I have returned from my 8+ km walk, it has been a beautiful day for one. So many flowers out and about. Different part of town than what I'm used to so fascinating to look at the architecture - things you can easily miss in a car.
The funniest thing I saw was a specialty bra shop with larger sizes... Located right next to a physio. They know their target market. Stupid large boob problems.
The only real way to get to know a city or even a neighbourhood is to strap on one's walking shoes and walk it. It's the best. I do not truly understand why people are glued to their phones and headphones, when they pass through a changing landscape that is worthy of close observation. The changing seasons, the changing people, you really do have to pay close attention to keep up with what's happening in this city. Plus all the possibilities for casual conversation with gardeners and dog walkers and the like. When one has the time and opportunity, walking the streets can offer great rewards. A lovely soft velvety evening like tonight is perfect.
I agree with everything in your comment (and what a fantastic word to describe the evening - velvety indeed). I will confess I do also enjoy walking with headphones on; I'm not always up for a conversation and I do find the music and landscape heighten my experience of each other. Particularly great when one is feeling fragile or vulnerable. But then you do lose that aural experience of the neighbourhood which has a lot to offer too, when you're ready to receive it.
But there is so much to drink of when travelling by foot. For anyone who loves plants it's a no brainer of course.
The caveat is walking along awful, car-centric stroads like Bell Street or Nepean Hwy - ugh. Or some of the outer suburbs with boundary to boundary houses and nary a tree. Those can be actively stress inducing.
Welp, it’s going to be Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love for the fancy dress party. (Pretty easy clothing to pull together) Thank you all for the suggestions a few days back.!
I’m getting old. Find myself going to bed earlier and waking up much earlier. Although I’m sure part of this is also due to the sunrise being earlier too.
Well, that was exciting. Went out for a leisurely coffee and a stroll that turned into MAJOR PANIK when I realised I had locked myself out of my friends place... no spare keys... Low phone battery... ALL my keys were attached :')
I got very, very fucking lucky that the second place I called had someone passing through the area and they came in 5 mins and they were very reasonable about it too! That's enough excitement for one day I think
Just a question to the fellow lemmings, are there any subforums where the middle aged millennials congregate and sook about how people are becoming sooks? Because these are my people. /r/straya had a bit, and I'm a bit over the hexbear c nuts, the yank shit and "fuck cars", "anti rental" etc bullshit. It's a one trick pony that needs the curtain pulled around it.
I'm just sick of sooks and want to zone out with fellow legends.
Cheers Spud. The level I operate at is Alphablokes, Sports Bizarre etc podcasts on the way to/from work and kid duties, and copious amounts of washing, cleaning and cooking as my new recreational activities of choice in the evening, been a cunt since the butler quit. At work is being questionably professional while running a blue collar workshop in a white collar industry. I love my team, kids, and wife, and they don't hate me. Win, win.
Big day today. Second session of my autism assessment this morning and second round interview for the customer service role late this afternoon. Pray for mojo.
Well interview done and I think I fucked it. I stumbled on a few questions and I think i didn't give detailed enough answers for the CEO and i just felt overwhelmed. but i'm hoping my humbleness and reasons for applying for the job get me by. but probably not. I feel like shit dying. I should find out early next week.
Agree it’s time for some self care. Interviews are so stressful. But it’s hard to know what the result will be, you don’t know what happened with the other candidates, or if the employer had the same perception of the answers that you did of yourself.
However if you don’t get the job, it’s ok! There will be others and you will be more prepared for them due to the experience from this one.
Thanks SC. You're right. I mean I didn't even think I would make it beyond the phone interview. I think the interview being with the CEO really threw me off or maybe I just felt that and he was impressed with some of my answers. I don't know. I'm just going to assume the worst and let it go because usually thats when something good happens haha.
Deep breaths. It's okay. Take it as interview practice.
Write down the answers to the questions you fumbled (or type them), and refine them. Save them in your phone and review them, try to memorise them. Next time you are asked, you'll have a clear, concise answer to give.
It does feel bad, but it is okay. I promise. Get on some self-care tonight and try to be kind to yourself. You will find another job, I know it :D
Thanks spudsy. Between Interviewing and getting the second part of an assessment to see if I'm on the spectrum it's just been a big fucking day and I got a lot of emotions going around. But self care is in progress, had a hot shower, got a cup of lemsip (because for some reason it helps calm me down) and dinner is hot mexican sausages in bread with some chips and corn and peas. I think some One piece live action and HALO is on the cards for tonight.
If the manager already liked you, the CEO was probably more interested in feeling you out. Are you human? Are you going to fit in culturally?
It's super hard to get a feel for a person in an interview setting. It's just so unnatural and really stresses some people out. A good interviewer knows this and tries to factor that into their decision. I've had candidates who really shone in the interview but turned out to be awful workers, and I've had super awkward interviews turn out to be stellar employees once they had a gram of self confidence.
I say you're still in with a shot. Don't give up hope, yet.
Thank you you for this. This has helped me feel a lot better this morning :) Culturally we all seemed to be on the same wavelength and I think i said the right things in terms of culture and why i want to work for them. I didn't even think I would make it past the phone interview and I told them as when thanking them for the privilege and considering me for the role. But yeah, interviews really stress me out and I just can't process the questions properly and my answers come out as superficial or rushed as a result. Hopefully they saw something worthwhile in me :)
After everything you've been through recently I'm glad you can take a decent chunk of time off to restore your energy levels. Good call on catching up on sleep
That is a long stint of leave, nice!! R&R time for sure. Try to get out a lot and bask in our blossoming spring and sunshine 😍 it will do wonders for your health, physical and mental!
I just did something I'd been meaning to do for a while and spent about 15 minutes pouring all of the booze in my fridge down the sink. Thirsty work.. could use a drink after that.
Nah nothing like that. Most of it was just out of date because I haven't been drinking. Not an overly conscious decision, it just sort of happened over time. I still like a drink but I just don't find myself choosing to drink.
Gaming tonight (running in to this morning...) with a bunch of friends. Good to just shit-talk each other. Co-op games only since we're not... Good 😀
Date on Saturday night which I'm looking forward to! Forth date and the last one went super well. Divorced about 5+ years ago. A few dates since but no serious connections.... Also dating when older kinda sucks.
Work has been frustrating but hoping it gets sorted out. Just egos going rampant....
Zombie Army 4 on XBox game pass. We're all... Not fantastic gamers so we stick to co-op only games these days out of fear of playing against younger and better gamers!
Second assessment for Austism done and the clinician also flagged some possible ADHD stuff going on as well. Will get the verdict on the 28th. Now home, had some ham and cheese croissants and now going to relax for a couple of hours before finishing prep for my final interview at 4pm. Also have some chicken nuggs to look forward to for second lunch .
I just went and saw the new ninja turtles movie and it was pretty good, my grievances with it are minor. Gorgeous animation style.
But beyond that I just walked into a cafe which had a special advertised outside and it's just really nice to know that the price on the board is exactly what I'll pay. No added tax and gratuity.
We have this part right, Australia. If you see places trying to implement a tipping culture fight it with everything you have. Rage against it. It's not impolite to say no tip if they try it on you here. You're doing more harm than good to the industry and the country by indulging these parasites. By all means if someone shows exemplary service make it known but please, don't let that US garbage fire of a system seep into this country.
I can't second this enough. Even our US friends hate the system, but they can't seem to break free of it. The owners like it, because they can pay their workers less than $5 per hour. The workers like it, because they're holding out hope for that rare super-tupper who gives them a week's wages in a single order. But the customers hate it.
Having to spend brain cells all the time on whether you need to tip and how much to tip is such a hassle if you don't come from that culture. And the tips are significant - adding $10+ to an order after a meal is not unusual. We aren't talking a couple of dollars, here.
One thing I noticed this trip is that just about everywhere, they'll tell you how much a 15%, 18% or 20% tip would be on the bill or on the screen if you're paying via a console so you don't have to do the maths yourself very often anymore.
The thing which really stings is that their food and drink prices are starting to look like ours but it's USD so with the AUD being worth ~64c to their dollar, meals and those tips are insane. I would not recommend Australians take a trip over there right now unless they've got plenty of money to spend, unless they eat and drink on the cheap by cooking for themselves or doing the cheapest fast food only rather than any sort of table service. I'll give you our most extreme example, even though this meal was comped by the casino for us so we only paid the tip. That meal where I had Petunia the fancy steak.. that was $70 for my steak + $10 or so for the mac and cheese side + $20ish (from memory) for my drink. All up our bill was $300 + $50 tip for 3 of us which was only like a 16% tip. I'll do you the favour of converting it and tell you that it's $543.61 AUD.
Back down to earth, I could not go anywhere for a sit down meal which came to less than around $40 AUD for myself after tax and tip. Whether that was a basic bacon and eggs type breakfast or something for dinner. Another fun example is I took 2 short taxi rides in Vegas which cost me $70 AUD total. I think the amount on the meters were around $18 USD each but then add your tax and tips. Absolutely insane. I am lucky enough that I have plenty of disposable cash so I simply wasn't keeping track of how much I was spending, but just being mindful of it. I don't know and I don't want to know how much that trip cost me, even though I could easily look and figure it out.
Over there? Depends on how much I spent. Minimum 18%, often 20%, sometimes a little over that if it was cheap and they were great. Can't punish them for their dumb system. Just can't let it happen here.
Not long ago I was talking to someone who mentioned going on holiday in October and I said I guess you’ll have to vote early. And they said they had no idea referendum was happening, and what’s it about? Ok odd, but I explained it. And then tonight on tv I see other people being interviewed who also had no idea. The thing that I now wonder though, is how can someone be so totally isolated from any and all tv, radio, social media, discussions etc, that they literally have not heard a thing? I felt oddly philosophical, how does a person live such a life? Spending your time on earth having no idea of the events that happen while you are alive.
Philosophical musing over.
Update: thankyou for your insights! Re-reading my comment, I hope it does not sound critical, it was not my intent, just wondering what the circumstances were, because in my lifestyle I get a lot of exposure to all kinds of current affairs.
Hello you've just described me. I don't consume any television (only streaming and downloads), read any newspapers or news websites, listen to any radio (only Spotify), only use Lemmy, Reddit and Facebook Messenger and I don't really talk to anyone about what's in the news.
I also don't get that sort of mail because my official address is my parents place not my apartment and I haven't been on the electoral roll since 2017 when I planned to leave the country to live but came back but never re-added myself.
In saying that, I've vaguely heard about what this vote is about. I didn't actually know it was going to be a proper public vote or when it'll be until the last few days. I don't know much about the details.
Google headlines on my phone and Reddit give me just about everything I hear about, and neither has had much about this on it.
I just don't want to be a part of the mass media's rage and anxiety machine so I opt out. People more engaged than I am can worry about the things we can't change and if it's important enough to my life I'll hear about it. I'm not saying it's the best or most noble way to live but it's what I choose.
I think what might've happened there is their eyes have seen the posters and their ears have heard the ads, but none of it has registered - in such an over-saturated media environment and overstimulating world, their tired/wired brains are probably filtering out anything that is too complicated or doesn't instantly hook up to their dopamine circuits. Anything with a whiff of an official political campaign to it gets cut off.
I say this sounding all condescending, but I think it happens to most of us at some point in our lives... I've definitely lost track of big events when my battery has been very low and if something isn't about to happen RIGHT NOW it isn't important and I forget about it.
Very Possibly the Same here. Senior/Management types are encouraged, even incentivised to make changes in order to justify their yearly progression. Even if things don't need changing and have worked for years, they have to try and change/improve to stand out and get that moneyyyy
"Parkinson's Law" is an interesting book on the comedy of being a successful manager. Eg, one rule was don't teach any subordinate all of how to do your job. Delegate different parts to different people so they can't sack/replace you easily.
My org isnt much better. I give an opinion on something in my scope, my boss (who hasnt worked in my scope. ever) then goes on a rant about how its not the way to do it. its a bit like "bro, do you SEE the tickets? No? Do you speak to the users? no? then how about you shut the fuck up".
I did pit them in a fight against security, so that should be fun to watch. Hopefully I can get a seat in that meeting.
I just spent 30 minutes with a manager (who has never done one of these documents) changing shit to the point it stopped making sense. As it's a shared document, a director just went in there and started peppering in comments regarding flow and context. I am so fucking done for today it's not even funny.
I have had a pretty good year. Instead of wishing it to be over, I will wish for the last few months to be so wonderful for you that your opinion on the whole year is reversed.
I'm pretty grumpy for a Thursday. Looking forward to catching up with some good people tomorrow. This year has been very 'meh' but I've enjoyed some highlights nonetheless.
Pretty tired after some very busy days - I got up early for a beach walk due to cats but that may have been my peak.
Did manage to get a load of washing done and on the line, and I'm working up the energy to tackle some of the sorting.
Going to work today was good. I finished one of the manga's I bought last month (though of course it had to be the volume of Spy x Family where they introduce Bond! But other than THAT, work was pretty successful. Now to make dinner and play Starfield. Not at the same time sadly...
spoiler for Spy x Family Vol 3 + 4/Episode 11 + 13
Bond Forger is a dog who is basically from the pound with who is being taught/learned/turned into a suicide bomb dogs. Which is based off of the anti-tank dogs from the Red Army in WWII
Long walk was had pre-work this morning, smiling at all the other aging early risers. Love winter, but also live watching people re-emerge with smiling faces.
Kinda wished I did that this morning. Will try and get a walk in at sunset.
My house backs onto a busy walking path and I get to see all the early risers. Most are dog walkers or work commuters on their bikes. But this week I've see more walkers. It's nice.
Tonight is the first night in ages I've got home and the house has been too hot instead of too cold. I've got the windows open and the fan on, it's a really lovely night.
Oh my god that Deaf dude in Only Murders In The Building is SO CUTE. I CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF HIM. Not just because I'm trying to follow the ASL. But he's got such beautiful eyes...
Now you've gone and made me Google the dude. Gotta say a play with deaf main characters sounds interesting. Pity we're 10 years late as well as geographically challenged.
Health assessment done! Actually got some good news. BP down (but have to stay on meds - grrrrr!). Didn't dodge the mental health questions and came through ok. No surprises on what I need to do.
I know what needs to happen. Just have to be consistent & realistic.
Thinking about getting presentable and finding a non-pretentious hot breakfast somewhere. Trouble is finding somewhere around the city/Docklands/Port Melbourne area that's not a self-mastabatory excursion into the overfed egos of hipster wankers. Just a bunch of eggs, bacon and toast and a nice coffee at a quiet table for a reasonable price is all I ask.
The cafe on the ground floor of 1010 Latrobe (the funny looking back and white building, you'll know it) used to be this for me when I worked there. Caveat: this Intel is 10 years old. The building is full of government workers though, and they can't afford pretentious prices. So, it's probably still ok.
Next building up the hill (Melbourne Water, forget the address) was better, but I don't remember eating breakfast there.
Ok, I know everyone is waiting for the update on how I obtained my medical certificate for today. Congratulations to Instant Scripts for being chosen by me so I can enjoy my sick day (or, not enjoy because I really don't feel well lol but anyway). Thanks for the advice all
Im sorta now lowkey cut I was even asked to get one for today to start with though. I've worked here for a few years now and I only ever given one when it's 2+ days. No complaining better be made about me using Instant Scripts because again, my doctor has no appointments for today anyway. Ain't nobody got time to go deal with a new clinic when all they wanna do is sleep the day away and try to feel better asap :(
Whole process from sign up to receiving the certificate took less than 10 mins (edited because I said script instead of certificate lol i didn't get a script because it's not required, cert only)
I'm officially half way through the A2 milk study. Just filled in the mid-point survey, where I got to update the on the exciting gassy digestive developments as a result of the milk change. This week is better than last week, but I am looking forward to going back to standard milk.
Instead of just strolling down the street for just a coffee and a loaf of bread I actually strapped about 5kg of food to my back like a mule and lugged it home. Dinner tonight is proudly brought to my family courtesy of my back. Literally.
Also the kid's gone with her dad to work for work experience week. I know this because I heard the hair dryer going at 5:30 am.
Diagnostics have come back on the crap car: No fault. So that's a bit odd. They are hopeful a cleaning has resolved the issues. I'm unconvinced. But hey, if its still faulting after this I'm telling them they are buying it off me.
The mornings are so nice. Mild , quiet, still a few stars around and the air is full of oxygen and the smell of nature 🤗😊 ( plus little Bill Cat snores )
Does anyone get medical certificates from the chemist? Not feeling great today so called in sick, boss wants a certificate which is fair. But my doctor doesn't have any appointments today, and a $20 cert from the chemist will cost me less than going to a new clinic (no where around me bulk bills anymore or has appointments today).... My boss can't reject a chemist one right?
That, or you can get one for $19 from Instant Scripts. Helped me heaps when doctors stopped bulk-billing. They also offer one-off scripts as well, I sometimes get my anti-sads from them as I often forget to go to the doc for a new script lol.
So, I was looking up the actor of Tim Kono in Only Murders In The Building cos he looked kind of cute. Turns out the actor is half Japanese in real life, his sister Frances was on the first season of Terrace House. But reading through the Japanese websites... Boy oh boy the family drama!!!
wall of text
His mum, Aki Mizusawa is an actress/former sexpot known for stirring up a bit of drama: aside from various financial schemes and reported flings, she was apparently abusive to the kids - Frances left home at 15 due to feeling put down next to her more talented brother, and Julian apparently went to Brown Uni out of fear of his mum (who claimed her strict parenting was what made him successful).
Both claim that she beat them, kicked them, spat at them... but they seem to have reconciled in a weird way. I think Julian and Aki actually publicly made their allegations on Japanese TV back in 2011, and years later, Frances, who was estranged for a long time (her mother only got back in touch after seeing her on Terrace House, natch) and had created her own career as a visual artist, acted with her mother on a show - although again her claim that she wouldn't forget her mother beating her was publicly aired on TV... Luckily she's stayed with her visual career.
And if that wasn't enough, their dad Guy Cihi (who their mother divorced after 7 years presumably because he wanted her in the house more rather than going out acting) is an ex English language teacher (they always are!) who was the original voice of James in Silent Hill... and famously turned out to go from being a bit of a self aggrandising dick who fans loved or hated, to a very vocal batshit Trumpian anti-vax QAnon conspiracy nut who even thinks AIDS is a hoax???
I am now on my third rabbit hole for the day (gonna cut this short in a second to go walk 4km to get the keys cut and walk back for some badly needed exercise). Which is about liver enzymes and psychotropic substances. Caffeine, antidepressants, even hormones (progesterone and estrogen/estradiol).
All I can say is - I am NEVER touching grapefruit ever again. Gonna have to look at earl grey with some suspicion too (I know one aunt has very bad reactions to bergamot).
I'm presuming you've done a pharmacogenomic blood test? Of course it doesn't explain everything as the body is a complex mofo, but I found out I produce very little to no CYP2C19 enzymes which partly explains my poor response to a bunch of SSRIs, and strongly cautions against a bunch of other things that are really good to know whichever dr I go to. It's been cool going through the different enzymes coding regions that were tested, and looking at other substances that those enzymes metabolise or are inhibited/induced by.
god im such a dumbass. cut kiwis and put them into the fridge last night to take it to work. took it to work, put it in work fridge. plan was to eat it before heading to tennis. forgot. now i will have to try again on tuesday. god damn it
Exercises completed. On my way to work with a light hoodie and without the jacket I've been wearing most of the year.. it's become like a security blanket and I feel naked and vaguely insecure without it. Loving this sun but I'm going to miss winter dressing!
Too warm to take the doggo with me for a run this afternoon. Thinking I'll try an early morning run with him tomorrow.... taking bets on whether I press snooze or actually go for the run.
Doing a fairly large but pretty simple drip system thing in the garden some excel things for it beforehand just so everything is clear. Flow rates, pressure etc. etc.. basically turning the tap on into a bucket.
Anyway measured the flow rate from the garden tap and was wondering can you get flow rate (like litres per minute) from the garden tap if you just know pressure and pipe size.
Couldn't find an easy tool on the web to convert kPa to litres per minute so i chucked in this guy just to check the real world measurements:
Yes. There was quite a lot of talk about it during the drought of the early 80s, which culminated in the '83 bushfires. And a lot of news coverage. Source: was there at the time. Also mentioned as part of geography lessons during the 70s when discussing the climate of Australia. Climate change, however, was never mentioned. We were all too worried about nuclear war and 'the bomb'.