PRESENTS!!!!!

Wow, how cool is that?

Mum and Dad are now home, picked them up from the airport last night. Unfortunately, their plane was early, so they were actually waiting for US in the pickup area instead of us waiting forTHEM in the arrivals gate. Oh well. Was a pleasant enough evening, met B&K and kids at home, and mum went through her pile of things they acquired for us all. I love presents.

Blurt

I made this kick-ass pasta sauce last night, and today I share the secret with my dear readers. So I had some leftover roast turkey (which I’ll explain in a minute) so I cut it up and made a tomato-based sauce with it. The secret ingredient? Cranberry sauce. Man it kicked ass.

The weekend just gone was great. Friday night was Coldplay, for which we’ve had tickets for YONKS, Saturday night Blacky and Leyts were going to a buck’s night, and since it was northside and I owed my dogs a visit, I drove them. Christmas in June was a righteous success. Glara hand-made christmas crackers, Brek’s pudding was fabulous, Linda’s eggnog sublime, Leyton’s softdrinks were … late. It was fun. And of course, the most suprising thing is that it came together in a week.

Tonight is poker, at least it will be if I can get some firming up of numbers. I’m assuming Glenn’s out, Leyton claims he’s too gay or something, and Woo’s estimated time back from Rocky is 7pm, so who knows? Steve is keen, Andrew is out, Dave is potentially keen (both Leyton’s friends from Game 1 of the current poker season), Berny is tba, I am in, Blacky is in. My uncle Tim is keen from next week onwards. Maybe we don’t have enough tonight.

Ok, I suppose it’s back to work for you, and me. Till next time.

The zombies are coming

Listen up, human readers. We’ve put entirely too little thought into the whole zombie invasion situation, and I’ve got a feeling that its only a matter of time before the zombie uprising we’re all fearing becomes reality.

If you’re going to be trapped ANYWHERE when the zombies come, be trapped in a hardware store. They’ve got all the lawncare implements you’ll need for zombie beheading, and they’ve also got wood and tools for reinforcing the structure of the hardware store itself.

I checked out a book on Amazon, the Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead and learnt these top 10 tips for surviving a zombie attack:
1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

We shouldn’t be carefree and foolish with our most precious asset—life. How can we ensure survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking us right now without your even knowing it. Is that a risk we can afford to take?

Laptop for Sale

Brand new laptop, RRP $2344.10 … currently $2000. Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested.

Samsung R65TV02 Notebook with Windows XP Pro - Intel Core Duo T-2300 1.66Ghz, Intel 945 PM + ICH7M Chipset, DDR2 533 512MB (1 x 512MB DIMM) Memory (up to 2GB), 80GB (5400rpm) PATA HDD, 15″ XGA Gloss Display, DVD Super Multi Dual Layer Drive, NVIDIA GeForce 7400 64MB Graphics, 1 x PC Card (PCMCIA) Type II slot, 10/100 LAN, Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11abg), V.92 56Kbps Modem, Memory Stick card reader, 1 x (4-pin) IEEE1394, 4 x USB2.0, High Definition Audio, 2 x 2W Speakers, SRS WOW Sound, Optical S/PDIF Out, Headphone Out, Microphone In, Blue Tooth 2.0

http://www.samsung.com/au/products/notebookpcs/notebookpcs/np_r65.asp

Figure it out

Hi everyone, hope your Thursday is going well.

Just a quick note to those panicking on my behalf about the uncertainty of venue for SLC Christmas in June celebrations, venue is officially at my place, not my M&D’s place. Rob W kindly offered the use of his trestle tables, which I’ll cram into my apartment, and make good with the party there.

I’m off to Rob and Nadia’s for dinner tonight actually, although I do have to go via M&D’s to feed the dogs, since Woo left on a road trip today for a couple of days.

I need a map of Europe to plan a little more Oktoberfest goodness. Accomodation is expensive, so I don’t know exactly the best way to plan it. I’ll figure something out.

Making time

Hey there. By now the SLC should have their secret santa recipients in their inbox. If you don’t please contact me asap.

Ok, I’m having a serious crisis of confidence with the location for the Christmas in June thing. If it’s at M&D’s, it’s a bigger venue with more room, but it’s further away, and the over there sucks. At my place, the oven’s ok, but 9 people is beyond the limits I can comfortably accomodate.

Someone tell me their opinion stat!

Put a deposit on the Munich trip yesterday, so it’s all systems go on that front. Godfrey is still keen. I’ve also now ordered my stand, which is another big step. Need to finalize the artwork and get that stuff going asap.

I’m going to Bribie tonight with male rellies for Grandpa’s birthday. Should be a nice enough evening, also Mum will be pleased to hear that we’re making the effort to go ALL THAT WAY to Bribe for an evening. It’s so far, and I’m so busy, but sometimes you just have to make time.

World Cup Christmas

Hi everyone, sorry it’s been so long since I blogged last. I keep thinking it’s because I’m so busy, but that’s probably only part of it. :/

So the biggest news is: Christmas in June.

This was borne of an idea of SLC at Fasta Pasta on Sunday. Next Sunday is the 25th of June, the most logical date for a Christmas in June party that could be imagined. Glara will bring decorations, Brek will bring christmas pudding, a christmas songs CD, and custard, Blacky and I will be providing turkey and roast vegies, Linda and her beau will be bringing eggnog. Leyton, this is the first you’ve heard about it probably - can you bring softdrinks/chips/something?

Ok, also I’d like to propose an alteration to the venue … although not as central to everyone as my place is, my M&D’s place has an enormous table and kitchen, even if the oven does suck. What do people think about going there instead?

Also, the secret santa … I was thinking it could be funnier if you KNOW who your gift is from, so feel free to sign your card. Secret Santa’s are going out today. Remember the $5 maximum!

Ok, also: Coldplay is this Friday, end of financial year fast approaching, Australia’s last shot at staying in the World Cup this Friday morning. How good was the Brazil game? omg, so tense.

animal rights

At Sunday Lunch Club the other day, we were talking about Nick Earls books, specifically “ZigZag Street” which I inadvertently bought another copy of, forgetting that I already read it. In one of the books, the main character talks about a band he used to be in: “Joe Blob and the Spoonerisms”

We had a good chuckle over that, before I mentioned Brad and Angelina’s baby. I can’t believe nobody else at the table had thought about it until now, but the baby’s name is Shiloh (Jolie) Pitt. Spoonerize that. :naughty:

The other great call from Sunday was when we flicked channels during the Rugby, and saw face-transplant surgery in practice. Blacky went “urghhh” and changed the channel. He then saw Gretel on BB, said “urggh” and switched it back to face transplant surgery. Lollerskates.

I dunno if anyone else watched ABC documentary on Harry Harlow, while waiting for the world cup to start, but it made me quite uncomfortable. I know that it was a different time, but I don’t know if I could stand in the same room as this sicko. Apparently this era also birthed the animal rights movement, unsuprisingly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Harlow is the link, if you want to read about how cruel you can be in the name of science.

Soccer was worth staying up for last night, perhaps I’ll wake up early tomorrow to watch the Brazil - Croatia clash, and see any bad news of what’s going to happen to our boys next.

Sunday Lunch Club: the Revival

Announcing the new season of Sunday Lunch Club, starting this Sunday, 12pm at … let’s say … the sushi place? Alternate suggestions? Who can make it? Everyone? :squint:

Slightly hungover

Well, the conference I’m here for is going … on. Not exactly gangbusters, but I think it’s worth it, if for no other reason than delegates getting my promotional material in their conference bags.

Last night, after the conference I went back to the hotel and had a few drinks. In an ironic outcome (at least it seemed ironic to me) I met a girl there and we got on well enough to spend a few hours chatting. And … we’re meeting again tonight for dinner. Nothing beyond that, I’m sure: she is going overseas Monday. It’s just nice to meet someone that you can talk to in a friendly way, rather than a business way.

I woke up slightly hungover this morning, and think I may’ve got free mineral water from the Smart Bar … I just inserted and removed my card, the door unlocked, I took the water, and shut the door, and it said “Card Error”. But I already had the goodies. I don’t know.

So another day today of conference sitting. At least I’ll get some poker in.