Turn the light off when you go inside

Things for me are a little down and disappointing. Which is strange for someone who is about to embark on his triumphant return to Buck's Rock.

At first I thought it might have something to do with putting the relationship search on hold for three months. Then, I thought it may have something to do with the unopened cork.

Or possibly, could it be the anti climatic departure from the workforce into unemployment (all two days of it). I even mused over the lack of sleep i've been having thanks to the enormity of packing up my Aussie life. Maybe its because people are calling me superficial all of a sudden.

I have come to the conclusion it is because I have been forced, against my will into staying a little under 24 hours in New York. A city, which a year ago I would have been excited to visit i am now feeling no affinity. With its lonely over-populated masses and expensive hotels. Just about every New Yorker I know have already made it to camp (and) says the camp director; "The Inn is full!" Thus, New York I must stay over night.

Hense I'm a lttle down.

I kept falling asleep driving in the fog and bucketing rains to Wollongong after work. Im hopeless. I kept going regardless of my safety and the safety of others. My sense of judgement really needs tweaking in the twilight of my consciousness.

Leila had made me Love Pizza. It was made with so much love that it tasted amazing. With pumpkin and rocket and ricotta and olives and salsas and four different kinds of cheeses... so much deliciousness.

And in the middle of the 2nd farewell feast, Jonathan rings me up informing that Louise's 21st photos are online and feeling fine :) He was however beside himself with horror. Somehow some digital files were lost in transfer. So much so, that he drove around to Leila's just to hand over a brand spanking new DVD of all the high resolution files and apologise in person. And who could be mad at the amazing Jonathan? Awesome should be his middle name given that it's not already. Above is one of my favourite shots from the crazy booth.

Now all thats left to do is to edit out all the clothes I don't need for camp. Shall I take 5 or 7 vests?

Fruit of the Moment: horlicks

Now that you've finished your "coffee"

These are the days that I been missing.

Give me the taste, give me the joy of summer wine.

These are the days that bring me meaning.

I feel the stillness of the sun, and I feel fine.

Today, some of the most important people in my life got together to send me off to America in the only way I know how: A Grand Day Out Picnicking at Minnamurra. Louise and Brendan, Tuniel and Noah, Aneesa and Seán, Leila and Glen, Justin, The Nundle* and me.

It was an epic meeting of friends, families and muppets with some of you seeing each other for the first time in like for evar!

It did not matter that we set out late. Nor did it matter that no one knew what the hell was going on. Around twenty phone calls later by my secretary Seán, a manly search and rescue for usb data and a amazing new moleskin from two amazing teenagers, we were headed towards our destination armed with a plan and gorgeous foodie delights.

It was a beautiful day. With beautiful people... Especially Uncle Justin ;) mind you Most-Photographed-Child-In-History-Noah came in a close second.

I got to eat the foods I love with the people I like and thats what made it amazing. And even though the Kiama Library was closed on a Sunday despite Google informing us otherwise; Leila and I still got some time together. Im going to miss you.

I'll miss you all.

My journey post picnic from Minnamurra up to Neutral Bay was spent rocking out to Thirst Merc's New album MOUSETRAP HEART. Best Buddy Brendan had his birthday bonanza at the FAT MONK, which was delicious but unfortunately disagreed with my stomach and decided to cause me much pain on the drive home and even now.

Morgan and her father were getting in the awkward turtle spirit and I was getting everyone else in on the pac man pound it and the Jelly fish high five (ask me how).

Thankfully the (expensive) coffee at the FAT MONK was acceptable. And Brendan's cup cake birthday cake plate was given the masculine touch of tiny motor cars on each cupcake (despite their pastel colours and flowery trims).

A B+ for HAY and an A+ for TODAY!

Fruit of the Moment: Caramelised Garlic Loaf

*Genevieve

I lament tennant every day

3:15am. The time I awoke to drive my parents to the airport, so they could catch their flight to Perth.

4:15am. The time I am entering the M5.

5:15am. The time Mum buys me an apple and cinnamon muffin to go with my coffee.

6:15am. The time I arrive in Double Bay and decide to take a little snooze in my car Baybalu.

7:15am. The time I wake up and walk aimlessly around Woolworths

8:15am. The time I pick up Genevieve to go to breakfast

9:15am. The time I decide that my corn fritters were bland and ordinary and that I wasn't hungry.

10:15am. The time I am busting to go to the toilet while driving home on the M5

11:15am. The time I am running my 8 mile Sunday run.

12:15pm. The time Louise is making me pancakes while I'm on the phone to Mum who has arrived in Perth

1:15pm. The time I am procrastinating on Facebook by updating my profile picture instead of packing my bags for America.

2:15pm. The time I am sleeping in my room from being tired.

3:15pm. The time I am continuing my sleep

4:15pm. The time I am starting to pack my bags and organise my clothes

5:15pm. The time I am eating left over noodles.

6:15pm. The time I am figuring out what toiletries I need for the overseas trip.

7:15pm. The time I am buying Barnaby a new outfit for his brithday

8:15pm. The time I am dropping off a scarfe at Seán's house.

9:15pm. The time I have finished my macaroni and cheese to write this sentence.

Fruit of the Moment: Discarded Trifle

Terri came up with that plan

Surprised at the Wonka factory gates being opened half an hour early this morning, I parked for the first time this week in the staff car-park. Generally, I have been making it early to work, mindful that I have a lot of shit to sort through before my last day on Tuesday next week.

The guy who replaced Phil the coffee dude is completely hopeless. Well, by my coffee standards anyway.

The Corkscrew Conundrum did not in fact feature as predominantly today. I easily (and understandably) grew bored at watching the waiter try to pull the cork out that I started wandering around the restaurant to find other things to muse on. Seriously didn't look back until 4pmish and he was still there; wine bottle unopened. So until the time the cork does escape the bottle, I'm quite content to let it stay there for as long as the waiter deems it fit to be.

I managed to have lunch with work buddy Linda at the french bakery down the road. My pumpkin salad was teeny tiny and I didn't even finish it. I'm eating so so much less food post Louise's Birthday cake. I find it similar to the time I ordered Pork Knuckle at Louise's 20th and decided then and there to be a vegetarian. The point is, sitting across from us were these gorgeous men out for a lunch date. How dare they flaunt how attractive they are in their casual friday blazers and David Jones wear?! They clearly had no intentions of asking me to lunch with them, which obviously means they thought I was unavailable. I can forgive them for being so rude this once because of their purdyness.

Later this evening Louise took me to the movies. It was one of those inbred brother sister dates. And we saw GET HIM TO THE GREEK. And it was illogical but funny. And Event Cinemas have gone overkill with the staff uniform makeover. Its the candy cane attire from HELL. If I were 15 again (urgh!? who could be 15 again?) and worked at Event Cinemas, It would be a very convincing factor in finding a new job. Its 70% ugly and 100% humiliating.

Fruit of the Moment: Caramelised Garlic

for cleavage enhancement

The cork is wedging its way out of the bottle and all I can do is sit by waiting for the waiter to grab the sucker in super slow motion in a foolish attempt at unlocking the delicious liquids inside.

This morning I felt lonely. And sad. Both these things. Also, tiredness. Also proudness known as pride.

Again, I failed to make my 4:30am run happen. But I did manage to replace it once again with a 5:30pm run.

And I feel so much fatter than yesterday. Kenney's limited source material strikes again: Kenney feels fat and eats nothing as a result. I put this down to new found competition and digitally retouching semi naked pictures of Eamon Sullivan all week...

My day was completely tunnel vision. Im stuck looking in awe at this bloody cork. WOULD SOMEONE GIVE THE IDIOT A CORKSCREW? I lied to people today. Several people. And Im being all dramatic and vague, but for now the corkscrew conundrum continues.

And even though I'm a tad worried about the journey from New York to New Milford being a bumpy one, I can rest easy that super friend Leila (who, looks nothing like a monkey except when I try and draw her) is here to take me safely to airport in peak hour traffic :)

This evening, my hand was forced to visit Mac Square after I broken Louise's heater and ran for 5 miles against heavy traffic, to replace my runner's inner soles and have my overseas backpack fitted. Now I can face the New Milford 8 in confidence knowing that my running shoes have a fresh antibacterial coating.

Fruit of the Moment: twelve tea work day

I met someone

Sometimes life clicks.

Things work together is a simultaneous gathering of turning gears and system of pulleys.

One moment you can be told that you're worthless and a waste of space and the next you're breezing through tasks you once felt were unscalable.

Then that annoying curveball hits you in the head and reminds you why life is interesting.

This morning, with less than three hours sleep I was not prepared to go for my run. I was however more than equipped to consume 4 cookies for breakfast. This was followed in the afternoon by another slice of Louise's Birthday cake, and later in the evening a second helping.

Realising that essentially, I have returned to my previous weight in around about half the time it took to take off is a slightly discomforting thing. Its a hard issue to weight up. Food, especially sweet food is such a joyous celebration of life to me. I just cant have one cookie, it needs to be four. Is it no cookie or four cookies? I realised later this evening that essentially it doesn't matter. You may never look like Eamon Sullivan, but you will always be the same person. And you can't change who you are.

Work was a cinch today. So much achieved, especially since my upgrade from CS2 to CS4 (four days away from my last day but hey - better late than never)

I somehow found the energy and the time to fit my five miles in after pulling into the driveway at around 5:15pm. There was definitely more traffic on the evening road then there is at 4:30am, but apart from that I enjoyed the slightly warmer temperatures.

Tonight was all about the giggling Tuneil and her Vegetarian Pizza farewell feast for Kenney. Justin was there too and we pointed at him, laughing when none of his uni work was achieved. Noah was, as always vocal and too easily hyped up. I must remember to try a non hyped up hello hug next time. Dangling upside-down not such a good idea me thinks.

Fruit of the Moment: [censored for the general public]

You've never heard of MacArthur Park?

Happy 21st Birthday Louise.

You now have a cool hat and a 56 piece cutlery set and I hereby officially relinquish all responsibilities as the older doting brother. I am much much proudness of you.

And, as promised, the sugariffic cake is above.

Given the short length of time until next I fly away to the USofA, it would seem that I am now in high demand. I'm quickly booking out for my time remaining in Oz. Tomorrow night, Friday night, Saturday day and night, Sunday morning and day... GOSH! So many things to do and so little time. Was i doing anything on Thursday yet? I hope not; I need to visit Mac Square.

Soon, I will be in the land of Corn Syrup and Pop Tarts.

Fruit of the Moment: Pre Dinner Coconut Cookie