House of Zen

Back to work

2007-01-23T06:29:00.000-08:00

Back to work after a particularly entertaining week off, that just co-incidentally happened to co-incide with the launch of WoW: The Burning Crusade. Taking it easy as I slowly adapt back into the real world.

Had an odd thought today while resisting to graffitii* the posters for the company Race Night thats happening this week (i.e. "with special guest Jade Goody!"). While wayne was getting ready to go out for a rather cold cigarette (the weather being cold, not the cigarette, obviously) and donning his balaclava and fingerless gloves, he reminded me about various strikes circa 1980, and my thought was this: Those brazier things (you know, the bins full of holes full of hot coals (never fall out of the holes though, do they?) ) you always saw striking miners huddled around warming their hands - where do they come from? What are they used for when industrial action isn't taking place? Can you buy them (www.strike-supplies.co.uk perhaps?) or is there some union guide to how to jury-rig them in the event of a walkout ballot?

Accused Mario of doing "a Karl (Flash) Howman**" last week, after he wrote a very handy script that would have saved everyone a good few mins every day, but just never told anyone about it - allowing him to do the IT equivalent of spending 30 seconds wiping the worktops while the missus was out doing the shopping.

Have Fun.
Pb.

* Not taseless graffittii of course, more a sort of joking corporate vandalism - I sometimes really have to fight the urge to do this.. Past examples include subtly changing the name of one of the meeting rooms from the Megan Castro suite (some local person of note) to the Fidel Castro suite - something which went unnoticed for about 8 weeks, finally being noticed when pictures of Che Guevara started appearing in some of the framed artwork, instead of the fields/icebergs/bollocks that's normally there.

** How selfish was that twat? I presume his missus had to slave away with the scouring pad whenever it was her 'turn' with the chores, as there were always plenty of cleaning products in stock at the Flash household, to which Karl would smuggly shove out of the way . ("Don't bother with all that... " ect)

To be honest, I preferred old-school hate mail...

2007-01-15T02:14:00.000-08:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Christine Fox [mailto:fo*******0@tiscali.co.uk]
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 1:23 AM
To: paul@house-of-zen.co.uk
Subject: Been reading your backdated stuff

Been reading your backdated stuff
What an incredibly intense human being
How much you must suffer
Kind regards
christine

-----Original Message-----
From: Zen [mailto:paul@house-of-zen.co.uk]
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 10:13 AM
To: Christine Fox
Subject: RE: Been reading your backdated stuff

Hi Christine,

You must be getting me mixed up with Dave, my twin. He suffers quite a bit, mainly due to me forcing him to live locked in the basement for most of his life.

Me, I'm living the life of riley.

Best wishes,
Zen.

No News is Good News...

2006-11-06T05:40:00.000-08:00

Banner headlines from various British newspapers today...

The Independant: Justice done in Iraq.
The Guardian: Endgame for dictator.
The Telegraph: Sadam death sentance.
Daily Mail: Defiance of the Tyrant
The Sun: Hang to rights
The Times: 'A snarl, then Saddam swaggered out'
Daily Mirror: Saddamned to Hell.

Daily Star: You're a big puff, Simon Cowell.

Rum and Chess

2006-11-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

Popped up to see Keith over the weekend, as I'd not visited for a while, and I also had a lot to discuss, which I usually find is easier face to face with a drink, rather than over Her Majesties Interweb. We popped out for 'a pint' (on an empty stomach too - never a good move kids ) which ended up being a rather marathon all night session.

After a few pints, we took a break from some heavy philosophizing (but unfortunately, not from drinking) for me to give Keith his regular kicking at that fine gentleman's game, chess, which I indeed would have done expect for a lady with rather large knockers who kept distracting me. We developed a small audience into the match, which I'd like to think was due to the overwhelmingly enthralling spectacle, and not (as I suspect is more the case) due to a couple of odd looking characters playing a board game in the middle of a busy wine bar. I played a fierce opening game, however a rather over-exuberant gambit with a bishop failed to come off, and I eventually was forced to retire and shake the hand of the luckier player.

After that it was cocktails, where I had to berate the barstaff at central-American themed bar (called 'Cuba' no less!) for not knowing how to make a cuba-libra. We ended up at a local watering hole, where the (by this time) very attractive barmaid insisted we try some of her own concoctions, of which she assured would either 'kill or cure us' - I therefore suggested that we settle the bar tab after we finish the drinks, in case it turned out to be the former (which I bizarrely remember suggesting at the time was a 'win-win scenario')

After that, we went for a bit of a late night bongo/magic session*. Most of my magic was rather wasted on Keith, who by this time, after being on the recieving end of some of my finer tricks, was unable to actually remember what card he'd picked in the first place. I slipped up here, as actually I could have abused this no end, producing a stream of amazing card revelations, by simply telling him that "yes, that was the card you originally picked out" - he'd have been none the wiser.

Thanks for a good night out though mate :)

Pb

* This is exactly as it says - doing magic and playing the bongoes. It's not slang or anything.

I ain't dead

2006-10-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

Hello.
Quick post today for a number of reasons, the main being that I'm painfully aware I haven't posted in what seems like years, and secondly, because keith shouted at me for forgetting I had moderated comments set, so peoples comments weren't appearing. I've moderated them now, so they are free to go and play violently in the wild.

I know I don't post enough, but I'm always very cautious about what I write here.. not that I'm afraid of saying something I shoudln't, it's more that I feel I need to make what I say special. I feel very intimate about writing my thoughts on here to share with yourself, Avid Reader, like we are sharing some kind of written sex-act, but without all the fumbling, flatulence and the girl not being able to find your wotsit.

So much has happened to me lately that it would be a travesty for me to attempt to sum it up in a single post (So I won't). I shall ensure that I manage to make at least one post a week - this way, with careful rationing and no small measure of plagratism, I should have enough material for the next year.

I'm actually on enforced holiday at the moment, people have raised concerns that I had accumilated enough holiday to pretty much take the rest of the year off, so I've been kicked out of the office for a week - so all internet related tomfoolery will have to be on my own coin for the next 6 days.

Work has been essentially boring, lots of Sarbanes/Oxley compliance - if you don't know what that is, consider yourself lucky. If you do, you'll know what a pain in the proverbial it is. Sufficive to say, I'm not going to bore you with my work of late.

Non-work-related-work is turning out quite interesting through. All the ideas for Puzzle #3 have been shelved indefinately, as only 4 people appear to be interested. It's unlikely at present I can't see myself doing anything with it for such a small audience.

I wonder if it's possible to work it with some of the stuff that's going on down at szlamp.com... as part of the digital archeologists group known as 'the meld', we've uncovered quite a number of interesting things already, perhaps it could be combined...

I'm currently planning my next holiday, which I think is going to be another tour of the states, definately need to visit family again, and hopefully I can swing at least a few days to see Micky.
Discovered a tv show I'd not seen before - 'Peep Show'. No idea how I'd missed it (well, I've half an idea, it does have extremely bad scheduling from Ch4 - it's on about 11:30 at night or something), but it is so funny. It's essentially the life of two thirtysomethings, as they go about their daily lives, but seen (and heard) through the eyes (and thoughts) of them, hence the title 'Peep show'. Most of the comedy is derived from hearing the thoughts of the protagonists, things most people think but would never dream of saying out loud.

Check it out, just don't watch it with Auntie Nora, because it's rude.

That's it for now.
Namaste, and, good luck.

Pb

"Who're they then? Oh..."

2006-05-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

Well, about a week in (I believe) and I can proudly say I haven't seen *anything* about this years big brother. No idea who any of the contestants are, haven't seen any of it, haven't read anything about it, nothing. It's a bit hit and miss with moyles in the morning (have to have CD on standby) and I need to skip the first 3 pages of the daily star.

For me, the show has gone steadily downhill every year, devolving from an interesting social experiment, to a frankly pathetic human freakshow. It's almost the embodiment of everything that is wrong with society at the moment. Gods know why anyone would want to watch a group of societys lowest common denominators swearing, flashing or fucking their way into noteriety in order to secure some form of latch on fame.

Anyway, mini-rant over :).

Training was really painful yesterday, and my hamstrings have siezed up bigtime today. Just doing some light stretching and excersising today and tomorrow, then back in on Thursday.

Taking Niece to see Phantom on Saturday, so expect it to piss down all day, knowing my luck.

Apart from that, work busy, enjoying season 2 of lost, and thats about it.

Oh, if anyone is particularly handy writing DCL programs on OpenVMS, please mail me - I could use a hand.

Cheers
Pb

Comedy

2006-05-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

It's a little-known fact that the inclusion of monkeys makes anything funnier. Try it.

Shop - not funny. Shop full of monkeys - funny.

News program - not really amusing. News read by monkeys - laugh-a-minute.

Transatlantic flight - not at all funny. Transatlantic flight crewed by monkeys - comedy all the way..

Pb

Thursday

2006-04-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

I was thougherily tickled by a Derren Brown stunt on the weekend which involved him essentially swapping places with another person during a conversation and seeing if the person noticed (which they didn't). The stunt wasn't so much the thing that interested me, but the device he used to distract the person in question, which was a gigantic intensely-staring picture of Derren. While he was talking to the person and asking for directions, some people would move between them with the frankly disturbing giant picture, while Derren would then switch for another person who would continue asking for directions.

I'm itching to get a giant similar picture of myself for one of my walls - not because it would make an interesting cocktail-party talking point, but basically to scare the living shit out of my visiting nieces.

Going training tonight, first time in about 2 months. It's going to hurt...

Pb

Couple of days off

2006-03-28T15:11:00.000-08:00

After being severely shouted at in work for basically acruing around 2 months holiday due to never taking any time off, I realised that I could probably use a good couple of days general moping around, coupled with some clearing up of the several hundred tasks I'd promised various people I'd get done about 2 years ago.

So, here I am. Nearly a whole week off, and about half way though it. It's only 'nearly', as I'm going to have to pop into the office on thurday, mainly to check it's still there.

I've also managed to be plagued by phone calls by a large number of the business that seem to think that my annual leave is only sort of optional, and they can still phone me to do things.

Started off by recovering from the antics of the weekend. Headed out on Friday for bithday drinks with the gang, and unfortunately ended up slumpt semi-unconsious in a shop doorway somewhere in Newcastle. My some miracle, a recon party managed to find me about 2am and get me back to Waynes house, where I proceeded to vomit for about an hour solid. Evening proclaimed a success, however I was left with the inhability to eat solid foods for about 2 days.

Monday was pretty much a general mong-out day, spent the entire day shamelessly playing wow and arsing about on my 360.

Today I moved on to the 'getting things done' phase, which invovled getting a well needed haircut (it was getting near the point where the wearing of a hat may have become a nessecity) and after that, off to the optician, who were beginning to theaten to stop my supply of contact lenses if I didn't come in for my now 2-month overdue checkup.

Had the fun eye checkup, this time only preceeded over by 3 people - my eyes attract a lot of attention when I go to to hospital/opticians due to my wacky eye condition that I am frequently told it is a 'textbook example' of. Last time I went to the hospital, they brought about 10 interns in to look. If you're really interested I should imagine you can find it on Her Majesty's Interweb, look under 'transillumination defects in pigment dispersion'. I'm told frequently it 'looks cool' (although to be honest, parts of your eye pigment breaking up and blocking your eye up sound anything but to me)

Now I just need to tidy room, finish off getting the guild website finished, and write some more novel before the weeks out.

Oh, and going to watch Mode on friday. Woo!

Stay lucky,
./Pb

R.I.P. G'kar

2006-02-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Bit of an odd blog for me to write, but I needed to post at least a few words about the wonderful Andreas Katsulas who sadly passed away this week after a lengthy illness.

Many people will not know him by name, but I'll wager many of those people have actually seen him perform, be it in what hollywood insisted was his ideal role, the stereotypical bad guy, such as the 'one-armed man' in the 1993 remake of 'The Fugitive', or under many layers of prosthetics, as two of probably his mode widely known roles; the Romulan Tomalak in the Star Trek franschise, and as the Narn Abmassador G'Kar in Babylon 5.

G'Kar was such a wonderfull character for Andreas, as he got to shed the bad-guy routine that was starting to become all too routine for him, although of couse, due to Babylon 5's insistance that 'No one is exactly what they seemed', it took until around the 2nd-3rd series before we realised that G'Kar wasn't really the bad-guy we had him penned down as at first. It also gave us numerous wonderfull monologues in his fabulous deep leathery tones, the most memorable probably being the epilogue to season 3, which I've included to transcribe at the end of this piece. I hope Joe doesn't mind.

I was very fortunate to have met Andreas on a number of occasions, and found him an exceptionally charming and funny man, a consumate professional, and a kind, freindly person. I will never forget every especially funny moment of him sharing a stage with Peter Jurassik, Babylon 5's Londo Mollari. Those two characters were always the crux of B5 for me, and it's hard to imagine a Babylon 5 without both those two in it.

Rest in peace,

Andreas Katsulas,
18 May 1946 -
13 Feb 2006

"There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us.

We know only that it is always born in pain."

Derren Brown made my mouse explode.

2006-01-17T03:53:00.000-08:00

So much to say, so little time as someone (probably) once said. As I'm writing this, I'm laid up slightly with the lurgy, aches, shivers, stuff firing out of both ends, you get the picture*. I would like to state however I did enjoy a two-week period of reletive good health, before my blog appears to paint me as some form of permenantly ill person. It's just that I tend to get more time to update when I'm unwell..

Found out the other day while reading an article on Derren Brown why you are not supposed to mix old and new batteries. This information wasn't actually in said article by DVB, but it was made all the clear to my when my mouse exploded. (it's one of those cordless thingies).

No one seriously hurt, although Nigel nearly recieved a rather painful crotch lobotomy when he (unadvisedly) thought it would be funny to sneak up on me and yell "BANG!" while I was removing the remaining good battery with a pair of scissors.

All was then fine. Well, until the following day when the replcacement (admittedly found-in-bottom-of-drawer) battery also exploded. I put it as a testiment to my desensitivity that while everyone else screamed in the office (try it**, they go with a hell of a bang) I didn't bat an eyelid.

Nightwatch guild is actually going quite well now, getting actual outside people (i.e. non voda employees) to join now. Turns out there actually a few people out there that want a fun guild of mature adults (ok, well adults anyway), that actually want to treat the game as a game, and not work (we do enough of that already). First guild beer-up takes place next week, so we can all get together and have mature intelligent descisions about how gay the alliance is.

Made fatal error of committing to getting HoZ Puzzle #2 ready for this weekend, just prior to coming down with e-coli, so not sure how much I'll get done. I really shouldn't commit to stuff up front, it just disappoints people when you don't have it ready. There is a slight teaser puzzle on Q4T at the moment though.

Right, I'm off to the bathroom, then back to the couch sans duvet.

Pb

*and it 'aint pretty...

** HoZ lawyers have advised me to state that please don't try this. It's not big or clever. And eye's don't grow back.

I've not been very well...

2005-12-31T05:03:00.000-08:00

Well, ok I've not actually been *that* bad, but I did develop a nasty eye infection over xmas. While everything went ok, I missed out on going out this last week, for fear of scaring people slightly more than normal due to my rather horrible-looking eye.

Only got called once this week, so managed to have a virtual entire week off (albiet confined to quarters, as above). However, everything looks back to normal (eye still hurts, but at least I don't look like the cover to Ringu now..) so we should hopefully be heading out for a night of fun tongiht. Well, I am, not entire sure who else is joining us yet... or if we actually know of any bars that aren't on ticket-only admission.

That's it for now, so everyone please have a happy and safe new year.

Pb

Nearly last day...

2005-12-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

Only one more (in theory, half-day) to go before we break up for xmas! (or in my case, spend a week getting pestered at home instead of in the office, but hey, at least I can get drunk)

Had a really bad week this week, I'm on earlies, which means I have to come in at 7am in order to basically make sure all the systems have survived the overnight onslaught of batch jobs and processes that run. However, as I'm still the only person that knows the SUI project inside out, I'm getting snowed under with work, and am generally getting out LATER than the people coming in at 6. Feel like I've done about 7 days work in the last 3.

Luckily, today I appear (fingers crossed) to be up to date - no releases due to go out tonight, and all the major work for the PAT environment can wait until next year. I'm planning on running out in the next 10 mins, before anyone gives me any more work to do.

Bizzarrely, the UAT testers ARE starting working tomorrow. On the last day before xmas. I have no idea why. God help them if they expect any form of coherent support from us.

Done all my xmas shopping too (yay!), only having to resort to real-world shopping once. Just need to wrap them (3am, xmas morning looks likely).

No xmas beers planned yet, I'm sure I'll end out somewhere at some point drunk singing to the pogues, and then stealing all the bacon of the turkey at 2am in order to make a bacon butty*

Guild is doing really well now, we are happily at the point where we can do entire instance runs with guild-only members. UBRS raids shouldn't be long off :D

Right, time to sneak out of the office while no one is looking...

Pb

* It's tradition, or an old charter or something.

I've been upsetting people (yet) again. (slight return)

2005-12-13T06:37:00.000-08:00

Oh dear. I've upset someone again with my frank and open comments on Q4T. That's 3 people now in a year. I shall be front page news in a few months at this rate...

The main reason I'm moaning about this in here, is that this time I really couldn't be bothered posting an elaborate reply to the offended body (which is rather strange, as I actually *wrote* the said article). I'm just getting tired of defending my views, as this person clearly (at least in their views) represents the entire board and vehemently points out I have posted nothing but scathing critism in all of my previous posts. Well, not true, but then he did openly admit that they had only read 5.91% of all my posts.

The point that this person is unhappy with how I have treated someone else on the board. Someone else, that ironically*, I have mailed with my comments, and have had a reply back thanking me for my support, However I presume the offendee isn't that interested in this, after all, it's bit hard to take the moral high ground if the person you are (supposed) to be actually defending doesn't agree with your views.

Anyway, the upshot of Herby going bananas (sorry, couldn't resist ;O) ) is that I've decided to keep my comments, critisism and radical views (Keeping a prize for myself, what was I thinking!? - no doubt everyone else is planning to raffle it off for charity or something...) to myself. I don't forsee myself posting on that board again in the near future.

Unless I find the hare of course. Then I might just post a picture of it.

And keep the hare for myself, of course ;)

Pb

*Yes, I know this is not the correct use of 'irony', everyone uses it like this though and I wanted to sound like all the other cool kids.

Long time, no update...

2005-12-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

I've been shockingly out of touch with my blog lately, so I'm forcing myself to knock a quick update together now. (it'll have to be quick, I'm supposed to finish work in half an hour and I still have about an hours work left.)

So, whats been happening since I last wrote...

It's been postively *mental* at work, the SUI testing is in UAT phase atm, and I'm still the only person that seems to know how it all works, so I'm getting pestered something silly. It's just easier to ask Zen a quick 30 second question rather than read all the documentation he's got ready. Unfortunately, there are about 50 people asking me these 30 second questions every hour.

Super* actually came back to work, though so thats something.

Xmas shopping is going well, have roughly 75% of all prezzies bought, still aiming to do all shopping without actually leaving the house.

Went out for pre-xmas drinks with a few friends on Saturday. Got a taxi to Nantwich and got riotously drunk. Blamed most of it on discovery of a new mexican beer, called 'Desperado'. Insisted that everyone drank it (purely due to the name) and then discovered it was actually beer with tequila! Discovered shortly afterwards that Mark doesn't handle tequila very well...

Pb

*Mario

Back to work...

2005-11-24T08:38:00.000-08:00

Well, after first day back in work yesterday, Newbie rather worryingly didn't come back into work today. Opinions varied throughout the team from 'he's genuinely ill' (unlikely), 'he's decided this probably isn't the job for him' (possible) or 'I've scared the bejeezus out of him and he doesn't want to work for us anymore' (probable).

Sleep pattern still up the spout, was completely knackered last night so went to bed about 7:30pm. As a result, I woke up at about 2:30am. Eventually gave up trying to get back to sleep about 3:30am, and gave up and went to play WoW. Really want a challenge in that game? Try to get a UBRS raid together at 4 in the morning.

Forgot to bring my camera in to work (again), so no pictures yet. I'll stick one in this post when I get home, so, if a rather nice picture of the Golden Gate bridge appears below, I'm sat at home with my feet up - if not, I'm still at work.

The Golden Gate bridge, yesterday.

Managed to shake most of the post-holidays-cobwebs out of my system, although I haven't done any training yet, I've really not been in the shape to move around, never mind hit things. Definately getting back this weekend though. Might actually face more that one meal today - I've just had a tuna salad yesterday, and to be honest, it felt good to not have a huge meal, I've kind of spent the last couple of weeks feeling completely bloated.

That's it for now, quite busy at the moment, as Claire has left for the day, it's just me and Wayno as Newbie isn't in (although tbh, that actually gives me more time as I'm not explaining everything I do).

Need to try to work though my backlog of CSI I've Sky+'d while I've been away, I'll see if I can watch a few tonight.Take it easy,

Back to (cold) reality

2005-11-23T05:19:00.000-08:00

Finally back home, back at work, and back into some sembalence of a normal sleeping pattern. It was quite handy that I had the extra day off booked, as yesterday was a complete write-off. Got up at 7am, had some coffee, watched a couple of episodes of SG-Atlantis, then went for a lie down, and woke up again at 7pm.

Second week of the holiday went very well, even managed to win a bit one night (well, about a couple of hundred dollars) but otherwise gambled, drank and ate way too much. All in all, success all round really.

Travel back was a nightmare though, got stuck for 2 hours on the tarmac at McCarran airport due to them overloading the plane, then a passenger being taken ill, and having to be removed (along with his hold luggage), then our plane from Gatwick got delayed due to the fog in Manchester. Made it back eventually though.

Haven't booked my first training session back yet, not looking forward to it at all, it's going to be painfull. Still, need to jump back in as soon as possible. I'll try to go this Friday.

Been thinking quite a bit about holiday the last couple of days. I had a really great time, but I can't shake the feeling I think I'm probably done with 'mates' holidays.. not that there is anything wrong with my mates, or indeed Rob who I went with this time, who was a quality person to spend time with. I think this is another one of those horrible 'growing up' things, isn't it?

Blimey it's cold. Had to put Big Coat on today, and have only braved it outside for a total of about 3 minutes so far.

I've got loads of pictures, so I'll upload them all later, and scatter some through the next couple of blog entries, as I recount my amazing tales from far-off lands. Probably with lots of referrences to Cajun Shrimp.

Stay Happy,
Pb

Last Day in SF..

2005-11-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Well, been fun but it's nearly time to think about packing up and heading on over to Vegas. Perhaps have time for just one more bucket of cajun shrimp...

Eaten waaaay too much the first couple of days, mainly with me only being used to having one big meal a day, so kind of avoided eating completely yesterday, and felt considerably better for it.

Have got quite a half decent tan (considering how much time I've spent in bars..) and have done a lot of walking around. Looking forward to not having to walk around at all next week. Highlight was probably the trek out to Fort point, just underneath the golden gate bridge, which Rob swore blind that it 'didn't look that far'. After about a two mile trek, we realised we were only about half way there. Got funny looks from the locals yesterday while out on a bay cruise (in shorts an t-shirts) while everyone else is wearing coats, hats and scalfs. It's wierd seeing Christmas trees and the like up in the 70 degree sunshire. California is wierd.

Had lunch at Bubba Gumps and sorted out prezzie shopping today, so off for some quality chilling out for a bit now.

Peace,
Pb

Cheerio!

2005-11-05T15:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, short post!

It's 11:25 pm and I have my alarm clock set for 2:45am tomorrow (i.e. in 3hrs 20 mins), I'm pakced, I have my tickets, passport and enough US currency to fund a small revolution in a south american country, and I'm all set to go!

I know only Lis (bless her cotton socks) is the only person to ever comment on this blog, but I know in my heart (and via my http logs) that a lot of other people read this, so I'm saying a big goodbye to everyone, I'll have plenty of fun for you, and I'll see you all when I get back safe and sound in about 2 weeks.

I may even sneak the odd blog update in while I'm away, but I can't guarrantee it. I'll get loads of photo's though.

And no, you can't come with me. Deal with it. ;)

Stay safe, and have fun.

Holiday Pb.

Nearly Holiday Time!!

2005-11-04T03:15:00.000-08:00

Phew! Last day in work before hols and I *almost* have everything ready. Tickets finally arrived yesterday after making me sweat for about 2 weeks, I've got my holiday money and my clothes are all ready (meaning that I have to wear all my scruffy shite for the next two days as I don't want to wash anything again).

Work is being a complete nightmare today, everyone seems to have suddenly realised that there is a shedload of stuff that only I know how to do (despite me pointing this out umpteen times to everyone for the last few weeks) so today everyone is pouring over all my documenation in a slight panic and asking me loads of questions. Going to bugger off around 2pm hopefully.

Last training session pre-holiday went ok last night, punchbag still won (by way of TKO) but I'm definately getting better. Had slight panic that I may end up seriously injuring myself just prior to my holiday in a sort of american-cop-getting-shot-on-last-day-before-retirement type situation. Thankfully survived intact. Still supposed to carry on training during hols, but not putting much faith in keeping it up.

Got haircut scheduled for 5pm, so after that, I should be all done, and can concentrate on chilling out tomorrow (or more likely, doing UBRS).

Apart from that, all thats left is to break to Rob the news he needs to get up at 3am Sunday... :)

Pb

Halloween

2005-10-31T02:15:00.000-08:00

Not long at all 'till hol's now, and I've actually hit the point where I'm beginning to worry I don't have enough time to sort out all the things I need to sort out.

I need to sort out my holiday money. Ok, this one should be reletively easy - Going Places usually have travellers cheques and US dollars in stock, so I should be able to pick those up, I'll try straight from work. Oh, and I need to be at the gym for 5 for my training. Not sure if I'll manage to get 3 sessions in this week, but I'll try.

Also need to get hair cut. After work today is out, so is Wednesday (training again) so I'll have to try and book in for tuesday or thursday. Need to pop to Vision Express to pick up contact lenses - thats an hour easy to drive to northwich, try and park, then get back. And they close at 5.. so that'll either have to be tuesday or thursday, whichever doesn't clash with getting my hair cut.
Really need to buy a new case, and probably some more clothes. At least I can do that one night, I'll pop to the trafford center or something. Which I can't do tonight, because it's halloween...

Oh, and I need to kill Rend Blackhand (again) at some point. Must remember to not give this as high a priority as getting holiday stuff sorted...

Halloween. Went shopping for stuff yesterday (candy apples, sweets, decorations, pumpkin, ect) only to find my local asda has sold everything off! All reduced, all cleared. As I entered (around 2pm) they were actually taking down the halloween decorations in order to put more xmas stuff up. I hate the way most retailers can't wait to get things out of the way yet, it's not even halloween until tonight!

It really bugs me when they do this at xmas - in the states you can go xmas shopping on xmas eve - try that here and you'll find nothing but January sale stuff in the stores. Xmas offically ends at about 5pm on the 23rd December according to most UK retail outlets it appears. I was actually told by the asda staff that 'we think most people will be trick-or-treating tonight anyway'. Try that at Zenith towers and they'll get a 'bugger off and come back at Halloween'.

Hopefully, can still get a pumpkin from a local shop (for local people) today.

Pb

The blog which will be being good this weekend.

2005-10-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it's beer festival time again, however this time I won't be going. I'm on call, in work on the saturday morning, and I've promised to take one of my nieces out to watch Zorro, so I can't make it - irrespective of how much I really wanted to go :) Given the 'issues' with the last one, I don't think not going will be too bad a thing though...

Training is going well, although I had to spend most of yesterday evening with a bag of frozen peas on my hand. Not lost any weight this week although my trainer says this is normal due to the amount of muscle I'm gaining.

Still haven't sorted anything out relating to holiday, and tickets haven't arrived yet, so probably need to phone Virgin to pester them if they're not here by tomorrow...

We've getting a new starter on the team shortly, by the name of Mario. In an effort to make him feel welcome, we'll be taking him out for an introductory beer and giant red-and-white spotted mushroom this week, then I shall then climb up the scaffolding outside the building, and proceed to throw barrels down at him.

Apart from that, quite busy, hence the short post. Oh, and came in on the wrong shift today (3 hours earlier than I was supposed to), so I'm going to end up stuck in here for longer than usual. Ho hum.

Stay lucky,
Pb

Things to do...

2005-10-20T01:29:00.000-07:00

As I'm starting to get seriously hyped up for my holiday, I thought I'd list a few things I'm looking forward to doing while I'm there..

Go to the top of the Stratosphere tower
Have a sourdough roll full of clam chowder at fishermans wharf
Have one of the worlds greatest steaks at the Luxor Steakhouse
Go out fishing for the day at SF (well, dangle rod in water and drink beer)
Have a chinese meal in chinatown (at one of the places that doesn't even have english menus)
Get one of those massive take-out pizza's you see in 'Friends' all the time
Enjoy* an alarming amount of football
Run up some bar tabs, and drink beer from pitchers
Visit the Cheesecake factory for lunch, and order nothing but beer and cheesecake
Get drunk at the 'dollar drink night' at Condor's Sports Bar in SF.
Try to find that Irish pub we found once in SF and have never found since.
Eat a frightening amount of Shrimp at Bubba Gump's.
Play a lot of Pai-Gow.
Extend my unbeaten video poker run.
Have sunday roast dinner at Sir Lancealots Pub in the Excalibur
Try playing Craps, as it looks so much darn fun...
Not play blackjack again, as I didn't find it fun at all.
Check the new Star Trek Borg ride at the hilton.
Drink lots of romulan ale afterwards in Quarks' bar.
Buy lots of packs of House of Blues cornbread mix

A rather alarming amount seems to involve eating and drinking..

hmm...

Pb

*Not appliccable to Rob, who is an Oakland fan...

Moving On

2005-10-19T03:23:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking I need to make a new design for my website. It's still using the current theme which I basically stole (for want of a better word!) from Keith Szlamp's old site. I originally did it as a sort of homáge, and to give anyone who remembers his site a bit of a wry smile. Keith, if you're reading this, I'll change it to something original soon, honest :) I think the main reason I haven't changed it is that I'm hanging onto the idea that The Dice haven't really gone away forever, and while they're still lurking on my homepage, some of the magic is still alive.

Not ecstatic at work at the moment, as I've had to be wearing my project manager hat for the past week, and haven't feel like I've done anything technical for ages. Think I'm going to play around with one of the as/400 systems this afternoon before I forget how to actually do anything.

Have you ever had a relationship where you start to realise that you've just completely grown apart from that person? I've been thinking a lot about some of my relationships lately, and I've realised that with some either myself or the other people (well, ok, me) have grown into slightly different people, and we don't seem to have the things in common that we did. One of the resolutions I made to myself in the last couple of months is that I'd start concentrating more on myself and what I want to do, rather than my old habit of doing everything anyone else wanted even if it's not what I wanted to do. I've also conciously avoided doing or saying I wanted if I think other people might not agree or be upset.

A downside to my easy-going nature and constant desire to not have awkward or confrontational situations has usually meant in the past I'll always end up putting myself last. I think a small part of this was also the universal desire to be liked.

Something I've realised recently is that I can be more honest, and true to what I want, and people will still like me. Hell, some people actually respect you more for it.

Of course, some people won't like you for it. As I've seen from some of the comments I've had from my Q4T posts, some actively dislike you for it, but at least you get an emotional response, and it allows you to filter out the sort of people that you like to be around.

This kind of brings me back to my point - Now that I've adopted this slightly more selfish (I dislike that word as I don't really consider myself selfish, it's just I wasn't really selfish enough I suppose) attitude, I've realised that some of the relationships I have just aren't really working. I think some of the things I think we had in common were just probably a facet of me wanting to please everyone. That, and the fact that the people in question don't seem to have changed at all in the last 10 years, and I find myself not content with the same things I used to be.

I suppose I'm growing up..

Pb

Poorly.

2005-10-18T05:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been well and truly laid up for the past couple of days, so I'm really behind on everything. I'll try and sum up..

Started feeling a bit under the weather on Friday, and by Saturday and sunday I was completely flu'd up to the eyeballs. I didn't even make it into the office yesterday, mainly due to the inhability for me to stand upright for more than 5 minutes presented potential risks driving down the M6. I'm better now, albeit not still up to full speed, but completely dosed up with Beechams I am at least operating at base efficiency. (I'm only surfing half as many websites as I'd normally get in on a normal working day.)

Training has fallen slightly behind due to aformentioned illness. Pressups present a greater challenge than normal when it's taking all your time and effort to stand upright without vomiting. Managed to do some basic excerises today, so I'll try a full circuit tonight then back with my trainer tomorrow for more punishment.

Also haven't really had time to finish off my 2nd HoZ puzzle, "The Missing Book". It's all more-or-less done, I just need a bit of work on how I'm taking the picture. I'll try to get to work on it this week, but can't guarrentee anything.

Less than 3 weeks to hols now and I'm still frighteningly no where near organised. I still need to get money, clothes, probably new luggage... this weekend, I'll get it done.

Bugger, nieces coming this weekend, and I've promised to take them out..

Ok, next weekend. Definately next weekend.

On the plus side of being laid up for a couple of days, I have managed to work through my entire Scrubs season 2 box set, which I must say, is worth the entire cost if only for the outfit Elliot wears in the Turk 'sex dream' scene. (shamelessly reproduced below)

Fantastic.

Pb