Serious Concerns

I was making dinner (which had chilli in it of course) and Tracy said to me "don't put your chilli finger in your eye". I assured her I wouldn't. Then I did. Sigh.

Work Stories

I told Sam all about my day today, and she liked it! Finally, somebody who really listens to me. She smiled at all the funny bits, she kicked her legs when it was exciting, and I think she really does care about invoice validations! The child could very well be a natural administrator. Sucker.

In Which I Travel to "Real New Zealand" and Survive

Palmerston North for work this week. I have to humbly remove my metaphorical cap from my head, and admit that it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. It certainly has improved from the last time I was there, which was around 15 years ago.

In fact, it very much reminded me of Salem, Oregon! Except with better restaurants. There's no denying that the countryside is gorgeous, and our hotel was pretty nice too. Had one of those awesome Art Deco era cage lifts, where you have to close both the doors or it won't go.

Highlights included a delicious dinner with my colleagues, a day trip to Whanganui to see the poison factory (it smelled like cookies), lunch next to a cowpat up the Whanganui river, and an invitation from a couple of the contractors to go possum hunting. Which I fully intend to take up.

The earthquake was quite exciting. The biggest jolt hit at the exact same time that my butt hit the toilet seat in the morning, and for one groggy moment, I thought I'd done something bad! But I don't think I have that much omnipotence, now that I think about it.

Not sure if anyone reads this blog who knows how to read Greek... but on the off-chance. I seem to have picked up some sort of asshole spammer, who keeps posting "comments" on my post entitled 'Post'. I've deleted 6 so far, but they keep coming. WTF?

Anyway, that's it from me for the day. Gotta go pick up Tracy and Samantha from the airport! Huzzah!

Update From Ned

I left the house and found another tail on the front mat...

Um... Thanks for Sharing, Ned

I've been tiptoeing around the house this morning, staring carefully at each spot I put my feet before I commit.

Yes, Ned of the Toddin actually caught a mouse. Of which he was inordinately proud. At 3am.

I had to lock him out of my room so that a) I wouldn't have a little present left on the rug; and b) I could try to sleep through the squeaking.

I have thus far found:

• 1 tail
• 1 chunk
• 1 blood smear

Guess he's eaten the rest. Sigh.

Come on Everyone! Make an Effort!

You know... (a bit of a musing coming up) you know... I really would like to see people taking more responsibility for their feelings. The way YOU feel about, for instance, ME, does not necessarily mean that I am *doing* anything to you. I'm just doodling along, living my life and doing my best. You will just have to own your own issues. I know I'm awesome, but I simply can't be held accountable for everything in your head. Sorry 'bout that.

In other news, Ned stole my seat. Yup, I got up for 5 minutes to cook some rice, and bam! he was curled up in my spot in a split second. I tried to move him and he trilled. Knowing that I can't resist trilling. Little bastard.

Also, I made a kind of Thai curry thing for dinner only I put in too much lime juice and it was quite acid but not necessarily what I would call horrible however not exactly delicious either. I'm going to think of it as "a good use of the vegetables that were still holding out against the mold". I do NOT include the pumpkin (Poor effort, Pumpkin. For shame.) and the slimy thing that used to be a cucumber in this group. My main motivation was to eat at least some of the things in the fridge before Tracy gets home...

Post

I stewed some rhubarb today. That might actually have been the highlight. Oh no! Wait! I remember that I bought shoes! That was the highlight - the shoes, the shoes!