farken ace » July 2, 2009

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(34 unread)

• July 02, 2009
• 15:00

  Comment on Pointy End by Mark O'Meara

   » ‎ Comments for Mark O'Meara: the blog

  Well both of mine are patched now. I am not optimistic but it’s certainly worth a try.

• 14:39

  Comment on Pointy End by jojo

   » ‎ Comments for Mark O'Meara: the blog

  I used to patch tyres a bit and from what i recall you need to really rough up the tube to get it to “key” well with the adhesive, and that more is more when it comes to the adhesive. Some of our tubes used to be pretty heavily patched.

• 14:38

  Comment on Beach Burner by jojo

   » ‎ Comments for Joanna's Ramblings

  My yard has a theme of “burning things” must get rid of the one non-functioning bbq though…

• 14:34

  Pointy End

   » ‎ Mark O'Meara: the blog

  Whatever punctured my front tyre must have been pretty determined. As I out the front wheel back on, I noticed that the back was entirely flat also. I know I did ride through a couple of patched of shattered glass so perhaps that it was did it.

  Either way, the tube from my back wheel now has a patch on it. Hopefully, these patches will fix these tubes. Two in a day is getting a bit much really.

• 14:26

  Comment on Beach Burner by J-Le

   » ‎ Comments for Joanna's Ramblings

  oh yeah, that’s nice and would suit your backyard.

• 14:26

  Comment on The Chicken and the Frog by Eilis

   » ‎ Comments for Mark O'Meara: the blog

  [www.blurb.com]

• 14:22

  I’m a card carrying citizen again

   » ‎ David
  I went into my usual bank branch this morning, explained that an ATM gobbled my plastic card yesterday, brandished my most recent bank account statement and my driver’s licence and asked if I could make a withdrawal. “Of course”, was the reply. The teller then offered to retrieve my ATM card from the ATM [...]

• 14:21

  Comment on wee Forbsie by J-Le

   » ‎ Comments for Joanna's Ramblings

  woohoo! i echo what f & k said.

• 14:21

  Comment on Retro by Eilis

   » ‎ Comments for Mark O'Meara: the blog

  i was a big fan of kaarin fairfax back then. thanks for the reminder.

• 14:14

  Comment on changing by J-Le

   » ‎ Comments for Joanna's Ramblings

  hey that sounds great, good on you. i wish kristen worked for a company that offered such great opportunities in such a supportive way.

• 14:07

  Comment on changing by jojo

   » ‎ Comments for Joanna's Ramblings

  Thank Nicky – it’s going to be interesting.

• 13:54

  One Foot After the Other

   » ‎ Mark O'Meara: the blog

  I think that medium-distance bike riding rewards patience and a little resilience. On the patience side of things, in enough time, you can get all sorts of places. On the second point, you never know what might happen when you are out, but it’s never that bad.

  This morning, I got Nicky to check the weather site and there was a serious wind from WSW. With this in mind, I decided to ride to Newport to take advantage of the tail wind. About three-quarters of an hours in, it started to rain. I figured one of three things could happen; it could stop, it could get worse, or it could continue raining like that. There were no catastrophic options here, so I kept going.

  As I left Altona, I got to the bit where there is a low bridge across the creek. I’ve been across this before when it is flooded but it was only a few inches deep. Water like that is excellent for giving the tyres and wheels a quick clean. This morning, however, it was more like a foot or two deep. I stopped and considered my optioned. I could turn around and go home. I could attempt the waters and be fine. I could attempt the waters, fall over, and get quite wet. Again, there were no catastrophic options here, so I rode through. I did have to change down to first gear and steady myself against a bollard but I got across just fine. My shoes and socks got wet but that wasn’t the end of the world.

  The train ride went without a hitch, and pretty soon I was close to home. I was only about two hundred metres from home when I noticed a steady bump from the front wheel. It looked a little chubby at the bottom but it always looks like that when I am sitting on the bike. All the same, I stopped and checked. Sure enough, the tyre was flat so I walked the last four minutes of my trip. Although annoying, it couldn’t have happened at a better time.

  Half the fun of a little adventure is the little things that you work around. If everything went without a hitch that would be nice, but it wouldn’t be as much fun.

• 13:33

  Comment on changing by nicky

   » ‎ Comments for Joanna's Ramblings

  Hoorah! This sounds terribly exciting. I’m really pleased for you.

  The best thing about working in a big organisation is the possibility of trying on new roles and moving around. It was one of the things I loved about the evil empire (when I still loved it).

  And that prevailing attitude to testing is one of the reasons I wouldn’t go back to it – only so long you can beat your head against the wall.

• 13:28

  A Few Small Repairs

   » ‎ Mark O'Meara: the blog

  My front tyre went flat again today. I found the hole and it’s tiny. I must had ridden over something pointy. This will happen.

  I was going to simply replace the tube since I have never had much luck patching up bicycle tubes. At best, I turn fast leaks into slow leaks. I try to follow the direction, but I don’t think I’ve every properly repaired a tube.

  Even in this context, I’ve been hoping through the new tubes this last week so I decided to have another go. I followed the instructions on my little Dunlop repair kit, left it to dry, and have just pumped it up again. It would be nice to think that it will still be up in a couple of hours but I am not especially hopeful.

  So, I was wondering if anyone (and I was especially thinking of Helen) had any wisdom on the question of replacing and repairing. What is the most sensible thing to do? What are the tricks of getting a repair right?

• 13:25

  jojoeffe: More rose scented tea. This stuff is addictive. And organic milk at work because I BMO.

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: More rose scented tea. This stuff is addictive. And organic milk at work because I BMO.
• 13:17

  jojoeffe: had a tasty chicken parma burger at the pizza place in the Eureka food area. Love my parma burgers.

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: had a tasty chicken parma burger at the pizza place in the Eureka food area. Love my parma burgers.

• 12:01

  Comment on chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo by jen

   » ‎ Comments for the twinkle in my eye

  the doors of our wardrobe are trains, apparently, because they run on tracks. so also are the long strings of shopping trolleys all parked together in the supermarket.

  i’m just envious that you live in a city with a useful suburban train network: ours is only good if you want to travel to a coal mine (unlikely) outer suburbs of maitland (also unlikely) or woy woy (even less likely, even tho spike milligan lived there…).

  I’m assuming the wooden train set is the same as ours… the bri.o copy from i.kea? patrick is obsessed with tunnels, too, so i made some by cutting an arch out of opposite ends of ice-ceam containers.

  at least it will make xmas presents easy!

• 11:58

  jojoeffe: @middleclassgirl why thank you ma'am and you are ace too.

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: @middleclassgirl why thank you ma'am and you are ace too.
• 11:57

  jojoeffe: excited about change

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: excited about change

• 11:55

  changing

   » ‎ Joanna's Ramblings
  playful architecture Originally uploaded by avino It seems that it is seeping out into the project so any need to keep it quiet is now no longer necessary. I am off my current project at the end of my assignment. I am also changing careers with a little luck. I’ve approached the head of the Architecture [...]

• 10:31

  Mark is on a bike ride. Prince…

   » ‎ Just Nicky

  Mark is on a bike ride. Princess Snotbucket is watching telly. The boy & I are playing on computers. Not bad for a Friday.

• 9:45

  Retro

   » ‎ Mark O'Meara: the blog

  If I’d thought about it, I’d probably have guess that a slew of Deborah’s videoclips would be on YouTube. I would have been right. However, I just stumbled on this so it was something of a surprise. A pleasant surprise.

• 8:50

  jojoeffe: Winter sunshine: http://twitpic.com/93830

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: Winter sunshine: http://twitpic.com/93830
• 7:50

  jojoeffe: @reewal I'd be feeling stabby about now.

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: @reewal I'd be feeling stabby about now.

• 7:01

  My Recent Blather on Twitter

   » ‎ Mark O'Meara: the blog
  • The kids are awake so I'd better be useful. #
  • Looks nice outside. Considering a bike ride this morning. #
  • Five minutes ago, I didn't know these existed. Now, I would love one. [www.madsencycles.com] #
  • This page from the WA Government about cycling is a great resource. [www.dpi.wa.gov.au] #
  • Took my bike around the block and the tyres still seem firm. The state of them tomorrow will be the real test. #
  • Watching a couple of Charlie & Lola episodes with the kids before they head off to bed. It's a charming little show. #
  • I know it makes me a heathen but I do enjoy a glass of basic red with some tonic water. #
  • Recovering nicely from a minor mental meltdown. #

  Powered by Twitter Tools.

• 6:00

  The Chicken and the Frog

   » ‎ Mark O'Meara: the blog

  Listen

  Hello, and welcome to the One Minute Mark.

  I had what might be a good idea. I think that the definition of idea is pretty settled. The definition of good might just be flexible enough for this sentence to be broadly true. I was thinking of using PowerPoint, some Creative-Commons licensed photos from flickr, and some of my earlier efforts together to make some basic picture books.

  I know PowerPoint is not a print-publishing tool; these would be more proof of concept slideshows than actual books. Eventually, I’d like to write something new. For the time being, I thought I might cut my teeth on Only You Can Stay the Same and some of the old Dear Bert stories.

  I am not sure if I have the writing ability or the time to do this idea justice. I guess the only left is to give it a quick go and see how far I get.

  Anyhow, that’s the minute and I’ll speak to you soon.

• 4:14

  10-9-8...

   » ‎ Suburban Hen Goes Beta
  A few weeks ago we attended an appointment for a CVS test, something required if we wish to ascertain what the chromosome arrangement is like for the baby placed in my uterus by my husband. Due to my retroverted uterus and the positioning of my other somewhat vital organs, like a bladder and a bowel, the test did not go ahead. The doctor, skilled as he is, did not even attempt to stick a needle in me, because he could see no way of reaching the required spot of placenta without driving said needle through my bowel first. Fair cop.
  
  I wrote of my disappointment of not achieving the test that day here.
  
  Cue three weeks later to yesterday morning, and the skilled doctor used all of his aforementioned skills to attempt and achieve a small sample of Chorionic-Villus, which was sent away for testing. We may have results tomorrow, or it may take up to three weeks. If you have ever struggled with patience, then perhaps pregnancy isn't for you. In fact, it would probably be safe to say that maybe child-rearing isn't for you, either. But I digress.
  
  The test itself was extremely uncomfortable. If you are squeamish, or just don't want to know about the experience, stop reading now.
  
  Have you stopped?
  
  Now is the time to stop reading.
  
  And now it is too late.
  
  There are several needles, the first few are for local anesthetic, which for me was injected in three or four spots centering around where the doctor wanted to insert the sampling needle. This was all around my lower abdomen. These needles sting quite a bit, and when he put the last one in, telling me I would feel a scratch, I told him he was fibbing. It just plain hurt.
  
  Then came the sampling needle. I never got to see it, what with my head resting on the bench slightly lower than the rest of my body so that my internal organs fell a bit more out of the way of the needles destination, but boy-o, did I feel it. I felt something go in, and as it got further into my body, I felt a lot more. My word, what a large amount of discomfort and general dull pain it was causing me. Despite this, I did not dare move a muscle. It's amazing how still you can lie with the life of your unborn baby resting in the hands of you and your new best doctor friend.
  
  Because yes, there are significant risks with this procedure. Risks of spontaneous abortion. There are all sorts of statistics all over the web on how risky, but I tell you, I'm sick to death of statistics. Statistics might suggest that flipping one hundred tails in a row is nigh on impossible, but that's not to say it wont happen. Plus the statistics of getting pregnant, staying pregnant, and other associated statistical things have so far not applied to me and LB and our baby making escapades. There are statistics which suggest getting pregnant might take a while, what with it being my first attempt at pregnancy, and the statistics associated with the fertility of a balanced translocation type person such as myself. Yet these statistics did not apply to us. We got pregnant instantly, in a 'just add water' two minute noodle type scenario (well, it lasted longer than two minutes, but you get my drift, yeah?).
  Further statistics would have me believing that baby would fall out before twelve weeks, again with this being my first pregnancy and my balanced translocation status.
  Except, IT'S STILL IN THERE.
  And statistically, there should have been morning sickness, except there wasn't. There was some mild nausea in the evenings, so I just went to bed whenever I felt bad.
  
  Statistics are weird and unreliable.
  
  Except I am still aware of the last statistic looming over us, and the countdown to find out if we can dodge that one has begun.
  
  Some nasty looking little bruises came up last night to remind me of what we got up to earlier in the day, but so far that's the only side-effect of the test. Baby has not (yet) fallen out because of the test, and for that I am so very grateful. For while I know that a termination is our decision if the baby has Down syndrome (GOD STRIKE ME DOWN), having baby die because of such a test would break my heart. Oh, by golly yessy. It would shatter into a million pieces.
  
  What we saw of baby yesterday was again just simply amazing and wonderful. Baby was 'sitting down', a sure sign of its genetic relationship with its parents. It has the requiset number of legs and arms, and it only has one head (huzzah!). It has a nose and I could sort of see a mouth, amongst other things that I will not mention here because my husband DOES NOT WANT TO KNOW THE SEX. I'm not fussed (about knowing or what it is) either way, and what I think I saw was accidental. I was just soaking up the image of our baby in front of us, and that my eyes were drawn in that direction when it flashed its legs open is hardly my fault.

• 1:15

  jojoeffe: reading the funniest analysis of the Star Trek movie: http://bit.ly/IpYgB

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: reading the funniest analysis of the Star Trek movie: http://bit.ly/IpYgB
• July 01, 2009
• 23:18

  jojoeffe: drinking turkish delight (rose scented) tea and thinking about Kirsten - it's FREEZING down here.

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: drinking turkish delight (rose scented) tea and thinking about Kirsten - it's FREEZING down here.
• 21:43

  jojoeffe: @reewal I'd suggest deep breathing, but judging by the quality of passengers you may die of noxious odours

   » ‎ Twitter / jojoeffe
  jojoeffe: @reewal I'd suggest deep breathing, but judging by the quality of passengers you may die of noxious odours

• 20:53

  Comment on wee Forbsie by Fiona (not sailing one)

   » ‎ Comments for Joanna's Ramblings

  Congratulations to all the family! Having seen you with James & Finn I know what a brilliant aunty you will be! Wishing you all much joy and happiness together in the years to come!

• 20:53

  Comment on Here I am! by Eilis

   » ‎ Comments for Just Nicky

  i’d love to know which blogs you’ve been reading…

• 18:54

  Now you see it, now you don’t

   » ‎ David
  This afternoon around 4.30 I slipped my plastic card into the ATM machine at my usual bank branch so that I could get enough cash to see me through the next seven days. The ATM spat out a slip of paper which told me loftily: “Your financial institution has prohibited transactions on this card. [...]

• 16:21

  School Holiday Programme

   » ‎ Finn Henry

  I think Finn might have been a bit nervous about going to his school holiday programme today. On the way, he seemed quite upset when he realised that I wouldn’t be staying with him all day. His argument was that we could miss his Dad too much, but I suspect he was just nervous about doing something new on his own.

  He need not have worried. When we picked him up this afternoon at three, he was there with his whole little gang. They had been watching movies and playing secret agents. In fact, he didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay until all the other mums arrived.

  We promised him that week he could stay until five o’clock and this news made him a bit happier. The great news, of course, is that he had such a great day.