A blah day, where I get to moan. And think about slinkies.

Been a bit of a while since I last graced these pages with a bland mixture of social comment and whinging. And, as I sit at my desk and ponder the non-excitement of my life while the body vacuums up the caffeine it has just ingested, will today be any different?

Whew. Second session at Pilates mat class since early December. I am beginning to remember muscles I never knew I had. Especially as I am asked to move them in ways I am sure nature never intended. My nature, anyway. Ok, so I did notice, before 'summer break' that I was actually developing biceps. Which is a bit of a miracle. For me. I don't think I even had those when I was a kid. Now, if I can just get the same thing happening for those 'canteen lady' arms I am forced to work with.....

Ah. Slinkies. I remember the hours, well minutes, of fun I had with those as a kid. Pushing them down the back stairs. Watching them fall through the steps. Into the dirt. Because they never seemed to make it to the next stair. Back when slinkies were actually metal. Not this cheapo plastic stuff they pass off as slinkies these days. And trying to sort out the tangles. They always managed to get into some sort of rubic's puzzle which could never be sorted. After days of trying. And finally crying "Da-ad!" So. Here's to slinkies --

"Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs."

-- Don't know who said that. But I like it........

A tribute to the Older Woman. At last!

Ok, so it's not new. But being over 30 and headed for a birthday, I thought I would give myself an ego boost, mega-trip or what ever. Just because I can. And I want to. So there. And just for spice - it is the variety of life y'know - I've added my thoughts. Because I can. And I want to. So there.

This was written by Andy Rooney from CBS 60 Minutes. So they say. It's done it's fair share of the email rounds.

Andy Rooney says......:

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think. If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting. (Heck yes)

A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 30 care what you might think about her or what she's doing. (True)

Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.. Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. (Ok, but jumping in puddles doesn't necessarily class as 'dignified')

A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women. (Or other women with her man?)

Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her. (Honey, no man is worth the destruction of a good friendship)

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know. (We've been there?)

A woman over 30 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. (Nor I, I confess)

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. (I and my wrinkles thank you)

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her. (Yes, usually every 28 days)

Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress. (Poor waitress. How embarrassment)

Ladies, I apologize for all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free". Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire Pig, just to get a little sausage!!!

TG for POETS Day

Well, it's Friday. And I can't wait to get out of here. Fair enough to say I am at work. Doing worky things. Or at least I was. Very slack worky things though. Organising for a conference, so I just have to take time to view a vid of a proposed speaker. Have to make sure he makes the grade. And check out some samples of collateral. Got to make sure they are up to standard too. Ah, sometimes I love this job. Since I have been flat out, busily inspecting this stuff, I think it's time to pull up a chair, put up the feet and ruminate about what I can possibly put in my blog today. I'm learning to type with the keyboard on my lap...

I read another blog which lurks around the blogger site. As in read, present tense. Regularly. Religiously even. It gives me something to look forward to in the morning. When they contribute that is. Which is most days. It always makes me smile, but today one paragraph was so funny, I cacked out loud. Which elicited a quick check to make sure that no one was lurking in the immediate vicinity. Wondering who let the chooks loose. But no, I was quite alone and therefore safe.

But, back to the title, it's Friday. And I can't wait to get out of here. Because, as you may have guessed, tomorrow is Saturday. And I am still currently Teen-less. It has, oddly enough, been a very quiet week. MOTH has been at a loose end. No one to argue with. Not as much washing. As for the social front, well, as stated previously, compared to my life, Eleanor Rigby's was a mad, mad whirl. But I do have an invitation this weekend. Themed. Wigs and silly hats. Can't we just make do with rapier wit and sparkling conversation???

Diet and Exercise are dirty words.....

Agh, I swore. I had better wash my mouth out with chocolate.....

Decided to take a little time out for myself this morning. I always get a smile - the back of the door has a little advert for a counselling service on campus. To talk about a difficult relationship with food. Heck yes! It's stalking me! It won't leave me alone! It's everywhere I look! And darn, I can't live without it! Is that difficult?

I have succumbed. To the food yes. She says, wiping the grease from her fingers after tucking into the chips. Or crisps if you prefer. But I have been thinking about seriously trying to lose weight. Thinking. Difficult concept for me. The Dr last year told me to consider a low GI diet. I'm still considering.......

Tennis anyone? Or how to have a good time at the match...

Looking at the news last night, I thought they were talking about soccer. You know. The 'hooligans'. The ones who seem to think a match just isn't a match without a good no holds barred riot and more blood letting than a gathering of emo's. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was tennis. At the Australian Open. And not just any bunch of no-hopers, but Serbs and Croats. Now I know they don't exactly like each other, but WTF? It's Australia. We don't give a toss about their little feud. Certainly not at one of our more prestigious sporting events. And if these people were supposed to be Australian residents, then shame, shame, shame. Uh, oh. Beginning to sound like a certain tv/radio show host who has long since fallen from grace ... or an old age pensioner .... ....

And while I am ranting - and trying to avoid work to boot - what about that cowardly animal who attacked and robbed that wheelchair bound woman? In her home? WTF was that all about?

PS ... To Sir, With Love

Whoops. Have just realised that the name I picked for one of my characters is female and is of german extraction. Considering this was for a male, that could be tricky. Might have to modify it with an apostrophe or something...... I liked the sound of it.

So, skinny or rich?

One of the local stations has a phone in. Every morning. Usually while I am on the way to work. Considerate of them, isn't it. I am not sure what kicked it off this morning, but the eventual topic was if you could choose, which would it be. Skinny, or rich. For me, this would be a no-brainer, but it seemed that some of the girls thought otherwise. Ooohhhh, part of me says I want to be skinny, and part of me says I want to be rich. I don't know what the out come was, I arrived before it ended. The fellas on the 'panel' thought Rich. How could there be any other choice? And for me, I'm right there with 'em.

I mean, I'm not young any more. I've had a couple of kids. Things are no longer where they used to be. And I figure, they aren't likely to ever get back that way in a hurry. Unless I kill myself at the gym to lose a little, and nature sure as heck isn't going to stand by and let me get away with that. So, if I'm rich, I can buy a gym membership and a fitness guru to totally ignore. I would much rather pay attention to my hairdresser, my stylist and my wardrobe mistress. Oh, and the dentist and the beauty consultant. Tell you, they would have to earn their money. But if you're rich, you can get away with a lot. Skinny chick couldn't afford that. And I could spend the rest of my life looking like a million dollars. And rich. Did I mention rich?

Where did that weekend go?

Wow, can't believe the weekend is nearly over all ready. Well, actually I can. Things just seem to be going faster each year. Here we are, nearly half way through January. 2007. I had better not blink or 2008 will be here.

I wrote earlier that the Teen was going to be starting a new job. Or did I? I thought I had, and if not, too bad. Old Timers does that kind of thing to a person. I was beginning to think that they would never give her a start. It seems that the outgoing manager hired on, and the incoming manager did too. And neither bothered to tell the other. She was finally contacted yesterday though and told she starts tomorrow. I think she's nervous.....

That does kind of put a bit of a dent in her plans. She was going to be doing the swap thing staying at a friend's place for a week. Mind, I think by the end of this week they were a bit sick of each other. Suspected that might happen, but you can't tell them..... Which means, basically, that the second Teen is now back to her usual abode and things are beginning to return to normal here. Or as normal as they get.

Been checking out that brushing up on drawing skills I set myself. Lucky that wasn't a new year resolution. I wanted a book that would give me some basics. Sure, the web works, but printing out the info isn't easy. Hmmm. Didn't think it would be that difficult to find a book! Unless I order it on line. Long live the web!

Don't you hate it when you put something away in a safe place? You know the type. A safe place where you won't lose it and it won't get damaged. Old Timers has come to visit again, and now I can't find it. Actually, it's more a 'them'. How do you lose a collection of comics? Ok, so as a collection it's pretty motley, but it's still mine. And I still like to read them. Wonder where the heck they are??? Knowing the way things work for me, I'll find them again ..... in about 6 months time when I have lost something else ....

Memo to me....

Well, another day. Nothing exciting happening on the SOL horizon. Things have been quiet with MOTH and the 2 Teens. Although he did phone me at work to specifically tell me that he had managed to escape the house without them. Isn't that sweet. He loves to keep me up to date.

The Elder is home today, so I imagine that when I get home, MOTH will regale me with tales of woe, and the Teen will also do the same - because she can't get access to the computer....

Memo to me ... brush up on my cartooning skills. I have 2 characters, Winter and Dagmar. Do I try to draw them in the style of the graphic novels, or go for a manga look? I know what they should look like, but I think manga could mean that Dagmar begins to look a little too much like Tuxedo Mask for comfort.......

Just another day in Paradise... ah, if only

I have a sensitive mouse. Yes, it gets hurt very easily. I move the mouse, the pointer moves. Sounds pretty basic. But try getting the mouse too close to the keyboard and that's another matter. It clicks. Yes, a touch of the corner of the keyboard on the mouse button and next thing I know, I am somewhere I never expected to be....

Well, summer is here. Finally. Not that I am happy about that. The weather had been particularly mild, remembering of course that Christmas in Oz falls in summer. If I bother to take notice, seems that everywhere is having strange weather. Somewhere down south had snow. In summer. Global warming. Go figure.

Going to be a fun week in the house this week. I have a second Teen in the house for a week. One of the Teen's besties. At least for now. We'll see when they get to spend even more time together, jostling for position in the bathroom and priority in the phone queue. Although, each of them does have a mobile of their own. And sharing a room for a week when they normally have their own space. Heck, this could be like Big Brother. But more interesting.

And a merry 2007 to you too......

Wow, 2007.

....AAAGGGGHHHH!.... Totally auspicious beginning to 2007. Stupid computer froze, and now I have to try rewrite this tome ... ... ...

Well, I survived Christmas. It is over, gone, past. The tree is still standing and the deckkies are still on the windows. The food is gone and the leftovers tossed. All I have to do now is get myself motivated to organise a cleanup detail to get rid of the rest of the evidence.

New Year happened just as I predicted. Heck yes, I'm good. I went to bed at a decent human hour - ok, so I crashed at 9.30pm. New Year is just another day - only to be woken by the rowdies down the way at 11.59pm. Counting in the new year, yay for them. Yelling, blowing some horn thing. Yelling some more. Brilliant. And when I woke again at 2.25am, they were still at it. I was thinking that someone really needed to have that horn thing shoved where the sun don't shine. And then off to sleep again. Nope, not much keeps me awake. Discussing it with MOTH this morning, he suggested surprise that I hadn't commented that somone with the horn should have been walking funny ... I think we have been spending too much time together ...

I did manage to get together some christmas music for my enjoyment at work on Christmas Eve. However, there was only 1 of the GT in the immediate vicinity to overhear, and since he was the one requested I play it over and ramp the volume, I didn't really end up annoying anyone. And he had the audacity to giggle at the song I included specifically for him. Bit of a let down.... but I still enjoyed the music in our normally sound sterile work atmosphere.

As for Ms A-nonny-mouse, it's not a matter of where my taste went. You should know me well enough by now. It was more a question of what I could find for my own little anti-christmas. =]

But now we are into the new year, and I am just waiting for the Easter Crass Commercialism stuff to begin. At least the payoff is chocolate.......