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It's weird how everything happens at once - July and August I was largely bored and had nothing to entertain me (with soem exceptions, of course) and then September arrives, bringing a trip to Brisbane, a [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] in Melbourne, a visit from my brother next week, the Whitlams the week after (and a probable trip home), and then another trip to Sydney, and more busy-ness than I can keep up with.
Not that I'm complaining, mind you. *grins* It just means I don't get a lot of time for online or writing stuff.
So, Mel showed up on Saturday morning and snuck on me at the bus station by sneakily catching a taxi instead of the Skybus, who are silly and don't take credit cards. After heading up to my place to drop her stuff off and chat for a while, we braved the typical Melbourne weather to meet with the Maelstrom down at Federation Square. Where, apparently, someone had ordered a demonstration without checking with me. ;) It got interesting, finding people. But eventually the XXXX Men assembled and made our way to the usual Asian food place for lunch. And talk. And lots of tea.
Along the way, it was decided that a good way to spend the afternoon would be to go watch Pirates of the Carribean. Once we found where it was showing, of course. And yes, buying the newspaper would have been easier, [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], but not as exercising. ;) We got lucky and found a session only 45 minutes' wait away, and proceeded to spend that time in the Portland Hotel which is next door.
I have say, depsite misgivings on finding that the director was the same guy responsible for Armaggedon and Pearl Harbour, Pirates was a hell of a lot of fun. Wouldn't have been that way without Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, of course, who were just having a ball with the whole thing. Orlando did what he does best, which is look pretty, do nifty fight scenes, and look earnest at the right moments, and the girl (I'm sorry, I've forgotten the actor's name) had enough personality that I didn't wish something would just kill her already, although apparently not enough for me to remember who is is. ;) But yeah, I'm such a Depp fangirl. My personal favourite fantasy is him playing Dream in a good adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Sandman books... *goes off to drool for a minute or two*
Any way, after the movie we reduced the crew by three, with the outer suburbian contingent having to get the appropriate public transport home, and Yasmin leaving us at the university tram stop, and headed back to my place so Mel and I could get changed for the evening's clubbing. Apologies again to [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] for the wait for food, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. *grins* There were cocktails at the Soul Train, who are becoming very well acquainted with at least Phil and myself, and then we left [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] at the tramstop and made our own way to the 9th Ward, which is, I've decided, a great find. The drinks are pretty well-priced for a club, the music is good (Brit night on Saturdays, which keeps Phil very happy *grins*), and for the most part the people are pretty okay, although it wasn't quite the case on Saturday with a lot of elbowing going on and an unfortunate incident with a full glass being dropped and spraying Mel. *phbbtts* We wandered out around 2.30-ish, intending to try another place, but discovered a) it had a long queue and b) it seemed to have a derss code, which Mel and I could have passed, but not Phil. And the Lounge wouldn't let Phil in either, so we ended in the 24-hour backpacker bar for a couple of drinks. There was talking, at least from Mel and Phil - my brain switched off and it was all I could do to stay awake.
Sunday I introduced Mel to the all-day breakfast of much yumminess at the Comfortable Chair, where we caught up to Bounce as well, and repaired some of the damage done the night before with lots of juice and big plates of food and coffee (for my part) and tea (for Mel's). And Bounce did a nifty little water colour sketch of me - apparently I can sit still far better than Mel. *grins* So when she's all famous, I can point at it on the wall of the gallery and say "That's me!"
It was three-ish by the time we left the Chair and collected Mel's belongings to get her checked into her hotel and signed up for the conference (the whole reason she's here in the first place!). The conference part was easy enough, but the hotel was one of those sneaky hiding ones, and took a bit of finding. So there was a lot of walking and some disgruntlement by the time we finally found the place. :P I hope the buffet brekkie made up for it, Melancamp. *grins*
After Mel checked in and dumped her stuff, we headed down to St Kilda to meet with Phil, where it was decided that Bounce and I can both make money if I pimp her. *looks innocent* What? It's a win-win situation! She needs a job next year, I need a roomie, and I think I'd look good in a long purple velvet coat and a big hat with a feather in it.
Any way, once we decided Bounce's new career path, we went to Acland Street and a really good pizza bar, where there was much-needed food, and a couple of bottles of nice red wine, and a lot of talking and hatching of plans and laughing and man, do I love those moments. Hanging around with friends, talking shit, and just enjoying the company.
'S all good.
Because Mel had her conference and I had work and Bounce had school, it wasn't a huge night, so we jumped on the tram and headed back to our respective abodes, although I just missed the 19 up to Brunswick and had to hang around the terminal a while and have this odd Italian lady pat me on the knee. Today I have lunch with Bounce, so I can go over a job application for her (hmm, I shoudl probably do that reference for her today, too), and karate tonight, and then tomorrow night Mel and I are taking Phil's DVD player back to him and watching He Died With A Falafel In His Hand. Finally. And there's dinner on Wednesday night before Mel goes back, probably around 5.30 ish, since she flies out at 8 and needs to get to the airport to check in.
So yes, David, I am hard to get hold of on the weekend. :) I'll call you tonight.
Not that I'm complaining, mind you. *grins* It just means I don't get a lot of time for online or writing stuff.
So, Mel showed up on Saturday morning and snuck on me at the bus station by sneakily catching a taxi instead of the Skybus, who are silly and don't take credit cards. After heading up to my place to drop her stuff off and chat for a while, we braved the typical Melbourne weather to meet with the Maelstrom down at Federation Square. Where, apparently, someone had ordered a demonstration without checking with me. ;) It got interesting, finding people. But eventually the XXXX Men assembled and made our way to the usual Asian food place for lunch. And talk. And lots of tea.
Along the way, it was decided that a good way to spend the afternoon would be to go watch Pirates of the Carribean. Once we found where it was showing, of course. And yes, buying the newspaper would have been easier, [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], but not as exercising. ;) We got lucky and found a session only 45 minutes' wait away, and proceeded to spend that time in the Portland Hotel which is next door.
I have say, depsite misgivings on finding that the director was the same guy responsible for Armaggedon and Pearl Harbour, Pirates was a hell of a lot of fun. Wouldn't have been that way without Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, of course, who were just having a ball with the whole thing. Orlando did what he does best, which is look pretty, do nifty fight scenes, and look earnest at the right moments, and the girl (I'm sorry, I've forgotten the actor's name) had enough personality that I didn't wish something would just kill her already, although apparently not enough for me to remember who is is. ;) But yeah, I'm such a Depp fangirl. My personal favourite fantasy is him playing Dream in a good adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Sandman books... *goes off to drool for a minute or two*
Any way, after the movie we reduced the crew by three, with the outer suburbian contingent having to get the appropriate public transport home, and Yasmin leaving us at the university tram stop, and headed back to my place so Mel and I could get changed for the evening's clubbing. Apologies again to [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] for the wait for food, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. *grins* There were cocktails at the Soul Train, who are becoming very well acquainted with at least Phil and myself, and then we left [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] at the tramstop and made our own way to the 9th Ward, which is, I've decided, a great find. The drinks are pretty well-priced for a club, the music is good (Brit night on Saturdays, which keeps Phil very happy *grins*), and for the most part the people are pretty okay, although it wasn't quite the case on Saturday with a lot of elbowing going on and an unfortunate incident with a full glass being dropped and spraying Mel. *phbbtts* We wandered out around 2.30-ish, intending to try another place, but discovered a) it had a long queue and b) it seemed to have a derss code, which Mel and I could have passed, but not Phil. And the Lounge wouldn't let Phil in either, so we ended in the 24-hour backpacker bar for a couple of drinks. There was talking, at least from Mel and Phil - my brain switched off and it was all I could do to stay awake.
Sunday I introduced Mel to the all-day breakfast of much yumminess at the Comfortable Chair, where we caught up to Bounce as well, and repaired some of the damage done the night before with lots of juice and big plates of food and coffee (for my part) and tea (for Mel's). And Bounce did a nifty little water colour sketch of me - apparently I can sit still far better than Mel. *grins* So when she's all famous, I can point at it on the wall of the gallery and say "That's me!"
It was three-ish by the time we left the Chair and collected Mel's belongings to get her checked into her hotel and signed up for the conference (the whole reason she's here in the first place!). The conference part was easy enough, but the hotel was one of those sneaky hiding ones, and took a bit of finding. So there was a lot of walking and some disgruntlement by the time we finally found the place. :P I hope the buffet brekkie made up for it, Melancamp. *grins*
After Mel checked in and dumped her stuff, we headed down to St Kilda to meet with Phil, where it was decided that Bounce and I can both make money if I pimp her. *looks innocent* What? It's a win-win situation! She needs a job next year, I need a roomie, and I think I'd look good in a long purple velvet coat and a big hat with a feather in it.
Any way, once we decided Bounce's new career path, we went to Acland Street and a really good pizza bar, where there was much-needed food, and a couple of bottles of nice red wine, and a lot of talking and hatching of plans and laughing and man, do I love those moments. Hanging around with friends, talking shit, and just enjoying the company.
'S all good.
Because Mel had her conference and I had work and Bounce had school, it wasn't a huge night, so we jumped on the tram and headed back to our respective abodes, although I just missed the 19 up to Brunswick and had to hang around the terminal a while and have this odd Italian lady pat me on the knee. Today I have lunch with Bounce, so I can go over a job application for her (hmm, I shoudl probably do that reference for her today, too), and karate tonight, and then tomorrow night Mel and I are taking Phil's DVD player back to him and watching He Died With A Falafel In His Hand. Finally. And there's dinner on Wednesday night before Mel goes back, probably around 5.30 ish, since she flies out at 8 and needs to get to the airport to check in.
So yes, David, I am hard to get hold of on the weekend. :) I'll call you tonight.
