October surprise

America never ceases to amaze me. From the antics of their incumbent two term president that the majority of the nation voted against, to the hot air boom bust economy that’s just imploded spectacularly, nary a day goes by without yet another example of frenetic yanks doing something bogus.

Forget for a moment the absurdity of the US Federal Reserve, busily creating almost a trillion dollars of funny money out of thin air to bail out delinquent investment banks, effectively reneging on the much trumpeted free market approach and “regressing” to a nationalised banking system. How does the saying go, privatise the profits and nationalise the losses? Whatever.

For more than twelve months now the planet has endured the ridiculous and inescapable spectacle of the buildup to the US federal election. Starring the well-spoken moderate black man, his running parter whathisface, a snowy-haired tory war vet and the gun-toting govermilf whos stupidty may well eclipse that of Dubya.

Asside from the hilarious reality that we might soon be unfortunate inhabitants of a planet run by this Palin cretin, I can’t help but wonder what the rovepublicans are going to try between now and November in attempt to get cadaver and hockeymum over the line.

On my twenty second birthday

As Dad pointed out, it’s a palindrome. Also I’m 22 on the 22^nd of December. My favourite number happens to be two. And there are two of them in the number twenty-two. So from a purely numerological point of view, this might well be the pinnacle of my existence.

It’s not, but today was great. I mean that. The day far surpassed what I was predicting in terms of enjoyment. I didn’t have to work, so slept in till eleven. I woke up alone in a house in the bush, staggered outside and felt the sun on my back. Reflected on how awesome an achievement it is to *survive* twenty two bloody years. In some style even. Furthermore, I recently renewed my drivers licence, which means five years I’ve been running amok on Australian roads. I honestly thought I would have died before this point. A hundred and fifty thousand kays and only one speeding fine. Golf clap for Dirk.

So today was my day. I went to the beach, went for a run to the pier and back, then jumped into the ocean. Deep, clear and warm. The Bay was in absolutely fine form. I found an even better spot than the usual one, with more shade trees and a grassy, shady dune to sit on while you dry off [I forget a towel every time, as a matter of procedure]. Salt water is good for you. I just love it.

After floating around for some time I noticed the sun sliding and made a move for home, windows down, listening to the radio as usual. Not before stopping at the supermarket, proceeding through the express aisle with half a trolley load of tofu, veges, juice, and other delicacies, proclaiming it was my birthday and “I know its a load, but we can bust it out!”

I whipped up a salad and some tofu burgers for my friends while chatting to Mum. Grabbed a beer and sat in the garden and watched the sun go down. Soon friends arrived and I cooked them a feast on the barby, laughed and reminisced. We ate a chocolate vegan cake and we all had seconds.

Basically didn’t stop all day. I sit here physically and mentally stuffed, which is the best way to end a day. I love the moment when you lay back in bed and almost instantly fall asleep, reflecting on a days awesomeness.

I received such magnificent gifts as a sturdy camp table, a teapot and a bedspread. Awesome. All stuff I will still be using in ten years time!

I don’t want to preempt the upcoming summer too much, but it’s shaping up to be something special I think. Not many people know this yet but I won’t be working my current job after October 19. I’m taking a few months off to catch up on living, whatever that might entail. I will actually have Christmas and new years off, as opposed to working right through, as I did last time. Even at this early stage I’ve potentially got camping lined up with brocousins, Woodford with kid sister, a Brisbane/Maryborough fandango with Rand Mcnaly. Along with LOTS of reading, running, and other things I enjoy. I plan to reward myself for being good and working my arse off and putting some cash away. I recently realised I’ve only had two weeks off during the last two years of shift work.

In the new year I’m getting a new job. Then studying. Get degree. Then rattle some cages. That’s the plan.

Lately I’ve felt as though every day is a solid step forward. I like that feeling. As is the usual for me on my birthday, at the forefront of my mind is the realisation of the finite nature of my own lifetime. Better make it count!

Two

Victory is mine

I’m tired. This morning I finished my five weeks sentence to nights of doom in the salt mine, and today, to celebrate I was planning to go fling myself into the sea somewhere. Upon declaring this intention, I went outside to inspect the weather, to find mother nature once again up to her treachery:

Sucks, I’m in the routine of sleeping afternoons, however I should stay up till nine or ten tonight in order to force a return to the normal schedule. To stay up that long I have to do something interesting, otherwise I’ll just pike.

So in lieu of anything interesting presenting itself at this juncture, I decided to fire up vanity.com, and so here we find another post.

The other morning I got cabin fever from being cooped up inside and about five in the morning took the falcon for a strap through some rural areas. I ended up hanging out in a paddock and watching the sun come up.

I’ve got a very ancient Canon Powershot A200 camera. It’s a fun challenge to try and capture decent shots with it. Like, it’s the sort of camera most would scoff at and throw away, being considered “entry level” and “two megapixel” and other similiar specifications whose importance has just been blown *way* out of proportion. Unlike with a brand new canon SLR where you can just point the thousand dollar piece of brilliance at something as mundane as a dudeman watering the lawn and capture prize-winning epicness, the antiquated piece of gear I use is a bit more of a challenge. And an art. Or maybe I just like justifying my poorness and not-want of blowing cash on technology that will be worth nothing in a year. SHITS ME. Anyway here are the photos:

sunrise photos 7/9/08

It was a sweet, sweet drive. Empty, winding country roads. Blasting out of the forest into the straighter bits I really gave it some. In the crisp morning air, the motor sang in third. Rapidly approaching a bend I braked hard, put it through under power, rear end twitching before flooring it, steaming up a steep hill, roaring up and over the crest, almost getting air, and thunder down to bottom, piling on tonnes of speed. Hit bottom of dip, feel the g’s, and then you’re shooting back up another peak. Get roller coaster feeling and huge rush.