Calm.. well, calmer

Alan is home, sporting many bandages for grazes on elbow, arm, hands, face, and a one nasty cut on a knee.

I got what happened directly from him.

He was on the bike path on Winterfold road. As he was at a distance from McCombe he saw one care cross to the far lane to head into Fremantle. As he got closer to McCombe another car pulled up and stopped. No indicator. As Alan had right of way, he kept going. Alan passed in front of him, the guy revved his car and T-Boned Alan, shoving him and the e-bike, and then sending them tumbling.

Officers on the scene after breathalyzing the car driver asked him "When was it you had your last drink"?

Alan was very very lucky to have been on the E-Bike rather than a regular push pedal bike. 49kgs of bike (battery pack is quite heavy). The bike took the brunt of the impact. It's been totaled.

Pardon me while I go blubber and cry out of relief. Okthanksbyegnight

Nothing yet

It's almost like jesus... no room at the inn! Alan is still strapped to the gurney because there are no available places for him to be examined yet. Ambulance drivers still with him. Once I see them leave, that will mean they have 'released custody' of him to the hospital, and I can go back and see him.

He was riding home on the bike path, headlight, tail light, side lights of the e-bike on. Well lit area too. Alan said one car slowed down, swung wide of him and went around. Dunno why, because Winterfold Road is a lane and a half wide. Another car slowed down right next to him, almost to a stop, then gunned it, stomped on accelerator and sweved in front of him, crossing into the designated bike path, smashing into the the bike, sending him and the 40kg bike flying. The bastard that hit him kinda blamed Alan for it, saying "Ya should have had better lights." A halogen front lamp, a car bright tail light, side lights on the handlebars and reflectors.... if he didn't seem him why did he slow down and pace Alan for a few seconds before jackrabbiting around him?

Luckily, Alan was wearing helmet, so no apparent head injury. Had 'altered sensations' in his hands, possible neck problem, or could just be from the impact and hyperventilation. This is what the ambulance driver told me at the scene.

At Fremantle Hospital

Alan was hit by a car while riding his bike home. Brought in by ambulance. Three nails chewed ragged. Still waiting

Heroes, Season 3, ep 25

I can understand that there will be casualties but are we supposed to completely forget things? Why didn't they just bring Clair up and pump some of her blood back into Nathan like they did last time he died? Sure beats this crap of making Sylar believing that he was Nathan and burning Nathans's body. Huge freaking plot hole.

I have been patient. I have been a fan, and hoping that they would get this back on track. But this is an nth degree from being history for me.

That was fast

And if the quality is as good as their reviews (not their own, but from other websites and forums) I am quite thrilled with the new 9 cell battery for the netbook has made it well and truly mobile and portable. It only took about 20 minutes for it to reach full charge, and right now I am putting it through some use to see how fast it gets drained. So far, depending on what I am doing, it says 6.5 to 10 hrs.

Not too shabby.

No, he won't accidentally inhale her

I finally managed to get a few photographs of Ziggy and Loki close together to show their size difference.

Loki might be bigger, but he is still my iddums boo. :)

But it's good to see that they can be that close without hissing sound FX.

Loki and his apparent disapproval

"Did I say you could take my photograph?"

*cackle*

see more pwn and owned pictures

*nibbling on some chocolate*

What a day. Ran some improved software through it's paces, and happily, no serious issues. Did have one "Unaccepted Handle" but was unable to reproduce it. Could have just been a fluke, but will keep eye out for it again.

Meegan and Daggles came over to give Alan a birthday gift. Daggles found out that Alan did nothing for his 21st, and laughingly called him "Boring bastard". Alan laughed and say "Yeah, so?"

Saw Aikidomayland's mom today. I know she means well, but she has got to stop thinking "Today Tonight" is gospel. None of those talking head shows are to be relied on for information. We went to "T2". I picked up some Turkish Apple Tisane, and Aikidomayland got some tea.

Came home, got some micro chores done (wrestling with the washing machine when gi trousers unbalanced the load), and Aikidomayland washed the car. It's was kind of grungy from our trip to Albany. We had it taken in for servicing, but they didn't clean it as they were supposed to. Their excuse was they had too many cars that day. Then they shouldn't have scheduled ours for that day, yes?

Aikidomayland is cooking dinner tonight, and it's smelling wonderful all ready. My turn tomorrow night. :D

Change of plans

No clout shoot today, due to someone mis-scheduling the beginners class. Shot until 11:30 with new long bow, testing which arrows fly best with it. Definitely the yellow nocked arrows.

Went to Foo Gwai, where we dutifully sacrificed a pork bun each to Akire-yta.

Got the pillaging done today, as everything was buttoned up yesterday. Kinda tired now, and really need some rest. Dry and thirsty too.

Archery

Clout shoot today. I don't know how long it will go on, but I typically can't do an entire 'official' competition without being racked and ruined for about 2 weeks afterward. There is no adjustments for physical problems.

I will do what I can, but I am not going to run myself into the ground doing it.

Torqued Goldfish in Frisbees

Tapioca Giraffes Invade Fresno.

Totally Gross Insects Fart.

Take Goats Inside Farm.

Give up yet?

It's amazing what a good nights sleep can do

Made the right decision using the electric blanket last night. I had told Aikidomayland to put his side on to prevent him and the cats from crowding me. He didn't listen, so he and the cats tried to shove me out of the way. I was in no mood to be polite to any of them, and proceeded to shove them out of my way. Made for grumpy cats this morning, but I slept wonderfully, and had no aches. Just hope this carries over to Tai Chi tomorrow.

The quirks of 0s and 1s

For some odd reason, Firefox barfed on the netbook, and even when I used the backup program, the error kept occuring. Oh well, uninstalled it with Revo, reinstalled it, and all the extensions/add ons. I just wish there was an easier way to add to Flashblock white list.

It is officially Autumn in my house, as tonight I have the electric blanket on(for my friends and family in the US, electric blankets are like fitted sheets on the mattress rather than a blanket over the people).

SlightlySatan came over for a visit. "Life of Brian" and wine. A most entertaining combination. Kudos to her live in chef. *urp*

Tired now, and I think I will sleep very well on a warmed bed.

Silent swimmer

A shark ghosts past a reef.

Consolation

*in the grips of toe curling ecstasy of 75% cocoa chocolate, and freshly percolated coffee*

Mood altered. 'Nuff said.

Inhale deeply.. count to 10... exhale, repeat as necessary

I have been patiently waiting for a parcel to show up. After 3 weeks, I decided to check where item was purchased, was given the tracking number, and a link to go check the status and location.

Imagine my surprise (and irritation) to find that yet again, there was an attempt to deliver (according to their records) but no card stating an attempt had been made put into the letterbox, and said item has been waiting in the post office for a week now, with no attempt to re-deliver!

Inhale deeply.. count to 10... exhale, repeated 3 times until calm enough to talk, not yell.

I called, understandably annoyed, and calmly stated that once again there was no attempt or notice of delivery. I was asked, yet again, if I wanted to fill out another complaint form. I curtly said "I have already filled out 6 of those things, and no one has returned a call or gotten back to me in any way, shape or form. Why should I kill yet another tree on a wasted effort?"

So, I trundled out my trusty electric scooter, and got ready to go fetch, while thinking many bad words...or at least hope I was just thinking them, only to find out that my son, who used my scooter while we were in Albany, turned the key to the on position rather than the off, completely draining the battery.  

Inhale deeply.. count to 10... exhale, repeat twice. Sent message to him telling him to get his backside home, grab his ID and he can go get it!

It's all in the details

Been working with the netbook. The glide pad takes a bit of getting used to as the buttons are on the sides rather than above or below it. I can use a wireless mouse.

The action of the keyboard is a helluva lot better than I would have expected. Not mushy, and you don't have to pound on them either. After using this netbook for a while, when I go back to AcerRacer the screen and keyboard seems huge.

Got a lot of small chores done. You know, the kinds that make the room look messy. Sorted through the pile of stuff on the sofa, and suddenly we have a sofa again. heh

The Tomato Plant that Will not Die is in flower again. Goodly sized flowers. So is the seedling, well not a seedling anymore, that Meegan gave me. Barring disaster and hungry bugs, I might get a few more than three fruits this time. :)

Does not instill confidence

From 'News of the Weird"

04/19/2009
LEAD STORY

The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration recently postponed its crucial program to rejuvenate quarter-century-old Trident missile warheads because no one can remember how to make a key component of the weapons (codenamed "Fogbank"), according to a March 2 report of the Government Accountability Office. The GAO found that, despite concern over the bombs' safety and reliability, NNSA could not replicate the manufacturing process because all knowledgeable personnel have left the agency and no written records were kept. Said one commentator, "This is like James Bond destroying his instructions as soon as he's read them." [Sunday Herald (Glasgow), 3-7-09]

The GAO report came two months after the German Interior Ministry reported to Parliament that over a 10-year period, it had lost 332 secret files that were in fact so secret that no one in the Ministry could recall what was in them. [The Local (Berlin), 12-13-08]

Matter of perspective

Or is that 'size is subjective'?

After working with the netbook, this computer screen seems huge!

Updating the tech

Got mobile broadband for the netbook, and ordered the 9 cell battery. Other than those two items, it's completely set up and online.

I lugged the netbook around in my usual small backpack, and there was no sore neck, burning shoulders or headache afterward, so as much as I like my "Acer Racer","Mini-Me" will be the one to travel with me.

Decisions decisions

Chronicle of Amber Omnibus, a stack of Richard Morgan, a Stack of Trudi Canavan, and on top of that my Audible account now has a credit and some amazing half priced audio books.

After a famine, a feast!

Probably the audio books until I get my new glasses.

Mostly finished

The netbook is almost totally set up. Just have a few more bells and whistles to install. I would also like to max out the memory, but haven't had any luck whatsoever on how to do it.  Many many pages on it's specifications, but nothing visual on where and how.

Clipped, stapled and printed out all the needed information for rebate. Will be getting close to 1/4 of the price back. That's not too shabby. Yes, I know there is a new model now, but I honestly didn't feel 1.3 inch bigger screen was worth an extra $250. Plus it was bigger and heavier, and my trip to Albany and SwanCon has shown me that any extra weight, even a little bit, hanging off your shoulders long enough is exhausting and painful.

New archery rules from ASWA, and they are an accident waiting to happen. The fence was taken down from around the archery range. Oh, there are neat posts there now, but wide open. With some rebar with red twine/thin rope strung up.  Can't keep fools who refuse to heed the "SUNSET COAST ARCHERY CLUB! DANGER! SHOOTING IN PROGRESS! KEEP OUT" out now. Had to stop three times because some moron decided to come toward the archery line from behind the targets.  Maybe practicing for his/her Darwin Award. Oy.

Went to Foo Gwai afterward, where we did a proper pork bun sacrifice to Akire-yta . *urp* and all was good.

Aikidomayland  is out having coffee with his mom, and helping her with some items at Bunnings. Oh, I have a feeling I am going to be asked to assist with this, as neither of them are overly adept using tools.

The 'small gods' are playing with me. Came home yesterday with the new contacts, and put my glasses down. Somewhere 'safe' it seems, as they have vanished. I still have my old reading glasses to wear if the contacts get to be too much with dust, pollen, etc.

Check this out!

Hey Kae Dash !!

How about this for Blade Attractions #5? I think there would be fewer complaints.

Might not be suitable for all viewers, even though there isn't anything explicit.

Archery tomorrow

Plans are the new longbow, and my Scythian short bow. Since at the coaching of one of the instructions years ago, I have switched from left eye dominant to right eye. Made for much better consistency in my shooting scores. I should do pretty well with the right eye wearing the distance lens, and the left wearing the reading lens.

Message to Discordia13 , they don't make me go round and round and round. :D

Tonight we go out with An, for Alan's birthday. It's just hard to believe my little 'baby' is now 21. Then "Dexter" with ShadoutCarver later tonight.

Previously, on 'Fundies Say the DARNEDEST Things'...

Yes. Incest is illegal because it tends to create retarded children etc. Perhaps homosexuals? LOL!!
BUT
This means I (a man) should be able to marry my brother then!!! Correct? Because we can't have children!!!
I'm secretly getting a lawyer and suing to marry my brother. I'm sure I can convince a constitutionalist state judge to concede. And hey, if we fail, I'll sell a lot of books and get rich!
Why not? I was BORN a homosexual. I LOVE my brother. He loves me. The constitution guarantees our rights and happiness.
Correct?
Reductio Ad Absurdum unfortunately ...

DrWhoo, Newsvine 61 Comments [4/15/2009 3:39:15 AM]

Love this response:

You should probably ask your brother what he thinks before you do anything.

4/15/2009 8:48:30 PM

Lately, Fundies have been using the 'marrying my brother/sister' or some four legged animal as an example as to why same sex marriage shouldn't be legalised. Why do they insist on equating what two consenting adults as such?

This just feels weird

Trialling new contacts, with different strengths. Left eye for reading and up close work, right eye for distance viewing. I can't explain how odd it feels, but I do see what the Doc meant that if you don't think about it, it's pretty danged nifty! It's great to be able to read without burying my nose into the book.

Such a simple thing, but it works

Every month, I update a text file of my serial, license and registration numbers. Then I email it to my gmail account. This little maneuver has saved me hours upon hours of setting replacement computers.

I have taken Ginmar's advice, and after some dickering I have replaced my laboring Pocket PC with an netbook. I will say the lack of DVD drive is a bit irksome, but not insurmountable. An external, or just networking with the other computers gets me most of the items I need.

Also, ShadoutCarver is right. Sharpies are no where near 'permanent' as they used to be. I have worn off the letters from my keyboard, and tried to use a Silver Sharpie to 'replace' the letters and left it to dry overnight. Wore off in less than 2 hrs of typing. So much for permanent.

Also got a new tea kettle. The old one kept flipping the circuit breaker.

Well, time to pay the piper, I guess

After a 5 day trip to Albany (just the walk from the Blowholes and back) and then 5 days worth of SwanCon, then 3 days worth of clearing the debris (what else can you call that mound of laundry and general mess)... 'ow' doesn't quite encompass it. I knew I was pushing too damned hard, but I am hoping that after the massive pain goes away, I will be better for it.

Yay for better living through chemistry. (I will get better, I will get better, I will get better)

And yes, if the 'chemistry' doesn't help, I will go see Dr N.

On the good side, my trial pair of contacts came in. Going to try one eye for reading, and one for long sight. This should be fun!

Schadenfreude

In a way. When you are doing better than people who have deliberately undermined you for years, and you have managed to come out, if not on top,  pretty darned well. Is a good feeling

Amazing what bringing in the garbage bins leads to

As I was dragging the recycling bin, and garbage bin back up the driveway, I spotted Terry Cat pulling up. He was visiting Slightlysatan. I invited him in for a quick howdy do, a drink, told him he was missed at SwanCon and to not be a stranger.

I love audio books

As much as I well and truly enjoy 'treeware', I love audio books. Not only are they enjoyable, they can make doing mundane tasks much easier. Un-son, Robin's mom found out this yesterday when I was working in the front garden. If I hadn't caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye, I wouldn't have known she was there. Turns out she had talking to me for about 5 minutes, and she thought I was chuckling at what she was saying.

Now is the time *I* rest (yeah, right)

Aikidomayland is back to work, SwanCon 2009 is officially over (gives a sad wave and sigh of relief). We made a rather quick appearance at the Carillion. Had yummy Hot Bavarian Pancakes, and a Chocolate Icecream sundae (which I shared with Aikidomayland ). Ummmm chocolate.

I found something that I thought was just over the top. Someone has posted pictures of the Masquerade, and left some of the nastiest comments I have read since the 08 US presidential election. Should be a law if you are going to snark on someone's appearance (and pick on a costume a child made) you should be forced to post a recent photograph. I am quite sure the commenters won't be winning beauty contests any time soon.

Ziggy, who now has an aka "The Little Beast", has a favorite new toy. Tissue paper, and evidenced by the pile of shredded tissue paper on the floor in front of me. I had unwrapped the pretty brass and glass sun-catcher, and by the time I had it hung up, Ziggy had the tissue paper scattered, then piled back up, and then savaged within an inch of it's recycling life. Good cheap fun.

Have to get the floors swept and mopped again. Alan did a good job keeping cats fed, mail collected, deliveries signed for, and general clean up to snuff, but the grit from just walking in and a few cat-having-hairball-issues stains needs to be gotten rid of.

I must be a sucker for punishment

I am already in the process of creating artwork in keeping with next year's SwanCon theme "Contagion". It's getting there, and I like it.

Ohmygod

The amount of laundry after first a 4 day trip and then a 5 day Con is.. the smell alone .. GAH!

Tech

I am seriously considering getting an Acer Aspire One Netbook with the 160GB hd instead of using a Pocket PC PDA. It will do everything the PDA does, and more, and pretty much for the same price.

Signed, sealed and delivered

Post Con news.

Brought "Alien Offering" to the hotel where SwanCon was held. Signed it "To Richard, One of the best G.O.H.s ever. SwanCon 2009" and scrawled my signature on it.

That one is no longer for sale. I will put out an altered version of it, and clearly mark it v2.

Went to optometrist and it turns out I was right. Vision is wonky again. Not only that, there might be calcium deposits on the optic nerves, so will be going back for a full dilation exam.

I'm sooooo tired...

Farewell SwanCon 2009.  It was insanely entertaining, confusing, and fun.  Blade Attractions #4 seriously rocked. Have to get 2 hrs for it next time, as one hour just doesn't do it justice.

Paul was feeling a bit flu-ey so Aikidomayland  made like the good minion and found a pharmacy that was open, that had the brand of meds Paul wanted. Here's hoping for a quick recovery, and lots of chicken soup.

Trudi was a lot of fun. We had hoped we had done all that was needed, and I guess we did. She gave us a nice chocolate gift basket.  We did thank her effusively. She gave us kudos for being good minions, and asked us to keep in touch. We shall.

Richard was marvelous.  Turns out he really liked my art entry, "Alien Offering". He said it disturbed him, because he didn't know if the offering was a good thing or a bad thing. Unfortunately the description I had for it didn't get added. "Alien Offering" A gift or the destruction of mankind. Human hands reach out to accept the gift. When I told him that, he said I pegged it. It also got an honorable mention because of his reaction to it.  I am going to sign the art show entry and give it to him.  :)

To all this year's SwanCon Committee, brava and bravo! You did a marvelous job.

Pardon me while I curl up somewhere and sleep for 12 hrs.

SwanCon...Sunday

Hectic, insane & tons of fun. Got our yearly supply of bookish infusions. Between audio and tree books, I will be busy.
Trudi & Paul are out to dinner so I am taking a 'minion' break.

[Posted via Treo]

SwanCon, yesterday

Got home too durned late to do anything remotely to do with weblogging.

So, quick sum up.  Lunch with Trudi and Paul was a lot of fun.  Got back in time for the GOH session.  Next was our TATTOO YOU panel. Unfortunately the GOH ran late, and we our Tattooing panel/discussion got cut very short.  Such is life.

Next came the auction. I had one thing in mind. Trudi Canavan's Age of the Five series audio books. (looks over at them) I was implacable.  I also got Aikidomayland  season 1 of Millennium.

Book launch was interesting and fun! Jenny Blackford was launching her new book The Priestess and the Slave. When all the attendees had arrived, Ouzo was being poured and handed out. I quipped "This is a switch. The authors trying to get the con goers pissed." Much laughter. As luck and timing would have it, I got a photograph of Jenny as she was gesturing about something, and lets just say it looks like her hands are positioned like a living bra.

Got to talk to Richard K Morgan for about an hour. He and Trudi are the most approachable Con guests ever.

Today, we are taking Trudi and Paul out on some sight seeing. Should be fun.  :)

Day One

Mostly a meet and greet, finding friends you haven't seen for a while. Was introduced to Trudi. She and her partner Paul are very niced peoples. Not only are we minders, we will be tour guides! :)

Got to meet Richard Morgan and his lovely wife. He liked my 'review' of BLACK MAN, and his wife agrees with me, it needs a sequel.

Richard: But the main character.. he's dead

Wife and I in stereo: No he isn't!

Can't leave a cliffhanger like that and not expect readers to want a Part Two.

Off for a fun filled Day two!

Green's Pool, Albany W.A. - 180 degree Panorama

Aikidomayland , my cameras and I went to Albany. I came, I saw, I shuttered.

Image is 6116x927, 800k

The rest of the photographs will have to wait until I have rested up a bit. I am knackered.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Road trip! Aikidomayland  and I are going to Albany (that's Albany, Western Australia, not Albany New York).  WE have been putting this off for a few years, due to family and health problems.

Camera gear packed and ready to go too. Can't find remote shutter release for the Canon, but I did find the wireless one. Need to get a new battery for it. SD and CF data offloaded, and cards wiped and formatted.

Getting the last of the laundry washed, dried, fluffed and folded.

Alan will be taking care of all the animules.  Food stocks have been laid in for bipeds, and quadrupeds.

Oh FFS!

Well, the Romeo Retards are still at it.  Alan has another place on the net he hangs out, and PAK decided to once again try her hand at convincing him that his bio dad has been searching for him for years, and that I, the "Evil Mother ®"  have brainwashed him, stole him, etc etc etc.

This is pretty rich coming from them after they insisted:

1: I was lying, I wasn't pregnant.
2: Alan was no relation to them whatsoever.

The definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.

PAK is insane.

He can't seem to get it through his head

Doesn't matter what Saturday morning, I can't take a photograph of the waterfall I want at that time of day as the sun is straight into the lens.

I will get the shot, just not at 8am on a Saturday morning.

I am wrung out

Funerals are physically and emotionally draining.  I feel as if I have been through an old fashioned wringer washer.

Trying to capture all her markings

Also I managed to not 'flash away' the gold dusting of her fur.

This spot is a bone of contention between Ziggy and Loki. Was funny watching Loki trying to flop down on her when he wanted to sit there, and her refusing to move.

It's nice to see that she is not hiding in the free cardboard toy, but she still likes sleeping in my costume rack.

Stripes everywhere. More of that gold dusting visible too.

As always, click for full sized!

Maybe it's because I am too cheerful a person

But I have nothing really appropriate to wear to a funeral. Will have to find something by tomorrow.

It had to be done and she survived it unscathed

As much as I didn't want to have Ziggy frightened, I had to vacuum the rugs. Especially the long 'snake' runner in front of the bookcase. She wasn't overly thrilled by the noise, but didn't go nuts.

Mopped the front area, and Ziggy found the ENJO mop interesting. I was waiting for her to hop aboard and go for a swinging swishing ride while I mopped. Maybe next time.

*sigh* A close friend of Aikidomayland 's father died. I never met the man, but do know the friend. Funeral is this Friday.

To any Angel Fans: Actor Andy Hallet (Lorne) dies at 33

Andy Hallett, who starred as Lorne ("the Host") on the TV series Angel, died of heart failure last night at age 33, according to his longtime agent and friend Pat Brady. The actor passed away at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles after a five-year battle with heart disease, with his father Dave Hallett by his side.

Hallett, from the Cape Cod village of Osterville, Mass., appeared on more than 70 episodes of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff, Angel, between 2000 and 2004. The accomplished actor was also a musician and sang two songs ("Lady Marmalade" and "It's Not Easy Being Green") on the Angel: Live Fast, Die Never soundtrack, released in 2005.

The actor's character on Angel was Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan, or Lorne for short. Hallett's Lorne was a friendly demon, who, when not assisting Angel and his team in the investigation of various and sundry underworld mysteries, served as the host and headliner at a demon bar.

Back in 2001, Hallett told our own Jen Godwin that despite constant flirtation with David Boreanaz' character Angel, and the occasional sly Elton John reference, "We don't really know if he's gay. I don't really know. It's funny, because sometimes he's right in Angel's face, and that's when I feel it the most. And viewers would probably think, hmm, what's going on here? This guy's pretty curvy."

Hallett has spent his post-Angel years working on his music career, playing shows around the country. He had been admitted to the hospital three or four times in the past few years for his heart condition, according to Pat.

Another Angel castmember, Glenn Quinn, who played Doyle in season one, passed away in 2002.

A private funeral service will be held for family and close friends in Cape Cod, most likely over this weekend.

Aww damn.