This posting, i'm letting my fingers do the talking... via various emails that i've sent to friends throughout the week...
To Michael - 19.04.04
Interesting morning. Toilet blocked up yesterday, so we had to get sexy plumber out (YAY! Andrew now appreciates why I would go on and on about this 'hot plumber' that would come out to us whenever we had problems. Suspect Andrew is currently at home trying to block the toilet again.) Plan was to get up at 7.15 and have a quick shave/shower before the plumber arrived at 7.30, then grab some money out, leave it with Andrew (who is on holidays) to pay and grab the receipt and I get to work as usual. Plumber arrived at 7.16. Bugger.
After plumber left, I noticed the bathroom window open, and wanted to close it not to give the people in the back blocks a peep show routine. In the process of closing it, successfully slammed the window on my thumb, causing a blood blister. Not fun. Not happy. Lots of pain. But now Caspar and I are even more like father, like son.
Finally got ready and walked out the front door to see the tram I intended to catch to get me to work just that tad bit earlier (since I was now officially late) shoot straight past me, and ended up walking all the way to work, only to have the transit system mock me by having a tram shoot past me just as I arrived at work.
Rest of the day has been okay aside from that, but hey - it's only 12.46.
Had one interview this morning and spent most of my time absolutely drooling over him. Tall, boy next door with the cutest little dimpled smile, with a passion for fine art (he owned a picasso) and good conversation. I think he suspected I was definitely interested in his 'qualifications', although i'm sure his wife and six week old daughter wouldn't appreciate it, and neither would Ant (although he agrees with me that it is always fine to look cause we are only human).
Anyway, backs to work for me now. Have another interviewee just finishing off our registration database which means i'll be doing the one on one part in a few minutes time. Then i've got another interview at 4pm today. Busy day! Add to that the 50+ resumes I have still to work through at the moment... if I get through half of those today and make something out of it, i'll be happy.
Thanks again for a fun weekend. Glad everything was kinda chatty as it helps build friendships stronger and, besides, there is never any harm in reminding us how great friends became great in the first place.
To Sam - 02.04.04
Getting debt free... hmm... last year cost me enormously, so I can't really see me being debt free for a while yet. But my side projects are coming together better than what I would've anticipated, and while I can see them being long term, I feel more on track now than I have in a while. 2002, and the start of 2003, were wonderful periods for me. Mid to late last year though, were definitely one of the toughest periods i've had to face yet. What felt good was getting through it with a strong attitude and my dignity still intact, and many of my family and friends have commented on that and how proud they are of me for achieving what I have in the face of adversity. But still, as I always believe, what doesn't kill you only serves to make us stronger.
Heard the new George Michael album. It's a bit blah so far... but then i've always thought that of his albums on the first few listens and decide he is an artist that you always need to let grow on you. I'm not finding much 'rock' lately that interests me either, except for Daniel John's and Paul Mac's new outfit, The Disassociatives. I like bands that mess with traditional formats, such as what Garbage, U2 and Nine Inch Nails have done over the years. But I think i'm swinging more towards dance music again lately, but considering I have a long time passion for dance and have often worked in that genre, it is hardly surprising. I'm finding even pop music bores me a bit lately. I like what Maroon 5 have been doing lately, but some of my 'favourites' have been disappointing me lately. I mean, 'Red Blooded Woman' is a good example - I don't think terribly much of that track and think there are so many better options on 'Body Language' that Kylie could've gone with.
To an old FMR friend - 14.04.04
I know I keep saying it, but must catch up soon. Book project is going really well, and between you and me, seem to have (big name local journalist) perhaps interested in getting involved in some way too. I've also accepted a part time job with an English company, while will see me needing to set up my own 'company' in the immediate future, but that's all very exciting. Also doing full time here (and the UK job will work in with this), and this feels like it is all going well too.
Home life is good. Andrew has left Stage & Screen (finally!) and is going on to become the Melbourne manager for Globetrotters (or some company like that...) He is stoked, and will be brilliant at it. Ant and I hit eight months recently too, and is (ahem) 'meeting the parents and family' this coming weekend, which he is a little nervous about. I've finally got back to rejoining the gym too. Had my fitness
assessment yesterday and was disgusted at how much weight I've gained, especially after all the time, effort and money I put into losing it.
Say hi to xxx, xxx, xxx, xxx (if she's back), xxx (if she's back), and anyone else still there that I have lots of time and affection for. Hope all is going well there and that the recent Warner/Melb shutdown isn't 'hitting' FMR too hard.
Article that made me laugh during the week... taken from Christie's always fantastic column in Beat, 'Industrial Strength'
PLAYING FREEBIES
The issue of free promotional copies has been a hot subject of late, with the Sydney Morning Herald and Triple J attacking the Australasian Record Industry Association (ARIA)’s head Stephen Peach for accepting them when artists aren’t paid royalties on these. We understand a current affairs TV show is working on a story on the “black market” where record company execs exchange promo copies for everything from TV sets to gym memberships. Phil Tripp of Immedia! sent out a press release demanding that the ARIA board suspend or sack Peach pending an inquiry. But the board rallied around Peach, saying “recent attempts to try and link illegal downloading and file sharing with the legal distribution of CDs in the record industry are absurd” and that ARIA management needed promo CDs “in the course of their work at ARIA which includes the production of the ARIA Awards and weekly music charts.” Others suggest that the local music industry go South Africa’s way which has a set limit (1,900 copies) on the amount of promo CDs for each release.
Recent Happy Birthday's...
To my brother in law, Sid, for his 50th. Also to an old family friend, Gary Young, who also turned 50 on the same day.
To Andrew's partner (and now 'housemate') Mark, who turned 40.
To Paul Smith, who turned 30.
And to our campest NZ friend around, Leo, who turned 30 on the 20th!
David Knox is kindly taking me to see Radiohead with him tomorrow night, which should be fun, although David has yet to hear any of Radiohead's material (prefers to go in 'fresh', which you have to admire him for), and i'm hoping the entire concert doesn't focus around the 'Kid A' and 'Amnesiac' albums... please, let there be some 'The Bends' and 'OK Computer' thrown in for good measure.
Tuesday night is off... thankfully!
Catching up with Andrew at his spooky Kew mansions on Wednesday night.
Thankfully, I believe Thursday and Friday nights are free this week, which will give me some space to get my new little part time business venture up and off the ground.
Saturday night is celebrating Leo's 30th.
Another busy week all round! Time to wrap up this posting!
