... the IT man in LibraryLand
This week past has - not unexpectedly - seen many an Xmas related activity.
As expected the final meeting of the inner cabal at the library had a tinge of the Xmas about it, with several goodbyes for the year and a meal shared by all.
As expected the councils Xmas lunch for the hard-working staff, as exemplified by yours-truly, signalled the end to the working year as it demolished any chance of productivity in the remaining hours of the afternoon before the Xmas break. Even partaking at the level of moderation one is famous for could not produce an iota of work after that sumptuous feast.
As expected Salsa Girl and I made our now customary annual trip slightly North to Xmas with the maternal side of her heritage. Some terrific Turkey was had in both firsts and seconds for the day as well as a traditional Aussie pav as a dessert.
As could reasonably be expected - given Xmas's past - our zoom back to the city to catch one's relatives in the early evening was delayed by the ferocity of a typical Melbourne Xmas storm.
Our final arrival at the famous Aunties had us almost missing the desserts and, in fact, further worry occurred as Salsa Girl insisted on us having mains before we could touch the dessert pavlova - I was concerned as it had been so long since I had had pav for dessert.
In any case the evening progressed with the tail end of the storm providing a lovely lightning show and Legion4 putting on an encore performance of his famous Very Messy Xmas of '08. During the evening one was also surprised to see that Cousin Dave, down from Sydney, had his eldest offspring toddling around everywhere - I mean she didn't even exist when last we caught up and one could hardly expect that much change in a scant few years.
As expected all those Xmas Day shenanigans were followed by the Boxing Day of Extreme Lassitude. I believe one may have ventured outside once just for the thrill of it but cannot recall.
Quite unexpectedly the next day became a day of gaming after Gavman unexpectedly demanded his birthday dues.
You see we have a tradition in one's corner of the gaming world that any gaming on a birthday involves the birthdayee choosing the game to be played.
We all believed ourselves to be safe from the proclivities of Gavman's gaming appetites as he shared his birthday with a rather well known messiah.
However Legion2, Elfboy and myself where all caught in his insidious web as he invoked yesterday's shifted Xmas holiday to put us at the mercy of his gaming desires.
As expected he chose Magic the Gathering (with variants) and it was a tortuous half-day playing one of my top ten games.
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Desk-Shift Disasters
So today I unwittingly walked into, not one, but a series of disasters of epic proportions.
It all began innocently as I kindly offered my services up to cover a desk shift in the library since I was on the premises in my regular benevolent location rotation schedule and Lord of the Small Fries was feeling a little poorly. (There is no truth to the rumour that my volunteering was only because it was a meeting that I would covering for and one was glad to be out of the vicinity of all that meetingness.)
The first disaster struck when I found out I was to be desk-buddies with none other than Supervisor Grand Chief K!!
One would presume it couldn't get any worse but then ... disaster number two struck.
Somehow one's sense of time became muddled and it was suddenly time to begin the desk shift and one had not had a skerrick of lunch yet!! Quickly crunching my way through a carrot I was soon out there saving the world from improperly borrowed library books.
It didn't take long for one to become aware of both my gnawing hunger bringing me close to the edge of starvation and disaster number three. It came to my attention that the first part of the desk-shift was not to cover the boring meeting but to allow the branch staff to go to the local eatery and partake in an Xmas feast of grand proportions.
Oh world why do you taunt me so!
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It all began innocently as I kindly offered my services up to cover a desk shift in the library since I was on the premises in my regular benevolent location rotation schedule and Lord of the Small Fries was feeling a little poorly. (There is no truth to the rumour that my volunteering was only because it was a meeting that I would covering for and one was glad to be out of the vicinity of all that meetingness.)
The first disaster struck when I found out I was to be desk-buddies with none other than Supervisor Grand Chief K!!
One would presume it couldn't get any worse but then ... disaster number two struck.
Somehow one's sense of time became muddled and it was suddenly time to begin the desk shift and one had not had a skerrick of lunch yet!! Quickly crunching my way through a carrot I was soon out there saving the world from improperly borrowed library books.
It didn't take long for one to become aware of both my gnawing hunger bringing me close to the edge of starvation and disaster number three. It came to my attention that the first part of the desk-shift was not to cover the boring meeting but to allow the branch staff to go to the local eatery and partake in an Xmas feast of grand proportions.
Oh world why do you taunt me so!
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Timetable Tribulations
Here's a Caution for you all.
When one is running late for the morning locomotive and just misses said locomotive one should make sure that one looks for the next departure time in the part of the timetable app that shows one's direction of travel.
Improper determination of the next train arrival can lead to one casually strolling to the corner shop for some of that breakfast that was missed in that rush to make the initial train; followed by a leisurely topping up of one's travel card which may well be interrupted by the arrival of the actual next train into the city.
Scampering hastily without any dignity onto said train is hardly the proper way to begin ones day.
Personally I take no responsibility for this debacle and blame the app writers for putting the Hurstbridge bound trains above the city bound ones. I mean, really, nobody goes out to Hurstbridge*.
* except people with a reason or Hurstbridgers I suppose.
Anyway, consider yourself Cautioned.
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When one is running late for the morning locomotive and just misses said locomotive one should make sure that one looks for the next departure time in the part of the timetable app that shows one's direction of travel.
Improper determination of the next train arrival can lead to one casually strolling to the corner shop for some of that breakfast that was missed in that rush to make the initial train; followed by a leisurely topping up of one's travel card which may well be interrupted by the arrival of the actual next train into the city.
Scampering hastily without any dignity onto said train is hardly the proper way to begin ones day.
Personally I take no responsibility for this debacle and blame the app writers for putting the Hurstbridge bound trains above the city bound ones. I mean, really, nobody goes out to Hurstbridge*.
* except people with a reason or Hurstbridgers I suppose.
Anyway, consider yourself Cautioned.
.
Xmas Parties, Various
One has spent the past several days getting well and truly into the Xmas spirit - well the feasting side of it at least, the rest shall have to come later.
It all began on Friday with the very important end of year Xmas lunch for the user group at our suppliers headquarters. Once again the user group insisted on holding a meeting beforehand, but finally after several hours drawn-out with productivity we were treated in the manner to which we have become accustomed over the years. Many were in attendance - Supervisor Grand Chief K even put in an appearance to make sure that I received my just desserts.
After waddling home I was soon off to another evening of food and cards at the Double Jays with Salsa Girl by my side. The feasting was not too excessive there as I had an unexpected feeling of fullness part-way through the meal. Sigh, there's always next time I guess.
Saturday was the big event. The Library Xmas Party.
This years soiree was being hosted by Kiwichick (who's husband lucked out on not being able to use the get out of party card he earned by attending last years event). The catering was done by many with Days of our Libraries having many a hand in the comestibles.
The night did include a rather embarrassing tribute to the recent Facebook relationship-status change of the good Salsa Girl and oneself, replete with gifts unasked for but appreciated greatly - especially by The Tiger who commenced sleeping on our new serving dish the moment it was revealed to her.
The latest Xmas partying occurred when Salsa Girl and I made the trek to the family demesne to celebrate Freeloading Mum's birthday. There was a dash of Xmas thrown in due to known Xmas day absences. A magnificent feast was on offer, including 5 desserts (which only count as 3 as one mixed several into the same bowl).
There was rather a lot of post feast tiredness to be dealt with on return home before getting the evening meal squared away.
In unrelated news, one's past month of increased exercise regime appears to be having no effect at all.
.
It all began on Friday with the very important end of year Xmas lunch for the user group at our suppliers headquarters. Once again the user group insisted on holding a meeting beforehand, but finally after several hours drawn-out with productivity we were treated in the manner to which we have become accustomed over the years. Many were in attendance - Supervisor Grand Chief K even put in an appearance to make sure that I received my just desserts.
After waddling home I was soon off to another evening of food and cards at the Double Jays with Salsa Girl by my side. The feasting was not too excessive there as I had an unexpected feeling of fullness part-way through the meal. Sigh, there's always next time I guess.
Saturday was the big event. The Library Xmas Party.
This years soiree was being hosted by Kiwichick (who's husband lucked out on not being able to use the get out of party card he earned by attending last years event). The catering was done by many with Days of our Libraries having many a hand in the comestibles.
The night did include a rather embarrassing tribute to the recent Facebook relationship-status change of the good Salsa Girl and oneself, replete with gifts unasked for but appreciated greatly - especially by The Tiger who commenced sleeping on our new serving dish the moment it was revealed to her.
The latest Xmas partying occurred when Salsa Girl and I made the trek to the family demesne to celebrate Freeloading Mum's birthday. There was a dash of Xmas thrown in due to known Xmas day absences. A magnificent feast was on offer, including 5 desserts (which only count as 3 as one mixed several into the same bowl).
There was rather a lot of post feast tiredness to be dealt with on return home before getting the evening meal squared away.
In unrelated news, one's past month of increased exercise regime appears to be having no effect at all.
.
The Tragedy of Pizza-free Poker
Sigh, bX-1fv8xl, sure is playing havoc with my regular posting schedule. Although some may say that it is merely acting as the enabler of my laziness... I can't be bothered responding to that acusation, it would take too much effort.
Anyway, here's one I've been preparing for a week or so:
This Saturday last (now Saturday, Saturday last) myself and Legion2 made the great trek out to MrRogers new-ish abode for a poker night that had been in the scheduling for nigh on half a year.
Upon arrival we traversed our way via secret stairway to the basement location of the festivities to find BestFriendSincePrep and StumpyRudolph already in attendance. As it was a completely reasonable hour of the evening, and a tradition of poker nights, one suggested that we order pizza to satisfy ones lurking hunger. You can imagine how taken-aback I was to be told "nah, we already ate before coming over".
As the evening progressed and further participants arrived,(The Electric Tiger & The Wiggs) they joined in the chorus and also took up the new refrain of "just eat the chips and chocolate". Which is all well and good if they'd just leave said chips to me but seems a tad hypocritical as they continued to take great handfuls of one's rapidly disappearing sustenance.
In the end I made it through the evening none the worse for wear and may have discovered a new diet sensation - although Salsa Girl seems to be disagreeing with one about that insight.
.
Anyway, here's one I've been preparing for a week or so:
This Saturday last (now Saturday, Saturday last) myself and Legion2 made the great trek out to MrRogers new-ish abode for a poker night that had been in the scheduling for nigh on half a year.
Upon arrival we traversed our way via secret stairway to the basement location of the festivities to find BestFriendSincePrep and StumpyRudolph already in attendance. As it was a completely reasonable hour of the evening, and a tradition of poker nights, one suggested that we order pizza to satisfy ones lurking hunger. You can imagine how taken-aback I was to be told "nah, we already ate before coming over".
As the evening progressed and further participants arrived,(The Electric Tiger & The Wiggs) they joined in the chorus and also took up the new refrain of "just eat the chips and chocolate". Which is all well and good if they'd just leave said chips to me but seems a tad hypocritical as they continued to take great handfuls of one's rapidly disappearing sustenance.
In the end I made it through the evening none the worse for wear and may have discovered a new diet sensation - although Salsa Girl seems to be disagreeing with one about that insight.
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