November 2005

It makes all the sense in the world that when important issues go from unclear to mildly clear and then back to even less clear that this will be stressful and wear you down in fairly short order. This just means that you are human and that most senior managers should be given a massive wedgie and that’s just for starters.

Lesson for the day - difficult stuff can be, well, difficult.

I know I have forgotten heaps but for now my additions are

As Is - Ani DiFranco
Little Plastic Castles - Ani DiFranco
All Of The Above - Deborah Conway
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen (performed by Jeff Buckley)
I Was Hoping You’d Say That - Paul Kelly

Lesson for the day - there’s so much music so close to home.

From time to time I will stumble across a song and just listen to it at every available opporunity. Perhaps a short terms obsession but an obsession all the same. Here is a list of some that leap to mind.

By Way of Sorrow - Julie Miller (performed by Cry Cry Cry)
Green Pastures - traditional (performed by EmmyLou Harris)
Big Rock Candy Mountain - Harry McClintock
Down To The River to Pray - Alison Krauss
Lakes on Ponchatrain - traditional (performed by The Be Good Tanya)
Nukkunya - Paul Kelly
Gold - Peter Blegvad (performed by Deborah Conway)
Glory Ordinary Day - Deborah Conway
The Littlest Birds - The Be Good Tanyas
Please Mr Postman - The Beatles
Buy Now Pay Later - The Whitlams
New Slang - The Shins
Down To The Sea - The Black Sorrows
3 Love - Ultrasound
Here If You Want - The Waifs
Keep Your Distance - Richard Thompson (performed by Buddy and Julie Miller)
Forever Has Come To An End - Julie Miller
Catherine Wheels - Crowded House
Anytime - Neil Finn
She Will Have Her Way - Neil Finn
Not The Girl You Think You Are - Crowded House
The Baysitter’s Here - Dar Williams
What Do You Love More Than Love - Dar Williams
Perfect Family - Diana Ah naid
Red Dirt Girl - EmmyLou Harris
Gillian Welch - Orphan Girl (performed by EmmyLou Harris)
Look At Miss Ohio - Gillian Welch
Good Riddance - Green Day
Sweet Marie - Hothouse Flowers
Don’t Go - Hothouse Flowers
One Of Us - Joan Obsourne
Different For Girls - Joe Jackson
Watching The Wheels - John Lennon
Being Around - The Lemonheads
So Damn Happy - Loudon Wainwright III
Human Cannonball - Loudon Wainwright III
Crazy Love, Vol II - Paul Simon
For A Short Time - Mick Thomas (performed by Tiddas)
The Promise - Tracy Chapman
All I Want Is You - U2

Lesson for the day - it is possible I spend too much time thinking about music.

I had to explain to kids today that not that long before they were born almost no shops we open on a Sunday in Australia. You could buy petrol and perhaps catch a movie if you were lucky.

I got the very strong impression they think I was kidding.

Lesson for the day - it is easy to forget the mundane things that change.

As I told the students in any good story you have characters, a complication or problem and then a resolution of some sorts. Clearly Nicky’s employer agrees, at least about the middle section.

It now seems that even if she doesn’t apply for a position (her old job having vanished) they might just slot her into some job that she might or might not have any interest in doing. While this twist is not the end of the world it is an annoying element in the saga. Still, one way or the other this will become clearer in the next couple of weeks.

Lesson for the day - companies might say they care but employees of all levels do less and less.

My podcast with Finn has clocked up sixty something downloads in two days.

Lesson for the day - everyone loves a talking toddler.

This has been my most enjoyable round so far and probably the one where I have done my best teaching and learning. But I am still pleased to only have four days to go.

It is probably a combination of the rounds and the diet but I am exhausted pretty much all the time and it is starting to wear me down.

Lesson for the day - it helps to have a finishing line to stagger towards.

They are saying light showers and twenty-five for Friday and becoming mostly fine, mild to warm for the weekend. I think this bodes well for our camping trip this weekend.

Lesson for the day - when you have a tent you suddenly care much more about the weather than you did in a motel.

On our way back from the movie yesterday we bought a couple of cheap sleeping bags to take camping. We figured that this would be simpler and easier than hauling the doona about the place.

Last night I just had to see what mine was like, big kid that I am. I can happily report that it is super-toasty and I didn’t feel much like getting out. I did get out but not before Nicky took this photo.

Lesson for the day - it is hard not to feel foolish when being photographed in your sleeping bag and even harder not to look like a complete goose.

Thanks for a friend in the right place at the right time Nicky and I got to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire today and it’s terrific.

Given the book is so damn long they have obviously had to drop things but I think it’s done no harm and may have even tightened up the film here and there. This might be a big call but I think this flick is every bit as good as the third one.

Lesson for the day - hoorah for Harry Potter flicks.