cyberspace junkyard

Strike Rate
Three out of my seven singing students are now engaged. At 43%, that has to be some kind of record, right?

Hee hee. How lovely to be among friends of marriageable age!

Boomerang
Back from Adelaide. Exhausted. Head hurts from too much thinking.

Oh what a beautiful morning
Was rather nice to catch the 6:55am ferry this morning. Granted, it was due to my own forgetfulness and having to swing by work to pick up a consent form before heading off to a community volunteer day...

... which I'm quite excited about, actually! We'll be singing Christmas carols at Missionholme and Charles Chambers Court, which are 2 hostels for elderly disadvantaged in the Surry Hills / Redfern district. This is something I've done pretty much every year for the past several, but the first time I'll be going with a group from work. The funny thing is, part of the reason we normally go is not only to bring some Christmas cheer to what might otherwise be a lonely season, but to get opportunities to share about the true meaning of Christmas. It will be interesting to go with a bunch of non-Christians. I had to fight hard to make it more about the carols than playing bingo and giving out lollies! We'll see how it goes though - I'm praying for an opportunity to remind my work colleagues just what Christmas is all about too!

Jetset
Just been "informed" that I will be going to Adelaide on Wednesday and Thursday next week. My first interstate business trip - I don't know whether to be excited at the prospect, concerned at the possibility this will be a regular occurence over the next 12 months or unaffected. Well, obviously I'm not unaffected - I wouldn't be blogging about it otherwise!

Warm glows
I was sent one of those "warm and fuzzy" emails from a colleague today. I normally don't pay much attention to these things, but the instructions on top of this one were to reflect on each thing before moving on to the next. I decided to give it a go and was pleasantly surprised... (my particular fave warm fuzzies are in bold)

1. Falling in love
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts
3. A hot shower
4. No lines at the supermarket
5. A special glance
6. Getting mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer
11. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price
12. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla!) (or strawberry)
13. A long distance phone call
14. A bubble bath
15. Giggling
16. A good conversation
17 The beach
18. Finding a 20 note in your coat from last winter
19. Laughing at yourself
20. Midnight phone calls that last for hours
21. Running through sprinklers
22. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all
23. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful
24. Laughing at an inside joke
25. Friends
26. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you
27. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep
28. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
29. Making new friends or spending time with old ones
30. Playing with a new puppy
31. Having someone play with your hair
32. Sweet dreams
33. Hot chocolate
34. Road trips with friends
35. Swinging on swings
36. Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies drinking your favorite tipple
37. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid
38. Going to a really good concert
39. Making eye contact with a cute stranger
40. Winning a really competitive game
41. Making chocolate chip cookies
42. Having your friends send you homemade cookies
43. Spending time with close friends
44. Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends
45. Holding hands with someone you care about
46. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change
47. Riding the best roller coasters over and over
48. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much
desired present from you
49. Watching the sunrise
50. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful [insert: to God!] for another beautiful day.

Cricket
I don't get it. Why do people want to sit in the sun for 4 days to watch a couple of guys in ultra daggy whites run back and forth on a pitch after hitting a ball bowled to them by another guy and watched by more daggy guys positioned around a big patch of grass who every now and then catch the ball.

4 days, I tell you. 4 DAYS! Some one please explain this to me...

On the other hand, I've had arguments with people who think AFL is ridiculous, Rugby League is inferior to Rugby Union, Figure Skating is for wusses and Tennis is more grunt than great. In the words of Cher from Clueless... "AS IF!"

OT
Not off-topic, but rather Old Testament. I'm at the end of the daily devotions book I've been working through this year, and one of the things I want to focus on in my QTs next year is reading through the Bible (and more specifically, the Old Testament) end to end.

A few years ago, I did the same with the New Testament and it was amazing to be challenged and encouraged and reminded of the culmination of God's plan in Christ. So I'm looking forward to delving through the Old Testamant and seeing God's plan enfolding unfolding.

Yay!

Think you know me?
I was asked today at work what my "personality type" is. Well, here's the official INTJ description from the Keirsey Temperament Sorter.

"Of the four aspects of strategic analysis and definition it is the contingency planning or entailment organizing role that reaches the highest development in Masterminds. Entailing or contingency planning is not an informative activity, rather it is a directive one in which the planner tells others what to do and in what order to do it. As the organizing capabilities the Masterminds increase so does their inclination to take charge of whatever is going on.

It is in their abilities that Masterminds differ from the other Rationals, while in most of their attitudes they are just like the others. However there is one attitude that sets them apart from other Rationals: they tend to be much more self-confident than the rest, having, for obscure reasons, developed a very strong will. They are rather rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population. Being very judicious, decisions come naturally to them; indeed, they can hardly rest until they have things settled, decided, and set. They are the people who are able to formulate coherent and comprehensive contingency plans, hence contingency organizers or "entailers."

Masterminds will adopt ideas only if they are useful, which is to say if they work efficiently toward accomplishing the Mastermind's well-defined goals. Natural leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command of projects or groups, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once in charge, however, Masterminds are the supreme pragmatists, seeing reality as a crucible for refining their strategies for goal-directed action. In a sense, Masterminds approach reality as they would a giant chess board, always seeking strategies that have a high payoff, and always devising contingency plans in case of error or adversity. To the Mastermind, organizational structure and operational procedures are never arbitrary, never set in concrete, but are quite malleable and can be changed, improved, streamlined. In their drive for efficient action, Masterminds are the most open-minded of all the types. No idea is too far-fetched to be entertained-if it is useful. Masterminds are natural brainstormers, always open to new concepts and, in fact, aggressively seeking them. They are also alert to the consequences of applying new ideas or positions. Theories which cannot be made to work are quickly discarded by the Masterminds. On the other hand, Masterminds can be quite ruthless in implementing effective ideas, seldom counting personal cost in terms of time and energy."

Hmmm... what do you think?

Bargain
Today has turned into a bit of an obsessive blogging day. I'll have to take a breather for a week to balance it out!

Anyway, this piece of news was just too blog-worthy. I walked into CCC Camerahouse yesterday, hoping to get a good deal on a video camera case. I looked at every single one there but kept being drawn to a soft cover, retractable waterproof shield, multiple pocket case. (Could have had something to do with the salesman convincing me it was one of the best they had, short of the official Sony one). The RRP was $110, but he offered to me for the duty free price of $99. That was quite a bit more than I was willing to spend, but I said I'd think about it. It was a nice case.

Anyway, after my lunch meeting today, I popped into Ted's Camera Store to check out their cases. I found the EXACT SAME ONE for $45. Needless to say, I snapped it up on the spot and saved myself $54. Bargain.


Have a great weekend y'all!

If you need a laugh...
And love fantasy / sci-fi, check out The Evil Henchman's Guide! The others are rather funny too, grouped under The Science Fiction Lists about halfway down this page.

Numbed
I'm feeling really sick to the stomach hearing about those who are deliberately (wantonly, recklessly, viciously) lighting fires when the whole of Sydney is shouldering the burden of containing the raging bushfires. The Sydney Morning Herald has pretty good coverage of it all in general. I felt particularly numb reading the comment that the only way to end it is if there is nothing left to burn or it rains. Chilling stuff.

So long, farewell
Threw a small surprise farewell dinner for my bestest guy friend last night, who's doing the big move to Newcastle. Is bestest a word? Hmmm...

We had a great night at Kyoto Teppanyaki (in fact, I've got some pics on my new camcorder - once I figure out how to do it, I'll post them!) Then, after much hugging and back-slapping (you figure out which were the girls and which were the guys), Dan and I zoomed off to his final church Cell Group meeting in Crows Nest, then headed to Sydney Harbour National Park to take some night shots of the city from across the harbour. It was a isolated lookout with a gorgeous view, befitting the memories we were digging up from the 5 years we've known each other. It would have been a perfect farewell night if it wasn't for the galeforce winds. It took us 5 minutes just to be able to open the doors and then a mad dash to the shelter of a tree while ducking to avoid the flying leaves and gumnuts. We braved it out there for a little while before running back to the car (which was rocking) and then Dan had a breather before setting up his tripod and running back out to get a few shots. Phew!

All in all, it's just hitting me today that he's leaving. I know he's only going to be 3 hours away, and we're likely to see each other more now than when he was in Sydney, but it's just knowing that he can't just be here in a flash. Still, we're determined to take turns writing letters to each other weekly, so looks like I'm going to have to brush up my penpal skills!

Too nice?
Morning!

Just had an interesting conversation with a colleague who was trying to convince me that I'm too nice to work in the heartless financial services industry. He was referring to a job ad for a childcare consultant, indicating that I should be doing something like that and keep making a difference and caring about society like I already "do in my spare time".

It was great to be able to tell him that I hoped I was making a difference where I worked and I thanked him for noticing that I was "nice" and that he knew why that was. Please keep praying for my Christian witness!

24
A great TV series and a great age to be!

I'm so pleased I can officially say I am now in my mid-twenties. Yay!

It's all about the weather
Guys are probably thinking that Sydney weather is most definitely female. It seems to be having difficulty making up it's mind, pulling rain, thunder, sun and humidity out of the closet like choosing an outfit for a party. Sometimes, the weather is just inappropriate - a major weather fashion faux pas.

Then again, girls would argue that Sydney weather is without a doubt male. It's been doing ridiculous amounts of weather "channel-surfing" and can't settle on anything. In fact, sometimes it only lingers on one weather pattern for a short time before getting bored and seeing what else is on.

At least it's out and looking beautiful today. Must be female.

Willpower
Wow. I just resisted an offer of free gelato.

Give me a moment while I recover.

December
I think December is my favourite month of the year. This is not, I repeat not, because my birthday is in December (although, that is also a very commendable reason).

I think it's because it's the month where people really do enjoy themselves, regroup and start to look forward to what's ahead. We all need that every now and then. It's strange how so many people celebrate Christmas without really understanding what it's all about. I mean, to so many, it's just a a public holiday, right? A time to exchange presents? Save up money for the post-Christmas sales?

Well - back from the days when my summer job was singing Christmas carols at corporate functions, I've always held fast to the fact that there would be no Christmas without Christ. He is the reason for the season, as they say, and while it's not quite Christmas yet - there is never a bad time to celebrate His birth. Through His birth, life, death and resurrection, we can know new life and a restored relationship with God. How awesome is that!