Melbourne

Today is my birthday and I’m going through my usual sadness phase about turning a year older. Feelings of being a failure are creeping in as I wish I would have achieved more by now, going into later 30s. I need to work harder at changing up the things I don’t like, because some (most) days, I feel like I’ve just given up.

I’m hoping I feel more positive in the morning. Have rooftop arvo drinks / dinner planned with a few friends which should be nice. Will do a few pressing tasks for work in the morning, but otherwise I’m taking the day off. Working won’t make my day any better, that’s for sure.

Sorry for the late night rant but typing this all out helps.

Greetings from Saigon

First 1 on 1 meeting with new manager today, after making a couple of silly mistakes in my first week with her. Then five months probation review with first manager tomorrow 😰. Also tonight is first night of THREE in a row where I'm meeting up for dinner with various people after work. Unheard of. I'm not this social

My old manager is happy to advocate for the pay rise!!! It's no guarantee but it's a start :)

Edit: She's going to try for the amount that I asked for which is all I wanted really. Still going to interview for new roles just in case though.

I worked fucking hard to day. Washing, organised my linen press, cleaned bathroom cupboard. Threw out a heap of shit. Donated a heap of shit (good shit that I don't need). I'm having a beer soon.

Felt mega tired today and had blurry vision, and so I just lay on the couch listening to jazz music. Managed a bit of guitar and then the dog was pawing me to pat him.

We also got news on Geoffrey the dog's lump. It was cancerous, but the vet thinks they removed it all because they also removed a 2mm margin around the lump.

Now I've got some friends coming to pick me up, and I shall go outside properly.

I have just spent the last 5 hours of my work day fixing a problem that was caused by my boss doing the glad-handing 'everybody's a mate' method of billing for overdue accounts. I am so over this. Am I legally allowed to tie a pillowcase over my boss's head after having inserted a pair of explorers into his mouth? Preferably having loaded the socks with mustard. Or horseradish.

And I do the evil-dragon overdue accounts lady very well, but why should I have to? Such a waste of time.

In the midst of today’s gloom about the times we live in, (and gloomy it is), here is a small but significant Nice Thing appreciation. We live in a time where there is a machine in my kitchen that can keep stuff cold, and it even has a special section where it can keep flavoured creamy and icy confections frozen, and keep frozen water for my drinks. A delight on a hot day.

Interview this afternoon went ok I think. We'll find out soon.

It's been so hot Bill is just crashed out on the floor next to me.

My brain is screaming at me

Oh my god shut up

Filling out patient registration form because I'm getting my wisdom teeth removed next week. It's asking for my religion, and amongst the options are Jedi and Witchcraft.

Friend wants me to put Witchcraft, but I'm thinking Jedi.

Edit: I am a Jedi

garden pics, here are some jalapenos and some manzano chilies, i'll be picking them soon to make chili bread 🤤 the manzano's not looking great, this year I will collect some seeds and grow new plants

am I sook?

Trump scares me and I am afraid for friends who live in America. 😢

I am scared for all the good people

What a bizarre timeline we're livin' in.

Weather is just 👌🏻 out there today. Warm sun, cool breeze, perfect for lounging around in - people on leave this week must be just killing it.

I'm not sure where to go for a walk to. Today would be the perfect sort of day to hang out with friends but I don't really have any who I can just spontaneously do stuff with...

Why the fuck does next Monday have to be 38C though 😭 I actually had hoped to do a day's field work in lieu of the PH to make use of free city parking. Ughhh. Maybe need to force myself to do a 7am start. We'll see ...

fuuuuuckin' hell muskrat

Uuuurgh. Wish I didn't have to go into the office today but it's for a good cause.

Never seen the reddit algorithm so brazenly trying to trigger an emotional reaction. The amount of American BS when I haven't clicked on any of that stuff in over 2 months is really really... pathetic. that's the word for it. Its like a socially inept person trying to bate you into an argument. you almost feel sorry for it.

I know i pitched it yesterday, but I cannot overstate how great it is to just not give a shit. If you dont have to engage then dont. Its not our fight, and your mental health will thank you.

30 mins to go.

I'm not holding my breath.

Hi ho, hi ho.. almost there. My bus smells like dusty upholstery. Might need a second coffee this morning because I ruined mine, but drank it anyway because I didn't want to waste it. I always set up Mr P's cup for later when I make mine, and he takes 2 sugars which I accidentally put in my cup 😝 I don't take any sugar so it was like a weird candy coffee flavour 😝😝

Finally home after a long day. My first meeting with new manager postponed until after my more srs meeting re: probation tmrw. Had Ethiopian for the first time in... Ever? Or a very long time. My god it was the best meal I'd had in ages. A bit like indian curries but more vibrant and fresh, less rich. Served on/with a special bread made from a fermented wheat-adjacent crop. Blown away. Go try it if you haven't

Edit for pic

spoiler

first time coming across actually sensitive information at work and it is so much fun

I dreamed I rented a used empty grave to sleep in like a hostel bed, and then I was joining one of the meal meetings of you lot.

5 hours of restless, nightmarish sleep.

💀

If we're going for controversial topics, Muster Dogs this season is Kelpies vs Collies- which team are you?

Team Kelpie here, collies are great but I grew up with a couple of gorgeous kelpies, best dogs ever.

My US workmate is not having a great day

My local IGA does pork crackle. Making banh mis is simple as now. They also do fresh sushi rolls and coffee. I want to know what other IGAs do out there.

Ugh. Crap Sleep Gang, checking in. 👋🏻

Been up for almost an hour. Brain also very busy. Slight headache. Yawning like there is no tomorrow and of course, look like a smashed pasty.

Great start. Happy Tuesday, DDT fam.

I haven't had the convo yet, but I was just handed 2 extra clients.

I did the meat of my work. The written questions and assessments are done now. But I've also got emails to write. Which is easy enough, I write emails all the time! But I have to read through work health and safety policies for a fictional organisation, cross reference with the irl occupational health and safety act, and then reference things in the emails. So it requires a bit more brain capacity than I currently have the space for. That's a tomorrow job

Night peoples

it's warm

Warm bad. I need to wake up early to make phone calls but don’t see myself sleeping soon.

Most controversial DT in c/Melbourne history? Lol

I don't care too much, but let's get back to our usual more upbeat antics. I'll start by sharing magpie:

It was staring at us while we were barbecuing on Sunday. Everybody was sure it was going to try and swoop some bread or a snag, but it just sat there, staring, for an uncomfortably long time. Felt a little bad ngl, but if I feel wildlife, I'd rather feed them something more nutritious than home brand white bread

real life stuff, because this is the stuff that counts

Listening to a bunch of LPs from the opshop.

First up was the soundtrack album to The Gadfly, conducted by Khachaturian himself. Really good.

The Original Inkspots. Such sweet music. If I Didn't Care is the 10th top selling single ever, selling 19 million copies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC_VzbtRGr0

The next record ( so old it's a shellac ) is The Left Bank Bear Cats playing Dixieland recorded live in Paris . 1958. Sounds pretty hep so far. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nv48zs4HGA omg, this sounds so much like Shorty Rogers 😀( the guys who did the Three Little Bops )