tis the season for football (I refer here to the world game)

football season is about to begin.

Yay! I think as I put together my kit for todays friendly with another team in another comp. football boots - check; shin pads - check; socks - check; lots of water - check; cold packs - check; etc. Kind of excited that rather than training training we're playing a game.

Cut to 80 minutes later ->

Oh boy... I think as I lay on the grass at the end of the game gasping for air and sweating heavily not really loving the humid weather. Fitness and ball skills can only up from here.

Crap, I have some sunburn.

the politics and economics of "economic downturns"

one thing that is certain about capitalism, is that there are cycles - one where things are great and one where things aren't so great...

it surprises me that the people that should know this (ie the econocrati) seem to be like the rabbit caught in the headlights - OMG why didn't we see this coming...

one article I read had a look at which of the econocrati (those from Australia) were able to better predict likely movements in the global and local economy. let's just say the results were not impressive... those who were more critical of orthodox economics seemed to fare better...

so the politics of this... analysts want to talk about interest rate movements, recession, unemployment rates, debt ratios, forgetting that there are people affected by what happens in that amorphous "global economy" and the "credit crunch"... whilst $950 may not seem like much to spend, but it is one way for people to spend/pay debts (and free up money for investment)... the contraction in the building/construction industry the schools funding is likely to decrease possible lay offs and possibly create jobs and not just in one geographical area...

I'm not a big fan of Keynesianism, but clearly the rational expectationists/general equilibrium theorists haven't got it right either... hell I'm not a big fan of capitalism either... but given the situation and not knowing how long the bumpy ride is likely to go on for, I'd like $950 to possibly buy something to cushion the impact...

this is really long hand for - pass the bloody stimulus package in the Senate!

Ps, I'm meeting a possible adoptee tomorrow, a male cat this time... I'm excited!

2008

Despite the rather blahness that seemed (to me at least) permeate through the last post, being up this late and with the quietness that pervades I tend to reflect.

2008, as I said earlier, for me at least, was the year of the hospital.

However 2008 was also an epic year in other arenas -

on the side that makes me smile:

• the Federal Government finally said sorry to the Stolen Generation (thanks Kevin07);
• those speculators in the financial markets finally found out that betting against prices (interest rates/currencies/weather/etc take your pick)/packaging debt obligations to be onsold etc anything that didn't have a viable asset attached to it is EMPTY! and ta da they created "negative wealth";
• the United States elected its first Black President;
• Morris Iemma finally went ta tas;
• the federal Liberal Party is in disarray and the state branches don't appear to be much better;
• ACDC releasing an album and someone linking this and previous ACDC releases with the declining stock market in the UK...

On the side that makes me snarl:

• the disquiet still going on in East Timor;
• Zimbabwe (where one of my parents were born);
• what is going on in the Gaza Strip;
• Federal Labor Govt and its climate change targets/industrial relations legislation/internet policy;
• poor town planning in Sydney that makes it difficult to cycle without fearing for your life;
• NSW Labor Government for oh so many reasons...

I'm sure there's more but I'm in a semi smiley mood... reflecting seems to have that calming effect.

On reflecting about the coming year, I'm not sure if I will make NY resolutions... I usually don't because the one year that I set resolutions, 2 weeks before the following NY I realised I hadn't done anything I said that I was going to do...

Much smile? bring on the crosswords of the cryptic variety

The festive brunch time celebration and the couple of days following were bliss - eating, drinking (alcoholic and non alcoholic varieties of drinks naturally!), swimming, relaxing, spending time with the bf's family, playing cards, watching football etc...

I had an epic smile - one that I thought would herald in the new year.

Alas this is not to be... I don't exactly have my snarl on, but I've definately got smile failure.

I stayed home on Sunday night, spending time with the cat and trying to get more than 3 hours of sleep that night. The bf went out with his siblings and it seemed that things were going to be ok..

well it seems that there was a little too much drinking, words were had, and that the smile that I thought would pull me through my after-new-years-mostly-blood-and-soon-to-be-extended-meet-the-families-gathering-for-my-younger-sibling-and-the-live-in-partner, is not to be.

Instead I find myself calling a stack of people to find out what happened and listening to my bf vent, whilst the house cleaning I wanted to get done before NYE proper is getting further behind.

It looks like I've had to change my plans for the nye festivities - blah! And I think it will be easier to go solo to my blood and extended family shindig (no need to subject the bf to years of pent up everything thrown together at a special event!).

On a side, and smiley note, the Summer Herald has a guide to the cryptic crossword for those of us who don't quite get how to do them... I am epic smile when I sit down and do them!

2 days 2 different takes

On Monday, I had a pretty good day. Smiles all round.

• good day at work
• good night spent in an art class with the bf and close friend
• good vibe in general.

Oh what a different a day makes

• bf grumpy/upset with me for not doing something for him... I knew saying no would result in this kind of stand off, general snarliness tonight... and I've been proven right.. he chucks a massive tanty and starts these fights about nothing.. so I'm holed up in the opposite end of the house, and I really want a ginger ale...
• was left off a couple of emails at work, getting the to do list done, because of being left off said emails I sent something off that was an earlier draft... the person who it applied to was a little bit snarly...

so so

ok, free form smiling and snarling - GO

Smile:

• catching up with a good friend over coffee and dips
• being able to help out a mate at work over an emergency situation (despite it being my day off)
• having a good friend that didn't mind rescheduling our catch up

Snarl:

• "leaks" of government reviews, especially the horrible ideas that come from the reviews on my day off from work
  (the conspiracy theorist in me reckons it's more about when the Government finally releases their response that it doesn't look so bad, at least compared to what was leaked)
• idiots that use my driveway without checking to see that it's ok to use (especially when it's raining and I want to park my car under my car port!)
• weather - it's supposed to be summer in Australia!? Instead I find myself still needing wool jumpers, thick coats, and spencers

Quick List

Smile:

• being thanked for doing my job by a colleague (nice to be recognised...)
• having mid week wind down drinks at home with friends for a days debrief (I'm liking daylight savings more and more)
• winding down for the end of year close down (close to 3 weeks off - yee hah!)

Snarl:

• silly discussions that lead to people being cranky with each other!
• contemplating going home for a family meet and greet, and realising it is my family that will be the weird one (we'll need someone to be the ringmaster to at least divert attention)
• things to do list at work getting longer and longer and longer
• not knowing bureaucratic decisions I need for closure on certain things

Starting the morning with a funny

There's no better way to start the day than with a laugh, especially when its a cartoon, of the economic and political variety, poking fun of the current "global financial/economic crisis"...

So for the list:
Smile:

• incredibly inciteful/insightful comedy stylings from Kevin Dunne, from motherjones
• then of course, kudos to the cat for sitting patiently whilst I pat her and for the occassional purr

Snarl:

• the other way my morning started (including, hearing some random heave chunks next door whilst I was in the privacy of the bathroom, one piece of advice - that'll learn you! and thankfully it all happened next door!)
• early morning wake ups when I wanted to sleep in

balance

smile

• hugs with the bf, especially when he strokes my hair
• stroking the cat and when she lies on my lap
• watching dvds

snarl

• surgery - I'm in a world of hurt
• uni... not feeling the capacity to get it done

that is all...

5 things to smile and snarl about

Smile

• finishing and handing in one of the left over pieces of assessment - YAY!
• having understanding lecturers in the first place
• drinking one glass of champagne
• not having to worry about cooking dinner tonight
• watching Californication

Snarl

• having 4 more pieces of assessment to complete - GRRR!
• feeling overwhelmed by this
• house inspections during exam/take home exam time
• taking today off work to finish the assessment piece
• lacking motivation

Geez that was rather hard, but is all for now...