At the time of writing, the 75% of the state that I grew up in has been declared a disaster zone. After many years of drought and serious concerns about a lack of water, the rains have fallen. It has never been more apt to use the saying "It never rains, but it pours."
Over the last few days I have watched from afar as the city I grew up in has been swallowed by her river, the news reports were horrific and I sat stunned as iconic landmark and places of personal significance were quickly covered by a swollen, fast flowing river. The images of my fellow Queenslanders helping family, mates and even strangers were touching and the stoic, calm nature of the Brisbanites is to be applauded. During the last few days, Queenslanders banded together in a crisis - there have been some rough times, and sadly a number of them have lost their lives.
Tonight I have seen the call to forego the annual fireworks display for Australia Day and it's an amazing tribute to the humanity of the people joining the call. I want to put a different call out there - having come together as one in a time of crisis, they have earned their right to come together in celebration of everything that makes our country and their state such an amazing place to live. Our other states should join in with celebrating - we should come together as a community during our good times, because we don't know when next we'll be called on to come together in crisis.
Celebrate! 22.5 Million people all celebrating together - what could be a better show of solidarity and mateship. How better to celebrate how Queensland and Australia was richer for the lives of those who were lost to the floods? Yes, fireworks cost money, money is crucial to the process of rebuilding. One day of reward and acknowledgement of these people, is priceless.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Penny Wong, the pride & the shame.
I don't often comment on the events of parliament house and the positions of political parties, however I feel that Penny Wong has earned an exception to that rule.
Penny has many things to be proud of, firstly she should be proud that the Australian people elected her to office, then, she should be proud of our country for progressing in thoughts, values and beliefs. It is these thoughts, values and belief that have enabled an openly-gay woman of asian heritage to hold such an important position.
Women in Australia were not eligible to vote until South Australia (a progressive colony) granted the right in 1894. Voting had been available to men (not of aboriginal heritage) since 1856. When Australia unified under federation, women across the nation were granted the right to vote in 1902. It isn't difficult to imagine that before 1894, there was a strong voice of opposition suggesting that voting rights were historically only for men, and that this should still be seen as a good idea. Many voices banded together to correct this imbalance.
The rights of women to vote at a federal level (as per the Franchise Act) would still not have allowed Penny to vote, Penny is of asian heritage, and as a non-white, would have been denied the right to vote. To correct this imbalance, people had to stand up and voice their opinions and make voting accessible to all.
These two barriers to Penny's rights seem daunting given what we are told about the Australian populous and thought of previous decades. Even in the late 1980s and early 1990s, my local community was convinced that the asian invasion was a fait accompli, that if we weren't prepared to fight for our country's way of life, we would be well-served learning to speak japanese. Equality based on gender is still an ongoing issue, but clearly Penny has been allowed to rise high, and indeed serves under our first female prime minister.
As if these two barriers isn't enough, Penny is a lesbian. Good on her we say, the "gay rights lobby" widely regarded as having started that fateful night June 28, 1969 means that Penny is free to live her life as she pleases without fear of arrest, without fear of discrimination in employment, free to love who she chooses to love, free to do many things.
One thing Penny can not do, is marry in the eyes of the law. Penny has stood with party policy and stated that marriage is between a man and a woman - always has been, historical values and all that. One wonders how Penny would react if someone who professed to speak for the nation told her that because she was not "white of skin" she would be limited in her rights, or if, when she rocked up to a polling booth, she was denied the right to vote because of her gender. If historical values had not changed, Penny would rock up to the polling booth, and be serving fine asian cuisine to the white, male voters who were the only people that mattered to the nation's forward momentum. No doubt, Penny would be barefoot and pregnant, and with the stereotypical aversion to eye-contact. Penny benefits from those who have gone before her, enabling her to vote and be open about her sexuality.
One thing Penny will not do, is stand up for the community she cannot help but be a part of, to say "this inequality must cease." Leading a crusade for change is difficult Penny, no-one doubts that, but to stand up on a pedestal that people have fought for you to be able to stand on and not be prepared to fight for a change which must happen is reprehensible.
Penny Wong - I can not, and will not vote for you, or for any party to which you belong.
(PS. As a post-script to all of this, when marriage is made available to all, I'm still not interested. I think the entire concept is outdated and foolish. A great reason for a party and to make your friends buy you gifts, and that's about it. Let's either make marriage for all, or abolish it all together. As for registering a same-sex partnership... registration is something you do for the dog, or the car - you take a ticket, wait for it to be called and then submit your paperwork, charming.)
Penny has many things to be proud of, firstly she should be proud that the Australian people elected her to office, then, she should be proud of our country for progressing in thoughts, values and beliefs. It is these thoughts, values and belief that have enabled an openly-gay woman of asian heritage to hold such an important position.
Women in Australia were not eligible to vote until South Australia (a progressive colony) granted the right in 1894. Voting had been available to men (not of aboriginal heritage) since 1856. When Australia unified under federation, women across the nation were granted the right to vote in 1902. It isn't difficult to imagine that before 1894, there was a strong voice of opposition suggesting that voting rights were historically only for men, and that this should still be seen as a good idea. Many voices banded together to correct this imbalance.
The rights of women to vote at a federal level (as per the Franchise Act) would still not have allowed Penny to vote, Penny is of asian heritage, and as a non-white, would have been denied the right to vote. To correct this imbalance, people had to stand up and voice their opinions and make voting accessible to all.
These two barriers to Penny's rights seem daunting given what we are told about the Australian populous and thought of previous decades. Even in the late 1980s and early 1990s, my local community was convinced that the asian invasion was a fait accompli, that if we weren't prepared to fight for our country's way of life, we would be well-served learning to speak japanese. Equality based on gender is still an ongoing issue, but clearly Penny has been allowed to rise high, and indeed serves under our first female prime minister.
As if these two barriers isn't enough, Penny is a lesbian. Good on her we say, the "gay rights lobby" widely regarded as having started that fateful night June 28, 1969 means that Penny is free to live her life as she pleases without fear of arrest, without fear of discrimination in employment, free to love who she chooses to love, free to do many things.
One thing Penny can not do, is marry in the eyes of the law. Penny has stood with party policy and stated that marriage is between a man and a woman - always has been, historical values and all that. One wonders how Penny would react if someone who professed to speak for the nation told her that because she was not "white of skin" she would be limited in her rights, or if, when she rocked up to a polling booth, she was denied the right to vote because of her gender. If historical values had not changed, Penny would rock up to the polling booth, and be serving fine asian cuisine to the white, male voters who were the only people that mattered to the nation's forward momentum. No doubt, Penny would be barefoot and pregnant, and with the stereotypical aversion to eye-contact. Penny benefits from those who have gone before her, enabling her to vote and be open about her sexuality.
One thing Penny will not do, is stand up for the community she cannot help but be a part of, to say "this inequality must cease." Leading a crusade for change is difficult Penny, no-one doubts that, but to stand up on a pedestal that people have fought for you to be able to stand on and not be prepared to fight for a change which must happen is reprehensible.
Penny Wong - I can not, and will not vote for you, or for any party to which you belong.
(PS. As a post-script to all of this, when marriage is made available to all, I'm still not interested. I think the entire concept is outdated and foolish. A great reason for a party and to make your friends buy you gifts, and that's about it. Let's either make marriage for all, or abolish it all together. As for registering a same-sex partnership... registration is something you do for the dog, or the car - you take a ticket, wait for it to be called and then submit your paperwork, charming.)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
My open letter to the world - and particularly TV broadcasters
There is a growing trend, a push from the media - a trend to supply me with ever-increasing amounts of information. Watching television tonight I've been advised about what the next commercial break is going to contain. Breakfast TV is now "designed" to provide me with news, current affairs *and* advice on how to mop my floors to kill the most number of micro-organisms.
Hear me say this - television is for entertainment. This is why productions such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers and Sisters" have such a following. People who have a need for excessive amounts of information are unlikely to sit and watch whomever the favoured presenter of the moment.
Television should be entertainment. Television should be diverse in content and not rely on a particular programming genre to fill the schedule. Give me reality, give me drama, give me science fiction, give me news, give me the world. Lead me on a journey through life. Use the opportunities of digital TV to provide a variety of content - make me search the TV guide. The paradox is that I don't want an assumption that I'm of limited intelligence, and I don't want an assumption that I'm intelligent - let me choose what I need.
Hear me say this - television is for entertainment. This is why productions such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers and Sisters" have such a following. People who have a need for excessive amounts of information are unlikely to sit and watch whomever the favoured presenter of the moment.
Television should be entertainment. Television should be diverse in content and not rely on a particular programming genre to fill the schedule. Give me reality, give me drama, give me science fiction, give me news, give me the world. Lead me on a journey through life. Use the opportunities of digital TV to provide a variety of content - make me search the TV guide. The paradox is that I don't want an assumption that I'm of limited intelligence, and I don't want an assumption that I'm intelligent - let me choose what I need.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
The Images in my head
The Human Body is an amazing "thing," it still lacks however a button to share the image someone has in their head with others. I there was to be such a buton, I think my head would currently produce a painting showing a bowl of apples, lush granny smith numbers. Standing upright, outside the bowl is a pineapple, a fine looking pineapple with a good green spiked top. Circling the whole scene, are the penguins.
Now if only I could draw.
Now if only I could draw.
Monday, March 02, 2009
... and we can stay all day.
I have lived in Melbourne for well over 2 years now, and one of the things on my "list of tourist things to do" was to visit Melbourne Zoo. Now as it happened a friend of mine, Clark Kent*, had a work function to attend and I scored the "plus one" entry.
Melbourne Zoo, to my untrained eye, has very definite evidence of the changing beliefs in how animals are "kept" and "exhibited" I have to applaud them for all the work with the primates, the elephants, giraffes: the big cat enclosures are yet to experience their gentrification.
Those who know me know that I'm not one who can be described as "bubbly," "effusive" or "effervescent." I maintain a state of "aloofness." Mostly that's not an act, occasionally it's a good defense mechanism. It should come as no surprise therefore, to hear that I failed to "ooh" or "ahh" at the animals. I respected the lions and even used the term "magnificent beasts" I pitied the bears who had the expression of being completely fed-up with being an "exhibit." One bear surveyed the crowd that was surveying him and tried to let out a growl. From the distance, it couldn't be heard and I wasn't sure if it was a cry to be left alone, or a cry for rescue. The sound that could be heard from the general public's vantage point was one of the less permanent exhibits of the zoo - the general public. With a finger pointed fair and square at this bear, one woman declared "I want a coat made out of that!"
And to the woman with the pram who insisted on using the stairs despite a warning not to - I'm fairly sure the lions would quite like to poke you with a stick as well - especially if the stick was more of a Taser.
*No, Clark Kent is not his real name.
Melbourne Zoo, to my untrained eye, has very definite evidence of the changing beliefs in how animals are "kept" and "exhibited" I have to applaud them for all the work with the primates, the elephants, giraffes: the big cat enclosures are yet to experience their gentrification.
Those who know me know that I'm not one who can be described as "bubbly," "effusive" or "effervescent." I maintain a state of "aloofness." Mostly that's not an act, occasionally it's a good defense mechanism. It should come as no surprise therefore, to hear that I failed to "ooh" or "ahh" at the animals. I respected the lions and even used the term "magnificent beasts" I pitied the bears who had the expression of being completely fed-up with being an "exhibit." One bear surveyed the crowd that was surveying him and tried to let out a growl. From the distance, it couldn't be heard and I wasn't sure if it was a cry to be left alone, or a cry for rescue. The sound that could be heard from the general public's vantage point was one of the less permanent exhibits of the zoo - the general public. With a finger pointed fair and square at this bear, one woman declared "I want a coat made out of that!"
And to the woman with the pram who insisted on using the stairs despite a warning not to - I'm fairly sure the lions would quite like to poke you with a stick as well - especially if the stick was more of a Taser.
*No, Clark Kent is not his real name.
Monday, February 02, 2009
In the great facebook wars - the challenge has been set to write "25 things" about oneself. Insights into the pysche of self. Now I've given it a go, but I still think the 100 things I did earlier in the blog is much better, but I felt it had earnt a posting here.
1. My response to "what starsign are you?" or "How old are you?" is almost invariably "take a guess before I tell you."
2. For many years people described my sense of humour as "dry." I had no idea what this actually meant until many years after I first heard it. In fact, I only looked it up in 2008 when someone said I had a similar sense of humour to TV's favourite serial killer, Dexter
3. Whereas my main reason for buying property was to be able to keep a dog, the prompt that actually made me step over the line was the transgender prostitute who lived beneath my previous residence who, having decided that I clearly hated her, started to bang on her ceiling (my floor) to defend her territory.
4. I have a love of language and words. This is all founded in my love off and understanding of "systems" I think that the benchmark of having mastered a new language is being able to create and understand humour.
5. Bathtubs serve no purpose in my life other than to provide something to clean on a regular basis. I want to rip my bathtub out and put in a shower that makes me go "ahhh."
6. I have fallen in love with a person the instant I met them twice in my life - one I was fortunate enough to enjoy those feelings with, sadly the other, is not to be.
7. I yell at the TV and radio, mostly at "journalists" who elect to use stupid phrases and evoke emotions without any merit.
8. North America is a continent I have never set foot on, unless you count a few hours at Anchorage airport. (Clearly I don't.) I'd like to fix that at some stage - but I need a good reason to actually make it happen.
9. I consider myself British rather than English. I see a difference between the two, buy me a drink and ask me to explain it.
10. My dreams are always a collection of things that have been happening in my life of late merged into one dream. They have no other meaning than a review of different façets of my life over the last few days.
11. Despite growing up with a mother who was "huggy", my sister and I have both grown up not enjoying physical contact with others. It took me many years to enjoy a massage and I will now only go to that person for one.
12. I can't talk about her or think about her without fighting back tears. I have the collar she arrived with.
13. I never signed the certificate they gave me when I completed my first lot of chemotherapy. Everytime I tried to sign it, I couldn't bring myself to do it. The second lot felt like the battle was over.
14. Bridges have always made me feel uneasy - every time I crossed the Harbour Bridge during my years in Sydney, I prepared for the accident that would see my slow and painful death. Bridges in general will create a similar feeling whether I'm going over them, or under them.
15. I describe myself as "pragmatic." To some this is almost to a fault but.. they're welcome to a mile in my shoes.
16. I will not sign up for anything at the door, on the telephone or on the street. I've mastered the "closure" of their spiel.
17. I do not cry in public.
18. Things that serve multiple purposes and/or multiple environments attract my attention. My watch I chose because it charges by motion and therefore never needs a battery. My home phone benefits but does not rely on electricity.
19. I've come close to "liberating" a guide dog I thought was being forced to work for a grumpy woman.
20. Southern US accents do good things for me, very good things.
21. After over two years in Melbourne, the sight of a tram still gives me a little thrill.
22. My secret S Club 7 obsession was revealed at my most recent work christmas party.
23. When I'm upset I feel the need to judge the world, sites such as hotornot are a valuable tool for that.
24. My friend and I have developed a rating system for attractiveness that involves whether or not money would have to change hands, and in which direction.
25. I have a deep seated love of corn chips - there are times I would sell my soul for them - if I believed I had a soul.
There. go, be free.
1. My response to "what starsign are you?" or "How old are you?" is almost invariably "take a guess before I tell you."
2. For many years people described my sense of humour as "dry." I had no idea what this actually meant until many years after I first heard it. In fact, I only looked it up in 2008 when someone said I had a similar sense of humour to TV's favourite serial killer, Dexter
3. Whereas my main reason for buying property was to be able to keep a dog, the prompt that actually made me step over the line was the transgender prostitute who lived beneath my previous residence who, having decided that I clearly hated her, started to bang on her ceiling (my floor) to defend her territory.
4. I have a love of language and words. This is all founded in my love off and understanding of "systems" I think that the benchmark of having mastered a new language is being able to create and understand humour.
5. Bathtubs serve no purpose in my life other than to provide something to clean on a regular basis. I want to rip my bathtub out and put in a shower that makes me go "ahhh."
6. I have fallen in love with a person the instant I met them twice in my life - one I was fortunate enough to enjoy those feelings with, sadly the other, is not to be.
7. I yell at the TV and radio, mostly at "journalists" who elect to use stupid phrases and evoke emotions without any merit.
8. North America is a continent I have never set foot on, unless you count a few hours at Anchorage airport. (Clearly I don't.) I'd like to fix that at some stage - but I need a good reason to actually make it happen.
9. I consider myself British rather than English. I see a difference between the two, buy me a drink and ask me to explain it.
10. My dreams are always a collection of things that have been happening in my life of late merged into one dream. They have no other meaning than a review of different façets of my life over the last few days.
11. Despite growing up with a mother who was "huggy", my sister and I have both grown up not enjoying physical contact with others. It took me many years to enjoy a massage and I will now only go to that person for one.
12. I can't talk about her or think about her without fighting back tears. I have the collar she arrived with.
13. I never signed the certificate they gave me when I completed my first lot of chemotherapy. Everytime I tried to sign it, I couldn't bring myself to do it. The second lot felt like the battle was over.
14. Bridges have always made me feel uneasy - every time I crossed the Harbour Bridge during my years in Sydney, I prepared for the accident that would see my slow and painful death. Bridges in general will create a similar feeling whether I'm going over them, or under them.
15. I describe myself as "pragmatic." To some this is almost to a fault but.. they're welcome to a mile in my shoes.
16. I will not sign up for anything at the door, on the telephone or on the street. I've mastered the "closure" of their spiel.
17. I do not cry in public.
18. Things that serve multiple purposes and/or multiple environments attract my attention. My watch I chose because it charges by motion and therefore never needs a battery. My home phone benefits but does not rely on electricity.
19. I've come close to "liberating" a guide dog I thought was being forced to work for a grumpy woman.
20. Southern US accents do good things for me, very good things.
21. After over two years in Melbourne, the sight of a tram still gives me a little thrill.
22. My secret S Club 7 obsession was revealed at my most recent work christmas party.
23. When I'm upset I feel the need to judge the world, sites such as hotornot are a valuable tool for that.
24. My friend and I have developed a rating system for attractiveness that involves whether or not money would have to change hands, and in which direction.
25. I have a deep seated love of corn chips - there are times I would sell my soul for them - if I believed I had a soul.
There. go, be free.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Dear Readers
I was raised in a particular way, a very British way. There aren't all that many people who could (or perhaps even would) be able to define that, that have the ability to see the division between "British" and "English." Australians, it should be noted in a overgeneralised sense, have no concept of what being British entails. British people recognised class and the structure that brought to society, we united under a reigning Monarch and our national anthem changed to reflect the gender of the Monarch at the time.
British people are also terribly apologetic about a great number of things - and at this point I want to note that not everything a Briton apologises for he or she feels at fault over. If we gave you the wrong amount of change, we would apologise. If we had run out of newspapers and couldn't sell you The Times upon request, the apologies would make even the most unsympathetic customer blush. Had the customer also been British, there would be an apology for asking for a newspaper when the owner had sold their last copy prior hence causing some degree of shame and effusive apologies.
Once, at an airport, someone rammed me from behind with their shoulder; not enough to label it a "shoulder charge" but a definite collision of two people. I turned and I said I was sorry. Fellow traveller kept going and in a fit of disgust I said (more loudly than I would normally dare) "but it appears I am the only one who is."
Over the last, let us say "year", there has been a gentleman who has been in and out of my life. We started to, dare I say, date. This was short-lived and the termination was his idea based on my not fitting quite into his concept of a relationship. More specifically (and if you want to keep an air of mystery around me, do skip to the next bit without delay) the issue of sex before breakfast. I was against, and he was very much for. This issue led to a conversation about differing sex drives and after that phone conversation the budding "relationship" was over.
A cat-and-mouse game has been played out over the course of the "year" and I was no doubt in a bad mood when I met A for breakfast. Mood was not appeased by his apparent lack of interest in active listening and attempting to understand where I might be coming from on any issue that chose to raise its head.
Most recently emailing very facebook has been the medium for discussing the possibility of restarting the "relationship" with him acknowledging some hastiness on his part ending attempt one. A, is a nice person, I stand by that - not without fault, but I have nothing nasty to say about his character. When confronted with an email suggesting he felt he was being held at arms-length by myself, I responded with the email that took the blame for that, and I did indeed use the line "a lot of things on my mind." My fingers ached to type "it's not me, it's you." Space of time was given for "thinking" about these things and when I felt I could put it off no longer i sent an email saying that despite my desperate desire to be the bigger person and forget how quickly I was dumped originally I just couldn't and wasn't I a terrible person for not being able to recover from that and that it caused me an amount of sorry. To the world in general, this blog and it's reader I would like to announce - "it's not me, it's A" I honestly feel completely justified in saying "No, no thank you." to him. I do have a certificate of citizenship - maybe I could actually have said, "P**s off mate, I think you're a f***w*d."
I have fears that A is mentioning my name to people in a less than favourable light - that would be disappointing.
British people are also terribly apologetic about a great number of things - and at this point I want to note that not everything a Briton apologises for he or she feels at fault over. If we gave you the wrong amount of change, we would apologise. If we had run out of newspapers and couldn't sell you The Times upon request, the apologies would make even the most unsympathetic customer blush. Had the customer also been British, there would be an apology for asking for a newspaper when the owner had sold their last copy prior hence causing some degree of shame and effusive apologies.
Once, at an airport, someone rammed me from behind with their shoulder; not enough to label it a "shoulder charge" but a definite collision of two people. I turned and I said I was sorry. Fellow traveller kept going and in a fit of disgust I said (more loudly than I would normally dare) "but it appears I am the only one who is."
Over the last, let us say "year", there has been a gentleman who has been in and out of my life. We started to, dare I say, date. This was short-lived and the termination was his idea based on my not fitting quite into his concept of a relationship. More specifically (and if you want to keep an air of mystery around me, do skip to the next bit without delay) the issue of sex before breakfast. I was against, and he was very much for. This issue led to a conversation about differing sex drives and after that phone conversation the budding "relationship" was over.
A cat-and-mouse game has been played out over the course of the "year" and I was no doubt in a bad mood when I met A for breakfast. Mood was not appeased by his apparent lack of interest in active listening and attempting to understand where I might be coming from on any issue that chose to raise its head.
Most recently emailing very facebook has been the medium for discussing the possibility of restarting the "relationship" with him acknowledging some hastiness on his part ending attempt one. A, is a nice person, I stand by that - not without fault, but I have nothing nasty to say about his character. When confronted with an email suggesting he felt he was being held at arms-length by myself, I responded with the email that took the blame for that, and I did indeed use the line "a lot of things on my mind." My fingers ached to type "it's not me, it's you." Space of time was given for "thinking" about these things and when I felt I could put it off no longer i sent an email saying that despite my desperate desire to be the bigger person and forget how quickly I was dumped originally I just couldn't and wasn't I a terrible person for not being able to recover from that and that it caused me an amount of sorry. To the world in general, this blog and it's reader I would like to announce - "it's not me, it's A" I honestly feel completely justified in saying "No, no thank you." to him. I do have a certificate of citizenship - maybe I could actually have said, "P**s off mate, I think you're a f***w*d."
I have fears that A is mentioning my name to people in a less than favourable light - that would be disappointing.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
The one with the oddness
I've often struggled to find a connection to a community - a group of people that I feel completely at ease among. I treasure my friends who "get" me, who are on the same wavelength. That nagging self-doubt I have inside of me wonders if I'm not just some form of freak show entertainment for them, designed to give them a laugh before they move along and go back to their "normal" lives.
The only group of people I know I can feel that level of comfort with is my mother's family. As a general rule, they're a bright bunch with an evil sense of humour.
Tonight I'm taking the blame for my interactions with a particular individual. Errors in judgement have been made on both sides, there is no immunity for me. In the most recent communications I have taken the position of "it's not you, it's me" and that has been readily taken on board and from incoming communications, "it's not him, it's me." Cheers for that buddy, I'm sure if you give yourself that exemption from any fault you'll have a long and happy life.
I'm also feeling a significant amount of emotional pain, none 0f which belongs to me but is all based on frustration about not being able to help my sister in a process that no-one can control.
Where to from here? As usual, I have no idea... but I may well be on the run down to actualy bidding at an auction.
The only group of people I know I can feel that level of comfort with is my mother's family. As a general rule, they're a bright bunch with an evil sense of humour.
Tonight I'm taking the blame for my interactions with a particular individual. Errors in judgement have been made on both sides, there is no immunity for me. In the most recent communications I have taken the position of "it's not you, it's me" and that has been readily taken on board and from incoming communications, "it's not him, it's me." Cheers for that buddy, I'm sure if you give yourself that exemption from any fault you'll have a long and happy life.
I'm also feeling a significant amount of emotional pain, none 0f which belongs to me but is all based on frustration about not being able to help my sister in a process that no-one can control.
Where to from here? As usual, I have no idea... but I may well be on the run down to actualy bidding at an auction.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Occupational Hazards
Tonight I thought about just what it is about small talk that, well, not that I *can't* do, but more that I just won't partake in. Tonight I wondered whether in fact talking to people about death and dying, whether treating people and thinking "they won't see Christmas" makes me appreciate silence and simplicity outside of the work place.
Also tonight - and it should be noted that this was while walking home from the pub after a substantial amount of vodka (which is still in my system I'll admit) I thought about my life and how the defining moments of my life, the events that I suggest have had the biggest impact on who I am, have all been quite negative. I'm not going to go into them here and now, I'm not sober enough for that, but only for the fact that I must be a natural born optimist have I reached the age I have and believe that I have self-actualised for a second time. It should also be noted, both times I've thought I have self-actualised, I have been single. Excuse me, Whitney is at the door.
Also tonight - and it should be noted that this was while walking home from the pub after a substantial amount of vodka (which is still in my system I'll admit) I thought about my life and how the defining moments of my life, the events that I suggest have had the biggest impact on who I am, have all been quite negative. I'm not going to go into them here and now, I'm not sober enough for that, but only for the fact that I must be a natural born optimist have I reached the age I have and believe that I have self-actualised for a second time. It should also be noted, both times I've thought I have self-actualised, I have been single. Excuse me, Whitney is at the door.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
If I tried to work out what percentage of me is gay - I might struggle. Sexually, I'm a gay man, when it comes to sexual activity, give me a man (or men) or give me nothing. However, it should be noted that I don't actively participate in events of the gay community. Mardi Gras doesn't interest me, neither does the idea of camping outside some regional town in Victoria to surround myself with the Gay and Lesbian Community. During the week that was, I ran into an attractive man who lives in the building next door to mine, on the topic of his work, his first comment was that his boss was gay and that made him a lot calmer. My boss has the same title as myself in essence, the same training and similar experiences. We respect each other as people. I don't know what my boss gets up to in the sack, the question has never been raised.
There is a cafe up the road that has a predominantly gay customer base. On a regular basis I do go there. It's a great place to watch people (mostly gay people) and the waiters are very attentive. I'm a flirt, I admit that.
There is a cafe up the road that has a predominantly gay customer base. On a regular basis I do go there. It's a great place to watch people (mostly gay people) and the waiters are very attentive. I'm a flirt, I admit that.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Head Space January 2008
For those interested in taking a tour of my mindspace at the moment.. here's the deal.
I'm doing just fine.. I like who I am, I'm very comfortable with that. and I like who I see when I look in the mirror.
Work - is good, they still drive me mental sometimes and I still am at odds with their "logic." Yesterday I attended a staff meeting that I rated a "double eye gouger." I can generate very little interest in problems that are generated because we've purchased from multiple vendors.
Air Force Guy has been replaced with.. well.. Air Force Guy.. but with a signifcant improvement in kms (you know Air Force Guy will always hold a special place in my esteem/thoughts.)
Tonight I'll be doing the trawl of realestate.com.au and searching for places around here to buy - with the usual requirements, do I think I can keep a dog there.
Gym work is going well.. it's fat friday but I'm starting to see the two top abs so I'm happy with the forward momentum.
Society in general? well. I don't like where it's going - people are having "anger reactions" earlier in the process. They seem to believe that an anger reaction will achieve their desired result much faster than any other method (and they might be right but I maintain it isn't needed.) There is a focus on self and not the fellow "man."
Sitting here writing I've had a sudden thought that perhaps *this* is the purpose of organised religion. Mind control as such but preaching that second greatest commandment. (no, not going to give that one to you, do some research and find out for yourself.)
Enjoy life people, and be kind to your comrades.
I'm doing just fine.. I like who I am, I'm very comfortable with that. and I like who I see when I look in the mirror.
Work - is good, they still drive me mental sometimes and I still am at odds with their "logic." Yesterday I attended a staff meeting that I rated a "double eye gouger." I can generate very little interest in problems that are generated because we've purchased from multiple vendors.
Air Force Guy has been replaced with.. well.. Air Force Guy.. but with a signifcant improvement in kms (you know Air Force Guy will always hold a special place in my esteem/thoughts.)
Tonight I'll be doing the trawl of realestate.com.au and searching for places around here to buy - with the usual requirements, do I think I can keep a dog there.
Gym work is going well.. it's fat friday but I'm starting to see the two top abs so I'm happy with the forward momentum.
Society in general? well. I don't like where it's going - people are having "anger reactions" earlier in the process. They seem to believe that an anger reaction will achieve their desired result much faster than any other method (and they might be right but I maintain it isn't needed.) There is a focus on self and not the fellow "man."
Sitting here writing I've had a sudden thought that perhaps *this* is the purpose of organised religion. Mind control as such but preaching that second greatest commandment. (no, not going to give that one to you, do some research and find out for yourself.)
Enjoy life people, and be kind to your comrades.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Random stuff going around in my head
"This lesbian bar has no fire escapes! Enjoy your death trap, Ladies!" - Homer J Simpson
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Je suis anglais
Je suis anglais, et quand les Brittaniques ont d'ennui, nous nous calmon avec beaucoup de thé.
Polly, put the kettle on.
Polly, put the kettle on.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The One with the Deflated Ego
I wandered into a clothing store that I have spent rather a lot of money in since I moved to Melbourne. Normally there is a very attentive guy there who is very keen to try a number of outfits on me like his personal Barbie Doll.
Today was a sales girl I haven't met before, and from the dressing down she was receiving from her boss. During the fitting process she told me that their store effectively sets out to dress anorexic males and jockeys. I wasn't sure I really fit into either of those categories, I didn't really take much notice of it though, I'm not youre 6 foot plus security guard type. Her next comment was the one that really skewered me through the ego "guys who work out just don't fit into our clothes."
I like my shape when I look in the mirror, I work out.. but I still fit their clothes..
Today was a sales girl I haven't met before, and from the dressing down she was receiving from her boss. During the fitting process she told me that their store effectively sets out to dress anorexic males and jockeys. I wasn't sure I really fit into either of those categories, I didn't really take much notice of it though, I'm not youre 6 foot plus security guard type. Her next comment was the one that really skewered me through the ego "guys who work out just don't fit into our clothes."
I like my shape when I look in the mirror, I work out.. but I still fit their clothes..
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Fear not!
Whenever I meet a really nice guy and then find out he's attached (no doubt to an equally nice fellow) the phrase "all the nice ones are taken" springs to mind. It takes me a moment to realise that that's not actually true, I've cornered the market on "nice" to the point where you can take me home to meet mother and I'll be a hit! Rob, we'll note, is single.
Fear not people, nice guy who works at the same hospital.. has a partner... but I did have a nice long chat to him today, so, I think that's a win.
Fear not people, nice guy who works at the same hospital.. has a partner... but I did have a nice long chat to him today, so, I think that's a win.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The one with the nest
Of late my life has been quite full - which has been quite pleasing. I've been starting the long process of looking for a flat to buy (though I think I'm just always nipping at the heels of the market.) travelling to Brisbane to celebrate a birthday and I've found a gym buddy as well it seems. There have even been some new people I've met and I've been very lucky with the calibre of the new people I've been meeting.
As usual in my life there are two people I have a high level of interest in.. one of them is my standard crush, air force guy. The other is one of the diagnostic radiographers in the hospital I work in. My big question is... (assuming he's single and interested) do you date someone you're going to stumble across reasonably frequently in your day to day work? If it all goes sour, there's no escape. Of course, it may go swimmingly well...
the random rambling stops here.
As usual in my life there are two people I have a high level of interest in.. one of them is my standard crush, air force guy. The other is one of the diagnostic radiographers in the hospital I work in. My big question is... (assuming he's single and interested) do you date someone you're going to stumble across reasonably frequently in your day to day work? If it all goes sour, there's no escape. Of course, it may go swimmingly well...
the random rambling stops here.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
There are....
I've always enjoyed the geeky humour of "There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't."
It should also be noted that there are 2 types of people in the world, those who can assemble furniture, and those who can't. Fortunately I find myself in the former group, I can see it all as a system of joins and functions. Systems are very much my thing, I love to navigate within them, test the rules they seem to follow, find the loopholes and exploit whenever possible.
No real point to this post, I'm tired, it's taken me 5 hours to get home from Brisbane and I'm turning into a full on Crankerella. Bed and sleep is required to get me back to my perky, rident self.
It should also be noted that there are 2 types of people in the world, those who can assemble furniture, and those who can't. Fortunately I find myself in the former group, I can see it all as a system of joins and functions. Systems are very much my thing, I love to navigate within them, test the rules they seem to follow, find the loopholes and exploit whenever possible.
No real point to this post, I'm tired, it's taken me 5 hours to get home from Brisbane and I'm turning into a full on Crankerella. Bed and sleep is required to get me back to my perky, rident self.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Penguins
In the winds of Antartica, one penguin (who was affectionately known as Sprocket) turned to his neighbour (Charlie) and said "That's a really odd place for a third foot isn't it? And is that second beak at all functional."
Charlie looked at Sprocket, looked at his own body, looked out to sea before turning back to give Sprocket a look of defiance and said "Yes, but I like them."
Rob says "Kudos to Charlie."
Charlie looked at Sprocket, looked at his own body, looked out to sea before turning back to give Sprocket a look of defiance and said "Yes, but I like them."
Rob says "Kudos to Charlie."
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