Our nation's capital

This weekend saw the man and I take a trip up to Canberra to catch up with some friends. After making sure that the kittenats were looked after we caught a nice big plane up there. Only took an hour, right after we flew over Albury we started descending which was pretty crazy. I think flying from Canberra to Albury would be interesting...do they just drive the plane there?

Once we got there we were picked up by Liz who dropped us off at Questacon after trying to convince us to take her car, we insisted on walking to the war memorial. More on that later.

Anyway Questacon is still great. The best bit was the six metre free fall which I hadn't been on before. From the ground it looks high. From the top it is absolutely terrifying.
I remembered while climbing the ladder behind the man that I'm a teensy bit scared of heights. Only heights where I don't feel safe. What you do on the slide of death is climb up, dangle out holding onto a bar above your head (like you would if you were about to do a chin-up) and then you just let go. I'll repeat that, you just let go.

After the man had jumped, I said to the girl up the top...'um I don't think I can do this' and she said 'you don't have to! just walk back down'. Just walk back down? ... Um, no. The taunting and the unrelenting teasing facing me at the bottom of the ladder would be 100 times worse than the zero gravity halfway down that slide. So I ventured out, and there I am - dangling. Watching the man- grinning at me from six measley metres below. Then I realised that while my hot, sweaty slippery hands were strong enough to hold me up there..dangling - they weren't strong enough to pull me back in. There it was - the terrifying realisation that I would have to, in fact, let go.

So I let go, and halfway down my face felt like it would fall off - but in a good way. It was heaps of fun and I decided then and there that I wanted MORE, MORE of this shaky shaky feeling and fun!!! Then I stood up and started laughing and when the guy asked if I wanted to go again...I said HELL NO!

That was pretty much Questacon - lots of cool fun things but no more adrenaline. After we'd finished we checked out their cafe as we were getting peckish...all though I'd decided that healthy was going to have to put the curb for the weekend..I wasn't about to subject myself to the horrors that presented themselves in the dark depths of hell that was their bain marie. The man however, accustomed to eating day(s) old cheeseburgers ordered some hot chips. I think he ate about three, then threw them in the bin.

So we set off on our quite long walk around lake burley griffin to the war memorial. Where, I reasoned, good food would reside. After all, its a classy kind of place. By the time we got there, subsisting on three mentos I had in my bag..we were both pretty hungry. However we pushed hunger to the wayside and started in on the war memorial. Which was brilliant. You definitely do appreciate it more when you're older. I'm still in shock about the 'midget' submarine recovered from Sydney Harbour. 'Midget' is obviously a term used quite loosely. I just thought they had problems finding them because they were so small! They're huge!!! Obviously whoever was looking was having a 'man's look'. Or the harbour is big.

Anyway half way around after my stomach had started eating itself we saw a sign for a cafe. So far on our trip the cafe's in Canberra were failing miserably. I'm sure if I wanted some caramel slice or some hedgehog it might have impressed me. But I wanted food...and some congealed pasta wasn't going to cut it (yay I finally found something that perfectly fitted the word congealed)!

After we'd finished we sat out in the sunshine and ate a bag of chicken chips the man had, which we rationed out between us. While we waited for liz to pick us up we relaxed in the sun. Until a bus full of tourists turned up. They promptly swarmed around us and one guy who had his shirt off sat down next to us while his friend started snapping photographs. Not being racist but they were Asian and it did really really annoy me. Firstly, you ask if you can take someone's picture. Secondly, you should only have your shirt off if you are somewhat ripped. Thirdly, and of all the things you should never, ever do - is pee on a tree outside a war memorial. Really, you shouldn't. Like I said, if it was dark and you'd had a few, then peeing in public is a pretty common occurence in Australia. But at four in the afternoon in broad daylight when there are toilets less than fifty metres away and you think its the funniest thing ever...

If the man hadn't of had those chicken chips I'm pretty sure he would have piffed the golf ball he'd just found at him. Luckily liz turned up then and we went back to her place for dinner. We actually stayed in as we were both incredibly tired...think we were in bed by 10:30!

- tbc.

Diagnosis: Probably Runners Knee

So I finally went to a sports doctor about my knee. I haven't been running at all since early January and have been resting my knee by using non-impact equipment at the gym. But the gym is a lot more expensive than running outside and it just means I rarely get out at all now, what with living and working across the road from a train station. I've developed a fluorescent tan. Its not a good look.

Anyway the doctor played around with my knee, and caused me considerable pain too - its hurting now and it only ever used to hurt when I ran anywhere. He said its probably Runner's knee which is supposedly easily treatable - and the cool runners page on the topic has made me feel better already.

Just in case its not runner's knee though, I have to have an MRI. A very expensive MRI. What is the deal with these things? Its $250 which is a pretty penny in my books, and thats $250 out of pocket too. Also I have to go all the way to Prahan to get it done!

Actually I went to Prahan the other day for work and I had lunch at the lucky coq - $3 pizzas is a pretty good deal.

But still....thats $253* dollars y'know. AND while I'm ranting. WHY are we paying $125 a month for private health insurance when I still have to fork out money for expensive scans. Scans I might add that if the man put his mind to it he could probably rig up through the microwave. We don't use it much anyway!

- Ouch
* Because if I'm there I might as well get a $3 pizza.

Connex? Is that..you?

Just received an sms alert from Connex. I'm very scared and very freaked out.

I've been scouring the internet and finally found posts on the whirlpool forums about it.

But wow.

-----

ALLAHU AKBR FROM CONNEX! our inspectorS Love Killing people - if you see one coming, run. Want to bomb a train? they will gladly help! See you in hell!

-----

Scary huh?

Might walk to work on Monday.

- Jen

Am I more than you bargained for yet?

So the lack of posting this week comes down to nothing except I've been (or we've been) way too busy. Somehow, in my head, planning an engagement party was a piece of cake. Oh god! Cake! Do we need cake?

Right, cake. Add that to the list.

While I've been thinking and adding things to 'the list', the man has been doing. He started his PhD on Monday and in between reading big heavy books he somehow managed to go and get samples of paper to start doing invites. It's pretty paper too, very surprising. Not that I assumed a man would go and buy paper with..I don't know, trucks on it or something but to select the kinds I pictured in my head was....well... surprising!

So now that we've established I'm sexist. He's also done example invitations and well we've pretty much got the invites covered. Thanks, the man.

Of course, putting names on those invites is another matter altogether. If John Howard thought he had political problems we can swap jobs for the weekend. Playing the game of 'I want to invite 'these people' but oh GOD if we invite them, we'll have to invite 'THEM'. Interestingly the words 'Mum and Dad' fit nicely into the 'these people' and 'Michelle'* fits into the 'THEM'.

He he. Kidding.

Obviously its a tricky thing though, not wanting to offend anyone, and not wanting to have to live off the mushrooms in our hair** for the next twenty years.

Anyway this morning I woke up feeling less than average and after dragging myself to my 'super circuit' class I decided that work today, was not for me. So I came home and went back to bed. I also scraped all my knuckles boxing. Ouch.

Now I'm taking advantage of a day off to relax (work on invites) and to go to the QV market to get some fresh fish.

- Jen
* My sister
** Black books reference.

My Funny - and Happy - Valentine

I got asked a question today.

After much, are you serious' and I don't believe you's and a few oh my god's, and a few very worried looks on the man's face.


I said yes.

Blog(ger) Spot

I know, check out the title - I'm clever.

Today 4:50pm, Parliament Station, a very hurried looking Daniel Bowen steps off the Werribee train, then breaks into a light jog to catch whatever the next train was he was after.

I had just enough time to go 'hey! that's Daniel Bowen - the infamous blog author and public transport activist'...I felt like I'd seen a celebrity.

I need to use the internet less :-)

- Jen

There is no use pretending thats there's hope for you and me

Oh I'm not talking about the man. I'm still in my vista rage. It got worse. Much worse. Do you know what those grey coated gnats over at Microsoft have done? Vista BROKE my ipod shuffle. Thats right, its CORRUPTED.

It's still under warranty luckily, and the guy down at the apple shop restored it successfully on his computer but when I take it home to vista I get errors galore.

So now the gym sucks and so does the train. Today I actually noticed the kind of people on my train and not being in the normal hazy mood I'm usually in when I have music I thought I was going to get robbed (of course they couldn't steal my ipod - because its broken). I felt like telling the kid with the nintendo ds in front of me to go and sit where there were more people because I was sure they were going to steal it. Of course they wouldn't do that when I was there because of my massive guns* which I've been sculpting at the gym.

I'm definitely in a rage now. I'm trying to convince the man that Microsoft has done this on purpose. I mean don't you think its just a little bit strange that an apple product gets corrupted? I'd buy a Zune and test that of course but Vista doesn't support it (or have they fixed that now?)

- Bitter Jen.

p.s. I was kidding about getting a zune.

* Grandma - I don't really have guns, its a nickname for my 'huge' arm muscles. I may also refer to them as cannons.

vista: the visual percept of a region;

JentopiaVista
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

The visual percept? My percept? It's pretty. But its another perfect example of Microsoft's stupidity. Like Vista not supporting Microsoft's answer to the ipod (Zune), MSN doesn't work. It - doesn't - work.

I'm pretty tired, I'll give Vista that, I'm worn out, it's been a long day. I plugged in my ipod only to have iTunes tell me 'hey lets erase your shuffle Jen because didn't you just get it all nice and updated?'...after much stamping of feet I did that. Fine - fresh computer, new itunes...new ipod. FINE!

Log into MSN. Oh, sorry Jen. MSN doesn't work. There is nothing on the internet to make it work. It's a firewall problem apparently (yes I checked MSN is an exception on the firewall). I updated MSN, stamped my feet some more. Googled the problem black and blue and STILL it refuses to co-operate.

This of course frustrates Vista Lover (the man) no end because he loves Vista. I'm sitting here making disparaging remarks about something he's growing quite attached to. You can't really knock how easy its been to network everything. I'll give it that - if it gives me back my MSN! TWO WAY STREET VISTA!

So yes, it looks pretty. But so far, its been a real Connex of a system use.

- Jen

Why uncoordinated people shouldn't be allowed in gyms

This morning I went to one of the many 'calorie burning' programs at the gym I joined. I was obviously out of my mind when I ventured into the class and I clearly did not read the class description. Body-Step...I just totally blocked out the step thing. I pictured me - getting fit. Not me...stepping. Lots of stepping. You wouldn't believe the different kinds of stepping there is. Silly me thought it was your basic two step. Thats up-step, and down-step.

Not side to side, twisting, kicking, jumping and hopping on your head step. Ok the last one was a lie. Although there was a whole hour of stepping, it could have been in there somewhere.

It didn't really do a lot for me cardio wise, I probably do better in the gym. A lot of the other people there looked knackered so maybe I'm not as unfit as I thought. The pushups at the end got me though.

Still it was actually fun and although initially I was ready to walk, once I realised no-one cares, and everyone got a bit lost and made it up too - I enjoyed myself a little. The instructor said at the end I did well (she did drop a 'for your first time in there though') and I think I'll make it a regular sunday morning thing. Gee because if I don't go every week...there's going to be so many new stepping moves I'll be totally lost.

- Jen

Doctor 'The Man'

'The man' found out on Friday he's been accepted to do a PhD at Melbourne Uni. Yay for 'the man'!!

Of course he pointed out that he'll then be a 'doctor' and have even more degrees than me. I can't see myself doing a PhD in Taxation anytime soon.

- Jen

A feeling of thoughtful sadness.

What is Melancholy?

Now, with nothing to occupy my time and my mind...I am of course looking for things to do.

Things that don't cost too much money. That's why I tried to stay away from Highpoint this weekend. Any dream of going overseas anytime soon gets quashed everytime we visit that place. We come home with 'things we "need" that we don't really need'.

Saturday was no exception when we picked up our nice wooden filing cabinet (3 drawers...hard to find), a food processor, an iron and an ironing board. I finally gave up any hope of finding my iron* (practically brand new and still in box) that disappeared somewhere between my parents house and moving to Melbourne.

We needed a food processor because unlike the electric mixer we already have, it doesn't cut the mustard when it comes to...well processing things (dates, as I discovered the other day).

Saturday afternoon we spent a not unpleasant time ..filing. Oh yes...for us highly organised souls it was heaven. Not quite but it was fun/weird going through my old payslips from Coles. In one particular fortnight I earned $400. Woo!

What I got up to this morning I'll write about in another post. But this afternoon...I was pretty miserable. The usual back and forth of "what do you want to do" "I dunno, what do you wanna do" "I dunno", got irritating surprisingly fast. It was then that I had to point out to the man that while I'm not an overly social being, I do need some kind of outside social interaction. S-O-O-N

So this afternoon instead of sitting down in front of the tv and watching yet another episode of 'that 70's show' (4 seasons on dvd!) we went to Coles, bought some popcorn and lollies, picked out a movie we own that we haven't yet watched (...yes its true we do own dvd's we haven't watched yet) - it was the princess bride if you're interested, pulled out the fold out sofa and watched that. It was nice but as the man so kindly pointed out - not exactly social interaction with outside people. Unless you count the cashier at Coles.

Luckily one of our neighbours came by (not 'Thumper' or 'dodgy renter') and we chatted to him for awhile and we're going out for pizza after our body corporate meeting on Tuesday. I'm also starting work in the city tomorrow and I'm sure friday night drinks will do a lot to satisfy any socialising I need to be doing. Hopefully.

- Jen
* Don't ask how I survived six months without an iron. I didn't. Dry cleaning work clothes and not ironing anything else is a real time saver. Not really cost effective though.

Why you shouldn't make plans

If you make plans things will go wrong. Or awry is a better word. Things like, oh running in the Melbourne Marathon.

I ran into docklands a couple of weeks ago and walked back out through the city and since then I've been having knee issues. I've tried resting it for more than a week, just no running and yesterday went for a little teeny weeny jog (jog I repeat) around the block..and it felt worse.

So today I went and signed up to a gym. Not one of those little $7 a year gyms you get in Albury either. No-no. Try $48 a month - yes ...a MONTH. Ouch. But it has all the classes, looks like a great gym, aquatic centre (pools, sauna, spa etc), personal trainer blah blah blah.

Its one of those awful direct debit things too. Anyway I'll try that for a month and then maybe re-introduce running outside once a week then. Grrrr.

Bit unsure about these classes. I think I'm more worried about the fact that maybe I'm really actually terribly unfit or something. But they will probably be good motivation.

Wish me luck!

- Jen

Jentopia on TV!

jentopia_on_tv
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

- Not really. It's jentopia on the wii. Nintendo recently released a browser (opera) for the wii, so we now have the internet on our tv!

- Jen

Crossing things off lists

I like making lists. Sometimes it stresses me out (at uni: "Oh god I have so much to do by next week"), sometimes it makes me less stressed to see things broken down 'step-by-step'.

Something that has been on my list for a long time has been rolling over my super. Luckily I only have three funds that I needed to put into my current fund. But its still, one of those things you put off. It wasn't that hard.

Happy Dad?

I also rang our new body corporate (we fired our old one) and had a little chat to the guy who is running it. He seems pretty nice and straight up and down.

What else? Oh yes, I even made it to the post office! I'm good at writing letters..just not sending them.

- Jen.

Knob spotting

So we were out to dinner tonight at Lemon Soul (Puckle St, Moonee Ponds) and who do we see at the table next to us? Brendan Fevola (aka the knob).

Word of advice Brendan:

+ get a haircut
+ shave
+ don't wear purple, purple is for chicks.

- Jen

The new bananas

Is asparagus the new banana? I noticed they're $5 a bunch in my local fruit & vegie shop today!! Of course this could be good old supply and demand. I know I'm not demanding that much asparagus.

- Jen

Nelly (not the rapper)

I had the unfortunate luck to standing next to the phone tonight (while the man was on the toilet no less) when his not at all evil step mother robyn rang with the sad news that they'd had to get one of their cats Nelly put down today. It wasn't unfortunate that I answered the phone, only that the man was indisposed and so I had to be the one to tell him. I tell you waiting for that toilet to flush was hard. I think I took it worse than him. I am a girl though!

- Jen

Tired and bored also..well more tired than bored

Pinched this from Ren,


1) What side of the heart do you draw first? Bottom left to top
2) Can you dive without plugging your nose? No, not really
3) What color is your razor? 'tis pink
4) What is your blood-type?A+
5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours? Probably the man
6) What does the underwear you’re wearing right now look like? They have snoopy on them
7) How do you feel about carrots? Big fan. good steamed or just eaten raw (unpeeled too!)
8) How many chairs at the dining room table?..none! - we don't have one yet
9) Which is the best Spice girl? I have no clue but whatever happened to Sporty Spice?
10) Do you know what time it is?It's after 7pm and we're supposed to be going out soon!
11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince Theme Song? Ha, yes I think so.
12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator? I often think it wouldn't be that bad..as long as someone knew I was there..actually there wouldn't be food, or a toilet. Um, I guess I'd spend my time FREAKING OUT!
13) What’s your favorite kind of gum? Probably just extra (the blue one though..spearmint it awful!)
16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning? I seem to have more of a problem of pronouncing the words incorrectly
17) Do you like to sleep? Sure do.
18) Who are two people that know EVERYTHING about you? Probably the man and jase
19) Do you know the song When it was Me?.no!
20) Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 Mustang? Not particularly.
21) What’s something you’ve always wanted? I don't know!! Wow. I have no idea. Right now I'd like to go overseas but its not something I've always wanted! I also want a bike.
22) What’s your favorite color Pixi Stick? I have no idea what that is.
23) Ever done something scandalous with whipped cream? Nope
24) Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake? Ocean!
25) Do you wear a lot of black? Yeah but not because I'm what is it..a goth or anything. I just seem to have acquired a lot of black.
26) Describe your hair? Shoulder length, brown, recently trimmed.
27) Do you have Entomophobia? (fear of insects) No, not a big spider fan though.
28) Are you an adult? Not really!
29) Where is/are your best friend(s)? One's in Albury, one's in canberra
30) Do you have a tan? I'm not totally pale but not as brown as I usually am in summer. It seems to be harder to tan under fluorescent lights.
31) Are you an internet addict? Yeah just a little bit. I can quit anytime...ANYTIME I WANT!
32) Do you enjoy spending time with your mother? I suppose so, she's pretty funny.
33.) Are you a sugar freak? I wouldn't say so.
34) Do you like orange juice? I don't dislike it.
35) What sign are you? Aries
36) Where do you wish you were right now? 15 minutes back in time straightening my hair because now I'm running L-A-T-E!


- Jen

Inscaturity.

Inscaturity.
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Does this cat look insecure? No?

THEN STOP PEEING ON OUR BED!

1989 - 2007

That's how long I've been studying for. If you count primary school, high school, four years at uni and this year. Without a gap.

As of tomorrow (hopefully) I will have finished the grad program when I sit my last test(Capital Gains Tax - International Aspects). We worked out the other day that we've done around 60 of these tests this year. Some were easy...some not so easy. One I felt physically ill after - uniform capital allowances was a bit rushed for time. They're not like uni exams at all, I think the longest we've had is a bit more than 2 hours for a written test. Most are on computer and go from 30-40 minutes with 10 - 20 questions. The 40 minutes with 20 questions are not so good if there are calculations involved. I've been lucky in that I've only failed two, but fringe benefits tax? I mean really. What benefit is a fringe? Best friend still laughs about the time I had a fringe and a wasp got stuck in it. Tax or hair -they're good for nothing!

So anyway no more study for awhile, I might do a masters of taxation next year but some time off sounds great. $10 says in a month I'll be posting on here about how bored I am and how I'm worried about climate change (because by then I'll need something to stress about).

The man and I are thinking about taking a little trip somewhere soon either to Canberra or maybe just Lakes Entrance or somewhere like that. Suggestions?

- Jen

Hooley dooley!

Was not what I actually said out loud when I first saw this. It was more like the expanded version of a common internet abbreviation.

Now and then

Drains
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

There was an article in the Herald Sun today about 'cotton wool kids'. How parents these days don't let their kids go anywhere alone, don't let them ride billycarts and those new trampolines with the protective wall around them so you can't fall off, party games where every kid wins a prize, how kids don't lose at anything anymore. I also read an article recently in The Age about sweets (lollies) and how some of them have just disappeared.

I got thinking and if I had kids...I'm not sure I'd let them do half the stuff we did. I thought for a moment maybe my parents were really relaxed. Until I remembered that it probably wasn't that they let us do the things we did, rather they didn't actually know about it.

Things like using the stormwater drains as a quick way to get around..unless of course it was raining because I'd heard a "story" about a boy at school who was in one and it rained and this massive tidal wave of water came bearing down on him as he was innocently strolling along in the drain. Amazingly he survived and with not a scratch on him. It was always fun to run outside at Nan's when it had been pouring down and seeing how turbulent the water in the drain next to her house was when it did actually fill with water.

Wow back in the days when it actually rained.

There was the extraordinarily long bike rides, the sitting by the railway line waiting for a train to come along, the horrendous amount of lollies eaten like fags, sherbet bombs, redskins, milkos, musk sticks, fizzoes (not a fan), wizz fizz, fruit tingles (also not a fan), vice versas, mates, chocolate frogs (the big chunky ones not skinny little freddos), jersey caramels, spearmint leaves, strawberries and cream..the list goes on...oh! and sherbies and milkshakes!

Actually I'm pretty sure you can still get all of those except the 'vice versas'. They were an Allen's lolly some were white chocolate on the outside and milk on the inside...and vice..versa. Growing up having relatives working at the Allen's (now Nestle) factory in Broadford was pretty good.

I didn't do much billycarting as a kid only once down a hill near a friends place as billy carts were pretty much an antique even then. Rollerblading was huge though! I remember right before best friends 10th birthday I got my rollerblades and we spent all night rollerblading around the outside (and through) her house; because of course EVERYONE at the party had rollerblades. We got a trampoline (sorry 'tramp' for Christmas one year. I don't remember falling off that particular one but I remember my sister falling off one at someone's birthday party.

Might I add besides crashing into the letterbox on rollerblades and breaking her wrist the worst injury she probably sustained in her childhood was due to an incident involving her head, the car boot, and the boot closing. On her head.

Now my tastes have changed* and I don't eat many lollies, although I still love milkos! I don't ride a bike anymore although if I had one down here I would - not as a means of transportation of course but for exercise. Bit of a difference.

Post your differences in the comments section! I'm a lot younger than most of the people I know who read this so I'm sure there are a lot better examples out there! Er ok...or you could just click here and read this.

- Jen

* I'm a chocoholic.

Shame shame shame

On the old guy watering his ROOF this morning at 6:20am when I ran past. I know people are proud of their gardens and sneak out for some early morning stealth watering, but watering your roof?

Come on!

2006 - a year in review

I always like watching those end of year things on tv where they show all the big things that happened during the year, there is always huge things that you have forgotten that make you go 'oh YEAH - THAT happened'. We watched one last night and of course I was prepared for Steve Irwin but had forgotten about Belinda Emmett so that made me sad.

uh hum..anyway I thought I'd do my own year in review.

January

- Turned into a professional bludger living with the man in between finishing uni and starting work.
- Wrestled with Centrelink over why I had to apply for jobs when I already had one and I just hadn't started yet and WHY WON'T YOU JUST GIVE ME THE MONEY aargh!
- The man got robbed.

February

- Back to Albury, started work (what is this funny stuff in my bank account - oh right, thats money)
- Decided to grow my nails

March

- Nails needed for nervous chewing
- Threw a 'kegger' for jase's birthday
- Began to contemplate purchasing property
- Get an $1100 fine for 'not attending jury duty' or some such rubbish
- My birthday!

April

- Saw Dylan Moran live
- Found out I got a transfer to Melbourne starting in June
- Graduated uni!

May

- Interest rates rise 0.25%, NAB raises the rates on my personal loan by 1%, bye bye NAB.
- The man and I's two year anniversary
- Dogs eat graduation photos

June

- Jase leaves for Falls Creek, bet each other $250 we can't grow our nails
- Moved to melbourne
- Start training in call centre

July

- SWAT team outside our house because of a 'small disturbance' across the road
- Start to detest working in call centre
- Move into apartment

August

- Ran lake attack fun run
- Ipod erased itself (yes this IS an important event thankyou very much)

September

- Wedding and a funeral in two weeks
- Grand final bbq at Tony and Rae's
- Started 3rd rotation at work (e-s-c-a-p-e-d the call centre)

October

- Went to army open day (shot stuff)
- Cam leaves for airforce

November

- Lots of study and not a lot of blogging!

December

- November + Christmas food + kittens = bad blogger!

The hot new reality tv show called..

"Oh my god I locked my keys in the car".

After a late night on Christmas Eve and getting up early to open presents, go to mass etc I was pretty tired. After leaving home to drive to Berrigan after Christmas lunch, I was pretty sad. After driving from Albury to Berrigan (well sitting while the man drove), I was both tired and sad.

So when the man's nephew Zeke was chasing me - armed with some kind of rubber ball firing gun toy I chose to hide in the car (and locked myself in it). There I was, safe from rubber ball attack with the added bonus of seeing Zeke's frustration while I kicked back and relaxed in the car.

30 seconds later...

I was bored but Zeke stubbornly remained sitting next to the passenger side door. I climbed over into the drivers side, grimaced as I sat on the car keys lying on the seat, quietly unlocked the door, opened it, quietly relocked the door, slammed it shut and then went:

"oh CRAP".

Yes, I had locked not only my car keys but also the spare in the car (it was in the man's wallet which was in my handbag, which was in the car). Keep in mind we are on a farm miles (kilometers??) from anywhere. I was too shocked to be upset because seriously...how stupid am I! Within seconds I had five males standing around the car telling me how easy it will be to get them out. I have to say I was a little skeptical. Firstly the locks are those square push down jobs, not the ones that are easy to hook a coat hanger on. Secondly, well cars aren't supposed to be easy to break into. I'm pretty sure thats a key design specification.

15 minutes later...

Cars are easy to break into. It took a spatula, some tape and some banging of the car door but eventually the lock popped up.

The best thing was we got the final moments on the man's younger sister Breanna's video camera she got for Christmas! It was nail biting, on the edge of your seat kind of stuff. The suspense as the lock slowly, slowly slid up, the waiting for the 'click' as it popped up. There was also nature to battle as Australia's fly population descended on us.

Good stuff!

- Jen

Trouble disguised as cute

Trouble
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Looking after two kittens is a lot like having two tiny furry babies, minus the actual birth, the crying and the breastfeeding.

Although Schroddy does squeak but I'd take that over a baby crying anyday,

So far only two 'accidents' both by Schroddy. One on Cam's beanbag. Y'know - beanbags do feel an awful lot like kitty litter. Hence beanbag is now stored away from kitten reach. As is their...bed which is also apparently poop-worthy. As a result last night they slept on a towel, in their carrier.

FUN!

- Jen

A long, long time ago...I can still remember when

...I used to update my blog.

But then I got really busy, with work and study and Christmas and ...life.

Then I thought about ALL the things that had happened and thought how am I possibly going to be able to blog about all THAT! So I put it off, and put it off until...today.

Today we got kittens. Thats right, kittens - plural. A most blog worthy event! A few pictures are up on flickr but they move so darn quick its hard to get a photo! The grey tabby is called Matilda and the tabby is Schrodinger (or Schroddy for short). Click here for an explanation of the name. They are hilarious and are bouncing all over the place save for the brief 40 minute nap they took just before.

I'll start updating about the rest in smaller posts.

- Jen

Slack Jack

I know, I know. I've been very slack.

Updates coming soon, I promise.

Right now we're off to collect some new ADDITIONS to the family.

- Jen

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Wait. Is it?

Today I got out of bed early - and yes, for once it was a struggle because I went to be around 2am. Thankyou, Wii.

I got to Highpoint around 9:30am and got a park, actually there were oodles of parks. I had a list of what I needed to get, mostly it was for the man because we'd almost finished our family presents. I also had to finish getting best friends presents.

While I was in one particular store collecting the things on my list for the man the song 'all you need is love' by The Beatles was playing. I like the song, and it made me stop and think just how crazy all this Christmas stuff is. The man doesn't want anything for Christmas - and I actually think he is telling the truth. To be honest, I'm not that fussed either. Sure I like getting stuff but its getting a bit ridiculous.

Personally I tend to like buying people lots of smaller gifts because that way they have a better chance of liking something I give them.

But the science behind buying presents is mind boggling. I think the thing that bothers me is when you miscalculate the amount you spend on a person e.g. if I buy someone a present and then the present they give you is obviously more than what you spent on them or worse, they've put more thought into it. What I think is happening is that to avoid this happening people are just spending more money! 'Joe's probably going to spend $50 on me..ah HA well I'll spend $70 and cover myself'. It's pretty much just hedging, insurance if you will. Except it doesn't really work.

So how ridiculous is it getting? I had about three people to buy for and I got home at 2:30pm. Thats 5 hours of shopping. Five HOURS. Not including all the other shopping we've already done. That's also not including recovery time (oh god I need to sit down before I collapse), wrapping time (take a normal persons average present wrapping time and multiply by five) etc etc.

It's always a nice feeling giving presents though. Or when someone doesn't ask for anything in particular but you find a present that suits them perfectly and you know they will love. Not like the presents you're not quite sure about but you just hope the person is a good liar.

- Ah, Christmas.

Jen
p.s. Also another good thing about Christmas, leaving the shopping centre and giving someone frantically driving around the 'eye' - like "I'm a walking park, follow me to the jackpot". Or seeing two people fighting over your park when you leave..thats a little bit fun too.

Hazy Shade of Something

Smoke 2
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

I'm not the first person to make a post about this, (see Tony and Daniel) but seriously - check out the smoke! Daniel has a great picture of the smoke around the city.

Took the photo this morning after I got up and opened the bathroom window only to be able to actually smell the smoke.

It's 37 degrees outside right now, inside we don't even have the air con on. Guess the one thing the apartment has got going for it is that its not heating up much.
- Jen

Vege Pizza

Vege_Pizza
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Not your typical 'vege pizza'.

This was concoted by the man last night. Make a normal pizza base; 1 1/2 cup p.flour, 1/4 tsp salt, pinch sugar, 1 tsp yeast, 2 tsp oil, 3/4 cup warm water. Knead into pizza base

Cook the base until it is firm (240 degrees).

Spread vegemite over base, top with shredded cheese. Cook until cheese melts.

Eat (or in my case, spit out).

- Jen

It pays to be patient (well it should anyway)

Parliament Station
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Yesterday I needed to get home from the city by 1pm (we were expecting a delivery between 1pm and 6pm that we couldn't miss). So I left work at midday (giving me an HOUR to get home). Actually less than that because I'd planned to grab stuff for lunch at the supermarket because I'm hungry- but I digress.

Anyway so I get to parliament station and its a 20 minute wait for Broadmeadows train. Great. So I sit down and glare at the timetable screens for a bit..consider walking back up and getting on a tram instead..decide against it. Then I get sick of waiting and decide that with my new found melborientation* that I could easily jump on the next train (Upfield line) and get off at Flemington Bridge station, then jump on a tram up Mt Alexander Rd. It's bulletproof!

So I get off at Flemington Bridge and get to the tram stop only to see its a 15 minute wait for a tram. You have GOT to be joking. Its now 12:30. Then its starts pouring rain. There's no shelter at this tram stop. The tram arrives. People get on and off at EVERY stop up Mt Alex Rd.

Get off tram at 12:58, sprint home. Nice and wet and starving.

Package arrives - 3:30pm. If I had of been patient and waited for the Broadie train I would have been home earlier, drier and probably in a considerably better mood.

- Jen

* This too is totally a real word

Wii Wii's

Today while diligently completing our Christmas shopping the man and I found a Nintendo Wii display set up at Highpoint. For those who don't know, the Wii is Nintendo's next generation console and will be competing with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and when it's released, Sony's Playstation 3.

The man has had a Wii on preorder for awhile now and I can't say I've been too excited about it before but after playing the Wii. I'm just as excited or MORE excited than he is! We had a go of tennis and although the man shamelessly slaughtered me at it, it was amazing! It has been a long time since I've actually had real FUN playing a console. The Wii controller (or wiimote) has some kind of motion sensing doobalacky* in it so when we played tennis we used the wiimote as if it was a tennis racquet! I even managed to have a go at a lob!

Not long now as the Wii comes out December 7th (I know I should be ashamed at taking the day off work - but I'm NOT!)

- Jen

* Is TOO a real word

That kind of afternoon

It's been that kind of afternoon, where you have no plans (or nothing urgent) so you end up sleeping on the couch. If I had my eyes open I'd be watching cricket - and then I'd be bored.

Apparently its growing in popularity as the man is currently engaging in exactly the same activity, although sadly he tends to spend more of his time actually watching the cricket.

To be fair I am pretty tired. Yesterday I worked as an election official, ticking off names, guarding the ballot boxes (I do too have the right build to be a guard!), and keeping the crowd in line as queue controller. Except there was NO crowds. We had people lined up once all day. Apparently they have changed the location of the polling booth from last time so no one knew where to go. The Glenbervie booths were apparently inundated with thousands of people. So I had nothing to do all day. Even better, when polls closed it only took us 2 hours to count!
I was tired though. Started at 7:30 and got home a bit after 8:30pm. Then this morning we bit the bullet and started and got through a lot of our Christmas shopping which is really good.

Anyway, I'd best be off, as obviously I have nothing to post, and I should probably get outside for some fresh air.

- Jen

Once more with feeling

Don't let the silence get you down,
Though you've been sittin' here for hours,
Hoping a voice could soon be found
That speaks much louder that this music.

If you're a little off colour and,
Out for the count, Don't let it get you down.

Don't let the talking keep you up,
If they're your friends they share your vision,
And as the phone ring breaks the silence they figure out that you don't want to answer.

If you're a little off colour and
Tired of the sounds
Don't let it get you down.

Don't let the people make you think
That just because you're young you're useless
You know it's not naive to think that you can change the things around
And that no man is an island.

For I'd rather be a pebble than
An ocean vast and dry
Alone they make no sounds

- 'Get cape, wear cape, fly'.

Hook turns, no, not THAT Hook

CaptainHook
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Tonight (or this morning technically) I dropped the man and a friend off in the city. This would be about the third time I've driven 'IN the city', not just on the outskirts (i.e. as far as the royal melbourne hospital where the man works). The other three times I've obviously never had to turn right. This happens after dropping off the man and I'm left to learn these new hook turn thingos. The way the man described it, I wait until the light turns orange, then I go. Sounds pretty easy? Things were good until the light had turned red and then I started questioning the vision of the car in front of me. The light is RED...RED!!! Not to mention the police right there.

When I got home from my adventure I hopped onto vicroads website which politely informed me that when executing a hook turn you wait until the light of the street you are turning into goes GREEN.

Makes SO much more sense now. So much SAFER too!!

Ah well, another thing learnt. I'm glad the man is out on the town!!

- Jen

Hot Chocolate Weather

Well in my case, a hot milo. I was craving one all day at work (and I could have had one...the tin is sitting right on my desk) but I thought, nope, I'm going to savour this milo - when I'm home in my trackies parked on the couch. So I am. Ahhhh.

All day at work I was watching the rain drizzle down, followed by the sun, followed by hail, sun, rain, sun, rain, hail - all in the space of a half hour mind you.

Well, two tests tomorrow so I'd better go finishing catching up on forums and blogs so I can study... (oh yeah I KNOW how much sense that made).

- Jen

Numero Uno (at least according to Google)

Today I googled 'jentopia'. I was pleasantly surprised to see that 'jentopia' has hit number one, and number two in rank.



Woo for me!

Take that...jentopia cats!

Lethargic adj : deficient in alertness or activity

The definition of lethargic according to Google. I've been in a bit of a funk this past week and have struggled to come up with something to post about. Its not like nothing has been happening, we went back to Albury, went to the Berrigan Cup etc but nothing that motivated to get on here and tell the world about it. I also didn't run for more than a week and that didn't help matters! But I'm back on the running, back to work (no more call centre!) and am looking at the last month of study for a good while. If I go back and do more study (I'm thinking about doing a masters in taxation at some stage) it won't be next year. Next year should hopefully be study free. I need a break!!

Well not much to write about, better go get some study done so I feel like I've wasted the day away.

- Jen

He's flown the coop!

Officer_Cadet_Cam
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Pictured - is our housemate (or our now temporary housemate). I've known Cam a couple of weeks longer than I've known the man. I FIRST met Cam when he was in Albury visiting Gus and Laura, but it was only a brief hello as he was just a stranger having coffee with them.

Skip forward a couple of weeks when the same guy answers the door of a house in Melbourne. Imagine meeting someone so briefly and then having to figure out firstly HOW you could possibly know them when they CLEARLY live in Melbourne and how you can TELL that they know you know that you have no idea who they are.

It took him a good twenty minutes before he saved me. So in short Cam and the man have lived together for a few years now, me having been mostly visiting for the past two. All of us moving in together in the apartment has been...interesting to say the least.

The usual housemate issues I guess, and if you multiply that by the fact that Cam's been living with probably the TWO neatest people in the world, then he's probably been doing pretty well. Of course factor into the equation that the two neatest people in the world OWN the apartment he's moved into....then he's doing REALLY well.

But he's off now to be an officer in the airforce and will come out an air traffic controller (so he wouldn't want to fall asleep on the job).

Hopefully we'll see him weekends as he is still 'living' here and hopefully before the man and I have realised the full extent of our cleanliness. Everyone needs a 'Jase' to bring them back to earth.

- Jen

Ah the serenity

The View
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

'The man' and I splashed out and bought ourselves a digital camera. Please do not remind me that we splashed out about 5 posts ago and bought a TV. We 'needed' the camera. Now people in far away places can see our apartment. Thats my reason and I'm sticking to it.

The 'view' you can see is from our balcony, taken during the day. In the afternoon when no cars are in the carpark you can see, its a bit like living next door to a desert. But I'm sure thats great for property prices...right? right? riiightttt!

The tall building in the background is the other apartments we were looking at, well I don't even know if you would call it looking at. The first thought that entered my mind when we walked in was 'no' closely followed by, 'way in hell'. Besides the fact they looked directly into the tax office (the short squat building you see pictured), they were tiny.

And of course the tax office that is pictured, is my work. So not a far walk at all. Sometimes though, it would be nice to be able to feel like you had escaped the call centre. Rather than getting home and turning around and seeing it leering at you.

So now we have this camera I will be getting my act organised and posting lots of pics up on flickr for those that are interested.

- Jen
p.s. Just in case you are reading this Marita - THIS is the view, not the ah one of the big tall pretty skyscrapers. Although you CAN see the top of eureka tower from our bathroom. Having said that you can probably see it in Albury too.

While everyone's lost, the battle is won

This word hectic doesn't even come close to describing this week. Last night I was so exhausted the man had to give me a piggy back to bed. Besides starting a new rotation I have a massive assignment and (until this afternoon) also a test hanging over my head. The test I passed (uniform capital allowances anyone?). Of course I studied like mad for it, all last weekend and every night this week. This at the expense of any social life and spending any time with the man. Despite living with him I feel like I have barely seen him this week.

Luckily at the end of October it should start to die down (the assignment is due on the 30th), after that its just a couple more tests and then no more training sessions...in fact no more grad days on Thursdays at all. As of mid-January in fact I will finish the grad program and start a 'real' job. It will be hard to get rid of the 'well if I don't like it, its only for 3 months'.

Next Wednesday is when I am deployed back into the call centre as peak period approaches. Please take note that the word 'deployment' was actually used when we were told. So, 'roger that' I guess.

This weekend I'm taking off...which I'm a little panicky about with the assignment due date looming. But I need it! Now why couldn't it be 30 degrees + on a saturday? Oh THAT's right, it's Melbourne.

- Jen

The recruit

The recruit
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Yesterday I went out to the Simpson Barracks with a couple of friends from work, one of whom is in the army reserves for 'mates rates'. I have to admit I was more than a little apprehensive at the beginning (having never marched anywhere before) but as the day went on I actually had a lot of fun.

Before lunch we'd sampled some food from a rations pack (4 yr + old chocolate anyone?), had our weapons training and I'd decided there was no way I was joining the army. The video about Kapooka they showed right before lunch made my mind up for me. They want me to march HOW FAR with a pack HOW HEAVY on my back?

After lunch we went down to the indoor shooting range, where we put our training from the morning into practice. We had to shoot in the unsupported, prone position (lying down but supporting the gun) and shoot at targets. I had a bit of trouble with the sight to begin with so I didn't think I was doing very well, but when the results came back I actually passed. The reserves there were shooting to meet a certain level (which I met). So I was pretty excited!

It was really nice just to get outside for the day!! I got rid of that pale 'I work in an office' look for a day. So -definitely not joining but beware, if anyone gives me a hard time - I'm a good shot.

- Jen

A do-run-run-run a do run-run

This morning I pulled on my runners and was about to head outside for my weekly "sunday morning" run. The 'sunday morning' run is a bit different, I'm not in a rush and usually go a little harder and a little longer. According to a running website I was reading today this makes me a 'weekend warrior'. This mornings run came to an abrupt halt just as I was about to walk out the door. Although the sky was only slightly cloudy and still blue it was bucketing down rain.

Slightly annoyed at yet another Melbourne weather phenomenon I started studying (or rather I procrastinated about doing study). At about five when my brain was no longer functioning I went for the run. 8kms and I managed a nasty hill on the last bit!!

The best thing was after I got home all red in the face and sweaty, the man had a lamb roast on! What a reward!

- Jen

Full of chocolatey cakey goodness

After coming home from attending the infamous Grand Final day BBQ at the Malloy's today, I remembered I was in charge of dinner. I'd planned on cooking some kind of chicken stirfry/pad thai number but I was so full that I wasn't upset when the man said he didn't really want dinner because he'd eaten FIVE homemade meat pies while watching the footy.

The BBQ today was a lot of fun. Initially I was bit apprehensive about meeting people I'd only 'met' on the internet but being new to Melbourne I figured that meeting new people is meeting new people. Potential psychopaths or not. For my family who are probably associating this bbq with some kind of "danger", I read their blogs all the time, know what they look like etc etc. The man refused point blank to go with me for protection because he thought that it would be really awkward and he wouldn't have anything in common with anyone. As it happens Tony is hanging out to play Lego Star Wars. A computer game that is the bane of my existence. Even hearing the star wars theme makes me start crying and shaking uncontrollably. Something in common right there. Not to mention computers, internet, tv shows like the office etc etc.

As I suspected I had a very nice time chatting to everyone and watching the grand final. I ate too much food and came home with a nice stomach ache which is just wearing off now. The cake (freshly made by yours truly this morning) was nice but slightly undercooked in the middle giving it a cake/pudding texture (still very nice but best eaten with a fork). I was trying to figure out a new name for this cake/pudding phenomenon but could only come up with, well..'puke'. Not really catchy or marketable.

I will be back next year (and will make sure I keep up with the footy tipping).

- Jen

As grandpa would say 'what is that monstrosity'

New TV
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

Every once in awhile you have to do something crazy.


It's very, very nice though.

With everything in the past fading faster and faster until it was gone

melbourne
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

So having been in Melbourne for four (almost five) months now I am finally starting to settle down and relax. I don't suppose buying and moving into an apartment helped matters either but I finally feel like I'm having some semblance of a normal, routine life (I'm a big fan of all things normal and routine).

I've made new friends - actually I would probably describe them as comrades having worked with them on the front line in the call centre. I'm going to miss seeing them everyday when we start our new rotations.

Finally I am starting to find my way around this city. I'm picking up the lingo quite well. For instance I'd never get off the train at 'Broadie' (Broadmeadows) because I like having both money and a purse. I know 'packo' means pascoe vale. I know that it takes two minutes to run down the escalators as parliament station to get to the platform I need. I know train lines, tram numbers and times. I know stations, stops, shortcuts and suburbs.

The reason why I'm so happy at the moment also coincides with the reason why I'm writing this at 10:24am on a Wednesday. I'm not at work. Yay for flex days. Of course the reason I took a flex day is because I have some work to finish up for this rotation. I'd better go get that done.

- Jen

Your worries and fears become your friends, and they end up smiling at you

I am writing in a very relaxed (although drained) state as I passed all three of my exams. Or as the emails say, "I was found competent". I studied unbelievably hard for these exams because I wanted to pass so badly and now I just have my assignment to get on with and don't have to worry about re-sitting anything. In fact I only have about 4 exams left in the whole grad program!

I would write more but need to chill out (will be having a beer or two tonight!) and am off to play guitar for the first time in weeks.

- Jen

A person should not believe in an "ism"......

To quote the illustrious Ferris Bueller,

"A person should not believe in an "-ism,"
he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon,
"I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me."

At the moment I am exhausterered. Thats about 2 more vowels than just regular exhausted. Of course its Saturday, the day one should spending resting, practising for Sunday, the day of rest. But no, I struggled out of bed at 6am, went for a run (it was more like 20 minutes of jogging muttering 'you're an idiot, you're an idiot, you're an idiot') and then after eating brekkie...started studying.

The graduate program is starting to turn into survival of the fittest. Never before have I exhibited SUCH determination not to be eaten (or fail rather). I am determined not to be the antelope. Of course I'm not actually going to get eaten but will fall behind if I fail these exams and we already have a massive assignment that will start taking up a lot of my time soon.
So I spent a glorious day today, inside getting friendly with 'Taxation of Trusts'. The good thing is I did learn a tiny bit and I'm feeling slightly less panicky about the exam on Thursday. Slightly less panicky.

As usual, no-one else is stressed, no-one else is worried and I would bet our apartment no-one else studied today. I could have done that. I could have gone 'new towel rail shopping' and pizza eating with the man and fellow housemate Cam. But on Thursday when I failed the exam instead of being able to say to myself 'oh well, you did your best', I would have failed with the knowledge that I hadn't done my best. And as a very wise man always says, that's all you can do.

I could still fail. Trusts is a tricky topic and I have two other exams that day as well (Sunday will be spent meeting a new friend call The Imputation System). But at least I know I tried.

- Jen

p.s. Cue inspirational music......now.

It's got no lemons but its sure got soul

This morning we finally went out for breakfast since moving into Foodville (aka Puckle St) and the first place we tried was "Lemon Soul'. So I thought in the spirit of The Breakfast Blog I would do a small review.

This place gave me the best breakfast I have had in..well probably ever! The menu said the breakfast was big but I mean, I'm a good eater and the man can put away a pretty decent amount of food as well. Neither of us could finish it. To put in in perspective there was half an avocado, half a hashbrown, a piece of toast and some baked beans and eggs still on my plate....and the meal only cost $13. In true Jen style I ordered the vegie breakfast of mushrooms, poached eggs, hashbrowns, tomato, spinach and avocado on wholemeal toast with an added serve of bacon. The man and her royal lateness ordered the big brekkie of sausages, bacon, eggs (fried for the man and poached for hrl), mushies, tomato, spinach and hashbrowns. When the next table's breakfast arrived I couldn't help gawking at the pancakes which were about 2cm thick and covered in icecream and berries. "I am so getting that next time" was bandied about quite a bit.

I would have liked to take a picture but I haven't got myself a digital camera. Words do not do this place justice. The service was not fantastic but it sure was fast. I think we had our meals in less than 10 minutes.

Having said all this there is still many brekkie places along Puckle St we have yet to try but for $13, thats pretty darn good value!

- Jen

1 wedding and a funeral

Weddings don't happen often in my family. I've attributed it to an age gap and that in around 5 years or so we'll be inundated with them. The wedding was my second cousin Matt and his now wife Rebecca's and it was a lot of fun. I didn't dance a lot but there was dancing. It helped I had a hot guy around to dance with (yes it was the man).

The wedding was in Lilydale (some 49 mins away from where we live according to whereis) and being my usual organised self I'd allowed an hour and half to get there. So when I told her royal lateness* that we were leaving at 10:30 at the absolute latest, that was the time I imagined we'd leave. I hadn't imagined leaving at 11:05 for a midday wedding. Of course this is the one bride who is on time as well. Kindly she let us into the church seconds before she walked down the aisle, disappointing my family who were standing, expecting to see a bride not 3 breathless people skidding into their seats. On the plus side I think I might enter my car in the grand prix next year.

After the wedding we got a bite to eat at Eastlands (certainly no Highpoint...although I will admit I thought the food court was better) because we had some time to kill before the reception. The rest of the night was fairly uneventful but fun. When I say fairly uneventful a taxi driver did manage to get on the bad side of Dad (never a good thing especially when you are sitting in a cab with him towering over you. We'd been waiting 40 minutes for a second cab and when one did show up it wasn't for us. Instead of checking with the base about where our cab was the driver told Dad 'you have a mobile phone, use that'. Not smart buddy. For some reason the driver declined to get out of the car and discuss the matter further (maybe he was just shy or something, or maybe he looked at Dad and looked at the man and did some quick sums in his head).

The not-so-fun part of this week was the funeral I went to. My great-uncle Frank died last week. He had been really sick with lung cancer and although it didn't come as a shock it didn't make it any less sad. I was really glad that I went and visited him before he did die. It had been bothering me for awhile now, the fact that I would go to his funeral if he died but I couldn't make the time to go and see him while he was still alive if that makes sense. So I went a few weeks ago and I'm glad that I did. The last place that he worked at before he died was the Allen's lolly factory in Broadford and they actually shut down the factory on the day of his funeral which was really nice.

We have had a big week this week and I am happy to announce I'm on the homeward stretch of my time in the call centre. If only the call centre would support 'Talk like a pirate day' we'd have another event to look forward to!



- Jen

* My sister - who worked later than she anticipated...and then got lost.

Hair today, gone tomorrow.

I got my haircut this afternoon. Usually an enjoyable experience despite the cost. Except today (without me having to remember to ask about it) the hairdresser mentioned I was losing an unusual amount of hair. Which I am, I even have the ability to block drains on a regular basis.

Apparently, surprise surprise its stress. Or maybe diet related (which I doubt seeing how I eat more since I started in the call centre)...more chocolate anyway. But yeah, while the rest of me is not as thin (surely I'm not!) as I used to be, my hair sure is.

Sigh,

You will have to excuse any errors in this post because not only have I been drinking (more on that later), I'm also trying to...type quietly (shhh!).

I went out tonight with some of the other grads and I had an absolute blast. Seriously. I danced, and I had fun doing it. I'm 100% sure that is the whole, 'these people don't know I don't know how to dance thing but I'm going to have a go and have fun anyway' thing, but it was a lot of fun. I didn't drink much at all but considering its been awhile since I drank anyway I feel pretty blurry about now. I have a wedding to go to tomorrow night and I might even dance then too.

We went to the Hyde Bar on Russell St, my new favourite* place. Lots of couches, small dance floor and awesome atmosphere.

Phew, must go to bed now as I have a wedding to go to tomorrow (oops already mentioned),

- Jen

p.s. Craig, am writing back but haven't finished email yet.
p.p.s I have that horrible, gee I wish I was in bed and hadn't been drinking feeling right about now


* - first place that I have been to in city (drinking wise) since I moved here.

Not happy Pinky

This afternoon I went to go for a jog/walk just to get outside for some sunshine and went to fire up pinky(the ipod) but pinky had nothing for me. No songs, no nothing. Pinky, is dead. I
've had to completely wipe it and start from scratch. Which you know, might not be so bad if I had all of the songs.

So what to do now? How can I possibly collect them all again? Where do I even start! Sure the man has some mp3s on his computer but most of them are his (aka I don't share the same taste in music).

Its a very sad state of affairs...AND two people hung up on me today at work.

Not happy Pinky!

- Jen

Attacking lakes with new friends

As much as I detest working in a call centre I cannot deny that I have made some great friends with the grads that I work with. So Sunday morning dawned and brought with it....LAKE ATTACK! Lake attack being a 5km run/walk around Albert Park lake. We had a bit of fun, and it was for a good cause. Although today I'm sore for some reason which is weird considering that I normally run 5km without any problems.

I probably need to start doing a bit MORE exercise because my crippling chocolate addiction is getting out of hand especially because two of the grads I work with also suffer the same condition and I find myself constantly surrounded with the stuff. Although I will admit it wasn't until 5 minutes ago that I snacked on some hot chocolate and chocolate coated almonds. I ALMOST made it through the day chocolate-less. Er no I didn't because I also had a hot chocolate at morning tea...

Oh dear, I really need to go for that run tomorrow!

- Jen

Hello, Hello - The world repeats itself somehow

It was fitting that when I turned on 'pinky' - (my ipod) yesterday that first lyrics I heard was "I'm so spaced out today, I could have slept for days". When you have been studying CGT (capital gains tax) for the past week straight you get very fuzzy headed and NOTHING makes sense. Add to the mix getting out of bed at 5am to catch a 5:59am train into the city and I was pretty spaced out. My exam was in Box Hill but even so I had plenty of time to study before the exam as well. I was so tired that I could have sworn I was right back in the middle of last year.

It was while I was sitting on the platform at Flinders St station, while the sky was still dark (although pouring rain of course) that I remembered that I actually like the stress. Of course I think I'm the only grad who actually does stress, but I still love it. Just like last year when I never thought that there actually was a light at the end of the tunnel, I have been completely swamped with study. Except now I get to throw full-time work into the mix just to make things that little bit harder. Of course I'm still thriving on it. Otherwise I might get bored, and we don't want that!

The exam went relatively well I thought although it was a lot harder than I thought it would be considering I gave up studying at about 8:00am because I just couldn't learn anymore. With a bit of luck I might scrape a pass (a pass being 70% at the ATO). The rest of Thursday passed in a blur, a blur I wish I had paid more attention to because I have an exam on it next week (anyone know anything about the imputation system?). After having emptied my mind of anything but capital gains tax I couldn't possibly have absorbed anything else that day...but thats the way it goes. Its a bit like standing waist deep in the ocean getting swamped by wave after wave and just hoping that the next one doesn't knock you over.

So far I'm still standing,

- Jen

Three is the magic number..

You know the ad, the ad with the most catchy annoying song EVER. Thankyou to the people at 3 who make me miss big brother purely for all the 3 ads with that song. Well a big Stewie HA! to the people at 3 because now I don't need your ads because I downloaded the song.

For all those other people out there suffering from the need to hear this song 50 times a night, suffer no more. The song is cleverly titled 'Three is the magic number' and its by the 'Blind Mellons'. Of course I DID download it so the title and band could be completely wrong.

- Jen

It's good to learn new things

For a LONG time now I have been saying that 'ONE day I will play world of warcraft'. This so called day fell into the virtual myriad of things that I will ONE day do. For instance, ONE day I will clean out my car, ONE day I will go overseas, ONE day I will grow my fingernails. But today, today my friends I finally succumbed to undeniably geeky side of me that has been lying dormant for the past three years while I was surrounded by geeks. I will admit that I refused to fork out the money to actually buy the game, I spent $2 and bought a 2 week trial. I had a LOT of fun though. A nice relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I played with some guys from work and we had VOIP going which was pretty cool.

Whether I will actually buy it or not, I'm not sure yet. I did have an awful lot of fun but it was pretty easy to see its a game you have to invest a lot of time in, time that I probably can't justify spending on a game. If I had an hour to spare out of my day and I had to choose between running outside and getting some fresh air or playing world of warcraft then I'd take the run.

Also I was a hideously ugly orc rogue. I looked like 'the hulk' on weight watchers.

Very fun and clearly VERY addictive.

- Jen

Puckle Up

ourplace_googleEarthmarked
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

While I have yet to upload any ACTUAL photos of the apartment, google earth has helped me out somewhat
with some aerial shots. The blue line you can see is Puckle St, the red circle is our apartment and the
blue circle surrounds the deep dark depths of fiery hell that I spend 5 days a week in. As you can see, all very close.

I've been wondering for awhile what it is about Puckle St that everyone gets excited about. I mean its great that there is a sportsgirl,
portmans, cotton on, diana ferrari factory outlet, numerous different types of cuisine on offer, a digusting
amount of cafe's and places one could eat breakfast or enjoy a coffee at..and there is a sara lee
factory outlet but why all the hoo haa?

Google wasn't much help on my quest. Besides being able to tell me that Puckle St is in fact the rumored
birthplace of Dame Edna Everage there wasn't much else on the topic. I did learn that Puckle St was even called
Everage St for a short period of time and I noticed on my way home from my run this morning that there
is a street behind Puckle St called Everage St so I guess the rumours are true.

If anyone has any more ideas about why Puckle St is so famous I'd love to hear them!

- Jen

Hey, remember me?

So the whole 're-connecting the broadband' thing didn't really go as smoothly or as quickly as I thought it would. Basically moving to a telecommunciations provider appears to be way for them to rob you blind. Connections fees as far as the eye can see or the bank account can stretch.

Anyway so I'm back online and frantically trying to remember blogs and forums that I read. Some of them don't even EXIST anymore!!

The new apartment is fantastic but photo-less at the moment although I will try to have some up soon.

We are 'having fun' finding all the little teeny weeny things you wouldn't pick up in an inspection, things like the shower not being sealed quite right resulting in some 'rising damp' on one wall of the bathroom, the front door handle being a little loose, sink in the bathroom not draining very well, the lack of promised dryer in laundry, the lack of gas connection....the list goes on. Luckily for us we have had some (more) problems and haven't ACTUALLY settled yet because the title office has yet to put a stamp on a piece of paper meaning we haven't had final inspection meaning all these things will be fixed very shortly. It also means we aren't paying rent and we aren't paying a mortgage which is quite nice, but a little bit scary because I would really like to be paying one or the other. Nothing in life is free but I suppose the creative cooking we are having to do without a stove top is almost punishment enough. Porridge in the microwave is revolting!

So anyway, I'm back and when I have something interesting to post (oh how I wish I could write about work because there are some hilarious people that come through to me on the phones) I will update again!

- Jen

There was movement at the station

Well we finally heard some news and it seems we will be able to move this weekend. Nothing like a bit of notice. So I don't know how things will go with re-connecting broadband etc and when I will have internet, it could be a week or more I don't really know.

We still haven't had final inspection yet so if there are still things 'not right' with the place then we won't be actually living there until everything is 100%. I'm really hoping that won't be the case!!

Until next time,

- Jen

Why walk when you can run?

So not long before I left Albury I stopped going to the gym. It was boring and I got sick of having to leave work earlier to just snaffle myself a treadmill. I started running outside. Before I went to the gym and worked up the small amount of fitness I now have, I couldn't run outside to save myself.

Er, thats a stupid expression, if I were being chased by an axe-wielding maniac I like to think I'd put in the effort and have a crack at running. ANYWAY being a little bit fitter helped with the running outside thing and now I love it. Since moving to Melbourne I' ve had a hard time finding the energy at the end of the day to go for a run, especially with it being dark and cold outside but this week I discovered a new approach....you can run in the MORNINGs! So Monday and Tuesday I got up at 5:30am and went for a run only for about 30 mins, very local just around the block. It was great, I felt a little bit worn out at the end of the day but it was great to go home and not have to nag myself to get outside and do some exercise! As soon as I'm out the door I'm fine, I walk outside and go 'aw this is fantastic'. In shorts and a t-shirt too!!

Its gotten to the point where I jog to work, run home (it IS mostly downhill). I start to walk and think....geez I could be home in half the time if I ran. The other day I missed the ascot vale train by seconds and then ran to kensington to hop on the next train along. I was pretty happy with that effort!

So since starting this blog I now have three hobbies: guitar, blogging and now running! I have yet to convince the man to join me in a run. I think Mr Cheezels and Chocolate for breakfast is against any form of exercise unless it is a sport played on a tv with a controller. In a couple of weeks I will be doing the lake attack run with some grads from work which should be fun. The most I have run so far in one session is 11kms usually its about 3 but I'm not sure which event we are in, the 5km walk or the 10km run. I'm looking forward to it anyway!

- Jen

Hi this is Jennifer...

How may I help you?

Sigh. I knew working in a call centre (sorry 'client contact centre') would be bad. But this bad? Never! It's mentally and emotionally draining. You don't know what call is coming next, what the question is going to be and what the person on the end of the line is going to be like.

Sometimes you get lucky and its a really simple question with a really nice person who is eternally grateful to you for being able to help. The next call you might get sworn at and hung up on. Which is always fun. The days don't fly by but you don't really clock watch while you are taking calls so the time does pass fairly easily.

Its getting easier as I learn more and more and my confidence builds. Even so these three months are going to be really really tough. Home life is great but when you have a crap day at work, its hard not to bring that feeling home with you. The freedom I had in my old job is also noticeably lacking. I enjoy the six minutes I get off every hour though, oh how I value that time.

Today was 'grad day' where we have a study day. I had two exams this morning which I have been studying REALLY hard for so I was stoked when I passed. They were pretty tough and I was glad I'd worked so hard. After the exams I left and came home early (yay a break!) and the man (who is home sick) and I went and registered my car in Victoria and got me a pretty Victorian license. So now YUC is no more and I'm stuck with UGT something something 29. I think its UGT. If you ask me its not much better than YUC but I guess I'm just unlucky when it comes to numberplates. I did get to pick the number part of it though so I feel extremely privileged. I also kept one of the YUC plates to remind me that my car is still a New South Welsh car at heart.

- Jen

Rat-a-tat-tat

I'd planned to get to bed early tonight. That was before I walked out of the bathroom and froze. Not because it's cold in Melbourne but because there was a rat in the oven.

No, I'm not making up things to blog about this stuff really DOES HAPPEN! It's pretty disgusting and I hope that it doesn't reflect on my housekeeping abilities but there was a rat IN the OVEN!!

So I froze and gestured wildly at the man who looked confused but did some really stealthy manoeuvres and managed to turn the gas on. We eventually decided that the gas idea wasn't working and the man frantically tore apart the bottom of the oven. Of course Mr Rat had by then made his escape from the Ascot Vale concentration camp oven and we were left peering into the neat little hole (aka his escape route) that leads to the back of all our cupboards.

Scarily enough this is not the first rat to be seen in this house. Just last week the man (quite brutally I'm told) 'took care of' this guys not so little friend. I didn't see the first rat but the one in the oven was HUGE. I've seen dogs smaller than this thing! When I first saw it I thought the man was cooking something! Something furry...and rat-like.

So anyway, I'm grateful to the rat in a small way for giving me something (even if it's something disgusting) to blog about. I will update later (hopefully tomorrow) on the rat situation. At the moment there are three traps in the oven eagerly awaiting Mr Rats arrival.

- Jen

It's not so funny meow is it?

I often look back on my posts and laugh, usually because I'm such a dork but right now I'm laughing about the ending of my last post. "Am waiting for something exciting to happen so I can post something people will be interested to read".

WELL! Friday night and the man and I are both exhausted after working hard all week. Sorry I should rephrase that, the man went to work all week. Anyway we'd ordered in chinese had a beer (or a Johnny Walker in the man's case) and were just sitting and chatting on the couch whilst 'Big Brother' was on tv.

Then came a knock on the door. The man peered through the keyhole (being safety concious of course) and a mildly exasperated police officer said "its the police". They told us there was a 'small disturbance' in the street and to stay in the house. So of course we got settled in our bedroom at the front of the house and peered out the windows like the busy-bodies that we are. The street was blocked off at one end by about three police cars but nothing much else was happening. The man got bored and wandered off back up to the loungeroom and then I nearly had a heart attack.

About 15 SWAT guys were walking up one side of the street (complete with the black outfits with helmets, firepower and door busting in thingamajig), the man got back in position pretty quick after that. We probably watched for an hour or more, heard the bang of the door going in and then we're pretty sure we heard gunshots. An ambulance appeared out the front of our house and then they brought a guy out, got him on his knees (with SWAT guys on either side) and eventually put him in the back of a divvy van and the excitement was over.

Just another quiet night in Ascot Vale really!

- Jen
p.s. read this in the herald sun this morning but it doesn't mention Ascot Vale. It's such a quiet street too!

Your heart is an empty room

Casselden Place
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse.

I'm feeling a bit more settled now and I am loving Melbourne. I love living in Ascot Vale (soon to be Moonee Ponds). I walk to work most days (unless I'm in the city) and I'm ENJOYING it. I love the chilly mornings...(I know, I'm a freak).

I'm enjoying working in the city, the building pictured is Casselden Place and from the 37th floor I have some fantastic views (I can see Moonee Ponds!).

Anyway the title of this post is a Death Cab for Cutie song that I highly recommend. It's a new personal favourite!

- Jen
p.s Am waiting for something exciting to happen so I can post something people will be interested to read!

1 week gone, x to go

Well the first week of 'work' or training has come and gone as has my first week of living in the mighty fine city of Melbourne, and of course the huge milestone of surviving my first week living with the man.

I'm enjoying sprinting up the hill near our house to try and catch the train of a morning. Friday was the first day I missed it, and only by the time it took to validate my ticket too! Work is not that great. I know that working in a call centre (even if it is only for a few months) is going to suck, so it should have been no surprise that the training would also 'suck'. Its great meeting the new grads but the training is pretty, well dry to put it nicely.

I went for a run when I got home last night and explored some more and then went for a run this morning in the opposite direction...I am slowly but surely running out of directions!

Living with the man has so far been great and unlike me, he clearly anticipated my having to adjust and that I might be a bit sad. I have slowly come to notice however that if I enter the kitchen with even the slightest intention of cooking, all utensils are removed from my hands. At first this was nice because its nice to be cooked for...but now I'm starting to get suspicious that he might think I am some kind of threat to people's eating experiences. So this afternoon I baked* a slice, and for dinner I'm cooking tuna mornay which he probably won't like but I do and I know Cam (housemate) does. Otherwise things are great, I haven't felt weird or anything like I should be going home soon which I thought I would. Very much looking forward to moving into the apartment though, just for the extra room....I guess I will have more new areas to explore too!

Until next time,

- Jen



* and only slightly burnt

Where to begin?

Well I'm officially a resident of Melbourne now and I'm cold. Right to the bone. Thankfully when I step out the door on the way to work I am very warm thanks to a nice thick coat and gloves. Plus the walk to the train or if I am in Moonee Ponds, the office keeps me warm. The man's (or the man and I's) bedroom is FREEZING though and thats where I'm typing!

Yesterday was my first day and I walked to Moonee Ponds which was a good walk but any longer and it might have been too long. When we move it will probably be too short a walk!

Speaking of moving our loan was approved and we hope to move in the next few weeks....very exciting!!

Today I had to go into the city which wasn't as scary as I imagined and it was really easy to get to work. Hopped on a train and then walked up an escalator and crossed a road to get to the office!

Not much else is going on at the moment. Still trying to settle in and feeling more comfortable all the time. I love schedules and plans so as long as I have something to follow I don't stress out too much. So far I've worked out its a good idea to get clothes for work organised the night before that way the man doesn't get woken up when I turn on the light at 6am hunting for that elusive matching sock! Also I love getting up (freezing as it is), turning on the heater, having a shower, switching on 'Sunrise' and cooking porridge and sitting down for half an hour!! I think its the quiet and the 'me' time that I like. I can potter around and do things at my own speed. Plus I always have been a morning person.

I got home today at 4 and managed to talk myself into going for a run. The best thing so far about Melbourne is being able to explore. I even got a bit lost which was great! When I got home the man and I went up and measured the new place and it looks pretty good. The oven and dishwasher are in now so it just needs to be cleaned up and it will all be done!

Well I'm a hungry hungry hippo and dinner is calling...calling out for me to cook it...

- Jen

Unfreaking believable.

Like the organised person that I am I had my car booked in for a service before I leave today. Out I stroll after a fantastic sleep in to warm up my car (which I do EVERY morning)....and it won't start. It made that oh so lovely bururrurrr burururur you hear when the battery is going.

On the day I'm taking it to get SERVICED! So I call the NRMA, they fix it in about 30 seconds and off I drive to drop it off at the mechanic. One new battery later and she's as good as new.

But I mean COME ON! what are the chances!

- Jen

And disappeared, with everything that you held dear

Leaving Albury is proving much harder than I orginally thought. Just saying goodbye to my workmates especially the other grads was terrible. I put it off until the possible minute.

I've never ever considered myself popular or at least well-liked but its made it that much harder to say goodbye to people when it seems like they are genuinely going to miss me as well.

I started this year working with three other people as new to the tax office as me. I really hope it wasn't a fluke that we all get along so incredibly well because I dare say I will be lucky to find a work environment like the one I am leaving.

Particularly as I will be working in a call centre until October.

I'm sure that once I get to Melbourne things will be great...its just the actual leaving part that is hard.

Sad sigh,

- Jen

Jen and the not-so-skippy bush kangaroo

As much as the things that happen to me on a daily basis make me laugh or make me cry or make me angry, I cannot deny the fact that they also provide material for me to blog about.

Take today for instance, driving to work, listening to death cab for cutie, and I come round a corner and there is a kangaroo on the side of the road. Just chillin' out.

Not really. It had been hit by a car (or else had broken it's leg hopping) and was trying to hop away. Pretty unsuccessfully too. Like my sister mentioned later on, a kangaroo's legs are a pretty integral part of its mobility. I kept driving but felt horrible. I mean, I didn't hit the roo but I hate seeing hurt animals. By the time I got to the bottom of the hill I was looking for a place to turn around to go back. So being the soft dork that I went back to see if I could do anything.

It was lying on its side trying feebly to get away but didn't seem too scared of me. Of course having lived with a cat that has to take valium to keep it sane, a hurt kangaroo wasn't too much of a step up. I looked at it, it looked at me and I made soothing 'sea noises'. Then I decided that this was a bit of a waste of time. I felt terrible (pretty close to tears), but what could I do? I called the police who said they were on their way so I'd done all I could do for the poor thing.

I got in my car and drove back up the hill to find a place to turn around, did so and then drove back down the hill avoiding looking at the roo.

Of course I looked at the roo, well looked for the roo. Except it wasn't on the side of the road anymore it was on the road. Under a truck.

Not a good start to my day really!! But bloggable material none-the-less.

- Jen
p.s. My sister later mentioned if it was a 'boy' or a 'girl' kangaroo and I'm so glad I didn't think to look. If there had of been a joey in there...well there would have been a lot more than a little sniffling I think!

Why'd they bite you?

Tonight I had to say goodbye to jase. One of the few people from Albury who I do actually have to say goodbye to. Jase is going to work at the presently snow-less falls creek over winter and I am off to Melbourne next weekend. It would be an understatement to say that it was an emotional goodbye. We've been friends for probably four years now. We met at uni in database management or object modelling...or something boring, it was the second time Jase was sitting the subject I remember that.

Despite living together and the one time jase had to deal with the 'wrath of jen' after I came home to a previously spotless house in ruins two days later (there were a few dirty dishes) we have never had a blue...even the disagreement over the dishes ended up with us laughing (after some shouting). We have a similar sense of humour and he is the only other person in this world besides the man that I can talk about absolutely anything with.

I said to myself I wouldn't cry tonight. After all I'm not sad to see jase go. I'm not! He is going to have a BLAST up at Falls and he needs to get out of Albury. But I'm sad that I won't get to see him anymore. So cry I did.

I half wonder if this feeling I have been having all week has been related to the thought of having to say goodbye. I even managed to prolong having to do it last night by arranging to see him today as well! Thats my fantastic procrastination skills at work again! Anyway...

Good luck Jase.

- Jen

Goodbye to you too Tib.

Well I was cleaning out pretty much the last of my clothes/photos/belongings out of my room at my parents tonight and Tib my cat was sitting on my bed, watching me. I felt a bit sad because while she isn't too old (10) or sick or anything, I'm moving out of home(again) and it would be pretty much the last time I would see her for awhile. So I felt a bit sad and was giving her a bit of attention (for once she probably thought). Of course instead of being a snob like she usually is and ignoring me (or stalking out of the room) she purred and stretched out making me feel even worse about 'leaving her'. I've had her since she was a kitten and she was the one I picked out of all the kittens I could choose from because she looked the most playful, and she was cuddly when I picked her up. Then I grew up and she grew up and then I moved out on her and now I'm doing it again. She snuggled up to me tonight and I nearly lost it. My poor cat, how will you survive without me???

And then she bit me.

Then I was fine. Damn cat.

- Jen