Smee - Composer and Performer

Folks, my career has begun. :D Well, actually no. But something's happened, and it is a bit exciting.

My sister-in-law's sister is doing a degree in ... visual arts? media design? (something like that) and has co-produced a short film that I've been asked to do the music for! So there you have it! My name's gonna appear in the credits, and all through the film is going to be *my music* in the background! :D

So Sunday arvo we read through the script, and whipped out the music in a couple of hours. I've just watched the footage now, and it should be fun. So tomorrow night (yep, another late night) I'm tootling off down to Deakin to their studio and recording everything. :D How fun is that?! Oh yeah, and it's gonna be screened at the Astor next month!! :D So I guess we'll see how it goes...

Guilty as charged

I will be the first one to tell you that when I am tired, I put off going to bed *because* I am so tired, and therefore know how tired I'm going to be when I get up early in the morning... Of course the mentality is that the longer you try to stay awake, the more you are "avoiding" the inevitable. In reality, that's not what happens at all - you just make yourself more tired than you already were and exacerbate the situation...

So here I am. Squinting at the screen. Listening to a CD. With all the lights on. Trying to stay awake. When I should be in bed. Asleep. Where I should have been two hours ago. And could have been. But of course I put it off.

*sigh*

Why on earth does the verse about a double-minded man come to mind...? Looking in the mirror, forgetting what you look like, unstable in all your ways... I get the feeling that my ridiculous attempt at "avoidance" of tiredness, despite my knowledge of my personality and previous circumstances is way up there for being double-minded...

But of course who is wise and does the things they should when they're tired?

Excuses, excuses... maybe I should just go to bed!

Let's pop open the champers!!

Wouldn't you know... I received my first spam comment on my blog. :D Nearly brings a tear to one's eye... :D

...the return of the Boob!!

Folks, I got tickets to see Michael Buble!! :D Very impressed... Last week (Wed), Nomes and I trundled off to the Arts Centre to see The Boob perform... "I thought it was sold out?" I hear you ask? Well, so did I, until...

...Thursday two weeks ago...

Of course, when the guy on the other end of the phone (at one of those ticket-y places which I will *not* give a free blurb to right now) said that there were two seats available, I squealed. Yes. I squealed. :D Needless to say he kind of chuckled nervously and then proceeded to rush me through the whole ticketing process. Not that I minded, really. Of course, then I didn't really have any news to tell anyone who sits near me, 'cos they heard the whole thing, which of course, was quite amusing to all.

So the night - fun. Very fun. Congratulations Mr Buble for a very entertaining evening. And as for your Michael Jackson impersonation...? Well, that was more than *a little* freaky...

I sat an exam!!

Well, sort of. :D The only kind of exams that I tend to sit nowadays, and here 'tis!! Sent to me by my friend Christiaan (there you go, you got a mention!).

What Breed of Dog Are You?
Smee, you're a Pug !
No bones about it, you're an intelligent, playful Pug. Witty and charming, you're a lot of dog wrapped in a small package. People just love you — a wonderful approachability and sense of humor put you at the top of everyone's list. And because you're smart and quick-witted, you attract a crowd wherever you go. (Have you ever considered running for office or starting a company? You've got the charisma for either.) But that doesn't mean you can't be a little naughty or mischievous when opportunity knocks — you've definitely got a nose for fun! A happy, optimistic breed, you're admired and respected by all. Woof!

Quite amusing, hey?! For those of you who know me quite well, you can pretty much see that that's me through and through... Well, maybe it goes a little over the top (just a little :D), but the general gist is me.

So give it a go!! Trish, would love to see this one on your blog...!

What breed of dog are you?

The Boob

It's alright folks - this is a G-rated blog, especially for the kiddies - I am not discussing anatomy here. I am, however, referring to none other than Mr Michael Buble. After confirming with Nomes that she was indeed free on the evening of September 21st to cruise into town to throw her nickers at the crooning Boob, I called the ticket crowd (NB no free plug here) in hopes of securing two measly tickets. The conversation was (approximately) as follows:

Girl: blah blah blah
S: I would like to purchase some tickets for Michael Buble
Girl: Which date were you looking for?
S: Wed September 21st
... ... ... pause ... ... ...
Girl: And how would you like to be paying for that?
S: Mastercard
... ... ... pause ... ... ...
Girl: The 21st is actually sold out. Would you like to choose another date?
S: How about Tuesday 20th?
... ... ... pause ... ... ...
Girl: That's actually sold out as well.
... ... ... pause ... ... ...
Girl: They're all sold out. Odd. His concerts have not been listed as sold out, but there are no more tickets available.
S: Exactly what does that mean, then?
Girl: They may release more tickets closer to the concert date. Otherwise, the concerts will be listed as sold out and that's it.
S: So how do I go about finding out if the concerts are listed as sold out, or if extra tickets have been released?
Girl: You'll have to call and find out.

And there you have it. I kind of graciously ended the call, hung up and proceeded to vent my frustrations to some workmates that the ticket crowd were basically saying that I should call back about every 2 days to see if any new tickets had been released?! I mean, what person in their right mind only books an international performer for 3 nights in a limited seating venue, and also books them for midweek concerts?! Crrezzy...

Anyway, maybe I'm being a little melodramatic about it all, but I was quite keen to be seeing the Boob. I've even been listening to his CDs to get ready, so I don't look a little foolish just standing there and grinning like an idiot.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

That's right, Nanna Smee has been a little rebellious. :D This week I would say that the earliest I have been to bed yet is 11.30pm... Sadly, this morning it all caught up with me. And then I had a coffee. So now I'm wide awake. *sigh* It's a vicious cycle. :D

Work is going well. Although, one of my buddies who I sit next to decided to resign this week, so she's off in 3 weeks. To tell the truth, I kind of asked her during my first or second week why she was still here... This was her first job, she's been here for 7 1/2 years, and I could tell she'd just got to the point where she felt like she couldn't learn anything more, the hours were starting to wear, and she needed something fresh - a new challenge. Funnily enough, she had found the new job and was in the process of negotiating a contract!! :D Very funny stuff. Must admit I'll be sad to see her go (especially since it means more work for me!), but I am *so* happy for her. Sounds like her new job is going to be a *smash*, with normal business hours (which I like to tease her about and say she's only working part-time), and all the excitement of something new.

To continue on that thought, this morning I had a hand-over meeting for one of her clients. *sigh* It's gonna be huge! So now I not only work for all of my ... 4 solicitors and articled clerk, but now I'm also responsible for the billing for a major client. Like, MAJOR. If I said who it was, *everyone* would have heard of them... We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars per bill, and on average we send out about bills for about 20 different matters each month... Comprehending my exasperation?! So the meeting was all about the client wanting to change their bill structure, and exactly what my role would entail, which nobody really knows, since the client wants to change everything, and I'll be taking a week off for my wisdom teeth, so I'll have to come back and try to do everything in a day. :D I do love a challenge, but this could be a little interesting...

Anyway, other than the odd stressful moment, I do feel appreciated and as though I have something valuable to offer.

Nanna Suz signing off to go and write some music out before *not* going to bed at an appropriate time. :D

Oh, have also made the *wonderful* decision to go see Michael Buble (or "The Bub" (phonetic: boob) as I like to call him) when he's out... I think it's the 21st or 22nd September? :D Very exciting. Listening to one of his CDs right now - and would you believe, Nomes is going to go with me, too! So I won't be looking all silly standing there on my own - I'll be standing next to Nomes! Lovely.

Geordie's whining. I think he's hungry. I've been putting it off, though, 'cos it's about 4 degs outside!! What is that?! Today's top was 10 degs! When I was standing on the train platform this morning I thought my fingers were going to snap off!! :D Would've made playing the guitar a little interesting...

And now my elbow is getting nudged (yes, by Geordie) :D, so I'd better go.

Nanna Smee

That's right, I am now officially a Nanna.

How you know when you are a Nanna:
1. It's Sunday night, and you're running 'round like a mad thing to make sure you have your lunch packed, and everything ready for the next day, so that you can turn your light out at 9pm.
2. It's Monday night, you've had a long day at work, you pike out early from a dinner for your brother's birthday, and once again, you're running 'round like a mad thing to make sure that you can turn your light out at 9.30pm.
3. You're out with some friends for dinner and you can't be bothered talking to anyone because you're thinking so much about what time you should be going to bed and what you need to do before then.
4. You wake up the morning after going out with friends for dinner and regret turning your light out at 10.30 - way past Nanna bedtime!
5. Your best endeavours to get to bed early the next night are foiled quite drastically and you are still up at 10.45pm. :( You are tired beyond the point of being able to hold a decent conversation... all because you've turned into a Nanna and should be in bed at 8pm.

If you've wanted to know how my new hours are going (8.30am - 6pm), there you have it. It's a bit of a dog. Catching the train, however, has been okay, since it's quite acceptable to doze while standing, and fall all over the person standing next to you. Not that they notice, anyway, because everyone's leaning on everyone 'cos the train's so packed. :D

Have also discovered http://www.sudoku.com. Something that keeps my brain ticking - a healthy alternative to coffee. I'll see how long it lasts before I resort to the liquid stimulation again.

Apnea

And here it goes again... do you know I went to bed at 9.15pm tonight? And I was still awake at 11.30pm so I decided to come on here and update... So now I'm going to give it another go. A little shut-eye before midnight would be most welcome! Snoozie...

Gig

And in case you really care, I have a gig this Friday - yep, the day after tomorrow. There'll be 5 other chicks sitting up the front on our little stools singing our lungs out and wooing the crowds. It'll be fun - we're doing two 20min sets (i.e all up 40 mins for you non-maths students), so we've put a lot of time into arranging, working on harmonies, music, etc. So hopefully it'll go off with a bang! Loads of the folks from church and some mates are going too, which'll be great. To tell the truth, I think all the ppl we've invited alone will fill the place, let alone the ppl for the other two acts! :D Wish me all the best... :D

Update on the Gob

Saturday past I went and had my x-rays for my wisdom teeth done, and Monday night was my consultation with the Dentist. So now, I am booked in to have my wisdom teeth out on Monday 29 August. Have managed to arrange with work to have the whole week off, which is great, so I'll be doing a lot of reading, playing guitar and watching Pride & Prejudice! Go Mr Darcy... So as far as I can tell at the moment, this will be my final Dentist bill for the foreseeable future - thank goodness!! It was starting to get a little ridiculous, and considering I can't really see the fruits of my dosh, it's sometimes a bit disconcerting when you don't really know whether you're getting jibbed?? Know what I mean? I mean, how much does it *really* cost to make up that white pasty stuff that they then shove into your face? And the drills?! I wish the anaesthesia worked on your ears, too - I reckon hearing the drills can be worse than feeling them sometimes!

Return of The Ball and Chain

Yes, that's right folks, tomorrow I am signing a contract. My first ever! Very exciting... and overwhelming. The contract will be effective Monday (1 August) through 31 March next year. I will be considered a full-time employee of my firm (Freehills), be eligible for all of the staff benefits (which I might add, are many, and quite interesting...), be quite nicely reimbursed for overtime, and, all in all, manage to save a lot of dosh.

And now for the cons. My standard hours are 8.30am to 6pm. *sigh* For those of you who know me quite well, you know I struggled to get to my old firm by 10am... and more often then not, I was there shortly thereafter, but nothing was ever said since I did a heap of overtime. And now the trend continues. I struggle to get to work by 9... I have been driving in of late to try and save time, but still, 9am has been elusive, and 9.05 and I have become close friends. Granted, 5 mins isn't that much later than 9am, but when everyone else in your team is a fully-fledged "real" employee and starts at 8.30, I kind of get the impression that it is slightly frowned upon...

So tonight I had a look at the train timetable in an attempt to make sure I get to work on time and save money in the process. It's a very scary thought... catching a 7.58 train. *shudder* Can you imagine?! And to think I used to catch a 7.40am train. That's what happens when it's your first job - then you kind of get over it. :D

So here I am, savouring my last two days as a "temp". My new "bosses" (even though I've been working for them for 6 - yes, 6! - weeks now, they're my *real* bosses now) are spotting me for lunch on Friday. Actually, they don't even know I'm signing the contract yet. :D They'll find out tomorrow after the fact - so you should feel priviledged!!

Spoke to my old boss today, too... and when I got off the phone I was nearly crying. She's lovely, and I do miss working for her, and loved working for her, but still... I dunno. It's hard to explain. I miss it all, and yet I don't. She was a bit upset that I'm working at the "rival"... :D I managed to console her, though, that I wasn't working in the dreaded department.

Calendar

I wish tomorrow was my birthday. I just had this sudden urge to have a celebration. That is all about me. :D In short, the only option available is a birthday, and sadly, mine was 3 months (nearly 4!) ago... My brother's birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks - his 29th! Wow. I remember when he turned 12 and I was so jealous because he was older than me and seemed like he had so much fun. Now he's just old. And married. :D

It's Nomes' birthday this weekend... Not a big one, just 23, but still... I still haven't got V a pressie for her b'day yet, and that was in May! She's difficult to buy for - no *particular* interests or quirks that stand out and kind of lead you towards ideas... Except chocolate. But that kind of wears when its your only option. Hmm...

Oh, speaking of chocolate, bought one of the normal-sized Boost bars tonight. Not a fan. Too much chocolate, and not enough...something else... Just felt like there was something missing. Lacking a balance of something somewhere that left my palate wanting... or rather - not wanting! Fooded out after that...

Maybe I should just invite some ppl over for a BBQ or something? And mention that it's my un-birthday? :D Any excuse for a gathering...

And yes, I do realise that tonight I am particularly more scatterbrained than normal...

Oh my!

Rock-climbing was a *blast*!!! We had so much fun!! We also discovered that there are a bunch of spiders in our youth group posing as kids...

There were 20 of us, we rocked up, basically took over the venue, and had an absolute ball. It was great seeing the kids do something they'd never done before, conquer fears, and boy were they excited! Nearly all of them made it to the roof at one time or another.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos (since I, too, was scaling the walls...), but there is plenty of video footage to be had! Not that I can put that on my blog, though. But there you have it! :D A *great* success... so much so, that one of the kids is interested in getting into it on a professional level... He was scary - climbing where there was nothing on the wall?! Very scary to watch...

There is talk of another outing... But maybe after we've done a mess night and covered them in loads of gross stuff! :D

Tomorrow...

...is rock-climbing!!! :D

*Newsflash*

I am going rock-climbing.
That's right!
Me, rock-climbing!
:D
The last time I went rock-climbing, I was ... in my early teens??
So there you have it.
This Saturday.
:D
I'm a little excited.

Transition

Found out today that one of my bosses is leaving to go to another firm! Pity really, he was (is) such a nice bloke. Not that I really saw that much of him, tho... :D So there you have it - I'm on the other end of the stick now - someone leaving me, instead of me leaving them! It's funny how you become attached to people in such a short time...

History-making record

I would like to announce that my hair is now officially the longest it has ever been in my life. :D And now I'm about to go straighten it so that it looks even longer. :D

The Season for Espionage

Did you know there is something more secretive than secretive itself? I didn't. That is, until now! Now, a lot of what I do at work (if not everything!) has always been way up there on the confidential scale, but I have been seriously thrown into the world of what I like to call "undercover" work. :D To the point where I can't talk about what I'm doing to people at work, even?? :D Kind of adds to the whole allure... Almost makes me feel like going up to someone, and saying, in a very sing-song voice: "...I know something you don't know...!!" :D Hahaha! But yes, it makes for a very fascinating and even moderately dramatic workplace. Everything is hush-hush, I have two desks, and kind of keep looking over my shoulder. :D

And they want me to stay. Still. :D They obviously don't know me well enough yet. I'll keep the guise up for a while longer yet... :D Then my lunacy will overtake them and they'll let me go.

Other than working late on my very secretive work (oh, should I have told you *that* much?!), life has been a little busy. Been doing some writing which is good, and have a big gig coming up in about 2 1/2 weeks which I'm doing with some mates, so we're starting to gear up towards that.

Meetings for beach mission are about to kick on, so that's also gearing up. Looks like it's gonna be a particularly busy 6 months... :D Well, what with my undercover work and all. :D

The ball and chain

And I have been offered *another* full-time job... Every place (except one, but there was *NO WAY* I would have considered working there!) I've been a temp at so far has offered me a full-time position... It's kind of hard saying no, when you like the ppl you work with, they like you, the work is kind of interesting, and you know you're making their working lives a whole lot easier by being there... And it would be so easy and convenient to be able to say yes... But no, I said no. Again. :D
And as an aside, I doubt that I *will* be going to Europe in Sept this year, since the money that I have been working quite hard for to save has been (and is continuing to be) spent on my mouth. Well, inside my mouth at least. So I'm looking at the plans at the moment... Have been thinking about combining my April/May Canada trip? *sigh* It all depends so much on the seasons!