The Dragon song of the same name

It's been raining on and off now for two days, which believe you me bubba's is kind of a big deal. Where I lived in Canberra you might get a dash of rain in the afternoon or overnight, but hardly ever a whole day. Now I can look out my window and see the neighbourhood covered in fine rain or mist.
I recall growing up with this kind of thing in the old country. Mum would have stashed away so toys or books for rain days. These were the times before video's you see, when a child was required to utilise their imagination. Mostly I think it so Mum could ensure I stayed indoors. I loved puddles. I like water as a rule, but puddles held a magnetic attraction for me. They were best experienced by jumping on them and watching the water SPLASH!! It was a game that never got old. But it get my clothes soaking wet, so you can see why Mum might not have been a fan.

It is still raining outside.

No Spring, Yet... or is it?!?

What is Spring trying to do?

Yesterday saw Mt Buller get 40+ cms of snow, while a few days earlier it was sunny and over 20c. The snow is welcome, even though neither Evie or I are heading there (other, higher responsibilities to manage). But it does ask the question, what is going on with this whole Spring thing?

Other news, band practice has been going well and I've discovered I play better without a beer or two. Thankfully that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things re Friday nights, but it is good to have that validated.

Tuesday was a trip to Adelaide and the whole week was taken up by meetings. It threw my non-work schedule out the window. No gym, less internets. My little girl only saw me leave for work and kiss her goodnight when I got home.
I know I'm not the first dad to have that happen, but I think it sucks.

I'm working on a plan for a 'better way'. One that involves not wining lotto (though it would be handy) for a change. I'll flesh it out in more detail in a later post.

Lancelot Link

Boy howdy, just re-read my post from this afternoon. What a maudlin rant!! Anyway here are links of interest:

• Because I have often ranted against the food in America. This (LINK) is in defense of the indefensible.
• Because Dan Brown is just a truly, truly dreadful phenomenon (LINK1)(LINK2)
• Because computer games these days are just so unimaginative (LINK)

Enjoy!!

Time Flies

Today while driving back from lunch I listened to a report on All things Considered about the events leading up to fall of the Soviet Union. For some reason it took my mind back to 1989 and those early years at university.

It’s what you can get nostalgic about. For no good reason I looked up the website for my old university. I was hit with flood of memories, stronger than they’ve been in years (decades). For some reason I recalled the vague sense of ambition we all had. The fun we all had. The learning, the conversations, the carelessness of all. The summer holidays which were almost identical to regular class weeks (for me at least) except I carried I change of clothes in my backpack and not my class notes.

I remember our writing club, each week you brought a piece of writing and handed it around for some peer review (which was always meant to be constructive and amazingly I found it was). I wanted to be a writer, badly. Perhaps it was the only strong ambition I ever had in those days. But I never applied myself to the study of being a writer. To be honest I don’t think I ever knew where to begin. Or perhaps I just liked the idea of being a writer without putting myself to bother of actually writing something.

I’ve looked up from my desk and I see my work colleagues engaged in ‘work’. Something I need to get back to, though I wish just for a moment I didn’t have to.

Helping Ma

Just finished a survey by the University of Melbourne into Breast Cancer. My Mum has had a history with it going back 12 years or so. They asked me some health questions and weight questions and oddly drinking questions.
Which got me to reflect on my drinking patterns over the past 20 years or so. These days I rarely drink, usually its 1 or 2 beers on a Friday night at band practice and perhaps a glass of wine at our family lunches once a fortnight. If that.
This is down from the dozen or more 'standard drinks' of my youthful 20's per week. Although when they asked the question I was thinking, 'are they asking about Schooners, pots, pints, longnecks or stubbies?' Truth be told I can't actually remember exactly how much I used to drink, but I recall I rarely if ever let a day go by without one.

These days I don't drink because of personal decisions and because I find hangovers chew up so much of my weekend I hate wasting my time on them.

But I was glad I could help out with the survey. I'm even giving blood for them, something that shocked Evie who knows my aversion to that sort of thing. I hope it helps the survey and I hope it helps other people including CJ. Nice to feel part of something bigger than myself.