Well, the new job still doesn't suck, though it is getting a bit tiring. Pulling an average of 10 hours a day behind the wheel, and doing about 200km a day in driving. Still get to meet a lot of cute receptionists interesting people.

And I may perhaps be getting better living arrangements soon. Turns out that my Dad is a landlord of sorts for a small 2-bedroom flat not far from here, and it is coming available after christmas. Really really want to go solo in it myself, but will probably have to get in a roommate. So hoping to find a friend looking for digs - so over sharing with strangers. So over sharing, quite frankly but new job does not pay that much more.

And wondering if new abode is okay with pets. Not that I have pets, not that I can afford pets, but I wants one, precious, yes I does. Put it on the to do list.

Anyway, there it is. Oh, and Father just got back from overseas trip and brought back baby photos of my new niece. 6 months new and already figured out how to be cute. (Actually suspect this is instinctive.) But quick question to the flist. Is "Poppy" an okay name for a child? Seriously, I could take it as a nickname, but as a real name? Or is it just me? Lucky she's cute, it'll probably grow on me. *shrugs*

- A bit of newspammery: I've been joking about this happening for a while, but now it actually has.  The ads lied!

- Also, Spice Girls reform for a farewell tour. Wait what?

- Also, I have seen a number of businesses in my time, named after the family ie "Joe Bloggs & Sons." This is very traditional, but rarely tells you what they do. A while back, I saw a business called "Baigent & Daughters" which I thought was kind of cute. Briefly imagined a Disney-like scenario where Father wants to pass on the business, but has no sons and after much drama and stubborn sexism eventually becomes reconciled to daughters, passes business onto them and much tears are jerked. (not in a rude way)
Yeh, I'm kind of soppy like that. Anyway, just this week delivered some stuff to a place called "Smith & Nephew" Kid you not. This is either really touching or desperate. Not sure which.

- It is now officially illegal for you to drive while holding & talking on a cellphone in NZ. Well, it always was, technically, but apparently it was too much paperwork to bother prosecuting. Now, it is instantly fineable. As a person who is driving a lot and recieving calls quite regularly from the depatcher, I have invested in a hands-free headset thingy. Actually, I did this earlier than I needed to, because, frankly, I can't drive & hold a cellphone at the same time. Seriously, manual transmission, city traffic, I'm changing gears every other minute, dodging mad drivers and I ONLY HAVE TWO HANDS DAMMIT!!! 
Some fools are claiming they're gonna keep using 'em no matter what, and consider themselves some sort of anti-establishment heroes.
Well, my van is bigger'n their BMW, so they'de better stay clear of me, that's all I'm sayin.

- I turned 36 today, and barely noticed. Low budget, procrastination and low expectations means same 'ol same ol. Anyway, no biggie, this aging thing is a piece of cake, could do it in my sleep. Sigh.

- Been taking some photos on an old-school (ie, actual film) camera. Sorta. Originally using my Dads 30+year old one, but it's not winding on properly. Now using cheapo plastic 10+year old one I got in my twenties. If they actually come out, I might post one or two. If.

- They're talking of doing an NZ version of The Apprentice. Our local Trump-to-be is.... um, some property tycoon. Apparently we have a couple. And he owns a football team. That's Soccer Football, not the other kind. Apparently we have one of those, too. Um, don't know his name, but he's really big in the business world. Oh yeah, and he has real hair, too. Bonus.

I love my temp agency, really I do. I mean, I would not have been eating, paying rent etc without them this past year, but communication, sometimes is lacking.

I had been wondering what progress had been made re: making my current made-of-win job permanent, and now discover that much agreements have already been made. It seems that in order to take me on without paying a hefty fee, current made-of-win bosses must keep me on with temp agency until December 16, then I can switch over a free man. They have agreed to do this.

AND NO ONE TOLD ME!!?!?!?!

On the plus side, I is going to be a permanent staffer here. And Christmas presents include nice pay hike and overtime rates.

AND THE PLACE SHUTS DOWN OVER CHRISTMAS, SO I WON'T HAVE TO WORK!!111!!

I is a happy Book Eater.

And tomorrow I will be going to "Armageddon" which is our local form of NerdFest ie, comics, sci-fi etc etc convention.

The brochure has a small ad from a video shop declaring the top 5 reasons why Star Trek is better than Star Wars. Now, I like both of 'em, personally, but swing towards SW because it has Jedi and R2D2 is cuter than Data.

So, I will debate their list herewith:

5 - Much less brother-on-sister action. 
      Well, true, but between Kirk, Riker and the rest, it's probably the only action that was missed out on. And it was just one make-you-jealous kiss.

4 - Spocks Eyebrow.
     Okay, I will see you one eyebrow and raise you Solo's quirky grin. And who would you rather have at the Helm, Solo or Sulu?

3- Star Trek can do prequels, Star Wars can't.
     B-but Yoda-with-a-lightsaber! *lip quiver* Kick your ass, he will!

2-Klingons v Ewoks? Klingons.
    I dunno. Ewoks kicked Stormtrooper ass pretty good. And they're pretty much Tribbles with spears, so I'm not gonna rule them out. Anyway, let's make it fair. Klingons v Wookies. I'm gonna go for the Wookies.

1- William Shatner. Nuff said.
   Um. Damn, you took my point. Harrison Ford. Nyah.

Okay, so I get to deliver quite a range of various, printed materials to various locations around the city. This company does everything from magazines to those printed sheets they put on the trays in fast food joints.

Today - I was delivering the spring catalogues to a chain of lingerie stores. This caused a fair amount of initial awkwardness on book_eaters part, you understand. Part of this is the natural fear of any male entering such a bastion of female territory without an escorting female to justify his presence. Had to resist ostentatiously flourishing the package in order to say "See? I have legitamate business here and am not a creepy pervy type!" And part of it was simply being surrounded by girls undies. Where do you look, f'godssake?

And in one shop, their back room was concealed behind a semi-secret panel which had nurse and schoolgirl fetish outfits hanging on the outside. Only my glasses kept my eyes from bugging out. I kid y'not. Yeesh. Still, think I managed to carry it off with dignity... I think.

Odd things come to mind. Like how come all the advertising material seems to suggest that a common female pastime is getting together with her friends, stripping to the undies and (apparently) telling jokes to each other? I mean, I understand that women do like to talk and chat and etc, but I really doubt they do it in a state of undress. I could be wrong, though. I suspect that it is clever marketing, yet who is it trying to appeal to?

Other odd thought. A whole store totally devoted to female underwear. Actually, in most of the malls, there were about three separate chains. Yet males have only one section of your regular deparment store. Not that I'm complaining, because personally, that's about all I need, but still. It's an interesting statement re: gender differences.

And last thought. Never skip lunch when you're driving a lot. Nothing to do with the above, but I completely lost track of time till about 2.00 in the afternoon and boy was I fuzzy. Not good when you're driving a big heavy vehicle. Just sayin'

Scene: The chapel of St Colin. (Patron Saint of Blokes). The stained glass windows feature sports scenes and many of the wall hangings appear to be team banners. Book_eater makes his way to the confessional and sits down.

Book_eater: Forgive me father for I have sinned.

Priest: Tell me, my lad.

Book_eater: This week, father. I... I have asked for directions. um... Twice.

Priest: ..... (sound of shuffling)

BE: um... father?

Priest: Sorry, my boy, that was me reeling in shock. Directions, you say?

BE: um, yes. You see, I had to make a delivery, and I found it okay in the map, but when I got there, the place wasn't clearly marked, so...

P: You read the map?

BE: um. yes?

P: My son, this is quite serious. Does it not say in the book of Hezekiah, that a man ought not to seek guidance for his path from temporal sources, for the Lord has lain in the heart of every true man the knowledge of his steps? And that he who relies on the directions of his fellow man is a faithless girly-boy?

BE: um. does it?

P: Hell, I have no idea. My Bishop once told me that the Bible is our Instruction Book for life and I haven't read it since. Real men don't need instructions!

BE: Um. Oh yeah,... right, right. Don't need them. Yeah.

P: Oh. Don't tell me....

BE: Well, I wanted to change the pre-sets on the Van radio, and...

P: And you didn't think of just fiddling with it till you figured it out?

BE: Well, sure but it didn't get me anywhere and I was stuck on the sports talkback channel, and...

P: And you wanted to change it???

BE: shit um... yes?

P: Oh, my son. (sadly) I fear you linger on the brink. Turn back now or risk your manhood.

BE: (a little miffed) You know, that's a little rich coming from a guy in a dress.

P: I will have you know this is a Robe. Or a cassock... vestment? I really never figured out the difference, honestly.

BE: (mutters) mu-mu

P: Anyway, I'm wearing trousers under it, so it doesn't count.

BE: (darkly) Yeah, that look is sooo last season, you know.

P: You what?

BE: The whole trousers-under-a-skirt thing. Really big a while back, but... um. Anyway.

P: (disgusted) I bet you own a pink shirt, don't you.

BE: No!

P: uh-huh.

BE: It's... really more... peach.

P: (facepalm) Oh dear. You just keep digging yourself in deeper. I'm afraid your penance will be dire, my son.

BE: This is getting ridiculous. I mean, it was just a little transgression. I didn't expect the Spanish-

P: DON'T SAY IT! It's bad enough going all girly without going nerdy as well!

BE: Wait. Nerdy is bad, too?

P: You're asking for a Holy Wedgie, boy.

BE: (mutters) Beam me up, Scotty.

P: I HEARD THAT! EXCOMMUNICATION!

BE: Okay, I'm out of here. (Exits booth, heads for door)

P: (following) It's not too late! We've got the big game on pay-TV tonight! If you bring the beers, and...

BE: (exiting door) leaving now...

P: (horror) Wait, does that car have a pink stripe?

TheCar: What? Is he dissing my stripe?

BE: (sighs, gets in) Let's just get out of here.

P: (producing holy water and cross in the shape of goalposts) Avaunt! Avaunt! Aiieee!!!

BE: You know, that was kinda fun....

TheCar: Heh.


Yeah. It's been one of those wierd weeks.

So, I was browsing one of my local sells-everything-under-the-sun stores after a hard day at work and naturally gravitated towards the books section (as I do) and while wandering 'twixt the tomes, the text on the cover of one sprang out at me.
"Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy" Intrigued, I drifted closer, expecting a re-print and wondering what title it was.
"Part six of three" WHUUUUTT???

IT'S A SEQUEL! A FRIGGIN SEQUEL! ANOTHER EPISODE! *bounces, cavorts, squees*

Apparently, to celebrate the Thirtieth Anniversary, they invited Eoin Colfer (author of the Artemis Fowl books) to pen a sixth installment called "And Another Thing"
He usually writes for children but says writing this is very similar to writing for young adults, apart from less useage of the phrases "it wasn't my fault" and "none of you people get me"

Anyway, of course I bought it. Halfway through now and it's not half bad. If you've read the originals (and if not, WHY?) you'll remember in the last book everyone was about to die. Of course, Colfer is forced to save them in a highly improbable, utterly inexplicable fashion that resurrects older, forgotten characters and not only plays merry hell with plot consistency but contradicts much of what has gone before in an attempt to make things fit.

In other words, it's perfect. :)

Okay, scary thing I have heard.

Not that I read this magazine, y'understand, but I was browsing and saw the link and... http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/odd/6192305/marge-simpson-makes-cover-of-playboy/

But wait - did they say the name of the guy behind this is FLANDERS???

- To the driver of the car in front of me at the lights today: When your car is so dirty, people are writing stuff on it, it's time to wash your car.
When the stuff involves phallic images, it's time to wash your car AND move to a better neighborhood. Just saying.

- New toy being advertised on the radio. Latest Bratz rip-off, sounds like. Apparently, it's for girls who are "creative, kind of crazy and original." Makes a big thing about "being true to yourself." Individuals, etc. So if everyone buys one...?

- You know you need to think about changing radio stations when you can sing along to 80% of the songs - and chant along with 90% of the adverts.

- Took a book along with me in the Van today. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. It sits on the passenger seat calling me.
Reaaaaddd meeeee. Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddd meeeeeeeeeeeeee. Pull over for just a moment. Just one chapter. Go on, go oonnnnnnnn. You know you want to. It won't hurt. No one needs to know..... Seriously, I'm an addict, aren't I? I mean, I joke about it, but honestly...

- Breast cancer awareness week. Or is it month? Anyway. Bought a hot pink pen as a donation thing. Mainly to freak out all the manly inwards goods guys when I get them to sign for their packages. *is evil*

- New study from UK claims that one in five women put their makeup on while driving. I won't feel smug until they say how many men talk on cellphones while driving. And probably not even then. Yes, I'm looking at you, guy-in-the-car-next-to-me. We're doing 100km/h right now. And you're overtaking. You're scaring me.

- Saw two teens in supermarket carpark today. Near-arctic-blast winds going down. Girl shivering in thin spring clothes. Boy walking sideways, spreading shirt out to act as windbreak for her. Who says chivalry is dead?

- Why are few people happy to see me when I show up in the van with two big pallets of stuff for them at 4.49 in the afternoon?

Well, week two of the new temporary job and things are kind of looking interesting.

I spend most of my day driving around the city and 'burbs delivering various printed things to various locations and singing along listening to the radio in the cab of the van. (Incidentally, I am getting a lot better at hill-starts in a heavy manual-transmission vehicle thank you so much. :) )

And it looks like it might turn permanent. They are doing some reorganisation, which means that the normal driver (my current supervisor, currently doing someone elses job) will be permanently elsewhere, and I could be doing this job full time, if I want.

If? Oh hell yeah, I want to. This is the bestest job I've done since joining up with the agency.

Anyway, just got to get them talking to my temp agency about it. And hope that the agency doesn't scare them off with a big fee for taking me over. I'm feeling reasonably confident, but I have been let down before, so not getting too excited yet.

And I get to talk to different people every day and there is no annoying co workers and they have a union and pay overtime rates and the starting rate if I work for them will be about $3 an hour more than I'm getting at the moment and and and...

*breathes heavily*

So that's where I'm at. You?

Okay, I'm not sure whether I want to feel proud or embarrassed by this. I laughed a bit, anyway.

The leader of our country, on Letterman. Doing his part for international relations. (He's also Minister for Tourism, or something.)

www.youtube.com/watch

So, this weekend I got myself all tidied and spiffed up, because my new job actually requires me to deal with the public. More or less.

Getting a haircut is always a scary experience for me, because I have to take my glasses off for it, and am thusly utterly oblivious to what is being done to my head until it is... um, done. Basically, things become blurry about a handsbreadth out from my face and everything beyond is a great big fuzz. Cute hairdresser girl in low-cut top leant across me to snip at my forehead, and I couldn't see much beyond her enormous pendant.

Nice pendant, too. Actually noticed that first, before... ahem.

Anyway, surreal moment happened there. Kid to the left of me getting haircut too, needed booster seat on the chair. MY hairdresser asks me to scrunch down, because she can't reach the top of my head. :D

Started job today. And you'd better start knitting t' devil some thermals, because I actually enjoyed myself.

Yup. Had fun. AT WORK. *is scared*

I have to drive this big-ass van around. Kind of temperamental on the clutch, stalled it I-don't-know-how-many-times, but I'm getting better.
And a lot of my day is spent sitting around waiting for another delivery to do. And getting paid for it.
I'm considering asking for a firemans pole, so when the call goes out I can just jump to it, slide down and...

Except there's only one floor in the building, really...

They seem like nice people anyway. I'm going to have to take a book to work tomorrow, though. Was so bored while waiting today, I actualy caught myself flipping through the phone book.

What kind of lunch room doesn't have any magazines or anything? THIS IS A PUBLISHING COMPANY, PEOPLE!!! Surely you've got some seconds or something?

Oh wait, they're all in the bathrooms...

Okay, so I finished with *that* job today, and will start another one on monday (thank you Temp Agency, relevant benevolent deities.)

The send off wasn't so bad. Got to talk to Middle boss in the end and it was less about nepotism and more about downsizing. They took my number and it's possible they may call me back again sometime in the near future... *shrugs* if ACW is gone by then, might just accept. (And she might be, too, from the sounds of things. Big boss met her the other day and took instant dislike to her.)

Middle boss is not so bad. Bit of a laid-back casual guy, somewhat of a heavy drinker - which is how we ended up sharing a few (too many) drinks after work today, but he's okay. Shook hands, parted friends, all is well.

On that note, learnt a fair bit more about him, too. Help me out here, is this worrying or touching? His father died not long ago and he keeps his ashes at home, rather than interring or scattering him somewhere. Keeps his urn (well, box) on the bar with a picture on it, so every time he has a drink he sees and remembers the old man, raises his glass, maybe says 'hi', chats in that way we do to the departed.

So far, so touching, right?

Then when he watches a sports game on TV he often brings the ashes over to the sofa with him. Had the boys over for a night of watching rugby, put Dad on the table as well.

His wife thinks he's nuts, I'm... torn. It's either sentimental or obsessive. Thoughts?

New job will involve delivery driving as well as warehouse work. Not sure what ratio there, but presumably spend most of the time on the road. This is okay, and it's about 10 minutes walk from my home, so I can save my own petrol money.

And it's friday. Yays.

Sucks to be me, this week.

Yeah, I'm gonna lose my job. Again. Agh!

The reason this time? Nepotism. Seems the Big Boss of the company has a relative/acquaintance/somethingorother who needs a job, so he's getting mine. Is this legal??? I hear you ask. Yep, it is if you're just a Temp. They could let me go right now if they wanted, but at least they're giving me till the end of the week. The Agency says I'm top priority for getting a new position, so that's all good, but still...

Grrr. Rudewordsrudewordsrudewords.

You see, they haven't actually said ANYTHING officially. This new guy just started today, and I - wondering how we'd justify him as we barely have enough work for the people we have - inquired of the new supervisor about him. That's when I found out.

"Oh, didn't [themiddleboss] tell you?. Oh."

See, middleboss is the one who hired me, and is so laid back it's scary. Nice, in a way, to have no pressure, but kind of worrying if you want anything done. Or official communication. He's the one who's been delaying the decision to make me permanent here. Well, at least that decison is now moot.

Grrr.

Yeah, so ACW is staying on, working only four days. Newguy is working only three days. New Supervisor will be filling in around that. Original guy who was here when I started will be doing same ol' same ol.

See, even if I stayed, I'd be on reduced hours, it seems, but why keep ACW? Why not keep the guy who has a forklift license and can actually lift something heavier than a shoebox? Why keep the one who actually annoys EVERYONE in the building???

Maybe because you'd have to pay me more.

Ah, I was getting frustrated with the place, so maybe it's a good thing. Honestly, it's the money I'll miss, not the work necessarily. Certainly won't miss Annoying Co-Worker.

As long as Agency finds me another position. Or I find one myself.

Agh. Grr. Grumble.

So, any best wishes/prayers/invocations of dark powers the equivialent in your own belief system would be greatly appreciated.

kthx.

Not so very much to report, but I feel I've been lurking in silence for far too long so I'm gonna make myself say something, dammit!


Okay, so this saturday we had a DVD evening at mr_razorz place. A pleasant evening of bad food, odd films and wildlife. (Four cats, two bunnies and three bored thirtysomething guys.)

Up on the menu was "In Bruges" and "The Deaths of Ian Stone." Heard of the first, never heard of the second.

( Thoughts beneath the cut )

*bounces*

So, earlier today - the printer went down. This is Quite Important, as we use it a lot. Anyway, I was busy doing other stuff, while my collegues (including new-guy supervisor and annoying co-worker) clustered around the printer, trying to fix it. Saw them opening it up, shaking the toner cartridge etc, but decided not to try to join in because a) too many cooks etc and b) annoying co-worker (henceforth referred to as "ACW") was there and taking charge and she-knows-more-than-book-eater-about-everything-end-of-story.

Much later, I needed to print something myself and sauntered over, inquired of new-guy supervisor (actually a nice guy) if they'd fixed it.

NGS: No, we have to use the printer in the other office until we get it fixed.

Me: What does it say the problem is?

NGS: It says the network cable is disconnected.

Me: I guess you checked the cables, then?

NGS: Well we looked but [yetanothercoworker] says it's not even on the network...

Me: (Wanders over, looks at printer. Unplugs printer-data cable, replugs. Jiggles to make sure it's in firmly. Tries to print.)

Printer: (Prints)

Me: Fixed it.

NGS: (Jawdrop) How'd you do that?

Me: (enigmatic techie grin)

NGS: Next time, we'll just ask you, first, right?

Heh. Didn't even gloat (much).

Okay, so went and saw District 9 yesterday. Knew next to nothing about it, save there were aliens involved and Peter Jackson was behind it.

The movie, not the aliens, though you never know...

( Spoiler cut )

Well, it's been a bit quiet lately, I realise. Personally, I've largely been hunkered down in survival mode. I think I lost a lot of my personal get-up-and-go over the last few desperate months of low income before my current position. The hope was that once I got steady work, I'd be free to improve myself, but I suspect I've fallen into a rut.

To update, I'm currently doing the same old warehousey/forklifty/stockroomy thing I've done before, but in a new place with a bit better money. We have a main staff of three, plus a few others in nearby departments that pop in from time to time. There is one "permanent" guy, and two of us "temporary permanent" folks. The other temp is a the highly annoying co-worker I may have mentioned before. She means well, you understand, but knows far less than she thinks she does and refuses to believe that others might know a bit, too. To be as generous as I can, (and this is only possible because it's sunday, not friday afternoon) she's been self-employed for 25 years and thus has no idea how to actually work with other people. Anyhow, it's a challenge and an education and yeah...

The boss is a very laid back feller, who just got back from his annual drinking binge golf trip to the Gold Coast of Australia. He seems to have enough money to do this easily and has no problems spending money to improve things at work which is a new experience for me. I'm kind of used to bosses who go "What? You need new lightbulbs down that aisle? Do you know how much they cost? We sell Torches, you know..."

Okay, that was an exaggeration, but you get the idea. Things look positive, if not exactly exciting.

Anyway, I've just started doing this kind of arty/self improvement thing based on the book "The Artists Way." No idea what it will be like as we've only just done the intro thing, but it sounds like an excuse to kick the muse at the very least, so it should be all good. Maybe if I can get my head out of dusty boxes for a while I might be able to notice the sky once in a while.

Now you see, a bit of poetic imagery right there!

So, I got out of the house a bit this weekend. Went on a small road trip to a local scenic spot... well, just because I could, really.

( Pics under cut )

David Letterman's Book Eater's Top Ten: Signs it's been a rough week.

(Note, these are all from experience :)  )

#10 - You really don't want to get out of bed in the morning. And it's only Tuesday.

#9 - You cluster around the kettle in the lunchroom and watch it boil. And you're not bored.

#8 - You eat lunch in your car, in the carpark. Just to get out of the building.

#7 - You have your tea breaks there, too. Same reason.

#6 - You dread going to sleep, because it means you will have to go back to work sooner.

#5 - You realise that your most annoying co-worker has an extremely irritating footstep.

#4 -When the nice checkout girl at the supermarket asks you how your day is going, you get a lump in your throat.

#3 -You get home from work and try to open your house with your car-alarm clicky thing.

#2 -It takes you several attempts before you figure out why this is not working.

#1 - You make a top 10 list about your week.