spent the day compiling and calculating marks

God, it was so irritating. But at least I was then able to cross something else off my list of dumb things.

That Seventies Show wasn't as good today as recent days, either episode. Butand it was very exciting to come home knowing I had two eps on video to watch.

I ate this evening at a place in Moonee Ponds that advertises itself as a 'latin' eatery. I had two things called pupudas or something similar. I could not believe food so bland could be advertised as having flavour in any way, when it so obviously didn't.

Last night Francesca and I went to a gallery opening in Smith St, then to Greg's place where Francesca totally turned his life around and made him realise he could actually do a thesis on something he was interested in, not just computer games, which he confessed he was not interested in. Then to dinner at the Sri Lankan restaurant in Sydney Road, which was really good.

During the dinner I got a call on my mobile from someone called Ian, though it showed up on the phone as being Peta. He said he was trying to trace the origin of a text message he'd received from me about New Estate. I said I think I had probably programmed someone else's number into my phone in error and I apologised. But he wanted to talk about it.

Then I spent half the night calculating marks. Which brings me back to the title of this reminiscence. I hate calculating marks.

that seventies show

Channel 7 have a double helping of That Seventies Show on in the morning. What a joy. One thing (amongst a few) that really blurred my feelings of resentment/hostility towards a bunch of students I had last year was that they were all really into TSS and used to watch downloaded or otherwise stolen copies of the show in breaks. I think it is hilarious and I like it more and more. It's great to think I will get to see at least six more episodes this week! My favourite is definitely Kitty (Eric's mother) - the woman who plays her is a comedic genius. It would probably drive you mad playing that character too much, or at all, though.

Millie seems fine, though she is still growling a bit. She might just be getting old and cranky. I know what that's like.

Yesterday when Peter Hogg and I were talking I spontaneously said I had no desire to see War of the Worlds, which opens tomorrow. Since then I have been overwhelmed by a desire to see it. I believe Tom Cruise is in it who I really despise on a number of levels, though I suppose the main one is I think he's a shitty actor. No, I know he is. And I don't want to hear 'what about Magnolia?' He wasn't that good in that film, and one swallow doesn't make a summer anyway. (Tuesday is cliche day incidentally)

This is shaping up to be a good week on Neighbours, I'm glad I'm semi on holiday (I would always write on a student essay, 'semi is not a word'). (So maybe I'm totally on holiday). It's kind of weird that the two good-or-are-they-bad guys, Paul and Darcy, are both in hospital - while I suppose it gives each Karl's ear and presumably the whole truth about Izzy will come out, but nevertheless, it seems like a disruption to true soap equilibrium to have two hospitalised timebombs. Well, we've coped with worse.

Anyway, I have 21 out of 23 (I had two under my belt by the time TSS came on!) exams left to do. This is my final batch, then I put in the marks tomorrow. That will feel pretty good (except the few that fail - c'est la guerre, pom poms).

peter

Peter Hogg just dropped in. We talked about Doctor Who, Pink Floyd, The Ramones, dog behaviour, teaching, volcanoes. We are middle-aged men.

is she sick?

For the last few days Millie has been spending a lot of time up the back of the yard. Possibly this is because it's sunny up there, possibly - this is not such a good situation - because there's a bad dynamic between her and Charlie (though Charlie is often up there with her, so if Millie is trying to get away from Charlie she's going about it the wrong way). Possibly also she is sick. A couple of days ago I went up there and her stomach was kind of sucked in, and when I went up to her she threw up what looked like apple. On the other hand she is perfectly cheerful most of the time, still wants to go out for walks, etc. It's slightly worrying. It's more like she's a little under the weather than anything else. I should just take her to the vet I suppose but I'll wait a couple more days. (Later: she enjoyed a brisk walk and behaved in every other way as normal, so I will act on the assumption that she just likes sitting up there because it's sunnier).

This is our third day of crisp outdoors, quite cold, but still sunny. Really pretty pleasant although in this back room my fingers have been known to become numb. Which is where my circulation's at, I suppose.

Someone's been in the house while I'm not here. A plastic cup, which I never use and in fact haven't seen for months, has been placed in the kitchen sink. For some reason I am not creeped out, just mildly interested.

retreat

Went to see Dave Graney at the Retreat with Keir.

When I bought Rocka etc I also purchased a tape of the Red Crayola with Art and Language's Kangaroo. Really interesting that I remember this album so incredibly well. Also really interesting that someone had that record on tape (actually, it was a tape of the cassette version, with two extra tracks). On balance it's not such a great album, certainly nowhere near as good as Soldier Talk which, no kidding, is probably my favourite album ever or at least in the top 3. The title song on Kangaroo for instance sounds like some children's theatre troupe, it's shocking. There are all these extraneous noises throughout the album - sometimes this is cool but usually it sucks. But the V. I. Lenin and Jackson Pollock songs are great... there are some masterpieces. It was great to listen to again.

stag

Lat night was Andrew Withycombe's so-called buck's night, because he is marrying Katrina next Saturday. Of course, even to call such a thing a buck's night is to wallow deep in kiddin' yourself shit, because Andrew Withycombe and buck's night is like Jesus and kristallnacht. Less likely, actually. What happened was a small group of middle-aged Friends of Andrew assembled at a reasonably priced indian restaurant in Brunswick and ate quite well and pretended they could hear each other. I always enjoy Andrew's company and was very interested to hear about his progress on his honours thesis. I think his temperament is much more suited for an academic career than mine, but it seems unlikely that this is where he will end up (at this point; but ten years ago who would have thought of him doing an arts degree? So...)

There was a man at the other table who laughed like a gargling saw, or perhaps he was starting something up that was powered by two-stroke. Again and again.

We then adjourned to the East where the shittest blues band ever were playing in the front bar, a five-string bassist who was all thumbs, they had a song called 'Voodoo'. Very poor. Then I went to Francesca's house, where I had been invited to drop in apres stag since I was not able to make the dinner that was happening there, but all was quiet so I figured either they were all kissing or they were absent/sleeping/not to be disturbed. And so I went to the Pony and saw Panel of Judges play what struck me as an absolutely stunning set. Congratulations all.

This morning I went with my mother to Coburg trash 'n' treasure market and only bought two things: a 'jumbo' tin that had once contained icecream and which was $2, and a CD of Madonna's first album, called on this release, Madonna's First Album, for $2. There were many things I could have also almost bought but thankfully didn't. They will soon recede from my memory so I won't dredge them up here.

Might go to Dave Graney/Clare Moore show tonight.

warrnambool what is it good forrnambool

Went out to Warrnambool yesterday mainly on the train (irritatingly there is a bus between Melbourne and Geelong at the moment. When I asked the woman at the ticket counter why she said 'just to shit you, personally, off mate - the government hates you that much'. I believe her). The train ride is really great to W'bool however and I was mainly in the company of a colleague with whom I am going to write a journal article, so the time passed. W'bool itself hasn't changed much since I was last there (2 years or so ago).

Die Hard - the original - is on tv tonight so I think I will make a stir fry with the broccoli, spring onions, tofu, beans and something out of a tin I have and get some vietnamese mint out of the garden too... god it's good to be alive... and I'm not even sure if I'm being sarcastic saying that - well maybe it's an overreaction to a mundane event - but I am looking forward to it.

Neighbours was pretty good tonight with Paul in hospital flashbacking and when he got out of his hospital bed and said he heard his mobile ringing, that was a hoot.