Just Nicky

Kapow! January 11, 2006

From Blurbomat:

This morning on a local news show we watched a “debate” about Gay/Straight student alliance clubs in Utah High Schools. Seems the local nutburger Senator who wants his Jesus to run things is sponsoring a bill to outlaw the clubs. On the show, one of the guests was a screechy woman who was trying to say that gay culture was a health hazard and that’s what the issue was about. Countering her was Utah’s out and proud (and awesome) state Senator, Scott McCoy. As with most of these kinds of “discussions”, the right-wing nutjobs always argue that of course they aren’t homophobic. Of course. Mr. McCoy offered one of the best counters in the most relaxed way:

Screechy Nutjob: “Of course I’m not a homophobe. When I worked in New York, half my staff were gay.”

McCoy: “I don’t think you are a homophobe. Homophobes are afraid of gay people. You are a bigot.”

Watermelon head January 10, 2006

My head feels overly large and hollow. It feels like it’s only attached to my neck by a thread and could fall off at any minute. My neck feels like a corkscrew. That’s having a flow-on effect down my back.

I’m dizzy. It’s like being a little drunk without the buzz. Everything is either nearer or farther away than it appears. I feel like I’m floating when I really want to be still.

It will be a short day in the office today.

The Corporation January 5, 2006

And some more retail therapy:

The Corporation

January is retail month

I always spend a lot of money in January. I think it has something to do with coming off Christmas and into my birthday and being surrounded by sales. And I tend to justify every purchase for myself as part of my birthday present.

Right now is a particularly dangerous period in relation to spending. I’m bored and not interested in work and I have a partner in crime. My colleague in very much the same space as me. He’s bored and disinterested in work, his birthday is 2 days after mine and he is also waiting to be given the golden handshake. Each lunchtime we head off on some errand he has in mind and end up browsing the shops.

On Tuesday we went to Discurio & JB looking for some CDs he wanted. I bought the latest Paul Kelly, Divine Madness and a 3-disc live John Butler Trio.

Yesterday we were in Kathmandu so he could buy some bits and pieces for his trip to Ghana later in the month. I bought the Crocs.

Today he was looking for o rings to hold the plugs in his piercings. On the way back we dropped into BaySwiss and I came out with 4 little candle lanterns, a star thingy with a bell on it and some incense.

It’s a good thing there’s only one more day this week…

Retail Therapy January 4, 2006

Crocs

If even half the stuff on the website is true I expect to have very happy feet.

Twiddling my thumbs

I’ve run 2 meetings. I’ve sent some emails. I’ve post my resolutions on the blog for all to see. I’ve rung the dog school and organised new membership cards. I’ve had lunch. I’ve run out of things to do, but it’s too early to go home.

Resolutions

1 Get out of this job and into another that doesn’t do my head in.

2 Explore dog sports (herding, flyball, agility, lure coursing) with my girls before they’re too much older.

3 Spend more quality time with Finn.

4 Spend more quality time with Mark.

5 Keep eating healthily

6 Get into the habit of exercising

7 By doing 5 & 6 lose 5 kilos

8 Tame my back garden

9 Do something smart with the retrenchment money that does not involve just spending the lot.

Ho hum, Ho hum, it’s back to work I come… January 3, 2006

Back in the office this morning and pining for Bean Paradise.

This place is blanketed in unhappiness. Almost everyone seems miserable to greater and lesser degrees. The few cheerful people have an air of battling to smile in the face of adversity.

I don’t know whether it’s being back at work, my neck is out of whack or if I’ve picked up a bug, but I feel rather average, which isn’t helping at all.

Ah, the joys of the monolith…

Photos from Bean Paradise January 1, 2006

OK, photos are generally on Flickr, but here are a few of my favourites:

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig

We stumbled through the door of our place a whole fifteen minutes ago, home from Bean’s little piece of paradise. It was an epic journey back requiring a toilet & drink stop for dogs, lunch at Macca’s in Pakenham, searching for fuel in Narre Warren and swapping drivers in Richmond. The rain bucketed down on us from Pakenham to home (where it’s still going). The temperature drop is appreciated, but we could have done without the spray on the road.

A grand time was had at Bean’s by all and its grandness is demonstrated by dogs flaked on the back verandah, a small boy in a stupor in front of telly, a larger boy passed out on our bed and yours truly lost for words on the blog. Photos will be forthcoming when I brave the rain to unpack the car.

The missing farkers were missed and you are all instructed that you must attend next time - if only to experience the serenity!

Thank you Bean for the hospitality. You are a magnificent hostess and we can’t wait to come back.