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I've joined the Marketing committee for Guides Qld. Shall no doubt keep me busy, but I expect it will be loads of fun too ... other committee members seem like good fun. Just attended the first meeting ... held via msn. It was fabulous!! Generally meetings are at State Office, which would take me 45 minutes to drive to, then close to the same home again. This was far more convenient! Of course, it also meant I didn't actually get to meet everyone, but that will happen soon enough I'm sure. Just looking over my list of things to do ... potentially put my hand up (virtually speaking) for more than needed to, but glad to have loads to keep me busy again. Life gets far too dull if all you commit to is studying. Incidently, anyone good at drawing? Looking for someone to create simple clipart for us!
So I reformatted my computer, again. Not impressed. I've never had computer dramas like this before. No idea what's going on. I can't imagine how the two problems can be related either, because I had already reformatted, so I was starting from scratch this time around. So frustrating. On the bright side, I'm getting pretty good at backing up and reinstalling stuff! Not that I'm done yet. It's so ridiculously time consuming. And dull. I feel like I've lost another day of my holidays. I had so many far more fun and productive things I could have done today. Oh well, I guess the timing could have been worse.
I'm moving my photoblog to a new subdomain! Anna has inspired me with a new subdomain name ('photoblog' somehow seemed a little too dull, I was never entirely convinced by it), so it's now located at http://pixels.lost-dreaming.net/. Perhaps not the most unique name, but I definitely prefer it.
Also, must not forget to mention, many thanks to Courtney for setting up my LiveJournal syndication!! Hopefully of some use to all you LJ users.
I'm home! Had a lovely few days up on the Fraser Coast. It rained almost the entire time, but they rather desperately need the rain, so we can't complain. It was rather nice actually ... and the sun did shine through at times. Old Auntie Jean is as fun and entertaining as I remember (worked out it must be close to ten years since I've been up there, which is rather frightening). For 93 years old, she's amazing ... you'd never pick her age! Still healthy and active and rather inspiring I must say. Fabulous sense of humour too. She's the first to take the mickey out of herself, and anyone else nearby. Love her.
Meanwhile, my computer is causing dramas again. No idea what's up. It's been working beautifully since it was reformatted. Just ran the virus scan and nothing to report. No idea. Messages keep flashing up on my screen, and I can't access my email in Outlook. So infuriating. I thought I was done with computer dramas for a while. Not impressed. So I've been cranky ever since getting home. Grrr.
This, however, has greatly improved my mood. So funny! This guy has created a quicktime movie from the Transport for London disruption maps for the Tube. He wrote a script that grabbed the map every 10 minutes, and added a time stamp, then turned the collection into a neat little movie which shows which lines are working and which aren't. So it's pretty, and hilarious! From this, he was able to determine that the "London Underground is disruption free, a remarkable 22% of the time it is running". Fabulous!
And in other news, you can now watch tv in London cabs! How novel.
I'm going up to Hervey Bay for a few days, to visit my ... hmm, I'm not quite sure what to call her actually. My grandfather's cousin. She's 93, and fabulous ... such a laugh, and so much fun. I haven't seen her in years though ... I write to her, talk on the phone occasionally, but I don't even remember when I last made the four hour journey up the coast to see her. Should be fun.
I hope she makes scones! She makes the best scones I've ever tasted. I have fond memories of her Sherpherd's Pie too. In fact, anything she cooks is rather fantastic. And she lives near the beach. So nice. Okay, so it's the middle of winter, and far too cold for swimming ... but beach is nice any time of year.
So I've just packed. Seems I haven't lost my habit of packing at the last minute. And I still feel like a pro. ;) Although packing for a few days is never hard. I doubt I'll ever learn to love the task though.
Meanwhile, Cordelia tagged me a few days ago (closer to a week maybe?) to do this meme, so I thought perhaps it was time I took up the challenge.
Post five things you enjoy, even when no one around you wants to go out and play. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level? Post it to your journal, and then tag five friends and ask them to post it to theirs.
So that's five, and in the spirit of playing along, I'm now I'm going to tag:
- Anna
- Courtney
- Jen
- Rach
- Suz
Time for bed I think ... early start in the morning. I suspect I probably won't get a chance to blog for a few days, and as such my photoblog will be without new posts for a few days as well ... backdated as soon as I get home though! Happy last week of June. =)
Melbourne Metroblog is recruiting!! Definitely a good sign. I generally enjoy reading London Metroblog, but Melbourne has never managed to keep me interested. It's dull. Not enough people posting. Not enough variety. New blood is definitely a good idea! Anna ... I definitely think you should sign up! Actually, loads of you in Melbourne should contribute! Make it more entertaining for those of us not able to live in the city. =)
I've been a little lazy with posts. I guess it's a side effect of no longer being chained to my computer attempting to study, using blogging as an avoidance technique. ;) Took me a short while to reaquaint myself with the rest of the world, but since then my computer has been largely ignored for the better part of a few days. Definitely a good thing. Although now I feel like I'm due one of those dreadful catch-up posts, which I'm not a huge fan of. So instead, brief randomness, then hopefully a return to normal blogging.
Strange, I feel like I've neglected to blog about something, only I'm not entirely sure what. For the day or two after my last exam I posted mostly randomness, and I remember thinking I had something far more worthy of blogging, only I was too lazy to get around to actually posting it. Now I can't recall what that was. Actually, I don't think it was anything specific, or rather, I don't think it was simply one thing. I just had more to say. Oh well, annoying, but hardly worth rambling about.
Jolene's home!! She flew in from London yesterday morning. I just spoke to her on the phone. She's down in NSW at the moment, but coming up to Brisbane next week. I can't wait to see her ... four months seems so dreadfully long when you think abut not seeing people for that long. In some ways I feel like I only said goodbye yesterday, but so much has happened since then. It will be so great to catch up. So excited! And heading out to the movies ... running late of course. I've had such a lazy day. So much to do, and I've achieved very little. Oops. Computer is working properly again though ... I think I got the wireless problem sorted (touch wood). And I've started sorting through my photos again. Still have soo much email to catch up on though ... really need to start writing to people. Anyway, not now. I better get going.
I've just had the most relaxing birthday! It makes quite a nice change. Last year I remember running around all over the greater London area trying to sort out a UK Driving Licence. The year before, I worked all day. Today, I relaxed. And it was exactly what I needed! This morning I went shopping at Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast ... lovely! It was beautifully sunny today, although the wind was a bit nasty meaning it was quite cool out ... so escaping to the shopping centre worked quite well!
First purchase was a beautiful new watch that my parents bought me for my birthday. It's a Fossil watch, and I love it! I went into the store intending to get this one, which I've had my eye on for a couple of months. But once I got there, I spotted another one which I immediately fell in love with. I can't find it on the website though ... I think it's new. It's a charm watch, and it looks more like a bracelet than a watch. Tricky to describe, but it's similar in a way to this one. Only on mine, the charms are stainless steal, like the rest of the watch. Plus, it has a more rectangular face, which is a pale pink colour rather than white, and the strap is a little different. The charms are gorgeous! They're all slightly different - seven butterlies with colourful wings. I love it so much! I'll have to take a photo sometime.
After that I posted presents off to England for Sean (he's turning 3!) and his baby sister Niamh (who is already a year old!). Had a lovely lunch at this yummy crepe place. Then shopped a bit more. I found a new bag!! Which was terribly exciting, because I've been looking for ages. It's purple, and I love it. Added bonus ... I got it at Mathers, and I had a voucher which I got when I returned a pair of shoes a while back, so it effectively cost me nothing! Very nice.
On the way home, stopped at the beach and had a little wander around on the sand ... very nice. Far too cold for swimming, but the blue ocean and white sand are still beautiful, regardless of the temperature. Then, since getting home this evening, I've been relaxing! Watching tv, eating delicious cheesecake and playing around with domain stuff. Nothing thrilling, but enjoyable all the same. And throughout the day I was pleasantly interrupted with phone calls and text messages wishing me a Happy Birthday. So nice! Thanks to all of you for your wonderful emails, messages and comments! Including this gorgeous card from Sandy. Love you all. =) Love how birthdays can make you feel so loved. =)
Anyway, I guess I should consider getting some sleep. My relaxing evening has also been quite productive. My domain is now at a point where it needs very little maintenance, which is exactly where I need it as I rarely have time to update it. Very happy! My photo album still needs loads of work (more albums to make visible, once I've finished labelling the photos), but it's linked to the domain now and easily accessible. I've set up an account for anyone who knows me, so they can access more albums of friends and family - let me know if you'd like the details. =) Soon, I'll hopefully find time to email everyone and let you all know! Meantime, I'm going to get some sleep. 'Night all!
My domain has been completely redesigned! Something I've been wanting to do for a very long time, only never had time for. It's now simply the entry point to the rest of my sites. The content, of which there was very little to begin with, is gone, and the whole layout has been simplified as much as possible. I'm far more comfortable with the current arrangement. I think it fits better with my reasons for having a domain.
As a result, I've incorporated a little more in this page. Not too much though, I've basically just added a few more links. Also, a few days ago I added an RSS syndication ... anyone interested should be able to find the link at the bottom of the side bar. Finally, my photoblog is now linked under "Who am I?". Finally I'm starting to feel like my domain is mine again! It's almost seeming organised. ;)
Life Through A Lens is my new photoblog! Opened today, and the first photo has just been posted. I'm planning to post one photo every day, and the photos will all be taken on the day for which they're posted. If I fall behind, hopefully it will just mean I haven't had time to post ... so they'll be backdated. If you're interested, please stop by, and let me know what you think. =) I'll be adding a permanent link shortly.
It's my birthday! Anna just sang Happy Birthday to me on msn, right on midnight. I think that's a first ... I'm not sure I've ever had it sung to me via msn before. Email, yes. By post, yes. But msn is new. Hehe ... loved it! So I'm now 25. I don't feel 25, but then again, I'm not entirely sure how 25 is supposed to feel. I'm sure I feel younger, but doesn't everyone say that? So after say, 21, does anyone ever really feel the age they are? And if not, is there any real way of knowing how any age is supposed to feel? Hmmm.
I rather sadly don't have any real celebratory plans for my birthday. My only excuse is that I was so busy with uni, I didn't have time to organise anything. I'm going shopping on the Gold Coast, which should be fun. I haven't been down the coast since I got back ... I hope the weather is nice! So far, that's all I have planned though. I'm not sure I'm really in the mood for celebrating too much anyway ... I just feel like relaxing!
This has been my second day of holidays, and I'm starting to feel like I've almost fully emerged from the depths of study. An interesting process, which seems not only to be affecting me. To quote Rach, "one by one, we are slowly emerging from our semesterly hibernation, blinking into the sunlight and discovering that there's a whole world out there beyond our safe little caveslibraries - even beyond our universities" ... perfectly describes my view of the situation.
I've missed the real world! But I also couldn't jump straight back into it ... it's taking a few days to readjust to the freedom. ;) I have an ever-growing list of things I plan to do, which is likely to keep me busy for the entire four week break. I almost feel like I'm going around in circles trying to decide where to start. But I think each task I begin brings me further out into the aforementioned "sunlight". So easy to love the sunlight. =)
Anyway, must get some sleep! Early start in the morning, and as much as I'd love to stay up watching tennis all night, I think my bed is calling.
PS My photoblog project hasn't been forgotten, and will start on my birthday as planned!! I'll post the first photo, site address and further details sometime throughout the day. =)
There was a goat on the roof of the shops in our main street this morning!! It was just on the news. There's no way it could have got up there on it's own - let alone any reason for there to be a goat in our main street to begin with - so someone put it up there deliberately. So silly, yet somehow amusing. Seems it took them a while to get it down too - fire brigade couldn't coax it down, so they ended up getting a dog catcher.
Hehe ... you can still buy the smiley face keyring at Wimbledon. So cute! Reminds me of one of the St John people walking into the Wimbledon shop and asking for "a smiley man please!". The guy behind the counter said "will I do?", but of course, she meant the keyring. I should really start using mine, it seems silly having one but never seeing it.
I know I was going to bed. That honestly was the plan. But distractions are so easy to find, regardless of any need to study. Anna just brought to my attention this trailer ... I'm so excited! I had no idea it was even being made into a film. I'm yet to see the musical ... it never made it to Brisbane ... and although I don't believe musicals turned into films ever quite live up to the original productions, a film is better than nothing! I'm quite a fan of the music too ... that Seasons of Love song has never really bothered me the way I know it has others. Shall be looking forward to it I think.
So, my exam is over! I thought I would be full of energy, keen to celebrate, making the most of the first night of the holidays ... instead I'm just plain exhausted! Caught up with everyone at the Guild Bar immediately after, then piked early. I wasn't the only one though, and certainly not the first to leave ... but still. I didn't exactly foresee the night in front of the tv I've just had.
Oh well, can't be helped. Catching up with people tomorrow, then again Wednesday, and maybe for drinks Thursday night, then a BBQ Saturday ... so loads of time to celebrate. Study is draining ... a relaxing night in was well-deserved I think. And I haven't wasted it. I've been updating my photo album ... so many photos that need labelling. No where near done, but slowly making progress.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon has started! Federer is through already, and Hewitt too. Impressed. So much different watching it now though, after spending eight days there last year. It all looks so familiar! I know exactly where they are, in relation to the other courts and all the facilities and so forth. Simple stuff like the uniforms are ridiculously familiar ... especially those ball kids! And the general feel of the place. It's making me terribly homesick for London.
Wish I could go back for the holidays ... I would love to do Wimbledon duty again! I had so much fun last year. They mentioned St John earlier ... a ball boy passed out because of the heat, poor kid. Guess they're keeping busy in the First Aid room. I wonder who's there, and how many of them I know. It was a good bunch last year - funny, entertaining, non-scary-like. Well, the ones I associated with at least. ;) Spent most of the time laughing from memory. Such good memories. I hope I get to do it again one year.
Anyway, must get some sleep I think. As much as I'd love to stay up all night watching tennis, I don't think I'm going to last tonight. Four glorious weeks of holiday ahead of me, so plenty of time to do everything I want to do! Well, I hope anyway.
PS Love how my theory about blogging and commenting continues to prove accurate. ;) Thanks for all the lovely comments! Best of luck to everyone still studying!! Or avoiding study perhaps ... ;)
I just discovered the official JK Rowling site ... it is so much fun!!! I'm so disappointed I didn't find it sooner ... so much to explore, all the latest news and gossip, truth behind all the rumours ... it's fabulous! Must definitely return and explore further ... after exams.
*giggles* I love how it's the middle of exam block, and suddenly blogs and commenting are springing back to life at an almost alarming rate. ;) Suddenly everyone seems to be procrastinating as badly as everyone else, posts are becoming more frequent, commenting is becoming more popular, reading of posts is becoming a regular practice throughout the day, instead of the far less frequent event it usually is ... and it's all a vicious cycle! It's rather hilarious. We're all so poor at staying committed to the one thing we're all supposed to be doing. Glad to see I'm not the only one though. ;) Despite not being a fan of the actual need to study, in some strange way it's kind of fun being involved in the compulsory exam-block study avoidance.
Despite being desperately behind in preparing for my exam on Monday, I still seem ridiculously committed to wasting time! What is with that exactly? The hidious essays and paragraph responses I need to prepare (which, in all honesty, are really only being labelled hidious because I'm yet to prepare them) are being neglected and avoided far more than they should be. I seem far more committed to returning my computer to it's original state, despite it already being in a more than adequate state for study. It's pathetic.
I was having issues with MT - it required login details everytime I clicked on a link ... which was insanely frustrating. Tried a million different things before eventually fixing it by installing 3.17. Now it's beautiful! But why did that have to happen today? *rolls eyes*
I've also switched to Firefox, which I've been intending to do for such a long time. I've been putting it off until "after exams" though, as it really wasn't urgent. Figured with all the other downloads and installations I've been doing, one more wasn't going to make much difference. Already I'm loving it!! Rocks so much more than IE. So many super useful features, and no doubt many more I'm yet to discover.
Of course, as with all new things, I've managed to get completely distracted playing with all the new features (exactly why I was planning to wait until after exams). I've just wasted far too much time visiting random blogs and websites, and found this entry in the process ... so funny!
I think I would have to put myself somewhere between Stages 2 and 3 of Tube use, with some added characteristics of a Stage 4 user. ;) I never quite made it to daily use - still prefer the bus (more convenient, like seeing where I'm going, cleaner, cheaper, more pleasant in general), but I used the tube regularly enough. The Dawdlers certainly used to bother me at times, although I never said anything. I'd walk down the escalators at times, but rarely up. Weaved in and out relatively well, and rarely bumped into people. "Looking at times like and Olympic Walker" sounds familiar. "When you just miss one you quietly huff to yourself, thinking that 1 minute is just a little too long to wait for the next train" ... I can definitely relate! And the bit about knowing where to stand on the platform to be close to your exit .... so very true. Such craziness.
Okay, back to essays. What a thrilling way to spend a Friday night. Grrr. I was supposed to be going out too, and I've sacrificed the night out on account of computer dramas. So wrong!
My computer died. I still don't know what went wrong exactly, but it died slowly and painfully. I spent all last night frantically backing up ... or as frantic as possible while the computer slowed to snail pace. So at least I didn't lose anything I guess. This afternoon it was completely reformatted. I've never had to do that before. It's kind of strange. In some ways it feels like I have a new machine, but in other ways it's still so familiar and worn. It's definitely operating better though (apart from a small issue with the wireless connection that I'm yet to sort out), and I'm slowly getting everything reinstalled. Such incovenient timing ... I was supposed to spend the entire day preparing for my exam on Monday, and I've hardly achieved anything. Now I'm exhausted. I think I might call it a night and head to bed.
I was planning to spend the rest of the day chilling out. My exam this morning was fine, and I figured I'd have a break before starting on Monday's exam prep tomorrow. But now my computer is playing up. Nothing specific or obvious, but lots of little things that are incredibly annoying and more than a little concerning. There is definitely something wrong, but because it's nothing major I have no idea how to explain what's wrong. It's just not right. It's unhealthy. I so can't deal with my computer dying on me. I don't have the energy right now. So much for relaxing. Ugh. Must change the subject.
On Sunday night when I was out I recorded the new ABC reality show Outback House ... and this afternoon I watched it. I'm really intrigued! I'm usually not a huge fan of reality tv. Infact, usually I try to avoid it. But I really like this concept ... it's interesting. They've taken 16 regular, 21st Century Aussies and sent them out to Oxley Downs ... a 19th Century sheep station in a remote valley somewhere in NSW, completely cut off from modern day Australia.
There's a squatter, his wife and three daughters (aged 13, 10 and 9); an overseer and his wife; a couple of shepherds; three stationhands; a cook; a governess; and two maids. They have no electricity or running water; they have to grow or kill their own food; all their clothes, furniture, tools, etc are replicas of what they would have had in 1861; they're living by the strict class system of the time (the squatter's in charge, and the staff must learn their place); and they have no outside assistance.
The squatter has three months to build up the sheep station, and make enough money to buy the land he's leasing when the Lands Act comes into force on 1 January 1862. I don't think they're playing to win anything ... I think it's more of a personal challenge, to see if they can do it. Apparently 5000 people applied to be a part of it. What a fascinating experience!! In many ways I wish I could have been there ... it would be so interesting! Not sure if I would have lasted - it would definitely challenge me - but so much to learn! Oh well, watching on tv will be a little easier I guess, and definitely interesting. Loving the photography too ... such beautiful country!
A pre-warning - I'm about to gloat! Considering it's my first day of exams, I'm rather impressed at how well my day has gone! The luck with my timetable this morning was definitely a good start, and it only got better. After arriving at uni I remembered that the one lecture I have on Mondays I'll only have to attend once or maybe twice, and otherwise I'll watch online ... so for the majority of the semester I'll only have two days on campus! Plus I already know people in all my classes, which is a nice start!
Then, my exam. If only all uni exams could be like it. It was a two hour exam, plus ten minutes of perusal. I was done inside of 20 minutes, including the perusal time. Another 15 minutes to transfer my answers to the mark-sense answer sheet and check them as I went, and I still had over half an hour to kill before they'd let us out. Loved it! Quite possibly the easiest exam I've ever done. Not that I want to take anything away from those who found it more difficult, but for me ... couldn't have expected any better!
After leaving the exam room at 9.40am, I was sitting in the refec waiting for some friends (the guild bar wasn't even open yet!), and found out from another friend that results for our Webquest (a 60% assessment for EDB006 - the subject I have an exam for tomorrow) had been emailed. So we found a computer lab, and checked email ... I got 55/60!! I nearly fell off my chair! I honestly didn't know how well I'd gone, and the grades I'd been hearing from others weren't too encouraging, so I wasn't at all confident. But to quote whoever it was who marked mine, "This is the best report I have marked (40 so far)! Thank you!". Wow! I don't remember what I said exactly when I read it, but I do remember excusing myself for the language. ;) Oops!
So in all, not a bad day really! Who would have thought the first day of exams could go so well. The exam I was stressing about tomorrow is far less of a concern now, considering I've already passed the subject. Probably not too wisely, I'm yet to look over my notes again, but I'll do that now. And this time tomorrow, only one more exam left! Which, to be honest, is terrifying me, but I know what's needed so hopefully once I get the preparation done it won't be so scary. And then four wonderful weeks of stress-free, obligation free, fun-filled holiday! I can't wait!
Allocate (the system we use to sign up for classes) opened a few hours early!! I've already got my semester two timetable sorted - so impressed! I thought I was going to have to rush to get it done in the half hour before my exam. Or worse, rush through my exam to get out early and then allocate. But it was open when I got up at 5.30! Bonus!
And I've got the best timetable I could have hoped for. Three days!! No 8am starts! The earliest I have is a quite respectable 9am start, along with two even more respectable 11am starts (which are likely to make me incredibly lazy). I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off. I'm in the same EDB007 tute as my Early Childhood friends - the only time I'll see them since we've only got one subject together next semester. And I've only got one break ... one hour on Fridays, when we have MDB002 drop-in sessions anyway. Couldn't be better!
Anyway, better go. Exam this morning. Can't miss the train. Somehow far less stressed now though ... I think I was more worried about timetable allocation than the exam.
What's the most logical thing to do at 10pm the night before an exam? Probably not what I've just spent the better part of two hours doing. *rolls eyes* I've just decided to completely rearrange how my study environment is set up. I've taken over my sisters room (she's living in Darwin), and set it up as my own private study. I've moved all my uni books, writing materials and computer related equipment out of my room and set it up in here. I've now got loads more space in my own room, and it feels far more relaxing! Love it!
This room has loads more space too, so I don't feel so trapped when I'm studying! I'm going to redecorate, stick photos up all over the walls and make it a bit more me than my sister. All my CDs and DVDs will be retrieved and stacked somewhere appropriate in here (since there's no space for them in my room), and there's even storage in here I can make use of (drawers, cupboards, ...). It's going to be so great having so much space! After existing for such a long time in one room (even more so when I was in London), it's going to be luxury!
My sister has kindly left her stereo here, so I can make use of it. I can even turn my tv around in my room, and watch it from here! Very convenient. Plus my computer is still easy to remove whenever I feel the need, so I can move freely around the house whenever I feel the need (love wireless!). So exciting!!
Of course, this is probably not the ideal time to be rearranging all this stuff. Although I'm sure I mentioned how exam block has the strangest tendancy to make completely non-urgent tasks suddenly seem high-priority. Oops. Okay, I need sleep. 6.30 train in the morning. Really can't afford to sleep through my exam! ;)
I'm so over studying! I hardly feel like I'm achieving anything anymore, it's ridiculous. And not entirely true, I guess I am. But I'm just not concentrating as much as I should be ... I think in some ways I'm already in holiday mode! Grrr. Evil exams preventing the holidays from being here already.
The train strike proposed for Wednesday (when I have an early exam) has apparently been cancelled, which is good. Getting to the exam would have proven difficult if it had happened ... public transport wouldn't have been an option and traffic a nightmare as a result. Funnily enough, the exam Wednesday is for the same subject that had to cancel tutes because of the hailstorm. In the words of my lecturer, "Hail storms and now rail strikes - we really are in trouble with some powerful forces". Hehe.
I'm studying maths at the moment, for my exam first thing tomorrow, and it's incredibly dull. I don't want to feel too confident, but I also don't feel like I'm learning anything new with all the study, which seems rather a waste. Also makes staying on task rather difficult. Ooh craziness ... we had to learn the base 5 number system ... how odd is that!? Not entirely sure when primary school teachers are ever going to need to explain base 5, but I now can should I ever need to. *rolls eyes*
Anyway, six more weeks of lecture notes to flick through, so I guess I better get on with it. This time next week I'll be on holidays! How exciting is that!?
Why is it so easy to find things to do when you're supposed to be studying?? And things that suddenly seem ridiculously more urgent than they really are. Things that may have been waiting weeks or months already to be done, suddenly have this inexplicable need to be done immediately ... as though waiting another week or two is completely out of the question. It's so infuriating.
Thank goodness the holidays are on the way ... I've started compiling a list. I have close to four weeks off, and I'm starting to think I may not have enough time to get everything done. Oops. Can't see myself getting bored at least! Ugh, better get back to it.
I just rediscovered the Party Shuffle feature in iTunes ... how did I forget about it?? It's so funky, and I absolutely knew about it, but somehow completely forgot it existed. Until now, I've basically been listening to music by creating playlists and setting them to shuffle. Works relatively well ... nice mix of music, some control over what I listen to, but the Party Shuffle is so much better! Love knowing what's coming up, and deleting stuff if I'm not in the mood for it. Or adding songs that I particularly feel like listening to. Playing higher rated songs more often is also very cool. Love that you can set the source too ... so I can still create playlists and work from them, but throw in a bit more random stuff as well. So nice.
Hmm, can you tell I'm procrastinating?? Oops. I'm not doing too bad! I even got up early as planned. Although, then got side tracked reading Harry Potter for a while - I've decided to read Goblet of Fire again, then Order of the Phoenix, before Half-Blood Prince is released. Such a lovely distraction from study. But my uni books are now out, and I am looking over notes! Decent study music is obviously an essential though. ;) Okay, back to it.
Today I studied! Properly I mean, without allowing myself to get distracted every five minutes. Okay, that makes it sound like I haven't been studying properly all semester, which isn't true. But I've been so lazy since I handed my last assignment in, so today felt incredibly productive by contrast. Still loads to do, but I've got my EDB006 case studies basically prepared for the exam on Wednesday, and I have notes to study from for the multi-choice part. I'll look over them all again tomorrow, and have a go at the exam-likes, but I'm feeling far more prepared than I was.
I actually have a Maths exam first on Tuesday, but I think I've pretty much got it under control. I helped some friends studying for it on Friday, which is probably going to be all I do in the way of Maths study. I'll look over my notes Monday night, but I'm not too concerned about it. More concerned about Wednesday, then EDB001 the following Monday. Haven't even looked at EDB001 yet. I have to prepare four essays and ten short answers, then condense them all into one A4 page of notes. Ugh. I'm trying to avoid thinking about that one until after these first two are out of the way.
Meanwhile, early night planned. Definitely need to get up early tomorrow. Slept way too late this morning, and as always felt completely wrecked as a result. So early start tomorrow, loads of study through the day, then a fabulously entertaining night of comedy at the Powerhouse ... Wil and Tripod, sure to get my mind of exams for the evening! Yay!
I'm doing the Guide thing again! So excited. I've been meaning to get back involved ever since I got home, but there's always been one reason or another to put it off. Finally made contact a couple of weeks ago, said I'd be back as soon as semester one was out of the way ... but they called and told me they had exciting plans tonight, so I joined it! And it was so much fun!!
We did a Moonlight Meander! I'm not sure exactly how that sounds, but it was really good! Caught the train into the city, walked down to the Botanic Gardens, then followed the boardwalk around under the Story Bridge, onto the floating boardwalk (how cool is it!?), and around to the end, then caught a CityCat back to Southbank and caught the train home. So much fun!
It was an entire district thing ... Brownies, Guides and Ranger Guides invited. About 30 girls came all up I think. I've been away so long, I only knew four of them already! But I met all the others ... spent half the night trying to learn names! Great bunch of girls. So nice to be back with kids again ... missing the Cadets in London sooo much! And the Brownies too. Love having something to do here again.
Not sure which group I'm going to help with yet. I can see myself staying involved with the Ranger Guides ... they're the older ones. All around 14 or 15, and the four girls I knew already are all RGs now. Speedy, their leader, is loads of fun! She's new (since I left anyway), approaching 21, plenty of experience and stuff, and so full of energy! Almost makes me feel old. Good for a laugh though ... I'm a fan already. Hopefully she won't mind me tagging along and helping out when needed. I'll probably do Brownies or Guides too. I think Guides meet at the same time as the RGs, so I might have to shuffle between the two if I want to do both. Brownies I've always loved, so that's definitely a possibility. Will have to chat to the other leaders and see what's needed.
Hmm, so annoyed I didn't get involved sooner now. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it! Oh well, better late than never I guess. Meanwhile, it's getting late and I need sleep. Such a long night. The poor Brownies were all falling asleep on the train back! So funny. On the way in we couldn't keep them quiet if we tried, and on the way home they were all dead quiet. Not that I blame them. Anyway, sleep time. 'Night!!
I've just installed MT-Blacklist to deal with all the comment spam I've been inundated with lately, and it's fabulous!! I've gone from over 10 spam comments in 20 minutes, to two in the last hour and a half. And now, I no longer have to completely moderate comments ... genuine comments should generally appear straight away, and only suspicious ones will be marked for moderating. So comment away!! Only, I have a bit of an issue with the code ... I don't know what the problem is yet. The comments come through okay, but you'll probably get an error page after you post. Yet to figure that one out, but I'm giving up for now. I'm supposed to be studying, and this is distracting me far more than it should!
Molly Meldrum was on The Glass House tonight ... and he got a call on his mobile half way through the show! So funny! Interfered with his mic, Wil answered the call, it was his PA. Crazy stuff. Then later on, he was taking a while to respond to a question, and Dave had a go at him. Wil rather brilliantly pointed out how ironic it is when you're getting heckled by Dave for being slow. The Glass House is pure genious at times. I can't possibly hope to recreate the humour in text. They're so quick, so witty, so funny. I so often wish it went for more than half an hour. I guess half an hour of brilliance is better than an hour of a something less though. Going to see Wil and Tripod at the Powerhouse on Sunday night ... can't wait!
Meanwhile, they had a go at Russell Crowe, which reminded me of how amusing the situation is. He really needs to learn to control that temper huh? I mean, he got upset because the phone wouldn't work. And ripping the phone from the wall was obviously going to improve the situation. Besides, surely he has the funds necessary to just use a mobile! The receptionist has amused me greatly too. Russell's thrown the phone at him, and it's hit him in the face. What does he do? Calls 911! Seriously ... the phone is already on the floor. What's he expecting ... Russell's going to pick up the phone and start beating him with it? Surely 911 is a bit of an overreaction. Okay, sure ... call the police, have him charged, but 911? Hmm. Ooh, and apparently Russell's been charged with fourth-degree "possession of a weapon" ... the telephone! Somehow that in itself is amusing.
I nearly forgot. Today, I prepurchased Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! So exciting. I have my little folder in front of me .. it's so cute. "You can collect your copy of book six from AEST 9.01am, on Saturday 16th July." Hehe. I'm so considering being there when they open the boxes. The time difference makes it so convenient. Although I must confess, a midnight party would be rather exciting. Maybe I can be in London for the seventh book. Hmmm.
I so desperately want to go skiing! I'm watching The Great Outdoors, and John Farnham is skiing in Canada. And it looks sooo beautiful! And so much fun! I miss skiing. Sometimes I wish I could live in a place where skiing every year is practically a given. From Brisbane, going skiing is a major adventure. New Zealand is a serious consideration ... it can be easier to go overseas than ski in our own country. Crazy.
And it's such an expensive trip ... not just lift-passes and accommodation and food and stuff, but serious travel to get to the snow. Plus hiring gear ... I'm not sure I know any Queenslanders who own skis! And considering how long it takes to get to snow, it's pointless going for a day or a weekend ... so that obviously increases the costs considerably.
How depressing. I still desperately want to go skiing though. I wonder if I save loads over the next few months I might be able to go somewhere over mid-semester break. Snow season is so inconveniently timed in relation to the uni calendar. Maybe if I go back to England over Christmas, I could ski over there! No doubt more expensive though. Hmmm. I so desperaely want to going skiing.
It's working again!! What crazy timing! I was just about to shut everything down, and suddenly I started receiving email. Within minutes of contemplating the chances of the server being up again in the morning, it suddenly rights itself. Lovely! Of course, my plans to head to bed have since been delayed. All posts compiled offline over the weekend have now been added. How silly. Oh well. Now definitely need sleep! No more 8am lectures! Yay! I do have to be up in the morning though ... a week of thrilling study to look forward to. I have study dates though, which makes the prospect slightly less dull. Hmm, bring on the holidays!
My server is still down. This is so beyond infuriating now. Apparently there's a reason. There was an announcement on the helpdesk site warning us that it would happen. Of course, I'm not exactly a regular visitor, and they didn't bother to email and let us know, so I had no clue to expect it. Plus it was supposed to be all fixed on Friday. So much for that idea. And time differences are so inconvenient ... my helpdesk tickets sit untouched for hours waiting for someone to wake up and read them. Last I heard was around 3am this morning, when my account was apparently "currently resolving" ... how long is that supposed to take?? Grrr. So glad I don't rely on my domain email anymore ... I've been without access for over two days now. So ridiculous.
Meanwhile, I finished my last dreadful assignment this afternoon. Dreadful not because there was anything wrong with the task ... it was actually quite a decent assignment in that respect, and relatively interesting as well ... but dreadful because I don't think I've ever written anything so awful. So disappointing. I know I'm capable of so much better, and I dread the thought of my tutor reading it, but somehow I seem incapable of concentrating to the extent needed to write anything decent at the moment. Rather frustrating really. Oh well, it's not worth much, so there's no point worrying about it. I just hope this lack of concentration thing doesn't last ... I need to be functioning again for exams next week!
I've since spent the evening sorting through photos, postcards, pictures, etc. ... and redecorating my room in the process. Quite a productive feeling actually ... I have photos up all over the place, and lots of wonderful memories all over my walls. In the holidays I'm going to try and sort through all my digital photos. I obviously need to get my online album up to date, but I also want to get a nice collection of photos printed off. I want to make up some albums, so I've got photos to flick through and show people ... it's somehow not the same scrolling through photos online, and it's nice to have something real to show. I have so many things I want to get done during the holidays. Lucky we get four weeks!
Anyway, I need sleep! I wonder what the chances are of waking up to find the server working again. One can only hope. 'Night all!
The Lions are going to win! And not just win, but win convincingly!! In Perth!!! They never win in Perth. How fabulous. Nice to see them play well again! They've been overdue and in desperate need of a win for far too long. Let's hope they can keep it up!! A few wins at home would certainly make a nice change.
Ooh, an episode of Gilmore Girls I haven't seen!!! Love Foxtel digital, and funky +2 channels. Hmm, I suspect this may be earlier in Season 3 than I've seen. How exciting. I'm so tragic. I would be so thrilled to get Season 2 and 3 on DVD. It was so much cheaper to contemplate when I was buying in pounds. Exchange rate to here just isn't friendly, even if it has improved. "Call me if anyone sane walks in." This show rocks. Ooh, reminds me ... Gilmore Girls quotage, from an episode I caught this afternoon:
Hehe, love Michel. Grr, must study. TV is so distracting. Especially fabulously entertaining episodes of Gilmore Girls.
I found my Harry Potter books! Or rather, I found out where they are. My sister decided to borrow them after I left for England. Not that I have a problem with her borrowing my books, especially when I wasn't even here to miss them. And I can't exactly fault her desire to read them again. Just doesn't help me all that much now that I want to read them again, and my books are in Darwin. *rolls eyes* So inconvenient. Postage is likely to cost more than the books are worth, and Michelle's still in the middle of reading them, so it makes far more sense for her to bring them back when she comes down to visit next. But that makes my desire to reread them before the new book comes out a little unachievable. Grrr.
My server is down. I have no idea why. It's been down for the better part of 24 hours, and there's no way of knowing when it will be up again. It's so frustrating. My email is down as a result too, which means every five minutes I get an error message flashing up on my screen. So annoying. Obviously I could stop it easily enough, but I keep telling myself it will be fixed soon so it's not worth the effort. Hmph. Meanwhile, isn't it always the way that as soon as something is unavailable, you want it even more. All day I've been wanting to blog about random stuff ... only I can't. It's so frustrating! I think I said that already didn't I? Oh well. I'm going to start compiling random thoughts, and they'll all be posted once the server is up again.
In my typical study distraction techniques, I'm watching old tv. Currently, the JAG episodes when they came to Australia ... so funny! Mic Brumby must easily have the worst Aussie accent I've ever heard. It's ridiculously amusing, yet somehow disturbing that he managed to convince so many people that he really was Aussie ... it's frightening that anyone here could possibly believe his accent wasn't fake. It's just such an awful attempt at immitating Crocodile Dundee ... not only does he not manage to sound Aussie, his attempts don't even resemble Paul Hogan's exagerated drawl. So funny. I love the way they sell Australia in this show too. Everything is so over-exagerated. No wonder so many people get the wrong idea.
How did it get to be June already? Five months of the year are already over. I still feel like the year's just beginning. And already it's the first day of winter. Today I had my last tute for the semester. I have two lectures left, then semester one is basically over. Apart from exams of course ... 19 days from today and they'll be over too. It's crazy.
Does life forever feel like it's speeding up? Or is there some point in a lifetime when it begins to slow down again? It's rather a frightening thought really. In primary school, one term used to feel like a life time. A year was far too long a period to consider. Life very much happened in the moment. I'm not saying I don't live in the moment now ... but it seems to be becoming more and more the case that if you blink, you can miss an entire week or month or longer. Slightly disturbing.
