HTTP/2 200 cross-origin-resource-policy: cross-origin etag: W/"17fdb2190a479ad88854e0485c1ce1dd78f6488c9739bd5c2be67017183eb005" date: Sun, 28 Dec 2025 20:23:26 GMT content-type: application/atom+xml; charset=UTF-8 server: blogger-renderd expires: Sun, 28 Dec 2025 20:23:27 GMT cache-control: public, must-revalidate, proxy-revalidate, max-age=1 x-content-type-options: nosniff x-xss-protection: 0 last-modified: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 13:52:29 GMT content-encoding: gzip content-length: 14860 x-frame-options: SAMEORIGIN alt-svc: h3=":443"; ma=2592000,h3-29=":443"; ma=2592000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58280102024-03-07T21:52:29.156+08:00Just the occasional musings of a physicist, sf fan, ex-book store owner, scottish gaelic speaker and biblioholic.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1132676333561918012005-11-22T23:59:00.000+08:002005-11-23T00:29:33.030+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1261/238/1600/IMG_0204.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1261/238/320/IMG_0204.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Ahh, what a fun weekend. A bouncy Ju, lots of people to chat to, some silly games played and lots and lots of laughter. <br /><br />There was a general feeling of relaxation, and while the panels I went to were fun, there wasn't any feeling of trying to fit too much in. You could chill out, buy a book or two, play games, (Go Twonky! Go Twonky!) or compare hair lengths. <a href="https://www.livejournal.com/users/shrydar/">shrydar</a>, <a href="https://www.livejournal.com/users/kae_dash/">Kae_dash</a>, and <a href="https://www.livejournal.com/users/anysia/">Anysia</a> (from left to right) had a little impromtu competition, I think you're right shrydar, anysia's in the lead.<br /><br />Generous mealbreaks took the stress out of lunch &amp; dinnertime and there were plenty of places to get food nearby. A group of us tried the 9 Marys indian place just opposite Matsuri and enjoyed it thoroughly. Kashmiri naan is <i>nice</i>.<br /><br />Thanks <a href="https://www.livejournal.com/users/mynxii/">Ju</a>. Hungry for next year's already :)Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1128784916490021742005-10-08T23:20:00.000+08:002005-10-08T23:21:58.170+08:00<img src="https://images.quizilla.com/T/truly-dippy/1060129645_ikeautumn2.jpg" border="0" alt="Season = Autumn"><br>You're Most Like The Season Autumn ...<br /><br />You're warm, and the most approachable. You have<br>that gentle prescence about you. People can<br>relate to you, and find you easy company.<br>However it's likely you've been hurt in the<br>past and it has left you scarred so things can<br>become rather chilly with you at times. Being<br>the third Season in, you're mature, trustworthy<br>and loyal to your friends but prone to<br>depression and negative thinking.<br /><br />Well done... You're the shy and sensitive season :)<br /><br><br><a href="https://quizilla.com/users/truly-dippy/quizzes/%3F%3F%20Which%20Season%20Are%20You%20%3F%3F/"> ?? Which Season Are You ??</a><BR> <font size="-2">brought to you by <a href="https://quizilla.com">Quizilla</a></font><br /><br />Hmm. Actually that seems pretty close to me. (Though YPMD)Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1127643078764390162005-09-25T14:40:00.000+08:002005-09-25T18:11:18.830+08:00I had my first star viewing night of the season last night (my volunteer work up at the Perth Observatory), and unlike the first viewing night of the season where I was not rostered on (Friday night) it was lovely and clear. I got to show the lovely jewel box open cluster, to demonstrate what a boring (if blinding) telescope object Venus is. Most interesting thing about it is that it has phases. Then it was on to the 2nd tour and alpha centauri (headlights!) and the tarantula nebula.<br /><br />Not too cold (only 8.9C I think) and not too windy, which is good because one of the scopes is outside until probably Christmas. <br /><br />I think my next night is the 8th which hopefully will have some moon available.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1127205565019164042005-09-20T16:34:00.000+08:002005-09-20T16:39:25.026+08:00I now have my shiny new car. Power steering, CD/MP3 player, and shiny lilac blue.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.pgdp.net/phpBB2/images/smiles/p_woohoo.gif" alt="woohoo!">Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1127099565288825262005-09-19T11:05:00.000+08:002005-09-19T11:12:45.290+08:00After over a decade's loyal service, it has reached the time to trade my little red hyundai C-chan in for a newer car. In fact an actual new car. Which I should be getting sometime this week. Any day now... Soon... <br /><br />It's a shame I can't transfer over the Swancon 2000 bumper sticker though. <br /><br />For various reasons, mostly sensible ones to do with good fuel economy, 5 year warranties and low insurance rates I've gotten a Hyundai Getz (5 door for ease of transporting passengers). For my magpie <i>Shiny!</i> nature I have gotten it in metallic lilac blue. <br /><br />I am looking forward to power steering, for while my continued attendance at the gym (Yep, still going) is helping my muscles, C-chan is a pain to turn around in a tight curve.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1127098852709547352005-09-19T10:59:00.000+08:002005-09-19T11:02:57.503+08:00<div style="position:relative; border:1px #320 solid; background-color:#c9b390; padding:0 10px; width:400px; text-align:center; font-family:serif; left:50%; margin:25px 0 25px -200px; color:#320;"><br /> <div><br /> My pirate name is:<br /> </div><br /> <div style="font-size:32px;"><br /> Dirty Anne Bonney<br /> </div><br /> <img src="https://www.fidius.org/quiz/pirate/flag.gif" style="top:5px; position:relative; display:block; width:100px; background-color:#320;" /><br /> <div style="left:110px; top:-60px; width:290px; position:relative; text-align: justify;"><br /> You're the pirate everyone else wants to throw in the ocean -- not to get rid of you, you understand; just to get rid of the smell. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!<br /> </div><br /> <a href="https://www.fidius.org/quiz/pirate/" style="position:absolute; width:100%; left:0px; bottom:20px; color:#f8eecc;">Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.</a><br /> </div><br /><br />And that's <i>with</i> answering daily to the washing question...Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1123218229723163112005-08-05T12:46:00.000+08:002005-08-05T13:03:49.730+08:00It's been a busy few weeks of late. First of all of course it's the start of semester with all the chaos that that implies for us folks trying to get the material ready and the students informed. But it's also been busy on the social and home fronts.<br /><br />Social:<br />Well, I kinda blew the entertainment budget the last few weeks, along with a couple of movies, (Swancon Fantastic 4 screening & the FTI screening of Labyrinth) I also got to go to <i>Inside the TARDIS</i> and also to Cirque du Soleil's <i>Quidam</i>, both of which I enjoyed immensely, Katy, Colin & Sylvester were very entertaining, and even if you weren't a Dr Who fan I think you would have enjoyed the evening and as for Quidam, well, it was my first Cirq du Soleil and I have to say I was very impressed, both with the skill shown, the music and the sheer number of things going on at once, it felt like a cross between circus & opera.<br /><br />I picked up Anna, Art <i>et al.</i> from the airport at the weekend, their flight getting in at 5:50am, but amazingly enough I managed to wake up and drive to the airport arriving there only a few minutes before they came out the door (though long enough for the gouging parking rates there to kick in). They're fine, had a good time and came back with many books. I think they're mostly over jet lag now if you want to touch bases.<br /><br />Home:<br />On the good side, I have curtains! I've been living with some nice wooden blinds up till now, but the sides of the window still seemed a bit stark. So when my mum called to let me know that she'd spotted some curtains on special that looked as though they matched, we decided to get two sets and put them up in front of the balcony door too, (actually they turned out to be even more on special when they got to the till :) Yay for scottish mothers with an eye for a bargain)<br />It took a little while longer to get the curtain poles (plain black from bunnings) and put them up, but they're up and looking pretty spiffy. Makes the room much more cosy at night and softens the windows/door a bit during the day.<br /><br />On the downside I had to get new taps as about a week ago my hot water tap stopped gripping its shaft (luckily after I'd turned it off) and I was without hot water in the shower for 2 days :o, until I had time to get a plumber, so I now have a new set of taps and hot showers again. :D<br /><br />That's all for now as I have to go find a cow to take a photo of. (I also finally succumbed and bought myself a digital camera so I can now take multiple photos with the hope of getting a good one without paying extra for processing)Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1119107012465184022005-06-18T22:56:00.000+08:002005-06-18T23:03:32.696+08:00Well, I dropped <a href="https://thirdmonkey.blogspot.com/">Anna</a> <i>et al</i> off at the airport last night so as far as I know they are now winging their way off to the land of the Maple Tree, via Tokyo and Seattle. <br /><br />Fudge factors in planning the evening proved to be so accurately calculated as for us to arrive at the airport almost exactly at the time they needed to be there with all packing done and one awake and 2 sleepy kids.<br /><br />Here's hoping their sanity survives the various plane trips intact.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1116489529881272712005-05-19T15:54:00.000+08:002005-05-19T15:58:49.886+08:00Apparently the best guess for what the problem was yesterday was <i>probably</i> ether and benzyl bromide having been poured down a sink, which apparently when water was added caused noxious fumes to come out of most nearby plugholes. <br /><br />I must admit that I think the evacuation could have gone better, no sirens, noone securing unlocked/open doorways. <br /><br />Still, I'm alive, not feeling poisoned and I did get to badminton after all. Now I have to get back to my marking.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1116408980197526032005-05-18T17:26:00.000+08:002005-05-18T17:36:20.203+08:00Definitely blue. Mostly on the fingertips where the dye from the document folder I was using to shield my head came off on my hands.<br /><br />Why didn't I use my umbrella? Because that's up in my office. Which I can't get into. Because there was some sort of chemical spill today and the whole building got evacuated. <br /><br />I only had the folder because I was using that to cut down the rain getting on the stuff that I was taking to the tutorial I had to give this afternoon (in a different building), which a grand total of 2 students attended. It's not even as if they've had me as a tutor before!<br /><br />In any case, after the tutorial I wandered back to see if the building was still sealed (it was, though a couple of doors needed telling) told security about the recalcitrant doors, wondered what to do next (my shorts etc. for badminton being with said umbrella) and decided to go home until badminton time. So I squidged through the car park to my car, staining my hands blue (with a brief lift from a colleague at the last) and I am now sitting in the warm, listening to the rain and contemplating actually having dinner before badminton.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1112847837227258352005-04-07T12:18:00.000+08:002005-04-07T12:23:57.226+08:00Sick of spam? Here's a little site that is making it more fun by drawing cartoons based on common spam subjects.<br /><br /><a href="https://spamusement.com/">spamusement.com</a>, those at the Hen's panel may be interested in the <a href="https://spamusement.com/view.php?id=206">mighty cucumber</a>, while the <a href="https://spamusement.com/view.php?id=60">'your document is silly'</a> one is best read aloud. And for the sesame street fan, you can't go past <a href="https://spamusement.com/view.php?id=143">Bert don't sleep yet</a><br /><br />I will get my con report up soon, I promise.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1112229591048958872005-03-31T08:35:00.000+08:002005-03-31T08:39:51.050+08:00<table width=400 align=center border=1 bordercolor=black cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><br /><tr><td bgcolor=#66CCFF align=center><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'><b>Your Brain is 53.33% Female, 46.67% Male</b></font></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor=#FFFFFF><font color="#000000">Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female<br />You are both sensitive and savvy<br />Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed<br />But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve</font></td></tr></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://www.blogthings.com/genderbrainquiz/">What Gender Is Your Brain?</a></div><br /><br />Not really surprising, I'm not sure what I may have been described as, but I don't think feminine was ever a word applied to me.<br /><br />Con report later, I've been doing my morning email check and I should really get dressed for work.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1111333976156242332005-03-20T23:38:00.000+08:002005-03-20T23:52:56.156+08:00My it has been a long time since my last blog. Whoops.<br />What can I say? It's been a busy time.<br /><br />I have been managing to keep up my exercise regime. 3 days per week at the gym and so far not missed one, (well one I did on a sunday instead of saturday due to confusion about opening times, but it got done)<br /><br />I think I'm feeling better for it. Certainly in terms of being proud of myself for sticking to it. There appear to be some indications that it's helping me motivate myself to do other things too.<br /><br />My swimming continues, I've reached 100 laps of my little (~10m) pool and am maintaining at that, at least until the pool temperature at 6:30am is too cold to contemplate. <br /><br />I may not be able to substitute biking for swimming however as some vandals got into my strata complex this week past and along with the breaking into cars, spraypainting cars etc. also appear to have made off with the bikes in the bike storage area, including mine. The police apparently found a bike nearby, but so far no information on whether it is mine, and in any case forensics would have first dibs. (We were't the only place they hit that night. Just the wrong time for the gate to have broken).<br />Hope they catch them.<br /><br />Went to Lyn's Tupperware briday shower this week, managed to survive the silly game and spent far too much money on tupperware. Oh well. Then went to Lee & Lyn's 80's pre-wedding bash on the Saturday. Poor Connor is teething, cute though. <br /><br />Of course this did mean that I slept in this morning given that I didn't get home till 1amish, so I decided that rather than burn my skin I'd do an evening swim instead, and the water was nicely warm, and I didn't have to get blinded by the sun. Possibile substitute for morning swim, but not always home at that hour.<br /><br />Spent the evening preparing a book about the ANZACs to go into the ANZAC day queue at <a href="https://www.pgdp.net">Distributed Proofreader's</a>. 1 down. 3 to go.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1107841825812472332005-02-08T13:43:00.000+08:002005-02-08T13:50:25.813+08:00My efforts to get fitter by getting up early and swimming are still going! Though I did sleep in until 7am on Saturday and Sunday. <br /> <br />I've got a nice little dresser for under my lounge window for putting stuff in and on, so happy with that. <br /> <br />On the downside the bad noise coming from my car was apparently my right wheel brake trying to tell me that there isn't much left in it so I'll have to get that fixed. And the first I could get in was on Wednesday so I missed the thing I wanted to go to on Monday night :(. <br /> <br />Given that I lost the arial at Genghiscon, so have very little ability to listen to things in the car now apart from the grinding brakes, I'm seriously considering getting a new car. I have had this one a decade now, and it wasn't new when I got it. <br /> <br />Good thing I joined the gym, as I won't be able to use turning corners to keep my arm muscles up once I get power steering.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1107334716673008422005-02-02T16:20:00.000+08:002005-02-02T16:58:36.673+08:00Well, I had an absolute blast at Genghiscon, got my mind fried by MST3K, had a go at archery, played some games I hadn't played in ages, played some more games I hadn't played at all (I never got to be a werewolf though). Attended some fun panels. Was exposed to the weirdest 'reality tv' show I have ever come across. Drawn Together - following a number of different cartoon characters sharing a house. That only begins to describe its oddness. <br /> <br />Food was great! They kept feeding us! Lots of snacks and drinks to buy for those that needed them (tea & coffee gratis), but those who were staying over (nice big rooms by the way) got breakfast thrown in, including cooked breakfast, which was a ante up from last year. So, we fortified ourselves at breakfast and what with the jaffa pies on friday night, the BBQ on saturday night and the Grant Stone morning tea (with scones) on saturday morning, I only went out for food once. <br /> <br />The only downside to the breakfast was that the cooked stuff was only available between 7am and 8:30am, so I found myself waking up at 6am (before my alarm went off) and figured I might as well get up and ready and off for food. On the sunday morning I finished the short short story competition entry I'd started the previous night between 6:30am and 7am. Normally I'd expect to be a zombie if awake at this hour, but I felt amazingly cheerful. The really odd thing is, I've kept it up. The last 3 days since I got home, I've been waking up at 6am, going for a swim and getting some other things done before work. Now if only the tv channels can be persuaded not to put things on against each other late night I might become a morning person. <br /> <br />Oh, and I came 2nd in the short short story competition. <img src="https://www.pgdp.net/phpBB2/images/smiles/p_elephant.gif" alt="Elston"> (And no, there weren't only 3 entries).Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1106807519701654202005-01-27T14:26:00.000+08:002005-01-27T14:31:59.700+08:00Thus ends my first real encounter with the jury service system. One very early morning, one merely early morning, three courtrooms, but no actual jurying. <br />Even if I had tried to follow the various bits of advice on what to wear/what not to wear/how to act if I wanted/did not want to be on the jury, it would have ended up moot as I didn't get pulled out of the box. Didn't even find out if I would be challenged. <br /> <br />Maybe some other time it would be interesting to actually be part of a jury, I think my boss is happy that I'm back at work, what with all the work that usually needs to be done before semester starts. <br /> <br />Speaking of which, I should probably get back to that.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1105673838805233102005-01-14T11:29:00.000+08:002005-01-14T11:37:18.806+08:00Ran into Grant Stone at lunch yesterday, apparently, on top of his busy radio show, working as a librarian at Murdoch, etc. etc., he's turned Faster Than Light into a resource centre, of lots of things Australian and Fannish, and apparently recently also added an online bookstore to the melange. (After some futile googling I eventually gave up and tried the obvious <a href="https://www.fasterthanlight.com.au/">https://www.fasterthanlight.com.au/</a> <br /> <br />Wonder if it's making his office more or less crowded? <br /> <br />Don't have time to look through it much today though, it's nose to grindstone time as I got some other news yesterday. I'm summoned to Jury Duty. Oh joy, they do seem to know when you're busiest don't they. So I've got one more week to get the critical stuff done and then I have to report for JD on the 24th. I'm not sure if I'm decisive enough for jury duty, but to be honest the least appealing part so far is that I have to be there at <b>8:15am</b>. Not a morning person me. <br /> <br />Back to grindstone.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1105269114373882712005-01-09T19:10:00.000+08:002005-01-09T19:12:29.486+08:00Gotten from <a href="https://www.livejournal.com/users/callistra/">Callisto's</a> LJ. <br />The idea is, to go down this list and pick ONE from each pair that you think describes me the best. Then copy this and post it in your own journal to see how your friends view you. <br /> <br />dominant or submissive <br />logical or intuitive <br />social or loner <br />kinky or vanilla <br />cute or sophisticated <br />kitten or puppy <br />warm flannel sheets or sleek satin <br />leader or follower <br />quiet or talkative <br />spontaneous or plannedAriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1105269005620554652005-01-09T18:30:00.000+08:002005-01-09T19:10:05.620+08:00Back at work, though only a short week, (Thursday & Friday) and I'm in the nice position of having some stuff to do, though not too much, though this could change at any time as my immediate boss has found a new position elsewhere with less stress, which means we now have to figure out who will do the stuff he used to do. Still, my job is safe for the next 2 years so with a bit of luck that will be my mortgage and I'll be more relaxed. <br /> <br />New year was quiet, but pleasant, since then I've caught up with housework, evicted a fairly large black spider that had been hanging around my christmas decorations (taken down) and then decided to move into my couch and caught up with some people at Bec's Oriel's thingy. <br /> <br />No I haven't made any resolutions. Apart from my continuing one to get a bit fitter. Still waiting on pool to be reopened.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1104078045968894292004-12-26T23:52:00.000+08:002004-12-27T00:20:45.966+08:00Had a very nice family Christmas, sitting, chatting, eating nice food, not having any arguments (though did get thoroughly beat by a 7 year old in his new air hockey game) <br /> <br />Got a nice heap of books waiting to be read, and amazingly enough haven't read one yet. Yesterday was too busy chatting, then finishing off <i>Hogfather</i> which I seem to be making a tradition of reading every Christmastime. Then today I went up to Fe's traditional Boxing Day drop in, and had a very pleasant day there... Then it was home, make and eat dinner (after a little AC) and watch Carnivàle, which is proving interesting enough to keep watching at least for now... Then a little Robo Rally and proofing before bed. <br /> <br />Tomorrow I have to figure out what I am making for the pot luck dinner at MSM's double feature. Got some ideas so not stressing too much, especially as I suspect my local Dewson's will be open.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1103612975914235302004-12-21T15:00:00.000+08:002004-12-21T15:09:35.913+08:00Apparently the pool in my complex needs some work on it (making sure it's all healthy to swim in) and when I went for my swim this morning the gate had again been chained shut. Not sure whether to go find a local rec centre which has a pool, use my parents, or find another form of exercise... I'm planning on walking to the shops and library when it gets a bit cooler, so that will help a little but it doesn't give my arms the workout swimming does, maybe I'll get some weights or something in the January sales, or *gasp* join a gym. <br /> <br />I'm not sure that the gym will give me the flexibility of time that I want though, plus there's the fees, the travelling to and fro...Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1103473257635645882004-12-19T23:33:00.000+08:002004-12-20T00:20:57.636+08:00Never been one for new year resolutions myself, couldn't even keep up a diary (bit surprised I'm still blogging, however sporadically)... But with some time to spare while I'm on leave I'm attempting to keep a little fitter. So far I've managed to have a swim every morning for the past 4 days and I'm planning to keep it up at least until I go back to work, then it will depend on whether I can get up early on whether I keep doing morning swims, or possibly swap to evening ones. <br />Extending the amount a little every day so as not to overdo things at the start. <br /> <br />Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1103122872727613612004-12-15T22:57:00.000+08:002004-12-15T23:01:12.726+08:00After afternoon shopping, went with a group of the MnatM lot to see Team America: World Police. I must admit I went into it with a bit of trepidation, as I'm not really a South Park fan, and for the most part I had the same trouble with it as I do with south park, the crude sense of humour these guys have in general does not resonate with me. However there were some genuinely funny moments (eg. the entering the tavern scene and the montage song), so seeing it once was OK, but it's not on my list of movies to rewatch. Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1103122610921701742004-12-15T22:42:00.000+08:002004-12-15T22:56:50.923+08:00Well, yesterday a group of us, (consisting of 3 adults who have recently each bought and moved into a house, a 7 year old, a (nearly) 4 year old and and 8 month old - said kidlets belonging to one of aforesaid adults - and me) made what is possibly turning into a traditional pre-Xmas trip to Ikea. This is the 2nd time. One more time and it will become entrenched. <br /> <br />It's a dangerous place, even if you are resistant to the furniture, there are lots of odds and ends that catch the eye as you wend your way around the maze of the store, designed of course so that you go past everything. Unless of course you are so much an Ikea addict as to know some of the secret shortcuts. I was lucky to get out spending under $50, but not all my companions were so restrained. (At that I'm still wondering if I should have grabbed one of the blue star lamps, it was so cute.) <br /> <br />Then most of us also continued round the corner to a little educational toy store, which providentally is moving and hence was having a 20% off all stock sale... <br /> <br />A little wandering around Kmart this afternoon has mostly finished off my Xmas shopping for kidlets (which is fairly significant this year, my normal social crowd is not quite 50% young children, but it's not off by that much.) <br /> <br />So I am in the enviable position of having finished the main part of my Christmas shopping and still have 9 days to go to decide whether to get more personalised presents for extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins etc.) or to fall back on confectionary. It's hard to know what to buy for people you see only a few times a year. <br /> <br />Tomorrow will probably be spent wrapping presents and writing cards and putting said presents, at least temporarily, under (well around) my little fiber optic christmas tree which I dragged out earlier today.Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828010.post-1101742164649151752004-11-29T23:22:00.000+08:002004-11-29T23:29:24.666+08:00Well, had a fun birthday. I just worked out that of the babies being kept track of on the gossip blog, 3 out of 14 share my birthday. Now that's a statistical anomaly and a half. <br /> <br />Only down point was discovering that apparently the pool in my strata complex is a no go zone. (a chain and padlock gives that impression) Not sure why, will have to investigate. <br /> <br />Now if I can survive this week at work I will be getting a nice long break, 3 weeks of annual leave plus the Xmas break. Yay! <br /> <br />Time for some sleep so I can survive the rest of the week. :) <br />Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461964506680234217noreply@blogger.com0