the empty spaces

Just so you know.

2005-09-24T21:26:00.000+09:30

We're just about in the final stages of Departing Darwin.

Which we are both very happy about, let me tell you.

It's my last shift at work, and most likely my last reliable internet access
for a while, so I thought I should tell people that I won't be online for a
while.

All we've got left to do in the flat is pack up the last of our belongings,
let the cleaners do their thing, and then have the final inspection.

Hopefully, the marks on the wall from the hair dye incidents aren't too bad.

Although, I'm pretty sure they're not going to like them. Oh well.

One of the close friends I made in Darwin is over for the weekend with her
husband. It's her 30th birthday today, and we're going for drinks after
work with them. Then tomorrow night, after we've finished packing the car,
we're having drinks in the bar, hopefully with all the people we've come to
know up here.

I'm not sure that there'll be much of a turnout, but, we'll see I guess.

Anyway, if I get time before we leave, I'll post photos and things from our
last few days.

I should be able to post via hotmail, so hopefully it won't be too much of a
hassle.

_________________________________________________________________
1000s of Sexy Singles online now at Lavalife http://lavalife.com.au

I can't come? Oh! I'm FINE with it! FINE!!

2005-09-21T18:31:00.000+09:30

Well, I showed them this morning.

I had my last night audit ending this morning.

The plan, as it stood yesterday, was that I'd come home, go straight to sleep, and then, we were supposed to be going barramundi fishing with a "mate" of the SigOts.

Then, last night, we discover that 1) not going barra fishing and 2) I'm not invited, because it's a "boys day".

And fuck me gently with a chainsaw, I was pissed off.

And it's not like I could say to the SigOt, "well, you should not got because I can't go", because that would just make me out to be a huge nasty petty bitch.

So I came home this morning and got myself quietly tipsy.

Well, quiet except for the part where I was singing along to Guns n' Roses playing on my headphones.

And that just served their dumb arses right really.

Yes, I realise just how stupid that was.

What can I say? Sometimes I have the maturity level of a two year old, but with access to alcohool.

I'm feeling rather dopey about the whole thing.

For a start, I've got no idea why I was so upset about missing out on going fishing.

Yeah, I wanted to go, but my reaction was way out of proportion.

And I feel like I'm really letting my Mum's influence take over by reacting by sitting down and drinking too much.

I know better ways to deal with shit than that.

Obviously the morning after night audit is not me at my most rational.

Tomorrow, we're doing the last of our running around playing tourist. I think.

Unless it's been turned into a boys day and I'm not invited.

And now, even thought they were due back at 5pm, I can't get a response from the SigOt on his phone.

What, me? Worry?

If that mudfucker has let anything happen to the SigOt, I will tear the man limb from limb.

It might take a while, but I'll get there in the end.

And if the SigOt's just not answering, I shall tear him into small body parts instead.

I'm coping well really.

I think I'll just shut up now.

Grasshoppers are crazy rude and inappropriate.

2005-09-19T18:48:00.000+09:30

I gave him a list of things to do today. Because I've been running around organising my arse off, and I figured, hey babe, it's your turn.

And so, he did the lot. He's very good sometimes.

This cleaning company that we've hired to clean the unit? I think we're going to end up giving them all sexual favours.

Because, they clean EVERYTHING.

The OVEN, the FRIDGE, the washing machine, the windows, you name it, they clean it.
Although, I'm not sure I can let people clean my fridge for me. The oven, HA! I'm over it, but the fridge?

I'm just not comfortable having someone else clean out my fridge grot.

Anyway, I have a connection with that fungus. I raised it from just a spore.

I've nurtured it, I've spoken to it.

I should take the responsibility and put it down.

There's a homeless woman that lives around here, known pretty much as Bird Lady. She's got two pigeons that she carries around with her in little plastic bird cages.

Well, I've got some books and stuff that we thought maybe she'd have a use for. So the other day, I stopped to talk to her, and ask her if she'd like the books, or anything else we can't keep.

She's very nice. She doesn't want anything, as she pointed out that she lives in the long grass, which is the local term for people that choose to live in parks rather than houses.

And people do CHOOSE to live in the long grass. I guess up here, the only risk weather wise is that you'll get rained on. But all the parks have shelter of some sort of them.

Anyway, we had a little chat about living in Darwin, and the humidity, which is coming on with build up. She asked where we were from, and asked how we were coping with it. I said I hated it, and she agreed, it's disgusting.

The only thing I regret about the conversation is that a) I didn't ask her name, and b) I didn't ask her if she'd like to have a coffee.

But, we haven't left yet, so if I see her, I'll try speak to her again.

And in other news, I am now a maths tutor. Or, maybe homework pimp.

Hometown Girl at work had a maths assignment due today, and was worried about it. So she asked me if I could have a go at it so she could see if she was doing OK. It was fun.

I am a complete dork.

But then, like that's news.

Also, I took photos of two grasshoppers doing the nasty on my balcony last night. I felt like the paparazzi taking photos through trees.

I will show you later. All I can say now, is bugs are rude.

Sheep Sandwich anyone?

2005-09-19T09:07:00.000+09:30

I've got what I think is an entry black hole happening.

I write an entry in my head, get anywhere near a computer at an appropriate time to be writing such drivel, and it falls into the black hole, never to be seen or heard from again.

Why is it that no matter how tired I am AT work, I can be drooling face down on the desk all night, as soon as it hits 7am, I'm wide awake and ready to run amok.

Why?

All I want to do is sleep. I have to do it again tomorrow night. And the night after, why not let me sleep?

Why do I have to be all wired awake and stuff?

I went out for breakfast, read a trashy magazine that the cafe supplies (no wonder they're so popular), had a nice relaxing hot chocolate, felt dozy, came home.

And I am AWAKE.

In chocolate related news, I'm not a huge chocolate eater.

Once in a while, I feel like some chocolate. Not that often, and usually only if it is wrapped around a biscuit, or some sort of fruit.

Last night, I decided I needed some energy, of the instant sugary kind, to keep me awake.

So, I investigated the office fridge, and found tim tams, and a little tub of chocolate mousse.

So, being a thinking kind of woman, I used the tim tam to eat the chocolate mousse.

And you know what? As awesome and superchocolaty as I THOUGHT it would taste, it really didn't.

I was just overkill, and it made me feel sick.

Which was really rather disappointing.

In other news, there is apparently some sort of restaurant chain in the UK called Jumbuck's.

Now, when told this, I thought they'd sell sheep. Or lamb. Or mutton. Because, that's what a jumbuck IS.

Apparently it's a pie shop.

But they sell jaffles.

Jaffles being squeezed together toasted sandwiches, usally with liquid fillings.

I'm confused.

And I'm finally tired.

My god. I've just realised that reading this puts ME to sleep.

No flat for you!!!

2005-09-17T15:33:00.000+09:30

This freaking car alarm has been going off downstairs for the past five minutes, and I desperately wish that the fucker that owns the damn car would do something about it!

Oh. Now that I've said that, they have.

See? Ask and you shall receive.

We've had a lease signed on the unit. Which means that the ad we put in today's paper was pointless, and personally, I am sick of telling people that "sorry, it's not for rent anymore".

People are calling my mobile telephone on mobile telephones, and people are not happy at paying the exorbitant calling rates pointlessly.

Oh well.

We got ourselves up early today. Well, early for us. We were up at 11am.

And we took ourselves out to the Parap Markets for sustenance.

Kens Crepes with banana and maple syrup. Definitive proof that there is a higher being.

I bought myself a new singlet, for wearing with my denim ra-ra style skirt.

It's rainbow tiedye and it's beautiful.

The SigOt was apparently having horror visions of me wearing it with my matching sarong and head scarf. No darling, that's too much overkill even for me.

Yesterday, I played mailing bandit.

Not that I played bandit on the postman and raided the mail for blank cash cheques, handily signed by a multimillionaire.

I sent things in the mail like a bandit.

I sent a "Joy of Darwin" postcard to Ms. Geeked Out, a care package to Ms Blue Meany, which I shall not discuss because it would ruin the surprise.

Australia Post PROMISES she will receive it in 8 to 10 days, so, we'll see how much they lied this time.

Ms BlueMeany, do NOT hold your breath waiting for it, because I'm not sure blue is a great colour for your face, although it would look fetching with maybe a green or purple spoon on your nose.

I also sent a necklace to my lovely web designing friend, with matching earrings, that she'd picked out. I do like sending presents. She had said she wanted to buy it, and I was very worried that I'd do something dumb like lose it when we were traveling.

In other news, I'm not sure if I bought the worlds shortest rainbow tie dyed mini dress, or the worlds longest rainbow tie dyed singlet.

I've decided I'm going to call it a singlet and continue to wear it with a skirt or pants, because I'm not sure Darwin, or the rest of Australia, wants to know me that intimately.

Next week should be just flat out crazy.

I'm working 3 night audit shifts, a night shift showing my replacement around on Wednesday and then doing a fill in for hometown girl on Saturday night.

Thursday and Friday, we're hoping to borrow a friends 4WD to go to Litchfield, and then Saturday night is a girlfriends 30th, and Sunday we pack up and move out of the unit into the hotel, and have going away drinks.

Monday, at 7am (ugh) we give the keys to the cleaners and they will scrub the crap out of our studio apartment, Tuesday we have the final inspection and Wednesday it will be GOODBYE DARWIN!!

Yay!

Uh, maybe it's Thursday we're going to do a final "touristy" tour of the place, and then on Friday/Saturday we're going to Litchfield?

I'm confused, I just don't know anymore.

I had Sebby the Super Seca serviced, and the cost was substantial.

So far this year I've spent over $3000 on a car worth $5500.

I'm thinking it might be time to trade in. But, that said, the mechanic said he's a great car, with many many more kilometers in him.

He's a trooper, so I think we'll just stick to it for a while.

At least until we reach Adelaide anyway.

Regarding website plans: Officially, the launch of Aloggla's Online Presence has been delayed until we reach home. At that point in time, I plan to put my retired parents to work helping me to take clear photos.

Well, my Dad anyway, I don't have enough time available to teach Mum about digital cameras. Or any cameras for that matter.

Mum takes great clear photos, just that usually she manages to leave out the actual subject.

We'll put her on coffee duty, so she doesn't feel left out.

I'm hoping to get a limited site up before then though. I need to speak to Lyns first.

Anyway, that's all that's going on here. Not really too exciting.

I can't wait to GO!! Driving, camping, driving, drinking, camping, walking tracks through national parks!

Lets go now!!

NOW I TELL YOU!!

Things are moving Foward.

2005-09-15T00:36:00.000+09:30

We've been flat out busy the last couple of days.

Yesterday, we cleaned and did a final sorting of the unit. We took the bags of clothes to a vacuum and sucked all that bloody space taking up air out of them. Cleaned. Cleaned. Cleaned.

Today, we took all the boxes out to the freight place to send. 9 boxes in total, most of them weighing 20kg. Delivered to the door, it's costing $197.

How awesome is that?

Then, we organised a new stereo for the car, and we went to the bank to sort out the muck up they've made with my accounts.

Stopped for lunch.

Came home, organised the ad for the paper about the unit. We found and booked a cleaner to clean the unit for the final inspection, which I NEVER plan to do again in my life.

$250 including the carpets, the walls, floors, windows, cupboards and, best of all, THE OVEN.

I don't have to clean the oven. I am so happy about that I could dance a jig or die or something.

I hate cleaning the oven. I hate the chemical. I hate all the greasy gunk. I hate the smell. I hate scrubbing gunk out of small spaces.

And I don't have to do it. It's like all my birthdays have come at Christmas.

We're out of this unit next Sunday. Which is the same night we're having goodbye drinks at the pub.

We're staying in the hotel so that they can do the final clean.

And then, we're leaving!!

Yay!! (Have to go do another happy jig around the now very empty studio apartment.)

I spoke to a girl that used to be my closes friend last night, and she's having her first baby.

We used to think that maybe she couldn't get pregnant, because she's never used any sort of contraception, but has always had a pretty damn decent sex life.

apparently, we were wrong.

By we, I mean her and I.

That got the SigOt and I talking last night. About babies. And us. And us having babies.

We think we might move it up our schedule. Substantially.

So, we've decided that once we get to Adelaide, it's all healthy living, and exercise, and "exercise", and no smoking of substances and no alcohol.

And then, once we're all fit and healthy, and have private medical cover, and hopefully some money, we're going to start trying to have kids.

Which I am really excited about.

I think I'll give up writing for tonight, and just dance jigs around the unit.

Look! Aren't They Lovely!!

2005-09-12T17:59:00.000+09:30

Just thought I'd put up the pictures of the Louise Numina paintings that I got for my birthday.

She's an aboriginal artist from Central Australia, and her work is spectacular!

This one is (I'm relatively sure) a bush medicine leaves painting.

The colours are awesome.

This one is a Mountain Thorny (Lizard?) painting.

In the year that we've been up here, the paintings that she's produced have just gotten better and better.

It seems that in Aboriginal art, alot of people paint the same stories, and while I've seen similar paintings, it's the colours that she uses, and the style of her designs that I love.

This is the one that I was busting to have. It's not the one I originally looked at, that one had a black background, but, I'm not fussed, I still think it's fantastic.

This painting is a Bush Melon Dreaming painting.

Isn't it gorgeous?

The SigOt and I have been having a debate about which way the painting is supposed to hang. I'm arguing that it should be the same way as it is in the photo, as that's how it was in the shop!! But he feels that it should go longways.

I've decided that it's my painting, and I'll hang it whichever way makes me happy.

In other news, the SigOt was going to do some stuff for me today/ last night. Like, take out the garbage (I'm not allowed to carry heavy things on the stairs), marinate the chicken for my dinner, and was the doona covers and cushion covers.

None have been done, and there seems to be some sort of burnt stuff on the floor.

So, I guess I'll just do it myself.

I think we can can the 4WD idea. They all want arms and legs as payment, and really, I'm just not for it.

I think I will definately need my limbs at some point.

In other news, I spoke to my Dad about seeing Mama's (paternal grandmother) remaining siblings as we make our way down the west coast. He's going to write to them to let them know we're coming, so that we don't just arrive unannounced.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Aunty Nance, because she's the sister Mama was closest too.

Actually, I'm just really looking forward to going.

16 more days to go!!

2005-09-12T03:56:00.000+09:30

You know, for some reason, writing into this box feels much different to the little box on a blue page over there at diaryland. Maybe it's just one of those things you have to get used to.

I've decided to just move the whole thing, regardless of whether andrew comes good with the gold move or not.

At the moment, "move the whole thing" means move my buddy list to the new dland name: ahloglalala.

I have things to do people, I don't have time for this tedious moving diary business.

I miss my template too. I'm not sure how to make it work with blogger though. Well, I'm pretty sure it will work with blogger, I just can't quite get a grip on which tags should be whacked where.

Today, the SigOt and I packed. And packed. And sorted. And packed.

For a studio apartment, we sure packed some stuff in there.

We've managed to sell the TV, the video and the microwave. So, that's one less thing to worry about.

Which is nice.

I packed up my beading box, and it took forever. For-EVER.

More sorting, more bloody sorting, more finding little bag things. It just went on and on.

I'm taking a small box of jewellery and beading supplies with me, and sending the rest home.

That's my plan.

We're a bit worried about the sending of boxes at the moment. The SigOt's Dad doesn't think that the buslines will take teachest boxes. All I can say to that is that they'd bloody better!

Sebby the Wonder Seca does not have room for 4 tea chest boxes, a bead box and a telescope.

I can't believe we're leaving in 17 days! I'm so excited!

We're starting (out loud) to panic about petrol prices. It's a damn big drive we're looking at, and petrol isn't something we can do without. Some places along the planned trip have petrol prices at $1.80 a litre. Fully loaded with pod on top, Sebby uses about 36 litres for 270km.

Lets say we drive (conservatively) 7500km. That's going to cost us around $1800.

That's a big chunk of our budget right there.

ARGH!!

But, I'm okay with it, no, really!

We were looking at hiring a 4WD to see Kakadu, and possibly the Bungle Bungles.

I called Europe Car to ask about their "special travel industry rates" and discovered that they wanted to sting me over $500. Phwh! That's more than they quoted without the "discount" card.

Maybe it's a negative discount? Instead of 25% off, they add 25%?

Evil.

We're (I mean I) thinking about setting up an online travel journal this time around.

Last time, we wrote each night in a book, but I'd like to be able to post pictures and stuff as we go. It would also be nice if our families could look at it too, and see what we're up to.

We got a lovely email from the SigOt's big sister the other day. She said they missed us both, and couldn't wait for us to get home.

I was very excited, as when I first started seeing the SigOt, she wanted to punch my lights out. And to be honest, I was terrified of her. As teenagers, apparently, we hated each other with a passion. And neither of us have any idea why.

Oh well, I'm over it. So's she, and she lets me play with the twins!

They're going to be so big by the time we get home. I haven't seen them since they were about 2 months old, and now they're fully fledged toddlers.

Did I mention that before we leave, my friend from the bar is coming to stay in Darwin?? I'm so excited! Although, she hasn't emailed me back, so I'm not sure what the go there is.

In a couple of months, I will finally be reunited with my cat. I miss my cat. I am sure Sorcha misses me too, although my parents very nicely pointed out that she didn't fret when I left AT ALL.

I'm sure she was just putting on a brave front though.

I'm sure she really does miss me.

I'm SURE of it. Big holiday, big move, new house, family and friends!

OH GOD WILL THESE 17 DAYS PLEASE HURRY UP AND GO!!!

In other news, I will be posting pictures of my new paintings shortly.

That is all.

Sorry, but just wondering, should tall people say tall-ly?

Because I'm short and say shortly.

The world should so work like that.

Oh god, I can feel my boobs dropping!

2005-09-10T16:14:00.000+09:30

It's my birthday, and I've been up since 5:30 this morning.

YAY!!

Regarding birthday sex: I have one thing to say: Ponies.

Fuck 'em. Stampeding my good times to dust, the bastards.

So far, I have a belly button shell thing and some ironbark coasters.

Three (YES THREE) paintings by Louise Numina.

I am downloading songs to my phone like a bandit. Because my phone is also an MP3 player, and now I have a memory card big enough to let me put songs on it.

It's all happy here today.

In other news, I am convinced that my boobs have done an entire years worth of dropping overnight.

I figure that by the time I turn 31, I'll be able to just throw them over my shoulder (like that soldier dude) and tie them in a bow.

I'll call it high fashion, and start a trend.

C'mon! You know you all want to.

I'm going to go treat myself to a birthday book.

I might come and taunt you all again later.

Or not. It's my birthday, and I'm going to.... not do much really.

I have been, elsewhere.

2005-09-09T20:17:00.000+09:30

It's been a busy few days.

Wednesday turned into my birthday, seeing as how Neek and the SigOt and I all had the same day off, so I designated it my birthday so that I would not be forced to spend the time on my own.

I decided I wanted to go fishing for my birthday, so we headed off to Mandorah to fish off the jetty.

Unfortunately, the fish and squid weren't feeling in any way cooperative, so while we fished, the fish did something other than get caught.

And they did it well.

Neek, at least spent much of the day bonding with her squid jig style lure, which she named Nemo. Apparently, he's not much of a fisher, but he and Neek got along like a house on fire.

We went and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which I came out of nowhere near as excited as when I went in.

I was disappointed.

There was no bubble room. No bubble car. No everlasting gobstoppers handed around. No Slugworth bribing the kids. Mike TV took his Dad instead of his Mum, and Violet took her Mum instead of her Dad.

And, sad to say, Mr Depp made a really fucking freaky Willy Wonka.

What is the world coming to?

We planned to round the evening out by going to our favorite tapas restaurant, but they've changed the menu and of the 6 things I like to eat, they only had 1 remaining on the menu, and they were out of it. The cheek of them.

It was my birthday, so I made us all go to another restaurant.

I'm a very fussy eater. I don't like beef (unless it's in spaghetti). I don't like lamb unless it's roasted. Don't even mention "game". I'm not big on most vegetables unless I've cooked them. I HATE gravy with a passion. I can't eat coconut cream, or spicy stuff.

It kind of limits the menu.

So, we went to another restaurant, and thankfully, we had a marvelous meal there.

We ended up at the SigOts work for cake, and they surprised me by putting a candle on my piece (the SigOt made Princess Gateaux which was just gorgeous) and singing happy birthday.

I believe the exact shade of red I turned was well hidden by the darkness.

Thursday morning I got up SUPER early, and went and sat the STAT test. It was a bit of a fuck around, just usual bullshit of paper and forms and protocols, but I think I did OK.

I got stuck on a few questions, and left them for later, and I had enough time to come back and go over them. In the end, there were only 3 that I wasn't sure about my answers.

I guess we'll see how I went in a couple of weeks.

I washed the car (which is using less petrol now that it's lost half a ton of red dirt). I booked it in for a service. And I did something else, which I do not recall.

I had the tyres looked at on the car, I went to see the real estate people.

And that's it.

Lots of people I read at the moment seem to be having a hard time, and I really want to help.

Unfortunately, none of them seem to be having problems that a beaded necklace would fix.

It's kind of the same way that I feel about living in Darwin. Everyone I know is too far away to be able to visit with, or talk to.

I can't wait to be back down south, where I know people. It sucks trying to make friends when you work stupid hours. I guess making friends in the hospitality industry is easy when you're into going out drinking most nights. But I'm kind of over that. I don't want to go out and get slaughtered four nights out of seven. I'd rather get a quiet buzz and sit around listening to music in the background and chatting with friends.

Anyway, I'm going to make dinner, and go to bed.

I have to work at 7am in the morning, and the SigOt has promised he's going to go for breakfast with me and watch the sunrise, seeing as how that's the only way I'll get to see him on my birthday.

If I'm awake when he gets home, maybe we can have birthday sex.

At least I'm guaranteed another birthday next year. We can make up for it then.

Tired. Very tired.

2005-09-06T20:48:00.000+09:30

Last night at work was so boring, I thought I would die.

Literally, die of boredom.

I was superfast at the end of day accounts, I had no check ins, and I finished my book in half an hour.

Do you know what that left me with?

Three and a half hours of free time.

Which, really, is not that much fun.

I'm a bit strange in the way that I feel like I have to be doing something at work.

Reading for pleasure, OK. Personal emails, OK. So long as I've got the actual work under control.

But what to do when there are no books and no emails?

Terrible. It's just terrible.

I had breakfast upstairs at work this morning. It's much easier I find, to eat at work and then come home and sleep, rather than trying to come home and make food without waking up the slumbering lump upstairs.

I made another move towards moving today. I bought boxes.

I have even stuck one of them together. With tape even.

That's all my progress so far.

I shall keep at it.

Tomorrow, we're going for a fishing/picnic/drinking binge.

I think we've covered all options.

And I would write more, but I am too sleepy.

So I am going to go nap, in preparation for my birthday celebrations tomorrow.

Somehow, I think we won't make it to the cinema tomorrow night.

There is always next week.

And also, if you change the old diary adress in the diaryland buddy list to http://ahloglalala.diaryland.com you will be directed here.

You're excited, aren't you?

I know I am.

Now, to hold my breath until I get a response from Andrew to my latest email. Requesting the same thing as I have every damn time previously.

Or not to hold my breath. Because I don't look good with a blue face.

And also, regarding the boxes. They have teddy bears printed on them. I'm worried that the teddy bears will present a false idea of the contents of the boxes. We own no teddy bears here.

So, for the time being, we shall not be referring to children, which could lead us to toys, which could lead us to teddy bears.

Because I don't want the people transporting the boxes to get upset that the boxes, while decorated with the images of teddy bears, contain no teddy bears.

My stars said today would suck, and I thought they were lying.

2005-09-05T20:23:00.000+09:30

Well, I had a lovely sleep today.

That was the highlight.

Otherwise, the day's been rather, hmm, average.

So far today: the STAT test people rang to tell me that the workshop (of dubious value) has been moved forward due to the fact that the lecturer bailed on it, and the substitute lecturer apparently has to be home before dark so the bogey man doesn't eat her.

So, I called them, to find out what they were going to do about people like myself that have already paid good money to do this workshop AT THAT TIME, and now would not be able to attend.

Instead of saying, "we can give you a refund, have you done the practice test?", she gave me a nice 5 minute spiel on all the thousands of reasons that they had to move it.

I nearly bit my tongue off trying not to say "look you loopy lady, I've just woken up, I am in no way, shape or form a morning person, and all I want to know is WILL YOU GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK???"

Eventually, she said that yes, I'd get a refund, via cheque, in about two weeks, maybe more.

Also, seeing as how I'd done the practice test, and scored decently on it, I should be OK not attending the workshop of dubious value.

Couldn't she have just said that in plain english???

If getting a university education means that I'll no longer be able to say "yes" in under 500 words, I'm not sure that I really want one.

In other news, my birthday celebrations have been moved forward to Wednesday, due to the SigOt's boss being a lying fucking arsehole.

Ok, he's not really, but I'm a tad peeved seeing as how I've rearranged the entire roster at my work to get Saturday night off to celebrate the fact that I'm another year closer to being a septuagenarian, and he now has to work.

At least this way, Neek will be able to attend.

Our new plan, is to go fishing for squid at Mandorah, go out for dinner, and then go see the new Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory movie.

If the Muppets were on, I'd go see them.

But finally, some good news. We now have access to our mailbox!!!

I can get mail! I'm so excited!

I can get my bills out BEFORE THEY'RE DUE!!!

No more nasty phonecalls. Bonanza!

AND I can retrieve my pen. And my two and a half week collection of junk mail!!

Excuse me while I go shoot myself. Or alternatively, (and more cheaply, seeing as how I would have to go purchase a gun for this exercise) I could just bury myself alive under the sheer volume of catalogues.

I'm gonna go bead some stuff. Anyone want some stuff? I got stuff.

Shiny, with beads and stuff.

Jargon, I'm all about the jargon.

And also, I've worked out that if I post a blank post at the old diaryland diary, then it will light up the buddy lists (and the lives) of anyone that had me listed over there, and they'll know I've posted!!

I'm a freaking genius!!!

So far, so good.

2005-09-05T04:15:00.000+09:30

Well, I just finished doing my practice STAT test, and so far, so good.

There were only 6 questions that I buggered up out of the 70, and two of those were because I didn't read the questions correctly.

Which is good.

So far, I've learnt that I need to read the questions, and that I'm still shithouse at interpreting poetry.

But then again, I generally think all poetry is crap, so perhaps that comes as no great suprise.

Except as songs. I like song lyrics, which are pretty much poetry. I'm not sure how that works really.

Just quietly, if I never see Jessica What's her face doing the Pr0Active ad's again, it will be too soon.

And just for the record, you HAD a show about your marriage. Now, I guess the show is about your divorce. But thankfully, the free to air channels here choose not to subject us to such horror.

Except maybe channel 10. But I don't know much about that either, seeing as how we don't get channel 10 here.

Did I mention that I went into see about the paintings for my birthday today?

And it's all good? They came in, and I've picked three out.

I kind of blew the birthday budget, but I figure it will all be OK, because Mum & Dad are sending me cold, hard, untouchable, untraceable cash for my birthday.

Actually, strike that untraceable part, because they're transferring it to my bank account, which will leave little electronic footprints after it.

Speaking of the parents sending me money, I really wish my Dad would just pull his finger out, stop talking about it, and win bloody lotto.

He's been promising for years that as soon as he wins, he's going to give me cash for a car, a house, and a more extravagent lifestyle.

I'm all for that, and I love him dearly, but damn I'm getting impatient. And after all these years of buying tickets, he still hasn't mastered the art of getting more than 4 numbers at most.

Maybe he's a slow learner?

That could be right you know. After all these years, every time I move out, he expects that this time it really will be for good.

Actually, I'm hoping that I have no need to move in with my parents ever again. Well, visiting for a holiday is one thing, but as much as I love them, I really can't live with them.

Does everyone get that way about their parents?

Maybe it is just me.

In other news, I've just posted the postcards for bluemeany, hiss and literatewit.

I know, that took forever, I kept forgetting to take them with me when I got near a mailbox.

Sorry.

I still have bundles and bundles of postcards, so feel free to email me to request one. They're flash, trust me! Just put "Joy of Darwin" in the subject line.

Just because I can, I'm going to try and keep track of how many times a day I spill food onto a clean shirt. Today, I wore my ravioli, my nachos and I would have worn my breakfast on my tshirt, except I wasn't wearing one.

If only I could eat topless all the time. It would save a fortune on laundry.

And again with the "not going to plan" thing.

2005-09-04T20:15:00.000+09:30

So, this morning, I yanked my arse out of bed at some ungodly hour (read 8:30am on a Sunday after finishing work after 11pm last night) to prepare for a day of creative wonder making my very own glass beads.

I was excited, I was pumped. I made sure that the closed in protective shoes I wore almost matched my outfit (lime green singlet and near fluoro tie dye pants with red sneakers). I had not only my prescription sunglasses on hand, but a spare pare as well.

I breakfasted, I went through my toilet routine (brush hair, clean teeth, grimace alarmingly at mirror).

I jumped into my automobile of wonder (Sebby is a champion Toyota).

I arrived at the set place.

Early, even.

I had a cigarette, wrote some postcards.

I walked around the building. I had another cigarette.

I played with my phone.

And I began to fret.

No one else turned up. The building was locked up, and it was after the allotted starting time.

Was I at the right venue? The right day? Was it really on at 10pm?

Finally, other life turned up.

Not related in any way to the course I planned to do.

And I discovered that the course had been postponed, and no one had bothered to tell me.

Even though I rang yesterday to confirm, no one told me it had been postponed until after I leave this city of raging arseholes.

I nearly cried.

So, I did what any sane woman would do. I ditched the sneakers for hippy sandals and went shopping.

I bought two books. An expanding file. A bottle of water.

Not the worlds most exciting shopping trip, but it worked for me.

And no funky "made by ME" glass beads to show off either.

Bastards. I should have known they wouldn't ring when they said they would.

In other news, I keep dreaming about this house, and I keep thinking it's the unit, but with secret doors. It's got huge rooms, and a big wooden door, and Layt0n Hewitt was going to be our new room mate, and I made the SigOt put him at the furthest end of the house, so I wouldn't have to deal with him.

It was a cool house. A huge house. With a pool too.

I so want it. And there was this attic type room, that went on up forever, and was full of spiders and old furniture, with peoples things left there from decades ago. And ghosts.

No wonder I'm tired. I do more asleep than I do awake.

I have been practicing my new attitude to the arsehole coworker.

Now, I just say "Hi!", flash a breezy 16 megawatt fake smile, and walk out.

It works for me, and it drives him crazy.

Ha!! Welcome to my world arsehole! Ha ha ha haaaa!!!

Small things, small minds.

Just quietly, I am mid panic attack regarding moving back down south.

I have got so much to do, I can't pick a starting point. So far, I've read Readers Digest, and I've looked at buying a new digital camera, neither of which are on my list of things to do.

Although, the expanding file was, so, I've made some (small) progress.

The SigOt has offered (he thinks kindly) to pack while I'm at work on night audit.

This has not helped my panic levels in the slightest. While he packs well, and things do not get broken, he has no system. He doesn't, for example, pack all the books together. Or all the kitchen stuff together. He packs whatever he lays his hands on first.

Which means that each box you open is a total surprise, as he doesn't believe in labeling either.

Well, I guess when we get into a house in Adelaide, it will be like a bonus Christmas.

I'm just hoping that when he was packing last time, he packed the "keep" stuff, and threw out the "shit" stuff.

Or it's likely to turn out more like Christmas morning with large fireworks.

My plan, as it stands, is to give my head a couple more days to sort through all that needs to be done, and come to grips with it. Then, I shall be ready to launch myself upon it all!

That, and I don't have the time until Wednesday.....

What I'd like to do, is get the packing out of the way this week.

Then, we can work on cleaning.

That leaves two weeks to get new tenants.

Please let it be enough.

I'm going to go make myself ravioli for dinner.

Girl's gotta keep up her energy for this night audit business.

Too Much. Something. I don't know what.

2005-09-03T21:15:00.000+09:30

I've been experimenting with all the different things you can do with blogger.

And while it's good, it doesn't always work the way I think it will.

Actually, it rarely works the way I think it will.

I'm relatively sure the fault lies with me rather than blogger.

Last night, I went on a sorting rampage amongst my beading supplies.

Now, 16 kabillion (actual figure) small pieces of findings have been stored where they belong.

I made a watch. Well, I made the band and catches, the watch itself was made by others.

I need to adjust the size of the band, but I figure that if I, make that WHEN I sell it, I can adjust it to fit their wrist.

The only problem at the moment is that I can't get the battery into it. At least that way the new battery that comes with it won't go flat.

Although, it does stop me from wearing it myself, because not even I am dorky enough to wear a watch that does not tell time correctly.

Except twice a day. When I am unlikely to be looking at it.

I've been watching, like the rest of the world, the chaos that has been left in the wake of Katrina.

Here in Darwin, they thought the devastation after Tracey in 1974 was bad, but at least then there was no flooding, and a much much smaller population.

It's hard to believe that in the mighty US, which holds so much influence over the rest of the world, and is always rushing to help other countries suffering natural and man made disasters is taking so long to help its own citizens.

We seem to be too far away at the moment to offer practical help. All we can do is hope, pray (if you're a believer) or send our thoughts.

We can also send money, which is always required in huge amounts when things like this happen.

The SigOt and I have been wanting to help, and now that I've found the Australian Redcross site, we can. Unfortunately, as much as we'd like to give everything we have, we are limited by the requirements of our own lives.

As my endlessly pragmatic dad says, you can only do what you can.

I'm watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the moment. The old original.

Now that the new Johnny Depp'd version is in cinemas, we're screening the old one again.
When I was a kid, I was busting to go to the cadbury factory. I'd read the book, I'd seen the movie, and I was convinced that it would be just like Willy Wonka's factory.

I am still grateful to my mother for not taking us, because Miss Q and I would have been heartbroken that it hadn't lived up to our lofty expectations.

The bubble room? I wanted so badly to drink the Fizzy Lifting Drink.

We've been trying to work out what we're going to do with all the stuff that we've bought for the unit. It's not like we've bought a couch, or a fridge or anything, but we have bought shelves, a clothes hanger thing, cubes, a video and a 69cm TV.

Why such a big television? Well, it fit our $300 budget, and I can see it without my glasses on.
Or, I could when we first purchased it.

I'm hoping we can just sell it to whoever moves in, because just quietly, it's a bastard to get up and down 6 flights of stairs.

Someone offered me HTML type assistance with Blogger, and I've lost the email that tells me who it was.

OK, I tell a lie. I accidentally deleted the email when I was getting rid of all the replies I got after sending out the email with the wrong link in it.

As much as I like you people, I do not need to keep 7 emails saying "uh, it doesn't work, was that a trick?".

Although, I did need the emails to point out to me that I had, once again, done something vaguely dumb.

So, if the person that knows how to do this HTML on blogger stuff could please please pretty please email me again, that would be awesome. All I want to do (oh god, here we go, usually when it's "all I want to do" it's impossible) is use something remarkably similar to my old diaryland layout here.

I'm not after flash, new or different. I want same!! SAME!!

The glass bead making course is on for tomorrow, so I'll be up bright and early (ugh) to go and hopefully not drip molten glass on myself.

Because, I'm good at the dripping things on myself.

I went down to the SigOt's work last night for dinner, clean skirt, clean singlet. Promptly dripped my pasta straight down my front.

You can take me anywhere but out really.

I could have at least dripped it down my cleavage, because at least that's mostly hidden, and I don't have to walk around with evidence of my slovenliness down the front of me.

I've decided I want to go out for dinner for my birthday, and then go see Willy Wonka.

I have to be up and at work by 7am ON MY BIRTHDAY.

That's just wrong, so wrong.

It's going to hurt.

2005-09-02T23:54:00.000+09:30

This is the necklace and earring set I ended up giving to Sara Storer after seeing her sing in Darwin. These are unkalite gemstone pieces set on seashell with wood and silver beads.

2005-09-02T23:53:00.000+09:30

Carnelian Agate stone with silver findings and mop shell pieces.

2005-09-02T23:52:00.000+09:30

Rainbow Gemstones Necklace, includes Crystal Quartz, Garnet, Amber, Citrine, Peridot, Aventurine, Emerald, Sodalite, Lapis Lazuli and Amethyst.

2005-09-02T23:51:00.000+09:30

Necklace with Adventurine, Smokey Quartz, Silver beads and Silver wire.

2005-09-02T23:50:00.000+09:30

Handmade Rings.

I concede Defeat.

2005-09-02T20:57:00.000+09:30

I've been trying very very hard to transfer all my old stuff over here from Diaryland.

And I've conceded defeat.

I might repost the photos and such, but really, there's just too much over there, with too many damn links and images.

And it's all just too much.

So I'm going to just start over.

Which, I think, will be easier than the other option.

I might move all the archives next year when I have more time.

In the meantime, I'm going to get me some dinner.

Bye!

2005-09-01T23:34:00.000+09:30

The Arafura Sunset. Imagine kicking back drinking a beer watching the sun go down on this. Keep imagining it, because to actually DO IT you'd have to be in Darwin: City of Insane Humidity

How Do You Do A Dignified Happy Dance?

2005-09-01T21:59:00.000+09:30

And also, why won't hotmail let me turn the rich fucking text editor OFF???

Blogger does not like the rich text editor. Or perhaps it likes it too
much. Regardless, my previous post got eaten at some point.

Bastards!

Well, today has gone rather well so far.

I signed up and paid to sit the STAT test. Just to hand me the paper and
let me sit in their University and hand me a test paper, the local uni is
charging me $77 to do a $33 test. And they wonder why they're the lowest
ranked university in the country.

Then, because the test is next week, I need to do a "workshop" of dubious
value on Tuesday, for another $38.50. I could have opted out of the
workshop, but I figure if I'm going to pay all this money to get into
university, then I'd better make sure I get in.

I finished removing the figurative telephone pole from the arse of my
financial situation.

Much less stressed now. I've given notice on the unit, and at my job.

If I'd known this was going to feel this good, I would have done it months
ago!!

I guess the fact that I was trying to mount an anti-Darwin campaign should
have given me a clue.

But, as I frequently remind myself, I'm an idiot much of the time.

At least all this stress I cause myself keeps life exciting.

When I went in to the real estate company, the wonder secretary just looked
at me blankly when I said "I'm giving notice on our unit, we're leaving."
I'm not sure if she thought the service we had received was so wonderful she
couldn't believe we were leaving, or if she was just too stupid to
understand the two syllabled words in that sentence.

I'm going for option two. She was looking at the envelopes she was stuffing
like they were foreign objects when I walked in.

Kangaroos loose in the top paddock, stubby short of a six pack, bats in the
belfry, lights on, nobody home.

All would be accurate descriptions of this woman.

And it's not like she's some dumb 17 year old blonde that's been hired for
her looks. Or if she is, she was hired for them about 35 years ago. And
her looks left her not long after she was hired.

Now all that's left is the dumb part.

It's not nice, I know, but I haven't made any claims to being nice where
this woman is concerned.

She asked me if we'd like them to advertise the unit for us. I opted not
to. I think that we'll get better results by advertising ourselves. I'm
worried that if they're as efficient at re-letting units as they are at
everything else so far, then we'll be paying the rent on the place until
November.

While we're somewhere in South Australia/West Australia/Victoria.

We have no fixed plan.

Actually, we barely have a plan at all.

The SigOt is going Barramundi fishing on Wednesday, and I really really want
to go. But I know that we have so much to do, me more than him, and I
really need to get on with it.

Espescially study for my STAT test on Thursday. And I need to pack up my
beading box, which could take the entire four weeks itself.

And organise the photos.

Maybe I should bring my laptop to work a couple of nights next week, then
instead of cleaning the storeroom, I could do that.

That could work.

Or maybe not. It would be a major pain in the arse doing that. And there
are no normal phone line connections in here. And I do not have the access
codes for the broadband.

I think the SigOt had forgotten that it's my birthday next week, despite all
the reminders I've given him. I asked if we were still going out for my
birthday, and he hasn't asked for time off.

Did I mention that when I came into work tonight, my boss wanted to have a
big chat to tell me that I'm doing really well, and to just ignore the nasty
man, and it's all good?

No? Well, he did. So we had this big chat about how things are going, and
it was all very happy and pat on the back-ish, and then I went and gave
notice.

Oops. But he said he's more than happy to give me a reference. A good
reference at that.

So it's all good really.

I think I should go and pretend to work a bit more now.

Or, I could just read a magazine for a while. I am so in the holiday zone
already.

2005-09-01T11:01:00.000+09:30

The Galuku Gallery at the Botanic Gardens in Darwin as part of the Darwin Festival. The pictures are hanging on palm trees, but it's kind of hard to see the palm frond bits here.

All new email updating!

2005-09-01T10:52:00.000+09:30

Ok, so maybe I'm the only one quite so excited by this, but, whatever works
I say.

This afternoon is going to be a big one, I'm going out to the Uni to
organise my Stat test, I'm signing up for the wonder refinancing, and I'm
giving notice at my job and also on the unit.

So why am I sitting here playing on the computer?

I'm an idiot.

That's happening alot for me at the moment.

Take for example sending everyone the wrong link. Yes, got a new blog, no,
no clue where it is.

I worked a full bar shift for the first time in months yesterday, and now, I
hurt.

Ouch.

But at least that will even out my pay for last week and this week to normal
levels.

OK. I'm going to go be productive. I hate quitting jobs. I always get
that sick yucky feeling in my stomach. Like they're going to hate me
because I'm leaving. Like I'm irreplaceable or something.

Well, I should be.

Just so you know...

2005-08-30T17:55:00.000+09:30

This is the first of my posts at my new blog.

I'm moving here from diaryhell, because there is no technical support, even for full paying members. Much of the site no longer works.

I'm over it, and I'm starting fresh (ish).

Just so you know.

Anyway, on with the entry.

Guess what???

We're leaving Darwin in A MONTH!!!!!

The gods of financial telephone pole fuckery have FINALLY smiled on me, and we're out of here.

Looks like it's going to be the most budget of budget trips down the west coast of Australia, but we're not doing it for the five star resorts, we're doing it for the incredible natural beauty of our country.

Damn, doesn't that make me sound like a sappy twat?

Oh, damn, I'm so excited I'm almost choking.

So much to do! We've got to pack, and get boxes to pack in, and get the car serviced, oh, and probably pack. I need to get the website up, and I need to take more photos, and I need to do this glass beading course on Sunday, and we need to go barra fishing, and go to Mandorah, and also Litchfield.

Instead, today I bought a 2002 touring atlas.

Shut up! It was only $16 dollars! As I've pointed out previously, natural wonders do not change overly much in the course of three years. It was a fucking bargain, and I will not be naysayed.

I've had only 3 hours sleep, so I'm not sure that I'm being overly productive. But, only 1 more month!!

Darwin: City of my Nightmares.

True, so true.

In other news, I think I saw my first ever real life American Redneck last night.

Well, I'm not really 100% sure, because, well, I've never seen one in real life before, so I could have it confused with other types of Americans, but, well, he seemed to fit every description I've ever heard of rednecks. But also white trash. If there is a difference, I'm going to need it explained to me.

Anyway, am off to move diaries and such. Should be entertaining.

In a poke rusty sporks in your eyeballs kind of way.

I don't need drugs to be paranoid

2005-08-29T00:30:00.000+09:30

Right. Well. All those in favour of finding out what happens when my mind twists itself inside out for no good reason, click back one entry.

All those that would prefer not to read the self indulgent wafflings of an overtiredness inuduced paranoid wanker, don't bother.

I spoke to the chick I work with that's from my home town. I shall from here on out refer to her as The Voice, as in, the voice of reason.

After spending an hour on the phone to Miss Q, and half an hour on the phone to my parents, the only solution we had come up with to any of the previously mentioned, blown out of all proportion problems was "get a script for some sleeping tablets".

That, and drop the day shift.

I've spoken to the Assistant Manager, and spent another couple of contemplative moments on my throne (which flushes! (sorry, still excited by that)) and have come to the conclusion all around that the first thing I really need to do is stop working day shifts. Simply NOT DO THEM.

I can do nights, I can do afternoons, but not days.

Hopefully, I can pick up other shifts, but at this point, I'm really not that phased by it.

I would like to have a work day that I can put to use on my very fledgling jewellery business. The SigOt was very supportive when I broached the idea to him.

Anyway, sorry for the wanking drivel posted earlier.

Sometimes perspective on the situation is something you need someone else to point out to you.

Oh, and also, the other night auditor is ignored by everyone else who works in the hotel. It's not just me he snipes at.

And all those thousands of mistakes I thought I was making?

I found out he keeps a record of every mistake you ever make, and just keeps bringing them out whenever he's pissed at you for whatever reason.

So I can take the number of mistakes I thought I'd made and divide them by about 50.

HA!

But, back to the question from the entry before the self indulgent claptrap previously, does anyone have any experience applying for university courses as a mature age student?

This statement of competency?? Any ideas? Anyone?

Ephiphany, oh Epiphany, where for art thou Epiphany?

2005-08-28T16:16:00.000+09:30

I'm having a bit of a rethink of my life plan at the moment.

Currently, it is showing through clearly and brightly, that I am not happy in
an office environment. I do not cope well with bitchy coworkers. I
do not know how to counteract, not repel their actions.

I do not work well when overtired. I make mistakes. Simple
mistakes, and easily (generally) rectified mistakes, but mistakes none the less.

This is why I didn't try and get another position within the TAFE I worked at
when my contract ended.

I didn't enjoy it.

I am currently having issues with a coworker. And I am constantly
overtired because I'm trying to work three different shift times a week.

My body is not handling the lack of routine, which in some way disheartens
me, as I would like to think of myself as someone who thrives on lack of
routine.

Apparently, lack of sleep routine is not something I thrive on. I am
starting to completely stress out over the situation, which my helpful digestive
"stress warning system" is highlighting with glee. I don't like
our toilet, nor any toilets, enough to willingly spend this much time in there.

Thankfully, hours sitting on the (now fully flushing) toilet gives me much
time to think.

I am reconsidering my choice of university degree. If I don't suit (and
after three horrendous office positions, I now believe the problem lies with me,
not entirely the other staff) the office environment, and cannot cope with
coworker bitchiness, how am I going to be a teacher?

It's not going to matter how much I love working with kids, there is no
avoiding the fact that educational institutes are hothouses of coworker
bitchiness.

Well, at least, that's the perspective I have gained from listening to my
mother and aunts (all successful teachers), as well as my friends talk about
working within the education system.

So, I'm looking at my options, such as they are. In the short term, I
like customer service. I could quite happily work with the public for the
rest of my life. Bar/Gaming work is an option, and a good one, most
likely, as there are generally no offices involved.

I do not want to be a barwench for the rest of my life. A) that shit
will age you fast. B) It's not a good industry to have kids in. C) I
do not really want to work vampire hours for the rest of my life.

I'm thinking about changing my preferences for uni. I'm thinking
perhaps I should do a tourism and hospitality degree perhaps. At
least it is an industry in which I have much experience. Of course, there
aren't many university degrees which will lead you to work in areas without
offices.

I'm trying to work out what I REALLY like doing. So far, I've come up
with reading, writing shit, beading, and anything crafty. Also, talking to
people.

Oh, and surfing the internet, but as much as they keep sending me emails
telling me I could make a fortune from home doing exactly that, I really don't
believe them.

I've got a bit of a half arsed idea ticking over in the back of my mind about
buying a sewing machine and doing a couple of textile related courses and
becoming aloggla handmade accessories.

Although, I'm not sure that's ever really going to make my fortune, or even a
living, I'd enjoy it. It would also meet my no office/ kid friendly career
requirements.

I'm going to call my boss tomorrow and talk to him about the work
situation. I'm going to (oh, listen to her big brave plan of
semi-confrontation! watch as it fades into the distance untouched!!) tell
him that I cannot continue to work the hours I am. I am going to infom him
that unless he has any ideas on how I can continue working in the environment
without killing myself due to lack of sleep, I will be leaving to find a job
where the hours won't kill me. I will also be talking to him about nasty
coworker's attitude, and finding out whether he is willing to look for
resolution to this problem.

I plan to do this with my resignation letter typed and ready to send via
email. Because I'm relatively sure that that's what it's going to take for
me to be happy with the situation. Leave it.

To be honest, as much as I am always the first to give the advice "fuck'em!
make a stand! don't let the bastards get you down!" I'm really
just over the workplace fighting to be treated nicely thing. I shouldn't
have to fight for it, it should be a given. I don't want to anymore.
So far this year, I've fought and won over a harassment complaint. I don't
want to be labeled with "trouble girl". Maybe I am though.
I don't think I'm particularly objective on this one.

I'd really like to talk to my parents about this, but, really, it's not a
great option. My parents are not good with serious discussions over the
telephone, and are prone to panic.

The last thing I need right now is panicking parents. I have enough to
worry about without worrying about their worrying.

In other news, I think there's a wormhole in the stairs leading up to my
apartment. I constantly walk up flights one and two, only to find myself
suddenly on flight 6. It happens all the time, no matter how hard I try to
observe myself walking up flights three, four and five.

I feel more settled having written this out.

Unfortunately, I think I'll be moving this little pile of drivel shortly,
because I am becoming massively worried about being read by people that know me
in Darwin (city of
shit fights).

That looks to be about as much fun as pulling teeth.

In the mean time, I'm going to work on having another epiphany, and coming up
with a new course of attack.

If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments that might help, feel free to
post them. I'll take any advice I can get at this point.

And I CAN take criticism, I just don't like it much.

I feel guilty. But I also Do Not.

2005-08-26T20:01:00.000+09:30

I've been a bad, bad girl.

But not in a cheesy p0rn0 kind of way. (Not for lack of trying. Although, I'm really not that good at the initiating side of things. So much for being a "modern woman".)

Last week, I waxed lyrical about how great it was that none of my shifts were morning shifts because Night Audit is making me not sleep until 4am.

This week, we're back to day shifts. Only one, which is better than two, but still, back to day shifts.

And I didn't go to work today. I'm not ill, really, just incapable.

At 4am, I was still wide awake, had stressed myself into diarrhea and was having hysterics on the SigOt because there was no way I could go to work on no sleep. I was literally making myself ill over it. I sooked and beat myself up (much to the SigOt's amusement) for a good hour or so. Apparently, I am quite funny when having hysterics, which, while I am pleased to be so amusing to my loved one, really didn't help him sympathise with my current dilemna.

I tried to call work this morning to tell them that I wasn't coming to work due to recurring bouts of using our new flushing toilet and inability to sleep, but they didn't answer the phone.

Well, the first time they answered the phone and no one spoke to me.

Then they just let the phone ring out, over and over and over.

Which was really weird, because hotels with 24 hour reception just don't let the phone ring out. Especially not repeatedly.

I ended up having to ring the Assistant Manager at home to let him know I wouldn't be working because I couldn't get through, and I was at that point tempted to just pass out in the bathroom. (Was calling on moblie in bathroom so that I didn't wake up the SigOt).

So, because they wouldn't answer the phone, I ended up looking even more unprofessional because I didn't call my boss directly.

My boss doesn't believe in owning mobile phones I don't think. Hedoesn't have one, so I couldn't call him directly.

I'm starting to think that this whole office thing is really just not for me.

This is my third "real" office job, and once again, I'm flailing around like a bloody octopus in a vat of acid.

I should have just taken the damn job at the casino and not told them that I was planning to leave the NT come hell or high water in November. Better pay, and no laundry. Because they do the laundry for you, not because I would be working naked.

By the way, if anyone knows much about the university application process in Australia, please feel free to drop me a line regarding "personal competencies statements". I'm not sure if I should submit one or not, and what the hell I should put in it if I do.

Is it really going to help me get in? Is it worth the agonising over whether I sound like a git or professional? Will anyone actually bother to read it?

And if they do read it, will it have any real bearing on my application?

I rang the uni, as requested in the email, to get my student ID number to et copies of my transcripts. At which point I was informed that I didn't need my student ID number to get copies of my transcripts, and anyway, they can't give out my student ID number over the phone.

Obviously, none of these people actually talk to each other, or work out of the same guidelines handbook.

I've been periodically checking my refrigerator today, in the hope that some nice hot (I know, I'm an idiot) Kenchooky Fried Chooken will magically appear.

So far, no luck, but I remain hopeful.

Also, according to this, I am a titanic lobster that loves to hug buffalo.

I am also a monstrous virgin who loves to slap hot bitches.

I am killing myself laughing over this. My favorite was the salad bar one, but I stupidly did not record the results.

Two more are on their way to the post box (as soon as I can leave the house to buy stamps without risk of running into people from work when I have called in sick).

Leave a comment on the page or email
me to get some of this good Darwin loving. (Loving Darwin!! HA!! HA!! I made a JOKE!!)

Also, I am having Joy of Darwin© Slogan writers block at the moment. So far, all I can come up with is Darwin: Never Never Go. And also Darwin: Sucks Dogs Cods.

Not really the sort of marketing genius I was after.

The SigOt is really not happy in his working situation at present. The new owners, while young and enthusiastic, are also completely clueless when it comes to the hospitality industry. They are having problems with the "no meals after the kitchen closes" concept. They are alsohaving problems with the "that is NOT your dinner" concept.

Not difficult concepts, but they are struggling all the same.

I had offered to do up new menus for them, seeing as how their current menus could be easily done in a W0rd. This is when I thought they were completely not computer savvy. Turns out they are, and the SigOt has retracted my offer on my behalf. I'm fine with that. I have enough shit to procrastinate about without adding more to the list.

I think I should stop now. I'm on the edge of babble and wobbling
madly.

The Bribe Post

2005-08-21T19:57:00.000+09:30

Posted directly to you by myself, from Darwin.

All you need to do is click this link
(don't forget to fix up the address), or put a comment on the page.

I've got them all ready and waiting for postage.

This is a preview of the type of goodies you could expect to appear in an unlocked letterbox near you:

Or, you could get a personally taken AND BLURRY photo like this:

See what you're missing out on???

Quick!!

Bags yours soon, they're going fast!!

(Current Bonus Offer Ends 31st October 2005, ie, BEFORE we leaveDarwin)

Gemstone or Glass Bracelets

2005-07-31T20:10:00.000+09:30

I've also been busy making up some bracelets.

This first one, is the one I made for the loopy "listen to the noises" lady that was staying at the hotel.

This bracelet is made from flourite tubes, amethyst chips and clear quartz chips.

The term chips makes them sound like they're potato goodness, or rough and sharp, but they're actually just small peices of stone that have been tumbled (and that IS the technical term!) to smooth out the edges.

The bracelet is also adjustable, with a clasp, so that you can wear it without it falling off no matter what size your wrist is.

I like it so much, I'm considering not selling it, but I already have too many.

This is another one I made for the loopy lady, rhodonite, citrine and shells. Also adjustable with a catch.

Just a note on the above, they contain at least half a meter of gemstones. This makes them heavier than most bracelets made from metal or plastic.

This last one is one of my favorite pieces. I love the lack of pattern and all the colours.

Cluster Gems & Shell Pendants

2005-07-31T20:02:00.000+09:30

Ok, new pretty things.

I've just discovered that I can attach clusters of gemstone chips to cross sections of shells.

I'm in a world of happy.

This one above is comprised of amber chips, which are a resin, not a gemstone, with gold wire/slave band.

This one uses amethyst chips with silver on a white shell cross section.

Next up, we have my current favorite, garnets clustered onto a dark shell (I'm all up on the latin names again) using silver wire.

You can see why, can't you.

All for sale people, just ask, and if you have other gemstones you'd like used on one of these pretty babies, just ask, and I can even get you matching ear-rings!!

Perspective

2005-03-30T12:20:00.000+09:30

Maybe I'm the only person on the planet that thinks this way.

Have you noticed that whatever drama is playing out in your head, it always feels like you are the first, only and most deeply feeling person to have ever felt this way before?

When it all boils down, there are 6 billion people living and breathing on the planet right now, and there are generations upon generations that no longer live or breathe, and the chances are pretty damn good that someone one has felt it before, or right now, or definitely more deeply than you do.

Remember when you were a teenager, and you were discovering the adult world in detail?

You felt like you were the only person to truly appreciate the brilliance of "insert generic band name here", or truly understand the depth of the writer "insert cultural author name here", and you were definitely the only person that could really see the threat of "insert name of faceless politician here".

And as we get older and our perspective changes, we discover that we were the only ones that could see it, just like everyone else that's ever been that age could see it.

God I'm hating the way I look when I see myself in the past.

Maybe with time, that squelchy cringing feeling will fade.

I hope so.

I'm sure I've got a lot more cringing squelchy moments to create.

Living in a tropical zone is not quite what I thought it would be.

So far, there's a lot less sitting around drinking cocktails out of coconuts and pineapples than there is sweating your arse off all day everyday to be able to pay for the damn coconuts which are twice as bloody expensive up here as they are anywhere else.

And I don't even like coconuts.

It's like living in a sauna. Except there's no way to turn the steam down.

Ever.

I'm not sure Darwin's really my friend after all.

2005-03-30T02:19:00.000+09:30

I'm trying to picture a crisp new page in a fresh diary.

Folding back the cover page, with nothing but blank pages waiting afterward for me to put my thoughts down.

It's hard to do looking at this white box in a blue screen.

I've just moved here, and I'm not quite sure just yet what I want to do with the space.

Don't you just hate that "just moved in and I don't know where I want the furniture" feeling?

I know I do.

I have plans to let those I used to know where I am, but until then, it's just me and no pressure.

It's nice.

I'm just going to kick back and think on things a little. Drink my Guinness and work out what to do with all this space.

How I want to use it, what I want to use it for, and who I want to know it's here.

But for the meantime, you're welcome to hang around.