This is an accountability post. I've decided it's time to give up the smokes so I have a plan set. I've joined My fitness pal because I don't want to substitute smokes for food, nicotine patches, vapes etc. Im incorporating more exercise as a distraction. This is an experiment. 10 smokes a day for a week. 9 the week after. 8 the week after etc. I should be smoke free in 10 weeks or in jail because I've killed someone. I can do this because I am strong and stubborn.
You can do it, and that sounds like an excellent plan. I quit by gradually going down in strength, and when I got to the really low ones they were so disgusting I just stopped.
Congratulations on making an awesome decision for your health! Cutting down with a view to quitting is a great idea. It worked for me anyway. I got down to 6 a day and then quit. I worked out it was taking 10mins to smoke a cigarette so I was wasting an hour a day smoking and complaining that I didn't have time to do this or that. I also used lozenges and the spray.
We've hired a Camry for our upcoming US trip, so I just went down to the Toyota dealership with our 3 large suitcases to see if they fit in the boot. And they do! I'm actually really impressed with the boot size.
Oh no. New neighbours moved in last week a few doors down. They have been playing extremely loud edm with a very intense bass for the last 2 hours now. It’s a Saturday, it’s not late, so I don’t mind them being loud or having a party, but I just went to put some rubbish out and there’s no party. No cars or people. Just really obnoxiously loud music. Which means they’re just listening to it like this for fun…
As long as they turn it off once it gets late. I hope they do. An incredibly elderly couple live directly across the road from them and I can imagine them getting pretty distressed by it at the level that it is right now, even.
We lived in a duplex when our oldest was a baby. The neighbor played edm all the time. Only, the baby loved it! That soothing doofdoof put him to sleep almost every night. So, we never complained about the noise.
I’ve recently started listening to audio books. It’s helped with motivation to do things like going for a walk or doing housework, because I can now associate those tasks with looking forward to hearing the next part of the story. Stripping the bed and laundry, here I come without a scowl.
hell yeah to audiobooks, a good book can make work go by so fast. If you're not already using it look into Libby, by OverDrive cause alot of good audiobooks are available at the library for f r e e
Happy to give most things a go, expand my genres! General fiction, softer sci fi, crime mysteries, dystopian, literary, pop science and history are all things I’ve read on paper. Not really into sports or pulp romance, but other than that willing to try things.
So the new area I live in is kind of a rich/yuppy area and it's such a contrast to where I've lived for all of my life. I used to live in a bit of a ghetto of sorts (by Melbourne standards, anyway), and all I can notice is just how different life is on the flip side. Even the buses are better around here. Despite the fact they barely even get used since half the neighbourhood has super nice Mercedes, BMWs, etc, the frequency is double-triple of my old bus route
I mean, I guess I should just shut up and enjoy it, but it's so weird living in such a nice area
My big day out turned into a big day in bed. Ehh why not. It can wait till tomorrow.
Next week will be making vegan meals for dinner. I had a really sad attempt at one on a flight the other week and I felt amazing after eating it. So hey, who knows?
My God, how did you... every Thursday I wear a Dr Who tshirt with a bowtie printed on it because I'm making lasagna sheets and I wear a bib style apron so it displays over the top and I want to look dapper.
Image: broccolini sauted in butter, garlic, chilli, salt and pepper, add Briesling sardines, a some fried eggs to finish
Edit: also juice of half a lemon
Look at Mr Moneybags over here who can afford broccolini!
No but that's a tasty, hearty and most importantly easy breakfast. I am pondering what to do with my tinned cod liver and apparently it goes nicely in egg salad.
Having successfully concluded both breakfast and lunch, may I now present for the delight of the DT:
Afternoon tea
Image: One kiwi fruit, expertly sliced into two symmetrical halves. Presented with a contrasting red combination knife and spoon, artfully placed on a carfully folded square kitchen napkin, adorned with the label designating the New Zealand origins of the fruit. The placement of the red utensil, green kiwi fruit, and white napkin pleasingly mirror the colours and arrangement shown on the kiwi fruit label.
My eyesight has been stable for a long time. Haven't had my eyes tested since just before covid and today I learnt I'm one step more short sighted. It's a small change but at the same time I'm disappointed that even in my early 40s my eyes are still changing in this way.
That's ok, after Tuesday's split system installation I will have All The Warmth and will be able to weather future cold snaps, and heatwaves. Comfort will finally be mine!
Electric fences wouldn't help, they just walk from the station. What we need is better mental health services, but as long as people say they want better services but actually vote for tax cuts that's not going to happen.
Thanks for the recommendation. I thought the trailer looked cool and I really want to see it, because Australian and horror are 2 categories I love but also together chef's kiss
Speaking of spooky, this local house looks like the top 2/3 of the Amtyville house.
Image is of a house with a blue car parked out front, some tall yukkas are in the front with a tall grey fence. House is as described. There are power lines and tram tracks in the foreground.
Ok, but the view from the second camera angle. Melbourne is so pretty.
spoiler
Did we always have two camera angles? I didn’t follow that closely last year, but I thought the camera just panned depending on the side they nested on
Yes we did have two cameras last year. They switched the view depending on which end the birds were nesting or huddling etc. There's a nest box at each end of the ledge.
Went on a roam around the area (by car...) to pick up random bits and bobs. Bought some watercress and snake beans to satiate my veggie craving after seeing that broccolini post this morning.
What I'm most excited about though is this haul of last-chance veggie punnets I got from a local nursery!!! Silverbeet (not confident it'll do well), the most dire spearmint (who knows how this one will go), and a nice light pink onion rarely found in most shops (I reckon these have a chance). The cashier must've been very grateful to get these out because she put through the healthy looking full price foxgloves at a discount too.
Guess how much I paid for these...
...$4!! In total, including the foxgloves. How could you not buy them? If even 25% of the sad sack rescue plants turn out to be winners that'll be very satisfying.
Bought two punnets of poppy seedlings too. Planted out the rescue babies and 1x poppy seedlings today. I'll do the foxgloves and other poppy punnet tomorrow. Hopefully by the time my cousin comes home in two weeks they'll all be nicely established. Gotta find some cheer in the fact that this winter seems really alarmingly warm...
5pm show and tell I'm doing the ol' chicken burger. Adorned with lettuce, tomato, pineapple, bacon, onion, cheese.
Chicken has been marinated overnight in 2yr old fermented hawt sauce (bacteria doesn't like it for some reason), lemon juice, garlic, cumin and paprika.
Having successfully sold a bunch of my indoor things, I think it's time to start on outdoor stuff. Lots of camping stuff and tools. It's nice reclaiming my space, I just wish it wasn't so much work. I think there's some fishing gear in there too that probably needs to go.
If I can clear enough space to access my bike and finish fixing it up to use again it will be helpful for my long-term exercise plans.
I might be looking back with rose coloured glasses but I swear drivers have been cuntier post covid. Impatient, rude, and speeding with absolute impunity. And we are not talking just a little bit over, but 10 to 20 ks over in suburban areas.
I think it is not just drivers. People in general seem to be a lot more selfish, rude and impatient. Instead of pulling people together as a society Covid seemed to have accelarated a move towards self absorbsion and disregard for others.
As a pedestrian, drivers have been angrier at me for walking across a crossing when I had a green man. Throw my middle finger up and tell them to sit and rotate. They seem to be so much more jerkier
Today someone crept right up my ass as I slowed to stop for a pedestrian to cross at a zebra crossing. And then as I got going again took off revving and went round me. Um, do you think that being agro will make me run people over for your convenience?
After a bit of a rest when I stretched out on the bed and was promptly pinned by the cats, I've been working on Operation Sort Shit.
Tackling Mum's room which has been a chuck everything in spot for the last month - left bookcase full of old paperwork cleared, now tackling the bedframe (got rid of the mattress last year) which had stuff piled on it. Also took advantage of the weather to do some washing - the thermals are on the line and almost dry and the teatowels which I had put aside to wash are now washed and on line line, with a third load in.
Now relaxing with a cuppa and considering lunch.
Looks like many of us are napping today. After going grocery shopping and eating my delightful meal, I went to nap at around 11am. Got up at 12, but was falling asleep. Back to bed until just now. Guess I am exhausted 🥱
dinner was two thin slices of steak and two slices of toast with PB and condensed milk. I shall next become horizontal in bed — an act that I have not performed for gasp 15 hours.
i have a few regrets putting a heap of the old chilli crop from the freezer in the spring roll mix. It's still cooling I haven't rolled them up yet but when someone tells you "oh they lose heat'.. well I don't believe that anymore. Hawt.
I'm up dancing and drinking wine
I don't care, care, I'm feelin' fine
This is me and if you don't like it
I don't know what to tell ya
This is all that I am, this is it
What more do you want from me?
The world is ending, we have front row seats
I'm dancin' dancin' and this is it
Sing with me
Love you
Has anyone noticed as you've gotten older being less tolerant to greasy and salty food? Like I love fish and chips but I slept like shit last night. Same thing happens with excessively salty pizza.
Back when I was young I could inhale such foods without a second thought.
Very much so. Also less tolerant of excessive sugar too. Will make an exception for anchovies on pizza though. The grease I used to eat I couldn't now. Still OK with butter and olive oil.
I was saying this only last week. Even eating out has a lot more salt than I cook with usually, and I pay for it with the dry horrors all night into the next day.
For powdered? Geez that's a bit rich! I always have some in the cupboard for emergencies. Which reminds me.. it's been there so long it's probably past expiry😔
I've successfully moved from bed to couch and applying a heat compress to a couple of bruises on my leg. You ever completely forget how you acquire bruises? Scary.
Fairly frequently. Until I worked out that I was hitting my shins on my bike pedals every time I started off after a traffic light. One doesn't bruise, but 3 or 4 in a row does create a bruise. Upper thigh bruises were desk corners at my office. Changed the way I move through space and problem disappeared. Arnica works.
Desk corners are the devil. I suspect that was what it was but it's just incredible how the memory seems to be completely wiped from my brain almost instantly.
Agree with roast. Sprinkle on some oil, salt and if you want to go up a notch add some dry spices like paprika or a spice mix. An easy way to make them extra tasty is to rub in a bit of chicken stock powder, to get that ‘just like a bought one’ flavour at home.
After midnight
We're gonna let it all hang out
After midnight
We're gonna chug a lug and shout
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
Give an exhibition
Find out what it is all about
Yay, my first ever penalty rate shift at new jerb starts at 7. I'm physically a but stiff and sore, so the 5 minute warm up routine will be a must today. I also need to quit vaping. Now I'm fitter I can notice the crap way it makes me feel. I'll take my own advice I gave spud last night and use those nicotine lozenges. Probably just switch my addiction over, but at least my lungs can have a break. Vapes are waaaay to addictive and I was born a freaking addict which is good to finally understand and know I have to accept it.
nterestingly, people are proud of me for taking positive steps and doing actual work on my substance abuse problems. Also, thanks to realising I'm trans, I really love my body now and only want it to grow and change with quality new parts. I don't even care I have a slowly re-growing bald dome. It's going to be interesting to see how much hair I re-grow so I'm growing it out and it looks crap as. Wigs and hats fix that.
A definite yay for penalty rates. It makes it a bit better to be stuck inside looking out at the sunshine when there is extra pay to compensate.
I should probably take some inspiration from your active days and go outside for a walk today, as my work involves sitting on my butt staring at a screen all day. It tends to encourage a figure that would make a potato proud rather than being fit and healthy.
I have no idea why middle america got offended, it's what they want, it's what they vote for, it's who they are. Exploitation and amorality with no judgement . Reality is not pretty.
Well, as I was telling @landsharkkidd it only takes me like 4 hours to cook two dishes, but I present a shitty photograph of tonight's dinner.
dins
Dal with watercress, a make-it-up-as-you-go-along prawn curry (frozen prawns) with snake beans and discount tomatoes, and white basmati rice cooked in the rice cooker with a couple cloves and a pod of cardamom. Top tip doing the latter will make your rice smell NEXT LEVEL delicious.
I haven't made curry in a while so the dal was a bit too watery, and the prawn curry is spicier than I thought because I just chucked in random bits of unidentified curry powder(s) from the bottom of empty jars to tidy up the spice cupboard a bit. And I'm never using Coles brand coconut milk again. But otherwise, delicious and satisfying!
Aw it's not a competition. I've had more energy this weekend but most days I couldn't even rustle up what you could. Mind you this is like 5 meals worth of curry, I ended up putting some in the freezer. Might as well make it worth the effort
Uggggh yes I found that one out the hard way. I nearly threw up. Tbh I almost never use coconut milk anyway - of any brand - because there seems to be more weird shit in it than coconut cream.
Anyway, Ayam brand 4 lyf - you could eat it outta the can
Ok, I got an email saying the truck did break down and my order can’t be delivered. That’s cool, can’t be helped. Unfortunately I’ve been directed to call (again) which will no doubt lead to the dodgy chat site.
I have to chase it though because they still have over a hundred bucks of my money 🙄 Srsly they should just cancel and refund like when an item is out of stock
Day 3 completed. I was nearly going to swap tomorrow's rest day with today, but I knew I'd regret it. Had to dig deeper than usual! Today I took the mini peelers to see Across the Spiderverse and then to Timezone. Timezone is getting a bit shitty; a lot of the games we like were broken or not working properly. We had some late lunch and then went to Games World and EB Games. We bought some board games (The Chameleon, Block Party and some new UNO cards to replace our very worn out ones) and I also bought the Minecraft cookbook, looks interesting and I'm looking forward to making some of the things in there. We wandered all around the place and I think we all stayed out a bit too long and we were all a bit tired! When they were little I used to have a 2 to 3 hour limit for going out. Partly I was managing my anxiety disorder and partly the kids would kind of hit the wall around that time and start to get tired and shitty of mood. I got home and the old "what's for dinner" thing started. So I made a simple dinner and just ate some veggies myself. I quite often do that, meat and veg for everyone else and veg for me. Then I exercised.
Hey, does anyone know anything about Golden Berry/Peruvian Ground cherry? Mr Peeler's cousin has a plant she wants to give me, and I don't know much about them.
I think that's one name for Cape Gooseberry. Try googling that. Never tried to grow them, but have eaten them a few times. The little paper casings around each fruit are adorable. I believe they grow quite well here in Melbourne, but I've never tried. Maybe talk to taleya?
Thanks, will do. And yes, the paper casings are cute (she gave me a couple of fruits but I'd had breath mints and then brushed my teeth so I didn't eat).
I think I have my plans for tomorrow worked out. I'll take the train to Richmond station and walk from there along the Yarra, then follow the self-guided "Greenline Project" walking tour from Birrarung Marr to Victoria Harbour. Then a tram back down Collins St to the one booked Open House event I managed to snag (how lighting supports wellness). Somewhere in there will be morning tea and a sandwich for lunch. Hopefully the predicted "late shower" cooperates by being late enough not to effect me, but for the most part the weather looks pretty promising.
Coles texted me that my delivery couldn’t be made and to contact them. Gave me a small credit for it but they’ve still got hold of the main payment. /facepalm
Googled to double check it was the legit customer service number, talked to a robot on the phone who sent a chat link…
Clicked it and it did seem legit but the whole thing skeeved me out. Exited and used the online form which I should have done in the first place. I really don’t like texts about ‘issues’ with deliveries and being asked to click links to external sites. Even after asking a friend if it was safe Coles could really have gone about that in a less sus way. 😬
Thankfully I have enough to cover an urgent Woolies shop but I would rather they have just cancelled the order and refunded the money.
Guess I'm awake. Usually coming back from night shift I wake up around 3am, so 5-5:30 is actually pretty alright. I don't have to be up until 9am so I think I'll pop something pretty on to watch and remain in bed a little while longer.
So update on the issue with Ratchet and Clank if anyone really cares. This game needs an SSD to run efficiently which is CRAZY, like I haven't had this issue with Spider-Man on the PC, or even Sackboy for PC. So talking to the devs, they're like "I can't find an issue in your files" like... okay, if I didn't have an issue I wouldn't message you. But I've moved the game from the D drive to the C drive (I don't like to put games on the C drive as that's only like less than 500gb. And guess what, it froze last night after playing it, faster than before.
So decided to play some today and it's worked, I moved the graphics to the lowest it can be and it seemed to work fine. Pretty pissed off about it tbh, because my PC can play the game at recommended levels, I can have the graphics as high. I can play The Sims 4 fine and the The Sims 4 is so resource heavy (even though EAXIS says it's fine.... it's not).
I'll have 4 hamburgers, a large chips, 3 tacos, a burrito and a side salad please. And can I have a thickshake, and an ice cream sunday, a slice of cheesecake and a creme brulee for desert.
Alright, time to remove myself from the nest! I've got a market to attend, a dinner party to cook and prep for, a floor to vacuum, and sheets that need changing.