Hmm, here's an interesting one - scientists have put electrodes in a paralysed guy's brain in the US and he can now instruct a computer to do certain tasks - pretty simple at the moment to turn on and off the TV and manipulate a robotic arm to get sweets (obviously the device was invented by a man LOL the beer and pizza robot arm isn't too far off I am sure), amazing stuff :)
Just thinking of the applications it could be put to, to move the cursor to the yes no question we could put to Terri Schiavo, and actually see how many brainwaves she actually has currently (no one has done tests on that?), or for the Pope to do the Steven Hawking thing when tubes are down his throat or nose or whatever is wrong with him today...
Pauly
Thursday, March 31, 2005
More From Yesterday
Hi all - forgot just one minor thing from yesterday - well, one of the other minor things cos they weren't really important today. Had read the last of Highway To Nowhere on the bus in the morning - about the backpacker murders outside of Sydney about fifteen years ago. Anyways, forgot about this lack of reading material until getting to the train station to go home several hours later. Didn't have the CD player either, so let one train go while deciding to get a magazine lol - couldn't see the Economist in the downstairs newsagents, so went upstairs and let the first train go. Next train arrived as I was considering whether to get an Angelina Jolie covered magazine, but the train could have gone at any time so Angelina was left behind LOL. It is SO BORING without anything to do on the train, and was an exhausted kind of day anyways, aargh LOL. First thing into the bag today was a big thick Raymond E Feist book LOL, been ages since I read Magician...
Amazing Race on in the background at the moment - with all the focus on Jonathan and his abusing Victoria, hmm it wasn't until the recap show that I realised how umm offensive Kendra is, saying in Ethiopia this episode (again, wondering how far behind North America we are with this show) that at least the people look happy to be poor, she hates Africa and especially the Senegal leg LOL. Haven't decided whether I like Kris yet, but at least she said if I see any bigmouth American thing going on, I won't like it... the series, even though it is half over is more about who I don't like rather than who I do...
Not much has happened today - was on a late shift and was really busy at work. It's good when I can immerse myself in work without having to think too much :) Or maybe perhaps I was just having a good work day, hey, it happens LOL. And hmm, have another candidate for eyecandy perhaps LOL, first time in like six months our team has had new blood, for all that time we have been shrinking... LD will be on the floor on Monday, but was moving her stuff down today, with the midriff showing, also has an assertive personality, so we will see how things go the first drinks session I guess LOL.
Laterz
Pauly
Amazing Race on in the background at the moment - with all the focus on Jonathan and his abusing Victoria, hmm it wasn't until the recap show that I realised how umm offensive Kendra is, saying in Ethiopia this episode (again, wondering how far behind North America we are with this show) that at least the people look happy to be poor, she hates Africa and especially the Senegal leg LOL. Haven't decided whether I like Kris yet, but at least she said if I see any bigmouth American thing going on, I won't like it... the series, even though it is half over is more about who I don't like rather than who I do...
Not much has happened today - was on a late shift and was really busy at work. It's good when I can immerse myself in work without having to think too much :) Or maybe perhaps I was just having a good work day, hey, it happens LOL. And hmm, have another candidate for eyecandy perhaps LOL, first time in like six months our team has had new blood, for all that time we have been shrinking... LD will be on the floor on Monday, but was moving her stuff down today, with the midriff showing, also has an assertive personality, so we will see how things go the first drinks session I guess LOL.
Laterz
Pauly
Here's One I Did Earlier :)
Hmm, blogger is down so am doing a Word doc so I can cut and paste across whenever blogger gets back up again – how old skool LOL. Now have Chemical Brothers Block Rocking Beats in my head, not quite as old skool as I was thinking, early 80s or so, but the song that jumped into my head quickest :)
Anyways, today was the flattest I have felt at work in like forever. Coupled with my unsettled feelings in the Brisbane Mount Thomas triangular thinking, it doesn’t help when work doesn’t feel good, or even OK. Trying to get time to read deeper into the permanent offer contract, but work keeps coming through and such, and then piling up at the end of the day as well, and a complex piece of work that I have been trained on that I had to take on board, being the only complex trained person on the floor at the time bleah, so three pieces of work to start on when I get in tomorrow, and that was WITH an extra twenty minutes at the end of my shift given to the company free of charge.
Maybe I should be less conscientious or something. Or say enough is enough LOL, but with the rethinking whether a permanent job is good hmm – actually a thought just crossed my mind. When leaving Canada last January, the breaking point was the will I won’t I issue with a job on the horizon, thinking of ten years at the job with other factors at that current time made me come home, dare I think ten years of my company and Brisbane now? And I thought I was naturally an optimist LOL.
Or I could help myself by getting more sleep – haven’t been getting that much the last couple of weeks – entirely my own fault of course, but still…
Hmm, saw Rummy on the TV today for the first time in like months – he’s making a comeback LOL. He was doing the crappy usual thing of answering his own questions about how Iraqi democracy is messy at the moment. Put me in mind to the bad things happen and we know the unknowables classic hits of his previous Pentagon briefings LOL. Dubya must be confident about things to let Rummy get on TV again :)
Oh, American Idol tonight – we are catching up to the States lol, two elimination shows a week at the moment. Today was the eleven into ten show, and bye bye Mikalah. Anthony was in the bottom three, but got a get out of jail free card as the third lowest votes. When that was announced I was saying to the TV ‘omg you talentless hack, how did you not get chucked out’ LOL, he’s not my fave you understand :)
Okies, don’t want to make this word doc too long and not much else to report (that you can’t read elsewhere, thinking Schiavo and Annan oil for food), so I will bid you all adieu
Pauly
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Tuesday Already
LOL not the most inspired in my titles at the moment. Another massive earthquake off Indonesia, 8.7 on the Richter this morning - no tsunami though thank goodness, although still at least 300 dead - classified as an aftershock of the Boxing Day thing, aftershocks still taking months to shake themselves out.
Must see TV tonight was Survivor Palau - hmm, not great viewing at the moment seeing one team get slaughtered. But not like a sports game where a slaughter gets boring, after half time should be good when it goes from being a team game to one on one :) For the North Americans, Ulong is down to three team members - but not as much of a lag as American Idol I think, could be only a few days behind in Survivor?
Oh gods, the Labour Party in the UK has adopted U2's Beautiful Day as an unofficial anthem. Not one of U2's greatest is my opinion, and shouldn't it be I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For? In regards to the Iraqi WMD - god I'm funny sometimes LOL LOL :)
Hmm was a pretty nothing day at work today as well - took a lot more phone calls than I thought I had though, but still, crusing and quiet and nothing day there.
Later peeps - I hope to get inspired about SOMETHING in the next few days LOL
Pauly
Must see TV tonight was Survivor Palau - hmm, not great viewing at the moment seeing one team get slaughtered. But not like a sports game where a slaughter gets boring, after half time should be good when it goes from being a team game to one on one :) For the North Americans, Ulong is down to three team members - but not as much of a lag as American Idol I think, could be only a few days behind in Survivor?
Oh gods, the Labour Party in the UK has adopted U2's Beautiful Day as an unofficial anthem. Not one of U2's greatest is my opinion, and shouldn't it be I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For? In regards to the Iraqi WMD - god I'm funny sometimes LOL LOL :)
Hmm was a pretty nothing day at work today as well - took a lot more phone calls than I thought I had though, but still, crusing and quiet and nothing day there.
Later peeps - I hope to get inspired about SOMETHING in the next few days LOL
Pauly
Sunday, March 27, 2005
German Moments
Hey all - on SBS at the moment is a German period piece, all lederhosen and Prussian military uniforms for the boys, and flowing dresses and tiaras for the girls. Hmm, fifties colouring in German about Austro Hungarian royalty, something quite kitch about it all LOL, sorry you devotees of fifties German cinema :)
And on a less savoury part of Austro-German history, good article in the Guardian today about the last survivor of Hitler's inner circle, a young (at the time) aide de camp who is 91 currently. He recently released a book through a French publisher (due to the taboo in Germany about all things Nazi) about the last days in the bunker - the aide de camp left on 29 April, a day before Hitler shot himself - and he also served in Stalingrad. Anthony Beevor did a good book about that campaign, and my copy of it is currently languishing in Canada. The greatest battle of all time, I remember when I was first reading about World War 2, when I was eight or nine, that picture of the statue of the children dancing with the fighting going on behind it...
Hmm, that last paragraph was supposed to be a last days of the Reich one rather than about Stalingrad. Am currently what iffing in my head, what if Hitler hadn't overridden his competent generals on strategy, what if he had been killed in 1944, what if what if...
Oh, my parents totally do not get Dr Strangelove. Watched it tonight, black comedy about nuclear war and all that - remember, there are seventeen THOUSAND nukes in the world today, they didn't all go away at the end of the cold war - and when it ended, my mother said what a load of crap. Some of it is, but most of it is just as valid today as ever, and hmm, I get it, even if my parents don't. And the surprising thing is, they LOVED the Kill Bill marathon yesterday LOL.
Oh, two angles on the war on terror that I wanted to put down before I forget about the links. The first is the trouble that American army recruiters are having to keep their quotas up in wartime - the Pentagon wants over a hundred thousand new recruits this year, from seven and a half thousand recruiters. They aren't getting the numbers, what with two concurrent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, surprising that eh. But the brass isn't taking any excuses, and there is a bit of burnout in the ranks... good article, a home front angle on the issues of the US military...
Second on the war on terror, is this one from the Washington Post. A German national got arrested in Pakistan in 2001, alleged to be going to Afghanistan to fight against the US, but both the US and German intelligence agencies said there was no Al Qaeda link. However, in the military tribunal at Guantanamo, that evidence was disregarded and one piece of paper saying that he was Al Qaeda, with no supporting back up, has led him to be kept at Gitmo for the past three years. And now that the file has been leaked the military is saying it should be disregarded as it is classified, and no review of the German's case should go through.
Some good news on the whole American war on everyone else thing, I say that since Iraq and the war on terror weren't specifically linked, despite Veep Cheney's allusions to the contrary, the Iraqi resistance is said to be splintering between the Iraqi nationalists, who might just want to get in on the power grabbing, and the nihilistic jihadists. I know it has been said before, but with the elections, it may have actually been a real turning point. Which would be a good thing. On the political side of things, does anyone REALLY see the Kurds wanting to give up ANY of their autonomy anytime in the next ten years?
No news on the Schiavo front, that hasn't been said and said and said before.
Later peeps
Pauly
And on a less savoury part of Austro-German history, good article in the Guardian today about the last survivor of Hitler's inner circle, a young (at the time) aide de camp who is 91 currently. He recently released a book through a French publisher (due to the taboo in Germany about all things Nazi) about the last days in the bunker - the aide de camp left on 29 April, a day before Hitler shot himself - and he also served in Stalingrad. Anthony Beevor did a good book about that campaign, and my copy of it is currently languishing in Canada. The greatest battle of all time, I remember when I was first reading about World War 2, when I was eight or nine, that picture of the statue of the children dancing with the fighting going on behind it...
Hmm, that last paragraph was supposed to be a last days of the Reich one rather than about Stalingrad. Am currently what iffing in my head, what if Hitler hadn't overridden his competent generals on strategy, what if he had been killed in 1944, what if what if...
Oh, my parents totally do not get Dr Strangelove. Watched it tonight, black comedy about nuclear war and all that - remember, there are seventeen THOUSAND nukes in the world today, they didn't all go away at the end of the cold war - and when it ended, my mother said what a load of crap. Some of it is, but most of it is just as valid today as ever, and hmm, I get it, even if my parents don't. And the surprising thing is, they LOVED the Kill Bill marathon yesterday LOL.
Oh, two angles on the war on terror that I wanted to put down before I forget about the links. The first is the trouble that American army recruiters are having to keep their quotas up in wartime - the Pentagon wants over a hundred thousand new recruits this year, from seven and a half thousand recruiters. They aren't getting the numbers, what with two concurrent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, surprising that eh. But the brass isn't taking any excuses, and there is a bit of burnout in the ranks... good article, a home front angle on the issues of the US military...
Second on the war on terror, is this one from the Washington Post. A German national got arrested in Pakistan in 2001, alleged to be going to Afghanistan to fight against the US, but both the US and German intelligence agencies said there was no Al Qaeda link. However, in the military tribunal at Guantanamo, that evidence was disregarded and one piece of paper saying that he was Al Qaeda, with no supporting back up, has led him to be kept at Gitmo for the past three years. And now that the file has been leaked the military is saying it should be disregarded as it is classified, and no review of the German's case should go through.
Some good news on the whole American war on everyone else thing, I say that since Iraq and the war on terror weren't specifically linked, despite Veep Cheney's allusions to the contrary, the Iraqi resistance is said to be splintering between the Iraqi nationalists, who might just want to get in on the power grabbing, and the nihilistic jihadists. I know it has been said before, but with the elections, it may have actually been a real turning point. Which would be a good thing. On the political side of things, does anyone REALLY see the Kurds wanting to give up ANY of their autonomy anytime in the next ten years?
No news on the Schiavo front, that hasn't been said and said and said before.
Later peeps
Pauly
Strains Of The Great Escape Whistling Theme
Hmm, US troops have thwarted an escape attempt from one of their Iraqi jails. The tunnel that they found was 200 metres (600 feet) long, and extended beyond the security fencing. Sounds very Steve McQueen or Hogan's Heroes, until I read that there had been four prisoners shot dead at this particular prison 'after a routine search in the cells'. That's how the BBC reports it anyways, how can a 'routine search' lead to four prisoner deaths? Brings it back to reality rather than glorified movies and such - most of the Great Escapers were shot dead as well, in reality.
But it's such a catchy tune LOL, and those plucky prisoners, with the whole country a guerilla war zone, it comes across as a POW story rather than a regular prison break out story... oh, and here are some piccies of the tunnel etc...
Oh, and here is a good story from back home, a KFC outlet in Auckland got an E health safety rating after cockroaches were crawling all over a food preparation table and one (cockroach) was found in a Zinger burger. I think I will just go with the chips from KFC for the next couple days LOL, if even that :)
Lunchtime - more again later
Paul
But it's such a catchy tune LOL, and those plucky prisoners, with the whole country a guerilla war zone, it comes across as a POW story rather than a regular prison break out story... oh, and here are some piccies of the tunnel etc...
Oh, and here is a good story from back home, a KFC outlet in Auckland got an E health safety rating after cockroaches were crawling all over a food preparation table and one (cockroach) was found in a Zinger burger. I think I will just go with the chips from KFC for the next couple days LOL, if even that :)
Lunchtime - more again later
Paul
Manly Men LOL
Just a quick note - I went and helped my father unload tree clippings at the tip (aka waste treatment centre LOL) today. Now, I am sure you guys have a mental picture of me already, but me thinking about myself is very indoorsy etc, so I wasn't that impressed with being nominated to help Dad out, I mean, sweating and dirt and icky is not my scene, but then there is something very primal and enjoyable about throwing dead foliage off the back of the truck LOL. Feeling very Tim the Tool Man Taylor and that hooting he did at the moment LOL. No, don't worry, I'm not going to go all Deliverance on everybody and continue this outdoorsy thing, just was nice for a change...
Was going to comment on Pitt and Aniston breaking up, but have thought better of it, in a whole who cares angle on things - and no, Jennifer Aniston can stay on the market for all I care, not attracted to her at all...
More later
Pauly
Was going to comment on Pitt and Aniston breaking up, but have thought better of it, in a whole who cares angle on things - and no, Jennifer Aniston can stay on the market for all I care, not attracted to her at all...
More later
Pauly
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Obviously Movie Day Today
Have seen snippets of about five movies today. First off the biggie of the day, the one in the actual theatre, Be Cool. Hmm, shall I try to do a review of it, or shall I just comment - the difference being, comments are straight off the top of my head, review has to be typed and retyped. We will see how it goes...
Be Cool is in fact not cool. Although I have not yet seen Oceans Twelve, from what I have heard that movie is/was a vanity project. Be Cool, in a phrase, is Oceans Twelve with a plot.
Good points are Vince Vaughn and The Rock. Vaughn, as the black talking white guy manager, and The Rock, as a gay bodyguard with acting ambitions, are laugh a minute when they are on screen. The movie maybe could have been centred on these characters. John Travolta looks like he is sleepwalking through this movie, Harvey Keitel does his usual thing, and Uma Thurman looks pretty. Very pretty in fact - there is a three to five minute love affair with Uma's string bikini early on in the piece. I love Uma's ass as much as the next guy, but perhaps the word gratuitous is appropriate?
As well as the in joke about R rated movies only allowed one F word in the entire movie. And the discussion of any good movies that have a lead character killed off in the first ten minutes. It just comes across too cutesy and too smart.
The set piece dance between Travolta and Thurman is a stop/go moment in the movie. Whereas their wonderful dancing in Pulp Fiction was an aside to the rest of a glorious story, this time around it seems the dancing is one of the main points of the plot. The movie slows to a stop to take in Uma and John and the Black Eyed Peas, and subsequently slowly pulls out of the gate again three minutes later. Yes, the characters like each other, but it could have been shown more entertainingly (as a purely movie sense, again, on the other side of the ledger, Uma in white jeans) than a straight dance routine.
Not a worthy sequel to either Get Shorty (for the plot) or Pulp Fiction (for the dance). See if you are a Vince Vaughn, Rock or girls in skimpy get up fan - no, it isn't just Uma. I could have waited for the DVD.
How is that for a review, back out of reviewer character now LOL. Tonight caught up with Kill Bill 1 and 2 - V rang just at the start of the Crazy 88 fight, just what I consider the best part of either of the two movies LOL, but will catch it later I am sure. I remember writing a review of sorts for Kill Bill 2, it might actually be in my early entries on this blog...
Also today were segments of Dr Strangelove (stopped the DVD because couldn't hear it over the thunder and the rain) and Return of the Jedi - now here is a good question for you jedi wannabe geeks out there, who is the better hottie, Carrie Fisher or Natalie Portman? Tough one I know, and just judge them on their ages when the movies were made lol.
Okies, onwards and upwards and will write more later :)
Pauly
Be Cool is in fact not cool. Although I have not yet seen Oceans Twelve, from what I have heard that movie is/was a vanity project. Be Cool, in a phrase, is Oceans Twelve with a plot.
Good points are Vince Vaughn and The Rock. Vaughn, as the black talking white guy manager, and The Rock, as a gay bodyguard with acting ambitions, are laugh a minute when they are on screen. The movie maybe could have been centred on these characters. John Travolta looks like he is sleepwalking through this movie, Harvey Keitel does his usual thing, and Uma Thurman looks pretty. Very pretty in fact - there is a three to five minute love affair with Uma's string bikini early on in the piece. I love Uma's ass as much as the next guy, but perhaps the word gratuitous is appropriate?
As well as the in joke about R rated movies only allowed one F word in the entire movie. And the discussion of any good movies that have a lead character killed off in the first ten minutes. It just comes across too cutesy and too smart.
The set piece dance between Travolta and Thurman is a stop/go moment in the movie. Whereas their wonderful dancing in Pulp Fiction was an aside to the rest of a glorious story, this time around it seems the dancing is one of the main points of the plot. The movie slows to a stop to take in Uma and John and the Black Eyed Peas, and subsequently slowly pulls out of the gate again three minutes later. Yes, the characters like each other, but it could have been shown more entertainingly (as a purely movie sense, again, on the other side of the ledger, Uma in white jeans) than a straight dance routine.
Not a worthy sequel to either Get Shorty (for the plot) or Pulp Fiction (for the dance). See if you are a Vince Vaughn, Rock or girls in skimpy get up fan - no, it isn't just Uma. I could have waited for the DVD.
How is that for a review, back out of reviewer character now LOL. Tonight caught up with Kill Bill 1 and 2 - V rang just at the start of the Crazy 88 fight, just what I consider the best part of either of the two movies LOL, but will catch it later I am sure. I remember writing a review of sorts for Kill Bill 2, it might actually be in my early entries on this blog...
Also today were segments of Dr Strangelove (stopped the DVD because couldn't hear it over the thunder and the rain) and Return of the Jedi - now here is a good question for you jedi wannabe geeks out there, who is the better hottie, Carrie Fisher or Natalie Portman? Tough one I know, and just judge them on their ages when the movies were made lol.
Okies, onwards and upwards and will write more later :)
Pauly
Be Cool Or The Ring Two
That's the choice for this afternoon's movies. Each has their pros and cons LOL - the curse of sequels and bad buzz about Ring Two, or the love it or hate it unsuredness of the critics in Be Cool. Now if only Friday Night Lights had been on, we could have thrown a gritty true story angle in there, and it could have been gone at any time (I should have gone to the movies on Wednesday LOL). But Be Cool has Uma in it, so will probably see that one...
Yesterday was very quiet - played at ice hockey manager on the computer game LOL, and not much else. Oh, had the American Idol first elimination final, bye bye Linda, and Makayla surely has been in the bottom three for like the last five weeks or something? She always looks like she is waiting for the axe to fall in the results segments. But I have decided on my fave, Bo lol - need a bluesy rocker voice in there - and any North American's remember we are about two or three weeks behind you, please don't ruin my fun by saying who has been chucked out since :) Not that anyone has actually COMMENTED on my blog in about a month or so (beg beg LOL)...
Hmm, not much else to report the last couple of days, just feel the need to do a regular update thing, even if the update isn't that exciting LOL.
Spotya peeps later
Pauly
Yesterday was very quiet - played at ice hockey manager on the computer game LOL, and not much else. Oh, had the American Idol first elimination final, bye bye Linda, and Makayla surely has been in the bottom three for like the last five weeks or something? She always looks like she is waiting for the axe to fall in the results segments. But I have decided on my fave, Bo lol - need a bluesy rocker voice in there - and any North American's remember we are about two or three weeks behind you, please don't ruin my fun by saying who has been chucked out since :) Not that anyone has actually COMMENTED on my blog in about a month or so (beg beg LOL)...
Hmm, not much else to report the last couple of days, just feel the need to do a regular update thing, even if the update isn't that exciting LOL.
Spotya peeps later
Pauly
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Another Schiavo Thought
If Laura Bush or Barbara Bush were in a permanent vegetative state for fifteen years (biting tongue, especially on the Barbara side of things), would Dubya really want to keep them alive against their previously expressed but never set down in writing wishes?
Grrr
Grrr
Depressing But Newsworthy
The Schiavo case. Says it all really, doesn't it. The latest thing is that Governor Bush is looking to take Terri into state care so that she gets the feeding tube back - trampling all over individual rights etc etc, I am sure I don't need to go deep into things on that front. This girl has been in the persistant vegetative state for fifteen years, does anyone REALLY think she will recover her wits? Please note, if I find myself in that sort of state, give me two or three years at most, then flip the switch if I am not improving. There, hopefully that's enough in writing so that there are no doubts as to my wishes if it came to it...
And why all the fuss over this one case? I am more than sure that the husband thought long and hard (eight years in fact) before starting the removal of feeding tube process - thousands of people die every day, and all the fuss over this one case. All the effort that goes into forcing people (albeit convicted criminals) to die, and forcing people that want to die to continue to live - grrr. And don't even get me started on the thousand dead foreigners equals one dead American equation in the American based news LOL. And not just the Americans of course, but just the most glaring example.
And who is paying for her hospice care anyways? Is it the husband, the family, the state or the federal government? How many heart operations could have been paid for in the seven years since this thing first went to court? And why should the legislative and executive branches of government be on the side of life, as the President was quoted earlier today? Let's send our boys off to die in Iraq - rant rant rant LOL - I think I better shut up for a bit :)
Later peeps
Pauly
And why all the fuss over this one case? I am more than sure that the husband thought long and hard (eight years in fact) before starting the removal of feeding tube process - thousands of people die every day, and all the fuss over this one case. All the effort that goes into forcing people (albeit convicted criminals) to die, and forcing people that want to die to continue to live - grrr. And don't even get me started on the thousand dead foreigners equals one dead American equation in the American based news LOL. And not just the Americans of course, but just the most glaring example.
And who is paying for her hospice care anyways? Is it the husband, the family, the state or the federal government? How many heart operations could have been paid for in the seven years since this thing first went to court? And why should the legislative and executive branches of government be on the side of life, as the President was quoted earlier today? Let's send our boys off to die in Iraq - rant rant rant LOL - I think I better shut up for a bit :)
Later peeps
Pauly
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Slow Day
First work day of the week, with only tomorrow to go, what with Easter coming up and all, and I just felt very flat, as if all the colour had been leached out of the place. Not even talking to the customers could pep me up, nor even finally getting word of our permanent contracts could get me excited. With that last thing, we will convert on 4 April, but all I was thinking is what the money is like, cos is it enough to keep me in Brisbane - and underlined the four weeks notice. I dunno, I just felt very at home in Tassie, and feel that decisions need to be made before the end of the year as to where this thing is headed...
Just watching American Idol at the moment - is the one where they cut the contestants down from sixteen to twelve, and will catch up another week with the episode on Friday being the first elimination final of the twelve. Am not linking to any Idol sites, because I don't want to know what has happened in the intervening time, and who has been kicked out etc :)
Hmm, still not going to make a direct comment on the Schiavo case in Florida, why should EVERYONE including Congress and the President get involved in what is a tortuous, nerve shattering private issue between the husband and parents, but why on earth is it that the biggest supporters of the death penalty go hell for leather in other right to life debates? And yes, George Dubya, I'm talking to you LOL. Is the fact that eighteen court cases have given the decision over to the husband mean that it's those 'activist' judges playing up again LOL.
Damn, I think I may have missed out on catching Friday Night Lights, and the only other movie I want to see this week is Be Cool, oh, or the Ring Two, I didn't get past F in the listing before disappointment set in LOL. Fingers crossed that Friday Night will be on SOMEWHERE, but hmm I KNEW it would only have a two week run LOL. Think I chose well when I went to Hotel Rwanda as the first option a couple weeks ago though...
Later peeps
Pauly
Just watching American Idol at the moment - is the one where they cut the contestants down from sixteen to twelve, and will catch up another week with the episode on Friday being the first elimination final of the twelve. Am not linking to any Idol sites, because I don't want to know what has happened in the intervening time, and who has been kicked out etc :)
Hmm, still not going to make a direct comment on the Schiavo case in Florida, why should EVERYONE including Congress and the President get involved in what is a tortuous, nerve shattering private issue between the husband and parents, but why on earth is it that the biggest supporters of the death penalty go hell for leather in other right to life debates? And yes, George Dubya, I'm talking to you LOL. Is the fact that eighteen court cases have given the decision over to the husband mean that it's those 'activist' judges playing up again LOL.
Damn, I think I may have missed out on catching Friday Night Lights, and the only other movie I want to see this week is Be Cool, oh, or the Ring Two, I didn't get past F in the listing before disappointment set in LOL. Fingers crossed that Friday Night will be on SOMEWHERE, but hmm I KNEW it would only have a two week run LOL. Think I chose well when I went to Hotel Rwanda as the first option a couple weeks ago though...
Later peeps
Pauly
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Mount Thomas Thoughts
Hey all - back from 'Mount Thomas' for the second time in three weeks, attending V's dad's funeral and all. And the trip down has doubled as her birthday present, what with the cost and all, though not often you send the present back, in this case to Brisbane, after seventy two hours LOL. Where to start hmm, what happened Saturday.
Flew down on Jetstar, which I will now rename Jetbus LOL, non assigned seating and all the excitement of a bus trip. Met V at the airport, and Sister1 and Niece1 LOL, so many family members that I think I will use this type of tagging :) - Niece1 decided to ask whether I was V's boyfriend or not, to which I replied first, ask V, and secondly, would just normal friends come down for a dad's funeral, and thirdly, that I used the word girlfriend in getting the leave off work LOL. If that makes sense all those three - striking girl, Niece1, only seventeen though.
Went out for tea at Friend1's place, roast chicken and roast vegetables yum, and then, an idea I had floated with V on Friday to get her out of town for a picnic led to Friend1 providing the food and blanket and esky for a picnic the next day - instead of flowers, as she explained. Good idea as well :) wonder who thought of it lol. Was a nice meal and nice dessert and I have gained brownie points with that particular friend and her husband is a laugh as well, good time had by all :)
Looked through V's photo albums that night while she made pizza or as she called it, pizza bread - being the youngest of eleven she only has one baby photo, as she describes it, they got bored of taking baby photos by the time she came around. Trying to get to sleep, she said she hated the nights most, she stayed awake thinking of her dad - I did my best during my time down there to comfort her, and I think/hope I did a reasonable job...
Sunday was a lazy day getting up and started off with cooking, which I was fine with, and people coming around, which I was less OK with LOL - no shower at V's house, bath only, so I felt very feral like until the first shower of the day, and to have visitors hmmph. Had Friend2 stop by, and Sister1 and Niece1 and Brother-in-Law1 turn up - nice to see them and have a good convo, but yes, AFTER I had done what I could with my hair LOL.
Then was off to Friend1's to have a shower, pick up the picnic basket, and to head off to Latrobe and not come back for at least three hours, have a break away from all the stress and stuff of the funeral arrangements. Latrobe is very pretty, reminds me of Carterton or Graytown back home, which is a good thing, and laid the blanket down in a spot of shade by the river, and Friend1 had provided bread rolls and chicken fillets and lettuce, tomato, cheese, cucumber, celery, butter and more, and even had a candle as well :) Tried to light it but it kept going out, but it was a very nice meal and an amazing thing to organise - and saved me a trip and costs to Woolworths LOL.
After that, V ummed and ahhed before eventually going to visit Friend3, who V had never visited at home, and even when we drove up, V was like we will talk from the car and not get out. Of course, that plan went out the window, and what an amazing place it was to visit. Former harbourmaster's residence, built in 1877, so Victorian, and it was amazing to wander around - had a wonderful kitchen, and kitchen table catching the afternoon sun. Amazing 'sitting room' as well, with antique furniture, and the piece de resistance (if I have the right term), the TV room, with a HUGE TV, and I did notice another thing, lol the tapestry of Versailles above it... just a totally amazing house, with a bed you need a step ladder to get into, seven open fireplaces LOL, very colonial, a huge Rhodesian ridgeback (dog), and a stunning daughter lol - although, again, I was with V and the daughter was only nineteen. And a very lucky daughter as well, not many parents would shell out $25K for a three year old yellow Renault convertible :)
But it was a good visit for V to catch up with the friend, and see the place, which had always been called a dump by the friend. Drove back to town, stopping for a raspberry icecream and it ended up being away for three hours forty - so we overshot the time away from town and stress and all that, which was good. As soon as we got back into town though the stress levels went through the roof again, too much to do not enough time blah blah. Went home and then straight out again to Niece2's to pick up some flowers to put next to the gravestone (with these modern ones, they have a little punnet on the top to put water and flowers in), drop off birthday presents to Nephew1's, make some sausage roll mixture and go out for Nephew1's birthday. Busy busy busy.
Nice meal out at the pub for Nephew1's birthday - the food was nice I mean - lol there were about five kids under five years of age, plus the birthday boy, who although eleven acts like one of the under fives, at least in these particular circumstances. So by the end of the evening the kids were rampaging around the dining room, but I had a nice garlic bread, roast pork, sans crackling unfortunately, and pavlova for dessert. And for some reason all weekend I was going lightly on the alcohol - only had one or two each day, which is low for 'holiday' times. Only had one beer that night, first night in a true Tasmanian pub, although more on the restaurant side. And the conversation left a little to be desired, apart from family, kids, and car racing, the main topic of convo between BrotherInLaw1 and NephewInLaw1 was how much money my business is making, or how important I am to my company, or how many days out of town at the company expense I am being paid for blah blah blah. Almost got involved, and was encouraged by V to get into the V8 and Formula One convo, but then they went to work, and I am much more a listener than a talker, which these two were - just was on the phone to V, and related this story, and renamed the two people Tosspot and Wanker LOL. She was impressed by the renaming exercise.
And then V got home and baked and cooked and baked, and at 11.30 she said I should have done a banana cake as well, and I said stop cooking, let's go to bed. Was trying to get her to wind down a bit, but she took it as me having a hissy fit - wasn't even in the mood to watch the Formula One, not that I would have been impressed with the result at the end, was worth going to bed for LOL.
Yesterday was THE day of the funeral. Finished off the cooking, took the food around to Niece1's, where the wake was going to be, came back home, had lunch with Sister2 and her family, then went back to Niece1's to cut some roses to throw into the grave, did it up as a nice arrangement - V chose the flowers, I arranged in the basket, and then back home to wait for the hearse. Which was being driven by Sister3 - now get this, is this normal at funerals nowadays, to get a family member to drive the hearse? As the funeral director sold it, the last thing you can do for your father blah blah, but I don't know, it is just too weird for me, but anyways, Sister3 drove the hearse through town, to the cemetery (was a graveside service), and it was quite an impressive turnout I thought, probably about 100 to 115 people there.
It was a good service from all accounts, Niece1 doing Psalm 23 - the one with though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - and Nephew1 doing the Lord's Prayer, and a nice eulogy with a couple of funny stories, and then hmm - with V being the main person who looked after her dad in the latter years, and the main family member organising the ceremony, was quite strange for me, as a newcomer, to be given such an important space in the ceremony. V wouldn't take a rose to throw in the grave, so I took two, for her and me - and after the service, V was basically the centre of attention, with me as an adjunct lol, if I have the right word. The funeral director would speak to me when V was busy being hugged and stuff, and I was a new face to meet for some of the people as well. I think I have the family pretty well down pat, now it is just the friends that are confusing me LOL. The school where V works had a good turnout, they left two teachers there to give the kids a video in the hall and the rest of the staff came, and her current boss and two former bosses as well. Was a good service and a good turnout.
With the wake, even though probably fifty people turned up (at least for the start) was more than enough food there, and didn't need another banana cake baked LOL. Was just a quiet time, and again, I was much more into the lemonade than beer - and Niece1's kids, the ones that were wondering who I was at the wedding three weeks ago, wanted to know if I would come visit at all this time around - which was nice, LOL and if ever Niece1 wants babysitting in Queensland, they know where to come :) Very cute kids who seem to have taken a shine to me - also had practise holding a baby, although had V help me out when the kid got too squirmy or shouty LOL.
Went around to Sister4's place for the evening, just for a quiet hour and a half and a quiet wine. The fire was banked up really high and I was too hot LOL - they said I should be used to this weather being in Queensland, but I don't wear sweaters up here as I did down there. Apart from that the evening was fairly forgettable, hot and tired and not concentrating on the conversation.
Was up at 10.30 today, after lolling about in bed for an hour. Was also an early exit for Sister3, who had slept on V's couch, was being picked up by Sister1 to catch a 6 ayem flight, so out of town at 4.45 eek LOL. Went out to lunch at a nice Mexican styled place, mmm chicken enchilada, was very tasty. Went up to her dad's nursing home, even though she had issues with the place, just to give a final thank you card (thank you for what, I remember her saying before going down there) plus a big box of lollies. V gave a special card and special chocolates to the girl that was on duty the actual night her father died. And then it was up to the graveside again, for a personal contemplation (had been in the back of my mind for an activity, geez I have good ideas sometimes) and to water the flowers... was nice.
And then out to the airport, with Friend4 as support on the way in and even more support for V on the way back. Back onto Jetbus, fond farewells all around, and back to the Real World. Hmm, if I didn't have regular debt payments to make, I would seriously consider moving down there - is a nice place, nice climate, and as long as I get work in one of the major towns, could NOT think of working in Mount Thomas LOL, I think I would be OK down there... hmm will have to consider a transfer or something :)
V was amazed by all the good reports she got about me. It must have meant a lot for me to come down was the main one, but also got he seems a very nice boy, very gentle, very loving, dotes on you, knows when to shut up, he's a keeper, you compliment each other and such like. She could have coped without me, but she coped better with me around. She has yet to find a family member or friend to have a bad word about me, especially around this weekend lol. And with my family liking her so much, we should volunteer to be on the next episode of House Swap or something, she will try my family and lifestyle out, while I try hers LOL.
It meant a lot both to V and her family and friends that I went down to support her at this time. Mondo brownie points earned - now, when, where and how to cash them in :)
Later peeps
Pauly
Flew down on Jetstar, which I will now rename Jetbus LOL, non assigned seating and all the excitement of a bus trip. Met V at the airport, and Sister1 and Niece1 LOL, so many family members that I think I will use this type of tagging :) - Niece1 decided to ask whether I was V's boyfriend or not, to which I replied first, ask V, and secondly, would just normal friends come down for a dad's funeral, and thirdly, that I used the word girlfriend in getting the leave off work LOL. If that makes sense all those three - striking girl, Niece1, only seventeen though.
Went out for tea at Friend1's place, roast chicken and roast vegetables yum, and then, an idea I had floated with V on Friday to get her out of town for a picnic led to Friend1 providing the food and blanket and esky for a picnic the next day - instead of flowers, as she explained. Good idea as well :) wonder who thought of it lol. Was a nice meal and nice dessert and I have gained brownie points with that particular friend and her husband is a laugh as well, good time had by all :)
Looked through V's photo albums that night while she made pizza or as she called it, pizza bread - being the youngest of eleven she only has one baby photo, as she describes it, they got bored of taking baby photos by the time she came around. Trying to get to sleep, she said she hated the nights most, she stayed awake thinking of her dad - I did my best during my time down there to comfort her, and I think/hope I did a reasonable job...
Sunday was a lazy day getting up and started off with cooking, which I was fine with, and people coming around, which I was less OK with LOL - no shower at V's house, bath only, so I felt very feral like until the first shower of the day, and to have visitors hmmph. Had Friend2 stop by, and Sister1 and Niece1 and Brother-in-Law1 turn up - nice to see them and have a good convo, but yes, AFTER I had done what I could with my hair LOL.
Then was off to Friend1's to have a shower, pick up the picnic basket, and to head off to Latrobe and not come back for at least three hours, have a break away from all the stress and stuff of the funeral arrangements. Latrobe is very pretty, reminds me of Carterton or Graytown back home, which is a good thing, and laid the blanket down in a spot of shade by the river, and Friend1 had provided bread rolls and chicken fillets and lettuce, tomato, cheese, cucumber, celery, butter and more, and even had a candle as well :) Tried to light it but it kept going out, but it was a very nice meal and an amazing thing to organise - and saved me a trip and costs to Woolworths LOL.
After that, V ummed and ahhed before eventually going to visit Friend3, who V had never visited at home, and even when we drove up, V was like we will talk from the car and not get out. Of course, that plan went out the window, and what an amazing place it was to visit. Former harbourmaster's residence, built in 1877, so Victorian, and it was amazing to wander around - had a wonderful kitchen, and kitchen table catching the afternoon sun. Amazing 'sitting room' as well, with antique furniture, and the piece de resistance (if I have the right term), the TV room, with a HUGE TV, and I did notice another thing, lol the tapestry of Versailles above it... just a totally amazing house, with a bed you need a step ladder to get into, seven open fireplaces LOL, very colonial, a huge Rhodesian ridgeback (dog), and a stunning daughter lol - although, again, I was with V and the daughter was only nineteen. And a very lucky daughter as well, not many parents would shell out $25K for a three year old yellow Renault convertible :)
But it was a good visit for V to catch up with the friend, and see the place, which had always been called a dump by the friend. Drove back to town, stopping for a raspberry icecream and it ended up being away for three hours forty - so we overshot the time away from town and stress and all that, which was good. As soon as we got back into town though the stress levels went through the roof again, too much to do not enough time blah blah. Went home and then straight out again to Niece2's to pick up some flowers to put next to the gravestone (with these modern ones, they have a little punnet on the top to put water and flowers in), drop off birthday presents to Nephew1's, make some sausage roll mixture and go out for Nephew1's birthday. Busy busy busy.
Nice meal out at the pub for Nephew1's birthday - the food was nice I mean - lol there were about five kids under five years of age, plus the birthday boy, who although eleven acts like one of the under fives, at least in these particular circumstances. So by the end of the evening the kids were rampaging around the dining room, but I had a nice garlic bread, roast pork, sans crackling unfortunately, and pavlova for dessert. And for some reason all weekend I was going lightly on the alcohol - only had one or two each day, which is low for 'holiday' times. Only had one beer that night, first night in a true Tasmanian pub, although more on the restaurant side. And the conversation left a little to be desired, apart from family, kids, and car racing, the main topic of convo between BrotherInLaw1 and NephewInLaw1 was how much money my business is making, or how important I am to my company, or how many days out of town at the company expense I am being paid for blah blah blah. Almost got involved, and was encouraged by V to get into the V8 and Formula One convo, but then they went to work, and I am much more a listener than a talker, which these two were - just was on the phone to V, and related this story, and renamed the two people Tosspot and Wanker LOL. She was impressed by the renaming exercise.
And then V got home and baked and cooked and baked, and at 11.30 she said I should have done a banana cake as well, and I said stop cooking, let's go to bed. Was trying to get her to wind down a bit, but she took it as me having a hissy fit - wasn't even in the mood to watch the Formula One, not that I would have been impressed with the result at the end, was worth going to bed for LOL.
Yesterday was THE day of the funeral. Finished off the cooking, took the food around to Niece1's, where the wake was going to be, came back home, had lunch with Sister2 and her family, then went back to Niece1's to cut some roses to throw into the grave, did it up as a nice arrangement - V chose the flowers, I arranged in the basket, and then back home to wait for the hearse. Which was being driven by Sister3 - now get this, is this normal at funerals nowadays, to get a family member to drive the hearse? As the funeral director sold it, the last thing you can do for your father blah blah, but I don't know, it is just too weird for me, but anyways, Sister3 drove the hearse through town, to the cemetery (was a graveside service), and it was quite an impressive turnout I thought, probably about 100 to 115 people there.
It was a good service from all accounts, Niece1 doing Psalm 23 - the one with though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - and Nephew1 doing the Lord's Prayer, and a nice eulogy with a couple of funny stories, and then hmm - with V being the main person who looked after her dad in the latter years, and the main family member organising the ceremony, was quite strange for me, as a newcomer, to be given such an important space in the ceremony. V wouldn't take a rose to throw in the grave, so I took two, for her and me - and after the service, V was basically the centre of attention, with me as an adjunct lol, if I have the right word. The funeral director would speak to me when V was busy being hugged and stuff, and I was a new face to meet for some of the people as well. I think I have the family pretty well down pat, now it is just the friends that are confusing me LOL. The school where V works had a good turnout, they left two teachers there to give the kids a video in the hall and the rest of the staff came, and her current boss and two former bosses as well. Was a good service and a good turnout.
With the wake, even though probably fifty people turned up (at least for the start) was more than enough food there, and didn't need another banana cake baked LOL. Was just a quiet time, and again, I was much more into the lemonade than beer - and Niece1's kids, the ones that were wondering who I was at the wedding three weeks ago, wanted to know if I would come visit at all this time around - which was nice, LOL and if ever Niece1 wants babysitting in Queensland, they know where to come :) Very cute kids who seem to have taken a shine to me - also had practise holding a baby, although had V help me out when the kid got too squirmy or shouty LOL.
Went around to Sister4's place for the evening, just for a quiet hour and a half and a quiet wine. The fire was banked up really high and I was too hot LOL - they said I should be used to this weather being in Queensland, but I don't wear sweaters up here as I did down there. Apart from that the evening was fairly forgettable, hot and tired and not concentrating on the conversation.
Was up at 10.30 today, after lolling about in bed for an hour. Was also an early exit for Sister3, who had slept on V's couch, was being picked up by Sister1 to catch a 6 ayem flight, so out of town at 4.45 eek LOL. Went out to lunch at a nice Mexican styled place, mmm chicken enchilada, was very tasty. Went up to her dad's nursing home, even though she had issues with the place, just to give a final thank you card (thank you for what, I remember her saying before going down there) plus a big box of lollies. V gave a special card and special chocolates to the girl that was on duty the actual night her father died. And then it was up to the graveside again, for a personal contemplation (had been in the back of my mind for an activity, geez I have good ideas sometimes) and to water the flowers... was nice.
And then out to the airport, with Friend4 as support on the way in and even more support for V on the way back. Back onto Jetbus, fond farewells all around, and back to the Real World. Hmm, if I didn't have regular debt payments to make, I would seriously consider moving down there - is a nice place, nice climate, and as long as I get work in one of the major towns, could NOT think of working in Mount Thomas LOL, I think I would be OK down there... hmm will have to consider a transfer or something :)
V was amazed by all the good reports she got about me. It must have meant a lot for me to come down was the main one, but also got he seems a very nice boy, very gentle, very loving, dotes on you, knows when to shut up, he's a keeper, you compliment each other and such like. She could have coped without me, but she coped better with me around. She has yet to find a family member or friend to have a bad word about me, especially around this weekend lol. And with my family liking her so much, we should volunteer to be on the next episode of House Swap or something, she will try my family and lifestyle out, while I try hers LOL.
It meant a lot both to V and her family and friends that I went down to support her at this time. Mondo brownie points earned - now, when, where and how to cash them in :)
Later peeps
Pauly
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Title Thoughts Have Deserted Me LOL
Twenty minutes til I head to the airport to head down to be with V for the next few days - will think of doing my regular thing of diarising while away from computer land, but not sure whether funeral arrangements is the best time to be writing and all that.
Went out last night with workmates, was a bit of a damp squib as usual nowadays, KB, SW and AD turned up, and AD left pretty soon. KB and SW were doing a lot of girly talk and I switched to coke LOL, so yeah, it was that type of night - always nice getting to know people better, but the pub we chose was hmm non descript would be the best way to describe it LOL. It had bars all over the place, and about five different themed rooms or areas - beach bar, sports bar, corner bar, pool room, dance bar - very confused but non descript at the same time. If I have described it at all well LOL.
I see that the Schiavo feeding tube has been taken out - not even going to touch that subject this morning with a fifty foot pole LOL. I had something on my mind earlier that I wanted to get out in the blog, but it's been a rushed morning, have forgotten it...
See you in four days peeps
Pauly
Went out last night with workmates, was a bit of a damp squib as usual nowadays, KB, SW and AD turned up, and AD left pretty soon. KB and SW were doing a lot of girly talk and I switched to coke LOL, so yeah, it was that type of night - always nice getting to know people better, but the pub we chose was hmm non descript would be the best way to describe it LOL. It had bars all over the place, and about five different themed rooms or areas - beach bar, sports bar, corner bar, pool room, dance bar - very confused but non descript at the same time. If I have described it at all well LOL.
I see that the Schiavo feeding tube has been taken out - not even going to touch that subject this morning with a fifty foot pole LOL. I had something on my mind earlier that I wanted to get out in the blog, but it's been a rushed morning, have forgotten it...
See you in four days peeps
Pauly
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Update
I am going down for V's father's funeral. During the day I was still umming and ahhing, but rang her in my breaks and hearing how she was decided it for me. As she said, she would have been able to cope with it herself well enough I am sure, but me being there will add to her coping mechanisms. Have got verbal agreement from my boss to take two days off next week, the funeral will be Monday, will just have to run it past the agency and the bigger boss, but really, I'm not getting paid for any time off at the moment anyways, and I am giving them notice, and it is a very very valid reason (not just a self induced headache or anything) so why do I need permission?
The Air India trial in Vancouver ended yesterday, with the two people up on charges acquitted - from how I read it, it was mainly because the judge believed the prosecution witnesses were unreliable, rather than the fact that the accused were totally innocent, but still, no sense of justice for the relatives of the dead. I remember Lockerbie and the USS Vincennes shooting down the Iranian plane in the Gulf, but the Air India bombing was just a bit too early for me to be interested in international geopolitics - 1985 and all, nine years old LOL.
Thinking about the Irish issues at the moment, two months ago I am sure that Gerry Adams wasn't expecting a brush off from the White House, let alone Ted Kennedy, and alternately, the McCartney sisters couldn't have ever in their wildest dreams think they were ever going to meet Dubya.
With baseball mired in the drug hearings, hockey on a hiatus, and basketball turning more violent by the month, here is a good article about integrity in US sport, mainly on the topic of politics. Warning to any conservative readers, I surely must have some out there who stumble in here looking for Rebecca Twigley LOL, the story has a decidedly lefty anti Dubya slant in who it likes... but a good article for either side of politics if you can get past that... oh, no, that's right, sports and politics don't mix LOL, it was just a coincidence that there were protestors at the Springbok tour in 1981 and the fact that most of Africa boycotted Montreal because NZ was there lol - probably our greatest impact on international sport :) C'mon Kiwi c'mon indeed LOL...
Why on Earth did President Bush nominate Paul Wolfowitz as the head of the World Bank?? A person who likes military hard power going into economics, like what the hell is going on? Is it a two fingered salute from Washington to the international community, the fact that in this era of HUGE budget deficits there wasn't anyone better qualified to nominate, or possibly with John Bolton going to the UN, maybe Bush is getting all the neo-cons out of the administration? That last one if true, let's rumour monger here lol, means international short term pain but if realists are back in control of the administration, hmm, what a double game LOL. Personally I think it is the fingers though...
On the day that GM gave it's worst profit warning in ten years, and oil just keeps going higher and higher, and I think I saw yesterday Greenspan noting that the current situation in the US economy is unsustainable? He wouldn't have been that clear, would he LOL?
Good. Scott Peterson got the death penalty for killing his wife. I am still unsure whether you can actually bring a murder case for someone unborn, but I agree with the verdict in relation to the wife. Not so much that Laci had a nice smile all American mom blah blah, but just the fact that he did a fake sob story and then tried to get to Mexico didn't impress me with his believability. Not that I actually believe in the death penalty, but just the way he tried to fake everything grrr.
Okies think that's about it from tonight - tomorrow night drinkies with workmates - with the V thing, will be more sombre than it was, but fingers crossed will be a few smiles and cute girls in there lol - as long as I look only it should be fine?
Pauly
The Air India trial in Vancouver ended yesterday, with the two people up on charges acquitted - from how I read it, it was mainly because the judge believed the prosecution witnesses were unreliable, rather than the fact that the accused were totally innocent, but still, no sense of justice for the relatives of the dead. I remember Lockerbie and the USS Vincennes shooting down the Iranian plane in the Gulf, but the Air India bombing was just a bit too early for me to be interested in international geopolitics - 1985 and all, nine years old LOL.
Thinking about the Irish issues at the moment, two months ago I am sure that Gerry Adams wasn't expecting a brush off from the White House, let alone Ted Kennedy, and alternately, the McCartney sisters couldn't have ever in their wildest dreams think they were ever going to meet Dubya.
With baseball mired in the drug hearings, hockey on a hiatus, and basketball turning more violent by the month, here is a good article about integrity in US sport, mainly on the topic of politics. Warning to any conservative readers, I surely must have some out there who stumble in here looking for Rebecca Twigley LOL, the story has a decidedly lefty anti Dubya slant in who it likes... but a good article for either side of politics if you can get past that... oh, no, that's right, sports and politics don't mix LOL, it was just a coincidence that there were protestors at the Springbok tour in 1981 and the fact that most of Africa boycotted Montreal because NZ was there lol - probably our greatest impact on international sport :) C'mon Kiwi c'mon indeed LOL...
Why on Earth did President Bush nominate Paul Wolfowitz as the head of the World Bank?? A person who likes military hard power going into economics, like what the hell is going on? Is it a two fingered salute from Washington to the international community, the fact that in this era of HUGE budget deficits there wasn't anyone better qualified to nominate, or possibly with John Bolton going to the UN, maybe Bush is getting all the neo-cons out of the administration? That last one if true, let's rumour monger here lol, means international short term pain but if realists are back in control of the administration, hmm, what a double game LOL. Personally I think it is the fingers though...
On the day that GM gave it's worst profit warning in ten years, and oil just keeps going higher and higher, and I think I saw yesterday Greenspan noting that the current situation in the US economy is unsustainable? He wouldn't have been that clear, would he LOL?
Good. Scott Peterson got the death penalty for killing his wife. I am still unsure whether you can actually bring a murder case for someone unborn, but I agree with the verdict in relation to the wife. Not so much that Laci had a nice smile all American mom blah blah, but just the fact that he did a fake sob story and then tried to get to Mexico didn't impress me with his believability. Not that I actually believe in the death penalty, but just the way he tried to fake everything grrr.
Okies think that's about it from tonight - tomorrow night drinkies with workmates - with the V thing, will be more sombre than it was, but fingers crossed will be a few smiles and cute girls in there lol - as long as I look only it should be fine?
Pauly
To Go Or Not To Go
V's father died this morning. Of course I want to go down and be with her and support her and TRY and prevent her family from dumping EVERYTHING onto her - although she did say that she wanted to organise the funeral, when it would be easier for one of the more assertive family members to just pick up everything. But, the cost of last minute airfares and the fact that I would be taking days off work when I don't get paid for any sort of leave, and I have standard debts to repay blah blah - it's a tough choice.
I don't want to just be the sort of person that sends flowers from afar, and V definitely needs some support. I will ponder further over the day, and maybe if I only have two days off instead of three - remember, next week is a short week because of Easter as well - maybe I can do something. But not being family I don't want to say you must have the funeral Monday otherwise Tuesday I can't attend - although, the day of the funeral she should be supported well enough by the family anyhows...
Thinking thinking
Pauly
I don't want to just be the sort of person that sends flowers from afar, and V definitely needs some support. I will ponder further over the day, and maybe if I only have two days off instead of three - remember, next week is a short week because of Easter as well - maybe I can do something. But not being family I don't want to say you must have the funeral Monday otherwise Tuesday I can't attend - although, the day of the funeral she should be supported well enough by the family anyhows...
Thinking thinking
Pauly
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Another Strange Dream
OK, this one starts off with me at the train station to head into work, but suddenly realise I have my glasses on, and am having a vain day and want my contact lenses instead - but the train is almost at the platform and it's ten minute walk back home - and am very conflicted as to what to do (at least I'm dressed though, lol).
Then suddenly it feels like I am back home, Wellington, but it feels like a civil war is going on or something - the train station is full of troop trains going into the city and casualty trains coming back - and a couple of my workmates and myself set up a triage station in the train station, less of a drive around hills and such to the local hospital. And I look at a tourist map of Wellington and there are bushfires indicated all over the place - like I said, another strange dream...
Later peeps
Pauly
Then suddenly it feels like I am back home, Wellington, but it feels like a civil war is going on or something - the train station is full of troop trains going into the city and casualty trains coming back - and a couple of my workmates and myself set up a triage station in the train station, less of a drive around hills and such to the local hospital. And I look at a tourist map of Wellington and there are bushfires indicated all over the place - like I said, another strange dream...
Later peeps
Pauly
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
How Far Behind The States Are We?
Title of today means that Survivor is on TV at the moment, the Palau one - they are currently putting together a shower and outhouse, sponsored by Home Depot this week LOL. And American Idol, last episode they got rid of the first two girls and two guys out of the top twenty four - I just may want to be told how far back we are here in Oz, not necessarily what has happened in the intervening episodes :)
Apart from that, not too much happening at Club Pauly the last couple days. Work is as mindless as ever, apart from when the customers are wanting the impossible LOL. Will go out with some of the workmates on Friday, so that can double as my St Patrick's Day thing - LOL St Paddy's Day two years ago was pretty damned fine, on the prairies :) So much has happened in that time, ohhhh, and a couple of days after that the American invasion of Iraq started. So much has happened both personally and worldwise...
Leading on from the St Patrick's thing - I don't see how any Paddy's day can top two years ago, but will try LOL - leading on from that, I can't remember how much of Northern Ireland I have been mentioning, but Sinn Fein and the IRA are at sixes and sevens as to how to staunch the PR disaster that is the Robert McCartney murder. The IRA covered up the murder of a Sinn Fein voter just cos one of the Provos had a temper apparently, and it has gone downhill for the republicans since then.
The IRA released a statement last week saying that it would offer to shoot some of those involved - it was not meant as just a joke, and they were serious about it, dickheads, and, surprise surprise, Gerry Adams wasn't invited to the White House this St Patrick's Day... not even having talks with Ted Kennedy, and Martin McGuinness just made things worse according to the Guardian this morning, by saying that the McCartney family should shut up otherwise things could go badly for them. Since stopping fighting the Brits, the energies of the IRA have gone into becoming the main organised crime unit on the island. The twenty six million pound robbery in December hasn't evoked as much reaction as this murder cover up thing.
Hmm, and while on the British link, not only can't I stand Chelsea on principle LOL, but their manager is such a loose bloody cannon. He accuses the ref in the Barcelona match of being biased, which leads to death threats against the ref, which leads the ref to resign, and then the referee's association say rude things about Mourinho in return, and now the coach is threatening legal action - umm if you can't take it Jose don't dish it out.
On a more personal level, V's father is very ill. He is very elderly and in a nursing home and such, and seemingly typical of V's extended family, they have left her to keep an eye on him basically. From what she has intimated (if I have the right word) he was a hard man to deal with when he was younger, but still, he's old and weak now, and you dump it all on the youngest person grr. So, I might be going back down earlier than I expected - it does not sound good.
Oh, and another aside, there are Queensland corporate games happening sometime or other, and CC, one of the girls at work, was trying to organise a team. Hmm, there is a cost involved, but am sure my company would sponsor us perhaps - volleyball was an idea, until the girls figured out it was beach volleyball LOL - hmm, where's my workmate Uma Thurman or even better Angelina Jolie LOL. So back up plan, well, as it stood this evening when everyone was going was perhaps netball... will keep you posted :)
Pauly
Apart from that, not too much happening at Club Pauly the last couple days. Work is as mindless as ever, apart from when the customers are wanting the impossible LOL. Will go out with some of the workmates on Friday, so that can double as my St Patrick's Day thing - LOL St Paddy's Day two years ago was pretty damned fine, on the prairies :) So much has happened in that time, ohhhh, and a couple of days after that the American invasion of Iraq started. So much has happened both personally and worldwise...
Leading on from the St Patrick's thing - I don't see how any Paddy's day can top two years ago, but will try LOL - leading on from that, I can't remember how much of Northern Ireland I have been mentioning, but Sinn Fein and the IRA are at sixes and sevens as to how to staunch the PR disaster that is the Robert McCartney murder. The IRA covered up the murder of a Sinn Fein voter just cos one of the Provos had a temper apparently, and it has gone downhill for the republicans since then.
The IRA released a statement last week saying that it would offer to shoot some of those involved - it was not meant as just a joke, and they were serious about it, dickheads, and, surprise surprise, Gerry Adams wasn't invited to the White House this St Patrick's Day... not even having talks with Ted Kennedy, and Martin McGuinness just made things worse according to the Guardian this morning, by saying that the McCartney family should shut up otherwise things could go badly for them. Since stopping fighting the Brits, the energies of the IRA have gone into becoming the main organised crime unit on the island. The twenty six million pound robbery in December hasn't evoked as much reaction as this murder cover up thing.
Hmm, and while on the British link, not only can't I stand Chelsea on principle LOL, but their manager is such a loose bloody cannon. He accuses the ref in the Barcelona match of being biased, which leads to death threats against the ref, which leads the ref to resign, and then the referee's association say rude things about Mourinho in return, and now the coach is threatening legal action - umm if you can't take it Jose don't dish it out.
On a more personal level, V's father is very ill. He is very elderly and in a nursing home and such, and seemingly typical of V's extended family, they have left her to keep an eye on him basically. From what she has intimated (if I have the right word) he was a hard man to deal with when he was younger, but still, he's old and weak now, and you dump it all on the youngest person grr. So, I might be going back down earlier than I expected - it does not sound good.
Oh, and another aside, there are Queensland corporate games happening sometime or other, and CC, one of the girls at work, was trying to organise a team. Hmm, there is a cost involved, but am sure my company would sponsor us perhaps - volleyball was an idea, until the girls figured out it was beach volleyball LOL - hmm, where's my workmate Uma Thurman or even better Angelina Jolie LOL. So back up plan, well, as it stood this evening when everyone was going was perhaps netball... will keep you posted :)
Pauly
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Let's Start With The NHL Lockout
Slightly more uplifting than the last post - even though one of the best professional leagues on the planet is not going to have a puck dropped for this entire season - good piece from the BBC of all places on how some of the NHL players have transported themselves to Europe, and more specifically for the article Russia. Now if only this part of the world had a semi pro ice hockey league that could attract the on strike players. And the culture shock in reverse, no one speaks English in rural Russia LOL.
Won't mention the cricket, will just link it - we had them 200 runs behind on the first innings with only four wickets left - but you can never be sure of anything with the Aussies when Gilchrist comes in at number eight grrr.
And just to top off the slightly more uplifting than the Rwandan genocide but not by much, another mass shooting in the States, this time in suburban Milwaukee, with seven parishoners (spelling?) dead and the shooter committing suicide. What an uplifting weekend it has been - let alone the news from Iraq, which has barely gained a foothold this weekend, but I am sure has been bad...
Where has all the good news gone?
Won't mention the cricket, will just link it - we had them 200 runs behind on the first innings with only four wickets left - but you can never be sure of anything with the Aussies when Gilchrist comes in at number eight grrr.
And just to top off the slightly more uplifting than the Rwandan genocide but not by much, another mass shooting in the States, this time in suburban Milwaukee, with seven parishoners (spelling?) dead and the shooter committing suicide. What an uplifting weekend it has been - let alone the news from Iraq, which has barely gained a foothold this weekend, but I am sure has been bad...
Where has all the good news gone?
Western Liberal Guilt
Saw Hotel Rwanda today. I cried. If you haven't heard about it, it's basically a Schindler's List take on the Rwandan genocide in 1994 - but I think it is a lot better movie than Schindler's, sorry Mr Spielberg, but that is just my take on it. Maybe that is because the immediacy of the Rwandan thing is a lot closer to me than the Holocaust, I actually followed the story in the news a decade ago. It was horrid then, and it is horrid now - remembering the reports of the corpses floating down the rivers into the lakes etc.
Anyways, Don Cheadle in this movie was too good to be considered for an Oscar - the subject, the movie, transcended all the Hollywood petty my movie made more money than yours and let's all slap each other on the back kind of thing - and the other actors were all very realistic as well. And such a stellar supporting cast - Joaquin Phoenix, Jean Reno, Nick Nolte. And so very very sad - Nick Nolte's character was probably based on the UN commander in Rwanda at the time - saw the Maple Leaf patch on his shoulder, Romeo somethingorrather, when I was over in Canada he released an autobiography, he is still haunted by what he saw. Jean Reno gave a great performance even though he was hardly in the movie.
But the title of the post is that the Rwandan genocide was probably the most clinically evil thing that has happened in the world in the last twenty years, and sweet fuck all was done to assist or stop or anything. I remember at the time being cynical about the French led task force going in to 'assist', because they were supporting the Hutu government at the time. A million people killed in two months, and no one did anything. And what a double standard that Schindler's List gets all the plaudits blah blah and this movie does its best not to sink without a trace. Sorry, I am just really pissed off about the whole geopolitical situation...
And the people that were in watching with me were probably exorcising their own versions of western liberal guilt - I am thinking that they wouldn't have been voting conservative in the Australian election last November - I would write an LOL on the end of that, but the whole topic is very un-LOL-ish.
Not to mention that the whole presidential assassination that started the whole thing was probably the most destabilising single event in Africa in recent history. If that hadn't happened, the Hutu refugees wouldn't have gone into Zaire, the Rwandans wouldn't have invaded and set up Laurent Kabila as a puppet for the new Democratic Republic of Congo, and six other African countries wouldn't have sent troops in on either side and the last generalised death toll was five million in the Congo war.
I know too much about far away countries that 'we' know little about - wasn't that Neville Chamberlain's phrase after the Munich conference in 1938? And I know too much about pre WW2 European history as well it seems...
Later peeps, I hope to make my next post a more uplifting one
Pauly
Anyways, Don Cheadle in this movie was too good to be considered for an Oscar - the subject, the movie, transcended all the Hollywood petty my movie made more money than yours and let's all slap each other on the back kind of thing - and the other actors were all very realistic as well. And such a stellar supporting cast - Joaquin Phoenix, Jean Reno, Nick Nolte. And so very very sad - Nick Nolte's character was probably based on the UN commander in Rwanda at the time - saw the Maple Leaf patch on his shoulder, Romeo somethingorrather, when I was over in Canada he released an autobiography, he is still haunted by what he saw. Jean Reno gave a great performance even though he was hardly in the movie.
But the title of the post is that the Rwandan genocide was probably the most clinically evil thing that has happened in the world in the last twenty years, and sweet fuck all was done to assist or stop or anything. I remember at the time being cynical about the French led task force going in to 'assist', because they were supporting the Hutu government at the time. A million people killed in two months, and no one did anything. And what a double standard that Schindler's List gets all the plaudits blah blah and this movie does its best not to sink without a trace. Sorry, I am just really pissed off about the whole geopolitical situation...
And the people that were in watching with me were probably exorcising their own versions of western liberal guilt - I am thinking that they wouldn't have been voting conservative in the Australian election last November - I would write an LOL on the end of that, but the whole topic is very un-LOL-ish.
Not to mention that the whole presidential assassination that started the whole thing was probably the most destabilising single event in Africa in recent history. If that hadn't happened, the Hutu refugees wouldn't have gone into Zaire, the Rwandans wouldn't have invaded and set up Laurent Kabila as a puppet for the new Democratic Republic of Congo, and six other African countries wouldn't have sent troops in on either side and the last generalised death toll was five million in the Congo war.
I know too much about far away countries that 'we' know little about - wasn't that Neville Chamberlain's phrase after the Munich conference in 1938? And I know too much about pre WW2 European history as well it seems...
Later peeps, I hope to make my next post a more uplifting one
Pauly
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Depressing Start To The Day
Really, I shouldn't read news I think. A rape suspect in Atlanta overpowered a police officer, took her gun, shot his judge, a court reporter and another deputy, and is currently on the loose in Georgia. Send out Tommy Lee Jones in his Fugitive and US Marshals role, sounds like it is a massive manhunt to find him again. The deputy who was overpowered was VERY lucky, gunshot wound to the head but somehow didn't hit the brain - critical condition but expected to recover...
And then a 13 year old in the north of England gets convicted of rape of his teacher when he was twelve years old. No doubt we will see similar stories to these two on Law and Order in the next season or two - seriously, why do I read this type of news? Why am I considering going to see Hotel Rwanda at the movies instead of Be Cool? Why aren't I the type of person who can consider MTV great television (well, I do like American Idol LOL) and the National Enquirer the height of journalistic excellence?
These and other questions will not be answered in the next week, but just thinking out loud...
Paul
And then a 13 year old in the north of England gets convicted of rape of his teacher when he was twelve years old. No doubt we will see similar stories to these two on Law and Order in the next season or two - seriously, why do I read this type of news? Why am I considering going to see Hotel Rwanda at the movies instead of Be Cool? Why aren't I the type of person who can consider MTV great television (well, I do like American Idol LOL) and the National Enquirer the height of journalistic excellence?
These and other questions will not be answered in the next week, but just thinking out loud...
Paul
Friday, March 11, 2005
Thinking
Hey all - I say that almost all the time when starting an entry, but still wonder how many my blog's version of 'all' encompasses LOL. Looking at the stats and stuff, I seem to have made ground from the days of two visitors at most, but wonder whether it's that my writing has gotten to a wider more discerning audience, or the wonders of internet search engines - number one with a bullet being Rebecca Twigley of course LOL.
Was on the bus to work, just thought I would make a change from the train, listening to Radiohead's Hail To The Thief, and was thinking of K and Canada lots. The most enduring memory of thought association with that particular Radiohead album being There There on the TV above Taco Bell at the movie theatre in Orleans LOL. And then thoughts wandered to the actual fact that I didn't keep a diary or blog while I was in Ottawa, and that maybe I could write some stuff about it here, rather than let me forget it all. A deep, deep mine of material there, if when I get around to it.
Looked at the calendar when I got to work, and with all the stories this week about the Madrid bombings, was thinking was it REALLY only a year ago - I don't know about you, but it seems a lot longer than just three hundred and sixty five days ago. Maybe it is the thing of horror being piled on horror that it all seems to recede further into the distance than it really is - what with Iraq, from Abu Gharib to Fallujah to numerous car bombings, to the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, plus the fact that I didn't have a job a year ago, the days dragged a longgggg time then... a LOT has happened in the past twelve months.
After work, it was a pretty forgettable day, went off to the pub just outside Central Railway Station, because I knew the closest pub to work wouldn't be showing the rugby, and saw JC there, whom I hadn't seen since she left work - she works for a telecoms competitor now. She seems well enough, but all the excitement about her Dad's visit has leeched out of her, and the job is pretty well braindead compared to what she had expected - less stress though, so that's good. Although another interesting point, her girlfriend J (another one LOL) quit her job today, hmm ten hour days versus mortgage payments... J just comes across to me as quite flighty and such. But caught a bit of the Highlander Bulls game, so that was nice :)
But after JC and J left - the Dad txted JC saying where are you LOL - parents, eh - after they left, I was by myself in a pub watching sport that not many other people cared about, and I felt like I was back in London or something, at one of the Anzac pubs in Covent Garden (or perhaps the Maple Leaf, back when there were NHL seasons LOL), watching sport from back home and despite there being people all around, feeling so alone in myself. And not even the desire anymore to launch myself into meeting people - have to get over that I think, otherwise I will isolate myself more or something. Eh, socialised for about forty minutes, slowly slowly LOL.
Fairly even in the Aussie Kiwi test match, 433 all out NZ first innings, 3-141 the Aussies, stumps on the second day. Thinking of London days again, how I got closer to my (English) workmates there, rather than the Aussies and Kiwis on the beer and sports watching weekends - I never had a regular crowd when watching rugby or anything, lol, remember feeling that Thornton Heath and Croydon were the back of beyond for the Antipodean crowd, wrong side of the river or something :)
Continually making first impressions with fellow Kiwis, as opposed to the gradual falling into comfortableness (if that is a word) with the English workmates - I went over to England by myself with no links or mates there, and enjoyed myself IMMENSELY, but still think what it could have been like if I had had an advance guard there. Although, I have to admit, it was quite boring to go to the other side of the world and meet people that went to the same high school as myself, even if they weren't the right age frame to be in my grade LOL. Very boring indeed - one of my highlights there was going to a pub to watch how the English watched the World Cup - of course, this was the quarter final or second round against the Argies where David Beckham got red carded for a back kick.
Scary to see the harrowed emotions of disappointed Brits, I used to think it was many times worse than what Kiwis got up to with rugby, until the 99 semi against France LOL, but even though it was such a flat feeling after the penalty shootout, it was probably a truer sense of English nationhood than the Horse Guards down the Mall will ever be.
But yes, watching rugby in central Brisbane by myself felt a very isolated and lonely feeling. I need to get some activity buddies - with activities being a wider range than drinking LOL. Who's up to go to Ballymore with me to catch a couple of Queensland Super 12 rugby matches :)
Came home, watched American Idol - was the first results show of the top 24 - I know, I know we are behind the States, don't know by how much, although there was a comment from Seacrest today about Paris Hilton's mobile phone directory - when was that hacked? But yes, I know we are behind the REAL world, but please, any North American or other lucky viewers ahead of Channel 10 coverage, please don't tell me anything that happens - not that I have had comments in ages, but that is by the by LOL.
And then caught at the end of the world news a minute of the ceremony from Edmonton, the memorial service for those four murdered RCMP officers, which got me looking for the Canadian slant on the story. Say what you want about the country and what holds it together, saw CBC video from Edmonton and Canada and the Mounties can do a ceremony right. Mmm, all that red serge LOL, wonder what the temperature in Edmonton was today - saying it was 7 C... well, at least that was current temps, but looks like the snow melted at least. Mmm, Edmonton, the town that was closed when we had our two hours there LOL.
Later peeps
Pauly
Was on the bus to work, just thought I would make a change from the train, listening to Radiohead's Hail To The Thief, and was thinking of K and Canada lots. The most enduring memory of thought association with that particular Radiohead album being There There on the TV above Taco Bell at the movie theatre in Orleans LOL. And then thoughts wandered to the actual fact that I didn't keep a diary or blog while I was in Ottawa, and that maybe I could write some stuff about it here, rather than let me forget it all. A deep, deep mine of material there, if when I get around to it.
Looked at the calendar when I got to work, and with all the stories this week about the Madrid bombings, was thinking was it REALLY only a year ago - I don't know about you, but it seems a lot longer than just three hundred and sixty five days ago. Maybe it is the thing of horror being piled on horror that it all seems to recede further into the distance than it really is - what with Iraq, from Abu Gharib to Fallujah to numerous car bombings, to the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, plus the fact that I didn't have a job a year ago, the days dragged a longgggg time then... a LOT has happened in the past twelve months.
After work, it was a pretty forgettable day, went off to the pub just outside Central Railway Station, because I knew the closest pub to work wouldn't be showing the rugby, and saw JC there, whom I hadn't seen since she left work - she works for a telecoms competitor now. She seems well enough, but all the excitement about her Dad's visit has leeched out of her, and the job is pretty well braindead compared to what she had expected - less stress though, so that's good. Although another interesting point, her girlfriend J (another one LOL) quit her job today, hmm ten hour days versus mortgage payments... J just comes across to me as quite flighty and such. But caught a bit of the Highlander Bulls game, so that was nice :)
But after JC and J left - the Dad txted JC saying where are you LOL - parents, eh - after they left, I was by myself in a pub watching sport that not many other people cared about, and I felt like I was back in London or something, at one of the Anzac pubs in Covent Garden (or perhaps the Maple Leaf, back when there were NHL seasons LOL), watching sport from back home and despite there being people all around, feeling so alone in myself. And not even the desire anymore to launch myself into meeting people - have to get over that I think, otherwise I will isolate myself more or something. Eh, socialised for about forty minutes, slowly slowly LOL.
Fairly even in the Aussie Kiwi test match, 433 all out NZ first innings, 3-141 the Aussies, stumps on the second day. Thinking of London days again, how I got closer to my (English) workmates there, rather than the Aussies and Kiwis on the beer and sports watching weekends - I never had a regular crowd when watching rugby or anything, lol, remember feeling that Thornton Heath and Croydon were the back of beyond for the Antipodean crowd, wrong side of the river or something :)
Continually making first impressions with fellow Kiwis, as opposed to the gradual falling into comfortableness (if that is a word) with the English workmates - I went over to England by myself with no links or mates there, and enjoyed myself IMMENSELY, but still think what it could have been like if I had had an advance guard there. Although, I have to admit, it was quite boring to go to the other side of the world and meet people that went to the same high school as myself, even if they weren't the right age frame to be in my grade LOL. Very boring indeed - one of my highlights there was going to a pub to watch how the English watched the World Cup - of course, this was the quarter final or second round against the Argies where David Beckham got red carded for a back kick.
Scary to see the harrowed emotions of disappointed Brits, I used to think it was many times worse than what Kiwis got up to with rugby, until the 99 semi against France LOL, but even though it was such a flat feeling after the penalty shootout, it was probably a truer sense of English nationhood than the Horse Guards down the Mall will ever be.
But yes, watching rugby in central Brisbane by myself felt a very isolated and lonely feeling. I need to get some activity buddies - with activities being a wider range than drinking LOL. Who's up to go to Ballymore with me to catch a couple of Queensland Super 12 rugby matches :)
Came home, watched American Idol - was the first results show of the top 24 - I know, I know we are behind the States, don't know by how much, although there was a comment from Seacrest today about Paris Hilton's mobile phone directory - when was that hacked? But yes, I know we are behind the REAL world, but please, any North American or other lucky viewers ahead of Channel 10 coverage, please don't tell me anything that happens - not that I have had comments in ages, but that is by the by LOL.
And then caught at the end of the world news a minute of the ceremony from Edmonton, the memorial service for those four murdered RCMP officers, which got me looking for the Canadian slant on the story. Say what you want about the country and what holds it together, saw CBC video from Edmonton and Canada and the Mounties can do a ceremony right. Mmm, all that red serge LOL, wonder what the temperature in Edmonton was today - saying it was 7 C... well, at least that was current temps, but looks like the snow melted at least. Mmm, Edmonton, the town that was closed when we had our two hours there LOL.
Later peeps
Pauly
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Bad Dream
Hi all - scared myself awake for the first time in like forever this morning. The dream started with the bride, groom, and kids of that wedding party I went down to visit V about coming to visit. Had the impression that V and I were back home, New Zealand, and that the flight bringing the visitors was LAX to Auckland. Almost bouncing with excitement, and then news that there had been a crash on the approach to Auckland airport, there were survivors, but the four that were visiting us weren't among them. The plane looked a bit like the space shuttle actually.
And then the dream direction turned to me and my brother in the garage, and he was fiddling with the rolla door, enough to turn the metal inside out as it were. Dad came out to see what we were doing, he wasn't happy, but then the rolla door came down and smacked him in the face. Hard. Blood everywhere, and I could hear him croak 'help me'. That was enough to frighten me awake.
Arsenal failed to advance far in Europe for ANOTHER year. What a surprise LOL. New Zealand is doing OK against Australia - 3/265 - in the test match (cricket), but only day one, long way to go...
Later peeps
Pauly
And then the dream direction turned to me and my brother in the garage, and he was fiddling with the rolla door, enough to turn the metal inside out as it were. Dad came out to see what we were doing, he wasn't happy, but then the rolla door came down and smacked him in the face. Hard. Blood everywhere, and I could hear him croak 'help me'. That was enough to frighten me awake.
Arsenal failed to advance far in Europe for ANOTHER year. What a surprise LOL. New Zealand is doing OK against Australia - 3/265 - in the test match (cricket), but only day one, long way to go...
Later peeps
Pauly
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Hmm, What To See This Weekend
Consider it a three way tie this weekend for what movie to see - it will be either Be Cool, Friday Night Lights or Hotel Rwanda. Now, considering that the one I most want to see has Uma Thurman in it (picks tongue off floor LOL) but will probably be the longest playing one, and the other two movies, American football in an Australian market or the worst genocide since World War Two, hmm flip a coin to see which has more box office death to it LOL. Or I could see two movies over the course of the weekend - hmm or I could get some rugby watching in as well, all good on the funds NOT lol.
It would be really good for my home viewing pleasure to get a new video store membership LOL. But the nearest vid shop is more than just a nice walk away, so hmm, its so very suburban for about ten blocks in each direction - the only break in it is the next to railway station centre, and that has a Chinese takeout, a dairy, a chemist and that's about it, not even a bottle or video store grrr. Will try out the walking shoes I guess if I wanna Blockbuster it :)
Oh, and heard a good joke (funny, not a good topic) about the US soldiers in Iraq - they're apologising for shooting the Italians, it was their mistake, the Americans thought they were French. Ok, maybe it sounded better on TV or something :)
Oh, and a strange thing - Russell Crowe was an Al Qaeda target, and there have been FBI agents shadowing him when he makes movies - umm, yeah Russell, those agents aren't there for YOUR protection LOL.
Hmm, anyways, just another quick short one, will write more later :)
Pauly
It would be really good for my home viewing pleasure to get a new video store membership LOL. But the nearest vid shop is more than just a nice walk away, so hmm, its so very suburban for about ten blocks in each direction - the only break in it is the next to railway station centre, and that has a Chinese takeout, a dairy, a chemist and that's about it, not even a bottle or video store grrr. Will try out the walking shoes I guess if I wanna Blockbuster it :)
Oh, and heard a good joke (funny, not a good topic) about the US soldiers in Iraq - they're apologising for shooting the Italians, it was their mistake, the Americans thought they were French. Ok, maybe it sounded better on TV or something :)
Oh, and a strange thing - Russell Crowe was an Al Qaeda target, and there have been FBI agents shadowing him when he makes movies - umm, yeah Russell, those agents aren't there for YOUR protection LOL.
Hmm, anyways, just another quick short one, will write more later :)
Pauly
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
Just An Inbetween Kind Of Day
Am sitting here the last ten minutes trying to get going, find some inspiration for the evening - reading about those Mounties being honoured by the (Canadian) House of Commons, hmm, sometimes I feel really cut off, or maybe Canada isn't one of the headline nations of the world, but in all the local and even local version of international news, and I listen to the news radio channel and no mention of the worst day in Canadian policing for 120 odd years. I loved my time over there, and feel much more Canadian than I ever will Aussie, and would so love to get back there again for holidays, if V ever let me LOL, if V and I keep going LOL - hmmph, that was a rambly thought wasn't it. My writing style suddenly reminds me of the Pringles jingle, once you pop LOL...
Just trawling through the CBC website at the moment. I occassionally turn on the Canadian radio stations as well, either CBC (if I can't get to sleep LOL) or the commercial stations. Hmm, and was just thinking it's been over a year since I was last in the country - I don't want to let it fade, but pressure from Certain People may force me to. Sometime or other. Blah blah blah LOL.
Hmm, nutter story of the day one - some Toronto father dropped his daughter off a highway overpass onto the 401 (main Ontario Quebec road - kinda like the Pacific or Hume Highways for any Australian readers), and then jumped himself, while police were trying to negotiate with him. He died but the kid survived, thank goodness... better alive and traumatised than dead?
Caught The Aviator at the cinema yesterday - good movie, slowish starting, remember about half an hour in thinking what would be next week's movie, either Ray or Hotel Rwanda LOL, but the second half really got going quickly. And it got me thinking, if Cate Blanchett got an Oscar for this, hmm it was an OK performance, but then I was thinking what else has she actually done LOL. But she's Australian, so it was close to all you heard about coming up to Oscar time. And Leo actually could pull it off, I was surprised, and yes, Jude Law was in it lol...
Just a filler entry basically - more exciting stuff soon :)
Pauly
Just trawling through the CBC website at the moment. I occassionally turn on the Canadian radio stations as well, either CBC (if I can't get to sleep LOL) or the commercial stations. Hmm, and was just thinking it's been over a year since I was last in the country - I don't want to let it fade, but pressure from Certain People may force me to. Sometime or other. Blah blah blah LOL.
Hmm, nutter story of the day one - some Toronto father dropped his daughter off a highway overpass onto the 401 (main Ontario Quebec road - kinda like the Pacific or Hume Highways for any Australian readers), and then jumped himself, while police were trying to negotiate with him. He died but the kid survived, thank goodness... better alive and traumatised than dead?
Caught The Aviator at the cinema yesterday - good movie, slowish starting, remember about half an hour in thinking what would be next week's movie, either Ray or Hotel Rwanda LOL, but the second half really got going quickly. And it got me thinking, if Cate Blanchett got an Oscar for this, hmm it was an OK performance, but then I was thinking what else has she actually done LOL. But she's Australian, so it was close to all you heard about coming up to Oscar time. And Leo actually could pull it off, I was surprised, and yes, Jude Law was in it lol...
Just a filler entry basically - more exciting stuff soon :)
Pauly
Sunday, March 6, 2005
vrrrrRRRRRMMMMmmmmm!
I wasn't going to post today, but just on launchcast before (the Yahoo internet radio station, basically) Tubthumping by Chumbawumba came on. Mmm, memories of living in the UK, and especially the first couple of months, when I was working in a pub rather than in an office where I should have been LOL. But socialising with workmates, including this lanky tall girl from Wagga Wagga, who I had a huge crush on LOL, socialising after work at a pub the next suburb over, and dancing to Tubthumping and Jump Around by House of Pain and Parklife by Blur, etc.
God I loved London, and wish I could have stayed there, and we are talking hmm about seven years ago now... just I guess was my bulletproof time of my life, where I was actually socialising lots, even though it was still primarily with workmates, and still primarily Fridays only, there just seemed a much larger group or something. Hmm, I feel old all of a sudden, I see workmates now in there early twenties going out in large groups - and I still miss London...
Hmm, another memory tumbling around my head, the whole travelling to and from to see H trips, and leaving Belfast via Heathrow and missing my flight via Singapore where my bags were going and flying over Greenland and North America and the Pacific instead. Beautiful views from thirty thousand feet of the glaciers and the North West Territories and flying at night time around LA is always amazing, either the Pacific or the city to view. Anyways, I wasn't going to mention the scenery, rather Vitamin C singing Friends Forever or Remember the Titans, or going to see her, the awfulness of Autumn In New York or the brainless joy of Coyote Ugly or Bedazzled - Brendan Fraser is so underrated as an actor LOL...
Now have Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots playing, and the memory that falls out of my head for this is it must have been summer 94/95 (remember, we are mucked up season wise in the southern hemisphere) and just before or after going to see REM Crowded House and Grant Lee Buffalo (if I have the last name right) and socialising with my former schoolmates, having a picnic at one of the parks in Upper Hutt, and just enjoying their company and god I miss that - Upper Hutt is a hole to live in, but it does have its good moments...
And now Up by Shania on the radio. Makes me think of my time in Canada with K, and Shania hosting the Junos at the Corel Centre LOL, watching on TV and the piece de resistance being the Habs inspired outfit with the hot pants and the thong straps over the top of her hips mmm LOL. And yes, this is turning into one of THOSE maudlin types of posts...
I think I seriously need to go out more on the weekends, that would be a start, and not just to movies or shopping malls - I remember my time in London, going to socialise to watch sports matches from back home. Or back home, catching up with the mates for beers or indoor cricket or - hmm, think that phase died off when I started feeling too old to go to bars, all those seventeen year old teeny boppers LOL. Or even TA, even though his favourite and only topics of conversations were cricket or rugby or league, talking to him or going with him to the rugby league or cricket LOL was good... or Ottawa, just having the weekends free and deciding to go somewhere on the spur of the moment, or at least the spur of Friday's decision moment.
Brisbane is just too much in my comfort zone I think. But was just thinking, in five years I will have the rose coloured glasses on and will think I had the greatest of times here and now. No doubt :)
Tori Amos Silent All These Years now - thinking of my teenagehood in Upper Hutt now. Reading Elfstones of Shannara until four in the morning to finish it off, think that was the first book I did that with, or sitting on my windowseat reading Memory Sorrow and Thorn when it FIRST came out LOL. Or listening to Losing My Religion again and again as I took pill after pill trying to OD, and then wandering off to school to do the glorious flame out or whatever it was - I look back on the Paul then and can hardly recognise him to the person I am now. Sure, there is still the self doubt and a tinge of self loathing, but not to the extent that I want to harm myself. Or did I just say too much LOL :)
Although as regular readers may have noticed (or just those who hit the archive buttons), depression can fairly easily hit me, and is one of the major reasons why I came back from Canada, self harm to the EXTENT that I was back in 93 is a different person, as it were.
Anyways, just a quick note about the title of the post, I was going to mention the Formula One a lot earlier than I have - Renault got one and three, Schumacher crashed out, Coulthard got fourth, ahead of either McLaren LOL. And hence the vrrm in the title - maudlin memory service will resume shortly LOL.
And just a quick one on that Italian journalist in Iraq and the Italian agent killed. Just a thought that if it had been Italian troops killing an American secret service agent retrieving a hostage, the story would be a lot different than it is currently. Yes, we can spray a car with four hundred bullets and lock people up without charge for years on end and take pictures of us torturing Iraqis, but OMG we better not have Janet Jackson's tits or Saving Private Ryan on TV LOL. Well, that point kind of diverged from where it was intended to go in the first place, but I am sure you get my drift :)
All The Small Things by Blink 182 - memory this sets off is being in Cuba Street Mall in Wellington at the music store, just after having eaten a meal at KFC in Manners Mall LOL, and for some reason it gets mixed in with queuing up to see Live at Queens Wharf a few years ago, and bumping into RB and KA and catching up with them. I miss home LOL and London and Canada and and and...
Although Mr Brighteyes by The Killers makes me think of my/our current local pub and playing pool with MG, and drinking New Year's with SW and kicking on from there, after cocktails and stuff... was talking to SW on Friday night, and she is so discouraged about things in general, let alone work. There will be some good memories from this current Brisbane phase of my life I am sure - lol, remembering back to sitting across from this gorgeous creature about this time last year while job searching and she seemed interested in me in a nice conversation kind of way :)
Anyways, I am sure everyone who reads this is bored to tears by now, and those of you who have hung on are just boredom junkies or something - LOL it's not like terrestrial TV or even a hundred channel cable - there are BILLIONS of websites out there, and at least HALF of them must be better than my ramblings, so go, see, even conquer if you feel like it.
This edition of Pauly Central is over and out :)
Paul
God I loved London, and wish I could have stayed there, and we are talking hmm about seven years ago now... just I guess was my bulletproof time of my life, where I was actually socialising lots, even though it was still primarily with workmates, and still primarily Fridays only, there just seemed a much larger group or something. Hmm, I feel old all of a sudden, I see workmates now in there early twenties going out in large groups - and I still miss London...
Hmm, another memory tumbling around my head, the whole travelling to and from to see H trips, and leaving Belfast via Heathrow and missing my flight via Singapore where my bags were going and flying over Greenland and North America and the Pacific instead. Beautiful views from thirty thousand feet of the glaciers and the North West Territories and flying at night time around LA is always amazing, either the Pacific or the city to view. Anyways, I wasn't going to mention the scenery, rather Vitamin C singing Friends Forever or Remember the Titans, or going to see her, the awfulness of Autumn In New York or the brainless joy of Coyote Ugly or Bedazzled - Brendan Fraser is so underrated as an actor LOL...
Now have Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots playing, and the memory that falls out of my head for this is it must have been summer 94/95 (remember, we are mucked up season wise in the southern hemisphere) and just before or after going to see REM Crowded House and Grant Lee Buffalo (if I have the last name right) and socialising with my former schoolmates, having a picnic at one of the parks in Upper Hutt, and just enjoying their company and god I miss that - Upper Hutt is a hole to live in, but it does have its good moments...
And now Up by Shania on the radio. Makes me think of my time in Canada with K, and Shania hosting the Junos at the Corel Centre LOL, watching on TV and the piece de resistance being the Habs inspired outfit with the hot pants and the thong straps over the top of her hips mmm LOL. And yes, this is turning into one of THOSE maudlin types of posts...
I think I seriously need to go out more on the weekends, that would be a start, and not just to movies or shopping malls - I remember my time in London, going to socialise to watch sports matches from back home. Or back home, catching up with the mates for beers or indoor cricket or - hmm, think that phase died off when I started feeling too old to go to bars, all those seventeen year old teeny boppers LOL. Or even TA, even though his favourite and only topics of conversations were cricket or rugby or league, talking to him or going with him to the rugby league or cricket LOL was good... or Ottawa, just having the weekends free and deciding to go somewhere on the spur of the moment, or at least the spur of Friday's decision moment.
Brisbane is just too much in my comfort zone I think. But was just thinking, in five years I will have the rose coloured glasses on and will think I had the greatest of times here and now. No doubt :)
Tori Amos Silent All These Years now - thinking of my teenagehood in Upper Hutt now. Reading Elfstones of Shannara until four in the morning to finish it off, think that was the first book I did that with, or sitting on my windowseat reading Memory Sorrow and Thorn when it FIRST came out LOL. Or listening to Losing My Religion again and again as I took pill after pill trying to OD, and then wandering off to school to do the glorious flame out or whatever it was - I look back on the Paul then and can hardly recognise him to the person I am now. Sure, there is still the self doubt and a tinge of self loathing, but not to the extent that I want to harm myself. Or did I just say too much LOL :)
Although as regular readers may have noticed (or just those who hit the archive buttons), depression can fairly easily hit me, and is one of the major reasons why I came back from Canada, self harm to the EXTENT that I was back in 93 is a different person, as it were.
Anyways, just a quick note about the title of the post, I was going to mention the Formula One a lot earlier than I have - Renault got one and three, Schumacher crashed out, Coulthard got fourth, ahead of either McLaren LOL. And hence the vrrm in the title - maudlin memory service will resume shortly LOL.
And just a quick one on that Italian journalist in Iraq and the Italian agent killed. Just a thought that if it had been Italian troops killing an American secret service agent retrieving a hostage, the story would be a lot different than it is currently. Yes, we can spray a car with four hundred bullets and lock people up without charge for years on end and take pictures of us torturing Iraqis, but OMG we better not have Janet Jackson's tits or Saving Private Ryan on TV LOL. Well, that point kind of diverged from where it was intended to go in the first place, but I am sure you get my drift :)
All The Small Things by Blink 182 - memory this sets off is being in Cuba Street Mall in Wellington at the music store, just after having eaten a meal at KFC in Manners Mall LOL, and for some reason it gets mixed in with queuing up to see Live at Queens Wharf a few years ago, and bumping into RB and KA and catching up with them. I miss home LOL and London and Canada and and and...
Although Mr Brighteyes by The Killers makes me think of my/our current local pub and playing pool with MG, and drinking New Year's with SW and kicking on from there, after cocktails and stuff... was talking to SW on Friday night, and she is so discouraged about things in general, let alone work. There will be some good memories from this current Brisbane phase of my life I am sure - lol, remembering back to sitting across from this gorgeous creature about this time last year while job searching and she seemed interested in me in a nice conversation kind of way :)
Anyways, I am sure everyone who reads this is bored to tears by now, and those of you who have hung on are just boredom junkies or something - LOL it's not like terrestrial TV or even a hundred channel cable - there are BILLIONS of websites out there, and at least HALF of them must be better than my ramblings, so go, see, even conquer if you feel like it.
This edition of Pauly Central is over and out :)
Paul
Saturday, March 5, 2005
Yes, They're Near Perfect, But Are They Happy LOL?
The Australian cricket team whitewashed the Kiwis in the one dayers, five zip. For the second, now third best team in one day cricket in the world, to see how easily they dismantled us was quite depressing. I will cling to our one all result in the one dayers in November, with one game washed out, hmmph. Now to the test series, where we, NZ, are a lot worse than second/third in the world, eek.
Off track politics is never far away from the Formula One paddock, and here we go again with the FIA saying that the Australian courts shouldn't have juridstiction (spelling?) over what happens in the Formula One world - this is the court case that Minardi brought to get back into the race after being threatened with expulsion earlier in the week. The FIA has thrown the toys out of the cot saying that this action could have bearings on any other FIA sanctioned events in Australia, basically every motorsport event in the country apart from V8 Supercars.
On the track, was an interesting qualifying round - the track was wet but drying for the first half of the hour, and then the heavens opened, Schumacher tried intermediate tyres when really he should have gone for oars, yes the rain was that bad, and is near the back of the grid. New rules this year, the two qualifying times are added together rather than the second qualifying by itself hmmph. But Michael looked relaxed about being 24 seconds behind pole, and I thought, he has nothing left to prove to anyone in the sport, he has no money worries, he seems to have a happy life away from the track, pretty damned close to perfection. I picked the right horse when it was the Damon Hill Nigel Mansell Jacques Villenueuve options could have overshadowed Michael. Will be fun picking a new person to support if when Michael ever retires :)
OMG, four Mounties were killed today in a drugs raid west of Edmonton. When reinforcements arrived at the marijuana farm, they found the owner dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound, but the four RCMP officers dead as well, I would want to bring the killer back just to wring his neck. Hasn't been a Mounties death toll in one incident this high since 1885 - and will put a spotlight on Canada's pot laws...
Talking of shooting, hows about the US troops firing on that Italian hostage being released in Iraq. What a fuck up that was, and killed one of the Italian secret service agents - how to antagonise even your best allies, which Italy and Berlusconi is to Bush, what with the Dutch and Ukrainians the latest to bail from on the ground military presence, hmm how is that coalition of the willing holding up Dubya. Now is not the time to sabre rattle to Iran or Syria or god forbid North Korea LOL.
Hmmph, has been Star Wars Episode One on TV tonight - yes, the one with Jar Jar Binks LOL. That's the only differentiation basically between them all - start on one planet, go to another, and another and have a battle, which is only diversionary to a sneak attack to the Death Star, and insert Sand People, Ewoks, Jar Jars at your leisure LOL. Empire was the best one of the series - just let's cross our fingers that Part Three should be the fitting end (or midpoint, the way Lucas put them together turns my head around sometimes LOL) that the series deserves...
Hmm, another more local (well as local as Toronto is to Edmonton) story on those four RCMP officers killed in Alberta - for some reason, four police dying in Canada makes me think deeper than fifteen hundred American soldiers dying in Iraq - well, maybe it is the immediacy Paul - I am sure I have done deep thinking about specific news from Iraq, but it does sometimes get a drip feed feel about it all - in the train yesterday was thinking about how Madrid last March must have been, the train bombings, and the video footage of people rushing up the escalators before the next bomb blew... great, now I'm really depressing myself bleah... do the Mounties play the Last Post at their funerals?
Oh mi goodness, a state law in Texas treating unborn children as though they are already out of the womb has gotten a boyfriend of a pregnant girl up on capital murder charges. The girl encouraged the boyfriend to step on her stomach, and there was a miscarriage, but the girl isn't getting charged, just the boyfriend. Hmmph. And the co author of the law says that he feels sorry for these 'stupid immature people, but the law is the law'. Hmm, bet he wouldn't be saying that if it was his son or daughter. Nope, cutting too close to the abortion debate, I will shut up here LOL.
Later peeps
Pauly
Off track politics is never far away from the Formula One paddock, and here we go again with the FIA saying that the Australian courts shouldn't have juridstiction (spelling?) over what happens in the Formula One world - this is the court case that Minardi brought to get back into the race after being threatened with expulsion earlier in the week. The FIA has thrown the toys out of the cot saying that this action could have bearings on any other FIA sanctioned events in Australia, basically every motorsport event in the country apart from V8 Supercars.
On the track, was an interesting qualifying round - the track was wet but drying for the first half of the hour, and then the heavens opened, Schumacher tried intermediate tyres when really he should have gone for oars, yes the rain was that bad, and is near the back of the grid. New rules this year, the two qualifying times are added together rather than the second qualifying by itself hmmph. But Michael looked relaxed about being 24 seconds behind pole, and I thought, he has nothing left to prove to anyone in the sport, he has no money worries, he seems to have a happy life away from the track, pretty damned close to perfection. I picked the right horse when it was the Damon Hill Nigel Mansell Jacques Villenueuve options could have overshadowed Michael. Will be fun picking a new person to support if when Michael ever retires :)
OMG, four Mounties were killed today in a drugs raid west of Edmonton. When reinforcements arrived at the marijuana farm, they found the owner dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound, but the four RCMP officers dead as well, I would want to bring the killer back just to wring his neck. Hasn't been a Mounties death toll in one incident this high since 1885 - and will put a spotlight on Canada's pot laws...
Talking of shooting, hows about the US troops firing on that Italian hostage being released in Iraq. What a fuck up that was, and killed one of the Italian secret service agents - how to antagonise even your best allies, which Italy and Berlusconi is to Bush, what with the Dutch and Ukrainians the latest to bail from on the ground military presence, hmm how is that coalition of the willing holding up Dubya. Now is not the time to sabre rattle to Iran or Syria or god forbid North Korea LOL.
Hmmph, has been Star Wars Episode One on TV tonight - yes, the one with Jar Jar Binks LOL. That's the only differentiation basically between them all - start on one planet, go to another, and another and have a battle, which is only diversionary to a sneak attack to the Death Star, and insert Sand People, Ewoks, Jar Jars at your leisure LOL. Empire was the best one of the series - just let's cross our fingers that Part Three should be the fitting end (or midpoint, the way Lucas put them together turns my head around sometimes LOL) that the series deserves...
Hmm, another more local (well as local as Toronto is to Edmonton) story on those four RCMP officers killed in Alberta - for some reason, four police dying in Canada makes me think deeper than fifteen hundred American soldiers dying in Iraq - well, maybe it is the immediacy Paul - I am sure I have done deep thinking about specific news from Iraq, but it does sometimes get a drip feed feel about it all - in the train yesterday was thinking about how Madrid last March must have been, the train bombings, and the video footage of people rushing up the escalators before the next bomb blew... great, now I'm really depressing myself bleah... do the Mounties play the Last Post at their funerals?
Oh mi goodness, a state law in Texas treating unborn children as though they are already out of the womb has gotten a boyfriend of a pregnant girl up on capital murder charges. The girl encouraged the boyfriend to step on her stomach, and there was a miscarriage, but the girl isn't getting charged, just the boyfriend. Hmmph. And the co author of the law says that he feels sorry for these 'stupid immature people, but the law is the law'. Hmm, bet he wouldn't be saying that if it was his son or daughter. Nope, cutting too close to the abortion debate, I will shut up here LOL.
Later peeps
Pauly
Friday, March 4, 2005
Paleantology Is Cool Even With Ross Off Friends Off TV LOL
Oh mi god, I can't believe I made a Friends reference in my blog LOL. But really, paleantology and anthropology aren't biggies in popular culture, so I had to reach for Ross - and an interesting story about 'hobbits' and Homo Floresiensis and pygmy humanic species - I say humanic species, because the latest study released says that the 18,000 year old fossils that were uncovered last year weren't just small homo sapiens. Intriguing, in an I wish there was a good astronomy story instead kind of way LOL LOL.
Martha got released. I don't think I need to add Martha who, do I? I feel conflicted about it a bit, because on the one hand she got the book thrown at her for her 'celebrity', and on the other, her company's share price went up and she's been hired for doing something on the next series of the Apprentice. Now, I am all for forgiving once a sentence has been served, but to just go on as if nothing happened, or indeed it looks gets benefit out of it after prison, that is just wrong I feel.
And on a related note, I did the finger down throat motion when I heard Hilary Swank's acceptance speech at the Oscars - 'I'm just a trailer park girl' - yeah right Hilary, maybe for a first win but this is your second?? And yes, I guess I am partly jealous LOL. And I did like Boys Don't Cry...
Mmm, Formula One season starts this weekend - will try and get out of the house tomorrow, but Sunday I think I will be pretty much wall to wall buildup and race watching. VRRMMMmmmm indeed LOL. Michael as always is my fave, but will keep an eye out for Coulthard, my second fave, and Villeneuve, whom I hope does well enough. How much longer can Schuhmacher keep racing? He is still mega motivated in the sport, even though he is better than anyone else EVER...
Quick note on Iraq - the American death toll has just passed 1500. Too tired to go over the whole you said we said arguments again just tonight, but may get back to it sometime over the weekend. Oh, Bush on the TV earlier today, saying that the Syrian's should get out of Lebanon, hmmm, haven't been there thirty years, but the Americans in Iraq are just as disruptive. And now I will shut up on that topic LOL.
Okies, that's all for now, later peeps
Pauly
Martha got released. I don't think I need to add Martha who, do I? I feel conflicted about it a bit, because on the one hand she got the book thrown at her for her 'celebrity', and on the other, her company's share price went up and she's been hired for doing something on the next series of the Apprentice. Now, I am all for forgiving once a sentence has been served, but to just go on as if nothing happened, or indeed it looks gets benefit out of it after prison, that is just wrong I feel.
And on a related note, I did the finger down throat motion when I heard Hilary Swank's acceptance speech at the Oscars - 'I'm just a trailer park girl' - yeah right Hilary, maybe for a first win but this is your second?? And yes, I guess I am partly jealous LOL. And I did like Boys Don't Cry...
Mmm, Formula One season starts this weekend - will try and get out of the house tomorrow, but Sunday I think I will be pretty much wall to wall buildup and race watching. VRRMMMmmmm indeed LOL. Michael as always is my fave, but will keep an eye out for Coulthard, my second fave, and Villeneuve, whom I hope does well enough. How much longer can Schuhmacher keep racing? He is still mega motivated in the sport, even though he is better than anyone else EVER...
Quick note on Iraq - the American death toll has just passed 1500. Too tired to go over the whole you said we said arguments again just tonight, but may get back to it sometime over the weekend. Oh, Bush on the TV earlier today, saying that the Syrian's should get out of Lebanon, hmmm, haven't been there thirty years, but the Americans in Iraq are just as disruptive. And now I will shut up on that topic LOL.
Okies, that's all for now, later peeps
Pauly
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
What I Aspire To, Blogwise...
I know, I have this blog in my listing to the side (as if anyone links FROM my page, hard enough slog to get links to it LOL) but hadn't read it for almost a week, and just the way Brando writes, completely blew me away - to have that quality of writing and humour for a whole week, well, I am just Garth with the I'm not worthy worship, or Foxy Lady fainting - Wayne's World reference of course...
I wasn't actually going to write tonight, feeling a bit tired, but suddenly got inspired or something :)
Yesterday was the last day of eye candy MG at work hmmph. She flies out Friday to do the Grand Tour of SE Asia, North America and Europe, gone for eight months and has actually resigned from the company. Went over to the local pub after work to drink goodbye to her, on a school night and all as well, bad Pauly bad. Had a reasonable turn out, and I behaved myself, didn't get drool on the tie or anything - was mainly talking to SW and MC, the party of five that started out socialising out of my intake has shrunk to three, and with the way SW feels about KW hmm, don't think I will be expanding that social group anytime soon...
Although seriously, I'm pretty easy going to start socialising and stuff, it is just that I get nervous about the undercurrents of any such thing, like do they REALLY like me or is this just a mutual cover group for the people that don't have real friends to hang out with - let alone all the neuroses I have when an attractive woman is 'in play' as it were.
Met MG's sister and the sister's boyfriend, they seemed nice, and had a nice chat with them before more familiar people turned up. Also saw MG's actual boyfriend as well, and yes, I am jealous in a sense and wondering whether that was the one she broke up with all those months ago, but OMG, he looked like one of the extra's off an Arnie movie, AFTER the Terminator, Predator, Martian atmosphere had gotten to them. Big slab of a boy with a very pockmarked but somehow flat head and face. Not meaning to be mean, and if that is what makes you/her happy, go for gold, but just the general impression. And his mate looked like an American football player's body without needing the actual padding, with a Shaggy off Scooby Doo head on him - hmm, never seen that body type before, truth be told - obviously I work in too rareified and snooty an atmosphere in the office LOL. If I say anymore, it will just come across as mean, so I will shut up...
Farewelled MG with a doubles game of pool, SW and I playing against her and KD. I thought it was a suitable send off, in it's own little way, because that night, SW's birthday last year, sticks in my mind because was first time I had really talked to MG, and that was over the pool table as well. I obviously make too much out of the little things eh? Got a wave when she, MG, left for the evening, best way I think rather than to be too obvious with a hug, especially with the way we were standing, basically behind five other people that I would have had to get through. The travel diary went around the table adding names, addresses and emails, so that's quietly subtle enough for me LOL, if she wants to send an email she can, if not then we will always have the pool table LOL - and yes, my mind just went into the gutter then, bad Pauly bad :)
SW and I had a good conversation again last night, two bourbons and a ride on the train to the suburbs together, things are back on track on that front after a few weeks of quiet contemplation.
The last couple of weeks I have hardly commented on any actual news events, and I hear everybody give a sigh of relief at that, but may get back into it later in the week. There is just so much going on, with Israel and Palestine and Lebanon and Syria and the US Supreme Court outlawing executions for crimes committed before the age of 18 - 5 to 4 though, no doubt that will get overturned in six months when one of the 'liberal' justices retires LOL - oh, and the Pope continuing to mimic the movie Weekend At Bernies LOL - he is NOT looking well, and it is all very well for Vatican spokesmen to say that he was talking to him in German and Italian - for all John Paul is understandable nowadays, he might as well be talking Swahili. When he goes, I just hope it isn't too painful...
Oh, and the story that piqued my interest over the last couple of days is the US Administration sticking its heels in, wanting to derail a gender equality UN conference, Beijing plus Ten as it is probably known, because it can't even let itself contemplate the fact that outside of US territory there may be places where abortion is legal LOL. And that is probably the kiss of death for a blog, bringing abortion and the death penalty in here...
Later taters
Pauly
I wasn't actually going to write tonight, feeling a bit tired, but suddenly got inspired or something :)
Yesterday was the last day of eye candy MG at work hmmph. She flies out Friday to do the Grand Tour of SE Asia, North America and Europe, gone for eight months and has actually resigned from the company. Went over to the local pub after work to drink goodbye to her, on a school night and all as well, bad Pauly bad. Had a reasonable turn out, and I behaved myself, didn't get drool on the tie or anything - was mainly talking to SW and MC, the party of five that started out socialising out of my intake has shrunk to three, and with the way SW feels about KW hmm, don't think I will be expanding that social group anytime soon...
Although seriously, I'm pretty easy going to start socialising and stuff, it is just that I get nervous about the undercurrents of any such thing, like do they REALLY like me or is this just a mutual cover group for the people that don't have real friends to hang out with - let alone all the neuroses I have when an attractive woman is 'in play' as it were.
Met MG's sister and the sister's boyfriend, they seemed nice, and had a nice chat with them before more familiar people turned up. Also saw MG's actual boyfriend as well, and yes, I am jealous in a sense and wondering whether that was the one she broke up with all those months ago, but OMG, he looked like one of the extra's off an Arnie movie, AFTER the Terminator, Predator, Martian atmosphere had gotten to them. Big slab of a boy with a very pockmarked but somehow flat head and face. Not meaning to be mean, and if that is what makes you/her happy, go for gold, but just the general impression. And his mate looked like an American football player's body without needing the actual padding, with a Shaggy off Scooby Doo head on him - hmm, never seen that body type before, truth be told - obviously I work in too rareified and snooty an atmosphere in the office LOL. If I say anymore, it will just come across as mean, so I will shut up...
Farewelled MG with a doubles game of pool, SW and I playing against her and KD. I thought it was a suitable send off, in it's own little way, because that night, SW's birthday last year, sticks in my mind because was first time I had really talked to MG, and that was over the pool table as well. I obviously make too much out of the little things eh? Got a wave when she, MG, left for the evening, best way I think rather than to be too obvious with a hug, especially with the way we were standing, basically behind five other people that I would have had to get through. The travel diary went around the table adding names, addresses and emails, so that's quietly subtle enough for me LOL, if she wants to send an email she can, if not then we will always have the pool table LOL - and yes, my mind just went into the gutter then, bad Pauly bad :)
SW and I had a good conversation again last night, two bourbons and a ride on the train to the suburbs together, things are back on track on that front after a few weeks of quiet contemplation.
The last couple of weeks I have hardly commented on any actual news events, and I hear everybody give a sigh of relief at that, but may get back into it later in the week. There is just so much going on, with Israel and Palestine and Lebanon and Syria and the US Supreme Court outlawing executions for crimes committed before the age of 18 - 5 to 4 though, no doubt that will get overturned in six months when one of the 'liberal' justices retires LOL - oh, and the Pope continuing to mimic the movie Weekend At Bernies LOL - he is NOT looking well, and it is all very well for Vatican spokesmen to say that he was talking to him in German and Italian - for all John Paul is understandable nowadays, he might as well be talking Swahili. When he goes, I just hope it isn't too painful...
Oh, and the story that piqued my interest over the last couple of days is the US Administration sticking its heels in, wanting to derail a gender equality UN conference, Beijing plus Ten as it is probably known, because it can't even let itself contemplate the fact that outside of US territory there may be places where abortion is legal LOL. And that is probably the kiss of death for a blog, bringing abortion and the death penalty in here...
Later taters
Pauly
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
Two Weddings And A Baby
Not quite four weddings and a funeral, but on the way there perhaps LOL. It seemed a lot longer than just four days down there - well, three days with the actual hours tallied up.
So, onto the wedding. The groom and that side of the aisle were all flashed up, black vest and tuxedo for the groom, goldy florally set up for the others, but looked manly rather than chickish LOL - the bridesmaids were in a burgundy fabric, but different cuts of dress for all three of them, the strapless showing her tatts on her shoulder blade got a lot of mentions at the reception LOL. And the bride of course was pretty in white and all, although, hmmph, family politics and all, was she really happy getting married in a Catholic church LOL. And OMG, my first religious wedding ever I think, and how drawn out were all the psalms and blessings and crap, V was saying that it was more than needed be there, and that from a girl brought up all churchy LOL.
And then more names thrown at me after the actual wedding ceremony, as the pics were taken on the church steps and everything. I think I started to connect the dots fairly well though, within a fairly short period of time. And then out to KP's, one of V's nieces, who was offering coffee and tea before the actual reception, the footy club wasn't free for a couple of hours after the wedding, mmm good planning, but again got to put names to faces and stuff, so the coffee and tea was a more laid back version of the roll call at the church LOL.
And then off to the footy club, where did the talking to more relatives thing, and doing my easy going relaxed thing, and then the bridal party came in and we were seated - on our table were C and W, who I had met back in May on the Gold Coast, S and E who were a nephew and niece in law of V, and C and R, who were V's elder brother and his new missus, who was taking the place of V's fave in law hmm, who had died of cancer. Tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she was drinking more than most of the guys there eek, and by the end of the night - I had behaved myself drinking wise - driving them home, she was a mess.
Mmm, family politics, it is always a great sport to observe apart from with your own family LOL. But I think I passed the mark, with the amount of V's relatives I have met, and none of them seem to hate me yet LOL, and I especially got on well with the kids - the person I danced with that night wasn't V but instead one of her great nieces LOL, cutie as well, although almost all those kids were cuties...
Kinda strange saying grand/great nieces, but V is the youngest of a large family.
And they dump so much on her - oh, the baby is too much of a hassle for the relative MCing the event (although she didn't do a good job, forty five minutes between the speeches and the bridal waltz, we need tight tight tight LOL) - anyways, the baby is too much hassle, let's palm him off to V, oh the best man hasn't done a speech, let's get V to do it - not that he used it anyway, lol he was enjoying his alcohol too much to do much thinking at all - oh, the wedding cake hasn't been sent home, guess which muggins will do it LOL. Now if it were me, I have learnt over the last few years to be less and less of a doormat - apart from attractive workmates it seems LOL.
Got home at about quarter past twelve, and crashed into bed. Cosy LOL.
Next morning, read the paper and had breakfast before heading out for the day. Wandered along Mount Thomas's river bank, which was nice, but a provincial river is a provincial river LOL. Nice war memorial though, it just gets me how impressive these structures are for a war that was fought on the other side of the world (for the most part), and how they are such focal parts of the community. Honour and all that, the noble parts of human nature arising from the savagery of conflict - or some such.
Then went into Woolworths, where I was tempted to take the microphone and say red light special in aisle six, Pauly loves V LOL - small town and all that, V would have died of embarrassment - was bad enough when we bumped into one of the kids she knew at school. Did the school tour as she was dropping off supplies, met MM and her sister and brother in law, MM is one of V's best friends I think...
Then off to the barbie at LH and DH's place. MM was only making a brief appearance, had things to do with the early afternoon - very pretty girl, I'm afraid to say - no threat to V, but if I were single, and afraid to say in the sense that I was self conscious in how much I might have been looking at her bleah, hate those attractive women that I am self conscious around LOL.
And met the wonderful RL and his partner SL, RL is the crown prince of jokes at V's school, and even though he had a cold he had to come out and meet me LOL. As soon as RL came in he gave me a big hug and said it has been too long LOL, and joking about all the men that frequent V's house - and basically I went with it, giving as good as I got, with V as collateral damage (in a good sense) a lot of the time. Uluru the Red Centre indeed LOL.
Had a good BBQ but didn't wear a hat for an hour and a half or so and got dreadfully sunburnt - it is never summer until your first burn though LOL. And golly I got a good one, living in Queensland and get burnt in Tassie LOL.
Then off out and about for the afternoon, went to V's mothers gravesite, because she is still pretty important to V, and then out to a cheese factory for some tasting yum. Although maybe should have been tasting the ice cream rather than the cheese LOL. And then over the hills and far away to the town of Sheffield, where I didn't even look at any of the world famous in Tassie murals LOL.
Then V got lost a few times going through Devonport to her friend's place out by Shearwater, another husband with a dry sense of humour, gave less than I got with RL though, and a couple that were friends of the friends came in to say hi as well, and Melbourne Carlton AFL was on the TV and the partners were split between the teams, hmm don't talk about the cricket or the Bledisloe Cup anyone LOL. Oh, and that's another thing, all through the paper on Sunday and no mention at ALL of rugby, had to wait for the sports results on TV to see the Hurricanes dicked the Reds at Ballymore yay.
Then back out on the road to Ulverstone, about twenty kays up the road from Devonport, nice seaside town, bad idea of a war memorial - the plinth in the middle of a roundabout, with three storey metal beams, with a metallic clock on the top, ick. Had a nice rustic harbourside though, and had a seafood dinner at a very nice restaurant, Pedros. Then back into Devonport in time to take a couple of lighthouse pics on dusk, and then to the movies.
Now, understand please, there were only four screens and only four movies showing - I had already seen Sideways, was too tired to even start to think in The Aviator, and the other movie was hmm, looking for it LOL but hmmph, can't find it, anyways, Constantine looked a good bet - brainless action. About a third of the way through the movie I thought hmm was it a good idea to take a Catholic girl into a movie saying that they have extra books in the bible in hell lol, and two thirds through the movie I was like why on earth do I keep giving Keanu second chances again and again LOL - Matrix and Speed Pauly, that is why. Good in a comic book sense I guess, but not a taking another person to movie, would recommend to DVD - well, the good run had to end Paul, what with Garden State Closer Sideways Motorcycle Diaries LOL.
Got home about midnight Sunday night, and then slept in a bit on Monday morning. So much so that the idea to look around Launnie more went out the window LOL, and it was straight to the airport. Saying goodbye is always hard and perhaps getting harder. The guy next to me on the Melb leg had a big property guide for Tasmania that he was circling dozens of properties out of - blimmin speculators LOL. Had a good view of central Melb on the way in, even though I didn't have a window seat, and was 34 degrees that day - had been twenty in Launnie and only got up to 30 in Bris. Read the Economist on the flight home, rather than do the diary LOL.
Got home, told the goss of the trip to Mum, and felt longer than four days that I had been away, but there it was, Desperate Housewives on TV, so it must have only been four days LOL. All the places in Tas I went though, had been places that V hadn't been in years, so about a cumulative x amount of time that she caught up with me doing the touristy thing, if you get what I mean.
So was flicking between Housewives and the Oscars last night. I thought Chris Rock was good, not a hundred percent polished, but who is on their debut Oscar hosting - reading the reviews and everything, Mr Rock is getting about a fifty fifty pass rate by the press on how he handled things - maybe it is a red state blue state thing LOL. Apart from mentioning Dubya a bit too much in his monologue, the jokes he made I think were OK, if Sean Penn can't get a sense of humour about Jude Law being ribbed hmm. I think especially if you are famous and stuff, your sense of humour should be better well developed than us normal mortals, otherwise you will be fighting a losing battle LOL. Pretty bland field of the Big movies this year, Aviator and Million Dollar Baby, as opposed to interesting smaller movies, Incredibles, Eternal Sunshine, Sideways...
I didn't like the way they Miss Americaed some of the awards, by having all the nominees up the front, nor the drive through way they handled others, by coming out to the aisles - Chris Rock apparently had it well thought out (I must have been Housewifeing LOL) when he said they would do next year's awards in the carpark.
Okies, only about twenty four hours behind the present moment, not bad when going on a break.
Pauly
So, onto the wedding. The groom and that side of the aisle were all flashed up, black vest and tuxedo for the groom, goldy florally set up for the others, but looked manly rather than chickish LOL - the bridesmaids were in a burgundy fabric, but different cuts of dress for all three of them, the strapless showing her tatts on her shoulder blade got a lot of mentions at the reception LOL. And the bride of course was pretty in white and all, although, hmmph, family politics and all, was she really happy getting married in a Catholic church LOL. And OMG, my first religious wedding ever I think, and how drawn out were all the psalms and blessings and crap, V was saying that it was more than needed be there, and that from a girl brought up all churchy LOL.
And then more names thrown at me after the actual wedding ceremony, as the pics were taken on the church steps and everything. I think I started to connect the dots fairly well though, within a fairly short period of time. And then out to KP's, one of V's nieces, who was offering coffee and tea before the actual reception, the footy club wasn't free for a couple of hours after the wedding, mmm good planning, but again got to put names to faces and stuff, so the coffee and tea was a more laid back version of the roll call at the church LOL.
And then off to the footy club, where did the talking to more relatives thing, and doing my easy going relaxed thing, and then the bridal party came in and we were seated - on our table were C and W, who I had met back in May on the Gold Coast, S and E who were a nephew and niece in law of V, and C and R, who were V's elder brother and his new missus, who was taking the place of V's fave in law hmm, who had died of cancer. Tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she was drinking more than most of the guys there eek, and by the end of the night - I had behaved myself drinking wise - driving them home, she was a mess.
Mmm, family politics, it is always a great sport to observe apart from with your own family LOL. But I think I passed the mark, with the amount of V's relatives I have met, and none of them seem to hate me yet LOL, and I especially got on well with the kids - the person I danced with that night wasn't V but instead one of her great nieces LOL, cutie as well, although almost all those kids were cuties...
Kinda strange saying grand/great nieces, but V is the youngest of a large family.
And they dump so much on her - oh, the baby is too much of a hassle for the relative MCing the event (although she didn't do a good job, forty five minutes between the speeches and the bridal waltz, we need tight tight tight LOL) - anyways, the baby is too much hassle, let's palm him off to V, oh the best man hasn't done a speech, let's get V to do it - not that he used it anyway, lol he was enjoying his alcohol too much to do much thinking at all - oh, the wedding cake hasn't been sent home, guess which muggins will do it LOL. Now if it were me, I have learnt over the last few years to be less and less of a doormat - apart from attractive workmates it seems LOL.
Got home at about quarter past twelve, and crashed into bed. Cosy LOL.
Next morning, read the paper and had breakfast before heading out for the day. Wandered along Mount Thomas's river bank, which was nice, but a provincial river is a provincial river LOL. Nice war memorial though, it just gets me how impressive these structures are for a war that was fought on the other side of the world (for the most part), and how they are such focal parts of the community. Honour and all that, the noble parts of human nature arising from the savagery of conflict - or some such.
Then went into Woolworths, where I was tempted to take the microphone and say red light special in aisle six, Pauly loves V LOL - small town and all that, V would have died of embarrassment - was bad enough when we bumped into one of the kids she knew at school. Did the school tour as she was dropping off supplies, met MM and her sister and brother in law, MM is one of V's best friends I think...
Then off to the barbie at LH and DH's place. MM was only making a brief appearance, had things to do with the early afternoon - very pretty girl, I'm afraid to say - no threat to V, but if I were single, and afraid to say in the sense that I was self conscious in how much I might have been looking at her bleah, hate those attractive women that I am self conscious around LOL.
And met the wonderful RL and his partner SL, RL is the crown prince of jokes at V's school, and even though he had a cold he had to come out and meet me LOL. As soon as RL came in he gave me a big hug and said it has been too long LOL, and joking about all the men that frequent V's house - and basically I went with it, giving as good as I got, with V as collateral damage (in a good sense) a lot of the time. Uluru the Red Centre indeed LOL.
Had a good BBQ but didn't wear a hat for an hour and a half or so and got dreadfully sunburnt - it is never summer until your first burn though LOL. And golly I got a good one, living in Queensland and get burnt in Tassie LOL.
Then off out and about for the afternoon, went to V's mothers gravesite, because she is still pretty important to V, and then out to a cheese factory for some tasting yum. Although maybe should have been tasting the ice cream rather than the cheese LOL. And then over the hills and far away to the town of Sheffield, where I didn't even look at any of the world famous in Tassie murals LOL.
Then V got lost a few times going through Devonport to her friend's place out by Shearwater, another husband with a dry sense of humour, gave less than I got with RL though, and a couple that were friends of the friends came in to say hi as well, and Melbourne Carlton AFL was on the TV and the partners were split between the teams, hmm don't talk about the cricket or the Bledisloe Cup anyone LOL. Oh, and that's another thing, all through the paper on Sunday and no mention at ALL of rugby, had to wait for the sports results on TV to see the Hurricanes dicked the Reds at Ballymore yay.
Then back out on the road to Ulverstone, about twenty kays up the road from Devonport, nice seaside town, bad idea of a war memorial - the plinth in the middle of a roundabout, with three storey metal beams, with a metallic clock on the top, ick. Had a nice rustic harbourside though, and had a seafood dinner at a very nice restaurant, Pedros. Then back into Devonport in time to take a couple of lighthouse pics on dusk, and then to the movies.
Now, understand please, there were only four screens and only four movies showing - I had already seen Sideways, was too tired to even start to think in The Aviator, and the other movie was hmm, looking for it LOL but hmmph, can't find it, anyways, Constantine looked a good bet - brainless action. About a third of the way through the movie I thought hmm was it a good idea to take a Catholic girl into a movie saying that they have extra books in the bible in hell lol, and two thirds through the movie I was like why on earth do I keep giving Keanu second chances again and again LOL - Matrix and Speed Pauly, that is why. Good in a comic book sense I guess, but not a taking another person to movie, would recommend to DVD - well, the good run had to end Paul, what with Garden State Closer Sideways Motorcycle Diaries LOL.
Got home about midnight Sunday night, and then slept in a bit on Monday morning. So much so that the idea to look around Launnie more went out the window LOL, and it was straight to the airport. Saying goodbye is always hard and perhaps getting harder. The guy next to me on the Melb leg had a big property guide for Tasmania that he was circling dozens of properties out of - blimmin speculators LOL. Had a good view of central Melb on the way in, even though I didn't have a window seat, and was 34 degrees that day - had been twenty in Launnie and only got up to 30 in Bris. Read the Economist on the flight home, rather than do the diary LOL.
Got home, told the goss of the trip to Mum, and felt longer than four days that I had been away, but there it was, Desperate Housewives on TV, so it must have only been four days LOL. All the places in Tas I went though, had been places that V hadn't been in years, so about a cumulative x amount of time that she caught up with me doing the touristy thing, if you get what I mean.
So was flicking between Housewives and the Oscars last night. I thought Chris Rock was good, not a hundred percent polished, but who is on their debut Oscar hosting - reading the reviews and everything, Mr Rock is getting about a fifty fifty pass rate by the press on how he handled things - maybe it is a red state blue state thing LOL. Apart from mentioning Dubya a bit too much in his monologue, the jokes he made I think were OK, if Sean Penn can't get a sense of humour about Jude Law being ribbed hmm. I think especially if you are famous and stuff, your sense of humour should be better well developed than us normal mortals, otherwise you will be fighting a losing battle LOL. Pretty bland field of the Big movies this year, Aviator and Million Dollar Baby, as opposed to interesting smaller movies, Incredibles, Eternal Sunshine, Sideways...
I didn't like the way they Miss Americaed some of the awards, by having all the nominees up the front, nor the drive through way they handled others, by coming out to the aisles - Chris Rock apparently had it well thought out (I must have been Housewifeing LOL) when he said they would do next year's awards in the carpark.
Okies, only about twenty four hours behind the present moment, not bad when going on a break.
Pauly
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