My friday update (on a saturday)

I did something that has made me smile today... i shall explain;

on my lunch break after coming out of the post office, a (strikingly handsome) Australian Conservation Society worker stopped me, thanked me for stopping... I told him how I'd been in Canberra when a bunch of Wilderness Society members were stopped out the front of Parliament House, for holding up a sign that said 'save the forests'... because they weren't in the 'designated protesting area' (apparently, FYI, this 'designated protesting area' is around the SIDE of Parliament House, far away from anywhere that a Politician might need to walk to get to his/her post... hmph!)

He told me about the kinds of campaigns they do, and was well read on the subject; being a German traveller and all.

May I insert the words "BARRIER REEF" and "MURRAY RIVER" here.

It occurs to me that in this past year or so, there has been only 'ME'... I've been so caught up with the fight going on in my head, I forgot about the bigger picture.

In short, I am now a supporter of the Aust Conservation Foundation.... and yes, it makes me smile.

xJ

thoughts from yesterday...

It amazes me that something like Lleyton Hewitt's fiance dumping him or Paris Hilton screwing "The Poo" (as he is affectionately named by Roy + HG) can make front page news. I mean I guess it was only the Sunday Mail, but after my call to Three D that afternoon, I've discovered it was probably on the cover of EVERY Sunday paper in the country! Somewhat depressing!

Also, the new Australian Drama "Cooks" seems to have disappeared already? So much for harbouring Aussie talent. And if it didn't get the ratings you expected Channel 10, next time don't put it up against something like the last season of Sex + The City! You lost half your demographic right there, and shot yourself in the foot at close range!!

I have applied for a part time job with Amnesty up here. I think it would be great, and it would mean I could try and sneak in some study on Event Management or Tourism in between time.

Temp job is plodding along. Sometimes we are certainly very busy but not always...

A cute boy named Neil helped me in Dymocks today ;)

more soon...
comment pweeze if you are reading!
xxJ

get ready for a big PHAT blog...

I have, this week, been working as a temp for a Body Corporate Management office. Basically I'm a correspondence clerk til further notice. It's a quiet place, everyone's pretty busy, but they're all nice people.

I type their letters, charge their outlays, answer phone calls, do the mail and stuff and things.

I have learnt something.... not all "English" Dictionaries are the same (even including the spell check on my computer). I was doing some documentation with the word 'arborculturist' in it. I'd changed it to ARBOR CULTURIST as the spell check told me it wasn't a word. The Body Corp Manager approved the letter so I sent it to be signed. The Big Boss sent it back asking it to be changed back to arborculturist. I stuck a note on it saying there ain't no such word, after checking our Macquarie Concise English Dictionary Third Edition (revised and updated) and reprinted in 1999!

However, in the Collins English (and Australian) Edition downstairs, the word is listed.

So what I want to know is WHO IS RIGHT? and DO ARBORCULTURIST's exist?

I've never been one to particularly preen myself, at least in the way of things such as skin care. I'm very lucky my skin has always been near on perfect, in that I don't get blemishes. And pretty much the most used product ever is my aloe vera gel, straight off the plant or out of a tube, it doesn't matter!

Now that I've made this big move, and a large portion of the reason I moved is to shake myself up a bit, become a better person, rah rah rah, i am actually finally doing more 'cosmetic' things to myself.

Yes everyone knows my obsession with eyeshadow and NO I'm not talking about botox!

I have been concerned with the dark circles that have taken over my eyes the past few years. So when I went to the supermarket the other day to buy my other favourite moisturiser (Garnier Body Tonic, bless it) I found some Neutrogena Eye Cream...

Brisbane City is quite hilly, I think my legs are getting a reasonable work out each day. Still my problem is the 'from the waist-up bloat'... I don't quite understand it myself but I now do my hand weights every day and have started doing sit-ups. I can do about 20 at the moment before I start feeling sick, but this will surely improve. If Britney Spears can do 300, then so can I damn it!

xJ

what's a good present for...

a 'congratu-ma-lations you finished your uni-ma-versity' present?

insert random thought/s here: I think we should send more postcards. It's fun getting them. I wonder if Jules + Philo got my postcard?

I want to go to Dreamworld (when I get a job that is) because I want to go on a rollercoaster and run amok like a little kiddywink for a day. Is that bad? Probably.

work: So... this morning I got up reasonably early... it'd been raining all night... hopefully that gave the fire fighters up here some much needed relief.... so I got up and went to Centrelink, and they're going to help me but I gots to wait til the 26th til I see any cash. Which, maybe, will mean that I will have already gotten work through the Temp Agency who I will be seeing this afternoon...

tele: so... 1) they should get someone other than ROVE to host the ARIA's. He's just not funny anymore. Bring back Darryl Somers, or give the job to someone worthy like Denton or Peter Berner, just not Rove. You just don't make me giggle enough anymore mate, you're out of the gang!
2) Also, why the hell is that Marty guy still on Australian Idol... or Hayley. They're both much notably worse than the other contenders that are left. I kind of like the idea of a Courteney/Chanel showdown at the end. or the really young girl, i forget her name, but she has such good control of her voice.
3) Mark Holden is an old perv.
4) Kind of interested in the new Aust Drama Cooks, but unfortunately they have put it on I think at the same time as Sex + the City, and SATC wins hands down for me at the moment. Might have to tape the other, because I keep wondering why we have this 48 ba-thousand versions of CSI and US shows like that, and they aren't harvesting (is that the right word i'm looking for, probably not) Aussie actors/Aussie shows/directors etc etc. Shame on them.

stuff and things,
xJ

*cough*..... *splutter*

yes still coughing and spluttering my way through my days, which is somewhat annoying let me tell you.

Also my nose continues to bleed because I've been blowing it way too much this week.

Which leads me to the very scientific question of WHERE THE HELL DOES ALL THIS SNOT COME FROM?

I would like to protest my well... protest against the use of the ARENA as a venue for Groove Armada here in Brisneyland. I mean, I have nothing specifically against the Arena as a venue... for a band that you might not need to dance to that is.

Went there for the Cat Empire a couple Fridays ago.... well it was great to see so many people there to rock out (even though the crowd weren't all jumping around... hello? JUMP PEOPLE!) but I found that I had to go upstairs to get a boogie in because in the main area there was absolutely NO dancing space.

This said, the ticket price of $75 also seems a bit steep when GA should be playing a larger venue.

This is why, people of Earth, I should be a bloody promoter. I mean sheesh, whomever you are, give me a job. Please. And I will actually go to venues, and check them out, so that I know that the audience is going to WANT to pay that much money to go see their fave outfit.

Also, the soundsystem in the Arena wasn't fantastic and the beer was expensive (actually, all the drinks were expensive).

And if I was Groove Armada I'd be saying 'pants' to you, and your little dog too.

The Amazing Race is back on TV in Australia, and at a reasonable time-slot. I think it's actually good for kids to see it, because it could teach them small amounts about Geography and Culture. Which is good, right?
The only thing I don't like seeing as much is the bitching, I mean some of it is in context, but some of it is people whining, and I don't want to see people whining.

New SPLENDARO vox pop.... provided by Miss Dippity DiPana Alexsponia!

WOULD YOU DO A 5 YEAR TEACHING DEGREE SO YOU COULD OWN A BUNNY? (leave answers in comments)

Let me explain... in Brisneyland, land of sunshine (and bushfires evidently, woah!) you can't own a bunny rabbit for a 'pet'... you must own it for research or training purposes... hence, if you had a teaching degree you can own a bunny.

Di really wants to own a bunny.

this is the end of the rambling...
xJ

update-us goodness....

hello cyber-world...

firstly, i am sick. Not sick in the head, or sick of bad politicians being in power in our country, but sick as in *blowing nose* sick.

I thought I'd have more time whilst travelling to stick some notes to my blog, however it just didn't happen... I didn't even get to see all the people I wanted to see (sorry big Fi!) but had a jolly good time along the way.

I really enjoyed Canberra, contrary to popular belief it's quite nice. So quiet though. That's the thing about it... you're in the middle of the city in the middle of the week and you can hear wildlife. So unusual...

Sydney was nice again. Didn't make Trovatos but spent some time a the Manly Jazz Festival, eating expensive fish and chips.... headed down to the Harbour to meet Aiva for some expensive drinks (and i mean expensive) and searched for one SINGLE pub that was open for counter meals.... and when couldn't find one, found a cheap tasty noodle bar instead.

Totally missed Merlin, Joe, Andrew and da boys from Debasa because I went to the wrong park (for an Anti-Howard/Peace gathering) but these things happen.

Had brekkie on the day I left with Kim, Sally + Kristian down at Coogee. Sooooo tasty....

One night in Coffs, then arrived here. That's the super-condensed version but some of you would have received my email anyway!

I still am uncertain as to what I'm actually doing here... certain people from home are keeping me sane (thanx nico, thanks sam, thankx tank, thankx shaz) and i ran up a hella big phone bill since i moved house in adelaide *sheesh* but oh well.

Hopefully work will fall in my lap soon. Applied to a few places yesterday and need to print some of my resumes out when I can get to a computer that I can do that on... but I guess that's what job network is good for. Thanks Centrelink (well, thanks next Monday if you can help me)...

I am sick of blowing my nose! Can I just chop it off??

eww.

new fave CD's: Kill Bill Volume 2 Soundtrack + Verve Remixed Vol 2 Compilation

stuff and things.
write me comments if you are reading. otherwise, i give up!
xxJ

ps. oh, since I have been here we saw the Cat Empire at the Arena, which was fully excellent, and Paul Kelly at the Brisbane Multicultural Festival (which was free, and which is the reason I got sick from sitting on cold lawn). Super fun.

argh!

yes i'm here! more soon kids.
xJ

finally!

I found an internet cafe that can help me burn a CD, god that was a feat.

Hello from Canberra, our Nations Capital. Place of lots of Possums and funny buses.

I haven't done much exploring yet to be honest, but bEC and Ian took me out for Pizza last night to this great place, and that's about it so far... looked at a bunch of photos from their trip overseas, of which I am horrendously jealous.

Melbourne was fun. Played some basketball for the first time in years... sore arms. owww.

Saturday I am off to Sydney.... in time for the Sydney Peace Day Festival on Sunday! hooray!

This is the end of the rambling, for now...
xJ

so the day has arrived...

no not the moving day, the Freedom Festival!!

I think we're all happy it's here and everything's pretty sorted out for the big night. I look forward to playing babysitter/chauffer for the next 24 hours or so.

Tomorrow I will have to re-pack some stuff, and try not to overload the back of my car, and gear up for the Rhino Room Tracksuit party.

Huzzah!

And now, just for Philo's pleasure, things I HATE: I hate coming home from the pub knowing I nearly spent $60 and I'm not pissed. What is happening to me? Do I have an iron stomach? Where does all that alcohol go? I mean, granted we had just been to Yin Chow for a pig-out but I mean really! *hmph*

xJ

for the harmonica...

Last EVER Lawnmower Music: 93.7FM: Sunday 2-4pm

with Leigh*dust, Denni Brillig,

Esquivel: Miniskirt
G Love + Special Sauce: Night of the Living Dead
Cornelius: Drop
Morphine: Top Floor, Bottom Buzzer
Dj Salinger: Hello
Ciccone Youth: Two cool rock chicks listening to Neu
Smokey Robinson + The Miracles: You've really got a hold on me
Groove Armada: Think Twice
Joss Stone: Fell in love with a boy
Leigh StarDust: You might say
The Titanics: Harmonica
Ween: Hey there fancypants
Paris Combo: Attraction
Richard Easton: Underground Sea
Dolly Parton: PMS Blues
Aimee Mann: Momentum
The Avalanches: Run DNA
Roger the Band: Hatchback
DJ Tr!p: Grungebitch
Brassy: Feeling Sorry
Leigh*dust: This is the ending
Phil Nichol: Daddy's Wig
Crazy Penis: Magical Progression (Nic's pick)
Luke Ashby + The Lonely Crowd: Criminally Beautiful
Neneh Cherry: Buffalo Stance

GOODBYE THREE D. You have served me well.
xxJ

*achoo*

so, still packing away at 10:56am on Friday... I have to be out of here tomorrow! They'll be no procrastinating today (apart from this blog entry of course).

Saw the new extendo version of Donnie Darko last night, that was pretty sweet. It made more sense to me I suppose this time... Time Travel? Do you think the movie could have been about time travel? (this part of the entry is simply for Ben + Sam who joined me for the mooFie, and overheard other people who had little to no idea of the concept, and said something completely retardo when leaving the theatre - and no, it wasn't "time travel?" that was me being fesitious!)

I have just loaded up the boot with things to take to the Goodwill Store. There's no going back now, it's all gotta go really. There is stuff that is still very useful but it's just not worth a whole bunch of money, and I feel better giving it away anyway... hopefully someone will find some joy in some of it. I've put some games and books in there too.

What I'm going to do with the rest of the videos around here I have no idea!

Threw out another 'garbage bag' sized bag of clothes into the clothes bin yesterday... I have a feeling there will be more to go.

Ok, no more screwing around. I got to get this place spik n span!
xJ

jane, get me off this crazy thing...

well well well a lot has been happening and i haven't been much of a blogger lately, but here goes the schpeel...

i finished working at the house of pies* yesterday and spent til nearly midnight drinking it out with the few lovlies that thought they could deal with rockin' out on a Wednesday.... starting with some bevs, potato chips and me playing a SHIT game of pool at the Grace Emily (i'll miss that place) we wandered across town to the Exeter where I managed to catch a few kids I hadn't seen yet... well in the last month anyway... so that was cool.

Today I've gotten up reasonably early (is 10am early?) and unpacked one whole side of my wardrobe, getting rid of again MORE clothes!
Man I'm like a clothes hoard or something. I have this feeling I am also going to have to unpack and re-pack everything AGAIN because I don't think it's all going to fit in the car...

Another question, do I try and take my top 10 vinyls and leave the rest here? i mean it's a bloody travesty having to leave MUSIC behind, but I've managed to separate about half of my CD collection to leave behind (not get rid of, but put at the folksies place).

*brr*
xJ

*fictitious name

"i can't leave you alone..."

cos i knew from the start, you'd be tearing me apart, sooner or later...."

Lawnmower Music: 93.7FM: 2-4pm, Sundays
(next week is the LAST SHOW EVER!)

The Bees: A Minha Menina
Supergrass: Pumping on your Stereo
Wagons: You and Me
Radio Active: Relax
G Love: Front Porch Lounger
Woody Allen: The Science Fiction Film
Drop City: Setting Sun
Kings of Convenience: Love is no big truth
Joss Stone: Super Duper Love
Groove Armada: But I feel good
Mundy / Nellee Hooper: Escape from Mantua
Good Buddha: Ultrasound
The Herd: Honest J (from Rock Against Howard compilation)
Macromantics: Dreams
Elvis Costello + Burt Bacharach: What's her name today?
Luke Ashby + The Lonely Crowd: Criminally Beautiful
Kostars: Never So Lonely
Jefferson Airplane: My best friend
Black Box Recorder: Girls guide for the modern diva
Home for the Def: We're Through (Hollies cover)
The Bedridden: The Drowning of the Daddo Brothers
Big Brother + The Holding Co: Piece of my heart
The Thievery Corporation: All that we perceive
Tripod: Second Drawer Down
They Might Be Giants: No!
Lou Reed: Satellite of Love
Rancid: 7 years down (from Rock Against Bush Vol 2.)
Rocket Science: Connect Me
The Procussions: Introducing

xJ

"if the house is quiet...

it's cos the punks retired for the night..."

Lawnmower Music: 93.7FM: Sundays 2-4pm: Three D RADIO ADELAIDE!!!

argh! not long now!

Indoor: Last Night a DJ Saved My Life
Underground Lovers: Losin' It
Darren Hanlon: Punks Not Dead
Funky Lowlives: I Want 2 Know U
Macromantics: Madlymantics
Thievery Corporation: The Richest Man in Babylon (Acoustic)
Furslide: Over my Head
Aimee Mann: Amateur
Wagons: You and Me (oh wow, like WOW, this song is amazing!!)
Wiley: Pies
The Procussions: Celebration
Salsa Celtica: El Sol De La Noche
XTC: Dear God
The Lemonheads: If I could talk I'd tell you
The Flaming Lips: Fight Test
No Doubt: Comforting Lie (From ROCK AGAINST BUSH VOL. 2)
Stevie Wonder: Superstition
The 5, 6, 7, 8's: Woo Hoo
Kings of Convenience: Sorry or Please
The Parralax Corporation: Crocodiles in the Sky
Peaches: Shake Yer Dix
Area 7: Can't be Happy
Handsome Boy Modelling School: The Projects
G. Love: The Hustle
Ben Folds: She Don't Use Jelly
Aqualung: Brighter Than Sunshine
Lou Reed: Sunday Morning
Harry Belfonte: Shake Shake Senora
Small Knives: Harden your heart

Had such a lovely night last night. I like people playing boardgames on my loungeroom floor and drinking Sangria with me!! There is a lot of cleaning up to be done, but eh, I can deal with that.

Kind of fuzzy cos I haven't really slept properly... maybe it's cos I moved my bed, maybe it's because my brain is full of a million little ideas...

Some people are so handsome *sigh*

xJ

24 days and counting...

that's kind of interesting indeed.... time is slowly ticking away.

i have this rash on my neck that is not that noticable to the naked eye, but i notice it because there are little bumps everywhere. I don't know what it is... and I guess if it's still there when I go to the doctor next Monday, she'll be able to tell me!

Had another Amnesty planning meeting last night. I seriously think this show is going to KICK! I hope some of y'all reading that are in Adelaide will be able to make it!!

I just scoffed down a packet of Red Rock Deli chips. God I love those chips! But I'm still hungry.

My friends in Brisneyland are taking me out for Indian Food when I get there because it will be my biFday. *waves to DiP + Erin* You guys rock! I hope we can go bowling too!!

I love bowling. I have been twice recently, and I love it!!

Ella + Dave went back to Melby this week. I will miss them, but I will also see them soon! And I also hope I can convince them to move to Brisneyland as well. It'll be a pilgrimage.

I've discovered my road trip will be over 2600km's... which is a long way, but I'm pretty sure I can deal with it!! I will have company for at least part of the way anyway, which is nice.

Got to get back to it, if I ever want to get home that is!

xJ

do you remember...

Lawnmower Music: 93.7FM: Sundays 2-4pm

Paris Combo: Attraction
Mouse on Mars: Send me shivers
Curse ov Dialect: Baby how'd we ever get this way?
Macromantics: Conspiracy
LOVE SONG DEDICATION: The Delfonics: Didn't I blow your mind this time?
Frankie Vaughan: Am I wasting my time on you?
The Specials: Ghost Town
Radio Active: Confidence
The Rolling Stones: Little Queenie
The Lemon Pipers: Green Tambourine
Luke Ashby + The Lonely Crowd: Criminally Beautiful
Martha Reeves + The Vandellas: Nowhere to run
Kings of Convenience: Stay out of trouble
Bidston Moss: Tiny
Blondie: Hanging on the Telephone
Gerling: Dust me selecta
Kostars: Never so lonely
David Bowie: The Jean Genie
Slade: Keep on rockin'
The Procussions: Lights off
Buck 65: Country Cooking
The Nightmare before xmas cast: Kidnap the Sandy Claws
Black Box Recorder: Being Number One

xJ

that's SO 1985...

so I've wasted a large portion of today talking to Mikey on Messenger and doing not much else... granted I got washing done, swept the back porch and sorted out the few dying pot plants... had lunch with my neighbours... did the leftover dishes from dinner with Amy, Ella + Dave last night.

Oh, I might add, we watched Rushmore last night, I haven't seen that movie in such a long time... and if you've never seen it I highly recommend watching it. SO FUNNY! Many people said it was the movie that brought Bill Murray back into the big time. He certainly does a very great performance in it. I wonder if the main actor "Max" has been in anything else?? He was great in it as well, i forget his name... Jason Schwartzman.

I made this list a while ago, so I thought I'd share it....
Objectives of moving to Brisneyland:
* Stop working 2 - 4 jobs
* Get training / more experience in Festival + Event Management
* Join ZZZ
* Get fit
* Become less cynical
* Study the fine art of SLOWING DOWN!!
* Spend time with people I haven't spent proper time with in 10 years!
* Own less material posessions

This is the end of the rambling...
xJ

i got too much to say to be a rapper...

Thank you The Procussions. (seriously, their CD kicks ass)

Two of my girlfriends are coming over to eat soup and watch videos with me tonight, very low key.

So far when I get to Queensland I am already going to THE CAT EMPIRE and DARREN HANLON!! woo and a hoo hoo!

I have already sold half of my furniture without really trying, which is great.

Dreams of all sorts have been plaguing me, some more interesting than others.

Am organising a series of fare-thee-wells and schtuff before I leave this fine city... I can announce my last LAWNMOWER MUSIC will be Sunday 19th September *sniff* hopefully with a host of special guests and crazy random lawnmowery goodness. Tune in, turn it up. 93.7FM 2-4pm.

xJ

so sleeeeepyyy....

and yet still typing. baaaaaaahhhhhhhhhzzzzpppptttt << that's my brain.

i felt really good today... after some exciting news last night and a gorgeous sunny day today... i mean the regular *panic* of 'shit, only 4 weeks left' is still there, but the more stuff I go through.... again... for the fourth time... and pack away/donate/throw away/bling bling ... the better i feel.

Had a meeting about the touring Amnesty Freedom 'festival'... can confirm that it's at Traffic on the 24th September, doors 8pm. See:
Muskrat, Morganics, Debasa (yep, Merlin from BB's band), The New Pollutants + Procussions (from the US, they just toured with Jurrasic 5)... It's gearing up to be fab. Hope to see some of you there.

*swoon* I, uh, love you.
No, no, really!!
xxJ

i wanna fuck a dj...

yeh maybe... it'd be okay, as long as they're not on pills...

Lawnmower Music: 93.7FM: Three D Radio, Sundays 2-4pm
This edition: The Best shows I've seen in Adelaide...

The Blackeyed Susans: Let's Live
Richard Easton: Underground Sea
Buena Vista Social Club: Dos Gardenias
Paris Combo: Avril
Downsyde: Land of the Giants Pt 1 / Did you not know
Lazaro's Dog: Home Entertainment System
Bikini Kill: Alien She
Peaches: I don't give a ... / I'm the kinda
Team Plastique: Fuck a DJ
LOVE SONG DEDICATION - Elvis Costello + The Attractions: I want you
Ruby's Grace: Me + You
The Tea Party: The Bazaar
The New Pollutants: Blast the world into space
Brassy: L vs. S / I can't wait
Red Monika: The Aches
Doug Anthony All Stars: My baby's gone to jail
Tripod: Stalk
Average: Hammer
G Love + Special Sauce: Cold Beverage
The Cat Empire: Days like these
Man or Astroman?: The universes only intergalactic radioactive breakfast bar
Elvis Costello + Burt Bacharach: What's her name today?
Boss Hog: Texas
Johnny 7 OMA: Don't like myself
Buck 65: Exes
Salt N Pepa: Twist + Shout
Elvis Costello: Couldn't call it unexpected number 4

xJ