(*) Excellent beach weather

The sunshine out here has been glorious... somehow we've managed to miss all those heavy rain storms that have ravaged other areas - all we end up with is a bit of a light shower in its' place. The sky's looked black-as all the same, but it appears to just go around us. At least the water supply's keeping good - Chifley Dam's at 81% capacity right now - that's excellent, considering an hour away they're having to cart water in by the truckload... My housemate, also born-and-bred on the coast, keeps teasing us that it's "excellent beach weather" - which it is, but it's a 3-hour one-way drive, as we're 200km / 125 miles from the nearest ocean beach! D'oh! lol It's nice to remember the feeling tho.

It may not be close to the beach, but at least I got to spend some good time with my boys on Saturday arvo at the local pool. It was about 29c / 84f at the time, so a dip and dive-bombs were the order of the day. You should have seen the look on JD's face when he told me - he's got not one but two girls who have 'the hots' for him, he said! pmsl! He looked like the cat who got the cream - it's very cool! 'SM' is a year below him at his school, and 'AL' lives locally, is a year older, but schools in another town. Hmmm... I told him to invite them over to his place for a bike ride or just to hang out - but only one girl at a time! hahahaa! OMG - it's happening already - and he doesn't turn 12 until August! Ack! lol. I really think it's lovely for him - he knows enough about himself and respects girls enough to be comfortable around 'girls' at his age... a million-times more-so than his dad at the same age!

If you're not doing anything tonight, come on over for a BBQ... I've got some snags, onions, corn cobs, sliced spuds, bacon and tomato going on the plate, with a nice green tossed salad on the side... sounds alright, eh? Hmmm... how else can I get you over for a visit, hmmm...? hahahaa!

Still dreaming of Hydra, you know...

Stoopid MSN IM! I couldn't even get on tonight if I tried... and when I could, it wouldn't let me on until I downloaded a newer version of IM! Fark it!

Sorry 'bout all the silly links... I was bored, very brain-dead and feeling a bit flat! D'oh! Just stuff I've been sent, or found, and stored online over the years... hope some of them made u laff tho - that was the plan. Sorry to end on a downer - I'm just feeling a little lonely this evening!

---

Stop Press! Someone sent me this pic - it's an absolute CLASSIC!!! Who said females only learn to use "The Look" as a weapon when they're older, hmmm...?!? pmsl!

DON'T mess with me!!!

---

On This Day...
Born: Brian Jones (Rolling Stone, 1942).
Events: The Cavern Club closes in Liverpool UK, 1966.
Useless Trivia: 'Facetious' - all vowels appear in alphabetical order
My Soundtrack: "C'mon C'mon" Sheryl Crow
Weather: gloriously sunny, slight breeze, c.26c

There was a pert lass from Madras
Who had a remarkable ass
Not rounded and pink
As you probably think
It was grey, had long ears, and ate grass.

---

Cyalayta

Email: mal [@] maljam [.] cjb [.] net
Message Board: http://malboard.cjb.net
"Excuse me, which way is the stage?" (Audience member, lost at Altamont, 1969.)

---

(*) New pics

After a suggestion by one of my friendly blogger friends, here's some pics of me that make me look even slightly happy! Ack! lol



I think this third snap is the closest one to the real thing, possibly...?!

---

Cyalayta
Mallard d'Quackers

(*) Standing in the rain

Hiya Paige, the blog of all knowledge and wisdom - and maker of a jolly good hot cuppa char! "Polly, put the kettle on... but only if it fits..."

How exciting - I passed a kidney stone (just between kidney & bladder) on Tuesday! Whoo hoo - wonderfully fun and relaxing time... NOT! That's been my fourth in about 6 years, although this one was in my left side for a change. The medication wiped me out most of yesterday (which 'passed' without incident...), but driving around town earlier this arvo I was still feeling a bit 'out of it' and blanked-out/vauge, which scared me a bit whilst behind the wheel, needless to say! Ahh, the joys of reaching your later middle-age! hahahaa!

---

I saw one of the local churchites (who is a known source of many of those nasty wholly-untrue rumours about me around local church circles a few years' ago) riding, of all things, a motor bike this arvo! It's just NOT him, you know? Think of the most daggy, dopey, self-righteous middle-aged greying-haired clod you know, and put them on a motor bike... the image just doesn't work, does it?!? pmsl! Poor bugger's obviously going thru a mid-life crisis!

---

Remember a few weeks' ago I wrote about standing out in the pouring rain for about 30 minutes? How refreshing and almost spiritually refreshing and invigorating it was for all of my senses? An old friend rang the other night to tell me she'd done the same thing on Sunday night, in the midst of a pouring thunderstorm (she's braver than me! lol). Like me, we knew what each was feeling about our common experience, but it's not something that's too easy to actually describe in just words. But standing in the pouring rain until you are soaked to the skin is something I cannot recommend highly enough! Just do it - at least once in your life!!! Stop feeling like a 'grown up' for a little while, alright?!

---

Thoon sends Miss Paige his most aquatic greetings and salutations...

---

It's TangerineStar's birthday tomorrow...
Happy Birthday Ms Star!

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On This Day...
Born: George Frederick Handel (muso, 1658); Norman Lindsay (artist, 1879); Peter Fonda (actor, 1940).
Died: John Keats (poet, 1821); Dame Nellie Melba (singer, 1931); James Herriot (vet, author, 1995).
Events: The Russian Revolution begins in St Petersburg, 1917.
Useless Trivia: "Indivisibility" - the letter 'i' is repeated six times.
My Soundtrack: Train - "Drops of Jupiter" (thanx to Bx Library)
Weather: quite muggy, warm (high 20's), moderate NW breeze.

A right-handed fellow named Wright
In writing 'write' always wrote 'right'
Where he meant to write 'right'
If he'd written 'write' right
Wright would not have thought not writing 'rite'

Said his friend to the teacher one day,
'Wright has not written 'rite' right, I say!'
And the teacher replied
As the error she eyed
'Right! Wright, write 'write' right, right away...!'

---

Cyalayta

Email: mal [@] maljam [.] cjb [.] net
Message Board: http://malboard.cjb.net

"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, it's the light of the oncoming train." (Robert Lowell)

The baby's bottle?

I stumbled across this pic, and couldn't resist putting it on here... hahahaa!

---

This week, using the letters in your name (real or screen name), list places that you've been to. Be creative! Have fun!

M - elbourne
A - llambie
L - ithgow
L - lnarth
A - nnandale
R - ydal
D - ural

Q - ueensland
U - University of Life
A - uckland
C - essnock
K - illarney
E - rina
R - oseville
S - ilverton

(*) Overripe watermelon

Hiya Blog Paige. Written yesterday & posted today... it was late, I was tired - plus my housemate was online at the time! lol How am I feeling this morning... quite well, actually... my calves feel fine - it's my lower back is a bit stiff, if anything... but that might have been a bad sleeping position all the same - d'oh! What am I talking about...? Read on, McDuff...

We made it! For anyone who's ever driven around 'The Mount', you'll know how steep parts of it are... fine in a car, and a good challenge for the average walker! But - JD and I had a ball together, along with about 500+ others today. It took us about 90 minutes (I think) to walk the steep and winding 6.2km's, and we sure weren't pushing it - unlike the handful of silly buggers who were seriously trying to 'race'! Luckily the rain held off for the morning (it's been pouring bucketloads this arvo), which made for near-perfect walking conditions. I heard a figure between $15,000 to $20,000 was raised for the tsunami effort, which is just great! I thought the walk'd nearly kill me, but seriously - it was really fine! I feel a bit tired tonight, but we'll wait and see how my calves are feeling by the morning, shall we...? hahahaa.

Here's how my town looks from the air... if you look really closely, you might just be able to see me - standing on the roof wearing my chicken costume dancing the tango with an overripe watermelon... but then again...

M and her hubby have bought a new property further out of town - about 25km's out. The boys love the new place... about 25+ hectares to run about on! They'll be moving in a month or two - bad timing for M, as she's due in the next few months too! D'oh! Amazingly, the boys can catch a bus to and from school every day - right from the front gate! How cool is that?! Only in rural Australia! Whoo hoo.

There's a big Uni here, and the past week has been their annual "O-Week" (orientation for new students)... a big excuse for about 1,000+ young people to par-tay all day and all of the night... dah-dah, dah-dah, dah du-du-du dah...!

Thanx for the phone call yesterday, Sal - I really appreciated it. She's an old friend just checking up on me - that's nice to know.

Then, my brother was originally planning on coming up for the day today but, apart from JD and I walking our feet off, he had a change of plans at the last moment and couldn't make it in the end. That's cool - I managed to speak to him briefly on the phone yesterday. He's great - I really love my 'big brother', you know? I hope you do! Plus he sent me an email giving me a bit more info about the "Wyreema" too - helping to explain why my dad used to call his boats that... hmmm... we're both still a bit in the dark! hahahaa. Another random thought - I found this version of our family's "Coat of Arms" the other day too... in the Irish it's "O Caella" - how cool is that?! My old man was into that kinda stuff, so it's fun to see it again... there's a plaque on the wall at mums with that on, but I hadn't seen it anywhere else. Oh, us silly Irish descendants... actually, I've got Irish, English, Scottish and German blood (amongst others) in me along the way anyway - as well as 2nd-Fleeters (1789) - a typical Aussie, I think...

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Week 107
I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Dirty work:: cleaning the oven
2. Shopkeeper:: 24-hour smile until it hurts
3. Goodness:: gracious, great balls of fire!
4. Yearning:: to be together alone
5. Show and tell:: share and care
6. Trapped:: submarine
7. Malcolm:: mallard
8. Season:: football
9. Bestseller:: Tom Sharpe
10. Desk:: organized chaos

---

On This Day...
Born: Patty Hearst (urban terrorist, 1954); Kelsey Grammer (actor, 1955); Cindy Crawford (brain surgeon, 1966).
Events: Ringo Starr premiers in the film "Candy", 1969.
Useless Trivia: 3rd most popular name for a male cat in 1981 was "Pepper".
My Soundtrack: Otis Redding
Footwear: bare butt nekkid - the wonders of wearing a pair of nudist feet!
Weather: rain rain rain - we had something like 23mm just this arvo! But - beautiful rain!

The mouth of a glutton named Moto
Was the size that no organ should grow to
It could take in with ease
Six carrot, ten peas
And a whole baked potato in toto.

---

Cyalayta
Mal
Email: mal [@] maljam [.] cjb [.] net
Message Board: http://malboard.cjb.net

"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, it's the light of the oncoming train." (Robert Lowell)
"Excuse me, which way is the stage?" (Audience member, lost at Altamont, 1969.)
"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" (Outtake ending, 'Dr Strangelove' 1963)
"Phew!." (Eric Clapton)

(*) Dribs and drabs

Hiya Blog Paige. How are you going, sitting here in cyberspace someplace that I have no idea where...? All I know is that you keep some sort-of strange hold of some of my thoughts and observations on life, the universe, everything and a banana in html code revealed to the world via your blogdom! Ack! Time to take my medication... [just kidding...]

---

Well, after one shift of 6 hours, the big boss asked me not to come back! I was under the impression that the position at the out-of-town servo was mainly shopkeeping with a little cooking. No. In reality it turned out to be 95% cooking take-a-way food and a tiny bit of till-work! Sure, I admit that I wasn't going too well trying to cook 10 different things at once, but it made me laugh how she put it. After one day - one day at a new job, mind you - she told me that she thought I "wasn't getting it yet" - cooking the way she liked, that is. Mind you, my 'training' consisted of... "off you go...!" Three different people showed me three different ways to do the same thing - that was confusing enough as it was! But - I'm laughing about it now. I DID have a cry on the way home (it was a 20-minute/25km drive each way), but they run a very bizarre place out there. To be told after one day of supposed 'training' that I "hadn't picked it up yet" - after spending the last two years at Uni training to be a workplace trainer - is absolutely laughable! Yes, it's really quite funny. Yes, I am quite devastated that the hoped-for $$ aint there now - I was planning to finally be able to pay the boys' school fees in full at last (rather than the pittance I'm able to manage at the moment, sadly). But - life goes on... in colliding circles... I'm feeling a lot better about it now, so don't panic, Miss Paige. Things'll work out somehow... if anything of the last 3 1/2 years of my nightmarish life can testify, things do seem to pan out somehow eventually. Blah blah blah.

---

On the good side of all this... at least I can spend my Sunday with my son JD - I thought I'd be working Sunday! Whoo hoo. They're holding a "Lap of Honour" walk around Mt Panorama on Sunday morning, with all proceeds going to help the Tsunami victims. Some people are going to try to run the whole lap (it's about 6 1/2 km's, with some pretty damn steep sections of track - if you've ever driven around 'The Mount", you'll know what I mean!), but the majority are just there for a casual stroll - that covers JD and myself, naturally! And the BBQ at the end - can't have an Aussie community day without the traditional BBQ at the end now, can we?! lol. Looking forward to it. JD's 11 1/2 now, and he's about 6 inches shorter than I am (and I'm 5' 10'"!) - he's a fit looking young man. But I'm sure the steep sections of the Cutting and Reid Park will test not just us.

Here's 'The Mount' seen from the air...

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I found another 2 cheap Tom Sharpe books 2nd-hand last week too - 'Riotous Assembly' and 'Porterhouse Blue'. Only 5 to go until I have them all... I stumbled across his very funny and satirical 'The Wilt Alternative' when spending some time 'by the seaside' during my 3 1/2 months at the MRC in 1985, and loved his sense of wicked humour. Soon after, I found a few others of his stuff, and slowly, in dribs and drabs over the years, I've been picking up the occasional book of his that I haven't got yet as I stumble across them in 2nd-hand bookshops. (omg - that was a terrible sentence!!! Ack! lol)

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The NRL is starting up again... this arvo right here in town two of the major Rugby League teams are playing a trial game - Newcastle Knights Vs Penrith Panthers. Needless to say, the game is a sellout - which is brilliant for the local league people... it'll help push their advantage to have more NRL games played out here in the future - hopefully. Not that I'll be going this arvo to... I didn't get a ticket, because I thought I'd be working! D'oh! Anyway... they're 'not my team' - now, if Manly was playing, however... hahahaa.

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I missed the 20-20 cricket match between Australia and New Zealand the other night - I was too tired to get out to the RSL and watch it on the large-screen pay-TV! But the highlights package I saw the next day looked amazing - so many sixes! And McGarth (sic) getting red-carded by Billy for attempting that underarm ball... pmsl!!! "A good time was had by all!" Looking forward to watching the one-dayer this arvo over in NZ.

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On another note - anyone know a good remedy to stop eczema? The patch on the left-side of my face/neck has gone nuts again on me over the last 2 days... dammit!

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On This Day...
Born: Lee Marvin (actor, 1924); Smokey Robinson (singer, 1940); Jeff Daniels (actor, 1955).
Useless Trivia: "Doubt is the key to knowledge" (Persian proverb).
My Soundtrack: "Magical Mystery Tour" & "Abbey Road" - The Beatles; "Timepieces" - Eric Clapton.
Footwear: bare butt nekkid - still! My feet enjoy a nudist lifestyle!
Weather: warm, sunny, gentle NE breeze, about 27c.

There was a young lady from Spain
Who was dreadfully sick on the train
Not once - but again
And again and again
And again and again and again...

---

Cyalayta
Mal (ie. Mallard d'Quackers)

Email: mal [@] maljam [.] cjb [.] net
Message Board: http://malboard.cjb.net
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, it's the light of the oncoming train." (Robert Lowell)
"Excuse me, which way is the stage?" (Audience member, lost at Altamont, 1969.)
"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" (Outtake ending, 'Dr Strangelove' 1963)
"Phew!." (Eric Clapton)

---

Unconscious Madness

Week 106
I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Judge:: dusty wigs selling justice
   
2. Detroit:: Motor City
   
3. Hyphen:: a pause mid-sentence - to catch your breath
   
4. Get it right:: baked beans
   
5. Pulsating:: Nissan Pulsar [?]
   
6. Yoga:: twisted visions
   
7. Memorable:: sunrise at Mungo Brush
   
8. Financial advisor:: Medicare
   
9. Ten million:: stars in my eyes
   
10. I:: am the Walrus [goo goo ga joob!]
    

First of all, choose a letter of the alphabet. Now, choose a number 1-10.
Got a letter? Got a number? Here's this week's challenge:
Using the letter you chose, write down _____ (number you chose) things that describe the current season where you live. (You don't necessarily have to begin each word with the letter you chose.) Also, if you chose a low number and would like to choose a higher one, feel free! :)
M & 7....
magic
magnanimous
magnificent
majestic
marvellous
masterpiece
matchless

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You've gotta sleep sometime...

---

Cyalayta
Mallard d'Quackers

To boldly go...

Source: thanx to Third Daughter & Nzyme's blogs.

bold all that apply....

i have a cell phone.
i have friends that use me.
i am an only child.
i am a shopoholic.
i love dangly earrings.
i love cold weather.
i'm obsessed with the computer.
i have shot a gun before.
i can't live without music.
i have no tolerance of ignorant people.
i have ridden on a motorcycle before.
i'll be in this town forever.
i've been to 5 other countries.
i get annoyed easily.
i have kids.
i have neat handwriting.
i have more than a few horrible memories.
i am addicted to chocolate.
i am an atheist.
i love airplane rides.
i love taking pictures.
i hate people who are fake.
i can be mean when i want to.
one of my best friends is a guy.
i have way too many purses.
i'm obsessed with lip gloss.
i am easy to talk to.
i would never eat raw fish.
i cry easily.
i hate when people are late.
i procrastinate.
i love winter.
i have too many clothes for my closet/dresser.
i love to sleep.
i wish i were smarter.
i'm afraid of flying.
i hate drama.
i bite my nails.
i have been on an 8 hour drive.
i love the beach.
i have never had the chicken pox.
i have gone out in public in my pajamas.
i can't control my emotions.
i have a best friend.
i have moved more than once.
i truly love my friends.
i have braces.
i have never broken a bone.
i hate my computer.
i love guys that play the drums.
i state the obvious.
i'm a happy person.
i love to dance.
i love to sing.
i love cleaning my room.
i tend to get jealous very easily.
i love cute underwear.
i love night better than day.
i don't like to study for tests.
i have been on the phone for over 5 hours.
i am too forgiving.
i have horrible sense in direction.
i miss elementary school.
i'm a daddy's girl.
i love kisses on my forehead.
i love the color pink.
i love to sew.
my eye color changes.
i should see a therapist.
i played on a guys sports team.
i become stressed easily.
i hate liars.
i like comfy sweatpants.
i can play the piano.
i love the smell of rain.
i love my family.
i hate needles.
i am a perfectionist.
i always wanted to learn to play the drums.
i hate the feeling of failure.
i have friends in other countries.
i know how to cook.
i can be quite selfish.
at times, i still act like a little kid.
i have food allergies.
i love to read.
i love getting stuff in the mail.
i have problems with letting go of old feelings.
i hate being alone.
i love summer.
i love the weekends.
i love black eyeliner.
i think im pretty.
i type with one hand.
i live in a one story house.
i wear make-up.
i have never rode on an underground subway.
i can't swim.
i have bad memories.
i go to church.
i sing in the shower.
i have never been camping.
i hate cheerleaders.
i usually get what i want.
i have been on stage before.
i love roller coasters.
no one knows my full story of my life.
i am close with my parents.

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Stop Press...!
Weebl & Bob have their latest 'thing' out now! Check it out - and have a laff!

(*) Feeling productive at last

Hiya Blog Paige. I'm looking forward to working again... it's been a few years', you know... gees, how pathetic! But, there was 2 years worth of fulltime Uni studies in there too! I might have to get myself a new uniform... maybe something like this...


I'm glad I won't have to spend my afternoons like this anymore - time to feel productive at last! (laughs!):


But seriously (as if I could possibly do that for more than 10 seconds... geesh! lol), it's going to so positive for my inner feelings of self-worth to be employed again. In many ways it'll be a shock to the system, after having spent so long working out of home. But I'm looking forward to the personal challenge it'll be for me in many lots of little ways.

The bummer-side of it is.. JD and I had already paid-and-planned to join a special walk around the Mt Panorama race curcuit together next Sunday, as a town tsunami fundraiser... but - I'll be working when it starts! Dammit! lol. Oh well, I can't complain - but JD and I were looking forward to doing that together. I'll be able to see them at other times, so it's not going to be a problem.

---

Here's a recent find, leaked from the Harry Potter movie makers... it's the first-draft of the Harry potter synopsis! Wow! (Click on it to open it!)

---

Having a "Hitmaps" thing on my blog has shown me where people come from all over the world - who drop by for a visit of my wee bloggie! I'm amazed - in the eight months I've been blogging (I can't believe it's been eight months already! But, I digress... as usual! D'oh!), I've had visitors from these 24 different countries so far:

Canada ~ USA ~ Mexico ~ Venezuela ~ Brazil ~ South Africa ~ India ~ Japan ~ Singapore ~ Malaysia ~ England ~ Scotland ~ Wales ~ Portugal ~ Spain ~ Germany ~ Austria ~ Italy ~ Poland ~ Sweeden ~ Finland ~ Russia ~ New Zealand ~ and even a few from Australia!

Realising how so many different nationalities surf and blog nowdays, it really reconfirmed what an international community we all live in nowdays. The above list doesn't also take into account email and chat friends I have in countries like Hawaii and Turkey either! Wow!

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Cyalayta
Mallard d'Quackers

(*) Your kidding, right...?

You're kidding, surely? Mal's got a new job - at last???!? Wow! I start next Wednesday. It's working the 'graveyard shift' at an out-of-town service station (about 30 hours each week) - and the money is really good! Whoo hoo! I still cannot believe it's really happening! It's probably just as well, because...

A life...? Wassat...?!? lol

It'll sure beat spending my days seemingly doing this...

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What do you think of when you see the following colors? (You may write as many words as you like.)

1. White: snow, purity, virginity, cleanliness, wholeness, presence of all light
2. Yellow: warmth, light, sunlight, flowers, canola
3. Blue: ocean, Hydra, sky, breeze
4. Black: death, slowness, stubborness, absence of all light
5. Green: paddocks, grass, lawnmowers, golf courses, pool tables
6. Red: fire trucks, pushbikes, apples
7. Purple: ribbons, M, royalty
8. Pink: Rachel, Raylene, children, Barbie
9. Brown: dirt, dust, grime, grit, yuck
10. Gray: Eric, lint, mush, porridge


DVD's

1. Are you more likely to rent or buy DVD's (VHS's)? Why? I can borrow upto 5 DVD's for free from the local library at a time - why rent? If I occasionally see a favourite film going really cheaply, I might buy it.
2. If you rent DVD's, do you bother viewing the 'Behind the Scenes' or watching the entire movie again with commentary on? I watch the film first, then the out-takes, them the 'behind the scenes', then - usually at another time, I'll watch the feature again with the commentary on. I love exploring the whole complicated process of film-making.
3. Do you think these features warrant the extra cost for DVD? (Afterall, we were able to buy new release VHS for $9.99 prior to DVD). Not when it's like $20 - $30+ more! Bad craziness!
4. What's your favorite DVD (or VHS) in:
*Drama - "Dead Poets Society"
*Comedy - "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
*Action - "True Lies"
*Suspense/Thriller - "Ravenous"
*Horror - "Army of Darkness"


Week 105
I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Shelter:: Gimmie
   
2. Karate Kid:: Hii - YA!
   
3. Andrew:: Daddo
   
4. Rib:: Adam's
   
5. Push it:: Pram
   
6. Creep:: Ivy vines
   
7. Chainlink:: trouser legs
   
8. Squash:: road kill
   
9. No mercy:: churchianity
   
10. Superhero:: underpants on the outside
    

---

Cyalayta
Mallard d'Quackers

(*) Wyreema

My brother found some amazing info on something of family interest to us. Dad used to always name his boats 'Wyreema', and when cleaning thru some of dad's old paperwork, my bro found and retyped and sent me some info on the original steamship 'Wyreema'. Along with some pics, I've turned it all into a simple webpage - for your interest too. Take a look.

But seriously, when all is said and done, I just follow this prude advice:

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Cyalayta
Mallard d'Quackers :o)

(*) Falling rain falling

Hiya Blog Paige. This is another one of those multi-part blog posts with a bit of everything in it... that's just the way I've been writing them lately.

I took the boys to the pool on Saturday for a few hours... can you believe it, but at 11 1/2 years' of age, JD's feet are the same size as mine already?!? Argh! lol There were literally hundreds of people there - an Area Swimming Carnival had the main pool closed, but we larked about in the 2 other smaller pools. JD was flirting without even realising it - with a 13-yo girl! Very very cute to watch. As I write, the boys' smiling faces shine across at me from the new photo frame I have with them sitting right next to my monitor (oh, you know what I mean! D'oh!) Hello, guys! I have 4 Euro coins to give them - courtesy of my flatmate's recent trip to Ireland. The 1 and 5-cent coins look similar to what ours used to be, but even I hadn't seen any Euro currency firsthand before... ooooh, aint I a yokel? lol.

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I had a job interview on Monday arvo, as a assistant manager of a small local supermarket... alas and alack, I was their second choice this time... that kinda seems to happen to me a lot, I think...

---

I found a great framed large colour photo for only $16 of a Greek island not far from Hydra! It's hanging right outside my bedroom door, so I can enjoy it everytime I go out from here... like something to dream for... This pic I found the other night looks very similar to my new picture - except this one IS of Hydra! Oohhh... I'll get there one day... check out these latest pics I've discovered...

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I had lunch with a bloke with whom I connect in a very special way. RE and I are both 'wired' (not 'weird'!) almost the same way, and altho we don't catch up as often as we'd both like, when we do it's like we just pick up from where we left off without any difficulty. We come from similar backgrounds, have similar mental health issues, and similar spiritual disillusionment as well (if that makes sense... probably doesn't... oh well...). We had the most amazing tender steak over lunch... oooh... Anyway, five blokes are meeting every Tuesday night for the next six weeks to get together to supposedly go thru a small study guide called the '40 Days of Purpose', but for all of us it's mainly just to hang out and talk and share some of life's bigger issues in a relaxed, confidential environment - as blokes. It sounds heavier than it really is, but even from tonights' first get-together, we've managed to get off to a good start. This is the first 'christian'-type small group I'll have been to in over 3 years... small groups were my 'speciality' (in a sense) in my church-days, so it's a bit weird doing this again. But, it's just a group of guys talking about things, not a big Bible-bash. If it was that - I just wouldn't go, easy as that.

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When was the last time you just stood in the rain? No, I'm serious. Just took the time to stand in the rain - and enjoy it? I must have been a kid myself... earlier tonight I took a step outside my back door for a breath of air, appreciating the pouring rain cascading from the night sky around me. It was late, no-one else was around... so I did something I haven't done in probably 30 years... I stood outside in the pouring rain for like 30 minutes! Wet - I was drenched! Did I care? Not one bloody bit! It was the closest thing I've had to a 'spiritual' experience for over three years... but it wasn't spiritual... all 5 senses got a workout at the same time... the sound of the rain splatting against my shoulders... the cold bitter-sweet taste on my tongue.. the sight of the darkness falling as shimmering drops of crystal... the sensation of the fresh clean pure water dripping off the end of my nose and even running down my leg... the smell of fresh clean air and wet grass around my feet... it really was beautiful in a simply profound way.

Seriously - when was the last time you stood in the rain? Just because you're not a kid anymore doesn't mean you can't do kids' stuff anymore. In fact - I think I appreciated it more as an adult. I felt the closest to my dad than I have in a long time. Can't describe it all... but a unique experience. Madness? Possibly. But, if this is insanity - insanity is fun! lol

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The Third Daughter wins the "Louie the Fly" Song Contest!

"i'm louie the fly, i'm louie the fly.
straight from rubbish tip to you.
spreading disease with the greatest of ease.
straight from rubbish tip to you.
i'm bad, i'm mean, i'm mighty unclean.
afraid of no-one!
except the man with the can of mortein.
hate that word, mortein.
mumble, mumble, i forget
ooooh! eeee!!... "

Congratulations! You've won a possibly fly-free minute during the next solar eclipse of Jupiter! Whoo hoo!

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Here's another challenge for my non-Aussie fellow bloggers... what does the expression "to scoff something down" mean?

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And a random thought from around Xmas time that I'd forgotten about completely... or so I thought... one warm late summer evening, just before going to bed for the night, I took a slow amble down our long driveway to get some cooler fresh air before facing a tossing-turning airless hot night. Straight across the other side of the road from the end of the driveway stands a nice small cottage, its front door facing directly up our drive. As I got further down the drive, I was slowly aware of someone leaning against the wooden door frame of that cottage directly across from me, obviously doing the same thing as me - just getting some fresh air. However, as I got to the end of the drive, and the streetlights made my presence known to the other person, I was suddenly acutely aware that the figure in that doorway was of a stark naked man! He immediately fled down his hallway, still in plain view... poor bugger... I laffed myself silly, and I'm sure he nearly died of embarrassment! Not the sort of thing you expect to see late at night! hahahaa!

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And - some more vital information for discovering full satisfaction in your life... Weebl & bob have an update...

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On This Day (1st February)...
Born: Don Everly (singer, 1937); Clark Gable (actor, 1901); Terry Jones (Python, 1942); Lisa Marie Presley 1968.
Died: Buster Keaton (comedian, 1966).
Events: The Beatles "I Want To Hold Your Hand" reaches US #1 in 1964.
Useless Trivia: Zaro Agha died at the alleged age of 164 on June 29 1934 in Istanbul.
My Soundtrack: the falling rain
Footwear: bare butt nekkid - yet again! My feet must be practising nudists!
Weather: 37c, hot and sunny, but now c.18c and raining - beautiful.

There was a young lady of Crete
Who was so exceedingly neat
When she got out of bed
She stood on her head
To make sure of not soiling her feet.

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Cyalayta
Mal (ie. Mallard d'Quackers) :o)
Email: mal [@] maljam [.] cjb [.] net
Message Board: http://malboard.cjb.net
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, it's the light of the oncoming train." (Robert Lowell)
"Excuse me, which way is the stage?" (Audience member, lost at Altamont, 1969.)
"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" (Outtake ending, 'Dr Strangelove' 1963)
"Phew!." (Eric Clapton)