Messenger: The Daily Connection

Well, hi there. I've mentioned MSN Messenger in a couple of my WendEmails past. I use it everyday. For lots of things. A quick catch up with my dad. A fast question for Sean (Hotsource's technical guru). A little gossip with Angela. It's fast because we're relatively quick at typing and because we can get to the point and then leave (well... most of the time). Oh - and it's free. Love it.

Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to share the conversation I just had with my dad. It will be hard to follow - as I type, he types, and we might have 2 or three different threads going on at once. Later in the conversation, he asks me questions about the blog that he's reading. So I don't really expect you to get it. The cool thing is he's thousands of miles away and not even at home, yet he was on a little break and we got to catch up. Love it (repetitive, am I). Anyway, here goes....

WLC says:
hi
Bluesman41 says:
Hi
Bluesman41 says:
I'm at SCC, just finished one class, going to get a sandwich and teach 3 more hours!
WLC says:
ok - bye
Bluesman41 says:
I've got a minute
Bluesman41 says:
or two
WLC says:
oh -
WLC says:
well - Its Friday
Bluesman41 says:
or three
WLC says:
long weekend apparently
WLC says:
don't know why
Bluesman41 says:
in some parts of the world
WLC says:
haven't gotten used to the holidays here
WLC says:
weird
WLC says:
we have monday off
Bluesman41 says:
greet
Bluesman41 says:
!
WLC says:
the Swans play int he final on Saturday
Bluesman41 says:
Go SWANIES

WLC says:
Ange and Ben fly to Melbourne tomorrow morning (6:00 flight)
WLC says:
Ben and I have a gig that won't finish until 1:00 - so he'll be fucked
Bluesman41 says:
So it's the old S&M rivalry, eh?
WLC says:
no - the final is always in Melbourne
Bluesman41 says:
oh
WLC says:
we're playing the West coast Eagles (Perth
WLC says:
)
Bluesman41 says:
again?!
WLC says:
yes
WLC says:
hope they don't get revenge
Bluesman41 says:
won'tthey be pissed
Bluesman41 says:
not as in drunk
WLC says:
oh yeah!
WLC says:
they're looking for a win
WLC says:
you read my blog about it?
Bluesman41 says:
You didn't comment back on my comment about HotSource not becoming a political forum
WLC says:
I know
Bluesman41 says:
no, no BLOG. Haven't developed that habit yet
WLC says:
oh - well here's the link - nevermind - I'll email it to you
Bluesman41 says:
yes, that way I won't lose it [again]
WLC says:
done
Bluesman41 says:
How's you?
WLC says:
busy - broke - looking forward to the break
WLC says:
but going to work while I'm there, too
WLC says:
Vertico and Hotsource me thinks
Bluesman41 says:
have you identified any tradeshows?
WLC says:
I find it hard to not do it
WLC says:
May in Flo
WLC says:
a
Bluesman41 says:
Floa?
WLC says:
Florida
Bluesman41 says:
Got the link
Bluesman41 says:
says WendyEmail
Bluesman41 says:
actually, WEndyEmail
WLC says:
my typing - woeful
Bluesman41 says:
You peed your pants!?!
WLC says:
a little
WLC says:
had to go
WLC says:
and had to jump up and down in happiness
Bluesman41 says:
I bookmarked the page
WLC says:
gud
WLC says:
blogging is fun
WLC says:
I can be political there
WLC says:

Bluesman41 says:
If I ever have time, maybeI'll try it.
WLC says:
you won't
WLC says:
have time
WLC says:
you hae to make time
Bluesman41 says:
That's true. Lots of opps for venting
WLC says:
take time
Bluesman41 says:
I'm creating time right now!
WLC says:
yes you are - let's post this as a blog
Bluesman41 says:
Creation is a wonderful hobby.
WLC says:
some creation
Bluesman41 says:
Glad I took it up 4 billion years ago!
WLC says:
others not so much
Bluesman41 says:
I'd better scoot. Lots to prepare for tonight, and gotta eat.
WLC says:
ok - enjoy your sandwich
WLC says:
lymyb!
Bluesman41 says:
Have a great weekend. And GO SWANS! LYMYB
WLC says:
b!

It Just Doesn't Feel Like Last Year

The Swans are an important part of my winters in Sydney. There are 22 games each season and we get 11 glorious home games. In the last 2 years, I've put the games into my calendar so that I know they're there. I still take gigs if they come up, but I don't schedule candle parties or rehearsals during home games. It's important for me to be there.

Last year, the Swans lived a fairy tale. They didn't win every game, in fact, they lost enough to keep you wondering if it could really ever happen. They even lost their first finals game - but because they were in the top four at the end of the regular season, they got another chance. And it was at home.

This photo is one I took of an ecstatic Douglas hugging an incredibly happy Ange at the tail end of that game. They were both so excited as the game reached a climax that they couldn't even sit in their seats. They were standing in the aisle - willing the Swans to victory. And victory was ours. It was incredible.

The next week, Angela flew to Melbourne to watch as the Swans play in the semi-final match against St Kilda. Winning that game was a dream for us. We weren't brave enough to say it outloud... and yet, it happened. Again, we were in tears. It was a feeling I haven't felt since the Phoenix Suns won game 5 in the finals against the Chicago Bulls in 1994. Glorious.

And the following week, I stood in the Welcome Hotel in Balmain. Dressed in a white t-shirt that called out in faded red letters "Crush! Kill! Destroy!" A mantra originally from Lost in Space, but more recently adopted by Angela as her own personal Braveheart to the Swans when she wants them to kick some ass on the field. Tex had bought us both the shirts after experiencing a game the previous year. I thought the shirt would help keep the luck rolling....

We were playing the West Coast Eagles. They were the team that had beaten us in the first round of the finals. We knew it would be tight. We knew it would be good. We didn't know if we could do it. We thought we could. We hoped. We wanted.

And the match was everything it needed to be. We were in front. We were behind. They scored. We scored. They scored again. The clock in an AFL match isn't a count down - it's a count up. And after 20 minutes elapse, all you know is that the final siren could come any time. Out of bounds time and injury time are all added to the 20 minute playing time. Short quarters end at 23 minutes. Long ones can go 33 minutes. In this game, the siren was imminent. And the Swans were in front. And the Eagles had the ball. And the ball was in the air heading toward their goal scoring area. And there were Eagles players and Swans players looking up for the ball - pushing each other and trying to get in the perfect postion to catch that ball! And as it dropped, one Swan somehow jumped higher and at precisely at the right time. And as Leo Barry caught that ball, it still wasn't over. I held my breath. We all did.

And then the beautiful siren.

The best sound I've ever heard.

I peed my pants.

Move forward 51 weeks.... Last night, I went to the semi final match between Sydney and Fremantle. The Dockers. We played the first finals game a couple of weeks ago. Against our nemisis, the West Coast Eagles. I predicted a Swans win but a close game two weeks ago. And that's what we got. So instead of having another game, we got a week off.

Last night we never lost our lead. We scored first and we lead the whole night. It wasn't a blow out, but we never let them in. And victory didn't taste as sweet. It just didn't.

It just doesn't feel the same this year. It isn't the fairy tale. Don't get me wrong. It's great to be a winner. And I'm a proud fan. I'm a happy member. Very happy. We're playing better than we did last year. We're a great team. It's just that I can't get that feeling.

I'm not counting my chickens before they're hatched. We haven't won the Championship this year. We don't even know who we're playing yet - Adelaide and the West Coast Eagles are vying for that as I type. Angela and Ben will be in Melbourne next week for the game. I will go to the Welcome and probably stand right where I did last year.

Let me tell you what I want. I want a tight game. Where both teams play really, really hard footy. Where the umpires let the game move as it should. Where the fans get loud and make the whole arena shake. Where in the fourth quarter you don't know who's going to win.

And then... I want to pee my pants again.

Cigarettes are Expensive, Smelly, and Offensive.

Uh Oh - it's a WendyRant.... Lock smokers into little tiny airtight spaces!

Dear smokers:

Ventilation is an inefficient way to get your money's worth out of a cigarette. Increase the value of your investment by sitting in a confined, airtight space. In fact, you should sit in a small room with the windows closed and the air on recirculate to get the most bang for your buck.

Sincerely,

Wendy

They won't.

They'll open the windows. If they are in a confined space, they'll ask for more ventilation inside so that the smoke doesn't linger. They don't like being around the smoke either.

I was one. I know. I stopped for me, for him, for everyone.

Dear governments of the world:

Please ban smoking in pubs and clubs and enforce the law.

I don't think smoking should be illegal. In fact, I want everyone to be free to smoke whatever they want to smoke - just not in front of me. Not in front of anyone really. Smoking should be done in private - like going to the bathroom (including the use of an exhaust fan and air freshener).

Please make it so. Now.

Sincerely,

Wendy

When you think about it, nicotine is a really shitty drug anyway. The "high" doesn't last very long. Smokers, you should find better drugs. Be more cost efficient.

By the way - I just sent my government letter above to tobacco@doh.health.nsw.gov.au. You can send them a letter, too, if you want.

OK - I feel better. Thanks.

Candles: The Square Pillar

This beautiful candle started life as a 15 cm high square pillar. I used to take it around to my candle parties and let people smell it - it's flavour is Pineapple and Pomegranite - and it smells beautiful!

But I lit it one day and I love it even more. I just ordered another one. Doesn't it look nice in this dish along with the shells I collect when Alan and I go to the beach? As it burns, I think it looks more and more spectacular. (You can click on it to see a big image.)

Not square anymore - it burns and moves and changes. Taking on it's own personality. And smelling great the whole time.

Yum.

What are you trying to say Daddy???

My Dad sent me a link to an article about a blog. here's one line....

"Blog" itself is short for "weblog," which is short for "we blog because we weren't very popular in high school and we're trying to gain respect and admiration without actually having to be around people."

I wonder what he's trying to say?

http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,71720-0.html?tw=rss.index

Working Out

I walked this morning - with Mogy. And Ange. And Maria.

Then I went to work.

Then I came home and walked to the gym for my weekly personal training session.

• 60 Hindu squats
• 60 more....
• 12 push-ups (real ones)
• 10 more....
• 12 more ....
• 10 times down and up the stairs with a weighted ball over my head
• 5 times more...
• 5 times 30 second sprints on the stationary bike at over 100 rpm
• 3 times 30 second sprints on the treadmill at full elevation - who knows how slow/fast - probably slow

And after that I was BUGGERED! Had to sit on a chair to get my breath back - couldn't IMAGINE doing it all at a mile high - my lungs were fighting it all as it was.

Then I had to walk home. It's not far - only takes 10-12 minutes really. But I am buggered.

Def: Buggered: 1. broken; ruined; spoiled. 2. tired; exhausted. 3. euphemism for damned.

Yep - that's me. Buggered. #1 and #2 are the good matches.

Once I recover, I have to (sorry - get to) go to my guitar lesson. I can't remember the last one, so it looks like I should STOP BLOGGING and start thinking about the guitar.

Perhaps once I recover. Still buggered. Got my breath back, but can't think about moving yet.

Think I'll blog about the Swans next. Need to find a great shot of us at a Swans game. It won't be hard.

OK - I've procrastinated enough. Off I go. Hope you enjoyed this. Maybe it will inspire you to go get active, too. Or more. Or whatever. See ya!

How quickly will Steve Irwin jokes surface?

[Updated with new image - here they come!!!!]

As crude as it is... the jokes are just waiting to be told. The Aussie Jacques Cousteau... Steve Irwin, has passed away. 44 years young.

Words of sorrow aside - and there will be plenty of them - the man, the freak, this crazy Aussie deserves some good internet jokes - and, personally, I think they should start right now.

(I waited an hour, folks. At first I thought that there should be a 24 hour waiting period, but, what the heck - Steve-o would've wanted us to use every minute of life in us to look for the fun stuff - the things we enjoy. First in best dressed my husband would say.)

But I'm not a good joke teller. I really only know one joke. There's this priest, and it's his first day in the priesthood....

In the office we've wondered if Steve-o is an organ donor. And we've decided that since his heart gave out, that it probably isn't available anyway. But, if he is an organ donor, (under threat of lightening striking us down immediately) we wondered if his crazy DNA will start to influence the new host? Would his kidneys save a life but slowly and surely turn the person into a crazy croc-wrestling yobbo?

(I found it hard to find an image of steve-o without a croc, so I just gave in and picked this one. Hope the copyright owner is OK with that.)

We feel bad for his wife Terri - for so many reasons, but in particular - she's trekking in the wilderness of Tassie - does she know?

But at least Steve-o died doing what he loved to do. The tele-movie is sure to come out in the next few months. So as the jokes are exposed, as people quietly decide that the waiting period is over, please share them - add them to this blog and let's see how many are out there.

Rest in peace, Steve-o.