Dan - scootin'

Figured I try a new way of getting Dante to school on time - riding the razor scooters from Redfern up to school. Figured I'd save 5 minutes or so, and thus get to school on time. But, no dice. Not only did we get The Slowest Train Ever, once we got scooting, Dante had to stop every couple of minute for a rest or a drink or because the Moon was in the Seventh House and Jupiter was aligned with Mars.

So, we got to school late anyway, and I think taking the scooters saved us about 30 seconds. Don't think I'll bother with that plan again.

(Guy) They'll be fiiiine.... right?

The year 11s do their Preliminary HSC exam tomorrow. I'm going to be pleasantly surprised, right? Right?

Kit needs to read the fine print

I went to see Bill Bailey yesterday. Except that I thought it was at the Sydney Theatre (like last time), and not the State Theatre. I only found out after having dinner at the Lord Nelson, and with 20 minutes to go to the show. Oops!

Becstarr : Packing

On Thursday the plan for me to move into Joel's place got a bump forward by about a month as another flatmate heads out much earlier than exected. Started packing on Sunday and am realising once again just how much Stuff I have. Luckily Karinne is in "ruthless" mode as well and is spurring me on to chuck! recycle! and generally clear the decks.

I'll move my clothes and stuff next Sunday, and the "real" move will be in a few more weeks. Meantime the hall is going to be Box Central again!

Big brother taxman

Have started doing my tax for this year, and one thing you can do now is get the etax software to pull all your bank account interests and pay details off the net. Efficient ... yet also a bit spooky.

Anna : Panic!

It's been a long week, one thing after another is going wrong and apparently all the problems have a website. The good news is that all I have to say is "Make a tag cloud!" and Eugene will do it!

YL - discovers rock climbing

I can now say I have conquered the vertical walls. (But not the upside down ones.) It so rocks! Can't wait to go again.

My arms also say owie.

Kit discovers iron, emus ... & a little science

On the weekend I bought a new iron & discovered that there is a place called "Emu Heights" at the base of the Blue Mountains. Why do the newspeople say: "at the weekend"?

In other news, the particle accelerator has been turned on, and the world has not ended.

Guy - Huh, serendipity...

I just took action against "Shine" today, and here I get home and read this.

Ben - Been a while

Hmmm, I hadn't realised how long it's been since I posted last. Well, in the last two months, I've been at Uni, I've made and consumed beer, sauerkraut and mozzarella (not at the same time) , I've pulled up noxious weeds in the bush and I won the coveted Poo Lit Surprise! award on Uncyclopedia.

Jen - Happy Father's Day

to Surly - your first one!
to Dan - your seventh!

Jen - On the mend

I believe that we may be on the mend, at long last. Fever has abated a little, but the cough persists.

So sorry we missed drinkies at Enmore Rd last night.

dan - it's official, they'll let anyone on the road

So I've been sick all week, and yesterday arvo I remembered that I'd booked my DQT for this morning, and so had to quickly read the handbook and hope that a single quick read through would enable me to pass. I had three kids jumping on me while read it. And then last night I couldn't get to sleep until 3:30am due to coughing and my general malaise. But I passed anyway, despite nearly sideswiping a virtual motorcyclist in the test.

Yay, no more P-plates for me!

Dan - another day at home

We're still all ill - fevers rampaging though the house, coughing from all and sundry, and general miserableness and crankiness. Seem to be on the mend, though. I'm almost over the fever, as is Dante. Jen and Atty are still burning up, though Elora seems mostly unaffected.

falsedan - land of milkbars and hotels

There are milkbars everywhere and every pub is actually a hotel

Dan - At Home With Boy

As Jen mentioned, Dante is down with the Dreaded Lurgy, and so I'm at home looking after a suffering boy. Suffering seems to consist of a mild fever, occasional cough, playing with his Galactic Heroes, and watching Futurama. He seems keen to get back to school tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to fix this Damned Printer.

Jen - Weekend of Blargh

Dante came down with something on Saturday afternoon - and of course I didn't believe him at first, until he threw up and had croup in the middle of the night. (The former probably brought on by the coughing combined with the chips, lollies, red cordial, jumping castle and 40 minute car ride for his cousin's birthday party.)

I was actually happy to be coming to work today. Had a pleasant morning getting ready with a quiet house (everyone else still in bed) and an enjoyable train ride. Heh!

Dan - still busy

Got interviews today, and half my candidates have dropped out. Gotten to that level of business where I'm not actually that busy because I've got so much on my plate that I don't know where to start. Hopefully things should ease off a bit next week. Now I'm off to shift furniture so I've got a table to interview people at.

Becstarr : Paid parental leave for Australians... lobbying in Canberra #1

Back from Canberra and two days of lobbying federal pollies with Unions NSW about the need to bring in a paid parental leave scheme when the Productivity Commission brings down its report around September. The model that we're proposing is pretty good, I think, and met with a pretty good response all round with those we met with in this round of lobbying. There's more to come, of course!

A brief overview of the model for those who are interested:
* 26 weeks / 6 months of leave, in line with WHO guidelines on the minimum time a baby should be breastfed.
* Jointly funded by the government and employers:
- Govt to pay up to the federal minimum wage, and
- Top-up to the woman's normal salary (capped at about 100K) from the employer fund
* Employer fund to come from a per-employee levy of 0.9% - 1.4%.
* The employer fund works like the long-service leave fund in the building industry, which provides portable benefits for all workers in the industry, no matter which employer they're currently with.
* Small businesses who are exempt from payroll tax (around 12-15 employees as a rule of thumb) to be exempt from the levy, but their employees will still have access to the fund.
* The benefit will replace and enhance the Baby Bonus, and contributes to taxable income.
* Benefit available to all mothers / primary carers, whether they are currently in paid employment or not.
* Benefit can be claimed by either parent / partner, as long as they are designated the primary carer.

Please excuse the long post.... I could be a little overexcited! :)

Kit is disconcerted

Work people keep coming up to me and congratulating me on getting my new job. Same work, a little more money, potential for more responsibility. It's disconcerting.

YL - meaningful quote.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

- Nelson Mandela quoting Marianne Williamson.

Becstarr : Selection panel

I sat on a job selection panel for the first time this week: 7 interviews over 3 days, two by phone. It's been a very interesting process and I feel the need to sit down and re-write the interview questions - which we sweated over! - to take in what I learned in this round. The question most often misinterpreted? The one about how one has handled conflict in the workplace. I thought that was a fairly standard question, but it seemed to somewhat throw quite a number of people...

The things I'll take to my next job interview?
* State general principles, but then give specific examples of your past experiences.
* Probe first, to make sure you're answering the right question.

falsedan - fighting kangaroos

Hello dudes I am in Sydney. I had a hell of a time at customs trying to explain why exactly I have brought the weather with me.

My AU phone isn't working >:|

Off to Target to get about 9 pairs of Volleys

Jaime - Tropic Thunder

Was really good or at least I couldn't stop laughing. Robert Downey Jr. was brilliant.

Jen - scary times

Had my first experience with a pedophile today whilst at the "purple" playground with the kids (that's what Atti calls it - not the regular local park). Still shaken and freaked out. But we're all okay - the kids are none the wiser.

falsedan — hey guys

Got my lease, extracted a visa from the AU High Commission, bank finally returned my missing £700.

See youse on Friday

Hurray for days off says Kit

To avoid mondayitis, I have taken today off. I've had a nice sleep in, worked on my assignment (boo), and had some vegemite and butter on toast for lunch (thanks Shannon). Now its coffee time!

YL - life is like surfing

You wait out on the ocean facing the beach and headlands. They are your distant guides - general markers of direction. Over your shoulder, you watch for the oncoming waves. Which one will you catch? You assess them & decide. Ready, you face forward - not looking back - and start paddling. If you catch this wave, you ride it. If you miss it, you catch another one.

Life is full of opportunities & events like that I think. Some waves are bigger, some are smaller. I'm not entirely sure which wave/s I'm riding at the moment, but damn life is really good for a change. I almost can't believe it's for real.

Guy: Nerd Training

I was talking to the president of SLUGS (the Secret Ladies Underground Gaming Society) and discussing concepts of membership, how people will pay any price for Wiz-Fizz, etc., and she asked what membership numbers I was talking about. Later I described Sutekh and what it did and all the rest and she said; "Hang on, if I went to Sydney Uni right now could I join this club?" Very cute. :-)

She also said that the first time she and her friend sat down to play Bohnanza that they felt they just had to keep playing and playing.

Shannon: Heatwave

Its been very hot lately. Today's high is supposed to be 34 degrees, which could set records for this area. All night I dreampt about Vegemite. For breakfast I had three pieces of toast with butter and vegemite and now my tummy is happy :)

Anna : Walking around like C3PO

Three days of boxing, kickboxing followed by more boxing has left me with unfortunate DOMS in my legs and on either side of my elbows. It hurts to straighten my arms and my walk has a distinctive waddle to it ...



Who said the gym was good for you??!?

Off they go

Well, despite our best efforts we did not manage to convince Evil and V to abandon plans to cycle across France and stay for the rest of the festival. Maybe it had something to do the constant rain.

Welcome to Scotland, we invented rain you know!

Anna : Over the flu, back at work

Preparing for big web meeting to explain style sheet change over to faculty staff. Still waiting on my iPhone ... come on ICT!

Jen - 11 years ago today

We had Appy-schnapps, a huge spa bath and playstation shenannigans in a fancy hotel room.

Happy 12th anniversary, Dan.

And the rain continues

So of course, when festival starts, the rain starts. Day two of almost torrential rain, we spent inside playing Carcossone before venturing out in the evening for some standup. We did manage to see a bunch of stuff - The British Amabassador's Belly Dancer (a one woman show of her life as a dancer in Uzbekistan); Kunst ist Scheisse (a very silly burlesque cabaret); Feasting on Flesh (a brilliant burlesque, cabaret, acrobatic extravaganza) and a bunch of other comedy shows.

Oh, and I finally saw the new Batman movie. How amazing was that!

Kit likes Adelaide...

I spent a long weekend in Adelaide. It's like one loooong country town. I visited the Central Market (yum), had a lot of coffee, ate a lot of cheese. Stayed at a B&B in the Barossa Valley, went walking in Kaiserstuhl park and went geocaching! I got my 50th cache in Springton ~yay me; but my "rival" at work is up to 68 ~Grr.

Guy: Top 10

In the midst of a Twilight plague the English teachers are putting together a list of the top ten books which have changed their lives, in the hope of redeeming some poor lost souls.



I thought I'd post mine;

• 1984 by George Orwell
  
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
  
• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
  
• Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Neitzsche
  
• The Riddlemaster of Hed by Patricia McKillip
  
• Dune by Frank Herbert
  
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
  
• Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
  
• The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
  
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
  

In all honesty the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook should be at the top of the list, but I don't think it's in the spirit of the thing.

YL - the singing doctor

Yup, that's what they call me. I got stopped and asked by random people (staff & patients) around the hospital and get asked to sing .... 0r where my violin is.

There was a letter from a patient to the ward today which said "And the singing doctor, well you're just tops" ... awwww.

Guy: How many steps?

Just went to see 39 Steps, very funny.

It's been a good year for theatre; this, Rock 'n' Roll, The Pillowman, The Great. But I'm still switching allegiance to Belvoir next year.

Festival Time Again

And so its that time that Edinburgh really comes alive. This time our esteemed visitors are Jo and V, and so what's the first show we booked for them? That's right, all male nudity!

Anna : Death of a Titan

Over the weekend our fish Chuck Norris died. He'd been poorly for a while because we don't have an effective way to keep his bowl warm during the winter months (we'd been keeping him next to the hot water heater but it didn't really help). There was talk of setting up a "Winter Holiday Exchange Program" with Joel's fish tank but he died before we could set anything up.

Peace out Mr. C

Dan - routine catastrophes

Last weekend was one of those weekends where each of the kids had a turn being not well. First was Atty, who had a convulsion on Saturday afternoon - he was out in the back yard while we were out the front, so we only discovered him afterwards. He was OK, but we're going to have to go and get the poor little guy an EEG to diagnose it.

Next up was Elora. We went out for Yum Cha on Sunday morning, and everyone was having a nice time, until she fell off her high chair while performing some daft antics while everyone was busy getting ready to leave, landed flat on her back, and winded herself. Jen quickly picked her up, and she promptly threw up (luckily, mostly on the floor, narrowly missing the people at the next table).

Last was Dante, who felt really ill while doing his homework (and was met with much parental suspicion, especially when he miraculously felt better when playing ball with Atticus, and felt ill again when instructed to sit down and finish his homework). After he went to bed he felt really ill (and seemed actually unwell), so we got the bucket ready, and settled him back down to bed. He turned out to be OK.

Apart from all that, it was actually quite a pleasant weekend, the kids were delightful and well-behaved, and we got mountains of washing and tidying done.

Becstarr : In the gutters, looking at the mulch

The weekend was filled with house planning, cleaning, organising and gardening. Joel cleared the gutters and I mulched the garden and shook down the worm farm while Lady K made curtains to help keep our precious winter warmth in.

Today was a full-on planning day at work: I facilitated two sessions before lunch (what has been / is / should be our group's function within the uni?; what are our immediate tasks and priorities over the next 3 months?). Long day of meetings, but it's definitely going to pay off.

[Guy] Gettin' there...

I had a girl thank me today. She just got a job and she said that all that interview practise we did meant that she could sit there and make shit up with ease.

Now that's an education! (No refunds.)

Also, I'm totally allowed to make a wall of Cat and Girl comics in my classroom right?

Shannon: First Day

So yesterday was the first day of my new job as Application User Support for the Office of Learning Technology, UBC. Everyone seems nice. Shiny new building with air conditioning (luxury!).

No, they didn't give me an iphone, but they did give me a shiny new macbook pro!

Dan - busybusy

Still recovering from Monday and Tuesday's barrage of "Let's change everything" meetings. Finally getting a bit organized at home, too. I've got a List now, so I'm Doing Things.

Have my iPhone now, and it's tops. I advise getting one. I also advise having work pay for it. It's great for quick pics of kids playing.

Becstarr : Semester kicks in!

This is the first week of semester and yesterday was Re-O-Day, with lots of college girls running around with glitter and goon bags, their initials (I assume) in pink zinc on their foreheads, and underwear on the outside.

The energy around the place is good, ranging from frenetic (earlier in the week) and starting to settle to Let's Get Started For Real! now.

Kit: "You would've fitted right in"

So the new starter (NS) comes back from a week off at World Youth Day shennanigans.
NS: "It was so good, the atmosphere was amazing. Did you manage to get to any of the youth day events?"
Me: "Uh, no, I didn't get a chance."
NS: "You would have fitted right in. They were all noisy, like you."
?!?!??

Becstarr : Getting stuff down on paper

Last week's headache has resolved and somehow produced excellent mental focus. AT LAST! It feels like a while since my brain has been working nicely. It's a great feeling.

YL - busy weeks

Last week, wore dresses & boots resulting in so many compliments from different people I was surprised. I think it was the boots. Really. I even made a joke with my boss. She jokingly said "you're not working fast enough". I said with as straight a face as possible, "Sorry (Boss), these boots are made for walking". Lol.

I actually work very fast & get jobs done quickly but there's a running joke now about how I'm not working fast enough & will now need a push-scooter or rollerskates to work faster. I'm now waiting for the ward to get me one when I leave. =)

Went surfing on weekend, sustained surfing related injuries, slept in, walked on beaches, watched "Surf's Up" and all I want to do is catch the next wave ... and marvelled at the wonder that is the world. This week working overtime Tue & Wed till 1030pm, then if still awake, going to karaoke with ED people, Thur dinner with the medical registrars that are changing terms, Fri probably overtime and then weekend! surfing + fishing + maybe canoeing this time! Next weekend, Gold Coast with the girls!

Oh and the violin is going beautifully at the moment. Even played on the wards for people/patient's birthday ...

Becstarr : Hopping kerbs

Feeling very triumphant about organising the very successful family picnic we had on Sunday to celebrate my brother's birthday (Tim, half of the twins).

There was a picnic with free-range bbq chicken and lime & coconut macaroons, then a walk along the Bay Run and coffee at Cafe Bones. We had fun watching the dogs, and I got to try out Tim's Rather Expensive superbike, getting some coaching on how to bunny-hop kerbs. I have a bit of training to go, I think...

Anna : I got a haircut!

Not as exciting as a new baby ;)

He's here!

Baby Surly has arrived. John Haven, born 11:53am 13 July 2008, 3.775kg, 51cm.


Dan and I got to meet him this afternoon and have a lovely long cuddle. So now I've had my dose of newborn... can't wait to get some more in a day or too.

Congrats, guys!

YL - freezing cold Sydney

It's definitely heater time. Gah it's cold here AND in Coffs.

Round 1 Furniture Donation successful. More to go. If anyone wants anything ....

Haircut = great! Amazing what a new 'do can do for your sense of style.

Anna : Boorowa

G and I are taking a mini break from Sydney to avoid Catholics. Didn't work. Swarmed by World Youth Day pilgrims as we tried to leave Golburn.

Nights are being spent huddled in front of the heater listening to the sheep. I am informed this is "relaxing".

Kit: So that's the reason why!

Looking at the hole in my couch made by trying to "quick fix" a small hole, suddenly made into a big melty hole: "So *that's* why you're supposed to test in an inconspicuous place first!".

falsedan - one year

One year since I arrived in the UK and I may be signing a lease in a week or two! Also I am sick of people taking money from my bank accounts.

Blues me up!

Just booked in for my first ceroc weekender - yes three days of blues dancing focus classes, and two party nights!

Ben - Holidays!

Well prac's over. I meant to party all night last night, but it seems going to bed at ten and waking up at six is going to take some getting over. Anyway, I learned a lot and have my best report yet.

Last lot of anecdotes:

Me: Oh, that's great! Your handwriting is so much better than last time. But how do we start a sentence?
Student: Um... um...
Me: Starts with a "c".
Student: Um... actually... venomous snakes are really bad.
Me: ...They certainly are, and start your sentence with a capital letter.

Student: I'm tired today because mum bought a new computer.
Me: Oh, were you up late playing it?
Student: No! I teached mum how to use it.
Me: How old are you?
Student: (proudly) Six.

Me: Okay, D----- here's your journal. Which of your relatives' motor accidents will you be writing about today?
Student: Well, my cousin fractured his wrist on a motorbike, but I'm going to write about how my uncle cut his forehead on his car's steering wheel.
Me: Good. Remember, I want to see at least three sentences.

Kit is Worker Bee

Yesterday - Rock up: 0730. Rock out: 1830. Today? I have been responsible for generating, or the filing of at least 120 emails, and several letters setting fire to things. And probably people. Pub time!

Anna : Twilight

Muse + crappy vampire/werewolf teen-fiction = THE BOMB!

Definately "good skank" but side effects may include being late for work and forgetting important things like keys.

Womens comedy?

A friend of a friend was performing at the Stand on Sunday and so was able to let a few people in at the door, and I won tickets to tonights women comedy night. So yay to more female comics performing, a hmmm to the idea of a special womens night.

Kit - back to the grindstone

After 3 glorious days away from the office on a site visit, plus a weekend, plus an extra "mental" health day (where I had to convince some reluctant kids that they really did want to go on a bushwalk, without a geocache at the end), I'm back in the office. Argh, why is work so difficult?

Becstarr : Down by San Francisco Bay

It's our last day! We've spent time on: Golden Gate and Buena Vista Parks, a Golden Gate Bridge harbour cruise (cold enough to freeze your cheeks off!), cable cars, the Haight, Mission murals, and heaps of organic berries (so cheap here!). We're planning to check out the SFMOMA today, then an early dinner and heading off to checkin for a late flight out (22:40).

It's been wonderful but I'm so looking forward to getting home!

Ben - Skool Egen

Student: How do I make blue?
Me: ...Blue.
Student: *sigh* Blue and what else?
Me: ...No, seriously: blue.

Me: ...and so the platypus made Tiddilick laugh, and all the waters came pouring back out...
Student: Did the animals drink the water?
Me: They sure did.
Student: Ew, yuk! They'll get frog germs!

Me: Who knows what this word is?
Student: (gasps) But that's illegal!
Me: Uh, no, this is the other kind of pot. You know, the sort you cook food in.

Anna : Finding my feet ...

Phew! After a stressful couple of months things are starting to settle down. I'm walking without a limp, pantry is full of food again and I'm starting to be able to answer questions at work! This included a very successful meeting yesterday with a big wig : "We need to do this and this!" / "Well we have this plan for that, that plan for this and of course I'll keep you in the loop."

Also! Have become the go-to girl for the Faculty of Arts web comments form and this means I get spam messages such as the following :

"uncertificated fullface undermarshal buddhistical humhum searing whipcraft thyreoitis"

Becstarr : Nice try, but no cigar

Sorry ppls, the US Federal Police stoled your presents. It was worth a try though! And interesting to see the pleece in action. No cavity searches either - bonus!

YL - Bernard Black is my hero

Well my current attitude is "No Time Wasters". Which mostly applies to work. It makes me impatient with people dont who appear to try to do their job properly because they prevent me from doing my job properly. I take my job seriously.

Also, just because I am fairly low down on the rung ... does not mean I will allow myself to be harassed/bullied. If you are nice to me, I will be nice to you.

And surely after being accused thrice in one morning that "we" (team) have not done a specific job, then when I ring to say I have visible proof in front of me that said job was done 2 days ago when I said it was done ... you could apologise?

*shakes head* sheesh.

Kit says: You-Are-Here

The electronic topo maps have arrived from the gps shop! I can't wait to try them out. *Finally* If this works, I 'll have a map with a little arrow on it that says: you-are-here.

Dan: Back in Oz

I'm back home, and somewhat less bleary-eyed than expected (a two hour nap this morning helped somewhat). It's great to see Jen & the kids, and they all seemhappy to have me back (though Elora seems a little confused by it all).

Bought a pile o' lego for me, a sack o' fancy wool for Jen, and many Galactic Heroes for the kids. I'll post some details of my trip on my blog or something. Not entirely excited about returning to work tomorrow.

Kit rates location, location

I booked a motel for a work visit to site. The criteria considered were:
1. Number of geocaches nearby for a quick 'fix'
2. In-house restaurant (for bleary eyed breakfasts)
3. Price.

Anna : Winter Magic, Here Comes the Sun

Spent the weekend in Katoomba and traffic jams! An hour in a line of cars to get out of Burwood shopping centre and another 40 minutes in a jam on the highway on the way back to the city after a horrific accident. Combine this with the ongoing blinker fuse problem and little Baruma is in my bad books.

But Winter Magic was fun!*



* Though they say you haven't really been to Winter Magic unless you wake up with a hangover (YAY!)

Ben - Moor Skool

Student: How come those eggs are different?
Me: I'm glad you noticed that. Frogs lay eggs in clumps; toads lay eggs in long strands.
Other student: Also, there are whales at the South Pole! They eat little animals!
Me: Uh... yes.

Me: Why aren't you in your classroom?
Student: I don't want to go.
Me: That's not a good enough reason.
Student: Oh. Okay, then.
Me: Holy crap, that worked?

Me: Hey! Hey! What did I tell you about running with those scissors?
Student: Sor-ry Mist-er Hil-ton!
(exit student, skipping)

YL - question/advice

Would you go out/spend time with someone who didn't want a romantic relationship but thought you were great, awesome and intellectually stimulating?

Wouldn't doing that interfere with your allocation of time/resources for other things which contributed to your life goals? Wouldn't that also interfere with you meeting someone else actually suitable cos you're always spending time with this one guy?

I'm puzzled. My reflex answer is clear. But I am questioning it.

Becstarr : Change of pace

As a counterpoint to the intensity of La Habana, we've come out for a few days to Cayo Largo del Sur in the Canary Islands. The sea is turquoise and warm and the pressure on my Spanish has eased. The change of pace is most welcome. Time to relax!

Iguana-catamaran trip this afternoon. Looking forward to it!

We're coming to Australia!

We've booked our tickets - we'll be coming home for three weeks in Autumn (that's spring to you guys).

Can't wait to see everyone again!

Kit says Hey You!

Hey You! Yeah, you're an engineer, right? Well, have I got just the job for you. You can review my all civil, earthworks and drainage designs despite not knowing the difference between a lead pipe and a block of concrete. Yeah!

Guy - Reports Done!

Hrm, with the past month being sleep-work-sleep-work I've just recently rejoined the land of the living. I've decided that the way that my co-workers do things and organise their workload is stupid and I'm going to change it starting next term. Otherwise the kids are still cute and some are slowly coming along as evil super-geniuses and criminal masterminds.

Ben - Skool

Teacher: Okay, so eight plus...
Student: One?
Teacher: Eight plus four.
Student: Noooooooo!

Student: I can't read.
Me: What does this say?
Student: (dismissively) Oh, I can read that.

What else... a bird flew into the classroom and couldn't get out; so a student suggested that he lure it out by pretending to be a caterpillar.

Kit questions environmental credentials

The people in the environmental group here at work have managed to kill two plants on their desk. How does one manage to kill a cactus?

Becstarr : One last licuado!

Our bags are packed for a 4:50am wake-up tomorrow - we opted for an early start from airy San Cristobal rather than head back to Tuxtla for the night. Tomorrow is the big hop: San Cristobal - Tuxtla, thence Mexico City, and finally Havana, Cuba by 4:10pm if all runs according to plan.

San Cristobal has been great. Apart from hummingbird-watching, we managed to get out to two of the local villages, San Juan Chamula and Zincanatan. Both are peopled primarily with the indigenous Tzotzil Mayans, who have blended Catholicism and native beliefs (principles of Mayan medicine, etc) to make for saome interesting church practices, which involve pine needles, soda, many candles and flower petals, eggs, fireworks.... and more that I´m sure we didn´t see or have any clue about.

Heading out for a last Margarita and licuado (juice / smoothie) now. I hope Cuba´s are as good!

Shoshe - baby woodchucks and A BEAR! And rabid classmates.

Today I got to see some of the baby woodchucks that live by my office! They're cute and about half-size, and hide under parked cars when they're scared. They seem to have a cloaking device -- one minute you see them under a parked car, the next minute they're gone. Cute little woodchucks!

Also, there's apparently a bear on campus. A black bear -- they're small for bears, but they're still big. One of the bus drivers saw it on the street that's a block away from me, but I'm not sure how far down the street it was, so I don't know if it was actually several blocks away or just one. Some joggers saw it a few blocks further down a few days ago. And (another?) one was spotted downtown.

And one of my classmates is taking the rabies vaccine. It's 6 or 7 shots, though now they're in your limbs instead of the old horribly painful ones in the abdomen (it would cost about $1000 if it wasn't for the student health plan!). He found a bat in his room the other morning. The health centre said he was the third person that day to start the rabies vaccine.

Dan - nearly half way through WWDC

... and my brain is full! I need to go away and sit down for a week in front of a computer for a week and code before sitting through any more of these sessions. I can see what I'd work on, but my brain is exploding with undigested material.

Went down to Fisherman's wharf last night after I finished for the day, standing on the step of the cable car. Was very pleasant, with a gorgeous sunset over alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge.

Lastly, american servings of food are enormous. Vast. Could feed small villages in most parts of the world. Pretty much every meal I've bought I've not been able to finish, and many of them I've taken the leftovers and gotten a whole second meal out of. And I'm no slouch when it comes to wolfing dwn my tucker. It's frightening.

Jen - Torrents rock

Yay. Finally got the new Lego Indiana Jones and played the first level this evening, but only after doing the dishes and putting out the garbage.

11 more sleeps until Dan comes home.

YL - um big weekend hangover

man that was one big long weekend. 4 day weekend = rocks! I was so busy that I didnt really stop for very long. "Yes" to catching up with friends, going to the pub, socialising, meeting with renovator & doing different things. "No" to getting furniture given to Psych ward, being efficient/productive, sleeping much. Lol.

it was really good to see everyone ....

Jen - Coping

Three sleeps gone, 13 to go.

The weekend was the longest. Took the kids to Lollipops Playland at Fox Studios yesterday - bedlam! Madness! What was I thinking!? Actually, it wasn't too bad, except so very, very crowded.

Lots of screaming happened once we got home but I managed to get the boys to bed by 8pm. But we still managed to get in late this morning.

Kit goes hunting for art

Wow, I check the blog, and it's totally full of new posts I haven't read yet. Yay!

Went 'cave art hunting' yesterday, and having spotted something on the 1:50 thousand topo map, went and found it. Oldest carbon dated set of paintings (I think it was dated to 1000AD), it got mentioned in a 1961 academic magazine. Sadly, only one cave has the paintings still visible. A male and female echinda, a dingo, and a male and female "anthropomorph".

Dan: SteveNote over

Well, the KeyNote is over (yay Oz 3G iPhone with GPS on July 11), and now I'm waiting for the next session (but not in a huge 5200 person queue). Feeling sleepy - didn't sleep well, and was up waaaaay to early.

Managed to get to the Lego shop yesterday, and took advantage of the excellent exchange rate. Also found a shop called "Action Figure Freddy" and picked up some Star Wars Galactic Heroes for the boys. Once I've had some sleep I'll also try to see some of the San Francisco sights as well, in between learning about Mac stuff.

Tancred - multitasking :)

I am home watching Romania v France while reading about the Keynote - Mac Rumours Live.
It's 20 minutes since the Keynote started and neither apple.com/uk or o2.co.uk have details of the new iphone :( Apple are too good at keeping secrets.

Dan: SteveNote

standing in a slow-moving queue for The Steve's keynote. was warned to get here Real early, and thought  they were exaggerating. arrived nearly three hours early to find the longest and nerdiest queue I've ever been in. a truly awesome experience :)

David - NY For 3 Whole Weeks

So, it turns out that "The Office" (US version) is less a cringeworthy comedy and more a documentary. The system that was supposed to be launched in Nov, no wait Dec, no wait Jan, no wait Feb... errr.. Mar... oh we meant Apr... actually May... ummm... June work for you? is still not launched.

In other news I have been in NY for 3 whole weeks - in a row! So this weekend I managed to see a play with Morgan Freeman, get drunk in a bar on Times Square, attend a party in Joisey (which included a slow motion streaker) and a second viewing of Iron Man tonight.

Dan: Made it!

well, it seems they letst me into the country. I'm sitting outside they convention centre using the free wireless on my ipod. Nice people gave me a window seat on the plane and a biggerroom at my hotel. all good so far. can't type properly on the ipod though.

Jen - He's off

We all piled into the car this morning to take Dan to the airport for his flight to SF. Many hugs were delivered at the departure gate before we tearily* saw him walk away under strict instructions to "Make the most of it" and "Have an excellent time".

*Well, just me, really.

Becstarr : Out of the fire & brimstone

Departed Mexico City for the hopefully more rural Tuxtla Gutierrez & San Cristobal. Watching CNN & 80s movies in our overpriced hotel tonight is a fantatic luxury... feels like wagging. :)

Tancred - Euro2008

Euro2008 starts tomorrow and I cannot wait :) I have spent the day sorting out my fantasy football team (The mighty Lokomotiv Sydney) for the IT dept league and I think they might do ok. I also got Romania in the office sweep so that's £1 I won't see again.

The best part of Euro2008? I don't have to get up at 03:00 to watch the games :)

Anna : From limping to hobbling

I'm off the crutches and am now working on walking a little further each day. Today's little excursion was from Arts to Ralph's Cafe and back. Hopefully by Monday I'll be up to walking to and from work again :)

Ben - Nearly there

One more day, and then semester ends. Granted, I have a four week prac after that, but frankly that'll be more fun.

No more being judged on how good an essay I can write on "How to teach reading"; I get to be judged on how well I actually teach reading.

I'm going to be teaching a kindergarten class. The headaches are going to hurt; I got one after visiting the class for less than an hour. On the other hand, I can dust off jokes that no-one over the age of five hasn't heard. And you don't have to be so careful about what you say as you do with the older kids, because so much of it just goes over their heads anyway. And when you're reading to the littlies you can overact to your heart's content, and I do so like to overact.

Dan - Words of Wisdom

Atticus' Words of Wisdom:

"When I grow up, I'm going to be bigger!"

I've got my birth certificate now, so I should be able to get across the border on Saturday. Here's hoping...

Kit: contending with sales drones

Ported my mobile over to Telstra, because I hardly ever use the phone (approx $7 use versus paying $30 pm) and the byo-plan there was okay. Plus Optus-pests kept ringing me up to try and sell me another phone. Silly woman ported over my phone on Monday, even though I said I wasn't able to head in until Tuesday to show my ID and pick up the sim card. Even *sillier* - she tried calling me after the number had switched networks, to see when I would be in to pick up the sim.

Anna : Arse!!!

Spent 30 minutes writing an email and Exchange logged me out when I pressed Send.

ARSE!!!!!!!!!!! ARSING ARSE!!!!!!!!