New Thing Of The Week: Build a PC from odds and ends and have the bastard work!

[Thank God for Google Images! This was the funniest PC pic I could find...]

Okay, this week you can call me Michael J Fox as I go back to the future and use Windows ME for the first time in what seems like a millenium.

I am using my current PC but have shoved my old PC's C drive in there so I can get my PC semi-working (until I can get a new PC in the coming months).

The tough thing is that the IIRL is coming to the end of its season and I need to get things up to date on the website and doing training, etc. With my little sister back at home I need to have PC to myself so I can do the IIRL stuff as well as chat to peoples and play games, etc.

The only problem with that is last night (due to not having some of the software for the hardware on my system) I was running on a VGA display featuring 16 colours and 640 x 480 resolution. Also, my wireless adapter was not working.

Well, better to have a semi-working PC than not one at all. Tonight I attempt to resuscitate the PC with getting the software to match the hardware and hopefully will get all the IIRL stuff done tonight on time for once.

I have never really thought of myself as a PC repair specialist but I'll try my best until I do get a new PC (which can't be soon enough!).

It's My Way Or The Highway: I tell you what is sad... Part 2

[Adam Sandler's anger wouldn't hold a candle to one person I know]

I tell you what is sad. People who always want their own way.

And always get it.

When people are afraid to speak up and disagree or not do what people demand they do for the fear of getting:

• yelled at


• sworn at


• ridiculed


• called names


• pysically hurt

That's me. Some people may call it weak. Some people may say "why don't you just stand up to the so and so?". To them I say, I am nice, and foremost - this person has a condition that makes him act the way he acts.

It is only recently that he has been like this and throwing his tantrums the way he does.

Maybe he feels he has power over me because he uses (doesn't own) a fancy car and lives in a big fancy house.

I don't know what it is - but it is not fair to yell and swear at someone and tell them to leave your car when another person does not agree with your idea.

My example here today is that I had lost my ATM card and this person said that I *needed* a wallet. I said that I didn't. The person said I did. I said I didn't. Not once during this time did I raise my voice, swear or call the other person names - but funnily enough, the other person decided to throw a tantrum and demand that he is right - that I just agree.

I said no. He swore at me. I asked that he stop. He swore again and called me a dickhead. I asked him to stop or I would leave the car - because I didn't want to be in a situation where:

• a person with his condition was angry


• where he was angry and driving a car (lord knows if he would've crashed it or what?)


• that he was yelling, swearing and abusing me

He said "fine, get out."

In other words - "It's my way or the highway."

Those mongrels strike again!

[Earthquake was an angry angry man... in a hat!]

One company you should never never never go to is Kensoft Technology in Burwood.

They were close to where I used to live and I bought two PCs from them 2-3 years ago with the lot (bar a monitor) for $600 per pc which was good. (One for me, one for my little brother)
But little did I know! First my pc dies and it's the power source thing, then it dies again and it's the hard disk. Now it's died again and it's the RAM and my operating system strangely dissapeared.

Could this be the same OS that my little brother complained about being pirated and then they claimed that it wasn't included?

Strange how it now has been deleted (maybe to cover their own arses).

Now, I have to rely on Windows ME until I get my new PC (which looks like being sooner than later now).

So, if any of yas see me online I'll be running on Verision 0.1 of ICQ or MSN (and I can't even use Firefox!).

And they're charging me $80 for the RAM too :(

New Thing Of The Week: Join TAFE

[Actors pose as TAFE students for this photo from the official website. How do I know they're actors? TAFE students never look like they're actually studying!]

So, last night I went to TAFE's "information session" (really a selection night where you are sized up against other people to see if you can take part) in the hope of getting into TAFE.

Last year I missed the info session due to being sick - I had a doctor's certificate but as Monica Lewinsky might say - no cigar.

Six months later I went to the info session for the same course, the TAFE website said that evening sessions were available for the course I wanted.. when I rocked up I was told this was wrong and they blamed the website team and said to come back in six months. Great! A year wasted!

So, I was a bit worried when I got to TAFE last night and there were 100 people going for a 15 person class. I might be a multi-skilled entertaining son of a gun but as to being compared to others I'm a bit pessimistic.

How I was wrong though. Today I got a phone call and an email asking me to take part in this 6 month course.

Woohoo! I'm really happy and I officially become a TAFE student on Monday when I enrol.

Josh today asked "What are you going to do with the skills that you get from TAFE?" and while it may only be a short course, I will still get something out of it.

Good things come to those who wait. So, Cronulla Sharks fans have been waiting too long. Hehe

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

[You would cry to if it happened to you.]

I was talking to Mum and she said the smallest turnout for a birthday party was one - when my middle sister had an attendance of 1 at her 13th birthday party.

While my turnout wasn't that bad, it was a pretty dissapointing 25% of the people I had asked and only half of the people who had guaranteed to be there.

I (and Mum) spent at least $200 getting this do on and in the end a turn out of 6 people - I could've bought a bucket of chicken and that would've fed 6 people (well maybe not Dad - he's allergic to chicken)!

But oh well, other than the small attendance (although Russell Crowe was asking me about my marketing ideas to boost South Sydney's attendances) and the fact that my middle sister was riding the crimson wave, it went alright. We played cricket and I cooked a shit load of meat - which I was still cooking the next day.

I was really really dissapointed and I told Anne-Marie and I will tell you readers that I am tempted not to plan another birthday party again. While not a total waste of time, I did plan too much for such a small turnout.

Should I bother to plan another party? You tell me!

New Thing Of The Week: Packed lunches

[A meal fit for a blogger!]

I have been guilty of buying noodles from Coles and microwaving/boiling them at work. They're not that healthy and really not that nice.

Four years ago when I was working for a government department I used to have steak and three veges with mashed potato for lunch every day. In those days I felt a bit happier and healthier for eating it every day.

So I've decided to go back to the future and have packed lunches every day at work in plastic containers.

Today was the second day that I did and it was nice. People at work were actually surprised that I was eating decently! Amazing I know.

Smile Update

[Wayne tries Earthquake's New Thing Of The Week]

Okay, so this is a post mortem on the Smile NTOTW.

First off, it was hard smiling at work when we're continually five people down (3 people quit, 2 people away/sick) so that means we're constantly behind the ball with screaming customers and long waits on the phone.

So, I did try to smile at work and did have a good week last week (all three days of it). This week has been more stressful as the lack of staff continues!

Here's an example of a lovely customer (The names have been changed to protect the innocent)…
Cus: Your name's Earthquake isn't it? Could I please have your ID number?
Me: I don't have any ID number.
Cus: That's a bit strange.
Me: Well I did lose my driver's licence.
Cus: What's that got to do with it?
Me: Well I use that for ID.
Cus: Oh you're a smart arse are you. Well I will be complaining about you. Have a nice day.
Me: You too.

But I digress, smiling for a week felt good as I felt good for smiling. It's something that I will do more often hopefully.

My boycott of Pink is over

[Is that Billy Idol in drag?]

I had been boycotting Pink due to her outlandish statement to boycott Australian wool. But today I read in DT that she has done a John Howard (no, not be a conservative warlord - destroying all opposition in sight - even legislating against unions), but has done a backflip so now she is no longer boycotting Australian wool.

Well good on 'er. Everytime that Ryan had his Ipod Shuffle on and played a Pink song I always asked him to skip but now I will listen loud and proud to 'er.

Maybe the Stupid Girl came to Australia and thought "shit I have really started here (and it wasn't Getting The Party Started)" and decided to save face?

Or maybe she looked at her ticket sales and decided that better to play to 10,000 people than U + Ur Hand.

But whatever it was, good on 'er. It's good for people to accept when they have said things that were just bullshit.

So, to Uncle Peter who I bet that Super League was going to last more than one year in 1997, I say I was wrong. Super League Europe has lasted much longer than that.

Hehe. I didn't specify WHICH Super League!

The Open isn't open for Summer.

Hehe sorry I couldn't think of a better headline!

It's always good to have an excuse to write a Neighbours article. So here's one. According to DT, Marisa Siketa (who is guest character Summer in Ramsay Street) decided to wander into the Australian Open in Melbourne (not too far from Erinsborough) and got thrown out for wearing the same t-shirt as a rogue element that caused headlines across the world for violence at the tennis.

Now, the only violence I get at the tennis is the strain in my neck from the ball going one side to the other. Other than that why would you go to the tennis to beat up people?

As spelt out in the article, mobs from Croats and Serbs have been at it at Australian sporting events for some time (I can remember that there was violence at a soccer match as well), but what can we do about it?

Maybe if they watched more Neighbours and decided that the only way to get back at people who annoyed you would to be more like Summer and plan a sneaky scheme to dump water on their head - maybe they would learn that life is about going down to Lassiter's and having a beer.

And that's when good neighbours become good friends.

Birthday Barbie Details

Okay okay okay! The Birthday party is down at Cabarita Park at 12pm-ish on Sunday 21st January.

There will be food and drinks but if you want something other than:
various soft drink, sausages, pork chops, chicken, burger patties, steak, onions, Potato salad, meatballs, Birthday cake, coleslaw, chips, Tooheys Old & New, some spirits as well.

Various games shall be played including cricket, bocce, touch football, volleyball and others.

If you are lost or need help in finding the place please call me on 0403 999 625.

Directions: Cabarita Park is located at the Parramatta River end of Cabarita Road, about 5 mins drive from Concord. There is a ferry wharf where you can get ferries from Circular Quay (and all applicable stops up to Sydney Olympic Park).

There are two buses that go to Cabarita Park: One that drops you off right outside the rotunda about 20m away from where the party is (466) and one that drops you off a good 1.5-2km walk away in Cabarita Junction (464). Both of these buses you can get from Burwood Station. If you get the 464 and have to walk 2km give me a call and I'll get someone to pick you up.
Come along! There will be great merriment and fun for all and best of all my birthday!

Birthday Party... where to go?

[Why'd you have to go and make hot wings so complicated?]

When I was looking for a Hooters pic to put on this post I didn't realise there'd be one of Avril either so I was surprised..

But yes there is two pieces of news here - Brooke Satchwell has broken up with Matt Newton and my Birthday is coming up.

Although it is a week away a venue is yet TBC. With my little sister Sonja coming back on the 23rd from Queensland I'd love for her to be there too but then again - she will want a birthday party as well (even though her birthday was on New Year's Day).

So what to do. Where to go? It really depends on a couple of people - Mum & Ryan. Everyone knows that I don't drive so wherever I need to go I will need someone to drive me there.

Plus, this is my little bro and Mum. They are important and I know Ryan has both Friday night and Sunday off - but what about Mum?

Cass has recommended Hooters for the venue, but they are a bit pricey. And the main thing is their friendly service (which Ryan & I got on the first night [which happened to be a training night] we went there), but since the first night I've gone back twice and the service hasn't been that flash.

Post-Chrissie Wrap Part 3

Well, what can I say? I was awaiting a pressie from my lovely lady across the sea and didn't know what I was getting. I had also ordered a Boony & Beefy set and was distressed when one best mate (Cass) told me that it would take 4 weeks for it to arrive! Well, it ended up occuring that the Boony set took longer to arrive than Anne-Marie's pressie but both arrived on the same day.

The Boony & Beefy set were totally cool (especially during the cricket when they were talking to each other). Anne-Marie's pressie totally took my breath away.

I have known Anne-Marie forever it seems but I'd never think that she'd put two of the things that I love (novelty things that talk and The Simpsons) and get me the Homer Simpson Fridge Guard. She also got me some lollies including her favourite choccy bars (Pink bars.. basically pink marshmallow with caramel and chocolate).

What can I say? I love her pressie. Every time I open the fridge and Homer is sitting there talking to me it makes me smile (which helps me with this week's New Thing) and also makes me think of her which is not a bad thing!

Well, according to Cass tonight there is still one Chrissie pressie waiting from her so I will probably get it around my birthday (ooh aah two pressies! Nice).

I can't wait for Anne-Marie and Cass to get my pressies as they will love 'em for sure.

They are both pressies I would like myself so yeah shall be good.

PS: For those people wondering, life isn't all about pressies but it's nice to be thought about and have someone think about you enough to get you something.

New Thing of the Week: Smile... it confuses people

As I sip on my frosty cold Pepsi Max (I really needed that Pepsi Max!) I sit here thinking what is my new thing of this week. It's Sunday - it's time for something new to do this week.

This week I head back to work (which is something I am dreading) because the way I get treated at work.

But I am going to take some advice from a workmate and just think to myself "bugger 'em".

I am going to smile and I'm just going to try and make the best of a bad situation.

At work for the past 6 months I have been stuck out in the hallway (where everyone can see me - but also not with a group of people so it is hard to talk to others at work and get into D&Ms because I have to shout to speak to anyone) and for the last week of last year I got moved directly outside my boss' boss' office.

It is quite intimidating having my boss' boss watching me for most of the day. I feel overjoyed when she does finally shut the door and allow me to not feel like I'm on Big Brother.

Noone else gets that shit - only me. But I digress...

So yeah, I'll let youse all know how it goes.

For Sale: Ashes Cricket Ball Collection

If anyone is interested in buying a mini cricket ball collection I have one complete Ashes collection available (in mint condition) to buy here.

No Caffeine update #2

[Mr Dr Pepper was dancing around in Earthquake's head!]

Oh EQCers I have sinned!

Today I was going out with my little bro to Putt Putt and we went to Macquarie Centre for some reason to go to lunch.

On the way to the food court we passed Lolly World where I was mesmerised by some Dr Pepper in the fridge. Now we all remember that I missed out on the real Dr Pepper last time because there was none left!

So I bought a can and went on to the food court.

Now, once I was there and had my KFC (I felt sick afterwards - too much fat!) and ate that and without even thinking opened the can and drank a sip.

Only once I had said sip did I realise that I had sinned! I had drank caffeine!

Anne-Marie, the lovely lady that she is - all beautiful and... but I digress, said that I had drank caffeine yesterday when I drank Mountain Dew, I will believe her though cause noone wants to get such a wonderful person angry. But yeah, tis a shame that I have succumbed to the Devil twice in two days.

So from tomorrow I will try my best to keep to my pledge of one week without caffeine (so three days to go) - but as you can see people, it's tough tough work!

No Caffiene Update

[mmmm Bondi burger!]

Today was a tough tough day! I went to Oportos for lunch and when I get my Big Bondi meal I usually get a Pepsi Max with it.

But not today nah-ah - it's no caffeine week! So I had Mountain Dew instead.

It was tough, but I just survived drinking Mountain Dew. One thinks I should have had the Crab Juice. Hehe, a Simpsons reference there.

I'm up at half past 10 writing this but feeling a touch tired (such is life without caffeine).

Will I stay up for Letterman (an hour away)? Lord knows!

UPDATE 03/01/07: I stayed up for Letterman (and watched the delicious Little Birdy on Live at The Chapel!) but went to sleep after the Top Ten. Was that Madden guy on there real? I've never seen John Madden on there but it seemed like it was some guy who was taking the piss?

New Thing Of The Week: No Caffiene

[Earthquake won't be one now!]

My new thing of the week... my challenge if you will.. one week without caffeine!

At work (which I return to next week!) I drink up to the equivalent of 10 coffees a day.

No wonder I got an ulcer! So I have been cutting down on coffee at work and have hardly been having any caffeine at all outside of work.

But I do have Pepsi Max every now and then - but this week I have decided to keep away from it all.
Luckily Ginger Beer cordial doesn't have caffeine or my life would be over hehe.

So I will report on the headache and withdrawls (that Mum reckons I will have) from having no caffeine.

Good luck to me!