Low Tide
Slept in yesterday, as you do on the first day of the second month of spring. The family headed off to church, and I caught up on a few emails. Cooking hasn't been my strongpoint these last couple of days. An experiment with gluten steaks resulted in them breaking up in the broth - caused by one (or more) of the 10 extra ingredients I added to the normally simple equal quantities of gluten flour and water. Then the kids convinced me to ice an otherwise delicious apple and cinnamon cake with chocolate cream icing - result: inedible. Next was the two dozen sausage rolls which I forgot to take out of the oven, and remembered a hour later... Lastly was the lasagna which due to the pressures of a hungry mob, came out of the oven about 10 minutes too soon - taking al dente to extremes. At least the chive scrambled eggs this morning were OK. Maybe I'll just stick to boiling water.
Went back to Ballina beach with the Nagasakis and managed to score a low tide this time. Raided the rock pools for tiddlers and tried to teach Bella how not to catch periwinkles in her net. Still a bit chilly for swimming. Came home via Bulwinkle park successfully tested Hiro's antii-mosquito lemon scented teatree oil spray. Scoffed the last on the pepper/tofu pie and some of the burnt sausage rolls for tea, then Lach and I went shopping, getting home about 10pm. Later T+L and I were spying on Mars, Orion, Taurus and the pleiades as they rose higher in the east. We didn't get to see a brilliant meteor like the other night...
Irony
Visited the new Lismore Square shopping center today with T+L, and had a kebab at the same spot Taff and I did 10 years ago when she was one. The extra range of shops and eateries makes a big difference to the usefulness of the place. Having a good software shop is a bonus, whereas having a golden arches booth is an anti-bonus. We found the sequel to Aladdin, but Bionicle 3 isn't out until tomorrow annoyingly. Will wander down to the Square during my lunch then.
We have this game to practise lateral thinking where we challenge each other to think of (within 15 sec) five non standard uses for an everyday object. The kids are quite good at it mostly. I was trying to think of five ways that drinking southern comfort to dampen the symptoms of a UTI was an irony. I can only think of two. Unlike the above picture, I don't think that it involves being a spectator. Chris, Lorna and Dean are here this week, and so far it's been quite cool - the weekend past had led us to expect a progressively hotter week. The valley that we spectate upon was quite foggy during the afternoon, at least that was how the TV weather described it - more like low cloud.
Nobel Prize
The awarding of the Medicine Nobel Prize to Marshall and Warren was really cool. Their original theory, the mechanics of how they proved it, and the time span until they were recognised by the Nobel foundation have all been topics of discusion at work. It's interesting that the average elapsed time between a discovery and the Nobel award seems to be about twenty years - enough time to get a good idea of the full ramifications of a particular advance in terms of it's affect on that industry or area. I may do some statistical research into these delays as far as how they apply to physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace. I know it's a bit sad, but watch this space...
My personal predator, the tigress of my life, is really a wonderful person. I don't think my feelings for her ever change, but my general attitude towards life and the value I put on my hopes and plans, varies like the tide. I don't think that actually makes me bipolar, or if it does, then the amount of latitude over which I oscillate is not that great.
I have decided to wage a personal war against the catapillars eating my brocilli. There is not so many of them that large boot of vegetable justice shall not come a thumping down. Was pleased to see that the corn righted itself after the wind had blown it all over to 45deg. On the indoor front, the kids have managed to watch Bionicle 3 twice, and Aladdin 2 once since six last night... Square eyes.
Third Standard Deviation
It's been an education. The in-laws are here, and the TV is on. We have seen more TV this week than the whole year in total. Lots of interesting stuff - who's been killing the dolphins and coastal small whales in Sth Australia? George dubbya is finally concerned about bird flu... The poms have been planning for said epidemic since before Y2K with inflatable morgues no less. Then there is the Boadicea who was really Boodika, the redhead, uninhibited, freedom fighting warrior queen who bathed in blood, who actually was a roman loving oyster supplier to caesar. She did go over the top a bit later, killing a few score other brito-romans, then got buried under platform eleven king's cross station.
Made a fundamental mistake today - again. Lightning should never strike twice; actually given that the atomospheric static discharge occurs along the local path of least resistance then of course is does, and when it does then at least you should have purchased a good earth strap. Forget my earthing strap today - got bitten by a couple of theatre cases that should normally take ten minutes each - ran to two hours each, that's multiple standard deviations above the norm. And I declined the offer of relief an hour from the end cause I was sure it would only take a few more minutes... My lateness did cause my darling tigress to make dinner - haystacks. I think Lorna asked for it. Maybe even stormclouds have a silver lining.
Cave canem
Finished a run of nights - had just about everything in it. Stabbings, burns, crashes, falls, hangings, assaults, fits, and the obligatory handful of punch fractures. Spent more than a few hours sleeping on my feet in theatre, but managed to miss at least 3 fem nails. Babysat students each night which decreased my personal time (i.e. reading). Did some work on the nobel thing, and didn't read enough Cadfael - finding it hard to get started on 'St Peter's Fair'. Video player died so replaced it and rearranged entertainment stack - archived phoogs amp, equaliser and speakers, wonder if he wants them back?
Have now heard back from Fraser, Sharon, and Dazza. The former is a Dad! It has turned out to be an Annus mirabilis for communication. Just goes to show what sending an occasional email will do. All I have to do now is not leave it months before I reply... An investigation for the cause of a lack of hot water was fruitless - will call a sparkie. Did discover the front lawn was literally cover in dog crap - even more than the bindies. Beware of the Dog!
Ill-Made Mute
The hot water came right - who knows. A rotten work day caused by two drunk minors and a stolen car. Grandad is arriving in an hour - it's still drizzling so it should be right cheery. We definitely need the rain, and it saves watering the veges.. Am going to investigate a reasonably non toxic way of discouraging the green wrigglers from eating the broccili. Must ask Chris.
Had a collection of about 300 MP3s burnt in y2k ish onto CD that I dredged up only to find that the CDs have corrupted to the point of ill-burnt pointlessness. Will officially take that as a friendly warning re: my 5 year collection of dig photos... I wonder how many people will be caught out by that one. Have started the first trilogy by Cecilia Dart-Thornton - so far so good.
Sixth mobile phone in a decade, first one I don't insure. Seems it had an exchange of body fluids avec une banana deep within Panthera tigris' bag. Panasonic warranty people deemed it a case of 'severe' loss of innocence (water damage).. Got to throw it into the bin (satisfying clang) and bought a different brand from a different shop. New one's better anyway (sniff).
Here be dungeons
Have just reached that horrible time of morning - shall I bother hitting the sack, or not. Finished work at midnight, got called back at one for a broken neck, was home by two, called at three for pnuemonia, home by four, called at five for pulm. oedema, home by six, called again at seven for a SBO, and home by eight. The sun's up, the kids are waking and I'll lose the whole day if I crash out now. Maybe a milkshake and a peanut butter/banana sandwich will do for the moment...
Taff and I have developed a Dungeons and Dragons for kids thing, which we call Storyworld. Our characters are called Fletch and Chuke, and maybe one day Lach may appear in a village square somewhere! Found the twenty and twelve sided dice (which periodically run off care off the twins) and have developed our rules of combat and trade. It's a very calm world really. Finished the first Dart-Thornton book - will buy the secound one afterall.
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