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Thursday, June 10, 2004

Sound bites for a content-wary generation

No, I have no idea what inspired that heading, except that I'm too lazy to write long rambling narratives about what I'm up to, so instead I'm going to take advantage of HTML's monstrously versatile Unordered List function:

Glimpses of reno hell - With Jimbo and Alistair gamely chipping in, we attacked the first phase of the renovations on the weekend, stripping wallpaper off the wall in the two upstairs bedrooms. I kept getting wallpaper under my fingernails, which I can cheerfully report is a lot like being tortured with bamboo spikes (now that the bleeding has stopped). Next stop - sanding, spak filler, scraping, sugar soap and paint, in that order (I think).

Windoze - To our profound disappointment, timber sash windows turn out to cost a sodding fortune. I mean, actually a fortune - we got quote for upwards of two thousand dollars per window when we made a couple of calls yesterday. We're not even sure that that included installation, and insect screens are definitely extra. Yargh. I think a little more research is in order. Fiona was so shocked by the prices she's talking about doing a course and learning how to make the damn things ourselves. I'm dubious about that, but I have to admit it would be kind of cool to know how to make a window.

Work - Becoming increasing tiresome. I've heard this morning that there is apparently a secret plan to dismantle the section and transfer me to the IT area. I don't expect to be consulted as to whether I want to work in the IT area. My casual scrutiny of the Commonwealth gazette just got upgraded to "extreme interest". If the rumour is true, it will certainly be the straw that slips this dromedary's discs.

Selling is hard work - A handful more people have looked at our house, but not bought it or made us an offer. Maybe something smells bad? I can't understand what else the problem could be. Anyway, we learned last night that, contrary to information passed on by helpful-but-uninformed sources, recent legislative changes in the ACT due to come into effect on the 1st of July require us to do basically of the legal footslogging in the sale of the house (contracts, inspections, compliance reports etc etc). I am sullenly resigned to the inconvenience, whereas Fiona is blazingly annoyed, because we were also responsible for all of that as purchasers. In other words, we're paying all these expenses twice, unless...

Cook those books - we're going to see an accountant this afternoon to assess whether we can actually afford to keep both houses, even though it seem unlikely that we will be able to realise any tax benefits from doing so. If we can, and can still afford to renovate (costs of windows notwithstanding), we'll probably do so, as it will give us a head start on our property empire. Or duchy, perhaps.

This book ain't gonna write itself - so, what is it, 63 days or so until the Athens Olympics opening ceremony? Since I've been back from Queensland I've haven't written a word. Mostly I've just been incapable of anything when I get home from work, and the weekends have been full of house stuff. But I have a deadline, and I work best to deadlines, right? Right? Oh, hell, this is going to be a grind...

Long weekend, lotsa roleplay - of course, I'm not helping matters by devoting the entire weekend to attending the local roleplaying convention, Phenomenon with ChrisT and Jimbo. Apart from Al's extremely intermittent D&D game, this will be the first roleplaying I've done all year. I suspect I'd be looking forward to it more if work wasn't making me so tired and cranky all the damn time. And if I wasn't feeling just a teensy bit guilty that I'm planning to spend three days chucking dice and putting on hilariously bad accents while Fiona will be sanding, scraping, painting etc etc. However it remains to be seen whether I will feel guilty enough to ditch a session or two and help.

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	Thursday, June 10, 2004 Sound bites for a content-wary generation No, I have no idea what inspired that heading, except that I'm too lazy to write long rambling narratives about what I'm up to, so instead I'm going to take advantage of HTML's monstrously versatile Unordered List function: Glimpses of reno hell - With Jimbo and Alistair gamely chipping in, we attacked the first phase of the renovations on the weekend, stripping wallpaper off the wall in the two upstairs bedrooms. I kept getting wallpaper under my fingernails, which I can cheerfully report is a lot like being tortured with bamboo spikes (now that the bleeding has stopped). Next stop - sanding, spak filler, scraping, sugar soap and paint, in that order (I think). Windoze - To our profound disappointment, timber sash windows turn out to cost a sodding fortune. I mean, actually a fortune - we got quote for upwards of two thousand dollars per window when we made a couple of calls yesterday. We're not even sure that that included installation, and insect screens are definitely extra. Yargh. I think a little more research is in order. Fiona was so shocked by the prices she's talking about doing a course and learning how to make the damn things ourselves. I'm dubious about that, but I have to admit it would be kind of cool to know how to make a window. Work - Becoming increasing tiresome. I've heard this morning that there is apparently a secret plan to dismantle the section and transfer me to the IT area. I don't expect to be consulted as to whether I want to work in the IT area. My casual scrutiny of the Commonwealth gazette just got upgraded to "extreme interest". If the rumour is true, it will certainly be the straw that slips this dromedary's discs. Selling is hard work - A handful more people have looked at our house, but not bought it or made us an offer. Maybe something smells bad? I can't understand what else the problem could be. Anyway, we learned last night that, contrary to information passed on by helpful-but-uninformed sources, recent legislative changes in the ACT due to come into effect on the 1st of July require us to do basically of the legal footslogging in the sale of the house (contracts, inspections, compliance reports etc etc). I am sullenly resigned to the inconvenience, whereas Fiona is blazingly annoyed, because we were also responsible for all of that as purchasers. In other words, we're paying all these expenses twice, unless... Cook those books - we're going to see an accountant this afternoon to assess whether we can actually afford to keep both houses, even though it seem unlikely that we will be able to realise any tax benefits from doing so. If we can, and can still afford to renovate (costs of windows notwithstanding), we'll probably do so, as it will give us a head start on our property empire. Or duchy, perhaps. This book ain't gonna write itself - so, what is it, 63 days or so until the Athens Olympics opening ceremony? Since I've been back from Queensland I've haven't written a word. Mostly I've just been incapable of anything when I get home from work, and the weekends have been full of house stuff. But I have a deadline, and I work best to deadlines, right? Right? Oh, hell, this is going to be a grind... Long weekend, lotsa roleplay - of course, I'm not helping matters by devoting the entire weekend to attending the local roleplaying convention, Phenomenon with ChrisT and Jimbo. Apart from Al's extremely intermittent D&D game, this will be the first roleplaying I've done all year. I suspect I'd be looking forward to it more if work wasn't making me so tired and cranky all the damn time. And if I wasn't feeling just a teensy bit guilty that I'm planning to spend three days chucking dice and putting on hilariously bad accents while Fiona will be sanding, scraping, painting etc etc. However it remains to be seen whether I will feel guilty enough to ditch a session or two and help. 0 smartarse remarks Post a Comment 0 Comments:

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