galandir

Quizorama

2006-03-28T11:21:46Z

Ok...while I'm at it...

I'm a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite,and you know it.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Mmmm, Martini

2006-03-28T03:01:25Z

Well, this one was just too tempting...

You Are a Classic Martini

You area sophisticated drinker, who knows that simple quality is over-rated.
You're a knowledgeable drunk, but sometimes you're a know-it-all when you're blasted.

You should never: Drink and gossip. You tend to forget who's standing right behind you!

Your ideal party: Has a real bartender. But no one mixes a better drink than you.

Your drinking soulmates: those with a Chocolate Martini personality

Your drinking rivals: those with a Margarita Martini personality

What Flavor Martini Are You?

And no binka_boo, I didn't rig it :p

The magic window

2006-02-14T12:41:47Z

OK, it seems to be the latest trend, so why not, eh?

http://kevan.org/johari?name=galandir

Cop that

2005-12-30T04:16:19Z

Firstly on the matter of DVDs - Brittas Empire is not recommended. It has its moments, but on the whole isn't particularly funny. MDA was much better of course, but only four episodes were made in Season 2. *sigh* I wish there was some way to show more support to our local film making industry, because stuff like MDA deserves to be given a fair go.

In other news the bridge club AGM was held today. Seems that even though I argued (and voted) against most stuff the committee did this year, I still get labelled as part of the collective that screwed things up and consequently was voted out. Yay for politics. On the bright side, one less thing to worry about next year. It still annoys me though that in these situations it doesn't matter how hard you try to do the right thing. It doesn't seems to matter that the vote was 5-1 rather than 6-0. That and I just hate losing. In fairness I voted for 4 out of the 5 people who were elected

Better news came in the form of Bones. This is a TV series which will air soon here, but I was lucky enough that binka_boo (who always seems to know what I will like) put me onto it in advance. I have nine episodes, but that won't be enough. Definitely the best thing I've watched since Firefly, although a totally different genre. I haven't really watched CSI or any of the other shows going around at the moment, so won't try to make a comparison. It has interesting characters and stories and just the right blend of drama and humour though.

New DVDs

2005-12-28T08:15:23Z

Given the unenviable job of using an ABC shop voucher to purchase DVDs I just bought:

MDA Season 2 - Yay for the Australian TV industry, it is worth buying just to support Aussie actors :)

Brittas Empire - OK, I have never seen this, but it stars Chris Barrie (Rimmer!!)

More reports later if I haven't gone back to work before I watch these. Hang on, after I have taken over the world I probably don't have to go to work. Hmm, it just keeps getting better and better!

Eeek, another entry

2005-12-28T07:31:33Z

Hmm, it is strange having time off. Oh well, at least I get to do stuff.

I got a cool letter in the post today inviting me to join a secret society. Apparently I have been selected because I have phenomenal hidden talents and they will be able to train me to:

- read minds
- tell the future
- make extremely sexy, gorgeous women unavoidably drawn to me ( as if that doesn't happen now :p )
- a bunch of other stuff about being rich, happy and taking over the world

Hmm, not a bad offer I guess, plus its free!

In other less exciting news I went to get a CD player for my car that plays MP3 CDs. Hmm, could be a silly move if I'm going to take over the world, but I didn't know that until I got home! Apparently I can get awesome speakers for $54 and it will only cost $120 to get them installed. Hrm.

Back to planning taking over to the world then, so I can just order my minions to install the speakers. Mmmmm, free labour!

(Oh and yay for Internode who send me SMS updates on how my ADSL churn is going!)

galandir @ 2005-12-27T11:22:00

2005-12-27T00:54:57Z

Do you like food or have some good recipes that need to be shared with the world?

Join dashsplashpinch, LJ's premiere cooking community :)

C'mon, you know you want too!

Christmas Tree

2005-12-24T07:58:37Z

I just put up and decorated the tree. It looks a little something like this:

Another quiz...

2005-12-21T11:08:58Z

You scored as Simon, the Doctor. Simon Tam, a former well-to-do young surgeon and bachelor extraordinaire.
You gave up everything to help your sister, which I respect.
However, you are also pompous and talk too much, which I also respect.

</td>

Simon, the Doctor

63%

First Mate Zoe

63%

RiVER

63%

Inara, the "Companion"

56%

Captain Malcolm Reynolds

50%

Kaylee, the Mechanic

31%

Jayne Cobb, resident bad-ass

31%

Shepherd Book

31%

Wash, the Pilot

25%

FiREFLY QUIZ
created with QuizFarm.com

An update....at last

2004-10-11T12:06:28Z

Well, its been a while. Guess my life must be way, way too boring! Oh well, at least I'm not an accountant....yet. No, I shall never give in!

Lots of good things happening at the moment. Exams are all done and handed in now for uni. Its always a relief to have everything handed in, although I guess you never feel that ultimate sense of relief until the results come out. Not long to wait though.

Picked up Buffy 1-7 on Friday too, which is good timing now that everything is handed in. Sometimes it's good to have a job :)

Last week I was supposed to house sit, but managed to get booked on a trip to Sydney for most of the week, which meant I only actually house-sat for one night. Grrr, better luck next time I guess. At any rate, its got me scrimping and saving for my house deposit ASAP! Rent still is a depressing thought I think, although no doubt parents will drive me to renting out of sheer frustration. Now that exams and stuff are done I will be able to balance the Buffy and poker to help with that though. Oh, and on the Sydney subject, if anyone is over there, try the Hurricane Grill at Bondi. But make a booking! We went on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and had to wait an hour to get a table. A very good recommendation from me mate Dave. Apparently the boss was suitably impressed and it stacked up well with Gaucho's. It's a bit more casual and they have stuff like chunky monkey bbq sauce. Steaks come up to the 750g rump and I reckon I saw one person trying to eat a steak that was bigger than they were! Another advantage is that they are right next to a little cafe called Pompeii which has the best gelati in Sydney. The pistachio is simply unimaginably good. Its like eating the best pistachios you've every had, but in icecream form. Now that's good stuff.

A sad farewell also to my good friend from work happened on Friday night. Probably my favourite person at work, so it was sad to see her resign and move on although perhaps not totally unexpected. Management is not always to everyone's liking and subject to personality clashes. As one person put it on the farewell card 'now you are finally out of the asylum'. I guess you have to take the good with the bad. I've seen enough at other places to know the grass isn't any greener and opportunity is knocking. Also they pay for my uni stuff :)

Haven't been playing much bridge, but am feeling guilty as I want to win the trials in January, so recruited the best partner I could find for the State Pairs in a few weeks. I'm feeling really good about the trials too. It will be an interesting year and tough decisions had to be made. I have no regrets though and feel really good about the path I've gone down. Actually when you play with the best partner available that's normally a good path to go down in the bridge world. Like they say, bridge is like sex, if you don't have a good hand you need a good partner. Hmm </end>.

I will try to do more exciting stuff so I will have more to write about in the future, but can't make any promises unless I get a little help *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*

Until next time!

Mmmm, chocolate

2004-09-04T13:36:00Z

I think I know how Big Kev feels....I managed to stumble across a little place called 'The Chocolate Bean'. As the name implies, it embraces chocolate and most dishes have the stuff in some form or other. They have stuff like chocolate sushi, choco-nachos, chilli chocolate chicken burgers and chocolate duck. Of course if you're thirsty they look after you too....maybe a spiced hot chocolate, chilli chocolate coffee or, if you really need a fix, just order a pint of chocolate. Yup, a pint, straight chocolate. That's the stuff. On the tamer side fondue is always good and not as abundant as it should be! Prices are good too. Now I just need to save up enough to buy an East End apartment!

Hmm...speaking of apartments...back to poker!

Another day another DVD

2004-08-22T02:37:04Z

One more Babylon 5 DVD down, still three to go. I have started to really get into the series. I enjoyed the movie and used to watch the series when I had a chance, but it's nice to be able to have a meaningful sequence now instead of just watching random episodes without knowing the background. The character development is probably what I am enjoying the most as it just isn't a simple process (as it seems at first) of knowing who are the good guys and who are the bad guys!

On the bridge side I had a game with me mate Dave last night which was fun. We played in an online tournament that used set hands from some previous Bermuda Bowls. It meant you could see if you did as well as the likes of Hamman, Chagas, Helgemo, Bocchi and other superstars. That made it particularly satisfying to win the thing :)

Also on that front I finally managed to make a decision for the World's next year. With one of our best players out Australia has a bit of a dilemma and I'm not sure how well we can do. I have one year left as a 'Junior' so need to make the most of it. Have decided the best way to do that is play with one of our up and coming talents. Hopefully that way I can make some difference for the future and we can kick arse next year too!

I think I'm experiencing the 'inevitable' downturn at poker too, which is frustrating, but the things people do against you still keep you at the table knowing how the long term works out. If patience is a virtue, I am feeling particularly virtuous at the moment.

Hmm, better get back to it and hope for the long term correction.

The wonders of insurance

2004-08-18T13:15:40Z

Insurance can be a strange beast. Take Income Protection - if you are working and have an accident, you can insure your income. Pretty simple stuff. Of course the premiums depend on what you do and hence how likely you are to become injured.

Got some new quoting software today as one insurer appeared to have some good deals. So there I go to run a quote and have to look up the occupation for a client. Fine, its all standard....Manager (Admin Only). After all, on the other software that's what they have. Oh dear. It doesn't come up on an occupation search. So I decide to look through the whole list and see if I can find something appropriate. Well, needless to say, a relatively simple job description could not be found. They did have 'Artificial Inseminator', 'Banana Farmer', 'Faith Healer' and 'Horse Chiropractor'. Guess you have to cater for the common stuff rather than the exotic like management jobs.....

Got an email today too about Buffy DVD box sets on sale for $24.95! Woo. Hanging out for the Buffy education, but will definitely need to think about it. After all, even after I graduate with a B.Buffy (Hons) I may need a reference source. Who knows....might want to study for the Doctorate ;)

Hmm, time for more Babylon 5 methinks.

The Grand Crew

2004-08-15T10:01:03Z

Well, just got back from the launch of the Grand Crew at the Belgian Beer Cafe. Two hours of free Stellas and Hoegarden. A pity really, why can't they ever have the Leffe for free :(

Oh well, had another Gulden Draak. Damn it's good.

Got to town early, so had the mandatory look at JB and EB. Found 'Dogs playing poker' at EB for $4.95 and couldn't resist, especially after the inspiration of binka_boo's very cool poker icon (okok, I'm playing FOR the kitty's against the dogs!). Also found the first season of Babylon 5 for less than half price at JB. *sigh* I hate bargains, I can never resist. Oh well, I needed another DVD, so 924 minutes of viewing seemed like a good deal. Saw Buffy too, but only seasons 6+ were on sale, so I'm hanging out for the 1-5 so I can watch them in order. Playing too much bridge really killed me in terms of the stuff I would have liked to have seen. It was always on at the wrong times. Thanks to DVDs I will get to catch up on it all though :)

Two days of sleeping in and I'm still tired. Seems like its time to watch the first DVD of Babylon 5 and catch some zzzz's.

A long, long week

2004-08-13T11:52:46Z

Ok, after a long week I guess this isn't so far off.....

The end of another week

2004-08-13T11:42:47Z

Woo hoo!

On other matters:

What to do, what to do

2004-08-11T13:00:02Z

Introverted (I) 61.54% Extroverted (E) 38.46%
Imaginative (N) 56.41% Realistic (S) 43.59%
Intellectual (T) 62.86% Emotional (F) 37.14%
Easygoing (P) 61.29% Organized (J) 38.71%

Your type is: INTP

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<div align="center"> <table style="color: black; background: #eeeeee" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> <table style="color: black; background: #dddddd" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> Introverted (I) 61.54% Extroverted (E) 38.46%<br> Imaginative (N) 56.41% Realistic (S) 43.59%<br> Intellectual (T) 62.86% Emotional (F) 37.14%<br> Easygoing (P) 61.29% Organized (J) 38.71%<br> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="color: black; background: #eeeeee" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> Your type is: <b><font size="+3">INTP</font></b><br> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="color: black; background: #dddddd" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="280quot;>> <div align="left"> You are an Architect, possible professions include - strategic planning, writer, staff development, lawyer, architect, software designer, financial analyst, college professor, photographer, logician, artist, systems analyst, neurologist, physicist, psychologist, research/development specialist, computer programmer, data base manager, chemist, biologist, investigator. </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <a href="http://similarminds.com/career.html">Take Free Career Inventory Personality Test</a><br><font size="1"><a href="http://similarminds.com">personality tests by similarminds.com</a></font></div>

*yawn* Time for sleep. This is probably depressingly accurate. This place really makes me find too many things I find interesting.

In Bacio we trust

2004-08-11T12:49:01Z

Just eating some of the birthday remnats....

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.

I hope that's true....

A new beer

2004-08-11T11:24:28Z

Went to the Beligan Beer Cafe last night and discovered something new - Gulden Draak. Mmmmm, like liquid honey. Plus its about four standard drinks as its 10.3% :)

Mussells as always were good. Vin rouge is definitely the best. Just need to find more people who want to come along more often, any excuse will do really.

Work is still hectic, but so far I have kept my head above water. Just. I feel like Im starting to sink. We'll see, I'm sure the boss will let me know, he isn't shy. Have to train someone up too, so that makes it hard, since its kind of like having to swim with one arm tied behind your back. I'm not good at swimming either. Hmm.

Well, there isn't really much else going at the moment. Work and study seems to be plenty. Decisions to make for the world championships next year too. Will be my last year as a 'youth' so I don't want to get it wrong. I hate being in a position where whatever I do its bad for one of my close friends. Maybe there is a plan C, but I need to think of it quickly. Cue think music!

The white shirt lives

2004-08-09T10:36:59Z

Despite my previous comments on white shirts, I decided to buy one and try it. I hate to criticize something I haven't even tried, so I felt I should at least wear one once. Interestingly enough all the girls I know seem to look very pretty in white tops/shirts. Im an eyes man, so perhaps its just one less distraction.

Not being one to go half measures I even went the cufflink thing. Well....all I can say is I feel I've done my time now. I guess it all depends on what you believe in life. It seems a shame I have nothing better to do than think about wearing coloured vs white shirts and what a slur it is on the supposed meritocracy we live in. The concept of having to 'do your time' just seems so outdated. Perhaps if it were still a world where the aristocracy ruled things would be different, but, perhaps due to the overly American influence we get fed these days, we seem to be in a meritocracy - where we are not judged on class but on merit. We are encouraged to be ourselves and told that if we are the best we will rise to the top. Now I certainly don't believe in the 'you can do anything' philosophy - I mean its a great idea, but somewhat impractical. I couldn't be a fighter pilot for instance because I don't have 20/20 vision (and no-one comment about laser surgery!). In real life not everyone has what it takes to do anything. I always feel great around my friends, because most of them are the fortunate ones who just about can. And what's more I think most of them will rise to the top. Im happy to support that part of the meritocracy theory. Just don't tell people without a chance that they can do it (sometimes life sucks, but what can you do).

Hrm, err, what was I talking about? Oh, shirts. Right. Anyway, apart from the meritocracy vs aristocracy arguement comes the fact that I think I would rather be the black sheep. I mean I don't believe in doing things just to be different. I just like to do them in the best way I can and that often happens not to be the convential way of doing things. But hey, that's why I have some pretty darn cool friends. Thinking about such things makes life good :)

Oh well, enough about shirts. Didn't get up to much else today. Work was its usual self, although more hectic than usual when I remembered about our compliance audit tomorrow which I was supposed to prepare for. Such is life. No point in worrying, because if you do the right thing for people a compliance audit isn't an issue. Still, stressed bosses can be a bit painful to deal with, but Im sure it will all be good.

*yawn* still tired from Crown on Saturday (well, Sunday technically). Time for food now too....

Victory for the yoof team!

2004-08-08T09:59:04Z

Always good to celebrate a win at the victory dinner and the youth team delivered. Three years in a row now and we should be able to field a team as good next year too. Great to catch up with everyone at the victory dinner. Interestingly enough it was probably the first time Ive had a wine that was the same vintage as the year I was drinking it in. The 2004 wasn't so bad though, and once you've had enough it tastes ever better ;)

Went for the traditional trip to the Casino after dinner. All I can say is that Crown is soooooo much better than Adelaide Casino. Mmmm, poker tables. Took a while to settle in, but found the going about the same as 1/2 on the net. In other words easy money. If I had a beautiful young lady there with me it may have been the perfect night. Oh well, I'll have to work on that one.

So, so tired now though. The one bad thing about Crown...you finish playing at 4am and it takes another hour standing in a queue to get a taxi. Grrr, double grrr when you have a meeting at 10:30am the next, err same day. Yikes! Oh well, back in Adelaide now and its definitely time for sleep....

Study, study,study

2004-08-06T09:18:03Z

Another working week gone, which is always good.

Haven't had much time to post as I have an Economics test tomorrow morning. At least then its off to Melbourne for the weekend.

Its the first time since 1996 I haven't gone to the Nationals (bridge), so Im feeling the withdrawal symptoms. Get to go for the victory dinner though, 'cause I get a free flight over for a meeting on Sunday :)

Good to see SA are crushing the competition in the Youth and Seniors too. Those are the teams I feel the most attachment to the players with this year, so it feels good to see them do well. Let's hope tomorrow night at the victory dinner I can congratulate them on a win!

Oh well, back to study. I really shouldn't leave things until the last minute. I won't next time, promise. Well, I'll try not too. Why does this feel like deja vu?

Thou shalt dress how I say....not how I say

2004-08-03T10:29:05Z

Wow, what a day.

First of all thanks to binka_boo for the publicity, much appreciated. To anyone who has been added to my friends list, too bad, you shouldn't have seemed too interesting for me to be able to resist temptation :p

For those who haven't....I'm getting around to it, be nice, I'm a newbie!

Hmm, seems so out of character for me that I would even write any sort of journal. Normally my thoughts just stay in my head, which is probably the safest thing for the general public anyway. But I'm inspired two days in a row and have found it quite liberating to let the thoughts go free and forge their own path.

But back to the title of the post! We just had the most amazing meeting at work - not in the good or bad way, just amazing. For a bit of background, I work in a medium type accounting and financial planning firm, about 30 people all up. We had someone come in today to give the male staff a talk on how we should dress and present ourselves.

This was one of the best parts from our intergalactic guide to fashion:

"Do you know why I don't wear my own suits in my store? It's so that when customers come in they don't go 'Oh my god, you look so much better in that suit than I ever would'. I want to make them feel at home."

On that occassion and about half a dozen others if a pin had dropped I may well have been on the floor laughing when the boss was taking it all deadly serious.

Our man started by telling us that the most important thing to remember is that you have to dress for yourself. If you are happy and comfortable with what you are wearing, it will show and you will be more confident with clients. Let's refer to this as 'the golden rule' (TGR). From there we went on to learn that you are only allowed to wear suits that are charcoal, black or navy. You can only wear white shirts until you earn the right to wear colours through becoming more senior in the firm. For anyone thinking about a shirt with checks or stripes, forget it until you are at least 35. Buy five whites shirts and learn to love them.

Trying to be an enlightened and new age character when it came to question time at the end I couldn't resist asking how one obeys TGR whilst sticking to the rules. Take me, I wear a fine merino navy blue jumper. It makes me feel warm and comfortable, but I haven't earnt the right to wear anything but a white shirt. Apparently the all important golden rule doesn't apply in such circumstances. *sigh* At least the comedy value was priceless.

Hmm, I hope I don't become too addicted to this. Damn you people, stop inspiring me!

And then the Lord said, Let there be color.

2004-08-02T12:26:38Z

Okok, Im working on it! And a cool little icon :)

Can anyone out there who has been crazy enough to stumble onto the page suggest any sort of editors or other things I should be using?

The beginning

2004-08-02T11:51:25Z

The beginning has come...I am finally sufficiently curious that I can no longer resist the temptation to try my own LJ page.

Binka_boo first put me onto LJ and when I stumbled across the nethackers page and could no longer resist. *sigh* I dread to think what I am getting myself into or what horrors may be unleashed upon the world by delving into my mind - a place from which few return. Its not such a bad place really....

Don't know how long I will stay inspired, depends on whether anyone asks me about the good old days of Shattered Kingdom's I suppose. Now those were the days. Justice Teron style, you just don't see enough of that these days. The well plotted murders, Mr Evil's theories of 'rule the equipment supply and you will rule the world', the hideous beast causing curses to rain down from the gods on innocent bystanders. Hmm, no-one asked and already I've started. For any mudders out there I will post some worthwhile logs at some point.

In the real world I had my the wires on my braces tightened today. For those of you who don't know, 'you might be sore for a couple of days' can be translated from orthodontonian to english as 'buy the strongest pain killers you can get without a prescription'. Hopefully the drugs work. I was brave once, but I learnt.

Don't really know what else to say in my first post, other than beware, for a creature from the great unknown has been unleashed to LJ. We will see if it will bring endless destruction or peace and happiness to the world.

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