Please keep all Victorians in your thoughts tomorrow. Conditions are predicted to be worse than those of Black Saturday. Let's hope that we can make it through the day with no new bushfires, no more deaths, and no more houses destroyed.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Seriously ...
Please keep the following people in your thoughts ...
Dr. S: Yesterday, Henry, her beautiful young son (4 and a half years old) passed away from Medulloblastoma. Please keep Dr Smak and family in your thoughts.
Lisa: from Clusterfook. Lisa is currently fighting to stay with her family - the Dude and her two daughters - but her time on Earth is short. Please pray that she finds peace, and does not suffer any longer.
Kristie: I have been a "fan" of Kristie since her days on CB when she would update us on how her daughter, Kendrie was going with her cancer battle. Thankfully, Kendrie kicked cancer's ass to the kerb, and has been doing well since ... The same can't be said for Kristie's husband Blaine, who has not only endured cancer, but surgeries and complications and radiation ... And now, the news that the cancer is back once again. My heart breaks for this family, who I've grown to love over the last couple of years. If you have time, visit Kristie and family at www.notquitewhatihadplanned.blogspot.com and give them some comment love, which will hopefully give them some strength to face this latest battle.
Dr. S: Yesterday, Henry, her beautiful young son (4 and a half years old) passed away from Medulloblastoma. Please keep Dr Smak and family in your thoughts.
Lisa: from Clusterfook. Lisa is currently fighting to stay with her family - the Dude and her two daughters - but her time on Earth is short. Please pray that she finds peace, and does not suffer any longer.
Kristie: I have been a "fan" of Kristie since her days on CB when she would update us on how her daughter, Kendrie was going with her cancer battle. Thankfully, Kendrie kicked cancer's ass to the kerb, and has been doing well since ... The same can't be said for Kristie's husband Blaine, who has not only endured cancer, but surgeries and complications and radiation ... And now, the news that the cancer is back once again. My heart breaks for this family, who I've grown to love over the last couple of years. If you have time, visit Kristie and family at www.notquitewhatihadplanned.blogspot.com and give them some comment love, which will hopefully give them some strength to face this latest battle.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Weirdos ...
So, I just realised that when I went out to see my car the other day, after it was found dumped in the bush, I got everything out of there that I wanted (cds, rego papers, etc.), but the one thing that was missing?
A bottle of sunscreen, which was in the glovebox.
Bizarre. Why would someone steal a bottle of sunscreen?
A bottle of sunscreen, which was in the glovebox.
Bizarre. Why would someone steal a bottle of sunscreen?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Say hello to a woman on the edge ...
So. Yeah. It's been a big few days.
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, as you might have guessed, my car was stolen from our driveway. We didn't hear a thing, and the dogs didn't bark. I went out the front door on Wednesday morning, ready to go to work, looked to the right where our driveway is ... And my car was gone. I rang work, slightly disbelieving to tell them that as I had no car, I couldn't get in. It took a while to sink in that my car was really gone. Someone had stolen it. So I spent the morning ringing the Police, the insurance company, the Police again, VicRoads, and the insurance company again. I kind of hoped that it had just been stolen by some kids, who'd run it out of petrol then dump it somewhere, safe and unharmed.
This morning I got a call at 8 a.m. from the Eaglehawk Police saying that it had been found, dumped about 10 minutes from here, and that "there was some significant damage to the front end of the car". So, Christine and I went out to have a look, and hell yes, there was some significant damage to the front end of the car. The Police think that whoever stole it has hit some kind of pole/signpost (like a stop/give way sign or a street sign), which has basically collapsed the car into the middle of itself. The passenger in the front seat has then slammed their head into the windscreen, and left some blood in the cracked glass (next time, might be an idea for them to steal a car with airbags, since they sure as hell can't drive. Dumbfucks. Yeah, there's still some anger about all this ...). My cd's and cd player were all still in the car, as were all the papers/service books in the glovebox. I guess since there was nothing of real value in the car, they decided to just dump it and run after they crashed it.
It looks as if the insurance company will probably write the car off, as the damage is pretty extensive, and it would probably cost more for them to repair it than it would for them to pay me the market value of the car and be done with it.
So today, I dealt with the Police, the insurance company, the tow truck driver, the smash repairs place, the insurance guys again, and then the Police again. I also went to the bank to see about getting a personal loan, to buy a new car. My car only cost me a couple of grand, because at the time all I needed was something to get me to work and home again, and I didn't want to take out a loan and get into debt. This time I'll be buying something a little more expensive, something a little newer (mine's a 1984 model), something with airconditioning (no more sweltering in 40 degree heat), and something with a loud alarm system.
To be honest, I can't believe how much this has upset me. It's just a car, right? But seeing it, all smashed up, knowing that I probably won't be driving it again, made me upset - because it was my first car, because the first time I drove myself to Melbourne, it was in that car, because I could get in my car and just relax, even on my most stressed day (what can I say, driving relaxes me) - and it made me pissed off. What does someone get out of that? What's the point in stealing a car that's not yours, driving it around, smashing it into a pole and then dumping it? What's the point? It's dangerous, and stupid, and now, I'm without my car, my Gibbsy, named after Gibbs from NCIS, because yes, he's old, but he's hot! Even if the insurance company does decide to repair him, I won't keep him. Quite frankly, knowing that someone broke into him, and stole him ... Just freaks me out. I can't even explain why. I know he'd look the same as before, they'd get out all the dings and paint him and replace his windscreen, but ... Like I said, I can't explain it. I'd have to sell him. I know it's irrational, and stupid, but that's what I'm feeling right now.
So, tonight, I will hopefully get some sleep, since the last couple of nights have been sleepless (I've borrowed a car from one of my bosses at work until all the insurance stuff gets sorted out, and now I'm beyond paranoid that they're going to come back and steal it - I jump every time I hear a car door during the night). I think that's part of the reason I was so emotional today (emotional, hell, I was a basket case. I spent the entire afternoon crying off and on, in huge, hysterical sobs, that I just couldn't control. My eyes are like tiny little slits at the moment, they're so swollen from crying). If I can just get a good nights sleep I'm sure I'll be fine. We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings ...
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, as you might have guessed, my car was stolen from our driveway. We didn't hear a thing, and the dogs didn't bark. I went out the front door on Wednesday morning, ready to go to work, looked to the right where our driveway is ... And my car was gone. I rang work, slightly disbelieving to tell them that as I had no car, I couldn't get in. It took a while to sink in that my car was really gone. Someone had stolen it. So I spent the morning ringing the Police, the insurance company, the Police again, VicRoads, and the insurance company again. I kind of hoped that it had just been stolen by some kids, who'd run it out of petrol then dump it somewhere, safe and unharmed.
This morning I got a call at 8 a.m. from the Eaglehawk Police saying that it had been found, dumped about 10 minutes from here, and that "there was some significant damage to the front end of the car". So, Christine and I went out to have a look, and hell yes, there was some significant damage to the front end of the car. The Police think that whoever stole it has hit some kind of pole/signpost (like a stop/give way sign or a street sign), which has basically collapsed the car into the middle of itself. The passenger in the front seat has then slammed their head into the windscreen, and left some blood in the cracked glass (next time, might be an idea for them to steal a car with airbags, since they sure as hell can't drive. Dumbfucks. Yeah, there's still some anger about all this ...). My cd's and cd player were all still in the car, as were all the papers/service books in the glovebox. I guess since there was nothing of real value in the car, they decided to just dump it and run after they crashed it.
It looks as if the insurance company will probably write the car off, as the damage is pretty extensive, and it would probably cost more for them to repair it than it would for them to pay me the market value of the car and be done with it.
So today, I dealt with the Police, the insurance company, the tow truck driver, the smash repairs place, the insurance guys again, and then the Police again. I also went to the bank to see about getting a personal loan, to buy a new car. My car only cost me a couple of grand, because at the time all I needed was something to get me to work and home again, and I didn't want to take out a loan and get into debt. This time I'll be buying something a little more expensive, something a little newer (mine's a 1984 model), something with airconditioning (no more sweltering in 40 degree heat), and something with a loud alarm system.
To be honest, I can't believe how much this has upset me. It's just a car, right? But seeing it, all smashed up, knowing that I probably won't be driving it again, made me upset - because it was my first car, because the first time I drove myself to Melbourne, it was in that car, because I could get in my car and just relax, even on my most stressed day (what can I say, driving relaxes me) - and it made me pissed off. What does someone get out of that? What's the point in stealing a car that's not yours, driving it around, smashing it into a pole and then dumping it? What's the point? It's dangerous, and stupid, and now, I'm without my car, my Gibbsy, named after Gibbs from NCIS, because yes, he's old, but he's hot! Even if the insurance company does decide to repair him, I won't keep him. Quite frankly, knowing that someone broke into him, and stole him ... Just freaks me out. I can't even explain why. I know he'd look the same as before, they'd get out all the dings and paint him and replace his windscreen, but ... Like I said, I can't explain it. I'd have to sell him. I know it's irrational, and stupid, but that's what I'm feeling right now.
So, tonight, I will hopefully get some sleep, since the last couple of nights have been sleepless (I've borrowed a car from one of my bosses at work until all the insurance stuff gets sorted out, and now I'm beyond paranoid that they're going to come back and steal it - I jump every time I hear a car door during the night). I think that's part of the reason I was so emotional today (emotional, hell, I was a basket case. I spent the entire afternoon crying off and on, in huge, hysterical sobs, that I just couldn't control. My eyes are like tiny little slits at the moment, they're so swollen from crying). If I can just get a good nights sleep I'm sure I'll be fine. We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings ...
My car ...
The Police found it ...
Thanks, dumbfuck car thieves. I know there was at least two of you, because someone in the passenger seat smashed their head on my windscreen when it crashed. Hope you have the biggest headache ever, you dipshit.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Dear Scumbag Car Thief
Just wanted to say thanks. Thanks heaps.
In a week that's already been incredibly stressful, what with having a fire get within 1 freaking kilometre of our house and everything, you just had to do your bit, didn't you?
Thanks for stealing my car last night while I slept. It was actually the first good nights sleep I've had since Friday night. I woke up this morning, feeling refreshed, and not as stressed as I've been since Saturday.
When I went out to get in my car for work, however, all your handiwork hit me fair in the face as I realised that my freaking car had been stolen.
Thanks for making me miss another morning of work, while I rang the police and the insurance company and VicRoads. That's work that I can't afford to miss. I need that money.
Hope you enjoyed driving around in my car, listening to my CD's, using up the tank of petrol I just filled 2 days ago. That's $50 down the drain, so thanks you friggin dumbfuck.
I hope that your testicles turn green and fall the fuck off and I hope that you walk around with snot all over your face all day. I hope that you're found, and that you're charged. I hope that you realise the stress and the hurt and the cost that you've caused. I hope that someday you realise exactly what you did to me, and that you then have to deal with that shame for the rest of your life.
Snappz.
In a week that's already been incredibly stressful, what with having a fire get within 1 freaking kilometre of our house and everything, you just had to do your bit, didn't you?
Thanks for stealing my car last night while I slept. It was actually the first good nights sleep I've had since Friday night. I woke up this morning, feeling refreshed, and not as stressed as I've been since Saturday.
When I went out to get in my car for work, however, all your handiwork hit me fair in the face as I realised that my freaking car had been stolen.
Thanks for making me miss another morning of work, while I rang the police and the insurance company and VicRoads. That's work that I can't afford to miss. I need that money.
Hope you enjoyed driving around in my car, listening to my CD's, using up the tank of petrol I just filled 2 days ago. That's $50 down the drain, so thanks you friggin dumbfuck.
I hope that your testicles turn green and fall the fuck off and I hope that you walk around with snot all over your face all day. I hope that you're found, and that you're charged. I hope that you realise the stress and the hurt and the cost that you've caused. I hope that someday you realise exactly what you did to me, and that you then have to deal with that shame for the rest of your life.
Snappz.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Lucky?
This will only be a short entry. Today everything is still to raw, too real.
I don't even know how to describe the events of the last two days.
The fires came scarily close to our house. It is something I would never want to experience ever again. And yet, we were lucky. We didn't lose our house, we didn't lose our lives.
Around Victoria, the death toll is still climbing. The houses that have been destroyed are numerous. Entire towns have been devastated.
It all happened so quickly.
Please keep the victims of the bushfires in your thoughts. They need all the prayers that you can send their way.
I don't even know how to describe the events of the last two days.
The fires came scarily close to our house. It is something I would never want to experience ever again. And yet, we were lucky. We didn't lose our house, we didn't lose our lives.
Around Victoria, the death toll is still climbing. The houses that have been destroyed are numerous. Entire towns have been devastated.
It all happened so quickly.
Please keep the victims of the bushfires in your thoughts. They need all the prayers that you can send their way.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Uh-oh ... Rant time!
A couple of things on my mind tonight ...
Firstly, the Government's Stimulus Package. The Opposition is currently trying to stop it going through Parliament. While part of me does agree with the logic in their argument - should we be putting our country in huge amounts of debt to try and avoid a recession (which will probably occur anyway?)? The other part - the larger part of me - thinks that $900 could be an enormous help to families/people who are really struggling at the moment. Imagine being able to stock up the freezer/fridge/pantry, get some winter clothes, pay some extra off bills that they can't seem to clear ... Even people my age, who are living from paycheck to paycheck, would really appreciate some extra help. The first round of bonuses (given out in December) helped boost retail sales by 4% in December. The money would be spent, I'm sure. Most people are finding it hard to save money to get ahead at the moment. Maybe the bonus money will ease the pressure a little. Personally, I don't know if I'm eligible for the bonus, but I hope that it passes through Parliament. I think it would do a lot of good.
Secondly, Telstra. FUCKERS. Oh yeah, this is gonna be a rant.
I moved house in NOVEMBER. As people do, I rang up, went through all their stupid little questions and I disconnected my phone ... Because I was MOVING HOUSE. A month ago, I still had not received my final phone bill from Telstra. So I called. Only to find out that my broadband connection had NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. It was STILL active. Almost TWO months after I moved house. So, they disconnected it, and told me the bill was on it's way. Great. Can't wait to pay it. Last week, I realised that I still hadn't spotted the bill, but I couldn't ring them last week as I worked all week. Today, 4 weeks later, I rang again. This time the excuse for not receiving my bill yet? "That service is still connected. Are you sure you arranged disconnection when you moved?" OH MY GOD. Seriously??! They had my broadband account disconnected (FINALLY, they get SOMETHING right!)
but my phone line was still active. EVEN THOUGH I MOVED OUT ALMOST THREE MONTHS AGO! The second reason I haven't received a bill? Because even though I have provided it 4 times (when disconnecting fixed line, when disconnecting broadband, WHEN RINGING UP TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD MY NEW ADDRESS CORRECT, when ringing to find out where the bill got to), they WERE STILL SENDING MY BILLS TO MY OLD ADDRESS.
For fucks sake!
Ok, now I have to cut this post short because my TELSTRA WIRELESS CONNECTION keeps DROPPING OUT and I'm worried I'm going to lose this whole post. Damm Telstra.
Ok, rant over ... Sorry for the colourful language :-)
Firstly, the Government's Stimulus Package. The Opposition is currently trying to stop it going through Parliament. While part of me does agree with the logic in their argument - should we be putting our country in huge amounts of debt to try and avoid a recession (which will probably occur anyway?)? The other part - the larger part of me - thinks that $900 could be an enormous help to families/people who are really struggling at the moment. Imagine being able to stock up the freezer/fridge/pantry, get some winter clothes, pay some extra off bills that they can't seem to clear ... Even people my age, who are living from paycheck to paycheck, would really appreciate some extra help. The first round of bonuses (given out in December) helped boost retail sales by 4% in December. The money would be spent, I'm sure. Most people are finding it hard to save money to get ahead at the moment. Maybe the bonus money will ease the pressure a little. Personally, I don't know if I'm eligible for the bonus, but I hope that it passes through Parliament. I think it would do a lot of good.
Secondly, Telstra. FUCKERS. Oh yeah, this is gonna be a rant.
I moved house in NOVEMBER. As people do, I rang up, went through all their stupid little questions and I disconnected my phone ... Because I was MOVING HOUSE. A month ago, I still had not received my final phone bill from Telstra. So I called. Only to find out that my broadband connection had NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. It was STILL active. Almost TWO months after I moved house. So, they disconnected it, and told me the bill was on it's way. Great. Can't wait to pay it. Last week, I realised that I still hadn't spotted the bill, but I couldn't ring them last week as I worked all week. Today, 4 weeks later, I rang again. This time the excuse for not receiving my bill yet? "That service is still connected. Are you sure you arranged disconnection when you moved?" OH MY GOD. Seriously??! They had my broadband account disconnected (FINALLY, they get SOMETHING right!)
but my phone line was still active. EVEN THOUGH I MOVED OUT ALMOST THREE MONTHS AGO! The second reason I haven't received a bill? Because even though I have provided it 4 times (when disconnecting fixed line, when disconnecting broadband, WHEN RINGING UP TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD MY NEW ADDRESS CORRECT, when ringing to find out where the bill got to), they WERE STILL SENDING MY BILLS TO MY OLD ADDRESS.
For fucks sake!
Ok, now I have to cut this post short because my TELSTRA WIRELESS CONNECTION keeps DROPPING OUT and I'm worried I'm going to lose this whole post. Damm Telstra.
Ok, rant over ... Sorry for the colourful language :-)
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Ugh ...
The acoustic version of 'Sweet About Me' that Gabriella Climi sang before the tennis final?
Shit.
Also, what the hell was she wearing? And has her hair been near a brush any time this week?
Great advertisment for Melbourne ... We breed scruffy, disgustingly-dressed terrible singers ...
Shit.
Also, what the hell was she wearing? And has her hair been near a brush any time this week?
Great advertisment for Melbourne ... We breed scruffy, disgustingly-dressed terrible singers ...
Friday, January 30, 2009
That's not the way I want my story to end ...
A lot of loose change rattling around in my head this week ...
Firstly, the main item on the news for the last few nights has been the heatwave. Victoria is having a heatwave ... No frigging kidding. It's been high thirties since last weekend/start of this week, and the last four days have seen temps into the FORTIES. The freaking forties, people. Forty, forty three, forty four, forty four. And tomorrow we're in for a lovely forty four. The news keeps harping on about it ... It's a heatwave, it's a heatwave ... No shit, sherlock. Remember when it was winter and we were all bitching about how cold it was? Remember that magical, freezing time that was only a few months ago? When we all prayed for summer to start? Maybe we prayed too hard. Apparently it's the only time since 1855 that we've had this many days with the temp above 40. Well, don't I feel friggin special to be a part of history!
I had the week off work last week. I went to Melbourne - left on Tuesday when it was 42 (yeah, it was a great drive in a car with no air conditioning, thanks for asking), and it was mid to high 30's there all week. I went down to go to the allergist - the appointment I waited three months for - and to hang with my sister and my nieces for a few days.
My sister and my nieces are doing well. My little Bug Eyes is such a smart kid. She's very switched on - can't get much past that kid. My little Baby Smurf has turned into such a smiley, giggley kid. She's got a very definite personality - if she's not happy, you know it. But most of the time she's happy to just chill, smiling every few seconds at something random. It rocks!
The appointment with the allergist went great. I'm allergic to dogs! *lol* Funny. Not really badly allergic, but I had a reaction, so there's something there. Mostly I'm allergic to grasses, pollens, dust mites, all that kind of stuff. The good news is that I can be desensitised against those allergies. This involves starting immunotherapy, which is a fancy name for a hideously expensive course of 8 injections, done every second week. Then I go back to the allergist, and start a second course of terribly expensive injections. I finish them, and go back to the allergist again. Then I get a final - yep, you guessed it - unbelievably expensive lot of injections and go back to the allergist once more. Then I go on my merry way, hopefully forever cured of allergies/hayfever.
The good news is that the injections, which go over the next two or so years, will get rid of all the problems I'm having now. My asthma, which is mostly allergy/sickness induced will most likely totally go (woo hoo!). My headaches will disappear, I won't be so tired all the damn time, and I won't go through a box of tissues very two days, I'll be able to concentrate better at work ... The benefits are endless. The bad news? The injections work at out about $100 each. Not $100 per round, $100 each. There are 8 injections in each round. I get about $25 of that back on Medicare (wow ...! That'll help!). The other bad news is that I have to keep going the way I am for a while, it takes a few months (sometimes up to 6 or 8 months) to see the difference. But honestly, I'd pay anything to feel better, and I've put up with it for this long, so what's a few more months? Probably should start saving for the next lot of injections now though ...
So, I had my first injection yesterday afternoon. Because they inject me with what I'm allergic to, I have to have the injection, sit in the room with the doctor for five minutes, have my vitals taken, then go and wait in the waiting room for 25 minutes, and then I can leave. Apparently, injecting me with what I'm actually allergic to is kinda dangerous ... Who woulda guessed it?! The studies say that if a reaction is going to happen, it will happen in the first 15 minutes ... So my doctor makes me wait 25 just to be on the safe side. Apart from it going really red and some lumps coming up where the doctor stabbed me, (totally to be expected, though) it went fine.
Did I mention it's been a little bit hot here ... ?! Oh, I did ... ?!
Work has been good. I worked all this week, since I had last week off. It's been busy as all hell. I'm convinced that the girl who worked all last week did shit-all, all week, because I've spent the week catching up on work that should have already been done. Grr. However, yesterday I actually left at 4 instead of 5. Our power went out, and with no computer (and no air conditioning) there wasn't much point in me hanging around. Since I live about a three minute drive from work, I was worried about getting home to a hot house, figuring the power wouldn't have gone out here too, but I walked into a nice, cool house, with the power still working. I know the power went out in much of Victoria today due to the heatwave (yeah, we're in the middle of a heatwave, didn't you know?!), but thankfully we lucked out again and kept the power again all day.
So, I just finished seven days straight, I have tomorrow off, then I go back for four days, then I get two off. Woo hoo.
Before I finish, I'd like to get a little serious for a minute here. On Sunday night, an Uncle of mine died. His name was Russell, and he passed away after a brief illness. He fought, but the illness was stronger than him.
Russell never did anything "great", or "amazing". He was just an ordinary guy, who went to work each day. He loved his family, (including the two kids who weren't technically his) and was always there for them. He was gruff, sometimes a "grump", enjoyed a drink on special occassions (Sunday was a special occassion to Russell ...!) and love spoiling the grandkids. He wasn't rich, but he took care of his family. He wasn't surrounded by material crap that meant nothing. In the end, he died the way he lived - surrounded by his loving family, who were always there for him, like he was for them. Quite simply, he was a good guy.
R.I.P Russell. You fought so hard, right to the end. You have earned your rest.
Also, R.I.P. Darcey Freeman. I can't remember the last time that a story on the news made me cry so hard. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. How could someone do that to a child?
Ok, this has been a long entry, and it's now 12:27, so I think it might be time for bed. Night guys.
Firstly, the main item on the news for the last few nights has been the heatwave. Victoria is having a heatwave ... No frigging kidding. It's been high thirties since last weekend/start of this week, and the last four days have seen temps into the FORTIES. The freaking forties, people. Forty, forty three, forty four, forty four. And tomorrow we're in for a lovely forty four. The news keeps harping on about it ... It's a heatwave, it's a heatwave ... No shit, sherlock. Remember when it was winter and we were all bitching about how cold it was? Remember that magical, freezing time that was only a few months ago? When we all prayed for summer to start? Maybe we prayed too hard. Apparently it's the only time since 1855 that we've had this many days with the temp above 40. Well, don't I feel friggin special to be a part of history!
I had the week off work last week. I went to Melbourne - left on Tuesday when it was 42 (yeah, it was a great drive in a car with no air conditioning, thanks for asking), and it was mid to high 30's there all week. I went down to go to the allergist - the appointment I waited three months for - and to hang with my sister and my nieces for a few days.
My sister and my nieces are doing well. My little Bug Eyes is such a smart kid. She's very switched on - can't get much past that kid. My little Baby Smurf has turned into such a smiley, giggley kid. She's got a very definite personality - if she's not happy, you know it. But most of the time she's happy to just chill, smiling every few seconds at something random. It rocks!
The appointment with the allergist went great. I'm allergic to dogs! *lol* Funny. Not really badly allergic, but I had a reaction, so there's something there. Mostly I'm allergic to grasses, pollens, dust mites, all that kind of stuff. The good news is that I can be desensitised against those allergies. This involves starting immunotherapy, which is a fancy name for a hideously expensive course of 8 injections, done every second week. Then I go back to the allergist, and start a second course of terribly expensive injections. I finish them, and go back to the allergist again. Then I get a final - yep, you guessed it - unbelievably expensive lot of injections and go back to the allergist once more. Then I go on my merry way, hopefully forever cured of allergies/hayfever.
The good news is that the injections, which go over the next two or so years, will get rid of all the problems I'm having now. My asthma, which is mostly allergy/sickness induced will most likely totally go (woo hoo!). My headaches will disappear, I won't be so tired all the damn time, and I won't go through a box of tissues very two days, I'll be able to concentrate better at work ... The benefits are endless. The bad news? The injections work at out about $100 each. Not $100 per round, $100 each. There are 8 injections in each round. I get about $25 of that back on Medicare (wow ...! That'll help!). The other bad news is that I have to keep going the way I am for a while, it takes a few months (sometimes up to 6 or 8 months) to see the difference. But honestly, I'd pay anything to feel better, and I've put up with it for this long, so what's a few more months? Probably should start saving for the next lot of injections now though ...
So, I had my first injection yesterday afternoon. Because they inject me with what I'm allergic to, I have to have the injection, sit in the room with the doctor for five minutes, have my vitals taken, then go and wait in the waiting room for 25 minutes, and then I can leave. Apparently, injecting me with what I'm actually allergic to is kinda dangerous ... Who woulda guessed it?! The studies say that if a reaction is going to happen, it will happen in the first 15 minutes ... So my doctor makes me wait 25 just to be on the safe side. Apart from it going really red and some lumps coming up where the doctor stabbed me, (totally to be expected, though) it went fine.
Did I mention it's been a little bit hot here ... ?! Oh, I did ... ?!
Work has been good. I worked all this week, since I had last week off. It's been busy as all hell. I'm convinced that the girl who worked all last week did shit-all, all week, because I've spent the week catching up on work that should have already been done. Grr. However, yesterday I actually left at 4 instead of 5. Our power went out, and with no computer (and no air conditioning) there wasn't much point in me hanging around. Since I live about a three minute drive from work, I was worried about getting home to a hot house, figuring the power wouldn't have gone out here too, but I walked into a nice, cool house, with the power still working. I know the power went out in much of Victoria today due to the heatwave (yeah, we're in the middle of a heatwave, didn't you know?!), but thankfully we lucked out again and kept the power again all day.
So, I just finished seven days straight, I have tomorrow off, then I go back for four days, then I get two off. Woo hoo.
Before I finish, I'd like to get a little serious for a minute here. On Sunday night, an Uncle of mine died. His name was Russell, and he passed away after a brief illness. He fought, but the illness was stronger than him.
Russell never did anything "great", or "amazing". He was just an ordinary guy, who went to work each day. He loved his family, (including the two kids who weren't technically his) and was always there for them. He was gruff, sometimes a "grump", enjoyed a drink on special occassions (Sunday was a special occassion to Russell ...!) and love spoiling the grandkids. He wasn't rich, but he took care of his family. He wasn't surrounded by material crap that meant nothing. In the end, he died the way he lived - surrounded by his loving family, who were always there for him, like he was for them. Quite simply, he was a good guy.
R.I.P Russell. You fought so hard, right to the end. You have earned your rest.
Also, R.I.P. Darcey Freeman. I can't remember the last time that a story on the news made me cry so hard. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. How could someone do that to a child?
Ok, this has been a long entry, and it's now 12:27, so I think it might be time for bed. Night guys.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Go Warne ... r? !!
Twenty/20 is on - that's Cricket for you folks who don't know - and in their 20 overs, Australia scored 182. South Africa haven't made a great start at 3/12 in the third over ... C'mon Aussie, c'mon ... :-)
So, yeah. Not much going on here. Just watching the cricket, as you can tell. Christine's at work, so I can watch in peace :-)
Dozer comes home on Tuesday. We're getting ready to have a new puppy in the house, buying toys, a bed, water/food bowls, and more toys :-) Christine is cranky coz she's going to Melbourne for the first couple of days that Dozer will be with us, so she won't see the cute lil puppy for a while (all together now ... "Awww!"). I'm cranky coz next week I'm going to Melbourne for a specialist/doctors appointment, so I won't be home to see him for a few days. I can't wait to see my nieces though, that'll be awesome.
I can't believe how little I've got to say tonight ... :-) I keep getting distracted by the cricket. One of the guys from work is actually at the MCG tonight ... I hate him!
3/31 in the fourth over ... Maybe this game isn't totally in the bag? They do seem to be smacking a few now ... Ok, possibly I should just give up writing this, and concentrate on the cricket.
So, yeah. Not much going on here. Just watching the cricket, as you can tell. Christine's at work, so I can watch in peace :-)
Dozer comes home on Tuesday. We're getting ready to have a new puppy in the house, buying toys, a bed, water/food bowls, and more toys :-) Christine is cranky coz she's going to Melbourne for the first couple of days that Dozer will be with us, so she won't see the cute lil puppy for a while (all together now ... "Awww!"). I'm cranky coz next week I'm going to Melbourne for a specialist/doctors appointment, so I won't be home to see him for a few days. I can't wait to see my nieces though, that'll be awesome.
I can't believe how little I've got to say tonight ... :-) I keep getting distracted by the cricket. One of the guys from work is actually at the MCG tonight ... I hate him!
3/31 in the fourth over ... Maybe this game isn't totally in the bag? They do seem to be smacking a few now ... Ok, possibly I should just give up writing this, and concentrate on the cricket.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Dozer ...
Ok, let's clear a couple of things up here, k?
For a while now, Christine has been talking about getting another dog. Mostly, to benefit Jersey. He is a social dog, needs to be around people/other dogs all the time. He's settled down a bit, but still has a way to go. Everyone she's spoken to - e.g. vet, other dog owners, thinks that this would be a great idea. She's also been saying for quite some time that the next one will be a pound puppy, from the RSPCA. This isn't something that has been rushed into.
We've been out to the RSPCA a couple of times over the last couple of weeks or so. We found a gorgeous staffy x lab that we liked. His name was Alan, and he was a few years old, and a little bigger than Jersey. So, we did as the website suggests to do when you already have a dog at home - Christine took Jersey out to meet Alan. They didn't fight, but as Alan was bigger than Jersey, he dominated him when they played, which lead to Jersey lying down, going submissive. So, Alan was out.
We had a chat at home the other night, and figured that: a) we needed a dog roughly the same size as Jersey, or smaller, and b) we would probably need a dog either younger than Jersey, or roughly the same age. That way, he'd have someone with plenty of energy, just like him. Although we didn't really want to do the whole puppy thing again - housetraining, putting everything up so it doesn't get chewed on, etc., we figured that we survived Jersey being a pup, what's the worst that could happen?
Thursday, we went back to the RSPCA. The sad thing is, they get 15 - 20 new dogs every few days. Honestly, some people should be shot. I'm sure some give their dogs away as a last resort, but most seem to be dumped, or are strays that no one bothers collecting. I guess the only positive is that their are also people who are always willing to take in pound puppies.
So again, we went and had a look. And, two cages from the end, was this tiny bundle of fur. His name was Blaze, and he was a Rottie cross. One of the RSPCA volunteers said that they thought he was actually purebred, but they couldn't say for sure. He was a stray, with no tags and he wasn't microchipped. I put my fingers through the cage, and he started chewing away on them. He was gorgeous.
So, we turned around and went home again to get Jersey. On the way home, we discussed whether we really wanted a puppy or not - could we really handle all the responsibilities of having a little pup? And we decided that if Jersey and the pup got along, then yes, we could.
Jersey and Blaze got along beautifully when we let them have a run together. Jersey needs to be a little more gentle with the pup, but he wasn't bothered when Blaze would run and jump on his head, or lick his feet. So, we decided to go for it. We signed the paperwork, sorted out a day to pick up him up (after he's been microchipped and desexed) and sadly said goodbye to the little guy. On the way home, we discussed renaming him, as he doesn't know his name yet. Christine came up with Dozer, so Dozer it is.
So, anyway. We went out to the RSPCA today to hang with him for a little while. Jersey and Dozer had a run around for a while, which was good. I hope now that the people who left comments can see that this isn't something that we've rushed into. We didn't just pick out Dozer on a whim, because he was cute, without thinking things through. Neither Christine or I are like that. We know that he's going to pee (or "puddle", as one dog training book we got from the library yesterday called it ... How delicate!) in the house. He'll chew and destroy stuff that we like, and that's ok too. He and Jersey will, at some stage, fight. And we'll deal with it. We're ready for whatever those dogs want to throw our way ... :-)
And that, should be the end of that!
For a while now, Christine has been talking about getting another dog. Mostly, to benefit Jersey. He is a social dog, needs to be around people/other dogs all the time. He's settled down a bit, but still has a way to go. Everyone she's spoken to - e.g. vet, other dog owners, thinks that this would be a great idea. She's also been saying for quite some time that the next one will be a pound puppy, from the RSPCA. This isn't something that has been rushed into.
We've been out to the RSPCA a couple of times over the last couple of weeks or so. We found a gorgeous staffy x lab that we liked. His name was Alan, and he was a few years old, and a little bigger than Jersey. So, we did as the website suggests to do when you already have a dog at home - Christine took Jersey out to meet Alan. They didn't fight, but as Alan was bigger than Jersey, he dominated him when they played, which lead to Jersey lying down, going submissive. So, Alan was out.
We had a chat at home the other night, and figured that: a) we needed a dog roughly the same size as Jersey, or smaller, and b) we would probably need a dog either younger than Jersey, or roughly the same age. That way, he'd have someone with plenty of energy, just like him. Although we didn't really want to do the whole puppy thing again - housetraining, putting everything up so it doesn't get chewed on, etc., we figured that we survived Jersey being a pup, what's the worst that could happen?
Thursday, we went back to the RSPCA. The sad thing is, they get 15 - 20 new dogs every few days. Honestly, some people should be shot. I'm sure some give their dogs away as a last resort, but most seem to be dumped, or are strays that no one bothers collecting. I guess the only positive is that their are also people who are always willing to take in pound puppies.
So again, we went and had a look. And, two cages from the end, was this tiny bundle of fur. His name was Blaze, and he was a Rottie cross. One of the RSPCA volunteers said that they thought he was actually purebred, but they couldn't say for sure. He was a stray, with no tags and he wasn't microchipped. I put my fingers through the cage, and he started chewing away on them. He was gorgeous.
So, we turned around and went home again to get Jersey. On the way home, we discussed whether we really wanted a puppy or not - could we really handle all the responsibilities of having a little pup? And we decided that if Jersey and the pup got along, then yes, we could.
Jersey and Blaze got along beautifully when we let them have a run together. Jersey needs to be a little more gentle with the pup, but he wasn't bothered when Blaze would run and jump on his head, or lick his feet. So, we decided to go for it. We signed the paperwork, sorted out a day to pick up him up (after he's been microchipped and desexed) and sadly said goodbye to the little guy. On the way home, we discussed renaming him, as he doesn't know his name yet. Christine came up with Dozer, so Dozer it is.
So, anyway. We went out to the RSPCA today to hang with him for a little while. Jersey and Dozer had a run around for a while, which was good. I hope now that the people who left comments can see that this isn't something that we've rushed into. We didn't just pick out Dozer on a whim, because he was cute, without thinking things through. Neither Christine or I are like that. We know that he's going to pee (or "puddle", as one dog training book we got from the library yesterday called it ... How delicate!) in the house. He'll chew and destroy stuff that we like, and that's ok too. He and Jersey will, at some stage, fight. And we'll deal with it. We're ready for whatever those dogs want to throw our way ... :-)
And that, should be the end of that!
Friday Night Fun
Christine: This is ridiculous. You'd think they'd at least line them up so you can just grab one as you go by.
Me: You're right. I'm gonna write them a letter: "Dear B____ City Council. I went out on Friday night to steal one of your bright orange road cones. Didn't make it easy for me, did you, fuckers?!"
Christine: (Laughing hysterically) I can't breathe.
Me: I'm sure they'll get right onto fixing that. They'd want to make theft easier for their rate-payers!
Me: You're right. I'm gonna write them a letter: "Dear B____ City Council. I went out on Friday night to steal one of your bright orange road cones. Didn't make it easy for me, did you, fuckers?!"
Christine: (Laughing hysterically) I can't breathe.
Me: I'm sure they'll get right onto fixing that. They'd want to make theft easier for their rate-payers!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Introducing ...
Meet Dozer!The newest member of our house. We went to the RSPCA today, and fell in love. Jersey likes him, so we signed the paperwork today. We pick him up on Tuesday. He's a rottie cross, and he is adoreable! He's still a puppy, so we named him Dozer in honour of the bulldozer he's sure to become as he grows!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Another Quote ...
“You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.” - Robin Williams
Friday, January 02, 2009
01/01/09
Congratulations to Ang, Vince and Ryan on the birth of Nicholas John!
01/01/09
7:49 p.m.
8lb, 8oz.
Beautiful, happy and healthy!
01/01/09
7:49 p.m.
8lb, 8oz.
Beautiful, happy and healthy!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
What a year!
So ... 2008.
What a year, eh?
2007, as I've written before, was a crappy year.
2008 was the year that things fell to pieces - and then fell back together perfectly.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together..."
I could write a long, reflective blog entry on all that has happened in the last year ... But, quite frankly, I'm still paying for last night, and I've also had one or two drinks this arvo, so I don't quite have the attention span for a long entry. So instead, I'll just hit on the main points ...
Better things fell together this year.
I lost my job ... Then fell into a job that makes me happy. I love going to work now. I laugh, I joke around with the guys, and I work my arse off happily. I can't count the number of times that I've started smiling at work, just because I've had the thought that I'm so lucky - I love this place, this is my "work". I take work home, and I sit there smiling while I do it. I've been there close to seven months, and none of the gloss is wearing off. Rock on!
I moved from my nice, perfectly located, peaceful little unit when Christine purchased her first house. I knew that it would be fine, as we'd lived together before ... But I'd still lived alone for close to three years. I was used to total freedom, quiet when I wanted it and being the only one in control of the remote control. But again, better things fell together. Now? Now I've living in a kickarse house located three minutes from my work. We've got a huge kitchen and lounge room, and the best airconditioning ever. I haven't lost any of the freedom I got used to while living alone, and I can't believe I ever doubted that this would be anything but awesome. Again, this is only a couple of months old, but I don't see anything changing. We've settled in so well, it seems like we've always been here.
The family dramas went up and down for the first three-quarters of the year, which was rough. However, the last few months have seen a slight, teeny, tiny, slow-moving change occur. Things finally seem to be settling down. For the first time in a few years, we were all home for Christmas, and there were no fights. The day was peaceful, and content. We weren't the "perfect family" by any means ... But maybe we're on the way there.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together ..."
Bring on 2009!
Happy New Year!
What a year, eh?
2007, as I've written before, was a crappy year.
2008 was the year that things fell to pieces - and then fell back together perfectly.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together..."
I could write a long, reflective blog entry on all that has happened in the last year ... But, quite frankly, I'm still paying for last night, and I've also had one or two drinks this arvo, so I don't quite have the attention span for a long entry. So instead, I'll just hit on the main points ...
Better things fell together this year.
I lost my job ... Then fell into a job that makes me happy. I love going to work now. I laugh, I joke around with the guys, and I work my arse off happily. I can't count the number of times that I've started smiling at work, just because I've had the thought that I'm so lucky - I love this place, this is my "work". I take work home, and I sit there smiling while I do it. I've been there close to seven months, and none of the gloss is wearing off. Rock on!
I moved from my nice, perfectly located, peaceful little unit when Christine purchased her first house. I knew that it would be fine, as we'd lived together before ... But I'd still lived alone for close to three years. I was used to total freedom, quiet when I wanted it and being the only one in control of the remote control. But again, better things fell together. Now? Now I've living in a kickarse house located three minutes from my work. We've got a huge kitchen and lounge room, and the best airconditioning ever. I haven't lost any of the freedom I got used to while living alone, and I can't believe I ever doubted that this would be anything but awesome. Again, this is only a couple of months old, but I don't see anything changing. We've settled in so well, it seems like we've always been here.
The family dramas went up and down for the first three-quarters of the year, which was rough. However, the last few months have seen a slight, teeny, tiny, slow-moving change occur. Things finally seem to be settling down. For the first time in a few years, we were all home for Christmas, and there were no fights. The day was peaceful, and content. We weren't the "perfect family" by any means ... But maybe we're on the way there.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together ..."
Bring on 2009!
Happy New Year!
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