The Swamp

2007-09-21T01:43:00.000+08:00

oh yeah, forgot to mention - got a phone call the other day from the police to say that they've found my ipod that got nicked from ANZ like, months ago. I've already bought a new one to replace it, however it's nice to know that the system still works, and that Numnuts is going to get what he deserves :)

2007-09-21T01:04:00.000+08:00

"Homer eats Whopper, take 75..."

Yeah, that's what it feels like - it's been ages since I've posted in here - I've had so much going on outside cyberspace that my blog and other various web projects have been neglected. But here I am back again, and like a New Year's Resolution, 9 months and 19 days too late, I promise that I will write in here more often. Just in case there's actually someone out there reading it :)

As I mentioned, it's been a bit chaotic in times of late. We had Nana's big 80th birthday party (but sshhhhh don't tell her that - it was a "family reunion" which just happened to be around the same time...) in July. It was a good night, and lots of people made the effort to come along, however there were a few bats coming out of the belfry for the occasion aswell, if you know what I mean... But I didn't say that, did I? LOL. Highlight of the night was DEFINITELY the sight of Nana and Mareeya (age 3) waltzing along to Dean Martin singing 'That's Amore' in the lounge room. I have never seen Nana dance, and it's been a long time since I've seen that look on her face, but it helped me realise that, regardless of family politics and facetiousness, this was what it is all about.

Since then it's all been a bit of a blur. Nana was in hospital for a week or so, which got everyone talking, and making suggestions about the future which none of them are really in a position to make. It's amazing to watch how people who, after being invisible for so long, all of a sudden come out of the woodwork and know what's best. On the other hand, it restored my faith in other people, so I guess it's just one of those things...

The latest drama was bushfires. It was obvious that they were deliberately lit, as there was no lightning around at the time. The substantial loss of feed for the cattle was our biggest problem, and probably will stay that way until the wet season comes along and regenerates the grasses. The fire came within metres of the homestead, and burnt out the majority of Bloodwood paddock, and the back of No8 and No10.

Well, that's about all for now, if you haven't fallen asleep already. I'll endeavour to keep this a bit more up-to-date in future. Region Training next weekend, so it's going to be busy busy busy this next week in the lead up.

2007-05-21T23:19:00.000+08:00

Just a list of what I've been listening to lately... (thrilling stuff, I know)
Hurt - Christina Aguilera
Never Saw Blue - Hayley Westenra (I love her voice - and she sings in the same key as me - bonus!)
Going North - Missy Higgins (from her new album On a Clear Night)
From Paris to Berlin - Infernal
It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Serena Ryder (a cover of the old Buddy Holly song - Serena was on RocKwiz a few weeks ago, so I searched on iTunes for more of her stuff)

I soooooooooooooooooo need a hug at the moment. I don't know why, it's just one of those things you know you need when you need it. Damn it, what I really need is a friend. C'est la vie.

2007-05-14T20:31:00.001+08:00

Time of Your Life (Good Riddance) ~ Green Day

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road,
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this task, and don't ask why;
It's not a question but a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictable, and in the end it's right,
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs and still frames in your mind,
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.
Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial,
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable, and in the end it's right,
I hope you had the time of your life.

I've always liked this song - one of those songs that hits you right where you live - regardless of what's going on in your life...

2007-05-13T22:43:00.000+08:00

I was driving home tonight, and thought it was about time I resurrected the blog - got caught up in the whole MySpace thing, and got sidetracked. Yeah, for 3 months.

In that time, a lot has happened... I've become a Region Leader, been to Jamboree - followed by a week or so holiday in Perth... well, it doesn't sound like a lot, but it was pretty full-on for a while there. Trust me.

So now things are back to normal - to an extent. My little hiatus in Perth left me wanting more, and so I have made the decision to work towards moving to Perth next year, even if just for a few months. *Note: I said to "work towards". That is my disclaimer, so no-one can come back at me next year and say yada yada...* It's a big thing, but recent events have made me reconsider what exactly I want to do.

Wow, that was a bit deep, wasn't it?

And to the numnuts who nicked my iPod at the ANZ Bank last Thursday - hahaha. I don't know if you've been caught yet, but stealing something while you're at the counter making an account enquiry, with security cameras in abundance - and your name up on the screen? Evidence that Darwin was right perhaps?

2007-02-19T21:09:00.000+09:00

Got broadband hooked up tonight - it's awesome, and I never realised how slow the dial up was until I started looking around on the ADSL... Things I'd never been able to do before (and had told myself that I wasn't bothered about) are so cool - and I think I've just about used up my month's downloads on YouTube... There's so much M*A*S*H stuff on there :)

2007-02-17T23:03:00.000+09:00

Oh yeah, forgot to add: I bit the bullet and purchased a set of genuine American military dog tags last night - and am getting them embossed with Hawkeye's details - my frivolous purchase for the month!!!

2007-02-17T22:49:00.000+09:00

Oops, been a while hasn't it... Things have been pretty busy this last couple weeks, no good excuses really.

Actually, come to think of it, no news to note either... Had the ADSL broadband hooked up at my flat - just waiting on the modem to arrive, and then hopefully the net will be lightning fast - well, at least compared to my current speeds of 42kbps - out at *home* home, where I am now, I'm fairly belting along at 24kbps... Westnet are great though - they've disabled the extra charges I was going to be hit with for dialling up until my modem arrives, and have bundled the phone and internet up in a great package - would recommend to anyone!

Will get back to my regular posting from now on *crossing fingers*.

2007-01-24T07:37:00.000+09:00

Only 1 more sleep until my weekend in Perth - it's going to be so busy, I don't know that I'll even have time to sleep! 3 Guides meetings, a bbq, Australia Day skyworks, movies, karaoke... And they're predicting the temp to get up to 37*C on Friday down there. hehehe, watch dem Perth-ites fry :P

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things that you didn't do, than the things that you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain.

Pay day today too :D

2007-01-19T18:26:00.000+09:00

I have had the crappest of all crap days today...

Started out by waking up at 8am (normally I have to get up by 7.30am on work days) - had a mad rush to get to work on time. I then proceeded to spend the entire day at work doing stupid things, like mistaking a coke can for a phone (yeah, I know, don't ask), going to clean the glass door and forgetting both the windex and the cloth, having some doozies of customers, and forgetting the post TWICE... But I thought I'd be ok coz I was going home, and I'd be able to forget about the day.

But no. I had to detour past the Dental Clinic to talk to Sophie.
Why, I really don't know. But it was a costly exercise... I
managed to back straight into the telephone pole in the carpark, and put a big dent in the back bumper of my car. I have managed to go SEVEN WHOLE MONTHS scratch and dent-free. I well and truly christened it today. Luckily I had to take out comprehensive insurance to be able to get the car financed, so it should be covered (and it's only a plastic bumper, so it's not like it needs panel-beating). But it was still a shock, and a sad thought to know that my car didn't look new anymore :(

2007-01-17T20:05:00.000+09:00

I M*A*S*H-ified my MySpace thingy today - worked out how to create my own layouts, and it looks pretty frickin awesome, even if I do say so myself. It wasn't anywhere near as hard as I thought it would be (although it's not like I wrote the coding myself - I ended up using the toolkit on Pimp-my-Profile.com), but was a bit of a challenge getting the colours just right.

There is absolutely nothing on television at the moment... They even took off That 70s Show to make room for Home & Away. No fair no fair no fair...

2007-01-16T22:46:00.000+09:00

Caught the MySpace bug last night - picked up an old one that I had forgotten about, and gave it a spit and polish, and *poof* - an obsession was born. I'm building friends up on there slowly - even have a pending request to be added to my dear friend Alan Alda's myspace. I doubt it's the real one though - come to think of it though, it would be the perfect guise - having your own myspace, and everyone thinking that it must just be someone else, when really it wasn't someone else, but yourself... Think I tongue-twisted my brain there...

Anywhos, my MySpace is now at http://www.myspace.com/swamprat1983 - let the Swamp reign on throughout the WWW :P

2007-01-14T11:51:00.000+09:00

Week 1 of living in my new flat is now over. It's getting easier as time goes by, but it's still hell weird. Below are the good and bad points that I have found so far...

Thumbs up: smells nice (no Ross-smell); I can go on the internet whenever and wherever I feel like it; don't have to go out all the time, because there's no-one there to avoid; can have my piano set up; don't have to have all my stuff confined to 1 room; can cook whatever I want.

Thumbs down: lonely (no other voices around); unfamiliar surroundings; empty house (coz I don't have much furniture); costs more money for rent and bills; have to keep everything locked all the time.

In other words, most of the things that worry me about it are things that will pass or I'll get used to. Other than the loneliness, but isn't that what I've been chasing for so long???

2007-01-10T21:38:00.000+09:00

R.I.P Dave (Bob)

We'll miss you heaps down here. Hopefully you've found Bob the dog up there - I'll never forget you, mate.

2007-01-08T20:21:00.000+09:00

It's been a while, but I've been busy moving into my new flat - an upstairs unit, which has made moving furniture in a challenge :) But I'm getting there, and I now even have a kitchen table with chairs! Getting the phone connected today was the best bit - now I'm connected to the world again - and I don't have to wait until 9pm to be allowed to go online!!! Every now and then when I'm online I get a guilty feeling that I'm online when I'm not supposed to be, and then I realise that it doesn't matter, coz it's mine!!! all mine!!! mwah ha ha ha *evil grin*

Mum, Dad and Matt flew to Perth today - I already miss them, especially when they're all away together, and I'm stuck up here working. But I'm going down there for the Aussie Day weekend, so I guess I have that to look forward to...

Gotta go, South Park is on, and no-one can give me shit for watching it coz it's MY tv :P I could get used to this...

2007-01-02T22:13:00.000+09:00

Tropical Cyclone Isobel...

This cyclone has taken ages to develop - it's hanging around off the coast, and other than blanket cloud cover all today, hasn't brought us any rain as yet. It's expected to cross the coast around Pardoo (between here and Port Hedland) sometime tomorrow afternoon, as a Cat 2 storm.

Images courtesy Australian Bureau of Meteorology 2007

2007-01-02T21:46:00.000+09:00

OMG they have got to be kidding!!!

Sighted at Coles Broome at 8.35pm January 2nd, 2007. Am now shuddering at the thought of seeing the first Easter Egg/Bunny/Bilby/whatever... You'll see it first, here at the Swamp :)

PS: Yeah, ok, so I bought them... Not exactly a crusader against commercialism, merely a bemused participant...

2006-12-24T12:43:00.000+09:00

It's finally Christmas Eve, and I've just spent all morning making mango cheesecakes for dessert tonight... We're just waiting on everyone to arrive for lunch - should be a good day. Hot though, Elders Weather have the current temp at 34.2*C, with 47% humidity - meaning it actually feels like 37.8*C. Better than last year's 48*C!!!

I'll update tonight and let you know how the day panned out - with photos aswell :)

2006-12-21T21:37:00.000+09:00

Only 4 more sleeps until Christmas!!!

2006-12-19T21:44:00.001+09:00

2006-12-19T21:44:00.000+09:00

Only 6 sleeps until Christmas...

Actually, we have our big family Christmas 'do' on Christmas Eve - not sure why, that's just always the way it's been, and the way people seem to want to do it, so who's to argue. It's a pretty impressive night usually, complete with a visit from Santa, and the whole hot Christmas dinner thing (hot ham, turkey, chicken, and roast vegies - went down a treat last year when it was 48*C!!! No matter what anyone says, Nana won't budge down from that tradition...). I don't envy poor ol' Santa... Can you imagine dressing up in a red woollen jumper, trousers, boots, beard and hat in that weather? And that's just the beginning - then you need to run for your life from a pack of wild bush kids who are determined to talk to Santa, and relieve him of his load (not to mention those older ones, who just wanna see 'what's underneath the suit???'

2006-12-17T10:36:00.000+09:00

Well, it's finally rained!!! In fact it's still raining now, but more of a light drizzle. The storm made a grand entrance at about 4.30am, with thunder and lightning and the works... At 9am we'd already had an inch, which will be really good for the paddocks, and will also cool everything down a bit.

My new fave song is Evermore's 'Light Surrounding You'. They played it live on Sunrise on Friday morning, when Grant was leaving the show - I nearly cried when they were showing the flashbacks - hahaha Christine, I had the sense to be late for work so I could see it! Nah, but it was so sad, and I wish I could see it again, but I think the video streaming would be a bit much for my poor old dial up connection (@ 24kbps!). Anyway, yeah the song's cool, and I've already downloaded it onto my iPod. My other fave at the moment is a golden oldie - 'Don't Look Back in Anger' by Oasis.

2006-12-13T23:28:00.000+09:00

IT RAINED!!!

Ok, so it wasn't exactly pissing down, but for a brief moment there this afternoon, it actually rained. It rained enough that you could hear it on the roof, and there was a dude standing out in the middle of the road outside work, with no shirt on, just standing in the rain. Pity he wasn't hot (and believe me, I checked, but no cigar).

And then Christine had to go and spoil it all by saying it wouldn't last. And true to her word, it stopped as quickly as it started. not fair not fair not fair...

Ah well, hopefully there's plenty more where that came from over the next few months...

2006-12-12T22:10:00.000+09:00

Absolutely nothing happening here in the Swamp today, so here's a meme to pass the time...

Last Road Trip - Broome to Halls Creek (why? I wonder that myself...) about 900km with my mum and younger bro
Last Bad Advice - Better to be a plucked chicken than a f***ed duck.
Last Movie I Saw in a Cinema - Borat. I so want to go and see that again.
Last TV Show Watched - That 70s Show
Last TV Show I Enjoyed Watching - That 70s Show
Last Book I Tried to Read - mmm... does cosmo count? If not, then probably some book that my mum thought I should read. I think I got about 2 pages into it. Reading's not really my thing, unless it has to do with Guides, M*A*S*H, or music.
Last Thing I Left Home Without - my shoes this morning on the way to work. Also my wallet on Monday morning...
Last Take Out Meal - Chicken Treat last night. Too buggered to cook, and maccas was shut early for their work xmas party do. Slackers.
Last Celebration - last Saturday night at the roadhouse - dad put money up at the bar for everyone to get drinks, and had a pretty good night.
Last Item Loaned Out and Haven’t Gotten Back - oh god, that could be anything!
Last New Word of a Foreign Language Learned - ummm... none that i can think of... touche?
Last T-Shirt Acquired - it's been ages since i went clothes shopping... ok, I think it was a black capped sleeve t-shirt, with a printed white pattern down the side.
Last Package Received - membership application forms from Guide House. And before that was my singstar bundle I bought off of ebay.
Last Web Site Visited - http://www.guideswa.org.au/member
Last Injury - ummm... I scratched up the back of my hand the other week, and it went down to the meat, as my brother so delicately described it. Other than that, nothing for a while.
Last Run In with the Law - not going to jury duty back in September - they hit me with a $300 fine, which I appealed against, and had it withdrawn.
Last Place I’d Want to Live - Fitzroy Crossing or Halls Creek. It's a toss-up between the two.
Last Physical Fight - so long ago that i don't remember. I'm sure I have had one though.
Last Magazine Read - Cosmo
Last Thing I Broke - umm... I got a flat tyre the other day after work, does that count as broken?
Last Thing I Fixed - dunno, probably someone's phone at work
Last Thing That Made Me Laugh - Loz putting a gay pride sign on Chris' back numberplate at work, and Chris not noticing it until the next morning. Also, Ross and his coconut. That's always amusing...
Last Thought - only 12 more days until Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-12-11T22:32:00.000+09:00

I always knew that real estate in Broome was way over-inflated, but until I started looking for somewhere to rent on my own, I didn't realise just how expensive this little exercise would be...

For instance: to rent a 2 bdrm / 1bthrm unit in Cable Beach (the suburb, not necessarily close to the actual beach), I am looking at $290/wk. That's unfurnished aswell. It's certainly not a welcoming market to young locals.

2006-12-07T21:43:00.000+09:00

This is a photo I took last Thursday of the jetty beach - taken with my new digital camera... I think it's pretty damned good. Although it does look better when it's a decent size...

Only 17 more days until Christmas - that's 3.4 days of shopping per person on my list of peoples to buy presents for. Not including the pets. If I include them, it would only be 1.7 days per person/animal. But 3.4 days sounds better, so that's what I'll run with.

Did you know that giraffes have no vocal cords? I read that on the bottom of the lid on my apple and blackcurrant juice yesterday. Come to think of it, I haven't heard of what noise a giraffe is supposed to make, or whether it makes one at all... You'd think that it would have some sort of grunt or something - hmmmmmmmmm...

2006-12-06T22:47:00.000+09:00

Bought Matt's christmas present today, and Mum's last week... That just leaves:
Dad
Nana
Lisa
Merrion
Smells
and the animals: Puss, Grumbles, Geena, Kelly and Gerry.

2006-12-05T23:04:00.000+09:00

My little Corolla had it's 10,000km service this morning - just under 6 months after buying it. I now understand what parent's go through when their kids grow up - my baby's not a baby anymore *proud sniffle*...

2006-12-03T08:59:00.000+09:00

Congratulations Blogger! The first electronic thing in my house to recognise Daylight Savings on it's own!!!

2006-12-03T08:40:00.000+09:00

Daylight Savings started this morning in Western Australia for the first time in god knows how many years. I've been sitting here this morning, wondering how many of my electronic devices will automatically update the time, as they are supposedly meant to. So far it's a dismal showing with a score of 0. The laptop (connected to the net), mobile phone and satellite tv are all still showing 7.44am, whereas I think they're meant to show 8.44am. But then again, I still get confused as to whether we're meant to turn the clock forwards or backwards!!!

Not that anyone actually wanted Daylight Savings, save for a few cocky politicians in Perth, who decided that they didn't really give a rats as to what anyone else wanted, they'd just push it through state parliament regardless. I don't know if they remembered the 3 (yes, 3) referendums over the last few years which have all shown that the WA public don't want daylight savings... So now we have a 3 year trial.

2006-11-29T22:37:00.000+08:00

Movie Review: Borat (Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan)
Went to see this tonight at Sun Cinemas with Lisa - it was so bust out, and we didn't stop laughing the entire time. "I arrived in America's airport with clothings, U.S dollars and a jar of gypsy tears to protect me from AIDS". The vision of Borat ramming gypsies with a hummer were priceless, and his presentation of a bag of shit to his dinner party hostess, well, that was beyond priceless. Borat and his quest for Pamela Anderson's non-existant virginity, along with his new found friend, Mr Jesus, was something to be seen. Definitely one for the dvd collection.
Five stars *****

2006-11-27T22:50:00.000+08:00

Last night was my brother's school Christmas party (Kimberley School of the Air). Complete with visits from the Eagle Boys Pizza Eagle and Santa. Was an alright evening - the presentations ended up being more of the Leslie Show (my mum was up and down all evening presenting stuff and making speeches). Nahhhhhh mum, j/k, u was cool up there, even left some of the funny bits in there :P

The highlight (depending on where you were standing) was after the dinner, when they had karaoke, with a proper DJ and all, in the common room at the camp school. All the other kids put their names down for the usual old stuff - Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, blah blah blah. But not Matt (my brother). No, after all his practice on SingStar - he got up in front of everyone and belted out Nirvana's 'Smells like Teen Spirit' - word for word. He blew all the others out of the water, along with his duet partner Mr Ben. I think he also left Mr Jones shaking his head! See below...

2006-11-25T22:39:00.000+08:00

Another one to add to my Christmas wish list...

My piano paid off at Chinatown Music

I think there's still $699 left owing on it - it would have been $599, but after buying the digital camera this week, it left me a bit skint in the bank account. Hopefully by Christmas time it will only be $299 or so left to go (fingers and toes crossed), and I'd love to have it when I find myself a place to rent...

2006-11-24T21:08:00.000+08:00

Never underestimate the power of an empty house...

For the first time in 4 weeks, I have the house to myself. No teenage cousins with attitude to deal with. No one fighting over the television - in fact it's not even turned on! Just me, the internet, my music (yes, MY music!), and silence. Tonight's definitely clinched my decision to move out as soon as I can find something I can afford, which in Broome is a challenge in itself. But they say challenges are good for the soul, and if it means that every night is like tonight, then BRING IT ON!!!

2006-11-22T21:26:00.000+08:00

Well, I am proud to announce that I did not have one single blonde moment today. Except for the this morning when I got to work and had forgotten my shoes. But that wasn't technically 'blonde' - more 'battle-fatigue'... Just proves that not-so well known piece of wisdom, "Never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut!". I don't remember where I heard that little gem, but it seems so appropriate for me at times.

Bought myself a little Sony CyberShot digital camera today. I really didn't go into the Rick Hart store with the intention of buying anything - just to look. But I was a bit pissed off at the world, and in a moment of ire, just happened to buy the camera. Retail therapy, I think they call it - most girls find it by clothes shopping - I tend to sway towards electrical goods for the same fix. Nice camera though, and much easier to carry around at any time. 6MP and 3x optical zoom. I don't really need much optical zoom anyway - I have my big camera for that. Will post some pics on here when I get a chance...

2006-11-21T21:57:00.001+08:00

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

2006-11-21T21:40:00.000+08:00

OMG, I have had the crappiest day today. You know those days when everything you do seems to annoy or offend people around you, when there was absolutely no intention to do so; and when every moment turns into one of those Kodak Blonde Moments? Yeah, one of those...

And so I now declare, that tomorrow is going to be a Blonde Moment Free Day. Not that I'm even blonde, but I figure, I'm going to need all the positive thinking I can get.

In the meantime, there are still 2 hrs and 7 mins left in today - my parting thought...

In what alternate dimension would denni be most comfortable?

In a dimension where...

It is a sin not to murder someone

'In what alternate dimension would you be most comfortable?'
at
QuizGalaxy.com

2006-11-20T21:44:00.000+08:00

In the market for a new digital camera... Not that there's anything wrong with the one I've got (a Fujifilm Finepix S5500). But it's so big, and awkward to carry around - especially for those snapshot moments, like hanging out with friends, dinner etc. I don't want to spend too much though, seeing as my other one works perfectly, and was reasonably expensive. Maybe this is another one to add to the Christmas list...

OT: Only $699.00 left to pay on my digital piano!!! What now, it feels like it's been forever, but it's only actually been 3 weeks or so... Time flies, huh?

2006-11-19T13:25:00.000+08:00

"Never insult seven men, when all you have is a six-shooter."
~Col. Sherman Potter M*A*S*H)

2006-11-13T23:20:00.000+08:00

You're Totally Sarcastic

You sarcastic? Never! You're as sweet as a baby bunny.
Seriously, though, you have a sharp tongue - and you aren't afraid to use it.
And if people are too wimpy to deal with your attitutde, then too bad. So sad.

How Sarcastic Are You?

2006-11-08T21:34:00.000+08:00

Below is my draft Christmas wishlist for 2006... Every year people ask me what I want for xmas, and every year I struggle to think of things... So this year I am going to be prepared, and list things on here as I think of them - hehehe, I'm so not this organised :P

My 2006 Christmas Wishlist...

Dash mat for my new car
iTunes music cards
Scratchies and money will always win you brownie points...

hmm... can't think of anything else at the moment... I will add things as I think of them...

2006-10-25T23:13:00.000+08:00

Went to see Kenny at the cinema last night - that is a wicked movie. I won't go too much into it in case you're planning to see it, but basically it's about Kenny (really? I would never have guessed...) who works for a corporate rent-a-dunny outfit in Melbourne. "I don't know what all the fuss is about, it's 80% water... and we've got chemicals to sort out the remaining 20". Classic.
Go see it.

Was in Halls Creek over the weekend for the Picnic Races - an annual fundraising event run jointly by the ICPA Kimberley Air Branch and Kimberley School of the Air (my brother's school, and how me and Dad both did primary school aswell). Although the race day was good fun, I decided that Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing weren't going to be places I'd like to live someday. One sign outside a shed in Fitzroy read "Bob's Bargain Barn - Pre-loved Clothing"... Pre-loved clothing in Fitzroy Crossing??? Ewww...

2006-10-12T22:20:00.000+08:00

Got my new phone today - ended up settling for the Samsung A501... Although I've never been particularly fond of Samsung mobiles - especially their gaudy menu systems, this one doesn't irk me as much as I thought it might.

I ended up signing up for a 24 mth contract on Telstra's NextG network (the penalties for my old CDMA contract waived), on a Business Talk 50 plan. The selling point of the plan being the $0.00/min call rate (+ 35c connection fee) - plus $12 mth for the Foxtel subscription. It's a little higher than I wanted to go, but hopefully it'll mean I'm more free to use my phone for longer calls 24/7.

2006-10-11T23:06:00.000+08:00

Nothing very enthralling has happened in the past few days (if you hadn't figured that one out already...) Dad's birthday on Friday, so I really need to get that photo done up tomorrow, so I have time to get a frame for it and everything. I have to work Saturday morning, so I won't be back home for his birthday, but he did mention he might go to the roadhouse Friday night, so if he does, I'll drive out there and hang out for a while, I dunno, maybe play some pool.

Been busy doing up stuff for Guides - playing around trying to create resources and what not for the whole Adopt-a-Guide trial project. Desperately in need of inspiration, motivation and sleep, not necessarily in that order :P It's going to be interesting seeing how the whole scheme goes - and how we can improve on what we already have - exciting times ahead...

2006-10-10T00:03:00.000+08:00

I'm bored. And tired. But I can't get to sleep. So, here's a meme I stole from someone on the www - if anything can get me to sleep, this should...

1. Where were you 3 hours ago?
Three hours ago, I was pretty much exactly where I am now. On the computer. But give me 10 minutes or so before that I was watching Australian Idol verdict night. Was disappointed to see Chris in the bottom 3, and agreed with Kyle that there were a few singers who 'got out of jail free' tonight...
2. What is your boyfriends/girlfriends name?
Not applicable at the moment. I really should get out more.
3. Have you ever eaten a crayon?
No. But I do remember a boy in my grade 1 class who did eat crayons. Not just as an experiment to see how it tasted, but almost in the same way you would eat a vegemite sandwich for lunch...
5. When is the last time you went to the mall?
The mall??? Yep, this is American... Well, if you can call Broome's stingy shopping centres 'malls', then I guess it was at lunchtime today when I went into Paspaleys to pick up photos from Camera House.
6. Are you wearing socks right now?
No.
7. Do you have a car worth over $2,000?
Yeah, I'm now 4 months into my first ever debt.
8. When was the last time you drove out of town?
Ummm... Friday afternoon. When I went home.
9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?
Nope, but was planning to take my brother Matt to the movies sometime before the school hols end.
10. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Tap water, because someone didn't refill the waterbottle in fridge, so there's none cold. I really hate it when that happens.
12. What are you wearing right now?
A Guides region camp t-shirt, blue shorts - ready for bed.
14. Last food that you ate?
A pie, because I couldn't be arsed cooking anything for dinner. Note my recent cooking experience last month...
15. Where were you last week at this time?
On my way home from Dampier, for our Guides region training weekend. 880km drive - the worst thing being that the mileage signs decrease in 10km increments. Which is fine when you're 30km out of town. But when it starts at 630km, it's a looooooooooooong way to go.
18. What’s the last sporting event you watched?
The AFL Grand Final between West Coast and Sydney - don't get me started :D
19. What is your favorite animal?
Cats. And horses. I like dogs too. And tigers. But I hate frogs with a passion. Not that I'm scared of them, just sick of living amongst the $#^&$%#@s.
20. What is your dream vacation?
Going to England to see the green hills and old buildings, and to stay at Pax Lodge. Via Perth to catch up with mates. And Melbourne to see Jacq... Might have to save up for this one...
21. Last person’s house you were in?
Ummmmm... mine???
22. How old are your parents?
LOL, talk about a loaded question. Mum early 40s, Dad early 50s.
23. Have you been in love?
Hasn't everyone?
24. Do you miss anyone right now?
Yep
27.What are your plans for tonight?
I'm not planning to be up for much more of it. In fact, it's tomorrow morning already.
28. Who is the last person you sent an email to?
Jacq, Mel H and Nicki - when we were at GOALL in Sydney earlier this year, we promised to keep in touch each month with a group email.
30. Ever go to camp?
Duh.
31. Were you an honor roll student in school?
Yeah, I was a bit of a square... but I had my moments - in particular an incident involving Yowies and an Indonesian teacher...
32. What do you want to know about the future?
I don't know that I want to know about the future - because if I knew, then I'd probably want to change it, then it wouldn't be the future anymore, then I'd have to find out again.
33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
No, just deodorant
35. Where is/are your best friend(s)?
Most of them are in Perth. A couple here in Broome. Others scattered all over Aus (and NZ)
37. Do you have a tan?
Apparently. Living and working in town hasn't helped it along though - it's one thing I miss about working out on the station...
38. What are you listening to right now?
Sway by Bic Runga
42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw?
Yeah, but if I have the choice I don't - it takes the bubbles out.
43. What does your last text message say?
oi whats ur home number? i'll give u a call (from Jen)
44. Do you like hot sauce?
Nope
45.When was the last time you took a shower?
About half an hour ago. A hot one too. But Ross stank out the shower by taking his boots off in there, so I had to leave the fan on for a while first.
46. Do you need to do laundry?
Nope, did it all yesterday
47. What is your heritage?
Mostly Australian. My Nana's family were from Italy though.
48. Are you someone’s best friend?
I hope so
49. What’s on the radio?
Not sure... with my luck, probably that dumb scissor sisters song again - seems to be on everytime I turn the radio on.

2006-10-09T21:42:00.000+08:00

Had a pretty good weekend - Mum got the horses in the yards Saturday afternoon, and we wentfor a ride. We didn't do much, or go very far, as it's been a while since the last time we rode them, but it was good fun. I didn't realise just how much I'd missed riding until I got back in the saddle. Misty was really good - she's an airhead normally, but once the saddle went on, she was no problem at all. Matt had his first go of riding Misty aswell - I don't think he wanted to get off! Even Dad got into the spirit and jumped on both horses bareback...
I love this photo of Dad and Matt together - I want to get it enlarged and framed for Dad for his birthday on Friday...

2006-10-08T13:37:00.000+08:00

Telstra's new look 3G network finally arrives...

As one of Telstra's many CDMA customers (and working in a telecommunications store), I have been waiting for this for a long long time. And although I still have 8 months left to run on my current contract, I think I will be switching over to a new handset a lot sooner. Only problem is that the handsets that have been released so far are gay. And I don't want to be stuck with a crap phone after all the problems I've had with them recently. I think I'll hang out for the Nokia N95 next year...

2006-10-03T19:39:00.000+08:00

Finally the AFL Premiership Cup is back home in the West where it belongs. And even more appropriate with the West Coast Eagles celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. But what a game! And although the Norm Smith medal went to Embley, the glory belongs to every member of that team - special mention to Glass, for keeping Big Bad Bazza goal-less!!!

Photo courtesy News.com.au

2006-09-27T22:06:00.000+08:00

The countdown is on...

It's time to sort the men from the boys, and it's time to bring the cup back home to the West.

Apparently the Melbournians are a little put out at the lack of a Victorian presence in this years finals series - there was talk the other day of financial aid for those clubs in the AFL founding state, to help them out of the 'rut'. Whatever happened to 'may the best team win'... Is it so hard for them to believe that these interstate clubs may just be the best at the moment???

Regardless, I'll be donning the blue and gold on Saturday. The Swanees may have been able to win on a technical glitch last year, but rest assured, there's nothing standing between our boys and that cup this weekend.

Sure you don't wanna switch teams, Brett???

2006-09-27T00:09:00.000+08:00

The Music Meme - my computer hates me. Joining in the fun of my list and apologies for my taste in music. Put your iTunes/Winamp/WMP on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud, and press play. Use the song title as the answer to the question. NO CHEATING.

1. How does the world see me? – Monday's Experts Weddings, Parties, Anything
2. Will I have a happy life? - Illegal Smile Serena Ryder (I'll take that as a yes)
3. What do my friends think of me? – Peaches Presidents of the USA
4. Do people secretly lust after me? – Everybody's Fool Evanescence
5. How can I make myself happy? – Drops of Jupiter Train (what the...?)
6. What should I do with my life? – White Flag Dido (I should surrender? gee, thanks)
7. Will I ever have children? – Complicated Avril Lavigne (sounds ominous...)
8. What is some good advice for me? – Gangsta's Paradise Coolio
9. How will I be remembered? – Waste Another Day Brooke Fraser
10. What's my signature dancing song? – Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head Jebediah (rotflmao)
11. What's my current theme song? – Look What You've Done Jet
12. What do others think is my current theme song? – Cows With Guns Dana Lyons (thanks guys)
13. What shall they play at my funeral? – The Special Two Missy Higgins (Dr Jekyll and Ms Hyde???)
14. What type of wo/men do I like? – Gonna Take Some Time - Jimmy and Mahalia Barnes
15. How's my love life? – She’s the One - Robbie Williams (no no no no no no no!!!)

2006-09-12T20:40:00.000+08:00

Proved that my inept culinary skills are as inept as ever last night...

It was supposed to be simple. Easy, even. Tuna mornay. Who can stuff up a tuna mornay?

It was all going so well. Lisa and I delegated with each other - she did the white sauce (the first thing that comes into my mind when I see the word 'roux' is a Parisian marsupial...), and I had the honourable task of "chucking everything else together". Unfortunately, we forgot to collaborate on the exact amount that we were making...

The result? Well, we had enough white sauce for the two of us, however I may have been a little enthusiastic with the "rest". All in all, a lovely meal with the consistency of the Dunlop tyres on my car.

Needless to say, tonight's meal was courtesy of the golden arches.

2006-09-11T21:31:00.000+08:00

Another anniversary commemorating the attacks of 9/11 (those blasted Americans had me writing the date backwards all day at work). Reports on the radio this morning stated that a handful of patriots had gathered at the US embassy in Canberra to remember the atrocities that occurred 5 years ago. I think it's great that people want to remember, god forbid should we ever forget. But it seems that every year, the media attempts to glorify it more and more, to the point that we become almost numb - now I see the footage of the airliner striking the World Trade Centre, and don't even flinch. Nothing of that magnitude should be normalised - it even happened with the London train bombings. I just hope that we never see anything like it happen in Australia - or anywhere else again for that matter.

On a lighter note... happy that my 55c wasn't wasted voting on Australian Idol last night - Perth boy Chris Murphy lives to see another day. Now to see that West Aussie luck continue when the Eagles face the Bulldogs at Subi this weekend. Fingers crossed.

2006-09-11T07:50:00.000+08:00

That was not me. That was my 7 yr old brother who, as you can see, has also been M*A*S*H-ified

2006-09-10T17:57:00.000+08:00

hello compound in coming wounded radar o reily here (hawkeye) not again.

2006-09-10T17:03:00.001+08:00

Happy birthday Dani :)
Even if you are roaming over in Europe without me :P Hope you guys are having an awesome time over there - wish I could be with you... Don't forget the postcards - and my prezzie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-09-10T13:19:00.001+08:00

Welcome to The Swamp...

The Swamp is the latest in a long line of blogging attempts - a follow-on from the short-lived Trapperings, Trapperings II and Trapperings III (hopefully the new name will break the jinx).

A bit about me before I start pouring my life onto the web... I'm 23 years old. I live (and always have lived) on a cattle station in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where our entire existence is dictated by the 2000-odd cattle who live alongside us. Don't take that as a negative though - without them I couldn't be the person I am, or live the life that I lead. I do wonder at times though, is it us who farm the cows, or the cows who farm us???

Other than that - I am a Leader with Guides WA, an obsessive compulsive M*A*S*H fan (could you tell? For the unfortunate few who do not know M*A*S*H well, 'The Swamp' is the name of Hawkeye and Trapper's tent - later Hawkeye and BJ's tent). Some people say I talk too much, some say I don't talk enough. There's not a lot more to tell - and if there is, I'm sure it will all come out in here, give it time.