Still the Boss

I've just watched the half time show from the US Superbowl played earlier today. Now usually I'm a sports purist, and abhor the pre-game and half-time attempts to 'sell' the game, the culture or any other cause de jour. HOWEVER, if they are giving me 12 minutes (and not a second longer) of the Boss, I'm there, with my set top box recording! (If you want to know who won the game, visit nfl.com or some such).

My love affair (more one of respect than a crush like the one I had on Bobby Sherman) began when I was 15 and my schoolmate George introduced me to 'Born to Run' as an introductory course on the Boss in the lead up to the much anticipated release of 'Born in the USA'.

Having experienced THE best album ever (ie Born to Run) I remember being slightly disappointed with the next 'Born' album, but was quickly smitten again when I discovered old jewels like 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' and 'Greetings from Asbury Park'.

Since that time, he (and the E street Band) has been my Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dylan and Hendrix, rolled into one talented, charismatic and endearing package.

In other 'Boss' news, I've nearly completed the annual performance review paperwork (the discussions are ongoing, but the paperwork is only annual) in anticipation of the busiest time of my work year.

Only 5 months and 4 days until my OS holiday ...

The opposite of 'twittering'

Via early morning TV (the 'Today Show' from the USA) I discovered that I'm 'in'. It was New Year's Eve in Melbourne, and during my week off work, I was enjoying a lazy sleep in. Well, for me it was a 'lie in' as I wake up at about 5am regardless of the day. I can (and do) then doze for a while, which is where they informed me of what's 'in' & 'out' for 2009.

Apparently 'twittering' (the short random posting of trivial matters) is 'out' for 2009 (I'm still having trouble with that date) and 'slow blogging' is 'in'. With only 21 blog posts for 2008 (I can use that date easily enough), I think that is the epitome of 'slow' blogging!

I'm also 'slowly' embracing my new home and neighbourhood: purchasing new furniture; tending to my garden; visiting a local watering hole for a beer on New Year's Eve...

Following much anticipation, My BM & I did walk to 'the G' to enjoy the boxing Day test match. While she enjoyed days 1 and 2, I 'enjoyed' the first 4 days (on the fifth day I shopped).

This photo was taken on Boxing Day, before Ricky Ponting scored a century. The South Africans were outstanding on day 3, when we dropped our guard just enough for them to pounce. In recent times, the strength of our team has enabled us to win even when we're playing below our best. We are now still a good team, but not jst as dominant in comparison with the other test playing nations (especially the next best 2 teams, who we have both played in the past few months (sorry, NZ, that's not you

It wasn't a complete loss, and I did thoroughly enjoy Ricky Ponting's batting, just not the execution of the day 3 games plans.

I anticipate that there will now be a battle to be the premier test playing nation, which is what a contest is meant to be. The Australian test team will be competing with other nations to be the best, and it won't be a walkover. Maybe now the ungrateful elements of the public and media will realise that the success enjoyed by the team in recent years was not luck or through bullying, but was the result of skill and hard work and was really something to be celebrated and congratulated.

what if they made a movie and everyone laughed?

Tonight was another of those fun, mid week, girlie catch ups. I was running late after work and Delamare was patient!

We dined/snacked on nachos, corn chips & cheddar dip (a precursor of the cheese to follow) while we caught up on all the gossip of a relatively short shared work history and a remarkably long list of shared interests.

Then it was off to the main event - Nights in Rodanthe.

Yes, we had both read the poor reviews but we had also read some positives and besides, Diane Lane is one of those few actors whose name on the movie trailer is enough to get me there.

Yet again she was luminous, and Richard Gere did what he does well.

It didn't deliver the predicted tears from either of us, and I felt just a tad insulted by the obvious plot lines. Just how many meanings can a herd of galloping wild horses have?

As the music swelled, the credits rolled and the theatre lights slowly lifted, it seemed as though he entire theatre (which was only 93% female) giggled and barely suppressed their mirth. Had it been a Richard Gere and Julia Roberts movie laughter would have been appreciated, but I'm not sure that laughter is what was intended here.

Nonetheless, it was a most enjoyable evening of great company and escapism and laughter is, indeed, the best medicine.

Bulli Bulli

I attended a lecture as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival yesterday. While I love my food, and (as previously mentioned) enjoy food shows on Foxtel's Lifestyle or Food & Wine channels (second only to test cricket, perhaps), I had not previously heard of this chef.

Ferran Adria runs the elBulli restaurant in northern Spain. It is a restaurant that opens for only 160 days each year, from April to September, and has 2,000,000 requests each year for the 8,000 possible reservations.

In his own words (or those of his translator Lucy), 'cuisine is a language' and his cuisine is using a new alphabet. His inspiration is drawn from snow, art, or even the earth as he flew from Adelaide to Sydney. OK, back to avocado on toast for Monday night dinner. I'll have to save up the $400 for 30 courses over 3 hours at elBulli sometime in 2015!

Hipy Papy Bthuthday

Apparently today is the anniversary of the 'birth' of Winnie the Pooh.

Winnie has always been a favourite of mine, and I love to quote 'Vespers' at every opportunity (whether relevant or not).

..."Little boy kneels at the foot of his bed; droop on his little hands, little gold head ..."

Even the 'bump, bump, bump' down the stairs leads me to smile, despite the thought of the headache.

Today the great corporate master announced yet more significant changes. I can understand the new direction, even though the prospective work causes just a little headache. Tonight it was a glass of Wirra Wirra Churchblock Cab-Sav-Shiraz-Merlot with dinner to ease the dread of the forthcoming workload.

Personally I don't mind if the advised changes lead to the cancellation of the work conference in Mumbai in December, just so long as I can get through almost of the work before my July holiday next year.

no excuses ... no promises

yes, I know that it has been some time since I blogged and apparently it is very poor etiquette to have such extended breaks.

I can't offer any valid reasons other than I've been busy and tired at the end of the day when I would usually blog. I know that one of the purposes for connecting via wireless at my new home was to allow me to blog while parked on the couch (yes that new one from the last blog) while watching TV. Watching TV is a very important part of my relaxation time. I find it very conducive to my mental health to watch re-runs of 'Friends' or new episodes of UK cooking shows.

But now it's cricket season!! To date, while the sun has been shining and the days are longer, I haven't yet smelt freshly cut grass nor heard the sound of willow on leather. Just the thought of experiencing the smells & sounds of summer is enough to make me smile!

The weather on AFL Grand Final day was more like cricket than football ... and in deference to my Geelong supporting friends I'll leave reference to that day there. However, I did wander amongst the crowd in my new neighbourhood, and observed some amazing sights ...

a new way of working

I'm becoming accustomed to my new routine in my new house ... and routine is important!

Lists are in order and not just one but many -

• grocery shopping


• other shopping


• furniture shopping
  
• services (including a plumber)


• clothes shopping

and the lists continue to grow. Not that I'm complaining mind you.

Last week I went in search of new office furniture: a desk and shelves, but to no avail. I did discover a lovely lounge suite, which was delivered last week. Yes, the colour is 'snow' but it has been 'scotch-guarded' and has already proven itself against red wine!

Also new on the list is a new way to exercise. I'm walking to and from the bus/tram, but I do miss my walks around Princes Park after work. To my missing walking partner and therapist, Lurextoga, I hope that you're finding new ways of working/living in the country.