Are weird, really. Kinda like looking through that patch of the windshield that's been rubbed clean by someone's cuff or a spare napkin or something. Everything outside that patch is a little foggy, a little out of focus, a little greasy?... Although that effect seems to last just while the glasses are on. Once they're off, given a minute or two, everything seems to go back to regular "in focus-ness", and it's only when you put them back on again that you realise that regular in focus-ness is actually not quite as good as you might perhaps hope. Still, I definitely makes colours brighter and lines more defined, although I'm still not sure if they're quite right... its only been a week though.
Oh, and Tim is right. The weirdest bit is that everyone seems to be invading your personal space - as if you're seeing the people around you properly for the first time (which I suppose, technically, you are) and it turns out that they should definitetly be keeping their distance a bit more. Malls, eh. Lots of people...
And added to the newness of the glasses, comes the newness of a new job. Big thanks for this goes to James C, as I was retreiving an article for him from the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) when the director there (one Dr. Martin Holland, who's car YED213, incidentally, forms part of the 213 mythos) asked if I wanted to become the administrator for the centre upon finishing the thesis (yes, yes. It's going. Probably not what you'd call "well", but definitely going). Which sounded cool to me. So, turns out his financial-type person quite as well, and now I will most likely be the administrator and financial-type person of the NCRE come March. Fabbo. It's only a halftime job though, but this plus the tutoring should see me well sorted for at least the first half of the year.
So, no more bourbon and coke in the forseeable future. Probably.
Right, other than that, those weddings are getting awful close there (scary), and I have to move out of my flat by February 9th (bloody annoying). Oh, and speaking of blogging, I seem to remember blogging a while ago that I was pretty damn happy even though (upon writing) I was sans job and girl, but definitely not sans thesis. Looks like, come March, I won't even have those three issues hanging around no more. Should be good :)
In fact, should be fantastic. And one of the major reasons for it being so damn fantastic, now and in the future? Sarah. She is lovely, and I can't wait to spend better time with her than the thesis-oriented snippits that she receives at the moment. Bring on March.
Discovering (only after opening the box they came in) that all eight (8) of the cans of coke you purchased this morning whilst still half asleep on your way to university are in fact cans of vanilla coke.
Piss.
Anyone out there actually like vanilla coke? I have eight cans, barely scorned, going cheap...
Update: Regarding yesterday's SOTU speech... the evolution (or is that devolution?) of Iraq's WMD programme. (With thanks to Calpundit)
March 2003: Weapons of mass destruction.
June 2003: Weapons of mass destruction programs.
October 2003: Weapons of mass destruction-related programs.
January 2004: Weapons of mass destruction-related program activities.
The target of widespread mockery? Deservedly so...
" [T]he Kay Report identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities"
Weapons of mass destruction-related program activities? Weapons of mass destruction-related program activities!
Say it fast, it's kinda fun.
Or better yet...
"For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible -- and no one can now doubt the word of America."
WTF? And people actually take him seriously? Argh.
Discovering that you have a free coffee card, fully stamped, within the general clutter of your shelves when you're out of money and wouldn't mind a caffiene hit, thank you very much.
Little things.
The first generation of transgenic pigs did, apparently. This, quite understandably, resulted in "a condition that dampened expectations that, once created, they would happily reproduce themselves."
Thesis, thesis, thesis! Thesis like you mean it! Hey!
Well, it's been a while, again. Haven't quite got the hang of the regular blog so here's a quick rundown of the last four weeks or so in sunny old Christchurch. And boy has it been sunny, mmhmm.
Many parties have been had, many people have been welcomed home for their summer trips, many people have been sorely missed in their absence from said parties and said home in general, and much thesis has been written. Spot the the untruth. So it is with a heavy heart that I face the next four weeks of frenetic thesis writing action, especially when we get a day like today...
Quickly then, a summary of some of the more memorable events in the last few weeks (apologies here if I've missed something that should have been memorable, but really, my memory isn't great when you get right down to it...)
First off, parties. Lots and lots of parties (tis the season and all). A couple of good ones at Charlie, Pete and Fi's, likewise at the Green Room, and even one at Otara Street, warming the place good. A great afternoon/evening was had at the Caygill's, celebrating Emily's 21st and the joy of a constant supply of finger food, via certain Caygill family members. Not all that much drinking (good), not a lot of guitar playing either (bad), but still good times had by all (possibly aided by the lesser amounts of both alcohol and guitar... who knows).
Return of the King? I still haven't seen it again, so no real comments yet. Except to say I keep getting the feeling that these theatrical releases are really just teasers for the extended edition DVDs.
Work? I've just taken the month of January off, so if you were hell bent on being served a Long Island Iced Tea by myself at the fine establishment in the near future, you're shite out of luck. Sorry bout that.
Christmas Day was a quiet affair with a late brunch at Mum's (just the two of us - it's kind of like a normal lunch, but we exchange presents first), a quick dash to see Sarah's family, then Emma's family, then back again to Mum's to catch up with any and all who had become tired of hanging with their own kin. Ever After was the winner on the day, as was the present from my sister (Back to Mine - Faithless), and general lounging around and being full and relaxed and christmasy feeling. Boxing Day saw a fantastic picnic at Mona Vale, complete with leftovers, touch NFL, Ultimate, and ducks, followed by a Little River run (the first of many) to have a Christmas meal with the other half of the family. All was good, with the night capped off by a party at Rhodes Street.
A couple of trips to Little River later (plug here for the bakery out there - great food and coffee, less people than the cafe up the road, and cheaper too) and it was time for New Years Eve celebrations, kindly organised by my Father's partner, Liz, and her daughters on her small section further up Puaha Valley. We got out there early and helped to put the marquee up and get things kind of sorted out, and by the time people started arriving at around six, the area surrounded by the bend in the river was looking mighty party-fine indeed. Complete with bbq area, band, turntables, hay bales, lighting... it looked like being a fantastic night. Which it was. The other side of the river became an impromptu camping ground, a shame for those unlucky enough to be in full sun when it emerged at about 8 in the morning, when tents became instant ovens. The weather was absolutely perfect, and a big thank you to all who attended (about 25-30 of us, out of maybe 150+ people total?) and helped make it one of the more memorable New Years Eve parties that I, at least, have had. Asked if she would have another one next year, Liz uttered a very firm "No way." Shame really.
No major events to retell from the night. The Smith/Kerr clan plus extras are voted the "Worse for Wear" award for the morning after. Never have I seen pretty much an entire family so hungover at one time. Ben and co. were gone by the time I emerged from my tent - off to peruse the various bays of the peninsular for the day, I hear it was a good one. I hear that a lot of us ended up watching the sunrise from the hill top - good work all. Corey managed to stay wide awake for the enitre night, and much of the day, without seemingly too much pain. And good to see many of us huddled around cappucinos or lattes or whatever at the bakery on the way home that morning - just cos we were tenting doesn't mean we were roughing it, apparently.
The most important, and exciting, part of the last few weeks I've left till last. It has been the decision by Sarah and I to (finally, I hear certain audience members say) have a go at this thing that's been part of who we are for so many years. We've danced around each other since the very first day of high school, sometimes drifting apart, sometimes pulling near, but always having a strong, underlying, deep connection. (I believe Ben used magnets to describe how it happened...) Well, we're finally in that relationship which has always threatened, and things are good. Where they'll lead is anyone's guess, but it is a welcome release to be able to say that we are together, right now, and to be able to act on those deep feelings that have always been a part of me. Indeed.