The end of an era.

Today, Katie Couric will sit with Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Ann Curry for the last time.

I contemplated getting up at 4am to watch the broadcast on Channel 7.

But I won't.

I'm not crazy.

Much.

After 8 years...

I've finally worked out what the 'loudness' dial on my amp is for.

Uhhhh... stupid.

The view from my desk.

They may be commission flats but they sure are pretty at sunrise through the fog.

So goodbye, my friend...

I moved out of my flat. I have a lot of crap. I got to a point where I decided, 'If it's not packed, throw it out.' With my motto firmly in place, I realised I would have to return after rubbish day as I'd filled up most of the rubbish bins.

Why oh why must I hoard!?!

Stay tuned for photos of my vacating clean. Rivetting stuff.

Rubber band ball envy.

Mine's the one on the right.

This photo would be so much more artistic if J2 was here to take it.

People in the morning.

What is with people who 'queue up' behind you when you're standing at the intersection waiting for the lights to change?

I mean, really, this is Gipps & Hoddle. It's quite a large intersection, not a footbridge.

I am not your crossing guard. Do I look like I'm holding a lollipop?

*yeesh face*

In alliance with middlechild

I, too, would like to know why blogger doesn't have a polling device.

My poll would be about a current hot topic (no, not The X-Men):

If you were climbing Mt. Everest and came across a fellow climber who was dying, would you stop and assist or would you continue your pursuit?

I'm sure there are countless factors involved - especially seeing as I haven't been reading the newspaper articles - but what would you do?

And please don't comment, 'Shoot the hostage'.

Who's Who of the The X-Men Universe.

Courtesy of msnbc.msn.com

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12841419/

Mutants at the Cannes Film Festival.

Ellen Page, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin,

Dania Ramirez, and Rebecca Romijn.

As if you would seek to eliminate them from Earth.

Photo by Jeff Christensen, AP

Madonna aka Madge aka Esther.

On the news last night, they reported that Madonna had launched her 'Confessions' tour. Included in the report were a few snippets from the concert.

I'm not certain Madonna had her singing pants on because what I heard was horrible... Horrible.

Then there was the whole saddle/pole/carousel thing that she was sitting on and being transported around the stage while she sang 'Like A Virgin'.

Wrongtown.

At least she seems to have found a way to conserve her energy and prevent another hernia.

The fans seemed to love it though, as everyone who gets to see her will. And, of course, there's the new controversary about using a cross or something.

Let's just hope they don't threaten to arrest her again in Toronto!

6 out of 8.

Whilst JGT's tipping has taken a turn for the worse, this is the first weekend I've managed to tip more than 5 winners in the Ashley & Martin Footy Tipping competition I'm in through ninemsn.com.au.

However, I have no idea how I'm doing in the pub tipping comp.

This week saw the Tigers withstand a late run from the evil Crows (*shakesfist*) and take home the four points. Richo didn't score a goal but Pettifer took the mark of the year... Go you good things!

Now there's been a bit of chatter about the style of play that the Tigers used against the Crows. I have to admit that I missed the game but saw a few highlights during the Sunday Footy Show and I am quite pleased I missed the game of high-possession, keep away. And while people are calling it boring and Sheeds has got on his soapbox and poo-poo'd Terry Wallace's game plan, the fact is the Tigers caused the upset of the round.

The Crows should have turned around and invoked a full-court press, if you will, rather than let the Tigers build up their stats.

Anyways, now all we need to do is build up our low percentage...

GO TIGES!

Fight Night.

Forget Anthony Mundine v. Danny Green last week, how about Axl Rose v. Tommy Hilfiger!

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12900726/

Cross-cultural pollination.

Last night was the beginning of my new foray into the arts. Actually, foray may be too strong a word but I like it.

I went to my first play in Melbourne, which was also my first time at The Malthouse, which is pretty much the theatrical hub of Melbourne. (www.malthousetheatre.com.au)

Anyhoo, we went and saw "A View of Concrete". Seeing as I'm not in a very descriptive mood this morning, I'm just going to insert the press release here so you know what it's about:

Hallucinogenic dreams and the frisson of terrorist fantasies.

With killing humour and an eye to the idiosyncratic, Gareth Ellis delves into life on the dark side and finds a pop-up panorama of technicoloured paranoia. Ellis conjures what he calls "an alternative present" – where cats and dogs are dying mysteriously, the phone never stops ringing, and drugs are on the menu for breakfast, lunch and tea.

Winner of the 2004 Wal Cherry Award and the 2005 Malcolm Robertson Prize, A View of Concrete is a new play from a new voice in Australian theatre. A voice that signals that the world these people live in is just across the road from our own – and you know them better than you think!

A View of Concrete, directed by Lauren Taylor (Sweet Staccato Rising,Love) is an unapologetic and witty take on the world inherited by Generation Next.

Following the play, my new theatre buddy (we've decided to make this a regular outing) and I ventured into town for a bowl of pho and then delved into the world of female hip hop at The Workshop, complete with dance-off and all! It could have been a Black Eyed Peas video.

All this and home by 11.

And what I really want to know is...

Areyougonnagomyway?

The thing about spring cleaning at supremookie's is that I find music that I forgot I had.

There's a tense issue with that sentence.

And it's autumn.

Pah.

Last night, I was listening to some CD that I have and it was mixed by the wonderful Tony de Vit. I believe this CD was made in the late 90s and it brought me back to the days of 'Milkbar' at The Icebox in Kings Cross, wondering where Lexie had disappeared to in the middle of her set, the wafting smell of pizza coming from the adjoining shop, the big flash of light whenever Charlie walked between the club and the pizza shop...

Coffee anyone?

Well, we've been in Collingwood for a week now. Here is the week in review.

I've tried several different paths to work to find the quickest route but that really doesn't matter anymore.

My work shoes are not made for walking.

I'd like to know why Anh the Vietnamese dressmaker on Victoria Street gets a delivery of 3 boxes of lettuce on Friday mornings. True story.

For the past week, I have tried to find a decent coffee which isn't more than 5 minutes away. Sure, Smith Street is a mecca of cafes but we're in a semi-awkward position with no shortcuts to Smith Street which translates to cold coffee by the time you get back to work.

On Wednesday, I went to what I *thought* was the recommended coffee place in the area. I was advised that they don't make the best coffee but the service is great. My soy latte was the worst coffee I've had that I can remember. And I've recently had percolated McDonald's coffee too. Turns out it wasn't the place recommended to me after all.

I tried the grumpy cafe on the corner yesterday. I ordered a latte to take away and received a scalding cup of something with chocolate sprinkled on top. Classy.

This morning I went to a bakery on Langridge as it is sort of on my way to work. While it was fun watching the bakers and the service was muchos friendly, the coffee wasn't great. I even bought one for the boss man and thought I had to down two large cups of this stuff before he eventually came in. He is a coffee buff (aficionado, if you will) and while he appreciated the caffeine hit when he walked in, I think he might toss the rest of it.

Today I have to go to the Post Office and pick up some more mail. Mental note: there is no door to door postal delivery so I must remember to not get parcels delivered here. I'm going to look for the hole in the wall that makes the best coffee on Smith Street.

And for anyone working in the north end of the city, I highly recommend Cafe Trubi on the corner of Little Lonsdale and Hardware for the best cup of coffee.

Woo... My body is rejecting this coffee. Gotta go...

And a 1, 2, 3, 4...

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Joyyyyyyyyyyyyyce...
Happy Birthday to you!!!

Woooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Dreams... meh.

On Friday night, I had a bizarre dream. It went a little something like this:

I was on my way home from somewhere. I got off the tram at Bridge Road and somehow managed to come out of the shops and nearly ran smack into a couple of scary looking guys. I ended up crossing the road to avoid them and proceeded to my block of flats.

When I arrived, I noticed that it wasn't just one block of flats, but four buildings around a central court a la Melrose Place. Seeing as this was all new to me, I had no idea how to get up to my flat, so I was pulling down fire escapes and playing some sort of live 'Snakes & Ladders' game but without the snakes, of course. If there had been snakes, my dream would have ended here with me screaming like Ned Flanders.

Anyhoo, I was climbing up all these buildings and at one point came across a few members of my family who were moving out of the building. Then I saw some people who I knew lived in my block so I went in their direction. There was a very odd moment where I stopped to notice the terracotta paving tiles in the courtyard and made a mental note - yes, still in my dream - to take a photo of them.

Finally, I made it up some stairs and went inside and was promptly told that I did not live in the Aged Care facility and was told to quickly move along to the next wing. So I walked through the corridor, passed Carla from 'Scrubs', then ran into Elliot (also from 'Scrubs') and asked her to help me find my flat.

And that's about it.

What does it all mean?!

The X-Men.

Last night, I stayed up way past my Sunday bedtime to watch 'X-Men 2'.

With 'X-Men: The Last Stand' about to be released on the big screen, I had some catching up to do.

'The X-Men' has always been one of my favourite comics/cartoons. I love how nasty Wolverine is, never much cared for Cyclops or Rogue, but Dr. Jean Grey/Phoenix were my favourite characters.

Actually, I stopped reading the comics because I couldn't quite grasp the whole Dr. Jean Grey/Phoenix metamorphoses (missing issues doesn't really help either).

Anyhoo, I believe that this will be explained in the the third and final installment of the movie. I now know what the ads are talking about when they say 'the return of Jean Grey'.

I can't wait.

By the way, how come Halle Berry doesn't have an English accent like cartoon Storm?

And why is Rogue so young?

End of the road.

In case anyone is still bothering to look, 'Requests Hall of Shame' has been deleted.

It was a good idea, I just failed with the upkeep.

Jen Cloher.

On the way to downtown Warracknabeal a couple of weeks ago, fitzroyal brought along several CDs, most of which I hadn't heard of before. She even gathered a few 'dancey' CDs that she thought I might enjoy listening to, what with my former life as a dirty vinyl pusher.

Anyhoo...

One of the CDs that came along for the ride was 'Deadwood Falls' by Jen Cloher and The Endless Sea.

Yesterday, I picked up both 'Deadwood Falls' and 'Permanent Marker' (Jen's EP).

The one song I can't get enough of is 'Better off Dancing'. It's my new happy song.

So long Erasure.

And that's the end of my rave on Jen Cloher.

For more info: www.jencloher.com

For all you Melbournians:

I believe there's a public transport ticket blitz today.

The end is near.

Tonight, I'll be catching the 24 for the last time.

That means no more junkies over-crowding me on the tram and making me want to vomit.

No more standing at the wind tunnel tram stop at the corner of Queen and Latrobe.

Tomorrow morning, I will catch the 48/75 tram for the last time.

I will no longer have to endure people standing too close to me at the tram stop.

I will no longer be able to play 'spot the ticket inspector' in the mornings anymore.

I will no longer be able to stalk Di at Federation Square.

I'll never have to spend $98.70 on a monthly tram pass again.

I'll never have to get on the stinky 57 going up Elizabeth Street.

I'll never have another City Weekly thrust in my face on a Thursday morning.

For tomorrow is the last day that I will have to travel into the city for work.

YAY!!!

Skeletor.

These are my new winter cycling gloves. Now I need a rain jacket that preferably isn't fluorescent yellow.

Kent Street Primary tree

Melbourne's Skipping Girl

'And beautifully she sank as up river was the bank...'*

On Saturday, I took a walk down to the Yarra and attempted to take some photos. These were the results. I actually walked halfway across the footbridge (I'm not very good with footbridges and overpasses, generally). Then I freaked out and turned around.

* 'The River' by Missy Higgins.

Graffiti alert.

I had embarked on a search for 'RENKS' but instead I found these:

Go on, I dare ya!

I wasn't sure what this was.

It looked sort of like a mistake.

But then, it also looks like a fireman.

I'll never get my Learner's Permit because I have no idea what this sign indicates.

What a weird season so far...

This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I had 'Sunrise' on in the background and was most disturbed to hear that Collingwood were on top of the ladder. Second on the ladder is Adelaide.

Appalling.

The Tigers are sitting 10th on the ladder (for those who aren't in the know, there are 16 teams) which is fantastic as we've won the last 3 games in a row AND everyone had written us off after the first game when we were annihilated by the Bulldogs.

Saturday's 'Dreamtime at the G' match vs. Essendon came to a nail-biting finish with the Tigers defeating the Bombers 97 to 95. I, along with Jude 1, sat in a very anti-Tiger environment and were most pleased when the siren sounded.

The ladder after Round 6 is as follows:

1. Collingwood - Oh well, it's good for Victorian Football.
2. Adelaide - Meh.
3. West Coast
4. Western Bulldogs
5. Hawthorn - what?
6. Fremantle
7. St Kilda - Poor Kosi. :(
8. Sydney - Finally finding some of their premiership form.
9. Melbourne - Who cares?
10. Richmond - GO THE TIGES!
11. Geelong - So much for winning the NAB Cup.
12. Kangaroos - Make a decision about Rocca!
13. Port Adelaide - Oh Warren, what has become of you?
14. Essendon - Can they find another forward option besides Matty Lloyd?
15. Carlton - Last year's wooden spooner.
16. Brisbane - 'Tis rebuilding time for the team that won 3 in a row not so long ago.

May Birthdays

A great big Happy Birthday goes out to the following people:

Mum
Joyce
Glenn
Heidi
Krista
Stascha
Di
Hayley
Scotty

*throws cookies*

Is it really worth it?

So I went back to the optometrist this morning and told her that I didn't want these monthly lenses. She tried to do the hard sell and blabbed on about how much they're better for my eye health but I just told her rather bluntly, 'The past two weeks have been really uncomfortable.'

She had another look at my eyes and I don't know if this was some sort of punishment for not following her advice but, with my head resting in the opthamological vice and the super bright light shining into my eyes, she says, 'I'm just going to invert your eyelids.'

Yes, that is as uncomfortable as it sounds.

Then I was attacked with the cardboard strip again. This time I had a look to see what it was because I was especially intrigued when she said, 'You'll just have to sit for a minute before you put your lenses back in otherwise they'll stain yellow.'

Right.

(by the way, I did say to her 'those cardboard strips are WRONG!')

Anyway, these are what those strips are... in case you want to use them to torture anyone.

FLUORETS* (strips)
PROPRIETARY NAME(and dosage form):FLUORETS* (strips)
COMPOSITION:Each paper strip is impregnated with approximately 1 mg of fluorescein sodium
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION:Fluorets stain corneal and conjunctival abrasions or ulcers a bright green and foreign bodies are surrounded by a green ring.Loss of substance in the conjunctiva is indicated by a yellow stain.
INDICATIONS:For use in detecting corneal abrasions and foreign bodies in the eye, in applanation tonometry, in assessing the patency of the nasolacrimal duct and in contact lens fitting procedures.
CONTRA-INDICATIONS:Hypersensitivity.
DOSAGE AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE:Pull the tabs apart at the right-hand end of the envelope and withdraw the Fluoret. Moisten the tip with tear fluid from the lower fornix, sterile water, or sterile saline, and gently stroke the Fluoret across the conjunctiva. For best results, the patient should blink several times.
SIDE EFFECTS AND SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:Each applicator should only be used once and then discarded. Care should be taken to handle the strips by the non-impregnated end only.
IDENTIFICATION:A lint free, narrow paper strip with an orange-coloured tip.
PRESENTATION:Sterile, individually wrapped paper strips, packed in gravity-feed cartons of 100 strips.

At the end of my visit, I kindly asked the optemetrist to write out my contact lens and spectacle prescriptions as I will not be back. I didn't say that last part tho.

Weak.

Pirate Jack Sparrow falls from coconut tree.

Making news all over the world this weekend was the story on Keith Richards falling from a tree whilst on holidays in Fiji.

In yesterday's Herald Sun, they reported that Richards and Charlie Watts were attempting to climb a coconut tree when Richards fell out.

What makes grown men climb trees?

Especially grown men from world famous rock bands.

Tomorrow...

I'm going back to the optometrist.

I've had these monthly disposable lenses in my eyes for nearly two weeks now (during my awake hours, that is).

The nausea subsided after the first week but then these lenses started to feel like my fortnightly lenses when I stretch out their use too long.

They also have the feel of a contact lens when it's been left out of solution for a bit too long.

Anyway, I've decided I'm going to tell my optometrist that these lenses are not for me.

Now I'll have to revert back to the other lenses and hopefully not go through the whole nausea deal again. I'm sure JGT doesn't want to go through me saying 'I'm gonna puke' on the hour, every hour, again.

At least I got two weeks of 'free vision' out of this.

410 posts ah ah ahhh!

a.k.a Things you see on the Great Western Highway (the M8/A8), Victoria.

The steering wheel of the Holden Commodore we rented

(and fitzroyal's hand and forearm).

Either the Pyrenees or the Grampians. I can't remember.

Farmers burning off out yonder.

Beaufort, Victoria.