Out of touch

"Adrian, its not 1981 anymore."

I know, I know. It's 200-fucking-5. This is the problem. We're living in the damn future.

I arranged to go and see the latest StarWars with a girl that I am friends with from work. Definitely the best movie that George Lucas has done since Return of the Jedi.
I haven't seen the new cinemas at West Lakes either, so I thought I'd kill two birds at once. So I met her outside David Jones and we had enough time to get lunch before hand. She was putting her iPOD in her bag, and I cautioned her to put it away quickly. Thugs target people with iPODs, it says so in the news. And I didn't feel like getting into any fisticuffs. We had to go to the ATM, so that she could get money out. One of these days, iPODs are going to have built in ATMs, so that you can transfer money directly into your iPOD. I am sure.

So for lunch, we had Quiznos. It was OK, but I don't see what the fuss is about. It's just Subway with a toasted bun.

And what have they done to West Lakes? It's not West Lakes anymore. Not the West Lakes I know and love. Does anybody remember when they had that weird forest thing in the middle? With the tubular steel lights that hung down? I remember seeing a whole stage of girls doing a dance routine to Madonna's Material Girl when I was about 7 years old. Changed my life that did.

We got our tickets and joined the other three people in the biggest most luxurious theatre ever created. I didn't know if we were watching StarWars so much as we were living in it. There are some good movies coming out too. Like Mr and Mrs Smith (if only for Angelina Jolie, mmmm sweet). Fantastic Four looks interesting. Special effects these days are beyond the call.

And I really liked StarWars. Whenever I see a movie, I always try to see how it relates to me. And somehow it did. In a deep and indescribable way, I was not the same person walking out of the cinema to the one that went in. I might write more later.

It's funny, I am so out of touch with the world at the moment. Somewhere in the last two years, I think someone has done the old switcheroo with the normal world and replaced it with some high tech gizmo laden future land.

How many firsts in one day? I've lost count.

So I'm going back to my room. And I'm going to put on my Screaming Believers album, and there is going to be nothing but saxaphone drenched nostalgia. And it will be 1985 again. If only in my room.

Superman's Balls

Tomorrow will be my last ever day of work.

Thursday night was pretty dead. So I stood at my register leaning on the desk. Oh, and reading The Messenger. Clark Kent came up behind me.

"Adrian", "What are you doing?", he retorted. The incredulity caused the muscles to tense in the corners of his neck. Just like my Biology teacher who contracted Ross River Fever.

"Just reading the paper." I replied as nonchalantly as a cloud.

"Well there's all this stuff that has to be tidied up. Throw that paper in the bin. If Big Ted came in and saw you doing this, he'd castrate me." I could see him imagining his balls sitting on the counter.

"If you keep this up, your going to find it very hard to get shifts." He mumbled to himself as he hurried off to save another cat stuck in a tree.

Equus

So what do you do when one of your favourite bloggers appears in a play? With her bits out? Well you go and see it don't you! Last night I went to see EQUUS down at the Noarlunga College Theatre. It's the other side of town for me, but not really that far. Especially when you jump on the expressway.

So I arrived in the theatre a half hour early to get my ticket. And I was scared. I kind of hoped that I would be able to sit anonymously down the back because I didn't want to be recognised. And I guess if you are performing, it can make you uncomfortable to know that certain people might be watching (especially if you are naked). So I sat at the back. And I was glad that I went.

The set was pretty simple. And the use of costume was excellent. The horse masks were sculpted from a metal frame, and looked amazing when the spotlights reflected off them.

Carly played the part of the willing stable girl. It was strange to actually see her for real. And my heart thumpity thumped when she spoke. She has the cutest voice! And she was being all flirty and coy. My favourite!

The poor guy that she was playing opposite stayed naked for most of the second set. And the girls sitting next to me were giggling and blushing. I think they knew him, and they were saying that they'd never be able to look at him the same way again.

So well done Carly. You are very brave to get up night after night and perform like that. It was a great play, and I hope your last night goes off without a hitch. You talented thang!

Love Adrian

Where is my blog?

Blogger decided to eat my template, so I have had to replace it. And all my customizations are lost (of course!) , but I'll try to put them back as they were. That's technology!

High Standards

I haven't said much about my work here. And for good reason. If you have nothing nice to say, you shouldn't say it. But it is my last week of work, and I thought I'd publish some of my thoughts for posterity.

I work in a department store. The company motto: High Standards

When I first started working in this particular store, one of the requirements was that we would carry around a card listing the seven commandments that we had to follow. Failure to carry the card attracted a greater punishment than failing to comply with the rules. Which I found laughable.

Now the guy that owns the store, lets call him Big Ted, is a perfectionist. If a mistake is made, Big Ted will fire you. Excuses are not acceptable. Big Ted wants results. And he demands High Standards.

This is the reason that we have had at least 4 managers in the time that I have been working here. Any manager that suggests to Big Ted that they would like more staff, or better working conditions is promptly dismissed for failing to comply with the ethos of the company: High Standards.

So now, we have a great new manager. He is about 6 foot something, bespectacled. Devoid of any personality. Has no shopfloor experience, but, has completed a Business degree at TAFE. Aha! The perfect candidate. He is married with a couple of kids, a mortgage and is prepared to suck as much cock as possible to become the best damn manager this store has ever seen. Let's call him Clark Kent.

So what does Big Ted do? He cuts staffing even further, and expects his workers to cover the holes. Of course Clark Kent says nothing. Gotta keep those High Standards, people. And the sad thing is: the people do it. There are those people who enjoy working hard, but even they are stretched to breaking point. They recieve no thanks, just the joy of knowing that they are stuffing Big Ted's pockets with greenbacks. There are those who get more unhappy, and more afraid of losing their jobs.

And there's me..., it pains me to think that I have worked here for 21 months. A company held together with pain, fear, misery and negativity. But no more. I was just too lazy to look for another job. I was in a rut. But I'm not prepared to 'lift my standards' any more. I'm continually amazed at the depths to which this company will sink for the almighty dollar. I wrote my resignation note on Sunday, telling them that I would be holidaying in Sunny Acapulco. Yeah and I drew a picture to illustrate the point. Complete with oversized alcoholic fruit cup.

Clark feels threatened by me because he doesn't see me as a team player, or goal oriented. I have my own opinions, and have faith in my abilities. But I don't enjoy being played for a fool or being manipulated to work harder with the threat of having my hours cut. Being continually asked to give more in the face of cutbacks, and uphold my high standards when management is quite prepared to drop theirs.

Clark called me to his office.

"Can you please take these boxes out to the floor?"

So I loaded up my trolley, and was about to go back out to my area, when I heard Clark.

"Hang on, you're not going leaving these boxes here. Put them on top."

The trolley was already reasonably full, and I was going to come back to get the others. It would have taken two minutes. And had I spilled the other two boxes, it would have taken a lot longer than two minutes to clean them up. But all this was lost on Clark.

"That's called showing 'time initiative'!", he announced haughtily as he hefted the two remaining boxes on top.

Well thanks for the tip, dickhead. At least you know the scientific term for it.

The remark was closely followed by the titter of Logistics girl. Now Logistics girl used to work out on the shop floor, but was re-assigned to the receiving area after getting into too many arguments with customers. She was this close to losing her job. But she cried and wailed and pleaded for the manager to pardon her. As if losing her job would be the worst thing that could ever happen to her.

So goodbye Clark Kent and Logistics Girl,... I hope that you keep maintaining your High Standards TM for the benefit of mankind.

Big Ted will be proud.

Timely Illness

It's funny how you can just tell when you are going to be ill. Waking up on Friday morning with my left nostril slightly blocked. My throat was sore and my joints were stiff. It wore off after I took a shower, but I had a feeling it would be back. Then Friday night, the headache came and my eyes felt like they were about to pop out of my head. I took a couple of those nifty blue Codrals and drifted off to sleep whilst Gianna and the other girl frolicked about in a nurses uniform and undies respectively.

I guess if there was ever a time when I needed some time to myself, this would be it. So maybe getting the flu' will turn out to be a blessing. I can sift through the smouldering fuselage of my mojo. Maybe there are survivors.

So, I won't be seeing Rollins tonight. And I was looking forward to that!

Or going to the footy.

But I did have a great day in bed with my new fetish. Sudoku puzzles!

I did the one from The Age and it took me about 4 hours. But I finished it!

So tonight, I will be staying in with a curry from the Red Ass, some old 45's and a bottle of red.

Checkmate!

History Lesson Part 2

I'm still scratching my head over Friday night! It was a great night to say the least, and caught up with a LOT of old school chums and acquaintances. Despite the fact that I was the roadie for the bands at the C&A and had to drive the van. Reduced alcohol intake, Bah designated driver, mumble mumble allowed me to experience a different slant of the pub experience. We had some time to kill, so we stopped off for dinner at the Bombay Bicycle Club. Their butter chicken is the best this side of Calcutta. Mmmmmmmmmmm

I went to help set up the gear. When I got back there were these two cute blondes sitting at the bar knocking back Cowboys and an assortment of other spirits. We exchanged glances and I ordered my drinks. I went back in to watch the bands. When the set was finished, and I'd picked my eardrums off the roof (yeah they were LOUD!), I headed back to the bar. The cute girl beckoned me with a wriggle of her finger, and I was drawn in like the Millenium Falcon into the Death Star's tractor beam.

“Did you used to work at Myer?", she breathed.

I nodded in the affirmative.

I thought I recognised her as a girl that worked there.

Then she burst out to her friend,

"You're the guy who tried to make my friend sleep in the park!"

"Huh?"

It turns out that she was a friend of a girl that I took back to my place about 5 years ago!!!! From a uni pubcrawl. I was about 21, and being inexperienced with girls, tried to convince the girl that rooting in the parklands would be a romantic if not inexpensive idea. A cab home would have cost $25, and I was too pissed to drive.
Apparently the T-shirt that I was wearing had triggered something in her brain, and brought forth a photographic recollection of a random nights events from the turn of the century. She then proceeded to reel off a list of Adrian-related facts. How the fuck did she remember all this? I doubt I would even recognize the girl if I saw her walking down the street. I was intrigued by her to say the least. So we continued to chat, and then she pointed out someone standing behind me.

"See that guy there, he’s the first guy I ever gave a headjob to. He blew all over his shirt and then walked back into the party. Everyone knew what had happened. It was so embarrassing."

"That guy?" I signalled.

"Yeah, he wouldn't remember me though, I looked a lot different from what I do now."

I went back and watched the next band. In my faded red Evil Knievel T-shirt.

Black Market Baby!

Went to the Gepps Cross Markets and picked up the Clash "London Calling" LP and Billy Bragg "Levi Stubb's Tears"12" single for just $2 each. Bargains!

Not Long Now!

Happy Adelaide Cup Day! Yay, it's a long weekend here in Adelaide, so I hope you backed a winner. Giddy up.

I've been soaking up what's left of the sunshine before the cold cold winter hits us again for another year. Today was lovely, and I spent that just thinking and walking on the beach. I guess it was around 23C. In Melbourne, it's usually about 3 deg colder, and it's those 3 degrees that make all the difference. Only two weeks to go now before the big move!

I still haven't got much organised, and I know that I'm leaving it a bit late. I have done some research in the papers/ internet and there appear to be plenty of places available, but I'm not really sure how easy it is to actually do it. I'm looking at share accomodation in the Inner - Eastern suburbs (Hawthorn, Richmond, etc) but I'm not that fussy. Fitzroy or Brighton would be nice too.

All I really want is a place to settle down that is kind of close to the action so that I can start organising job applications and stuff. Oh, and internet access. Is it hard to find accomodation without a job? I've got enough money saved up for the bond and stuff, so that shouldn't be a problem.

When I lived on the Gold Coast about 6 years ago, I shared with this guy that was the son of the real estate agent that I was letting through. He was older than me, fairly quiet and kept to himself. We got along okay, but I always felt uncomfortable there. All the furniture etc was his, so it kind of felt like I was his guest. He was a lot more tidy than I was (not that I was messy), but I was always concerned that I wasn't doing my share of the housework. He never said anything though, and I think I settled in fairly well. Maybe I was just being insecure. But what is the etiquette? Do you organize rosters and things before you move in? Are there any precautions that you can take so that you don't get screwed over?

If anyone out there has any suggestions then I would love some help.
It's a bit scary. I don't really have any friends in Melbourne, except for all you guys out there, right?

Fricken Jeez

Ha! Just finished watching John Safran vs God on SBS. What a great show. In his quest for spiritual enlightenment, Safran travels the globe trying out different religions to discover which is the one for him. Tonights episode was on Voodoo. I still don't think he is any closer to finding his true calling, but it is interesting and usually a great laugh. Kind of scary to see what some people will do for their religion. Biting off a goats testicles before slaughtering said animal doesn't really do it for me either...

Cream for the cat

Wednesday is always a great day for me. I have three classes on in a row at the gym. I start off with the Pump class (weights), then the aerobics, and follow it up with yoga. The best part is the aerobics. It may sound weird to hear a guy say that, and I am one of only two guys in the class. But I fricken love it!

It wasn't always that way. The first time I tried it, I was going exit stage left even when I should have been sashaying to the right. As embarrassing as it was, what made it worse were all the tuts and sneers from the prissy gym queens. It still makes me laugh how seriously they take it.

But I perservered with the classes. I ain't no quitter. And as time went by, I got to be pretty good at it. I smile to myself when sometimes the lycra princesses stuff up, and shake their heads and throw their rackets like Lleyton Hewitt after he serves another double fault.

When it comes to exercise, I need some motivation. And that class had what I needed.

There is something Romanesque about sweating it out in a room filled with the finest girls known to mankind. There's the statuesque blonde with the softly rounded belly that always peeks out from her midriff. Another tall brunette with the breasts that bob and weave enticingly. The hottest one is the one that I always end up next to. Funny that. She is toned all over, and her red hair swept into an attractive ponytail. One of those high ones that cascades down the back of her neck. And she always wears these little shorts. Her shoulders are strong yet supple, but her thighs and legs are entrancing. MMMMMMMMMMMMM

I did notice a silver ring with a large rock on her left hand though. Oh well...

I always leave there grinning from ear to ear. Like the cat that got the cream.

txt txt txt

I didn't mean to be so rude the other night. it was a bad day, be greatful i didn't talk to you i probably would have only been evil!

It was a txt message from a girl that I met weeks ago at the pub.

It was a very strange situation. I got talking to a guy and he introduced me to his friend/ex- girlfriend. We had a nice chat, and swapped numbers. I wasn't looking for anything, just a nice chat. She got into a fight with him, and they left while I was playing pool.

A couple of weeks later, my phone beeped.

If you aren't doing anything later, come to the such'n'such and I'll buy you that drink I owe you.

OK, so we met up, and I was a bit late because I couldn't find the such'n'such. She was there with her friends, and I was there by myself. We had a nice time, I thought considering that I only wanted to meet a new friend.

I gave her a ride home, but she seemed upset. So that was the end of that I guessed.

I had fun the other night too but you have to realise things are pretty screwed up for me right now. i don't really hang out with friends let alone people i've just met. i'd like to catch up but i don't think i can. hopefully we will just run into each other out one night. sorry for being so weird

We did run into each other again. At the shops a week after that. It was quite unlikely, and I was as surprised as she was. I said hello, and she looked at me uncertainly, her brain ticking over, and smiled trying to compute the situation, continuing on her way.

Random act of nature or mysterious movings of an unknown force?
I don't know, but Miss Italian Cutie, you are so right about Adelaide!

The Guy That Thunk Too Much

I don't know who reads this blog in particular. I started it after being inspired by the fabulous blog Gempires. Reading it helped me to understand how other people might think, and gave me an insight into other people's lives. I envisioned creating something similar.

Now I'm not sure.

I guess that all bloggers feel the same way sometimes.

I guess some do it for popularity, some for fun, or whatever. But I do it to externalise my internal dialogue in the hope that things will become clearer.

Sometimes I wonder whether it's worth it. I find that as soon as I publish my work on-line, it kind of takes away from what it is that I'm writing about. Maybe that's a good thing.

So here I am as the sun turns about the earth (or whichever way it goes).

And I wait.

CD Launch

Next Friday at the Crown and Anchor, three of the best bands in Adelaide will be playing, so get on down and see the rawkin action!


Thanks to Max for the poster

Hard Hank

Today was quite possibly the greatest day of all time.

Weather = perfect.

Bought some new clothes. Re-discovering my old non- relationship self.

SWEEEET!

Henry Rollins is coming to town again. This time it's a spoken word performance. He has been here so many times, but I've never seen his show before. I've only seen him play with his band at Heaven a couple of years ago. That is slack I must say. He played here since doing all his Black Flag stuff, and I heard it was awesome. But for me, NO-ONE does Black Flag like Black Flag, so I didn't go.

I read an interesting comment from him in dB today:

"...it's best not to expect too much from humans, because, at the end of the day they are food-gathering, breeding organisms and they're going to do what they gotta do to survive.

... so anything that you think immoral or petty for you is just someone trying to get through the day..

..Having seen what I've seen I've just kind of let humans off the hook and no longer rely on them to be exceptional, punctual, or even civil.."

But he refuses to be jaded.

"I completely believe in the inherent goodness of people and their generosity. I see it around me all the time."

So is Rollins finally going soft? Is he finally reaching some conclusions and extinguishing his anguish?

Be at the Norwood Concert Hall on 21 May to find out...

Goal Update

I think that this is why I'm feeling good at the moment. I am on the verge of something big, and it's exciting!

All right! Its the 1st of May. In one month from today, I will be living in Melbourne.

Of that you can be sure. I don't care if I have to sleep in my car! This has been long overdue, so nothing is going to stop me now, and I don't wanna talk it over (Remember that Samantha Fox song?)

I remember 2 years ago, I was getting ready to move to Melbourne, but I was in all sorts of financial trouble. In retrospect the timing may not have been the best. Then just as I was about to leave, I met Bec and decided to postpone the trip to see where things would go with us.

It's funny because she taught me a lot about money, and I think that meeting her was a lesson that I had to learn if I was going to succeed in achieving my goals. So thanks for that Bec. I think I taught her a lot as well. It's just a shame that things had to turn out as they did. I think that I am a lot less trusting now and I don't think I can ever be the same as I was. I guess that's normal though isn't it?

My new life starts here folks. I have planned to have a certain amount of money saved by the end of the month so that I can hopefully make a smooth transition over there. In the next few weeks I will be looking more seriously at accomodation and employment options.

Now that I have been single again, I have been catching up a lot with my old friend Darren. I have known him since I was 11. He introduced me to a lot of awesome music, and I was the singer in his band for a couple of years. He's a bloody great guitarist. I really appreciate him a lot more now, and he's a really top bloke. He'll do anything for you, and he's great company. I don't have to pretend around him, and I hope that we can continue our friendship when I go away. He's about the only reason I'm still in Adelaide.

Playing the Arthouse in Melbourne 1st August 1998. Me on the left. Darren and his Gibson Flying V on the right