Blog Revival

Revival of the Blog

It has been years since I've touched this blog, but with the demise of Google+ it's probably for the better.

So, what has happened since I abandoned the Blog?

The short story:
I bought an overpiced house, got married, changed jobs a few times (including a promotion to Network Engineer) had a child, then two more (at the same time - twins!) and now I am sitting here putrting some text onto my blog.

Theres been quite a lot more than that happen obviously, and I've done quite a lot of tech stuff in my limited time that I get, but that should all start again soon as time permits of course.

Broken

#dd if=/dev/brain of=blogg

It's now going on almost three years since my anxiety disorder first entered my life uninvited and about six months since I last slept properly, not feeling like I'd only had a few hours sleep.

Now marriage is on the horizon and life is getting twenty times busier, what with what feels like a one and only chance to recertify and upskill.

Finances are causing untold stress as well, which puts more pressure on me for the above reasons and future plans (read: family).

Sadly, I can only see realism and logic, 1's and 0's, if then else. This can and regularly does get perceived as negative, not very helpful to my cause.

My way of thinking probably isn't normal, but what is? More importantly, why should I change that if that is who I am?

I'm now at a point where my relationship with the fiancée is stretched to the point of breaking, like a rubber band that keeps stretching, but amazingly hasn't broken. Yet.

I can see part of my father in the way I do certain things, which scares the heck out of me, because I do not want to be like him. I want to be me, and I most certainly don't want to be encumbered by the same physical and/or psychological issues he portpotedly has.

I am so tired, both literally and figuratively and I am finding it very difficult to continue on this 'do until' or 'do while' life.

I'm also very disappointed in myself, for not getting the career on track earlier in my life.

I'm also frustrated that all my hard work isn't recognised at all, that I forget so many simple things, nor can I focus at my job or my studies, adding more stress in getting ahead.

I am not seeking sympathy, but I am trying to find positivity at work and in my life, which just aren't anywhere to be seen.

Resurrection of the Blog(s)

After a short discussion with a PLUG (Perth Linux Users Group) member, I have come to realise that syndication of my posts is probably better off on one or more of my Blogs (see sidebar or my profile for more information) and link them in Google+

The realisation came because I should not keep a walled-garden mentality and be more agnostic and probably more accessible to those who do not use the service while providing an easy method for those who do, to follow the link within the platform to read the article if they choose.

I will also be posting more personal matters here in order to help me collect my thoughts and work through my issues such as my anxiety disorder and the inherent depression that comes from it.

Again, you may choose to read it, or you may choose to ignore it.

back from the dead

Well, I'm not actually dead, otherwise I wouldn't be posting this :-P

I am hopefully picking up the blog again after a small period of unemployment while I search for another job.

My $GF (one day to become $fiance...) and I have moved in together after over a year of courtship and we couldn't be happier, except for not having a washing machine, additional shelves, TV (50" 1080p plasma) + TV unit + Logitech Z5500 speakers :-P

We are also nice and close to a main shopping centre and a major northern suburbs train station which is extremely handy!

I have begun preparation for the CiSCO ICND1 (640-822) soon so that I can eventually get get a CCNA and move on from "Hell Desk" work which is all I am capable of with my current certifications...


Current Mood: Content

bday and stuffs

Since loosing my job I've had a lot of time to get personal stuff done like; application for newstart (centrestink), consolidation of my super, full medical check-up, Car service, Study and misc tech projects.

My birthday has also been and gone and I was pleasantly surprised by an array of small gifts from my girlfriend and a wine tasting tour on the day of my birthday!

We went to Waters Edge via Captain Cook cruises. While there we bought some very nice Tawny Port.

From there we went to Charlies Estate Wines and tasted some more wine (and nougat) and bought two cleanskins of a very nice experimental wine that was made with raspberries and a Chenin Blanc.

Next up we went to an Unknown winery (seems to be near the end of Gnangara Road), where we had a lovely platter lunch made up of Dukkah, Cooked Salami, fresh black olives, Smoked Salmon, Cheese and Picked Beetroot with cloves etc. Before we left we were able to sample the $68 Muscatt Muscadelle (very nice)!

We then went to Lancaster Wines for a cheese platter which consisted of Edam (made backwards :P), and an assortment of cheddars; garlic and chilli/chives feta and others, which was a shame because everyone was full from lunch! From the wine tasting we had here, we picked out (and bought) three lovely desert wines: Late Picked Chenin Blanc, 2006 Sticky Shiraz and Reserve Liquer Muscatt.

After that we went to the very crowded Margaret River Chocolate Factory where we tasted some of their chocolate including a cherry and mint chocolate truffle *yum*

Finally we finished up at the Ironbark Brewery where we tried a rice beer and a Cherry Ale (I think), which we both found were quite average (compared to range available at the international beer shop!).

Once I got home I opened the 12th present that my girlfriend gave me :-D

v-day

Valentines day has been and gone. And it was the best one ever (or should I say, so far...).

We (GF and I) spent the morning doing very little (except for watching Animated stuff), but that evening we went to a dinner at Lamonts in East Perth. Afterwards we enjoyed a nice stroll around the East Perth river area, then ended the night watching My Bloody Valentine (which is a would normally be a B-Grade movie IMO, if it weren't for the fact that it was shown in 3D).

I got a custom made, dark chocolate Heart with writing on it (no I'm not sharing what was written on it :P), and I got her Dopamine earrings (I thought is was so appropriate for someone like her).

I spoil her a bit, but I think she deserves it :)

So, don't expect much more blogging in the next few weeks, 'cause work is going to get awefully busy and I won't want to be doing any blogging....

Current Mood: Happy

Family Troubles

One of the family member is mentally ill. Although we (family) have known about it for quite some time, I decided to blog about the issue and the current situation while trying maintaining some anonymity.

The members of my family believe him to be either psychotic or just mentally unstable or something due to post-substance abuse. The reason I bring this up is the fact that I don't know what to do any more...

Previous incidents have cost allot of people money to bail him out (not necessarily out of jail, although I am unaware of any jail time incidents). And his friends and family have pretty much disowned him now, as I will try to explain below.

It has come to the point were he knows how to (smartly) get out of situations like being held in mental institutes (which I must add, he has been in very often), yet he continues to make the same mistakes over and over and recently has begun stealing off of friends and one other family member.

Due the the latest incident where he stole a family friends car (and money) and crashed it (which promoted me to write this post), has brought me to the conclusion that his mental health is deteriorating and that he has become a threat to society. I am also very angry that he did this not only to someone who was trying to help him out, but also to a good friend of mine.

No one trusts him now and (I think) he is at risk of being a homeless person. It seems immoral for us (family) to abandon him to let public services take care of the problem on a temporary reactive basis, but see no other choice...


Current Mood: Troubled.

Birthday Boredom

Today is my birthday and I'm bored.

I was trying to organise a LAN at one of my friends' house, but it looks like none of them want to attend/host it :(

Perhaps it's another excuse to get drunk, or catchup on some much wanted gaming...


Current Mood: Irritated

Still Alive

I have neglected the blogs of late, I'll try and fill you's in on some stuff that's happened recently. Well

I been maintaining the tech blog a bit more than this one and for some reason, doing episodic blogging :/

I got my final retention/redundancy pay last week *yay* now I'm thinking of investing my savings (for real this time, honest :P).

I finally caved in and decided to go to my friends place for the LAN, but I didn't get to play rock band this weekend. Apart from that I studied and worked on my assignments (kinda) while watching my brand new Cowboy Beebop Remix :) - Now if only buying DVD's where an investment...

So it's now 10 minutes 'till midnight and I'm still here blogging (how pathetic...) I really should sleep. Happy Easter everyone!


Current Mood: Unknown

UNI Days Daze

It's been ever so long since I last bloged (no, I havn't given up blogging!).

Well, I'm back at UNI and it's all go. Assignments, labs, lectures and generally lots of mentally-challenging work.
I have fallen behind a little bit but thankfully I have my own personal catchup day every week :)

I'm going through my old sleepless/non-eating period again... fscking human body... *mumble*

Tonight I am going to make a (modified) Thai beef salad again. I hope I can remember how to make it!


Oh and here is a message to all my friends:

I will be having a Celebratory party at my house on (or the day after) my Birthday. Details will be emailed/sms/phoned in the next few weeks.


Current Mood: Neutral

This is a triumph...

On Saturday, my sister gave birth to a healthy little baby girl *awwww*.

Not only is she now a mother, but I am now officially an uncle (which is quite a scary thought - the uncle bit I mean :P)!

Christmas and new Year's Eve was boring - except for the post-boxing day friends gathering, which we went and saw AVP:R (which was supprisingly better than the first AVP), had an EXTREMELY late dinner and then went home (only to to play Portal :P )

I have booked my Sydney flights and accommodation and all I need to do now is find some more tourist stuff and then actually go there (PS: Don't expect any blog posts while I'm there!).

Current Mood: Neutral

Rumors and Facebook etc

Well according to a rumour at work, I am going out with one of the girls here - so says a workmate - and it's the first time that I have had a rumour started about myself.

That being said some others want to set me up with a GF but I have told them that they will fail if they do so, not because they are no good at it but because I suck at human interaction, which reckon would make a relationship with anyone fail (perhaps i'm just being too negative or something)...

Now to the Facebook part of the blog. NO. Facebook sucks and is a piece of s@%# (just kidding) but according to this article it seems that it's a pretty big security risk, making me stick with my crappy old (outdated) blog which no one reads (oh wait! people from work are now reading it d'oh!).

Stay tuned for more: "Tales of Interest!" --Futurama.



Current Mood: Neutral

Finances and Study

I am currently at work studying and blogging because it's yet another weekend with no one else in the office, and I just had a revelation about how I could possibly re-do my finances so that I can afford to buy a new car . This is because of the fact that my bank offers a new account with high interest, and free fixed withdrawals, however I would need to initially deposit quite a bit to make it worthwhile.

This swing (shift) I have only been able to work a whole 3 days (normally I work 9) but due to the fact that I am now a member of mines rescue, I have 6 days training this shift :/

I also took some well deserved time out last night from my regular study nights (in my dormitory) to watch a movie and drink beer (while watching Beerfest :P) which is actually a lot funnier than I thought it would be considering the title.

Time to get back to work at studying for upcoming exams! :P

Current mood: Bored/Lonely

Morning Blog

It's 4am and I am eating my breakfast and typing up yet another blog.

This break was very much needed as I feel really refreshed and less stressed, but my friends are a little annoyed at me for not turning up on sunday due to my intoxication.

After a lengthy discussion with a close friend of mine about the girl I really, really, really (really x ~200) like, I have determined that there may be another Girl (possibly) interested in me... which may complicate matters for me.

Anyway, it's fly-in day today meaning that I go back to work again. so I have to go shower and stuff and get ready for my taxi.

Current mood: Slightly confused