at 4.21 am, 4.22 am and 5.39 am. There was also a missed call at 5.44 am, but no message was left. These messages were not offensive but it is irritating that I have to pay for telemarketers to leave messages on a primarily emergency use phone.

So on Saturday I went to a current affairs show here in Australia. And today I was interviewed. Tomorrow night I'm going to be on national tv, scary.

So much for a day off

Today was supposed to be my ADO (Allocated Day Off). But I found out last week that I had to attend an orientation seminar (read snoozefest, aimed at nurses). So I decided to take my day off another time.
So this morning I rock up at work, as per usual. But becuase I don't know whats going on with the day (what time do we start, do we get lunch and when, is there a place that I can put my lunch, what do we actually do, is ANY of it going to be relevant to me? and so on...) I haven't bought anything, except a blank book and a stack of different pencils (OK, so I have a habit of doodling when I'm bored, and I knew it was going to be boring).
After sitting in the tea room for half an hour at work, I go upstairs to where I should be. All I saw up there were two cleaners carts. So much for the queues that I was informed would be everywhere. Away, across the other side of the building, I could see a wondow with people in a small room. After hiking across the room, I asked what had happened to the orientation I was supposed to attend. Turns out that they don't hold it during public holidays because nobody turns up. I told them I'd heard it would be pretty boring, and was told yes, yes it was. They had been showing the same video for 15 years, no updates or anything. They asked which department I was working in, and when I told them they just laughed.

Anyway for my day off, I ended up spending the whole day at work, working. How fun for me. I at least get my ADO transferred to later in the week sometime.

odd....

In Lebanon, men are legally allowed to have sex with animals, but the animals must be female. Having sexual relations with a male animal is punishable by death.

In Bahrain, a male doctor may legally examine a woman's genitals, but is prohibited from looking directly at them during the examination. He may only see their reflection in a mirror.

Muslims are banned from looking at the genitals of a corpse. This also applies to undertakers. The sex organs of the deceased must be covered with a brick or piece of wood at all times.

The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.

There are men in Guam whose full-time job is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the first time... Reason: under Guam law, it is expressly forbidden for virgins to marry.

In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband, but may only do so with her bare hands. The husband's lover, on the other hand, may be killed in any manner desired.

Topless saleswomen are legal in Liverpool, England - but only in tropical fish stores.

In Cali, Colombia, a woman may only have sex with her husband, and the first time this happens, her mother must be in the room to witness the act.

In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, it is illegal for a man to have sex with a woman and her daughter at the same time.

In Maryland, it is illegal to sell condoms from vending machines with one exception: Prophylactics may be dispensed from a vending machine only "in places where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises."

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.

The ant can lift 50 times its own weight, can pull 30 times its own weight and always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Starfish don't have brains.

Turtles can breathe through their butts.

Enjoy... Steph

Having a Bad Day????

In a hospital's Intensive Care Unit, patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning, at about 11:00 a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought it had something to do with the supernatural. No one could solve the mystery as to why the deaths occurred around 11:00 a.m. on; Sunday, so a worldwide team of experts was assembled to investigate the cause of the incidents. The next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11:00 a.m., all of the doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books, and other holy objects to ward off the evil spirits.Just when the clock struck 11:00, Pookie Johnson, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so he could use the vacuum cleaner.

Having a Bad Day???? The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill in Alaska was $80,000.00. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were being released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both.

Still think you are having a Bad Day????

A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm two places. Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his Walkman.

STILL think you're having Bad Day????

Two animal rights defenders were protesting the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn, Germany. Suddenly, all two thousand pigs broke loose and escaped through a broken fence, stampeding madly.The two helpless protesters were trampled to death.

What?? STILL having a Bad Day????

Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with "Return to Sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.

There now, feeling better????

To continue with the theme...

In the Late 1950s a little girl named Virginia asked the New York Times if there was a Santa Clause. The reply is now famous. Someone thought it would be fun to ask the scientists at NASA the same question.

Here is NASA's reply:

No known species of reindeer can fly. But there ARE 300,000 species of living organisms yet to be classified, and while most of these are insects and germs, this does not completely rule out flying reindeer, which only Santa has seen.

There are two billion children (under 18) in the world. But since Santa doesn't appear to handle Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish children, that reduces the workload to 15% of the total – 138 million or so. At an average rate of 3.5 children per household, that's 91.8 million homes.

One presumes there is at least one good child in each. Santa has 31 hours of Christmas to work with, thanks to time zones and the rotation of the earth, assuming he travels east to west.

This works out to 822.6 visits per second.

This is to say that for each household with good children, Santa has 1/1000th of a second to park, hop out of the sleigh, jump down the chimney, fill the stockings, distribute the remaining gifts under the tree, eat snacks, get back up the chimney, get back into the sleigh, and move to the next house.

Assuming that each of these 91.8 million houses are distributed evenly (which we know to be false but for the sake of these calculations we will accept) we are now talking about 0.78 miles per household, a total trip of 75.5 million miles, not counting bathroom stops. This means that Santa's sleigh is traveling at 650 miles per second, 3,000 times the speed of sound.

For comparison, the fastest man made vehicle, the Ulysses space probe moves at a poky 27.4 mps. The average reindeer runs at 15 mph.

The sleigh's payload adds another interesting element. Assuming that each child gets nothing more than a medium sized Lego set (2 pounds), the sleigh is carrying 321,300 TONS, not counting Santa, who is invariably described as overweight. On land, conventional reindeer can pull no more than 300 pounds.

Even granting that "flying reindeer" (see first paragraph) could pull TEN TIMES the usual amount, we cannot do the job with 8 or even 9. We need 214,000 reindeer.

This increases the weight, not even counting the sleigh, to 353,430 tons. Again, for comparison this is 4 times the weight of the British liner Queen Elizabeth 2. 353,000 tons traveling at 650 miles per second creates an enormous air resistance. This will heat the reindeer in the same manner as a spacecraft re-entering the earth's atmosphere. The lead pair of reindeer will absorb 14.3 QUINTILLION joules of energy..... Per second ....Each!

In short, they will burst in flame almost instantaneously, exposing the next pair of reindeer,and creating deafening sonic booms in their wake. The entire team will be vaporized within 4.26 thousands of a second. Santa, meanwhile, will be subjected to centrifugal forces 17,500.06 times the force of gravity. A 300 pound Santa would be pinned to the back of his sleigh by 4,325,015 pounds of force.

CONCLUSION: There was a Santa, but he's dead now.

Good coffee should make you want to have sex with the person who made it.

I don’t need to add to that.

On a completely different note I went shopping on Saturday. For clothes and groceries. There was this really cool pair of jeans at Kmart, complete with scarfbelt. So I decided to try them on. They were SO WRONG!!! The designers had just taken a ‘small person’ style and just used more denim. They were low riding, which I think is a no-no for big people. And they were skinny leg, fitted jeans. Which on a large person equates to flab fitting across the butt and thighs, and really narrow at the knees. My lower half resembled a top-heavy hourglass. The designers of these jeans obviously had no idea that as a woman gets larger, her ENTIRE shape changes. Thus someone who is a plus size is not going to have a figure resembling a rake. I do actually like my body, but I am more than willing to acknowledge that my big wobbly butt and thighs are NOT my best asset. I did not get those jeans.
After the jeans shopping fiasco (where I didn’t get any), I went to Coles to get my groceries. They’ve got Christmas stockings up already. It’s September. Christmas is a full ¼ of the year away. When I wrote the post about Christmas, I had no idea that it would soon become reality.

I love hugs

*Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug* *Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug**Hug*

You have just been hugged! That's right, there's no getting out of it this time! This is the start of a full-scale Hug O' War! Send a hug to everyone you know! Hug your friends, your enemies, everyone! With all the other forwards out there, I thought this would be a good one to start.

The hug is my favourite sign of affection.
It can mean so much, and many things at the same time.

It can be a sign of love, friendship, comfort or anything.

So here you go.

All I can say it will do is brighten someone's day.

I mean, we all need a hug once in a while.

So send this on if you'd like, to anyone who may need a hug

Goodness knows, we could all REALLY use a tight hug sometimes.

Everybody Hates Christmas

I know I do.
But who actually likes going to the supermarket in July and seeing those decorations and shit. They put them up high deliberately so that they slowly come into our awareness.
In October they play the bloody christmas jingles. They worm their way into your brain and it takes THREE MONTHS to get them out. So from October to March you have bloody Christmas carols in your head. Thats SIX WHOLE MONTHS!!!
Then theres the people. The stupid people who don't yet know what they want to get their second cousin that lives two states away that they never see, and so have decided to look at every single product aimed at that age group. EVERY PRODUCT. And the kids, the whiny 'Mommy I want this' kids. And they cry, and whine, and the parents are stupid, and they make me feel stupid. They make me want to hurt people. You can't get anything at the shops, and you can't go to any type of shopping area for the crowds. You can't move from one area of a department store to another in less than 15 minutes, and thats if they're adjacent to each other.
The best thing about christmas is the overtime.

What went wrong with today

I think it would be quicker to tell you about what went right. I had today all planned out, looking after my breeders first, then going into my main areas, with time left over for a massive joint cleaning session.

I had to count a co-workers animals, because he's on holidays and, because it’s the end of the month, I had to do what is best described as a monthly summary. I got more animals than he had at his last count, only no more had arrived between then and now. I couldn't use our record book because he uses his differently to what I’m used to. Then when I thought I had it all worked out, there were more deceased animals on the cards than on any records, and the ones in the records weren't matching the days that some of the cards indicated dead animals were discovered.

So naturally trying to wrap my head around this put me back a few hours. I went from there into my usual areas but I barely had time to do the change, which was supposed to have been done yesterday. I never got time to do my share of the joint cleaning. After this I had three other areas to check, and I had to call someone to get them into the facility to instruct them on applying some relief cream to some tails (gotta love working in an institution). She was supposed to come down just after morning tea, but she ended up arriving when we were supposed to be finishing everything off. And I still have to monitor her animals very closely because I have the very deep, very well based suspicion that she’s going to ignore everything I told her today. And during all of this I kept getting my supervisor coming in and telling me that I'd missed this; or to not do this job, do this instead: and why was this box left here, its been there for two or three days now (I’d had Monday off, so I’d only been at work two days, and checked that area once this week). Just one of those frustrating days.

At least I can laugh at the mouse bite on my thumb. Hurts like hell.

ZooFun

Today I saw lions, and tigers, and there were giraffes, and zebras. And not that many trees. Thus I went to Kenya.

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/kenya/

BOOZE ON WORLD

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel shame. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver." ~ Jack Handy
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your bra and panties.
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"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
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"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." ~ Henny Youngman
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.
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"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not." ~ Stephen Wright
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
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"When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!" ~ Brian O'Rourke
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.
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"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." ~ Dave Barry
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
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To some it's a six-pack, to me it's a Support Group. Salvation in a can! ~ Dave Howell
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
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And saving the best for last, as explained by Cliff Clavin, of Cheers. One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theory to his buddy Norm. Here's how it went: "Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."
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WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not.

"You Look Like a Wingnut"

You know how there are moments that you think something totally inappropriate and it makes you want to act accordingly... well, today I was in a meeting with my boss. As he was looking at me and I thought 'you look like a wingnut' (not sure why, he doesn't even has big ears). Almost cracking up, I then had the thought that what if life was really like pop-up-video, and a huge thought bubble (complete with blue edging) erupted out of my head with that statement in it. With this visual haunting my mind, I couldn't keep the smirk off my face. My boss must have thought I had lost it.
__________________________________________
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch taem at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Such a cdonition is arppoiately cllaed Typoglycemia :)-
Amzanig huh? Yaeh and yuo awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorant.

Odd...

I was walking home from work this arvo, and I had a random memory from my uni days.

Four of us had gone into town to do some shopping/waste time. We borrowed a friends car, and it broke down while we were there. So we called someone to come in and pick us up. Meanwhile the driver had gotten the car going, so he took it back while it was still running. Teharne and I had elected to stay back in case the guy who was picking us up had already left. Now this guy is notoriously slow. And after 10 minutes of waiting we came up with a game. We tried to guess the colour of the next car to come around the corner we were standing on. I picked white, and Teharne picked red. Of course after three yellow cars and no red ones had gone by she'd change her mind and guess yellow. *Cue the red cars*. It got to the point where, when one of the colour cars we'd guessed came round the corner, we'd lean in together, stand up stright, and 'golf clap', congratulating the car as it went by. Naturally as soon as the car began to accelerate away we cracked up laughing.

That also happened to be the day that a stack of uni students were going this way and that, on that exact corner. Heaps of random fun. And no, we weren't drunk. This acticity kept us entertained for about half and hour. Uni was a 10 minute drive away.

My Sad Life

Its so sad. But since I've moved to Sydney I can count the number of times I've been in physical contact with people

Four hugs
One pat on the back
One accidental touching of hands with a work colleague

I miss my uni mates. They give goodest hugs.

How do you furnish a house for less than $500?

Answer: St Vinnies (or other similar charity stores) and discount stores (for the new stuff).

Wardrobe $60
Desk $55
Dining table and 4 chairs $75
Sofa Bed $120
Coffee Table $30
Phone Table (New) $20
Chest of Drawers (New) $80
Entertainment Unit (New) $50
TOTAL $490

This doesn’t count tableware ($40 for a complete 8 person setting – plates, bowls, cups, mugs, saucers, bread plates, and cutlery), or pots/pans/kettle/toaster ($8 a piece), or the stuff that I already had.
My mattress cost more than my entire furnished house. But it’s a bloody good one.
I am proud of myself. Bargain hunting runs in my genes.

The shape of my future

You know how there’s always one teacher from school or high school that makes an impression on you. I’ve been thinking about my version of this teacher a lot over the last few days. He was my biology teacher in year 12. He was the teacher that would explain everything once and I’d just get it. No matter how difficult the topic. What made this teacher really special is that he would go the extra mile. I was looking at going to the University of Queensland in 2002. And I put in my application as per normal. Then I started looking for accommodation. I found this place I really wanted, not to expensive, not too seedy, but the closing date was the day before. I was so upset. Living two states away at the time, it wasn’t like I could go up to Queensland to check out rental places until I actually moved up there either. I went into school (this was after exams had finished mind you, I wasn’t his responsibility anymore) to talk to our careers counselor. I dropped by his office to say hi and, when he asked how I was, I told him what was going on, almost ending up in tears. He told me to go see the careers counselor and got the number off me for this place.
I couldn’t find the careers counselor, so I left messages where she might be. Then I returned to the office. He had just gotten off the phone to the accommodation place and they had agreed to accept my application. I ended up getting offered a room at this place too, but unfortunately (or fortunately in the long run) I didn’t get accepted into the course I wanted. The thing is, this guy was the vice principal of the school, and he could have easily said I wasn’t his responsibility anymore, or that it was my problem, or that he had other, more important stuff to do. But he didn’t.
The reason I’m telling this story is that something has struck me about my job recently. I knew when I accepted the job offer, that an animal tech had no prospects of going anywhere. But it really hit home the other day when we were sitting in the staff room at tea break talking about the job, and one of my colleagues stated ‘when you become an animal tech, that’s all you’ll be. The job goes nowhere. You’ll stay an animal tech forever.’ It really struck me, forever is a long time to be shitkicking. So I’m thinking about sticking at this job for a bit (a few years), and then going and doing vet science. I figure that much faith in my potential can’t be blind.

The Pizza Never Lies

I can't beleive its been two weeks since my last post. I saw 'the bridge' for the first time at night, I had a birthday, I moved, I drove in heavy traffic in the city(ish region, but still bloody good for me). But I'm not going to expand on any of that here. If anybody cares you can ask questions.

I spent last night going through my pictures on my computer. I have shitloads. And some of them are darn weird. I figure that if I use some of the random things thast garfield says can make really good msn names... or blog titles. I came home last night and one of the goats out the back had its horns tangled in the fence. So I had to ring the real estate agent to get them to contact the landlord so that someone could come down and fix it. bloody goats gotten throught he fence again this afternoon, but its not caught. If it wanders from one side of the yard to another its fine, but if it gets into trouble I'd be all ready to jump the (6 foot high) fence to fix it. Not quite sure how I'd do it, but I can climb fences at need. I learnt at least one useful skill at uni.

Anyhoo. I've decided that when I have no interesting news to post I will post a pretty picture or something to amuse my readers. *Sigh* I have no life, unless you all want to hear about my cat.

Enjoy

WHEW!

I have so much stuff to tell. My last post wasn't really that long, these are the things that have been going on in my life.

1) The house. I've been stressing over finances and wether or not I'll have a fridge. I advertised on the net for housemates, and I have had a pretty good response. I'm showing people through on the weekend. It gives me a chance to explore the place, and to meet potential housemates. I do think its funny though; there's a way to email people questions about the property, and I've been getting a few 'questions' "regaring property 1234..." with contact details but no question. These people are obviously not that interested in the house. If they were the'd have rung, or have at least asked a question.

2) Work and money. They don't always go hand in hand apparently. We've been short staffed at work while one of us was on holidays, and the other people working in our facility (but not on our team) are massively short staffed, so we've been picking up their slack with duties that are normally shared. And I haven't been paid properly. I worked a public holiday 3 pay periods ago, and they still haven't paid me properly for it. And they owe me for a weekend I worked. That adds up to some serious and much needed money.

3) I read Harry Potter. I'm not going to comment on the plot, but just a few thoughts. WOW! Did not see the ending coming. Though it leaves the plot open for an awesome seventh book, and very possibly more. I'm sure the theories abound. I also thought the relationship twist was really good, and I liked the fact that she's starting to acknowledge the obvious, though nothing happened. Its been 3 books dammit!!!

4) The Random SMS'er. I got a random SMS on Tuesday. 'Hey how are you?'. I ended up texting this guy for a bit. Until I told him I had to go to bed, and he wanted to join me. Creep. 15 texts and he thinks thats enough to get someone into bed. I wouldn't be as worried if he told me where he got this number from, and how he knew I was in Sydney. He said he was searching though '?' and found it. He didn't say where he was searching through. I never told him I was in Sydney either. NSW; yes, but Sydney; no. And he's just texted me again. I'm not wasting more money on it. I have enough money woes.

11 more sleeps

I'm so excited. I move soon! I was a bit worried about having to foot the cost of the whole house set up, but I've had quite a few serious bites since I posted a 'housemate wanted' notice on the web. So when I go in its likely that I'll have other people helping out right from the word go. YAY!!!

I've Got A Golden Ticket

I got the house. Its so beautiful. I paid my deposit today. YAY FOR ME!!!

I found out this morning, whilst I was wrapping boxes for autoclaving. I was jumping up and down in the air and I yelled out (to nobody in particular) "I've got a place to live". Jackie was around the corner so somebody heard it and I didn't feel like a complete dick. After this I had an unaccountable urge to sing 'I've got a golden ticket' from the original Willy Wonka movie. So now I've got to come up with the rest of the advance rent, and the bond, and buy a fridge and freezer, and get my stuff *finally* shipped down from Queensland. *Sigh* Have found the house and now the stressful part begins.

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

I think this is the most awesome song I've heard in a LONG time. Its called Bad Day and its by Daniel Powter. Check it out.

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oh.. Holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Had a bad day (x5)
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Well I definitely didnt have a bad day today. I put in my application for two rental properties. They rang the owner and spoke to them, and then rang me back requesting more information. That was a good sign. Then when I dropped in the info they needed the property manager came and talked to me herself. Better sign. I'll keep my fingers crossed, but I wont hold my breath.

The joys of furniture shopping

I had one of the most hectic weekends just recently (yesterday and today). Combine my natural sleep deprivation at the end of a working week, with weekend work (money is good, but I start even earlier), with looking at properties and furniture shopping. Both full time undertakings, and with an afternoon each to do them. So on Saturday I saw a few properties. I’m applying for two of them. One is more expensive than I wanted, but its worth it. Balcony, new carpets and lino, a paddock of goats out the back, close to work. The other is smaller and has older interior, and the shower isn’t quite as good, but its cheaper and has a huge backyard. Comparing week to week rent I’d got for the more expensive one, but I’ve got to get a bond and get set up as well. So I’m applying for both of them. I need a place to stay and I’ll be happy at either.So after 3 hours of furniture shopping this afternoon I have come to the conclusion I’m never going to afford all the house furnishings. I have also come to the conclusion that furniture store boys are really really hot, and a lot of fun to flirt with. So the best thing I can come up with about having to buy my furniture one piece at a time is that I get to look at hot hot furniture boys.

Why I'm moving again

I gave notice to my landlord today. Things came to a head and we had a huge fight about him wanting to keep a door open. But that will be on the bottom of my list of what I've had to put up with. Here it is...

This is what I've had to put up with in the month I've been here.

• When I moved int there were dishes on the sink that had been there for 4 months. There was a fucking spider in one of the pots. And he didn't do anything about them. I had to wash them so I could eat.
• When I inspected this place I told him I hate roaches and he told me there were no, repeat NO roaches in this house. There are. This place is infested. The roaches have actually broken his microwave, which he has yet to fix.
• When I moved in the bathroom hadn't been cleaned in at least 6 months, if not more. And it took two weeks of asking and waiting, and asking, and waiting and demanding and telling him I wasn't doing it to get it done. I spend as little time as possible in there.
• He bought potatoes 6 months before I moved in, and forgot about them. Long story short - there was a big bag of insect shit in the cupboard. I don't use that cupboard.
• He shakes when he goes to the toilet. I know this by the drips on the toilet wall. EWWWWWWWWWW
• He has owned this place for a year and only bought a mop a week ago. The bathroom floor feels furry.
• He hosted a BBQ 3 weeks ago, and his guests did the dishes (which I get), but they left them to drain on the sink. They're still there. Refer to point 2 about the roach infestation.
• The stove hadn't worked for 4 months when I moved in. Took him 2 weeks to get it fixed. Then he refused to clean up because he said he'd done work for this week - yeah, waiting for a guy to show up to install it. No time to clean there.
• There are times when he doesn't come home at all until I'm in bed. On one of these nights I left him a note telling him he had to do his dishes from the BBQ that day, or he'd get roaches all over them. I also asked when he was going to clean the bathroom. When he got home at 11pm he woke me to discuss this note. Next time he wants to discuss anything after I'm in bed I'll just tell him that I'll wake him at 6am, when i get up, to discuss it.
• When I was inspecting this place I asked if he was going to get the phone installed. He said he was going to do it within a week. Two weeks later I asked him about ti and he said no, work paid for all of his calls on the mobile so he didn't need a landline. So I got it connected, with telstra, becuase I have a telstra mobile. He cracked the shits because he works for optus. He's not going to contribute to the bill, so why should he care?
• Before I even moved in, he was asking about the cat, how I was going to keep her, if I was going to take responsibility for her etc. I told him the cat was strictly to be kept indoors, and I'd keep her in my room for a couple of days to get her aclimatised to the place and then I'd move her stuff out of my room and let her out to run around. Three days after she gets here we start talking about her arrangements. He wants her kept in my room all of the time, with her litter tray and food bowls in there too. I come up with a compromise. She gets to run around but I keep her tray and food in my room.
• The roof leaks when it rains, over my bed.
• The kitchen tap leaks. Its irritating and I can always hear it. And there's a drought on.
• Last week we organised a cleaning routine. One week he cleans the bathroom/toilet, and I clean the kitchen/lounge and the next week we swap. This morning I remind him that it's cleaning day (nothing pushy, very casual about it) and he gets up me and tells me he can only clean once a fortnight and if I want it cleaned its up to me. He tells me he doesn't have time to clean because he's going out soon. Three sentences later he tells me its up to me to find a new place if I don't like his cleaning ideals. I come up with a compromise. He cleans one week. I clean the next.
• Later this morning I closed an external door, because ti was open and the cat was running around. He comes dtorming out of his room and starts yelling at me 'Why do you always close the doors? I want it open'. I tell him I want it shut because the cat is supposed to be kept indoors and keeping the doors shut will help that cause. He opens the door. I shut the door and ask why he doesn't open the identical door next to it that's got a screen on it. He tells me 'because I don't want to'. I ask him how long he wants it shut for, because during this time the cat has to be locked up in my room, and he tells me for 6 hours. I mean what the fuck? Isn't he supposed to be going out soon? Then he tells me its not working out. And I tell him I'm going. I've got a month to find a new place.

Well guess what! Karma's a bitch and so am I. I've had to put up with his shit for a month and now he can put up with mine for a month. We've already had a 'my dicks bigger than yours' competition involving his TV and my computer. I won. If he has the TV too loud then he won't hear a thing anyway.

Ups, Downs and Workmates

I just got back from a really awesome night. We had a concert at work, with a choir of some of my workmates and researchers. There were three a capella choirs, and they were actually really, really good. Unfortunately the night finished really early. So its 10.30pm my time, and I'm all wired to go out. I'm even all dressed and have a face on. But no social outlet. My only social outlet was the crook mentioned a few posts earlier. But seeing as the guys at the boarding house hate him, they hate me by default too. Still I had some social contact tonight. Would really like to go out right now tho. I'm not even in a mood to drink. I just want to be out, dancing, with people.
And now for a lighter note. Had the funniest discussions at morning tea today. Started off talking about Howards new labour laws. Then from there the discussion went to legal issues and stupid people suing other stupid people over really petty and stupid things. And that stirred Rudi out of his book. Now I should tell you about Rudi. He's old, less than 6 months away from retirement, a very talented musician and a good singer. And he spends most of our breaks sitting quietly in his corner reading his books. Now when he stirred out of his book to our discussion he became really lively. Everything was 'F***ing this' and 'F***ing that'. And we're all either laughing or trying not to laugh. Then we were discussing a case where a chick got hit on the head with a sign and was constantly having orgasms in public (Where was this sign I wonder?), so she was suing... somebody. And Rudi pipes up about the Japanese eggs. And then he asks if we all know what they are, and I fully beleive if somebody had said no he would have explained it, graphically. We were discussing this on the way out of the hospital after the concert, and I mentioned that I had not expected that comment from him. And Caroline says "Rudi, Oh no. He knows every position known to God, and then some we don't even know about!"

The definition of ironic is...

People aplogising after they swear in front of me. One of these days I'm going to pick my moment and respond with 'Why do people always do that? Its so fucking iritating!' Just to see the expressions on their faces.
That is all.

Blue at my house tonight

I put the dishes out. They were used at a bbq of my housemates 2 weeks ago, cleaned by his guests, and then left there... sitting in my cockroachey kitchen since then. I have asked him to clean them, and waited, and asked, and waited, and given reasons, and waited... Get the picture? Then he's had dirty pots on the sink for 3 nights, and the roaches are just loving it. I figure there's nothing outside that will run over them thats worse than what will run over them inside. I didn't think that he'd do them, and I wasn't going to look at them any longer. I also figure that he's going to be really unhappy about it. But I could care less. No, wait. I couldn't. Ah well. So anybody think I've done this the wrong way?
Oh my God my cat just jumped into a window! Not just jumped. She was sitting there and then she just kinda bounded into the glass. I know she was trying to get her reflection to play, but it was as funny as hell.
Enough from me tonight.
Actually not quite. I just got the news that one of my best friends got into Law, starting next semester. I knew he could do it. With enough course changes he'd get there eventually. Congratulations Leigh!!!
Now thats enough.

So not much has happened of note lately. But I thought I should post anyway. Just to let people know that I am alive. Rachel came down yesterday. Drove down in my car. Made it to Sydney... and got lost. And while she's lost the car stops. Just like that. Broom broom click... stop. Going uphill on a one way street somewhere in south Sydney. Crap. So about 3.15 I get a phone call 'Steeeeph... the car's stopped and I can't get it to start again... and I'm lost.' Cuh-rap. So I find a sydways and manage to locate where she is, and even give her directions to where she's gotta go. I feel so proud of myself.
Later on I get a call 'I'm on the M4 Motorway and I'm heading to Parramatta.... Didn't you say not to get on the M4? Can you give me directions?' So I stepped up to the plate, picked up the bat, swung and... HIT!!!! Directed her here. Im so proud of myself.
So now my cat and Tuesday are down here with me. I actually surprised myself with how much I missed Tues. I was so happy to see her. I've been spoiling her rotten.
Not much else to report. Had today off. Did shit all. Looking forward to work tomorrow. Sad but true. I still remember what its like to have nothing to do all day too well. *shudder*

My first sydney friend... is a crook

Makes me feel great right now. I found out yesterday that the 'Uncle' Mick that I referred to in previous posts is a con man. He bought a car, paid for it with a dodgy cheque that bounced. Two days later he sells it for $35000 and does a runner. Apparently the owners of the car yard he bought the car from are pretty damn pissed (understandably) and have been at the boarding house with the police a couple of times over the last week. They've been to where he said he works, but they haven't heard of him.
Normally I'd be pretty shocked at this but when Vince told me about it he also mentioned that most people at the boarding house seem to think that he's my dad. So all of the friends I've made in Sydney think that I was in on it, and I haven't heard of anybody who wants to stay in touch. So I'm sorta back to square one. Just moved to Sydney, and have no friends, no social outlet apart from work. It can only get better from here.

Its never easy and you never know

Its never easy and you never know what leaves you crying and what makes you whole. There aint no way that I can hold it down. Falling to pieces for ever and now.
But it's all right, why don't you tell me again how you'll still be there when the heartache ends. Well it's all right why don't you tell me my friend, how you'll still be there when the heartache ends.
There ain't nobody who can show you how to find the surface when you're underground. There ain't no blanket that can hide this cold. There ain't no memory that ever gets old.
But it's all right, why don't you tell me again how you'll still be there when the heartache ends. Well it's all right why don't you tell me my friend, how you'll still be there when the heartache ends.
But I move all directions to the corners and the outskirts while the lovers and the lonely start to whisper all about me, and if I stand here silent I almost start to feel you fading in, telling me 'hold on'.
Cus its gonna be all right, why don't you tell me again how you'll still be there when the heartache ends. Well it's all right why don't you tell me my friend, how you'll still be there when the heartache ends. How you'll still be there when the heartache ends. Say you'll still be there when the heartache ends.
_______________________________________________

Its amazing. My life has been going perfectly for the last three weeks, and one teeny tiny thing has just thrown me into a tailspin. All cinema's are showing previews of Madagascar this weekend. And I really wanted to see it. So on Saturday I got dropped at Westfield Parramatta to do some shopping and movie watching. "Parramatta Westfield is being renovated and our cinema's are currenly closed while we expand them" or some shit like that. So I went shopping and scored an absolute bargain that I was going to have to buy anyway. QS fitted sheet set and a QS feather doona, $90. The sheets alone normally retail for $100. Good quality sheets t0, and the doona's pretty warm.
So this morning I scour the yellow pages to find the next closest cinema. Its in Blacktown. I call the number and yes - Madagascar is playing. I pull on my shoes, grab my bag and start walking. I get to the shopping centre only to find its crowded as fuck - which immediately makes me want to punch somebody. Then I find out the cinema is closed for renovations. GAAAHHH!!!! So I'm walking around this crowded shopping centre with no money and a grumpy attitude, when I decide I want to get the phone connected because I want to call my uni friends tonight. Only there's no telstra shop in the centre, and I can't call up because the call centre isn't operating on a sunday. So to the brokeness and grumpiness, add frustration, lonliness and homesickness.
You know you're broke when you're feeling like that and you can't afford chocolate or cheesecake.

Mmm Sleep... (08.05.06)

I am so fucking tired right now. I should count myself lucky. I've only been on the go since 7 am (12hrs ago). Apart from morning tea and lunch (50 mins total) I feel like I've been doing something all day. Well, I have. I;m just glad I 'cleaned' the house earlier this week. I don't think I'd be too happy scrubbing the bathroom floor right now. When I moved in the place hadn't been cleaned in 6 months. There were dishes on the sink that had been there for 4 months. They'd been left so long that a spider had made it home in one of the pots. So I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom with bleach on monday night. By the time I'd finished it was time for bed. Last night I tackled the toilet and bathroom, and did my washing. I'm going to make sure this place is thoroughly cleaned on the weekend, then it's pretty much a case of keeping it tidy with a weekly blitz. (fingers crossed)
Its weird to think that two weeks ago I was in Queensland. So much has happened since then. And so much is going to happen for others within the next 2 weeks. Like exams, graduations, some people moving - internationally, and all of the unplanned stuff nobody's going to tell me about.
Mindboggling how quickly things change.
Squishily yours
Steph

05.06.05

I can't help but grin right now. I moved today, again, to the place I was telling you about. I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy. I was only at the boarding house for a week but I've got quite a few good friends from there, and I'm going to stay in touch with them.
RE: the 'admirers'. Just yesterday I was thinking that Bob wqas yanking my chain about them, and making them out to be more interested in me than they were. I thought that maybe these guys just admored the guts to move interstate with nothing more solid than 'you have a job'. I mean if this doesn't work out I'm up shit creek. But no, this morning as I was leaving I dropped in to say goodbye to Bob. He's playing cards with these two guys and they tell me straight out that its them. I was stunned. I mean I can't tell a guy I like him even if I'm 100+% sure he seriously likes me too!
One of these guys reminds me of an ex, but older and much less wanker-ish. So going by precedent thats good for him. He wants to meet Tuesday (my rat). He's had ferrets in the past, and I like ferrets. I'd like to play with his ferret.
The other guyI don't know much about, well nothing actually, not even his name. He really does have the whole mysterious man thing going. Which I definitely like. And when I gave him a goodbye hug his body was as hard as a rock! He probably wouldn't have said anything if the first guy didn't dump him in it. And he rolled really well with it, which I respect.
So we've arranged to meet up sometime.
Should be fun
Lots of love. Steph

Thorin and Company to Burglar Bilbo greeting! (03.06.05)

I'm moving again. This time to a place thats a little more permenant than this box. I had a look at this place last night and I found out today that I got it. The guy is even fine about Rai and Tuesday. SoYAY for me.
Anyway this place is big. I walked into it yesterday and just went 'wow'. Seriously, if I had had the money, and was looking to buy a place, and this one was available, I'd have my heart set on it. Its got hardwood floors and ceilings, rafters, a huge bathroom, nice sized (furnished) bedrooms, a backyard, with real grass. I don't have to bring in anything to the place. Makes me wonder how much of my luck I've used up in my move to Sydney. Might push it a bit further and buy a lotto ticket. $25M tomorrow. I'll have to get pictures. I want to use up the film so that I can put up pictures of uni firendand old workmates on myworklocker. I'm finally getting settled. Now that I've got this side of the public transport figured out I've got to learn a whole new bloody set!!!!
There's this one person at work. When I met here I knew we'd get along famously or I'd absolutely hate her. She drives me up the fucking wall. She explains everything to me like I've never even seen an animal before in my life. She explained to me that autoclave water was hot. Well DUH!!!! There's some other stuff that I'm not sure abolut andwhen Iask she explains it to me likke I'm a fucking imbecile. Unfortunately she's the one who's training me.
I've got to go. Having drinkswith 'Uncle' Mick andthe Grandpa Club. Hopefully will post this tomorrow. Looking forward to net access. Get to contact my friends!

Panda Eyes, Arse Crack, and Sex Dreams (01.06.05)

So you may have picked up that this whole trip hasbeen a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. One day = 'YAY! I have a job and I'm excited' and the next = 'What am I doing here? I should not have left behind everything and everybody I know.' Well today was that multiplied by about 5. Now I'm emotionally drained, want to curl up in a ball, cry and sleep. I had a pretty good day at work. even managed to find 3 minutes (literally) to jump on the net and send a quick email to friends telling them I'm alive, and I miss them (well, I do). I caught the train to Parra... and then got lost again. I couldn't find the right place to catch the right bus. There are three main bus interchanges within 150m, but around corners and not in sight of each other. So while I'm trying to figure out what to do Sue calls. I told her I was lost and she burst out laughing, at which point I almost burst into tears. Getting lost was funny to begin with, and I'm sure I'll laugh in the future, but right not it's just giving me the shits. Doesn't help that the transport system here is a goddamned joke. Trains run early or late, NEVER on time, they miss stops, they make stops, I've even heard that they can be rerouted when there are passengers on board. Fucking terrible.
I do have to grin at my uniform though. The pants are snug and ridea bit low, and the top is really long and loose. Its a good combination because every time I bendover it would leave the world on the wrong side of my pant cleavage. Its worse than plumbers crack. They go that low that everytime I standup I have to keep one hand on my pants for fear thatI'd lose them. Good thing the tops long cuz if itdid happen it would cover all ofmy sins.
I had the weirdest dream last night. It was a sex dream about a friend a uni, but I've never dreamt of him before and I definitely haven't been thinkingof him since I got here. Anyway it started as a sex dream but we ended updating. All of my friends had seen it coming, except for one, and he wouldn't beleive me until he saw us together. Then he'd stop me from going to my 'boyfriend' and distract me with stuff like 'look at this, lets go over here'. The weird thing is that in my last sex dream (about an ex) he did pretty much the same thing. I don't want to be with either of these guys. One of them (my ex) I've spent too much time with, and the uni guy, whilst we're good friends, I could know him alot better. I think I need to talk to someone who understands male issues and me. Kez I look forward to your comments.
Lots of hugs and love
SJH

I work with the bunnies (31.05.05)

I had a great day today. My first official day as an animal attendant. Yay! After getting lost again I only ended up being 5 minutes late. Not bad. I asked this young businessman for directions, and we walked 3 blocks together chatting. Who says all Sydney people are bastards.
Anyhoo. I'm working with the small animals and they're thinking of putting me in charge of one of the breeding rooms. How ironic. (*I bred mice for 6 years when I was growing up*) The coolest thing at the moment is that they don't have any overalls in stock to fit me (that's more embarrasing than cool. Read on) so I get to wear surgical scrubs until they get some in my size. I'm going to take a camera to work tomorrow so I can get a picture. I might post it when I get it developed.
Considering I've only been here 3 days I'm doing pretty well. I'm learning my way around public transport, I have great workmates, I'll meet heaps of people through work, and I already have some good friends where I'm living. Bring it on Sydney.

(30.05.05)

I wonder how many more times I'm going to get lost before I end up knowing the Sydney public transport system. I hope it's not too many more times. I got to the hospital no problems today. Had my tour of the facility, navigated my way out to the bus stop, got on the right bus, and missed my fucking stop. GAAAHH!!! I should be right tomorrow though. At least now I know (generally) how to get to work, how to get to the nearest shopping centre, and how to get home. Now all I have to do is find apermenant place to stay!
The tour of work was pretty interesting. I wouldn't mindworking in the small animal house, with the rodents, but I think I'd really like the large animal house (sheep, pigs, chooks, dogs). They've got 'paddocks'. I'm desperately hoping this will work out. I couldn't afford to go back to Queensland, and I don't think I could stay here with nothing to do. I really want to talk to some QLD friends but I need to save my money. Maybe when I'm settled I could make a call and talk to them. 'Maybe when I'm settled' seems to bemy whole life right now. I'd kill for a drink.

'If wishes were horses
I'd ride mine to the clouds
Leave them grazing there
Happy and free'

"Utility" (29.05.05)

It seems I'm destined to make a home out of each state. I'd like to go back to Queensland, but I think if I had to move again it would be to Tasmania, at least for a bit. I mean sure, its cold, and has a limited genetic variability, but the landscape is so beautiful, plus there's the Cadbury factory.
But back to the present - I went for a walk today, to try to time how long a walk to work would take. Most of my friends should know I'm directionally challenged. I got lost. Well, not lost, I was going in the right direxction, I just didn't go far enough. So on the walk back I started exploring the next suburb over. And then I had to walk back. Fucking Sydney hills are going to make my arse look great!
*04.06.05 I was lost. In the totally wrong suburb*
The definition of 'Hard Up'. I live with about 20 guys and I'm the only chick. I've been here about 24 hours - already have 2 'admirers'. Bit freaked out- usually takes a few days at least.
This is Steph. Signing out with a kiss. Miss you Gatton.

Your Life Starts Now... (28.05.05)

So I know I'm writing this to post later.Its now Saturday 28.05.05. I'm sitting in a cold empty room, watching Australia's Funniest Home Videos's. I remember when that show was actually funny. So sad.
Leaving my friends was easier than I thought, but at the same time so much harder. I walked on campus wanting to drop off my car and catch my lift to the airport. Not going to happen. They all came out and stood on the balcony at uni, waving, as we drove off. I was fine until I realised that this would probably be the last time I'd see some of these sights. Then the tears started to flow. I'm not sure I was quite ready to leave one of my friends. We're pretty close, but our goodbye was so typical of our relationship. It makes me feel like I'm missing out on something when I remember it, but its also a comfort, because I know that some things will never change. We'll always be goodfriends, and be able to pick up where we left off, wether its in 3 months or 3 years.
On a lighter note: Picture this - Me with a large blue wheelie suitcase, with a very full medium sized blue bag on top of it, and a black satchel over one shoulder, booting a very large box from the baggage carousel to the other side of the room. (Step, boot, step, boot, step...)
Sleep tight Sydney - you've yet to realise I've arrived.
SJH

4 more sleeps

'Til I fly to Sydney. I did a heap of packing today. Well, mostly taped up already packed boxes and moved them out of my room, into the spare room. I'll end up moving them back into my room in about 2 days *Sigh*. I got most of my stuff done before I ran out of packing tape. So I went shopping and bought some more, and ended up out at uni again. I was talking to the person looking after my car for a bit and she's asking about insurance, and petrol, and... She's driving my car down a few weeks after I get settled, bringing my cat and rat at the same time, and staying with me for a bit while she does some volonteer work down there. So now I've got to do a heap more stuff before I end up going. And its only in 4 more sleeps.
My to-do list just keeps getting longer and longer. Time to go pack now.

Start Spreading the News...

I'm leaving (pretty soon)...
So I booked my flight today. Am scared out of my brain. I fly to Sydney in less than a week, maybe never to see the people I've lived with for three years, and adoped as my family, ever again. I had a little gathering at my place tonight. Some new friends and some old friends came, but two of my best friends didn't. Not sure why yet, but it's making me feel like crap. Two of the three people I really wanted here didn't show. I talked to one of the people who didn't come. He didn't tell me why, but he is going to drop me off at the airport on Saturday. He can't stay to see me off. That's one thing I never wanted, to have the people I love just drop me off at the airport, not knowing if or when I'll see them again.
I'm having a big night on Wednesday. Not sure if they are going to show for that. Wish I knew what was going on. Might go drink more.