catch28

I failed economics. Well, three unit economics. And I only failed it in year 12. And I passed two unit economics quite well. But I failed the third unit, the advanced unit, and it didn’t count towards my TER (that’s Tertiary Entrence Rank, for all the UAI babies out there). Which meant I only got into the BA at sydney uni, instead of the Bachelor of Social Science at UNSW, which was my first preference.

But, you see, of all the subjects I took for my HSC, economics has by far been the most useful since I left school. The concepts I learnt in economics, about classic economic theory, the market, business cycles, supply and demand, etc etc, are fascinating, and help me understand so much of what is going on in the world. And secretly, I love it. I love the sheer brutality of classic economic theory, how cold and heartless it is. I love being able to understand it all. And I find it beautiful in a terrible terrible way. I can’t help but be impressed by the sheer scale of the monster. Having studies economics in highschool has helped me so much in my study at uni, and when I was an activist, and during my whole career as a public servent so far. It helps me understand politics, and policy, and why something happening somewhere far off in the world can have such an impact here. It helps me understand people. I cherish the economist in me.

so when last we’d heard from our intrepid hero (ie, me), it was over a month ago, in the middle of winter, and I was somewhat between places to live.

So… what’s been doing? Well, first the good news. I have a place! and a 12 month lease! and it’s far exceeded my expectations of what I could get, and hasn’t left me so incredibly dirt poor. Which is all good. And I’m loving the ’sham. Which is ’sham talk for Petersham. It’s a wee bit further from the city than I’ve been for a few years, but so unexpectedly full of lovely bits. I’m water tower adjacent, and titty bar adjacent, and marrickville adjacent, and two trains stations adjacent, and gay bar adjacent, and leichhardt adjacent, and great turkish place adjacent, and park adjacent, and pretty damn smack-bang in the middle of everything. Ok, maybe I’m not literally right next door to all thoses things, but most are within a 6 minute walk, so its pretty damn close.

So since I moved in about three weeks ago I’ve been steadily getting back into the goove of inner city live. This has meant re-learning the parramatta road buses, and going to the gym again, and checking out the markets (whereever and whichever are on), and going to see art, and eating lots of different food, and going dancing, and going drinking, and just generally being very busy again. And, of course, spring is less then a week away, so things will get busier. So on top of that I’ve added study, which starts next week, and I’ve promised myself not to drop out of (I want a postgraduate qualification goddammit!). Spring being less than a week away means I’ve also just recently incremented into my next decade, which seems to be making me question the age-appropriateness of all my clothes, particularly the ones without sleeves.

Which brings me to my saturn return, which I am either in the middle of or safely through, depending on who I talk too. I’m thinking in the middle of is possibly more accurate, considering that since the start of the year I’ve had three different jobs, and I’ve moved three times, and I’ve had three pay rises (unconnected to the job changing). Although, now that I think about it, that means three lots of threes, so maybe its over? I dunno, if things calm down between now and new year, I’ll let you know.

Anyways, I’m muchly tired now, so off to bed. 

I think I’ve almost settled on two tattoo "concepts," one for my arm/shoulder, the other for my calf. I really like them, and see myself getting both done before year’s end.

As regular readers may know, I’m a big one for sitting back and taking stock. Working out whats gone on and where its all headed. And it’s been a few months since I last did that, so maybe its time to do it again. But really, do I have the time for that? The answer would be nup. nada. zip. Ain’t got no time. It’s amazing how busy I’ve been, running around and rushing everywhere. There’s been heaps of stuff I’ve wanted to write about, heaps of stuff I’ve wanted to reflect on, but really, isn’t it all just terribly self-indulgent? I feel like I’m running down hill and accelerating, but rather than trying to plot where I’m going, I’m just trying to see where it takes me. And it’s been great so far, I’m really excited by everything that’s gone on. It’s like after the wettest summer ever, everything’s rushing to get done autumn before winter hits us. Bad Dog was the most funnest thing ever. But no time to stop and look around, time is in vanishingly short supply and sooooo much to do. See y’all on the flipside!

*PS. how great is it to be running down that hill, rather than running up it? 

I’ve taken to walking to and from work. This is a recent development, but it’s been delightful so far. It only takes me ten extra minutes then getting the train, which is still ten minutes less then the time it used to take me to get to and from parramatta, and means that I don’t have to contend with packed morning city trains. It also mean much delightful seems-like-summer sunshine. The journey is mostly through parks, or tree lined streets near parks, which generally means the most dangerous thing I have to worry about are the cyclists who travel the same route that I do. But it’s lovely to see people out and about before and after work, mostly doing things other than traveling to or from work. It makes such a nice change from the blank commuting faces of public transport.

The good thing is that when I start my next new job in a few weeks, it’s only an extra two blocks away. 

To sum up.

Rushing to find an outfit. Big Parade. Lots’o'hotties. Walk to venue through huge crowd.

Lining up. Strange venue. Bizarrely incongruous crowd. Price gouged for beer and vodka.

Dancing on a step. Telling everyone about new job. Cementing new friendships. Ghetto Pussy.

Heading off. Cheap anonymous sex. Smelly. Shower. Not enough sleep. Not enough water.

Watching "Bearcub" on SBS. Sleep. Wake up. Phone doesn’t work. Email work. More sleep.

Bus to metro. Food, finally. Icky feeling from food. Still not enough water. Bus home. Reading. Reading. Reading.

Phone works. New sim. New company. Same number. Relief. Reading. Reading. Reading. Reading.

So that’s about where I am now. My head hurts from the lack of sleep, the lack of water, and the lack of remembering to wear my glasses. Been feeling a bit down, more the result of chemicals than any actual problems, so I know it’ll pass. So tomorrow I go back to work where I’ve been for only four weeks now, and I have to tell them I’m leaving for a better job, just as I’ve finally got the right computer access and can actually do the job they’ve spent the past four weeks training me for. Should be interesting.

Meanwhile, here is a pretty good article about the recent trend of people getting southern cross tattoos.

Also, I’ve noticed that since Bjork came over for the sydney festival, everytime i’ve gone out dancing, various remixes of her music have been heard on the dance floor. Like everytime, and not the same tracks just from her recent album, but different ones. Its been great. I get excited every time. 

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

Wages skyrocketed and the government had to print more and more money to pay the bill. The crisis only hit workers when they noticed that month after month fewer affordable goods were available in the shops. By 1990, thanks to Gorbachev’s half-measures, basic consumer goods had literally disappeared from the shop shelves and hyper-inflation loomed. 

From "Russia. Which Way Paradise?" by Monica Attard. I heart Monica Attard. Okay next five people, go! 

It’s actually a lovely walk from redfern station to my new home in alexandria, all pretty and tree lined. I quite like my new place, even though I’ve only been here a few days. the indoor toilet is a big plus. I’m a smidge worried that I’m a bit distant from newtown though, and that I’ll miss out on stuff cuz my friends will just forget that i’m down here tucked in just below erskineville. Hopefully I’ve made enough of an impression on their lives that they’ll remember me.

I think this is my favourite website ever:

http://www.stevegjones.com/fearofescalatorshypnosisCDMP3.htm 

I love how it says I can overcome my fear of escalators without prescription! 

Actually, this whole escalator thing is a bit of a problem for me. I can go down them okay, although the longer ones are a bit scary. But going up an escalator anything higher than 1 level is damn near terrifying. And at my new place of work, to get from street level to lobby level requires I go up a very long escalator. Thus, a problem. Internet accounts recommend hypnotherapy, but I’m sure I’d rather go to an actual hypnotherapist than buy hypnotherapy online. 

So much fuss and stuff and nonsense, the times, they are a’changin’, a rolling stone gathers no moss, ain’t nobody gonna break my stride, ain’t nobody gonna slow me down.

I guess, what I’m trying to say is; stop the world I want to get off. At least just for a little bit. January has been extrordinarily busy. First wave after wave of birthday parties and events to go to, then a new place to live is looked for and found, a new job is offered, accepted and signed off on by all concerned, not to mention all the farewell morning teas and afterwork drinks for other people leaving, then suddenly its my last day in the current job, which happens to coincide with the last day of two other people, and I get home, check the mail, and there’s a letter from the university saying that I can continue in that course I thought I’d dropped out of last year. Turns out through some fluke of paper work I’d dropped out of the subject, but not quite fully dropped out of the degree program, so I can go back if I want. Cra-zay-zy.

So now the question is this; Do I, on top of the new living arrangements, and the new job, restart that law degree? I do have an hour and a half each day extra to play with now that I’ve significantly cut my commute. Maybe I could actually do a law degree…