Sep
30
2008
The Hold Steady get a good write-up in the Sydney Morning Herald (written by a critic that I don’t find particularly agreeable):
Grand Ambitions
THERE is a scurrilous line put about that music critics have always liked Elvis Costello because sad sack critics all look like the dweeby, far from sexy man with the knock-knees and the National Health specs.
Take a look at a picture of the Hold Steady, possibly the most lauded American band of the past three years, and you might think the same thing
And it goes from there. Good to see the local press!
Sep
29
2008
Twenty-five years ago, something nearly happened that, if it didn’t kill us all, would have seriously ruined, well, everything.
Thank you Stanislav Petrov for defying yourr apparent standard orders, for using common sense, and for knowing better.
What kind of a world would we have had without this man, and others like him?
Sep
28
2008
Paul Newman died today, as you’ve no doubt read. A great actor, philanthropist and racing driver/manager. I’ll admit that this is his most famous role:
But in this house, he’s now just as familiar for this:
Doc in Cars probably linked up everything that Newman was really passionate about — acting, car racing… and no doubt his grandkids loved it. Wonder what they’ll do in Cars 2 now… if it was up to me, I don’t think you could have Doc in the story anymore. You’d have to go another way, but you’d have to memorialise Doc as well.
And this is the second Cars cast member to go this year, after George Carlin a few months ago. It’s never fair, but I guess they both had good runs too.
So we’ll all do one last lap for you, Doc Hudson…
Sep
27
2008
Went out for a drive around Blacktown yesterday, checking out our new area and the different facilities and things around the place. Seems we’re fairly well positioned for the most part; lots of services in both directions of home. And it’s a nice quiet street as well.
I did however, manage to get thoroughly lost at one point, by making a series of total wrong turns, and I blew my temper about it. Quite innappropriately, I admit it, but then Will saved the day.
Yes, Will. We’re busy arguing withh each other, and Will started off with “Calm down!” Not in a forceful way, just in his adorable 4-year-old way. Then he continued: “take a deep breath”. So cute, yet greaceful under pressure. I know they’re things we’ve taught him to do when he’s upset, but the fact that he can have the presence to say it to us when we’re arguing, and be so cute about it that he can’t help but calm us all down immediately, is just so good.
I gave him a hug after that. It’s good to put things in perspective. The rest of the day was great (and I bought him a new Cars toy after that!)
Sep
26
2008
It feels odd that I haven’t done a full 40-hour week for a long time, it seems. Certainly not more than a few in the last two months, with all the illness, kids in hospital and now moving insanity. Had 1.5 days off this week, for kid’s doctors and house hunting, but with house hunting fixed, now there’s only moving to take into account. And that’s a trial in itself of course.
Edged out the week with another reasonable work day, another work lunch, and enough work to feel like I did something without being overdone. At least the idiot factor was nowhere to be seen today, but they can return at any time.
Watching overseas economic news with interest and bemusement… trying to work out if we’re seeing the final deaththroes of the American Republic, or it’s just Bush choking to death. It’s a total mess, but recoverable, you’d think.
A weekend of house packing, cleaning and early moving I think. And I don’t even need to think about work for Monday, since we’re signing the lease then.
Sep
26
2008
-
Another lit agency that does a lot of YA stuff, could be good again.
-
What is this? A cheapo blog network or something else… better? worse?
-
Interesting story on the successes of te iPhone apps store. Wonder what the ops are for all.
-
Interesting story on Pink Floyd and Echoes over 2001 setup.
-
Really looks like a good soundtrack, with great artists covering Dylan, including a Hold Steady track. Should look to buy this locally (no emusic).
Sep
25
2008
Well, after all the issues yesterday, it turns out that we’ve been offered one of the properties we applied for (and taken it, naturally), and that the rubbis hat work is no issue at all (at least not yet.)
So we’re off to live in Blacktown in a week, and my job will merrily continue as it is, at least for now.
And I’m pushing the hours here way too much. Sleep. Now.
Sep
24
2008
Spent most of the late night at home going through hair-brained questions passed on to me that originate from someone thoroughly repellant related to work. They were answered, and spoke clearly to my immense frustrations at aspects of the place, but it doesn’t leave me with much hope for it really.
I mean, if this influence has returned, we’re in a lot of trouble, or even if this influence is just advising things. That’s probably even worse, since it gets to stay hidden.
On the upside, didn’t have to go to work today. Downside, we spent the whole day desperately house hunting, put in two new applications, but that will likely still have us heavy with competition, and not really any closer to getting somewhere to live. And this story had to pop up today, to make us feel even better about the whole process.
Ha ha. That is all I will say on these topics, I think, to avoid going insane…
Sep
23
2008
What I’d like to know is how can it be oer 20 degrees at 12.30am last night, but be down to about 14 by 11am today? I dressed for one kind of day at 7.30am, then discovered it was really another kind by the time I got to work.
Just when you think it’s Spring, it seems as if events conspire to make sure it’s back to being Winter again. A cold night, this one, it would seem.
Managed to grab some more time off work to get ourselves house hunting again, which of course is becoming quite the necessity. It’s hard not to feel the pressure, and the exhaustion, in all of this, but hopefully it will be resolved soon.
It’s cold now… like it’s August again, even though it’s nearly October now. The weather is… odd.