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!

Ex-Cyclones That Just Don't Get the Hint, and Other New Years Fun.....!

Ed's Note: Just so you know, I was nearly finished writing yesterday, just had to add the pictures, when the power went out. We've had huge amounts of wind and rain from an ex-cyclone and it got us last night by eating the power - according to the power company "high voltage" lines were affected. Power went off at 4pm and they said they wouldn't be able to get it going until 5.30pm today. Thankfully, those folks know what they're doing and managed to get it back on just after 11pm last night. Whew!

Hi!

Well. A leeeettle late - what a slack start to the new year (Happy New Year by the way!!!)! In my and my poor little computer's defense, it's been stinking hot these last few weekends, and you know how I am about running the poor little liable-to-overheating computer on days like that. So that means it's been a few weeks.... Apologies all around - Never fear, you haven't missed anything. But then, after all those weeks of stinking hot and humid - we've had non-stop downpours since Thursday/Friday - the remnants of ex-cyclone Oswald, and boy are we getting it. That's ok tho, it's not hot! But yes, here we finally are, got the hip n' groovy classic jazz tunes streaming, got a nice cool glass of standby white wine (I said it's not hot outside, but it certainly ain't freezing cold either - it's still summer after all!), life is good!

So work. Yep. Still no real word on my fate at the end of March..... it's been threatened that I'll get another 12-month contract, so if that comes through, well, it'll beat finding a new job and losing all my hard-saved vacation time...... But we'll see, lots of time between now and March 29th, which means lots of fluffing around on HR's part (most useless department ever known to man). Fingers crossed that they come through..... Ultimately it'd be kinda nice to be made permanent so I don't have to go through this stress every year or so, but alas, as has been my fate since arriving here, it seems the only way it's done in these here parts, that no one these days has a permanent job. And really, in light of all the lay-offs of both contractors and permanent folks both in the state government and at our company, ain't nuthin' guaranteed in this world! So if they offer me another 12 months, well, I'll take it and be thankful! Otherwise, work has been busy as usual. Went back to work on the 2nd of Jan and have been pretty busy ever since, which is always a good thing! Enjoying the gainful employment while I can.....!

And then there were a bunch of weekends in there...... Let's see, on New Year's eve I and the usual suspects headed over to Jason and Clare's for another very nice, very relaxed NYE of pizza, wine and board games. We actually spent more time catching up and drinking than anything else really, as we haven't caught up much over this last year..... Ahhhh well, they have the 3 little kids who are getting into all things school-y so that takes up a lot of their time and energy...... But yes, New Years, while quiet was very nice. My kind of NYE. Oh, and another weekend in there they had us around again for their daughter Sienna's 5th birthday party - my, they're growing so fast! So that was another lovely afternoon catching up with their families and the usual suspects.

Oh, another weekend evening in there my friend Kim and her husband Carlos came around where we drank wine and ate nibbles while he installed this really cool media management software-y thingy on my mini-laptop called XBMC (free as can be and apparently it's been around for like 10 years, yeah, I'm with it). It's really cool and you can run it remotely from your cell phone using your wireless internet signal.... It's all slightly too techy for my patience (he works in IT, so there's that), but it's cool. We just have a couple bugs to work out and it'll be totally whiz-bang. You should look into it if you keep a lot of digital media files on your computer (it can also stream Netflix and others through the one program). And no, this isn't a plug and I don't secretly work for them. Just try it!

And then this weekend, while definitely cooler than the last few, has done nothing but pour rain and rain and rain. And then more rain for good measure - just in time for the long Australia Day weekend (Australia Day is the 26th and lucky us, we get Monday off too! Hooray!) Still, managed to get a few chores done...... And on Saturday, never deterred, my other Kim friend came around and we wandered up to the Barracks Palace Cinema (in the pouring rain) to see -gasp- Skyfall (yes, for those of you keeping score at home, that's now the third time I've seen it in as many months. Oh yeah). It's pretty good for an action movie if I do say so myself, Kim quite liked it too, tho she admitted that the last James Bond film she saw in the theatres was "Moonraker". Hrm. Then after that we wandered back towards home (in more pouring rain) to have a spot of dinner at Kookaburra Cafe (Ravioli Alaskan - serious salmon-y ricotta-y noms). Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! If I haven't said so enough times, I love that place; their food is soooo good, pizzas especially. And then, with full, happy bellies, we waddled home and Kim headed up to her home in Brendale (in more pouring rain, just for something different). Ahhhhhhhh, aside from the rain, it was a really good day!

And that pretty much brings us up to now. See? You totally haven't missed anything, other than me whining about how hot and muggy it's been. I've kind of tried to keep things quiet because of not really knowing what's going on with work, you see........ Once that's sorted then other things can definitely be planned....... Oh, I know one Adventure on the cards (if I haven't mentioned it already) for the end of Feb - am off to Sydney for a few days to go see Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds play with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House! Coooooooooooooooooool! Can't wait. Haven't been to Sydney in a long time so really looking forward to checking it out again!!! And so far that's all the Adventures planned for now........ Just have to get that contract signed and in mah hot little hand and then look out bank account!

So there you have it. Hope you're all well up there. Am sorry for neglecting all three (?) of you out there... Once the summer (or at least the hot and gross, wee laptop killing heat) has passed (March-ish) I hope to be more punctual! And yes, not long now until the normal weather returns and the window to come visit in comfort will open! Hooray!

BYE!
J!

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!