Holiday Times Are Here Again!

Hi!

Well. Here we are, although a bit later than I intended. I think I just plum forgot to check in last weekend, which is weird but no surprise considering how hot and muggy it's been (it is still summer after all and will be until, ohhh about March. Ugh), and when it's that hot and muggy and I'm here in this little toaster-oven of an apartment, my brain goes to mush and I forget stuff, or rather, other stuff takes priority (like a man-glass of ice water, the fan and episodes of magnum PI). And also, when it's that hot I don't like to have the little computer on, not after running it in wicked heat a couple summers ago and it died, like dead died. So call my being late self/computer-preservation! But, we're here now! Thankfully it's not as hot and gross today as it usually is and therefore my brain (and computer) should work! And to help with it not being so gross today, there's a good breeze that actually seems to help, got some hip n' groovy lounge tunes courtesy of my favorite internet radio station ev-er, SkyFM, got a man-glass of ice water (never fear, the standby glass of cool white wine will come shortly) - life is good!

So work. Yep. Is good. Has been bloody busy right until the bitter end, just before we went on the Xmas break. Thankfully tho, I made such a good dent in my list with the little red flags that when I get back there'll only be a couple things do to, not the standard 20 or so that had been staring at me. Whew! Still, happy to have the work while I can! And there's still no word about my contract ending in March, if the gal who's job I'm sort of babysitting will come back (from having her kid)...... We had a gal quit but no word yet if they'll replace her, then again she was only part-time..... So a lot of unknowns with my job at the moment....... I'd look for other work but don't think the good want ads will be fired up until the end of Jan, early Feb...... worth a look tho.... but yes, hrmmm indeed. All I can do is show up, bust my rump and hope for the best!

And then there were the weekends...... Last, last weekend I did some stuff...... trying to remember... I know, that Saturday I got a bit of cabin-fever and went on a good walk over the Story Bridge, down and around Kangaroo Point, along the river and over to South Bank where I stopped for some much-needed air-conditioning and lunch at the Ship Inn.... Then continued on to the galleries, stumbling across the cooooooolest sand castle(!) along the way, but by the time I got to the galleries they'd closed for the day, and then finally treating mahself to a bus ride home! Whew! Was a good walk but hot. See, the day starts off nice and normal but the heat sneaks up on you and before you know it, you're a little melted puddle of person. And that Sunday... why didn't I check in.....? Maybe all I did was that walk and chores and I figured no one would be remotely interested? Probably what I was thinking. I'm pretty sure naps were involved......

And last weekend, I'm pretty sure I really did get up to nothing. It was getting to the end of work and stuff so it was all I, or anyone else, could do to hold it together until the break. Kind of a head down and just keep going until it's over kind of thinking...... Again, I'm pretty sure naps were involved tho. Although this past Monday, the 24th, I did head into town to met my friend Kim for a few glasses of pre-Xmas champagne at the lovely atrium bar at the Hilton (one of our favorite spots)... That was dangerously nice. Then I headed towards home for some lunch and to see the new James Bond "Skyfall" (yes, again. Hey, I liked it!). That was a really nice day. The kind of day I could totally get used to... Now if only I could buy a winning lottery ticket.....!

And then there was Xmas. I unfortunately didn't spend it as the token orphan with the Adcock family as I've done for the past 5 years, no, I joined my friend Jan and her family for an equally nice and relaxed day. Again, the food was fantastic, as always. This whole thing of having cold and BBQ'd seafood - scallops and prawns and Moreton Bay Bug (it may not sound at all pleasant, but I assure you it most certainly is!), just never gets old. And there was also the obligatory traditional hot food - ham with chestnuts, veggies, and just more food (and drink) than folks could possibly eat. It wasn't a big crowd, just her immediate family and nieces, their husbands and kids, and dogs of course - of which there were four! Finally, come the afternoon it was time for a dip in the pool - lead by the dogs! I neglected to bring my "togs" (locals' term for bathing suit. Cute, isn't it?) but from the looks on the pups' and people's faces, it looked like a good idea. It was a really niiiiice day. Nice that so many folks are so willing to have an orphan crash their Xmas!

And then Thursday I thought I'd be brave and take mahself to Ikealand, thinking people would have gotten it all out of their system by then. Oooooooh was I ever so wrong. It actually looked a lot worse than it turned out to be; guess folks just wanted the cheap breakfast and no shopping. I of course can't leave the place empty-car'd, having successfully brought home a new laundry basket (biiig, wicker, nice, like normal people as opposed to my old canvas folding bag/stand), a new rug (errrr, photos to come) and a new plant-stand. I had this kind of sorry group of potted succulents I'd been looking at and nursing along for years now, just outside my front door. Well. I decided I was sick of looking at their sorry selves when I'd get home in the evening after work, hence the new stand and couple of plants (I'll let you guess which of the three are real and which are falsies!). I really like it. Funny how just a couple little things can change an outlook.

And then here we are now, Sunday afternoon, just before New Years, back to work on Wednesday........ Man, I wish I was independently wealthy. Not sure about plans for New Year's.... probably pizza and games with the usual suspects like we've done the last, what, three years I think? Otherwise, movies and bed? I've never really been a big huge New Year's person, even when I lived in NYC. Huh. Maybe one year it'd be fun to splash out and go to one of those massive parties like in the movies where you have to dress nice, wear a sparkly party hat and are always holding a glass of champagne? That'd be fun. Once. I guess to me, my "New Year" is mah birthday - that starts my new year of stuff, not some silly Romans telling me when to do stuff! But either way, it's a couple more days off work!

So there you have it. Sorry for not checking in. I'll try to be better at it, no matter if it's Adventures or Chores! Otherwise, I hope you're all well and happy up there! Hey, if you think you can't take the winter any longer, c'mon down and defrost Queensland style - we'll have you melted in no time!

BYE!

J!

9 Days Into Summer..........

Hi!

Well. Here we are, another sunny Sunday afternoon. The birds are all happy because it's not as stinking hot and humid like it has been and no scary storms to blow them off their branches. Got the swingin' jazz tunes courtesy of SkyFM, have a nice, cool glass of a new Sauv Blanc - Giesen, from Marlborough in New Zealand. Eh. Tastes a lot like the others from the same region. But it's not un-drinkable! Got a nice breeze which helps to push the warm air around...... Ahhhhh summer!

So work. Yep. Is good. Still crazy busy but this coming week should be good - we have our team Xmas party on Friday, which will consist of a scavenger hunt followed by lunch and drinks at the Ship Inn at Southbank. Eh, I've been there a few times before when I worked at the school down the road there...... Meh. Wouldn't've been my first choice but there aren't very many of us, it's away from where everyone else at work will be and it's cheap - and who can argue with that! I think everyone is just happy that we're near our little break. I know I am, not for any other reason that I can catch up on sleep (hahahaha - funny, considering my neighbor's baby is due any minute now) and stuff around the little apartment, like filing, tossing out unused stuff, boring forced-vacation stuff like that. I personally would rather work the 3 days over that Xmas week, save my precious vacation days for a real, non-religious vacation, and try as I have, still no potatoes. Work isn't falling for it. I've told them I plan on using them later in the year on a real vacation, but there's no budging them. Harumph. And that's if I even get past March and my contract expiration......... And in developing news, we just had a part-time gal quit (am so jealous. I totally wish I could be a housewife who didn't have to work). So not sure what that means for me come March...... Hopefully they'll keep me around while they figure out what to do?? Otherwise work is good. Busy. Happy to have the "fun tickets" (as my manager calls paychecks) while I can! 

And then there has been the weekend. Yesterday was quiet yet productive in a choresy launderyey kinda way. With the obligatory two hour nap, of course. And that was pretty much that. And today, much the same sans nap, replaced with a spin around Mt. Coot-tha with my heavily pregnant neighbor. Needless to say, it's been a very quiet weekend. In my only defense, I've been so busy at work that by the time I get home during the week, I'm too tired to do anything that would open a weekend up for fun instead of chores and napping. By the time Saturday comes, all I want to do is eat, sleep and watch episodes Magnum PI. Sad, I know. If only I had a duller job or I wasn't, again, having to sing for my supper and dance-monkey-dance so I can try to keep my job in March, I'd probably have more oomph. But in saying that, one of my favorite bands, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, is coming to the Sydney Opera House at the end of February, playing with the Sydney Symphony orchestra. Now, seeing as I've lived here for six and a half years and haven't seen him once (they're an Australian band), usually I hear about his shows after he's been and gone, I found out about this show and was all over the interwebs like white on rice come sale day. Managed to get myself a pretty good ticket too. So am off to Sydney for a few days at the end of February! Hooray! I like Sydney, the little of it I've seen, and have been thinking of a reason to get back there. Of course the concert is on a Wednesday (with shows on the Tuesday and a Thursday show added after I bought my Wed ticket, of course), so will hang around and scope the place out until Saturday. Cooooooool! So there's a little Adventure to look forward to! Yay!

And that's about that. Quiet, yes I know, but am so busy during the week, it's so hot on the weekends....... yeah yeah yeah, you've heard it all before...... But never mind. Hope you're all well up there gearing up for winter? Well, if you need a break from dreary snow and ice, you're more than welcome to come to Brisbane to defrost, which you'd do seconds after getting off the plane!

BYE!
J!
 

Home Is Where the Hot Is......

Hi!

Well. Here we are. A little late, but I'd mentioned that last week/end was going to be a busy one. And it was. But in a good way! So here we are now, a hot, breezy day, thankfully the humidity isn't as bad as it can be (what the hell, it's the second day of summer, this is it until March...), got some way cool French tunes courtesy of my new fave ever internet streaming radio station(s) SkyFm (I can't recommend them enough), got a very nice, cold glass of iced tea (thank you wicked strong Australian sun) - life is good!

So work. Yep, is good, still bloody busy, but that's ok, I'd rather be busy and am always happy to have gainful employment while I can. Still no idea what's happening come March when I'm due to expire....... Fingers crossed!? Otherwise we're in the homestretch until a week off for Xmas........ that'll be a nice break. Nice to have more than 2 days to get stuff done and rest!

And there were a couple weekends in there..... But before them there was the week - that was most excellent! Tuesday evening went and heard my favorite crime writer (well, living anyways) Ian Rankin talk about his new Rebus book, and subsequently had it signed (!), and also geekily learned that the main character, Rebus, isn't loyal to any one single malt scotch like I kinda thought he was. He said "Rebus drinks what I do!". How funny. Am such a geek. But before then, while killing time and because I'd come straight from work and was kinda hungry, I had a couple glasses of champagne and a salmon tasting platter from the attached Watt Restaurant (was gooooooooooood!), right there next to the river, it was lovely! I should take mahself out more often! Shame the talk didn't go for longer than 45 minutes/an hour, but it was good nonetheless. Always neat to learn stuff from highly successful writers.....!

And then Thursday I took the day off to go see the new James Bond "Skyfall"!!!! It was goooooood! Also managed to buy two new pairs of jeans (uh, yes, even tho it's summer, I'll be ready for next winter......) and to get a pedicure and manicure - a right proper bored housewife kinda day! The kinda day I could totally get used to, if only I was a bored housewife....... But the movie (and martini and caviar and prosciutto......) was fantastic! Well worth the wait and worry over MGM going bust! If you like James Bond, this one was better than most of them. It had a decent story (I know, novel idea right?) and it wasn't silly with the special effects. All I can say, without giving much away, is to go see it!

Then last weekend was good but also busy - did the chores (yawn) then headed up to my friend Kim's house to hang out, eat pizza and watch "Finding Nemo" (always have time for pizza and Nemo!). Then Sunday headed over to Jason and Clare's for Rhys' third birthday party (apologies for spelling his name wrong previously. Gotta keep up with these "modern"/European names......), which was fun and always nice to catch up with everyone - we haven't had a pizza and games night in ages, so it was nice to see the usual suspects after so many months of busy-ness!

And then there was this weekend..... Positively dull in comparison...... Since it's been so hot, well, yesterday all I had the energy and will to do was one load of laundry, a nap, made sun tea and watched what felt like 10 episodes of Magnum PI...... Ahhhhhhhhhh Saturday! And today, with slightly more energy due to less humidity, managed to get  two more loads of laundry done and some computer stuff...... which brings us to now! All I can say is it's a crying shame we only get two days out of seven to do what we want/need. Otherwise, I hope you're all well up there. All is well here... Kona is now what I'd deem a 'serial killer', having successfully taken down Young Rat #2 (bleck, but better dead than eating my food and spreading plague). Good boy! And that's about it from here in Brisbane! Drop a line sometime - tell me your news (all one or two of you reading this.......)!

BYE!
J!

Expendable Weekends.......

Hi!

Well. Here we are. A little late, yes, but never mind, we're here now on a cool and very stormy afternoon. The whole weekend has been quite lively for crazy storms - thunder, lighting, hail, wind, the whole shebang. It's great. We haven't had storms like these for at least 2 years.... We had about two, three months or so of storms like this a couple years ago which is what lead to the floods in 2011, thankfully this is, no pun intended, a drop in the bucket compared. We haven't had that amount of rain....... yet. For now we seem to have a break in the storms - full sun, little breeze, yet everything is soaking wet. I don't mind, it beats being stinking hot and super muggy like it could be! But the birds are happy, probably because they're not having to run (fly fast?) and duck for cover, and they have a chance to dry their little wings. Otherwise they all sound happy and content out there....... And we're all happy and content in here - got the bare minimum chores done, got the old skool 80's tunes courtesy of 91X's streaming Resurrection radio station, got a cool glass of the stand-by white wine - life is good!

So work. Yep. Is good. Bloody busy. Which is fantastic but by the end of the day (and especially last weekend) my brain feels like a piece of beef jerky. Am by no means complaining tho, don't get me wrong, I love being busy, but when I'm so busy I forget to do stuff like pay bills or write an email?! Whew. Thankfully I must be getting used to it because this weekend I don't feel as fried (as last weekend) and I'm actually able to write coherently. But yes, will enjoy the gainful employment while I have it (until March arrives, then I don't know what's happening.......)!

And then there were some weekends in there.... Last weekend I didn't check in because, quite honestly, embarrassingly, I didn't do much more than chores and catch up on DVDs. Like I said, the last couple of weeks have been super busy at work and by the end of the week all the good brain cells have been used and have to be recharged. The only brain cells left are the ones able to watch drivel like "The Expendables" (of which I want my hour and a half back, "dude flick", Jason Statham or not, I want it back). Although it was redeemed by an interesting movie called "In The Electric Mist" with Tommy Lee Jones as a, surprise, detective investigating some murders, past and present, in southern Louisiana. Kind of hard to explain, but look it up and see if you can rent it. It was actually really pretty good. That or my brain had been stunned by Expendables and I just thought I liked it a lot compared to Sly Stallone's directorial debut. Hmm.

And then there was this weekend. Nearly as dull as the previous, but certainly more lively weather-wise. Really, who wants to be out driving in that stuff? Tho I did manage to take the car out today, in between storm cells, for a wee spin around the block a few times, even made a stop in the hippie grocery store to stock up on Lavender oil and Rose Hip oil (for the hair and skin, you see) and to try a new thing which I've heard so much about and folks at work use it for cooking - coconut oil. My hair likes it, lets see what mushrooms and onions think??! Will have to let you know. But I hear it's the new bees knees in cooking - coconut oil or butter. And apparently you can use it on toast instead of butter? Either way it has to be better than Vegemite (no offense Australia)... Hmm indeed. All experiments I will have to try and let you know (just in case, my living will is in an envelope, here under my desk, in the blue file box).

And that was the weekend(s). Quiet but last weekend my brain needed it and this weekend the weather won. Plus, this week is going to be a busy week - Tuesday evening I have a ticket to go hear one of my favorite writers, Ian Rankin, talk about and sign his new book Standing in Another Man's Grave! Cooooooool. Tho, not as cool as seeing The Church just before Xmas last year, but cool nonetheless. Shame is, I haven't had the time to start reading said new book (have to refresh my memory with the previous one, don't I? Gah), so won't have super good questions when the time comes. Ahhh well. There's always email, Twitter, Facebook, interwebs.......! And then Thursday am taking my one free day a month off from work to go see the new James Bond "Skyfall" the day it opens here!!!! Wooooooot! Booked mah Gold Class ticket package deal that comes with a French Martini (had them at Xmas last year and they are dangerously gooooood) and gourmet nibbles, including caviar! I swear, you guys have got to get Gold Class up there. It's really not much more than a regular ticket (here in Australia anyways) and you order and pay for your drinks and nibbles ahead of time and they bring it to you, as stealthly as they can, when you tell them to, big comfy chairs like La-Z-Boys, it's The Best! And then next Sunday have been invited to my friend's Jason and Clare's for their little boy Reece's third birthday party (how cute). So a busy week and a fun little weekend. Well, it's all a bit livelier than it has been!

So there you have it. I hope you're all well up there! I'd say come on down but hopefully by now you'll know that now is not a great time of year, unless you like Florida weather during hurricane season. But come March all should be back to beautiful normal!

BYE!
J!

Parades of Zombies!

Hi!

Well. Sunday afternoon. Sorry for checking in late (appropriate excuses to follow). But we're here now, the sun is shining (more or less, between puffs of cloud), the birds must be napping or all dead because it's rather quiet out there, got the really cool old skool jazz tunes (I swear, this SkyFM is one of the best free internet radio networks I've come across, good quality-sounding tunes, diverse selection, no ads (just the odd SkyFM ID), and one station, the Smooth Jazz 24/7 station, is batted between different DJs either in the UK or US. It's pretty good. Check it out if you haven't already!), got a lovely cool glass of the new stand by sauv blanc (Lana's Bike - good ol NZ, good for sauv blancs if nothing else), there's a nice cool breeze keeping the little apartment as cool as it can - life is good!

So work. Yep, is good. Bloody busy but that's just because the manager wants us to bust our backsides now so we can come back from Xmas with clear desks. Sigh. I get why he does it, but it drives me crazy. But hey, even tho it sounds like I'm complaining, deep down am really happy to have a job to "complain" about!

And then there were a few weekends in there......... Last, last weekend, Sunday, I met my friend Jason at this year's Zombie Walk so we could take photos of all the lovely zombies...... Ehhhh..... This year the organizers changed the venue to a park just above the city with winding walking paths that folks had to, literally, shuffle up and along in threes. Hard to explain, but it wasn't nearly as good a venue as it was the year before when they closed Queen Street in the middle of the city......It wasn't bad tho, pretty crowded...... There weren't nearly as many cool zombies as there were last  year... But I think we got a few good pictures (Jason definitely did, he has super fanceee photo gear (Canon) and more practice than I've had lately). It was hot and muggy so we really felt for all those folks melting under their makeup and costumes. Meh, last year was better, tho this year they managed to raise something like $55,000 for the Brain Foundation of Australia (research and stuff), so that's really good - go little charities! But seeing as the organizers seem to think this park set-up was a good thing, with concerts and stalls and stuff at the cost of a $20 ticket (we didn't go in, just hung around at the start of the parade walk), I doubt we'll be going along next year. Oh well. At least I got to see one really good one! And as always, it's nice to catch up and go for a walk taking photos! What else are weekends for but for shooting zombies??!

And then there was last weekend. Saturday was again hot and muggy and tried to zap my will to live. But, come late afternoon, I organized myself to head out on the bus/train to the bay-side 'hood of Manly to meet my friend Bruce (and former boss from my days at Fire) for an evening of Halloween festivities and parade (you might remember from a previous episode that I went to this a few years ago with him and his family). By the time I arrived, the crowds had well gathered and so had the storm clouds and chilly breezes. I managed to get there just before the parade started, in fact I walked in at where the "floats" were gathering, getting ready to set off. So, taking a few quick photos, I quickly walked down the crowded main drag to get to the Manly Hotel* where I was to met Bruce and his brother. Lucky I made it to the pub when I did - no sooner did I get a glass of wine and a spot near the front door next to the security guard, the skies opened up and absolutely bucketed rain and wind. 'Course, I couldn't see a thing being a good 50 feet+ from the street and a crowd of at least three deep (everyone in the front row had kids on their shoulders, of course, thus guaranteeing a zero view for us short folks behind them). But, happy to have a glass of wine and to be dry and sugar-riddled kid-free, I set about wandering around the crowded pub, full of drunken ghosts and fairies and witches while I waited for Bruce to arrive. Long story short, two and a half hours later he still hadn't arrived, only one sad little phone call saying he'd tripped while walking to the pub and ripped his costume and skinned his knee, that he was going home to change and would be right down (he lives up the road from the pub). So I gave that an hour before I headed back home. Hrrrmmm. And wouldn't you know it, I still haven't heard from him, apology or otherwise. Interesting. But good to know that I never have to haul out there for that parade ever again! The first time I went it was great, this time, meh, like the Zombie parade, if I never go again, well, I think I'll be ok.

And then that Sunday I was up and out the door with my neighbor Louise (who's expecting their first baby in something like 4 weeks) to inspect a garage sale she'd seen advertised. Thankfully we found the house (as there were no signs), unfortunately the garage sale was the previous day, but the guy was kind enough to let us have a look at the bits that were left over..... Louise scored a pretty decent dresser that she's going to use as a changing table/baby stuff storage and I relieved him of an ornamental, traditional opium pipe (and hat) used by the Indo China Hillside tribal people. I just thought it was a curious thing to have hanging around the house..... And, although the pipe is fully functional, it's "ornamental" and has thankfully never been used (otherwise the guy would've never made it back into the country), so there will be no visit from any drug enforcement agencies! Whew! Then, with our new little treasures, we headed off to the grocery store and a little drive around the 'hood because mah poor little car needed a run. Then, home from that, I launched into the chores and by the time I'd finished and sat down with a glass of wine, my god it was like 8pm! The weekends are too short!

Then there was this weekend. Yesterday I was up and out early to go to Phil and Julie's house so she could give me some super basic sewing tips and to help me make a pair of curtains for my kitchen windows. Phil is a guy I work with (Julie is his wife) and if you'll remember the four of us (when mom was here) all went on that neat weekend trip to Lake Eyre and Coober Pedy a few months ago..... Anyways, the curtains came out fine for a first go and then it'll be on to the other windows I'd like to "re-dress" now that I know the basics! So once we'd finished that they invited me to stay for dinner, which of course I accepted - can't turn down Phil's curry made from scratch! And then, with a full belly and happy "tailor-made" curtains, I set off for home. And promptly got lost. They live in the 'hood of Woodridge (about 25 minutes south of the city, near Ikea), which at times and in places can be a rough sort of 'hood. And here was me in my gigantic white SUV lost in it for a good hour or so on a Saturday night. Finally tired of the Adventure and the fact that my cellphone had died, I pulled into a gas station to ask for directions. Well, it must be a result of our digital age but the guy (from India ?) had no clue where I was trying to go (the Pacific Motorway, the main highway along the east coast of Australia, the one that'll take you from Cairns down to Sydney...). So he handed me a map book off the shelf and told me to look it up. Well, after asking him the same thing a few different ways, and because I didn't know where I was to look it up in a map book, I thanked him as politely as my frazzled nerves would allow and headed back off, following the same road I'd been on previously but in a "new" direction. And it turned out to be the right direction as I'd found my way back to the freeway and home where the wine is! WHEW! So two good things came of that mini-Adventure - I now know my way around Woodridge in the dark pretty well and my little car got a good run - win-win!

And then today was a bit of a late start and even then have only managed to get a couple loads of laundry done....... But the new curtains have been ironed and hung and are happily flapping in the breeze, doing their job while I sip wine and check in with all two or less of my little readers!

And there you have it! Mini-Adventures in rough 'hoods aside, all is well! Hope you're all well and happy up there, counting down the days until a bit of a break in December, I know I totally am! Drop a line and say hi sometime - let me know am not wasting a Sunday afternoon talking to mahself!

BYE!

J!

*The Manly Hotel is a typical biiiiig pub with "pub style" accommodation (basically, a few rooms above the pub). Lots of pubs, or Hotels as they're known, are like this all over Australia. Pubs this size usually have a few different types of bars - the public bar which is really for working man-men, like construction worker-types, etc, and they just usually have standing tables with a couple bar stools, then there's a "ladies" bar with carpeting, chairs and tables, a "pokie machine" room where folks lose all their dough and drink all day, and a bistro style dining room; some even have another "fine" dining room ("fine" meaning the barman will bring you your meal when it's ready, no bone china or table linen involved). These places can be positively cavernous. Good tho and always interesting!

Saturday Check-in with Jets on Blocks.....

Hi!

Well. A little late but also a little early. Sorry for not checking in last weekend.... I had every intention but it turns out there just aren't enough hours in two days...... So am checking in today instead of the usual Sunday afternoon because tomorrow am off to take photos with a friend at the Zombie Walk later in the day, so, knowing I'll get home too late to check in, thought I'd do it now! Thrilling, eh? So far the day has been hot but breezy, tho not sure how much fun a hot breeze really is unless it's in the dead of winter....... The lorikeets were pretty happy about it all this morning but have now gone quiet - hiding in a nice, cool, shady tree hopefully. I just put some beer  in the fridge (Carlsberg - I know, beer, a departure from wiiiine, but seeing as it's summer and it's one of a very few beers that don't make me sick...) but doubt that's ready yet, got some old school 80's tunes courtesy of 91X's "Resurrection" channel (bonus - it's a triple-play day!) - life is good!

So work. Yep. Definite improvement over the last couple of weeks, thankfully. Happily, the Boss now knows am not mentally and technically challenged, therefore, the worry over whether or not I can continue as a Tech Writer/Editor with them has passed; that yes I am useful and judging my new skillZ based on one super crappy publication was a mistake. Whew! And as a result, I've been heaped with tons more work....... uuuhhhh, hooray?! So yes, work is good. Ooooh, I know one thing we got to do last, last week - the air force base (Amberley) happened to have a "Christmas Tree" F/A-18 Super Hornet in their maintenance hangar (maintenance engineers call it a "Christmas Tree" jet/plane because they use it to take spare parts off of to fix other jets until all the missing/ordered parts come in from the US. That way they don't have, say, all ten jets on the ground, they only have one. Neat huh?). So we headed out there to talk to the maintenance guys and to have a poke around the jet. Coooooooooooooooooooooooool! Well, in a jet-up-on-blocks kinda way (although I'd've been, well, arrested if I took a camera on base without a permit, so found a pic from the ol' interwebs....). When we showed up they had one of the engines out for inspection (and subsequently re-installed it while we were there). Wow. That jet is mainly two big rocket engines. It was pretty impressive. And then had a look in the cockpit (no seats, out for maintenance) at the displays and throttle controls and all that stuff that we deal with on a daily basis in the publications we look after. It was pretty neat. Funny, the main maintenance engineer kept saying how they need more maintenance staff (good luck considering Defence has locked down their checkbook), so I left there deciding I was totally going to become a jet fighter maintenance technician! Crawl around on jets fixing stuff and being super useful instead of sitting (er, standing) at my desk all day? Cooooooool! But alas, probably not meant to be as am completely math-challenged...... But hey, always happy for gainful employment as long as I can keep it, no matter if it's fixing jets or fixing publications that help folks fix jets!

And then there were a couple weekends in there.... Last weekend was nice and quiet. Nice in that I headed over to my friend Kim's house (another Kim, gal I work with, lives down the road from me, kinda) to catch up with her and her husband Carlos and to watch some of their friends (all Colombian - Carlos is Colombian, Kim is a local) play ping-pong, an apparent favorite past-time of theirs. We girls sat and gossiped and drank wine while watching the ever-competitive boys. It was actually a great way to pass a Saturday afternoon. Then Sunday was the neglected chores.... and because I got a late start, next thing I knew it was time for dinner! Man. Five-day work weeks and only two days to do stuff is so wrong. It should totally be half and half. I'd be happy with 4 work days and three days off. Hmmmmm, y'know, I could only work 4 days....... if only the bank didn't need the money so much..............

And then this weekend has been good and quiet so far. Hot, but thankfully not unbearably so....... Yet. No need for the chores this weekend, hell, am always at work - not home to make the house messy! So after checking in here I plan to sit in front of the fan and watch movies (with mah cold beer!) - ahhhhhhhhhhh what else can a gal do on a hot weekend day with no air conditioning?! And, in honor of summer, I've finally organized myself to start making sun tea - yuuuuuuuum! Although, after reading that little article from Snopes ('sun tea' hyperlink there) I have to wonder a little about it...... Tho I grew up on the stuff and never had any problems......... Made some last weekend and didn't die of 'sun tea bacterial poisoning'.......... Hmmmm. Anyway, tomorrow am meeting my friend Jason (a very good, keen amateur photographer and host of our 'pizza and game' nights) to go take pictures at the annual Zombie Walk. We went last year with a couple other folks and it was such a fun day. I wanted to dress up this year but like the weekends, time just got away from me to organize a costume and makeup............ So we're off tomorrow afternoon to see what we can see. Every year the walk gets bigger and bigger, so here's hoping there're tons of cool zombies to take photos of! Yay zombies!

And there you have it! Ahhhhhhh the hot breath of summer...... gonna have to think when will be the best time to check in, a time of day where the poor little laptop won't overheat.... I bought it a new fan/cooling pad thingy, and that has to help, but the poor thing still gets pretty hot, especially when it's pushing 85-90 degrees in the little apartment...................! Morning could be a good time but that's reserved for sleeping in and big breakfasts! Will think on it........ Otherwise, I hope you're all well up there. Drop a line if you wonder about anything or, as always, need help planning that Big Trip Down Under!!!!!!!!!

BYE!

J!