24 night tonight. If the usual suspects can head over for a 7pm start, that’d be great. Projector is booked. I won’t be able to feed you, but would be happy to split costs of takeaway with you. Bryce usually has vouchers.

We won at soccer last night, technically was a forfeit, but we beat the scratch side 15-3 or something equally ridiculous. It was fun. Also, there’s some tripe about a Guiness World Records attempt at the longest indoor soccer game which our club is having a crack at soon. Should be a good bit of malarky if I’m back from the USA in time.

I am so tired this morning, and I don’t really know why … I don’t have a good reason, except that I’ve been tired all week and I’m 25 now. Tomorrow’s a market day, but I think I might sleep in, especially considering a late-ish night with 24 tonight.

Peace, I’m out.

Sometimes things becoming “real” is the first time they become scary. I’ve still got an enormous amount of work to do before my trip to the USA, and today I came to the realisation that I’m going in 9 days. That, for all intents and purposes, is one week. That’s soon.

Went home early yesterday for a lie-down, not feeling particularly well, and feeling particularly exhausted. I had a nice lie down, and I eked out one more meal from our empty refridgerator. Glenn and Lara had provided me with spices for my birthday, and one of them sounded particularly good with a vegetarian lilt, so that became dinner. Blacky would’ve objected, I think … but he was going out for dinner anyway. I made a vegetarian Moroccan Tangine. I could even make it again, but instead of being “vegetarian” it would be “carrot”, because carrots and onions are all we’ve got left.

Had just settled down for a long nights sleep at 8pm, when Snod rang. Was good to talk to him, ended up yakking for about an hour and a half. Then there was a standup comedy show on the ABC, so watched that. Cut a long story short, my early night was actually, in comparison, a late night. Will I never learn? This morning was tough … but Snod had reminded me to check my letterbox for the card he’d sent for my birthday. Also found this month’s issue of Men’s Health there, which contained a protein bar for breakfast.

Today I had lunch with Leyton. Tonight is soccer. I must message Tim to find out the details that I’ve already forgotten.

Oh, a place in my complex downstairs went for auction today. Dad’s finding out how much was bid on it for me. I’m hoping a million dollars.

Hey all … I’m somehow ridiculously tired, and although I’m making a valiant effort to get work done, I’m not winning.

This Friday night, will be a 24 night if people who watch 24 are available. Let me know.

Sometimes I can’t believe my good fortune. I’d set some of the weekend aside to convert a bunch of audio files to a different format and edit them, for work, but didn’t have the time to do it. So I went home early yesterday to do it, and found a way to batch-process it, which meant it took about 10 minutes to convert and an hour to edit. I’m well chuffed.

Big plans yesterday to have lunch with Leyton and Glenn, but they fell through. No matter … I did get to catch up with Bryce and FINALLY knock over some episodes that we were getting very behind on.

Blacky and I have been experimenting on how long we can eke out the contents of our refridgerator without having to go shopping. Admittedly, the party on the weekend screwed it up a little, but since most of the stuff bought for the party was consumed on the day of the party, I’m not going to let it ruin the sentiment of the challenge. I’m pretty sure we’re about done … there’s frozen bananas, icecream, half a packet of frozen vegies, ground coffee beans, carrots and onions left, which I don’t think can constitute a meal, so I think that Wednesday will be the shopping day.

That’s about it to report today I think. I missed Las Vegas last night because I was working. Came in early today, too … I’m such a dynamo.

Thanks to all m’verygoodfriends for their entirely compulsory attendance at the function to celebrate the anniversary of my birth 25 years ago, yesterday.

Now, however, it’s time to start spruking for a new event … Opera in the Vineyard in May.

Opera In the Vineyard is a charity event held during the May Day longweekend each year in May, organised by Ballandean Estate Winery and the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe.

The Major Beneficiary is the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, and each year a range of other Queensland Charities benefit from the proceeds of the Opera. In 2003, $80,000 was raised during this spectacular one day event. This brings the total amount of funds distributed to Queensland Charities from Opera in the Vineyard to over $500,000 - a magnificent achievement by the Stanthorpe Rotary Club and Ballandean Estate Wines.

Over 2400 people attend the Opera concert each year with 1000 people seated for lunch and 1200 people attending the evening Gala Dinner Dance.
Booking are essential and are taken from mid-February each year. Accommodation in the area books out early, so be sure you arrange accommodation well before the opera.

The sensational artists in 2003 were:
Leanne Kenneally - Soprano
Teresa Fanning - Mezzo Soprano
David Hamilton - Tenor
Leon Warnock - Baritone
Ably accompanied by Kevin Power O.A.M. on Piano

The next Opera in the Vineyard will be MAY 2, 2004.

This year, from what I gather, we will catering our own lunch and dinner on the day, as this always works out better than the mass-catering that Ballandean is otherwise required to do. We head up on the first of May, and back on the 3rd.

Accomodation and tickets need to be sorted very soon … anyone who’s interested should get back to me ASAP. Thanks.

Soccer. It was a really great game, our first big turnout for the year. The regular crew of myself, Blacky, Ash, Dan and Vass were there (Tim couldn’t make it) which makes the minimum 5, but the great news was that John had finally been coerced (sp?) into coming along, and Vass bought another guy Blair, both of whom might become regulars for our Thursday night game. So we had two subs available last night as we played against that team in black who are amazingly fit and run a lot. Anyway, it was a really even game, 3-3 until they scored in the last 5 seconds. Sucks.

I remember when I first started playing indoor soccer, Davo had said that he used to play somewhere, but everyone was rough jerks. Maybe he’d like to sub on for us occasionally? We’re not jerks, and the other teams don’t seem to be either. Just good clean fun, and lots and lots of sweat. Dave? Sweaty men sounds right up your ally. Haha!

I thought of another couple of ideas to add to my birthday wishlist. Soccer goalie gloves. I’ve also been thinking of acquiring a DVD burner for some time now, although it seems like a waste to get a cool new toy like that and then go away for, like, 2 months. That’s two whole months you can’t be playing with it! Like wtf, mates?

People must’ve had enough time to read about the birthday entry by now, so I can make another entry without feeling insecure that it pushed the birthday entry further down the page, right? Oh, and just so people know, it’s not a “party” in the traditional sense of the word … more a “gathering of friends and family to celebrate the anniversary of my birth”.

Great night of television last night, wasn’t it? Skithouse back online, we got to laugh at the idiots on The Resort, and sure, even though we had to tape The Secret Life of Us (herein referred to as TSLOU) to watch My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance (herein referred to as MBFOF) but that just means there’s more killer television to watch tonight! After soccer, which tonight is all about, of course. John’s going to be playing tonight, so that’ll be good. 8:15pm game. Read all about it here, tomorrow morning.

Hey everyone - just a quick note for those few people who ignored the “no present required” and asked if there’s anything I wanted. Well, truth be told, there is … the Lonely Planet guide to Bangkok or Thailand and a DVD player that doesn’t suck spring to mind immediately, but I can always post more as I think of it.

Well, about time I announced a plan I guess. It’s going to be an extremely relaxed affair, but at least there’ll be a swimming pool and airconditioning. You know it makes sense.

Sunday, 22nd February … my place … after 12 …

People are encouraged to turn up at my casa anytime around lunch time. Food will naturally be provided. It’ll be generally lazing about, doing whatever I feel like at any moment in time. Perhaps we’ll all sit around watching porn (no, no, no, I’m just kidding … please still come)

Presents are not expected, but if people could bring a bottle of wine it would be appreciated.

It’s Glenn’s birthday too, and he’ll be there I hope, so remember to wish him a HB. Dave and Julie will have to come, as I still have their thermos and I’m going to America soon, so they’ll never get it back if they can’t free up some of their weekend and join us. Bryce will be in Canberra still, so he won’t make it I don’t think. Woo should do. Mum and Dad I think. Brek will surely be there. Rob and Nadia have been keeping Sunday free for weeks, haven’t you guys? Stavros … you coming? I’ll be there. I think Blacky’ll be there - he does live there after all. Some work colleagues will be there. It’ll be a rockin’ day … don’t miss it.

Back at work wearing jeans that I long thought I’d lost. Brown jeans. I’m so hip.

The big news for me is that I’ve finally found someone who wants to come to America with me … my dad. It’s gonna be great.

Had a great weekend, too … caught up with an old friend for dinner on Friday night, caught an early-morning markets on Saturday, before heading up to the Alexandra Headlands to stay with Leyton, his brother and Tim. Had a hoot … hit the Pig ‘N’ Whistle for dinner and beers, and had a great time. Big thumbs up.

I also visited Grandpa on Sunday with dad, where we had tea at the bribie bowls club. Grandpa is an excellent jelly maker, so jelly and custard was for desert. Here’s an interesting fact: did you know that they no longer sell 2L custard at the shops? Apparently it was going bad before its use-by date and they had to pull them. Now you can only buy 1L bottles of custard. Interesting, no?