Flying Free

NaNoWriMo 2011

2011-11-01T13:25:00.002+13:00

I am doing NaNoWriMo this year wahoo!

My synopsis needs re-writing, but here it is for now:

Synopsis for New Rising
On what was meant to be a routine exploration of possibly viable planets, the two-ship team find themselves unexpectedly stranded and quarantined after a mystery affliction wipes out half of their members. Those who survive are changed, and no one is quite sure what these changes entail. As they figure it out, and why so many of their team died, they must find a cure.
But as the extent of their changes becomes more apparent, they realise that they might have landed in more than they bargained for. And unless they find out why these things are happening, they may just be left here to die of old age.

You can see the counter on the side of this blog, I'll try and keep it updated regularly. Am at work so haven't gotten started on it yet today!

Time to say STOP

2011-02-10T22:53:00.001+13:00

Oh my goodness, I have to STOP wasting time downloading useless
Dashboard widgets for my Mac (like Aquarium... who needs an aquarium on
their Mac? Really?... Apparently I do!).

Get off the computer and go do something else. Now! Argh.

Facebook started it. Just sayin'.

Incredibly, stinking hot

2011-02-08T17:23:00.001+13:00

It has been an incredibly, stinking hot week all around.

We got back from Masterton on Sunday after driving the whole day. Monday
was a write-off as I was just exhausted, and today I had to travel into
town (went by bus) then power-walk through the heat to get to my
appointment on time. I had forgotten to change out of my jeans into
something cooler, so by the time I'd made it from Victoria Street to
Grafton I was red, hot, thirsty, and out-of-breath. I only had 15
minutes to make the walk (love it when buses are late), so I thought it
best not to wait for a Link bus to take me there in comfort.

And now?

I'm finding it hard to concentrate. I've got a video re-rendering
because for some reason the quality was all crap when I did it the first
time (all the others are fine, just this one messed up on me... argh).

And I'm complaining.

So I'm gonna shut up now. :)

Second Life and SLOODLE training

2011-02-01T10:35:00.001+13:00

At the end of February we will be running a Second Life and SLOODLE (integration between Second Life and Moodle) training in Auckland. The course runs the week of Monday 28th February to Friday 4th March.

Please see HERE for further details of course fees.

This course is not an introduction to Moodle (it will be assumed you are familiar with Moodle and can set up quizzes, assignments, chat rooms etc), and while the first day will be a basic introduction to Second Life, you can choose whether you wish to attend this day or not. Participants can attend part of this course if required.

Attached you can find a image of the mind map I put together for the course, but I will outline in more detail below...

Day 1:

System requirements - minimum hardware required as well as connection speed
Second Life, Moodle, and SLOODLE - a brief overview of what they are and how they are integratin
Basics of Second Life - Creating your avatar, moving about, teleporting (and landmarks), customising your avatar (clothes, shapes, skins, hair), HUDs (heads up displays), using the search feature, currency, adult content (not looking at it, but being aware that it is there and how to avoid stumbling across it by accident - especially your students!)

Day 2:

Second Life advanced topics - types of land, what is the difference between sim and parcel, building objects, scripting objects to interact with (Second Life has its own scripting language), what are prims and megaprims, lag (server & sim load) and how to avoid it

Day 3:

Developing a virtual learning centre - buying premium land (sim), ongoing costs of owning virtual land, the benefits and downsides of self-building your learning centre or hiring someone to do it, security (how to keep people out or keep your students safe), separate areas for different uses (dividing up your land into parcels), advertising your land, creating and maintaining groups, SLURL (Second Life URL), and visiting examples of existing learning centres or universities
Setting up SLOODLE in Moodle - installing the SLOODLE module, setting up the SLOODLE controller and distributor, using the presenter, what the assignment is, and setting up the SLOODLE menu block (linking your avatar to your Moodle)

Day 4:

SLOODLE base objects and functionality - the objects available in the basic SLOODLE package (access checker & access checker door, login zone, password reset, reg enrol booth, vending machine, metagloss, primdrop, choice, quiz chair & pile on, web intercom, blog HUD)
Notecard configuration - making life easier by configuring your objects using notecards in Second Life

Day 5:

Extra SLOODLE objects - Gameshow, Awards System, Pre-made classroom (where to find these and how they work)
Bringing it all together - how to make it all work as a cohesive unit!

It will be a practical workshop, with each participant using a dedicated computer. I will be leading the training, with Stuart Mealor as a support facilitator. We will also try and coordinate a couple of guests who are Second Life and SLOODLE users to share their experiences with the group.

We will be using our own private Second Life area and other public virtual areas for training, so it is not vital that you already own land yourself.

At the end of the training, delegates will be issued with a "Second Life and SLOODLE" training certificate from HRDNZ, Moodle Partner.

If you would like to reserve a place for this, please contact helpdesk[AT]hrdnz.com

If you have any further questions about the content of this course, feel free to contact me either by replying to this post, or by contacting me in Second Life - my avatar is Merryn Lawksley.

Kind regards,
Miriam Laidlaw

Blogging moved

2011-01-10T17:20:00.000+13:00

I'm moving my blogging about e-Learning, Moodle and other related stuff to my dreamwidth account that I've just set up. I will see how well this works. I can post easily to DW from my Mac when I'm out and about. I will look into some Android apps that let you post, or at least some way of posting from my phone (though I doubt I'll often do that). So if you're looking for e-Learning / Moodle / SLOODLE / Mahara posts from now on, please look HERE.

GoogleGroups

2010-10-29T15:58:00.001+13:00

I am attending the seminar of Learning Management Systems held at the National Library of New Zealand in Auckland right now. There have been presentations about KnowledgeNet, Moodle, Mahara, Ultranet and by the Ministry of Education.

I have applied to join three different GoogleGroups:

SMS-LMS (talking about the interoperability between the two)
Moodle4NZSchools (self-explanatory)
MLE (Ministry group about the supported LMSs and SMSs and their research)

I hope they approve me for all three! I am excited to see what they are saying.

Presentation over

2010-10-06T16:31:00.000+13:00

Well my presentation is over - top tips for lesson in Moodle. As usual I got a little flustered talking in front of so many other people and the lesson didn't quite follow the path that I had originally intended, and therefore may have come across as a little disjointed. It is something that I improve every time I do a presentation, and I will look back on this and learn from it. But overall, I covered everything I wanted to cover.

Things to note for next time:

Get a wireless tablet so that I am not stuck behind the computer desk the whole time!
Ensure that interaction can be better - people had trouble signing up to the MoodleSchool website because they did not have access to their email (why not?)
Think about different levels - though I can't cater to everyone, and don't necessarily want to bore those that know some things - think about how I find a better happy medium for this?
I talked about flow in lesson planning - ensure that flow follows over to my presentation! (see initial paragraph)
Make links to TKI so that teachers can find MoodleSchool easier

Overall I think it went well, but still has a long way to improve.

ULearn 10

2010-08-28T17:05:00.000+12:00

After a very busy week, followed by a very sick week, I have finally gotten around to doing something about a few site pages about HRDNZ's representation at the ULearn conference in Christchurch this year. I hope Stuart doesn't mind my blatantly copying and pasting from the HRDNZ site for various sections. ;-)

Just need to sort out a gallery for all our fantastic pictures that we're going to take while there (and pictures from last year), then work a little on my actual presentation, too. I will be doing Top Tips for Lessons in Moodle, and I'm excited about it, because I'm a real convert to the lessons module in Moodle. But I think I need to look and see how (if at all) it has changed in Moodle 2.0 from 1.9 so that I can prepare people for both versions.

I am still scared of even glancing at the files section. I hope that they have sorted something out for the not-so-technical teachers by the time ULearn rolls around... otherwise I may just have to try and avoid the files system completely in my presentation! Haha.

Moodle 2.0 files system

2010-08-28T15:24:00.000+12:00

I have been reading some threads on Moodle.org and the bug tracker about the 2.0 files system. There are quite a few people who think the same as me - that it may be better from a developer's point of view, because it means less headaches for backups/security etc... but from a usability point of view? Forget it. If I show a teacher the current files system and try explaining where their files are and how they work... it actually fills me with dread. Because I can see the light disappearing from their eyes already, and Moodle being filed in a "too hard basket". I'm nearly at that point myself with 2.0, and I'm a user who is technologically literate, adaptable, and an avid supporter of Moodle.

I don't want to reply on the threads myself because I'm just gonna end up swearing at someone. Because the first person to reply to me who is obviously a developer, and not a teacher, will NOT put me in my happy place.

Vectors

2010-08-19T18:49:00.001+12:00

I have been playing with a program called inkscape, making vector images. I've played in the past with corel draw and adobe illustrator, but I found them rather difficult. That's not to say they're more difficult than inkscape, but at the time I just couldn't get my head around them. I picked up inkscape because I have to teach it for bubbledome. So I thought crap, better learn how to use this thing. A couple of youtube tutorials later and I was making a vector dog. I then tried tackling an eye, but that was way too complex for my little brain. So I looked up more tutorials and found one on people. Since last night I have "vectored" two of my friends and one of my sisters. I think I'm hooked.

I'm also very tired. I feel drained, unenergetic. I want to go sleep. zzzzzzzzzz

Examples of good e-Learning

2010-08-13T16:55:00.000+12:00

I went with Stuart to St Cuthbert's College today and I am amazed. They have an awesome Moodle site up and running, and they're even using it along with Mahara (e-portfolio / social networking system). I'm buzzing. They seem like a really awesome, forward thinking school. They have made it compulsory for their teachers to use the e-Learning system, which I totally support. It's hard to move forward with things like this unless they are pushed down from management level. I should know...

I would include a link to their site, except that it is hosted internally, and for internal access only (as far as I could tell). I told them I wanted to steal their site and take it away, lol, because I wanted to really have a good look around and see what they're doing... but all I can say is... here is a school successfully using Moodle from Year 1 all the way through to Year 13. And yes, the Junior classes to have their Moodle pages, and there is stuff up on them. Proof positive that Moodle can be used for any age group.

Woot. I wanna play with Mahara now. I downloaded it, but the installation instructions bear closer scrutiny. Doesn't look as straight forward as Moodle to install, even though the code is based on the Moodle code. I think I will have to corner Duncan sometime to help me with that.

Moodle 2.0 files system... :s

2010-08-10T15:31:00.001+12:00

I am excited about the prospect of Moodle 2.0, and I guess I see what they're trying to do with the files system... but all I can think is that they really want to make life difficult for teachers who already struggle with certain aspects of technology.

I work with teachers, some of whom are still on the cusp of understanding that files on their computer aren't automatically in Moodle, and when they update the files on their computer they must re-upload them to Moodle to make the changes. I have taught people how to save files into folders, and not just dump them into their My Documents folder, because that is an organisational nightmare.

Then I have a play with Moodle 2.0 and the files system nearly does MY head in. I dread having to take this to the poor teachers who are only just holding onto computer skills by the skin of their teeth. I really do. The total confusion of folders, sub-folders, Moodle-created paths to a file you're sure you uploaded some-damn-where... it gives me a sinking feeling in my stomach that those who I have tried to sell on Moodle because it's "not really that difficult, see..." are going to give up. I really do believe that.

Something needs to be done. Mark Dreschler wrote some suggestions in his blog that MIGHT just work... having a search function on the server files, AND being able to attach labels/tags to files, to make searching for them easier. Big thumbs up to those suggestions.

And I know there is a 'recent files' tab, but perhaps something that shows you all of YOUR own files that you uploaded? Without, that is, having to browse through a labyrinth of folders, sub folders, sub sub folders, and so forth.

Seriously.

Wifi

2010-04-06T15:18:00.001+12:00

There is not nearly enough public wifi around. The brand new library is getting it, but doesn't have it yet. I'm debating whether to go and get a vodem. Hmmm. Will go have a look at them I think...

Blogging from the phone

2010-02-05T14:55:00.001+13:00

As if I don't have enough ways to communicate now, I've set up blogging from my HTC Magic. Mainly so I can update my secondary blog, MoodleBites Sloodle. I'm venturing into new territory and learning. We'll see how it goes.

KBlogger test

2009-11-14T09:58:00.001+13:00

Ok, so I managed to crash KBlogger... I was just saying that it looked better than Drivel, but we'll see. Mental note for future, do not use the refresh button under "other categories".

2009-11-13T15:44:00.000+13:00

Yayyyyy it rebooted and didn't crash! I am so happy. For now. Haha.

2009-11-13T15:40:00.000+13:00

I could just cry sometimes. This is about install 10 of Ubuntu on my netbook. I seem to have finally worked out how to stabilise it, but I'm about to reboot. I hope like hell it reboots. If it doesn't, I might have to be taken out of here in a straight jacket.

There is a light… and it’s not an oncoming train

2009-07-09T11:35:00.001+12:00

Had a much better sleep last night, despite yesterday being the worst day of my cold. Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening, I used a box and a half of tissues. That’s about 120 tissues. Gah. Then, last night when I lay on the couch, I only used a couple. Once I slept, I woke up only to roll over and I didn’t need to use any tissues at all during the night. Yay.

So, despite flatmates doing their morning routines (and one needing to turn the lights on in the living room so he could iron is shirt), I slept until about 10.30am. I feel somewhat caught up on the sleep I didn’t get the night before now.

Now that I’m up and about, though, my nose is runny and my chest is sore. Still, I feel a million times better than I did yesterday.

When I get back from my meeting I might even do something about the house. It’s been neglected and it’s messy.

Restless night

2009-07-08T11:15:00.001+12:00

Didn’t sleep too well last night. I’ve been fighting off a cold since Thursday last week. On Monday my throat was so sore I could barely breathe, but it was better by the evening and I went dancing. I even slept better than I had on Sunday night. Yesterday I spent the day at the library working, had the sniffles and a tickly cough, but nothing too bad. Thought I might be getting better.

Foolish, foolish me.

Last night I was feeling worse again. Took some medication, but decided to sleep out on the couch. That way I feel better because I can toss and turn to my heart’s content and I know I’m not disturbing anyone, and my husband gets an undisturbed night of sleep. Except that I hardly slept. I kept having to blow my nose, cough, blow my nose… And I was also fending off the cat, who seemed determined to sleep on my feet. At one point I woke up and I’d obviously propped my legs up on the end of the couch to give the cat room. Unfortunately, this meant that I was sleeping this way for who knows how long (the first bout of sleep that night!) and my knees felt the strain of the position (ankles suspended while lying on back). I kicked the cat off (again) and slept on my side, knees drawn up to try and alleviate the pain. Left knee still hurts. Stupid cat.

So now I’m sitting at home in my sleeping bag, cat curled at my side, waiting for the plumber who is supposed to turn up this morning. It’s nearly quarter past 11. If he doesn’t turn up before noon I’m going out. I need tissues. I need honey. I need more cold and flu meds.

Stupid plumber.

Stupid cat.

Stupid cold.

Affirmations

2009-07-07T12:41:00.001+12:00

I’m reading an article right now by Stephen Downes called “How to be successful”. I got to it while looking up things at the NZ Curriculum website. Anyway, it caught my attention. There are a lot of things in there that get me thinking.

I like this idea, though, perhaps to use in a classroom one day. Saying affirmations. I know it seems pretty lame at first, but I think by saying affirmations with a class every morning, it could help boost the confidence and self-worth of some of the more reserved students.

So I’m looking for ideas of what could go into these affirmations. Here is my start…

I am cool. I am smart. I am strong. I am good. I am worthy.

Gah, I did have more ideas, but the LJ page took so long to load, and then this silly program took so long to load, that the ideas have slipped out of my mind again.

Dreamwidth

2009-06-18T15:37:00.001+12:00

To be honest, I totally forgot about my Dreamwidth account. Until right now, when I received an email saying I’d been given two Dreamwidth codes. So, if anyone wants some Dreamwidth codes so you can sign up and see what it’s about, just leave a message here. First in best dressed.

Dry patch

2009-06-04T09:56:00.001+12:00

I seem to be going through a little photography dry patch, which is sad since it's photography month. Oh, damn, I knew there was something I wanted to do on Tuesday night! *grumbles* I spent all Tuesday night thinking I needed to be somewhere... there was a gallery tour! Grrrr.

Anyhow, back on track. It's photography month, and I'm going to participate a little. I'm going to dust off my poor neglected Olympus and enter a competition. My problem is the early rising. The competition runs on Saturday, midnight to midnight. I'm leaving for Whangarei first thing Saturday morning, so I'm going to rise up early, drive to Northcote Point and snap off some shots of pre-dawn and the sun rising. It's just so beautiful there. Then I'm going to drive north.

What this means is that there might be some photos coming your way!

On another side note: it's so damn bloody cold here right now. And I don't have nearly enough work. I got all excited when I got a call this morning, thinking that someone needed me to come in and do some relief teaching, but alas no. Just my agency checking what days I'd be available next week. It was not the nicest way to get out of bed, though. We don't get very good cellphone reception down in our valley, but I have one of the house landline phones right by my side of the bed. Instead of calling the landline (and thus enabling me to stay in bed while talking), they called my cellphone (thus making me leap out of bed, run upstairs, and OUT THE FRONT DOOR to answer it). While this impressed my breakfasting flatmates with my dedication, it only served to make me cold and annoyed.

Learning languages

2009-05-27T00:09:00.001+12:00

Stuart posted a link to this website, Livemocha.com, on the MoodleSchool site we’re working on. I thought it sounded fun and followed the link. I have to say, I really enjoy this way of learning a new language. I get to hear it, see it, and interact with it. I get quick feedback from native speakers of the language. It’s awesome. If you’ve ever wanted to learn another language, go look! It’s free, too!

I brought my car in first thing this morning to get its WOF done. I then spent the day bussing from one place to another. Visited Katja and Bruno, they made me lunch (yum), then my sister picked me up to go to her place. Got there at 3pm, looked up on Maxx to see when I needed to catch a bus to get back to Beach Haven by 5pm and discovered I had to leave at 3.15pm. Damn. So a few minutes later I left my sister’s place and ended up getting all the way to Beach Haven by 4.15, picked up my car and got home by 4.30. Maxx is usually good, but they majorly sucked for planning my route today. I could have stayed at my sister’s place a little longer, even if only another 15 or 20 minutes.

Got work tomorrow, hoorah! I hope the teacher has left me something, but if they haven’t then I’m going armed with some stuff for the kids to do. It’s always hard going to a new school because you don’t know anything – bell times, routines, planning format etc. I’ll make sure I get there in plenty of time tomorrow.

Tomorrow evening I’m babysitting (or child-sitting, as he prefers it called) my nephew for a few hours. I have to try and get some work done during that time, but I’m not sure if I can get on the Internet at their place. Might get Geoff to set up the wireless on my computer when he gets home so that next time I’m around there I can work. Will be child-sitting every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday until further notice.

Bridge walk

2009-05-24T17:24:00.001+12:00

I did the bridge walk with my nephew today. We turned up at Pt Erin and the organiser said specifically, “We are not going to force our way onto the bridge. We will abide by the decisions of the LTSA and the police.”

The LTSA said no. We were making our way back to the footpath when a cheer went up. We were told to go to the motorway onramp. I thought they’d changed their minds. Then I see that there are some cyclists on the motorway. I assumed (correctly) that they’d forced their way on. We continued moving and saw the big traffic truck moving off, more cheering etc.

The news report said, “Auckland motorway traffic was severely delayed today as thousands of protestors stormed the Harbour Bridge.” It was hardly like that. A few broke through (stupid people, in my opinion – they could have caused major accidents! The traffic is going a considerable speed along there), the police decided to save the situation and make it safe for the rest, and we then went onto the bridge in a calm and ordered fashion.

By the time I wanted to get home at about 11.30am, traffic was flowing freely again along the motorway, certainly from Fanshawe Street onward. Perhaps it backed up a little longer further south, I don’t know.

So, considering there were no injuries or accidents, I think “stormed” is perhaps too strong a word.

Tired. I can has sleep now?

2009-05-21T22:11:00.001+12:00

Should be going to bed but am writing a journal entry instead. Naturally.

Been at Rosmini this week and it’s been good. I do enjoy working with computers but still teaching people. I do think this might be the perfect job for me.

I haven’t done much with regards to my fitness, though. I’ve been very slack. My problem, as I’ve outlined before on here, is self-motivation. Like right now. I know that I probably should be doing some crunches before bed, but will I? No. What’s my motivation? Who am I competing against? No one. Damnit. I really do think I need to compete against someone. When Brendon was living here I was trying to keep up with him, and he kept doing more crunches than me, but I was working towards catching up. I almost had abs!

Damelza! Do you think we could do some sort of long-distance competition between us for fitness? Do you think that could work? You want to get fit for your next test thing, and I just want to get fit to lose the belly that’s starting to develop. What do you say?

Winter. It’s cold. That is all I have to say about the weather.

We have blower things going 24 hours right now to dry out under the carpet. The constant sound is getting to me. If it goes on too much longer I might be responsible for dehumidifier destruction.

Am writing and reading lots.

Sleep. Now. ‘Night!

Minka

2009-05-08T18:42:00.001+12:00

This is a song that we used to sing at primary school. I came across my attempt at remembering the words in a writing diary and thought I’d Google the song. It took a few tries, and there are a lot of people out there looking for the words for this song (though different versions, by the sounds of it), but I was happy to finally find some lyrics that closely resembled those I learned years ago.

From the Volga was he riding
On his horse so quickly striding
When he saw, in ambush, hiding
Who but pretty Minka

Minka, Minka go not from me
Do not in the forest hide thee
Come and tell me if you love me
Pretty little Minka

Shy thou art and very bashful
Tho’ my heart is ever faithful
Yet to thee I’d be more grateful
If you’d love me, Minka

Minka, Minka go not from me
Do not in the forest hide thee
Come and tell me if you love me
Pretty little Minka

Thou art playful as a kitten
Knowing when a heart you’ve smitten
I have been by you sore bitten
Wicked little Minka!

Minka, Minka go not from me
Do not in the forest hide thee
Come and tell me if you love me
Pretty little Minka

Wolves are through the forest swarming
See! They come in packs alarming
I will save thee from all harming
If you’ll come, my Minka

Minka, Minka now I’ve got thee
Why did you so much provoke me?
Wolves won’t come, but I’d devour thee
Pretty little Minka

Wellington!

2009-05-05T23:23:00.001+12:00

I’m heading down to Wellington on day trip on Tuesday 19th May. I arrive early morning, am busy all morning and possibly partly into the afternoon, but after that I’m free to meet up with people. My plane leaves at 6.30pm, Mum’s plane leaves a little earlier. Would love to catch up with long lost friends who have moved down that way.

So who’s keen?

But wait, there’s more!

2009-05-05T19:03:00.001+12:00

I also have to eat my Magnum with a spoon, because it’s so broken that the stick fell right out of it.

Go Hell. You’ve done really well by me tonight! </ sarcasm>

Cheesy Hell

2009-05-05T18:49:00.001+12:00

*sigh*

Despite telling the guy on the phone what must have been THREE times that I wanted the regular cheese removed from the pizza toppings, my pizza arrived drowned in cheese. I put feta, cream cheese and camembert on it, so it really doesn’t need the regular cheese. When he repeated the ingredients at me, he said “cheese” and not “cream cheese” and I said “No, I don’t want regular cheese on it, I want cream cheese.” He said “Yes, I know” in an impatient tone, so I took it as understood.

*grumble*

So now I’m eating a very cheesy pizza, which I don’t particularly like but I’m damn hungry.

My little slice of Hell

2009-05-05T18:15:00.001+12:00

So I called Hell Pizza just then to place an order, because their website wouldn’t process my credit card. Again.

Hell: So that’ll be $30.50.
Me: What? I’m looking at my website order right now, and it comes to $23.50.
Hell: There’s a $7 surcharge on delivery. If you were to come in and pick it up…
Me: No, that’s not right. On Tuesdays if the order is over $20 it’s free delivery.
Hell: That’s for website orders only.
Me: But I explained at the start that I tried ordering via the website but it wouldn’t process my payment.
Hell: Sorry. It’s $30.50.
Me: So because your website is broken I have to pay an extra $7?
Hell: It’s not an extra $7, it’s the delivery fee.
Me: Yes, but if your website weren’t broken I wouldn’t have to pay it, so it’s extra for me.
Hell: Hang on, I’ll just ask my manager.

So the manager agreed to give me the $7 “discount”. Then the guy who I’d been talking to was just saying bye and your order will be with you soon when I interrupted to remind him that I was trying to pay by credit card, so could I please do that? I don’t have cash on me.

He processed my credit card and, surprise surprise, it went through. It’s so not my credit card that’s the problem. It’s their website. Stupid Hell. If they didn’t do kick-ass pizza, I’d call elsewhere.

Fiiiiiiire!

2009-03-25T23:06:00.002+13:00

In the interests of using up the money on my Loaded card, I bought myself some fire poi. This is my excuse, and I’m sticking to it. I will hopefully get them on Sunday, at the next FireNight in Mission Bay.
So damn excited.
Oh, and I cancelled my gym membership today.

Exercise

2009-03-18T23:48:00.001+13:00

Ok, so I’m leaving the gym I’m a member of. I’m not going very often (mainly because it’s boring going on your own *sigh*) and it’s costing me $66 a month. That’s $66 I can’t really afford to be without right now. So I have a new exercise plan.

Poi. Lots of poi. Upper arm and wrist workout.

Staff. Shoulder and wrist workout.

Dancing. When I can be bothered. It’d be nice if I could find something that is new and interesting for me but doesn’t cost the world. Leg workout.

Rock climbing. If I do this with Claire it is a shitload cheaper, so I’m going to see if I can do this once a week. Arm, tummy, leg workout.

Pilates. I have a DVD and big ball thing that I bought ages ago. I WILL use this. I will. Whole body workout.

Aerial silks. Claire and I are trying to figure out where we can learn this, and hope that it doesn’t cost too much money. If it does, oh well, but if not, then yay. Definitely tummy workout.

Things that are ruled out due to cost:

Modern dance (*pout*)

Ice skating (*sniffle*)

Snowboarding / skiing (*cry*)

Podcasting

2009-03-04T15:23:00.001+13:00

I’ve got a podcast space up and running again. Wasn’t happy with mypodcast.com just because it was throwing a spaz and wouldn’t upload my mp3 file. Silly thing. But the one I’ve got now would accept my mp3 file and LOOKS better, too. That’s just a bonus.

http://kihitara.podbean.com/

So there you go. I’m going to see about uploading the videos from last night’s FireNight to there, as apparently it’s possible. If not, then they’ll just go on YouTube.

Weddings and stuff

2009-03-02T11:42:00.001+13:00

I went up to Whangarei in the weekend for my little sister’s wedding. It went really well, she looked gorgeous, and the weather miraculously cleared up. It was meant to be cyclone weather, starting from 9am and building up during the day. Well, the Friday night was pretty bad, really stormy, and then when we woke up on Saturday morning it wasn’t raining. The clouds looked ominous still, but we were still feeling positive. The weather only got better during the day, and even managed some sunshine in the late afternoon / early evening. Janey reckons it’s her dad. She always said her dad wouldn’t let it rain for her wedding day. I think it’s a sweet thought, even though I don’t believe in any of that stuff.

She was a very beautiful bride. I will have to put up some photos here at some point. Oh, and Ryan scrubbed up ok, too. Haha. Such a lovely couple. Chloe (their daughter) was gorgeously well-behaved during the whole day (minor tantrum when it came to putting her dress on) and put up with over an hour of photos after the wedding.

Duncan and I went to Mission Bay last night. It was the Jazz Festival. The What’s On In Auckland site isn’t that comprehensive, as they didn’t even list the Jazz Festival or have any hint of it what-so-ever. This isn’t a small event. They close down a whole section of Tamaki Drive and turn it into footpath. This year they even charged for entry (which was an unwelcome surprise as we turned up). *grumble* It used to be free!

Needless to say, with the combination of huge crowds, little space, and a $10 fee to get in, the fire crowd wasn’t there. But there was some good music, a great atmosphere, and we had a good time wandering around.

This morning I’ve been up to Albany and picked up some time sheets, did a little shopping (finally caved and got Thin Lizzy – and you know, it’s pretty good), drove to Fox Outlet in Northcote, got my timesheet signed, came home, faxed timesheet, and now I’m catching up on email and stuff. Stuart is coming to pick me up in about 20 minutes to talk about this contract, but it’s all looking very good for that. The school is going to call me sometime early this week to set up a meeting to discuss and sign the contract, and to finalise my role and goals. Woot! Again, more info once contract is actually signed.

Fire! More poi!

2009-02-24T22:55:00.001+13:00

Ok, my friend Jase came along to the Renegade FireNight tonight, so I had someone to man the camera for me. This means that yes, I have videos of me playing with fire poi now! They’re not my poi, they belong to a lovely person called Kat.

Me with poi

2009-02-24T14:48:00.001+13:00

Video as promised. I’m doing a very poor 5 Beat Weave in this video, too.

5 Things

2009-02-24T12:25:00.001+13:00

That 5 Things meme that’s been going around. You leave a comment on this post, and I reply with five things that I think remind me of you.

Thanks el_mcgruffle

1. Chocolate cake
Ok, so I may be just a little addicted to chocolate. I blame my family. Every Christmas, Easter and birthday we get sent a care package from the grandparents in Germany. These care packages are usually quite a substantial size, and usually 90% chocolate. German chocolate. Swiss chocolate. Hmmmm. (Craving chocolate now, and all I have is milk chocolate cooking buttons. They’re not nice.) I even had a t-shirt made that says “Just hand over the damn chocolate and no one gets hurt.” Two layers of my wedding cake were chocolate mud cake.

2. Poi. And the kinkier aspects
There are no kinky aspects, thanks Iain, so get your mind out of the gutter. We were shown how to use poi when we were in primary school but the fascination never lasted. I encountered them again at teacher’s college. I tried my friend Claire’s glow poi sometime last year (or the year before) and was quickly frustrated with them as they wouldn’t do what I wanted them to. So no, it wasn’t love at first sight for me. Then at my work’s Christmas do last December we were at a fellow teacher’s place, and she does fire poi. She also had some glow poi and took them out to demonstrate. She showed us a few basic moves and then some other people took over and gave it a go, and I also gave it a go. It was a fun environment, we were all as bad as each other, so we all had a good laugh. That’s the point that I got hooked. I commented to Duncan that night that I would love to get some glow poi. Christmas rolled around and I got some glow poi from Duncan. I spent the whole day, and the next (and a few after that), practising. They came with a video. I quickly mastered all the moves on the video (barring one – thread the needle, and oooooh that frustrated me! I can do it now, though). It’s been a downhill slide since then. I’ve decided that poi are a great hobby to have because unlike ice skating, skiing and snowboarding, after the initial cost there are no more costs. It is free to do. And the initial costs is considerably cheaper than all of those other sports I just mentioned. Perfect for someone who isn’t earning much at the moment.

3. Art
I’ve always been artistic, I guess. When I was at primary school I was known as someone who could draw well. When I got to high school, we had to do art for about the first year or so, then it became an optional subject. I dropped it like a hot rock. I couldn’t stand having to draw another bowl of fruit or self-portrait. So I’m basically self-taught, and not doing too badly for that. I sketched and painted like a fiend at uni, but since being in the workforce haven’t really had much inclination. I was meeting with a friend of mine on a regular basis to do some painting, and managed to finish one (which is now hanging at Duncan’s work) and start many others. A big canvas, painted black, is staring accusingly at me from the corner of the lounge. I got myself a drawing tablet for my computer a few years back and went through a phase of digital painting. I’d like to get back to that, but the inspiration is gone.

4. Roleplaying
Hah, this was my life through a lot of university, and a little afterwards. Pern roleplaying, play by email. How I lived for it. Member of many Weyrs, but the main one being North Ranges Weyr. I also ran one called Southern Boll Weyr, which later became a sister to NRW. Both have since died a painful death through lack of desire to roleplay.

5. Teaching
For the past five years that’s what I’ve been, and I know that a lot of my journal entries have been rants and raves about teaching related stuff. I was working as a primary school teacher. I love teaching, I love working with children, but the stress, the workload expectations, the long hours, the harassment, the paper (always more paper!), the politics, it all got to me. I won’t go into details, but it’ll be a long time before I go back to teaching, and a cold day in hell before I go back to the school I was at. I love the other teachers, I love the children. I’m still doing relief work there, and that I can take. I wish it could have been different, but perhaps I’m not cut out for it like I thought I was. We’ll see. I’m still working on building up the self-confidence that was all but destroyed last year. But despite what this sounds like, I haven’t given up on teaching entirely – I’m hoping to bag a contract that will allow me to continue teaching, just not children. Working with teachers. Don’t want to jinx it too much, so more details when the contract is signed.

I can do it!

2009-02-23T21:30:00.001+13:00

5 Beat Weave – I can do it! Will keep practising and take a video tomorrow. Hopefully I can still do it tomorrow!

This is just a sample video of what I’m talking about.

5 Beat Weave

2009-02-23T20:52:00.001+13:00

It’s slightly more difficult than the 3 Beat Weave but I’m getting it. I’ve only been trying it for under an hour, but I’ve successfully managed it a few times for a couple of sides, and I’ve managed it once for about four sides. Having a break to drink my Milo. I didn’t think I’d pick it up this quickly. I’ll work on it tonight and tomorrow, and once I have it down pat I’ll take a video. I thought the 3 Beat Weave looked cool – the 5 Beat Weave looks even better! Once I have that, I’ll try 7 Beat… Muwahaha.

Can’t wait till I can get my hands on some fire poi again.

Burn Baby Burn

2009-02-23T12:50:00.001+13:00

I went to the FireNight in Mission Bay last night and had a great time practising my poi moves and helping Fay learn the three beat weave. Once Fay had left and I was left on my own, Kat came and told me that I should do fire. I was very reluctant! She was very persuasive, along with another guy who got in on the persuasion. Between the two of them I was holding a set of fire poi and wearing some random person’s beanie before I knew it. Kat took me over to dunk the poi and show me how to spin off the excess liquid, then light them up.

I can tell you, it was both a scary and very awesome experience. The whoosing sound they make as they go past is fabulous. I did some very basic stuff at first, then moved on to the more complicated moves I know. I didn’t do thread the needle, as I’d only learned how to do that earlier that day and it still sometimes ends in the poi crashing. But I did do the three beat weave along with turns. I worked up to spinning around while doing the three beat weave, which was fun. I also did over the head butterfly and various other things.

By the time the fire ran out I was having a really good time, but my knees and hands were shaking something chronic. I was quite happy to give the poi and beanie back. But the first thing I did when I got home was look up the price of a pair of fire poi. Haha. I’ll have to save up.

Black out

2009-02-22T12:48:00.001+13:00

Miriam is blacked out: Stand up against "Guilt Upon Accusation" for New Zealand http://creativefreedom.org.nz/blackout.html

Great weekend

2009-02-22T11:40:00.001+13:00

I was so happy last night. We were at the Starlight Symphony in the Domain and the music was good, the rain held off, and the weather was warm enough to be comfortable and windy enough to keep the mozzies at bay. To cap it off, when I got home I had that happy buzzy feeling you get when you know that you can sleep in tomorrow! Bliss.

Today in my email I got sent a link to a really neat video on YouTube. It’s a Scottish Country Dance video on a massive scale. 960 dancers performing at the same time. The shots of the Eightsome Reel from the top look cool.

Enjoy!

Keeping busy

2009-02-17T11:46:00.001+13:00

Busy with work this week, which is good because work = pay. Today I had off, which is fine as there are a few other things I also need to do. I need to get food for the birds in the aviary and to do that I need to go all the way over to west city. I’m annoyed that there aren’t any good bird food stores on the Shore. I have to go all the way to the Bird Barn where I can get a reasonable size sack of feed for not too much money. If I buy bird food from Animates (formerly Jansens), the largest pet store on the Shore, it costs about twice as much for half as much food, and it’s often stale seed. So, even though the petrol probably balances out the cost, the seed I get from the Bird Barn is by far better.

Monday I was relieving at NPS and got to work in three different classes, which was fun. Tomorrow and Thursday I’m working retail (oh joy) at a store that sells underwear. Jockey Hole Proof. Yep. Then Friday it’s back to doing some relieving.

This weekend just been was my little sister’s hen’s night. We had an absolute blast, even though part of the entertainment never arrived. No, not a stripper. There was, booked and paid for, a person who was meant to come and entertain us by throwing a sex toy party. Sounds like it would have been a lot of fun, but they never showed, and no one could get a hold of them. The party almost died, as people were wandering around not sure what they were supposed to do with themselves, but revived again once the DJ at the pub started and we got dancing. The theme was Angels and Demons, and Janey was dressed in a fantastic sort of cross between the two. White silk bodice, white tutu skirt, red corset, fishnet stockings, black heels, white lace gloves, devil horns, black veil… she looked amazing. I went as an angel and us angels were very outnumbered by the demons in the group!

Sunday was recovery day, as well as having to drive back to Auckland.

And now I’m here, sitting on the ground because my laptop is plugged into the network. Wireless is spitting the dummy again.

Legend of the Seeker

2009-02-13T10:09:00.001+13:00

I’ve been home and unable to continue with my work so I was browsing DeviantART. On my watchlist was a deviation about the Sword of Truth series. I followed it, had a look, and saw in the comments section some people discussing the mini-series. WTF? I thought.

Sure enough, there is a TV series based on Wizards First Rule (very loosely in some places). I spent all day yesterday (the hottest day recorded in a long time) watching the episodes on my computer, and watched the last two or three this morning. I’m now up to date with them. They’re cool, so long as you don’t mind if they butcher the books too much.

I won’t go into the travesty that is the Denna episode.

Damelza – you must watch these!

Income & Taxes

2009-02-11T13:06:00.001+13:00

I have been doing some math this morning to do with my income, expenditure and taxes. I’ve looked at the IRD site and found out what I need to put aside for taxes on the income I earn doing contract work. That’s fine (better than I expected, actually). Then I added up what goes out of my account on a fortnightly basis.

Rent. Loan repayment. Gym membership (actually a very minor expense). Car & contents insurance. Health insurance.

I’m hoping for a reasonably stable contract starting in March. This alone wouldn’t cover all my payments, though, as it’s only part time.

BUT… if I can get that contract, AND do relief teaching for at least one day a week, I can just scrape by.

If I can get that contract, get at least two or three days of work per week doing other stuff (relieving, admin work, data entry…), then I can live quite comfortably.

Right now, though, I haven’t had any relief teaching, I haven’t been paid for any contract work, and I haven’t had anything else from my admin recruitment people. I’ve just dug into my savings to pay the bills. On the plus side, I’m getting paid for some work in the very near future (next few days), which means I can replace the savings money and still have enough to put aside for tax and food and stuff.

I think it’s going to be a hand-to-mouth existence for a little while, at least until I get some more steady work coming through. Talk with Stuart is sounding promising for some work in the future, so fingers crossed.

I did open up a new account called TAX that I can siphon all my tax from contract work into, and then I don’t have to go finding it when it’s due.

I may be addicted…

2009-02-09T20:05:00.001+13:00

… to poi.

I have just spent a good section of the late afternoon making various poi. I’ve used socks, stockings, scarves, tennis balls, balloons, ropes, rice…

And my two favourites…

And probably the most elaborate, because it also has finger loops…

I should probably stop now, eh? All together I have 13 sets of poi now. Perhaps I should sell them? Though that’s pretty cheeky, since most are made from two materials that anyone can put together.

FireNight at Mission Bay

2009-02-08T23:28:00.001+13:00

I attended my first FireNight at Mission Bay this evening. I very shyly walked up to the group with poi, unicycles, staffs and various other things out and said I was here to join the FireNight. They made me feel very welcome and it was reassuring to see someone else there who was being shown the very basics. I met some awesome people. Three of my six poi broke during the night (I let others use them, but I broke one myself), but they’re all fixed and improved now. Good to put them through their paces. I suspect they’ll come apart reasonably often, especially during FireNights.

Joined the group on Facebook that will tell me where the Tuesday one is, and apparently there’s one on Thursdays up in Albany. I could seriously keep busy with poi stuff! And the best thing is, it’s free!

Must sleep now. Have work to do tomorrow!

Poi

2009-02-07T22:26:00.001+13:00

Hoorah! I have done the forward 3-beat weave! Took me a whole afternoon, in between working, but I can do it. Well, with my sock poi. I have yet to try it out with my glow poi, which are slightly heavier.

Yes, that’s me. Video is very low quality, as I don’t have a video recorder, just my little crappy Olympus on video mode. I might try taking a video with my camera phone, it might turn out better!

The above video is me using the long poi.

Below is a video of me doing the 3-beat weave using the short poi.

Wireless issues

2009-02-07T11:22:00.001+13:00

My wireless has spat the dummy. I use Intel PROSet/Wireless to run my wireless network adapter, but it’s gotten itself in a tangle with the Windows wireless network adapter, which doesn’t appear to have been properly disabled. Intel is meant to disable it so it’s the only program trying to use it. Slowly, over the last couple of days, the two have been getting more and more tangled until now my wireless isn’t working at all. I’m hooked to the Internet using a cable right now, but that’s dodgy, too, because the little clip at the top of the plug has broken off, so it works itself loose if you move the laptop too much.

Sometimes I hate my Dell. Mostly I love it, but sometimes I don’t. Oh, and Duncan had deleted my iPod from having access to the wireless, because when he connected it for me he forgot to write down the wireless address in his little booklet. He cleaned up, getting rid of any that weren’t written down… which included my iPod. Gah.

Today is not my day.

On the plus side – I’ve made myself some more poi, ones that I can practise with. They’re slightly softer when they hit you, but still approximately the same weight as my glow poi. Also I made some short ones so I can practise some short poi moves. I was doing that with my glow poi, but wrapping the string around my fingers proved painful. I made the poi from a pair of blue footless tights, bright pink stockings, balloons, cous cous and ribbon. Instructions will go up on my Moodle on Dragonslair at some point.

Well, I suppose now that I have Internet, I’d better get back to doing some work.

Wedding Anniversary

2009-02-04T08:52:00.001+13:00

Well, it’s our 2 year wedding anniversary today. Funny thing was, I looked in my diary last night because I had this feeling I had something on today. There was nothing written in my diary, and I didn’t bother to look at the date, just at the day (Wednesday). I woke up today just as Duncan was leaving, groggily said goodbye to him, and it wasn’t until a package arrived from his parents that it clicked. Today was the 4th Feb! Suppose I’d better go get something to give Duncan.

Cotton…

Meme – baaaaaa

2009-02-03T16:42:00.001+13:00

Being a memesheep. Or lemming.

1. YOUR REAL NAME:
Miriam Laidlaw

2. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother and fathers middle names)
Ingrid Robert (My mum doesn’t have a middle name, so first name will have to do)

3. NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)
? Werner (I am ashamed to say I don’t know mum’s dad’s name)

4. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Laimi

5. DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Red Cockatiel

6. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, town where you were born)
Ingmar Reinbek

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Yellow Baileys (?? Doesn’t sound like a superhero to me)

8.FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Mila

9. STREET NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Chocolate Tim Tam

10. PORN NAME: (1st pet's name, street you grew up on)
Minka Owhiwa (pronounced “oh-fee-wah”)

11. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of last name plus izzle)
Laiizzle

13. YOUR IRAQI.. NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, first two letters of your middle name, last two letters of your first name then last three letters of your last name):
Idinamlaw

14. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets)
Black Stratus

15. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Strawberry Bueno

Hmmm some of those names are very odd. I think I like my porn name best. I couldn’t decide whether it would be Minka or Mitsy, I don’t recall which came first. Minka was a cat, Mitsy a rabbit. I suspect Minka was first.

The Pinnacles

2009-02-03T16:22:00.001+13:00

This weekend just been we went to the Pinnacles in the Coromandel, as well as visiting Cathedral Cove (where part of Narnia: Prince Caspian was filmed – the bit where they first arrive into Narnia again).

We went hiking through the lovely bush, across streams, and in general just UP really steeply. Photo from left to right (or front to back): Rachel, Elizabeth, Jason, Duncan.

“I think there are wetas in here.” Rachel and Jason check out the hollow log for wetas before sitting in it. If you’re really keen you can crawl right through. None of us were that keen.

We scrambled all the way to the top…

… where the view was stunning. Apparently we were at an altitude of 773m (2,536.1ft). Elizabeth, Rachel, Jason and I even climbed up to the very highest point.

It was a little uncomfortable up there, but fun.

On the way down, I hung over the edge of a cliff. Because I could.

And because I suspect I’m not completely sane. It’s more fun this way.

The others decided just sticking their noses over was sufficient. Probably safer, too. Left to right: Duncan, Jason, Elizabeth, Rachel.

We came down the Billy Goat Track, which adds an extra hour onto the trip, and got to have a swim in some rock pools that were a little off to the side of the track. Yay for Jason, who knows where these things are. Cooled down and rested, we carried on. By the time we got to the bottom, I think we were all at the point where we weren’t crawling just because pride stopped us. We left the car park at 8.40am, and arrived back at 7.15pm.

On Sunday we went to Cathedral Cove. This involved another 30 minute walk down to the cove and 30 minute walk back, but we spent two hours playing around in the water and on the beach, so that was ok. There was this rock you could swim out to and jump off, and so we amused ourselves by doing that for a good section of the afternoon.

Dragonslair Shop

2009-01-20T19:01:00.001+13:00

Buy merch from kihitara at www.zazzle.com/kihitara

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Matai Bay

2009-01-16T16:42:00.001+13:00

Here’s the update!

On Friday 2nd January Jason, Katja and I headed up to Matai Bay, Karikari Peninsula. We headed first to Matai Bay Camping Ground, but they were full up. So we went and found another one the next bay over, which was bloody expensive and, really, not that nice. Oh, they had hot showers and fancy facilities, but it was like sardines in a can.

We went back to Matai Bay first thing the next morning to see if we could secure ourselves a site. We were a bit dubious at first, as it seemed as if we were being sent up into the hills away from the beach, but when we got to the ‘upper’ campsite, we found it was right on the beach after all. Got a nice site and set up camp.

The beach there was lovely and we had a great time playing around.

We went kayaking one day. We started off enthusiastic and optimistic. Just a short kayak around to the other side, where we’d left the other car. Katja and I in the double, Jason and Jane in their singles.

After a few hours, we stopped at a beach, exhausted. We weren’t entirely sure where the end was, but we were happy to be on solid land. We got out our snacks, shared them around and had a relaxing lunch.

We then soldiered on and found the end only about another hour away. When we looked up on a map later what we’d done, we were stunned. And impressed. We’d kayaked around the WHOLE of Karikari Peninsula. Yeah, baby.

On another day we did a day trip up to Cape Reinga. We stopped off at 90 Mile Beach on the way, which was beautiful. Hung around at Cape Reinga a while before heading back. Somewhere near Waitiki Landing our two car groups separated. Jason and I went to Te Hapua to do some kayaking, while Jane and Katja headed back to Matai Bay and camp. We did our kayaking and made it back through the gates at spot on 10pm, when they supposedly lock them. Found out after we got back that they weren’t locking them that night. Oh well, we had an exhilarating and very fast ride back!

Team Karikari at 90 Mile Beach

Mega huge ice cream at Karatia (I think)

Team Karikari at Cape Reinga

On the way home again on the 9th we stopped by my mum and dad’s place and had some lunch. Then we went to Goat Island and did some snorkelling. All in all it was a great trip. I have so much more I could have said about it, but really, I won’t bore you with all the little details.

Thanks team! We need to do it again sometime.

No time for photos

2009-01-14T23:57:00.001+13:00

Well, I’m in Whangarei at the moment at mum and dad’s place. I’ve been working hard, though, and haven’t really had time to take any photos. This is a shame because they have such a beautiful place here with a stunning outlook. The advantage to living on the side of a mountain, I guess. Been helping mum to spray weeds, take down the Christmas tree and decorations, showing her how to use the phone…

Last night I redesigned Dragonslair’s logo. It was in desperate need of an update, since it was still in hand-drawn form. I’ll see if I can work out how to put a picture in using Windows Live Writer, which is what I’m using to update my journal right now. LJ is slow at the best of times, I don’t want to think how long it would take me to do an update on mum’s dial-up Internet connection.

Ok, that seemed to work! Seems it didn’t like trying to insert the picture if file extensions were set to be hidden. Silly computer.

Yes, the update of our trip up to Matai Bay is still coming… With pictures!

Christmas loot list

2008-12-25T12:37:00.000+13:00

Quick update to say that I'm very happy with my Christmas loot for this year!

I got Narnia: Prince Caspian on DVD and a cool dragon statue from mum and dad.
Got some Rebel Sport vouchers from my sister and her partner.
Got a DVD and some yummy chocolate stuff from Duncan's parents.
And got some glow poi from Duncan!

I have been playing with the poi all morning. I'm getting pretty good, but I'm glad I'm not a guy. Seriously, you'd have to wear a box to practice poi if you were a guy! When those things hit each other, they go in all sorts of directions. I've managed to smack myself in the eye with one, and the head, and the shins, and even once really hard on the elbow. But it's all a part of learning! So much fun. I've even taken out the Devil Sticks (sometimes called spin sticks or magic sticks?) from my car and been playing around with those, too.

So, now it's lunchtime. Hmmm potato salad.

Warm fuzzies

2008-12-16T19:00:00.001+13:00

I met with my team after school today at a café down the road from work. It was nice to sit and relax and chat with each other. Elizabeth gave us some gifts, which was awesome. I’m leaving at the end of the year so I got a card and a leaving gift. The card nearly made me cry, it was filled with well wishes from the teachers and teacher aides in our rooms. In the gift I got a book called The Photo Book and a necklace with a koru (because it means new beginnings). I’m wearing the necklace, it’s so beautiful, and the book is awesome. We also all got a large candle each, to help us sit back and relax. They’re very nicely patterned hand made candles from Nest. We had a really awesome conversation (for over two and a half hours!) and it was just a great way to unwind at the end of the day. I had intended going back to school afterwards and carrying on with the art bay (which is what I was doing after school, but before our trip to the café) but when I got back there and saw my car loaded full, I thought – no. That’s enough for today. Tomorrow is another day.

I’ve nearly made it to the end of the year! Hoorah! Trying desperately to think of something I can do next year that will keep me engaged and enthused. There are quite a few possibilities, but the trouble is getting my foot in there, or my hands on something, or whatever metaphor you wish to use.

I think I need chocolate, although I have started to wonder about cutting back on my chocolate intake. I do go on fruit binges, but I always find that I just crave chocolate in the end.

I digress. Have also resorted to one handed typing so must be time to go and lie down. The buzz of the café talk has left me and now I’m wilting. Have lots to say in some other entry about exciting camping plans… later.

Why stop at one meme?

2008-11-07T18:35:00.000+13:00

Your result for Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test...

Linguistic

33% Logical, 27% Spatial, 41% Linguistic, 24% Intrapersonal, 18% Interpersonal, 25% Musical, 16% Bodily-Kinesthetic and 41% Naturalistic!

"Verbal-linguistic intelligence has to do with words, spoken or written. People with verbal-linguistic intelligence display a facility with words and languages. They are typically good at reading, writing, telling stories and memorizing words and dates. They tend to learn best by reading, taking notes, listening to lectures, and via discussion and debate. They are also frequently skilled at explaining, teaching and oration or persuasive speaking. Those with verbal-linguistic intelligence learn foreign languages very easily as they have high verbal memory and recall, and an ability to understand and manipulate syntax and structure.

Careers which suit those with this intelligence include writers, lawyers, philosophers, journalists, politicians and teachers." (Wikipedia)

Take Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test at HelloQuizzy

Art meme thing

2008-11-07T18:26:00.001+13:00

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Non-conformist, Visionary, and Independent

13 Abstract, -12 Islamic, -9 Ukiyo-e, 3 Cubist, -15 Impressionist and -17 Renaissance!

Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of what may appear to others as visual realities. Western had been underpinned by the logic of perspective and an attempt to reproduce an illusion of visible reality. It allowed the progressive thinking artists to show a different side to the world around them. By the end of the 19th century many artists felt a need to create a 'new kind of art' which would encompass the fundamental changes taking place in technology, science and philosophy. Abstract artists created art that was diverse and reflected the social and intellectual turmoil in all areas of Western culture.

People that chose abstract art as their preferred artform tend to be visionsaries. They see things in the world around them and in people that others may miss because they look beyond what is visual only with the eye. They rely on their inner thoughts and feelings in dealing with the world around them instead of on what they are told they should think and feel. They feel freed from the tendancy to be bound by traditional thought and experiences. They look more toward their own ideas and experiences than what they are told by their religious upbringing or from scientific evidence. They tend to like to prove theories themselves instead of relying on the insight or ideas of others. They are not bound by common and mundane, but like to travel and have new experiences. They value intelligence, but they also enjoy a challenge. They can be rather argumentative when they are being forced or feel as if they are being forced to conform.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

Don't panic, I'm fine!

2008-11-07T17:52:00.001+13:00

Thought I'd better let people know that my neck is fine. Thanks for the concerned replies. I went to the doctor after taking my car in for its WOF. Sat for an hour and a half before being seen, but hey. Nothing damaged, just something akin to whiplash, wore a soft neck brace for half a day before I got pissed off with it and took it off. Went to work again on Tuesday, feeling absolutely honky dory again now. I AM following doctor's orders though and NOT going snowboarding this weekend. Waiting until next weekend. Which means I'm a little at a loose end. *sigh*

Maybe that means I'll get more of my NaNo novel done, since I haven't really written that much more on it since last weekend.

I hate school. It eats the rest of my life. That and procrastination. I'm just not in a writing mood, I guess, more of a reading mood. I'd rather curl up with a good book than sit writing for ages. Meh. I'll MAKE myself. I'm writing now... if I just channel THIS energy into my novel I should be fine.

NaNo, wintersports, work and Halloween

2008-11-03T10:14:00.000+13:00

Yep, past time for another update. It's November, so I'm participating in the madness that is NaNoWriMo again. I'm up to 5,000 words, which is way worse than last year (I was up to 12,000 words by this time last year - mainly because I had Damelza over and we were racing each other). But still do-able. I'm writing the sequel to last year's NaNo novel.

I've taken up with snowboarding, but I still have my skis and like skiing. Especially after I've injured myself snowboarding and need to do something I'm better at and don't fall over doing. Like right now... I was doing some of the jumps at Snow Planet on my board, got a bit cocky and one jump ended up going very wrong. I won't go into details, except that I landed very hard on my ass / back. I thought I was fine, but I woke up with a splitting headache at 4am today and when I tried getting out of bed I couldn't move my neck. So I've called in sick (or injured, as the case may be) and will be taking it easy today. Still can't move my neck, swallow or yawn without lots of pain. Found out in the shower that tilting my head back is absolutely out of the question. Heading out soon to get some anti-inflammatory tablets and possibly some painkillers, too. Maybe some Voltaren cream to rub in.

Work sucks. I wish the year would just end so I can leave and never look back. I'm looking at doing something completely different. Don't know what yet, but it may involve photography or proofreading, and may even involve working in retail. I don't give a fig so long as it isn't teaching. I don't mind doing relief teaching, and will probably keep that on the cards as it earns pretty well, but it'll be a long time (if ever) that I go back into a classroom full time. I've found out that I'm just not cut out for it. *shrug*

Duncan and I have our Halloween AGM / dance night tonight, and we've found all our Halloween decorations (we didn't put them up this year as we have learned that we NEVER get trick-or-treaters down where we live) and I'll be taking them with me tonight to set up our theme. I didn't get to dress up on Friday as our Halloween Disco at school was cancelled. I had lined up with a friend to go out on the town, but by the time I got home from work I was so shattered I couldn't face going clubbing. So tonight is my Halloween dress up night. I'm going as a black cat.

And I think that's all for now, folks!

About bloody time for an update, eh?

2008-10-08T19:09:00.001+13:00

Man, I soooo need an icon of me snowboarding or something...

Right now I'm at National Park and I just had my first day of snowboarding, as the mountain was closed yesterday. Luckily, my friend Damelza lives down here so she has been keeping me company in between work and other commitments. Yay for Damelza! {{{big hugs}}}

Anyway, I went up the mountain today. I was so chuffed to hear at 7am that the lower mountain would be open... immediately packed up my gear and headed off. I had to park in carpark 10 as you needed snow chains or 4WD to go higher than that, but that's ok because I caught a shuttle. In fact, easier than walking from the higher carparks, because you don't really have to walk at all! Hmmmm will keep that in mind. It also means, though, that any spare clothes or stuff is way down the mountain in the car and you can't just pop back and get it.

I boarded in Happy Valley from about 8.30 to lunchtime, then headed up the mountain with Damelza to get my lesson at 12. I was the only adult, so instead of getting a group lesson for two hours, I got a private lesson for one hour. It was great. I got the same guy who I had last time I got a snowboarding lesson here. I have to admit, I was pretty tired already by that point. I'm not used to snowboarding and so any attempts at it are ultimately exhausting. Still, I did my best. I was having trouble getting up at this point, let alone doing what Steve, the coach, was asking me to do. He was very patient, and gave me a good scolding if I needed it. I have trouble with my toe edge to heel edge turns. Grr.

Eventually we moved to go down the Rock Garden. This is a slope I'm quite comfortable doing on skis, but I was absolutely terrified of trying it on a board! It didn't start well. Those bloody turns from toe to heel got me every time for the first part of the track, and probably about 50 to 100 metres from the start I'd bailed at least 6 times, each time while attempting that turn. The other turn was fine! So by this stage I was shattered from having bailed so often so soon, and each time having to get myself up out of the snow and keep going. I admit to crying in frustration. I told Steve I needed just a moment, turned my back to him, dried my tears, then took a deep breath and kept going. Lovely man didn't comment.

After that I was determined to not fall so often, but it was hard. My legs were so fatigued that they were actually quivvering. But... with the patient (and sometimes scolding) help of Steve, I eventually managed that turn. Then I even got the hang of doing several in a row... working up to weaving down the mountain. Yes, I still fell, but I was so much more in control. By the time I got to the bottom of the Rock Garden I was able to do about 7 or 8 turns before either having to stop (voluntarily) or falling. I'm so chuffed!

Steve gave me one last pep talk then left me to return to Happy Valley. I managed another few runs (I think three?) before the pain in my legs got too unbearable. We went home at 2pm.

Tomorrow... my aim is to start at Happy Valley, get those turns under control, then go up the Rock Garden again. I made it once without killing myself - this looks promising for future endeavours, right?

I wonder...

2008-08-24T19:47:00.000+12:00

If it had something to do with the fact that there was a character it couldn’t insert in the email, in the form of a smiley face?

Post by email suddenly not working?

2008-08-24T19:43:00.001+12:00

Weird. Suddenly the post by email feature doesn't appear to be working. If it does suddenly kick in, you might see two more copies of this post that I'm pasting in here manually:

----------------------------

Order: a bullet, please, and make it snappy

Sorry about the title, but I’ve just taken some pills for a headache. Ouch. Damelza came and visited this weekend and it was great. She helped me out in the classroom SO much, and even sat with me in the bedroom while I cleaned it. It’s so nice just to have company when you’re doing those sorts of things.

I just turned my head to think about what to write next and my gaze rested on my skis. I’m going skiing again in two weeks, weather permitting. I’m so excited. I love skiing. And I get to see Damelza again. Double woot.

Right, so what else have I been up to lately? Hmmm. I was pretty ill last week, some sort of tummy bug which had me feeling nauseated from Tuesday onwards. I never actually threw up, for which I am very grateful to my body, but I certainly didn’t eat much during that time and I’ve lost weight. I’m eating a bit better again now, but Duncan commented that I hadn’t eaten much last night and tonight, even though I’m feeling better. Meh.

I’ve been enjoying watching the Olympics so much. Yay for New Zealand – three golds, a silver and five bronzes. Not bad for a little country! Too bad Beatrice threw a hissy fit just because she couldn’t perform very well. Pah, grow up. Yay for Mahe Drysdale, who deserves much kudos for his performance to get a bronze medal when he was still ill. That was a grammatically dodgy sentence, but hey. And the rest of the NZ team, those who won medals and those who went and just did their best – hoorah to you! I even got to cheer a few times for the German team, when there was a lack of NZers to cheer for, but being NZ television, we didn’t always get to see the other countries winning, especially if there was a Kiwi competing in a different sport at the same time. Oooh, I quite enjoyed watching the table tennis and was happy that Ma Lin (or Lin Ma? Do they put their last names first?) won, as he just seemed like a much nicer player than Wang Hao who seemed very aggressive and angry. I was also very impressed with China’s performance in the rhythmic gymnastics and glad they got a silver. I thought they were better than the Russian team, but that’s just my uneducated opinion. Not that China needed any more golds! J

I think I might go lie down until my head stops pounding. Gotta be awake for the closing ceremony tonight, which starts at midnight our time, I think.

Order: a bullet, please, and make it snappy

2008-08-24T19:41:00.000+12:00

I think I might go lie down until my head stops pounding. Gotta be awake for the closing ceremony tonight, which starts at midnight our time, I think.

Order: a bullet, please, and make it snappy

2008-08-24T19:31:00.000+12:00

I think I might go lie down until my head stops pounding. Gotta be awake for the closing ceremony tonight, which starts at midnight our time, I think.

Six word stories

2008-08-17T18:59:00.001+12:00

Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” He is believed to have called it his greatest literary work ever. Can you write a story in six words?

It wasn’t easy ending the world. – M. Laidlaw

What’s your six word story?

Found this on Spare Room

2008-08-14T23:46:00.001+12:00

http://codebox.no-ip.net/controller?page=misc.QuizCommonWords

Fun little quiz on whether you can guess the 100 most common words in the English language in 5 minutes. I got 46, and that was with Duncan helping. I don’t do well under pressure, I tend to freeze up. So, despite the fact that I’m a primary school teacher and should know these words, I sort of was very little use in this exercise and Duncan was struggling along standing behind me giving me suggestions while I stared blankly. Hahaha. I hate time trials. But it’s fun anyway.

And what I mean by Spare Room is www.spareroom.co.nz

Rather disconnected update

2008-08-12T20:26:00.001+12:00

I went up to my parents’ place this past weekend to help out around the farm. Got to climb up and balance on a beam and a ladder on the roof of the polyhouse and nail some bits of wood. Also helped out with other stuffs. I was sick recently, and on Friday had to be driven home at lunch time. I curled up on the couch, was fed by my kind flatmate, then slept for four hours. By the time I woke up the world was a much better place, as I no longer felt the insane need to put a bullet through my brain.

What else…?

Oh, I got to do a presentation today for our cluster (five of the schools in our area make up our ‘cluster’). I was meant to be presenting with Jo, but she came down really ill and couldn’t make it. Fortunately, she managed to send me the presentation that she had prepared, and I used quite a bit of it in my presentation. All in all it was reasonably successful, I think. I’m just so glad it’s over. I had to do the presentation twice for two groups of people. The second group was mainly people from my school, which was nice.

Now I’m feeling brain dead.

There are a million other things that I meant to post about, but I can never seem to remember when it actually comes around to doing this.

Oh, I’m starting another painting. My biggest canvas so far and I’ve just painted it black. I threatened to keep it like that and just call it ‘night’, but I won’t. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with it yet. I also have seven smaller canvases that I’m working on.

I keep getting hiccups. It’s very annoying.

Inspirational and interesting stuff

2008-07-29T19:19:00.001+12:00

Here is a video by Michael Wesch, a social anthropology lecturer. It's just so interesting. He has eight videos on YouTube. There are two others of his I really like, but this is the first one I ever saw and it still remains my favourite.

Embedded Video

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Time for the skiing update

2008-07-26T23:09:00.001+12:00

About time I got around to this… my skiing holiday! I’ve been updating Twitter and Twitxr, but neglecting my blogs.

So… I got back from Whangarei (visiting my parents) on Tuesday of the second week of the holidays, ran around like a lunatic Tuesday afternoon trying to get ready, because a change of plans had us leaving for Ohakune on Tuesday evening. We got there at just after 11pm. The guy who ran the place we stayed at the first night left the key for us in the letterbox, but when we got to our room we found that someone was already in there. WTF? We called the manager, who came and told her to leave, but found her another room to stay in, and we moved in. Didn’t get much sleep that first night.

Wednesday – we hit the slopes! Went to the Turoa side, because that’s what we’d planned and it turned out there was more snow there than at the Whakapapa side (yes, that’s the place that’s said the rude way, for those overseas folks). Spent the whole day skiing. Oh my, so much fun! I probably spent half the day on the beginners’ slopes before finally braving Clarry’s Track after lunch. But once I’d done Clarry’s Track once, I just wanted to keep doing it! Yeah, baby!

Thursday – we were skiing for half a day. Rachel and Elizabeth joined me on Clarry’s Track, and Elizabeth finally saw what was so great about skiing and why I was having so much damn fun on Wednesday. At some point during the morning she completely took me out from behind while going down the steep slope in Clarry’s Track. I didn’t know what had hit me! We went down in a tangle of limbs and skis, but neither of us got hurt. We were laughing so hard that it took a while to get back up again. The afternoon turned horrid. High winds and rain. This wouldn’t have been so bad, except that I had no way (apart from my rather ineffective goggles) to protect my face, and one trip on the ski lift left the exposed parts completely numb. Not just the numb that you say is numb because it’s really cold. Oh, no, real numb. The sort of numb you usually only feel after the dentist has given you several injections. So, yeah, I only did the one trip on the ski lift, then managed to get back down in time to get a refund on half a day.

Friday – weather just as bad, but because we knew Saturday was only going to get worse, we were going skiing no matter what. We all armed ourselves with neck warmers, that we could pull up to cover our faces on the ski lifts, and managed to get in a full day of skiing. After about two or three runs down Clarry’s Track, I stopped in at the store and bought myself a proper pair of double-lens goggles (non fogging, you see). Visibility much better after that. We took some photos and videos of our skiing, but that was quite dangerous. You see, when you’re holding the camera and standing at the side of a track with a drop behind you, and the wind is blasting at you, and you’re standing on two planks of fibre glass, there’s not a lot you can do to stop yourself from blowing off the side of the mountain. But, we managed. A few hairy moments where I had to grab for my ski poles to stop myself sliding away, but I got the videos and photos I needed. Will post at some point. Or not, if I forget. I still haven’t even transferred them off the camera onto my computer yet. Damelza joined us on Friday, too, but left after only a few runs. Still, it was good to see her.

Oh, on Thursday night I went to the shop that Damelza works at and bought my own skis, poles and boots. All for a lovely $400. The skis are ex-rental, but the poles and boots are new. Yay. So Friday I was skiing with my own gear. The skis I bought are somewhat faster than the hire ones I had, which was great! I often came to a grinding halt on the last corner on Clarry’s Track, because the skis just didn’t keep my momentum. No problem now with my own skis!

Friday night we went out for dinner, which turned out to be a bad move. Jase and Elizabeth ended up with food poisoning and both spent the second half of the night either feeling queasy or throwing up. They were like clockwork. Elizabeth rushed out of our room, then a minute later Jase came rushing out of his room. So, even if the slopes hadn’t been closed on Saturday because of strong winds, we wouldn’t have been skiing anyway. We made our leisurely way home.

Oh my, what a wordy update! Well done those people who read all the way to the end. I’ll put today’s activities in another update. Maybe tomorrow. It’s cold in here and I want to get back to the fire in the living room.

Picture is Jase in the foreground, looking out over the bottom beginner’s slopes at Turoa, Mt Ruapehu. Taken Wednesday, our first day.

Testing something

2008-07-15T15:29:00.001+12:00

Hmm playing around with Flock's blog editor. Which blog does this end up going to?

Visit to parents

2008-07-14T18:20:00.001+12:00

I've been keeping my twitter and twitxr updated, but haven't actually done a blog update, I just realised. I arrived at mum and dad's place on Thursday and immediately went out to help mum moving some wood. On Friday we went into town in the morning and I got a T-shirt that says "Warning: I have an attitude and I know how to use it!" Hehe. Then in the afternoon mum and I chopped wood until Steph and Robert arrived. I don't recall what we did on Saturday, except that we were all here (including Nicola, my other sister). On Sunday afternoon I went and visited Janey, and saw Chloe again. Picture attached. She's just so damn cute! Today (Monday), dad took a turn for the worse and mum and I couldn't go out and continue with the wood chopping as someone had to stay with him. But mum went into town and got some more stuff to help dad deal with the side-effects of his medication, and he was much perkier this afternoon. I also caught up with an old school friend who lives just down the road. It's the first time I've seen her in years, it was so cool to catch up. Her name is Tania and I used to go to primary school with her, but she moved away and I think I only saw her once or twice since. I got to meet her husband and her lovely, energetic little boy (who is oh-so-welcoming, such a sweetie!). You know how some kids are shy around strangers - not him! He started chatting away to me immediately and climbed on my lap the moment I sat down, hahaha.

Hmmmm time for a new paragraph. Past time, but I'm not going back to figure out where one was meant to start. There have also been a change of plans for our ski trip. Because the weather is meant to be good on Wednesday but pack in on Thursday, we decided to drive down on Tuesday (tomorrow!) evening so we can get a full day of skiing in on Wednesday. That way, if the weather does pack in on Thursday and we can't go skiing, at least we'll have had a day, and we can make snow men and snow angels instead. Hehehe... I wouldn't mind a snow fight! SQUEE! SNOW!

Oh, and mum and I went shopping online using FlyBuys, and we purchased an external harddrive and some iPod / computer speakers for me. I can finally back up my laptop! I've been busy transferring data 8GB at a time (because that's the largest memory stick I have - thanks Steph for lending it to me!), and it's such a painfully slow process. With that and bluetooth going full blast, I still haven't backed up half of what I need to the entire time I've been here. And it's not really backing up, just moving it from my personal laptop to my work one until I can sort it all out. But I can stop that now and just wait for my voucher to arrive, so I can get my harddrive from Noel Leeming. W00t!

How's that for an update?

Going to visit the parents

2008-07-10T11:21:00.001+12:00

I’m just about to head up to Whangarei (once I’ve packed up my computer and finished packing a few last minute things). I’ll be up there for six days with limited Internet access. You’ll hear from me, but not regularly (probably… who knows, maybe I’ll get the modem working on my laptop after all?). I still have to pass by school and pick up loads of stuff.

I had fun painting at B’s place yesterday and got lots done (including harassing B into stopping procrastinating!). Yes, B, I know you can read this. Hehe. I had a ball, and I’m taking my paintings up to Whangarei where I might just have some time to carry on with them. I’m also taking a load of marking, my knitting, and screeds of books (of course). We’ll be helping out on the farm, so don’t know how much time I’ll have to do everything. Good to be busy!

66% downloaded… might go finish packing while this download for my parents finishes.

Bird pictures

2008-07-09T09:09:00.001+12:00

I’ve just gotten out of the aviary this morning and here are the pictures of my new birds. The cockatiels: Doralto (Yellow) and Bismarck (Grey). The brown quails (as yet unnamed) and the silver quails (also unnamed). The brown quail photo is a little blurry because they wouldn’t come out of the dark corner of the aviary. The male was still trying to sleep. In fact, he was still so sleepy he let me pat him before he realised what was happening and made a dash for it. Then he let me pat him again. So cute!! The silvers were a little more active, I couldn’t get within touching distance of them.

Last test

2008-07-08T22:10:00.000+12:00

Posting from email again. Seeing what happens with the image now. Is the writing to the right of the picture, or still under it? Isn’t it funny that LJ puts the picture at the END of the post, whereas Blogger puts it at the start?

More testing stuff

2008-07-08T22:07:00.002+12:00

Ok, just uploading this because I've set it to always put the picture like this. So hopefully, from now on, it will just put any pictures inserted from emails in the top left corner with the writing to the side. *cross fingers*

What do you think the chances are of this happening?

Testing something

2008-07-08T22:00:00.001+12:00

Testing what happens when I attach the picture instead of insert it into the email body. Blogger didn’t upload my picture, just left a broken picture where I inserted it (but the right shape), and LJ moved the picture to the end of the post when I inserted it.

So… attached picture. Where will it end up?

Birds

2008-07-08T21:57:00.001+12:00

So, after ice skating this morning, Claire and I went to the Bird Barn in Henderson to get some more cockatiel seed for my birds. We were looking around and I noticed that the quails were going at a good price. So I ended up coming home with a pair of brown quails and a pair of silver quails. They’ll need names. I’ll get some photos tomorrow. Now, time to try out what happens when I insert a photo when posting by email…

These are the lovely cockatiels that I acquired from a family. Like I said, a little rough-looking, but they’ll look better soon. They’re renamed now. Yellow (guess which one that was) is now called Doralto and Grey is now Bismarck. The colours on this photo aren’t very true to the real thing, as they’re taken at dusk through the wire mesh of the aviary. Doralto is actually a bright canary yellow, and Bismarck is a very dark grey bordering on black. I described them in a previous post. Hopefully I’ll get better pictures of them tomorrow, when I’m in the aviary taking pictures of the quails. (So cute!!)

What a mission!

2008-07-08T12:49:00.001+12:00

I’ve just spent the last two hours cleaning my car. And you know what? I’ve only managed the inside of it. But it is clean! I took everything out (and it filled half the carport, what a lot of crap I had in the car), threw away all the rubbish, vacuumed, wiped down the surfaces, and cleaned the inside of the windows. The outside of the car is still filthy, but I’ve got to get some lunch, do some of the other things on my list, and then go ice skating. Hmmmm, maybe as payment, I can get Claire to help me wash my car? Hehehe.

To do list

2008-07-07T23:06:00.001+12:00

Cash cheque
Clean out car
Take box to school
Sort paper war in classroom
Organise marking to go to Whangarei
Charge cameras
Source ink

I think that’s all…

At school

2008-07-07T13:01:00.001+12:00

Posting from school here. Haha. I hope I’ve remembered my posting email addresses correctly. We’ve just had our meeting and I’m feeling a bit more prepared for the term. I’m going to head home, pick up some stuff and do some of the stuff I have to do (get bird food!), then head off to my sister’s place. I might actually dance at dancing tonight. My other dancing is on break right now. Oh, I can’t get to twitter from school, it’s blocked. Came up with a Watchdog notice “We believe you have been accidentally blocked from this site. Please contact your system administrator…”

Anywho, time to head on off.

Testing this post by email thing

2008-07-07T08:54:00.001+12:00

Hiya folks, I’m procrastinating. Testing my post by email feature, since then I can keep both blogs up to date at the same time and I don’t have to log in anywhere. Woot. Why do I need two blogs? I’m not entirely sure. I’ve got a meeting at 10am today, it’s 8.50am, and I still have a towel wrapped around my head. Oh well. I had intended to be all good and get out of bed early so I could go to the gym before my meeting, but depending on how long the meeting takes I might be good and go to the gym before I go visit my sister, because I can’t arrive at her place before 3pm anyway.

Hmmm, things I need to make sure to sort out:

- get some more of those clear sleeves for ringbinders

- get my sister a birthday present and card

- buy more bird food

Oh, speaking of bird food… I have acquired two more cockatiels. They’re so cute, I’ll have to put pictures up sometime. Maybe in my next post I’ll try inserting a picture. I believe I can do that via email. But they’re so cute. One’s bright yellow all over, and the other is a colour mutation I’ve not come across before. He’s grey, but a very very dark grey, and his head is bright yellow, with no trace of orange cheek patches, and the white stripe on his wing isn’t white – it’s yellow! I’ll put pictures, and if anyone knows what sort of colour that’s called, let me know! I have to rename them, though. The previous owners had called them Yellow and Grey (rolleyes). They’re getting cocktail names, like my other two (Daiquiri and Pina Colada). They’re also currently not looking their best. Their feathers are a bit ragged and they can’t fly. Hopefully life in my large aviary will agree with them and they’ll soon look glossy and healthy.

Yeah, a new blog

2008-07-07T00:33:00.000+12:00

See old (and possibly will still update occasionally) blog at this address. I've got the Formula 1 going on behind me (on TV, not literally), and I've signed up for Twitter and Twitxr and all that jazz. New things to play with. It's late at night. My ramblings are often disjointed, just warning you now.

Things I'm looking forward to: ice skating on Wednesday (twice!), art on Wednesday, visiting my family on Thursday, going skiing next week.

Things I'm not looking forward to: Meeting at school tomorrow at 10am, having to organise my classroom for the new term, catching up on shitloads of paperwork.

Haha, had to come back to edit this post. Had forgotten to insert the link to my old blog. Go figure.