Best value for $20 ever... this week

Had a heckuva good time on the weekend, Karin and I went up to the Blue Mountains to see my Ma and Da. Which is always nice.
On the Saturday went headed over to Katoomba to check things out. Aside from anything we needed to get a rug for our family room (since we've had the floorboards down the dogs have been skidding, slippin and sliding something fierce).
But that's not the best ever $20 ever spent.

The best ever $20 ever spent (that Saturday) was on an extra special bargain. There are plenty of second hand places in Katoomba and one of them was having a garage sale, amongst the usual crap of tea pots, busted snow boots and very wrong LP records was my find.... A portable gas BBQ, complete with 4 extra gas cyclnders!!!!!!!!!
Holy Crap!!!!
Needless to say, I tried to act cool and raced off to the nearest ATM pushing the old, weak and infirm from my path. Then returned to claim my precious (BBQ).

Now you may call me a dork (many have) but I remind you that I go fishing a lot and a portable BBQ is very handy to have. Not to cook fish, because I hate seafood, but to cook steaks and the like... if I can't be bothered to go to a restaurant... who knows...

But here then is a photo to make you mortals tremble with envy!!!
(actually mines black and comes with its own carry case and 4 extra gas canisters - Now thats VALUE right there friend)
(Korean BBQ places use these guys at the table)
(I think its cool)

Its just Magic!!!

You have to check this out Link
This guy is a freaking sorceror!!!!

Movember Time!!!!

Dudes, Movember is up and running again this year
Check out this Link!!!

So get your self ready, get a sponsor, get a team and get Mo'ing!!!

Not crazy, and I have an invisable friend to prove it.

Yes thats right, I'm not crazy. Well not in the diminished responsibility capacity.
I had my meeting with a Neurologist on Friday. As you may now in May I went to my local GP to get some handle on my dizzy spells. Some drama's in between. Concluding last Friday with a visit to the specialist.
He diagnosed me with Migrane Associated Vertigo.
So what? Well it accounts for the dizzyness, the nausea, the motion sickness etc
The great news is he feels it is curable. I take some pills for about 2 months and we see what happens.
The down side is, I'm off booze for those 2 months.
(actually I decided, fuck that on Saturday. Had myself half a beer and felt I was on a roller coaster, not good and lesson learned)

So lets git it on for kicking this MAV!!

Miami Vice - So Many Unanswered Questions

Over the weekend I had a busy time of it, Saturday was soccer (played for the Reds, we won 4-0), taking cat piss stained carpet to the tip, fishing - didn't catch anything but did see a guy land a carp on a fly rod!! and then off to my mate Ash's birthday party (sitting around drinking and singing SingStar Anthems - not as good as the others I feel, I'm sure they could have picked more than 20 songs, unless they had a tight deadline... who can say?)

On Monday night I helped Ando pick up a quater ton of wood that that the council had chopped down (bush fire prevention work). I then went off to see Miami Vice with Ash!

I already had low expectations since I found out it wasn't going to be a comedy a la Starsky and Hutch style (a pity). But thought what the hey!
First impressions - I do like Michael Mann's directing style and I did appreciate the 'realism' of bullet wounds and what a 16 wheeler will do to you at 90 mph. Did like the global nature of the crime organisation (hinted at but never revealed the connection with the Chinese, gun running and mercenaries etc)
Second impressions - these are the things that bug you after a day or two; did not like either lead, none of the principals sounded convincing sprinkling their 'cop talk' with phrases like CONOPS, TACOPS, Counter-Intel, Go-Fast Boats etc They said those words but I'm not sure they really understood what they meant.
Also the big shoot out at the end in which they kill everybody who could help them with prosecuting 'Mr Big' and then let go a principle witness... WTF!!!
CONOPS will be pissed

Yeah gotta say I wasn't too impressed overall. Did like the Phil Collins cover at the end of the movie - nice reference to original series.

Nice Choreography

Just how much time did these guys spend getting the moves worked out and how many times did they try before they got in one take!?!?!?!
Link

Something to smile about

I like this one, good and light hearted.

Crisistunitity!!

I got really drunk on Wednesday night (it was our 3rd anniversary and I had to take a dog back to the pound), I won't bore you with the gruesome details - but lets just say I was late into work the next day.
As I was lying on my deathbed, Thursday morning when I heard the sound of running water. Thought maybe Karin was doing something in the kitchen. Turns out the on-suite was flooding.
Some idiot left the tap running (not going to name names, y'all know who you are).
Thats the crisis part.
The oppourtunity part - Karin has been on me for a year to get floorboards. I, for my part, have been stonewalling her. Well wet fucking carpet that smells of cat piss is REAL hard to ignore Buddy. Let me assure you of that now.

So I relent and now we are getting the floorboards next week and I have a happy wife.
Everybody wins, Baby!!!

1 - 2 - 3 = HATRICK!!!!

What a game, had to swap teams for soccer today (as I arrived late). So I was playing for the Blue Team (The Lightnings) instead of my traditional Red Team (The Spitfires).
It was a bit daunghting going up against my old team mates, BUT we kicked their arse!!!
Final score 4 - 0, with 3 goals from me!!!

Did shag my bum ankle though after the 3 goal, so while I have super pumped - I also have my leg elevated.

Not exactly to plan

Well Ole Rocky did go up to Mum and Dad's, but he came back with me. He is just too big and too strong from them to handle. That and he really seems to like chasing cats - not good.
So Rocky is back at our place, he gets on well enough with our dogs, except for Calvin (who is a shit), He doesn't get on with our cats, of which we have four.
So its a segregation policy in force I'm afraid.
I'm booking him in for 'spud removal' this week and Bark Busters are coming round on Sunday to try and cure the cat thing.
Unfortunately we can't keep him at our place four dogs and four cats is just too many. But we also don't want to pass on a problem. Here's hoping Rocky can find a good home out there!



+++++++++++++++++++ UPDATE UPDATE +++++++++++++++++
Poor old Rocky, on Wednesday we call from our neighbour that Rocky had jumped our fence and was in his backyard. It was no problem for Ian (our neighbour) to put him back in our garage. The bad news for Rocky is we can not keep him.
That afternoon I had the sad task of taking him back to the pound and surrendering him to their care. Fingers crossed this good ole boy, I hope there is a family out there who need a great dog, have no cats and a tall fence.

My new friend

This here is Earl, or Rocko I haven't decided which yet.
Today is the day I get him out of the pound and tomorrow we go for a drive up to the Blue Mountains where Mum and Dad will look after him.

I found Earl/Rocko a week ago, he was a stray wandering around the business park where I work. It was a Thursday afternoon and I had just finished up at the gym. As I was walking back to the office I noticed this handsome young fella, walking this way and that and enjoying the mid-winter sun.
I stopped to have a chat and see if he had any collar (which he didn't). I figured he belonged to one of the builders nearby and kept on my way to the office.
Rocko had other ideas.
He followed me into the foyer and I realized he was lost. So I took up to work and begun ringing around to see if anyone had reported him missing.
The RSPCA said no. The Pound said no. The building site said no. No near by vet clinics had a dog fitting his description. All the while I was doing this Earl/Rocko was sitting under my desk quietly, with only the occasional sigh escaping.
My work colleague Pete (who is also a dog person) looked on-line at the lost dog websites, we couldn't find any sign Rocko was missed. We gave Rocko some water and a few biscuits, which he appreciated. I could tell from his temperament, he was a well socialised dog, who knew basic instructions. Someone had lost him.

Well that was effectively the end of my working day, I took Rocko home and walked him over to our local vet to check if he had a microchip. On the way to the vet I noticed some markings on his side, some mongrel bastard had branded the word 'Pill' on him!?! Go figure.
To my relief (at this stage) Rocko was not micro-chipped, I would have hated to have given him back to the kind of dickheads who brand dogs.

Rocko stayed with us over night and with great regret in my heart, I had to drop him off at the pound on Friday morning. By now, Karin and I had decided Rocko would be coming home to live with us (making the grand total 4x Dogs, 4x Cats).
At the pound I was advised Rocko would stay there for 7 days and if no one claimed him, he could come home with us. The photo above is from the ACT Domestic Animal Services website Link
Well a week has been and gone and this afternoon I can pick him up.
I told Mum about Rocko and she said I have too many dogs as it is, her and Dad will will take Rocko as a companion for their dog Polly.

He is off to a great home tomorrow, where he can look forward to a long life of being spoilt and well loved.
Turned out nice again!

Goal scoring machine!

Dude, played soccer again on Saturday and freaking won the match!!
Final score 2-1 Spitfires defeat Lightnings.
I plugged the second goal for the Spitfires!

Needless to say I received a hero's welcome - from my dogs, when I got home (Karin was out). I gave a blow by blow account of the game to TJ, who looked on with awe and wonder (Calvin got bored and fell asleep, while Bishy walked off somewhere.)

Well I was excited...

Late but Great!!

Look what I got!!!!!

An original Judge Dredd, inked and coloured for me, by an actual 2000AD Judge Dredd Artist!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin Smith worked on 2000AD during the early days progs 200 - 600, smack bang encompasing my collection. This is freaking amazing!!!

It turns our Robin is the neighbour (in the UK) of my Brother in Law (Karin's older brother). His wife is over visiting and she gave us this picture as a belated wedding present. Their neighbour Robin was kind enough to whip this one up at their request, after they found out what a Judge Dredd maniac I am.

What a fantastic gift and I am one proud groom. I've been a Dredd fan for over 20 years and I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would be given something like this...

Words - failing - urge - to - be - crazy - happy - and - thank - baby - Jesus - rising....

Music Hop-scotch

Hmmm Yeah!! Bubbajay is a happy boy!!
I've got an invite to help guest programme a Folk Music show.
Now I know what you are thinking, 'Dear Bubbajay, you do know don't you that Blood Duster, although they are local, aren't actually a local band..?'
Yes I know and neither is 'Killed by Death', 'Fuck I'm Dead' or 'Mayhem'. (ps Mayhem is still my number one all time best concert, Norwegian Death Metal is where IT IS AT for a live show!!!) (Swear to God).

But, dear reader, you forget I also love Bluegrass, amongst other things. So I have a mission to put together a 2 hour Bluegrass special. Bubbajay is a happy man!
I was figuring on starting with 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' and try to hop-scotch to 'Folsolm Prision'.
Shouldn't be too hard, its resisting the urge to drink moonshine on air while I smoke my corn cobb all 'at way down the hollar thar...
Git my car all souped up and that, so as I can slide over the hood an all.
Yeah.... that's be jes fine, Pogo, jes fine.

Soccer, On Air, Pirates!!

Well Saturday was fun packed and no mistake.
My buddy Ash invited me to a 'semi-serious' game of soccer in the morning. Twas the Spitfires (red) vs the Lightnings (Blue). I was on the Red team with Ash and we kicked arse 4-2. We played for about an hour with 3 rests in between. Just good fun to be running about a field in winter, kicking a ball about with your mates.
Did notice however that even I've going to gym a fair bit this year, I have no where near the energy reserves of the 12 year boy who used to play soccer in Lower Hutt. My legs are hurting this morning.

Still must say I'm looking forward to next week!
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I got on the radio and had 30 minutes of air time as well!! What a blast, it was fantastic fun and a lot easier than it looked. My very first on air track was 'When I was a Lad' from HMS Pinafore, thought that would be a suitable start. My host DJ was very gracious, I had brought along some tracks thinking I'd just be in the interview chair. But we had a talk and John offered to put me on from 1pm, so I took it!! Did a 30 minute spell and had a fantastic time!!
I'm very lucky to have had such a supportive mentor!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saw Pirates O.T.C Dead Mans Chest last night, a lot of money for what essentially was a whole lot of filler. Just got the feeling of the story being streched out to accomodated a third film. Not to say that it wasn't bad, but I think Peter Jackson has a lot to answer for. He made it look easy.
Good fun, but perhaps it will bear up better once the third film is out.

Other notes, in the trailers they showed "Beyond the Sea - The Bobby Darin Story", I have seen that one in the States and I thought it was great.

Some time to mingle ...

Had a lovely introduction to the people of Artsound FM this evening.
One of the long time presenters was retiring and me and the rest of my classmates were invited to attend the party.
It was great everyone was very friendly and really positive about me joining the team! What a wonderful introduction!!
First question everyone asked me, "So, what sort of music do you like?" Thats a great question and an even better ice breaker at a Radio station party!

I may even be on air for bit tomorrow lunch time.... How exciting!!

Get back to where you belong!

Check out this LINK!!!
Kick ass 80's vids, currently enjoying Bomb the Base.
Something for everyone!!!

All Comedy Should Be Like This

This is funny, very funny. Look if you dare...
It is my idea of funny, it is my idea of comedy gold, it is performed by my hero's,
I love it.

4th of July and Superman

Today is the FOURTH of JULY a big deal to my friends in the States.
On Local radio here in Canberra the fuckwit ABC was holding a phone poll to see who was the greatest American - people conspicuous by their abcense; Frederik Douglas, Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincon, Ben Franklin (was mentioned, but none of the other founding fathers), Woodrow Wilson, Rosa Parkes, I could go on...
The Fourth of July is a celebration of the public reading of the Declaration of Independance, an interesting document in itself. All the people who signed this document, for I have seen a copy at the courthouse in Annapolis, were also signing their death warrant if they lost the war or were ever captured. To write this document and commit to this process and to publicly declare who you were (a traitor to the Crown) took balls. "Give me liberty or give me death" said Patrick Henry and he wasn't kidding - those were the choices.

So, I've spoken a bit about this twee poll conducted by ABC 666am (seriously, that is the freq of the station) who would I nominate? After some consideration I would nominate George Washington. Not for his qualities as a tactitian, he was competent not brilliant, but his qualities as a gentleman and as a hero for the people. When the Treaty of Paris has concluded the Continental Congress met to discuss the 'what next' question. Although the Bill of Rights had been drafted, this was a tenuous foundation for the Republic. Power could have abused outright and a dictatorship cum monarchy installed. George Washington was in a position to seize power, sweep away the Continental Congress and install himself as 'President for Life'. He was the Head of the Army, he had the troops, he would have won.
Instead he did something remarkable, he resigned his commission. He then went onto become the first and second president of the Republic and worked hard to consolidate the Republic. He was the citizen first and the solider second, a high minded ideal indeed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As it is the Fourth of July, I though I would also post my review of 'Superman Returns' . I liked it I have to say. I thought it worked very well, I enjoyed the nod to the previous films and I think the new guy did a good job as Superman/Clark Kent.
Couldn't help thinking of the speech from Kill Bill 2 though.

Ghosts, Wine, Tigermoths and the return of the Trophy

What Ho Chaps!! Chocks Away!! Tally Ho!!

Sorry got a bit carried away there... Last Sunday I went up-ditty-up in a flying machine (a scracth built Dehavilland Tigermoth) and did FREAKY CRAZY SHIT 800m off the deck.
This is a photo of me just before the flight.

I'm sitting in the forward compartment (the flight stick was deactivated). It was fantastic I have to tell you. My brother in law Pinot was in the other Tigermoth and together we went up in formation. If you get the chance to fly in one of these planes I recommend you take it!!
For starts we took off on a grass strip, by my calculation it only needed about 100m's and we were away. It was loud, it was cold, it was awesome!!!
We did s-turns, loop the loops, barrell rolls and stall turns. We would go first and then Pinot and his pilot would follow. Just fantastic, what a great birthday present!!

But don't let me forget the night before we drove up to Camden (just outside Sydney) and had dinner with my parents and Vicki and Pinot at an old vineyard called Gladesbrook. The idea was we could try some of their wine before dinner, have a dinner and then go on a GHOST TOUR. The wine was pretty good, I can recommend their Whites, the dinner was nice 3 courses of good honest anglo food ("I want the blandest thing on the menu...") but the highlight of dinner was the live music by a very nice guy and his guitar. He sang some John Denver (which Dad and Karin loved) but I won't hold that against him.

So let me tell you about the GHOST TOUR , first of all let me say it wasn't Old Man Stewart trying to keep those darn kids away ('cause I know thats what your thinking...) The vineyard was the first settled homestead south of the original Sydney colony. So its been there for about 200 years, proir to that there was a healthy population of Aboriginies. Today there are no local indigenous people - so you can work out how that relationship went. But the $10 question, did I see a ghost................................................... Well no, but I did see Bogans - they were every where, some of them didn't even know they were Bogans.

So I had a great weekend and to top it all off, I went fishing on Sunday arvo with Graham and won The Trophy!!!!!!
What a fantastic weekend!!