Podcasts

Back in May I discussed my joy in discovering podcasts. Since I'm trying to find my blog groove again and Sheldon, my male muse, refuses to come out of his air conditioned hibernation chamber and into the heat that is Queensland in spring I thought I'd share a few of my favourite podcasts with you. Aren't you lucky! (hee, I typed 'licky', which is an entirely different post) Let's go in alphabetical order:

Astronomy Cast: You may remember the post where I went on and on and ON about our visit to the Cosmos Centre out in Charleville. Or maybe you blocked that out. I've always had an interest in astronomy, and so this podcast appealed to me. The hosts, Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay, do an excellent job explaining "not only what we know, but how we know what we know" when it comes to all things astronomy. I wouldn't say they dumb the discussion down - far from it - but they do explain things in a way that the average person with an interest can understand most of the time. Sometimes I am totally lost, but that's more to do with my complete lack of understanding of physics and the like than the fault of the hosts. As the episodes are roughly 30 minutes in length, it's worth your time.

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Dan Carlin also does a political podcast, but I've never listened to it so I have no idea if his politics would appeal to me or not. As a matter of fact, I've deliberately NOT listened to it for fear I would loathe his political views and would therefore, out of principle, stop listening to his history podcast. So if you know something I don't, don't enlighten me. Dan is a self-classified "fan" of history, and so these far-too-infrequent episodes are not a dry lecture of a historic event but rather a modern discussion with a lot of "what-if" and "imagine this" scenarios. He reminds me of a history professor I had in college, who really ignited my then-simmering interest in history; Dan, like that teacher, really brings history to life. My only criticisms - the far-too-infrequent episodes (one a month if you're lucky) and the way he pronounces 'Macedonia'. Seriously, it drives me insane! But I get all excited when there is a new episode, and I can only wish history was taught like this in all classrooms.

The Skeptics Guide to the Universe: Let me give you the official description - the SGU is a weekly podcast "discussing the latest news and topics from the world of the paranormal, fringe science, and controversial claims from a scientific point of view." Sound boring? You couldn't be more wrong. It's a long podcast - over an hour -but it's broken down into more manageable chunks of recent news, questions and emails, an interview and the segment "Science or Fiction". My favourite interview to date was with my TV-crush, Mythbusters Adam Savage. If you like the work of James Randi or Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, this is a podcast for you. There are 5 hosts, and the interplay between them liven up what could be snorefest. They also have a "companion" podcast called The Skeptics Guide 5x5, where the five hosts discuss one topic for roughly 5 minutes - it would be a good introduction for someone who isn't sure they want to devote an entire hour to one show.

Skeptoid: This is one of my favourite podcasts and after I had listened to a few I promptly downloaded the entire back catalouge. Skeptoid, like the SGU above, is a weekly podcast dedicated to "blasting away the widespread pseudosciences that infect popular culture." Unlike the SGU, however, Skeptoid focuses on one topic per 10-15 minute episode. What really seals the deal for me on this podcast is the host, Brian Dunning. His sarcasm is almost tangible, which for me is a good thing, and I love his dry wit and humour. I'm often reminded of my brother, Gabe, when I listen to this and I think he'd really enjoy this one. Sparky likes this podcast as well, and if a 13 year old boys enjoys it I think you just might too.

Stuck In the 80s: Just so you don't think all I listen to is science and nursing podcasts, this is my other favourite podcast. My teenage years were spent in the greastest decade of all, so it's no wonder I go ga-ga over this. Host Steve Spears is the online editor of the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times and along with co-host Sean Daly (pop music critic at the Times) does a great job of reliving all the things we loved - and some shit we hated - about the 80s. I often spend an hour or so after listening to my 80s music and wishing I had more money to blow at iTunes. Many thanks to fellow blogger yellojkt for pointing this podcast out to me.

I listen to many others, but I doubt many among you would be interested in my nursing ones. Others post very infrequently or erratically and are very specific to my interests. I wish someone would do a rugby league podcast - there are plenty of AFL ones but none for the NRL. If anyone out there ends up listening to any of these, let me know what you think.

Now please excuse me while I drag Sheldon out of his hiding space and get him to help me be creative.

Am I Really?

I was in a punchy mood last Saturday night at work. Not "punchy" as in I wanted to hit anyone, but "punchy" as in I was feeling silly and wanted to have a bit of fun. This was likely due to the enormous amount of chocolate I ate earlier in the day and was still on a bit of a sugar rush. As we were getting our assignments for the night, someone made a comment about the New Zealand PM being on the field after the Warrior's game the night before and then going on to the dressing sheds. Being in the mood I was in, I quipped that I would very happily join her, camera in hand.

Later, my boss commented to me that my joke took him by surprise. "I had no idea you were like that," he said.

I grinned. "Every girl's gotta have a hobby."

It took me back to a comment made to me way back in my junior year in high school. It was before class started and I can't even remember what was being said, or what I said. As a matter of fact it was surprising I even spoke as I was painfully shy and not particularly popular in high school, so whatever I said must have just spilled out. The reply I got, however, has stuck with me for all these years: "Did you just say that? You, sweet and innocent (Mooselet)?" I just blushed and didn't say anything else, but knew I had given my classmates a peek at the inner me.

As I've gotten older, I like to think the inner Mooselet lives much closer to the surface. If you know me only by my blog, you'd think I'm the world biggest pervert what with the Skinfest and the, ah, colourful language. If you know me in the real world, you know that I'm not that obvious. I do believe in a bit of public decorum; that I don't need to let it all hang out, so to speak. But I'm still amazed when something I say completely takes people by surprise and I get a comment along the lines of my high school classmate from over 20 years ago.

So I'd like to ask the folks who know me personally - do I really come across as that "sweet and innocent" person? Or did you always have a clue that while I may be sweet, there was no way in the world I was all that innocent? Did my first "fuckity fuck fuck" take you completely by surprise? If you only know me from my blog, I'd like to ask your opinion as well: am I somehow being dishonest with this bit of duality that seems to exist? If you meet me in person, would you be disappointed if I wasn't as raunchy as I can be here? If you're my in-laws, are you horrified at what your son/brother married?

And is it a form of dishonesty - to be one way out in the world and another way in the blogosphere? I don't feel like I'm lying to anyone; just practicing a bit of discretion out in the world. The general anonymity of the internet allows us, or me in particular since I can't speak for everyone, an opportunity to let those parts of ourselves that may not be appriciated by the general public a chance to step up and be heard without the social repercussions. Sometimes that can be bad, especially when we cross that moral line and head into illegal activities, but having a leer at well built men - and women - doesn't even come close to that territory.

Sometimes I overthink things and I should just be me - in whatever form that happens to be at the time.

Saturday Skinfest

I was really hoping the Storm would go down in a screaming heap tonight (yes I'm doing this early - shush), and since they didn't I'm kinda depressed. I've been drowning my sorrows in Duran Duran videos on YouTube and re-living 80s music. Sure the lyrics of a lot of their songs make no sense, but let's face it - did a lot in the 80s make sense?

And had there been pictures of them like there are of my footy players today, no doubt I would have drooled over them, make-up and all. Yes, even then I was like this. And so are you, because well, you're here. So let's get to what you came for:

Even with a HUGE black eye and the icky arm tatt, Daniel Conn is pretty damned hot.

This is the last time you'll see Mark Gasnier on this blog. He's gone of to play that sissy rugby union in France, but at least he didn't sneak off in the middle of the night like some certain other player who will never be seen here again! Even with the surfboard rash, Gasnier's got a sweat bod... for a wanker.

What the hell is Michael Witt wearing? I, for one, think he'd look better if he just removed it.

Jessica Alba just had a baby a couple of months ago and now she looks like this? I hate her. Thanks to The Superficial for the pic.

More skin next week!

Photo Friday

I think you can safely say that he's beginning to feel more comfortable in his new home:

Westy on Her Majesty's bed.

I Knew This Would Happen

I've got all the kids home as it's school holiday time, so my mind is a little blank. Or rather, more so than usual. Wit is at a premium, and I'm just waiting for Miss Thing to come back from taking Westy from his walk so we can get Cheap Pizza from Dominos and $1.95 movies at Blockbuster. So you get this. Thanks to the Shepster who sent it to me.

John Adams

A few months ago Momma Mooselet sent me the biography John Adams, by David McCullough. I am ashamed to say that despite being from the same state as the second US President, and despite as a teenager walking past his house, now a museum and historical landmark, more times than I can remember, I knew next to nothing about him other than he was the second US President.

I finally finished it after many weeks of squeezing in readings in between everything else I'm doing. The book was very well written and was easy to read - in fact, it was fascinating. John Adams was a prolific writer - he wrote to just about anyone who wrote to him, wrote letters to newspapers, essays, legal briefs as well as keeping a journal. The vast majority of his writings have been preserved, from his courtship letters to his future wife Abigail to his post-President correspondence. He was a typical New Englander - pragmatic, practical and tight with money - but was also incredibly intelligent. He also possessed a keen insight into humanity, and some of his comments could have taken place today and not limited to the 17th century.

I offer some quotes from the book that I found either interesting or relevant. I have put the page in my copy (see the picture) in which the quote appears - if you have this book it may vary by a page or so:

Unfaithfulness in public stations is deeply criminal [he wrote to Abigail]. But there is no encouragement to be faithful. Neither profit, nor honor, nor applause is acquired by faithfulness... There is too much corruption, even in this infant age of our Republic. Virtue is not in fashion. Vice is not infamous. (pg 160)

I believe there is no one principle in which predominates in human nature so much in every stage of life, from the cradle to the grave, in males and females, old and young, black and white, rich and poor, high and low, as this passion for superiority. (pg 170)

There are persons whom in my heart I despise, others I abhor. Yet I am not obliged to inform the one of my contempt, nor the other of my detestation. This kind of dissimulation ... is a necessary branch of wisdom, and so far from being immoral ... that is a duty and a virtue. (pg 208)

If there is one central truth to be collected from the history of all ages, it is this: that the people's rights and liberties, and the democratical mixture in a constitution, can never be preserved without a strong executive, or, in other words, without separating the executive from the legislative power. If the executive power, or any considerable part of it, is left in the hands of an aristocratical or democratical assembly, it will corrupt the legislature as necessarily as rust corrupts iron, or as arsenic poisons the human body; and when the legislature is corrupted, the people are undone. (pg 375)

[To son Thomas] Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody. It will be dome by somebody or other. if wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not. A young man should weigh well his plans. Integrity should be preserved in all events, as essential to his happiness, through every stage of his existence. His first maxim then should be to place his honor out of reach of all men. In order to do this he must make it a rule never to become dependent on public employments for subsistence. Let him have a trade, a profession, a farm, a shop, something where he can honestly live, and then he may engage in public affairs, if invited, upon independent principles. My advice to my children is to maintain an independent character. (pg 415)

There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the Republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader and converting measures in opposition to each other. (pg 422)

Mankind will in time discover that unbridled majorities are as tyrannical and cruel as unlimitied despots. (pg 443-4, on the execution of King Louis XVI)

Is the present state of the national republic enough? Is virtue the principle of our government? Is honor? Or is ambition and avarice, adulation, baseness, covetousness, the thirst for riches, indifference concerning the means of rising and enrichng, the contempt of principle, the spirit of party and of faction the motive and principle that governs? (pg 588)

Our electioneering racers have started for the prize. Such a whipping and spurring and huzzaing! Oh what rare sport it will be! Through thick and thin, though mire and dirt, through bogs and fens and sloughs, dashing and splashing and crying out, the devil take the hindmost. How long will it be possible that honor, truth or virtue should be respected among a people who are engaged in such a quick and perpetual succession of such profligate collisions and conflicts? (pg 591)

This country has done much, I wish it may do more, and annul every narrow idea in religion, government and commerce. (pg 631)

You are not singular in your suspicions that you know but little. The longer I live, the more I read, the patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inqure, the less I seem to know... Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. This is enough... So questions and so answers your affectionate grandfather [to granddaughter Caroline]. (pg 650)

The mini-series that was made from this biography will be on Foxtel, on Showcase, and I'm looking forward to watching it as it was nominated for a bucketload of Emmy's. Although with my schedule of late I may purchase a copy and watch it on my own schedule as I had to do with the series The Tudors.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of your interest in history or nationality as I have found people are people no matter what country they live in. If any local Aussie's want to borrow my copy let me know and you're welcome to it. My only warning would be if you are a fan of Thomas Jefferson - the third US President and much better known - then this book will give you fits. Jefferson is not presented in the best light, and I was left wondering why Jefferson gets a memorial in Washington D.C. and Adams is forgotten.

I can only hope yellojkt will start counting biographies in his NationalJustReadMoreNovels months as this book beats a lot of novels out there.

Saturday Skinfest Returns

I had every intention of doing this last night when I came home from work. Then I found out the score of the Broncos semi-final, that they lost 16-14. Then I found out that they lost the game in the last 46 seconds, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. After the week the Broncos have put their fans through (if you don't know about this, just visit the Courier Mail website or Google the news site of your choice) it was an inglorious end to the season, and I wanted nothing to do with football when I got home. But I promised I'd get the Skinfest back on track, so here we are. And until these issues with the Broncos are resolved, I'm very reluctant to use them in the Skinfest. So we'll be seeing what other tasty treats the NRL can offer up:

No, no please don't lower that jersey Brett! I'm really liking that man-fuzz below the navel.

Never have I wanted to be a bag of ice so badly in all my days.

Jonathan Thurston fascinates me. He's goofy looking to be sure, and yet... Although even his chest looks a little odd in this shot. Still, I wouldn't say no.

Guys, I didn't forget about your cheesecake either... mmmmmmmmm, cheesecake (I mean actual cheesecake, not female flesh. Just so we're clear). Anyway, what says cheesecake better than a couple of Playboy Playmates:

Their names, if you care, are Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt. No, I don't know which is which and I don't think it really matters.

More skin next week! Good to be back.

Photo Friday

If this is returning, you can only guess what'll be back tomorrow. And if you think Her Majesty has grown, get a gander of Clive:

Tales From the Trip - The Tail of Bandit

Our second to last night up in Bundaberg was set to be absolutely freezing cold. Now when I say 'freezing' to the relatives back in New England, they tend to laugh at me. After all, I have been known to complain about the chill in the Brisbane air when it's 20 Celsius/68 Fahrenheit - balmy by Massachusetts standards. So it's a fair enough complaint (in my defense I claim climate adaptation, and expect to hear a fully apology from Momma Mooselet after she has spent several years in New Mexico). But it really was going to get cold, and by 8 pm there was enough of a bite in the still-damp air to rush through Her Majesty & Clive's bathtime in the unheated shower block and hustle back to the heated annex of the camper trailer.

As we began our walk back, a small creature that was following some other campers caught my eye. "Look sweetie," I said to Her Majesty, "it's a puppy." Knowing that pets weren't allowed in this particular caravan park, I wondered how my fellow campers had smuggled it in as it looked rather rambunctious. Well the puppy must have had ESP or something because it turned its attention to us and came bounding over as the previous family it was following continued on its way.

"Excuse me, isn't this your dog?" I asked, reaching down to give it a pat at it happily sniffed my toes.

"No, he just followed us from the toilets," was the reply before they vanished into the darkness. The dog had no intention of following them as Clive squealed happily and Her Majesty pranced nervously next to me - strange dogs, while she likes them, frighten her a bit. I knelt down for a closer look of my new friend.

He had a collar, but no tags, was well cared for and was obviously a pup. Thinking he had gotten away from his owners after a walk on the nearby beach, I took Her Majesty by the hand and continued to walk back to the camper trailer while looking for someone looking for a dog. There was no one, and our new companion kept dashing around our legs and scaring Her Majesty in the semi-darkness. "Go on, go back home," I shooed, hoping he'd done this sort of thing before and would go find his owner. No luck, and he followed us back to the camper trailer.

"Honey," I called to the Hermit as I approached and was met by a delighted Miss Thing, "can you come outside please?"

"What's the matter, you girls having some sort of spider trouble or something?" Oh he's a laugh a minute alright. He opened the zipper door of the annex and my four-legged friend bolted inside to check it all out.

"He followed us home," I explained as the pup continued its mad exploration of our temporary home. We could see that he was, indeed, a he and was a brindle Staffy pup. He also had no intention of leaving as he plonked himself down under the table and made himself at home. Now what?

Bandit as he made himself at home in the annex.

I walked up to the office with the pup in tow and had a chat with the owners; maybe this dog was a serial escapee and they knew who he belonged to. No such luck. In my only bad experience with the park, I was told to just let the puppy find its own way back home, wherever that may be. No offer to take the dog, contact the council or anything - just let it fend for itself. As Pup (as I had taken to calling him, with a capital 'P') and I walked back to the camper trailer, I knew I couldn't do that. I had no idea how far he'd travelled, or if indeed he had just escaped and wasn't dumped, unwanted. And it was going to be a cold night - how could I live with myself and just chase him away?

The Hermit had been busy, getting the numbers for the local council and RSPCA - after all we had experience with missing dogs ourselves. The council number had no after hours contact, so we left a message, and we spoke with someone at the RSPCA who took our information but told us no one had reported a dog matching Pup's description missing. Fortunately we were in agreement that Pup would stay with us for the night and we would turn him over to the council in the morning. The Hermit took off for a drive around the local neighbourhood to see if he could see anyone obviously looking for a lost pet, or maybe some signs, as the kids begged me to keep the dog and take it back to Brisbane. I reminded them of the pain of a missing dog, and that seemed to quiet them down on the thievery front.

After a night curled up on the Hermit's old Red Sox sweatshirt, we received a call from the caravan park office - did we still have the pup? It seemed the Council got our message and when they couldn't reach us, called the caravan park instead. Pup's name was Bandit, and he had pulled a Houdini on his owner the day before. The animal control officer would meet us at the front, as would the would-be owner to see if our overnight guest was, indeed, her missing dog. As it turned out it was, so Bandit gave us a final wiggle before being bundled back into the car and brought home.

What Bandit did for us, aside from weeing all over the aforementioned Red Sox sweatshirt, was make us realize it was time to put our loss of Sydney and Shelby behind us - it was time for a new dog. My friend, fellow blogger and fellow expat Kimmie had been trying to talk me into adopting a greyhound, but I had always put her off with the "we're just not ready" line. But now we were, so I phoned her up to discuss the possibility of a greyhound.

After reading up on the breed, and meeting Kimmie's dog Tiger for the first time, we went on the Greyhound Adoption Program, or GAP, waiting list in July. During my second week of prac the GAP co-ordinator phoned me with the news that they "may" have a dog. He was "a bit lazy" and there were concerns he wouldn't do well as a single dog or on such a large property. However he was good with kids and as there are nearly always people at home perhaps he'd be a good fit. We agreed to drive down and meet him - Kimmie convinced me that a male dog might be a better option as they "tend to ride the short yellow bus", which in our case wouldn't be a bad thing - and see how it went.

He was 7 years old, which for an ex-racer is up there - most are put out for adoption around age 3-5, when they retire. Why so long? We weren't overly put off by his age - I have a soft spot for older animals after having to have my dad's cats put down as no shelter would take them owing to their age (9 and 8) - but wanted to make sure he wasn't a problem, er, child. It turned out his owner/trainer simply liked him and so kept him for a while after retirement... until he kept a cat up in a tree for 3 days. Time for adoption. With that knowledge, the Hermit and I agreed that we would take the dog, and he came to his new home on the 6th of this month:

Westy on his bed with his "collection" of Her Majesty's toys. Books were brought to him by Her Majesty, who reads to him. I'm not making that up.

Westy and Her Majesty.

His racing name was Westys Revenge (or as it's spelt on his racing certificate, Westy's Revenge) and you can see his race history here, or at least part of his race history. Miss WTF swears she would have backed our dog when he was racing as she backs anything with the name 'West" in it. I hope she didn't loose too much money as he only has a couple of wins to his name. I took his name as a sign given Sparky plays footy for Wests. Good karma, I think. In the interests of fitting in with the given identities of the rest of the family on the blog, I'll leave his actual name (also known as their kennel name) a secret (although I will drop a hint and say he shares the same name as one of my nephews) and give him the blogname of Westy.

So now the male:female ration has tipped against my kind. I'm sure you'll be reading updates on Westy and his taste for Her Majesty's toys - fortunately the only thing he has destroyed is the arm of a Barbie doll (she's now a Paralympian) and just collects the rest around his bed. Thanks Bandit, for making us ready for Westy.

Match Report Monday - The Wrap Up

I will not bore you all to tears by doing a full report on the boys final games. Put aside the fact that I can't possibly remember the details of games that took place over a month ago, but to do a big write up at this late date is really silly. So I'll do a quick summary of the remaining games instead. When we last left our intrepid heroes, they were on the verge of clinching a place in the top four and their first-ever finals berth. Did they make it? Read on:

Round 13 U13s, Div 2
Date: 10 August 2008, 12:00 pm kickoff
Where: Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe
Who: Redcliffe Dolphins v Wests Panthers
Score: 48-18, Wests. Aw yeah, that's more like it!

Redcliffe has had a reversal of fortune this season, not winning a single game. Boy do we know how that feels! I'd have some empathy for them if they weren't such a dirty team. There is really no need to do a Willie Mason and have the big 85 kilo boys target the skinny 45 kilos wingers. It was good to see our boys not be intimidated by that nonsense - flattened perhaps, but not injured - and get a great win. Talent will win out every time.

There was a worrying moment in the game for me when DJ was flung out into touch and collided head-on with the Redcliffe touch judge. DJ got to his feet with his arms up in the air, rock-star style, but he was very wobbly for several minutes. After the game I discovered he was a bit fuzzy on the details of the game post-collision. Can you say concussion? As I recall, the tries were spread around the team so well done! This win kept them in the hunt for a place in the finals.

Round 11 U13s, Div 2
Date: 13 August 2008, 7:00 pm kickoff
Where: Ken Hayward Oval, Deception Bay
Who: Deception Bay Wanderers v Wests Panthers
Score: 32-10, Wests. We're in baby!!!

This was a crucial game for the mighty Panthers. A win would lift them into the top 4, a loss and it would all come down to the final game of the season. The game had been washed out a couple of weeks before, but there were questions as to its fate. The league had decided the game was too important to both teams not play, so they chose the Ekka holiday for a make-up game. Ekka holiday was a Wednesday, and I work on Wednesday. So you guessed it, the most important game of the season and I MISSED IT!!!!! I arranged for DJ to get a lift with Glenn and implored all and sundry to text me updates. God bless 'em they did!

It didn't start well, with the boys conceding first points to find themselves down 10-0. I was getting frantic, but then they did what they've done all season. They dug in and began scoring tries. At one point my phone was constantly buzzing with texts as Wests went on a scoring rampage, and then went silent for the last 10 minutes of the game. I guess Deception Bay tried to stem the tide, but it was too late.

This win clinched 4th spot for the boys and their finals debut, no matter what happened in the final round. I don't know who was happier - the boys, their coach or the parents.

Round 14 U13s, Div 2
Date: 17 August 2008, 1:00 pm kickoff
Where: Purtell Park, Bardon
Who: Wests Panthers v Arana Hills Panthers
Score: 26-20, Arana Hills. Drappaphooey.

Curse word courtesy of Her Majesty. It was not the boys best effort, but given it was their third game in a week it could have been a lot worse. Given the lousy effort by the officials it could have been a lot worse as well. Dear Ref, when a player (Arana Hills) deliberately throws the ball into the body of a tackled player whose head has just been deliberately slammed into the ground (Chris), that is a penalty. Dear Arana Touch Judge, when your player is pushed over the sideline you raise your flag, not wait until he gets across the tryline and gets the ball down. We take our losses when they are our doing, but they are hard to take when dirty play gets rewarded.

That said, I think knowing they had a finals berth locked up took some intensity out of the boys' game. They rallied in the second half, as they did all season, but it just wasn't enough to finish the regular season on a win. Bring on the finals!

Semi Finals Round 1 U13s, Div 2
Date: 24 August 2008, 10:30 am kickoff
Where: Frank Lind Oval, Mitchelton
Who: Brighton Roosters v Wests Panthers
Score: 50-20, Roosters.

The boys were confident going into this game. We had beaten Brighton in all our meetings this year and knew we had a great chance of advancing. Looking at that scoreline you might believe we were delusional, and I can see your point. The boys came out on fire and had a blazing first half, leading 14-4 at one point. Knowing that their second half is usually their better one, we parents were giddy with anticipation.

Yeah, well that didn't work out so well. Brighton ran away with the second half, and the defensive effort from our mighty Panthers was, well, less than mighty. They never gave up though, and a great intercept by Zack in the dying minutes salvaged some dignity. Full credit to Brighton - they played a clean game and simply performed better on the day. They went on to be knocked out in the Preliminary Final the next week by Albany Creek (38-20), who later the Grand Final to Arana Hills (18-4).

PRESENTATION DAY:

The club had their Presentation Day last weekend, and while other teams in the club had greater success - with 3 winning the Premiership in their divisions - much ado was made of our U13s. I don't know how the coaching staff was able to choose the winners for the trophies this year as you could have easily picked 2 or 3 boys for each one. Alas, there can be only one and each was well deserved. The boys were also treated by Coach Thom (who has promised to return next year, negating my threat to hunt him down and drag him back) to totally cool red hoodies with the club Panther on the front; DJ has practically lived in his since Sunday. I will post a picture soon. In the meantime, relive the season with this totally sweet montage that Glenn and Danni put together and was played at Presentation Day:

Thanks to everyone who reads these Match Reports - I know for many of you they make no sense at all, and I suspect a lot of my readers skip them. That's okay (you bastards). My kids are a huge part of me and therefore this blog; you'll just have to put up with it. For those who do read it, thanks for your support. Until next year, when we have both Sparky and Her Majesty playing (Her Majesty will play in the newly formed U6s), we resume our usual blog fodder.

Where Have I Been Q & A or I'm Not Dead

Q. Um, so what's the deal? You haven't updated for nearly a month. Are you okay?

A. To say that I have been busy is like saying President Bush has a little trouble with public speaking. I have been so damned busy I have lost over 8 lbs/3.6 kgs without even trying. I will now put part of that back on today since I receive MM's shipment of peanut butter cups (love you Mom!).

Q. Wow. What's going on?

A. As I eluded in past posts, I have begun my clinical practical coursework and am now on my final week. It is 5 days a week, 8 eight hours a day in a hospital that is a minimum 45 minute drive from my house. Since I can't put my family into cold storage while I get this done (note to self - if anyone comes up with a way to make that practical, claim ownership and part of the profits) and still have to work part-time for the Large Grocery Store That Employs Me to pay for the obscene child care bill of 5-days-a-week pracs, I have to try as do as much as I did before as well. Blogging, along with housework, will just have to wait a little longer.

Q. How are you managing to squeeze this post in now then?

A. This is one of my weeks I do the evening shift, from 3pm-11pm. I have dropped Clive and Her Majesty off at child care and so have the place to myself. Since it is Tuesday, that means Cheap Pizza night at Dominos so I don't have to cook dinner beforehand. A choice between blogging and housework? Blogging will win every time!

Q. I see. So how are the kiddies and the Hermit doing?

A. That's been the other horse fly in the ointment. Her Majesty came down with a raging fever a week and half ago - I'm talking 40 C/104 F - that, after a trip to not just the GP but the emergency room at a more local hospital the following evening when her temp skyrocketed again, turned out to be Influenza B (the offical nasal swab diagnosis). I missed two days of prac that week and she's still not 100%. It took an entire week for her appetite to come back and she's still falling asleep early. Her preschool teachers tell me she's still not tearing around like she was pre-flu, although she is slowly on the mend. Clive was sick just prior to her, but no where near Her Majesty's level; the Hermit had to leave work early to collect him from child care one day, and Clive stayed home with an also-sick Miss Thing the next day. Sparky was ill this past week, as was the Hermit, but nothing like Her Majesty. No doubt I will get sick next week, when I'm back home and everyone expects me to pick up the slack around the house.

Q. So everyone is helping out at home?

A. Meh. Yes with some things, no with others. If I leave specific instructions then it has a 90% chance of being done. If I just wish that all of them would look around the joint and see it's a mess and then show some initiative to clean it up for me, then I need to start believing in the Tooth Fairy. I'm not going to get into a bitch session, so I'll leave my disappointment at that.

Q. How is your prac going?

A. Very well. The staff where I am is fantastic. It helps that, while I am technically a student, I have that knowledge base of real-life nursing. I'm not afraid to do the scut work, I don't do the minimum and I'm always willing to help out. I've gotten good feedback from the staff and my facilitator/instructor, and I feel more confident than when I started. That being said, I'm looking forward to the break after this week. Maybe if I had a paycheck to go with the 40 hours a week I'm putting in I'd not look forward to the time off so much. :-)

Q. When can we expect you back? And will you bring the Skinfest with you?

I should be back this weekend and the Skinfest will be back as well. The NRL season is winding down what with finals this weekend - and I am so annoyed that I have to be at the hospital Friday night instead of watching the Broncos/Roosters game - but there are always hotties to display.

Thanks for your patience and understanding. I am looking forward to reading some awesome blogs again as well as updating this one.