All Quiet on the Weekend Front.....

Hi!

Well. Lookee here - on time, again! Starting to be some sort of routine or something! Actually, I said I'd make more of an effort, regardless if there's much to chatter about, and here I am! And there isn't really much to chatter about. The weather's been lovely tho - not very hot, cloudy with the odd shower, sometimes a helpful cool breeze... It sure beats as bad as it could be for Feb. Happy too knowing that autumn is right around the corner. It's already taking a little longer for the sun to come up in the mornings, and I kinda don't mind. But, for now, we have some groovy jazz tunes thanks to SkyFm (have you checked them out yet? You should!), got a nice, fresh, hot bowl of popcorn (I make mine on the stove the old-skool way and use coconut oil and salt instead of the other oils - serious noms, can't recommend it enough), and got a nice, cool glass of last week's bubbles (although a new bottle.... not the same bottle from last week.... are you crazy? Booze would never, ever last that long undrunk in this casa!!!!) - life is good!

So work. Yep. Same ol' story there. Busy, but not so much so (still, that can't bode well for justifying renewing the ol' contract...... eeek).... And yeah, still no word on what they intend to do with me in 6 weeks or so; I keep getting the response "We're waiting to hear what R wants to do, when she wants to come back......". I have asked if anyone's tried, y'know, asking her, but no one seems to've considered it yet. Honestly. Otherwise, work is good. But just to be safe, I spent yesterday updating the resume, tidying it up, etc. Then spent the other half of the afternoon looking for work. Or not, as the case turned out to be. There are just no jobs out there, right now anyways, that need what I do. Hmmmm. Can only wait (and hope) and see I guess. At least the rez is in fighting shape, and that's most important. Otherwise, fingers crossed they decide to hang on to me a wee while longer.............?! (Heh, or my new catch-phrase could well be "would you like an Allen key with that?") 

And then there was the weekend. Quiet, again. Did some chores yesterday and updated the rez........ Trying to watch "Ghost Rider" with Nick Cage. Meh. Am the wrong demographic (i.e., not a teenage boy) so am finding it tough to get into. Parts of it are funny, but I don't think it's meant to be funny. Nick Cage can just be so silly sometimes that's it's hard not to just laugh. And the other movie I have yet to watch is Iron Man II. I've never even seen the first one, tho it's on my list. Bless my little DVDs by mail, Ezyflix - they sent me the second one before sending me the first one. Oh well. Here's hoping you're not meant to see them in order.......?? Not that there's anything deep and meaningful about the series anyways (or so it is my understanding..........). I hear Robert Downey Jr. is quite good tho, so will watch that later......... 

And today. Quiet. Went out for a drive, casing new 'hoods to move to, even tho I'm still pretty sure I'll take over the lease at my friend's place in Enoggera (a bit further out of the city, still in a good 'hood tho) when they move to their new house in July (same week as my lease expires here at Stafford Palace). So this time I scoped out the 'hood of New Farm really good instead of the usual quick walk-bys. It's spitting distance to the city, in fact, I'd dare say it's closer to town than where I am now, minus the mad hills. It's really cool, hip n' groovy, tho just as expensive as the 'hood am in now.......... For fun and torture I had a look at homes for sale online. Ha, Yeah. Won't ever be buying in that 'hood any time, well, ever. And most of the stuff for sale around there, even the million-plus range stuff, are apartments! Gasp. And rentals, well, the place is chock full of rentals - all which seem to have been built in the '60s and haven't been refurbished since. Hrm. Also like mine now, only it hasn't been refurbished since it was built in the late 40s. Hmmmmmmmm. Bummer dude. It sure sucks being broke. 

So it looks like Enoggera will be the new 'hood come July. Oh well. If all works out, it'll be a muuuuch bigger place than where I am now and slightly more modern (tho 1970s cinder-block kinda modern)...... Cheaper than anywhere else for its size (it's a two-bedroom, 1 bathroom with a kind of self-contained one bedroom and a study granny-flat attached downstairs that I could rent out if I had to.... or someplace for friends/family to stay maybe...........!), and hopefully a shade quieter (no crying babies or thieving possums at least)...... Am trying not to be too sentimental about this place tho, aside from living here a whopping total of 5 1/2 years............ Am trying not to be too attached to my walks into work everyday........ Am trying to not think about the fact that I have the post office (with the really nice guy who knows my name and PO Box number!) and both booze and food (in order of priority apparently (!)) a two-minute walk away.......... two bus lines into town - one express and one local............... Am trying not to enjoy the teeny tiny thrill I get when folks ask me what 'hood I live in (worst house, best block and all that  - but they don't know that)........... That Kona can bring me no end of headless geckos or skinks or eat as much grass as he likes from our massive backyard, albeit unused except for the hills hoist and parking............ Yeah, I'll get over it, eventually, I'm sure. I won't miss hearing the neighbors do, well, everything. I won't miss how rickety the apartment is physically and how the owner staunchly refuses to maintain it............ I won't miss the four breeds of ants in my kitchen at any given time................. and last but certainly not least - I will not miss those F@#$%^G possums, EVER.....................! Hmmmmmmmmmmm....... Will keep you posted with those developments!

And that's about that. Y'know, I warned you things would be kind of quiet for a wee while - I have Sydney to save for (in a mere week and a half - wooooooot! Get yer orders in now for any souvenirs) and the big Kahuna - potential unemployment...... So yes, quiet is the order of the day. And too, the weekends have usually been so stinking hot that an Adventure walk was usually the dumbest idea on the planet, but seeing how the weather appears to be calming down and cooling off, hey, Adventure walks are freeeeeee! Will pencil more of those in (weather permitting) and freshen up my stock of photos!

So there. Hope you're all well up there! Say, speaking of moving, y'know, the beginning of July will pretty much be the beginning of winter - excellent weather for scoping out Brisbane and points north (Great Barrier Reef, etc)........... And, gosh, after moving, I'll have more than enough room for guests................... Just sayin'!

BYE!
J!

Naps: 1, Sleep Deprivation: 0 - Ahhhhhh, the Weekend!

Hi!

Well. Here we are (on time, yes, I spotted that too!). Got a lovely breeze that's finally picked up after a fairly warm, muggy and still day. Got a nice, cool glass of bubbles for something different - Veuve D'Argent. Ehh, not at all bad. Dangerously easy to drink and cheap too - on discount via my friend who's husband does IT at the brewery! I actually have no tunes running today; for some reason quiet is better this afternoon. I guess it's all those sleepless nights listening to crying babies (downstairs) and possums shuffling around (upstairs), together with music 8+ hours at work so that I can stay awake, means on the weekends I sometimes like peace and quiet (if, on the rare occasion, I can actually get it). You come live here and see what I mean! Otherwise, all is well - the chores have been done and the laundry is happily blowing in the breeze - life is good!

So work. Yep. Is good. Busy, but not so busy I wish I was dead. Just enough to keep me out of trouble (errr, hopefully) and make the hours march past. Although lately work has been... not drudgery, but routine. A lot like Groundhog Day most days (heh, or even Office Space - my favorite office-y movie ever). And that's kind of ok - to a point. Am still waiting to hear about my contract, or a decent job to be advertised that'll be worth the effort to get an application in for...... If they extend my contract, am thinking of working only four days a week, but only for like six months. I just need the break and to get stuff done...... I noticed too that the days I do call in "sick" are usually Mondays (never a good look)........ Not because I don't like work, I do for once like my job and the folks I work with, but I just need a wee break...... Am still thinking about it tho..... Have floated it past my Manager and he didn't mind. We're not as crazy busy as we were and he's one of those folks that subscribes to the idea that life is more important than ol' work. Could be why he's not climbing that corporate ladder as quick as some! So we'll see. Another month or so to wait and see what shakes down, one way or another. Hell, be careful what I wish for - I could well end up unemployed - there's some time off for me! Crikey. Won't that be fun, again. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen! Otherwise, all is well at work. Happy to have it while I've got it!!!!

And then there was the weekend. Thankfully, no crazy weather to batten the hatches down for (unlike the northeast coast. Ha haaaaa! Ever so happy I don't live there anymore!) and thankfully it wasn't stinking hot and humid like it's supposed to be during February. Feb is meant to be The Worst Month of Summer here and so far this year it's been (knock on wood) pretty nice. Here's hoping it doesn't make up for lost time by dragging into March.......... (that and the fact my good fan finally died)! But didn't really get up to much....... See, I know what you're thinking - why would I need three days (and less pay) to sit around when I don't do much on the weekends, usually, anyways?? Well. It seems the routine has been to chill on Saturdays - read, nap, watch movies, not think or move much - rest up from being at work all week; and because usually I average four hours of sleep most nights during the week due to possums and/or crying/fussing baby, so by the time I get to Friday, I am well sleep-deprived and in desperate need of sleeping-in (with ear plugs). So when I get to Saturday, all I really have the sleep-deprived energy to do is, well, nothing. And then Sunday I have to make up for channeling my inner slacker all day Saturday by running around and doing all the chores and stuff. And then whoosh - come Sunday afternoon and checking in with my demanding fans (of which there seem to be three - thanks guys), that's the weekend goneskis! So, er, there you go. I didn't get up to much this weekend. But rest assured, Sydney will be a totally cool little Adventure! Have to save my pennies for that, right?!

And that's about that. Sorry for the dullness but hopefully with my little explanation/rationalization you have a better idea why A) I don't seem to be painting the town red on weekends, lately and B) I'd like to work four days, if only for like six months..... And besides, stuff is open on Mondays and I won't have to rush through my lunch hour to do things.... or god forbid, haul into town on the weekend. So there!

Otherwise, I hope you're all well up there! So far as I can tell the weather looks to be pretty good until we get the all-clear in March - no more gross heat or crazy storms! Then feel free to come on down any time! Errrr, until December/November that is.... Unless you're a glutton for Florida-in-the-summer kinda hot!! Either way, c'mon down!

BYE!
J!

Quiet Australia Birthday with Kookaburras and Wine!

Hi!

Well. Check this out - am here on time! Hooray! And no crazy storms or surprise power outages predicted for this evening - whew! Unfortunately, I don't have much to report on. But never mind, got some hip and 'mellow' jazz tunes (thank you SkyFM!), got a nice, cool glass of a new white wine - Momo Sauv Blanc from NZ (not bad - fruity......), got a bit of a breeze and while it's not cool out, it sure ain't blisteringly hot and humid (or stormy) - life is good!

So work. Yep. Is fine. Had my "performance review" Friday, for what that's worth until the end of March......? And still no word about my contract. I knew they'd do this. This afternoon was meant to freshen up the resume and look for jobs but I just can't find the motivation to ruin a perfectly good Sunday doing that (especially today, my Aussie Birthday!). To me, if they're going to fluff me around with my contract, I should be able to look for work on their time.....! Ha, will see how the theory pans out when I test it, hopefully this week......?! Otherwise, am busy but not as busy as I was, which is really nice considering I've been busy for a good year or so. Nice to have a bit a breathing space. But yes, still waiting to see what happens - will keep you posted (fingers crossed it gets renewed)! 

And then there was the weekend. I was meant to kick it off happily with pizza and games with the usual suspects but a headache forced me to enjoy my Friday on my couch. Bummer dude. I think my pillow is trying to kill me through kinked neck muscles. That or the stress from work/contract....... Either way most of this weekend was spent battling a headache. Still, managed to get laundry done and a couple movies in. Watched "Puss in Boots", which was actually kind of funny and better than I expected. And watched one last night that I thought was really pretty good and funny - "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale". A quirky Finnish movie about the "real" Santa Claus. It's hard to explain but I thought that link to Roger Ebert's review sums it up pretty well. I really, really liked it and highly recommend it!

And today, seeing as it's my 7th year in Australia, or as I refer to it - my 7th Aussie Birthday (can ya believe it?!), I picked up a coffee and a danish and drove myself up to a lovely picnic spot on Mt. Coot-Tha where a family of Kookaburras chattered around me. It was lovely. Then later this afternoon am off to my other Kim friend and her husband Carlos' house to pick up a case of wine I'd ordered (he does IT for the big brewery here in town, XXXX, and as a perk gets screaming deals on not bad wine - sweeeeeeet!) for wine and nibbles. A very nice Sunday afternoon/Birthday if I do say so myself!

And that's it! Short and sweet and rather dull, yes, but there it is. I know it's short on Adventure but there's that Sydney Adventure in, well, just a few weeks away! So that'll liven things up a little. But yes, once I know for sure what's happening with the job thing, things should be a little more settled and will be able to plan Adventures - hopefully?! Otherwise, I hope you're all well up there. Only another month or so of crappy hot and humid to go and then you're free to c'mon down! Don't forget to check out the ever so useful links over there on the right if you need annnnny help planning your trip!

BYE!
J!