bookmark_borderOdecohol

Back to work today, even the weather has come out in sympathy. I know it’s only Wednesday and I’m trying NOT to focus on the weekend already, honest, but sometimes you get a sign and wonder why you bother fighting it.

On Saturday we’re at our first BBQ of the year. This is becoming somewhat of a ritual (same hosts) and usually ends up at silly o’clock in the morning when the margarita mix is finished. So, with that in mind, I give you the contents of a recent email. You may have seen this already.

~

Dear Alcohol,

First and foremost, let me tell you that I’m a huge fan of yours. As my friend, you always seem to be there when needed. The perfect post-work cocktail, a beer at the game, and you’re even around in the holidays, hidden inside chocolates as you warm us when we’re stuck in the midst of endless family gatherings. However, lately I’ve been wondering about your intentions. While I want to believe that you have my best interests at heart, I feel that your influence has led to some unwise consequences:

1. Phone calls
While I agree with you that communication is important, I question the suggestion that any conversation of substance or necessity takes place after 2 a.m. Why would you make me call those ex-boyfriends/girlfriends when I know for a fact they do not want to hear from me during the day, let alone all hours of the night?

2. Eating
Now, you know I love a good meal, but why do you suggest that I eat a kebab, a butter chicken curry along with a sausage with cheese, onion and mustard (washed down with WINE and topped off with a Kit Kat after a few sweet chilli and sour cream red rock chips)? I’m an eclectic eater, but I think you went too far this time.

3. Clumsiness
Unless you’re subtly trying to tell me that I need to do more yoga to improve my balance, I see NO need to hammer the issue home by causing me to fall down. It’s completely unnecessary, and the black and blue marks that appear on my body mysteriously the next day are beyond me. Similarly, it should never take me more than 45 seconds to get the front door key into the lock.

4. Next day
The hangovers have GOT to stop. This is getting ridiculous. I know a little penance for our previous evening’s debauchery may be in order, but the 3pm hangover immobility is completely unacceptable. My entire day is shot. I ask that, if the proper precautions are taken (water, vitamin B, bread products, aspirin) prior to going to sleep/passing out face down onthe kitchen floor with a bag of popcorn, the hangover should be minimal and in no way interfere with my daily activities.

Alcohol, I have enjoyed our friendship for some years now and would like to ensure that we remain on good terms. You’ve been the invoker of great stories, the provocation for much laughter, and the needed companion when I just don’t know what to do with the extra money in my pockets.

In order to continue this friendship, I ask that you carefully review my grievances above and address them immediately. I will look for an answer no later than Thursday 5pm (pre-happy hour) on your possible solutions and hopefully we can continue this fruitful partnership.

Thank you,

Your biggest fan

~

Remember kids, alcohol poisoning isn’t clever and should be left to those who’ve a lifetime of practis.. trying.

More later once I clear out my inbox. Now, where’s that delete key?

bookmark_borderRefocus

Oh dear, I can see that “Getting Things Done” is going to be the focus of my attention for a while. Already I’m thinking of little bits and bobs I can do, least of all better processing of my email.

The 43 Folders site is going to an excellent resource for me as I work through this book, but here’s a quick tech tip (well, more a sales pitch?) for anyone using Windows. Get Outlook 2003. You can easily flag emails (one click) and assigned different colours. Outlook then displays a “to be actioned” folder automatically, containing any that are flagged, perfect for those, to be done at some point emails.

Mind you, the only downside to reading this book is that it’s.. er.. stopping me getting things done as I’m racing through it. Quid pro quo, I guess.

bookmark_borderTodoToday

Being on holiday has it’s advantages. I can get up at 8.30 am, watch the penultimate episode of Huff, then ponder what to do with the rest of my day. Outside it’s murky grey and a sheen of drizzle is coating everything.

So I’ll be writing up a list of “recorded” DVDs (did I mention that I’ve now got a DVD recorder? It’s great, can record movies on Sky+ then dump them to DVD), cracking on with the HaloScan Wiki as there is a bit of a stooshy going on in the forums there (partly because I lost my rage a bit at continued sarcastic comments… yeah I know.. me getting annoyed at SOMEONE ELSE being sarcastic, who’da thunk it?), and I guess I’d better push on with the design for that other site for that new venture that I’m deliberately being cagey about to make it seem mysterious when really it isn’t.

Or I might read a book.

Or .. ?? Hmmm dunno.

In other personal news – this IS a fascinating post, isn’t it – having split open the wound on my back after I got my mole removed, the wound scabbed over. It’s been there for weeks, until this morning. It’s gone. The scab that is, not the wound. The scab was about the size of my thumbnail and quite thick, but I can’t find hide nor hair of it…

But then I did dream that I was eating sultanas last night…

bookmark_borderWeekender

Saturday I had a lie-in. Lounged around all day, watched football, X-Men 2 and pretty much did nothing. The most challenging aspect of Saturday was deciding when to go to the toilet. It was a much needed lazy lazy day after the last couple of weeks at work. That and I’d had a tickle at the back of my throat for a couple of days and figured I was fighting a small bug.

Sunday and with the blue skies calling us we headed out into the garden. I dug over a small area at the front of the house, ready to replant some Montbretia. However that was about it for me, I pottered around a little, then we stopped for lunch after which I fell asleep on the sofa for two hours. My darling wife left me sleeping and cut the grass!

My parents came over for dinner and I decided to take a couple of days off work.

Today I’ve been out in the garden, a little weeding, splitting and moving the Montbretia and more pottering about. Very pleasant.

I stopped at about 4pm and wandered to the bookcase as I’m currently without book. What do I spy there? Getting Things Done, the very book I mentioned on Friday. So I’ve started that AND The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, as I’ll need a literary distraction as well as a productivity “bible”.

Not entirely sure what I’ll do tomorrow, depends on the weather although the forecast isn’t good. I’ve a few things to tackle but I’ll make a decision tomorrow, once I see what kind of mood I’m in.

bookmark_borderMr. Blue Sky

There ain’t a cloud in sight, is today the day we waited for?

Not at work today, off out to enjoy the sunshine.

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

bookmark_borderBANANAS!!

Well apples actually… ohh ok Apple – the people who make all those lovely laptops, widescreen displays and the little white music boxes.

I hate them you see. Every where I turn I seem to be reading more and more about their latest little white box (and boy, is it tasty).

And now I really REALLY want one. And before you start pointing fingers (especially THERE, this is a family blog you know…) it’s not JUST because I’m materialistic and love their adverts. No no, there is a very good reason for this. Two in fact.

Reason One
The thought of simplifying the music choice for my commute to work appeals. Frequently you can find me standing at the platform at 7.50 am running my finger round and round the scroll of my iPod. Round and round and round I go, pausing, changing my mind, pausing, changing my mind. At 8am the train pulls into the station and I just randomly pick whatever track I’m on. Within seconds I’m wondering if maybe I should change it for something else… and I’m off again. Usually takes a good ten minutes to finally make a decision.

So an iPod shuffle would ease my problems. Every morning, plug it in, let it grab some random tracks, and just push play. Simple.

Reason Two
I don’t actually have an iPod. LOUISE has an iPod, I just use it more than she does. I’m fed up of her reminding me of this fact. I’m also fed up having to have a playlist of her music on … er.. her iPod. Don’t get me wrong I’ve nothing against the entire catalogue of crap 80s pop, honest, it’s just that… well… it’s crap and there is a danger that someone I know might see that I have “I think we’re alone now” by Tiffany on my iPod.

So if I had my own iPod Shuffle this wouldn’t be an issue. I could put MY music on it exclusively. You’d be saving my marriage. Think of it as an act of charitable goodwill.

So if you have a spare £100 lying around, I’ll have the 1GB model please. Thanks! (awfully generous of you, you shouldn’t have bothered, no really.. ohh it IS lovely, isn’t it…)

What? You want an incentive!? Aren’t saving my marriage and solving my “what music do I want to hear this morning?” issues enough for you?

Well, tell you what, how about I throw in a Flickr Pro account for ya, sweeten the deal? Ehh.. what else? A signed photo? Of course! Least I can do. Hmmmm what else? Go on, what would it take for me to get YOU to buy ME an iPod.

What can I do for you?

(You know this makes me feel cheap, and possibly even a little slutty, but I really don’t care…)