Since exams are over, I've found that my life has gotten a lot more enjoyable (as it usually does post-exams). I am working more, working out more, and finally have my diet under control. So now I'm on a much better path.
Much recently, I discovered the joys and utility of the breast shirt pocket. It's amazing the amount of stuff you can use it for - shopping list, packs of gum, pens, the opportunities seem endless. It's not just for the pack of fags that chain smokers habitually keep in there.
Good things that happened
- Went to my first Krav Maga lesson - it was a real eye-opener
- Still on my diet, and not branching out much. Good going :)
- Working at that new workout regime of mine is tiring, but good.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
I hate exams
Yes, it's my periodic catch-cry. However, this exam period has been surprisingly more relaxed than previous ones, which were usually frenetic months of frenzied study. This time, with my exams spaced nicely and over roughly three weeks at one a week, I can afford to take it much more easily.
That said, I am stuck at a conundrum. Do I blow a whole load of money on getting a new computer so that I can play Crysis, Call of Duty 4 and other AAA titles that are coming out for this summer, or do I spend it on something else, like the necessary uniforms and weaponry for taking up Iaido, and on self-defence lessons?
The latter seems a lot more appropriate and geared towards personal development, but the emotional tug of being able to play Crysis with the graphics pushed all the way up ...
And then there's Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect to think about.
Good things that happened today:
- Finally started to put weights back into my workout! Now I can start to really develop muscle!
- Despite how hot it was supposed to be, my room didn't turn into the sauna that I was expecting it to.
That said, I am stuck at a conundrum. Do I blow a whole load of money on getting a new computer so that I can play Crysis, Call of Duty 4 and other AAA titles that are coming out for this summer, or do I spend it on something else, like the necessary uniforms and weaponry for taking up Iaido, and on self-defence lessons?
The latter seems a lot more appropriate and geared towards personal development, but the emotional tug of being able to play Crysis with the graphics pushed all the way up ...
And then there's Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect to think about.
Good things that happened today:
- Finally started to put weights back into my workout! Now I can start to really develop muscle!
- Despite how hot it was supposed to be, my room didn't turn into the sauna that I was expecting it to.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Energy
I met a cool guy at the gym today. I'd actually met him before, he was a trainer at the gym, but not 'before' before, in terms of getting to know him. He walked up to me after we had a quick chat about martial arts with another trainer, and we had this big talk about martial arts.
It was really interesting. We shared the same passion for martial arts (I'm pretty sure one of my passions is martial arts), and he really seemed to be able to vibe on the same level as me. We talked, and he told me his sort of take on the Matrix - social programming, having to blend in with Society, and following what others do because it's the 'norm.'
From what I could see, it was like he was trying to wake up, but couldn't. I talked to him for hours without realising - I really enjoyed talking to him because it was like we vibed on similar energy levels.
Cool things that happened today
- Got my second reference from university - it's a glowing one! Now the last thing that I need to get is a letter announcing when I will graduate.
- Met said cool guy at the gym today, and we talked for a long time on philosophical topics such as Life, metaphysics, and martial arts.
It was really interesting. We shared the same passion for martial arts (I'm pretty sure one of my passions is martial arts), and he really seemed to be able to vibe on the same level as me. We talked, and he told me his sort of take on the Matrix - social programming, having to blend in with Society, and following what others do because it's the 'norm.'
From what I could see, it was like he was trying to wake up, but couldn't. I talked to him for hours without realising - I really enjoyed talking to him because it was like we vibed on similar energy levels.
Cool things that happened today
- Got my second reference from university - it's a glowing one! Now the last thing that I need to get is a letter announcing when I will graduate.
- Met said cool guy at the gym today, and we talked for a long time on philosophical topics such as Life, metaphysics, and martial arts.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Boxing
Went to the gym today, and had a slightly different workout. Instead of the same-old cardio workouts, I did some kickboxing with one of the trainers today. A lot of fun, for sure. It helps work up a nice sweat, and a lot of the other patrons were watching too (quite amusing).
I am definitely going to want to pick up martial arts as soon as exams are over.
On the weight gain side ... I've plateaued out, I think. I think that I am going to reintroduce weights into my regime after leaving it out for the last month or so.
Good things that happened today:
- Finished noting one of my subjects - now all I have to do is do the practice exam for that one!
- Got $15 free today - apparently my mum had made a winning bet on the Melbourne Cup (betting on Efficient), and she was bighearted enough to spread the prize amongst our little family.
- Kickboxing at the gym! I wanna do more!
- Got paid a bit more than I thought - now I'll have a bit more to spend later on.
I am definitely going to want to pick up martial arts as soon as exams are over.
On the weight gain side ... I've plateaued out, I think. I think that I am going to reintroduce weights into my regime after leaving it out for the last month or so.
Good things that happened today:
- Finished noting one of my subjects - now all I have to do is do the practice exam for that one!
- Got $15 free today - apparently my mum had made a winning bet on the Melbourne Cup (betting on Efficient), and she was bighearted enough to spread the prize amongst our little family.
- Kickboxing at the gym! I wanna do more!
- Got paid a bit more than I thought - now I'll have a bit more to spend later on.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
The passage of time
I compared some photos of myself recently and this time last year. Boy do I look a lot different. I think I've lost a lotta weight, my face seems to have become less rounded than before, and ... I seem to be getting thinner! Actual success!
November 20th, 2006 (the day we set out on the Ex-Trip):
About six months ago:
Yesterday:
Definitely changed a lot. I feel glad, and a lot more encouraged to continue on with my current course.
Good things that happened today:
- Knocked down one of my exams! Only got two more (and two weeks) to go!
- Talked to another one of my lecturers, so now I have one more reference for JET. This way, I have a back-up reference if the other one with the university I asked for gives me a crappy one.
- Watching downloaded videos on a big-screen TV! It is such a better feel than watching them on a laptop screen, and much more enjoyable.
November 20th, 2006 (the day we set out on the Ex-Trip):
About six months ago:
Yesterday:
Definitely changed a lot. I feel glad, and a lot more encouraged to continue on with my current course.
Good things that happened today:
- Knocked down one of my exams! Only got two more (and two weeks) to go!
- Talked to another one of my lecturers, so now I have one more reference for JET. This way, I have a back-up reference if the other one with the university I asked for gives me a crappy one.
- Watching downloaded videos on a big-screen TV! It is such a better feel than watching them on a laptop screen, and much more enjoyable.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
A good day
I dunno what happened, but I had an awesome day today.
Salsa was fun as hell, met some cool new people, and we were doing paired work, which is always fun. Especially considering the guy-girl ratio is like 1:6 in girls' favour. There are only four male students there, my friends and I making up three of them.
My mate Ben told me about what happened on the weekend - him and my other friend, Will, both got absolutely paro. Hijinks ensued.
There was a cute new Asian student there that hadn't been before. I wasted no time in making her acquaintance, and she seemed to be a cool person to get to know better.
Good things that happened today:
- Not something for a tasteful blog like this, which I want to keep at an MA rating.
- Met up with my friend and had a lot of fun during and after salsa ... especially the way he was retelling the fight my other friend had on the weekend.
- Lots of paired work in salsa! Dancing with a lot of girls and doing a lot of leading! Makes you feel more like a man, I say.
- Made the acquaintance of some cool new people at salsa, including above Asian student.
Salsa was fun as hell, met some cool new people, and we were doing paired work, which is always fun. Especially considering the guy-girl ratio is like 1:6 in girls' favour. There are only four male students there, my friends and I making up three of them.
My mate Ben told me about what happened on the weekend - him and my other friend, Will, both got absolutely paro. Hijinks ensued.
There was a cute new Asian student there that hadn't been before. I wasted no time in making her acquaintance, and she seemed to be a cool person to get to know better.
Good things that happened today:
- Not something for a tasteful blog like this, which I want to keep at an MA rating.
- Met up with my friend and had a lot of fun during and after salsa ... especially the way he was retelling the fight my other friend had on the weekend.
- Lots of paired work in salsa! Dancing with a lot of girls and doing a lot of leading! Makes you feel more like a man, I say.
- Made the acquaintance of some cool new people at salsa, including above Asian student.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Computer problems
My laptop died a couple of days ago. I have no idea what went wrong with it, but I couldn't boot into Windows. In the end, I had to reinstall Windows.
I haven't been making my daily entries like I should have been, mainly because I forget and because exams are coming up. I really should try to keep up with daily entries.
Good things that happened today:
- Got to Toastmasters 15 minutes later than I was supposed to, but luckily everyone else had been locked out and I got there just in time to be let in and help set up.
- Talked to my Japanese friend at Toastmasters and he told me a lot about Himeji, where I'm planning to go for JET. That's assuming that JET puts me there - high probability, because Himeji is sister-city with Adelaide.
- Got my reference from the VPE at Toastmasters for JET. Now just for the university one.
I haven't been making my daily entries like I should have been, mainly because I forget and because exams are coming up. I really should try to keep up with daily entries.
Good things that happened today:
- Got to Toastmasters 15 minutes later than I was supposed to, but luckily everyone else had been locked out and I got there just in time to be let in and help set up.
- Talked to my Japanese friend at Toastmasters and he told me a lot about Himeji, where I'm planning to go for JET. That's assuming that JET puts me there - high probability, because Himeji is sister-city with Adelaide.
- Got my reference from the VPE at Toastmasters for JET. Now just for the university one.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Finking about life
After visiting the Life Sciences precinct out in Thebarton today and seeing what work is available, I've decided ... it's not for me. I don't want to be stuck inside a lab all day, 9-5, doing research. I don't want to be a worker drone who functions as part of a cog in the assembly line of a biological factory pumping out active ingredients for drugs.
Not to mention that the precinct is on the same street as a bikie fortress.
I walk down the side-street to the first building, and to my right there is a big fence with barbed wire, locked doors, keep-out signs, and a huge, black gate with 'FINKS MC AUSTRALIA' emblazoned on it, complete with security cameras in the courtyard as well. Doubtless while the biotech companies are manufacturing pharmaceuticals of a therapeutic and medicinal sort, the Finks are manufacturing pharmaceuticals of a far different kind - recreational.
I've been thinking more and more about the kind of life I want to lead. It's one of freedom. One where I don't have to worry about working hours, where I dictate the pace of work, and where I work.
The life of a share trader is looking more and more interesting. The market is a volatile, unpredictable beast, so I imagine it'd be more exciting than sitting in a lab and geeking out over the latest discovery in interferon-alpha receptors or the latest process for developing monoclonal antibodies. I get to work where I want, and I can take different approaches in how I want to conduct trading.
Good things that happened today:
- Got talked out of potentially wasting $6000 on enrolling in a HomeTrader course, since it seems that I can get most of the information free
- Worked up a real sweat at the gym today. I was so sweaty, it was like I had actually been running in the very wet weather we got in Adelaide today.
- Took my first steps towards becoming a shares trader - seeking advice from friends, and picking up a good book to further my education.
- Finally took the plunge and picked up some Hydroxycut. I've been going without a fat-burning supplement for the past week or so now, so it should be interesting to see how things go once I start on Hydroxycut as compared to Musashi's Mega Fat Metaboliser.
Not to mention that the precinct is on the same street as a bikie fortress.
I walk down the side-street to the first building, and to my right there is a big fence with barbed wire, locked doors, keep-out signs, and a huge, black gate with 'FINKS MC AUSTRALIA' emblazoned on it, complete with security cameras in the courtyard as well. Doubtless while the biotech companies are manufacturing pharmaceuticals of a therapeutic and medicinal sort, the Finks are manufacturing pharmaceuticals of a far different kind - recreational.
I've been thinking more and more about the kind of life I want to lead. It's one of freedom. One where I don't have to worry about working hours, where I dictate the pace of work, and where I work.
The life of a share trader is looking more and more interesting. The market is a volatile, unpredictable beast, so I imagine it'd be more exciting than sitting in a lab and geeking out over the latest discovery in interferon-alpha receptors or the latest process for developing monoclonal antibodies. I get to work where I want, and I can take different approaches in how I want to conduct trading.
Good things that happened today:
- Got talked out of potentially wasting $6000 on enrolling in a HomeTrader course, since it seems that I can get most of the information free
- Worked up a real sweat at the gym today. I was so sweaty, it was like I had actually been running in the very wet weather we got in Adelaide today.
- Took my first steps towards becoming a shares trader - seeking advice from friends, and picking up a good book to further my education.
- Finally took the plunge and picked up some Hydroxycut. I've been going without a fat-burning supplement for the past week or so now, so it should be interesting to see how things go once I start on Hydroxycut as compared to Musashi's Mega Fat Metaboliser.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A possible choice
I think I've found a possible career that has both a certain amount of freedom in dictating when I work, and still earns some money.
Professional share-trading.
Of course, there'll be some start-up cost in actually learning, and getting myself afloat, but hey, the ends justify the means.
Good things that happened today:
- Got to translate a little bit more of Gundam Unicorn! Even if it's just the first page and at a glacial rate, I'm one of the few non-Japanese native speakers who are reading it!
- Got some ideas about learning share-trading, and how much it would cost me for the education. Hopefully, I can hit up the folks for some money to help pay for the tuition costs.
- Managed to do more than just ten minutes of study today. I finally finished the first lecture of Pharm-biotech! Now to do the rest ...
Professional share-trading.
Of course, there'll be some start-up cost in actually learning, and getting myself afloat, but hey, the ends justify the means.
Good things that happened today:
- Got to translate a little bit more of Gundam Unicorn! Even if it's just the first page and at a glacial rate, I'm one of the few non-Japanese native speakers who are reading it!
- Got some ideas about learning share-trading, and how much it would cost me for the education. Hopefully, I can hit up the folks for some money to help pay for the tuition costs.
- Managed to do more than just ten minutes of study today. I finally finished the first lecture of Pharm-biotech! Now to do the rest ...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Catch-up
Yes, I know, I know. I forgot to do an entry yesterday, so I think that I'll do today's and yesterday's.
A bit more progress on the JET front - I think I've found one of my two references (and the university one too!) after a bit of a dilemma. Not too many of the lecturers like me, so it'd be hard finding a good reference at university, but I think I have found one.
I found out that in the upcoming Biotech precinct visit on Thursday, we should avoid parking on a certain street ... it also seems that a particular group known as the Finks Motorcycle Club have set up shop near there, and they apparently don't like people parking along that street.
Good things:
Monday
- No Toastmasters meeting, so I unexpectedly had a Monday evening off instead of being at Toastmasters. Nothing wrong with Toastmasters, but unexpected free time is always fun.
Tuesday
- Had a helluva lotta fun at the salsa lesson today
- Ate out afterwards with the fellas. Male bonding is very important in a man's life!
A bit more progress on the JET front - I think I've found one of my two references (and the university one too!) after a bit of a dilemma. Not too many of the lecturers like me, so it'd be hard finding a good reference at university, but I think I have found one.
I found out that in the upcoming Biotech precinct visit on Thursday, we should avoid parking on a certain street ... it also seems that a particular group known as the Finks Motorcycle Club have set up shop near there, and they apparently don't like people parking along that street.
Good things:
Monday
- No Toastmasters meeting, so I unexpectedly had a Monday evening off instead of being at Toastmasters. Nothing wrong with Toastmasters, but unexpected free time is always fun.
Tuesday
- Had a helluva lotta fun at the salsa lesson today
- Ate out afterwards with the fellas. Male bonding is very important in a man's life!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Career worries again
Again, I've been confronted by the grim spectre of 'What Next?' today, while in conversation with my dad I wonder what I should do next. What I really should and want to do next is remove myself from the narrow and corrupting influence my parents have on me. Extremely controlling, they want me to do something they approve of, which may not necessarily be what I want to do. What I'd really like to do: be a writer.
Unfortunately the pay is pretty crappy for most writers, unless you have a New York Times bestseller and/or your book gets optioned and turned into a movie, like the Harry Potter series. Although I'm more of a gamer than a writer, I suppose it'd be more interesting to write for games, more specifically role-playing games. I love my hobby as a DM on some of the NWN servers (something I should do more often -_- ). Of course, to get into some of these creative writing courses requires that I submit a portfolio. It's too late this year, so I wonder what to do ...
Perhaps what I'll do is wait and see if I get into pharmacy at Charles Darwin. If I do, cool, I'll do it and if I get admitted into JET while I'm at it, I'll take some time off to teach in Japan. If not, then I'll spend a year off reassessing my life, working, and again, if I get into JET, I'll again go to Japan, and if I still want to be a writer, then I'll get started working on a portfolio.
Good things that happened today:
- My brother paid me back for getting Six Sacred Stones. For some reason, he gave me back the whole $30 that I paid for the book. Free money is never unappreciated ^_^
- Laid to rest my fears that I'll do crap on the bioinformatics test tomorrow. Hopefully it should be a bit simpler to do, as long as the teacher doesn't try to get me to do a lot of complicated stuff.
Unfortunately the pay is pretty crappy for most writers, unless you have a New York Times bestseller and/or your book gets optioned and turned into a movie, like the Harry Potter series. Although I'm more of a gamer than a writer, I suppose it'd be more interesting to write for games, more specifically role-playing games. I love my hobby as a DM on some of the NWN servers (something I should do more often -_- ). Of course, to get into some of these creative writing courses requires that I submit a portfolio. It's too late this year, so I wonder what to do ...
Perhaps what I'll do is wait and see if I get into pharmacy at Charles Darwin. If I do, cool, I'll do it and if I get admitted into JET while I'm at it, I'll take some time off to teach in Japan. If not, then I'll spend a year off reassessing my life, working, and again, if I get into JET, I'll again go to Japan, and if I still want to be a writer, then I'll get started working on a portfolio.
Good things that happened today:
- My brother paid me back for getting Six Sacred Stones. For some reason, he gave me back the whole $30 that I paid for the book. Free money is never unappreciated ^_^
- Laid to rest my fears that I'll do crap on the bioinformatics test tomorrow. Hopefully it should be a bit simpler to do, as long as the teacher doesn't try to get me to do a lot of complicated stuff.
Interesting sports
I'm at work today ... and somehow I'm glad that I'll be taking time off soon. It's incredibly mind-numbing stuff, some of the time. I'm glad that I'm beginning to learn to adapt more and more to finding ways to combat the boredom.
I was taking a break from my cardio workout at the gym, and saw this most odd sport. Canoe water polo! It's like water polo, only you're paddling around in canoes. I watched them grab the ball and throw it to each other, and contesting each other by cutting each other off with their canoes. It's like driving in Adelaide, only it's concentrated into a small pool, the people are more aggressive and it's much more amusing. I didn't see any pool-rage yet. It's only a matter of time before someone miscalculates their paddle swing and smacks some other poor sod in the face.
Good things that happened today:
- Weighed myself to find that I am now ~80kg! I've lost 2kg since last week. 70kg here I come!
- Burned even more calories than before at the gym doing cardio. Since it's interval training, I should have more of a burn (hopefully)
- Got my academic transcripts photocopied and certified. Now all that's left on my JET application checklist is to get those references.
I was taking a break from my cardio workout at the gym, and saw this most odd sport. Canoe water polo! It's like water polo, only you're paddling around in canoes. I watched them grab the ball and throw it to each other, and contesting each other by cutting each other off with their canoes. It's like driving in Adelaide, only it's concentrated into a small pool, the people are more aggressive and it's much more amusing. I didn't see any pool-rage yet. It's only a matter of time before someone miscalculates their paddle swing and smacks some other poor sod in the face.
Good things that happened today:
- Weighed myself to find that I am now ~80kg! I've lost 2kg since last week. 70kg here I come!
- Burned even more calories than before at the gym doing cardio. Since it's interval training, I should have more of a burn (hopefully)
- Got my academic transcripts photocopied and certified. Now all that's left on my JET application checklist is to get those references.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Exams incoming!
Only one week left ... and then lectures are over and it's SWOTVAC time.
I really gotta get a move on and get off my arse if I want an easy SWOTVAC instead of frantic revision and noting like last semester.
Good things that happened today:
- Got my academic transcript in. Now, all I have to do is write my application, fill out the forms and get the references.
- Matthew Reilly's latest effort, Six Sacred Stones, came out. As soon as I saw it, I snapped it up. And da~mn is it a good read.
I really gotta get a move on and get off my arse if I want an easy SWOTVAC instead of frantic revision and noting like last semester.
Good things that happened today:
- Got my academic transcript in. Now, all I have to do is write my application, fill out the forms and get the references.
- Matthew Reilly's latest effort, Six Sacred Stones, came out. As soon as I saw it, I snapped it up. And da~mn is it a good read.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Good things
I've blogged more than twice in one month! Shock horror!
The main reason is so I can keep a 'good things' diary, in my journey to become a more positive person, and lift my energy. If I concentrate on good things, then I figure more good things will come into my life by virtue of the law of attraction.
Good things that happened today:
- One of the lecturers was sick, so only had two hours of lessons today, skipping the lessons the sick lecturer was supposed to do, and going straight to the next two lessons in place of it.
- I didn't think that I'd be able to make it to the gym today (had to get into uni around the time I normally go to the gym), but due to the above point of having an extra two hours free, I ended up making it to the gym. I think I worked up a bigger sweat today than I did yesterday.
- My dad gave me $20 earlier today because I had trouble doing a cash-out from one of the shop EFTPOS units. Free money is never unappreciated ^_^
The main reason is so I can keep a 'good things' diary, in my journey to become a more positive person, and lift my energy. If I concentrate on good things, then I figure more good things will come into my life by virtue of the law of attraction.
Good things that happened today:
- One of the lecturers was sick, so only had two hours of lessons today, skipping the lessons the sick lecturer was supposed to do, and going straight to the next two lessons in place of it.
- I didn't think that I'd be able to make it to the gym today (had to get into uni around the time I normally go to the gym), but due to the above point of having an extra two hours free, I ended up making it to the gym. I think I worked up a bigger sweat today than I did yesterday.
- My dad gave me $20 earlier today because I had trouble doing a cash-out from one of the shop EFTPOS units. Free money is never unappreciated ^_^
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Moments in life
Do you ever have any of those moments where you're just cruising along through life, and then the moment seems to just freeze, and the moment seems crystallised. And then it's at times like that that you think to yourself 'This is enjoying life, and its simple pleasures.'
I get that moment a lot, particularly when I'm driving. I think it's mainly because my car is the symbol of my freedom. When I'm in it, I can go whereever I want, free as the wind. I had one of these moments a couple of weeks ago. I was driving down to my friend's place, in the late afternoon. A particular song was playing - Days by FLOW - and then it just crystallised for me: I enjoy things like this. Cruising along, feeling the wind on my face and through my hair.
I think it's a sign that I enjoy my life, and have at least, some satisfaction with it.
Good things that happened today:
- I picked up the Japanese novels I ordered online from my friend's place (he receives stuff for me), and had a quick look through. It should be interesting going through them with my Japanese teacher. I wonder how much kanji I'll pick up.
- My iPod Classic came in. Despite what some people may say about iPods, I'm still loving it. I don't know why, but somehow I figured that someday I'd have an iPod, so in a way that prophecy seems to have been fulfilled.
- Last episode of Summer Heights High. Damn it was poignant. I'm glad that Jonah got his revenge in the end though, tagging everything throughout the entire school. I'm sure that the school will have a good reputation with a huge, hand-drawn penis on its rooftop.
- Despite resistance to the contrary, I managed to make it to the gym again and work out, working up a good hot sweat. 15% body fat here I come!
I get that moment a lot, particularly when I'm driving. I think it's mainly because my car is the symbol of my freedom. When I'm in it, I can go whereever I want, free as the wind. I had one of these moments a couple of weeks ago. I was driving down to my friend's place, in the late afternoon. A particular song was playing - Days by FLOW - and then it just crystallised for me: I enjoy things like this. Cruising along, feeling the wind on my face and through my hair.
I think it's a sign that I enjoy my life, and have at least, some satisfaction with it.
Good things that happened today:
- I picked up the Japanese novels I ordered online from my friend's place (he receives stuff for me), and had a quick look through. It should be interesting going through them with my Japanese teacher. I wonder how much kanji I'll pick up.
- My iPod Classic came in. Despite what some people may say about iPods, I'm still loving it. I don't know why, but somehow I figured that someday I'd have an iPod, so in a way that prophecy seems to have been fulfilled.
- Last episode of Summer Heights High. Damn it was poignant. I'm glad that Jonah got his revenge in the end though, tagging everything throughout the entire school. I'm sure that the school will have a good reputation with a huge, hand-drawn penis on its rooftop.
- Despite resistance to the contrary, I managed to make it to the gym again and work out, working up a good hot sweat. 15% body fat here I come!
A day in the Ideal Life of the Tran man
8:30am
I wake up, in a high-rise apartment, to the soft, ambient sounds of city traffic. I shuffle into the nearby bathroom and brush my teeth. I take a shower, using quality product to make sure that I look and smell good (a player's gotta take care of himself, after all). I then shave and trim my goatee (for those of you who know me personally, yes, I like the goatee and will keep it). Emerge from the bathroom feeling clean and great.
9:15am
I enter the kitchen and make myself breakfast and lunch. Great, wholesome healthy food. It's also a joy to cook in that kitchen, having everything that I need. I sit down and read the paper while having my breakfast.
9:40am
I leave for the gym and work out there for an hour. Depending on what day it is, I either do weights or cardio work. After my workout, I return to my apartment for a post-workout shake.
11:00am
I leave my apartment and take my laptop with me, settling down at a nearby coffee shop and connecting into their wireless internet to communicate with peers and friends, and work my trade: writing.
2:00pm
I take a break from work and leave the coffee shop to go somewhere else for lunch. Again, something light and healthy, like a nice club sandwich. Spot a girl checking me out, and walk over and start a conversation with her. Spend lunch talking to her and making a new friend.
3:30pm
Shopping for appropriate ingredients to make for dinner.
4:30pm
Return home and begin cooking a healthy, gourmet dinner. Some friends are coming over for dinner, so I cook for a group.
6:50pm
Friends arrive, and we have an amiable dinner-chat. After dinner, we hang out and talk for a bit, before friends leave for other things.
8:20pm
Entertainment time - either play some videogames, watch tv/movie, or something else to amuse myself for a little while.
10:00pm
Sit down and meditate for a while, before preparing to go to bed.
In writing this, I suppose what I really want from life is freedom to do what I want. The freedom to work when I want, where I want. The freedom to live life the way I want to live life.
Good things diary:
- Went to my first salsa lesson today. It was a lot of fun, and my friends were pretty glad that I got them to come with me. We're all definitely going to come back.
- Hamming it up after the salsa lesson at my friend's place. We must have looked a gay sight, practicing what we learned together in my friend's apartment. It would have been quite funny had someone walked past and overheard my friend saying to me 'all right, stick your arse out ... yeah, like that ... now just swing your hips ...' XD
- A couple of Japanese novels that I ordered online arrived, so I just have to pick them up from my friend's place and then I can start reading through them with my Japanese teacher.
- Managed to get my hands on some notes that I had lost, borrowing off a friend. Now I just have to photocopy them and then I'll be able to replace the missing notes that I lost.
I wake up, in a high-rise apartment, to the soft, ambient sounds of city traffic. I shuffle into the nearby bathroom and brush my teeth. I take a shower, using quality product to make sure that I look and smell good (a player's gotta take care of himself, after all). I then shave and trim my goatee (for those of you who know me personally, yes, I like the goatee and will keep it). Emerge from the bathroom feeling clean and great.
9:15am
I enter the kitchen and make myself breakfast and lunch. Great, wholesome healthy food. It's also a joy to cook in that kitchen, having everything that I need. I sit down and read the paper while having my breakfast.
9:40am
I leave for the gym and work out there for an hour. Depending on what day it is, I either do weights or cardio work. After my workout, I return to my apartment for a post-workout shake.
11:00am
I leave my apartment and take my laptop with me, settling down at a nearby coffee shop and connecting into their wireless internet to communicate with peers and friends, and work my trade: writing.
2:00pm
I take a break from work and leave the coffee shop to go somewhere else for lunch. Again, something light and healthy, like a nice club sandwich. Spot a girl checking me out, and walk over and start a conversation with her. Spend lunch talking to her and making a new friend.
3:30pm
Shopping for appropriate ingredients to make for dinner.
4:30pm
Return home and begin cooking a healthy, gourmet dinner. Some friends are coming over for dinner, so I cook for a group.
6:50pm
Friends arrive, and we have an amiable dinner-chat. After dinner, we hang out and talk for a bit, before friends leave for other things.
8:20pm
Entertainment time - either play some videogames, watch tv/movie, or something else to amuse myself for a little while.
10:00pm
Sit down and meditate for a while, before preparing to go to bed.
In writing this, I suppose what I really want from life is freedom to do what I want. The freedom to work when I want, where I want. The freedom to live life the way I want to live life.
Good things diary:
- Went to my first salsa lesson today. It was a lot of fun, and my friends were pretty glad that I got them to come with me. We're all definitely going to come back.
- Hamming it up after the salsa lesson at my friend's place. We must have looked a gay sight, practicing what we learned together in my friend's apartment. It would have been quite funny had someone walked past and overheard my friend saying to me 'all right, stick your arse out ... yeah, like that ... now just swing your hips ...' XD
- A couple of Japanese novels that I ordered online arrived, so I just have to pick them up from my friend's place and then I can start reading through them with my Japanese teacher.
- Managed to get my hands on some notes that I had lost, borrowing off a friend. Now I just have to photocopy them and then I'll be able to replace the missing notes that I lost.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Stop Press
I was going to write about my ideal day, but unfortunately something has jarred me off course.
I was in a car accident.
And this time I was the 'instigator,' as unhappy as I am to admit it.
I'd just turned onto North-East Road, and spotted my brother at the bus-stop. I figure I'd swing over and give him a lift. It would have turned out great - my brother gets a lift to university, I get a kick out of being a caring big brother. All would have been great.
I hit a 1991 Holden VN Berlina. It got set careening down the road onto the nature-strip on the footpath, and crashed into a tree. Fortunately, the driver wasn't hurt, and the car was damaged, but still largely usable but for the smashed headlight. The damage to 'mah baby' was a large dent around the front-left wheel, and some paintwork that could be polished off later.
The guy in the Berlina was a pretty cool dude about it, and hopefully by this time next week we'll have it all resolved.
Despite that, I should stay positive.
Good things that happened today:
- Only have to write a page on current treatments for HIV and a paragraph on simian HIV for my group Commercialisation of Biotechnology project. Go me, easy stuff.
- Was able to find out more about the JET program, including what to do if you're going to graduate, but can't present an academic transcript and diploma by the end of application time.
- Worked out hard at the gym today, sweating away 35 minutes of hard interval training. I was in a real sweat by the end there. Interval training all the way!
- Finally got some motivation to actually start working on some of my Gundam models that had been sitting away gathering dust - I finally tackled my MG Gundam Mk II v2, building the body and the feet.
I was in a car accident.
And this time I was the 'instigator,' as unhappy as I am to admit it.
I'd just turned onto North-East Road, and spotted my brother at the bus-stop. I figure I'd swing over and give him a lift. It would have turned out great - my brother gets a lift to university, I get a kick out of being a caring big brother. All would have been great.
I hit a 1991 Holden VN Berlina. It got set careening down the road onto the nature-strip on the footpath, and crashed into a tree. Fortunately, the driver wasn't hurt, and the car was damaged, but still largely usable but for the smashed headlight. The damage to 'mah baby' was a large dent around the front-left wheel, and some paintwork that could be polished off later.
The guy in the Berlina was a pretty cool dude about it, and hopefully by this time next week we'll have it all resolved.
Despite that, I should stay positive.
Good things that happened today:
- Only have to write a page on current treatments for HIV and a paragraph on simian HIV for my group Commercialisation of Biotechnology project. Go me, easy stuff.
- Was able to find out more about the JET program, including what to do if you're going to graduate, but can't present an academic transcript and diploma by the end of application time.
- Worked out hard at the gym today, sweating away 35 minutes of hard interval training. I was in a real sweat by the end there. Interval training all the way!
- Finally got some motivation to actually start working on some of my Gundam models that had been sitting away gathering dust - I finally tackled my MG Gundam Mk II v2, building the body and the feet.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The business of Life
With the approaching tail end of my degree coming at me, and nearing ever so closely each day, I have been putting some thought into just WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO after graduation. I sure as hell don't want to work in a lab.
So, like my friend asked me, where do I want to be in ten years?
I want to live in a trendy apartment, tastefully decorated. It sports all the niceties of life - big screen TV, home theater system, powerful computer, great modern decor, nice furniture. I am able to dictate what hours I work, and when I work. I have a pretty easygoing, laidback life. I am in excellent physical shape, and earning plenty of money to support myself. I drive a nice car (heck, I already do haha), and have a wonderful support group of friends and family.
I'm doing what I love - helping people, and telling them stories to entertain them and help them escape from their own world into another world, one of wonder and fantasy where anything can happen. With wild, fantastic worlds of battling kingdoms and wars fought with music, or exploring the depths of space. My energy is vibrating at an incredibly high level, and I am like a light in the darkness for other people.
Next time: a day in my ideal life
So, like my friend asked me, where do I want to be in ten years?
I want to live in a trendy apartment, tastefully decorated. It sports all the niceties of life - big screen TV, home theater system, powerful computer, great modern decor, nice furniture. I am able to dictate what hours I work, and when I work. I have a pretty easygoing, laidback life. I am in excellent physical shape, and earning plenty of money to support myself. I drive a nice car (heck, I already do haha), and have a wonderful support group of friends and family.
I'm doing what I love - helping people, and telling them stories to entertain them and help them escape from their own world into another world, one of wonder and fantasy where anything can happen. With wild, fantastic worlds of battling kingdoms and wars fought with music, or exploring the depths of space. My energy is vibrating at an incredibly high level, and I am like a light in the darkness for other people.
Next time: a day in my ideal life
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Matrix of Reality
To paraphrase Morpheus, from the Matrix:
What is the Matrix? Control. The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room.
You can see it when you look out your window or turn on your television.
You can feel it when you go to work...
when you go to church...
when you pay your taxes.
It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. That you are a slave. Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind.
I've just watched a movie called Zeitgeist. It's all about how people are being dominated and being enslaved to money, and becoming mindless consumers who work and be entertained.
It's bloody deep.
It claims that Sept 11 is a sham, that it was all actually staged by the US government in a great 'false flag' operation to propel the US into its current situation of war in the Middle East. That Christian religion is a hodgepodge of stories stolen from other mythologies, and adapted for a politically motivated end. That the international banking cartels are the shadow kings of the world, pulling all the strings to accumulate the material manifestation of power in this world: money.
Money is power.
Wars are started by and with money.
People are forced into servitude by money.
People are forced to work for the government, directly or indirectly, by choice or not. At least four months of the year, you work for the government - you wonder how, you ask?
Income tax.
The incredible advancement of television, the internet, radio, video and computer games, all designed for one thing - to entertain the masses. Even now, I think about the computer game consoles I have, and realise that they have one purpose: to entertain me, and keep me occupied and my mind considering totally mundane things like what to do next in the game, instead of something greater, something in the real world.
I think about MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, and I realise, that it summarises this perfectly - the poor schmuck playing the game is kept occupied, just grinding, doing the same thing over and over again, for some little graphical representation of loot, which means that they can take more hits, hit harder, and generally make bigger numbers when they do certain things. The very definition of what is happening to man these days. Just sitting there doing virtually nothing, letting their life go to waste and their savings and hard work be leeched away, $20 at a time. That's how MMORPGs work, and are profitable. They are a drug, nothing more, nothing less.
I want to break free of the Matrix.
I want to take the red pill, and disconnect myself from the umbilicals that tether me into the Matrix - the idea that I have to get a good job, save money for a rainy day, just sit and do nothing, make no waves, and just do what I'm told.
I want to do what I want, not what I'm told.
What is the Matrix? Control. The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room.
You can see it when you look out your window or turn on your television.
You can feel it when you go to work...
when you go to church...
when you pay your taxes.
It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. That you are a slave. Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind.
I've just watched a movie called Zeitgeist. It's all about how people are being dominated and being enslaved to money, and becoming mindless consumers who work and be entertained.
It's bloody deep.
It claims that Sept 11 is a sham, that it was all actually staged by the US government in a great 'false flag' operation to propel the US into its current situation of war in the Middle East. That Christian religion is a hodgepodge of stories stolen from other mythologies, and adapted for a politically motivated end. That the international banking cartels are the shadow kings of the world, pulling all the strings to accumulate the material manifestation of power in this world: money.
Money is power.
Wars are started by and with money.
People are forced into servitude by money.
People are forced to work for the government, directly or indirectly, by choice or not. At least four months of the year, you work for the government - you wonder how, you ask?
Income tax.
The incredible advancement of television, the internet, radio, video and computer games, all designed for one thing - to entertain the masses. Even now, I think about the computer game consoles I have, and realise that they have one purpose: to entertain me, and keep me occupied and my mind considering totally mundane things like what to do next in the game, instead of something greater, something in the real world.
I think about MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, and I realise, that it summarises this perfectly - the poor schmuck playing the game is kept occupied, just grinding, doing the same thing over and over again, for some little graphical representation of loot, which means that they can take more hits, hit harder, and generally make bigger numbers when they do certain things. The very definition of what is happening to man these days. Just sitting there doing virtually nothing, letting their life go to waste and their savings and hard work be leeched away, $20 at a time. That's how MMORPGs work, and are profitable. They are a drug, nothing more, nothing less.
I want to break free of the Matrix.
I want to take the red pill, and disconnect myself from the umbilicals that tether me into the Matrix - the idea that I have to get a good job, save money for a rainy day, just sit and do nothing, make no waves, and just do what I'm told.
I want to do what I want, not what I'm told.
Life's direction part 2
After doing some thinking about what to do after university (which is rapidly approaching), I've narrowed my choices down to three plans of action:
1) I get into pharmacy at Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory, in which case things are all hunky dory and I can experience proper student culture, living by and fending for myself in another place away from the parental cradle.
2) I don't get into pharmacy, and get into a business management course or something so I can try to become a business-owner. I already have a friend who owns a business (yes, I have to thank you for that self-help CD you gave me. Changed my life, I swear), so I can go to him for advice. That probably entails going back to uni anyway, going to SAIBT.
3) Apply to be an English teacher in Japan. This would actually be pretty cool, living in Japan and learning all sortsa things - and picking up hot Japanese girls. Haha, the last would be fun, but I think it'd be an experience entirely to live in a culture different from my own.
1) I get into pharmacy at Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory, in which case things are all hunky dory and I can experience proper student culture, living by and fending for myself in another place away from the parental cradle.
2) I don't get into pharmacy, and get into a business management course or something so I can try to become a business-owner. I already have a friend who owns a business (yes, I have to thank you for that self-help CD you gave me. Changed my life, I swear), so I can go to him for advice. That probably entails going back to uni anyway, going to SAIBT.
3) Apply to be an English teacher in Japan. This would actually be pretty cool, living in Japan and learning all sortsa things - and picking up hot Japanese girls. Haha, the last would be fun, but I think it'd be an experience entirely to live in a culture different from my own.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Life's direction
Recently, I've been listening to the audiobook of Napoleon Hill's famous book Think And Grow Rich. It's provided some interesting insights, as well as some very fascinating stories. But yet, some of the points they make I notice I lack.
Chief amongst these are to identify what your passions are, what it is you feel like your purpose here is. I've been doing some thinking on that for some time - what are my true passions, what is my direction in life?
My first thought is that my passion is to write, to create worlds of fantasy where people can escape, but then I think back to why I continue to work where I do, despite some problems with other staff - it's because I like the interaction with customers, I like to help people.
If you have any ideas, based on your knowledge of me, I would love for you to let me know, dear readers.
Chief amongst these are to identify what your passions are, what it is you feel like your purpose here is. I've been doing some thinking on that for some time - what are my true passions, what is my direction in life?
My first thought is that my passion is to write, to create worlds of fantasy where people can escape, but then I think back to why I continue to work where I do, despite some problems with other staff - it's because I like the interaction with customers, I like to help people.
If you have any ideas, based on your knowledge of me, I would love for you to let me know, dear readers.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Becoming a man
Yes, one of those rites of passage that all men must go through. Somehow, despite the hype, it's not all it's cracked up to be.
It's more ... awkward than anything else.
That is all.
It's more ... awkward than anything else.
That is all.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
It's that time again
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
That is all.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
I hate exams.
That is all.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
A sobering reminder of your own mortality
Got somewhat involved in a car accident yesterday. I was turning off at an intersection, in heavy rain, and as I turned, I lost control of my car, causing it to swerve wildly around the road. I'm not sure how I felt about the whole thing, throughout that ordeal, I was wrenching with the steering wheel and my only thought was of trying to regain control of the car.
I hit something behind me.
I came off lucky - a dent near one of the rear tyres, and one of the indicator lights on the other car put out. We exchanged contact details and were on our way. I came into work, and spent the time reflecting on what could have happened. Although it was a minor bump, it shook the idea that I always have total control of my car - and by extension, my life. Things happen sometimes that are simply beyond your control, and those kinds of things you want to minimise. It was also a stark reminder of my mortality. I am not invincible, and am vulnerable like others. I only have one life, so it's not like in a game where I can just do a corpse run from a graveyard back to my body.
We only have one life, so we have to give it our all - my friend put it succintly. If we only have one life, so why fear things? You'll end up simply missing out on life.
I hit something behind me.
I came off lucky - a dent near one of the rear tyres, and one of the indicator lights on the other car put out. We exchanged contact details and were on our way. I came into work, and spent the time reflecting on what could have happened. Although it was a minor bump, it shook the idea that I always have total control of my car - and by extension, my life. Things happen sometimes that are simply beyond your control, and those kinds of things you want to minimise. It was also a stark reminder of my mortality. I am not invincible, and am vulnerable like others. I only have one life, so it's not like in a game where I can just do a corpse run from a graveyard back to my body.
We only have one life, so we have to give it our all - my friend put it succintly. If we only have one life, so why fear things? You'll end up simply missing out on life.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The 300 Challenge
The movie 300 came out recently. It's so good that I went to see it twice. In fact, I loved it so much that I went to see it twice on the Easter weekend. A quick spiel on what the movie's actually about - it's based on Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name, which itself was based on the Battle of Thermopylae, one of history's most famous last stands.
Reading an article in Men's Health recently, I read about the punishing regime that the actors had to go through to have the lean, mean physiques that they have in the movie, actually creating Spartans. Some of the stuff would destroy you - and they had to do it for most of a day, for four months.
The actual 300 challenge itself is a test drawn up by the trainer who trained the actors, Mark Twight of Gym Jones.
The actual workout itself is a whole set of 300 reps of different exercises:
25 pullups
50 deadlifts with 60kg
50 pushups
50 jumps on a 60cm box
50 floor wipers
50 single-arm clean-and-presses using a 16kg kettlebell
25 pullups.
Let me emphasise here - there are NO rests between exercises, you do one and then straight onto the next one.
Out of the four people who took part in the training regime the actors went through, only four actually managed to get through the entire circuit.
Gerard Butler, actor who played King Leonidas, clocked in at just under twenty minutes.
It'll be interesting to see how I work up to the challenge of building up the strength, stamina, and endurance to push through that entire workout.
Reading an article in Men's Health recently, I read about the punishing regime that the actors had to go through to have the lean, mean physiques that they have in the movie, actually creating Spartans. Some of the stuff would destroy you - and they had to do it for most of a day, for four months.
The actual 300 challenge itself is a test drawn up by the trainer who trained the actors, Mark Twight of Gym Jones.
The actual workout itself is a whole set of 300 reps of different exercises:
25 pullups
50 deadlifts with 60kg
50 pushups
50 jumps on a 60cm box
50 floor wipers
50 single-arm clean-and-presses using a 16kg kettlebell
25 pullups.
Let me emphasise here - there are NO rests between exercises, you do one and then straight onto the next one.
Out of the four people who took part in the training regime the actors went through, only four actually managed to get through the entire circuit.
Gerard Butler, actor who played King Leonidas, clocked in at just under twenty minutes.
It'll be interesting to see how I work up to the challenge of building up the strength, stamina, and endurance to push through that entire workout.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Nightbringer's on youtube!
Feeling bored, so I decided to upload some videos of the Ex-Trip onto youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WLroIM6ZRA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZvjRPVRbuY
This gets me thinking - I should carry my camera more when I go out and about to capture interesting stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WLroIM6ZRA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZvjRPVRbuY
This gets me thinking - I should carry my camera more when I go out and about to capture interesting stuff.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
It's the end of the world as we know it
The house has gotten really, well ... toxic whenever my mum comes home nowadays.
She is trying to get us to side with her using emotional blackmail.
I don't care how this thing turns out, I just want the family life I had before back. She's been devoting her energy to finding out who the Other Woman is, enlisting the aid of our family and some of the employees in our work.
But the problem here is, what will she do once she finds out who the Other Woman is and confronts my dad on this matter?
I feel like I'm in the middle of the play Death of a Salesman, only it's the wife instead of the son. I can't get back the life I once had. It's gone, particularly since now almost everyone in
my family now knows about the affair. It's almost frightening the things my mum was doing now. She went through his private belongings, took the money he had hidden in there, as well as the little blue pills (;) ) he had stashed away.
The amount of time and effort she's putting into making sure that she locks him down and makes him hers, to not stray, is frightening.
Whenever she wants to consult us about these things, I feel it's like dealing with heavily radioactive materials. Even if it's not intended, you're getting doses of a nasty poison you can't see.
She's using emotional blackmail on us, saying that if we're not supporting her, we don't love her.
I know we can never go back, but there's one thing - you make your own future.
I will do my best despite these adverse conditions.
She is trying to get us to side with her using emotional blackmail.
I don't care how this thing turns out, I just want the family life I had before back. She's been devoting her energy to finding out who the Other Woman is, enlisting the aid of our family and some of the employees in our work.
But the problem here is, what will she do once she finds out who the Other Woman is and confronts my dad on this matter?
I feel like I'm in the middle of the play Death of a Salesman, only it's the wife instead of the son. I can't get back the life I once had. It's gone, particularly since now almost everyone in
my family now knows about the affair. It's almost frightening the things my mum was doing now. She went through his private belongings, took the money he had hidden in there, as well as the little blue pills (;) ) he had stashed away.
The amount of time and effort she's putting into making sure that she locks him down and makes him hers, to not stray, is frightening.
Whenever she wants to consult us about these things, I feel it's like dealing with heavily radioactive materials. Even if it's not intended, you're getting doses of a nasty poison you can't see.
She's using emotional blackmail on us, saying that if we're not supporting her, we don't love her.
I know we can never go back, but there's one thing - you make your own future.
I will do my best despite these adverse conditions.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Fucked up shit
It's been a crazy day for me.
It started Friday night.
I come back to my car to find the battery drained. It's 2am in the morning. I am stuck there for almost an hour before the roadside assistance van comes along. I end up going to bed at 3:30am, and getting less sleep than I want for work the next morning.
I come into the mall, and buy a coffee to help myself get more energised. They seem to misplace my order, and I wait 15 minutes before I make a noise about it (I thought they were just busy with an order), and then I have to wait another five minutes before they give it to me. On the upside, I got a full refund as well as the drink.
I come into work, and it turns out I'd mixed my shifts. I thought I started half an hour later than I was supposed, and with the coffee mixup I'm 45 minutes late. The hater bitch at work continues to be bitchy, making snide comments about me and acting as though she's the boss and getting other people to find stuff for me to do when I had nothing to do. She's not worth my energy fighting, so I just ignore her.
It turns out that my 3-week stint of living independently and planned marathon of going out every night is scuppered, for my mum is coming back from overseas early. I call her after my shift to find out why.
She is crying really badly when I talk to her, barely coherent between the sobs. It turns out my dad had been cheating on her with a prostitute. She found SMS messages from her on his mobile phone. She is going on about "I want to divorce him" and all that shit.
I am unsure what to do now, because I know that life will be different once both parents are back from overseas.
What I do know, though, is this:
Tonight, I'm getting smashed.
It started Friday night.
I come back to my car to find the battery drained. It's 2am in the morning. I am stuck there for almost an hour before the roadside assistance van comes along. I end up going to bed at 3:30am, and getting less sleep than I want for work the next morning.
I come into the mall, and buy a coffee to help myself get more energised. They seem to misplace my order, and I wait 15 minutes before I make a noise about it (I thought they were just busy with an order), and then I have to wait another five minutes before they give it to me. On the upside, I got a full refund as well as the drink.
I come into work, and it turns out I'd mixed my shifts. I thought I started half an hour later than I was supposed, and with the coffee mixup I'm 45 minutes late. The hater bitch at work continues to be bitchy, making snide comments about me and acting as though she's the boss and getting other people to find stuff for me to do when I had nothing to do. She's not worth my energy fighting, so I just ignore her.
It turns out that my 3-week stint of living independently and planned marathon of going out every night is scuppered, for my mum is coming back from overseas early. I call her after my shift to find out why.
She is crying really badly when I talk to her, barely coherent between the sobs. It turns out my dad had been cheating on her with a prostitute. She found SMS messages from her on his mobile phone. She is going on about "I want to divorce him" and all that shit.
I am unsure what to do now, because I know that life will be different once both parents are back from overseas.
What I do know, though, is this:
Tonight, I'm getting smashed.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
A grand day out
No post in a long time. That means things are going okay in Nightbringer land, I suppose. Aside from work being a huge timesink on my activities.
One of the girls at work fall pregnant, so it falls to me to take over her shifts. 9-5 shifts. I don't like them. They take up too much of the day and I end up having less time to dedicate to myself. Ah well, at least the money will help me towards my J-trip fund. It is a bitch getting to the gym though, because I like to use equipment that is popular with other patrons. I've almost gotten into scuffles over equipment, so it's something I want to avoid.
I had such a kickass day awhile ago. I dropped my car in to get its timing belt replaced and the radiator flushed, and then hitch a nice lift to the Parade in Norwood. I end up eating a continental eggs and bacon at a cafe, and then wander down, window shopping. I take a bus to Rundle Mall, and cruise the street window shopping for clothes, and doing this thing called the Pizza Walk, where you go into shops and make absolutely absurd requests. It came from the originator walking into a clothes shop and asking for pizza.
I had a load of fun, going into McDonalds and asking for a whopper, going into outdoor shops and asking for samurai swords, and going into clothing stores and asking for bus tickets.
I meet up with my main man Jeff, and we end up cruising the city. Hindley St, the train station, the Festival Centre, the Art Gallery.
We meet my other two friends, Ian and Jon for lunch. Lots of fun.
I'll put up more later.
One of the girls at work fall pregnant, so it falls to me to take over her shifts. 9-5 shifts. I don't like them. They take up too much of the day and I end up having less time to dedicate to myself. Ah well, at least the money will help me towards my J-trip fund. It is a bitch getting to the gym though, because I like to use equipment that is popular with other patrons. I've almost gotten into scuffles over equipment, so it's something I want to avoid.
I had such a kickass day awhile ago. I dropped my car in to get its timing belt replaced and the radiator flushed, and then hitch a nice lift to the Parade in Norwood. I end up eating a continental eggs and bacon at a cafe, and then wander down, window shopping. I take a bus to Rundle Mall, and cruise the street window shopping for clothes, and doing this thing called the Pizza Walk, where you go into shops and make absolutely absurd requests. It came from the originator walking into a clothes shop and asking for pizza.
I had a load of fun, going into McDonalds and asking for a whopper, going into outdoor shops and asking for samurai swords, and going into clothing stores and asking for bus tickets.
I meet up with my main man Jeff, and we end up cruising the city. Hindley St, the train station, the Festival Centre, the Art Gallery.
We meet my other two friends, Ian and Jon for lunch. Lots of fun.
I'll put up more later.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Murphy's Law
When things go wrong, hell, do they go wrong.
I've been generally feeling like shit these last couple of weeks. I've been feeling bouts of jealousy and inadequacy with other guys. I hear about them getting with girls, and I wonder - why not me? What am I doing wrong that those guys are doing right?
It's been on my mind the past couple of weeks, and only recently have I managed to get over it.
And then I find out that I am virtually broke until Tuesday because I misread a bank receipt. Knowing that I am out of money for a while always puts me in a bad mood. To compound this even further - fate has deigned to inflict on me the sore throat from hell. It wasn't so bad before, but now it's gotten so bad that I can't even drink water without sharp stabbing pains knifing through my throat.
My mum storms up to me today with my very first speeding ticket - $180 for going 13km over the speed limit while I was dashing to work. Great. Just great.
Ah well, I can only go up from this - I don't want to focus on the negative too much and set a negative vibe, but seriously - a lot of crap has been happening in the past couple of weeks to really get me down.
One thing that got me up and laughing, though, was something that happened last Saturday. I'm standing at the counter, working, and then I notice this little kid standing there. He gives me that little kid stare, you know the kind, the wordless, slack-jawed stare that they do, and then I stare right back. We get engaged in a contest of wills and manhood - you can virtually see the crackling between us as our willpowers vie with each other for supremacy. And then, like the most natural thing in the world, he slaps on the counter nothing other than ... a pregnancy test.
I immediately think "WTF what's a 6 year old kid doing with a pregnancy test?!"
I look up and breathe a sigh of relief as I see his mum. If a 6 year old kid needed a pregnancy test, then the world really was in trouble.
The interesting thing is, about 20 minutes later, I see him and his mum walking past the shop again. But this time, the kid is a little distance behind the mother, bawling his eyes out and letting the whole section of the mall know of his grievance.
Perhaps his mum gave the kid some news he didn't want - maybe he was expecting a little brother and had to give this little brother all his toys?
Haha, one can only guess.
I've been generally feeling like shit these last couple of weeks. I've been feeling bouts of jealousy and inadequacy with other guys. I hear about them getting with girls, and I wonder - why not me? What am I doing wrong that those guys are doing right?
It's been on my mind the past couple of weeks, and only recently have I managed to get over it.
And then I find out that I am virtually broke until Tuesday because I misread a bank receipt. Knowing that I am out of money for a while always puts me in a bad mood. To compound this even further - fate has deigned to inflict on me the sore throat from hell. It wasn't so bad before, but now it's gotten so bad that I can't even drink water without sharp stabbing pains knifing through my throat.
My mum storms up to me today with my very first speeding ticket - $180 for going 13km over the speed limit while I was dashing to work. Great. Just great.
Ah well, I can only go up from this - I don't want to focus on the negative too much and set a negative vibe, but seriously - a lot of crap has been happening in the past couple of weeks to really get me down.
One thing that got me up and laughing, though, was something that happened last Saturday. I'm standing at the counter, working, and then I notice this little kid standing there. He gives me that little kid stare, you know the kind, the wordless, slack-jawed stare that they do, and then I stare right back. We get engaged in a contest of wills and manhood - you can virtually see the crackling between us as our willpowers vie with each other for supremacy. And then, like the most natural thing in the world, he slaps on the counter nothing other than ... a pregnancy test.
I immediately think "WTF what's a 6 year old kid doing with a pregnancy test?!"
I look up and breathe a sigh of relief as I see his mum. If a 6 year old kid needed a pregnancy test, then the world really was in trouble.
The interesting thing is, about 20 minutes later, I see him and his mum walking past the shop again. But this time, the kid is a little distance behind the mother, bawling his eyes out and letting the whole section of the mall know of his grievance.
Perhaps his mum gave the kid some news he didn't want - maybe he was expecting a little brother and had to give this little brother all his toys?
Haha, one can only guess.
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year 2007
Happy New Year all!
Although lots of stuff have happened over the Christmas period, I'll blog them later - right now, I want to look back on 2006 and then forward to 2007.
Reading back over my old blog post at the start of the previous year, I had set four goals for myself:
Independence, fitness, and proficiency at learning Japanese. I can say now that I have been able to fulfill two of those three goals.
Although I haven't been able to move out of the house, the fact that I now have a car means that I have more freedom to go whereever I want, and now that I have a steady job, I can support myself a little more.
I've been going to the gym over the year, and have dropped down to about 80-81kg. I've been keeping at it, and now I'm fitter than I was at the beginning of 2006. Definitely a good sign, and hopefully it'll continue to improve over the coming year as I aim even further.
Learning Japanese, considering that I'm a Japanophile, is something I have gained incredible progress in. I can now write hiragana and katakana, as well as some kanji (about 30 or so I think), and speak it relatively well - so much that one friend has been asking me to translate stuff for her, although it is still hard trying to translate considering my vocabulary is a bit limited. I have to keep at it this year, and by the year's end, I hope to be able to speak it fluently and have a relatively good grasp of written Japanese.
As far as romance is concerned ... there was Forbidden Fruit during most of the second quarter of the year, but it sort of faded, after much heartache and sorrow. I'm rather glad that I'm over her. That which cannot kill you makes you stronger, as they say. Then I found out another girl had a crush on me, and somehow started liking her to reciprocate her feelings. Unfortunately, spread over several months, things went south. I saw her at a friend's party a little while ago, but she doesn't even seem to want to give me the time of day, despite my extending an olive branch to just let things pass.
2006 has been a really ... interesting year. I had half a year at university, and then took off after first semester finished to take a break. The semester at university was all right - getting to borrow a family friend's Prelude gave me more freedom to go where I wanted.
Getting together with a friend for a good poker night was a lot of fun as well - ironic considering that Casino Royale came out later that year.
The highlight of my year has to undoubtedly be the Ex-Trip. I've never travelled with friends before, and spending a week with some of my closest friends - those from high school - travelling around Australia was a great experience. The highs, the lows, the laughs, it was something that I'd definitely do again.
Overall, I think that 2006 has been a good year for me, and I feel that I've really grown over the year, on the inside as well as on the outside. I've been listening to a lot of self-improvement stuff, and I feel empowered to take on the year ahead. By the time I'm done, the year won't know what hit it! ^_^
I've set myself some resolutions this year that I will be working towards with vigour:
1) Get straight Distinctions for all my subjects. This I will strive towards with all of my power.
2) Save up $10,000 for the J-Trip to Japan that I plan to go on at the end of the year. I have already managed to enlist a couple of travelling companions, so all that is to be done now is find more and get the cheapest prices we can.
3) Get my weight down from 81kg down to 70-71kg. By the end of the year, I want to have sculpted a body that I'm immensely proud of - a visible six-pack, well-toned arms, legs and upper body, and a rock-stable core.
4) Get myself a girlfriend. Although I haven't seen The 40 Year-Old Virgin, I certainly don't want to end up with a title like that. As well as that, I really want the female company. I want a woman who will stand behind me, and support me as we move on through this adventurous voyage that is called Life.
So then,
To 2007, a year of success and growth!
Although lots of stuff have happened over the Christmas period, I'll blog them later - right now, I want to look back on 2006 and then forward to 2007.
Reading back over my old blog post at the start of the previous year, I had set four goals for myself:
Independence, fitness, and proficiency at learning Japanese. I can say now that I have been able to fulfill two of those three goals.
Although I haven't been able to move out of the house, the fact that I now have a car means that I have more freedom to go whereever I want, and now that I have a steady job, I can support myself a little more.
I've been going to the gym over the year, and have dropped down to about 80-81kg. I've been keeping at it, and now I'm fitter than I was at the beginning of 2006. Definitely a good sign, and hopefully it'll continue to improve over the coming year as I aim even further.
Learning Japanese, considering that I'm a Japanophile, is something I have gained incredible progress in. I can now write hiragana and katakana, as well as some kanji (about 30 or so I think), and speak it relatively well - so much that one friend has been asking me to translate stuff for her, although it is still hard trying to translate considering my vocabulary is a bit limited. I have to keep at it this year, and by the year's end, I hope to be able to speak it fluently and have a relatively good grasp of written Japanese.
As far as romance is concerned ... there was Forbidden Fruit during most of the second quarter of the year, but it sort of faded, after much heartache and sorrow. I'm rather glad that I'm over her. That which cannot kill you makes you stronger, as they say. Then I found out another girl had a crush on me, and somehow started liking her to reciprocate her feelings. Unfortunately, spread over several months, things went south. I saw her at a friend's party a little while ago, but she doesn't even seem to want to give me the time of day, despite my extending an olive branch to just let things pass.
2006 has been a really ... interesting year. I had half a year at university, and then took off after first semester finished to take a break. The semester at university was all right - getting to borrow a family friend's Prelude gave me more freedom to go where I wanted.
Getting together with a friend for a good poker night was a lot of fun as well - ironic considering that Casino Royale came out later that year.
The highlight of my year has to undoubtedly be the Ex-Trip. I've never travelled with friends before, and spending a week with some of my closest friends - those from high school - travelling around Australia was a great experience. The highs, the lows, the laughs, it was something that I'd definitely do again.
Overall, I think that 2006 has been a good year for me, and I feel that I've really grown over the year, on the inside as well as on the outside. I've been listening to a lot of self-improvement stuff, and I feel empowered to take on the year ahead. By the time I'm done, the year won't know what hit it! ^_^
I've set myself some resolutions this year that I will be working towards with vigour:
1) Get straight Distinctions for all my subjects. This I will strive towards with all of my power.
2) Save up $10,000 for the J-Trip to Japan that I plan to go on at the end of the year. I have already managed to enlist a couple of travelling companions, so all that is to be done now is find more and get the cheapest prices we can.
3) Get my weight down from 81kg down to 70-71kg. By the end of the year, I want to have sculpted a body that I'm immensely proud of - a visible six-pack, well-toned arms, legs and upper body, and a rock-stable core.
4) Get myself a girlfriend. Although I haven't seen The 40 Year-Old Virgin, I certainly don't want to end up with a title like that. As well as that, I really want the female company. I want a woman who will stand behind me, and support me as we move on through this adventurous voyage that is called Life.
So then,
To 2007, a year of success and growth!
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