Juno - jenTopia movie of the year?

Well I do SOTM here at jenTopia why not MOTM. (Movie of the Month..). Nah I'm not going to do MOTM. We went to the movies today and it costs $19.50 for me to go. That's $15.50 for the ticket and $4.00 for dark chocolate bullets.

Yes, the bullets are a necessity.

Anyway so we went to see Juno. I'm a big fan of Michael Cera who plays George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development which I'm currently hooked on. Bonus points because it also has Jason Bateman in it (Michael Bluth in the show).

But the movie was really focused on Juno, the girl who Bleeker (Michael Cera) gets pregnant.

At the end I didn't know whether I was clucky or if we should double our contraception. I think I had a hard time deciding because I was crying slightly. It was such a good movie though, really funny. One of those movies where you walk out and go 'that was awesome'.

I highly, highly recommend it. Just for the record I wasn't the only one in the audience sniffling at the end either.

- Jen

In the nose-bleed section.

So the man and I were settling in to eat dinner tonight (roast lamb & vegies in case you cared) when we heard all this music. Really loud music. It sounded like it was coming from outside the building so we were standing on the balcony trying to work out where the rock concert in Moonee Ponds was.

Well, its not in Moonee Ponds, its in Flemington. We can hear the big day out from our balcony! Boo-yah!

Well, not really. I'm pretty sure I heard Rage Against the Machine. But I already knew they were playing and it just sounded like angry rock music. But it probably was them! SUCH a pity the foo fighters aren't playing...

Yeah, we're hip! We're cool!

Edit: Just checked the big day out timetable - it IS Rage against the machine, pretty sure they're playing that killing in the name of song now.... Cats look bewildered.

- Jen

We've got the creepiest bar that I've ever seen.

On Friday night a friend and I went on a hunt for a particular bar. I am quite sure it is the creepiest bar in Melbourne and it wasn't one you would just stumble upon. Unless you frequent creepy alleys.

The Croft Institute is one of those Melbourne bars I've read so much about. Yeah yeah so there are bars down alleys. You hear about these places and how they are 'like, so hard to find'. Which makes them cool of course. However this was no exaggeration because as we were traipsing around the back of kitchens in Chinatown I really thought we were going the wrong way and quite possibly might end up as the meat in someone's sweet and sour something. Then after taking an alley off another alley right down the end in the shadows I saw a small sign on the wall.

It was well after 5pm on a Friday and as I was musing to myself about how these places would get any business we walked in to an almost empty bar. It had filled up a little by the time we left but yeah, the quietest bar I've seen on a Friday night.

The place has to be seen (and found really) to be believed. There are seats at lab benches (complete with sinks), the toilets have hospital beds in them and are referred to as the 'department of female hygiene'. I think they are a cocktail bar really because they had about 5 different beers ranging from hahn light to TEDs to Heineken as their exotic beer.

I could be a beer snob though.

Had the bar been packed I would have thought the whole hospital/insane asylum theme was funky but with the lack of people it was just plain creepy.

I recommend you check it out - in pairs.

- Jen

p.s. See the website for directions (department of environmental whereabouts).

And I'll get along with you - SOTM January 2008

Sit me down, shut me up, I'll calm down....and I'll get along with you.

Edit: Erm..Jase might have been nice enough to mention I didn't actually say who got SOTM.

It's 'you only live once' by The Strokes. Happy?

I've been listening to this song for ages, its always got a lot of airplay on my ipod but it wasn't until Jase mentioned it in a blog post that I went 'oh, thats the lyrics' and since then I skip through every song on my ipod to get to it. It even finally edged out 'Australia' by the Shins.

So I don't know why I struggled so much to find SOTM when it was staring me in the face the whole time. Either way I did get some good music with some suggestions taking my fancy.

Anyway click here for SOTM. I love the build up to the chorus. And the nice little riffy bit all the way through.

One other song I'm getting hooked on is Know your onion - by The Shins. Have a listen its got nice little different 'bits' to it.

Until next month..

- Jen

No time for a smart title.

I cannot believe what happened to me on the train this afternoon. I didn't get a seat, as usual which is no big deal. I didn't have anything to hang onto either but I was leaning against the wall between carriages so it wasn't a problem. Until we came out of North Melbourne and the train suddenly swayed and I almost fell over. I had to lean onto the side of the train (above someone sitting down) to balance myself. Okay a little embarrasing but not my fault.

THEN as I righted myself I looked over and some smug goateed man was laughing at me.

Did I mention this SMUG goateed man had a SEAT!

THEN because I'd caught him laughing at me he had to keep grinning at me, like Manny does in Black Books when he gets caught poking his tongue out at his boss. Didn't fall for that though I just fixed him with my brand new 'how dare you laugh at me when you have a seat you prick' look. Invented right on the spot.

What is WRONG with people! I could have hurt myself or someone else!

- Jen
p.s. Song of the month decided and coming soon. 7 comments! A jentopia record surely..(quiet Daniels and Rens).

Time to put the ear goggles on....no!

I am struggling. Realising that song of the month would be a perfect blog post I sat down and decided to work out what I'm enjoying at the moment. Nothing! I've got no new music. I've spent a good hour scouring iTunes looking for new stuff and I've got squat.

Suggesteroonies please! Not only for SOTM but for my poor ipod who is going to self destruct if it has to play any more of the songs on it right now.

Let me make you an offer you can't refuse. If I don't get some feedback SOTM is going to be a Maroon 5 song.

Probably the reason why I don't have any new music is because I've gotten back into reading. Recently finished the godfather. You will note above I'm putting my new mafia talk to good use. I'm hoping it will come in handy for wedding related negotiations.

Eagerly awaiting your suggestions

- Jen
p.s. I'm not joking about Maroon 5.

Bloggers Block.

I know. I know I'd said I'd update because I figured by the time I had to I would have something blog worthy. But I don't. I've got zip.

I was feeling guilty until I read Tony's post this morning and he is 100% correct, I could have blogged every day last week but it would have been 'got up. went to work. came home'. Not very interesting.

We just haven't been doing very much! The man is at work today, at the moment he's working 7 days a week which I think is wearing him out (understandably). Its not even helping our holiday savings because we've just been slugged a ton of bills. Someone forgot your car has to get insured and registered every year. Just when I was moaning about that we got our renewal for our contents insurance and the next instalment of our rates.

Anyway I'll sit here for a little bit longer, and maybe the flood gates will open. Keep checking and I'll update one day.

- Jen
p.s. new blogger template, yay or nay? Still have some work to do on it.

Dear Santa,

Octan
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse

All I wanted for Christmas when I was about 10 was a Lego Octan petrol station. I couldn't get over how he could completely ignore my request when he knew wanted it so badly. In FACT I think I remember being in Big W on Christmas Eve and being devastated when there were no more Lego Octan Petrol Stations and someone mentioned maybe that was because Santa had them all. Which created just a little bit of FALSE HOPE ...SANTA.

We went back to Berrigan on the weekend and the man brought home all of his childhood lego. Which is creating a bit of a mess as there are half built pieces of pirate ships and trucks littering the apartment. The cats are excited though because they're bored of gnawing on star wars lego.

Its only really hard to cope with because I know my lego is so much better than his. Really, pirate ships?

Anyway this afternoon when I came home he presented me with what he'd found in toys-r-us.

So there Santa.

- Jen
p.s. updates on the weekend I promise!

Snakes alive!

snakeDead
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse

The man's brother woke up with this in his BED yesterday.

You wish I was joking!!!

I actually mean his bed too. His bed, in his house! With him in it.

He's fine, but there was an incident with the snake. And Chris. And a kayak paddle. Unfortuantely the snake didn't make it.

1.3m!! Never staying at his house!!



One more pic here
- Jen

p.s Will hopefully get time to update in more detail later this week

The most dangerous key on the board

The delete key.

Was working on a document all day at work today, its 6pm and I'm just tidying up some files when I hit delete, and then without thinking pressed yes. Then I realised I'd just deleted something I'd spent literally 8 hours working on.

Then I remembered, our pc's don't have a recycle bin.

Frantically I phoned our IT service desk because surely the document had to be somewhere. No, not it was not because I only created it today. It wasn't in temporary files, it wasn't anywhere.

All I could do was shake my head. It was so late I didn't even have anyone to complain to. The IT guy was everso helpful when he told me I 'had to be careful when you delete stuff'.

Gee thanks.

- Jen

2007 - year in review

Thought I'd continue the year in review thing I did last year.

January

- Find out Rae and Tony are pregnant 'with a twist'.
- Complete final grad program assessment
- Schroddy pees on bed
- Nelly the cat put to sleep
- Finally remember to roll over my super
- Knee starts to hurt..
- The man accepted to do PhD at Melbourne Uni
- Joined a gym

February
- We get windows vista - vista bites! Nothing works!!!
- The man proposes!!
- Start to make engagement party plans

March
- We take a trip to Canberra..Questacon was good...
- Get MRI on knee, remember how much I hate loud noises
- Go to career fair at Swinburne, this time on the other side of the table
- Turn 23, as mum says '23 is a nothing birthday'.

April
- Pies beat Tigers 17.9.115 - 13.11.90
- Our engagement party!

May
- High heels harry upstairs starts to grate on my nerves
- Have a yucky job interview

June
- Climb Sugarloaf (Mt Piper)

July
- Rae & Tony's twins born!
- Attacked by cat, suspect Schroddy - too scratched on face to go to work
- The man's front tooth falls out
- Launch attack on crazy high heeled folks upstairs
- Decide to start buying music, no more free illegal downloads
- Read and finish Harry Potter over the weekend

August
- The man does his ankle
- 'Everyone' leaves for overseas

September
- Another job interview
- Pies knocked out of finals

October
- Craigieburn line opens, however everyone still knows I live on the 'broadie' line.
- Grand Final bbq
- We bought our backpacks, minty fresh and clean smelling (note this is important for later)
- Drive to Canberra for the weekend with a mate
- Saw Melb Victory play at telstra dome

November
- Make some wedding plans
- Made some new friends, friends who like wii!
- Kevin Rudd is our new PM
- ANOTHER interview

December
- It RAINS
- The man gets weekend job
- Schroddy pees in my backpack. Backpack not so minty fresh.
- Fankhauser Christmas in Mansfield
- Cousin's wife gives birth to baby boy. Am shocked and confused because I would of thought she had to be pregnant to do that. In which case someone would of told me.
- Have awesome NYE

Looking back I had a great year, last year. Funnily enough even with the ring on my finger I forgot about 'the proposal'. Definitely the best thing to happen to me (us!) all year. I'm saying us. But the man did get a lot of new star wars lego so you never know.

- Jen

Wake up in the morning with a head like what you done

Had an awesome NYE. My sister and two of her friends (Mick and Chels), plus Gus and his girlfriend Laura and of course the man had tickets to the James Squire brewhouse at Docklands. Place was pretty good, we'd booked upstairs and it was all you could eat with prawns and steaks that weren't half bad. You had to fight over desserts though. As soon as they would refill the dessert table a bunch of seagulls would descend and then struggle off with 3 chocolate mousses and a couple of cheesecakes apiece. Well not actual seagulls but older women who sounded an awful lot like seagulls when the dessert trolley was wheeled over.



Midnight came and went but there wasn't even a countdown and I had to track the man down for a kiss. He looked confused so they obviously need to make more of a fuss there at midnight. He was wearing a streamer that he'd poked eyes into and tied around his head so he looked like some kind of drunk ninja turtle (Raphael if you must know). Although....Michelangelo is the party dude.

The fireworks were going off outside (literally just out on the water) but they go for so long that halfway through you kind of lose interest. Make them shorter I say! Save some money too.

Speaking of money the man and I did not win the $30 million on Saturday in tattslotto which we were a bit surprised about. We did win $43.55 though so I was stoked, I mean its not $30 million but it paid for the lotto ticket and then some.

Anyway...back to new years. Shots were consumed with Shellmatching me with tequila so she's not as soft as I thought she was. Some banana head was doing jager bombs which is silly, and some other gooses were doing black sambuca which is plain crazy.

The staff shut the bar down for ten minutes at midnight and told everyone it was last drinks. I consulted my ticket and it said open 7pm until late. I started to get worried they'd stuffed us around because they seriously looked like they were shutting up shop so Shell went over there and demanded they tell her that it just wasn't so. Apparently they were cleaning and would re-open in a few minutes. PHEW. Don't actually think we had any more to drink after that anyway!

EDIT: Apparently we did have a lot more to drink after that.

Went back to ours, public transport was easy only fifteen minute wait for a train, very easy. We sat in a carriage that was full of 'Jonahs', many a 'puck you miss' and the word 'bro' was bandied about by us. Bandied about after we got off the train of course.

Anyway, I'm up early re-hydrating and everyone else looks pretty seedy lying around asleep with their mouths open. The man'scooking bacon and eggs for breakfast so the grease should help!

Seriously really great new years though!

- Jen

The kittenats - one year on

I won't say that it seems like yesterday that we brought them home because it doesn't. We went out and got them from a shelter at Wallan. They had two brothers who had been adopted the day before and aftet them it was just the mother left. Obviously we took them both because how could you leave one behind, and as it was someone had a hard enough time taking them away from their mother at all. Thankfully the cat lady rang us the next day and said someone had adopted the mother as well.




To make matters worse one of them hadn't had the microchip put in when they were being desexed so the cat lady put the chip in, while one of us held the poor little thing, without any anaesthetic. Could be why Schroddy hates me! I never thought about that. Anyway they mewed all the way home, and Matilda freaked us out as she kept climbing the cage with her mouth open like she was silently screaming. The photo says it all.



Anyway despite the few accidents they've had (and the accidentlies on purpose)they've been a real bundle of fun. Both of them are keen to get out onto the balcony so they can go out on the roof again. So far we have thwarted any escape attempts.

We're having a bbq new years day for the stragglers staying here after our NYE in the city so I expect they'll have a blast on the roof again as they will be bound to get out.

- Jen
EDIT: the man tells me I am wrong (as usual) it was Matilda who got stabbed and HE was holding her. And that's why Matilda doesn't like being picked up...

Day trippers

Day before yesterday the man and I headed off to the beach. Decided to go to Torquay except I forgot about that little thing called traffic and just thought we'd head off whenever. Could have walked faster through Geelong but we got there in the end.

I've been there once but couldn't remember where the surf beaches were so we ended up at a beach that had more waves than Williamstown beach...just. I did actually get dumped which was exciting but I think it was because I tripped over, not because of the knee high wave. You just don't feel like you're having fun at the beach until you have salt water and/or sand in your nose.

Afterwards we stopped in at a friends house in Lara. Wait, stop. That sounds very grown up. 'Stopping off at a friends house'. They're a couple too and just moved in to the house that they built on a bit of land out there. Nicest house ever! Huge too. I was asking the man if we could have one and he pointed out the commute (which my friend makes everyday)...it is a long way. But such a nice area...

But thats right, we were supposed to win $30 million last night. We bought the ticket, just haven't checked yet. Oh well I'll go and cash that in later. I guess then I could buy a helicopter and fly to work. Yep, that sounds like a plan. Of course having $30 million dollars probably means we can just about afford a house in Moonee Ponds.

Anyway, was a very nice day out. Next time our friends are going to show us to good little kid pee free beaches.

- Jen

THE Christmas spirit

GroupKids1
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse

Had my second Christmas day away from 'my' family, which I spent with my 'family', at the Fankhauser Christmas.

Torn between wanting to be with 'my' family and the fun I'd most likely have with my 'family' we headed off from Albury on Monday morning arriving at the resort (near Mansfield) just after lunch. Didn't do much, but tried to concentrate on remembering everyones names, of course everyone remembers mine. To be fair there is almost 40 of them, including 13 kids, two of whom are twins.

After a couple of beers the afternoon seemed to slip away fairly quickly. I did come to the conclusion that being ball girl for a very amateur tennis match was not all it was cracked up to be. I spent evening tormenting children and asking them if they were excited about tomorrow. Some looked confused, some were off their heads and when I asked one of the man's nephews why he was excited he said 'because the world is going to END'!!!

I headed to bed pretty early because I'd decided to get up with the kids. 13 kids, all of them under 12. The start time seemed to be 7am so at 6:50am I stumbled across to the 'barn', which although filled with presents was cold and deserted. But by the time I'd put the kettle on I'd heard some thumps and squeals and then it was on.

There were remote controlled cars, planes and robots. Slot car sets, wooden train sets, slinkies, tonka trucks so big you could ride on them, volcano making kits, water pistols the size of a fully grown labrador, transformers everything, dora everything and chocolate gold coins up the wazoo.

The kids weren't happy about the 10% chocolate tax I imposed on the coins but most of them got over it and coughed up.

It was while I was sitting there I was thinking how when we were kids our Christmases were never like this, I mean there is only my sister and I. Which is great when you're trying to bring up kids, or keep your hearing and/or sanity and its easy to count but not so great when you want to have a game of backyard cricket and you need fielders.

It was as I was sitting there (not getting clucky because the squeals took care of that) that it struck me. I was so stunned that it took me a second to recover. I don't know why I'd never thought about it. About how I'm not some guest here, I'm not someone just observing this. I'm a part of this, and probably one day, our kids will be sitting here on the floor with ants in their pants while Jumpy (the man's uncle) hands out all the presents under the tree, dressed up as Santa.

It blew me away. There's now 'my' family, and 'my family'. And its huge!

Christmas lunch was delicious with turkey, pork and ham and the usual vegies. Oh. and crackling. After I'd finished I wanted to eat it all over again but sadly couldn't fit in another bite. Dishes took about ten minutes (even with dishes for 40 people), but that happens when there are two sinks, five dryers and a putter awayer-er. After that I was tasked with heating plum pudding for 15 people in the microwave. Took awhile!

After Christmas lunch we instigated a cricket match that went on all afternoon with nary a tantrum (although I did jump and down a little bit). I somehow managed to get bitten on my forehead a few times by something so now I look like I've got chicken pox, really bad acne or as the man's dad put it this morning, as if I'm growing a second head.

Christmas night I was reminded about how I really need to learn how to play cards because I still don't know what a bower is. After two games I really didn't care what a bower was anymore and went to bed.

Was an awesome day though and I had so much fun but now, after battling through highpoint and picking up some very exciting presents to myself (like my dustbuster), its time for bed.

- Jen (more pics here)

The new reindeer?

Tammy2007
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse

Took this picture at my parents Christmas (day before Christmas eve).

Will blog about my actual Christmas shortly.

- Jen

Dead cat, dead cat two times.

Went to pack my clothes this morning. Pulled open my brand new backpack (the one we got for overseas). The $250 backpack. That looked like it had orange cordial in it. My first thought (clearly the most logical) was that the man had spilt cordial in it. That only lasted for a second when I remembered the man drinks green cordial not orange, and then the smell hit me.

The cats (I presume only one of them) PEED IN MY BACKPACK.

Then I banged my elbow on the corner of the cupboard door.

Then I had to sit down and think about how on earth I was going to clean it.

I did my best and it still stinks. So I'm going to try some febreeze maybe. Apparently peeing in the man's backpack is out of the question for those mongrels.

I am kind of laughing about how my first thought was the man spilling cordial. NOT impressed with the cats at all.

- Jen

The sun shines on the black clouds, hanging over the domain

I can't remember the last time we had rain like this.

There I was running from the top of Lonsdale St down to Queen St getting absolutely drenched and then.. then when I got there (there being CQ bar), I was so wet and miserable... well I hate to say this but I went back. I did go back via the train at Flinders St where all those SMART people gave me that smug 'never heard of an umbrella' look. Seriously I was completely soaked through. I was stumbling along cursing Melbourne and its stupid stupid weather. Moved here last June and this was the first time I've been caught in the rain.

What was worse was that I had to go back to work to get my backpack, so I had to totter through the foyer dripping water everywhere and trying not to turn my high heels into waterskis.

So now apparently rivers are flooding. Insane!

Also The man sorted out City West Water - apparently they'd read the wrong meter for one quarter (so we would have had a slightly cheaper bill) then the next quarter read the right one (equalling more) + as Rae said, the parks charge. Except because City West had only just received the valuation for our property they kindly back dated the parks charge for us resulting in a jumbo bill. Ta guys.

Anyway, just in case I get busy tomorrow and don't get time to post..Merry Christmas!

I won't say Happy New Year because I should get time to blog before then.

- Jen

Er, no wait. Riddle me THIS

The man and I are gobsmacked. In shock! Stunned mullets. In disbelief! Slightly bewildered. But mostly gobsmacked.

Riddle me THIS, CITY WEST WATER. HOW, when I now only shower at home about 3x a week and the man has extremely short showers does our water bill go up by $91!!!

I should explain, I shower everyday but the gym I go to is in the same building I work in so I mostly shower there. This is only since September/October mind you. Also, the man and I have also taken to the 'if its yellow let it mellow' rule to save water. We wash our clothes on the 'eco' cycle, in cold water. The dishwasher goes twice a week. Gobsmacked!

The man has tomorrow off so he is going to ring up Mr City West Water and ask him to explain this. His thought is that maybe they've done a meter reading for the first time since we moved in. But $91!! I knew water was going up but thats just insane. I wouldn't be so peeved if it weren't for the fact I KNOW we're using MUCH less water than last quarter due to my showering elsewhere! The little graph thing shows our water usage has DOUBLED.

Be very interesting to hear the answer. Seriously, I'm peeved.

What about everyone else? Notice any changes?

- Jen

Riddle me this.

So reading the paper today I noticed that its only a $20 fine for not voting. $20!!! I thought it was a couple of hundred!

How is it fair that the fine for not attending jury duty is $1100 (in NSW) but not voting (in a federal election) is $20!! Not voting in a NSW state election is still only $25.

I don't get it! It's a hell of a lot more obvious that an election is on than getting (or not getting) one letter about jury duty. Although maybe not a by-election, possibly not a state election but surely a federal one!

What is the point of having compulsory voting if there is only a $20 fine? I wonder how often people actually even GET fined for not voting anyway!

The article was saying how its a $55 fine for not voting in a VIC state election but only $20 for federal.

Also, I don't know HOW the Northern Territory arrived at $37.50!

- Jen