Okay, so I phosted some pics (like that new word?), until a gallery can be worked out…
Archive for December, 2003
I had the best shift yesterday. (on an aside, isn’t yester a weird prefix?) They put me in the biggest section on the patio for the majority of my shift. And I had a blast. I was cheery and entertaining, and people were in a great mood, so they joked back. No hang ups during the busy time (7-10). The only downer was my pen - it exploded in my pants, and my leg looks like some toothless shark chewed on it a while.
And my shift before that I carried 4 plates at once - Tim showed me how (remember the Blue Train staff party Tim?). And Rod, one of the bosses, gave me Tuesday nights as a permanent shift, so I should be set on income.
B got a new DVD player that has MP3 playback, and I am happy to listen to my music on the killer stereo he has.
Finally, some more Aussie-isms:
* “couldn’t be bothered” - doesn’t really have an American equivalent, the closest is “don’t feel like it”
* “meant to be” - “supposed to be”
* “first-come best dressed” - “first come, first served”
I watched the Carols by Candlelight (in Melbourne) on TV - it was agonizing, an exercise in keeping your insides inside you while the performers reached new hights of kitchiness, but El wanted to watch it (she fancies singing) while she was making a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner, so I permitted it in my all-knowing and tolerant charisma. And the dinner was good, and Guy Sebastian should be called Guy’s aBastard after his singing, which left the audience clawing their ears off, in hopes of turning them backward (like cats and dogs can do) so that they wouldn’t have to hear it anymore.
The next was Xmas (being the logical conclusion and direct result of Xmas Eve finishing). El woke me up 1.5 hours before my alarm would have to dispense with apple strudel. It was good, it was early, I was tired. But then, folks exchanged gifts, and El got for her friend Steve (who’s here right now) a rock. This rock was special because no one could figure out what it was made of, or wouldn’t spend the undoubtedly unfathomable amount of money to run the appropriate scientific tests in a controlled environment with many different probes so that they might divine the mysterious solid material’s fundamental characteristics and crystalline structure (tho it appeared to by amorphous, so crystaline-schmistaline).
Bernard got me a gift, and I was very surprised. But he displayed the prowess of his observational skills by noting the size of my travel towel and acting on that keen sighting. He bought for me a beach towel (now I can properly play on the sand!), and what’s best about it is its (I like that “it is its” - fun with three letters!) pattern: the Australian flag. It was good, it was a bit later, I wasn’t so sleepy.
And then I lazed about for awhile before heading to Ariel’s host family’s house. We were going over to Garry’s sister’s for Xmas lunch. Which turned into quite a long and enjoyable affair (in the strictly platonic sense of the entire sentence). Most excellent food and drink. And I met a French guy - Jean-Luc - who will be house sitting for Garry’s sister in mid-Jan. Jean-Luc is a teacher at a TAFE school and was very pleasant to talk to, once I had a bottle of wine in me. mmmmMMMMMmmmmmmmm Shiraz. We made good conversation on politics and globalization and such progressive ideas. He decided I was fun to talk to and we’ve traded mob #’s so that we may go to pubs and shows when he’s back in town at the house. Again, I was gifted! After the lunch, we moved to the family room and Vicki and Graham (the sister and husband) gave me some candy and a cool candle. It was good, it was the right time finally, and I was sleepy from eating.
I came to a strange conclusion during my dialogue with Jean-Luc. At points during the exchange, my mind began to wander because J-L was still a bit dull even with the extra numbing effects of alcohol. Here it is, or perhaps I shall go thru my thinking process, so that you may feel less bludgeoned with strong assertives. Axiom the first: wine makes you talk about ’smart’ and ’sophisticated’ things. Axiom the second: no wait a minute, maybe it’s the people you’re with that talk about ’smart’ and ’sophisticated’ things. Axiom the third: AH HA! it’s the combination of the two (eureka): ’smart’ and ’sophisticated’ people tend to drink wine, and so when you’re drinking wine, you’ll find yourself in the company of said individuals and thus you mustn’t be surpised to find your mind expanding in new egotistical dimensions.
When I returned from the function, I found El and Steve and another of her friends upstairs in the loft-like demi-recording studio part of the house. They were talking, and apparently had just finished a bit of wrestling. The new friend had to leave tho, and so El declared that I must be her new drinking partner (seeing as how Steve was staying dry this evening). So I obliged. More wine, white and then red. And we three we talking and listening to music. Then Bernard got home, found us entranced by Evanescence (one of El’s favorite groups right now), and quickly extracted his saxamaphone. He started playing along with the melody, so I grabbed the geetar and started strumming the chords. It was fun and impromtu, El began to sing, and Steve just listened. It was good, it was late, and I was sleepy from merrimaking.
Then, B put on some blues and dancing began. After which, Portishead made an appearance until Steve wanted to sleep (he was sleeping on the futon matress in the loft). Then I went to bed, for tho it was good, and tho it was late, I was too tired.
So that was my most varied Xmas ever.
Last night was the Blue Train staff party. It was off the hook (as my Indian friend Ashok Basawapatna would say). Open bar from 9p to 3a (ie limitless Guiness - many pints and pots were emptied), DJ spinning good enuf music once you’re feelin’ good, and many many finger foods (pizzas, sushi, rice paper rolls). Then, when the bar closed, Tim called for an afterparty at his house in Collingwood (fortunately enuf it was on my way home). So we all migrated there. Well, if the pub-side part was off the hook, then the afterparty was on the hook (so that it could swiftly be taken back off again, but in a much more caustic and fervent manner). More drinking and more DJing (the two guys that lived there were much better than the pub pleb - they actually used vinyl). All said and done, I rode home on my bike after sunrise (having not slept or passed out).
I read a little poem on the wall at the party:
I hate poety.
I really hate its guts.
If I see it here again,
I’ll kick it in the nuts.
mmmMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm self-contained irony.
I spent today just reading. Finished Atomised, and will start in on Bernard’s Douglas Adams collection. Now, Elle has company over (Steve who is driving her to Comfest), and they’re making a grand dinner for us all.
Happy Festivus!
Okay! So I’ve joined the local library. Please proceed directly to syntax errors in the forum to recommend reading for me. What fiction do you like? What are good intro to philosophy texts? What else should I read/know about?
And, if you want to write to me directly, now that I have a more permanent residence, send post to:
8 Ann Street
Brunswick VIC 3056
Like a mighty dentist amongst the toothless, he is…
Huzzah!
I’ve had a good solstice! I started it with some work - serving at the Blue Train. My first shift without any glitches. It was nice.
Then, it was raining, so I read a comic book for a while - a circus person, Lissy, let me borrow two of hers (Squee and Milk and Cheese). They are funny and dark. Once it cleared up enuf, I rode back to my new place to make food and get ready for some swing dancing.
And even that was fun. I snuck in, not paying the $7 cover (the big band is so terribly unrehearsed). And when they played CD’s during the breaks between sets, I won a prize for ‘winning’ the steal dance. A steal dance is done to a longer song, and you dance a few measures with a person before splitting up to cut in on two others. So everyone dances with everyone basically during a song. Well, the organizers picked two dancers to be the prize tokens, and if you ended a song with either dancer, you got a prize. That was me. I got some chocolates. It was good, and good. In fact, it was double-plus good.
Now, I’m scheming my way into a library card. I have to get Bernard, the owner of my house, to sign a paper saying that I live there. That way, the library will feel better about letting me take books out. But I’ve been dying to read ever since I finished Alan’s book (which was then given away in a Secret Santa).
Ah. Oz.
So much fun over here!
Went to one of the parks in the city for Dixieland Jazz by a sweet group called Virus - their clarinet player is very smooth and bubbly. It was great.
I also found living space! I’ll be moving to Brunswick (a north central suburb) this week. Rent is only $100 a week (which is in the middle of the road), and the room is furnished! Also, laundry machine and dishwasher. I’m living with two others - a mid 30’s programmer (Bernard) and a late 20’s IT specialist (Elle). B is the owner, and E is another boarder like me. They’re musicians teaming up (there’s a studio upstairs) and generally very cool and interesting and different people. Not like those in swing or circus. Tho, I met B thru the swing crowd. It’s good.
Went to the circus folks show for the graduating class (the first ever from NICA). It was great! Some of the people are going to tour with Cirque once they’re finished. Amazing aerial performances - tissu, rope, hoop, straps, pole - it was incredible to see people my age doing these things.
Blue Train pretty much rocks. The music they play is mine, but not actually mine - the Streets, Thievery Corp, Avalanches, Bouzo Bajou, and more. AND, they give you a pint when you’re off! What better way to unwind than in the plush lounge they have with low lights and comfy couches. mmMMMMMmmmmmmm….. end of shift
And I’ve found a beautiful Onion equivalent: The Chaser. It’s sweet. Look for it online, cause I bet it’s there. And so many good bookshops. I want a book called “No Logo” and another about misinformation or something.
Found a good new hip-hop group - the Ugly Duckings. The circus folk are really showing me what’s what hizere.
I really hate baby strollers. They’re the most annoying pedestrian vehicle. Especially those luxury models with the 10″ bike wheels and tires, silly soccer moms. And they create havoc on the public transport (people take them on the trolley-like trams here, and the trains). And they’re a ginormous obstacle in a restaurant. Uf.
I’m a full-fledged waiter! The people are fun and the tips (not an Aussie cultural element) good. I think it’s the accent. heh heh
My first day waiting tables was Sunday morning, and my first table had 11 people! I went to it, tho, and after a few nervous jitters, I’m settling into the rythm that is food service. I love it.
Now I’m excited to find people to live with. I’m crossing my fingers for a cool summer sub-let…