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Been meaning to post some pictures of the kids for ages, but a request from the lovely ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kaths has gotten me off my arse. ( 16 pics below the cut... )
kaths has gotten me off my arse. ( 16 pics below the cut... )
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Have you been happily unaware of my absence until this post appeared to blight your fine day? You must have been loving a good chunk of this year because I've just been not finding time to post.
How bad is it?
I've been meaning to mention that I sold one of my photographs for use in the Park Secrets Victoria pack of cards since last year. It's not one of my best shots, but I was approached because of the location depicted (Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote), and who cares because I professionally sold one of my photos! It's something I'm naturally pretty proud of, and I haven't found the time to write about it until now, when I'm choosing not to do one of fifty other things, or resting, to mention it.
Needless to say there's been lots of other good stuff, but finding time to talk about it just ain't happening. I will mention that the Perth trip seems to have made a major difference to me. I'm still run down, but I haven't been continuously sick since the trip. Hooray!
Quick bits of stuff - Swancon was good, the Ditmar controversy was bullshit, Continuum 7 is looking to be awesome, no-one seems to have picked up on the (to me) two glaring potentially important pieces of information that were onscreen in the latest season of Doctor Who, I've been chopping lots of wood (that's not a euphemism), we had a surprise bill of $3000 which is incredibly painful but annoyed us more because of the unexpectedness than the amount, the local pub does chips covered in melted cheese and bacon bits.
Sharon's tired but awesome, Lex is energetic, tiring, frustrating, but mostly fun, MaybeZoe has stood twice and is trying to learn to be as cute as her brother, Mum is mostly okay when not driving us nuts, and I'm tired and depressed but still the prettiest person you know.
How bad is it?
I've been meaning to mention that I sold one of my photographs for use in the Park Secrets Victoria pack of cards since last year. It's not one of my best shots, but I was approached because of the location depicted (Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote), and who cares because I professionally sold one of my photos! It's something I'm naturally pretty proud of, and I haven't found the time to write about it until now, when I'm choosing not to do one of fifty other things, or resting, to mention it.
Needless to say there's been lots of other good stuff, but finding time to talk about it just ain't happening. I will mention that the Perth trip seems to have made a major difference to me. I'm still run down, but I haven't been continuously sick since the trip. Hooray!
Quick bits of stuff - Swancon was good, the Ditmar controversy was bullshit, Continuum 7 is looking to be awesome, no-one seems to have picked up on the (to me) two glaring potentially important pieces of information that were onscreen in the latest season of Doctor Who, I've been chopping lots of wood (that's not a euphemism), we had a surprise bill of $3000 which is incredibly painful but annoyed us more because of the unexpectedness than the amount, the local pub does chips covered in melted cheese and bacon bits.
Sharon's tired but awesome, Lex is energetic, tiring, frustrating, but mostly fun, MaybeZoe has stood twice and is trying to learn to be as cute as her brother, Mum is mostly okay when not driving us nuts, and I'm tired and depressed but still the prettiest person you know.
Yes, it's happening. Only six, but hopefully they'll be popular enough that there will be more to come.
I'd been disappointed that in recent years all the novels were being turning into audio books. Audio books are good, but I was saddened by the fact that these were readily available, while the paper versions were all out of print.
I'd been disappointed that in recent years all the novels were being turning into audio books. Audio books are good, but I was saddened by the fact that these were readily available, while the paper versions were all out of print.
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Lex has been running around this morning, varying between playing with his toy drill, and carrying around and cuddling MaybeZoe's pink Minnie Mouse soft toy.
It's nice to watch. I like that he's free to play with whatever he wants. I know some of my relos would have been taking Minnie Mouse off him and giving him 'boys' toys to play with. As it is, I'm sure some will be quietly horrified.
What a shame.
It's nice to watch. I like that he's free to play with whatever he wants. I know some of my relos would have been taking Minnie Mouse off him and giving him 'boys' toys to play with. As it is, I'm sure some will be quietly horrified.
What a shame.
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Nothing special, just some pics from the last couple of days. I've been coming down with 'flu this week, and it's seemed to peak over yesterday and today, so kinda wrecked. Means I didn't get to wander the neighbourhood last night in my Father Christmas outfit - was just too darned sick.
For those of you who don't know what I look like as Santa, just check my icon, that's me. The other week Sharon brought the kids into where I was working for a photo and Lex totally failed to recognise me.
Oh, and the staff were brilliant! Amanda was totally wonderful to me, and I'd be happy to end up there again next year. And while my only present under our tree this year was from the aforementioned Amanda (a scrapbook to hold all the letters and stuff the kids give me when I'm playing St. Nick), I have just received a tonne of SMSes from all sorts of people. They were sent right through the day, but all arrived together.
Sorry I haven't written to anyone, between 'flu and kid wrangling today, it just hasn't happened. Nothing personal, just feeling blah and tired.
However, I have managed sort some pics ( About 11 Oz family Christmas related photos under the cut )Anyway, I hope you all know I'm thinking of you, and hope each and every one of you has had an awesome Dec 25th!
For those of you who don't know what I look like as Santa, just check my icon, that's me. The other week Sharon brought the kids into where I was working for a photo and Lex totally failed to recognise me.
Oh, and the staff were brilliant! Amanda was totally wonderful to me, and I'd be happy to end up there again next year. And while my only present under our tree this year was from the aforementioned Amanda (a scrapbook to hold all the letters and stuff the kids give me when I'm playing St. Nick), I have just received a tonne of SMSes from all sorts of people. They were sent right through the day, but all arrived together.
Sorry I haven't written to anyone, between 'flu and kid wrangling today, it just hasn't happened. Nothing personal, just feeling blah and tired.
However, I have managed sort some pics ( About 11 Oz family Christmas related photos under the cut )Anyway, I hope you all know I'm thinking of you, and hope each and every one of you has had an awesome Dec 25th!
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So, I've recently been doing some research on the old Hartnell TARDIS for a small project, and as I looked around the 'net, I got slightly depressed. I kept finding CGI renderings of the Hartnell console room, and to be frank, most of them were pretty bloody good. Great level of detail, the consoles looked good, the lighting was good.
And it came to mind that I'd been left well behind. ( Read more... )
And it came to mind that I'd been left well behind. ( Read more... )
I could be answering emails, but screw it.
Apart from MaybeZoe being born, haven't done a photo post in a while, and someone said not so long ago that they'd like to see some photos of me with Lex, so below the cut are pictures of the kids and I, in chronological order.
Warning, contains one shower shot that should be completely safe anywhere, but just in case, consider yourself warned.
( Read more... )
Apart from MaybeZoe being born, haven't done a photo post in a while, and someone said not so long ago that they'd like to see some photos of me with Lex, so below the cut are pictures of the kids and I, in chronological order.
Warning, contains one shower shot that should be completely safe anywhere, but just in case, consider yourself warned.
( Read more... )
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I pinched this from angriest who pinched it from a bunch of others. Figured it might be a way to get some posts out of me. Of course, I'm vanishing for a couple of days over the weekend, so that'll mess things up a bit, but we'll see how I go.
There were so many choices I could have gone for, so many good or just unusual or interesting shows I could have picked. Normally I would have gone for Alien Nation because it was a truly great TV series. But since Grant has already snaffled that one, and everything he says is spot on, I figured I'd go for -
The Middleman
I think what I liked most about The Middleman was that it was a joyous show. Not cynical, or mean spirited, but fun and full of whimsy. Its humour came from fabulous characters and weird situations, not embarrassing circumstances or people being horrible to one another (unless you count Ida, an android locked in 'domineering schoolmarm' mode, who was delightfully horrible to everyone).
The main characters of the Middleman, Wendy, and Ida were well drawn and realised, and the supporting cast got their moments pretty much every episode as well. Plus it played against the stereotypical laziness of TV writing without ever cracking a sweat, easily passing the Bechdel test, as well as Deggan's rule.
It played knowingly with the tropes of villains and heroes from comics, TV, and film, but with the deft touch of someone who loves the genre and isn't trying to show how smart they are, but how enjoyable the genre is. Some episodes were 'themed' so that subtle references to a specific show or book were scattered throughout - one episode grabs its names from Dune, another from Back to the Future - the real wit of this was that they seldom went for the obvious references.
Was it a perfect show? No, but it certainly wasn't bad and it had a lot more heart than most TV. Most of all, one came away from The Middleman feeling happier, and not many shows can do that.
( Embedded videos... )
angriest who pinched it from a bunch of others. Figured it might be a way to get some posts out of me. Of course, I'm vanishing for a couple of days over the weekend, so that'll mess things up a bit, but we'll see how I go.There were so many choices I could have gone for, so many good or just unusual or interesting shows I could have picked. Normally I would have gone for Alien Nation because it was a truly great TV series. But since Grant has already snaffled that one, and everything he says is spot on, I figured I'd go for -
The Middleman
I think what I liked most about The Middleman was that it was a joyous show. Not cynical, or mean spirited, but fun and full of whimsy. Its humour came from fabulous characters and weird situations, not embarrassing circumstances or people being horrible to one another (unless you count Ida, an android locked in 'domineering schoolmarm' mode, who was delightfully horrible to everyone).
The main characters of the Middleman, Wendy, and Ida were well drawn and realised, and the supporting cast got their moments pretty much every episode as well. Plus it played against the stereotypical laziness of TV writing without ever cracking a sweat, easily passing the Bechdel test, as well as Deggan's rule.
It played knowingly with the tropes of villains and heroes from comics, TV, and film, but with the deft touch of someone who loves the genre and isn't trying to show how smart they are, but how enjoyable the genre is. Some episodes were 'themed' so that subtle references to a specific show or book were scattered throughout - one episode grabs its names from Dune, another from Back to the Future - the real wit of this was that they seldom went for the obvious references.
Was it a perfect show? No, but it certainly wasn't bad and it had a lot more heart than most TV. Most of all, one came away from The Middleman feeling happier, and not many shows can do that.
( Embedded videos... )
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Sharon has been having a terrible time settling Lex (he's teething - big, painful rear teeth), whereas I'm having some trouble, but nowhere near as much. I was trying to come up with anything I did differently, couldn't think of anything, but mentioned that I now always finish with the Venusian lullaby from Doctor Who. It's the one Pertwee uses to hypnotise Aggedor, the royal beast of Peladon.
No, really. I couldn't make that up.
Anyway Sharon tried to settle Lex tonight, and he would not settle. She headed off to resettle him again, and this time it worked! When she came down, I told her I was surprised, and didn't think he was going to settle.
She mimed patting Lex's back and then starting singing a rough version of... you guessed it! It's the easiest he's settled for her in a while.
Here's the only copy I could find on Youtube.
No, really. I couldn't make that up.
Anyway Sharon tried to settle Lex tonight, and he would not settle. She headed off to resettle him again, and this time it worked! When she came down, I told her I was surprised, and didn't think he was going to settle.
She mimed patting Lex's back and then starting singing a rough version of... you guessed it! It's the easiest he's settled for her in a while.
Here's the only copy I could find on Youtube.
Well, stephiepenguin did a post on pictures that she took during 2009. So I'm pinching the idea and doing the same. All pictures of people, many of whom are holding Lex for some reason, and they're in chronological order. Every photo was taken by me, or was pretty much entirely set up by me and then I had someone else press the button.
I was quite pleased when I compiled this. I had felt like I'd hardly taken any pictures this year, but in actual fact I had hardly taken any travel pictures. There's plenty with people.
Goal for next year - more pictures of people (and hopefully some travel pics).
( +34 more, includes some harmless nudity, but consider yourself warned... )
stephiepenguin did a post on pictures that she took during 2009. So I'm pinching the idea and doing the same. All pictures of people, many of whom are holding Lex for some reason, and they're in chronological order. Every photo was taken by me, or was pretty much entirely set up by me and then I had someone else press the button.I was quite pleased when I compiled this. I had felt like I'd hardly taken any pictures this year, but in actual fact I had hardly taken any travel pictures. There's plenty with people.
Goal for next year - more pictures of people (and hopefully some travel pics).
( +34 more, includes some harmless nudity, but consider yourself warned... )
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Well, while getting over my wisdom teeth being removed, I finally got around to removing Vista from my laptop and installing the latest version of Ubuntu, called Karmic Koala. And I have to say, I'm lovin' it.
And let me be clear - I friggin' hate change when it comes to my operating systems. Even small changes shit me to tears. ( Read more... )
And let me be clear - I friggin' hate change when it comes to my operating systems. Even small changes shit me to tears. ( Read more... )
Well, Santa-ing for Glenn's family went well tonight. The kids were thrilled, Glenn and his wife seemed to enjoy the experience, I enjoyed doing it, it was good.
Glenn's a customer who became a mate, so it was nice to be able to repay all the business (and friendship) he's given me with a visit from Father Christmas.
It was bloody hard though. Been crook all day, struggled to get ready, but once I was in the suit - POOF! I'm the man, and ain't nuthin' gunna stop me! I'm in character, and I'm goin' for it!
Had lots of people toot or wave at Kringle in his 1970 Holden, too, which I always enjoy.
Got home, stripped off the suit, and it was like Fearless Fly taking off his glasses, except a little slower. Back to feeling really, really substandard and ill.
But very, very happy!
Tomorrow I get to do it again, not for the person who won the eBay bid (don't get me started... grrrr....) but for someone who saw the eBay ad and contacted me. Looking forward to that :)
Glenn's a customer who became a mate, so it was nice to be able to repay all the business (and friendship) he's given me with a visit from Father Christmas.
It was bloody hard though. Been crook all day, struggled to get ready, but once I was in the suit - POOF! I'm the man, and ain't nuthin' gunna stop me! I'm in character, and I'm goin' for it!
Had lots of people toot or wave at Kringle in his 1970 Holden, too, which I always enjoy.
Got home, stripped off the suit, and it was like Fearless Fly taking off his glasses, except a little slower. Back to feeling really, really substandard and ill.
But very, very happy!
Tomorrow I get to do it again, not for the person who won the eBay bid (don't get me started... grrrr....) but for someone who saw the eBay ad and contacted me. Looking forward to that :)
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One of the things I've become conscious of in recent months is my priorities. They haven't changed, I'm just aware of them now.
While my health and fitness has improved slowly but steadily since the stroke, I still have a fairly limited amount of spoons, and even when I'm doing well, it doesn't take much to steal them all if I'm not careful. I've been tending to beat myself up a bit for not getting things done, but then recently I realised how it is I work my limited resources. ( Read more... )
While my health and fitness has improved slowly but steadily since the stroke, I still have a fairly limited amount of spoons, and even when I'm doing well, it doesn't take much to steal them all if I'm not careful. I've been tending to beat myself up a bit for not getting things done, but then recently I realised how it is I work my limited resources. ( Read more... )
* Today I get three wisdom teeth out!
* My teeth tend to lock into my jaw with curved and hooked tooth... thingys. So for one, they actually have to saw away a small part of my jawbone!
* Weirdly, I'm not nervous at all. I honestly expected to be. ( Read more... )
* My teeth tend to lock into my jaw with curved and hooked tooth... thingys. So for one, they actually have to saw away a small part of my jawbone!
* Weirdly, I'm not nervous at all. I honestly expected to be. ( Read more... )
In the last week, Lex has suddenly hit his stride with a bunch of words, symbols, and concepts coming together for him. He's understood sign language previously, but for whatever reason wasn't using it, but this week that changed.He's now doing his own adaptation of the sign for book by clapping his hands together as if he were shutting a book. Sometimes he will accompany this with the word "dat" which is his most common word for book. The next most common words for it are "dot" and "dook."
He also signs for food now by opening his mouth and then putting his hand over it. Very handy one, that. He sometimes also combines the sign with the word "mum."
"Shluck" is his word for sock.
"Car" is now used for pictures or actual cars.
Of course he already had "Kal" and "mum." Any words he has can get used for other things. For instance, the other day he named my nipples. One was called "mum" and the other was called "Kal."
Other times he just says the words because he likes the feel of the word in his mouth, something I also do. But all the words mentioned have a pretty consistent use associated with their respective objects and lifeforms. I tend to wait until I've seen an ongoing use and connection before I credit him with actually understanding the word.
Today, for the first time, he said "da" as he pointed at me. Will be looking out to see if that's repeated or it was a one off.
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Well, I've gone and put myself up on eBay!
Would have preferred a funnier write-up, but I didn't have a lot of time. Wanted it to finish with plenty of time to figure out the details, assuming anyone takes me up on it. Also, given the nature of the thing, and that people would be allowing a stranger into their homes, I thought something not too silly would be a good idea. I wanted to put it up under services, but for that you have to quote a firm figure. If someone can figure a better category than Personalised Gifts, that will let me do the auction format, would love to hear it.
Feel free to spread the word, too. On one hand I'm hoping some nice family will get me for the cost of petrol money. On the other, if bidding went insane, that'd be kind of nice. First pref though is cover my costs and give some kids a great surprise.
I Santa-ed for one particular family for a few years, and loved doing it, so I'm half hoping to be able to again. As it is, I contacted my friend Glenn and told him my beard was gone in preparation for tomorrow, so I would be able to pay a visit in costume to his kids at Christmas. Looking forward to that.
Would have preferred a funnier write-up, but I didn't have a lot of time. Wanted it to finish with plenty of time to figure out the details, assuming anyone takes me up on it. Also, given the nature of the thing, and that people would be allowing a stranger into their homes, I thought something not too silly would be a good idea. I wanted to put it up under services, but for that you have to quote a firm figure. If someone can figure a better category than Personalised Gifts, that will let me do the auction format, would love to hear it.
Feel free to spread the word, too. On one hand I'm hoping some nice family will get me for the cost of petrol money. On the other, if bidding went insane, that'd be kind of nice. First pref though is cover my costs and give some kids a great surprise.
I Santa-ed for one particular family for a few years, and loved doing it, so I'm half hoping to be able to again. As it is, I contacted my friend Glenn and told him my beard was gone in preparation for tomorrow, so I would be able to pay a visit in costume to his kids at Christmas. Looking forward to that.
I could go for the ones everyone remembers Doctor Who, Star Trek, and Star Wars but instead I present a rare appearance by Deep Roy in Blake's 7. Why is it rare? Because virtually every time he appeared in the show, he was covered in half a tonne of latex!
I present, from the B7 episode Gambit, Deep Roy as The Klute!
I present, from the B7 episode Gambit, Deep Roy as The Klute!
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I'm yet to be confirmed for any panels or events for Aussiecon 4 (way too early yet, of course), but if things continue the way they have been, it's looking like I may be rather busy during the con..
