After spending my early childhood with an old bull terrier, followed by a poor abused blue heeler, and then growing up with an adorable little terrier cross I have recently brought into the family two little mostly black pups both of whom will soon be two quite large pups. Both crosses of blue heeler, border collie, foxy, kelpie, bull something and God only knows what else.
This being the first time I have ever had two dogs at once, and them being supposedly from the same litter (pound puppies) makes life very interesting.
They're only 12 weeks old now and both well over 5kg (that's over 11 pounds for you guys still on the imperial system) so of course they'll need to be kept under control. They pretty much have the toilet training figured out, still a few slip ups as can be expected. They get walked around the markets to help get use to other people and dogs now that their shots are all up to date and puppy school will start ASAP, and they're coming to visit a friend and her puppy schooled schnauzer next weekend. So I'm on the right track with them.
There's just one thing that always makes raising dogs more difficult, and that's other people. People who think they're dog experts, people who approach the dogs in a threatening manner when trying to say hello, people who appear out of nowhere to pat the dog putting both the owner and the dog on edge. The list is endless. But there is one that deserves mentioning, that gets overlooked all to often. Dog trainers. Not all dog trainers. The dog trainers who treat every dog exactly the same when dogs, just like humans, have their own individual personalities and more importantly their own individual learning needs. For example; the previous puppy I had stopped chewing my shoes when she was given her own pair, but the current pups will simply chew anything left where they can get it if it looks interesting. Luckily they are learning the meaning of "Leave It!" and "Excuse me, can I have that back please?" with the usual response of "If you can catch me."
The truth is that if you don't want to introduce your dog to other dogs, and you don't mind your dog acting as a house alarm when a butterfly lands across the road, the only training it will need is a constant supply of hugs and kisses, and the run of the house upon which you now have for next to no effort a loving caring baby who will protect its house and family at all costs. This method is perfect is the dog in question is a Maltese Terrier or something that size and under.
My advice to anyone thinking about getting, or who has recently acquired a new pup is this.
1 - Consider how much space you have before getting something that needs to run a million miles a day. Working dogs are bundles of energy and bore easily.
2 - Consider how much time you have available before bringing home the cute little teething piddle pot who needs 2 months of constant attention.
3 - If you only want a dog in the yard and not in the house don't bother getting a dog. They are pack animals and want to be with the whole family.
4 - Don't leave the dog alone with babies/young children. The dog will either be jealous of the baby for stealing its attention from Mum and Dad or will mother and protect the baby from everything including Mum and Dad as dogs are very possessive of what they think they own, and the vast majority of dog attacks on children are because the child did something to hurt or frighten the dog. If you're a parent who thinks their child does no wrong you need to wake up.
5 - Get a dog that is appropriate for your circumstances age. A Labrador is a great family dog but it will help the burglars carry the computer out. The Staffy is also a great playful family dog but it is solid enough to act as a speed bump so it's not the best choice for toddlers.
6 - No training makes an uncontrollable dog. Inconsistent training makes a confused and dangerous dog.
7 - Positive Reinforcement is the only form of training that really works and it requires patience.
You know it's true.
Little Bundles Of Joy
Ellie - The Terror
Buddha - My Little Mate
Puppies.
Two of them.
Yes, that's right. I have recently acquired two fury little four legged family members. Their names are Ellie and Buddha. Ellie is a million miles an hour, only stopping to eat, drink, sniff, and occasionally sleep. Buddha is the quieter and slower of the two terrorists. They are a bit of this and that crossed with God knows what. They are both mostly black with a touch of white. The pound said foxy cross, others have said boarder collie, kelpie, staffy, and even blue heeler. What ever they are they're adorable.
The day after we brought them home, the 3rd of August, Ellie weighed 2.4kg and Buddha 2.1. The next day Ellie was 2.6 and Buddha 2.2. On the 12th they were 3 and 3.4 respectively. When again weighed on the 16th Ellie was 3.6 and Buddha 3.4.
Buddha's catching up.
As noisy, cheeky, naughty, and annoying as they can be, they make life worth living.
It's true.
Retro Gamer
Altered Beast. Streets of Rage. Golden Axe. These are just a few titles people think of when the subject of the Sega Mega Drive is raised. Although the most iconic would have to be the Sonic the Hedgehog series. As with a lot of people my age the Sega Mega Drive was a defining part of my childhood. It was what made me fall in love with video games. As opposed to the games of today the old school market leaders Sega and still current console giant Nintendo, in my opinion actually encouraged us to get off our fat lazy back sides and get out of the house. After playing NBA Jam we wanted to go and play basketball for real. After playing Sonic we wanted to charge around the back yard like at a million miles an hour until we just couldn't run any more.
Then that fateful day arrived when Sony reared it's ugly head and emerged with the Play Station. Immediately we were sold. A few short hours of game play and we were hooked! Crash Bandicoot. Spyro the Dragon. Gran Turismo. We loved every minute of it. No longer did the control get thrown across the room when saw the Game Over screen because our progress was saved at the last Check Point. We played Tenchu and suddenly wanted to be a samurai, we played Tekken 3 and wanted to be a fighter, we played Tomb Raider and wanted to be an adventure, but what we did we do? We kept playing the Play Station. We took it for granted. A game console had become a standard household item as opposed to an individual's symbol of status. Remember when the only person who could make your Sega or Nintendo work was you? Only you could insert the cartridge at just the precise angle. The Play Station marked the end of the consoles' individual quirks and smacked us in the face with games that wouldn't work if they got scratched too much but it was convenient as CD's used less storage space than cartridges.
Along came the Play Station 2, Nintendo Game Cube, and evil Microsoft's pride and joy; the X-Box. Hello and welcome to our screens Halo. Our inspiration to be something we were not had now been completely quashed. We no longer wanted to be heroes, we no longer wanted to be fit, healthy, and admirable. We wanted to be something else, something we already were, something made to look new and fashionable. We wanted to be...
...a gamer.
We didn't want to use the garbage bin as stumps on the driveway any more, we just wanted to play cricket by pressing buttons with our thumbs. We didn't want to muck around wrestling with our friends and siblings, we just wanted to win the Royal Rumble in Smack Down Vs Raw.
As much as I like to play my X-Box and PS2, as much as I put the Sega Mega Drive up on a pedestal, I refuse to get a PS3 or X-Box 360. As much enjoyment as these electronic devices give me, if I have children these things would be packed away. Because I look at children these days and they all have the belief that a toy only qualifies as a toy if it has, batteries, flashing lights, or plugs into the TV. Kids are no longer hammering nails into blocks of wood, chiselling happy faces into sand stone, or running around pretending to be Superman. I don't know how the rest of the world feels but as a member of the generation soon to inherit the earth it's a scary thought that children are more interested in pressing buttons with their eyes glued to a screen than what the weather outside is doing.
I am not one of today's "Gamers" The way I see it I am one of the few true "Retro Gamers" because unlike the people like to play these old games for nostalgia or simply for the sake of playing them, I like to bring them out every so often to remind myself:
A) That they were just as fun if not more so, as the latest games.
B) That there is more to life than having the latest greatest everything.
You know it's true.
Then that fateful day arrived when Sony reared it's ugly head and emerged with the Play Station. Immediately we were sold. A few short hours of game play and we were hooked! Crash Bandicoot. Spyro the Dragon. Gran Turismo. We loved every minute of it. No longer did the control get thrown across the room when saw the Game Over screen because our progress was saved at the last Check Point. We played Tenchu and suddenly wanted to be a samurai, we played Tekken 3 and wanted to be a fighter, we played Tomb Raider and wanted to be an adventure, but what we did we do? We kept playing the Play Station. We took it for granted. A game console had become a standard household item as opposed to an individual's symbol of status. Remember when the only person who could make your Sega or Nintendo work was you? Only you could insert the cartridge at just the precise angle. The Play Station marked the end of the consoles' individual quirks and smacked us in the face with games that wouldn't work if they got scratched too much but it was convenient as CD's used less storage space than cartridges.
Along came the Play Station 2, Nintendo Game Cube, and evil Microsoft's pride and joy; the X-Box. Hello and welcome to our screens Halo. Our inspiration to be something we were not had now been completely quashed. We no longer wanted to be heroes, we no longer wanted to be fit, healthy, and admirable. We wanted to be something else, something we already were, something made to look new and fashionable. We wanted to be...
...a gamer.
We didn't want to use the garbage bin as stumps on the driveway any more, we just wanted to play cricket by pressing buttons with our thumbs. We didn't want to muck around wrestling with our friends and siblings, we just wanted to win the Royal Rumble in Smack Down Vs Raw.
As much as I like to play my X-Box and PS2, as much as I put the Sega Mega Drive up on a pedestal, I refuse to get a PS3 or X-Box 360. As much enjoyment as these electronic devices give me, if I have children these things would be packed away. Because I look at children these days and they all have the belief that a toy only qualifies as a toy if it has, batteries, flashing lights, or plugs into the TV. Kids are no longer hammering nails into blocks of wood, chiselling happy faces into sand stone, or running around pretending to be Superman. I don't know how the rest of the world feels but as a member of the generation soon to inherit the earth it's a scary thought that children are more interested in pressing buttons with their eyes glued to a screen than what the weather outside is doing.
I am not one of today's "Gamers" The way I see it I am one of the few true "Retro Gamers" because unlike the people like to play these old games for nostalgia or simply for the sake of playing them, I like to bring them out every so often to remind myself:
A) That they were just as fun if not more so, as the latest games.
B) That there is more to life than having the latest greatest everything.
You know it's true.
$$$
I remember the days when petrol was under 80c per litre.
I remember when a new release video game cost no more than $30.
I remember milkos and redskins at 10c each.
I remember a packet of crisps was 60c.
I remember paddle pops for 80c.
I remember when the take-away down the road sold small chips for $1.50, medium for $2, and large for $3.50.
I remember the burger meals at KFC costing $4.95.
What happened? I know one thing for sure. The GST was introduced and all of a sudden petrol cost more than $1, paddle pops went up to $1, crisps doubled in price, and out of nowhere video games were up around the $100 mark.
And who's income increased to help cope with prices of everything going through the roof? The rich bastards!
You know it's true.
I remember when a new release video game cost no more than $30.
I remember milkos and redskins at 10c each.
I remember a packet of crisps was 60c.
I remember paddle pops for 80c.
I remember when the take-away down the road sold small chips for $1.50, medium for $2, and large for $3.50.
I remember the burger meals at KFC costing $4.95.
What happened? I know one thing for sure. The GST was introduced and all of a sudden petrol cost more than $1, paddle pops went up to $1, crisps doubled in price, and out of nowhere video games were up around the $100 mark.
And who's income increased to help cope with prices of everything going through the roof? The rich bastards!
You know it's true.
One Day At A Time
It's been a little over a month now. Where did that month go? I'm now at the stage where I forget about my coffee and it goes cold because there's no one there to hurry me up about giving her the cup. I'm now at the stage where I'm slowly starting to talk to more friends again. I'm now at the stage where I don't think I see her out the corner of my eye. I'm now at the stage where I occasionally think I feel her lying beside me. I'm now at the stage where I'm not going to get rid of my car because it was her's. I'm now at the stage where I'm feeling like we should get another dog but Tammy's things are still everywhere and we're really not ready. I'm now at the stage where I'm just taking one day at a time.
Tammy
It's the end of an era. In October 1999 I picked up a stray Jack Russell Terrier in my street. We notified the pound who allowed us to keep him with us until the owner was notified and came and picked him up, we had him for only a few days, but the pound told us of another young puppy they had which was mine if I wanted her. We picked her up and took her home. She was four months old, someone had abandoned her in a box at a shopping centre. There loss was our gain.
Over eleven years we grew up together. She used to steal my socks and run outside with them, she claimed my white Coca Cola Christmas teddy bear, she charged around the house at the speed of a ballistic missile, she had the run of the house making her self comfortable on any piece of furniture she could jump on. She bit me a few times when I got too rough. Everything in her field of view was hers. She barked and growled at passing dogs, babies, and little old ladies which led us to the suspicion that some young couple had her originally until a baby appeared on the scene and the old lady made them get rid of the dog.
When she was in her first few years it was like trying to hold on to a Tasmanian Devil when she saw another dog or worse - a cat. She slept in Mum's bed, but when I was away on Kangaroo Island fighting fires for 5 days Monday to Friday, I only managed to sleep for a few hours on the Thursday, turns out, so did she.
She was only little. She would jump up on the kitchen table. She would clean the cups, bowels, and plates after meals and coffee. She would bark and growl at visitors until they sat down. She thought everything was hers so she guarded the house because she wanted to, not because she was trained to.
She liked chasing the little lizards around the back yard, occasionally she managed to bring them inside. She also liked to chase bees. She gave that up after being stung a few times, once in the back of the throat. She managed to dislocate her leg running under the kitchen table, she scratched her eye on a bolt in the fence, she misjudged jumping on the couch and fell back successfully doing a back flip landing on her feet and looking around wondering what just happened. She got her fair share of bumps and bruises over the years.
A few years ago we discovered she had a collapsed trachea that would continue to collapse over time. At the same time she was struck with a bout of pneumonia, she was kept on oxygen over night and was nearly lost but she pulled through. She had a lot of fight in her. For eleven years she was a source of happiness, comfort, strength, warmth, and laughter.
Three day's ago, Monday the 31st of May 2010 she had spent several dusks and dawns coughing, wheezing, and trying to breathe, we took her to the vet who gave us some tablets to help open up her air ways and help her cough up the build up of mucus in her throat.
Tuesday the 1st of June 2010. Her eleventh birthday. She had an alright day but when it cooled down she started coughing again. She spent the night coughing.
Wednesday morning she was still coughing. The sound was awful. She was hiding under the couch, coughing and coughing but unable to bring anything up. After a while she came out, still coughing. Her throat, chest, ribs, stomach, her whole body was wracked with each cough. The pain she must have been in. How much longer before her trachea collapsed completely? How much longer before her heart gave out? How long for her to slowly choke to death? We couldn't let her suffer any more. We chose the lesser of two evils and took her to her salvation. The quick painless relief. We stayed with her as she drifted away. We wrapped her in one of her blankets and I carried her body back to the car. We wanted her cremated but I didn't want to leave her at the vet to have it done, she didn't like the vet. After changing my mind several times we agreed to take her somewhere else to be cremated. Somehow I found the strength to put her down on the alter at the crematorium and leave her there.
Two hours later we picked up her ashes... and the blanket I thought she would be burned in. She is now at rest. Her ashes lay in an urn in our living room, the room in which she spent most of her time.
It is now Thursday the 3rd of June. I keep finding another toy, brush, or little shirt or coat that was hers, and the tears flow again. This morning there was no little puppy to lick my coffee cup when I was finished. I walk in the front door and expect a puppy to be there wagging her tail trotting around the floor yapping her usual hello.
I now have to get used to driving without ever having her in the car again. I have to get used to this empty feeling house. I have to get used to not having a little puppy jumping on my lap and licking my face. I have to get used to waking up without a puppy jumping on my chest, used to going to lying in bed and not having a puppy coming in and out, used to not having a puppy charging through the flap in the back door.
You were not a pet, you were family.
Life won't be the same.
I miss you.
I love you.
Rest in peace Tammy.
Cebit Australia 2010
Gotta say - EPIC FAIL
Where to start? Well first of all I noticed a distinct absence the of BIG industry players Microsoft, Apple, Google... Hell, I didn't even see anything to do with Linux.
It's meant to be an I.T. business and technology exhibition. Where were the big boys? Where were the market giants? Gygabyte was there. McAfee, AVG, Norton - they were there. But how's this for a joke? Bloody BigPond wasn't even there!
Ok fair enough, different businesses get different results from it each year. Some decide it's not worth it, others don't register in time. But the ones that do register, and do exhibit, and do go to the trouble of having a rather expensive and professional looking set up, for those companies, if you insist on displaying scantily clad women to get your sales up... it doesn't really work all that well. Yeah you get a lot of guys coming over to "check out the talent" but they're not thinking about your products.
And I just had an interruption which screwed up my entire train of thought so this is where this post ends.
Imaginary Scenario Based Assessment = Fail
I hate being assessed through imaginary scenarios, I absolutely detest it. Why? Because performing well with an imaginary scenario in no way reflects how someone will perform in the actual situation when the shit hits the fan.
You can be a qualified chef and cook food that isn't fit for any species' consumption, but because you met assessment criteria you have the certificate. Today I succeeded in completing a fire brigade Crew Leader assessment which consisted of Theory questions and 3 practical scenarios. In these practical scenarios there is an imaginary fire, marked out with barrier tape and it is the crew leader's responsibility to assess & size up the situation and act accordingly utilising the crew and resources available. My concern is that apart from assessment day nerves there is no real pressure except for time constraints whereas in a real situation there would be smoke, heat, flames, wind and everything else really happening and therefore really testing your skills, but at the same time giving you something real to react to.
As far as I'm concerned a person can do extremely well in these types of assessments and then go out, stuff up horrible and get people hurt or killed because they crumble under pressure. Other people can be the best at what they do, know it inside and out, perform expertly under pressure but fail at the assessment because they have trouble visualising imaginary flames and smoke.
OHS regulations are a big problem because we are not allowed to run assessments with active flame. But hang on a minute, a person without the crew leader qualification can still end up leading a crew at a real fire. So why not base the assessment on how a person actually does perform out on the field, it's not that hard to do it that way... in theory.
The Unfortunate Truth (the way I see it)
You can be a qualified chef and cook food that isn't fit for any species' consumption, but because you met assessment criteria you have the certificate. Today I succeeded in completing a fire brigade Crew Leader assessment which consisted of Theory questions and 3 practical scenarios. In these practical scenarios there is an imaginary fire, marked out with barrier tape and it is the crew leader's responsibility to assess & size up the situation and act accordingly utilising the crew and resources available. My concern is that apart from assessment day nerves there is no real pressure except for time constraints whereas in a real situation there would be smoke, heat, flames, wind and everything else really happening and therefore really testing your skills, but at the same time giving you something real to react to.
As far as I'm concerned a person can do extremely well in these types of assessments and then go out, stuff up horrible and get people hurt or killed because they crumble under pressure. Other people can be the best at what they do, know it inside and out, perform expertly under pressure but fail at the assessment because they have trouble visualising imaginary flames and smoke.
OHS regulations are a big problem because we are not allowed to run assessments with active flame. But hang on a minute, a person without the crew leader qualification can still end up leading a crew at a real fire. So why not base the assessment on how a person actually does perform out on the field, it's not that hard to do it that way... in theory.
The Unfortunate Truth (the way I see it)
Curse Of The Grey Matter
I've been doing some thinking lately. Some things that I should have thought more about I've probably not thought about enough, some things that should probably just be a minor consideration I've most likely been over thinking, and some really weird stuff has been creeping into my already weird dreams at night.
If dreams are the subconscious trying to tell us something I do wish it would just spit it out! I mean why would a girl who was 2 years ahead of me in school, who I had nothing to do with, who, ok, is quite attractive but I've never even thought about, be reading my palms telling me one of them has changed? What on Earth is that supposed to mean? I'm not having nightmares. I'm not getting recurring images of extreme situations, stressful moments, or fatalities I've dealt with... just really weird unrelated crap.
And why do I get that Déjà vu feeling a shit load but never with anything important? I'm sure winding a car window up is not something that should be that memorable.
Anyway, there's a wee insight into my mental realm.
If dreams are the subconscious trying to tell us something I do wish it would just spit it out! I mean why would a girl who was 2 years ahead of me in school, who I had nothing to do with, who, ok, is quite attractive but I've never even thought about, be reading my palms telling me one of them has changed? What on Earth is that supposed to mean? I'm not having nightmares. I'm not getting recurring images of extreme situations, stressful moments, or fatalities I've dealt with... just really weird unrelated crap.
And why do I get that Déjà vu feeling a shit load but never with anything important? I'm sure winding a car window up is not something that should be that memorable.
Anyway, there's a wee insight into my mental realm.
Priceless
Handling Dangerous Dogs Workshop - $70
Responsible Service of Alcohol - $115
Cert II Horticulture - $219
Cert IV Networking - $934
Diploma in I.T. - $1242
Cert IV Training & Assessment - $2690
Trying to decide just what to do with your life - Priceless.
Responsible Service of Alcohol - $115
Cert II Horticulture - $219
Cert IV Networking - $934
Diploma in I.T. - $1242
Cert IV Training & Assessment - $2690
Trying to decide just what to do with your life - Priceless.
The Spoken Wheel With A Wonder And A Wild Desire
Your passin' broke the silence
On that dark October day
The sun was headin' for the west
As it did I heard you say
I set my sail for a gentle breeze
Now I leave this world as it was meant to be
And you, did you listen to anything I said?
Did you ever listen to me?
Though now it seems you'll never know
But every lad to a man must grow
Till winter comes to celebrate
Then proudly chills the bone
When at last they bury me
Into this ground you'll someday see
And you, did you listen to anything I said?
Did you ever listen to me?
Though the face we wear
Sometimes seldom speaks
From the babe that cries
To this grown man's feet
May the hand still write
And its' heart shape keep
Till our fathers, sons and daughters agree
So I will pave this road till glory
Sets our broken spirit free
From every cross-soaked nail pours endless rain
With tears no eye should see
But they could fill our highest ocean
And the rivers in between
With every blade that flowers must grow then drown
With love our cruelest sea
So with a wonder and a wild desire
I will crawl from under every weight
With a wonder and a wild desire
Bless the day it was I shared your name
Yesterday forever speaks your grave
Hail the shower from the broadside
To the heavens down below
Draw one last breath from your fanning ship
Sink the hunger in us all
Shake the hand that speaks of freedom
Kiss hate one final bow
Till each twilight falls then rests till dawn and tomorrow's never sleep
So with a wonder and a wild desire
I will crawl from under every weight
With a wonder and a wild desire
Bless the day it was I shared your name
With each word forever speaks your grave
And of the fool we shall not mention
That depraves the cries of youth
Drag not your strength from government
But from the voices they abuse
So with a wonder and a wild desire
I will crawl from under every weight
With a wonder and a wild desire
Bless the day it was I shared your name
Yesterday forever speaks your grave
Only time will tell when this rain of hell, shall wither in defeat
Separate the bread they forgot to share, till the milk still left to feed
Though this body aches then disappeared into the ground, our seeds
He said, "I'd, I'd always comfort thee"
So I will pave this road to glory
Watch as our broken spirits soar
Resignate with perfect reason
Shut life's last gloomy door
So with a wonder and a wild desire
I will crawl from under every weight
With a wonder and a wild desire
Bless the day it was I shared your name
With a wonder and a wild desire
I will crawl from under every weight
With a wonder and a wild desire
Bless the day it was I shared your name
Yesterday forever speaks your grave
Short & Sweet
I would follow you,
Into the depths of Hell.
When you feel trapped and alone,
I would gladly share your cell.
In the darkest hour,
You are the strongest light.
From the greatest distance,
You warm coldest the night.
Into the depths of Hell.
When you feel trapped and alone,
I would gladly share your cell.
In the darkest hour,
You are the strongest light.
From the greatest distance,
You warm coldest the night.
Alive
I'm still alive
Must have been a miracle
It's been a hell of ride
Destination still unknown
It's a fact of life:
If you make one wrong move with the gun to your head
You better walk the line or you'll be left for dead
I'm a runaway train on broken track
I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I'll be the last man standing on the ground
As long as hot blood runs trough my veins
I'm still alive
Lost in the night
Feeling so invisible
Oh, a dead man walking the wire
High above the devils net
That's made of fire
And it's a long way down from the top of the world
You better look around or you gonna get burned
I'm a runaway train on broken track
I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I'll be the last man standing on the ground
And as the dust wheels look in my eyes
I'm still alive
I'm still alive
The darkest night ain't black enough
To keep the morning light from shinin'
The highest wall ain't tall enough
To keep the smallest man from climbin'
The more that you resist the tide
The more it pulls you in
The more you hang on for your life
(I'm a runaway train on broken track)
(I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time)
(that's right)
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
I'm a runaway train on broken track
I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I'll be the last man standing on the ground
And if my shadow's all that survives
I'm still alive
I'm still alive...
Must have been a miracle
It's been a hell of ride
Destination still unknown
It's a fact of life:
If you make one wrong move with the gun to your head
You better walk the line or you'll be left for dead
I'm a runaway train on broken track
I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I'll be the last man standing on the ground
As long as hot blood runs trough my veins
I'm still alive
Lost in the night
Feeling so invisible
Oh, a dead man walking the wire
High above the devils net
That's made of fire
And it's a long way down from the top of the world
You better look around or you gonna get burned
I'm a runaway train on broken track
I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I'll be the last man standing on the ground
And as the dust wheels look in my eyes
I'm still alive
I'm still alive
The darkest night ain't black enough
To keep the morning light from shinin'
The highest wall ain't tall enough
To keep the smallest man from climbin'
The more that you resist the tide
The more it pulls you in
The more you hang on for your life
(I'm a runaway train on broken track)
(I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time)
(that's right)
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
I'm a runaway train on broken track
I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time
That's right
I got away with it all and I'm still alive
Let the end of the world come tumbling down
I'll be the last man standing on the ground
And if my shadow's all that survives
I'm still alive
I'm still alive...
The World We Live In
Day to day life is a constant struggle between acceptance and intolerance. Do I let this person off or do I beat him to a pulp? To beat or not to beat? That is the question which plagues us each day. Does this feral deserve to go on living? Is this person worth the effort of annihilation? Here's a moral dilemma to consider.
You're at a bar with you girlfriend enjoying the peaceful atmosphere when in stroll a bunch of tattooed greasy fuck lumps to ruin your otherwise splendid evening. You choose to ignore them and enjoy your night out. While having a deep and meaningful with the angelic beauty before you one of these undesirable scum bags struts over to you table, pulls up a chair, and so all the patrons in the bar can hear utters the words "Ya wanna drop this fag and come be the pig on a spit with me and my mates?"
He's offended you, but even worse, he has offended the woman you admire the most. Do you ignore him and hope he goes away? Do you sit back and let her embarrass and belittle him in front of his gang because you know she is strong and capable? Or, do you you get up and make a stand to defend her honour knowing there is only one of you and five of them?
The sad fact is most of the guys that would make a stand are viewed as doing so for their own pride, most of the guys who choose to ignore the guy are seen to be doing so out of fear and intimidation, and the guy who let's the woman take care of herself is viewed by most as being weak and cowardly.
Other side of the fact is that only a few of the first group are doing so out of some chivalrous set of values, only a few from the second group ignore him due to intelligence, and only a few from the third group see the female as an equal.
We're still in an old fashioned world with old fashioned values and people do not change their ways readily despite how easy it is. There are far too many successful cold turkey quitters to justify any sympathy for smokers who use the addiction as an excuse for not giving it up. There are far too many cold turkey quitters to justify feeling any sympathy for relapsing alcoholics. There is no justification for harming another being unprovoked yet people still do it.
The world tolerates situations it should be fixing. The world could do more to cater for the disabled. The world should do less to cater for the morbidly obese. Instead of raising cigarette prices just abolish them all together, yes people will complain but they'll eventually get over it when they can breathe properly. The world keeps making cars that run on fossil fuels to keep the oil companies happy. How about making cars that just run on battery power to keep the battery companies happy?
Just a thought.
You're at a bar with you girlfriend enjoying the peaceful atmosphere when in stroll a bunch of tattooed greasy fuck lumps to ruin your otherwise splendid evening. You choose to ignore them and enjoy your night out. While having a deep and meaningful with the angelic beauty before you one of these undesirable scum bags struts over to you table, pulls up a chair, and so all the patrons in the bar can hear utters the words "Ya wanna drop this fag and come be the pig on a spit with me and my mates?"
He's offended you, but even worse, he has offended the woman you admire the most. Do you ignore him and hope he goes away? Do you sit back and let her embarrass and belittle him in front of his gang because you know she is strong and capable? Or, do you you get up and make a stand to defend her honour knowing there is only one of you and five of them?
The sad fact is most of the guys that would make a stand are viewed as doing so for their own pride, most of the guys who choose to ignore the guy are seen to be doing so out of fear and intimidation, and the guy who let's the woman take care of herself is viewed by most as being weak and cowardly.
Other side of the fact is that only a few of the first group are doing so out of some chivalrous set of values, only a few from the second group ignore him due to intelligence, and only a few from the third group see the female as an equal.
We're still in an old fashioned world with old fashioned values and people do not change their ways readily despite how easy it is. There are far too many successful cold turkey quitters to justify any sympathy for smokers who use the addiction as an excuse for not giving it up. There are far too many cold turkey quitters to justify feeling any sympathy for relapsing alcoholics. There is no justification for harming another being unprovoked yet people still do it.
The world tolerates situations it should be fixing. The world could do more to cater for the disabled. The world should do less to cater for the morbidly obese. Instead of raising cigarette prices just abolish them all together, yes people will complain but they'll eventually get over it when they can breathe properly. The world keeps making cars that run on fossil fuels to keep the oil companies happy. How about making cars that just run on battery power to keep the battery companies happy?
Just a thought.
Meh
4:17 P.M.
Meh.
There's a lawn that needs mowing. There's a mower in the garage. I have an assessment in less than 2 weeks, I should study up. Meh.
I would have a lot more day to day enthusiasm if it didn't seem that I can't scratch myself without some bullshit problem occurring the very next day.
You can't make everyone happy all the time. That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is those unhappy fuckers putting their 10 cents worth into what doesn't concern them and creating problems for others who are just trying to do their best to get a fair go and give others a fair go. Unfortunately there's always one or two selfish sods who consider themselves to be above everyone else, the people that bitch and moan until they get their own way, the people that believe the rules only apply to everyone else, the people that like to boss others around to make themselves feel good, the people that keep stepping out of line and crossing the mark because others are intimidated by them and won't stop them. Because of this these people get to waltz around feeling important while throwing their weight around and the people who are in charge sit back and let it happen. Why? Because when it comes down to it that's all they can do. Some one steps out of line all they get as punishment is a pleasant conversation over tea and scones which shits me because the people who basically get penalised are people who are trying to get things right.
So yeah... meh.
Meh.
There's a lawn that needs mowing. There's a mower in the garage. I have an assessment in less than 2 weeks, I should study up. Meh.
I would have a lot more day to day enthusiasm if it didn't seem that I can't scratch myself without some bullshit problem occurring the very next day.
You can't make everyone happy all the time. That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is those unhappy fuckers putting their 10 cents worth into what doesn't concern them and creating problems for others who are just trying to do their best to get a fair go and give others a fair go. Unfortunately there's always one or two selfish sods who consider themselves to be above everyone else, the people that bitch and moan until they get their own way, the people that believe the rules only apply to everyone else, the people that like to boss others around to make themselves feel good, the people that keep stepping out of line and crossing the mark because others are intimidated by them and won't stop them. Because of this these people get to waltz around feeling important while throwing their weight around and the people who are in charge sit back and let it happen. Why? Because when it comes down to it that's all they can do. Some one steps out of line all they get as punishment is a pleasant conversation over tea and scones which shits me because the people who basically get penalised are people who are trying to get things right.
So yeah... meh.
Another Day
1:12 P.M. Tuesday, 11th of May 2010.
There's $10.35 in my wallet.
All I feel like doing is sleeping. What I want to do is beat the living shit out of one or two painfully irritating people who have no business inhaling oxygen in this universe. It's an interesting sensation feeling the desire to behead a person with a blunt object yet having no motivation to even bother holding a begrudged conversation. The mind says "Fuck 'em," the body says "fuck it."
On one hand I'm over it. On the other hand I'll show the bastards. You can't keep me down. I'll take whatever bullshit you can throw at me and when it's over and done with if I've gone anywhere, I've gone higher up. I won't lower myself to anyone else's standards. There's better people than me out there, there's also far worse!
The unfortunate truth.
There's $10.35 in my wallet.
All I feel like doing is sleeping. What I want to do is beat the living shit out of one or two painfully irritating people who have no business inhaling oxygen in this universe. It's an interesting sensation feeling the desire to behead a person with a blunt object yet having no motivation to even bother holding a begrudged conversation. The mind says "Fuck 'em," the body says "fuck it."
On one hand I'm over it. On the other hand I'll show the bastards. You can't keep me down. I'll take whatever bullshit you can throw at me and when it's over and done with if I've gone anywhere, I've gone higher up. I won't lower myself to anyone else's standards. There's better people than me out there, there's also far worse!
The unfortunate truth.
New Layout
Well I got bored with the old layout. Everything was squished over to the left so the right side of the screen was pretty empty looking. I'm much happier with this new layout. It's more centred, it's more open, It's more inviting. Enjoy :)
Something in the water?
What's going on? Everywhere I look there's pregnant teenagers, or mothers in their early twenties with children old enough to have a detailed intelligent conversation with. How hard is it to use a prophylactic? Or even better - keep it in your pants. A twelve year old recently gave birth somewhere in Europe, and what did she tell the interviewer? "I will not play with toys any more. I have a new toy now." What on earth are parents teaching their children today?
Kids are meant to be riding their bicycles not riding each other! Mums and Dads, it's not kidnapping if you lock your own child in the house at night. When I was at school we got the theory based sexual education, we didn't go out to try the practical.
There's plenty of other things to do with your time kids! There's plenty of other ways to get exercise. American Pie was not intended as a documentary for f__k's sake! Once upon a time a guy had to get permission off the young lady's father before courting her. These days the parents are the last to know... which in some ways might be a good thing but come on! When Mummy discovers Daddy's little girl is up the duff by reading it on facebook we know there is something epically wrong with society.
How hard is it to let your child have a life while keeping control of it? At some point the parent has to gradually step back and say "OK kiddo, it's your life, you're making all your own decisions." That point should not be while the kid still hasn't sprouted pubic hair.
The unfortunate truth.
Kids are meant to be riding their bicycles not riding each other! Mums and Dads, it's not kidnapping if you lock your own child in the house at night. When I was at school we got the theory based sexual education, we didn't go out to try the practical.
There's plenty of other things to do with your time kids! There's plenty of other ways to get exercise. American Pie was not intended as a documentary for f__k's sake! Once upon a time a guy had to get permission off the young lady's father before courting her. These days the parents are the last to know... which in some ways might be a good thing but come on! When Mummy discovers Daddy's little girl is up the duff by reading it on facebook we know there is something epically wrong with society.
How hard is it to let your child have a life while keeping control of it? At some point the parent has to gradually step back and say "OK kiddo, it's your life, you're making all your own decisions." That point should not be while the kid still hasn't sprouted pubic hair.
The unfortunate truth.
Contemplating Life
What is right? What is Wrong?
Should I write a poem or compose a song?
Battle the day and embrace the night,
Is it wrong or is it right?
Face each challenge with open arms,
Keep those we love free from harm,
If we could by any means,
Life would be a come true dream.
Life. What is life exactly? A mere collection of experiences? A small step in a greater journey? An almighty power's little game? Is life predetermined? Do we make our own decisions? Is proven fact truth or just an opinion? What is truth? What is life? Is it the pursuit of knowledge? The pursuit of truth? The pursuit of happiness? Is life all about the challenge of finding a mate and producing offspring to keep the species alive long after we die?
What is death? Is it the end of consciousness? Is the consciousness the true being? Does it exist without the body? If we are reincarnations should we not be able to access memories from past lives? If we are all meant to be paired with a certain individual do we find them again in the next life? What is life?
Surely if life is pointless, if nothing we do matters in the grand scheme of things, if there really is no grand scheme, if there really is no reason or purpose, then why are we here? The answer according to me: There is no reason, we are here, get on with it, everything could disappear tomorrow. But in the end it doesn't matter. So what does matter? We could save the planet from pollution today and tomorrow it will be engulfed by the sun. In an instant we cease to exist. What was it all for? Nothing really.
The way I see it, we have the time that we have. In that time we have the potential, the opportunity to do whatever we want. We can do whatever physics and time will allow us. So the geniuses will focus on making life changing breakthroughs, the philosophers will sit back and think about everything and ultimately do nothing, the greedy and selfish will take what they can, the vindictive and petty will cause problems for others at any opportunity, the helpful and generous will do their best to do fix what they can. Why? To make themselves feel better? Because it's their nature? Because they were raised that way? Because it's the easiest thing they know how to do? For their own individual reason? Or for no reason at all?
Personally, I do what I do, I like who I like, I hate who I hate and I love who I love, that's just me. Cross the line, I cross you off the Christmas list. I feel everyone is entitled to one major mistake. I'm attracted to brunettes with brown eyes. I'm more attracted to a nice personality than a nice body.
I will go out of my way to help friends in need. If I invite you, I got you covered. If you have a problem, I will listen. Need a hug? My arms are open. I'll be polite and hold the door. I don't talk for the sake of talking, I say my piece leave it at that. I remember little things like friend's birthdays, favourite colours, and how much milk and sugar they have in their coffee. Other things I forget more easily such as appointments.
Life is made up of little things. Little things matter. Little things effect big things. It's not just what you know, it's not just who you know. It's not just what you know about who you know. Murphy's Law comes into play more than Karma. Trust takes ages to build and seconds to destroy. It's easier to fall in love with a friend than to become friends with a lover. Imperfections are not always a bad thing. A person with no visible imperfections is hiding something. First impressions do not always last. Opinions change. Rules change. People change. You can't make everyone happy all the time, there's no point in trying. You can make your self happy, you can make those close to you happy. Your true friends are still your friends if they don't like your other friends. Your true friends won't pressure you, they will support you in one way or another.
I'm not saying this is all right, just something to contemplate.
Should I write a poem or compose a song?
Battle the day and embrace the night,
Is it wrong or is it right?
Face each challenge with open arms,
Keep those we love free from harm,
If we could by any means,
Life would be a come true dream.
Life. What is life exactly? A mere collection of experiences? A small step in a greater journey? An almighty power's little game? Is life predetermined? Do we make our own decisions? Is proven fact truth or just an opinion? What is truth? What is life? Is it the pursuit of knowledge? The pursuit of truth? The pursuit of happiness? Is life all about the challenge of finding a mate and producing offspring to keep the species alive long after we die?
What is death? Is it the end of consciousness? Is the consciousness the true being? Does it exist without the body? If we are reincarnations should we not be able to access memories from past lives? If we are all meant to be paired with a certain individual do we find them again in the next life? What is life?
Surely if life is pointless, if nothing we do matters in the grand scheme of things, if there really is no grand scheme, if there really is no reason or purpose, then why are we here? The answer according to me: There is no reason, we are here, get on with it, everything could disappear tomorrow. But in the end it doesn't matter. So what does matter? We could save the planet from pollution today and tomorrow it will be engulfed by the sun. In an instant we cease to exist. What was it all for? Nothing really.
The way I see it, we have the time that we have. In that time we have the potential, the opportunity to do whatever we want. We can do whatever physics and time will allow us. So the geniuses will focus on making life changing breakthroughs, the philosophers will sit back and think about everything and ultimately do nothing, the greedy and selfish will take what they can, the vindictive and petty will cause problems for others at any opportunity, the helpful and generous will do their best to do fix what they can. Why? To make themselves feel better? Because it's their nature? Because they were raised that way? Because it's the easiest thing they know how to do? For their own individual reason? Or for no reason at all?
Personally, I do what I do, I like who I like, I hate who I hate and I love who I love, that's just me. Cross the line, I cross you off the Christmas list. I feel everyone is entitled to one major mistake. I'm attracted to brunettes with brown eyes. I'm more attracted to a nice personality than a nice body.
I will go out of my way to help friends in need. If I invite you, I got you covered. If you have a problem, I will listen. Need a hug? My arms are open. I'll be polite and hold the door. I don't talk for the sake of talking, I say my piece leave it at that. I remember little things like friend's birthdays, favourite colours, and how much milk and sugar they have in their coffee. Other things I forget more easily such as appointments.
Life is made up of little things. Little things matter. Little things effect big things. It's not just what you know, it's not just who you know. It's not just what you know about who you know. Murphy's Law comes into play more than Karma. Trust takes ages to build and seconds to destroy. It's easier to fall in love with a friend than to become friends with a lover. Imperfections are not always a bad thing. A person with no visible imperfections is hiding something. First impressions do not always last. Opinions change. Rules change. People change. You can't make everyone happy all the time, there's no point in trying. You can make your self happy, you can make those close to you happy. Your true friends are still your friends if they don't like your other friends. Your true friends won't pressure you, they will support you in one way or another.
I'm not saying this is all right, just something to contemplate.
Type like Yoda I will
Out of bed I must drag myself. A long day ahead hmmm. Waterproofing the brigade shower I must finish. Ready to tile Monday it must be.
Morning
Sitting here in my seat 8 minutes before class is supposed to start and there are countless places I would rather be.
6 minutes to go, I should have had more than 1 coffee this morning.
5 minutes, I think I'm going off coffee. A comfortable bed would be nice right about now instead of a Mount Druitt class room.
4 minutes left on the clock, I could be waterproofing that shower right now.
3, I'm considering going home at lunch so there's less traffic to drive through.
2 minutes and I'm thinking about leaving this instant but someone needs to hand his assessment in so I can't leave yet.
1 minute left before class. Counted 4 students including myself so far. Big class.
It's now 0900hrs and no teacher or other students, I'm ready to pack it in.
0901hrs and I'm wondering why I'm typing in 24 hour time.
9:02 A.M. I want juice!
9:03 A.M. I'm actually hoping for an emergency phone call.
9:04 A.M. I'm regretting last night's omelette and the amount of onion it contained.
9:05 A.M. Still no teacher. Double check the computer clock against my phone, yep 9:05.
9:07 A.M. Still just the 4 of us. Ring you stupid phone!
9:08 A.M. Something wants to escape from my guts but it's Mount Druitt and even the clean toilets are a bio hazard.
9:09 A.M. The class next to us has their teacher.
9:10 A.M. I don't mind if our teacher doesn't show. I'm not really in the mood for anything and I left my USB discs at home.
9:11 A.M. Nothing else to do, may as well keep typing dribble.
9:12 A.M. The other teacher just asked me if I'm still attnding classes. Well, I'm sitting here.
9:13 A.M. I sneezed.
9:14 A.M. I should have a shave when I get home. Need to get into the habbit of being clean shaven every day.
9:15 A.M. The clock on the wall before me is stopped on 7:17
9:16 A.M. Teacher just walked in... and she just walked out.
9:17 A.M. 7+17=24, there's one digit before the 17, 24-1=23. Shock Horro! Yes I watched "The Number 23" the other night.
9:19 A.M. Isn't it the rule that if the teacher is more than 15 minutes late the class is off?
9:20 A.M. This is bullshit. I want juice but have none. I have a 50 in my wallet but I don't want to break it.
9:21 Teacher is back and here's student Number 5. Oh Numbr 6 snuck in at some point. Number 4 is over with the other class for some reason.
9:23 A.M. Clicking "Publish Post"
6 minutes to go, I should have had more than 1 coffee this morning.
5 minutes, I think I'm going off coffee. A comfortable bed would be nice right about now instead of a Mount Druitt class room.
4 minutes left on the clock, I could be waterproofing that shower right now.
3, I'm considering going home at lunch so there's less traffic to drive through.
2 minutes and I'm thinking about leaving this instant but someone needs to hand his assessment in so I can't leave yet.
1 minute left before class. Counted 4 students including myself so far. Big class.
It's now 0900hrs and no teacher or other students, I'm ready to pack it in.
0901hrs and I'm wondering why I'm typing in 24 hour time.
9:02 A.M. I want juice!
9:03 A.M. I'm actually hoping for an emergency phone call.
9:04 A.M. I'm regretting last night's omelette and the amount of onion it contained.
9:05 A.M. Still no teacher. Double check the computer clock against my phone, yep 9:05.
9:07 A.M. Still just the 4 of us. Ring you stupid phone!
9:08 A.M. Something wants to escape from my guts but it's Mount Druitt and even the clean toilets are a bio hazard.
9:09 A.M. The class next to us has their teacher.
9:10 A.M. I don't mind if our teacher doesn't show. I'm not really in the mood for anything and I left my USB discs at home.
9:11 A.M. Nothing else to do, may as well keep typing dribble.
9:12 A.M. The other teacher just asked me if I'm still attnding classes. Well, I'm sitting here.
9:13 A.M. I sneezed.
9:14 A.M. I should have a shave when I get home. Need to get into the habbit of being clean shaven every day.
9:15 A.M. The clock on the wall before me is stopped on 7:17
9:16 A.M. Teacher just walked in... and she just walked out.
9:17 A.M. 7+17=24, there's one digit before the 17, 24-1=23. Shock Horro! Yes I watched "The Number 23" the other night.
9:19 A.M. Isn't it the rule that if the teacher is more than 15 minutes late the class is off?
9:20 A.M. This is bullshit. I want juice but have none. I have a 50 in my wallet but I don't want to break it.
9:21 Teacher is back and here's student Number 5. Oh Numbr 6 snuck in at some point. Number 4 is over with the other class for some reason.
9:23 A.M. Clicking "Publish Post"
Updated
Thursday April 22nd - TAFE, Brigade Maintenance
Friday April 23rd - Hawkesbury Show (Overnight)
Saturday April 24th - Luna Park
Sunday April 25th - Hazard Reduction Burn
Monday April 26th - Brigade Maintenance, Brigade Training
Tuesday April 27th - TAFE
Wednesday April 28th - Brigade Maintenance
Thursday April 29th - TAFE
Friday April 30th - Brigade Maintenance
Saturday May 1st - Crew Leader Training
Sunday May 2nd - Crew Leader Assessment
Monday May 3rd - Brigade AGM
Friday May 7th - DCS Interview
Friday April 23rd - Hawkesbury Show (Overnight)
Saturday April 24th - Luna Park
Sunday April 25th - Hazard Reduction Burn
Monday April 26th - Brigade Maintenance, Brigade Training
Tuesday April 27th - TAFE
Wednesday April 28th - Brigade Maintenance
Thursday April 29th - TAFE
Friday April 30th - Brigade Maintenance
Saturday May 1st - Crew Leader Training
Sunday May 2nd - Crew Leader Assessment
Monday May 3rd - Brigade AGM
Friday May 7th - DCS Interview
Full On
Here's my agenda for the next few weeks. Somehow I also want to finish work on the bathroom down the shed before the AGM... hmm...
Saturday April 17th - Friend's Wedding
Monday April 19th - TAFE, Brigade Training
Tuesday April 20th - TAFE
Thursday April 22nd - TAFE
Friday April 23rd - Hawkesbury Show
Saturday April 24th - Hawkesbury Show
Sunday April 25th - Hawkesbury Show, Crew Leader Training
Monday April 26th - Brigade Training
Tuesday April 27th - TAFE
Thursday April 29th - TAFE
Sunday May 2nd - Crew Leader Assessment
Monday May 3rd - Brigade AGM
Friday May 7th - DCS Interview
Saturday April 17th - Friend's Wedding
Monday April 19th - TAFE, Brigade Training
Tuesday April 20th - TAFE
Thursday April 22nd - TAFE
Friday April 23rd - Hawkesbury Show
Saturday April 24th - Hawkesbury Show
Sunday April 25th - Hawkesbury Show, Crew Leader Training
Monday April 26th - Brigade Training
Tuesday April 27th - TAFE
Thursday April 29th - TAFE
Sunday May 2nd - Crew Leader Assessment
Monday May 3rd - Brigade AGM
Friday May 7th - DCS Interview
Coping With The Overload
A few of the things I need to remember for the crew leader course and call outs/hazard reductions in general.
SMEACS
S.M.E.A.C.S
Situation > Mission > Execution > Administration > Command/Control/Communication > Safety
What is the situation/problem?
What needs to be done?
How will it be done?
What is needed?
Who is in charge of what? How will communication be handled?
LACES check list.
LACES
L.A.C.E.S
Lookout > Awareness > Communication > Escape Route > Safety Refuge
Everyone looks out for everyone else.
Everyone is aware of the currant and predicted situation, hazards & precautions.
Everyone speaks up about their concerns & everyone listens.
Everyone has a planned and agreed "Out".
Everyone helps everyone else to survive and get clear of a hazard.
IMSAFE
I.M.S.A.F.E
Illness/Injury > Medication > Stress > Alcohol/Drugs > Fatigue > Expertise
Am I healthy enough?
Am I affected by any medication?
Am I under severe pressure from work or other worries?
Am I under the influence or badly hung over?
Am I adequately rested?
Am I competent?
Wanna know more ask, teaching is a good way of learning after all :)
SMEACS
S.M.E.A.C.S
Situation > Mission > Execution > Administration > Command/Control/Communication > Safety
What is the situation/problem?
What needs to be done?
How will it be done?
What is needed?
Who is in charge of what? How will communication be handled?
LACES check list.
LACES
L.A.C.E.S
Lookout > Awareness > Communication > Escape Route > Safety Refuge
Everyone looks out for everyone else.
Everyone is aware of the currant and predicted situation, hazards & precautions.
Everyone speaks up about their concerns & everyone listens.
Everyone has a planned and agreed "Out".
Everyone helps everyone else to survive and get clear of a hazard.
IMSAFE
I.M.S.A.F.E
Illness/Injury > Medication > Stress > Alcohol/Drugs > Fatigue > Expertise
Am I healthy enough?
Am I affected by any medication?
Am I under severe pressure from work or other worries?
Am I under the influence or badly hung over?
Am I adequately rested?
Am I competent?
Wanna know more ask, teaching is a good way of learning after all :)
CARS
Cash Accumulation Removal Service.
I currently am in possession of a white automatic 1994 six cylinder Ford Falcon ED money pit. I am at the stage where I want someone to either buy it from me or crash into me so I can get the insurance money to go and buy a more versatile vehicle. I've decided to take time in finding exactly what I want instead of what other people think is a good idea for me. Partially because I like big vehicles with a lot of room to stretch inside, but mostly because my previous cars have turned out to have problem after problem.
In the last 3 years over 2 cars I have had to buy a new muffler, air box, brake pedal, side mirror, seat belt buckle, alternator, IAC motor, power steering pump, petrol pump, petrol cap, radiator cap, ash tray, steering rack, 2 sets of brake pads, wiper blades, radiator, 3 sets of new tyres, MAG wheels, suspension, hydraulic lifters, CD player, hand brake cable, and how ever many light bulbs. Let's just say I want my next car to be road worthy before I buy it.
Here's what I want:
Manual
4WD
4 Cylinder Diesel
Ute (tub not tray)
5 seater (2 or 4 Door)
Tow Bar, Bull Bar, Roll Bar
MP3 CD Player (Jack/USB input)
NOT FORD, HOLDEN, OR MAZDA.
Prefer Toyota or Nissan.
So perhaps a Land Cruiser, Hilux, or Navara.
See what happens.
I currently am in possession of a white automatic 1994 six cylinder Ford Falcon ED money pit. I am at the stage where I want someone to either buy it from me or crash into me so I can get the insurance money to go and buy a more versatile vehicle. I've decided to take time in finding exactly what I want instead of what other people think is a good idea for me. Partially because I like big vehicles with a lot of room to stretch inside, but mostly because my previous cars have turned out to have problem after problem.
In the last 3 years over 2 cars I have had to buy a new muffler, air box, brake pedal, side mirror, seat belt buckle, alternator, IAC motor, power steering pump, petrol pump, petrol cap, radiator cap, ash tray, steering rack, 2 sets of brake pads, wiper blades, radiator, 3 sets of new tyres, MAG wheels, suspension, hydraulic lifters, CD player, hand brake cable, and how ever many light bulbs. Let's just say I want my next car to be road worthy before I buy it.
Here's what I want:
Manual
4WD
4 Cylinder Diesel
Ute (tub not tray)
5 seater (2 or 4 Door)
Tow Bar, Bull Bar, Roll Bar
MP3 CD Player (Jack/USB input)
NOT FORD, HOLDEN, OR MAZDA.
Prefer Toyota or Nissan.
So perhaps a Land Cruiser, Hilux, or Navara.
See what happens.
The Green Machine
OK so here's the deal, the Canberra Raiders have not won a Grand Final since 1994 when they had the majority of league's top players; Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Brett Mullins, John "Chicka" Ferguson, and Steve Walters to name a few.
Who have they got on the field today? Captain: Alan Tongue. Who? And several other names that are far from being classed as "household" simply because they aren't delivering the goods. Yes they do win games here and there but they're not showing us anything we haven't seen before. I blame it on the way the game is played. It's no where near as exciting as it once was thanks to hindrances such as Occupational Health and Safety, and also - let's face it - wimps. Meninga played several games with a broken arm, now a player will go off field for a sprained finger.
My opinion is the Raiders have got this series won if they man up, harden up, and run through the gaps instead of into the crowd of opposition players (every team's players do it, I'm constantly screaming at the TV screen because they were wide open but decided to run into a tackle) the idiots.
So come Raiders - this year play the game as if your lives depended on it and bring home the great big trophy at the end!!!
Then you might have made a name for your selves instead of being stuck in the shadow of the former dream team.
War
Open wide the gates of Hell
and sally forth the rebel yell
Take up arms don't hesitate
the reaper grim he shall not wait
Men and boys defend their lot
never shall it be forgot
The charging soldiers one by one
to the thunderous clap succumb.
Normal You Say?
There's some weird people around and they're closer to home than one might expect. There are weirdos, oddballs, and nutjobs everywhere you look. Can't people just be normal? Well... no.
Individuality has robbed us of our normality. For something to be normal it must be like the group it is a part of. Show me a normal person and I'll show you a contradiction in terms.
Individuality has robbed us of our normality. For something to be normal it must be like the group it is a part of. Show me a normal person and I'll show you a contradiction in terms.
Come On
Doing nothing is the most tiring excersise there is. Sitting idly and doing your best to pay attention to some talking head in front of you for hours on end can take a lot out of you. But I realised today that I've either forgotten a lot of stuff or it's locked away deep inside my brain where I can't readily access it until some one says something that unlocks the door and brings it all back one piece at a time which did help tp hold my interest to some degree.
Can't wait til 4:30 rolls around.
Can't wait til 4:30 rolls around.
First Day
Well today was an adventure of sorts. Waking up at some ungodly hour of the morning in order to get to TAFE over an hour early to get a decent parking spot. I should be able to finish reading Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers before the end of term at this rate. Started today, just past the part where Aragorn says "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall." Which in the movie is a few minutes, but the book, it's ages!
Anyway, film class tomorrow, looking forward to it too, after today's long and drawn out orientation. And now I have homework because I came nowhere near finishing the little research task that is realistically half to a full day's work... we were given less than two hours. Maybe it's the slow brain of the start of the year or the teacher's idea of plenty of time is about a quarter of a normal person's. There's no excuse for not having it done by the next week, but it just wasn't happening for any of us today.
Couldn't get out of there fast enough when 4:30 came around. I was home for less than an hour before training. Home again three hours later. Looks like this will be my typical Monday for some time.
Anyway, film class tomorrow, looking forward to it too, after today's long and drawn out orientation. And now I have homework because I came nowhere near finishing the little research task that is realistically half to a full day's work... we were given less than two hours. Maybe it's the slow brain of the start of the year or the teacher's idea of plenty of time is about a quarter of a normal person's. There's no excuse for not having it done by the next week, but it just wasn't happening for any of us today.
Couldn't get out of there fast enough when 4:30 came around. I was home for less than an hour before training. Home again three hours later. Looks like this will be my typical Monday for some time.
One More Day
Monday's the big day. It's the early start. It's the half hour drive to get to TAFE to get my brain out of holiday mode and into some form of organised chaos. It means getting there before 8:00 in the morning if I wan't a decent parking spot then wait for ages for class to start. Could be a good thing I bought a new book today seeming I haven't got myself a PSP yet.
Oh and with all the rain we've had the causeway will be closed which means going the long way.
At least TAFE is only a quick walk from the nearest Westfield so I might start getting fitter again. Stranger things have happened.
Oh and with all the rain we've had the causeway will be closed which means going the long way.
At least TAFE is only a quick walk from the nearest Westfield so I might start getting fitter again. Stranger things have happened.
Dreams
I want to sleep. I want to sleep and dream of a better life. Then I want to wake up to find I'm living that better life. Isn't that what everyone thinks at one stage or another? Life is shit, I want a better one? The fact is that there is no such thing as the perfect life. If there was we would all be living in luxury on our own, with no debts, bills, or money trouble of any kind, we would instinctively know we the second we meet our soul mate and avoid the hassles of courting, our friends would show up the instant we needed them, family would back off instead of step in, and we would all have super high speed internet with unlimited downloads.
We can but dream.
We can but dream.
Here & Now
A few birds chirp outside my window, the dog scratches herself at the foot of my bed, chicken nuggets are heating in the oven, I have a glass of icy cold sarsaparilla and I'm laid back with the laptop typing away whatever comes to mind. This is the life.
Why Is It So?
What is it with all these drunken yobbos showing up to ruin the atmosphere in my favourite pubs and clubs? The minute I find a nice quiet place to have a meal, a drink or two, a few games of pool, and audible conversation with people some brainless wonder walks in with his rowdy mates to put the juke box on, scream at the television, half yell half mumble obscenities at the bar staff, shout insults at each other and somewhere in the middle of all this find the time to have a private conversation at the top of their lungs.
You're off the football field now dick head, the game ended over an hour ago. Stop tackling the furniture.
It wouldn't happen in a library. It rarely happens in a café. But as soon as you bring alcohol into the mix these idiots revert to a state of pre-civilisation. I do hope I'm not the only one who finds this behaviour both pointless and irritating. Anyway, a new day has dawned, I'm off to see what fruit the branches have to offer.
You're off the football field now dick head, the game ended over an hour ago. Stop tackling the furniture.
It wouldn't happen in a library. It rarely happens in a café. But as soon as you bring alcohol into the mix these idiots revert to a state of pre-civilisation. I do hope I'm not the only one who finds this behaviour both pointless and irritating. Anyway, a new day has dawned, I'm off to see what fruit the branches have to offer.
Sober
So the pub was shit but karaoke was a blast even though I was driving so just drank coke and water. I now know I shouldn't sing anything by P!nk. But I most likely still will because after I came out with U + Ur Hand all the guys (well the three if us that were still there) all sang girls songs which was both strange and funny at the same time. Oh and there was red and blue flashing lights on Macquarie Street as I drove home so I hope my mates got home in one piece. Oh well, time to hit the sack I think.
Good English Weather
Rain and thunder, a nice start to the morning. The humidity is going to be a real bitch though. I guess at some point today I will have to force myself into the shower, and possibly even drag myself out of the house for a haircut. Oh, what a struggle life is.
Planning The Future
The best laid plans of mice and men are generally the ones that never come to fruition. Sitting in quiet contemplation I vaguely remember my childhood dreams and realise how ridiculous some of them were but also how realistic others were. One thing I never dreamed of was being a fire fighter but here I am after 8 years in the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. In another two years I can get that ten years long service medal. I've served under three different captains, during my time in my local brigade. How time flies when you're having fun.
When I was five I was all set to grow up and become Superman or something equally stupid. When I was 12 I was going through to university then on to become a police officer. Once I hit high school and puberty reared its ugly head I quite literally and simply didn't know. Towards the end of high school teaching had become a distinct possibility. I was out of high school and into college enrolled in both I.T. and Natural Area Restoration. I dropped the tree hugger rubbish half way though because I.T. was where my future was taking me. A few years later I'm enrolled in a multimedia course with ideas of looking into a film/television career but I'm only really enrolled in it because it's something to do while I wait to hear from the Department of Corrective Services to go through their interviews and tests and training course and hopefully onto a guard position.
People say life is what you make it. That's a load of bullshit if you ask me. Life is the amalgamation of your surroundings, relationships, obstacles, trials and tribulations that are put upon you whether you plan them or not. Life is not what you make it, life is what you have to make it through. It's what you have to live with, cope with, enjoy, or try to hide from. Cut yourself off from the world if you will, but then there is no life, only an empty existence. So take each day as it comes, have fun, take risks, walk faster, drive slower, smell the roses, buy a pair of roller blades - you know you want to.
When I was five I was all set to grow up and become Superman or something equally stupid. When I was 12 I was going through to university then on to become a police officer. Once I hit high school and puberty reared its ugly head I quite literally and simply didn't know. Towards the end of high school teaching had become a distinct possibility. I was out of high school and into college enrolled in both I.T. and Natural Area Restoration. I dropped the tree hugger rubbish half way though because I.T. was where my future was taking me. A few years later I'm enrolled in a multimedia course with ideas of looking into a film/television career but I'm only really enrolled in it because it's something to do while I wait to hear from the Department of Corrective Services to go through their interviews and tests and training course and hopefully onto a guard position.
People say life is what you make it. That's a load of bullshit if you ask me. Life is the amalgamation of your surroundings, relationships, obstacles, trials and tribulations that are put upon you whether you plan them or not. Life is not what you make it, life is what you have to make it through. It's what you have to live with, cope with, enjoy, or try to hide from. Cut yourself off from the world if you will, but then there is no life, only an empty existence. So take each day as it comes, have fun, take risks, walk faster, drive slower, smell the roses, buy a pair of roller blades - you know you want to.
Falks In The Road
Which way does one go when both paths are unclear? Both options are a way forward in theory. A straight and smooth road can be an easy ride but how does one improve when there are no challenges? Take the rocky incline? But then how does one reach the end when the obstacles become too great? Does one go through, over, under, or around an obstacle or turn back to take the other road? Is it not true that everyone has their limit? Does one say "Fuck your roads,I'm going bush."?
Is there really any great feeling of satisfaction upon achieving something or is it simply relief that the challenge is over?
Is there any such thing as a mutually beneficial compromise or is it a mutual sacrifice?
Is there any such thing as free will or is it destiny?
Is there any such thing as originality or has it all been done?
Is there any such thing as inspiration or is it spontaneity?
Does anyone really care or is it all an act?
Does anyone truly believe or is it fear of the unknown?
Does one put faith in a higher power or take responsibility for one's own actions?
Something to think about when feeling philosophical.
Is there really any great feeling of satisfaction upon achieving something or is it simply relief that the challenge is over?
Is there any such thing as a mutually beneficial compromise or is it a mutual sacrifice?
Is there any such thing as free will or is it destiny?
Is there any such thing as originality or has it all been done?
Is there any such thing as inspiration or is it spontaneity?
Does anyone really care or is it all an act?
Does anyone truly believe or is it fear of the unknown?
Does one put faith in a higher power or take responsibility for one's own actions?
Something to think about when feeling philosophical.
You Must Be Joking
Laying in my bed surrounded by mountains of clothes, papers, and various other items, all of which do a marvellous job of disguising the floor and furniture. The rain out side is light but set in. There is a loud trickling where the gutters are over flowing. I almost can't be bothered moving a muscle but the place is in desperate need of tidying up. Not because of the disorganised state but due to the fact that it's getting hard to walk and actually make contact with the floor and there is a slight funk in the air.
Time to be ruthless and dispose of all those papers just gathering dust, the clothes I no longer wear, and the gifts I received years ago and never touched. Time to dig out all the useless little sentimental bits and pieces and decide again whether or not to keep them. They may be worth something one day. That's usually what I tell myself. In reality how much can an incomplete set of Crazy Bones go for on eBay? As usual they are bound to still be in the drawer when I've finished cleaning up and sorting out. That's if I actually get started.
Time to be ruthless and dispose of all those papers just gathering dust, the clothes I no longer wear, and the gifts I received years ago and never touched. Time to dig out all the useless little sentimental bits and pieces and decide again whether or not to keep them. They may be worth something one day. That's usually what I tell myself. In reality how much can an incomplete set of Crazy Bones go for on eBay? As usual they are bound to still be in the drawer when I've finished cleaning up and sorting out. That's if I actually get started.
Here We Go
God knows what could end up typed on here given some time. Highly opinionated and unsubstantiated dribble no doubt. This is because I have a nasty habit of typing whatever comes to mind. It could be wholesome, it could be offensive. Whatever it may be it'll be honest...
...maybe.
...maybe.
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