grouchiegrrl's Journal

4:49pm: WASO Volunteers

If you are interested, or know anyone who may be, in volunteering for a couple of hours, from about 4.30pm to 8pm, in town, on December 12th to help WASO with Symphony in the City. You get to put down your blanket first, and they give you free tix to another concert next year. I have been volunteering with WASO for about 6 years now, and I love it. If you are interested contact me on grouchiegrrl@gmail.com and I will give you the details for the co-ordinator. Or just ring WASO direct!

9:25am: Just Yuk
I was just driving home from my parents (who are moving interstate this week, so loaded up with assorted detrius) and as I am bowling along the freeway listening to an interesting guy talk about the origins of the UN, this ute flys across all the lanes in front of me.

It's number plate read VIOL8TED.

And I just went 'urgh, WTF' I mean, WHAT would possess ANYONE to put that message out there on their car? I mean that is seriously F'd up.

People worry me. Can we find an island somewhere and start again... oh wait... climate change - we would be underwater pretty soon. Ah well. 

7:09pm: feedback
Anyone know the going rate for babysitting these days? I have been asked to do some paid babysitting, and while I do babysit for friends a fair bit, I have done it as a (if I say so myself) talented amateur for a few years now. I was figuring about $15 an hour. Actually, what I would like to say is $15 an hour while they are awake, $10 an hour once they are asleep. 

*grin*

I have looked on some websites, but the variation is wide enough to not give me a clear answer. Thought I would see what the parents out there tell me.

*if I babysit for you as an amateur it is fine - that will continue....

3:31pm: Assistance?
 Is anyone really good at grammar, and have a couple of hours to help me get my head around the stuff I need to get for my law exam? As in subject, finite verb, passive verb, active verb ... and how they relate to each other. Basically I have five sentences that have a few subjects and I need to correctly identify what bit contains what. Does that make sense? and the book we were directed to buy to get the hang of this 'Easiest english grammar ever for english speakers' - should be done under truth in advertising. I have to get this done by noon friday, so if anyone has time ... I would greatly appreciate it.

8:27pm: Bris-Vegas
I don't want to live there again, but Brisbane does have some really fabulous stuff when you live there.

Didn't have a zombie walk when I lived there though - how great is this? Sunday was their zombie walk
http://thabastardson.blogspot.com/2009/10/brisbane-cbd-is-usually-dead-on-sunday.html

7:00pm: Blank is my middle name
In the effort to further procrastinate I was thinking more about this "Danger is my middle name" thing. And I mentioned it to a currently-incubating friend, who is now considering "Adventure is my middle name" (never getting it past zer partner).

What is your middle name? not real one, the one you should have.

I was thinking 'bitchy' is mine... but actually (as someone told me the other day ) 'snark' should be my middle name. but as my lovely friend DB says 'observant, not mean'.

and in the excellent names category - if you surname is Case or Power... you should probably avoid naming your kid Justin. I have met both.

:D

5:53pm: funny???
I am housesitting at the moment, and it means I am driving someone else's car (and actually driving in 'afternoon drive time') so I get their radio choices.

all of which is by way of explaining WHY I was listening to Hamish 'n Andy today.

So they did these prank phone calls where they found a 'looking for' listing - people who are looking for books as part of a collection, or organising a reunion of some group or whatever. and they rang these people to say 'sorry, we can't help. Don't have the books, didn't play cricket at the club, etc etc'.

Now I think I have a pretty broad sense of humour. I can find something funny in almost every situation... and even when I think it is offensive or cruel or whatever I still get the joke.... but WTF? That wasn't funny when I was in high school. I mean, two professional comedians, who are paid I assume huge salaries are basically doing the equivalent of the 'walls' phone gag right?

I really must find a book on cd for the trip to and from work. I mean the endless ads are bad enough (do they time them to all have ads at the same time do you think?) but the humour is dire.

although, there was a great line phoned in by someone this morning - they were talking about bad middle names and this guy rang up to say that his mate had called his son whatever Danger whatever... so that when he grew up he could say that "Danger is my middle name".

yuk yuk yuk

8:57am: The Time of Guest Cats
 I have another visiting cat this weekend - well just today I guess. My neighbours are moving and I have their little fluffy cat in here today while they move.

She is a very chatty kitty, this one, who wants lots of cuddles. And who is a bit disconcerted to be here. But she is making me smile. and give me a reason to procrastinate a leetle bit longer!

Rather than upset her and start another cold-cat-war, I have left mine outside this morning. he would be unaware there is another cat here, let alone one we will give food to at will!

6:30am: Oops
Happy Birthday (belated) to juffy I hope you had a fantastic day  

3:48pm: Awesome
triskaidekaphobia \tris-ky-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh\, noun:

Fear or a phobia concerning the number 13.

5:08pm: Fabulous Cartoon
about the complications of sleep
http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/good-night-and-tough-luck/ 

8:21am: visiting cat
I have a little orange-and-white shaddow when I am at home now. follows me everywhere but in the shower. and the second I am left alone my cat flings himself onto me for frantic cuddles and love. So everything I own is covered in cat fur and I need to buy one of those sticky rollers. Note to self: never ever am I going to have two cats (the litter box is AWFUL) and never never NEVER will I have a white cat. The fur is awful!

The other thing I got when we agreed to cat-sit was a whole new alarm system. Bert goes off like a fog-horn at about 5am every morning. And then once he is sure he has woken you up, he sits next to your head with a loud purring that sounds startlingly like a snotty kid. 

it is kind of a weird weekend.

6:12am: There is a war being waged in my house
 at ankle level.

When my sister went to Brasil, she left her cat Bert with my parents. He was about 10 then I think, and that was a few years back. And he did that cat thing where over night he got really really old. He is a bag of bones even through he eats about 4 times a day (he forgets that he ate earlier), he moves really really slowly, that kind of thing.

anyway, my mum doesn't feel comfortable leaving him home alone anymore, so we have him for the weekend while they are away.

and because he and my cat have lived together before, I went and forgot all the rules about introducing cats. So it is a bit like the cold war here at the moment. Bert goes into the bathroom and lies in front of the kitty litter, Clawed sits at the door of the bathroom and blocks him in. Substitute the kitchen two hours later. etc etc etc. Clawed is whinging, Bert is disconcerted by being in a new place (being hissed at doesn't seem to be bothering him). I took Bert outside this morning and he was really freaked out.

ah well, it is only for the weekend. But I would love to get a photo of Clawed stalking and spying on Bert. In the bathroom this morning Bert came in for a pat and I saw Clawed's head peering round the corner watching us. very funny.

5:28pm: Yuuuum
A week ago when I was in the sort of health food shop at the markets (dry goods, nuts and soy chips, dried fruit, that kind of thing. Stripped down kukulas) I bought a variety of nuts, and threw some honey almonds in. tried them at work and OMG they were so good. as in, calling from my desk draw all week 'we are heeeeere and we are yuuuuummy'. 

went to get some more this week and wandered into the middle eastern shop and discovered cinnamon almonds - even better! 

8:02am: ah... Fox News
 When I am working out at the gym, I usually watch sky news - I don't get tv reception at home, so it is about the only tv news I see. and, y'know, 5.30am, there isn't a lot of choice. But I was reminded this morning about who owns it and the bias underlying it.

on news radio on the way to the gym I heard a report about the conference being held in Venezuela. A conference of African and South American delegates "...promoting economic and political ties between the nations of the two continents."

same report on Sky/Fox news - "Hugo Chavez is today hosting delegates from 30 African and South American nations in Venezuela, to further his influence across the two continents."

*shakes head*

7:25pm: Things you should never, ever do
 arguing with an enormous papier-mache head of yourself seems like a good place to start...



*from Crikey - Energy Minister Martin Ferguson arguing with a paper mache head of himself at the opening of the HP Zwar park upgrade on August 22

5:48pm: Procrastinating...
And not very well. The rule is - if I am not studying, I am supposed to be cleaning or exercising. cooking, shopping, laundry - all acceptable on weekends, provided they are interspersed with study.

but, here I am....NOT doing my study. Not even talking to friends or family (that would be ok right? keeping my relationships in good nick), sadly noone will talk to me on the phone.

sigh

but what is really stupid is this - I actually find my study really interesting. I think with the neighbours the I bounce stuff on away, I have kind of lost some impetus. Turns out it is really handy to go next door or upstairs to talk to someone about what I am doing and thinking and finding, and they get me all enthused again.

meh. I am gonna have to do SOOOOO much work tomorrow to make up for my crap-ness today.

ah well. that is the way it goes sometimes I guess.

9:15pm: living the Sci-Fi life
If you ever want to know what it feels like to be the person that turns up from USAMRIISD - in those suits - ask me after tonight....

6:45am: Anyone know?
A Jamaican Man? There is a voice-over gig going for an hour's work for a male jamaican voice needed for a pitch. I can give the email address to anyone interested.

9:12am: Made of Awesome

This is the most farking awesome wedding video I have ever seen. Seriously, watch it - it will definitely make your day better!

12:08pm: Experience of a lifetime

Do you fancy a free, year long trip around the world helping to save the planet? My friend is the coordinator for the Sydney team in The Lifeline Project, and they are looking for a member of the public to come with her and the film-maker.

                          To carry this message the Lifeline will send 3 teams, each comprising 3 documentary film-makers from London, 
                          New York and Sydney on an epic 18,000 mile journey to arrive on 10.10.10.
                          Each film-maker team will walk, sail, ride and use public transport - no flying - to Buenos Aires, Capetown and 
                          Tokyo. Along the way they will document the individuals, businesses and communities implementing sustainability 
                          initiatives, uploading their reports to the Lifeline website for all Humankind to share.

http://www.thelifeline.tv/index.html

Check it out - I will be following their trip over the next year and probably posting about it here and there. I certainly sounds pretty awesome. But if you are interested hurry, I think the applications close pretty soon.

6:35am: Gym
Forgot to post on Sunday...

Wed - 5kms, 31.45min, 336cal
Th    - 5kms, 30.39min, 330cal
Sat  -  5kms, 30.09min, 320cal
Sun -  5kms, 28.00min, 305cal
* forgot to find the scales.

Today - 5kms, 28.50min, 308cal.

seriously did not want to get out of bed and go this morning. quite a sense of achievement in dragging myself there and getting through my run anyway. mind you, feel a bit yuck now.

12:45pm: Finally!
The Smirk is leaving Parliament. Peter Costello will not contest the next Federal Election, according to his website.

excellent. Now could you take some of the other pratts with you?

12:19pm: OMG

I just listened to an RN show http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2009/2577170.htm that is about the 'Clathrate Gun Hypothesis' and possible triggers.

OMG - WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE. and like, next year apparently.

this is a theory about methane that is trapped at the bottom of the ocean, and how if the oceans get hotter, it will escape into the atmosphere and speed up the global warming issues. to an end-of-life scenario point.

yikes. I mean... YIKES!

6:52am: laugh
from the 'Crazy Days and Nights' gossip blog - this made me laugh so much I thought I would share

"...This Academy Award winner/nominee A list movie actor is also a big music fan. Not so much of other music, but primarily of his own. He also has a huge ego. On a recent movie he was shooting he had it written into his contract that once a week a certain number of crew members had to show up in his hotel suite and listen to our actor play his guitar and the songs he was writing. Most of the songs were about himself and things he had accomplished in his life. Needless to say the crew hated him with a passion. Instead of going home to their families, once a week they had to go to a hotel suite for a few hours and listen to the bag of wind go on and on about great he was. In song."

the guesses include Billy Bob, Sting, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Nicholas Cage.