Gearing Up For Some Powder Fun

As the day approaches, the excitement builds, slowly but surely. Here are some on the worthy considerations:

The slopes at Niseko
After reading So's email re the deep white stuff, I'm beginning to get concerned as to my ability to work these conditions. I think I might just have to chill out on the groomed slopes for the first day, just to get a feel for it. Niseko's slopes go for about 5.3km, which is about 2.0km longer than the longest Thredbo slope. I remember trying to do the whole Thredbo slope in one go last time we went....that is rough on the legs, to say the least. I'm hoping for a least two cafes in during this marathon journey.

The onsens
I'm keen on those onsens. There is one onsen in Niseko that overlooks the mountain. The snowflakes fall, but melt when the steam from the onsen rises up, creating a misty effect. A bit pricey, but well worth it! I just have to get used to seeing Peedz and Stuey with only those mini towels on *shiver*

Tokyo
Having had dinner with the crew going, and there seems to be a distinct lack of itinerary, especially around the Tokyo area. Ah well, as long as I get to the fable Tokyo fish market that mushiejc keeps telling me about, then it's all good! Tokyo seems like a city to be experienced, in the sense that you go there to soak up the atmosphere and the culture, as opposed to going to specific tourist sites. Bei wants to check out the punk looking characters, can't remember which are those guys are in. I've suggested to Stuey to dye his hair black....he ain't down for the gothic look!

Kyoto
Planning on making a quick trip to Kyoto and back before Bei and Peedz get to Tokyo. Looking forward to taking the Shinkansen past Mt Fuji to experience the cultural centre (ie temples and more temples :)) of Kyoto. It's a good place to relax and soak up the tranquility.

Hong Kong
Oh yeah, the party leg of this trip! As all these Qantas hoes are utilising their cheap airfares to come along, it will be a blast. And going to see Bec for the first time in 2 months will be extra special :) Get my shopping done here, love the fact that the Aussie battler is about 6 HK dollars!

Damn! 20 cheap calls already:

mmm...tsukiji sushi bars...mmm :) remember the "don't line in front of door" sushi bar was yummo!
mushiejc (link) - 03 February '05 - 07:19

definitely try and get to Kyoto - go and check out the water temple...amazing views there.
riss (email) (link) - 03 February '05 - 10:31

Mmmmm.... powder!!!!
*droooooolllll*

soooo jealous..
dude, with all the climbing u've been doing, i reckon u'd have been conditioning yourself!!
should be no sweat!!
besides, what do u need to work your legs for??
just go straight down man!

oh and that's what parabolics are for.. :P CARRRRVVVVINNNNNGGGGGGGG....!!!!

have a blast..
and dare i say...
Break a leg???
mockkie (email) (link) - 03 February '05 - 10:58

Only 20 more days until the 25th Feb!

*smiles all around*
beckster (link) - 05 February '05 - 00:51

Thanks for the advice guys, will keep them in mind.
Mockkie stop cursing me!

Defnitely smiles all round :)
Jookboy (link) - 05 February '05 - 16:32

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - you asked me a few weeks ago for the contact details of all my cute japanese female friends in Niseko. I'll email their contact details to you now.

What's the storage limit on your inbox again?

RC
randomcow - 06 February '05 - 09:38

I've got 1Gb of love for the ladies with my gmail account :)
JookBoy (link) - 06 February '05 - 15:29

If JB's 1 GB isn't enough there's almost 1GB in my inbox too. Feel free to use that as well =).
beckster (link) - 06 February '05 - 15:35

http://www.japan-guide.com/penfriend/loc..

Young, energetic j-girls in Hokkaido. Only 17 pages of them. For example:


Japan
Asahikawa
Age: 16

Japanese

Miku

Job: Student High
Hobby: Music Movies Dancing
Purpose: Learning Language, Talk about school, Friendship


Hello!!!I'm Miku.
I'm a Japanese high school student.
I lerning Engrish and I want to speak Engrish better.

I love hiphop music and I love dancing!I know very well about american hip hop music,so I want to talk about it.

I want to be firends with you.
Let's have fun our talking!




or this gem:




Japan
Sapporo
Age: 18

Japanese
English


hiroko


Job: Student
Hobby: Movies Shopping
Purpose: Fun, Friendship, Cultural exchange

Hi! I am looking for foreign boyfriend, especially Chinese guy. prease email me and we can meet and do cultural exchange and play!! *chu*
randomcow - 07 February '05 - 09:01

gong xi fa cai, one and all. HK is in fine form mate - look no further than dragon-i on a wednesday! will do my best to get up there and join you. i know dongers is looking fwds to his hk debut and ezzz is always good for a laugh or plenty!!
bjee - 08 February '05 - 10:53

Jookboy...that's a lot of j-girls wanting to learn english! Will you have enough time for movies, music, dancing, cultural exchanges, romance...what about skiing??? :)

Save up some energy for HKers. Jojo, Den, BJ and I will all be fresh off the plane...should be rocking!
anton - 09 February '05 - 17:28

Yes that's FOP for short. bahhh!
bjee - 10 February '05 - 12:18

Im totally jealous!!! I wanna go hongkersssss *whine whine whineeeeeee*
Bleah! Still got my tannnnnn ooooooo yeah!
Hopefully becks sexy tan will still be there when you hit HK kevvy! SHE WAS HOT! *ssssizzzzzle*
addy (link) - 10 February '05 - 13:28

This may be a little late, but the place to go to check out the freaks is Harajuku... have lotsa amusing pics to send round once I get back to sydney (which is unfortunately too soon)! dont worry JB day 1 of snowboarding always kills the legs but by day 2 its all good... and which is why I have stopped by in Singapore for some r and r and chilli crab.. and massages :) I am missing the snow and boarding sooo much already so carve it up in Niseko you lucky punks!!!! Nothing but POW :) And start planning that Thredbo experience will ya! :) have a safe one
so - 10 February '05 - 15:10

Don't worry So, I already told JB to go to Harajuku and check out the latest fashion craze - chicks dressed in stuffed animal gear apparently *shrug* no idea.

Addy you're such a pal *mwah*!!
beckster (link) - 10 February '05 - 15:42

I discovered in Niseko that breastroke was the best of the strokes to get out of powder which is more than waist deep. Just ask So.
giz (link) - 15 February '05 - 11:23

Actually, I body boarded out of the trees, its called "banana" or something.. off one of them blacks at Honozono. :) although breastroke does come in handy too!
Dont pike on the funbox like you did at Thredbo, you chicken :)
so - 16 February '05 - 12:53

It's been fantastic, to say the least....I can't believe the amount of powder there is at Niseko. We traversed the big mountain, and also went to Annapuri (for those taht have been there) to experience the untouched stuff. Definitely a place to go back to. They also have 100Yen udon noodles there. Sweet! No fun box for me, So, although I did pull of numerous 180 jumps off my skis. Sadly the 360 was a bit beyond me :)
RC, your friend Wakana ended up with the flu, so I didn't get to see her. I'm being barred already by the Jap chicks!

Soaking up the spas here in Kyoto, and then onwards to Tokyo for some crazy pictures.
I'm ready for Honkers boys and girls...five days to go!
JookBoy (link) - 19 February '05 - 18:34

yeah, poor girl, she was really upset about not being able to meet u guys. First the accident on the jump, and then the flu. I guess it was never meant to be...!

(personally, it sounds to me like someone made a voodoo doll of her and was working the back and chest).

Anyway, glad you're having a good time over there. No major injuries? I just started a new workout programme in preparation for next season. Five different types of squats!

RC
randomcow - 20 February '05 - 03:22

by the way - if you go to Shibuya, could you guys please just take about 200 photos each of the "scenery" there? Best time to go is about 4pm on a weekday, when school is finishing, or friday/saturday night, when the kogyaru are out in full force. Thanks.
randomcow - 20 February '05 - 03:23

The Uni Life

Watching 'Van Wilder: Party Liason' the other night, and I once again lament the fact that I did not stay within a college at uni.

Granted, I am sure that my college life would have been a lot tamer than the one depicted in the movie (much like how in 'Boston Public ', more things happen in one episode than did happen in my whole high school life), but that sense of friendship, of growing up together in those formative years would have, I believe, been quite the same.

Having stayed home (at West Pennant Hills) instead of staying at UNSW, and using public transport, meant that I was unable to participate in a lot of activities that required post-7pm attendance. Things like uni sports, uni events, uni clubs that would improve your "uni experience" fell by the wayside. As Van puts it, "I've bled, crimson and blue for this uni....it's given me so much". Sometimes I wish I had that feeling for UNSW.

There is another possibility, that I just wasn't that keen on it. I stayed near the uni when I went on exchange to Sweden, and I didn't feel like I really got involved in that uni either. Of course, the -40 degree temperatures did not assist in any evening activities (well, maybe the "activitiez", but I didn't partake in those ones, to my eternal regret :)). It could be that my attitude was wrong, that I wasn't willing to come out of comfort zone and go bananas. Life's too short to hold back.

Solemn promise: if I ever do one of those full-time MBAs in a uni (most likely overseas), I'm going to make that uni home. And get myself one of those golf buggies like Van :)

Damn! five cheap calls already:

The golf buggy is essential! In the movie, living on campus was a completely different lifestyle. What experiences do you feel you missed out on at uni? Surely if you wanted it enough you would have joined the sports clubs etc anyway? Or are you simply looking back at the past with a different perspective now?
It is always easier to regret the things you haven't done as opposed to those things you have done.....Write that down :)
Taipan (email) - 25 January '05 - 05:38

Maate, I regret it too. I'll have another crack within the next couple of years :)
PeeDz - 25 January '05 - 15:29

JB, there's an easier way mate, mandarin school in China. You live right on campus, it doesn't cost a small fortune like a MBA, and there's loads of Korean + Japanese + other international chicks around...

Taipan: I live my life by a similar saying: It's better to regret the things you have done than the things you have not. Kinda puts more a more "action oriented" feel into it I think ...?
al - 25 January '05 - 23:08

Both Taipan and Al make good points; action oriented is the catch-cry here.

Eternal regret? Wow...that's some serious regret

One thing to remember though; Van spent 7 years on campus to get to the stage he was in. Time and effort reaps serious rewards~
ricegrains (link) - 27 January '05 - 05:50

*shrug* living on campus in Australia is no big deal, compared to the US. It's actually quite seperate from the uni itself, except for the fact that your nearest watering hole happens to be the unibar.

Anyway, I don't have any good feelings towards UNSW. In fact, I often badmouth the place, when I'm not too ashamed to admit I spent four years of the prime of my life there. I'll never make an alumni donation, no matter how rich I become.

I think alumni donations say a lot about a university. You just need to check out the facilities at Stanford to realise why it is in the best interests of the uni to try and make the uni experience a memorable one for the student. Not treat them with contempt, as UNSW did.

At least I made a couple of good friends there.

(no, not you guys)

RC
randomcow - 27 January '05 - 07:18

A Funny Story

I should sit down with my cousins more often for dinner. It's always a blast!
Anyways, the funny story is as follows...
When he was going out with this chick last year, my cousin would stay over at her and her parent's place. One month into the relationship, as he was watching The Mask with her dad (they had spoken about 4-5 times), the dad's come out with the "so, are you sleeping with my daughter?"
My cousin didn't know what to say! He reckons his brain was going a million miles an hour :) In the end, he's stuttered out a "yes", the dad said "thanks for your honesty", and that was the end of that! They ended up getting along very well.

Anyone else have any quality experience such as the one mentioned above?
I told him it's lucky he didn't come out with some "hell yeah, she's great!" call :)

Damn! six cheap calls already:

That's hilarious!

The alternative could've been her dad in a rocking chair on the front porch with a shotgun across his lap, waiting for your cousin's next visit.
milli - 17 January '05 - 11:56

HAHAH oh dear. I wonder what my bf would say if my dad asked him that HAHAHA I would be half dying from embarassment and then half from laughing my head off.
Quality stuff mate.
addy (link) - 19 January '05 - 04:13

that's a cack.
i can't believe any dad would ask that though!
riss (email) (link) - 19 January '05 - 06:41

You've got to be f**kn kidding.... thats not even funny man!!
PeeDz - 19 January '05 - 19:32

I reckon he should've said: "No, I'm just free-loading on the accommodation and grub."
ken - 20 January '05 - 05:57

"yeah, she's ok in the sack. But I hear her mother is a real animal..."
randomcow - 27 January '05 - 07:21

Jook - Quarter-Centery Egg Review

Thanks to everyone that came along to the party. I apologise profusely for those that were turned away because the venue was supposedly "full". Turns out that Castles had recently had to reduce their capacity under council demands, and the police have been pretty strcit on the numbers in a venue. Lessons for next time...

Pictures from the night are located here, or on PeeDz's site (when he has time to put up the photos) and I'm sure at everyone else's that has a digital camera.

Highlights for the night:
1. The amount of people that turned up after only 2 weeks' notice
2. The HoneyRoastedTV interview. I think my pre-interview comment to Jay that "we can be gay lovers" was caught on tape :(
3. The old school music!
4. The quality Jook shirts, made by chopdesigns.com
5. The amount of money we raised for the tsunami appeal ($1050, going to Red Cross and Oxfam).

So Jook will be back, hopefully not after another 2 year hibernation. I swear next time, I will have a bigger venue!

Damn! five cheap calls already:

Cheers to Jook and Congeemen!! Sorry to hear that nobody rocked up in the 'white top + white pants' combo. I'll be sure to send through the picture I took of the sexy girl in skin tight white hipsters at Pegasus to make up for it .
beckster (link) - 07 January '05 - 16:02

KC - I have been reading your blog almost since inception, this is my first comment :)
Just wanted to thank you Congeemen guys for a great night and for supporting the Tsunami appeal.
Wendy - 09 January '05 - 04:10

more photos from that night ....
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictur..
matt (email) - 09 January '05 - 05:34

Despite the crowd capacity dilemma, everyone still had a good time. Pics are up on Peidaania too :D

Till next time Jookboy
PeeDz - 11 January '05 - 08:52

Thanks guys for a great time.
My photos are up too (thanks to Julie who was photographer for the night)
http://community.webshots.com/user/alwin..
al (email) - 15 January '05 - 14:50

Jook - Quarter-Century Egg

Here we go again, after two years :)



Since it's a small venue, get there early.

Special offer:
If any girls wear what the chick in the flyer is wearing, you get free entry!
If any guys wear what the chick in the flyer is wearing, you have to pay $20 entry :)

Damn! eight cheap calls already:

The memories of that night long ago at Sharkies for the traffic lights Jook party are still alive and kicking. Such a pity I can't be there this time *sniff*.

I'll wear that outfit in Shanghai on the 7th to show my support ok?
beckster (link) - 28 December '04 - 17:52

WHOA - pls send pictures hahahahahah
(for kev *wink*)
addy (link) - 29 December '04 - 03:58

THAT is a chick??
ken (link) - 29 December '04 - 05:47

Do I still need to pay $20 because I am under orders from Bec to monitor your behaviour that night? What if I wear whats on the pic? Does that cancel out my fee?
As long as there are no kiddie wading pools, I will be there :)
so - 29 December '04 - 05:47

those pants are kinda high and major VPL!!! hmm.... so not sexy
addy (link) - 29 December '04 - 15:48

Am I the only person who thought she had a moustache and little "the spot" beard?

RC
randomcow - 03 January '05 - 03:39

I think the only person who has to be worried about kiddie wading pools is Yui so...;)
ricegrains (link) - 03 January '05 - 07:21

i was framed! i'm calling my lawyers.
ue - 04 January '05 - 05:42

The Seven Habits Revisited #1

Doing a little Christmas shopping for myself, and decided to buy this classic book for some inspirational reading. I've been feeling a bit out of sorts, and hoping this book will again point me in the right direction as it did the first time I read it.

One of the points in the book is that you should read it as though you are going to teach others about it, so I'm taking that path, and distilling the concepts for myself, as well as anyone else who cares to know. Plus, hopefully other people will point out things that I've missed. Of course, for those who don't care, there will still be plenty of other cheap calls on this website!

So here goes....

Habit 1 - Be Proactive
Until we take how we see ourselves into account, we will be unable to understand how others see and feel about themselves and their world.
How we see ourselves depends on our attitude to determinism. If we believe wholly in determinism (that is, other factors ie genetic, psychic or environmental shape and limit our lives) then we will always blame others for how we react. We are not response-able.
The realisation must come that between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose. And the ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of the proactive person.

In most cases, it's not what happens to use, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us. Our character, our basic identity, does not have to be hurt at all. The three central values in life are the experiential, the creative, and the attitudinal, and it's the attitudinal (our response in difficult circumstances) that's the most mindset-changing.

Many people wait for something to happen or someone to take care of them. But people who end up with the good jobs are the proactive ones who are solutions to problems. Holding people to the responsible course is not demeaning, it is affirming.

Our language is a very real indicator of the degree to which we see ourselves as proactive people.
Reactive Proactive
I can't ---> I choose
I must ---> I prefer
If only ---> I will
The word "love" is a verb. Reactive people make it a feeling. Love is a value that is actualised through loving actions.

The problems we face are in three areas; direct control, indirect control, or no control. Direct control problems should be the ones we deal with straight away, by changing our habits. Indirect control problems should be dealt with by changing our methods of influence. No control problems...just smile :)

Within your Circle of Concern are all these problems. Within your Circle of Influence are the things you can personally change. It's about character focus within the Circle of Influence, and the greater your focus in the Circle of Influence, the larger it becomes. And as always, it's the language that is use. The focus word is "be"...be a better listener, be a more dedicated employee, or just be happy.

Mistakes should be acknowledged instantly, corrected and learnt from. "Success is on the far side of failure".

There are two ways to put ourselves in control immediately. We can make a promise - and keep it, Or we can set a goal - and work to achieve it. By making and keeping promises to ourselves and others, little by little, our honour becomes greater than our moods.

Actions:
1. Determine which category your problems lie in. Focus only the direct control problems and go from there.

Damn! six cheap calls already:

My mum is qualified to lead those Seven Habits courses for work, she has tried to get me to get into the habits for years but I can't be stuffed. It's too much effort to be conscious of them all, I got to Habit 1 and gave up.
riss (email) (link) - 21 December '04 - 03:38

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
JT (email) (link) - 21 December '04 - 07:55

Justin Timberlake has a point
Googleeyes - 21 December '04 - 08:32

Thanks for typing that up dude. Are you going to be proactive and type up the whole book for us? Thanks in advance.

RC
randomcow - 28 December '04 - 04:23

I can be proactive and shove that comment up your ass :)
However, it won't be a win-win situation.....but then again.....
Jookboy (link) - 28 December '04 - 17:35

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a priceless book. At least in my experience, I have found it be filled with timeless priciples that have profoundly changed my life.
If you are not interested in improving your life, do not read it. If you are willing to accept ordinary relationships with others and yourself, do not read it.
The first principle, Be Proactive, is the most important principle. As riss pointed out, if you are not motivated from within (proactive) you will not achieve anything.
The principles in the book allow you to appreciate that success and happiness can only be achieved within yourself. They are not determined by your income, job or status. Anyone who is looking to be a leader either at work in another area of their life must read the book. It is no good to wait for someone else to summarise the book or teach the habits to you. Habit 1 is Be Proactive ie if you want something GO AND GET IT!
Kev, regarding you feeling out of sorts you should know that Habit 7 (the hardest habit) is the key to avoiding those feelings - Sharpen The Saw!!! The problem with "achievers" is that they are never satisfied, regardless of how much they achieve.....sound familiar Kev? ;)
Taipan (email) (link) - 29 December '04 - 03:42

Stirring The Creative Juices

Pretty soon *fingers crossed* I'll be moving to a new role in the marketing department of one of our business units. This is a good opportunity to try something a bit different, and of course, with new ooportunities, there is a high amount of trepidation at to whether you can step up and deliver. This one is especially daunting as the first thing the marketing manager whom I'm reporting to said to me was "Kev, I've heard really good things about you from your managers...." Oh dear :)

Anyway, I've always thought that I did not have one creative bone in my body. Like in art, I had more fun doing sketches of existing paintings/drawings, rather than liberally applying paint across the canvas Pro-Hart style. In business, I felt I did not have the visionary abilities that my partner displayed on a much more frequent basis. Give me a lead or aim, and I'll deliver it for you. Ask me for the vision, and I'm quite stumped.

I think marketing is about understanding what the consumer values in your product, and pushing that message to induce the need in the consumer's minds. A lot of times, this comes just from listening to the customer, and to really get to the bottom of their psyche.

How much creativity is needed? The skill is marketing is presenting the message in a way that makes it memorable for the consumer...or is that the advertising exec's job? Is thinking creatively and being creative two different things?

On a different tangent, where does the creative side come from? And how does one develop it more?

I'm hoping that my IT skills will bring a different perspective to the table, and that further down the track for me, it's something to add to my skills...I keep reading that it's not hard-core IT that gets you places, but an ability to bring the business and IT perspectives together.
Give me a few months, and I'll come back all arty. Maybe my hair could be as "tzsujed" as Boges'!

Damn! eleven cheap calls already:

You don't have to come up with the creative, that's what your advertising agency is for and why you pay them big bucks :)

I think your IT skills will help, especially if you do Online/Digital stuff. Some of the clients we have are retarded when it comes to things like that and we have to hold their hand through the whole process which makes it so painful.
riss (email) (link) - 08 December '04 - 11:10

i always wondered how u would spell "tzsujed".
pskis - 08 December '04 - 12:32

i think he made that up ,we need to check with the queer eye boys...
addy (link) - 09 December '04 - 02:31

IT + business is my entire work world and I think it’s very true that hardcore IT will only get you to one spot - hard core IT. But if you know IT and u know business u can use that to help the business really achieve its goals and objectives - then u can be at the top of all the business (hardcore IT-ers and all!). Now you’ve got another important skill which u can use to conquer the world à marketing + IT + business acumen = WORLD DOMINATION :)....hmmm…anyone for Risk?? It’s been awhile since playing that!
mushiejc (link) - 09 December '04 - 03:47

Riss, are you tring to drum yourself up some business?
Dre - 09 December '04 - 06:18

dre- yes :p
riss (email) (link) - 09 December '04 - 11:32

tzsujed is correct. The queer eye book says so :)
PeeDz - 11 December '04 - 13:48

Dude, you've been practicing for this role for years! Think of all the hos you've been selling yourself to at your dance parties, planting in their mind the idea that your product is superior, more durable, longer-lasting, etc.

I think this is your calling.
randomcow - 12 December '04 - 02:02

In the immortal words of Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch - "I lay it out for ya'll to play it out"

JB, don't stress about the creativity; Miss Riss is right, while you need some, that's why we pay the advertising peeps the big bucks. To take your vision and message and turn it into something that the consumers will, in short, want.

Creativity comes from so many sources. What you read, what you watch, insights...it's all about turning these influences into something that you can use in your role to help market your product.

And RC is right; you'll be fine...years of fine-tuning :P
ricegrains (link) - 12 December '04 - 06:32

hehe, thanks for the wise words everyone. Equating it to spading chicks always makes more sense to me.

If I ever get to allocate spending, riss, you'll be the first on my list :)
Congrats on your role Jem! I think the role is Marketing Communications, although I'm still waiting for the job specs to come through. Doing some education with the help of some digital formats ie CD distributions and other mediums.

That LOTR Risk is wild...pure luck, that game, althought the figurines are very cool! I'm down for Diplomacy if anyone has it (do you have that mushie?)
JookBoy (link) - 14 December '04 - 17:54

Oooh LOTR Risk - count me in!! :) okies diplomacy/risk night soon...although diplomacy will prob take many many nights to play (we better play it - only played it once and it cost me big bucks!!)...maybe we should combine it with another LNP night??? ;)
mushiejc (link) - 15 December '04 - 14:44

Some People...

It seems like this...



turns to this....



which in turn turns to this....



Cheap call away :)

Damn! ten cheap calls already:

hahahahahaha ... I'd been hoping to see some photos of THAT Lil from the dance party :) - r u still insisting that was not alcohol-induced?
Dessy (link) - 01 December '04 - 05:35

hee hee - i'm sure ms poon is ecstatic about your post!
mushiejc (link) - 01 December '04 - 06:13

dude, where are the last three pics in the series??

RC
randomcow - 03 December '04 - 04:24

Hey, shouldn't this post come with a parental guidance warning? Hahaha...

That's a side of Lil we don't see very often...agh, the mantle of digital voyeur is shared around, right Matt?
ricegrains (link) - 03 December '04 - 11:47

Oh dear
Ms poon is NOT ecstatic about your post!!
Altho, that doesnt compare to the party action in New York! :p
Lil - 04 December '04 - 01:17

i am just SO glad none of me in the cage have yet to surface.......
addy (link) - 04 December '04 - 03:13

Yes, I'm sure 'Paris' Poon is living it up elsewhere...I'm sure there be digital photos taken from that :)
JookBoy (link) - 05 December '04 - 04:14

right boges! lucky for you i didn't bring my digicam ;p
thevault - 05 December '04 - 07:29

A wolf in sheeps clothing... our Lil.
PeeDz - 06 December '04 - 16:45

Lil do you actually remember that you were grinding ME up in the cage too??!!!?

Well geez *blush*, I didn't realise our friendship has progressed to 'that' level. Hot stuff girlfriend.
beckster (link) - 07 December '04 - 23:09

Long Letters

In this age of cheap one line emails and "I'm too busy to talk", I love getting a long letter to read. I remember writing such things in the olden days of high school, and getting them as well. It's the thought of "knowing that they're just thinking about you" (as a friend told me) that makes it so worthwhile.

The higher quality ones are the hand-written variety, where there has been no full-on editing of the text, as can happen when you write digitally. It comes across as very honest and usually quite heartfelt, and seems to provide a deeper window to their thoughts.
I have to admit that I haven't done a hand-written letter for a while...will have to consider it for the next big occasion :)

I have a drawer at home that has all the letters that I've received over the years. Of all my possessions, I think I would fear losing that the most. So many memories of good times are contained in that drawer. And now, I have another letter to add to that collection. Thanks babe!

Damn! sixteen cheap calls already:

I love long letters too =).
beckster (link) - 19 November '04 - 21:19

its a dying art...writing a letter......
i wrote a letter to my grandmother the other week..Boy was it hard! I can write pages and pages of essays and blogs but writing a letter gave me a mental block.... It starts out with: Dear (insert name), How are you? (or the equivalent) , The weather is fine here.... and then im stuck :P
I think we should all start writing letters again... Its extra special nowadays....
addy (link) - 20 November '04 - 06:39

write it in word, do all the necessary editing, run spellchecker then write it on A5 texturized-purfume-scented paper using an HB pencil with those crap ass paper tearing rubbers on the end of them.

just like an assignment in reverse.

you've been suckered jb.
ue - 21 November '04 - 03:21

Remind me never to trust any "hand-written" letters from you ue :)
JookBoy (link) - 21 November '04 - 10:42

You better still have all those letters I wrote you in your cupboard too biatch *wink wink*
PeeDz - 21 November '04 - 18:18

Hmm...on second thought - who wrote you those letters in the drawer again JB???!! =p
beckster (link) - 21 November '04 - 19:51

hahaha, now i can see kev just going and editing that part of his entry out bec :p

the reason why i've stopped writing letters is because my handwriting has gone to crap after school/uni because everything is done on the computer at work and i hardly have to write anything anymore. and when i do my hand gets sore. meh.
riss (email) (link) - 22 November '04 - 03:20

Its been a couple of years since i wrote a long hand written letter...my hand has forgotten how to now!

I write long emails these days...but i dont edit those...takes too much effort to edit the emails too! ahahahaha
=P
petals - 22 November '04 - 07:19

I totally agree there JB. the best thing I've received would've been a handmade card from someone a few years back, probably coz i found out it took over 4 hrs to make! emailing/sms-ing can be soo impersonal sometimes. bring back the pre-email days (oh my gawd did i just say that!!!) ok, maybe not that extreme, but bring on the more personalised forms of communication!
lmm - 22 November '04 - 08:58

Long letters, hey? Have you done a search on Google?

Actually, I get hand-written letters quite often. I just cleaned a bunch of them out from my desk drawer last week. They're all in Japanese :)

I think that if you like receiving hand-written letters, you just have to have a lot of girlfriends.
randomcow - 22 November '04 - 09:45

i cant write if the page has no lines! its bizarree...its like i have no sense of 'straight'
hm....
addy (link) - 22 November '04 - 12:23

Those letters were close to the heart! No edits of this post...Alright, I admit it, they're all from Peedz :P

But your're right, riss with the writing side of things. I had an exam that I had to write short answers for...had cramps after 30min of writing!

Sage advice, rc. But I think I'll pass at the moment.
JookBoy (link) - 22 November '04 - 18:03

That reminds me.... (sorry to hijack your blog, btw - feel free to delete/move. Just that I don't know a better place to put this)

I go out and meet way too many Japanese girls. Often what will happen is that for some reason or another we can't get together (eg I have already been with her friend, my reputation preceeds me, personality incompatibility, etc). However these girls are keen to meet Aussies and make friends. Sometimes too keen, and they end up in the company of people who prey on these kind of girls. Quite honestly if they're going to get eaten then I'd prefer it be my friends doing the eating.

So I was wondering if any guys (or girls, I guess) would be interested in coming out and meeting a few of these girls? Most of them speak a little english, but even if they don't you can communicate in the universal language. I just think it's a waste for me to go meeting these girls and then just never call them again just because they don't suit me. Call it philanthropy if you will :)

Email me: randomcow@hotmail.com

RC
randomcow - 25 November '04 - 11:26

I know how you feel mate, pimpin aint easy
Dre - 25 November '04 - 11:51

"Call it philanthropy if you will :)"

PIMPanthropy :P

I believe I just coined a new term.
PeeDz - 29 November '04 - 12:26

Yes, rc, you're generous beyond belief :)

"Just that I don't know a better place to put this". What are you saying about my blog, mate? It ain't that much of a pimp website, is it??
JookBoy (link) - 29 November '04 - 16:53

A Lack Of Sleep

Couldn't get to sleep the other night. Just too much thinking of where I should be and where I am currently, and what the options are. I suppose a lack of activity at work has prompted a review of what Lend Lease means to me, and why I feel that I'm not moving forward as fast as I can. Also, seeing a friend last night made me think of what overseas has in store.

I so want to be sure that the next step is the right one for me. However, buy thinking so much about which step is best, you end up not making a decision at all.

I think I know what I want to do. I want to have my own business, and the learnings I need lie outside of the IT area. Things like marketing, sales, budgeting are not within the scope of the role that I have now. There is a possibility of a marketing job within that I think may help alleviate some of this knowledge deficit, but it is neither confirmed nor detailed.
There is a side of me that really wants to work overseas. Why? Because I think it's a step towards gaining a broader perspective on life, to meet new people, and to see what else is out there. Again, there is a possibility of this opportunity.

Both seem to be experiences that would be lots of fun. However, both are far away (possibly next June at the earliest) and both are (realistically) incompatible, given my low level of expertise in the marketing area. The highest priority task must therefore be to work out what the actual two jobs consist of. Of course, with the overseas

For some reason, I just feel so "meh" at work at the moment. Something's been lost at Lend Lease for me, that energy that was in there before. I think it's a case of hanging around the more negatively minded people, listening to their stories (which I can empathise with), or maybe it's the fact that I'm not really doing any new projects currently (although this situation has only reared its ugly head in the last 2 weeks).

It sucks to be in this position, I want to move forward, and I have this bad feeling that I'm not going to be able to for the next few months. But then I stop and think for one minute...only 26, and as my good friend's sister pointed out, not complete until 30. Another friend told me that, if you look at it another way, if both choices are good, then that doesn't mean either choices won't be available if one is picked. Also, I'm working in one of the nicest corporate buildings in Sydney, if not Australia. There's some wonderful people around me, and you have managers that like you.

Somewhere in that list, I should be able to utilise it to my advantage, right? :)

Damn! four cheap calls already:

The hunting never stops my man. I feel your pain..well, I've felt many things of yours I shouldn't have, but this is life.

All I can say is, if you really want something to change be prepared to take some other chances. You know that I know that you know this well, sometimes it just has to be said again.

Oh my other point, WE F**KING YOUNG STILL. Dont sweat it. I for one now believe life truly begins at 30 :)
PeeDz - 10 November '04 - 18:08

Dude, my suggestion is to go overseas and just lie about the experience you have. Tell them that you have 4 years in marketing and put me as your reference/contact phone number. Then you just have to sit back and wait for the life experiences to come knocking on your door...

RC
randomcow - 14 November '04 - 05:58

"Dude, my suggestion is to go overseas and just lie about the experience." - RC

yes, I am in ageement. Tell the ladies you worked as a porn star before being deported from Australia due to three lewd conduct and indecent exposure charges, with one of the more serious incidents lasting over several hours. Or conversely, tell them you're overseas getting penis reduction surgery because the extra weight be 'throwing off your balance when you walk.'

I'm sure that will get you some good work in Germany.
Desi Arnez - 14 November '04 - 09:30

Thanks for the quality cooments! I'll keep them in mind. Or maybe others who read this website may find that they're more useful to them :)

I was in a strip show...does that count for me being a porn star?
JookBoy (link) - 18 November '04 - 12:41